PROPITIATION

"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2, ESV)

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10, ESV)

"whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins." (Romans 3:25, ESV)

"Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17, ESV)

What is Propitiation?Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Merriam-Webster : to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease

Collins Dictionary – appease, win the favor of. Adj intended to appease someone.

Moody Handbook of Theology - Concept meaning to appease or atone. And stresses that the holiness of God was fully satisfied, his wrath appeased and his righteous demands were met through the atoning death of Christ.

Whom does it encompass?

The term ‘Propitiation’ asserts that God is a person who can be offended as well as appeased. It would also assert that God is wrathful towards sin in the same magnitude of that of His love towards humanity.

Primarily, propitiation encompasses God the Father and Jesus the Son. Propitiation is God-ward. It is Jesus appeasing the wrath of God. It is fully satisfying the righteous demands of a holy God by the sacrifice of the innocent and sinless life of Jesus of Nazareth.

God the Father is the subject of propitiation. He is the one who has provided the sacrifice through the Son. It was the Father’s plan (or will) that Jesus come to earth. It was God’s love for us that Jesus came. God the Father is also the object of propitiation as He is the one who is satisfied. It is the love that Jesus has for the Father that drove Jesus to completing the work God gave to him.

Motivation and Misconception

We find the motivation behind the will of the Father to send Jesus the Son to be our propitiation encompassing two concepts. First, it is God’s love for humanity that has initiated the propitiation. Second, it is God’s justice which demands the propitiation. And we find God’s love and justice working perfectly and completely, with and through each other, to ensure that the propitiation is perfect, sufficient and powerful. For it is God’s justice demands that the sinfulness of humanity be dealt with in full and complete terms. And it is God’s love for humanity which ensured that a full and complete sacrifice be given on behalf of a rebellious and sinful creation.

One major misconception that we encounter is this; God is always opposed to us and full of wrath towards us and it is only Jesus who calms (placates) God. God the Father is seen as a reluctant and vengeful God while Jesus is portrayed as the one who has the task of convincing God to forgive. This may lead some to what might appear like a contradiction. The wrath of an all-loving and compassionate God towards the people he has created.

What can we do?

First we need to recognize that the issue of propitiation is not a matter of vengeance but of justice. If God is holy and all together completely righteous and cannot tolerate sin then the sinful state within man must be dealt with prior to reconciliation. But what can a sinner do to please God in order to be saved? Nothing. Everything has been done by God for Himself. He knows that a person cannot fulfill His law and commandments perfectly so he sent Jesus to live the life and die the death for us. In our place. The lost person only needs to believe with their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and they will be saved. Salvation is a gift from God.

Jesus’ propitiation accomplished four things for you and me;

1. It paid the penalty of sin.

2. It broke the power of sin and death from our lives.

3. It removed the pollution of sin from our hearts.

4. It destroyed the dividing wall of sin between God and ourselves.

Secondly, Jesus’ propitiation is efficacious (completely effective and adequate) to cover our sins. But is affected (given to) only when a person exercises faith in Jesus’ death on the cross (atonement) and his resurrection from the dead.

This is the message of the gospel – receive the Savior through his death and resurrection for you. If you want any hope for this life and the next.

“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Good Friday

For by grace you have been saved through faith. and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. but now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for he himself is our peace.
This is what makes Good Friday good.

Reconciliation

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:1-11, ESV)

1. Definition of reconciliation

2. Why do we need to be reconciled?

3. How does reconciliation happen; who is the object of reconciliation?

4. So What? The application and result of reconciliation.

1. Definition of Reconciliation

Collins Dictionary – “ harmonize; bring back into friendship”

Merriam-Webster – “1 a: to restore to friendship or harmony

<reconciled the factions> b: settle, resolve <reconcile differences>”

“…is God providing peace where previously there was enmity ( ill will, hatred ), and God restoring mankind to fellowship with Himself…”

“…God removing the barrier caused by sin – producing peace and enabling man to be saved…”

“…a change of relationship from hostility to harmony and peace between two parties…”

“…through sin man was and is alienated from God. But through Christ’s death peace with God (salvation) was made possible for the whole world but only made effective through the exercise of faith in Christ…”

There are two aspects of reconciliation that we need to be aware of. The first part is considered objective. By that, reconciliation is provided by Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection. This objective reconciliation is also referred to as provisional. With this term we can come to understand that prior to faith, a person is rendered savable by Jesus sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

The second part is considered subjective. By this, reconciliation occurs when the person places their faith in Jesus for salvation. This portion is also referred to as experimental. This does not mean that salvation is an experiment in the same sense of “trying it out” to see if it works or fits one’s lifestyle. But it carries with it the idea that the person can actually “experience” true inner peace with God the Father.

