Joseph's Delight (Lessons from His Lineage)

Series: The Message of Christmas
Sermon: The Message of Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25


Series: The Message of Christmas
Sermon: The Message of Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25

There is a lesson to be learned from the lineage of Joseph found in Matthew 1:1-17. In the very first verse, we find that Matthew describes "Jesus the Messiah" as the son of David and the son of Abraham. Matthew's intent is to demonstrate Jesus as the Messiah in His writing. His first step, ...by revealing that Jesus is the son of David and the son of Abraham is to demonstrate that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant and the Abrahamic covenant. For reference purpose, the Davidic covenant is found in I Chronicles 17:11-14. A look at Jesus fulfilling the Davidic covenant can be found in Acts 13, primarily focus on the context around verses 36 and 37. God's covenant with Abraham is found in the very first book of the Bible in Genesis 12:1-3. Galatians 3:13-14 shows Paul demonstrating that Jesus fulfilled that covenant. Now most people find the begat chapters of the Bible, but each person is telling a story. The purpose of the "begat" chapters in the Bible in both the Old and the New is one of the ways that we can tie the two testaments together because they show the Messianic line from the curse of Eden to the cradle of Christ. A remarkable truth about Jesus's ancestry line is there is a picture of God's grace being painted. The actual line of Jesus is found in Luke 2 since that has been determined to be the lineage of Jesus through Mary. Matthew's intent is to show the regal line of Jesus and leads to his legal stepfather. Notice in verse 18 that Matthew made a point to not call Joseph the father of Jesus but one who is betrothed to Mary who is the mother of Jesus. Why? Because as mentioned before (yesterday's post) Joseph is the legal father but not the literal father, for that title belongs to God. Now let's get back to the wonderful message of the lineage. A message demonstrated by Matthew in verse 17: So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17). What Matthew is demonstrating here is the faithfulness of God in keeping his promise (Luke goes back to Adam). In a world where things are becoming more instant, we must discover that God does not keep His promise on your time, He does so on His. Wait on Him. He is faithful. His promise is sure and true. With patience, allow Him to do His work and when He does, nothing can surpass God's promise fulfillment. Look no further than the kept promise of the Messiah.

Joseph's Dilemma and Decision

The message of Joseph is a message of grace.  Grace was found in his lineage recorded in Matthew (after all look at Rahab a harlot, Abraham the liar, David the adulterer) and yet they were still used by God to be the earthly lineage to which Jesus is born (Mary descended from the same lineage).  The term "grace" can be best identified as someone receiving something that they do not deserve.  When one look at these people, apart from knowing the full story of their lives, one can come to a conclusion that there is no way that Jesus earthly descendants should include those, but Matthew and Luke both show that it does.  Joseph himself was a recipient of God's grace.  He was not Jesus literal father, but he was Jesus legal father in the eyes of the culture.  Very little is said about Joseph in the Bible.  We see Mary more than we see Joseph in the life and ministry of Christ.  It does not mean that Joseph had no role.  For such a time as this, Joseph was used.  Think about this.  According to Jewish rules, Joseph had every right to publicly shame Mary after discovering that Mary was pregnant with a child that was not his.  Although, he did not, he also had every right to privately put away Mary which could cause disastrous consequences for Mary, no matter how it was done.  He was faced with a dilemma.  After an angel visited him in a dream, Joseph not only made a decision of obedience, he made a decision of grace.  According to the traditions of that time, Mary did not deserve Joseph's hand in marriage.  The message of Christmas is not only a message of God's grace to us, it is also a message of showing God's grace to others.  Instead of the law of legalism, Joseph showed the law of love and only until then are we able to fully experience and exhibit God's grace for ourselves and others.

The message of Christmas is for encouragement

Thought from the pulpit
Series: The Message of Christmas
Sermon: The Message of the Angels

The shepherds, the unlikely first recipient of the message of Christmas, sat watching their flocks. It was during their many hours of loneliness that enabled the shepherds the time to practice their musical instrument or to sing to pass the night away. Hence, many were known for their musical ability....like David. Society did not look fondly upon them. They were deemed as outcasts and untrustworthy. Their loneliness sinks deeper. Ever cautiously watching the assigned flocks for the stalking predator, the shepherd in their loneliness would be an easy victim to discouragement. Then the angels appeared to them. They became severely afraid at this strange appearance but words of assurance and comfort danced upon their ears: "Fear not." The message of Christmas is not only a message for everyone, it is also a message for encouragement. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, Jackie Robinson made an error. Already a victim of racially charged abused as the first black baseball player in major league baseball, the fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career. So many people are going through moments of discouragement which seems to deepen during the Christmas season. The message o Christmas is for them. It is also to them that God would want us to be much like Pee Wee Reese and stand with them during their moments of difficulties and discouragement and share the comforting and encouraging message of Christmas with them.

Is Heaven for Real (A Review)

Heaven is for real.  For the first time I have seen the movie.  I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.  As it is with every Christian movie, it does not come without controversy.  The movie is based on a book by Wesleyan minister Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent and was a NY Times best seller in 2010.  During a near death experience, Burpo’s four year old son claims to have visited heaven.  Before I proceed any further, I must confess that I have not read the book and many of my friends have claimed that the book adds more element to the account that is not covered in the movie.  As I watched the movie, I carefully treaded with an open heart and open mind.

