tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68694368115143417452023-11-16T16:35:58.347+10:00CAESURAAussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-59298199179593669342014-05-21T07:55:00.002+10:002016-04-29T16:04:28.128+10:00<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<u><b>THE NEW COVENANT : NEW LIFE!</b></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I have quoted Isaiah 42:6 previously to draw attention to the fact of our Lord Jesus being revealed by Isaiah as the covenant person.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">E. J. Young, commenting on that same passage says this:</span><br />
“<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>The language is striking, <b>for the servant is actually identified as a covenant.</b> A covenant, however, in this instance is not a pact or agreement between two equal parties. From the parallel word light (i.e. salvation), we learn that it is actually a divine bestowal of Grace. God sovereignly bestows to man His blessings of salvation and it is this sovereign dispensation that is called a covenant.</i></span></span><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">That the servant is identified with the covenant of course involves the idea of his being the one through whom the covenant is mediated, but the expression implies more. In form it is similar to our Lord’s “I am the resurrection and the life,” or the phrase in 49:6, “to be my salvation.””</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">These next words are vitally important for us to understand:</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><b>To say that the </b></i></span><i><span style="color: black;"><u><b>servant is a covenant</b></u></span><span style="color: black;"><b> is to say that all the blessings of the covenant have their root and origin in, and are dispensed by him</b></span>. … “</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We know that Moses was the mediator of a covenant between God and Israel, but the prophet Isaiah is telling us that the servant (Jesus Christ) </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">is the covenant, </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">the New Covenant promised in Isaiah 49:6,8; 31:31ff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As Young says,</span><br />
“<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>In New Testament terms, this means that they to whom God sovereignly bestows the grace of salvation <b>receive the servant Himself</b>.”</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Whilst, I dare say, a majority of those claiming to be Christians, are filling their lives and their time with the busy-ness of the demands of traditional ideas of church, trying, but failing miserably at keeping the commandments ( don't you dare tell fibs and claim you don't break at least one every day), attending meetings,putting money in the plate,doing all the rote things expected of them and expressed by pulpits all over the world, which according to a couple we spoke with, “pleases God”, some, at least, are resting in what God has done in His precious Son completed on Calvary, and in whom His pleasure is absolute!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">That's the context of what Paul is saying to the Colossian Christians:</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, </i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><b>to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.</b></i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i>To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles </i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><b>are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This is what the New Covenant is all about! Paul knew from his own experience of law based attempts at living a righteous, works oriented life, that failure to please God was the only way for normal human beings. The nation Israel had the same experience, because</span><b style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">“</b><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><b>the mystery hidden for ages and generations” </b></i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">was a still a mystery until God fulfilled the promise made in Isaiah 42:6:</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><span lang="en-AU">I am the LORD;</span></i></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"> I have called you in righteousness; </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">I will take you by the hand and keep you;</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><b>I will give you as a covenant for the people</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">,a light for the nations,to open the eyes that are blind,to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,from the prison those who sit in darkness.”</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It was not until the New Covenant was inaugurated by the finished work of Christ on Calvary that the latter part of that promise was fulfilled. That's why Jesus could exclaim, “It is finished”!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">If you and I had to depend on how well we carried out the duties which have been traditionally demanded from the pulpits of traditionalism since Constantine's day, not one human being would see Christ on His throne, because traditionalism relegates Christ to the level of an entrance ticket to heaven, after a lifetime of the hard yards of rule keeping.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In reality His finished work as the New Covenant Person means that He is the absolute, and only means of new life; He IS the New Covenant complete in all of the majesty of a God who put aside His own glory to become the man, Jesus Christ, our Covenant Person.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">No wonder Paul told those who had believed the truth of the Gospel in repentance and faith, have had revealed to them “</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><b>the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”</b></i></span></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-79321245283089312882014-04-29T20:02:00.004+10:002014-04-29T20:04:26.230+10:00<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>GRACE, GREAT GRACE!</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have come to greatly
respect the writing of Paul Burleson, who recently wrote about <a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com/">“The Race of Grace”.</a></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His article set me
thinking about the word “GRACE”: It's an attractive word. Don't
you think?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why else would some
folk name their congregation Grace Bible Church, or something
similar? Surely, those who name their children “Grace” wouldn't
do so if they didn't consider the word attractive.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suspect there is
much more to it than the word being attractive, which it no doubt is.
I suspect that followers of Christ who name their congregation
“Grace.......Church” are wanting to promote an image, especially
to unbelievers, that the grace revealed in the act of God giving
Himself as the incarnate Son, to live, die, and rise again,
inaugurating the New Covenant age in which we now live, will be found
there in the congregation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What if we were to
take a broad sample of these Grace congregations? Will we find
genuine Christ-like grace there?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure you know what
I mean: The kind of graciousness which arises from being the
recipients of God's great grace in Jesus Christ! Being treated as Christ has treated us, and treating others likewise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a lifetime
involved in church life, most of that as a growing Christian (old
now, but still growing), am I being ungracious to say, speaking
generally, that the answer to the question,"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will we find genuine Christ-like grace there?",</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is a decided “NO!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently read a
quote from Philip Yancey :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“Christians get very
angry toward other Christians who sin differently than they do.” </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now! Isn't that an amazingly
true statement?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I grew up in a traditional Protestant congregation,
and was taught to be like the other folk who acted as they were
expected; dutifully self-righteous and sanctimonious when it came to
sins that we didn't commit,but others did, and there was always a
good Scripture quote to justify our ungracious attitudes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For others to sin in a
way that was different to ours,was clear justification for us to be
extremely critical towards those who did, and to avoid them, even
though they were truly brethren in Christ (surely reader, you don't
believe that genuine Christians do not sin?).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It causes me great
sadness to reflect on my own attitudes in those days as I remember
that <span lang="en-AU"> </span><span lang="en-AU"><i>“the lust of
the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”</i></span><span lang="en-AU">
which was very evident in those with whom I sat, and sang with on
Sundays, was no different in me.</span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The attitudes which
Paul identified in Romans 1:29-30 were (and are?) clearly evident,
and the accusing finger of people who had the secret unwritten rules
about unmentionable sins was equally evident.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't the wrath of
God that was feared, and still isn't. It was the fear that someone
would find out about a particular failure (many congregations still
haven't a clue as to what God's idea of grace is), and knew that any
repercussions would show not even a scintilla of genuine grace, but condemnation.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came across a quote from Brennan Manning,in which he hit the
bull's-eye,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<i>To put it
bluntly, the American church today accepts grace in theory but denies
it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of
reality is grace, not works–but our lives refute our faith. By and
large, the gospel of grace is neither proclaimed, understood, nor
lived. Too many Christians are living in a house of fear and not in
the house of love.” </i>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No matter how much we might protest, things are no different in
Australia, and most countries where church traditions, rather than
Scripture set the scene for faith and practice, even though we claim
Scriptural instructions which we interpret to suit our purpose. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exercising grace is the hardest task in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I must admit, I still struggle to be gracious in my thinking about
some matters that have deeply affected my family, knowing full well
the exceptional example of grace that has been revealed to us in
Jesus Christ Jesus, as He poured out His grace/love for me, a stained
sinner. And that grace was totally undeserved, because that is what grace
is; undeserved love.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's what moved John Newton to write his “Amazing Grace”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't think I'm the
only one who has a hard time offering grace to those who affect us in
negative ways, but , let's be honest, we have a hard time being
givers of grace to those who’s sin is different to ours, and
therefore worse, and more offensive to us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact that their sin is not like our own is the reason, we who claim to be Christian, have graded
some sins as compared to other sins. Their sin is always worse than mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to wake up to the fact that God is offended by SIN, missing His mark of righteousness. He must be judicially satisfied over every sin,a fact which was achieved in the life and
work of His precious Son,for those who believe and trust in Him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a fact. Is it
not? That in our eyes, the sin in our life is not as serious, or
culpable as that of those we judge and point our fingers at. How can we offer
grace to others whose sin is worse than ours?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it also not true
that we preach grace to others (after all, we want them to be
gracious towards us), but find it so difficult to offer grace to
those who sin in a different way to us?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At almost 75 years of
age, as I said earlier, I am still learning what the grace walk (or marathon, as my friend Paul says) is
all about.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing I have
noticed over this nearly three-quarters of a century, is that when we
do not exercise the grace that has been showered upon us, we are
teaching others, by example, that the work of Jesus Christ as He
inaugurated this New Covenant age in which we live, was of no real
value.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason? We choose
to still live under an Old Covenant system which was ruled by law
rather than grace, and reject the New Covenant Person and His completed work of great grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a waste were
those years; yes, some in pastoral ministry, when James 2:10 was
invisible to we ungracious law keepers : <i>“For whoever keeps the
whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking
all of it”.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't tell me you haven't done just that, and often!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do we make of
Jesus' words when He says,<i> “You have heard that it was said to
the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be
subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with
his brother will be subject to judgment -------and anyone who says,
‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew
5:21-22).</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how we have
interpreted Jesus words to the Pharisees who prided themselves in
keeping the law, at least publicly: <i>“You have heard that it was
said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who
looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in
his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But
we don't do sin as serious as this! Do we?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well! John
says we do: <span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>If
we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
the truth is not in us. </i></span></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We need to remember
John's warning and start being realistic rather than living in some
spiritual cloud cookoo land.
</span><br />
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God sees SIN, not
sins!</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have come to
realise that a quote of George MacDonald is so apt to the practice
of much church life today,
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<i>I understand
God’s patience with the wicked, but I do wonder how He can be so
patient with the pious.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having spent many years with a
certain evangelical denomination, I've come to realize
the safety I feel knowing that I’ll be judged by Jesus Christ and
not those whom I have heard judge some in this life:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They would say to a
sinful greedy-guts, “Welcome well-fed healthy appetite Baptist.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To one such sinner
aspiring to great riches, “Congratulations Methodist for trying to get ahead
in life. Let her in.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the avaricious,
“Being a good Episcoplaian, he once paid for a new organ for the church.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having heard the
justifications of these judges , I have also heard them look askance
at at adulterers, murderers, drunkards and say,<i> “What utterly
rotten folk they are! Terrible sinners. They deserve nothing better
than hell.” </i>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You and I better
acknowledge that, as natural born men and women, we DESERVE the same,
but Judge Jesus will look at them, and observe that having become His
brethren through adoption into God's family, He will mark their
charge sheet, SAVED BY GRACE.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do we think the shed blood of Jesus Christ is limited in its efficacy to cleanse all sin?
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sin is sin. There is
no gradations or distinction, and, Grace is Grace with no exceptions for
those who have come to the Saviour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't enter the carnal
world of grading sin. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who do will find that Jesus was most
aggrieved by the self-righteous, pious, condemning, judgmental
Pharisees, those self-appointed law-enforcement officers who oversee other
people’s righteousness, or lack thereof.</span><br />
<br />
<br />Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-2656162971983008132014-04-09T16:02:00.004+10:002014-04-09T16:03:34.874+10:00<h2>
<span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><u>NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT</u></i></span></span></sup></span></h2>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached
by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor
was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus
Christ.</i></span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(Galatians 1:12 ESV)</span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana;">Having lived
in this world for almost three-quarters of a century, a large part of
that in the traditional institutional church scene. As one would hope
I awakened to a few things, especially during the last 20 years or
so.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">One stand out
matter is the fact that the relationship between the principles of
what is naturally of this world and the principles of the religious
world, which imagines itself as “Christian”.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">There is no
discernable difference between the two, because the difference is
only a matter of perceived place, and not of nature. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Both the
world and what I like to call “Christianism” use the same methods
of rhetoric and theatrical skills to elevate the emotions, moving,
stimulating, craving, which often among hearers becomes an addiction.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Pathos,
tears, contempt, hatred, anger, melancholy, pleasure, and all the
plethora of human emotions are the same, but presented in a different
context. We sit through these performances (for that is what they
are), and leave, with little effect, if any.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As I heard a
church musician once say as he left the building,<i>”That was a
better jam session”. </i>Excellent music, a fresh face in the
pulpit, maybe a change of place to break the monotony, etc., but what
has really been going on? </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">About thirty
years ago a denominational newspaper had a headline, “Guess Who Was
in Church with You this Morning?” The answer was,”SATAN”. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Was that
newspaper discerning something we who name of Christ are missing?</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If so,how
Satan must laugh behind his religious mask of “Christianism”! </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">One of the
marks of current “Christianism” is the expectation of a highly
cultured mind with a keen sense of the beautiful and the fashionable,
and the idea that this must be seen to be apart from such as the
mundane, plain, and unsophisticated, ordinary seaminess of those who
are convicted otherwise.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The mundane,
plain, and unsophisticated is unpleasant and offensive as far as this
world is concerned, but, we forget it is not the mindset of one
who has a personal living relationship with God, through the finished
work of the Lord, Jesus Christ. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We cry to God
to do a “new thing” among us, when the “new thing” has
already been done, in and through the Son of God. Everything in the
life and service of the Apostle Paul was the the result of the fact
that he received the Gospel he preached and lived by "by
revelation", not simply by intellectual assent. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Preachers and
teachers, as well as you and I, may know the Bible word for word, as
we may another book (one fellow I knew could quote several books of
the Bible, word perfectly), and yet we may still be spiritually dead
in our sin, whilst living the the lie of beautiful and the
fashionable, religious people. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Scriptures
reveal a lot about the knowledge of God and,the truth regarding His
Son, as the foundation (cornerstone) of eternal life, resulting in
being set free, doing the works He does. They also reveal clearly
that simple intellectual assent to facts found by academic
study,research and reading, will not find that relationship with God.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Above all
Scripture makes it clear that it is this “revelation” of which
Paul speaks, a revealing by the Holy Spirit (John 16: 7-11), which
takes what we know intellectually, and brings it to living reality
deep in our being. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The best
knowledge of the Scriptures, an amazingly accurate comprehension of
Christian doctrine, and the constant “doing of Christian work”,
no matter how “holy” we imagine it to be, using only our natural
talents, will get us no further towards God, than if we knew nothing,
and did nothing. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">By the same
token the clever rhetoric, and writing, skilfully presented by using
Bible content and themes, may cause, both speaker and hearers to
remain wrapped in the shrouds of spiritual death. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">People cannot
be argued into the presence of God, no matter how well reasoned. They
may be captivated by the skilful presentation of the orator, and they
may even be touched emotionally (as I have occasionally been).</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Only the Holy
Spirit can instigate spiritual new birth and the quickening (bringing
to life) of the spirit in humankind.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It would seem
that the Apostle who authored our text was a very ordinary,
unsophisticated, even ugly, little military man, who had an encounter
with the living Christ, and became a potent force in the Family of
God, and yet, would be frowned upon by the many who assume they have
reached some religious high note of holiness in today's world. </span></span>
</div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-15137127558888884932014-04-07T07:51:00.002+10:002016-04-29T16:03:05.490+10:00<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">N<u><b>EW BEGINNING: NEW AGE OF GRACE</b></u></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Whomever
said the following words may not have known the spiritual
implications of their words: <i>“every story
has an ending. But in life, every ending is a new beginning..”</i><i>
</i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<br /></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Seeing
them again this morning I couldn't help but apply them to the
impending Easter weekend.</span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
Western world anticipates Easter with an insatiable appetite for self
indulgence; the shops begin advertising their a few days after
Christmas ( hot cross buns were on sale before New Years Day in
Australia), soon followed by the Easter bunny replacement, chocolate
bilbys (Macrotis lagotis – a native Aussie), and, to some degree at
least the intrigue, politics, power struggles of both the religious
scene, and secular society, fade for a brief interlude<span style="color: black;">.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
Easter Egg is still very evident in a vast array of forms and colors,
but still recognisable as eggs!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Eggs:
The emblem of new beginnings!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What
has a “new beginning” got to say to the majority who look forward
to Easter? Probably not much!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">That's
possibly true for many who call themselves “Christian” who see
Easter as a time to escape the drudgery of work, a time to catch up
on unfinished, or not yet begun, domestic jobs, with the possibility
of a cursory trip to a religious service: After all it is Christmas,
or, Easter, or, something.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Most
would have some understanding about a crucified, dead and buried
Saviour, who, in this amazing act, gave them a “new beginning”
which enabled them to anticipate resurrected life for eternity.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">But
they still haven't grasped what Paul exulted about in Galatians 5:1,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>
“</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
</i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>freedom
Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit
again to a yoke of slavery.”</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">So
many are still struggling through life wearing the grave clothes of
the Old Covenant, </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-AU">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">they
are still under the old bondage of the religious systems and rules,
with the expectations and demands of habit and legalism</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What
Paul had discovered in His amazing experience of becoming a Christ
follower was not only that the grave clothes of the Old Covenant were
taken removed, but the free, fresh air of spiritually emancipation
from the Old Covenant was experienced in the inauguration of the New
Covenant in Jesus Christ!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Not
only to be raised with Christ, to a “new beginning” but to have a
“new beginning” under a New Covenant.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; widows: 8;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
One who was promised as the person of the New Covenant (Isaiah 42:6)
pleaded with a nation whose relationship with God was stifled under
the burden of a human directed religiosity,</span></span><span style="color: black; widows: 8;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>
"</i></span></span><span style="color: black; widows: 8;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Come
to </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; widows: 8;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>me,
all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black; widows: 8;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>"
</i></span></span><span style="color: black; widows: 8;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">(Matt.
