A Sermon You Have Probably Never Heard Before

4-15-2012 II Corinthians: 3:12-18
Today, I’m beginning a series of sermons which I am calling, “Sermons You Probably Have Never Before Heard In Church”. This may seem like an odd topic. Odd, because most of what happens in church is related to tradition, and if I’ve never heard the sermon in church before how could it be a part of our Christian tradition?
In answer to that question, let me first affirm the truth of the old adage, there really isn’t anything new under the sun. However, things are forgotten. Actually, a lot there is a lot that has been forgotten, systematically erased from the consciousness of people through the influence of the spiritual wickedness. And by forgotten I mean REALLY forgotten, forgotten by entire by entire church denominations, by entire nations, and by the world in general.
We no longer live in a Christian culture. Today, religion is thought of as an illusion, and Christianity as an oppressive rather than liberating influence in people’s lives. And even among those folk who are friendly rather than hostile to Christianity, even among those who regularly participate in Christian worship, even among these people there are many who consider church to be uplifting in the same way some work of fiction—an inspiring novel, a great play or movie for example--might be uplifting, uplifting and enjoyed even though recognized to be just “make believe”. But the underlying principles of Christianity are not just “wishful thinking”. On the contrary, these principles are the bedrock of the really real. The decline of Christianity is not because humankind has outgrown it. The real problem is that truth is being systematically expunged from the consciousness of entire nations and indeed from the world as a whole. Satan is doing his very best to extinguish the light of Christ through deception, and as result vast multitudes of people living today are living in darkness.
For example. Let us consider the basic question, does man really have an eternal soul? Most philosophers and social scientists and such today would say no. Many theologians and church pastors today say, maybe not. And consequently most people in general, while they may not actively think about the question, unconsciously go through life thinking, behaving, reacting, living as if there is no such thing as an eternal soul.
Think of the implications! If we do not really have an eternal soul, then how can there be a heaven or a hell! How can there really be right and wrong? What difference does it make if I am a Christian or a hedonistic pagan? The concept of each of us having a human soul is fundamental to every aspect of our relationship with God. Ancient philosophers recognized this. When Paul spoke on the Acropolis, it was not necessary to convince people of this. And the recognition of this truth was not a figment of the Philosopher’s imagination, but rather clearness of vision based upon sensitivity to the testimony of one’s own soul. Can anything be more basic than the truth of that which in every way bears testimony in perfect harmony with the General Revelation of the Creator, and how much more so when led to the same truth expanded and explained in the Special Revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
How do we know that we have an eternal