I am currently in a class called “Christian Philosophy.” This week we have been dealing with the three tests for truth.  There is the correspondence test for truth, in other words, do the truth claim correspond with the evidence.  The coherence test.  To better understand this particular test is prior to the movie did you already believe in visions of heaven “near death” death experiences (there are countless stories of others), then the movie works for you because it supports your claim.  Then there is the easy test for truth called the pragmatic test.  Surely on some level we have all practiced this.  The pragmatic test for truth is the acceptance of a claim not necessarily based on evidence but simply the selectiveness of a claim based on what you want to believe.  The danger is that we have the tendency of ignoring other greater parts of Scripture.  John Wesley actually brings a fourth Christian authority for truth and that is experience.

Whether one believes the claims of the book or not, there is no doubt in my mind based on the Word of God that Heaven is real.  We have that assurance in the promise of God’s inerrant and infallible Word.  Now let’s look at Colton’s experience.  Did it happen?  The Bible tells us: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1John 4:1).  Is there any evidence of visions or dreams of Heaven in the Bible?  The entire book of Revelation was written based on a vision and the fourth chapter and onward is John recording what he saw in heaven.  I am not substantiating that what Colton saw was actual Heaven but simply remind us to critically think based on what God’s word reveals to us about visions and dreams.  In the movie, Todd Burpo made a statement in the pulpit concerning his son’s vision that if we catch it, we may get a better understanding.  In fact, I made a claim (even before Todd’s claim) to my wife at the beginning of the movie and admittedly got a funny look and I am sure others are doing the same while reading this.  God showed Colton the Heaven He wanted Colton to see.  Therein lies the rub for some.  I do not believe that Colton saw the actual Heaven, the one we believe in the Bible.  However, I do believe that he had a vision and in times of difficulties God allows us to have dreams and visions to bring comfort in pain. 

In the movie, we see the silhouette of a figure, supposedly Jesus, who asks Colton if he knew who he was and Colton responded yes.  He then asked Colton if he was scared and Colton said no.  Did he actually see Jesus?  A part of me would say no but that the image that he had of Jesus is consistent with what many portray Jesus in their paintings and images (and movies).  I do believe that Colton had a very real and vivid vision or dream that brought him comfort during his painful and difficult moment.  After all, the vision of Revelation came to John during a difficult and lonely moment as he was in exile on the Isle of Patmos.  While many is fearful of the contents of Revelation, we must not shy ourselves from its subject because John reveals the purpose of the book: Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Revelation 1:3).  Genesis 28:12 records a dream that Jacob had during his time of trouble as well and it was this dream that brought him comfort.  Is there any substantial Biblical evidence that God does not do the same today? 

In the early portion of this article, I wrote of John Wesley’s claim that experience is a source of authority in the quest for Christian truth.  In September of 1990, I had an appendectomy (in the movie, Colton suffered from a ruptured appendix) while still living in North Carolina.  It occurred on a Sunday and there is not much I remember except sometime after the surgery, still under the effects of the anesthesia, I groggily opened my eyes to see my parents, my pastor, my youth leader and one other couple and another individual who seemed to tower behind them.  I know at this point there are those who are rolling their eyes and claiming that I simply suffered from hallucinations, an effect of anesthesia.  I must admit that sometimes I still have a hard time believing what I saw and have wrestled with it for years.  Very, very few people know of this experience.  During the overnight hours as I was in a room by myself, I was undergoing intense pain as the pain medications had worn off.  I struggled to find the nurse call button as my parents had gone home for the night.  The very same individual came into the room, smiled gently at me, touched me at my incisions and immediately the intense pain subsided.  That was the last I have seen.  Was it a dream?  A vision?  Probably?  Am I crazy?  I would like to think that I am not.  But during my moments of pain, a vision or dream of some sort occurred that brought me comfort.  It is for that reason that I can believe the claims of “Heaven is for Real,” not in the sense that Colton saw a real Heaven but that God showed him a Heaven the God wanted Colton to see to bring comfort to Colton.  By the way, I was in the hospital for three days and on the last day I had asked around about the nurse (angel) that I saw and each one had said there was no one that worked there with that description.

What I am simply trying to accomplish is not to actually discredit that this event happened.  Nor am I trying to substantiate that Colton saw Heaven.  Through this, I am trying to show a different perspective based on experience on how this was actually possible.  One of the most important truths that we must not ignore in the movie is the substantial claim of God’s love.  I truly enjoyed the moment when the pastor sat on the bench in the cemetery and was speaking with the grieving mother who lost her soldier son.  What a tearfully touching moment as he painted a beautiful picture of God’s love. 

The Message of Christmas is for everyone

Series: The Message of Christmas
Sermon: The Message of the Angels

The shepherds, although had great personal honor ascribe to them during in the Old and New Testament (Jesus is also the great shepherd), were considered unclean and unholy under the Jewish Talmudic law. They were known for their RELIGIOUS problems. They were considered unclean. The rabbis w...ho produced the Talmudic literature often regarded shepherds as dishonest and prone to violating Jewish law. They were also known for their RELATIONSHIP problems. Due to their job they were always on the move. They had very little interactions with people except among themselves and many were lonely. They were also considered to be brash and abrasive in their conduct and speech. Others would find that difficult to get along with. Those kind of people are usually the ones we would avoid. The shepherds during that culture also had a REPUTATION problem. They were treated with contempt and always accused of stealing. They were considered dishonest and they were never allowed to testify in court. In the Talmud it is written that shepherds were not allowed in the courts to be witnesses. Abba Guria stated: One should not teach his son to become a donkey-driver, camel-driver, wagon-driver, sailor, shepherd, or storekeeper, for their profession is the profession of thieves. Despite all this, the first group of people to receive the message of Christmas were shepherds. God considered them important enough to receive the message of Christmas. If they were important enough to receive the message of Christmas from the angels, then we must realize the importance of the message of Christmas for everyone, even those who in the fallacy of our own thinking, we deem unworthy. The message of Christmas, a message we must have in our own hearts is for everyone and we must be willing to share it.

