by | April 19, 2016 · 11:37 pm

Arguments for Eternal Security

My last post – the one about not having excuses not to go to church – certainly stirred up some comments, didn’t it? When you have the time, why not peruse them for some additional pondering material.

This post, being written as I am recovering from a 24+ hour stomach virus, may prove to be even more comment stimulating.

By the way, did you know one can lose 7 pounds in just 24 hours?

My Outline

bibleThe following is the outline I took to with me to the pulpit Sunday morning. It starts off with some arguments against the “once-saved-always-saved” position. The next part lists six basic arguments in favor of the eternal security of the believer.

Of course, this is only an outline, not the sermon. But just looking at the outline, what are your thoughts?

“Eternal Security” 

Arguments Against “Once Saved, Always Saved”

  1. Observational – How people live that believe it.
  2. Free Will – We are created with a will; we’re not slaves.
  3. Scriptural (Hebrews 6; 1 John 3:9; 5:18)

Arguments FOR “Eternal Security”

  1. Creational Argument: We are New Creations (2 Cor. 5:17)
    1. It took a supernatural act to change us
    2. We can’t act supernaturally to change us back
  2. New Birth Argument: We are Born Again (John 3:7,16)
    1. By the Spirit – Jn 3:6
    2. By the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:23
    3. We are not God, so we must remain “born again”
  3. Children of God Argument
    1. Born that way – 1 John 5:1; 1 Peter 1:23
    2. Adopted – Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5
    3. Abba – Gal. 4:1-7
  4. The Possession Argument – We belong to Christ
    1. Purchased – 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23 (Bought with a Price)
    2. Given by the Father – Jn. 6:37-40; 10:28-30
    3. Will never be separated – Rom. 8:35-39
    4. Romans 14:8 – For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
    5. He can keep what is His – 2 Tim. 1:12 “…for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” See also: 2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
  5. The Marriage Argument
    1. Ephesians 5:25-28, 31-32 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church…This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
    2. He is faithful, even when we are not.
      1. 2 Timothy 2:11-13 “…if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful…”
      2. He is God, not man! – Hosea 11:7-9
  6. It’s a Gift
    1. 2:8-9 Gift of God, by grace
    2. Romans 11:29 KJV – For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance (irrevocable)

Click on the link below to listen to the audio. As you might be able to tell by the opening remarks, I believe it was a sermon we needed, but the devil was opposing. Nevertheless, hearts were encouraged.

https://riversidesermons.sermon.net/main/main/20657994

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by | April 17, 2016 · 7:53 am

9 Excuses You Don’t Have to Miss Church

It’s not too early… You would have already been at work.

You’re not too tired… You’d find a way to make it to something else.

You have enough time… You waste more than enough time watching reality TV.

It’s not boring… Try someplace else if they can’t get excited about Jesus. And, you know, it might not be the preacher, or the worship; it might be your heart.

They don’t want your money… If in doubt, just go where the pastor drives a used car (which are most).

You can dress decently… No, you’re not going to Wal-Mart, but you never complain about wearing clean clothes a party.

The seats are not that uncomfortable… Good grief, you sat in bleachers for 3 hours at a ball game – and sweat the whole time!

The people are not a bunch of hypocrites… To be honest, there are just as many or more at a ball game or the office. For that matter, are there skeletons in your closet? Do you wear makeup? Ever feel like you have to wear a mask? Then what are you complaining about?

It’s NOT optional as a Christian… “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:25 NLT

 

 

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by | April 16, 2016 · 1:05 am

Just Stomp Me. Selah.

“Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.” – Psalm 7:5

FullSizeRender (1)Selah. A musical notation calling us to pause, to rest for moment and consider what has just been said. In this verse David asks God to let his enemy “persecute” him and essentially pound him into the earth! Why? Let’s think about it.

Out of Context

Should we read this verse as a stand-alone statement, apart from the context in which it was written, David would appear to have some serious mental problems. Is that what he is telling us to think about?

In this one verse there are three separate actions for which David is asking God to allow.

  1. Let the enemy persecute and take my soul.
  2. Let the enemy tread down (walk all over and stomp on) my life.
  3. Let the enemy lay my honour in the dust.

Why would David ask God to allow these things? Was he crazy? Not hardly.

