Sunday, December 14, 2008

CHRISTMAS--MORE THAN GOD 'WITH' US !!!

Christmas is the time of year to rediscover the meaning of the one and only "Emmanuel" of God, Jesus Christ. Emmanuel means 'God With Us'. But it means much more than that. We shall see. The Christmas story tells us that the WORD stepped out of eternity and became one of us, a fully human being. This WORD had always been with God and WAS God. ( John 1:1-4). John tells us that He was the originator of Creation, of Life, of everything.(As does Paul. Colossians 1:15-17).

The name "Emmanuel" actually means , God with us. But Jesus' coming in the flesh did much more than just dwell with humans. He became one of us, became one WITH us and became One IN us. IN US !!! And us IN Him. He makes this clear in John 14:20 when He says that we will know that He is in the Father, the Father is in Him and He is in us. In John 17:20-26, He phrases it this way, " that He and the Father will be in us and that He himself will be IN us."

Paul says it this way in Colossians3:4, " that when Christ who IS your life appears." The physical life we all have now in the fallenness of Adam is only temporary. Jesus enters into all of us and gives us His life and that life is ETERNAL. ( I Corinthians 15:22).

Jesus is the SOURCE of life. If He is not present inside of a living organism to give life, that organism is not alive but dead. He is life. John 1:4. ( Note: All things are sustained or upheld by Jesus Christ.)

Christmas is much more than shepherds, wise men, camels, and Santa. It is about EMMANUEL. God with us. God one of us. God IN us. AND, We IN Him. And He is there within us permanently with no possibility of being separated from us ever. Romans 8.

Finally, Paul calls all of this the greatest secret of the ages. The greatest mystery of all of humanity. He calls it a GLORIOUS truth. It is in Colossians 1:26-27. "Christ IN you the hope of Glory." AND, AND, AND, it applies to EVERYONE. EVERYONE!!!
See verse 28 of Colossians 1. God simply loves all of His creation and has saved and redeemed and reconciled it in Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:20. The KEY for us is will be believe?

Christmas is for the whole world because Emmanuel is FOR the whole world. All who ever lived.( John 3:16-17; I John 2:2.)

Maybe now you can more clearly than ever before, " BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD". (John 1:29)

Blessings, and Merry Christmas!

Paul

( P.S. To comment, just click on 'comments' and use your Google identity or account . If you dont have one you can just register and then comment. Thanks. It is free. )


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Thursday, December 4, 2008

DAMN RIGHT ! HELL YES ! REALLY ?

Minds can be so made up over a subject that it is almost impossible to get through to them with anything that changes one's perspective. Take the concept of Hell. "I believe in an ever burning torturing fire to punish wickedly bad people who may not ever have heard the name Jesus Christ FOREVER. Damnit!" My grandmother and my mother taught me this which they learned in Sunday school at their local protestant church and I am not going to change their professional theology when it comes to Hell.

I read Lazarus and the Rich man and about worms that die not and Lakes of fire and brimstone and I KNOW WHEREOF I SPEAK. Don't confuse me with the facts of history, language, or the pagan concepts of Plato and other pagan philosophers who INVENTED the concept of a torturing firey Hell, because I am not listening. Damnit!

"I know all I need to know about Heaven and Hell and that is that."

Have you ever talked to someone in this closed frame of mind? Some just will not let go of the Hell they love so much. Rather than go into the details of Hell and where our Western Theological approach to it came from I will just refer you to a couple of Theological explanations I will send to you if you ask. ( I don't want your money or anything else!)

Ask for "Lazarus and the Rich Man" paper. Amazing. It has NOTHING to do with "fire".

Ask for the "Package" on Hell.

These will open your eyes as nothing else would.

God is Love and He loves you. You are the child of His He always wanted!!! He took care of you in the Life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Believe it.

Ask for the articles I mentioned above at: Paul.Kurts@wcg.org

Blessings,

Pastor Paul
www.newlifewcg.org

Thursday, November 13, 2008

INCLUDED ? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WE ARE ADOPTED AND INCLUDED. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT ?

The true Gospel message of Jesus Christ is that of Adoption into the very life of the Father through Jesus by the Spirit. In conjunction with this understanding we use the term " included " -- that we are Adopted by the Father and Included. We even hear the wording that, "We are Included." What does included actually mean?

