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| An all-too familiar scene in the 21st century |
If biblical prophecy interests you at all, then pay special attention to this prophecy recorded by the apostle Paul 2,000 years ago: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days." (2 Timothy 3:1)
For those who believe that Paul received that revelation directly from God, they're convinced Paul's prophecy is being fulfilled today right before their eyes.
But for those who view the Bible as just another religious book written by primitive men who lacked the scientific knowledge that men possess today, nothing will convince them that Paul's prophecy is now being realized. And so, this message has no value for them.
But for those who recognize that biblical prophecy comes from God and "never had its origin in the will of man" (2 Peter 1:21), then this message has great value to you.
Paul warned us that the end times or the last days on earth would be exceedingly evil. But every effect has its cause. And the effect of evil in the end times has two specific causes: (1) mankind's rebellion against God and (2) the decline and decay of the Christian church in the world.
Concerning mankind's multiplied rebellion against God in the last days, Paul explained why: "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. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3:2-5)
Paul not only revealed the root cause for the explosion of evil in the last days--man's rejection of God--but the impotency of the end time church that encourages the root cause.
Since the mid-19th century, the Christian church throughout the world has increasingly abandoned the biblical gospel for the weak and worthless social gospel that emphasizes human works rather than the cross.
In other words, the redemptive power of the cross where Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind is being substituted for good works, ecumenicism and social justice.
Without the cross, there is no power to redeem lost souls and change human hearts. Paul wrote: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" (Romans 1:16-17)
What does the gospel tell us? It tells us that without God, human beings are like ships drifting aimlessly at sea. It also tells us that apart from God, we become increasingly reprobate. And the gospel tells us that the only way back to God is through the redemptive power of Christ.
However, before we come to Christ, we need to repent of our sins. Unless we're willing to look at ourselves the way God looks at us--as fallen sinners in need of salvation--we'll never see the need for repentance. And without repentance, there can be no salvation.
The apostle James wrote: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:7-10)
Had the Christian church continued to preach that message, then I don't think that we'd be witnessing the escalating crime, violence and human tragedies that we're seeing, like the recent tragedy that took place in Brooklyn, N.Y where two police officers were murdered in cold blood.
A world that either denies God or treats Him as some dusty old relic that sits forgotten on a mantel is a very dangerous place indeed.
God is not some historical figure who vanished 2,000 years ago after Christ went to Calvary. He's as alive today as He's always been. He hasn't gone anywhere. It's us who have turned our backs and left Him.
Since the mid-19th century, the Christian church throughout the world has increasingly abandoned the biblical gospel for the weak and worthless social gospel that emphasizes human works rather than the cross.
In other words, the redemptive power of the cross where Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind is being substituted for good works, ecumenicism and social justice.
Without the cross, there is no power to redeem lost souls and change human hearts. Paul wrote: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" (Romans 1:16-17)
What does the gospel tell us? It tells us that without God, human beings are like ships drifting aimlessly at sea. It also tells us that apart from God, we become increasingly reprobate. And the gospel tells us that the only way back to God is through the redemptive power of Christ.
However, before we come to Christ, we need to repent of our sins. Unless we're willing to look at ourselves the way God looks at us--as fallen sinners in need of salvation--we'll never see the need for repentance. And without repentance, there can be no salvation.
The apostle James wrote: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:7-10)
Had the Christian church continued to preach that message, then I don't think that we'd be witnessing the escalating crime, violence and human tragedies that we're seeing, like the recent tragedy that took place in Brooklyn, N.Y where two police officers were murdered in cold blood.
A world that either denies God or treats Him as some dusty old relic that sits forgotten on a mantel is a very dangerous place indeed.
God is not some historical figure who vanished 2,000 years ago after Christ went to Calvary. He's as alive today as He's always been. He hasn't gone anywhere. It's us who have turned our backs and left Him.
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