Daily Devotional 11/4/16

4 November 2016

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"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2nd Thessalonians 2:11-12)


There are a lot of opinions about the entire second chapter of 2nd Thessalonians. I will admit that I have many questions as well. But if you will permit, I would like to offer a few points on this portion of the chapter.

I think this text says too much to be describing a disobedient child of God. The language is very similar to Paul's writing in Romans chapter 1. There, we see a progression diving deeper and deeper into sin as God "gives them up" to more and more sin. Paul also says that God "gives them over to a reprobate mind."

Both the teaching in Romans and here in 2nd Thessalonians show that men who are dead in sin seek only to delve further into their depravity. God does not correct their thinking and they become totally deluded in their life of sin.

In John Chapter 8, Jesus accused some unbelieving Pharisees in the same way.

"And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." (John 8:45)


Here we see Jesus pointing out the depths of human depravity and the confusion it brings. They did not believe Jesus BECAUSE He was telling the truth! They were so deluded that the only things they believed were lies.

This is a rather harsh portion of scripture but we must never forget the basis for our need of salvation totally by grace. Without grace, all men are without hope. All men would be children of wrath and bound by their fallen nature in the total inability of depravity.

But thanks be to God, He does deliver!

Tags: devotional

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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