In Proper Context

When we examine the full context of Psalm 7,  what we see is David crying out to God for deliverance from another one of his enemies, Cush the Benjamite. Evidently Cush had made some serious accusations concerning David’s actions, accusing him of some very bad things.

“O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause…” – Psalm 7:3-4 NKJV

Iniquity…doing evil to the one with whom he was at peace…plundering his enemy without cause… What in the world did Cush think David did? We may never know.

However, David was so confident that whatever Cush was accusing him of was a fabrication – a lie – that he was willing to suggest his own destruction should the accusation be true.

Making Application

Are you living in such a way that you could pray with confidence: “Lord, let my enemy destroy me, even drag my soul to hell, should I actually be guilty of whatever he’s accusing me of.”

If not, then maybe we should pray another prayer, one in which David asked God to show him anything that needed changing.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” – Psalm 139:23-24 KJV

I’d say it’s far better to let God do a work on us before our enemy does a number on us.

 

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by | April 15, 2016 · 6:00 am

Preaching to the Lions

Bryan College

Chapel-1Earlier this month I had the awesome opportunity and tremendous honor to speak/preach to the student body at Bryan College in Dayton, TN (where one of our daughters attends). What a great university where Christ is “Above All.”

I was given the task of finishing a four-part study through the book of Colossians. I was told it didn’t matter what I preached, just as long as it was from the fourth chapter. Therefore, I felt led to address “Five Watches” in Colossians 4.

A Room of Lions

Daniel had to face the lions, but nothing like these – these “lions” were college students! Looking out at them made me feel a little bit like red meat. Just imagine hundreds of young, up-and-coming professionals staring at you!

FullSizeRender (2)Oh, but it was a blast! I even got to tease my daughter a little, making her think I was going to show one of her “baby in the bathtub” pictures on the big screen behind me 🙂 Instead, I had them put up a picture of Baby (her dog) in the bathtub.

Sometimes it’s just fun being a dad 😉

So, what are you doing with your time?

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by | April 14, 2016 · 1:53 pm

A Warning from Bugs


When I first saw this beautiful picture taken by my daughter, Katie Marie, the first thought that came to mind was what Bugs Bunny said as he ran back down the stairs he previously ran up in an attempt to escape a monster… “Don’t go up there! It’s dark!”

I guess there are times when facing our monsters is wiser than running into the unknown. 

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by | April 13, 2016 · 11:04 pm

A Small Observation

A version of this story can be found in my book, Life Lessons from the School Bus.

Politically Incorrect

OK, I will admit it, once you read what this is all about you will tell me that I am being politically incorrect, insensitive, or mean-spirited. You will say that the title of this post is inappropriate and beneath me (well, the beneath part is right). You may tell me that I should not make fun of those who are “vertically challenged.”

If you say these things because you think I am making fun of short, small, or otherwise non-tall people, then think again. I am only being humorous at their expense to make a point. Actually, it won’t be at their expense for long. I am going to pay the bill.

Children Can be Cruel

You know it’s true – children can be cruel, especially around people who are “different.” When driving around a bus load of elementary children, one can hear a lot of cruel comments come from their little, angelic, crumb-crunching mouths.

photo 2 (2)Little girls, as well as little boys, can get downright mean with the things that they say. However, they have no idea of the lasting consequences of their teasing. They have yet to sit through months or years of counseling.

Because kids can be cruel, even when they don’t mean to be, I try to steer them (literally) away from opportunity. But on one occasion, even though I did the best I could, the kids jumped at the chance to gawk and laugh. I will never forget what I saw.

Choosing Not to Hear

One day I was driving my school bus down a two-lane road when just ahead of me I spotted a dwarf…a short guy…a midget…walking by the curb. Immediately, I knew what was about to happen.

Right ahead of where this guy was walking was a place I had to make a stop. Sadly, I could not just speed on by, but had to slow down. When the first child saw this little man it didn’t take long for the 20+ others to shift over to that side of the bus to take a look. In an instant there was laughter.

But in all honesty, the laughter was not all that loud. My kids are aware that stuff like that makes me angry, so they try not to get caught. So, only if one had been really listening or paying attention could that person have heard the giggles and jokes. The little man on the road didn’t want to take any chances.

