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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Last week we looked at a number of examples of how the gospel and those with “influence” over the church are adapting to accommodate things we were never meant to embrace. This week we’ll look at a few specific principles that are being questioned; foundational tenets of the faith that – if undermined – threaten to bring the whole structure of our faith down.
For in questioning much of God’s revelation, such as Christ’s virgin birth – laughingly impossible; his Sonship – no different than ours; miracles – at best mind over matter, at worse staged; his word – eminently good but not supreme; his death – like ours inevitable (if not in the particulars at least destined for all); his burial – highly suspicious; his resurrection – unacceptable; they offer a stripped down Christ. A Son of God little different than the rest of his children. Truly merely a form of godliness that denies God’s power.
Why study the life of one no different than I am or believe in one no more a son of God than I can be? Why bother if Old Testament prophecy was misapplied or inserted material was used to stage fulfillment in Christ? It’s a lie! Yet many ancient manuscripts show both Testaments to be essentially intact in their present form.
Why bother if Mary wasn’t a virgin and she was really impregnated by Joseph? She lied to cover immorality. If Jesus’ disciples later attempted to refute rabbinical claims that Jesus was the result of an illicit affair with a Roman soldier by making up an unbelievable story of Holy Spirit involvement in Mary’s pregnancy – they blasphemed!
Why bother if Jesus’ lifestyle (if not his life) was manufactured and his teaching – declaring a oneness with God in desire and ability to save mankind – is fabrication at worse, embellishment at best?
And why bother if He performed no miracles? His chroniclers lied. If they were staged, he was a deceiver. Even if people felt better as a result of positive thinking – it wasn’t a legitimate miracle. If these fundamental issues are untrue, what is there to believe in? Even those who condense Him down to love always and only defy scripture, which defines true love as obedience to His commands. (John 14:15; 2 John 6)
Was he merely misled or misrepresented, resulting in our being misled and misdirected? Was he deluded or deranged, leaving us open to the charge of following a madman? Was he a liar, making liars of us all? If so, his death was unnecessary, his burial final, his resurrection a hoax. To what purpose? Material gain, fame, respect? Some church leaders did later achieve these but the originators of these lies – if indeed that’s what they were – gained only a fugitive lifestyle, poverty and martyrdom. If there is no resurrection, no judgment, no reward according to our response to his word, then there is no difference between any of us and no over-riding purpose in doing better; no hope for the here-and-now let alone the here-after.
But what if his birth, life and death were foretold by prophets of old? (Is. 7:14; Micah 5:2; Is. 53, Psalm 22) He really was born of a virgin? (Is. 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23) He actually did heal the sick and raise the dead? (Is. 35:5,6; Matthew 8:1-13; John 11:1-44) His reason for being was to save sinners? (John 3:16, Luke 19:10; Luke 23:39-43) He did indeed miraculously feed the hungry, console the needy and direct the lost? (Matthew 14:13-21, John 8:1-11, John 4:1-26) What if he really was our substitute sacrifice on the cross? (Is. 53:7, John 1:29)
Did his death have a purpose? (Colossians 1:19-20, Rom. 5:10,1 Corinthians 6:20) Was His burial an end and a beginning, a sign of more to come? (Matthew 12:38-42) His resurrection from the grave the planned completion of God’s purpose and man’s salvation? (Hebrews 7:27) How much difference would it make if he really has the power and authority he claimed to have? (Matthew 26:64, Matthew 28:18) A reasonable person would acknowledge that it changes everything!
And if those things are indeed true, then what about the rest of his promises? Will he return to gather us up to himself in anticipation of reward? (Matthew 16:27) Will there be a judgment day where we all appear before God either to be shown mercy through the blood of Christ or punishment as a result of our own ignorance and indifference to that sacrifice? (Ephesians 2:4, Hebrews 10:26-29) If so, it must change everything!
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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