WORLD-VIEW

I’ve always been amazed that so many Christians can read the same Bible and have many different beliefs. This is why there are so many different denominations. I’m also amazed when several scientists view the same archaeological evidence, and come to very different conclusions, especially concerning the age of the earth, dinosaurs, and other fossils.

It’s the same with politics. Democrats and Republicans are now so far apart in beliefs and ideas that it seems there’s not even a few issues we can agree on. It all comes down to our worldview. Our worldview, or how we look at the world, determines everything else we believe, as well as how we act, and how we treat others in our everyday lives.

That’s why it’s very important to have a “Biblical Worldview.” In other words, we need to see the world through the lens of God’s holy word, the Bible. You may ask, What good is a biblical worldview when there are so many different opinions, and interpretations of God’s word? That’s a good question. The answer is simple. The Bible says spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:13-14). Jesus said, Everyone must be born again (John 3: 1-7).

There are many people who claim to be Christians, but do not bear the fruits of a Christian. Jesus said his Born Again followers will be known by their fruits, which are the works or deeds that they do (Matthew 7:16). Nobody knows everything, no matter how close we are to God, but if a person is not born again, with the Holy Spirit living inside, they cannot understand the Bible correctly.

Unfortunately, there are many people who have not been born again, but claim to be Christians simply because they believe God exists. They don’t believe IN God, they just believe there IS a God, and they think that makes them a Christian. When Jesus returns, those people will be in the group that Jesus tells to depart from him because he never knew them. They never knew him, nor had a relationship with him.

The Bible is an awesome book. It’s God’s instructions to every human on how to be saved, and what to do after we’re saved. We need the Holy Spirit to help us understand the word of God, and to help us carry out his instructions.

If you haven’t been born again and become a new creature with the Holy Spirit living in your mind, then you’re not saved. Just believing that God exists does not save us. The Bible says the demons believe, but they’re certainly not saved (James 2:9). We must be born again for the blood of Jesus to wash away our sins, and to inherit eternal life.

Jesus loves you so much that he suffered and died to save you. He wants you to live with him forever, so don’t wait another minute. Trust in Jesus right now. Repent and be born again, and receive eternal life (Romans 6:23; John 3:16).

———————————————–
My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com

© 2024 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6

PELEG AND THE DIVIDED EARTH

Genesis chapter 10 briefly mentions a man named Peleg and says the earth was divided in his days. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Peleg, but we can uncover more than we see at first glance by looking at the scriptures surrounding the introduction of this man. For one, we know that he lived after the great worldwide flood because he was a descendant of Shem, one of Noah’s sons. He was actually Shem’s great, great, grandson.

Genesis 10:22
22 The children of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram….
24 Arphaxad had Salah;
and Salah had Eber.
25 Eber had two sons: the name of one was Peleg; because the earth was divided in his days, and his brother’s name was Joktan.

This is the genealogy of Noah’s descendants after the flood. The genealogy record in 1 Chronicles 1:19 says the same thing about Peleg that Genesis does; “the Earth was divided in his days.” What does that mean?

Well, some Christians believe this verse may confirm the evolutionary theory about Pangaea, where a great land mass or supercontinent broke up and formed the continents we now have. The Bible does say that God made one great land mass when he separated the water from the dry land on the third day of creation week, but the waters of the global flood drastically changed the surface of the earth while it rained for forty days, and during the time it covered the earth, and as the water receded.

Peleg was born almost 200 years after the flood. As I always say, we need to look to the Bible to develop our beliefs, not to the secular world that rejects God and teaches evolution. Let’s look at verses 1 and 5 of Genesis chapter 10.

Genesis 10:1
1 These are the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; sons were born to them after the flood.

Genesis 10:5
5 By these men, the lands of the Gentiles were divided on the earth by languages, families, and nations.

How does that verse say the earth was divided?
By men. Mere humans. Specifically, the descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah (Genesis 10:1).

What kind of division was it?
The land (Earth) was divided by languages, families, and nations.

One of Noah’s great-grandsons was Nimrod. Genesis 10:10 says the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and three other cities. Genesis 11:1-9 tells us about the Tower of Babel and says everyone on earth spoke the same language at that time; there was only one. Then the sons of men started building the tower to reach high into the sky to make a name for themselves, and to be honored by the people (Genesis 11:1-9).

