Can You Show The Bible Is Credible Without Citing It?...

1. It’s self-attesting, appealing to itself for authority. If it appealed to science, then science would be the final arbiter of truth, and science has been wrong, like when the sun revolved around the earth. We’d expect God’s word to begin with God and explain the world and truth, not anything as a footnote. The Bible rightly begins with God (“In the beginning God….”_). That’s not the beginning of a story but of all rational thinking. Either matter is eternal, created, or evolved—we know it’s not an illusion or Maya. Where we begin virtually determines where we end up. It actually claims to be the very Word of God and other scriptures don’t—over 2000 times it says, “Thus saith the LORD.,” or its equivalent.”
2. It’s the only one of the twenty-six known scriptures in the world that contains fulfilled prophecy, you’ll find no prophecy in the Koran, Brahman Vedas, or Bhagavad Gita, and over 2000 of them are in the Bible, not just a few lucky guesses, and these are in great detail and not vague like Nostradamus. Jesus fulfilled 333 prophecies explicitly.
3. The Bible is credible because it has miracles that are not helter-skelter or for show but to demonstrate a lesson from God, like demonstrating Christ’s deity. Other religions believe miracles because the religion is already believed, but Christianity is verified and confirmed by miracles, especially the resurrection as the biggie one. Jesus said to believe in Him for the miracles’ sake.
4. The Bible is based on history and fact—the resurrection is objective, historical fact “with many infallible proofs.” (Cf. Acts 1:3), if I can indulge a quote to say what I’m saying. There is circumstantial, historical, and empirical evidence for it. The historical, scientific, and geographic truths have been verified by archaeology. There are no scientific absurdities or anomalies, though it makes many scientific statements ahead of the writer’s time. Its history has been checked thoroughly. There is much corroborating evidence about Jesus, for instance, from secular sources. If you dehistoricize the Bible, it’s totally discredited, but no one can do that. There’s no evidence of it being a legend or myth like Greek mythology.
5. The writing of the Bible is a miracle in itself: over forty authors in three languages over 1500 years and yet having one theme.
6. It has a unique power. Most people that disbelieve it haven’t read it. We don’t have to defend it—it defends itself—just read it and prove it yourself! It doesn't contradict itself but contradicts people. The Bible has a unique ability to convict of sin and shed light: it reads you as you read it, it makes you hungry as you feed on it. You never have read it enough and don’t just read it once and set it back on the shelf!

Is Confessing The Same As Repenting?...

This is also an issue for the believer because, of the Ninety-Five Theses that Martin Luther posted, the first one was that repentance was a “progressive” activity of the believer, not a one-time act. Note that repentance is a prerequisite to salvation and it was preached by Jesus: "Repent and believe in the gospel." It is required for salvation in Acts 2:38 and 3:19.. Acts 17:30 commands all men everywhere to repent.

They go hand in hand and you can distinguish them but not separate them. For instance, if, you try to repent without confession, it’s like not really admitting any wrongdoing and coming clean without owning up to your sins and confessing (which is homologeo or to say the same thing as) Now we all do sins we are not aware of and that’s why when we confess God forgives us of them too (cf. 1 John 1:9).

The Greek word metanoia for repentance is to change one’s mind, have afterthoughts, or to turn directions. Remember that Judas tried to confess without repentance and it only amounted to simple remorse and guilt. Confession is a matter of fellowship and repentance is more closely associated with salvation in the grand scheme of things though.

How can you repent of a sin without having it in mind? Like this? “I repent of my sins, but not admitting any of them!” But if you also confess without repentance you are setting yourself up for repetition and an impenitent heart that is insincere and toying with God and making light of the act. The sacrifices of God are a contrite heart (cf. Psalm 51:17). Like saying I’m sorry I was caught with my hand in the cookie jar but not sorry enough to refrain from it again. Even Judas admitted or "confessed" his sin: "I have betrayed innocent blood."

Even if one realizes or thinks he might do the sin again, is no reason to not repent of it because repentance is the gift of God and He must grant it (cf 2 Tim. 2:25; Acts 5:31;11;18). No one completely ends sinning by confessing or repenting but it’s still commanded and the ways to grow in faith and closer to God. There’s no guarantee you’ll not commit a sin again but God looks at your attitude.

Proverbs 28:13 says that he who confesses and forsakes his sin shall find mercy. Both repentance and confession are acts of faith and cannot be done without it. That’s why theologians refer to penitent faith or believing repentance The definition of confession is to say the same thing as God says about and admit it, and repentance is to make a complete turnaround, do a 180, or make an about-face and turn from your sins toward God—a radical change of heart, mind, and will (cf. Acts 20:21).

I can’t cover all the bases but here’s some more reflection: We are all personally offended by some sins more than others for sure but these may not line up with God’s Word. We must also bear in mind that the devil accuses (the accuser of the brethren) and creates a guilt complex, but the Holy Spirit convicts and brings us to repentance by the Spirit of grace.

Believers shall never “come into judgment,” (cf. John 5:24). And we can not come into condemnation (cf. Rom. 8:1). But we commit sins of omission too that we may not be aware of besides the sins of commission that we do know of. Remember that confession and repentance are progressive and don’t end at salvation We must keep short accounts with God to stay in fellowship and walk with Him by faith.

“He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesses and forsakes them shall find mercy.” (cf. Prov. 28:13).

Note: Genuine repentance brings forth fruit! (cf. Acts 26:20), “…that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” (cf. Luke 3:8), “Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance.”   Soli Deo Gloria!

Coming Of Age

 All of us have a right to leave our mark (leave a legacy) and make a difference in the spiritual world.  Also, we all have a right to be treated as adults and not children once we've come of age and though we may still be innocent in regards to the evil we can still be mature in godly matters.  The focus of Jesus' life was the relinquishment of "They will be done!" There are many seasons of life that we all pass through and they all have their right of passage. In Jewish culture, the bar mitzvah was the age of maturity for a young man.  

We notice that especially in Mary, the mother of Jesus, that she had to adjust to the Lord growing up and realizing His mission in life to please the Father and to accomplish His will, not His own.  A mother's role is complex and she has to realize when she is mothering too much when it is not welcome and not respecting a son's independence or manhood and even robbing it and smothering him in affection or caretaking. There comes a time when all men ought to leave their mothers and cling to their wives as to another form of care and affection. But we still "honor" them according to the commandment despite being emancipated.  

She started out in her path with the Lord just being her handmaiden but then became blessed among women by being selected to bear the Savior in her womb, so she became a mother and had to realize many responsibilities, that were above what the average would be. At the marriage of Cana, she realized she had no more authority over the Lord.  There comes a time when a mother must recognize her child is all grown up and has a right to make his own decisions and to be responsible for them.

When Mary and Joseph lost track of Jesus as the temple in Jerusalem (where was her faith?), it wasn't negligence even though she thought she had let God down, but it was Jesus purposely assuming His mission "to be about His Father's business." Jesus doubtless had done this on purpose.  She might have doubted her ability as a mother and was probably thinking she had failed God or erred from His will feeling guilty. We too can doubt our mission in life or not even realize it, and then conclude we have failed God. However, Jesus never doubted His divine mission first as Savior.  But it's never too late to get on track with God and back with the program.   Mary would learn the lesson and might have needed to apply it to herself, that one must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and follow God as Job One.  

