Just sharing.

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Blessed Correction from God Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:9-11 KJV __________________ Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD, And whom You teach out of Your law; That You may grant him relief from the days of adversity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it. Psalm 94:12-15 NASB __________________ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“Lift them up for ever.”

Psalm 28:9

God's people need lifting up. They are very heavy by nature. They have no wings, or, if they have, they are like the dove of old which lay among the pots; and they need divine grace to make them mount on wings covered with silver, and with feathers of yellow gold. By nature sparks fly upward, but the sinful souls of men fall downward. O Lord, “lift them up for ever!” David himself said, “Unto thee, O God, do I lift up my soul,” and he here feels the necessity that other men's souls should be lifted up as well as his own. When you ask this blessing for yourself, forget not to seek it for others also.

There are three ways in which God's people require to be lifted up. They require to be elevated in character. Lift them up, O Lord; do not suffer thy people to be like the world's people! The world lieth in the wicked one; lift them out of it! The world's people are looking after silver and gold, seeking their own pleasures, and the gratification of their lusts; but, Lord, lift thy people up above all this; keep them from being “muck-rakers,” as John Bunyan calls the man who was always scraping after gold! Set thou their hearts upon their risen Lord and the heavenly heritage!

Moreover, believers need to be prospered in conflict. In the battle, if they seem to fall, O Lord, be pleased to give them the victory. If the foot of the foe be upon their necks for a moment, help them to grasp the sword of the Spirit, and eventually to win the battle. Lord, lift up thy children's spirits in the day of conflict; let them not sit in the dust, mourning for ever. Suffer not the adversary to vex them sore, and make them fret; but if they have been, like Hannah, persecuted, let them sing of the mercy of a delivering God.

We may also ask our Lord to lift them up at the last! Lift them up by taking them home, lift their bodies from the tomb, and raise their souls to thine eternal kingdom in glory.

 

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Isaiah 53 And The Prophecy About Jesus Christ



Isaiah the Prophet wrote a stunningly accurate portrait of Jesus’ all-encompassing work before, at, and after the cross.
Before the Cross
Isaiah the Prophet wrote Isaiah 53 with the Messiah in mind. He starts out by a statement that could have been made during Jesus’ earthly ministry: “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed” (Isaiah 53:1). Not many did follow Jesus after some of His hard teachings (John 6:66). Not many believed it in the end. At the cross they all fled. The crowds liked the fish and loaves of bread, but they were not willing to follow Him. Even Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth” (John 1:46).

Scriptures seem to indicate that Jesus was like many of the other Jews. They referred to Him as a carpenter (Mark 6:3), and so He probably looked just like any other Jew of the day, so Isaiah tell us that Jesus “had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). The religious crowed despised Jesus as claiming to be Who He really was. They asked, “are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things” (Matt 13:56), so “they took offense at him” (Matt 13:57a), so clearly Jesus “was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

During the Passion
After Jesus entered the Passion, He took upon Himself the sins of the world, motivated by the love of God (John 3:16), so Isaiah wrote that Jesus Christ “has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:4). He “was pierced for our transgressions [and] he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5a), so it “was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5b).

Physical healing is one thing, but to be ransomed by Jesus Christ’s own life (Mark 10:45) brings the ultimate healing. Whoever is healed will die again anyway, but whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall never die (John 11:25-26). Calvary was the only way that we could have been saved, since “All we like sheep have gone astray,” for “we have turned—every one—to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6a). Sheep, if left to themselves, will turn to their own way, and their own way probably won’t be the right way. Jesus is the right way. In fact, He is the only way into the kingdom (John 14:6). Isaiah 53 is about how “the Lord has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6b).

At the Cross
When Jesus was falsely accused, arrested, illegally tried and convicted, “he opened not his mouth,” so even though “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,” “he opened not his mouth,” but rather “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth”. Twice it said that Jesus “opened not his mouth,” meaning He did not try to defend Himself from this travesty of justice. He could have called down legions of angels if He desired (Matt 26:53), but “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23).

Jesus’ physical body was “was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people” (Isaiah 53:8), not stricken for His own sins. Jesus Christ was the sinless Lamb of God, and His supreme sacrifice was the only thing that would make us acceptable to God (2 Cor 5:21). This was not set of circumstances that spun out of Jesus’ control, but rather, “it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt” (Isaiah 53:10). If not for Jesus’ sinless life, suffering, death, and resurrection, we would all be without hope (1 Cor 15).

