"The temptation to make our relation to God judicial instead of personal is very strong. Believing for salvation has been reduced to a once-done act that requires no further attention." A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)
In our happy days of modern theology with all its love and peace, all the believe and receive, all the name it claim it, all the health and wealth... What happened to the doctrine of regeneration? What happened to the idea that if you are a Christian you will live like a Christian? How did it come to all this? We have this idea now that you just pray some little prayer on a card and say you're sorry and whoosh! Off to Heaven you go! That's not the way the early church taught it. That's not the way Christ taught it. When did being a Christian become an optional accessory to salvation? Why do we teach people that you say this little prayer and you are saved and then if you feel like it you can actually live for Christ? You don't have to pray so much. You don't have to read your Bible daily. You don't need to go to church more than once a week. You don't need to go to church at all for that matter. That stuff is for radicals! That's Zealot stuff! Those people take religion too far! No! Those people have been born again! Those people met the only begotten Son of the true and living God. Now they spend every waking minute wanting to know Him more. They discovered they were alone in life and now they have a chance to walk with God and that is exactly what He has put on their hearts to do! James said, "Don't fool yourself. Don't just hear it and walk away. Live it!" No that's not King James. That's my paraphrase of James 1:22. You think I'm being too "religious"? Read Hebrews 10:38&39. Read Hebrews 9:14. Read 1 Peter 1:22&23. Read 1 John 3:10. These guys all knew better than to say if you believe in some concept of a god and try to be kind of a nice person most of the time, that you could look forward to a place like Heaven when you die. That's not how it works at all. No you cannot save yourself by works. The Bible makes it clear that this is impossible. (Ephesians 2:8&9) But if you refuse to be recreated you are refusing salvation. Oh no don't give me that "Lordship" stuff! Well do you really think you can look God in the face and say, "Forgive me for my sins but stay out of my business."? Isn't that what we are telling people with our modern day seeker friendly evangelism?
What about Ephesians 4:21-30? "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
I know this kind of thinking doesn't make me very popular. But I have to be honest. I'm actually trying to help. I know that none of us are perfect and we won't be as long as we live in this vile flesh. But James explained it quite well when he said that your works perfect your faith. (James 2:22) As I said before, you cannot save yourself by your works. It's not about keeping the Law. The only thing that saves anyone is faith. But if you have faith you will seek to please God. And this will help your faith to grow and to be perfected. And in the process you become a better person for it. And in the end you can hear the King of kings and the Lord of lords say "Well done good and faithful servant. Enter in." (Matthew 25:21&23)
Peace and God bless.
Shannon
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Law
I finally finished reading the second half of "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan. That is a great book! Now I'm reading "The Miracle of the Scarlet Thread" by Richard Booker. It is based on a sermon preached on New Year's Eve 1961 by Dr. W. A. Criswell. This was a sermon that lasted four hours and Dr. Criswell couldn't finish. It was then published by Dr. Criswell in book form. His book by the same title is no longer in print. I will have to watch for it on Amazon or EBay or something. Why Richard Booker doesn't mention Dr. Criswell I don't know. But I'm always skeptical of people who say "The Spirit revealed to me…" When everyone knows where they really got it. I might have to write someone a letter. I do that sometimes.
But at any rate…In my own study time I was thinking about my own salvation. Some of this is seen in the scarlet thread and some isn't. I know I am saved by grace thru faith. It's God's grace. All I can do is have faith in it. But I see so many people trying to work their way to Heaven. That's sad. It can't be done. Mankind is too far separated from God. I see people who believe the Law can save them. If this were true Christ died in vain.
Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
And Galatians 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
So why do people do it? If they truly study the Law like they say they do then they would know that the Law was not written for Gentiles. The fact is that the Sacrifices and Feasts (all the dos in the Law) were forbidden for Gentiles. A Gentile could not keep these parts of the Law unless he converted to Israel by circumcision and baptism (works). The only thing the Gentiles were allowed to recognize were the don'ts. Modern day legalists (Pharisees) conveniently forget this. Under the Law it was actually illegal for Gentiles to keep feast days including and especially the Passover.
It is important to understand that Christ fulfilled the old covenant. We now live under a new covenant. The Jews stumbled at the Law because they didn't understand the spirit of the Law is more important than the letter of the Law.
