Saturday, November 28, 2009

I will no longer be posting this blog

I have created a new blog called "Jim's Devotional Blog".Only people close to me will be able to read this blog.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Shepherd and Salvation

I came from a baptist background and I know where you are coming from when you are asking the question in your OP. Faith is the first step of obedience proves to be an act of faith in the word of Christ by responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Faith comes only when the outward fact penetrates to the inner heart of man and takes possession of him there and this is the work of the Spirit, not man.

Many times, many denominations including Baptists often do more than what God requires. Our assurance of salvation cannot be found by looking inward at how we think or feel or whether we have doubts, but only outwardly by looking to God's Word, God's works for us, and God's promises to us.

True "sanctification" is only through the Holy Spirit who produce the evidence of my own true spiritual condition, humility and intimacy with God that my flesh CANNOT DO.

This is where Soli Deo gloria comes from: All glory is due to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through His will and action—not only the gift of the all-sufficient atonement of Jesus on the cross but also the gift of faith in that atonement, created in the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit.

The atonement is the work of God from beginning to end. God alone provides the means of salvation through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ; through the call of God for all to repent and don't reject; and through the God-given restoration.

Most important, this raises the whole question of the doctrine of regeneration because this is the most serious thing of all. This work is the work of the Holy Spirit, and His work alone, and no one else can do it. And, as it is His work, it is always a thorough work; and is always a work that will show itself. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance (conviction), as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. Jesus said in John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

When I post about Jesus as our "Shepherd".... I was referring to His Salvation for us. Jesus is my Shepherd:
A. Jesus releases me from FEAR (John 10:1-8, 11-13) so I am not easily spooked
B. Jesus satisfies my SPIRITUAL HUNGER (John 10:9-10) so that I won't covet.
C. Jesus brings me UNITY with other believes to the flock (John 10:11-18) so that I won't be selfish with my spiritual gifts.
D. My salvation is secured (John 10:22-30) so that no one can cause me to doubt my faith.

Hebrews 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.

We are the sheep only if we understand what it means to be a sheep. In the New Testament, "You were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." Connects with the Old Testament prophecy: "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." First Peter 5:4 refers to Him as the "Chief Shepherd." Those are significant titles because the Old Testament affirms that "the Lord is my shepherd" (Ps. 23:1, Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24).

Jesus is MY SHEPHERD that He will supply all my needs (Phil. 4:19) and that He knows everything about my life (Ps. 139:3), cares about me (1 Pet. 5:7), has the power for every difficulty (Ps. 62:11), is perfecting me to be like Christ (Phil. 1:6), and that nothing escapes Him (Ps. 147:5), that will lead me to be stable, not anxious living and not coveting anything.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Disagreements

When we argue and disagree, we will know what kind of a Christian others are and what kind of a heart they have. We always argue over things that we love, or that we disagree. I will speak up when I hear doctrines that I disagree with. Doctrines sounds very good and simple but life is not so simple. There are Christians who are zealous for their "doctrines" and forget the sensitivity of others regarding certain topics.

Discernment encouraged me to examine my own beliefs. When I was younger, I believed in certain doctrines but now that I am spiritually matured that I know that God is in control of everything even when I see things I do NOT like. Even though doctrinal differences may arise between Christians, we must still show love to one another. However, this does not mean that we are to ignore doctrinal error. 1 Corinthians 13:6 says that love "rejoices in the truth." So one aspect of loving one another is to strive for doctrinal purity by pointing out doctrinal error, not by ignoring it.

Statement of Faith is a good start and foundation to work with. Christians can get along even when they differ on doctrinal issues. There are many who are judging based on bickering doctrines than God-centered fruitful lives. This is between the believer and God. As long as our conscience is clear and our heart is pure before God, don't be concerned with minor doctrinal issues. In this life it is inevitable and it is useful because it produces the evidence of our true spiritual condition, humility and intimacy with God and allows God to put Himself on display in His grace.

Negative circumstances teach us dependence on His grace (John 15:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10) that whatever is happening makes us think of our own reflections, trying to look at it from the biblical and the personal viewpoint. Grace is about loving other people that we have the freedom to do so but at the same time, respect how they practice their beliefs. I just let God handle their beliefs that I disagree with. Christianity seriously while at the same time, understand sins in this world. Sins are discord, disunity, and chaos will always produce great insecurity that leads people to feel destabilize in their lives.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Spirit-filled Charismatic

I believe people have wrong view of what spirit-filled really means. Spirit-filled is not about how successful your spiritual-gifts are but rather accepting God's eternal gift. "If Christ is in us, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness" (Romans 8:10).

Post Charismatics are those who moved away from many Charismatic/Pentecostal churches. There are alot of debates relating to Charismatic doctrines. Spirit-filled-Charismatic section is VERY diverse with all forms of denominations and movements with different doctrinal views. In this day and age with many a so-called “Spirit-filled” Christians languishing in lukewarm faith conditions based on measurement based on works on human efforts. Our own faith is not based on merit. Often flesh's desires gets in the way of spirit-lead truth. To be spirit-filled, because the Spirit indwells us as Christians, we ought to daily live a Spirit-controlled and empowered life. God wants us to be busy rejoicing in the gracious prospect of all opportunities of God's will. Those charismatics who knows what it means to be charismatics emphasize that the purpose of spiritual gifts is to build up the church and enrich worship of God, not to gratify the individual.