There is No "I" in Christianity (Part 3)

Do you know why some churches lack unity?  Because they have too many “I’s.”  Yet, there should be no “I” in Christianity.  Paul tells us:

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. (Philippians 2:1-2, New American Standard). 

There is an “us” but there must not be an “I.”  In part 2, we have discovered that we have allowed our own ideas infiltrate our relationship with Christ.  In this particular passage of Scripture, we discover that there is no room for individualism.  In this particular portion of his letter to the Philippian church Paul is encouraging them to unity.  We find words such as “fellowship”, “same mind”, “same love”, “united in spirit”, “intent on one purpose” and each one of these words require a departure from individualism. 

                What one purpose are we to be intent on?  As we refer back to chapter one, we find that Paul writes

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27, NASB).

Conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel? So how do we become intent on that?  That is one of the reasons why I love to read Paul’s letters because in many cases he answers those questions for us, including the aforementioned one.  To conduct ourselves worthy of the Gospel Paul encourages the Philippian church to stand “firm in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.”  Philippians is not the only place where Paul leaves no room for individualism in the body of Christ. 

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.(Ephesians 4:1-6, NASB). 

                I am not advocating a cookie cutter living among churches.  Within the church circle, there are distinct differences of personality.  I strongly believe that God uses each different personality for His glory.  Too many churches split over individualism because they do not like the color of the carpet that the church voted on.  Individualism focuses on what one wants instead of glorifying the Savior.  After all, is that not what our purpose should be?  Individualism takes the focus away from the matters of the heart.  Basically it establishes the standards.  Individualism says “I’m not at fault, you are.” 

It all comes down to one thing.  Individualism does not look at Christ, it looks at self.  Look it up, there is no “I” in Christianity.  In fact, Jesus teaches that there is no “I” in Christianity.

 

Mat 22:34-40

(34)  But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together.

(35)  One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,

(36)  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

(37)  And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'

(38)  "This is the great and foremost commandment.

(39)  "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

(40)  "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

There is No "I" in Christianity (Part 2)

Read part 1 here

No really, there isn’t any “I’s” in Christianity.  One of the first facets of Christianity in which the “I” becomes destructive is Ideas.  A few months ago, I posted an article from another source on Facebook that discussed the drinking of alcohol.  There was nothing in the article that was condemning, it was simply one that I agreed with on why I do not drink, it simply was one of perspective and readily admitted that the Bible was not explicitly clear about the guidelines and was simply based on principles.  Within minutes, I received a response that began with “I think…”  Another argument that has seen a rise within church circles is the acceptance of homosexual marriage.  In support of homosexual marriage, one common defense of it is “I think…”   I wonder how many debates within the church could easily be dissolved if we quit using the words “I think?”

                We have become accustomed to selectivity when it comes to our understanding of the Bible.  Like a kid in the candy store, we pick what we like and leave behind what we don’t.  Yet Paul tells Timothy:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (II Timothy 3:16, New American Standard).

 Notice that Paul did not say some, he said “ALL.”  Keep in mind the context of the Apostle Paul at the time of this writing.  At the time of this writing, the Scripture in which he refers to is the Old Testament.  Just think how quick so many rule out the Old Testament in their own beliefs. 

                Modern day Christianity has become selective Christianity.  In the very same context of his letter to Timothy concerning the entirety of Scripture, Paul warned Timothy about this:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (II Timothy 4:4-5, NASB)

                Did you notice how many “I’s were in those two verses?  I could be broken down this way:

                “Wanting to have their ears tickled” – How can I feel good?

                “They will accumulate teachers” – Who I want to hear?

“Their own desires” – What I want to believe?

                It is not a matter of what we want the Bible to say or what we think the Bible should say, it is a matter of “what does the Bible say?”  When establishing what the Bible says, there are two key elements to consider: context and consistency.  The Bereans in Acts 17:11 serve as a prime example of our attitude to the Word of God:

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11, NASB)

The searched the Scriptures daily to make sure that what Paul preached was there.  In recent days I have been following a debate over translations.  During the debate, one particular individual misused Psalms 12:6,7 in support of his King James only stance.  While I applaud those who prefer their steadfast commitment to the King James Version, the particular usage of this passage underlines a greater problem within the church: the abuse of Scripture out of context.  This is the passage

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.. (Psalms 12:6,7, KJV)

                Viewing these verses in the context of Psalms 12, it is important to understand that the phrase “thou shalt preserve them” is not in fact speaking of “The Words of the Lord” but is actually speaking of the peoples mentioned in verse 5.  The misuse of Scripture is commonplace throughout society.  It has been misused in both church circles and secular circles.  Most often, they are used to support one’s idea, but the Bible is not intended to be used in such a way.  It is about God’s truth.  One other aspect about the misuse of Scriptural references is consistency.  Whatever one determines to be God’s truth, it must be consistent with the rest of Scriptures.  The Bible neither refutes itself nor does it contradict itself. 

