Friday, December 14, 2007
On Vacation - Merry Christmas
I will be on vacation all next week - so obviously this is the reason my posts will slow down through the holiday season. I'll pick up again after the 1st.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
A Marriage Narrative
My leadership style has always been somewhat intolerant of what I don't ascribe to. In fact many believe that I'm always right...they tell me so. "Joshua, you're always right?!" There was something I knew when I was younger and practiced, but I didn't know why and so like the verse of the man in the mirror, who peers at his face, but then forgets it as soon as he turns away, I fell away from the reasons I chose to lead my family.
When I was younger I ruled very firmly, but my only reasoning was based on not wanting the marriage that my parents had, where my mother ruled when she was angry and my father ruled when my mother made it clear to him, she could make his life miserable. But, I married a woman just like my mother. Quiet on the outside but when we get home, she can be a voracious, loud, un-submissive woman. So, not knowing how or why to lead as a man, left me ill-prepared to take on a woman like my wife. I fancy the idea that an opposite woman of my wife would have left me less troubled, but I expect should would have left...just left.
So leadership is the opposite of most women think, and what most men think. In fact, leadership is accomplished through the submission of your life to Jesus Christ. When I was 23, Christ brought me to my knees financially and in my marriage. I'd had it with my wife, and for 100 reasons you would all agree with me. All of my life I was taught that divorce was bad an unacceptable. And for the first time, I was considering it realistically. We were amidst counseling and I was reading the Bible heavily. Especially 2 Peter and Timothy. It hit me. I'd read that verse that we all know, all prior iterations to none effect. This time it sank in.
Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, even unto death, death on a cross. Wives submit yourselves to your husbands.
It snapped into place. There are theological concepts in play here that you must understand. Christ is the Groom. When his church is reunited with him, he is described as the bride-groom and we are the bride. This description has a lasting and purposeful meaning. There is a chain that connects men and women in marriage, just as we are connected through Christ. So when we carry this meaning to our earthly marriages we realize that Men submit themselves to the authority of God, through Jesus Christ, and through that the gain a spiritual authority given to you by God. Women are commanded to submit themselves to their husbands for a multitude of reasons but mostly because it is the love of their spiritual leader, who is their husband that covers them. Women are also the help mate. They are the lesser being, in stature, strength, and responsibility. Men maintain the responsibility of their families before God, women do not.
So when you pull all this together, you realize as I did, that first, submitting to Christ, as his bride, enables me to love perfectly. Because I'm better? NO!
Because you realize as I did, that Christ accepts me. Awful, putrid in nature, seeking evil at every turn, desiring only selfish things, and worthless...he accepted me. At this point, you arrive at the conclusion that love is not something you do, not something you are, but something that is accomplished by the will of God. It is only by realizing that Jesus accepts you, that you can understand love. Jesus accepts us, as we are with only a single requirement. Submit. This was hugely encouraging to me, because there were many things I hated and was bitter about my wife. But when I learned that Christ accepted me even despite my awful nature, I learned what true love is. Then in passing that on to my wife, my marriage was all new. Because true love does not hold contempt, or keep a record; perfect love, loves perfectly through the power and will of God.
Women! This is why it is so critical that you submit yourselves to your husbands. If you cannot submit yourself to your husband, how can you claim that you submit to Christ?!
Submission is not subservience; it's full, unadulterated, admiration and respect for the designs and vision of your husband. You don't have to agree in order to have harmony, but you must respect the leadership. The love of husbands will cover the contention that may arise.
I've covered 60 miles of life travels in a couple of sentences, but the truth is, harmony can be achieved when men lead. I say that first, because a woman cannot submit to leadership that does not exist. So men, lead your wives, by setting the example, hating and extinguishing false prophecy, killing the sin and divisions that would create separation in your family. You are the watchdog. You do not let the robber in. You kill him. So men, 99% of the happiness in the marriage depends on you. I didn't like hearing that...but I was so deep into my own problems, adding the responsibility that I rightfully owned seemed rude to say the least. However, had I approached it the right way the first time, I would have never been where I was.
