The Revelation of What Matters Most

We leave the last section and enter John 13:31-35 and hear our Lord’s word about what matters most in terms of being a dicsiple.  As the author’s point out there is an “incluso” which marks chapters 13-17 as a single literary unit.  This marker is the word “love.”

Our Lord and the 11 leave (which would be uncommon for a Passover meal) and leaves the dwelling they celebrated the passover.  What the Lord says next is striking, as he is predicting His fulfillment of His mission on earth and the glorification of the Father (verses 31-33).   In addition, He is speaking of His “glorification” which the authors rightly point out that it is clearly possible that it is a reference to His glorified resurrected body.

The authors observe why would Jesus Christ our Lord use the term to describe His coming death, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension.   They point out that the statement probably has a dual meaning (as we have already seen before).  Forst to bring glory to the Father, and second to be glorified in a future sense at the resurection.   Specultively, He could also refer to His activities between death and resurrection, or even post resurection.

One sense the authors bring out that is most likely here is the idea of the certainty of the payment for sin by our Lord.  The Father is glorified by the obedience of the Son, who intern will glorify the Son after what He is about to endure.  The authors point out the Greek construction in this verse is an “if” clause with the resulting meaning of “since” means “the certainty of what is being proposed.”

What an incredible truth!  There was never any doubt about the outcome of the mission of the Messiah for the first advent.  We have been saved in eternity past and the cross was the central event of our species.  God created the potential for all of humanity to have a right relationship with Him through the sacrifice of the Son.

The certainty is also rooted in the mutual relationship of the members of the trinity.  Another powerful point in this passage.  As the authors point out there is a lot of theology here.  Too much for one post.

Till next time…

A Clear Warning About Unbelief

As we continue to study this section, starting in verse 18, the story unfolds with our Lord speaking on two important things that are about to happen.  One is that what he is about to say (and the preceding teaching) has great significance in terms of belief, “Now I tell you before it comes, that when it comes to pass you may believe that I am He.” (John 13:19).1  This is in reference to the preceding verse when Jesus makes it clear that one of them will betray Him.  He then in this verse tells them prophetically that He will be betrayed and that when it happens they will believe.

This verse presents a problem for me.  It clearly states that not only did people believe that He was the Messiah, but also that the disciples believed in Him as early as the 2nd chapter John.  For a long time I tried to debate that this Gospel was written only to unbelievers.  This verse makes it clear that some of Jesus teaching was to strengthen the (believing) disciples faith during and after the trial and execution of our Lord.  So I would agree with the authors with the gospel of John has a dual purpose.  This can be seen in verse 20 that uses language that goes back to John 1:12.  However, post cross and today, the primary application of most of John is toward unbelievers.  The exception being the chapters covered in the book I am sharing from.

As the story continues Jesus makes it plain that Judas was the betrayer.  The disciples thought that there must have been another meaning in Jesus’ words.  The text reads, “…they were perplexed…”.  The authors point out that if they had understood one or more of them would have barred Judas’ exit.  I would think that Peter would have been the first one to the door to stop Judas.

One other point here, it is extremely significant that Jesus gave Judas “the piece of bread.”  A host or guest of honor would honor another seated with him with a peice of bread dipped in haroseth.  This dipping sauce is the most likely candidate to have been used at that particular table at that particular time from a Jewish standpoint.  Jesus loved even Judas to the end.

Notice also that after Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.  When that had occurred, Jesus having the attribute of omniscience, knew this happened and and then told Judas to do what he was going to “do quickly.”  Our Lord by His own actions was obeying the command he had given on the mount to love your enemies and do good to them not evil.

I am going through a period in my life where someone I love dearly has abandoned me and become my enemy.  No matter how I try to be faithful to this principle of doing good and being kind to my enemy I am attacked and shunned.  It is the most painful period in my life.  But I am walking though it with the Lord’s help and the help of my church.  I can only imagine how Jesus felt handing that piece of bread to Judas knowing what was going to happen!

We read at the end of this section at the end of verse 30. “And it was night.”  Judas chose unbelief and and darkness rather than light. (See John 1:4, 6-9).  This is another clear indication of what a disciple is and is not.  In this case Judas was a disciple and an unbeliever.  The authors rightly observe that we should take no pity on Judas.  The reason, it was his choice to not believe and to betray Jesus into the hands of sinners.

