"So
why do you keep calling me "Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to
my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the
foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that
house, it stands firm because it is well built. But
anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a
foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse
into a heap of ruins." -- Luke 6: 46-49 (NLT)
Amidst the grace alone theologies and seeker
friendly movements permeating popular Christianity is a call to return to
Biblical teaching which correctly emphasizes who Jesus Christ is supposed to be
to us. God desires a relationship with us beloved. A one on one, intimate
relationship. Intimate meaning deeply personal. The problem is that today we
have so much bad theology and false teaching which contributes to the skewing
of what this relationship is supposed to be. Singing "Friend of God" does not
make you a friend of God beloved. Obedience to Him does.
"If
you love me, obey my commandments. -- John 14: 15 (NLT)
But the feel good gospels that are defiling
the Bride of Christ primarily speak to what our flesh wants to hear. This is
our year of supernatural blessing! This is your best life now! God wants you to
live in a big house in
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news
that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of
Right from the beginning of the Gospel we see Jesus described as Lord and Savior. The modern church does not talk a lot about the role of Savior in our lives because it is not part of the seeker friendly feel good gospels. It requires us to recognize that we needed saving. We did not need a friend beloved -- we needed a Savior. Mary is instructed to name the child Jesus because He will deliver His people from their sins. Once again, I understand this is not taught anymore but God created us for perfect communion with Him but man sinned. Sin is another missing doctrine in the church. Grace alone heresy teaches people to not worry about sin because of the atoning work of the cross but they leave out the part that says He must be our Savior for that exchange to take place. Do you understand what that means beloved? That means that when we go up for altar call in the modern Pentecostal church for any reason other than to lay our sins down for Christ to forgive us and save us -- we are not in fact saved! Wait a minute preacher! You mean saying that little prayer didn't save me? No. But the preacher guy said it would! There is no magical incantation that can save us. Only the recognition of our sinful state before a holy God and our willingness to repent of that sin. Repentance is another doctrine you don't hear preached anymore but without it -- there is no salvation -- period.
Beloved, heaven and hell are real places. I see the world mock it all the time. As if they are going to have a beer with their friends in hell. Along with sin and repentance we hear less and less about heaven and hell as well. Anything that might offend is brushed aside and paid lip service to. That is the Gospel! It is not this slick marketing campaign designed to make everyone feel relevant and hip. It is all about sin and repentance:
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I
preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel
you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you
have believed in vain. For
what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures, that
he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
- 1Corinthians 15: 1-4 (NIV)
