The simple answer to this questions is found in I Cor. 15, where Paul declares that he preached the Gospel: ...which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [15:3,4]
But, what does all that mean? It means our sinful nature and ways stand between us and a Holy God! It means there's nothing we can do to fix that! It means that God had to send His Son to die in our place. All of that, "according to the scriptures," which means it was not an after-thought.
It means Jesus was God's promised Messiah [Christ], and that his death on the cross was real! He was buried.
It means He did not stay dead and buried, but was given New Life after three days! A resurrected life. Becoming the "first-fruit" of many to come. Those who would also die....to sin.
This is called, in Scripture, The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ. It is not to be confused with any other gospel. It is The Gospel of Life, not good health or financial independence. It is The Gospel of forgiveness, not inclusiveness. Sinners are not given a false hope, because they're 'in church' or because they've prayed 'the sinner's prayer,' or because they're doing good works.
The race is sin-sick, desperately wicked and hell-bent. Easy-believism, Inclusivism, Mysticism, Egalitarianism and Phariseeism are no substitute for Repentance of sin and commitment to God, in Christ!
"Church" has become a Party or a Seance in America! The Gospel has been dumped on the scrap heap and a wide-range of new 'gospels' have taken it's place in the minds and hearts of people.
It's a New Reality! And, as with all new realities, we need to be prepared to live by the new standards and expectations it produces. One thing it does NOT produce is New Creatures, in Christ!
Showing posts with label Bible Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Christianity. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
There's Only Two Messages Being Proclaimed
In the world of men there are only two messages being offered. One is from God, the other isn't! God's message emanates from The Bible: The Revelation of God to man. The other comes from seducing spirits and devils [I Tim. 4:1]
We like to believe in the neutrality of ideas and standards. One society adopts this standard, the other adopts a conflicting standard. But both standards seem to work for each. The reality is that every message is packaged in a philosophy; in a worldview; in a religious context. These messages offer hope and prosperity to those who embrace them.
Societies reflect the messages they embrace. It is a fact of life that what we believe drives how we live. Americans, in the 21st century, have come to believe in everything and in nothing. Post-modern relativism has given way to the frustration of nihilism: nothing is any better than anything else. Everything is equally good/right. Traditional structures aren't important. Objective moral values are not necessary.
The result is a socio-political, religious reality that offers no emotional/rational footholds, nor hand-holds from which to stabilize ourselves and launch onto solid ground. Our entire stystem is floating on the sea of subjectivism and the "now."
The Bible calls this "doctrines of devils" [I Tim. 4:1]. The context is spiritual understanding. But what's true in our spiritual orientation flows over into every other area of life. What you believe about God, sin, salvation and right living, affects every area of your life.
American Christians gave heed to the seducing spirits of religious liberalism in the early 20th century. We ignored the seductive humanistic philosophy that took over American Education, in the mid-twentieth century. We were conflicted about the seducing spirits of the sexual and feminist revolutions, in the 1960's and 1970's. And we never really saw the socialism that steadily crept into our political and economic life, over the last 30 years.
Christian doctrine, characterized in The Bible as "the faith," has always stood against the "doctrines of devils," and the "seducing spirits" of compromise. It has been The Church of Jesus Christ which provided the moral conscience and authority of this nation, protecting us from our own selfishness and moral decline.
But God told us that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." the result will be Christians [so-called] who speak lies instead of truth. Lies even they don't believe nor follow. They will corrupt people without fear or recrimination, their conscience seared as with a hot iron.
When the story of America's decline is written, it will include The Church. Had she not departed from the faith. Had Christians not given heed to seducing spirits. Had the doctrines of devils not been brought into The Church, citizen-leaders would have been less likely to abandon Truth for a 'mess of pottage.'
We like to believe in the neutrality of ideas and standards. One society adopts this standard, the other adopts a conflicting standard. But both standards seem to work for each. The reality is that every message is packaged in a philosophy; in a worldview; in a religious context. These messages offer hope and prosperity to those who embrace them.
Societies reflect the messages they embrace. It is a fact of life that what we believe drives how we live. Americans, in the 21st century, have come to believe in everything and in nothing. Post-modern relativism has given way to the frustration of nihilism: nothing is any better than anything else. Everything is equally good/right. Traditional structures aren't important. Objective moral values are not necessary.
The result is a socio-political, religious reality that offers no emotional/rational footholds, nor hand-holds from which to stabilize ourselves and launch onto solid ground. Our entire stystem is floating on the sea of subjectivism and the "now."
