The Theology of Jesus

By: Larry R. Lasiter
 

(1) The GOSPEL is a MESSAGE of GOOD NEWS. It is both GOOD and NEW. It represents a covenant agreement far exceeding those made with Noah, Abraham and Moses although the promise was alluded to in the Abrahamic covenant in that the Father said that all nations would be saved by faith in the "promised Seed" which is Jesus Christ. (Gal.3:14) Notice Galatians 3:16, -"Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his Seed. He does not say, "And to seeds, " as referring to many, but rather to ONE, "And to your SEED," that is, Christ."

(2) The Messenger would be called EMMANUEL. Jesus is God the Son, and is fully divine and was fully divine before He was born of Mary. He had no beginning of days but was and is the EVERLIVING ONE. Jesus is the Creator by which all things were spoken into existence. He is called the "WORD" of God because He has been authorized by the Father to act as the Spokesman of the God Family. Notice John 1:1-2, -"In the beginning was the WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

In Jesus, God became FLESH in order that through Him we may become SPIRIT. He emptied Himself of DIVINITY so that we may partake of His DIVINE NATURE. In sharp contrast to Satan who tried to exalt himself, Jesus humbled Himself in order to make a way for us to be forgiven and exalted. Notice Philippians 2:5-11, -"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He EXISTED in the FORM OF GOD, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped (held on to) but EMPTIED Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." For 33½ years, in Jesus, God walked among men in the flesh enduring pain, suffering, temptation, betrayal and an agonizing death on the cross. He was called EMMANUEL, -"God with us."

(3) Jesus alone is the ANOINTED One. Anointed first to deliver the "good news" message, -and Anointed second to take our sins, give us His righteousness and lay down His life for us. Notice Luke 4:18-19, -"The spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He ANOINTED ME to preach the GOSPEL to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind. To set free those who are downtrodden. To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."

(4) The gospel is the good news of SALVATION for all sinners who will repent and confess their need of forgiveness. This message was first delivered by Yeshua (Jesus) whose name means "Salvation." The "I AM" that revealed Himself to Moses has always been the "WHATEVER WE NEED HIM TO BE." In Hebrew the root meaning of "I AM" is "I WILL BE." In the beginning of our existence He became our CREATOR. When Israel was oppressed in Egypt, He became their DELIVERER from bondage, -when they were hungry in the wilderness He became BREAD FROM HEAVEN, -when they thirsted He became WATER FROM A ROCK, -when we are sick He becomes our HEALER, when we mourn he becomes our COMFORTER -and when we confess our sins, repent of our sinful ways, -He becomes our SALVATION. Jesus is the great I AM, and He is WHATEVER WE NEED HIM TO BE. According to the gospel HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS! Notice 2 Corinthians 5:21, -"He made Him who knew no sin to BE SIN on OUR BEHALF, that WE MIGHT BECOME the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD in Him."

The gospel message also encompasses the coming Kingdom of God, which is the government of God soon to be established on the earth at the return of Jesus. The Millennial reign of Christ will usher in a time of peace and prosperity which is good news indeed. But it offers no assurance of eternal salvation. The central focus of Jesus' teaching on the Kingdom was that He was the King of the Kingdom, and that in Him the Father was creating new creatures, born of spirit becoming a holy nation of priests. (1 Peter 2:9)

As Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3), it is not enough to be born of the seed of Abraham, but one must be born again of the spirit in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. The Israelites believed that because that were the physical descendants of Abraham that they were heirs of the Kingdom. But notice what Jesus said, -"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (vs 3) Notice also the admonition of John the Baptist to the Jewish religious leaders, -"And do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father;" for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham." (Matthew 3:9)

The ultimate message of the Kingdom is that God is expanding His family in us through Jesus Christ. In Christ, believers are heirs of an eternal kingdom with promises of glory. The weight of the gospel message is much greater than simply the earth being restored to its original beauty and man living a physical existence without the agony of war. Notice John 1:12-13, -"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Any way one might want to slice it the GOOD NEWS is about Jesus Christ. The primary message Jesus delivered was about Himself. 

