ALSO VISIT: http://creationdesign2013.blogspot.com/ CONTACT: trsii2004@msn.com * ALL ARTICLES ARE FROM OTHER AUTHORS*
Search This Blog
Friday, August 11, 2023
Joy-Deprived Saints
Joy-Deprived Saints – Jonathan Brentner - https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2023/8/8/joy-deprived-saints
I know I’m not alone in this. It’s something that’s far too common based on my experience as well as from what others tell me.
We hear excellent presentations of the gospel, but they end without an ending. There’s no mention of eternal life or our glorious hope of resurrected bodies. Yes, sometimesthe pastor mentions glory in his concluding prayer or perhaps quotes John 3:16, but what does “glory” or “everlasting life” signify apart from the context of the New Testament? Will we be spirits floating around like Jacob Marley or will we find ourselvessitting all alone on a cloud with harp in hand? I don’t think so.
The Bible is quite clear about our joyful hope of receiving immortal bodies at Jesus’ appearing (1 Corinthians 15:48-54, Philippians 3:20-21). This is not a fringe teaching,not at all, but it comes from several passages where the wording is unmistakable and cannot be misconstrued to mean anything else than our hope of resurrected bodies like that of our Savior after He rose from the dead.
Scripture tells us that Jesus will appear, hopefully soon, and at that time He will raise the dead in Christ and catch living believers up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians4:13-17). It’s then the Lord will give both groups of saints glorified and imperishable bodies. The words of the passages mentioned above refer to the event that today we call the “Rapture!”
THE FORGOTTEN RESURRECTION
I sometimes wonder if pastors who exclude references to our resurrection in their preaching genuinely believe the words of 1 Corinthians 15:19:
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
In the preceding verses, Paul refutes those in Corinth who claimed that there was no such thing as a resurrection (15:12-18). If true, he argues, then we must conclude thatJesus didn’t rise from the dead and our faith is thus “futile.” The end of such a dire possibility is that the “dead in Christ have perished” and we who are alive are “most to be pitied” (ESV) or “miserable” (KJV) because our hope doesn’t extend beyond thislife (see vv. 18-19).
Paul begins verse 20 with the glorious fact that “Christ has been raised from the dead” and in 1 Corinthians 15:47-57 he sums up our forever hope with the joyous reality ofour resurrection as New Testament saints. In language that can’t be misunderstood to mean anything else, the apostle says there’s coming a time when Jesus will raise the dead with imperishable bodies and after that gloriously transform believers still alive.
Paul emphasizes our joyous hope again in Philippians 3:20-21:
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enableshim even to subject all things to himself. (emphasis added)
Because Jesus rose from the dead, our over-the-top blissful hope is that someday we will possess a glorious body like that of our Savior. The sense of verse 20 is that ofan “excited anticipation” of Jesus’ appearing. It signifies a yearning of soul for the time that Jesus raises the dead in Christ and wholly transforms us with immortality. In Romans 8:23, it’s our groaning as we await the future “redemption of our bodies.”
I can’t imagine that Paul preached the Gospel apart from adding context to our hope of eternal life, that of our expectation of glorified bodies at Jesus’ appearing. I explainwhy I’m so certain of this in The Tragic Result of Divorcing the Rapture from the Gospel.
It’s wonderful to know that because of Jesus we enjoy complete forgiveness of sins. We all need reminders of God’s grace and steadfast love toward us as well as the anticipationof our future resurrection at Jesus’ appearing, forgotten in most churches today. It’s the latter that comforts our souls as we watch our world descend into violence, lawlessness, and wickedness beyond what we once thought possible.
THROWING OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATH WATER
There’s an old expression that dates all the way back to 1512, “Throwing out the baby with bath water.” The idea behind the saying is that if part of a concept is good, don’ttoss it all away because you think a part of it is bad.
Is this not what many pastors do today? They fear the negative results of mentioning the dreaded word “Rapture,” oh my, so along with never mentioning Jesus’ future appearing,they also never mention the matter of the resurrection of New Testament saints or the glorious transformation of those who will be alive at the time. Water and baby both go out the window.
One of the reasons that I wrote The Triumph of the Redeemed-An eternal Perspective that Calms Our Fears in Perilous Times was to provide pastors with a biblical basis forthe Rapture from which they could boldly preach about Jesus’ appearing and the over-the-top joyous blessings associated with our receipt of immortal and imperishable bodies. I also wrote to provide a firm biblical foundation for the pre-Tribulation Raptureso that believers might rejoice in what lies ahead for them after the Rapture.
