Many test-takers and students have something in common. It's an issue and usually causes many mistakes. They think. Seriously. Let me show you...
Your taking you final exam and are about to finish, but then you read the last question. You think the answer is A. Your set to bubble it in, but then another crazy question crosses your mind, "What If I'm wrong?". So you think, think, think. B is a ridiculous answer, but C and D are reasonable. So you ponder on it. Then you do some real decision making and decide that C can't be it because the word cat starts with C, and you hate cats. Then D is real reasonable because your great aunt's brother's name is Doug. You think some more. You pick D. You get your test back and see that A was the answer. You wonder how in the world you got the question and then you remember thinking about it...
See how ridiculous it sounds? Athletes do the same thing. Basketball players think, then hesitate about the big shot and don't get it off in time. Certain people think about a certain health care bill. Now do you get my point? We think way to much.
We do that same very thing in faith, it's called theology. Wow, now before you get bent all out of shape let me explain. As you look at human life, its not hard to see that we humans don't always make the best of decisions. We got it all wrong when we ate that fruit off of that one tree, when we were told not to by the creator of us and the tree. I think I got the story right.
For the last 6 months I have been tormented with theological questions. Among the topics are predestination, the loss of salvation, denomination, and others. I tried to find answers, but what I was led towards was personal opinion and selfish reasoning. Through all of this I have found one answer...I am no theologian, nor have I been called to be one. As a Christian, I have been called to read the Bible and believe every word and every point of punctuation in it.
With theology, we try to make sense of God. And by the way, why do we try to make sense of God when he created sense in the first place. As believers we are to live as we believe God would have us to, not the way that makes sense. I encourage you to read more of the Bible and believe what it says. I say this because theology is God through the eyes of man, but the Bible is God through the eyes of God.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not talking about sound biblical doctrine. I am speaking of theology, which is opinionated and biased. We are to believe and live as God says, not believe and live the way God says after we modify what he says.
Does this sound like a rant, yet? We live in a time that everyone believes in something. I mean even atheist believe in nothing, and nothing is something! We need to remember that our opinions don't mean squat if they are not in line with the Word of God. The Bible is our foundation and our houses are to be built out of bricks of faith, and that faith being in our foundation! As one wise woman of God reminded me, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain."
No matter what you believe, the truth is the truth. The Truth is Jesus, and if you are living outside of him and his grace you are living a lie. One day, whether it makes sense or fits your vocabulary every knee shall and every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. That is not theology, but that is the Word of God.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Your Out!
Your Out! That is the call that baseball players hate to hear. As the batter walks up to the plate, desiring the perfect pitch, he fears those two words. See, the phrase announces the batter's failure to reach the base. I'm glad that our faith and, more importantly, God's grace isn't hit and miss. See, for the hitter, one key mistake can send him right back to the dugout or even end the game. With Christ, there's a second chance. According to the word, God has extended a helping hand that is accompanied by love, grace, and mercy.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."- Romans 5:1-2
God has given us the perfect pitch. He sent his Son, to die for us, and to give us redemption. How do we get the redemption? We have faith in Christ, trusting him with our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. Heard it before? Probably so. But how have you heard it and how have you received it?
You may have heard it the watered-down, 21st century church way or you may have heard it as the truth. In today's church, some voice God's grace as a ticket to heaven but a pass on holy living. Now of course, they don't say it that way. What happens is they talk more about programs, more about Sunday school, and more about what they have done, than they do Jesus. They ignore the cross and speak of grace, altogether forgetting that the cross is what brought grace in the first place! This carelessness for the gospel has brought terrifying results. I say, that this is a big reason denominations that don't denounce homosexuality exist. I say, that this watered-down disgrace is a reason that we have youth group members who have no idea that oral sex is sin. Receive it.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"- Titus 2:11-13
I encourage you to receive and accept the Gospel. I also stress that you accept it for what it is. Don't degrade it, and please don't try to change it. It is holy, pure, and has saved the souls of many. It's purpose is to save, but should also be used to motivate. This "Good News" is not to be used as an excuse but as a motivation. Pushing us and training us to live as one who has seen the Saviour. Motivating us to understand the cross and to wear it daily.
