SBC position statement & resolution on the sanctity of human life

Jeremiah 1:5 “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.”

Introduction: The Sanctity of human life

As Jeremiah the prophet begins his book under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he remarks about how God's elective purpose was at work in his life before He was born.  The elective purpose in this instance had to do with God choosing Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations.  Often this passage is cited among many others to affirm the sanctity of human life and to remind us that from the moment of conception, a real human life is living, breathing and growing.  Imagine the catastrophic outcome if Jeremiah's life had been extinguished in the womb? In today's post I want the reader to see the official stance of the Southern Baptist Convention on the issue of sanctity of life, being that today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. The below documents are statements that this blogger whole heartily affirms. The two documents quoted below can be found at the following links:

1). http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssanctity.asp

2). http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=619

May the Lord bless the reader this day and may we all do what is Biblically and reasonably right in affirming the sanctity of human life, not only today, but for every day of the year. 

SBC Position statement on the Sanctity of Life
"Procreation is a gift from God, a precious trust reserved for marriage. At the moment of conception, a new being enters the universe, a human being, a being created in God's image. This human being deserves our protection, whatever the circumstances of conception."

RESOLUTION ON SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE (passed in June 1991)

"WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that God holds human life to be sacred and created human beings in His own image; and

WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have historically affirmed biblical teaching regarding the sanctity of human life by adopting numerous pro-life resolutions at the national, state, and local levels; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 1.6 million unborn babies are killed each year in America as a result of the 1973 decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade; and

WHEREAS, In 1989 the Supreme Court began the dismantlement of the Roe decision by upholding a Missouri pro-life statute in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services; and

WHEREAS, As a result of the Webster decision, states now have more flexibility to regulate and restrict the practice of abortion; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court is likely to erode or overturn the Roe decision in the near future; and

WHEREAS, Legislation has been introduced in the United States Congress which would codify and expand the Roe abortion rights and thereby restrict the rights of states to regulate abortions within their borders; and

WHEREAS, Pro-abortion legislators in Congress are also attempting to repeal restrictions on federal abortion funding; and

WHEREAS, New drugs and technologies, including RU-486, which will make the practice of abortion easier, are being researched and used in other nations and abortion advocates are attempting to bring these technologies to America; and

WHEREAS, Some scientists in America are experimenting with the tissues of babies from induced abortions in order to find cures to certain diseases and are working to repeal the ban on federal government research on fetal tissue transplantation; Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, That we the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, June 4-6, 1991, affirm the biblical prohibition against the taking of unborn human life except to save the life of the mother; and

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, That we call on all Southern Baptists to work for the adoption of pro-life legislation in their respective states which would expand protection for unborn babies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call on all Southern Baptists to work with equal fervor to compassionately encourage and assist girls and women with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies to carry their children to term and to prepare for the best life possible for their children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we oppose all efforts by the United States Congress to limit the rights of states to restrict abortion-on-demand and call upon Congress to maintain current pro-life policies which prohibit the use of federal funds to encourage, promote, or perform abortions except to save the life of the mother; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we oppose the testing, approval, distribution, and marketing in America of new drugs and technologies which will make the practice of abortion more convenient and more widespread; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we support the current federal government ban on funding any transplantation of tissue from induced abortions for purposes of experimentation and research and call on the federal government to maintain the ban despite pressure from the scientific community and pro-abortion organizations."

God, the believer & temptation

2 Samuel 24:1-3 "Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

1 Chronicles 21:1-2 "Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.2 So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.”

Introduction: Meet David, the believer who was tempted and tested

Most should be familiar with the account of King David, but in case the reader may not be acquainted with this remarkable man of God, here is what we learn from his life story as told in Samuel & Kings:

1. Private anointing of David - 1 Sam 16

2. Preparation of David - 1 Samuel 17-2 Samuel 1

3. Public anointing of David as King over Judah - 2 Samuel 2-4

4. Public anointing of David as King over Israel - 2 Samuel 5-6

5. Promise to David of an enduring throne and ultimate descendant - 2 Samuel 7

6. Public life of David - 2 Samuel 8-24

7. Proper end of David's reign and life - 1 Kings 1-2. 

The book of 1 Chronicles in chapters 11-29 records the life of David, focusing more on the events of his life that related specifically to God's covenant with him and the kingdom over which he reigned a total of 40 years. In 1 Chronicles we see the focus too on David's military victories, the growth and decline of his kingdom and details regarding his preparations for what would be the construction of the temple by his successor and son - Solomon. 

