I do believe that pragmatism is practical and applicalble from studying the Word of God. I wrote the following in a comment on this very subject: "I, too, consider myself a pragmatic Follower of the Christ and this does not interfere with my understanding of Him in matters of practice and faith. Understanding Him by faith is to accept the fact that His ways and thoughts are not at all similar to my ways and thoughts and I must be obedient to His teachings in all things.
Webster's defines Pragmatic like this: "relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters : practical as opposed to idealistic." And I do not see the Bible as idealistic, but as practical faith for Paul writes in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval." NASB. This conforms with Isaiah 55:5-12. Faith pertains to the facts surrounding God's design and purpose for my life and not my own. The facts of Scripture, at least the way I understand them, are quite pragmatic/practical for everyday living and my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I think it was Manly Beasley who said, "Faith is acting as if it is so in order for it to be so for with God it already is so." From a practical standpoint and in reference to the facts of God's Word surrounding faith this is a practical means for Following Christ. After all, His birth, life, death, burial and resurrection are facts of history; not conjecture. Pragmatic faith in Him is justifiable."
What I do know is that, indeed, my thoughts and ways are not at all similar nor comprable to those of the Almighty and if I am to successsfuly follow Him my disregard for personal factual information must not be included. All that I know of God is derived from the Scriptures and His application of them in my daily life. Do I know Him apart from His written Word? Certainly. However, everything I know of Him, practically speaking, finds foundation in His Word. In no manner am I able to know Him apart from what I find about Him in Scripture. Is He able to identify with me apart from His Word? Abslolutely, again, but I have found that He will never act outside of the His written Word in dealing with me.
With all of this said, I have become more pragmatic in my understanding of Him for the facts conderning Him found in the infallible and inerrant Word of God are always true when I encounter Him in daily living.
Jesus is Lord.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Saturday, June 22, 2019
How Great Thou Art
Far too often we do not stop long enough to praise the Lord for all that He is doing and has done. Most of us have had few problems and take for granted for all that we have. But what about those who have suffered greatly? Take a moment and listen to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vdE_BlivF8. "
To the Seven Churches
John reports that he is on the Island of Patmos as he writes the Revelation concerning Jesus Christ and the end of time. But the most important note is, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day…” This phrase alone should get the attention of every reader because this indicates that what is being written is not from John’s mind, but from the heart of God. This prophetic word is about God’s final victory over evil and for His people; about His glory.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying: “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia,
and Laodicea.” I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and of Hades! Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:10-20 NET2.
The Book of Revelation is a book filled with prophetic symbolism and the most prevalent is the number 7. However, it is not simply the number 7 itself that seems to be of prominence. In the verses we are looking at now there are seven churches, seven lampstands and seven stars, and the list goes on throughout the Book. Most agree that this number represents perfection in Scripture which in itself is important. And of all the symbols in the Revelation, at least in my mind is found in verse 16, “and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth.” This is the Word of God that we are studying which is sharper than a double edged sword, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing event to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him who must render an account.” Hebrews 4:12-13. We must be prayerfully exposed to this prophetic book as God speaks to our hearts about the final victory.
Jesus is Lord.
Jesus Is The Subject of The Revelation
“From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ – the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood 6 and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father – to him be the glory and the power forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 1:4-6 NET2.
John writes this extensive prophetic statement to the seven principal churches in Asia. It must be noted here that the words ‘the province of’ is not found in the best mss, but the words are used not refer to the continent of Asia but to the ancient Roman province which was located in western modern-day Turkey.
This is a greeting not found anywhere else in the entire NT and especially expresses the presence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. His eternal presence is noted in “He who is, was and still to come. The Bible clearly teaches there is but one Holy Spirit:
And Paul points out in His instruction concerning the Gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:11 that “It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these thing.” Consequently, the "seven Spirits" does not refer to seven different spirits, but most likely to the different avenues by which God expresses Himself by His Spirit.
In Isaiah 11:2 we find at least 6 manners by which God expresses Himself: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” Most likely the "seven Spirits" are not to be thought of as different spirits but refer to the complex ministry of the one Holy Spirit.
The question has been asked, “If these seven spirits are identified as the Holy Spirit, why is He see as being in front of the Throne?” Obviously, this is a pertinent question, but we must not forget the fact that God is present everywhere at all times. Therefore, this Presence before the Throne should not be an issue.
Verse 5 speaks to the ministry of the Christ as being faithful in witness of the majesty of the Almighty God of which He is. John reminds the reader that He was born the Savior of the world which is expressed by His being the ‘first born among the dead’ which comes by His crucifixion and blood sacrifice. He is King of kings and we serve as His priests. Revelation culminates the story of God which runs like a thin blood-red thread from Genesis until the very last verse of Revelation. “The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.” 22:20-21.
Jesus is Lord.
The Judge is Coming
The Judge is Coming
“7 (Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.) 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God – the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come – the All-Powerful!” Revelation 1:7-8 NET2.
I once heard a sermon entitled, "The Judge is Coming!!” And He is coming just as John heard from the Risen Christ, “I am the Alpha and Omega” says the Lord God—the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come—the All-Powerful!” (v8,) and from verse 7, “Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes on earth will mourn because of Him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)
What we know is that He first came as a baby, lived a sinless life, was crucified in order to redeem the world of sin, and arose from the grave to ‘seal the deal,’ so to speak. He will soon return for His Bride, but then will finally return to be the Judge of the world He came to save. There is nothing here to claim as difficult. Not too many years ago there was a common phrase that looked something like this, “The Bible said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” I cannot say for certain, but I can ask, “Are there fewer people today that have heard that statement and believe the same?”
John said of Jesus, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” John 1:1-3.
Jesus is Lord!!
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!” Revelation 1:1-3 NET2.
Recalling what John wrote at end of his Gospel in chapter 21 and v. 25, “There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” It is reasonable to conclude here in a visionary manner that Jesus is not yet finished.
