The Good Of The Father (Defenders Of The Faith) # 2122

 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world 

First Epistle of John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament 

I added a new word in my lexicon this week.  That word is dogmatic.  People have used the world dogmatic to describe a sector of those Christian believers who hold fast to the beliefs and traditions of their faith.  Google defines dogmatic as "Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true."  Those who are dogmatic tend to speak their belief as the one truth while ignoring the input of others.  They hold tight to the scriptures they know will support their argument, of which they involve themselves in many.  I would be inclined to describe Christianity as we know it as a religion prone to dogmatic practices.  Those within the church all too often preach the practices which their defenders of the faith adhere to.  Recently I have had the opportunity of experiencing the dogmatic defenders of the faith first hand.  I have a gym friend who clings to his scripture and church taught beliefs as if they were chained to his feet.  There is no discussion about a differing view of scripture or Christian author.  There is no room for the grace and mercy of the Father when it comes to wrong behaviors.  In his eyes, the wicked shall be punished with an  eternity in hell.  He will back up his belief with carefully screened passages from the bible to make his case.  Those who have not accepted Christ into their hearts will also be among those banished to the hell created for Satan and his followers.  Seeing as Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, He is our access to the Father {Johns Account 14:6}.  Think you're a child of God as the scriptures tell us?  Not so fast!  In the eyes of the dogmatic believer, only those who have accepted Jesus are worthy of being children of God.  As you can see, there is little room for the love and mercy of God in the minds of the dogmatic believer.  For them everything is cut and dry and laid out in front of them.  The good will be rewarded and the guilty punished, end of story.  

In one of my one sided discussions with my friend the other day I asked him a simple question which he has yet to answer, what is it like for you to live in the freedom of Christ?  I believe that he cannot answer this because he has yet to experience the joy we have in living in the freedom of Christ Jesus.  This is the freedom I did not began to experience until I was away from the church for some time.  The Jesus which I now know is not the Jesus which was spoken to me while I was active in the church.  For the church has made a habit of not speaking to a closer relationship with Christ.  Sure, they may mention and gloss over it, but they never speak to that joy of truly living in the presence of God.  Jesus speaks to our own life lived in the Father in the book of John {Johns Account 14:20}.  To the dogmatic believer, the mere mention of scripture such as this and we're accused of cherry picking the scriptures to suit our blasphemous narrative.  The pot calling the kettle black.  Some of the most dogmatic people in history were the Pharisees and scribes of Jesus' day.  They burdened the people with the traditions and requirements of their religion.  This is why Jesus stood before them on that day and proclaimed His "Woes to the Pharisees" {Matthews Account 23:1-33}.  I've often wondered, if Jesus were to confront the pastors of today, would we see His "Woe to you pastors?"  Something tells me that more than a few dogmatic believers would be critical of Him for doing just that. 

For the era will be when they will not tolerate sound teaching, but, their hearing being tickled, will heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires 

Paul to Timmothy (2) 4: 3, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (One Saved All) # 2121

 

For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified 

Paul to the Corinthians (1) 15: 22, Concordant New Testament 

I have a gym friend who, despite having been told that I am a believer, has taken it upon himself to try to convert me to Christianity.  There are times that I feel that I am wearing a shirt with the words "I'm a sinner, please convert me" written upon it.  I get it.  Back in my church days, I would take each and every opportunity not to proclaim the good news of Jesus, but the requirements one needed to do in order to get into heaven.  This is what I have been hearing for some time now.  Perhaps the Lord is gently reminding me of what I used to sound like to others?  Whatever the case, it seems that I am in need of being converted all over again into the Christian religion.  One of the requirements of going to heaven is that we realize that our life is filled with sin and that we need Gods continual forgiveness.  The truth is that this is what our identity once was back in the day.  However, is it through the death of Christ Jesus on the cross as the propitiation for our sin that we are no longer suffering the burdens of sin {First Epistle of John 2:2}.  That's right, our sin debt has been paid in full.  My gym friend will get all twisted into knots whenever I mention the desire of the Lord that all be saved {Paul to Timothy (1) 2:4}.  In his view, all continue to be guilty of that sin which Christ Jesus bled and died to forgive.  I believe that those who continue in this church driven belief are ignoring the reason for His death.  Not simply that we would be forgiven that which was against us, but that sin itself would be defeated {Paul to the Romans 6:11}.  The truth we have in the sacrifice of Christ is that ALL shall be made alive {Paul to the Corinthians (1) 15:22}.  Most refer to this truth as universal salvation, and the mainstream church pretty much considers it to be blasphemy when spoken of.