                We have the tendency to let our own ideas stand in the way of what God really means and desires for us.  In doing so, we basically say, I am not going to follow Christ His way by my way.  That is akin to saying that God’s way is not correct.  It is an attitude of individualism, No really, it is not about us, it is about Him. 

(To be continued)

There is no "I" in Christianity

Now before you go off on a tangent and start sending me messages about the fact that there are two alphabetical “I’s” in Christianity, I want to kindly point out that I am not referring to the alphabetical concept but the concept of the ego.  After all, is that not the concept behind the phrase “There is no I in team?”   One of the powerful preaching truths over the generations is the idea that the follower of Christ is to be different from the world.  The same expectations of God to the children of Israel is the same expectation of God to the follower of Christ.  It is important to note that when one views the laws of the Old Testament, one facet of the law was designed to help the nation of Israel lived as though they were God’s chosen people

Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine. (Leviticus 20:26, New American Standard)

By using this verse, I am not advocating the legalistic attitudes much like that of the Pharisees because we are in the law of grace.  I lean to what Paul says in Romans letter,

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24, King James Version)

What I am advocating is the Biblical concept that there should be a distinct difference between the follower of Christ and the world.  That is where the “I” comes in.  In society, especially in the American society, there is a sense of entitlement and individuality.  From the life of Jesus and the epistles of the New Testament, that is a departure of what it really means to be a follower of Christ.  In fact, during the life of Christ, the attitude of entitlement and individualism was an attitude found in the Pharisees.  When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount which we read in Matthew chapters 5 through 7, the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-11, Jesus leaves no room in His message for entitlement and individualism.   To go even further, Jesus leaves no room for entitlement and individualism. 

It is important for me to suggest that I am not refuting the idea of free will.  The Bible clearly teaches since the Garden of Eden that man has a choice and with that choice comes consequences or rewards, depending on what choice is made.  Found within the Bible is also the concept that choices show our commitment.  As Joshua told the nation of Israel

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15, New American Standard)

                The choice is yours what one does with one’s life, but as you read the entire context of Joshua 24, there is a consequence of our choices and the choice we make shows our level of commitment.  Obviously, the follower of Christ should make the level of Christlikeness and according to the Apostle Paul who challenges us to have the mind of Christ in our own personal lives shows that the testimony of our life is not one of individualism and entitlement.  Philippians 2 will be the basis of our discussion for this blog over the next several days in addition to other parts of the Scriptures.  Really, check it out, there is no “I” in Christianity.

Truth

One of the things that I have noticed is that you can tell much about a person when you expose them to the truth. Some people can't handle truth. Some people try to avoid truth. Some people try to change truth. One thing is for sure, truth is truth. You can't avoid it and you can't change it. From politicians to pulpits, the truth is being distorted. Throughout the course of the year, lies have been told, truth has been distorted, and emotions have been damaged. As I read Jude 16 last night in connection with my sermon for this morning, I realized something.

These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. (Jude 16)

Every person who mishandled, abused, misused, avoided, and distorted truth did so for one thing and one thing only......"for the sake of gaining an advantage". I kept on reading the rest of Jude and my eyes were opened to much much more. Look at the damage caused by these who distort the truth to their advantage in Jude 19:

These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

We are a divided country because of the misuse of truth.  We must look no further than the political realm of our country.  We have become all too familiar with the terms "class warfare", "war against women", "racial warfare.".  As Christians, we must learn that fellowship with individuals such as those is detrimental to your spiritual health. One thing Paul warns us in II Timothy 3:13 that attitude will get worse and worse. People going after what they want, striving for what they desire, we have become a selfish society in a nation founded by selfless people. We live where people have taken the place of God and determine what is best for them devoid of the word of God, devoid of the Spirit, devoid of truth. Be careful. Be on guard. They are where you expect them to be and where you least expect them to be. We must hold to the words found in Jude where he reminds us to cling to the truth of God's word and remember them:

But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Jude 17)

The health of society has been forewarned.  The writer of Jude reminds his readers that these truths of warning were spoken of before the time of this writing. Paul shares with us in II Timothy 3:

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.  (II Timothy 3:1-5)

Even though Paul wrote these words 2000 years ago, we can see that through his words to his young protege, Timothy, a stark picture of our America today.  Not just America, but the world.  A careful examination of each characteristic's meanings will reveal much clearer how they apply to our society today.  What must we do?  What can we do?  The Bible gives you answers to that question.  Paul after sharing the bleak picture of the last days says to young Timothy,

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,  and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (II Timothy 4:1-5).

In other words, stay the course.  Keep preaching the truth.  Keep standing for the truth.  Keep speaking the truth.  Whatever the circumstances, whatever the situation, DON'T QUIT!  Whether they like it or don't, "in season and out of season".  Our motivation is not just for the sake of America's future, but the sake of a person's soul.  Why must we strive for the pursuit of truth? Look closely at the words of Paul that was just mentioned:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires" (II Timothy 4:3)

Isn't that happening today?  People don't want to hear the truth.  They want to hear what is pleasing to them, not what is best for them.  Life in general teaches us that there is a difference between those two. It is during the pleasing of self that truth become distorted, mishandled, and abused.  It becomes distorted to OUR advantage, Jude warns us of that in verse 16.  Much like the old saying that is a person repeats it long enough they might believe it to be true, but there is no truth except that of Jesus Christ and His divine word.