So, finally, I say this. Men, pick a direction, focus on God and kill the robber that will come in and steal you blind. Women, submit yourself to your husband, with your eyes fixed on Christ and I can promise true harmony in marriage. I'm a living example.
When I was younger I ruled very firmly, but my only reasoning was based on not wanting the marriage that my parents had, where my mother ruled when she was angry and my father ruled when my mother made it clear to him, she could make his life miserable. But, I married a woman just like my mother. Quiet on the outside but when we get home, she can be a voracious, loud, un-submissive woman. So, not knowing how or why to lead as a man, left me ill-prepared to take on a woman like my wife. I fancy the idea that an opposite woman of my wife would have left me less troubled, but I expect should would have left...just left.
So leadership is the opposite of most women think, and what most men think. In fact, leadership is accomplished through the submission of your life to Jesus Christ. When I was 23, Christ brought me to my knees financially and in my marriage. I'd had it with my wife, and for 100 reasons you would all agree with me. All of my life I was taught that divorce was bad an unacceptable. And for the first time, I was considering it realistically. We were amidst counseling and I was reading the Bible heavily. Especially 2 Peter and Timothy. It hit me. I'd read that verse that we all know, all prior iterations to none effect. This time it sank in.
Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church, even unto death, death on a cross. Wives submit yourselves to your husbands.
It snapped into place. There are theological concepts in play here that you must understand. Christ is the Groom. When his church is reunited with him, he is described as the bride-groom and we are the bride. This description has a lasting and purposeful meaning. There is a chain that connects men and women in marriage, just as we are connected through Christ. So when we carry this meaning to our earthly marriages we realize that Men submit themselves to the authority of God, through Jesus Christ, and through that the gain a spiritual authority given to you by God. Women are commanded to submit themselves to their husbands for a multitude of reasons but mostly because it is the love of their spiritual leader, who is their husband that covers them. Women are also the help mate. They are the lesser being, in stature, strength, and responsibility. Men maintain the responsibility of their families before God, women do not.
So when you pull all this together, you realize as I did, that first, submitting to Christ, as his bride, enables me to love perfectly. Because I'm better? NO!
Because you realize as I did, that Christ accepts me. Awful, putrid in nature, seeking evil at every turn, desiring only selfish things, and worthless...he accepted me. At this point, you arrive at the conclusion that love is not something you do, not something you are, but something that is accomplished by the will of God. It is only by realizing that Jesus accepts you, that you can understand love. Jesus accepts us, as we are with only a single requirement. Submit. This was hugely encouraging to me, because there were many things I hated and was bitter about my wife. But when I learned that Christ accepted me even despite my awful nature, I learned what true love is. Then in passing that on to my wife, my marriage was all new. Because true love does not hold contempt, or keep a record; perfect love, loves perfectly through the power and will of God.
Women! This is why it is so critical that you submit yourselves to your husbands. If you cannot submit yourself to your husband, how can you claim that you submit to Christ?!
Submission is not subservience; it's full, unadulterated, admiration and respect for the designs and vision of your husband. You don't have to agree in order to have harmony, but you must respect the leadership. The love of husbands will cover the contention that may arise.
I've covered 60 miles of life travels in a couple of sentences, but the truth is, harmony can be achieved when men lead. I say that first, because a woman cannot submit to leadership that does not exist. So men, lead your wives, by setting the example, hating and extinguishing false prophecy, killing the sin and divisions that would create separation in your family. You are the watchdog. You do not let the robber in. You kill him. So men, 99% of the happiness in the marriage depends on you. I didn't like hearing that...but I was so deep into my own problems, adding the responsibility that I rightfully owned seemed rude to say the least. However, had I approached it the right way the first time, I would have never been where I was.
So, finally, I say this. Men, pick a direction, focus on God and kill the robber that will come in and steal you blind. Women, submit yourself to your husband, with your eyes fixed on Christ and I can promise true harmony in marriage. I'm a living example.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Heaven Is 18 Inches Away
Something I see that is very common among professing Christians is a so-called 'head' knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. By every outward appearance, they may be searching or working for the cause of Christ, but their hearts are desperately wicked and do not seek God. They do not because they do not have a regenerate heart. They have confessed with their lips but their heart does not follow.
