Drummoyne Baptist Blog

What is God? Truth.

2012-05-27T03:54:00.000-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to continue answering the question, ‘What is God?’ Previously we’ve seen God is a spirit who is infinite, glorious, blessed, perfect, all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere, knowledgeable, wise, holy, just, merciful, gracious, patient and good.

The last attribute of God that I want to look at in this series is truth. Firstly we see that Jesus explicitly calls the Spirit of God the Spirit of truth: ‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth’ (John 14:16-17). Thus God is truth itself.

This means that God does not lie: Even Balaam the pagan sorcerer in Numbers acknowledges this when God gives him a message for the pagan King Balak: ‘God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19). When God says something, it happens as he cannot lie. This is in sharp contrast to humans who are full of falsehood.

Similarly Paul also makes the point that God is true in contrast to men being liars. Paul is arguing against the idea that the lack of faith among the Jews shows God is unfaithful: ‘What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar’ (Romans 3:1-4). Man is the liar and not God.

And truthfulness of God is important to uphold. Why? Because our salvation depends on it. Humans are in a mess. You only have to read the paper to understand that we are full of sin and unable to help ourselves. But Jesus who is God says: ‘I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life’. (John 5:24). Now if God is a liar, then we are lost. But if God is not, then we’d better make sure we believe in Jesus so that we can have eternal life.

Do you believe God is true? Do you believe that God is telling the truth when he tells you that if you believe in his Son’s death you have eternal life?

Joel Radford

What is God? Good.

2012-05-20T03:55:00.001-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to continue answering the question, ‘What is God?’ Previously we’ve seen God is a spirit who is infinite, glorious, blessed, perfect, all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere, knowledgeable, wise, holy, just, merciful, gracious and patient.

This week we also see that God is good. The Bible tells us this many times, but we also see evidence of God’s goodness around us. We can see God’s goodness in the creation that he created as ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31). We also see God’s goodness in the way he looks after his good creation: ‘The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing’ (Psalm 145:9-16).

And if that were not enough to confirm the goodness of God, we can also see the goodness of God in blessing humans even though they are sinful. Not just with blessings in this life but in the life to come. Lamentations tells us that salvation can be experienced by sinners who seek God: The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD’ (Lamentations 3:25-26). Similarly Nahum tells us that God gives security to those who trust in him: ‘The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him’ (Nahum 1:7).

In fact, once you become a Christian, the Bible promises that all things that happen to you are part of the good God working for your good: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).

Do you recognise God’s goodness and seek more of his goodness through trusting in him?

Joel Radford.

What is God? Merciful, gracious and patient

2012-05-12T23:39:00.001-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to continue answering the question, ‘What is God?’ Previously we’ve seen ten things about God: He is a spirit, infinite, glorious, blessed, perfect, all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere, knowledgeable, wise, holy and just.

This week we see that God is also merciful, gracious and patient – attributes that are all closely related to one another. In Nehemiah we read how these attributes of God were displayed in his relationship to the sinful Israelites: ‘They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God’ (Nehemiah 9:29-31).

And God is still merciful, gracious and patient with sinners today. The author of Hebrews gives us this advice: ‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16). Humans are in a desperate time of need. They have sinned repeatedly against the almighty God and need his mercy and grace. And thankfully we can approach him for grace and mercy. But how? If God is a just God then as we have already seen in previous weeks, he cannot show us grace and mercy and still be just. The author of Hebrews explains to us that our sin is dealt with in the sacrifice of Christ: ‘But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself’ (Hebrews 9:26). In Jesus the justice of God was met for our sin and so God can graciously and mercifully let us into heaven.

And thankfully God is patient today too, waiting for you to believe in his son’s sacrifice for your sin. We read in 1 Peter: ‘He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance’ (2 Peter 3:9). So do you acknowledge that God is merciful and gracious toward your sins, forgiving them through Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross? Or will you try his patience?

Joel Radford.

What is God? All knowing, all wise, holy and just

2012-04-23T04:08:00.001-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to continue answering the question, ‘What is God?’ Previously we’ve seen ten things about God: He is a spirit, infinite, glorious, blessed, perfect, all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible and everywhere.

Another thing we must understand about God is that he knows all things. This means he knows all about his creation, including the sins of his creatures: ‘Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account’ (Hebrews 4:13). Most unsettling to think God knows every one of your sins.

But God doesn’t just know everything, he is also able to apply that knowledge which demonstrates his wisdom. And, like his knowledge, his wisdom is greater than anyone’s. Thus it is no surprise that Paul says elsewhere: ‘Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!’ (Romans 11:33).

