No matter the outcome of the election on November 8th, we need to prepare our hearts and lives to share the reason for our hope for the future. It is not based on a political candidate or party, but upon the promises of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are our sure foundation amidst troublous times looking forward to the promise of eternal salvation in glory.
 
The future for believers in America may include suffering (1 Peter 3:14), but suffering righteously gives us an opportunity to share our faith. Remember what happened when Peter was asked about his faith during the trial of Jesus. He denied knowing the Lord! Peter did not want that to happen to His readers. They could be strong in the Lord - but they needed to be ready and not taken off guard like he was - bragged when he should have recognized his weakness, slept when he should have prayed, fought when he should have submitted, fled when he should have stood firm.
How many opportunities to witness for Christ have we missed, simply because we were not ready????!!!
 
Ready means sanctifying the Lord in our hearts first - we need to be abiding in the vine, walking with the Lord, being filled with the Spirit.
Ready means knowing how to defend our faith - we need to know what we believe and why we believe it - to know what a person needs to do to be saved and verses to back up our witness.
Ready means an attitude of meekness and fear - that we need to witness with humility toward men and fear toward the Lord.
 
Let us purpose in our hearts, right now, to be ready always to speak of Christ in these last days before He returns.
 
So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel...
(Romans 1:15)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 

If you haven’t noticed, the film “Son of God” is coming to a theater near you. It is the product of “new agers” Roma Downey and Mark Burnett devotees of false teacher Eckart Tolle. Tolle is also highly regarded and promoted by Oprah Winfrey. In his book, A New Earth (page 13), he writes: "You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you, and allowing that goodness to emerge." With this kind of belief system, there is no need for forgiveness of sin, the substitutionary death of Christ or the gospel to save sinners. Yet, this movie is being touted as evangelistic! By the way, Downey also appeared on the Sci-Fi channel with psychic John Edwards seeking to make contact with her dead mother (a demonic practice called “necromancy” and strongly condemned in the Bible). 

These are not credentials for producing a true to Scripture, God honoring and evangelistic film, but they are good enough for Hollywood and for the evangelical community today! This film seems to be endorsed by everyone, from Rick Warren, to Calvary Chapel, from the Catholic Church to Liberty University. 

One blogger wrote: “This is huge. It is Ecumenical. Interdenominational. It is drawing the Olsteens, the Catholic Archbishops, the Warren camp. T.D. Jakes, etc. So many BIG NAME religious leaders (and false teachers) are putting money into it, and probably making a lot money out of it.”

Why is it that Christians are so easily taken in by this error? I think the problem lies in our desire for acceptance by the world, the longing for an easy way to witness, a lack of discernment, ignorance of Scripture, wanting to feel good and be entertained, etc… We want people to be saved, but unfortunately, that is not going to happen without the truth of the gospel being given; truth that people do not want to hear and truth that Hollywood will never give out in clarity! 

Witnessing is the true believer’s responsibility (Matthew 28:18-20) and that is what we need to be doing because: “How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14). 

…because of false brethren secretly brought in… to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 
Galatians 2:4-5

No, I’m not speaking of a procedure performed by a doctor or nurse in a clinic. This one is more likely to be carried out by a clergyman in a church. The gospel of Christ (through which we can know our sins are forgiven and that we can have, as a present possession, eternal life - 1John 5:13) is the most wonderful message in the world. Jesus paid the debt of sin by His sacrificial substitutionary death on the cross (2Corinthians 5:21) and because He has risen, is able to give eternal life to all who trust in Him (John 6:47). But that message is only effective if the person recognizes their need and receives it by faith. 
The “inoculated” person feels that they are safe, not sick and have no need of the gospel. They are like the person who has received a flu shot and who feels that they are protected from influenza. 

How does this work? Sometimes it is like this: an individual is born into a religious home and are brought to the church to be baptized as an infant (though this is not taught anywhere in Scripture, it has become the tradition in many ritualistic churches). This initial baptism supposedly forgives original sin and makes the baby a child of God. Later the vows given by the god-parents are repeated by the child at his/her confirmation. Confirmation, therefore, serves as kind of a “booster shot” to the original one given at their baptism. So now the confirmant feels they are safe and secure for their sins were washed away by the waters of baptism and they have made their vows to God through confirmation. Sadly, their security is based upon their religious works, rather than upon Christ and His work of salvation. They have been inoculated against the gospel; the gospel has become of “no effect” or ineffectual for them.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 1Corinthians 1:17 

