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.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Two Ways To Eternal Life
There are two ways to obtain eternal life according to the bible. The first one is through the law. That would be, known moral law. In other words, do what you ought to do. Obtaining eternal life by this method would entail patiently and diligently obeying your conscience throughout your life, without interruption. Doing the right thing every time, is the requirement. Failing to do the right thing even once, results in a condition called, "dead in trespasses and sins", which results in falling short of the glory of God, which results in eternal punishment. That's God's standard. Furthermore, the result of your right doing that you get from obeying the law (your conscious moral standard of right and wrong) is your righteousness. When I go to church, read my bible, give to the poor, feed the homeless, run an orphanage, get baptized, be humble, be broken... I increase my righteousness. When I do the commandments that Jesus said to do, that would be my righteousness. When God helps me to do right, that is still my righteousness. So anything I do in my physical body that would bring rewards to me and earn me favour with man or God, would be my righteousness. Anything I could brag about and be proud of, would be my righteousness. An attempt to gain God's favour and inherit eternal life by this method is difficult to say the least...
Mt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Even one sin is one too many. There are no browny points for effort. "A try" is not worth anything in God's eyes. You either keep the law and do what you ought to do all the time, or you perish. There is no forgiveness in the law. If you DO the law, you live. If you break it, you break the whole thing, and you lose. God is perfect and sin cannot be in His presence. Not one imperfect, soiled or tarnished individual or creature is able to stand in the presence of Almighty God.
This is where religion goes astray. Man's standard is not God's. What seems fair and right to man, is not fair and right to God. God requires perfection. Man's religion says that it's alright if you've sinned. Just start doing the right thing, confess your sin and God will forgive you. It leaves men grasping, climbing, in a futile effort to try and earn for themselves eternal life. The only man that ever gained salvation by this method was Jesus Christ. All other humans fall short. All other humans followed after the lusts of their own bodies over the better judgment of their conscience and subsequently fell short of the glory of God.
The other method is a free gift and it is accessed by faith. You say, "Faith in what?"
Not faith in yourself or your own merit but, faith that your eternal salvation was taken care of 2000yrs ago. God has created another way apart from the law whereby we can be saved. God became a Man and paid the penalty Himself, for our sin. Jesus lived a perfect life and died as if He were the sinner. Then after three days God raised Him from the dead having conquered sin, death and the grave.
Here's the deal... This goes completely against the course of nature. Instead of inheriting eternal life by our own merit or by our own righteousness, God is offering us the free gift of salvation if only we will place our faith in His righteousness, and not ours. Instead trying to earn our own way in (which is futile now that we've sinned), we simply accept that Jesus took care of it. God is willing to give us eternal life on the basis of Christ's work for us on the cross. God will count our measly faith in Christ's finished work, as if it were the very righteousness of Jesus Christ. So how does this work out from now til we die? We just give up on ourselves! We stop trying to earn it ourselves. We stop trusting in our own goodness. A true Christian has no confidence in ANYTHING he or she has ever done, is doing, or ever will do. Does that mean we stop doing good? No! We just stop trusting in anything good we do, as a means of getting right with God.
All of a true Christian's faith is in what Jesus Christ did for us on Calvary, as a means of getting right with God and getting into heaven. This simply means, believing with all of our hearts that Jesus is enough to get us to heaven. This method of salvation forces us to admit that we are nothing but hell deserving sinners with no hope outside of Jesus Christ and His righteousness.
Anything we add to Christ's righteousness, in effect voids the gift. There is no salvation in a "man's part, God's part salvation". ANYTHING we would add to the free gift would be our righteousness. We cannot go to heaven by the law AND Christ. It's either perfectly keeping the law, or Christ.
Mt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Even one sin is one too many. There are no browny points for effort. "A try" is not worth anything in God's eyes. You either keep the law and do what you ought to do all the time, or you perish. There is no forgiveness in the law. If you DO the law, you live. If you break it, you break the whole thing, and you lose. God is perfect and sin cannot be in His presence. Not one imperfect, soiled or tarnished individual or creature is able to stand in the presence of Almighty God.
This is where religion goes astray. Man's standard is not God's. What seems fair and right to man, is not fair and right to God. God requires perfection. Man's religion says that it's alright if you've sinned. Just start doing the right thing, confess your sin and God will forgive you. It leaves men grasping, climbing, in a futile effort to try and earn for themselves eternal life. The only man that ever gained salvation by this method was Jesus Christ. All other humans fall short. All other humans followed after the lusts of their own bodies over the better judgment of their conscience and subsequently fell short of the glory of God.
The other method is a free gift and it is accessed by faith. You say, "Faith in what?"
Not faith in yourself or your own merit but, faith that your eternal salvation was taken care of 2000yrs ago. God has created another way apart from the law whereby we can be saved. God became a Man and paid the penalty Himself, for our sin. Jesus lived a perfect life and died as if He were the sinner. Then after three days God raised Him from the dead having conquered sin, death and the grave.
Here's the deal... This goes completely against the course of nature. Instead of inheriting eternal life by our own merit or by our own righteousness, God is offering us the free gift of salvation if only we will place our faith in His righteousness, and not ours. Instead trying to earn our own way in (which is futile now that we've sinned), we simply accept that Jesus took care of it. God is willing to give us eternal life on the basis of Christ's work for us on the cross. God will count our measly faith in Christ's finished work, as if it were the very righteousness of Jesus Christ. So how does this work out from now til we die? We just give up on ourselves! We stop trying to earn it ourselves. We stop trusting in our own goodness. A true Christian has no confidence in ANYTHING he or she has ever done, is doing, or ever will do. Does that mean we stop doing good? No! We just stop trusting in anything good we do, as a means of getting right with God.
All of a true Christian's faith is in what Jesus Christ did for us on Calvary, as a means of getting right with God and getting into heaven. This simply means, believing with all of our hearts that Jesus is enough to get us to heaven. This method of salvation forces us to admit that we are nothing but hell deserving sinners with no hope outside of Jesus Christ and His righteousness.
Anything we add to Christ's righteousness, in effect voids the gift. There is no salvation in a "man's part, God's part salvation". ANYTHING we would add to the free gift would be our righteousness. We cannot go to heaven by the law AND Christ. It's either perfectly keeping the law, or Christ.
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Ultimate Trap
The ultimate trap... Many denominations hold to and teach that salvation not of works and that it is a free gift. Certainly they do teach that salvation is purely by God's grace, but here is where they go astray...
They teach that it's free BUT... you have to be contrite and broken before the Lord. You have to have this humble, repentant spirit in order to come to God and "obtain" this salvation. Then what you do is confess your sin and total depravity, and in this state of sorrow, brokeness and emptiness, that God will then accept you.
Let's delve a little further into this trap... First, pretend you have this box that holds all your sin, pride, selfishness etc. Empty your box of all your sin, pride and selfishness, then bring that empty box to God and offer it to Him in return for His salvation. God will then look at your empty box with approval, and hence, look on you with favour and give you eternal life based not on Christ's sacrifice, but on your empty box.
Then you digress into this state of passive sinfulness that makes you an unoffensive mellow human being for the rest of your life. This trap catches so many people and they live out their lives in a state of misery and guilt as a result of total focus on sin consciousness. There is no salvation in that.
That empty box that we offer God holds absolutely no value to Him. God sees no value in our good works, or our empty box (as it pertains to getting right with Him). What God values is found in Jesus Christ. All His favour is wrapped up in His Son. Jesus Christ is the only Man that ever truly pleased God. He is the only overcoming Man. To get into God's favour we have to get into Jesus Christ. Only by His merit do we find favour with God.
All the sorrow, brokenness and emptiness won't bring peace with God. God saves people who believe the gospel and are trusting in it... Not trusting in their humility and sorrow. If your caught in this trap, know this... Nothing you can do can satisfy the justice that must come from the Moral Ruler of the universe. Only what Jesus did on the cross when He shed His blood to satisfy God, can pay the price necessary for our sin.
It we are trusting in that, then we are saved. We are forgiven. We are cleansed. Not progressively but "Once for all" time.
They teach that it's free BUT... you have to be contrite and broken before the Lord. You have to have this humble, repentant spirit in order to come to God and "obtain" this salvation. Then what you do is confess your sin and total depravity, and in this state of sorrow, brokeness and emptiness, that God will then accept you.
Let's delve a little further into this trap... First, pretend you have this box that holds all your sin, pride, selfishness etc. Empty your box of all your sin, pride and selfishness, then bring that empty box to God and offer it to Him in return for His salvation. God will then look at your empty box with approval, and hence, look on you with favour and give you eternal life based not on Christ's sacrifice, but on your empty box.
Then you digress into this state of passive sinfulness that makes you an unoffensive mellow human being for the rest of your life. This trap catches so many people and they live out their lives in a state of misery and guilt as a result of total focus on sin consciousness. There is no salvation in that.
That empty box that we offer God holds absolutely no value to Him. God sees no value in our good works, or our empty box (as it pertains to getting right with Him). What God values is found in Jesus Christ. All His favour is wrapped up in His Son. Jesus Christ is the only Man that ever truly pleased God. He is the only overcoming Man. To get into God's favour we have to get into Jesus Christ. Only by His merit do we find favour with God.
All the sorrow, brokenness and emptiness won't bring peace with God. God saves people who believe the gospel and are trusting in it... Not trusting in their humility and sorrow. If your caught in this trap, know this... Nothing you can do can satisfy the justice that must come from the Moral Ruler of the universe. Only what Jesus did on the cross when He shed His blood to satisfy God, can pay the price necessary for our sin.
It we are trusting in that, then we are saved. We are forgiven. We are cleansed. Not progressively but "Once for all" time.
Root of Sin
What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law, the bible says. The law says you shouldn't steal. If you know that law and you steal, you have broken the law. Now you've sinned and become a transgressor. But sin goes a whole lot deeper then that. The bible also says that if you know to do good and do it not, then you've sinned. The bible says that if anything you do isn't done in faith, it is sin. So if you think that it might be wrong to watch a certain movie or eat that last piece of pie, and you do it anyway, then you've sinned. Sin is basically rooted in the intentions. Why do you do what you do? What is the end or purpose to all that you do? Why do you do things that you know are good? Why do you do things that you know are bad? Why do you go to church? Why do you read your bible? Why do you treat your wife the way you do? Why do you discipline your kids?
What I'm getting at is this... Are all your doings rooted in selfishness? Do you have a lot of self pity? Do you live your life in such a way as to earn for yourself favour with God so that one day you can say to Him, "You owe me"?
It's a good question to ask yourself, "Why do I do the things I do?"
