This world is so full of religion. Every time I start thinking about the religion of this world it brings my blood to a boil. Sin being as bad as it is, at least leads to a person feeling guilty and seeking relief. Religion gets in between a sinner and the forgiveness he needs, and offers him a cheap substitute that doesn't work.
That might offend someone but the truth is, you could go on a pilgrimage, you could finger some beads, you could walk an aisle, say a prayer, become a member of this church or that church, do this ritual or that ritual, but it won't satisfy the demands of a holy God. Religious activity will not make right all the wrong we've done. It just won't satisfy the wrath of God our sin incurred. What we need is peace with God but all our efforts will never be enough to remove the stain of our sin. God had a board meeting and condemned the entire human race. We need someone to get us out of this mess we're in. We need someone that can mediate between us and God, and put an end to this war.
The great news is, God already made peace with us. That's right, it's already done. It's not in what we do or how we live but what's already been done for us. This acceptance is found outside of ourselves, has nothing to do with our righteousness, and requires us to believe something, not do something. It is hard to wrap ones mind around because it is contrary to all religion and natural law. The truth of the matter is, God found acceptance in only ONE place. God found acceptance only in ONE PERSON. God made peace with mankind, but not in a church, an aisle, a prayer, repenting of all your sins, or flipping beads, but in a Person. We cannot find acceptance with God in keeping commandments or keeping a bunch of rules, but rather in believing something that's already been done. God made peace with mankind on the cross, at Calvary, in Jesus Christ 2000 years ago AND NOWHERE ELSE. God finds acceptance ONLY in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, we can have peace with God THROUGH Jesus Christ BY FAITH. God will look at our faith, and count it as if it were perfect righteousness.
To summarize... God finds peace in what Jesus did on the cross. The question now is to each individual... Do you ma'am, or you sir, find peace with God in Jesus Christ? It's no longer a question of personal performance or religious activity. The question now is, do we find peace in what God did... Or not? We could at this point ignore God's method of peace, and continue trying to selfishly earn salvation by our own righteousness and be damned as a result, or we could accept what God's already done for us, live by that faith, and be saved. The question then is... DO YOU FIND YOUR ACCEPTANCE IN JESUS CHRIST? If yes, then salvation is assured. If not, death, the final judgment and hell are only one heart stoppage away.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Summary of the Bible
Summary of the bible... God creates the heaven and the earth. He then creates the first man Adam, and gives him and his descendants dominion over the earth and everything that dwells in it. That means that God made mankind and relinquished control of the earth to them. God cut the strings, so to speak.
Satan comes in and convinces the first woman to disobey God who in turn convinces the man, and when they do, they by default become followers of Satan and he becomes the god of this world. It is now a usurped kingdom. God has given man dominion and the ability to chose good or evil, and they have chosen evil, and through the sin, have become followers of Satan. All men after that, are born into a world of scepticism and doubt, apart from God, and all become the children of the devil through following after the flesh, the world and Satan. The world becomes a place without hope. Wars, violence and sin crescendo on the earth as all people rebel against the rule of God and follow after the devil.
Judgment must fall on the disobedient or else the Moral Ruler of the Universe would be unjust. The wages of sin is death... The soul that sinneth, it shall die. God doesn't have the ability as God to save mankind, because He has given up His authority on this earth to man. What does God do? He becomes the MAN CHRIST JESUS! Why? To get the dominion, authority and glory back that the first man Adam lost and to rescue man that are slaves of sin. Jesus Christ lives without sin. Right from a child, he always does what is right and what pleases His Father in heaven. If He were to sin, everything would be lost and he would just be one of us... Children of the devil. He lives perfect. Through his overcoming life, He shows to all the people of the world God's perfect standard of righteousness. He reveals the true character and righteousness of God, because He is the express image of God. He came to die though. The law stated that those that sin should die. He was sinless in Himself, but He came to die in the place of those that had sinned. God places mankind's sin on Jesus and His blood runs to the ground on Calvary where He is nailed to the cross. The devil and his demons shout with glee. God in the flesh was dead. But wait! What they don't know is that God's justice has been satisfied for mankind's sin! Three days later, having paid the penalty for our sin, He comes out of the grave, ALIVE! And because He has eternal life and is also God, he can impart that life, FREELY, to everyone that believes in him with all their heart.
This is the story of the bible. It is a fantastic history of mankind receiving dominion, glory and authority on this world and then relinquishing that glory and dominion to the devil. Jesus Christ comes at the most opportune time and becomes only the second Man, the last Adam, to reverse what the first man did, and to rescue those that would be free from this world and the devil, and have eternal life.
Satan comes in and convinces the first woman to disobey God who in turn convinces the man, and when they do, they by default become followers of Satan and he becomes the god of this world. It is now a usurped kingdom. God has given man dominion and the ability to chose good or evil, and they have chosen evil, and through the sin, have become followers of Satan. All men after that, are born into a world of scepticism and doubt, apart from God, and all become the children of the devil through following after the flesh, the world and Satan. The world becomes a place without hope. Wars, violence and sin crescendo on the earth as all people rebel against the rule of God and follow after the devil.
