Posts filed under ‘salvation’
False Priests: Hophni and Phinehas
What might have been different had Eli had the backbone train up his sons properly or to remove them from the priesthood when he saw their ongoing sin? This same truth should apply to many within Christendom today, yet not only do they continue their blasphemous teachings, but they are often applauded by the people in the pews. Why is that? Because of a complete dearth of discernment today. Emotional virtue has made its way into Christendom. If it “feelz” good, then it must be good, right? Wrong.
Discerning the Times: CV-19, Robots and More!
I want to end this on a solid up note. A man in China suffered from what is known as ankylosing spondylitis, a condition where inflammatory arthritis affects the spine and large joints. Ultimately, this means that a person’s bones are fused together. In this case, the young man’s body folded in half. He spent the last 28 years in a folded position. I realize this is not the “up” part of the story. The actual “up” part is what doctors were able to do for the man after four grueling surgeries that could’ve resulted in the man’s death in each case.
Lessons From Ruth
However, though the times were spiritually disconsolate, there were blessings for some people who had not cast God off. Because of that overall spiritual void though, it is understandable (yet still wrong), that Naomi (the mother-in-law of Ruth), felt completely abandoned by God after her husband died and then her two grown, married sons also died, leaving her and her two daughters-in-law widows. Naomi believed God’s hand was against her because of the deaths of the men (v 13). Isn’t that like us? When bad things happen, we are often tempted to think God has not only left us, but is punishing us for something. Certainly, He could be chastising us for unconfessed sin. Yet, the more we know about how God works (through Scripture), the more we know that this is not always the case (i.e. Joseph in Genesis).
Focusing on the Future, Pt 11
At any rate, all I can strongly suggest is that the Bible becomes the main book read each and every day. All throughout the Old Testament, it is very clear that the emphasis was on what God had said to Moses and was later written down by him so that the people could constantly go over His Words with a fine-tooth comb and do what that Word said, and do it from the heart. Unfortunately, as we know, this rarely happened with Israel in the Old Testament and by the time, Jesus arrived on the scene physically, there was even less of it happening. His was an uphill battle from start to finish, but finish He did!
Our Standing and Progress in the Faith: Justification
So what does this result in for the Christian? We know that God declares us righteous because we are justified in Him. We are justified not on our own merit but solely because of what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. God did it. We did nothing. We only came to exercise faith in what Jesus accomplished and then only when God “woke” us to that truth (John 6:44; cf also 14:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Discerning the Times: Truth for Christians
Ironside clearly enunciates the truth of Scripture and proves that while our lives should continually improve because of our standing and position before Christ and the progress that we are to make as we daily surrender to Him, the fact remains that those caught up in some form of holiness movement become either entirely hypocritical or have some type of breakdown and/or falling away from the faith. This belief that we can reach a state of absolute pure and consistent holiness without ever again sinning is not taught in Scripture and Ironside explains that very clearly.
God is Big Business
As can be expected, there are plenty of professing Christians who continue to state that we should not “judge.” After all, we are all fallen creatures saved only by God’s grace extended to us. That of course is true, but this idea of “not judging” is increasingly becoming the battle cry of those within Christendom who choose to only emphasize God’s grace as though God has nothing to do with holiness and therefore does not require it of those who follow Him. True, we are not to judge another person’s heart condition or their motivation for doing something. That, however, does not preclude us from judging another’s words or actions on their face. In fact, we are called in many places to do this (John 7:24; 1 Cor 11:5-13; Rom 12:9; 2 Tim 2:16-17; 3 John 1:9-10, etc.). We are called to make correct judgments and of course, our judgment should always begin with ourselves, but this does not mean we should never judge the words or actions of someone else who claims to be a Christian. In fact, we must do this, comparing those words and actions to our highest authority – Scripture.
Manifold Blessings
Thinking back over this weekend, I recall how I felt so tremendously blessed while at the same time felt a sense of loss for all the missed opportunities over the past year. The Lord has graciously blessed us with one another. Human beings were not meant to live in isolation, separate from each other while living in proximity to one another. The fact that fear is the major building block to achieve this throughout global society should tell us a great deal.
What is Repentance Unto Salvation?
What is repentance? What is it supposed to be “feel” like if feelings play any part? What is supposed to prompt a person to do? Is repentance and “once for all” issue that happens prior to embracing salvation? Is repentance something that Christians should exercise throughout their lives?
Short Takes: Must Christians Always Obey Government?
Just a few thoughts on Romans 13 and whether or not Christians must always obey the governmental authorities. I find it fascinating that so many pastors and commentators today think that Paul’s words stand alone without any sort of context. Yet, if we look at numerous incidents from the life of Jesus, Paul and Peter, it appears that maybe Paul’s words in Romans 13:1-4 as well as Peter’s in 1 Peter 2 are far more nuanced than we might think.
Continue Reading February 23, 2021 at 5:52 PM Leave a comment
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