Category Archives: the gospel

The “Foolishness” of God

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The power of salvation is not found in man’s explanations about heaven and eternity.  You will come and question me in regard to my testimony about Christ.  In me you will find fault, but in the message of the cross you will find no fault.

You will look at my life and see some form of chaos, for I am but a man.  But in the salvation of God you will not find chaos.  For God’s promise is true.  God’s Holy Son has been sent into the world, that he may become the salvation of all who put their faith in him.

There is no grafication of man before the Holy Father.  There is only glorification of Christ Jesus.  What a horrible offense this is the pride of man. 

18 “For the message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. 19 For it is written,

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject.'”  (1 Corinthians 1)

By His Grace

Thankful Children

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10,000,000 people are told the Gospel, only a thousand believe and receive eternal life.  Perhaps thousands more understood it.  But only a handful have believed with all their heart.

The message of God goes out freely and like a flood.  Many souls are washed by the message, but so few love their new cleanliness.  In the Gospel we read that there were ten who were cleansed of leprosy.  But only one returned to give thanks.

It is so simple a child can do it, and frankly folks, that’s exactly what it takes.  The mind of an adult only wants more; he has been spoiled by pride and greed.  But the heart of a child is elated at the smallest token of love.

Let me ask the Christians, “Where is the proof of your thanks?”  I am not insinuating that you are thankless.  I’m simply asking where the proof of your thankfulness lays.

Perception, that’s what it is.  That’s what steals the bold testimony of Christians to the world.  “God promises me eternal life, but if I tell this to others they will hate me.”   Is the promise of God so ineffective?  Is the promise of eternal life really such a trivial matter?

With all the strength my mind can muster, I cannot understand why Christians are ashamed to share the Gospel.  I surmise that the answer must be found in the perception of God’s promise.  “Thank you Lord for giving me eternal life.  Please excuse me now while I go join the world in its celebration of futility.”

I sat here this morning for nearly an hour, frustrated that I could not reach more people with the message of God.  That’s all that consumes me!  It’s no pat on my back, the blessing of God is that great!

And I am only speaking of the reality of eternal life.  I have not yet begun to speak of the beautiful things he has rescued me from.  And I’ve made no mention at all so far, about the billions who never heard the testimony from a Christian.

Nine of the lepers simply disappeared into society.  But one came back with a full expression of shameless thankfulness.  Did the nine ever speak again of their former shame, and how God had released them?  Who knows, there is no written record of their testimony.  But I think the story might have ended differently, if all ten had returned with shameless thanks.

But of the one who returned, we can surmise, he could not shut his mouth.  Where is the Christian who cannot conceal the Gospel of Christ?  Where is the one who is not ashamed of the love that God has given him?  It’s easy enough to find 10000 who have decided to keep it to themselves.  All the while, the world spirals out of control.

By His Grace

Construct of World Change

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The world will use the Gospel of Christ as a rule of righteousness and social change.  The people of the Lord Jesus know better.

God does not save his people to be instruments of world change.  God saves his people that they may become instruments of Heaven.  The changes that are made, because of the Christian’s presence in this world, are simply a byproduct.  As we are transformed to serve the Living God in Christ, our thoughts, words, and actions necessarily influence those around us.

If you want to be a change agent in the world, for the sake of the world, then obey the constructs the world has already established.  If you want to be an ambassador of Christ to the world, you need to submit your life completely to him.

There is a distinct difference.  The world cannot see it.  But God’s people know it, very clearly.

By His Grace

Plethora

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abundance, cornucopia, feast, plenitude, plentitude, plenty, superabundance, wealth.

So many voices saying, “This is the way”.  So many claims to truth.  So little time to devote to “shaking out” the differences.  What’s a man to do?

Look what Charles Spurgeon said, I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ.  My hope lies in another quarter.  I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, “You are mine, and you shall be mine.  I claim you for myself.”  My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will. 

No man can save himself.  No man can even be sure that he has ahold of the things of the Living God.  Even as he sets his hand to understanding, others tell him he is wrong.  Not only that, but doubts rise up in the man himself.  To read all the literature of man regarding religion, is too much.  A man will die before he finishes the readings.  Then, if he’s finished reading, will he be any better off?  What’s a man to do?  Then we add all the socially accepted means of pleasing God; and there are billions of those!

I’m not talking about opinions.  I’m talking about absolute, concrete, unmovable, eternal, holy, and vibrant Truth.  How does a man “know” he has the Truth of God?

