Archive for the 'eschatology' Category

When and how to say, “That’s a damned lie”

Published on August 24, 2010 in Sermon on the mount and eschatology. 0 Comments

There are times when it needs to be pointed out that a statement is completely at odds with Almighty God – - indeed, that it is liable to judgment.  Tim Keller appropriately made this point while preaching on the Sermon on the Mount.

The title to this post points to one of the most despicable uses of language in our culture.  People are all too willing to casually assign something to perdition without thinking about the reality of what they are saying.  For something to be “damned” means it is an object of the wrath of God. If we have even a trace of wisdom, then we ought to tremble at the thought (Proverbs 9:10).

Flippant references to the condemnation of Almighty God demonstrate a disregard for the idea that we are accountable to our Creator.  (Here I point to Joe Thorn’s recent series of articles on Hell.”

Having said that, there are times when it is appropriate to carefully notice that something is a direct affront to God.  Being careful means making sure that those who hear know that what is said is meant seriously and in keeping with the truth of Scripture.

During sermon preparation today, I can across this appropriate use of the phrase from Tim Keller:*

Jesus Christ said, “I have utterly fulfilled the Sermon on the Mount.  Therefore, when you believe in me, not only does everything that you deserve come onto me, but everything I’ve done comes onto you.”  That means that when God looks at you, Christian friends, He sees someone who is beautiful as the person who does the Sermon on the Mount every day.  Absolutely every day.  That is high.  That a higher view of the law.  Jesus Christ says, “I take the law more seriously than any religious person!  The religious person says, ‘Do your best.’  I say, ‘No, you have to be perfect!’  Absolutely perfect!  I’ve been perfect for you.”  That great hymn writer John Newton has these words: “To see the law by Christ fulfilled and hear His pardoning voice, transforms a slave into a child and duty into choice.”

So what does all this mean?  First of all, by the phone booths and bus stops all over New York, there’s an ad showing a beautiful model in undergarments which says, “Inner beauty only goes so far.”  I’m going to say something to get your attention so you can say you heard a Presbyterian minister say it.  “That’s a damned lie.”  Damned?  “Absolutely!”  It’s making fun of the values of the kingdom of God.  You will never have the upside-down kingdom—where instead of looking for power and success and approval, you live a life of sacrifice – - unless you have the inside-out kingdom.  The inside-out kingdom says that what really matters is who I am to Jesus and who I am in my heart, and not whether I look right.  The wealth I need, the reputation I need is all wrapped up in Him.  That makes Christians radically free.  We’re not self-conscious.  We’re not scared about our bank account.  So you can never have the upside-down kingdom unless you have the inside out kingdom.

Don’t buy the world’s despicable lie that appearances and externals are what is most important.  Rather, understand that if you turn in repentance from your sin, and put your faith in Christ, then there is now no condemnation for you.  Rather, you are a new Creation (2 Cor 5:16-17).

* “The Inside-Out Kingdom,” by Timothy J. Keller, in The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Vol 19, Number 2, Winter 2001, page 48.

5 Common Myths About Hell

Published on August 19, 2010 in eschatology. 0 Comments

Joe Thorn has a good series here briefly refuting five common myths about hell:

  1. Hell is a place where Satan reigns.
  2. Hell is where sinners party.
  3. Hell is temporary.
  4. Hell is the absence of God.
  5. Hell is for bad people.

HT: Thanks to JT for consolidating the links.

Tim Keller: Will everyone be saved?

Published on June 3, 2010 in eschatology. 2 Comments

HT: Out of Ur

Waiting on Saturday

Published on April 3, 2010 in eschatology. 0 Comments

Philip Yancey:

It is a good thing to remember that in the cosmic drama, we live out our days on Saturday, the in-between day with no name.  I know a woman whose grandmother lies buried under 150-year-old live oak trees in the cemetery of an Episcopal church in rural Louisiana. In accordance with the grandmother’s instructions, only one word is carve on the tombstone: “Waiting.”  (The Jesus I Never Knew, 275).

Tim Keller: “If you can sink this deep into your heart, you’ll be an unsinkable person.”

Published on March 20, 2010 in Preaching and eschatology. 0 Comments

If you are feeling disillusioned about the Christian life, I recommend this sermon from Tim Keller on biblical hope.  Not only is it tremendous preaching, but Keller also talks about the beginning of Redeemer Presbyterian church.

Some of the quotes I took from this sermon.

The English word that always translates the Greek word for “hope” never translates it well.

Biblical hope is life changing certainty about the future . . . being certain about the future in a way that affects how you live now.

You and I are unavoidably and irreducibly hope based creatures.  We are controlled how we live now, but what we think will happen latter.  Christian hope has to do with the ultimate future, not the immediate.

Keller quotes three things Jonathan Edwards (in a sermon on Christian hope and happiness) says about Christian hope.

(1) Your bad things will turn out for the ultimate good.

(2)  Your good things can never be taken away from you.

(3)  The best things are yet to come.

One more Keller quote:

People who do not have a proper understanding of Christian hope are always freaked out.