What a life lesson, with all that our Lord had taught up to this point, you would have thought that Judas would have believed.  It is also interesting to note that John wrote later that a believer can walk in darkness (1 John 1:5-10).  Paul said that a believer can become captive to Satan to do his will and by inference not do the will of the Father.

But there is real reason that Jesus said it would soon be dark (See also John 12:36 and context) it is the beginning of the trial and crucifixion sequence.  In John 12, Jesus tell that the “ruler of this world” would be thrown out.  For a time there will be no light especially at the moment that our Lord was made an atonement for our sins.

A warning about unbelief for believers and unbelievers alike.

________________

1.  The KJV has “I AM” as the last part of verse 19.  This is debated amoung scholars.

Jesus Christ’s Discipleship Course

Getting Ready to Hear the Lord’s Instruction on Discipleship

Many churches have discipleship programs and some strive to make them as hard as possible to “weed out” those who are not serious about following Jesus.   As I said in my previous post, the upper room discourse is rich with instructions for the disciples; as is the whole (chapters 13-17).  In John 13:1-30 (see note 1), our Lord modeled humility when He washed his disciples feet.  This is the first of His detailed instructions to the disciples that John records.  There are several lessons that could be quite a study themselves.  But here is what stood out to me…

Teaching By Example

First in His omniscience He knew that the hour of the death and crucifixion had come.  Knowing this The Lord Jesus Christ laid his garment down and stooped to the place of a servant and washed his disciples feet.  This is one of the most powerful and difficult things for Christians to do, humble service to each other.   He did this knowing that a unbelieving disciple was part of their group.  He even washed his feet.  The Lord is teaching by example, a powerful example.

Second, the Lord explained the true path to blessing, the humility He expects of His followers…

If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:17

Third, in verses 21-30, our Lord prophesies His betrayal and reveals that Judas was the betrayer.

The only salvation truth in His discussion with Peter and the disciples is in verse 13:10 when He tells him, “you are clean, but not all of you.“

The last is a reference to Judas. And it is an secondary issue here.  As the authors show this is a secondary issue, not the primary issue which is the humility required of a disciple.

For the rest of the foot washing there is a reference to what is called sanctification salvation.  This is the meaning behind the Lord Jesus not bathing them, but only washing their feet.  The authors solve any argument with the following,

“Jesus was in the habit of saying things that are intended to have a double thrust or application and thereby forcing His listeners to think about what He has said. “2

This has been commonly taught as the believers confession of sin and if necessary repentance.  (See 1 John 1:7-9)

The introduction summarizes (and gives a good summary here) in the pre-pub logos version,

“Jesus speaks to his disciples with a message that goes beyond justification to discipleship. This work of God is the concern of Jesus as he teaches his disciples in the final hours before his sacrifice on the cross. These last words take on special significance as Jesus seeks to instruct his disciples who are about to be scattered and even betray him.”3

I will write more later…

1.  Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from The NET
Bible® Copyright© 2005 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org
All Rights Reserved

2.  The Disciplemaker: What matters most to Jesus, G. Derickson, E. Radmacher, Charis Press, 2001

3.  http://www.logos.com/products/prepub/details/4646

The Disciplemaker

Well its been quite a journey!  I live in the DFW area now; and am for the first time am able to devote time to the Lord like I have wanted for many years.  This post will be short but one of the things I have learned is something I was taught when I became an elder in a church.  Never apologize for what you believe.  If you read the new about page you will see the new focus and my heart felt desire to speak the truth in love  – but not argue or debate.  So the next thing I have learned while not in leadership is don’t become cult like in your beliefs because it doesn’t honor God and He usually points out through events in your life that you are in error.  Which is not very fun.  It also speaks of an intellectual arrogance that has a negative effect on those who are in the church who are just plain sheep like you and me.

My younger son and I are heading out to eat … I will finish this later.  O.K. where was I.  Oh, living and learning about many things mostly about how hard it is to be a disciple.  I started to read Radmacher and Derickson’s “The Disciplemaker” and had to put it down when I faced a personal health crisis that has led me to the place I am today.  Having picked it back up, I am forever in their debt.  I will share some of what I learn and apply from it.

The first lesson is how off target some scholars get about the upper room discourse.  The book points out from the very begining how the act of footwashing has nothing to do with the coming crucifixion and death.  It is a picture of service by a servant and a lesson in humility in the act of service.  The only reference to salvation is a reference to those who are “clean” but there was one who was not, Judas.  A great picture of how somebody can be religious and a “disciple” and be destined for hell.  It is also a great view of beleivers that miss important lessons (until later) that the Lord was trying to teach.  There is so much here I don’t have the time or space to cover everything.  You have to check this book out, even logos has it on pre-order.

