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What is the Gospel?
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 The idea of unconditional election cannot be supported from the Bible - and I showed why in that thread. You, imo, oughta spend more time reading the Bible and seeking wisdom from God than reading what people say about the Bible and seeking wisdom from men. I’m not going to re-argue why Calvinism - specifically the doctrine of unconditional election - is flat-our wrong. |
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“On the Other Hand, Church History Has Always Recognized “Why Predestination is Biblically Accurate” Predestination is a doctrine rooted in Scripture, specifically in the New Testament. Here are key passages and themes that demonstrate its biblical accuracy: Ephesians 1:4-5: “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.” This passage explicitly states God’s predestination of believers before the world was created. Romans 8:29-30: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” This passage illustrates the sequence of God’s sovereign actions, including predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. 1 Peter 1:1-2: “According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling of his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance.” This passage highlights God’s foreknowledge and predestination, emphasizing the believer’s sanctification and obedience to Christ. Acts 13:48: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and praising the word of the Lord—and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” This passage shows that God has appointed certain individuals for eternal life, demonstrating predestination in salvation. Key Themes God’s Sovereignty: The Bible consistently portrays God as the sovereign Creator and sustainer of all things (Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 46:10; Romans 11:36). Predestination is an expression of His sovereignty in salvation. Election: The concept of election is closely tied to predestination. God chooses certain individuals for salvation, as seen in passages like Romans 9:11 and 1 Peter 2:9. Foreknowledge: God’s foreknowledge is often linked to predestination, implying that He knows and chooses those who will come to faith (Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 1:2). Redemption: Predestination is ultimately about God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:9). Believers are predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image and to share in His glory. Conclusion Predestination is a biblical doctrine rooted in Scripture’s teachings on God’s sovereignty, election, foreknowledge, and redemption. These passages and themes demonstrate that predestination is an essential aspect of God’s plan of salvation, ensuring that believers are chosen and secured in Christ from eternity past. www.crosswalk.com www.crossway.org en.wikipedia.org www.christianity.com www.gotquestions.org www.thegospelcoalition.org |
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Danger In Diviating From God's Purposes Based on the search results, it appears that cheap grace can contribute to dismissing predestination by: Undermining the notion of God’s sovereignty: Cheap grace, which emphasizes human effort and merit, can lead to a diminished understanding of God’s sovereignty. If human actions and decisions are seen as crucial for salvation, it may be argued that predestination, which implies a predetermined outcome, is unnecessary or even contradictory. (From “Help! I’m Struggling with the Doctrine of Predestination”) Focusing on human works rather than God’s initiative: Cheap grace often emphasizes human responsibility and good works as essential for salvation. This focus on human effort can distract from the biblical teaching of predestination, which highlights God’s initiative and election. (From “Lecture: Dr. Lawrence Feingold, “Aquinas on Predestination & Grace””) Promoting a works-based salvation: Cheap grace can lead to a salvation that is based on human performance rather than God’s grace. This can result in a rejection of predestination, as the emphasis is on human achievement rather than God’s sovereign choice. (From “Predestination: Does God Choose Your Fate? - Grace Communion International”) Neglecting the biblical teaching of election: Cheap grace can overlook or downplay the biblical doctrine of election, which is closely tied to predestination. By emphasizing human responsibility and ignoring God’s sovereign choice, cheap grace can contribute to a dismissal of predestination. (From “Help! I’m Struggling with the Doctrine of Predestination”) In summary, cheap grace can lead to dismissing predestination by undermining God’s sovereignty, focusing on human works rather than God’s initiative, promoting a works-based salvation, and neglecting the biblical teaching of election. www.thomasaquinas.edu www.crossway.org www.gci.org |
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You previously insulted the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ by claiming you were responsible for your salvation by works and commandment keeping, and now you’re portraying God as a monster by claiming He condemns some people to hell before they’re even born. Great job, Frank. |