One of the precedents of Christian belief is that we have been created in the Fathers likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  That we are indeed His children {First Epistle of John 3:2}.  Therefore, is it beyond the Father to desire that all of His children be saved?  Is it even possible that all have been saved and it just has not been revealed to them?  Yes!  One thing I know is that all things are possible with God {Mathews Account 19:26}.  Man may consider something to be impossible, yet the Father deems it possible.  Is it therefore possible that man considers the need that others be judged for their sin, but that God assures them that their sins have been forgiven?  Is it even possible that the entire church driven narrative that hell is the eternal punishment for sin is not what the Father has in store for us?  Remember, with God all things are possible.  Is it even our domain to condemn anyone to hell?  Or, is this the domain of the Father Who created us?  Jesus has spoken that we "Do not judge, lest you may be judged" {Matthews Account 7:1-5}.  Yet many in the church continue to proclaim the Lords children guilty of that which Christ Jesus has already given His life for {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  The same church which celebrates the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus is the same church which condemns others to hell for the sin Jesus has already forgiven us.  This is one of the main reasons I believe in the truth which others refer to as universal salvation.  Because with God, all things are possible.  

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, is not leaving the ninety-nine in the wilderness and is going after the lost one, till he may be finding it?  And finding it, he is placing it on his shoulders, rejoicing." 

Lukes Account 15: 4-5, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The Choice) # 2120

 

No one can come to Me if ever the Father Who sends Me should not be drawing him, and I shall be raising him in the last day 

Johns Account 6: 44, Concordant New Testament 

If you have spent much time adhering to the teachings of the Christian religion, then you know that there is the process by which we are saved.  That being that we accept Christ Jesus into our hearts.  This is "The choice" which a believer makes to ensure that they are indeed saved.  I made that choice relatively early in life.  Most of my childhood years were spent going to church on Sundays and listening to one pulpit pounder or another give their rendition of what the scriptures said.  But one thing was for certain, I needed to accept Jesus for myself in order to guarantee my spot in the Lords salvation.  Or did I?  In recent years, outside of the influence of the mainstream church, I have grown in my understanding not only of my own life in the Father, but that the choice which drew me unto Jesus had been made well before I was born.  For not only is Jesus the Way the Truth and the Life, but He is THE way to God {Johns Account 14:6}.  But was it I who came to Jesus, or did the Father Himself draw me unto Him?  Jesus has spoken that no one can come to Him "If ever the Father Who sends me should not be drawing him" {Johns Account 6:44}.  These are the very words of Jesus telling us that it is not we who come to Him, but the Father Who draws us unto Him.  This kind of puts a new meaning to that all too familiar come to Jesus moment many of us have thought we have experienced.  Did Saul have a come to Jesus moment on the road to Damascus?  Or, as he later describes his own revelation of Christ in him, was it only "When it delights God" that Jesus was revealed unto him? {Paul to the Galatians 1:15-16}.  Consider the circumstances of Sauls mission that day, he was on his way to Jerusalem in order to persecute the followers of Jesus, with the full blessing of the leaders of the Jewish church.  So, his intention that day was not to come to Jesus, but to persecute Him.  So, it's safe to say that for Saul this was never a come to Jesus moment.  This was a draw Saul unto Jesus moment initiated by the Father.

