Salvation Is Only Thru Jesus

The Anti-Pharisee Pharisee

2007-02-14T17:12:00.000-06:00

Having been brought from the depths of legalism, and having been a "Pharisee of Pharisees", I often find myself fighting with my old self, or wrestling with a new version of that old self. For example, in Jesus story of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18, we see a contrast between them, and their dispositions by what they both say, and how they both consider themselves as they respond to God...

The Pharisee stood and prayed, "God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." The publican, however, standing afar off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast and said, "God be merciful to me a sinner."

Knowing what this story teaches, and having once been that Pharisee, I no longer find myself standing upright and thanking God that I do so much good, and that I am not a publican, but I have found myself postured differently, praying something along the lines of "God, I thank you, that I no longer think as I once did, self-righteous, prideful, boastful, thinking that I can earn my way to heaven, etc., etc., and that I am no longer a Pharisee", and inevitably, "God, I thank you, that I am no longer like those Pharisees...".

I see that, even though the posturing may have changed, and the words have been modified appropriately, the old man, although disguised, still rears his ugly head...

"God be merciful to me a sinner".

Pointless Grace

2006-09-16T15:29:00.000-05:00

It was John MacArthur who wrote, "Grace means nothing to a person who does not know he is sinful and that such sinfulness means he is separated from God and damned. It is therefore pointless to preach grace until the impossible demands of the Law and the reality of guilt before God are preached." This is as simple as telling a patient that he is sick before telling him that he needs a cure. Why would any patient want a cure if he isn’t first convinced that he is sick? The Law must precede the Gospel to convince the sinner that he needs the Savior. Charles Spurgeon said, "I do not believe that any man can preach the Gospel who does not preach the Law." There goes another minute. Gone forever. Go share your faith while you still have time.

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[Taken from: http://www.wayofthemasterminute.com/]

1st Corinthians and Unity

2006-09-13T00:16:00.000-05:00

Saturday, a bunch of us were at the church building holding a hot dog sale when a neighbor came in and sat down for a while. Now, this man is a Church of Christ member who lives a mile or so from our congregation but attends church in the next town over. He's known for changing congregations frequently and always finding fault with the one he's at.

I listened to him and another man talking about all of the church splits that had happened in the last year or so, and about how people were leaving this congregation for that, and people were meeting in hotels and funeral homes because of things that had gone on at their previous congregations.

Then the talk turned to Norway Avenue. Some of you might have heard of this church (Fred Peatross used to be an elder). This man had attended there a little while, and had left because they "mixed acts of worship" by singing during communion (at least that's what I was told, although I was initially told that he was going to straighten them out).

General consternation was expressed about the possibility they would go instrumental, and the man named someone we all knew and said he couldn't believe it, but this man had started attending there.

I left the room rather than get into the conversation. This was a man I knew not to argue with anyway; he prides himself on his "directness". The thoughts that were going through my head were about Jesus' call for unity, about how our love for each other was supposed to be the determining mark that would hold us together, and how we were willing to throw this away over stuff the Bible didn't even talk about, mostly so we could get our own way.

I knew how I would be answered, though. I've been on the other side of the conversation, and the verse I liked to use was 1 Corinthians 1:10, I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Paul then lit into the Corinthians about how they were following man instead of Christ, and about how if they just followed God's word, they'd have the same opinions about everything. But is that what he was really saying? Was this what unity of mind and thought supposed to be?

I considered this a while back, and I kept reading. Just a few verses later, right after the "I of Paul, I of Cephas", he starts talking about the cross:

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' "

is that it, then? Just preach the cross? Could that be the basis of our unity of mind and thought?

It seemed like a stretch, but he did put that line in there about wisdom and intelligence not being the point. If we are supposed to reason it all out for ourselves, then wisdom and intelligence would be the point, wouldn't it?

Then I read the next verses.

"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

We preach Christ crucified? Is that really it? I mean, Paul couldn't mean that's all there is, could he? That has to be hyperbole. By "Christ crucified" he has to still be reminding them not to follow men, but follow the Bible, doesn't he?

But that's not what he said. And he does keep going on about human wisdom.

And there, in the next chapter, was the clincher:

"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

There's that verse. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Man, could that be it? Could it be that, after telling the Corinthians to be united in mind and thought, then telling them not to trust in their own wisdom, he tells them that this one thing is what matters, nothing else?

It sure seemed like it.

After this, he talks about wisdom coming from the Spirit, and how we won't recognize it if we don't belong to God, and how we should become fools instead of boasting about what we know. I won't quote it, but it's there. You can read it.

So is this the key to unity? Nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified?

If so, where does that leave us? Weak. Helpless. Dependent. Those aren't places we want to be. Those are things that make us...uncomfortable.

But we become uncomfortable in our brokenness and look to Him for comfort.

Why do we not have unity? Because there are things we want more. It's that simple. We want to have our say about doctrine. We want correctness. We want our own rightness. Unity's inconvenient. Unity means sacrificing ourselves and submitting to others.

I'm not good at that.

