Absolutely

Our human lives seem geared to thinking in absolutes. When we say something is "good", the implication seems to be there is nothing whatsoever wrong with it. When we say it is "bad", the opposite is true.

My in-laws are very much this way when referencing those they love. They simply cannot acknowledge the wrong-doing of those who fall within their love. They will not admit it. To admit those they love have broken some law is to say they don't love them.

At the same time, those who they acknowledge as "wrong-doers" don't get a lot of love. It's an extremist way of thinking, and it is shared by millions of people around the world.

Why?

Do we not acknowledge our own sins? Does this mean we hate ourselves? God doesn't want that anymore than he wants us hating others. And speaking of God, do we not agree that God loves us? All of us? And yet what does he say about us?

To Peter, when Peter tried to talk him out of doing God's will: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but men." This is recorded immediately after Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Christ!

Again, in Matthew: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your hildren, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good thins t othose who ask him!"

"You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil?"

But God showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God tells us we are saved by grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 Revised Standard Version

God also tells us that there are behaviors and attitudes he expects from us. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24 Revised Standard Version

And we are given a list of behaviors and attitudes to avoid. Now the works of the flesh are plain; fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 Revised Standard Version

For centuries people have argued heatedly over what it means to be "saved by grace". Some erroneously believe that those who hold that salvation is through grace, and grace alone, are advocating some sort of lip service to God which frees them to commit any horrible act they choose.

At the same time, the "grace holders" accuse the others of being works orientated, ignoring God's gift of forgiveness.

It is confusing only when we think in terms of absolutes. The truth is, there is no conflict in the statements. One simply must understand just what it is God is telling us.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18 Revised Standard Version

What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. James 2:14-17 Revised Standard Version

Let us consider four (4) scenarios. They each represent a kind of person. When I speak of "acknowledging God" I am talking of accepting forgiveness which was given through Jesus Christ.

Person 1: Does not acknowledge God and does all of the things God says not to do and virtually none of the things God requires.

Person 2: Does not acknowledge God and does some of the things God says not to do and tries to do all of the things God requires.

Person 3: Acknowledges God but does a lot of the things God says not to do and virtually none of the things God requires.

Person 4: Acknowledges God and does some of the things God says not to do and tries to do all of the things God requires.

If all four people were truly as they are described, which two will go to heaven and which two will be excluded? The answer is that Persons 3 and 4 go to heaven - by virtue of having accepted God's forgiveness. Persons 1 and 2 are excluded for rejecting God's forgiveness.

But James seems to be telling us something. What?

It has to do with Persons 2 and 3. Let us first consider Person 3.

Supposedly, Person 3 has accepted God's forgiveness. But have they? There is certainly no evidence of it. When a person accepts God's forgiveness they are "baptized" into God's family. The Holy Spirit enters their body and dwells inside them with their own spirit. This gives them both the power and the (growing) will to behave like God. So why isn't this person desiring to behave like God? Why are they behaving like Person 1? What James is telling us is that it is very likely that Person 3 is a liar, seeking to create a false image in the minds of the other Persons. But God is not deceived. He knows where his Spirit resides and where it has been excluded. Person 3 will NOT go to heaven because Person 3 is lying when they say they have accepted God's forgiveness.

Now let's look at Person 2. Person 2 is behaving a lot like Person 4, except Person 2 seems to be having trouble acknowledging Jesus. On the surface, it would seem they are a pitiful case because without God's forgiveness they cannot go to heaven. But what does Jesus himself say about these people?

"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the lease of these my brethren, you did it to me.'" Matthew 25:31-40 Revised Standard Version

To the Person 3 types he says the opposite.

So what is going on? Works or faith?

Both.

You see, if you have true, God-forgiving, faith, your life will change. You won't do this in order to achieve grace and forgiveness, you will do this because you have grace and forgiveness.

What Jesus is saying is that it is possible to have faith in him and not even realize it. Just as it is possible to say you have faith and not. God knows. He is not fooled. Some do things out of pride and confidence in their own ability. This excludes faith in God. Some do things out of faith in God. This, by definition, includes Jesus, for Jesus is God. But some people don't like the name and use another. There is only one God, so if the faith is real, we are worshiping the same God.

It seems a paradox, but it isn't.

