NOT A PLASTIC GOSPEL

Skidder · May 2, 2020

NOT A PLASTIC GOSPEL

The simple and pure Grace of God has always been a threat to our enemy. He is always striving to water down or change the simple gospel message that brings salvation; a salvation not only from the penalty of sin, but also the everyday power of sin. If he can introduce a little yeast into the batch he knows he can contaminate the simple and spontaneous power of “no longer I who live, but Christ”.

For the last several years I have been noticing a “reprogramming” going on in the western church. An ecumenical spirit that is slowly contaminating the cistern of God’s living water. A subtle deception that lures believers away from the cross. Slowly but surely poisoning the watering hole with a false gospel that is centered around the desires of the flesh.

A gospel that no longer proclaims that sin is the problem and Christ is the ONLY cure. A gospel that promises a sleigh full of goodies when you put your faith in the latest “perfect plan” riding on the coattails of religion. A gospel that promises prosperity to an old man who has long since been crucified. A gospel that fixes “everything” broken in your life, and will fill your lap with a plethora of earthly pleasures.

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

How did we stray so far from the hope that left us crucified to this world? How did we become so engulfed in the cares of this world that we left the CONTENTMENT of a perfect forgiveness? How did we let Satan deceive us into turning away from the RICHES of an EMPTY TOMB? When did we make this wrong turn into the the desert where our souls became parched? When we turned from streams of living water to embrace the dry, barren, wilderness of the flesh?

We turned away when the world sold us a list of promises; plastic promises that soon revealed a list of lies. We left when we were deceived into thinking that the sufferings of Christ could in no way produce a JOY that cometh in the morning!! That somehow God would give us relief from being sanctified into the image of His Son. That sufferings no longer produce perseverance, but are rather the result of a weakness in our faith. We turned away when we abandoned that quiet place of shelter at the cross in the arms of our Savior! That sacred place that reveals our sins are no longer scarlet but white as snow!!

May we never leave the simplicity and POWER of a PERFECT FORGIVENESS!! The simplicity of the TRUE GOSPEL that reveals a joy unspeakable and full of glory! A forgiveness that has washed us white as snow in the eyes of our Father. An EVERYDAY mercy that is ALIVE and FILLED with the POWER of the GLORY OF HIS SON!!

I pray we seek a deeper understanding of the GRACE that frees us from ourselves. I've strayed on paths of "spirituality" in the past only to find myself crawling back to the cross. There's a power in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ that never runs dry or becomes stagnant. A power that is not human, and gives a peace and joy that passes understanding! The more we believe in the work of His cross the more we will cling to it. Our walk began here, and when it ends, I hope we are still clinging to that old cross!!

1 Corinthians 15:3-5
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures

Acts 16:31
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved

Grace and Peace...

crossnote · May 2, 2020

Skidder said:
NOT A PLASTIC GOSPEL

The simple and pure Grace of God has always been a threat to our enemy. He is always striving to water down or change the simple gospel message that brings salvation; a salvation not only from the penalty of sin, but also the everyday power of sin. If he can introduce a little yeast into the batch he knows he can contaminate the simple and spontaneous power of “no longer I who live, but Christ”.

For the last several years I have been noticing a “reprogramming” going on in the western church. An ecumenical spirit that is slowly contaminating the cistern of God’s living water. A subtle deception that lures believers away from the cross. Slowly but surely poisoning the watering hole with a false gospel that is centered around the desires of the flesh.

A gospel that no longer proclaims that sin is the problem and Christ is the ONLY cure. A gospel that promises a sleigh full of goodies when you put your faith in the latest “perfect plan” riding on the coattails of religion. A gospel that promises prosperity to an old man who has long since been crucified. A gospel that fixes “everything” broken in your life, and will fill your lap with a plethora of earthly pleasures.

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

How did we stray so far from the hope that left us crucified to this world? How did we become so engulfed in the cares of this world that we left the CONTENTMENT of a perfect forgiveness? How did we let Satan deceive us into turning away from the RICHES of an EMPTY TOMB? When did we make this wrong turn into the the desert where our souls became parched? When we turned from streams of living water to embrace the dry, barren, wilderness of the flesh?

We turned away when the world sold us a list of promises; plastic promises that soon revealed a list of lies. We left when we were deceived into thinking that the sufferings of Christ could in no way produce a JOY that cometh in the morning!! That somehow God would give us relief from being sanctified into the image of His Son. That sufferings no longer produce perseverance, but are rather the result of a weakness in our faith. We turned away when we abandoned that quiet place of shelter at the cross in the arms of our Savior! That sacred place that reveals our sins are no longer scarlet but white as snow!!

May we never leave the simplicity and POWER of a PERFECT FORGIVENESS!! The simplicity of the TRUE GOSPEL that reveals a joy unspeakable and full of glory! A forgiveness that has washed us white as snow in the eyes of our Father. An EVERYDAY mercy that is ALIVE and FILLED with the POWER of the GLORY OF HIS SON!!