God saw what they were doing, so he came down and confused their languages so they couldn’t continue building the tower, and he scattered them across the Earth (Genesis 11:5-9). Look at these next verses closely.

Genesis 10:31-32
31 These were the sons of Shem, by their families, and their languages, in their lands, and their nations.
32 These were the descendants of the sons of Noah, in their generations, in their nations: and by them, the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.

Genesis 10:5
5 By these men, the lands of the Gentiles were divided on the earth by languages, families, and nations.

So clearly, the earth was divided in Peleg’s day by Families, Languages, and Nations. This is a good example of how to study the Bible. Search the scriptures, and compare scriptures to understand all the Bible says about any subject. God bless you in your study of his holy word.

———————————————–
My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com

© 2023 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6

WHERE WAS THE TV GOING?

Almost every morning on my way to work, I see the same little gray car headed East as I drive West. I guess I see a lot of the same cars every day, but I don’t really pay that much attention to them. Most cars these days look so similar that not many stand out. I probably notice the little gray Chevette because it’s an older, unique, car, and I had one exactly like it when I was younger, but this story is not about either of those cars. Let me explain.

Early, one Autumn morning, I was driving to work as usual. I was in the right Westbound lane, listening to the radio, minding my own business when a car slowly started to pass me in the left Westbound lane. I don’t even know what kind of car it was, now that I think about it. I think it was gray, but I’m not even sure about that. Something else grabbed my attention and that’s all I could focus on at the time. As the car advanced from beside me, I looked over as it slowly passed by. As I looked at the car, I noticed there was a big wide-screen TV box in the back seat.

As the car slowly faded from my sight, I began to wonder about a few things. Where were they going? Where were they coming from? Was the TV, brand new? Were they taking it home to set it up or were they returning it to the store where they purchased it? Were they taking it to be repaired? Was there even a TV in the box? Was it just an empty box they were using for something else? The questions seemed endless.

I thought this lingering interest in the TV box was a little strange myself, and you may think I’m a complete nut, but I kept thinking about it and drew some interesting parallels and conclusions.

We all see people every day headed down the road of life. We usually have no idea where they’re going nor where they’ll end up. Most of us probably don’t think twice about them unless they affect us somehow. We don’t know how rocky the road they’re on really is. We don’t even know which road they’re on; the narrow road that leads to heaven or the wide road that leads to hell. Some would say that’s nobody’s business, but if we’re Christians, we have a responsibility to them, and to God, to reach out to them and make sure they know that there’s a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun. Many unsaved people have no idea that by not choosing Jesus, they’re choosing Satan by default. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30). There’s no middle ground.

So, take an interest in people; where they go, and what they do. What’s going on in their lives and in their families? Not to judge them, or gossip about them, but to know what their situation is. To understand what their immediate, personal needs are, and how we can help them; Be kind. Be a friend. Then you’ll know what, and how to be praying for them. You’ll find out their immediate situation, and their spiritual condition. Are they saved? Do they have a relationship with Jesus or are they bound for hell fire? Again, not to judge or gossip, but to help them.

Prayer is the most important thing you can do for anybody, but don’t stop there. Have you ever heard the phrase, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care?” That’s an interesting statement, and it’s certainly true. Many people think they have everything figured out. They think that knowing and believing that “there IS a God” is the same as “knowing God”, but that’s not the case at all. We get to know God by reading his word and communicating with him through prayer.

Many people miss what Jesus told Nicodemus that night so long ago. He said, “Everyone must be born again” (John 3:3-7). Referring to this, Paul said we are changed, and become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). We’re recreated or “born again.” When we’re born again, our past sins are forgiven, and the Holy Spirit comes to live in our minds to lead and guide us and change us. That’s what we all need. It’s what we must all have if we want that eternal life to spend with Jesus. If you don’t have eternal life yet, please, turn to Jesus today and be saved. He’s eagerly waiting to give you the peace and comfort of salvation.

———————————————–
My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com

© 2020 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6

A BOY, A SNAKE, TWO WOLVES, AND A SONG

When I was young, my grandmother told me a story about a young boy and a snake. The boy’s mother gave him some milk with some cornbread mixed with it. Like he had done the last few times she fed him, he took his food and went outside.

