The concept of sin and the affect on our lives

Today I walked through the Biblical teaching on sin. For me it is the least favorite topic in theology for me because it is here that all my failures come out. The enemy reminds me of all the times that I fail and have failed but the great thing is that my failures are covered by Jesus' blood. It is amazing to me that the fall recorded in Genesis is not seen by many in the church as more than a simple fall to the ground. This "fall" was catastrophic in the fact that it separated us from God. This separation was a death blow to our soul. It makes me appreciate exactly what Jesus did on the cross for us that much more. I can only imagine what it was like to walk with God in the cool of the day. To feel God's presence at all times. One day the sin that is in the world will be eradicated and we will once again have the relationship with our creator that we were meant to have. Praise God for this marvelous gift.

The Need for Theology

As I sit here on Wednesday evening I am anticipating my time tomorrow when I get together with a friend and discuss theology. I am sort of using him as an alpha project to hopefully launch a class in the church this fall. I have really enjoyed the time that I have been able to spend with him discussing these issues. It has really challenged me in my thinking again to live a life that reflects what I know to be true from scripture. I am also reminded that even if one does not think they have a theology they do. It shapes the way that we see our world. Some use scripture to form their theology and others deny the existence of God. Either way there is a theology that shapes the way that person sees the world. Tomorrow I look at sin and its affects upon the world and upon us as Christians. This is the one topic that I would just rather skip because it reminds me of all my short falls. The reality is though that it is needful to remind me that I can do nothing to remove myself from my situation and that I am in need of God's help.

Working out ones salvation

I must admit that I like a good friend of mine are very terrible at blogging but I would like to get better. Recently I was asked to do a series on different religions for the Sunday school class that I attend. It has been going slow but the one thing that I have found is that all the other religions have a common theme of false gods or works orientation. They all seem to have a push that one must work out their own salvation and failure to do so they will not achieve heaven. Now some of you may be saying that Paul made these very same words come to life in Philippians 2:12. There is one major difference here though and that is I do not believe that he is really referring to the idea that one can somehow obtain salvation by doing works rather that one should not take their salvation lightly but should be examining it and making sure that it is not false. When we stand before an almighty God one day I do not believe that he will be interested in what good works we did but rather what good works we did because of the good work Jesus did for us on the cross.

Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up

There used to be this show on TV called "To Tell the Truth" in which 3 people claimed to be the same person and it was up to the contestants to decise who was telling the truth by asking them questions. I feel like that with the life and ministry of Jesus. There are so many imposters it is difficult at times to tell who the real Jesus is. My wife Staci recently took a religion class from a Christian school that taught that there are multiple ways to get to heaven. That the Jesus of the Bible was mostly just a good teacher and profit. The problem that I have is that is not the pcture that one gets when they read the scriptures. John 14 clearly claims that Jesus is the only way to the Father and that except through him o one can see the father. The president of Liberty Seminary Dr. Caner said something today in one of his updates that I believe needs to be repeated he said, "Over 20 religions consign Jesus to being a good man and a servant. Too bad. He said He was the God-Man and the only Savior!" Well said. It does not matter if you or I believe that Jesus did or did not say these things the fact that the Bible claims them makes it fact. In the end it will matter if you or I believe what he said but if one choses not to believe the Bible it in no way negates the truths contained within it. The book that Staci had to read is The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg. Marcus Borg is a member of the Jesus Seminar that had as a goal to set out and discover the real historical Jesus and the real historical actions that he did. They took the Bible and discounted 82% of the words of Jesus as not being said by him. They reduced Marks Gospel to just one verse. His book opens the door to pluralism and the door to many other things like alternate lifestyles being accepted because God made them that way. It is truly sad that this is the type of thing that is being taught but in the end the Real Jesus will stand up and he will show the world that he was who he claimed to be.

Forgiveness

As I write this today I am puzzled by this concept. In my Christian walk I have always wanted to believe that accept for the unpardonable sin then everything else can be forgiven. I have been proven again that this must be the central core to our belief. Unfortunately I have seen today again that there are those in my circle of fellowship that have found a reason that has allowed forgiveness to go only so far. Now I know many believers would say that there is nothing that can not be forgiven (except the unpardonable). My question is do we really live this out or do we harbor things that do not allow us to forgive. In my life I have seen much pain and one of my old wounds was opened today and I am struggling to understand where forgiveness comes into this. I know that God wants and even requires me to forgive and I will. The struggle that I have is in the continued fellowship with those that have set limits on forgiveness. I wonder what those that set limits would think if Jesus would do the same. I thank my God that Jesus has forgiven all that seek it. It never ceases to amaze me though that some can see limiting forgiveness as somehow as being christian. I hope that God will help me to understand this because it is a real struggle for me.

Galatians 5-6

Here in these passages a real danger is spoken about by Paul. This is often the case when one reads the scriptures that one will read about danger on a cosmic level. The danger here is the fact that we can fall into the sinful nature. Paul directs us to follow after the fruit of the Spirit.

These passages here remind me just how easy it is to get wrapped up seeking after things that are not of Christ. I too look at the fruit of the Spirit as being the key to keeping on the right track. The idea being that one that follows after the fruit of the Spirit will live by the second greatest commandment to love one another. If the fruit is evident in our life then we will fulfill Christ’s commandment to us to love one another and by that love, people will know we are his disciples. It is my prayer that God will help each of us to become more like Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit will permeate our lives.

Galatians 3-4

Today's passage was on Galatians chapter 3-4 where Paul really gets after the Galatians for being so easily lead astray and taken up in their old ways instead of embracing the new covenant that is Jesus Christ below is one of the thoughts running through my mind.

As I read these passages I looked at the Galatians as being so easily lead astray and how could they so easily give up on the promise that Jesus gives by establishing the new covenant. How could they want to be under the law and have to abide by it to find righteousness. Then as I contemplated further I realized what Bart wrote about today. I may not return to the law but there are times that I return to what I consider more comfortable. I have to remind myself daily that my life is one of being part of the promise and I am not a slave to the things in my past. May the Lord help us to realize daily all that Christ has provided for us and paved the way of the new covenant. My prayer is that through this NT90 adventure we will grow in our faith and rely upon Jesus more and more.