Thoughts From Ephesians 2 - Part 2

  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph. 2:4-10

      I would be remiss not to talk about the elephant in the room in chapter 1 and here early in chapter 2 and that is Calvinism. Chosen appears twice, predestined appears twice along with words such as dead being used to describe our pre-salvation condition along with here in verse 8, Calvinists say that faith is a gift is the interpretation. I had spent many years in a reformed church which held to the belief that regeneration precedes repentance because how can a dead person respond to the gospel without being brought back to life first. And if we say salvation requires our faith, isn't that a meritorious action on our part or a work and the Bible says we aren't saved by works? Sola Gratia implies only grace saves us and rules out us playing a part in our salvation, they would say.

      As to predestination, I believe in corporate predestination not individual meaning God chose a people in Israel and has chosen a bride for Christ, the Church. We all are invited to join, "whosoever will may come", but only a few will. God in his foreknowledge knows who will and opens their eyes to accept the good news although I believe everyone when they stand before the Lord will look back on a time where He opened their eyes and they chose to reject Him. I think of "dead" as being asleep which the Bible uses "asleep" to describe death over 70 times. The alarm clock of the gospel goes off and people have a choice; they can arise or they can turn it off and continue sleeping or hit the snooze button.

       My views come from the fact that to believe the doctrines of Calvinism takes away free will and dooms people to hell without ever standing a chance. God was so into free will that He put a tree in the garden so that we would choose to obey Him knowing it would cost Him His Son. Here in verse 8 Calvinists would say "this" refers to faith being a gift from God whereas I would interpret the "this" to be referring to "saved" - salvation is a gift from God, not faith. Romans 3:20-27, 4:5,16, Gal. 2:16, 3:2,5,6 all talk about faith not being a work. Our faith doesn't undermine grace, it establishes grace. Believing in Jesus is not a work, it is our response to the gospel, yet He gets all the glory because He accomplished salvation and has drawn us through the wooing of the Holy Spirit and opening our eyes to the truth without which we would "hit the snooze button". 

      When I work nights in Memphis, I have to change my ring tone on my phone to something loud and obnoxious because I would otherwise sleep through my notification sounds. In my life, the Holy Spirit brought the gospel to my sleeping soul with a blaring wake up ring that I couldn't sleep through. Did I make a choice to get up. Yes. Did He make me an offer I couldn't refuse? Yes. Both free will and predestination can be true in this scenario. And Ephesians 1 also makes the process of salvation clear in verse 13 - we hear the gospel, believe the gospel, then receive the Holy Spirit. That's repentance before regeneration and that's what I believe the Bible teaches.

Thoughts From Ephesians 2 - Part 1

  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath  Eph. 2:1-3

So, here I am with my wife and 11 grandchildren. Six of them have prayed to receive Christ, just like I did at their age. 5 of them are under the age of 4 and don't understand it yet but are certainly being taught about Jesus in their families. (see video below)

According to Paul, in the beginning of Chapter 2, the current state of these 5 is

1. Dead in their trespasses and sins                                     

2. Following the ways of the world                                    

3. Following the devil who is at work in them                   

4. Disobedient                                                                    

                                  5. Gratifying the cravings of the flesh                                                                 

                                      6. Following the flesh's desires and thoughts

                                      7. Objects of wrath

          Frankly, it's hard to believe that these sweet little kids have been born not into the family of God, but rather into the dark kingdom, the kingdom of the prince of the air and are currently doing his bidding. My son, Toby, did jokingly say about his youngest who I'm holding screaming in the picture because he did not want to do pictures, "He's the only one that needs Jesus." What he was saying is a reflection of how we feel. We think we are all basically good people who just need to get better. The fact is just the opposite; we are born sinners and dead to God and alive to sin and unless we are born again of the Spirit, doomed to a life and eternity with our ruler, Satan. That's a pretty dark view of reality isn't it? That, however, is the reality the Bible teaches.

         I've been talking about my grandchildren but let me personalize it here. I was born, too, in those 7 conditions and had it not been for the grace of God allowing the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to my condition and revealing to me the truth of the Gospel, I would still be following Satan. It's not like I would be going to Satanic rituals, but I would be pursuing a life that would be gratifying my flesh and not following or knowing God, which is all the Devil really cares about. He doesn't care if I worship him on Earth, he just doesn't want me worshipping God.

