Jesus Christ the Lone Refuge

In Noah’s day, the fountains of the earth burst open, and the windows of heaven poured down rain so that the water level on the earth rose higher and higher.  Desperate people may have climbed and huddled together on certain mountain plateaus in hopes of finding a safe refuge, but were eventually drowned, as even the highest peaks “under the heavens” were submerged under water (Genesis 8:19-20).  The earth was a ball of water.  The lone place of refuge was the ark built by Noah.

Noah’s ark is a forerunner type or shadowy preview of God’s only son, Jesus Christ, whose Person and cross-work provide the lone place of refuge for sinners in the coming flood of God’s wrath against sin on judgment day (2 Peter 3:5-7).

Peter told the Sanhedrin, the leaders of the first century Jews, that their rejection of Jesus as Messiah would result in the eternal punishment of their souls.  Regarding Jesus Christ the Nazarene, Peter said, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).  Jesus Himself taught the same: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).  Paul wrote, “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Bible is clear.  There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ.  Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and all non-Christian religions deceitfully send poor souls up to mountain plateaus that are doomed to drown under the judgment day wrath of God.  This is why we must lovingly warn people of the danger of false religions, and kindly tell people of the wonderful gospel of salvation in Christ alone.

However, this clear teaching of the bible is not popular in today’s politically correct climate.  Even many professing Christians have conformed to the world’s deception, believing that Christianity is not the only way, that there are other ways to becoming right with God apart from Christ.  A movie entitled “At Play in the Fields of the Lord” depicts a Christian missionary in the Amazon rain forest being confronted by a displaced native Amazonian who says: “If the Lord made Indians the way they are, who are you people to make them different?”  In other words, “Who are you to tell us that your Christian way is the right way and only way?!”

We hear this same complaint at secular universities and even liberal “Christian” colleges.  Professors teach students that attempting to convert people is considered intolerant and arrogant, because it is standing in judgment over their unique experience and culture.  How dare Christians claim that their opinions are universally and objectively true?

Jim Leffel writes in his Christian Witness in a Pluralistic Age: “Christian exclusivism, the position that Christianity is the final word on matters of ultimate truth, is not ‘politically correct.’  Sometimes professing faith in Christ, in higher education, is tantamount to admitting that you’re a racist or a sexist.  Most of the time though it’s met with the mantra-like refrain, ‘I’m glad you’ve found something that works for you, but don’t impose your beliefs on me.’”

Such false teaching, which has crept into many books and churches, is leading people by the millions up non-Christian religious mountains, where they’re doomed to be drowned in God’s judgment day wrath against their sins.  Mercy and forgiveness is found only in Jesus Christ, “for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Mark Chanski

How to Profit from Preaching

1. We must come to the preaching of the Word of God with a heartfelt desire to hear it. There must be urgency and expectancy. When the Psalmist says “How sweet are your words to my taste, yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (Ps. 119:103), he expresses the reality that ought to be present in our minds every time we come to hear or read the Word. The saint recognizes the glory and goodness inherent in the Word, and desires it.

2.  We must recognize what a great privilege we have, and take advantage of it. Peter put it this way to all of his readers: “As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow by it, if you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” Those who know the kindness of the Lord are instructed to be like babies-to long for their nourishment which is found in the Word of God. When a preacher faithfully expounds the text of Scripture, he provides God’s people with the necessary sustenance for their spiritual lives. Oh that our people would learn to cherish the preached word!

3. We must pay close attention to the Word of God. Luke 19:48 is interesting. Luke says of the people who listened to Jesus that they ‘were very attentive to hear Him.’ The Gospel-writer uses a figurative verb. When used literally, it carries the sense ‘to suspend something’. When used metaphorically, it means to pay close attention-to hang onto someone’s words. It’s almost as if he said that the took their ears and hung them on his lips in order to hear what Jesus said! How often do preachers in the Bible call their audiences to ‘Listen!’? He who has an ear to hear, let him hear!!!!!

4. We must keep what we have heard and put it into practice. James 1:22-25 says it all: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (NKJV)

Jim Renihan

More can be found at http://www.reformedbaptistinstitute.org

Dog Holiness

It is quite popular in many circles to perceive of holiness in outward terms only.  With this view we can tell the worldly person immediately.   If holiness consists in part, in a rejection of worldliness, then true holiness is conveyed through a host of things that we do NOT do.  The holiest people don’t have televisions, never go to movies, don’t listen to modern music, don’t drink, don’t dance, don’t smoke, and don’t chew.   There is a problem with having a view of holiness that merely focuses upon outward elements.  By the typical fundamentalist view of holiness, Amish people and even many Muslims can lay claim to holiness and in fact, have attained a superior holiness.  In point of fact, my dog (a wonderful fellow to be sure) has attained an even great degree of holiness.  He has never smoked, he never watches television, has never darkened the door of a movie theater, he does not walk around with headphones zoning out with an MP3 player.    His traits are such that he is quite often praised.  He hears, “Good boy!” as much as any other phrase.  But is he truly holy?  Is he godly?  Far from it.     My wife told me the other day that she is concerned when she hears phrases like, “Oh this woman is so godly!  She’s modest and she homeschools!”    You see it is possible for a woman to do that and yet be prayerless, loveless, and graceless.

We must have an understanding of the dynamics of true holiness and godliness which go beyond the mere refraining of certain morally objectionable things.  This type of holiness often produces pride, focuses on the flesh, and can fall into mere man-pleasing.  Please, do not get me wrong.  I am not arguing for license.  I am not seeking to soothe the conscience of any worldly professors of faith!   I am instead arguing that holiness is first and foremost a Godward issue.  It flows from a regenerate heart.  It is often seen only by God.   It is seen in things like love to Christ, a love for God’s people, patience, kindness, and mercy.  These are the true fruits of the Spirit!   Though my dog is good, he is not holy!

James Savastio