Now, when this person hears someone say that they need to be saved from their sins, they do not understand. After all, they have been baptized and confirmed – they do not need Christ; they do not need to be born again; they have been there and done that! Jesus described them this way: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12). Unfortunately, the inoculated person is usually farther away from salvation than a drug addict or prostitute because the outright sinner is more likely to admit his/her lost condition. To lead such a “gospel resistant” person to Christ requires convincing them that they are lost sinners despite their religion. They are much like Nicodemus in John three, a religious Pharisee who Jesus had to convince that he needed to be born again. Likewise, Paul in Philippians three had to exchange his religious works for the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Other inoculated people include many who have gone forward in a church service; those who have prayed the sinner’s prayer, or asked Jesus into their heart, or made a commitment to God but have no real understanding of the gospel. They have done something external, but they have never really understood their sinful condition before a holy God, their inability to save themselves, and the truth that Jesus died on the cross to provide forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Gospel presentations must include an explanation of man’s condition (Romans 3:10, 23, 6:23) and God’s provision through Christ  (Romans 5:8, 1Corinthians 15:3-4, 2Corinthians 5:21, 1Peter 2:24, 3:18, 1John 4:10). Finally, the sinner must understand that salvation is received by faith alone apart from works (Romans 4:5, Titus 3:5, Galatians 2:16). 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 

Let me ask you this: Is your hope of eternal salvation based on your baptism, church membership and other religious works; or have you trusted Jesus Christ, His perfect work and His promise to save all who come to Him in simple faith? If so, you can claim this guarantee from God’s Word: 

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life 
(1John 5:13).

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 20:1

Fundamentalist Snake Charming Especially for pastors and leaders...

Recently a good friend of mine, Bruce Oyen posted a warning about the use of alcohol.  It brought to mind the sad statistics I read last week regarding the use of alcohol among Christian pastors and leaders, much less their congregations. That, in turn, brought to mind the young men I have personally buried as a result of this scourge. This flashback evoked memories of the half naked and hungry children we shuttled into our Sunday School buses (when it was still socially acceptable to run bus routes) and the long trail of counseling and admonitions relating to the abuse, scandal, and destruction this scourge brings. That, in turn, evoked my last provocative thought:

Surely, any pastor who labors in the trenches must hate alcohol in his very soul. Notwithstanding all those debates about the wine at Cana, we all know that we are not comparing apples with apples when we use Cana to justify the modern use of alcohol. While we rightfully bemoan the effects of tobacco and second hand smoke, our duplicity is overwhelming and our silence is deafening.  And, those who insist that alcoholism is a disease must still admit that it is contracted on the lip of the glass, a glass we Christians complacently hand off to our children when they "come of age."  Alcohol is the scourge we refuse to see, exacting a horrific toll on the “church” and the world. It is another elephant in room, affecting a shocking number of families in our own Christian circles.

• We do not see the consequences of this scourge because we refuse to see it. We prefer to close our minds to the daily toll this substance takes right before our very eyes.

• We don’t see the danger, because we blithely think that our drinking in moderation will spare us (and our children for generations to come) from going down that same path. Yet the facts prove otherwise.  The flood waters may still be up river, but sooner or later they arrive and this dancing viper willstrike someone you love.  Pray to God that the first missteps of their downfall will not be at your hands.

• We don’t see the danger, because to stand against alcohol is to be labeled as a legalistic vestige of a bygone era. Perish the thought that our legalistic fathers could have been lovingly warning us against the things they saw, firsthand!

• Mostly, we choose to ignore this issue because we kowtow to a peer driven culture which professes tolerance to all (except those who would warn against evil). The thin veneer suggesting that our motives are evangelistic, is just that.  One can be as wise as a serpent without dancing with one.

The fear of man brings a snare (Proverbs 29:25), and few snares are as damning as alcohol.

It’s time we let our blood boil with a little more indignation instead of boiling with the inebriating bubbles that portend destruction. It’s time we stepped away from snake charming.

Pastor, when was the last time you warned your sheep about this scourge? Are you willing to face the truth about the use of alcohol among your sheep? 

The next time you think of those supposed snake charmers, ask yourself, “Who’s really charming whom?”

Take a few seconds and read Bruce Oyen’s blog on this vital subject.

For a good biblical treatment, read Bob Thompson’s paper on alcohol.
Wine and Strong Drink.pdf

See also:

Forty Percent of Evangelical Leaders Drink Alcohol


Moody Drops Alcohol Use Restriction for Faculty and Staff


Need an inexpensive and basic tract on this subject?