My overall point is this. We have sins that are socially acceptable and not so bad, and some that aren't and are considered really bad. Kind of like the idea of mortal and venial sins. For instance, a man sees his neighbor committing adultery and he thinks to himself that he would never do such a thing. He thinks to himself that he is far above that. He is a righteous man and only sinners do such things. Then when no one is home he turns on his computer and lusts after dirty pictures of women on the web. That man is no better then the man that cheated on his wife. You might say that at least he never actually did it. Yes, but in his heart he did. Jesus says that if you lust after a woman, then you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. As far as God is concerned, that man is an adulterer. Another example. A man looks at the drunk that can't stop drinking, and judges him. The same man is extremely obese and can't control his eating. How is the one better then the other? One is socially more acceptable, but both men are slaves to their own flesh. Why do they do that? Because "I" am important. Why does the alcoholic drink? Why does the sodomite do what he does? Why does the porn addict watch porn? Why does the man or woman over eat? Why does the smoker smoke? Because there is nothing more important then "ME" and feeding MY desires. Selfishness is the root of all sin.
To go further, why does the drunk stop drinking? Why does the smoker stop smoking? "Because it hurts MY body". "If I don't stop I could die". The end is still himself.
Why does the guilty sinner do religious activities? Why does he start going to church? Why does he become a member? Why does he go down to the alter and confess his sins? IT'S ALL FOR SELFISH REASONS. BECAUSE I FEEL GUILTY AND WHEN GOD SEES HOW SORRY I AM, HE WILL FORGIVE ME. Why? "I" AM IMPORTANT. The end or purpose is still ME. All that is still rooted in selfishness. Many people come to God with their crying and brokenness, and think that counts with God. Many people come to God with their prayers and begging ways, and think that ought to matter to God. Why? Because I am important. What they are essentially doing is emptying their box of all their sin and pride and then bring the empty box to God, thinking that the empty box counts. That's still works. Their is no salvation in that. This is where most of Christianity goes astray. The empty box still doesn't count. There is no worth to your empty box. God saves people who believe the gospel, not people who offer God an empty box in return for salvation. God saves people who believe that what Jesus did is enough to get them into heaven. Salvation by any other means, is merely selfish. Gaining salvation under the law is living life with yourself as the end. Salvation by faith is accepting that what God did for us in Christ is enough to get us into heaven.
What I'm getting at is this... Are all your doings rooted in selfishness? Do you have a lot of self pity? Do you live your life in such a way as to earn for yourself favour with God so that one day you can say to Him, "You owe me"?
It's a good question to ask yourself, "Why do I do the things I do?"
My overall point is this. We have sins that are socially acceptable and not so bad, and some that aren't and are considered really bad. Kind of like the idea of mortal and venial sins. For instance, a man sees his neighbor committing adultery and he thinks to himself that he would never do such a thing. He thinks to himself that he is far above that. He is a righteous man and only sinners do such things. Then when no one is home he turns on his computer and lusts after dirty pictures of women on the web. That man is no better then the man that cheated on his wife. You might say that at least he never actually did it. Yes, but in his heart he did. Jesus says that if you lust after a woman, then you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. As far as God is concerned, that man is an adulterer. Another example. A man looks at the drunk that can't stop drinking, and judges him. The same man is extremely obese and can't control his eating. How is the one better then the other? One is socially more acceptable, but both men are slaves to their own flesh. Why do they do that? Because "I" am important. Why does the alcoholic drink? Why does the sodomite do what he does? Why does the porn addict watch porn? Why does the man or woman over eat? Why does the smoker smoke? Because there is nothing more important then "ME" and feeding MY desires. Selfishness is the root of all sin.
To go further, why does the drunk stop drinking? Why does the smoker stop smoking? "Because it hurts MY body". "If I don't stop I could die". The end is still himself.
Why does the guilty sinner do religious activities? Why does he start going to church? Why does he become a member? Why does he go down to the alter and confess his sins? IT'S ALL FOR SELFISH REASONS. BECAUSE I FEEL GUILTY AND WHEN GOD SEES HOW SORRY I AM, HE WILL FORGIVE ME. Why? "I" AM IMPORTANT. The end or purpose is still ME. All that is still rooted in selfishness. Many people come to God with their crying and brokenness, and think that counts with God. Many people come to God with their prayers and begging ways, and think that ought to matter to God. Why? Because I am important. What they are essentially doing is emptying their box of all their sin and pride and then bring the empty box to God, thinking that the empty box counts. That's still works. Their is no salvation in that. This is where most of Christianity goes astray. The empty box still doesn't count. There is no worth to your empty box. God saves people who believe the gospel, not people who offer God an empty box in return for salvation. God saves people who believe that what Jesus did is enough to get them into heaven. Salvation by any other means, is merely selfish. Gaining salvation under the law is living life with yourself as the end. Salvation by faith is accepting that what God did for us in Christ is enough to get us into heaven.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
How True is the Gospel?
Many people that hear the gospel right for the first time, receive it in unbelief. Their response upon being told that Christ died for their sins and rose again, might go like this, "But I don't believe that" or, "I didn't ask him to".
My reply back would be, "That's not the issue, it's true whether you believe it or not."
The point is, this Gospel of God is a reality whether we believe it or not. It's also true that it's only efficacious for us upon exercising faith in it, but the fact remains, that its already true and is not reliant upon our faith to make it true. This is not a perfect comparison, but for instance, if a Governor pardoned a deathrow inmate, that pardon is not efficacious until the inmate signs it, but the fact is that the pardon is a reality whether the inmate believes it or not. If the inmate is in unbelief and fails to sign it, he still dies. That is exactly the situation of the entire human race. Every person stands already guilty before God, condemned by his own moral standard. God has given us another way or means by which we can be saved from his wrath and the judgment to come, and that is through or by the means of the only sinless Man that ever lived, Jesus Christ. He has made peace with us through the blood of the cross and offered us a pardon free from all religion and self effort. All we do to access this free gift is to believe that Jesus did it all. Simply believe that Jesus finished it and be saved from the wrath to come. That's as simple as it gets. You might say that it sounds too good to be true, and I agree that it does. I still stand in robes of amazement. The fact remains that it is true.
The gospel doesn't come to us on our level. It rises far above our own understanding and experience. It seems unbelievable at first, because it remains so far removed from our reality, yet we who are saved believe it. Why? Because God said it. There is no work that we could do that honours God more then by simply believing what He says. God says that He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and anyone that would place their faith in Him would be saved. That's a wonderful promise and believing that, with the whole heart, changes a person forever.
So here we are justified by faith before God. Many people then want to be "sanctified" and this they say involves works. Not according to the bible though. When reading Roman ch6 (KJV preferably) pay close attention to the tense (past, present, or future) and you will find that our sanctification is already past. Justification and sanctification are one work and all that is required is faith. The gospel is two fold. Not only did Christ die for our sins but we died with Him to our sins. You might find that unbelievable because you didn't experience it. I say, what does our experience have anything to do with it? We have become members (fingers, arms, legs...) of Christ's literal body and with that we share the same history. In simpler terms, we were there with Jesus when he spoke to the women at the well. We were there when He was baptized. We were there at the last supper. We were there when he was beaten and whipped. We were there when he was crucified, buried, raised and ascended to the right hand of God. Our old man, (our entire identity or all that we were in Adam) was crucified with Him and thereby freed from our body where sin dwelt. The end result, we are freed from the dominion that sin had over us. No longer are we a slave to sin. The fact is, he who is dead is freed from sin. You might say that you can hardly believe that. What's that go to do with it. If you're saved it's already true whether you believe it or not. This is something that God worked out in Christ over 2000 yrs ago and is a fact whether we believe it or not. That's how true it is. This gospel of sanctification is not something we work out in our experience but something that God did to us in Christ and we entered into when we believed the gospel. When this takes hold you will boldly proclaim that you are free from the power of sin, that sin does not have dominion over you, and it is all because of what happened what Jesus did on the cross. In this, God gets all the glory and you just live in His reality, not your own.
My reply back would be, "That's not the issue, it's true whether you believe it or not."
The point is, this Gospel of God is a reality whether we believe it or not. It's also true that it's only efficacious for us upon exercising faith in it, but the fact remains, that its already true and is not reliant upon our faith to make it true. This is not a perfect comparison, but for instance, if a Governor pardoned a deathrow inmate, that pardon is not efficacious until the inmate signs it, but the fact is that the pardon is a reality whether the inmate believes it or not. If the inmate is in unbelief and fails to sign it, he still dies. That is exactly the situation of the entire human race. Every person stands already guilty before God, condemned by his own moral standard. God has given us another way or means by which we can be saved from his wrath and the judgment to come, and that is through or by the means of the only sinless Man that ever lived, Jesus Christ. He has made peace with us through the blood of the cross and offered us a pardon free from all religion and self effort. All we do to access this free gift is to believe that Jesus did it all. Simply believe that Jesus finished it and be saved from the wrath to come. That's as simple as it gets. You might say that it sounds too good to be true, and I agree that it does. I still stand in robes of amazement. The fact remains that it is true.
The gospel doesn't come to us on our level. It rises far above our own understanding and experience. It seems unbelievable at first, because it remains so far removed from our reality, yet we who are saved believe it. Why? Because God said it. There is no work that we could do that honours God more then by simply believing what He says. God says that He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and anyone that would place their faith in Him would be saved. That's a wonderful promise and believing that, with the whole heart, changes a person forever.
So here we are justified by faith before God. Many people then want to be "sanctified" and this they say involves works. Not according to the bible though. When reading Roman ch6 (KJV preferably) pay close attention to the tense (past, present, or future) and you will find that our sanctification is already past. Justification and sanctification are one work and all that is required is faith. The gospel is two fold. Not only did Christ die for our sins but we died with Him to our sins. You might find that unbelievable because you didn't experience it. I say, what does our experience have anything to do with it? We have become members (fingers, arms, legs...) of Christ's literal body and with that we share the same history. In simpler terms, we were there with Jesus when he spoke to the women at the well. We were there when He was baptized. We were there at the last supper. We were there when he was beaten and whipped. We were there when he was crucified, buried, raised and ascended to the right hand of God. Our old man, (our entire identity or all that we were in Adam) was crucified with Him and thereby freed from our body where sin dwelt. The end result, we are freed from the dominion that sin had over us. No longer are we a slave to sin. The fact is, he who is dead is freed from sin. You might say that you can hardly believe that. What's that go to do with it. If you're saved it's already true whether you believe it or not. This is something that God worked out in Christ over 2000 yrs ago and is a fact whether we believe it or not. That's how true it is. This gospel of sanctification is not something we work out in our experience but something that God did to us in Christ and we entered into when we believed the gospel. When this takes hold you will boldly proclaim that you are free from the power of sin, that sin does not have dominion over you, and it is all because of what happened what Jesus did on the cross. In this, God gets all the glory and you just live in His reality, not your own.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Perfect Righteousness
Knowledge of this great truth is crucial to living completely free from all burdens and resting in Christ's finished work. This doctrine flies directly in the face of all religion and is the heart of justification by faith. People who know and are firmly rooted in this knowledge are not easily penetrated with the fiery darts of wicked religious people who would control them through doubt, fear and intimidation.
