The Christian Atheist #1: Do You Personally Know The God of the Bible?

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him…” (Titus 1:16)

Do you believe in God? Chances are, you do. A recent study showed that 3 out of every 4 Americans claim to believe in God. And about 7 in 10 actually claim to believe in the Trinitarian God of the Bible. However, when we look at society and even in the church, it does not take long to see that there is a vast difference between the lifestyle and theology that the Bible teaches and that which the majority of those who claim to be Christians live out.

For example, more than half of those who claim to follow the God of the Bible reject Jesus’s eternal nature (Isa. 9:6; John 8:58; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:11, 12; 13:8; Rev. 1:8). Those who know God understand what He is like. Another shocking statistic is that 70% of those who claim to be Christians agree that there’s only one true God. However, 64% also thought that this God accepts the worship of all religions, including those that believe in many gods (http://thefederalist.com/2016/10/10/survey-finds-american-christians-actually-heretics/). Therefore, even though the majority of Americans claim to be Christian, they do not actually know the Christian God. This is one sense in which there is virtually no difference between many of those who claim to be Christians and those who claim to be atheists. Craig Groeschel, the pastor of one of the largest churches in America has rightly labeled individuals like this as “Christian Atheists.”

The question that needs to come to our minds is this: do you actually know the God whom you claim to follow? The Bible says that the demons fearfully believe in God (James 2:19); however, they do not know God through a personal relationship with Him. Similarly, there are many who know God intellectually, the Pharisees were like this, but they did not know God personally (John 8:54-55). There are a lot of people who will miss heaven by 18 inches: they know God in their minds but not in their hearts. Those who truly know God long to spend time with Him. David said, “O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Ps. 63:1). Does this match the relationship that you have with God? 

Lastly, those who truly know God obey what He commands. The Apostle John said, “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3-4). Are you obedient to what God commands?

Those who genuinely know God understand what He is like, they long to spend time with Him, and they obey what He commands. Are these 3 things apparent in your life? Or are you like most who claim to believe in the God of the Bible, but in reality are a Christian Atheist?

I pray that you may know Him and His love that surpasses knowledge, for if you do, it will make all the difference in the world! God bless!

In His service,

            Matt 

Covenants #3: Take Me Down to the Paradise City

Yes, I used to be a big fan of the hard rock band “Guns & Roses.” I know, I’m probably going to hell because of that (just kidding)! :) While your idea and my idea of a paradise city might be two totally different things, yet who doesn’t like the idea of going to a paradise city, and even living there?

The Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived was a place of paradise. The New Testament describes Heaven as being very similar to that paradise (Rev. 2:7; 22:1-2, 14, 17). However, when Adam and Eve broke the covenant that God had with them, they were evicted from paradise (Gen. 3:24). And as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, thorns and thistles, childbirth pains, toil, cancer, disease, etc., and even death entered the world. Thus, just as other people’s actions affect us today, so too did Adam and Eve’s actions make a difference on other people. But since they were the first individuals, their actions had even larger implications on the world. On account of them, we all await the same fate, physical death (Rom. 5:12). 

It does not take long to understand just how impactful the terms and conditions of the Adamic Covenant are upon the entire human race. Some will unnecessarily attempt to divide the covenant that God made with Adam and Eve prior to their committal of sin with the words that God speaks to them after they sinned. In reality, the words that God spoke to Adam and Eve after they sinned merely further explained to them their punishment for the violation of the covenant. However, the heart of the covenant remained. Adam and Eve, and all mankind for that matter, are given the privilege/obligation of being fruitful, multiplying, and filling the earth ultimately with people who will worship the One True God, and having dominion over all of creation (Gen. 1:26-28). 

The spirit of the law that Adam and Eve violated in the Garden is the same as that of the sins that people struggle with today. Adam and Eve’s sin involved 3 parts (Gen. 3:6; 1 John 2:16). First, the lust of the flesh as they saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food. This is the foundation of all sexual sins, gluttony, drug addictions, and narcissism. Second, the lust of the eyes as the forbidden fruit was a delight to one’s sight. The lust of the eyes is the foundation of all greed, selfishness, envy, and slothfulness. And third, the boastful pride of life as the forbidden fruit was able to make one wise. This is the foundation of all ungodly cravings for attention, position, authority, identity, and appreciation.

Therefore, by having an understanding of the Adamic Covenant helps us understand the origin of our own struggles with sin. But even greater still is understanding the promise that we get to enjoy in spite of our failure to keep the covenant. While it is true that all people die physically (Rom. 5:12), the eternal consequences of Adam and Eve’s actions, and our own for that matter, have been nullified on account of what Jesus did for all mankind on the cross (Rom. 5:17-18).  This is the promise that Adam and Eve received in the Garden (Gen. 3:15), and it is the promise that we have today.

Furthermore, one day the Bible promises that paradise will be restored. One commentator explained it in the following way. “When we look back to the Garden of Eden, we long for the restoration of its perfection, beauty, and peace. And God will not disappoint us.

He will restore Paradise to us, a much better Paradise than the Garden of Eden. In this Paradise Perfected—the new heaven and new earth—our Savior Jesus Christ is the Living Water, who gives eternal life to all. In this heavenly Jerusalem, He is the Tree of Life, who nourishes our body and soul forever.

In this holy city, John says Christ is the Light, giving the city its radiant glory, illuminating its perfection, beauty, and peace. It is a heavenly city whose builder and architect, Christ, came down from heaven to earth, to clothe it with His righteousness. Today there are still many tears shed because of this sin-infested world; so much loneliness, sickness, and death. But in Paradise Perfected, there will only be rejoicing.

God will dwell with us forever, and we will see our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ face to face. We will have perfect communion with Him. Do you want to be assured of eternal life in the holy city? Do you want to be healed of sin and death? Jesus invites you to drink from the Living Water and eat from the Tree of Life. By placing your faith in Him, you will have eternal life, and your souls will be nourished forever” (http://twoagespilgrims.com/pasigucrc/index.html/a-better-paradise-restored/).

 In His service,

        Matt

Elder’s Corner: “Are You Privileged?”

A couple of weeks ago when the wind storms hit the area, I had my scanner on to keep track of the weather. The following came across from the public utility dispatcher “There is a tree down on Sunset Ave.”  Then the following comment “it is in the city councilman's yard.”  The implication was clear “you better get to it right away.”  Maybe you have heard the quote “Rank has its privilege.” 

Maybe you feel like you're not important to anyone—not even God. But consider the following from Psalms 139:13-14 NASB “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. . .” God has been with you since the beginning (and even if you have left Him for a time—He has never left you). “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” He tells us in Hebrews 13:5. 

Now let's get back to the thought that on earth some are treated differently than others.  It's true. Some are treated better because of the money they possess, some better because of their educational degree, some because of the color of their skin, some because of who they’re related to. It isn't that way with God and I hope you never feel that He plays favorites. He is for Everyone Equally! Consider Romans 1:16 TEV “For I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe. . .” Here's how God describes us in 1 Peter 2:9 NASB “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you (we) may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Why does God see us this way, all equal and yet each important? Because He knows the price that was paid was the same price for everyone—the blood of his precious son. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NASB).     

—Alan