After the Cross
After Jesus’ death, He was buried, and so it was prophesied that He would make “his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9). Joseph of Arimathea was the rich man who gave Jesus’ his own grave (Matt 27:60), so Jesus was buried in a rich man’s grave, which is what Isaiah referred to in Jesus’ being in the “grave…with a rich man in his death.” Today, Jesus is interceding for the saints in prayer; running His church from the right hand of the Father; and still drawing men and women to Himself (John 12:32). When Jesus Christ comes again and judges the world, God “will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12a), and so Jesus alone is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

Conclusion
Today, Jesus is still using others as a means to bring people into the kingdom, as He forgives “the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12b), so “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25). Notice in these verses (Isaiah 53:12, Heb 7:25) that Jesus prays not for “these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their world” (John 17:20). That means Jesus prays for you if you’ve repented and trusted in Him (Mark 1:14-15). You are on Jesus’ prayer list. Imagine that! You don’t have to because it’s true!

Isaiah 53 gives us such a graphic view of Christ’s ministry that sometimes it’s hard to imagine how badly Jesus must have looked…beaten almost to the point where you couldn’t even recognize Him (Isaiah 52:14). That will sound barbaric to some, but it was the only way that we might be saved. Does that offend you? To someone without the Spirit of God, it will. It can’t be helped. That’s because the gospel is “to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things” (2 Cor 2:16)? Many have received this life…eternal life in Jesus Christ. Jesus has paid for your sins if you have trusted in Him. If not, you will have to die in your sins and pay for them yourself. May it never be so my friend! I plead with you; trust in Him today while there is still yet time (2 Cor 6:2). Tomorrow may be too late (Heb 9:27).

 

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Forgiveness for Sin I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.' Jeremiah 33:8,9 NIV __________________ I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 1 John 2:12 KJV __________________ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:17,18 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”

Exodus 17:12

So mighty was the prayer of Moses, that all depended upon it. The petitions of Moses discomfited the enemy more than the fighting of Joshua. Yet both were needed. No, in the soul's conflict, force and fervour, decision and devotion, valour and vehemence, must join their forces, and all will be well. You must wrestle with your sin, but the major part of the wrestling must be done alone in private with God. Prayer, like Moses’, holds up the token of the covenant before the Lord. The rod was the emblem of God's working with Moses, the symbol of God's government in Israel. Learn, O pleading saint, to hold up the promise and the oath of God before him. The Lord cannot deny his own declarations. Hold up the rod of promise, and have what you will.

Moses grew weary, and then his friends assisted him. When at any time your prayer flags, let faith support one hand, and let holy hope uplift the other, and prayer seating itself upon the stone of Israel, the rock of our salvation, will persevere and prevail. Beware of faintness in devotion; if Moses felt it, who can escape? It is far easier to fight with sin in public, than to pray against it in private. It is remarked that Joshua never grew weary in the fighting, but Moses did grow weary in the praying; the more spiritual an exercise, the more difficult it is for flesh and blood to maintain it.

Let us cry, then, for special strength, and may the Spirit of God, who helpeth our infirmities, as he allowed help to Moses, enable us like him to continue with our hands steady “until the going down of the sun;” till the evening of life is over; till we shall come to the rising of a better sun in the land where prayer is swallowed up in praise.

 

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Going Up the Mountain (Dante’s Purgatory)



There is hope for those of us who started badly. We can end well. Thank God. Love waits for our consent, waiting for us to turn from distractions, to beauty.
Jesus told a story about a son who ran away from his good home to pursue lesser loves. He gave up a father who loved him for people who showed him a good time, because they loved his money. That ended, as such trades always do, in a pig pen.