What is righteousness? If I would talk about Mother Teresa's righteousness, we would automatically think of all the good things she did throughout her life. That would be correct. My righteousness is my right doing, your righteousness is your right doing, and God's righteousness is God's right doing. God's righteousness is the result of the right doing that Jesus Christ lived on this earth. Jesus healing people, casting out demons, preaching, overcoming temptation and sin, giving himself for the sins of the world would be God's righteousness. (Jesus being God 1Tim 3:16)
Moving on, when I do good I cannot transfer that good deed to you and make it as if you did it. For instance, if I help an old lady across the street, I can't make it so you actually did it. That would be impossible. I can transfer the effect or the outcome of that right doing to you (an award or trophy etc.) but not the righteous act itself. That righteous act that I did can never be yours in your experience. The same it is with God. When God does right, He cannot make it so that you actually did it in your reality that you could take credit for. He can though transfer righteousness to your account in the books of reckoning as we will see. When God places, reckons, or imputes righteousness to someone, they cannot take credit for that because they didn't actually do the righteousness. They are a beneficiary of the result of that righteousness which is God's and are counted righteous as such. So how does this translate into our reality? It doesn't. This is in God's reckoning alone. God promises and we believe. All we have is the promise of God and that is all we need.
There is a heresy that states that when God by His grace helps me to do right, that that is His righteousness. That is as wrong as the JW doctrine on the deity of Christ. God enabling me to do right is still my righteousness. It's not His. All works salvation people and most of professing Christians believe that God imparts His righteousness to our experience (helping us to do right) thereby making us righteous so we can go to heaven. That is dead wrong. That's merely another way of saying, "I believe my works will get me to heaven and I have no need of Christ". Imputing is an accounting term and it is God placing righteousness to our account FREELY AS A GIFT without us doing anything but believing on the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart.
Romans 4:17 ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
God called Abraham a father of many nations when in Abraham's reality he was not, and God calls us completely and perfectly righteous when we are not.
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he (God) had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him (Abraham) for righteousness.
Rom 4:23 ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
So here is Abraham before he had done anything righteous. Abraham believes the promises of God that he will be a father of many nations. God imputes or places righteousness to Abraham's account without Abraham doing anything righteous. Impute is an accounting term that simply means to place or reckon to someones account. Did Abraham see this righteousness that God placed to his account? Absolutely not. Abraham simply believed something outside of his experience that God had spoken. If Sarah had looked at Abraham she would not have seen the righteousness. It was in God's reckoning only. God said it and Abraham believed it. The same it is with us. It was not written to for Abraham's sake alone that righteousness was reckoned to him, BUT TO US ALSO TO WHOM RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE IMPUTED IF WE BELIEVE ON JESUS.
Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
This righteousness is a gift. The bible calls it a gift of righteousness. This righteousness is God's. God did this righteousness when he became a Man and lived on this earth. It is Jesus Christ's right doing. How does this promise affect us? Now we can with full confidence know that we are going to heaven. Why? For the reason that God placed Christ's righteousness to our account. So no longer is the burden on me to perform up to God's perfect standard. It is not my right doing that is getting me to heaven, but Christ's! Not only did Christ die and forgive my sin by his shed blood, but God placed Christ's righteousness to my account freely without my doing anything to deserve it! That is awesome! This completely separates TRUE Christianity from the rest of world religions. There is nothing like this anywhere that God should call a guilty sinner righteous, when he is not.
2Cor 5:21 For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (Jesus).
That's why. God counted Jesus to be all the sinners of the world when He was not, so he could make us who believe righteous when we are not. It's a marvelous substitution is it not?! Christ the Son of God got counted as a sinner and became our sin (though he never sinned) and when we the guilty sinners place our faith in that finished work of Christ, we get counted as perfectly righteous, which we are not. Amazing! I love it.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he (Jesus) hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
What is righteousness? If I would talk about Mother Teresa's righteousness, we would automatically think of all the good things she did throughout her life. That would be correct. My righteousness is my right doing, your righteousness is your right doing, and God's righteousness is God's right doing. God's righteousness is the result of the right doing that Jesus Christ lived on this earth. Jesus healing people, casting out demons, preaching, overcoming temptation and sin, giving himself for the sins of the world would be God's righteousness. (Jesus being God 1Tim 3:16)
Moving on, when I do good I cannot transfer that good deed to you and make it as if you did it. For instance, if I help an old lady across the street, I can't make it so you actually did it. That would be impossible. I can transfer the effect or the outcome of that right doing to you (an award or trophy etc.) but not the righteous act itself. That righteous act that I did can never be yours in your experience. The same it is with God. When God does right, He cannot make it so that you actually did it in your reality that you could take credit for. He can though transfer righteousness to your account in the books of reckoning as we will see. When God places, reckons, or imputes righteousness to someone, they cannot take credit for that because they didn't actually do the righteousness. They are a beneficiary of the result of that righteousness which is God's and are counted righteous as such. So how does this translate into our reality? It doesn't. This is in God's reckoning alone. God promises and we believe. All we have is the promise of God and that is all we need.
There is a heresy that states that when God by His grace helps me to do right, that that is His righteousness. That is as wrong as the JW doctrine on the deity of Christ. God enabling me to do right is still my righteousness. It's not His. All works salvation people and most of professing Christians believe that God imparts His righteousness to our experience (helping us to do right) thereby making us righteous so we can go to heaven. That is dead wrong. That's merely another way of saying, "I believe my works will get me to heaven and I have no need of Christ". Imputing is an accounting term and it is God placing righteousness to our account FREELY AS A GIFT without us doing anything but believing on the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart.
Romans 4:17 ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
God called Abraham a father of many nations when in Abraham's reality he was not, and God calls us completely and perfectly righteous when we are not.
Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he (God) had promised, he was able also to perform.
Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him (Abraham) for righteousness.
Rom 4:23 ¶ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
So here is Abraham before he had done anything righteous. Abraham believes the promises of God that he will be a father of many nations. God imputes or places righteousness to Abraham's account without Abraham doing anything righteous. Impute is an accounting term that simply means to place or reckon to someones account. Did Abraham see this righteousness that God placed to his account? Absolutely not. Abraham simply believed something outside of his experience that God had spoken. If Sarah had looked at Abraham she would not have seen the righteousness. It was in God's reckoning only. God said it and Abraham believed it. The same it is with us. It was not written to for Abraham's sake alone that righteousness was reckoned to him, BUT TO US ALSO TO WHOM RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE IMPUTED IF WE BELIEVE ON JESUS.
Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
This righteousness is a gift. The bible calls it a gift of righteousness. This righteousness is God's. God did this righteousness when he became a Man and lived on this earth. It is Jesus Christ's right doing. How does this promise affect us? Now we can with full confidence know that we are going to heaven. Why? For the reason that God placed Christ's righteousness to our account. So no longer is the burden on me to perform up to God's perfect standard. It is not my right doing that is getting me to heaven, but Christ's! Not only did Christ die and forgive my sin by his shed blood, but God placed Christ's righteousness to my account freely without my doing anything to deserve it! That is awesome! This completely separates TRUE Christianity from the rest of world religions. There is nothing like this anywhere that God should call a guilty sinner righteous, when he is not.
2Cor 5:21 For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (Jesus).
That's why. God counted Jesus to be all the sinners of the world when He was not, so he could make us who believe righteous when we are not. It's a marvelous substitution is it not?! Christ the Son of God got counted as a sinner and became our sin (though he never sinned) and when we the guilty sinners place our faith in that finished work of Christ, we get counted as perfectly righteous, which we are not. Amazing! I love it.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he (Jesus) hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Friday, July 16, 2010
One Offering For Ever!
The past, the present and the future culminates and hinges on one point in history, on a hill called Calvary. There on a bloody cross, God who became man, died for the sins of the world. There Jesus became a sacrifice and tasted death for every man.
God is a big fan of figures. God used the blood of animals in the old covenant to cover the sins of the people that lived at that time. He did that so that the future generations would know the price it took to pay for sin. God used that old system to show that sin incurred a debt and that the debt had to be payed. The law said, the soul that sins shall die. Blood is the only currency that appeased the wrath and justice of God so that the sinner's life could be prolonged. Every year the high priest had to go into the temple into a place called the holiest of all, and not without blood to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people. That was where the presence of God was and that was where the blood was brought. If it was accepted, God's wrath was abated one more year. They would tie a rope to the high priest when he went in there because if God didn't accept the sacrifice, the priest would die. God would kill him. It happened. This was serious business. Anyone else who would go in there would die.
Along comes Jesus. The old system is dead and gone. Christ dies and shed's his blood. Why? Because that is the only way to appease the justice of God for our sin. There is no other way. This is extremely exciting though. No longer does blood have to be shed. Christ offered one sacrifice that was worth enough and then some, to pay for the sin of the whole world. God raised Him from the dead and Jesus with His own blood then entered into the true Holy place in heaven, and obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
My what a wonderful verse. Jesus redeemed (bought) us (we were dead in trespasses and sins, condemned to eternal damnation in the lake of fire) with His own blood. The blood of animals was only used to cover the sins of the old covenant saints like David and Abraham. Christ's blood was so much better because it was God's blood. It was of sufficient worth to pay for the sin of the world. How marvelous is that?!
Now there is some people that think that Christ died for our past sins but not our future sins. They claim that through the act of repentance and confession we participate in our future forgiveness. That is false. Check this out... (Speaking of Jesus here)
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Christ didn't need any help. By Himself he purged our sins and sat down at the right hand of God! God made Jesus to be sin for us! Not some sin... ALL SIN! There is no more offering needed! The payment has been made, the debt has been paid! It's free and Christ did all the work needed! Think about that... "BY HIMSELF HE PURGED OUR SINS!" The only substance God accepts for the payment of sins, is blood. Our blood is useless because it is too polluted with sin. Christ's blood was perfect because he never sinned. He only did right.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION.
Without the shedding of blood, sin cannot be forgiven. Nothing we do can get our sins forgiven. But...
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25 NOR YET THAT HE SHOULD OFFER HIMSELF OFTEN, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (Like they used to do)
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: BUT NOW ONCE IN THE END OF THE WORLD HATH HE APPEARED TO PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF.
My, what a wonderful verse! I am so glad that I am not required to do anything in order to have my sins forgiven, but believe that Christ did it all. Christ, ONCE BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS! Nobody helped him and nobody's help is accepted. It's free! Christ will get all the glory.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified (set apart) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (in the old covenant)
Heb 10:12 But this man (JESUS), after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For BY ONE OFFERING HE HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified.
Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever! Forever signifies past, present and future. It means throughout all time. By ONE OFFERING HE PERFECTED FOREVER them that are set apart. (Heard the word and believed it) No one can add to what Jesus did. That day on the cross God sacrificed His own Lamb (His only begotten Son) and offered the free gift to anyone who would believe that what Jesus did is enough to get them into heaven, period. Jesus cried, "IT IS FINISHED".
That was a big job He finished. His blood payed for our sins. God raised Him from the dead signifying that the offering was accepted. God offers us the free gift of righteousness if we put our faith in that offering. He places Christ's right doing to our account. Beside our name in the book of life, he counts us as perfect. He no longer sees us as sinners but as completely righteous. He now views us as family and heirs of the kingdom. All as a free gift if only we acknowledge his offering on our behalf!
Do you believe this or are you still striving to maintain your salvation? Are you believing with all your heart? Or are you working on your salvation with your filthy offering of dead works? See, God's acceptance and favour is found in Jesus Christ. God's peace is found in Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross at Calvary. We either find our peace right there!.. Or we don't find it at all. Again, God's acceptance and an end to the war that existed between God and man is found in Christ Jesus! God finds acceptance right there on the cross and no where else. We by faith find acceptance and peace in that offering on the cross. Where God and man meet in Jesus Christ (on Calvary), we find peace! Right there and no place else! You cannot find forgiveness, acceptance or peace anywhere else. I cannot overemphasis this enough! Peace and acceptance, forgiveness and favour with God is only found through Jesus Christ. Does this ring true in the depth of your soul? If it doesn't, what do you got? Absolutely nothing! Just a dead lifeless religion.
If our faith is not completely in that offering, we are not saved and do not have eternal life. If our confidence is not in Christ Jesus with all our heart, we are dead in trespasses and sins. The only thing we have to look forward to is eternal destruction and torment. The only true peace is in Christ and there is only one offering for sin. For some the hardest thing in the world to do is to give up hope in themselves and trust only in Christ. A little faith in self and some in Christ is not acceptable. We must let go and stop placing our faith in ourselves and in our experience. There is no value to God in our right doing as a means of getting right with him. ALL the value God placed in His Son. There is no favour and no acceptance in and of ourselves. Jesus is all in all!
God is a big fan of figures. God used the blood of animals in the old covenant to cover the sins of the people that lived at that time. He did that so that the future generations would know the price it took to pay for sin. God used that old system to show that sin incurred a debt and that the debt had to be payed. The law said, the soul that sins shall die. Blood is the only currency that appeased the wrath and justice of God so that the sinner's life could be prolonged. Every year the high priest had to go into the temple into a place called the holiest of all, and not without blood to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people. That was where the presence of God was and that was where the blood was brought. If it was accepted, God's wrath was abated one more year. They would tie a rope to the high priest when he went in there because if God didn't accept the sacrifice, the priest would die. God would kill him. It happened. This was serious business. Anyone else who would go in there would die.
Along comes Jesus. The old system is dead and gone. Christ dies and shed's his blood. Why? Because that is the only way to appease the justice of God for our sin. There is no other way. This is extremely exciting though. No longer does blood have to be shed. Christ offered one sacrifice that was worth enough and then some, to pay for the sin of the whole world. God raised Him from the dead and Jesus with His own blood then entered into the true Holy place in heaven, and obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
My what a wonderful verse. Jesus redeemed (bought) us (we were dead in trespasses and sins, condemned to eternal damnation in the lake of fire) with His own blood. The blood of animals was only used to cover the sins of the old covenant saints like David and Abraham. Christ's blood was so much better because it was God's blood. It was of sufficient worth to pay for the sin of the world. How marvelous is that?!
Now there is some people that think that Christ died for our past sins but not our future sins. They claim that through the act of repentance and confession we participate in our future forgiveness. That is false. Check this out... (Speaking of Jesus here)
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Christ didn't need any help. By Himself he purged our sins and sat down at the right hand of God! God made Jesus to be sin for us! Not some sin... ALL SIN! There is no more offering needed! The payment has been made, the debt has been paid! It's free and Christ did all the work needed! Think about that... "BY HIMSELF HE PURGED OUR SINS!" The only substance God accepts for the payment of sins, is blood. Our blood is useless because it is too polluted with sin. Christ's blood was perfect because he never sinned. He only did right.
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION.
Without the shedding of blood, sin cannot be forgiven. Nothing we do can get our sins forgiven. But...
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25 NOR YET THAT HE SHOULD OFFER HIMSELF OFTEN, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (Like they used to do)
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: BUT NOW ONCE IN THE END OF THE WORLD HATH HE APPEARED TO PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF.
My, what a wonderful verse! I am so glad that I am not required to do anything in order to have my sins forgiven, but believe that Christ did it all. Christ, ONCE BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS! Nobody helped him and nobody's help is accepted. It's free! Christ will get all the glory.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified (set apart) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (in the old covenant)
Heb 10:12 But this man (JESUS), after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For BY ONE OFFERING HE HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified.
Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever! Forever signifies past, present and future. It means throughout all time. By ONE OFFERING HE PERFECTED FOREVER them that are set apart. (Heard the word and believed it) No one can add to what Jesus did. That day on the cross God sacrificed His own Lamb (His only begotten Son) and offered the free gift to anyone who would believe that what Jesus did is enough to get them into heaven, period. Jesus cried, "IT IS FINISHED".
That was a big job He finished. His blood payed for our sins. God raised Him from the dead signifying that the offering was accepted. God offers us the free gift of righteousness if we put our faith in that offering. He places Christ's right doing to our account. Beside our name in the book of life, he counts us as perfect. He no longer sees us as sinners but as completely righteous. He now views us as family and heirs of the kingdom. All as a free gift if only we acknowledge his offering on our behalf!
Do you believe this or are you still striving to maintain your salvation? Are you believing with all your heart? Or are you working on your salvation with your filthy offering of dead works? See, God's acceptance and favour is found in Jesus Christ. God's peace is found in Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross at Calvary. We either find our peace right there!.. Or we don't find it at all. Again, God's acceptance and an end to the war that existed between God and man is found in Christ Jesus! God finds acceptance right there on the cross and no where else. We by faith find acceptance and peace in that offering on the cross. Where God and man meet in Jesus Christ (on Calvary), we find peace! Right there and no place else! You cannot find forgiveness, acceptance or peace anywhere else. I cannot overemphasis this enough! Peace and acceptance, forgiveness and favour with God is only found through Jesus Christ. Does this ring true in the depth of your soul? If it doesn't, what do you got? Absolutely nothing! Just a dead lifeless religion.
If our faith is not completely in that offering, we are not saved and do not have eternal life. If our confidence is not in Christ Jesus with all our heart, we are dead in trespasses and sins. The only thing we have to look forward to is eternal destruction and torment. The only true peace is in Christ and there is only one offering for sin. For some the hardest thing in the world to do is to give up hope in themselves and trust only in Christ. A little faith in self and some in Christ is not acceptable. We must let go and stop placing our faith in ourselves and in our experience. There is no value to God in our right doing as a means of getting right with him. ALL the value God placed in His Son. There is no favour and no acceptance in and of ourselves. Jesus is all in all!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Free Will
Free Will
Most of my Christian brothers or sisters (especially on fb) would consider themselves reformed or Calvinistic in their theology. I gather this much from comments made and because most of mainstream Christianity is. Before I begin I want to make something clear. I love all my reformed brothers and sisters and my object here is not to demean you or your intelligence. Truly some of the people that love Jesus the most, happen to be reformed. Many of the best preachers of the gospel are Calvinists. I do understand that. My purpose here is not to cause division but to try to get people to see the truth instead of believing what has been handed down to us from men. I don't expect anyone to believe what I write but to search the scriptures for themselves.
Why is this an important topic? Reformed theology or Calvinism claims that man's will is in bondage therefore are unable to chose to do right. The sinners will is not free and cannot chose to repent and believe unless God decreed it from eternity past. (God decrees some to hell and some to heaven)
Now I'll tell you what this kind of doctrine does. It takes the blame off the sinner. No longer does the guilty sinner feel personally responsible for sin. If the sinner does not have a free will, then his sin is not his fault. After all, it is according to the nature that he has been given reformers say. Basically the lost our told (if they have been to church once) that they have a sinful nature and they can do no other than sin, and it's not really their fault. They are told that God is a sovereign God and if he didn't decree you to be in the elect, that you are damned and there is nothing you can do about it. I personally don't think anyone really believes this. I don't think any reformer looks on a murderer and doesn't feel that the person is personally to blame for the killing of the innocent. I don't think when a man rapes a Calvinist's wife, that that Calvinist doesn't think that the rapist personally deserves the fires of hell. I don't think anyone that holds to this doctrine, looks on a sodomite and doesn't think he should and could turn from his sin, repent to God and believe the gospel if he so desired. So in fact, many that hold to this doctrine do not believe it themselves and their actions betray them. So what is my issue then?
I recently posted a status that told the truth to the lost, that people who don't believe on Jesus are already condemned because they won't come to the light because their deeds were evil. Someone commented and the message they were sending utterly took the guilt and blameworthiness off of the sinner and blamed Adam and Eve for our sin. That is exactly what this bondage of the will doctrine does. If a sinner does not come to the place where he sees the mass of his own personal sin and is personally convicted, he will never see his need for Jesus. Where the sinner does not come to the place where he sees how disgustingly sinful he or she is in the light of a holy God, he or she will never come to Christ. No person will come to Christ who blames his sin on someone that lived over 6000 yrs ago. The truth is, every time I or anybody sinned, we knew we shouldn't but we did it anyway. We are to blame and no one else. It is my fault that I deserve eternity in the lake of fire. I should have had my blood shed for my sin. I deserved it. It is my fault that Christ died, because he died for my sin! All my life I knew to do right and did not. When faced with the truth that I ought to do the right thing, I despicably chose to ignore it and do the evil. I knew the truth of God and his judgment, and I turned the other way and walked after the darkness. I was to blame. It was my fault. At no time was my will hindered. No where in the bible was anybody's will hindered. Right from Adam to the apostle Paul, none ever blamed their sin on someone else or on a sinful nature that was passed to them.
In conclusion, if our will was in bondage why would we feel guilty when we sin? If our nature was to sin, then how could it be deemed sin and why would we feel bad about it? Wouldn't sin be acting against our nature? How could God blame us for sin if we were born like this? Why would God want a bunch of robots with predetermined actions? If man has no free will, then what kind of freak show is this? We have a whole race of people that aren't free who are born with a nature to sin, who are commanded by God to repent and believe when they don't have the capability? What kind of god is that? What kind of god decrees some to be saved and the rest to be damned when he could over power them all with His irresistible grace and save them all? This is messed up folks. Search the scriptures and find the truth.
