The Dickens You Say...

Lucifer

2011-04-28T16:48:00.000-06:00

Why was Lucifer considered evil and why was he kicked out of heaven?

Two passages are key to understanding the origin and fall of Lucifer.

Ezekiel 28:11-19 - Here he is referred to as the King Of Tyre but the text could only apply to Lucifer.

- He was the seal of perfection, in the Garden of Eden , and the anointed cherub.

- He was perfect in all of his ways until iniquity was found in him (v.15).

- He was then cast out of the mountain of God.

What was his iniquity? Here we go to Isaiah 14:12-14.

- How you are fallen O Lucifer, son of the morning.

- Then we have the five "I wills" of Lucifer.

1. I will ascend into heaven.

2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

3. I will sit on the mount of the congregation.

4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

5. I will be like the Most High.

Lucifer sought to replace God with himself. He was the first traitor and rebel against God. He desires to be served instead of serving. He suffered from the pride that he was like God. For this offense he was

cast out.

Version of the Bible

2011-01-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Which English version of the Bible is the best translation and why?

This varies depending on who you talk to. For myself, I was raised reading the KJV and I have enjoyed using in recent years the NKJV because it retains a lot of the language and style of the KJV. When I was in college and seminary a lot of people used the New American Standard and touted it as the most accurate translation, even though it is not the most readable. I found the NIV to be very readable.

However, the best translation is the one you like to read because it will be the one you read the most. Try the different versions and find the one you enjoy.

2010-12-01T08:50:00.002-07:00

Q. 4 Was Jesus crucified on the traditionally accepted version of the cross, or on a stake as many Christians are now arguing. Could you please clarify for me?

Jesus was probably crucified on something similar to the traditional cross. They have found skeletons of people who had been crucified and the marks on the bones match what we would expect to find from a traditional cross.

Q. 5 How would you answer the question, "What is sin?" to an unbeliever who truly does not understand the concept of sin? I've read many answers and commentaries which are easily understood by a believer, but for someone who truly thinks individuals are born good or bad, how would one explain sin to them. My "brilliant" explanations were lost on these individuals. I'm really thinking it is more a spiritual blindness than anything.

C. S Lewis states in Mere Christianity that there is a “ Rule of Fair Play” everyone seems to be born with as evidenced by such statements as: Hey I was here first; You promised to give me some of that; How would you like it if someone did the same to you. When we make these statements we are appealing to a standard of behavior. We expect people to live to this standard of Right and Wrong. Even nonbelievers act this way. Lewis argues that this sense of wrong is the beginning of understanding what sin is.

Miscellaneous Questions

2010-09-02T19:29:00.000-06:00

Q. 1     I keep hearing how it is not of our volition that we come to salvation but because God chose us before the foundations of the earth (somewhere in Roms?). Yet the Bible says that all are called but not all answer. How can both be true? If God predestined some to come when He called, but not all, then how can He send anyone to Hell?

Actually, it is Ephesians 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” We have two things going here that we need to examine. First he chose us in Him, God chooses what the believer will act like when he/she is saved; i.e. holy and without blame. However, this does not negate the choice that we have to make as a result of free will. We choose either to be in Christ and accept his promise or we choose to reject it. God predestines the path of the called but not the one who will answer the call.

Q.2     If God can take the scales off of the eyes of someone like Saul and change him into the man of integrity, Paul, why doesn't He do that type of thing for everyone?

What do we do with Saul of Tarsus? First, note several factors leading up to his conversion. Stephen witnessed to him and died in front of him. This had a profound impact on Saul as evidenced by Jesus referring to the goads that were troubling Saul. Second, Saul had designed his whole life to be pleasing to God. He was going to persecute Christians as a testament of his zeal for God. The combination of the two puts Saul in a unique place there on the road.

Q. 3       A friend told me the Bible says the purpose of "men" is to glorify God. Where is that in the Bible?

That is actually from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It cites the following texts to support the statement: Ps. 86; Is. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; I Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11.