WILL CHRIST SHARE HIS GLORY?

I've been having some communication with a Muslim on my facebook page. He believes that the Koran is a continuation of the Bible. This is standard Islamic doctrine.

It is of course, impossible. The single biggest obstacle standing in the way of that idea is Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 1: 23 we read:

"BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BRING FORTH A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, WHICH BEING INTERPRETED IS, GOD WITH US."

The Bible gives Jesus the place of God himself. That he is the only begotten Son of God. It is vital we understand the relevance of this title. It means he is God.

"GOD, WHO AT SUNDRY TIMES AND IN DIVERS MANNERS SPAKE IN TIME PAST UNTO THE FATHERS BY THE PROPHETS, HATH IN THESE LAST DAYS SPOKEN UNTO US BY HIS SON, WHOM HE HATH APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS, BY WHOM ALSO HE MADE THE WORLDS; WHO BEING THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY, AND THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON, AND UPHOLDING ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH..." (Hebrews 1: 2-3).

This doctrine of Christ is the one thing which clearly unveils the absurdity of the Muslim claim that the Koran is the continuation of Judaism and Christianity.

The Koran makes Jesus nothing but a man, a good man, a prophet even, but nonetheless - just a man - no different to you and me. How can this be, when the Bible states so clearly that he is God?

In 1Timothy 4: 1 we read of "doctrines of devils." Satan is a very bad theologian. This is typical of the kind of theology he has placed in the heads of poor unsuspecting sinners.

Why has God allowed him to do this?

"...BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE..." (2Thessalonians 2: 10-11).

What is the lie - I mean the really big one - the one big lie which Satan at all costs wants every one of us to believe? Isn't it obvious?

That Jesus is not God.

Nothing else - believe that one and he's dancing - on your grave - all the way to hell.

After the Christian is converted, God carries him as a new-born for a time. But only for a time.

In the natural world human infants are closely cosseted for many months.

Not so in the spiritual realm: the new Christian will shortly find himself tried: faith must be tried.

It is absurd to imagine faith without trials. It would be like raising an army during a war and leaving the soldiers to relax in their barracks while the battles raged around them.

After being converted on the Damascus road the apostle Paul soon found himself thrust well-and-truly in at the deep end, to the hazard of his life. He was happy about it.

Why was he happy about it?

The apostle Paul was happy about his afflictions in the gospel because he had his priorities right. If we have our priorities right we will also be happy if we suffer affliction for Christ's sake.

'...IF YE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE, HAPPY ARE YE: AND BE NOT AFRAID OF THEIR TERROR, NEITHER BE TROUBLED.' (1Peter 3: 14).

In wars in this world men are awarded medals for valour. In the spiritual warfare we are also awarded medals, but not metal ones. If Christ had medals they were his stripes - his wounds and the experiences which gave them to him.

The apostles' awards and the awards of every suffering Christian are the persecutions themselves. They are gifts from a loving God.

'AND THEY DEPARTED FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE COUNCIL, REJOICING THAT THEY WERE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER SHAME FOR HIS NAME.' (Acts 5:41).

There are two kinds of Christian: the kind that rejoices in persecution for Christ's sake, and the kind that doesn't.

The kind that doesn't rejoice in persecution has his eye and his affections set on this world.

The kind which does rejoice in persecution has his eye on eternity. On Christ.

Which kind are you?

Which kind am I?

One thing's for sure - the day will tell.

But don't be a fool: don't leave it till then to find out that you've been deceiving yourself for all eternity. Don't leave it till it's too late. Don't leave it till you find yourself like the rich man in hell cursing his stupidity - or even worse - after a life spent preaching to others find yourself burning in that very hell which you warned others of (or should have been).

Don't be a fool: don't presume - be sure - make sure.

HEADACHE ONGOING

Yes, it is ongoing. I arrived back in Edinburgh yesterday on the bus from Inverness as I have to drive my car to Stornoway.

I considered taking the train, but wait for this - bus: £13.50; train: £42.00 - no brainer. I said to the woman at the desk, "forty-two quid! I'll just leave it." They must hear that a lot.

I mean, how daft can you get! Spending money sending trains up and down the country with empty seats. Even if they only got a pound for filling them it would be better than that. As someone recently said to me: "The country's run by idiots."

So are the trains.

The ferry left Stornoway at 7.00am and I arrived at the house at about 6.00pm - the worst part of the journey was the final bus run from St. Andrew's Square to Balerno - stop, go, stop, go, stop, go...