Judgment must fall on the disobedient or else the Moral Ruler of the Universe would be unjust. The wages of sin is death... The soul that sinneth, it shall die. God doesn't have the ability as God to save mankind, because He has given up His authority on this earth to man. What does God do? He becomes the MAN CHRIST JESUS! Why? To get the dominion, authority and glory back that the first man Adam lost and to rescue man that are slaves of sin. Jesus Christ lives without sin. Right from a child, he always does what is right and what pleases His Father in heaven. If He were to sin, everything would be lost and he would just be one of us... Children of the devil. He lives perfect. Through his overcoming life, He shows to all the people of the world God's perfect standard of righteousness. He reveals the true character and righteousness of God, because He is the express image of God. He came to die though. The law stated that those that sin should die. He was sinless in Himself, but He came to die in the place of those that had sinned. God places mankind's sin on Jesus and His blood runs to the ground on Calvary where He is nailed to the cross. The devil and his demons shout with glee. God in the flesh was dead. But wait! What they don't know is that God's justice has been satisfied for mankind's sin! Three days later, having paid the penalty for our sin, He comes out of the grave, ALIVE! And because He has eternal life and is also God, he can impart that life, FREELY, to everyone that believes in him with all their heart.
This is the story of the bible. It is a fantastic history of mankind receiving dominion, glory and authority on this world and then relinquishing that glory and dominion to the devil. Jesus Christ comes at the most opportune time and becomes only the second Man, the last Adam, to reverse what the first man did, and to rescue those that would be free from this world and the devil, and have eternal life.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Righteousness of God
I believe it necessary to try and do an easy to be understood note, of what righteousness is and specifically what the righteousness of God is and how it benefits us. This topic is of utmost importance because as we will find out, we need this "righteousness of God" in order to get to heaven, and also, this topic is where all religions and cults depart from true Christianity.
First of all, my righteousness is my right doing. When I come to a place where I am confronted with a choice, either to do good or evil, and I chose the good, that is my righteousness. When I see someone in need and I help them, that is my righteousness. When I read my bible, pray, meet with the church, witness or any other good thing, that is my righteousness. When I get baptized in water, that is my righteousness. All my religion or anything good that I do in this physical body, that is deemed good in the eyes of man or God, is my righteousness. I need to say that, so we can distinguish between the righteousness of God from our own. Now, if you said that the righteousness of God is God's right doing, you would be correct. Specifically though, what is this right doing that God has done? The next two verses are the answer...
Romans 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
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.
The context is obviously the gospel of Christ and Paul says that "therein is the righteousness of God revealed". So God's righteousness is the right doing that Jesus Christ did while He was here on earth. Jesus obviously being God. This is the very foundation of what is getting us to heaven and what is making us right or justified in the eyes of God. So now we know what our righteousness is, and what God's righteousness is. Check out the following verses...
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Here in Philippians 3, the apostle Paul has just finished stating how far superior his religion is to the next person's. If anybody can brag about what they have done in their life, he can more. He goes on to say in the above verses, that he counts all of his righteousness that he got from obeying the law, as dung, so that he might win Christ and be found in Him not having his own righteousness which he got from obeying the law, but instead be found with the righteousness that He got from God when he exercised faith in Jesus Christ. This is profound and contrary to all laws of nature! Paul just said that all his righteousness, as far as getting right with God is concerned, is just manure. It's worse then useless. You say, how can doing good be deemed bad? The answer is when it is done to benefit only yourself in terms of earning merit and favor in the sight of God. God has supplied the guilty sinner with another way to be made right in His sight (justified) so that the sinner can be saved apart from his or her own righteousness. Read the previous sentence again if you don't understand. This is absolutely CRUCIAL! This is where true Christianity separates from all religions.
Look at this phrase taken from verse nine... "the righteousness which is of God by faith"
This righteousness that we need, is God's righteousness. Our righteousness is filth and called "dung" here in the bible. So we need some good righteousness which is God's. We already found out that God's righteousness is revealed through the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is Christ's life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. This is the righteousness that we need. God says that if we believe that Jesus did enough to get us into heaven, He will count our faith as if it were His righteousness. That is amazing! That is awesome! Now, in God's sight, we are sinless with all of Christ's righteousness placed to our account in heaven. You need more proof?
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Check out this...
2Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
For God has made Jesus to be sin for us on the cross, (Jesus was sinless), that we sinners might be made the righteousness of God in Jesus (As a free Gift!).
Here is what God did. He delivered up His only begotten Son to die in the place of sinners on the cross. When He was on the cross, God treated Jesus as if He were all the sinners in the world. It pleased the Father to bruise His Son because of our sin that Jesus bore. Jesus went down into hell where sinners go, and three days later He came up without our sin, having paid the ransom with His blood, that God required for our sin. Now, when we by faith, accept the payment that Christ made on our behalf, God takes His righteousness and imputes it to us.
The thing is, underneath this righteousness that God has placed to our account, we aren't perfect yet. Sometimes we still sin. The devil is up their accusing us before God, but God doesn't see it. All God sees is the righteousness of His Son that He placed to our account! No sin will ever be placed to our account again! You say you will get saved then and just keep on sinning? Not after what He did. After you get saved and Christ comes into you, the last thing you want to do is sin again. Love and thanksgiving floods your soul and the last thing you want to do is hurt the One that did so much for you.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Dr. Law and Dr. Grace (Part 3)
(continued from part 2...)
