Let me comment on this question before we begin Galatians 4. Most twentysomethings put christianity on the shelf following their spiritually active teen years. George Barna found that "only 20% of churched teens stay spiritually engaged in their twenties." Why is that? Do you think it has anything to do with their worldview, their spiritual framework which determines their values, morals, and then beliefs? What do you think?
What do students really believe? Well, moralistically students believe God wants them to be "good". Therapeutically God wants them to be happy. And their deistic view is that God is there when I need Him, but doesn't really require anything. What is wrong with these views? What are your views? Lets talk quickly about each one.
Morals. Is being "good" enough to save us? No. Is being "good" enough to keep us saved? No. (see Ephesians 2:8-10 and Galatians 3:2-3) Why would we think that being "good" is enough for God if these two statements are false? Knowing the God of the bible, the creator of the universe, reminds us "how unsearchable His judgments and His ways past finding out!"(Romans 11:33). We do know one thing though, history bares our inability to fulfill the requirements of God. God requires us the be pure, spotless, sinless, holy, and perfect. We know that this is not humanly possible, even with the best intentions. I think this is where the struggle comes, the doubts about how a loving God could punish good people, people that at least appear good on the outside. All I can say in the limited space here is that when I read the bible over and over I realize that God is totally fair and just, and that He has provided a way for us to be perfect(not just "good") in His sight - Jesus Christ. We can trust His ways and lean not on our own understanding but in all ways acknowledge Him. (Proverbs 3:5)
Grace, MB
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Galatians 3: 1-29
I had a lot of time to think about this 3rd chapter I read at Bob Evans this morning. After reading and then eating a hardy skillet breakfast, I spent the next 6 hours on my motorcycle on the way to Bryan College in Dayton Tennessee. It was a beautiful ride but very hot. I'm praising God that I made it safely. I'm at a Summit Worldview conference and after the opening session tonight I'm completely confident that I'm where I should be, this is going to be so good. Can't wait to share more with you after it's over.
Galatians 3:29 was the key for me as I thought about the whole chapter. "If you belong Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." I'm thankful for Abraham, his faith, his perseverance, his paving the way for me. Abraham is my forefather too. The promise wasn't for the Jewish descendants, and it wasn't for the non-Jewish descendants, it was and is for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ. I know Paul sounds like a broken record here, but this faith thing, this grace not works thing, it's not only pivotal to our salvation, but also to how we live out our faith. If our best efforts didn't save us then our best efforts aren't going to keep us there, or any of our friends for that matter. It's extremely important to know the fundamentals of the Word.
Here is a good example of what happens when we don't (this comes from our Summit lecture tonight. What do students really believe? Moralistic - God wants them to be "good". Theapeutic - God wants me to be "happy". Deism - God is there when I need Him, but doesn't really require anything. Of course these are false beliefs but we are scratching our heads wondering "why?". That's my goal after leaving Summit that I will be able to effectively articulate the "why?". Maybe you know already, I would like to hear your answers.
Grace, MB
Galatians 3:29 was the key for me as I thought about the whole chapter. "If you belong Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." I'm thankful for Abraham, his faith, his perseverance, his paving the way for me. Abraham is my forefather too. The promise wasn't for the Jewish descendants, and it wasn't for the non-Jewish descendants, it was and is for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ. I know Paul sounds like a broken record here, but this faith thing, this grace not works thing, it's not only pivotal to our salvation, but also to how we live out our faith. If our best efforts didn't save us then our best efforts aren't going to keep us there, or any of our friends for that matter. It's extremely important to know the fundamentals of the Word.
Here is a good example of what happens when we don't (this comes from our Summit lecture tonight. What do students really believe? Moralistic - God wants them to be "good". Theapeutic - God wants me to be "happy". Deism - God is there when I need Him, but doesn't really require anything. Of course these are false beliefs but we are scratching our heads wondering "why?". That's my goal after leaving Summit that I will be able to effectively articulate the "why?". Maybe you know already, I would like to hear your answers.
Grace, MB
Friday, July 4, 2008
Galations 2:1-21 Sandpaper people
Galatians 2:7 Paul was a rebel in his time, he saw that Peter was the apostle to the circumcised along with James, John, and Cephas, and that he along with Barnabas and Titus were committed disciples to the uncircumcised (the Gentiles). You get the feeling that they were in some sort of CIA vs FBI movie. This was no small thing Paul was involved in, being a former Jew it was seen as the ultimate betrayal, he might as well been convicted of treason. Consequently many false accusations were brought against him. (See Acts 21: 17-30) Some thought he was just plain crazy (Acts 26:24). None the less we see in these first 10 verses a unity of mission, but a difference in the process. This can be a challenge for us in the church and in life today. We have many people from different walks of life trying to live out what they feel God is calling them to do. Unfortunately like Peter and Paul we don't always see eye to eye.