Jesus has indeed included us in His life. He IS our life.( John 14:20; 17:20-26;Colossians 3:1-4). Does this mean that now we have been added to His life and given eternal life since He has the power to grant eternal life to us? In other words is it a going forward thing for us?

Paul says in Galatians 2:20 that he/we are crucified with Christ. And tht we are buried with Christ.( Romans 6:1-4). In Colossians 3:1 Paul says that we have been raised with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that we ascended with Jesus to the Father's right hand and are seated there with Jesus. Other verses tell us that Jesus became sin for us,(Heb.10:10; II Cor.5:21). Jesus "tasted" death for us (Hebrews 2:9), and that we are resurrected in Him in New Birth, (I Peter 1:3).

There is an intimate interaction between humanity, the Cosmos, and Jesus. So intimate in fact that Jesus literally enters into our life and gives us life, but we all also Enter into His very life by His choice to PLACE OR INCLUDE US IN HIS LIFE and thereby we are involved personally in everything that happened to Jesus. So we say thta what happened to Jesus happened to us. The word we use to describe this theological principle is INCLUSION. It means that we all are included IN the events of of His earthly life and also we are included in His eternal life as well. We now are included in the life that Jesus shares with the Father and the Spirit by our Adoption and our Inclusion in Jesus' life. He IS our life now and forever. When Jesus said in John 14:6, " I am the way, the Truth, and the life," He was making a profound statement few understood at the time. They would at a later time. Jn.14:20.
Whe John 10:10 refers to Jesus coming to bring life and that we might have it more abundantly He is referring to His life that we are included in.

God's purpose from the "very beginning" was to adopt us as His children and to include us in the life of Jesus who became Incarnate for that very purpose. ( see
Ephesians 1:3-14).

We humans are not just "included" generically in the plan of God somewhere in the lostness of eternity somehow. NO, we are Included IN the life of Jesus, " the only begotten son of God." The relationship Jesus has with the Father and the Spirit is the relationship we share with the Father and the Spirit through Jesus. Jesus shares it with us. We EXIST IN Jesus. He is our life. It is what Triune God desired from the very beginning--to share His divine nature and life with us through Adoption and Inclusion all made possible through Jesus.

For information on this topic go to my web site at www.newlifewcg.org which lists other web sites expressing these same understandings.

Pastor Paul

Monday, October 27, 2008

"HELL"... NOT WHAT YOU THOUGHT !!!

What the hell are you afraid of? Why are we often times unwilling to admit God loves us and wants to be with us forever ( Eph.1:3-14), AND, that the "hell" of Plato's imagination does not exist. Jonathan Edward's "hell" does NOT exist! Why are we so reluctant to turn our concept of HEll loose? Why are we AFRAID to look into the subject of Hell and where the concept of it came from? Why are we satisfied to remain ignorant of this theological fable?

The Internet is filled with some good information on the origins of Hell, i.e, Plato, Dante, Augustine, and others. It is also filled with some horrible information about eternal torture, suffering, and misery.

I don't have time or room here to expand this subject but I do have some really great articles I will send you via E:Mail for FREE if you ask for them. Also, let me encurage you to look into the history of the concept of Hell for yourself. Many sources are available. What are you afraid of? Don't be. God loves you and has secured a place in His life with you forever.

Life is short, you owe it to yourself to do a little study to find out the Peace you can have inside of God's great love for you.

E:mail me at Paul.Kurts@wcg.org or go to my web site at www.newlifewcg.org

You will be glad you did. Also, ask for the Article by Bert Gary on LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN. Amazing insight into God's love.

blessings,

Pastor Paul Kurts

( To COMMENT, just click on "comments" and post your comment. )

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Sunday, October 12, 2008

WHAT IS THE REAL GOSPEL OF CHRIST ?

What is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ? Many would say that God is way off somewhere separated from His creation and distant from all of humanity. They would say that the Gospel is that we are lost souls but that Jesus came and paid the price for all of us and that IF we would only repent and accept Jesus into our life followed by living a holy and righteous life then we would then be saved and "go to heaven" when we die.

Does that sound familiar? Is that somewhat close to the "gospel" you have heard? Well it may sound plausible but it is NOT the Gospel!