But if we don't have unity, we will not be the church that God wants us to be. We cannot be His presence on Earth in the sense that He wants if we are fragmented and arguing and showing twenty-four other emotions before we show the love for each other that He said would identify us.

If we are to be united in the same thought and the same mind, then Paul has told us what that thought is:

Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

If we preached that, if that was really at the center of everything we did, then maybe everything else, including the unity of the Spirit, would follow.

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[Written by Marc Shoemaker, and posted here with his permission.]

Are you ready for the lions?

2006-03-18T00:15:00.000-06:00

Come back with me to the year 51AD. Look on, as another Christian is about to be thrown to the lions. This man has one last chance to publicly deny his faith in Jesus Christ, but he doesn't. The awaiting crowd roars with delight. Once again, the grizzly sight of blood and bone will be spread across the blood-soaked soil of the arena.

These Christians rarely disappointed the bloodthirsty mob. There weren't many backsliders. Despite the entertainment, it was a continual mystery to the crowd as to why anyone would willingly allow himself to be torn apart by ferocious lions when a simple nod of the head would free him to go back to his beloved family. So, why is this man ready to be torn limb from limb by ferocious teeth?

A few years earlier, this godless man had been in Athens on a business trip and had heard the gospel from the lips of an apostle preaching on Mars Hill. He heard the apostle say that his hearers had sinned against Heaven, and therefore needed a Savior because God "had appointed a Day in which He would judge the world in righteousness." He listened as this faithful apostle spoke of that "righteousness of God apart from the law," and showed him that he was under God's dreadful wrath.

As he stood among the crowd, he heard that Jesus of Nazareth had said "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." He had violated that Commandment many times. He also heard that God would send all thieves and liars to Hell -- "All liars will have their part in the lake of fire," and that He considered hatred to be murder. His conscience began to stir within him and remind him of his guilt. This Judgment Day of which the apostle preached would be a fearful thing. He began to feel a very real dread that he truly was under God's wrath, and would end up in the lake of fire. As he hung his head in a strange mixed sense of sorrow and dread, he heard the preacher explain that this same Jesus of Nazareth--the Lamb of God--had suffered and died on a Roman cross in his place. God Himself had provided a Savior. The Messiah took the sin of the world upon Himself. He paid for our sin in His life's blood by suffering and dying in our place. But death could not hold Him. He burst from the grave; and through faith in His Name eternal salvation was offered to all men.

This sinful man lifted his head in unbelief that God would love him that much. He listened closely to hear what he should then do. He was simply to "repent, and believe in the gospel" and call upon the Name of the Lord. That's what he did. He bowed his head once again and earnestly prayed, "God forgive me for sinning against you. Jesus Christ -- be my Lord and Savior . . ."

It was then that he found that Almighty God was almighty indeed. He made him a new creature. He was born again, with a new heart and new desires. God wrote His Law upon his heart and caused him to walk in His statutes. This man, who once lived for sin and drank it in like water, suddenly found that he thirsted for righteousness, and wanted, above all things, to please the God that gave him life. It was a miracle. One day he had no thoughts of God. Not for a second. The next day the love of God was shed abroad in his heart. The Holy Spirit made His abode in him. This gospel of salvation came to him with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance.

This man, whose only concern had been for himself, suddenly became possessed with an all-consuming passion to share the Gospel of salvation with a dying world. It was as though he was filled with rivers of living water. But there was more. When he prayed, he had an inner conviction that God heard his every whisper. It was as though he had been given the gift of faith. He believed without effort. The Name of Jesus was sweet to his ear, and Jesus Christ became more important to him than his own life. The cross he had been told about shone before him with the intensity of the noonday sun. He gloried in it. He found himself weeping at the thought that God in Christ would suffer in his place. Guilt no longer plagued his sinful heart. It was removed as far as the east is from the West. Secret and sinful passions fell off his flesh like unwanted and rotting clothes. Old things passed away--behold, all things became new. He bubbled with an unspeakable joy and relished a peace that passed all understanding. God had given him the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. His faith was solely in God through Christ, and His sure promise of life.

So, why is this man ready to be torn limb from limb by ferocious teeth? It is because he came to actually know the God that he once only knew about. This is why he, and multitudes more, were "faithful unto death."

One day, you and I will also be thrown to the lions. If God allows us to live to a ripe old age, our bodies will become ravaged with time, and we will face the yawning teeth of death. Not too many of us will have a pleasant demise. Most will be ripped apart by some terrible disease, until the ferocious beast of death devours what's left of our bodies.

Such thoughts are not pleasant, but they are true to life. Are you ready for that brutal attack? How deep is your faith in God? Can you say from your own conviction that the Holy Spirit has regenerated you? Does the evident fruit in your life reveal that you are born of God? Don't give a quick answer. This question is far too important for you to give a thoughtless, "I'm okay. I believe in God," or "I have given my heart to Jesus." The Bible warns in Matthew 7:21-23 that there will be many who, on the Day of Judgment, will cry out to Jesus, "Lord, Lord!" But He will say to them, "I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity." Can you imagine the horror of that happening to you? On that fearful day there will be a huge category of people who will say that they knew the Lord, but they were in truth "hypocrites." A hypocrite may deceive friends and family, but he can never deceive God. What is really happening, is that he is deceiving himself.

