Author Archives: Royce

Apr 3 2009

Jesus – The WAY


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It was in response to a question from the disciple who earned the name “Doubting Thomas” that Jesus gave the amazing teaching about Himself recorded in John 14. After Jesus was raised from the dead it was this same Thomas who had to see and feel the scars on Jesus’ body before he would finally believe. (John 20:24-27)

If among those in Jesus’ inner circle were still some who were doubtful and unsure about Jesus right up until his death it should come as no surprise that today there are also doubters. Jesus discourse with Thomas, coupled with his conversation with Nicodemus makes clear Jesus is the Way, the only Way to God, heaven, eternal life, and eternity with God and his people.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.”
(John 14:1-7)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:16-19)

Jesus is not “a” Way; He is “the” Way.

Our culture says that all sincere religious people are on paths that lead to the same destination, God. Sincerity is only valid when it is based on truth in the context of religious expression and belief. The central truth of the Bible makes Christianity exclusive and intolerant. Exclusive in that only those who put their trust in Jesus are not condemned and intolerant because only the unique Son of God is indeed the way to God and eternal life. Christians are tolerant of people and their ideas but must insist that Jesus is the only Way. (Acts 4:12)

Jesus is the Way for all people of all ages.

Every person who will finally escape the wrath of God and live in eternity with God will do so on the basis of Jesus’ worth and work. Every Old Testament saint who will be in heaven will be there because Jesus took the penalty of his sins and fully met God’s standard of righteousness on his behalf. Jesus said of the Scriptures;

 “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
(Luke 24:44)

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”
(John 5:39)

The priesthood, the sacrificial system, the offerings, the written code, the tabernacle, the veiled entrance to the Holy of Holies, etc. all were types and shadows of He who was to come and once for all time and once for all people fix the problems of sin and death.

I want to be clear. No person has ever been accepted by God, set right with Him, by what he or she did or did not do. Just as none of those who lived before Christ’s death and resurrection were justified by the law, so it is today that no person will be in heaven because he was in the right church, believed the right doctrine, worshipped in the right way, or did various good deeds. (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, 3:11)

Every other way leads to death and punishment.

What must a person do to miss heaven and eternal life? Nothing! Just continue on a rebellious path, trusting in his own goodness, relying on his religion. Jesus was very pointed when He said to Nicodemus in the passage quoted above “but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:18) Every person who has not surrendered his or her will and put their trust in Jesus is already condemned, they are not waiting to be judged guilty, and they are now guilty and condemned and are objects of God’s awful wrath against sin.

You can be wrong about some doctrine. And we can have disagreements about styles and methods of worship and ministry, but all of us must be right about Jesus. There is no substitute and no supplement for what Christ has already accomplished for sinners. I beg every reader, put your whole trust and confidence in Jesus Christ and you will be safe. He is the only Way!

For Jesus,
Royce

Mar 31 2009

Simple is Good


I am back to my old theme for Grace Digest. Due to problems with the template, and reports that some readers are having difficulty reading the white against black text, I dumped the pretty template in favor of one that is pretty bare bones but is not problematic.

Soon I plan to start a series of posts on my favorite person and my favorite topic, Jesus Christ my Lord. The first will be titled “Jesus – The Way”.

Even though “short” does not fit me in any way, I do plan to try and follow John Dobb’s excellent suggestion given in the bloggers class in Tulsa, to make posts short and therefore easier to read.

For Him,
Royce

Mar 29 2009

Extra Time in Tulsa, Snow Day…


As we were enjoying the last day of the Tulsa Workshop a layer of global warming up to several inches blanket the greater Tulsa area making highway travel treacherous and eventually canceling flights. Since one of our group from Monroe/West Monroe is in a motor home and I and my traveling pal are in a pickup truck pulling a U-Haul with the display material for World Radio and Celebrate Recovery we thought it might be wise to wait until today to begin our trip home. 

I awoke this morning feeling rested and refreshed and ready to get going. I made coffee and decided to check my email once more before leaving and then realized it was 1:15 a.m. The coffee couldn’t just sit in the pot for five hours, so I am drinking the coffee and watching Fox News. Perhaps I’ll get a few more hours sleep before day breaks. 

The Workshop, “Evangelistic Revolution”, was a grand success in my view. This was my first time for this annual event but Lord willing will not be my last. Here are some highlights for me. 

