Back to Basics: What Do You Believe?

What do you believe? Here are the basics that I believe and for you to consider:

Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant word of GOD? I understand that there are issues with translations, which is why you should own more than one, but do you believe the original documents are without error or contradiction?
Do you believe in the Virgin birth?
Do you believe the child in the manger was GOD in the flesh?
Do you believe that God is one God who manifests himself as Father, Son, and Spirit?
Do you believe Jesus was crucified, died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day?
Do you believe in addition to all the above that by putting your faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross you will be saved?
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. NIV

C.H. Spurgeon was once asked to sum up the gospel in a few words. He answer was four words, “Christ died for me”. This spoke to me personally and here is one of those scriptures that kicked me in the head that buttresses this point:
Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NIV

Theological arguments about things like the gifts of the spirit, predestination, Baptism by immersion vs infant baptism,even tithing, are all secondary issues full of people stuff and the “ologies” and “isms” of men. There are Phd's, Doctors of Theology, Doctors of Divinity, on both sides of all these secondary issues.

With all due respect, I don't care how many letters somebody may have after their name, I say let’s get back to the basics of the Gospel and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.

Back to Basics: Putting God First

The church that I presently attend was designed to reach out to those who have had negative experiences in their walk, as well as for people who are curious about God, and for those who just like to go to church on Sundays and not be subjected to overbearing self-righteousness. The messages almost always have a theme of putting God first and the ministry is built on loving your neighbor as you do yourself. Does this sound familiar?
It should.

Matthew 22: 35-38
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
NIV

If you read the Ten Commandments closely you realize that the first three commandments are about loving God and the other seven are about loving your neighbor.
It is greatly apparent to me that when you put God first and love your neighbor as yourself that all else naturally falls right into place. It is very New Testament and very basic. It is also very Old Testament as well.
When Christ died for our sins he fulfilled the letter of the law. When he answered the question about which is the greatest commandment he went to the root of it all and made it very simple. Too many churches today major in the minors, create "ologies" and "isms", doctrines of men, and religious ritual, not unlike the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. It is refreshing to get back to basics and to the roots of faith: Putting GOD first, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus said it, I believe it.

Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.

Back to Basics: My Dilemma with the Modern Church

I have attended various churches of different denominations, as well as non-denominational churches, all with various “ologies” and “isms”. At the heart of this experience I had come to the conclusion they are all parts of one body, the body of Christ.
My dilemma is that there has been a trend over the past decade or so for churches once stout in preaching the Gospel, to soften the message to become more relevant, more inclusive, and in so doing have become less effective. Messages abound about prosperity, self confidence, personal growth, etc., but there are fewer and fewer messages about sin and Gods salvation plan through his son Jesus Christ being preached. I rarely hear messages about evil anymore, or the existence of Satan as the adversary and how we should, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, put on the full armor of God on a daily basis. (Eph 6)

Let’s get back to basics. What could be more important than having a personal relationship with the God of the universe? I’m not talking about religion or any “ology” or “ism”. I’m talking about the provision God made for all of us to enjoy by simply putting our faith in the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin and by doing so walking in the newness of life.
So now I need to ask, what possibly could be more uplifting than knowing and believing the following:
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. "
Romans 6: 4
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." NIV
Romans 8:1
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus", NIV
Eph 1:7
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"

Walking in the will of God begins with believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for us. True prosperity, i.e. spiritual prosperity, begins when we are in the will of God. The truth will set you free and true freedom comes when we receive Christ as savior.

Let’s get back to basics.

Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.