Maybe, like millions of others, you have made a commitment to Christ but you didn't have a Road to Damascus experience. Or perhaps you don't even know the date you decided to follow the Savior. That doesn't matter. What matters is the present. Where are you at this very moment? If your heart gave out right now, how would you respond in those few moments that your life drained from you -- in absolute trust, or total terror? Don't deceive yourself any further by saying, "That would never happen to me." Human nature tends to think that way -- that death is something that happens to other people. But every single day 150,000 people die, and no doubt each of them that are now in eternity, thought just like you -- that death "will never happen to me."

Please, think about the day death comes to you. Let your imagination work for you for a moment. A massive crowd of demons is calling for your blood. You stand helplessly in front of the vicious jaws of death. It opens wide its mouth. Can you face it with courage? Is your conversion experience that real? Are you ready?

Be wise. Examine yourself, and see if you are in the faith. If you are not, then don't be like this godless world and leave yourself vulnerable to the ultimate of life's terrors. Get on your knees today -- right now, and let the Ten Commandments search out your secret sins. Have you put God first? Have you made a god in your own image? Have you ever blasphemed His name? Or looked with unclean sexual desires? Ask God to shine a spotlight on your heart and remind you of those things that you have thought and done that He saw. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. He even sees the darkness as pure light. Realize that if God gave you justice, you would end up in Hell for eternity. We only get one chance in this thing we call "life." Don't blow it for eternity. Confess your sins to God. Name them. Be sorry for them. Plead with Him to open your understanding to the great truth that God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Make your calling and election sure, until you can say with the apostle Paul, "For me to live is Christ. To die is gain." Then your love for God will become so real, you couldn't deny it even if you wanted to. That was the kind of unwavering faith that gave courage to stand before the lion. You need that same faith today.

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(This article was written by Ray Comfort.)

Out Of The Abundance Of The Heart

2006-01-23T23:02:00.000-06:00

A few years ago, a brother and I went to study the Scriptures with a few men who also professed a faith in Jesus Christ. Our intention was to demonstrate that these men possessed an erroneous understanding of the word of God, especially when it came to the issue of salvation.

After arriving, we exchanged pleasantries, and sat down across from one another at a large table. Before we could start our discussion on the "issues", one of the men asked me a question. He said, "if you died today, and stood before God in judgment, and He asked you, 'why should I let you in to my heaven?', what would you tell Him?".

Without hesitation, I looked at him and answered, "I would say: Because I've done your will... I believed, repented of my sins, was baptized, preached the word, and lived faithfully...". The one who asked me the question then asked, "is there anything else?" I then listed off a few more things that I had done, and told him that that was about it. He then said to me, "so, salvation is about what you do, then?... you mentioned everything that you do, and have done, but did not mention what Jesus did...".

As realization set in, I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach. I knew that Jesus had to be my answer, but when asked, I pointed to myself, and to my works. This answer was deeply unsettling to me, and continued to haunt me until the Lord allowed me to fully realize that I had been trusting in my own works for salvation, more than I was trusting in Jesus Christ. I answered the way that I did because, as Jesus said, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (cf. Matt. 12:34).

Today, when I speak with people about the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, and ask them the question that I was asked, I often hear responses that are similar, if not identical to the one that I had given years before. I realize that many are under the same deception that I was under, in some form or another, and need to be pointed to Jesus Christ. Their works, their this, their that, their whatever is the thing that they point to when faced with judgment. Instead of Jesus, and His shed blood, the reason that God should allow them into heaven is because of something that they did, or are doing.

Jesus said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:20-21) .

May the abundance of our heart confess Jesus on that day, and on the days leading up to it... May we look away from ourselves, our works, and what we do, and truly trust in Him.

New Year, New Direction?

2006-01-07T03:03:00.000-06:00

With another calendar year upon us, resolutions abound. Whether it be weight loss, exercise, eating better, or whatever, it is obvious that the majority of people are not comfortable with themselves and recognize a need for change. But why does the new year cause so many people to think in such a way? What about 12:01 am, January 1st will spur such thoughts, from millions of people, all at the same time?

The fact of the matter is, our lives on earth are limited. With the changing of years, we realize, whether consciously or subconsciously, that another year is behind us, and another year of our life is gone. We realize that we are closer to the end, and that we only have so much time left. That is why the resolution of many is to eat better, exercise, stop smoking, or do something else along those lines because the changing of those habits seem to be able to extend one's natural life.

But New Year's resolutions reveal more to us than just our desire to postpone death. Many resolve to change other types of habits, and other facets of their lives. It seems that, as people, we are mostly unsatisfied with ourselves, and desire to change more than just our bodies. This unsatisfaction is absolutely warranted, and can only be resolved one way...

I read a sign in front of a church building, recently, that said, "New Year's resolution: Go back to church". The sign made the announcement, but many people will make that resolution, regardless of the sign. The problem, however, is that the answer to our unsatisfaction is not going to church. The answer is not trying to be more religious, or doing good things. The answer is Jesus Christ.

