God is not an Optimist

No, God is the ultimate realist. And from this I derive great hope and comfort!

You see, no matter how bad I think I am (or how good) God knows the real truth. I'm much worse than I think I am. That is my natural person, my "flesh" as Paul puts it, is much worse than I even imagine; God only knows how bad! Amazingly, He chose to offer Himself a sacrifice for me, not because of any good thing He saw in me, but for His love. Mercy may be defined as not giving someone what they deserve. God shows mercy every day to me by not striking me dead. (The wages of is death, after all!) Grace is giving something that is not deserved. It is Grace that God extends salvation from His own righteous wrath through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross at Calvary. That Grace should never be a license to continue sinning, because while it is a free gift to me, it cost God more than I can ever imagine.

God is not an optimist because He offered His grace while I was still deep in my own sins. God reached out to me where I was, because He knows that there is nothing that my natural self could do to reach Him. That is the danger of false religion and self-righteousness. (Now there is an oxymoron! God is the only being with true self-righteousness!) False religion tries to claim that if I would only work harder and stop doing wrong things, then God will accept me. That is a lie from Hell. God only accepts perfection. The only way I can be counted perfect is to stand covered by the blood of the perfect sacrifice.

There is a current popular Christian song with lyrics something like "Would you take the place of this man; would you take the nails from his hands". Taken in this out of context form, this is darn near blasphemous. The Messiah, the Christ, was the only one who was able to live a perfect life. I'm not qualified to take His place. The nails weren't the worse part anyway. Other people have been crucified and had nails driven in their hands and feet. Jesus suffered separation from God. That is the final death that our sins demand. And that is the punishment I was facing, until His grace reached me in the mire of my sins. Not because God optimistically hoped that I would reach Him, but because He realistically knew that I could not and would not. I'm very thankful God is not an optimist!

Tag(s): optimism

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My next event

Franklin Graham is preaching at the Easter Sunrise service at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. And I guess he needs a big screen. :-)

The story I linked to goes on to say that Billy Graham preached to 40,000 people there in 1956, 50 years ago. They are expecting 7,500 for Franklin Graham. But to be fair, there are, according to the story, more places for people to go for their Easter Sunrise service now in Washington, DC.

Tag(s): work

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tuLip

I find myself on the beach this morning, walking in the sand with the waves just coming up far enough to cover my feet to the ankles before returning back to the rest of the ocean. As I look back, I see where the waves have erased some of my footprints, yet others remain for a while longer. Inevitably, they are all doomed to oblivion. Erased like the sins of the sons of God. Sure, the hole in my foot caused by the seashell I stepped on will last a while longer, it may even leave a scar. The results, the consequences, of sin are still there, even though the sin is gone. It helps me to remember not to step on pointy sea shells.

Okay, so I didn't actually step on a seashell this morning. And the water was chilly and the wind was cold so I didn't stay out there that long. And, of course, I'm typing from inside my hotel room. But still, it was beautiful and tranquil and my mind was running in its strange courses. As I was walking I did see a spot where the waves had just wiped out my footprints and the angle made it look like I had just walked straight out of the ocean. It made me think of evolutionists. How they look at the evidence, refusing to accept any result that might imply a supernatural result. And they claim to be open-minded.

Ever since the drive down here; the statement of a teacher on the radio had been tumbling around in my head, like a pair of sneakers in a dryer. "It's the Limited Atonement that keeps me from being a five-point Calvinist." He's in good company. It seems that almost everyone I know who seem to be strong Christians would make that statement. But they are all wrong! They actually are five-point Calvinists; they just don't understand the "L". I find it ironic, that many detractors claim that most five-point Calvinists would repudiate the "L" if they understood it. I think most anybody able to read and understand the Bible in a simple and natural way would embrace the "L" if it was presented to them in full.

The nationally syndicated radio teacher continued with his understanding of atonement. "Christ's death on the cross was sufficient for the whole world, but is only effective for the elect." (selah) Well, that's as close to a textbook definition as I have ever heard for "limited atonement". Perhaps he had been misled into thinking that "limited atonement" meant that the Messiah's sacrifice was only just barely enough to cover a few of the billions of souls that have or will have pass through this mortal veil. That's not "limited atonement", that's heresy and sacrilege. (Of course, maybe I just misunderstand limited atonement.)

Oh sure, some people just refuse to accept election, even though it is plainly taught in the Bible. As far as I can tell, that's just pride and/or ignorance. Election is humbling! We are saved from God's wrath by faith through grace. And faith is the gift of God. As Paul wrote;

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

There was no spark of innate goodness in me. God didn't see some awesome thing that He didn't see in someone else. He chose me because of Him. It is the fact that God will have mercy on those whom God chooses to have mercy that makes it possible for any of us to be saved! It doesn't matter what we have been guilty of in the past, if He has chosen you, it is not because of you but in spite of you!

And because He chooses us for His own sake, there is hope for us when we fail. No matter what we do, if He has chosen us, then He will forgive us. This isn't license to go live like the world; it is freedom to grow more like Christ. If you came to the altar for "fire-insurance" and then went back to your old life without any lasting change, I suggest that you check your "policy", it's most likely expired or, more correctly, was never valid. (Read the Epistle of James.) However we are promised that God punishes His children for their good. We are to patiently endure our punishment; it never seems good at the time, but trust that it is for our good. In fact the punishment itself is assurance of our salvation! (See Hebrews 12:5-11.)