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Sincere, But Sincerely Wrong Confusing the meaning of God’s grace can indeed lead to rejection of predestination. Here are some potential pitfalls: Overemphasizing human free will: If one focuses solely on human agency, they may conclude that predestination implies a lack of human responsibility or moral accountability. This misunderstanding can lead to a rejection of predestination as it seems to undermine the importance of human choices. Undermining the sovereignty of God: Conversely, if one emphasizes God’s sovereignty to the point of neglecting human responsibility, they may view predestination as an arbitrary or capricious decision, rather than an expression of God’s loving and wise plan. Failing to distinguish between election and general redemption: Some may mistakenly assume that predestination implies a limited atonement, where Christ only died for a select few. However, Scripture teaches that Christ’s atonement is universal (1 John 2:1-2), and election is a matter of God’s choice to apply that redemption to specific individuals (Ephesians 1:3-6). Correcting Misconceptions To avoid rejecting predestination, it’s essential to understand God’s grace and sovereignty in harmony: Recognize the interplay between human responsibility and divine sovereignty: Predestination does not negate human responsibility; rather, it highlights God’s prior knowledge and election of those who would respond to His grace. Emphasize the universal scope of redemption: Christ’s atonement is for all humanity, and predestination refers to God’s choice to apply that redemption to specific individuals, not to limit its scope. Focus on the character of God’s grace: Predestination is an expression of God’s loving and wise plan, not an arbitrary decision. His grace is sufficient for all, and those predestined to salvation are secure in their inheritance (Romans 8:31-39). By avoiding these misconceptions and understanding God’s grace and sovereignty in harmony, we can appreciate the beauty and comfort of predestination without rejecting it. www.crossway.org www.thegospelcoalition.org www.gci.org |
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Thank you, for that. I’ve shown you my reciepts from established Biblical sources, where are yours? |
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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30-31) You go by the words of men - but only men that feed your ego by saying you have to earn your salvation and that you’re among those predestined by God to be saved. Which makes no sense when you think about it… You believe you’re predestined by God to be saved but you also believe you have to earn your salvation by works and commandment keeping - a complete contradiction. |
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Feel free to check it out. |
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Explain how you’re responsible for your salvation by works and commandment keeping AND God chose you to be saved and nothing you do can change that. |
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My position on this issue is settled by my peace to live according to Holy Spirit’s leading and affirmation. No works and no set of rules/ laws. |
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I‘m quoting the Bible. I don’t need to quote what men say about the Bible. And if you really believe works and commandment keeping have nothing to do with salvation, why do you dismiss as “cheap grace” that salvation is by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone? You can’t have it both ways - you can’t believe you have anything to do with your salvation apart from believing in Jesus Christ and also believe God chose you to be saved and nothing you do can change that. It seems you’re trying to resolve that obvious contradiction by believing in unconditional election, which is refuted in a myriad of ways. This verse is just one example… “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) So you think God condemned some people to hell before they were born and they can’t do anything about that, BUT at the same time, God’s not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance? |
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Because so many Christians (present company included) seem to have such an aversion for getting involved and making a real proactive difference in our collapsing society. In fact, most are completely clueless in this regard. When Christ comes back to look at the how we used the talents he gave us, what kind of return are these couch potatoes Christians going to show Him? ;This is one reason which i can think of off the top of my head. |
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Meanwhile, you present God as a monster - an entity that sends people to hell for eternity based on nothing they’ve done and that they can do nothing to change. Why are you worshipping an entity like that? I can sum up unconditional election in Calvinism in two words - egotistical and selfish. Egotistical because Calvinists believe they’re the chosen of God, and selfish because they think it’s fine other people go to hell even though they didn’t have a choice in where they spend eternity. It’s really a perverse and blasphemous doctrine. And you’ve once again proven you’re under the law because you’re comparing your works to other people’s works. You can pay lip service to the Gospel all you want, but it’s clear you believe in salvation by works and commandment keeping and that you (conversely) believe you were predestined by God to be saved and nothing you do can change that. What you believe is not based on the Bible. It’s based on your ego. And only someone who has no understanding of God and no love for God could believe He would condemn people to hell for eternity through no fault of their own. That’s sadly you, and the antidote to your lack of understanding and lack of love for God is not to spend more and more time posting about former President Trump. |