"So what happens now?", the man said.
"Well young man", Dr. Grace said with a serious expression, "You are a dead man. Your old life and identity has come to an end. Dr. Law has made certain of that. Now come with me and I'll show you something."
The man followed Dr. Grace toward the back of the house. Dr. Grace held the door open and ushered him outside. The man took one look and beheld the scene in utter amazement! Outside, contrasted against the setting sun, was a hill with a big wooden cross! The cross was all stained with blood.
"Is that THE cross?", he said with his eyes wide with fear.
"Yes, it is", Dr. Grace said with a smile, "This is where your life ended".
"But I don't understand", the man said.
"You see", Dr. Grace said before pausing momentarily, "The Man that died on this cross, was God's only begotten Son. His name was Jesus. He came into this world in a body just like yours, and was tempted with all the same temptations that you are. He was different then you, in that he was sinless. He lived perfect. He did only good in his life on earth, as he healed the sick, made the lame to walk, and cast demons out of the possessed. Then God at a time of his own choosing, made Jesus to be sin for us and gave himself to die on this very cross, so we could be justified FREELY by faith in him. The justice of God was satisfied by the blood of His Son, and on this cross, your sin debt was paid in full. Then, God raised this Jesus from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of His throne in heaven.
Young man, "the doctor paused briefly, "What I'm telling you now, is that it is that if I take you out of your sinful body and make you an implant in the body of Jesus, then you will be saved. You're two spirits will merge and become one, and you will be flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. His history will be your history."
"Will this hurt?", the man said a little dazed.
"No it won't hurt you a bit. It's an operation of God.", Dr. Grace replied and then added, "Quick, take another look at that cross".
The man looked and he beheld a Man hanging there. He was all bloodied, wearing a crown of thorns and had nails through his wrists and feet. His precious blood ran unhindered down his body and dripped to the ground and staining the soil underneath.
"Iiis ttthat Jesus?", the man stammered.
"Yes, that's Jesus, the Lamb of God, "Dr. Grace said, "Come up this hill and look even closer. Do you see he's not alone? Walk around the cross and look up at him. Do you see that there is more than one on that cross?"
As the man walked slowly around the cross where God had made peace with man, his eyes slowly widened with a look of amazement, "I'm there too! That's me crucified there with Jesus!"
"That's right", Dr. Grace said with a contented look, "You're dead and your new life is Jesus."
The man was in a mild state of shock at this point. Could this really happening? He tried to digest everything that was happening. Piece by piece he put it together in his mind. His old life was over. He was crucified with Christ. Dr. Law had condemned him to death because of his sin, but now through the body of Christ, he was dead. The law didn't rule over dead people. His death sentence had been served in Jesus! Therefore the law could no longer condemn him because he was in Christ! It was slowly making sense. It seemed almost too good to be true. Here he had been, trying to get righteous in the flesh, so as to please God with his good works, and the solution had been so simple the whole time... Jesus was the answer! Jesus was simply enough! The simplicity of it astounded him! How could he not have seen this the whole time?!
He happened to glance back at the cross and noticed that it was bare again. That's strange, he thought. Suddenly he heard the thunderous noise of a horse's hooves, and he quickly turned around! There before him was a coming at him was white horse, and the Man that sat on it was the same Man that had been hanging on the cross! He really was risen and alive! It was Jesus! Only he didn't look beaten and battered like before, and He wasn't wearing a crown of thorns.
His countenance literally radiated the glory of God! He had on the most beautiful bright white robe he had ever seen, and his eyes were a flame of fire. He was the epitome of a Warrior, a King, a High Priest, a Saviour of the world... Of Almighty, Everlasting God in the flesh. What an amazing sight to behold!
The man held his breath as Jesus slowly walked his horse over to him. Nothing could match the excitement and awe that the man felt at that moment. Nothing could match the sense of euphoria, and pure joy the man felt as His Saviour rode his horse right up beside him and came to a stop. Jesus reached down and offered his hand and said, "Come on up. You won't be going it alone anymore. You'll be riding with me from now on."
With a shout of joy the man gladly took His hand and climbed up behind Jesus, and as the two of them rode off, the man knew that He would never be lacking anything ever again. He knew that he would never be lonely again. He knew that in Christ, he was complete. He knew that there was no battle that hadn't already been won for him, and no temptation that was too great. He knew that there was no enemy, physical or spirit world, that could separated him from His Lord or his love. He knew that he was free from Dr. Religion and Dr. Law forever. He knew that Jesus was all he needed and all he would ever need.
The End.
"So what happens now?", the man said.
"Well young man", Dr. Grace said with a serious expression, "You are a dead man. Your old life and identity has come to an end. Dr. Law has made certain of that. Now come with me and I'll show you something."
The man followed Dr. Grace toward the back of the house. Dr. Grace held the door open and ushered him outside. The man took one look and beheld the scene in utter amazement! Outside, contrasted against the setting sun, was a hill with a big wooden cross! The cross was all stained with blood.
"Is that THE cross?", he said with his eyes wide with fear.
"Yes, it is", Dr. Grace said with a smile, "This is where your life ended".
"But I don't understand", the man said.