I pray we seek a deeper understanding of the GRACE that frees us from ourselves. I've strayed on paths of "spirituality" in the past only to find myself crawling back to the cross. There's a power in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ that never runs dry or becomes stagnant. A power that is not human, and gives a peace and joy that passes understanding! The more we believe in the work of His cross the more we will cling to it. Our walk began here, and when it ends, I hope we are still clinging to that old cross!!

1 Corinthians 15:3-5
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures

Acts 16:31
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved

Grace and Peace...

Very prophetic. Thx

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

Skidder said:
NOT A PLASTIC GOSPEL

The simple and pure Grace of God has always been a threat to our enemy. He is always striving to water down or change the simple gospel message that brings salvation; a salvation not only from the penalty of sin, but also the everyday power of sin. If he can introduce a little yeast into the batch he knows he can contaminate the simple and spontaneous power of “no longer I who live, but Christ”.

For the last several years I have been noticing a “reprogramming” going on in the western church. An ecumenical spirit that is slowly contaminating the cistern of God’s living water. A subtle deception that lures believers away from the cross. Slowly but surely poisoning the watering hole with a false gospel that is centered around the desires of the flesh.

A gospel that no longer proclaims that sin is the problem and Christ is the ONLY cure. A gospel that promises a sleigh full of goodies when you put your faith in the latest “perfect plan” riding on the coattails of religion. A gospel that promises prosperity to an old man who has long since been crucified. A gospel that fixes “everything” broken in your life, and will fill your lap with a plethora of earthly pleasures.

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

How did we stray so far from the hope that left us crucified to this world? How did we become so engulfed in the cares of this world that we left the CONTENTMENT of a perfect forgiveness? How did we let Satan deceive us into turning away from the RICHES of an EMPTY TOMB? When did we make this wrong turn into the the desert where our souls became parched? When we turned from streams of living water to embrace the dry, barren, wilderness of the flesh?

We turned away when the world sold us a list of promises; plastic promises that soon revealed a list of lies. We left when we were deceived into thinking that the sufferings of Christ could in no way produce a JOY that cometh in the morning!! That somehow God would give us relief from being sanctified into the image of His Son. That sufferings no longer produce perseverance, but are rather the result of a weakness in our faith. We turned away when we abandoned that quiet place of shelter at the cross in the arms of our Savior! That sacred place that reveals our sins are no longer scarlet but white as snow!!

May we never leave the simplicity and POWER of a PERFECT FORGIVENESS!! The simplicity of the TRUE GOSPEL that reveals a joy unspeakable and full of glory! A forgiveness that has washed us white as snow in the eyes of our Father. An EVERYDAY mercy that is ALIVE and FILLED with the POWER of the GLORY OF HIS SON!!

I pray we seek a deeper understanding of the GRACE that frees us from ourselves. I've strayed on paths of "spirituality" in the past only to find myself crawling back to the cross. There's a power in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ that never runs dry or becomes stagnant. A power that is not human, and gives a peace and joy that passes understanding! The more we believe in the work of His cross the more we will cling to it. Our walk began here, and when it ends, I hope we are still clinging to that old cross!!

1 Corinthians 15:3-5
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures

Acts 16:31
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved

Grace and Peace...

The threat to the Enemy is a not Gospel that teaches at every turn the believer is to do nothing for the Kingdom of God. The first church, a small but rapidly growing army of deeply committed men and women who loved God more than they loved their comfort or even their own lives was deeply threatening which is why he raised every arsenal in his book to eliminate them from the face of the earth.

Today the church is taught to do nothing whatsoever. Do anything because you love Christ and you are stamping on the pure blood of Jesus who supposedly did it all and called men and women to do nothing whatsoever. Teach that we need to obey the living God and you are accused of prideful works salvation presenting a do it all on your own gospel. Stand up to the current lazy generation of "God bless me and my life with spiritual experiences and lots of money cause I tithe" calling them to sacrifice their pleasure and you will really face an onslaught of character insults.

I rarely do anything in bold (shouting) but this warrants it.

What the Enemy most fears is a group of Christians willing to lay down every pleasure to obey Him in this life counting His Kingdom as now and begin to really reign with Him bringing Him honor and glory before men by their deeds.

agapelove · May 3, 2020

The Bible has prophesied the existence of false teachers/teachings since the very beginning. It also gives us a way to discern what is true and what is false. We shall know them by their fruits.

Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

agapelove said:
The Bible has prophesied the existence of false teachers/teachings since the very beginning. It also gives us a way to discern what is true and what is false. We shall know them by their fruits.

Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

It does but I have not met many who even bother to look at fruits. This warning has been disarmed because if you try to look at the fruits or point them out to anyone, they will tell you that you are judging and "thou shalt not judge." See how that one is disarmed. And in our society, it is politically incorrect to judge others. So lots and lots of false and very appealing teaching gets a loud voice.

Broken Fence · May 3, 2020

Greetings and Salutations,
At the cross, At the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my sin went away.
Blessings and Peace through Christ our Lord

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

Cbowles said:
Greetings and Salutations,
At the cross, At the cross where I first saw the light, and the burden of my sin went away.
Blessings and Peace through Christ our Lord

Amen, but of course there is life after the cross. It is better than the life before in one walks with Him. If one refuses to do so then it is worse than before.

PS: thanks for the "like". I am sorry I left out a "not" which totally changed the meaning of my first sentence. If you do not like it any more because I added a not, I will understand. My fault.

Broken Fence · May 3, 2020

Dorothy Mae said:
Amen, but of course there is life after the cross. It is better than the life before in one walks with Him. If one refuses to do so then it is worse than before.

PS: thanks for the "like". I am sorry I left out a "not" which totally changed the meaning of my first sentence. If you do not like it any more because I added a not, I will understand. My fault.

I understand we have to surrender our will to God's will daily, moment by moment at times. That is true repentance to my understanding.

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

Cbowles said:
I understand we have to surrender our will to God's will daily, moment by moment at times. That is true repentance to my understanding.

Blessed me to read your words. It is nice to read of someone else who values surrendering to God. One tires of feeling like one is the only one who sees obedience as a must among the "do nothing He did it all" bunch.

agapelove · May 3, 2020

Dorothy Mae said:
It does but I have not met many who even bother to look at fruits. This warning has been disarmed because if you try to look at the fruits or point them out to anyone, they will tell you that you are judging and "thou shalt not judge." See how that one is disarmed. And in our society, it is politically incorrect to judge others. So lots and lots of false and very appealing teaching gets a loud voice.

There is a wrong way and a right way to judge.

It is quite necessary that we judge and hold others accountable, whether or not someone thinks we are being politically incorrect. However we must be careful to judge with "right judgment" (John 7:24).

For example, Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Is our judgment for building up and giving grace?

Matthew 7:25 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Have we examined our own personal prejudices and have we considered how this may affect our judgment on others?

Titus 3:2-7 To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Are we gentle and courteous when we approach people? If our judgment has escalated into argument, perhaps we have gone too far.

Broken Fence · May 3, 2020

Dorothy Mae said:
Blessed me to read your words. It is nice to read of someone else who values surrendering to God. One tires of feeling like one is the only one who sees obedience as a must among the "do nothing He did it all" bunch.

Oh yes can be a battle at times He demands nothing but perfection. I remember one time I had 35 dollars and wanted to go watch movie. I had studied earlier that Jesus said to give to all that ask of you. So on my way meet a man who needed money for gas and food. There I was I felt tug of Holy Spirit, his need was greater than mine. I learned a valuable lesson that day.

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

agapelove said:
There is a wrong way and a right way to judge.

It is quite necessary that we judge and hold others accountable, whether or not someone thinks we are being politically incorrect. However we must be careful to judge with "right judgment" (John 7:24).

I wasn't even thinking holding anyone else accountable. I was merely commenting on the total lack of discernment in the church for fear of being called judging. If a speaker, for example, goes on and on about how great his deeds were (an older man) for 20 minutes of a 40 minute sermon, no one in the congregation is supposed to notice that this is pure ego talking. If one does, that is judging and it is bad.

For example, Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

The perfect verse to use against someone who sees the wrong described above. Jesus, by the way, did not live according to this. God also does not adhere to this because some of his words actually take down pride. He also has warned. I know what this verse is speaking to and it is correct. But it is used to prevent any discernment from being employed.

Matthew 7:25 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Have we examined our own personal prejudices and have we considered how this may affect our judgment on others?

This is, of course, correct, but, after we have lived a life doing exactly this, we do see clearly what the other is doing wrong and believe me, it is not at all pleasant. This verse is used to assume that no one has ever done this and so no one can ever take the splinter out of the other eye. Just try in the modern church and you might be asked to leave.

Titus 3:2-7 To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Are we gentle and courteous when we approach people? If our judgment has escalated into argument, perhaps we have gone too far.

Jesus spoke evil of plenty of people, as did John the Baptist, as did most of the prophets if not all of them. The difference is that the point is not for personal gain but to increase righteousness in the offending party and increase discernment in those unable to see the problem. There is a time for gentliness and a time for boldness.

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

Cbowles said:
Oh yes can be a battle at times He demands nothing but perfection. I remember one time I had 35 dollars and wanted to go watch movie. I had studied earlier that Jesus said to give to all that ask of you. So on my way meet a man who needed money for gas and food. There I was I felt tug of Holy Spirit, his need was greater than mine. I learned a valuable lesson that day.