The Greek origin of reconciliation is found in the word, ‘katalasso’. This word means ‘to effect change’. Re-reading the 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 passage, we will find that God is the initiator or source of the effect. Man needs to be reconciled or restored – as we will soon see – into a right relationship with God if there is any hope to escape God’s judgment and eternal condemnation.

Putting this all together then would have us learn that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, reconciliation was provided for the whole world. But, this reconciliation is only made effective when the person exercises faith in the act on the cross and from the tomb. We then summarize that reconciliation is man ward. This flowing from the heart of God towards the souls of people who believe. Despite the fact that it is people who continue to deny Him.

2. Why do we need Reconciliation?

In our western culture we have a difficult time grasping the idea that an “all-loving” God could or would ever be wrathful towards people he has created. There is some understanding that those who do ‘really bad’ things deserve God’s judgment, but we run into emotional and physiological roadblocks when we consider those around us of whom are labeled ‘upright and honest and good people’. We have no problem seeing the Dahmer’s, Hitler’s & Bin-Laden’s of this world judged for what they have done but we find it very difficult to accept that God would be just as righteous if he exercised His wrath upon co-workers, family and spouses. Some would say that this might prove some kind of deity-schizophrenia or a holy bi-polar disorder. However, the target of reconciliation (and possibly every other ‘tion’) is the problem of sin. The sinful person is at enmity with God. God is holy, we are not. God is utterly righteous, we are not. God cannot have sin co-exist with Himself. A cursory reading of Romans 1:18-32 would help us with this reality. When we couple the Romans 1 passage with the Romans 5 passage we soon see how reconciliation is needed. For a sinful person to have a right relationship with God, the issue of indwelling sin has to be dealt with. This carries a sobering but concrete reality in our understanding of God, especially when it comes to understanding His love for those whom He has created. But we also need to be aware of one potential problem. Some might take this to mean that we need to ‘clean up’ our act before we can come to Jesus for forgiveness. But this is a gross misunderstanding. Nowhere in scripture does it tell us to get our lives back on track before we come to God. In fact it’s the exact reverse. Our lives will get back on track when we first come to God.

3. How does Reconciliation Happen?

The act of becoming reconciled with God, indeed the beginning of peace with God comes first through Jesus Christ. Because it is through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that brings peace between God and people but a person’s faith in Christ is the point of access into God’s grace. We can understand that reconciliation occurs when the offender goes to the offended and seeks to make things right. According to our definitions the offender would move towards the offended and seek to; “harmonize; bring back into friendship”, “restore to friendship or harmony”. But therein lies a problem. The one who is offends with the sin they commit will not come to the offended. In fact scripture is clear that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus and no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them. Scripture declares that men are dead in their trespasses and sins; following the prince of this world; following the passions of our own lives. (Ephesians 2:1-10) However, reconciliation occurs when people place their faith in the one who makes them alive, who saves them by His gifts of faith and grace. Because God made Christ to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) In short, it is the placing of your trust in the sufficiency of the atonement of Jesus.

4. So What? The application and result of reconciliation.

The question could be restated as, ‘Who is reconciled to whom?’. Traditionally there are three answers. We will examine them in brief and I will try to explain why I have rejected them.

Answer One – God is reconciled to People – this would try to show that God’s wrath has been removed and thus it is God who has changed. God will allow His attribute of love to nullify His attribute of holiness. The reason that I have rejected this position is because it contradicts God’s attribute of immutability (unchanging nature). God will not compromise His holiness for anyone. He can not.