My son helps me around the house because he is my son. When his friends come by and help him with helping me that does not make them my children. In order for them to become my children I must adopt them. It is not their choice, although I would certainly not adopt a child who did not want me to adopt them. That's the way it is with God. He adopts us into his family. Not because we do things, but because he wants to and we said yes.

The Power of Love and Faith

I read something interesting in the book of John this morning.

John Chapter Twenty (Revised Standard Version)

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

verses 19-25

I bolded the portion which struck me. It is similar to something else I've read in the Gospels.

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5 Revised Standard Version

Again, I bolded the portion of concern.

There is great power in love. The greatest power is the power of forgiveness. For with the power of forgiveness people can live with God.

Who are the greatest missionaries? The greatest are those who love the most. Their love is seen in their actions, and so people believe God.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 Revised Standard Version

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my nam,e I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you aks anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:12-15 Revised Standard Version

What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. James 2:14-17 Revised Standard Version

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:23-24 Revised Standard Version

Are You Rich or Are You Poor

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Mark 10:17 Revised Standard Version

It's a question many of us have asked. Some continue to ask it. Oh, maybe we don't use those words, but the question is there. How do I get to heaven?

The punchline answer is, "die". But that's actually the last step, not the first. If you're not on your way there before you die, you certainly won't be after.

So what do you (do I) have to do to get to heaven?

Do you pick up the arrogance in the question? There's an assumption there which is an affront to God. Fortunately, he knows we are flesh and silly and will treat with us on our level, so we can understand him. That's why he became flesh. So we could understand.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:1-3 New King James Version

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 New King James Version

The assumption, of course, is that we can somehow "earn" our way into heaven. We can purchase the right through some deed, or series of deeds, on our part. And that if we were to accomplish these deeds, God would have no choice but to let us in. In effect, we would have more power than God. I think that's what Lucifer tried to do. Just look what happened to him.

Now the truth is, there is something we can do to get to heaven. We can obey God. But that's reactive, not proactive. God speaks to our spirits, and how we respond to him will ultimately determine our future.

This story of the rich young ruler is repeated in the Book of Matthew. There, Jesus' response to the young man is recorded thus:

So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:17 New King James Version.

Keep the commandments. Of course, we can guess the young man's response to that, and Matthew also records that.

He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 19:18-19 New King James Version

That pretty much covers all commandments from God. The key to remember here is, "from God," not from man. We mortals have a tendency to add and subtract from God's commandments.

The young man felt he had achieved all of this, but he still wanted to hear it from Jesus. Why? Because somewhere inside himself he probably still felt empty and unsure. His next question supports this theory, for it suggests he senses he is still lacking something. He was.

The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:20-24 New King James Version

When people are rich they have a difficult, if not impossible, task of understanding their need for God, forgiveness, and mercy. Heaven is not a concern. Either they assume they are going, or they don't care one way or another.

I think it is important to point out that a person can be rich in things other than money, and that those other riches can be just as much a deterrent to seeing heaven as money itself. In the movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean", Jack Sparrow accuses Will Turner of being obsessed with treasure. Turner gets indignant and denies it. Then Sparrow says something profound: "Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." He's right. It's not.

A lot of people who have little, or no, money are rich in other things. Perhaps it's their spouse. Their children. Their fame. Their power. Their friends. Could be anything, really. If we focus on those other things, and money is included in this list, to the point where God is falling out of his place of importance in our lives, there is an excellent chance that God will make us "poor" in order to make us understand where our needs really lie.

It's a horrible experience to lose money, people, prestige, possessions, talent, health, whatever. But if we allow the experience to turn our hearts and thoughts to God, it will ultimately be for our own good. And in due time we will regain those things, people, abilities that we lost. How do we regain someone who has died? But biding our time and living our life until such time that God reunites us in heaven.

It's horrible, and we go through a very natural phase of being very angry with God. Don't get too bent out of shape about getting angry with God. He understands. And he's not intimidated by our anger. He will not respond in kind. He will respond in kindness.

Psalm 103 New King James Version

[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

[2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

[3] Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases,

[4] who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

[5] who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

[6] The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

[7] He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

[8] The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

[9] He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.

[10] He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

[11] For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

[12] as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

[13] As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.

[14] For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

[15] As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

[16] For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

[17] But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children,

[18] to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

[19] The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

[20] Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.

[21] Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

[22] Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!