Moral Revelation
A fourth argument for the existence of God in the area of general revelation is the moral argument. The moral argument is any argument that seeks to show the existence of God based on the moral compass with in humanity. The very sense of right and wrong points to the foundation of a law giver who has placed that sense within them. Words such as ought and should that are in the minds and lips of humanity find their origin in God who made a standard that one ought and should follow. Even those who would claim a relativistic approach to right and truth and claim that there is no right or wrong and truth does not exist believe that their statement is truth and they are right about their assertions. This standard of right and wrong and existence of truth is not isolated in one given society but expands internationally beyond national borders. Perhaps the applications are different but the idea of right and truth remains the same.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Anthropological Revelation
Anthropological Revelation
A third argument for the existence of God in the area of general Revelation is the anthropological argument. The anthropological argument is any argument that seeks to show the existence of God based on the nature of man. When we look at the way that man is made, intellect, emotions, the ability to make personal intelligent choices, and his social and spiritual aspects, a blind force could never have brought this combination together. The First Cause of intelligent beings would Himself have to have be intelligent. A unintelligent impersonal thing could not bring something intelligent and personal into existence.
A third argument for the existence of God in the area of general Revelation is the anthropological argument. The anthropological argument is any argument that seeks to show the existence of God based on the nature of man. When we look at the way that man is made, intellect, emotions, the ability to make personal intelligent choices, and his social and spiritual aspects, a blind force could never have brought this combination together. The First Cause of intelligent beings would Himself have to have be intelligent. A unintelligent impersonal thing could not bring something intelligent and personal into existence.
Teleological Revelation
Teleological Revelation
A second argument for the existence of God in the area of General Revelation is the teleological argument. The teleological argument is any argument that seeks to show the existence of God based on the fine-tuning of the universe. When we look out at the universe that had a beginning brought about by a personal cause, we discover that Cause is not only personal but purposefully intelligent. There is such precision in the universe to such a degree that any minute change up or down would result in catastrophic disaster. For example the distance that the earth is from the sun, any closer and the earth would melt from the radiation of the sun. In other words it would be too hot. Any further from the sun and we would begin to freeze. This is also seen in the axel orbit that the earth maintains. Or the precise activity of the moon and the control of the tides. The odds of life that is found on planet earth is so huge that chance could not explain it.
One example that is used is the human eye. So complex yet every detail is necessary for proper functionality. If you take one piece away or change it slightly, the eye would not function properly. Now if we were to say compare this with a watch. A watch is so complex yet every detail is necessary for proper functionality. Take away a piece or slightly alter the gears, and you get a broken watch. Now no one argues that the watch just happened to come into existence by random chance, or that a 747 flew over a junk yard and the force of the pass-by caused by chance junk to come together in such a way to produce the mechanical workings of the time piece. If the watch was produced by an intelligent watch maker, then so to the eye, not to mention DNA, the brain, and other amazing realities that point to the existence of an intelligent designer, namely God.
A second argument for the existence of God in the area of General Revelation is the teleological argument. The teleological argument is any argument that seeks to show the existence of God based on the fine-tuning of the universe. When we look out at the universe that had a beginning brought about by a personal cause, we discover that Cause is not only personal but purposefully intelligent. There is such precision in the universe to such a degree that any minute change up or down would result in catastrophic disaster. For example the distance that the earth is from the sun, any closer and the earth would melt from the radiation of the sun. In other words it would be too hot. Any further from the sun and we would begin to freeze. This is also seen in the axel orbit that the earth maintains. Or the precise activity of the moon and the control of the tides. The odds of life that is found on planet earth is so huge that chance could not explain it.
One example that is used is the human eye. So complex yet every detail is necessary for proper functionality. If you take one piece away or change it slightly, the eye would not function properly. Now if we were to say compare this with a watch. A watch is so complex yet every detail is necessary for proper functionality. Take away a piece or slightly alter the gears, and you get a broken watch. Now no one argues that the watch just happened to come into existence by random chance, or that a 747 flew over a junk yard and the force of the pass-by caused by chance junk to come together in such a way to produce the mechanical workings of the time piece. If the watch was produced by an intelligent watch maker, then so to the eye, not to mention DNA, the brain, and other amazing realities that point to the existence of an intelligent designer, namely God.