When man disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, the relationship he once enjoyed with Him was severed. Along with man's sin came guilt and shame. As a result, Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves to hide their nakedness, their guilt and their shame from God, and from one another. But fig leaves were not sufficient to cover them. They could not hide from God.

It seemed that man needed a sufficient covering, and God gave them a shadow of that covering by taking the skins of an animal and making clothes for Adam and Eve. It was through the sacrifice of life, and through the provision of God that man could be sufficiently covered. However, in the garden, God's provision only served to cover man's nakedness... It did not cover his sin.

About 4,000 years later, God took on human flesh, and made provision for man's sin to be covered, and forgiven. Through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and through repentance, and faith in Him, His blood will wash away our sins. We can put on His righteousness like a garment, and our sins, our guilt, and our shame will be covered before God. No longer will our relationship with God be severed, but we will be reconciled to God, through Him...

We are unsatisfied in this world because of sin, and because our relationship with God has been severed by our sin. We know that we need a change, and a new direction, and that our efforts are insufficient. As the years pass us by, we grow closer to death, and our impending judgment before God. If our sins are not covered on that day, we will be eternally separated from Him, and cast into the place called Hell. If we change our direction (repent/turn from our sins), and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, this new year will not be one more year lost, but the beginning of eternal life gained. May this new year bring that new direction... May He be our resolution today, and for the rest of our lives!

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-25T12:22:00.000-06:00

For many, Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. For His followers, however, every day, and every moment of every day is a time to remember Him. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Son of God, God in the flesh was born into the world to pay the price for sin. Although He kept God’s law perfectly, and never sinned, He died a gruesome death for your sins, and mine. He did this because it was the only way that our transgressions against God could ever be paid for. Nothing that you do, or I do, can ever pay for sin. The price is too high. Through His suffering and death, He paid that price once and for all... We broke God’s law, and Jesus paid our fine.

Three days later, God raised Him from the dead. The tomb was empty, and is still empty to this day. After He was raised, Jesus appeared to many people, including over five hundred at the same time. His resurrection from the dead was proof that He was the Son of God, and that death is not the end. It also proved that God accepted Jesus’ payment on the cross for sin. Eternal life is now available, but only through Him. By the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, His blood will cleanse us from all of our sins. Even though we deserve the consequences of our sins, death and hell, the slate can be wiped clean, and we can be made righteous through Him. This is the Good News that is also known as the Gospel... It is God’s love and grace... And it is what many truly celebrate on Christmas Day, and every day.

Dear friend, are you a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? If you were to die today, and had to stand before God in judgment, do you know, beyond a shadow of doubt that you would spend eternity with God? If not, why not? God has given mankind the greatest gift that we could ever receive... Forgiveness of sins, and eternal life are waiting for you. Through repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ you can accept His gracious, free gift today. Have you accepted this gift? As a result of repentance, and faith in Him, have you been baptized in His name? Are you living your life to please Him, each and every day? If not, remember what Jesus said, "If anyone will come after me, he must take up his cross daily and follow me". If so, continue in Him... Read the Bible daily, obey what you read, and share the Good News with others.

Merry Christmas, and may God be with you...

Two Wolves

2005-12-15T02:06:00.000-06:00

One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, hatred, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old man simply replied, "The one you feed."

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(Author Unknown)

Thank you, Lord…

2005-11-19T16:57:00.000-06:00

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many will soon be gathered at their respective family tables for a time of feasting and fellowship. During these gatherings, even those who are outside of Christ will find themselves drawn into prayer and thanksgiving to God, if for no other reason than to keep with tradition.

Since they will then have God and the giving of thanks on their minds, those of us who are in Christ should use this wonderful opportunity to glorify God, and to point these souls to Him through Jesus. When gathered around the table, we could raise the question, “Since we’re celebrating ‘Thanksgiving’ together, why don’t each of us take a few moments to share what we’re thankful for?” Then, when our own turn comes, we can use the opportunity to thank God for Jesus Christ, and give a personal testimony which includes the gospel message.

As with most get-togethers, there will probably be times of one on one interaction, as well, before and after the meal. We can also use these times to ask our family members about what they’re thankful for, and point them to true thanksgiving that comes through salvation in Jesus Christ.

Let’s not just eat turkey and stuffing this Thanksgiving, let's also say “Thank you, Lord” by being faithful witnesses of His glorious gospel!

Some Reasons Not To Ask Jesus Into Your Heart

2005-11-12T13:58:00.000-06:00

Pastor Dennis Rokser was curious one day, so he asked his congregation how many of them had "asked Jesus into their hearts." To his surprise, around 60% of them had done this at some point in their life (although he had never taught it). Then he asked how many of them had gained assurance of their salvation at a later date. The vast majority raised their hands again. After reading of his experiences, I decided to ask around to see if I would get the same results, and sure enough, I did.

