Hello I'm back... I hope.
I have had a crazy year and it is still crazy but I am feeling much better these days and I am hopeful to be staying the course as God continues to carry me and it has always been the Gospel that has brought me comfort through the toughest times.
I wanted to touch up my last posting before I start writing more and adding more posts here. I have also started writing for the Examiner for Wichita. The link is on the top right corner of my blog.
I am still a member of an Independent Christian Church and have recently been Received and joined an Episcopal Church. Talk about from one extreme to the other.
I have thoroughly enjoy the depth of the tradition and liturgy and the young priest is doing a very good job of preaching the text given in the Book of Common Prayer.
For some reason God has brought me to this denomination and more specifically this congregation and to be able to meet with the priest to discuss the hope to bring this denomination to be a gospel centered Episcopal Church. The liturgy is very good and Gospel centered. So, if the preacher really blows it on the sermon the liturgy will present the Gospel throughout the other aspects of the service. Such as the Eucharist / Holy Communion, scripture readings, absolution, etc.
Below is my version of the Heidleberg Catechism, but I have added 2 more Gs to make it the 5G Network like AT&T and Vorizon have the 4G... but we have the 5G network.
When I think of the Bible as a whole and when I want to talk to someone about it.
The following words come to mind as I scan across the bible from Genesis to Revelation. I see it in this way: God, Guilt, Grace, Gratitude, Glory
God: It all begins from a Holy Creator in a Holy way and its state or status is Holy, Pure, and "Very Good" as it is described in Genesis. Isaiah 6 is a great picture God's Holiness and how a man who was a prophet of God and considered a righteous man, would tremble in fear at the vision he had seen. God is called Holy, Holy, Holy.
Guilt: Adam and Eve are amongst and living in absolute pure conditions, and they have perfect reason, and perfect conditions. The only thing is a command to not eat of the Tree. The only odd thing is there is a talking serpent. I'm not certain talking snakes was the norm there either. So, the guilt that enters is really Satan himself and the questioning of what God had said and what God would do, if they ate of the Tree. So, at this moment Adam and Eve had the ability to not sin, but they gave in to the temptations and did sin, even before touching the tree.
Grace: God was not surprised by these events at all. This was all part of the plan. God wants to show the extent of His love for His Son and the Son for His Father. They decided that when they created man in their image, they knew that they were going to fall into sin. And that Jesus out of an expression of His love for the Father He would go and fulfill all the laws and prophecies and statutes that were established by God. As a propitiation or sacrifice by His life and by His death... and by His Resurrection. Some people may ask, "why did God have to allow sin to happen?"
And the only thing I can think of is, if He didn't allow sin to occur then we wouldn't know this kind of Love. We wouldn't know Grace, Mercy, Sacrifice, salvation, savior, redemption. And when Jesus said the following:
John 15:12-14 (New International Version) 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Again, we wouldn't know that kind of love if sin wasn't allowed to happen.
Gratitude: Jesus did in the desert in the worst conditions what Adam and Eve could not do in perfect conditions. Adam and Eve had a tree that was a temptation to eat from. Jesus had a tree the was a temptation to flee from. The temptations that Satan had for Jesus were ultimately the temptation to avoid the cross and to not do the Father's will.
Since we are this gift from the Father to the Son and the Son comes to redeem us back and by raising from the dead he makes it possible for us to be raised as well. His life becomes our life and his death / sacrifice became all of our sacrifices. He is the High Priest and He sat down by the Father, because that is the end of all sacrifices. When Jesus died on the cross He was treated as if he lived our lives, and he takes our sin upon himself. Then we are treated as if we lived His life and receive His sacrifice as our sacrifice for Sin. Propitiation is the turning away of God's wrath and taking it upon Himself. I think that was probably the most painful part of the crucifixion. Jesus enduring the wrath of God, which some people say it is God turning away from His son. I think it is the only possible reaction God can have against sin, it is just annihilated in the burning purification of His Holiness.
So, I say all of that to show how we are like the Tax Collector in Jesus' parable where he is in the temple and doesn't even lift his eyes to heaven, but cries out, "have mercy on me a sinner". Grace is so marvelous, if we also are "poor in spirit" like this tax collector. Then our next response would be to live a life out of Gratitude for what Jesus has done for us and for the Father.