11:28-30).</span></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Why
did these people need “rest”? From what?</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
Old Covenant heavy burden and domination of authoritarian, rules
oriented, legalistic religion, with all of its “do's” and “do
nots”. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Speaking
of their religious leaders,Jesus said,<i>"</i><span lang="en-AU"><i>The
scribes and the Pharisees </i></span><span lang="en-AU"><i>sit
on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but
not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. </i></span><span lang="en-AU"><i>They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's
shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with
their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others.”</i></span><span lang="en-AU">
</span>(Matt.
23:4). </span></span>
</div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">How
familiar this scene is today, as we see dear folk still struggling
with obedience to rules, regulations and laws, which they have been
led to believe will ensure eternal life for them, which in one way or
another, is regularly reinforced.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.020000457763672px;">Easter says something far more profound than that God, just taking upon Himself the form of mankind (incarnation) living, dying, and rising again, to pay for our sin, and for us to continue pretending we don't have any sin to deal with, or being under condemnation for the rest of life because we find that we still sin.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Easter
says that Almighty God, who made the incredible act of putting aside
His rights as God, to fulfil ALL the requirements of the Old
Covenant, on behalf of all who would come to Him, is an Almighty God
who fulfils ALL of His promises to give a servant who would, in His
exclusive, exquisite timing, introduce a New Covenant age, “for the
people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are
blind,....” (Isaiah 42:6-7; cf. Luke 4:18-19)</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So many religious people still see the light dimly; many still blind, to what God has done through His precious Son.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-87890653272724647912014-04-03T13:22:00.001+10:002014-04-05T07:39:55.901+10:00<h2 class="western">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">having
the appearance of godliness, but </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">denying
its power”. </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, fantasy;"><span lang="en-AU">2
Tim.3:5</span></span></span></span></h2>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I recently saw a
photograph of a church door, upon which was written something
attributed to a follower of Christ by the name of T.Austin-Sparks: It
said, <i>“Religion can be the greatest enemy of God's true thought,
because it is Satan's best deception”.</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That
is so very true, but, I must confess that it took me many years of
ministry as a pastor to fully understand what this chap was talking
about. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">At
the age of twelve,I had come to a limited understanding of what God
was about in the incarnation and the life, death, and resurrection
of Jesus. I was a Christian, by all intents and purposes, and
received into church membership. Zeal was not lacking, which
continued well into middle age. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You
see, I had the spiritual disease of which Paul warned, <i>“a form
of religion”. </i> I was strong on the particular doctrine I
adhered to. I was very literal in my application of “what the
Bible says” without consideration of other aspects such as context,
the situation to which the words were applied,etc. I held firmly to
the many teachings ( which I later learned were false ) of
unquestioned tradition which I had been taught,which elevated the
pastor, and what he said from the pulpit, to a person and place of
heavenly indisputable authority.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
was called to lead a congregation who had been taught, and were
equally accepting, of all of the above. I was well encouraged because
they applauded everything I said, a fact which caused me much
discomfort, although, at the time, I dismissed such discomfort as
false humility. How wrong I was!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Often,during
my preparation for a message I was arrested in my thinking by the
fact that I did not believe the Scripture I was studying, actually
taught what tradition and the “approved” experts and commentaters
said it did. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One
Sunday, after carefully, and thoroughly, studying a passage, I spoke
what I had received from my studies. That was the beginning of a few
months of hell on earth. </span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
was during this time I experienced, and saw so clearly, the lack of
grace which accorded well with what Paul spoke of in 2Timothy
3:2-5,<span style="color: black;"><i>”.....</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>people
will be</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless,
unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving
good, </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>treacherous,
reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><b>having
the appearance </b></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">(
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“a
form of”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">
KJV) </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><b>of
godliness, but denying its power.</b></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
Avoid such people.</i></span></span></span><br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sadly,
it wasn't only me who had to experience how religion for religion's
sake uses evil for its own ends as an accusation of sinful behaviour
caused me to be given the opportunity to resign, or else be dismissed
with no appeal or question as to the accusation. </span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It's
so easy, and even comfortable to have the appearance, or form of
godliness, a religion. When joined to a group of people who profess
this religion,and in membership with what they assume, like I did, is
the church, it is very difficult, in the unquestioning mindset that
accompanies religion, to think, much less voice, any doubts about the
teachings.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">Albert
Barnes wrote,</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>”The
most regular and bigoted adherence to the forms of religion,
furnishes no evidence in itself that there is any true piety at
heart, or that true religion has any actual control over the soul. </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><b>It
is much easier for men to observe the forms of religion than it is to
bring the heart under its controlling influence”. </b></i></span></span></span>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">This
was the spirit of the Pharisees, who were very adept at pointing the
finger of accusation at any who didn't conform to</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">the
religious and moral laws they professed to rigidly hold to.</span></span></span><br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
were the epitome of self-righteousness, displayed by their
judgemental and condemnatory behavior, as they proudly separated
themselves from contamination they supposed dirty sinners might
spread.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Pharisees were so out of touch with the Spirit of God that their
hypocrisy was hidden behind their religiosity, as we see in Matthew
5.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They
held themselves as righteous men, an example to the many Jews who
were there, yet the Beatitudes, which shone clear light on their
failure to be truly righteous, had no effect.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">There
could be no doubt,</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“You
are the salt of the earth, </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><b>but
if salt has </b></i></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20.020000457763672px;"><span lang="en-AU"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.020000457763672px;"><span lang="en-AU"><b><i>lost its taste</i></b></span></span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,
how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for
anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.”</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">What
do you think? Had these salt of the earth people </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><b>lost
its taste</b></span></span><br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">Then
another pointed remark from Jesus,</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“You
are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand,
and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and
give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” </i></span></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If
we look at Jesus message correctly, surely the implication is that
there was very little light to be seen in the religious behaviour of
these people.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Where
was the light? Safely stored in a religious basket where it was
hidden from a needy society!</span><br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Were
these religious people actually salt, and light to a sin sick world?</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">These
were the ones who were so vehement about obeying the Mosaic law, as a
result one could be forgiven for thinking their conscience would
have been severely pricked when Jesus said,</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
“</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”?</i></span></span></span><br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">The
problem was that their traditions, regularly reinforced by the
scribes and Pharisees, caused these fellows to believe they were the absolute
model of righteousness, yet Jesus is saying to them that the
righteousness of the Pharisees </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><b>must
be exceeded</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">,</span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">
“</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. </i></span></span></span>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He's
telling them that if they are going to depend on righteous behaviour
as the key to entering the Kingdom of God, they would need to be far
better than the Pharisees, more holy and law abiding than they are,
otherwise they cannot be saved?</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Does
that sound familiar to you? In today's context? </span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
does to me, as I take note of the religious sheriffs do their heavy lifting exercise
of removing splinters from the eyes of others whilst carrying a great
log of wood in their own eyes and hearts.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
as Jesus goes over the commandments which I read, hear, and observe
being wielded like a soul wounding battle axe, not one self-righteous
religionist listens to what Jesus said to religionists who found a woman had committed adultery, <i>“You, who are without
sin, cast the first stone”.</i></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">Oh!
Yes!”,</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">the
religionist will quickly say, "the law must be obeyed"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, fantasy;"><span lang="en-AU"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then they will quote Jesus words without any thought for what He was actually saying:</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, fantasy;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“Do
not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets (the
O.T); I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.</i></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota,
not a dot, will pass from the Law...” </i></span></span></span>
<br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">Do
you ever wonder why they with-hold the next vital words,</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><b>“....until
all is accomplished.”</b></i></span></span></span><br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">Were
they deliberately ignoring the truth? Were they so blinded by their
religious traditionalism that they simply could not see?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
don't think so!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">It
would be not too long to wait “until all is accomplished” a</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>s
</i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">Jesus
said He would do, “</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>..
I have not come to abolish them </i></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><b>but
to fulfil them”.</b></i></span></span><br />
<div lang="en-AU">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>When
Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and
he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)</i></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Was
Jesus wrong in that amazing statement?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
an insult to Him, to think we can add some act to improve what He faithfully
completed!</span>Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-47548305426138512962014-03-04T08:05:00.000+10:002014-03-04T10:06:28.185+10:00PEACE OF SOUL : IN CHRIST ALONE!<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Internally
and externally,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> in the matter of holiness of
thought and deed, there is a tide like ebb and flow, and we often get caught in the rush when the tide is running out. Never-the-less, it remains perfectly true that
genuine followers of Christ are those </span><span lang="en-AU" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">whom </span><span lang="en-AU" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
“by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time”.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Those
who are His are kept in holiness. Without doubt sincerity and
simplicity of faith is certainly a true aspect of a genuine follower
of Christ, but, essentially, these qualities have nothing to do with
the peace of our soul, which is the result of our justification unto
salvation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
is the Lord, Jesus Christ, who alone, justifies sinners such as you
and I. It is Christ alone who is the peace-maker, and as the
peace-maker, every aspect of the peace of our soul is dependent on
Christ alone.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
has been my sorrow, for many years of ministry, to see, time after
time, so many who seek this peace from everything but Christ;</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">works
of one kind or another, obeying commandments, rules, regulations,
church membership, church attendance, baptism, theological education,
humiliation through self inflicted suffering, etc. In doing so they
are making the same mistake Israel made, of which Jeremiah spoke to
them the words of the Lord in Jer. 2:13, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>"</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>for
my people have committed two evils:</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>they
have forsaken me,the fountain of </i></span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>living
waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves,broken cisterns that
can hold no water”.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">They, like so many in
the religious scene today, were relying on their own works, looking
within themselves to be pleasing to God. They have made spiritual
“broken cisterns”, and in doing so disregarded the one Source of
life,”the fountain of living waters”, and, in reality depending
on dry wells “that can hold no water."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Where is soul peace to
be found? Only one Source: Jesus Christ, the fountain of living
waters satiating our need for soul peace and life!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When we look to find
that rest for our souls in what we do, in how righteously we act, or,
any other effort from within ourselves, we forsake the fountain of
living water, and the peace which is to be found in the completed
work of Christ.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It is a great sadness
to have met so many broken cisterns, doing their utmost to fulfil the
demands of an institution to which they are bound, clamping
themselves down into bondage of guilt, in their struggle with sin,
when not one of us can declare that we are not infected with this malady.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A much wiser man than
I, who knew exactly what he was saying asked,”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Who
can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my
sin?</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">”(Prov.20:9)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If any one claims that
they can have peace for their soul by the deliberate subduing of
their sins, they deceive themselves!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There is only one
place that peace may be had; in complete, and utter trust in Him and
what He, the fountain of living waters, the Lord, Jesus Christ, has
fulfilled, and completed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you are one who is
wrestling to subdue sin, may I ask why do you turn your back on what
is freely offered in the works which Jesus Christ completed for
eternity? Why do you think you can improve on what He finished?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Prior to His departure
from this earth, Jesus promised He would leave a “Helper”, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>“But
</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>the
Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,he will
teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have
said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as
the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid.</i></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So many, by their own
actions, imply that what Christ has done is not enough, to satisfy
the wrath of God, and they need to fill up that which is missing, and
be pleasing to Him, so gaining peace for their souls.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The sin of pride
causes us to be deaf to the clear words </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of Scripture</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> , and compare ourselves with others whom we deem "more sinful". The
old hymn says it all,</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="widows: 132;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
hear the Savior say,<br />“Your strength indeed is small;<br />Child of
weakness, watch and pray,<br />Find in Me thine all in all.”</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="widows: 132;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Jesus
paid it all,<br />All to Him I owe;<br />Sin had left a crimson stain,<br />He
washed it white as snow</i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="widows: 1;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="widows: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">H</span>e
is the only way to peace of soul, which, indeed, is peace with God!</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="widows: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
Jesus said, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
“</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Whoever
believes in me, as the Scripture has said,‘Out of his heart will
flow rivers of living water.’” </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="widows: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Whoever
believes in me”</i>, who He is, what He has accomplished, what He
is still doing (1 John 2:1)are those who have drunk at the fountain
of living water, and from whence the living water flows!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="widows: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
peace is secure for eternity!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="widows: 1;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-73413593017972835452014-02-13T07:30:00.000+10:002014-02-13T07:30:10.735+10:00<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>HERETICAL
AND HIGHLY DANGEROUS: SAYS WHOM?</u></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
can never remember reading about any light being shone in
understanding theological matters, no matter how orthodox, without there being, at least some, charges of
heresy, or something similar. There seems to be a tendency to jump to
conclusions about what someone says or writes, without careful
examination of the teaching, or facts.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That
has certainly been true historically, and still true today,
especially in regard to the New Covenant, which, some seem to think is a new thing. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">During the latter few years I've
sometimes been amused by the knee-jerk negative comments, but, more
often concerned for those (some in "high places") who make them,
when they, who ought to know better, get themselves worked up about
something without careful investigation.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I am a firm believer in the great doctrines of grace as espoused in the Great Reformation, but, I abhor the loveless, ungracious way in which disagreement is handled, by and often poorly informed and pettishly, and </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">petulantly, voiced, by those who share my doctrinal convictions</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
chap, by the name of </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David
H J Gay</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">has recently published a book called “Four Antinomians Tried and
Vindicated”</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
can be read online/downloaded at the following site:</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<a href="https://archive.org/details/FourantinomiansTriedAndVindicated"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">https://archive.org/details/FourantinomiansTriedAndVindicated</span></span></a></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
book looks at the lives and charges which were leveled at these three
men; John Saltmarsh, Tobias Crisp and John Eaton, names which are not
familiar to many today, yet well known in 17th century Calvinistic
circles. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Saltmarsh, Crisp and Eaton were labelled
Antinomians by 17th century Calvinistic Puritans who got their tails
in a twist because of the writing and preaching of these men. They were was dismissed as heretical and highly dangerous. The disappointing aspect of what happened to these fellows, is that under the guise of concern, much ignorance was being shown. Even more disappointing is the fact that this behavior is still going on today. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">From
the beginning Gay warns the reader, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>“.....if,
without looking into the matter for yourself, you are prepared to
accept the verdict of the aforesaid Reformed writers, then this book
is not for you. If, however, having read the small print, you are
still disposed to take the risk, read on. If you do, and if your
experience is anything like mine, your heart will be warmed. Your
eyes will be opened to what you have been missing. In perusing the
works of these four 'antinomians', I have found Christ, and the free
grace of God in justification, set before me in a way I had not known
before. As a consequence, I have come to realise that, as a believer,
being in Christ makes me far richer than ever I had thought. For
decades, I have had a dry, technical, academic -- altogether too low
and impoverished -- view of justification. I simply had not realised
how vast a treasure we believers have in Christâs free justification
of us. Time and again, of course, I had sung: 'How vast the treasure
we possess' and 'How vast the benefits divine which we in Christ
possess!', but I had simply not appreciated what I was singing about!