Now let us return back to Jude and receive encouragement.  Stay committed in your relationship to God.  Stand firm.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (Jude 20)

And most of all keep the faith in your relationship with God and wait patiently with hope for God's work to be manifested:

Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (Jude 21)

Some people avoid truth. Some people distort truth. Some people fear the truth. It is when truth is revealed that a character of a person will be revealed. Truth will bring all things to light. Remember what Jesus said about truth?

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

FREE!  America, the Land of the Free.  A freedom that we are slowly losing because truth is being distorted, mishandled, and abused.  It is that freedom that must urge us and move us to stand unwavering for truth.  We must not be shaken.  We must not be discouraged.  We must not sit back.  We must never be content. For the call for truth rings louder today from the church house, to the school house, to the White House and we must proclaim it from the rooftops to the mountaintops, from sea to shining sea. When truth is distorted, freedom is diminished. 

WE MUST ENSURE THAT TRUTH WILL PREVAIL IN OUR BELOVED AMERICA!

What does truth say about you?

Heaven is Real....

This has been a lot of excitement generated by the movie “Heaven is Real.”  I do not know enough about the book that it is based on nor do I know about the movie.  However, I have the Scripture telling me that Heaven is real.  That is enough for me.  However, lost among the hoopla is another dynamic truth about eternity: Hell is real also.  Very little is ever said about hell among God’s people and God’s preachers.  Even I am guilty of not preaching on hell when I should.  Sometimes we preachers are guilty of selective preaching for the sake of popularity or fear of punishment.  Then you have the other end of the spectrum: some preachers use hell as a fear tactic to motivate people to salvation.  It is important to realize it is not fear that saves us, but faith.  Christ saves us from sin which in turns keeps us from hell.  It may surprise some people to know that in the four Gospels, Jesus refers to hell more than he did Heaven. 

                In Luke 16:19, Jesus begins the parable of Lazarus who was a poor man and a rich man.  It is a tale of two different eternal experiences.  Lazarus is in heaven while the rich man is in hell (Luke 16:23).  I cannot help but notice what the rich man endured in hell.  There are a few who believe you live your life and then you die.  The Bible teaches something else.  It is hard to ignore the emotional, mental, and physical torment experienced by the rich man while he was in hell. 

He was aware

"In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)

He was afflicted

"And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' (Luke 16:24)

He was in agony

"But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. (Luke 16:25)

He was alone

'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' (Luke 16:26)

He was apologetic

"And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers--in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' (Luke 16:27-28)

Yes, Heaven is a very real place, but so is hell.  You are given a chance to accept the gift of eternal life.  A gift given freely and willingly and lovingly to all who will believe (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23).  It is a gift that is accepted by faith.  Faith is the ultimate conviction and belief that something is real even if you do not see it.  It is that faith and only by faith that the gift is accepted.  Look at the rest of the parable:

But Abraham *said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:29-31).

The responsibility of rejection of God’s truth lies within the individual.  There will be no excuses.  You either believe or you do not.  Yes, sometimes God’s people in the way they act and with the things they say make it difficult, but it is not them you are accepting, it is Christ.  God will also hold us Christians accountable for the way we act.  It may be wise to quit pointing fingers and laying blame and simply look at ourselves. God is not going to talk to us about others at the judgment, He is going to talk to us about us.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

I want to close with a few questions we must ask:

Are we living our life in which eternity will be a time of regret?  It is virtually impossible to imagine the rich man not being in regret especially in light of Jesus’ parable.  The rich man was living for self and it came back to haunt him in eternity.

 

Are we actively being a witness?  Jesus left the disciples a mission which has been handed down throughout the generations.  That mission has not changed.  The purpose of the church is to be actively involved in allowing God to use us to transform people by showing and sharing the love of Christ and God’s good news.

The most important one is this:

If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?  Why do you believe that?  Is it your opinion or God’s?

It Should Have Been Me

I should not be here. For you to understand what I mean, I should take you to a time before He and I ever met.  With Easter just around the corner, we must remember that Friday comes before Sunday.  I want to take you back to a room.  There is nothing spectacular about that room, mind you.  It was just a humble place where Jesus gathered together with His disciples for a Passover supper.  That had seem to be a common theme of the ministry of this man Jesus.  Extraordinary events happened in ordinary places and through ordinary people.  Let me repeat, I should not be here.  But because I am, I must tell you this story.

It is the Passover season.  It was a bit unusual though.  Jesus participated in the Passover supper a full day before the official celebrations were to take place.  In fact, Luke tells us that “And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16).  He knew!  He knew what was coming.  He knew what He was getting ready to endure!  You would think that if you knew that trouble was coming on the level that He faced, you would simply run away, but He did not!  In fact, He willingly faced them. 

They said He was God, but He did something you could not imagine God doing in that room.  He knelt down and washed the feet of His disciples.  There is something else that happened in that room.  One of his own, betrayed Him.  For 30 pieces of silver.  Jesus even knew who it was.  He told him!  His disciple, they called him Judas, left.  30 pieces of silver.  The same price paid for a slave killed by an ox according to Old Testament law.  This man who had healed the sick, caused the blind to see, made the lame to walk, calmed the storm and the seas, and even raised the dead was betrayed for a price of a slave killed by an animal!  They say everyone has a price, apparently Judas price to give up Jesus was equivalent to four month’s wages.  He became so guilty by what he had done that he hung himself. 

