How Deep The Love?

It's been said, and rightly so I believe, that the Church is unique in that you have to admit just how bad you are before you can get in. And as true as that is, it's just as true that a very large portion of believers (the Church) still think they need to be "good enough" for God's love to be effective in their life. There is a bondage that believers find themselves in when they focus on God's justice apart from His mercy, and His plan. God is completely just. So when we sin, when we do wrong things, when it truly is "all our fault" what should we expect of Him? What is He like in these situations? The question is; How deep into your evil heart can God's love get?

Oh, it's a fundamental question. And one that rightly preoccupies many a man face down in prayer and supplication. Come on admit it. You've been on your face (or maybe on your knees?) asking for mercy because of something you know you caused. When you're there are you truly expecting mercy or is there some part of your heart that believes God would show His true character by crushing you... or letting you suffer the consequences of what you did? Come on be honest, I can't hear what you're thinking. I've been there. Face down and saying something like "Father God, I know it's my fault but will you rescue me again?"

It's an interesting question that "will you" isn't it? The very question answers our prayer. We're instructed to pray with expectation are we not? When teaching about praying for wisdom for trials the Apostle James tells us what we can "expect" if we don't pray with faith, and that is simply - nothing. As I type this I realize, this is a tough teaching. I know how tough it is, I've just learned it myself. So what kind of "expectation" can we have when the problem we're facing is truly "all our fault"?

God will glorify Himself. That is our purpose in the world. It is God's purpose for History. He will do this in every situation. God is glorified when He gets all the credit, when what He has said happens. As He says in Isaiah 46:9-11 that He declares the end from the beginning. It's how He identifies Himself. This is a fundamental characteristic and identifier of God. God says we can identify false prophets, or prophets who are not from God by the fact that what they say is not true, does not come to pass. Deut 13 Deut 18:21-22 OK before I go too far off track I'll try to make sense of this paragraph. God has said a number of things about His glory, redemption and His plans for believers. And if what He has said is not true then He Himself would by His own definition be a false prophet. Since God can not lie, and therefore can not be a false prophet it follows that what God says is true and that would include what He has said about His plans for believers.

Let's get back to the beginning and then put the situations we find ourselves in, in perspective. When a person is saved they "repent" or judge themselves guilty and unworthy and God holy and completely worthy. We transfer trust from ourselves to Christ. In effect we admit we're evil. And then we trust that Christ really did die for all of our sins. That He truly paid the full price for us. Grace, or unmeritted favor, is shown by Holy, Just, and Righteous God towards the evil unworthy sinner and the sinner is instantly justified, is reborn and becomes a child of God. It's an amazing thing that every Christian depends on.

And then we do something wrong. We really mess up. Maybe intentionally. What then? Was God's grace only good enough for salvation and now we have to pay the price for the rest of our sins? I hope not. Because the payment required for sin is simply death. But on the other hand, once a person is saved do they get a free ride? Can they simply "get away with" anything and everything? Or is there a third option revealed in Scripture. I'm sure you're all smart enough to figure out I'm going to go for the "third option" so I'll save you any further build up.

God is just. But our Eternal Life depends on the fact that Christ died for our sins on the Cross. There is nothing more to be "paid" or "made up for" by those who trust Him. His stated plan for us is this - to conform us to the image of Christ. It is a worthy and fundamental study for any Christian to find out what the Character of Christ is. Not only because He is God and our Savior but because it is this state of Character that God is working each of us toward. But the Lord Himself gives a really good description in Mat 11:27-30 This is God's ultimate purpose for every believer. To bring them to the point that they look just like Christ Jesus. Perfection will not happen in this life but will be fully realized when we stand face to face with God. This is God's stated purpose and since His glory rides on the truthfulness of His Word we know that He is going to make what He has declared, actually happen.

And this becomes practical in the life of a believer who's failed in some regard, either big or small, because God's purpose is not to punish the believer for sin. His purpose is to make the believer more like His Son Jesus Christ. He gets glory when He does this. When we are rescued from our sin, our screw ups and even our intentional misbehavior it is God showing Himself faithful. Our part in this is to humble ourselves. Mat 18:4 Mat 23:12

Think about the Glory of God. If someone is good, does God show His power by setting that person in a high position? Or does God get glory when the most unexpected person is cleaned up, changed, and put in a position he or she could never have reached on their own? James explains this thought in James 1:9-10

The Lord explains what the person with failure is to be like Himself in Luke 18:9-14

9And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:

10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11"The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'

13"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

14"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Let's say a Christian gets a speeding ticket because they were really speeding. Is God's justice served by the Christian paying that ticket? Nope. God's justice was served at the Cross. So does that mean that God won't make a Christian pay a speeding ticket then? Nope. The truth is that paying the ticket doesn't satisfy God. We are saved by faith. It is God's purpose that we are purified, we become more like Jesus. That's the reason why God came to die for our sins.

