I am convinced that the average "follower of Jesus Christ" does not have a clue as to what he or she believes concerning the authority and inspiration of Holy Scripture, the person and nature of God, the person, work, and Lordship of Jesus Christ, the work and mission of the Holy Spirit, the holy and fallen angels, the malevolent work of Satan, authentic salvation, the Christian life, or the future according to Jesus Christ and the fact of His Second Coming. I say this after over forty years of service to the Lord Jesus Christ as a minister of the Gospel and the gradual decline in biblical and general literacy I have witnessed here in America and around the world. People are either afraid to think for themselves, or they are content in their ignorance and have decided to stick to the status quo of a morally bankrupt and increasingly hostile mindset that is in open and rank rebellion towards the things of God. Ironically, while the world is increasing in knowledge (Daniel 12:4), we lack wisdom, common sense, and are deaf toward the call of God to reason with Him and see that our ways have led us down a dark and damning path (Isaiah 1:18, 53:6; 64:6; Romans 3:10-18, 23).
It is estimated that only 9% of American Christians even support or have a "Biblical worldview". Over 60% of self-professed Christians deny the existence of a literal devil, and many "evangelicals" believe that there are "many ways to God", that the Bible contains errors, that Jesus probably committed sin, that He was not virgin-born, and that the teaching of His Second Coming is nothing more than wishful thinking. Pastors graduate seminaries and Bible colleges as closet skeptics. Many "pastors" over the years of their "ministry" will have viewed porn on their computers, or have had affairs, or will end up walking away from the church in apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-6), having never truly believed in what they had preached and taught (1John 2:19). Churches are emptying because of bad theology, false doctrine, the allure of the world, and the failure to teach the next generation why Christianity is true and why it is important to know the standards of the faith. Too many churches have made the Bible and the story of Jesus an exercise in monotonous lecturing with all of the joy and glory of watching paint dry or grass grow.
Scripture predicted that this would be a characteristic of the last days (Matthew 24: 11-14; Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:15-19; Acts 20:26-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-8). This is not an excuse for the remnant pastors, teachers of the Word, and the true believer in Christ to simply sit back and wait for the Blessed Hope (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10) and leave the world to flounder in its quagmire of debauchery. We still need to be in the harvest field (Matthew 9:37-38, 18:11; John 4:35-36; Romans 9:3, 10:1, 11:14; 1 Corinthians 9:22). After decades of service in the fields of pastoral ministry, education, and chaplaincy, I now find that due to continual health concerns that fluctuate and limit my mobility, I have turned to teaching and preaching the Word of God and the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ in the ripe harvest field of the internet. There are countless multitudes of hurting and anxious people online worldwide who are looking for answers to the situations in which they find themselves along with the concern of what will happen to them once life as they know it comes to an end (Luke 12:13-21; John 5:28-29; Hebrews 9:27; James 4:13-17). There are also a lot of people who claim to be "Christian" who are looking to see if the faith in which they claim to believe is legitimate. There is vast opportunity to reach out to these precious souls and time is limited (2 Corinthians 6:2).
With this in mind, I want to jump into the first of several teachings I am compiling with the goal of providing everyone reading these messages the basic standards of what it means to be an authentic follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, starting with the the subject and purpose of the Holy Scriptures, for it is in them that we find the entire crux of God's plans, directions, counsel, and will for us and His plan to redeem this fallen world and the provision He has made for us to be with Him in the glory of the future Kingdom He has promised, free from the pain and guilt of sin, sickness, and the total absence of evil and its bitter fruits forever. The Bible's subject and purpose is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning in Genesis 1:26 with the creation, we read that God said "Let US (Elohim) make man in our own image". This is speaking of the work of the Holy Trinity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:13-17, 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34, 14:26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:7). The New Testament affirms that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God Incarnate, made all things as the Main Actor in the Creation process (John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:16-17).
The Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is the Supreme Ruler of the World, proclaimed as such by God the Father (Psalm 2:8-9). It is the purpose of the Father that everyone in creation shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that all people, nations, powers, and beings will bow to Him as the true, righteous, and eternal King (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:1; Philippians 2:9-11). The rebellion of the devil, Satan, the demons and those who have followed him will come to an end as the full Sovereignty of Jesus Christ will come upon the world (Psalm 2:1-2; 110:1; Revelation 19:15-16). The governments of the earth will have served their purpose as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ will stand forever (Daniel 2:44-45, 7:13-14). It is Jesus Christ who will be the Supreme and Final Judge of all humanity, the nation of Israel His chosen people, and of the church (Isaiah 9:6-7; Psalm 72:1-2, 8, 11; John 5:27-29; Ephesians 1:22-23). The Scriptures declare that Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Word, the physical embodiment of God, the revelation of the nature and Being of God , and in Him are all the attributes of God such as His wisdom, power, holiness, and love. He is the expression of God now and forever (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:3). Through the Lord Jesus Christ, we can know God more accurately and intimately than any other means of Divine revelation (Romans 1:18-20). The central purpose of God is that He reveals Himself to us through Jesus (John 1:18, 5:9, 10:30, 38, 14:6-11, 17:21-22; Acts 10:38; 2 Corinthians 5:19).
The prominent theme of Scripture is to show that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, starting in Genesis 3:15. In the Old Testament, He is the Servant of YHWH who would bear the sins of humanity upon Himself (Isaiah 53:4-6). He is the perfect and final sacrifice for the sins we have committed and should rightfully pay for with our own lives, yet is a debt we cannot pay in our own strength or means (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21; Hebrews 7:25-27; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 1:5). The Holy Scriptures, then, are God's message to us, manifesting His glory in creation and salvation. All creation is made for His glory (Psalm 19:1; Colossians 1:16). The nation of Israel exists for the glory of God (Isaiah 43:7, 21, 25, 60;1, 3, 21, 62:3). All salvation is unto the glory of God (Romans 9:23), and is a holy manifestation of His grace and wisdom (Ephesians 2:7, 3:10). Our service, work, and our all should be done for the glory of God (Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 2:12, 4:11-14). The Scriptures are God's instrument by which He graciously prepares the man of God to do a good work (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17).Because we are His by the saving grace of Jesus Christ, we need not fear death (John 21:19; 2 Corinthians 5:6-11; Philippians 1:20-26) and at the end of time, we will share in His glory in the new heaven and the new earth (John 17:22; Colossians 3:4; Revelation 21:1-7).
What I've posted is a lot to take in and digest, but again it is designed to show you that we serve a great and gracious God, and that He has revealed His purposes, plans, and will in His Holy Word, and this is just the start of the journey. He is so wonderful, so loving, so kind, so gracious, and is ready to welcome you with open arms into His Kingdom if you will but humble yourself, repent of your sins, and surrender your life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Go to my website listed at the bottom of the page and watch the video, "The ABC's of Salvation". Get your eternal destiny settled today and keep watching for more treasures from the Word of God and the life He offers in Christ.
donaldwhitchard@gmail.com
www.realitycityreverend.com
YouTube Channel: "The Reality City Daily Review", Monday-Friday, 10 AM CST (USA)
