Note: This is republished from a facebook note that I wrote.
Original date of Publication: November 14, 2009 at 2:37 P.M.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."- Galatians 2:20, NASBThere has been something going out saying, "If Jesus Christ were on facebook, would he accept you as a friend." Although it has good intentions, Christ doesn't just want you on facebook. He wants your entire being. This, however, is the example of the superstition that has entered American "Christianity" that somehow one can follow Christ while only using him as an accessory or a "Get-Out-of-Hell Free Card". What many don't realize is what Christ commands when He calls you to Himself.Such an accessory theology is entirely wrong and not found anywhere in the scriptures. Although salvation is a gift of God and cannot be acheived by any work of man, it is a great heresy to even suggest that by putting God on as an accessory that somehow that is following Christ. When Christ comes into your life, He takes over your entire being. There is no longer a desire to do the things that God hates in your life. Instead, there is a burning passion to know God more and more everyday and to do His will in everything that you do.
Updated about 2 months ago · Comment ·LikeUnlike
Curtis Woods
Well said, Joshua!!! May the Love of the Triune spur us towards love and goods as we walk in obedience to the only one who truly satisfies. Thanks, friend...
November 16, 2009 at 1:23pm
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Can these bones live?
"The Hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord GOD, You know'" (Ezekiel 37:1-3, NASB.)
As Ezekiel was called to be a prophet, he was brought among a very dead audience. It is mentioned in the Bible that he was lead by the Spirit of God to a valley a dry bones. In this, he was asked if these bones can live again. Now, the natural response would be no, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26, NASB.) Although Ezekiel didn't have the book of Matthew, he probably knew this as this was a quote from God, who Ezekiel knew. Therefore, the answer was Lord GOD, You know.
Can these dry bones live? Can the dry bones today who are cultural Christians, but act like devils live? The answer is Lord, You know even to this day. Because those who God has chosen to redeem will have a new life in Christ Jesus. They will be regenerated (born again) as a result of the Lord of their life.
However, God cannot be both just and the justifier of the wicked. For it says, "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD" (Proverbs 17:15, NASB.) Therefore, under the justness of God, He can't justify the wicked. However, God became man and became an atonement for our sins by having all our sins, as dark as they may be, on God himself. At that point God's Son became wicked in the eyes of God and the wrath of God pleased to crush Him. Now, he can be both just and the justifier of the wicked.
As Ezekiel was called to be a prophet, he was brought among a very dead audience. It is mentioned in the Bible that he was lead by the Spirit of God to a valley a dry bones. In this, he was asked if these bones can live again. Now, the natural response would be no, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26, NASB.) Although Ezekiel didn't have the book of Matthew, he probably knew this as this was a quote from God, who Ezekiel knew. Therefore, the answer was Lord GOD, You know.
Can these dry bones live? Can the dry bones today who are cultural Christians, but act like devils live? The answer is Lord, You know even to this day. Because those who God has chosen to redeem will have a new life in Christ Jesus. They will be regenerated (born again) as a result of the Lord of their life.
However, God cannot be both just and the justifier of the wicked. For it says, "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD" (Proverbs 17:15, NASB.) Therefore, under the justness of God, He can't justify the wicked. However, God became man and became an atonement for our sins by having all our sins, as dark as they may be, on God himself. At that point God's Son became wicked in the eyes of God and the wrath of God pleased to crush Him. Now, he can be both just and the justifier of the wicked.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Regeneration
Before we begin, let's clarify a few terms. Regeneration simply means born again. However, it is not born again in the way that the modern-day evangelist would use it. Instead, it refers to how the Holy Spirit comes and inhabits the very essence of who we are and it as if we no longer lived; but as a lifestyle, Jesus lives within us, for it is written, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20, NASB).
As we closely look into scriptures, regeneration is neccessary for the salvation of souls. For it says, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God'" (John 3:3, NASB). Most people in the church believe at the very least superficially and and the very most whole-heartedly that one must be born again to be saved. However, with the pravelence of being born again without any change and without any struggle to change w/no avail, it shows that there is hardly any regeneration going on in what I would call cultural Christianity, and why should there, when Christianity is counter-cultural?
Now, if you are like Paul, in which he states that he does the very things he hates (Romans 7:15, NASB.), then you are more than likely saved as you do have a regenerated heart and it shows. However, stastically, 84% of America claims to be Christian. However, Christianity has less influence than ever before on lives. Why is that, one might ask? It is because the doctrine of Regeneration was watered down and we have people who live like devils and claim they're Christian.
Galatians 5:22-23 mentions that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. However, an important part is what precedes this in Galatians 5:19-21 talking about the deeds of the flesh, and what succeeds in the later part of Galatians 5:23, which state against such things {the fruits of the Spirit}, there is no law. The deeds of the flesh are as follows: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, stife, jealously, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentations, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. While it is human nature to pursue the deeds of the flesh (especially with the outbursts of anger), it is vital that we have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and not just putting on a facade, because that is eventually not possible. While faith is the sole way for salvation, regeneration is the indicator.
As we closely look into scriptures, regeneration is neccessary for the salvation of souls. For it says, "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God'" (John 3:3, NASB). Most people in the church believe at the very least superficially and and the very most whole-heartedly that one must be born again to be saved. However, with the pravelence of being born again without any change and without any struggle to change w/no avail, it shows that there is hardly any regeneration going on in what I would call cultural Christianity, and why should there, when Christianity is counter-cultural?
Now, if you are like Paul, in which he states that he does the very things he hates (Romans 7:15, NASB.), then you are more than likely saved as you do have a regenerated heart and it shows. However, stastically, 84% of America claims to be Christian. However, Christianity has less influence than ever before on lives. Why is that, one might ask? It is because the doctrine of Regeneration was watered down and we have people who live like devils and claim they're Christian.
Galatians 5:22-23 mentions that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. However, an important part is what precedes this in Galatians 5:19-21 talking about the deeds of the flesh, and what succeeds in the later part of Galatians 5:23, which state against such things {the fruits of the Spirit}, there is no law. The deeds of the flesh are as follows: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, stife, jealously, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentations, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. While it is human nature to pursue the deeds of the flesh (especially with the outbursts of anger), it is vital that we have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and not just putting on a facade, because that is eventually not possible. While faith is the sole way for salvation, regeneration is the indicator.
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