Scripture is very clear that a believer should not "partner" with and unbeliever - 2 Cor. 6:14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." The term "partner" or "yoked" could refer to any number of relationships (marital, business, etc.) but Paul's primary association was probably ecclesiastically (church) focused. Paul's ultimate concern was that regardless of the situation the unbelievers not lead the believers astray in their teaching of the truth (see 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Cor. 15:33).
If they are already "partners" (married) then Scripture is also very clear. 1 Cor. 7:12-16 states that the believing spouse must remain with the unbelieving spouse as long as they agree to do so. Divorce is to be avoided because the Christian spouse becomes a channel of God's grace in the marriage relationship. The two are "one flesh" and therefore as God gives His blessing to the believer, the other spouse receives some portion of the blessing. (examples in Scripture are Joseph in Potiphar's house, Gen. 39:5; and Jacob in Laban's house, Gen. 30:27) It is NOT that the unbelieving spouse is now personally justified before God because Romans 14:12 states that "each of us will give an account of himself to God." The ULTIMATE reason why the believing spouse should stay with their unbelieving spouse is that they might come to know Jesus personally by witnessing the example of the believing spouse living out God's love and grace in their personal life (see. 1 Cor. 7:16; 1 Peter 3:1-2).
Bottom line: If you're not married, don't marry an unbeliever. If you're already married to one then stay married and live like Jesus so that your spouse might come to know the Savior and believe in the Good News.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Do people immediately go to heaven or hell when they die?
Another closely related question I'll try to address in the same answer: If everyone supposedly has to die, then what happens to the people who are alive when Jesus comes back?
This is a wonderful question that has a clear yet complex answer in the Bible. The short and clear answer is, yes, people go either straight to heaven or hell when they die. In Luke 23 we are told that one of the two thieves hanging next to Jesus on the cross repented of his sin and asked for forgiveness. Jesus replied in verse 43, "today you will be with me in paradise." Again in Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who died and went immediately to "hell" (hades). Thus, yes, people go immediately to heaven or hell when they die.
The complex part of the answer is that the "heaven" and "hell" mentioned in those passages is not our final, eternal destination. When a Christ follower dies our spirit (soul) immediately enters the presence of God (heaven). 1 Thess. 4:14 tells us that when Jesus returns he "will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians." Just two verses later we read that "the dead in Christ will rise first." What's happening here? Christ followers who have died prior to His second coming are spiritually with God but they will not be reunited with their physical bodies for eternity until Jesus raises their bodies to life.
1 Thess. 4:17 then explains that "we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." (answer to the 2nd question) I believe this passage describes the rapture event which will precede the 7-year tribulation period on earth. After the 7-year tribulation Jesus returns to earth riding on a white horse (Revelation 19:11-21). Christians who have died prior to this event return to earth with Jesus where he reigns for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-6). At the end of the 1,000 years we see a new heaven and a new earth described in Revelation 21. This new heaven and earth is the final, eternal destination for all Christ followers.
Those who die without trusting through faith in Jesus Christ for salvation from their sin go immediately to "hell" or "hades" as described in the parable of the rich man, but that is not their final destination. Ultimately, they are destined for the great white throne judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15. This is the scene described in Revelation 20:13-15 which says, "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death - the lake of fire. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire." Bottom line: If you make it to the great white throne you are destined for the lake of fire. That is where every non-believer will spend eternity.
The question is: Where's your lake house going to be - beside the new Jerusalem or the lake of fire?
This is a wonderful question that has a clear yet complex answer in the Bible. The short and clear answer is, yes, people go either straight to heaven or hell when they die. In Luke 23 we are told that one of the two thieves hanging next to Jesus on the cross repented of his sin and asked for forgiveness. Jesus replied in verse 43, "today you will be with me in paradise." Again in Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who died and went immediately to "hell" (hades). Thus, yes, people go immediately to heaven or hell when they die.
The complex part of the answer is that the "heaven" and "hell" mentioned in those passages is not our final, eternal destination. When a Christ follower dies our spirit (soul) immediately enters the presence of God (heaven). 1 Thess. 4:14 tells us that when Jesus returns he "will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians." Just two verses later we read that "the dead in Christ will rise first." What's happening here? Christ followers who have died prior to His second coming are spiritually with God but they will not be reunited with their physical bodies for eternity until Jesus raises their bodies to life.
