Unfortunately the spirit of Pharisee is alive and prevalent to this very day.
I implore my brothers and sisters to focus on Christ and the core of our faith so that you will be well grounded and will not have any problems wading through all of the “ologies” and “isms” of men.
There are many who come to salvation who are told they still have work to do or are told that “now you have to do,,,,” or that “now you should be doing…..” . Run from those who say you must do, have to do, or should do anything else other than receiving Christ as savior.
There are misguided theologies that teach “faith without works is dead” meaning one is not saved unless they work. It appears to me that is not what James is saying here:
James 2: 17
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Whenever you run into this scripture twisting, run for the hills and find someplace else to attend. Lifting verses out of context to create a pretext is dangerous. Always use scripture to resolve scripture. For example:
Eph 2: 8-9
8 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.
We are saved by grace, not works. James implores us to put our faith in motion and does not say that we have to work to be saved. The difference is HUGE. Paul in Ephesians drives this point home.
Look to the words of Christ to see the only real work required for salvation:
John 6 28:29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 3:16
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.
So, if we do the following it means game, set, match as we are justified before our living GOD and our salvation is secure:
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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Don’t let anybody sell you on anything different and don’t let anybody confuse Justification with Sanctification which has been at the root of discourse since the reformation.
None of these statements are meant to imply that we should rest on our “Blessed Assurance” and do nothing. Au contraire! As James implored, put your faith in motion.
Listen to the words in this song by Josh Wilson, my video of the week, as preparation for next weeks message:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B1Lv8k5pEc
Until then, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Christianity At Our Core – Good Friday
Today is the day we commemorate the death of our Lord and Savior. As Dr. J Vernon McGee would say “this is where the rubber meets the road, where our faith gets it traction so to speak”, it’s the day we look squarely at the core of our faith. This is the day Jesus was born for, this is what he came for, to carry our sins to the cross so that we will become his righteousness, a sin covering that allows us to come before Holy God.
2 Corinthians 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.
Today is only the beginning. Sunday is the day we commemorate the resurrection, when Jesus rose from the dead. Without these two events our faith is in vain.
1 Cor 15:17
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Let us take time this weekend to meditate and reflect on these events which is THE core of our faith. The “ologies” and “isms”, the traditions of men, the edicts of the religious, the rantings of the self righteous, have no meaning and no impact, only the cross of Christ and his glorious resurrection, THE GOSPEL, has impact.
This is from a song most recently done by Casting Crowns that was originally an old Hymn from the Presbyterian Hymnal that sums up very well what this weekend, what our faith is all about.
Living he Loved Me
Dying he saved me
Buried He carried my
My sins far away
Rising he justified, Freed me forever
One day he's coming o Glorious day
Until the next time, May the LORD bless us and keep us, In Jesus name I pray.
2 Corinthians 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.
Today is only the beginning. Sunday is the day we commemorate the resurrection, when Jesus rose from the dead. Without these two events our faith is in vain.
1 Cor 15:17
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Let us take time this weekend to meditate and reflect on these events which is THE core of our faith. The “ologies” and “isms”, the traditions of men, the edicts of the religious, the rantings of the self righteous, have no meaning and no impact, only the cross of Christ and his glorious resurrection, THE GOSPEL, has impact.
This is from a song most recently done by Casting Crowns that was originally an old Hymn from the Presbyterian Hymnal that sums up very well what this weekend, what our faith is all about.
Living he Loved Me
Dying he saved me
Buried He carried my
My sins far away
Rising he justified, Freed me forever
One day he's coming o Glorious day
Until the next time, May the LORD bless us and keep us, In Jesus name I pray.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Christianity – At our Core Part II – Overwhelming Proof
Many times we will be asked why Christians believe that Christ rose from the dead. It’s an absurdity they say, a fairy tale, no one has ever risen from the dead. How can we possibly, 2000 years later, still believe this core truth? It’s quite really simple when you think about it. It comes down to human nature and the fact that nobody dies for a lie.
All of the Apostles were martyred with the possible exception of John. Stephen was the first recorded martyr of the church. (Acts 7). What did he witness that convicted him to point of being stoned to death? The resurrection? He could have been one of the many to witness Christ after the resurrection, or even could have been one of the followers endowed by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Nobody knows for sure but what we do know he was executed, stoned to death for his beliefs. If any of these people were lying do you think for one moment that they would have recanted? Yes, they would have, the moment torture started. Not one did!
Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the apostle was a mass murderer of members of the early church prior to his conversion. Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus and he wrote much of the New Testament in the form of letters(epistles) that much church doctrine is derived from. Do you really think he went through years of torture and torment and eventually died for a lie? How about his testimony about Stephen?
Acts 22 19-20: “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him." NIV
These are undeniable witnesses.
How rapidly the church grew in spite of the persecution it was under, that it grew under the point of the sword, not at the point of the sword, i.e it wasn't forced, is another stunning testimony to the validity of our faith.
