On the Gospel

Often, I think, when one says, "I believe in Jesus," what one means is that "I believe in the Good News that Jesus brought to the earth." In a general sense, this practice is fine. However, in an actual sense, there is an inherent (if subtle) danger in equating the deliverer with His message. I believe the danger is two fold. In one we misrepresent who Jesus is if we do not have a clear understanding of what His message is. On the other hand, if we do not have a clear understand of whom Jesus is, we don't really know what we mean when we confess our belief in Him. I believe that Jesus preached the Gospel. Scripture informs us that He preached a message of repentance and belief in [He who brings the Kingdom near]. I say this because Jesus preaches repentance "for the Kingdom is near" and also repentance and belief in Himself. This parallel implies the above in my estimation. So, the subsequent question becomes, "Who is Jesus?"

Whether Christians invented monotheism doesn't apply to this conversation. In this context, if I am correct in my belief that Jesus is God, then my focusing all my attention upon Him (a.k.a. repentance) and placing my faith in Him (i.e. believing in Him and Him alone) is my appropriate reaction to the Gospel (a derivative of the Saxon phrase meaning "Good News"). This is the same relation that we are called to have in the "Shema". So, Jesus' message is NOT the Gospel nor is the Shema. The Good News must be the reason that I may place my faith in Jesus. He is God and He sacrificed Himself willingly upon the cross so that the sins of the world may be forgiven making John 3:16 effective for all time. And not only that but He rose from the dead and now sits upon the right hand of God the Father. Like Paul said, I believe that my baptism (a definition of which must wait for a different post, please) has connected me to the death of Jesus so that I may now live a life like Jesus' forever. In effect, I am no longer a citizen of this world, but instead I am a citizen of God's Holy Kingdom with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.It's all connected, you see. But the Gospel is that God lived died and now lives again for me and for you. Now that you've heard, you may believe and live.

I think that even in the exodus, the Israelites had access to the Gospel in a manner of speaking. They were called to the same action as the Gospel calls us to via the Gospel and/or the Shema. They were to focus on God and place their trust in Him. They could literally witness God's presence in the pillar of Cloud and the pillar of fire. They were to actually follow God and trust Him to secure their passage through the wilderness. Their exodus was at the same time a real life experience for them and a metaphor of life on earth for the rest of us. They and we are called to focus our attention upon God (repent) and believe in His Word (via Moses or in Christ Jesus). The Gospel, I believe is directly connected with the presence and accessibility of God. He is present so it is possible to do what He wishes.

Confess AND/PLUS believe/trust/have faith. I believe that doing one and not the other has definite salvific consequences. One seems to be an inward effect while the other is an outward action, just as when Jesus preached "Repent and Believe".

I think that there is always a way to confess one's belief. The mechanism is less important than the action itself. But, I do believe that believing is the key. The question is whether one truly believes if one never acts upon that belief.

It is because God has made it possible to choose Him that we can and must choose Him. It is indeed a God thing that makes the choice possible. God never forces anyone to make the choice, however. Our "yes" is made possible because of God's "Yes" but we must still take the opportunity to say that "yes".

God has already done the work. We must respond positively to what He has done. This is true repentance. This is our first act of faith. This is true faith in our Creator. I don't think that anyone who is saved will NOT do this.

God justifies and God sanctifies. God saves too.In everything He wishes us to act relationally to Him. Every good relationship requires effort by both parties. Sanctification is what naturally happens as we walk with God. We become more like Him.Responding positively in terms of our salvation is our "yes" (a positive statement) to God's outstretched hands.Not everyone is saved. Those who are saved are those who have taken God up on His offer.

What if everyone is saved? We have much to answer for, then. There is no Great Commission. Everything is accomplished. But then why is there suffering? Why does not everyone believe that Christ is Lord? Why is there death? You see, such a misunderstanding of basic theology serves to open up a "Pandora's Box" of questions that are unanswerable because of the sandy ground of doubt they are based upon. Don't get me wrong here. This is NOT WORKS righteousness. Salvation is by Grace Alone. No one must say halleluiah seventy times in order to be saved or anything like that. THAT would be salvation by works. It is God's grace that makes salvation possible (He did the WORK) on the cross. It is God's grace that offers salvation that He made possible. It is through God's grace that a person may realize that salvation is there for the asking. It is God who brings a person to Him and it is God that supplies that wherewithal for a person to reach for His outstretched hands and grab hold; even for eternity. BUT, you have to take that hand that is being so graciously offered or salvation is not yours.Christ has not returned. There is still hope for the world. We still have a purpose. It's going to get worse before it gets better. But all that is because Christ's work in the world is not finished since not everyone is saved who will be saved.

In Christ,

Christopher

Cain Loved God

The Story of Cain is an explicit example of the "Simple Hermeneutic". It's a negative example in that Cain didn't love God first, nor did he love his neighbor second. Instead he placed himself first. As a result he became further seperated from God.