We are drawn down to dirt not by love, or even by fun, but by our mistakes about what love is and our errors about what made the fun. The good that we find, even the husks that we eat in the stye, are echoes of work of the Good God. He wants better for us: more jollification, a better feast, but God will do what He can to with what we give Him.
Like the father in the story Jesus told, Father God waits and will take the little turns we make toward real beauty and multiply them as only He can. He draws us up from the pig pen to paradise.
As a young man I thought I loved, but I did not. Love was waiting to pull me up from my errors, but I missed it. I wanted to see God, but not enough to do what God wished me to do.
Lord have mercy.
God would give us, each one of us, every good gift, but not at the cost of any other person. We would seize, claim, carve off a bit of God’s cosmos as our own.
No.
God instead would draw us up to see greater glory.
Satan took Jesus to a high mountain to look down at the kingdoms of the world. Evil wished Jesus to look down and take less than His divine inheritance. The world is good and can be beautiful, but only when in the proper place. God draws up to subsume all the good, truth, and beauty and limits us to nothing.
Satan offers us the world and loses us the heavens! The genius of Dante grasped this because he lived the truth. He looked to the world and ended up exiled. He loved the flesh and discovered that his “love” was mere selfishness. (God have mercy on me a sinner!) He loved “learning” and discovered that he was merely playing with the sophistry of devils.

Dante began, as many of us do, lost and then plunged into hell. Eventually, he found hope, the good of the intellect. As a result, God began to purge Dante’s soul:

To run o’er better waters hoists its sail The little vessel of my genius now, That leaves behind itself a sea so cruel; And of that second kingdom will I sing Wherein the human spirit doth purge itself, And to ascend to heaven becometh worthy. But let dead Poesy here rise again, O holy Muses, since that I am yours, And here Calliope somewhat ascend, My song accompanying with that sound, Of which the miserable magpies felt The blow so great, that they despaired of pardon.*

My Dad likes to talk this way. When we are following God, being purged of smallness so that we can go up and gain all in gaining God, Dad says “we are in the flow.’
Like Dante, Dad is right.
We sail to God’s holy mountain when we reject the hopelessness of Hell. We say “yes” to the good God and “no” to our lesser desires and all these things are given to us. We abandon lust and gain love. We give up on wealth and have life more abundantly. We stop currying favor with the great and powerful and the happiest become our family.
The Holy Spirit is here to draw us up to God, but that is not so we can become detached from the reality. Instead, we gain all of reality, including the metaphysical. All the good, the truth, and beauty is ours in Christ.
I love you God.

 

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Freedom from Fear Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25 NIV __________________ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV __________________ Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:32-34 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“We would see Jesus.”

John 12:21

Evermore the worldling's cry is, “Who will show us any good?” He seeks satisfaction in earthly comforts, enjoyments, and riches. But the quickened sinner knows of only one good. “O that I knew where I might find Him !” When he is truly awakened to feel his guilt, if you could pour the gold of India at his feet, he would say, “Take it away: I want to find Him .” It is a blessed thing for a man, when he has brought his desires into a focus, so that they all centre in one object. When he has fifty different desires, his heart resembles a mere of stagnant water, spread out into a marsh, breeding miasma and pestilence; but when all his desires are brought into one channel, his heart becomes like a river of pure water, running swiftly to fertilize the fields. Happy is he who hath one desire, if that one desire be set on Christ, though it may not yet have been realized. If Jesus be a soul's desire, it is a blessed sign of divine work within. Such a man will never be content with mere ordinances. He will say, “I want Christ; I must have him—mere ordinances are of no use to me; I want himself; do not offer me these; you offer me the empty pitcher, while I am dying of thirst; give me water, or I die. Jesus is my soul's desire. I would see Jesus!”

Is this thy condition, my reader, at this moment? Hast thou but one desire, and is that after Christ? Then thou art not far from the kingdom of heaven. Hast thou but one wish in thy heart, and that one wish that thou mayst be washed from all thy sins in Jesus’ blood? Canst thou really say, “I would give all I have to be a Christian; I would give up everything I have and hope for, if I might but feel that I have an interest in Christ?” Then, despite all thy fears, be of good cheer, the Lord loveth thee, and thou shalt come out into daylight soon, and rejoice in the liberty wherewith Christ makes men free.

 

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The Cross: Where Judgment And Mercy Meet



Jesus’ sinless life and death on the cross are where judgment and mercy meet.
The Judgment
“God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 15:9).

The Apostle Paul writes about those who are practicing evil deeds which is only serving to store up more wrath against the Day of Judgment (Rom 2:5), so there will be a day when God “will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (Rom 2:6-8). For those who have been brought to repentance and faith in Christ, they can rejoice because it is “Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess 1:10).

This means that “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 15:9). Notice that God has not appointed us who trust in Christ to His wrath; a wrath that will come upon all who reject the truth that Jesus is Lord and Savior and they are sinners in need of saving. It is only those who are self-seeking and not seeking after Jesus Christ and His righteousness (Matt 6:33) that will receive what they have sown in this life. The judgment of God will only be stopped by the work of Christ on the cross, but you must humble yourself and confess your sins before God and put your trust in Christ. That is the point when the wrath of God will “pass over” you, but as the Scriptures teach, “for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (Rom 2:6-8).

