45-Arguments for Cosmic, Supernatural, Spiritual and Biblical Basketball

 Dr. M.A. Petillo

Sound the battle cry!
See! the foe is nigh!
Raise the standard high
For the Lord:
Gird your armor on,
Stand firm ev'ry one;
Rest your cause upon his holy Word.
Rouse, then, soldiers!
Rally round the banner!
Ready, steady, pass the word along;
Onward, forward,
Shout aloud, hosanna!
Christ is captain of the mighty throng!
Strong to meet the foe,
Marching on we go,
While our cause we know,
Must prevail;
Shield and banner bright,
Gleaming in the light,
Battling for the right
We ne'er can fail.
O thou God of all,
Hear us when we call,
Help us one and all
By thy grace;
When the battle's done,
And the victory won,
May we wear the crown
Before thy face.  (TH, 686).

1.  In spiritual basketball, God holds the whole world in His Hand as His cosmic basketball to do whatsoever He pleases.

2.  In cosmic basketball, God alone uses His superior freedom over His fallen creatures for the glory of His mercy or the glory of His justice.

3.  In biblical basketball, God gives us His cosmic game plan in the plain testimony of His infallible Word.

4.  In supernatural basketball, God alone holds the secret of working out cosmic battles with Satan for the good of His people alone in Christ alone.

5.  If God's people stumble in sin, He is faithful to see them through.

6.  The spiritual basketball record of a holy God is undefeatable.  That is, He has never lost a battle since ancient times from now.

7.  The cosmic three-point shot would be like a great goal by a Christian to reach this fallen world.

8.  The cosmic dunk in spiritual basketball is like putting Satan under your feet, because God never leaves His people astray.

9.  The ultimate goal of the cosmic game of basketball is holiness.  That is, seek excellence over greatness, because greatness belongs to Jesus Christ alone in sense that we want to give Him all glory.

10.  To take it coast to coast in spiritual basketball is like taking the gospel to every tribe, tongue, people and nation.

11.  Giving an assist in cosmic basketball is like sharing  a Scriptural verse with your neighbor for edification.

12.  The best defense in cosmic basketball is our best offensive.  That is, Satan comes to entice to sin.  How do you defend yourself?  Pray to the Triune God alone, stand your ground and resist him.

13.  No one is perfect in defense in spiritual basketball in facing Satan.  What does it mean?  Jesus took our place so when we fail in temptation, He is there as our perfect substitute so in a sense we never fail through Him (that is, in a positional sense with God).

14.   Cosmic basketball regarding a rational defense is much like preparing a spiritual reason for a biblical argument in light of God's infallible Word for the glory of Jesus Christ.

15.  The plans of spiritual basketball is God's Book for His people.

16.  If a child of God is wounded in battle, God's elect angels or His people will seek them out and bring them to safety.   Its much like sportsmanship, but it is a mission to seek the glory of Jesus.

17.  Any failure by a Christian in cosmic basketball is used by God for their good.  How?  He holds the secret in His hand.  

18.  The cosmic game of basketball regarding sin is that Christians sin because God removed His restraining Hand from them.  Why?  He uses failure to teach us about our nature, human responsibility and Christian humility.  That is, cosmic basketball is like a pastor who hears the faults of the people of God and prays for them.   No one is left behind.

19.  The coach in spiritual basketball is like the pastor.  That is, he is used by God not to judge by appearance but to preach the Word and pray for God's people.

20.  God does not walk or knock to find a rebellious sinner, but rather He runs to the prodigal son and seeks him out and saves.  That is, God's game plan to save never fails.  No one runs as fast as God Incarnate!  No one has to say to Him, "Find me!"  He finds His own freely even if they did not pray.  He comes before asking.  That is, Jesus blows the devil away and he licks the dust behind him.

21.  Christians who fall into "besetting sin" repent.  That is, this is like blocking a jump shot and keep it in play for the team of Jesus.

22.  False Christians who engage in "habitual sins" never repent.  That is, they consistently do whatever they want against the Bible's game plan for the glory of Jesus.  Advancing in basketball from evil is an offense against a holy God, but seeking God's face in prayer for good is like a fragrant aroma.

23.  The world is the cosmic ball of Jesus Christ.  He owns it.  That is, no one can stop His finished work in saving His people.

24.  This world is my Father's world.  However, the devil comes to claim he is god and our true master.  Our Heavenly Father never loses any battles regarding Satan.  The Father's game plan for those He chooses for His spiritual team in His church is that we must serve Jesus as the only God-man and our True Master.

25.  Satan comes to accuse, but Jesus comes to forgive.  Satan's game plan is to way a Christian down with guilt, but the game plan of Jesus is to forgive unto a game plan of redeeming the time and the practice of good morals.  "Bad company corrupts good morals."

