December 11, 2006
Dualism
Here is my notes for a message I taught at CCF last Friday on dualism. Enjoy!
1- short story of heresies
Gnostics / Valentinians: pure dualism. Creation work of the bad god
They had their extra revelation, their own gnospels, and relied on their local guru for "truth"
Marcion: compiled a modified NT to fit his doctrine. Good god vs bad God
Mani: mixture of different religions where there was dualism.
Point: we are what we eat. We reach a conclusion based on the information available.
2- dualism: what is it, and why?
Theology.
a. the doctrine that there are two independent divine beings or eternal principles, one good and the other evil.
b. the belief that a human being embodies two parts, as body and soul.
The first part is of interest to us
(Source: dictionary.com)
3- Logical refutation of dualism
Please refer to C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book 2, Ch. 2
4- "dualism" today
Dualistic perception is relatively widespread. Sometimes, we can share our faith
with someone who don't understand why God is so "cruel". Sometimes, we can
read the Bible and not understand what's written, because it feels like as
if God WAS cruel.
Lets look at one nearly-random passage of the OT:
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance on his foes
and maintains his wrath against his enemies.
(Nahum 1.2)
And of the NT:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
The main reason, in my opinion, is because we have been sold the idea
of Harlequin love, not real love.
Also, we have been taught about God the bearded guy in Heaven, which
is almost confused with Santa Claus. We made God into an ATM in our
society... he can give the good, never the bad, right?
We'll see that God is true to himself when He says:
I the LORD do not change. (Mal 3:6)
We'll see that he always was loving, always good, and always just.
Then we'll see that God's will, as expressed in the Bible, isn't
always God's will...
5- A loving God in both Testaments
Lets start with the first idea, which is that God is loving.
But first, what is love? The answer is tricky, but doesn't have to be specified formally... Since God's Word is inerrant, we can just look up moments when the Bible talks about God's love in an authoritative manner (vs. the Bible relating what people think of God).
A) In the Old Testament:
Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes." (Hosea 3:1)
B) In the New Testament:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
6- A just God in both Testaments
The idea of justice is relatively wide also. I will focus on one aspect of justice from God: punishing sins.
A) In the Old Testament:
"Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin, he will die for it; because of the sin he has committed he will die. But if a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die. Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! (Ezekiel 18:25-32) (Es 59:22)
B) In the New Testament:
But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them.bring them here and kill them in front of me. (Luke 19:27)
"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!
"The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." (Luke 15:10-17)
7- God's will: "transitive"
Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." (2 Samuel 24:1)
Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:1)
It is one of many examples in the Bible where God gets the credit for something Satan does.
Why? The answer is because God is almighty. Either he directly decides of something, or he allows Satan to do something. In that sense, he indirectly "wills" it.
8- Our personal responsibility.
"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?'
Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?'
But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.
[...]
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live [...]"
(Deuteronomy 30:11-14,19a)
We have the personal responsibility to know and practice. God, in both Testament, made that very clear. In the words of Jesus:
"If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; forI did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. Jn 12:47-48
"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great." (Matthew 6:46)
9- Conclusions
1) Read your Bible, don't be like Marcion
2) If you are stuck in guilt, keep in mind that Jesus brings forgivenes of sins
3) If you are stuck in sin, keep in mind that God is just and that there is a consequence.
Appendix A- Extra difficulties
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:8-10)
In this case, we must look at what we saw at point 7. God warns us that sin has consequences,
and that God will not stand in those consequences. An example can be seen in addictions such as alchoolism, which tend to span accross generations. Our sins make us and others pay too.
But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 7:3)
It sounds like he was doomed from the start... Let us think about point 7 for a moment and read a bit more...
But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. (Exodus 8:15)
Sources:
www.christian-thinktank.com/madgod.html
www.douglasjacoby.com
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2001/20010218.htm
NASB, NIV translations of the Bible (although mostly NASB)
Michel Theron, Petit lexique des hérésies chrétiennes, Albin Michel, 2005
Posted by ma at 08:27 AM
July 11, 2006
Strong Brotherhood
Here is sermon notes for a men's midweek that I preached this summer
"I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
more wonderful than that of women." - 2 Samuel 1:26
David was a man who loved women very very much... yet he loved Jonathan as a true brother, and loved him more than he loved even his wives. Is there a man you love more than your wife or desire for a wife?
Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. - Matthew 5:37
Now, what are the things that you said yes to when you became a disciple? Here is some things I did commit to:
- carry your cross every day
- make disciples (every day)
- have daily contact with brothers and sisters
- submit to what the Bible teaches
- read my Bible every day
- pray every day to my God
What are things we preached to you before? I think that, for some of them, we made it explicitely clear that you should change church if you didn't commit to those. What were they?
- involvement at sunday, midweek and family group meetings
- discipling
- evangelization
- and I dare add, loving one another
Those are things that you implicitely commited to, that each of us had commited to. Now, it is a simple matter of holding the commitment that you made.
Challenges:
- Have a d-time or d-group this week
- Evangelize with a brother for 30 minutes this week
- Pray with a brother at least once this week
- Decide to be open about your life and your struggles
- Fight sexual impurity together by prayer
Posted by ma at 08:30 AM
March 15, 2006
Pourquoi le message de Jésus est toujours bon
Quand je parle de Dieu ou de la Bible à bien des gens, il arrive qu'on me réponde "je ne vois pas pourquoi quelque chose écrit il y a 2'000 ans nous servirait aujourdh'ui".
Bien qu'on puisse formuler des objections de nature philosophique et historique à cet argument (p.ex. la notion de démocracie et de république, la philosophie grecque, etc.), autant laisser la Bible parler d'elle-même.