Mercy
The thief on the cross trusted in Jesus very late in his life. He never had a chance to go to attend synagogue, do any good deeds, or have anything to offer to God. Even so, Jesus promised him that that he would be with Him in Paradise (Luke 23:43), but in all honesty, all of us are the thief on the cross. We might have trusted in Christ years ago, but we were all just as in need of God’s mercy as the thief was. The Apostle Paul levels the playing field in that we’re all cut off from God and fallen infinitely short of His glory (Rom 3:23). The foot of the cross is level ground where every single person stands at the same level. God makes no distinction between us (Acts 15:7-9) because of Christ, but also makes no distinction between those who naturally sin less and those who naturally (or desire to) sin more. We’ve all earned the wages of death, but thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ, that He also offers eternal life (Rom 6:23), so it takes only one sin to condemn us, but only One to set us free (John 8:36).
Dying for Enemies
The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:6-8 that “while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person— (like the Thief on the Cross) though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die (like Abraham or Moses)— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What greater mercy is there than to have a Holy God (Jesus) die for wicked sinners? Jesus told the disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Even as those who crucified Him watched, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:43).

I remember where Jesus taught us, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). He also testified, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). It is abundantly clear from Scripture that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). That’s where God’s judgment on sin landed; Jesus Christ, but that’s also where God’s mercy was revealed, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man” (Mark 10:45). No one took it from Him…He willingly laid it down (John 10:18).

Compassion
Jude writes about witnessing in two different ways. We should “have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 1:22), and many do doubt. Some doubt that God could possibly save them. They think they’ve done too much, and can’t come as they are. They often wait until they can clean their lives up, but that will never happen until they come to Christ. It’s not trying to get holy and then come to Jesus, but it’s coming to Jesus and being accounted as holy before God (2 Cor 5:21). Then Jude tells us to “save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 1:23). Listen to the caring compassion that Jesus has. It says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36).

Do we have such a heart for the lost? Are we willing to leave the 99 and seek the one that is lost? If not us, then who? Paul may have put it best by telling us to “be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:1-2). This life gives us opportunity to show the world who Jesus’ disciples are (John 13:34-35). We don’t retaliate or “get even,” but rather, as Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). These verses were worth repeating!

Conclusion
Humans may have many definitions of love, but the Bible tells us what love really is, and it is a verb…it is what you do, and for us who believe, it is what Jesus did. Love is not a greeting card, a love letter, or a big kiss. Those are byproducts of love, but they are not love in themselves. Love is displayed in action. Jesus lived a sinless life, gave His life as a sacrifice for us to receive eternal life, then offered the free gift of eternal life (Eph 2:8-9). And even though we were dead in our sins (Eph 2:1-7), being ungodly, wicked enemies of God, Jesus died for us (Rom 5:6-10)! Believers have grasped where the judgment of God stopped and the mercy of God started, and it was at the cross. There is no greater love possible than for Jesus Himself to die for unworthy sinners. Here’s why grace is such an amazing thing. He did not give us what we deserved (His wrath); He gave us what we needed (His mercy).

 

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Worldly Friendship? From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. James 4:1-4 KJV __________________ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16 NIV __________________ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:16,17 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

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“And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.”

Genesis 32:12

When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, he earnestly sought God's protection, and as a master reason he pleaded, “And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.” Oh, the force of that plea! He was holding God to his word—“Thou saidst.”

The attribute of God's faithfulness is a splendid horn of the altar to lay hold upon; but the promise, which has in it the attribute and something more, is a yet mightier holdfast—“Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good.” And has he said, and shall he not do it? “Let God be true, and every man a liar.” Shall not he be true? Shall he not keep his word? Shall not every word that cometh out of his lips stand fast and be fulfilled?

Solomon, at the opening of the temple, used this same mighty plea. He pleaded with God to remember the word which he had spoken to his father David, and to bless that place. When a man gives a promissory note, his honour is engaged; he signs his hand, and he must discharge it when the due time comes, or else he loses credit. It shall never be said that God dishonours his bills. The credit of the Most High never was impeached, and never shall be. He is punctual to the moment: he never is before his time, but he never is behind it.