Why is this an important topic? Reformed theology or Calvinism claims that man's will is in bondage therefore are unable to chose to do right. The sinners will is not free and cannot chose to repent and believe unless God decreed it from eternity past. (God decrees some to hell and some to heaven)
Now I'll tell you what this kind of doctrine does. It takes the blame off the sinner. No longer does the guilty sinner feel personally responsible for sin. If the sinner does not have a free will, then his sin is not his fault. After all, it is according to the nature that he has been given reformers say. Basically the lost our told (if they have been to church once) that they have a sinful nature and they can do no other than sin, and it's not really their fault. They are told that God is a sovereign God and if he didn't decree you to be in the elect, that you are damned and there is nothing you can do about it. I personally don't think anyone really believes this. I don't think any reformer looks on a murderer and doesn't feel that the person is personally to blame for the killing of the innocent. I don't think when a man rapes a Calvinist's wife, that that Calvinist doesn't think that the rapist personally deserves the fires of hell. I don't think anyone that holds to this doctrine, looks on a sodomite and doesn't think he should and could turn from his sin, repent to God and believe the gospel if he so desired. So in fact, many that hold to this doctrine do not believe it themselves and their actions betray them. So what is my issue then?
I recently posted a status that told the truth to the lost, that people who don't believe on Jesus are already condemned because they won't come to the light because their deeds were evil. Someone commented and the message they were sending utterly took the guilt and blameworthiness off of the sinner and blamed Adam and Eve for our sin. That is exactly what this bondage of the will doctrine does. If a sinner does not come to the place where he sees the mass of his own personal sin and is personally convicted, he will never see his need for Jesus. Where the sinner does not come to the place where he sees how disgustingly sinful he or she is in the light of a holy God, he or she will never come to Christ. No person will come to Christ who blames his sin on someone that lived over 6000 yrs ago. The truth is, every time I or anybody sinned, we knew we shouldn't but we did it anyway. We are to blame and no one else. It is my fault that I deserve eternity in the lake of fire. I should have had my blood shed for my sin. I deserved it. It is my fault that Christ died, because he died for my sin! All my life I knew to do right and did not. When faced with the truth that I ought to do the right thing, I despicably chose to ignore it and do the evil. I knew the truth of God and his judgment, and I turned the other way and walked after the darkness. I was to blame. It was my fault. At no time was my will hindered. No where in the bible was anybody's will hindered. Right from Adam to the apostle Paul, none ever blamed their sin on someone else or on a sinful nature that was passed to them.
In conclusion, if our will was in bondage why would we feel guilty when we sin? If our nature was to sin, then how could it be deemed sin and why would we feel bad about it? Wouldn't sin be acting against our nature? How could God blame us for sin if we were born like this? Why would God want a bunch of robots with predetermined actions? If man has no free will, then what kind of freak show is this? We have a whole race of people that aren't free who are born with a nature to sin, who are commanded by God to repent and believe when they don't have the capability? What kind of god is that? What kind of god decrees some to be saved and the rest to be damned when he could over power them all with His irresistible grace and save them all? This is messed up folks. Search the scriptures and find the truth.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
So Soon Removed
Gal 1:6 ¶ I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Here in this passage, the apostle Paul is writing to the Galatians about removing themselves from the grace of God. He wonders with amazement that they would leave Jesus for something so inferior. Paul had gone to Galatia and preached the good news of Jesus Christ to them, and they believed it and were saved. They had their sins washed away in the blood of the Lord Jesus. They truly had peace with God through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They finally had a relationship with the Living God and had the satisfaction of knowing that they had eternal life. They were free from trying to please God through religious acts and customs. They no longer had to keep the holy days, the feast days, with all it's pomp and ceremony in order to earn favour with God. They were clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and were free from their empty religion that was only an affront to God. They were free from a sacrificial system that only covered their sins temporarily, but didn't remove them. They could now boldly come before the throne of grace because their sin and guilty conscience no longer prevented them. It was all paid for by Jesus Christ. It was finished.
Then some men came in unawares and bewitched them. They told the Galatian Christians that Jesus wasn't enough. They told them that they needed "Jesus plus". They told them that it is a free gift, "but you got to do your part". They told them that they needed to keep the law in order to please God and earn merit and favour with Him. These accursed men told them that Christ's righteousness was insufficient and that they needed to start keeping the holy days and keeping the religious dietary laws so as to please God. These men would have preached holy living, personal righteousness, and lots of practical teaching. No doubt they were the same type of men that Paul writes about to the Corinthians.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be TRANSFORMED AS MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; whose end shall be according to their works.
Over and over Paul warns of men that will come into the church, deceiving people and leading them away from the grace of God and away from Jesus. Men that coerce and intimidate people through guilt and fear, preaching holy living while deceptively leading them to resort back to trusting in their own works again. Men that take the people's focus of Christ, the cross and the empty tomb, and lead them after self gain and self merit. Men that lead them back to working for their own salvation. Men that lead them back to eat from the same vile trough of religion that they ate from before. This is a favourite ploy of Satan. He attempts to get people to step out of the grace of God, and start following after the law and there is no salvation there, only condemnation and death. He attempts to get them to stop living by faith, and start living by the works of the law.
Stepping out from the grace of God is forgetting or not focusing on the fact that Jesus died for your sins and supplied all the righteousness needed for us to be presentable to God. The free gift of God is God applying righteousness to our account as a free gift, thereby making us worthy. There is nothing that we can do in God's sight to improve our standing with Him. He does it all, and when we try to do it ourselves, we frustrate the grace of God. If we could get righteous by doing the law, then Christ would have died in vain. There is no greater slap to the face of God then when we turn our back on what He did for us on Calvary, and start doing religious things to try and gain His favour. The only way we can stand blameless in God's sight is on the merit of Jesus Christ. Only by faith that what He did is enough to get us into heaven, can we have eternal life. It's a free gift and when we ignore that, we ignore God's salvation. We essentially are saying to Him, "Yes Lord, I see your free gift but I reject it and will attempt to do in my way". It is saying, "God I'm coming on my own terms, and not on yours".
Paul marvels that they are so soon removed. It is amazing how little it takes someone after being born again and has perceived the love of God, and finally had real joy and peace, to go back to the same position they were in before they got saved. It is so easy it seems, for some people to stop praising and thanking God for their salvation, and resort back to their old mindset of trying to earn God's favor. It is amazing how some people could leave Jesus and the grace of God, for something so worthless.
What it boils down to, is when we leave our fervent zeal for Jesus... If we stop loving Jesus, the next thing you'll know is, someone is offering us a cheap substitute. The truth is, there is nothing better then Jesus. Who or what is better then God in the flesh dying for the sins of the world and resurrecting from the dead to justify us and give us eternal life? What could possibly be better then that?
When men try and give you a substitute for Jesus, whether it be holy living or personal righteousness, don't take it. When someone attempts to lead you the empty trough of religion or toward anything that is not toward Jesus, don't give them the time of day. Don't let anybody tell you that Jesus isn't all you need.
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Here in this passage, the apostle Paul is writing to the Galatians about removing themselves from the grace of God. He wonders with amazement that they would leave Jesus for something so inferior. Paul had gone to Galatia and preached the good news of Jesus Christ to them, and they believed it and were saved. They had their sins washed away in the blood of the Lord Jesus. They truly had peace with God through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They finally had a relationship with the Living God and had the satisfaction of knowing that they had eternal life. They were free from trying to please God through religious acts and customs. They no longer had to keep the holy days, the feast days, with all it's pomp and ceremony in order to earn favour with God. They were clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and were free from their empty religion that was only an affront to God. They were free from a sacrificial system that only covered their sins temporarily, but didn't remove them. They could now boldly come before the throne of grace because their sin and guilty conscience no longer prevented them. It was all paid for by Jesus Christ. It was finished.
Then some men came in unawares and bewitched them. They told the Galatian Christians that Jesus wasn't enough. They told them that they needed "Jesus plus". They told them that it is a free gift, "but you got to do your part". They told them that they needed to keep the law in order to please God and earn merit and favour with Him. These accursed men told them that Christ's righteousness was insufficient and that they needed to start keeping the holy days and keeping the religious dietary laws so as to please God. These men would have preached holy living, personal righteousness, and lots of practical teaching. No doubt they were the same type of men that Paul writes about to the Corinthians.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be TRANSFORMED AS MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; whose end shall be according to their works.
Over and over Paul warns of men that will come into the church, deceiving people and leading them away from the grace of God and away from Jesus. Men that coerce and intimidate people through guilt and fear, preaching holy living while deceptively leading them to resort back to trusting in their own works again. Men that take the people's focus of Christ, the cross and the empty tomb, and lead them after self gain and self merit. Men that lead them back to working for their own salvation. Men that lead them back to eat from the same vile trough of religion that they ate from before. This is a favourite ploy of Satan. He attempts to get people to step out of the grace of God, and start following after the law and there is no salvation there, only condemnation and death. He attempts to get them to stop living by faith, and start living by the works of the law.
Stepping out from the grace of God is forgetting or not focusing on the fact that Jesus died for your sins and supplied all the righteousness needed for us to be presentable to God. The free gift of God is God applying righteousness to our account as a free gift, thereby making us worthy. There is nothing that we can do in God's sight to improve our standing with Him. He does it all, and when we try to do it ourselves, we frustrate the grace of God. If we could get righteous by doing the law, then Christ would have died in vain. There is no greater slap to the face of God then when we turn our back on what He did for us on Calvary, and start doing religious things to try and gain His favour. The only way we can stand blameless in God's sight is on the merit of Jesus Christ. Only by faith that what He did is enough to get us into heaven, can we have eternal life. It's a free gift and when we ignore that, we ignore God's salvation. We essentially are saying to Him, "Yes Lord, I see your free gift but I reject it and will attempt to do in my way". It is saying, "God I'm coming on my own terms, and not on yours".
Paul marvels that they are so soon removed. It is amazing how little it takes someone after being born again and has perceived the love of God, and finally had real joy and peace, to go back to the same position they were in before they got saved. It is so easy it seems, for some people to stop praising and thanking God for their salvation, and resort back to their old mindset of trying to earn God's favor. It is amazing how some people could leave Jesus and the grace of God, for something so worthless.
What it boils down to, is when we leave our fervent zeal for Jesus... If we stop loving Jesus, the next thing you'll know is, someone is offering us a cheap substitute. The truth is, there is nothing better then Jesus. Who or what is better then God in the flesh dying for the sins of the world and resurrecting from the dead to justify us and give us eternal life? What could possibly be better then that?