Verse 1 uses the Greek word ‘doulos’ which can be translated into English as ‘slave,’ but in the NT sense the word is better in a spiritual sense of,a slave of God or of Jesus Christ voluntarily. In fact, the HCSB translation translates the word as being ‘ ‘slave’ and the NASB sees it as bein
‘bond-servant.’ The NASB translation may hold the best rendition for the culture of that day of one who sold himself into slavery in a similar fashion as was done in Colonial America. However, in a spiritual sense, the idea is that of becoming a voluntary slave of God or of Jesus Christ. For everyone who decides to follow Jesus by grace through faith there is a voluntary determination to become His eternal torch-bearer. The Christ has purchased that person’s soul at the Cross for eternity, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NASB.
In this revelation that the angel of God gives to John, the Apostle clearly writes down everything presented to him as a testament concerning the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we are able to trust that every single word found in this text is accurately true in content. Nothing is in error. With that in mind going forward we are able to receive as absolute truth the fantastic creatures and events that are about to unfold are not fables. These events and creatures will one day be known to everyone.
The Revelation is a prophetic statement in truth in its entirety. There are some interesting things to note that are to be found in this revelation. John will testify to the fact that he ‘saw’ certain thing at least 44 times, there are seven blessings given throughout the book and the first one is given in verse 3, and 54 different times the number 7 of completeness is utilized. Something to think about: by the time the people who initially read the prophecy his visions had already passed, but the imminent fulfillment of them had not. But there is something which is curious about the blessing he writes for they “who hear and obey” will receive a blessing. I would suggest that blessing might be that their names are to be found in the Book of Life, “And there will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him, 4 and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:3 -5.
Jesus is Lord.
A New Beginning...Of Sorts
Using FaceBook for many years has come to an end. There are many reasons, perhaps, none of which would serve as a 'real' reason to do something different now. Anyway, as of today, I am done with FB and my plans are to never return. For the moment I have a great deal to accomplish in the next hour or so and there really is no time to write more than this. I know, I know; 'curiosity killed the cat,' and I plan not to be that curious as to what is going on 'over there.'
Therefore, this represents a 'new beginning' of sorts, I suppose. 'Another Beginning' might be the best thought here for what I will do here is not new, just a different place and time. Bible studies and personal thoughts will mostly fill these places...Gotta go.
Therefore, this represents a 'new beginning' of sorts, I suppose. 'Another Beginning' might be the best thought here for what I will do here is not new, just a different place and time. Bible studies and personal thoughts will mostly fill these places...Gotta go.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Why I Am a Southern Baptist
I believe the Bible to be
literally true and that Truth is my world view. Folks who do not hold to this
literal truth do not like it and are not interested in it. These have forsaken
God’s Truth and the time will come when they will not be able to endure
it.
________________________________________
B.H. Carroll, Founder of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, wrote, “"What is the object of inspiration? It is to put accurately in human words ideas from God. If the words are not inspired, how am I to know how much to reject and how to find out whether anything is from God? When you hear the silly talk that the Bible contains the Word of God, it is not the Word of God. You hear a fools talk.”
W. A. Criswell had some enticing words for this topic, too. “Frequently we hear discussions centering on whether the Bible is the Word of God or only contains the Word of God. If, by the former, it is meant that God spoke every word in the Bible, the answer is, of course, no, but if it is meant that God caused every word in the Bible, true or false, to be recorded, the answer is yes. In the Bible, there are words of Satan. In the Bible, there are words of false profits, there are words of the enemies of Christ, yet, they are as inspired as being in the Bible. Not in the sense God uttered them, in a sense God calls them to be recorded infallible, inherently and for our profit. In this sense, the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God; it is the Word of God." "Why Preach the Bible as Literally True", B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17.
I find it interesting that those who do not receive the Word of God as literally true seem to think that we who do so are ‘twisted in our way of viewing things’. But allow me to remind them that Paul writes, “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” v. 13.
Standing with Paul is much better company than those who are deceiving and who are being deceived.
Another reason for being a Southern Baptist is the understanding of who Jesus Christ is. And this thought is one that is founded in the Literal Truth of God’s Word,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5.
Salvation that comes through the shed blood of Jesus Christ outside the walls of Jerusalem 2 millennia past is yet another factor for my being Southern Baptist.
Observe for a moment what Peter writes in 1Peter 1:18. Peter expresses that it is the blood of the Christ that redeems lost mankind.
"…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life that you inherited from you forefathers, but with precious blood as of the Lamb unblemished spotless the blood of Christ for He was foreknown before the foundations of the World, but has appeared in these last times, for the sake of you.
The Author of Hebrews continues this thought in chapter 9, verse 22 with these words, "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” Hebrews 9:22-28.
And then, there is the irrefutable truth concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doctor Luke confirms the words of the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:21-25,
"For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.”
There are many more statements about why I am a Southern Baptist, and they range from Believers Baptism to the Passion for Evangelism that moves God’s people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a dark world.
Jesus is Lord
BW
________________________________________
B.H. Carroll, Founder of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, wrote, “"What is the object of inspiration? It is to put accurately in human words ideas from God. If the words are not inspired, how am I to know how much to reject and how to find out whether anything is from God? When you hear the silly talk that the Bible contains the Word of God, it is not the Word of God. You hear a fools talk.”
W. A. Criswell had some enticing words for this topic, too. “Frequently we hear discussions centering on whether the Bible is the Word of God or only contains the Word of God. If, by the former, it is meant that God spoke every word in the Bible, the answer is, of course, no, but if it is meant that God caused every word in the Bible, true or false, to be recorded, the answer is yes. In the Bible, there are words of Satan. In the Bible, there are words of false profits, there are words of the enemies of Christ, yet, they are as inspired as being in the Bible. Not in the sense God uttered them, in a sense God calls them to be recorded infallible, inherently and for our profit. In this sense, the Bible does not merely contain the Word of God; it is the Word of God." "Why Preach the Bible as Literally True", B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17.
I find it interesting that those who do not receive the Word of God as literally true seem to think that we who do so are ‘twisted in our way of viewing things’. But allow me to remind them that Paul writes, “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” v. 13.
Standing with Paul is much better company than those who are deceiving and who are being deceived.
Another reason for being a Southern Baptist is the understanding of who Jesus Christ is. And this thought is one that is founded in the Literal Truth of God’s Word,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5.
Salvation that comes through the shed blood of Jesus Christ outside the walls of Jerusalem 2 millennia past is yet another factor for my being Southern Baptist.
