Only God can bring something dead to life as Jesus did when He stood outside Lazarus' tomb and cried out, "Lazarus, come forth." Jesus called his name and he came out alive. Jesus raised him from the dead. I don't think Lazarus said, "No not today." Lazarus had no choice. Jesus out of love chose to raise him up to new life. Could he have objected? and said no? No- he was dead. After he came out of the tomb would he say, "Sorry I am going back?" No, he couldn't go back either.
This is such a picture of salvation. Jesus calls our name because of His great love for us, raises us from being dead in trespasses and sins making us alive together with Him and we are alive. Neither can we, once raised, go back to being dead in sin. When He chose to make us alive- we came to life. When He chose us from before the foundation of the world, He chose the time and the place when we would 'be raised from death to life'. Just like He did with Lazarus. Not everyone came out of the grave- only Lazarus. Jesus had purposeful timing when He raised Lazarus just as He does when He raises people today.
True salvation is resurrection from the dead to life. There is no choice involved by the dead person until after the resurrection where the now spiritually alive person can make a choice according to their new nature. "For those whom He forknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son... and these whom He predestined, He also called and whom He called, He also justified, and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:29-30 Those He chooses He calls. Those He calls respond in repentance and faith- believing because their heart has been made alive, because their eyes have been opened to see the truth-the truth about their sin (repentance) and the truth of God's righteousness(faith).
Because God alone through Christ alone giving grace and faith alone all is done for God's glory alone!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Salvation is the creation of a new life
God is Creator, Designer, Sustainer. God created man- Adam and Eve. He designed them, He sustained their life on earth as He does all mankind. He gave man a nature that could choose to be disobedient, choose to go against His will, to do evil. Man was created with the ability to choose good and evil. He had fellowship with the Father yet he chose to eat the forbidden fruit. He knew the consequence of his choice and took and ate anyway. Man chose to sin. Now man's natural choice is to sin, to choose sin, to choose to sin.
Adam sinned and then he hid from God. He ran from fellowship with God. Guilt, shame, fear, and bondage were a result of Adam's natural choice. There is no record that Adam or anyone else sought God from then on. They were always rebellious, in fact, God said that 'every thought and intention of their heart was evil continually'.
God sought Adam. God called Adam. God provided a covering for Adam. Why did Adam 'accept' this covering from God? Does it say God gave Adam a choice to accept or reject God's covering? No- God formed the man, God put the man in the garden, God commanded the man to not eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. When man sinned God made a covering and clothed him in it. God sent him out of the garden- He drove him out of it which was an act of grace. The man has had no choices so far in regards to life and death (physically or spiritually) except the one he made wrong.
True salvation is a creation of new life. It is a resurrection of a dead spirit to a living spirit. It is a miracle of God. Only God can bring something dead to life. Only God can create new life.
Adam sinned and passed the sin nature to all people. God provided the solution, the covering in His Son. Only a miracle by God, through His Son can make us alive. We must be made alive, be brought to spiritual life in order to believe and live for Him.
Next we will look at Lazuras.
Adam sinned and then he hid from God. He ran from fellowship with God. Guilt, shame, fear, and bondage were a result of Adam's natural choice. There is no record that Adam or anyone else sought God from then on. They were always rebellious, in fact, God said that 'every thought and intention of their heart was evil continually'.
God sought Adam. God called Adam. God provided a covering for Adam. Why did Adam 'accept' this covering from God? Does it say God gave Adam a choice to accept or reject God's covering? No- God formed the man, God put the man in the garden, God commanded the man to not eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. When man sinned God made a covering and clothed him in it. God sent him out of the garden- He drove him out of it which was an act of grace. The man has had no choices so far in regards to life and death (physically or spiritually) except the one he made wrong.
True salvation is a creation of new life. It is a resurrection of a dead spirit to a living spirit. It is a miracle of God. Only God can bring something dead to life. Only God can create new life.
Adam sinned and passed the sin nature to all people. God provided the solution, the covering in His Son. Only a miracle by God, through His Son can make us alive. We must be made alive, be brought to spiritual life in order to believe and live for Him.
