ex post facto

That the sharing of your faith may become effective
by the acknowledgment of every good thing
which is in you
in Christ Jesus.   Philemon 1:6 NKJV

New creation is not refurbished...it is not a remodel.  The foolish notions of people like Calvin that Jesus Christ came to actualize some pre-programmed goodness in semi-divine humans is not what the Bible is talking about when it describes new creation.  New creation is done like old creation wherein Jesus (Jesus is God) takes raw material that is in abundance and invests His life and love and joy and strength into it.  The reason that it is new is because the raw material is able to say yes to the process and ask for it as a gift.  The old dirt out of which Adam was made was not asked or expected to cooperate.  The new Adam could have said no to the temporary promise of salvation in the animal skin and its shed blood (Genesis 3:21...the calvinist nonsense that "dead is dead and cannot choose for itself" is biblically annulled here since God is talking to the dead Adam and Eve...).  The new Adam could have said no to the cross when Jesus visited captivity to lead them home (Ephesians 4:8-10).

Paul is telling Philemon that every good thing in him is also in Christ Jesus.  Philemon is not a robot with no capability of understanding right and wrong.  Right and wrong is precisely the subject of this letter from the apostle.  Paul asks that Onesimus be returned to him as a gift, even though the slave has offended his master. Paul asks for grace on the basis of the work of Jesus in all of their lives.  New creation takes the raw material of sinful flesh and blood and makes it something new.  Jesus is able to do this because He has taken sin upon Himself and is now Master over it.  We, as willing servants, have an opening in time to have our sins forgiven and the prospect of lives that are truly new.

Jesus makes the loving offer to leave open the path of forgiveness that leads to the cross so long as humans can draw breath.  The ministry of reconciliation does not go on furlough or take vacations.  Jesus is a 24/7 savior.

Come to Jesus.
Come to the Cross.

Scrapping for Jesus.

After this I beheld, and, lo,

     a great multitude,

     which no man could number,

        of all nations,

        and kindreds,

        and people, 

        and tongues,

stood before the throne,

and before the Lamb,

     clothed with white robes,

        and palms in their hands;

        And cried with a loud voice,

          saying,

Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb.        Revelation 7:9-10 KJV

 Apparently Jesus is outrageously favorable to people throughout the world and so many of them will be saved that no one can count all of them.  No one who is human.  Isn’t it interesting that calvinists insist on being able to determine how many humans will be included in what they call the elect or saved.  Calvin followers are prepared to do what the Holy Spirit says is not possible: they, as humans, are prepared to count the number of available slots for those who were pre-packaged with salvation by applying their imaginative notions of Limited Atonement.  

Limited Atonement pretends to explain that God pre-selected certain lucky humans in advance and, since heaven only has room for a few of them, then the blood of Jesus only atoned for a tiny fraction of humanity.  There is no consideration in the foolish picture of Limited Atonement for the extraordinarily prolific supply of blood from Jesus’ atoning work on the cross that is available as the laundering fluid for an uncountable number of white robes (Revelation 7:14). 

The stupidity of the calvinist notion of Limited Atonement calls into question the validity of the miracles Jesus performed when He fed the multitudes (5000+ Matthew 14:17-21, 4000+ Matthew 15:34-38).  How is it that, in dealing with something as simple and transient as bread for man’s hunger, the calvinist easily accepts the ability of Jesus (Jesus IS God) to provide an abundant supply with leftovers?  How is it that, in dealing with something as pervasive and complex as humanity’s sin, the calvinist foolishly swallows the nonsensical idea that Jesus has only enough blood for them as the elect?  Did Jesus cease to be God and cannot supply more blood than is needed?

How is it that calvinists are so blinded by their foolish doctrines and the back-slapping congratulatory fun they have being correct in their own eyes that they cannot see the biblical truth about the mercy of Jesus?  Jesus thoroughly demonstrates that He is not devoted to the foolish lie of Limited Atonement when He is moved to love and save the daughter of the Canaanite woman.  She appeals to Him on the basis of dog scraps that are left behind (Matthew 15:22-28) and is declared to be a woman of great faith.  Amazing…a woman and an outcast can obtain salvation on the basis of scraps and crusts that she was not invited or pre-programmed to have.