The Gospel, or Good News, is that the Triune God decided to create humans to live physical lives, be adopted into His life, and live with Him forever.( Ephesians 1:3-14). The Triune God determined this plan and also determined that NOTHING was going to deter it. When Adam sinned, Jesus had to take care of the problem of sin, in effect, undoing what Adam did to all of humanity. Adam brought the death penalty upon everyone. ( I Corinthians 15:22.)BUT, in Jesus all are made alive. Same verse.

What all was implicated in the fall of Adam is now implicated in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ--the second Adam. No one stands outside of the love and loving embrace of the Triune God, for, in Christ, ALL things are reconciled to the Father.( Colossians 1:19-21).

Jesus accepts us into His life. We belong to the Father and have from the foundation of the world. All sin is taken care of in Jesus.(Ephesians 1:3-14; Revelation 13:8; I John 2:2; John 3:16-17).

The Gospel or Good News is simply that the Triune God loves us and has adopted us and included us into His life through Jesus by the Spirit. We did not have anything to do with the process. We did not make it happen and we can not make it un-happen. We do, however, have the opportunity to BELIEVE it. God is FOR us. He loves us. He wants us. We are His children He always wanted. He even LIKES us!

The Triune God has all the power to make this a reality for everyone. All we have to do is to realize Who Jesus is and what He has done for all of us and accept it and believe it.

For more articles on this subject please go to my web site at www.newlifewcg.org

This all involves and INCLUDES YOU. You need to know it!

blessings,

Pastor Paul

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Saturday, September 27, 2008

ARE YOU REALLY SET FREE ???

John 8:31-32

SET FREE??? Are you really set free? Knowing the Truth in Jesus Christ WILL set you free. But what does that mean? Do you feel any anxiousness about your salvation? Do you question the absolute assurance of your eternal life with God? Do you think that you can do ANYTHING to undo what Christ has already done to and for you?
Is there ever that "question" in your mind about your eternal future? If you answered yes to ANY of these questions then YOU ARE NOT SET FREE !!!

Knowing what Jesus Christ has done to all of humanity in Adopting man into the family of God and making it all happen in His life, death, resurrection and ascension will SET ANYONE FREE. Knowing this means knowing Jesus has done it all FOR US. Our part in it all is to believe. Even this belief is a gift of God and actually Jesus believes for us! He is our Faith for us. He shares it with us!

Can we accept it. Can we believe it. Can we believe and pass from condemnation to Life. Knowing that Jesus has done it all for us means we are free at last. We are "set free". Now we can rest.

When we sin, and we do, we KNOW Jesus has that taken care of. His blood covers all sin. When we realize how evil we are deep down, Jesus has that taken care of. We are set free. No Worries, mate, as the Aussies say. You are set free. Believe it.

E:Mail me for the short articles on the VICARIOUS HUMAN, JESUS; and, JESUS...THE ULTIMATE SURROGATE. Jesus has you covered in His love for you. YOU really are set free. You need to KNOW it.

Pastor Paul
www.newlifewcg.org
info@newlifewcg.org

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Friday, September 19, 2008

VISIT OUR NEW WEB SITE

I want to take this opportunity this time to invite all of you reading this Blog to visit my church web site. There are 20 articles I think you will find fascinating and challenging as well as a Trinitarian Theology reading list and interviews with Paul Young, author of THE SHACK, and interviews with C.Baxter Kruger, PhD., and author of a number of books on our inclusion in the life of God. You won't be disappointed. One verse which says it all is , Ephesians 1:3-14. You were adopted by the Great Triune God before Creation. And, He loves you and LIKES YOU.

Enjoy the web site at :

www.newlifewcg.org

Pastor Paul

E:mail address: info@newlifewcg.org


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Sunday, August 24, 2008

WHY IS EVIL IN THE WORLD???

Question? Since all of humanity has been reconciled and saved and adopted and included in the life of the Triune God, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH EVIL IN THE WORLD?

Most of humanity does not know or realize that they are included in the life of God nor do they know Who they are in Jesus. Their only motivation is fleshly from self directed objectives and desires. Couple this with the fallen nature all humans have inherited from the "first Adam" and you have a classic recipe for all sorts of evil from that deceitful heart in all humans.

