As I was reading through some files, I came across ths quote (by a man, Jim Minker, who has a wonderful site, The Shovel...interesting, provocative, and devoted to the truth...the Truth, Christ Jesus, our Lord). Yes, there will be those who say it is wrong, deluding, etc. Perhaps the deception lies in the other direction, to those who refuse to believe what Jesus says, what scripture says, because it does not agree with presently held doctrine (and we all remember what Jesus said about the "doctrines of man"). No matter - I lay it out for others to read, to ponder, and (most important of all) ask the Holy Spirit what is the truth of the matter:
If being "in Christ" was merely a position or a belief held to then losing it would make all the sense in the world. However, being in union with Christ is exactly that: joined to God through Christ. It is the "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me" ... rather than an agreed upon idea based upon the principle of Christ.
Don't you find it rather odd that we have to search the scriptures to find those random verses that SEEM to be calling the whole miracle of Christ into question? On the other hand, isn't it also odd that we think we have to search the scriptures to find those verses that give us an assurance of our "eternal security"? Perhaps all such searching is what we have learned according to the wisdom of the world, and not from Christ. :)
Until the next time...let us all rejoice and give thanks to Him who is our Lord, and in whom we live, and move, and have our being...
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Various thoughts..
From time to time, I read something that is special and resonates in my spirit. Not always original to me, but a word that is worthwhile passing along. And so this post is of such thoughts:
"The love of God is wider
Than the measure of man's mind,
and the heart of the Eternal
Is wonderfully kind."
Faber
This is just a small portion of that beautiful poem by Faber, which reminds us of the infinite love of our God whose love "is wider than the measure of man's mind," and who is truly "wonderfully kind."
Ah, Abba Father, the walls of my being are shaken...broken...
And you answered, dear Abba, and said, "You shall not break. I have painted your walls on My hands, and you are continually before Me. I have sent strength for you; I have commanded your strength."
And so, when I am weak, then is He strong...
A good word: The longer I spend in Your presence, Jesus, the more accustomed I grow to Your face, the less adulation I will need because I will have discovered for myself that You are Enough; and in the Presence, I will delight in the discovery of what it means to live by grace, and NOT by performance. For You say: "You belong to Me, and NO one will tear you from My hand."
Yes, in Him, I am in a safe place. I am loved...His beloved.
Isn't this remarkable insight coming from such a young child:
When asked his definition of love, 4 year old Billy replied, "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Yes - and so, because we are our Abba Father's beloved, we know our names are safe in His mouth.
One last thought (for this post): Salvation is as wide as the fall! Yes, SALVATION IS AS WIDE AS THE FALL...
And ALL creation is safe with Him.
"The love of God is wider
Than the measure of man's mind,
and the heart of the Eternal
Is wonderfully kind."
Faber
This is just a small portion of that beautiful poem by Faber, which reminds us of the infinite love of our God whose love "is wider than the measure of man's mind," and who is truly "wonderfully kind."
Ah, Abba Father, the walls of my being are shaken...broken...
And you answered, dear Abba, and said, "You shall not break. I have painted your walls on My hands, and you are continually before Me. I have sent strength for you; I have commanded your strength."
And so, when I am weak, then is He strong...
A good word: The longer I spend in Your presence, Jesus, the more accustomed I grow to Your face, the less adulation I will need because I will have discovered for myself that You are Enough; and in the Presence, I will delight in the discovery of what it means to live by grace, and NOT by performance. For You say: "You belong to Me, and NO one will tear you from My hand."
Yes, in Him, I am in a safe place. I am loved...His beloved.
Isn't this remarkable insight coming from such a young child:
When asked his definition of love, 4 year old Billy replied, "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Yes - and so, because we are our Abba Father's beloved, we know our names are safe in His mouth.
One last thought (for this post): Salvation is as wide as the fall! Yes, SALVATION IS AS WIDE AS THE FALL...
And ALL creation is safe with Him.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
What kind of theology...
A most interesting writing came across my email this morning, written by a man named Rich Nathan...and his title was "Life Boat Theology vs. Ark Theology." Surely a provocative title...and his premise resonated in my spirit.
His rationale came from his illustration of "the difference between the narrow focus of contemporary American evangelicalism and the big focus of the Bible."
The first name (title) came from how D.L. Moody, the great 19th century evangelist, described his calling; he said that he essentially understood the world as being like an ocean liner that hit an iceberg, and God had told him that his job was to "pull as many drowning people out of the water as he could."
As Rich Nathan notes, that was what Moody felt was his calling, and he would not argue with Mr. Moody. But such a theology - a "life boat" theology - claims that the only thing that matters is evangelism, pulling out as many people out of the water as you can...which has been a blessing and a curse for contemporary evangelism.
"On the one hand," writes Rich Nathan, "it has created an evangelistic urgency. And it is evangelical churches that are growing because of this passion. On the other hand, by narrowing the focus simply upon getting people to say the Sinner’s Prayer, we have had almost nothing to say about whole slices of life."
