"I believe in the Holy Spirit." This is the most forgotten member of the Holy Trinity but also the one we interact with most. It is the Holy Spirit that awakens dead sinners to be able to receive the Gospel. He flows through a congregation as the preacher preaches from the Word of God. It is him that we talk to and he guides us away from sin and closer to holiness.
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit within them. Every Christian is a recovering sinner and has no hope outside of the Holy Spirit's awakening and leadership.
One time I had a discussion with a woman about predestination and the freedom to choose. Believe it or not, as a predestinarian, I do believe that people make free decisions and that we are not robots. But I also believe that salvation, just like all of history, is planned and directed by God even down to whether I will have the ability to give my heart to Jesus or not.
Ephesians 2:1 says that all people start out dead in their sins. Imagine if I decided to throw a party and go down to a graveyard and invite the people there. They are indeed free to decide to come, but unfortunately, they are dead and cannot make that decision. First, I would have to make them alive some how and then help dig them out of their holes.
This is exactly what the Holy Spirit does when he turns a sinner into a believer. And unlike me, God can send his Holy Spirit to follow someone until they come home to him. Everyone that God saves will come to know Jesus and we will see it. Those he does not save simply remain dead. Even if they show up to church, they eventually fall away and don't return.
But the Holy Spirit is so essential to the life of a believer who still recovers that believers need to ask for his guidance and spend time in Scripture every day if they are to avoid sin and are to grow closer to holiness and to influencing other people to know Jesus.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Apostles' Creed: Judge the living and the dead
"He will come again to judge the living and the dead."
Many times if a Christian tries to point out sin to someone they will be accused of judging. Is an unmarried couple having sex and/or living together? Are two men or two women in a sexual relationship? Is someone considering abortion? Usually if we point out sin past or present, then we are judged as judging.
However, one day Jesus will come back and judge both the living and the dead for all we have done. I will be judged for both my sins and my good deeds. Praise God, however, that we do not judge you or anyone else. We told you the problem, but we have a glorious solution! Jesus came to save sinful men and women and then to heal them from their sins. We can all be saved from even our favorite sins and changed so that we no longer desire them.
At the same time, just knowing that if you do not give your lives to Jesus, then when he comes again and judges the world, you will not be saved from hell. Knowing that this judgment is coming should be enough for anyone to seek recovery. Whether it is for something external like adultery, theft, even murder, or something internal like codependency or anger, it is wonderful to know that Jesus will save you if you confess his name and believe in him. You can either turn to him or stay lost in your sins. If you pass up this glorious opportunity for freedom from your sins then you will die in them.
Please do not do this. The Lord will not turn away anybody who come to him in repentance and he will faithfully change their hearts and lives and they can live with him in blessing and happiness forever.
Many times if a Christian tries to point out sin to someone they will be accused of judging. Is an unmarried couple having sex and/or living together? Are two men or two women in a sexual relationship? Is someone considering abortion? Usually if we point out sin past or present, then we are judged as judging.
However, one day Jesus will come back and judge both the living and the dead for all we have done. I will be judged for both my sins and my good deeds. Praise God, however, that we do not judge you or anyone else. We told you the problem, but we have a glorious solution! Jesus came to save sinful men and women and then to heal them from their sins. We can all be saved from even our favorite sins and changed so that we no longer desire them.
At the same time, just knowing that if you do not give your lives to Jesus, then when he comes again and judges the world, you will not be saved from hell. Knowing that this judgment is coming should be enough for anyone to seek recovery. Whether it is for something external like adultery, theft, even murder, or something internal like codependency or anger, it is wonderful to know that Jesus will save you if you confess his name and believe in him. You can either turn to him or stay lost in your sins. If you pass up this glorious opportunity for freedom from your sins then you will die in them.
Please do not do this. The Lord will not turn away anybody who come to him in repentance and he will faithfully change their hearts and lives and they can live with him in blessing and happiness forever.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Apostle's Creed: Ascended into heaven, seated at right hand
"He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father."
When you are recovering from an addiction or a sin, what a blessing it is to know that Jesus's body lives in heaven and always sits by the Father pleading for me and for anyone else who believes in him. Although we were once eaten away by our sins and separated from God, he sent Jesus to pay the penalty for them.