Then there is His other disciple, Peter.  Peter tells Jesus "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!" (Luke 22:33).  But oh what irony.  Jesus is arrested and three different times Peter denied knowing or being with Jesus.  In fact, Jesus tells Peter that He would.  He tells him that before a rooster crowed twice that Peter would deny Him.  Can you imagine it?  Peter is approached by a young girl who finger him and tells him that He was with Jesus and He responded that He was not.  On two other occasions Peter is fingered and just as in the first, he denies knowing or being with Jesus!  Then in the distance a rooster crowed…..twice. 

            It was during His second trial with Herod that I met Him.  I had heard the crowd from my cell.  Their chants and their shouts echoed down the halls of the dungeon.  You could hear their words tinged with anger.  The soldiers had come to get me.  I was afraid.  I did not want to face that crowd.  The soldiers uttered words like “madman”, “lunatic”, “he’s getting what he deserves.” I just knew in my heart what they wanted to do to me.  I was a robber and a murderer.  Surely they were ready to sentence me to death.  After all, that was the consequences of my actions.  The sun was just beginning to rise.  As the crowd raged in a unified chant, I made out the words “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!  I was not ready!  I was not ready!  Then I saw Him.  His face covered with streams of blood that flowed from the wounds caused by the thorns of the rustic crown made from a thorny brush.  He was naked.  His back, was torn and ripped.  His eyes, met mine.  I saw something in His eyes that I have never seen before.  I saw….compassion.

Pilate brought me and Jesus before the crowd.  He gave them a choice.  I cringed for their answer.  What I heard surprised me.  “Free Barrabas!  Free Barrabas!  Crucify Jesus!  Crucify Jesus!”  Me?!  They were telling Pilate to release me?  What had this man done?  What could have been a worse crime than mine that they were willing to free me but crucify Jesus?  I looked to Him for an answer but He just stood there, motionless.  I looked at the crowd, their eyes glared with hatred.  Their fists clenched.  Their lips pursed with words so vile.  A soldier came to cut the ropes that bound me.  I was free!  Just like that.  Then it dawned on me as I watched them take Jesus away……He was taking my place.  That should have been me.  I should have been the one they were taking away.  Do you know why they were punishing Him?  They did not like what He had to say.  He never killed anyone.  In fact, He brought people to life.  He never hurt anyone, in fact He healed those who were hurting.  I rubbed my wrist!  I traced the imprints of the braided rope that they had bound me with.  Freedom.  I had freedom because of this man named Jesus.

I followed them.  Oh the irony and the shame.  They forced Him to carry the cross.  The 300 pound instrument that they had devised to torture and to kill, they forced him to carry. I listened to every labored breath as he struggled down the path.  They taunt Him.  They hit him!  They pulled the hair from His beard.  I saw His mother.  A tear streaming down her cheek.  I know she could not have liked this.  I wanted to tell her, but the lump in my throat seemed to block any words that I needed to say.  Oh how I wanted to tell her…..that should have been me. 

He struggled and fell.  They pulled a man from the crowd and forced him to help Jesus carry the cross.  I watched as he knelt down beside Jesus.  I watched as he placed the cross on his shoulder.  This man named Simon looked briefly into Jesus’ eyes.  I wondered if he saw the same thing I saw.

As I followed the rugged beams filled with splinters, my eyes traced the road before us until it reached a hill.  There were two crosses already there.  Golgotha.  A place of a skull.  It is a place where criminals were executed.  It was our destination.  As we finally arrived, I saw two other thieves.  As the cross was laid on the ground they forced Jesus onto His back.  Then the sounds of ringing hammer filled the air.  At the strike of each hammer, the crowd erupted into a cheer.  Three nails.  One through each hands and one through his feet.  They lifted the cross into the sky and placed Jesus between the two crosses that was already there.  I watched him struggle to breathe.  He would pull himself up to inhale and as He exhaled, he would drop himself.  Oh the searing pain of those nails.  As I watched Him, I was watching Him take my place. 

Did they hear what I heard?  “Father forgive them.”  Why would He forgive them?  They beat Him.  They called Him names.  They tortured Him?  They shamed Him.  But yet those very words were uttered as He labored to breathe.  Why would He forgive me?  I killed someone.  I robbed.  That should have been me in the middle!  I should be on that cross.  I looked into His eyes and I saw it again.  Love…compassion.  But they didn’t.  They continued to mock Him.  Deride Him.  Ridicule Him.  They questioned Him.  They questioned whether He is the Son of God.  They dared him to prove who He said He really was.  “Come down from the cross!”  Even one of the thieves hanging with Him said “Save yourself and us if you are really Christ.”  He was even getting in on the act.  But the other one.  He asked Jesus to remember Him in paradise.  As He responded, I saw it again.  Love.  Compassion.  He said “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”  Wow.  What an amazing love! 

It was about noon as I continued to watch Him and the sky grew dark.  His face gazed towards the sky and he said “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani.”  If this really was God’s Son, what words were just uttered.  What Jesus said means “My God, My God, what have You forsaken me?”  God turned away from His Son in this moment of suffering.  They said that it was here when Jesus began to bear the sins of the world.  My sins!  He was bearing my sins and because of it, God could not look upon His own son anymore.  The sins that I should have been punished for, He was being punished for them!  Then He looked at me.  I saw it again.  A tear streamed down my cheek!  It should have been me, but no, He took my place!  His suffering became so intense that He cried “I thirst!´ Yet, they gave him vinegar to drink!”  It should have been me.

