"We write this to make you joy complete"

September 25, 2014

Dear City Calvary,

This past Sunday was the introduction into our study of 1 John.  Our elderly disciple/lover of Jesus listed four reasons as to why he wrote this letter to believers:

1.  Ch. 1 vs 4 "We write this to make our joy complete."  He proclaimed Jesus, "the Word of life", who has appeared and John saw Him, listened to Him, touched Him.  Through Jesus, we have fellowship with the Father and the Son, and with each other.  That my friends, is where the fullness of joy is found!!!

2.  Ch. 2 vs 1 "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin."  Wait a minute, what does this mean - is he saying that we won't sin anymore?  Come on Sunday and we will look at that question.  By the way, you have to love the rest of the verse that says "But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous one."  

3.  Ch. 2 vs 26  "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray."  More about the false teachers.  Remember - Peter wrote about them, so did Paul and Jesus gave warning as well.  It is important because there are still false teachers today.  

4.  Ch 5 vs 13  "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."  Not guess, not hope, not figure - but KNOW that you have eternal life.  Praise the Lord for that!!!

As for what's coming this Sunday - reread reason #2.  God bless you and see you then.

In Christ's love,

Pastor John

The Real Deal? or Counterfeit?

September, 10 2014

 

Dear City Calvary,

I was recently at my local Wells Fargo branch, doing a little banking and I asked the teller how often customers (knowingly or unknowingly) try to deposit counterfeit money.  She told me that it does happen from time to time but not frequently.  I then asked her what they do with the counterfeit bills when they come across.  

"We immediately confiscate the fake notes and send them to the FBI."  

"Well what about the unwitting victim who worked hard for that counterfeit money, do they get compensated at all for their loss?" 

"Nope, it's their tough luck." 

"Really?  Those no good, dirty rotten, scoundrel counterfeiters, I hope they get caught and thrown in jail."

That is what Peter was writing about in 2 Peter 2, which we studied last Sunday.  He wrote of the false teachers and prophets who were secretly introducing destructive heresies into the churches, even denying the sovereign Lord Jesus Christ.  Peter had some choice language to describe these liars and what he wanted their end to be.  After all, think about the sorry person who stands before The Lord someday, only to find that they believed a counterfeit gospel that is worth no value in the Kingdom of Heaven.  So Peter warns the believers.

In our world today, we have false prophets and teachers as well.  Cults have been on the increase; but even more, there are those in the church that are false prophets.  It's not necessarily what they teach, it's what they don't teach. They will teach the importance of proper living and social issues but they never speak of salvation through Jesus.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2 "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."  There are many who teach everything except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  If a teacher or pastor doesn't ever proclaim the gospel and tell people how they can be saved through believing in Jesus, they are a modern day example of a false teacher.  People may go to church all day every day but if they haven't repented of sin and put their faith in God the Son for salvation and eternal life, all they have is a counterfeit religion, no matter how good it looks.  

We'll seen this Sunday, in 2 Peter 3, that the false teachers don't just stop at denying the sovereignty of Jesus, they make fun of those who believe that Jesus is coming back.  Peter calls them "scoffers".  Peter reminds us that Jesus is coming back, He's just waiting for the right time until all those who will be saved are saved and then - look out or rather, look up.  While we wait, it's important that we live and believe like He is coming today.

Remember, love The Lord Jesus, live for The Lord Jesus, bring glory to His name.  Everything else is just details.

Blessings in our Mighty God,

Pastor John

The Truth

September 4^th, 2014

Dear City Calvary,

Thanks for coming out to Richmond Beach this past Sunday.  It was great to see all of you (and there were many) showing up to enjoy fellowship.  We had a good impact as well on the other people visiting the beach.  Many came and joined us for food and volleyball.  They commented to me on how welcomed they felt.  Great job you guys!  They experienced the love of God through you.  The best part was worshiping Jesus around the fire.  We would have stayed all night had the park not kicked us out.

In this past Sunday service, I asked two questions pertaining to your belief in God.

            What do you believe?

            Why do you believe it?

These are important questions that we all should ask and answer for ourselves.  What do I believe and why do I believe it?  I would hope that whatever you believe, you do so because you are convinced it is the truth.  Who wants to believe a lie?  As your pastor, it is not my role to tell you what you should believe and why, but rather to share with you what the truth is and why we can believe it with absolute certainty.  I can boldly do so because it is not my truth.  It is God's.  In John 18:38, Pilate asks Jesus "What is truth?"  That was in response to Jesus words to him "You say that I am king, and you are right.  I was born for that purpose.  And I came to bring truth to the world.  All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true."  Just hours before that, He said to his disciples Upper Room (John 14:6), "I am the truth".  Jesus is the truth and every word He said, along with every other word in the Bible is true - It is God's truth.  

In our text (1:12-21) Peter reminded the reader of the truth and then gave reason why to believe it.  He shared his testimony of witnessing the transfiguration and saw Jesus radiate His true glory.  Peter then explained that what gave him even more confidence was prophecy in the word (over 300) that specifically pointed to Jesus.  Jesus fulfilled them all and without error.  The better you know the truth and why, the less likely you are to believe the lie.  

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is truth.  Anything contrary or added to the Gospel is a lie.  Peter was writing to believers because there were false teachers and prophets in the churches who were trying to sway people from the truth and start believing a lie.  So what was the lie and what were these false teachers doing?  How do you spot a lie?  Come on Sunday and we'll see in 2 Peter 2.  BRING A FRIEND!!

Remember to love Jesus first, live for Him, learn and obey His word.  The rest of life is just details.

In Jesus love,

Pastor John