As soon as I started to pass by this 3ft-tall little bald guy with biker tattoos (wearing a tank top and little jeans), he did something that really broke my heart -he put his finger in his ear. He knew what was coming, and he didn’t want to hear.

That simple action said a whole lot. 

  • He had heard cruel laughter before
  • He expected to hear it again
  • He knew what kinds of things would be said
  • He did not have the will, nor the ability to defend himself
  • He decided to not listen, but to close his ears

Sadly, many are convinced what other people say about them is true.

The jeers and the laughter not only offend, but they cut deeply, causing irreparable scarring and pain. How many have given up? How many have quit defending themselves?

One of the characteristics of a true Christian should be that he defends the defenseless, the ones who can not speak up for themselves. Psalm 82:3 says that we should “defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Couldn’t this also apply to standing up for those who are made fun of or mocked unjustly?

Consider the words of Jesus: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Mark 12:31). What kind of person would want to be laughed at because of something he/she could not help?

Be Considerate

The next time you are tempted, consider what you are doing. The next time you are around someone, even a child, who makes fun of another person, stop and take the time to “defend” and “do justice.”

Don’t walk around with a finger in your ear.

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by | April 13, 2016 · 10:17 am

When Is One Valuable?

IMG_4205

Last night, as I was driving home, I took the above picture. To be nice I edited out the name of the church, along with the pastor’s name.

The first time I saw the sign it didn’t take long for me to realize something was wrong. Everything was spelled correctly (at least I think so), but the message of the sign was incorrect.

The problem with this sign is that someone misapplied the truth that something is only as valuable as what another will pay. For example, I have an old chunk of wood in my garage. For all practical purposes it is worthless. However, should someone offer me $500 for it, the piece of wood’s value just increased dramatically. But if I could never get even $.25 for the wood, it’s really not worth much at all.

Yet, when it comes to people – living souls – our value is intrinsic; we were made by God in the image of God…God doesn’t make junk. Therefore, it is because we are already of immense value that God sent His Son to pay the price for our redemption upon the cross of Calvary.

The price that God paid for us does not make us valuable; it confirms our value to Him.

Should we accept the message on this church’s sign, we must then assume that those who are lost without Christ are of little or no value. However, thanks be to God this is not true!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” – Matthew 13:44-46 KJV

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV

Our value preceded the price paid, and that is why there was only One who could afford the sacrifice it took to redeem us. 

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by | April 12, 2016 · 6:30 am

A Book Title Poem

About the Books

About three years ago I received a rather large addition to my personal library. In addition to the over a thousand books in my office, nineteen banker’s boxes full of books was given to me by a former seminary professor.

This professor of theology, a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Seminary and a contemporary of David Platt, was from Canada. When his work permit in America expired he found himself unable to ship his library back home – the cost was prohibitive. Therefore, he offered them to me to keep and use in his absence. He said, “If I don’t come back in a couple of years, just consider them yours to keep.”

It’s now been three years, and I’m just now starting to unwrap the “gift.” I hope he forgot me.

The Box

FullSizeRender (4)I’ve seen how people have been writing poems by using the titles of books. Linda Kruschke is a good example (click HERE to read her latest poem, My Soul Feels Peace).

So, what I did was open up one of the boxes of books (one of which I’d already written the contents on the lid), reached down inside and pulled out a decent stack, and then arranged the stack into a pyramid…largest book on the bottom, smallest on the top.

The poem that I proceeded to write was based on the titles of the books from top to bottom.

The Poem

The Science Question

The Science of God is the study of God

It’s something we call Theology.

The Apostolic Fathers taught it well,

Setting the standards for what would be.

The science would produce Three Views on Eastern

Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism

But Apologetic Preaching would come along

To combat what we’d come to call pluralism.

What’s True for You, but Not for Me

May give you A New Perspective on Jesus,

But be mindful of The Origin of Christology

And don’t neglect to peruse some Aquinas.

There’s something about The Passionate Intellect

That leads some to question, “Does God Exist?”

But the wise understand Creation Out of Nothing

Was breathed by the God of The Ten Commandments.

And now that the Fathers are long past gone

The Cross of Christ is the message they give.

This new generations of scientific theologians

Who preach as they ask, “How Should We Then Live?”