Also we know that God is holy. To be holy means to be set apart – to be different from others. And God is most definitely different from everything else and therefore holier than everything else. Thus we read in Isaiah that the Seraphim in heaven cry in God’s presence: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory’ (Isaiah 6:3).

And as God is holy, it is no surprise that God is just: ‘He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he’ (Deuteronomy 32:4). This means God does not let people who do wrong escape: ‘the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished’ (Nahum 1:3). This is scary to understand because we are all guilty and deserve to be punished. But thankfully God punishes his Son for our sins so that his justice is met and we can go free and dwell forever with him. But we must accept his offer of salvation through his Son by trusting that Jesus was indeed punished for us.

So do you recognise that God is all knowing, all wise, holy and just? Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour so that God’s justice is met in him for your sins? Or will the just God one day personally punish you for your sins?

Joel Radford.

What is God? All-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere

2012-04-15T03:38:00.000-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to continue answering the question, ‘What is God?’ Last time I wrote on the subject, we saw that God is a spirit, infinite, glorious, blessed and perfect.

Sixthly, God is all-sufficient. God has no need of anything from anyone. Paul says to the Athenians: ‘The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else’ (Acts 17:24-25).

Seventhly, God is eternal. He has always existed and always will exist. The Psalmist writes: ‘Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God’ (Psalm 90:2).

Eighthly, God is unchangeable. Unlike humans who constantly change, God does not: ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows’ (James 1:17).

Ninthly, God is incomprehensible. You may have already realised this, particularly if you’ve understood that God is infinite and eternal. But Solomon also tells us this when he dedicates God’s temple that he built: ‘But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!’ (1 Kings 8:27). It is ridiculous to think that God can be contained in our feeble minds or anything which we might build.

Tenthly, God is everywhere. There is nowhere that God is not. The Psalmist tells us this: ‘Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you’ (Psalm 139:7-12).

So do you recognise that God is all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible and everywhere? Or do you sinfully imagine God to be something he is not?

Joel Radford.

Why is the resurrection important?

2012-04-09T03:36:00.001-07:00

In the bulletin on Good Friday I wrote an article on the importance of Jesus’ death. We saw that Jesus’ death is significant because it is through Jesus’ death that we can have forgiveness of sins. But why do we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Easter too? Shouldn’t the focus simply be on the cross as that is where sin is paid for? Today I want to show that the resurrection is of crucial importance because it guarantees that Jesus really did pay for our sin on the cross.

If we are to understand the importance of Jesus’ resurrection, we must firstly understand death. The Bible teaches us that death is the result of sin: ‘For the wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23). Do you want to live forever? Don’t sin, and you won’t die. That’s the secret of eternal life. But the problem is we all have inherited original sin from Adam, our first parent, and we all commit actual sins ourselves too: ‘…sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned’ (Romans 5:12).

So to overcome death, we must first overcome sin. And this is what Jesus says he does at the cross for you: ‘ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed’ (1 Peter 2:24). But why should you believe that Jesus has indeed taken away your sin so you can overcome death? After all anyone can say that your sins are forgiven and that you’re going to live forever, but that doesn’t mean that your sins are actually forgiven and you have eternal life. The person could be lying or deluded that they have the power to forgive sins when they don’t. The test is whether that person who claims to wipe away sin, can defeat death which is the result of sin. If you can overcome death, then you must have overcome sin.

So the crucial question is, did Jesus defeat death and thus prove that he had defeated sin? Yes. The gospel accounts are clear that Jesus came back to life and is still alive today, proving that Jesus has justified us – we have been declared legally righteous before God because of Jesus and not legally unrighteous because of our sin. This is what Paul means when he says about Jesus: ‘He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.’ (Romans 4:25). Thus the resurrection is essential for the Christian. For without it, we are still dead in our sins. No wonder we celebrate the resurrection at Easter!

Do you trust in Jesus’ death for your sins and know that they have been paid for because you also know that Jesus has been raised from the dead?

Joel Radford.

What is Good Friday all about?

2012-04-06T02:46:00.000-07:00

On Good Friday, some people will question what Easter is all about. They may think that Easter involves chocolate in the form of an egg or rabbit. But Easter revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is dedicated to remembering his death, and Easter Sunday his resurrection.

But why is Jesus’ death so important that we dedicate a whole holiday to it every year on Good Friday? Jesus’ death is significant because through it we are saved from our sins and have eternal life in heaven.

But do we need saving from sin? Yes. We are all sinners and so all need to be saved from sin. Ecclesiastes tells us: ‘There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins’ (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Now you may say, ‘That’s the Bible’s opinion, but I am not a sinner.’ Oh, but you are. And the fact that you are telling yourself that you’re not, illustrates the point – you’re adding to your sin by lying about your true state. Whereas if you were honest, you would admit that you are not as good as you should be.