JESUS: "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life." (John 5:39-40)

JESUS: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

JESUS: They said therefore to Him, "What shall we do that we may WORK the WORKS of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, that you BELIEVE IN HIM whom He has sent." (John 6:28-29)

JESUS: "I AM the living bread that came down out of heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh." (John 6:51)

JESUS: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves." (John 6:53)

JESUS: "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it, and was glad." The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM." (John 8:56-58) Before He came as Jesus He was the I AM.

JESUS: "I AM the resurrection and the LIFE; he who believes in ME shall LIVE even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in ME shall never DIE. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) 

JESUS: "Now My Soul has become troubled, and what shall I say, "Father, save Me from THIS HOUR?" But for THIS PURPOSE I CAME to this hour." (John 12:27)

JESUS: "I AM the WAY, and the TRUTH, and the LIFE; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6)

JESUS: "I AM the VINE, you are the BRANCHES; he who abides in ME, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from ME you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

PAUL: "So consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)

PAUL: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life IN CHRIST JESUS our Lord." (Romans6:23)

PAUL: "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!". . ."There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 7:24-25 / 8:1)

PAUL: "For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach CHRIST CRUCIFIED, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:22-24)

PAUL: "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

PAUL: "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST." (1 Corinthians 3:11)

PAUL: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

PAUL: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6)

PAUL: "Beware of the DOGS, beware of the evil workers, beware of the FALSE CIRCUMCISION; for we are the true circumcision, who WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT of God and glory in CHRIST JESUS and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more; circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count ALL THINGS to be LOSS in view of the surpassing value of KNOWING CHRIST JESUS my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but RUBBISH in order that I may GAIN CHRIST, and may be FOUND IN HIM, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through FAITH IN CHRIST, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may KNOW HIM, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:2-11)

PAUL: "And He is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and IN HIM all things HOLD TOGETHER. HE IS also HEAD of the BODY, the CHURCH, and HE IS the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that HE Himself might come to have FIRST PLACE in everything." (Colossians 1:17-18)

PAUL: "Put on the NEW SELF who is being renewed to a TRUE KNOWLEDGE according to the image of the One who created him, -a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but CHRIST IS ALL, and IN ALL." (Colossians 3:10-11)

IN HEBREWS PAUL SAYS OF JESUS. . .That Jesus was the Creator of the world (1:2). . .That He is greater than the angels, and in fact is worshiped by the angelic host (1:6-14). . .That He is the Author of our salvation (2:10). . .That He is our perfect High Priest who makes intercession for us before the Father (3:1). . .That He is greater than Moses (3:3). . .That He was Melchizedek who accepted tithes from Abraham, and that His Priesthood is superior to that of Levi's (Ch.7). . .That He is the Mediator of a better Covenant enacted on better promises (Ch.8/9). . .That His sacrifice on the cross was greater than the sacrifices of animals, and His offering of Himself was once and for all (Ch.10). . .That all the great men and women of FAITH had put their hope in the promise of His coming into the world though they lived before He was born of Mary (Ch.11). . .That they all are witnesses for us today (Ch.12). . .That through Him we come not to the mountain of Sinai but to the heavenly mountain of God, His very throne (Ch.12). . .And that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Ch.13).

From the very beginning of man's creation God intended for him to have a intimate, personal relationship with his God. Before the original sin it is easy to picture Adam and Eve running to meet God when they would hear Him walking in the garden of Eden, as evidenced by the fact that God knew something was wrong and different when His children did not come to meet Him but instead hid themselves from Him that fateful day.

Man's close relationship with God was broken and he was cursed, the animals were cursed and even the land itself was cursed. Very few people indeed had the opportunity to know their Creator after this time, only a small select few and later the single nation of Israel.

In the time of Noah God says that Noah alone was faithful. Hundreds of years go by until God makes himself known to the son of an idol maker in Ur named Abraham. Still more hundreds of years pass until God delivers Abraham's descendants out of bondage in Egypt. And over a thousand years before God sent His Son with the gospel message, -"good news" that He was the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE, the RESURRECTION, our SACRIFICE, our REDEMPTION and the SALVATION of ALL, Jew and Gentile alike who would believe in Him. Jesus brought "good news" of Himself, that in Him we are justified of our sins and brought back near to God, even to the very Throne of Grace, the Mercy Seat of God. Notice 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, -"Now all these things are from God, who RECONCILED US to Himself THROUGH CHRIST, and gave us the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION, namely that God was in Christ RECONCILING THE WORLD to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the WORD OF RECONCILIATION. Therefore, we are AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be RECONCILED TO GOD."

