Where we went wrong.

In the summer of 2006 I stood before an audience and screamed at the top of my lungs, “if you don’t stop sinning you’ll go to hell and burn for eternity.” Winter 2007 I shouted, “sin is separation from God and he will punish you for those sins.” Halloween 2008, “on this demon’s holiday, will you stop sinning and live for God, or do you choose hell?” Have you ever heard anything similar? Have you ever been in a church service where these words were belted out?

Well, if you have, then you have personally witnessed the greatest flaw in Christianity. You see, all three of these examples are flawed on one basis. Salvation is free, it’s a gift and there is no price that neither you nor I could pay to earn it. And in that last statement, we find where we have all gone wrong.

Think back to the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the first real Christian message. Did he tell those people, the three thousand that he led to Jesus, that they had to stop doing something? No. What he told them was that they simply believe that Jesus was savior. He didn’t even ask them to renounce their gods, just that they believe that He died for them. Is that what we are hearing in churches today? No.

Recently, I asked for the friendship of a young lady who practiced paganism. Sadly, she immediately blew me off because I was a Christian. She went on to tell me how she had suffered for thirteen years because of Christianity and that she would do it no more. I asked her how and she simply said, “I was invited to a church as a guest and was treated like an outcast the whole time. The preacher publicly made fun of my clothing, my piercings, and my beliefs. He offered to cast the devil out of me and told me that I had to stop sinning or I would go to hell. He didn’t even know me.”

Do you think that this young lady changed her mind about becoming a Christian? No. Instead she was pushed farther away and refuses to even listen to anyone claiming the name of Jesus. Can we blame her? No.

I believe that Jesus spoke to this in Mark chapter 7. In fact, he blasted the Pharisees for making man made rules and not adhering to Gods word. Maybe its time that we adhere to Gods word. I’m going to close by adding two simple passages. Read and enjoy.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Phil 2:12 and 13 TNIV

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:8-10

Four Laws of Logic

I feel that it is only a responsible thing for me to start this blog with an idea that is all theological, philosophical and simple at the same time. Not only so, but I will also use this blog to take a defensive posture as it relates to the message (or person as it were) of grace. Actually, if I may be totally honest here, this blog is to help me blow off some deeply ingrained steam. Please read carefully and allow the Spirit of God to guide you.

Grounded in Biblical principles we find that there are four laws that have been called the Four Laws of Logic or the Laws of Thought. These laws will help us discover the truth behind the message of Grace and the person of Grace. Lets take a look.

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. [John 1:17]

The first Law of Logic is called the Law of Identity. In common speech, this law pretty much say's, "it is what it is." In other words, the law of identity would be best described as saying that an article is the article because it is the article. Now, on the subject of that article, John said that Grace and Truth came by Jesus. He did not say that judgment or wrath or fury, but Grace and Truth.

The first Law of Logic says that if it says it then it is the truth. Therefore we can come to the simple conclusion that because the Word of God says it, it must be truth.

Paul states in Ephesians that it by Grace that you have been saved, not of works...

The second Law of Logic is the Law of Non-contradiction. This law states that one thing cannot both be that thing and a different thing at the same time. Therefore, it cannot be both by works and Grace that we have been saved. So, judging by the first law and adding it to this law, because Paul said it and its in the Word of God, it must be true.

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. [Romans 11:6]

The third Law of Logic is quite simple. Its called the Law of Excluded Middle. This law says that Pauls words were either true or not true. There cannot be a middle ground. Its interesting that Paul said that grace would not be grace if it were by works. I love this premise as he is saying, "its either law or grace. Which one?"

The Fourth Law of Logic is called the Law of Objective Reason. This law pretty much says that if there is reason to believe it, it must be true. In John 1, the author says that, "in the beginning was the Word..." The greek text reveals a greater truth. The word for word in greek used here is logos. This word means logic. It is only logical to believe in the message of grace because the person of grace is also the person of logic.

Be blessed and have a good day.

Ron.