Independently Dependent

Independently Dependent

July 5, 2015

For the past few weeks in Bible Study we’ve been looking at theology. We are looking at what is called the Order of Salvation. Now, it can sound really, really boring and dry. But, it is not. We have a good time with it. Lots of discussion and laughter and we even came up with a cheer – which covers a recent topic –

Monergism – Synergism — predestination — all for election stand up and holler!

Sad thing is nobody stood up and hollered! But we did laugh!! So, what does that have to do with today? I think nothing . . . and I think everything!

We’ve been talking about this thing called the Order of Salvation. Very simply, we’ve been looking at the stages of salvation, which comes first and so on.

So, what is salvation? It means we are delivered from the power and penalty of sin. We are redeemed.

Many times, Christians will ask, “is someone saved.” What does that mean? That’s a buzz word in Christian circles! But if you aren’t a follower of Christ, you have no clue what it means to be saved or why you need to be saved.

In our world, we crave our independence. We want to be free to do what we want to do. We want to do what we believe we should be allowed to do. Yet, in the midst of our striving and fighting for independence, we are called to be dependent upon God. If we are independent, then we are also fighting for control. And that goes against the very nature of who we are called to be in Christ.

So, the question is . . . do you know Jesus? As one person put it a few weeks ago in Bible study . . . ‘it’s not do you know about Jesus, but do you know Jesus?’

And that’s really the issue . . . so, whether you believe salvation is monergistic or synergistic or whether you’re in the Calvinist camp or are more Arminian in your theology . . . all topics we’ve hit on in Bible Study, as well as tiptoeing through Calvin’s TULIPs — —

In the end, and for some of you, you’re not going to like this next statement, it may even be a little controversial — but honestly — get over it — because most of this theology — in the end — as fun as it is to talk about — it really doesn’t matter! GASP!!! GASP!!!

What really matters is the question, do you know Jesus?

You can know all the theology in the world — you can argue from all sides because you’re so smart — but who cares. The question comes right back to the same simple question . . . Do you know Jesus?

You see I can know about Jesus, I can know all kinds of facts and figures about him.

How about this guy — MOZART

- he wrote his first symphony when he was just 8 years old.

- He earned a great deal of money from his successful operas, he also spent money extravagantly and ended up poor.

- He was buried in a simple grave. He had no graveside ceremony or even a grave marker.

- By the age of 3, he learned to play a clavier. By the age of 5, he was playing the harpsichord and violin.

- He could write music before he could write words.

- He could listen to music just once and then write it down from memory without any mistakes.

- When he visited the Sistine Chapel as a 14 year old, he shocked everyone when he remembered and wrote down, note for note, Allegri’s Miserere. The composition was a secret.

Or this guy — Michael Jordan

- He was cut from his high school team as a sophmore.

- he’s afraid of water.

- ESPN named him as the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century.

- One of his famous quotes is: "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

- A pair of his early Nikes were sold for over $71K at an auction.

- His generates $1 billion in sales for Nike.

- It’s estimated he will make $100 million this year.

- One of his closest friends was a Chicago cab driver.

And I’ve said it before the only difference between Michael Jordan and Michael Deutsch is this piece of paper. Give me another 11", And you’d want to be LIKE THIS MIKE!