Sound in a Vacuum?

I was reading a really good article yesterday by Nicholas Batzig entitled “God’s Obedient Son”. This paper is worth reading in its entirety, but here I will only include a snippet.

<snip>

“From the Jordan to the wilderness with its wilde beasts, from the devout acknowledgement of the Baptist, the consecration and filial prayer of Jesus, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the heard testimony of heaven, to the forsakenness, the felt want and weakness of Jesus, and the assaults of the Devil–no contrast more startling could be conceived.  And yet, as we think of it, what followed upon the baptism, and that it so followed, was necessary, as regarded the Person of Jesus, His work, and that which was to result from it.”
–Alfred Edersheim

There are several defining moments in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ that deserve the deepest and most serious consideration. His baptism at the Jordan, His temptation in the wilderness, His transfiguration, His agony in Gethsemane and His sufferings on the cross are the most significant points in Jesus’ earthly ministry. The baptism and temptation are singular in their importance because of the representative character which they portray. In order to fully understand any subsequent act in the life of Christ the central importance of these two inaugural events must first be discerned.

Matthew, Mark and Luke each collectively bear witness to the fact that the wilderness temptation occurred immediately after Jesus was baptized. His baptism was nothing less than identification with those for whom He came to die. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Jesus needed no repentance, but He underwent it to show that He was the sin-bearing representative of His people. It was most likely also the Messianic anointing with which His public ministry was inaugurated. This event, for the first time in human history, led to the unfolding of the mystery of the Trinity. There at the Jordan, the Father pronounced his declaration of delight over the Son, as the Spirit descended upon Him. The readers’ mind must reach back to the first manifestation of the Spirit, where, at the creation of the world, He is said to have hovered over the waters that the Father and Son spoke into existence. The declaration of the Father at Jesus’ baptism was meant to carry the Son through His entire ministry, especially through the atoning death He was to endure on the cross. The declaration that Jesus was the Father’s beloved Son, is put both to Jesus and to those who were present at the baptism. Jesus was obeying the Father by undergoing a baptism of repentance–a “repentance” that He alone, of all mankind, did not need. As the representative of His people, Jesus was obeying what His Father had commanded Israel to do, and was therefore well pleasing to Him. He was, in brief, the second Adam doing all that the Father commanded His people to do.

</snip>

For some reason when I read that, what really just jumped out and grabbed my attention was the statement, “This event, for the first time in human history, led to the unfolding mystery of the Trinity.”  This got me to thinking about something I remember from my college days.  I remember from physics something about sound does not exist in a vacuum.  I looked this up and sure enough, this is what I found:

Why can’t sound travel in the vacuum of space?

Answer

Sound travels in waves by making molecules vibrate within the environment they are emitted (water/air). There must be something for molecules to travel through causing the vibrations necessary to stimulate the structures within your ears. Since there are no molecules to vibrate in space, sounds have no way to be transfered from the source of the sound. Even if “sound” could exist in space, we would not be able to “hear” it.

Sound is mechanical energy.

Mechanical energy, generated by whatever means (a vibrating string, a hammer blow, a rock falling into water), travels in a medium. The actual energy is transferred into the medium in order to move away from the source. The medium actually carries the mechanical energy of the sound after it is “put into” that medium. If there is no medium into which to transfer the energy, the sound cannot exist. A string could vibrate in the vacuum of space, and the “source energy” would be there, but the energy would not “go anywhere” because of the lack of a medium.