26.  The life of Jesus is a move that earns salvation for His people.   Not even the greatest basketball player could defeat Him.  There is no move that equals His move of sinless living.  The game of cosmic basketball is not about the idolatry of self.  Rather it is about the honor of Jesus in all things.

27.  The death of Jesus is a move that seems like a defeat or a bad shot at the most crucial time in cosmic and spiritual basketball, but it is the greatest divine accomplishment in world history for His basketball brothers.  Who are His basketball brothers?  It is those He has chosen in Christ.  He never thought of himself.  Rather He gave Himself for the team or His sheep.  With Jesus, no one is lost who He intends to save.  Those that are lost in divine basketball are cut from His divine team, because His person and work was not intended for them by the Father's design.

28.  Jesus rose from the dead.  That is, He turned death backwards.  That means the end is really the beginning, and with this new beginning there is no real end.  This is like those who love the game of basketball even in retirement.  That is, the love of Jesus surpasses death and destroys it.  Life should be a life about Jesus.  There is no close game with Satan concerning the strategy of Jesus Christ, because it always ends in victory for those He has chosen in light of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

29.  Jesus is not a coach that misleads His church, but He provides the perpetuity of the divine Word for our example and learning.

30.  No Christian should be over-righteous or over-sinful.  Rather the Christian should keep a true balance.  A false balance is like dribbling the ball off your foot or going into a crowd of players.  

31.   Preaching is like giving your best assist to the sovereignty of a holy God, because He alone will seek to do what He pleases with it.

32.  Faith is a gift like those who discover God's gift for them.

33.  Regeneration is like a new game plan for those of a stoney heart.  That is, the new game plan is God removing a stone of heart and giving a heart of flesh: namely, true faith, true righteousness and true spiritual life.

34.  Those who throw the game are condemned, because they do evil that good may come.   It means never give up.  

35.  Those who use evil for good have created a god made in their image, but the Bible says do whatever is right even in messy grey areas and leave it to the Supreme Potter to work out His ultimate purpose for the glory of Jesus for the good of His people and for the justice of His enemies.

36.  Christians may find themselves almost gone in cosmic basketball, but God started a good work and He will complete it.

37.  Jesus is the Head of the local church in every way, He will never lead us astray, He always understands and forgives.  That is, as our Head, He encourages us to excel for His glory.

38.  The motive of a Christian in cosmic basketball is the honor of Jesus and His glory alone.

39.  Biblical basketball is arriving at the author's intended meaning through a workmen not ashamed rightly understanding God's inspired Word because of the real illumination of God's Spirit.

40.  Biblical basketball is not "do whatever I please" but living for God's moral law in the Ten Commandments in practical obedience that never earns salvation but demonstrates our Christian faith.

41.  The world is before King Jesus, but what is His next move in a fallen world going to hell?  He will no doubt bring light out of darkness, life out of death, peace out of division, obedience out of disobedience and holiness out of lawlessness.  You cannot stop His next move.  Watch out!  He is faster than lightening and quicker than thunder.  He is greater than the universe and wiser than all the history of men.  He is the Incarnate Eyes of Fire!  He will bring divine fire to the earth to have souls burn for Him!  For the King cometh to save His own and there is only victory for His outstretched purpose for His glory!  

42.  This understanding of cosmic basketball is merely a metaphor, but divine truth is not a game for whatever side.  Rather it is about the honor of Jesus Christ in all things.

43.  It seems like a holy God is losing His "game" in this fallen world, because the world is under the alleged control of the evil one.  However, Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth and nothing is out of His control.  Everything that my God ordains is right, but He does not support a furtherance of hatred of His Son even before he or she belongs to Christ.  Jesus has Satan right where He wants him: namely, under wrath, judged, sentenced and restrained.  God is concerned about His glory, because He always does what is right.  Basketball coaches that advance through fornication and hidden occultism have failed to be the best.  The real loser is Satan and those who trust him.  The winner is Christ and those who overcome by real faith, because of God alone.  

44.  In the final outcome, who gets the glory on your "team?"  Is it the coaches or basketball players?  Or in a more church-like context, is it the pastor or church members?  If your thinking gives glory to anyone but Jesus Christ alone, it is radically, deeply and pervasively flawed.  A true "game plan" is glorifying Jesus Christ alone through elect sinners: namely, He must increase and we must decrease.

45.  Those who are deeply awakened by God the Spirit and the written Word about their radical corruption, total depravity, original sin, and cry with Dr. Luther "I am too full of sin to be a Christian" understand contrite repentance, the holiness of God and the nature of fallen man.

 I will sing of my Redeemer
And his wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross he suffered,
From the curse to set me free.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.
I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In his boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.
I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant power I'll tell,
How the victory he giveth
Over sin and death and hell.
I will sing of my Redeemer
And his heav'nly love to me;
He from death to life has brought me,
Son of God, with him to be.  (TH, 681).