How do you know if you are one of the "elect"? Simple, ask God to come take over your life, believe with your heart that Jesus Christ died for you and paid for your sins, and tell someone else about "your decision".

Romans 10:6-13 ESV But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Tag(s):gospel

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Rubbing the lamp, a vain repetition, or WDJD

Praying "in the name of Jesus". We read, and are taught;

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
(John 16:23-24 KJV)

And we are often very, very wrong in our understanding of this!

There are those that teach "the plain and simple" understanding of this. God wants to make you happy, so all you really have to do is pray hard enough for long enough in Jesus name, and really believe it will come true, and God will give us what our greedy hearts think they want.

Hey, just what do you think "full joy" is? Isn't it getting everything we ever wanted? I know that I was very happy after I got that big bag full of candy on Halloween. Funny though, I wasn't very happy the next day, when I was mysteriously ill (after gorging myself on all that candy... I'm sure that had nothing to do with it!) Thank God that He loves us so much that He usually won't let us have our hearts desire. You might not have this problem, but my wicked little greedy heart wants what it thinks is good. Fortunately, like our parents, He usually holds back that bag of Halloween goodies, and lets us have them a little at a time so that we may enjoy them. (If we don't grab them and stuff them in our mouths and then complain that we haven't gotten any lately, while we are still chewing.)

Of course, once we grow in the Lord, we understand that God actually changes the desires of our hearts, so that we begin to want "the God things" for our lives instead of what we might in the moment consider "good". After having a few overindulged belly aches, we might even cooperate with the careful distribution of goodies. But, I know this is probably just me, then we get jaded in our prayers. God's going to give me "my daily bread", the essentials that I need to live. "In the name of Jesus" becomes that tag at the end so everyone know that they can join you in the "amen" if they so desire. It becomes a kind of closing phrase, that lets everyone know that either you are finally winding down from a deeply spiritual (long winded and excessively verbose) prayer, or that you are "so good" (so self-righteous) that you only need to make a short and to the point prayer.

In the time that Jesus walked the earth, and in the culture in which he lived, (and even moreso before that) a person's name was reflective of his character. Jesus renamed two people to better reflect their characters. Jesus name (Ye Shua, or God Saves) should be filled with the content of his character as described in the Bible. Or in other words, when we pray, and ask for things "in Jesus name" we should be asking for thing that Jesus would want or would want us to have. "Not my will, but Your Will be done!"
(WDJD = What Did Jesus Do)

Tag(s):prayer

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The Sabbath is a matter of the heart.

As I was passing through Denver on my way home last Sunday I heard a Messianic Jewish Broadcast on the local Christian radio station (670 AM, KLTT). The subject of the program was a "midrash" (an interpretation or teaching) challenging 2000 years of Christian Tradition. Of course, I had to call in. :-)

I didn't do too well, actually. They were using incorrect logic to try and prove their point that the Sabbath is Saturday (actually Friday evening through Saturday morning) only. I wanted to point out that the same logic could be applied to (for instance) the Levitical sacrificial system and circumcision. I, unfortunately, only mentioned circumsicion so the host jumped on the topic and ran with it. We brought it back to the Sabbath, but about the time I wanted to get to the real issue, we ran out of time. I really should stick to writing. :-)

All I should have done was address what Paul said in Colossians 2:16-17,

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Their argument doesn't stand in light of Scripture. But it does bring up a vitally important issue. What about all of those Laws and Commandments in the Hebrew Scriptures?

Jesus said,

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19 KJV)

How do we balance this? The key to understanding is in Christ Jesus' words; "but to fulfil". The Lord Jesus Himself was the ultimate sacrifice, therefore the Levitical sacrificial system has been fulfilled! There is no more need for man to bring an animal sacrifice to the Lord to cover his sins because the perfect Lamb was sacrificed for those who are His.

In the same way, we no longer need the outward sign of circumcision, as the Holy Spirit has circumcised the hearts of the saved (regenerate) with love. Circumcision, as a command, has not been done away with, but has been fulfilled. If you wish to have your infant circumcised for medicinal reasons, go for it. If you wish to have your infant circumcised as a sign to God, don't bother. Just like infant baptism, it doesn't do the child any good. Likewise, it doesn't do them any harm... except that they might use it as an excuse to not do right by God. The Jews of Jesus day claimed (believed) that they were right with God because they were circumcised, likewise today many claim (believe) that they are okay with God because they were baptized as a child!

Finally the Ten Commandments have not passed away, but like all the other commands we are called (and empowered!) to keep them on a higher level. Continuing with the Lord Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount;

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
(Matthew 5:20-48 KJV)

Likewise the Sabbath is a matter of the heart. It's purpose was fulfilled in the death, burial, and resurrection of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah). He is our Sabbath rest!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

For the saved, every day is the Sabbath, we choose to meet on Sunday, not in observance of the Law of the Sabbath, but because we desire to meet together on the day that our prommised Sabbath began.

I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
(Psalms 118:21-24 KJV)

Oh, the program where I did so poorly, is here. The Harvest, Kehilat T'nuvah : Torah Talk : On which days should we worship God? Part III.

They obviously disagree with me, but as Paul wrote;

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 ESV)

Or as Dr. Kent Hovind says, "Eat the meat and spit out the bones." :-)

Tag(s): Sabbath, Torah, Law

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