Whatsoever Things Are True
by Dan Coburn
Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church
pastordan@mtida.net
Wise as a serpent, and meek as a dove.  I write this in the hopes of helping folks understand the unstable world we live in, to the end of remaining stable ourselves. 
Some ground rules:  1)   The words  "world" and "age" are synonymous and interchangeable in the New Testament. 2)   This "World" is not a spot on a celestial map, or a sphere floating through space as much as it is a World System of values, governed by Satan (see Eph. 2:1-3 and 2nd Cor. 4:3-4).  As much as I love and marvel at this world, the outdoors, creation, wildlife etc, I must remember that we live in a wrecked earth (Gen. 3); so much so that Satan was sent here as a punishment. 3)   I am what God says I am, regardless of my feelings on the matter.  I was what God says I was regardless of my feelings on the matter.   Some background (review).  Throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries - up until the 1960s, society operated in a system called - Traditionalism, in the which "God determines Truth".  In the 60s and 70s, we "graduated" sadly, to "Modernism". This stated that: "Science determines Truth".  This followed Darwinism, a moon landing, high speed air travel, the sexual revolution, the prominence of/dependence on computers in daily life and the eradication of some big diseases (ask your grandparents).  The problem was, that society soon realized that Modernism could not answer four basic questions. Who am I, Where did I come from, Why am I here, and Where am I going.  Rather than return to Traditionalism, we moved "progressively" (I hate that word), to "Post-modernism" which concludes - "There Is No Truth".  Think I'm wrong?  This brought on what I call Condemning Tolerance where everything is subjective. There is no Objective truth w/regard to morals, sexuality, gender, trans etc, etc. What's true for me may not be true for you, and you can't tell me otherwise, or it's "hate speech". It still doesn't answer the big four, but doesn't try to. The only problem is "The Standard" which is God, His Church, His people, and ultimately the influence of the Holy Ghost; all of which the world (Satan's system) is forever trying to eliminate or suppress - Romans 1:18.  This is perhaps wordy and or boring to you, but you need to understand this to deal with folks in your particular avenue of witness.  The result is, Ambassador, you are surrounded by a Humanistic world view. This worldly (Satan's realm" view is self centered.  Let's look a couple of examples.  The World View of God:  God exists for me. His chief attribute is Love, and so all His actions or decisions are ultimately reactions limited to my free will. God sits in heaven hoping you will let Him love you as manifested by blessing you with success, happiness, health and although they would never voice this out loud, God is ultimately subservient to man's free will.  A Biblical View of God however, declares that God is sovereign (highest authority). If He says something I don't like, there is no appeal, no higher court. Everything is under His control, and while this doesn't diminish His love, it brings clarity and balance to His mercy reconciled with His Justice. Man is responsible to God, and must give an account to Him, but it is ultimately Him that must free man's will from Satan's bondage allowing him to savingly believe and repent, receiving Jesus Christ as Lord; then Savior.  We aren't sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. We are dead (Eph 2:1-3).  We are blind (2nd Cor. 4:3-4).  The very thought of The Gospel is foolishness to us (1st Cor. 1:18).  A dead man doesn't in and of himself make a "decision" for Christ.  Jesus said "No one come s to me unless the Father draws him.....". John 6:44.  We don't even repent on our own = "...if God peradventure will grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" 2nd Tim. 2:25.  In short, we are helpless and hopeless, incapable of bridging the gulf between us and God.  But, with every condemnation comes a cure. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" Eph. 2:4-5.  Chew on this, and next week we'll examine more contrasts between God's truth and this worldview.  God bless.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 

 


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