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Phil Robertson lays down some biblical wisdom we should all remember.. |
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@ Thumper I’m sure you’re a practical man who incorporates Kingdom principles beyond the narrow boundaries which this other fellow, who will remain nameless, who sticks to a strict interpretation of Grace which borders on fanaticism IMO. Certainly my application of Grace does not include helping Samaritans, evidently. The next post will dive deeper into this issue. |
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A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed! The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates how God entrusts each individual with unique gifts, abilities, and resources, expecting them to employ them in His service. The parable highlights three distinct approaches to advancing the Kingdom of Heaven, tailored to each servant’s individual situation: The Five-Talent Servant: This servant demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit, investing the five talents to generate a 100% return (Matthew 25:16-17). This approach represents the proactive, innovative, and ambitious individual who seizes opportunities to expand God’s kingdom through their skills and resources. The Two-Talent Servant: This servant shows diligence and prudence, doubling the two talents through careful management (Matthew 25:16-17). This approach embodies the responsible, dependable, and hardworking individual who stewards their gifts and abilities to advance the kingdom through steady, consistent effort. The One-Talent Servant: This servant, though fearful and inactive, buries the one talent, neither growing nor losing it (Matthew 25:25). This approach represents the individual who, due to fear, lack of faith, or complacency, fails to utilize their gifts and resources to advance the kingdom, instead preserving them in a state of stagnation. Common Thread: Faithfulness Despite the varying approaches, all three servants are judged on their faithfulness to the master’s entrustment. The master’s return and evaluation serve as a reminder that each individual’s unique methods, though different, are accountable to God’s expectations. The parable emphasizes that advancing the Kingdom of Heaven requires faithfulness, whether through bold innovation, diligent stewardship, or humble preservation. In conclusion, the parable of the talents illustrates that advancing the Kingdom of Heaven involves diverse, individualized approaches, each reflecting the unique gifts, abilities, and circumstances of each servant. By recognizing and embracing their distinct roles, believers can faithfully serve God, leveraging their talents to bring glory to His kingdom. www.theologyofwork.org en.wikipedia.org www.biblestudy.org |
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Why don’t you take that to heart, Frank, instead of insulting Christians on here who don’t want to join your political crusade and your hero worship of former President Trump? |
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He Who Is Not For Me, Is Against Me (Matthew 12:30) Christians honor God by speaking truth to power and exposing evil, as seen in the biblical account of Daniel’s confrontation with King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) and Peter’s rebuke of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). In modern times, Christians have used their platforms to expose corruption and injustice, such as investigative journalists like Chuck Colson, who exposed Watergate scandals, and organizations like World Relief, which advocates for human rights and anti-trafficking efforts. Practical Community Impact Christians demonstrate their commitment to God by serving their communities, as exemplified by the early Church’s care for widows and orphans (Acts 6:1-6) and the modern-day work of organizations like Food for the Hungry, which provides disaster relief and sustainable development programs. Christians also work to address social injustices, such as racial inequality, poverty, and healthcare disparities, through initiatives like racial reconciliation efforts, community development projects, and healthcare outreach programs. Combining Exposing Evil and Practical Community Impact Christians can honor God by using their voices to expose evil and then channeling their efforts into practical community work. For example, a Christian journalist might investigate and expose corruption in local government, and then partner with community organizations to develop initiatives that address the resulting social issues. This integrated approach acknowledges that exposing evil is not an end in itself, but rather a means to bring about positive change and glorify God in the process. As 2 Chronicles 20:22 says, “When they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the Ammonites and Moabites, and they were defeated.” www.christianity.com www.wisdomonline.org biblereasons.com |
