When the Bible has been translated so many times, how can we be sure it can be trusted? Is God in control of the whole process? Join Mike as he explores the question: How Can I trust the Bible if there are so many translations? #ThePulsePodcast
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Separated, saved and adopted. These three words capture the progression of our relationship with God from unbelief to belief in Christ which we explored last week. We also looked at the spiritual privileges we receive as we become members of God’s family. Now we shall explore two more privileges of adoption and how they influence our interaction with fellow believers.
A fourth privilege of adoption is that we are led by the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of grace. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity – God the Holy Spirit. As Jesus departed the earth, He sent the Holy Spirit to permanently live in the believer upon their salvation. (John 14:16-17; 26; 16:7; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 3:2). The work of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God are intertwined. The Holy Spirit is the means by which we obtain the grace to do that which pleases God.
The Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the grace of God, this simply means maturing as a Christian. We must scrap all our self-efforts to please God (Galatians 5:24) through actively walking in and keeping in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). We depend on the Spirit by trusting in Him, reading God’s Word and prayer which empowers us to live in obedience to God’s commands. He works in and through our lives, producing traits which glorify God and reflect His nature by His grace (Galatians 5:16-18; 23-24).
Lastly, children of God are led by the Holy Spirit into holiness.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 8:12-14
Whilst it is true that we are led by the Spirit into knowledge of the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) and guided by Him into the truth of God’s Word (John 16:13-15), this is not what is being referred to in Romans 8. This speaks of being led into holiness.
To be holy is to be sanctified. This means being set apart unto God, for His special use and purposes. This occurs once saved (1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11 Hebrews 10:10), but is also progressive. God gradually frees us from sin, making us more like Jesus in character and nature by the work of His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 3:18) as we actively pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14).
We strive to please our earthly parents, not to gain their favour, but because we are their children. This is no different with our heavenly Father. We obey God in response to His love for us, out of love for Him and through the Spirit. Therefore, as Romans 8:12-14 indicates, we are being led by the Spirit into holiness which requires that we put to death particular sins in our life as the evidence of our faith and being born again into the family of God (Philippians 2:12-13).
This is not passive, but intentional and rigorous. We are not to rest in sinful habits and behaviours, but to kill the sin in our lives by submitting to God and resisting the devil when temptation creeps up on us (James 4:7). How so? By strengthening our faith through reading of the Word and prayer (Ephesians 6:16-17). Addressing temptation with the truth of God’s Word is crucial because God sanctifies us by His Word. (John 17:17).
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Romans 6:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
Belief in Jesus sees us enter into a family with billions of brothers and sisters in the faith, united by the same Gospel. By diving into Christian community, we are led by the Spirit of grace and holiness with greater effectiveness. I know it can be daunting, but reach out to your siblings in Christ. Gather together in churches, Bible studies or small friendship groups to study the Bible and pray. Few things compare to the joy of maturing in Christ fellow believers, sharpening and motivating each other as we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
As iron sharpens iron,
Proverbs 27:17
so one person sharpens another.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me from my sins, bringing me to belief in your Son and adopting me into Your family. Help me to experience the joys of the privileges of adoption. Please help me to submit to the leading of Your Spirit into grace and holiness, matured by Your Word, Spirit and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Please give me the boldness to share this with others that they may also believe in Your Son, In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Society has a funny way of labelling us by what we do or what we may’ve done. Defining us by our past mistakes rather than who we truly are. But not God. God looked upon sinful humanity, but moved by love, sent His Son Jesus Christ to die in their place and resurrect on the third day. Therefore, when God sees the believer, He sees Christ. He sees us in light of His Son’s perfect sacrifice with whom He is well pleased. Accordingly, we become children of God; members of God’s family blessed with great privileges which bring joy to the soul.
Not one human being who has walked the face of the earth has ever been born into God’s family. Everyone single one of us is born into sin inherited from Adam (Romans 5:12). Sinful in our very nature, from birth and as early as conception. (Psalm 51:5). Sin rendered us spiritually dead. Utterly powerless and incapable of doing anything which would bring us into a right standing/relationship with God (Ephesians 2:1). Walking in disobedience to God, under the influence of Satan (Ephesians 2:2-3). In short, we were separated from God with no way to Him. We were children of wrath, destined for hell and subject to eternal punishment for our sins (Ephesians 2:3; Matthew 25:41;46).