Observe for a moment what Peter writes in 1Peter 1:18. Peter expresses that it is the blood of the Christ that redeems lost mankind.
"…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life that you inherited from you forefathers, but with precious blood as of the Lamb unblemished spotless the blood of Christ for He was foreknown before the foundations of the World, but has appeared in these last times, for the sake of you.
The Author of Hebrews continues this thought in chapter 9, verse 22 with these words, "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” Hebrews 9:22-28.
And then, there is the irrefutable truth concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Doctor Luke confirms the words of the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:21-25,
"For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.”
There are many more statements about why I am a Southern Baptist, and they range from Believers Baptism to the Passion for Evangelism that moves God’s people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a dark world.
Jesus is Lord
BW
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Honestly Speaking, There's a Hole in the Bucket
“There’s a hole in the Bucket” and the question now is,
“With what shall I fix it?” The answer is “Truth.”
Jesus was speaking to a group believing Jews when He said,
“If you continue in my word, you really are My disciples. You will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.” I clearly understand that I am
retired; retired from working with two incredible SBC institutions, the IMB and
then the Ark Bapt State Convention, and sandwiched between those years is a
stint as a student at two SBC institutions of higher learning, the SWBTS and
Louisiana College…ever heard of that one? LOL….and also was pastor of 6
churches. Clearly, I do not have enough understanding or experience to know
that truth belongs only to God and His truths are ABSOLUTE. Only those who are
‘younger, presently engaged in a mega-church, teaching in a SBC institute of
higher learning or some other important place of leadership REALLY understand
that although we have two ‘truths’ at work within the SBC, we can ignore God’s
Truth and call for a ‘Peace Treaty’ of some sorts in order to hold this old SBC
‘Ship of State’ together.
Seems to me that only God’s Truth will set us free, is this
NOT what Jesus has said. Calvinist Baptists do not have the truth and
Traditional SBCer’s do not have the truth. ONLY God’s Word has the Truth and it
is this that we must come to grips with.
We cannot be a slave of two Masters, and unless we have
forgotten, this comes from the mouth of our Lord, too. Matthew 6:24. Oh, the
context belongs to the object of money or financial gain, but does this sound
familiar? The stakes in this newest battle within the SBC is NOT merely a
theological stance, but rather the ASSETTS within the hold of this ship. But
the Truth still holds, “you will hate the one and love the other.” Which brings
me to my final thought…
“For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is making profit dishonestly.
From prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
14 They have treated My people’s brokenness superficially,
claiming, “Peace, peace,”
when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they acted so abhorrently?
They weren’t at all ashamed.
They can no longer feel humiliation.
Therefore, they will fall among the fallen.
When I punish them, they will collapse,
says the Lord.” Jeremiah 6:13-15 HCSB
everyone is making profit dishonestly.
From prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
14 They have treated My people’s brokenness superficially,
claiming, “Peace, peace,”
when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they acted so abhorrently?
They weren’t at all ashamed.
They can no longer feel humiliation.
Therefore, they will fall among the fallen.
When I punish them, they will collapse,
says the Lord.” Jeremiah 6:13-15 HCSB
There are two points here:
“Honesty” is not the focal point of the discussion at hand.
Those who are wanting peace are truly not being honest by attempting to draw up
a solution of ‘Peace’. There are two kinds of truth being taught and one of
them is false. There can be no peace when this kind of thinking is going on. I
was always taught that “Truth and honesty are always the best road to follow”
and I am certain that this is not the case right now.
People within the SBC are God’s people and Jeremiah wrote, “They
have treated My people’s brokenness superficially, claiming, “Peace, peace,” when
there is no peace.” 6:14. God’s people within the SBC are broken and are being
treated superficially while leadership seeks peace and will be claiming “Peace”
when the last light is turned off at the table…..
I would urge our leadership to walk carefully and seek the
Lord diligently before claiming peace between two camps who hold to two
truth’s….for, again, God’s Word says the prophets and priests “Were they
ashamed when they acted so abhorrently?
They weren’t at all ashamed.
They can no longer feel humiliation.
Therefore, they will fall among the fallen.
When I punish them, they will collapse,
says the Lord.” v 15.
They weren’t at all ashamed.
They can no longer feel humiliation.
Therefore, they will fall among the fallen.
When I punish them, they will collapse,
says the Lord.” v 15.
Just a thought, because there’s a hole in the SBC
bucket…..Jesus is Lord.
BW
Thursday, May 9, 2013
We Must Get Over THIS and Move On
Someone has asked the question, "What do you mean in your last blog, 'Somehow, we must get over this and move on.'?" My first response was, "I do not know." But, that was yesterday and I have had some time to 'mull over it.' Therefore, my response is as follows: "Choices."
I am a Follower of the Christ, primarily and a Southern Baptist because we have basically agreed that the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 expresses who we are. And my choice to be a Southern Baptist is, in part, due to that document. There are other reasons, too, but in the end the choice to be and remain a Southern Baptist for all of my life is entirely based upon the fact that I see the Bible as the Inerrant Word of God written by men who were Inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The present conflict which has arisen between 'Baptist Calvinists' and 'Baptist Traditionalists' brings me to this moment in question, "Somehow, we must get over this and move on." My answer is simply found in God's Word as Jesus said,
"Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life?" Mark 8:34-36.
“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money." Matthew 6:24
“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:5-6.
In the present on-going Calvinist/Reform issue among Southern Baptists choices must be made, and oddly enough, this in and of itself rubs against the grain of the 'predestined' mindset of the Reformer. For the Reformer the decision must have already been made in Heaven and therefore there is really nothing to worry about.....sic.
Yes, we must somehow get over his huge bump in the road and move on. Many years ago, as a student as SWBTS, I recall one of our professors detailing the importance of contextual evidence being the precusor of biblical exegesis. Our choices today are to be made with that in mind and this is the foundation upon which Southern Baptists stand and THE singular reason for the weakness of the Reform argument of Election.