(from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_can%27t_sound_travel_in_the_vacuum_of_space)

Now, I’m not a physicist and science was not exactly my strong suit, but I thought that this was very interesting.  Sound cannot exist in a vacuum… there must be some “substance” or “atmosphere” to carry the sound.  Now, the Hebrew word for Spirit is Ruach, which can also mean “wind” or “breath”.  We know, also, that to speak words, we ourselves need not only atmosphere, but air from our very lungs to carry the sound from our throats.  We also need some intelligence, so that the sounds we make with our throats and airways get shaped correctly by our lips and tongues so that instead of just making unintelligible sounds that mean nothing to another person, they carry meaning.  When I form the sounds for “banana” and speak that word aloud, anyone who speaks English at a basic level probably makes several associations with that sound.  One might think of the color yellow, of fruit, the smell and the taste of a banana… that is because the “hearer” of the word has some knowledge of the thing being spoken of, and the abstract term “banana” carries with it a whole set of substantiating ideas and elements of knowledge.  When I say the word “banana” to you and you know what I’m talking about, I am not speaking into a void.  However, if someone were to say “banana” in another language to me, it is very unlikely any of those associations would come to my mind.

Now, I know that is a bit abstract, and I do not intend to get into cognitive theories of language or anything like that.  The main principle I wish to keep in mind here is that there really are three basic units involved in the speaking process, and I mean that independently of the hearing and understanding process.  First, there must be the idea.  This exists before the sound emission.  It is “a priori”.  Second, there must exist the “medium” (or the “substance” or ‘atmosphere” for lack of a better term to my unscientific mind) to carry the sound.  And then, the sound itself.

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1:2  The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Gen 1:3  Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Is this at all reflected in these first three passages of Genesis?  It seems to me that it is.  Now, let us reflect again on the nature of the Trinity regarding the baptism of Christ when the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and the voice spoke from Heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Mr. Batzig said, “This event, for the first time in human history, led to the unfolding mystery of the Trinity.”  I think he is absolutely right, and yet the mystery was present even “In the beginning.”

Now, I think it is also worth noting what John says in the beginning of His gospel.  The first five verses of the gospel of John say this:

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2  He was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Joh 1:4  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
Joh 1:5  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Who was this Word?  Who was this Light?  It would be hard to mistake the Apostle here; it is none other than Jesus Christ.  “He was in the beginning with God.”  He was not a created being, but is the very revelation of the mind of God.  We know that God the Father is Spirit, invisible, eternal; and as we study our Bible and our favorite systematic theologies we learn about some of His great communicable (and incommunicable) attributes.  But all of our knowledge of God is but a drop in the ocean, or a grain of sand in the desert.  Anything we know about God is purely a gift of grace… the outworking of the revelation of the Son by the Father through the means of the Holy Spirit.  Without the work of the Spirit, our minds are like a vacuum — the Word is neither heard nor understood.  And without Christ, there is neither Word nor Light to see or comprehend.  God the Father would be completely unknowable were it not for the Triune interaction in revelation.

And implicit in what I just said in that last paragraph is the means of understanding.  For understanding to occur, there must be a means to understand.  When you and I speak, there must be agreement between us on the sounds and syllables and meanings conveyed or no real communication takes place.  If the words that I use or the language that I speak are unintelligible to you, then the lack of knowledgable agreement in the transmission of the message renders the content of the communication as worthless.  If you can understand nothing of which I wish to communicate, then you receive no benefit from the attempt to communicate.  And such, unfortunately, is the state of the unbeliever, in whom the Holy Spirit does not dwell and who is unable to understand (or comprehend) “the Word”.

As Paul states so perfectly in his first epistle to the Corinthians:

1Co 2:1  And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
1Co 2:3  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
1Co 2:4  and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1Co 2:5  so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
1Co 2:6   Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1Co 2:7  but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
1Co 2:8  the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
1Co 2:9  but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
1Co 2:10  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
1Co 2:11  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,
1Co 2:13  which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
1Co 2:14   But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
1Co 2:15  But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
1Co 2:16  For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

“The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”  No one may understand the mind of the Lord; unless the Spirit has opened their eyes and “breathed” new life into them, they are as dead to the things of the Spirit of God as a room full of corpses would be to a Physics lesson no more how gifted the teacher might be.  Yet our Lord Jesus Christ came to give life, to call it forth from death itself, to reveal the mind and the glory of God, to die the death for His chosen and suffer God’s wrath in their place, and to deliver the gift of the Spirit so that those things may be understood.  What a great SAVIOR we have in Christ!  Listen to Him speak as He explains these things to His disciples just before He prays His great prayer on their behalf just prior to His betrayal:

Joh 16:3  “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.
Joh 16:4  “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Joh 16:5   “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
Joh 16:6  “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
Joh 16:7  “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Joh 16:8  “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
Joh 16:9  concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;
Joh 16:10  and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;
Joh 16:11  and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Joh 16:12   “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Joh 16:14  “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
Joh 16:15  “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

If God has granted you the Spirit by which to understand the revelation of His Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, then praise Him and follow Him.  HE is the eternal life.  If, however, the things of the Spirit are confusing to you, and difficult to discern, then seek His mercy.  Cry out to Him and plead with Him for understanding.  Beg for Him to reveal Himself to you through the person of the Son, by the power of the Spirit.  Call out to Christ.

Act 4:8  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,
Act 4:9  if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,
Act 4:10  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
Act 4:11  “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
Act 4:12  “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

There is no other name under heaven that has been given by which we MUST be saved!

Amen.

A Really Nice Shirt

If you have never heard the sermon, Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead, you should check it out.  I believe Paris Reidhead was actually an Assembly of God preacher and missionary about 50 years ago or so, but he was not anything like the kind you usually hear today; not the ones I’ve heard anyway.  Jon Speed referred to this sermon in his testimony a couple of weeks ago, and I thought I would add a link to it here for those who are interested in listening to it in its entirety.  The site includes the full transcript of the sermon as well.  Here’s just a snippet that made a powerful impact on me and that I thought was worth sharing and reflecting on:

There’s only one reason for God needing you and that’s to bring you to the place where, in repentance, you’ve been pardoned for His glory. And in victory you’ve been brought to the place of death that He might reign. And in the fullness, Jesus Christ is able to live and walk in you.

Your attitude is the attitude of the Lord Himself, who said, “I can do nothing of Myself” (John 8:28). I can’t speak of myself. I don’t make plans for myself. My only reason for being is for the glory of God in Jesus Christ. If I were to say to you, “Come to be saved so you can go to heaven, come to the cross so that you can have joy and victory, come for the fullness of the Spirit so that you can be satisfied.” I would be falling into the trap of humanism.

I’m going to say to you dear friend if you’re out here without Christ, you come to Jesus Christ and serve Him as long as you live whether you go to Hell at the end of the way BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY!

I say to you Christian friend you come to the cross and join Him in union, in death, and enter into all the meaning of death to self in order that HE can have glory. I say to you dear Christian if you do not know the fullness of the Holy Ghost, come and present your body a living sacrifice, and let Him fill you so that He can have the purpose for His coming fulfilled in you and get glory through your life. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO GET OUT OF GOD, IT’S WHAT’S HE IS GOING TO GET OUT OF YOU.

Let’s be done, once and for all, with utilitarian Christianity that makes God a means, instead of the glorious END that He is. Let’s resign, let’s tell Micah we’re through. We’re no longer going to be his priests serving for ten shekels and a shirt. Let’s tell the tribe of Dan we’re through. And let’s come and cast ourselves at the feet of the nail pierced Son of God and tell Him that we’re going to obey Him, and love Him, and serve Him, as long as we live BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY!

AMEN! In addition to that, I wanted to share a scripture, too–one that I’ve read and reflected on several times lately, as I’ve thought on the wonderful testimonies of conversion and salvation I’ve heard recently (as well as considering my own); it’s from the first chapter of Colossians.  I pray that the power of these words would permeate our lives.  We can never outgrow them, only grow more fully in them, by His grace and for His glory.  Amen.