Truly David functions not only as a type or example of a believer living for God, at times failing and then ultimately repenting (see the Psalms), but it would be David's bloodline that God would use to bring about the humanity of Jesus Christ. (see Romans 1:3; 9:4-5)

David's fame lies not only in his significance in the realm of spiritual matters and Bible prophecy, but also in how he dealt with testing and temptation.  It is in this particular area that we will be exploring the theme in today's post: God, the believer and temptation. Our texts will be 2 Samuel 24:1-25 and 1 Chronicles 21:1-30.

God's will in the life of David the believer

In previous posts we have looked at God's ultimate will as having to do with what God purposes and/or desires to accomplish in the world and in the lives of people.  We have also noted that within God's Ultimate will we can discern three other "wills": Permissive will, unrevealed will and revealed will.  I will not repeat the detailed analysis of each of these areas, nor will I repeat the numerous scriptures associate with each, but rather just mention these main headings as a means of walking our way through these two chapters.1

God's Ultimate will - To prepare a place for the temple and the cross
Sometimes the best way to interpret a passage of scripture is by noting what is at the end. In 2 Samuel 24:18-25 & 1 Chronicles 21:18-30 we see David purchasing the site where Solomon's temple would be built (1 Chronicles 22:1), and where Jesus would be crucified 1,000 years later.  Interestingly enough, this same site is the famed Mount Moriah that Abraham was told by God to offer Isaac over 1,000 years prior to David in Genesis 22:2. God's ultimate will always has a purpose that we often may not fully understand or see.  So what all did God permit, reveal and in some case not reveal in bringing about this ultimate purpose?

God's permissive will - David was to be both tested and tempted. 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1
In both 2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1 we read what appears to be a seeming contradiction.  2 Samuel 24:1 records that "God incited David" to do a census of his armies, whereas 1 Chronicles 21:1 says it was Satan who urged David to do the numbering of his men.  Without going into the technicalities of grammar and language, the explanation for this difficulty of interpretation is explained by noting the area of God's permissive will.  The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains: "There is no contradiction for the Lord had simply allowed Satan to prompt David to an improper course of action in order that Israel might be punished and that David might be instructed. This is similar to the Lord's permitting Satan to trouble Job (1:12; 2:6) and His allowing an evil spirit to torment Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). In any case, the Lord Himself did not incite David to do evil for "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone" (James 1:13).2

In surveying other scriptures, we can note that God "tests" his people in order to promote their spiritual growth (James 1:3-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7) and to get them to examine the condition of their hearts (2 Chronicles 32:31). Satan on the other hand will tempt people in order to try to destroy them. (Matthew 4:1-11; James 1:13-15). Thankfully God's permissive will has boundaries in which even Satan has to observe, being that in the events of testing and temptation, the believer is made more pure and strengthened in their resolve to follow God. (Romans 5:3-5)

God's unrevealed will
Clearly God's unrevealed will refers to those areas God has not divulged to His people.  For example, we are not told why God would choose to let Satan act, rather than choosing some other means to bring about His ultimate purposes of judgment and direction.  What we do know is that it was "in" David's heart to number his men.  Satan was the direct agent who urged and tempted David to act and God permitted it to be done so as to bring about His ultimate purposes.

God's revealed will - why He was judging Israel and testing David
God's revealed will, or what is also called sometimes His moral will, was clearly transgressed by David.  A King in Israel was not to trust in the number of horses or chariots that he possessed, but in God alone. (compare Deuteronomy 17:15-16; Psalm 20:7) Israel as a nation had grown quite powerful and with whatever events took place in her history, she had forgotten how to treat those who were living in her borders.  We won't spend a great deal of time on this point, only to comment that many connect the events of 2 Samuel 24:1 to 2 Samuel 21:1. God again tests to purify or grow his people.  Included in that testing might very well be permission granted to the enemy or some other means to further shape and mold His people and to accomplish His ultimate purposes.  