He goes on to offer an alternative theology - Ark Theology. For Noah’s Ark not only saved people, through/by it, but God’s other creatures were preserved as well. God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants that was not only with humanity; in Genesis 9:10, we read these words: "...and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you - every living creature on earth." And He gave the rainbow that was not just an everlasting sign between God and people; we read in Gen. 9:12, 15, and 17, that it was a sign of the covenant that He was making "between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come (:12)" He assures them that He shall remember this all-encompassing covenant, and never again will waters come to cover and destroy the earth. And the sign of that covenant between Him and ALL life on earth would be the rainbow.
And so he proposes the Ark Theology: "...that God intends to restore all of creation, every realm, every creature, every part. Or as Abraham Kuypur, the great Dutch theologian and politician, said nearly 100 years ago, 'There is not a square inch of the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!'"
Thus we have:
Life Boat Theology: Jesus wants to be Lord of your life.
Ark Theology: Jesus is Lord over the universe.
Now that is something to shout about! A victorious Christ!!!
Amen...
His rationale came from his illustration of "the difference between the narrow focus of contemporary American evangelicalism and the big focus of the Bible."
The first name (title) came from how D.L. Moody, the great 19th century evangelist, described his calling; he said that he essentially understood the world as being like an ocean liner that hit an iceberg, and God had told him that his job was to "pull as many drowning people out of the water as he could."
As Rich Nathan notes, that was what Moody felt was his calling, and he would not argue with Mr. Moody. But such a theology - a "life boat" theology - claims that the only thing that matters is evangelism, pulling out as many people out of the water as you can...which has been a blessing and a curse for contemporary evangelism.
"On the one hand," writes Rich Nathan, "it has created an evangelistic urgency. And it is evangelical churches that are growing because of this passion. On the other hand, by narrowing the focus simply upon getting people to say the Sinner’s Prayer, we have had almost nothing to say about whole slices of life."
He goes on to offer an alternative theology - Ark Theology. For Noah’s Ark not only saved people, through/by it, but God’s other creatures were preserved as well. God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants that was not only with humanity; in Genesis 9:10, we read these words: "...and with every living creature that was with you - the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you - every living creature on earth." And He gave the rainbow that was not just an everlasting sign between God and people; we read in Gen. 9:12, 15, and 17, that it was a sign of the covenant that He was making "between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come (:12)" He assures them that He shall remember this all-encompassing covenant, and never again will waters come to cover and destroy the earth. And the sign of that covenant between Him and ALL life on earth would be the rainbow.
And so he proposes the Ark Theology: "...that God intends to restore all of creation, every realm, every creature, every part. Or as Abraham Kuypur, the great Dutch theologian and politician, said nearly 100 years ago, 'There is not a square inch of the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!'"
Thus we have:
Life Boat Theology: Jesus wants to be Lord of your life.
Ark Theology: Jesus is Lord over the universe.
Now that is something to shout about! A victorious Christ!!!
Amen...
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A trustworthy statement
"You cannot live the Christian life.
Jesus did not live the Christian life.
NONE of us can live the Christian life.
And if Jesus did not live the Christian life, what makes you think you can?
God the Father lives the Christian life. How does God the Father live the Christian life? He doesn't. He IS the Christian life. He IS the highest life. He IS the wellspring, the Source, the first motion, and the fountainhead of the Christian life.
The Father indwelt His Son here on earth for 33 years. He lived the Christian life inside Jesus. It was the Father's life, and His life alone, which lived the Christian life...which lived the Christian life - and His life alone - inside your Lord. It is the Father's life, and His life alone, that ever lives the Christan life. It is the Father's life, and His alone, which lives the Christian life in you..."
Surely such a truth is a freeing one, oh, Abba. Peace comes. No more struggle, no more trying. You, Abba Father, are living out in me, in each of us, such a life. So simple, so "organic", for you to do. Free from "do's" and "don't' s".
FREE TO LIVE!
Jesus did not live the Christian life.
NONE of us can live the Christian life.
And if Jesus did not live the Christian life, what makes you think you can?
God the Father lives the Christian life. How does God the Father live the Christian life? He doesn't. He IS the Christian life. He IS the highest life. He IS the wellspring, the Source, the first motion, and the fountainhead of the Christian life.
The Father indwelt His Son here on earth for 33 years. He lived the Christian life inside Jesus. It was the Father's life, and His life alone, which lived the Christian life...which lived the Christian life - and His life alone - inside your Lord. It is the Father's life, and His life alone, that ever lives the Christan life. It is the Father's life, and His alone, which lives the Christian life in you..."
Surely such a truth is a freeing one, oh, Abba. Peace comes. No more struggle, no more trying. You, Abba Father, are living out in me, in each of us, such a life. So simple, so "organic", for you to do. Free from "do's" and "don't' s".
FREE TO LIVE!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Transformation (metamorphosis)
The wonder of it - we are being transformed (metamorphosed) into the same likeness as Christ!
These translations of 2 Cor. 3:18 are glorious reminders of what is going on...right now!
