Key Blogs

 

Share the truth. Share the truth in love, but you must share the truth.

 

 

 

Key blogs …

The Similarities Between Rome and America

What Can Hinder Our Surrender?

Begin at My Sanctuary

Repentance as A Church Priority

The Dangers of the Gospel of Accommodation

A Thought From Adrian Rogers

Christianity Anyone? Anyone?

This is a new minibook….please share this new tract with others.

 

Christianity

Anyone? Anyone?

    In this day of such lawlessness and despising of the Almighty, Jesus still remains Lord of all. We can ask a question to the masses which can be summarized as “Christianity: Anyone? Anyone?”

      At times it feels like there may not be anyone who even wants to come to Christ anymore—as if all are hardened to the message of the Gospel. But by God’s grace, through the work of the person of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel is still going out to all the earth.

       In America, we’re asking the question—does anyone want to be a Christian anymore? We mean, a real Christ-follower, someone who has a relationship with Christ and is on a path of holiness out of love for the Savior—for without holiness no man will see the Lord.

       Few seem to be on fire with a real, living, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ these days. The culture views Christianity as legalistic rules and solemn faces. In return, many in churches have compromised Biblical truth in an attempt to create hype and “relevance” that will draw the masses in. This has never worked, but it also has weakened the Faith of many.

        Is a shallow faith in Someone who loves you all that Christianity is about? No, true Christianity has at its root the foundation of the sovereignty of God; the sinful rebellion of man; forgiveness, restoration and redemption in Christ Jesus—the Gospel; and holiness without which no man will see the Lord following initial salvation. Let’s look at these four items.

      First, the sovereignty of God.

     God Almighty rules over everything: He is both the Creator and Sustainer of all and perfect Holiness, that is, there is no error in Him. Sin, imperfection, rebellion, error—it is all eaten up in His righteous presence. If God is not all-powerful, all-mighty, all-knowing, all-sustaining, and a mighty judge then Christianity crumbles.

      Second, the sinful rebellion of man.

      The truth is that all mankind has rebelled against God. We are all violating His perfect design of things: both in our individual lives and corporately. We have sinned—we have transgressed, broken, violated the Holy Law of God. Therefore, we are in rebellion to Truth and Life. We are on a path to death.

       Third, forgiveness, restoration, and redemption in Christ Jesus—the Gospel.

       Jesus died so that we could be restored back into right standing with God—into intimate relationship with Him. Jesus took all our violations of God’s perfect standard upon Himself, our sins, and redeemed us. He bought us back by paying our debt on the Cross and He forgave us.

       Fourth, holiness without which no man will see the Lord following initial salvation.

        When we first come to Christ Jesus, and admit that we are sinners and need Him to be our Savior, we are instantly justified—it is just as if we never sinned—for Jesus completely forgives us, He purifies us. However, salvation does not end there. That is just the beginning.

         Jesus is our Savior, but He also made it very clear that He must be Lord as well if we are truly saved. Jesus must be our Master, our King. In short, Jesus calls the shots and we obey. Holiness is a term that has suffered much rebuke and disdain in recent years, but holiness is God’s plan for us. Scripture clearly says without holiness no man will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

          To put it simply, holiness is living like God wants us to. It is not perfection for we cannot achieve on our own what Jesus has already saved us from for violating. Jesus is our holiness on one hand as we stay in close relationship (abide) with Him. On the other hand, holiness does demand an act of our own will to reject the things of this world and be set apart unto God. Scripture teaches that we are strangers in this world, we are citizens of heavens. We don’t fit in here, but that is find because we have an eternal home!

     To those reading I ask, “Here is Christianity in a nut shell—I’ve just laid it out for you. Will you run to Christ? Will you embrace the truth? Anyone? . . . Anyone? . . .”

      Cry out to Jesus, ask Him to save you from your sinful state that deserves Hell—that’s where your Christianity begins. Repent.

       Now to grow and learn more about holiness and make Jesus your Lord (living out your salvation after it has begun) find a Bible-believing Church, spend time with other Christians (O fellowship is so sweet!), and get and read a Bible.

 

Do you know someone who needs to know the message of Christianity Anyone? Anyone? Then forward this email or send them here to get it in ebook form.

Robert Green's 48 Laws

   Robert Greene’s “48 Laws” are very repulsive to me. He is not seeking to be a good communicator through these laws but to simply play his cards right and gear the noise and environment to get his agenda across. His laws have dangerous implications because they teach how to cleverly put a facade on in one’s communication. The goal of being ethical and moral in interpersonal communication is to be real and sincere with people, to treat them as you would want to be treated. For the sake of space, I will only address two of Greene’s laws: 3 and 32.

     Law 3 says “conceal your intentions.” Greene proposes that by concealing your true intentions you can keep others constantly guessing what you are up to and thus keep them from building any good defenses against you. I disagree with this law because it is immoral and unethical to simply try to keep people beating around the bush so they cannot respond to what you are truly saying. In my life, I have struggled with one individual who was my leader because he always seemed to conceal his true intentions and not really lead the group. He was in an important position that was supposed to involve teaching and mentoring, but he did not even appear to try. He would shift directions so fast that people of all ages got frustrated. He was “the leader” but did not really have any followers because of his mysteriousness.

      Law 32 says “play to people’s fantasies.” Greene continues to explain this law as one that avoids truth because people view it as “ugly and unpleasant.” Instead, he encourages that one should cater to people’s passions and dreams to gain a large following. This one is simply evil. Deny truth to win a following! Truth is essential. Without truth, there will be no freedom, growth, or lasting results. Jesus said that He was “the way, the TRUTH, and the life” (John 14:6, KJV). In addition, Jesus taught that “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32, KJV). It may seem foolish, it may seem crazy, but Jesus Christ changes people. When a person truly comes to Him and becomes His disciple, then he will be transformed by Jesus—the Truth—and he will be truly free. Many men and women have been freed from the chains of a past filled with crime, drugs, and abuse because of Jesus Christ. It may seem foolish that people find freedom in someone that lived 2,000 years ago, but it is true. In prison rehabilitation programs, Bible-based programs continue to have the largest success rate. Why? Because there is such a thing as truth and its foundation is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 3:10-14). Jesus did not lie to people. He taught truth and many times was even very blunt. His following was not build by manipulation, but by communicating honestly and sincerely. Any following that is built by deceptive practices is inherently evil. And just because a communicator deals honestly and sincerely with his audience does not mean that his message is true; however, it does mean that he has ethically “built” his following.

Many Plans are in a man's Heart

Proverbs 19:21 (NKJV)

²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

A Faithful Man will Abound with Blessings

  "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." Proverbs 28:20 KJV