Jesus Came From Heaven To Earth,
To Pay the Price that I Deserve.
He Died and Rose on the Third Day.
His Love is Great and His Truth the Way.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“It’s all inside” is a popular slogan from one American retailer. Although it might sound good and maybe even help sell a few sweaters, in reality nothing could be further from the truth. Is everything we need for life really inside? Yes, our bodies have a variety of organs, most of which are inside, all working together to sustain our physical life. So technically, we could say that without the stuff inside we couldn’t be physically alive. Yet there is much more necessary than what’s on the inside.
The body can only live several weeks without food and several days without water. We cannot survive for more than several minutes without oxygen before brain damage will most likely occur. Our ears are designed to capture external sounds and eyes to draw in light radiating from without, not from within. It’s as if the designer of the human body is carefully and repeatedly reminding us that even though our bodies are self-contained, they are far from self-sustained. We clearly need things from outside of ourselves, and although no one would disagree with this, the same cannot be said for the spiritual side of life. Sadly, too many have been blinded by the misguided belief that all the answers we need for spiritual life are found within.
Growing up, I can recall numerous times being told that I must simply look within for my answers. Over the years, so many movies, songs, video games, and teachings have delivered the same erroneous message, “If you want to know reality, begin by looking inside.” I can’t remember ever stopping to ask one simple question – “How do you know?” How is it that people know for sure they can accurately search within to discover the mysteries of eternity? When asked this question, most might answer one of two ways. The first is based on emotion, “It just feels right.” The second is based on a majority, “Many people I trust believe the same way.” There are numerous problems with both of these reasons. Just because if feels good, doesn’t mean it’s true, and just because many people believe something doesn’t mean it’s reality.
According to the true Word of God, men are not the answer. There is nothing inside of us that will supply anything illuminating. Just as we cannot emanate physical light from inside, so it is that we are unable to find true spiritual light from within.
Carefully consider a few verses:
So if we cannot find the light from within, then where does one go to receive the true light?
The answer is not found in where to go, but to whom. To all who have ears to hear, this is what the Word of God says concerning the Lord Jesus Christ:
BUYER BEWARE-
Not all claiming to be light are actually true light. Jesus said of Satan that his ministers appear as servants of light, yet they lead people into further darkness. There is light that is actually spiritual darkness. Consider the following verses:
Within is only darkness. We cannot look within for answers on eternity anymore than I can look within to be physically fed or to breathe air. Jesus Christ, the true light from Heaven, entered this dark world to bring the truth. His light reveals our own sinful, rebellious nature and the true light of God’s judgment and justice. Praise God, He also brought the light of His love and forgiveness found in the full and free sacrifice for all mankind found in Jesus Christ alone. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)
May we humble ourselves and approach God’s true light, realizing that our complete and utter dependence is upon Him, not ourselves!
“Jedi Knight, a popular religion,” dateline, London . Centuries after King Arthur, a new type of knight is wandering Britain . Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker would be proud. “When asked their religious affiliation on the 2001 census forms many Britain are writing in, ‘Jedi Knight’ government officials,” said Wednesday. So many in fact, that the government has been forced to give “Jedi Knight” its own category when compiling census results.” Bulletin, Bend, OR , October 6, 2001.
Sadly, Luke Skywalker was developed as a type of christ (anointed one, see: Matt: 24:11), but not to be the savior of others by dying for their sins so they could finally approach the One True God. Rather, he grew to become a savior of another sort. Becoming an ascended master, he leaves viewers of all ages with the foolish, unbiblical notion that they too can become wielders of some mindless, mysterious force, affording them the opportunity to become their own gods (Genesis 3:5). The message is simple. You too can become an anointed one. You too can become a christ. Instead of leading to true freedom, this message only leads its pursuers deeper into spiritual bondage and rebellion.
Over the the last 35+ years, many viewers, both young and old have left the theaters (and TV screens) emboldened to pursue the worldly notion that over time they too can “tap” into the force/power, giving them “supernatural” abilities. Why is it that many in the world recognize the potential of this power, wholeheartedly embracing its occult message, while Christians also embracing the series argue it’s simply a harmless, make-believe story?
