Two analogies of salvation to consider.

I had written and posted this a while back. I reread it recently and realised it had some grammar issues, typical for my writing unfortunately. I hope some would consider it afresh and give input -

Many passages in scripture would seem to suggest, at first glance, a lack of fairness in the way people are saved.

For example:

Rom. 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to the Pharaoh "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show my power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills and whom He wills He hardens. (NKJV)

People will often go to great lengths to redefine what seems quite clear in scripture, in an attempt to make sure the way of salvation is fair to everyone. While I can't say my analogies below regarding salvation are perfect, no analogy ever is, I do hope they aid in understanding God's way of saving His people, with an emphasis on His word, over our view of what seems fair.

Typical analogy to show God's fairness in saving people -

God laments over the less than ideal circumstances that have left mankind drowning in the lake of sin. God throws out a life ring (salvation through Jesus) to all people. Some say "yes I want to live" and grab hold (saved), while others say "no thanks" and eventually drown (eternal condemnation). God tried to save all, but only some were smart enough, humble enough or something else enough to take the offer. Those who grabbed hold of salvation are glad they had what it took to make the right choice and take comfort in the fact that all had a chance! Fair maybe, but biblical maybe not!

A more biblical analogy -

From before creation God's redemptive plan included the present state of things, even mankind hopelessly drowning in lake of sin (mankind is still to blame for sin). God has also planned from before creation that He would rescue some of these drowning people by His grace and for His glory. Mankind does not want God and would never choose Him. Spiritually mankind might as well be dead at the bottom of the lake! All mankind are born lake dwellers (sinners) and enjoy life in the lake of sin separated from God and His righteousness. If God throws in a life ring, mankind will ignore it, throw it back, or even curse God for meddling in their business. In spite of mankind's enmity against God, His plan includes the gracious saving of some of the rebellious lake dwellers. Since they don't want Him and won't choose Him, God graciously changes the hearts of some of these lake dwellers, "rebirths" them (through word/Spirit), so that they recognize their true state and want to be saved from sin by Jesus Christ. God does everything necessary (through Jesus) for those He chose to save and others are left with what they wanted, separation from God and His righteousness.

Not a perfect analogy, but more biblical and as it should be - God gets all the glory! This seems especially fitting since scripture tells us that the way He saves us is not to the praise of our humility or wise choice, but - "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us acceptable in the Beloved". (Eph. 1:6 NKJV)

 "Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Telling Bible stories out of their Jesus centered redemptive context?

 

I have not watched the History Channel's "Bible" miniseries for myself and I do not wish to be critical of what I have not seen. However, I think this clip from Wretchedradio makes some good points regarding telling Bible stories without connecting them to overall story of redemptive history and ultimately to the subject of that story Jesus Christ.

 

 

Good lyrics in old Newsboys song!

Is the "Bible Belt" loose?

I was born in the north, but have lived in the south since age 8. You may dispute whether my years in Florida count as south, but the last eleven years I have been in North Carolina and that is the south in the fullest sense of the word.

I know the area I live in is called the "Bible Belt",  by both Christians and non-Christians, because there are a large number of people who say they believe in the Bible and try to live by it. I know many Christians in this part of the country who love the Lord and His word and truly desire to follow Him according to it. However, I often fear that much of the "Bible Belt" is loose.

Here is a question to ponder:

How many of those Bible believers in the "Bible Belt", have actually read and studied the Bible? If you have not read or studied the Bible for yourself, then the best you could hope for is to get some things right because others told you what it says accurately or you have simply guessed right in some areas. However, the more problematic, and I fear far more common result of believing in and trying to live by a Bible you have not read or studied for yourself, is that you end up believing the Bible pretty much teaches what you already believe and do, with no actual idea of what it really teaches.

A couple questions for those who would be willing to comment -

Is it likely that we will know and do what the Bible says, if we don't read and study it for ourselves? Why or Why not?

What does the failure to read and study the Bible say about the true beliefs of those who live in the Bible Belt and call themselves Bible believers and doers?

Why so offended by what you don't believe atheists?

From Wretched Radio, sorry about the wierd size of this video, but it is worth having the Blog a little messy in order to show the open hostilty toward preaching Christ in our society!

 

 

 

 

 

Great discussion of a timely issue!

Make decisions or disciples?

When seeking to bring the gospel to the lost, are we seeking to get people to make decisions or to become disciples? While I can't deny that one must make a decision to become a disciple, surely many different decisions are made regarding Jesus, that don't lead people to actually being His disciples.