Matt 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
So what does this mean? It means a bunch of things;
1. Clearly there are people who say they are God's but are not
2. Clearly they believe they are
3. Clearly God will say they are not
4. They practice with every outward appearance as a "True" Christian should
5. The prophesy, heal the sick, drive out demons -
6. They convince even the elect that they are saved, yet they are not
So how can we know these people?
We don't have to - we're called to serve God, and that purpose is wholly independent of the fallen world.
Why should we care?
Philippians 2:12-13
* "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
* For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure
Healthy concern for ones own salvation is a requirement, as Pauls letter to the Philippians points out. But further we must get back to the point of this post. Heaven is 18 inches away.
The verses in the Bible that support this position seem to indicate that a head knowledge of Christ is NOT a saving knowledge. That is to say, that within the context of the verse that says "confess with your lips and you shall be saved" it's clearly not enough. Is the Bible errant? No! But that is not within the scope of this post - so don't ask. I will address that in the future. However, this is the point, a saving knowledge, begins with a work in the heart that is brought about by the holy spirit. [romans 8 in it's entirety covers this]
So what is Jesus talking about when he says that he never knew these believers?
He is saying, he never knew them in the 'Agape' sense. He never knew them, because though he loved them, they never submitted to him. As a wife submits to her husband and his love covers her, Christ's love cannot cover someone who will not submit to him. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But they aren't saved and neither or those who reach the same level of knowledge. So what then?
Heart knowledge is the saving requirement. It only comes from the spirit within you. The Bible does say that if you confess with your lips that you are saved. So, do not doubt yourself if you believe you are. But know that believing comes not from within you, but from the spirit within.
Here is my test for you -
Can you love God perfectly?
Can you love God Fully?
Can you love God at all?
If you were standing before him today and he said, why should I let you into my kingdom of Heaven, what would you say?
These answers are the answer to your faith. Only you can know if you are saved at it between you and Jesus. Neither I or anyone else can answer these for you. Trust no one that would say that they can. They lie and they have a false prophet within them. But these principles can help guide you towards a great and full relationship with Jesus Christ. And that my brothers and sisters should be the desire of us all.
Matt 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
So what does this mean? It means a bunch of things;
1. Clearly there are people who say they are God's but are not
2. Clearly they believe they are
3. Clearly God will say they are not
4. They practice with every outward appearance as a "True" Christian should
5. The prophesy, heal the sick, drive out demons -
6. They convince even the elect that they are saved, yet they are not
So how can we know these people?
We don't have to - we're called to serve God, and that purpose is wholly independent of the fallen world.
Why should we care?
Philippians 2:12-13
* "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
* For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure
Healthy concern for ones own salvation is a requirement, as Pauls letter to the Philippians points out. But further we must get back to the point of this post. Heaven is 18 inches away.
The verses in the Bible that support this position seem to indicate that a head knowledge of Christ is NOT a saving knowledge. That is to say, that within the context of the verse that says "confess with your lips and you shall be saved" it's clearly not enough. Is the Bible errant? No! But that is not within the scope of this post - so don't ask. I will address that in the future. However, this is the point, a saving knowledge, begins with a work in the heart that is brought about by the holy spirit. [romans 8 in it's entirety covers this]
So what is Jesus talking about when he says that he never knew these believers?
He is saying, he never knew them in the 'Agape' sense. He never knew them, because though he loved them, they never submitted to him. As a wife submits to her husband and his love covers her, Christ's love cannot cover someone who will not submit to him. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But they aren't saved and neither or those who reach the same level of knowledge. So what then?
Heart knowledge is the saving requirement. It only comes from the spirit within you. The Bible does say that if you confess with your lips that you are saved. So, do not doubt yourself if you believe you are. But know that believing comes not from within you, but from the spirit within.
Here is my test for you -
Can you love God perfectly?
Can you love God Fully?
Can you love God at all?
If you were standing before him today and he said, why should I let you into my kingdom of Heaven, what would you say?
