Judgment Coming for Saints and Sinners
By Elmer G. Klassen
Is the Bible true and does God answer prayer are the two questions no Christian would dare to publicly deny, yet the denial of truth in our society does make these basic questions very challenging for believers. The godless philosophies of Darwin, Marx and Freud have been permitted to have such an influence in our century that people have lost their foundation for what they can believe unless they know and believe the God of the Bible.
Darwin tried to discredit the authority of the Scriptures, Marx tried to discredit the authority of the Church, and Freud tried to discredit the authority of the fathers in their homes. Their success and influence in our society should cause us to ask truthfully: Is the Bible true? Is the truth being given to us through the Church? Are fathers responsible that children know and obey the truth? The efforts of the godless to destroy our confidence in the Word of God, the Church and the fathers in their homes is Satan’s attempt to destroy the creditability and the authority of Jesus Christ.
The Bible Speaks Today
The Bible is true and God does answer prayer in Jesus name! If we truly believe this we would enjoy reading the Scripture in a number of translations. We would not only read verses scattered here and there in devotional booklets but would enjoy reading through entire books in the Bible for our own edification often. When questions about truth would arise in our thoughts we would know where to read and read often what God’s Word teaches on any given subject.
If we believe that the Scriptures are what they claim for themselves to be we would want to spend more time reading them. Our theology would become balanced by reading from Genesis to Revelation God’s message to man. Many subjects, which occupy much of our thinking, would become unimportant while new subjects such as the coming judgments on this earth and the importance of living for eternity would naturally become more interesting to us.
Our opinion of God would change. The God and Jesus we hear so much about is not the God and Jesus we read much about in Scripture. Reading Scriptures much and often would set us free of some thought patterns which have hindered our spiritual progress. Some of our older translations have become what the Latin translation in the 16th century had become. They were very holy to some people and were to them so beautiful and sacred, so comforting and inspiring even if they contained some words the people could not understand when read in the churches. People shuddered at the idea of turning the time-honored Latin Bible into the common and barbarous English language used in the inns, the stable and the street.
The New Testament translated from the Greek was not considered a work of art. The Greek used during the time the Bible was written had lost much of its beauty. The Bible was written in a commercial Greek language which was used by the man on the street. The Greek of the New Testament had left the classic Greek and had changed to what the common people were using which changes with time. Translators tell us that there is no such thing as translating a book into another language once and for all, for a language is a changing thing. If we love God, the truth and love to spend time reading His Word we will want to read it in the language of our day and in the words that communicate the message as originally intended.
We will from time to time also want to read more than only some of our favorite verses. Some of the most neglected verses are some of the words of Jesus. We may think that the words of Jesus must give comfort and assurance, and they do. However some of the most terrifying texts come from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The best some can do is apply His words to another dispensation and claim that they are not meant for us. It is, however, through the reading of the Gospels and the Book of Revelation that one is forced to admit that we have been and are shamefully neglecting what Jesus said about our future and the future of those who willfully neglect and disobey the Scriptures.
God’s future blessings are only for those who believe and obey he Lord Jesus Christ whether Jew or Gentile. The future of the disobedient must be known and made known. We are therefore offering two sermons by Dr. R. A. Torrey on the subjects: Is There A Literal Hell? And Is Future Punishment Everlasting? which we have published with the title, What Did Jesus Say About Punishment? These sermons have been printed in a newspaper format and can be had free of charge for the asking. Torrey writes: “The Bible is beyond question the Word of God, and therefore what it has to say on this subject, is true and absolutely sure, and in a question of this character one ounce of God’s revelation is worth more than a thousand tons of man’s speculation. The whole question then is, what does the Bible teach in regard to this matter.”
The True Church Is A Praying Church
If we believe that the Bible is true we will also believe that God answers prayer. If we believe that God answers prayer in Jesus’ name we will want to attend prayer meetings where people meet in Jesus’ name. Our prayer meetings are a public declaration whether or not our church believes that God answers our prayers.
Socialism in the Church, thanks to Marxism, has replaced prayer and hope in God for our well-being. Time spent in counseling and promoting faith in ourselves is replacing our prayer meetings, because we do not believe what Jesus taught in His sermon on the Mount. If we want our needs met we must first seek the Kingdom of God.
Christ also taught His followers to love God first and to love our neighbor second. Socialism began by preaching love to the neighbor first. Then psychology came along and taught that we can not love others until we love ourselves first. So now we hear preached that we need to love ourselves first, neighbor second and God also. This has killed our Spirit-led prayer meetings. Darwin, Marx and Freud have been successful in replacing our prayer meetings with talking about our problems in support groups.
Fathers Are To Make Disciples
God expects fathers to have a vital part in the fulfilling of the Great Commission. He has given them authority to rule in their homes and teach children to become obedient Christians. Therefore they need to be respected and given authority to lead in their homes and become leaders in churches. Making disciples at home and abroad is the responsibility of fathers.
Men of God have their authority from God and must use their authority in prayer and in the fulfillment of their duties and responsibilities. The godless philosophers have tried to discredit God’s authority through His ordained channels by discrediting them among carnal Christians.
But not so the Spirit-filled believers. They recognize the authority of the obedient believer and are able to teach and bring to obedience those in their homes and churches.
The blessings of God are conditional. In my time with the Lord this morning I read in I Kings chapters 8-9 many ‘ifs.” If we will obey God He will bless abundantly in this life and in the life to come. Disobedience to God in this life, on the other hand, will bring disaster that really hurts in this life and in the life to come. We have the choice to accept or reject the godless philosophies and accept or reject God’s expectations of us.
Every one of us will meet the Judge someday. Let us be careful that our opinion of Him comes from a Bible reading and study done in the Spirit of God.
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