I often wonder why so many pastors refuse to mention our joyous hope of living forever in glorious, resurrected bodies. One could easily emphasize this biblical truth withmentioning you know what.
In my opinion, this results from unbelief. Pastors and teachers immersed in covenant theology must spiritualize a very large number of Old and New Testament passages thatteach the restoration of a kingdom for Israel. In doing so, they deny the reality of the Tribulation and Jesus’ thousand-year reign and because of these errant beliefs they must find alternate interpretations for passages that refer to Jesus’ appearing asan event separate from the Second Coming.
Some in the covenant theology camp teach that the words 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 denote the believers’ regeneration rather than our future resurrection. I was totally stunnedwhen I first read this errant interpretation, but to my dismay, this false rendering of these verses has become common in many churches. This goes far beyond forgetting the physical resurrection of the saints; it rather signifies a denial of this cherishedbelief so prominent in God’s Word.
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
At this point, one might ask, “What’s the big deal?” As long as the gospel is proclaimed and people respond, why raise such a fuss?
Yes, the presentation of the gospel is able to yield wonderful results even when it comes without a peep regarding our hope of resurrection bodies. But why can’t the Lordproduce at least the same results with the inclusion of our joyous hope?
Why is telling people that Jesus offers them a glorious future with resurrection bodies more offensive than telling them they are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness? Whatam I not seeing here?
The “big deal” is this: when pastors operate with the illusion that the truths associated with Jesus’ appearing are offensive to both unbelievers and immature saints, theydeprive everyone of hearing the details of our amazing future joy.
Such silence leads to joy-deprived saints who also lack the teaching that the Apostle Paul says enables us to “stand firm” in our faith (Philippians 4:1). The truths associatedwith a proper rendering of 1 Corinthians 15:48-57 encourages us to remain faithful in serving the Lord (see verse 58).
Furthermore, silence regarding our eternal bliss may stem from more serious issues than simply a fear of rocking the boat on Sunday mornings. Covenant theology places Jesus’ return in the far distant future, which has the logical outcome of causing believers to look to focus on the things of this world rather than Jesus’ appearing.
Because Covenant theology exalts the church, it opens the door wide to preterism and dominion theology. These heretical teachings fall far, far short of offering the joy thatcomes with a solid biblical understanding of our hope in Jesus’ imminent return to take His Church to glory.
This is my complaint about those that proclaim the gospel without mentioning eternal life, or perhaps saving it for the concluding prayer (when most people are thinking aboutwhat to eat rather than the words of the prayer). Such presentations deprive the saints of hearing about the wondrous hope set before them, our anchor that holds within the veil during the fiercest of storms of this life (Hebrews 7:18-19).
It’s not that we can’t experience joy apart from hearing about our hope; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. However, it helps tremendously to know that we will live foreverin bodies that will never age, get sick, die, or experience any of the discomforts of this life. Such thoughts bring joy to my heart every day!
Why do so many pastors hide these glorious truths from the saints and deny them the refreshing of their souls that comes from our joyous anticipation of glory?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
MY OTHER SITES: CREATION DESIGN: God through Creation
DEBATE VIDEOS and more......
- creationist verses evolutionist
- Home
- DEBATE BETWEEN RABBI AND PASTOR
- The Creation: The Earth is a Witness
- Jesus's claim of Divinity
- Why should I accept Christianity?
- ERRORS IN THE QUR'AN
- 108 year old Rabbi declares just before he died that Jesus is Messiah
- CREATION
- CREATION II
- DOES CREATION MAKE SENSE?
- VERY END TIME VIDEO......
- BIRTH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST VIDEO
- PROOF OF JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO GOD
- ENDTIMES VIDEO
- EVIDENCE FOR GOD
- EVIDENCE FOR GOD PT.2
- EVIDENCE FOR GOD PT.3
- EVIDENCE FOR GOD PT.4
- EVIDENCE FOR GOD PT.5
- RABBI HAS VISION THAT SAYS JESUS IS THE MESSIAH
- HEAVEN
- DOES GOD EXIST? PART 1
- DOES GOD EXIST? PART 2
- DOES GOD EXIST? PART 3
- DOES GOD EXIST? PART 4
- DOES GOD EXIST? PART 5
- FEMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
- Existence of God
- JESUS IS GOD Whether You Believe It Or Not
- BEST BIBLE QUESTIONES ANSWERED
- Jewish man turns to Jesus and explains why in a way you never heard before!