Next we will look at Lazuras.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thoughts on John 1: 4, 5
In Jesus was life- is life and the life was the light of man. All unsaved, unregenerate mankind are in darkness. There is not even a spark of light in them to guide them to the true light. There is no spark that can be kindled, manipulated to blaze to true life. They are in complete and total darkness.
But Jesus is life and His life was/is the light that shines in the darkness. When Jesus shines His light and enlightens a 'dead' man that dead man is brought to life- true life. The darkness cannot hinder or overcome the true light. When true life is given there is no 'going back' into darkness. It is not possible. The darkness cannot cover the light of Christ!
The light brought hope to man. The light shining through the life of believers offers light to a dark world. But only Jesus can bring light and life 'into' the darkness or 'out of' the darkness!
In order for someone to believe that there was a 'spark' of light already in the person that just needed to be brought to flame they would have to believe that man is not totally corrupted by sin, is not really an enemy of God, is not really dead in trespasses and sins. They must believe that there is some good thing inside of man's heart that can choose God on his own initiative, of his own will power. Even though this belief is contrary to scripture and is therefore a false belief.
Lord I pray You will give us clear understanding of Who You are and who we are. Without You enlightening our eyes, our minds and changing our will we would remain in darkness. You have rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of Your Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin. Thank You for mercy and grace.
to the praise of the glory of Your grace,
But Jesus is life and His life was/is the light that shines in the darkness. When Jesus shines His light and enlightens a 'dead' man that dead man is brought to life- true life. The darkness cannot hinder or overcome the true light. When true life is given there is no 'going back' into darkness. It is not possible. The darkness cannot cover the light of Christ!
The light brought hope to man. The light shining through the life of believers offers light to a dark world. But only Jesus can bring light and life 'into' the darkness or 'out of' the darkness!
In order for someone to believe that there was a 'spark' of light already in the person that just needed to be brought to flame they would have to believe that man is not totally corrupted by sin, is not really an enemy of God, is not really dead in trespasses and sins. They must believe that there is some good thing inside of man's heart that can choose God on his own initiative, of his own will power. Even though this belief is contrary to scripture and is therefore a false belief.
Lord I pray You will give us clear understanding of Who You are and who we are. Without You enlightening our eyes, our minds and changing our will we would remain in darkness. You have rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of Your Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin. Thank You for mercy and grace.
to the praise of the glory of Your grace,
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thoughts on John 1: 1-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He (the Word) was in the beginning with God.
- God is eternal. He has always existed. He has no beginning or end. This is written for our benefit, our understanding- as much as our finite mind can understand an infinite God.
- Jesus is the Word, the living Word of God. In the beginning when He spoke, the world came into existence as in Genesis chapter 1. All things were made (created) through Him. Not one thing was not made by Him. He is Creator!
- Only God can create something out of nothing.
- In Him, the Word, (Christ) was life. Not just the physical life that He gives but the spiritual life that we are devoid of because of sin. Therefore man is dead, lifeless, formless, void, empty- the true description of man without the life that only Christ can speak into existence. Just as the Word spoke and the world was formed and life began as we know it, the Word must speak into the dead life of a man to create new life, the life that is in Christ. If the Creator of Life does not 'make alive' a 'new creation' then that man remains dead, lifeless, formless, void, empty.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
misc. news
I've been busy with a woman's event at my church. It was exciting to see 69 women attend our Fall Brunch and hear our Pastor's wife speak on Phil. 1:21- For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. She talked about the importance of being in God's Word daily and weaving Him into every aspect of our lives throughout each day. She started us out with a challenging message: that our women's ministry will be about Christ. It will not be a social club but will always be with the purpose of exalting our Lord and serving others for Him.
We are a new church plant in the south suburbs of Chicago and God is blessing! In two separate conversations with women Sunday after church the topic was how different this church is from some others that had been attended. The idea is that the women want to know God, be serious about knowing Him and living for Him. That is the central thing that pulls us together. We don't want the social club, we want Christ!
