Posts tagged Unchurched

Religion Can Get In the Way Of Your Own Salvation Part 2

Apr26
2012 Written by Warner Smith

If you have always gone to church you could have trouble accepting the truth that you need a spiritual rebirth.  According to Jesus’ teaching everyone “must be born again.”

We all need to be twice born.  Once “from above,” or a supernatural rebirth.

Christianity at its very core, is about our each having a supernatural rebirth. This rebirth can only be accomplished through a genuine work of God.  God alone can make it happen. This second birth can only be received by faith, and if God does not make it happen after you receive it by faith then it will never happen. Why? Because you and I do not have the ability within ourselves to make it happen. This makes us feel helpless, but the truth is only God can make it happen. All you can do is throw yourself upon His mercy and cry out for His grace.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.     John 1:12-13

In Greek, the word translated “right,”is  (εξουσίαν) exousia. It means the right or freedom of choice, authority, and ability or power.  It means all three of those things. You and I have the God given right or freedom to choose to receive Him.  We have His authority to choose to receive Him for ourselves, and He has given us the ability to make the choice to receive Him. God has given us the right, the authority, and the power to become children of God.  He gives this right, authority and power to everyone who will believe in His name.

We are not born into God’s kingdom through any natural process.  Our blood does not qualify us, nor our ancestry, only God can initiate this second birth.  People tell me very often that their parents were great Christians, and they somehow assume that their parents faith passed to them genetically.

Unfortunately this is not the case.  Mom and Dad passed down to you a sinful nature known as depravity. They needed to be born again just as you I need to be born again.  God has to work the miracle of salvation deep within you through His Spirit or it will not happen.

A true spiritual rebirth will not occur through religion. It will only happen through a life changing encounter.  You need to know this because you need to tell others that only a life changing encounter with Jesus Christ can forgive sin.  Not only does He forgive your sins, but a genuine rebirth will alter your nature.  Deep within your spirit God will change your inclination to agree with His will forever. You can still sin, but inside your core you will grieve.  You will feel terrible, because God the Holy Spirit will convict you and condemn your sin.

This second birth is a spiritual birth.

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.    John 3:5–6 (ESV)

Someone recently asked me what being born of the water meant in this text.  The best answer will fit the context of the passage.  This text is an example of Hebrew thought being translated into Greek.  Hebrew often uses parallelism to expand and complete a thought.  Being born of water is to be understood as the parallel for being born of the flesh.  Being born of water or of the flesh parallels being born of the Spirit.  When our mothers water breaks we are born of water, when we exit her womb we are born of the flesh.

The point of this text is to explain the necessity of our being born of the Spirit.  God the Holy Spirit must be the midwife of our being reborn or we will not be truly born again.  While I have the right to choose, God’s Spirit must also be involved.  Many people have walked an aisle, shook hands with their pastor and joined the church, but were not born again.  If God’s Spirit is not involved your nature will not change and sooner or later you will claim that Christianity did not work for you.  The reason for this is that you tried to be born again by your own will in your own power and God’s Spirit was not involved.

This second birth is a spiritual birth or it becomes only an empty religious ritual that has no saving power.

We all “must” be born again or we cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘you must be born again,’    John 3:7

In Greek the word translate “must” is dei.  It means a divine necessity. In other words a spiritual rebirth is a divine necessity.  It is nonnegotiable.  You, me and everyone else who has ever or will ever walk the face of this earth must be born again, there are no exceptions.  Jesus did not say:

  • Nicodemus, it’s important for you to be born again, or
  • Nicodemus it will help you to be born again, or
  • Nicodemus you will achieve your spiritual ambition if you add this component of rebirth to you religion.

He said, Nicodemus You Must Be Born Again!  If you are NOT born again you, the CEO of religion in Jerusalem, will not see the kingdom of God.  This concept is at the very heart of Christianity. There is no substitute. You cannot substitute church for this rebirth.  You cannot substitute your parents relationship with Christ for your own.  You will not get a pass because of your denominations understanding of salvation.  You, each and everyone must be born again!