Cosmological Revelation
Cosmological Revelation
First I will start with cosmological revelation, or the Cosmological argument for the existence of the God. Cosmological revelation is used by God to show his existence based on the creation of the universe. The main form of the cosmological argument is the Kalam cosmological argument. This argument seeks to show that God exists based on sufficient evidence for the universe having a beginning. God has revealed His existence based on the evidence He has placed in the universe to show that it had a beginning and thus had a creator.
The argument goes something like this: The universe came into existence at some point in the finite past. The existence of the universe was caused by a personal external being. There are three stages or questions that are answered. As each question is answered it movies into the next stage. The three questions are:
I like to use the example of people standing in a classroom. If we were in a classroom of 20 people seated in rows of 5 people per row, and the last row was asked to stand and then each sit one after the other, there would be some time elapsed before the last person sit down. Howbeit that it was a short elapse of time. Now what about the last two rows going through the same process? A little more time would then elapse before the last man standing sat down. Now increase the amount of people standing by the next row, and the next and so on till all 20 people are standing. Now the time has increased a lot. Suppose there was enough people to stand to expand the boards of California and they began the process, it would take a huge amount of time before the last person standing at the other border to finally sit down. Why? Because there is a lot of people that need to set down in front of him before he or she sat down. With this in mind, what if we had an infinite amount of people that were standing and if we could somehow find the first person to set down, how long would it take the last man standing to set down? The answer: He would never sit down, because there would always be another person in the line ahead of him that needed to set down first. In fact you could move up the line to the 5th person till the end and the same thing would occur. He would never sit down. Thus the exhaustion of my point. If the universe had no beginning, there would always be another event/moment that would have to take place before we got to this present event/moment. Since we are here then there must have only been a finite amount of events/moments that took place before us, thus pointing to the beginning of the universe.
Now from this we can establish that since the universe had a beginning or came into existence some finite time ago, and reality states that everything that comes into existence at some point had a cause. Even down to the molecular level such as quantum physics have a cause even if it cannot be determined immediately or it seems to be random.
Finally since the universe had a beginning or came into existence at some finite time ago, and that beginning was caused, the only solution for the final question is that cause was personal. For all that exists within the universe could not have caused by impersonal things.
The other law that God placed within His creation as a revelation of His existence is the 2nd law of thermodynamics. This law states roughly that energy in a closed system will move to equilibrium. In other words the energy in the universe will run down to a equal spread. The idea of this law is that God has placed energy within the universe at its beginning and it is running down to an end. Just like a cup of hot coffee that is placed in a room with the lid removed. Eventually the cup of coffee will no longer have the heat it started out with but the heat will dissipate throughout the room and thus the coffee becomes cold. If the universe always existed and the 2nd law of thermodynamics is correct, then we would have died a infinite time ago and the universe would have lost all of its energy an infinite time ago as well, resulting in a heat death or a black hole somewhere. Since the universe had not lost its energy or experiencing heat death and we are still here, suggests that the universe only existed for a short finite time thus pointing to a beginning once again.
First I will start with cosmological revelation, or the Cosmological argument for the existence of the God. Cosmological revelation is used by God to show his existence based on the creation of the universe. The main form of the cosmological argument is the Kalam cosmological argument. This argument seeks to show that God exists based on sufficient evidence for the universe having a beginning. God has revealed His existence based on the evidence He has placed in the universe to show that it had a beginning and thus had a creator.
The argument goes something like this: The universe came into existence at some point in the finite past. The existence of the universe was caused by a personal external being. There are three stages or questions that are answered. As each question is answered it movies into the next stage. The three questions are:
- Did the universe have a beginning?
- Was that beginning caused?
- Was that cause personal?