Well, this all sounds depressing and glum! Is there any hope for such people? Can I be rescued from this sorry state? Is there any way then that I may know if I am a child of God? Yes: repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15). God brings to life the dead sinner, making them responsive to Him. They receive this Gospel message by the grace of God and through faith in Christ alone; the good things you do are incapable of saving you. We only become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
John 1:12
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Galatians 3:26
You are not defined by your past mistakes. Once saved, no present flaw or sin in your life is great enough to revoke your new identity in Christ. To quote Charles Spurgeon in modern English, “God loves to forgive more than you love to sin.” Take a second to reflect on the pleasure of sin; how good it feels in the moment. How your flesh loves to delight and indulge in it. Ok, that’s enough reflection. Having done so, it should begin to dawn on you the depth of God’s love and willingness to forgive His children as we confess our sins and repent. (1 John 1:9). God saves. He declares us guilt-free and then lovingly welcomes us into His family with numerous privileges.
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Galatians 4:6-7
In the book of Galatians, the writer was addressing both Jewish and Greek (non-Jewish) people. Both cultures had a “coming of age” ceremony where a boy was no longer identified as a child but a man as he possessed the legal rights as an heir. Therefore, he inherited his father’s estate. The context demands that I use the term “sons” to refer to both men and women in order to capture the fulness of the message communicated by the analogy.
Paul used this custom as an analogy to illustrate one of the privileges of being adopted into the family of God highlighted in the verses above. We are no longer slaves to sin. Though we may fall into sin, we are no longer under its penalty nor power (Romans 6:14). God has given us the capacity to overcome sin in His Son’s death and through His Holy Spirit who empowers us to overcome temptation as we submit to God. (Romans 6:18 James 4:7). We are sons of God with the Holy Spirit bearing witness to this beautiful reality (Romans 8:16).
We are sons of God, no longer enslaved by sin. Another privilege of our adoption into God’s family is that we receive an eternal inheritance. God has entitled us to all heavenly privileges and blessings, secured for us in Christ. We are members of God’s royal family and we are co-heirs with Jesus. We will share in His glory (John 17:22) and His eternal riches (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you
1 Peter 1:3-4
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Romans 8:15
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Galatians 4:6
As we are adopted into the family of God our relationship with Him changes. The omnipotent, sovereign, holy God becomes our heavenly Father. He loves you and you belong in his family. As Archbishop Fenelon puts it, “He has loved you too much to ever cease loving you”. You have a sweet and intimate relationship with our great God who is also our Father, with the Holy Spirit crying out unto God “Abba!”
This “cry” is similar to that expressed in Christ’s prayer in Gethsemane as the hour of his arrest and death loomed near. (Luke 22:41-44). This is a cry of dereliction and pain. A cry we may also make in our moments of loss and hopelessness. When we’re most distressed and feel like we’re distant from God, we can call upon the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, that we may remember to cry out to God in the most intimate way possible “Abba, Father!” The Spirit serves as a reminder that we may never forget that God is our heavenly Father who cares for us. He is with us. He is near and His Son understands our greatest struggles and temptations (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Regardless of whatever situation you find yourself in as you read this, God is near. He is a friend in the time of loneliness and the One we can call on at all times. He has blessed His children in both the past and the present and for the future with a glorious inheritance awaiting. You can only experience His nearness and intimate love once you’ve placed your faith in Jesus and commit your life to following Him. Next week we’ll explore our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ as members of God family and how we relate to one another as we receive the privileges of adoption.
Before going on a mission trip, whether it be long-term or short-term, we will need to be clear on the message we are preaching. With so many variations of different “gospels” spreading and polluting the world, we need to be sure that we know the true Gospel.
What is the good news? Have we believed it ourselves?
Begin by watching this video, where members of the OGGM team give a break down of what the true Gospel is.
Adam was made in the image of God. He distorted that image and forfeited his original blessedness – for himself and all his progeny – by falling into sin through Satan’s temptation. As a result, all human beings are alienated from God, corrupted in every aspect of their being (physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.) and condemned finally and irrevocably to death – apart from God’s own gracious intervention. The supreme need of all human beings is to be reconciled to the God under whose just and holy wrath we stand. The only hope for all human beings is the undeserved love of God, who alone can rescue us and restore us to himself (Romans 3:21-26).