In producing this volume, that has been changed; permanently, I hope.
What is more, I have found these four men, as the New Testament,
repeatedly calling me to godliness. But -- and here's the rub -- I
have found them telling me again and again that sanctification is not
by the law. No! They have one theme, the theme of the New Testament.
Which is? Christ is all! These men have driven me to Christ, and made
me see that I must look to him â not to the law, not to my works,
but to Christ -- for everything: for justification, sanctification,
assurance and glorification. And for this these men should be
commended, not vilified. In publishing this volume, therefore,
besides doing good to others, I hope I have gone some way towards
repaying the great debt I owe them”.</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I cannot help wondering what
some would demand from those who ought to be embraced as brethren,
and what would be understood as actually causing one to be a brother/sister in
Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">C.
H. Spurgeon obviously
had a much more Scriptural, view of the words of fellows such as these, as he observed,<i>
"Antinomianism was the term applied to the teaching of Dr.
Tobias Crisp... He was called an Antinomian, </i><i><b>but
the term was misapplied." </b></i>Pages
123-124. The Sword and The Trowel. (London: Passmore and
Alabaster, 1887). </span></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
Prince of Preachers commented again, saying,<i>
"</i><i><b>Never was there a sounder divine
than Crisp, and never one who preached the gospel more fully to all
under heaven."</b></i><i> </i>Page
104. The Reverend C. H. Spurgeon's Anecdotes and Stories, Oliver
Creyton, Editor. (London). </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Even
the presiding officer at the Westminster Assembly, spoke positively
of Crisp. It was William
Twisse, who remarked that he had, <i>"read
Dr. Crisp's Sermons, and could give no reason why they were opposed,
but because so many were converted by his preaching”; </i>he
added. I think rather pointedly, <i>“so few by
ours." </i>Pages 67
in John Rippon's, A Brief Memoir of the Life and Writings of
John Gill. (London: J. Bennett, 1838). </span></span>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To
crown the expressions of honour, <span style="color: black;">Thomas
Cole</span><span style="color: black;">,
the Principal of St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, in 1656,</span><span style="color: black;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: black;">said,</span><span style="color: black;"><i>"If
I had only one hundred pounds in the world, and Dr. Crisp's book
could not be procured for less than fifty, I would give that sum
rather than be without it; <b>I have found more satisfaction in it, than
in all the books in the world, except the Bible." </b></i></span><span style="color: black;">Pages
vii. "Memoir of the Life of Tobias Crisp." </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Heretical
and highly dangerous. Huh?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Crisps
sermons, “Christ Alone Exalted, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">With
explanatory notes by John Gill, </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
New Covenant of Free Grace” can be read, or, downloaded at:</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></strong></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">https://ia700304.us.archive.org/25/items/christaloneexalt01cris/christaloneexalt01cris.pdf</span></span></span></strong></div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">John
Gill wrote this of Tobias Crisp:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"> “<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">...........
being far from pride, vanity, and self-conceitedness, and full of
meekness, lowliness, and tender-heartedness; whereby it appeared,
that the gospel of Christ had a very great influence upon his soul,
and which engaged him to preach it freely …... but reproach and
persecution, his doctrine being falsely charged with Antinomianism
…....”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How I wish these words could be said of any of us who dare to be so quick with word and pen.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Neither
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">John
Saltmarsh, Tobias Crisp or John Eaton were antinomians, but they did
understand what it means to live under the New Covenant ratified by
the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, which, by
the way is no new fad, but the old truth,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">of Ephesians 2:8,9,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> intended from creation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">By the way: A good read can be<a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/why-i-now-believe-in-new-covenant.html"> found here</a>!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="page-break-inside: avoid; widows: 8;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-41592892308609318052014-01-06T07:48:00.001+10:002014-01-06T07:48:44.908+10:00<u>STILL HERE - GOD WILLING, MORE TO COME.</u><br />
<u><br /></u>
At the beginning of this new year I wanted to touch base with those of you who read my ramblings, to ask that God's blessing for you, will be to His honor and glory, and simply say that my prayer for you is to, "Have a happy and blessed year!"<br />
<br />
Been away for quite a while with eye problems as well as increasing attention from my old friend Arthur, otherwise known as chronic osteo-arthritis, and three protruding discs, which constantly remind me of their presence. When I sit in the doctors waiting room and observe the troubles of other senior folk, I count my blessings.<br />
<br />
Having recently received cataract surgery, which repaired my near to long vision, (was my vision ever this good?) I will still need reading glasses for which I have to wait a few weeks. Consequently, I'm typing with my screen enlarged to quite silly proportions. Even though large it's still frustrating to read and type.<br />
<br />
My precious Valerie recently celebrated her 75th year of the gift of life, I'm approaching mine, each of us having quite a few physical difficulties, leading us to make the decision to downsize, and apply to enter a retirement village, which will entail much less work than maintaining a four bedroom house, garden and lawns.<br />
<br />
I'm certainly not looking forward to the hassle of reducing our household inventory, and selling the house, which we have made a home, for ourselves as well as a base for family.<br />
<br />
We have seen most of our family during this fast fading season, which has given us a real sense of the privilege we are given to raise a family, and spend time with them, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren.<br />
<br />
Our great God is so good! The gift of new life in His Son, in a New Covenant, and abundant blessing over the long years, and now, the promise of another year!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-3110884490756047262013-09-04T06:54:00.001+10:002013-09-04T06:54:32.014+10:00<u>SO THE SAYING GOES</u><br />
<br />
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">There is an old saying in this country, and maybe in others, which says that a nation gets the government it deserves. The words, as I understand the story,comes from people who believe that our great God is sovereign over the affairs of the nations, and has an interest in what kind of government a nation elects.</span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<br /></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">Recently, on a government funded, national T.V. station, on, what is purported to be a serious public affairs program,</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"> our current serving, recently re-appointed, Prime Minister, who is standing for re-election this coming Saturday, </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">grossly caricatured the Bible.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">This man is a self-professed Christian, often using church attendance as an opportunity for media attention. On the program mentioned a pastor challenged the P.M.'s very recent change of mind on same-sex marriage, noting that towards the end of 2012, as a member of parliament, he had voted against the matter. </span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">A
pastor questioned this change of mind on the issue quo</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">ting the Scriptures. The following is a quote from the article reporting the matter on web site of <a href="http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2013/09/pm-verbals-the-bible/">The Briefing</a>, </span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i> “A man shall leave his father and
mother and be married”—summarising Matthew 19:4-6—and asked why
someone calling himself a Christian does not believe the words of
Jesus in the Bible.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i>The
PM replied,</i></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i>Well
if I was going to have that view, the Bible also says that slavery is
a natural condition.”</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i>This
received the most enormous applause of the night, which incidentally
seems to indicate both the depth of biblical illiteracy and the
hostility to Christian morality."</i></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">The P.M. then showed his ignorance of Scripture, or his willingness to sell his soul to the highest bidder for political gain, which he clearly portrays in his reply.</span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;">I wonder? <i>"</i></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i>a nation gets the government it deserves" ?</i></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, san-serif;"><i>The article is found here: </i></span><a href="http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2013/09/pm-verbals-the-bible/">http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2013/09/pm-verbals-the-bible/</a></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-85929777375780933502013-08-14T16:56:00.000+10:002013-08-14T16:56:06.846+10:00I have not contributed for some time as my health has not allowed it. I still read and comment when I am able.<br />
<br />
A must read article which deserves a much wider audience is to be found on the <a href="http://www.wadeburleson.org/2013/08/outside-camp.html">Istoria Ministries Blog</a> of Wade Burleson.<br />
<br />
Do yourself a service and read it!Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-89593138788927867412013-05-19T08:22:00.003+10:002013-05-19T08:22:54.194+10:00<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: #222222;">A
SERVANT WHOSE NAME WAS WIN.</span></b></u></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Apostle Paul acknowledges the words of Isa 64:8, when he says ,”But
who are you,O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to
its molder,”Why have you made me like this?”</i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Maybe
I will receive some rebuke for taking this Scripture out of context,
which I freely admit it is. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;">There
is a principle here which is applicable to many situations we are
facing in the midst of those who claim to belong to “the church”.
All,I trust, would claim to be</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: small;">
in the hands of a Sovereign Lord, One who Isaiah, and Paul,
acknowledge as the Potter who knows His business, and therefore the
eventual use of the vessel He is making. He begins His task knowing
what the vessel He is carefully making is to be used for. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Have
you ever noticed that a master craftsman leaves an indelible
something about his/her work which identifies it to those who care to
look with a non-prejudiced eye? It's almost as if the potter is IN
the vessel, or, at least something of his person, his spirit, is
revealed in it's design, color, finish,etc.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">We
can be certain of one thing, the vessel is what the potter had in
mind.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">That
brings me to a Christian woman my family knew. An exceptional lady, a
gentle woman, whom I knew for some twenty five years. Her husband was
a deacon in a congregation where my wife and I, and our five children
attended.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Her
name was Winifred. We knew her as Win. We knew her as a loving,
caring,serving, Christ glorifying member of the Family of God.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Time
passed during which time my, wife, family and I moved a long way from
that congregation. I had been invited to serve as pastor in another
congregation of the same denomination.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Six
years on we accepted an invitation to minister to another
denominational congregation. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Twenty minutes away a small group of
believers became a congregation in that denomination.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Imagine
our delight when we found that Win and her husband were amongst this
new group.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The
new church developed in size, and Win and her husband continued on in
the same manner as we had known all those years previously.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Some
years passed and Win, so appreciated by the members of this church,
was approached to stand as a deacon. After all, as both men and women
acknowleged, she had for years, exhibited much more of the marks of
the handiwork of the Master Potter, than most of the male deacons
they had known.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">I'm
not going to detail the work of ugly fundamentalism that ensued.
Those who read this will well know. A campaign was launched, much
harm was caused by those four people in a congregation of forty. I
was asked to talk to these four. Not one could give sound Scriptural
reason for their opposition!</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">They
were happy to let Win continue on doing the servant work of deacon,
but to bestow on her “the office” of deacon was equal to
blasphemy. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Some
people never grow to maturity! So sad!</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Win
didn't start a fight. She didn't become secular and start a movement.
She didn't change in the slightest. She was like the Potter who made
her, she just got on with the task that she had done for all those
years, and then she went to be with the One who had crafted her so
lovingly, She received the only recognition she deserved; the only
recognition any true servant of God deserves, and covets: “Well
done,good and faithful servant”.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Good
servants don't need earthly recognition, they simply get on with the
task. Win's whole life was a sermon. She didn't need a platform.
Win's whole life reflected the Potter. She didn't need an “office”. SHE JUST GOT ON WITH THE TASK!</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">She
had ALL she needed! We have too, male or female, if we would wake up
and see!</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /><br />
</div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-75085929511222514502013-05-09T06:36:00.000+10:002016-04-29T15:53:29.167+10:00<br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>I SAW HIM IN CHURCH</u></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My apologies for not being able to acknowledge where the following came from, or, who wrote it.</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've had it for some time and came across it this morning and felt the many messages it gives are too important to keep to myself.</span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>I
saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">He
was in his mid-70′s, with thinning silver hair and a neat brown
suit.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">Many times in the past I had invited him to come to
church.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">Several other Christian friends had talked to him
about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him.</span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>He
was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a
Christian should have,</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>but he had never accepted Christ, nor
entered the doors of the church.</i></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.38cm; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;">“</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;">Have
you ever been to a church service in your life?” I had asked him a
few years ago.</span></i></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0.38cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and
talking.He hesitated. Then with a bitter smile he told me of
his </span><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">childhood experience some fifty years ago.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="line-height: 14.359375px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>He was one of
many children in a large impoverished family.</i></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><img align="BOTTOM" border="1" height="2" name="graphics1" src="https://javaman56.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif?m=1207340914g" style="color: #330000; line-height: 0.38cm;" width="2" /></i></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>His
parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing
and clothing.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.38cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to
worship with them.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0.38cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">The Sunday School class had been very
exciting!He had never heard such songs and stories before!</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 14.359375px;"><br /></span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>He had
never heard anyone read from the Bible!</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">After class was over, the
teacher took him aside and said,</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">“Son, please don’t come again
dressed as you are now.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">We want to look our best when we come into
God’s house.</span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;">“</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;">He
stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls.</span></i></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">Then looking at his dirty
bare feet, he answered softly, “No, ma’am, I won’t-ever.”</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">“And
I never did,” he said, abruptly ending our conversation.</span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.38cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>There
must have been other factors to have hardened him so,</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 0.38cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">but this
experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his
heart.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 14.359375px;"><br /></span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>I ‘m sure that Sunday School teacher meant well.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">But
did she really understand the love of Christ?</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">Had she studied and
accepted the teachings found in the second chapter of James?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">What
if she had put her arms around the dirty, ragged little boy and
said,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">“Son, I am so glad you are here, and I hope you will come
back </span><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">every chance you get to hear more about Jesus.”</span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>I
reflected on the awesome responsibility a teacher or</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">pastor or a
parent has to welcome little ones in His name.</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">How far-reaching
her influence was! I prayed that I might be ever open</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">to the
tenderness of a child’s heart, and that I might never fail to
see</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">beyond the appearance and behavior of a child to the eternal
possibilities within.</span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 0.38cm;"><i>Yes,
I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday.</i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">As
I looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman</span></i></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">lying in his
casket, I thought of the little boy of long ago.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 0.38cm;">I could almost
hear him say, “No, ma’am, I won’t-ever.”</span></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="border: none; line-height: 0.38cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>And
I wept.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-18153553138254041882013-05-03T16:44:00.001+10:002013-05-03T16:44:10.854+10:00<br />
<h3 class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #993322;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/my-mixed-bag-of-grace.html">MY
MIXED BAG OF GRACE</a></span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3 class="western" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #993322;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;">The title is not mine. It was written by a fellow believer, who like me has been given the grace to pass the three score </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;">years </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;">and ten, much of it in pastoral ministry.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;">What strikes me when I read what he writes are the adjectives which come to mind, such as spiritually mature, Scripturally wise, but even more, he brings to mind a man who has been in God's slow, patient mill which has shaped, and is still shaping his heart and mind, along the lines of Paul in 1 Cor.2:6.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;">Coincidentally, His name is also Paul. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com.au/">Paul Burleson</a> is well worth reading at his blog. Just click on his name.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;">He writes: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmovrwH-SHpcJGjOPhzmRJw_8OvAeEtT-TOuIUt64ddX_SvOGAMTgh0sppKhmY1tHwYprD-ooF1VxF60YPc_JQpqOn6J4phbMFwoRNT2R1nV5bV1HgRaVTNiLEnCGQSLaJrLwzWQySZPc/s1600/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="193" name="graphics1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmovrwH-SHpcJGjOPhzmRJw_8OvAeEtT-TOuIUt64ddX_SvOGAMTgh0sppKhmY1tHwYprD-ooF1VxF60YPc_JQpqOn6J4phbMFwoRNT2R1nV5bV1HgRaVTNiLEnCGQSLaJrLwzWQySZPc/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #993322;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">I
knew from the very beginning that I was "saved by grace."
With my history and personal background it was a given that I needed
grace. All I was capable of doing were things no one in their right
mind would call good and certainly not pure. It didn't take being a
rocket scientist to figure out that I needed God's help. So, Grace as
shown in the Person and Work of Christ became real to me. I became a
believer. My message was one of grace from the outset. It's called
the gospel.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />But,
that said, It took me some years to realize that the same grace that
saved me was the grace by which I was to live. So I began a walk
according to the law. Oh it wasn't the law of Moses, although I did
somewhat embrace the 10 commandments as the foundation of the way I
was suppose to live, it was the law of logic for me.<br /><br />My
logic went this way. Knowing no one could ever repay Jesus completely
for what He did for them, I believed I did need to spend the rest of
my life trying to. So a pay back journey began. Back then that
sounded spiritual, at least to me, but it wasn't. It was works. I
was, indeed, saved by grace but was trying to live by the works
of the law. [My law of logic.] </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />You
may be asking, "What does that law of logic look like?"
