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Join Us for Worship
I want to invite you to worship with us this Sunday at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM or 6:00 PM. God is working through His people here at First Baptist and He is seeking people to worship Him (John 4:23). We would be honored to have you visit with us as we gather to glorify the King of kings, Jesus Christ the Lord!
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Who moved the stone?
Do you find it awkward to visit a graveyard? Death is a reality in this world; but it also is a reminder of our own mortality. Marble and granite slabs cannot remove the odd feeling of visiting a loved one in a cemetery. One theologian said, "Death is the most democratic institution on earth...It allows no discrimination, tolerates no exceptions. The mortality rate of mankind is the same the world over: one death per person.
The reality, horror and certainty of death is oppressive. It follows us around all day with thousands of reminders sprinkled across the landscape and in the newspapers. Even with all of man's medical advancements, technologies and wonder drugs, one out of one dies. Some ignore it. Many avoid thinking or talking about it. Even using the D word, "death," is avoided as manifested in the plethora of terms used to shelter us from death's horror. We say "he has passed away," "passed on," or is "no longer with us." The slangy substitutes confirm that people are fearful of death.
Jesus Christ is the only man (the God-man) who came into this world to die. As the Son of God, He left heaven's throne to fulfill all righteousness, to die on the cross for our sins, and to conquer death and the devil. When the disciples came to visit His tomb, they found the stone already moved and the body gone. First reactions were to think the worst, leading to fear and more discomfort. But the physical appearance of the resurrected Christ replaced fear with faith, joy and peace. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ resolved man's greatest problems. Death is defeated. Atonement for sin was complete. Eternal life belongs to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ!
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the distinguishing marks of the Christian faith. Without this historical even, Christianity crumbles into mythology and superstition. The resurrection of Jesus is critical for the veracity of the Christian faith. As the apostle Paul said, if Christ was not raised, then our faith is in vain.
For hundreds of years scholars have analyzed the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For example, Simon Greenleaf, the Royal Professor of Law at Harvard University from 1833 to 1848, examined the legal and historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Greenleaf, who led Harvard Law School to preeminence, has been called the greatest authority on legal evidence in the history of the world. His conclusion was that the evidence demonstrates that Jesus Chrsit was raised from the dead.
Some claim that the resurrection of Jesus was just a hoax, invented by the disciples. But to think that the scared, uneducated, lowly disciples of Jesus could use a myth to transform the world without successful rebuttal defies logic. And to claim that these weak disciples could have overcome the Roman guards and stolen the body doesn't make sense either. Whatever happened at the tomb of Jesus was not a hoax.
Those who claim that the resurrection of Jesus was just a legend have no solid ground to stand on either. During the nineteenth century, this objection was proposed when people thought that the gospels werre written hundreds of years after the events. But modern discoveries in archaeology and textual criticism have demonstrated that the gospels were written close to the same time period in which Jesus lived. The gospels provide eyewitness accounts, not legends and myths.
Others claim that the disciples suffered from halluncinations and they just thought Jesus was raised from the dead. But at no other time in history have over 500 people suffered from "group hallucinations" at the same time. This theory will not stand when one considers the fact that all the Jewish and Roman authorities had to do to squelch this idea was visit the grace and point to the body. Just a few steps to the tomb would obliterate such a claim.
Some claim that Jesus never really died, he just swooned on the cross and later awoke in the coolness of the tomb. This theory melts in the light of the evidence. The Roman soldiers were experts at execution. His death was a public event and crucifixion was not an event that one would just wake up from without needing serious medical treatment. Ancient burial practicies of wrapping the body would also prevent resuscitation from even a healthy person who was buried. Also, the swoon theory does not explain the moving of the huge stone and overcoming the soldiers who guarded the tomb.
There is only one logical explanation for the empty tomb and the moving of the stone - Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God. No theory explains what happened at the tomb of Jesus except the resurrection. The resurrection makes rational and historical sense when one examines the evidence. Only the resurrection can explain the disappearance of the body of Jesus. Onnly the resurrection can explain the hundreds of eyewitness accounts, the transformation of the disciples, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the inability of the Romans and Jewish leaders to disprove the resurrection claim, the success of the Christian church, the change from the Jewish Sabbath to the Lord's Day (Sunday worship), and the continuous power that the gospel has in transforming the lives of millions of people.
To reject the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be at war with God and reality. The reason people do not believe the resurrection of Jesus is not because of a lack of historical or rational evidence; rather, it is because the claims of Jesus Christ have a serious bearing on every life. Jesus doesn't just call for intellectual belief in His death and resurrection. He calls all people to repentance, faithfulness and worship. He calls all people to deny themselves and follow Him for life. Many find this command to be an intrusion into their personal lives. Rather than submit to His authority and Lordship, people dismiss Him as a theory, a myth, or a legend.