Galatians 2:11-21 In this instance Peter needed correction, he needed rebuked, and rightfully so. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend". We need to remember that as well; we get off track at times and we need a rebuke to get us back on. On the other hand some people in our lives are just tough to live with, they rub us the wrong way, you know the type. You just cringe when you see them coming. Some one told me yesterday that they are sandpaper people. God created everyone for a purpose, and sandpaper people take off our rough edges and help us become more like Christ. May you not run from the sandpaper people, but bare with them knowing they now have a purpose in your journey.
Galations 2:20a "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me;"
Grace, MB
Galatians 2:11-21 In this instance Peter needed correction, he needed rebuked, and rightfully so. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend". We need to remember that as well; we get off track at times and we need a rebuke to get us back on. On the other hand some people in our lives are just tough to live with, they rub us the wrong way, you know the type. You just cringe when you see them coming. Some one told me yesterday that they are sandpaper people. God created everyone for a purpose, and sandpaper people take off our rough edges and help us become more like Christ. May you not run from the sandpaper people, but bare with them knowing they now have a purpose in your journey.
Galations 2:20a "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me;"
Grace, MB
Galations 1: 1-24
Galations is considered by many to be Paul's first letter. Some argue that 1 and 2 Thessalonians are first, however because Paul goes into details regarding his conversion, Galations being first makes more sense to me. What do you think?
Galations 1:1 If there is any doubt as to the importance of Paul's revelation given directly from Christ to him, put it to rest. The secret or mystery hidden from the beginning is the grace now given to the Gentiles who were once excluded from the promises afforded the Jewish nation (see post from Romans 11). Paul reminds us grace is nothing new, Abraham was justified by faith alone 430 years before the giving of the law by Moses (See Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3), and he received that grace (see Romans 3:3,6). However that grace given to Abraham was not understood at the time, not until Paul brought that revelation to the world. If Abraham was indeed justified then for his faith, it makes me wonder why God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Law) in the first place, which ultimately failed to bring the Jews into a right relationship with Him. God knew that was going to happen. So why did He do it? I think Romans 3:20 gives us one good reason, "by the law is the knowledge of sin". God simply wanted His people to see that they couldn't be perfect on their own. They desperately needed a relationship with their creator, and this was part of His restoration plan.
Romans 1: 10-24 The turn around in Paul's life is nothing short of a miracle. (For more details see Acts 9:3-16) Paul was blinded, that got his attention. Even today, I don't doubt for a minute that God would use any means necessary to get my attention and obedience, for my ultimate good of course (Romans 1:6). It seems that afflicting our health is one of His primary means of doing that (1 Corinthians 11:30). I don't mean to scare anyone, God doesn't want us to have an unhealthy fear of Him, but He does require a healthy fear and respect regarding His authority. Resist the temptation to see God as we would see our earthly father, which leads to many false analogies. Our dads, even though you might think yours is perfect, are just human.
Grace, MB
Galations 1:1 If there is any doubt as to the importance of Paul's revelation given directly from Christ to him, put it to rest. The secret or mystery hidden from the beginning is the grace now given to the Gentiles who were once excluded from the promises afforded the Jewish nation (see post from Romans 11). Paul reminds us grace is nothing new, Abraham was justified by faith alone 430 years before the giving of the law by Moses (See Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3), and he received that grace (see Romans 3:3,6). However that grace given to Abraham was not understood at the time, not until Paul brought that revelation to the world. If Abraham was indeed justified then for his faith, it makes me wonder why God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Law) in the first place, which ultimately failed to bring the Jews into a right relationship with Him. God knew that was going to happen. So why did He do it? I think Romans 3:20 gives us one good reason, "by the law is the knowledge of sin". God simply wanted His people to see that they couldn't be perfect on their own. They desperately needed a relationship with their creator, and this was part of His restoration plan.
Romans 1: 10-24 The turn around in Paul's life is nothing short of a miracle. (For more details see Acts 9:3-16) Paul was blinded, that got his attention. Even today, I don't doubt for a minute that God would use any means necessary to get my attention and obedience, for my ultimate good of course (Romans 1:6). It seems that afflicting our health is one of His primary means of doing that (1 Corinthians 11:30). I don't mean to scare anyone, God doesn't want us to have an unhealthy fear of Him, but He does require a healthy fear and respect regarding His authority. Resist the temptation to see God as we would see our earthly father, which leads to many false analogies. Our dads, even though you might think yours is perfect, are just human.
Grace, MB
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