Romans 9:32 "Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;"
Those who live by the letter of the Law do so because they don't understand how to walk in the Spirit. Because they don't have the Spirit. But the Law will not save them. It will only judge and condemn them. The Law is not to live by it is to learn by. Big difference. Christ has fulfilled and abolished the Law.
Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Acts 13:39 "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
So think about all this next time you decide it is time to clear your house of leaven or you are looking for a church that meets on Saturday. Think about it. Pray about it. And trust God and allow Him to give you peace.
God bless you all.
Shannon
But at any rate…In my own study time I was thinking about my own salvation. Some of this is seen in the scarlet thread and some isn't. I know I am saved by grace thru faith. It's God's grace. All I can do is have faith in it. But I see so many people trying to work their way to Heaven. That's sad. It can't be done. Mankind is too far separated from God. I see people who believe the Law can save them. If this were true Christ died in vain.
Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
And Galatians 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
So why do people do it? If they truly study the Law like they say they do then they would know that the Law was not written for Gentiles. The fact is that the Sacrifices and Feasts (all the dos in the Law) were forbidden for Gentiles. A Gentile could not keep these parts of the Law unless he converted to Israel by circumcision and baptism (works). The only thing the Gentiles were allowed to recognize were the don'ts. Modern day legalists (Pharisees) conveniently forget this. Under the Law it was actually illegal for Gentiles to keep feast days including and especially the Passover.
It is important to understand that Christ fulfilled the old covenant. We now live under a new covenant. The Jews stumbled at the Law because they didn't understand the spirit of the Law is more important than the letter of the Law.
Romans 9:32 "Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;"
Those who live by the letter of the Law do so because they don't understand how to walk in the Spirit. Because they don't have the Spirit. But the Law will not save them. It will only judge and condemn them. The Law is not to live by it is to learn by. Big difference. Christ has fulfilled and abolished the Law.
Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Acts 13:39 "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
So think about all this next time you decide it is time to clear your house of leaven or you are looking for a church that meets on Saturday. Think about it. Pray about it. And trust God and allow Him to give you peace.
God bless you all.
Shannon
Thursday, January 6, 2011
400
I'm sorry to offend. But I have to get this off my chest.
2011 is NOT the 400th anniversary of the "King James" Bible! It is the 400th anniversary of the "Holy Bible" of 1611 AD! Please do your homework! They are NOT the same thing!!! The KJV did not come about until 1857. And it is still not standardized! The wording in the scripture is different between KJV Bibles published by Nelson, Holman, Schofield, and others. Not just in the footnotes but in the SCRIPTURE TEXT! And the 1611 Bible did include all 15 books of the Apocrypha (some think it is 14 but the 1611 combined "Baruch" and "The Letter of Jeremiah") as opposed to the Douay Bible of 1610 which only included 12 books of Apocrypha. Please admit the historical facts. I read both the KJV and the 1611. They are not the same!
Also the KJV was never "authorized". The misuse of this word stems from an American problem understanding that Parliament obtained a patent on the translation of 1611 and only "authorized" printers were permitted to print and publish it. This insured that the Royal Family would continue to receive "royalties" for the sale of the "Bible" which they still receive for all Holy Bibles of the 1611 translation and other "revisions" of the 1611 text. Although the "KJV" or "authorized version" or "the 1611" are all considered to be in the "public domain" in the U.S.A. I am obviously not a KJV "onlyist". But I do prefer the KJV to other translations.
Another thing that concerns me is that so many "onlyists" refuse to believe the truth about the History of the translations. Not just the English but Greek, Latin, German, French, and others. Christ said His words would be preserved for all generations. Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33 all agree Christ said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." I believe this whole heartedly. But the KJV is an English translation. Not "the only written word of God". If it was then Christ's promise was not kept until 1857. And, if the KJV is the "only" so on and so on; Which KJV is the "only" one? As I said before, they are not all the same! It's just a fact. And the KJV is NOT a "perfect" translation of any text. Tyndale himself said it would never be possible to have a "perfect" English translation.