These answers are the answer to your faith. Only you can know if you are saved at it between you and Jesus. Neither I or anyone else can answer these for you. Trust no one that would say that they can. They lie and they have a false prophet within them. But these principles can help guide you towards a great and full relationship with Jesus Christ. And that my brothers and sisters should be the desire of us all.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Should Christians Be Tolerant?
We're in a country where the meaning of words continues to change They continue to evolve to have new meanings. While a laymen may look at this with an explanation, the theological impacts require that absolutes do not exist. Thus extinguishing the need for God.
So what is tolerance? Tolerance is defined by most as accepting opposing viewpoints as valid or equal with that of the truth. Tolerating the difference is called respect. Now that we understand the terms, we must deal with the implications. Can a Christian respect a Muslim perspective, view of God, approach to faith, etc? Certainly. Can they tolerate that a Muslim friend does not agree with them. Absolutely. Should they be 'tolerant' of the Muslim faith and accept it as equal with their own. Absolutely not. There is no name under heaven, given among men, by which they might be saved. I've coined a phrase and tell me if it doesn't emulate the United States slow and consistent evolution away from God.
"God desires a relationship with men; men who would seek to replace God with rules, and then the rules with their interpretation of the rules and then the interpretation with discretion and discretion with tolerance."
Ask yourself, did Satan lie in the Garden? Yes he did, but how did he do it? He did it by telling most of the truth. He said that their eyes would be opened and that they would be able to see good from evil...that was certainly true...where he lied is when he said that they would not die. They interpreted the death to be instant - while the Bible does not record the context of how their death would occur, their death certainly would occur. More thank likely they presupposed the meaning instead of seeking it out. As a result, they tolerated Satan in their midst. They tolerated untruth, false prophecy and a belief that wasn't of God. And because of that, their fall was causally linked to tolerance. In hindsight, I bet any one of us would have stomped on that snakes head and snuffed out his lies, his deception and would not have tolerated his false nature in our midst. Yet we do it everyday in America.
Satan is devious, and he will use the smallest sliver of difference to controvert the truth. If you change true to 50% true, isn't it still true?, How about, 75%, what about 99%...I mean, that's pretty darn close.
The answer is a resounding No. It's either true, or it is false. The implication of tolerance is a slow, perpetual move away from absolutism. And as I've stated before, tolerance is just a rejection of truth. Saying you tolerate other faiths as equal with your own is akin to saying that you reject God, for either God is the one true God or he is not. If you believe other faiths to be equal in merit with your own, then one of you is obviously wrong.
Do not mistake the tolerance of a person and their path as the same or equal with tolerance of a specific faith. Tolerance of a person is excellent, but tolerance of a faith that isn't based on the God of Israel, who sent his Son to provide for those who believed in him a source of salvation, is a travesty. As Christians, we're either sold out for Christ, working on a path of sold out, or enemies of God. Anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ is the enemy of God...so I ask you this question. Would you tolerate an enemy in your camp? If you knew that the enemy had only one goal and that was to seperate you from God, by the minute, hour, day, month, year, decade, and he had your entire lifetime to work at it...do you think he'd come right up and bonk you over the head? Or would he slowly, and persistently work on your desire, your definition of words and teach you things like tolerance...
So what is tolerance? Tolerance is defined by most as accepting opposing viewpoints as valid or equal with that of the truth. Tolerating the difference is called respect. Now that we understand the terms, we must deal with the implications. Can a Christian respect a Muslim perspective, view of God, approach to faith, etc? Certainly. Can they tolerate that a Muslim friend does not agree with them. Absolutely. Should they be 'tolerant' of the Muslim faith and accept it as equal with their own. Absolutely not. There is no name under heaven, given among men, by which they might be saved. I've coined a phrase and tell me if it doesn't emulate the United States slow and consistent evolution away from God.
"God desires a relationship with men; men who would seek to replace God with rules, and then the rules with their interpretation of the rules and then the interpretation with discretion and discretion with tolerance."
