“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
I hear so many people use Hebrews chapter 4 as an excuse to approach God in any old way they want. Their complete lack of reverence is appalling and even more repulsive given the fact that they use scripture to try and justify themselves.
Our boldness is yet nothing except for the throne of Grace.
The mere fact that we can come before the throne of Grace is plenty bold enough. I have no claim in this boldness. It is not because of the boldness of man. To claim the right of boldness before God is to be prideful, is thus sinful and thus no more “good” in any regard before the throne. In fact, this means certain death for even the high priests of the Old Testament. To be bold and to be stupid means two different things. To rush into a burning building to save someone’s life is bold. To stand in front of a moving train is stupid. God still expects us to have the heart of the Old Testament high priests. The mere fact that we are approaching the throne of “mercy” should be enough reason to come broken. Just because we have been given the boldness to come whenever we need does not mean we deserve this opportunity. This is still the throne given to us even though we do not serve it. This is the very meaning of grace itself. Also, we come to this throne that we may obtain mercy. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve. I have never come to my father seeking mercy in a prideful, deserving attitude. I may have gotten beat down if I did. I promise I would have, at least, got a verbal lashing. How much more would the wrath of God be expected! The boldness itself came from the incarnation of Christ and His suffering of temptation yet without sin. The boldness was given to us, the mercy is given to us, and the grace is given to us. For sinful man to come crawling on his belly and begging for God’s mercy would be too bold because it would be us still trying. How much more with brokenness and a grateful heart should we take what has been given to us!
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Whole Armor of God
Ephesians 6:14-17
First, let me ask your forgiveness for the crassness of some of the following words. I read over this passage in my Bible study and the following are the thoughts that came through my mind. I felt that I needed to share it. Even though the first point may involve improper subject matter, I hope it still makes the concept real to your life.
1.) “Gird your loins with truth”
I’m really not 100% sure what “loins” are, but I guess because they rhyme, I’ve always thought it had something to do with groin. And because I’m trying to draw a specific analogy, I’m not going to research it but rather just go with it. If loin really is similar to groin, then this makes sense whey it is first. Everyone knows that the quickest way to disable a man is to dismantle the groin. Every man instinctively protects the goods first and foremost. If we take a blow to this area, we are immediately at a disadvantage.
Similarly, truth is foundational. If we take a blow to what we perceive as truth, then we are immediately weakened. For this reason, truth is one of the first things to be attacked. In fact, we live in a culture that tells us there is no absolute truth. It is as if we are the victims up continuous crotch shots. Obviously, this is not a pretty picture in many ways. Perhaps, this is why we are instructed to gird our loins with truth first. Know the truth. Understand the truth. It will become like a cup that blocks the blows of the enemy and gives you confidence to “stand strong” as instructed in the previous verse. (Ephesians 6:13-14)
2.) “Put on the breastplate of righteousness”
The breastplate protected the chest and major organs. It is the primary target when trying to make an efficient strike. It is the largest area mass and is relatively still and unchanging during movement. If someone threatens your life and you are forced to shoot them, aim “center mass.”
Our righteousness is given to us at the moment of salvation when we are “made right” in God’s eyes. There are several things to say about this. First, our righteousness is given by God and sealed by the presence of God in our hearts which, of course, lies in our chest. You may feel this is being too literal but I’m reminded of the Christian hip-hopper who chanted “God’s in my chest” and of Toby Mac who sang “put an X on my chest ‘cause X marks the spot.” This will also be an area which will receive many blows. We all know that “no one is perfect.” Because of this, many will say no one is righteous. I would have to agree were it not for the fact that this righteousness is not our own. The Bible tells us that our (self) righteousness is but filthy rags in the eyes of God. (Isaiah 64:6) The only righteousness that ca be acceptable to God is His righteousness which is present where He abides. It is, therefore, unchanging and a foundational characteristic which will try to be undermined in order to bring you down. Satan will remind you of all your sins and constantly attack you at your most vulnerable points to keep your attention on your unworthiness instead of on His righteousness. It can be argued that this is the “joy of (our) salvation.” (Psalm 51:12) The joy of his salvation is what David lost when he fell down the spiral staircase of sin beginning with his lust for Bathsheba.
3.) “shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace”
I admit this is one of my least insightful pieces of armor, which I fear may betray some need of mine. I will commit to praying for this issue and making needed changes. My first thoughts got to the rocky terrain I grew on. We were true backwoods country folk, and many considered it a shame to wear shoes. My dad would almost always go barefoot. I, on the other hand, never appreciated the idea of walking on sharp rocks and “stickers” without some protection. After all, we had bought the shoes, correct?! Why not use them for what they were intended for? Besides, I was the younger brother. There was never any telling when I would need to run from the dangers of my older brother. My shoes gave me an advantage.
Have you ever seen a Christian dancing around an issue? Perhaps that was because he had not put on his spiritual armor footwear. Scripture tells us Satan will lay open traps before our feet. Verse 13 gives the main reason for spiritual armor is to be able to “stand firm” in the evil day. It’s hard to stand at all when your feet are all messed up, much less stand firm or even move out on the offensive.