Jesus, in His statement to the gathered crowd of people in Mark 8:34 ff gives those hearers a choice to make, "If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself..." The simple choice is to become His Follower or not. There is not one single hint given here or in any other of Jesus' challenges in the Gospels concerning Election. Most noteably this is the case in point as Thomas asks, "How can we know the way?" Please understand that Jesus did NOT reply to Thomas by saying, "Only the Elect will come to the Father." Rather the Christ clearly indicates that to come to the Father is "through Me." There is a pathway to follow and in daily life everyone will make a choice as to which pathway to follow to get from one place to another. In order to follow the Christ there is a choice to be made.
If we, as Southern Baptists are to move on, we have a very large and important choice to make. No doubt the choice to do so will be a diffcult one, but we must do so. This is a 'Make it' or 'Break it' decision for many of us. I am NOT a Southern Baptist Calvinist. I am a Southern Baptist Biblicist, if you will, and there is a very BIG difference here.
Every indication is that the Reformers wish to determine the future of the SBC with the doctrine of Election as the standard. If the SBC chooses to allow that to happen I will no longer be a Southern Baptist for I am NOT a Calvinist and I do not believe in the tenets of that system of religion.
I choose to follow the Christ and deny to follow the Calvinist error, plain and simple. This is what I meant when I wrote, "Somehow, we must get over this and move on." I am a Follower of the Christ, not a follower of Calvinism and we must get over this and move on.
Jesus is Lord
Bob Williford
I am a Follower of the Christ, primarily and a Southern Baptist because we have basically agreed that the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 expresses who we are. And my choice to be a Southern Baptist is, in part, due to that document. There are other reasons, too, but in the end the choice to be and remain a Southern Baptist for all of my life is entirely based upon the fact that I see the Bible as the Inerrant Word of God written by men who were Inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The present conflict which has arisen between 'Baptist Calvinists' and 'Baptist Traditionalists' brings me to this moment in question, "Somehow, we must get over this and move on." My answer is simply found in God's Word as Jesus said,
"Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life?" Mark 8:34-36.
“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money." Matthew 6:24
“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:5-6.
In the present on-going Calvinist/Reform issue among Southern Baptists choices must be made, and oddly enough, this in and of itself rubs against the grain of the 'predestined' mindset of the Reformer. For the Reformer the decision must have already been made in Heaven and therefore there is really nothing to worry about.....sic.
Yes, we must somehow get over his huge bump in the road and move on. Many years ago, as a student as SWBTS, I recall one of our professors detailing the importance of contextual evidence being the precusor of biblical exegesis. Our choices today are to be made with that in mind and this is the foundation upon which Southern Baptists stand and THE singular reason for the weakness of the Reform argument of Election.
Jesus, in His statement to the gathered crowd of people in Mark 8:34 ff gives those hearers a choice to make, "If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself..." The simple choice is to become His Follower or not. There is not one single hint given here or in any other of Jesus' challenges in the Gospels concerning Election. Most noteably this is the case in point as Thomas asks, "How can we know the way?" Please understand that Jesus did NOT reply to Thomas by saying, "Only the Elect will come to the Father." Rather the Christ clearly indicates that to come to the Father is "through Me." There is a pathway to follow and in daily life everyone will make a choice as to which pathway to follow to get from one place to another. In order to follow the Christ there is a choice to be made.
If we, as Southern Baptists are to move on, we have a very large and important choice to make. No doubt the choice to do so will be a diffcult one, but we must do so. This is a 'Make it' or 'Break it' decision for many of us. I am NOT a Southern Baptist Calvinist. I am a Southern Baptist Biblicist, if you will, and there is a very BIG difference here.
Every indication is that the Reformers wish to determine the future of the SBC with the doctrine of Election as the standard. If the SBC chooses to allow that to happen I will no longer be a Southern Baptist for I am NOT a Calvinist and I do not believe in the tenets of that system of religion.
I choose to follow the Christ and deny to follow the Calvinist error, plain and simple. This is what I meant when I wrote, "Somehow, we must get over this and move on." I am a Follower of the Christ, not a follower of Calvinism and we must get over this and move on.
Jesus is Lord
Bob Williford
Saturday, May 4, 2013
A Sword of Division
Being silent for a very long time has been difficult, but now I must begin to say some things that have been on my mind. Here I will begin. As a Southern Baptist I have always said that I am one by conviction and am a Believer and Follower of Jesus Christ by faith in Him alone. For this reason alone I am a Believer FIRST and FOREMOST and a Southern Baptist BECAUSE of my conviction that Baptists, in my lifetime, have been sound biblicists. For this reason I stood with those who were in the war over Biblical Inerrancy and Conservatism, and I will stand against the Reform Movement within the SBC today. This Movement is simply WRONG biblically.
Yesterday, May 3rd, I read the article from SBC Issues entitled,Calvinism in the SBC and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. This article alone has brought me to this juncture, my Turning Point. This article is found at the following address: http://sbcissues.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/calvinism-in-the-sbc-and-the-baptist-faith-and-message-2000/. Every Southern Baptist should read this because the "correct theological position of a majority of Southern Baptists today is that men are not born guilty of Adam’s sin as Nettles suggests." In many ways this may be the 'jumping off place' for the Reformer and this issue in the SBC.
Three years ago it was my priviledge to meet Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, Chair of Systematic Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at the annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Confronting Dr. Yarnell with questions about the Reform question, he introduced me to many of the surrounding issues of Calvinism in the SBC. He also encourage me to read the text Whosoever Will which contains essays addressing the Five Points of Calvinism. For this I am grateful.
As a result of that meeting, God has allowed me to come in contact with Dr. David Allen, Dr. Steve Lemke and others who have greatly influenced my journey into my studies of the Reform Movement. As a result of these encounters with incredibly blessed minds I have become a far better student of God's Word and am more informed of this critical study because of their suggestions.
I completely understand why so many want to meet at a 'Table of Peace' and draft some sort of agreement that might produce some sort of solution. However, my question remains.....how am I/are we able to come to a working agreement with someone who simply does not and cannot agree with me/us about the biblical question concerning the Gospel Message found in John 3:16? We do not agree upon "Whosoever will". And in our disagreement people are asking the question, "How can I become a Christian?"
For everyone, Jesus says it best in Matthew 10:34, 39, "Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it."