Think about it, pray about it and take heart, for our faith is based on something that is well documented by biblical and extra-biblical sources; the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My video of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6YG2NZguc
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus Name I pray
All of the Apostles were martyred with the possible exception of John. Stephen was the first recorded martyr of the church. (Acts 7). What did he witness that convicted him to point of being stoned to death? The resurrection? He could have been one of the many to witness Christ after the resurrection, or even could have been one of the followers endowed by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Nobody knows for sure but what we do know he was executed, stoned to death for his beliefs. If any of these people were lying do you think for one moment that they would have recanted? Yes, they would have, the moment torture started. Not one did!
Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the apostle was a mass murderer of members of the early church prior to his conversion. Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus and he wrote much of the New Testament in the form of letters(epistles) that much church doctrine is derived from. Do you really think he went through years of torture and torment and eventually died for a lie? How about his testimony about Stephen?
Acts 22 19-20: “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him." NIV
These are undeniable witnesses.
How rapidly the church grew in spite of the persecution it was under, that it grew under the point of the sword, not at the point of the sword, i.e it wasn't forced, is another stunning testimony to the validity of our faith.
Think about it, pray about it and take heart, for our faith is based on something that is well documented by biblical and extra-biblical sources; the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My video of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w6YG2NZguc
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus Name I pray
Friday, April 8, 2011
Christianity - At Our Core
With Easter Sunday coming upon us I was led to meditate and write about the core of my faith, our faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our LORD.
Echoing this core truth somewhere along the line Charles H Spurgeon was asked about his theology and he summed it up in four words “Christ died for me” .
Paul goes deeper here:
1 Cor 15: 12-14
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
It is really simple, if Christ did not die for our sins and did not rise three days later our faith is empty, void of any meaning. Worse yet, Paul follows this up with:
1 Cor 15: 15-19
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
You see, for all of the man made “ologies” and “isms” based on secondary and tertiary issues, if Christ did not die and did not rise our faith is null and void.
So the next time somebody tells you that your faith isn’t strong enough, or that God pre-selected who would be saved, or that you can lose your salvation, ask them what that has to do with the core of our faith.
You see, the very core of our faith, of our salvation rests here:
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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
It’s really pretty basic; simple; beautiful; perfect.
Here is an Easter Song if there ever was one. Meditate on this, it goes right to the core:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODpgyqGCYM
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Echoing this core truth somewhere along the line Charles H Spurgeon was asked about his theology and he summed it up in four words “Christ died for me” .
Paul goes deeper here:
1 Cor 15: 12-14
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
It is really simple, if Christ did not die for our sins and did not rise three days later our faith is empty, void of any meaning. Worse yet, Paul follows this up with:
1 Cor 15: 15-19
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
You see, for all of the man made “ologies” and “isms” based on secondary and tertiary issues, if Christ did not die and did not rise our faith is null and void.
So the next time somebody tells you that your faith isn’t strong enough, or that God pre-selected who would be saved, or that you can lose your salvation, ask them what that has to do with the core of our faith.
You see, the very core of our faith, of our salvation rests here:
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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
It’s really pretty basic; simple; beautiful; perfect.
Here is an Easter Song if there ever was one. Meditate on this, it goes right to the core:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODpgyqGCYM
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Shameful Dispute Among the Brethren - Hold Your Tongue Part II
I only became aware of this the other day. Two Christian brothers of some notoriety are having a public dispute. One is a young up and coming Pastor of what has grown into a mega church, the other is a brother with a TV and Radio show that has a following among the orthodoxy. It is pretty shameful what is going on between the two of them,
The orthodox brother decries the use of modern music and marketing devices he claims have no place in growing a church. The young Pastor accuses the orthodox brother of being a Pharisee and defends himself by saying one does not gain converts by ignoring perceived cultural norms but by turning the evil of said cultural norms to good use. God has done that for eons, just read the Bible for examples.
Their debate has nothing to do with the true Gospel. It is nothing but a clash of egos and they both need to check themselves.
There are differing styles of ministry that the Holy Spirit uses equally to attract the lost. We need to constantly remind ourselves of this. If the true Gospel is being preached once the folks get inside a church how they got there is not very important. If some folks keep coming back because of the music, the style of preaching, the different forms of worship, what does it matter as long as all is biblical and the Gospel is going out to all who want to and need to hear it?
I found it ironic that the (hyper?) orthodox brother was explaining how the Christian walk is a balancing act; that we all have to walk a fine line between grace abuse and legalism while he himself by his tone and pointing his bony finger was being an example of the very legalism he was decrying.
The young brother on the other hand needs to mind his temper. His anger was apparent and his sharp tongue and ill chosen words will win no new converts.
Here is the real problem: Non-believers witness this behavior and reject Christ because of it.
With all that is going on in the church these days I constantly find myself going back to this verse:
James 3: 8
“… no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.” NLT
We need to check ourselves constantly or we will become instruments of Satan instead of a force for good used by the Holy Spirit.
