Freedom In Christ

I woke up this morning thinking about the subject of our salvation. I have often struggled with articulating the Gospel that I believe is understood by so few people. Some questions that came to my mind are:

(Please answer these these question as you read through them.)

I want to answer those questions and you can see how different my answers are from yours. 1.) Jesus died for my sins. 2.) He died for all my sins. 3.) God won't send to hell for my sin because Jesus already paid the price for them. 4.) Yes, there is one (1) unforgivable sin. 5.) Yes, Jesus could not die for the sin of unbelief. 6.) The implication would be people could not go to hell for unbelief because Jesus would have paid for that sin. That means people would be in heaven who do not believe.

I hope my thought process is beginning to make some sense. There is only one unforgivable sin - unbelief. Hebrews chapters 3 & 4 tell us the reason for the people of Israel not being allowed to enter the promised land was because of the "sin of unbelief". We're then told to make every effort to enter into that rest by not hardening our hearts. "Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." If you understand this subject you begin to see why we're told that there is freedom in Christ. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It's because our righteousness, our salvation is not dependent upon us or our ability to keep from sinning. It's based solely upon the finished work of Christ upon the cross. Our righteousness is based on what Jesus did, not what we do. I need not worry or be concerned with any of my failures and sin causing me to loose my salvation. I only need to be concerned with believing and trusting in Jesus the Christ and what He did for me.

Once again I quote Martin Luther:

Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly for He is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here in this world we have to sin. This life is not a dwelling place of righteousness.

Comments (0)02-05-2009 06:14

I Surrender All

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Continue reading >>> Comments (0)08-10-2008 23:53

What Should be our Primary Focus

Friday I had the opportunity to listen to a couple speak about their experience in ministry and how God was working through them. To my surprise they attend a church I have been very critical of, going so far as to label the pastor a false teacher and a heretic. The meeting took place over a nice BBQ with some good friends and the idea was that we would come together for fellowship, good food and listen to this guy tell us about his experience in ministry and thus be encouraged in our own ministry. He began by telling us where he was from and immediately a red light came on in my mind saying, "Oh no, is he from that church" and then he had to say it...he had to go and say "I go to the Bethel church".

Continue reading >>> Comments (1)08-09-2008 23:35

Florida Healing Outpouring

I was watching videos from the Florida Healing Outpouring and honestly its heart breaking to see people being led astray by such teachings and claims. It breaks my heart because they worship such a weak and powerless God. They've taken God and put him in a box that they can wrap their minds around. They run to man for anointing, healing, and power when they should be running to God Himself who gives liberally to all who come to him through faith in Jesus Christ. Their faith is so weak they need to see a "miracle" with their eyes, and feel an emotional high to believe God is present and at work. They seek to live by sight and not by faith. What a surprise many of them will experience when they stand before God and say, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ and he will say to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

I wish I knew what to say to these people, I wish I could open their eyes, but I'm beginning to realize that just like every other counterfeit move of God, it will soon fade away and be just a past memory. I just pray that when all this is over, the faith of those left behind in it's path of destruction will not be destroyed. I pray that they will not come out of this blaming God or doubting that he is real and powerful and at work in our hearts. I pray that they will see it for what it is, a cheap counterfeit of what the true God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob is offering to those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ. Praise be to the true living God who did not spare even His own Son, but freely offered Him up for us, that we might gain eternal life. Praise be to Him who continues to change us and make us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Continue reading >>> Comments (2)05-28-2008 23:43

Is Speaking In Tongues Biblical?

Note: This is a very long post. This post will be updated and changed over the next few days. Today is 5-20-2008

Although the title of this post asks if speaking in tongues is biblical, it would be more accurate to ask if the modern day Pentecostal movement teaches a correct interpretation of speaking in tongues. I thought about making that the title, but it was too long. The point of this is to show how I've come believe that the Pentecostal view of speaking in tongues is unbiblical.

Let's begin...

The first mention of speaking in tongues in the New Testament is found in Mark. Take a look at this passage in context:

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Mark 16:14-18

14Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Continue reading >>> Comments (3)05-11-2008 02:51

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