Applications and conclusions
We have looked today at David the believer and what he underwent in falling for Satan's temptation to number his armies.  We discovered that God permitted or willed to include Satan's act of tempting David so as to test David and ultimately lead him to purchase the future site of Solomon's temple and the much later crucifixion.  What applications can we draw from these texts regarding God, the believer and temptation?
1. God tests us to purify our motives and to advance us for His Good. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

2. Satan's temptations can be avoided and are only entered into when we have chosen to align our hearts according to our selfish desires, rather than God's. (James 1:13-15)

3. God permits what He hates in order to accomplish the good He intends in our lives and in His world. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)

4. God mercy and grace can turn back impending judgment for those who repent and humble themselves in his sight. (1 John 1:9)

5. Focus on God's faithfulness and Christ's accomplished work to exit your way out from under the enticements of temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Endnotes:

1. The reader is welcomed to read the post: http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/01/p2-gods-will-believer-and-suffering.html, where I spell out in detail the distinctions within God's ultimate will, as well as corresponding scriptures.

2. Bible Knowledge Commentary. Zondervan. Page 481.

Thoughts on the power of the Holy Spirit

Genesis 1:1-2 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."

Introduction

In centering itself on the Sovereignty of God, Genesis 1:2 also introduces the reader to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the very First Person of the Trinity that is explicitly mentioned in the Bible. All three Persons share the same infinite glory and life, thus meaning there is only One infinite God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  

As Genesis 1:2 briefly introduces the Person of the Holy Spirit, we see His power being briefly mentioned.  What is the power of the Holy Spirit and what exactly does He do when He exercises His power either in scripture or in today's world? Below are some main thoughts and key verses that refer to the Holy Spirit's power:

1. The Holy Spirit's power to bring forth physical life.  Genesis 1:2; 2 Corinthians 3:16-17

Author Andrew M. Davis of the Gospel coalition writes regarding Genesis 1:2 "This needy universe required the ongoing work of God to bring it to full order and beauty. The fact that "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" gives a first insight into the life-giving role of the Spirit, a role progressively unpacked throughout the rest of the Bible."

2. The Holy Spirit's power to create spiritual life. Genesis 12:1-7; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 1 Peter 1:23
God the Holy Spirit called forth an otherwise spiritually dead idolater by the name of Abram. Acts 7:2 specifically states that "the God of glory" appeared to Abram and called Him forth. We know from reading other passages such as 1 Samuel 4:3 and 15:29 that the Holy Spirit is given this title of "The glory" or "The God of glory". The Spirit is the One who creates spiritual life where there was formerly no life.

3. The Holy Spirit's power to author scripture. Exodus 24:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21

The Holy Spirit is the Primary author, with the 40 human authors being under His superintendence in the writing of scripture without error. 

4. The Holy Spirit's power to begin ministry. Exodus 40:34-38; Acts 2:1-4

It was the Spirit who enables the priests and the tabernacle's ministry to begin and proceed in power and effective service.  Exodus 35 speaks of the Spirit gifting certain people to work with metals and fabrics in the construction of the tabernacle. In Acts, the Spirit's role in empowering His church birthed forth the church age and makes possible the ministry of the local body of Christ. Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 to wait and tarry before going forth in doing the great commission. 

5. The Holy Spirit's power to lead God's people. Exodus 40:34-38; Acts 16:7 & 18:18-28
The Spirit's empowerment includes leading His people. At times the Holy Spirit will open doors, and at other times He will keep doors of access shut.  By His word the Spirit leads the people of God, has them wait and tells them when it is time to go forth once again.

6. The Holy Spirit's power to form identity. Deuteronomy 32:11; Romans 8:14-16
The Holy Spirit is the One who tells the believer "who they are and Whose they are."