Moved by love and in obedience to His Father, the eternal Son became human. The Word became flesh; fully God and fully human being, one person in two natures (John 1:14).
Jesus lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, exercising in heaven and on earth all of God’s sovereignty (1 Peter 3:22). By His incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ acted as our representative and substitute (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 4:14-15). He did this so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. On the cross He conquered sin, had victory over Satan, propitiated God and, by bearing the full penalty of our sins, reconciled to God all those who believe, bringing everlasting life to them.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ, by His obedience and death, fully discharged the debt of all those who are justified. By His perfect obedience, He satisfied the just demands of God on our behalf. Those who have been saved by the grace of God through union with Christ by faith and through regeneration by the Holy Spirit enter the kingdom of God and delight in the blessing of the new covenant: the forgiveness of sins, the inward transformation that awakens a desire to glorify, trust and obey God, and the prospect of the glory yet to be revealed.
Results day is always an emotional rollercoaster. The importance of the day cannot be understated. For some, the day is full of joy, for others disappointment. The heightened emotions were all the more exacerbated this year as hundreds of thousands of students would be receiving their A-Level or BTec results without actually sitting in an exam hall. Whether you’re elated or saddened by your results, one thing I do know is this: despite the outcome, God still has great things in store for you.
It’s ok to feel disappointed with your results. You shouldn’t brush your feelings under the carpet. Take the necessary time to process how you feel. Speak to those you feel comfortable speaking to and communicate your feelings out in the open. Disappointment and sadness only become a problem when you allow them to consume you and dictate the course of your life. The reason for assessing how your emotions are is that you may eventually address how you feel and move forward rather than remaining in a rut.
One December evening I was sat at my living room table, physically and mentally drained. Semester 1 of 1st year had really dealt with me well, but I hadn’t done myself any favours either. Though I had chosen to study in Manchester, my heart was elsewhere. I was wallowing in self-pity. Then it dawned on me. I had an epiphany of some sort. As I was tired of feeling sorry for myself I realised things had to change. “My God is not a God of coincidence,” I told myself. “I’m in studying in Manchester for a reason. Therefore, let me submit to God and enjoy what He has in store for me.” Since then I’ve never looked back.
With the wonderful experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the growth I’ve experienced as a man in Manchester, I can look back and see how it was God’s will for me to study in the city. While we can only see a small fraction of what is happening, God sees all. Although you may have come to a diversion in your journey, remain hopeful. Times of disappointment test the strength of faith. Whether you’re hurting or rejoicing I challenge you to trust in God’s goodness. Believe that you’re not studying or working in ‘x’ place by mere accident, but it is part of God’s perfect plan for your life. He weaves everything together and works it all for your good. Trust in what He’s doing.
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do all things,
Job 42:1-2
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted”
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
God has great things in store for you. Therefore, I plead with you to seize every opportunity. Throw yourself into the environment in which He’s placed you. Apply yourself as diligently as you can in your work or studies, knowing that much is to be gained and enjoyed. Also, seek out godly community in which you are stretched and challenged. You can really and truly be transformed in the next stage of your life. Yield to God and take up all that He brings your way, grateful for all that He is doing.
Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
Proverbs 11:14
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Proverbs 3:5-6
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
I pray that your excitement may be sustained and expectations exceeded as a new chapter of your life is on the horizon. I pray that anxiety may be converted into joy as you submit to God and seize every opportunity as you begin to see what God is unfolding in your life.
The Bible challenges our presumptions, testing our emotions and worldview. I have often indulged in “scriptural pick and mix”– choosing to accept some parts of the Bible as God’s truth, particularly those which are easiest to stomach and least at odds with our culture at large. Treating the Scriptures as such undermines their timelessness and authority as God’s complete truth communicated to us – the Word of God in its written form. We must assess how we view Scripture which in turn reveals why we must have an unwavering commitment to God’s Word which authoritatively speaks to all past, present and future events and our very way of living.