But shouldn’t you get to go to heaven for at least the good that you do, even if you do sin at times? No. Good works do not outweigh bad works. Even children understand this. Suppose a child was always obedient at school but then one day punched another child in the school playground. Despite the child’s (and parent’s!) possible protests, the child needs to be disciplined just as if they had regularly punched other children in the playground. The other children (and parents) would demand it – there should be no special treatment simply because of a good track record.

So it is with us and God. When we sin once, we deserve to be punished. No amount of good works before or after the sin will make up for that stain against our name. That is why Christ needed to die if we are to be rewarded with heaven. He needed to take our punishment for us so that our sins could be washed away by his blood.

But how does Jesus’ death apply to you? You need to accept it by turning away from your sin and trusting that Jesus died for your sins. And if you do that, you will have a far better Easter than any amount of chocolate will bring.

Joel Radford.

What is God? Spirit, infinite, glorious, blessed, perfect

2012-04-01T01:58:00.002-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to start answering the question, ‘What is God?’ This week we’ll only look at five things that God is according to the Bible.

Firstly God is a Spirit. Jesus teaches this to the Samaritan woman: ‘God is spirit’ (John 4:24). But what does that mean? It means God doesn’t have a physical body like humans. God doesn’t have an actual heart, ear, foot or arm. So when God speaks of himself having such body parts, God is using a human’s knowledge of the body to try and help them understand something about him. The Bible is not suggesting that God is anything other than a spirit.

Secondly the Bible teaches us that God is infinite. Zophar rightly says to Job: ‘Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below--what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea’ (Job 11:7-9). God is limitless.

Thirdly God is glorious. Stephen says of God: ‘The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran’ (Acts 7:2). What does it mean to be glorious? Glory means to be worthy of honour. And it doesn’t take much reading about the God described in the Bible to realise that he is indeed worthy of all glory, as the elders say in heaven: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being’ (Revelation 4:11).

Fourthly God is blessed. Paul describes God to Timothy with the following words: ‘God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords’ (1 Timothy 6:15). What does it mean to be blessed? To be blessed usually has the idea of being praiseworthy and happily content. Which God is indeed!

Fifthly God is perfect. Jesus says: ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48). This means that God has no flaws, no problems, makes no mistakes.

So do you recognise that God is a Spirit, infinite, glorious, blessed and perfect? Or do you sinfully imagine God to be something he is not?

Joel Radford.

What do the Scriptures teach about God?

2012-03-25T21:37:00.001-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to answer the question, ‘What do the scriptures make known about God?’

Firstly, the Bible teaches us who God is. We learn from the Bible that he exists. Even God’s name, ‘I am’, tells us that God exists: ‘God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you'’"’ (Exodus 3:14).

Secondly the Bible teaches us that God is three in one. In Deuteronomy, Moses teaches the Israelites that God is one: ‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one’ (Deuteronomy 6:4). Yet we also see that God is three persons in one God. For example, we learn this when Jesus says that people are to be baptised into God’s name: ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’ (Matthew 28:19). Notice Jesus baptises them into one ‘name’, not ‘names’. But then gives three people for one ‘name’. Thus the Bible teaches that within the Godhead there is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Individual persons, yet all God.

Thirdly the Bible teaches us about God’s decrees – what God planned would happen and what God plans will happen. For example God decreed that Jesus would die on the cross for sinful humans: ‘This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross’ (Acts 2:23). And it happened. But the Bible also tells us that God’s decrees even extend to you and your life in this world: ‘From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live’ (Act 17:26). And not only that, but God has decreed whether you will become a Christian: ‘In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory’ (Ephesians 1:11-12).

So do you read the Bible to find out who God is and what he has done and what he plans to do?

Joel Radford.

What do the Scriptures primarily teach?

2012-03-21T02:05:00.001-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to answer the question, ‘What are the main things that the Bible teaches?’

The first thing the Bible teaches us is what we are to believe about God. It is not surprising that God’s word tells us a lot about him. After all, it is very hard to know much about anyone unless they actually start speaking to you. I could know some things about my wife from looking at her. And then I could know even more if I watched what she does. But unless she opens her mouth and talks, it is very difficult for me to get to know her very well.

It is the same with God. We might be able to conclude some things about his attributes from looking at what he has created, for example that he is at least a good and wise God. But unless God communicates with us verbally, we won’t know much about him at all. And thankfully God does speak about himself in his word, the Bible. For example God tells us that he is a God of justice: ‘The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies’ (Nahum 1:2). But also a God of mercy and love ‘Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 7:9).

