Deception

In Genesis we read of the sin committed by the parents of the human race. Often we like to point out how easily decieved Eve was for whatever reason...But what we fail to consider just how easy Adam was self-deceived.

You see the difference between the sexes at this juncture is not 'who is more easily deceived?' but 'how is each deceived?'. Women are more relational and will be more easily taken in by one who appears safe and friendly. OTOH, men are suspicious of others and are more likely to fool themselves rather than be fooled by another.

Just a thot...A generalization, obviously.

Are we in the millennium?

Isaiah 65:17-25

This is not a discourse on heaven-although it does say new 'heavens'-otherwise we would be left to conclude that their indeed is death in heaven.

Throughout Ezekiel and Isaiah I have noticed the discourse concerning the future plans God has for Israel. He wants to give them His spirit and the attendant ability to actually keep His law. There are very many promises made about the new covenant/new heavens and earth to Israel: spiritual Israel by extension.

Without understanding the Church to be the spirtual heir of Israel much of Scripture cannot be made sense of...But in considering the Church to be true Israel the promises of God from the OT can be seen to be fulfilled...The promises given to OT believers are fulfilled in the NT believers.

For us, that means we are living in the age where we build and inhabit; we plant and harvest our own crops...People will begin to live longer. In the same way that men's lifespans slowly dimished to about 70; so we shall see lifespans slowly lengthen to about 100.

Of course I don't know if it will happen in our lifetime, but at the very least I know that I can plant my crops and work hard on this earth because I will reap the temporal rewards for my physical labors. And that knowledge is very motivating..."Occupy till I come..."

Scoffers in the Last Days

Peter speaks at length about what the early Christians can expect to see in their near future. I don't want to take it out of its context but simply want to make an application to today.

2 Peter 3:3 talks about scoffers. Who were these scoffers? They were people who didn't believe...In the former days you had people who were so superstitious they believed just about anything. Monotheism was akin to atheism. But in the last days (which we are in) their will be scoffers...People who choose unbelief rather than belief. To them monotheism is akin to superstition.

Our God has not changed in the millennia that true believers have known Him but everything around us has...In this day and age we need to learn to deal with scoffers and not the polytheistic paganism of the former ages. The NT itself was written in the last days, or the time of scoffers, Jesus and the Apostles all dealt with unbelief. We can look to them for guidance on how to deal with scoffers.

It is written that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them...We also see extensive use of the Law-Word of God in bringing conviction and conversion. We also see the humility of Christ and His disciples as well as love amongst the brethren.

In the contemporary age we have great examples to follow as well. Francis Schaeffer and the L'Abri Fellowship with its brotherly love towards all...Greg L. Bahnsen who with every breath stopped the mouths of the scornful...Gordon Clark with his Christian theistic philosophy in opposition to the philosophy of unbelieving man...

We should take comfort knowing that the extreme unbelief was not unforseen but was expected. If you have dealt with scoffers take heart, they have chosen unbelief; they are tares. They may be elect and thus we ought always to share the gospel with them, but don't get discouraged when they only revile you. They claim science but they hold to doctrines which are falsely called science. Our God is the creator and sustainer, without which science could not exist. If ignored by the scoffers, they do so to the damnation of their souls...

Don't criticize me...

Yes, I'm in the Navy. But I'm on leave, what did you expect? I don't get much time to even pretend to grow a beard/mustache/goatee/whatever...