1 Thess. 4:17 then explains that "we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." (answer to the 2nd question) I believe this passage describes the rapture event which will precede the 7-year tribulation period on earth. After the 7-year tribulation Jesus returns to earth riding on a white horse (Revelation 19:11-21). Christians who have died prior to this event return to earth with Jesus where he reigns for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-6). At the end of the 1,000 years we see a new heaven and a new earth described in Revelation 21. This new heaven and earth is the final, eternal destination for all Christ followers.
Those who die without trusting through faith in Jesus Christ for salvation from their sin go immediately to "hell" or "hades" as described in the parable of the rich man, but that is not their final destination. Ultimately, they are destined for the great white throne judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15. This is the scene described in Revelation 20:13-15 which says, "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death - the lake of fire. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire." Bottom line: If you make it to the great white throne you are destined for the lake of fire. That is where every non-believer will spend eternity.
The question is: Where's your lake house going to be - beside the new Jerusalem or the lake of fire?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Happy Easter...You're a slave!
On December 6, 1865, the thirteenth amendment to the United States Constitution was officially ratified. Section 1 states “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
We now live in a land of freedom - freedom from the oppression of England; freedom from the oppression of slavery. Yet, in reality our freedom in this great country is only an illusion. Jesus once spoke to a group of people who thought they were free, much like us today. He said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Their response was probably a lot like most of us would respond: “We…have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:32-34)
The Apostle Paul in Romans 6 explains that everyone is a slave; either a slave to sin, which leads to death; or slaves to righteousness, which leads to eternal life. We are either governed by sin or governed by God. “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin...” we are now “freed from sin…and have become enslaved to righteousness.” There is nothing we can or could ever do to escape our slavery to sin. Yet, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Christ paid the ultimate price “with his own blood” for our freedom from sin and as a result, we are now bond-servants of Christ. “You are not your own, for you were bought at a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20) We owe everything to Christ now. We are freed from slavery to sin, but have become slaves of Christ – capable of obeying God only through His power. “Therefore, glorify God with your body.”
Don’t fall prey to the illusion. You are not your own. You are a slave to sin or a slave to Christ. If Christ, then it’s time to live like it.
We now live in a land of freedom - freedom from the oppression of England; freedom from the oppression of slavery. Yet, in reality our freedom in this great country is only an illusion. Jesus once spoke to a group of people who thought they were free, much like us today. He said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Their response was probably a lot like most of us would respond: “We…have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:32-34)
The Apostle Paul in Romans 6 explains that everyone is a slave; either a slave to sin, which leads to death; or slaves to righteousness, which leads to eternal life. We are either governed by sin or governed by God. “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin...” we are now “freed from sin…and have become enslaved to righteousness.” There is nothing we can or could ever do to escape our slavery to sin. Yet, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Christ paid the ultimate price “with his own blood” for our freedom from sin and as a result, we are now bond-servants of Christ. “You are not your own, for you were bought at a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20) We owe everything to Christ now. We are freed from slavery to sin, but have become slaves of Christ – capable of obeying God only through His power. “Therefore, glorify God with your body.”
Don’t fall prey to the illusion. You are not your own. You are a slave to sin or a slave to Christ. If Christ, then it’s time to live like it.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Question #5 - If there is so much controversy about whether or not God exists, why doesn't he prove to the world that he does exist?
The sub-comment for this question was: "That way, more people would believe in Him and there would be less people that have to suffer in hell."
The Bible never sets out to prove the existence of God. It simply makes the statement in Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning, God..." However, Jesus gave us a wonderful parable (short story) to address this great question in Luke 16.
Beginning in Luke 16:19 Jesus tells the story of a rich man who died and went immediately to "hell." (YES, hell exists; contrary to what some are teaching today) (The word translated "hell" is "hades" and is used here to describe the destination of the unsaved dead prior to the great white throne judgment described in Rev. 20:11-15.) While the rich man was in "hell" he pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers about the horrible place, that they might trust God and be spared the torment (16:27-28). Abraham's reply was that they already "have Moses and the Prophets" and "even if someone rises from the dead" his brothers would not listen.
In other words, God has given us everything we need to believe in Him through the creation and His Word (the Bible). Romans 1:20 says, "since the creation of the world his invisible attributes - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse." Even if God was to somehow give further proof of His existence the people would still not believe, just as the rich man's brothers would not believe.
