The Good Of The Father (The Jesus Indoctrination) # 2125

 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, according as the custom of some is, but entreating, and so much rather as you are observing the day drawing near

To the Hebrews 10: 25, Concordant New Testament 

I have a few friends who engaged in a conversation this week of the decline of the mainstream church.  More specifically, the decline of the so called mega churches which seemed to once dominate the Christian faith.  I remember back in the day hearing of the services of Rick Warrens Saddleback church in Lake Forrest, California.  This church was held up as a prime example of a large, burgeoning congregation mega church.  However, recently some of the luster has vanished from that rose.  As with other large churches, Saddleback church has seen a dramatic decrease in the size of their once large congregation.  Why is that?  Well, I'll try to answer that by giving some of my own perspective on why I left the church I had attended for more than a few years.  This church was once healthy and vibrant, or so I thought.  I chose this church on the recommendation of a few friend that this was indeed a vibrant, God centered church.  I felt that at that point in my life that this is what I was needing.  Don't get me wrong, during my time in the church I developed more than a few friendships which I continue to enjoy today.  In fact, my two friends who entered into this conversation this week have been a part of my life ever since we met back in my church days.  So, why is it that I left the church?  Well, after a number of years spent gathering together every week, I noticed that more and more people who once were avid attendees were now choosing to leave this church for the greener pastures of other churches, while others were simply leaving because they no longer felt fulfilled in this congregation.  I was among the latter category.  I heard the sermons, but I didn't feel any closer to God than when I first walked in the doors of that building years before.  The final straw came one Easter morning when, after sitting through another sermon on how Jesus had died for my sins, the pastor proceeded to invite anyone who felt that they had sin to confess to step forward for prayer.  Like so many before me, I was done with the entire idea of church.

Anyone who has read these posts of mine for very long has noticed that I am more than a bit critical of the teachings and theology of the church.  I do this for good reason.  For I believe that it is the church which has misled countless believers astray from the truth we find not only in the scriptures, but in the evangel spoken by the apostle Paul as well.  Those within the church will insist and teach that sin has led to our separation from the Father Who created us.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  For the scripture speaks to the truth that we have not only been created in the very likeness of the Father {Genesis 1:27}, but that our life is IN Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  Paul speaks to the truth about sin in our life in that it is Christ Jesus Who has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  I cannot recall ever hearing a pastor preaching on the truth that Jesus gave Himself for the sin we once carried, and that we are no longer burdened by that sin {Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  That it has never been sin which has separated us from God, but that He has always been an intimate part of who it is that we are.  This is why I consider this to be one of the lies spoken by the church.  For they speak of the separation between God and His children.  Again, the words of Paul give us an invitation into the truth of the Lord Jesus when he proclaims "We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it?" {Paul to the Romans 6:1-2}.  How indeed.  Do we negate the work of Jesus on the cross just to fit the narrative of man?  I'd say no to that one.  This is why when I hear of the decline in attendance in the church, I already know what the issue is, I've been there.  I'm encouraged in knowing that so many believers are venturing out to seek that relationship with God which they could never achieve in the halls of the church.  My prayer is that God will open their eyes and reveal the truth of a life lived in Him as He has with me.  

What, then, shall we declare?  That we may be persisting in sin that grace should be increasing?  May it not be coming to that!  We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it? 

Paul to the Romans 6: 1-2, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (I'm Not That Guy) # 2124

 

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who lives me, and gives Himself up for me

Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

I had someone tell me the other day that I was living a lie in my belief in the truth of Christ Jesus in me.  That in reality Jesus ascended into heaven and shall remain there until such time as He returns for His chosen people who have known Him.  I reminded him of the words spoken by the apostle Paul in his evangel, but this did little to sway his church influenced decision.  I do not put the blame for his view squarely on him, but also on those who have taught him the beliefs which he adheres to.  It's been said that there are no bad students, only bad teachers.  In this case that has proven to be true.  I was once like this man was, sitting through many a Sunday sermon where I was taught that God was a far off entity whose only concern was to watch over my life to see if I lived it the way in which He desired.  This has been among the teachings of the mainstream church for thousands of years.  One thing that I did tell my friend was that I'm not that guy anymore.  I'm not that guy whom the Lord still deems worthy of condemnation and punishment.  Through the word of Christ Jesus on the cross, the sin debt has been paid.  When the Father looks upon me, He no longer sees a sinner, but His loved child {First Epistle of Johns 3:1}.  It has never been the Fathers desire that He would be separated from His creation.  This is but one false teaching of the mainstream church.  Every time I have a discussion of the truth of Christ Jesus in me I see just how deep that the false teachings of the church have reached in the understanding of too many believers.  For they hold to the teachings of the church and not the truth we find in the scriptures.  I get it, I've been where they are.  But I'm not that guy anymore.