When the fulness of time had come, God sent His only Son to die for man so that the barrier of sin between us would be destroyed. Yes, my friends, God so loved you and I that He gave His Son for us. And Jesus so loved us that He willingly laid down His life to save us from eternal death. As Jesus said, "No greater LOVE is there but that one should lay down His life for His friends." God honors His own Laws, -Sin is the transgression of His Law (1 John 3:4) and the penalty for sin is eternal death. (Romans 6:23), -for sin there must be a death, so out of His deep love for us Jesus died in our place.

This reminds me of a religious TV spot I have seen which shows a man on death row counting down the hours, then minutes leading up to his execution. He sits in his cell with his head in his hands, then suddenly hears the footsteps of a guard coming to take him to the death chamber. He looks up as the footsteps stop and the two share eye contact. The next scene shows a man being strapped onto a table, receive a lethal injection and die, all without showing the man's face. Then as the camera pans to the guards who are beginning to exit the witness room, one man dressed as a guard remains standing, his eyes fixed on the man who just died in his place. Yes, it was the convicted man standing there and the guard who had died for him. In the background a song could be heard saying "What kind of Friend?" His name is Jesus.

THE EMPHASIS OF JESUS' TEACHINGS

Jesus' theology did not harmonize with that of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. He was continually finding Himself at odds with them. Why?

Their emphasis was on trusting themselves instead of putting their trust in God. They were about "doing things", -notice that the young rich ruler in Matthew 19 asked Jesus -"What good thing must I do that I may obtain eternal life?" Although Jesus told him that if he wished to enter into life he must keep the Commandments, Jesus knew that the man had not truly kept them as he had claimed, saying "All this I have done from my youth." In effect, the man was claiming to have kept the Commandments since his age of accountability. Jesus then told him that if he wished to be complete before God, he should give his great wealth to the poor, take up his cross and follow Him. The man went away sorrowful because he was unwilling to trade his earthly possessions for a treasure in heaven. Jesus knew well that all have sinned and fall short of being worthy to claim the glory of God on their own merits.

Although Jesus clearly says in Matthew 5 that He did not come to destroy the Commandments, He here in Matthew 19 is not teaching that one can obtain salvation by keeping the Commandments. Notice Galatians 3:21-22, -"Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."

Although we cannot as Christians live outside the Commandments of God, it is not the Commandments that give us life, but Christ. The Commandments reveal to us the nature of sin, -they define sin and in fact, help us to understand that we are sinners and are in need of a Savior. Notice Romans 3:20, -"Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin."

FOR EXAMPLE: Many people today have allowed themselves into being deceived to believe that they are living a way of life that is acceptable to God. Premarital sex, unmarried couples living together, stealing from their workplace, dishonoring God's Commandments , lying, dishonoring their parents, coveting what belongs to another, and the list could go on and on. Because our decadent society no longer condemns such evil practices people are deceived into believing God does not condemn them. But tragically they are in error. God gave us His Commandments to show us what sin is and tells us that if we find ourselves practicing sin to repent and turn from our wicked way. All who practice such things will perish, not one will escape! God in His infinite love for us has done everything from defining sin through His Commandments to sending Jesus to die for the sins of all who will repent and commit to Him. But it is the Law that condemns and Jesus that forgives. There is no life in the Law but in Jesus. 

The Pharisees and Scribes were always claiming to be doing the WORK of God. Yet Jesus told them that they did not even know God! He said that they traversed sea and land in pursuit of converts and then made of them twice the son of hell as they were. (Matt.23) Jesus even told them that they were of their father, the Devil! (John 8:44) What made their teaching so evil? Certainly, they were teaching God's Laws and their Jewish traditions. God's Laws are not evil, nor are many Jewish traditions, so why was Jesus so strong in His condemnation? 