This past summer I was a counselor at a bible camp, and as I reflect back, I can remember several times when a kid would respond to an invitation to "ask Jesus into your heart." Our camp kept track of any decisions the kids made, so I knew if it was a camper's first time or not. Often, kids who had prayed for "salvation" and had dedicated their lives to Christ several times would come forward and want to do it again. I would check the decision sheet, and see that it was their 3rd or 4th time coming forward, and so the conversation usually went like this:

Me: So why did you come to me?
Camper: I want to ask Jesus into my heart.
Me: Well, you know the Bible says that if you believe in what Jesus Christ did for you, then you are already saved. Have you ever prayed before?
Camper: Yeah.
Me: What did you pray for?
Camper: I asked Jesus into my heart.
Me: So why do you want to pray again?
Camper: I'm scared... I'm not sure if it worked.

That explains it all! The reason the camper didn't have assurance is because the camper didn't have salvation. His expressed fears revealed where his faith rested. The camper wasn't sure if "it" worked; and it didn't. The camper had good reason to be worried, because he was trusting in his prayer to save him. When he said "I'm not sure if it worked", you can be assured that he wasn't talking about the sacrifice of Jesus. Lets look at some biblical reasons why you shouldn't "ask Jesus into your heart."

1) "Asking Jesus into your heart" confuses the issues. Many people hold that this cliché is helpful in explaining salvation to young children. Pastor Rokser points out, however, that children often take things very literally, and have difficulty with abstract ideas. He wrote, "[Children] understand 'ball', 'dog', and 'hat' before they understand 'death', 'hell', and 'salvation'. When confronted with an appeal to ask Jesus into their heart, they are prone to imagine Christ in bodily form somehow living in the organ that pumps our blood." He shares a story of a young girl who leaned against her mother's chest and said:

Girl: Mom, I hear Jesus in your heart.
Mom: Really, honey. What is Jesus doing?
Girl: Oh, He's just perking coffee.

On top of the confusion that it causes children, I challenge any adult to sit down and analyze exactly what the cliché is saying. Every adult that I have asked to explain what the term means ends up saying something like "It means that you believe that Jesus died for you." Hold on! That is in NO way the same thing. One says "Jesus died for our sins," and the other says "Ask Jesus into your heart." That's the same thing? Todd Friel points out the confusion well:

"Asking Jesus into your heart" is a saying that makes no sense. What does it mean to ask Jesus into your heart? If I say the right incantation will he somehow enter my heart? Is it literal? Does he reside in the upper or lower ventricle? Is this a metaphysical experience? Is it figurative? If it is, what exactly does it mean? While I am certain that most adults cannot articulate its meaning, I am certain that no child can explain it."

2) Telling people they need to "ask Jesus into their heart" changes the biblical center of faith. Justification comes through faith in what Christ has done for you. Faith placed in ANYTHING else, no matter how "christianeese" it sounds will not save you. I remember pleading with God as a child that he would come into my heart. I remember being told that unless He's in your heart, then you cannot go to heaven. Consequently, I asked Him into my heart over and over again. I really, really, really wanted Him to come into my heart. Eventually, I comforted myself with the idea that I had asked so many times that one of the times I must have meant it enough. People had given me a false assurance by telling me that if I just said the prayer, and really meant it, then I would go to heaven; and so I said the prayer; and I really did mean it! I really did want to go to heaven, but I had never placed my faith in Jesus Christ.

Here is another way to explain it. You stand guilty before a judge, and a $500,000 fine hangs over your head. You have no money. The judge says to you, "I am about to pass sentence, you either pay the fine, or I have to send you away to jail. Do you have any last words?" You could tell the judge, "Yeah! Judge, I asked you into my heart!" The judge would laugh at you. You "asking the judge" into your heart would be meaningless. So in the same way, asking Jesus into your heart is NOT grounds for justification. You would still stand guilty before God. Imagine though, you say to the Judge, "I have a very good friend, and he is willing to pay my fine for me." Your friend steps in and pays the $500,000 fine. Then justice has been served, the law is fulfilled, and you are free to go. So it is with Jesus, the only way we can be made just in his sight is not to ask the judge into our heart, but to trust that Jesus' blood was the check written out to pay our penalty of sin and death.

3) "Asking Jesus into your heart" confuses the means of salvation with the ends of salvation. Any true born-again believer does possess the indwelling of Jesus. So Jesus entering the hearts of believers is a legitimate result of salvation, but no one had EVER received this indwelling through "asking Jesus into their heart." Why not? Well, because there can be no indwelling outside of what is prescribed in scripture, and scripture clearly says that it comes through faith in Jesus Christ. More specifically, it comes through faith in the fact that Jesus Christ has paid for your sins with HIS blood. Anything outside of faith placed in this exact fact cannot result in "Jesus coming into your heart," because it isn't what God has said one must do!

Lets look at Galatians 4:6. It says "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of His Son into our hearts." In this verse, the means and the ends of salvation are very clear. God has sent forth the spirit of His Son into our hearts (end of salvation) because you are sons. So the indwelling is the direct result of becoming a son of God. You have to become a son first! How do we become sons of God? "But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in his name" (John 1:12). "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name" (John 20:31). "For by grace you have been saved through faith..." (Eph 2:8). Trusting in Jesus Christ is the means of salvation, and it results in the end of salvation, the indwelling of Jesus in our hearts.

