What’s Left, If We Don’t Have Jesus?

In John 6 the Gospel writer for all intents and purposes has Jesus complete his Galilean ministry. This is not literally so, and we can see this if one compares John with the Synoptics, but for the Gospel of John, Jesus’ Galilean ministry ends with this chapter. From this point on, John is interested in telling us about Jesus’ Judean ministry—most of it spent in Jerusalem.

 

Did John the Baptist’s Ministry Fail?

This post is in response to an ongoing discussion I am having HERE. Since the discussion replies have become quite lengthy I thought I would blog my replies as long as they seem important and may be of an interest to others who come to my blog and may not be aware of the discussion. My partner’s name in this discussion is Arthur, and he has taken the position that John’s ministry was a failure, and, because it was a failure, Jesus had to be crucified. At least this is the conclusion of the speaker in the video[1] presented on Arthur’s website (see link below). Arthur’s words will be in bold italic to distinguish them from what I have to say. The first Scripture under discussion is:

 

Jesus Was Crucified on a Wednesday!

Unless I am missing something, a Wednesday crucifixion is the only day that can be reconciled with the Scriptures. The events noted in my previous five posts would fall in this order:

 

David’s Example of Blood Atonement

Centuries ago, David lusted after Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David’s most trusted military men. David took Bathsheba and committed adultery with her. When she became pregnant and efforts to hide his sin failed, David had Uriah killed. Later Nathan the prophet came by appointment from the LORD to expose the sin of the king. It is assumed by some that the LORD simply forgave David for the sins of killing Uriah, the Hittite, and committing adultery with Bathsheba. However, the context shows otherwise.

 

So, What’s the Good News?

What is the Gospel or the Good News? According to Romans 10:9-10, a man must confess Jesus as Lord and believe that Jesus was both crucified for our sins and raised from the dead. This is the Gospel in a nutshell!

I’m working my way through Galatians at the present time, and I am considering what Paul says about perverting that Gospel. Notice:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:6-10 KJVR)

Paul had some trouble with folks coming after him and seeking to undo what he had done. During his first missionary journey, he had raised up several churches in Galatia. Not long after he left, however, some people came in to tell the new believers, they had to obey the Law of Moses. Paul wrote back to say, this whole idea is a perversion of the Gospel. Paul is saying that God has become flesh in order to deliver us from this world. We cannot be delivered from the world through law—any kind of law. Obedience to law can only make us better citizens of this world. Paul says that Jesus came to make us citizens of the Kingdom of God.

 

And I, if I be lifted up…

So much of Christianity today seems to be either contending with sin or counting the days before Christ’s return. As an audience, our eyes become fixed either upon ourselves and our shortcomings or upon what some teacher supposes the future holds. Where are Jesus and the cross in any of this?

 

The Prayer!

Jesus is the propitiation for our sins and also for the sins of the whole world according to 1John 2:2. It was for this reason that he came into the world, (John 3:16-17; 18:11).

Jesus is the express image of the Father (Colossians 1:15). If I want to know what the Father is like I am told to get to know Jesus (John 14:7-9). It would seem that Jesus loves us and mourns over our condition (John 11:35; Luke 13:34). It is evident that it is God’s will that all men should be saved (1Timothy 2:4), and he works out all things out according to his will (Ephesians 1:11). Knowing these things, therefore, it can hardly be said that universal salvation is not our Father’s will. Anything asked according to the will of God is a request that is heard (1John 5:14-15), and the one praying has the confidence that his desire is granted.

 

All I Have Is Christ

I found this video on the “Already Not Yet” Blog. It blessed me so much that I had to add it here. I’ve been playing it often. The lyrics with the tune are very moving. I hope it blesses you as much as it has been blessing me.

God bless.

more about "All I Have Is Christ on Vimeo", posted with vodpod

Lyrics:

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI), by Jordan Kauflin

 

The Ground Is Level at the Cross!

For well over a dozen posts I have been speaking about a question that has unsettled some. Two brothers in Christ have tried to get me to reconsider my position on this point. One is no longer speaking with me, because of the stand I have taken. The point is pretty basic really, and is summed up in two questions:

At the cross, whom did Christ save, and can that salvation ever be lost?