Perhaps the answer is that even from the beginning in the garden of Eden God has revealed that He would save man through the PROMISED SEED, which is Jesus. (Genesis 3:15 / Romans 16:20) The Scribes and Pharisees were not only unwilling to put their trust and confidence in the Messiah, but were active in preventing others. (Matthew 23:13) In emphasizing the WORKS of the LAW for salvation they were being revealed what sin was but were unwilling to accept the Lamb of God as their sacrifice, and instead deceived themselves into believing that they could produce their own righteousness.

Jesus tells us just what the real WORK of God truly is, notice John 6:28-29, -"They said therefore to Him, "What shall we DO, that we may WORK the WORK of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "THIS IS THE WORK of God, that you BELIEVE IN HIM whom He has sent." It's important to understand that the word "believe" here is translated from the Greek "pisteuo" which means "to adhere to" or "rely on." The WORK of God then is to adhere to and rely on Jesus for our salvation. It is His precious blood that the Father has provided for our redemption. And it is His righteousness that Christians are clothed with enabling them to come before the Throne of God.

Jesus sent out His Apostles with the instructions to make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the name of Jesus and the holy spirit, and teach them to adhere to and rely on Jesus for their salvation. He is our righteousness and the "Author" of our salvation. (Hebrews 2:10)

The Jewish religious leaders had come to worship the Law rather than the Lawgiver. Jesus taught that the Law of Commandments were good but that it was made for man and not man for it. For example, the Pharisees and Scribes had made a burden of the Sabbath Day. Jesus reminded them that the Sabbath was made to serve man and not man made to serve the Sabbath. They had added sixty-five specific do's and don't regulating Sabbath observance.

The gospel message of Jesus was not anti-commandments, but it magnified the purpose and intent behind them. As we read in the book of Galatians the entire Book of the Covenant consisting of 613 ordinances were added to the Children of Israel because of transgressions. Divorce was permitted by Moses because of hardness of heart, but Jesus said God never intended it to be this way from the beginning.

I am a father of five children ranging in age from 10 to 24. Although all my children have been relatively faithful to be obedient to family rules and guidelines, some have proven to be a little more faithful than others. There may be one which I will not need to carefully define what I desire of them and another which I do need to spell out exactly what they can and can't do. Sometimes I am surprised to learn that one did something I felt like they should know I would not want them doing, though I never specifically told them not to. In these cases I have had to do what God did at Sinai after He saw that the Ten Commandments were not going to be enough for such a stubborn people, -add additional ordinances (613) because of transgressions. These are designed to plug loopholes for those seeking a way around the intent of the Commandments. Moses knew that salvation would not be in our ability to perfectly fulfill the requirements of the Law also but wrote of Jesus. Notice John 5:45-47, -"Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father, the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for HE WROTE OF ME. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

Unlike the Pharisees and Scribes who taught a religion that emphasized the ceremonial aspects of Law observance, Jesus put in easy, practical terms what pleases God. Things like forgiving those who wrong you,. . . giving to the poor,. . . having genuine compassion for those who suffer or mourn,. . .doing good on the Sabbath,. . .being humble rather than self-righteous,. . .relying on Him whom God sent rather than relying on one's own ability to produce righteousness,. . .love even your enemies, . . .honor your parents,. . .sexual lust is adultery, . . .hatred is murder in the heart,. . .keep the Commandments not in the letter only but by their spiritual intent.

The Pharisees and Scribes prided themselves in how much they knew of the Scriptures. They believed they could study their way into eternal life, but Jesus taught that in Him the Father had provided the only way to life. Notice, John 5:39-40, -"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life."

Some of these men had actually memorized the entire Old Testament, yet Jesus said to them, -"You do not know the Scriptures!" (Mark 12:24) As Paul wrote, they were ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Tim.3:7) Jesus IS the TRUTH.

These men were always debating points of the Law without ever coming to see the purpose for which God gave it to them. They were continually tempting Jesus in this manner, desperately trying to entangle Him into a transgression of the Law. When Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath they were quick to accuse Him of sin. They were so blinded that they actually believed that God would find it offensive if Jesus healed on the holy day. But Jesus answered that He could do nothing outside of the will of God the Father. If it hadn't been God's will that the sick be healed on the Sabbath then God would not have honored Jesus' words.