Wonder if the train would have been quicker?

So here I am in the middle of a booroch again trying to decide what to keep and what to chuck.

I have definitely done more enjoyable things.

The worst part is that I have a time constraint because my kids are being looked after by others.

THE VAN WENT WELL, NO HICCUPS... EXCEPT...

Except that is for keeping the ferry waiting.

I had booked online. It was late at night, so when I saw that there was no option for a van - only cars and motorhomes - I thought, "Och it'll be all right to put it down as a motorhome (as you do when you're from Lewis).

As I was about to drive onto the ferry I heard the cry "hoi - that's not a motorhome!"

I tried to explain that there was no option on the website for a van. So I just clicked the nearest thing, which of course was motorhome (same size, OK, a bit smaller). I was then told that if I had a van I should have phoned.

Now, how logical is it to offer online booking to people in this day and age and expect them to know that you have to phone as well?

How logical is it to have to phone and use a website anyway?

I was told that I was driving a "commercial vehicle."

I was eager to get onto the ferry, so I just obeyed instructions and payed the extra on my ticket (from £60 to over £100 - I didn't want to run the risk of not getting on). I had to run back and fore between the car park and the office a couple of times while the ferry patiently waited for me.

Afterwards, upon reflection, I realized that even though my vehicle is a commercial kind of vehicle, I was not using it commercially - I was using it to carry my own private goods.

I'm going to have to get onto them about this - I think I should get a refund.

The boat arrived in Stornoway at about 2.30 am.

Later, as the day went by I met people I know. We would converse about general things, and then inevitably (my fault), the conversation would turn to the gospel.

I bumped into an old schoolmate who is now an accountant and a professed atheist. We said hello and exchanged the usual pleasantries before the conversation turned to the things of God (we meet briefly like this on a Stornoway street once every few years and the conversation always follows the same format). He told me that there is no evidence for the existence of God. I told him that I think what he really means is "proof", and though there may be no external proof of the reality of God, there is a superabundance of evidence. That every human being is the greatest evidence of the reality of God.

"Evidence of evolution you mean!"

I said to him, "look at these traffic lights. A very basic and simple design indeed. Yet you and I know perfectly well that they have been designed by someone. Can you honestly then look at a human being and behold the utter complexity of design and say it is evidence of evolution?"

Remembering that evolutionists preach that there is no intelligent design, that in fact there is no intelligence, supreme or otherwise involved in the creation of anything, living or not.

Strange, I thought the words "natural selection" meant decision making. That to "select" is the making of a choice - a decision, and decision making requires intelligence.

Hence: supreme being in control.

I told him I would argue that atheists are not so much people that don't believe, but more people who are determined not to believe and therefore make the conscious decision that they WILL NOT BELIEVE.

I would define atheism as: prejudice in its purest form.

We parted with our usual warm handshake.

I met another old school pal who was quite pleasant, friendly and even showed sorrow for my recent bereavement; but as soon as I mentioned the words, 'ah well, it's like the old saying: "those were the days." But y'know, there're better days to come...', he actually growled with rage - like a wild animal because he knew what subject I was beginning to touch on. I said to him, "do you not like preaching?"

He changed colour with rage, said, "no I don't!" and stalked off. End of conversation.

Challenges, they are good for us - we need them, that's why we're here - to meet them - so we can reap the rewards.

There is no greater work than the gospel - there is no greater challenge - there is no greater reward.

AT LAST...AT LAST.

At long last after much toil I am now leaving, finally hitting the road to Inversnecky, Hullapool and then the centre of the universe - The Lews.

The only ferry I could book the van onto was the one leaving at 11.00 tonight arriving at 1.45am - a well, another late night then.

MOVING HOUSE

Still haven't managed to leave. I'm a day overdue now. I was hoping to be in Stornoway for the kids starting school tomorrow, but I've given up on that. Sorry kids. Ah well, never mind.

MOVING HOUSE

As I'm grabbing a bite of lunch, I thought I'd give you a quick update.

I'm in the middle of a booroch just now. A real headache. I'm moving house back up to Stornoway (after being away for 10 years) and I'm having to do the bulk of it all by myself. I've been getting bits and pieces of help, but people just don't have the time to help as they would like to and this is a mammoth task.

I've quite plainly got far too much stuff and I'm trying to think of a way of cutting it down - drastically.

Easier said than done.

This is a close up of my van, just in case you see me on the road and you can toot.

WHAT IS BLIND FAITH?