It was getting close to three in the afternoon and the darkness continued. He was nearing His sixth hour of hanging on that cruel instrument of torture.  “It is finished.”  As I looked at Him, I pondered those words.  What was finished?  Was He going to finally get down?  Will they finally quit this senseless torture of an innocent man?  I just wanted to scream “Let Him go!” In one last breath, He said “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.”  The ground shook, the graves of the local cemetery opened up, the curtain of the temple was torn into two.  A soldier stood beneath the cross gazed up into His lifeless face that had shown love throughout his life and through His death said “Truly He was the Son of God.”  A spear was thrust into His side and water and blood trickled down the rugged beams into a puddle on the sand beneath the cross.  It was over.  He was dead.  It should have been me….

Do you hear that?  Do you hear the commotion?  The news is spreading.  Something has happened at Jesus’ tomb.  I have to go see what has happened…..What Amazing Love!  My King!

Why I will not see “Son of God” and “Noah”

     It is great to see all this interest in Bible themed movies.  In 2004, Mel Gibson directed and released the highest grossing Bible theme movie of all time by raking in just over 370 million at the box office.  #2-4 of course were the CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia.  My favorite of all time came in at #6 which of course is Courageous.  This was also the highest “non Hollywood” movie among Bible theme or Christian based.  There are good intent Christians on both sides of the issues when it comes to both the Son of God (which is based from the Bible mini-series from Mark Burnett and his wife Roma Downey) and Noah.  I do not know enough about either of these movies to stand before you and to write a critique about these movies but there are two questions that I had to ask myself and answer before deciding that I will not go to see either of these two movies.

 

1)                  Is the messenger important? Should we be concerned about where the money goes when we pay to see the movie? What do you know about Roma Downey and Mark Burnett?  Would it surprise you that they are not Christians, but new agers?  They are many well documented sites that shows the ties of Roma Downey to New Age beliefs and also to Psychic John Edwards.  Remember the show where she talked to her deceased mother by the help of Edwards?  Lost amid all the confusion and debates is a key guideline in ensuring proper living and obedience to God, Biblical principles.  Biblical principles is not in fact a manmade idea.  Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount preached Biblical principles.  For example:

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. (Matthew 5:27-28)

Biblical principle is more than just taking the commandments at face value.  It is taking the commandments and applying it to other areas of your life.  For example, the two greatest commandments is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself, but Jesus brings out the far reaching principle of that commandment:

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27)

With the idea of Biblical principles in mind, we must now ask ourselves, is the messenger important?  The money we spend to watch a movie such as this is supporting the messenger, their habits, and their beliefs, and their lifestyles.  Have you done your research on Russell Crowe?  Downey?  Burnett?  I have and I cannot allow my money to support them.  The money is not just supporting the message, it is supporting the messenger.  It use to be that we held the messenger to a higher standard.  Messengers are not just preachers mind you, messengers is any believer of Christ.  Christians should and must be held to a higher standard.  That is Biblical.  One thing God has always required and continues to require is that we be ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).  

2)                  Is it okay to take absolute truth and take an artistic and creative license with it? In effect, saying that the Bible is not good enough and you can make it better to appeal to the audience of today.  We have a problem with people taking liberties with God’s Word, but now we suggest that it is okay for Hollywood?  What about omission?  For instance, in the miniseries by Burnett and Downey, when Jesus was baptized, we never hear God say “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”  You would think that was an all important information needed to be in there.  In the movie Jesus says “I am the way and the truth” but yet the all-important second part was omitted “no one goes to the Father but by me”. 

I know there are many well intending Christians who will or already have seen the movie.  That is something between them and God.  The Bible is the absolute truth. There is no need to change it or get creative with it. To do so is to say, the Bible is not good enough. There will be those who will hide behind the “Don’t judge” criteria but I submit to you in Matthew 7:

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? (Matthew 7:15-16).

Have you researched the fruits of those involved?  Can one in good conscience support financially the Bible based theme movie and by their financial support show support to the lifestyles, belief, and practices of those involved.  Because of these two questions, I cannot honestly in good conscience watch those movies, support it, or recommend it.  Whatever you decide to do, prayerfully ask God to guide.

Faith

What do you know about faith? As we begin a new walk with Christ, faith is key.  According to the Bible, faith is an important ingredient for salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Galatians 2:8).  Faith is key to a successful prayer life: “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). We are justified by faith: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).  On and on, verse after verse can show the all too important role that faith has, not just in salvation, but in your relationship with Christ. Renowned pastor and author David Jeremiah in a message posed to his listeners a question about faith.  He basically asked which is better, a whole lot of faith on a little ice or little faith on a whole lot of ice.  He was striking at a misconception that many have about faith. 

The implication of David Jeremiah’s question is that it is not the amount of faith in the object, but in reality the object in which we put our faith in.  No Biblical writer defines, describes, and demonstrates faith like the writer of Hebrews.  Hebrews 11 which is commonly called “The Faith Chapter” by Bible scholars and Christians alike provides a definition and explanation of faith within the first three verses:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

            The word that is translated “faith” within the original Greek text literally means “firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth”.  Faith is not something that is based on an imagination but an absolute conviction of truth based on facts.  An explanation of this is found in verse three.   How do we believe the world and the universe came into being?  Was it a product of a vivid imagination that provided a definite explanation or is it a realization that came to our attention based on an actual statement?  The writer of Hebrews teaches us that faith, true Biblical faith, is the absolute conviction that the worlds and the universe came into being as explained in Genesis 1.  One of the best and simplest explanation of the Big Bang Theory in the Genesis account of how the worlds and the universe came into being was: “God spoke.  BANG!  Everything appeared.”  For instance Genesis 1:3 says “Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.”  Faith is firmly persuaded, believes, and accept this as truth.  There is no other explanation or is there no other needed other than this simple fact: God spoke the world into existence.