Glory: Ultimately, all of the Bible is about beginning with Holiness, and ultimately it's about ending with Holiness, or Holiness Restored. So, God is making a way for the Jesus to express His love to the Father and for the Father. As well as express His love for the gift which the Father has Given to Jesus. Jesus goes to redeem the gift and has the Father and the Holy Spirit care for us while He prepares a place for us. And when He returns for His Bride, He comes back to call them to His home and we as adopted children get to be with Him and the Father and the Holy Spirit in Glory for all eternity.
So, it is more about God than it is about us. It is more about the person and works of Jesus Christ than it is about us. It is more about the Gospel than it is about us.
It is imperative to see that if you only go to the Bible and only come away with a personal application and don't see a hint of these things, then you most likely have missed the main point. And the main point comes from the Gospel which is the Person and Works of Jesus Christ.
All of this is DONE by God for God. Saved by God from God. Brought to Glory to God by God.
Soli Deo Gloria: All the Glory to God Alone
Greace = Grace and Peace
Chris
Coram Deo!!! (Before the Face of God)
Reform-Shire - Restore the Heart of the Church - Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Did Not Our Hearts Burn Within Us?
Church - Return To Being Gospel Centered
Friday, July 09, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Grace and the Gospel
Below is a wonderful message about the Gospel, and specifically Grace. This is one of the best messages I've heard coming from the Christian Church in a very long time. Except for the use of "The Message" translation / paraphrase / slang version.... I like to call "The Massage" translation.
Anyhow, this is a really good message and needs to be heard by anyone at any stage in their walk.
Grace and Peace = Greace,
Chris
Coram Deo!!!
Anyhow, this is a really good message and needs to be heard by anyone at any stage in their walk.
Grace and Peace = Greace,
Chris
Coram Deo!!!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Hello Reform-Shire friends,
I'm sure you have been missing my postings these past couple of weeks. I've been in a lot of conversations over the past few weeks about the church and the pastor search. Asking questions of the interviewing pastor and attending a Sunday School Class called "Gospel in Life - Grace Changes Everything" by Tim Keller.
There were a couple of articles by Tim Keller that I shared with the church leadership about being Gospel Centered in the the Church.
This has been a really really good class so far.
This week I've been thinking about the Sovereignty of God. And more specifically the providence of God.
There are a so many characters in the Bible to choose from but 2 that I like to think about are
Joseph in Genesis and Zacchaeus in Luke.
1)Joseph and that colorful coat.
RC Sproul did a wonderful series on the "Life of Joseph"
My favorite part is when RC Sproul discusses how much happened because of one lousy multi-colored coat. But, through all of that it was really God's providence that brought about the ultimate good in spite of the evil things that happened to Joseph. Not just in Joseph's life where he says you have meant it for evil but God has meant it for good.
We can see throughout scripture how God was working even allowing sin to take place to bring about the ultimate good. And God's providence works through all the aspects of the Human free will. For example, if you look at Jacob prior to the incident of Joseph and giving him this coat of many colors. Look at what kind of person Jacob has become. Look at what has happened in his own life. See how God worked even in that situation. See how Romans 9 interprets how God had chosen Jacob over Esau. So, all these things God was active and not just observing. He was involved in orchestrating the people while allowing them to maintain their freedom while at the same time maintaining His providence and His sovereignty over whatever comes to pass.
God not only determines the ends, but also the means by which everything comes to pass. But, this does not assign any evil to God, it still assigns the evil to man. And God either allows or does not allow the evil to take place.
So, Joseph's story is very big and very significant. And ultimately these things had to take place in order to bring about a savior in the person and works of Jesus Christ. Which happens way off into the distant future from the events or life of Joseph.
Now lets look into the New Testament at a smaller example but God's providence is often overlooked. Let's look at Zacchaeus
2) Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to be able to see Jesus.
So, Just like in Joseph's story, God was involved in this small little situation as well. The encounter of Jesus with Zacchaeus. Jesus was not surprised by this event that was unfolding. God made Zacchaeus and allowed him to become the kind of man that he is in this story. God caused Zacchaeus to be short, or at least short enough to need to climb the tree to see over the crowd. God also provided the tree to be planted and to grow so that Zacchaeus would be able to have a way to see over the crowd. And Jesus was to walk by at the precise time that Zaccheus would have the desire (created by the Holy Spirit) to see Jesus Christ and feel the compulsion to get a better look by climbing that tree. God also allowed Zacchaeus to become a tax collector and even a cheating tax collector, that would be despised by all the Jews. So, it wasn't part of Zacchaeus life to be anticipating the coming of the Messiah, it was his anticipation to make a little money off the excess that he would charge as he collected the taxes.