Unbelievably, the Bible gives us an example of this happening in the future. The book of Revelation clearly describes a 1000 year period in which Jesus will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem (Rev. 20:6). At the end of the 1000 year period there be a group of people who will gather to fight against God before being devoured by fire from heaven. It amazes me that even after all the prophecy of the Bible is fulfilled and Jesus has returned, there will still be people who do not believe.
God gave His call to us through the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 45:22-24 states, "Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth's remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer. I solemnly make this oath - what I say is true and reliable: 'Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; they will say about me, "yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer."'"
Turn to God today and trust in His Son, Jesus, for forgiveness from your sins.
The Bible never sets out to prove the existence of God. It simply makes the statement in Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning, God..." However, Jesus gave us a wonderful parable (short story) to address this great question in Luke 16.
Beginning in Luke 16:19 Jesus tells the story of a rich man who died and went immediately to "hell." (YES, hell exists; contrary to what some are teaching today) (The word translated "hell" is "hades" and is used here to describe the destination of the unsaved dead prior to the great white throne judgment described in Rev. 20:11-15.) While the rich man was in "hell" he pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brothers about the horrible place, that they might trust God and be spared the torment (16:27-28). Abraham's reply was that they already "have Moses and the Prophets" and "even if someone rises from the dead" his brothers would not listen.
In other words, God has given us everything we need to believe in Him through the creation and His Word (the Bible). Romans 1:20 says, "since the creation of the world his invisible attributes - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse." Even if God was to somehow give further proof of His existence the people would still not believe, just as the rich man's brothers would not believe.
Unbelievably, the Bible gives us an example of this happening in the future. The book of Revelation clearly describes a 1000 year period in which Jesus will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem (Rev. 20:6). At the end of the 1000 year period there be a group of people who will gather to fight against God before being devoured by fire from heaven. It amazes me that even after all the prophecy of the Bible is fulfilled and Jesus has returned, there will still be people who do not believe.
God gave His call to us through the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 45:22-24 states, "Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth's remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer. I solemnly make this oath - what I say is true and reliable: 'Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm; they will say about me, "yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer."'"
Turn to God today and trust in His Son, Jesus, for forgiveness from your sins.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Question #4 - Is it true that it never rained until Noah and the ark?
Is it true that it never rained until Noah and the ark?
Let's start with what we know to be true from the Bible. Genesis 2:5 tells us that there was no rain prior to the creation of man. Instead, "springs would well up from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground." (Gen. 2:6) The next place the Bible mentions rain falling on the earth is Genesis 7:12, "the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights." The Bible says nothing about it raining (or not raining) after the creation of man until the rain fell during the world-wide flood. Based solely on the truth of the biblical text the answer must be "we don't know if it rained prior to the flood."
Good "logical" arguments can be made to explain why it did or did not rain prior to the flood, but none of these theories can claim to be any more "biblical" than another. (read more about these theories) What we DO know from the Bible is that there were major changes among creation after the flood. Genesis 9:2 says, "every living creature of the earth and every bird of the sky will be terrified of you." It appears that prior to the flood there was no fear of man among animals. We could walk right up to the wild animals and pet them! Another major change is that prior to the flood all humans were vegetarians, but after the flood God told Noah and his sons in Genesis 9:3, "You may eat any moving thing that lives. As I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." (Maybe that is why God caused the living creatures to be terrified of humans!) Finally, after the flood the average human lifespan dropped dramatically. Prior to the flood people were living close to 1,000 years with Methuselah clocking in at 969 years/old. The genealogy of Shem in Genesis 11 reveals that just a little over 200 years after the flood, the lifespan had dropped to under 200 years. In fact, if you do the math, Shem [Noah's Son], would have been alive to see his great, great, great, great, great, grandson die. (Shem would have still been alive when Abram [later, Abraham] was born!)
Could the pre-flood environment been so different that vegetation, animals, and even humans thrived without rain? Certainly! Do we know for certain that it did not rain prior to the flood? No.
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Where did these questions come from? In early April 2010 I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. The students had been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted really impacted me in a big way. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend time interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth.
Let's start with what we know to be true from the Bible. Genesis 2:5 tells us that there was no rain prior to the creation of man. Instead, "springs would well up from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground." (Gen. 2:6) The next place the Bible mentions rain falling on the earth is Genesis 7:12, "the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights." The Bible says nothing about it raining (or not raining) after the creation of man until the rain fell during the world-wide flood. Based solely on the truth of the biblical text the answer must be "we don't know if it rained prior to the flood."