The obvious truth that we see in these verses from the Revelation is that salvation and the blood of Jesus are inextricably bonded together.  We as human witnesses to the truth of salvation in Jesus must not become sidetracked from telling others that salvation begins at the cross.  The blood of Jesus was not available before the cross.  God invests Himself in time and expects humans to acknowledge the work He can do through them in time.  What He will do with us or may have done for us in the eternal realm outside of creation must not distract from the truth that the cross of Jesus is central to Christianity.  We are better off with dog-scrap theology than trying to tune our palates to heavenly bread that is not yet offered.

Come to Jesus.

Come to the Cross.

No standing on your head.

Jude,

the servant of Jesus Christ,

and brother of James,

     to them that are sanctified by God the Father,

     and preserved in Jesus Christ,

     and called:  

Mercy unto you,

and peace,

and love,

     be multiplied. Jude 1:1-2 KJV

“Sanctified” is a churchy word that we don’t encounter in common conversation.  It can mean “purify” or reserved for a special purpose.  The wine that Jesus made for the wedding at Cana was sanctified…a special reserve that He processed on the spot (John 2).  When Jude writes to “them that are sanctified by God the Father,” we should ask how God did the sanctifying and when it was done.

The calvinist solution for this question is to manufacture a theory of pre-selected humans that were a part of God’s eternal soul but had not been brought forth into the physical realm of creation (obviously a picture that does not correspond with John 2).  After creation, God injected these “enlightened” soul-beings into the physical realm through biological procreation.  The obvious problem with this unbiblical piece of imaginary stupidity is that it places every “sanctified” human on a par with Jesus.  In other words, it is Gnostic doctrine that was condemned by the church 1900 years ago and definitively in 325 AD.

The biblical solution to this question is that the Father sanctifies humans through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is God and is capable of cooperating with the Father to provide forgiveness and renewal to humans who are all sinners (Revelation 12:11).  Jesus is human and the sinless son of God who took sin upon Himself and disposed of it through His own obedient death (Philippians 2:8).  Anyone who accepts the gift of salvation from Jesus through believing in His death, burial and resurrection is eligible to be cleansed in His blood by the Father (Romans 10:9-10).

The preserving work of Jesus is spelled out for believers in John15:1-7.  The Vine sustains the branches.  Branches cannot establish their own doctrines and practices that are removed from Jesus and the cross.  Being continually established in relationship with Jesus and His work is part of the calling to which He demands obedience.  Being confused about biblical issues is a normal part of spiritual growth that the Holy Spirit will manage within the faithful heart.  We must continue to remind ourselves that perfect understanding does not guarantee a status of “right standing” before the Lord since He is diligent in examining our hearts (Jeremiah 17:10) and not our heads.

The result of being sanctified and preserved is a multiplication of mercy, peace and love.  The point where this heavenly math begins is the cross of Jesus.

Come to Jesus.

Come to the Cross.

Snake! Prattle and control...

I wrote unto the church but,
    Diotrephes,
who loves to have the pre-eminence among them,
receives us not. 
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does:

Prating against us with malicious words;
    and not content therewith,
Neither does he receive the brethren,
    And,
Forbids them that would (receive the brethren);
    AND,
Casts them out of the church.   3 John 9-10 KJV

Prating is an old fashioned word that we don't hear in ordinary conversation anymore.  Long ago, it was used to describe a hen's clucking when she was laying an egg.  In the verse above, it would best be pictured as someone behind a pulpit who sneers and smirks as he describes someone he hates that has disagreed with him; a preacher working up a rotten egg.

It is difficult to get a sense of John's indignation in this short letter if we don't understand who "the brethren" are.  From the context and from other scriptural references, the brethren were preachers, evangelists, and missionaries who were sent out from the churches.  In the beginning, the Jerusalem church would have been the sending unit ...Peter, Stephen, Philip.  Saul/Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Antioch fellowship.  Afterwards, Paul was also approved by the Jerusalem church and the many churches around the Mediterranean.