4.) “take up the shield of faith”
Obviously, the shield was a broad object that deflected the offensive weapons of the enemy before they could reach the soldier. For one who has faith, the weapons of the enemy can seem quite trivial. Flaming arrows and darts may come our way, but our faith is settled. Such faith is not a way of passively ignoring valid arguments, but rather a rational cognitive understand of the end result. Most shields were made of wood, so therefore, some sturdy well aimed arrows may have stuck into the wood. Faith actually absorbs the broad range of criticisms and shows their ultimate impotence.
Shields could also be used for offense. If you remember a scene from “Gladiator,” Maximus uses his shield to neutralize a combatant in the arena. One’s true faith may be the evidence another needs to realize the possible futility of Satan’s arsenal.
5.) “take the helmet of salvation”
As mentioned earlier, salvation is more of a heart issue than a head issue, so I wary to make any such connection. I think it is more a severity issue. The head is our most vulnerable area. A point could be said that as long as one has salvation, then let come what may! A soldier can possibly take a wound to the chest and still be able to act. But a trauma to the head could take him out of the fight completely. Perhaps the head is the most important body area discussed. Definitely, salvation sits above the other attributes and is vital for the others to have any significance.
6.) “(take) the sword of the Spirit”
Much attention is given to the idea that the sword is the only offensive weapon listed, and there is much validity to it. When Christ was being attacked by Satan, Christ used the Word of God to combat him. But what are the characteristics of a sword that may give us further insight? I’ve always loved swords and sword play. It’s almost as if there is pageantry in the aggressiveness. The swordsman practices with his sword regularly to the point where the sword almost becomes an extension of his body. Many older cultures considered the sword of the warrior as a symbol of the spirit of the fighter, and it became an identity.
Herein, lays some analogies we can work with. How great a shame it is that we have no practice with our “sword!” There are even some who are unaware that they have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside them. How are we ever to be victorious in spiritual warfare if we have no idea how to wield the sword of the Spirit? We must spend time every day to hone our skills in using this powerful weapon to the point that He becomes an identifying prominent part of us. However, let us always remember whose power it is! It is the “sword of the Spirit” and not our sword. The power is God’s. When we claim our own skill base sufficient to handle this great power, we will quickly realize that we are grossly unprepared on our own. The Spirit is the only One who can brandish this weapon as needed. I am reminded of the movie “The Last Samurai.” The main character keeps failing miserably at learning how to sword fight. His greatest piece of advise comes to him in the words “too many mind.” He was thinking too much. We too make our mistake when we think we can control the sword of the Spirit to do what we want. The greatest power is realized when we give up control and allow the Spirit to have dominion in our life.
First, let me ask your forgiveness for the crassness of some of the following words. I read over this passage in my Bible study and the following are the thoughts that came through my mind. I felt that I needed to share it. Even though the first point may involve improper subject matter, I hope it still makes the concept real to your life.
1.) “Gird your loins with truth”
I’m really not 100% sure what “loins” are, but I guess because they rhyme, I’ve always thought it had something to do with groin. And because I’m trying to draw a specific analogy, I’m not going to research it but rather just go with it. If loin really is similar to groin, then this makes sense whey it is first. Everyone knows that the quickest way to disable a man is to dismantle the groin. Every man instinctively protects the goods first and foremost. If we take a blow to this area, we are immediately at a disadvantage.
Similarly, truth is foundational. If we take a blow to what we perceive as truth, then we are immediately weakened. For this reason, truth is one of the first things to be attacked. In fact, we live in a culture that tells us there is no absolute truth. It is as if we are the victims up continuous crotch shots. Obviously, this is not a pretty picture in many ways. Perhaps, this is why we are instructed to gird our loins with truth first. Know the truth. Understand the truth. It will become like a cup that blocks the blows of the enemy and gives you confidence to “stand strong” as instructed in the previous verse. (Ephesians 6:13-14)
2.) “Put on the breastplate of righteousness”
The breastplate protected the chest and major organs. It is the primary target when trying to make an efficient strike. It is the largest area mass and is relatively still and unchanging during movement. If someone threatens your life and you are forced to shoot them, aim “center mass.”
Our righteousness is given to us at the moment of salvation when we are “made right” in God’s eyes. There are several things to say about this. First, our righteousness is given by God and sealed by the presence of God in our hearts which, of course, lies in our chest. You may feel this is being too literal but I’m reminded of the Christian hip-hopper who chanted “God’s in my chest” and of Toby Mac who sang “put an X on my chest ‘cause X marks the spot.” This will also be an area which will receive many blows. We all know that “no one is perfect.” Because of this, many will say no one is righteous. I would have to agree were it not for the fact that this righteousness is not our own. The Bible tells us that our (self) righteousness is but filthy rags in the eyes of God. (Isaiah 64:6) The only righteousness that ca be acceptable to God is His righteousness which is present where He abides. It is, therefore, unchanging and a foundational characteristic which will try to be undermined in order to bring you down. Satan will remind you of all your sins and constantly attack you at your most vulnerable points to keep your attention on your unworthiness instead of on His righteousness. It can be argued that this is the “joy of (our) salvation.” (Psalm 51:12) The joy of his salvation is what David lost when he fell down the spiral staircase of sin beginning with his lust for Bathsheba.