Yes, there would come a time when she would "treasure these things in her heart," and she did ponder them meaning she didn't fully comprehend them but they would be food for thought and reason to meditate. She would have to acknowledge His authority and to listen to His teachings. Mary had been thankful and praised God for being chosen but there came a time when she was just addressed as "woman" by Jesus and she had to realize that she couldn't order Him around anymore that there comes a time when a child is no longer under the parents' tutelage, aegis, or authority. At the marriage feast at Cana Jesus told His mother: "What has this concern of ours to do with Me, woman..." (cf. John 2:4).  Jesus had to mention that His mother would be anyone who did God's will--a spiritual family.  Mary would be subject to Jesus now! 

There would come a time when she would become His disciple and follow and contribute to His ministry, even carrying for His personal needs as He sojourned and preached.  She stuck by Him all the way to the cross and probably mourned like any mother and thought it all had been for naught and that her mission had failed too. She didn't understand again but must have known by faith that God would work it all out and that there comes a time to trust and obey God even beyond our understanding--you don't have to understand to obey.  We too may have to realize a mission we don't comprehend and go by faith and not by our understanding. We all must learn to walk by faith and not by sight. She became a mourner for the Lord.

We all have a unique place in God's scheme of things and it all starts with a decision to follow Christ.  Even Mary had to do this and to become a follower.  Just like her, we are all called to a unique opportunity and place in God's kingdom. It all goes to show also that you don't have to understand God's will and probably won't but you can still accomplish it by faith.  Soli Deo Gloria!

We All Have A "Dark Side"

 Mark Twain is quoted by Charles R. Swindoll as saying that we are all like a moon that has a dark side no one sees. This is true. We all have "feet of clay" and are vulnerable to sin because of our very nature. We cannot clean up our act before we can come to Jesus; we must come as we are, but we cannot stay that way.

We must see how bad we are before we can become good. It's not how bad we are, but how bad off we are. It is like the distance of a deaf man to a symphony or a blind man to the Mona Lisa. We cannot bridge the gap. Jesus sees through the veneer and we cannot fool him.

Humanists think mankind is basically good, but we an inherently bad. You must realize that we are not sinners because we sin, rather we sin because we are sinners. It is our constituted nature to sin. We can deal with sins in the plural, but our problem is sin in the singular--our old sin nature inherited from Adam. This is God's estimation of man, not man's estimation of man.

The totality of our nature is permeated with sin and our image of God is marred and defaced morally. "No one knows how bad he is until he has tried to be good," says C. S. Lewis as in a catch-22. The paradox is that we must see our bankruptcy--the truly bad person thinks he is all right! And Lewis adds, "We must realize how bad we are before we can be good." The way up, by paradox, is down.

We are sinful in toto and in solidarity with Adam completely. Someone has said, "We cannot escape our birthright." We cannot ingratiate ourselves with God, because we "have feet of clay." That means we have hidden vulnerabilities. We are permeated with sin through and through--there is no vestige of righteousness.

R. C. Sproul writes of a man who never lost his faith in the basic goodness of man despite being held captive in Iraq--this is sheer ignorance! Compared to Saddam Hussein the run-of-the-mill sinner looks like a saint; however, he is just as bad off from God's viewpoint and they both must come to Jesus the same way in childlike repentance and faith.

HOW DEPRAVED ARE WE THEN?

Man is depraved through and through, as bad off as he can be, but not as bad as he can be. N.B. that this is God's estimation of man, not man's estimation of man. It is like being pregnant; you can't be a little pregnant. Sin affects every aspect of our being which means we have radical corruption or total depravity. "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh" (Rom. 7:18a). I don't mean utter depravity (that we are as bad as we can be) but total depravity (that every aspect of our being is spoiled with sin). We all have "feet of clay" (having flaws not readily apparent) and can't "clean up our act" nor ingratiate ourselves to God.

We show our solidarity in Adam when we sin--we sin because we are sinners, we are not sinners because we sin. It is not okay to fudge a little because we a diabolically alive--we all are like a moon that has a "dark side" no one can see. We may be a run-of-the-mill sinner compared to Hitler and see ourselves as saints in comparison; but Christ is the standard and exemplar, not Hitler.

We are inherently bad, biased to evil, having lost our inclination to good at the fall. Evil permeates our nature and we are defiant volitionally. This is all God's estimation of man, not man's estimation of himself. This is called original sin by some. Augustine of Hippo said we can only do evil (non-posse non-peccare). But Jesus sees through the veneer and facade. We are "by nature children of wrath" and "enemies" of God before we are saved. We must see how bad we are to be good and we don't know how bad we are till we've tried to be good.

There are many verses that support depravity including Jer. 17:9 ("The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?"); Isa. 1:5-6, 64:6; Jer. 13:23; Rom. 8:8; Gen. 6:4-5. The law shows our present state: "Indeed, it is the straightedge of the law that shows us how crooked we are" ( Rom. 3:23, J. B. Phillips).

CAVEAT: EVEN OUR WILLS ARE STUBBORN AND DEPRAVED AND MUST BE WOOED AND TRANSFORMED BY GRACE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT! Soli Deo Gloria!

Fulfilled Prophecy in Christ

 More than 333 prophecies were fulfilled by Christ showing some 451 details, not vague generalities that can be misunderstood or misinterpreted, but exact accountings. 

1. Born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2; Matt 2:1,5)
2. Of the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10; Heb. 7:14)
3. Of a virgin  (Isaiah 7:14; Matt 1:18-22)
4. A prophet like unto Moses (Deut. 18:15; John 7:15-17)
5. The King of Israel   (Zech 9:9; John 12:12-15)
6. Rejected (Isaiah 53:3; Jn 1:11)
7. Silent  (Isaiah 53:7; Matt 27:12-14)
8. Betrayed  (Psalm 41:9; Matt.  14:17-20)
9. Tried and condemned  (Isa. 53:8; Matt. 27:1-2)
10. Crucified  (Psalm 22:16; Jn 19:17-18)
11. His garments divided  (Psalm 22:18; Jn 19:23-24)
12. Given vinegar and gall  (Psalm 69:21; Jn 19:28-29)
13. His bones not broken (Exodus 12:46; Jn 19:31-36)
14. He is our sacrifice  (Usa 53:5-6; 1 Pet 2:24-25; John 1:29)
15. Was raised from death! (Psa. 16:10; Luke 24:1-7,47)

Note: the gospel of Matthew was written to show that Jesus is the Messiah the King of the Jews who fulfilled prophecies and repeatedly refers to them as they are fulfilled. 

Cheap Grace

PART I

Easy-believism or cheap grace (first popularized by theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer) has been a constant misconception of our faith. It justifies the sin, not the sinner! Salvation is indeed free, but not cheap! It will cost something and you will be tested. The most obvious one that some won't be willing to pay is to turn from a life of sin, like living in sin and not being willing to change that lifestyle. If we want to live godly in Christ, we will suffer persecution, according to Jesus. We must be willing to seek first the kingdom of God (cf. Matt. 6:33) above all other priorities, dreams, ambitions, and whatever is ours--because all ultimately belongs to Him, because Jesus doesn't want these things--He wants us as living sacrifices (cf. Rom. 12:1)!

That's what He meant when He said we must deny ourselves and follow Him. We don't know where He will lead us or know God laid out a plan for our whole life at salvation but must be willing to do His will, whatever it is in the complete surrender of our wills to His. Jesus also said that we must love Him preeminently above family, friends, children, spouse, and even self. In the last days, men will be lovers of themselves (cf. 2 Tim. 3:2), or "looking out for number one!"