Posted at: http://mynewcovenantlife.blogspot.com/2013/10/fundamentalist-snake-charming.html
Composed by: James Steel

Legalizers hate grace and think it is compromising with evil. 

1) Grace does not ignore sin and it recognizes that it resides in every person. “All have sinned…” The Sermon on the Mount taught this plainly. 

2) Grace does not minimize sin. Grace shows the true horror of sin in that it took the precious blood of 
Jesus to pay for it. The religion minimizes sin to the point that it can be atoned for by human merit and good works.

3) Grace recognizes the sin but does much more! It provides deliverance from it through faith in Christ. 

4) Grace encourages and enables the Christian to live a godly life. 

Why did Jesus eat with sinners? Because they saw they were sick and needed help. There is no cure for a person 
who is not sick and there is no gospel for the person who is not a sinner! Jesus can only save sinners.

Our granddaughter is getting excited about Christmas. “We have a ‘nice’ tree at our house she said proudly as she surveyed our fake, plastic, end-of-the-year model.  She was, however, intrigued by the Christmas village and manger scene and also enjoyed baking Christmas cookies with her grandma. 

“What is Christmas about,” asked grandma. 

“Santa Claus,” she said but then stopped short and added “and Jesus.” 

Oh yes, Jesus. Christmas is really about Jesus, isn’t it? It is his birthday. However, we get all the presents, he gets kicked out of public displays, and his name cannot even be mentioned in certain settings without fear of recrimination (such as Nina Totenberg of NPR apologizing for speaking the word “Christmas” in her broadcast). It seems very similar to the first Christmas when there was no room for Jesus, except in a stable. John in his gospel said, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. He came unto his own and his own did not receive him.” 

This neglect at his birth turned to animosity when he became a man. But why was there such an aversion to someone who only did good? Perhaps, it is because he reminds us of our need of a Savior from sin. After all, Santa only lets us know that we have presents coming! 

Brielle’s Sunday school teacher asked her one day, “Who is Jesus.” 

“He was a king and a sweetheart!” she replied. A king, yes a king, this what the wise men diligently sought. Jesus is the sovereign God who became a man. He is the king of glory who someday will reign upon the earth. 

But a “sweetheart?” 

I asked Brielle what she meant by sweetheart. “He was a little baby!”  happily she replied. Yes, a baby born of a virgin as the prophet Isaiah had predicted. The shepherds were told to go to Bethlehem where they would find the “babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” The Son of God came into the world as an infant. 

But there are other ways that Jesus was a sweetheart. For instance, he healed the sick and caused the blind to see. In Mark 7:37 it says, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak." 

In fact, there was not one problem that Jesus could not solve. And even today whatever we are facing: a relationship problem, financial difficulty, an addiction, or uncertainty about the future; he can and will help us. He invites each one of us to come to him!

But his greatest and most loving action was this: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The bad news is that we have sinned; the good news is that Jesus died for all our sins and that forgiveness is available to all who trust him. 

Yes, Brielle is looking forward to Christmas, but I’m glad that she knows that it is not just about trees and lights and presents and Santa. Christmas is, most of all, about Jesus, a king and a sweetheart!

May you all have a blessed and merry Christmas! 

Understanding Repentance 
“What is repentance?” “Is repentance necessary for salvation?” “How does it differ (or does it differ) from faith?” All of these questions are valid and illustrate the importance of a correct knowledge of repentance. The noun “repentance” (Gk. metanoia) is used twenty-two times in the New Testament and the verb “repent” (Gk. metanoeo) is used thirty-four times. There are aspects of repentance that apply to believers, but for this discussion its use will be confined to how repentance pertains to salvation. 

Repentance Defined
When the average person thinks about repentance, he may, in his minds eye, picture a sinner under extreme conviction, coming forward in church with tears running down his cheeks, seeking forgiveness from his sins. All of these things may be connected with biblical repentance, but none are identical to repentance. Sorrow, conviction of sin, and a desire to be forgiven may lead to repentance, but they are not one and the same. The Greek word metanoia literally means “a change of mind”. Vincent calls repentance “an after-thought, different from the former thought…

There is nothing inherent in the etymology of the word that has anything to do with sorrow, contriteness, sin, or a change in lifestyle. What it does mean is the individual has changed his mind about something, nothing more. Any added meaning must be gleaned from its use in context.  For instance, we must guard against the assumption that every time repentance is mentioned that turning from personal sin is in view.  