I said, “Read the Bible”.  But that’s a really large book.  And so many books set themselves up along side the Bible.  I said, “Believe me, when I tell you that Christ Jesus is the Truth of God”.  But why should a man believe me, when there are millions of others who say the same things?  And those millions don’t speak of Christ in the same loving terms.

Here’s the answer:

The truth of God lives in God’s Holy Son.  I know that even that saying is too much for those who doubt.  I know that there are many claims to the truth of God.  But I testify that the power of life from God lives in His Holy Son.  In Jesus’ own words, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day”. (John 6: 44)

What’s it take to get God to show you his Holy Son?  You must humble yourself in prayer.  God will filter out pride.  God will filter out man’s ability.  Requests to God that contain anything more than humility, will not receive His favor.  God protects His Son from the onslaught of man’s violent pride and greed.  It is the hungry, the broken, the humiliated, the lost, the desperate, and the diligent, whose prayers are heard.

Forget about being able to figure it all out.  The mind of man cannot know the things of Heaven except that Heaven is revealed to him.

Ok, you don’t have time to read every written word regarding religion.  But are you willing to pray?  Nothing more I can tell anyone will help them.  The answer to all the confusion lives in humbling ourselves before God and asking for His Help.

 

Eternal Mechanics

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I saw I headline that asked the question, “If God is love then why is homosexuality condemned?”  I’m not going to waste my time trying to pick a part sexually immorality.  Those who are embroiled in such a sin would not listen to me anyway.  I know the power of sexual deviance.  I know the power of a rebellious heart.  I know the volatility of pride.  So I won’t waste my time trying to explain why sexual immorality does not find God’s approval.  (Yes, dear creatures, homosexuality is sin!)

But the question could be asked in regard to any sin.  The answer has no respect for any particular sin.  Lying, stealing, murder, gluttony, pride, you name it, they all fall under the heading of deviance.  Why bother to single one out?

The question simply shows a monumental misunderstanding.  The consequences of this misunderstanding are dire!  And I can’t find words to express it more strongly.  (But the strength of an expression does not necessarily lend to its viability in the readers mind.) There is absolutely no deviance in Life.  But death is full of deviance from Life.  Life lives, death dies.  A childish way to put it, but it’s true none the less.

Try to understand.  God is Pure Life.  There is not the slightest speck of deviance within him.  It is impossible.  The question above cannot be spoken by a holy creature, or even a sincere heart.  It can only be spoken by a deviant soul; that is to say, a soul which does not contain perfect Life.

Everything in creation comes in threes.  You ask a question, you get an answer, there must be a response.  Ask any good salesman and he will tell you, “No” is a legitimate response.  “No” does not provide what is desired.  But it is a legitimate response, and it is absolutely necessary to give it its proper place.

The salesman offers you an opportunity to purchase a remedy for a problem.  You have a legitimate, free will, right to say no.  That doesn’t condemn the offer.  It simply elevates your right to choose

The question that comes after the first one, has to do with condemnation.  “Will God truly destroy the sinner?”  The answer is quite simple.  The sinner destroys himself.  And God is not diminished by the sinner’s death.

God doesn’t need to take any action at all.  He doesn’t make you sin.  It’s entirely your choice.  And again, the question of destruction only comes from a mind full of destruction.

Take note that both questions have nothing to do with obedience.  They have to do with justification of deviance.  They do not come from a willing student, they come from a rebellious and proud soul.

And though such questions raise up anger in me, I cannot blame the deviant for being what they are.  Nor does God blame you for being deviant.  He will simply put you in the place built for deviants. 

It’s just a matter of eternal mechanics.  Death belongs to death, life belongs to life.  Wickedness belongs to deviance, obedience belongs to what is holy.  It’s really not that complicated.

If you see a black widow spider in the cradle of your only son, you will surely kill it.  You desire health and life for your baby.  And you will protect it with violence.  In essence: you do not hate the spider, you love the life of your child.  I can guarantee you the spider will not understand.  But it won’t matter, will it?  If you can’t grasp why God would destroy the sinner, what is it to him if you don’t understand?

Why should it be surprising that God will protect eternity?  No sin, no sinner, no deviance, no rebellion, no wicked thing or person, will be allowed entrance into eternity.  And striving to justify your sin does absolutely nothing to change the violence of God’s Holy Love.

How much does God love?  I mean to ask, what is the nature of the love of God?  He is so firm and beautiful, and full of life, that he was willing to send His Holy Son to die at the hands of his enemies; that he may become to sacrifice for them.  He sent His Son into a bowl of rebellion, so that God could have the means to change them.