"You see", Dr. Grace said before pausing momentarily, "The Man that died on this cross, was God's only begotten Son. His name was Jesus. He came into this world in a body just like yours, and was tempted with all the same temptations that you are. He was different then you, in that he was sinless. He lived perfect. He did only good in his life on earth, as he healed the sick, made the lame to walk, and cast demons out of the possessed. Then God at a time of his own choosing, made Jesus to be sin for us and gave himself to die on this very cross, so we could be justified FREELY by faith in him. The justice of God was satisfied by the blood of His Son, and on this cross, your sin debt was paid in full. Then, God raised this Jesus from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of His throne in heaven.
Young man, "the doctor paused briefly, "What I'm telling you now, is that it is that if I take you out of your sinful body and make you an implant in the body of Jesus, then you will be saved. You're two spirits will merge and become one, and you will be flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. His history will be your history."
"Will this hurt?", the man said a little dazed.
"No it won't hurt you a bit. It's an operation of God.", Dr. Grace replied and then added, "Quick, take another look at that cross".
The man looked and he beheld a Man hanging there. He was all bloodied, wearing a crown of thorns and had nails through his wrists and feet. His precious blood ran unhindered down his body and dripped to the ground and staining the soil underneath.
"Iiis ttthat Jesus?", the man stammered.
"Yes, that's Jesus, the Lamb of God, "Dr. Grace said, "Come up this hill and look even closer. Do you see he's not alone? Walk around the cross and look up at him. Do you see that there is more than one on that cross?"
As the man walked slowly around the cross where God had made peace with man, his eyes slowly widened with a look of amazement, "I'm there too! That's me crucified there with Jesus!"
"That's right", Dr. Grace said with a contented look, "You're dead and your new life is Jesus."
The man was in a mild state of shock at this point. Could this really happening? He tried to digest everything that was happening. Piece by piece he put it together in his mind. His old life was over. He was crucified with Christ. Dr. Law had condemned him to death because of his sin, but now through the body of Christ, he was dead. The law didn't rule over dead people. His death sentence had been served in Jesus! Therefore the law could no longer condemn him because he was in Christ! It was slowly making sense. It seemed almost too good to be true. Here he had been, trying to get righteous in the flesh, so as to please God with his good works, and the solution had been so simple the whole time... Jesus was the answer! Jesus was simply enough! The simplicity of it astounded him! How could he not have seen this the whole time?!
He happened to glance back at the cross and noticed that it was bare again. That's strange, he thought. Suddenly he heard the thunderous noise of a horse's hooves, and he quickly turned around! There before him was a coming at him was white horse, and the Man that sat on it was the same Man that had been hanging on the cross! He really was risen and alive! It was Jesus! Only he didn't look beaten and battered like before, and He wasn't wearing a crown of thorns.
His countenance literally radiated the glory of God! He had on the most beautiful bright white robe he had ever seen, and his eyes were a flame of fire. He was the epitome of a Warrior, a King, a High Priest, a Saviour of the world... Of Almighty, Everlasting God in the flesh. What an amazing sight to behold!
The man held his breath as Jesus slowly walked his horse over to him. Nothing could match the excitement and awe that the man felt at that moment. Nothing could match the sense of euphoria, and pure joy the man felt as His Saviour rode his horse right up beside him and came to a stop. Jesus reached down and offered his hand and said, "Come on up. You won't be going it alone anymore. You'll be riding with me from now on."
With a shout of joy the man gladly took His hand and climbed up behind Jesus, and as the two of them rode off, the man knew that He would never be lacking anything ever again. He knew that he would never be lonely again. He knew that in Christ, he was complete. He knew that there was no battle that hadn't already been won for him, and no temptation that was too great. He knew that there was no enemy, physical or spirit world, that could separated him from His Lord or his love. He knew that he was free from Dr. Religion and Dr. Law forever. He knew that Jesus was all he needed and all he would ever need.
The End.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Dr. Law and Dr. Grace (Part 2)
Continued from part 1...
The man had done everything seemingly that Dr. Religion had instructed him to do, but it wouldn't satisfy the unrest in his soul! The feeling that something was missing never left. All the activity that the "feel good" Dr. Religion had prescribed, did nothing but temporarily relieve the symptoms of a bigger problem. Dr. Religion only dealt with the surface, but what the man figured was that he had a heart problem. With a down trodden spirit, he continued to go back to the building with the steeple, for one shot after another, from Dr. Religion's syringe but that uneasy feeling never left him. Trying to forgive himself didn't work. Baptism hadn't worked. All his praying and begging God hadn't worked. The guilt for his life of sin, simply was too much to overcome. He decided that there was no hope for him. He decided that he was too far gone to be forgiven and saved from everlasting torment of the fires of hell. His final option was to go see Dr. Law once before he completely gave up, and find out what he would prescribe for his problem.
Now, Dr. Law was a stern man whose character composed of no mercy or forgiveness. He was a hard narrow man with no feelings that anyone knew of. If a person messed up, Dr. Law would let them know immediately. He was always accusing people and yelling "GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY", every time someone did something wrong. Also, when people went to see Dr. Law, they were never seen from again. They just ceased to exist. There was long running talk that Dr. Law kills people. That's why it was so scary to go see him, for the reason that no one had ever seen patients come out of his office alive. Needless to say, you didn't go to see him for a common ailment.