7. The Holy Spirit's power to change people's hearts. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 16:14
The Holy Spirit is all about changing people from the inside/out. 

8. The Holy Spirit's power to overcome death. Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 5:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Peter 1:3
The Holy Spirit is the One who will raise up Israel in the day of Christ's appearing.  He is the One who also raised up Christ from the dead and His same resurrection power raises up our spiritually dead hearts to respond in faith believing.  This same Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies unto resurrection glory at Christ's appearing. 

9. The Holy Spirit's power points to Jesus Christ. Isaiah 9:6-7; John 16:13-15
The Holy Spirit is equal in glory and power to the Son and the Father as all three share in the same Divine essence and life as One God. God, in His dealings with the creation, has in the Person of The Holy Spirit chosen to point to the Son, Who in turn points to the Father in Divine dealings with men and the creation.  

10. The Holy Spirit's power to make all things new. John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Whatever the Holy Spirit chooses to touch, whether it be the human heart or creation itself, becomes renewed and revived. 

P2 Further considerations on the bride of Christ: Seeing the complete bride in eternity

Revelation 19:9 "Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

Introduction and review:

In yesterday's post we considered the following two main thoughts regarding the bride of Christ:
1. The calling of Bride this current age
2. The inclusion of Israel with the bride in the Kingdom age

In today's post we want to consider further the bride of Christ, specifically how the Bible portrays the completed bride in the Eternal age.

Dr. John MacArthur weighs in regarding the complete bride in eternity
An excellent preacher and Bible teacher, Dr. John MacArthur, preached on the above text.  The below quote is from his sermon: "Heavenly Hallelujahs - P2 (http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/66-67/heavenly-hallelujahs-part-2), and is well worth the time to read. After the quote, I will close today's post with a few remarks and a conclusion. 

"This is it. The complete and full union of the betrothed church is now ready. They've been betrothed in eternity past, they've been presented since the Rapture, now comes the great ceremony. It's about to be accomplished.

Now this ceremony which is about to be accomplished, I believe, takes place at the establishing of the Kingdom. And I believe this ceremony, I don't think there's any other way than this to interpret it, stretches clear through the thousand-year Kingdom and is really fully and finally consummated in the new heaven and the new earth. Why do I say that? Look at chapter 21. At the end of the thousand year millennial kingdom, which follows the return of Christ, at the end of the thousand-year millennial kingdom, John says, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth," which, of course, had been renovated and renewed and restored during the thousand years, nonetheless, that first heaven and first earth, having been restored, "Passed away and there's no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God made ready as a bride adorned for her husband."

Now again, do we have to take the imagery of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and put it all the way over into this one, or is this just another use of a marriage picture to show the glory of the new Jerusalem? It could well be that. It could be nothing more than the fact that when the new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven into this eternal state and people look and see it, the way it is described in the vision here by John is that it was decked out like a bride adorned for her husband because that's the most adorning that they would understand in ancient times.

But on the other hand, it might be unfair to exclude the thought that here is the bride, the glorified saints, all of them now out of the Old Testament, Israel, the church, the Tribulation, all of them are now in the new Jerusalem, descending into this eternal state. So it may well be, and I mean, who am I to be dogmatic, but it may well be that we can look at the ceremony as something that starts at the coming of Christ and is ultimately consummated at the establishment of the new heavens and the new earth.

You say, "Well a thousand years is a long time for a ceremony." Yes, but a thousand years with the Lord is as...what?...as one day. The marriage of the Lamb has come. And it really isn't fully consummated until the end of the Tribulation, Satan loose for a little while, a final rebellion squashed and then the new heaven and the new earth is established.

I don't think that the marriage is ultimately finally and fully consummated until eternity future, new heavens and new earth has come. And I have a lot more to say about that. Betrothal in eternity past, presentation began with Rapture, presentation continued through that communion in the presence of the Lord in the time of the Tribulation, I think that presentation leads to the great ceremony where the Lord comes together for the marriage with His bride and that marriage stretches across the period of the Kingdom and is finally consummated in that eternal state when the bride and the bridegroom settle to live forever in glory."

