Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Who can we trust?

The "so called Christian" leadership in America has left me wondering; who can I trust? It seems that if a teacher puts out a book or has a successful TV ministry they are safe. We have popular teachers like Joel Osteen will not say that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes who endorses Homosexuality. The Christian Book stores are riddled with false teaching, and anything that teaches "Die to myself" or "Christ Alone, Faith Alone, Repentance." Is considered non tolerant, and therefore is not promoted. I believe America as a great majority has strayed away from the core tenants of Christianity, and we need a great awaking and call to repentance. Oh that God would have mercy on this nation that we could turn from our ways and come back to him.

From Larry King Live: True or False

Here is manuscript of a conversation between Joel Osteen and Larry King. Osteen denies the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice, he praises the pagan, false-religion of India as "I know they love God." I pray the Lord will give his followers discernment to see the deception.

On Larry King Live, the following very disturbing conversation occurred with Larry King and Joel Osteen:

KING: What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?

OSTEEN: You know, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know ...

At this point, even Larry King appears surprised by Osteen’s answer. Then Larry tosses Osteen a "soft-ball" to explain his previous answer. And again Osteen openly denies that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way of salvation.

KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're wrong, aren't they?

OSTEEN: Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus.

What about Rick Warren; is he safe? He does not speak out on things like Gay Marriage or abortion. He also is a supporter of the "universal" or "emergent church". Many in the "emerging" and "Emergent church" movements also state their intention to transcend the divisive issues like abortion and homosexuality, which Rich Warren Supports. The web site onenewsnow.com quoted Warren saying:
“I was trying to point out I’m not opposed to gays having their partnership. I’m opposed to gays using the term marriage for their relationship.” - Rick Warren
I believe his fence sitting answers leave the Christian mind wondering "what is truth."

Another name on the shelf that I have seen at my local grocery store is T.D. Jakes. Before I posted this I was thinking, not T.D., but the spirit of Universalism has over taken him as well. In a sermon Jakes says that Ruth and Naomi were lesbians.

“Ruth turns to Naomi and says “I shall not leave thee.” She makes her statement to this woman…that sounds somewhat, somewhere in between poetry, intimacy, and borders on lesbianism. People don’t even know how to explain what Ruth said to Naomi. It makes them uncomfortable. They’re afraid to talk about it. They don’t want to teach on it. Same thing with David and Jonathan…where there were same-sex relationships getting too close, people don’t even know what to say.” T.D. Jakes

These are just a few teachers to name a few. I know there are more out there. Unfortunately friends I believe we need to be on our guard against all that is put before us in the name of Christianity. Look at Paul's warning to Timothy "2 Timothy 4:3-4 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. Has America turned it's ears away from the truth and turned to myths? Read on.

Read This: Taken from Al Mohler

As Cathy Lynn Grossman of USA Today reports:
Most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as their savior, a new survey finds.

Of the 65% of people who held this open view of heaven's gates, 80% named at least one non-Christian group - Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists or people with no religion at all- who may also be saved, according to a new survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

"When 34% of evangelicals reject the truth that Jesus is the only Savior, we are witnessing a virtual collapse of evangelical theology. There is also additional cause for concern. As Cathy Lynn Grossman reports, "Pew's new survey also found that many Christians (29%) say they are saved by their good actions; 30% say salvation is through belief in Jesus, God or a higher power alone, which is the core teaching of evangelical Protestantism; and 10% say salvation is found through a combination of behavior and belief, a view closer to Catholic teachings."

Only preaching of the "True Gospel of Jesus Christ" can save our nation.

Mark 1:14,15 "14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, " The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Cool Plugin for Firefox.

I found this really cool plug-in for the Firefox web browser. It takes pop ups and turns them into bible verses. Check it out Bible Verse Plug-In . Also I was crusing on I'll Be Honest and found some great testimonies. And this was amazing.


Your works are FILTHY RAGS - Jeff Noblit - Sermon Jam from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Regeneration, have your desires changed?

This is a nice little explanation of Regeneration.

Regeneration by J.I. Packer from Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” JOHN 3:3

Regeneration is a New Testament concept that grew, it seems, out of a parabolic picture-phrase that Jesus used to show Nicodemus the inwardness and depth of the change that even religious Jews must undergo if they were ever to see and enter the kingdom of God, and so have eternal life (John 3:3-15). Jesus pictured the change as being “born again.”

The concept is of God renovating the heart, the core of a person’s being, by implanting a new principle of desire, purpose, and action, a dispositional dynamic that finds expression in positive response to the gospel and its Christ. Jesus’ phrase “born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5) harks back to Ezekiel 36:25-27, where God is pictured as symbolically cleansing persons from sin’s pollution (by water) and bestowing a “new heart” by putting his Spirit within them. Because this is so explicit, Jesus chides Nicodemus, “Israel’s teacher,” for not understanding how new birth happens (John 3:9-10). Jesus’ point throughout is that there is no exercise of faith in himself as the supernatural Savior, no repentance, and no true discipleship apart from this new birth.