So that’s it for now, I will write some more stuff when I get a chance.  Till then God bless you.

Working for a Good Cause

Its been a while since I have written, as life has been very busy for my family. Seems like there is always what Jesus Christ said that we all would face trials and tribulations before entering the Kingdom of God. The best thing is the sense of freedom and joy even when everything is going wrong, the car, the finances, the health, etc. Nice that it is easy to tell the difference between discipline and testing.

So as we mature (I know this from experience) in our faith, God tests us with ever increasing pressures, events, and problems. He does this because it is part of our sanctification. It is told in a book I can’t remember now, Dr. Howard Hendricks once said that in talking to a seminary student, he asked, “how is it going?” The student replied, “Great! No problems!” Dr. Hendricks replied, “Thats too bad”, or “I’m sorry to hear that.” He explained to the student that if there was no trial or tribulation in a Christians life then something must be wrong. These wise words have given me more comfort in addition to the Lord’s words. Ever since I committed to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, it has been an uphill battle. When I committed to the free grace message it got even worse. Every day indeed does have enough trouble of its own.

The Father does provide comfort, first in the Word of God, but also through the Holy Spirit. My wife and I have seen the impossible become possible, people healed, jobs found, finances restored, relationships mended, and the greatest miracle of all the ability to withstand sin through obedience. This would not be possible if we weren’t by faith living, walking, breathing the leading of the Spirit of God.

Personally, I have suffered many years with unexplained illnesses and persistent conditions. My family (extended as well) believes that it is my service in the 1991 Gulf War that is the cause. I don’t know whether it is or not. But what I do know, is that my doctor was persistent enough to dig and dig though testing and has found several things that can be corrected with medication and therapy. I have spent nearly two months away from work going to every kind of doctor from my family GP to a Psychologist. The most troubling were the oncology/hematology and the cardiologist doctors. Great guys, so far nothing. I have a few more hoops to go through but it is refreshing to know that your doctors believe you when you say you have problems. A lot of them simply prescribe a pill and walk away. I credit God’s guidance to these men and women and their God given talent as physicians as a great source of comfort. There is no definitive outcome just as yet, but there are several things that are getting worked on and it is nice to feel about 10 to 15 years younger!

Amazingly, new job opportunities have showed up working to help people versus working for a company that just wants to make money off of them. If things go well, I will be the chief architect (they actually call it “scientist” but I have yet to get my doctorate) on a multi year program to improve vets medical service. This is especially important to me as a veteran. As I watch our men and women come home and the suicide rates climb, it is a heartfelt thing to want to help in someway. People have helped me, this is the least I can do to help someone else. I think God has a special place in His kingdom or vets who are believers and served with honor and integrity. I get this from my reading of mostly the Old Testament.

We should find much comfort in our sanctification and look forward to our future glorification. Even when we sin, or sin continuously and repent; we are still going to live forever and enjoy a unstained universe forever.

On a more somber note, I will be changing up my systems configuration here at home. I need a much faster and secure communications connection for my research (going from DSL to fiber optic, which is actually going to be cheaper). For those I know and trust, I will send the new e-mail next week. The freegracegospel web site will be coming down (although I will retain the rights to the domain name) very soon. I may or may not continue to blog. Though I have the feeling that time will be at a premium, so forgive me if I devote it to my family and my friends.

Also, on a lighter note to those of you who attempted to get me fired from the college, my boss called and we both had a good laugh about it. The job itself doesn’t bring in any significant income and I only take it because the college and seminary has to do it that way for IRS purposes.

The bottom line is this – these people are stuck in an endless loop like the pharisees and will always be in error and lead others down a false path. Sad to say this attitude was what led to the Messiah’s crucifixion. They were tested and failed massively. So to have these modern pharisees been tested and found wanting with their intellectual gospel. I have forgiven them long ago, but do not excuse them for their unrepentant un-Christlike, theologically savage behavior.

God is faithful and sovereign to save even those who hear a flawed or even an error ridden message. I also believe that He doesn’t operate as our theological predictions (or better said “box”) dictates. The God who I have trusted my eternal destiny to is bigger than that. Much, much bigger. Hopefully your faith is in this same God Who sent His only Son to save us thought His sacrifice once and for all. He sealed the Son’s promise of eternal life though resurrection from the dead. This is a guarantee to those of us who would simply believe Jesus Christ is Who He said He was and that He would keep His promise.