3.) “shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace”
I admit this is one of my least insightful pieces of armor, which I fear may betray some need of mine. I will commit to praying for this issue and making needed changes. My first thoughts got to the rocky terrain I grew on. We were true backwoods country folk, and many considered it a shame to wear shoes. My dad would almost always go barefoot. I, on the other hand, never appreciated the idea of walking on sharp rocks and “stickers” without some protection. After all, we had bought the shoes, correct?! Why not use them for what they were intended for? Besides, I was the younger brother. There was never any telling when I would need to run from the dangers of my older brother. My shoes gave me an advantage.
Have you ever seen a Christian dancing around an issue? Perhaps that was because he had not put on his spiritual armor footwear. Scripture tells us Satan will lay open traps before our feet. Verse 13 gives the main reason for spiritual armor is to be able to “stand firm” in the evil day. It’s hard to stand at all when your feet are all messed up, much less stand firm or even move out on the offensive.
4.) “take up the shield of faith”
Obviously, the shield was a broad object that deflected the offensive weapons of the enemy before they could reach the soldier. For one who has faith, the weapons of the enemy can seem quite trivial. Flaming arrows and darts may come our way, but our faith is settled. Such faith is not a way of passively ignoring valid arguments, but rather a rational cognitive understand of the end result. Most shields were made of wood, so therefore, some sturdy well aimed arrows may have stuck into the wood. Faith actually absorbs the broad range of criticisms and shows their ultimate impotence.
Shields could also be used for offense. If you remember a scene from “Gladiator,” Maximus uses his shield to neutralize a combatant in the arena. One’s true faith may be the evidence another needs to realize the possible futility of Satan’s arsenal.
5.) “take the helmet of salvation”
As mentioned earlier, salvation is more of a heart issue than a head issue, so I wary to make any such connection. I think it is more a severity issue. The head is our most vulnerable area. A point could be said that as long as one has salvation, then let come what may! A soldier can possibly take a wound to the chest and still be able to act. But a trauma to the head could take him out of the fight completely. Perhaps the head is the most important body area discussed. Definitely, salvation sits above the other attributes and is vital for the others to have any significance.
6.) “(take) the sword of the Spirit”
Much attention is given to the idea that the sword is the only offensive weapon listed, and there is much validity to it. When Christ was being attacked by Satan, Christ used the Word of God to combat him. But what are the characteristics of a sword that may give us further insight? I’ve always loved swords and sword play. It’s almost as if there is pageantry in the aggressiveness. The swordsman practices with his sword regularly to the point where the sword almost becomes an extension of his body. Many older cultures considered the sword of the warrior as a symbol of the spirit of the fighter, and it became an identity.
Herein, lays some analogies we can work with. How great a shame it is that we have no practice with our “sword!” There are even some who are unaware that they have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside them. How are we ever to be victorious in spiritual warfare if we have no idea how to wield the sword of the Spirit? We must spend time every day to hone our skills in using this powerful weapon to the point that He becomes an identifying prominent part of us. However, let us always remember whose power it is! It is the “sword of the Spirit” and not our sword. The power is God’s. When we claim our own skill base sufficient to handle this great power, we will quickly realize that we are grossly unprepared on our own. The Spirit is the only One who can brandish this weapon as needed. I am reminded of the movie “The Last Samurai.” The main character keeps failing miserably at learning how to sword fight. His greatest piece of advise comes to him in the words “too many mind.” He was thinking too much. We too make our mistake when we think we can control the sword of the Spirit to do what we want. The greatest power is realized when we give up control and allow the Spirit to have dominion in our life.
A Very "Powerful" Verse
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)
A word for power is used three times in this short verse. This is what we call a very powerful verse! A quarter of the words are synonyms for power. The first is a command for us to be strong. The understood subject of a command is “you.” Therefore, it is a call for us personally to be strong. Christianity is not passive! It is indeed a dynamic relationship with God, Satan, and our fellow man.
However, the other two uses of power belong to the “Lord.” That’s right. Even though you have been commanded to be strong, God’s power is greater and at work in a much more prevalent degree. In fact, the verse doesn’t just say God is strong. It matches our “strength” and raises, the bar to “might.” It is true that we must be actively strong; but we must, at the same time, realize and rely on the stronger, more prevalent might of the Lord to see us through. In fact, upon closer inspection, we notice that our active and dynamic strength is “in the Lord.” “With man nothing is possible, but with God all things are possible.” “Praise be to God through Whom all blessings flow.” “You are my rock and fortress…” (Matthew 19:26; Psalm 18:2)
So, is Christianity active or passive? Maybe both. Some people scream and shout about all the things you have to do. Others are equally passionate about letting God have complete control over your life. I believe both are on the right track. We are commanded to be actively, dynamically strong. But we must make sure that we keep God Almighty on the throne. If not, we try to overthrow the Kingdom of God by our own might. However, in refusing God’s strength, we find that we have none.
A word for power is used three times in this short verse. This is what we call a very powerful verse! A quarter of the words are synonyms for power. The first is a command for us to be strong. The understood subject of a command is “you.” Therefore, it is a call for us personally to be strong. Christianity is not passive! It is indeed a dynamic relationship with God, Satan, and our fellow man.