The second thing the Bible teaches us is what God requires of us. This is important because in the verse from Nahum we saw that God is just and that is scary. Scary because we recognise that we are sinners and deserve to be punished. But then the verse from Deuteronomy gives us hope – if God is merciful, then maybe he will show us mercy. So what does the Bible reveal that we should do? What does God require of us if we are to experience his mercy? God says: ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29). Who is the one God has sent that we’re meant to believe in? Jesus. If we believe in Jesus Christ as the one God sent to die for our sins, then we experience God’s mercy and enter into eternal life despite our sinfulness. This is what God requires of us.

So do you read your Bible because it tells you who God is and what God requires of you?

Joel Radford.

How do you know the Bible is the word of God? The Holy Spirit shows you.

2012-03-12T02:15:00.001-07:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. Over the last few weeks we’ve been looking at how the Bible shows itself to be the word of God. We saw the Bible is the word of God because of its majesty, purity, connectedness, the glory it gives to God and the change it has on sinners. This week I want to look at how the Holy Spirit shows you that the Bible is the word of God.

Although the reasons we’ve looked at previously for believing that the Bible is the word of God are true and good reasons, ultimately they won’t convince anyone on their own. It is only by the Holy Spirit changing our hard hearts that we are able to believe that the Bible is the word of God. The apostle John said to Christians in the early church: ‘But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth’ (1 John 2:20). And a few verses later: ‘But as his anointing teaches you about all things’ (1 John 2:27). Thus it is only by the Holy Spirit’s power that people’s eyes are opened so that they can recognise the truth when they see it.

Whereas those who do not have the Holy Spirit do not recognise the Bible is God’s word when they read it. Paul says about them: ‘The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned’ (1 Corinthians 2:14). Thus it is no surprise that when people are shown good and valid arguments for why the Bible is the word of God, they still turn away from it. The reason? They lack the Spirit’s discernment.

So if you are to affirm the Bible as the word of God you need the Holy Spirit to do what Jesus said he would do with the Apostles: ‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth’ (John 16:13) and ‘the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you’ (John 16:15). Otherwise you will never trust in the Bible as God’s word.

Do you recognise that you will never believe that the Bible is God’s word without the help of the Holy Spirit? Do you ask the Holy Spirit to help you when you read God’s word so that you will believe it?

Joel Radford.

How does the Bible show itself to be the word of God? By the glory the Bible gives to God and the changes it has on sinners

2012-03-05T00:50:00.000-08:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. Last week I began looking at how the Bible shows itself to be the word of God. We saw the Bible is the word of God because of its majesty, purity and connectedness. This week I want to look at two more reasons.

The Bible is the word of God because its whole intention is to give glory to God. If the Bible’s intention was to give glory to something other than God, then it clearly could not have been written by him as you would never expect God to speak about exalting something else. And the Bible does aim to bring glory to him. The apostle Paul writes: ‘Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God’ (Romans 3:19). And then again a few verses later Paul asks: ‘Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law of faith’ (Roman 3:27). Paul is saying that the gospel of faith presented in the Bible excludes human boasting which means the gospel gives God glory. Thus the Bible is God’s word as its goal is God’s glory.

Also the Bible is the word of God because of its effect on sinners. Over the centuries, the Bible has again and again miraculously changed people who were clearly hardened sinners. Thus the Bible is described in the following manner: ‘For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’ (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible cuts through us and changes us. Changes us how? Firstly the Bible converts us: ‘He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created’ (James 1:18). And then the Bible continues to comfort and build you up once you are a Christian: ‘For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope’ (Romans 15:4).

So do you recognise that the Bible is the word of God because it gives glory to God? And do you recognise that the Bible is the word of God because it converts sinners and builds believers up?

Joel Radford.

How does the Bible show itself to be the word of God? By its majesty, purity and connectedness

2012-02-27T02:01:00.001-08:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to start looking at how the Bible shows itself to be the word of God.

Firstly we can see that the Bible is the word of God by its majesty. The Psalmist says that God’s word is beyond perfection: ‘To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless’ (Psalm 119:96). And anyone who has examined the Bible carefully can see how majestic it is, even when taken from a strictly literary point of view. There is nothing like the Bible known to man.

Secondly we can see that the Bible is the word of God from its purity. The Psalmist says: ‘And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times’ (Psalm 12:6). The Bible is without error which means it must be written by God for we all know that to err is human.

Thirdly we can see that the Bible is the word of God because of its connectedness in all its parts. A big book written by many different authors over a long period of time would have disagreements between those authors. But the Bible doesn’t. Instead it is in agreement with itself, even when things are predicted in the future. Paul says when he is on trial that he is teaching nothing that conflicts with the Scriptures: ‘I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen-that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles’ (Acts 26:22-23). So we see that the Bible must be a divinely inspired book. It is hard to get one author to agree with what he has written ten years earlier, let alone try to get many authors to agree with each other over thousands of years. But in the Bible we see a book written by one divine author who never makes mistakes.

