Worldview #16: Foolish Talk and the Origin of the Languages

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).

There are many throughout our society who believe that the message of the Bible is foolishness, especially as it relates to the origin of the universe and creation account talked about in Genesis chapters 1-11. One individual said, “It is a stretch to think that a bunch of animals and a family got into a boat and rode around for a year. Now come on, you expect me to believe that?”

However, I have to agree with Dr. G. Thomas Sharp who said, “It is a stretch to believe that 3.8 billion years ago lightning struck a tide pool outside an ancient volcano, exciting the microspheres up into replicating systems until  one of them ultimately became a full-fledged organism. And it wiggled out on to a bank, lived under a rock for millions of years. Then through natural selection it ultimately turned into some kind of tree dwelling creature, and began eating bananas until one day after continuous natural selection, it climbed down out of the tree and went to JC Penney, bought new clothes, got a haircut and shave, then went down to the University of Texas and began teaching philosophy. Now that is a stretch!  But that is the ultimate premise upon which evolution is founded.

Without the scientific community’s sanction of that silliness, the teaching of the evolutionary worldview would have already disappeared from the earth. This nonsense requires a whole lot more faith than ‘In the beginning God…’ (Gen. 1:1). Therefore, our perception of truth forms the basis of our worldview (Evolution: The Greatest Deception of All Time; available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMr278CMAIA).  Thus, the heart of the debate relates to a faith based question: do you trust the thoughts of man or the words of God?

Genesis 11 describes a time in which the whole world had one language. Much of the world was gathered together in one location and built a tower, the Tower of Babel. However, God had explicitly told them to expand and fill the earth (Gen. 9:1). They wanted to make a name for themselves and reject God. Much of our world is very similar today in wanting to reject God.

As a result of mankind’s disobedience at the Tower of Babel, God intervened confusing their single language into multiple languages and scattering them over the face of the earth. It is from this that all of the languages of the world have their origin. And this is partly responsible for the various people groups throughout the world today.

On the other hand, when one examines the various theories that evolutionary worldview gives for the origin of languages, it amounts to foolishness. In fact, some even consider it as the hardest problem in science (Morten H. Christiansen and Simon Kirby, eds. Language evolution, pgs. 77-93). Yet the Word of God has always and will always trump the foolishness of men, giving the answer from the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

In His service,

            Matt

Elder’s Corner: “Son, Do You Want A Spanking?”

A while back I was in a grocery store and I heard a distraught mom pose that question to her misbehaving son. I wondered what she thought he would say: “yes, please mom and make it a hard swat!” Well that's not what he said, and I think her question was to get him to consider the consequences of his actions.

The last six days of 70 degree plus weather reminded me that the Bible has much to say about taking care of plants, especially trees and vineyards (see John 15:1-8; Matt. 13:1-23). I recently returned from California where I drove by many orchards of orange trees that was loaded with fruit. The odd part was the branches had been machine pruned and the tree looked like a square cube sitting on top of the trunk. The owner of the orchard said they do that to stimulate new growth so the trees will bear more fruit. I also drove by several vineyards. It reminded me of the words of Jesus in John 15:1 and following. “I am the vine, and My father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”

So God needs to discipline or prune out the bad limbs in each of us at times for our own good. Just like pruning trees makes them stronger—letting God have control over our lives and giving Him permission to prune where and when needed makes us stronger. I'm sorry that sometimes He has so much work to do because I've been stubborn and let my branches get out of control. So sometimes we may need to ask the same question to God that the mother asked her son. “God, do I need a spanking (a pruning to make me more like You)?” God wants us to be productive citizens in His kingdom. Jesus said His father would be glorified, if you bear much fruit, and you would prove to be disciples of His (John 15:8). There seems to be a correlation between letting God discipline us and being His disciple.

—Alan 

Man, The Image of God #12: The Assurance of Salvation

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NASB).

Do you know for a fact where you are going to spend eternity? What evidence can you provide that proves that you are in fact saved and on your way to heaven?

Last month we considered how the teaching that once a person is saved they are always saved is false. The doctrine of once saved always saved offers a dangerous sense of security which will provide a very rude awaking for some when they stand before the Lord. Furthermore, those who teach that once a person is saved they are always saved will tell you that if a person followed the Biblical plan of salvation yet ended up not going to heaven, then they will tell you that that person was never truly saved to begin with. Therefore, what concrete assurance can a person who holds to that teaching truly have? The answer is none!

On the other hand, the Bible does teach that a genuine follower of Jesus Christ can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are in fact saved. There are three evidences that a believer has proving their salvation.

First, do you have a present active trust in Christ for your salvation? The Greek word that gets translated as “believes” in John 3:16 speaks of a present active trust in Christ for their salvation. This is something that begins when a person receives Christ and continues until the Lord calls them home. Paul tells the Colossians that they will be saved on the last day, “provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard” (Col. 1:23). And Hebrews 3:14 says, “We share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.” Therefore a person should ask themselves: Today, do I trust in Christ to forgive my sins and take me without blame into heaven forever? Do I have confidence in my heart that He has saved me?

If I were to die tonight and stand before God’s judgment seat, and if He were to ask me why He should let me into heaven, would I begin to think of my good deeds and depend on them, or would I without hesitation say that I am depending on the merits of Christ and am confident that He is a sufficient Savior? When a person is able to answer these questions positively, it affirms that they have saving faith.

Second, is there evidence of the Holy Spirit in your heart? The Holy Spirit testifies within our hearts that we are God’s children (Rom. 8:15-16; 1 John 4:13). This testimony will usually be accompanied by a sense of being led by the Holy Spirit in paths of obedience to do God’s will (Rom. 8:14). Similarly, the Holy Spirit will be producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23). Of course, the question is not, “Do I perfectly exemplify all of these characteristics in my life?” but rather, “Are these things a general characteristic of my life? Do I sense these attitudes in my heart? Do others (especially those closest to me) see these traits exhibited in my life? Have I been growing in them over a period of years?”  

Third, is there a long-term pattern of growth in your Christian life? Peter tells us that there are some character traits which, if we keep on increasing in them, will guarantee that we will “never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). He tells his readers to add to their faith “virtue…knowledge…self- control… steadfastness… godliness…brotherly affection…love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). Then he says that these things are to belong to his readers and to continually “abound” in their lives (2 Peter 1:8). He adds that they are to “be more zealous to confirm your call and election” and says then that “if you do this (literally, “these things,” referring to the character traits mentioned in verses 5-7) you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10).

Everyone who gains assurance through a self-examination such as the one above should know, “I am truly born again; therefore, I will certainly preserve to the end, because I am guarded by God’s power working through my faith (1 Peter 1:5) and therefore I will never be lost. Jesus will raise me up at the last day and I will enter into His Kingdom forever” (John 6:40).

Once one stops trusting in Christ and obeying Him (I am speaking in terms of outward evidence) they have no genuine assurance of salvation, and they should consider themselves unsaved, and turn to Christ in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness of their sins.

In His service,

        Matt