Here are a few snippets from Pastor Mark Anderson’s (my pastor) class from Sunday Aug. 10th.
Each snippet is only a few minutes long.
When is the gospel purely preached?
Scriptures are not all on a level playing field
Feel free to weigh in on any or all.
Filed under: Audio Snippet from Pastor Mark Anderson | 7 Comments »
I am going to ask a question of all my friends (and others, if you prefer) out there in the blogesphere, that I can’t seem to figure out. 
I mean it. I really do want to understand the position of the advocates of the 3rd use of the law. So I ask this question in all earnestness, and with no ill will… just a desire to work this out in my own mind.
Here goes:
‘What benefit has the 3rd use of the law (preached to, or directed at you , either personally or as a believer in the pew) brought to your own personal life as a Christian?’
I will try and relate how the hearing of the law has affected me, being presented in only two uses, and see where the diferences and similarities might be.
Thanks for going along with me on this one.
– Steve M.
Filed under: The 'Third use of the Law' | 147 Comments »
In addition to the person of Christ Himself, mankind has always deemed it necessary to add on something that the ‘real believer’ ought do, say, feel, or think in order to be included amongst the true believers.
The following are some of the things that many people believe you need (in addition to Jesus)
#10 You don’t “Speak in Tongues” as proof that the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in your heart.
I do believe that some people can actually speak in tongues. But I believe that many people just babble because others around them are babbling and because they won’t be considered a ‘real Christian’ if they can’t exhibit this behavior. St. Paul told us that the important thing about the ‘gifts of the Spirit’ is their use. I fail to see any great utility in the speaking of tongues. But then again… I may not be a ‘real Christian’.
#9 You haven’t received the “Fifth Annointing” of the Holy Spirit. Or the Fourth Annointing…or the Third Annointing. I don’t even think I know what they are, all I know is that I haven’t received them yet.
#8 You haven’t had a real “Spiritual Experience” that you can point to as evidence that God has made you one of His own.
#7 You haven’t made a “Decision for Christ”. You haven’t publicly announced your decision to follow Jesus and make Him your Lord and Savior. You’ve never recited the ‘sinner’s prayer’. You’ve never walked down the aisle at an altar call, and if you did it didn’t stick because you were not really serious about it in your heart.
#6 You don’t believe that the “Bible is Inerrant”. You don’t believe that every jot and tittle of scripture fell from heaven on a silver platter. While you may believe the ‘message’ of the Bible is inerrant, that is not quite good enough, after all, if the Muslims can have a text that is perfect in every way, why can’t we?
#5 You do not believe in “Free Will”. If you do not believe that we have the capability of choosing God as we can choose whether of not we eat Chinese or Mexican food tonight, then you really do not understand how God operates.
#4 You do not believe in the “Historic Episcopacy”. If you think that the power of God is totally sufficient in His Word alone, and where it is present, alone, and that the power of Bishops that were supposedly touched by other Bishops going all the way back to Christ is nothing more than superstition and tradition…then you may not be a ‘real Christian’. Besides, how can we know that there is any real power in the sacraments then?
#3 You believe that Christ is really present and active in “His Sacraments”. This might show some bias on your part towards God and His action, while taking away from ‘our faith’. After all, the important thing in this whole Christian enterprise is our faith, is it not? That God has to give us this faith and keep us in that faith somehow, takes a back seat as we need to get on track ourselves and show that we really are serious and worthy.
#2 You do not have a “Pope” as one who can decide on all matters of faith and life, and accurately interpret scripture for you. I know this related to #4, but I wanted to drive the point home that you say you are a Christian, but if you are not deferring to a higher power on earth that will distribute God’s grace to you on the basis of your worthiness then you are just kidding yourself. And if you are outside of that system then you are more than likely just playing church. For the Pope IS the ‘real church’, here on earth. And don’t you forget it.
And now the #1 reason that you may not even be a ‘real Christian’ ….(drumroll please)…..
you may not even be ‘a real Christian’ if you are not exhibiting the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’.
That’s right. You thought that you were trusting in Jesus Christ alone and His death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave, but it is quite obvious from your lackluster performance that you do not trust Him. You flat out refuse to do things He tells you to do. You talk a good game, but are you going out of your way to help the poor, the needy, the outcasts in society? Are you walking the walk?
Are you living on a thin margin of income, eschewing the baubles and bangles that extra money above subsistance might bring, and giving the rest to the Church for mission, or to help feed the hungry?
Do you visit nursing homes and prisons on a regular basis, instead of watching television, or going out to dinner, or going on vacations?
Are you attending Bible studies enough? Are you reading your Bible and praying enough? Are you involved at church like you ought?
Are you getting a handle on your sinning? Surely to exhibit ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ you cannot be sinning the way you used to.
Not exhibiting the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ is ‘THE DANGER SIGN’ that you may not even be a ‘real Christian’ after all. But any or all of the above add-ons will work to let you know where you really stand with God.
I know I left some good ones off the list. Can anyone think of another?
Filed under: Add On's to Jesus | 13 Comments »
Summertime is the usual time of the year for Americans to go on vacation. A well needed rest. A time to forget the cares of one’s life and get out of the mundane. A time to envision dreams and experience, if even for a little while, what it might be like to live without the demands that our existence places upon us.
Could you imagine looking out from your balcony aboard a luxury cruiseline
r at the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen, while sipping champagne and eating crab cakes as the beautiful blue ocean glides past and gently spashes the sides of the ship and then a voice from the loudspeaker comes on and says, “Don’t forget, you have to go back to work on Monday!”
That voice on the loudspeaker is the same voice that loves to quote from the Book of James. “But you just can’t live any way you want!” “Faith without works is dead.” “Get back to work.”
The law demands that we get back to work…and right now! The gospel promises us champagne and crab cakes…forever!
Can you actually feel the voice of the law as it does it’s number on you? Does the voice of the law give you comfort in it’s direction and demand? What happens to you when you hear the libertating promises of the gospel?
Now…get back to work!
Filed under: Law and Gospel | 53 Comments »
The Old Adam Lives! 