13    For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
21    And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach–23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

And Hebrews 12:1-2:
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Peace & Blessings,
Simple Mann

Mistakes About Conversion

I’m reading through Joseph Alleine’s “Alarm to the Unconverted” (currently being published under the title “A Sure Guide to Heaven” by Banner of Truth), and thought the end of this first chapter was especially good.  It speaks very much to the heart to those today.  The Lord has blessed me with the report of three testimonies just these past couple weeks that bear witness to the truth of these words.  I thank God that He opens the eyes of the blind, enables the lame to walk, and gives life to sinners, dead in our trespasses.  In these passages, the author is speaking not to the unconverted who might acknowledge their own depravity, but to those who trust in their own merits for salvation and not the work of Christ on the Cross.  The whole book is quite good, and can be purchased as a Puritan Paperback for less than $5 in the link above, or viewed on-line for free at Grace Gems web site.

(from the chapter Mistakes about Conversion)

Conversion does not lie in MORAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. This does not exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, and therefore cannot bring us to the kingdom of God (Matt 5:20). Paul, while unconverted, touching the righteousness which is in the law was blameless (Phil 3:6). The Pharisee could say, ‘I am no extortioner, adulterer, unjust’, etc. (Luke 18:11). You must have something more than all this to show, or else, however you may justify yourself, God will condemn you. I do not condemn morality—but I warn you not to rest in it. Piety includes morality—but morality does not insure piety.

Conversion does not consist in an external conformity to the rules of piety. It is manifest that men may have a form of godliness, without the power (2 Tim 3:5). Men may pray long (Matt 23:14), and fast often (Luke 18:12), and hear gladly (Mark 6:20), and be very forward in the service of God, though costly and expensive (Isa 1:11), and yet be strangers to conversion. They must have more to plead for themselves than that they go to church, give alms, and make use of prayer, to prove themselves sound converts. There is no outward service but a hypocrite may do it, even to the giving of all his goods to feed the poor, and his body to be burned (1 Cor 13:3).

Conversion is not the mere chaining up of corruption by EDUCATION, human laws or the force of affliction. It is too common and easy to mistake education for grace; but if this were enough, who a better man than Jehoash? While Jehoiada, his uncle, lived, he was very forward in God’s service, and calls upon him to repair the house of the Lord (2 Kings 12:2,7). But here was nothing more than good education all this while; for when his good tutor was taken away he appears to have been but a wolf chained up, and falls into idolatry.

In short, conversion does not consist in ILLUMINATION or CONVICTION or in a SUPERFICIAL CHANGE or PARTIAL REFORMATION. An apostate may be an enlightened man (Heb 6:4), and a Felix tremble under conviction (Acts 24:25), and a Herod do many things (Mark 6:20). It is one thing to have sin alarmed only by convictions, and another to have it crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled in conscience for their sins, think well of their case, miserably mistaking conviction for conversion. With these, Cain might have passed for a convert, who ran up and down the world like a man distracted, under the rage of a guilty conscience, until he stifled it with building and business.

Others think that because they have given up their riotous ways, and are broken off from evil company or some particular lust, and are reduced to sobriety and civility, they are now real converts. They forget that there is a vast difference between being sanctified and civilized. They forget that many seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and are not far from it, and arrive to the almost of Christianity, and yet fall short at last. While conscience holds the whip over them, many will pray, hear, read, and forbear their delightful sins; but no sooner is the lion asleep than they are at their sins again. Who more religious than the Jews when God’s hand was upon them? Yet no sooner was the affliction over, than they forgot God. You may have forsaken a troublesome sin, and have escaped the gross pollutions of the world, and yet in all this not have changed your carnal nature.

You may take a crude mass of lead and mold it into the more lovely proportion of a plant, and then into the shape of an animal, and then into the form and features of a man; but all the time it is still lead. So a man may pass through various transmutations, from ignorance to knowledge, from profanity to civility, then to a form of religion, and all this time he is still carnal and unregenerate, his nature remains unchanged.

Hear then, O sinners, hear as you would live. Why should you willfully deceive yourselves, or build your hopes upon the sand? I know that he will find hard work, who goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be unpleasant to you, and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a surgeon when about to cut off a mortified limb from his beloved friend, which of necessity he must do, though with an aching heart. But understand me, beloved, I am only taking down the ruinous house, which otherwise will speedily fall of itself and bury you in the ruins—that I may build it fair, strong, and firm forever. The hope of the wicked shall perish (Prov 11:7). And had you not better, O sinner, let the Word convince you now in time, and let go your false and self-deluding hopes, than have death open your eyes too late, and find yourself in hell before you are aware?

