tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16756962514803879572024-03-05T18:39:43.472-08:00Voice Outside the Gate"Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come."
Hebrews 12:12-14 NASChristy Shepardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05208672636742091870noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675696251480387957.post-1330300619573436602014-08-20T08:30:00.001-07:002014-08-22T04:55:13.751-07:00The Balance of the Gospel<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Behold then
the kindness and severity of God”</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Romans 11:22a</span><i style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></i></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w31zxjaeGgLtf6utDzuZard10xZ_cdgZSI13lynOqQ44F9RVjF_b0IsHTUFQHHWGaoCCyNeZt09PARpd7_lKM5YO8hAz_Z1sKW9gdmd8fhtJ1NsYiwcqVGBnxwk1_613HevqZZm8Bs-s/s1600/Evangelica2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4w31zxjaeGgLtf6utDzuZard10xZ_cdgZSI13lynOqQ44F9RVjF_b0IsHTUFQHHWGaoCCyNeZt09PARpd7_lKM5YO8hAz_Z1sKW9gdmd8fhtJ1NsYiwcqVGBnxwk1_613HevqZZm8Bs-s/s1600/Evangelica2.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When the Gospel is properly preached, there is a balance between
the Bad News and the Good News, the severity of God and the kindness of God. “Unmerited
favor,” the very definition of grace, actually sums up this innate balance between
the two parts of the Gospel message. We are commanded to “behold” this balance,
to focus on it and to thoroughly understand it (Phil. 1:27.) Though kindness is
mentioned before severity in the above verse, it was written well after Paul had already
devoted his first three chapters to the Bad News before he introduced the Good News
at Romans 3:21. The order of presentation is important because the Bad News
establishes the context and need of the Good News. Therefore, I will also begin
in that order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The severity of God refers to His justice, holiness, and
position as Creator. In no way do these attributes diminish God’s love or
goodness, but rather reinforce them. By nature creatures are dependent, yet the
entire human race has chosen to rebel against and reject their Maker. This
insanity is called SIN. In our quest to become like gods, we gained instead the
knowledge of evil, spiritual blindness, and death. Prideful insanity deceives
us into loving its lies and our chains of corruption, while hating the very One
who is our source of life, truth, and fulfillment. We continually take sustenance
from our Creator without even a word of thanks. God declares that all have
sinned. No one does good, not even one. We are all guilty of sin, cut off from
God, and under His wrath. It is only just that we must die. The proper response
in accepting this Bad News is to literally shut our mouths. No more boasting.
No more suppressing the truth by arguing against God or making excuses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Agreement with God’s judgment produces SILENCE.
We are guilty. It is at this point that we are ready to hear the Good News. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The kindness of God refers to His innate goodness, love,
compassion, and mercy. He alone is the source of these qualities. From within
His own nature, God has chosen to save a people for Himself from a hostile, sinful
and hopeless humanity. God incarnate, Jesus Christ, came to earth to pay the
death penalty of sin by taking our place on the cross. His resurrection proves
His power and authority to be our savior. God’s Holy Spirit raises His children
from spiritual death, being born again as new creatures able and willing to
seek God. Those believing in Jesus Christ are forgiven of all their sins, are
now reconciled and have PEACE with their Maker, and have eternal life. This plan of
salvation originated with God alone. No one can claim that he deserves God’s
favor. The balanced Gospel levels humanity both in sin and salvation so that no