Good "logical" arguments can be made to explain why it did or did not rain prior to the flood, but none of these theories can claim to be any more "biblical" than another. (read more about these theories) What we DO know from the Bible is that there were major changes among creation after the flood. Genesis 9:2 says, "every living creature of the earth and every bird of the sky will be terrified of you." It appears that prior to the flood there was no fear of man among animals. We could walk right up to the wild animals and pet them! Another major change is that prior to the flood all humans were vegetarians, but after the flood God told Noah and his sons in Genesis 9:3, "You may eat any moving thing that lives. As I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." (Maybe that is why God caused the living creatures to be terrified of humans!) Finally, after the flood the average human lifespan dropped dramatically. Prior to the flood people were living close to 1,000 years with Methuselah clocking in at 969 years/old. The genealogy of Shem in Genesis 11 reveals that just a little over 200 years after the flood, the lifespan had dropped to under 200 years. In fact, if you do the math, Shem [Noah's Son], would have been alive to see his great, great, great, great, great, grandson die. (Shem would have still been alive when Abram [later, Abraham] was born!)
Could the pre-flood environment been so different that vegetation, animals, and even humans thrived without rain? Certainly! Do we know for certain that it did not rain prior to the flood? No.
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Where did these questions come from? In early April 2010 I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. The students had been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted really impacted me in a big way. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend time interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Question #3 - Why did God create humans if He doesn't need us?
I haven't had much time to work on these while packing for our big move next week. Hopefully, I'll have more time after the move since I still have over 30 questions to go! :-) Here is the third question:
Why did God create humans if He doesn't need us?
It is true that God doesn't need anything. The theological term that is often used to describe this attribute of God is His "self-sufficiency." A.W. Tozer says it this way, "Whatever God is, and all that God is, He is in Himself." The apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:23-25 that the world's Creator God "is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." Tozer also correctly states that "to admit the existence of a need in God is to admit incompleteness in the divine Being."
Back to the question at hand: why did God create humans? In Isaiah 43:7 God says, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Romans 11:36 tells us that "for from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." In Revelation 4 we see the 24 elders fall down before God's throne in heaven and proclaim, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 9:20-24)
God created everything, including humans, for His glory. Humans are unique among all creation because we alone are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Bearing the image of God, our Creator, means that humans reflect the glory of God by being His representatives in creation. As a side note, this also means every human has value and worth because we reflect God's image in our own unique ways.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord." As you seek to live for God and allow yourself to transformed into the likeness of Christ, do your actions and words (your life) accurately reflect God's glory among creation?
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Where did these questions come from? In early April 2010 I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. The students had been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted really impacted me in a big way. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend time interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth.
Why did God create humans if He doesn't need us?
It is true that God doesn't need anything. The theological term that is often used to describe this attribute of God is His "self-sufficiency." A.W. Tozer says it this way, "Whatever God is, and all that God is, He is in Himself." The apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:23-25 that the world's Creator God "is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." Tozer also correctly states that "to admit the existence of a need in God is to admit incompleteness in the divine Being."
Back to the question at hand: why did God create humans? In Isaiah 43:7 God says, "everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Romans 11:36 tells us that "for from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." In Revelation 4 we see the 24 elders fall down before God's throne in heaven and proclaim, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31; Rom. 9:20-24)
God created everything, including humans, for His glory. Humans are unique among all creation because we alone are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Bearing the image of God, our Creator, means that humans reflect the glory of God by being His representatives in creation. As a side note, this also means every human has value and worth because we reflect God's image in our own unique ways.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord." As you seek to live for God and allow yourself to transformed into the likeness of Christ, do your actions and words (your life) accurately reflect God's glory among creation?
------------------------
Where did these questions come from? In early April 2010 I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. The students had been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted really impacted me in a big way. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend time interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Question #2 - When did forever begin?
The second question is one of those that will short-circuit your brain if you think about it too long!
When did forever begin and how was God just there?