Blind faith is believing something to be true just because we want it to be true.

Blind faith also works the other way round: believing something not to be true just because we want it not to be true.

"TWO RELIGIONS BASED ON THE SAME BOOK CAN'T EVEN GET ALONG."

Eddie Macleod on my facebook page makes a statement with a question mark: "The Bible fuels unrest fear and division?".

He also makes the statement at the top of this post.

In reply I would begin by quoting this:

"THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO SEND PEACE ON EARTH: I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD." (Matthew 10:34).

By making this statement Christ was telling us that there is an enmity which exists between the people who live for this present world and those who live for the spiritual world - the unseen invisible world.

That although Christ is the "Prince of Peace", yet through absolute necessity and by the very nature of the world the existence of this very peace causes the most bitter divisions possible between men.

To quote one man: "There's no bitterness like religious bitterness."

"BUT THE NATURAL MAN RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED." (1Corinthians 2: 14).

The Bible teaches that those who have not been given God's Holy Spirit have no understanding of the true meaning of it's message.

"BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD: FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, NEITHER INDEED CAN BE." (Romans 8: 7).

No man born into the world by ordinary generation has any desire to obey God. In fact, he is wholly opposed to him. By nature, we are all mortal enemies to God. And the thing is - we don't know it.

There are only two kinds of people: those who know God (or rather, are known of God).

And those who do not know God.

There are two kinds of religion: natural, and revealed.

NATURAL RELIGION is, just that, natural to us. It is the one which we like, the one which we are most comfortable with, the one we will invent if we don't find something which suits us.

It is where all false religion comes from, no matter what it's called - even if it's called Christianity. The problems start when men decide to take to do with the things of God, but leave God out of it - they don't consult the Author - or the book - and if they do consult the book, they leave bits out or change the meaning, or both. Either way, it's got to suit the carnal mind.

REVEALED RELIGION is something else entirely. This is what God gives to us. What he "reveals" to us. Fundamentally, we have no part in this. At first, we have no desire for God. Then God the Holy Spirit is sent, who works in our hearts to show us our sin and need of him.

Now this is the crucial part - he makes us willing - and much more than that - he gives us a desire which is so powerful that we will accept nothing less than the living God - personally. All this happens outside of the knowledge of the sinner - he doesn't know what's happening - until after conversion, then he can look back retrospectively.

The Bible is the crucial thing.

"...THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS:

THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT, THROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS. (2Timothy 3: 15-17).

FOR I TESTIFY UNTO EVERY MAN THAT HEARETH THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK:

AND IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK. (Revelation 22: 18 - 19).

So now that we have established the most important thing - the place given to scripture - we can move on to answer the question.

As to the Bible fuelling unrest and so on, quite the contrary, if you believe what the Bible says, you will be most vehemently opposed to it.

"BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD." (Matthew 5: 9)

The unrest is fuelled by man's sinful heart - nothing else.

"TWO RELIGIONS BASED ON THE SAME BOOK CAN'T EVEN GET ALONG."

The story is the same. The fault lies not with God, but with men. It doesn't matter which camp we claim to belong to. The problems are always caused by the same thing: disregarding God's word. Mankind has a love affair with what is sensual, carnal and visual. Even in the things of God our nature lusts after visual gratification.

"THOU SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, OR ANY LIKENESS OF ANY THING THAT IS IN THE HEAVEN ABOVE, OR THAT IS IN THE EARTH BENEATH, OR THAT IS IN THE WATER UNDER THE EARTH..." (Exodus 20: 4).

The reason God gave this commandment is because he knows our weaknesses, he knows that we have a propensity to the very thing which he condemns.

About the two religions being based on the same book: well they're not. I mean, the Roman Catholic side openly contradicts the Bible and even says that it is not the only rule to direct us.

The true protestant side (as opposed to the hypocrites) says that the Bible is the only rule.

The Roman Catholic church grew out of the true church in the first few hundred years after Christ's crucifixion. They went they're own way and created their own rules and have evolved over the centuries into what they now are.

They hold to all manner of things which, to the Bible believer, are simply anathema: The Pope being the last word in everything (he is their Bible); that a sinful man (priest) can forgive your sins if you confess them to him; prayers to dead "saints"; that the Virgin Mary was miraculously conceived without a natural father (immaculate conception); when a Roman Catholic dies he goes to a place called "Purgatory", where he or she is tortured even for centuries if necessary to "purge" them of their sins. So money must be paid to the priests to generate prayers from them to move the person from Purgatory to heaven - the more money the more prayers. If your not a Roman Catholic - you go straight to Hell - because outside of the Roman Catholic church there is no salvation. And of course you have all the paraphernalia: crosses, beads, statues, holy water, ridiculous clothing and all manner of other things - too many to go into. It is a religion completely made up of superstition.