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Seeking First The Kingdom Of God Is Gospel There are a lot of things that reach for our attention. Our time is filled with people and responsibilities, with needs and desires, and these all take time. In Jesus’ famous sermon in Matthew 6, He spends time talking about the various things in life that we give our attention to. Jesus tells us that instead of spending our time worrying about how to get what we need, we should seek His Kingdom and His righteousness. If we do that, then everything else will be taken care of. So what does it mean to seek God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness? God’s Kingdom is about God’s rule and reign over all of creation. His Kingdom began in Jesus’ ministry on earth and is now expanding and continuing through the Church. The work of the Kingdom is to continue to tell others about the hope of Jesus, and to teach all the things Jesus has commanded us. To seek God’s righteousness is to desire to live the way God intended. It is to live according to God’s commands, which requires that we make decisions that align with God’s Word. Jesus says that if we do these two things—seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness—then every other area of our life will make sense. When we don’t prioritize God’s desires for our life first, then we’ll end up worrying about things that are temporary. Living a life according to God’s Word ought to be our greatest concern because God’s Kingdom will last forever. Think about how you spend your time. In what ways can you make seeking God's Kingdom your first priority? Rather than worrying about how to get what you need, seek God and watch Him meet your needs. From the YouVersion Bible study App Rhythm of Reflection for today |
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<<The gospel is the good news that God loves the world enough to give His only Son to die for our sin (John 3:16). The gospel is good news because our salvation and eternal life and home in heaven are guaranteed through Christ (John 14:1–4). “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3–4). The gospel is good news when we understand that we do not (and cannot) earn our salvation; the work of redemption and justification is complete, having been finished on the cross (John 19:30). Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). The gospel is the good news that we, who were once enemies of God, have been reconciled by the blood of Christ and adopted into the family of God (Romans 5:10; John 1:12). “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). The gospel is the good news that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To reject the gospel is to embrace the bad news. Condemnation before God is the result of a lack of faith in the Son of God, God’s only provision for salvation. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:17–18). God has given a doomed world good news: the Gospel of Jesus Christ!>> www.gotquestions.org |
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It's Our Choice, Isn't It? Not so complicated that even a child can understand. |
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The Gospel Just Makes Sense "One Minute Prayers to Unwind a Busy Mind" When Your Mind Is Wound Up in Worry When a worry has been on my mind for a long time rather than in God’s care, it inevitably takes up more than its share of mental and emotional real estate, including a stake in my future. No longer is my focus on the present moment or even the past moment when the worrisome situation first appeared on my radar. I’m lost in the thought maze of “What if this happens, what if that happens.” In grade school, did you ever play cat’s cradle…a game in which you crisscross string around your hands and then pass the formation along to others? Well, the tangle our worried minds are spinning is about as useful…but not as innocent or fun. A long-held worry steals joy, hope, and time while it creates a false validity in your mind. The influence of far-fetched ideas about what might happen is far-reaching enough to distort discernment of what’s true. Your picture of the future will be knotted up in lies. Your view of who you are and what God is doing in your life will be diminished. When that worn thread of uncertainty intertwines with our daily thoughts for weeks, it can dictate our actions, reactions, and choices. We might not recognize that’s happening, but chances are that the free-range concerns have run ahead to anticipate outcomes and sound more alarms. We’re not any closer to controlling our futures; we’re merely becoming one of the proverbial chickens. You know, the one squawking about the falling sky or the unfortunate fowl hopping around without a head. What do you do if you’ve unintentionally replaced God’s hope with hyped-up hypotheticals? The answer is to pray and surrender it. All of it. Ask for discernment to know what deceptions you have held onto. For example: Everyone is against me. I’ll never be able to change. That situation or person is not redeemable. God’s love isn’t enough. It’s too late. It’s never too late to gather up a worry and all its fabricated mazes and loose ends and pass them to God’s capable hands. There is surprising relief when you realize you’ve been waylaid by falsehoods and not truth. The predicted obstacles were mirages. The grace that clears them away is your beyond-understanding, very real, no-strings-attached miracle of faith. Reflection: What embedded worry has influenced your life with unknowns rather than certainties? In prayer, surrender to God’s control the worry and the wound-up predictions. Prayer: God, this concern has sent me reeling from lack of control rather than healing in your power. Show me where I gave authority to a deception. Forgive me for investing in unknowns rather than your certain strength. I am so grateful to lean into your promises and receive the miracle of your great peace. Luke 12:25-26 / 25 And which of you by worrying can add a [a]day to his [b]life’s span? 26 Therefore if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the other things? Isaiah 58:11 / And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your [a]desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not [b]fail. Psalm 55:22 / Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to [a]be shaken. From the YouVersion Bible study App Bible study from Harvest House |
