Gospel Meeting September 25-30, 2011

Mt. Baker church of Christ
Gospel Meeting

Evangelist
Marc Smith
(Hewitt, Texas)

Bible lessons nightly, Mon-Fri at 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 25^th at 9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM     

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This Bible question was received this week, and is followed by my reply (with slight modification due to length).

"I just wanted to make a comment on the question that was asked about whether the first 6 days God created were actually 24 hr days. I completely believe that God could snap His finger or clap His hands and anything He wanted to create or wanted to happen would be so. But the Bible also says (I can't remember where it is) that "to God, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day". Kind of confusing at times."

Let’s see if we can remove some of the confusion you appear to have about the length of the days of creation.

The verse you mentioned is from 2 Peter 3:8 (“that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”), and illustrates the timelessness of God. He is not restricted by time – He is eternal. In Peter’s context, those who were saying the Lord was slack in keeping His promise were forgetting that He is not restricted by time; God will keep His word and punish ungodly men (2 Pet. 3:4-10). This is the point Peter is making as he assures his readers that God will keep His promise; He will return in judgment. God is not slack concerning His promise; He is not bound by time.

This does not at all change the force of the word of God that says God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them in six days (six, 24-hour periods of time).

First, the Genesis 1 account says they are 24-hour days (“day” and “night”; “evening” and “morning” were the first day, second day, etc.). If the inspired writer Moses meant "ages" he could have said so. But, he said “day” because each creative day had an evening and a morning; each were 24 hours in length (Gen. 1:14).

Next, please notice in Exodus 20:8-11 (when God spoke to Israel from Mt. Sinai and gave them the 10 commandments) that the six-day Hebrew work week is set in comparison to God’s six-day work week of creation (see also, Exodus 31:13-18). God worked six days and rested (ceased) from His work on the seventh day (Gen. 1:31-2:2). Likewise, Israel was to work six days and rest from work on the seventh day (the Sabbath). Just as Israel's days of work were 24-hour days, so also were God's days of creation. Otherwise, the comparison is meaningless.

Yes, God could create however He wanted. He chose to speak His creation into existence ("God said..."), and to do so in six days. Notice Psalm 33:6-9:

⁶ By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.  ⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. ⁸ Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. ⁹ For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

We need not be confused when the Bible says "in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them" (Exo. 20:11). Bible believers have full confidence that creation occurred just as recorded in Genesis One - in six, 24-hour days. The eternal God assures us in His word that it is so.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Are you happy? How are you defining it?
2. God’s definition contains faith, moral purity and service to God and others, 1 Pet. 3:10-12 (Matt. 5:3-12). (Blessed, 1 Pet 3:9)
3. God wants your happiness as He defines it, Eccl. 3:12-13; 9:7-9. Jno. 16:22, 33

I. UNDERSTANDING HAPPINESS (Joy).

  A. Happiness: A State of Mind, an Attitude of Heart, Jno. 14:1, 27; 16:22; 2 Cor. 6:10
  B. To Build a Happy/Joyful Life, Build Faith in God, Heb. 13:5-6; Phil. 4:10-13; Eph. 1:3 (Phil. 4:4).

II. THINGS OF EARTH DO NOT GIVE LASTING HAPPINESS, Eccl. 2:3 (1:13).

  A. "Life's a Party" (pleasure), Eccl. 2:1-2 (Prov. 14:13; Lk. 12:19; Eccl. 7:2-4).
  B. "The One with the Most Toys, Wins!" (material possessions), Eccl. 2:8-11 (Lk. 12:15-21); 4:7-8; 5:10-11; Matt. 19:21-22.
  C. "I've Got it all Figured Out!" (wisdom), Eccl. 2:12-17; 8:16-17; 1 Cor. 1:21.
  D. "See What I have Done!" (labor), Eccl. 2:18-23; 5:13-17; 1 Ths. 4:11-12.
  E. "I've Finally Made it!" (success), Eccl. 4:4-6; 1 Tim. 6:6-8.
  F. "When I Do/Get that, I'll be Happy!" (fulfilling desires), Eccl. 6:7-9; Phil. 4:11f .