I like to use the example of people standing in a classroom. If we were in a classroom of 20 people seated in rows of 5 people per row, and the last row was asked to stand and then each sit one after the other, there would be some time elapsed before the last person sit down. Howbeit that it was a short elapse of time. Now what about the last two rows going through the same process? A little more time would then elapse before the last man standing sat down. Now increase the amount of people standing by the next row, and the next and so on till all 20 people are standing. Now the time has increased a lot. Suppose there was enough people to stand to expand the boards of California and they began the process, it would take a huge amount of time before the last person standing at the other border to finally sit down. Why? Because there is a lot of people that need to set down in front of him before he or she sat down. With this in mind, what if we had an infinite amount of people that were standing and if we could somehow find the first person to set down, how long would it take the last man standing to set down? The answer: He would never sit down, because there would always be another person in the line ahead of him that needed to set down first. In fact you could move up the line to the 5th person till the end and the same thing would occur. He would never sit down. Thus the exhaustion of my point. If the universe had no beginning, there would always be another event/moment that would have to take place before we got to this present event/moment. Since we are here then there must have only been a finite amount of events/moments that took place before us, thus pointing to the beginning of the universe.
Now from this we can establish that since the universe had a beginning or came into existence some finite time ago, and reality states that everything that comes into existence at some point had a cause. Even down to the molecular level such as quantum physics have a cause even if it cannot be determined immediately or it seems to be random.
Finally since the universe had a beginning or came into existence at some finite time ago, and that beginning was caused, the only solution for the final question is that cause was personal. For all that exists within the universe could not have caused by impersonal things.
The other law that God placed within His creation as a revelation of His existence is the 2nd law of thermodynamics. This law states roughly that energy in a closed system will move to equilibrium. In other words the energy in the universe will run down to a equal spread. The idea of this law is that God has placed energy within the universe at its beginning and it is running down to an end. Just like a cup of hot coffee that is placed in a room with the lid removed. Eventually the cup of coffee will no longer have the heat it started out with but the heat will dissipate throughout the room and thus the coffee becomes cold. If the universe always existed and the 2nd law of thermodynamics is correct, then we would have died a infinite time ago and the universe would have lost all of its energy an infinite time ago as well, resulting in a heat death or a black hole somewhere. Since the universe had not lost its energy or experiencing heat death and we are still here, suggests that the universe only existed for a short finite time thus pointing to a beginning once again.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Ontological Revelation
This is a continuation of Theology Proper
The fifth argument for the existence of God in the area of general revelation is the ontological argument. The ontological argument is any argument that seeks to show the existence of God based on the concept of the greatest conceivable being. The oppositions of this argument is that first there is three ways that something can exist: 1) Only in the mind; 2) only in reality, or 3) both in the mind and in reality. The ontological argument seeks to show that it is greater to exist in reality then just in the mind. For example, if I mentioned to someone that I was going to give that person a million dollars. When I made that statement to that person, the million dollars only existed in his and my mine. Now if I only left it there in the realm of the mind, and never actually followed through with the actually giving of that million dollars, I think the person would be a little upset with me. But if I actually handed the million dollars to that person, then I would see a smile on his face. He realized that the million dollars is greater when it is not only in the mind but in reality as well. So with this in mind, the ontological argument for the existence of God states that “in order for God to be the greatest conceivable being, then he would have to exist not only in the realm of the mind, but also in the realm of reality. Otherwise there would be something else greater then him, namely that which exists both in the mind and in reality.
The fifth argument for the existence of God in the area of general revelation is the ontological argument. The ontological argument is any argument that seeks to show the existence of God based on the concept of the greatest conceivable being. The oppositions of this argument is that first there is three ways that something can exist: 1) Only in the mind; 2) only in reality, or 3) both in the mind and in reality. The ontological argument seeks to show that it is greater to exist in reality then just in the mind. For example, if I mentioned to someone that I was going to give that person a million dollars. When I made that statement to that person, the million dollars only existed in his and my mine. Now if I only left it there in the realm of the mind, and never actually followed through with the actually giving of that million dollars, I think the person would be a little upset with me. But if I actually handed the million dollars to that person, then I would see a smile on his face. He realized that the million dollars is greater when it is not only in the mind but in reality as well. So with this in mind, the ontological argument for the existence of God states that “in order for God to be the greatest conceivable being, then he would have to exist not only in the realm of the mind, but also in the realm of reality. Otherwise there would be something else greater then him, namely that which exists both in the mind and in reality.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Theology Proper
The Study of God’s Revelation
Although this heading can apply to all of the systematic theological categories, specifically this section will deal with God’s self revelation, namely Theology Proper and His written revelation, namely Bibliology.