Elsewhere John teaches that belief in the Incarnation and Atonement, with faith and love, holiness and righteousness, is the fruit and proof that one is born of God (1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4). It thus appears that as there is no conversion without new birth, so there is no new birth without conversion.

Though infant regeneration can be a reality when God so purposes (Luke 1:15, 41-44), the ordinary context of new birth is one of effectual calling—that is, confrontation with the gospel and illumination as to its truth and significance as a message from God to oneself. Regeneration is always the decisive element in effectual calling.

Regeneration is monergistic: that is, entirely the work of God the Holy Spirit. It raises the elect among the spiritually dead to new life in Christ (Eph. 2:1-10). Regeneration is a transition from spiritual death to spiritual life, and conscious, intentional, active faith in Christ is its immediate fruit, not its immediate cause. Regeneration is the work of what Augustine called “prevenient” grace, the grace that precedes our outgoings of heart toward God.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Will Homosexuals Inherit the Kingdom of God.

In today's society there is a big Homosexual society, and I see the question come up often. What does the Bible say about Homosexuals? Well it's pretty clear. It says they will not inherit the Kingdom of God. I guess I don't understand what all the hub bub is about. The Bible is "God Breathed", so he said it. The Bible is our final authority too.
Before I was saved I made the rules and I decided what was really bad, and what was just a little dirty. Oh before regeneration I wanted Jesus, plus my sin. Until you are regenerated by the Holy Spirit you will never be able to look at sin as it really is. God sees lying the same a murder. Only the Gospel can save the lost, liar, thief, idolater, adulterer, murderer. We must repent of our sins and Trust in Jesus as our righteousness. And remember Christian 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Gospel 101

Great interview with John Piper on the Gospel.

What God Requires Christ Provides

Good Theology

This is a good primer for those out there who aren't sure what reformed theology is.

Reformed vs. Calvinist

by
Rick Long

Recently I was asked “what exactly is reformed theology?” This is a great question. Another great question is “what is the difference between reformed theology and Calvinism?”

I want to draw a distinction between the two because it is important to understand why I say that I am reformed but not a Calvinist.

Some people treat the terms “Reformed” and “Calvinist” as being synonymous. Still many people disagree with this linkage. There are many similarities between the two, but there are enough distinctive differences in my own understanding and use of the terms that I think of them as two seperate, though linked, mindsets.

The Reformed theological stance arose from the Protestant Reformation. By affirming Reformed theology we are implicitly denying other theologies, such as Catholic theology (which Reformed theology rose in opposition to) and Arminian theology (which later rose in opposition to Reformed theology). There are generally two camps within Protestantism: Reformed/Calvinism and Arminianism.

Christianity refers to all religions that are based at least partially on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Christendom is separated into four main divisions: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant and Cults. Very generally, Protestants can be defined as those who are part of churches which arose from the break with the Catholic Church during the Reformation.

Reformed theology adheres to all the foundational beliefs taught in the Bible. These beliefs were the foundation of the early church and are based on the teachings of the Bible as interpreted by the apostles and early church fathers. Many of these beliefs were changed or lost as the Catholic Church grew in power and authority from the fifth century onwards. Throughout history there were pockets of non-Catholic believers who held to many or all of these points of doctrine, but they were largely lost until the time of the Reformation. Reformed theology emphasizes God rather than man.

The base of Reformed theology is something known as the Five solas (latin for slogans):

1. The authority of Scripture: Scripture alone is the standard and provides truth about God, His Son, His ways and His plan.

2. the basis of salvation: Grace alone provides the basis of salvation.

3. the means of salvation: Faith alone provides the means of salvation: faith in Christ by the grace of God.

4. the merit of salvation: Christ alone is the one who saves, who has purchased forgiveness and who offers salvation to those who trust Him.

5. to God alone be the glory in all things.

These five statements correctly and fully summarize what I ascribe to as Reformed theology.

Again, these form the basis for Protestantism as much as they do for the Reformed tradition. These are the principles that drove the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and separated it from the Roman Catholic Church. These points of doctrine are based entirely on the Bible and were the theological driving force behind the early Protestant movement.

There are five distinct points of doctrine known as the five points of Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P. for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irrestible Grace and Preservation of the saints). These were first articulated after the Reformation by followers of John Calvin in the early 16th century. Most evangelical churches do not hold to all of these points. Some hold to two or three (and occasionally even four). The alternative to ALL five points of Calvinism is Arminian theology. The 5 points of Calvinism have long been controversial and even divisive. But clearly all Christians hold to some of the five points, so some would say that all Christians are at least a one or two point Calvinist.