When she decided to go out and see what he was doing, she found him sitting by the rock chimney feeding a snake. It scared her so bad that she grabbed her son and ran back into the house with him, and began checking him to see if he had been bitten. I don’t remember if there was a moral to the story, or if it was even true. My grandmother was part Native American, and she told us lots of stories from Native American culture as well as fairy tales, from children’s books.

There are many old Indian tales that are very interesting. Like the one about how snakes got their poison, and the one about how the world was created. I like the one about the two wolves living inside every person. It is a metaphor explaining the two natures that we all have. The good nature and the bad one. The moral of that story is that whichever one you feed will be the strongest.

This same idea can be found in the Bible. There, it refers to the old man of sin and the new man in Christ. Whichever one we feed will grow strong and thrive. There’s a good little kid's song that I learned very early in my childhood that came from that very idea. It says,

“Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.”

“Oh, be careful little ears what you hear.”

“For the Father up above is looking down in love.

So be careful little eyes what you see (hear).”

That’s a great little song with a great big message. We have to guard our minds and be careful about what we see and hear. That’s what God tells us throughout the Bible.

Proverbs 4:23 says, Guard your heart (mind) with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

We have to be careful where we go, and what we say and do as well. Those are other lines in the song. 1st Thessalonians 5:22 says, Refrain from all forms of evil. 

The first verse in the book of Job tells us that Job was a holy man that revered God and went out of his way to avoid evil. If we want to remain holy we have to do the same thing. We have to be careful where we go.

Both the song and the Bible also show us that we should watch what we say and do. This is very important. When I was a young Christian, I remember hearing a few older Christians cursing. I’ll never forget how shocked I was. I couldn’t believe a saved person would say things like that. Then I learned that many Christians don’t see anything wrong with it at all, but the Bible says they’re wrong.

2 Timothy 2:16 

16 But shun profane and vain talking: for they will lead to more ungodliness.

Did you get that? Using profanity leads to ungodliness. People who want to be godly should avoid profanity. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said, "...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Our words show what’s in our hearts. I know that to be true from my own personal experience.

James 1:26 

26 If any of you think you are religious and don’t bridle your tongue, but you deceive your own heart, your religion is worthless.

“So be careful little (and big) lips what you say.”

Don’t be buddies with the snake. Feed the good wolf and avoid all evil like it’s the Plague, and grow more godly.

For an in-depth study of what God says about using profanity read What’s Wrong With Using Profanity?

———————————————–
My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com

© 2017 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

What must I do to be saved? That’s a good question. It’s a question many have asked. I asked that question many years ago. So did the prison guard in Acts 16:30. Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison after preaching the gospel in the city of Thyatira and casting a demon out of a possessed fortuneteller. They were praying at midnight, and everybody in the prison heard them. Then there was an earthquake and all the doors opened, and the chains fell off all the prisoners. The guard woke up and thought they had all escaped, so he was about to take his own life. Paul yelled out and told him not to hurt himself because they were all still there. Then the guard got a light and ran to where Paul and Silas were. He fell on his knees, shaking. Then he asked them the question, “What must I do to be saved?”

There are several different beliefs on salvation; how we receive it, and how it’s applied to the debt we all owe. We’re born into this world already sinners, because Adam chose to sin, and passed that sinful nature along to all his descendants. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death;” Wages are something we earn. It’s our reward for the work we have done. In this case, not good work. By sinning, we have earned death. We all deserve to die because we are all sinners.

Now, most Christians will agree with me on that point, and most will agree that Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life as a man, and died to save the human race. By the way, did you know that just the death of Jesus alone was not enough to save us? Without his resurrection, the plan would have been incomplete (1 Cor. 15:12-23). He died and rose again to save us from sin.

Still, there are several different beliefs on how salvation works. Some believe you have to work and earn salvation. Some believe we have to be perfect before God will even consider doing anything for us. Still, others believe the death of Jesus on the cross secures everyone who will ever live, and we don’t have to do anything or change anything to be saved. They say everyone is saved, simply because Jesus died to save us. Well, as you know, I like to see what the Bible says, so let’s do that now.

First, let me say that the Bible is clear that we are saved by grace, through faith, and there is nothing we can do to EARN salvation. That grace comes from God (1 John 1:17), and faith comes from God (Romans 12:3 Heb. 12:2), so do we have to do anything to be saved?