one can boast over another. Instead, it produces genuine humility.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMaPlTb2IZCtIqQxHKEYqSWxzW5fWV1UjIhyKDOpXgg7XfDlUY-AaAxe7ewWX8lBwE1oe9-znZXO-Ptv3avPa9A-aypiF7uMwMkdszzOrZ0WJ4GjBj0a_3CU7BmGGCXvMGHHyEolV-Ftx/s1600/Frozen+Fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMaPlTb2IZCtIqQxHKEYqSWxzW5fWV1UjIhyKDOpXgg7XfDlUY-AaAxe7ewWX8lBwE1oe9-znZXO-Ptv3avPa9A-aypiF7uMwMkdszzOrZ0WJ4GjBj0a_3CU7BmGGCXvMGHHyEolV-Ftx/s1600/Frozen+Fountain.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When one part of God’s
Message is emphasized over the other, it becomes distorted and diluted and
ceases to be the powerful tool of God for saving sinners. Both the justice and
love of God must be equally preached. Over emphasizing “unmerited” produces
condemnation, legalism, and fear. Over emphasizing “favor” produces pride,
lawlessness, and presumption. Therefore, since God has entrusted His church to
proclaim His Gospel to the world, it should be our top priority to get this
balance correct. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are to speak this truth in love. To distort truth in order
to avoid offense is not true love. It is only by the Gospel of Grace that God
saves souls. How much do we really care about the people around us? They will
perish without the Gospel. Moved by compassion, love tells the truth even to
its enemies, because it identifies with their need of deliverance from sin and
death. Richard Baxter once wrote, “I preach as a dying man to dying men.”</span><!--EndFragment-->
Christy Shepardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05208672636742091870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1675696251480387957.post-88831344360023962042013-05-17T05:54:00.002-07:002014-08-20T07:43:49.652-07:00The Great Debate: Who Am I?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">A
distinct quality of being human is our self awareness; we know we exist.
The question that this self consciousness inevitably asks then is, "Who
am I?" Conflicting answers to this fundamental question have sparked
the great debate of human history. It continues to be front page news.
How we view ourselves and others affects everything we do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /> Some
answer that we are only animals, fellow members of biological life
caused by natural evolution. Therefore, all life forms must have equal
rights. This view also expects humans to be driven by their natural
instincts (self gratification and self preservation) to mate and survive
as other animals do. Restraints on such behavior are claimed to be
unnatural and unrealistic. Promiscuity, adultery, homosexuality,
polygamy, and other sensual behaviors have no moral relevance. Being
mere animals, killing human beings can also be justified if they
interfere with a seemingly greater cause. Abortion and euthanasia become
acceptable and even altruistic practices. Also, reacting to mankind’s
dominance, some view humans as evil animal parasites who are destroying
nature. There are even those who advocate the genocide of over 80% of
the world's human population in order to save the planet. <br /><br /> In
contrast, others believe human beings are "little gods." We were created
by something or someone superior; an extraterrestrial being who seeded
our earthly beginning, or perhaps an all encompassing universal
intelligence that has been imparted deep within us. Regardless, if we
follow the right procedures through meditations, rituals, gurus, or
spirit guides, we can learn the esoteric wisdom which unlocks this
divine light that dwells within our hearts. All religions are said to
provide paths to this same end. And once humanity rediscovers its true
divinity, it will be at peace and at one with this universal spirit,
with one another, and with creation. <br /><br /> Combining aspects of these
two answers are those who describe humanity as an evolutionary
pyramidal hierarchy of biological castes, ranging from the lower animal
masses to the ruling top elite of little gods. Wealth and power often
are the measurements by which this elite group identifies itself. Some
say humans evolved from the same root, but certain branches demonstrated
their biological superiority by evolving at a faster rate up the
godhood scale. Others believe that the ruling classes evolved into or
always have been an advanced human species intellectually distinct from
the rest of humanity. Royal blue bloods vs. commoners, priests vs.