But take note of this: he desires to impart the pureness of eternal life.  The sacrifice of Christ Jesus is not an open-ended credit card.  The mercy of God is extended so that we will not fear to come near him and learn.  His intent is to change us, not to accept us as we are.

Specifically, what is it we need to learn?  We need to learn to stop trying to justify our deviance.  We need to learn to recognize the nature of our rebellion against him.  And with this recognition comes some semblance of humility.  And humility is the foundation of eternal learning. 

How can a rebellious and proud student learn anything in a classroom?  The teacher is not going to change his rebellious attitude.  Its up to the child to listen and to observe.  It is impossible that a rebellious soul will learn anything from the Living God.  Such a soul does not come to him to learn.  He only comes with justification for his rebellion.

If you had a foolish employee who refused to learn, you would eventually get rid of him.  If you told him to present a written intent to change his ways, and he showed up with a list of justifications, would you be irritated?  You might make a few comments, in the interview, to draw out your desire from him.  But if blame and justification is his continual response, he will be looking for a new job.

God only asks that we have a willing heart to ask for his help.  You may question whether he is willing to help you or not.  Isn’t the testimony of Christ Jesus, as found in the Gospels, enough proof for you?

The Holy Father sent his eternal Son into a body of flesh.  When the time was right, the Lord Jesus began to speak the words of His Holy Father.  And God confirmed his Holy Son’s words by many miracles.  From the healing of a common fever, to the raising of the dead!  God proved that Jesus was His Holy Son. 

It really doesn’t matter whether you believe that or not.  That is now the nature of creation.  It did happen.  And Christianity exists because of God’s love.  Here I am, delivering the message.  There you are, reading it.  The response is up to you.

That, my friend, is all the proof he will give you.  If you are not willing to believe that, then you are not willing to let go of your rebellion.  And by our unwillingness to let go, we prove we don’t want any part of eternal life.

Now let me try to show you why this is a viable and important message.  I’ll do the best I can, but the confirmation of this message needs to be individually received from God.

It is impossible for God to entertain deviance of any kind.  God is willingly responsible for the life of every creature.  God is the very and singular source of all sustaining.  If he entertains anything unholy, he loses a certain strength of life.  Let me say as strongly as I possibly can, he will not entertain your justifications!

You do not command God.  It is God, by absolute necessity, that commands you.  Seek out His Holy Son, or die.  It’s really quite that simple.  It’s simply a matter of eternal mechanics.  And the choice is put squarely into your own hands.

You can say no.  But you will die just like you are.  There is no place in eternity for you, if indeed “No” is your answer.

But saying “Yes”, opens the door to a life you have never known.  The preparation has been made for you.  Do you have the guts to come and take it?  Or do you insist on spewing rebellious crap from your mouth?

P. S. Propriety says I should have ended this message on a positive question.  But propriety has been instrumental in silencing the message of Christianity.

Some will be repulsed at my use of the word “crap”.  You know what folks, I don’t really care.  This message is going out to deviant people who speak that kind of language.  They call the message of Christ Jesus “crap”.  I just gave them back there money.

By His Grace

The Darkness of Perversity

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25 “To the holy, you show your gracious love,
to the upright, you show yourself upright;
26 to the pure, you show yourself pure,
and to the morally corrupt, you appear to be perverse.” ( Psalm 18, ISV)

The mind and imagination of Man is kept to the limits of the place he lives.  If all he sees is death and corruption, that is all he is capable of perceiving.  Men may call another man holy, but they give that title to the one who achieves the best of Man’s imagination.

True holiness and purity must come from God.  Man is not capable of achieving that level of cleanliness on his own.  And to add to Man’s difficulty, pride stands at the door.  Because of pride, no man is able to receive this testimony from another man.  It is required that God bless the receiver with understanding.

Do not be amazed when so many reject the Gospel.  They cannot receive it unless they humble themselves before the Living God’s Christ.  If the hearer retains his pride, the Gospel will sound perverse.  But if the man has a willing heart, God will confirm the noise to be true.

Keep The Faith and be faithful; let God be who he is.  The only thing God requires of us is that we are not ashamed or fearful to bring the Message to our fellow brothers of flesh.

I met a man who could not overcome sexual immorality.  I told him that victory over such a sin will not come to him except that God gives it.

A year or two later he complained that he was still embroiled in immorality.  He said he had asked God to take it away, but it was still an active part of his life.

I tried to reason with him, that salvation is a mutual work.  God may well grant freedom.  The question is: does the man have the will to retain it?  In the end, the man admitted that Christ Jesus must be a liar.

Consider the verses above.  God’s Holy Word is true.  It is we who are liars.

By His Grace