"Lord, Lord..."

The posting following this one contains a selection of verses from the Book of Matthew that are interesting today.

Many folks seeking the truth use all the wrong benchmarks to find a "good church" for their family to assemble with, and to worship with. Or to find a place to learn the truth and teach their children the truth - from God's word. They sometimes seek to enter by the "wide gate", for example, when Jesus told us to enter by the narrow gate.

They look for the biggest church buildings with the largest groups of people. They look for churches with varied and large social programs. They look for the church with the best social standing in the community. For the most charismatic and engaging speaker. Or for the church that is the most accepting of the most people, regardless of their situation. In fact, those entering through the "wide gate" probably is inclusive of many folks who don't go to church at all.

Some are looking for the most demonstrative examples of God's power - healings, and perhaps other miraculous things. Or for members that cry out, "Lord, Lord" in impressive speach that declares their service to and submission to God.

Jesus said that many will call to Him in the day of judgement, "Lord, Lord", and will talk about all the things they have done in His name. Jesus shows us here that it is not enough to call Him "Lord, Lord...", nor is it necessarily important that you have done wonderful miraculous works in His name.

What Jesus says next is really striking to me. He says, "I never knew you" and "depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!". So by God's word, His judgement is that calling Him Lord in name only, and practicing lawlessness at the same time is a recipe for disaster. These people indicate that they thought they knew God, practiced great works in His name, yet Jesus didn't know them and rejected them.

What actually is important is to (1) hear these sayings of His and to (2) do them. And it is important that God recognizes us and knows us.

The VERY NEXT thought presented by Jesus starts out saying "Therefore,..." or in consideration of this horrible state that some may find themselves in at the day of judgement - "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them..." will have built their house (or perhaps a metaphor for our life) on a solid rock.

In the epistle of first John, there is a similar thought...

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10

And in 1 John 2:3-6 it says:

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

SO, what I have learned from this is that if I want to assemble and worship with "True Christians" it is not the most important thing to find those with the most impressive church building, or those with the most striking religious speech or manner, or the most demonstrative works in the Lord's name, but to find those that are willing to hear God's word and to do it.

And so in my life (and in your life too) the most important thing if we want to live as "True Christians" is to pay attention to the things that really matter. Hearing what God's word says, and doing it.

And if I do this, I will not be likely with the crowd (entering in by the wide gate), but will probably be with the few (entering in by the narrow gate). I may or may not always be following after the religion of my father or mother, or grandparents. Or the religion of my boss, or of the folks with the highest social standing in town. Or attending necessarily the largest and fanciest church with the best features and most people.

And it is not the creeds of man, the traditions of my forefathers, or the precepts of any particular church that matter most. It is God's word that matters. Jesus outlines the two things we need to do: (1) Hear it. Sometimes we don't want to hear it. Sometimes we may think we know better. Maybe we don't even want to take the time to "listen" to God's word, in our busy schedules. (2) Do it. As it says in 1 John 2, if we say "I know Him" and do not keep His commandments, we are "a liar".

By hearing and doing God's word, and by seeking those who do the same, I will be truely taking "the road less traveled". And only in true submission of our will before Him, to hear His word and to do it, do we truely declare Him Lord of our lives. And only in obedient living do we experience true Christian living.

Enter by the Narrow Gate - Build Your House on Solid Ground

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

"Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:13-29

Not Willing that Any Should Perish

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Luke 9:25

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:8-10

Everything is Just About the Same, Right?

I have heard many people suggest that all faiths and beliefs are about equal and that we should hold and respect what everyone believes in equal standing. It is as if they are saying that there are many paths to find God, and none is any better than the other, or that they all work about the same.

So in essence what they are saying is that no matter what you believe, if you are Muslim, Hindu, a Buddhist, or other believing person (irregardless of the beliefs - and some would include the belief systems of an atheist or agnostic,) that all are equivalent in their beliefs, and that none is superior or inferior to the other. Others have a variation on this theme, believing that only various Christian religions or denominations are o.k., but those who believe otherwise are not o.k. Some take it so far as to say that only those of their particular denomination or faith are o.k., and all others are not o.k.