        The Gospel is the Good News. You can't appreciate good news until you know what the bad news is, and there are few better passages in the Bible explaining the bad news than Eph. 2:1-3. I've said to my kids before, "if you didn't receive Jesus into your life, it would have been better that we never brought you into this world." That sounds harsh but that is reality. 

Thoughts From Ephesians 1 - Part 3

  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.  Eph. 1:15-23

                Last passage ended with the process of salvation - hearing, believing, receiving forgiveness and the Holy Spirit indwelling. You then become the Church - God's family here on Earth. Paul has heard that a number of people in Ephesus had become the Church by faith believing. How did he know it's genuine? Not by their knowledge of the scriptures - he was praying that would increase. Not by their power - he was praying they would understand the power they had. It wasn't that they got together and sang songs of Beulah land and the sweet by and by - he was praying that they would grasp that hope.

                  Paul knew that their faith was genuine by the love they had for all God's people. Love is the indication that we are transformed. Why love? Because love is considering others above yourself - putting their well-being above your own and the only way that is possible because the flesh serves self, is to be transformed by the Spirit.

                 When I was meditating on or rehearsing a future conversation to be had with a Muslim convincing her that Christianity is a superior religion and she needs to choose her religion not just follow it because her parents do, I was going over the reasons it is superior. For one it teaches that God is approachable and merciful not angry and capricious. Secondly it teaches that you can know that you are going to Heaven. Third it offers forgiveness of sins without works. Fourth it offers equality for all people - women and men are equal. And fifth it teaches love not hate - dying for your faith not killing for it. This last, most important one in our world today with all the hate in the world even caused by religion made me pause. Are Christians seen as loving today?

              Christians are seen in general as red. We are conservative, vote Republican, aligned with Trump, watch Fox, etc. You could say that the left is painting us unloving but I think we haven't needed any painting - we are unloving. I think it became magnified with CoVid and has continued on. We were faced with a disease that was killing tens of thousands and didn't know how to combat it so a number of strategies were proposed by infectious disease experts saying let's trust the science. Let's social distance and avoid large crowds. Christians rebelled and said the Government was trying to take away our right to go to Church and we still met and had concerts even. The scientists said wear masks and Christians rebelled saying you can't tell me what to do with my body (sounds familiar). Scientists developed a vaccine thinking it would stop the disease - long story short because CoVid mutated so rapidly it didn't but it did drastically decrease the severity of the disease when you got it- we named it the jab and didn't take it. I'm not saying science was right by any means but they were trying to combat something the likes of which I had never seen in my lifetime and to be frank, Christians came out of this as looking unloving. We were standing up for our rights not placing other's rights above ourselves and that's how the world saw us.

              Now we have ICE and Renee Good in Minnesota and Christians are once again looking unloving. We are reviewing the videos saying she is trying to run over the ICE agent rather than seeing her wheels are turned away from him. Whether you agree with me on that or not, it's not something that required lethal force - jump out of the way of a car moving less than 5 MPH! Even me as a 70-year-old could do that and then pull her over and arrest her. Come on - any other take on this is unloving. And then videos of ICE agents going into neighborhoods with screaming, crying families, pinning them to the ground and handcuffing them behind their backs? Do we look like the loving religion? I'm not saying we shouldn't deport illegals but with all the verses on love and care and sympathy for the aliens among us, it should be with tears in our eyes and compassionate treatment rather than high fived bravado.

         What I'm saying is that in my future conversation with this Muslim, I have to skip point 5 because I can't claim that Christianity is superior because of its love because she could build too strong of a case against that statement in today's culture. I'm not changing my political beliefs but come on Christians - let's be more loving! It is supposed to be in our new DNA.

Thoughts From Ephesians 1 - Part 2

  he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.  Eph. 1:9-14

          Why did we have children? I don't know if we ever asked that question, we rather asked, "Do you want kids?" and "How many?" My guess is that it is part of the family package deal ; marriage + kids = family. We enjoyed being in a family and so having kids would perpetuate enjoyment. Maybe we just have love inside of us to give. Maybe we are interested to see what our genetic code will produce - will they look like me or her or a combination. Maybe it's peer pressure. All I know is that my wife was made to be a mother and the kids were so fulfilling that we had four. We even contemplated having five because we couldn't imagine life without our four, we felt like we were depriving ourselves and our world of a fifth child. But alas, we decided not to. Even God stopped creating and rested and said, "it is good."

