An Apology About My Presentation Of The Gospel

The Gospel that saves is found in 1 Cor 15. For the longest time I've quoted it as 1 Cor 15:1-10 but the founder of the ministry God has allowed me to work with (The Cross Current) quoted 1 Cor 15:1-11 to me this week. I thought he had just made a typo... little did I know!

Verse 11 is very important. Because it removes any possibility that there is more or less to the message of Salvation.

1 Cor 15:11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul starts by declaring this is the message that saves. 1 Cor 15:1-2 and finishes his presentation with the CLOSED and CLOSING statement of 1 Cor 15:11 It can't be dismissed because Paul says it's the message that saves. And it can't be added to - or taken away from - because this is what we believed when we believed in Jesus Christ.

Fabulous! I love God's battle plans! If I would rely on Him more any attempt to minister would be that much more effective.

I've got enough material for two posts on Humility... but I don't have the humility required to actually post them tonight.

I've been LOL'd!

OK to destroy any idea that anyone might have that I'm "spiritual", I laugh my head off at LOLCat humor. Dear Brother Robb offered a link that is an LOL spoof of this blog, or any other you'd like to see in LOL format.

It's worth a little giggle anyway so check it out at the LOLinator.

New article on humilitee iz in wurkz.

wit current buzz bout grace evangelical societee reductionist "crossless" gospel i haven't been able 2 complete next article bout humilitee.

if u been readin... or u realli sought 2 study n seek humilitee urself maybe u can identify wit thiz question - iz i onli 1 who iz scared half 2 death by wtf humilitee actualli iz!!??!!??!!!??!!

it grace so needed... so powerful... but so all encompassin at same tiem. i keep tryin 2 dip my toe in lake 2 see how it feelz...

New article on humility is in the works.

With the current buzz about the Grace Evangelical Society's reductionist "Crossless" Gospel I haven't been able to complete the next article about humility.

If you've been reading, or you've really sought to study and seek humility yourself maybe you can identify with this question - am I the only one who is scared half to death by what humility actually is!?!

It's a grace so needed, so powerful, but so all encompassing at the same time. I keep trying to dip my toe in the lake to see how it feels...

Chafer was a proponent of the Crossless Gospel?

UPDATE: Brother Lou is also discussing this at his blog - In Defense Of The Gospel.

OK so they would like it to be called the "refined" or "consistent" Gospel, but they take the Cross out of the Gospel that the Apostle Paul declared in 1 Cor 15:1-10 So I will continue to call it what it is, a false, Crossless gospel. The current claim of the Grace Evangelical Society is that a sinner can be saved without knowing they are a sinner (and so with no repentance), without knowing what Jesus Christ has done or Who He Is, and even while denying that Jesus is God. The Unashamed of Grace Blog has a new article quoting Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer as though he would have supported such a gospel.

Here is the quote they use to show his support.

Thus salvation can be accomplished, even by the infinite God, only through Jesus Christ. Hence it is that a simple trust in the Savior opens the way into the infinite power and grace of God. It is "unto every one that believeth," "For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." This one word "believe" represents all a sinner can do and all a sinner must do to be saved... [Jesus] is a living Savior to all who put their trust in Him. It is quite possible for any intelligent person to know whether he has placed such confidence in the Savior. Saving faith is a matter of personal consciousness. "I know whom I have believed." To have deposited one's eternal welfare in the hands of another is a decision so definite that it can hardly be confused with anything else. On this deposit of oneself into His saving grace depends one's eternal destiny. To add, or subtract, anything from this sole condition of salvation is most perilous.

Here is my reply, including any errors. A simple cut and paste.

Who is this Savior? Who is this Jesus? Who is this Christ?

Dr Chafer says "I know Whom I've believed" Who is He?

Early God identifies Himself with the attributes of Himself, His promises, or the things He has done. He never simply claims a name. In Ex 6 we see that God had never before shared His Name, and we see that He reveals His attributes in His Name there.

In Ex 20 we see that God commands that they honor Him alone, the God who had taken them out of Egypt.

And we see the same thing in Acts, quoted by Dr. Chafer that the Name Jesus is associated with what He had done. His name is qualified by what He had done. They don't believe in Jesus. They believe in The Christ, named Jesus who died and rose again.

In 1 Cor 15:1-10 Paul declares the Gospel to the Corinthians again, because they had been led astray on the Resurrection. He claims this is the Gospel that saves. He doesn't use the name "Jesus" instead He uses the Title Messiah or Christ. And Names Him by saying what He did.