Next week we’ll look at some more reasons why the Bible is evidently the word of God. But for now, have you recognised that the Bible is the word of God because it is so majestic, so pure and so connected together that it must have been written by God himself?

Joel Radford.

Is the Word of God the only way of faith and obedience?

2012-02-19T23:02:00.001-08:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. In the last article we looked at the fact that the word of God is only contained in the Bible. This week I want to ask whether there is any other way of believing in God and knowing him apart from the Bible?

The short is answer is, ‘No’. There is no other way of believing in God and obeying him other than the Bible. We see this when Paul says that the Christian is a person who stands on the foundation of the prophets, apostles and Jesus Christ: ‘Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone’ (Ephesians 2:19-20).

We also see the importance of the Bible as the only way of salvation in the words of Jesus. When Jesus tells a story about a rich man going to hell and speaking with Abraham across a chasm, Moses and the prophets are said to be all that is needed to avoid hell. The rich man says to Abraham: ‘'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'’ (Luke 16:27-31) The rich man wants someone to rise from the dead so that his brothers may be convinced of the way of salvation, but Abraham says the Bible is sufficient.

Finally, Paul in Galatians says that the gospel taught in the Bible is the only way to God. He condemns all other forms of good news: ‘But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!’ (Galatians 1:8-9).

So, do you accept that the Bible has the only way to truly believe in God and serve him?

Joel Radford.

What is the word of God?

2012-02-06T21:33:00.001-08:00

In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week’s question is ‘What is the word of God?’

The word of God is contained in the Bible which is made up of the Old and New Testaments. We know that the Bible is the word of God because the Bible itself makes very clear that the writings contained within it are not the writings of men alone but the writings of God.

For example, Peter affirms that the Old Testament prophetical books were written by God: ‘And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit’ (2 Peter 1:19-21). This is not to suggest that men had no role in the writing of these books, as though God used them like robots. But God oversaw these men with their gifts and spoke through them.

Peter also says that the writings of Paul are the words of God: ‘Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction’ (2 Peter 3:15-16). Here Peter calls Paul’s words ‘Scripture’, thus putting Paul’s writings on the same level as the Old Testament.

We also see Paul sum up all of Scripture as the word of God in 2 Timothy: ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Thus the Bible is not a human book, it is a divine book. So do you accept it as your only way to hear God’s voice? And do you obey God’s voice in the Bible by serving him through repentance and faith?

Joel Radford.

How do you know there is a God?

2012-01-30T01:09:00.001-08:00

Last week I began a new series going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week’s question is ‘How does it appear that there is a God?’

Firstly we know there is a God because the knowledge is inside us. Paul says ‘The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them’ (Romans 1:18-19).

Secondly we know that there is a God because of God’s works which are displayed around us in creation. Psalm 19 says: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world’ (Psalm 19:1-4).

Thirdly we know there is a God because he has spoken to us in his word. Paul encourages his young disciple Timothy ‘you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (2 Timothy 3:15). The Bible is the word of God and what is in it is able to make us all wise about who God is and how we can trust in his Son.

Fourthly the Holy Spirit reveals God to us. Paul quotes from Isaiah: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’ (1 Corinthians 2:9). However he doesn’t leave it there. Paul says ‘but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:10-11). By the Holy Spirit we can know God.

Thus all people, including non-Christians, know God exists because God has made his existence plain to them. The problem is that they suppress this truth and refuse to believe the evidence. We all need the Holy Spirit to bring us to repent of our unbelief and ask for forgiveness through Christ’s death for not believing in God as we should.

Joel Radford.

What is the purpose of being a human?

2012-01-23T02:14:00.001-08:00

Today I want to begin a new series going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week’s question is ‘What is the highest goal of your life?’

The first part of the answer to this question is that our primary purpose is to glorify God. The Apostle Paul states this truth in Romans: ‘For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen’ (Romans 11:36). In other words Paul states that you, and everything else, were created by God, not for you but for him. Therefore God deserves all the glory from your life. You do not belong to you. You belong to God. And so whatever you do with your life must be done for his honour. This means that you must carefully learn what it is that God wants you to do with your life so that he gets all the honour and glory.

The second part of the answer is that the goal of your life is to enjoy God. The Psalmist writes: ‘Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever’ (Psalm 73:25-26). The writer has found that nothing on earth or in heaven satisfies him except God. And this is our goal too – to find God to be the most satisfying thing in our lives. If we enjoy anything on earth or in heaven it will be because it is received with thanksgiving from our Father who is our greatest joy.