Until the next time, May the LORD bless us and Keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
The orthodox brother decries the use of modern music and marketing devices he claims have no place in growing a church. The young Pastor accuses the orthodox brother of being a Pharisee and defends himself by saying one does not gain converts by ignoring perceived cultural norms but by turning the evil of said cultural norms to good use. God has done that for eons, just read the Bible for examples.
Their debate has nothing to do with the true Gospel. It is nothing but a clash of egos and they both need to check themselves.
There are differing styles of ministry that the Holy Spirit uses equally to attract the lost. We need to constantly remind ourselves of this. If the true Gospel is being preached once the folks get inside a church how they got there is not very important. If some folks keep coming back because of the music, the style of preaching, the different forms of worship, what does it matter as long as all is biblical and the Gospel is going out to all who want to and need to hear it?
I found it ironic that the (hyper?) orthodox brother was explaining how the Christian walk is a balancing act; that we all have to walk a fine line between grace abuse and legalism while he himself by his tone and pointing his bony finger was being an example of the very legalism he was decrying.
The young brother on the other hand needs to mind his temper. His anger was apparent and his sharp tongue and ill chosen words will win no new converts.
Here is the real problem: Non-believers witness this behavior and reject Christ because of it.
With all that is going on in the church these days I constantly find myself going back to this verse:
James 3: 8
“… no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.” NLT
We need to check ourselves constantly or we will become instruments of Satan instead of a force for good used by the Holy Spirit.
Until the next time, May the LORD bless us and Keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Hold Your Tongue - Proverbs 18: 21
Proverbs 18: 21
I like the New Living Translation rendering as it is very clear :
“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
Ohhhhhh YEAH! For those who just love to gossip, ponder that one for a while.
Although this scripture has been misused by some through the years to pump up a false theology, the meaning is clear. It has nothing to do with the ability to create or destroy life in a literal sense but rather how our words can build or destroy a persons character, reputation, or even their livelihood. As Christ followers we need to watch our words.
Jesus said in Matt 12:37:
“The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you." NLT
The tongue can be the instrument of a great deal of good, or of a great deal of evil. Here are a few more gems from Proverbs on holding our tongues and watching our words:
Proverbs 10:19
"Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut". NLT
Proverbs 13:2 -3
"Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything".
Proverbs 21:23
"He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity".
And the Coup de grace on the tongue, James 3: 7-8
7) All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8) but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Stay away from church gossips; they are the deadliest of all. There is nothing worse that overbearing self righteous church people that are given to gossip. It does more to destroy the gospel message than anything else I can think of.
One thing about the church I attend now, gossip is not a major issue and I thank God for it.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
I like the New Living Translation rendering as it is very clear :
“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
Ohhhhhh YEAH! For those who just love to gossip, ponder that one for a while.
Although this scripture has been misused by some through the years to pump up a false theology, the meaning is clear. It has nothing to do with the ability to create or destroy life in a literal sense but rather how our words can build or destroy a persons character, reputation, or even their livelihood. As Christ followers we need to watch our words.
Jesus said in Matt 12:37:
“The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you." NLT
The tongue can be the instrument of a great deal of good, or of a great deal of evil. Here are a few more gems from Proverbs on holding our tongues and watching our words:
Proverbs 10:19
"Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut". NLT
Proverbs 13:2 -3
"Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.
Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything".
Proverbs 21:23
"He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity".
And the Coup de grace on the tongue, James 3: 7-8
7) All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8) but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Stay away from church gossips; they are the deadliest of all. There is nothing worse that overbearing self righteous church people that are given to gossip. It does more to destroy the gospel message than anything else I can think of.
One thing about the church I attend now, gossip is not a major issue and I thank God for it.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Expanding on the Basics - True Repentance True Salvation – Part IV
To quickly summarize the first three parts of this series, our self examination should focus on direction, not perfection. We should be quickly convicted when we mess up and should be putting forth effort to improve. To be clear, the effort has nothing to do with gaining salvation, Christ did that for us, it only has to do with moving forward.
There is another aspect of this topic we need to think about and that is how we can assure ourselves that salvation is truly ours? "Blessed Assurance" some old timers call it.
So how do we assure ourselves of our eternal destination?
We put our faith and trust in the word of God, that it is true.
1 John 5:13
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. NIV
I could spend many weeks on this topic but instead I suggest that you read and study
1 John and 2 John. These letters are loaded with indicators of where you stand.
Remember, it is about direction, not perfection. If you hit on most of the major points in these epistles, not necessarily all of them, you are in good shape.
The path may be narrow but it is not impossible.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
There is another aspect of this topic we need to think about and that is how we can assure ourselves that salvation is truly ours? "Blessed Assurance" some old timers call it.
So how do we assure ourselves of our eternal destination?
We put our faith and trust in the word of God, that it is true.
1 John 5:13
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. NIV
I could spend many weeks on this topic but instead I suggest that you read and study
1 John and 2 John. These letters are loaded with indicators of where you stand.
Remember, it is about direction, not perfection. If you hit on most of the major points in these epistles, not necessarily all of them, you are in good shape.
The path may be narrow but it is not impossible.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
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