Search God's word through, and compare it with the experience of God's people, and you shall find the two tally from the first to the last. Many a hoary patriarch has said with Joshua, “Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass.” If you have a divine promise, you need not plead it with an “if,” you may urge it with certainty. The Lord meant to fulfil the promise, or he would not have given it. God does not give his words merely to quiet us, and to keep us hopeful for awhile with the intention of putting us off at last; but when he speaks, it is because he means to do as he has said.

 

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Is Everyone a Christian Who Claims to Be a Christian?



Is Everyone a Christian Who Claims to Be a Christian?

One of my biggest frustrations as a Christian blogger who is also a noted Christian theologian is that many people seem to think that “Christianity” is simply whatever a person who claims to be a Christian says it is. A slightly more sophisticated way of making the same error is to think, as many do, that “Christianity” is simply the consensus of people who call themselves Christians. Therefore, to take one example, it was Christians who carried out the medieval Crusades and pogroms against Jews and etc. Or, in some cases, people will say that Christianity is responsible for the environmental crisis or the presidency of Donald Trump or the genocide in Rwanda, etc.

The same mistake is made today about evangelicalism and evangelicals. It is simply assumed that anyone who says they are evangelical and/or once had a “born again experience” is an evangelical.
This is an example of a larger problem of faulty thinking on the part of most people today. There is little to no recognition or acknowledgement of the “essence” of a religion or an ideology or philosophy.

Let’s move to another, seemingly opposite, but not really opposite at all, example. I know people who claim to be atheists but believe in God. What do they mean by “atheist,” then? They mean they do not believe in the god (as they would put it) of traditional, classical, philosophical theism—Aristotle’s “Unmoved Mover” or Thomas Aquinas’s “Actus Purus,” etc. German Christian theologian Jürgen Moltmann is famous for saying that only a Christian can be an atheist (in response to philosophers Ernst Bloch and Roger Garaudy). (Please don’t lecture me about Roger Garaudy’s later philosophical-religious “journey.)
I believe Moltmann’s claim was “loose talk.” It was confusing. Other believers in God (which Moltmann clearly was and is) have claimed to be atheists because they did/do not believe in the god of classical theism.

And, of course, anyone who has studied church history knows that early Christians were accused of “atheism” because they believed in only one God and not all or many gods.
I could go on giving examples of people who have stretched the meaning of religious, philosophical, and ideological labels to the breaking point. My point is that too few people recognize what is going on or question it.
*Sidebar: The opinions expressed here are my own (or those of the guest writer); I do not speak for any other person, group or organization; nor do I imply that the opinions expressed here reflect those of any other person, group or organization unless I say so specifically. Before commenting read the entire post and the “Note to commenters” at its end.*

Christian thinkers (theologians, biblical scholars, philosophers) have always recognized and commented on the fact that there are fake Christians—people who claim to be Christian but do not really deserve the label.
Let’s do a thought experiment to illustrate this. Imagine a possible world in which, for whatever reason, everyone who calls himself or herself “Christian” does not believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior. Would that mean that “Christianity” is a religion that denies Jesus Christ as Son of God and Savior? Yes, according to many people. No, according to me. In that possible world “Christianity” would have ceased to exist except in documentary form (and, of course, in the mind of God).

That way of thinking—that “Christianity” is whatever most people who call themselves Christians believe and how they live—is a-historical. It is typical of the anti-intellectualism of much of modern and postmodern people in world societies. I’m not sure where the phrase came from, but I call it “bean counting.” It is a reductionist approach to identifying religions, philosophies, and ideologies.
The only cure for this confusion is what I have called here before “prototype theory.” It is the way of identifying ideologies, movements, religions, philosophies, in terms of their historical prototypes. This is an approach used by many students and scholars of intellectual history because it is the only cure for total confusion of categories, terms, and labels. (Sorry, they can’t be escaped or discarded.)
Identifying and describing Christian theology’s prototypes is why I wrote The Story of Christian Theology (InterVarsity Press). Identifying and describing “modern theology” is why I wrote The Journey of Modern Theology. Anyone who reads both books carefully will recognize that I do not think all “modern theologians” who called themselves “Christians” were real Christians. The same is true of The Story of Christian Theology. Basically it is the story of God’s preservation of his people in spite of the power of fake Christians.