Jesus did everything He could to discourage insincere followers and make salvation "well-nigh impossible." But it is worth the cost to follow Jesus through thick and thin and the reward is eternal. The more abundant life we experience begins in the here and now, as we live in light of eternity with God's blessing in all we do in His name. True prosperity isn't necessarily higher income, not even fame, or power. What being prosperous entails is God's blessings on our ventures and helping us to find what He will bless us in. The disciples were inquisitive about what their reward would be since they gave up everything to follow Him, and Jesus said that it would multiply not add (like ten times, instead of ten more).

Jesus had no trouble attracting admirers or people who wanted to be buddies or sidekicks, but He was looking for disciples who would devote their lives to the learning of Him and be following Him--this is what He meant by those who worship God in Spirit and in truth. Jesus said that if we abide in His Word we are disciples indeed (cf. John 8:31). Don't be someone to whom Jesus might say, "You have sacrificed nothing!" This is an awful rebuke of a disobedient life, and some believers may be saved as if by fire and by the skin of the teeth, so to speak.

The reward that we strive for is everlasting and we should be inspired by athletes who make great sacrifices and strive for a temporal prize that fades away. One of the metaphors that Christ uses for the believer is one of an athlete--we are to exercise discipline in our life and set our eyes on Jesus and finish the race He has set before us. If athletes can endure the discipline and think it will be worth a temporal prize, so much the more should we be inspired to make sacrifices for eternal prizes in Christ's kingdom, and even the ultimate sacrifice, because we are considered worthy to suffer for His kingdom (cf. Philippians 1:29).

The prize we seek is worth more than anything on earth and we should be willing to sacrifice anything on earth to gain it--God doesn't ask everyone to make great sacrifices, but He does expect them to be willing to do so. Nothing on earth (fame, fortune, power) is worth losing our soul for and Jesus said succinctly (cf. Mark 8:36), "What shall it gain a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" One soul is worth more to God than the entire world! You cannot put a price on salvation nor on the joy that a believer has in Christ.

Jesus never made it seem easy to be a bed of roses to be a believer and admonished us to count the cost, but "all these things shall be added" unto us if we follow Christ. The problem with most seekers is that they want the benefits without the Benefactor. We are not to get a martyr's complex either, thinking that the more we suffer, the more spiritual we are, or that we gain salvation through suffering or martyrdom--Jesus isn't calling us to die for him but to take up our cross and follow Him regardless of the results and through thick and thin. We are called to deny ourselves and this is the unique sacrifice of Christianity, and the one that makes it unattractive to some, because they are unwilling to heed Christ's "hard sayings." When we suffer for His sake, we shall in His glory--no cross--no glory!


PART II

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder" (James 2:19, NIV).
"Believe in the Lord [i.e., accepting his lordship or ownership] Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31, NIV).
"...' Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37, NIV).

A. W. Tozer wrote a book, I Call It Hersey, to debunk the false notion of easy-believism (i.e., not accepting Christ as Lord of one's life but believing in spite of it) or cheap grace (i.e., forgiveness without repentance, justifying the sin, not the sinner!), as Dietrich Bonhoeffer referred to it as. This message of domesticating and dumbing down the call to lordship is the gospel in vogue in modern, mainstream denominational churches who disregard repentance and, its flip side, faith as the only means of salvation. William Booth warned of a church offering forgiveness without repentance!

We must have a penitent faith or believing repentance as it were. Salvation is indeed free, but not cheap--it costs everything we've got (total surrender of self to His will). The propagators of the easy-believism tend to preach that we don't have to obey Christ to be saved--just believe! This is not accepting Him as our Lord. Christ will not dichotomize His offices and personhood.

We must submit to Him as Lord and trust Him as Savior. We cannot accept a half-Christ. He is Lord of all, or not at all! (Cf. Rom. 10:12; Acts 10:36). We must bow to His authority (cf. Phil. 2:10-11) and ownership over our lives as the "Captain of our soul and Master of our fate" (cf. Invictus by William Ernest Henley)--we must release control of our life. In other words, our destiny is in His hands (cf. Job 23:14) and we must openly confess Him as our Lord before men to confirm our salvation (cf. Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32-33). There are no secret Christians or closet believers. There are also no Lone Ranger ones or solitary saints--we must all get connected with the body to function and grow.

Now there is no such thing as a carnal Christian as a class of believers, though believers can become carnal or lose their fellowship, backsliding or even falling from grace. Christians do disobey God, though they do not continue in it, for God disciplines them and brings them back into the fold. If we are without discipline, we are not real children of God! Blessed are those who have learned to be rebuked by the Scripture and don't need a school of hard knocks to learn lives Reality 101. "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all" (Psalm 34:19, NIV).

God is looking for believers with gusto, who are gung-ho for the Lord, not halfhearted! We must seek Him with our whole heart to find Him, for God regards not triflers. It was said of Joshua (cf. 14:8) that he "wholly followed the Lord." We must hold nothing back, making no compromises with the world, for if we love the world or the things of the world, we will not love God (cf. 1 John 2:15). We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (cf. Mark 8:34). Jesus never made it sound easy to be saved, but even discouraged halfhearted "disciples."

We, also, must not contextualize or water down the gospel message to lure or entice folks with an "acceptable" gospel they can swallow or handle without offense (but Christ is the Rock of offense and a Stone of stumbling!).

Some people merely pay lip service or go through the motions, memorizing the Dance of the Pious, in their worship--which is a fraud and a sham, not the real thing--this is Churchianity or playing games with the church, not Christianity. The Bible condemns those whose lips are near but their hearts are far from the Lord only doing their religious "duty" in church, not out of the heart. Lukewarm believers are ones who are not walking with the Lord and need Christ in their heart to be a real encounter with Him.

The only genuine test of faith is obedience and "only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes," according to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Yes, there's a cost to discipleship and no one is promised a bed of roses--our reward is not in this life (cf. Psalm 17:14), for the Lord is our portion (cf. Gen. 15:1)!

Our faith is not measured by our ecstasies or encounters, even experiences such as visions and dreams, but only by our obedience (cf. Heb. 3:18-19)! Jesus will say that we are merely good and faithful servants at the Judgment Seat of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10). Yes, the cost is great and it's a life of sacrifice of self--not living for oneself--but the cost of rejection is greater!


PART III

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, (cf. The Cost of Discipleship) the famous martyred Lutheran Nazi resistor, talked about "cheap grace." Our salvation is free, but it costs everything. "Easy-believism" refers to belief without commitment and lordship. We must accept Christ as the lord of our lives and the center of our being.

Simple acquiescence or agreement is not enough; one must believe in one's heart and decide to follow Jesus no matter the cost. Jesus said, "Take up your cross, deny yourself and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24).

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, regretted that the twentieth century would usher in Christianity without Christ and faith without repentance. Your head belief must travel 18 inches to your heart to be heart belief. True faith loves Jesus and is a living relationship with Him.

Repentance is the flip side of faith and goes hand in hand with it. They compliment each other and need each other--they are different viewpoints. We are to leave the fundamentals of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. To get assurance we must examine our hearts and look at the fruit of our lives. The Word of God coupled with the testimony of the Holy Spirit will bring assurance of true faith.