Recently I had my heart broken. My heart was broken because I realized where my heart's desire was. My heart was not as a disciples of Christ should be. My love had been divided and my wants had been scattered. Studies have shown that approx. 138,000 people die without Jesus each die, which means they face eternal damnation. I was not living to change that number. Are you? The problem is, I took the emphasize off of the Gospel. The Gospel saves, so why don't we live accordingly?
See hearing the Gospel and accepting the Gospel are to different matters. Acceptance brings appliance. Once a person hears the Gospel, then he may accept the Gospel, finally the Gospel is applied. For the Christ that we accept, applies his love and his blood to our hearts, minds, and lives. This changes everything. Our minds change, so we think differently. Our hearts change, so we want differently and we are given the ability to love. And through these changes, our life is transformed. We are now made new. We are saved when the Gospel is applied and until then, we are destined for hell.
The Gospel is Genuine. It's true, and it's pure. There is no other. It is not a get rich quick scheme. It is not an excuse. But it is the way. It's all about Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NONE get to the Father, except through HIM. Your resume? It doesn't matter. What we need is a stamp of approval, in which our souls are the paper and in which the ink is the blood of Christ. We are not only to be pressed by this ink, but we are to be covered in it. Is it Glamorous? Maybe not. Will it make you famous? Probably not. Is it the one and only way to salvation? Definitely so.
Take it or leave it. The Gospel is. I warn you, it is offensive. It will change you inside and out... but it's worth it. It can't be bought with money because the price has been paid the precious blood Christ. As the blood is precious, even more so is the man from who it flowed. Take it. It was purchased for you. He took the nails for us.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."- Romans 5:1-2
God has given us the perfect pitch. He sent his Son, to die for us, and to give us redemption. How do we get the redemption? We have faith in Christ, trusting him with our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. Heard it before? Probably so. But how have you heard it and how have you received it?
You may have heard it the watered-down, 21st century church way or you may have heard it as the truth. In today's church, some voice God's grace as a ticket to heaven but a pass on holy living. Now of course, they don't say it that way. What happens is they talk more about programs, more about Sunday school, and more about what they have done, than they do Jesus. They ignore the cross and speak of grace, altogether forgetting that the cross is what brought grace in the first place! This carelessness for the gospel has brought terrifying results. I say, that this is a big reason denominations that don't denounce homosexuality exist. I say, that this watered-down disgrace is a reason that we have youth group members who have no idea that oral sex is sin. Receive it.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"- Titus 2:11-13
I encourage you to receive and accept the Gospel. I also stress that you accept it for what it is. Don't degrade it, and please don't try to change it. It is holy, pure, and has saved the souls of many. It's purpose is to save, but should also be used to motivate. This "Good News" is not to be used as an excuse but as a motivation. Pushing us and training us to live as one who has seen the Saviour. Motivating us to understand the cross and to wear it daily.
Recently I had my heart broken. My heart was broken because I realized where my heart's desire was. My heart was not as a disciples of Christ should be. My love had been divided and my wants had been scattered. Studies have shown that approx. 138,000 people die without Jesus each die, which means they face eternal damnation. I was not living to change that number. Are you? The problem is, I took the emphasize off of the Gospel. The Gospel saves, so why don't we live accordingly?
See hearing the Gospel and accepting the Gospel are to different matters. Acceptance brings appliance. Once a person hears the Gospel, then he may accept the Gospel, finally the Gospel is applied. For the Christ that we accept, applies his love and his blood to our hearts, minds, and lives. This changes everything. Our minds change, so we think differently. Our hearts change, so we want differently and we are given the ability to love. And through these changes, our life is transformed. We are now made new. We are saved when the Gospel is applied and until then, we are destined for hell.
The Gospel is Genuine. It's true, and it's pure. There is no other. It is not a get rich quick scheme. It is not an excuse. But it is the way. It's all about Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NONE get to the Father, except through HIM. Your resume? It doesn't matter. What we need is a stamp of approval, in which our souls are the paper and in which the ink is the blood of Christ. We are not only to be pressed by this ink, but we are to be covered in it. Is it Glamorous? Maybe not. Will it make you famous? Probably not. Is it the one and only way to salvation? Definitely so.
Take it or leave it. The Gospel is. I warn you, it is offensive. It will change you inside and out... but it's worth it. It can't be bought with money because the price has been paid the precious blood Christ. As the blood is precious, even more so is the man from who it flowed. Take it. It was purchased for you. He took the nails for us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)