Theology Proper – General Revelation
Before we get into Systematic theology as seen in the revelation of God’s word and His nature as revealed in that Word, I guess I can start with the revelation of His existence outside of the Bible. Is the critic and Atheist right when they say that there is no revelation of God’s existence in the world? This topic is answered in Apologetic theology and the concept of General Revelation; that is revelation of God seen in the world apart from the bible. In other words I would say that God has revealed himself in the creation. Now I can go to the first book of the bible and declare that the universe was created by God, but I can also look at the universe itself and discover evidence for reality of the claim in the first book of the Bible.
Apologetic Theology – Existence of God
Within this topic of General Revelation is the Apologetic theology of the different arguments for the existence of God, namely the Cosmological, anthropological, moral, ontological, and the teleological. These arguments or elements of General revelation are not designed to give an exhaustive understanding of Theology Proper. They are simply designed to get us to the reality that God exists based on His revelation in the world. A different post will address each argument.
Although this heading can apply to all of the systematic theological categories, specifically this section will deal with God’s self revelation, namely Theology Proper and His written revelation, namely Bibliology.
Theology Proper – General Revelation
Before we get into Systematic theology as seen in the revelation of God’s word and His nature as revealed in that Word, I guess I can start with the revelation of His existence outside of the Bible. Is the critic and Atheist right when they say that there is no revelation of God’s existence in the world? This topic is answered in Apologetic theology and the concept of General Revelation; that is revelation of God seen in the world apart from the bible. In other words I would say that God has revealed himself in the creation. Now I can go to the first book of the bible and declare that the universe was created by God, but I can also look at the universe itself and discover evidence for reality of the claim in the first book of the Bible.
Apologetic Theology – Existence of God
Within this topic of General Revelation is the Apologetic theology of the different arguments for the existence of God, namely the Cosmological, anthropological, moral, ontological, and the teleological. These arguments or elements of General revelation are not designed to give an exhaustive understanding of Theology Proper. They are simply designed to get us to the reality that God exists based on His revelation in the world. A different post will address each argument.
Systematic Theology
Introduction
The following document is my thoughts on the Systematic categories of Christian Theology. It is a work in progress. It is a document on what I actually believe. How can I articulate my theology and the Scriptural support for it?
Definition
Systematic theology is a discipline of theological formation in which external categories are brought to the Scripture of the major doctrines of the Christian faith. In this document I will deal with the following categories:
In future posts, i will be dealing with the different systematic theological categories.
The following document is my thoughts on the Systematic categories of Christian Theology. It is a work in progress. It is a document on what I actually believe. How can I articulate my theology and the Scriptural support for it?
Definition
Systematic theology is a discipline of theological formation in which external categories are brought to the Scripture of the major doctrines of the Christian faith. In this document I will deal with the following categories:
- Bibliology – The study of the God’s Word
- Theology Proper – The study of God’s nature
- Angelology – The study of Angels
- Demonology – The study of demons
- Satanology – The study of Satan
- Anthropology – The study of man.
- Harmarteology – The study of Sin
- Christology – The Study of Christ
- Soteriology – The study of Salvation
- Phuematology – The study of the Holy Spirit
- Ecclesiology – The study of the church
- Eschatology – The Study of end times.
- The Study of God’s Revelation
- Bibliology
- Theology Proper
- The Study of God’s Creation
- Angelology
- Demonology
- Satariology
- Anthropology
- The Study of God’s Redemption
- Harmarteology
- Christology
- Soteriology
- Pnuematology
- Eccleisology
- Eschatology
In future posts, i will be dealing with the different systematic theological categories.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Restoring the Soul
"The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the Soul" - Psalm 19:7
The theological understanding of this verse is that God's word is blameless. In other words there is no flaw in it. It is without error. In systematic theology this is called infallibility.
It is the second part of this sentence that has brought comfort to my heart as of late. Last night i had a dream. Actually i would consider it a nightmare. I will not go into the details, but i remember waking up with images in my head. I couldn't go back to sleep. So i began to meditate on Psalm 23. "The Lord is my shepherd, i shall not be in want." After awhile i must have fallen asleep because i woke up 3 hours later refreshed for the day. Psalm 19:7 states that the law of the LORD is not only perfect, but it restores the soul. It restores the soul after a terrible dream. It brings peace to the worried mind.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thoughts on the condition of humanity
As i was teaching through the Bible, specifically the book of Micah, I came across a passage that reveals the reality of the situation that humanity finds themselves in. Micah 6:1. In verses 1-3 we see the situation before the solution.
