I liked the last bit of Selwyn’s study, especially the last two sentences: “One person has said, ‘We have no light to illuminate the pathway of the future save that which falls over our shoulder from the past.’ Reflecting on what God has done for us to have a clearer perspective on the present and the future. A biblical approach to history makes us neither wide-eyed optimists nor downhearted pessimists. Instead, we become devout realists, for we see God at work in all things and triumphing over everything.
It’s of some interest to me that the number of people reading these posts dropped off when the study on the emblems of the Holy Spirit was completed and we started this study of Nehemiah. There appears to be a number of Christians who have little interest in the Old Testament; which to me, is a little strange because the Books of the Old Testament contain truths about the same God that we read about in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Jesus often used parts of the Old Testament to illustrate a point; for example, after His resurrection, He  explained to some of His followers the reasons why He had to suffer, by using what was written about Him in the Old Testament. I sometimes wonder if it’s the constant repetition of warnings about disobedience, punishment and the need for repentance; which people these days don’t want to know about and find offensive. They prefer to believe in a false gospel about a loving Jesus who saves everyone – even those who refuse to believe in His existence. In such a false doctrine there is little need to worry about sin and repentance – no wonder many people, who put their own interests first, find such beliefs attractive.
The saddest part of this issue is that there are many people who call themselves Christians who peddle this false hope of universal salvation. The hope I have, is the knowledge that God is at work in all things, and does triumph over everything, including false teaching. What’s your view?
Devout realists
I liked the last bit of Selwyn’s study, especially the last two sentences: “One person has said, ‘We have no light to illuminate the pathway of the future save that which falls over our shoulder from the past.’ Reflecting on what God has done for us to have a clearer perspective on the present and the future. A biblical approach to history makes us neither wide-eyed optimists nor downhearted pessimists. Instead, we become devout realists, for we see God at work in all things and triumphing over everything.
It’s of some interest to me that the number of people reading these posts dropped off when the study on the emblems of the Holy Spirit was completed and we started this study of Nehemiah. There appears to be a number of Christians who have little interest in the Old Testament; which to me, is a little strange because the Books of the Old Testament contain truths about the same God that we read about in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Jesus often used parts of the Old Testament to illustrate a point; for example, after His resurrection, He  explained to some of His followers the reasons why He had to suffer, by using what was written about Him in the Old Testament. I sometimes wonder if it’s the constant repetition of warnings about disobedience, punishment and the need for repentance; which people these days don’t want to know about and find offensive. They prefer to believe in a false gospel about a loving Jesus who saves everyone – even those who refuse to believe in His existence. In such a false doctrine there is little need to worry about sin and repentance – no wonder many people, who put their own interests first, find such beliefs attractive.
The saddest part of this issue is that there are many people who call themselves Christians who peddle this false hope of universal salvation. The hope I have, is the knowledge that God is at work in all things, and does triumph over everything, including false teaching. What’s your view?