Answer Two – Both God and man are reconciled to each other. This position would want to see some compromise between the two parties. A reconciled God justifies the sinner who accepts the reconciliation offered by Jesus. The reason I have rejected this position is because man has not been offended by God. Man needs no reconciliation from God. God has been nothing but good to man. What sin has God committed towards mankind that He would need to harmonize Himself with those whom He has created? God has done nothing wrong. He could not because had He committed wrong, God would not be pure and holy. There would be some measure of sin with Him.

Answer Three – Man is reconciled to God. It would seem clear that passages such as Romans 5:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:1-10 and many others would fully support and endorse this position. A question that has occurred during the mining of these verses is, ‘does this reconciliation need to be effected first in order for man to exercise faith? Or does faith in Christ energize the reconciliation?

So let’s finish. God takes the initiative. God sends His son to earth to live a pure life and to offer a sacrifice pure enough to satisfy God’s anger against sin. The act of grace provided by this reconciliation is effected through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. But what does this reconciliation bring? Reconciliation not only brings peace but it also brings an understanding that we have escaped such a terrible thing as the righteous judgment of a holy and just God. Salvation.

"Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." (Romans 5:9-10, ESV)

sorry but,,,

hey, I'm sorry that I've been neglecting my list of the 'tions' of salvation but me thinks there is something stinky in Denmark. I haven't been able to log in since my last post but I'm here now. Let's hope that doesn't happen again.

My wife went to the Beth Moore event here in Van and came back with a deep sense of the presence of God. She kept comparing it to the other 'all women's' event and how this one was so much better. Seeing her respond to the challenge to grow in her walk with the Lord has re-fueled a desire of mine to develop and maybe publish some of my own stuff. Building up of our local church body through a thorough study of God's word mixed with challenges to put what is discovered into daily living. Daunting to be sure; maybe unnecessary;but we'll see how it works out.

Till then....

Working Through the 'Tion's' of Salvation

For His Purpose

For His Glory

Reconciliation

Propitiation

Justification

Sanctification

Substitution

Imputation

Resurrection

Regeneration

Redemption

Adoption

Incarnation

Inspiration

Conviction

Election

Exaltation

Revelation

Glorification

The tion’s of Salvation

Let's begin working through these in an attempt to strengthen our walk with the Lord.

Carson Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family photos - Family history

Carson Look-alike Meter

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The Gospel and its Evangelistic Imperative

As I was listening to one podcast I was challenged to think about these three questions;

1. Why don’t more Christians share their faith?

2. What is the Gospel?

3. What is the best way to proclaim it?

Why don’t more Christians share their faith?

Is this question assuming that there is a norm in the behavior of most Christians that reflects an absence of evangelism? I wonder how many influencers affect one’s attempt to personal evangelism. Mocking, ridicule, lack of self-confidence, overwhelming (or it least seems that way) amount of info that seems to contradict our efforts. Do we need to have the ‘gift’ of evangelism in order to evangelize? It’s a big risk. It means stepping out. There are probably more excuses. Sincere as they might be, could it be that they are still excuses.

What is the gospel?

I’ve been asked this question a lot. I have even asked myself this question to safeguard myself from presenting the wrong gospel. Is the gospel presented in its fullness or are some elements left out in order to avoid being ‘offensive’? Could it be that those who are presenting the gospel without all its parts be doing so because they themselves do not subscribe to the sum of its parts? Is the content of the Christian gospel ‘offensive’ even to those who profess it? Maybe a challenge facing most Christians is to fully understand the message we need to proclaim.

What is the best way to proclaim it?

Relationships? Friendships? Debates? Street evangelism? Without words? With words? More ways than you can shake a bible at. Methodologies, strategies, structure, statistics, classes, seminars, books, DVD’s, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, facebook, MSN; what is the best ways to proclaim the gospel? Could it be that more effort is spent learning than is spent doing? Then again, how can we do it if we do not know it?

Something interesting was said about how we examine our success. Success in evangelism does not come in numbers or conversions but success in evangelism comes when it is spoken out loud. Martin Luther said, “Evangelism is purely getting the words from our mouths to others ears”. Maybe this might release some from the fear of being ‘unsuccessful’.