May all of God’s children, who love to see their Lord lifted up to be seen and praised by all, allow the words of Christ, and not those of men, end any controversy about this most fundamental subject of our faith.

 

Am I Good Enough for Heaven?

Jesus has given us a good look at our own self-righteousness in the parable about the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke18:10-14. For the purpose of not bringing into this story some preconceived notions, I would like to set aside the title of Pharisee and publican and give these two individuals names. I’ll call the Pharisee Eddie and the publican Boomer.

Two men went up to the Temple of God to pray. The first man’s name was Eddie, and he prayed like this: “Oh God, thank you for your input in my life. I am so glad that I am not as some men that I see in this world. I have seen men who have destroyed their lives and families and brought great dishonor to their parents, because they had no character or self-discipline.

 

Who is God Able to Save?

Now I must ask a question that is at the heart of the controversy that comes out of the cross. This question has bothered me, since I was a little boy, when my parents first told me about God, heaven and hell. If God loves everyone, and if God is all powerful, how can he, who loves all and is able to do all things, allow anyone to get to the point where God will forever condemn him in his sins?

 

Is Destruction Everlasting?

The love of God never seems darker or more absent than when we consider God destroying his enemies who are the unrepentant sinners of this world. The fact of the matter is, this doctrine teaches God fails in the end to save some people. In other words, some will defy him so much that God is finally unable to save them. The popular teaching is, it is not God who fails, but man fails to respond to the salvation that is freely given him by God. At the end of the day, however, God is unable to do that which he had always wanted to do (2Peter 2:9; 1Timothy 2:4). Some men’s evil is simply too great and prevents God from finally reaching all the hearts he sent his Son to save. Is this true? Does this teaching accurately portray what God says in his word?

 

Can Unrepentance Be Forgiven?

Is it possible that God forgives unrepentance? In Numbers chapter thirteen, ten of the twelve spies, which Moses sent into the Promised Land, returned with an evil report. They told all Israel that though the land was a good land, it was unattainable for them. The inhabitants were too strong.

 

What Is the Lake of Fire

It can be argued that the wrath of God is the Lake of Fire (Revelation 14:10; Revelation 21:8). However, is the Lake of Fire an ever-burning place of punishment that has been reserved by God to punish the wicked, or does it represent a time of temporary punishment whereby the wicked will be separated from their sins and embrace God, whom they have rejected all their lives? Remembering that Revelation is apocalyptic (symbolic) literature, let’s look at it now to see how God plans to use the Lake of Fire. There isn’t much of a description of it in Revelation. We know that the beast and false prophet were cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20); the devil will be cast into it (Revelation 20:10); death and hell (the grave) are cast into it, and it is called the second death in Revelation 20:14. Finally, after the resurrection of the just and unjust (Matthew 25) or the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-13) all who are not written in the Lamb’s book of life will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15). That’s it! If we wish to know more about this mysterious Lake of Fire in which God can cast death and the grave, which are not things one could actually look upon and take up in one’s hands, one must look elsewhere in God’s word, comparing Scripture with Scripture to find additional truth.

 

Lazarus and the Rich Man

The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus bears certain elements that seem to indicate at least part of the story did not come from Jesus. I do not mean to say that Jesus never spoke this story. I believe he spoke every word and every word is true. Nevertheless, if we take Luke 16:18-31 to indicate what happens after our physical death, the story would contradict what we find in the rest of the word of God concerning death. I have read several teachings that testify Jesus was quoting from or derived much of the content of this story from rabbinical literature [Notes from the Companion Bible, The Bullinger Publications Trust; The Bible Background Commentary by Craig Keener, Intervarsity Press; The New Jerome Bible Commentary, page 708, paragraph 151, Prentice Hall.] and formed the story in the manner the rabbis formed theirs. For example, this is the only story that Jesus names one of the characters. The rabbis often named one or more characters in their stories, but they named the more noble men. Jesus did the opposite by naming the poor man. While I cannot endorse every teaching in rabbinical literature, I do believe Jesus was using parts of rabbinic teaching to silence his enemies. Jesus changed enough in the rabbinical story to bring out a great spiritual truth that cannot be understood without appreciating the cross. The truth of what Jesus says here is very much misunderstood today. This will become clearer as we go along, but let me say that Jesus is not speaking of literal death or the literal punishment of the wicked after their lives on this earth is over.