Jesus and the apostles viewed Scripture, both the Old (OT) and New Testament (NT) as God’s word, thus requiring us to do the same.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
In verse 15, Paul is referring to the “sacred writings” of the OT. Therefore, in verse 16, the apostle is affirming that all of the Old Testaments writings are “breathed out by God” (ESV) , spoken by God Himself and communicated to us by human writers.
The apostles also viewed Christ’s words as Scripture itself (1 Timothy 5:18), God’s very own words and their own writings in the same manner, with Peter identifying Paul’s epistles as “the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16).
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21
Although Peter is specifically speaking about the “prophecy of Scripture”, it is perfectly reasonable to suggest that he also viewed the entirety of the Old Testament being spoken “from God” with his fellow apostle Paul, affirming that it is “breathed out by God” – the very Word of God itself.
Peter explains that God was the ultimate source of the prophetic writings as they wrote under the inspiration by the Holy Spirit. He informs the readers that they must give heed to the Old Testament Scriptures, carefully reading and receiving its teachings as the context suggests that the false teachers he has in mind (2 Peter 2:1) accepted their inspiration but perverted their meaning to suit their own false teachings.
This is a crucial lesson for all of us. We must stand upon the entirety of Scripture as God’s Word as its source is none other than Jehovah Himself. He is the One who does not and cannot lie, thus leading to a natural conclusion that it must be without error (Numbers 23:19; 2 Samuel 7:28; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18). His Word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89) and every single word of God proves true (Proverbs 30:5). A failure to accept the Bible as the complete and authoritative truth from God may make us extremely susceptible to false teachings and doctrines which affect our understanding of the God whom our Bible so beautifully reveals to us in the vastness of His character and attributes.
Not only does the Bible present to us God’s authoritative and complete truth, free from error, but it is vastly useful and effective for the life of faith because it is living and active.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
This here refers to the spoken or written Word of God as opposed to the Logos of John 1. God’s Word possesses inherent power. It penetrates through the soul and spirit, bringing about supernatural transformation, effective for salvation. His Word is not dead, but alive. It convicts us of sin by judging the attitudes of our hearts. Furthermore, God’s Word is a mighty weapon to wield when confronted by temptation, shattering the enemy’s lies and accusations with the Truth of God as masterfully displayed by Christ.
Jesus possessed a reverent view of the OT Scriptures as the words of God. He used them to fend off Satan when tempted in the wilderness, declaring, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:3). Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 and the entire discourse sees Jesus fend off the devil using Old Testament scriptures which “came from the mouth of God.”
Once we begin to esteem the Bible as such, standing upon God’s Word as our final authority to which our conscience is bound, we begin to see how God has revealed Himself in the pages of His Word and fall more deeply in love with Him. This is seen through the Psalmists eloquent description of God’s Word in Psalm 19:7-13 which testifies to its authority and sufficiency.
God has remarkably chosen to reveal Himself to us in His written and spoken Word presented to us on the pages of sacred Scripture. What a joy is it to be known by God and to know Him through His Word! We cannot allow the culture to dictate how we view Scripture, but rather, allow Scripture to shape our theology and worldview as God’s complete and authoritative truth through faithful study in its context and accurate interpretation. This should capture our affection, driving our speech and conduct to agree with the Psalmist:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
In essence, this is worship. As we do so, our souls will be satisfied and joy made complete (Psalm 19:8-9; Luke 11:28).
All over the world COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate. The Government has asked everyone to avoid gatherings, crowded places and unnecessary travel to stop its spreading.
As of the 30th of April 2020, more than 5,000 people in the UK with COVID-19-related deaths in the UK currently at 233. Across the world, a similar image emerges, with over 319,134 confirmed cases and more than 13,697 deaths.
Spreading at the same rate is something just as deadly and fatal– FEAR. We are seeing the proliferation of confusion and disillusionment; people lost with nothing sure and secure to cling onto.
As believers. we believe it is our duty to act and so we want to share with you what we propose to do about this.
The Hope Campaign.
The Hope the world offers is the hope that things will get better materially. We aren’t seeing gospel proclamation as we have never seen before. If the government are coming together to provide support for people then why can’t Christians get together at this time to proclaim the hope we have.