For some time, I referred to Sauls encounter on the road to Damascus as his come to Jesus moment, I was in error on that account.  For it is God Who drew him to the very one he had been persecuting.  What followed is Sauls own revelation of Christ in him which he speaks of in Galatians {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  In my thinking, this throws into question the entire church narrative that we are the ones who "come to Jesus" in order to achieve that free gift of salvation given unto us by the Father.  That we are the ones who take that personal initiative to accept Christ into our hearts.  This also denotes the fact that we indeed have that free will to make that choice, but that's a topic for another page.   The truth is that we ourselves are not the ones who choose Jesus, for that decision has been made by the Father long before we were ever born.  It is God Himself Who draws us unto Christ.  It is God Who drew Paul unto his revelation of his life in Christ.  I feel that at the base of this belief that we are the ones who choose and accept Jesus into our life is the error of the belief that we are indeed separated from God via sin.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Jesus bled and died that we would no longer be slaves to sin {Paul to the Romans 6:6-11}.  This in no way means that there is no longer sin in this world, only that we have died to that which once defined us {Paul to the Romans 6:1-2}.  It is through Christ that our life is not apart from God, but through Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  Knowing this, we can see that it is not we who come to Jesus, but the Father Who draws us to Him.  Which is more a decision than a choice. 

Jesus is saying to him, "I am the Way the Truth and the Life.  No one is coming to the Father except through Me 

Johns Account 14: 6, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Conditional Salvation) # 2119

 For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is Gods approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting

Paul to the Ephesians 2: 8-9, Concordant New Testament 

If you've spent any time in the confines of any Christian church you've indeed heard the qualifications which are required of us in order to punch that ticket into heaven.  In my time spent in the church, I was told that I needed to accept Christ Jesus and believe in order to get into heaven.  But then they raised that bar of expectations on me, telling me that it was my still existent sin which could still prevent me from seeing Gods heaven.  So, what is the standard?  A life void of sin?  Accepting the Lord Jesus?  Someone please tell me so that I can be assured that I'm on the right path.  I have a gym friend who is constantly reminding me of the qualifications required for those believers desiring to get into heaven.  That qualification is that one accepts Jesus into their hearts.  I get it.  The apostle Paul attests to this in his letter to the Romans {Paul to the Romans 10:9}.  But what about those who for one reason or another have never heard or been made aware of Jesus?  I'll get to that scenario in a bit.  But first allow me to address the mainstream church free gift of conditional salvation.  That's right, although the Father has graced us with His free gift of salvation, those within the church continue to confess that we must "Accomplish something" in order to make our salvation possible.  That something is our acceptance of Christ Jesus.  Now, in this the church goes strictly by scripture.  For Paul himself has spoken that we must believe.  However, Paul also speaks to the truth that it is by the grace of the Father by which we have been saved {Paul to the Ephesians 2:8-9}.  So, which is it?  Do we accept Jesus and by doing so stake our claim to the Lords salvation?  Or, do we trust in the grace and truth of the Father and accept that through Christ Jesus it has already been provided for?  I choose to trust in the Lord.  

In the film Come Sunday, the reverend Carlton Pearson causes quite a stir within his congregation by proclaiming that there is no hell.  That the free gift given unto us by the Father has negated the need for eternal punishment.  As a result of his radical teachings, the reverend Pearson was removed from his position in the church.  It seems that the church leadership couldn't stomach the blasphemy of trusting in the free gift of God.  Carlton Pearson was driven to his own revelation of the Father from watching a commercial on television which depicted starving people in a far away impoverished land.  Would God really condemn to hell these of His children whom may have never even heard of Christ Jesus?  Would God condemn any of His children to hell?  Is there even a hell?  Far from being a theological question, this is more along the lines of believing what the Father has already revealed to us through the scriptures.  That His salvation is not something that we earn, but something He Himself has given unto us.  Of course, it is through Christ Jesus that we will come to the Father, for He is the "Way and the Truth and the Life" {Johns Account 14:6}.  Nobody shall ever come to the Father except through Jesus.  That being said, we must also understand that it is the Father Who has graced us with the gift of His salvation.  The church has not done this, it could never have achieved it.  What we have is forgiveness given unto us by the grace of God through Christ Jesus.  Through Christ Jesus, we have access to the Father {Johns Account 6:44}.  Contrary to the teachings of those within the church, there is NOTHING which we can do that will ever guarantee us entrance into the Lords presence.  However, when He reveals the truth of our life in Him, we will understand that we already have a place there {Johns Account 14:20}.  