In their zeal to please God with their works by strict adherence to the letter of the Law, they had neglected the weightier matters of the Law, Judgment, Mercy and Faithfulness. In straining gnats they were ignorantly swallowing camels. (Matt.23) They showed no compassion for those suffering else they would have been joyful at their healing. They failed to see that it was indeed God's pleasure to heal even on the Sabbath.

The real reason behind their reasoning was that they did not want Jesus validated as the Messiah. They were in Moses' seat, and Moses' seat was fading. The shadow was being replaced by the substance. (Colossians 2:17) Righteousness, Redemption and Salvation would come in Christ not the works of the Law. Their present Jerusalem was being replaced by the Jerusalem above. (Gal.4:25-26) And God was creating a new Holy Nation, -called Christians.

YOUTH CORNER: Make a Difference

By: Sarah Lasiter

From television to magazines our homes have been polluted by the sinful, improper use of sex, exploiting a precious gift of God as a filthy perversion.

God has intended sex to be something very special between husband and wife, a blessing enabling them to share in a closeness as never before. He intended this gift to be shared between the two bound together by God as one flesh enacted by sacred vows, and never with any other.

The problem is not sex itself, but that people have used it for impurity among many partners, have used it like a toy, and have displayed it pervertedly in nearly everything we see and hear.

Solomon wrote that one should not arouse sensual desires before their proper time, -"I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, that you will not arouse or awaken my love until she pleases." Song of Solomon 2:7

But the youth of our land today are relentlessly bombarded with the idea that sex is not only harmless fun, but is for everyone. Now we see the tragic effects of premature sexuality among our youth. Our children are having children themselves. They are robbed of their childhood and their children are denied mature parents to sensibly guide them. They have come to believe that since they have these desires it must be okay for them to act upon them, -after all it's only natural isn't it? Today we have a "If it feels good, do it!" society, and kids not allowed to cast a vote in a school board election are attempting to raise their own children! We hear of rapes, abortions, AIDS and other diseases. Poverty and similar hopeless situations because of these false exploitations and lies about sex.

Our society is only getting worse, commonly encouraging couples to live together first before marriage to be sure it will work out. These cases rarely do as they go from one person to another for years with innocent children suffering as a result. Sex is sold, robbed and taken, and misused nearly everywhere we go. Someday this gift will be restored among man, and our world will be restored to purity and in beauty. But until that day, there are things that we can do. My family and I enjoy watching movies on weekends together. We rent videos from Hastings Music & Video which is a national franchise. My sister Jennifer and I are usually who visit the store. She is 18 years old and I am 20.

Several months ago we noticed that the pornographic videos had been moved and placed directly above the "Best Renters" videos. The covers were in plain sight and terribly disgusting and obscene. I assume they were moved there for promotional reasons. So I wrote a letter to the manager here and explained that the section they were in is regularly tracked by children, and that many adults including myself find them offensive.

After receiving my letter the manager contacted me by phone. She wanted to assure me that these "pornographic" videos were not illegal, and that the reason they were placed above the other videos was to keep them out of children's reach. But although they were out of reach they were not out of sight. She told me that she would forward my letter to the President of Hastings along with a letter from her stating other complaints about how these videos were displayed. And she urged me to write the President personally, which I did. 

My sister and I suggested covers for them but were told the company was not willing to go to the expense, but that they hoped to find a solution to the problem within two weeks.

Soon afterwards as Jennifer and I walked through the store we saw that the obscene videos had been moved to another high place away from the "Best Renters" and arranged cover to cover with only the ends in view. Only the title could be seen at this angle, the terrible, obscene pictures on the covers were now out of view.

It was such a great feeling knowing that it was done because of my efforts as small as my efforts really were. We cannot change the world, it will take Christ's return to accomplish that, but I am convinced that we can make a difference when we stand for goodness not only in large things but even in small matters. We are blessed, and others are blessed when we Make a Difference. 

SPOTLIGHT: Youth Idols?