The completed bride glimpsed, gathered and glorified

In light of Dr. MacArthur's insights, we can clearly see that the "Divine Wedding theme" of scripture portrays biblical salvation as centered around the Son and His love for His bride.  How can we possibly grasp the grandeur of the Apostle John's vision of the complete bride in eternity, knowing full well that God, by His Spirit, is calling forth sinners right now and that future events will aim at completing that bride? Frankly such a task is near impossible, and merits more worship than anything.  However let me offer a thumbnail sketch of Revelation 19-22 in an attempt to close out these considerations of the bride of Christ. 

1. Glimpsing the bride of Christ. Rev 19:7-10 

2. Glory of the coming Groom. Rev 19:11-21

3. Grandeur of the groom and His bride in His millennial reign, with Israel in attendance. Revelation 20:1-10

4. Great white throne judgment. Rev 20:11-19

5. Great marriage of the Groom and the Completed Bride (composed of glorified Jews and Gentile believers). Rev 21:1-22:9

6. Grand invitation to come be a part of the bride to all who will believe by His grace. Rev 22:10-21 

P1 Further considerations on the bride of Christ

Romans 11:25-26 "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

Ephesians 3:9-10  "To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places."

Ephesians 5:25-27 25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless."

Introduction:

So much of the excitement that surrounds a wedding in modern culture centers around a whole host of details: food, music and venue.  Beyond even those things, the one area that is still a perennial area of curiosity for both guests, the groom and even the bride herself concerns the dress.  What exactly will the bride's dress look like? In most contexts the bridal gown is still preferred to be kept a "mystery" from the groom and all others until the day of the wedding when what is mystery will be revealed to all.  Even when the bride has walked the isle, the other piece of her ensemble - the veil - is viewed as a further detail of excitement, being that once the couple have exchanged their vows and the pastor says to the groom: "you may kiss your bride", the veil is put back.  Now everyone can see the bride's beauty and complexion as she and her groom kiss for the first time as husband and wife. 

This little introduction serves to aid the reader in understanding what exactly is going on in the New Testament regarding God's continual unfolding of His saving purposes through Jesus Christ.  Last week we looked at a three part series that we termed: "The Wedding you must not miss".1 So much was covered in that series that I felt like we needed to take a closer look at the bride herself.  Much like the little scenario pictured above, the New Testament's chief task is to reveal to us the Groom Jesus Christ, as well as His Father's plan in sending the Holy Spirit to gather forth sinners who, in accordance to His elective purpose of grace (to use the term of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000) will freely believe and be included in the bride. 

As we think further on this subject of the bride, we will utilize the following headings to guide our thinking:

1. The calling of Bride this current age
2. The inclusion of Israel with the bride in the Kingdom age
3. The completed bride in the Eternal age

Today's post will feature the first two points.

1. The calling of Bride this current age

We can summarize the entirety of Biblical revelation as being composed of five distinct, overlapping "eras" or "ages": creation or beginning age, Old Testament age, present or church age, millennium or kingdom age, eternity or the age to come. As we saw in last week's study, Yahweh had chosen to enter into covenant with his people - Israel - likened as a husband and wife relationship. (Jeremiah 31:31-34). God chose to experience Israel's formal breaking of covenant with Him. (Isaiah 50:1-2) Despite Israel's failure, God already had in mind the prophecies of a New Covenant, a plan in which He would bring about the Messiah or Groom for the people and promises of restoration for His people. (Ezekiel 11, 36-37)

When Christ came in the Gospels, He presented Himself as the Groom for the people. (John 3:29-30) Israel of course rejected Christ and in the course of His ministry He began to give glimpses of the fact that the Gentiles outside the Jewish fold were going to get a chance to be part of the People of God. Once Christ died, raised and ascended into heaven, the book of Acts records that on the day of Pentecost, a totally new work was begun - the church.