No one can come to Me if ever the Father Who sends Me should not be drawing him.  And I shall be raising him in the last day

Johns Account 6: 44, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (Jesus In Context) # 2118

 

Knowing this first, that no prophesy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.  For not by the will of man was prophesy carried on at any time, but, being carried on by holy spirit, holy men of God speak

Peter to the Dispersion (2) 1: 20=21, Concordant New Testament 

Has anyone ever been involved in a conversation that they cannot seem to win?  I know that I have.  Recently one of my gym friends has taken to describing any notion of scripture that is different from his own as someone taking the scripture out of context.  Now, this is an easy defense for someone who chooses not to accept someone's opinion of how the scripture is to be translated.  This is why I rarely engage in discussions of scripture with someone who seems to have an agenda outside of the Father.  Come to think of it, this is a defense which I once used to defend my own interpretation of the scriptures back in my church days.  The apostle Peter speaks to the truth that "No prophesy of scripture at all is becoming it's own explanation."  The New King James version makes this more clear, that "No prophesy of scripture comes from someone's own interpretation" {Peter to the Dispersion (2) 1:20-21}.  My same friend who accuses me of taking the scriptures out of context cringes at the thought that someone might have a different interpretation than he does.  In his eyes, he has the final say in what the scriptures are telling us.  I believe that this is the very reason by which the apostle John speaks to the truth that one must "Test the spirits to see if they are of God" {First Epistle of John 4:1}.  Yes, we may come across different interpretations of the word, but we also must do our diligence when contemplating these passages.  What makes our task that much more difficult is the countless versions and interpretations of the scriptures that we have out there.  Every so often, I'll see one more version pop up which claims to be the "Closest interpretation" to the original texts.  While this might be true, it is still the Fathers spirit within us that speaks to us as we read these words. 

I recall back in my church days that there was produced a Hawaiian native version of the New Testament which drew the interest of more than a few people.  This "Pidgeon bible" spoke the word in the native dialect of the Hawaiian islands.  In my posts, I often reference the Concordant interpretation because I have found that it closely resembles the original Greek language of the time.  Others choose to use another interpretation.  But I have done my diligence, I have tested the spirits when it comes to this version of the scriptures.  I can refer to the passages which I have given to memory in my discussions with others.  But at the end of the day, it's not about my interpretation of the scriptures, but on what the Father within me is speaking to me through the word He has given us.  In my opinion, the voice of the Father within us can never be taken out of context.  This is something I have mentioned to my friend, without much success.  There is a reason that so many people stay out of discussions which involve religion.  In these discussions, nobody comes out a winner.  When we keep man created religion out of the conversation and focus our attention on Christ Jesus, nothing can be taken out of context.  For it is the scriptures which tell the story of Jesus.  

And therefore we are also thanking God unintermittingly that, in accepting the word heard from us, from God you receive, not the word of men, but, according as it truly is, the word of God, which is operating also in you who are believing 

Paul to the Thessalonians (1) 2: 13, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (The Church Jesus Is Building) # 2117

 

And He is the head of the body, the ecclesia, Who is sovereign, Firstborn from among the dead, that in all He may be becoming first

Paul to the Colossians 1: 18, Concordant New Testament 

There are many in the Christian religion community who have referred to Jesus in the past tense.  As is Jesus, having been raised from among the dead, has now been declared dead after all.  Look what Jesus HAS done.  Consider what it is which Jesus HAS accomplished.  One thing I have learned is that words matter, and these words of so called believers give a false impression of Jesus.  For Jesus is not dead, but very much alive in our lives today.  The apostle Paul speaks to this in his admission that it is Christ Jesus who lives in him {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  Jesus Himself has spoken to the truth of our life now lived within the love of the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  I mention this to illustrate that it is Jesus Who is the One who is active in the building of His church.  Some might refer to the traditional brick and mortar buildings and cathedrals built by man as the church, but these are not the church which Jesus is building.  The church which Jesus actively continues to build is that of the body of Christ, the followers of Jesus.  It is Jesus Who is the head of this body, His ecclesia {Paul to the Colossians 1:18}.  Everywhere we look we can see examples of this church which Jesus is building.  My own group of Gym friends I have developed over the past few years is a good example of the ecclesia of God.  There are no sermons or tithes given, but Jesus definitely has gathered this group together for His purpose.  And His church has grown!  At last count, I've counted near seventy people who are a part of this gathering.  Not all of us are believers, but there is no doubt that Jesus is definitely leading us.  Some might cringe at the thought of unbelievers being a part of the ecclesia of Christ, but we do well to remember that Jesus Himself was accused by the Pharisees of His day of gathering with sinners and tax collectors {Matthews Account 9:11}.  How did Jesus respond to their accusations?  "No need have the strong of a physician, but those having an illness" {Matthews Account 9:12}.  