Repentance Discovered (repentance in the New Testament)
In Acts 3 Peter addressed the unbelieving Jews boldly declaring that they had crucified their Messiah. He then challenges them in verse nineteen: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” It is obvious that Peter is telling them to change their mind about Jesus Christ. Rather than continuing in their rejection of Christ, they should believe in Him (see also Acts 2:36-38).

So also, in Acts 17, Paul arrived in Athens and spoke to the idolatrous philosophers on Mars Hill. His approach was to confront their false view of God, to inform them of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and to warn them of coming judgment. He also declared (verse 30) “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.” So the repentance in this passage concerned their view of God; they needed to change their mind about their idols and trust in the living God. 

Thirdly, in Hebrews 6:1, the writer speaks of the elementary truths of “repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” Notice that this change of mind concerned their religious works not their sins. This change of thinking is what is required of those who are trusting in their own righteous works to save themselves. Note the Apostle Paul’s testimony in Philippians 3. After reviewing all his accomplishments as a religious Pharisee he says, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” He changed his mind about the things he had placed his confidence in; and instead, placed his faith in Christ. In verse nine Paul went on to say, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” 

That is true repentance.

Repentance Delineated (repentance and faith) 
Repentance and faith, while being closely related, inseparable, and sometimes even used interchangeably, are not identical. Repentance is the negative aspect of saving faith while belief is the positive aspect. One must change his mind about any and all other confidences (or anything which keeps him from placing his faith in Jesus Christ) and must believe the gospel to be regenerated. They are two sides of the same coin and occur concurrently when a sinner trusts Christ for salvation. 

Repentance Demonstrated (repentance & evangelism)
There are certain non-negotiable aspects of the gospel message. 

1) The sinner must be presented with his sinful state under the wrath of a holy God (Romans 1:18, 3:10, 23, 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3); 

2) There must be enlightenment and conviction by the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11); 

3) The sufficiency of the death and resurrection of Christ to provide forgiveness and eternal life must be made clear (Romans 3:24-26, 5:6-8, II Corinthians 5:21, I Peter 2:24, 3:18); and finally 

4) The unbeliever must be shown the need to put his trust in Christ alone to save (John 1:12, 5:24, 6:47, Romans 4:5, 5:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, I John 5:11-13). 

When all of these take place salvation will be the result. There is no need to require repentance as a separate act. Steven Waterhouse contends, “If a potential convert can trust in Christ… he has done all the repenting that needs to be done in order to have salvation.” It is not wrong, however, to include repentance in our gospel presentation if it is properly defined. It may, in fact, help the potential convert identify the causes of his unbelief.        

A word of caution, often there is confusion between repentance and its results. Notice the words of A. H. Strong: “That repentance, in each and all of its aspects, is wholly an inward act, not to be confounded with the change of life which proceeds from it.” (emphasis mine)

Note the following verses: 

Matthew 3:7-8 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

Act 26:20 “But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.”

Both these verses speak of things which should accompany true repentance. Repentance, like faith, is invisible and can be seen only by God because it occurs in the heart and mind of the individual. However, the results of repentance can be observed and give evidence that a change of mind has occurred. When there is no indication of a changed life, one may doubt whether there has been genuine repentance. 

The danger is that works can be subtly incorporated into the gospel message by making requirements such as “turning from certain sins”, “changing one’s lifestyle”, “quitting bad habits”, or “making Jesus Lord of one’s life”. These are things that relate to discipleship and are the fruit of salvation not the means of salvation. God is not asking the sinner to stop sinning. The sinner is “…dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) and is powerless to save himself. If a drug addict is told that he give up drugs in order to be accepted for salvation, an impossible obstacle has been placed in his path. But if that individual is given the promise that Jesus came to forgive his sins and to set him free, that is “good news” indeed!

The hymnist Charlotte Elliott wrote (perhaps in view of the promise of John 6:37, “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”):

“Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I come! I Come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”

I pray that we all may have a better understanding of repentance and how it relates to the gospel of the grace of God. 

 Vincent, Marvin Richardson: Word Studies in the New Testament. Bellingham, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2002, S. 1:23

 Note: Acts 20:21 “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Gospel of John never mentions repentance but refers to faith almost one hundred times indicating that John viewed repentance as a part of saving faith. Likewise, the book of Romans mentions repentance only once (2:4).  

 Waterhouse, Stephen W. Not By Bread Alone: An Outlined Guide to Bible Doctrine (Amarillo, Tx: Westcliff Press, 2003), 141

 Strong, Augustus Hopkins: Systematic Theology. Bellingham, Wa. : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2004, S. 834