"Here now what the LORD is saying, Arise, plead your case before the mountains and let the hills hear your voice. Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth, because the LORD has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute. My people, what have I done to you, and how have I wearied you? Answer Me."- Micah 6:1-3
In court like manner, God stands before the nation of Israel as a Judge and Plaintiff bringing a case against the nation, who stands as defendants required to give an answer to the charges against them. In this Supreme court, Micah reports to us the case that God had against the people of Israel for their covenant unfaithfulness. There was a breach of contract, a violation of the standard God had set up. And now they were standing before him in His court room for an infringement of their agreement with Him.
The court is in session, the honorable Judge of the universe is seated at His bench residing over the case of the people verses the Lord of Host. The Jury has been selected. Notice that it is not a jury selected from their unbiased peers but an odd group of characters. It is the mountains and the foundations of the earth that sit in the jury box. The Lord does not go to the peers because they are all in the same situation. They entire people of Israel stand in violation of the standard of God. The whole nation is guilty before God and stands on trial.
Micah tells us that the court is in session because the Lord has a case against Israel. The word dispute here has the idea of a two way dialogue. Each side will be given a chance to present their case before the court. In other words the Lord gives the people time to respond to the accusations against them. God gives them time to plead for their innocence.
The irony of this idea is that God knew that the people had no case for their innocence. . They had no argument in their defense. They had no excuses for why the breach of contract. No accepted reasons for their violation of the covenant agreement set out before them. The jury knew that the evidence pointed to their guilt. Yet God gives them time to plead their case. Now God could have come in and said, you are wrong, I am right, it is done, sentence please. And if he had done that the jury would have motioned for conviction and the bailiff would have dragged the accused off to their punishment, no questions, asked. The gavel would have been dropped and court adjourned.
Instead God gives them time. He gives them a chance to bring their cross-examination. It is their turn to call their first witness on their behalf. Now Micah goes right into God's continued case, but I can imagine the pause that took place within the court room. Yahweh looks at the defendants, the nation of Israel, the accused and asked them to give their cross-examination.
I can imagine the people looking around, not even daring to look in His face or in his direction, trying to see if anyone had any evidence for their innocence and the fact that God has it all wrong. But they had no answer. They were speechless. God had gotten them. They stood before him guilty of all the wrong doing they were on trial for and when they were left to try and make their excuses where the real blame was, they could not follow through. They could not call their first witness because they had none. They were left without excuse. They knew that they had been found out. They realized their hearts were arrested and the only shadow of doubt that they could not go beyond was the shadow of their own hearts and the doubt the jury would even go in their favor.
Now I am sure that there were intelligent, wealthy, and even good people from a earthly perspective in the crowd. But these things couldn't give an answer either. And when the gavel came down the sentence would be death without parole. Eternal Judgment.
I want you to listen, make no mistake, ever person on this planet, every sinner that walks on this earth, everyone in this room is in the same position before God. As we stand in the court room of God, we are guilty of all the charges that we stand trial for. Just take the 10 commandments, "Thou shall not lie, thou shall not steal."
"You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."- Exodus 20:15-16
These are just two of them and everyone can find an experience where they have told a little white lie or stole something that was not theirs, even something small.
And when faced with the opportunity to defend ourselves in this court room of life, the only thing we will be left with is our silence. We cannot call our first witness on our behalf because we have none. We have no evidence to plead our innocence. We stand before God guilty of violating his perfect standard and we have no soap box to stand and plead our case. And the truth of the situation is that the diagnose is clear, Cardiac arrest. Left to our own defense there is no way out of the sentence. The shadow of our own hearts have been discovered. And the verdict is simple: Eternal judgment. And if God were to judge us based on the violation of just those two commandments mentioned above, be honest with yourselves. You would be guilty. This is the situation before the solution.
Now Micah goes on at shows us the solution to that situation that God offers to everyone. it is in this situation that God reinforces the solution that changes the situation for the condemned. When they are faced with silence and without any plea in their corner God provides the solution. He comes in and brings redemption. As we stand guilty awaiting the sentence, God sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to take that sentence on himself. The innocent becomes the guilty and the guilty is pardoned. That is the offer.