The answer is it looks like what I heard one person call, "An
ash tray full of buts." [Thus the picture with apologies to
cigarette butts.] I knew I was saved by grace, "but!......"
[There it is.] There was ALWAYS an "I know it is all of
grace.... "but."<br /><br />You see, in my mind, there
were things I needed to do to keep grace from being cheap. I owed Him
my all and I wanted to show up for the parade of working to pay Him
back. [Remember, I'm not talking about salvation here.] Little did I
know that what cheapens grace is to think you can add anything to it,
even in your walk. Thus, my walk became "do this," "do
that," "or do the other," instead of realizing what
"had already been done" and walking in that
reality.<br /><br />This, inevitably and subtly, shifted my focus
from Him and His work, to me and my work. It will ALWAYS do that.
Instead of learning to be impressed by what He had done, I was trying
to impress Him with what I was doing so He'd know I really loved
Him for what He had done. Make sense? It did to me.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />So,
as you can see, my first "but" mixed with grace
was, "<b>But I owe Him my all and had better show Him by
doing all I can"</b>. [The ash tray will be full of "buts"
before we're finished.] </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />Another
"but" mixed with grace in my life was, I knew that Jesus
had saved me, "but" if I didn't study the bible and
understand doctrine I would never be able to know what to do. I had
to know "bible truth" so I could have a game plan of
performance. As you can see, I wound up not reading the scriptures to
see Jesus at all. (Lk 24:27) My purpose was to learn, <i>what I
ought to do? </i>Does this remind you of what Jesus said to the
Pharisees at all? [John 5:39]<br /><br />I developed a little
knowledge of this doctrine, a little knowledge of that doctrine, and
became doctrinally correct in many ways. But, sadly, I ended up
thinking all scripture was profitable for me to know ONLY as it
showed me how to live. That's far from having my "eye on Jesus
alone." </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />I
failed to filter what I read through the finished work of the cross,
I read someone say it this way, "I unwittingly poisoned myself
about the Christian life." I was mixing the death-dealing words
of my own "law of shoulds" with the life-giving "words
of grace." Although I thought I was zealous for the Lord, I
was really only zealous for my own law. <u>I wound up with a
STRONGER CONNECTION to the WRITTEN WORD than I had with the LIVING
WORD</u>. <b>Another "but" in my ashtray of
useless things on my journey because my time in the Word was about ME
and not HIM</b>. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />There
is yet another "but" that I mixed with grace. It
was..."But"__ I need more from God so I can live the
Christian life. Now this is REALLY subtle. I kept looking for
something to help me live the Christian life to it's fullest. But I
was searching for the very things that He had already provided IN
CHRIST. I would ask for more faith instead of living by the faith of
the Son of God (Ga 2:20). I would ask for more peace without knowing
He was my peace. [Ephesians 2:14] I would ask for more victory
without realizing He had already won the victory and my victory was
trusting that fact. [1 John 5:4]<br /><br />I was always asking for
something more. I read books on "How To_____," went
to conferences to learn "how to____," and you can fill in
the blanks. On and on to find ways to help me do my"shoulds."Never
satisfied with Christ alone. [The ashtray was full and was
dirty and stank.]</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />I
didn’t realize that I had already been blessed with every spiritual
blessing IN CHRIST, and that I was deeply loved, and highly favored,
IN CHRIST. [Ephesians 1:3] So in my ignorance I wasted a
whole lot of time asking for things that were already mine. <b>This
"but" had brought me to thinking I was being spiritual and
faithful when in reality I was fleshly and faithless.</b>
</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />The
tragedy of all this is simple. You just do not mix anything with
real grace. In true grace you sit in it, you walk in it, you
stand in it. [Taken from Watchman Nee's book on Ephesians entitled,
Sit_Walk_Stand.] But in subtle ways I preferred rules to
relationship and what I really craved were clear Biblical guidelines
for living. I thought I was choosing good, but then so did Adam. Adam
and I both had an independent spirit that led us to eat from the
wrong tree and the result was nothing more than dead works.<br /><br />It
was when I discovered that as a believer I was called upon in the New
Covenant to repent of dead works that I was finally shaken.<u><br /><br />Dead
works are the things religious people do thinking that by doing those
things they are gaining something from God. If I pray because I
think it will make me better with God, it's a dead work. if I read my
bible thinking it will make me better with God, it's a dead work. If
I go to church.....</u>You get the idea.<br /><br />But if I pray or read
my bible or witness or go to a gathered church meeting because I know
the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST is mine and I AM ACCEPTED BY PAPA and I
know THAT HE LOVES ME UNCONDITIONALLY, instead of all those things
making me better with Him, I find the power to live already present
in my life. His name is Jesus. [That's shouting ground.]</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Now
don't get me wrong here, which some might be prone to do. I'm not
saying you don't do certain things. Of course you do. Perhaps
everything I've mentioned in this post, in fact. <b>But you
don't focus on them or keep track of them so you can measure yourself
by them because they are not for measuring anything about
you. They are simply your response of love to His great acts of
grace in Christ that have already made you acceptable. It is
simply you learn to live as a son instead of a slave.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">So,
my mixed bag was discarded. The "buts" were thrown out and
the ashtray was emptied, gone, removed. The stench of dead works was
also removed and the sweet aroma of grace is now the atmosphere of
life itself. <b>His name is Jesus.</b><br /><br />Paul B. </span></span></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-31310852837952255872013-04-11T08:04:00.000+10:002016-04-29T15:58:08.999+10:00<br />
<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SAVED BY GRACE! SO WHAT?</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have often mention an aphorism, which may have come from somewhere else, but until I know otherwise, I claim it as mine: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THOSE WHO ARE GENUINE RECIPIENTS OF GOD'S GREAT GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST WILL REFLECT THAT GRACE IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH OTHERS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Among the several articles,blogs, etc I have seen commenting on the sadness the Warren family are now enduring, two or three stand out because of evident grace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.alanknox.net/">Alan Knox</a> has written two articles, both worth your time. The first one<a href="http://www.alanknox.net/2013/04/the-church-is-talking-about-mental-illness-but-are-we-listening/"> "The church is talking about mental illness,but are we listening?</a>", the most recent,<a href="http://www.alanknox.net/2013/04/some-are-listening-to-their-brothers-and-sisters-in-christ-who-have-mental-illnesses/">" Some are listening to their brothers and sisters in Christ who have mental illness"</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another blogging brother, <a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com.au/">Paul Burleson</a>, in his response to my comment, mentioned <span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18px;">Rick Warren and his family had suffered the tragic loss of their son Matthew, the first I'd heard of it Down-Under. Soon after, reading some other articles,</span> I read some of the most ungracious, unintelligent, and nonsensical responses to the Warren family's sad loss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To cap that off, as I read the newspapers, which were were full of similar cowardly, puerile, foul comments regarding the death of ex Prime Minister of Great Britain, Maggie Thatcher.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just what IS the easily discernible difference between a genuine Christian and those who are not?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GRACE! Grace received is GRACE revealed!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those who haven't been there ought to reserve their comments until they can use their minds intelligently, but more importantly, if they truly are what they claim to be, GRACIOUSLY!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During my lifetime in the Body of Christ, I was many times called upon to deal with folk with organic illnesses of many different kinds,physical and mental, I trust that I was a reflection of that grace which drew me to follow Christ. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The gift of saving grace is the act of amazing divine graciousness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, why is it that those who claim to belong to the Family of God (church) find it in themselves to be gracious and loving towards those with physical illness, but revert to worldly values when it comes to mental illness?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of the comments regarding the Warren tragedy can only be described as from the sludge of fleshly worldliness, and that from professed Christians. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Am I missing something here?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After many years in ministry I, my wife and family were put through the wringer of false accusations, which drove me into two years of deep depression. By God's grace, and the patience of my dear wife, I came out of that pit!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've mentioned previously, my dearest friend, a much sought after pastor, went through the same false accusations, which destroyed his life, literally!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In both situations the "Christians" who were nearest , couldn't be found for the dust of their rapid departure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Literally dozens of "Christians" were no where to be found until their comments came to light; comments very similar to the graceless, churlish comments being published regarding the first mentioned hurting families.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seems to me that I must have missed the commandment,"...love one another as I have loved you, BUT ONLY IF THEY AGREE WITH YOUR THEOLOGY, AND PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And a world of spiritually needy people look on and ask, "What's the difference, between these Christians, and everyone else?" </span>Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-48991973040295152282013-04-02T09:29:00.002+10:002016-04-29T16:01:34.405+10:00<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<u style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 0.55cm;"><b>A
LIGHT SET ON A HILL</b></u></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As
Galatians 1 shows Paul testifies to God's working during his
conversion, that God revealed Jesus for whom He is in the Apostle? We
need to ask ourselves whether our “conversion experience” can be
recorded similarly.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Why
should our conversion, our “born again” experience be any
different to that of Paul?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Quite
obviously it made a world of difference in the way Paul lived his
life, and the way he was perceived by those around him, as radically
changed from a murderous Roman military man to a representative of
the King of Kings, writing words such as, <i>“
</i><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>So now faith,
hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is
love.”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"> </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It
appears that the change to Paul was marked, not by his theological
expertise, his preaching ability,the number of letters he had after
his name, nor his authority over others, or, any other quality other
than his willingness to obey the One who was revealed to him on the
Damascus road, who had chosen him to make disciples of the Gentiles.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" lang="en-AU" style="line-height: 0.55cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It's
rather interesting that the very same charge is given to all who have
been truly converted, and become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.55cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>All
authority </i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Go
therefore and </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in he name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of
the age.” </i></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">That
charge is given to all followers of Christ. Such people are, by
definition “disciples”, which causes me to think of something</span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">
that </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Theodore
Austin-Sparks wrote in, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">“</span></span><a href="http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/000420.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
Centrality and Supremacy of Christ</span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">”</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">,
ch.1:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #333333;">“<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>The
church has no existence in the thought of God apart from the
revelation of Jesus Christ, and it is judged according to the measure
in which Christ the Son of God’s love is in evidence by its
existence. ” </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">If
those, who, claiming to be “Christian”, belong to an entity
calling itself “church”, are not, in every aspect of life,
calling the worlds attention to the evidence of </span><span style="color: #333333;">Christ
the Son of God’s love, they are using the name “Christian”, and
“church” illegitimately.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><i>
Look at </i></span><span style="color: #333333;">Jesus'
words in Luke</span><span style="color: #333333;"><i>
8:16,</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>No
one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a
bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the
light. </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When
I was very much younger we lived on a farm. The house was built on
one side of a large valley. Arising, as we did, at 4.30 a.m. I looked
across the valley, which was pitch dark, except for a pinpoint of
light, about four miles away on the other side of the valley. The
utter darkness of this moonless early morning was no competition for
the pinpoint of light I knew came from a farmers house. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">I
have no doubt this is a sound illustration of Jesus words, to His
followers, </span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“You
are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden”.</i></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span lang="en-AU">
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In
other words, a genuine follower of Christ will stand out, in the same
way as light stands out in darkness,or, as a city on a hill declares
itself.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If
that is true, then no individual, group, or organization calling
itself an assembly, church, fellowship, is justified in its
existence, from God's standpoint, except to the degree or extent that
Christ is expressed to the world at large by it, as that distant
small light stood apart in the blackness of the morning.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">You
and I have no warrant, to claim to be Christians except in the
degree in which Christ is evidenced in us, both individually and
corporately; and as the darkness of that night in the valley,
mentioned above, all the powers and inventiveness of hell seeks to
hide that evidence, and seek to defeat all attempts to do so. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Far
too many who call themselves Christian, smugly think that they are
safe from any attempts to kindle in them anti-Christian life-style,
attitudes, behaviour. They are most decidedly wrong. More than
anyone else in this world believers are the targets of deception, the
very worst being the idea that they cannot be deceived.. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Paul
was certainly aware of the problem as he wrote to the believers at
Ephesus about their associations, </span><span style="color: black;"><i>“</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Therefore
</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>do not
associate with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of
light is found in all that is good and right and true)...,” </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">and,
as he counselled the followers of Christ at Philippi, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Do
all things </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>without
grumbling or questioning, </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>that
you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in
the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine
as lights in the world,...) </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Do
you ever ask yourself the questions, </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Why
has God revealed Jesus Christ to me, and caused me to be the
recipient of His saving grace? What's the point?”, </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"I
claim to bear the Name of Christ, so, what am I here for?" </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"I
believe what the Bible says when it tells me that through His saving
grace I'm now a son/daughter in His Family, so, what is the meaning
of my being related to the Lord?" </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Are
we still so infected by the sin of pride that we attach
self-centered, selfish meaning to these questions?</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Is
it not true that we rationalise the answers to these questions? </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Most
of the modern “Christianity” we know convinces us that
comfortable, self-indulgent lives are our legacy through salvation;
that we have been given God's grace for our own personal
satisfaction, and self-gratification! </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
evangelical “Christianity” with which I've been associated for 60
or so years, quietly assumes receiving Christ as Saviour and Lord as
the end in itself! </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What
we have missed is that genuine saving grace is a revelation, much as
it was to Paul, but not necessarily as dramatic, and is the
revelation, the “seeing” , of Jesus Christ, the awakening to the
truth of His centrality and supremacy in all things to do with life. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Some
of us, and I was one of these, when we do have this “Eureka”
moment as it applies to the aforementioned revelation of Christ,
immediately think about how we will apply it to life with the
assumption we now need to do some some “thing”, or “work”,
or, for some of the more aware, to some independent function upon
which we need to focus our lives.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Again
our traditions fail us. Becoming a genuine follower of Christ, does
not entail our applying our lives to an entity which is called a
WORK, which requires our devotion and faithfulness. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
centrality and supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ is the calling of
every genuine believer. Christ is the beginning and the end of
everything in the believers life, the A to Z, the Alpha and Omega,
and all else will flow from that.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"Christ
in you, the hope of glory". A fact so many claiming to be
Christian have missed, such as a couple my wife and I know, and are
so involved in WORK. I asked them why they have no peace and rest
from their gut busting efforts. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Their
answer? <i>“We are trying to please God!”</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">During
my years in pastoral ministry I heard many an account of people,
including pastors, boasting of their dedication to the denomination,
or, a para-church organization.</span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It
took me far too long to realise that, since the Apostles, much
Christian activity has been the fostering, and promoting of a
denomination and its distinctives, or, the spreading of a particular
teaching, or doctrinal emphasis, of an institution calling itself
“church”.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">All
of this action, and busy-ness disguises the reality that the Body of
Christ, the ekklesia which He is building, has no being or nature
apart from the “seeing” of Jesus Christ, and that the ekklesia,
the church He is building, is announced to a lost world <u>by the
measure in which Christ the Son of God’s love is in evidence by
those who claim to belong. </u></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">For
most of my long years as a part of this institution, no matter where
I look, and despite the showcase activities, the pomp and ceremony,
the entity we call “church” has been nothing more than a pathetic
caricature of the genuine, of which I share the blame and shame.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Why?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Simply
because it is not the genuine article. It became a “thing”, a
lifeless object which sees itself in the secular light of a
movement, a mission, a teaching, a testimony, a fellowship, which has
replaced the Lord Jesus Christ as the mediating, authoritative
influence in the world.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">The
ekklesia Jesus said He is building is meant to be the personification
of its Master to a lost world! </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Paul
understood this reason for being was Christ, </span><span style="color: #333333;"><i>“</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>But
when he </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>who
had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
was pleased t</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">o
reveal his Son to me, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><b>in
order that I might preach him </b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">among
the Gentiles</span></span><span style="color: black;">.”</span><span style="color: #333333;">
</span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Imagine
how different things might have been if the Head of the Church, the
God who loved to such an extent that He incarnated Himself, and
suffered and died as a man, on behalf of man, defeating death as a
man, had been outstandingly revealed by those who claimed His name.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"> What would have been the outcome if He had remained central and
pre-eminent, as Paul sought for Him to be, as he wrote to the
Christians in Colossae, </span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU">
</span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>“</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>And
he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”?</i></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">Could
we dare to dream that we could experience the Body of Christ without</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">
“</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life” </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">(1Jn.