However, the other two uses of power belong to the “Lord.” That’s right. Even though you have been commanded to be strong, God’s power is greater and at work in a much more prevalent degree. In fact, the verse doesn’t just say God is strong. It matches our “strength” and raises, the bar to “might.” It is true that we must be actively strong; but we must, at the same time, realize and rely on the stronger, more prevalent might of the Lord to see us through. In fact, upon closer inspection, we notice that our active and dynamic strength is “in the Lord.” “With man nothing is possible, but with God all things are possible.” “Praise be to God through Whom all blessings flow.” “You are my rock and fortress…” (Matthew 19:26; Psalm 18:2)
So, is Christianity active or passive? Maybe both. Some people scream and shout about all the things you have to do. Others are equally passionate about letting God have complete control over your life. I believe both are on the right track. We are commanded to be actively, dynamically strong. But we must make sure that we keep God Almighty on the throne. If not, we try to overthrow the Kingdom of God by our own might. However, in refusing God’s strength, we find that we have none.
What's Up With All The Blood?!
We were talking at Bible study at church about the two main promises found in the Bible. Of course, the two promises are the Old Testament and the New Testament. Another word for promise is covenant and another word for covenant is testament. The Old and New Testaments are not just divisions of the Bible, but the reason the divisions are called such is because the books contained within pertain to the corresponding promise. The old promise is that the sins of the people would be atoned by the blood sacrifice of animals performed by the high priests. The new promise is that our sins have been atoned for by the blood sacrifice of Christ given freely as a gift.
The discussion was asking the question, “How could faith in Christ have saved the saints of the Old Testament when they had the sacrifice system and Christ had not yet come?” (Hebrews 3:1-14; 8:8-12; 9:13-15, 19-20; 11:1-2, 8-11, 17) The Bible makes it clear that the Law can only show us our faults and therefore condemn us. The Bible also tells us that only faith in Christ can save us from our sins. So why even institute the animal sacrifice? On top of that, why should Jesus come to earth to die? What is this about blood sacrifice? And Jesus wasn’t just a human, so His death isn’t that drastic considering that He is still alive since He was also fully God and man. Or so it seems. I’ve always had a lot of questions about this. I have been a Christian since I was in kindergarten, and I have been taught the doctrines of the church and theology ever since. I understand that the Old Testament provision was a picture of the provision made possible in Christ. However, I’ve still had troubles with why it had to be this way. I admit that I still don’t understand it all, but it was made strikingly clearer tonight.
It all began when someone said that they always thought of the original blood sacrifice (when God killed the lamb to provide clothing for Adam and Eve’s newly discovered nakedness) as if God took the lamb and almost “tore it open” right before their eyes to show them the gruesomeness of sin. This is a commonly known illustration about the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. The sacrifices are an obviously gruesome act of which blood is poured over an alter. This is not just an act to be overly harsh to animals as it would appear at first. God is not a god who finds it amusing to abuse animals. Truly this God is the God who created all animals, even before He created humans. No; the Bible says that He sees every sparrow that falls from the sky. Now that is attention! Even the most avid PETA supporter can’t say that. So why then is the animal sacrifice so gruesome? Because God is trying to help us realize how gruesome and deadly sin is to our lives and our relationship with our Father.
Obviously, as just discussed, the animal sacrifices were gruesome. Sin is just as gruesome, if not more. Then, I thought about what the person in class had said God figuratively ripping the lamb apart to clothe Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Then, I think about the Bible passages that talk about the Church being a body of which Christ is the head. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Colossians 1:15-20) Sin separates us from God. That is why we live in a fallen world of pain and suffering; because our sin has created a chasm between and holy, perfect God. So, if we are one body, the blood sacrifice could definitely symbolize the “broken” relationship between us and our “Head”; much like the imagined tearing of the lamb in front of Adam and Eve. Hence, the blood sacrifice. Because of the tearing caused by sin which “separates” us from God, “blood” is spilt from the “body.” Blood is the life source of the body. If the body loses too much blood, it will die. Therefore, a blood transfusion is needed.
So why Christ’s blood? Well, the blood had been ripped out and to stop the cycle of violence (evil), blood needs to be poured back in willingly. God couldn’t ask Adam or Eve to give their blood, because they were the ones bleeding (#1) and because to do so would mean God would lose them (#2) to death. Only Christ’s relationship with God was perfect and not already bleeding. Plus, for Him to give His life isn’t ultimately as tragic because His earthly body was only a clay temple for the eternal “God the Son.” God didn’t lose anyone to death.
PLEASE, don’t get me wrong!!! I am in NO way trying to trivialize the death of Christ on the cross. If the death of an innocent, spotless lamb was tragic; then how much more tragic was the death of the innocent, sinless Lamb of God. He didn’t just have his throat cut; he was mutilated, even to the point of where the on-lookers at Calvary couldn’t tell if He was a man or woman! That is serious mutilation!! Besides that, to add insult to injury, He had to endure a life of resisting temptations and the backstabbing of people around Him. And He did it all for me. And He did it all for you. This gives a new meaning to when Jesus says “I am the Life.” Because life is found the blood, our life is found in His blood.