But the true church of Christ hasn't changed one iota, because the true church of Christ is kept by the power of God alone, and therefore cannot change. And the true church of Christ is invisible.

The visible church is constituted by all that profess to believe in Jesus Christ; but the invisible church are those throughout the world and over time who really do believe.

So, these "two religions" which are "based on the same book" are not, in fact, based on the same book at all - one is based on The Book - but the other is based on something else entirely.

And they are not even "two religions", because the false grew out of the true. And this is still ongoing - within the visible church you have those that know not God working away to remove what they despise most - the truth of God.

CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER, EXCEPT THEY BE AGREED? (Amos 3: 3).

WHY CAN I SAY SO-CALLED CHRISTIAN?

Because we are judged on our latest actions, not on past reputation.

Especially if that reputation was built by others.

There is much which goes by the name Christian, but true Christianity is obedience to the scriptures. It is not about putting on a show.

It is not about mouthing prayers before others.

If our outward conduct is not consistent with the Bible - our rule - then we can legitimately be called so-called Christians.

"...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (1Samuel 15: 22).

KID GLOVES DON'T WORK IN THE REAL WORLD

I'm on a train between Birmingham and London so I'm using it as an opportunity to update the blog.

In yesterday's Mail John Macleod wrote about the belt. He's against its use.

He begins his article by describing the history of its development, then moves on to give us various anecdotes which are examples of abuse perpetrated by ignorant people.

He offers us this quote: 'All it did was condition young people to accept violence in their daily life as a norm'.

Violence? Come on John, surely you know the difference between violence and chastisement? The modern understanding of violence is perpetrated by the kind of people currently rioting in England.

When a responsible person applies reasonable chastisement he does not abuse. He does it with the good of the miscreant in view. When God chastises us he does it in love, for our good.

'But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.' (Hebrews 12: 8).

'Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.' (Proverbs 22: 15).

There are many other texts in the Bible (particularly in Proverbs) which make the point.

I was belted all the way through school, from primary one right to the end. I believe the primary one beltings were wrong, but the rest? I conclude I deserved them.

Does it mean it is wrong, just because certain individuals choose to abuse?

This principle is fundamentally flawed.

I would argue (and I am far from alone) that this principle is the root cause of the current rioting.

The softly softly approach. Treating criminals with Kid gloves.

Idiotic.

Hug a hoodie eh? There's probably not too many getting hugged at the moment.

John tells us that the best way to punish bad pupils is to exclude them from the classroom - that this must be the 'ultimate sanction'.

I couldn't disagree more. In fact, I would say, rubbish.

I can tell you from personal experience that the sharp pain of a belting is a wake-up call and the public humbling included in it is a necessary part of the experience.

'Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.' (1 Timothy 5: 20).

Before the chastisement there is boldness, but afterwards the recipient is suitably humbled - which of course is a good thing (though I can remember a certain school friend to whom it seemed to make no difference - but he was the exception rather than the rule).

John finishes off his article with the words: "We now, rightly, raise our children in the absolute knowledge that hitting others, in any circumstances, is always wrong.'

John, this statement is extremely is dogmatic.

And extremely wrong.

What if we had applied this principle with Hitler?

What if you were to apply it with regard to being physically attacked, or in witnessing someone else in that situation.

John, kid gloves don't work in the real world.

I think the current situation in our country with regard to unemployment, even without the rioting constitutes an emergency situation. You must fight fire with fire. These rioters have crossed the boundary. They have made the decision to wage open warfare - always a dangerous decision to make. The government is more than entitled to remove the gloves.

Never mind opinions - necessity dictates - manpower on the streets is required. Use the army. And if the army is too busy with its other commitments, then bring back national service - far better than the dole - and useful too.

Richard Littlejohn got it right three pages later in the same edition:

'If there's poverty, it's spiritual poverty, moral poverty and poverty of ambition.'

VAN HUNTING.

I'm in the Birmingham area just now. I flew down here today to look at a Luton van with a view to buying it.

It was yet another reminder of man's sinful heart and why you can't believe a word of what many people say when they sing the praises of whatever their selling.