When men try and give you a substitute for Jesus, whether it be holy living or personal righteousness, don't take it. When someone attempts to lead you the empty trough of religion or toward anything that is not toward Jesus, don't give them the time of day. Don't let anybody tell you that Jesus isn't all you need.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Christ Came For Sinners!
Lu 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
Jesus did not receive all that came to him. He received only sinners. He came for ungodly sinners who needed a Physician. Doesn`t that amaze you?! I marvel that God would come to earth as a Man to save ungodly sinners! Men would naturally think that He would come for the righteous. Perhaps for kings, princes, deacons and pastors. Maybe for the priests, for Mother Teresa, the influential, and esteemed, the people of reputation but not for the fornicator, the adulterer, the murderer, the drunkard, the prostitute, the sodomite, the beggar, the tax collector, and the extortioner...
Mr 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Mr 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Wow! He came not to call the righteous but sinners! You see, the righteous have no need of Jesus. What do they need a Saviour for? Sinners do need a Saviour. I need a Saviour. I need a Friend that is both God and man. I need someone to be a mediator between God and myself. I need a Friend that can reach with one hand up to God, and one hand down to me. I need an attorney that Has an "in" with the Judge. An Attorney that has walked in my shoes and knows how I feel. I need Someone that took part in every temptation and can identify with my infirmities. I need a Friend who I can be identified with, who has eternal life so I can have eternal life too. I need a great High Priest who can intercede on my behalf. When Satan stands there and accuses me before the throne of God, I need Someone to be there and plead on my behalf. Every sinner needs a Friend, a High Priest, and an Attorney like this. Someone that can and will lift the lowest of the low and turn them into princes and heirs...
1Samuel 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
Well let me tell you all something. We have an Attorney, a Friend and a Great High Priest whose name is Jesus! See, God sent His only begotten Son to this earth to live amongst us and walk in our shoes. Jesus couldn't be our attorney and act on our behalf as just as God, so He had to become a man. He did that. Not only did He live amongst us, He died for us. He died for those that killed Him. Someone had to pay for all the sin. God couldn't be just, in forgiving sinners without payment. The payment that the moral law of the universe requires for sin, is blood. Righteous, perfect blood. Jesus, God's only begotten Son was nailed to a cross where the Father placed the sin of the world on Him and Jesus became sin for us. God chose to view His Son as all the sinners ever born and poured out His wrath on Jesus, sending His soul into the depths of the earth for three days and three nights. At that moment, Jesus who had never sinned, suffered and was slain as a sinner, in our place. This is the punishment that we deserved. The shed blood made a way for God to forgive ungodly sinners. It made a way for God to forgive and justify any sinner who would believe in Jesus. Freely, apart from all religion... Without doing anything. A marvelous gift indeed!
So this is what we have come to... The wedding festivities are prepared, and the Host who is God, just requires that we come. The tables have been set, and the meal is ready. It reminds me of a parable...
Mt 22:4 Again, he (God) sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
All who come, are clothed in the perfect spotless robe of righteousness that Jesus Christ lived while He was on this earth. Nothing is required. All the work has been done. Just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart and we shall be saved. He promised.
Jesus did not receive all that came to him. He received only sinners. He came for ungodly sinners who needed a Physician. Doesn`t that amaze you?! I marvel that God would come to earth as a Man to save ungodly sinners! Men would naturally think that He would come for the righteous. Perhaps for kings, princes, deacons and pastors. Maybe for the priests, for Mother Teresa, the influential, and esteemed, the people of reputation but not for the fornicator, the adulterer, the murderer, the drunkard, the prostitute, the sodomite, the beggar, the tax collector, and the extortioner...
Mr 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Mr 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Wow! He came not to call the righteous but sinners! You see, the righteous have no need of Jesus. What do they need a Saviour for? Sinners do need a Saviour. I need a Saviour. I need a Friend that is both God and man. I need someone to be a mediator between God and myself. I need a Friend that can reach with one hand up to God, and one hand down to me. I need an attorney that Has an "in" with the Judge. An Attorney that has walked in my shoes and knows how I feel. I need Someone that took part in every temptation and can identify with my infirmities. I need a Friend who I can be identified with, who has eternal life so I can have eternal life too. I need a great High Priest who can intercede on my behalf. When Satan stands there and accuses me before the throne of God, I need Someone to be there and plead on my behalf. Every sinner needs a Friend, a High Priest, and an Attorney like this. Someone that can and will lift the lowest of the low and turn them into princes and heirs...
1Samuel 2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
Well let me tell you all something. We have an Attorney, a Friend and a Great High Priest whose name is Jesus! See, God sent His only begotten Son to this earth to live amongst us and walk in our shoes. Jesus couldn't be our attorney and act on our behalf as just as God, so He had to become a man. He did that. Not only did He live amongst us, He died for us. He died for those that killed Him. Someone had to pay for all the sin. God couldn't be just, in forgiving sinners without payment. The payment that the moral law of the universe requires for sin, is blood. Righteous, perfect blood. Jesus, God's only begotten Son was nailed to a cross where the Father placed the sin of the world on Him and Jesus became sin for us. God chose to view His Son as all the sinners ever born and poured out His wrath on Jesus, sending His soul into the depths of the earth for three days and three nights. At that moment, Jesus who had never sinned, suffered and was slain as a sinner, in our place. This is the punishment that we deserved. The shed blood made a way for God to forgive ungodly sinners. It made a way for God to forgive and justify any sinner who would believe in Jesus. Freely, apart from all religion... Without doing anything. A marvelous gift indeed!
So this is what we have come to... The wedding festivities are prepared, and the Host who is God, just requires that we come. The tables have been set, and the meal is ready. It reminds me of a parable...
Mt 22:4 Again, he (God) sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
All who come, are clothed in the perfect spotless robe of righteousness that Jesus Christ lived while He was on this earth. Nothing is required. All the work has been done. Just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart and we shall be saved. He promised.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Christ`s Message to the Religious
Mt 11:16 ¶ But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
Mt 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Mt 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
Mt 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
I am currently studying through the book of Matthew and I came across this short passage by Jesus that is loaded with meaning. To get the context, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish crowd who had built up a religious system that left God out of it. It was cold, empty and legalistic. It was just going through the motions of religious ordinances, customs and traditions. They had become so involved in their "doings", that God had been left out of the equation. They lived their lives of sin and "served God" at the same time with all of their laws, holy days, and traditions. They loved the law of God, but their heart was far from Him. They worshiped the law that they didn't keep, and took great pleasure and comfort from all the rules and rituals of their vain religion, but this did not please God.
In this passage, Jesus is pointing out to the crowd their hypocrisy and the fact that it is impossible to please them. "We played music and you didn't dance. We mourned and you didn't cry", they pathetically call out to their fellows in the market. They were upset that Jesus wouldn't play their religious game. John the Baptist came neither eating regular food or drinking wine and they said he was devil possessed and Jesus came eating and drinking and they called Him a drunk and a friend of sinners. But Jesus adds that wisdom is justified of her children meaning that the proof is in the pudding or the tree is made manifest by its fruit.
I find many applications to this present age, from the message of Jesus. The religious of today are no different then the religious of that day. The "church" is absolutely full of these religious hypocrites. Just like the Pharisees, they get angry when people won't play their religious games. They assume that because they wear certain clothes or believe in the given "church doctrine" passed down from the "forefathers", that obviously, everyone should. They care about what family you are from, or what "church" you go to so they can judge whether they can include you in the "brotherhood"... They care much that your outward appearance and actions, conform to their own high and exalted standards. Everything about their lives is disciplined and structured, right down to their "worship". They create rules, ordinances and laws where there aren't any and cling ever closer to their vain, man-made traditions. If you for one second put down their "church buildings", with the fine steeple, stain glass windows, chandeliers and plush carpet, and you will soon be brought in front of the high council. If talk arises on imputed righteousness, it makes the bile rise in their throats. Extol Christ and the shed blood that paid for our wretched sin, and the only reaction is a indifferent nod. Explain the filth of our righteousness in God's sight in reference to our salvation, and their minds drift off somewhere else. They do preach righteousness and holiness, and very little else. They talk about modest clothing, bible reading plans, and daily devotions, but very little Jesus. They highly extol personal righteousness but not God's righteousness. They preach practical application but very little doctrine. They care very little about the heart. What they do care about is the outward appearance. Their own "Christian life" is what is important. God's righteousness and wisdom and redemption (which is Christ) has no practical application and therefore is of no consequence. What it boils down to is that they are in love with self. They love their righteousness. Their end to life is themselves and not God. Their focus throughout their day is their "walk" and not God. Their focus everyday is how they are doing, how many people they witnessed to, how long they prayed, how cheerful they were...
To those that I have just described... Read what Jesus said and take it to heart...
Mt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Hosea 6:6)
God wanted them to have mercy on their fellow man, not their bloody sacrifices. God wanted their hearts.
And a warning for you...
Mt 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
It will be more tolerable in the day of judgment for the ungodly sodomites, and lesbians of Sodom than for people who heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and chose to ignore it. It will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom then for people who were "good Christians", because they went to "church" every Sunday, confessed their sins, and kept short accounts. It will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom then for preachers who shut the kingdom of God by preaching practical teaching, self help, traditions and rudiments instead of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom, then for people who heard about the finished work of Christ week after week, and rather put their faith in modest clothing and head coverings.
There are so many distractions in our world... So many things to distract our eyes away from what really matters, Jesus. I am convinced that nothing will send more men to perdition then their personal righteousness. Men that are have put themselves as the end to life and place their trust in their own history and not in Christ. OH that the word of God would reveal to people the lie that they have been told!
Mt 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Mt 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
Mt 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
I am currently studying through the book of Matthew and I came across this short passage by Jesus that is loaded with meaning. To get the context, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish crowd who had built up a religious system that left God out of it. It was cold, empty and legalistic. It was just going through the motions of religious ordinances, customs and traditions. They had become so involved in their "doings", that God had been left out of the equation. They lived their lives of sin and "served God" at the same time with all of their laws, holy days, and traditions. They loved the law of God, but their heart was far from Him. They worshiped the law that they didn't keep, and took great pleasure and comfort from all the rules and rituals of their vain religion, but this did not please God.
In this passage, Jesus is pointing out to the crowd their hypocrisy and the fact that it is impossible to please them. "We played music and you didn't dance. We mourned and you didn't cry", they pathetically call out to their fellows in the market. They were upset that Jesus wouldn't play their religious game. John the Baptist came neither eating regular food or drinking wine and they said he was devil possessed and Jesus came eating and drinking and they called Him a drunk and a friend of sinners. But Jesus adds that wisdom is justified of her children meaning that the proof is in the pudding or the tree is made manifest by its fruit.