Ask yourself, did Satan lie in the Garden? Yes he did, but how did he do it? He did it by telling most of the truth. He said that their eyes would be opened and that they would be able to see good from evil...that was certainly true...where he lied is when he said that they would not die. They interpreted the death to be instant - while the Bible does not record the context of how their death would occur, their death certainly would occur. More thank likely they presupposed the meaning instead of seeking it out. As a result, they tolerated Satan in their midst. They tolerated untruth, false prophecy and a belief that wasn't of God. And because of that, their fall was causally linked to tolerance. In hindsight, I bet any one of us would have stomped on that snakes head and snuffed out his lies, his deception and would not have tolerated his false nature in our midst. Yet we do it everyday in America.
Satan is devious, and he will use the smallest sliver of difference to controvert the truth. If you change true to 50% true, isn't it still true?, How about, 75%, what about 99%...I mean, that's pretty darn close.
The answer is a resounding No. It's either true, or it is false. The implication of tolerance is a slow, perpetual move away from absolutism. And as I've stated before, tolerance is just a rejection of truth. Saying you tolerate other faiths as equal with your own is akin to saying that you reject God, for either God is the one true God or he is not. If you believe other faiths to be equal in merit with your own, then one of you is obviously wrong.
Do not mistake the tolerance of a person and their path as the same or equal with tolerance of a specific faith. Tolerance of a person is excellent, but tolerance of a faith that isn't based on the God of Israel, who sent his Son to provide for those who believed in him a source of salvation, is a travesty. As Christians, we're either sold out for Christ, working on a path of sold out, or enemies of God. Anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ is the enemy of God...so I ask you this question. Would you tolerate an enemy in your camp? If you knew that the enemy had only one goal and that was to seperate you from God, by the minute, hour, day, month, year, decade, and he had your entire lifetime to work at it...do you think he'd come right up and bonk you over the head? Or would he slowly, and persistently work on your desire, your definition of words and teach you things like tolerance...
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Is Penance Necessary?
As with all topics that potentially divide certain denominations, specifically in this case, catholics and protestants, one must prayerfully consider how God is working in their own lives. While I believe words have meaning and practices should always honor God, there are right answers, whether God has given it to us to understand or not.
According to this link; here is the official definition based on the Catholic faith and tradition.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm
Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a "sacrament" not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. As an outward sign it comprises the actions of the penitent in presenting himself to the priest and accusing himself of his sins, and the actions of the priest in pronouncing absolution and imposing satisfaction. This whole procedure is usually called, from one of its parts, "confession", and it is said to take place in the "tribunal ofpenance", because it is a judicial process in which the penitent is at once the accuser, the person accused, and the witness, while the priest pronounces judgment and sentence. The grace conferred is deliverance from the guilt of sin and, in the case of mortal sin, from its eternal punishment; hence also reconciliation with God, justification. Finally, the confession is made not in the secrecy of the penitent's heart nor to a layman as friend and advocate, nor to a representative of human authority, but to a duly ordained priest with requisite jurisdiction and with the "power of the keys", i.e., the power to forgive sins which Christ granted to His Church.
Protestants typically believe that you are justified by faith and not by works.
Paul tells us this in Romans 5:1 - I find it interesting that in his letter to the Romans, where the Catholic faith originated, he is teaching this specific principle.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us
Question: "How can salvation be not of works when faith is required? Isn't believing a work?"
Answer: Our salvation depends solely upon Jesus Christ. He is our substitute, taking sin’s penalty (2 Corinthians 5:21); He is our Savior from sin (John 1:29); He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The work necessary to provide salvation was fully accomplished by Jesus Himself, who lived a perfect life, took God’s judgment for sin, and rose again from the dead (Hebrews 10:12).
The Bible is quite clear that our own works do not help merit salvation. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5). “Not of works” (Ephesians 2:9). “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). This means that offering sacrifices, keeping the commandments, going to church, being baptized, and other good deeds are incapable of saving anyone. No matter how “good” we are, we can never measure up to God’s standard of holiness (Romans 3:23; Matthew 19:17; Isaiah 64:6). http://www.gotquestions.org/faith-work.html
So while I believe that I don't need to confess my sins to a priest, it's not necessarily wrong for someone else to. However, it is given to God only to forgive sins. Since sin is defined as being separate from God, only God can repair or forgive trespass against himself. Think of it this way;
can I forgive you for something you did to my father? No, ofcourse not. And even if my father bestowed on me the right to say the words, he cannot accept apology from anyone but the transgressor. This changed for believers when Christ came to the earth. He became for all who would be saved, the intermediary. His blood covers, not removes, our sins. We are not fully glorified until we reach heaven.