“My son, if you receive My words, and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5
“Faith has nothing to do with feelings or with impressions, with improbabilities or with outward experiences. If we desire to couple such things with faith, then we are no longer resting on the Word of God, because faith needs nothing of the kind. Faith rests on the naked Word of God. When we take Him at His Word, the heart is at peace.” George Mueller
“When Jesus was born in the little hamlet of Bethlehem of Judea, as Scripture foretold, God again directly intervened in human affairs to undertake a mission worthy only of Him. Revered Bible teacher Major Ian Thomas often expressed it this way: “God invaded humanity.”
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me to One to be Ruler in Israel whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)
Often buried beneath the trappings of the Christmas season is the monumental fact that the coming of Christ and subsequent birth of the church would alter this planet’s future and transform the lives of untold millions.
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us'” (Mt. 1:23).
“To fallen humanity, the church is an inconvenient contradiction to every godless thing it desires. Thus, from the beginning, hostile forces have tried to annihilate Christians, their God-loving culture, and the faith. Over more than 2,000 years, the conflict accelerated in stages until we now find ourselves in what has all the markings of a final push to finish the crusade to wipe out the faith—the same faith that has brought stability, truth, justice, social order, morality, and a sanctity of life previously unknown in history.”
“Many say we now live in a “post-Christian society.” Perhaps that popular phrase most clearly delineates the endgame of the anti-God campaign controlled by moral renegades who increasingly impose their will on those too spiritually emaciated to resist.”
“But in the midst of what may seem a hopelessly deteriorating situation, the fact remains we are not left alone to suffer the unpleasant consequences of an era ending in a tearful whimper. With Hanukkah and Christmas, we remember God is well, “He knows those who trust in Him” (Nah. 1:7), and He is able to come to our aid and bring matters to a [godly] conclusion.”
“Our confidence is in Jehovah, who steps in to take control. God has not left the arena. The last page of Earth’s history has yet to be turned, and we rest in the competence of a God who will perform what He has promised.”
“God articulates, history confirms. Our Lord speaks, and debate ceases. His Word is immutable fact, and history is the record of how He executed His Word.” By Elwood McQuaid (Consulting editor for The Friends of Israel)
Understanding Grace
1. We must be absolutely clear that these two can never mix. Paul declares, “…if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Rom 11:6). Salvation cannot be partly by works and partly by grace.
2. We must be absolutely certain that works have nothing to do with salvation. Period. The Bible clearly states, “For by grace are ye saved…not of works” (Eph 2:8-10). True to such Scriptures, evangelicals firmly declare that we cannot earn or merit salvation in any way. Eternal life must be received as a free gift of God’s grace, or we cannot have it.
3. Salvation cannot be purchased even in part by us, because it requires payment of the penalty for sin—a payment we can’t make. If one were to receive a speeding ticket, it wouldn’t help to say to the judge, “I’ve driven many times within the 55 mph limit. Surely my many good deeds will make up for the one bad deed.” Nor would it do to say, “If you let me off this time, I promise never to break the law again.” The judge would reply, “To never break the law again is only to do what the law demands. You get no extra credit for that. The penalty for breaking the law is a separate matter and must be paid.” Thus Paul writes,“…by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight…” (Rom 3:20).
4. If salvation from the penalty of breaking God’s laws cannot be earned by good deeds, then it cannot be lost by bad deeds. Our works play no part in either earning or keeping salvation. If it could, then those who reach heaven could boast that while Christ saved them they, by their good lives, kept their salvation. Thus God would be robbed of having all the glory in eternity.
5. Salvation can be given to us as a free gift only if the penalty has been fully paid. We have violated infinite Justice, requiring an infinite penalty. We are finite beings and could not pay it: we would be separated from God for eternity. God is infinite and could pay an infinite penalty, but it wouldn’t be just because He is not a member of our race. Therefore God, in love and grace, through the virgin birth, became a man so that He could pay the debt of sin for the entire human race! It is finished!”