1) La nature humaine est inchangée
Marc 7:21-23: On voit bien ces choses dans le monde actuel. Pouvez-vous nommer un exemple concret d'orgeuil, d'adultère, de fraude ou de calomnie?
Comment se fait-il que, malgré "l'évolution" humaine au cours des derniers siècles, on puisse voir les mêmes problèmes venant de l'être humain?
Ec 1:9: Il n'y a rien de nouveau sous le soleil. C'est la manière de faire qui change, mais les éléments en jeu n'ont rien de nouveau.
Par exemple, on voit l'industrie du disque paniquer face à la distribution de contenu musical "hors-contrôle" sur Internet. Pourtant, la même panique eut lieu lors du développement de la radio un siècle auparavant... rien de nouveau sous le soleil.
Pouvez-vous nommmer un "pattern" qui se répète dans l'histoire?
2) La nature divine est inchangée
Mal 3:5-6 Face à la dépravité, Dieu n'a qu'une seule volonté: juger et punir... et cela n'est pas négociable, et Dieu ne changera pas d'avis là-dessus.
3) L'objectif de la Bible est mécompris
Plusieurs personnes avec qui je parlais me disent souvent qu'ils n'ont pas besoin de religion pour leur dire ce qui est bon et ce qui ne l'est pas. Cela est fort vrai.
On connait bien la religion qui dit quoi faire et quoi ne pas faire... nous savons aussi que la Bible a beaucoup de versets qui parle de cette manière.
Première question: pourquoi Jésus est venu sur terre?
Jean 3:17-19: Jésus n'est pas venu pour enseigner des valeurs morales, ni pour philosopher.
Autre question: Qu'est-ce que la vérité?
Jean 8:31-32: Une chose telle que la Vérité existe. Elle n'est pas propre à chacun, mais basée sur les enseignement du Christ mis en pratique.
Autre question: De quoi la Bible parle-t-elle?
Jean 5:39 L'ensemble du témoignage de la Bible permet de bâtir la foi en Christ.
Lk 4:17-21, Lk 17:44 La Bible démontre l'accomplissement de promesses de Dieu en Christ.
Pourquoi la Bible existe-t-elle?
Jean 20:31: Un des objectifs de la Bible est donc de nous permettre de croire en Jésus.
Hébreux 5:12-14: Les enseignements du bien et du mal, du quoi faire et du quoi ne pas faire ne sont là que pour nous faire maturer. La personne qui croit en Jésus utilise donc la Bible pour grandir dans sa foi.
Posted by ma at 09:44 AM
Mutual Edification is a Commandment
How should we interact in the Body of Christ?
In this study, we will see that our focus should be on uplifting each other.
Note: All quotes are from NIV, used with permission
1) Mutual Edification is a Commandment and a Consequence to Grace
Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Romans 15:1-3
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
Ephesians 4:29-32
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
2) Forms of Mutual Edification (as comprehensive as I could make it)
a) Mutual Serving, Devotion and Submission
Galatians 5:13-15
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Ephesians 5:19-21
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
b) Forgiveness, Social Interaction
Ephesians 4:1-6
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit.just as you were called to one hope when you were called. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:25-32
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
We see here that the integrity of teaching and the spirit of unity matters a lot.
c) Encouragement, comfort
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Hebrews 3:12-14
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
The challenge: take some time to learn about the others here, and see what need they have and how you can help them meet this need.
Posted by ma at 09:22 AM
October 05, 2005
The Reasons Christ Came... and Us
Could you list your goals, your purpose in life? Keep it to yourself, be very honest.
Let us see for a moment why Jesus came on earth... and what this means for us.
1) Accomplish God's will
Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Jn 6:38
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (cf Jn 5:43)
-> Jesus wanted to do God's will in everything. The Law was pervasive to every aspect of our lives, and Jesus was to fulfill it.
2) Salvation of All
Matthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
John 12:47
As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
-> Jesus was interested in the people who are sinners and acknowledge it, to bring them to salvation.
(Linking) Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
(extra reading: Luke 9:50-56)
3) Service + New Life for Believers
-> Jesus was here to serve. He washed feet, he took care of the poor and needy, he healed and served to make people's lives better in a way that was beyond his salvation mandate.
John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (cf Jn 1)
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(extra reading: John 16:7)
-> Jesus came to bring people out of spiritual darkness. The light he gives us allows us to have a fulfilling life.
4) Persecution Because of His Teachings
Luke 12:49
I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
(see Mt 10:34)
-> Jesus knew that persecutions would come with the Church... and he was eager for it! Eager to see his teachings put in practice!
5) Teach us the Truth
John 18:37
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
(see also Mark 1:38)
-> Bringing the truth to as much as possible was one of his objectives.
---------------------------------- Renewal
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(Further reading Eph 4:11-13, Ro 8:28-29, Gal 3:19, 2 Co 3:16-18)
-> God's will for us is to become more like Christ.
-> There are many facets to this, but let's focus on this one
Jn 3:5-6
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
-> We can do so only if we are born again.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
-> If we are born again by baptism, we are a new creation. How new? How does God want to use that to shape us?
Romans 6:17
But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
(Further reading, Romans 2:29)
-> Our hearts are changed so that we want to be obedient.
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is.his good, pleasing and perfect will.
-> Matrix example
-> Renewing of the mind.
-> We are able to think more like God
Ps 51:12-17
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
-> God loves our submitted hearts, and our human broken spirits
-> Willing spirit after forgiveness
-> Transformation and Grace creates the desire to share our faith, to praise God.
------------ Conclusion
-> God wants to change us so that we act, feel, think more like Jesus.
How much are we thinking like him?
-> Recap: Do God's will, Salvation of all, Service, New/better life to others, persecution, Truth
-> Share about how we are on this