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<<ENDTIME Watchmen 16 hours ago Share the glorious gospel in these last days ✝️❤️🕯️ Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4>> |
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<<What is the Gospel? The term “gospel” literally means “good news” and is a central concept in Christianity. It appears predominantly in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically 93 times, and is derived from the Greek word “euaggelion.” The gospel encompasses the entirety of Scripture but is more narrowly defined as the good news concerning Jesus Christ and the way of salvation. Understanding the Gospel: The Bad News First To grasp why the gospel is considered good news, one must first understand the bad news. According to Christian doctrine, humanity has sinned against God, which leads to spiritual death and separation from Him (Romans 3:23). The Old Testament Law was given to Israel as a standard for righteousness (Deuteronomy 5:1), but it is so stringent that no one can fulfill it perfectly. This establishes that all humans are in need of redemption. The Good News: Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice The core of the gospel involves Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, which serves as an atonement for sin (Romans 8:3-4; Hebrews 10:5-10). Under the Law, animal sacrifices were made annually as a reminder of sin until Christ’s ultimate sacrifice fulfilled this requirement once and for all. His resurrection on the third day confirms His victory over sin and death (Romans 4:25), offering believers hope for eternal life. Key Elements of the Gospel Who is Jesus? - He is identified as Christ, God’s Son. What has Jesus done? - He died for our sins and rose again. Why has Jesus done this? - To provide forgiveness and reconciliation with God. How do we know it’s true? - It fulfills Old Testament prophecies and is supported by eyewitness accounts (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). How should we respond? - With repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The Power of the Gospel The gospel holds transformative power because it brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). It assures believers that they are reconciled with God through faith in Christ, who offers grace rather than condemnation (John 3:16; Romans 8:1). In summary, the gospel is fundamentally about God’s love demonstrated through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, providing a pathway for humanity to be saved from sin and restored to a relationship with God.>> iask.ai Here are key salvation passages, imo… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:30-31) What does it mean to believe on Jesus Christ? <<So, do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe that Jesus is God in human form (John 1:1, 14)? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21), for which you deserve eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23)? Do you believe that the sacrifice of Jesus, God incarnate, is the only adequate payment for your sins (1 John 2:2; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)? Do you believe these things? If so, great, but believing the facts about Jesus is only part of the equation. Biblical faith/belief is far more than believing certain things to be true. Biblical saving faith is also trusting/relying on those facts. A chair is a good illustration. You can look at a chair and believe it is made of materials strong enough to support your weight, and you can believe that it was assembled correctly. But that is not biblical faith. Biblical faith is sitting in the chair. It is actually relying on the chair to hold your weight off the ground. Are you trusting that Jesus is your Savior? Are you relying on His death as the full payment for your sin debt? Are you depending on His resurrection as the guarantee that you, too, will be raised to eternal life after death? Not that it could ever happen, but if the “chair” of Jesus Christ were pulled out from beneath you, spiritually speaking, would you hit the ground, or are you also relying on things in addition to the chair? If you understand and believe what the Bible says about Jesus, and if you are trusting in those truths as the basis for salvation—you are saved! You “believe in Jesus” in the biblical sense. If you are uncertain if you truly believe in Jesus but you desire to, or if you feel God drawing you to faith in Jesus, the next step is simple. Believe! Trust in Jesus! Rely on Him for your salvation. Allow God to turn you from sin to forgiveness and salvation. If you would like to verbally express your new faith to God, here is a sample of what you can say: “God, I know that I have sinned. I know that my sin separates me from you. I know that if left unforgiven, my sin will separate me from you for eternity. I believe and trust that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that He died to pay the full penalty for my sins and that He rose from the dead on the third day. I am relying on His sacrifice alone to bring me into a right relationship with you. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for saving me. Help me to grow closer to you each and every day for the rest of my life.”>> www.gotquestions.org |