No where in Scripture is someone told to believe in some guy named Jesus. Jesus is always associated with the Gospel.

You have taken Dr. Chafer's words out of context. He is not saying that one should not identify Who Christ is, or that one does not need to know Who He is. Dr. Chafer is saying to add to simple faith in this God Man who Died for our Sins and rose again for our life is to add to the Gospel.

For example. Imagine a furniture salesman explaining a chair to some deep jungle native who had never seen one. He tells the native that the chair will hold him up, and that it's very important for the native to believe this. The native assures the salesman that yes he does in fact that the chair is guaranteed to hold him up. That he'd love to have the chair.

The salesman is greatly encouraged! He's won yet another customer. He can't wait to tell his wife.

The salesman says, "right then you go pick the one you like and we'll send you on your way!" The native rushes over picks up what he fancies and brings it back to the salesman. Turns out the native walked past the chair and picked up a bucket. He turns it up side down and stands on it and gleefully says "You were right!! You were right!!"

The native, having never been introduced to the Chair didn't even know he had the wrong item. Such is the problem with any so called "gospel" that doesn't identify the Christ with what He has done.

There are many Jesus' There are many gods. There are many religions. There is only one Christ Jesus who died on a cross for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead three days later. Just one. No problem of confusion. It's not all that hard to understand, but it sure separates the difference between professing faith and having it.

I will be watching to see how this is responded to, hopefully some of the Brethren who read my blog but who may be unfamiliar with the Crossless Gospel movement will join in the defense of the Gospel of Christ.

An ‘Inconvenient’ Galaxy

Do galaxies dance? Well it seems they don't form the way we've been taught they do. As it turns out astronomers are puzzled once again. This time it's because they've found a galaxy that has arms trailing off in the direction of spin, and against it! Oops! So much for the idea that galaxies gradually form from spinning disks and that stars and planets slowly form and dust trails off... and... it was such a nice story too wasn't it? :)

Here's what Answers In Genesis had to say about it.

An entire galaxy stands in the way of the general understanding of galactic spiral arms, according to research presented this week to the American Astronomical Society at a meeting in Austin, Texas.

Scientists from the University of Alabama, Bevill Community College, and (formerly) the U.S. Naval Observatory presented a “puzzling” conclusion from their astronomical observations: a spiral galaxy whose arms wind in the opposite direction from most galaxies—something the University of Alabama’s Gene Byrd calls “an inconvenient truth to many . . . [but] nonetheless, a reality.” The conclusion is based on observations of two components within the galaxy, NGC4622, which is some 200 million light-years from earth in the constellation Centaurus.

Byrd explained, “Contrary to conventional wisdom, with both an inner counter-clockwise pair and an outer clockwise pair of spiral arms, NGC4622 must have a pair of leading arms.” Since the galaxy must rotate one way, one of the pairs of arms—either the inner counter-clockwise pair or the outer clockwise pair—must be in the same direction as the galaxy’s rotation.

The team’s results will be published in Astronomical Journal.

This finding reminds us that “well-established science,” even when intuitive, is frequently contradicted by unexpected observations and data-crunching. Theories that were lauded as undeniably true by yesterday’s scientists often turn up in the dustbin of science history as observations expand and new hypotheses accumulate. Knowing this, which would you rather put your faith in: current science theories that change from decade to decade or the inerrant, unchanging Word of the Creator God?

Humility - A definition

What are your thoughts about Humility and how do you define it? My thoughts are it's the beginning of true growth in the Lord and I define it this way.

Humility - The emptying of self to the point that there is no other option but to depend on God, and actually depending on Him. I am nothing, He is all in all.

Humility - A Picture Of The Christ

So this study on Humility is affecting every aspect of my walk. I'm not saying "oh I'm so humble now"... hardly... I'm saying that it's becoming painfully clear that humility is the root of all fruitfulness. I have been praying, for some time, that God would show me how to "live out" all the things I've learned. That He'd strengthen me to be able to walk the walk I know I should. I guess I thought He would make me "Super Christian!" but instead He's shown me, yet again, that the way up is down.

I have often found myself in "alarm" about the mess I've made of my life. That alarm is such a good descriptor of my Pride. I never thought of it like that before, but it is. Think of it this way "I've messed my life up." means I've somehow taken control over God's ability, purpose and will. It means that I'm dependent on me. That's Pride, because a the heart Humility is dependence on God. The Psalmist, King David, shares this understanding with me in Ps 31:22 When we panic, when we think we are "cut off" from the Lord it is because we have not yet seen the Humble King for Who He is. The One who stepped down out of Heaven fully God but not demanding honor for that. Instead He humbled Himself to obedience even to the point of death on the Cross. Phil 2:6-8 Now that passage used to be amazing to me, but now even more so. I've started to see that true Humility is an emptying of self, a counting myself nothing and God all in all. It is the covering one's self in Christ Himself.