Lord, help me to always be a part of building up this body You have brought together!
to the praise of the glory of Your grace,
Norma
We are a new church plant in the south suburbs of Chicago and God is blessing! In two separate conversations with women Sunday after church the topic was how different this church is from some others that had been attended. The idea is that the women want to know God, be serious about knowing Him and living for Him. That is the central thing that pulls us together. We don't want the social club, we want Christ!
Lord, help me to always be a part of building up this body You have brought together!
to the praise of the glory of Your grace,
Norma
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Faith is...
In this third part of what faith is, from the notes I took off of Steve Lawson's message, it talks about the will. This is an area I have experienced much objection to because of the tension in God's Word about the difference between man's responsibility and man's 'free will'. I will address that issue in another blog as I believe this message will help clarify this subject and be very helpful.
[ The third non-negotiable aspect of faith after the mind and the emotions is the volitional or the will. This involves trust, commitment, the supernatural acting upon the truth of what your mind knows and your heart feels which causes a choice of the will to be made. It is a decisive obedience to the truth.
If there is no obedience to the truth there is not true faith. James 2: 17. Faith is never by itself. Faith alone saves but faith that is alone never saves. Demons believe with the mind and emotion and tremble. True living, saving faith goes all the way... beyond head knowledge and mere heart assent. It goes to the engaging and activating of the will to make a choice in accordance with the Word of God, to follow the will of God. It is full surrender to God and a relentless pursuit of Christ with purposeful obedience to His Word.
True saving faith acts, chooses, steps out, moves out, reaches out, pursues Christ.
Hebrews 11: 7 shows how all three parts of true faith are evident in Noah's obedient response to God.
Faith is a gift from God- He gives us faith so we can know His Word, believe His Word, and commit to follow His Word. Our response to God often appears as though we were making a choice for Him from within our own self, by our own will and this is what I want to address in the next blog.
for the praise of His glory alone,
Norma
[ The third non-negotiable aspect of faith after the mind and the emotions is the volitional or the will. This involves trust, commitment, the supernatural acting upon the truth of what your mind knows and your heart feels which causes a choice of the will to be made. It is a decisive obedience to the truth.
If there is no obedience to the truth there is not true faith. James 2: 17. Faith is never by itself. Faith alone saves but faith that is alone never saves. Demons believe with the mind and emotion and tremble. True living, saving faith goes all the way... beyond head knowledge and mere heart assent. It goes to the engaging and activating of the will to make a choice in accordance with the Word of God, to follow the will of God. It is full surrender to God and a relentless pursuit of Christ with purposeful obedience to His Word.
True saving faith acts, chooses, steps out, moves out, reaches out, pursues Christ.
Hebrews 11: 7 shows how all three parts of true faith are evident in Noah's obedient response to God.
- intellectual- "being warned by God", God said, facts, command
- emotional- 'in reverence' Noah responded because he believed in his heart what God said.
- volitional- "he prepared an ark" Commitment of his will, "If I am the only one who believes what God said, I will believe it!!" And for 120 years he built the ark- alone!]
Faith is a gift from God- He gives us faith so we can know His Word, believe His Word, and commit to follow His Word. Our response to God often appears as though we were making a choice for Him from within our own self, by our own will and this is what I want to address in the next blog.
for the praise of His glory alone,
Norma
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Faith must also include...
[It is not enough to 'know' the facts of the gospel. One must also believe- agree with the facts from the mind to the heart. The facts must take root in the depths of the heart not just flit about in the brain. True faith is full acceptance in confidence of Scripture because when the Word speaks- God speaks! It means to be persuaded of the truth that adheres to Scripture. The passions and feelings of the heart accepts- rejoices in, weeps over, 'knows' the importance of the Word and senses need of the Word.
The Word comes alive with desire, there is a hunger to know what God says. There comes a deep conviction that is rooted and grounded in the Word. There is a heart recognition that God is speaking to 'me', and there is a warm reception, rejoicing in the Word not with cold academic reading but with vibrant fervancy.]