My prayer is that if you haven’t believed in Jesus Christ for eternal life, that you will read the Gospel of John and pay particular attention to the word “believe” as used by Jesus Christ (it is used approximately 98 times). You will see there is only one condition of salvation. You may believe by the time you reach chapter 3 or 6 or 19, or anytime after reading…but you must believe in Him! There is no other way.

This is opposed to a manmade theological gospel with its 20 points of belief. Don’t be deceived by those who would give you a checklist to believe in Christ.

Once you have believed then get to work on what God wants you to do – Work for a good cause – His cause.

Grace and peace…

Argus

I was listening to some music that I enjoyed back in the 1970’s. One album had the title “Argus.” My favorite song was “The King will come.” It got me to thinking what connection did the song have with the album’s title? An online word definition RSS feed actually had this to say about the term: ” An alert and observant person; a watchful guardian.”

Interesting, who is someone who is observant, and/or a watchful guardian. Didn’t Jesus tell us to be alert, and the apostle’s echoed that imperative. For what? To Peter it was the enemy, for Paul it was teaching, but what did Jesus Christ tell us to be on the alert for?

I remembered an elder prayer session where the senior pastor explained that coming Sunday’s passage out of Mark,

But as for that day or hour no one knows it – neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son – except the Father. Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return – whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn – or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly. What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!

Mark 13:32-37

The “Christianity” I grew up with is not the one that is alive today. Everyone seems to caught up with life away from walking with Christ. We are more concerned with our reputation, possessions, passions, etc. It also seems to me that many churches are dying from within. Why, we have substituted legalism for love, hate for compassion, sin for sanctification, and theology for truth. In the past the former held back the latter. That is not true today. I understand now how many of the OT prophets must have felt and wept over the state of their country and countrymen.

When our Lord returns, what will He have to say to each of us? In this and generations to come I don’t think the experience standing before the judge will be a pleasant one. In fact, there are many who believe that they are saved by believing correct theology instead of the gospel that will be more than ashamed when they find that they are “goats” and not sheep. Those who are sheep are going to get a shearing and left outside the Master’s joy.

There will truly be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Why, because we didn’t fix our eyes, hearts, and our minds on Him. This is what I see is the meaning of staying alert. We need to do this till He comes to avoid the dire consequences of that day.

Grace and peace…

The Intellectual Gospel

Interesting vacation, my granddaughter’s simple life by having all her needs cared for reminded me of how believers are when we first come to faith. A simple faith. What struck me next was how man has in so many ways made the gospel so complex that it is no wonder we ever see anyone come to faith in Christ. I was reading a paper on the “postmodern” forms of the gospel. What the author missed was that he (just like others) have made something so simple, so complex.

It bears repeating that Jesus Christ never once made a course on soteriology a necessary requirement to enter eternal life. But those who believe in the lordship gospel add works. It is the same with those who are waging a campaign on the “crossless” gospel, they add items of knowledge as a requirement to a belief. They are both wrong. Sad to say that I see much similarity in what both advocate. I’m glad that my faith is in nothing more than the personal promise of Jesus Christ. He is the One who determines life or death, both spiritual and physical.

Our Lord condemned any form of an intellectual gospel,

And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent. You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

John 5:37-40

I used to only partially agree with C. H. Mackintosh about theology and doctrine.

God has not confined Himself within the narrow limits of any school of doctrine – high, low or moderate. He has revealed Himself. He has told out the deep and precious secrets of His heart. He has unfolded His eternal counsels, as to the Church, as to Israel, the Gentiles, and the wide creation. Men might as well attempt to confine the ocean in buckets of their own formation as to confine the vast range of divine revelation within the feeble enclosures of human systems of doctrine. It cannot be done, and it ought not to be attempted. Better far to set aside the systems of theology and schools of divinity and come like a little child to the eternal fountain of Holy Scripture, and there drink in the living teachings of God’s Spirit.[1]

Today I am fully persuaded that the church has entered into an era not unlike the religious culture in Israel during the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The leadership of most churches and parachurch organizations have made knowledge the THING to be believed, set up a set of rules of do’s and don’t s, do not care for the sheep, and generally think that preaching and teaching is all that is required to get one on the way in their sanctification. Hogwash!

