NT Framework - A Scary Place

It is God's goodness that draws us to Him. It is His peace which comforts us. And yet, there is a rather terrifying aspect to faith that we need to consider as we interact with others.

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

Chapters

• 0:00 Setting The Topic: Resurrection
• 0:56 Why The Bible Feels Dangerous
• 2:06 Resurrection As History’s Last Word
• 4:26 Acts 17 And The Call To Repent
• 6:40 Proof In A Risen Judge
• 8:20 Creation, Fall, And Fixed Judgment

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.

SPEAKER_01: 0:10

All right. The fourth point and the last point we'll look at is the scary one. Now, uh res uh a few words of preface about this. There's one book in the world that is the most dangerous book. Bring it up in any conversation with other people very quickly, all of a sudden there's this odd feeling in the conversation. People intuitively know and are threatened by the Bible. Why is that? Well, one of the chief reasons is because of the resurrection. I mean, the resurrection is the last word in history. And there's somebody who's already been raised. This means, what does this ultimately mean? There's been a resurrection. What did we say? Uh the first lesson on resurrection. We said, no other religion in the world did their founder rise from the dead. Muhammad didn't rise from the dead, he's dead. He's done. Joseph Smith didn't come back from the dead. He's done. Moses didn't come back from the dead. He's he's dead. Only Jesus Christ ever rose from the dead. No founders of any other so-called religion ever rose from the dead. This uh as uh as George Vlad said in this first sentence, Jesus' resurrection is not an isolated event that gives to men the warm confidence and hope of a future resurrection. Why does he say it doesn't give to men the warm confidence and hope of a future resurrection? Because they're afraid. The resurrection signals that we're gonna be held accountable for our actions. Accountability. Accountability. That is the number one fear of people in the world. That one day they will actually be judged and held accountable for what they've done. Everybody today likes to claim victim. I'm just a victim. That is the most that is the number one sense that we get from the outside world. Everybody's just a victim. I'm a victim. I'm a victim. This is the exact opposite idea. It's the idea that no, you're not a victim, you're personally responsible for what you've done, and you will stand before the judge. So the resurrection is a very fearful thing for the world, and that's one of the reasons they're very reticent to have discussions about the Bible. Because the Bible is a book about ultimate responsibility and judgment. So this last point, the fourth point, is that the resurrection fixes a day of judgment for the world. Let's turn to Acts 17. Acts 17. Paul's address on Mars Hill in Athens. And he was preaching to them in chapter 17, Jesus in the resurrection. They said, Hey, hey, come stand before the Areopagus, this official group that evaluates all the philosophical and religious teachings in Athens. Tell us more about this teaching which you are proclaiming. As he does, he comes to what turned out to be the end of his address in verse 30, where Paul says, Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, that's times before Christ, right? The time of darkness, people didn't see clearly. He says, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent. Everyone should have a change of mind. God is declaring that now. Why? Well, because we live in the last days. That's why. Because time's running out. There's no guarantee for tomorrow. None. You have no guarantee. I have no guarantee. But it's okay, right? Because we're what? We're believers. We're not worried. Now, the world a little bit worried, but here he is, he's saying, he's he's uh declaring to men everywhere on the planet that they should repent. Have a change of mind, obviously, about the Lord Christ. Why? Because he has fixed a day. That's this whole point, right? The resurrection is now established that there's a fixed day in which he will judge the world in righteousness through a man who he has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by what? Raising him from the dead. I mean, have you cont I mean, do you contemplate the resurrection? I mean, do you sometimes just sit there and think about it? Like, are you kidding me? A dead body put in it bones, muscles, organs, hair, eyes, ears, teeth, dead. I mean, what happens if stuff dies? Yeah. Nobody wants to think about that. But on the third day, that body was supernaturally, miraculously transformed into an immortal body just like that. And this is that's kind of radical. That's the way we're viewing history, that something truly radical has transpired. And so now you've got obviously this individual who is judge of the world, and the day is fixed. Let's look at this this diagram that I showed many, many eons ago in connection with the fall. Okay, we have creation, Genesis 1 and 2, the falls in chapter 3. We obviously have the creator at the top, he's always good. Okay, no beginning or no end. Those little infinity symbols, right? So God has always been good. He's nothing but good, right? And he has no what happened. What do you want me to do? I don't know what to do. I can't change anything. Restart what? Well, let's try this. There, good. See the creator there, good, infinitely on either end. Okay, then he creates something. And you've got at creation, everything's very good. Remember, God's looked at all he'd made, and behold, it was very what? Good. No sin, no suffering, no pain, no death, no crying, no tears, nothing. Everything's very good. Then we have the fall of Adam and Eve, and at that point, evil is introduced into this sphere, into this realm. At that point, you've got a mixture, right, of good and evil. And that's where we live. We live in a mixture today of good and evil. But see, a day is coming, and that's what Acts 17, 31 is saying. He has fixed a day in which he will judge the world. Judgment, you see judgment on the chart. That's what is that? That's the separation of good and evil. That's when those who believed will be separated out from those who have not believed. And see, that's the scary thought for unbelief. I mean, they this is what the world does with the with our ideas and with the Christian God. They say, well, if God is so loving and he's so powerful, then why hasn't he removed evil? Right? This is one of the this is probably the main charge against Christianity from non-Christians. Well, he's going to. See? He's going to. But do they like this idea of how he does it? No. They don't like this idea. But he will do this. Just right now, he's just exercising patience. 2 Peter 3:9, he's patient, giving men opportunity to repent, to have a change of mind about their course, right? But he is definitely going to judge. But see, that's the thing. That's the end. Okay? Once you're in the resurrection, it's everything is fixed. You can't change your position, okay? And that's a very scary thought. So the Bible and the resurrection, these are not ideas that people who are out there in the world are very fond of, because it fixes your position forever, and that's a very scary place to be.

SPEAKER_00: 8:47

Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube, UnderSpook and Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app. And until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.