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , , ,

Religion Can Get In The Way Of Your Own Salvation

Apr25
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Many Christians were raised in the church.  For some this Christian heritage gets in the way of their own salvation.  In John Jesus talks to someone whose spiritual heritage is getting in the way of his own salvation.  His name is Nicodemus and he has one of the most impressive spiritual resumes in all of the New Testament.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Him by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered. “Truly, truly I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?    John 3: 1-10

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who was a ruler of the Jews. In Greek the presence of the definite article “the” is very important.  Sometimes it is left off for the purpose of adding emphasis. It is absent for this purpose in this text, to say to us that Nicodemus is “THE” most prominent person.  In Greek, we can understand this to read “there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews.” He was the CEO of religion in Jerusalem.

Nicodemus asks Jesus a question “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”  Jesus didn’t answer his question.  He did not say, yes, I am from God. Instead he said “Nicodemus do you want to know where you really stand in your relationship with God?  I want you to know that unless you are born again you, the CEO of religion in Jerusalem, will not see the kingdom of God.”

This answer baffled Nicodemus.  We mistakenly think this is the first time Nicodemus had heard the term, “born again,” but it was a common phrase among the Jews.

When you were circumcised on the eighth day you were said to have been born again. When you went through the rite of  your bar mitzvah you were said to have been born again.  When you were married, you were said to have been born again.  When you turned forty, you were said to have been born again.  Were you to become a Rabbi you were said to have been born again.

Nicodemus understood the term “born again” as it related to his practice of Judaism. What he did not understand was Jesus telling him that he must be born again, again. He was thinking I am a Jew, I have been circumcised, I have been bar mitzvahed, I am married, I am now over forty and I am a Rabbi, in fact I am “The Rabbi” in Israel. In other words, Nicodemus is saying “I have had all of the born again experiences in Judaism and you, Jesus, are telling me that I must be born again!”

He is totally shocked. Nicodemus was confused: thinking “How can I do that, when I have already done it all.”

Many Christians who grew up in church are like Nicodemus.  They think “I grew up with Christian parents, I have gone to church all of my life.  I have gone through catechism class, I have learned all of the liturgies and rituals.  I was in the choir, or I was in the youth group.  So when they hear  Jesus is saying, “you to must be born again.”  Some church people who have done their religious duty all of their life, do not truly understand that they must also be born again.  Religious people also need to be changed from within by regeneration.

Nicodemus did synagogue, just like some people today, do church.  Doing church doesn’t save anyone!

. . . unless one is born of water and spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Jesus is saying the Spirit is not something you can predict.  He is not a formula, He is God, He is the movement of God.  Nicodemus throws up his hands and says, “how can these things be?”  Jesus ask him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and you don’t understand these things?” Nicodemus is totally confused when it comes to really talking about the things of the Spirit of God.

When Jesus wants to talk about spiritual things, Nicodemus wants to talk about church attendance. Nicodemus can only talk about duty, the law.  Nicodemus wants to talk in terms of the outside of man while Jesus’ language is about the inner man.

A. T. Robertson, a great theological scholar said: “this well known authorized teacher of Israel was told by Jesus that his theology had made him immune to spiritual apprehension.”

Are you like Nicodemus?  Are you trusting in the outer signs of your religion to save you and forgoing asking God to re-create you from the inside, through His Spirit as you call on the name of His Son, Jesus.

Please for the sake of your eternal soul ask Jesus Christ to give you the spiritual new birth!

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , ,

40 Days of Preparation Day 25

Mar20
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Tuesday March 20, 2012, is the twenty-fifth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” apathy for the lost and “put on” compassion for the lost. If the goal of the Christian life is to be like Christ then we should do everything we can to imitate Him.  While on the earth the Bible records that Jesus was moved with compassion for the hungry (Mt. 15:32), those in need of healing (Mt 20:34), those in need of spiritual leadership (Mk 6:34), and the lost (Mt. 9:36-38).