So, somehow, someway, while Zacchaeus was still in his free will to choose to have nothing to do with God, God changed Zacchaeus will, awakened him from spiritual darkness and brought him to the light in the meeting with Jesus. Zacchaeus response to the Grace of God was to do something out of Gratitude for the realization of his guilt before a Holy God. He wanted to give back more than what he had taken which is like the Grace that is given to us in our salvation or our adoption as sons of the Most High King, Jesus Christ.
So, in little ways and in big ways God is working to bring about His ultimate will to His Glory and to His Honor.
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
I'm sure you have been missing my postings these past couple of weeks. I've been in a lot of conversations over the past few weeks about the church and the pastor search. Asking questions of the interviewing pastor and attending a Sunday School Class called "Gospel in Life - Grace Changes Everything" by Tim Keller.
There were a couple of articles by Tim Keller that I shared with the church leadership about being Gospel Centered in the the Church.
This has been a really really good class so far.
This week I've been thinking about the Sovereignty of God. And more specifically the providence of God.
There are a so many characters in the Bible to choose from but 2 that I like to think about are
Joseph in Genesis and Zacchaeus in Luke.
1)Joseph and that colorful coat.
RC Sproul did a wonderful series on the "Life of Joseph"
My favorite part is when RC Sproul discusses how much happened because of one lousy multi-colored coat. But, through all of that it was really God's providence that brought about the ultimate good in spite of the evil things that happened to Joseph. Not just in Joseph's life where he says you have meant it for evil but God has meant it for good.
We can see throughout scripture how God was working even allowing sin to take place to bring about the ultimate good. And God's providence works through all the aspects of the Human free will. For example, if you look at Jacob prior to the incident of Joseph and giving him this coat of many colors. Look at what kind of person Jacob has become. Look at what has happened in his own life. See how God worked even in that situation. See how Romans 9 interprets how God had chosen Jacob over Esau. So, all these things God was active and not just observing. He was involved in orchestrating the people while allowing them to maintain their freedom while at the same time maintaining His providence and His sovereignty over whatever comes to pass.
God not only determines the ends, but also the means by which everything comes to pass. But, this does not assign any evil to God, it still assigns the evil to man. And God either allows or does not allow the evil to take place.
So, Joseph's story is very big and very significant. And ultimately these things had to take place in order to bring about a savior in the person and works of Jesus Christ. Which happens way off into the distant future from the events or life of Joseph.
Now lets look into the New Testament at a smaller example but God's providence is often overlooked. Let's look at Zacchaeus
2) Zacchaeus who climbed a tree to be able to see Jesus.
Luke 19:3-5 (New International Version)
3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
So, Just like in Joseph's story, God was involved in this small little situation as well. The encounter of Jesus with Zacchaeus. Jesus was not surprised by this event that was unfolding. God made Zacchaeus and allowed him to become the kind of man that he is in this story. God caused Zacchaeus to be short, or at least short enough to need to climb the tree to see over the crowd. God also provided the tree to be planted and to grow so that Zacchaeus would be able to have a way to see over the crowd. And Jesus was to walk by at the precise time that Zaccheus would have the desire (created by the Holy Spirit) to see Jesus Christ and feel the compulsion to get a better look by climbing that tree. God also allowed Zacchaeus to become a tax collector and even a cheating tax collector, that would be despised by all the Jews. So, it wasn't part of Zacchaeus life to be anticipating the coming of the Messiah, it was his anticipation to make a little money off the excess that he would charge as he collected the taxes.
So, somehow, someway, while Zacchaeus was still in his free will to choose to have nothing to do with God, God changed Zacchaeus will, awakened him from spiritual darkness and brought him to the light in the meeting with Jesus. Zacchaeus response to the Grace of God was to do something out of Gratitude for the realization of his guilt before a Holy God. He wanted to give back more than what he had taken which is like the Grace that is given to us in our salvation or our adoption as sons of the Most High King, Jesus Christ.
