No corner on truth. Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:6. Jesus Christ is called the Way, the Truth and the Light to name a few. Did you know that He is also called the 'Chief Corner Stone?' It is true. He is the chief stone of the whole. The dependency on the rest of the body lies directly with Him. If there were to be any flaw in Him, we would be helpless to an eternity fraught with unknown terrors. All the work that he wrought in us would have no foundation and no hope of staying together. We would in fact crumble.
Could you imagine if I was the corner stone? I have no confidence that I could provide for you, your loved ones or your other brothers in the Lord. This is why I called this blog 'no corner on truth.' If God is called Truth, then guess what, He is also that Corner that I am not. Because of this, I have supreme confidence that He holds me in the hollow of His hand and will never leave me, nor forsake me. I am no corner on truth. I am just one of His.
It is this knowledge that gives me confidence in death. I know that my earthly body must return to the dust of which it was made. But spiritually, I have no fear. Matthew 10:31 says, 'Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.' And Luke 2:10, 'And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 12:7 mentions our value to being more than sparrows and also makes mention that He numbers the very hairs on our heads and says once again, 'Fear not.'
Is it fair to say that He regards sparrows as a particularly pleasing fowl to Himself? Either way, it is still His creation. And He regards me as more valuable than the sparrows. From my point of view, all I am is one of His creations and I have value to Him. My Father sees me as worth something. What am I worth? The life of His only begotten Son. Don't you see how powerful that one Truth is?
The angel said, 'I bring you good tidings of great joy...' The non-believer has no understanding about this or thinks that the angel was wrong. 'Jesus died! What is the joy in that?' Pity those that say that, I do. Included in those 'tidings of great joy' was the death of Jesus Christ. It was God who gave that sacrifice - that perfect and eternal sacrifice. His death took away my judgement. And then He rose! I am so young in my study that I doubt that I know even a tenth of what His death and resurrection means, but I do know He knows me so much better than I do because He knows me so intimately that He knows the number of hairs on my head.
Look at Revelation 1:17 - 'And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:' The confidence that one could derive from just that one single verse is majestically profound. To know that He would touch me and speak with me, saying 'Fear not,' is astounding. My God would care so much for one so meager as I as to comfort me in my moments of fear. This can be applied even now, before we are with Him in glory. In times of reflection where a death has effected me, He has driven me to read His word. My grief is comforted. Or times where I am worried about finances, He guide me to Him and I realize I have no need to worry.
He is the first and the last. So what does that mean? In part I think it is applicable with Ecclesiastes 1:9, '...and there is no new thing under the sun.' What? The connection is that there is nothing new, because the Lord hath done ALL things, created ALL things. He has ordained the first and the last. And I don't believe that you can ordain the last at all if you do not ordain every bit of minutia from the first and through to the last. That is a tremendous amount of control for one to have. And God is the only one that I want to have that type of control. Because of that control, I can rest from worry, fear, anticipation or concern because He has it under control. Sure, we may not know what is in store for us, but when He tells us that He has done all things for our good, then even if it hurts me physically or causes my attitude to stray, it is for my benefit. Because in the end, 'He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.'
Its a tremendous peace that He provides me at all times. My concerns are cleansed from me and my life has a clarity that no other thing can give me. I realize His ultimate importance. I grow in His love. My love for Him increases as well. Then I apply that further, and I love my wife more deeply than I ever though possible. I see my daughter and wash her with the love that Christ has given me. I see my parents and my in-laws, my brothers and my sisters and my friends and see that His love passes to them at the same time never, ever leaving me. Its permanence to the fullest degree. I pray that His will is to never let me stray from that love in Him.
Yours in Brotherly Love, Cam
-May our Lord Jesus Christ direct our steps and thoughts. We pray that any error in our discussion be removed from our own thoughts as we are taught that they are also removed from yours. We pray that within You, Lord, we continue to grow in Your infinite grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
No Corner, eh?
No corner on truth. This may stun, shock or piss some people off, but this blog is going to be what it is. This is in regards to Christianity. More important than that though, this is primarily going to focus as a Bible study. Why? I am not nor do I have any corner on truth. What I do have are convictions. What I do believe is that while I am responsible for no truth, it all does reside in God and is given to us perfectly in His Word - the Bible. There is the truth, not me, not Billy Graham, nor your preferred pastor or mine. God is THE Shepherd. Everyone else is placed by God to be 'tutors and governors until the time appointed of the Father' - Galatians 4:2.
Why do so many Christians rebel against doctrine? I think that it is because of God. He has turned their hearts. I thank Him for it. For we are instructed, '...giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' - Ephesians 5:18-20.
I've heard it said that people in general do not like doctrine because it is divisive. That's an interesting thought and one which I am completely against. The Lord and His Word unite those who are His, His wheat. Doctrine is only divisive to the chaff, those whom Christ the Lord did NOT plant. The problem is that even some of those who belong to Christ will believe that also for 'a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.' - 1 Corinthians 5:6. Sin abides in us and is in constant war with the spirit. If we were truly a powerful people, could we not abolish sin so that it is only the spirit within us? One would think so, but that just proves that we have no power. And so, knowing that sin does exist in us, the thought of divisive doctrine - much like that pinch of leaven - pervades our beliefs and, once said enough, sets up residence as a common belief among that masses that deflects our attention from God.
Preaching true doctrine is good. But one must be diligent and careful to ensure that the doctrine is truth. It is a scary thought, is it not? For popular Christianity teaches us that preaching what is wrong could be a condemnable sin. Well, popular Christianity is wrong in this case and has no Biblical backing for such a claim. I believe a basic tenant of doctrine is that Christ died for us - an eternal offering for the sins of all time for those who are born of Christ. The punishment for our mistakes in teaching error fell on Christ. '...their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more' - Hebrews 8:12. '...and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more' - Hebrews 10:17. My loving heavenly Father did that for me? Yes, He did. He 'washed us from our sins' - Revelation 1:5.