But sadly we often do not have these two goals as the goals of our lives. Instead of seeking to glorify God with our lives, we seek to glorify ourselves by doing what pleases us rather than what pleases God. And instead of finding joy in God, we look for joy in our material possessions and experiences. But our possessions and experiences are unsatisfying and do not produce true joy. Wealthy people who are glorified by much of the world and have pretty much whatever money can buy, still seek for meaning from their lives.

So how can you begin to have the purpose of your life as glorifying God and enjoying him? Firstly acknowledge that you have not lived up to your intended purpose – you have not glorified God or delighted in him. Then ask for forgiveness through Jesus’ death on the cross. Believe that he died the death you deserve for not living for God’s glory. Then begin to study his word and serve him by loving him and loving those around you. This will bring God glory and great joy to your life.

Joel Radford.

Objection: What about those who have never heard about God?

2012-01-14T21:58:00.001-08:00

In this bulletin series we’ve been looking at the common objections to Christianity. This last week I want to look at the objection that Christianity cannot be true because there are so many people who have never heard of the Christian God. And surely they cannot go to hell, that would be unjust!

This objection fails to understand that all people everywhere know the truth about God. Creation itself speaks about the existence of God: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world (Psalm 19:1-4)’. Creation speaks about God’s existence in a way that defies all language and geographical boundaries.

So because everyone knows about God, no one is without excuse for refusing to worship him. Paul tells us this quite clearly: ‘For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:20-21)’. So it is right and just of God to send all people everywhere to hell for not worshipping him. They know he exists, but they suppress the truth about him and refuse to worship him.

So why do Christians tell people about God if all creation speaks about him. Because the general revelation about God in creation is not sufficient to save anyone. People will consistently reject God if only exposed to knowledge about him from creation. But if they hear about God and salvation from sin through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, then they can be saved. This is what Paul means when he says: ‘How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?’ (Romans 10:14). If anyone is to be saved from being justly sent to hell, they need someone to tell them the good news contained in the Bible, which is God’s special revelation.

Have you believed in God because you have heard God’s voice in creation but also in the Bible?

Joel Radford.

Why celebrate Christmas?

2011-12-25T21:41:00.001-08:00

At Christmas it is a bit hard not to hear something about Jesus Christ. After all, only those ignorant of history think the meaning of Christmas is Santa Claus and not Jesus Christ. But why do Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?

The birth of Jesus is significant because it is the fulfilment of a long expected hope. Immediately after our first parents Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, God promised that there would be a son of Eve that would reverse the problem of sin: ‘So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel"’ (Genesis 3:14-15). From that time on, God’s people were looking forward to this son of Eve that would crush the head of Satan and remove punishment for sin.

And just as presents that come after a period of intense waiting are more wonderful when they finally arrive, so it is with the arrival of Jesus as the Saviour of the world. Thousands of years passed with many promising young men being used greatly by God to hurt Satan, but they all had their flaws. Abraham lied about his wife. Moses disobeyed God and struck the rock. David committed adultery with Bathsheba. These men were very helpful to God’s people, but ultimately they couldn’t help others with the problem of sin because they had their own problem of sin. Then Jesus Christ was born. The sinless one, the speaker of God’s word, the performer of miracles. God himself! The wait was over, the remover of sin had come. This naturally is a special event worth remembering for years to come.

But did Jesus remove sin? Yes. At the cross Jesus didn’t die an ordinary death. He died as our substitute – he bore the wrath of God for your sin so that you wouldn’t have to be punished.

So how does this removal of sin become a reality for you? You simply ask Jesus to forgive you for your sin and believe that he has done so through his death. That’s it. If you truly do that, the Bible promises that you are saved. And if you do that this Christmas, I can guarantee that you will celebrate Christmas like you’ve never celebrated it before because now Christmas will mean the beginning of the end of your sin. And that’s something truly worth celebrating!

Joel Radford.

Objection: The church is full of hypocrites

2011-12-18T02:19:00.000-08:00

In this bulletin series we’ve been looking at the common objections to Christianity. This week I want to look at the objection that Christians are hypocrites and so Christianity should be rejected.

Hypocrisy is universally condemned. We naturally scorn those who claim to believe one thing, yet act in another way. And when we see a hypocrite’s hypocrisy we usually reject them and their beliefs. Jesus himself does this with the religious leaders of his day: ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to’ (Matthew 23:13).

Thus Christianity is often rejected because of the hypocrisy of its followers. One of the most common examples is sexual immorality. Christians teach against adultery, sex before marriage, homosexuality and paedophilia. Yet all these sins are often committed by people claiming to be Christians and therefore reveal hypocrisy.