Don't let anyone tell you that it is easy to become a Christian. Sure children can get saved but one must receive it as a child even if one is old. Jesus said to enter at the "narrow gate" for narrow is the gate and hard is the way that leads to life and "few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14). Many preachers say, "Just believe! It's easy!" but the Holy Spirit must be working in the person's heart to convict them (John 16:8) and draw them to Christ (John 6:44). Jesus said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

God gets all the glory and we are not the captain of our souls or the master of our fate--our ultimate destiny is in the hands of God. Arminians think this makes God look like a terrible tyrant, but in reality, He is sovereign over all. Soli Deo Gloria!

Are Works Imperative?

 "...Set an example of good works yourself..."  (Tit. 2:7).

 There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity:  works out of a pure motive and not for applause versus to ingratiate oneself, or to get brownie points with a deity.  Religion says, "Do!" while Christ says, "Done!"  Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to.  The key is not "in order to," but "therefore."  Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. Changing lives is Jesus' business and the point of salvation.   In a works religion, you never know how much is enough!

Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.  We don't have to, but want to! Many Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" or "living the good life" is all that is necessary to accomplish salvation; that they have "made it."  God requires perfection and any effort to earn one's way is in vain.  We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone (a living one), in the person and work of Christ alone according to the Reformers.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone, works aren't necessary or don't follow (but we say grace is necessary and sufficient).  The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."  Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion; combining works and faith for salvation is legalism.  Faith that produces no works is antinomians, being against the law or lawless.  The prevalent view that faith alone without any evidence (some will say gifts of the Spirit like speaking in tongues) will suffice is erroneous, being initial evidence validates salvation or the filling of the Spirit.  This is known as antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene: if you don't have good works to "work out" (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect.  The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds not works of the law.  We are not saved by works;  but not without them either--but unto works!  Works (or righteousness) prove faith to self others and God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it.  We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show" (cf. James 2:18).

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they come from two vantage points:  Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the Law of Moses was necessary;  James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines.  Paul would say, "I'll show you my works."  James would counter, "I'll show you my faith."  Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18).  James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5).  James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do"  (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! It goes places!  Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated.  Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward)  not our faith per Romans 2:6; Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:1  (our faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3, Acts 14:27; 2 Pet. 1:1, et al.)!  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10).  "God will repay each person according to what he has done'"  (Rom. 2:6).   Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him."  We are to be a people "zealous of good works" (Tit. 1:16).  We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and  "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).  The faith we have is the faith we have is the faith we show!  Faith must be authenticated by works or it's suspect.

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria).   "I venture not to boast of anything but what Christ has accomplished through me" (cf. Rom. 15:18;  Amos 6:13).  Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing."  Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us."  The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8).  We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12).   Most of all the importance of it all is summed up:  "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God"  (Col. 2:10)--note how they are correlated.   

There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity: works out of a pure motive and not for applause; i.e., to ingratiate oneself or get brownie points with a deity. Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to. The key is not "in order to" but "therefore." Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. We are not saved by good works neither without them! We're not saved by good works but unto good works! (cf. Eph. 2:10). In a works religion, you never know how much is enough! Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.

PART II

"...Set an example of good works yourself..." (Tit. 2:7).
Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" is the ideal and living the "good life" is a "salvation." God requires perfection so any attempt to earn our way is in vain--we need grace and heaven is that gift which is by faith alone, but only a living faith.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone works aren't necessary (we say that grace is necessary and sufficient and that faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3; Acts 18:27; 2 Pet. 1:1: John 6:29; Phil 1:29; Acts 14:27). The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion and mixing works with faith for salvation is legalism. The prevalent view that grace is both necessary and sufficient--there's no place for merit) without any evidence will suffice is erroneous. This is known as Antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene that if you don't have good works to "work out" or a spiritual workout (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect. The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds--not works of the law. We are not saved by works; but not without them either--but unto works! Works prove, validate, and authenticate, faith to others, God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it. We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show."

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they saw two vantage points: Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the law was necessary; James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines. Paul would say, "I'll show you my works." James would counter, "I'll show you my faith." Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18). James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5). James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward) not our faith since faith is a gift (cf. Rom. 12:3)! We are judged according to our works, not our faith (cf. Romans 2:6; Prov. 24:12; Psalm 62:12) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" the Bema or tribunal) (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10). "[God] 'will reward each according to what he has done'" (Rom. 2:6). Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him." We are to be a people "zealous of good works". We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria). "I will not venture to boast of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18). Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing, " (cf. John 15:5). Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us." The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8). No fruit means no faith. We are known by our fruits. We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12). Most of all the importance of it all is summed up: "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10) [Note how they are correlated.]

NB: WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS, NOR WITHOUT THEM EITHER. WORKS VALIDATE FAITH AND WITHOUT THEM OUR FAITH IS SUSPECT! Soli Deo Gloria!

Wherefore Art Thou, My God?

"There is no one who understands; no one who seeks God" (Romans 3:11,

HCSB).
"'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it'" (Gen. 28:16, HCSB).
"... [W]hile my enemies continually taunt me, saying, 'Where is this God of yours?'" (Psalm 42:3, NIV).
"Why let the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" (Psalm 115:2, NIV).

NB: WHEN ASKED, "WHERE IS GOD?" WE OUGHT TO REPLY, "WHERE ISN'T HE?"

Job wondered of the whereabouts of God and sought Him wholeheartedly, only to be finally rewarded by His visitation. Remember: God didn't move, we did! "If only I knew how to find Him so that I could go to His throne" (Job 23:3, HCSB). If Job can wonder, so can we; not that He's deserted or left us alone, but that we sense His presence and feel in His will and at peace with Him. The Lord promises to be found by all sincere searchers, but His pet peeve or main complaint against man is that he doesn't seek God (cf. Rom. 3:11).

"... But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul." (Deut. 4:29, HCSB). Jesus reiterated that if we seek, we shall find; God is no man's debtor and will authenticate Himself. But Isaiah even recognized that God is making Himself known to triflers and the merely curious or disobedient, in that he said, "Yes, You are a God who hides Himself..." (Isa. 45:15, HCSB). Jeremiah also noticed that if we seek we will surely find God, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." (Jer. 29:13-14, HCSB).

Our God is the God who is there (Jehovah Shammah) and He is here even when we don't know it, for He's always as close as the mention of His name. Some people think they have found God, but He found them first: Pascal said, "I wouldn't have found God, had He not first found me." Jesus is the great Hound of Heaven in search of lost sheep and He will find them. This is verified in Scripture, Isaiah 65:1, HCSB, as follows: "'I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek Me...." There used to be a bumper sticker that proclaimed, "I found it!" but they obviously didn't realize what Amazing Grace says, "I was lost, but now am found." (Then they changed their rallying cry to "He found me!" He found them! God wasn't lost! And God is not called it!

Francis Schaeffer wrote a book about God's presence saying "He is there, and He is not silent." He said that Christianity is about the God who is there! Many who search for Jesus have just missed the boat on fellowship and have unconfessed sin or spiritual skeletons in their closets, and forget that He's as close as confessing all known sin, (call it as it is without cover-up) for God indwells each believer and sometimes we quench the Spirit's fire and even insult the Spirit of grace, which grieves Him. Let us always live up to the calling we have received in a worthy manner (cf. Eph. 4:1).