Then, as if this were not enough, throw into the mix the evil influences of Satan who is the "god of this world" ( II Corinthians 4:4) and also the "prince of the power of the air" ( Ephesians 2:2) and you have the leader of a powerful evil combine mentioned in Ephesians 6. This group of spirits continually war against humanity and influence all kinds of evil practices.

In the end, all evil will be destroyed, even death, and only life, love, relationships, beauty, and glory in the presence of God will endure forever.

Just how God is going to do all of this is in His sights now. But, in Jesus it is as good as done.

May God hasten that day.

Pastor Paul
www.newlifewcg.org

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Friday, August 15, 2008

"I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD" SO ???

In John 16:33, Jesus said that He had overcome the world. Just how did He do that and WHAT implications does His overcoming the world have for you and me? Just E:mail me for the free article, "I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD." You don't want to miss this one for sure since it is the BEST news you could ever hear.

E:Mail:

Paul.Kurts@wcg.org

Blessings,

Pastor Paul

Friday, August 8, 2008

THE "GOSPEL" IS...NOT...GOOD NEWS !!!

Look at the Gospel message today from most professing Christians and you will find the message anything but GOOD. Theology which teaches you CAN be saved "if" you accept Jesus as you personal saviour but one which teaches you remain "unsaved" if you don't accept Jesus thereby dooming you to ETERNAL TORTURE in some kind of fire is not really Good News for EVERYONE.

The Gospel is not conditional on our part depending on what we do to make it a reality. This is why so many teach that those who NEVER heard the message of Jesus and did not accept Him in this life time are CONDEMNED to Hell. Hardly the heart of a loving God for all of His children!

But the TRUE Gospel IS GOOD NEWS for EVERYONE. All of Adams children were accepted by Jesus and given new life in Him from the foundation of the world. ( Eph.1:3-14). God's purpose has ALWAYS been to create man and place man in God's family and life. Jesus made it happen for everyone. ( I Cor.15:22). All. Everyone.

For those who believe it and accept this Good News they will live in the Abundant life Jesus promises. FOREVER. The GOOD NEWS really is Good News for ALL.

Lest you think that this is UNIVERSAL SALVATION we are speaking of here, we are NOT.

Sadly, some apparently will not accept and believe this Good News and therefore will not experience the joy of eternal life. They will experience something quite different. But, the OPPORTUNITY is there for everyone to realize.

Salvation in Jesus is an ANNOUNCEMENT, not a challenge or contest for humans. We can believe it or we can choose NOT to believe it. Whether we believe it or not does not make it a reality. It IS a reality for Everyone. The question is, " Will everyone believe it sooner or later?"

Pastor Paul
www.newlifewcg.org

P.S. E:mail me for 12 free Articles on this subject.

Paul.Kurts@wcg.org

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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Salvation is NOT the Reward of the Saved!

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Salvation is not the Reward of the Saved!!! Salvation is not conditional or a contest for humans. Universal Salvation is NOT true. Calvanism which says some are "elected" to be saved and others "elected" to be condemned is NOT true. Armenianism which says that those once saved can recant and become "unsaved" is not true. If Salvation is the Reward of the Saved, then "something" would have to be done to "win" the Reward. Salvation is an announcement that we ARE saved in Jesus.

God's ORIGINAL purpose was to create man and have man in God's life forever. This plan was accomplished in Jesus Christ. It ALL depended and depends on Jesus Christ, not humans. The ONLY thing any human can do is to believe it. It is True whether or not one believes it or not. We don't make it true. IT IS TRUE. The ONLY thing we CAN do is to believe it and thereby EXPERIENCE it now and forever.

Salvation and our participation in the life of God is an ANNOUNCEMENT. It is not conditional or a contest to see if one will make it. All humanity HAS made it already in Jesus Christ. The only question remaining for anyone is, " Will the individual BELIEVE it?" And, that is the ONLY requirement Jesus placed on Humans--Belief in Him.

E:Mail me for the Blog Package of 12 free Articles. And visit our web site at

www.newlifewcg.org

Request at: Paul.Kurts@wcg.org

Pastor Paul

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Sunday, July 13, 2008

Free Articles for YOU

I am offering some articles on INCARNATIONAL (TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY) for free to any of you who may wish to request them. Just E:mail me back at the address below and I will send them to you. Paul.Kurts@wcg.org God Bless.