We rejoice in him being with the Father because God always delights in his Son. Because of that, he will save all that Jesus died for.
And in this crazy election where no godly candidate is winning and all the ones who were godly are now caving and going for the ungodly men and women, it is wonderful to know that Jesus is still in office in heaven ruling the world. The world that we see is all His and nobody comes into power without him allowing it. And he will bring it all under his rule both now and for all time.
Right now, while we wait we must think of that and continue to do his will.
When you are recovering from an addiction or a sin, what a blessing it is to know that Jesus's body lives in heaven and always sits by the Father pleading for me and for anyone else who believes in him. Although we were once eaten away by our sins and separated from God, he sent Jesus to pay the penalty for them.
We rejoice in him being with the Father because God always delights in his Son. Because of that, he will save all that Jesus died for.
And in this crazy election where no godly candidate is winning and all the ones who were godly are now caving and going for the ungodly men and women, it is wonderful to know that Jesus is still in office in heaven ruling the world. The world that we see is all His and nobody comes into power without him allowing it. And he will bring it all under his rule both now and for all time.
Right now, while we wait we must think of that and continue to do his will.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Apostles' Creed: Descended into the dead, rose on the third day
With election season in full swing and no good candidates leading, it is good to hear some good news Here is the next step in Recovery following the twelve divisions of the Apostles' Creed from tradition.
The first part: he descended into the dead. I came from a tradition that says he descended into hell. Most just say Hades.
The important thing is that he truly died. Jesus took the complete punishment for my sins and for the sins of all his elect believers and suffered God's wrath on the cross in my place.
I do believe he experienced the hell that the reprobate will experience for eternity, but he experienced it all on the cross. He did not go there after he breathed his last breath. He was immediately in Paradise with the thief who was next to him on his cross. But indeed, he truly died. He did not fake it. It was not an illusion. God the Son really died and suffered God the Father's wrath.
Part two: He rose again on the third day. He wasn't even dead three days. One evening, one whole day, and then Sunday morning, he was alive. His body was alive, people touched him, watched him ate, and he partied with his disciples for 40 days.
Recovering? Remember that he did both of these things for you if you believe in him. Believe on him and you will be saved. You, too, will rise from the dead. The people you love who have died who believed in him will rise from the dead. In fact, everyone will rise from the dead and then some will go to eternal punishment while God's redeemed experience eternal live and an eternal kingdom ruled by God on this earth and in this universe.
Start living for this kingdom now. Trust him. Put away your idols and trust him.
The first part: he descended into the dead. I came from a tradition that says he descended into hell. Most just say Hades.
The important thing is that he truly died. Jesus took the complete punishment for my sins and for the sins of all his elect believers and suffered God's wrath on the cross in my place.
I do believe he experienced the hell that the reprobate will experience for eternity, but he experienced it all on the cross. He did not go there after he breathed his last breath. He was immediately in Paradise with the thief who was next to him on his cross. But indeed, he truly died. He did not fake it. It was not an illusion. God the Son really died and suffered God the Father's wrath.
Part two: He rose again on the third day. He wasn't even dead three days. One evening, one whole day, and then Sunday morning, he was alive. His body was alive, people touched him, watched him ate, and he partied with his disciples for 40 days.
Recovering? Remember that he did both of these things for you if you believe in him. Believe on him and you will be saved. You, too, will rise from the dead. The people you love who have died who believed in him will rise from the dead. In fact, everyone will rise from the dead and then some will go to eternal punishment while God's redeemed experience eternal live and an eternal kingdom ruled by God on this earth and in this universe.
Start living for this kingdom now. Trust him. Put away your idols and trust him.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Apostle's Creed: Crucified, Dead, and Buried
"Under Pontius Pilate, he was crucified, dead, and was buried."
Ever since my surgery this past December, I've been watching the Romans Women's Bible study series by Michael Kruger.
He made a wonderful analogy comparing Christ's substitutionary atonement to a modern situation. Suppose a there was a man on death row. A terrible murderer faces a just capital punishment. Suppose Kruger took this man and invited him to live in his home all the rest of his days. This would be outrageous. Imagine at the same time that Kruger offered his son to die in the man's place.