So, in little ways and in big ways God is working to bring about His ultimate will to His Glory and to His Honor.
Romans 8:28-39
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."[l] 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thank you,
Greace = Grace and Peace,
ChrisGreace = Grace and Peace,
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Southern Baptist Girl
Hello Reform-Shire Friends!
It has been a crazy week or 2 at work.
However, I would like to introduce to you a blog that I recently have linked to. This is a great discerning blog called "Southern Baptist Girl"
She has been doing some reviews of the famous "Beth Moore" studies. If you would like some chapter by chapter reviews of Beth Moore's teachings, then I suggest you go visit Southern Baptist Girl's Blog. Tell her I sent you.
The current book is called "So Long Insecurities" by Beth Moore
http://southernbaptistgirl.wordpress.com/category/beth-moore/
It seems there has been a lot of twisting of scripture to fit the specific topic or theme that Beth Moore has in mind. But, the biggest problem is that there is a whole lot of law in her teachings and very little (if at all) Gospel being presented. Where does the person and works of Jesus Christ fit in to "insecurities"?
Greace = Grace and Peace
Chris
Coram Deo!!!
It has been a crazy week or 2 at work.
However, I would like to introduce to you a blog that I recently have linked to. This is a great discerning blog called "Southern Baptist Girl"
She has been doing some reviews of the famous "Beth Moore" studies. If you would like some chapter by chapter reviews of Beth Moore's teachings, then I suggest you go visit Southern Baptist Girl's Blog. Tell her I sent you.
The current book is called "So Long Insecurities" by Beth Moore
http://southernbaptistgirl.wordpress.com/category/beth-moore/
It seems there has been a lot of twisting of scripture to fit the specific topic or theme that Beth Moore has in mind. But, the biggest problem is that there is a whole lot of law in her teachings and very little (if at all) Gospel being presented. Where does the person and works of Jesus Christ fit in to "insecurities"?
Greace = Grace and Peace
Chris
Coram Deo!!!
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Mentoring Brothers; The Cross & Resurrection
Below I'm making this part of our Mentoring Brothers weekly challenge. Please read below.
Chris
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
Subject: Mentoring Brothers; The Cross & Resurrection
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
Subject: Mentoring Brothers; The Cross & Resurrection
Hello Gentlemen!
What an amazing weekend and then a funeral of a wonderful woman Janice Cryer. Such an inspiring family and faith. We heard yesterday the testimony of Janice' sister. She said that in 2001 she had been a Jehovah's Witness for several years and she was going to Wichita to convert her sister Janice. After 3 days of debating back and forth. The JW was converted. The text that grabbed her and woke her from the grasp of the deceiver, was: John 1:1
Is there any other concept or teaching so strong that it would break through all the finely tuned complex teaching of a cult such as the JW?
And it is the Word (Jesus Christ) that brings someone to faith in the Word (Jesus Christ) through the preached Word(Jesus Christ) because it is all about the Word(Jesus Christ)
If you have not listened to any of the recommended programs that I have passed along. You MUST listen to this weeks program on the White Horse Inn. It is absolutely critical to grasp this, and it needs to be shared with all believers so that they know what they believe and why they believe it. Rev. Ken Jones tells a story about a man who thought he didn't need Christianity because everything was going just fine for him.
Listen to that story. The Gospel is practical for those tough situations that we cannot handle. We have to see the eternal good away from any temporal bad or temporal "good".
Please let me know that you have listened to it... Make the time to... Please, it is very, very important.
Greace = Grace and Peace
Chris
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
What an amazing weekend and then a funeral of a wonderful woman Janice Cryer. Such an inspiring family and faith. We heard yesterday the testimony of Janice' sister. She said that in 2001 she had been a Jehovah's Witness for several years and she was going to Wichita to convert her sister Janice. After 3 days of debating back and forth. The JW was converted. The text that grabbed her and woke her from the grasp of the deceiver, was: John 1:1
John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.Is there any other concept or teaching so strong that it would break through all the finely tuned complex teaching of a cult such as the JW?
And it is the Word (Jesus Christ) that brings someone to faith in the Word (Jesus Christ) through the preached Word(Jesus Christ) because it is all about the Word(Jesus Christ)
If you have not listened to any of the recommended programs that I have passed along. You MUST listen to this weeks program on the White Horse Inn. It is absolutely critical to grasp this, and it needs to be shared with all believers so that they know what they believe and why they believe it. Rev. Ken Jones tells a story about a man who thought he didn't need Christianity because everything was going just fine for him.
