“God doesn’t love us all; He loves us each.”

There’s a doctrine around called the Universal Fatherhood of God and the Universal Brotherhood of Man: It says this—that God is the Father of all, and we’re all brothers. That sounds good, that sounds so sweet, but there’s one thing wrong with it. It’s not so. He is the Creator of all of us.

And in the broadest sense, with a stretch of the word, you could call Him the Father, but not in the spiritual sense. Not all people are children of God; only those who are born into His family. Jesus said in John 8:44 when He was speaking to the Pharisees, “You are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do . . .”

In this world, there are some who are children of God and there are some who are sons and daughters of the devil. We don’t become God’s child until we’re born into God’s family. In John 1:12 we read: “But as many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Here’s another verse: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). God becomes our Father by conception, therefore, and not by creation.

 

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The Rise of a One-World Government and Its Consequences for the Christian Community

The Rise of a One-World Government and Its Consequences for the Christian Community

 

From a careful study of what the Bible says about the end times events, we have found six broad categories directly related to this topic. Each of these is significant in its own context, for the Christian community at least: (1) a one-world government is eventually to be established; (2) after a great war, there will be a need to heal and rebuild; (3) all the world's leaders will agree that the greater good will be served by all humanity becoming part of a one-world political system; (4) at first, the followers of Jesus, acknowledging the necessity of such a system, will support it; (5) once established, however, it will be co-opted by rulers intent upon gaining god-like power; (6) finally, the one-world government gives rise to Satan-inspired deceivers, leading unconverted people and many members within the Christian community. These servants of Satan, with the blasphemous name, are granted authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.

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The Hope and Assurance in Christ's Return

In our text, St. Peter refers to the return of Christ no fewer than five times (to say nothing of allusions or references to it elsewhere in those one and one-half chapters). This is the Apostle who is so strong on grace and life (a life which is a matter of relationship with God), that many have accused him of not caring about good works. Not at all. Peter knows that the behavior of Christians does not save them, but must be worked on, nurtured, strengthened, encouraged. The Christian life is to find the Him who is our way back to the Father, and to grow in appreciation of Him, in Christ.

 

In giving us a life to live, God knows we need the motivation to live this life well. He knows that we need the motivation to live by grace through faith. He knows that we need it because we are so prone to think that if we are going to get what we are promised, we need to earn it. In His Word, God graciously and helpfully sets before us many motives to live new lives in Christ. And among the most motivating of them is the return of Christ, the Return Motive.

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First, the only true and living God is the God who speaks.

We know who God is not because any of us was smart enough to figure Him out, but because out of His own love, grace, and mercy He has spoken to us. Moses says this explicitly in Deuteronomy 4:32: “To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.” The Israelites would not have known God at all unless He had spoken to them. This is the miracle of revelation, and I fear that we give this doctrine inadequate attention in our churches through our teaching and preaching. Instead of recognizing God’s speaking to us in Scripture as a miracle of grace, we treat it as of little account. Instead of preaching the Word of God, we preach pop psychology and culture, or we tell compelling stories.

In Deuteronomy 4:10–19, Moses makes clear to the people of Israel that their very lives depended on hearing and obeying God’s Word:

On the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, “Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.” And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.

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A Crisis of preaching In The Church

One of the hallmarks of our time is that we face a crisis of preaching. Indeed it would be an exercise in self-delusion if we tried to pretend that nothing is wrong with the preaching that happens in most evangelical churches. Let me ask some honest and difficult questions: If you picked an evangelical church at random and attended a Sunday morning service there, how likely is it that you would hear a faithful expository sermon, one that takes its message and its structure from the biblical text? If you answer that question honestly, you’ll admit that your expectation would not be very high. Further, do you believe that as time passes it is becoming more likely or less likely that you would hear an expository message in that random church?

I am convinced that we add to the confusion by discussing expository preaching as merely one kind of preaching—or even the best kind. When we fall into that pattern, we do serious injury to the scriptural vision of preaching. Let’s be clear. According to the Bible, exposition is preaching. And preaching is exposition.