But Jesus Christ will not go away. He is the living Lord of history, the present and the future. He is the only
Savior of the world. Jesus said, "I m the way , the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through
Me" (John 14:6). God moved the stone. Jesus is alive forevermore. Worship Him and only Him!
What will it take?
Back in the 1960s many Christians in America saw the seismic shifts in the culture and called churches to repentance, prayer and revival. Millions of people came to Christ during the late 60s and 70s. Billy Graham and other evangelists, pastors and leaders challenged churches to turn from sin and return to the Lord. Most churches knew that America was in trouble morally and spiritually.
Today, we are in trouble and don't know it. Oh, we know that we have a financial downturn in our world. We know that we are dealing with natural disasters, crime, a disintegrating family and a global war with terrorists. But what we don't know is that, as a nation, we are in trouble with God. Biblically, there is no other way to spin it. We have turned our backs on our Judeo-Christian heritage and embraced secular values, goals and lifestyles. Most of the churches in America are either in decline or in denial of the facts. Secularism, atheism, humanism, and Islam are growing exponentially while Christianity is in decline. Most disturbing is the fact that most professing Christians don't know and don't care. Most are more concerned about the next meal, the next ball game, or the next trip than the moral corruption that is rampant in America. It is time for us to return to the Lord and to His priorities that He has laid before us in His Word. It is time for us to seek first the kingdom of God and subject all other interests to kingdom goals. It is time for us to pray for revival and to proclaim the gospel with power to this generation. It is time for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily and be witnesses with the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost culture. It is time for us to disciple our children and grandchildren using the truths of God's Word, not the popular secular notions of the day.
In Amos 4, the prophet reminded Israel that God has sent famine, crop failure, plague, war and drought to the land. Yet the people did not repent. God promised to heal them if they would hear Him. What is it going to take before we begin to listen to our Lord?
Jesus informed us and warned us of the danger of neglecting God's Word. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus contrasts the wise man with the foolish man. The foolish man built his house on the sand. The wise man built his house on the rock. When the rain, wind and floods came upon these houses, the house built on the sand fell and the house built on the rock did not fall. The distinguishing difference is this: the wise man heard the Word of God and acted according to the Word; the foolish man heard the Word and did not act upon it. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, "Not every one who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." Are we listening and obeying? God is speaking!
The Miracle of Forgiveness
Sermons on forgiveness are prevelant today. However, the subject of forgiveness is often received with a yawn or even sleeping saints bored with a familiar theme. An amazing thing has happened in many churches: many people are no longer amazed at God's amazing grace. As some pople have said, "Forgiveness is no big deal; that is God's job." Though few people might actually say those words, taking God's grace for granted is common in the land.
Philosopher Paul C. Payne noted that the world does not take the church seriously today because the church
is not serious. Professing Christians seem to be more enamored with the world than with almighty God. The lusts of the flesh, the pleasures of this world, the god of greed, the promotion of pride and selfishness seems to rule in and outside of the church. Most people are not amazed by the subject of God's grace and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. How can this be?
In Luke 7, we find many astonishing miracles performed by Jesus Christ. Some of these miracles include the healing of the sick, the casting out of demons, and raising the dead (no small miracle). But as you read further in this chapter, you discover one of the greatest miracles of all time. The greatest miracle recorded in Luke 7 is not the raising of a dead man but the forgiveness of a sinner. Jesus said to a very sinful woman, "Your sins have been forgiven." So what is so great about forgiveness?
Think about it. It costs God very little to heal the sick, open blind eyes, or even raise the dead. He is the almighty and can do this seated in heaven. But the cost of our forgivness is great indeed. Being a holy and just God, He cannot just forgive sin without justice. Most people do not understand this truth. God doesn't forgive by simply saying, "just forget it and don't worry about it." No, He is holy and just and will by no means overlook any sin without justice being done. It cost more for God to forgive sin than for Him to raise the dead. Jesus Christ left the throne of heaven, became a man, fulfilled all righteousness by living a perfect life, and then died on the cross for our sins to be forgiven. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." Jesus Christ made atonement for our sins, took our guilt upon Himself, died a substitutionary death on the cross, was cursed for us that we might be forgiven and justified before holy God! Forgivness is a great miracle because it cost so much.