For each of us in the SBC there will be no peace over the questions raised over this issue and the sword (the Word of God) is the defining principle. In His Word we will either find or lose our spiritual lives and we cannot assume anything less. We will fall or stand upon Him alone. A Baptist cannot stand arm in arm with a Baptist Calvinist, as Dr. Yarnell describes them, and share the same Gospel Message with a lost person. One of us will say, "You must make a choice to follow Jesus or not." The other will say, "You may or may not be of the Elect and when you have faith you know that you have already been saved because the choice is really not yours to make."
The decision is not about Institutions, etc owned and operated by the SBC. The decision is whether or not one chooses to lose life because Jesus Christ has already asked me to follow Him. This is a 'no brainer.' Certainly I am a Southern Baptist because of a deep seated conviction that finds root in the Word of God and expressed in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. However, I am first of all a Follower of Jesus Christ by faith in Him alone and the fact that I am a Southern Baptist has no bearing on my decision to follow the Christ.
Christ has given a sword of division in order to find a correct direction and in that I will find my life......
Jesus is Lord
Bob Williford
Yesterday, May 3rd, I read the article from SBC Issues entitled,Calvinism in the SBC and the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. This article alone has brought me to this juncture, my Turning Point. This article is found at the following address: http://sbcissues.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/calvinism-in-the-sbc-and-the-baptist-faith-and-message-2000/. Every Southern Baptist should read this because the "correct theological position of a majority of Southern Baptists today is that men are not born guilty of Adam’s sin as Nettles suggests." In many ways this may be the 'jumping off place' for the Reformer and this issue in the SBC.
Three years ago it was my priviledge to meet Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, Chair of Systematic Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at the annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Confronting Dr. Yarnell with questions about the Reform question, he introduced me to many of the surrounding issues of Calvinism in the SBC. He also encourage me to read the text Whosoever Will which contains essays addressing the Five Points of Calvinism. For this I am grateful.
As a result of that meeting, God has allowed me to come in contact with Dr. David Allen, Dr. Steve Lemke and others who have greatly influenced my journey into my studies of the Reform Movement. As a result of these encounters with incredibly blessed minds I have become a far better student of God's Word and am more informed of this critical study because of their suggestions.
I completely understand why so many want to meet at a 'Table of Peace' and draft some sort of agreement that might produce some sort of solution. However, my question remains.....how am I/are we able to come to a working agreement with someone who simply does not and cannot agree with me/us about the biblical question concerning the Gospel Message found in John 3:16? We do not agree upon "Whosoever will". And in our disagreement people are asking the question, "How can I become a Christian?"
For everyone, Jesus says it best in Matthew 10:34, 39, "Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword...Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it."
For each of us in the SBC there will be no peace over the questions raised over this issue and the sword (the Word of God) is the defining principle. In His Word we will either find or lose our spiritual lives and we cannot assume anything less. We will fall or stand upon Him alone. A Baptist cannot stand arm in arm with a Baptist Calvinist, as Dr. Yarnell describes them, and share the same Gospel Message with a lost person. One of us will say, "You must make a choice to follow Jesus or not." The other will say, "You may or may not be of the Elect and when you have faith you know that you have already been saved because the choice is really not yours to make."
The decision is not about Institutions, etc owned and operated by the SBC. The decision is whether or not one chooses to lose life because Jesus Christ has already asked me to follow Him. This is a 'no brainer.' Certainly I am a Southern Baptist because of a deep seated conviction that finds root in the Word of God and expressed in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. However, I am first of all a Follower of Jesus Christ by faith in Him alone and the fact that I am a Southern Baptist has no bearing on my decision to follow the Christ.
Christ has given a sword of division in order to find a correct direction and in that I will find my life......
Jesus is Lord
Bob Williford
Friday, May 3, 2013
A Call for 'Unity' Among Southern Baptists.....Is This Really Possible?
For many years the call for 'Unity' among us Southern Baptists has been made and this is going on today, at this moment as I am writing. Please do not get me wrong, I am for unity, but not for unity at all costs. There are far too many problems and 'gives and takes' to make this happen. In the not too far distant past there was a statement made among the SBC faithful that went something like this, "Ropes of sand with the strength of steel." And we SBCers were very proud of this because while there was no sense to the idea, there was much truth to it.
During the years from 1960 until now, our SBC has taken on a very new and different brand in many, many ways....as has our Nation. In 1960 as students we celbrated morning worship before classes began...in the school auditorium and classes were began with the reading of Scripture, Pledge to the Flag and prayer as well...over the loud speaker.
Spring and Fall Revivals, Sunday School Evangelism, Training Union Parts and Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings all fell by the way side as the Conservative Resurgence gained strenght. The CBF and a large host of other Alphabets sprang up as a result. The FMB became the IMB, the HMB became the NAMB as the SBC began a series of new ideas in an effort to give birth to a new identity in a New Age. Our Assemblies....Glorieta and Ridgecrest have changed along the way as well, and Baptist Bookstores became LifeWay....and the list goes on and on and on.
Today is now. Among us in the SBC the call for unity struggles for a hearing as so-called SBC Traditionalists are meeting with Southern Baptist Reformers (Calvinists). However, my question is simple enough, "How can there be unity in a larger group when there is so much diversity over the Word of God?" One group, the Traditionalists know that one is saved by faith in Jesus Christ, and the other group, the Reformers believe that regeneration comes by grace and faith comes later. There are other rifts, but this seems to be the major crisis. Everything else results, ie, control of SBC Agencies, etc.
In this mix, evangelism and missions....the hallmarks of the Southern Baptist Convention.....suffer because of the differences of biblical interpretation. The struggle for unity is just that...a huge struggle over principles of faith and practice. This is sort of like attempting to mix oil and water.....
"This AIN'T gonna happen." Just as lost people will not be found in Heaven......
Would I like to unity amongst us? You bet I would. But can someone such as myself teach from the Word of God and say, without interruption, that "Whosoever will may come to the Cross...." means every human being God has ever created can do so? NOT if a Reformer is in the room. This statement alone dictates that unity is not possible.
There is no harmony in any of this. Somehow, we must get over this and move on. There are too many lost souls who are dying and losing opportunity to hear the Message of the Gospel as we struggle for unity with the person who says, unless that person has been elected to go to Heaven, the Gospel Message is meaningless.
Just as Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16, HCSB. (NOTE: Paul was inspired to write, 'to everyone who believes' and not, 'to everyone who is of the elect'.)