Finally the man, though nervously, went to the office door and lightly knocked on the door. A loud booming voice seemed to shake the whole building, thundered, "COME ON IN!"
Even more frightened now, the man slowly opened the door and stepped inside. The huge hulking figure of Dr. Law emerged wiping the blood off of a big sharp looking knife.
"What can I do for you?", Dr. Law said without sign of any feeling.
"Well sir", the man said with his voice wavering, "I have this unrest in my soul from all this guilt, and I tried Dr. Religion and tried doing the things you wrote in that book, but all my effort isn't easing the disturbance in my soul!".
Dr. Law stood there with his penetrating gaze, simply staring as if right into the man's soul before replying, "You didn't read what I said. I said that if you DO what I say, then you'll have eternal life, but if you disobey my law in in one spot, then you have to die."
"Bbbutt", the man stammered, "I tried to follow the regiment Dr. Religion said to do as well as..."
"You tried?!!", Dr. Law loudly interrupted, "You think a try is going to cut it with God?! You think a weak halfhearted effort will please Almighty God?! I said if you DO the law. A "try" holds no water with me boy. The soul that sinneth, it shall DIE! You are guilty, guilty, guilty and I condemn you to eternal death!"
His face white as a sheet, the man tried to move his mouth to formulate another excuse, but nothing would come out. His mouth slowly closed and was stopped because he knew he was guilty. He knew that Dr. Law was right and that there was nothing more he could do. He had tried in the past to justify his sinful actions and remove the guilt through Dr. Religion, but Dr. Law showed him that he had come up frightfully short. A dreadful feeling of emptiness came over him as he exited the office by the back door and stumbled down the alley with the looming death sentence over him. With the realization that all his self effort and goodness wasn't enough, a sense of hopelessness enveloped him. Panic started to creep in as the reality of the coming judgment overwhelmed him.
"Guilty, guilty, guilty", echoed through the man's mind as he wandered aimlessly through the dark alley. He kept walking and almost immediately there was a sign that said "Detour" with an arrow pointing right. He examined the sign closer and saw in small letters at the bottom, "Dr. Law construction". Suspiciously he followed the arrow on the sign and as he went along, the road grew more and more narrow until it finally funneled right into the door of an old house. The blinking neon sign read, "Dr. Grace".
The man's heart began to pound with excitement. Could it really be true?! A doctor called "Grace"? Hope sprang up in his heart as he immediately started pounding on the door hoping that the good doctor was still open for business.
A voice behind the closed door said, "Coming, coming".
He heard a few soft footsteps and then, the door opened and the man beheld a most welcoming and amazing sight. Dr. Grace was dressed in pure white and his countenance practically shone like a full moon on a clear night. A friendly smile must have been a permanent fixture on the nice doctor's face. It sure was a step up from the "no mercy", demeanor of Dr. Law.
The man quickly and excitingly blurted out his story about how unrest and guilt in his soul was eating him up, and how he was scared of the judgment to come and how Dr. Religion failed to deal with the heart issue and how Dr. Law had justly condemned him to death. He explained to Dr. Grace about his sin problem and how that he desired peace with God, but that through all his attempts he had come up short and now he didn't know where to go and to whom to turn.
Dr. Grace had a knowing smile on his face as he started to speak, "I get people with your story in here from time to time. Not as often as I'd like, because many never make it past that terrible man, Dr. Religion. You see, Dr. Religion is bad because he gets in between a sinner and the forgiveness he needs. He deceptively tells you that it's not to late to keep trying to earn peace with God, when it's too late because Dr. Law has already passed the death sentence and pronounced you guilty. It's a good thing you went to see Dr. Law, for the reason that you'd never know you were guilty if it wasn't for him. Dr. Law and I work together. Dr. Law condemns them, pronounces them guilty, and squeezes them right in through my door."
"So what happens now?", the man said.
To be continued...
The man had done everything seemingly that Dr. Religion had instructed him to do, but it wouldn't satisfy the unrest in his soul! The feeling that something was missing never left. All the activity that the "feel good" Dr. Religion had prescribed, did nothing but temporarily relieve the symptoms of a bigger problem. Dr. Religion only dealt with the surface, but what the man figured was that he had a heart problem. With a down trodden spirit, he continued to go back to the building with the steeple, for one shot after another, from Dr. Religion's syringe but that uneasy feeling never left him. Trying to forgive himself didn't work. Baptism hadn't worked. All his praying and begging God hadn't worked. The guilt for his life of sin, simply was too much to overcome. He decided that there was no hope for him. He decided that he was too far gone to be forgiven and saved from everlasting torment of the fires of hell. His final option was to go see Dr. Law once before he completely gave up, and find out what he would prescribe for his problem.
Now, Dr. Law was a stern man whose character composed of no mercy or forgiveness. He was a hard narrow man with no feelings that anyone knew of. If a person messed up, Dr. Law would let them know immediately. He was always accusing people and yelling "GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY", every time someone did something wrong. Also, when people went to see Dr. Law, they were never seen from again. They just ceased to exist. There was long running talk that Dr. Law kills people. That's why it was so scary to go see him, for the reason that no one had ever seen patients come out of his office alive. Needless to say, you didn't go to see him for a common ailment.