I find many applications to this present age, from the message of Jesus. The religious of today are no different then the religious of that day. The "church" is absolutely full of these religious hypocrites. Just like the Pharisees, they get angry when people won't play their religious games. They assume that because they wear certain clothes or believe in the given "church doctrine" passed down from the "forefathers", that obviously, everyone should. They care about what family you are from, or what "church" you go to so they can judge whether they can include you in the "brotherhood"... They care much that your outward appearance and actions, conform to their own high and exalted standards. Everything about their lives is disciplined and structured, right down to their "worship". They create rules, ordinances and laws where there aren't any and cling ever closer to their vain, man-made traditions. If you for one second put down their "church buildings", with the fine steeple, stain glass windows, chandeliers and plush carpet, and you will soon be brought in front of the high council. If talk arises on imputed righteousness, it makes the bile rise in their throats. Extol Christ and the shed blood that paid for our wretched sin, and the only reaction is a indifferent nod. Explain the filth of our righteousness in God's sight in reference to our salvation, and their minds drift off somewhere else. They do preach righteousness and holiness, and very little else. They talk about modest clothing, bible reading plans, and daily devotions, but very little Jesus. They highly extol personal righteousness but not God's righteousness. They preach practical application but very little doctrine. They care very little about the heart. What they do care about is the outward appearance. Their own "Christian life" is what is important. God's righteousness and wisdom and redemption (which is Christ) has no practical application and therefore is of no consequence. What it boils down to is that they are in love with self. They love their righteousness. Their end to life is themselves and not God. Their focus throughout their day is their "walk" and not God. Their focus everyday is how they are doing, how many people they witnessed to, how long they prayed, how cheerful they were...
To those that I have just described... Read what Jesus said and take it to heart...
Mt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Hosea 6:6)
God wanted them to have mercy on their fellow man, not their bloody sacrifices. God wanted their hearts.
And a warning for you...
Mt 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
It will be more tolerable in the day of judgment for the ungodly sodomites, and lesbians of Sodom than for people who heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and chose to ignore it. It will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom then for people who were "good Christians", because they went to "church" every Sunday, confessed their sins, and kept short accounts. It will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom then for preachers who shut the kingdom of God by preaching practical teaching, self help, traditions and rudiments instead of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It will be more tolerable for the people of Sodom, then for people who heard about the finished work of Christ week after week, and rather put their faith in modest clothing and head coverings.
There are so many distractions in our world... So many things to distract our eyes away from what really matters, Jesus. I am convinced that nothing will send more men to perdition then their personal righteousness. Men that are have put themselves as the end to life and place their trust in their own history and not in Christ. OH that the word of God would reveal to people the lie that they have been told!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Concerning His Son!
Romans 1:1¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Romans 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
This is a profound piece of inspired scripture. To often we skip important parts, in a hurry to get to the meat of the epistle. This introduction in the apostle Paul's letter to the saints in Rome, is very revealing. He starts off by letting the readers know that he is a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle (by God and not man), separated into the gospel (now here is the important part), concerning God's Son Jesus Christ. He did not say, "Concerning a religion", or, "concerning a system of beliefs or principles". He wrote, "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord".
Paul was separated unto the good news (gospel) of God, which was concerning Jesus Christ. That's it. He was separated unto good news, not a system of rules, ordinances, laws, or principles. Paul was not separated unto a program concerning how to live your best life now. He was not separated unto the gospel, concerning how to put in place, principles to have a successful Christian life. He was not separated unto a religion, concerning guilt laden people who needed to feel better about themselves. No sir! He was separated unto the good news of Almighty God, concerning His Son JESUS CHRIST!
People ask, "What is life really all about?" Life is about a whole race of loosers, just the devil's children who desired to be their own god and needed to be rescued from certain eternal damnation by the ONLY TRUE MAN that ever lived, Jesus Christ. We desperately needed a Saviour. He was God's only begotten Son, a God-Man, born in the flesh to a Jewish virgin and obeyed the law perfectly, right from His youth so that He could be our perfect substitute and rescue us from under the law and the condemnation of it. The law is cold and unforgiving. It says if you disobey it in one spot, you have broken the whole thing. If you break it, the punishment is eternal death. Jesus kept it perfectly. That qualified Him to be the representative for the entire human race. He then took the full brunt of the Father's wrath on the cross, that should have been poured out on us. Jesus, because of the joy that was before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and humiliation. We are the ones that sinned. We deserved it, not Him. Jesus was perfect, sinless and yet was slain and his blood ran to the ground in order to pay for our sin. God looked on Jesus hanging there on that tree, and His justice was satisfied. Jesus became sin for us, who knew no sin. Jesus made peace with God for us. He did it all! He promises that if we believe in Him with all our heart, He will come back for us and take us to be with Him for ever. Apart from all religion. Apart from all self effort or works of righteousness on our part. A marvelous free gift indeed!
It's all about Jesus. Many people, through religion are working to gain acceptance with God, and it is futile. It is a never ending struggle to try to gain favor with God on your own merit. That is why there are so many religious people in a miserable state of bondage. They try and try, and things just won`t get right. There is no real joy, no love, or peace in their life. One must accept that our right doing will forever be insufficient to win God's favor. The only way to get into God's love and favor is to get into Christ. Jesus is the only Man that ever fully pleased the Father. God's love is found in Jesus Christ. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit places us into the physical body of Jesus where He becomes our identity. We become like cell transplants in Him. Jesus becomes our life, our hope, our righteousness, our everything. There is no longer "I". Only Christ. We enter into His history, His crucifiction, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and seated with Jesus at the right hand of God. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Heirs to the coming kingdom. It's all about Jesus! It is not about our experience. (Satan loves when we focus on that.) It is not about our "churches" or our Christian lives. It's all about HIM. Jesus, the only true Potentate. The King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Romans 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
This is a profound piece of inspired scripture. To often we skip important parts, in a hurry to get to the meat of the epistle. This introduction in the apostle Paul's letter to the saints in Rome, is very revealing. He starts off by letting the readers know that he is a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle (by God and not man), separated into the gospel (now here is the important part), concerning God's Son Jesus Christ. He did not say, "Concerning a religion", or, "concerning a system of beliefs or principles". He wrote, "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord".
Paul was separated unto the good news (gospel) of God, which was concerning Jesus Christ. That's it. He was separated unto good news, not a system of rules, ordinances, laws, or principles. Paul was not separated unto a program concerning how to live your best life now. He was not separated unto the gospel, concerning how to put in place, principles to have a successful Christian life. He was not separated unto a religion, concerning guilt laden people who needed to feel better about themselves. No sir! He was separated unto the good news of Almighty God, concerning His Son JESUS CHRIST!
People ask, "What is life really all about?" Life is about a whole race of loosers, just the devil's children who desired to be their own god and needed to be rescued from certain eternal damnation by the ONLY TRUE MAN that ever lived, Jesus Christ. We desperately needed a Saviour. He was God's only begotten Son, a God-Man, born in the flesh to a Jewish virgin and obeyed the law perfectly, right from His youth so that He could be our perfect substitute and rescue us from under the law and the condemnation of it. The law is cold and unforgiving. It says if you disobey it in one spot, you have broken the whole thing. If you break it, the punishment is eternal death. Jesus kept it perfectly. That qualified Him to be the representative for the entire human race. He then took the full brunt of the Father's wrath on the cross, that should have been poured out on us. Jesus, because of the joy that was before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and humiliation. We are the ones that sinned. We deserved it, not Him. Jesus was perfect, sinless and yet was slain and his blood ran to the ground in order to pay for our sin. God looked on Jesus hanging there on that tree, and His justice was satisfied. Jesus became sin for us, who knew no sin. Jesus made peace with God for us. He did it all! He promises that if we believe in Him with all our heart, He will come back for us and take us to be with Him for ever. Apart from all religion. Apart from all self effort or works of righteousness on our part. A marvelous free gift indeed!
It's all about Jesus. Many people, through religion are working to gain acceptance with God, and it is futile. It is a never ending struggle to try to gain favor with God on your own merit. That is why there are so many religious people in a miserable state of bondage. They try and try, and things just won`t get right. There is no real joy, no love, or peace in their life. One must accept that our right doing will forever be insufficient to win God's favor. The only way to get into God's love and favor is to get into Christ. Jesus is the only Man that ever fully pleased the Father. God's love is found in Jesus Christ. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit places us into the physical body of Jesus where He becomes our identity. We become like cell transplants in Him. Jesus becomes our life, our hope, our righteousness, our everything. There is no longer "I". Only Christ. We enter into His history, His crucifiction, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, and seated with Jesus at the right hand of God. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Heirs to the coming kingdom. It's all about Jesus! It is not about our experience. (Satan loves when we focus on that.) It is not about our "churches" or our Christian lives. It's all about HIM. Jesus, the only true Potentate. The King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Monday, February 15, 2010
New Birth Repentance
There is much confusion in Christian circles about what repentance is, and I thought I might try and shed some light on the issue. The myths about new birth repentance is, that it involves a certain condition of sorrow for the sin committed. Another myth is that it involves a turning from all known sin, getting yourself cleaned up and start living right. If this was the case, we would all be unsaved and we could never know for sure if we are truly saved. This is a doctrine that has prevented many from entering the kingdom of God. There is no virtue being sorry. God does not care that we are sorry. What we ought to be even after we are saved is very very sorry for our sin, but there is no virtue in that. So many people feel guilty about their sin and come down to "the alter", crying, desperately sorry that they lived the way they lived, make a resolution to stop sinning, and don't get anymore saved then someone would watching a hockey game. All that is, is a selfish sinner feeling guilty and trying to relieve himself of that guilt. So what is this this thing of repentance in reference to salvation?
Repentance is a word that needs a connotation put to it. "Repent", simply means, to turn. If someone were walking north and they repented, they would be walking south.
So we know that we need to repent in order to be saved, so what are we repenting from and what are we repenting towards?
Ac 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is new birth repentance. Repentance towards God. When Adam sinned in the garden, he repented from God. It was more than just eating a fruit. It was a decision to live his own way, with his own system and his own beliefs. Because of that, we are born separated from God and we need to repent from everything, our own life, our self-sufficiency, and repent towards God. New birth repentance is a focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is repenting from the life of independence from God, and telling Him that He is back in charge and that we are back to walking in fellowship to Him. This repentance does not involve any direct focus on righteousness or sin. It is simply entering into another mental state. It does not involve any act on our part. It is not something we DO. It is merely a turning from dead works, and a turn towards Jesus.
Heb 6:1 ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
This is the foundation. Repentance from dead works and repentance towards God. When we repent or turn towards God, the natural evidence that we did, will be that we stop living in sin. Trying to repent from sin is a futile task. That would be focusing our attention on the sin and taking our eyes entirely from Christ. By faith we overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Repentance and faith go hand and hand. You cannot relate to God by faith without repenting towards Him. Also, you can't repent to God without believing in Him.
