Listen to the typical gospel presentation nowadays. You will hear sinners entreated with words like, "accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior"; "ask Jesus into your heart"; "invite Christ into your life"; or "make a decision for Christ." You may be so accustomed to hearing those phrases that it will surprise you to learn that none of them is based on biblical terminology. They are the products of a diluted gospel. The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer. Jesus' message liberated people from the bondage of their sin while it confronted and condemned hypocrisy. It was an offer of eternal life and forgiveness for repentant sinners, but at the same time it was a rebuke to outwardly religious people whose lives were devoid of true righteousness. It put sinners on notice that they must turn from sin and embrace God's righteousness. It was in every sense good news, yet it was anything but easy-believism.
The Gospel Jesus Preached
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tim_from_pa
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(followerofchrist;54839)
Listen to the typical gospel presentation nowadays. You will hear sinners entreated with words like, "accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior"; "ask Jesus into your heart"; "invite Christ into your life"; or "make a decision for Christ." You may be so accustomed to hearing those phrases that it will surprise you to learn that none of them is based on biblical terminology. They are the products of a diluted gospel. The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer. Jesus' message liberated people from the bondage of their sin while it confronted and condemned hypocrisy. It was an offer of eternal life and forgiveness for repentant sinners, but at the same time it was a rebuke to outwardly religious people whose lives were devoid of true righteousness. It put sinners on notice that they must turn from sin and embrace God's righteousness. It was in every sense good news, yet it was anything but easy-believism.
You are indeed very wise for your age! Yes, what you say is true. There is nothing about "accepting" Christ in one's heart in the bible. That's a form of gnosticism. Yes, there is a definite moment when one realizes that they believe and receive His grace, but that is actually in response to Him calling us first, as He choses us first (and not the other way around), and we exercise our free will in accepting that grace.
Listen to the typical gospel presentation nowadays. You will hear sinners entreated with words like, "accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior"; "ask Jesus into your heart"; "invite Christ into your life"; or "make a decision for Christ." You may be so accustomed to hearing those phrases that it will surprise you to learn that none of them is based on biblical terminology. They are the products of a diluted gospel. The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer. Jesus' message liberated people from the bondage of their sin while it confronted and condemned hypocrisy. It was an offer of eternal life and forgiveness for repentant sinners, but at the same time it was a rebuke to outwardly religious people whose lives were devoid of true righteousness. It put sinners on notice that they must turn from sin and embrace God's righteousness. It was in every sense good news, yet it was anything but easy-believism.
You are indeed very wise for your age! Yes, what you say is true. There is nothing about "accepting" Christ in one's heart in the bible. That's a form of gnosticism. Yes, there is a definite moment when one realizes that they believe and receive His grace, but that is actually in response to Him calling us first, as He choses us first (and not the other way around), and we exercise our free will in accepting that grace.
yup! fast food religion every where one looksII Timothy 2:16 "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.""Profane and vain babblings" are all those things spoken that are empty from any of the wisdom from God's Word. The word "vain" means "empty". How many times have you gone to a church hopping to be taught, and all that is given you for your attendance is one or two verses, and then babblings by the pastor for the next half hour. You leave with a hunger in your heart and mind for the food from God's Word, only it is emptiness. They stand up there stoking your mind with nonsense to make you feel good, yet the sheep in God's pastor are starving. These are the last days, and Amos warned us that the church houses of our day would be as such.Amos 8:11 "Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord."
tim_from_pa
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So true, Kriss.Vain babblings is bad enough, but on top of that some of these same types criticize the likes of us for being unorthodox or a cult.I other words, come down to their level of understanding or you'll go to hell. I always retort, now why would I want to graduate from spiritual calculus to spiritual arithmetic? and they make the arithmetic sound harder and more in depth than the calculus so-to-speak. "Kids" will always do that. When they don't understand something more in depth and they say, "It's dumb!"
Most of churches nowadays present an easy christianity, They have no problem with saying God is Love, and he is your personal savior and he wants you to be happy etc. but when it comes to the hard things, like Jesus demands your uptmost discipleship, or God hates divorce, or Gods feelings on being lukewarm etc. they somehow never mention it. Because if they did they might lose membership, and sometimes it seems that in christianiy today membership and profits are more important then the true gospel of christ. Thanks for brining this to our attention, follower of christ. I really needed to hear it.
Spirit and Truth is how Jesus taught true worshippers would worship God our heavenly Father. John 4:22-24. Below the perfect example of faith coming by hearing the word and believing it. The New Testament brings the truth in action. The Old Testament was the Word of life speaking about Christ the Way. The New Testament about the Way, Truth and Life in Jesus Christ in action and becoming reality.Faithful...
Acts 10:34-45 (King James Version) 34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all
37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.The gospel that Jesus preached was of the simple governing system that would lead to everlasting peace and prosperity which is the opposite of the war and profit system that is still used today. He wanted everyone using the same currency so the moneychangers would be out of business. He wanted prices standardized to put the salesman out of business. He wanted the world to listen to only him to put the false prophets out of business. Take the lines off the map would put the soldiers out of business. Stop dividing the land would prevent it from being polluted and misused. Treat your neighbor as you would yourself suggests one system that applies to everyone in every way. Jesus was not of this world.
Why isnt God bringing up any new people to lead churches today? People like us? I wonder who would complain about us if we were the church leaders. Oh should we get off our butts and start churching?I think we should be doing church instead of complaining about it. We need to be physically working with each other, and lifting up. I hope we all dont think chatting on this site is the same as church.
