Absolutely!
I like absolutes, black and white not grey. Much of our thinking and actions fall into the realm of relativism today. Relativism is “the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.” Some things are relative I guess. However, logic and sound reasoning screams to me that absolutes exist. Truth is not relative to how the wind blows at the moment, truth is absolute.
The Apostle Paul spoke in absolutes when he spoke of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the coming resurrection of Christians. I speak to my Christian friends when I say read carefully and thoughtfully the following words…
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Cor. 15:12-19)
All of Christianity hangs of the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ, absolutely! Note what he says if there is no bodily resurrection:
1. (v.14) Preaching is vain.
2. (v.14) Faith is vain.
3. (v.15) Christians are lairs because we are telling people that God raised Jesus from the dead.
4. (v.16) We are still in sin. We are not forgiven. There is no forgiveness of sin if Christ did not rise.
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Think rightly
rt an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (KJV)
It’s the old word “savourest” that arrested my inquiry.
In the greek it is (phroneo) meaning “to have a mind” or “to be mindful”. That helps me better understand what Jesus was saying. Peter was being rebuked because he didn’t have a “mind” for the things of God. At that moment Peters “mind” was devilish, “get thee behind me Satan”. It was Devilish because he was about to interfere with the plans of God, i.e. the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Paul used the same word (phroneo) when writing to the Christians in Colosse and in Rome.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection (phroneo) on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:1,2)
“For to be carnally minded (phroneo) is death; but to be spiritually minded (phroneo) is life and peace. Because the carnal mind (phroneo) is enmity against God… (Rom 8:6,7a)
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In God’s Hands
Well, we all know that it’s election time. This morning I found myself pondering the “Sovereignty of God”, a doctrine, if studied thoroughly with Bible in hand, makes some Christians nervous.
“ This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men (v.17)…..
….after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. (v.26b)
….until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (v.32b)
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (v.35)”
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