Further, salvation meets the greatest need and produces the greatest results. Without forgiveness of sin, a healed man will eventually die and spend eternity apart from God in hell. Forgiveness costs the most, meets the greatest need, produces the greatest change in the human heart, and deserves the greatest praise from those who are forgiven. Forgiveness is a miracle that everyone needs.
The good news of the gospel is that you can be completely forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Those who receive His forgiveness are never the same. A miracle of the greatest magnitude has occurred in every person who is forgiven. Every believer has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, justified by God, and cleansed of all sin by the blood of Jesus Christ. As heaven rejoices over the salvation of lost sinners (Luke 15), so should we. Let the rejoicing continue!
Learning how to cry
In recent years I cry more than in my younger days. Having grown up in south Georgia where boys were taught to be tough, to be strong and never cry, I learned not to cry. Males are not supposed to cry. Men are to be stable, unshakeable, and insensitive to emotional upheaval. But after becoming a Christian at the age of 18, I learned that tears can be valuable.
My first step toward more tears was in 1972, the year that I graduated from high school. In November of 1972 I experienced the convicting power of the gospel that brought me to my knees and changed my heart forever. Since that cold, rainy day in November, I have never been the same. God convicted me of my sin, stripped me of my pride, and humbled me before His laws as He gave me a new heart directed toward heaven rather than things of this world. I experienced the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sin that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ became my Lord and Savior in a very real and personal way. That was a big step toward learning that crying can be a good thing.
Becoming a Christian gave me a new perspective on life. Suddenly I cared far more about God's will than the demands of people. God's values and goals became paramount. Man's values and goals became suspect. I learned what the book of Proverbs says is true, that "the fear of man brings a snare" (Proverbs 29:25). Fearing God became more profitable and sensible than fearing man. Pleasing God makes much more sense than trying to please everybody else. And fearing God includes crying.
Through the years I leared to cry about many things. Crying became a daily discipline as I confessed my sin to God and continually discovered the wickedness and weaknesses of my own life. But the good news is that when we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I learned that through confession and weeping over my own sin, I found forgiveness and freedom. A great burden is lifted from those who humble themselves before God. Trying to be tough and proud is dangerous and unhealthy.
More recently, through the injuries my family experienced in an auto accident, I have learned even more about crying. My oldest daughter sustained what doctors called a permanent spinal injury that has left her in a wheel chair since she was thirteen years old. She has learned to cope with it better than me. Through this valley God has blessed our family with a loving church and with special measures of grace and comfort. The stress and uncertainty of the valley caused me to trust God more, look to God more, and cry more. It also made me keenly aware of others who suffer and hurt. Crying is a lot easier and a lot more frequent when you encounter pain and difficulty.
One of the problems with crying is that tears hinder vision. For example, when reading the Bible or a good book, I sometimes begin to cry with tears that blur my vision. Physically, I cannot see as well with tears. But crying opens my eyes to see things I have never seen before. It takes away the blindness that pride causes. Tears remove the callousness of self-centeredness. Crying enables one to see the beauty of God's plan and His purpose in a world of pain and suffering.
The Bible says, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting" (Psalm 126:5) The Psalmist said of God, "Thou hast taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book?" And then in Revelation 21:4, the Bible promises that in heaven "He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes." Perhaps it is a mystery, a paradox, or great irony, but joy follows tears. Not all crying results in joy. But when we repent of our sins and cry out to God, tears often lead to joy. Weeping may last for the moment; but joy comes in the morning! Don't be afraid to cry.
More Prayer and Less Politics
On Thursday, June 28, 1787, the Constitutional Convention was embroiled in a bitter debate over how each state was to be represented in the new government that we now know as The United States. Hostile feelings created by the smaller states were pitted against the larger states. Some delegates actually left the Convention.
At this crucial time, Benjamin Franklin, Governor of Pennsylvania, and the senior delegate at the age of 81, arose to address the Congress in this moment of crisis. According to James Madison's detailed records, Franklin influenced the convention with the following words:
"In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection.--Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor.
To that kind of providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?
I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise withous His aid?
We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that "except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interest; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move--that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."
Jonathan Dayton, delegate from New Jersey, reported that Franklin's words "fell upon our ears with a weight and authority, even greater than we may suppose an oracle to have had in a Roman senate!" James Madison moved that Franklin's appeal for prayer be enacted. Since that day, prayers have been offered in both houses of congress. Perhaps we need more prayer and less politics to solve our nations problems. As we celebrate our nation's birthday this week, let us call upon the God who blesses us and keeps us in His Care.
One True Religion
Americans have the grand privilege of religious freedom. The first amendment to The Constitution of the United States was written to address the subject of religious liberty. In The Bill of Rights, this amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..." This pastor is one who cherishes this freedom and believes that true religion cannot be legislated by human government since it comes to man only by the grace of God.