What a great testimony to share. One correction, he does not demand perfection. He is, however, easy to please but hard to satisfy. Is that what you mean? Giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty man pleases him but it does not satisfy Him as to what we do with our lives. See what I mean?

Broken Fence · May 3, 2020

Dorothy Mae said:
What a great testimony to share. One correction, he does not demand perfection. He is, however, easy to please but hard to satisfy. Is that what you mean? Giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty man pleases him but it does not satisfy Him as to what we do with our lives. See what I mean?

Not sure I understand I thought He wanted us to be Holy as He is Holy.

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

Cbowles said:
Not sure I understand I thought He wanted us to be Holy as He is Holy.

He does but He takes us step by step along the way. The goal is relationship, by the way, not perfection in deeds although they go together.

The father of a small child does not require that child to do the same chores as the teenager. Jesus is different with the lambs than with the full grown sheep. He is even more different with the lead sheep in the flock. What He asks is that we obey HIm day by day as he prompts us, if he asks us to do something. This is not constant as most of what we need to do each day is already known and right (work, etc.) He will deal with the sin within as we go along raising the bar higher and higher as we get closer and closer to Him.

Make it a life goal to please Him. "Perfect" in the Bible actually means "complete." It does not mean flawless. It means complete. We use that word for that meaning as well in ENglish. So He wants us to be complete ready for any good work that He would ask of us. The burden of striving to be perfect all the time is not good. The desire to be complete is not such a burden and reachable.

agapelove · May 3, 2020

Dorothy Mae said:
I wasn't even thinking holding anyone else accountable. I was merely commenting on the total lack of discernment in the church for fear of being called judging.

I disagree. Church is usually where I find the most judgmental people.

(Not an attack just a genuine observation.)

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

agapelove said:
I disagree. Church is usually where I find the most judgmental people.
(Not an attack just a genuine observation.)

Probably depends upon the church and depends upon the person speaking. I mean if a woman joins the church and practices seducing the men (I have heard of this by the way) then she will find that the church is going to judge the situation and when they ask her to repent or leave, she will definately label them all as judgemental. Same for anyone who insists on living in open sin such that they are not ashamed for everyone to know and think it is no problem. They will also complain that the church people are judgemental.

But the most judgemental people I have ever met are policemen. I dated one for a while and he suspected so many people of doing wrong it was amazing. And we pay the police to suspect people so as to prevent crime. Nevertheless, they were suspecious of most people.

What about parole officers and other members of the legal system to include judges and juries themselves. Aren't they the most judgemental in the world?

Your post, by the way, shows exactly the point I made. The society has made it so politically incorrect to discern the intentions of others and people render themselves blind so as to not be so accused, that saying someone is "judgemental" is tantamount to calling them a Nazi. "Whatever you do, do not be called judgemental so close your eyes to wrong and plug your ears lest you see or hear something someone does or says is wrong....except of course if they are being judgemental. Then rebuke them loudly for being jugdgemental and you judging them to be judgemental is the only judgement you are politically allowed to make."

agapelove · May 3, 2020

Dorothy Mae said:
Your post, by the way, shows exactly the point I made. The society has made it so politically incorrect to discern the intentions of others and people render themselves blind so as to not be so accused, that saying someone is "judgemental" is tantamount to calling them a Nazi. "Whatever you do, do not be called judgemental so close your eyes to wrong and plug your ears lest you see or hear something someone does or says is wrong....except of course if they are being judgemental. Then rebuke them loudly for being jugdgemental and you judging them to be judgemental is the only judgement you are politically allowed to make.

When I say judgmental I am talking about the bad kind of judging. There is good judgment and bad judgment. I have noticed that many Christians feel entitled to judge other people based off their own prejudices and bigotry and justify it through God. GOOD judgment benefits the one being judged.

If all judgment was bad then God himself would be the most judgmental in the world! No, there needs to be some level of justice. Legal systems are necessary to serve as a basis off which we are allowed to judge people in order to benefit society.

Dorothy Mae · May 3, 2020

agapelove said:
When I say judgmental I am talking about the bad kind of judging. There is good judgment and bad judgment. I have noticed that many Christians feel entitled to judge other people based off their own prejudices and bigotry and justify it through God. GOOD judgment benefits the one being judged.

I doubt many know what good judgement is. You have to add that definition to your statements then because you just said judgemental and I’ve heard that criticism of anything not praising is being so.

If all judgment was bad then God himself would be the most judgmental in the world! No, there needs to be some level of justice. Legal systems are necessary to serve as a basis off which we are allowed to judge people in order to benefit society.

Ok

Skidder · May 3, 2020

crossnote said:
Very prophetic. Thx

Written with tears of joy on what my Savior did for me. Grace and peace to you and your family.

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