Not just that things will go back to normal but in a living God who is in control. We believe that the answer to the hopelessness we see in the world is the infallible Gospel – we believe in all its simplicity, beauty, and saving power. Understanding it. Enjoying it. Sharing it. We, therefore, aim to provide an interactive online and offline space where people can engage with sound teaching about God, gain skills to share the gospel more effectively quickening their pursuit of finding joy in Jesus.
We believe the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, and we have found a way of expressing its truths to a millennial generation in a language they understand.
In these difficult times, we can rejoice because we have a living hope but many do not and in this season; they are feeling the effect. Because of COVID-19, we have seen many stories of people coming together to provide support materially, celebrities donating money and funds being created.
We want to help people build an iron-clad hope that won’t be put to shame
Because of this, we are looking for 60 backers who have this hope inside of them and want it for other people. 60 backers who are willing to partner with us to make this Hope Campaign possible.
1. Skilled and passionate staff -Bringing on board passionate and skilled staff to work on digitalising our content. A dedicated resource to ensure the impact of the charity is constant and growing in a sustainable way. Make it possible for individuals to pursue an exciting paid role focused on giving hope through impactful gospel-saturated materials
2. Greater outreach through articles – Over the last few years, OGGM has published many free articles online and reached close to 100,000 readers. This is gospel-rich content that engages directly with live issues affecting the culture (especially the UK). Currently, OGGM releases 2 articles per week (avg. 300 readers per article). The fundraiser will enable OGGM to publish 6 per week, projected to increase readership to 1,000 readers per article, totalling over 200,000 annual readers by the end of 2020
3. Dedicated learning course – A one-stop shop for people who are confused about or curious to explore various aspects of the Christian faith Key topics which are in the pipeline include:
– “Gospel 101” – what essential things must you know when you become a Christian?
– “Equipping yourself to fulfil the great commission?”
4. Websites and Podcasts – Online web series from the UK dedicated to addressing current, tricky issues with the gospel.Mini-documentaries showcasing what is like to do missions across the world and in the UK
Interesting, challenging, and thought-provoking podcasts being released more often and with greater reach
5. Partnering with Churches – Online and physical resources to be shared with churches to help them with their gospel proclamation in a digital age. Publication guide for individuals who have just come to faith. Providing training and teaching to churches to remain mobile and active across social media networks
Why partner with us?
We know that as children of God we must remain teachable. Partnerships are therefore welcome in consideration of our growth and Our God-Given Mission will continue to collaborate with churches such as Tenerife Family Church and the Living Room Tenerife whom we have been working with for 4 years as of 2019. It is no secret that through charity, God has allowed us to touch thousands of lives. However, we believe that sound partnership will further enable us to co-create the emergence of a world that is not shrouded in darkness, but open to our he light of the gospel of Christ to the world.
Partner perks include the following:
Monthly Zoom calls – Updates and development – We want you to be part of the journey and to watch as the campaign develops.
Partner Fountain Pen – Memorabilia to commemorate your membership.
End of the year Gala – Celebration at the end of the year to celebrate the campaign.
As Christians, we must understand that when it comes to growing in Christ, there is no graduation. Whether you have had a relationship with God for 50 years or you are just starting out, it is vital to understand that you never graduate. Growing in relationship with God is the very heartbeat of our faith so we must keep on pursuing God, and have the mindset of lifelong learners, always yearning for a deeper and deeper knowledge of Christ.
We are all called to be disciples, meaning we are called to learn! If we look at various scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 3:16, 2 John 1:9) it is clear that God designed us to be lifelong learners.
We must resist the temptation to be short-term learners where we spend some time learning about Christ and then spend the rest of our journey satisfied in our residual knowledge of Christ. To stop learning is to stop your heartbeat. To stop learning is to stay in shallow waters.
Here, Mike Omoniyi encourages and instructs us on how to leave shallow waters and embrace the riches and depth of being in deep relationship with God.
Now more than ever, the Church’s calendar seems to be inundated with worship events, gospel showcases, worship conferences, worship seminars, and worship jams – the list is endless. While these events are not in themselves inherently bad, it does beg the question as to why there is more of an emphasis on experiencing God through long hours of musical expression in worship than there is towards experiencing Him during long hours of arduous study of Scripture?