So, why not just bandage the wound created by the separating and tearing of sin? Why the transfusion? Well, blood had been spilt. God is a just God. Where blood had been lost, blood had to be replaced. Besides, just a quick look at medicine will tell us that transfusions are needed when a large amount of blood is lost. If you remember, the Bible says that Christ is our head. I’m pretty sure that means a lot of blood loss. And on top of that, even to bandage the wound would cause an ugly scar to remain. However, God tells us that all old things are passed away, and behold all things have become new. So why not just bandage the wound? Well, we need new blood. But glory hallelujah, there will be one day when we will receive new bodies!!! Perfect, redeemed bodies will no lacerations or scars. Our relationship with our Father will be restored and the Head will be perfectly joined with the body. Oh, how we wait for the “redemption of our bodies!” (Romans 8:23)
The discussion was asking the question, “How could faith in Christ have saved the saints of the Old Testament when they had the sacrifice system and Christ had not yet come?” (Hebrews 3:1-14; 8:8-12; 9:13-15, 19-20; 11:1-2, 8-11, 17) The Bible makes it clear that the Law can only show us our faults and therefore condemn us. The Bible also tells us that only faith in Christ can save us from our sins. So why even institute the animal sacrifice? On top of that, why should Jesus come to earth to die? What is this about blood sacrifice? And Jesus wasn’t just a human, so His death isn’t that drastic considering that He is still alive since He was also fully God and man. Or so it seems. I’ve always had a lot of questions about this. I have been a Christian since I was in kindergarten, and I have been taught the doctrines of the church and theology ever since. I understand that the Old Testament provision was a picture of the provision made possible in Christ. However, I’ve still had troubles with why it had to be this way. I admit that I still don’t understand it all, but it was made strikingly clearer tonight.
It all began when someone said that they always thought of the original blood sacrifice (when God killed the lamb to provide clothing for Adam and Eve’s newly discovered nakedness) as if God took the lamb and almost “tore it open” right before their eyes to show them the gruesomeness of sin. This is a commonly known illustration about the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament. The sacrifices are an obviously gruesome act of which blood is poured over an alter. This is not just an act to be overly harsh to animals as it would appear at first. God is not a god who finds it amusing to abuse animals. Truly this God is the God who created all animals, even before He created humans. No; the Bible says that He sees every sparrow that falls from the sky. Now that is attention! Even the most avid PETA supporter can’t say that. So why then is the animal sacrifice so gruesome? Because God is trying to help us realize how gruesome and deadly sin is to our lives and our relationship with our Father.
Obviously, as just discussed, the animal sacrifices were gruesome. Sin is just as gruesome, if not more. Then, I thought about what the person in class had said God figuratively ripping the lamb apart to clothe Adam and Eve’s nakedness. Then, I think about the Bible passages that talk about the Church being a body of which Christ is the head. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Colossians 1:15-20) Sin separates us from God. That is why we live in a fallen world of pain and suffering; because our sin has created a chasm between and holy, perfect God. So, if we are one body, the blood sacrifice could definitely symbolize the “broken” relationship between us and our “Head”; much like the imagined tearing of the lamb in front of Adam and Eve. Hence, the blood sacrifice. Because of the tearing caused by sin which “separates” us from God, “blood” is spilt from the “body.” Blood is the life source of the body. If the body loses too much blood, it will die. Therefore, a blood transfusion is needed.
So why Christ’s blood? Well, the blood had been ripped out and to stop the cycle of violence (evil), blood needs to be poured back in willingly. God couldn’t ask Adam or Eve to give their blood, because they were the ones bleeding (#1) and because to do so would mean God would lose them (#2) to death. Only Christ’s relationship with God was perfect and not already bleeding. Plus, for Him to give His life isn’t ultimately as tragic because His earthly body was only a clay temple for the eternal “God the Son.” God didn’t lose anyone to death.
PLEASE, don’t get me wrong!!! I am in NO way trying to trivialize the death of Christ on the cross. If the death of an innocent, spotless lamb was tragic; then how much more tragic was the death of the innocent, sinless Lamb of God. He didn’t just have his throat cut; he was mutilated, even to the point of where the on-lookers at Calvary couldn’t tell if He was a man or woman! That is serious mutilation!! Besides that, to add insult to injury, He had to endure a life of resisting temptations and the backstabbing of people around Him. And He did it all for me. And He did it all for you. This gives a new meaning to when Jesus says “I am the Life.” Because life is found the blood, our life is found in His blood.
So, why not just bandage the wound created by the separating and tearing of sin? Why the transfusion? Well, blood had been spilt. God is a just God. Where blood had been lost, blood had to be replaced. Besides, just a quick look at medicine will tell us that transfusions are needed when a large amount of blood is lost. If you remember, the Bible says that Christ is our head. I’m pretty sure that means a lot of blood loss. And on top of that, even to bandage the wound would cause an ugly scar to remain. However, God tells us that all old things are passed away, and behold all things have become new. So why not just bandage the wound? Well, we need new blood. But glory hallelujah, there will be one day when we will receive new bodies!!! Perfect, redeemed bodies will no lacerations or scars. Our relationship with our Father will be restored and the Head will be perfectly joined with the body. Oh, how we wait for the “redemption of our bodies!” (Romans 8:23)
Love is Lunar-cy
Love Is Lunar-cy
The moon is used many times with romance. But why is it considered romantic? Can it be possible that the moon is a great analogy of what our mate should be? Here are some ideas:
- The moon may not light the entire world but it lights up your world.