On the phone he told me that it was "a really good van." When I asked him what it had been used for, he said: "delivering furniture."

When I got there, I saw that the thing had no back door, was in rough condition, filthy, the battery was flat and the floor in the back was black with puddles of old engine oil and stinking.

His son told me that the previous owner had used it to transport second-hand car parts - old engines and the like.

Suffice it to say, I didn't buy it.

So, on with the search. I'm now looking at other adverts for vehicles between Newcastle and London.

I'll try to keep you posted.

What is great though (and most important) is that I was able to tell the two guys I met at the vehicle trader's yard (the owner's son and an employee) about Christ. And they were both receptive.

Initially they mocked and when asked about who they thought had made them, began to go down the "me mum and dad" route. When I asked them if they had ever read the Bible, the response was "No." I was then able to tell them about the importance of the word of God and the prominent place the Bible occupies in the world and so on. They were listening.

It made it all worth it.

Just think, I had to board a plane and catch three buses just to tell these two guys about the Lord - great.

I love this kind of evangelizing. Totally free, you are your own boss, the only restrictions you have are the ones which scripture gives you, and these we delight in. Not the un-biblical restrictions placed on us by so-called Christian organizations who's biggest concern is to preserve the cash flow.

The word of God tells us: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1Timothy 6: 10).

Many Christian organizations point a loaded gun at the heads of its missionaries, with the threat: "We'll shoot if you don't tow the line." Their bosses hold the gun and the world stands behind them with a severe expression.

The bosses of these so-called Christian organisations obey without a whimper. Why? Because they have no moral backbone - they are spineless.

Why are they spineless? Could it be that they are concerned about their own salaries?

Hmm, I wonder.

This my friends, is contrary to God's will. We will not profit by it.

It's a cash gun. And the bullets remove the cash (the salary) by dispensing with your services.

If you are biblical, that is if you simply obey the Bible and tell people that what they are doing or believing is condemned by its writings - look out - you will suffer.

It's the last thing men want us to say: but the first thing God wants us to say.

It's the most scriptural thing we can do - revealing sin - sin: the thing which comes between us and our creator. The thing which condemns us to hell forever.

The gospel of the present day:

"YOU MUST NOT CRITICISE: YOU MUST NOT SAY ANYONE'S BELIEF IS WRONG."

Some Christians go as far as to call it "wisdom." That it is "wisdom" to "just go along with it." An ex-(paid evangelist) colleague actually used those very words when I criticised a silly un-scriptural rite which we witnessed in a London church.

The trouble is, they seem to be willing to "just go along with" pretty much anything at all.

Phew! The gospel of expediency. The gospel of material prosperity in practice.

This is nothing new. They crucified Christ for it.

For criticising it, that is.

"If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin." (John 15: 22).

But hey, don't worry - "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5: 12).

My friends, I can tell you, it's liberating. It's the most liberating thing in the world. To be freed from the constant fear of the possible removal of your home and salary just for saying the wrong thing (actually the right thing) to the wrong person.

The fear before hand, because of our lack of faith, can be tremendous. But the feeling of liberation afterwards is wonderful.

I know - I've been there.

I am there.

Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime.

COMMONS DEBATING THE DEATH PENALTY

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14400246

So they're going to debate the restoration of the death penalty.

Very good. I hope they restore it because God commands us to have it.

Genesis 9:6 "WHOSO SHEDDETH MAN'S BLOOD, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED: FOR IN THE IMAGE OF GOD MADE HE MAN."

Romans 13:4 "FOR HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD [the magistrate, or the law of the land] TO THEE FOR GOOD. BUT IF THOU DO THAT WHICH IS EVIL, BE AFRAID; FOR HE BEARETH NOT THE SWORD IN VAIN: FOR HE IS THE MINISTER [servant] OF GOD, A REVENGER TO EXECUTE WRATH UPON HIM THAT DOETH EVIL."

The problem is not so much that many non-Christians are against capital punishment, but that many professing Christians are.

I mean, sensible Christians agree that the only rule to direct us is the Bible - the word of God.

A professing Christian (a man employed as a missionary) told me that he works in prisons and that he knows convicted murderers who have been converted to Christ and that if they had been put to death then they would not have been converted - hence he is against the death penalty.

This is an example of what is wrong with the professing Christian church (and the world).

Putting our wisdom before God's.

Cobbling something together in our own head instead of seeking what God says.

Man's fatal problem - making assumptions.

Proverbs 23:4 "...CEASE FROM THINE OWN WISDOM."