What about dead works? What are they? Dead works are works that are dead. Not only sin, but any work or act of righteousness that we would do to get right with God, would be a dead work. Christ made peace with God for us and any work that we contribute to the free gift, would be a dead work. Christ freed us from dead works, to serve the Living God.
So the question must then be asked, did we repent? It would be futile to go back into our history and see if we repented once. The proof is, are we repenting to God today? Is God the focus of our day? Is He in our thoughts and involved in the decisions we make? Do we love Him and His righteousness? Or can we secretly sin when no one is looking? Can sin dwell in our minds for days, with out being driven out by the Lord Jesus living inside us? The proof of a true repentance is that sin is alien and unwanted in this temple of God. If there is a sin, there is a such a struggle inside us because of the knowledge the we hurt our Saviour, and the rest of our lives we live in desperation to not let that happen again. Where is your focus? Is it on God, or is it on things of the world? Where is your heart? Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?
Repentance is a word that needs a connotation put to it. "Repent", simply means, to turn. If someone were walking north and they repented, they would be walking south.
So we know that we need to repent in order to be saved, so what are we repenting from and what are we repenting towards?
Ac 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is new birth repentance. Repentance towards God. When Adam sinned in the garden, he repented from God. It was more than just eating a fruit. It was a decision to live his own way, with his own system and his own beliefs. Because of that, we are born separated from God and we need to repent from everything, our own life, our self-sufficiency, and repent towards God. New birth repentance is a focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is repenting from the life of independence from God, and telling Him that He is back in charge and that we are back to walking in fellowship to Him. This repentance does not involve any direct focus on righteousness or sin. It is simply entering into another mental state. It does not involve any act on our part. It is not something we DO. It is merely a turning from dead works, and a turn towards Jesus.
Heb 6:1 ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
This is the foundation. Repentance from dead works and repentance towards God. When we repent or turn towards God, the natural evidence that we did, will be that we stop living in sin. Trying to repent from sin is a futile task. That would be focusing our attention on the sin and taking our eyes entirely from Christ. By faith we overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Repentance and faith go hand and hand. You cannot relate to God by faith without repenting towards Him. Also, you can't repent to God without believing in Him.
What about dead works? What are they? Dead works are works that are dead. Not only sin, but any work or act of righteousness that we would do to get right with God, would be a dead work. Christ made peace with God for us and any work that we contribute to the free gift, would be a dead work. Christ freed us from dead works, to serve the Living God.
So the question must then be asked, did we repent? It would be futile to go back into our history and see if we repented once. The proof is, are we repenting to God today? Is God the focus of our day? Is He in our thoughts and involved in the decisions we make? Do we love Him and His righteousness? Or can we secretly sin when no one is looking? Can sin dwell in our minds for days, with out being driven out by the Lord Jesus living inside us? The proof of a true repentance is that sin is alien and unwanted in this temple of God. If there is a sin, there is a such a struggle inside us because of the knowledge the we hurt our Saviour, and the rest of our lives we live in desperation to not let that happen again. Where is your focus? Is it on God, or is it on things of the world? Where is your heart? Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Total Depravity
Total depravity (also called total inability and total corruption) is a theological doctrine that derives from the Augustinian concept of original sin. It is the teaching that, as a consequence of the Fall of Man, every person born into the world is enslaved to the service of sin and, apart from the efficacious or prevenient grace of God, is utterly unable to choose to follow God or choose to accept salvation as it is freely offered. (Wikipedia)
As controversial as this topic is I thought I might take a stab at it. My overall problem with this heretic doctrine is that it implies a bondage of man's free will, thereby taking the blame off the individual. In fact Martin Luther wrote a book by that name. Total depravity ascertains that because of Adam's sin, man was depraved in every aspect of his being, somehow rendering his will inoperative. A question I would have is, why did Adam sin and was he also totally depraved? The idea is that because of the tendency of man to follow after the lusts of his flesh, that that would indicate that the will is kaput (broken).
No simple person reading the bible for the first time would ever come to that conclusion. If any person reading the bible does not feel personally convicted of sin, there is something deeply wrong. If I thought that I was born with the inability to do the right thing, then God would be to blame for my sin. If, like the bible says, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for the deeds done in our bodies, how can we be to blame for those bad deeds we did, if our will was in bondage? We would never be blameworthy at anytime if we were unable to chose to do right.
Say I went up to an unsaved person and asked them how to get to heaven, and they said, "Well, you just do the best you can", and I said, "Have you done the best you can? This week have you sinned when you knew you shouldn't, and if you did sin, could you have not sinned?" They would of course say, "yes". You would then have to admit that they deserve to be damned. They are blameworthy because they knew to do right, they had the ability to do right, and that is why they are blameworthy. Sin is in the intentions. Without the intention to sin, it would no longer be sin. To explain my point, if a blind man came along and stumbled over your baby, you wouldn't be angry with him. He did not intend to kick your baby so he cannot be blamed. But if along came a man that hated your baby because it was crying and came over and kicked your baby, you would probably grab a stick and beat him. Why? Because of his intention. His will was not in bondage. His total depravity was not a sufficient excuse for you, to not impute blame to him. The same it is with us. We intentionally turned our backs to God and intentionally, with our will present, disobeyed the truth that we held.
This bondage of the will leads directly to election and predestination. The conclusion one comes to is, if man does not have the ability to do right and chose to accept the free gift of salvation, then God must have elected and predestinated us according to his sovereign grace. Therefore God, before the foundations of the world elected some to go to heaven and some to go to hell. This is what Calvinist's say. Let's run with this doctrine for a bit. Say for instance, God elected and predestinated thirteen people out of a hundred. Wouldn't a loving God, if He so willed, elect fifteen? Why leave that little old lady out? Why not fifty? I know! Why... If I were God I would elect all one hundred! Call me crazy. I am so loving I would overcome everyone's will with my irresistible grace and save everyone!
What do I believe? I believe that man was created to be in fellowship (relationship) with God. When Adam sinned, he broke that fellowship, through his deliberate intention to disobey God and go his own way. Without the a relationship of faith with God, man is incomplete and unable to overcome the natural desires of our bodies of flesh. The bible states it this way...
Romans 8:3 FOR WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
The law could not accomplish the desired end (which was eternal life) because the natural drives of the flesh were too powerful for the law to continuously overcome. The law did not supply sufficient motivation for us to overcome these natural drives (to eat, procreate, sleep etc.) that are inherent in our mortal bodies. I believe that we are morally depraved, in that without being rightly related to God (born again), our will or motivation is insufficient. Only through the new birth can (and do) we overcome. Only overcomers will eat from the tree of life and only those that believe on the Lord Jesus with all their hearts, will overcome.
As pertain in to election and predestination, it was according to the foreknowledge of God. God knew whom he would be able to convince and persuade to repent towards Him, and believe the gospel. Those that He foreknew, those He elected and predestined. It's not rocket science. That is as far as I am willing to take that. To try to think like God and put Him in a box, I am not willing to do. Bottom line... God's sovereignty works in conjunction with our free will. If it didn't, God could just have created robots and got the same effect.
As controversial as this topic is I thought I might take a stab at it. My overall problem with this heretic doctrine is that it implies a bondage of man's free will, thereby taking the blame off the individual. In fact Martin Luther wrote a book by that name. Total depravity ascertains that because of Adam's sin, man was depraved in every aspect of his being, somehow rendering his will inoperative. A question I would have is, why did Adam sin and was he also totally depraved? The idea is that because of the tendency of man to follow after the lusts of his flesh, that that would indicate that the will is kaput (broken).
No simple person reading the bible for the first time would ever come to that conclusion. If any person reading the bible does not feel personally convicted of sin, there is something deeply wrong. If I thought that I was born with the inability to do the right thing, then God would be to blame for my sin. If, like the bible says, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for the deeds done in our bodies, how can we be to blame for those bad deeds we did, if our will was in bondage? We would never be blameworthy at anytime if we were unable to chose to do right.
Say I went up to an unsaved person and asked them how to get to heaven, and they said, "Well, you just do the best you can", and I said, "Have you done the best you can? This week have you sinned when you knew you shouldn't, and if you did sin, could you have not sinned?" They would of course say, "yes". You would then have to admit that they deserve to be damned. They are blameworthy because they knew to do right, they had the ability to do right, and that is why they are blameworthy. Sin is in the intentions. Without the intention to sin, it would no longer be sin. To explain my point, if a blind man came along and stumbled over your baby, you wouldn't be angry with him. He did not intend to kick your baby so he cannot be blamed. But if along came a man that hated your baby because it was crying and came over and kicked your baby, you would probably grab a stick and beat him. Why? Because of his intention. His will was not in bondage. His total depravity was not a sufficient excuse for you, to not impute blame to him. The same it is with us. We intentionally turned our backs to God and intentionally, with our will present, disobeyed the truth that we held.
This bondage of the will leads directly to election and predestination. The conclusion one comes to is, if man does not have the ability to do right and chose to accept the free gift of salvation, then God must have elected and predestinated us according to his sovereign grace. Therefore God, before the foundations of the world elected some to go to heaven and some to go to hell. This is what Calvinist's say. Let's run with this doctrine for a bit. Say for instance, God elected and predestinated thirteen people out of a hundred. Wouldn't a loving God, if He so willed, elect fifteen? Why leave that little old lady out? Why not fifty? I know! Why... If I were God I would elect all one hundred! Call me crazy. I am so loving I would overcome everyone's will with my irresistible grace and save everyone!
What do I believe? I believe that man was created to be in fellowship (relationship) with God. When Adam sinned, he broke that fellowship, through his deliberate intention to disobey God and go his own way. Without the a relationship of faith with God, man is incomplete and unable to overcome the natural desires of our bodies of flesh. The bible states it this way...
Romans 8:3 FOR WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
The law could not accomplish the desired end (which was eternal life) because the natural drives of the flesh were too powerful for the law to continuously overcome. The law did not supply sufficient motivation for us to overcome these natural drives (to eat, procreate, sleep etc.) that are inherent in our mortal bodies. I believe that we are morally depraved, in that without being rightly related to God (born again), our will or motivation is insufficient. Only through the new birth can (and do) we overcome. Only overcomers will eat from the tree of life and only those that believe on the Lord Jesus with all their hearts, will overcome.
As pertain in to election and predestination, it was according to the foreknowledge of God. God knew whom he would be able to convince and persuade to repent towards Him, and believe the gospel. Those that He foreknew, those He elected and predestined. It's not rocket science. That is as far as I am willing to take that. To try to think like God and put Him in a box, I am not willing to do. Bottom line... God's sovereignty works in conjunction with our free will. If it didn't, God could just have created robots and got the same effect.
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