Finally the man, though nervously, went to the office door and lightly knocked on the door. A loud booming voice seemed to shake the whole building, thundered, "COME ON IN!"
Even more frightened now, the man slowly opened the door and stepped inside. The huge hulking figure of Dr. Law emerged wiping the blood off of a big sharp looking knife.
"What can I do for you?", Dr. Law said without sign of any feeling.
"Well sir", the man said with his voice wavering, "I have this unrest in my soul from all this guilt, and I tried Dr. Religion and tried doing the things you wrote in that book, but all my effort isn't easing the disturbance in my soul!".
Dr. Law stood there with his penetrating gaze, simply staring as if right into the man's soul before replying, "You didn't read what I said. I said that if you DO what I say, then you'll have eternal life, but if you disobey my law in in one spot, then you have to die."
"Bbbutt", the man stammered, "I tried to follow the regiment Dr. Religion said to do as well as..."
"You tried?!!", Dr. Law loudly interrupted, "You think a try is going to cut it with God?! You think a weak halfhearted effort will please Almighty God?! I said if you DO the law. A "try" holds no water with me boy. The soul that sinneth, it shall DIE! You are guilty, guilty, guilty and I condemn you to eternal death!"
His face white as a sheet, the man tried to move his mouth to formulate another excuse, but nothing would come out. His mouth slowly closed and was stopped because he knew he was guilty. He knew that Dr. Law was right and that there was nothing more he could do. He had tried in the past to justify his sinful actions and remove the guilt through Dr. Religion, but Dr. Law showed him that he had come up frightfully short. A dreadful feeling of emptiness came over him as he exited the office by the back door and stumbled down the alley with the looming death sentence over him. With the realization that all his self effort and goodness wasn't enough, a sense of hopelessness enveloped him. Panic started to creep in as the reality of the coming judgment overwhelmed him.
"Guilty, guilty, guilty", echoed through the man's mind as he wandered aimlessly through the dark alley. He kept walking and almost immediately there was a sign that said "Detour" with an arrow pointing right. He examined the sign closer and saw in small letters at the bottom, "Dr. Law construction". Suspiciously he followed the arrow on the sign and as he went along, the road grew more and more narrow until it finally funneled right into the door of an old house. The blinking neon sign read, "Dr. Grace".
The man's heart began to pound with excitement. Could it really be true?! A doctor called "Grace"? Hope sprang up in his heart as he immediately started pounding on the door hoping that the good doctor was still open for business.
A voice behind the closed door said, "Coming, coming".
He heard a few soft footsteps and then, the door opened and the man beheld a most welcoming and amazing sight. Dr. Grace was dressed in pure white and his countenance practically shone like a full moon on a clear night. A friendly smile must have been a permanent fixture on the nice doctor's face. It sure was a step up from the "no mercy", demeanor of Dr. Law.
The man quickly and excitingly blurted out his story about how unrest and guilt in his soul was eating him up, and how he was scared of the judgment to come and how Dr. Religion failed to deal with the heart issue and how Dr. Law had justly condemned him to death. He explained to Dr. Grace about his sin problem and how that he desired peace with God, but that through all his attempts he had come up short and now he didn't know where to go and to whom to turn.
Dr. Grace had a knowing smile on his face as he started to speak, "I get people with your story in here from time to time. Not as often as I'd like, because many never make it past that terrible man, Dr. Religion. You see, Dr. Religion is bad because he gets in between a sinner and the forgiveness he needs. He deceptively tells you that it's not to late to keep trying to earn peace with God, when it's too late because Dr. Law has already passed the death sentence and pronounced you guilty. It's a good thing you went to see Dr. Law, for the reason that you'd never know you were guilty if it wasn't for him. Dr. Law and I work together. Dr. Law condemns them, pronounces them guilty, and squeezes them right in through my door."
"So what happens now?", the man said.
To be continued...
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Dr. Law and Dr. Grace; My Version (part 1)
Once upon a time, there was a man that went about his life bitter at the world and most everyone in it. Life simply wasn't going like he had expected it. He didn't begin life that way though. In his youth, things were different. Life then was filled with lots of friends, great hopes and high expectation of that which was to come. After high school there would be college and everything that went with that. Then perhaps a wife and kids, a house with a white picket fence, vacations in Florida and living happily ever after. Little to say, plans deviated from the original intent. Leaving college without anything to show for it and no family became the reality. A life of pleasure seeking, addictions and the resulting guilt was the end product. Loneliness and emptiness emanated from the deep seeded guilt that constantly accused his conscience. The never ending misery effectively drove him to a realization that something had to change. The mundane life of work, and after some alcohol to drown the sorrows, wasn't cutting it.
The man found himself driving by the many church buildings and wonder if there might be relief to be found inside. The man needed peace in his soul but how to find it he didn't know. Long endless nights were spent with his head on his pillow, desperately thinking of something to do to alleviate the never ending guilt and the consciousness of death and the judgment to follow. Thoughts began to mount of who God was and what he required. As he would drive down the lonely roads, men on the radio station kept telling him that there was a certain doctor that could help him. The name they gave was Dr. Religion. This doctor had much experience dealing with guilty sinners, they claimed. Rumour had it, this doctor just makes everyone feel all good inside. That sounded really good to the man. His family doctor was named Dr. Law and he wanted absolutely nothing to do with that man. Dr. Law just kept telling him he needed a major operation and he wasn't having any of that. He didn't need some huge operation, he simply needed a shot of something to ease this guilt.
