‘The Trinitarian Bible Society held its first Text & Translation Conference at its headquarters in London, UK on 15 September 2022. In this message, the first of four lectures given at the conference, Mr Thackway discusses the doctrine of the Holy Scripture, considering its divinity, clarity, and sufficiency.’
“And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you.” (Mark 13:5)
‘In the account of Christ’s great prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives, as recorded in Mark 13, the Lord Jesus warns us no less than four times to “take heed!” This fourfold admonition (Mark 13:5, 9, 23, 33) must be important and demands our attention!
First of all, our text warns us not to be deceived by human claims of spiritual authority and prophetic insights, for there would come many deceptive teachers claiming to be the returning Christ. When Christ does return, all His saints will know beyond question, for they shall all “meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
His second warning tells us to be prepared for persecutions (Mark 13:9), for “in the world ye shall have tribulation,” and “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12).
His third admonition warns of false Christs and false prophets who will even “shew signs and wonders” (Mark 13:22-23). Many will be deceived unless they remember that neither prophecies nor exorcisms nor other wonderful works suffice for acceptance by Christ if those who perform them are “work[ers of] iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).
The fourth “take heed” is a sober warning against trying to predict the time of His return. “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is” (Mark 13:33). Such a warning is pointless if certain prophesied events must take place first, for then there would be no need to watch for Him. In the same discourse, as reported by Luke, Jesus gave a final such warning, speaking of this very danger. “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with…cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares” (Luke 21:34).’https://www.icr.org/article/14019/
It does seem at least to me, that there are today more and more groups calling themselves “Christian” that are applauding and promoting the Sodomite life. However, that lifestyle is not called Sodomy anymore but is now known by letters from the alphabet; LGBTQUIA etc. etc. Well, someone can call themselves whatever they desire but that doesn’t make it true or Biblically accepted. Israel was a theocracy under the headship of the Creator Himself and this is what it says in the Old Testament concerning those called by the name Sodomite.
1Kings 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 1Kings 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 1Kings 22:46 And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land. 2Kings 23:7 And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.
Of course most people know of Sodom and what occurred there! Now, in the New Testament we do not find the word Sodomite but we do read of the lifestyle and it is not a lifestyle that finds favour with God. In Romans chapter One and verses 24 through 27 we read concerning this lifestyle and what the Lord thinks of it.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Why then do those who profess to be “Christian” push this lifestyle? Is it because they love sin and NOT the Saviour? Is it because they have NEVER had “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus” Acts 20:21?
In that coming day all, whether they be in the Sodomite lifestyle or not, if they refuse to turn from their sin to faith in the Lord Jesus as their own personal Saviour they personally will suffer the consequences. This last judgment is given in Revelation 20:11-15. There we read John saying he ..saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Nevertheless, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance2Peter 3:9.
“He who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” (Hebrews 3:3-4)
‘Perhaps the single greatest category of evidence for supernatural creation is in the nature of the creation itself, which everywhere shows such intricate design that it could not have come about by random chance. Consider the earth: Its size, mass, distance from the sun and moon, rotational wobble, chemical makeup, etc., are critical within very narrow limits. Any significant deviation in any of these or other characteristics would make life impossible.
But inorganic molecules, planets, and galaxies are simpler by several orders of magnitude than even the tiniest living organism. The marvelous genetic code that regulates life, growth, and reproduction is so unthinkably complex, so obviously designed, that it would take a “willingly…ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5) mind to conclude a naturalistic origin for it. Life at every stage and at every level of investigation shows symmetry in its order, purpose in its function, and interdependence between its parts; all of these are clear marks of design by an intelligent designer.
The evidence speaks so eloquently that even “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20) if they choose not to believe and therefore to merit and face His wrath (v. 18).
“All things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Mankind can take no pride in it nor rebellious solace in the idea of naturalistic origin, for “thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).’ https://www.icr.org/article/13428/
‘God made man, but men also make their own god or gods. Only one God made man, but men have made many gods. The Bible also talks about this, listing names of various fictional gods invented by men. Among these are Asherah, Astarte, Astaroth, Baal, Chemosh, Inanna, Marduk, and Moloch. There is a reason the first of the ten commandments (Exodus 20:3) says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Men make-up gods. The Bible shows that men make up separate gods, very often regional ones, who represent a local people. Since the completion of scripture, men made up other gods, very often representing separate religions. Among these are Allah, Brahma, Eshwara, Krishna, Shakti, Shiva, The Tao, and Vishu. Roman and Greek mythology presented Jupiter and Zeus.
Perhaps something more sinister than different gods is using the biblical names for God, except with a different one. God is more than a name. Many of you reading know that sects in Christianity have different beliefs about who God is. They all use the same designations. For instance, they might say, “Holy Spirit,” but they mean an active force in the world, not a Person. Joseph Smith, first prophet of LDS, taught that God was once a man on another planet before being exalted to Godhood.
Professors of Christianity today conform a God in their imaginations to their own liking. In Colossians 3:5, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Mortify . . . covetousness, which is idolatry.” Their God has the same name as the biblical God. So does Jesus.
Instead of abstaining from lust, professing believers make up a God who permits it or wants it. He desires it in worship. This is another way of changing “the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image like to corruptible man” (Romans 1:23).
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