If there one major point I have tired to make over the past few weeks it is the fact that we can add nothing to the finished work of Christ, that Jesus paid it all.
Back in the first century many of the first Christians came to faith in Christ with no knowledge real in depth knowledge of scripture. Al they knew about was Jesus’s death on the cross and bodily resurrection. I dare anyone to tell me that they weren’t saved just because of their lack of knowledge of a particular “ology” or “ism” that came later.
They new nothing about predestination, limited atonement, 7 sacraments, prosperity, or other doctrines of men.
They knew only this, the core of our faith is the cross of Christ and his resurrection. On the cross with His arms spread wide in effect saying:
"Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. NIV
Rev:22:17
The core of our faith is the resurrection, without which we would have nothing and our faith is useless.
1 Cor 15:17
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" NIV
This is pretty much all the early Christians knew and understood. It was all they needed as it is the essential, core part of Christianity.
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." NIV
There is nothing else you need to do to be saved. You don’t need to work, but the Holy Spirit will draw you to serve where you are needed. Putting your faith in motion is very different than working for your salvation, period, end of story.
Here is my video of the week, as usual I request that you listen closely to the lyrics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0QeT4xI2yA
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pary.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Christianity At Our Core - Imputation
All Bible believing Christians should be aware of the Doctrine Imputation and what it means. For those who don’t know it means that Christ took all of our sins to the cross, he became sin, so that when we put our trust in him as Lord and Savior our sins are removed and in turn we become his righteousness. This was at the heart of the Protestant Reformation.
Roman Catholics consider this to be heresy and certain liberal theologians choke on this doctrine as well. They believe that Christ plus works leads to salvation, that the finished work of Christ was not enough. REALLY?????
Consider this:
2 Corinthinans 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” NIV
For those who deny imputation given this scripture can only do so through mental gymnastics and scripture twisting, good luck with that. Try to explain away Romans 5:18,19 while you are at it:
“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” NIV
Anyway you cut it, any term you call it, the bottom line is Christ paid it all, we can do nothing to add to our righteousness, or pay anything extra toward our salvation.
Lets end this here, once and for all with Eph 2: 8,9:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The only work we are required to do is receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
Acts 16: 29-31
“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” NIV
When the modern day Pharisees say "now you must do this", "and now you must do that", sit them down and show them these scriptures. The odds are they never read them or have closed their minds to understanding, instead placing their faith in some “ology” or “ism” rather than the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Then, pray for them.
Video of the week which follows today's discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcSnYTjHmiY
Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, In Jesus name I pray.
Roman Catholics consider this to be heresy and certain liberal theologians choke on this doctrine as well. They believe that Christ plus works leads to salvation, that the finished work of Christ was not enough. REALLY?????
Consider this:
2 Corinthinans 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” NIV
For those who deny imputation given this scripture can only do so through mental gymnastics and scripture twisting, good luck with that. Try to explain away Romans 5:18,19 while you are at it:
“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” NIV
Anyway you cut it, any term you call it, the bottom line is Christ paid it all, we can do nothing to add to our righteousness, or pay anything extra toward our salvation.
Lets end this here, once and for all with Eph 2: 8,9:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The only work we are required to do is receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
Acts 16: 29-31
“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” NIV
When the modern day Pharisees say "now you must do this", "and now you must do that", sit them down and show them these scriptures. The odds are they never read them or have closed their minds to understanding, instead placing their faith in some “ology” or “ism” rather than the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Then, pray for them.
Video of the week which follows today's discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcSnYTjHmiY
Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, In Jesus name I pray.
Friday, June 10, 2011
At Our Core – Beware of Legalism Part II
I’m sorry for the silence. For some reason I have had writers block the past few weeks.
This week I want to discuss briefly the sanctification process. This is typically the long, slow, lifelong process of being molded into the image of Christ . Some of us progress faster than others, there is no shame as long as the process is in a forward direction.. Don’t compare yourselves to others or let anybody intimidate you into doing things you are not called to do. The “thou shalts” of church people or of a controlling elder or pastor is typical “people stuff”, legalism in the form of religion. We need to be wary and gain discernment as we struggle during our walk.
On the other hand, let us revisit James again:
James 2: 17
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." NIV
James is not saying if you are not working you are not saved. This is instead a plea to put your faith in motion. You shouldn’t just sit on your faith.
As you progress in your sanctification process you will know what you should be doing to help forward the Gospel message. Don’t let anybody pressure you with statements like “ you really need to stretch yourself”, or “ If you are comfortable you are not progressing”, and the worst is, “what do you mean you won’t do …..?” “Are you truly saved?”. Yep, that is the spirit of Pharisee in all it’s gory glory when you are confronted with this kind of garbage.
I also covered Sanctification a little bit last year: Please see the blog entries here:
http://thealterofgod.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-sanctification-walk-sound-familiar.html
http://thealterofgod.blogspot.com/2010/06/sanctification-walk-part-ii.html
Remember this, while the road may be narrow, it is not impossible. When you go through trials don’t let the Pharisees question your salvation. Instead remember the words of Jesus:
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." NIV
Yes, we will have trouble. Sorry, God is all about building character, the Bible is full of examples. So, don’t let anybody question your salvation when you have problems or struggle, instead take heart in knowledge that Christ has overcome the world.
Until the next time, may the LORD Bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
This week I want to discuss briefly the sanctification process. This is typically the long, slow, lifelong process of being molded into the image of Christ . Some of us progress faster than others, there is no shame as long as the process is in a forward direction.. Don’t compare yourselves to others or let anybody intimidate you into doing things you are not called to do. The “thou shalts” of church people or of a controlling elder or pastor is typical “people stuff”, legalism in the form of religion. We need to be wary and gain discernment as we struggle during our walk.
On the other hand, let us revisit James again:
James 2: 17
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." NIV
James is not saying if you are not working you are not saved. This is instead a plea to put your faith in motion. You shouldn’t just sit on your faith.
As you progress in your sanctification process you will know what you should be doing to help forward the Gospel message. Don’t let anybody pressure you with statements like “ you really need to stretch yourself”, or “ If you are comfortable you are not progressing”, and the worst is, “what do you mean you won’t do …..?” “Are you truly saved?”. Yep, that is the spirit of Pharisee in all it’s gory glory when you are confronted with this kind of garbage.
I also covered Sanctification a little bit last year: Please see the blog entries here:
http://thealterofgod.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-sanctification-walk-sound-familiar.html
http://thealterofgod.blogspot.com/2010/06/sanctification-walk-part-ii.html
Remember this, while the road may be narrow, it is not impossible. When you go through trials don’t let the Pharisees question your salvation. Instead remember the words of Jesus:
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." NIV
Yes, we will have trouble. Sorry, God is all about building character, the Bible is full of examples. So, don’t let anybody question your salvation when you have problems or struggle, instead take heart in knowledge that Christ has overcome the world.
Until the next time, may the LORD Bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
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