4) Telling people, "You have to ask Jesus into your heart in order to go to heaven" condemns real Christians. I can't remember the number of times that I have heard someone say "In order to be saved, you need to ask Jesus into your heart." If what these people were saying is true, then what happens to all those people who have simply obeyed the Gospel and put their trust in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins? If they simply believed, but didn't "say the prayer", are they all headed for Hell? What happened to all those people in Acts who came to repentance, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and then were baptized in His name, but no mention of prayer was made?

5) It hinders the preaching of the Gospel. Last spring break I went on a mission trip to Panama City, FL. The gospel being preached there was one that boiled down to "Are you seeking spiritual things? Do you know what would happen to you if you died tonight? Would you like to know for sure? If you just accept Jesus as your savior/Ask Jesus into your heart/Accept a relationship with Jesus, then when you die you will go to heaven." It was cliché central, and consequently all but two people that I talked to claimed to be a Christian. They had MTV parties, spinning big wheels that said "Guy, Girl, Guy, Girl" and another wheel that said "Strip, Kiss, Lick [various body parts]..." They would spin the wheels, and the people in the crowd had to do whatever the wheels said. It was nothing less than a pagan orgy, and everyone there I witnessed to was already a "Christian!" I even stopped a couple who was undressing to have sex on the beach and asked them if it concerned them that the Bible said that all those who are sexually immoral would have their part in the lake of fire. The young man replied, "Not really, my dad is a pastor. I know all this stuff," and with a big smile and confidence he said "I've asked Jesus into my heart!"

Using these clichés often results in giving people false assurance, and actually hinders the gospel. Small pox was defeated by taking its cousin, cow pox, and infecting people. Cow pox was very similar to small pox, but it was much less potent. A person who got cow pox would recover from their infection quickly, and their body would become immune to the potent small pox. The church today is guilty of infecting people with an impotent gospel, and now when I try to preach the real Gospel, people are inoculated to it.

6) The Bible never teaches that we should "Ask Jesus into our hearts." This comes as a surprise to most people. It may be shocking, and it is definitely true. Never once will you see in scripture someone being led to ask Jesus into his/her heart. In fact, you cannot find one instance where a person is petitioned to even say a prayer to be saved. The whole concept of such a sinner's prayer is extra-biblical.

Many people would argue that Rev 3:20 is the supporting text for "asking Jesus into your heart." I have seen many tracts, including Billy Graham's "Steps to Peace with God" tracts that say Jesus is knocking at the door to your heart, then quote Revelation 3:20. Lets look at what this verse says: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me."

The verse says "I stand at the door." What door is Jesus standing at? Is it the door of my car? Is it my refrigerator door? Is it my garage door? To affirm that the verse says "I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock," is to read something into the verse that isn't there. We have just as much right to read it "I stand at the door [of your bedroom] and knock." The only way we can tell is to look at the verse in context.

This verse is written to the church at Laodicea. This church thought that they were doing great, when they were truly wretched and sick. They had lost fellowship with their Savior. This verse is not written to an individual, but to the whole church. This is the invitation, that if they repent of their condition (as described in the previous verses) then fellowship would be restored to the church. Jesus is knocking at the door of the whole church.

Moving on in the verse, many people get confused when Jesus says "I will come in to him." They point to this as proof that we are to ask Jesus to come in. The verse, however, does not say "I will come into him," but "in to him." Again, the door Jesus is standing at is the door to the church, and so the verse reads "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door," (and this is the door of the whole church) then, "I will come in," (He will enter into fellowship); and where will Jesus go? "To him." To the person who opened the door to receive fellowship.

7) Don't tell people "You need to ask Jesus into your heart," because absolutely no one, at any time, has ever been saved by asking Jesus into their heart! Pastor Rokser wrote "Dear friends, I am convinced that NO ONE has ever been saved or received the assurance of their salvation by asking Jesus into his/her heart." The first time I read this I thought, "Ok, maybe that's taking it a little too far. No one?" But as I looked at the evidence, I too became convinced. He goes on to explain why, "Because there can be no salvation, nor assurance of salvation by something that is foreign to scripture." That's it! If the bible doesn't teach one can be saved by doing it, then one cannot be saved by doing it.

The only remedy for our sin that is ever presented in the Bible is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and what He did... "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish..." (John 3:16)

Assurance of salvation is received though the exact same thing! 1 John 5:11-13 says: "And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you man know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God."

Now this does not mean that every person who has asked Jesus into their hearts is not saved. There are probably countless people who have been saved when they asked Jesus into their hearts, despite them using the confusing cliché. The reason they were saved, however, was not because they "asked Jesus into their heart," but because they believed on Jesus Christ, and his blood for the forgiveness of sin...

Closing Thoughts...

I couldn't have summarized a final appeal better than Pastor Rokser did:

Dear reader, do not let your pride ("I've taught that cliché in the past") or your emotion ("I've prayed this with my kids") or your traditions ("Our church has always said that") get in the way of truth and biblical accuracy on the most important issue that anyone must address. While this misleading cliché is a sacred cow in evangelicalism today, let us return to the authoritative Word of God to embrace what God himself says about our eternal salvation...