Bro. Charles Spurgeon said in order “to be saved, we must first know that we need saving, and what we need to be saved from. We must know that salvation is available, and we must know where to go, and what to do to receive it.” All that comes from HEARING. God gives us faith (Romans 12:3 Heb. 12:2), and that faith comes from hearing the word of God.

Romans 10:17 
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2 Timothy 3:15 
“And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

The next few verses show that we are saved through faith.

Ephesians 2:8a 
“For by grace you are saved through faith;”

Romans 5:1 
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Acts 15:9 
“And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts through faith.”

Romans 1:17 
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Romans 3:22 
“Even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”

Clearly, righteousness comes by faith, and faith comes by hearing the word of God. We have to HEAR the word to BELIEVE.

John 5:24
“I tell you the truth, they that HEAR my word, and BELIEVE in him who sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Acts 16:31 
“And they said, BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your house.”

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever BELIEVES in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

Romans 1:16 
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVES; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

These verses show that we have to BELIEVE in Jesus to be saved. This next point is a subject of controversy, but if you believe God’s word it’s clear. The next few verses show us that Jesus is the ONLY WAY TO BE SAVED.

John 14:6 
“Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father but through me.”

Acts 4:12 
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

John 3:36 
“He that BELIEVES in the Son hath everlasting life, and he that BELIEVES not the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

So to recap, we must first HEAR the word of God. Specifically, the gospel, which is the good news about Jesus coming to save us. Then we must BELIEVE in the Son of God. What else must we do?

Matthew 4:17 
“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Acts 3:19 
“So REPENT, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Acts 26:20 
“But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should REPENT and turn to God, and do works fit for repentance.”

Revelation 3:3 
“So remember how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and REPENT.”

Revelation 3:19 
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: so be zealous, and REPENT.”

Luke 13:3 
“I tell you, No: but, except you REPENT, you will all likewise perish.”

We must HEAR the word of God. We must BELIEVE in God and his Son. We must REPENT, which means to reconsider or think differently (to turn away from sin). Is there anything else?

1 John 1:9 
“If we CONFESS our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

If we don’t CONFESS, the opposite is true.

Romans 10:9-10
“If you will CONFESS with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will BELIEVE in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 
Because with the heart man BELIEVES unto righteousness, and with the mouth CONFESSION is made unto salvation.”

So in addition to HEARING, BELIEVING, and REPENTING, we must also CONFESS our sins to God, and CONFESS Jesus with our mouths.

Acts 2:38 
“Then Peter said to them, REPENT, and be BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:16 
“He that BELIEVES and is BAPTIZED will be saved, but he that BELIEVES not will be damned.”

Matthew 3:15 
“And Jesus answering said to him, Allow it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.”

1 Peter 3:21 
“The like figure whereunto even BAPTISM does also now save us (not the washing away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

Many argue that BAPTISM doesn’t save us, and they’re right. BAPTISM alone won’t do anything for us, but it is part of the salvation process, and it is necessary. Jesus received the Holy Spirit after he was BAPTIZED (Mark 3:16). He and his disciples all gave us an example to follow (Matthew 3:13, Mark 1:5, Acts 9:18). Like most church doctrines, baptism is not a suggestion, it’s a command.

Acts 10:48a 
“And he COMMANDED them to be BAPTIZED in the name of the Lord.”

Acts 2:38 
“Then Peter said to them, REPENT, and be BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The last thing is to LIVE a GODLY life.

After we’re saved, we need to live a holy life. We can’t do this on our own. We can only do it by trusting in Jesus to guide us. We’re not perfect, but God wants us to aim for perfection. Jude 1:24 says he is able to keep us from sinning, but we have to allow him to do so. We grow as Christians by getting to know Jesus through reading the Bible and communicating with him daily through prayer. We need him to give us the strength to overcome sin in our lives. The closer we get to him, the further away from sin we will grow, and before we know it, we are a completely different person. We become holy, but as I said it is through the work of Jesus. A close, personal relationship with him is essential. This involves talking to him, and listening to him, and obeying him.

If we continue to live the same old life, without listening to God, and allowing him to change us, then we will grow further away from him, and we will be lost.

Ezekiel 18:21-22
“But IF the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he will surely live, he will not die. All the sins that he has committed, will not be mentioned to him. In his righteousness that he hath done, he will live.”