Jesus is Lord
Bob Williford
For many years the call for 'Unity' among us Southern Baptists has been made and this is going on today, at this moment as I am writing. Please do not get me wrong, I am for unity, but not for unity at all costs. There are far too many problems and 'gives and takes' to make this happen. In the not too far distant past there was a statement made among the SBC faithful that went something like this, "Ropes of sand with the strength of steel." And we SBCers were very proud of this because while there was no sense to the idea, there was much truth to it.
During the years from 1960 until now, our SBC has taken on a very new and different brand in many, many ways....as has our Nation. In 1960 as students we celbrated morning worship before classes began...in the school auditorium and classes were began with the reading of Scripture, Pledge to the Flag and prayer as well...over the loud speaker.
Spring and Fall Revivals, Sunday School Evangelism, Training Union Parts and Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings all fell by the way side as the Conservative Resurgence gained strenght. The CBF and a large host of other Alphabets sprang up as a result. The FMB became the IMB, the HMB became the NAMB as the SBC began a series of new ideas in an effort to give birth to a new identity in a New Age. Our Assemblies....Glorieta and Ridgecrest have changed along the way as well, and Baptist Bookstores became LifeWay....and the list goes on and on and on.
Today is now. Among us in the SBC the call for unity struggles for a hearing as so-called SBC Traditionalists are meeting with Southern Baptist Reformers (Calvinists). However, my question is simple enough, "How can there be unity in a larger group when there is so much diversity over the Word of God?" One group, the Traditionalists know that one is saved by faith in Jesus Christ, and the other group, the Reformers believe that regeneration comes by grace and faith comes later. There are other rifts, but this seems to be the major crisis. Everything else results, ie, control of SBC Agencies, etc.
In this mix, evangelism and missions....the hallmarks of the Southern Baptist Convention.....suffer because of the differences of biblical interpretation. The struggle for unity is just that...a huge struggle over principles of faith and practice. This is sort of like attempting to mix oil and water.....
"This AIN'T gonna happen." Just as lost people will not be found in Heaven......
Would I like to unity amongst us? You bet I would. But can someone such as myself teach from the Word of God and say, without interruption, that "Whosoever will may come to the Cross...." means every human being God has ever created can do so? NOT if a Reformer is in the room. This statement alone dictates that unity is not possible.
There is no harmony in any of this. Somehow, we must get over this and move on. There are too many lost souls who are dying and losing opportunity to hear the Message of the Gospel as we struggle for unity with the person who says, unless that person has been elected to go to Heaven, the Gospel Message is meaningless.
Just as Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16, HCSB. (NOTE: Paul was inspired to write, 'to everyone who believes' and not, 'to everyone who is of the elect'.)
Jesus is Lord
Bob Williford
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Message of the Cross
The Message of the Cross
The only solution for sin is the Cross
of Christ
When one has failed while doing everything to keep from
failing only darkness and confusion remain. Because the Lord is NOT the author of confusion without Him life
becomes unbearable in a tumultuous sea of storms.
Everyone knows failure at some juncture and will give some
kind of advice about how to succeed, but the truth is, they do not know. Many
who claim to know Christ give advice about how to live and have no idea what it
means to live ‘in Christ’. Because of this I find it difficult to believe that
a born again Believer in Jesus Christ cannot or does not live for the
Lord. If a Believer does not understand
the message of the Cross there is no direction about how to live for God.
Paul writes that if we place our faith in anything apart from Christ and Him crucified that He will be of no value to you. “that if you receive
circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.” Galatians 5:2.
Clearly, the work
that we attempt apart from faith in the Crucified and Resurrected Christ will
amount to nothing.
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry,
sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of
which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice
such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21.
If the Believer does not understand the Cross of Christ these “works of the flesh” will manifest themselves in life. However, many Christians ignore each of them believing they simply cannot apply today because our culture has ‘matured’.
There are some things in circulating in churches that guide folks to false victories which are anything but the Christ and His Cross. I would suggest that the “Government of Twelve,” the “Word of Faith,” and others that are simply are not true. Certainly these methods of living good lives are filled with bible texts, but are leading folks away from the Cross where the Power of God is found. I say this because Christian leadership has taken on Corporate America models for Christian direction that have nothing to do with God’s Word. Seems to me that the Church must follow the plans given us in His Word. Corporate America is filled with immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. And Paul writes, “as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
If the Believer does not understand the Cross of Christ these “works of the flesh” will manifest themselves in life. However, many Christians ignore each of them believing they simply cannot apply today because our culture has ‘matured’.
There are some things in circulating in churches that guide folks to false victories which are anything but the Christ and His Cross. I would suggest that the “Government of Twelve,” the “Word of Faith,” and others that are simply are not true. Certainly these methods of living good lives are filled with bible texts, but are leading folks away from the Cross where the Power of God is found. I say this because Christian leadership has taken on Corporate America models for Christian direction that have nothing to do with God’s Word. Seems to me that the Church must follow the plans given us in His Word. Corporate America is filled with immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. And Paul writes, “as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The point that I must
make is that any guidance produced by man as a ‘guide’ to bible truth cannot be
of God and therefore must be a work of
the flesh. Any way apart
from the Word of God and Christ and
Him Crucified is sin by its
very nature. While reading and
studying the word of God in relationship to the finished work of Christ at
Calvary the works of the flesh
become clear.
For this reason alone, read the words of Paul
to the church in Corinth: “Therefore, since we have this
ministry, as we
received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the
things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the
word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every
man's conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
The answers to all of life’s problems can only be found in what Christ did at the Cross.
Paul writes in his
letter to the Colossians, “For it was
the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and
through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the
blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or
things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind,
engaged in evil deeds, yet
He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to
present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--” Colossians
1:19-22.
Here we find that we have a sin problem.
Paul is not writing to unbelievers,
but rather to Believers and says to them, “And although you were formerly
alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled
you in His fleshly body through death…..”. As Believers we are to seek to
live for God and we must begin at the Cross where we find the blood of
Christ. There is nothing in the
Christian life that does not begin apart from the Cross of Christ. True
enough we find strength in the fullness of the Spirit, but without the discovery of the Christ at the Cross the Holy Spirit
cannot be found.