2:16), instigating </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">the
decaying, decomposing , politicised and institutional jealousies.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If
we are honest , we have to confess that our “work” today is more
about protecting our turf of being the “right” one, or, the “only
true one”, whatever that “one” happens to be.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There
can be no argument, the evidence is clear that, and please note that
I'm writing in generalities, apart from lip service, Jesus Christ is
not the obvious focus of the work of Christians, assemblies,
churches, denominations of today.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
reason for this is that the majority have become members of an
earthly organisation for a myriad of reasons, of which most are self
centred.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Very
few can say, as the blind man did in John 9:25, </span><span style="color: black;"><i>“</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>One
thing I do know, that though I </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>was
blind, now I see”. </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">The
Apostle Paul explained this so well to the Corinthian brethren,</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU">
</span></sup></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>“</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">(2
Cor.4:6)</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">From
a lifetime of observation, I believe the traditional assumption of
most is that </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">a
Christian is a person who carefully does prescribed range of things,
and that such Christian does not do another whole range of forbidden
things.</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As
soon as this assumption is made the damage is done! The matter is
exacerbated because the leaders of the organisation into which they
have come, reinforce this thinking; and again, for self-centred
reasons.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A
genuine Christian is not governed by the rules and regulations of a
religious system imposed as a way of life, which declares, "Do
this," and "Do not do that," a genuine Christian is
one, who like the blind man above,is able to “see” Jesus Christ
for who He is. Such a person has had an experience of something done
to them, of which they can say,”My eyes have been opened, and I see
Jesus, for whom He really is, the One whom, as a man, has done, and
not done, everything legalistic religion expects. Everything, on
behalf of all who “see" Him!</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We
have passed off the dramatic Damascus road experience of Paul as
simply the unique experience of this spiritually hardened military
man.</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When
we do that we miss the point. Look away from the drama, and you will
see a simple act of God revealing Himself to a sinner like you and I,
who found himself confronted by Truth, "Who are you, Lord?".</span></span></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">The
answer is simple and uncomplicated. No lists of rules and
regulations: </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>"I
am Jesus of Nazareth."</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">
Paul certainly didn't see the drama as being of any consequence. His
testimony to the Galatian believers was simply, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>"It
pleased God to reveal His Son in me." </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-AU" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">That
is one and the same thing, as the experience of the blind man.
“Seeing” inwardly, in heart and mind,</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">is
what causes one to be a Christian, no fanfare, no rumpus, no pomp and
ceremony. "<i>God.....</i><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>has
shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ</i></span></span>(2 Cor. 4:6). </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">A
Christian has “seen” Jesus for whom He is:</span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>But
we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels,
namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering
of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for
everyone”.</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">(Heb.2:9)
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
church as we have traditionally known it is fading fast. Why?</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I
believe it is because we have externalized what it means to be a
Christian, relying on legal means, rules and regulations, to maintain
the strength of the “work”.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If
this is the case, and I think it is, we are like the blind man before
he received his sight. We have not “seen” Jesus. Much of the
cause for this is that we preachers suffer from the same blindness.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">Those
who have “seen” </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">Jesus
</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span lang="en-AU">have
a passion for Him, but the evidence reveals that we have focused on
other things which we have decided are in the best interests of our
particular patch.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span lang="en-AU">We
have sought the satisfaction of our own desires and for Him, rather
than the satisfaction of the Fathers heart, the glorification of His
Son.</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><i>
</i></span></span>
</div>
<blockquote style="line-height: 0.55cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We,
as individuals, must realise that you and I have no warrant to make
any claim to be Christians apart from the measure in which Christ is
evidenced in you and I.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="line-height: 0.55cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
powers of darkness are a determined adversary against the revelation
of Jesus Christ, and will lead us down a path of human desire and
ambition, which our nature is apt to follow.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="line-height: 0.55cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As
the blind man, and Paul reveal, everything begins with this, the
revelation of Jesus Christ within, “seeing” Jesus for whom He is,
why He took on human form in which He lived and died, and what He really achieved on behalf of all who would trust Him.</span></span></blockquote>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-5663101347751049512013-02-16T07:36:00.001+10:002016-04-29T15:59:42.982+10:00<br />
<h3 class="western">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><u>FREE IN CHRIST
: THE NEW COVENANT</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whilst
writing this I was reminded of several of Paul's warning regarding
false teachers, such as 1 Tim 1:3-7, when Paul said, <i>"Certain
persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain
discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding
either what they are saying or the things about which they make
confident assertions."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's
very easy for us to make similar assertions, but unlike Paul's divine
source, ours are usually from the unquestioning path we've been
treading since we began our Christian journey. As a result anything
which doesn't accord with our traditions is categorized as false
teaching.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
we become “Christian”, most of us begin to be aware that we have
much to learn. I dare say most of us under-estimate that learning
process, and limit it to an intellectual aggregation of information
coming from those within the tradition into which we've been
welcomed. We are deceived if we think that process will be any less
than a lifetime.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
usually isn't long before we have inserted into our psyche that it is
traitorous, and an offense against God, to consider any other way of thinking than that tradition
into which we've been adopted, and that holding private thoughts
about ones faith is akin to heresy.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While
holding firmly to the Soteriology as revealed during the Great
Reformation, I understand myself as neither Reformed (Covenant
Theology),nor Dispensationalist; Calvinist, nor Arminian. I am
simply a sinner who has been given the graciously bestowed gift and
privilege of being adopted into the Family of God, knowing Jesus
Christ, and being just one little stone in the Church Jesus is
building (1 Pet. 2:5).
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since,
by the grace of God,that was made clear, some sixty odd years ago, my
education in matters to do with walking this path, has been a long
slog through a number of religious swamps, and occasional, majestic
mountain tops, revealing the grandeur of the scene below, which I
believe is best described by New Covenant Theology, of which I am
now thoroughly convinced.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
am a follower of Christ who struggled for years with, what seemed to
me, to be clear inconsistencies within what I had been taught since a
very young age, most of those inconsistencies had to do with
traditional sectarianism. Over a period of time I learned that the
discomfort I felt with some of the positions I had inherited, were
caused by the Scriptures revealing New Covenant Theology, and
answering most of my struggles, some of which I hope will be seen in
the following words. I also began to realise I was alone in these
struggles.<span style="color: black;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
aforementioned New Covenant Theology (NCT) reveals God's plan of
salvation, beginning with the first man Adam, and finally bearing the
fruit of His purpose, and, consummated to His satisfaction, through
the person and work of Jesus Christ through His life, death, and
resurrection, on behalf of all those who would trust in that reality.
</span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All
of this is revealed by Scripture alone, through faith alone, in
Christ alone, by grace alone, to God's glory alone. Religious
traditions do not come into the equation, no matter what it is
called!</span></div>
<ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
</div>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> As
Dr. Gary D. Long says:<i>”God's plan of salvation is revealed and
administered through the unfolding of biblical covenants in the flow
of redemptive history, not through the theologically deduced system
of CT's Covenant of Works/Covenant of Grace/Covenant of Redemption
schema”</i> (29TH annual Sovereign Grace Doctrinal
Conference,Saldo, Texas,October 9, 2004).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">It
is of most importance to note that the common goal of the Scriptures,
from Genesis through The Revelation of John, is to reveal this plan
in the person and work of the Lord Jesus as the purpose of our
Sovereign God for His creation</span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Eph.
1:9,10)</span></span></i><span style="color: black;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
fact of God establishing a New Covenant, is the most important truth
of NCT, a New Covenant, mediated by Christ, which fully, and
permanently replaces the Old Covenant </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Heb.
8:6-13).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">When
we learn about the making of the Old Covenant, it is clearly a formal
agreement made only between two parties, God and the Nation of
Israel. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">This
Old Covenant (Mosaic Covenant, also called the First Covenant) is a
legal, conditional covenant, but NOT as some would have it, another
administration of the Covenant of Grace. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There
is no doubt that God had a gracious purpose for giving the Mosaic
Covenant, and that the covenant, itself, has legal force, as well as
being designed to reveal to the Israelites their sinful state.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
Ten Commandments or Tablets of Stone </span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Exodus
34:27-28; Dt. 5:1-3), spell out the terms</span></span></b><span style="color: black;">
of the Old Covenant (or first covenant) but did not include of all of
God's law.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As
we've already noted, the Old Covenant had legal efficacy or force
with Israel and demanded perfect obedience to all it spelled out, for
those with whom it was made, that they might receive the promised
blessings </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Ex.
19:3-6).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As
the Apostle Paul clearly understood, the Old Covenant was a ministry
of death </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(2
Cor. 3:6-9) </span></span></i><span style="color: black;">and
was designed to be a teacher pointing the nation of Israel to God's
better way of dealing with sin, the promised Messiah, the Lord,Jesus
Christ </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Gal.
3:24,25).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Importantly,
as the writer of The Letter to the Hebrews was able to record, the
New Covenant is both new and better than the Old Covenant, for a
sound reason (Heb.8:7).</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">It
is a better covenant because it is administered in a better way.
Jesus Christ, as the sinless Son of God was able to fulfil all of the
requirements of the Old Covenant as its mediator, and is the One of
whom the better promises refer </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Heb.
8:6).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
New Covenant people of God consists of those of whom Peter speaks in
1 Pet. 2:4ff., the church which Jesus is building, who receive the
complete benefits of His reconciling work </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Heb.
8:10-12; Heb. 7:25). </span></span></i>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
position of being regenerate (born anew) can only come about through
</span></span></i><span style="color: black;">Jesus
Christ, who kept the terms of the Old Covenant perfectly, on behalf
of, and as the representative of His people, and it was by His
sinless life, His death, and resurrection, that He earned all the
promised blessings for them as the mediator of the New Covenant.
Jesus is the inaugurator of the New Covenant, and the new Lawgiver
and Lord of the church </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Heb.
1:1-4; Heb.7:12).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Those
who can truly claim to be followers of Christ, and members of His
Church, are under the authority of the New Covenant which is governed
by the New Testament Scriptures </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Eph.
2:19,20).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Meanwhile
the Old Covenant has been perfectly fulfilled in Christ and done
away, with God's righteous standards now contained in the Law of
Christ </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Gal.6:2;
1 Cor.9:21) which is </span></span></i><span style="color: black;">
motivated internally (not by Law) in the believer by His Holy Spirit.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">New
Covenant Theology is NOT a hybrid version of Covenant Theology and
Historic Dispensationalism. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Covenant
Theology fails in that it tries to read the Old Covenant as though it
were the New Covenant.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dispensationalism
fails in that it reads the Old Covenant without taking into account
the New Covenant.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
traditional "Covenant of Works" and "Covenant of
Grace" are not found in Scripture. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As
already mentioned, there can be no doubt that God had gracious intent
by placing the nation of Israel under the law as a covenant, but it
is quite a stretch to make the Old Covenant a covenant of grace. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">As
we said previously, the clear purpose of the Mosaic Law was to remind
the nation that they were sinners, with the law being a means of
bringing, those under the covenant, into deep conviction of sin to
cause them to look away from themselves,and lead them to look to the
promise given Abraham (Gen.12:2;22:17;Gal.3:16 ) and the fulfilment
of that promise in Jesus Christ </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Gal
3:23-25).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">New
Covenant Theology regards the nation of Israel as a picture (type) of
those who were to be the people of God. They were not THE people of
God </span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Heb.
8:7-9; Heb. 10:1). </span></span></i>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
nation of Israel, whilst raised up by God, is essentially an
unbelieving people who are eventually rebuffed and rejected by God
</span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(Matt.
8:5-12). </span></span></i>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A
remnant of the nation of Israel, such as Abraham and his family, were
true believers (Hebrews 11). The Abrahamic Covenant expresses God's
plan of salvation through Abraham and his physical descendants. The
true seed of Abraham is Jesus Christ and believers are the true
children of Abraham, children of faith, not of works.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">These
are true New Covenant people of God, who by faith,have trusted in
the finished work of Jesus, and are purchased under the New Covenant
</span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">(1
Pet. 2:4-10).</span></span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
Ten Commandments apply ONLY as the terms of the Old Covenant with
Israel. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Genuine
Christians, as a result, are no longer bound by the terms of the Old
Covenant, which was made with the nation,Israel. Who, do not
recognise Jesus for whom He is, and sadly, are still looking for the
Messiah </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
might then ask,”What is the objective standard for the New Covenant
believer”? The Law of Christ, the essence of all of God's law is
found in the 2 great commandments.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">One
of the Pharisees who prided themselves regarding their obedience to
the terms of the Old Covenant, challenged Jesus with a question, </span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU">
</span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“Teacher,
which is the great commandment in the Law?”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">
</span></span><span style="color: black;">(</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matthew%2022.36"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: #f2f1e8;">Mat.
22:36</span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;">)</span><span style="color: black;">.
Jesus replied,</span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. </i></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>38
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>This
is the great and first commandment. </i></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>And
a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><b>On
these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets</b></i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>.”
</i></span></span><span style="color: black;">(</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/niv/Matthew%2022.37-40"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background: #f2f1e8;">Matt.
22:37-40</span></span></span></a><span style="color: black;">).
