Grace, Faith & Life

I have always liked to read and study topically, mostly nonfiction, about theology, apologetics, Christian life, church issues, church history, counseling, science and cultural issues.

When I read, I think and therefore, I am using this venue to record my thoughts.

In his book, The True Believer, Eric Hoffer quotes Montaigne, “All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.”. That would also apply to what I have written here.

I consider myself a person of simple and pragmatic faith as opposed to any traditional religious superstitions, cliche’s or systematic theology. I like to think that I am like the Bereans when I hear or read something I compare it to how it seems to work in my life and I search the scripture to see if I think it is true. Not just to question authority, but to always verify authority. I hope young people will learn to always look for or ask for the “basis” for what people say and why they say what they say.

I like to share and discuss my understanding of the difference between law and grace. In my opinion most churches are quite legalistic and preach, teach and motivate the “flesh“; rather than teach how to have a proper spiritual connection with Christ. Many churches focus on the believer “being a sinner saved by grace” and seem to focus on a current sin nature, rather than on the joy of “being a child of God” and letting that new nature work out their faith and belief. When I hear preaching, I always consider whether it is “good news”, the gospel, which speaks to my spirit or “bad news”, the law, which speaks to my flesh. As a believer, why would I want to hear the “bad news” sermons, isn’t that walking in the flesh? I know, it takes a certain amount of study and spiritual  musing to begin to understand the difference between our spirit and our flesh. This is why knowing the attitude of your “heart“ is so important.

As most will be able to discern, I have not been to a seminary or a bible school. I have a small library of hard-cover books on many biblical topics. My wife and I frequently discuss our faith from a New Covenant perspective. We try to be ready to explain our New Covenant hope to anyone who asks.

I pray for a church and believer paradigm shift away from the Gospel based on fear, guilt, shame and legalism, to one based on the New Covenant life lived with Jesus Christ where believers live their life with a desire in their heart to love life as a “child” of God without condemnation and no legal expectation. That should be the “faith” which brought them to Christ in the first place, not one based on fear of going to Hell. Gal 5:6 22

I believe the Apostle Paul may have been the first Apostle to really understand the Gospel of the New Covenant. (Read that again.) That may be the most important theology for believers to understand when they read, study and hear sermons. The “so-called” church fathers developed the Roman Catholic Church doctrines and rules for the church over many centuries. One man, Martin Luther, after fifteen centuries, taught a new way to look at the gospel which started a whole new orthodoxy outside of the Catholic Church. Although scripture explaining the New Covenant has always been in the Bible. It has not been a primary emphasis of the seminaries. So, it is not without precedent for a new interpretation or way of understanding scripture to have a profound effect on interpretation of Scripture. The “Gospel” of the New Covenant is that it is personal and it is Spiritual life in us. 1John 2:27 Heb 9:15

Another way Luther critiqued church doctrine was based on legalism. In the first century, legalism was a big dialogue between the Judaizers who wanted to keep much of the Jewish law and Paul who was explaining the New Covenant in his writings about “freedom from the Law”, life and grace. (There are several passages about this in scripture.) Luther also wanted to keep the book of James out of the Bible because of his reference to works. Now we come to the second most important understanding of scripture for believers, preachers and teachers, That is, The New Testament and the New Covenant are not the same thing. The four Gospels in the New Testament are about Christ’s ministry to the Jews. Where He is explaining to the Jews that the Law did not change the heart, but He was also teaching, by way of forthtelling, His Apostles about the coming “spiritual life based on love” in the New Covenant. (See New Covenant Life)

I study Scripture to maintain a personal statement of faith and practice which is defined by God’s written Word, by my life in Christ and by the promise of the Holy Spirit. This site is that statement.

Acts 17:10-11 10 ¶ And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

1 John 4:1  [ On Denying the Incarnation ] Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 2 Peter 3:13-18 ESV But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. [14] Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. [15] And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, [16] as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. [17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Galatians 5:1 ESV For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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