This is exactly what God did when he sent Jesus to die for my sins. My sins make me deserving of eternal death at the hands of a just God. But God in his mercy sent Jesus to die instead and invited me to live in his home forever. This is what he did for all his saved elect. Jesus paid the price. It cannot be unpaid. In fact, it was paid before I was even born and could make any decision, good or bad.
This can help a Recoverer because he knows that Jesus died to take away his sins. He is no longer a slave to his addictions. She is no longer a slave to her need to please or help people. This is true love.
Romans 8:31-32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"
Ever since my surgery this past December, I've been watching the Romans Women's Bible study series by Michael Kruger.
He made a wonderful analogy comparing Christ's substitutionary atonement to a modern situation. Suppose a there was a man on death row. A terrible murderer faces a just capital punishment. Suppose Kruger took this man and invited him to live in his home all the rest of his days. This would be outrageous. Imagine at the same time that Kruger offered his son to die in the man's place.
This is exactly what God did when he sent Jesus to die for my sins. My sins make me deserving of eternal death at the hands of a just God. But God in his mercy sent Jesus to die instead and invited me to live in his home forever. This is what he did for all his saved elect. Jesus paid the price. It cannot be unpaid. In fact, it was paid before I was even born and could make any decision, good or bad.
This can help a Recoverer because he knows that Jesus died to take away his sins. He is no longer a slave to his addictions. She is no longer a slave to her need to please or help people. This is true love.
Romans 8:31-32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Apostles' Creed: Conceived by the Holy Spirit
"He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary."
If you are recovering, then it is critical that you believe God the Son came to earth as a baby. He was the only sinless human being. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, he did not have two sinful parents. Being born of Mary, he was completely human.
As the only sinless human, he is the only one we can look to for salvation from our sins. If you have been saved and still struggle with a sin, then look to him. Make confession to him. He is the mediator between God and man. To look to another for that is a blasphemy and insult against the gift he has given us. No other religion has this privilege, therefore they do not lead to the same God. To come to the true God, you have to come through Jesus as this is the only way God sent to himself.
If you are recovering, then it is critical that you believe God the Son came to earth as a baby. He was the only sinless human being. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, he did not have two sinful parents. Being born of Mary, he was completely human.
As the only sinless human, he is the only one we can look to for salvation from our sins. If you have been saved and still struggle with a sin, then look to him. Make confession to him. He is the mediator between God and man. To look to another for that is a blasphemy and insult against the gift he has given us. No other religion has this privilege, therefore they do not lead to the same God. To come to the true God, you have to come through Jesus as this is the only way God sent to himself.
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Apostles' Creed: Jesus
I haven't read my previous post about God the Father Almighty, Maker in heaven and earth. However, I think that I said that if you have a hurt, habit, or hang-up, then it is good to remember that God made you and that you have sinned against him.
Why is that good news? Because of the solution, Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. God did not leave his beloved people in their sins. He sent Jesus, God the Son, to be both man and divine. He lived a perfect life that I never lived and died the brutal death that I should have died. Knowing that, I can move on from whatever mistakes I have made and the serious errors in which I have ruined lives.
He did not send another way for salvation. I must believe in Jesus to be saved from God's eternal wrath. I cannot get to heaven by being a sincere Muslim or by joining a cloister or being a member of my church (though if I am saved, I will belong to a church). People outside of Christianity do not know Jesus and do not worship my God. But the good news is that they can come to Jesus to be saved. It's not a judgment but an invitation! Receive this invitation and come to know Jesus through the Scriptures and through his Body in a believing church.
Why is that good news? Because of the solution, Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. God did not leave his beloved people in their sins. He sent Jesus, God the Son, to be both man and divine. He lived a perfect life that I never lived and died the brutal death that I should have died. Knowing that, I can move on from whatever mistakes I have made and the serious errors in which I have ruined lives.
He did not send another way for salvation. I must believe in Jesus to be saved from God's eternal wrath. I cannot get to heaven by being a sincere Muslim or by joining a cloister or being a member of my church (though if I am saved, I will belong to a church). People outside of Christianity do not know Jesus and do not worship my God. But the good news is that they can come to Jesus to be saved. It's not a judgment but an invitation! Receive this invitation and come to know Jesus through the Scriptures and through his Body in a believing church.
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