However to reject Christianity because its people demonstrate hypocrisy is a failure to understand some core teachings of Christianity. Firstly, Christianity does not teach that all its followers are perfect and never make a single mistake. Rather Christians readily acknowledge that they are sinners, including hypocrites.

Secondly Christianity is not about putting your trust in sinful people. It is about putting your trust in the sinless one, Jesus Christ. To become a Christian you trust in Jesus’ death at the cross as the payment for your sins (including hypocrisy). If you think Christianity is about trusting in Christians, you will always be disappointed because they will invariably fail you. But Christ will never fail you if you trust him. Jesus is not a hypocrite, so you have no grounds to reject his religion.

Finally, a word of caution. If you are going to reject Christianity because of hypocrisy, you will have to reject every worldview. No religion is without its hypocrites and atheists are hypocritical as well. So you shouldn’t hold up a standard to Christianity that you don’t hold up to the rest of the world.

Do you reject Christianity because its followers are hypocrites, or do you recognise that you are a hypocrite too and flee to Christ?

Joel Radford.

Objection: I can’t believe in God when I see so much suffering in the world

2011-12-11T01:52:00.001-08:00

In this bulletin series we've been looking at the common objections to Christianity. This week I want to look at the objection that there is no God because there is horrible suffering in this world.

Many people object to God's existence because of the presence of evil and suffering. The objection suggests that if there was indeed an all-powerful god, like the God of Christianity, he would not let evil people cause suffering. This claim is often made in light of the atrocities that humans have been subjected to in the last century in World War II and under communist rulers. Or it may even be made because of personal suffering that the individual has known and has led them to reject God.

But such an argument is nonsensical. To make the claim that there is horrible suffering in the world is to make a moral claim. In other words, you are claiming that suffering is bad and not suffering is good. But upon what basis can you make that judgement if there is no God? If we are simply evolutionary products of chemicals mixed with other chemicals, then suffering is nothing more than a chemical reaction and is neither good or evil. Without God, if you murder somebody it is no different from turning a computer off. Both mixtures of atoms suddenly cease working the way they were previously working.

So in actual fact, when you condemn suffering in the world as a bad thing, you are actually providing proof that there is a God, not that there isn't a God. If there is no God, you cannot go around complaining about evil and suffering. If you do, you are not making any sense.

So instead of rejecting God and committing yet another evil, you should be embracing God. He is the one who will one day hold all evildoers to account for their actions: 'For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad' (2 Corinthians 5:10). This is scary because you know that you have caused suffering in the lives of others. But thankfully in Jesus Christ there is forgiveness: 'everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins' (Acts 10:43).

Do you illogically reject God because of suffering? Or do you recognise your own sin and cry out for forgiveness?

Joel Radford.

Objection: Everything is relative, there are no absolutes

2011-12-04T21:46:00.001-08:00

In this bulletin series we’ve been looking at the common objections to Christianity. This week I want to look at the objection that Christianity is not true because everything is relative.

Christianity is built on absolutes. Christians believe in absolute truth. For example we believe ‘that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve’ (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). Christians also believe in absolute morality. Some behaviours are always wrong and some behaviours are always right.

So it is not surprising that someone who claims that everything is relative rejects Christianity. Instead they claim that truths of the Bible were only true for certain people – thus Jesus resurrection is only true for Jews who had been socially conditioned to expect a Messiah who would be raised from the dead. And when it comes to absolute morality, they claim that no behaviour is immoral or moral in an objective sense. Rather behaviour is only immoral if an individual or culture considers it immoral.

But rejection of absolute truth by claiming that everything is relative is an illogical statement. It is in itself an absolute truth claim and so is self-defeating. In other words when someone claims that there are no absolute truths, they are holding an absolute truth that there are no absolute truths.

And the rejection of absolute morality is also self-defeating. Because to make such a statement requires you to morally condemn anyone who does not consider all behaviour to be relative. The foolishness of rejecting absolute morality is also seen by the almost universal condemnation of certain behaviours. Pretty much everyone considers paedophilia to be morally wrong.

Thus to reject Christianity for making absolute truth claims is groundless. Everybody makes absolute truth claims, not just Christianity. The trouble is that relativists don’t want to investigate Christianity’s truth claims or anybody else’s – they’d rather be the god of their world.

Do you illogically claim that everything is relative and there are no absolutes?

Joel Radford.

Objection: Jesus couldn’t have been raised from the dead

2011-11-27T01:54:00.001-08:00

In this bulletin series we've been looking at the common objections to Christianity. This week I want to look at the objection that Jesus couldn't possible have risen from the dead.