- JEWISH MAN TURNS TO JESUS
- RELAXING SOUNDS WITH BIBLE STORY
- JESUS CHANGED THE WORLD
- THE UNTOLD REASON WHY JEWISH PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS IS THE MESSIAH!
- WHY MESSIAH MUST BE GOD!
- THE TALMUD (RABBINIC TRADITION) VS. THE NEW TESTAMENT
- WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD HAS A "SON"? ISN'T THAT A PAGAN CONCEPT?
- MESSIANIC PROPHECIES - WHAT ARE THEY?
- CAN WE AS JEWS TRULY TRUST THE NEW TESTAMENT?
- ZECHARIAH 12 PROPHECY ON THE PIERCING OF THE MESSIAH
- ISIAH 53 - THE FORBIDDEN CHAPTER!
- "IF JESUS IS REALLY THE MESSIAH - HOW COME THERE NO WORLD PEACE?"
- REFUTING THE RABBINIC FABLE ABOUT JESUS IN THE TALMUD!
- DO JEWS NEED JESUS?
- THE 3 REASONS WHY JEWS DON'T BELIEVE IN JESUS & ISRAEL EVANGELISM REPORT
- ARABIC OUTREACH FILM - THE SON OF GOD
- WOW! THIS JEWISH MAN TURNS TO JESUS AND EXPLAINS WHY IN A WAY YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE!
- DR. EREZ SOREF - THE MESSIAH IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TORAH
- FALSE TEACHINGS ABOUT HEAVEN ENCOUNTERS
- The Resurrection. Amazing video.....
- WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE?
- WHAT WILL HELL BE LIKE?
- COVID19. WORSE THEN YOU THOUGHT!!!!
- ARE WE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS? JEWS FOR JESUS
- Rapture video
PROOF OF JESUS FOR THOSE WHO QUESTION JESUS'S DIVINITY
- Home
- Jesus Abolished the Law?
- The End of the Law?
- Tongues in Acts
- Tongues in 1 Corinthians
- Observe Sunday?
- Body, Soul, and Spirit
- Torment in Hell
- God is Not a Trinity....DON'T PANIC, THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE TRINITY WITHOUT ACTUALLY USING THE WORD.
- Paul: Not Anti-Jewish/Torah
- Truth About the Rapture
- Jesus is Not Literally God
- Clarifying Tithing
- The Church and Israel
- The Future is Unsettled
- Christians and Heaven
- The Sacred Name
- Jesus is the Way
- What is a Christian?
- Origin of Easter/Communion
- Christians and Torah
- Christians Better Than Jews?
- Torah a Mere Shadow?
- Paul a Hypocrite?
- Basic Grammar Refutes the Trinity | An Argument for Biblical Unitarianism
- Why Jewish People Do Not Believe In Jesus
- DOES GOD EXIST? PART 4
- The Case for the real Jesus
- How do we know Jesus is the Messiah
- A pivotal sign we're living in the last days
- Jesus is coming!!! We are the Generation!!!!
- The rapture trigger that leads to Daniel 9:27 Covenant
- Is Jesus the Jewish Messiah Debate...
- JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD
- EARTH.....WONDERFUL CREATION
VIDEOS AND MUSIC IN ADDITION TO MY OTHER WEBSITES:
- Home
- CREATION DESIGN: MY OTHER WEBSITE
- PROPHECY WATCHER: MY OTHER SITE DEALS WITH PROPHECY ONLY.
- Very Good Acapella (Little Drummer boy) worth seeing....
- 4 HOURS OF UPLIFTING CHRISTIAN MUSIC
- 100 HOURS OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP MUSIC
- Jews who believe that Jesus is Messiah
- THE CASE FOR CHRIST
- Beautiful video and song. MARY, DID YOU KNOW.... A must see....
- GRAPHIC VIDEO ON THE CONDITION OF THE WORLD
- Gadol Adonai...Lovely Hebrew Christian Song(Subtitles)
- Adonai Machesenu The Lord is Our Refuge/Haruach Vehakala
- El Avoteinu - God of Our Fathers
- Praise to Our God 5 Concert - Ashuv Eleicha (Coming Back to You)
- Thais Schucman 05 Worthy
- Praise to Our God 5 Concert - Lechu Nerannena LeAdonai (Let us sing to the Lord
- Praise to Our God 5 Concert - Gadol Adonai (Great is the Lord)
- Beautiful! Israelis Worshiping Jesus in Hebrew in Jerusalem!
- "Kol Haneshama" (Everything that has Breath) Music Video
- Beautiful Hallelujah Song
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.