Dear Partner,

I would like to continue this month with a discussion regarding Jesus' question, "Can you discern the signs of the times?" The foundations of the Christian faith are being ferociously attacked in our nation and worldwide. Yet the church at large continues in a state of slumber as if nothing dangerous is going on. David wrote in the Psalms,

Psa 11:3   If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Christians often have differences of opinions regarding truths in the bible. But ALL true Christians hold to certain FOUNDATIONAL beliefs. To not believe those foundational truths is to not be a Christian. Let me give you one example. There was an article recently on one of the largest and most influential news networks in the nation that attacks the truth that Jesus was raised from the dead. This supposed “news” was based on vague archaeological evidence in Israel that purported to show that somehow Jesus actually escaped death on the cross, married Mary Magdalene, that they had children, lived normal lives, and died normal deaths. This is a blatant attack on the foundational doctrine of the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Many Christian people watch and think something like, “Oh well, it doesn’t matter if Jesus was actually raised from the dead or not. I don’t have to believe that He was raised from the dead in order to be a Christian.” But listen to what Paul wrote in one of his letters to the Corinthians,

1 Cor 15:12-17   Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not “optional” for Christians. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins … meaning … there is no hope of salvation.

Christianity is the belief in a "supernatural" gospel. It tells how God's Son was conceived by the Holy Spirit within the womb of a woman, lived a sinless life in human flesh, and died on the cross to pay the penalty for man's sins. It tells how He was then resurrected from the dead. His resurrection from the dead is our hope of eternal life with God:

1 Pet 1:3-4   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

In the mind of Satan, he must discredit the fact that Christ rose from the dead because that fact separates Christianity from all religions. Buddha is dead. So is Confucius, Mohammed, and all the others. Only Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is alive for evermore. Only He has the keys of hell and death.

Rev 1:18   I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

If Satan can keep chipping away at the foundational doctrines of Christianity unchecked, he will eventually achieve his ultimate goal … which is to cause the world to believe that Jesus is not the Christ … that Jesus is not the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. This is the "spirit of antichrist" that the apostle John spoke of in his writings.

1 John 2:22   Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:2-3   Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

We must be on guard against every attack against the foundations of Christianity. Even if the whole world declares that Jesus is not the Christ, we must hold fast to our confession of faith. There is no other Savior. There is no other way for man to be saved than through faith in Jesus Christ. Let us be strong in the face of opposition with our light shining brightly for the entire world to see.

Sue and I love you and appreciate you. We thank God for your generous and giving heart. God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

Gary Carpenter

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