Tag Archives: Christ

Apr 4 2009

I know Whom I have believed…


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Ones who are truly born from above (John 3:3, 7) live in two dimensions, physical and spiritual. The unsaved (natural) man only lives physically and is dead spiritually. (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13) It is from the failure to understand this truth that much misunderstanding and error arises. Consider the following propositions.

  • 1. The spiritual realm (where God lives) is just as real as the physical realm (where humans live).
  • 2. Spiritual reality is in some way even more real because it is eternal and things physical are only temporary.

If we don’t accept these as truth then the pursuit of God is futile because God is Spirit. (John 4:24) The very life of a Christian is spiritual life given by the Holy Spirit who indwells. (Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)

When Jesus said to Nicodemus “You must be born again” He explained that He was not speaking of another physical birth but a spiritual birth. The physical birth only produces more sinners, more corruption, more breaking of God’s law. Only those who are born of the Spirit are able to rise above the limitations of the natural man’s aptitude and abilities. John 1:13 says it this way,

“who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

And Paul wrote about those who had thus been born again, or from above, in this way.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Galatians 6:15)

When a sinner is born again by God it is a real birth, admittedly spiritual but no less real than a physical birth. And, as stated before, that which is spiritual in a very real way is even more real than the physical, because the physical is temporary and the spiritual is eternal.

Can a birth be reversed? Physically birth cannot be reversed. You can abort a baby before it is actually born or you can kill the baby after it is born but birth cannon be undone. A child, who dies, dies a son or daughter of its father. I think every sane person will agree that birth is irreversible, it cannot be undone.

Why then would anyone suppose spiritual birth can be reversed? It is clear spiritual birth by God is a real birth and produces a “new creation“. No person who has read the New Testament very much can deny this “new birth” is a reality.

The question raised would be difficult enough to answer if all that was said by Jesus was “You must be born again“. But that is not all he said. He also said these words.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44)

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

Should I believe these words from the mouth of the Son of God? Or should I believe those who imply at least that they are not true?

Jesus said “should not perish“, “eternal life“, “I will raise him up on the last day“, and “they will never perish“. I am not competent in biblical languages but my research says that these declarative statements made by Jesus mean the same in the original languages as they do in English.

Here is my great dilemma. Should I embrace teaching about salvation (new birth) that in effect makes these verses untrue? I can’t bring myself to do it. I know this makes me the odd man out in coC circles. I have struggled with this question earnestly and with an open heart but I cannot accept that not only these promises, but dozens more, are untrue and unreliable if what my dear brothers in Christ teach is true.

Perhaps I have missed something in my 40 plus years of studying the Bible. I am very flawed and far less than perfect in my understanding of God and His Holy Word. But I do want to know His truth and search for it relentlessly. I love everyone who loves Jesus whether or not we agree on every point of doctrine.

“…He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead”
(Acts 17:31)

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

When darkness seems to hide His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.”

 

Trusting Christ alone,
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 26 2009

Fellowship Dialogue


I just learned that finally a discussion will take place online between “progressives” and “conservatives” in the churches of Christ. Representing the progressives will be Jay Guinn and Todd Deaver and on the conservative side Phil Sanders and Greg Tidwell. I believe each man is able and will fairly represent his believe and will speak for most of those in his camp.

The very first topic will be about just how a person looses his salvation. I will have questions for both sides I am sure. Follow the discussion at http://graceconversation.wordpress.com .

I’m off to the workshop…

Royce