Free salvation through Jesus. It’s a free gift, right? And all I have to do is believe. So then, how can it cost nothing but ask for everything?
Free salvation – How can it cost nothing but ask for everything? More
It’s my wedding anniversary. What else would I be doing? I’m sitting here writing. Waiting until a half hour before my prostate cancer radiation treatment, so I can drink this big bottle of water. Then I can go down, meet with my new BFFs, the radiation techs, and get radiated.
Getting radiation treatment on my wedding anniversary More
The Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree – repent or perish. When you read it, the concept of the tree without fruit and the warning of repent or perish makes sense.
Well, it should make sense to Christians.
However, I believe there’s more to it than we might think.
The Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree – repent or perish More
Who is the wise one in Jesus’ parable about building? In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus compared, obviously, a wise builder and a foolish one. Of course, we want to emulate the wise builder. So let’s take a look at him. What is it that made him “wise”? Was it conventional wisdom of the time? Or was it something else?
Who is the wise one in Jesus’ parable about building? More
Whoever loves God must also love his brother and sister. That’s not from me. It’s from the Bible. Certainly, non-Christians might feel no obligation to obey it. But if we’re Christian, it’s not a suggestion. It’s not just a “nice” thing to think about. It’s a command! And there aren’t any exceptions to go with it. In case you’re wondering, or even if you’re not, that includes our “brothers and sisters” from another country. Again, Jesus gives no exceptions.
Whoever loves God must also love his brother and sister More
If you’ve got that feeling to do good things, even with the potential cost to you, with no ulterior motives, with nothing but unselfish love for someone like your elderly neighbors that you’re shopping for, why not acknowledge that’s God? Jesus told us He’d try to get our attention.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Why not open that door and start bringing an end to the suffering for doing good?
Beer, biscuits and butter – is that settling for less? Some people will ask, “less than what?” Others will just say, “I’m fine with that.” How about you? Is that enough to make you happy? Keep you happy? Or do you want more? A whole lot more?
It seems weird – a site about religion talking about beer, biscuits, butter and bourbon. Relax, I’m not going to get into the evils of drinking and eating unhealthy food.
No, we need to consider something Jesus said. Something we probably just assume means we can eat whatever we want. But Jesus points out a whole new category of things that we should have been watching out for all along. But probably didn’t. Check it out.
Beer, biscuits and butter – is that settling for less? More
Are we supposed to believe God – believe in God – or follow God? Are those three sets of words all different? Or do they all mean the same thing? Well, it depends. When were you born? What culture do you live in / come from? Most important, are you willing to learn what they meant when they were said? In some cases, that’s almost two thousand years ago. In others, several thousand years ago. We need to look at what they meant when they were said, in order to understand what they mean today.
Are we supposed to Believe God, Believe in God or Follow God? More
Have you ever heard of a Grown-again Christian? Me neither. But the Apostle Paul did. “But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast.” The Message
Any attempt to say that we must have faith and do stuff above and beyond that to earn our salvation – it takes away from Jesus’ death, as I mentioned – but it also takes away our only means to judge for ourselves whether or not our faith is real. By saying that faith alone isn’t enough – people are taking away our ability to stand firm in our belief – before we die / before it’s too late – whether or not our faith is real and therefore whether or not we are saved.
The problem of Good Deeds and Faith More