Originally from the “Once Saved, Always Saved?” tract written by Dave Hunt (http://www.thebereancall.org/sites/2011.thebereancall.org/files/Once%20Saved%20Always%20Saved_0.pdf)
“The question of the “eternal security of the believer” has been the cause of much controversy in the church for centuries—and still creates confusion and distress for many Christians. It is too much to expect to dispel this problem completely for everyone in a brief tract, but perhaps we can at least help in that direction. Those who believe in “falling away” accuse those who believe in “eternal security” of promoting “cheap grace.”
“While it may be a convenient expression, the latter phrase is of course unbiblical. To call it “cheap” is really a denial of grace, since it implies that too small a price has been paid. Grace, however, must be absolutely free and without any price at all on man’s part; while on God’s part the price He paid was infinite. Thus for man to think that his works can play any part in either earning or keeping his salvation is what cheapens grace, devaluing this infinite gift to the level of human effort.”
“To speak of “falling from grace” involves the same error. Since our works had nothing to do with meriting grace in the first place, there is nothing we could do that would cause us no longer to merit it and thus “fall” from it. Works determine reward or punishment—not one’s salvation, which comes by God’s grace. The crux of the problem is a confusion about grace and works.”
Originally from the “Once Saved, Always Saved?” tract written by Dave Hunt (http://www.thebereancall.org/sites/2011.thebereancall.org/files/Once%20Saved%20Always%20Saved_0.pdf)
Interestingly, men are able to respond to a variety of invitations: birthday parties, weddings, funerals, and even Facebook. So why is it that so many believe that men are completely incapable of at least responding to God’s invitation of full and free forgiveness through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection?
Too often people have believed that men are so dead in their sins that they are literally unable to even receive the Gospel. They will say that the Bible teaches that men cannot submit to God’s law. Yet submitting to God’s law is not the same as accepting the Gospel/good news that Jesus died for their sins.
An Excuse: To say that mankind is unable to do anything but sin sounds a bit like an excuse for sinning. Yes we are bound in our sins and trespasses, and it is true that some sins have such a hold over us that we, at times, are owned by our sinful lusts and passions, but to simply say we are unable to choose anything else takes our own decisions and accountability out of the picture.
A Few Questions:
To say men are unable to receive the Gospel is simply and biblically unfounded, but to say we are unwilling to hear and follow the Lord God is a another story altogether. Many who believe in the “deadness” of man, equating it to “inability”, attempt to use Romans 8 as a chapter to validate their doctrine.
Romans 8: Two Laws
The contrast in Romans 8 is the two laws – the law of the Spirit of God and the law of sin and death (verse 2). The law of God is death to the carnal minded man, but brought to life by the Spirit of God for those who receive God’s forgiveness in Christ alone. Once men are born again, they receive the power to become submissive to the law of God. The carnal man who is under the law of sin is clearly not willing to be “subject” to the law of God since he has not been born again.
Romans 8:7, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” isn’t dealing with salvation, rather it’s laying the foundation for the spiritual reality of the old, carnal man which then sets a precedent for the necessity of the new birth in Christ Jesus.
Interestingly, one of the only insights in Romans 8 as to “how” a man is born again is found in verse 15, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Emphasis mine)
Just because the carnal mind is at enmity with God doesn’t mean he is incapable of at least receiving the Gospel of God. If we are capable of rebelling, we are also capable of asking God for forgiveness. This is plainly revealed throughout the entire Word of God.
(This is part of a larger overview of some of the major Calvinistic teachings being presented today. For a more in depth look at Calvinism and its unbiblical teachings, go to: “Calvinism in Light of God’s Word: A Variety of Resources”
There are many young pastors and congregations that continue to be influenced by the doctrines of Calvinism from many of today’s most popular pulpit teachers. It is crucial that we guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! One way of doing this is to understand some of the major lies attempting to be fed to the flock of God. See below for more in depth resources examining Calvinism in light of God’s Word.
Jesus said to them, “If any man wills [desires] do [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17
Articles:
Video:
Website Resource Pages on Calvinism:
Three Great Book Resources:
“Dead, alive, bound, then free. If all Christians that were bound [from sin] would get freed of their graves clothes, the world would sit up and listen. Don’t be an enslaved Christian. The One who has the power to raise the dead also has the power to free us from sin.”
~Alan Redpath (Referring to Lazarus being freed from his grave clothes in John 11:43)
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