For awhile now Churches have reduced the amount of talk about sin
why - because sinners don't like being told they're sinners
and Churches don't want to offend and scare off seekers
(seekers- totally an unbiblical idea Rom 3 no one seeks for God)
which has now led to Post-modernism - people who don't think
they're sinners so they don't need a Savior.
people don't think of themselves as sinners, and because the Church
has feared Men instead of God and not told them they're sinners in
need of Mercy, people who don't think they're sinners
don't need a Savior.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
This is the Gosple - Cancelling our Debt!
Col 2:13-14 And you, who were dead in your trespasses ... God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
A titulus was a sign hung above a crucified person that explained that persons crime. In Jesus' case this said, "King of the Jews." But God also placed a titulus above the cross of Christ and that sign said, "the record of debt with its legal demands" explaining that everyone whom Christ died are now no longer sinners. How so, you'll ask. In this way, all of the sins of everyone Christ died for where a debt that Christ paid for, therefore no more debt for those people. He set this record of debt aside (removed it) by "nailing it to the cross."
This brings us to one of the strongest understandings of limited (or I prefer Particular) atonement. As False Teachers must deny this by saying either: Everyone is saved because Christ atoned for the sins of every human being (a heresy known as Universalism) or that Christ died for every sin except the sin of unbelief. Which is why they have to challenge us to "grasp" or "earn" or "work for" our salvation because God only cancelled 99% of the debt and we have to cancel the last little bit. Mainly this is exemplified by a Multi-step path to attaining salvation.
Whether you're taught to earn salvation in any of a hundred ways: make a free-will decision (which you cant, simply because the will is not free), pray a special prayer (that magically removes your sins), walk an aisle (thankfully works righteousness is easy in lazy America), fasting, travel to a holy site, convert a sinner (this is the pyramid scheme system - convince 6 others to make a false profession of faith and you'll be saved as well), confess every sin (which you cant because you don't know 2/3rds of them), get baptized (God only loves wet people and if your not wet then even if you're a genuine believer God doesn't want you, you haven't done enough for Him- Satire), read the whole Bible, volunteer to work in the nursery (many churches imply this simply because otherwise no one would volunteer in the nursery), tithe (if you don't give your 10% gift, why would God want to gift you Eternal life) or many conservative churches will say not do this but their good works are all - we don't do this: don't drink, don't watch secular movies, don't listen to secular music, don't dance - I've been in the Church for 25 years so I could do this all day I've seen all the traps of works righteousness. - just know that 100 verses state salvation is by genuine faith in the Biblical Christ and His work done for you. If you add to or take away from that then simply you don't understand Salvation.
A titulus was a sign hung above a crucified person that explained that persons crime. In Jesus' case this said, "King of the Jews." But God also placed a titulus above the cross of Christ and that sign said, "the record of debt with its legal demands" explaining that everyone whom Christ died are now no longer sinners. How so, you'll ask. In this way, all of the sins of everyone Christ died for where a debt that Christ paid for, therefore no more debt for those people. He set this record of debt aside (removed it) by "nailing it to the cross."
This brings us to one of the strongest understandings of limited (or I prefer Particular) atonement. As False Teachers must deny this by saying either: Everyone is saved because Christ atoned for the sins of every human being (a heresy known as Universalism) or that Christ died for every sin except the sin of unbelief. Which is why they have to challenge us to "grasp" or "earn" or "work for" our salvation because God only cancelled 99% of the debt and we have to cancel the last little bit. Mainly this is exemplified by a Multi-step path to attaining salvation.