</span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Law of Christ is the law in the New Covenant era. The situation then,
is not whether believers in the New Covenant era are under law, it is
simply the question of which law are the believers under since Christ
inaugurated the New Covenant.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is some excellent reading, and sound teaching on the internet through people such as <span style="color: black;">John
Reisinger</span><span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: black;">Jon
Zens,</span><span style="color: black;">
Randy Seiver, Fred Zaspel, and Gary Long (President of Providence
Theological Seminary, Colorado Springs).</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-90688152545779242142013-01-03T07:38:00.003+10:002013-01-04T17:32:04.185+10:00<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>JOY! THE RESULT OF RIGHT PRIORITIES</u></span></h4>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On
New Years day, and speaking about the reason </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">he
is going </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to
teach the Greek exegesis of Philippians at Calvary Baptist Seminary
this summer, <a href="http://www.daveblackonline.com/blog.htm">Dave Black</a> said,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>The Philippian church
was riddled with factions and rent by cliques. Unable to get along
with each other, they took refuge in the alibi that unity was not
really all that important. The fact is, their priority system was
faulty.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He
gives an apt example,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>During WW II, our
national leaders had a lot to say about "hyphenated Americans,"
German-Americans, for example, whose loyalty was divided between
Germany and the U.S. </i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In
the current atmosphere, especially in the blogging world, his next
comment hits the center of the target,</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Too many churches
today have become hyphenated because their loyalty is divided between
the Gospel and something else. We talk glibly about "God and
country." Or else our loyalty is first of all to "our
church" and then to the universal kingdom of God. We place
temporal value on eternal things and eternal value on temporal
things, like padded pews and lush carpets. </i></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
would add to his examples things like how, when, where we meet,
orders of service, gender issues, how much water needed for baptism,
wine or juice, bread or wafers, ad infinitum; all of which may, or,
may not, have a legitimate place for respectful discussion, and
dissent, all of which are temporal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
Dave continues, </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Please don't
misunderstand me. I'm not calling for perfect Christians. Neither is
the apostle Paul (see Phil. 3:12 ff.). There are no perfect
Christians, but there can be undivided loyalty.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Whilst
ever we are in this world we will never be perfect in our practice
,understanding, behavioral attributes, responses, reactions or
thoughts resulting in words.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
Dave says next reminds me of the little a</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">cronym</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
I learned in Sunday School so many decades ago: Jesus first, Others
second, Yourself last; JOY is the result of right priorities!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>The real message of
Philippians is not about joy. It's about priorities, about what comes
first and foremost in our lives. "The only thing that matters,"
says Paul, "is that you live together as good citizens of heaven
in a way that the Gospel of Christ requires" (1:27).</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>It's
about priorities.......... as good citizens of heaven....”</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How easy it is, in our
efforts to be “biblical” (?) that we cease to be Scriptural. As
citizens of heaven (3:20) we are in possession of amazing undeserved
and unearned privileges, not the least, being conferred with the
rights and privileges of a kingdom which has no end.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>My</b> way of meeting, <b>my</b>
denomination, <b>my</b> loyalty to methods and modes, etc, etc, pale into
insignificance before such an amazing truth, that's if we really are, first and foremost, citizens of heaven.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-5508135518032793882012-12-24T08:39:00.000+10:002012-12-24T08:39:25.393+10:00<br />
<h3>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup><u>AMAZING GRACE: AMAZING LOVE!</u></sup></span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup> “</sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,
yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might
become rich.”</i></span><span lang="en-AU">
(2 Corinthians 8:9).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the preface to his work, “The
Glorious Mystery of the Person of Christ”, page 30 (which can be
downloaded from Google books), John Owen quotes Maxentius, with words
which we need to grasp hold of as we think of this season we call
Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is something I've noticed missing in
the many essays and articles about the season, which regale many internet pages and publications. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As
I wrote recently, the hype about giving and getting, surrounding the commercialisation of Christmas, seems to have top billing, even among
those who claim to belong to Jesus Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We do not
confound the diversity of natures, howbeit we believe not what you
affirm, that Christ was made God; <b>but we believe that God was made
Christ.</b> For he was not made rich when he was poor; <b>but being
rich, he was made poor,</b> that he might make us rich.</span></i><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He did not take
the form of God when he was in the form of a servant;<b> but being in
the form of God, he took on him the form of a servant.</b> In like
manner, he was not made the Word when he was flesh; <b>but being the
Word, he was made flesh.</b></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Down
from His glory</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever
living story,<br />My God and Savior came,<br />And Jesus was His
name.<br />Born in a manger,<br />To His own a stranger,</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />A
Man of sorrows, tears and agony.</span></div>
<ul>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O
how I love Him! How I adore Him!<br />My breath, my sunshine, my all
in all!<br />The great Creator became my Savior,</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And
all God’s fulness dwelleth in Him.</span></div>
</ul>
<ul>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What
condescension,<br />Bringing us redemption;<br />That in the dead of
night,<br />Not one faint hope in sight,<br />God, gracious,
tender,<br />Laid aside His splendor,<br />Stooping to woo, to win, to
save my soul.</span></div>
</ul>
<ul>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without
reluctance,
</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Flesh
and blood His substance<br />He took the form of man,<br /> Revealed
the hidden plan.<br />O glorious myst’ry,<br /> Sacrifice of
Calv’ry,<br />And now I know Thou art the great “I AM.”</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
</span></div>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br />
</div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-9181361318328367362012-12-18T08:30:00.001+10:002012-12-18T08:30:37.786+10:00<br />
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>IS MY LOG SMALLER THAN YOUR SPLINTER?</u>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Reading
the internet recently I've noticed that a large number of writers are
very concerned about what is perceived as “the church”, and developing some worrying definitions, which often denigrate other fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work.</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those, whom I have no right to identify in any other way than genuine
believers in Christ, whether traditional in practice or otherwise,
are voicing concerns about the other.</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Many
religions are known to emphasize </span><span style="color: black;">ortho</span><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">praxy (</span></span></em><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">correct action/activity)</span><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
which is a system of meriting the favor of deity, whether that deity
is the God of the Bible, or some other god.</span></span></em></span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">In
other words they are more concerned</span></span></em><span style="color: black;">
with what they regard as the “right way” to “do church”,and
become very legalistic about the matter, heavily condemning those who
don't do what they think ought to be done. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">They
have developed a legality of manner of acting or function.
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">As
opposed to the orthopraxy of cults and false religions, the
scriptures reveal a system of </span><span style="color: black;">ortho</span><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;">doxy,
whose first concern is </span></span></em><span style="color: black;">with
right belief. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There can be no doubt in my mind that right
belief, if genuinely held,will lead to a manner of acting or
function, which glorifies God and honors Christ .
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When
a group of people begin to meet on a regular basis, whether they like
it or not, they are developing a ritual. Orthopraxy says that the
developed ritual, is the only right way to practice that religion.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On
the other hand orthodoxy can accommodate, a wide range of manner of
acting or function, as long as the ministries of the people, in the many fields of "one another" mentioned in the New Testament, holding
to that faith are not negated or prevented.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Orthodoxy,
on the whole, subscribes to the Nicene Creed:</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; padding: 0cm;">
<strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.</span></span></span></strong></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And
in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of
the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of
very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made.</span></div>
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Who,
for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was
incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and
was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the
Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of
the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick
and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds
from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together
is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And
I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge
one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the
resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If
the truths in that creed have become living realities in your life
and mine, then that is what binds us together as members of the Body
of Christ, His Church, and NOTHING else.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of
one thing I'm certain, everything else flows from that!</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
have some strong views which have developed during more than fifty
years of preaching and teaching, and experience among congregations. These views regard traditional church practice as well as the practice of other more
modern expressions of the church, yet the conversations I'm reading make me very sad, and convince me we haven't learned very much</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whether
you are part of a traditional church, a home church, or some other
expression of the church gathered, you are my brother or sister in Christ, regardless of the expression of the church you belong to.</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Regardless of what expression that is remember who you claim to be, and
represent.</span><br />
<blockquote style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
think Paul's words to the Roman Christians are very relevant:</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span lang="en-AU">Owe
no one anything, except to love each other, for </span><span lang="en-AU">
the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. </span><sup><span lang="en-AU">
</span></sup><span lang="en-AU">The commandments, “You shall not
commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall
not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” </span><sup><span lang="en-AU">
</span></sup><span lang="en-AU">Love does no wrong to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. </span></i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0.42cm 1.42cm 0.42cm 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span lang="en-AU"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-8299018604146602532012-12-12T07:31:00.000+10:002012-12-12T07:34:42.606+10:00<br />
<h2 class="western">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>
“<span style="font-weight: normal;">Season
for giving and getting”....??</span></u></span></h2>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The
year has literally disappeared into history, so quickly that one is
reminded how short a human life is, in God's economy of time. As
fleeting as time is, so is realization of the reality of this time of
year, as the general populace focus their attention on so many things
which are far removed from the reality we use as an excuse to do what
we do. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The
reality is the Messiah, Jesus the Christ! </span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Put
yourself in the shoes of doubting Thomas when Jesus said to him,</span> “<span lang="en-AU"><i>I
am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me”. </i></span><span lang="en-AU">(John
14:6) ?</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" lang="en-AU">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">These
are amazing words which must have caused Thomas to raise his
eyebrows. What would your reaction be?</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU">Again,
when speaking to the religious fundamentalists of the society into
which he came, Jesus said,</span><span lang="en-AU"><i>You are of
your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the
truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out
of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies”. </i></span><span lang="en-AU">(John
8:44)</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Imagine
the course of your thoughts upon hearing these words, as Jesus
personifies Himself as “the truth” in contrast with Satan “your
father the devil”, who is the very antithesis of truth, the
original “liar”, the very foundation of falsehood, whose great
desire is to turn attention away from the One we know as Jesus.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
radio announcer's words were loud and clear, <i>“We are now in the
season of giving and getting....”.</i> This mind set, which the
retailers love to promote, rankles me every time I come across it.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
want to shout in response, <i>“You are so wrong! This is the season
of rejoicing in, and celebrating the incarnation! This is something
we need to celebrate every day of the year!”.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">From
August onwards,at least in Australia, retailers are doing their
utmost to remind us that Christmas is coming, and we need to acquire
all the paraphernalia which they have on display. The gifts, the
glitz, and the colourful displays, which are designed to have an
effect on us. All without engendering much thought about how amazing
this act of God is, as He took upon Himself human form. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Overwhelmed
by the razzamatazz, we find the occasional nativity scene giving, as
it were, lip service to what the season is, supposedly, really about.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
historic fact of God assuming the form of humanity as Jesus Christ
the Son, surely must cause us to consider, and rejoice in the fact
that He really is, the one who is personified in many verbal images,
such as already mentioned above, which add so much to what the humble
family scene in the manger of nativity scenes is telling us, and whom
the nativity baby truly is:</span></span></div>
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></em>
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
am the bread of life"</span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.icr.org/bible/John/6/35"><span style="color: #225588;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>John
6:35</u></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,48,51).
The only true sustenance throughout eternity</span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
am the light of the world"</span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.icr.org/bible/John/8/12"><span style="color: #225588;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>John
8:12</u></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">).
The only true illumination of eternity in God's presence</span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
am the door of the sheep"</span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.icr.org/bible/John/10/7"><span style="color: #225588;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>John
10:7</u></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,9).
The only entrance into eternity with God</span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
am the good shepherd"</span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.icr.org/bible/John/10/11"><span style="color: #225588;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>John
10:11</u></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,14).
The only pastor for now and eternity</span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
am the resurrection, and the life"</span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.icr.org/bible/John/11/25"><span style="color: #225588;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>John
11:25</u></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">).
The only way through which resurrection to</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">eternal
life is possible</span></span><br />
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"I
am the true vine<span style="font-style: normal;">"</span></span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.icr.org/bible/John/15/1"><span style="color: #225588;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u>John
15:1</u></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,5).
The only one with whom to be in familial relationship, makes</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">eternal
life a certainty</span></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">To
use an Australian colloquialism, He is the only fair dinkum, genuine
article! He is the long awaited Messiah. The very Person of the New
Covenant promise!</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Speaking
to a people who put great importance on religious buildings, (sounds
rather familiar) the Lord Jesus referred to His body as the temple,
creating quite some consternation.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He
was speaking of the amazing time in history when the promised New
Covenant would become a reality and the traditions surrounding the
temple and worship would be replaced by something He explained to the
woman at the well,</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;">““<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Woman,
believe me,the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in
Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not
know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But
the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking
such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in spirit and truth.” </i></span><span lang="en-AU">(John
4:21-24)</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">This
is the very fact which caused Stephen to be murdered by these same
religious people, when he mentioned the temple made with stone, he
told them, </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>"</i></span><span lang="en-AU"><i>Yet
the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet
says, </i></span>‘<span lang="en-AU"><i>Heaven is my throne,and the
earth is my footstool”.</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">(Acts
7:48).</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">In
chapter 8 of the Letter to the Hebrews, we see,</span>“<span lang="en-AU"><i>Now
the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest,
one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in
heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent </i></span><span lang="en-AU">(tabernacle,
place of worship) </span><span lang="en-AU"><i>that the Lord set up,
not man. </i></span><span style="color: #222222;">(Hebrews 8:2)</span></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To
read this Letter to the Hebrews, and miss the import of this point
the writer is making, is to miss everything: </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>The
Sovereign, Almighty God, became a man, in Jesus Christ. </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
one of my favourite hymns says,</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6869436811514341745" name="KonaLink1"></a>
<span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">O
what a wonderful, wonderful day - day I will never forget;</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After
I'd wandered in darkness away, Jesus my Saviour I met.</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">O
what a tender, compassionate friend</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">-
He met the need of my heart;</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Shadows
dispelling, With joy I am telling, He made all the darkness
depart.</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://gospelyrics.blogspot.com.au/2007/09/heaven-came-down-and-glory-filled-my.html#">Chorus</a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">:</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><strong><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Heaven
came down and glory filled my soul,<br />When at the cross the Saviour
made me whole;<br />My sins were washed away -<br />And my night was
turned to day -<br />Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!</i></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Born
of the Spirit with life from above into God's fam'ly
divine,</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Justified
fully thru Calvary's love, O what a standing is mine!</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
the transaction so quickly was made when as a sinner I came,</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Took
of the offer of grace He did proffer - He saved me, O praise His dear
name!</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Chorus:</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">Now
I've a hope that will surely endure after the passing of time;</span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">I
have a future in heaven for sure, there in those mansions
sublime.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">And
it's because of that wonderful day when at the cross I
believed;</span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">Riches
eternal and blessings supernal from His precious hand I
received.</span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">Chorus:</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
don't have the words to express my thoughts regarding a gift such as
this! </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
is what the incarnation was about!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is
not this a good enough reason to rejoice, and to do so always?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Does
not this overshadow anything the world has to offer, with all of its
gaudy displays?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">God
working out His will in the most unimaginable act of love and grace,
where, as the long prophesied Messiah, He put in place an immediate,
heavenly and spiritual personal relationship with Him.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
gift of Himself as the sacrificial Lamb, rather than a legalistic
earthly and temporal struggle to do what most religion expects,
something which the Son already accomplished, as He lived and died,
and rose again, in the place of all who would come to Him as Saviour
and Lord .</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">His
Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and, "</span><span lang="en-AU"><i>the
true tent </i></span><span lang="en-AU">(tabernacle, place of
worship) </span><span lang="en-AU"><i>that the Lord set up, not man.</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">"
is a Person, and those for whom He died, who are joined with Him
through death, burial and resurrection, and </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>"baptized
into one body by one Spirit" </i></span><span style="color: #222222;">(1
Cor.12:13), a Body which Peter calls a “</span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>spiritual
house”, </i></span><span style="color: #222222;">the very church (ekklesia)
Jesus is building (Matt.16:18), and to which all who believe He is
whom He said, and trust His finished work, belong, by His Holy
Spirit!</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Those
who are His have an eternal certainty which is a spiritual, and yet,
very present possession, with all that implies.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For
those who remain in their sin, it's another matter, and so very sad.
They also have an eternal certainty! Will they rejoice away from His
glorious presence? I think not!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Now,
being past my three score years and ten, I have extra reason to
rejoice, as it is the first anniversary since having triple bypass
surgery. But for the grace of God and His gift of the skilled hands
who operated on me, I would still be rejoicing, but in the presence
of The King!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Our
Sovereign God, revealed to man in the Lord, Jesus Christ, rested the
whole issue of the quality of our inevitable eternity upon Himself as
the essential central element of the spiritual entity which He is
building, so secure and indestructible that Satan, with every ounce
of his malevolence, is powerless against it.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
rejoice, also that, as Jesus explained to the woman at the well, in this
age of grace, there should be no way of Him becoming located in a
place, a building, a denomination, a system, or any other invention
of man.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There
would be only one criteria by which this spiritual entity would be
known, His personal presence, by His Spirit, in the “spiritual
stones”, with which He is building.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If
we are going to isolate a season, then, above all else, may Jesus
truly be the reason for the season. The God who loved so much that He
voluntarily took upon Himself the form of His creature, to suffer in
that form, to satisfy His own justice, that those who are His may
have eternal life, and that abundantly.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For
those who know Him, there is no better reason to celebrate, and with
the angels sing, “Hallelujah!”</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
a Saviour!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">May
you be richly blessed as we daily celebrate the greatest gift that
any person can receive, a living relationship with our great God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-84170795569264290882012-12-02T07:36:00.001+10:002012-12-02T07:36:36.553+10:00<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #001320;">TRULY THE BEGINNING AND END</span></span></h4>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.44cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 0.44cm;"><i>For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who
believes.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 0.44cm;"> (Rom.10:4)</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.44cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.44cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #001320;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Christ
is the end of the law for righteousness”<i>: </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.44cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.44cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
does that mean?</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 0.44cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Religious
people, and I use the term deliberately, often believe, and hold
forth a doctrine which is proclaimed as truth, yet without proof.
Have you noticed that?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We
could use any number of current secular discussions as a good
illustration. I'll leave that to your wise counsel.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One
such doctrine is contained in our passage above, “Christ is the end
of the law”, and which, by itself, seems to contradict the historic
use by most Reformed Theology, of what is called “The Third Use of
the Law”, but, concurrently speaks one of the qualities of New
Covenant Theology.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Reformed
theology has maintained that there are three uses of the law: </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ol>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">1.Use
of the law to convict men of sin,</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">2.
Use of the law to restrain evil, and </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3.