- If the moon is good, one would think the sun to be a better description of a mate. Well, let’s think about it. The sun better describes God. The best reason I can give for this is a saying that goes “I believe in God much like I believe in the sun. Not so much that I can always see it, but by it, I see everything else.”
- The moon carries many similarities but not to the existent of the sun. It’s like a miniature shining example of the sun.
- The sun is the actual light of life and the world. It provides the substances we need for life. The sun always takes precedence. The moon, in contrast, has no light in itself yet it reflects the sun. Hallelujah for ladies who reflect the Son.
- Dare to stand in the light of the sun and you will get burnt. However, you can enjoy the light of the moon all you want.
- The moon may not be as important as the sun, but you can’t live without it.
- It’s true that the sun lights our way, but if we stay in its light we will be overcome by its power. The moon, however, acts as our sun in the dark, and we can enjoy its light all night until the Son comes again.
- Nights of the new moon are the darkest because the moon does not shine. Staying with the analogy, this could either be because your mate just doesn’t reflect God, she’s physically distant, or she has lost trust in you. Surely these are indeed the darkest nights.
Ok, so those are some of my ideas. If you have any other analogies or ideas, please feel free to share.
The moon is used many times with romance. But why is it considered romantic? Can it be possible that the moon is a great analogy of what our mate should be? Here are some ideas:
- The moon may not light the entire world but it lights up your world.
- If the moon is good, one would think the sun to be a better description of a mate. Well, let’s think about it. The sun better describes God. The best reason I can give for this is a saying that goes “I believe in God much like I believe in the sun. Not so much that I can always see it, but by it, I see everything else.”
- The moon carries many similarities but not to the existent of the sun. It’s like a miniature shining example of the sun.
- The sun is the actual light of life and the world. It provides the substances we need for life. The sun always takes precedence. The moon, in contrast, has no light in itself yet it reflects the sun. Hallelujah for ladies who reflect the Son.
- Dare to stand in the light of the sun and you will get burnt. However, you can enjoy the light of the moon all you want.
- The moon may not be as important as the sun, but you can’t live without it.
- It’s true that the sun lights our way, but if we stay in its light we will be overcome by its power. The moon, however, acts as our sun in the dark, and we can enjoy its light all night until the Son comes again.
- Nights of the new moon are the darkest because the moon does not shine. Staying with the analogy, this could either be because your mate just doesn’t reflect God, she’s physically distant, or she has lost trust in you. Surely these are indeed the darkest nights.
Ok, so those are some of my ideas. If you have any other analogies or ideas, please feel free to share.
A Banana Buyer's Guide to Salvation
(The following dialogue is to read comically and with plenty of sarcasm. It is not the main point of this writing, so get confused when it makes no sense. It is only here to make us think logically about the proceeding argument. The dialogue presumes that you are in grocery store buying bananas.)
What if I were to ask you if you were buying bananas? Your answer: “Well, yes I am.”
Then what if I asked you, “If we were to ask anyone randomly walking down this isle if you are buying bananas or grapes, what would thy say?” Your answer: “Bananas.”
My next question: “Why?” “Because these are BANANAS and I’m BUYING them! How many times do I have to say BANANAS?!”
This is an absurd dialogue, and we would probably all call the interrogator an idiot for obviously missing the obvious! However, this closely reflects the conversations we have many times when inquiring about one’s salvation (what we call “witnessing”). But in our experiences, it is the buyer who is missing the obvious. What is it about the preceding dialogue that makes it so absurd? The questioner keeps looking for proof of the existence of bananas when they are right in front of his face. The buyer’s ultimate response revolves around the fact that the long, yellow fruit he/she is holding is in face a banana. That fact is hard to ignore as he/she references it several times. In fact, no matter how absurd the interrogator becomes the buyer always refers back to the bananas.
Now contrary to what you may be thinking right now, I am not trying to build an argument for the existence of God. Instead, I’m trying to make us think about the reasons we give for the existence of our salvation. A common series of questions used to determine if one is saved goes like this: are you saved, if you died right now would you go to Heaven or Hell, and why? Hopefully (…and in the Bible Belt, usually…) the answers to the first two questions are “yes” and “Heaven”, respectively. But then comes the biggest of all questions, “why”. The usual response goes something like, “Well, I’m a good person”; or “I’m not as bad as some people”; or “I go to church…sometimes”; etc. But do these explanations make any sense? The buyer’s answers revolved around and were rooted in the fact of the presence of bananas. When asked why, he/she came right back to the bananas. However, in the arguments for salvation, we turn away form the “banana” argument and, in effect, show ourselves to be bananas. We start off confirming the spiritual and power of God (i.e. salvation, Heaven) which are all made possible through the presence of God. But to answer the question why, we leave God behind and start tooting our own horn (i.e. I’m good, I’m better, I go to church)! When the banana buyer was asked why, he/she pointed right back to the presence of the bananas. When we are asked why we are saved, we start grasping at straws, so to speak. Is not the logical thing to do is point right back to the presence of God?!!