         What I didn't realize when thinking about a family, and what I could never have understood about Paul's writings, like in verse 12 without them, is how much they glorify my wife and me. Just them carrying our last name through 12 years of school, 4 years of college, then some in graduate school, then marriage, starting a family of their own, then career, and doing it so well makes me beam with pride. They have all represented our name so well everywhere they go, so much so that people ask us to teach classes on parenting. We have been glorified by them!

       I realize that we are blessed and the exception, because most parents have at least one child that doesn't glorify their name. They are a detriment to society and a shame to their parents. As we think about God and His creation of us and His choosing us to be adopted into His family as a brother or sister of Christ, we have to ask ourselves, "Why did God decide to start a family?" I think there are multiple reasons. First of all, He is a creator so naturally He wants to create and show this ability to the Heaveny Beings. Second, He is Love and how would any of the Heavenly beings understand the depth of His love without mankind and His whole plan of redemption with subsequent adoption?

       But lastly, like with me and my family, the glory and pride received from seeing your children represent is worth all the diaper changes, packed lunches, laundry loads, science fair projects, T-ball games, AYSO soccer coaching, sitting in drop off and pick up lines, shoe finding and occasional spankings that never seemed like they would end. Now looking back on it, if I didn't have them, life would be so empty. And the fact that they all are following Jesus and teaching their families to do the same, glorifies my wife and I non-stop.

       The question is, are you a child that is glorifying the name of Jesus by your life, or are you the one that is bringing shame to the Father? Is He saying in the Heavenlies, "Have you considered my servant Job (Jim)?", or is He hoping no one is watching you? Is He bragging on you or is He ashamed of you? It's not too late to start afresh.

Thoughts From Ephesians 1 - Part 1

  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God’s holy people in Ephesus the faithful in Christ Jesus:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, Eph. 1:1-8

         If this passage was all the scripture we owned, what would we know? First of all, there is a God who knows everything - past, present, and future. That means He knew me before the beginning of time.

         Second, He does what He wants for His own pleasure, will, and glory. He isn't subject to anyone - He calls all the shots.

         Third, His character is one of justice and righteousness tempered by grace and love. Love causes Him, who needs no one to create the inferior human beings to shower love on. However, his justice and righteousness cause Him to cast them from His presence due to sin. But His grace, spurred once again by His love, causes Him to send His Son to take the penalty for our sins so He sees us as righteous. His love then adopts us into His family as sons and daughters if by faith we receive this gift of forgiveness.

         Fourth, He does this with all wisdom and understanding. He knew that by making us, He would have to redeem us through the death of His Son (there was no other way), yet He still did it because to get us as His Children was worth it to Him for some unfathomable reason.

         The amazing thing is even though so many people have been told all of this, they still choose to reject Him or say that He hasn't done enough. Not me! I can't believe He did all this for me and I will serve Him the rest of my days and for all eternity.

Thoughts From Galatians 6 - Part 4

 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

             Paul concludes this letter with a note on boasting, pride, image. We all want to be something in our own eyes and in others' eyes. For me, I want people to think I'm a good doctor, Dad, Grandpa, Husband, and most of all Christian. I've given up on athlete, appearance, fisherman - certain things are beyond our reach, but I'm hanging onto the others in my reach. Paul starts out his conclusion with a humbling admission- "I, the great apostle Paul have to have others write my letters because I'm practically blind. When I write my letters are huge otherwise, I can't see them." Obviously, I'm putting words in his mouth he didn't say, but when you combine his eye disease that brought him to the church and they nursed him, along with the "thorn in the flesh" passage in 2 Corinthians, this appears to be what's going on. I'm sure he was sensitive about the subject. When people point out my hands shaking, a trait I got from my dad and my kids have it to a lesser degree, I'm very self-conscious and my grandkids point it out constantly. Yet even though his eyes were debilitating, embarrassing, and humbling, he is not ashamed to bring it up because he wants to be nothing so that Christ can be everything.