People who comment here often write as if all people who call (or called) themselves Christians are (or were). They need to know that virtually no Christian thinks that way—anymore than George Will thinks Donald Trump is a conservative!
I absolutely reject the accusation that when I say someone is not a Christian (who calls himself or herself a Christian) I am being “judgmental.”

One of the absolutes on which all Christian prototypes, including Jesus himself, agreed and agree is that in order to be a Christian one must admit being a sinner and repent (insofar as that is possible). Anyone who says he has never had to repent cannot be a Christian. Saying so is not being “judgmental;” it is simply stating a fact.
To you who would fall into this error, I say: Read a good book about basic Christianity such as John R. Stott’s best-selling Basic Christianity or C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity or something similar—a widely acknowledged true statement of the fundamentals of Christianity. Take the time to inform yourself before spouting off about Christianity and Christians. Do the same with “evangelicalism.” Read (for example) A Passion for Truth by Alister McGrath (IVP).

*Note to commenters: This blog is not a discussion board; please respond with a question or comment only to me. If you do not share my evangelical Christian perspective (very broadly defined), feel free to ask a question for clarification, but know that this is not a space for debating incommensurate perspectives/worldviews. In any case, know that there is no guarantee that your question or comment will be posted by the moderator or answered by the writer. If you hope for your question or comment to appear here and be answered or responded to, make sure it is civil, respectful, and “on topic.” Do not comment if you have not read the entire post and do not misrepresent what it says. Keep any comment (including questions) to minimal length; do not post essays, sermons or testimonies here. Do not post links to internet sites here. This is a space for expressions of the blogger’s (or guest writers’) opinions and constructive dialogue among evangelical Christians (very broadly defined).

 

[beensetfree]

He Leads - We Follow. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Psalm 32:8,9 NIV __________________ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalm 37:23,24 KJV __________________ The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“The Amen.”

Revelation 3:14

The word Amen solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great Confirmer; immutable, for ever is “the Amen” in all his promises. Sinner, I would comfort thee with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” If you come to him, he will say “Amen” in your soul; his promise shall be true to you.

He said in the days of his flesh, “The bruised reed I will not break.” O thou poor, broken, bruised heart, if thou comest to him, he will say “Amen” to thee, and that shall be true in thy soul as in hundreds of cases in bygone years. Christian, is not this very comforting to thee also, that there is not a word which has gone out of the Saviour's lips which he has ever retracted? The words of Jesus shall stand when heaven and earth shall pass away. If thou gettest a hold of but half a promise, thou shalt find it true. Beware of him who is called “Clip-promise,” who will destroy much of the comfort of God's word.

Jesus is Yea and Amen in all his offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse once, he is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for his people, and to defend them with his mighty arm, he is an Amen King, the same still. He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come, his lips are most sweet, and drop with honey still—he is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the merit of his blood; he is Amen as to his righteousness. That sacred robe shall remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every single title which he bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death's dark vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Castle and your High Tower; the Horn of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yea and Amen in all.

 

[beensetfree]

Where did the Call-to-Repentance Songs Go?



The other day my wife and I were searching for some music to listen to as we worked on a remodel project. I decided to go old school.
“Alexa,” I barked. “Play songs by Keith Green.”
Green was a popular singer/songwriter from the early days of Jesus Music. He composed and sang worship standards such as “Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful” and “There is a Redeemer.”
Keith Green’s voice was silenced in 1982, when he and two of his children perished in an aviation accident.

As my wife and I listened to Green’s music, we were struck by how strange his late 1970s lyrics sounded to our 2019 ears.
Green employed a lyrical technique that used to be common in Christian music, but is virtually absent today: the call to repentance, or CTR.
CTR songs are designed to convict the listener of his own sin. Here is an example of CTR lyrics, from Keith Green’s Asleep in the Light (1978):
“Oh, bless me, Lord!
Bless me, Lord!”
You know, it’s all I ever hear!
No one aches
No one hurts
No one even sheds one tear
But, He cries
He weeps
He bleeds
And He cares for your needs
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in
Oh, can’t you see such sin?!
‘Cause He brings people to your door
And you turn them away
As you smile and say:
“God bless you!
Be at peace!”
And all Heaven just weeps
’cause Jesus came to your door
You left Him out on the streets
Here are two reasons CTR songs sound so out of place today:

1. While most contemporary worship songs focus on comfort and assurance, CTR songs point out our shortcomings. CTR songs are anything but positive and encouraging.
2. While most of today’s praise songs are sung from the perspective of the disciple, CTR songs are sung from the perspective of God (or a prophet). In praise and worship, we are the speaker, telling God how we feel about him. With CTR, God is the speaker, telling us how he feels about us.

