The Christian Perspective

The Trinity in Ephesians

Kevin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:13:00 +0000

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus is surely one of the most profoundly doctrinal–yet intensely practical–books of the Bible, and it is not surprising that the doctrine of the tri-une God breaks into his message so frequently. For example, note Ephesians 2:18: “For through |Christ| we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

More often, however, it appears not in a succinct formula like this, but rather in interconnected references to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, always implying that each is deity, but never that they are three different “gods.” Paul prayed that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17).

He also prayed “unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . That he would grant you, . . . to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians 3:14, 16-17). Thus the believer is “filled with all the fulness of God” (v. 19).

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God Knows Everything

Kevin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:08:00 +0000

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.”
- Psalm 147:5

God knows everything, and so He knows our sin.

Our time in history has been called “the Information Age.” Computers work around the clock storing the glut of information from all branches of knowledge. And this flood of data is growing bigger all the time. Without the help of advanced technology, we could process and interpret only a tiny fraction of it.

In contrast, God is omniscient; He knows everything. Our Scripture for today says, “His understanding is infinite.” Isaiah asks, “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge, and informed Him of the way of understanding?” (40:13-14). The answer to all those questions is, “No one.”

Since His knowledge is infinite, God never learns anything, nor does He forget anything. When you pray, you’re not telling God something He doesn’t know. He merely chooses to work through our prayers.

God knows every detail of our lives. Jesus says, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7). God doesn’t have to count them because He intrinsically knows how many there are. He also knows all our thoughts (Isa. 66:18). David says, “Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all” (Ps. 139:4). In that same psalm, David goes on to say, “Even the darkness is not dark to Thee” (v. 12). You can’t hide anything from the knowledge of God.

God’s omniscience should be a deterrent to our sinning. Think about some of the wrongs you did as a child when your parents weren’t around. You never would have done those things in front of them because you didn’t want to be punished. And you might have gotten away with a few things. But “God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Eccles. 12:14). Even though the eternal penalty for sin has been paid by Christ, God still disciplines us when we sin (Heb. 12:5-11). Is there anything in your life you would be ashamed about if God knew? If so, repent, because He does know!

Suggestions for Prayer:

Praise God for His infinite knowledge.

For Further Study:

Read David’s praise for God’s omniscience in Psalm 139:1-6. What specific areas of God’s knowledge does he mention?

Additional Resources

Origins Breakthroughs Paleontology

Kevin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:04:00 +0000

Every year brings new scientific discoveries that shed light on the past. The Institute for Creation Research is dedicated to the study of origins from a biblical perspective, and ICR News has compiled what it considers to be the top findings related to origin studies from 2010.

This article examines paleontology, and will be followed by features on breakthroughs in astronomy and the genome.

Feathers, Pigments, and Bone in Fossils

Like 2009, the year 2010 produced an array of studies on stunning soft tissues from fossils that are supposed to be millions of years old. The problem for evolutionary long ages is that soft tissues are known to decay quickly, within only thousands of years. And this problem only gets worse with each additional fossil tissue find.

For example, an extinct variety of penguin was found fossilized in South America, and its plumage was compared to that of modern varieties. The fact that this fossil still exhibited feather colors, and the reasonable assumption that the original penguin feather melanosomes should no longer exist after “36 million years,” was not emphasized in the reports.¹

Several fossils were analyzed in 2010 for specific proteins, even though proteins should no longer exist after having been encased in rocks for untold millions of years. For example, the iconic Archaeopteryx bird was shown to have original bone fragments and feathers, not just impressions left in the rock.² Likewise, researchers found original carbon from dark pigment structures in a fossilized Sinosauropteryx dinosaur.³

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Origins Breakthroughs: Human Genetics

Kevin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:03:00 +0000

This article examines the field of human genetics.

and will be followed by features on breakthroughs in zoology, paleontology, astronomy, and the genome.

The Splicing Code

The genetic code is part of a functioning language. It has all the features of communicated information, including symbols, grammar, meaning, and purpose. And it’s all contained in DNA, providing the information to build proteins.

Researchers have long suspected that this first code was just one part of the process, since it only specified the production of proteins. Another code or codes must tell cells when to start and stop production, as well as how fast to produce the needed materials.

This year, researchers worked hard to piece together critical parts of an entirely different code, one that transmits information using certain DNA sequences, the three-dimensional shapes of many RNA molecules, and other components in the cell.

A team recently found that some systems are activated by many tiny signals added together. Once enough signals convey the same message along different pathways, production is switched on. The researchers also found that many systems are regulated by “antagonistic” signals.

One RNA carries information that is “pro” production, while another RNA signals “anti” production. When more of one type of RNA is present than the other, the majority signal is added to the regulation network. In a study published in Nature, information in “the splicing code” was found to be deeply complicated and involved many layers of communication.¹

What does this have to do with origins? Every single example of coded information, or language, is always produced through rational, intentional will or volition. There are no books without authors, and all known computer programs came from programmers who knew the proper language. What has been discovered about the genetic code has been clearly sufficient to infer the presence of a great Creator of life. Now, the splicing code, which appears to be orders of magnitude more complicated, argues even more forcefully for a rational and intentional mind behind the processes of life.

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Doctrine to Duty

Kevin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:14:00 +0000

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling
with which you have been called.” – Ephesians 4:3

There can be no right living without right principles.

Imagine someone saying, “I have some extra money lying around. I think I’ll send a large check to the government.” Absurd, isn’t it? But every year, honest wage-earners fill out forms and give part of their income to the government. Why? It’s not because they are generous but because there is a law— a doctrine—that says they have to.

Unless people know the reason for what they should do, it’s unlikely they’ll make a commitment to do it. Paul understood that, so he always taught doctrine before duty. “Therefore” in Ephesians 4:1 links the doctrine of chapters 1—3 to the duty of chapters 4—6. Doctrine and duty are inseparably linked; duty always flows out of doctrine. Right living is based on right principles. Paul told the Colossian church, “We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (1:9). For what purpose? “So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (v. 10). Spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and understanding make up the pathway of a worthy walk.

When pastors teach duty without teaching doctrine, they weaken the Word of God because they’ve eliminated the motive. They may be able to stir up emotions, but that brings no long-term commitment. The pastor’s responsibility is to teach the truth of God, and the hearer’s responsibility is to obey it.

Of course, the source of God’s truth is His Word: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Knowing the Bible well is our means of equipping
ourselves for a righteous life.

As we think about our worthy walk, let’s avoid emotionalism and legalism, and instead focus on living what we learn from a thorough and personal study of God’s Word.

Suggestions for Prayer:

If you have neglected studying the Bible, confess that to God, and ask Him to give you a greater desire to learn His Word.

For Further Study:

Read Ephesians 1—3 and list all we are or have in Christ. Knowing what God has given you, can you do any less than commit yourself to Him completely?

Additional Resources

The Golden Rule

Kevin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

This command of Christ is the famous so-called “Golden Rule” of conduct. As He said, it succinctly summarizes and crystallizes all the instructions given in the Old Testament Scriptures dealing with human interrelationships. In fact, somewhat similar guidelines can be found even in certain ancient extra-biblical writings.

It should be stressed, however, that this maxim is not meant to be a prerequisite for salvation. No mere human being ever obeys this rule perfectly, any more than one can keep perfectly the Ten Commandments.

It was included by Christ as a part of what is known as the “Sermon on the Mount,” which the Bible clearly states was a series of instructions given only to believers–that is, to people already saved through personal faith in Christ.

At the very beginning of this “sermon,” it says clearly that, “seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them” (Matthew 5:1-2).

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