So by the terms I have outlined here, I am not a 5 point Calvinist nor does The Point embrace Calvinism as our theological base. I am convinced that the five solas of the Reformed theological stance as I have outlined here are completely Biblical. This is what I mean when I say that I am reformed and this is what we mean we say that The Point is reformed in our theology. I also believe that these are truths that all Christians would claim, either explicitly or implicitly.

Scripture Alone. Faith Alone. Grace Alone. Christ Alone. To God alone be the glory.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

What is the Emergent Church Movement?

Question: "What is the emerging / emergent church movement?"

Answer:
The emerging, or emergent, church movement takes its name from the idea that as culture changes, a new church should emerge in response. In this case, it is a response by various church leaders to the current era of post-modernism. Although post-modernism began in the 1950s, the church didn't really seek to conform to its tenets until the 1990s. Post-modernism can be thought of as a dissolution of "cold, hard fact" in favor of "warm, fuzzy subjectivity." The emerging / emergent church movement can be thought of the same way.

The emerging / emergent church movement falls into line with basic post-modernist thinking—it is about experience over reason, subjectivity over objectivity, spirituality over religion, images over words, outward over inward, feelings over truth. These are reactions to modernism and are thought to be necessary in order to actively engage contemporary culture. This movement is still fairly new, though, so there is not yet a standard method of "doing" church amongst the groups choosing to take a post-modern mindset. In fact, the emerging church rejects any standard methodology for doing anything. Therefore, there is a huge range of how far groups take a post-modernist approach to Christianity. Some groups go only a little way in order to impact their community for Christ, and remain biblically sound. Most groups, however, embrace post-modernist thinking, which eventually leads to a very liberal, loose translation of the Bible. This, in turn, lends to liberal doctrine and theology.

For example, because experience is valued more highly than reason, truth becomes relative. Relativism opens up all kinds of problems, as it destroys the standard that the Bible contains absolute truth, negating the belief that biblical truth can be absolute. If the Bible is not our source for absolute truth, and personal experience is allowed to define and interpret what truth actually is, a saving faith in Jesus Christ is rendered meaningless.

Another area where the emerging / emergent church movement has become anti-biblical is its focus on ecumenism. Unity among people coming from different religious and ethnic backgrounds and diversity in the expression of corporate worship are a strong focus of the emergent church movement. Being ecumenical means that compromise is taking place, and this results in a watering down of Scripture in favor of not offending an apostate. This is in direct opposition to passages such as Revelation 2:14-17, Jesus' letter to the church of Pergamum, in which the Church is warned against tolerating those who teach false doctrine.

False doctrine seems to abound within the emerging / emergent church movement, though, as stated previously, not within every group espousing emerging / emergent church beliefs. Because of this, care must be taken when deciding whether or not to become involved with an emergent church group. We all need to take heed of Matthew 7:15-20, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

While seeking new ways to witness to a changing culture is admirable, utilizing ways which compromise the Truth of the Gospel in any way is nothing more than promoting false doctrine and leading others away from Christ instead of to Him.

Jesus Loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

What ever happened to "Repent and believe the Gospel!". Jesus said in Mark 1:15 , The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, AND BELIEVE the gospel. Look at Luke 5:32 "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to REPENTANCE." Jesus even commanded the disciples to preach repentance, Luke 24:46-47 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Jesus has called all men to repent and believe the Gospel!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Justification Does James 2 contradict Romans 4

I read a great article on Justification by Dr. John MacArthur at www.monergism.com. If you have ever read any of the epistles written by Paul you will know that a man is justified apart from works of the law, and he also states if righteousness comes from the law then Christ died needlessly. It is apparent in scripture that a man cannot save himself nor does he want to. But here is the question at hand. How can we reconcile James chapter 2 vs Romans 4 and other Justification by faith alone versus. I believe the key ingredient here is to understand who is doing the Justifying in these texts. In James 2:24 "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone." Justification before men is in view in here and Justification before God is in view Romans, and the other epistles. James said If a man says he has faith but no works that man's faith is worthless... I believe James was proving to his readers that Righteous works are the necessary proof of saving faith in Jesus Christ before "MEN". So logically if a man says he has faith, but he is unrighteous, and his acts do not back up his claims; then his faith is worthless. Works is the justifying ingredient to "MEN" and faith is the justifying ingredient to "GOD". With that statement being said you can see who is how Romans 3:30 points out who is justified and who is doing the justifying. 30 "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight" In who's sight? God's sight.Who will not be justified, (MAN) any flesh that uses the law to justify themselves to GOD.


- Aaron