What is missing (and I say this by way of observation) is following the commands of the New Testament. The first and second come to mind, to love God, and love our neighbors. Specifically, those of Jesus Christ carry much more weight than some theological system. Many people forget that He didn’t talk about social issues, but everywhere He went they were dealt with. Whether it was rebuking legalistic pharisees or healing someone. Anytime I see a believer acting legalistically it makes me want to vomit.

The worst form of legalism is making unbelievers meet some man made intellectual hoop to jump through. How arrogant are those that believe that they can put themselves in the place of God and say what He will or will not do in regard to someone’s faith. Many today are decrying the postmodern movement. In fact, they should realize that it is the religious system we see today is due to the Church’s lack of love and commitment to God to impact our culture for Jesus Christ! Instead we study the scriptures just like the pharisees to give us our salvation and sanctification.

As for me, I prefer to be a like a child and trust my Divine Parent and Older Brother to keep and protect me. Just like my granddaughter.

Grace and peace…

---

[1]

C.H. Mackintosh, The Mackintosh Treasury, Miscellaneous Writings by C.H. Mackintosh,(Loizeaux Brothers, New Jersey, 1976), 605.

“Trash Talking”

My wife and I use this phrase when our mastiffs start barking at us to give them what they want, usually a dog treat. At least my dogs are well behaved, this I can’t say for everyone outside my house.

Once again, there are shrill voices being broadcast in cyberspace. I have grown very tired of it and again I will not respond in kind and am not concerned anymore. They keep sending an intermediary to get information, its like a reporter saying, “what is your response to these allegations?” I talked to a good friend of mine yesterday who called to see how I was doing was telling me don’t even respond that these type of people who live for this kind of thing. This is about 10 people now who have seen the lack of response and just the attacks on my person and personal blog. What they say that has been shown is these people have to do what they do because to be wrong now would be disastrous. Again, they can’t do anything but to look for flaws to pick at. I’m not even going to give the reason this time for anything they can find to “take me out” to use their own words a few weeks ago.

It also means that they have lost the argument and as a group and have completely closed their minds to the truth. Truth that they must “defeat at all costs” such as this false gospel “in their midst.” Instead of gaining support they are loosing it. Paul taught us that to reject truth leads to a spiritual state not unlike an unbeliever. Once this slide starts it usually ends up with a believer who can’t see biblically – they’re blind. It further means that these people cannot refute the whole or any of the part of the argument raised.

I actually laughed when I read these peoples blog posts almost a year ago. In addition, in a desperate attempt they are viewing a blog post as a copyright protected book for sale – which it isn’t. But I’m not peddling my theological opinion at amazon though am I!? Oh, and why footnote and do a bibliography if I am going to plagiarize? Funny I did a word search for the word, I don’t find it in the Hebrew, Greek, or English bible. It doesn’t make sense, in fact a lot of the noise that is coming from them doesn’t make any sense.

Unless you can’t face the truth.

That they can’t answer the core issues is very telling – that was to be expected as I have said – they have much to loose. I’m actually more concerned for the people they deceive and drag down with them with a flawed false gospel, the Pharisaical actions, and the pitiful way they take offense against anyone who tries to reason with them. The souls of people are at stake, they rightly observe.
Also, I have heard about the “militant stand” that these people take. That I had a very long chuckle about the use of that word. They must have looked it up in a dictionary! I understand what “militant” means, they obviously don’t, these are the people who I used to defend this country against, we just called them terrorists. You can see on the news the rhetoric that terrorists use to sway the gullible masses. Its not funny that they kill the populace they are trying to enslave – and alienate the rest. In the end the populace turns on them. When we planned strikes against their camps and facilities we already knew that there would be more of them, they would just breed more.

The other thing that they don’t realize is that every one else on this side of the “debate” actually sees the ranting for what it is – a extremely feeble attempt from a sad group who are operating in the flesh who can do nothing more with their time than to harass people via e-mail and the internet. No one but their group is listening anymore.

It reminded me of a school yard bully, who gets infuriated when you don’t cower to their demands. I wonder
if we could call this “blog rage.” Most people have already begun to ignore the shrill voice coming from that corner of blogosphere…an incredibly sad position. I’m sure that they will continue to ignore the truth and call this false teaching, arrogance, breaking the law – I call it confidence and obeying the truth. In fact they are clinging to the laws of men for their defense.

