In This Corner

1 Corinthians 1:13 “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”

Question? Can we be Christians without Christ?

Question? Can we preach salvation without the cross?

Question? Can we minister without the Spirit?

Question? Can we accomplish our destiny without God?

Question? Can we follow without changing our own hearts?

Can we?

There are 2 different answers to these honest questions, yes 2 answers but only one is right. How can that be, how can there be more than one answer but only one that is right Try and pass that off during a Math exam and pass, its illogical it doesn’t make any sort of sense. How can 2 answers exist when one is false and one is true. It all depends on which corner you stand in. Also which set of perspectives you wear over your eyes and heart, I guess it depends on who you ask and how you ask the questions.

It all depends on which corner you stand in. in one corner you have God, Jesus and their Word. In the other is our opinions and traditions . Both have answers but only one side has the answers that are right and true.

One side declares statements such as: Well as long as you go to church every Sunday pay your tithes and keep “your nose clean” you’ll be alright. Don’t forget to give St. Peter a big smile when you see him, you’ll be fine. Don’t worry about taking the bible literally, it’s just a bunch of kids stories with morals, just be nice to people and stay out of the way. Pay no attention to most of what Jesus said, just tolerate people and call it love, and that’ll be good enough, oh and don’t forget the bake sale on Saturday gotta earn those stripes you know. My parents and grandparents went to church/mass so I’m a Christian by default I guess. Of course I can preach I graduated with honors, I know my hermeneutics (intro, scripture, 3 points, story, conclusion). I have my “Nelsons Book of Illustrations” I’m all set as long as I have 3 months to prepare and no one better expect me to change my 6 month line up. I don’t need to change my attitude, God can just love me for who I am. I don’t need to forgive (vengeance in mine says the lord right!). Don’t forget gossip is a way to inform people of things to pray about, don’t you know.

None of these statements are the least bit true or scriptural, rather just easily palatable lifestyles that blend an image of God over a hollow shell (like a chocolate easter bunny, a tasty outside with nothing but air in the middle) Jesus gave us so much and asked so little in return, he tore down the old religious system of the Law, set us free from vain religion. Only to watch us rebuild and modernize the old ways. He made it so simple (not easy, simple) for us to come to and follow him just look at

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” 1 John 4:14-15 14 “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:16-18 “:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

All of this He validated on the cross, and insured with his own blood. And all He asks is that we believe and follow Him in His sacrifice, ascension and Kingship. He is Alive in us individually and in us corporately. Whether we like it or not He is alive and wants to rule his church, and not just to be locked in the trunk of someone’s car waiting to be a validation to someone’s tradition. Must I remind you of Matthew 15:6 “So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect].AMP” Jesus has made his word so simple to understand, that we have had to build university’s and organizations in order to misunderstand it. When is the last time you read your Bible, and I don’t mean a glance here or there before you got to bed or on the toilet. When is the last time you actually read it? It is amazing how clear the answers come when you see it right there in black and white and RED. Where was I? Jesus is not the means to an end, no matter how craftily we polish and present it.