And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued [believe present tense is more accurate here] to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
II Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified)
...and I really like the Arthur Way translation of this: "All of us, with face unveiled, gazing on the mirrored glory of our Lord, are hourly being transformed into the same likeness from a mere reflected glory into an inherent glory, as may well be, since it proceeds from the Lord, the Spirit." II Cor. 3:18
One more, from Conybeare: "...and we all, while with face unveiled we behold in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are ourselves transformed continually [the tense is present!] into the same likeness; and the glory which shines upon us is [now being] reflected by us, even as it proceeds from the Lord, the Spirit."
Do we really believe what we are being told here? If so, then surely it will make a difference in how we view our life in Christ, and HIS work in us (yes, it is HIS work, not our efforts. A God business, PTL). No more striving, but, rather resting in His work IN us, AS us.
These translations of 2 Cor. 3:18 are glorious reminders of what is going on...right now!
And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued [believe present tense is more accurate here] to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
II Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified)
...and I really like the Arthur Way translation of this: "All of us, with face unveiled, gazing on the mirrored glory of our Lord, are hourly being transformed into the same likeness from a mere reflected glory into an inherent glory, as may well be, since it proceeds from the Lord, the Spirit." II Cor. 3:18
One more, from Conybeare: "...and we all, while with face unveiled we behold in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are ourselves transformed continually [the tense is present!] into the same likeness; and the glory which shines upon us is [now being] reflected by us, even as it proceeds from the Lord, the Spirit."
Do we really believe what we are being told here? If so, then surely it will make a difference in how we view our life in Christ, and HIS work in us (yes, it is HIS work, not our efforts. A God business, PTL). No more striving, but, rather resting in His work IN us, AS us.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
The meaning of words
It occurred to me that since Jesus did not speak English, what was He saying, what word was He using, when He is said to say, "Hell", an English word.
Well, one of those was Gehenna, which was a burning garbage dump, in Jerusalem, where refuse of all kinds was burned, including the bodies of criminals (which, of course, no self-respecting Jew would want for his end). It didn't burn "forever", for today, Gehenna is a lovely park...you can even have a picnic there, or go for a stroll.
The other word He used was Hades, which means, simply, "unseen", the place where all who die, go. No burning, eternal torture - simply, unseen. (In the OT, the word is Sheol - again, the unseen, the grave.)
The final word, spoken by Peter, was Tartarus, which he gleaned from mythology...where angels were "reserved for judgment."
Interestingly enough, Paul, who had his teaching from the ascended Christ, never once uses any of those words.
Food for thought for those who prefer to think of "sinners" (whom Jesus called "the lost") being tormented for eternity (another word it would be wise to check out as to its meaning in scripture).
How thankful I am tht Jesus Christ is the Saviour of ALL - that He truly IS a Saviour, and not just a Saviour who wanted to save, or hoped He would be able to save...who had to confess to His Father that He had failed...
In Is. 53:11, we read, "He shall see the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied..." How could such a think be? Because, praise God, He knew that He would draw ALL to Himself: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth [and He was, on the cross]. will draw ALL unto Me..." John 12:32, 33.
I rejoice in that day when ALL shall know this, and the "glory of the LORD shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." Amen.
Well, one of those was Gehenna, which was a burning garbage dump, in Jerusalem, where refuse of all kinds was burned, including the bodies of criminals (which, of course, no self-respecting Jew would want for his end). It didn't burn "forever", for today, Gehenna is a lovely park...you can even have a picnic there, or go for a stroll.
The other word He used was Hades, which means, simply, "unseen", the place where all who die, go. No burning, eternal torture - simply, unseen. (In the OT, the word is Sheol - again, the unseen, the grave.)
The final word, spoken by Peter, was Tartarus, which he gleaned from mythology...where angels were "reserved for judgment."
Interestingly enough, Paul, who had his teaching from the ascended Christ, never once uses any of those words.
Food for thought for those who prefer to think of "sinners" (whom Jesus called "the lost") being tormented for eternity (another word it would be wise to check out as to its meaning in scripture).
How thankful I am tht Jesus Christ is the Saviour of ALL - that He truly IS a Saviour, and not just a Saviour who wanted to save, or hoped He would be able to save...who had to confess to His Father that He had failed...
In Is. 53:11, we read, "He shall see the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied..." How could such a think be? Because, praise God, He knew that He would draw ALL to Himself: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth [and He was, on the cross]. will draw ALL unto Me..." John 12:32, 33.
I rejoice in that day when ALL shall know this, and the "glory of the LORD shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." Amen.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What we shall be
The other day, was pondering who we are, and what we shall become...and it occurred to me that when Jesus said to the servants who had fulfilled their jobs well, "Well done, thou good and perfect servants," He was talking to servants.
It is NOT so with us! To us, who are His sons (gender is not issue), God says, "You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."
Ah yes, a son, and not a servant.
To those who would point out that we are slaves of Christ, I would clarify and say, We are sons of God, and His slaves to men.
Amen!
It is NOT so with us! To us, who are His sons (gender is not issue), God says, "You are My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."
Ah yes, a son, and not a servant.
To those who would point out that we are slaves of Christ, I would clarify and say, We are sons of God, and His slaves to men.
Amen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)