If someone denies that Jesus was bodily raised from the dead, they certainly cannot be a Christian. Paul writes 'And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins' (1 Corinthians 15:17). If you don't believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, there is no point being a Christian because how do you know that you will be raised to eternal life if Jesus wasn't raised.

But the resurrection is not easy to accept. Resurrections are not common events and people are often very sceptical about anything that they haven't witnessed themselves. But just because something happens just once and you didn't see it, doesn't mean it didn't happen. As everyone cannot witness everything, our society depends upon the testimonies of only a few to function properly. Many murderers have been either executed or imprisoned for the rest of their lives on the basis of only a small number of testimonies. So all it takes is a couple of eyewitnesses to a single event to change someone's life.

And it's the same with Christianity. True, Christianity does make some incredible claims that we are expected to stake our lives on – not just for this life, but for the rest of eternity! But Christianity doesn't make these claims without evidence. Jesus' resurrection is backed up with solid historical eyewitness accounts contained in the New Testament. These accounts are internally reliable (they don't contradict themselves) and externally reliable (they don't contradict evidence outside the Bible, e.g. archaeological evidence). They are reasonably written and do not come across as propaganda pieces. Thus the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not as unbelievable as some would like to make out. The trouble is, people who complain about the resurrection being unbelievable are usually those who are not willing to examine the evidence. This indicates that their problem is not so much with the resurrection, but with surrendering their lives to Christ.

Do you reject Jesus' resurrection simply because it is such an unusual event, or are you willing to examine the evidence for unusual events regardless of your own agenda?

Joel Radford.

Objection: I’m too sinful

2011-11-19T22:09:00.001-08:00

In this bulletin series we've been looking at common objections to Christianity. This week I want to look at the objection that some people are too evil to be a Christian.

When you share the good news about Jesus Christ with non-Christians, some of them may object that Christianity is not for them because they are not sinners. That is the objection we dealt with in our last article. But then some people swing to the opposite end of the spectrum and claim that they cannot be a Christian because they are terrible sinners.

There are a couple of reasons why people think they are too sinful to be a Christian. Firstly they may have had a little to do with Christians and, in their experience, have noticed that Christians are nicer than others. Hence they believe that they cannot be a Christian because they aren't nice.

Another reason some people think they are too sinful to be a Christian is because they have misunderstood the teachings of Christianity. They have been influenced by one of the many religions which teach that if you are good, you are one of them. Whereas if you are bad, you are not part of their religion. And so the non-Christian thinks that this teaching is included in the teachings of Christianity.

Now Christianity does indeed teach that bad people do not go to heaven. But Christianity is unique in comparison to other religions in that it points out that no one goes to heaven because of their own good works. This is because everyone is a sinner and does not deserve heaven. But then Christianity tells you that there is a way to heaven for sinners and that is through the work of Jesus Christ at the cross: 'Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation' (Colossians 1:21-22).

Thus the person who recognises their sin is a perfect candidate to be a Christian. Jesus himself says he came for such people: 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners' (Mark 2:17).

Do you think you are too sinful to be a Christian, or do you recognise that Jesus welcomes you no matter how sinful you are?

Joel Radford.

Objection: I am not a sinner

2011-11-06T21:33:00.001-08:00

In this bulletin series we’ve been looking at common objections to Christianity. This week I want to look at the objection that not everyone is a sinner.

When you speak to a non-Christian about Christianity, it shouldn’t take too long for them to cotton on that sin is an important doctrine in Christianity. For if there is no sin, then there is no need for a saviour, which means Jesus Christ died for nothing.

And sometimes people object to Christianity by claiming that they are not a sinner and so have no need for Jesus. In their minds, a sinner is usually a social outcast, a drunkard in the gutter, a prostitute or a criminal in gaol. Whereas they personally have never committed such public shameful sins and so they are not a sinner.

Firstly it is important to note that there are indeed degrees of sinfulness. Certain sins are more serious than others. Jesus himself affirms this: ‘Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19).’ Some commandments are less harmful than others.

But just because you haven’t committed serious sins like murder, it doesn’t mean that you’re not a sinner. Sin is breaking God’s law, and God’s law expects a standard of behaviour that we all fail to achieve. Paul speaks of some sins that are more socially acceptable but are nevertheless sin and make you a sinner: ‘People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:2-5).’ If you take a hard look at that list, anyone honest person will admit that they have broken the majority of them. So to claim that you’re not a sinner is at best naivety, at worst a blatant lie (yet another sin!). Truth is, everyone is a sinner. And that means that everyone is in need of the saviour Jesus to die for their sins.

Are you honest enough to recognise that you are a sinner and so have trusted in Jesus as your saviour?

Joel Radford.