"You do not receive Me, if another shall come in his own name, you will receive him." -Jesus (John 5:43)

By: Larry R. Lasiter

Perhaps there is no place like the entertainment industry for finding idols. Those who practice their craft there are called "stars" and paid millions. Fans wait in line for hours for tickets to performances or promotions and go to extreme lengths to get a autograph. Although these celebrities only project an IMAGE of who they are and what they represent, their adoring fans come to believe the image is real. Fans feel their stars somehow represent them and are carrying a banner espousing an ideal that they and their star believes in. 

In this SPOTLIGHT we will narrow our list of stars to the Rock and Roll Music Industry. Now, before you young people tune me out, let me say that I am a Rock musician myself. I don't perform secular Rock music anymore because I traded it in for Christian Contemporary Rock to further the gospel of Christ. But I do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with Rock Music itself anymore than Country or other musical styles. The message can be good or bad in any musical style. But Rock like Rap can project a bad-boy image where the attitude is given that it is cool to be bad. Most Rock musicians do not fall into this category but many do. And it seems that they are the ones that are idolized more often. Perhaps it is the rebel image. The original rebel is Satan, so Christians should not find a rebel image appealing, but revolting. Christians should always keep in mind that while God wants to give you life, Satan wants to take your life. Some of these stars actively promote Satan. Why, are they in alliance with him? Some may be, but many don't really even believe he exists. They use the idea of Satan to project an attitude that wins fan allegiance, that of -"it's cool to live life hard, break the rules, give yourself over to all your sexual lusts." Many of our youth want to experience the "wild side" but alone, they are afraid. But how things change when thousands rally behind a leader preaching the lust of their heart, encouraging them to pursue that lust. How bold the change is.

Christians should separate the music from the musician, judging each separately. We can like and enjoy any style of music but should never exalt the performer. And never allow ourselves to embrace a projected ideal or attitude that would dampen the light of Jesus Christ we are called to be. And there are a wide variety of music genders, one for every music palate in Christian music presenting a positive message and producing a positive image.

Elton John: "There's nothing wrong with going to bed with somebody of your own sex. I just think people should be free with sex. They should draw the line at goats."

Linda Rondstadt: "I can sing better after shooting smack in both arms than after eating too much."

Robin Hunter: (Grateful Dead) "Destroy yourself physically and mentally and insist that all the brothers do likewise."

John Lennon: "We (Beatles) are more popular than Jesus Christ now. The miracles of Jesus Christ are BS. I don't know what will go first, Rock and Roll or Christianity."

Peter Townsend: (Who) "What we need now is more noise, more sex, more violence, more vulgarity."

Ozzie Osbourne: "I don't know if I'm a Medium for some outside force. Whatever it is, frankly, I hope it's not what I think, -Satan.". . ."My main goal in life is to use the White House steps as a public restroom."

Gene Simmons: (Kiss) "If God is such hot stuff then why is He so afraid to have other gods before Him? I always wanted to be God."

Peter Criss: (Kiss) "I find myself evil. I believe in the Devil as much as I do God. You can use either one to get things done."

Craig Chaqidico: (Starship) "Rock concerts are the churches of today. Music puts them on a spiritual plane. All music is God." 

Focus: SIN

"The Wages of Sin is Death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

SIN -Always Wrong: A psychologist in Los Angeles conducted weekly seminars for women who had experienced or were considering extra-marital affairs. The purpose of the seminar was: (1) to develop covering excuses that a husband couldn't check, (2) to resist the temptation to confess the infidelities, (3) to carefully choose the partner in the affair, and (4) to enjoy the relationship without feelings of guilt. The last point was particularly important to those involved. One lady confessed that her guilt had nearly ruined her mental health. After the seminar she felt nearly guiltless, because she too had a "right to happiness."

Commentary: Strange, to what absurd lengths people will go to encourage sin; and, equally strange, what explanations others will embrace to justify it. As if educating a person in the art of adultery makes it right. As if soothing the conscience eliminates the guilt. You can always make sin palatable, but you can never make it right! You can profit from it financially, but never spiritually. You might even make it guiltless in your mind, but it is still not without penalty. The concept of right and wrong comes from God, not from us, and no psychologist or seminar will ever displace the authority of God's eternal Word. The true Judge is coming soon!

SIN -Always Fatal: The average person's fat carries fifteen to twenty parts DDT per billion. One Alabama man's body fat contained 2,300 parts DDT per billion, one of the highest concentrations ever recorded; second only to a man whose tests ran 3,100 parts per billion. The two tested lived many years.