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Una crisis en la predicación

Nuestra era actual está marcada por una crisis en la predicación. Sería un error ignorar los problemas presentes en la predicación encontrada en la mayoría de las iglesias evangélicas. Considera esto: si eligieras al azar una iglesia evangélica y asistieras a un servicio de domingo por la mañana, ¿qué tan probable es que escucharas un sermón expositivo fiel derivado del texto bíblico? Es probable que tus expectativas no fueran muy altas. La realidad es que la predicación, según la Biblia, es sinónimo de exposición.

 

Desafortunadamente, muchos predicadores y congregaciones etiquetan erróneamente otras formas de predicación como expositivas, cuando en realidad pueden no estar alineadas con la visión escritural de la predicación. La narración de historias, las preocupaciones terapéuticas y la promoción de la autoimportancia se han infiltrado en muchos púlpitos, difuminando la fuerza declarativa de la Escritura y priorizando consideraciones temáticas sobre la forma textual de la Biblia.

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Introduction to Armageddon Prophecies

The Significance of Armageddon in Christian Beliefs
In the realm of Christian beliefs, few topics garner as much attention and fascination as the concept of Armageddon. The mere mention of this apocalyptic event evokes a sense of awe and anticipation among believers. In this subchapter, we delve into the significance of Armageddon in Christian beliefs, exploring its prophetic origins, symbolism, and its impact on the faithful.

 

Armageddon, as described in the book of Revelation, is the final battle between the forces of good and evil. It is the ultimate showdown between the righteous and the wicked, culminating in the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. Christian believers hold this event to be of paramount importance, as it represents the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan for humanity.

 

The significance of Armageddon lies not only in its prophetic nature but also in its symbolic representation. It serves as a reminder of the eternal struggle between righteousness and sin, light and darkness. Armageddon embodies the ultimate victory of God's righteousness over the forces of evil, bringing about the restoration of a perfect and just world.

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The Guiding Light in the Desert: Understanding the Role of the Holy Spirit in the End Times

Title: The Guiding Light in the Desert: Understanding the Role of the Holy Spirit in the End Times

 

In the vast expanse of the desert, where solitude stretches infinitely and silence reigns supreme, there echoes a voice that transcends time and space. It speaks of a divine presence that dwells within, guiding and illuminating the way through the trials and tribulations of the end times. This voice is none other than the whisper of the Holy Spirit, a beacon of hope and salvation amidst the chaos and uncertainty of the world.

 

As we navigate the complexities of the end times, it becomes imperative to understand the pivotal role of the Holy Spirit in guiding and empowering believers to walk in the path of righteousness. The Holy Spirit, often referred to as the Comforter or Advocate, is the divine presence of God that dwells within each believer, offering guidance, wisdom, and strength in times of need.

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Revelando el Papel de los Ángeles en los Últimos Tiempos

Título: Revelando el Papel de los Ángeles en los Últimos Tiempos

 

Introducción

 

En el ámbito de las creencias espirituales y las interpretaciones proféticas, el papel de los ángeles en los últimos tiempos ocupa un lugar significativo. Se cree que los ángeles son seres sobrenaturales que sirven como mensajeros de Dios, protectores de los fieles y ejecutores de la justicia divina. A lo largo de textos religiosos y tradiciones, la presencia y acciones de los ángeles desempeñan un papel crucial en la configuración de la batalla cósmica entre el bien y el mal, especialmente durante el período apocalíptico conocido como los últimos tiempos. En este episodio de podcast, exploraremos el papel multifacético de los ángeles en las narrativas escatológicas y discutiremos su importancia en el contexto más amplio del cumplimiento último de los propósitos divinos.

 

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Unveiling the Role of Angels in the End Times

Title: Unveiling the Role of Angels in the End Times

 

Introduction

 

In the realm of spiritual beliefs and prophetic interpretations, the role of angels in the end times holds a significant place. Angels are supernatural beings believed to serve as messengers of God, protectors of the faithful, and enforcers of divine justice. Throughout religious texts and traditions, the presence and actions of angels play a crucial role in shaping the cosmic battle between good and evil, particularly during the apocalyptic period known as the end times. In this podcast episode, we will explore the multifaceted role of angels in the eschatological narratives and discuss their significance in the broader context of the ultimate fulfillment of divine purposes.

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