Whether you're taught to earn salvation in any of a hundred ways: make a free-will decision (which you cant, simply because the will is not free), pray a special prayer (that magically removes your sins), walk an aisle (thankfully works righteousness is easy in lazy America), fasting, travel to a holy site, convert a sinner (this is the pyramid scheme system - convince 6 others to make a false profession of faith and you'll be saved as well), confess every sin (which you cant because you don't know 2/3rds of them), get baptized (God only loves wet people and if your not wet then even if you're a genuine believer God doesn't want you, you haven't done enough for Him- Satire), read the whole Bible, volunteer to work in the nursery (many churches imply this simply because otherwise no one would volunteer in the nursery), tithe (if you don't give your 10% gift, why would God want to gift you Eternal life) or many conservative churches will say not do this but their good works are all - we don't do this: don't drink, don't watch secular movies, don't listen to secular music, don't dance - I've been in the Church for 25 years so I could do this all day I've seen all the traps of works righteousness. - just know that 100 verses state salvation is by genuine faith in the Biblical Christ and His work done for you. If you add to or take away from that then simply you don't understand Salvation.
Monday, May 30, 2011
John 15
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (Jesus died not for strangers that may or may not one day come to him but he died for his friends)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (Jesus died not for strangers that may or may not one day come to him but he died for his friends)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
John 10
The sheep hear his voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out.
When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
I came that they (the sheep) may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (notice not for both the sheep and the goats).
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep (notice not for both the sheep and the goats).
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold (Elect Gentiles). I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (the Church and the Church's Head).
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe.
The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them (the sheep) eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
I and the Father are one.
(These are the Sheep) And many came to him.
And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”
And many believed in him there.
When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
I came that they (the sheep) may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (notice not for both the sheep and the goats).
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep (notice not for both the sheep and the goats).
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold (Elect Gentiles). I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (the Church and the Church's Head).
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe.
The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them (the sheep) eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
I and the Father are one.
(These are the Sheep) And many came to him.
And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”
And many believed in him there.
John 6
Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
But I said to you that you have seen me and yet you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.
And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.
This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.
Did I not choose you, the Twelve?
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
But I said to you that you have seen me and yet you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.
And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.
This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.
Did I not choose you, the Twelve?
Helmut Richard Niebuhr AD 1894 - 1962
On theological Liberalism (the majority of American Churches today):
A God without wrath, brought men without sin, into a kingdom without
judgement, through the administrations of a Christ without a cross.
A God without wrath, brought men without sin, into a kingdom without
judgement, through the administrations of a Christ without a cross.
The Lord Reigns!
That the God of Israel is king of the cosmos is certainly one of the most prevalent teachings in the whole of Scripture. Even the Law teaches us God is Sovereign: earthly lords enact legislation for their people, how much more will the Lord of the Universe?
When reflecting on His reign, God's total sovereignty is one of the foremost topics of the Bible. Nothing happens apart from His sovereign decree, not even the smallest detail.
That God is completely sovereign remains unbelievable to the unregenerate as they see finitely (and without the eyes of faith) and without God's overview toward fulfilling His ultimate ends.
In Adam, all were with him (our first father) choosing to exert ourselves selfishly - chasing after our own desires - to remove Him from His throne and place ourselves in His place.
When reflecting on His reign, God's total sovereignty is one of the foremost topics of the Bible. Nothing happens apart from His sovereign decree, not even the smallest detail.
Prov 16:33 The lot (or die) is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
There is no plan or scheme of Man that can thwart His will.Job 42:2 I know that God can do all things, and that no purpose of His can be thwarted.
Ps 135:6 For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
All humans (even the best acting humans) rebel against His reign yet He knows their intent and actions before they do (before they're even born) and intends even their actions to shape His Story of Redemption.That God is completely sovereign remains unbelievable to the unregenerate as they see finitely (and without the eyes of faith) and without God's overview toward fulfilling His ultimate ends.
In Adam, all were with him (our first father) choosing to exert ourselves selfishly - chasing after our own desires - to remove Him from His throne and place ourselves in His place.
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—Rom 5:15-17 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Only once the Lord has set His grace on us, can we recapture the obedience of Eden (before the fall) and start living a life of good works toward our biological families, fellow believers (our new family) and among our neighbors of this world. Much like the good kings of the Old Covenant with Israel they were not to lead men to dwell on their own glory but to point to the Glory of God in Heaven.
David says, 1 Chron 16:31,34 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;for His steadfast love endures forever!
That God is Sovereign over us (and over all) is a comfort to the believer, especially in temptations and trials.
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