If Jesus’ values are such that these causes moved Him while He lived on the earth, and I am a Christian who truly desires to become like Christ, then His values should become my values.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36–38 (ESV)

If I am able to genuinely pray for the Lord of the harvest to send harvesters into the harvest field, then I also need to be willing to become one of the laborers which the Lord will send in response to my prayers and the prayers of others. Of all the needs which mankind has, salvation is the greatest need! If I am going to prioritize my values based on what are Jesus’ values then I will value the shepherdless crowds who are harassed and helpless and have compassion for them.

For some reason too many Christians do not prioritize their values by Christ’s values.  Many Christians try to make numerous excuses for not sharing their faith with others, but the bottom line for our disobedience is a lack of compassion (like Jesus has) for the lost. I really need to “put off” apathy for the lost and “put on” compassion for the lost.

If you are unmoved by compassion to share your faith with the lost then would you be interested in following Christ’s example for you own self interest. You and I must acknowledge Christ among men if we want to be acknowledged by Christ before His Father in heaven. You and I really need to “put off” apathy for the lost and “put on” compassion for the lost.

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32–33 (ESV)

Another common excuse people make for not sharing their faith in Christ with others is their inability. Such a view, however, illustrates either a misunderstanding of the Scriptures or disbelief in them. The book of Acts clearly states that

8 . . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (ESV)

According to the Scriptures, Christ’s followers will be His witnesses and Christ’s followers will also receive power to be His witnesses from the Holy Spirit. Apathy for the lost is either due to a lack of compassion or disbelief.  Therefore I need,, and perhaps you also need, to “put off” apathy for the lost and “put on” compassion for the lost.

 

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , ,

40 Days of Preparation Day 24

Mar19
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Monday March 19, 2012, is the twenty-fourth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” indifference and “put on”fervency. How often do you see a need which should be met and which you could meet and think someone should do something?  How often do you hear someone say something about which you disagree and think someone should say something? Do you help? Do you say anything? If you answered no, to either question then like me you need to “put off” indifference and “put on” fervency.

The following story underscores why each of our responses when we see human need or hear error are so important.

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done

Jesus tells us a story that illustrates where our responsibility to others begins and ends.

29 . . . [An expert in the Law], desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:25–37 (ESV)

In this story Jesus teaches us that the love we have for God must be reflected in the way we value and assist all those whom He places along our life’s path each and every day. This service may take the form of mending and caring for wounds, or it might be that we need to correct someone who mistreats another in our presence. Sometimes we may need to stand up for the truth of the gospel in the presence of others. Whatever the circumstances are in which we find ourselves we need to “put off” indifference and “put on” fervency.

In the Bible the word “fervent” means, always ready to speak or act. Of the 12 disciples Peter was by far the most fervent. He was constantly speaking up and taking the initiative. In the book of 1 Peter he directs Christians to “fervently love” each other.

22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 1 Peter 1:22 (NASB)

The idea is that Christian love is to be active. If we are to go out of our way to serve strangers on the pathways of life how much more should we be willing to be inconvenienced for brothers and sisters in Christ. Read carefully the following passage.

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:7–10 (NASB)

As we understand that we are either living in the end times or in the end of our time, we are to be fervently loving one another.  This fervent love will be hospitable without complaint and will utilize our spiritual gifts to serve one another as good stewards of God’s grace.

As we prepare our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, lets “put off” indifference and “put on” fervency whatever the circumstances whether we see strangers, friends, family or brothers and sisters in Christ in need of our assistance, advice, or admonition.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

40 Days of Preparation Day 22

Mar17
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

Today, Saturday March 17, 2012, is the twenty-second day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” conformity to the world and “put on” transformation in my life. One of the greatest examples of how conformed the average American Christian has become to a worldly lifestyle rather than to living a Christian lifestyle which is transformational is represented by the rising divorce rate among confessing born again Christians.