One thing that should be made clear is that worshipping through musical means is something that pleases God and is also biblically instructed to believers as an ordinance – coming together corporately before Him with ‘psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs’ – (Eph 5:19). However, in recent times there does seem to be a disconnect. Voddie Baucham posits this issue of the modern church succinctly, describing it as ‘producing passionate people filled with empty heads who love the Jesus they don’t know very well.’
This analogy might illustrate what he is pointing to in this remark. Imagine the average Joe is taking a road trip with hopes to reach his final destination point. With not much clue on how he will arrive there, he glances at his map, lays it aside, and then proceeds to turn his music on at full blast, singing intently at the top of his lungs, hoping it helps him figure out how to get to his destination. Ludicrous you might say, but this picture resembles the life of a Christian who neglects studying God’s word in order to spend hours singing along to Maverick City in hopes to experience God and know Him better.
It seems that theology has taken a backseat in the Christian’s car ride, when, in fact, it should be the map on which they should rely on to help them get to the destination of trying to know their God better. Theology is simply the ‘knowledge (or study) of God’, coming from the Greek word ‘Theos’ (God) and Logos (word). Theology should be the concern of every Christian. How can we say that we follow, love, and worship a God that we have not studied to know? Theology is NOT simply reserved for pastors, bible teachers, and seminary academics. Instead, theological study is mandatory for every Christian and vital to the growth of their faith.
The greatest commandment instructs the believer to undertake theological study:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Matthew 22:37
Theology is necessary for every Christian because of the simple idea that ‘nothing can be in the heart that is not first in the mind’ – R.C Sproul. If you want to truly love God, you have to know Him more deeply. Ultimately, the grace of God’s mercy in pouring out His love through the sacrifice of His dear Son should compel us to love Him by pursuing the knowledge of God in the word with all diligence and effort and delighting in it continuously. Our love for God is not simply recognised by the affection that we feel and demonstrate towards God when we sing these lovely poetic songs (as lovely as they may be). Christ defines love as being one thing – obedience (John 14:15). These ‘loving’ acts of worship are baseless if our love and desire to obey His instruction is small-scale.
Theological study, therefore, authenticates worship. The more we study the Word in order to deepen our knowledge of God’s attributes, and the more that the truth of God’s character is revealed to us, the more likely we will hold Him in high esteem. This awe and reverence leads us to trust in Him and delight in obeying His commands, worshipping Him with our whole lives and not simply our lips. If we lean our focus more towards our musical worship than our worship in theological study, we run the risk of revering a shallow view of God, where the wonderful resounding gravitas of the Gospel and its implications in our lives become a faint flickering whisper.
Our primary aim when we read the Scriptures, should not be to read it as so to make ourselves feel better or to even to please God by fulfilling our common duty as a Christian. Our primary aim when we read our Bibles is to study the Scriptures so that we may know our God.
When we read the Word these are some of the questions that we should ponder on in the pursuit of knowing Him:
However, it’s not enough to simply know these things, we must both believe and delight in the knowledge of God and His truth. Thankfully God’s divine grace offers us the means, by which we can do as such so that the beauty of His Word is treasured by the believer as being greater and better than the world that we see.
In my previous article, we established that there is one God, one way to Him and one truth – the person and work of Jesus Christ. This requires us to share the Gospel with all people, those of another and/or no religion.
It’s easy to be swept up in the heat of the moment when witnessing. Our passion may see us forget to maintain a high level of respect and love for those we converse with. It’s imperative to listen as much as you speak. This demonstrates that you care about the person and what they have to say rather than viewing them as a mere “target to convert”. Kindness must be maintained (James 1:19-20) whilst having sensitivity to their culture and beliefs (below).
When evangelism is the topic of conversation within Christians circles, you’ll often hear the phrase “we must become all things to all men.” What is the sentiment behind those words? What exactly was Paul communicating to the Corinthians? We must first humble ourselves and meet those we’re talking to at their level of understanding. In demonstrating love, we may observe some of their customs and traditions which are not antithetical to our faith (1 Corinthians 9:19-21). This is all done without compromising the message of the Gospel and with the desire that they may believe in the Gospel of their salvation.