But how do we receive this offer? We receive it by faith. Faith is acknowledging that we have wronged God and violated his standard. Faith is realizing that God has offered a solution, namely His Son and forgiveness and with that a heaven that awaits after death. Then faith calls to God and asks to receive that solution and change your life. Are you willing to make that step? If not then you stand like the nation of Israel in Micah, guilty and without an answer for your violation. And if death were to take you in that state, Hell and punishment would result. Don't put it off another day. Take the step of faith today.
How would you take this step of faith? God is ready to listen to your prayer of faith. Simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Believe that Jesus came and died on the cross to pay for those sins. He arose from the grave and offers salvation to you. He also said that he would come and dwell in your heart. Ask Him come and dwell in your heart and change you to be like him.
"Here now what the LORD is saying, Arise, plead your case before the mountains and let the hills hear your voice. Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth, because the LORD has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute. My people, what have I done to you, and how have I wearied you? Answer Me."- Micah 6:1-3
In court like manner, God stands before the nation of Israel as a Judge and Plaintiff bringing a case against the nation, who stands as defendants required to give an answer to the charges against them. In this Supreme court, Micah reports to us the case that God had against the people of Israel for their covenant unfaithfulness. There was a breach of contract, a violation of the standard God had set up. And now they were standing before him in His court room for an infringement of their agreement with Him.
The court is in session, the honorable Judge of the universe is seated at His bench residing over the case of the people verses the Lord of Host. The Jury has been selected. Notice that it is not a jury selected from their unbiased peers but an odd group of characters. It is the mountains and the foundations of the earth that sit in the jury box. The Lord does not go to the peers because they are all in the same situation. They entire people of Israel stand in violation of the standard of God. The whole nation is guilty before God and stands on trial.
Micah tells us that the court is in session because the Lord has a case against Israel. The word dispute here has the idea of a two way dialogue. Each side will be given a chance to present their case before the court. In other words the Lord gives the people time to respond to the accusations against them. God gives them time to plead for their innocence.
The irony of this idea is that God knew that the people had no case for their innocence. . They had no argument in their defense. They had no excuses for why the breach of contract. No accepted reasons for their violation of the covenant agreement set out before them. The jury knew that the evidence pointed to their guilt. Yet God gives them time to plead their case. Now God could have come in and said, you are wrong, I am right, it is done, sentence please. And if he had done that the jury would have motioned for conviction and the bailiff would have dragged the accused off to their punishment, no questions, asked. The gavel would have been dropped and court adjourned.
Instead God gives them time. He gives them a chance to bring their cross-examination. It is their turn to call their first witness on their behalf. Now Micah goes right into God's continued case, but I can imagine the pause that took place within the court room. Yahweh looks at the defendants, the nation of Israel, the accused and asked them to give their cross-examination.
I can imagine the people looking around, not even daring to look in His face or in his direction, trying to see if anyone had any evidence for their innocence and the fact that God has it all wrong. But they had no answer. They were speechless. God had gotten them. They stood before him guilty of all the wrong doing they were on trial for and when they were left to try and make their excuses where the real blame was, they could not follow through. They could not call their first witness because they had none. They were left without excuse. They knew that they had been found out. They realized their hearts were arrested and the only shadow of doubt that they could not go beyond was the shadow of their own hearts and the doubt the jury would even go in their favor.
Now I am sure that there were intelligent, wealthy, and even good people from a earthly perspective in the crowd. But these things couldn't give an answer either. And when the gavel came down the sentence would be death without parole. Eternal Judgment.
I want you to listen, make no mistake, ever person on this planet, every sinner that walks on this earth, everyone in this room is in the same position before God. As we stand in the court room of God, we are guilty of all the charges that we stand trial for. Just take the 10 commandments, "Thou shall not lie, thou shall not steal."
"You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."- Exodus 20:15-16
These are just two of them and everyone can find an experience where they have told a little white lie or stole something that was not theirs, even something small.