So he drove down to the nearest building with a steeple where apparently Dr. Religion resided, and told him his problems. "Oh", said Dr. Religion, "This happens all the time. We have just the cure for guilty sinners. Just repeat this prayer and after, sign here and here, then fill out this church membership card."
"That's all there is to it?", the man replied with incredulity.
"Oh no", Dr. Religion said, "We have a very complex regiment you must follow. First, you must come back here every Sunday and Wednesday to get your shot. Sunday is a double dose. Next, read over this long list of rules and things for you to do to please God, and after a month of baptism classes we can get you right in the water to seal the deal".
Well that sounded alright to the man and he left feeling much better. There did seem to be a lot to do to please this god of religion, but whatever it took to ease this guilt and escape the fires of hell.
Week after week he went back for another shot from Dr. Religion. He would have highs and lows throughout the week, but after a session with the nice doctor, he would feel better. He was instructed to really read his bible, pray all the time and work on trying to forgive himself. Every week the doctor would really emphasize the need to get a broken and humble spirit, and never to forget to maintain good works to please God. As well Dr. Religion informed him that he could live his best life now and that the answer to all his problems was in himself. He just needed to love himself and know that God had a great life of wealth, health and prosperity in store for him.
At the end of the day the man would lie in bed wondering what it would be like to really know God. At the end of the day the emptiness of it all would still overwhelm him. He concluded that the shot that Dr. Religion was giving him wasn't truly satisfying. What he did in that building wasn't satisfying. That prayer he prayed asking Jesus into his heart, wasn't satisfying. That baptism into the pool wasn't satisfying. That church membership wasn't satisfying. What he needed was peace with God and he couldn't for the life of him figure out what to do! He did everything that Dr. Religion said to do but it wasn't enough!
Part 2 coming soon...
The man found himself driving by the many church buildings and wonder if there might be relief to be found inside. The man needed peace in his soul but how to find it he didn't know. Long endless nights were spent with his head on his pillow, desperately thinking of something to do to alleviate the never ending guilt and the consciousness of death and the judgment to follow. Thoughts began to mount of who God was and what he required. As he would drive down the lonely roads, men on the radio station kept telling him that there was a certain doctor that could help him. The name they gave was Dr. Religion. This doctor had much experience dealing with guilty sinners, they claimed. Rumour had it, this doctor just makes everyone feel all good inside. That sounded really good to the man. His family doctor was named Dr. Law and he wanted absolutely nothing to do with that man. Dr. Law just kept telling him he needed a major operation and he wasn't having any of that. He didn't need some huge operation, he simply needed a shot of something to ease this guilt.
So he drove down to the nearest building with a steeple where apparently Dr. Religion resided, and told him his problems. "Oh", said Dr. Religion, "This happens all the time. We have just the cure for guilty sinners. Just repeat this prayer and after, sign here and here, then fill out this church membership card."
"That's all there is to it?", the man replied with incredulity.
"Oh no", Dr. Religion said, "We have a very complex regiment you must follow. First, you must come back here every Sunday and Wednesday to get your shot. Sunday is a double dose. Next, read over this long list of rules and things for you to do to please God, and after a month of baptism classes we can get you right in the water to seal the deal".
Well that sounded alright to the man and he left feeling much better. There did seem to be a lot to do to please this god of religion, but whatever it took to ease this guilt and escape the fires of hell.
Week after week he went back for another shot from Dr. Religion. He would have highs and lows throughout the week, but after a session with the nice doctor, he would feel better. He was instructed to really read his bible, pray all the time and work on trying to forgive himself. Every week the doctor would really emphasize the need to get a broken and humble spirit, and never to forget to maintain good works to please God. As well Dr. Religion informed him that he could live his best life now and that the answer to all his problems was in himself. He just needed to love himself and know that God had a great life of wealth, health and prosperity in store for him.
At the end of the day the man would lie in bed wondering what it would be like to really know God. At the end of the day the emptiness of it all would still overwhelm him. He concluded that the shot that Dr. Religion was giving him wasn't truly satisfying. What he did in that building wasn't satisfying. That prayer he prayed asking Jesus into his heart, wasn't satisfying. That baptism into the pool wasn't satisfying. That church membership wasn't satisfying. What he needed was peace with God and he couldn't for the life of him figure out what to do! He did everything that Dr. Religion said to do but it wasn't enough!
Part 2 coming soon...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Contrary To The Natural Course
All people on the face of the earth are all endowed with a basic, inherent knowledge of right and wrong. In other words, everyone knows they shouldn't steal, rape or murder their fellow man. We will call this, "natural religion". By natural, I mean that we don't need a bible, koran, or any other book or religion to teach us right from wrong. Natural religion is an internal knowledge that we hold, that that isn't dependent on outside sources.
Natural religion goes further though. We also know without a bible or a koran that we shouldn't be selfish and live merely to please ourselves, especially while ignoring the needs of others. When we see someone that needs help, we instinctively feel compelled to help them. When we see someone in need and decide to go against our conscience and fulfill some selfish desire, then we experience guilt.