Eternity (forever) is not something that has a beginning or end. It is infinite or boundless, meaning that no boundaries can be placed around it. Eternity exists outside of the boundaries that time exists within. In fact, the Bible teaches us that God is eternal, which means He had no beginning, has no end, and dwells outside of the boundaries of time. As part of God’s creation it is very difficult (actually impossible) for us to fully understand this attribute of God. From birth we are taught that everything around us came from something. And for everything except God, that statement is true. Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning God.” The Bible never talks about the “beginning” of God because He had no beginning. God has no origin (beginning) and it is this concept of no-origin that distinguishes that which is God from that which is not God (cf. Colossians 1:15-17; John 1:1-3).
Moses prayed in Psalm 90:1-2, “O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations! Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God.”
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Where did these questions come from? In early April 2010 I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. The students had been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted really impacted me in a big way. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend time interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth.
When did forever begin and how was God just there?
Eternity (forever) is not something that has a beginning or end. It is infinite or boundless, meaning that no boundaries can be placed around it. Eternity exists outside of the boundaries that time exists within. In fact, the Bible teaches us that God is eternal, which means He had no beginning, has no end, and dwells outside of the boundaries of time. As part of God’s creation it is very difficult (actually impossible) for us to fully understand this attribute of God. From birth we are taught that everything around us came from something. And for everything except God, that statement is true. Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning God.” The Bible never talks about the “beginning” of God because He had no beginning. God has no origin (beginning) and it is this concept of no-origin that distinguishes that which is God from that which is not God (cf. Colossians 1:15-17; John 1:1-3).
Moses prayed in Psalm 90:1-2, “O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations! Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God.”
------------------------
Where did these questions come from? In early April 2010 I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. The students had been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted really impacted me in a big way. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend time interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Question #1 - Why can Satan still go into God's presence?
This past Sunday evening I was invited to join our Engage youth (junior & senior high student ministry at Geist Community Church) for a Q&A session. For the past couple of weeks the students have been given the opportunity to anonymously submit questions that they wanted me to attempt to answer. The quality (and quantity) of the questions that were submitted pleasantly surprised me. The questions they asked are questions that people have wrestled with for centuries, if not longer. In fact, the questions were so good that I decided to spend the next several weeks interacting with them on my blog. While I may not have time (or the knowledge) to fully answer each question, my hope is to at least point us in the right direction in Scripture so that we can continue to dialogue and seek the truth. Take a look at question #1:
If heaven is a perfect place where no sin can enter, why could Satan go into heaven?
Let’s start with what we know to be true from the Bible. First, we know that Satan and the fallen angels (demons) were cast down to earth at some point in history when they rebelled against God in heaven. Revelation 12:9 says, “the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.” Currently, he is roaming around the earth “like a roaring lion…looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) We also know that Satan indeed enters the presence of God. In Job 1:6-7 we read, “the day came when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them…‘from roving about on the earth’.” Back in Revelation 12:10 we also see that Satan (literally “the accuser” or “adversary”) is before God day and night accusing believers.
The real difficulty in answering this question is the complex nature of the term ‘heaven.’ The Jewish rabbinic idea of ‘heaven’ involves a multiplicity of ‘heavens,’ usually in the neighborhood of seven different heavens. Again, however, we must look at what Scripture teaches. Heaven is sometimes used to refer to the expanse of the sky above the earth. (cf. Gen. 1:14-16) Heaven is also frequently referred to as the dwelling place of God. (cf. Dt. 26:15; 1 Ki. 8:30; Jon. 1:9) Believers are encouraged by our Savior, Jesus, to “store up treasures in heaven” (Matt 6:20). We are also told we have been given an inheritance in heaven which can never perish, spoil, or fade. Still other passages such as Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:10-13, and Rev. 21:1 tell us that God will create a “new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
Based on that very quick survey of Scripture, there are at least 3 primary uses of the term heaven.
(1) the sky
(2) the current dwelling place of God and his host of angels (current heaven)
(3) the future eternal home of God, the ‘good’ angels, and all believers (new heaven)
In order to answer our original question, we’ll focus on the second use of heaven: “the current dwelling place of God.” Biblical language certainly alludes to the fact that heaven is a place of perfection (and it must be in order to be the dwelling place of the perfect God). However, as we have already established, Satan is still clearly given access to heaven. How can the great “accuser” be given access to a place that is perfect? The only answer can be…GRACE. God’s amazing, wonderful grace.
