In Matthew 19 verse 24 Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. What does this mean?
Well, first of all, in terms of wealth this is relative. A poor man in the UK is far richer than most people in Bangladesh so I don't wish to look at this part of the verse but the part about the camel and the eye of a needle.
Many have advanced the theory that the eye of a needle is a door on a city wall that is so small that a camel needs to shed it's load and get on it's knees to get in. This has been a popular view for several hundred years and many sermons have been preached on it. This sounds plausible until we discover that there is no credible evidence that such a door existed.
Another theory is that there is a mistranslation - the wording should be rope and not camel. If that is so then all our Bibles are wrong and we can no longer trust anything the Bible teaches us.
I believe the answer lies in verses 25-26. The disciples asked "who, then, can be saved?" and Jesus replied that what is impossible to man is possible to God. Humanly speaking it is impossible for anyone to be saved. People's hearts are too hard, their spiritual eyes are blind, their understanding is darkened and they are spiritually dead. However, when God, in His sovereign mercy, works in a person and softens their hearts, open their eyes, enlightens their understanding and regenerates them, then they have the power to repent and turn to Christ.
It is, indeed, impossible for anyone to be saved - unless God works in them. For those of us who know the Saviour this truth should humble us. How can we attribute our salvation to anything that we have done? Let us give God all the praise and all the glory for our salvation.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Apostasy abounds
I've never been entirely happy with the organisers of the Greenbelt "Christian" music festival. The so-called music they play reminds me of the heartbeat of Hell and the people concerned seem to be so worldly. This whole exercise is clearly a million miles away from true, Biblical Christianity.
However, this event really descended into the pits last month when they had the U.K.'s leading gay rights activist as a guest speaker. Pervert-in-chief, Peter Tatchell, was invited to address them in what must be one the most blatant evidences of apostasy I have ever come across. We all know that Tatchell makes no pretence to be a Christian but when those who bear that title give a platform to such a man it proves that they know nothing of what a true Christian is. These people are deluding themselves if they believe that they are true followers of the one who said "by their fruits you know them" (Matthew 7 v 16). True Christians do not compromise with evil, especially evil that is so perverse that the New Testament refers to it as being "against nature" (Romans 1 v 26-27).
While on the subject of false Christians I am reminded of that wolf in sheep's clothing Cliff Richard. He claims to be a Christian and yet his life and beliefs simply do not bear this out. He published a biography entitled "My Life, My Way" - a dubious title for a Christian - in which he makes unbiblical comments. This book records that he does not believe that fornication is sinful. Moreover, he refuses to accept that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible. Furthermore, he has been living with a "male friend" and will not answer any question about whether or not he is a homosexual. There is nothing wrong with two men having a close friendship and living in the same property, but if Cliff Richard is not engaged in gay perversion why does he not simply issue a statement to that effect? I wonder if he will be the latest in a long line of celebrities to "come out", at least that would be the honest thing to do.
We are truly living in dark and dreadful days with apostasy and unbelief all around us. However, rather than despair let us renew our own dedication to the Lord and stand firm for Him knowing that in due course "we shall reap if we faint not"- Galatians 6 v 9.
However, this event really descended into the pits last month when they had the U.K.'s leading gay rights activist as a guest speaker. Pervert-in-chief, Peter Tatchell, was invited to address them in what must be one the most blatant evidences of apostasy I have ever come across. We all know that Tatchell makes no pretence to be a Christian but when those who bear that title give a platform to such a man it proves that they know nothing of what a true Christian is. These people are deluding themselves if they believe that they are true followers of the one who said "by their fruits you know them" (Matthew 7 v 16). True Christians do not compromise with evil, especially evil that is so perverse that the New Testament refers to it as being "against nature" (Romans 1 v 26-27).
While on the subject of false Christians I am reminded of that wolf in sheep's clothing Cliff Richard. He claims to be a Christian and yet his life and beliefs simply do not bear this out. He published a biography entitled "My Life, My Way" - a dubious title for a Christian - in which he makes unbiblical comments. This book records that he does not believe that fornication is sinful. Moreover, he refuses to accept that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible. Furthermore, he has been living with a "male friend" and will not answer any question about whether or not he is a homosexual. There is nothing wrong with two men having a close friendship and living in the same property, but if Cliff Richard is not engaged in gay perversion why does he not simply issue a statement to that effect? I wonder if he will be the latest in a long line of celebrities to "come out", at least that would be the honest thing to do.
We are truly living in dark and dreadful days with apostasy and unbelief all around us. However, rather than despair let us renew our own dedication to the Lord and stand firm for Him knowing that in due course "we shall reap if we faint not"- Galatians 6 v 9.
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