A picture of this can be found in John 21, which I've written of before. In Peter's restoration we see a picture of the Humble King and get to know Him and how to approach Him just a bit better. Much is said about the guilt and shame Peter felt about his denial of the Lord before He was crucified. Luke 22:54-61 but I'm sure if we asked Peter today he too would agree with King David's thought in Ps 31:22 about how in his alarm he thought he had been cut off from the Humble Lamb of God but that in reality He had never left him.

Peter had boasted that he'd be willing to die for the Lord because he loved Him so much. Luke 22:33 But when the time of testing came Peter denied even knowing Him. What Peter forgot, and what is often missed is the Lord's promise to Peter (and likewise us) before our boasting, before we get ahead of ourselves the Lord says "...Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But, I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail and when you return to Me strengthen my sheep." Luke 22:31-32 So before we ever get ourselves in a mess He has long since prayed for us and made sure the result. He knew how far Peter would run from Him, but prayed for his return.

And we see the Humility in the restoration of Peter. I'll quote from my previous writing about John 21:15-19 and then complete my comments.

In verse 15 Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. The word for love is the Greek agapao which is linked to God's perfect love Agape which is a selfless complete love. Peter responds with "yes Lord, You know that I love You" But the word he uses for love is the Greek phileo which is much more of a friendly love. Peter is admitting that while he loves the Lord, he obviously doesn't love Him the way he should.

The second time they both repeat the same words in the same question and answer.

Now the third time the Lord asked him if he loved Him. The Lord uses the same word that Peter has been using, phileo. And Peter wept because the third time He asked "Do you phileo me?"

The Lord stepped down to where Peter was. He went to get Peter. Just like He does for those who will trust Him today.

What I didn't see as I wrote this before is Peter stopped faking. He humbled himself to say, this is all I have God. This is who I really am. You know I don't love you the way I should. And our Humble King once again lowered Himself down to meet Peter just exactly where he was. And because Peter had humbled himself, the Lord exalted him up to a powerful ministry including authoring parts of the Bible it's self. In Peter's alarm he thought that he had been cut off from the Lord. But the truth was that the Lord had this covered from the beginning.

That's a picture of the Christ. The Perfect One from Heaven who stepped down out of Heaven to do what we never could. And to show us what Humility really is.

Chuck Norris Approved

Vote Mike to avoid a fight, with Chuck Norris!

KDE 4.0.0 released and it does matter.

I've spoken about my growing love for Linux here before. Some of the things I love about it are the security, the availability of tons of high quality software for free, and the openness of the OS. If there's something you'd like to change.. you can. From the color of your desktop to the shape of your cursor to how the system works deep under the hood. It's all open for you to play with.

Well today KDE 4.0.0 is released and it matters to people in Christian ministry because it's not only beautiful, it's free. That means you can have a top quality product without having to spend money on it that could be used in other areas. Often we are tempted to save money on important things like computers so we can put the cash "where it's needed." But if our systems get compromised, or don't work very well, or at all... then our ministries take the hit. Linux really is a viable answer to this problem. Currently some 85-95% of production at The Cross Current is done on linux. The old problem of not being able to work in the "real world" with Linux just doesn't exist anymore. And while my installation of KDE 3.5.8 is tweaked out to look really good, KDE4 looks that much better and is way faster. So, I get to enjoy an incredible desktop while I work.

I encourage you all to check it out. I use the distribution called Kubuntu.

Humility - the pursuit

This is an intro to a series I hope to be able to complete. I've set out on a journey and I'm convinced I shouldn't be alone on it. What is humility and what does it mean to "humble yourself before the Lord"? Further what is the result of it or really why should we do it?

Most Christians either do, or wish they could pursue greater holiness. This gets out of control in some of christendom making it a requirement for Salvation or security... or any number of theological buzz words. But without abuse, without bondage, holiness is something we need to be pursuing. And I'm learning that just maybe I've been going about it the wrong way.

Here's a quote from author Andrew Murray from his book "Humility" page 92

Brethren, have we not here the reason that our consecration and our faith have availed so little in the pursuit of holiness? It was by self and it's strength that the work was done under the name of faith. It was for self and its happiness that God was called in. It was, unconsciously, but still truly, in self and its holiness that the soul rejoiced. We never knew that humility - absolute, abiding, Christ-like humility, pervading and marking our whole life with God and man - was the most essential element of the life of the holiness we sought.

