1044. Choosing Spiritual Diversification or Investing Fully in Jesus

In the financial world of investing, it is usually wise to diversify to reduce risk. This way, different asset classes or industries which may perform poorly for a time in one area can be offset by better performance somewhere else. In the religious world, even among Christian portfolios, there is often a concern that selling out fully into God's grace is risky business ... even dangerous. It has become part of the church culture.

Did Jesus really do everything necessary to connect people to God for eternity and make them alive in Him ... or do we need to do our part to complete what He started? Will it be fully by faith or will it require expanding into various works? Are we going to put all of our eggs into one basket by investing 100% into the Jesus stock or will we feel the need to "hedge our bets" for some other type of spiritual safety net? Will we depend upon blood or behavior? Counting the cost isn't about us trying to figure out how to pay a debt that we'll never be able to fulfill. It's about trusting in Another who fully invested Himself in order for us to experience the peace found in a covenant of a promised guarantee.



   
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1041. Even as People of Faith, It's Okay to Say, "I Don't Know"

We can all look back at the many things we've learned (or unlearned) about God, His love, the message of Jesus and His redemptive work at the cross. And yet, there seems to be so much we don't know when it comes to eternal things. Theology becomes a tangled mess full of twists and turns. We change our perspectives sometimes, especially when God's Spirit helps us in reaching a greater knowledge of the truth, perhaps one small bite at a time. But as humans, some of what we believe about Bible doctrine and things related to it may also just be a matter of opinion or perspective based upon what we know, think, or have been taught.

This week's program is rather unique as we discuss individual perspectives about faith, believing, and questions that may be difficult to answer. In the end, God is not frustrated with our ignorance ... and sometimes it's okay to say, "I don't know for sure what the answer is to that."



   
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1034. "Even His Brothers Did Not Believe in Him"

Our conversation this week takes a different approach on avoiding the judgment of others when it comes to trying to identify whether or not they are saved or considered as believers in Christ. We find passages in the Bible where it's easy to jump to the wrong conclusions and allow human speculation and misdirected theology of the written pages to put God in a box, which limits His love and grace.

The brothers who shared the same mother with Jesus did not believe in Him. The disciples saw Him after His resurrection and worshipped Him—but some still doubted. Others who came to believe after the resurrection were also zealous for a law of works, considered as part of an ongoing formula that had been wiped out and abolished without them realizing it.

We're providing some food for thought for all of us to consider. But Jesus promised something even better that can bring people to a place where they will never hunger or thirst again. That's the ball we should keep our eyes upon.



   
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1033. Jesus: "Who Do You Say That I Am?"

"So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you'" (John 6:53).

This was one small piece of a passage that had people trying to figure out just exactly what Jesus was saying. This not only included those opposed to Jesus but also those who had been following Him. In fact, many of the disciples left at that point.

Jesus asked the twelve who were left if they also wanted to depart. There are things Jesus said that contained words of truth where the understanding with the mind was unfruitful ... but something within their hearts that had been revealed about Jesus caused them to realize that He was their only hope for eternal life.

The same is true today with people who lack understanding about spiritual things, statements from Jesus, and Bible writings. But this will not prevent God from revealing truth to us when it comes to Jesus. Believing doesn't require intellectual comprehension.



   
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1032. "Hey Jesus, What Must We Do?"

Chairs within church buildings are filled with people week after week who just want someone to tell them what they need to do to experience God's blessings and acceptance. They just want to know they are right with God.

In John chapter 6, after seeing Jesus perform some miracles, a group of people went looking for Him across the sea—who previously had their stomachs filled with what started out as a few loaves and a couple of fish. Jesus accused them of not seeking Him because they saw signs ... but because of their experience at the all-you-can-eat buffet. It led them to ask the question: "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered: "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

Their next question was even more significant. Why? Because it put the focus on the Savior and His work to reconcile people to God instead of us trying to do something to experience the fullness of God's life and blessings. Partaking of the Bread of Life will keep people from hungering and thirsting for God's righteousness.



   
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1010. The Old Way: Be a Doer; The Better Way: Believe in Jesus

When trapped within a religious maze, it gets confusing when the focus becomes about you and your dedication to God through your works and actions. Those from the "holy hierarchy" will be spouting grace and God's love one minute but in the next breath, they'll tell you to behave in a certain way to ensure you're right with God, justified, sanctified ... while on the journey to making faith perfect.

The way of the old unprofitable and expired covenant for the Jews before the cross was centered around their pursuit of righteousness and salvation based upon not just hearing the word (of law) – but actually doing it. As the Apostle Paul stated in his Romans letter, there never was nor has there ever been a successful doer in the works department. So where do we go from here? That's where the gospel comes in.



   
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960. The Living God Revealing Himself

God desires to reveal Himself to us. It is not something that is comprehended with the mind or intellect but is spiritually discerned. While our knowledge may grow and our minds become renewed when it comes to understanding the truth of the gospel, the revelation comes from God's Spirit to our spirit in the heart of our innermost being. It opens the spiritual eyes of our understanding.

It is not rooted in an academic approach because God's revelation surpasses knowledge and Bible philosophy or theology—and it is centered on the person of Jesus Christ. As we've been discussing, God's will for us is based more on knowing the living Christ than it is simply having knowledge about Him.



   
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919. Sharing the Good News (Gift) Without the Bad News (Works)

When it comes to sharing the good news of Jesus, many have followed a "formula" that features a pattern of sharing bad news first. This is usually based on a form of legalism ... telling each individual they have broken God's law. However, it was a law they were never under, and it came to an end over 2,000 years ago.

There is a better option of pointing people to the One who gives eternal life other than using an obsolete law of works. By pointing out that people need to be saved because of bad works, then they often assume a mindset that works are needed to maintain their approved position with God by having good works that will outweigh their bad. The better choice is to communicate the love of God as demonstrated through what Jesus did on behalf of everyone ... which brought a New Covenant based upon believing—and not good and bad works.



   
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833. Things Seldom Heard in Church: Rahab "The Believer"

Her story is in the book of Joshua in the earlier days of Israel becoming a nation. Many years later, this woman named Rahab was still known as “Rahab the harlot,” as referenced a couple of times by New Testament writers. Like many people today, she was identified by something she did.  In this case, it was considered negative, and something looked down upon.

Something that easily gets lost in between this gentile woman’s occupation and her willingness to help Israeli spies … is that she was a believer in the one true God before she ever did anything to help the Israelites. She wasn’t one who was under the law. There was nothing that she (or anybody) could “do” to be accepted by God—she was justified in the same way as all people are … whether Jew or Gentile. She believed in God by faith because of what she heard that He had done.

   
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816. Law Keepers: None Righteous; Believers in Faith: Gifted With Righteousness

Anyone can separate and pluck-out Bible verses, miss the context, and then wonder what in the world they mean. One of many examples is found in the first three chapters of the book of Romans. Paul was taking chapters to explain how the entire world had fallen short of God’s glory because of sin—whether Jew or Gentile. But in these passages, he also reveals the good news of God’s righteousness and acceptance being made available as a gift by a source known as faith, which occurs apart from the works of the law of commandments which came through Moses.

So whether one was a Jew under law or a Gentile without the law, all fell short, and all now have the same access to God by faith in Jesus Christ. But right-standing with God has never been attained or based upon what one does.

   
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