Why is divorce among Christians a big deal? Sanctity in the marriage relationship is critical to the practice of Christianity. Why? Because marital relations illustrate Jesus’ relationship with His bride the church.

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:22–33 (NASB)

The relationship of a husband with his wife is supposed to demonstrate how Christ loves His bride the church, for those who do not believe. The relationship of a wife toward her husband also models the necessary submission which the church must practice to Christ.

Rising rates of divorce within the Christian church reveal that husbands are not loving their wives as Christ loves His church, and that wives are not submitting to their husbands as unto Christ. This results in those who are lost perceiving Christians as hypocrites whose lifestyle is no different from their own. This is the definition of conformity. This is why you and I need to “put off” conformity to the world and “put on” transformation in our lives.

A startling and shocking fact which has much to say about the depths of conformity in American Christianity today has been mined from census data.

The Associated Press analyzed divorce statistics from the US Census Bureau. They found that Massachusetts had the lowest divorce rate in the U.S. at 2.4 per 1,000 population. Texas had the highest rate at 4.1 per 1,000. They found that the highest divorce rates are found in the “Bible Belt.”

The highest divorce rates in America are found in the “Bible belt?”  The lowest divorce rates in America are found in one of the most “liberal” states Massachusetts? Conservative Christians perceive Massachusetts to be among the least Christian states in America. Something is seriously wrong with this picture!

According to the Boston Globe: “The AP report stated that ‘the divorce rates in these conservative states are roughly 50 percent above the national average of 4.2 per thousand people.’ The 10 Southern states with some of the highest divorce rates were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. By comparison nine states in the Northeast were among those with the lowest divorce rates: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.”

The higher divorce rates in the Bible Belt may be due to the lower percentage of Roman Catholics in the South (Catholics do not recognize divorce). Other reasons may be more cultural than religious:

  • Couples in the South enter their first marriages at a younger age.
  • Family incomes in the South are lower.
  • Educational attainment is lower in the South: One in three Massachusetts residents have completed college, while only 23% of Texans have.

What the statistics reveal is actually worse.

Denomination (by decreasing divorce rate) % who have been divorced
Non-denominational
 34%
Baptists 29%
Mainline Protestants 25%
Mormons (Not a Christian Denomination)
 24%
Catholics 21%
Lutherans 21%

Divorce is higher among conservative and evangelical Christians than liberal Christians. Something is wrong with the current accepted Christian lifestyle in these groups. If the Christian home is a primary tool for demonstrating the morality and authenticity of the Christian lifestyle, then we clearly see the effects of sin and Satanic influence in the Christian home and church.

Religion % have been divorced
Jews 30%
Born-again Christians 27%
Other Christians 24%
Atheists, Agnostics 21%

I believe that the lowest rates of divorce being found among atheists may reveal that Satan attacks those who do not believe with less frequency and vigor than he does God’s chosen people.

During the 1950′s something significant changed in America among my father’s generation (the builders) with regard to their Christian lifestyle which continues to impact our society.

Age group % have been divorced
Baby boomers (33 to 52 years of age) 34%
Builders (53 to 72 years of age) 37%
Seniors (above 72 years of age) 18%

To counter the conformist Christian lifestyle that is currently in vogue among conservative Christians in today’s church requires that you and I to “put off” conformity to the world and “put on” transformation in our lives. We have failed to heed Paul’s lesson.

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1–2 (NASB)

We “put on” transformation by renewing our mind.  We need to change our worldview!  Rather than thinking that life is all about me, every Christian must accept that the Christian life is really all about Christ! If I cannot maintain the most basic relationship I have with my wife, then the odds are that I will also neglect my relationship with Christ.  Positively maintaining each of these relationships requires me to change my thinking from a worldly selfishness to a Christlike selflessness.

When I do this I prove that God’s will is good, acceptable and perfect. Lets prove God’s will to be good, acceptable and perfect and “putt off” conformity to the world and “put on” transformation in our lives.

Posted in Daily Devotions - Tagged , , , , , , , ,
← Older Entries