Its a reminder that the life of the church is made up of spiritual attitudes and spiritual motivations, spiritual graces that come from deep within the community. Its a reminder of this verse in Ephesians 4:4, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

Charismatic Christians are usually those who live in spirit as Paul wrote "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25). Christians have the spiritual capacity in their charisma which is a gift of God's grace according to God's determinations. According to the Greek word charisma, we have received grace gifts. We are free in God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do right, to look at these others in a condescending way.

Friday, May 8, 2009

What's my denomination

The other day, for the fun of it, I tested myself to see where the doctrines I am in line with today. It has been interesting because the first part of my Christian life, I was Baptist (non-Calvinist) and Anabaptist (somewhat Calvinist) that many of the "minor" doctrines are still within my heart. However, the major doctrines have changed. It took me almost 40 years to change because I was victimized because I grew up in a certain theological system and I become indoctrinated by what I have learned over the years that I have struggled by defending what I have learned and can't seem to let go of it.

However, one thing I have learned over the years relating to the "doctrine of salvation". I have to remember that the Bible does not present faith as simply "mental assent to the facts of the gospel" but rather true saving faith involves repentance from my own sin and a complete trust in the work of Christ to save me from sin and make me righteous. Through the doctrine of Soli Deo gloria: All glory is due to God alone, since salvation is accomplished solely through His will and action—not only the gift of the all-sufficient atonement of Jesus on the cross but also the gift of faith in that atonement, created in the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit.

The atonement is the work of God from beginning to end. God alone provides the means of salvation through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ; through the call of God for all to repent and don't reject; and through the God-given restoration.

One of the major reasons I moved away from Reformed (Calvinist) is the mystery of God's salvation for us. No matter how much knowledge we have in the Mystery of God, we will never fully comprehend God until we die. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, "My thoughts are completely different from yours, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. We are to judge through, to see through to the truth, to truly evaluate something what what we are hearing is biblical or not. Knowledge of the mystery is having the reality of an experience of knowing God personally and consciously. I have learned through the years that God don't need me but I do know He uses my life. My own faith is not self-effort or anything I can do for God but rather from within that my faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit by the conviction to submit into action. The outcome is not based on my faith or my will but rather God's will for my life as I serve Him on this earth as I serve for Him in heaven. The Spirit is our intercessor, our personal indwelling intercessor interceding according to the will of God. Jesus had said to His disciples, "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave" (Matthew 20:26‑27). The life of a local church is made up of spiritual attitudes and spiritual motivations, spiritual graces that come from deep within the community. Its a reminder of this verse in Ephesians 4:4, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all."

(100%) 1: Lutheran
(90%) 2: Presbyterian/Reformed
(87%) 3: Congregational/United Church of Christ
(82%) 4: Church of Christ/Campbellite
(80%) 5: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England
(80%) 6: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene
(77%) 7: Eastern Orthodox
(75%) 8: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic)
(65%) 9: Roman Catholic
(62%) 10: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist
(57%) 11: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God
(50%) 12: Seventh-Day Adventist
(37%) 13: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.)

http://www.selectsmart.com/plus/select.php?url=denomtradition

Deep thoughts about Christians

I am recalled the foolishness of Job's friends who were supposely his "counselors" in attempting to explain the mystery of God's will what they thought was truth relating to Job's problems. Job's 3 friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, come to comfort him and to discuss his crushing series of tragedies. They insist his suffering is punishment for sin in his life. Job, though, remains devoted to God through all of this and contends that his life has not been one of sin.

Regarding Job's FRIENDS, every statement of Job's three friends was TRUE and their reasoning was impeccable in cases around the world. They said that God punishes sinners -- and they were right. They said that none could hide his sins from God -- and they were right! However, in Job's case, they were WRONG. At the end of the book, we read this profound statement: "After the Lord had finished speaking with Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not been right in what you have said about me, as my servant Job was. Now take seven young bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves; and my servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf, and won't destroy you as I should because of your sin, your failure to speak rightly concerning my servant Job" (Job 42:7-8). They were in error because they ASSUMED that Job SINNED, based on the "evidence" of his sufferings alone. They had NO PROOF of any of Job's alleged sins that they accused him of but they just could not believe that he was blameless, and so they tried with all their might to convict him of sin, when he was blameless. They missed the whole point of Job's sufferings, just as most Christians (so-called) do over the years.

No matter how much knowledge we have in the Mystery of God, we will never fully comprehend God until we die. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, "My thoughts are completely different from yours, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

I am reminded of what Jesus also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer. The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:9-14).

James gave an example of Job's situation in James 5:11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

We are to judge through, to see through to the truth, to truly evaluate something what what we are hearing is biblical or not. Knowledge of the mystery is having the reality of an experience of knowing God personally and consciously.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Curse from Genesis through Revelation

Many references in the Old Testament have mentioned many curses that were explained. Paul explains in Romans 8 that: "The whole creation groans" under this curse. The reason there is disintegration, death and all of that in the entire universe goes right back to Genesis Chapter 3. What began in Genesis ends in Revelation. Genesis you have the commencement of heaven and earth, in Revelation the consummation of heaven and earth. In Genesis you have the entrance of sin and the curse, in Revelation you have the end of sin and the curse. In Genesis you have the dawn of Satan and his activities, in Revelation you have the doom of Satan and his activities. In Genesis you have the tree of life relinquished, in Revelation the tree of life regained. In Genesis death enters, in Revelation death exists. In Genesis sorrow begins, in Revelation sorrow is banished. In Genesis paradise is lost, in Revelation paradise is regained.

The most central importance is in Genesis the Savior is promised, in Revelation the Savior is preeminent.