Use of the law as the biblical (and eternal) standard for Christian
behavior. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 0.4cm;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 0.4cm;">Take the time to search and you will find authoritative Reformed documents, affirming the three uses. At the same time we would find different opinions among those who follow New Covenant Theology, which,generally does not support the third use of the law as being supported from Scripture.</span></div>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Regarding
the above passage,Vincents Word Studies says: </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>The
end of the </i></span></span><a href="http://www.titanicimports.com/store2/the-big-forensic-accounting-adventure.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>law</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>(telov
nomou). First in the sentence as the emphatic<u> </u></i></span></span><a href="http://www.titanicimports.com/store2a/accessories-mirrorles-includes-replacement-protectors.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>point</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>of
thought. Expositors differ as to the sense.</i></span></span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i> 1. The
aim. Either that the intent of the </i></span></span><a href="http://www.titanicimports.com/store2/the-big-forensic-accounting-adventure.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>law</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
was to make </i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/store3/comfy-cruise-heated-travel-blanket-8.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>men</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
righteous, which was accomplished in Christ, or that the </i></span></span><a href="http://www.titanicimports.com/store2/the-big-forensic-accounting-adventure.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>law</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/store/LED-Lighting.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>led</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
to Him as a pedagogue </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(</span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/library/hebrewgreek/intergal3.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Gal.
iii. 24</span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">)</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>2.
The fulfillment, as </i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/library/hebrewgreek/intermat5.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Matt.
v. 17.</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://www.godrules.net/library/hebrewgreek/intermat5.htm"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>.
The termination. To believers in Christ the </i></span></span><a href="http://www.titanicimports.com/store2/the-big-forensic-accounting-adventure.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>law</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
has no longer legislative authority to say, "Do this and live;
do this or die" (Morison). </i></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>The
last is preferable. </i></span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Christian%20Paul" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Paul</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
is discussing two materially exclusive </i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/store5d/best-metal-cabinets-afsr3618-blue-wardrobe-1.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">systems</span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>,
the one based on doing, the other on believing. The </i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/store5d/1-7-annealed-chromate-durahook-spring-7.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>system</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
of faith, represented by Christ, brings to an end and excludes the
</i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/store5d/1-7-annealed-chromate-durahook-spring-7.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>system</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
of </i></span></span><a href="http://www.titanicimports.com/store2/the-big-forensic-accounting-adventure.htm"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">law</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>;
and the Jews, in holding by the </i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/store5d/1-7-annealed-chromate-durahook-spring-7.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>system</i></span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>
of </i></span></span><a href="http://www.titanicimports.com/store2/the-big-forensic-accounting-adventure.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">law</span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>,
fail of the righteousness which is by faith. Compare </i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/library/hebrewgreek/intergal2.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Gal.
ii. 16</span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>;
</i></span></span><a href="http://www.godrules.net/library/hebrewgreek/intergal3.htm"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">iii.
2-14</span></span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>.</i></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There
is no doubt in my mind that the last is the correct way to understand
it!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
greater, much wiser man than I agrees. C.H.Spurgeon:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Now,
what has our Lord to do with the law? He has everything
to do with it, for<span style="color: red;">
he is its end </span>for
the noblest object, namely, for righteousness. He is the "end of
the law." What does this mean? I think it signifies<span style="color: black;">
three things: first, that Christ is the purpose and object of the
law; secondly, that he is the fulfillment of it; and thirdly,</span><span style="color: #ff3366;">
that he is the termination of it.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If this is so, and I
believe with all my heart it is; why do so many preachers, of every
persuasion, continue to put their congregations under the burden of
the law, Old Covenant as well as their own legal inventions?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Can it be that they,
themselves, haven't yet understood the full import of what Christ has
done?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">John Calvin says:</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<a href="" name="xiv.i-p23"></a><a href="" name="fna_xiv.i-p23.1"></a><a href="" name="xiv.i-p25.8"></a>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><i>For
the end of the law is Christ, etc. </i></span><span style="color: #222222;">The
word </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>completion,
</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">seems
not to me unsuitable in this place; and Erasmus has rendered it
</span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>perfection:
</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">but
as the other reading is almost universally approved, and is not
inappropriate, readers, for my part, may retain it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.51cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<a href="" name="xiv.i-p26"></a>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
Apostle obviates here an objection which might have been made against
him; for the Jews might have appeared to have kept the right way by
depending on the righteousness of the law. It was necessary for him
to disprove this false opinion; and this is what he does here. He
shows that he is a false interpreter of the law, who seeks to be
justified by his own works; because the law had been given for this
end, — to lead us as by the hand to another righteousness: nay,
whatever the law teaches, whatever it commands, whatever it promises,
has always a reference to Christ as its main object; and hence all
its parts ought to be applied to him. But this cannot be done, except
we, being stripped of all righteousness, and confounded with the
knowledge of our sin, seek gratuitous righteousness from him alone.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.51cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.51cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
is it that causes such preachers to want, in essence, to be Jews
spiritually?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In
his book "The Law of Christ: A Theological Proposal", pp.
56-57, NCT pastor Blake White puts it well, </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>"Although
this tripartite distinction is historically rooted and held by many
men more respectable and learned than the present writer, it must be
rejected. this distinction simply will not hold up to exegesis. It is
a theological construction imposed on the Text of Scripture. For Paul
to accept circumcision is to obligate oneself to keep the whole law
(Gal. 5:3). for James, to fail in one point of the law is to become
accountable for all of it (Ja. 2:10). Everything God demanded from
Israel was moral. The law is a unit." </i></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">By
the time the second letter to the Corinthians is written, the church
had a problem with Judaizers. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
congregation, mainly Gentile, with little understanding of grace, if
any, would not be thought to have a problem with the matter of rules
and regulations? Yet! This is what Paul is seeking to deal with in
chapter two (near the end) and with chapter three. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
makes it possible for the legalism of Judaism to get a foot in the
door in this community of people? Sin! Sin
had raised its ugly head. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How
do you think the human heart and mind, <b>one unchanged by God's
grace</b>, comes up with an answer to such a problem? What does such a
mind, quite naturally, think of to fix such a problem, or any problem
regarding sin?</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
answer: The power of control! Make it illegal according to law, and,
impose that law on the people who are the church, such as this one at
Corinth! </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Can
you think of a better way for the Judaizers to contradict Paul's words, whilst, at the same time, ignoring
the rest of what he said, <i>"all things are lawful" ? </i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Such thinking says to itself<i>," Let's just add a few codicils!"</i> ( a testamentary instrument intended to alter an already
executed will) added to the last will and testament of God.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Legalists have never understood grace, and look at a church, such as the one at Corinth and focus on particular,
more obvious sins, and think to themselves, <i>“These people have
far too much freedom. They need rules!”</i> </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In
the case of the church in Corinth, the Judaizers opinion of Paul would be
that he had been weak and allowed the Corinthian Christians too much freedom. This is utterly
abhorrent to such spiritual sheriffs. He not only allowed
them to think for themselves, he expected them to do so, as
responsible members of God's family. Paul understood the difference
between authoritative control, and teaching towards maturity!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To
the spiritual sheriffs among us, the cure is obvious! Well? Isn't it?
</span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">These
Corinthian Christians needed more law. They needed to have the moral
demands of the law slammed into their brains. They needed a sheriff
who could exercise authority, and demand obedience.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sadly,
such legalists do not have the heart and mind of the Apostle Paul, an expert in the law, who had heeded the inspiration of God's Spirit, and “saw” that
the rule of religious law had been "brought to an end" (2
Cor. 3:11). These Corinthians, who were living in a law induced
darkness, needed to “see”, needed light shed upon the situation.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Exactly
as it is today, “the god of this world” (2 Cor.4:4), who,
according to Paul, had kept the Corinthians from understanding the
"the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ." (2 Cor.
4:4), is keeping people, even religious people, from “seeing” that marvelous light in all
it's majesty.. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Paul,
of all people, knew what </span><span style="color: black;">C.H
Spurgeon calls our attention to, the basic precept that the only way
to escape being conformed to the world, is to be transformed. The
word Paul used is </span><span style="color: black;"><i>metamorphoo</i></span><span style="color: black;">
(Rom.12:2), meaning the transformation of an individual away from the
customs of a society, even a religious one, which will inevitably,
lead us away from God, unless, we are allowed to “see” by His
great love and grace (such grace being our instructor according to
Paul in Titus 2:12</span><span style="color: black;">-13)</span><span style="color: black;">
in an exercise of His divine power. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Until
this happens the world, including many who claim to be Christian,
will never see the evidence of what the mind of God is, nor the power
of His gracious work in us through Jesus Christ, by His Spirit.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">This
amazing transformation doesn't come through obeying the moral demands
of the law, and the codicils introduced by spiritual sheriffs, can
never do so. Transformation into the image of Jesus comes through the
Holy Spirit giving grace to “see”, spiritually perceiving,
“seeing” Jesus Christ for whom He is and in His work of Redeemer
and Sacrificial Lamb , as Paul says in 2 Cor. 3:18</span><span style="color: black;"><i>,</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><sup> </sup></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>And
we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to
another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">By
the power and working of the Holy Spirit!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
is why Paul is not proclaiming the Old Covenant, lord-ship of law,
faded-glory, message, which the Judaizers were promoting. Paul had
seen the risen living Lord, with his own eyes. He had also “seen”
with spiritual eyes, "Jesus Christ as Lord" (2 Cor. 4:5).</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"> </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
is the only message through which the people will receive life, and,
this is the message which sustains that life, only in those who are
genuine followers of Christ!</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
is the message that causes the body of people Peter referred to as
“living stones” to be the church which Jesus is building, and,
becoming a demonstration of the gracious love of a Father to His own,
and in which is revealed "the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ".</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">What
this means for those who really are Christian, is that the
relationship with the law is in the past, prior to their receiving
the truths of the Gospel! They have been redeemed (Gal. 4:5) or 'set
free' (Rom. 7:6) from the law. In fact, as far as the law is
concerned, they are deceased, they have died to the reach of the law
(Rom. 7:4, 6, cf. Gal. 2:19). </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Those
who are dead are not, under any circumstance, 'under law' (Rom.
6:14-15; cf. 1 Cor. 9:20). The work of the Lord, Jesus Christ has
brought an end to the law's jurisdiction over all, who are “in
Christ”. Death doesn't only bring an end to parts of the law, but
the entire law. When the demands of a law is fulfilled, that law has
been starved, and becomes useless for its original purpose. Jesus
Christ fulfilled all of the judicial requirements of the law to its
greatest, and most far reaching extent on behalf of those who are
truly “in Christ”, so they would be free from the dominion of law
and its legitimate threat of punishment, or retribution.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sadly, it
isn't only in modern days that understanding the New Covenant
promises and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, is labelled “Antinomian”.
As Douglas Moo says, </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>"when
the 'antinomian' implications of Paul's teaching were raised as an
objection against that teaching, Paul responded not by introducing a
'new law' but by pointing to the Spirit (Gal. 5:16ff) and to union
with Christ (Romans 6)...any approach that substitutes external
commands for the Spirit as the basic norm for Christian living runs
into serious difficulties with Paul." </i> (Douglas Moo, pp.
217-218, in "Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the
Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments")</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
Lord, Jesus Christ, is not only the fulfillment of the Law, but
everything the Old Testament was about. He was the goal of the law,
and from the very beginning, the Father's intention for it's end. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Christ
is the extreme point, at both, beginning and end (Rev.1:8; 21:6;
22:13). Christ is the full and final communication of whom God is, (1 John 4:16) which, to the fullest extent possible, bears on our understanding of
law and the New Covenant. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.4cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY">
<br /><br />
</div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-69342219380572830392012-10-22T08:01:00.003+10:002012-10-22T08:02:33.797+10:00<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU" style="font-size: large;"><u><b>GOD"S DEALINGS WITH US</b></u></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><sup> </sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we
experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our
strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we
had received the sentence of death</i>.</span></span><span style="color: black;">.</span>
(2 Corinthians 1:8,9)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite
what our traditions infer regarding teaching and learning, we will
never learn,nor grow spiritually in a life sustaining way by becoming
parrots regurgitating accumulated intellectual acumen and
perspicacity alone. Here lies much of the failure in traditional
churchianity, of which I was a part for a large part of my life.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many
of us have realized, after a long life, what the apostle Paul said in the passage above,
that we really only begin to taste the richer flavors of life in
Christ by coming to a place where we have experienced being "<span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>utterly
burdened beyond our strength</i></span></span>", in all of the
difficulty and extremes that statement implies
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God's
dealings with us, in developing us to mature servant-hood are more
often than not, imperceptible, and over a long term, as He develops
our spiritual lives, and our understanding of spiritual truth and
reality.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">When
I write,.”.long term”, that's exactly what I mean. I have
observed, in quite a few men and women of God, that the time comes,
towards the end of our lives that, like the blind man in John 9:25,
we are enabled to say, </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>One
thing I do know, that though I </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>was
blind, now I see.</i></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">
</span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
so long we have proudly, yet blindly, relied on our professors, our
historic gurus, our training, our commentaries, our intuition, our
intelligence, and our traditions, all of which will, sooner or later,
prove as insufficient and peripheral to that time when we really can
be open to be shown.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Real
spiritual growth, true spiritual development has little to do with
intellectual acumen, and takes time, a lifetime.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our
eyes begin to be opened to begin to see that a central principle of
our Lord's own life while He was among mankind, is a cardinal
factor for our development. Something that is not even mentioned
among our traditional flotsam and jetsam, and I use that
description advisedly.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>So
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do
nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.
For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.</i></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">(John
5:19).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See
what Jesus is saying? Jesus did everything in obedience to the
Father, and everything He did was from the mind of His Father, not
from Himself!
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So
many of us spend a lifetime of “my” effort and struggle, “my”
planning and doing, “my” using every tool and thought process,
every bit of knowledge “I”,or,”we” were taught and gleaned,
as mentioned above, such an opening of ones eyes saps the remaining
dependence on what “I” can achieve, using what pitiful knowledge
“I” have acquired,and a realisation of how much effort has been
expended, quite vainly.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
have come to realise that there are many old gray heads (bald ones
also) “elders”,who have come to recognise Biblical truths from a
less convoluted understanding than our natural wisdom, intellectual
prowess, and traditional training can ever teach or grasp.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">A
wise man once spoke the most profound of truths, which seems to
disagree with much of the philosophy of modern (and not so modern)
theological understanding, </span><span style="color: black;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Trust
in the LORD with all your heart, and </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>
do not lean on your own understanding.</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><i>."</i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Why
can we not see that the multitude of activities, that our intellect
assures us is </span><span style="color: black;">for</span><span style="color: black;"><i>
</i></span><span style="color: black;">the
Lord is, in many cases, and maybe the majority, for our own
satisfaction and reputation, NOT </span><span style="color: black;">the
the Lords desire of us, no matter how good and sincere the</span><span style="color: black;">
motives? </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How
many of us have begun a lifetime “to do the Lord's work” instead
of realising that we ought to have come to the place where He does
His own work through us.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">What
a difference! The psalmist hit the nail on the head: </span><span style="color: black;"><i>“</i></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Unless
the LORD builds the house,those who build it labor in vain. Unless
the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
know I am not alone in coming to this point of expressing the reality
of something tradition gives lip service to, that unless the Lord
initiates, and does every bit of the work through willing servants,
it will never be done.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
Lord Jesus Christ is the model of what God intends us to be, one who
says, </span><span style="color: black;"><i>"The
works that I do, I do not out from myself, it is the Father doing the
works." </i></span><span style="color: black;">That
is the attitude of John who declared,</span><span style="color: black;"><i>
“</i></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>He
must increase, but I must decrease</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>”</i></span></span><span style="color: black;">
</span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The
reality of Paul's words to the Corinthian Christians about their life
as believers will become obvious to us, "</span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed
away; behold, the new has come.</i></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span lang="en-AU">
</span></span><span style="color: black;">."
