Jesus + Nothing = True Gospel. Galatians 1:6-7

-
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
I need to thank Pastor Ted Benson for today's sermon first. This entry is really just an extension of God's message through him today. But what a liberating message it was: Jesus plus nothing equals the true gospel. And it really is a reinforcement for my reading today, Acts 13-16.

It is so easy to get caught in the snares of Satan. Believe, but if you don't study, you aren't saved, Satan will tell you. Believe, but if you don't speak in tongues, you aren't saved, he will tell you. Believe, but if you don't follow God's law, you aren't saved, he will tell you. Believe, but if you are sexually immoral, if you are a hater, if you are not devout, if you do this, if you don't do that, then you aren't saved, he will tell you.

Flee from those seeds of doubt, God tells us today, through the letter to the Galatians. Flee from those ideas, God tells us today, through the good doctor, Luke, in Acts 13. Flee from those ideas, because they are perverting the good news Jesus gives us.

If you believe in Jesus, you are saved. If you believe in Jesus, you need to look no further for your salvation. If you believe in Jesus, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, descended into hell, and on the third day he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, you will have life eternal with him.

There is no need to add to these words, if you believe.
Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39
Why do we let our churches muck it up?

This isn't to say that it's OK to skip Bible study. If you believe, I am sure the Spirit of God will move you to study. This isn't to say that it's OK to skip time to pray. If you believe, I am sure the Spirit of God will move you to pray unceasingly. This isn't to say that it's OK to skip church this Sunday. If you believe, I am sure the Spirit of God will move you to attend regularly.

Jesus has forgiven you, if you believe. Why wouldn't you want to believe? It doesn't cost anything. You don't have to do anything but accept a free gift. Life eternal with God in heaven is yours.

Just believe.


Popular posts from this blog

Upon this rock ...

-
I don't need to comment on this post. I just need to share it. Upon this rock... which one? Matthew 16:18 is a problem for Lutherans and Roman Catholics.  Rome points to Peter and the Petrine office of the papacy.  Jesus is pointing to a man, rather a succession of men, whose primacy is, in their view, undisputed.  Lutherans insist that Peter may have been the voice but it is the confession that is the rock.  This faith is the rock upon which the Church is built -- not a man but the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Lutherans insist that this is affirmed in Jesus' own admonition that Peter did not confess this on his own but as the Father revealed it to Him.  Now surely this is a rather simplistic way of putting it and there are nuances on both sides that I have overlooked to put this into a brief paragraph. But allow me this for the moment.
Read more

It's not man's word: 1 Thessalonians 2:13

-
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. I have Christian friends who don't believe the Word of God. Do you believe? Think about that for a minute. Do you believe in God? Do you really believe the Word is from God? Do you believe the Word was God? Do you believe the Word was with God? (John 1:1-5). And that the Word became flesh? (John 1:14) Some people who call themselves Christians, don't believe. If they don't receive the word of God, if they say it is from men, that it is a human word, not the Word of God, then how can they call themselves Christian? It seems to me that is one of the points Paul is driving home in 1 Thessalonians 2:13. It is important because, what do we have without the Word of God? What we have are heresies taught by false prophets and greedy teachers. "We ar...
Read more

Voices

-
My wife doesn't write often enough. But years ago, she wrote this, which I found while looking through one of my old websites. I hope you enjoy it. Voices I never really listened to what I had to say If I had taken my own advice my life might've gone another way. I took on all the problems of those who couldn't cope I gave them all the answers I returned to them their hope. Though never did I realize that the words were meant for me I thought my problems were too big for all the world to see. But then one night I had a dream His face is what I saw He said to me “This is the way here's how to have it all.” “Listen to yourself” He said “The answers are within Within your soul I'll talk to you Truth shall you hear and happiness shall you win.” The moral of this poem is as simple as it is true The only one who has the answers is God listening, experiencing, acting they are all up to you. So listen to the Voice inisde when it says “Child, I love you” It's God ...
Read more