In the Old Testament God had called Israel to be a light to the nations, calling the Gentiles, in the words of John Piper, to "come and see". However once Israel rejected the Messiah, salvation was going to be fully opened up to called Gentiles who would believe and be saved. The church's emphasis would be more in lines of "going and telling". Thus the great surprise of the New Testament entails a two-fold mystery that many people even to this day discuss quite frequently: namely the place of Israel in God's purposes and the place of the church. Romans 11 helps the reader untangle this dual mystery of what the relationship is between Israel and the bride or church in this current age.2    

2. The relationship between the calling of the bride now to the inclusion of Israel with the bride in the Kingdom age

Thus God is right now calling forth the chosen bride for the Son, composed of choice sinners who in turn freely choose Jesus Christ as their saving bridegroom.  Israel, we discover, has not been replaced by the church nor rejected absolutely by God.  To erase the distinctions between Israel and the church would be to go against such distinctions that are still retained by the New Testament. (1 Corinthians 10:32) Rather, in relationship with the church and what will be her saving relationship with Christ at His second coming, God will fulfill His promises to Israel in the millennium or Kingdom age.  

Right now the church is being gathered by the Spirit to make Israel jealous, with her setting aside orchestrated by God to make way for the gathering in of believing Gentiles (and Jews). 

Such a magnificent and admittedly mind-blowing master plan of salvation by God prompts Paul to write these words in Romans 11:33,36 (33) "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" (36) "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." 

As powerful as God's master mission plan is in gathering a bride for the Son, we discover through Romans 11 that it is but a means to the greater end - God's glory.  John Piper notes: "Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man."3
To add an additional thought to Dr. Piper's insight, the church is here on this earth to do missions. In doing the great commission of her Heavenly Bridegroom, she is preparing for and bringing glory to Him. The more the church engages in missions and evangelism, the greater urgency there will be for the worship and exaltation of Jesus Christ. 

Why is it relevant to understand God's calling of a bride in this current age and the inclusion of Israel with that bride in the future Kingdom age?

Such an understanding is practical for three reasons.  First, to demonstrate that God keeps His promises. God never lies (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18-20) and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Second, by noting the Bible's unfolding of all these details demonstrates God's plan of salvation to be far richer and more glorious than we ever imagined.  Salvation is not ultimately about the saved, but the Savior. God's glory in both His grace to sinners who believe and justice to those who freely reject Him is emphasized again and again in scripture.  Then thirdly, knowing such truths enables us to consider what God has ultimately in store for all who believe in this church age, those martyrs who believe in the tribulation and those Jews who believe in Christ's return. Christ is worth it all and it is faith's hope in Him that drives the believer to see that in Him all of God's promises are truly yeah and amen. (2 Cor 1:20)

More tomorrow.....

Endnotes:

1. http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/01/p1-wedding-you-must-not-miss-that-is.html
http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/01/p2-wedding-you-must-not-miss-god.html
http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/01/p3-wedding-you-must-not-miss.html

2. In short, God's master program of missions in gathering forth sinners, one at a time, into the bride of Christ's in this present age, includes the following:

a. Israel is still God's chosen people, who have been temporarily set aside. 10:18-11:10

b. God has ordained unbelieving Israel's setting aside in order to save believing Gentiles and Jews. 11:11-24

c. God has ordained that once the full number of Gentiles (and believing Jews) are gathered in this age (this age includes the church age, rapture of church age saints, tribulation and inclusion of tribulation martyrs at Christ's return at the end of the Tribulation), Israel will then be saved at Christ's return. Zech 12:10-11; Revelation 1:7; 7; 14; Romans 11:25-32.

3. In short then, once Christ returns with His raptured saints at the end of the tribulation, Israel will be given the grace to believe on Him, and thus she will shine forth the glory of her Messiah in His Kingdom, enjoying His glory with the glorified church who is seated with Him on thrones in the Millennial Kingdom. (Revelation 20:1-6) 

A passionate letter warning the Southern Baptist Convention: Have we lost our first love?