Germs and carcinogens are strange, unstable, inexplicable powers. We can't understand why some kill that shouldn't, and others don't that should. When Robert Koch, the great German scientist, stated that bacteria caused disease, including cholera, others in his profession scoffed. One dared Koch to send him some of his so-called cholera germs. Koch did, and the man drank the entire vial! Millions of cholera germs lurked in that little tube, but the man did not catch the deadly disease. Others, however, who accidentally swallowed small doses of the virulent microbes, died horribly. We cannot yet account for the fact that highly fatal germs invade our bodies daily, yet only some people are harmed, not all. It is assassination at random, not by design.

Commentary: Diseases and germs aren't always fatal, but Satan is! One hundred percent of the time! Sin always pays in death. The soul that sins dies every time, -you can count on it. Sin never ends in anything but destruction of the soul. It is a 100 percent deadly force, destroying 100 percent of the time, 100 percent of the people who remain unforgiven. The only cure is Christ. Stop practicing sin in your life and come to God who will inject you with a life-saving dose of Jesus.

SIN -Abolish it: George Keenan served as adviser to U.S. diplomats and ambassadors to Russia from the 1930's to the 1950's, then as ambassador to Russia in the 1950's. His writings on Soviet aims and ideals were widely accepted. He became noted for advocating containment of Communism, meaning that wherever it appeared, the democracies would counteract it. Containment didn't work well against communism; it died under the weight of its own inadequacies.

Commentary: Containment never works in our spiritual life. Either we conquer Satan or he conquers us. If we attempt accommodation, Satan wins. We fail to understand that he has more willpower than we, is far wiser than we, and that he has far more openings into our lives to develop than he ever exploits at one time. The only answer to evil is annihilation! It must be obliterated, because the alternative is its horrendous growth, our gradual acceptance of its presence in our lives, and our eventual downfall. The best time to stop practicing sin is now. Those who accept Christ are more than conquerors.

If you are practicing sin in your life you are living in the flesh and not in spirit, in Christ. You are doomed to perish at judgment. There is no hope in the flesh. Please repent and accept the sacrifice of Jesus, -He died for you and will set you free, -if you will only say "Yes Lord." 

Family Affairs: Time Together

In the age we live in today, it seems that family members spend far less time together than at any other time in history. It is all too common for children to be raised in families where both parents work full-time. Children spend about nine hours each day at school and getting ready for school. And after returning to the home they still may have homework to do. Put that with other activities that they may be involved in such as sports, music etc., they have little free time considering they will still need about eight hours of sleep.

Parents too, are very busy. Often early to work and late to come home. When home, they may be exhausted from a heavy workload, or feel stress from a continuous line of deadlines to meet.

In this familiar scenario husband, wife, father, mother and children seldom spend much time together, and much less quality family time.

This is certainly not how God has designed the family to work. In fact, He has charged parents to spend time with their children, teaching them His ways. Parents today have come to believe they are good parents as long as they provide financially for their children. But God has entrusted His children to parents to diligently and lovingly raise in His way, developing His value system in them. It's more about character than finances.

About 14 years ago I found myself trying to build a successful advertising business. I had already been in business for 7 years at that time and we were growing each year. I envisioned opening offices in other nearby cities as I expanded. I had three children at the time ages 10, 6 and 4, but I rarely saw them. Sometimes I didn't get home until 9 p.m. when they were already in bed. My fourth child was born at this time and I found myself wanting to spend more time with him. Then one day I overheard two older men talking together about their memories. I noticed that in doing this, they were, in effect, sharing their life experiences. I thought,. . ."What will my memories be when I am old?" "Will my memories primarily be about my job?" I thought, -"What am I missing at home by working such long hours?" So I made a decision to change my situation. I informed 

those working with and for me that I was shutting down the business and planned on operating a wholesale screen-printing business out of my home. 

I have never regretted making that bold move. It changed our family forever, and now I have many precious memories of our time together. My wife, Treon was also in the home, so I also cherish my time with her.