Then why don’t we? Simple. The banana buyer was totally, completely convinced that there were bananas in his/her shopping cart. He/she had sought them out, picked them, and put them there. His/her purpose for coming to the grocery store was fulfilled in their purchase. We, however, don’t have God’s presence in us without salvation. Therefore, we start grasping at straws and reach out for the only thing we have if we have not God…ourselves. We start singing our own praise, even though earlier in the day we were fussing at ourselves for something stupid we had done. The answer to such questions MUST MUST MUST come back to Christ. We MUST understand what it is to have God seek you out, pick you, and put you in His hand. Just a rehearsed answer without God’s presence won’t do. In such a case, the banana interrogator would have only asked “What bananas? There are none here.” When you’re in the presence of God, you’ll realize the fulfilled purpose of your trip.
What if I were to ask you if you were buying bananas? Your answer: “Well, yes I am.”
Then what if I asked you, “If we were to ask anyone randomly walking down this isle if you are buying bananas or grapes, what would thy say?” Your answer: “Bananas.”
My next question: “Why?” “Because these are BANANAS and I’m BUYING them! How many times do I have to say BANANAS?!”
This is an absurd dialogue, and we would probably all call the interrogator an idiot for obviously missing the obvious! However, this closely reflects the conversations we have many times when inquiring about one’s salvation (what we call “witnessing”). But in our experiences, it is the buyer who is missing the obvious. What is it about the preceding dialogue that makes it so absurd? The questioner keeps looking for proof of the existence of bananas when they are right in front of his face. The buyer’s ultimate response revolves around the fact that the long, yellow fruit he/she is holding is in face a banana. That fact is hard to ignore as he/she references it several times. In fact, no matter how absurd the interrogator becomes the buyer always refers back to the bananas.
Now contrary to what you may be thinking right now, I am not trying to build an argument for the existence of God. Instead, I’m trying to make us think about the reasons we give for the existence of our salvation. A common series of questions used to determine if one is saved goes like this: are you saved, if you died right now would you go to Heaven or Hell, and why? Hopefully (…and in the Bible Belt, usually…) the answers to the first two questions are “yes” and “Heaven”, respectively. But then comes the biggest of all questions, “why”. The usual response goes something like, “Well, I’m a good person”; or “I’m not as bad as some people”; or “I go to church…sometimes”; etc. But do these explanations make any sense? The buyer’s answers revolved around and were rooted in the fact of the presence of bananas. When asked why, he/she came right back to the bananas. However, in the arguments for salvation, we turn away form the “banana” argument and, in effect, show ourselves to be bananas. We start off confirming the spiritual and power of God (i.e. salvation, Heaven) which are all made possible through the presence of God. But to answer the question why, we leave God behind and start tooting our own horn (i.e. I’m good, I’m better, I go to church)! When the banana buyer was asked why, he/she pointed right back to the presence of the bananas. When we are asked why we are saved, we start grasping at straws, so to speak. Is not the logical thing to do is point right back to the presence of God?!!
Then why don’t we? Simple. The banana buyer was totally, completely convinced that there were bananas in his/her shopping cart. He/she had sought them out, picked them, and put them there. His/her purpose for coming to the grocery store was fulfilled in their purchase. We, however, don’t have God’s presence in us without salvation. Therefore, we start grasping at straws and reach out for the only thing we have if we have not God…ourselves. We start singing our own praise, even though earlier in the day we were fussing at ourselves for something stupid we had done. The answer to such questions MUST MUST MUST come back to Christ. We MUST understand what it is to have God seek you out, pick you, and put you in His hand. Just a rehearsed answer without God’s presence won’t do. In such a case, the banana interrogator would have only asked “What bananas? There are none here.” When you’re in the presence of God, you’ll realize the fulfilled purpose of your trip.
When I am God
[I was having a hard time falling asleep the other night. As I was lying in my bed, I kept thinking about a line in a song that has come to be a new favorite. (For those who know me, I usually have some song stuck in my head.) That led to thinking of another song that has become a new favorite of mine. The following is the resulting brainstorm that followed. The two songs happen to both be metal and have great videos. You can check out the videos on tvulive.com and read the lyrics on christianrocklyrics.com.]
“When I am God this church is unsound.”
Oh, Sleeper
“Vices Like Vipers”
“We have all heard what we wanted to hear ‘Truth’ that sounds right to our ears.”
As I Lay Dying
“The Sound of Truth”
Common reaction is awe that anyone should think of themselves as God. This reaction is rightly so, but quite hypocritical. Really, we do it all the time; any time we decide to do things our way instead of God’s. Man ultimately wants to become God. It has been said that humanism is the second oldest religion in the world, and I would agree. Malcolm Muggeridge said, “If God is dead, someone will have to take His place. Either megalomania or erotomania; the clinched fist or the phallus; Hitler or Hugh Hefner.” We’ve been given two choices from the very beginning. God promised utopia; Satan promised that we would be as gods (Genesis 1:26-3:7). It’s either God’s way or a humanistic way. [Let me plug an idea in here: Satan doesn’t have a way. He knows the only way is God’s way; so he can only divert us and send us on our way. John 14:6, Luke 10:18, Genesis 3:14-15, James 2:19, Revelation 12:9;20:10) To become gods isn’t hard. Anytime we deny God’s truth, we assert that ours is ultimate, making us gods. Anything apart from God alone is attempting to assert our bit of personal deity.