That’s salvation. Now, look at this next verse closely.

Ezekiel 18:24
“But when the RIGHTEOUS turns away from his righteousness, and commits sin, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked do, shall he live? ALL his righteousness that he has done will NOT be mentioned. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them, he will die.”

In John 10:27-28, Jesus said, No one is able to pluck his sheep out of his hand. But, 2 Chronicles 15:2 says, If we forsake him, he will forsake us. No one can take us from God and his protection, but we can choose to leave him. He will not make us stay with him if we decide we no longer want to be in his hand. That would be slavery, not salvation.

So, contrary to popular belief, we can’t live any way we want to and stay saved. The “Once Saved, Always Saved” doctrine is not biblical. To remain saved, we must obey God. So, heed his warnings. This is serious. Jesus is our only hope. Cling to him for dear life, and obey his rules. If we truly love him we’ll want to obey. It’s not always easy, but he is able to keep us from falling if we just trust him (Jude 1:24).

So, to receive salvation, we must

HEAR, 
BELIEVE, 
REPENT, 
CONFESS, be 
BAPTIZED, and 
LIVE GODLY.

God is there with us through each step, and he’s longing to see every one of us come to him and be saved. So, if you’re not saved, what are you waiting for?

For more about Salvation, read Romans Chapter 1-4, and the articles called “God So Loved” and “Once Saved Always Saved.”

———————————————–
My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com

© 2016 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6

DON'T LET SATAN USE YOUR PAST AGAINST YOU

I’ve said and done things in the past that I’m not proud of. Some things I’ve done, I’m downright ashamed of. None of us are perfect. We have all said and done things we shouldn’t have. We all have a past that we don’t share with just anyone, and there are probably some things we have never told any other person at all.

Secrets are dangerous, though. We’ve all seen it on T.V. shows and in movies, and we’ve read it in books where someone blackmails someone because they know a secret the other person doesn’t want anyone else to know. We can’t change our past, but we can secure a peaceful future without the worry that someone will call us out.

My suggestion is, don’t keep secrets. Here’s why. Satan knows every bad thing we have ever done, and he WILL tell on us when it suites his purpose.

A while back my daughter was visiting a friend. A guy that I’ve known for many years was there and he brought up my past. He asked her if I had ever told her that I drank when I was younger. Well, I’m not proud of that part of my past, but yes, I had told her.

I’ve been honest with my children about my past, hoping they would learn from my mistakes. Plus, I refuse to be one of those Christians who pretend they have never done anything wrong. What if I had not told her about my past? What would she have thought of me if she had found out about it from someone else?

Romans 8:1 says, “So now, there is no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the spirit.”

That is, No Condemnation from God. People may condemn us, but there will be more who appreciate our honesty, and they can see the changes God has made in us when they know our past. There’s no shame in admitting we are human. If we’re honest with others, and with ourselves about our failures, we’ll be more understanding, and less judgmental when we see others do something wrong.

When we’re following Jesus, we leave our past behind, but we do need to remember the past so we don’t make the same mistakes again. Remembering that God has forgiven us for our past sins will help us to share those failures, mistakes, and bad choices with others. Our past lives, before we were born again, can serve as proof to others that God can change their lives too, just as he did ours.

When I was young, I gained great inspiration from the small glimpse that the Bible gives us into the life of the Apostle Paul before he met Jesus. I realized that, if a person like him could be saved, then there was a chance for me. He was ashamed of his past and the terrible things he had done, but he shared them with others to show the power of God to forgive sins and to save us. Our testimony is one of the best witnessing tools we possess. People can argue about our interpretation of the scriptures, but no one can argue with our personal experiences with God.

We don’t have to give a seminar, or write a book, or put up billboards to let the whole world know all our secrets, but we need to be honest about our past, especially with those who are closest to us. Then we'll never be put on the spot and embarrassed by Satan, using our past against us. Be honest. Take away his ammunition. Don’t let him use your past against you.

———————————————–
My Blogs
https://teddylynn.blogspot.com
https://teddylynn.wordpress.com

© 2015 Teddy Lynn – All Rights Reserved

My books are available in paperback and digital format on Amazon @ 
https://www.amazon.com/Teddy-Lynn/e/B01MZDB6L6