The Modern church has made very clear that when speaking of entering the kingdom of God they want everyone to know they have it all figured out. All mystery has been revealed. The mysteries of God’s reconciling himself to man can be found in this simple ‘spiritual formula’. A (Recognize your sin) + B (say a sinners prayer) + C (get baptized) = D (heaven). In boiling down the message of Christ into this simple formula we have stripped it if the beauty that has marveled kings and paupers! We have oversimplified and somehow overcomplicated it to a point that it no longer contains the wonder that once enraptured thousands in the days of Acts.
Unfortunately, this simplified formula does not play out with the whole of scripture. Sure, we can take verses from Paul’s letter and cut and paste them together and come to this simple formula. (Four Spiritual Laws, Roman Road, FAITH) Just to give you an example of the abridged version let’s read Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. “ Now let’s take a look at the whole of Romans 10…yes, right now…seriously, go get your Bible!…now, see what I mean. How can the richness of this testimony of Christ be summarized in this one verse? It can’t. It is like VBS Kool-Aid, just a watered down version of the real deal..
I understand what many of my brothers were trying to do in these attempts. They just want to make the gospel easier to understand, easier to swallow. But that bears the question, was it meant to be easy? As you look throughout the New Testament you will see the diversity of ways people came to Christ. There was no simple pat answer, It will always be complex! Why? Because it demands we abandon everything. Everything we are and want to be. Everything we desire and hope for. And as we lose everything, we find life in Christ. I can’t explain it, but I’m okay with that.
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5 comments:
how is it that it has to be so hard?
I really think it is IMPOSSIBLE!!!
I understand that as I lose everything I will find life in Jesus, but the truth is that I don't think I can really lose everything. It is all I want, but I know I cant do it.
Why is he asking for something impossible to do???
because if he were to ask us to do something possible, WE WOULD DO IT! and He would not be necessary. He asks the impossible so that we will give up and let HIM do it. Thus He is glorified in doing the impossible in us. It isn't impossible to die, people do that everyday. The trick is to do it before you are dead.
The opening of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians sums it up, look at this Impossible process:
God loves you & chose you to be his people & rescued you from the terrors of the coming judgment.
People brought you the Good News but not just with words the Spirit gave it its power & truth.
People that brought the News lived in a way to further prove the Truth.
So you received the message from the Spirit. Now you are an example and the Word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere!
Where does the Impossible begin: with God, Christ & Spirit
I gotta put down this old book and do house work!
Ale
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians is another example of the Impossible, possible thru Him alone: Ephesians 2: 1-8
I better not type it all out, I seriously have house work to do but I will continue to mull this over with my broom!
good stuff teresa, sweep that floor with power and truth!
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