Maybe there are more people sharing their faith than we realize. I know I want to share the gospel more than I do. Let’s be courageous and leave the results to God. Why should we fear man when God made heavens and the earth?

Pondering

I thought I might share these thoughts with you. This is from an A.W. Tozer daily devotional that I work through. Given the events that recently transpired in our world these words become timely.

Trials and Pain: Moses' Prayer

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. --Psalm 90:12

A few days after these words appear in print the old year of our Lord will have gone to join the long procession of years and centuries that move on into the shadows of a past that can come no more.

In the year just gone the world has been writing history, not with ink only but with blood and tears; not in the quiet of the study but in violence, terror and death in city streets and along the borders of nations; and other and milder but more significant history has been written by incredible feats of power in sending man-made objects out to circle the moon and the sun....

To each one fortunate enough to live out [this year], God will have given 365 days broken into 8,760 hours. Of these hours, 2,920 will have been spent in sleep, and about the same number at work. An equal number has been given us to spend in reverent preparation for the moment when days and years shall cease and time shall be no more. What prayer could be more spiritually appropriate than that of Moses, the man of God: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12). The Warfare of the Spirit, pp. 145-147

Happy New Year.

Thankful

The day after. Presents are all unwrapped. Recycling is in waiting. Meals have been prepared, eaten and enjoyed. A few more days of rest and relaxation. Breaking in new slippers. Re-reading the story of the Incarnation and the birth of the Son. Sitting in my office and contemplating what the meaning of this year’s Christmas means and implies. Wading through all the theological language and meta-physical explanations I take some time to simply reflect. In my mind’s eye I am coming to the stable. The smell of animals and shepherds are beginning to become too much, yet I slowly continue towards the source. It is night yet there seems to be a strange glow surrounding us. It’s almost like the darkness is trying to invade, or crush, this small stable. Yet it cannot. Walking out of its cold and damp clutches I am aware of the simple warmth and quiet joy the light provides. As I draw closer to the place where the child lies I feel compelled to fall on my knees. It’s not like I don’t want to, it’s more that I can’t help myself from doing it. Everything is strangely quiet. Closing my eyes I can’t help but think about how great God is and how thankful I am for what he has done for me. Immanuel. God with us.

The day after. When the hype is fading away and people begin to look ahead at a new year, I want to look ahead and say, “God willing, I wish to do this and that”. The hype may be fading away but the meaning and purpose do not. In a few short months I will again find myself kneeling but that will be at the foot of the cross. And then, just like now, I will be reflecting upon how great God is and how thankful I am for what he has done for me. The bread of life. The light of the world. The good shepherd. The door. The gate. The way, the truth and the life. The resurrection and the life.

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of the light.”… “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

What is your viewpoint?

Baby; manger; gifts; angels; faith; peace; joy; hope. Culmination. Beginning.

He has passed through the heavens…

“Let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14b) – amidst what? So called tolerance? Which if we’re honest is really a mask for belligerent intolerance. In this pluralistic and relativistic “West Coast” mindset there seems to be enough room for any and all religious and/or philosophical confessions. But mention your confession is of Christ and his life, death, resurrection; suddenly there is no room in the inn. Sound like a Bethlehem scenario? A miracle waiting to happen and people are too busy, too preoccupied and maybe too blind to the reality it brings. And before I sound too pretentious I probably would have responded the same way those townsfolk did, if it were not for the grace of God.

Christ empathizes and sympathizes with human weakness. Never excuses it or allows us to use it as a crutch. In fact, holds us accountable for it. But none the less totally understands our weaknesses and temptations. Don’t people seek out that kind of person for counseling? We want someone who understands and who will be empathetic and sympathetic. Maybe we want someone to excuse ourselves and our behavior because we are weak and frail. “Please give us more self-help steps towards earthly perfection!” Or at least some sort of balance. Of course we would never admit it. Maybe that’s why.

Baby, manger, gifts, faith, peace, joy, hope. All are safe. All are comforting. None hold us accountable. For me, one thing that stands out is the “beginning” aspect. The Son of God (the second person of the Eternal Trinity) coming to Earth to dawn human flesh. The Son coming to earth as the one who will become the one who stands before the throne of God and defends me. And it all had to start in a dirty manger surrounded by domesticated animals, dirty shepherds, fresh newlyweds and angels.