All of the religions of the world follow after the natural course. All religions follow after natural religion. Much of what all religions teach is truth, because what they teach is naturally and inherently in every person. Therefore most religion makes sense to people. It makes sense that we need to do the right thing to please God. It makes sense that we shouldn't harm anyone and treat each other with respect. It makes sense to help our neighbor when he is in need. It also makes sense due to natural religion, that we need to do something to make things right with God. All men naturally feel shut out from God. We don't need a book or religion to tell us that.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is contrary to all religion. It is anti-religion. Religion leaves men drowning in their guilt trying to please God and gain eternal life by doing the commandments of God. It leaves men grasping one commandment after another, as a knot in a rope, trying to get to God. It is FUTILE and worse than useless.
The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is this... All have sinned against a holy God and are already guilty. All sinners are already in a condemned state and on their way to hell. Trying to earn eternal life after having violated our own conscience, is useless. It's way too late to make it right. We owe God the equivalent of a billion spiritual dollars and we are morally bankrupt. This is when the greatest news comes. God gave His Son to die and shed His blood in order to pay the penalty for our sin. This He did by Himself. Having paid the price with His own blood (that's what God requires for sin), Jesus didn't stay dead though. After submitting Himself to the due penalty for our sin, which is death, and having gone to hell where sinners go, God raised Him from the dead and placed Him at His right hand never to die again. The justice of God was satisfied. His wrath was quenched through the payment made by Jesus.
Now, God is willing to forgive sinners and call them completely righteous, freely, on the basis of what Jesus did for us, and not what we do for Him. On the basis of Christ's overcoming life, His death on the cross and resurrection, God is willing and offering us a free gift of salvation. We can now be completely forgiven and accepted by God under one condition... If we place our faith and trust on the finished work of Jesus Christ and rely ONLY on His merits getting us to heaven, not ours. This is contrary to the natural course of things. This is AMAZING!.. That God should call a guilty hell-deserving sinner, COMPLETELY RIGHTEOUS, and do it as a free gift! Why? Because He counted Jesus a sinner when He was not. This offer is unlike any religion in that it is offered to the UNGODLY SINNER (While he is still in his sin!) WHO DOESN'T WORK FOR HIS SALVATION BUT BELIEVES with all his heart that what Jesus did is enough to get him into heaven. This separates true Christianity from all religions. This is contrary to everything we have ever known and thought. That being right with God free from all of our good works and is reliant upon ONE thing... Faith in Christ.
Natural religion goes further though. We also know without a bible or a koran that we shouldn't be selfish and live merely to please ourselves, especially while ignoring the needs of others. When we see someone that needs help, we instinctively feel compelled to help them. When we see someone in need and decide to go against our conscience and fulfill some selfish desire, then we experience guilt.
All of the religions of the world follow after the natural course. All religions follow after natural religion. Much of what all religions teach is truth, because what they teach is naturally and inherently in every person. Therefore most religion makes sense to people. It makes sense that we need to do the right thing to please God. It makes sense that we shouldn't harm anyone and treat each other with respect. It makes sense to help our neighbor when he is in need. It also makes sense due to natural religion, that we need to do something to make things right with God. All men naturally feel shut out from God. We don't need a book or religion to tell us that.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is contrary to all religion. It is anti-religion. Religion leaves men drowning in their guilt trying to please God and gain eternal life by doing the commandments of God. It leaves men grasping one commandment after another, as a knot in a rope, trying to get to God. It is FUTILE and worse than useless.
The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is this... All have sinned against a holy God and are already guilty. All sinners are already in a condemned state and on their way to hell. Trying to earn eternal life after having violated our own conscience, is useless. It's way too late to make it right. We owe God the equivalent of a billion spiritual dollars and we are morally bankrupt. This is when the greatest news comes. God gave His Son to die and shed His blood in order to pay the penalty for our sin. This He did by Himself. Having paid the price with His own blood (that's what God requires for sin), Jesus didn't stay dead though. After submitting Himself to the due penalty for our sin, which is death, and having gone to hell where sinners go, God raised Him from the dead and placed Him at His right hand never to die again. The justice of God was satisfied. His wrath was quenched through the payment made by Jesus.
Now, God is willing to forgive sinners and call them completely righteous, freely, on the basis of what Jesus did for us, and not what we do for Him. On the basis of Christ's overcoming life, His death on the cross and resurrection, God is willing and offering us a free gift of salvation. We can now be completely forgiven and accepted by God under one condition... If we place our faith and trust on the finished work of Jesus Christ and rely ONLY on His merits getting us to heaven, not ours. This is contrary to the natural course of things. This is AMAZING!.. That God should call a guilty hell-deserving sinner, COMPLETELY RIGHTEOUS, and do it as a free gift! Why? Because He counted Jesus a sinner when He was not. This offer is unlike any religion in that it is offered to the UNGODLY SINNER (While he is still in his sin!) WHO DOESN'T WORK FOR HIS SALVATION BUT BELIEVES with all his heart that what Jesus did is enough to get him into heaven. This separates true Christianity from all religions. This is contrary to everything we have ever known and thought. That being right with God free from all of our good works and is reliant upon ONE thing... Faith in Christ.
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