So when a Christian has messed up and it's his or her own fault can they pray to God to be saved from the consequences? Yes. We can pray that God's real purpose for us is fulfilled. We can humble ourselves before Him. We can go before the Mercy Seat and pray for the mercy that was purchased for us at the Cross. We know God's heart for our lives. And knowing that gives us a sure foundation to base our prayers on. It might be that it's going to take paying that speeding ticket for us to be humbled. It's going to be different in every situation. But God's purpose is that we are humbled, not destroyed or punished. His purpose is that we would be purified to be more like Christ so that we can be "zealous for good works." And He gets the credit, or the glory, for those good works when the only way we could have done them is by His power.

So if you're in a situation that is you're own fault, you've just realized you're part of the club. That's the problem that Humanity faces. We truly have all sinned, or fallen short of the Glory of God. You are not unique.

You know God's purpose, and if God was willing to die for this purpose you know He's serious about it. So while you're praying for a way out of paying for your ticket you MUST get serious about God's purpose too. And you must have faith that God really did die for all your sins. That His love goes to the deepest, darkest portions of your heart. That it brings light to these dark caverns that harbor the evil that leads us into sin even after we are saved. Go before God in confidence that will do what He has said He will do. Confess your sin before Him, and whoever else He tells you to confess it to if anyone at all. Know that this confession is part of God's plan of humility in your life and that through it He forgives AND cleanses all unrighteousness. Look carefully His plan is not just to forgive, it is to cleanse us of these things. Walking or living in this kind of openness and humility is called "walking in the light." It is having your heart exposed, to yourself, to God and to your brothers and sisters in Christ. This will not only keep you out of trouble it will foster the character of Christ in you that is God's purpose for our lives.

And if God's purpose is being fulfilled without you having to suffer the consequences for sin then it is completely reasonable for the Child of God to pray for rescue with expectation that he or she really will be rescued. In all things God's purpose is to make us more like His Son, not to punish us. To hammer this home, if God's purpose after we screw up is to punish us by paying a speeding ticket (or whatever) then He's lied about what the "wages of sin" actually is. And He's lied about Who died for our sins, and what that accomplished. Need I remind you that God cannot lie?

So Christian, stop praying against the consequences of sin and start praying in accordance with God's purpose. In that you can be confident that no matter what happens God is working out His plan to bring you closer to the very image of Christ. And if God is working such a great plan out in your life could you possibly have reason to fear?

Those who do, and those who don't.

Of late, I and some of my close brethren in the Lord have been accused of holding a “laundry list” of stumbling blocks before the feet of the unconverted and thereby preaching a false gospel. We've been accused of negating the Lord's beckoning of the lost sinner to come and freely drink of the Living Water for Eternal Life. These are serious accusations, and if they prove true then my brethren and I are in grave danger, even more grave than the poor souls who would therefor have been led astray by our preaching and proclamation.

The Gospel we preach is this; That God Himself came in the form of a flesh and blood man lived a perfect life and willingly died on the Cross as He was prophecized, and qualified to do on our behalf for our sins. And that He was actually dead and was buried, and that from the dead He was resurrected to life and seen by some 500 people in the flesh. A lost sinner must believe this and cast his own trust on Christ Jesus Who did these things as his only hope for salvation, which is repentant faith.

We also preach that the confidence of salvation comes from trusting that Christ did this and the testimony of the Holy Spirit to the new Christian's own spirit. We affirm that repentant faith may or may result in many actions, intents and/or changes but that these results are not themselves repentance.

Our accusers tell us that a person can be saved by believing that Jesus is qualified to give them Eternal Life, so the call preached (as far as I can discern) is “Believe on Jesus for Eternal Life”. Our accusers are on record in many places stating that the person can be saved while denying or not knowing they are sinners, while denying and/or not knowing that Jesus is The Christ God Himself, and while denying and not knowing about Christ's resurrection.