And when faced with the opportunity to defend ourselves in this court room of life, the only thing we will be left with is our silence. We cannot call our first witness on our behalf because we have none. We have no evidence to plead our innocence. We stand before God guilty of violating his perfect standard and we have no soap box to stand and plead our case. And the truth of the situation is that the diagnose is clear, Cardiac arrest. Left to our own defense there is no way out of the sentence. The shadow of our own hearts have been discovered. And the verdict is simple: Eternal judgment. And if God were to judge us based on the violation of just those two commandments mentioned above, be honest with yourselves. You would be guilty. This is the situation before the solution.
Now Micah goes on at shows us the solution to that situation that God offers to everyone. it is in this situation that God reinforces the solution that changes the situation for the condemned. When they are faced with silence and without any plea in their corner God provides the solution. He comes in and brings redemption. As we stand guilty awaiting the sentence, God sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to take that sentence on himself. The innocent becomes the guilty and the guilty is pardoned. That is the offer.
But how do we receive this offer? We receive it by faith. Faith is acknowledging that we have wronged God and violated his standard. Faith is realizing that God has offered a solution, namely His Son and forgiveness and with that a heaven that awaits after death. Then faith calls to God and asks to receive that solution and change your life. Are you willing to make that step? If not then you stand like the nation of Israel in Micah, guilty and without an answer for your violation. And if death were to take you in that state, Hell and punishment would result. Don't put it off another day. Take the step of faith today.
How would you take this step of faith? God is ready to listen to your prayer of faith. Simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Believe that Jesus came and died on the cross to pay for those sins. He arose from the grave and offers salvation to you. He also said that he would come and dwell in your heart. Ask Him come and dwell in your heart and change you to be like him.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
About SoliD FoundationS
Welcome,
SoliD FoundationS is a place to discuss and defend the doctrines of the Orthodox Christian Faith as expressed in the 66 books of the Bible. I wanted a place where i could post thoughts about theology and apologetics, so i thought this was a good place to do so.
"So you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone." Ephesians 2:19-20
The Title
The name SoliD FoundationS is the title of a class that i am teaching at Calvary Chapel La Mirada for new believers. It is a class designed to equip believers of all ages with a solid foundation of knowing what they believe. In a world where competing views are battling for central place in the marketplace of Ideas, my heart was to equip believers to be thinking Christians so that as Ephesians 4:14 states they are not "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.
"As are result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming." - Ephesians 4:14
The capital letters comes from the belief that when we have a proper grasp on Sound Doctrine as expressed in a proper interpretation of Scripture we can establish a stable walk grounded in the Truth of God's unchanging Word. When Christians are then faced with the false claims of other religions or cults or just the ever shaky ground of modern relativism, they can stand stable knowing what they believe and then are able to "give a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account."
"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." - 1 Peter 3:15
Purpose
So with that in mind, this blog is for that purpose as well. It is a place where we can look at the essential doctrines of the Christian faith as well as other doctrines found within the Scriptures. It is a place to talk about a defense for that faith.
My prayer is that as you continue to read through these posts that you will grow in your knowledge of what you believe as a Christian.
God bless.
SoliD FoundationS is a place to discuss and defend the doctrines of the Orthodox Christian Faith as expressed in the 66 books of the Bible. I wanted a place where i could post thoughts about theology and apologetics, so i thought this was a good place to do so.
"So you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone." Ephesians 2:19-20
The Title
The name SoliD FoundationS is the title of a class that i am teaching at Calvary Chapel La Mirada for new believers. It is a class designed to equip believers of all ages with a solid foundation of knowing what they believe. In a world where competing views are battling for central place in the marketplace of Ideas, my heart was to equip believers to be thinking Christians so that as Ephesians 4:14 states they are not "tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine.
"As are result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming." - Ephesians 4:14
The capital letters comes from the belief that when we have a proper grasp on Sound Doctrine as expressed in a proper interpretation of Scripture we can establish a stable walk grounded in the Truth of God's unchanging Word. When Christians are then faced with the false claims of other religions or cults or just the ever shaky ground of modern relativism, they can stand stable knowing what they believe and then are able to "give a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account."
"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." - 1 Peter 3:15
Purpose
So with that in mind, this blog is for that purpose as well. It is a place where we can look at the essential doctrines of the Christian faith as well as other doctrines found within the Scriptures. It is a place to talk about a defense for that faith.
My prayer is that as you continue to read through these posts that you will grow in your knowledge of what you believe as a Christian.
God bless.
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