Revelation 2:4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Today's post features an open letter written yesterday by President and CEO of Life Way Christian Resources, Dr. Thom Rainer, to all the churches in the SBC.  I felt what he wrote was so important and timely that it merited a post on this blogsite today. The letter can be found at the link to Dr. Rainer's blogsite: http://thomrainer.com/2014/01/13/an-open-letter-to-my-denomination-have-we-lost-our-first-love/ I would encourage us all to read what he wrote and ask ourselves: "what am I doing to reach lost souls for Jesus?" Without further delay, I present to you below Dr. Rainer's open letter: "Have we lost our first love?"

Dear Southern Baptists:

I could be writing to a broader audience. Perhaps I should be. And I know many outside our denomination will read this brief letter. I hope those readers will bear with me as I have a “family discussion.”

Please hear me clearly. I am not writing out of any sense of superiority. Indeed, many of you could put me to shame. But my heart is breaking with what I perceive to be a loss of passion for those who do not know Christ. Many of you have seen the numbers. We are reaching fewer people for the gospel today than we did decades ago when we were a much smaller group.

The First Love
Where is the passion in most of our churches to reach the lost? Where is the passion among our leaders, both in our churches and in our denomination? Jesus told those at the church at Ephesus that they had sound doctrine, that they hated evil (Revelation 2:1-7). But He also told them they had lost their first love. When we truly love Jesus with all of our hearts, we can’t help but tell others about Him. We can’t help but share the good news.

I thank God for our contending for the faith. I thank God for our affirmation of the total truthfulness of Scripture. I thank God for orthodoxy. But I pray that it is not becoming a dead orthodoxy—an orthodoxy that has lost its first love.

The Purpose of the Letter
The purpose of this letter is not to chastise. I am a messed up sinner who has no right to look at the splinter in the eyes of my brothers and sisters when I need to deal with the plank in my own eye. I need to fall more deeply in love with Jesus. I need to share His love as part of my very being. In His power I must do more and I must do better.

No, the purpose of this letter is simply to share a broken heart, and to express a heartfelt desire to change. I must love Jesus more deeply and tell others about Him more often. I must show Christ’s love not only with my words, but with every action and interaction I have. I must be more like Him every day.

I have no proposal. I have no new programs for now. I simply have a burden.

And as a commitment to God first, but then a commitment to you, I am asking God to lead me to love Him more deeply than I ever have. I am asking God to put people in my life where I can show His love, and tell them about my Savior.

It Must Begin with Me
My life’s desire is to glorify God by loving Him with all my heart. And I have no right to say that unless I am so much in love with Him that I “am unable to stop speaking about what (I) have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Evangelism must be as natural to me as breathing.

Pastors, will you join me in this plea? Will you be an evangelistic example for the churches God has called you to serve? Laypersons, will you pray for evangelistic hearts in your own lives? I must make that prayer a part of my life every day.

Have we lost our first love? Is that love reflected in in how we share the gospel of Christ every day? May God break me until I am all His, telling others about His Son every day. And may the sharing of the good news of Christ once again become the focus of all our lives in the churches of our denomination.

The New Testament Books in Chronological order

2 Timothy 2:15  "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

Today's post is all about summarizing the chronological order of the 27 New Testament books.  Knowing such an order can be useful for those who may want to read the New Testament in the order that God revealed His words to the New Testament apostles.  Credit for the dating goes to Dr. Richard Fairman, a wonderful New Testament Professor that I had in Bible College years ago.  May the reader find the following list both useful and informative.

James = 45 A.D

Matthew = Written between 45-50 A.D

Galatians = 52 A.D

1 & 2 Thessalonians = 52 A.D

1 & 2 Corinthians = 56 A.D

Romans  = 57 A.D

Mark = Written between 60-69 A.D

Luke  = Written 59 or 60 A.D

Acts = Written very shortly after Luke. 

Ephesians = 60 A.D

Colossians & Philemon = 61 A.D

Philippians = 62 A.D

1 Timothy & Titus = 62 A.D

1 Peter = 63 A.D

Hebrews = 64 A.D

2 Timothy  = 64 A.D

2 Peter = 66 A.D

Jude = 75 A.D

1,2 & 3 John = Written between 85-95 A.D

Revelation = 96 A.D