The thinking goes along the lines that God is good, and full of love, and He loves each of us, and a good God couldn't condemn those whom He loved to any type of damnation, punishment, etc.

Well, we can't all be right? Can we? For if we all are correct, in believing different things including things that are in opposition to one another, then there is no such thing as a right path or a wrong path or a right belief or wrong belief, or right articles of faith or wrong articles of faith.

How do we learn then what the truth is? I suggest that we look at the scriptures and see what God has to say about this.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

So from this we learn that we HAVE to have faith in order to please Him (God). And that if we who want to come to God MUST believe that He Is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. God is not going to leave you hanging, desperately seeking the answers but unable to find them! But you cannot come to God nor please Him without faith, without believing that He is, and that He will reward you if you seek after Him.

What else does the Bible say about this? Can we all be right? Are there many ways or paths to God?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

So in this verse Jesus himself claimed that He was the way and the truth and the life. You cannot come to the Father except through Him. There are no other paths. Period. There are no other methods that will work, no solutions outside of Jesus. If you simply believe that Jesus was a prophet, you must consider these words. If you believe that the scriptures are God's inspired word you must also consider these words.

That kind-of limits things a bit, doesn't it? O.k., so now we must therefore consider that if Jesus spoke the truth, and if the scriptures are true, than this is true. That all other paths that are outside of Jesus are not effective, practical, or true.

So, is it possible to have a Loving, Kind, and Good God, that would limit or put prerequisites on the paths and ways in which one can come to God? Evidently it is.

What else does the scriptures have to say? How do we know if we are approved of God?

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
2 Corinthians 10:12,18

Here we learn that we are not to compare ourselves or measure ourselves amongst ourselves, or against those who commend themselves and think that they are in good shape. We learn that the one who commends himself is Not approved, but only those whom the Lord commends.

So we cannot look at one another and measure ourselves that way. We cannot say to ourselves "I'm alright," either, and commend ourselves, because it is not our commendation that matters, only the commendation and approval of God. No one else is going to approve you or commend you either. If you do it - if you commend yourself or seek the approval of others - you are not in line with how God says things are, and you are "not wise" (that's God's judgement, and what He calls it).

So to wrap up, we need to believe that He (God) is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (diligence mentioned here in this context implies that God does not expect some lackadaisical, half-hearted effort). We have also learned that there is only one way to the Father - through Jesus. We also learned that we cannot approve of ourselves, compare ourselves to others, or seek the approval of others as if that is what matters, for these do not. Only God's approval matters.

Psalm 73:22-28 (NKJV)

I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

A Christian Online

I am a Christian.

Main Entry: 1Chris·tian
Pronunciation: 'kris-ch&n, 'krish-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin christianus, adjective & n., from Greek christianos, from Christos
1 a : one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ b (1) : DISCIPLE 2 (2) : a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906 (3) : a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 19612 : the hero in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

What does that mean? The Merriam Websters dictionary definition above lists a some of the definintions of the word. In its most common use, it generally means that a Christian is someone who attends a "Christian" church, perhaps as opposed to a place where Muslims, Buddists, Hindus, or others of other religions worship God, or as opposed to perhaps athiests or agnostics who don't believe in God at all (or just aren't sure) about that.

This weblog is my opportunity to discuss what it means to be a Christian. I hope to post frequently in the future on this and related topics, and on my attempts to live a Christian life in general, thoughts about doctrine, tenants of my belief, and what I have learned from Gods word.

I hope to share about my life, musings, thoughts - rambling or well defined. I hope to find others who are like minded online to discuss and share ideas. I would like to debate my beliefs with others, even and especially if we disagree. If only for the purpose of being sure what I believe, and knowing with confidence why I believe what I believe, and exploring that with others. Something that makes the difference between having faith and blind faith. I would hope to learn to rightly divide the word of truth, and to bear God's word more effectively now and in the future.

I would hope to develop some online resources that can help other Christians in understanding the bible, learning and applying God's word to our lives in real and practical ways, etc. Maybe some online bible studies, resources for teachers of bible classes and preachers and teachers of God's word.

So, hopefully if you are reading this... you might come along on this journey with me, share some with me and others, explore God's word together with me, and find some encouragement together, some amusement, and some fellowship with a like minded believer.