Again, don't be misled. The traditions of men do not seperate them from God. But, it is through the traditions of men that seperation can occur, when a man takes up his tradition over a relationship with Christ. This is demonstrated all throughout the Bible, especially in the Gospels by the Pharisees.
According to this link; here is the official definition based on the Catholic faith and tradition.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11618c.htm
Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a "sacrament" not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. As an outward sign it comprises the actions of the penitent in presenting himself to the priest and accusing himself of his sins, and the actions of the priest in pronouncing absolution and imposing satisfaction. This whole procedure is usually called, from one of its parts, "confession", and it is said to take place in the "tribunal ofpenance", because it is a judicial process in which the penitent is at once the accuser, the person accused, and the witness, while the priest pronounces judgment and sentence. The grace conferred is deliverance from the guilt of sin and, in the case of mortal sin, from its eternal punishment; hence also reconciliation with God, justification. Finally, the confession is made not in the secrecy of the penitent's heart nor to a layman as friend and advocate, nor to a representative of human authority, but to a duly ordained priest with requisite jurisdiction and with the "power of the keys", i.e., the power to forgive sins which Christ granted to His Church.
Protestants typically believe that you are justified by faith and not by works.
Paul tells us this in Romans 5:1 - I find it interesting that in his letter to the Romans, where the Catholic faith originated, he is teaching this specific principle.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us
Question: "How can salvation be not of works when faith is required? Isn't believing a work?"
Answer: Our salvation depends solely upon Jesus Christ. He is our substitute, taking sin’s penalty (2 Corinthians 5:21); He is our Savior from sin (John 1:29); He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The work necessary to provide salvation was fully accomplished by Jesus Himself, who lived a perfect life, took God’s judgment for sin, and rose again from the dead (Hebrews 10:12).
The Bible is quite clear that our own works do not help merit salvation. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done” (Titus 3:5). “Not of works” (Ephesians 2:9). “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). This means that offering sacrifices, keeping the commandments, going to church, being baptized, and other good deeds are incapable of saving anyone. No matter how “good” we are, we can never measure up to God’s standard of holiness (Romans 3:23; Matthew 19:17; Isaiah 64:6). http://www.gotquestions.org/faith-work.html
So while I believe that I don't need to confess my sins to a priest, it's not necessarily wrong for someone else to. However, it is given to God only to forgive sins. Since sin is defined as being separate from God, only God can repair or forgive trespass against himself. Think of it this way;
can I forgive you for something you did to my father? No, ofcourse not. And even if my father bestowed on me the right to say the words, he cannot accept apology from anyone but the transgressor. This changed for believers when Christ came to the earth. He became for all who would be saved, the intermediary. His blood covers, not removes, our sins. We are not fully glorified until we reach heaven.
Again, don't be misled. The traditions of men do not seperate them from God. But, it is through the traditions of men that seperation can occur, when a man takes up his tradition over a relationship with Christ. This is demonstrated all throughout the Bible, especially in the Gospels by the Pharisees.
God is Real - First Post
Hello fellow believers,
This blog is meant to be a repository for revelations that are based in my personal experiences as well as the Bible.
I intend this blog to be open, public for use in instruction and wisdom. My mission is to attack white-wash Christianity and to retake ground on God's behalf so that Christians might have an identity in Christ and fight for their Lord and Savior. I can't do this alone and certainly nothing is accomplished that is outside the sovereign will of God.
Will you help me in this cause by reading, commenting and sharing this with your fellow believers?
This blog is meant to be a repository for revelations that are based in my personal experiences as well as the Bible.
I intend this blog to be open, public for use in instruction and wisdom. My mission is to attack white-wash Christianity and to retake ground on God's behalf so that Christians might have an identity in Christ and fight for their Lord and Savior. I can't do this alone and certainly nothing is accomplished that is outside the sovereign will of God.
Will you help me in this cause by reading, commenting and sharing this with your fellow believers?
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