Listen to that story. The Gospel is practical for those tough situations that we cannot handle. We have to see the eternal good away from any temporal bad or temporal "good".
Please let me know that you have listened to it... Make the time to... Please, it is very, very important.
Greace = Grace and Peace
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Christopher Allen <christopherallen@sbcglobal.net>
To: Reform-Shire CalvinNo5 <calvinno5.reform-shire@blogger.com>
Sent: Mon, April 5, 2010 4:03:55 PM
Subject: The Cross & Resurrection
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
From: Christopher Allen <christopherallen@sbcglobal.net>
To: Reform-Shire CalvinNo5 <calvinno5.reform-shire@blogger.com>
Sent: Mon, April 5, 2010 4:03:55 PM
Subject: The Cross & Resurrection
The Cross & Resurrection
Jesus Christ, according to the apostle Paul, was crucified for our sins and was raised for our justification. The resurrection isn't simply an amazing miracle to which we yield our assent, it is the watershed of history, the day of our salvation. So the gospel isn't what happens inside of us, which varies from person to person and from week to week, but the news of a mission accomplished by God that can't be diminished, altered, improved, or completed by us-it can only be received. The main thing for generic religion has always been universal, timeless principles; even in popular culture a figure like Santa Claus is an important icon at Christmas because the mythology surrounding him teaches a good lesson. If we could only give back some of the love that we are given on a regular basis there would be peace on earth-that is what the Christmas cards say. Santa, Jesus, Gandhi, and Mother Teresa can be used to make the same point.
Click here to read the rest of this week's commentary
Listen Now: "The Cross & Resurrection"
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
Monday, April 05, 2010
The Cross & Resurrection
The Cross & Resurrection
Jesus Christ, according to the apostle Paul, was crucified for our sins and was raised for our justification. The resurrection isn't simply an amazing miracle to which we yield our assent, it is the watershed of history, the day of our salvation. So the gospel isn't what happens inside of us, which varies from person to person and from week to week, but the news of a mission accomplished by God that can't be diminished, altered, improved, or completed by us-it can only be received. The main thing for generic religion has always been universal, timeless principles; even in popular culture a figure like Santa Claus is an important icon at Christmas because the mythology surrounding him teaches a good lesson. If we could only give back some of the love that we are given on a regular basis there would be peace on earth-that is what the Christmas cards say. Santa, Jesus, Gandhi, and Mother Teresa can be used to make the same point.
Click here to read the rest of this week's commentary
Listen Now: "The Cross & Resurrection"
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
How Jesus Fulfilled the Law—Moral and Judicial
March 30 - How Jesus Fulfilled the Law—Moral and Judicial
Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. - Matthew 5:17
The moral law was God's foundational code. Jesus fulfilled that law by His perfect righteousness. He obeyed every commandment, met every requirement, and lived up to every standard.
But most important, Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament by being its fulfillment. He did not simply teach it fully and exemplify it fully—He was it fully. He did not come simply to teach righteousness and to model righteousness; He came as divine righteousness. What He said and what He did reflected who He is.
God's judicial law was given to provide unique identity for Israel as a nation that belonged to Jehovah. The laws relating to agriculture, settlement of disputes, diet, cleanliness, dress, and such things were special standards by which His chosen people were to live before the Lord and apart from the world. This judicial law Jesus fulfilled on the cross.
Jesus' crucifixion marked Israel's ultimate apostasy in the final rejection of her Messiah and the interruption of God's dealing with that people as a nation. With that, the judicial law passed away because Israel no longer served as His chosen nation.
Praise God, He will someday redeem and restore Israel (Rom. 9–11), but in the meanwhile the church is His chosen body of people on earth (1 Peter 2:9–10). All the redeemed—those who receive the work of the cross—are His chosen ones.
Ask Yourself
There is no way, of course, for us to duplicate the perfect performance of Jesus, but by surrendering in daily, ongoing ways to His Holy Spirit, we can see Christ's character exuding from us in steady practice. Have your own failures and experiences caused you to deny this truth? Submit to Him afresh today.
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
www.Reform-Shire.blogspot.com
Coram Deo!!!
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