I would be a false and faithless shepherd if I would not tell you, that you who have built your hopes upon no better grounds than these before mentioned, are yet in your sins! Let conscience speak. What have you to plead for yourselves? Is it that you wear Christ’s livery; that you bear His name; that you are a member of the visible church; that you have knowledge in the points of religion, are civilized, perform religious duties, are just in your dealings, have been troubled in conscience for your sins? I tell you from the Lord, these pleas will never be accepted at God’s bar. All this, though good in itself, will not prove you converted, and so will not suffice to your salvation. O look to it, and resolve to turn speedily and entirely. Study your own hearts; do not rest until God has made thorough work with you; for you must be converted men, or else you are lost men.

But if these persons come short of conversion, what shall I say of the profane person? It may be he will scarcely cast his eyes on, or lend his ear to this discourse; but if there be any such reading, or within hearing, he must know from the Lord that made him, that he is far from the kingdom of God. May a man keep company with the wise virgins, and yet be shut out; and shall not a companion of fools much more be destroyed? May a man be true in his dealings, and yet not be jus
tified before God? What then will become of you, O wretched man, whose conscience tells you that you are false in your trade and false to your word? If men may be enlightened and brought to the external performance of holy duties, and yet go down to perdition for resting in them and sitting down short of conversion; what will become of you, O miserable men, who live without God in the world? What will become of you, O wretched sinners, with whom God is scarcely in all your thoughts; who are so ignorant that you cannot pray, or so careless that you will not? O repent and be converted, break off your sins by righteousness. Away to Christ for pardoning and renewing grace. Give up yourselves to Him, to walk with Him in holiness, or you shall never see God. O that you would heed the warnings of God! In His name I once more admonish you. Turn you at my reproof. Forsake the foolish, and live. Be sober, righteous, and godly. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you double-minded. Cease to do evil, learn to do well (Prov 1:23 and Prov 9:6; Titus 2:12; James 4:8; Isa 1:16-17). But if you will go on, you must die.

Peace & Blessings, SM

The Shack or the Outhouse – Take Two

If you read my previous post, The Shack or the Outhouse, you know I already had misgivings about this book. What little I knew about it when my received it as a gift in the mail was enough already to raise a flag on my discernment meter. As I began to look into a bit more, my concern only grew.

Well, the number of five star reviews for this book just continue to pour in for “The Shack”. There are now over 770 review posted on Amazon for this doctrinally deficient work of fiction. I finally broke down and posted a 1-star review on Amazon, which I realize may not be entirely fair since I have not read the book. I *have* flipped through it and read enough in it to know I’m really not interested in devoting the time it would take to read it all the way through when I have so many other books on my list right now that seem to honor and glorify the God of the Bible so much more. But I went ahead and posted this review, which is really less a review than a word of caution to anyone who might be reading through the reviews trying to decide whether it’s a book they want to order. So, here it is. As always, your comments are welcome, invited, but rarely forthcoming. ;~)

Amazon Review: The Shack or The Outhouse?

Several people seem to have really enjoyed this book. Personally, I prefer the God of the Bible. It is not surprising, though, that so many people will gladly accept someone else’s idea of a God that is all love and no wrath. It’s also not too surprising that most of the real defenders of the faith here have been attacked by the people who have fallen in love with this god of The Shack rather than the Lord of the Harvest.

Here’s a passage of scripture taken from Second Thessalonians. Take especial note of 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12:

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
2Th 2:9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
2Th 2:11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,
2Th 2:12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
2Th 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Those who reject the true gospel of Jesus Christ–the gospel of sin, repentance, and salvation–will look for alternates wherever they can find them. For many who want the warm comfort of salvation (like a cup of hot cocoa) without the excruciating torment required of the sinner (that is *true* repentance), then something of this sort of Christianity-like-lite can be very appealing. But God’s word is very explicit that for those who would prefer delusion to the way of eternal life, God Himself will send them a delusion. It is similar to the way that God hardened Pharoah’s heart after Pharoah repeatedly insisted on hardening it himself against God’s word and His will initially as Moses pleaded for His people.