CTR songs are sometimes hard to listen to. Too much CTR can lead to discouragement and even legalism. However, I can personally testify to their effectiveness. Keith Green’s songs were the slap in the face I needed as a young believer. They spurred me on toward greater obedience every time I heard them. As such, CTR songs have a more masculine feel. They focus on our actions, not our emotions. They demand change. And they challenge rather than comfort.
A decade ago, researcher Christian Smith at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill examined the religious beliefs of teenagers and coined a new phrase to describe the faith held by many: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, or MTD. Albert Mohler writes:
As described by Smith and his team, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism consists of beliefs like these:

1. “A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth.”
2. “God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.”
3. “The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.”
4. “God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.”
5. “Good people go to heaven when they die.”

With beliefs like these, it’s easy to see why CRT songs seem so out of place in church today. It’s easy to tell God how wonderful he is. It’s hard to hear how depraved we are.

 

[beensetfree]

Fear NOT! Be bold. But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43:1-3a NIV __________________ "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16,17 NASB __________________ Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:1-4 KJV __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Fight the Lord's battles.”

1 Samuel 18:17

The sacramental host of God's elect is warring still on earth, Jesus Christ being the Captain of their salvation. He has said, “Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Hark to the shouts of war! Now let the people of God stand fast in their ranks, and let no man's heart fail him.

It is true that just now in England the battle is turned against us, and unless the Lord Jesus shall lift his sword, we know not what may become of the church of God in this land; but let us be of good courage, and play the man. There never was a day when Protestantism seemed to tremble more in the scales than now that a fierce effort is making to restore the Romish antichrist to his ancient seat. We greatly want a bold voice and a strong hand to preach and publish the old gospel for which martyrs bled and confessors died.

The Saviour is, by his Spirit, still on earth; let this cheer us. He is ever in the midst of the fight, and therefore the battle is not doubtful. And as the conflict rages, what a sweet satisfaction it is to know that the Lord Jesus, in his office as our great Intercessor, is prevalently pleading for his people! O anxious gazer, look not so much at the battle below, for there thou shalt be enshrouded in smoke, and amazed with garments rolled in blood; but lift thine eyes yonder where the Saviour lives and pleads, for while he intercedes, the cause of God is safe. Let us fight as if it all depended upon us, but let us look up and know that all depends upon him.

Now, by the lilies of Christian purity, and by the roses of the Saviour's atonement, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, we charge you who are lovers of Jesus, to do valiantly in the Holy War, for truth and righteousness, for the kingdom and crown jewels of your Master. Onward! “for the battle is not yours but God's.”

 

[beensetfree]

Galatians 3 – The Law And Faith



The Apostle Paul explains the reason for God’s laws, which makes God’s grace even more amazing.
By Faith or by Works
The Apostle Paul addressed a very big problem for the Galatians, but also for a lot of believers, and that was legalism. Just after they were introduced to the gospel of salvation by grace and not by works, some cunning Jews came in to subvert the gospel by adding works to it. Even though many of them had been eye witnesses of Jesus’ crucifixion, they were “bewitched” (Gal 3:1), and told that they needed to completed their salvation by keeping the law, however, trying to keep the law as part one’s salvation, makes it an altogether different gospel, and one that can’t save! He reminded them that “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Gal 3:6). When Abraham believed God, God accounted that to Him as righteousness.

Today, if we believe in Christ, we receive the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21). Paul’s point is, “it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (Gal 3:7). This same faith was opened to Gentiles who trusted in Christ, and thus “all the nations [were] blessed” (Gal 3:8c). Regardless of who you are or how many works of the law you do, “those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Gal 3:9), but they’re not blessed by their works…but by their faith in Christ.

Law Keeping
Since it is in our nature to try and justify ourselves before God, we tend to think that our works will help us on the Day of Judgment. It’s almost subconscious in a way, but it is who we are by nature, however, Paul has a serious warning for those who try to justify themselves before God by keeping the law. He says that “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them” (Gal 3:10). That’s bad news for us since none of us can keep the law perfectly. James adds it’s not worth trying, since “whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10).