This bracketed section is from notes I took from an online message by Steve Lawson. I want to continue this thougtht.
Some today believe and teach, contrary to the teaching in Scripture, that one can believe the facts of the gospel, pray a prayer based on those facts and that God is then 'bound to His Word' to save that person based on the verse 'Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' The people who do this seem to be without a full understanding of what that verse even means.
People in those days expected persecution, possibly even death when they called upon the Name of Jesus to be saved. It wasn't something they did lightheartedly. In fact it wasn't something anyone would 'choose' to do knowing that if he did he would be beaten, imprisoned or killed for doing it. So why would anyone call upon the Name of the Lord to be saved in those days?
Because when God enlightens the mind to see the truth of the gospel and opens the heart by the new birth, by regeneration the transformed will cannot but call upon Him whom they now love! Read tomorrows blog for further insight on this aspect of faith.
to the praise of His glorious grace,
Norma
The Word comes alive with desire, there is a hunger to know what God says. There comes a deep conviction that is rooted and grounded in the Word. There is a heart recognition that God is speaking to 'me', and there is a warm reception, rejoicing in the Word not with cold academic reading but with vibrant fervancy.]
This bracketed section is from notes I took from an online message by Steve Lawson. I want to continue this thougtht.
Some today believe and teach, contrary to the teaching in Scripture, that one can believe the facts of the gospel, pray a prayer based on those facts and that God is then 'bound to His Word' to save that person based on the verse 'Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' The people who do this seem to be without a full understanding of what that verse even means.
People in those days expected persecution, possibly even death when they called upon the Name of Jesus to be saved. It wasn't something they did lightheartedly. In fact it wasn't something anyone would 'choose' to do knowing that if he did he would be beaten, imprisoned or killed for doing it. So why would anyone call upon the Name of the Lord to be saved in those days?
Because when God enlightens the mind to see the truth of the gospel and opens the heart by the new birth, by regeneration the transformed will cannot but call upon Him whom they now love! Read tomorrows blog for further insight on this aspect of faith.
to the praise of His glorious grace,
Norma
Friday, November 6, 2009
Faith
I want to take up where I left off last time- with the 3 non negotiable parts of faith.
[These have been stated in different ways by different men. For example Spurgeon called them 1. knowledge 2. belief 3. trust. Martin Lloyd Jones called them 1. awareness 2. assent 3. commitment. Faith is intellectual, emotional,and volitional; it involves the mind, the emotions (the heart), and the will.
It is a commitment of all that we are responding to all that God is and all that God says.
Part One: Intellect- knowledge
Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. No one comes to true faith without truth about God. One cannot grow in Christ without truth about Christ. RC Sproul said, 'before one can believe 'in' Christ one must believe 'that' Christ...' and Greschem, 'nothing can pass into the heart without first passing through the visibul of the mind'. the Heidleburg Catechism teaches, 'true faith is a certain knowledge, sure and incontestible knowledge of truth of God.'
Faith cannot exceed ones knowledge. It is based on ones knowledge of God, is found exclusively in the Word of God not in self- feelings or dreams.
The content of the Word is referred to as 'the faith', the whole councel of God, the knowledge of the truth, the apostles teaching, sound doctrine, and right theology. In Acts 6: 7, the 'word of God' and 'the faith' are used synonomously.
Your faith will be strong and real only as it is built upon the impregnable fortress of the objective written word of God.]
You may come to the conclusion that I love God's Word and esteem it very highly. I believe God's Word, the Bible, is Truth. It does not contradict itself in any way.
Is your faith built on the truth of God's Word? How much time do you take daily to read, study, memorize and then meditate on it so that your faith is based in truth? I pray that you will take up this joyful duty and perform it faithfully and watch out- God will perform His work in you who believe!!!
by His grace and for His glory alone,
Norma
[These have been stated in different ways by different men. For example Spurgeon called them 1. knowledge 2. belief 3. trust. Martin Lloyd Jones called them 1. awareness 2. assent 3. commitment. Faith is intellectual, emotional,and volitional; it involves the mind, the emotions (the heart), and the will.