Now God has no galactic address or physical place of residence, for His everywhere-ness is apparent in His Providence and dealings with man. For God is spirit! If we approach Him in prayer and get entree to the throne room of grace and mercy, it's like entering another dimension and the presence of God. For it has been postulated that God is invisible because He's in another dimension! But we are not capable of seeing the invisible and the spirit world.

So where is God? "'Am I a God who is only near'--this is the LORD's declaration--' and not a God who is far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places and where I cannot see him?'--the LORD's declaration.. 'Do I not fill the heavens and all the earth?' --the LORD's declaration" (Jer. 23:23-24, HCSB). Thus we are not capable of comprehending His presence: "The finite cannot penetrate (grasp, or contain) the infinite" (old axiom).

In sum, after Adam had rebelled and fell in the Garden he hid out of shame and guilt and possibly wondered where God was or even wasn't, only to find out that God didn't hide, he did--and to discover you cannot hide from God!


PART II

"God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us" (Acts 17:27, NIV).
"Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself..." (Isa. 45:15, NIV).
"Oh, that I knew where I might find him..." (Job 23:3, NIV).
"I am sought of them that asked not for me, I am found of them that sought me not..." (cf. Isaiah 65:1).

Paul reminded the Athenians that God isn't far from any one of us (cf. Acts 17:27)! The whole message of Christianity is that we can actually find God! Job thought he lost God and despaired where he was: "O, that I knew where I might find Him." God is not hiding, He just wants us to search earnestly and sincerely. God is no man's debtor and will authenticate Himself to us for seeking Him. Pascal wondered this very point: What we see is not the manifest presence nor total absence of God, but the presence of a hidden God.

God doesn't want to be so obvious that it takes no faith to see Him, but there is enough light if one chooses to see, and enough darkness to keep the stubborn and rebellious blinded. There is always enough evidence for the willing, or never enough evidence for the unwilling. No one can claim ignorance due to lack of evidence, for the heavens declare the glory of God; no one has an excuse in God's view.

The doctrine of the immensity of God and the omnipresence shows that God is wholly present everywhere! He says, "...' I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite'"(Isa. 57:15, NIV). When God seems distant or MIA it is not His fault, but ours: He didn't move; we did! Recall how God asked Adam as an analogy: "Where are you, Adam?" This is where walking with Christ matters, to keep in touch with the Almighty on an intimate basis.

It is a fact that God tests us by removing some of the sense of His presence as He did to Hezekiah to see what was really on his heart (2 Chron. 32:31). Our faith must be tested by fire! (Cf. 1 Pet. 1:7). The measure of our faith is not our ecstasies or experiences, but our obedience! Abraham by faith obeyed! Dietrich Bonhoeffer's famous dictum is pertinent: "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."

Christianity, in essence, isn't just about believing in God, but God in us and about the God who is there! As Francis Schaeffer wrote: "He is there and He is not silent." That's why we must maintain our dialog and communication link open to become intimate and near to God as our Father. We are never alone if God is with us! We have not lost all if God is in us! We must examine ourselves to see if Jesus is indeed in us (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5)!

And so God is transcendent, ubiquitous, and immanent: He is both above and beyond as well as near to every one of us. It's not about a galactic address but a spiritual realm or domain we cannot see. The reason is that He is not defined, bound, or confined by space, for He cannot be limited by the time-space continuum that He created. In a sense, God is extra-dimensional! However, we can enter His presence in the privilege of prayer!     Soli Deo Gloria!

In His Time; He Is The Timekeeper! ...

"My times are in your hands," (cf. Psalm 31:15, NIV). 

Remember: God invented and created the time-space continuum  (time being the corollary of space and matter) and that we are captive and limited to; therefore God escapes the confines and limits of space, matter, and time as a consequence of being the Creator not part of creation.  Ecclesiastes says that God makes everything beautiful in His time (cf. Eccl. 3:1). That was especially true at the advent of Christ in the fulness of time when everything was prepared and ready. It can be said that God is not limited or defined by time because He created it and it can not confine Him as we are to the four dimensions.  He is above and beyond and extra-dimensional as it were however, God entered history and continues to orchestrate it as the unfolding story of man's divine redemption in real-time. 

With God, time is not of the essence; He has all the time in the world! He never wastes time but uses it according to His decrees while He perfectly orchestrates history and micromanages the world's time-keeping. With God, time is everything and His timing is perfect! Jesus was born in the nick of time when it was His time and everything was ready including the prophecies.  Likewise, we must seek God's timing and realize He never tarries and will do everything according to schedule and plan. 

There is a time for every purpose under heaven and God calls us especially to "wait on the Lord." Our life is to be of expectancy! We may be in a trial and must learn patience as God had patience with Israel in the wilderness and the exile and in the captivity.   Thank God that He can relate to our sense of time because He entered our dimension of time in the Person of Jesus and experienced our weakness. Jesus actually stepped into time, which He created!   We must certainly learn God's patience. God will also meet us when we are ready and knows the best time for us individually. When Jesus was incarnated, it was a special work of Providence when God chose purposefully to intervene in our lives and history.  We must also look to our visitation as to Jesus stepping into our lives and intervening in our personal time. 

We must have faith in God's timetable that He knows what He's doing with His time, for we are living on borrowed time!  Since God is never early or premature, but on time and never late or postponed or canceled, so should we strive to be godly. He is on time all the time with no partiality and preference to change it for someone.  Things always happen according to His Plan and He needs no Plan B for  His will is destined to happen.  

Part of being human is a sense of time and of eternity; some live in the past and some in the future and both are cheating themselves of their lives in real-time.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Four Concepts Of God

What do you think when thoughts of God enter your mind?  What image do your conjure up? 

There are four views of God from our perspective, based on whether He's engaged, judgmental, or any combination thereof.  First:  people see God as authoritative (both engaged or personal and judgmental) and as somewhat of a father figure, authority figure, or caretaker who exercises it as both personal and judgmental. Some speculate this is how we came to believe in God as a throwback to our need for a father figure.

The second way to see God is as a Life Coach or benevolent figure or Benefactor (trouble arises when people want the benefits apart from the Benefactor or in limiting God to this role). He is Almighty God and immanent in our lives as an Advocate, Counselor, Guide, Role Model, and Leader.  He is both engaged or personal but non-judgmental. This idea of God is too human and in our image. Many see this God as their friend and they as His sidekicks or insiders. 

Third: to see God as a Critic in Chief or Inspector General who is both judgmental and disengaged or impersonal; these people fear the displeasure of God and appear to be God-fearing individuals; they even may believe in karma or impersonal fate.  Who'd be attracted to a God like this? 

The fourth way to see God and many do is that He is merely a force, influence, inspiration, or power behind creation: "the force be with you." Note that we use things or forces but we know persons; these people haven't conceived of God as a loving personage.  He is seen as the cosmic force behind all lifeforms. This god is both disengaged or impersonal and distant.  How do you think people believe in "Mother Nature?"  This god may be nature itself and unknowable. You'd be surprised as to how many people believe George Lucas' version of the Force even with a dark side. 

The concept you have of God determines your destiny: you must be right about the Person of Jesus and who He is!  People who see God as the critic are more likely to be judgmental themselves. People who see God as authoritative are more likely to be control freaks and to be boss people around and to even micromanage. If you believe God cares about our predicament and is engaged and personal, then you are more likely to be charitable and to work for the betterment of mankind in relief work or good causes. 