The Bible calls this "doctrines of devils" [I Tim. 4:1]. The context is spiritual understanding. But what's true in our spiritual orientation flows over into every other area of life. What you believe about God, sin, salvation and right living, affects every area of your life.
American Christians gave heed to the seducing spirits of religious liberalism in the early 20th century. We ignored the seductive humanistic philosophy that took over American Education, in the mid-twentieth century. We were conflicted about the seducing spirits of the sexual and feminist revolutions, in the 1960's and 1970's. And we never really saw the socialism that steadily crept into our political and economic life, over the last 30 years.
Christian doctrine, characterized in The Bible as "the faith," has always stood against the "doctrines of devils," and the "seducing spirits" of compromise. It has been The Church of Jesus Christ which provided the moral conscience and authority of this nation, protecting us from our own selfishness and moral decline.
But God told us that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." the result will be Christians [so-called] who speak lies instead of truth. Lies even they don't believe nor follow. They will corrupt people without fear or recrimination, their conscience seared as with a hot iron.
When the story of America's decline is written, it will include The Church. Had she not departed from the faith. Had Christians not given heed to seducing spirits. Had the doctrines of devils not been brought into The Church, citizen-leaders would have been less likely to abandon Truth for a 'mess of pottage.'
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Embracing The Devil's Lie
What does the visible Church have to answer for? This is the issue under discussion. And this is the 4th "charge" being brought against the visible church in America.
The true Bride of Christ is made up of only those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; justified in the sight of God by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This Church meets in a number of different places, under a number of different names. But, regardless of what it's called and where it meets, 85% of what it believes is the same.
Christian doctrine is not evolving over time. It is settled truth. What the apostles believed is what we should believe, today. It is "The Faith" once delivered (Jude v. 3). How else can we be of "one mind?"
The devil, too, has settled "truth." His philosophy and tactics remain consistent throughout the ages.
His sin was aspiring to godhood (Isa. 14;12,13). And his attack on righteous Adam was to encourage him in achieving the same: "you shall be as gods..." (Gen. 3:5)
That he achieved his goal in corrupting Adam and Eve has emboldened him to not only continue on this tack, but to continue preaching the same "gospel." As long as it works, why change? And what it does drives striaght to the heart of God's authority and uniqueness.
The 21st Century visible church has bought into this lie! Influential men and women teach that becoming a Christian means partaking in deity. They teach that believers, becoming what Jesus is: God, can simply speak words to achieve physical and spiritual reality.
As God spoke the heavens and the earth into existence, so too can the Christian. If you want wealth, "speak to the money and it will come" (Gloria Copeland)
The ramifications of this one lie are staggering! They claim the Bible teaches that Christians have power in their tongue over life and death. They believe cancer can be removed by simply speaking words of faith and power.
One day, every human being will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment. Believers at the bema, unbelievers at the Great White Throne. A judgment without appeal. And many who profess to be Christians will have a lot to answer for.
The true Bride of Christ is made up of only those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; justified in the sight of God by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This Church meets in a number of different places, under a number of different names. But, regardless of what it's called and where it meets, 85% of what it believes is the same.
Christian doctrine is not evolving over time. It is settled truth. What the apostles believed is what we should believe, today. It is "The Faith" once delivered (Jude v. 3). How else can we be of "one mind?"
The devil, too, has settled "truth." His philosophy and tactics remain consistent throughout the ages.
His sin was aspiring to godhood (Isa. 14;12,13). And his attack on righteous Adam was to encourage him in achieving the same: "you shall be as gods..." (Gen. 3:5)
That he achieved his goal in corrupting Adam and Eve has emboldened him to not only continue on this tack, but to continue preaching the same "gospel." As long as it works, why change? And what it does drives striaght to the heart of God's authority and uniqueness.
The 21st Century visible church has bought into this lie! Influential men and women teach that becoming a Christian means partaking in deity. They teach that believers, becoming what Jesus is: God, can simply speak words to achieve physical and spiritual reality.
As God spoke the heavens and the earth into existence, so too can the Christian. If you want wealth, "speak to the money and it will come" (Gloria Copeland)
The ramifications of this one lie are staggering! They claim the Bible teaches that Christians have power in their tongue over life and death. They believe cancer can be removed by simply speaking words of faith and power.
One day, every human being will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment. Believers at the bema, unbelievers at the Great White Throne. A judgment without appeal. And many who profess to be Christians will have a lot to answer for.
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