  • I met several bloggers whose names I will not list because I don’t want to forget one which I’m positive I will do if I try to name them all. It was a joy to put faces with names and meet these fine young men, (every one many years my junior). These bloggers are very bright, gifted, serious followers of Jesus. I feel honored to know them and have them read my blog.
  • I was blessed and humbled by perhaps two dozen people who told me they read Grace Digest and enjoy it and have been helped in some way and blessed by reading. It is refreshing to know that in my tiny place in the kingdom the Lord can use me to encourage someone else, help someone understand God’s revelation better, and in some way build up a fellow follower of Jesus.
  • Patrick Mead. This funny man with a funny accent was both entertaining and challenging. His ministry at Rochester Hills church in Michigan is a marvel. Patrick is one to be imitated, at a minimum in principal and theory of ministry. Love them as they are, where they are, expecting nothing in return, and love them until they ask “Why?” Patrick is comfortable in his own skin, stepping outside the boundaries of church of Christ traditions for the sake of Christ. Much of what Patrick says and does must make some in our denomination nuts. But, he and his people are doing what most of the rest of us are not doing, fleshing out the life of Jesus right in the middle of Satan’s stronghold. It is my joy to have met Patrick and now cherish him as a friend and brother.
  • Edward Fudge. For several years I have learned from and admired this good man from afar. I have communicated with him a few times, asking his opinion about something I had discovered in my study of the Word, or complimenting him on something he had written. There is no person in churches of Christ that I respect more than this humble servant. Not only was I blessed to hear him speak three times but also had the opportunity to visit with him at the Workshop and over dinner. The experience was one I will always cherish and hold dear. Edward, like Leroy Garrett and others, who dared to put truth over church tradition, have paid a price. He has endured the scorn and slander of men who put human effort on a level with God’s grace. You should get a copy of Edward’s latest book, a commentary on the book of Hebrews. You can preorder it here. I hope God gives brother Fudge many more years of fruitful ministry. God bless you Edward Fudge.
  • I heard a common theme, the grace of God and the need to make His gracious offer given in the gospel known out where the people live, work, and play. Many of our people are awakened to the stark reality that the methods, and even perhaps the message, of the churches of Christ of a few decades ago just aren’t going to get the job of reconciliation done. There is no biblical precedent for expecting the lost to come to our churches, attend “gospel meetings”, or be drawn to a rigid set of rules and doing, doing, doing to try to get God to like us more. Please God let the trend toward grace and forgiveness continue at the expense of legalism and condemnation. May we as a movement be able to truly say “We preach Christ”.
  • Spending time with John Grigson has been wonderful. I have known John for about 9 years. His story is one of the love and the grace of God written on a human tapestry. John’s enthusiasm for ministry, his devotion to Christ, his hunger for the Word of God, and his contagious smile make this dear brother on of my favorite people on the planet. What a wonderful treat to be able to travel several hours with John and to enjoy his fellowship, something I will not soon forget.
  • Getting to know Mike Eppinette. We go to the same church each Sunday and Wednesday, I have heard him teach, and I have spoken to him, but this few days in Tulsa I have been able to get to know him a bit and it has been wonderful. Mike is a great speaker and fund raiser for World Radio and is always smiling and making everyone around him smile as well. He is a good man and I’m glad to call him friend.

 

My Tulsa experience has been absolutely wonderful and I am already looking forward to coming again in 2010. It is 3:28 a.m. and time for a nap.

 

Royce

Mar 28 2009

Living, or Leaving on Tulsa Time – Day 4


Another great day is in the books as they say. Atchley, Walling, Mead, Fudge, and Joe Alanzo all did great jobs and were each an encouragement and a blessing.

I had great visits with several friends, some new and some old. It was a nice surprise to run into Mark Hodges from Long Beach, MS whom I met shortly after Katrina. Mark is a great guy and you should visit the Long Beach church when you are on the Gulf coast of MS. They are great people!

Tonight one our WFR elders, Mac Owen and his bride Mary, gave their testimony at the Park Plaza church here in Tulsa. It is amazing how many doors have opened for this sold out couple who are on a mission to get everyone on the planet into recovery and walking with God.

The workshop exhibit area has been a buzz of excitement since we arrived. It is obvious that in addition to being a church thing, it is also like a family reunion. Folks are happily meeting and greeting people they only see once a year here in Tulsa. New friendships are forged and old ones strengthened.

There has been a consistent theme throughout; Love people in tangible ways and go to where they are. Finally, it seems that many, if not most, are convinced that the attractional model of doing church will not work. We must love people where they are, like they are, without asking anything in return. God will do the heavy lifting, our job is to love unselfishly, share the good news with gentleness and respect, and watch God do what only He can do, raise the spiritually dead to life.

I know there are still some exceptions, but I can safely report that the Holy Spirit is out of the box in the churches of Christ. He was once relegated to the pages of a King James Bible, but today He is a welcomed guest in the lives of the people and the gathering when they come to worship and hear from the God of heaven. Things are looking up!

God willing tomorrow we will stop living on Tulsa time and be leaving on Tulsa time. If the global warming doesn’t get too deep we will start back to the  land of crooked politicians and the people who deserve them, Louisiana. I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed in my own house. There is a garden to plow and plant, grass to mow, bass to catch, a honey do list to complete and hopefully some houses to sell.

This is likely my last post until I return home, hopefully late Saturday.

Royce

Royce