NEW YEARS DAY Approaches. With the New Year typically comes "New Years Resolutions". I hereby resolve to stop drinking soda. I hereby resolve to loose ten pounds. I hereby resolve to exercise everyday...or at least 5 days aweek, weather pending, and if I can squeeze it into my schedule.
How often have we set out to reform a particular area of our lives only to find out that the hard facts of life are we rarely control even our own activities. The scroll on the left illustrates religion that is man centered, self-help driven and based in a personal reformation.
Biblical faith includes none of that. The teaching of the bible is that salvation is God oriented, God directed, and free to the sinner. The bible also teaches in the area of sanctification that this too is the work of God, not the activity or the result of the will of man. Man can do nothing to make himself acceptable to God and all efforts to do so are "Like filthy rags".
A religion that is man centered is by default a religion that rejects God. Biblical religion is God centered and to when we add to that, the efforts of man, it reveals the hopelss and godlessness of that religion.
Romans 11:5-6 "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. BUT IF IT BE OF WORKS, THEN IS IT NO MORE GRACE: otherwise work is no more work.
Works and grace are incompatable in the salvation of sinners. So for this new year, put aside all human effort. Lean on the finished work of Christ and the will of the father to apply that finished work by the soveriegn Holy Spirit, who, like the wind, blows where he wills and no man can tell where he comes from or where he goes. John 3:8
Happy New Year...May yours be God centered.
(Thank you to my good friend Howard Wilson for the clip art of the 5 points of Arminianism).
December 26, 2008
THE REFORMATION RESOLUTION
December 25, 2008
HE THAT KEEPETH ISRAEL...
Poor Santa, had to take a nap. But as you go into the New Year be aware of the fact that our God never sleeps and is diligently looking out for his own. We can take comfort going into the new year the words of the Psalmist.
Psalm 121:3-4 “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
This picture reminds me of Proverbs 6:10
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”
There are many like Santa in the world who would promise comfort and ease (A fairy-tale). Many false shepherds who claim to be watching out for us;
“He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake”.
The words of that song are a false promise…
The only one who knows our coming in and our going out is our Jehovah, our Prince of Peace, Our King of Kings, our Bright and Morning Star, our EMMANUEL-GOD WITH US. Our one and only savior Jesus. It is He Who watches over us in this year and the next. In this life and the next. Put not your hopes and dreams in the illusion that is the world’s holiday, put your life in the hands of the king-born in a manger, born to set the captive free, born-the King of the Jews, and the savior of the world.
Merry Christmas.
And yes that is a very cute picture…I know that is not the real Santa anyway…lol
December 23, 2008
A CHRISTMAS STORY
A True Christmas Story for patriots and Christian alike…Give thanks to God for our freedom and the men who have won it and those who have kept it.
On Christmas Day, 1776, nearly all thought the Revolution was lost, except for a valiant few who still believed in “The Cause.” We owe our liberty today to those valiant few.
Led by George Washington, most of his army, dressed in rags and barefoot, faced a winter gale of rain, sleet, ice and snow. This band of patriots braved a midnight river crossing and a nine mile march over frozen roads to win a spectacular victory at Trenton, New Jersey, the following morning. Those were indeed times, as Thomas Paine would write, that “try men’s souls.”
In a season that has become too commercialized and -- worse yet -- had much of its religious meaning driven from the public square, Washington’s Christmas crossing is a story that should be remembered and celebrated, this Christmas and every Christmas.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be with family and friends, and, I would add, to give thanks to God for those who endured so much on that Christmas night, 232 years ago.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