If I have misrepresented our accusers stance and preaching then let it be assumed I am arguing against the stance and preaching that I have just described. I have found that our accusers often write in “double-speak” and in terminology which sounds like Christianity but is not based in the Scriptures.

In Mark 16 Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself provides what we have come to call “The Great Commission.” And in it the Lord tells us the two results the Gospel will have.

Mark 16:14-18 NKJV

14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

The Great Commission starts with a rebuke to those who did not believe He had been resurrected. That strikes me. The importance of belief in the Resurrection is set out first. And that makes sense to me but I'll get to that. The Lord says “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” He tells them to preach the Gospel. And then He declares the two states of man in this age. The person who believes will be saved. The person who does not believe will be condemned.

Does this condemnation happen only through denial? No John 3:18 tells us this “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Oh precious truth, the Gospel saves a person out of condemnation because those who believe it are not condemned but those who do not are condemned already.

In a parallel passage to “The Great Commission” we read in Luke 24:45-48

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.

“And you are witnesses of these things.” What things? Christ's death and resurrection, and repentance and remission of sins. These are the things we are to witness to the world.

When did the Lord first tell about the Gospel of Grace? Mat 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” They had already been sent out with the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is the “Good News of the Kingdom”. Israel's coming Kingdom was there and available to them, they simply needed to repent and say “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD!” but they did not repent, and instead of recognizing Jesus as Messiah the Prince they had Him killed. They did not recognize God for Who He Is. We must take Israel's missteps and use them as warnings for ourselves and those we minister to.

The Lord sent the Disciples out with the Gospel of His Death and Resurrection, which I and others often term “The Gospel of Grace” or “The Gospel of the Risen Lord” or even just “The Gospel of Christ.” The Lord says in Mark 16 that those who believe this Gospel will be saved, and those who do not will not be. But what exactly IS this Gospel. What is the “content” or “laundry list” of “doctrines” or “items” that need to be believed to be saved.

The Apostle Paul tells us with great clarity in 1 Cor 15. He begins his teaching to saved Christians with the statement that “I declare to you the Gospel by which you are saved.” Some have stated that this is Paul declaring “how” Christians are saved and not the content of what must be believed. While it surely is news of what happened in order for us to be saved, the Lord's own words tell us that we do need to believe it for salvation to happen. In closing the Apostle shows that all those sent out from God preach the same message saying “Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

So we have the full content of the Gospel that must be believed for a person to be saved in 1 Cor 15:1-11.

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

At this point the preacher can make it very complicated explaining the whys behind each verse of this section or he can follow the example of Paul in all his dealings and know the audience.

The Gospel can be preached as I recounted near the start of this subject or it can get as deep as discussing how all of Creation is under the Curse to die for sin and so that any “created being” who dies is actually dying for their own sin and so could not possibly die for anyone else's sin. This requires that the Christ actually be God. This sort of information is not “required” by the Gospel but there are people who will demand the Gospel be explained to them in full detail. The amazing thing about the Gospel is that it does make sense, it is fully defensible.

There are many examples in the New Testament of people asking what they must do to be saved. The answer is always “Believe on Jesus Christ.” or some variant of. Belief is always the requirement. It is the content of that belief that is important. The Lord Himself defined it, the Apostle Paul defined it, and what's more the Apostle Paul proclaimed under Holy Inspiration that all the Apostles preached this very same Gospel. If “Believe on Jesus for Eternal Life” is the proper Scriptural salvation message and if believing “for” Eternal Life is what saves and not believing “on” the Christ then the salvation message was never preached until recently and so the Early Church must have been filled with false converts. May it never be said to be so!

Finally, does this Gospel that Paul and the Apostles preached in accord with the Lord Jesus Christ's command put a stumbling block in the path of the lost one seeking to drink freely of the Living Water? The Lord Himself said in John 6:53-58

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

In John 3:1-18 Nicodemus asked the Lord how to be saved, Jesus gave him the Gospel. He showed the man how he must see his sin nailed to the tree as the Israelites had to when Moses lifted up the snake (curse for sin) up on the stick.

It costs a man nothing to judge himself, appraise Christ and His work on the Cross and then rightfully transfer his trust from himself to Christ. It is no stumbling block at all except for those who would hold to their pride instead of drinking what is truly free.

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.