Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Disturbing

I do so wish I could see the easiness of God that the worldly church wants us to see. When I read the bible it leaves me disturbed. I'm going to edit this up today with verses but just wanted to post a little here before I start my day. It doesn't disturb me because I'm worried for myself or family or anything like that. It disturbs me because it teaches a much, much harder way to heaven than what I've seen in the church. It disturbs me because in everything I read about God's holiness and love it's a fatherly love and I know how stern a father can be in love. More in a bit....

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Matthew 7:
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

John 3:
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John 9:
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.

2Corinthians 5:
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:a]">[a] The old has gone, the new is here!

Romans 8:
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives lifed]">[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because ofe]">[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with mena]">[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Revelation 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Ephesians 5: 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.a]">[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

Ok, so wow those are a lot of verses. It's but a very small selection of disturbing verses. Time after time God warns us about going to hell. Sometimes it's a gentle warning and others are pointed. This leads me to a gross discovery. How many 'Saved' people are putting this in practice? Why not? If not, then are they truly saved? I can already hear the thoughts... Judge not, and who knows what a man's heart truly is. Please understand that I'm not judging. God is. Who cares what idiot Doc thinks.

Christ himself even says 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Are we to think that it doesn't really matter what we do? What we say? How we act? Do we HONESTLY think that just because we say a prayer and are repentant that second that for eternity we'll be cool with God? The human wordly part of me wants to think so because that would be so easy. For one second of your life you could have a come to Jesus moment and after that who cares. If so then how do we deal with this?

John 8:11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Or as I have it memorized... Go and sin no more. We humans look at this and think... how can we not ever sin again. But I really think that Jesus wants us to go and sin no more. I think this means living a life constantly close with the Holy Spirit. When we do sin it will be such that we're convicted and seeking forgiveness immediately.

So if Jesus and the rest of the Biblical Prophets and God have warned us about how hard it is to get into Heaven then why do we think it's so easy? Why do we think that when we die everything will be alright as long as we at one time in a moment got it right with God? I think it has to do more with the world's view than God's. The world wants to tell you that now that Jesus came that his grace enables you to live how you want. That as long as you do this or do that for one second you're covered. Or better yet, as long as you can drag yourself into the church doors and sing a few songs once a week, you're cool.

Unfortunately we're not judged by what the world believes. God has put it all out for us and it's not really up for debate. His judgment will be swift and severe to most people. We would do ourselves quite a favor to heed his word and take it for what it says. Instead of once saved always saved we should be saying if you don't act saved it's because you aren't. It's not a judgment it's a warning. We as a church and as Christians should be very weary of proclaiming someone saved. Salvation is not reached just because the preacher declares it. It's not a one and done either. It's a true heart change that yes, only God knows. You will not fool God and that's all that matters anyway. Yes, Jesus' grace is more than sufficient for our sins. However HE is the one who determines who he gives grace to, not us. We must insure we know him and he knows us. The only way he will know us is by a relationship with him and the only way we can have relational status is by following his commands. Holy cannot be mixed with unholy.

This is disturbing because we like to think that if we can just get aunt Sally or uncle Leroy to church just once and somehow fool them into accepting Christ as their Savior then they're in the clear. The problem is that people who do this and never again open their Bible or even visit church again are not saved according to the Bible. I don't like this because it's so much easier to believe that if I could just get so and so to church then everything will be great. It's not and we're doing people a great disservice to tell them that it's ok. I realize we can't know the heart and not know so why then would we even make a proclamation? I realize that we put the word "IF" in everything we do, but still to me it's just false assurance.

We need to quit trying to play the edges of salvation and get to a real relationship. Unfortunately we as humans always look for an angle. We have no idea at what point a salvation is a salvation and how much of a sinful life isn't considered a walk. But God does. How can we say we're not lukewarm if we aren't constantly striving for his word and actions?

Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved;...

Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

I included this because I think it's where people pretty much hang their hat. Everyone who calls...Saved! We tend to think of this as a one off. It's not. See, everything Jesus or any of the Prophets taught had to do with present tense. It doesn't say everyone who has called, it says calls. Our Christian life must be in the present tense. Actively perusing Jesus. Constantly seeking his word. Sincerely trying to live a holy life. Practicing God's love and Christ's forgiveness. See, it's all action we need to be in the process of doing. I think when Christ spits out the lukewarm church it's going to be the people who once called his name and yet don't anymore for whatever reason. So how do you know that you are saved? It's not because of a prayer once said but of prayers constantly said. Not because of a one time repentance but a life of repentance and attempt at living a holy life. Not because of who you knew, but it's because of who you KNOW! That's why we continue through the sanctification process. It's a constant growing with Christ. I know this is a hot topic but I just HAD to share what God is telling me when I read these scriptures. No, I'm not trying to start a war with our church or anyone else. However we must always remember that the true message of salvation is one that got many people killed and tortured. People never want to hear that the way is truly narrow or that they can't live how they want. Nor am I judging anyone because it really is only God who knows their heart. In the end that's all that matters.

Again, God's word is disturbing because I really, really, really wish it was the opposite and wide was the gate to Heaven. I wish it for everyone I love that's living now but without Christ in their heart. I wish it for everyone I have loved who passed without the love of Jesus in their hearts. But wishes aren't truth. God's word is truth.


5 comments:

  1. The gospel is very challenging.

    I fear too for those who are lead astray.

    I fear more for the teachers, preachers, leaders who are not presenting the gospel! For they will one day be held accountable for all of those who perished under their leadership!!

    But I find great encouragement that God is showing me, us, all of us, what we need to see! He has been so faithful and patient!

    Sanctification is a process (thankfully). Phil 1:6...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

    Also, our eyes are being opened, our hearts convicted because we are corporately praying for revival, and true revival comes from the individual heart!!

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  2. I believe we (Christians) have set many people up for failure. Young people hear that all they have to do is say a prayer and life will be perfect. They don't hear the truth until they really get into the Bible for themselves or get into a strong Bible study. It reminds me of a "bait and switch."

    1 Corinthians 3:1-3
    Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

    I heard a preacher say that God slowly lets us know all that is required and how unworthy we are because we wouldn't be able to handle it any other way. I am also thankful that sanctification is a process. I think it would kill me if it wasn't. When Paul writes about spiritual milk and meat, it helps me understand that different people need different amounts of difficulty truth at different times. The problem is when teachers allow their students to drink milk long after they should be digesting meat.

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  3. Wow, you posted so much more then when I posted last!! My comment doesn't make sense :-)

    Anyway, I agree, 100%! And as you have pointed out, it really doesn't matter if I agree or not.

    That being said, I find myself asking myself, frequently, am I saved? Is God in control of my life, or am I giving Him lip service? Do I really seek after Godly things? If so, are my motivations correct or fleshly?

    2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test.

    I don't want to be in the presence of Christ, face to face, and have Him say to me "I did not know you!"

    I am not doubting the saving power of Christ, or His grace or His mercy. I am however keenly aware of my inability to stay on the straight and narrow.

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  4. Alright...so I am not in your class but I wanted to share another verse that goes with this:
    Hebrews 6:4-6 "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame."
    It is definitely a difficult word, but we are human and we fail. We move away from Him. If the devil can live in the very presense of God and fall away...then how much more we.
    Angelia Blalock

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  5. John 14 has a lot to say about those who love Jesus...

    12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

    15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

    21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.

    23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

    Are we constantly reading the scripture, checking our own lives, and repenting? We all mess up. The question is, do we make every effort to obey the teachings of Jesus? Are we hurt when we find areas where we are not following him?

    A few weeks ago Ryla (age 7) and I were talking about lying. She informed me that it was OK to lie because she could just ask Jesus to forgive her and everything would be fine. Of course that led to a longer conversation about the reason for Jesus' death and how it hurts him for us to dismiss the seriousness of the crucifixion by sinning and relying on grace. The point is that she is a kid and she has parents who are there to correct her. I wonder how many adults have these same misconceptions about the faith, but have no one to teach them.

    I believe the world is ready for people who are willing to speak the truth without trying to water it down or make it more palatable.

    2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

    We all have a ministry, in some form or fashion. It is time to speak the truth plainly. Those who can hear will hear. Those who can't hear won't, but at least they will not be led astray by deceptive words.

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