Note that how we see God is the most important thing about us and reflects our character and personality and how we apply what we know and how wise we are; for the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge:    The real concept of God is that He is personal and involved or engaged with us personally and that He is near to us but that He is far from the wicked and stands as the Judge of all the earth, but we are delivered from the wrath to come.   All four concepts have some truth to them, but we must put them into perspective and in the right relationship. We are accountable to our God and must live according to His will to please Him.  God is both transcendent or distant and above and beyond but He is also immanent and nearby and not far from any one of us. 

So what are we to conclude? Beware lest you put God into your box and limit Him and His infinite nature that cannot be grasped by finite intellects.  Don't let your idea of God be too small!   The problem comes when we limit God to our specs and see Him in only one dimension.  In a sense, He is all of the four concepts but in perspective to His holiness; God is whatever we need Him to be for us:  I AM THAT I AM or I AM WHO I AM or I AM THAT I AM.  Actually, it's simply:   I AM ... ad infinitum with no predicate:  He fills in the necessary completion: God's name is fearful (cf Judges 13:18)!  

God meets our needs wherever we are and fulfills the by the provision; Jehovah-Jireh, or, the LORD is our Provider.  We must not look to a Man Upstairs, Cosmic Killjoy, Benefactor, Pure Mathematical Mind, Fearful Celestial Policeman, Ultimate Spark of Life, Wizard of Oz, Superman, Mean Judge, Kind Father Time, Sentimental Grandfather, Jolly Old Santa Clause, Great Spirit in the Sky, or Magician to bring wonders. We must remain in awe of God and this means true fear of God that we never lose the initial wonder and reverence for God.

Note that only in the Christian faith is God a personal one we can know, love, and have faith in.  Other faiths like Islam denies we can know God because He is too Supreme and definitely doesn't love us.  This is one of the most profound truths of the faith:  Jesus loves us and delivered His life up on our behalf.  The whole point of Christianity is that Christ is God and all we need to know of Him is revealed in His person wth begins with a leap of faith to begin a living relationship with the living God.   Soli Deo Gloria! 

Is Faith A Gift?...

 Is faith a gift or a work? "Who makes you to differ? What do you have that you didn't receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7). Are we not clay in the hands of the potter? "For it has been granted unto you...to believe..." (Phil. 1:29).  Jesus is the "author and finisher of our faith;" hence He originated it. Let us live according to "the faith God has distributed to each [of us]..." (Rom. 12:3).

Some believe it is a meritorious work because they believe in merit plus grace and not sola gratia or grace alone as the reformers championed. "This is the work of God [not our work] that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29). "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God [antecedent is faith as the gift], lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). If faith were a work then we would be saved by works.

Faith is not our salvation and faith is not reckoned as righteousness but unto righteousness (cf. Rom. 4:3 translation of dia meaning unto). Faith is the instrumental cause of salvation (cf. Acts 18:27; 16:14), and we don't put faith in faith but in God. Faith doesn't' save, Christ does! God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles in Acts 14:27, and He opened Lydia's heart to believe in Acts 16:14. It might be interpreted as God quickening faith within us (cf. Acts 18:27). The Spirit kindles faith in a dead person.

Why is this important? 1 John 5:1 says "Everyone who believes that Christ is the Christ has been born of God [ESV]." That means that regeneration precedes faith--we don't conjure up faith and then get saved. If we could believe without regeneration, we don't need it to be saved and we would get some merit in our salvation. God gives us faith and expects us to use it. It is our faith but it is the gift of God. "Who believed through grace" means that we're enabled by God to believe as 2 Pet. 1:1 says we have "received a precious faith like theirs." "... [B]ecause God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess. 2:13, KJV). [NB: sanctification precedes belief.]

Thus we are given faith. This doctrine is important so that we don't have a merit-based rather than grace-based salvation. God wants all the glory (Soli Deo Gloria). To sum up, "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

This is an issue that separates theologians and some call it a doctrine that divides. If you believe faith is a work, then you are saved by works. If you believe faith is a gift, then you are saved by the grace of God. Titus 3:5,7 says we are "saved by grace." Faith is not something we conjure up, but it is bestowed on us through the preaching of the Word. "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Regeneration actually precedes faith according to John Piper and John Orr. If we could believe without regeneration, what good is it? The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it wills. "For by grace are you saved by faith, and that (the complete deal) not of yourselves, it is the gift of God..." (Eph. 2:8-9).

We don't psych ourselves up for faith, and we don't catch it like an illness from others, we don't conjure it up--it comes directly from the Holy Spirit who quickens faith within us. He overcomes our hardened hearts and reluctance to believe. God has the ability to cause us to do something willingly in His omnipotence. Some, on the other hand, have made faith into a meritorious work, and deny that there is any such "gift." What else could it be, a work? Are we saved by grace or works, then?

Some pertinent verses are as follows for meditation:

"For you have believed through grace..." (Acts 18:27). "...To those who have obtained like precious faith..." (2 Pet. 1:1). "For it has been granted unto you ... to believe in Him..." (Phil. 1:29). "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ HAS BEEN born of God..." (1 John 5:1 ESV). Nota bene that this is the past tense indicating that regeneration precedes faith. "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him..." (John 6:29). "God ... opened the door of faith to the Gentiles..." (Acts 14:27). "God opened Lydia's heart to pay attention to Paul..." (Acts 16:14). "What do you have that you didn't receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7).

Faith is our act (God doesn't have faith), but it is God's work. Soli Deo Gloria. God gets all the glory, and we have nothing to boast of. It isn't our virtue nor our wisdom, but God's. God is no man's debtor and isn't obligated to save anyone. It is grace that He saves anyone. God works all things "according to the pleasure of His will." "We are the clay, He is the potter" (See Isaiah 64:8).

Is There A Social Gospel Or Is This A Misnomer?

"When Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature, do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law" (cf. Rom. 2:15, ESV).

PART I

We have been given the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, but is there a Great Cultural Mandate? Some refer to a social gospel, but this is a misnomer. Our ultimate allegiance is to Jesus, naturally, not to the government, and Jesus did say that His kingdom is not of this world--that He was no threat to Caesar. What kind of social calling do we conclude from Scripture? Some Christians believe this society isn't worth saving, some believe politics can't change the human condition, some believe the Bible is not relevant to civil government, and some do believe we should secure and take back society for Christ or reclaim America for Christ! Is it our calling to save America?


You can get too involved in the politics of this world that you are getting nowhere spiritually and getting your eyes off Jesus, but there are evils in society that must be rooted out and the government is instituted to overcome evil, restrain it, and contain it. You look at some of the greatest social movements in history, such as ending the gladiator fights, ending slavery, ending child labor, and giving women their rights, which are the result of Christian influence--so there is a place for Christians to get involved with a divine calling.


We also need Christian influence in the government, i.e., as elected officials and public servants influencing for the good as salt and light. Christ's kingdom is one of the hearts of men and is not visible, it will be set up visibly at His second advent and we will rule with Him in glory. But some Christians believe we should try to take over and impose our way of life on the infidel: making him behave or live in a Christian manner and standard. Christian law has been tried and failed several times in history: Calvin's Geneva; Bradford's Plymouth; Winthrop's Massachusetts' Bay Colony; Cromwell's England, among others. We frown upon Muslims saying that tomorrow belongs to Islam and when they set up Shariah law, that they aren't recognizing the rights of minorities, i.e., Christians. How can we expect non-Christians to live like Christians? This is really Christian Shariah law (like blue laws, gambling restrictions, prohibition, anti-abortion laws, etc.).