What must I do to be saved?

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED (Acts 16:31)

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(This article was written by Jon Harms, and was slightly edited for publication on this blog by me, James Rondon.)

Why I Love Halloween

2005-10-10T21:02:00.000-05:00

When our family came to the United States in back 1989, Halloween was a big part of the American culture shock. It horrified us to go to supermarkets and see such a personification of evil. We would turn the lights off on the night of Halloween, and go to bed early. If the door bell rang, we would ignore it, and pray that the kids dressed as demons would go away.

However, about five years ago we decided that we would let our light shine in the darkness. We purchased some candy and placed them and some tracts in plastic bags. That night, over one hundred people came to our door and took Gospel tracts—over one hundred people! The experience was so much easier than going door to door. There was no feeling awkward as I stood in someone else’s property. Neither was there the fear of having a door slammed in my face—because the world came to my door, and I closed it when I wanted to.

Turn the tables on the enemy this Halloween. Make the most evil night of the year into the most evangelistic. Think about it. Isn't the hardest thing about giving people tracts, having to approach them? On October 31st, the world will come into your property, to your door, and they will gladly take tracts from your hands. So put a welcome sign on your lawn. Put the porch light on, and make sure you take advantage of this God-given opportunity to reach the lost.

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(This article was written by Ray Comfort.)

Scare Tactics

2005-09-25T18:55:00.000-05:00

In the episode of Way of the Master dealing with “conscience,” an atheist said something to the effect that he wouldn’t do anything out of fear. Some people who hear about the need to mention Law, judgment and hell believe that these are scare tactics to cause people to get saved.

In The Evidence Bible, the “Question & Objection” note for Hebrews 10:31 (“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”) is “You are using scare tactics by talking about hell and Judgment Day.” Ray Comfort’s response is:

In the late 1980s, TV commercials in the U.S. asked, “What goes through the mind of a driver who is not wearing a seat belt in a head-on collision?” Then they showed a crash dummy having its head crushed by a steering wheel in a collision, and said, “The steering wheel!” Those were scare tactics, but no one complained because they were legitimate scare tactics. That’s what happens in a head-on collision if you are foolish enough to not put on a seat belt.

To warn of hell is fearful, but it is absolutely legitimate, because the Bible says that it is a fearful thing for a sinner to fall into the hands of the living God.

As a biblical example of someone fleeing to the Savior out of fear, look at the type of salvation that we find in Noah’s story. Hebrews 11:7 says,

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Genesis 6:8 and 9 tells us that Noah “found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” “was a just man” and that he “walked with God,” yet upon hearing of God’s coming judgment against the earth, he was afraid. It was his fear that caused him to build the ark. It wasn’t his love for God or God’s love for him that caused him to build it. It wasn’t that he wanted to please God in building it, or even that he built it out of obedience. Instead, he wanted to save his skin. He didn’t want to go through the judgment unprotected.

Another way to read Hebrews 11:7 would be, “By faith, Noah built an ark because he was scared of the coming judgment.”

Shouldn’t we, too, be scared of the coming judgment? Not only should we flee to the Savior because of the coming judgment, we should be warning others. Noah’s belief that God would do what He had said – “I will destroy man” (Genesis 6:7) – caused him to act. When people in our generation realize that another, even harsher, judgment is coming, then they too will act.

Let us be faithful in declaring God’s coming judgment. Don’t let anyone persuade you to stop using this absolutely legitimate scare tactic.

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(This article was written by Stephen Smith.)

The Greatest Tragedy

2005-09-08T17:29:00.000-05:00

When one considers all of the suffering in New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Katrina, it is difficult to avoid being overwhelmed by feelings of sadness and woe. Most of those same emotions were evoked this past December when the tsunami took approximately 200,000 lives in Southeast Asia.

In just a few days, many will remember another event which brought grief and indescribable sorrow to untold millions. This Sunday is the fourth anniversary of the historic September 11th attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., regarded as one of the greatest national tragedies in American history.

While considering these horrific events, we should also consider a far greater tragedy, indeed, the greatest tragedy that there is. Every day approximately 150,000 people die. Whether by accident, murder, or illness - whether young, old, or somewhere in between - on average almost 2 people reach the end of their life every single second. Death, however, is not the greatest tragedy. Where the majority of these souls end up after death is far, far greater.

Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt. 7:13-14, NIV). According to Jesus, only a few will find eternal life... Only a few will end up in heaven.

If the majority of those who die every day, and the majority of all people whom have ever lived end up suffering for eternity in the place known as hell, what could be more tragic?... The greatest tragedy of all is the fact that every one of those people could have been saved from spending eternity in that place, had they turned from their sins and trusted in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior...

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God... Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him" (John 3:16-21, 36, NIV).

Kat-astrophe

2005-08-31T22:42:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the U.S., at least in recorded history. Thousands are feared dead, hundreds of thousands are homeless, and the monetary damage will surely be measured in the billions. Many look at Katrina's aftermath, and ask, "how could God allow something like this to happen?" They propose that either God was not involved, or that God does not exist... After all, how could a loving God allow this?