If it is the decisions that we want, whether it be "a decision for Christ", a decision to "ask Jesus into their heart" or even a decision to "follow Jesus in faith", it means very little if they don't actually end up as disciples of the one they decided for! 

Jesus said - John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Some Jews evidently believed in what Jesus was saying, they decided it was true, but Jesus said they would not be true disciples unless they did as He taught!

Consider the passage below as one asks Jesus to help them find eternal life:   

Matt. 19:16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” ¹⁷ So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ¹⁹ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” ²⁰ The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” ²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  

This wealthy young man was willing to do whatever it takes to inherit eternal life, whatever decision Jesus required he seamed ready to make, until Jesus asked him to do too much.                                                

Look at this example of one wanting to make a decision and Jesus almost discouraging Him, and another "disciple" being called to follow at all costs - 

Matt. 8:18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. ¹⁹ Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”  ²⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” ²¹ Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ²² But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”  

Jesus seams uninterested in soliciting  decisions about who He is, but rather calling people to follow Him at whatever cost necessary, because of who He is! 

Possibly the most shocking case of Jesus not seeking mere decisions is in John 6, as Jesus says you must eat His flesh and drink His blood if you are to have life - 

John 6:60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”  ⁶¹ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵ And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” ⁶⁶ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ⁷⁰ Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” ⁷¹ He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

Peter makes a powerful profession of his faith in this passage, he had decided that Jesus was "the Son of the living God", and he would continue to follow Him. However, Jesus makes it clear that Peter's profession hangs on God's decision not his, as "no one can come" unless it is by the Father and in Jesus' response to Peter's confident profession, "did I not choose you". 

Did Peter make a decision to follow Jesus? Yes, but it is only in his continued following, even when to do so  seams unreasonable, that his identity as a true disciple is validated, because that is where the calling of God and the work of the Spirit are evident and necessary.

So, should we ask people to make decisions regarding Jesus? Yes, we should ask them to decide if they believe Jesus is who He says He is in His word, to decide to get to know Him more through His word and to decide to follow Him wherever He leads starting now.

Of course our job is too treat all who say yes like disciples by teaching them to obey all Jesus' teaching (Matt. 28:19-20) and those who are disciples will continue to follow and those who aren't will walk away, proving their decisions were not valid.  

Asking for decisions regarding Jesus, without attempting to disciple in Jesus, is asking a question that can't really be answered!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Excellent R. C. Sproul Sermon

I am thankful for the many great Christian teachers who continue to teach the truth, even while others their age might have long since retired from their life's work!

Here is the link - http://www.sermonaudio.com/playpopup.asp?SID=22313139120

God's glory in saving His people - amazing!

Ezek. 36:16 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ¹⁷ “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. ¹⁸ Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it. ¹⁹ So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. ²⁰ When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ ²¹ But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.
 
²² “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. ²³ And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. ²⁴ For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. ²⁵ Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. ²⁶ I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. ²⁸ Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. ²⁹ I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. ³⁰ And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. ³¹ Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. ³² Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Great John Piper teaching!

I saw this video posted on Truth Matters. John Piper gives great Christ centered Biblical teaching and counsel at Angola Prison.

Can you fix it?

Can you fix it or do you need some help?

Have you ever been really sick and thought: "Well I bet I have the knowledge within me to diagnose and fix my health problem?"

Has your car ever started acting very broken and you thought: "I think I was born with a pretty good idea of how cars work and how to fix them?"

Ever been lost and thought: "Well I can use the same brain and skills that got me lost, to find my way back?"

What if you were in the control room a of a nuclear power plant and all the emergency lights were flashing, would you think: "Well it's only nuclear physics, how complicated could it be?"

You may be a doctor, a mechanic, a nuclear physicist or have great natural directional skills, but you can't be an expert at everything and we are all born knowing exactly nothing! So, why do people think they are able to know about, understand or obey God, when they have spent little or no time learning about who He is or what He expects from us?

I would not think most people would feel comfortable trusting in their own best (yet untrained) thinking when it comes to their health or cars, so I certainly would not recommend trying it with your souls!

Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

Prov. 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

Acts 17:29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Rom. 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  

1 Cor. 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Would you remove your own spleen? Replace your transmission? Entrust the world to your nuclear physics expertise?

It seems that when it comes to God, we need much guidance from His word, the Holy Spirit and those who have been called and equipped to teach us?



"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."