Narnia

We just finished watching Narnia with our eldest daughter. For us it's been our fourth time through the wardrobe and I have have to say - love it! Some of my favorite parts?

Aslan telling the white witch to stop reciting the old magic because Aslan was there when it was written.
Aslan roaring at the white witch's question about his intent on keeping his promise.
The scene that shows Aslan talking with Edmund after his rescue. What was Aslan saying to him?
The surrender and humiliation of Aslan before his death. So powerful.
The epic battle.

There's many more. One thing you might want to consider this Christmas season is to sit down with your family and watch Narnia. Soak it in. Let it permeate into your festive mood. Then contemplate about it's metaphor for your new life.

Merry Christmas

here's your option...

I said that I would leave you an alternate avenue to interact with these upcoming toics. so, if you are afraid to leave your comment on this blog here's an alternate email that you can use.

respondtoheaven@yahoo.ca

Are you looking at going to "The Golden Compass"? check out Al Mohler's response to this new big screen blockbuster.
Should Christians see this movie given the fact that the author of the trilogy, of which this movie is the first, is an atheist and claims that his books are designed to kill God?

Question: Why are atheists, who claim there is no God, work so hard at trying to convince us that there is no God? If they are correct - why spend so much time and energy on trying to convince others?

Why Be Moral?

Some of my research into the validity of the Bible and it's claims has lead me to some very interesting viewpoints. This one I share with you because it stirred me up. I know it will do the same for you. Here is the link and a short quote. Check it out for yourself and ask yourself how you might respond after reading it. Have fun.

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/moreland.html

"It should now be clear that the Christian theism that Moreland defends provides no better reasons to be moral than secular humanism, and on many of the very same points as well as others Moreland does not examine, humanism may actually provide more compelling arguments."

See, I told you.

Let's get started

So, you may notice that there's a small survey at your left. That's right I wold really like to hear what you have to say regarding the topics, Heaven & Hell. I will be asking several questions over the next 6-8 weeks to help formulate some of the content for my classes. Yes, you now have the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and fundamental task of speaking about our final destinations. I will be posting an email site that you can access if you want to get more involved. I'm looking forward to the process and the journey that this will be. Hey, why don't you get into it? More later.

Help Me Out...

OK, I'm doing a series of classes on the topics of Heaven and Hell. Tell me one or two things that you might want to know about both locations. (assuming that you subscribe to them - if not tell me why) I am reading other resources but I also want to hear from you. Does anyone out there know how I can create and post a small survey? More on this later.

Responding to Authority

Yesterday as I was traveling with my family to our friend’s house for some good eats, great dessert and even better time of hanging out and talking about our lives, we came across a police road block.

As good citizens we stopped and after some cordial chit-chat I was asked to produce my driver’s license. It turns out the police were checking to make sure that people were driving legally.

OK, that’s nice but what does that have to do with your blog?

Well, it made me think about us Christians. How many times have we had someone come up to us and ask us about our lives? Or even more threatening, when was the last time someone came up to you to talk about visible sin in your life? Ok. Forget about the flesh and blood - What about when God has pointed out something in your life? How do you respond?

Do we respond like many other people responded to the police asking for their driver’s licenses? Do we feel like it is a waste of time? Are we in too much of a hurry to think about how were getting where we’re going? Do we even despise the intrusion? How do you respond to authority? How do you respond to God’s authority over your life?

Maybe next time we’re stopped and asked to give a reason for the direction we’re going, maybe we should think twice about our reaction. There just might be a bigger and deeper meaning behind the situation.

Storms

Storms

Some may think of me as crazy. Some think of me as a true West Coaster. Call me almost anything you want because I like it when it rains. There have been times when I have been able to sit and watch the unfolding of a storm like it was a great concert. Starting small then building to the crescendo. I can still remember the deafening sound of thunder rolling through the sky. There also have been times when I have walked through the pouring rain. No thunder, no lightening, no awe – just getting soaked.

I don’t know what it is about the rain that makes me feel this way. Most people hate it. Some tolerate it. But I like it. Is it because it reminds me of the difference between me and God? My power versus His? Or does it carry with it some deeper meaning?