It's clear from this story that this is a relationship issue and that because of Cain's self-centerdness, his relationship with God --which is very close at the beginning of the story -- suffers deeply, even though God still loves Cain deeply at the end of the story.In a way, though, Cain is us just as his parents are us.

We hide ourselves from God. We try to cover our sleves up so that God won't see us. Our perfect realtionship with God is ruined and we are seperated from total communion with Him (i.e. we're chucked out of the Garden).

But God was still with humankind after we were removed from the Garden. The realtionship was still open and strong. When was the last time that any of us had the same kind of free flowing conversation with God that Cain enjoyed? And, yes Cain loved God. He didn't want to be banished from God and he meant well with his offering. He didn't think of God first and bring him the first and the best. No, Cain saved the first and the best for himself. But Cain loved God. He got really angry when ?God didn't accept his offering. Would he have gotten mad if he didn't care? I don't think so. He didn't heed God's warning, though and he let his anger get the best of him. In a jealous rage, he killed his brother and then tried to cover it up from God. Obviously, he neither placed God first or his brother before himself. In this way he further distanced himself from God. But, even though Cain (us?) was removed from the immediate presence of God, he still enjoyed God's protection. The parting was not what either party wanted. Both God and Cain still loved the other. Cain just couldn't do what he had to do to stay with God.
(Hmmm. Does that remind you of anyone?)

There is no doubt that Cain screwed up (just like we do). There's no doubt that his lack of slef control and self-centeredness created a chasm between himself and God (just like ours do). But, when the Holy Spirit showed me the love that exists between God and Cain in this story, it just opened things up to a new level. It makes the murder that much more poignant. It makes God's words to Cain that much richer. It makes Cains words that much more shocking. And, it makes the final seperation all the more agonizing.

The closeness of the two also makes Cain's self-centeredness that much more "in-your-face" especially when taken into a Christian context of an open relationship with God through Christ Jesus. It begs the question: "How am I different than Cain?" Or even, "Am I any different than Cain?" In a word; NO. And it pains me to no end.

What is the application of this teaching?

I believe that the lesson is two fold. First, it offers hope to unbelievers. God loves you inspight of everything you may have done to get away from Him. Secondly, it is a call to believes to get close to God; to get rid of those things that are barriers to our relationship with God. God wants us to be with Him. We keep ourselves from Him. We often believe that we can't actually get to Him. We feel "cursed". But Christ Jesus has split the curtain that kept us away from God. It's up to us to walk into the holy of holies and be with our Creator.

Prayer
Worship
Study

The Essence of The Covenant Principles

6:4 Listen, Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one. 6:5 You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.
Exhortation to Teach the Covenant Principles
6:6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 6:7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the way, as you lie down, and as you get up. 6:8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 6:9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. " (Deut. 6:4-6:9,NET)

The above is called the "Shema" for the initial word in 6:4; "Listen" or "Hear".
This is what Jesus quoted and thereby alluded to when He gave us the "Great Commandment".The Quote I began the thread with says "The Essence of the Covenant Principles". In other words we are not so much discussing "Covenant(s)" per se. We are discussing the underlying principles behind them. What I am proposing is that these do NOT change with the advent of any New Covenant. These principles were in place in the Garden and are still in place today and will be in place forever. These are Eternal Principles. I further suggest that the editor(s) of the New English Translation were correct when they called the "Shema" the "essence" of these principles. Infact, that is why I included their heading in this thread.6:4 and 6:5 give us the principle. 6:6-6:9 explain the principle for our daily lives.
6:6 These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 6:7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the way, as you lie down, and as you get up. 6:8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 6:9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. "

Simply put, "You must love the Lord your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength," all the time. I believe that this is what Paul had in mind as he exhorted us to "pray without ceasing."

Gal. 5: 24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." (Gal 5:24-26)


Col.3:"Put on the New Self and The Holy Spirit will quicken your mortal body if the Spirit dwells in you. Walking the New Covenant by having it written upon my heart and not tired around my neck but put on the door post of my heart.1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, F16 free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col:3-17)

I believe that the key here is WORSHIP. And, I believe that there are three essentials to worship. Prayer, Study (Scripture), and Communion (a.k.a. group fellowship/worship). These three are the building blocks to a sound relationship with the LORD

Prayer = Communication with God. It's a dialogue.
Study = In depth, delving into the Word, prayerfully, faithfully, with God's help.
Communion = worship with others, meeting as the Body of Christ to hear the Word and worship God and pray.

I suggest that the SHEMA is about building a deeply personal realtionship with God. It's about God permeating everything about one's self. It's about God dwelling in faithful to such a degree that all of one's actions, all of words, all of one's thoughts are given back to God. Even one's breath is given back to God. How cool is that? What would be like to have other people meet God just by meeting you? I think that would be awesome indeed! AMEN