So I ask, where are you in your walk? Are you progressing in faith? What about holiness? I'm not asking about sinless perfection or am I looking for ammo to question your salvation. I mean are you progressing? The measuring stick is only seen by you and God my eyes are too full of planks to be looking for your spec anyway. :) I wonder if answering some questions about humility and pursuit of that instead would help us in our pursuit of greater faith and holiness.

When Theory Drives Understanding

A theory is something we postulate to describe what we have observed, and it becomes a Law when it is repeatedly shown to be able make accurate predictions. Ok at least that's the simple version of the story? Good enough for our purposes? Not good enough, ok read this. I haven't read it... so view at your own risk. :) Google makes me smile sometimes.

So this post is going to be about science but I want to sort of relate it to theology. Because understandably there are things people don't understand about "theology" hence the "ology" at the end of the word. It's a study, and our theology ends up describing what we have observed and think we understand about God.

There are many "theories" of theology. There is the Calvinist system which is summed up in TULIP.. and there are many others. (tulip is easy to type so I picked it) and these theories sometimes program our thinking to the point that they are all we can see. So when we search the Scriptures we see what we've been told instead of what is there. It happens OFTEN...and it's the source of many arguments that should never really happen at all.

So when I read a story about how time might actually be slowing down (which I'm not arguing against or for btw) I get a kick out of the spin it stirs up in the scientific community. The theories that men have about how the universe are so mixed up and built on top of each other that no one seems to be really sure what happens when one is proven to be false. The idea that light moves at a "constant" rate has been disproved and that affects nearly everything about astrology, cosmology... the idea that dark matter might not actually exist... that galaxies are spinning WAY to fast to have "evolved" or formed as is often described. There are so many theories that are treated as "fact" that are based on these already disproved things it's mind boggling.

And what does that cause us to do? Invent new theories to make up for the holes in the ones we already have...

Here's a quote;

For a decade, scientists have puzzled over a surprising phenomenon: Supernovae stars viewed at extreme distances seem to be moving away from us faster than those nearby.

Most researchers have assumed that the stars have somehow accelerated – or that, more precisely, the rate of the expansion of the post-Big Bang universe itself has accelerated over time.

This was particularly odd given that the universe was thought to be dominated by matter, which should, through the aggregate gravitational effect of each bit pulling on the others, have led to a deaccelerating expansion, rather than the opposite. Thus, scientists have postulated an unknown kind of energy, now known as "dark energy," which would be responsible for the acceleration.

So instead of re-evaluating the theories that already exist, and taking note of the fact that they do not make accurate predictions... the idea that gets adopted is to suppose there is such a thing as "dark-energy" that magically fixes the problems with the other failed theories.

This happens in Science and in Theology... it happens everywhere men stick their noses. Why? Because pride follows our noses. We buy into something and then defend it at all costs. I laugh, literally, when people tell me that scientists search for truth.. or reality. The only answer I can come up with it. I suspect there are some scientists who do. But the rest of them are just like the rest of us.

Anyway, if you want to read the latest panic in the Scientific community check out WIRED's short article on how Time Itself May Be Slowing Down. I guess I'm not getting as old as I used to be getting. Sweet!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We had Birthday Cake after dinner this evening to celebrate the Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Sure He wasn't really born on the 25th of December, but to be honest... after 20 some .. errr 30 some years it doesn't matter to me that I was born on a particular day or even that people celebrate with me on that specific day. What warms my heart is when people remember ME. And that is the point of our celebration of the Lord's birth too. That we remember Him.

How Impossible Needs Are Met

If there's one thing I'm learning it's that if something seems impossible it's just a good opportunity for God to show how limited our view of things is. Faith is seeing that before He does something to make it clear.

In just a few days the world will be celebrating something most people find impossible to believe. That God Himself became a little baby boy. That He was born out of the womb of a virgin. That He lived a perfect life. And that He willingly let His life be taken to pay a price that is impossible for anyone else to pay for themselves.

I learned something new about Jesus Christ recently. There is a tone of information on the Internet that will give you all kinds of proof that Jesus is God. And there is nearly an equal amount of information about how He had to be sinless to be the perfect sacrifice, like a "spotless lamb." All important information. But I have never been taught the reason why the only one who could die for our sins is God. Oh yes I've heard the argument that only God is "good" (perfect) and this is true, absolutely.