It is a commitment of all that we are responding to all that God is and all that God says.
Part One: Intellect- knowledge
Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. No one comes to true faith without truth about God. One cannot grow in Christ without truth about Christ. RC Sproul said, 'before one can believe 'in' Christ one must believe 'that' Christ...' and Greschem, 'nothing can pass into the heart without first passing through the visibul of the mind'. the Heidleburg Catechism teaches, 'true faith is a certain knowledge, sure and incontestible knowledge of truth of God.'
Faith cannot exceed ones knowledge. It is based on ones knowledge of God, is found exclusively in the Word of God not in self- feelings or dreams.
The content of the Word is referred to as 'the faith', the whole councel of God, the knowledge of the truth, the apostles teaching, sound doctrine, and right theology. In Acts 6: 7, the 'word of God' and 'the faith' are used synonomously.
Your faith will be strong and real only as it is built upon the impregnable fortress of the objective written word of God.]
You may come to the conclusion that I love God's Word and esteem it very highly. I believe God's Word, the Bible, is Truth. It does not contradict itself in any way.
Is your faith built on the truth of God's Word? How much time do you take daily to read, study, memorize and then meditate on it so that your faith is based in truth? I pray that you will take up this joyful duty and perform it faithfully and watch out- God will perform His work in you who believe!!!
by His grace and for His glory alone,
Norma
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Faith is...
Today I am writing out the notes I took as listened to a message from New Reformation, Steve Lawson's website (in my favorite ministries list). This may continue for several days because what he says is impactful and thought provoking. It also includes details and facts that I would never know if someone else hadn't done the observation so I am thankful for the legwork, prayerful research that others do that so benefits the rest of us. Everything in the brackets is from Dr. Lawson. I tried to be accurate in my notetaking- sometimes pausing to make sure I got it right. Hopefully I did a good job.
[Scripture: Hebrews 11: 1
Point 1- Faith is primary- the number of times faith is used is amazing. In Hebrews it is used 32 times and in Chapter 11 it is used 24 times.
Point 2- The properties of faith- components, what is it. Verse one is a description of faith not a definition of it. The Greek word pistis has mutliple uses. Here were some of the usages of the word.
True faith in God has all these components. Faith is a gift from God to us. It is dynamic, supernatural, active- not passive, it is aggressive- it moves out.]
This gives us alot to think about for now. Does this describe my faith? Does this describe your faith? If not we need to examine ourselves to be sure we are 'in the faith'. Ask God to make your faith evident, strong, and deep. He will do it.
Next, tomorrow, I will pick up this message with the Three Nonnegotiable parts of faith.
to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely lavished on us in the Beloved,
Norma
[Scripture: Hebrews 11: 1
Point 1- Faith is primary- the number of times faith is used is amazing. In Hebrews it is used 32 times and in Chapter 11 it is used 24 times.
Point 2- The properties of faith- components, what is it. Verse one is a description of faith not a definition of it. The Greek word pistis has mutliple uses. Here were some of the usages of the word.
- completely trustworthy
- pledge
- promise
- oath
- inner attitude of complete trust, reliance
- firm persuasion of truthfulness of God's Word
- deep conviction based upon confidence of person (God) and His testimony
- personal surrender to the living God and a conduct inspired by that belief
- trusting acceptance of the Word and Will of God
- an allegiance to God
- a loyalty to God marked by firm belief and strong conviction- not wavering.
True faith in God has all these components. Faith is a gift from God to us. It is dynamic, supernatural, active- not passive, it is aggressive- it moves out.]
This gives us alot to think about for now. Does this describe my faith? Does this describe your faith? If not we need to examine ourselves to be sure we are 'in the faith'. Ask God to make your faith evident, strong, and deep. He will do it.
Next, tomorrow, I will pick up this message with the Three Nonnegotiable parts of faith.
to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely lavished on us in the Beloved,
Norma
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