            Faith is the “assurance of things hoped for”.  In defining faith, the Hebrew writer defines it as the confidence of the things we hope for.  The phrase “hoped for” is translated from the original Greek that means “to expect with desire.”  In essence, isn’t that what hope is?  As I type these words, we are just a week away from Christmas.  In the corner of our family room is a Christmas tree with its bright colorful lights and array of Christmas ornaments of different shades, shapes, and sizes.  Our young children are just reaching the age where they understand that Christmas is a time of getting gifts.  On a return from a recent grocery shopping trip, my wife gave each of them a retailer catalog.  I was amused as I watched them go carefully through each page and excitingly exclaimed as they pointed out each toy that it was what they wanted for Christmas.  As each day draws us closer to Christmas, there is an expectation within them of the toys that they will get on Christmas day.  In essence, that is hope.  As our relationship with Christ continues to be developed, our hope will be properly focused on the correct and assured “things” such as Heaven, proper answers to prayer, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the coming of Christ.

            Faith is also, the “conviction of things not seen”.  Do you believe in God?  Do you believe that He exists?  I have heard it best explained like this.  Do you believe that wind exists?  Do you see wind?  Often we hear such answers as yes, when I see the leaves blowing across the yard, or the branches of trees swaying back and forth.  While there is truth to those answers, in reality you are seeing the evidence of wind, but you are not seeing the wind itself.  You have seen and maybe even experience the power of wind.  I have experienced several hurricanes in my lifetime and have felt the wind and its power.  While one may not visibly see the wind, one can know the winds existence because of its effects.  To believe in the existence of God is the same way.  I have seen God when a sinner comes into the life changing relationship with Christ and comes into full contact with His grace and mercy.  I have experienced God when I felt His convicting and comforting work within me, via the Holy Spirit.  I have never seen God in a fully visible way, and I have never met Jesus Christ and I was not there to see His miracles or witnessed His death or resurrection but I believe.  I am firmly persuaded and absolutely convinced that they are true.  Why?  Because the Bible tells us and because I have seen the effect of His work 2000 years after his earthly ministry.

            But science has proven…  How often have we heard that?  The argument for the evolution of the universe is based on the ideas of man’s theory.  Do you realize, that to support the idea of scientific evolution requires faith?  One rests their belief on the theories of men who did not exist at the time of some cataclysmic explosion that over a period of millions of years through the process of natural selection brought us to this point?  There is no explanation how chaos was organized.  There is no explanation on how from the most intense heat of an explosion, something managed to survive to be where we are.  Through the course of human history men developed theories and purported them to be facts.  In Genesis 1:1, we read “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  There is no explanation needed.  There is no theory developed.  The existence of God in the very first book, the very first chapter, and in the very first verse is assumed as TRUTH.  Do I believe God exists?  Absolutely!  Have I ever seen Him?  Absolutely not!  That is faith.  Yet my faith is also based on the fact that not only does the Bible assume the existence of God, but in my own personal experience, I have experienced God.

            Now let’s return to the question at the beginning of the chapter posed by Dr. Jeremiah: Which is better, a whole lot of faith on a little ice or little faith on a whole lot of ice?   What is your answer?  Biblically speaking, can we save ourselves or does salvation come from God?  Can we move mountains or does God?  Who helped David defeat Goliath?  Who helped the Israelites cross the Red Sea?  Who protected Daniel in the lion’s den?  There are examples after examples that can be given that showed that it was God, the object of the character’s faith that enabled them, helped them, and protected them.  When David Jeremiah posed the question to the audience, he was illuminating this great truth: It does not matter how much faith we have, if our faith is not directed to the proper object, then it will simply lead to failure.  One of my favorite verse in the Bible is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  This verse serves as an explanation of faith.  While it is encouraging to know that we can accomplish much, the verse reminds us that we cannot accomplish much alone.  Too often, we make the mistake of doing all things alone, but Paul says that we can only accomplish them through Christ.  If our faith is believing we can do it, then it simply leads to failure.  But, if our faith is in the fact that Christ gives us the ability to perform, then we have properly direct our faith.  The Bible is filled with verse after verse that shows that it is not by our own might, but by the power of God.  It boils down to the words found in the Old Testament book of Zechariah:

Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

            Let us look back at Romans 10:9, which was discussed in a previous chapter.  Paul writes that if we believe in our heart that God has raised Jesus and confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord of our life, then we will be saved.  The original Greek word that is translated to “believe” is actually derived from the same root word in the Greek which we translate into “faith”.  Faith and belief go hand in hand.  In the previous chapter, we discussed the reason why Paul only mentioned “God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Think of it this way, everything we must believe and what the Bible tells us rest upon the resurrection of Christ.  When we receive salvation, we receive the gift of everlasting life.  Of course we have heard the stories of Heaven and probably are familiar with the many songs about them, but none of that matters if the resurrection of Christ is not true.  Paul says it well in his letter to the Corinthian church: But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. (I Corinthians 15:13-14).  Did you notice the last part of verse 14?  If Christ has not been raised, then our faith is vain.  Everything we believe in the Bible rests squarely upon the resurrection of Christ.  If that one is true, then it is only right to believe that everything in the Bible is true.