Jesus is building His church one person at a time.  One struggling believer at a time.  One person doubting that there is a God at a time.  Jesus has proclaimed that He has not come to simply call the righteous among us, but to reconcile sinners and unbelievers unto the Father {Lukes Account 5:32}.  For this He was condemned by the religious authorities of His day.  There also continue to be those within the church who believe falsely that the ecclesia of the Lord is made up simply of those who believe in Christ.  To this I say, aren't we all part of that family?  Have we all not been created in the Fathers likeness?{Genesis 1:27}  To believe that only believers are a part of the ecclesia of Jesus is to deny that the rest of us have absolutely no connection to God.  That God has never been interested in reconciling His own unto Himself.  Paul speaks to the Father reconciling all unto Himself through Christ Jesus {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5: 18-19}.  I see the church being built by Jesus as the Father reconciling His own once again to Himself.  This includes believers and non-believers alike.  In this church, all are welcome. 

Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving the us the dispensation of the conciliation, how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing us in the word of the conciliation 

Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5: 18-19, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

Good Of The Father (Quick To Listen) # 2116

 We all talk a different language, talking in defense

The Living Years ~ Mike and the Mechanics (1988) 

I've come to realize over the years that there are those of us who are so very good at talking and listening to others.  In my time I've known more than a few.  I was reminded of this the other day while in a discussion with a gym friend.  The discussion was in danger of becoming more of a disagreement when I realized that what my friend needed was someone to listen and not to speak.  Realizing this, I introduced him to another friend whom I know has a heart for listening to people.  To my knowledge, their conversation soon flourished as a friend who needed that someone to listen found just that.  Now, I could have simply turned on my listening ears myself, but my friend was in a better place at that moment to listen to another.   I mention this situation because all too often we might find ourselves in the company of someone who doesn't need a speech, but simply someone to listen.  I perceived that in my friend the other day.  So, instead of escalating a conversation, I chose to connect him with someone I know would be more than glad to listen to him.  I have a dear friend whom I have known for some time, a retired pastor, who has been one of the most patient listeners I have ever known.  I know that no matter what I am dealing with, that I can talk with him and that he will guide me to what the Father is showing me in that situation.  I suggest that this is a unique gift, that gift of listening.  My mother had it.  She could walk into a room and within minutes she would be talking to a stranger like she had known them for years.  The art of listening.  The scripture tells us that we should be "Swift to hear, tardy to speak, tardy to anger" {James to the Twelve Tribes 1:19}.  If I would have continued in that conversation with my friend, I would not have been following the advice of James.  In my mind, he needed to hear what I had to tell him.  In reality, what he needed was that ear to hear what he had to say.  

I submit that many of the heated discussions which we engage in are a direct result of not having that ear to listen in the moment.  I admit that I've been guilty of that a time or two.  Sometimes I think I know better, sometimes I think that the Father needs to tell the other person something through me.  But what if I were to simply listen?  What would God reveal to me through this?  Many times, God places us in the presence of others not to convert or evangelize them, but that we would hear what God has for us to hear.  There is much to be said of seeking wise council in others.  In those who have the ear to listen.  The real reason that I introduced my friend to someone who I knew would listen to him is because in that moment I wasn't thinking about listening, but of trying to convince him that I was right and he was wrong.  That's not what he needed to hear.  I am thankful that I heeded the voice of the Father within me before that conversation got out of hand.  There are no winners in an argument.  Some might scoff at my speaking to knowing that voice of the Father in me, but this is the truth of my life in Him.  Unlike many well meaning Christians, God is always swift to listen to us.  We need only that ear to listen to what He is speaking to unto our hearts.  The truth is that God has always been an intimate part of us.  He created us in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  Jesus speaks to the truth that our life is lived through Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  When we speak to Him, He listens.  We can learn a valuable lesson from that.  

Now you are aware, my beloved brethren!  Yet let every man be swift to hear, tardy to speak, tardy to anger

James to the Twelve Tribes 1: 19, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~