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Christ's Great Commission & Psalm 113:3 The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:44-49, Acts 1:8. The key point in each Bible passage are; Matt/ "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 [a]Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to [b]follow all that I commanded you;" Mark / "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned." Luke 24:44-49 / "He said to them, “So it is written, that the [b]Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance [c]for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed [d]in His name to all the nations," Acts 1:8 / "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses" Please note each one of these passages included specific points of important criteria for fulfillment of the Great Commission. Taking Christ's Gospel requires "making disciples" knowing that "All authority has been given to Jesus"; "we are to take the Gospel into all the world, preaching it to all creation, the one that believes and is baptized will be saved and the one who doesn't believe will be condemned "; "that repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed"; before going to witness wait for. "the promise of the Father - you will receive power". Just going out "half cocked" as the saying goes is not obedience to what Christ Jesus has commanded. In fulfilling the Great Commission then, and only then can we have the realization of Psalm 113:3. This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch Psalm 113:3 by Switch: www.bible.com From the YouVersion Bible study App Rhythm of Reflection for today |
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And the need for disciples (those who give up everything to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) was much greater in Jesus’ time before mass and instant communication around the globe was available. Now, a Christian can spread the Good News about the Gospel of Jesus Christ on social media and reach literally hundreds of millions of people. The Scriptures also are available for free on the Internet, which obviously was not the case in Jesus’ time. In Jesus’ time, Christians had to physically travel to other locations to spread the Gospel, which obviously was very time consuming and required them to forsake all that they had in service to the Gospel and Jesus Christ. Most of those who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ today are not disciples based on the requirement that they give up all that they have. They’re just on an ego trip. |
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“The Most Hated Christian Doctrine” youtu.be Video is 57:59 Don’t let the length put you off - this is a great sermon. Here are some excerpts… “But why all the hate? Why the hate of the most marvelous, compassionate, gentle, merciful, gracious, kind, loving human who ever walked the earth and more than that the God man who expressed divine love, offered forgiveness of sin, entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, eternal life. Why all the hate? And Jesus answered that in John 7, verse 7, the world hates me because I bear witness to it, that its deeds are evil. That its deeds are evil. There is the most hated Christian doctrine. It is the doctrine that theologians have called the doctrine of depravity. The doctrine of total depravity, if you will. The doctrine that declares the whole human race is sinful. That’s what generates the hate. Because fallen man has to find a way to tolerate himself and the dominant sin in fallen man is pride, and he will create an image of himself which escapes ultimate condemnation. He will spin a web of delusions about himself that he is good, noble, anything but that his deeds are evil. And this was especially compounded because Jesus was saying that to the Jewish religious people. You are evil not only in your general life, you are evil in your religion. Your religion is just another form of your wickedness. And John begins his Gospel with He came into the world, the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. They rejected Him. And from the get-go there was hate. As you go through John’s Gospel you see this hate play out in the whole record of our Lord’s life.” **************************************************** “That’s why it’s so hard to enter the Kingdom. Because it requires a reassessment of yourself that a self-protective sinner has no capacity to accomplish. So the most hated doctrine is that everyone is a sinner. And seriously so. And profoundly so. So that it incapacitates. So that it’s impossible to believe the truth. So that the truth sounds like a lie.” “This most hated doctrine then has to be followed with the fact that sin brings judgment. So this is your condition: You’re a sinner and you are headed for eternal judgment in hell. That is so offensive. So unacceptable. So unbelievable. It’s the most hated doctrine.” ****************************************** “But when you say this is the truth, this is all the truth, and the truth is that you are a sinner dead in trespasses and sins … and your default position is to believe lies to such a degree that the truth seems demonic. That’s how profoundly evil you are. And you are headed for eternal judgment. You have just destroyed the sinner’s house of cards that he has built for self protection. So this is the most hated doctrine. But at the same time it is the most distinctively Christian doctrine… No other religion has this doctrine. Because all other religions are some form of works salvation, some good in me that can achieve salvation, can gain favor with the Deity or can cooperate with God. All