Universalism. ( John 3 v16 )

It wasn't for many years that I discovered  that one my favorite Christian writers did not believe in the deity of Christ,but he also believed in universalism,which  means that everyone is going to be saved.That means all different religions,those of no religion, all those who have never accepted Christ as their Saviour, they will be in heaven.It is to say the least a strange belief. and is totally at odds with what the Bible teaches .The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 v 19 - 31,would clearly teach there will be those that will not be saved.Like Daniel  12 v 2,which reads'Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake some to everlasting life, and others to to shame and everlasting contempt' In Matthew 25 v46 we read of those going to eternal punishment,and those going to eternal life.We are told if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we shall  be saved Acts 16 v 31. In Revelation 20 v 15 'Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. In 14 v6 ,Jesus said no one comes to the Father except through Me,one of the reasons we preach the gospel is that people can go to heaven,and not go to hell,we deal with the subject of hell next time.

Ponder ( Psalm 22 v 1)

  Dale Ralph Davis asked the following question,'Do you think we lose something if we spend  much time thinking about the theology of the cross in the Epistles, but rarely stand at the actual scene as depicted in the Gospels?'There is I'm sure an aspect of that, that is true ,but without the theology that person hanging on the cross is just another man dying a horrible death. The theology gives the meaning as regards that man Jesus  who was truly God and truly man.likewise the theology tells us the purpose of His death.It also tells us something we cannot see,something that goes beyond the awful and terrible physical suffering,that is Jesus bearing God's wrath. again it is D.R.D ,who writes ,'Don't run off. Stay at Golgotha. Let the sadness sink in . Consider the wrath of God, And ponder the pathos of love,and he points to 1 John  4 v10,which reads,'Is this not love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins'

                                                      'Love so amazing so divine

                                                       Demands my soul,my life,

                                                       My all.'

                                                          'Words by Isaac Watts'

Why the cross? ( Romans 1 v 16/ 18)

One may ask why did Christ have to die on a cross?, here is why,Murder,lying,evil motives, bad language,sexual perversion,rape,sexual abuse,adultery,fornication , thoughts,hate,racism,oppressing the weak, exploiting people,injustice,pride,idolatry,self love,lack of love, deceitfulness,putting people in gas chambers,destroying the unborn,doing and speaking evil, causing others to sin,coveting ,blaspheming,  cruelty ,incest,spiritualism,occultism.These are just the tip of the iceberg, but they are an answer as to why Christ had to die on the cross.The Bible declares that we are all sinners,it is amazing how soon in our lives our fallen nature manifests itself, because of our sin Gods wrath is  revealed against us,and as long as we are in that condition,God's wrath remains on us.(John 3 v36),that means everyone. That wrath if it remains on us will be activated as God passes his judgement and cast sinners into hell.Now let's get a little bit technical,the death of Christ was a sacrifice for sin , and in that sacrifice  Christ  who was sinless, experienced   the wrath of God, His sacrifice was a propitiation( Romans 3 v25 )Without that Sacrifice no one would be saved,every last human being would never be saved.That is why Christ had to die on the cross,there was and is no other way to be saved.

                                                      'By Christ,the sinless lamb of God,

                                                       The precious blood was shed,

                                                       When He fulfilled God's holy word,

                                                        And suffered in our stead.

                                                       The wrath of God that was our due,

                                                       Upon the Lamb was laid;

                                                       And by the shedding of His blood

                                                       The debt for us was paid.

                                                             Words by EI  Nathan.

The historical Christ. (1 Corinthians 15 v 3 - 8 ) 1

 It is important to know that Jesus is mentioned in secular history,by well known historians,and that He was executed by Pontius Pilate the Roman Govern ,I mention two historian's one Tacitus a Roman historian, and  Josephus a Jewish historian.Both these men wrote of a historical Christ,they were not Christians, a later historian Lucian  mentions  Jesus being crucified.  It should not surprise us that Christ was crucified  as the OT books foretold the one who would come  and die a violent death CP Psalm 22 ,Isaiah 52 v13-15, consider the whole of Isaiah 53. Jesus himself knew the reason why He had come, before He died he told His disciples,that He would be crucified and on the third day rise again. ( Luke 24 v 6 - 7, v26)Why I said that Islam was a religion built on lies was because they deny that Christ died on the cross,they refuse to accept the secular and biblical evidence,they believe it is fake news, but its not.Christianity is built on sound secular and Biblical evidence. Next time we  will consider why the cross was so necessary.

Propaganda ( Psalm 119 v130 )

Joseph Goebbels was the Minister of Propaganda this ministry sought to control what the German people would hear. One means of doing this was to issue each household with a radio,otherwise known as a,'People's Receiver'. Most of what was broadcast was in keeping with Nazi belief's,as regards the superiority of their race, and their hatred of the Jews, it was a means of brainwashing, a controlling of peoples minds.All totalitarian states do this,the cults do this Islam does also does this,people are not allowed to think for themselves, it is a religion based on lies.Christianity is not based on fake or false news, if we are Christian's, we follow one  who is way the truth and life, Jesus,the gospel is not false or fake news, we do not have a minister of propaganda.What we do have is the word of God, that word is the touchstone of our beliefs,we must not deviate from it,in any way.

                                           ''The Word of God comes first,and with that Word

                                             the Spirit breathes upon my heart so that I believe''

                                                                     Martin Luther.

Motives( 1 Corinthians 10 v 31 )

 It is all to possible  to do good things ,with bad motives,our Saviour speaks of those who  prayed in the synagogue, and some people who prayed out in the streets where everyone could see them.I remember years ago going to a large church gathering,in which they publicly called up people from missions to give them money,I felt the way they did it was wrong,I know a man who boasted how much he prayed and read his bible as compared to a man he was seeking to humiliate. The things these people  did were good in themselves,but done out of a bad motive. A  Donald Grey Barnhouse  told about little Willie, who had crawled out on the ice and rescued a playmate who had fallen through. Praise and admiration were heaped upon him. Then a lady asked,'Tell us my boy, how you were brave enough to risk your life to save your friend'. In between  breaths Willie shot back,' I had to - he had my skates on'. It is said God looks on the heart,looks beyond the deed and looks at our motives.

If it is. ( 1 John 5 v 14 )

I remember a friend of mine telling me of an experience he had,when on one occasion he had  no money,he was hungry,and he did something unusual ,he went into a cafe and ordered some food,trusting God.   .When the food arrived he bowed his head and give thanks ,unknown to him there was a person  in that cafe who decided if he saw someone giving thanks for his meal,he would pay the bill, which he did.Now that was a one off experience, I am not advocating that people do what my friend did.That was his experience in God providing ,and we do believe that God will provide for our needs (Phil 4 v19), how he will that do  this is in His hands. When I was younger I went to Bible college,for three years,my wife and I had no savings,we then had three children,and so it was very challenging.Where we foolish? ,some people may have thought so, all I can say it wasn't easy, It did not stop there when I had completed my three years,my then wife went to Bible college for one year.That was our experience,I am not encouraging anyone to do what we did, we must be careful not to put God to the test ( Deut. 6 v 16)But if it is His will to step out by faith I believe God will meet the needs,it may not be that God will provide in the way  he did for my friend or what He did for my wife and I,He may,he may not. There was a young couple at the the same Bible college that I attended,they had to leave because they did not have the funds to continue.God has his reasons,for saying yes and saying no, both can be God's will and it will work out for the best if it is His will (Romans 8 v28 )