This happens a lot with apologetics. We argue topics and not truth. We fight over preferences which we enjoy, and maintain that we are correct. Everything MUST come back to the person of Christ. HE is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) If it doesn’t go through Him, it’s the wrong way, truth, and life. Plain and simple! In church, we preach relationship but teach doctrine. Both are essential but must not be separated. A good example of this is the fruit of the Spirit (it drives me nuts when people pluralize it). We teach the fruit(s) of the Spirit without teaching the Spirit “of” whom it comes.
It’s like living in a distant, barren land and coming to an area of fruit trees (we’ll say…apple trees). You are mesmerized by the beauty and apparent goodness of the fruit. So you pick an apple and return to your distant, barren land. You eat the apple and sincerely thank God for its goodness, substance, and nourishment. You wake up the next day and remember how sweet that fruit from the day before was. You long for that blessing again. But there is no more fruit. You only picked one, and now it’s gone. Even if you had brought back a whole cluster of fruit, half of it would be wasted because we usually put it on the shelf and neglect it.
Now, go back to the land of plenty, and this time instead of picking the fruit, take the tree. Then, you get to enjoy the fruit today and tomorrow. And Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8); which means the Tree is always loaded with fruit. Plus, don’t just eat the fruit and throw the seed away. Keep the seed, plant it in your “soul” (I know. That was super corny. Sorry.), and watch it grow (via Bible study, Godly fellowship, testing, etc.). Now suddenly, what do you have? Not only is there a tree from which you can enjoy; but now there has grown an orchard in this once barren land, from which many others can come and find substance. The tree is the ultimate source. The “tree of life” in the garden, if you will. We neglected the original and chose the fruit. In essence, we neglected God and choose ourselves. No matter how good the fruit may be, without the Spirit, it is only a rotting flower.
“When I am God this church is unsound.”
Oh, Sleeper
“Vices Like Vipers”
“We have all heard what we wanted to hear ‘Truth’ that sounds right to our ears.”
As I Lay Dying
“The Sound of Truth”
Common reaction is awe that anyone should think of themselves as God. This reaction is rightly so, but quite hypocritical. Really, we do it all the time; any time we decide to do things our way instead of God’s. Man ultimately wants to become God. It has been said that humanism is the second oldest religion in the world, and I would agree. Malcolm Muggeridge said, “If God is dead, someone will have to take His place. Either megalomania or erotomania; the clinched fist or the phallus; Hitler or Hugh Hefner.” We’ve been given two choices from the very beginning. God promised utopia; Satan promised that we would be as gods (Genesis 1:26-3:7). It’s either God’s way or a humanistic way. [Let me plug an idea in here: Satan doesn’t have a way. He knows the only way is God’s way; so he can only divert us and send us on our way. John 14:6, Luke 10:18, Genesis 3:14-15, James 2:19, Revelation 12:9;20:10) To become gods isn’t hard. Anytime we deny God’s truth, we assert that ours is ultimate, making us gods. Anything apart from God alone is attempting to assert our bit of personal deity.
This happens a lot with apologetics. We argue topics and not truth. We fight over preferences which we enjoy, and maintain that we are correct. Everything MUST come back to the person of Christ. HE is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) If it doesn’t go through Him, it’s the wrong way, truth, and life. Plain and simple! In church, we preach relationship but teach doctrine. Both are essential but must not be separated. A good example of this is the fruit of the Spirit (it drives me nuts when people pluralize it). We teach the fruit(s) of the Spirit without teaching the Spirit “of” whom it comes.
It’s like living in a distant, barren land and coming to an area of fruit trees (we’ll say…apple trees). You are mesmerized by the beauty and apparent goodness of the fruit. So you pick an apple and return to your distant, barren land. You eat the apple and sincerely thank God for its goodness, substance, and nourishment. You wake up the next day and remember how sweet that fruit from the day before was. You long for that blessing again. But there is no more fruit. You only picked one, and now it’s gone. Even if you had brought back a whole cluster of fruit, half of it would be wasted because we usually put it on the shelf and neglect it.
Now, go back to the land of plenty, and this time instead of picking the fruit, take the tree. Then, you get to enjoy the fruit today and tomorrow. And Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8); which means the Tree is always loaded with fruit. Plus, don’t just eat the fruit and throw the seed away. Keep the seed, plant it in your “soul” (I know. That was super corny. Sorry.), and watch it grow (via Bible study, Godly fellowship, testing, etc.). Now suddenly, what do you have? Not only is there a tree from which you can enjoy; but now there has grown an orchard in this once barren land, from which many others can come and find substance. The tree is the ultimate source. The “tree of life” in the garden, if you will. We neglected the original and chose the fruit. In essence, we neglected God and choose ourselves. No matter how good the fruit may be, without the Spirit, it is only a rotting flower.
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