             Paul doesn't want to be worshipped as a super-apostle and when he is he tells them that he is the chief of sinners. He doesn't want to be lifted up for his brilliance or education under the best rabbis in the best divinical schools, so he comes to people with simple teaching for the uneducated. He wants people to stop looking at him and look at Jesus on the cross who strips away all our accomplishments and makes us a child of His, one of many. It reminds me of Medical School. I came from college top of my class, one of the smartest in the school, into medical school which was filled with all the smartest people from other schools. Suddenly I was average. Suddenly I was no one, yet my value lied in the fact that the school chose me and thought I was someone and was committed to making me into a good doctor which would glorify them.

             Paul is concluding by saying that if you are trying to be admired and have a high opinion of yourself, you are going to be sucked into following the flesh rather than the Spirit. When you finally admit you are no one special but God thought you were and has chosen to turn you into someone who will bring Him glory, not yourself glory, then you are on the right track. This is difficult in a time of branding yourself, getting likes, noticed and a following and where image is everything but when we can just say without the cross, I'm nothing and He must increase and I must decrease - then we will get "likes" in Heaven and that's what I'm after!

Thoughts From Galatians 6 - Part 3

 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  Gal. 6:7-10

           Yesterday it came out that Phillip Yancey, a well-known Christian author and philosopher has confessed to an ongoing 8-year adulterous affair. I read his "The problem of Pain" many years ago and thought it had some helpful thoughts but struggled to get through any of his books after that. In my book, he was a one-hit wonder, but many considered him to be wonderful. He fulfilled this verse. He sowed to please the flesh and has reaped destruction. I'm not saying that he is going to hell, but on this earth, everything has been destroyed. I actually much preferred Ravi Zacharias' books, and no one buys his books anymore, how much less Yancey's. I saw where Ravi's family is trying to restore some of his good legacy by forming an online library of his works, but like in the case of Amy Grant, Christians generally shoot their wounded. Yancey's 55 years of marriage has been betrayed, and although the wife said she is forgiving him, she does say how it's going to require supernatural grace. Imagine being his kid. Will everyone come home for Christmas next year? What will that be like? Forget getting any kind of inheritance. He will be using up any savings and living on Social Security. And what about generational sins. I believe in those. I think he has let down the umbrella of protection against sexual sins and they will land on members of his family down through the grandchildren.

          Then there is Michael Tait of DCTalk and Newsboys who this past year it has come out that he practices homosexuality and has drugged people to do sexual acts. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up in prison. I remember taking my kids to at least 5 DCTalk concerts. They were as big in the 90's as Forrest Frank is today. Now, I can't even listen to their music. I think about the effect on TobyMac because he gets a part of every stream of their songs. (Not that he needs money or that people are still streaming old school CCM to any significance) I think of the Newsboys. Their music isn't played by stations anymore and they aren't doing Christian festivals anymore. Last year they were the headliners at Lifefest in Oshkosh and were replaced by Josiah Queen. If I were Tait, I would take whatever savings I have, shave my head, and find a non-extradition Island to live on - his life as we know it has been destroyed.

           It's easy to point at other people but Paul's point here is to make sure that doesn't happen to us. What can we do to "flesh-proof" our life. How do we follow the Spirit instead of the flesh. One thing is to learn from other's mistakes. My surgical mentor said, "good judgement comes from making bad mistakes but those mistakes don't have to be your own." Second is don't sow in that field. Run away. Delete Apps. Avoid that street. I had a friend that would stop at a store that had pornographic magazines on his way home from work until he decided to never go down that street again. Third, remember time is short. Judgement is coming. You are almost home. Don't quit the marathon at mile 25, make it to the end. Lastly, don't be selfish, think of your family. Don't quit on them - do it for them. God has given you His Spirit and the strength to win the battle against the flesh. You can win, so let's start winning.

Thoughts From Galatians 6 - Part 2

  Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Gal. 6:6

          I'm sure this verse has multiple meanings and layers, but to me it only means one thing; encourage the ones who teach you the Bible. Let me give you an assignment today; do one or all of the following.

         1) Text or call your pastor, Sunday School teacher or maybe even leave a message to your favorite online minister and tell them how much you appreciate their ministry and how much you have learned from them.

         2) Write a letter or email one of your spiritual mentors through the years, someone without whom you would not have achieved the level of spiritual growth that you are at now. Having taught Sunday School, youth groups and wondering if anything you taught sunk in, getting a note from someone even years later is a treasure.

