The Error of Easter, The Lunacy of Lent and the Fable of Good Friday.
The greatest days for church attendance each year are Christmas and Easter. Now, personally, I like these days because it reminds every person on earth that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and died, was buried and resurrected for our sin. Everyone is reminded of these two truths twice a year. Also like the truths, there are some lies that are perpetrated at the same time.
Recently I listened to a 23 year old junior high school teacher speak of how drastic things had changed since she was in junior high…which was only 10 years ago! The changes of which this young teacher spoke were not good. She considered the students’ attitude much worse than 10 years ago. The same was said about the parents’ and school administration’s attitude. It doesn’t take a Greek scholar or seminary graduate to see that 2 Timothy 3:13 is taking place:
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men." Matthew 2:16
Herod had faked his desire to worship Jesus to the wise men (Matthew 2:8.) God knew of Herod's hatred and fear of Jesus, though only a Baby, and countered his deceit toward the Child (Matthew 2:12.)
The issue today, as was then, is not about holidays or holy days; not about commemorating Christmas or not; not about greeting people with "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." The firestorm centers around keeping Jesus Christ alive or allowing Him killed off by His enemies. The controversy is not about a manger scene, nativity display, a star in the east or wise men bringing gifts. The issue was then and is still now, is Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world?{C}
The second coming has three phases, the appearing, the coming (parousia) to the clouds and the coming to the earth.
Probably no argument has been waxed longer or louder than the one over “Once saved, always saved.” Some have said that this belief honors Christ’s work on the cross; others say that it is a license to sin. “If I believed ‘once saved, always saved’ I would do anything I wanted to do,” is a familiar cry. Volumes have been written on both sides of this coin. A few years ago I wrote an article on “Twice lost, always lost;” revealing that if a person gets saved and then loses his salvation, he is forever doomed. There is no such thing in the Bible of a person getting saved twice!
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
What an odd scripture to chose in the times in which we live. Good is being called evil; right is being called wrong; sin is abounding on every hand… and we are to be thankful? There is probably more paganism, demonism and more devilment going on today than has been since America was formed. The big difference between America's first Thanksgiving and this year's is the fact that those first settlers who observed Thanksgiving knew that socialism would not work because they had tried it when first coming here. They knew that if success and living conditions improved, they would have to be part of the success and improvements. Times were hard and conditions were worse. They had lost half of the people who made the trip on the Mayflower by the end of their first year. It seemed nature and the environment were against them, yet they stopped to thank God. Isn't it ironic that with over 200 years of the greatest achievements and successes ever experienced by any people other than the nation who had a covenant with the Almighty God, the descendents of those first Americans now prefer existence above achievement and failure over success.{C}
Easter is here! Christ has risen! Everything worthwhile is tied to Christ’s resurrection. Paul said,
“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain…If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:14, 19
There are two events in scripture that point to drastic mistakes we can make about Jesus Christ. Both of these mistakes were made by people who were close to Him, who loved Him and were dedicated to Him.
1. FAILING TO RECOGNIZE HIS PRESENCE
Why do Christians fail? Why is it there are no perfect Christians? Why did some of God's most dedicated men falter, and sometimes horribly? After the flood experience, Noah got drunk; after being the friend of God, Abraham lied more than once; David committed adultery and murder after close communion with His Lord; Peter, after great experiences with Christ, denied Him, not once or twice, but three times! Paul was drawn back into the shackles of Judaism after rebuking Peter for the same offense.
I love this time of the year. It is one of two times that the populated world is brought to face some facts about Jesus Christ. The other time is Easter. I am fully aware of all the unspiritual and unscriptural things that surround these times, but they surround every day. Every year for centuries, men are reminded that God came to earth to die for the sins of men. Every year for centuries, men are reminded that Jesus Christ arose from the dead to guarantee the believers in Him a better home in heaven.