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Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. --Genesis 11:9 What a scene it must have been when the survivors of Noah’s Flood began to build the Tower of Babel.  They were determined to build a monument to their pride and as their way of trying to approach God on their own terms. It’s hard to imagine the arrogance of that act, or the confusion that must have reigned in Babel as mighty and intelligent men began speaking different languages for the first time. The Tower of Babel is a real historical event, but it is also an illustration of society even today. Men and women in our day are just like the proud people of Babel . . . believing they know everything there is to know and therefore can approach God on their own terms. The Lord states many times in the Scripture that He detests arrogance and pride. “Haughty eyes” (Proverbs 6:17), or a proud look, is first on the list of things that God hates. People today are building towers to try and reach heaven; not physical structures, but towers of pride and self-sufficiency. God honors a humble heart.  So don’t let the world fool you into thinking you need to be self-sufficient, rather reach up to God with with an open hand and heart to receive His grace each day.   GOD HATES PRIDE…BUT HONORS HUMILITY!

The Reality of Hell

Friday, May 10, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”

Luke 16:22–24

In his biography of Lee Roberson, Always About His Father’s Business James Wigton wrote: “Lee Roberson never lost his burden for souls. In 2004, when he was 95 years of age, he was asked to give the closing prayer at a meeting with the International Board of Jewish Missions in Chattanooga. He walked to the pulpit and declared, ‘I want to say one word—Hell. Men are dying and going to Hell. We must reach them.’ And then with tears streaming down the cheeks of his face, he offered the closing prayer.”

Hell is not the joke that our society makes it out to be. It is not metaphorical, but literal. It is not temporary, but eternal. It is not comfort, but pain. It is not hope, but despair. And Hell is the eternal destination for every person who does not accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. The fact that as Christians we need have no fear of going to that place of torment should not make us complacent. Even people in Hell want to keep others from going there, like the rich man Jesus described. “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27–28). Yet too often Christians are casual when it comes to warning others about eternity.

Today's Growth Principle: 

The reality of Hell should be a constant motivation for us to share the gospel with everyone we can.

Question: "What does it mean to work out salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)?"

Answer: In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his purpose.” 

This text is often misused to instill fear into people, warning them that it means that they can lose salvation. What does it mean to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Paul can hardly be encouraging believers to live in a continuous condition of nervousness and anxiety. That would contradict his many other exhortations to peace of mind, courage, and confidence in the God who authors our salvation. The Greek word translated "fear" in this context can equally mean "reverence" or "respect." Paul uses the same phrase in (2 Corinthians 7:15) where he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the Corinthians’ reception of him “with fear and trembling,” that is, with great humility and respect for his position as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in “weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3), mindful of the great and awesome nature of the work in which he was engaged.

The sense in which we are to work out our salvation in fear and trembling is twofold. First, the Greek verb rendered “work out” means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition." We do this by actively pursuing obedience in the process of sanctification, which Paul explains further in the next chapter of Philippians. He describes himself as “straining” and “pressing on” toward the goal of Christlikeness (Philippians 3:13-14). The “trembling” he experiences is the attitude Christians are to have in pursuing this goal—a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and an awe and respect for His majesty and holiness. "Trembling" can also refer to a shaking due to weakness, but this is a weakness of higher purpose, one which brings us to a state of dependency on God. Obedience and submission to the God we revere and respect is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2) and brings great joy. Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” We work out our salvation by going to the very source of our salvation—the Word of God—wherein we renew our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2), coming into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.