Paul said, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:3-7.
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1:17-18
Paul said, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:3-7.
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1:17-18
The importance
of these words is that there is a notable difference between born again
Believers and professing Believers. Foolishness and salvation. "but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to
Gentiles foolishness, but to
those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and
the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:23-25.
The key thoughts here are ‘stumbling block’ and ‘foolishness’. Professing Believers who are not Believers
see the truth found in Scripture difficult to believe and understand. For this
reason they are Professing Believers, but not in word and practice.
The joy of the Followers Christ know the power and wisdom of God in
daily living.
“And when I came to
you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,
proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know
nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with
you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message
and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration
of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the
wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
Believers in Christ
will seek nothing apart from the Crucified and Resurrected Christ and not the
wisdom of men. We are NOT to seek after the wisdom of men while seeking
direction from God. We are to separate ourselves from the evil of unbelief.
Paul continues with the same thought, “But may it never be that I would boast,
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything,
nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule,
peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Galatians 6:14-16.
The message to be proclaimed by every Believer is the
Cross of Christ and nothing more.
To stand on proclaim anything different is to speak foolishness. Our boast is to
be only in the Crucified and Resurrected Christ for He alone is our Message.
After the Resurrection the Disciples were not convinced that
He was resurrected from the dead. But, He appears to two of His Disciples as
they were en route to Emmaus. These two do not recognize Him and think of
Him only as a stranger along the way.
“And He said to them, "What are these
words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And
they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered
and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of
the things which have happened here in these days?" Luke 24:17.
I find it interesting and disturbing that people within the
membership of local churches do not recognize Jesus and this is because they
have chosen NOT to follow Him, but only to profess Him behind closed doors. For
the Christ has said that if we do not profess Him before men He will not
profess us before His Father. Matthew 10:32-33.
“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:24-27.
“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:24-27.
Do not miss this
phrase, “Some of those who were with
us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but
Him they did not see.” They
saw the Empty Tomb, but because of their apparent unbelief they ‘did not see’.
The same was true for the Disciples along the way, they simply could not
believe that He was Who He claimed to be.
The Cross of Christ
is principle upon which all doctrine is substantiated. The Cross Event is
the Cornerstone of Redemption. “knowing that you were not redeemed with
perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited
from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb
unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was
foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last
times for the sake of you21 who through Him are believers in God,
who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope
are in God.” 1 Pet. 1:18-20.
Every Bible doctrine must
find foundation upon the Christ and the Cross. The sad truth is that far too many churches rely upon bad information for
their building stones because they are following men of personality and
programs of the world rather than the Son of God of the Bible.
“According to the
grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a
foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he
builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which
is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the
foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each
man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be
revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's
work." 1 Corinthians 3:10-13.
Paul’s revealed foundation which is the Word of God must be the foundation of everything within the framework of the Lord’s Church. When men attempt to build upon what already had been construction, confusion and disorder erupt. May this never be so with you.
Paul’s revealed foundation which is the Word of God must be the foundation of everything within the framework of the Lord’s Church. When men attempt to build upon what already had been construction, confusion and disorder erupt. May this never be so with you.
Jesus is Lord
BW
Thursday, March 29, 2012
3 to 4.3 Billion Barrels of Technically Recoverable Oil
The following is an article that was released in 2008, but most of us have never heard of it. Take a minute and get an eye full of what is NOT being told in news agencies. "Results of the assessment can be found at http://energy.usgs.gov"......have a blessed day,
Jesus is Lord
BobW
_________________________________________________________________________________
3 to 4.3 Billion Barrels of Technically Recoverable Oil
Assessed in North Dakota and Montana’s Bakken Formation—25 Times More Than 1995
Estimate—
Released: 4/10/2008 2:25:36 PM
Released: 4/10/2008 2:25:36 PM
Contact Information:
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Office of Communication 119 National Center Reston, VA 20192 |
Reston, VA - North Dakota and Montana have an estimated 3.0
to 4.3 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil in an area
known as the Bakken Formation.
A U.S. Geological Survey assessment, released April 10,
shows a 25-fold increase in the amount of oil that can be recovered compared to
the agency's 1995 estimate of 151 million barrels of oil.
Technically recoverable oil resources are those producible
using currently available technology and industry practices. USGS is the only
provider of publicly available estimates of undiscovered technically
recoverable oil and gas resources. New geologic models applied to the Bakken Formation,
advances in drilling and production technologies, and recent oil discoveries
have resulted in these substantially larger technically recoverable oil
volumes. About 105 million barrels of oil were produced from the Bakken
Formation by the end of 2007.
The USGS Bakken study was undertaken as part of a nationwide
project assessing domestic petroleum basins using standardized methodology and
protocol as required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 2000.
The Bakken Formation estimate is larger than all other
current USGS oil assessments of the lower 48 states and is the largest
"continuous" oil accumulation ever assessed by the USGS. A
"continuous" oil accumulation means that the oil resource is
dispersed throughout a geologic formation rather than existing as discrete,
localized occurrences. The next largest "continuous" oil accumulation
in the U.S. is in the Austin Chalk of Texas and Louisiana, with an undiscovered
estimate of 1.0 billions of barrels of technically recoverable oil.
"It is clear that the Bakken formation contains a
significant amount of oil - the question is how much of that oil is recoverable
using today's technology?" said Senator Byron Dorgan, of North Dakota.
"To get an answer to this important question, I requested that the U.S.
Geological Survey complete this study, which will provide an up-to-date
estimate on the amount of technically recoverable oil resources in the Bakken
Shale formation."
The USGS estimate of 3.0 to 4.3 billion barrels of
technically recoverable oil has a mean value of 3.65 billion barrels.
Scientists conducted detailed studies in stratigraphy and structural geology
and the modeling of petroleum geochemistry. They also combined their findings
with historical exploration and production analyses to determine the
undiscovered, technically recoverable oil estimates.
USGS worked with the North Dakota Geological Survey, a
number of petroleum industry companies and independents, universities and other
experts to develop a geological understanding of the Bakken Formation. These
groups provided critical information and feedback on geological and engineering
concepts important to building the geologic and production models used in the
assessment.