 

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by | April 11, 2016 · 12:44 pm

Focus

If you are a follower of my blog, would you do me a favor and go follow my daughter’s blog, Shutter Elf? Hey, a dad’s gotta do what a dad’s gotta do, right?

Just think, you could be in on the beginning of an up-and-coming famous photographer 🙂 AND she does it all for the glory of God!

Katie Marie's avatarShutter Elf

DSC_1756 (2)

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by | April 11, 2016 · 7:00 am

May a Christian Listen to Any Kind of Music?

Sharing a Facebook Thread

Very rarely do I share a conversation from Facebook, but this one with a former member of my congregation (who shall remain nameless) is well worth it.

The following question is an honest one, made by a Christian struggling with a real dilemma.

The Question

“I have been thinking a lot about how music affects me, spiritually. I’m not a big fan of a lot of Christian music although I am a Christian. I like old school hymns but not so much the newer contemporary music. I don’t know how someone can have the gift of music and be a peaceful, Christ-like person, but not go to Heaven or not ever be saved (Like George Harrison). Every time I hear “My sweet Lord” I think of how I can’t wait to be with my Lord in Heaven and my family and friends, but George wasn’t a Christian. Also there are other musicians who are talented and really great people but they’re not saved.

“Does that make me a bad Christian because I don’t listen to J103 [a CCM station in the Chattanooga area] but really like classic Rock? I wouldn’t listen to music knowingly that bashes God, so it disturbs me that a Christian or anyone could listen to music or say things like GD.

“Not sure if this makes any sense, because I am not a writer and have a hard time putting my thoughts into words. But it’s been on my mind a lot lately, for some reason. Maybe I should be listening to more music that praises God, but I feel like most all music is a gift from God. Thoughts please! This is really bugging me.” – (Minor edits were made for this blog)

My Response

“Without him quoting any Bible verses, let this preacher submit his two cents 😉

“Music WAS created by God. Music is what we would call “amoral,” because it is neither good or bad – it just is. However, music is a very powerful force which links emotions, memories, and physical feelings together with the now. That kind of force attached to a lyric (the words) can become a powerful tool – either for good or evil.

“The guiding authority for the Christian is God’s divine revelation to man – the Bible. Regardless of what man (or woman) has to say, we should always base our actions on what is right in the light of God’s Word. Therefore, does the Bible have anything to say about whether a Christian should listen to just Christian music? Only in principle.

“OK, I can’t help it…I have to quote Scripture. “Whatsoever things are true…just…pure…honest…lovely…of good report…have virtue…any praise…think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). There are a lot of non-Christian songs (especially instrumental music) that fit into the above verse. A song about doing good, or loving someone forever, or doing what’s right in a bad world…there’s nothing really wrong with that. However, you do have to be careful when you start liking a style of music without any regard to the lyrics of the song itself. The musical score may be amoral, but the lyrics can be anything but true, pure, virtuous, etc. That stuff you should avoid.

“One other thing I would caution you about: Never fall for the lie of “I don’t listen to the words, just the music.” That sounds all well and good, but it’s impossible – unless you just don’t understand the language being sung. Every song has a message, else it’s not a song. If the message is ungodly, then it will eventually find its way into your heart.

“Remember, there is an Enemy that knows more about the power of music than any producer or executive in Nashville. This Enemy knows our weaknesses and temptations, too. If world leaders know how to use propaganda to turn the minds and hearts of people, don’t you think the Devil is equally knowledgeable? Remember where Satan came from and of what he is capable. One of his actual [attributes] was the ability to create music – not just play it – within himself. At one point he literally led the worshipping angels of heaven and gave praise to God! He KNOWS music. He also knows how to use it to change minds, just like he did to a third of the angels of heaven.

“So, all that being said, we are not under the Law, but Grace. You are free to make choices. However, you are NOT free from the consequences of your choices. Therefore, my advice is to choose wisely. Make sure what you listen to is at least wholesome, if not exactly Christian. Feed your soul with good stuff, not trash, and you’ll not have anything to worry about.”

What are YOUR thoughts?

Yes, I know a little about music. This is myself, along with my sister, Rebecca, Jody Gould, and Steve Castlen. The band was Mirror Image, circa 1992.

Yes, I know a little about music. This is myself, along with my sister, Rebecca, Jody Gould, and Steve Castlen. The band was Mirror Image, circa 1992.

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