III.    THINGS WE MUST HAVE TO HAVE A HAPPY LIFE.

  A. Fear God and Obey Him, Eccl. 12:13.
  B. Remove Your Sins in God’s Way. (Acts 2:41-42; 8:22 (Acts 16:27, 34)
  C. Seek First the Things of God, Matt. 6:33.
  D. Pray Often, 1 Jno. 5:14; Phil. 4:4-7.
  E. Count Your Blessings, 1 Tim. 6:7-8.
  F. Patient Faith, Isa. 40:27-31.

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Last Things

1. Eschatology is the study of last things.
2. False doctrines re. “last things” distort the covenants, the promises of God, the church and the Christian’s hope, 2 Tim. 2:15-18; 2 Pet. 3:16-18.

I. THE LAST DAYS OF THE JEWISH NATION, Matt. 23:37-24:2.

  A. Israel Rejected the Messiah, therefore, Israel was Judged by God. Lk. 17:26-30, 37
  B. Jesus Announced the End of the Jewish Nation, Matt. 24:3-14 (14), Matt. 24:25-31; Matt. 24:31; cf. Rom. 11:1-7.

II. THESE LAST DAYS, Heb. 1:1-2.

  A. God has Revealed Himself (His Will) to Mankind from the Beginning of Time, Rom. 1:19.
    1. The Patriarchal Age (Adam to Moses), Rom. 5:14; Jno. 7:22; Acts 7:8-9.
    2. The Mosaic Age (Moses to Christ), Matt. 17:3-5; Acts 3:19; Rom. 9:3-5; Gal. 3:24-25.
    3. The Gospel Age (Christ to the end of ages), Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:4-8; Isa. 11:10-12; Rom. 11:5; 15:12; Acts 3:19-23; He. 9:9-10 (Isa. 49: 5-6).

III.  THE LAST DAY.

  A. Day of Resurrection, Jno. 6:39-40, 44, 54; 11:23-24; 1 Cor. 15:52 (1 Ths. 4:16).
  B. Day of Judgment, Jno. 12:48; Matt. 25:31-33 (46); Rev. 20:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10.
  C. A Day of Reward, 2 Tim. 4:8, 18; 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:4-5; 2 Pet. 1:10-11; Phil. 3:20-21.

Conclusion
     Preterism defines everything from the end of the Jewish nation (AD 70). By doing so it distorts and corrupts the covenants, the promises, the church and our hope. Reject and resist, 2 Tim. 2:16-18; Jude 3-4; Rom. 16:17.

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We begin by honoring those who gave their lives ten years ago at One World Trade Center. Hundreds of firefighters, policemen and first responders put themselves in harms' way, and many died on 9/11 trying to rescue others. Their sacrifices are burned into our national consciousness. They are remembered and valued as courageous heroes, along with all who lost their lives at ground zero that day.

     Memory keeps values alive. The Bibles teaches and exhorts us to remember for the good of our souls.

     1) Remember the death of Jesus Christ. This Christians do each Lord's day when we eat the Lord's Supper. "Do this in remembrance of me" is not a trite slogan etched on a table in our assembly hall, nor is it a mere suggestion made by Jesus long ago. It is a commandment that every disciple of Christ faithfully obeys (Lk. 22:19). Every first day of the week, His disciples gather to discern the Lord's body and thus eating and drinking in a worthy manner (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:27-29). When you eat the supper; remember.

     2) Remember Lot's wife (Lk. 17:32). Because she did not believe the Lord's messengers, she disobeyed their warning of "do not look behind you" and was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:17, 26). Jesus warned that His judgment against Jerusalem (in AD 70) would come upon its unsuspecting citizenry suddenly (Lk. 17:26-30). His disciples must remember Lot's wife and flee when they see the signs of His coming judgment (Lk. 17:31-37; Matt. 24:15-41). When they saw the eagles (Rome) gathering around the carcass (Jerusalem): remember Lot's wife.

     3) Remember the Lord keeps His promises. Do not forget that God is not bound by the constraints of time: He is eternal (2 Pet. 3:8-9). When some mock the promise of His coming to judge the world: Believers must remember, and be holy (2 Pet. 3:11).

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