Five continuous assessment units (AU) were identified and
assessed in the Bakken Formation of North Dakota and Montana - the Elm
Coulee-Billings Nose AU, the Central Basin-Poplar Dome AU, the Nesson-Little
Knife Structural AU, the Eastern Expulsion Threshold AU, and the Northwest
Expulsion Threshold AU.
At the time of the assessment, a limited number of wells
have produced oil from three of the assessments units in Central Basin-Poplar
Dome, Eastern Expulsion Threshold, and Northwest Expulsion Threshold.
The Elm Coulee oil field in Montana, discovered in 2000, has produced about 65 million barrels of the 105 million barrels of oil recovered from the Bakken Formation.
The Elm Coulee oil field in Montana, discovered in 2000, has produced about 65 million barrels of the 105 million barrels of oil recovered from the Bakken Formation.
Results of the assessment can be found at http://energy.usgs.gov.
For a podcast interview with scientists about the Bakken
Formation, listen to episode 38 of Core Cast at http://www.usgs.gov/corecast/.
USGS provides science for a changing world. For more
information, visit www.usgs.gov.
Subscribe to USGS News Releases via our electronic mailing list
or RSS feed.
**** www.usgs.gov ****
Links and contacts within this release are valid at the time
of publication.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
1 John 1:4-10
1 John 1:4-10
4
These
things we write, so that our joy may be made complete
The one who is called of God to make proclamation
of the Gospel Message may have some joy in what he does, but completion is not
present until the Message is delivered. Some who are called participate in
Gospel Ministry but have not joy because there is hesitation to deliver the
Message in God’s favor. Experience reveals that when the Message is delivered
to the specifications of God’s Word His joy is complete in the life of the
messenger.
Note one more thing about John’s statement: “our
joy”. John is not thinking of personal joy only. He is emphasizing the
completeness of God’s joy in the folks who read the Message as well. A glass
half full is also half empty. Why not complete the task and agree with the wisdom
of Solomon,
“ A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word!.” Proverbs 15:23.
5 This is the message we have heard
from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no
darkness at all.
Then God said, "Let there be light"; and
there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light
from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He
called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. Genesis
1:3-5.
The concept of light is significant throughout
Holy Writ and always points to goodness, righteousness, justice and God
Himself. And the poignant aspect of light is that God created the light on the
First Day of Creation separating it from darkness. Because God does things for
a reason, we see Him making a distinction from good and evil from the beginning
of time as we know it.
When the Israelites were fleeing the Egyptian
army, note what God was doing with His light, The angel of God, who had been going before the
camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from
before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the
camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one
did not come near the other all night. Exodus 14:19, 20.
And John reminds us about the coming of the Christ
as the “light shining in the darkness”, “The Light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:5. In fact, a better translation
might be that “the darkness did not overcome it.”
The very reason that the Believer is present in
this world is to present the Light of the Christ in contrast to the darkness of
Evil. If your joy as a Believer is to be made complete you must be faithful to the
task of being His Messenger and demonstrate the separation that exists between
the God of Heaven and the gods of this world.
6If we say that we have fellowship
with Him and yet walk in the
darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
Fellowship is the most important component of any
relationship for if this is missing there can be no longevity. The simple fact
is that many of us do not know the meaning of or understand the word. Because
this is true it is difficult to have fellowship without an understanding of the
word itself. How is it possible to claim something
that is so foreign to us?
Here are some words
taken from Webster’s Dictionary that give some meaning to the thought:
communion: an act or
instance of sharing
companion: one that accompanies another
intimate: a very close friend or confidant
Each of these words helps to give a better perspective of
the relationship that exists between Jesus Christ and His Followers, the
Believers. Those who continue to live outside that relationship, but insist
that this relationship exists simply do not have fellowship with Him. There is
no communion. The idea of being a companion with the Christ has no meaning and
obviously without them there can be nothing about being intimate with Him.
When I read John’s statement Newton’s Law of Motion comes to
mind, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction”. This natural
principle of the balance of forces seems to apply here, but in the transaction
between truths and lies. The opposite
and equal reaction to a lie is always God’s truth.
7 but if we walk in the Light as He
Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Here is the result of walking in the Spirit as
Paul encourages in Galatians 5:7-9, “So then do not be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get
drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking
to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
with your heart to the Lord;”
The
fellowship between Believers is one of the many distinguishing signs of the
Body of Christ. My suggestion is that
Fellowship between Believers is the most identifiable result of the
relationship between the Christ and those who are His Followers.
Here is the great comfort of the fellowship that
exists between the Christ and every Believer, “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” Anyone who is
a born again Believer has the unique forgiveness of sin that no other being on
earth has access to. John captured the words of Christ as He spoke to
Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John
3:16. God’s gift to all who believe in His Son, Jesus receives forgiveness of
sin and eternal life.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we
are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Here we see a caution coming from the Apostle
concerning some who have claimed that because they have a relationship with the
Christ allows them some kind of immunity to sin.
Paul writes to Titus about those who claim to
know God but, “To
the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving,
nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They
profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being
detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” Titus 1:15, 16.
These two men are clearly telling us that God is
not allowing anyone to claim a relationship with Him and hope to find
reconciliation through untruth and false practice.
9
If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Here is an earth shaker for every Believer who
might think that only their initial moment of salvation is enough forgiveness
of sin. This, too, is not true. Any relationship is sustained by communication
that is transparent. In this is God’s insistence upon every child to seek
forgiveness for sin. This simply tells us that He does not tolerate a
rebellious attitude to exist within His Family and therefore demands compliance
to His Grace and Justice. His Grace is not cheap, but was paid for at the
Cross. Because He paid the price the Believer must seek Him for forgiveness of
any act of sin.
Paul stresses that the Believer cannot be freed
from sin by living according to the Law and reminds us of the uniqueness of our
relationship in Christ. “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we
ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May
it never be! For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I
prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the
Law, so that I might live to God. I
have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:17-20.
10
If
we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Here we find how a believer knows that he/she is
not a Believer. Christ is evidenced in us when dependence is completely upon
Him. "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love
him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who
does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not
Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.” John 14:23, 24.
Those
who belong to Him will keep His Word because His Word lives in the heart of their
hearts and is expressed in their daily lives.
Jesus is Lord
BW
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