But the Lamb, Jesus Christ had to be God in order to "die for our sins" 1 Cor 15:1-10 because all of creation (everything that God created, which is everything that came to be John 1:3 Gen 1:1 ) was cursed because of sin. So EVERYTHING suffers death because of the Curse that God put on Creation. In short it's why your car rusts, and it's why we die. Everything in creation is subjected to it. Gen 3:14-19 Rom 8:20-22

So if Jesus had not been God, He would have been a "created" being and so subject to death as per the Curse. So when He died it would have been "for the Curse" like every other person. But Jesus Christ died "for our sins" 1 Cor 15:3

We all have an impossible debt to pay. Sin causes and requires death. There is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. Heb 9:22 So we can't pay our price and live, so it's an impossible debt. But impossible needs are met in impossible ways. Eternal God Himself, in His great mercy and unimaginable love became a man and died for our sins. He rose again three days later, as a sign for proof. And also for our life.

So as Christmas morning comes for you and yours, would you ponder what you are celebrating? Will you try to imagine what it must have been like for Holy God Almighty to take on the form of a helpless child? Will you ponder the kind of love that motivated the creator of the universe to step out of the glories of heaven? All, so He could personally die on account of all the terrible things, and the little bad things, and even the things you're convinced were "good" so that He could honestly and justly offer you forgiveness - free for your taking, if you would just take it.

Though I rest in this, I will be pondering the wonders of it myself. Sure that I have not yet seen the fullness of He who died for me.

Playing Catch-Up

Wow... dry spell for blogging. I've been really busy.. mostly being sick. Some sort of virus took up residence in my muscles.. and then moved to my lungs. I missed 8 or 9 days of work! But I've recovered now thank God.

I've been doing a crazy workout program that involved running in a swimming pool. OK the running part is hard but I'm getting good at it now. The second part of the program is moving your arms and legs like you're skiing in the water... this is beyond hard. The woman running the program denies ever having seen someone die in her pool... but I'm pretty sure she was crossing her fingers when she said it. As for the "No Running In The Pool" sign... I guess if someone sees us we're all going to be in trouble.

Just the other day I read the first valid argument for someone adhering to King James Bible Onlyism ever. This man needed to draw a line in the sand, to have a final authority. He chose the KJV Bible because of it's history of "good fruit." He doesn't think it's the only good Bible but he is convinced it reveals God's Word and his conscience convicts him to obey it. He doesn't force his view on others as though everyone should only use the KJV. I myself have decided to trust the Spirit who has come to lead believers into all Truth. John 16:13 He is my line in the sand, and He reveals what is written in the Word of God and that is my final authority.

I went to watch The Golden Compass today, on assignment for The Cross Current. Just like what is being reported, the movie theater was only 1/4 full. I took 7 or 8 pages of notes during the movie as research for the next episode of TCC Radio. Even though the tone of anti-Christianity and more so Anti-Catholic message of the books has been dulled greatly for the movie, I still think this movie shows how important it is for people to study the Bible. This movie injects seemingly endless ideas that are anti-Christianity into the mind of the viewer. These ideas are so woven into the plot that I honestly doubt anyone who isn't grounded in good doctrine would even notice. Ideas like that adults can't be changed only kids can. That faith demands a willful ignorance of science. That Christians seek to control the world. And that this mission to control the world is hidden behind the idea that we tell people what to do to help them. The movie is an anti-evangelism indoctrination message for people of all ages who are open to suggestion. The movie doesn't cover the entire series of books.. no surprise they want to make two more movies. I thank God that evangelism is carried out by the Holy Spirit and whoever He wants He is going to get. No one was more willfully blind, more against God than I was. I tried to run away. He saved me anyway.

I've got a bunch of other projects going on.. the TCC team is building a new witnessing framework which is a little more honest, a little more complete, and a lot more about Christ than what we have been trained to use in the past.

God continues to stretch me well beyond where I want to be. He doesn't seem to be satisfied with me living at all in my old ways. He's changing me.. and proving my faith. Life is full of great challenges. But as the challenges show themselves I can see God's sustaining power and His provision for all things.

When people do what they believe

Answers In Genesis discusses how one student really believed in Evolution and acted on it.

I am prepared to fight and die for my cause, . . . I, as a natural selector, will eliminate all who I see unfit, disgraces of human race and failures of natural selection. No, the truth is that I am just an animal, a human, an individual, a dissident . . . . It’s time to put NATURAL SELECTION & SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST back on tracks!

These are some of the last words of a Finnish teen who really believed what he was taught....

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