TMI [Too Much Information]

I know that many of you do Blog and are active on the internet please think about what information you are sharing!

Church History Timeline

Tonight I was on monergism.com when I discovered an interactive Church History Timeline. If you've ever wanted to know what things happened when in the Bible and early church, this provides a really clean timeline, where you get to choose what events you see (like if you wanted to view only "Old Testament" or whatever). There are some events, of course, that are somewhat guessed, and debated on by scholars, but overall it is a very good timeline that helps you see God's plan for his people throughout history.

Check it out.

What do Baptists Believe about Man?

From the Baptist Faith and Message:

Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

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Man is a special creation, made in God's image. The Hebrew language used for "image" means that God created man to be like God and represent God. (Gen. 1:27, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."). This does not mean that man was made exactly like God, but it does mean that he bears likeness to God, like in morality, spirituality, relational nature, and even intellect.

A huge distinction that Southern Baptists make (as well as other conservative Christians) is that gender is a gift of God. This means that God created men to act like men and women to act like women. We believe that even though men and women are created equal as people and importance, God has given each different roles in life. Throughout Scripture, it is clear that men have been given a role of leadership over women, and that women were created to assist men. With gender, each has different gifts which will help them fulfill their roles. Does this mean that a woman who feels gifted to lead should never lead? No, but she should apply her leadership skills to her role, not to overcoming all the men around her. How has God ordained men to lead women in Scripture?

• Adam was created first, and Eve was made as a helper for Adam (Gen. 2:11).
• Adam bore responsibility for Eve's actions, and through man all humans were born sinful.
• 1 Cor. 11:11-12, "
• 1 Pet. 3:1-7, "

Man was innocent, but then became guilty when he transgressed God's command. All of Adam's descendants inherit sin. In this inheritence, men are prone to sin, and creation is prone to go against the things of God (1 Cor. 15:21-22, "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive."). Sin is frequently described as a slavery, such as in Rom. 7:14, "For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin."

As soon as a person is capable of moral decision making and transgresses God's command, he is a guilty sinner. The question then becomes, "When is a person capable of making a moral decision?" Is a two year old a guilty sinner who will go to hell if he dies?

Only God can reconcile himself and man because man is so wrapped up in sin. Check out the harsh words against man in Rom. 3:10-18, 10:

As it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, there is not even one; Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known; There is no fear of God before their eyes.'

You may say, "But I wasn't that hostile toward God! I liked God--even before I became a Christian!" We must remember, however, that as slaves to sin, we could not achieve our own freedom, but God had to free us from a sin that blinded us and had our hearts bent toward hell (even when we didn't notice it).

Because every man is a special creation of God, every man must be treated with respect and dignity. Even though the fall of man has corrupted the image of God with which we were created, we still bear a fragment--we find this in our consciences, creativity, morality, intellect. Because of even the slightest image of God that is in every human being, we should treat all humans as special creations of God, even when they rebel against Him. We love them because God demands the respect and reverence, not because we feel like being nice. As believers, we are constantly being renewed into the image of Christ, and need to be grateful for the wonderful work of God in us. Gen. 9:6, "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man."

Psalm 8:3-6
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet...

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Discussion Questions:

1. 1. What is the image of God?
2. 2. How has our culture, and how have we, neglected or misunderstood God creating men and women differently?
3. 3. When does a person become a guilty sinner? Is there an 'age of accountability'?

the board

What do Baptists Believe about God the Spirit?

We know from our 30 Core Truths study that the Holy Spirit is a person of God. He is not some supernatural force that comes upon us.

From The Baptist Faith and Message:

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

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Everything we know about God was taught to us through the Holy Spirit. We would know nothing if He did not enable us to understand more about God. John 14:26, "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." 1 Cor. 2:10-14, "...these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

The Holy Spirit calls men to repentance, to salvation, and regenerates hearts. "Regenerate" means that the Holy Spirit literally tears out the old self and generates a new self that is inclined toward God. This occurs when a person becomes saved, and at the moment of salvation, the Spirit brings a person into the Body of Christ. Eph. 1:13-14, "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." 1 Cor. 6:11 says, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."

The Spirit guides Christians in how to live and helps them serve God better through conviction and teaching. John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." One can see how to walk according to the Spirit by reading Gal. 5:16-23.

The Spirit leads us where God desires, even temptation. Matthew 4:1, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

Once the Spirit enters a person's life, he never leaves that person, and will always work to mold the Christian more into the image of Christ. John 14:16-17, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." 1 Cor. 3:16, "Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?"

The Holy Spirit gives each believer gifts. He gives us these gifts so we can better magnify God to others. 1 Cor. 12:11, "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."

As God, he empowers believers. We can see this throughout the Bible: Joshua – Num. 27:18; Saul – 1 Sam. 11:6; the Exodus – Isa. 63:11-12; Jesus – Matt. 3:16; Jesus' disciples – Acts 1:8; Christians – 1 Cor. 12:11.