And if it is so "perfect" why did they change the name of Christ? "Jesus" is an English name. "Jesus" and "Joshua" are both English names. "Jesus" is NOT Greek for "Joshua". "Jesus" is the English version of "Iesous" which is the Greek word for "savior". Hebrews 4:8 and Acts 7:45 are proof that someone changed the name who didn't know the difference between Yehoshua the Messiah and Yehoshua the son of Nun. I wouldn't fuss about it. But KJV "onlyists" blow it off and make excuses for the fact that the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) is changed to a different name. To me this whole KJV only debate borders on Idolatry.
And for the record; Forbidding men and women from praying together is a form of cult behavior. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4
There! I said it.
God bless you.
2011 is NOT the 400th anniversary of the "King James" Bible! It is the 400th anniversary of the "Holy Bible" of 1611 AD! Please do your homework! They are NOT the same thing!!! The KJV did not come about until 1857. And it is still not standardized! The wording in the scripture is different between KJV Bibles published by Nelson, Holman, Schofield, and others. Not just in the footnotes but in the SCRIPTURE TEXT! And the 1611 Bible did include all 15 books of the Apocrypha (some think it is 14 but the 1611 combined "Baruch" and "The Letter of Jeremiah") as opposed to the Douay Bible of 1610 which only included 12 books of Apocrypha. Please admit the historical facts. I read both the KJV and the 1611. They are not the same!
Also the KJV was never "authorized". The misuse of this word stems from an American problem understanding that Parliament obtained a patent on the translation of 1611 and only "authorized" printers were permitted to print and publish it. This insured that the Royal Family would continue to receive "royalties" for the sale of the "Bible" which they still receive for all Holy Bibles of the 1611 translation and other "revisions" of the 1611 text. Although the "KJV" or "authorized version" or "the 1611" are all considered to be in the "public domain" in the U.S.A. I am obviously not a KJV "onlyist". But I do prefer the KJV to other translations.
Another thing that concerns me is that so many "onlyists" refuse to believe the truth about the History of the translations. Not just the English but Greek, Latin, German, French, and others. Christ said His words would be preserved for all generations. Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33 all agree Christ said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." I believe this whole heartedly. But the KJV is an English translation. Not "the only written word of God". If it was then Christ's promise was not kept until 1857. And, if the KJV is the "only" so on and so on; Which KJV is the "only" one? As I said before, they are not all the same! It's just a fact. And the KJV is NOT a "perfect" translation of any text. Tyndale himself said it would never be possible to have a "perfect" English translation.
And if it is so "perfect" why did they change the name of Christ? "Jesus" is an English name. "Jesus" and "Joshua" are both English names. "Jesus" is NOT Greek for "Joshua". "Jesus" is the English version of "Iesous" which is the Greek word for "savior". Hebrews 4:8 and Acts 7:45 are proof that someone changed the name who didn't know the difference between Yehoshua the Messiah and Yehoshua the son of Nun. I wouldn't fuss about it. But KJV "onlyists" blow it off and make excuses for the fact that the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) is changed to a different name. To me this whole KJV only debate borders on Idolatry.
And for the record; Forbidding men and women from praying together is a form of cult behavior. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4
There! I said it.
God bless you.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Resolutions
I almost decided to ignore the change in the calendar and just post a normal blog. 2010 has been a particularly cruddy year for me and my family. I'm glad it's gone and I'm ready for a better year. But I was reading my dictionary, (yes I know I'm weird) and I noticed this;
2. decision:
3. determination:
8. music harmonic progression: the musical progression from a dissonant to a consonant chord or note firmness of mind or purpose a firm decision to do something
…and so decided on this blog.