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away

 They can come without warning and bring terrible anguish.
Destroying everything in it’s path. Unrelenting and unforgiving. Wielding a raw
unbridled power – they bring terror to even the most seasoned of men…

" On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”" (Mark 4:35-41, NKJV)

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear...And grace my fears relieved...

How precious did that grace appear...The hour I first believed

The idea of a sovereign God isn’t talked about very much these days. It seems that the idea of an all-powerful (omni-potent) Being arises only when we want something or when we want to blame someone. But what about the storms in our lives? Could they be ‘acts of God’ just like those we see around the world? Or are they a product of our poor choices and consumptions? Inner struggles come and go. Sometimes like a storm. Unpredictable. Unrelenting. Unforgiving.

And don’t we cry out like those men in the boat? Don’t you care that I am perishing? Don’t you care that my boat is beginning to fill with water?

I wonder what would happen in our lives if we were to examine more closely the words of Jesus…, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no ( little ) faith?”

One thing I know, when I’m walking in the rain my mind travels to these and many other words that call me to place my faith in someone who’s bigger and more powerful than any storm I encounter. In some sense Jesus can be just as unpredictable and unrelenting but the similarity stops there. Jesus is most-forgiving, most-gracious and the Holy Spirit empowers me to move on. Sometimes its in an ‘exceedingly fearful’ way because I have just witnessed His unbridled power. Peace, be still. Sometimes its in a way that I cannot help but cry. Allowing the rain to mix with the tears. And as the rain washes them away I am filled with a sense of awe towards God. As His word permeates my mind, bubbling up from my heart and my soul, I move forward.

" In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”" (Isaiah 12:1-6, NIV)

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now I'm found

Was blind but now I see so clearly

new and improved?

Hey everyone,

I'm sorry that it's been so long since I have posted anything. A lot of it had to do with our privacy filter and my inability to post through it. So I gave up until recently. But now it seems to have been fixed and I am freed to write once again. I'm working through Romans right now and I am particularly transfixed on the aspect of being released from the captivity of one master (sin) only be be placed within the captivity of another (righteousness). Read Romans 6:15-23 to find out what I'm working through. Also, our care group will be begining a "drive by" in the book of Isaiah. I know this will prove to be inspiring as well as convicting. So look for that coming down the lane near you. So, welcome back. It's been a long time. Let's grab some coffee and sit and converse about Faith, Life and Biblical Literacy. Until later...

Hell on the Rise?

There seems to be an increase in activity of discussion and thought regarding the issue of Hell. In a periodical that my denomination publishes it seems that the idea of a place called Hell is alive but not very well.

At the end of one article I am asked a question by it's author. "Is it possible, through study and synthesis of the best of these views [literal, real place of punishment;a non-literal place where one experiences the absence of God; an idea of soul-annihilism] to arrive at a perspective on judgement that is scriptural, logical and praiseworthy?

I felt like saying...I'm sorry but haven't you read the Gospels? Haven't you read Ephesians, Galatians or Romans? What about Jude?

In my opinion this author has it backwards. Don't we have a mandate as Christ-followers to first search the scriptures and see what they have to offer before we turn to any "synthesis" of the best of any ideas?

As for logical, wouldn't it seem logical that if there is a place called Heaven that there would (without sounding like a dualist) be a place called Hell? We have been given the Good News about Jesus Christ, so logically, would there not be a Bad News?

And what about praiseworthy"? While I am not advocating the celebration of anyone going to Hell, can we not praise God that His holiness and righteousness is upheld by judgment? I could think of no other topic more praiseworthy than the the one which deals with my sinful condition, a most Holy God and the exercise of His Holy mercy over me rather than His Holy judgment.

Maybe I missed the point but I liked the way a pastor ended his article on this topic.

"for many years now it's been fashionable to minimize hell and scorn those who pursue salvation as a type of 'fire insurance'. One would hope that those who find Jesus as 'fire insurance' would also discover the blessings and joys of this heavenly relationship. But if the danger of hell is real, then fire insurance is prudent, and hardly to be scorned."

Again, maybe I missed the point - you tell me.

Sola Gratis