Since I have been in the ministry I have also had to carefully balance my time so that we still have plenty of family time. Sometimes it is difficult when there are others that need counseling and spiritual guidance. Pastors often lose their own children by over-spending their time serving others. Balance is the key. 

We homeschool two of our children and will another after grade school. I realize not everyone can do this, but if you can it will pay important dividends. You, your spouse, and your children will grow to have a much closer relationship. Our public schools have produced an entire separate society, with separate and usually different ideals than what Christian parents approve of.

In the summer we like to spend time together swimming, boating, fishing and picnicking. Sometimes we include friends. We live near a lake, creek and river, so we can leave our home and be cooking-out, fishing, swimming in less than ten minutes. We do this about 3 or 4 times a week, late in the afternoon after work, in the summer months. These activities have created a close bond between my sons and I. We are regular "fishing buddies." I like to play tennis with my girls (two still at home, Sarah, 20 and Jennifer, 18). I taught them when they were very young. Friday night we have family Bible study, and Saturday night is our movie night when we watch a movie together. We also play concerts together as a Christian band, this is our music ministry.

Do things together as a family. Community sports activities like summer baseball, etc. usually take time away rather than produce real time together. I have found it is better to spend free time in activity where there is direct interchange and direct communication. If you haven't already, get to really know your family better, -the family is a very precious gift from God. L.arry R. Lasiter

Statement of Beliefs

Church of God Fellowship

"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." 1 Peter 3:25

Sabbath Observance

The Church of God Fellowship joyfully embraces the observance of Saturday, the seventh-day Sabbath as a holy day, set apart at creation by God, and given as a precious gift to man. We believe as Jesus taught, that it was made for man, and not man for it. We do not worship the day itself, but gratefully receive it as a time divinely set aside when we can fully devote 24 hours in communion with God and His saints. Although we commune with and worship God daily, we view the Sabbath as our weekly appointment with our Creator and fellowship with His people. It is a day in which we do not work our regular jobs, nor watch our TV programs, etc., -the time is used to rest ourselves physically and refresh ourselves spiritually. We understand our ultimate rest is in Christ Jesus, but acknowledge that even He rested on the Sabbath while on earth, and indeed, even the Creator blessed and rested on the seventh day.

From our Statement of Beliefs: The Sabbath

The Sabbath is God's appointed day of rest and worship. It was sanctified (set apart for holy use) at creation because on the seventh day God rested from His work. (Genesis 2:3) (Exodus 20:11)

The observance of the Sabbath was enjoined in the Ten Commandments, and was a sign between God and His people. (Exodus 31:13)

The observance of the seventh-day Sabbath was affirmed by the example of Jesus Christ and also the Apostles. (Luke 4:16) (Acts 17:12)

Rather than abolishing Sabbath observance, Jesus carefully taught how it should be observed. (Matthew 12:1-13) The Jews had added 65 do's and don'ts to its observance which God had not authorized, and which had made it a burden rather than a joy to observe. Jesus explained that God had made the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27)

Sabbath observance was commanded before it was given as the fourth commandment at Sinai. (Exodus 16;22-30) It's observance was not for the Israelite only, but also for Gentiles who wished to enter into covenant with God. (Isaiah 56:6-7)

The Apostle Paul assembled and preached to Jews and even Gentiles on the Sabbath. (Acts 13:42-44) The book of Acts alone gives record of him holding 84 meetings on the Sabbath.(Acts 13:14,44 / 16:13 / 17:2 / 18:4,11)

Jesus instructed Christians living in Judea just prior to His return in glory to flee to the mountains, and pray that their flight might not fall on a Sabbath, showing that God would still regard the Sabbath holy in the end time. (Matthew 24:20)

All mankind will observe the Sabbath in the millennial kingdom after the return of Jesus as Lord. (Isaiah 66:23)

HISTORY: Sabbath observance was officially replaced by Sunday observance by the Roman Catholic Church. In 365 AD the Roman Catholic Council of Laodicea wrote in one of its most famous canons, -"Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord's day. (referring to Sunday) But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ." (Ency. Brit.11th edition)

This was a virtual sentence of torture and or death, and was authorized by the Emperor Constantine the Great, who was himself a worshiper of the god of the Unconquered Sun. Thousands died because they remained faithful in observance of this holy day.