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TODAY’S STUDY
It’s Simple: The Lord Jesus Christ Can’t be Limited
Are you limited in your thinking?
For I (Paul) would have you know, brethren (believers in Christ in the Galatian region), that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to (the source of) man.
For I neither received it (the gospel) from man, nor was I taught it (the gospel…by man), but I received it (the gospel) through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
T. AUSTIN-SPARKS
Reflections from…
The Risen Lord and the Things Which Cannot Be Shaken
I wonder what Paul would think... were he to come back today and look over the literature of the past many centuries about his letters. I wonder, “What would Paul think about the systems of truth, about the doctrines, that wonderful organizations men have made of the things which he said in a moment of inspiration and need?” I wonder what he would say. I think he would look at these things with blank amazement, and say, “Well, how could they ever have made that out of what I said?! How could that ever have resulted?!”
I am not sure that he would recognize his own teaching. I am quite sure that he would be very doubtful as to whether it was the right interpretation of what he said. I simply raise that as a question, and yet include it as something upon which to reflect. Does not a systematizing of truth result in limitation? Does not a systematizing of truth into a setness, breathe death? The New Testament themes are far, far too big for our systematic molds. You cannot systematize the Cross of the Lord Jesus, you can only go on your knees and worship, conscious that you see something in the Cross that is really far beyond our power to comprehend.
But immediately when you have boxed in a system of truth, you have reduced it from its divine and eternal dimensions, and robbed it of its power, and brought it into a realm of death. The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ - or any one of the great themes of the New Testament - when you have so wonderfully brought together all the fragments and organized them, and put them into a manual, or a textbook, you have killed them.
When the Lord Jesus Christ came, and in Himself gave some interpretation to the Mosaic Law, when He shed some light upon the Law, which did not fall within the compass of a Pharisaical system, there was no room for Him! There was no room for God in His own law. Well there must be room left for God!
I (Jeremiah) looked on the earth, and behold, it was (had become) formless and void (after the first sin of a creature); and (I looked) to the heavens, and they had no light.
I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.
I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled.
I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were pulled down before the Lord, before His fierce anger.
For thus says the Lord,“The whole land shall be a desolation, yet I will not execute a complete destruction (even though it is my right to do so).”
“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you…”
‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.’
‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through (observing) the (Mosaic) Law (and of course it doesn’t), then Christ died needlessly.”
Are you limited in your thinking?
John Nelson Darby
All philosophy is perfect delusion; intellect has nothing to do with God at all. Faith is never in the intellect. And what’s more, the intellect never knows a truth. Truth is not the object of intellect; truth is the object of testimony. This is where the difference lies.
You tell me something and I believe you, but the thing that receives truth (on a testimony) is not the intellect. Real intelligence of God is in the conscience. The mind is incapable of forming an idea of God, and that is where the philosophers have all gone wrong.
But I (Paul) am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
…that, in reference to your former manner of life (as an unbeliever), you lay aside the (sovereignty of the) old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit…
…and that you be renewed (by God) in the spirit of your mind…
…and (that you pick up and) put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and (in the) holiness of the truth.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the SOURCE of all knowledge
We are the intended RECIPIENTS.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and (everyone in) your household (who also believes).”
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…the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
Pander
Someone who furnishes clients for a prostitute
Little children (believers in Christ), make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He (the Lord Jesus Christ) is righteous…
…the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness…
…just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, revealed the glorious promise of the gospel with these words…
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
First John, Chapter 5, Verse 13 parallels John’s purpose for writing his gospel…John, Chapter 20, verses 30 and 31…
Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book (the bible),//but these (written here) have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God; and that (by) believing you may have (the Zoe) life (eternal life) in His name.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
John wrote his gospel so that people would believe and be saved. He wrote his first epistle so that those who believe would KNOW they are saved.
Ignoring these certain and sure promises of God, over half of professing Christians believe they can lose their salvation. They believe eternal life is really conditional life and it is based on what they continue to do instead of what Christ has done.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
They say they believe in Jesus, but they do not believe what He promises. Jesus said…in John, Chapter 5, Verse 24…
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of (spiritual) death into (spiritual) life.”
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
Those who are depending on their own righteousness, on performing good works, or on adherence to a religious system, can never be assured of salvation. They will never know if they have ever done enough. There is no joy when people put their faith in what they do instead of what God has done in Christ. When salvation depends completely on God, there is no chance for failure. Whenever man is involved in attaining and preserving salvation there can be no assurance, only a false hope.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel's Promise is Not Conditional Life
True believers have assurance through God the Father. Jesus said, in John, Chapter 10, Verses 28 and 29…
“…and I (the Lord Jesus Christ) give eternal life to them (believers in Christ), and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.//My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of (God) the Father’s hand.”
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
True believers also have assurance through God the Son. Jesus said, in John, Chapter 6, Verses 39 and 40…
“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.//For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
“Eternal” is a word that describe not only the life believers have in union with Christ, but also the fate in the Lake of Fire that awaits those who die without a relationship with Christ. Christians also have assurance through God the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul declared, Ephesians, Chapter 1, Verses 13 and 14…
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with (God) the Holy Spirit of promise,//who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
At the very moment anyone understands and believes the gospel, they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, who guarantees they will be co-heirs with Christ…Romans, Chapter 8, Verse 17…
…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
Our assurance is based on God’s power and promises…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,//to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,//who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is
Not Conditional Life
The gift of eternal life is eternally secure because God’s gifts are never taken back. Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 29…
…for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
Eternal life can only be received as a gift of God’s grace. Anyone who tries to earn or anyone who tries to merit the gift nullifies God’s grace. Romans, Chapter 11,
Verse 6…
But if (1) it (salvation) is by grace (and it is), it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Mike Gendron
The Gospel’s Promise is Not Conditional Life
Professing Christians who want to be certain of their salvation must believe the promises of the gospel while simultaneously REJECTING any teaching, experience or feeling that opposes the Word of God. Once they do, they will be more certain of living eternally in heaven than they are of living one more day on earth.
Are you limited in your thinking?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.//In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed
Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
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