I wasn't going to make any New Year's Resolutions this year. I once heard someone say that a New Year's Resolution is just a way of making a promise to ourselves that we know we will not keep so we can spend another year feeling guilty about what we didn't do. But I have decided once again to make a short list of things I intend to do differently this year. As a Christian I have to say that if we are truly saved then we should already be resolved to love, obey, trust, and follow God. In my mind that is what salvation is like. I'm not trying to undermine Ephesians 2:8-9. We are certainly saved by grace through faith alone. But I think being "resolved" to follow God is what happens when we find that faith. (Read The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.) And if you are not a born again follower of Christ I recommend you consider starting your New Year off by "resolving" that issue. However, in light of the 8th definition of "Resolution" I would say there is a unique application to Christianity. We need to be growing ever closer to God through Christ and His Holy Spirit. (Romans 6:4) We are kind of like a dissonant chord. (A dissonant chord is "unpleasant to hear" or "conflicting: incompatible or inconsistent.") We are not exactly like Christ. But we are to be growing in His image. (Ephesians 2:10, Jeremiah 18:2-6, Isaiah 64:8) That would be like making the gradual progression from a dissonant chord to the perfect consonant chord He means for us to be. (2 Peter 3:18) So instead of making promises to myself I know I can't keep I am going to look for ways to find that harmonious growth.
The first thing I "purpose" to do this year is to read my Bible cover to cover at least two times. I have done this before but not two complete times in one consecutive 365 day period. It sounds like a lot. But it is actually not that much. There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. That only requires reading 6.51 chapters per day to finish two times in 365 days. This will only average less than 45 minutes a day. (Note; that is 3.25 chapters per day to finish once in 365 days.)
Aside from reading my Bible I also plan to do some more detailed study. (Know indeed that there is a big difference between reading and studying.) I enjoy study and this is not anything new. But I plan to start with the Gospels and while I study I want to at the very least outline each chapter. I hope to have time to do a verse by verse commentary. This is a big goal and I will only be able to achieve it if God permits.
I have other things on my list. There are many things I am praying about. And many loose ends in my life that I would like to find some answers to. But these two general items will be enough to get me started in the right direction. So much of everything is really in God's hands anyway. I hope 2011 is a great year for you all. May it be a year of discovering more of our great and mighty God.
Peace and blessings to you.
Shannon
2. decision:
3. determination:
8. music harmonic progression: the musical progression from a dissonant to a consonant chord or note firmness of mind or purpose a firm decision to do something
…and so decided on this blog.
I wasn't going to make any New Year's Resolutions this year. I once heard someone say that a New Year's Resolution is just a way of making a promise to ourselves that we know we will not keep so we can spend another year feeling guilty about what we didn't do. But I have decided once again to make a short list of things I intend to do differently this year. As a Christian I have to say that if we are truly saved then we should already be resolved to love, obey, trust, and follow God. In my mind that is what salvation is like. I'm not trying to undermine Ephesians 2:8-9. We are certainly saved by grace through faith alone. But I think being "resolved" to follow God is what happens when we find that faith. (Read The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.) And if you are not a born again follower of Christ I recommend you consider starting your New Year off by "resolving" that issue. However, in light of the 8th definition of "Resolution" I would say there is a unique application to Christianity. We need to be growing ever closer to God through Christ and His Holy Spirit. (Romans 6:4) We are kind of like a dissonant chord. (A dissonant chord is "unpleasant to hear" or "conflicting: incompatible or inconsistent.") We are not exactly like Christ. But we are to be growing in His image. (Ephesians 2:10, Jeremiah 18:2-6, Isaiah 64:8) That would be like making the gradual progression from a dissonant chord to the perfect consonant chord He means for us to be. (2 Peter 3:18) So instead of making promises to myself I know I can't keep I am going to look for ways to find that harmonious growth.
The first thing I "purpose" to do this year is to read my Bible cover to cover at least two times. I have done this before but not two complete times in one consecutive 365 day period. It sounds like a lot. But it is actually not that much. There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. That only requires reading 6.51 chapters per day to finish two times in 365 days. This will only average less than 45 minutes a day. (Note; that is 3.25 chapters per day to finish once in 365 days.)
Aside from reading my Bible I also plan to do some more detailed study. (Know indeed that there is a big difference between reading and studying.) I enjoy study and this is not anything new. But I plan to start with the Gospels and while I study I want to at the very least outline each chapter. I hope to have time to do a verse by verse commentary. This is a big goal and I will only be able to achieve it if God permits.
I have other things on my list. There are many things I am praying about. And many loose ends in my life that I would like to find some answers to. But these two general items will be enough to get me started in the right direction. So much of everything is really in God's hands anyway. I hope 2011 is a great year for you all. May it be a year of discovering more of our great and mighty God.
Peace and blessings to you.
Shannon
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