The prophet Amos said, "Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?" (Amos 3:6, KJV). The Holman Christian Standard Bible translates this passage, "If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn't the Lord done it?" This is a rhetorical question posed by the prophet. He is not looking for an answer, but expects that the answer is already known. "If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn't the Lord done it?" The answer to this question is obvious... "of course".

So why would God send such a storm to wreak havoc upon this city, and this area? The Lord has not specifically revealed the answer to me. However, I do know that there is a reason. That reason, in my estimation, is most likely due to the following:

When the name "New Orleans" is mentioned, most people immediately think of Mardi Gras. The revelry that occurs during this festival is well-known, and has drawn many comparisons to what occurred in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Drunkenness, drugs, orgies, and all sorts of perversion fill Bourbon Street and the entire city as many prepare to celebrate Lent. Not only does such wickedness occur during Mardi Gras, but it has become a year round part of life in "The Big Easy".
Another thing that the "Deep South" is well known for, especially in the region itself, is gambling. Riverboat Casinos are one of the largest money-making industries in the area, and was one of the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.
Along with excess, sexual perversion, and covetousness, New Orleans and the outlying areas are also a hotbed for voodoo and the occult. Those who practice such things are engaged, whether knowingly or unknowingly, in the worship of devils.

We must remember that God is not just a God of love, but He is also a God of righteousness, justice, and wrath. Instead of looking at the destruction from Katrina and asking, "how could God allow this?", we should, instead, look at the wickedness that is in the world, and the wickedness that lies within each of us, and ask, "how can God be so patient, longsuffering, and merciful?"

"I've been a Christian all my life..."

2005-08-10T18:05:00.000-05:00

I had a conversation with a man the other day, and as we were speaking, I got the impression that he knew a thing or two about the Bible. During the discussion, I asked him, "So, do you consider yourself to be a Christian?". He said that he did. I then asked him, "How long have you been a Christian?". He answered by saying, "I've been a Christian all my life...".

This person is not the first person who has told me that they have been a Christian "all their life". Of course, a person cannot be a Christian "all their life". If that were true, it would mean that they have been saved "all their life"... If someone has been saved "all their life", it means that they were never lost.

Jesus said that He came "to seek and save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). If we were never lost, then we are not someone that Jesus came to seek and save. If we are not saved from our sins through Jesus, then we are forever lost... "Jesus saith... 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

The Seven Sayings of Jesus from the Cross

2005-08-06T19:44:00.000-05:00

1. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do..." (Luke 23:34). As the supreme example of love, even in the hour of His death, Jesus prayed for those who mocked Him, and put Him to death. What an example... What matchless love!

2. "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise..." (Luke 23:43). You and I are unworthy of eternal life. Even so, like the thief, we may receive the opposite of what we really deserve. Jesus demonstrated God’s everlasting love and indescribable mercy by forgiving the thief. He also offered him much needed hope and assurance. That same forgiveness, hope, and assurance is available today... For Jesus is willing to receive and save all sinners who truly come to Him!

3. "Woman, behold thy son... Behold thy mother..." (John 19:26-27). In the midst of His suffering, prior to His death, Jesus made sure that His mother would be cared for. He demonstrated His concern for her, and left us with yet another enduring example of love and selflessness. That same love and concern is extended to all men, but especially to those who trust in Him. Truly, Jesus is willing, and able to save us... As the Good Shepherd, He will care for His own sheep, and will never forsake them.

4. "My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?..." (Matt. 27:46). What did Jesus mean when He said this?... His suffering was not just physical, but spiritual. The sins of all men were being laid upon Him, and God’s wrath against those sins was being poured out on Him. He felt the displeasure of God the Father, and truly bore our iniquities. The sinless Lamb of God became our subsititute, and sacrificed Himself so that we could be saved from our sin, and the wrath of God forever.

5. "I thirst..." (John 19:28). Jesus physical suffering was great. His back was torn open by cruel weapons of torture. His scalp was punctured by sharp thorns. He was bruised and bleeding, pierced, and hanging on a cross. As the day and the suffering wore on, he became thirsty. Even though the pain was excruciating, He did not ask to be pulled down from the cross. What He was doing there had to be done, and had to be carried out to the end. In all of his anguish, He did not ask for the suffering to cease, He only asked for a drink.

6. "It is finished..." (John 19:30). All of the work that the Father sent Jesus to do was done. He lived a perfect life, and kept the whole Law. He submitted to the will of the Father in every thing, and even sacrificed Himelf in order to pay for the sins of men. Through His suffering and death on the cross, the wrath of God had been poured out on Him, and was satisfied. Jesus became the divine subsititute, and did all that was needed to be done for men to be saved. The work of salvation was, and is truly "finished". It can never be added to, and needs no addition. Those who trust in Jesus will be saved because of what He did, and because of what He finished.

7. "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit..." (Luke 23:46). Jesus last words were a testimony to who He was, and who He is. In His life, He trusted the Father in every way. In His death, He entrusted Him with His spirit. But death was not the end. God raised Jesus from the dead, and now promises eternal life to all who trust in Him!