Titus 3:4-7, "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Discussion Questions:
1) What is the difference in the ways the Father, Son, and Spirit act in your relationship with God?
2) Have there been times when you have been aware of the Spirit working in you?
3) How is the Holy Spirit different from a conscience?


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recap: Middle School Sunday School, 9/9

This Sunday we began a month-long study on disciplines. Often when we think of 'discipline' we think of punishment, but there is another way to think of discipline--as training. For example, a basketball player disciplines himself to play basketball well. Even though the basketball player may not want to practice every day, he does so there will be an end result: he will be a good athlete. As Christians, we are to cultivate spiritual disciplines. These disciplines include things like Bible study, prayer, worship, evangelism, fasting, etc. We need to push ourselves to practice these things, even when they are hard, so that we can achieve the end result: to be conformed, molded, to the likeness of Christ. If Christianity is a race, and becoming a Christian is the starting point, then the finish line is to be just as Jesus is, with Jesus, in the new creation.

Here are some of the verses we went over in class.
Phil 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

1 Cor 9:27-29
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Heb. 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Rom. 8:29-30
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Here are the Bible verses we are going to read through each day.
Day 1: Phil. 1:1-5
Day 2: Phil. 1:6-11
Day 3: Phil. 1:12-17
Day 4: Phil. 1:18-20
Day 5: Phil. 1:21-24
Day 6: Phil. 1:25-30
Day 6: whole chapter

What do Baptists Believe about God the Son?

Over the years, Jesus Christ has been called a lot of things. Today, some say he is imaginary, others say he was a man. Many will say he was a good teacher and we should look to him for morals. Even more will say he is a prophet of God, but could never be the Son of God. When we talk about the "Son of God," what do we believe about Jesus?

From The Baptist Faith and Message:

Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.

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Christ existed before he came to earth, before creation. He will always exist (Heb. 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."). Is is because of Christ that everything exists, because nothing existed without going through Christ first. John 1:1-3, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Jesus is the Son of God. Muslims think this is heresy because they do not believe God could ever bear a Son, but this comes from an inaccurate view of the Trinity. Jesus calls himself God's Son (Mt. 11:27, "All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."), God refers to him as His Son (Mt. 3:17, "...and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"), men say he is the Son of God (Mt. 14:33, "And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'"), and demons label Jesus as the son of God (Mt. 8:29, "And behold, they cried out, 'What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?'").

Biologically, Jesus did not have a human father, but was wholly man (from Mary) and wholly God (from the Holy Spirit). Matthew explains in Mt. 1:18, "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit."

Jesus was perfectly the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."), even though as man, he had to face the same conditions and temptations as man.

Jesus was the only person to completely follow the Old Testament law perfectly. He fulfilled the Law by not only following rules, but by fleshing out what those rules meant. For example, Jesus explained in Mt. 5:27-30, Jesus explained that to follow a command like "Do not commit adultery" you would need to not even lust after a person who is not your wife. Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7) not to give man more rules to live by, but to show how the Law is impossible to completely obey--unless you are God's Son.

Because Jesus was perfectly obedient, his obedience was the perfect substitute for us. Rom. 3:22b-26, "For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

dictionary (Grenz):

• justified - God makes humans, who are sinful and therefore worthy of condemnation, acceptable before a God who is holy and righteous.
• redemption - how sinful people are "bought back" from the power of sin into a relationship with God.
• propitiation - an offering that turns away the wrath of God.
• forbearance - patience in dealing with man's unrighteousness

Jesus died so that all men would be able to be forgiven of sin (John 1:29, "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'").

After his resurrection, he appeared to many in the form of a real body--the body he had when he lived on earth (Acts 2:24, "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.").

He then ascended into heaven, where he sits at God's right hand (1 Pet. 3:21b-22, "Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him."). He intercedes between man and God (Heb. 7:25, "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."). No one can come to God except through Jesus Christ, our perfection. Only through Jesus can we be reconciled to God (1 Tim. 2:5-6, "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.").

There will be a day when Jesus will judge all according to what they have and have not done (Mt. 16:27, "For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done."). On this day, he will complete his job, which is to bring creation back to its creator.

He is in every believer. Does he do this because you have "asked him into your heart"? No. As a matter of fact, you can go your whole life without using the words "ask Jesus into my heart" and God will still live in you, if you have placed faith in Christ alone (1 Jn. 4:15, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.").

Rom. 1:3-4, "...concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord."

Discussion Questions (message board):

1. Why couldn't Jesus be conceived by two human parents?
2. Why is it important that Jesus is God?
3. What are some of the things Jesus did and continues to do?
4. Did Jesus really have to be resurrected to be the Son of God?
5. How does Jesus link man and God?

Works Cited:
Grenz, Stanley J., David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. Downers Grove, Ill: Intervarsity, 1999.