The stupidity of Diotrephes is monumental.  The brethren have been sent out by a church or churches and are personal friends of the Apostle John.  Apostle.  Someone whose name is written upon a huge slab of foundation stone upon which the entire church rests.  Someone perfectly and intimately connected to the Cornerstone, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20...Revelation 21:10-14).  Someone who had the authority to write the Bible.  Diotrephes and Calvin are spiritual brothers or cousins.  Blatantly disregarding the authority of the apostles and the churches, Calvin wrote lying doctrines in the name of Jesus; Diotrephes mocked and maligned apostolically approved messengers.  Calvin's teachings are designed to exclude anyone of whom he and his followers disapprove; Diotrephes policed the homes of faithful believers who would obey the command of Jesus (Luke 9:4-5).

Perhaps I am not making myself clear.  The New Testament was approved by the Holy Spirit = God.  Nothing Calvin wrote has that approval.  The New Testament establishes that the foundation of the church is upon the apostles chosen by Jesus.  There are 12 names in that category.  Not one of them is "Calvin" or Diotrephes or any other name of a man or woman who tries to bully individuals, families or churches by lying to themselves about their ability to speak for God.  Prating is not a spiritual gift.

Exclusivists and control freaks in the pulpits are fearful people who imagine themselves the champions of God's cause.  They forget the picture that Jesus has written up in the gospels that points to the character of Satan...one who tries to protect God from sin and sinners (Matthew 16:22-23).  All believers may honestly share the good news that the apostles of Jesus established upon the pre-destined work of Jesus; His death, burial and resurrection that is available to everyone who is a sinner. 

Come to Jesus.
Come to the Cross


 

Beware::bad breath.

For many deceivers are entered into the world,

      who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

      This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  2 John 1:7 KJV

In the minds of many persons who pretend to know a great deal about the Bible, there is a confusion as to what is more devastating to humans in their lives on this earth.  The threat of pain and death and hunger and thirst and being subjected to restraints of liberty are often sold to people as being the great horrors that must be fought against at all costs. (Interesting that people pay dearly to endure all of those threats if they go to a hospital for surgery…)  If world leaders arise that threaten our liberties and cause war and pestilence and devastation, it is preached as our christian duty to oppose such things…perhaps with a foolish picture of the American flag flying above the Pearly Gates.  Naturally, suffering and misery should be alleviated by anyone who has the fig juice knowledge of good and evil in his/her human constitution.  However, Jesus does not agree with the notion that doomsday preachers are selling in these last days. 

Tribulation is predicated upon deception.

Trials (tribulation) for the believer will always center upon the person of Jesus.  The cults are so defined because of their misrepresentation of God and lies about Jesus.  The teachings of Calvin, and other false doctrines within the churches, misrepresent the work of Jesus and the relationship that humans have with Him.

For example: calvinist doctrine teaches that those who were chosen existed before creation and were chosen in advance (not one of them can produce credentials from the eternal realm).  The Bible teaches that salvation is available only in time and only through a flesh and blood participation in the cross of Jesus (2 Peter 1:10-11 = “will be ministered” NOT = already inoculated before creation).  The trial for believers is whether to pattern one’s heart and psychology along the lines of calvinistic deception or reject their foolishness in the name of Jesus.  The teachings of calvinist practitioners, according to 2 John 1:7, is the bad breath of the antichrist.

In what way are the comforts or discomforts of this world important when faced with how the truth impacts our eternal life?  An eternal life that begins with accepting the free gift of Jesus Christ as the real human God whose bloody death on the cross provides forgiveness from sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Come to Jesus.

Come to the Cross.

Debt paid...not cancelled.

And 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

Propitiation.

Not a word we use very often in casual conversation. 

Propitiation.

More of a specialized kind of church word that the clergy understands…or think they understand.

Propitiation.

Paying off the debt for sins on behalf of the entire world.  The same “world” mentioned in John 3:16 that God loved so much that He made a gift out of His Son and sent Him here.  He was sent here as payment for sin’s devastation.  All that humans need to do is accept that gift and salvation is free. 