Yes, God is holy and can have nothing to do with sin. (cf. Lev. 11:44) He is also a God of justice and promises to judge sin and eternally punish those who have not trusted in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, to save them. (cf. Psalm 11:7, 89:14; Revelation 20:11-15) While sin has already been defeated through the work of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 6:8-10), the ultimate judgment of sin by God has yet to happen because God is also a God of great patience (cf. Rom. 2:4; 9:22). 2 Peter 3:9 is perhaps the clearest picture of his patience: “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Why does God allow Satan to still enter His presence? The same reason Adam and Eve didn’t die the exact moment they first ate the forbidden fruit. Grace. Yes, Adam and Eve both immediately died spiritually (separated from God) and eventually died physically. However, it was purely God's grace that they didn't immediately drop dead when they disobeyed God's command, because the "wages of sin is death."
Of this we can be sure: Satan’s eternity in the lake of fire is sealed and his reign on this earth is quickly coming to an end (cf. Rev. 20). God will bring His justice to heaven and earth. Remember, justice delayed is not justice denied…it’s grace.
If heaven is a perfect place where no sin can enter, why could Satan go into heaven?
Let’s start with what we know to be true from the Bible. First, we know that Satan and the fallen angels (demons) were cast down to earth at some point in history when they rebelled against God in heaven. Revelation 12:9 says, “the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world – was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.” Currently, he is roaming around the earth “like a roaring lion…looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) We also know that Satan indeed enters the presence of God. In Job 1:6-7 we read, “the day came when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord – and Satan also arrived among them…‘from roving about on the earth’.” Back in Revelation 12:10 we also see that Satan (literally “the accuser” or “adversary”) is before God day and night accusing believers.
The real difficulty in answering this question is the complex nature of the term ‘heaven.’ The Jewish rabbinic idea of ‘heaven’ involves a multiplicity of ‘heavens,’ usually in the neighborhood of seven different heavens. Again, however, we must look at what Scripture teaches. Heaven is sometimes used to refer to the expanse of the sky above the earth. (cf. Gen. 1:14-16) Heaven is also frequently referred to as the dwelling place of God. (cf. Dt. 26:15; 1 Ki. 8:30; Jon. 1:9) Believers are encouraged by our Savior, Jesus, to “store up treasures in heaven” (Matt 6:20). We are also told we have been given an inheritance in heaven which can never perish, spoil, or fade. Still other passages such as Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:10-13, and Rev. 21:1 tell us that God will create a “new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
Based on that very quick survey of Scripture, there are at least 3 primary uses of the term heaven.
(1) the sky
(2) the current dwelling place of God and his host of angels (current heaven)
(3) the future eternal home of God, the ‘good’ angels, and all believers (new heaven)
In order to answer our original question, we’ll focus on the second use of heaven: “the current dwelling place of God.” Biblical language certainly alludes to the fact that heaven is a place of perfection (and it must be in order to be the dwelling place of the perfect God). However, as we have already established, Satan is still clearly given access to heaven. How can the great “accuser” be given access to a place that is perfect? The only answer can be…GRACE. God’s amazing, wonderful grace.
Yes, God is holy and can have nothing to do with sin. (cf. Lev. 11:44) He is also a God of justice and promises to judge sin and eternally punish those who have not trusted in the work of His Son, Jesus Christ, to save them. (cf. Psalm 11:7, 89:14; Revelation 20:11-15) While sin has already been defeated through the work of Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 6:8-10), the ultimate judgment of sin by God has yet to happen because God is also a God of great patience (cf. Rom. 2:4; 9:22). 2 Peter 3:9 is perhaps the clearest picture of his patience: “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Why does God allow Satan to still enter His presence? The same reason Adam and Eve didn’t die the exact moment they first ate the forbidden fruit. Grace. Yes, Adam and Eve both immediately died spiritually (separated from God) and eventually died physically. However, it was purely God's grace that they didn't immediately drop dead when they disobeyed God's command, because the "wages of sin is death."
Of this we can be sure: Satan’s eternity in the lake of fire is sealed and his reign on this earth is quickly coming to an end (cf. Rev. 20). God will bring His justice to heaven and earth. Remember, justice delayed is not justice denied…it’s grace.
Monday, March 29, 2010
It's not fair...it's grace!