This doesn’t mean we head to the other ditch and think we can break God’s laws. We ought to strive to live by them, but still recognize we are not saved by obedience to the law. Paul says “it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith” (Gal 3:11). Only Jesus Christ kept the law with perfection, but He is God, and we are not. Our nature is to sin, but thankfully we’re forgiven and justified by Christ, standing in His righteousness before God (2 Cor 5:21), so “the law is not of faith” (Gal 3:12).

Imprisoned by Sin
We ought to give thanks to God that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Gal 3:13a). To try and keep the law is to put that curse back on us. Jesus has already redeemed us from the curse of the law, so there’s no reason to try and keep ourselves saved by keeping the law (Rom 7:19-20). It just can’t be done. I wouldn’t trust the best 10 minutes of my life to buy me a split-second in heaven! The law is good…it actually shows us what sin is (Rom 7:7), but the law cannot save. The law makes us all stand guilty before God and flee to the cross and our Savior. Paul wrote that “the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Gal 3:22).

The law shows us our only hope is the grace of God found only in Christ, so “before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed” (Gal 3:23), and that faith was revealed in Jesus Christ. Paul states that law takes away our excuses or disables our argument that we’ve done enough good things that we ought to go to heaven. He says, “we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God” (Rom 3:19). The law condemned us all (Rom 3:23, 6:23), “so that every mouth may be stopped.”

Faith Alone
Since we know we can’t be saved by works, we must not go to the other extreme and think there won’t be any works. James wrote that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). God has prepared opportunities for good works in our lives (Eph 2:10), but we recognize those works don’t save us. We are not saved by works, but the saved will do works; but not to justify themselves. They are doing it as unto Christ (Matt 25:40). We are not saved by works but by grace (Eph 2:8-9), since “now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (Gal 3:25) of the law (Gal 2:23-24). We are set free from the curse of the law, and we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, so “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).

Conclusion
The Apostle Paul was not the only one who battled legalism. We can battle it too, but it’s almost a silent invasion. It’s our nature to be seen by others and to do good works in front of people so we can get recognition, but there’s a hidden danger with doing good works. Many who have stated they believe in Jesus will be turned away on Judgment Day because they never had a saving relationship with Him, therefore He doesn’t even know them. They boast of their many works for the Lord, but those same “many” will be turned away forever (Matt 7:21-23). I love what Voddie Baucham said: “It amazes me that we believe this: that God would crush and kill His own Son, but let you slide.” In fact, He won’t. Without Jesus’ own righteousness accredited to you (2 Cor 5:21), you will stand before God and be judged according to your works. Scripture tells us that it will not turn out well (Rev 20:12-15). Repent and believe today and be redeemed from the curse of the law.

 

[beensetfree]

Led by the Spirit Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14 NIV __________________ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Matthew 5:39-42 KJV __________________ And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life." Luke 18:29,30 NASB __________________ Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

 

[beensetfree]

“Who is even at the right hand of God.”

Romans 8:34

He who was once despised and rejected of men, now occupies the honourable position of a beloved and honoured Son. The right hand of God is the place of majesty and favour. Our Lord Jesus is his people's representative. When he died for them they had rest; he rose again for them, they had liberty; when he sat down at his Father's right hand, they had favour, and honour, and dignity.

The raising and elevation of Christ is the elevation, the acceptance, and enshrinement, the glorifying of all his people, for he is their head and representative. This sitting at the right hand of God, then, is to be viewed as the acceptance of the person of the Surety, the reception of the Representative, and therefore, the acceptance of our souls. O saint, see in this thy sure freedom from condemnation. “Who is he that condemneth?” Who shall condemn the men who are in Jesus at the right hand of God?

The right hand is the place of power. Christ at the right hand of God hath all power in heaven and in earth. Who shall fight against the people who have such power vested in their Captain? O my soul, what can destroy thee if Omnipotence be thy helper? If the aegis of the Almighty cover thee, what sword can smite thee? Rest thou secure. If Jesus is thine all-prevailing King, and hath trodden thine enemies beneath his feet; if sin, death, and hell are all vanquished by him, and thou art represented in him, by no possibility canst thou be destroyed.

“Jesus’ tremendous name
Puts all our foes to flight:
Jesus, the meek, the angry Lamb,
A Lion is in fight.
“By all hell's host withstood;
We all hell's host o'erthrow;
And conquering them, through Jesus’ blood
We still to conquer go.”