1 Peter 5.5 - 6 Honest Humility or Hardened Hypocrisy?

Christians are saved sinners. Turning from sin and trusting the Savior starts our saving experience that will be gloriously completed when we see Him. Until then we bear the remnants of sin in our fallen flesh. Every day we need fresh forgiveness and filling of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, some Christ-followers hinder this process by closing their hearts, resisting God’s Spirit, ignoring His Word, and forsaking fellowship. Only God knows if they’re really saved, but at this stage they are hardened in hypocrisy. God got small, and they got way to big! I am ashamed to say this is my struggle too. Instead of hardened hypocrisy, Jesus invites us to keep walking with Him in honest humility. Only He has saved us. And only He can keep on saving us. Salvation begins and ends by grace (un-derserved, free, wonderful) so He gets all the glory!

2 Peter 1.19 - Is the Bible Enough?

The Bible was written in history. As the Church grew, letters from Apostles were recognized as Scripture -  for all people and places forever - and included into the Bible. Now salvation is finished and scripture is final. Our "faith was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3); a completed Bible (Revelation 22.18.19). Now Christians should "rightly handle the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2.15). The Apostles to the Jews (Peter) and Gentiles (Paul) both ended their lives testifying to the sufficiency of the Bible. Before his execution Paul wrote, "All Scripture is breathed out by God...that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3.16,17) Peter remembered the glorious transfiguration of Jesus, saying "we have something more sure, the prophetic word" (2 Peter 1.19). "Competent, equipped, more sure" ...Paul and Peter thought the Bible was more than enough!

2 Peter 3.18 - Gospel Growth in Us

Today Pastor John will point us to Jesus. John is a great example to me. His dad, Charles, my first pastor, baptized me and married Dayna and I. When I received Jesus in 1972, John was already in ministry. By 15 he transformed his family's garage into the "One Way Inn Christian Coffee House" where about 100 young people gathered every Friday night for worship and the Word. Once John got us to sing and share in the shopping district of our Los Angeles suburb for weeks. One night I joined him sharing Good News with a shopper. Like the Arctic River -- I was frozen at the mouth! After some weeks, seeing John's gentle manner and people's positive response; I eventually stepped out - with new believers standing nervously beside! So, the Gospel moves forward, as one fearful worker after another finds confidence in God.

1 John 3.2 - Now but Not Yet!

Is the kingdom of God - His rule and reign in Christ - present or future? Yes! God's Kingdom is both now (Luke 17.20,21), and not yet (Revelation 11.15). Many kingdom blessings are 'now'; but the 'not yet' are reserved for the coming of Jesus. Now we enjoy forgiveness of sins, adoption as children, indwelling Holy Spirit, and eternal life - and much more! "...we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared" (1 John 3.2). The fallen world is still both inside us and all around us! Yet God's new creation in Christ has begun (2 Corinthians 5.17). The down payment and guarantee of the Holy Spirit will bring all His promised work to glorious final completion. This now-not yet tension underlies the whole New Testament message and best explains the paradox of life in Christ - with all its pain and promise.

Jude 3 - A Bit Too Much...

Church? Well, maybe once in a while, if nothing better is on. It might help the kids learn how to sit still. Bible reading? Well, that might be good too sometimes. It is considered a classic. At least I could read the 'Cliff Notes' version. Prayer? Sure, that's a good. It can really help me get centered and clear my head. But, what's that you say? Only Jesus? Just the Bible? Prayer in Jesus name...only? So, what about all those other Judge? Really, that is what God says...it's in the Bible!? I never knew that! That makes me feel very uncomfortable. I am a much more open-minded and tolerant person. Frankly, I have my doubts whether any religion is right. My! You'll stake your life on it!? That's way too much for me! I gotta go now....

Revelation - A Sacrament of the Imagination

"There is no indication in the New Testament that the gospel preached by Christians all over the Roman world by the middle of the first century was in any way defective - that the Word and Witness already known to John before he went to Patmos had certain gaps in them which his Revelation was intended to fulfill. No, from that point of view the book of Revelation is quite superfluous. The sixty-five books form Genesis to Jude contain clear and sufficient gospel truth to save the world. To what purpose then serves this sixty-six book of Scripture?... Jesus has given it to us as a sacrament of the imagination, to quicken the pulse and set the soul aflame over the gospel which we all too often take for granted."

Revelation - "The Revelation of Jesus Christ"

 Revelation is about Jesus. The Church was being planted around the Mediterranean and prospering in a few places. Rome held its firm grip. A wave of persecution had passed and another deluge was on their horizon. John, the prisoner and Apostle of Jesus, wrote (by inspiration of the Holy Spirit) to believers in conflict. Revelation is a picture book, not a puzzle book. We need to delight in its message not decode it.

He is the Lord among the lampstands, the slain Lamb standing, the Lion opening history, the Leader of God’s army, the Lover of His Bride, and the Light and Temple of God. Revelation shines with hope for the people of God from the first to final century. God rules history and is bringing it to His appointed end in Christ, for the good of His Church and the glory of His Name.