To the weak, I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means, I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23
Luke’s account of Paul’s time in Athens details my favourite evangelistic effort in the Acts of the Apostles in chapter 17 from verse 16-34. The climax of Paul’s visit was his address to the people at the Areopagus (or Mars Hill), describing how he masterfully witnessed before the crowd from verse 22-34. We can breakdown the apostle’s approach into the framework below.
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
Acts 17:16
While staying in Athens, Paul observed that its citizens practiced idolatry. The city was swarming with idols. One in particular caught the apostle’s attention – that which was inscribed “to an unknown God”. From this, Paul inferred that the Athenians were a religious people, but oblivious of whom they were looking for in their hand-crafted idols.
Paul commenced his speech by commending the people to whom he was witnessing. In stating “I perceive that you’re very religious” (v.22), he broke any barriers of hostility which may have existed and met them at their level of understanding.
He then proceeded to direct his challenge toward their own assumptions, revealing to them the falsity of their gods and the reality of the Creator, Yahweh (v.23-29) to whom they were all accountable (v.30). Paul then arrived at the crux of his message, issuing a call to repentance, casting the spotlight upon the person, work and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this, He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.
Acts 17:31
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to evangelism. However, by being all things to all men and learning from Paul’s example in Athens, we have a useful framework by which we may engage those of different religions as explored below.
Know their beliefs – Jesus is a prophet, not God the Son (God incarnate).
Acknowledge what is commendable – the respect afforded to Jesus as an esteemed prophet.
Challenge the assumption(s) and reveal the truth – If Jesus is just a prophet, why does He declare the names of God for Himself, perform acts which only God can do and receive the glory of God?
Surah 57:3 identifies Allah as the “First and the Last” as does the Old Testament where speaking of God (Isaiah 44:6).
Can a mere prophet claim to be the first and the last, an identification ascribed to God? Of course not, but Jesus does.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 1:17-18
Only God can offer ultimate forgiveness of sins. This was acknowledged by David in Psalm 51:4 and demonstrated in Surah 3:135 which asks “and who can forgive sins except Allah?”
If Allah is the only one who can offer true forgiveness, a mere prophet cannot do the same, yet Jesus does. In Mark 2, the religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy where He declared that the sins of the paralytic were forgiven. He then demonstrated omniscience in “knowing their thoughts” and answering “the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins” (v.11).
Jesus also claims to be the final judge (a role reserved for Allah in Surah 6:114; 40:12 ; 89:21-23 as well as God in Matthew 25:31-32). Jesus claims to be “the Truth” John 14:6, share God’s glory and honour (John 5:19-24)– also in eternity past (John 17:5). Thus, He received worship (Matthew 2:11; 14:22-33; John 9:38; Luke 24:52 and John 20:28).
Jesus claimed the titles of God, performed the deeds of God, shared the glory and honours of God, making Him worthy of the worship He received. These are not characteristic of a great prophet. They are characteristic of God. This validates who Jesus was/is and all He did. Christ is the only way to God (Jehovah), the Truth and the source of eternal life.
Space will not permit me to dive into other religions and worldviews such as Judaism and Atheism. For the former, pointing them to the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, symbols and rituals in Jesus Christ is key. Isaiah 53 is a great place to start and it is also worth explaining the Messianic Psalms, and certain passages in the book of Hebrews.
For Atheists, the existence of God would be the natural starting point. Demonstrate how it is both a rational and logical necessity for the world and reality as we know it. The classical model of apologetics modelled after St Augustine’s approach is extremely helpful alongside St Thomas Aquinas’ traditional proofs, the intelligent design theory and general revelation (Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20). Other matters such as the issue of suffering (Pulse Podcast: Why Does a Good and Perfect God Allow Suffering ) are also crucial.
Religion can be a deeply sensitive topic of conversation. It calls into question the validity and truthfulness of the faith one has devoted their life to. For the Atheist, believing in the existence of God and the truth of Christianity is also an emotional ordeal. It means that they are accountable to God, will face judgement upon death and are confronted by eternity. Before and after we have these discussions, we must pray. It is God alone who regenerates the spiritually dead, gives sight to the blind that so they may perceive their need for a Saviour – Jesus Christ- to whom they must submit as Lord. Keep praying, keep learning and keep sharing.