For whatever reason the Lord has chosen, the truth of His Son in me was not revealed to me until I had been out of the church for some time.  Until that point, I was well versed in the teachings and theology of the church.  I held fast to what I had been taught.  I did not question the words spoken by the pastors.  I recall the words of Paul, who himself was well versed in the teachings of the Jewish faith.  By his own admission, Paul was once a persecutor of the followers of Jesus and a strict follower of his faith {Acts of the Apostles 22:3-4}.  Then came the day where Saul was introduced to the One which he had been persecuting for so long.  It was only "When it delights God" that Paul was introduced to the truth of who he truly was {Paul to the Galatians 1:15-16}.  He wasn't that guy anymore.  What Paul discovered about himself and of his identity in Christ Jesus is documented within his evangel.  It is these words of Paul which also convinced me of my own identity in Christ.  I was not separated from God as a result of my own sin, for Jesus has already paid that debt in full.  What remains is Christ.  But was it Jesus Who restored my identity in the Lord?  Or, as I now believe, has He always been within me?  This begs the question, how is it that God could ever be separated from that which He has created?  Many Christians agree that we live in a fallen world, that the world itself is entrenched in sin.  Yet they also believe the truth that God created all that we see and that He continues to be a part of His creation.  The same is true for us.  It is not sin which has separated us from the Father, for He has always been a part of us.  

In Whom there is no Jew nor yet Greek, there is no slave nor yet free, there is no male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus

Paul to the Galatians 3: 28, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

The Good Of The Father (First Love) # 2123

 

We are loving God, for He first loves us 

First Epistle of John 4: 19, Concordant New Testament 

A good friend of mine has been speaking to the truth of the concept of "Just Love" in recent conversations.  I am not too familiar with these talks as I have not been involved, but what I do know is that to love is something which Jesus Himself has called upon us to do {Johns Account 13:34}.  Jesus placed so much emphasis upon this concept of love that He described it as a "New Precept," other translations describe this as a new covenant.  Google describes a precept as "A general rule intended to regulate behavior."  So, it is Jesus Who has given unto us this new command, that we love one another.  Yes, this IS  the command given unto us by Christ Jesus.  However, it also may be one of the most difficult commands to follow.  How much love do we show to that person who has wronged us?  How much love do we show unto those we disagree with?  I'll echo the question my friend posed recently, is just love even possible?  Can we live in a world where love is rampant?  Is such a world even possible?  When I think of the truth given to us by Jesus to love one another I think of our first love.    I'm not talking of that first love of the opposing sex, but of He Who loved us first {First Epistle of John 4:19}.  It is God Who has demonstrated His own love for us that while we were yet sinners to dispatch His Son to die for us {Paul to the Romans 5:8}.  We were not the ones who first loved, that was the Father all the way.  Were it not for the love of the Father, where would we be?  Does God find it as difficult to love as we do?  Not at all.  After all, the one true nature of the Father IS love {First Epistle of John 4:8}.  If we heed the words of the apostle John, if we fail to love, we "Knew not God."  Some might scoff at this, but I believe that it is indeed true.  For to love is from God.  

I can personally attest to the fact that to love is no easy task.  There have been many times that I have been wronged, cheated and mistreated.  Do you think that my first response to these instances was to "Just Love?"  But I will also be the first to admit that in these instances that I was not seeing my situation through the Fathers eyes.  I was not looking upon the other person as God looks upon them.  How is it that I can see Gods loved child in someone who mistreats me?  Yet this is how God sees each and every one of us {Paul to the Romans 8:16}.  Some will make the false claim that only those who have accepted Christ Jesus have the right to be called children of God, but I believe that this is in error.  For we have been created in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  It is God Who also loved us enough to give unto us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  It is God Who, through His love, created all who we are.  We are indeed His offspring {Acts of the Apostles 17:28}.  So it is that we are His beloved children.  Knowing this, can we look upon others as God sees them?  Can we just love, as God has?  Some might say that this is more easier said than done.  Those within the church might ask, what about those sinners among us?  Well, what did God do with we who were once sinners?  Simple, while we were yet sinners, God dispatched His Son to die in our place.  God chose to love.  This is the same choice that we as His children are faced with.  Do we choose to just love?  

Yet God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes

Paul to the Romans 5: 8, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~ 

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~