The purpose of government is not to outlaw sin but basically to protect freedoms, protect property, punish crime, securing justice. We are to "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's" (cf. Matt. 22:21) for sure, and we are never told to eschew society, start a revolution, or join hands with the powers that be as partners in crime either. We don't have carte blanche to wreak havoc on the social order. If we lived in a communist nation, we are not get involved in a subversive underground of resistance but be model citizens and fulfill our mission of being salt and light.


However, there does come a time when the government tells us to do something immoral or forbids the free exercise of our faith, then it's imperative to disobey in an act of defiance and civil disobedience. Here's the rub: "We must obey God rather than men" (cf. Acts 5:29; 4:19). This is amply demonstrated by Daniel refusing to pray to the statue and being thrown into the lion's den; he neither flaunted nor privatized his faith as a prime minister who was salt and light.


The Bible makes it clear that our primary mission is to change hearts through the gospel message, and hopefully, society will be revolutionized as a direct result. Paul didn't make it his mission to overthrow slavery, but with the spread of Christianity, its demise was certain as believers rejected it and had more influence--not forced change. We are not called to set up a theocratic government or experiment with a nation ruled by religious leaders. It was Christian influence that said we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--rights are conferred from God and recognized by the state.


However, the conclusion of the matter is that we represent Christ to the world as His hands, feet, heart, and voice and we have the power to make a difference by being that salt and light, which preserves and shows the way in the darkness. The church shouldn't get overly obsessed with turning stones into bread or mission work unless the gospel is propagated with it, we are not to become mere do-gooders and must remember and not lose focus of the fact that we are "aliens and foreigners" and our real "citizenship is in heaven" (cf. Phil. 3:20). Christians do have a duty and responsibility to the state, though, as Edmund Burke phrased it: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Soli Deo Gloria!




SOCIAL GOSPEL PART II
"They asked only that we remember the poor, which I made every effort to do" (Gal. 2:10, HCSB).
"... 'He defended the cause of the poor and the needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?' declares the LORD" (Jer. 22:16, NIV).
"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern" (Prov. 29:7, NIV).

Jesus brought the good news to the poor, but He met them where they were at in their need. For instance, he never sent a crowd of listeners away hungry. But the primary purpose was to focus on the gospel message and make it relevant. There is no social gospel, which is a misnomer; however, we have another commission--the Social Commission, which hasn't been rescinded, to practice what we preach and to care for each other in the family and our community as good neighbors so our testimony will not be jeopardized as a church body. Jesus said we would be known by our fruits and we must all practice practical, sacrificial love to our neighbors, especially to the family of faith.

But we want to keep the main thing the main thing (the Great Commission), but also realize our call to turn stones into bread. And we must not end there; being known primarily as do-gooders; even Jesus didn't want to be known as a miracle worker and didn't do any for show, but only out of compassion and to illustrate a point in His teaching, especially His Deity. The church must not despise the poor or down and out, but show mercy (this is a spiritual gift) and reach out to the people who are down on their luck. Some people feel used and manipulated and are taken advantage of even by the church. We must not stereotype them as lazy or having made bad choices, but be gracious with the attitude: "There but for the grace of God, go I"--the words of George Whitefield. It could happen to you! Anyone could need someone to help them get back on their feet someday.

Sympathy would help the church to put themselves in the shoes of the destitute, the homeless, and the needy or ill. Why do you think we have high crime rates, but due to social injustice? Part of the problem is systemic; namely, our education and economic safety net. This means some have the cards stacked against them from the get-go. Poverty can happen to anyone because God says He's the One who makes one rich and another poor. You even hear of lottery winners declaring bankruptcy. Sometimes all it takes to begin the cycle of poverty is an unexpected car repair, an extended sickness, drug abuse (illicit or prescription), alcoholism, mental illness (treated or not), hospitalization, divorce (one's fault or not), or long periods of unemployment (voluntary or not).

Many people in our country live paycheck to paycheck believe it or not. Loss of a vehicle can limit one's opportunities, but Christians don't believe in the equal outcome, redistribution of wealth, or complete equity of income, but in fairness which demands equal opportunity and social justice for all under the law. God hates the exploitation of workers (cf. Mal. 3:5) and of the rich taking advantage of the poor in their vulnerabilities.

Social nets and programs don't always fill in the gap or meet all the needs--there are manifold ways and reasons for poverty. Many people rely on family, but what if you've had to burn bridges? Certain personal problems such as depression and PTSD are becoming more prevalent and these people are becoming stigmatized, which is detrimental and counterproductive to society's "general welfare." Depression itself is a highly debilitating illness and many don't understand what it can do to a person and these people often commit suicide before getting help and don't know how to seek help or send out warning signs and their cry for help is ignored or unnoticed.

People can be victims of circumstances like a flood, tornado, fire, etc., and have no control over them--this can happen to anyone and they will find their need for the Red Cross or Salvation Army. People may ask, "Where's God?" But the real question should be, "Where's the church?" It has been said that many philanthropists do the work of God because they don't feel God is doing it--touche!

People need to believe they have hope and can overcome their situation (when a man has nothing to lose he is capable of nearly anything) and find their way out of the cycle of poverty (the Bible doesn't teach that poverty is necessarily due to laziness or is one's own fault); often success stories and motivation speakers can inspire and give hope, but the gospel is the good news they need to hear and take to the bank. One can never understand the value of education for getting ahead in our technical age and some have been left behind and are still living in the last century!

People can get victory over their problems with Christ as their champion, hero, Lord, and Savior, but they must want to be healed and helped, putting God first in their lives at the helm ("Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" --Matt. 6:33). Christians must remember the words of Mother Teresa, canonized by Rome and 1979 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, saying: Christ has no feet to go for Him but ours; no hands to lend a helping hand but ours; no eyes to see problems but ours; no ears to listen to others but ours; no voice to speak for Him but ours; no mind to solve the problems with but ours! We have an eternal debt to provide for the needy and to work for the betterment of society (cf. Jer. 29:7)

They must never give up because there's always hope and no one is beyond the grace of God. I am a great believer that government is neither the source nor the solution of all our problems and don't believe we need a government program for everything--government is not the means of salvation nor of achieving utopia. We are not here to usher in the kingdom of God nor advance His kingdom by our efforts--it's not of this world! They say an Englishman is a self-made man who worships his creator! I do not believe in self-help (we all owe a debt to our community) or in becoming a self-made man (there is none!), but in learning to walk by faith and to give God the glory following His will--that's why we're here (cf. Isa. 43:7). The worldly-savvy will tell you that "God helps those who help themselves"; however, God "gives more grace" to the humble (cf. James 4:6).

Most people just need a second chance and are willing to go the extra mile if required--they aren't afraid of work, they just haven't found something they're suited for or what they can enjoy or is gainful employment--everyone has a gift and we shouldn't sell anyone short and just think they are fit only for being slaves or common laborers like Aristotle thought of the mass of men--it's a sin to underestimate or shame men and refuse to give them their warranted dignity and self-worth, just as much to honor a fool or promote a scoundrel.