laity, masters vs. slaves, rich vs. poor, racism, and sexism, are
examples of perspectives that divide humanity into inferior and superior
strata. Seeing themselves as little gods, those in power often believe
they have the absolute divine right to determine the fate of the vast
populace under their power. Many governmental systems function under
this attitude, whether openly or behind closed doors.<br /><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-CGNjuY5NvBAu3J9KZswqe_AvBX1az-lmC7Y_zndpVQbWJ7PYf6zaDz_b4xqf1TGCiEL0cqSOCslNnzxdmbhcDe8pplWZZp0LFg7_y4ix_WtICWwbsULts8XDjGXceagLq8eDC2-SWzH/s1600/Elizabeth+at+Folly+Beach+1_2_2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-CGNjuY5NvBAu3J9KZswqe_AvBX1az-lmC7Y_zndpVQbWJ7PYf6zaDz_b4xqf1TGCiEL0cqSOCslNnzxdmbhcDe8pplWZZp0LFg7_y4ix_WtICWwbsULts8XDjGXceagLq8eDC2-SWzH/s320/Elizabeth+at+Folly+Beach+1_2_2.jpg" height="320" width="177" /></a>Christianity teaches that human beings are neither animals or little
gods. God created us, both male and female, in His own image and
commanded us to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue
it, and to have dominion over the plants and animals. Humans, as unique
spiritual creatures, were able to commune with God. Unfortunately, this
ability was soon lost when our first parents chose to distrust God’s
goodness and to disobey Him by eating the forbidden fruit that Satan
promised would make them into gods. This first sin brought death to the
earth and spiritual darkness; irreparably corrupting the human heart
towards deceitfulness and evil. The result: every human being is born a
slave to sin, hostile towards God, as walking dead, without hope, and
cut off from Him. <br /><br /> The Gospel further explains that Jesus
Christ, God incarnate, came into this world in order to save sinners.
Jesus lived a sinless life among humans, performing many miracles so
that we might believe His words. Yet, more essential than the
revelations He imparted was the substitutionary atonement that Jesus
offered up by taking our punishment upon Himself. Christ paid the
penalty for our sins with His own death on the cross. Three days later,
Jesus rose from the dead and, after appearing to hundreds of
eyewitnesses, ascended into heaven where He remains until His second
coming. It is through this same resurrection power that chosen people
are born again by God’s Spirit with a new nature formed within their
hearts; a nature which is willing to commune with God, to trust in His
goodness, and to believe what He says is true. Through faith in Jesus
Christ, humans are forgiven their sins and become children of God. It is
God who intervenes to redeem humans from sin and death. Since all have
sinned, it is only by God’s grace that any are saved. Humanity is
leveled, being made equal both in sin and salvation. Therefore no one
can boast, except in the Lord. The human race is thus divided into only
two groups, the saved and the unsaved. However, God alone can know the
human heart and therefore is the sole judge of who belongs in each
group.<br /><br /> Animals and little gods do not sin and therefore do not
need a savior. This is why those who hold these views have no real use
for Jesus Christ or for Christianity. Jesus makes a lousy spiritual
teacher and prophet if humanity doesn’t really need saving. However,
only blind ideology can claim with a straight face that humans are no
different than other animals. Our vast superiority in building
civilizations, technologies, languages, music, the arts, etc. is simply
overwhelming. We are biological, but we are more... we are intelligent,
spiritual beings made in the image of God. Every human life is sacred.
Furthermore, we were created to rule this world. It was made for us to
populate and to enjoy. God would not have commanded humanity to multiply
and fill the earth without having also provided the renewable resources
necessary to maintain such a population. The desire to commit worldwide
genocide is demonic.<br /><br /> What lowers us to act even worse than
beasts is our fallen sin nature. That evil exists within the human heart
is obvious. Why else would we spend so much of our lives trying to
cleanse, heal, fix, and improve ourselves? Explain also why we need
external restraints to keep human society from devouring itself. Good
government puts checks and restrictions on its leaders just because it
knows humans are sinners and power easily corrupts. God will hold people
accountable for our evil as well; whether cruelty to animals, willfully
devastating our environment, murdering, stealing, abusing, and treating
humans as mere animals ... justice will come. <br /><br /> If we are
already little gods then why did Adam and Eve not know this? Humans were
never gods and never will be. Only darkness and deception are found
deep within the human heart. Because of our finite limitations, we are
incapable of knowing ourselves without outside illumination. Jesus alone
is the light that resurrects us and enables us to see ourselves as we
really are and to know and commune with the only true God.</span>Christy Shepardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05208672636742091870noreply@blogger.com0