We live in a time (and perhaps it has always been this way, I don’t know) when people want a quick-fix, an easy solution, and above all something they can feel GOOD about. Whether it is prosperity gospel in its variety of forms, books like this, or any of the myriad man-centered spin-systems out there (Tolle/Winfrey for example), true gospel Christianity is just not real popular. That’s because it does not, will not, has not, and never will elevate man above anything other than utterly depraved and corrupt in sin, and badly (if not blindly) in need of a Savior. Anyone who professes Christ that ever forgets this should question both their sanity and their salvation.

I don’t care how many people claim that this is a life changing book, I *seriously* doubt that is true for any of them boasting this claim on some book’s behalf. I think it is much more likely that someone reading this book would NOT change because they would have the false assurance that God is just so wonderful and loving that they could continue on in whatever messed up manner they might be in when they arrived at The Shack. I doubt anyone has given up a lifelong addiction to drugs, or alcohol, pornography, or any other form of idol-worship or sin as a result of reading this book. I wonder how many people staking that claim actually changed anything at all about their lifestyle besides discussing the book in some conversations and sending free copies to other people they know.

In short, I would be very surprised if ANYONE has made the radical life changes that I have witnessed first-hand in the lives of someone who has experienced a true conversion to Christ. Why is that? Because that kind of change only occurs when a person truly repents of their sin and believes in Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit can bring about true and lasting change in a believer’s life, but He only operates in those who believe and accept the real gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m sure this will invite some anger among some who have read this book and believe it changed their lives just because it made them feel better about themselves or about their idea of God; that is, a warm and loving God. However, though God is indeed loving He is also just; and is as much a God of wrath as of love. Many are willing to love God for His love as long as they do not have to fear Him for His wrath. But to only accept the love of God as good, and reject the wrath of God–which is also good, actually even perfect–is to misunderstand Him and His plan for salvation altogether. You won’t get it.

If you want to know what God is really like, read the Bible. Not some work of fiction by an author that has put his words into God’s mouth, but the 66 books of Scripture written down by people whom God chose to put His words in theirs. There is a big difference.

May the Lord bless you, keep you, and guide you into all Truth. In Jesus Name, amen.

Simple Mann

Book Review – Parables of Jesus

This is a review I posted on Amazon for a book I just finished by the late James Boice.  The book is “The Parables of Jesus“, and I highly recommend it.

It is a joy to read the works of the late James Boice. He was one of those teachers who not only had a passion for God’s word and a solid grasp of theological doctrine, he also had an amazing ability to gently explain even the most difficult concepts in ways that are easily digestible. The Foundations of the Christian Faith is just another great example of this.

In the Parables of Jesus, James Boice takes a look at 22 parables spoken by our Lord, separating them into five different categories based on their main application. He groups them into parables of the Kingdom, parables of Salvation, parables of Wisdom and Folly, parables of the Christian Life, and parables of Judgment. He walks the reader through each parable, discussing the overall theme of the parable and then examining the details and meanings of the imagery used by the Lord in these instructive stories.

These parables were not new to me, and for most of them I had a pretty good idea what Jesus was teaching in His use of them. But even those parables I felt I already had a handle on, I gained additional insight into because of the sound exposition by Boice.

There were a couple of parables he explained that I thought I understood before, but that completely surprised me as he worked through them. One example of this in the third chapter of the book where he discusses the man who found the treasure buried in the field and the merchant who found the pearl of great value. That single chapter alone was worth the price of the book many times over for me as it actually helped me better understand the process involved in my own conversion!

And finally, of course, there were a few parables that had always been a little mysterious to me. This book helped shed some helpful light on those as well. The story of the persist widow and the unjust judge is a good example here, and he tied this parable to a neat story about George Mueller and the persistence of prayer in a way that was very encouraging.