Today I read an article about a recent study published in the March 2010 issue of the journal Science. The lead author of the study, Joe Henrich, is an evolutionary anthropologist at the University of British Columbia. He suggests that fairness is not an innate human attribute, rather a learned behavior. Shocker! Ask any parent of a toddler and I guarantee (since I am one) that they will all agree they never had to teach their child to be selfish. The last thing on the mind of a 3 year-old is whether or not they are being fair as they rip a toy from their siblings grasp. Deep down inside we all naturally desire what is best for old #1 (our self).
Whether the researchers who conducted this study realize it or not, they actually bolstered the claims of the Bible. David proclaimed in Psalm 51 that he "was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." In fact, travel all the way back to Genesis chapter 6 and the description of the people in the days of Noah was that "every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time." (Gen. 6:5) The text tells us that God was not only grieved that He created mankind, but "he was highly offended." Why? Because God can have nothing to do with sin.
Romans chapter 3 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We have all sinned and "highly offend" God. We are all outlaws who deserve punishment for breaking God's law. In all "fairness" God has every right to punish each of us for daily turning our backs on Him. Thankfully, God chose to love us by sending His Son to pay a debt that we could never pay in order to free us from our much deserved punishment. (John 3:16) That is grace! What do we have to do to have our debt paid? The Bible tells us it is just a matter of believing...
... that the events we celebrate each year on Good Friday and Easter actually happened
... that God sent His one and only Son to die for YOU and rise again three days later
... that you are now justified (made right with God) "freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24)
I am so thankful that God was not "fair" with us, but instead chose to show His eternal glory by extending His grace. Have you trusted in God's amazing grace to bring you new life in Christ?
Whether the researchers who conducted this study realize it or not, they actually bolstered the claims of the Bible. David proclaimed in Psalm 51 that he "was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." In fact, travel all the way back to Genesis chapter 6 and the description of the people in the days of Noah was that "every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time." (Gen. 6:5) The text tells us that God was not only grieved that He created mankind, but "he was highly offended." Why? Because God can have nothing to do with sin.
Romans chapter 3 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We have all sinned and "highly offend" God. We are all outlaws who deserve punishment for breaking God's law. In all "fairness" God has every right to punish each of us for daily turning our backs on Him. Thankfully, God chose to love us by sending His Son to pay a debt that we could never pay in order to free us from our much deserved punishment. (John 3:16) That is grace! What do we have to do to have our debt paid? The Bible tells us it is just a matter of believing...
... that the events we celebrate each year on Good Friday and Easter actually happened
... that God sent His one and only Son to die for YOU and rise again three days later
... that you are now justified (made right with God) "freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24)
I am so thankful that God was not "fair" with us, but instead chose to show His eternal glory by extending His grace. Have you trusted in God's amazing grace to bring you new life in Christ?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Creation
Earlier this week the warm weather enticed me to leave my office for a quick stroll around the pond next to our church building. It was marvelous to walk outside without a coat weighing me down, allowing my skin to soak up the warm life-giving sunshine. I marveled at all the things the snow had hidden from sight over the past several weeks. Grass, trees, shrubs, even the fish that had been held captive under thick layers of ice were now bursting forth in anticipation of the changing seasons.
My quick trip outside in the spring-like air reminded me of the psalmist’s words in Psalm 102:25, “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” He proclaims that all we see in this amazing world is the work of God’s hands. From the top of the mountains to the depth of the sea, all that we marvel at and enjoy in creation is the “work of his hands.”
The great King David would later proclaim in Psalm 139 that it was with the same wisdom and power that God created each human and “knit us together in our mother’s womb.” The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that “we are the clay” and God is the potter, which means we are the work of His hands!
The next time you feel the urge to take a stroll outside and marvel at the amazing creation, look no further than your own life. God created you, knit you together in your mother’s womb, and loves you enough to send His one and only Son to pay the penalty for your sin (John 3:16).
My quick trip outside in the spring-like air reminded me of the psalmist’s words in Psalm 102:25, “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” He proclaims that all we see in this amazing world is the work of God’s hands. From the top of the mountains to the depth of the sea, all that we marvel at and enjoy in creation is the “work of his hands.”
The great King David would later proclaim in Psalm 139 that it was with the same wisdom and power that God created each human and “knit us together in our mother’s womb.” The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that “we are the clay” and God is the potter, which means we are the work of His hands!
The next time you feel the urge to take a stroll outside and marvel at the amazing creation, look no further than your own life. God created you, knit you together in your mother’s womb, and loves you enough to send His one and only Son to pay the penalty for your sin (John 3:16).
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