        3) Send a gift card to one of your Bible teachers thanking them for their input on your life. They will be thrilled no matter how small the gift.

        That's it; short verse short blog but if you do it, that may give someone all the encouragement they need not to give up.

Thoughts From Galatians 6 - Part 1

 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. Gal. 6:1-5

        Believers will have to give an account for their actions someday at the Bema seat judgement. Bible Questions website says this about it;

Believers are judged at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10–12). We believe that this judgment will probably occur in heaven during the seven-year tribulation on earth. Every believer will give an account of himself before the Lord. This judgment does not determine salvation, which is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9); rather, it determines the rewards believers will receive.

First Corinthians 3:11 pictures Christ as our “foundation,” and the surrounding verses liken the Christian life to building on that foundation. We can build with “gold, silver, costly stones,” or we can build with “wood, hay or straw” (verse 12). What we construct will be tested, as it were, by fire. Our worthless, shallow activity will not survive God’s refining fire; only what is done for God’s glory will last. The judgment seat of Christ will reveal this.

Believers will be rewarded based on their good works in Christ’s service and their faithfulness to the Lord (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:24–27). We will give an account of our actions, inactions, words, thoughts, and motives. Were they truly indicative of our position in Christ? “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12).

        I picture this as one by one being called up before the judge in front of everyone and having God tell all our failures before the throngs yet also tell all our times of faithfulness and somehow, because it's Heaven, I feel like the good will be emphasized more. I watched Survivor Season 49 last night and at the final judgement by those voted off, they got on Sage's case for one-by-one voting them off when they had the majority had she not turned on them. After the winner was announced, and it wasn't her, she had a meltdown because she felt like everyone was mad at her and she had betrayed everyone. The contestants were genuinely sad for her and hugged her and told her all was forgiven, and Jeff Probst, an ordained false believer, gave her some words of encouragement and humanistic platitudes. I suppose that will be a little bit of how it goes for us. The Bible says that He will wipe away all tears from our eyes so I suppose there will be some weeping when our sins, failures, in general how much we forgot that Heaven was our home, not Earth, but then He will comfort us maybe along with fellow saints and we will be restored? I don't know, I'm only guessing.

         Paul says that in light of this we should first of all watch our behavior closely. I want to hear him say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant" rather than, "You sure did waste your time on Earth.", don't you? My secret sins that I think no one knows about - News Flash - everyone will. Does that frighten you? It should. Is that enough of a warning to curb your behavior starting today? It should be.

        Secondly Paul says that before you start examining everyone else's behavior, make sure your own is in check. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't examine others' behavior because we need to first of all make sure that they aren't abandoning the faith or so close to the edge they could fall off, but secondly make sure that they will receive words of praise at the judgement Seat of Christ. We are to come along side of them and bear their burdens. I can only think that's what Promise Keepers tried to do with men years ago when they formed accountability groups to call each other frequently and check on each other to make sure no sin is taking them down and help them through it.

        I tend to forget that my sins will someday be displayed for the world to see and it scares me. Maybe if starting today I live for Him 100%, He will remember my sins no more. It's worth a try.

Thoughts From Galatians 5 - Part 4

 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Gal. 5:19-23

            I once confronted a kid in the youth group about his sexual immorality. This was a boy who, as the youth group leader, I had taken a special interest in because he had an absent dad, so he'd come over and play basketball quite often and I even took him on a couple of medical mission trips to Mexico and Dominican Republic. He had prayed to receive Christ but now was drawn to premarital sex with his girlfriend. I remember telling him that based on this passage and others that if he really was a Christian he wouldn't behave like this, and I was doubting his salvation. Well, this somehow got back to his mother who wrote me a lengthy letter blasting me for telling him he was going to hell." How dare you question his salvation. Don't you remember when he went forward and prayed to receive Christ? Don't you remember his baptism? The Bible teaches once saved always saved..." and so on. The boy left the youth group, and I've seen him sparingly although when we reconnect, we still have a good relationship. He has since married, is a very successful businessman, isn't in church has a daughter who I delivered that recently got engaged to a woman. His mom goes to my church and has never mentioned the letter, and we get along OK.