All in all, I highly recommend this little gem of a book. I think there is a lot of value and worth tucked into this book, and the simplicity of the presentation in no way undermines the depth of the wisdom it elucidates. Without a doubt or a misgiving, I will be recommending it and sharing it with other believers in the faith.

God's Testimony (in my life)

Well, I finally got around to something I’ve felt a burden to do for a while. I spent an hour or two last night writing down God’s testimony in my life last night, going back through how God called to an arrogant atheist in his 20s and pursued him through the utter deprivation he chose to live before hearing the gospel from a repentant gay Satanist hairstylist. Yes, you heard it right. Of all the people God could have used to preach repentance to my soul, he used this lowly, broken man, that had it not been for my wife (well, wife-to-be at the time), I would have never met or spoken to. I have to say, God’s sovereignty is absolutely amazing. He can do whatever He wills, wherever He wills, whenever He wills, and however He wills. And to whomever He wills, using whoever He wills. My Lord completely dumbfounds and astounds me in the best of all possible ways. I will never cease to praise His name, the one who called me and who saved me from my own complete and utter destruction. The one who plucked me out of the pit I deserved. The one who loved me and sought me even when I cursed and hated Him. Brothers and sisters, the Lord is SO good. If you are interested in knowing how He broke me, broke the power of sin over me, and brought me to repentance when I was set completely against Him, please take a look at the “About” page on this site. It is the testimony of what God has done in one repentant sinner’s life. And let me tell you, it brings me to tears every time I think about it.

Peace and blessings!
Simple Mann

Cross-eyed the right way

As so often happens, what I intended to be a short reply turned into a rather lengthy ramble and there really wasn’t much I could do to stop it. I read the following review on Amazon by a reviewer who posted a review of John MacArthur’s “Faith Works” (or “The Gospel According to the Apostles”), a companion volume to his excellent “The Gospel According to Jesus”.

This is the review that sparked my lengthy diatribe:

Faith AND Works

May 1, 1998

By A Customer

Welcome back to the times of Jesus and the rulership of the Pharisees! MacArthur continues his marriage of faith and works that he began in “The Gospel According to Jesus.” Legalism is in, Grace is out. This book flies in the face of Romans 11:6, and totally obliterates the Pauline dichotomy between faith and works. How many “Faith Works” must be shown to Pharisee MacArthur before he will judge one’s conversion as true? If you are looking for that answer, it is not found here.

And this is my lengthy diatribe

The one-star reviewer below could not be more mistaken. John MacArthur does not add legalism to grace as a requirement for salvation. He does, however, combat the popular notion that one simply has to say a “sinner’s prayer” to be saved. If all you do is say a sinner’s prayer and attend a church that has a “practical” message every week, you may well think that you are saved simply because one time you said, “Lord, Lord” but you can say “Lord, Lord” all the way to Hell and that IS in the Bible. (Read Matthew 7).

The sad and simple truth is that in our selfish society with our microwave mentality (I want it fresh, I want it hot, I want it now, and I don’t want to wait or work for it), easy-believism is the great apostasy of the modern church. Oh, sure, there are plenty of other heresies and apostasies running rampant, but the wide gate that is ushering the most people into the pit in our day and age is the one whose sign reads “cheap grace”. An unrepentant and unregenerate soul may “claim the Name”, but the truth of the matter is that if the old man does not die, there is no “new creation”. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Apostle Paul never said that mere obedience to the law could ever say anyone. He argued irrefutably that any who sought their salvation in the law were damned. (See Romans 1-16. And the rest of his epistles). However, I can not find in any epistle the Apostle Paul ever wrote that gives any indication that someone who continues in sin after being called by Christ is destined for salvation. Nor in Peter’s, nor in John’s or James’, and certainly not in Jesus own words. And the evidence of grace in those great mens’ lives were the works that were accomplished through “bondservice” to THE LORD.