Here to listen.

Piper on why many pulpits are powerless

Published on February 13, 2010 in Piper and eschatology. 4 Comments

HT: Out of Ur

“Ain’t gonna study war no more”

Published on February 3, 2010 in Micah and eschatology. 2 Comments

Won’t it be a great day when we “learn war no more”?  When, in the words of the spiritual, “We stick our swords in the golden sand, down by the riverside?”

Per one of our men’s encouragement, I read Micah today.  It struck me that if I was suddenly asked to preach to a Marines stationed in the mountains of Afghanistan, I would preach from Micah 4:1-5.

3 He shall judge between many peoples,

and shall decide for strong nations afar off;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore;

4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,

and no one shall make them afraid,

for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

5 For all the peoples walk

each in the name of its god,

but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God

forever and ever. Micah 4:3-5

If I did preach to Marines in Afghanistan, I would take Mahalia Jackson along to sing the old Gospel song.  The song preaches too.

Wrath, Romans, and Mohler on Air-Conditioning Hell

Published on January 17, 2010 in Romans and eschatology. 0 Comments

Why are some many Christians abandoning what the Bible teaches about the wrath of God and eternal punishment?  Al Mohler has some thoughts about this that are worth considering.

The wrath of God comes up in our text for today (Romans 2:1-5).  It strikes me in reading through Mohler’s article, I need to hear Mohler’s warning that Bible believing preachers can too say they believe the doctrine of hell, but imply that it is less than good.

I really recommend reading Mohler’s article.  You can learn a great deal from this one.

*********************

For those in our church who are in the midst of our Romans project, realize that if we don’t understand the reality of the wrath of God and eternal punishment, then we won’t be able to comprehend the message of Romans.  Already, we have see that Paul believes the essential human dilemma is that all people are in danger of the wrath of God.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. . . .2:3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

The emphasis on God’s wrath (or hell) is not confined to Paul.  One might turn to any number of passages including Christ’s summary statement in John 3:36.

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Al Mohler posits that such liberal thinking begins when Christians feel that they need to save Christianity from itself.

Theological liberals do not intend to destroy Christianity, but to save it. As a matter of fact, theological liberalism is motivated by what might be described as an apologetic motivation. The pattern of theological liberalism is all too clear. Theological liberals are absolutely certain that Christianity must be saved…from itself.

LIBERALISM: SAVING CHRISTIANITY FROM ITSELF

The classic liberals of the early twentieth century, often known as modernists, pointed to a vast intellectual change in the society and asserted that Christianity would have to change or die. As historian William R. Hutchison explains, “The hallmark of modernism is the insistence that theology must adopt a sympathetic attitude toward secular culture and must consciously strive to come to terms with it.”[1]

This coming to terms with secular culture is deeply rooted in the sense of intellectual liberation that began in the Enlightenment. Protestant liberalism can be traced to European sources, but it arrived very early in America—far earlier than most of today’s evangelicals are probably aware. Liberal theology held sway where Unitarianism dominated and in many parts beyond.

Soon after the American Revolution, more organized forms of liberal theology emerged, fueled by a sense of revolution and intellectual liberty. Theologians and preachers began to question the doctrines of orthodox Christianity, claiming that doctrines such as original sin, total depravity, divine sovereignty, and substitutionary atonement violated the moral senses. William Ellery Channing, an influential Unitarian, spoke for many in his generation when he described “the shock given to my moral nature” by the teachings of orthodox Christianity.[2]

Though any number of central beliefs and core doctrines were subjected to liberal revision or outright rejection, the doctrine of hell was often the object of greatest protest and denial.

Considering hell and its related doctrines, Congregationalist pastor Washington Gladden declared: “To teach such a doctrine as this about God is to inflict upon religion a terrible injury and to subvert the very foundations of morality.”[3]

Read more here.

C.S. Lewis on “Shadow-Lands” and the beginning of the great holiday

Published on December 11, 2009 in C.S. Lewis and eschatology. 0 Comments

C.S. Lewis:

When Aslan said you could never go back to Narnia, he meant the Narnia you were thinking of.  But that was not the real Narnia.  That had a beginning and an end.  It was only a shadow or a copy of the real Narnia: just as our own world, England and all, is only a shadow or copy of something in Aslan’s real world.  You need not mourn over Narnia, Lucy.  All of the old Narnia that mattered, all the dear creatures, have been drawn into the real Narnia through the Door.  And of course it is different; as different as a real thing is from a shadow or as waking life is from a dream ….Your father and mother and all of you are – - as you used to call it in the Shadow-Lands – - dead.  The term is over: the holidays have begun.  The dream is ended: this is the morning (The Last Battle, 170).

I’m looking forward to it!  Revelation 21:3-5, Revelation 22:1-5.

D.A. Carson: How can God be loving yet send people to hell?

Published on November 27, 2009 in Apologetics and eschatology. 0 Comments

How can God be loving yet send people to hell? from A Passion for Life on Vimeo.

HT: JT