“At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them. But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry – how he entered the house of God and they ate the sacred bread, which was against the law for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” Matthew 12:1-7

Interesting, the disciples were breaking the Mosaic law. In fact they Pharisee’s would make the point of their extra biblical writings and appeal to them as law to call them sinners. They finally appealed to the law of Ceasar to have the early Christians persecuted and Christ crucified. Strange how that event is similar what is happening now. The spear must have hit the mark.

No amount of trash thrown has any effect other than make me pity them. What a sad waste of energy as they don’t realize it won’t do any good. Anyway, since this is the best they can do, I have better things to do than continue to respond to their “militant” actions. So this will be the last post where the anti refined gospel, “militant”, crowd will be mentioned.

Maybe one day they will “repent” and understand the basis of their salvation is not the object of their faith.

It will be a while before I can get back to finishing the posts, I’m enjoying being a grandpa and some vacation with my family.

Grace and peace to you all.

Jim

The Fifth Article On The Way Back

As mentioned in the post on April 11th, I had contacted DTS to get a reading on what I was doing with the bibsac article. I received the following reply from Dr. Roy Zuck (note the only change that I have made is to remove Dr. Zuck’s home e-mail):

From: Roy [mailto:XXXX@XXXXXX.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 7:06 AM
To: jim-gracegospel
Subject: Re: Adapting a Bibsac Article?

Dear Mr. Johnson,

No problem. Feel free to adapt it, and of course state the source.

Roy B. Zuck, Editor
Bibliotheca Sacra

I wrote Dr. Zuck a thank you letter. I’m sure to meet him someday.

It appears that the folks over on the other side of this argument are making the mistake of thinking that this is a debate. As I have said before; they can slander me, pick at the articles, do whatever their conscience directs them to do. I will continue to write…

As for my writing skills and the other things that those people seem to take issue with, that is why I have an editor. In fact, I mentioned it in the first article that trying to follow the author’s flow was going to cause problems. Even so, I’m not a writer, my job at work is thinking and communicating ideas. Pretty much what my ministry entails too.

Why am I not a writer? I went into software engineering after my flying career, still hating English from high school on with a passion. I passed all my classes, but still hated it until I started to learn NT Greek. No one taught me the right way to think about English until my second semester of Greek. On a more humorous note, my Greek professors and others in exegetical groups even said that my English would be crappy for a while. So thank you for those who point out my errors in writing, I want you to know how much I appreciate you assistance. My God bless you.

It makes me think of what Paul said, (probably thinking about what Jesus Christ said in the following verse),

“Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14

“…bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28.

Peter said in essence the same thing,

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9

Again, this is why I prefer to stay away from ad hominem attacks that the opposition of refined free grace advocates use. Its a shame that they would violate the biblical command to bless instead of curse. This courtesy is to be shown even to the unbeliever.

They use the word “militant” to justify their stance against refined free grace people. Unfortunately it is not a biblical position. Its strikingly similar to the position the Pharisee’s took against Jesus Christ and the apostles,

Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, “How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?” John 7:15

“When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

It seems that these folks are attacking me instead of the content of the 5 articles. Unfortunately, not dealing with the truth is going to be a problem. Its understandable that they have to be right and everyone else has to be wrong, they have a lot to lose for all the bashing that has been done. A friend told me this week that its better to stand in a biblical position and not even answer them as they are a minority. It is a good piece of advice. However, I have to finish the entire paper online soon and get on to more engaging pursuits. All that is needed besides the end matter is to post on the open letter and the FGA panel.

Any way, one more thing before I go.

Someone asked me a while back why I didn’t bother with Greg Schliemann attacks on me. Again (getting to be a habit), first I don’t want to engage in the same type of behavior this person or his comrades propagate.

Second, his position has already been discredited on at least the “technical term” for the gospel. You can read the posts here.

Grace and peace,

Jim

The Grandpa

Pharisee or Publican?

Its quiet this morning considering all the ruckus at the hospital yesterday.  My grandchild child was born without defect and she is quite a bundle.  My daughter in law is fine and was beaming with the baby.  I haven’t seen my oldest son this happy in a long time.  Thank you Lord for answering my prayers.