If you really read the four gospels and compare what Jesus actually said and taught about Himself, you would see that John MacArthur does not twist or distort anything. In fact, I don’t think that someone coming to the gospels for the first time and actually reading them for themselves–without any preconceptions or preconditioned ideas–would find anything there that seems to suggest that all one has to do is call on the Name of Jesus to be saved. True believers experience a changed life.

Jesus said that by their fruit you would know them, and that a bad tree does not produce good fruit; nor a good tree, bad fruit. James, the Lord’s brother said that faith without works was dead, just the same as works without faith is dead. The problem is that some modern teachers want to separate works and faith (and grace) as if they could be approached independent of one another. However, I dare say that those three things are no more separable than the three persons of The Trinity! While it would seem absolutely ludicrous for most Christians to invalidate any one or combination of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, there are yet many who seem to think that faith, works, and grace can be separated and dealt with distinctly as concerns salvation. THIS IS ERROR. In the same way, trying to make two distinct offices out of our High Priest (that is, that He can be your Savior without being Lord of your life) is just as preposterous. THAT is unbiblical, and it is good that there are expositors who love the Word of God enough to teach the truth. Though many of today’s shepherds may blindly lead the blind down the wide road to destruction, John MacArthur is not one of them.

Think of the parable of the seed, and of the wheat and tares from Matthew 13. Or even the prodigal son. In that story, the son repents and turns away from the old self. Would the father in that story have held his prodigal son in such high regard had he only come back home for more money to carry on drinking, gambling, and pursuing a sinful, selfish life? Some will probably argue yes, but that is not the parable that Jesus told. The son in the story Jesus spoke of was truly repentant, and that was the key to the forgiveness of the father.

However, the best suggestion that I have is not to just read this book by John MacArthur to see whether or not you want to believe the things it says, but rather read THE BOOK, that is the Word of God. Read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and see what Jesus Himself says. Read the epistles to the early churches, and contemplate the exhortations therein. Was anyone told to stop doing good because it threatened their salvation? Ridiculous! But time and time again, we see the exhortation to stop doing evil, to put sin and the power of the devil behind, to worship God, and to die to oneself daily. And those who taught incorrect doctrine, or who lived sinful lives, they were PUT OUT of the church because they were harmful to her. Oh, that more congregations were willing to purge the cancerous members of the body in this day and age, but for far too many “shepherds” what matter is not the health of their stock, but the size of the flock.

In any event, if you care to truly follow Christ and you call Him Lord and desire Him to be the one in control of your sinful, meaningless life, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book as well as The Gospel According to Jesus (and anything by James Boice) to start building the walls of your faith on a solid foundation.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, lest you be thrown into the fire. Romans 10:16-17 says, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. ”

Peace & Blessings

Free Gift?

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we accepted a life of service. I think that a common misconception about the “free gift of salvation” is that because it cannot be bought or sold with money, it is available at no cost and there is no price to be paid. That is ludicrous, of course, because that would mean this all-important gift essentially has no value. Jesus paid for your sins with His life, not with gold or jewels. And to take this “free” gift only He can give, you must be willing to make an exchange. Your money is no good, for salvation cannot be bought (see Simon Magus in the Book of Acts for a great example here); you must be willing to give up something of equal value.

Now, if you think about it, who is really getting the best deal? Jesus gave up His own life–the only one that has been lived righteously and without sin–and offered Himself in your place as a sacrifice so that you may be redeemed and stand justified before God. He gave His perfect life for you, and offers you the gift of salvation and of restoration, but there does have to be an exchange. He demands your broken, damaged life of sin as payment. He requires repentance–that is acknowledgment and a turning from your sins, accepting in their place the mercy and grace He has in store for you.

You will either be a bondservant to sin, turning away from Christ… or you will be a bondservant to Christ, turning away from sin. You cannot receive salvation and continue in sin; this is the error of a corrupt conscience and there are many today who think they are saved who in fact are not. They justify themselves, but are not justified in Christ.

For a better explanation than I can give here, I would heartily recommend “The Gospel According to Jesus” by John MacArthur.