So then why be diligent to study truth and preach truth? The most plain and yet important reason I can think of - because I love Him, and so do you. Think about this. Let's say your parents are in a rest home and need assistance in many things that they do. Showering, cooking, paying bills etc. You can pay someone do that who is at the home, but no, you decide to take that upon yourself. Why? Because you love your parents. That is what my mother did for her parents before the Lord came down to take them home. Heck, I love my mother and I love my grandparents. My grandfather, proud as he was, needed help getting into and out of the shower and would refuse his daughter's help with that. Because I love that man as I love my own father, I took that responsibility on myself with the utmost humility knowing how much the Lord humbled my grandfather for him to allow that.
My Lord took my sins upon Himself. He did what I believe any proper father would do for their children as a provision for their wellness in life. Out of love and not obligation, I am compelled to study His Word as He asks and spread His Word. So, you see the doctrinal truth of what His sacrifice means and you also see in part the doctrine of His Love. He truly is a loving God. He's is wrathful, but His wrath is not for us, but for those whom sin still resides - the chaff not the wheat.
You know something? Regarding a topical discussion on doctrine, this is just a grain of sand on the beach. His Word is fraught with meaning and teachings. I enjoy immensely when He guides me to a study of His Word. Hopefully for Christmas I will be given a study guide for Ancient Greek so that I can begin a more exhaustive study of His Word through translations and so on. I pray that is what He has in store for my future here. My spirit longs for growth with Him. While I sin because it abides in me (though removed in Christ), I have never felt such a strong movement within myself as I do when the Lord calls me to study. It is a constant prayer that He has that continue.
Regarding this blog, please comment. Criticisms and encouragement are all welcomed alike. I want the challenge in His Word. You and I in fellowship with Him can grow and praise His name together.
Yours in Brotherly Love, Cam
-May our Lord Jesus Christ direct our steps and thoughts. We pray that any error in our discussion be removed from our own thoughts as we are taught that they are also removed from yours. We pray that within You, Lord, we continue to grow in Your infinite grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Why do so many Christians rebel against doctrine? I think that it is because of God. He has turned their hearts. I thank Him for it. For we are instructed, '...giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' - Ephesians 5:18-20.
I've heard it said that people in general do not like doctrine because it is divisive. That's an interesting thought and one which I am completely against. The Lord and His Word unite those who are His, His wheat. Doctrine is only divisive to the chaff, those whom Christ the Lord did NOT plant. The problem is that even some of those who belong to Christ will believe that also for 'a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.' - 1 Corinthians 5:6. Sin abides in us and is in constant war with the spirit. If we were truly a powerful people, could we not abolish sin so that it is only the spirit within us? One would think so, but that just proves that we have no power. And so, knowing that sin does exist in us, the thought of divisive doctrine - much like that pinch of leaven - pervades our beliefs and, once said enough, sets up residence as a common belief among that masses that deflects our attention from God.
Preaching true doctrine is good. But one must be diligent and careful to ensure that the doctrine is truth. It is a scary thought, is it not? For popular Christianity teaches us that preaching what is wrong could be a condemnable sin. Well, popular Christianity is wrong in this case and has no Biblical backing for such a claim. I believe a basic tenant of doctrine is that Christ died for us - an eternal offering for the sins of all time for those who are born of Christ. The punishment for our mistakes in teaching error fell on Christ. '...their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more' - Hebrews 8:12. '...and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more' - Hebrews 10:17. My loving heavenly Father did that for me? Yes, He did. He 'washed us from our sins' - Revelation 1:5.
So then why be diligent to study truth and preach truth? The most plain and yet important reason I can think of - because I love Him, and so do you. Think about this. Let's say your parents are in a rest home and need assistance in many things that they do. Showering, cooking, paying bills etc. You can pay someone do that who is at the home, but no, you decide to take that upon yourself. Why? Because you love your parents. That is what my mother did for her parents before the Lord came down to take them home. Heck, I love my mother and I love my grandparents. My grandfather, proud as he was, needed help getting into and out of the shower and would refuse his daughter's help with that. Because I love that man as I love my own father, I took that responsibility on myself with the utmost humility knowing how much the Lord humbled my grandfather for him to allow that.
My Lord took my sins upon Himself. He did what I believe any proper father would do for their children as a provision for their wellness in life. Out of love and not obligation, I am compelled to study His Word as He asks and spread His Word. So, you see the doctrinal truth of what His sacrifice means and you also see in part the doctrine of His Love. He truly is a loving God. He's is wrathful, but His wrath is not for us, but for those whom sin still resides - the chaff not the wheat.
You know something? Regarding a topical discussion on doctrine, this is just a grain of sand on the beach. His Word is fraught with meaning and teachings. I enjoy immensely when He guides me to a study of His Word. Hopefully for Christmas I will be given a study guide for Ancient Greek so that I can begin a more exhaustive study of His Word through translations and so on. I pray that is what He has in store for my future here. My spirit longs for growth with Him. While I sin because it abides in me (though removed in Christ), I have never felt such a strong movement within myself as I do when the Lord calls me to study. It is a constant prayer that He has that continue.
Regarding this blog, please comment. Criticisms and encouragement are all welcomed alike. I want the challenge in His Word. You and I in fellowship with Him can grow and praise His name together.
Yours in Brotherly Love, Cam
-May our Lord Jesus Christ direct our steps and thoughts. We pray that any error in our discussion be removed from our own thoughts as we are taught that they are also removed from yours. We pray that within You, Lord, we continue to grow in Your infinite grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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