There are folks with a legalistic agenda who want to make sure that sinners don’t get in on salvation even though salvation was designed for sinners (Luke 5:31-32).  They are strongly preaching that “accepting Jesus as your personal savior” is preposterous.  It is difficult to understand what Bible they are reading since there are only two things that anyone can do with a gift: accept it or reject it.  Apparently there are calvinized clergy who think it is their job to unwrap your personal gift for you and make sure you do things that make you qualified for it.  By their way of thinking, grace comes from God but sinners must pass the bar at their church before they can get the free gift of Jesus.  “Grace” becomes more important than Jesus.  Freedom is only for those who have been pre-selected – a logical impossibility.

A lot of noise is being made these days about holiness and purity that is the hallmark of the TRUE believer.  Of course, no real calvinist would agree with such a notion.  After all…isn’t God sovereign – totally sovereign so that he can do whatever He pleases or pleases Him?  If so, then what prevents Him from saving someone and never using or improving that person by the power of the Holy Spirit?  Why can’t God, in His inscrutable will, fix up junk that has no purpose other than to be what He wants it to be?  If He wants to throw it in a corner, who is Calvin to say that such a one is not injected with saving faith that the church (clergy…Nicolaitan appointees, etc.) can measure.  All these manuals on putting REAL Christians through a grid of competency and discipleship negates the theory of Absolute (but inscrutable) Divine Sovereignty. 

Bottom line for humans = the only safe place for us is at the foot of the cross of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit will guide us into truth through the Word and the written word…not necessarily through the vain jangling of 16^th (or any other) century imaginators with an agenda of power.  Jesus saves those who have no purpose (dying thief) on earth because they ask Him to save them.  Jesus saves because He has given His word that He will do so when humans call upon His name.  Jesus saves because He needs the lives of humans to be inextricably linked with Him and His purpose…Whosoever will may come to Him.

Come to Jesus.

Come to the Cross.

Continuity of inspiration.

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11 KJV

Peter, Apostle and spokesman for Jesus Christ - who is God Himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit - who is God Himself, and personal witness to the voice of the Father - who is God Himself (verse 17), states that "calling and election" can and must be made sure.
The first and obvious thing to say about this verse is that, whatever foolish system that some guy named Calvin (or any of his blinded followers, verse 9) came up with to satisfy his bigoted imagination is not worth the paper it is written on.  The verses above clearly state that the way into the everlasting kingdom of Jesus is through gaining and maintaining your election and calling.  Any notion that you were personally chosen in some nebulous or ambiguous time past and then actualized by faith inoculation in the present is a satanic misrepresentation of Biblical truth.
The second thing to notice is that the same Holy Spirit inspired both Peter and Paul.  There is no disagreement between them, even though the Apostle Paul wrote in a manner that was often more complicated than Peter (2 Peter 3:14-16...there's our word "diligent" again).  A calvinist system that seems to agree with what Paul wrote and disagrees with Peter or James or John or the book of Esther or Ruth is a lying system made up by humans who had no inspiration.

Election is a biblical term and must be understood by using the Bible itself as a reference.  It does no good looking up the word in a dictionary.  The only thing a dictionary can tell us is a modern idea of what a word has come to mean and some of its ancient usages.  There is no unbroken chain of dictionaries that goes back to the days of Isaiah or Moses.  The biblical definition of a word must be derived from biblical usage.  The value of Isaiah is that he - inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21), used the word "elect" in such a way that it obviously means "servant" to any other biblical writer.  It can also mean "tried" when we compare the way Peter applies the truth of Isaiah 28:16 in 1 Peter 2:6.  The resultant meaning can safely be understood as "qualified" -- something that happens in time.

Jesus Christ was pre-destined from before the foundation of the world to establish a way for all of mankind to enter into a relationship with the unity of God and a dwelling place with Him.  Jesus became a servant to His own creation...even a created element that was wretched, distorted and sinful.  He did not wave a magic wand to actualize some pre-packaged good folks that had been reserved in a Gnostic fog.  He came into the filth of our sinful stuff and became sin for us so that He could begin the work of New Creation -- not so He could clean up a few randomly chosen lottery winners.  All have sinned so all have access to the grace of God through Jesus Christ and His cleansing blood.
All humans are designed to be servants.
Jesus has shown us how.
We may fit in with Him
if we join Him at the cross.

Sinner.
Come to Jesus.
Come to the Cross.