religion - even all false forms of Christianity - affirm that people are good or have enough good in them … that allows them to contribute to their salvation.” ********************************************* “Religion is not a step toward God. Religion is the final blasphemy. It is the final blasphemy. It is the final stage of the sinner’s depravity... This is very hard for people to understand. Because so many people find their way into religion as part of the necessary assembly of components by which they can think of themselves as good and relieve some guilt. Man is never more sinful than when he is in a false religion or has invented a false god or a false Christ or a false Gospel. That’s not an improvement. That’s the worst blasphemy of all blasphemies. The most heinous sin of all sins is to have another god than the true God, another christ than the true Christ.” ************************************************** “We have to be honest enough to give the hated bad news in order to deliver to the sinner the good news that oh by the way though you can do nothing about it, Christ will accept you by Grace. That’s the message of the Gospel.” ********************************************************* FWIW, I don’t agree with Pastor John MacArthur’s position on Calvinism, which he references in this sermon. But I agree pride is the main sin (maybe the only sin) that sends people’s souls to eternal condemnation. They simply won’t admit they’re not worthy of Heaven (whatever their vision of Heaven is) and can do nothing to make themselves worthy of Heaven apart from believing in Jesus Christ. And that was reflected in the Old Testament (centuries before Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry) as well… “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10) Salvation and righteousness are gifts from God. |
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Help For Polluted Heart / The Polluted Well Proverbs 4:23 observes the dangers which arise from a polluted or corrupted heart. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Our innermost being is our heart. From this platform we decide issues and answer questions concerning our own and our family’s welfare. The heart is the control center for our lives. What we want, choose or do all begin from this most important center of who we are. It is from our heart where we find what we want, what we will choose, and what we will do. Filling our hearts with questionable or poisonous ideas and interests will pollute our hearts with issues we’re later bound to regret and wish we had not entertained. In Matthew 15:19 Jesus described such a heart this way: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and [a]slanderous statements." Nothing good can come from a bad heart like this.And to highlight the seriousness of a bad heart, consider that the leading cause of death in America today is heart disease. Proverbs 4:26 has this to say about this issue; "Watch the path of your feet, And all your ways will be established." Where do go with our eyes, our ears and our feet? What motivated us as make our way in this life? Proverbs 4:25 has a suggestion for setting our purposes according to a definite plan or purpose. "Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your [a]gaze be fixed straight in front of you." Are body is a shell and we may fill it with whatever we purpose to fill it with. Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is [a]clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [b]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" Mark 7:21-23 “For from within, out of the [a]hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery, 22 deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, [b]envy, slander, [c]pride, and foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile the person.” Taking our polluted heart to Jesus will provide cleaniness and liberty from the pollutions of our hearts. Ezekiel 36:29 "Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness;" If there are pollutions in our hearts which shouldn’t be there God can provide remedy. Proverbs 4:20-22 “"My son, pay attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 They are not to escape from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing to all [a]their body." Ezekiel 36:25-27 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and [a]follow My ordinances." Jesus can provide cleansing and a new heart for those who’ve been polluted by the cares and lies of this world. Sunday Message from T J Morales at the Potter’s House today |
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<<SalvationIsEasy 1 hour ago People always ask me why people can't understand how simple The Gospel is. I believe that they understand its simplicity but just can't actually bring themselves to BELIEVE it. It's less an issue of understanding than it is a matter of belief. It's a blow to the ego of most people to say to one's self, "there is nothing good in me and I am not really a 'good person' and all my works are like 'filthy rags' in God's Eyes." To come to the end of one's self and to put NO confidence in the flesh is a major admittance of human weakness...a concept our flesh fights and resists persistently. But it's the ONLY WAY into the narrow way and straight gate...Who is The Eternally Existing Son of God, Jesus Christ, our redemption, justification, sanctification, righteousness, wisdom, shield and exceedingly GREAT REWARD! "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the PROUD, but giveth grace unto the HUMBLE." (James 4:6, KJV)>> |
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