However, to value religious freedom does not mean that all religions are equally valid or that the various religions of the world are good and true. People have the freedom to choose their doctor; but that doesn't mean that people always make wise choices. People have the freedom to eat various kinds of food; but all foods are not nutritious or good for human health. Americans enjoy the freedom of religion; but all religions cannot be true or ultimately good.
American culture has embraced multiculturalism and pluralism. Advertisements declare that strength comes through diversity; and this statement is true with certain qualifications. However, when dealing with religion and ultimate truth claims about God, all religions cannot be true for they make contradicting claims about God and faith. No doubt, we do live in a pluralistic society; but the existence of diverse religions does not prove the worth of these religions. The religions of the world may seem to have temporal value by providing some code of ethics for the masses. But this does not prove their ultimate worth or justify their existence.
In a society that claims to value tolerance and open-mindedness, it is odd that many people find the idea intolerant that there might be only one real God and only one true religion. It is ironic that the people who talk most about tolerance are often the most intolerant of ideas that differ from their own idea that all religions are wonderful. America is not in the mood to tolerate exclusive or dogmatic claims about God. American intelligentsia dogmatically say that all dogmatism is wrong, except for their own dogmatic ideas.
The Bible makes some dogmatic claims with great clarity and with even greater authority. The Bible claims there is only one God and only one true religion. Jesus Christ declared, "I am the way, and the true, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."1 The Bible reminds us that God alone is God and that all other gods are impotent idols that do not exist. All other religions are false and lead people astray from the truth. Regardless of how sincere the followers and regardless of how pragmatic and helpful the various religions appear, all religions but the biblical religion are false, deceptive and harmful. According to scripture, the diverse religions of the world lead people into spiritual darkness and death. Only in Jesus Christ can man find faith and true religion. Only through Jesus Christ can sinful man be forgiven and enter the kingdom of God. Indeed, people should respect the ideas, feelings, and faith of others; but there is only one true religion according to Jesus Christ.
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1 John 14:6, NASB
The Deconstruction of a Moral America
Americans have been afflicted with moral dyslexia, an inability to discern the difference between right and wrong. Moral relativism seems to be the dominant philosophy in American culture, where truth has been replaced with feelings and the mood of the moment. Today, it is fine to search for truth as long as you don't find it, or claim to find it. That would be socially incorrect. Modern thinking dictates that there are no absolute moral truths. People believe that moral truth is relative, situational, personal, individual, and ever changing.
University professor Allan Bloom described the way Americans think in his best-selling book, The Closing of the American Mind, when he wrote, "almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative."1 This assesment is confirmed by social researcher George Barna, who documented that over 72% of the young people today "agree that there is no absolute truth."2
According to Charles Colson, America has entered the new dark ages. We have slowly embraced moral darkness and rejected the ligth of God. the real danger in American society is not nuclear holocaust, financial deficits, or international relations; the real crisis is moral and spiritual. Colson stated that moral darkness is "encroaching upon every area of life: politices, education, law, medicine, the arts, and even our communities, churches and families.3
Moral relativism is one of the primary reasons for the problems we see in our society. While our culture experiments with the deadly philosophies of humanism, atheism, neo-paganism, and alternative life-styles, our children and grandchildren pay the price. They grope around in the darkness looking for answers, for moral truth, for standards, but are told confidently there are none. A first century philosopher, Dio Chrysostom, unknowingly described America's leaders when he declared: "Like men with sore eyes: they find the light painful, while the darkness, which permits them to see nothing, is restful and agreeable."4
The Bible says that "God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all."5 God has revealed His will for mankind in Holy Scripture, and in Him there is no darkness, no impurity, no imperfection or moral evil. God graciously provided instructions for moral behavior to all who are willing to embrace the light. Not everyone appreciates the light, however; for people naturally love darkness rather light.
The need of the hour is not for religious cliches, spiritual pep talks, or inspirational devotions. The real deficit in our nation, our communities, our families, and even our churches is a spiritual and moral one. America needs a revival of moral truth. And the source for moral truth is God and His son Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible. I don't claim to know all truth; but God does. God's light is more powerful than the darkness.
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1 Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind (New York: Simon & Schuster Inc., 1987), 25.
2 George Barna, What Americans Believe: An Annual Survey of Values and Religious Views in the United States (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1991), 83.
3 Charles Colson, Against the Night: Living in the New Dark Ages (Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Books, 1989), 22-23.
4 Ibid. , 43.
5 1 John 1:5, NASB.