           Maybe I could have done things differently. I don't know. There are just so many passages that say that people who live a lifestyle like this aren't members of the Kingdom of God. Sure, we all occasionally will lust, be jealous, road rage, be envious, etc., but if someone were to describe your life would it be one following the flesh or the Spirit. Hopefully the course of our life and the projection of our life is toward the Spirit rather than debauchery. Hopefully when the Spirit convicts us of behavior that is fleshly, we will grieve, stop it, and make efforts and place guardrails to prevent a relapse, not just excuse it, permit it, and claim "once saved always saved." If God is inside of us we can't help but to start to look like Him. Just like an apple tree will begin to get apple blossoms and then grow apples, a Jesus tree will not grow evil but rather righteousness.

         What kind of fruit are you bearing? If you are convicted about your behavior being fleshly, repent. Maybe you never truly let Christ in to take control. He has nothing but good planned for you so don't be scared - just surrender.

Thoughts From Galatians 5 - Part 3

 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Gal 5:13-18, 24-25

        The flesh wants to consider ourselves and our wants more important than other peoples' and the Spirit wants us to consider others' wants and needs and well-being more important than our own. No wonder they are in conflict, they are complete opposites. I wish I had the answer to making the Spirit come out on top but if I did, I would have mastered sinless perfection and I certainly haven't.

        I guess the first hurdle would be wanting the Spirit to win. Don't you somedays just want to be self-centered and do what you want to do instead of what others want. I remember early in marriage our biggest fights would be on Saturdays. After working long hard hours daily as a resident and my wife as a physical therapist, we would finally have a day off and each of us would have our own ideas of what that day should look like, and we would have a battle of the wills. Marriage was exposing that sin nature I didn't realize I had. I didn't drink, cuss, look at pornography, have premarital sex so I thought I was pretty much sinless. Little did I know that I was rotten to the core. So, 44 years later do I still fight with my wife on Saturdays? Nope. Why not? I guess because after being together so long, our interests have aligned? We want to see the other one be happy? The fights are worse than giving in? We realize we will have plenty of other time to do what we want to do? I suppose all of these are factors.

         What does this have to do with the flesh vs. the Spirit? Paul says to walk in step with the Spirit and just like walking in step with my wife, our interests after years of being saved should start aligning. We will learn that the joy of making Jesus happy is more rewarding than making ourselves happy. We will learn that the discipline of the Lord or even the distance when we are following the flesh is more pain than it is worth. Also, we learn that we have all of eternity at our disposal and although I don't see it as a time of fulfilling delayed gratification on Earth, I do know that it is going to be spectacular and more enjoyable than self-gratification here on Earth. But you see, it's all about relationship. Grow in your knowledge and love of Jesus and you will more and more want to please Him rather than chase after the flesh.

     

Thoughts From Galatians 5 - Part 2

  “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

           

               The Chosen Season 6 is coming, it will probably be released in theaters during the Passion week and will deal with Jesus being crucified. We've all known it is coming because we know the story, but that doesn't make it any easier. His miracles, his teachings, his winsome personality, his patience and mercy, his authority have all been fun to watch and you find yourself asking, "Why are they going to kill him off? Why does he have to die? Why does the story have to end so soon?" The cross is offensive. I've seen Mel Gibson's movie - once. I don't really want to see it again. I will watch Season 6 once but never again. Did you know that over 40% of John deals with the passion week?

             I guess I don't like the brutality of it that people could be so cruel to someone who never hurt anyone but just teaches love. I don't like the scorn of it that taking away his dignity and mocking him when he came to give people dignity and worth. I don't like the pain in what when all my life I do all I can to avoid pain. I don't like the fact that he dies when I try to not think about death and live like I'm immortal. The cross is offensive, but is this the offense that Paul is talking about?

             The offense of the cross is that we are so bad and helpless that in order to restore our relationship with God, the cross was necessary. We caused the cross. People don't like to hear that because we all think that we really aren't that bad, yet the cross tells us we are. This is why people stumble over Jesus and the cross; they think they really are good people who just need to be a little better and certainly don't need someone doing it for them. As Paul said in Romans and Isaiah said 1000 years earlier,

 "but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall,
    and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame."

Are you offended by the cross or have you come to the realization that you are as bad as the cross tells you that you are? Humbling yourself is the only way in. Thank you Jesus for the cross that I despise so much.