Christians don't believe in castes, karma, classes, discrimination, or prejudice of any kind (cf. Gal. 3:28), but that every believer is a child of God and capable of doing God's will to glorify Him. We believe in the dignity of man and the sanctity of life and that man is in God's image, not an animal to be treated without rights conferred by God. Christians don't believe in rugged individualism nor in communism but in being a member of a family, a community, and a body of Christ. Each of these three institutions ordained by God (family, government, church) has its own sphere of sovereignty and responsibility over us.

When a person gets saved and finds the Lord their whole life can be turned around and he can start over with the God of a second chance and fulfill God's best for his life. It's never too late to get on board with God and to be commissioned by Him in His work and will. No one is beyond hope in God's eyes! There's a reason why the Beatitude pronounces blessings on the poor in spirit. They have the right mindset! Getting saved implies more than pie in the sky and spiritual hope, but also the redemption of one's life for God's will! It's never too late to get with the program and look redeemed as a witness to the world and contribute something to it!

CAVEAT: We must be careful not to endorse "prosperity theology" or that God promises financial gain for our spirituality, supposing godliness is a means to financial gain (cf. 1 Tim. 6:6). God does promise to reward us by making us prosperous in doing His will (cf. Heb. 13:21) and this is different to different people (cf. Josh. 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Jer. 17: 8). We have no guarantee of achieving the so-called American Dream, for example, but we will be blessed in doing God's will and He will supply all we need to do it out of His provision (cf. Phil. 4:19). It is God who gives us the power to get rich, but the evil can also prosper--it's no sign of God's blessing or countenance of our lives. He teaches us the way we should go! (cf. Deut. 8:17-18; Isa. 48:17).

Soli Deo Gloria!

Until Shiloh Comes

Too many sincere evangelicals and even mainline denominations get the whole mission of Christ wrong.  There is no "social gospel," though there is a "social commission" to fight for social justice and defend and remember the poor and needy, reaching out to all in desperate straits.  But we are not to usher in God's kingdom on earth for His kingdom is spiritual in our hearts, as Andrew Murray eloquently wrote in his book, The Kingdom of God is within You. He already rules the hearts of His children and is called the Emperor of Love because He has conquered more with love than Muhammad by the sword.  

We are entreated to pray that God's kingdom to come in the Lord's prayer, and what is meant is that it begins with us and us doing our part in the Great Commission.  The kingdom is a reality to those who inherit it, and the only way is to come as a child and in faith, not head first that is! We must all take that initial leap of faith, not into the unknown or the darkness, but as a step into the light.  We realize that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit and is not in word but in power and wherever Christ rules hearts, there it is.  We are enjoined to preach the gospel of the kingdom till He comes to assume it. Entering the kingdom doesn't refer to heaven, but to the abundant life in Christ that is available to every believer if they seize and claim it by faith. It must be received in the heart and one must make room in his heart for the Lord who knocks at its door. 

When the fulness of time had come, (cf. Gal. 4:4), the first advent of Jesus was completed.  The "Desire of all Nations," (cf. Haggai 2:7), surprised the Jews who had anticipated the Messiah for centuries but the wrong vision of Him.  They fully expected deliverance from Rome and return to national glory as was in the days of King Solomon. Little did they know that Jesus had come but that He must be a Savior first and King second.  His mission in coming was to die!  

He was the One to whom the kingdom belonged and was the rightful heir, and was even proclaimed the King of the Jews, the Son of David that is.  Jesus had said that His kingdom was not of this world and that it was not "of this world." We have business trying to usher in the kingdom of God by political maneuver or fiat and to advance the kingdom of Christ ourselves as Bradford of the Mayflower fame, and Winthrop of  Massachusettes Bay Colony fame had attempted. 

Many sincere but misguided believers have attempted to establish a Christian nation; e.g., John Calvin and Oliver Cromwell--both utter failures and counterproductive to the work of God and the Great Commission which is supposed to be Job One and when we keep the main thing the main thing, this is our priority and focus. We are to save souls not nations.  We are mere lights to show God's truths and salt to preserve the institutions of the government established by God. Thus we are called to wreak havoc on the social order nor to be revolutionaries even if we live in a communist country  

It is now a reality that the kingdom of God is within us!  John the Baptist and Jesus had both announced that the kingdom of God was at hand!   Believe me, Hab. 2:3 says "the vision is for an appointed time .. and ... it shall surely come, it shall not tarry."  We see God's kingdom already established worldwide in the hearts of the Church at large throughout the world. Jesus has been given all authority and has doesn't just reign but he truly rules as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  

If His kingdom were of this world, Jesus said we'd fight for it, but it isn't!  We are, first of all,  citizens of heaven before any earthly loyalties.  The church started out as a Jewish sect in Jerusalem to become the official religion of the Roman Empire by AD 325 under Emperor Constantine, who converted. Now His church is a worldwide phenomenon and power to be reckoned with in religious and cultural influence.  It's the largest religion by affiliation in the world with over 1.6 billion adherents who claim the moniker, Christian.  He rules in our hearts only when we surrender the throne of our hearts to Him and give Him our sole allegiance and ownership of our lives putting Him at the helm.  

Israel was expecting the Messiah and missed Him for the most part except for God's remnant because of ignorance, and let's hope that Christ's church is expecting and ready to meet the Lord when He comes again to reign in His Millennial Kingdom.  But what ought we do till He comes? We are to be engaged in our doing business as would be usual, worship the best we can, watch for signs of the times,  pursue righteousness as a witness, and occupy till He claims His throne.    Soli Deo Gloria! 

Where Is God?

 What I wonder about is the “special” presence or blessing of God and Jesus at the time such as “when two or three are gathered in [His] Name” (cf Matt. 18:20) in prayer, or when He manifests Himself. We are not to believe it when people claim: “Christ is here.” But we have no excuse for not having the presence of God within us.

New Age spiritualists, who even take over some churches, seek the “God within.” Does any “church” or people have a monopoly on the presence of God then? Don’t believe it if people claim this: “Christ is here or Christ is there.” However, since the ascension and the coming of Pentecost, we are better off with the Holy Spirit’s residence than they were with Jesus’ presence.—another mystery.

Do we need to seek the presence or “face” of God or is it automatic because we can be filled with the Spirit, and we just don’t’ recognize it like Abraham in Gen. 28:16, “Surely the LORD is in this place: and I knew it not.” So, God is everywhere and we just don't know it or comprehend it—it’s our fault for not knowing it. We cannot limit God at all or put Him into a bo and restrain His presence. God is big!

To Christians, God has made His home within our hearts and dwells within (cf 1 Cor. 3:16). Thus, it’s not a matter of God being here or how much He is, but how surrendered we are and how much of us the Spirit has—not how much of the Spirit we have. We don’t need more of God, but to give Him more of us.

Some even go so far as to say that the Lord is present in a special way at the Lord’s Supper. But God is truly “far” from the wicked, a form of judgment. And if God is in hell, and being omnipresent implies that, is this also means that He is not there is His goodness and mercy, but only in His judgment.—God is able to manifest aspects of Himself or of His divinity at will. “Showing His goodness or His glory.” God made this point clear to Israel because they intended to believe Gods were territorial and Yahweh was only Israel's deity and not around the world.

But some theologians say that God is ‘fully present” everywhere (immensity of God). Yet He judges by withdrawing presence-a paradox. He fills the heavens and the earth (cf. Jer. 23:23–24) and we just cannot see it, like the fact that he “inhabits eternity” and also the “praises of His people.” (cf. Isa. 57:15 Ps. 22:3)