Speaking of praying, many times when I pray, God will remind me of something in His word.  This happened last night as I was asking the Lord about what I could do to try to help those on the other side of the “crossless” argument.  I was reminded to “pray for your enemies.”  This I did and started to see them in a whole new light.  Many will think that what I am about to write would in no way help them.  I see it differently, Jesus Christ and the apostles use very strong language to try to snap people out of a religious stupor or some other spiritual mess.  I have used this verse before, but now I want to expand some thoughts I have on it,

Also He (Jesus) spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others… Luke 18:9

Mankind uses one standard to measure their own righteousness and another to judge everyone else. Anyone who has been in the church any length of time knows this.  The Old Nature of men and women who have from their adamic nature have a bent towards the acetic is to become “religious” or “fruit” inspectors.  These people look at themselves from the standpoint of all their virtues.

When they look at others, they minimize anything that might be good in others and expand any flaws they see. They measure themselves by themselves; comparing their strengths to other people’s weaknesses. They elevate themselves based upon the failures of others.  The natural way they express their sin nature is that they look at others with contempt.

The Greek word for “despise” is exoutheneo. It means “to make of no account, to despise utterly.” This is the mental sin of scornfulness — the basis of hatred, hostility, and enmity. The word translated “others” is, loipos, it means “the rest.” As far as the Pharisee in the parable was concerned, everyone who was outside of their sect was not worth spitting on.

A publican on the other hand were considered traitors and were despised by almost everyone. These the Pharisees would look down on as “sinners,” putting them in the same category as harlots and Gentiles.

As the parable that this passage is attached to indicates that Pharisee was praying to himself. It is no wonder, because in his mind he really was a god. He was convinced that God was made in his image; he was convinced God held to his theological system.  C. H. Makintosh wrote about this,

God has not confined Himself within the narrow limits of any school of doctrine – high, low or moderate. He has revealed Himself.  He has told out the deep and precious secrets of His heart. He has unfolded His eternal counsels, as to the Church, as to Israel, the Gentiles, and the wide creation.  Men might as well attempt to confine the ocean in buckets of their own formation as to confine the vast range of divine revelation within the feeble enclosures of human systems of doctrine.  It cannot be done, and it ought not to be attempted.  Better far to set aside the systems of theology and schools of divinity and come like a little child to the eternal fountain of Holy Scripture, and there drink in the living teachings of God’s Spirit.[1]

The pharisee looked down on the tax-collector, he reminded himself how much better he was than all the others. Of course, he measured himself and others by his man-made system of theology. He built himself up by beating others down. By zeroing in on the failures of others, he could make himself look pretty good.

Reading this parable reminded me of what is happening today.  Today in the western church we have the same sect of Pharisee.  The prophets and apostles had to deal with them and most of all our Lord Jesus Christ did more than the others.  The Lord gives me an excellent example to follow, pray for them but do not become a doormat.  More than anything else, I relate to the publican, I have had men and women spit on me and call me “baby burner”, hippies yell and scream at me, and a protesting priest at the gate to Carswell AFB where I first learned how to fly a B-52 told me that I was a sinner and that the airplane was a “flying coffin.”  On the former, I knew that, he didn’t even need to tell me for me to be convinced.  On the latter, I don’t think he knew how right he was on some flights in a 40 year old airframe!

Moving on to a more serious note, I know that I am justified by grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ.  People, you don’t have to believe in the 5 points of the Duluth gospel, or the 18 (we stopped counting here) of Mr. Martuneac, and his following.  In simple faith you are justified before God.  The basis of that Justification is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is God who came and took on the form of humanity, He is also Israel’s and the Church’s Messiah.  Believe in Him for eternal life and you will receive it.  Anything else is putting the emphasis on what you need to believe and not Him.  If you believe His promise of eternal life – you have it, plain and simple.  Assurance of your salvation is contained in God’s promise to save and give eternal life, if you don’t believe that promise, you don’t have it.  If you can answer truthfully that you believe that you have trusted Christ and have eternal life, you are saved.

This is in contrast to those who would rob you of your joy by adding to the gospel of the true church.  My hope and prayer is that you will trust in Him today and not delay.

On another encouraging note, several people have sent encouraging emails to me in the last 24 hours (thank you, it means a very great deal to me) some have asked me to not give up in the midst of the slander that is occuring online and continue to write.  This I intend to do. I added the bibliography yesterday and hope to add the other sections later this weekend.  Again, thank you for your encouragement.

Grace and peace,

Jim

A friend to the despised and all sinners…

---

[1] C.H. Mackintosh, The Mackintosh Treasury, Miscellaneous Writings by C.H. Mackintosh, (Loizeaux Brothers, New Jersey, 1976), 605.