Traditions prevent the old from passing away . As a result the views
of natural man rule. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">There
can be no doubt that "is in Christ," means to be united to
Christ by faith. If we think about it, to be in Him, is what Jesus
was speaking about in John 15:4, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>"Abide
</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>in me,
and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>"</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To
be "in Christ" is much more than membership in a religious
club, much more than saying we believe a systematic theology, or a
statement of faith. Being “in Christ” denotes a lively
relationship in which everything that proceeds from the one who is
joined to Christ (“in” Him) is initiated by, and comes from
Christ. As the sap and nutrition keeping a branch alive and allowing
it to flower and bear fruit comes from the vine, so every ounce of
strength, and fruit bearing exhibited by the genuine follower of
Christ, flows from him, Not from us.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In
the same way as the branch shares the bearing of fruit with the vine,
so those who are totally reliant on Christ, by His Holy Spirit,
share in His fullness, and His relationship with the Father, and all
that implies, including His dependence on the Father's direction.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's
what Paul shows us in Galatians 2:2 when he and Barnabus went up to
Jerusalem,<i>”I went in response to a revelation and set before
them the gospel.”</i>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He
did not go because he thought it would be a good idea, or because he
had accumulated great theological knowledge. The Spirit of God had
revealed the need for him to lay the gospel he was preaching before
his peers for their examination.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">So
often, when a work of true spiritual significance has been achieved,
as rare as that is, our tendency is to grasp hold of that as a model
to emulate, and, even worse, transplant, often with huge financial
demands being placed on faithful adherents. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Sadly,
seeking to achieve the desired ends results in worldly actions and
activities being put in place, which reveals that the plan was not
conceived in the mind of God. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">My
own experience during my younger years has taught me that the
so-called “work of God” of so much traditional church activity
has become a ground for the natural man to give expression to
ambition, and gain personal, or, corporate kudos. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">We
have “Christian enterprise” which is modeled on natural, worldly
enterprise, ruled by ambition, acquirement of property, competition,
ad infinitum. We claim ownership of it all calling it “</span><em><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-style: normal;">ours”;
“our</span></span></em><span style="color: #222222;"> work,”
“</span><em><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-style: normal;">our church”,</span></span></em><span style="color: #222222;">
“our area”. commensurate with these attitudes comes jealousy,
rivalry, backbiting, rumors, and the evil one is pleased.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A
wise quote from some man of God from some years back, which I
currently have on my desktop is:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">”<i>The
utter emptying of all self-resource is the only way to have
"</i></span><em><span style="color: #222222;">all</span></em><span style="color: #222222;"><i> things
of (out from) God" (2 Cor. 5:18). On this basis, even Christ
elected to live. We need not remind you of Moses' "I am not
eloquent" (Exo. 4:10), and Jeremiah's "I am a child"
(Jer. 1:6), and Paul's "that we should not trust in ourselves"
(2 Cor. 1:9). These were of a school in which the great lesson of the
difference between natural and spiritual was taught experimentally.”</i></span></span></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-85364962324180995042012-09-29T09:54:00.001+10:002012-10-01T06:08:17.058+10:00<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b>HONORABLE DISSENTERS</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without doubt, people are doing some deep examination of what
they assumed is the truth regarding the Christian faith.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many have started the journey of exploration because they have
discovered that what they have been led to believe about some matters
have been nothing more than the status quo accepted by the leadership
they have followed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who will do the necessary research into the history and
practice of the church have found that their study has raised more
and more questions rather than giving clear cut answers. As a
consequence, many have found their faith is severely challenged,
simply because of the traditions which have accompanied it. Others
are finding the security and rest, which had once eluded them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #404042; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both
groups are finding, sometimes to their personal cost, that Voltaire
was correct when he said in his </span><span style="color: #404042; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'The
Age of Louis xiv'</span><span style="color: #404042; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span style="color: #404042; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>
</i></span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>“It
is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established
authorities are wrong.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #404042; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
seems that quite a few Christians are experiencing the truth of what
Voltaire said </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">because they dare to express the
idea that Jesus reveals what God is really like, that He is God
deliberately, and personally invading His creation to ultimately die
on a cross for the purpose of redeeming spiritually condemned
humans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's certainly true that much of what resides under the pseudonym
“the church” has caused this magnificently majestic, yet very
basic, simple message, to be watered down by religiosity,
denominational politics, the theological presumptions which are
palatable in the situation where they are chosen to be presented, and
certainly not least, the personal ambitions of many who find
themselves thrust into leadership.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the radical truths (emanating from or going to the root or
source) which finds itself sacrificed on the altar of humanistic
wisdom and expediency is that self-sacrificial love is not only who
God is, but is the very aspect of God from which the true Church of
Jesus Christ issues forth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Expressions
of these radical truths, either spoken or practiced, are commonly
frowned upon, with uncomplimentary labels given to those who do so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span>
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Historically,
I suppose, such people would be joining those who were negatively
labelled “The Dissenters”. The problem the label givers had, and
still have with dissent, has nothing to do with seeking truth, but
mostly to do with the fact that they don't want their long held
traditions, or practices challenged by those who find reason to
disagree, and, least of all, they don't want to prove from Scripture,
the truth of their traditions. After all,”We have always believed
this”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
word “dissenter” comes from the Latin </span><em style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">dissentire,
</span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which
means to disagree. Those who “dissent”, have a difference of
opinion, sometimes from that of the status quo, or from those who see
themselves as “experts” on a matter. In other words they
disagree!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
is what brought about the term being applied to a group of believers
in the 17the century who broke away from the established church, and
the existing state of affairs to which it was wed. Both Catholics and
Protestants produced dissenters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
my lifetime, as a follower of Jesus Christ , I have mainly witnessed
two kinds of dissent, with one group of dissenters being deeply
concerned about the damage done to the cause of Christ by ,
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>“religiosity,
denominational politics, the theological presumptions which are
palatable in the situation where they are chosen to be presented, and
certainly not least, the personal ambitions of many who find
themselves thrust into leadership.”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually
I have found that these dissenters are sound thinking, studious
people distinguished by the ability forming opinions by
distinguishing and evaluating information. They often have very
clear insight into what is happening, and where it is leading. They
don't exhibit great giftedness but appear to be exceedingly wise,
and, often described negatively as "radicals". They know that to dissent is often extremely costly to them, and theirs, and as a result are very circumspect about the matter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To
put a negative twist onto the word radical is completely unjust
because the thinking of such “a radical person” is formed by
soberly and sensibly, going to the root or source.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, there are those who dissent with the dissenters. More
often than not they are often those with little self knowledge,
unhealthily proud of position and intellectual acumen. They are often
those who have their own personal agendas, which cause them to be
bitter and resentful towards those with whom they disagree, sometimes
as the result of personality disorders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without doubt, they, and NOT the dissenters, are often the cause of fragmentation of
churches, and groups within, because they live their whole lives
barely touching the congregation in an honest, open, personal manner,
not because of their wisdom or prophetic insight, but because they
have personality problems. They are often church leaders and
subscribe to the idea that was consistently taught by the principal
of a college in this country, that it was necessary for pastors,
etc., to remain personally aloof from the people they lead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honorable dissenters are very necessary for growth, whether in
the public forums or the church! I applaud their courage and the work
they expend in forming their opinion, even if I have to dissent!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOTE:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least three days after writing the above I read the perfect example of Honorable Dissent in a booklet written by Paul Burleson and his son Wade.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You ought to read it. It's FREE and may be downloaded from within <a href="http://www.wadeburleson.org/2012/09/the-bible-and-church-authority-who.html">Wades blog post</a> .</span><br />
<br />Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-42950269951183787422012-09-03T07:21:00.001+10:002012-09-03T07:22:58.962+10:00PAUL BURLESON'S OXYMORON!<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">A few days
ago I opened the blog site of <a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com.au/">Paul Burleson</a>. Welcoming me was the
confronting title of his latest article; </span><a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/calumniators-and-christianswhat-oxymoron.html">CALUMNIATORSAND CHRISTIANS____WHAT AN OXYMORON.</a></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a title! You better read it!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find Paul's
site is one of those which are well worth the time to read. From what
he writes, he appears to be one of the rare ones who is making much
sense in the conglomeration of pontifications coming from, what
purports to be Christianity.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">His title
says it all. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sixty-one
years ago I was introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ, and I began the
journey which led to many amazing blessings, many stupid mistakes,
thoughtless sinful words and deeds, and painful repentance.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alongside of
that were the joys and hurts of a lifetime of ministry and preaching,
beginning when I was seventeen, to a multitude of precious people.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the
early few years the occasional, to use Paul's great word,
“calumniators” spoiled the joyous experience and privilege I had
of seeing people come to know salvation in Christ, thankfully they
were few and far between.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last
20-25 years has seen such an explosion in the number of those calling
themselves “Christian” who are the epitome of “calumniators”,
otherwise known as backbiters, defamers, libellers, maligners,
slanderers, traducers, vilifiers, and others I cannot bring to mind.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">James
was very conscious of the oxymoron that our brother wrote about:</span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>For
every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be
tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the
tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. </i></span><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>9</i></span></sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>With
it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are
made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and
cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Holy
Spirit had given James clear insight into the fact that to use the
name “Christian” and speak calumniation against another is
exactly what Paul Burleson said, an oxymoron, a contradiction in
terms.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, James
had his thoughts concise and clear:</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Does
a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? </i></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><sup><span lang="en-AU"><i>
</i></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>Can
a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs?
Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. </i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Far too many,
who claim the appellation “Christian” have been given to
understand that great amounts of academic understanding, teaching
and truth, is what gives them good standing before God. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Where His
brethren are concerned, He certainly does not accept, nor condone
failures, whatever they may be, with which the finger pointing,
self-appointed, arbiters of others' opinions, words, or deeds, fuel
their calumniations. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Personally,
I'm so very thankful that He sees all who belong to Him by the same
standard. He sees us through the lens, and in the light of His
finished work. His view of us is through the heart and mind of the
Father towards a world of prodigal sons and daughters. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We utterly
paralyse and poison our ability to represent Christ, and to
understand the love with which He loved us, whilst ever we seek to
impress with our ability to prove others wrong, or to act as judge
and jury over their sinful failures, by using language which
calumniates them.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been
my own experience when seeking to help those who have been devastated
by the accusing words of others, that these accused ones are often
the genuine treasures in the functioning of the Body of Christ.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The apostle
Paul didn't write that God's people were to be built up in the
swelled heads and bloated egos which accompany calumniation!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">“<i>Rather”</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">,
he said,</span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU">
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>“</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-AU"><i>speaking
the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the
head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together
by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working
properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love”.
</i></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You and I
ought to be more concerned with this matter of building up the other,
than indulging ourselves in the prideful unedifying sniping at the
assets of others, especially if we honestly examine our own
limitations.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who are
the target of such deliberations might well ask the calumniating
one,</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">“<i>Who
gave you the authority to be my judge and jury?” </i></span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">It takes
great elevation of mind and quality of character, standards and
conduct to look beyond the matter we perceive as a fault or failure
and offering a heart attitude which is consistent with our confession
of Jesus Christ as Lord. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ in us
the hope of glory, with the love with which He loved us is what
builds. Nothing less!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I
suggesting that truth is not of the utmost importance? Absolutely
not!</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">But
truth, without understanding, genuine love and patience is nothing
but emptiness, whether accompanied by framed academic pieces of paper
or not is epitomized by Paul's words, </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>“I</i></span><span style="color: #001320;"><i>f
I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am
a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal</i></span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>“.</i></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gracious
attitudes and love are the inevitable result, and actually causes an
outward, as well as an inward change in those who reflect it as a
natural consequence of “Christ in us”.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strength and
restful confidence doesn't come from an encyclopaedic knowledge of
truth, they come from the understanding that we are in Christ and He
in us, as Saviour, Lord, brother and friend.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Rest does not
spring firstly from truth. It comes from love, God's love, as
revealed in His precious Son. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The question
I must ask, and you, whoever you are,is, “Am I one who is marked
out amongst others by the peculiarities of the love of Christ for me
flowing from me to another and, indeed, towards all.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6869436811514341745" name="RichViewCheckpoint0"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6869436811514341745" name="_FOOTER_SECTION_"></a><span style="color: red;">"A
new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I
have loved you, you also are to love one another.</span><span style="color: maroon;"><sup><b>
</b></sup></span><span style="color: maroon;"><sup><b>
</b></sup></span><span style="color: red;"><b>By
this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love
for one another.”</b></span></span></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> (John
13:34-35 ESV)</i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6869436811514341745.post-42877424571146273472012-07-10T13:59:00.000+10:002012-07-10T14:00:34.030+10:00<br />
<h2 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rivers
of Living Water, Life from the Vine.</span></u></h2>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
have never met this gentleman, but I identify with what he writes,
in such a way that I have no trouble identifying him as “friend”,my
blogger friend! There's something else; he's my brother in Christ .</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He's
just finished publishing a series of four articles which, IMHO, is a
must read for anyone who claims to be Christian. He reveals much
about what edification really means, when the teacher is the Holy
Spirit, rather than a curriculum. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Paul
Burleson is a similar vintage to me. He's
what, I think, the Bible speaks of when it mentions elders, mature. Check the
series, beginning <a href="http://vtmbottomline.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/relational-boundariessummer-rerun.html">here:</a> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Have
you ever listened to preachers, read books, which have induced feelings of guilt, and caused you to strive, and suffer emotional anguish, and
stretch every fibre of your being, yearning for all that the Lord
would have for you?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I
have known brethren who have become so fatigued in this spiritual
quest, that they simply had no choice but to give up, abandoning the
stuff that had led them to the brink of breakdown.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It seems that very
few, who claim to be Christian, find the truth of what Jesus was meaning, when He said, “<span style="color: black;"><i>So
if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Many
of those who experience this truth, find themselves having to “leave
church” to protect their faith!</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This
brings Paul's series to mind, which continues reminding me of the encounter of
Jesus and the woman at the well:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Jesus
answered her, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">"If
you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give
me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you
living water."</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">The
woman was fretting and straining because she didn't have the
where-with-all to get the "living water" Jesus spoke about. Like so many who "know Christ" as an historical figure, they don't KNOW Him in a living relationship!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What
He is saying is,<i> "If you had a true relationship with me Me
everything else will fall into place</i><i>; it's about your
relationship with Me, the water I'm speaking of will come without any
of your stress, strain, struggle and anguish. Your thirst will be
assuaged by Me, in Me, apart from your effort, and you won't need a bucket to give it to others..</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In
the last article of his series, Paul begins by referring to the fruit
bearing of Galatians 5.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
Holy Spirit in us, Jesus, produces this fruit.</span> He produces the
bud, then the flowers, and finally the fruit, through you and I, by
way of union and fellowship with Him. Just like the vine and the fruit bearing branches. Relationship!. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Relation ship with Him is fellowship with, and in Him. As He said in <span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">John 15:4,
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Abide
(dwell) in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by
itself, unless it abides (dwells) in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide (dwell) in me. Abide (dwell) in me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides (dwells)in
the vine, neither can you, unless you abide (dwell) in me”.</span></i></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Imagine
if the daily activity of the branches of the vine was <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">fretting
and straining</span></span></span>, suffering anguish in order to
bear fruit. Well! Imagine is all you can do, because it simply does
not happen. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
branches rest there, dwelling in the vine, drawing sustenance from
the vine. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Bearing
fruit is the result of BEING in the vine, branches drawing life
from the source, and as Paul suggests, </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
“<i>In
order to be to others what He is being to me, it is essential that I
not ignore the boundaries that are necessary for other relationships
to be, in fact, healthy and mutually satisfying, rather than
unhealthy and controlling.</i><i> </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>”.</i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">
. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">That's
what I see Paul speaking of in his last two points. The emphases are mine:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Five--<b>A
significant factor in building any healthy relationship is that it is
to reflect what we are "being" in that relationship and not
what we are "doing" in it.</b> Relationships that are healthy
depend on how we function in grace and truth not on how we perform in
roles.</i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Six---The
overriding purpose in my having other relationships, whether marriage
or church or friend, is <b>so I can mirror what He and I have together
relationally.</b> In order to be to others what He is being to me, it is
essential that I not ignore the boundaries that are necessary for
other relationships to be, in fact, healthy and mutually satisfying,
rather than unhealthy and controlling.</i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" class="western" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;">
<br /></div>Aussie Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com1