IN WHAT "TENSE" SHOULD WE READ SCRIPTURE?
ALREADY, BUT NOT YET--OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE UNDERSTANDING
WHY MANKIND HATES THE TRUTH OF JESUS
ADOPTED AND INCLUDED IN GOD'S LIFE
CAN WE LET GOD DOWN?
IS GOD DISTANT AND UNINVOLVED?
WHOSE FAITH REALLY MATTERS?
JESUS THE VICARIOUS HUMAN
WHY BELIEVING IS ENOUGH
ARE "ALL" RAISED IN JESUS' RESURRECTION?
IN THE IMAGE OF GOD--WHAT IS IT?
HELL, NOT WHAT YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT.

There are 20 or so more articles on our web site which you may access for free.

Just go to www.newlifewcg.org and have a look at Pastor Paul's Articles.

Blessings to all of you,

Paul Kurts
www.newlifewcg.org
Madison, Alabama

E:Mail me at: Paul.Kurts@wcg.org

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Thursday, July 3, 2008

INDEPENDENCE DAY AND FREEDOM IN JESUS

This is July 4th celebration. It is also Independence Day. It Celebrates the freedom this country was afforded in coming out from under the often oppressive rule of the English throne. Freedom in any form of government is a precious commodity.

For Christians freedom is only found in the Truth that is in Jesus Christ. Understanding that the Triune God LOVES us and has done EVERYTHING in Jesus necessary to take us into His Triune life forever is truely what Jesus meant in John 8:31-32, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you FREE." We are there! Sin has been conquered in Jesus and there is NO condemnation of any kind for us humans who are all God's children.

Knowing Jesus unshackels us from oppressive, confining, chocking, legalism found in 'religion' in any number of Christian churches and other religions as well. Do this. Don't do that. Keep this. Keep that. Do it good enough and you can remain in the good graces of Jesus and be saved.

Knowing that we all have been saved, redeemed, reconciled, adopted and included in the life of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit since 'before the foundation of the world' , totally forgiven, liked, and loved as well, is truly FREEDOM.(Ephesians 1:3-14).

Salvation is assured. It is secure. We are loved and The Father's desire is for all of us to come to know this truth of Who we are in Jesus and live forever with Him in the glories of the Heavenly realms.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Adopted and Included in God's Life !

When did The Tiune God decide to Adopt humanity in Christ? Has God blessed us all with all the blessings in the Heavenly realm? How are we included, ie, taken into the very life of the Triune God? E:mail me and I will send you this short paper explaining these truths of Trinitarian Theology with Biblical support. In the meantime, visit my web site at www.newlifewcg.org

E:mail me at Paul.Kurts@wcg.org

blessings,

Paul

Thursday, June 5, 2008

WHY IS BELIEVING ENOUGH - Google Docs

Today's blog article answers the queation WHY? WHY believing the truth in Jesus is enough for our life in and with God, ie, our salvation and eternal life. Isn't there anything we must do or need to do to attain salvation or to maintain it? Just E:mail me at the address below and I will send you this article on WHY IS BELIEVING ENOUGH.

Paul.Kurts@wcg.org

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

JESUS' SALVATION DOES NOT EXCLUDE ANY

The Theological ignorance of many Christians is appalling. The self-centered arrogance is equally disturbing. A Christian friend of mine told me just the other day that he had a problem with the idea that there would be those in the resurrection at the last day who were not already Christians. The sad thing is that he believes this. He further stated that he did not believe that anyone could find out about Jesus and His salvation "after" death.

With this perspective in mind can you begin to see how many human beings who have lived on this earth would be excluded from eternal life in the glories of heaven. This man's idea was that all of these "lost" souls would just go to Hell and burn and suffer forever. Where is the God of Love in that picture?

If this sounds like bad theology to you--and it IS--let's now take a look at some scriptures which demonstrate that these individuals who never heard the name of Jesus were SAVED by Jesus and it will take the other side of the grave for them to find out about it!

Before you think that this is "Post Mortem" theology which says people have a chance at salvation after death, think again. It IS saying that all people were redeemed and reconciled to the Father by Jesus Christ. Many have died just not knowing it!!! The only way for them to find out about it is AFTER death. Then they will know they were loved and saved by Jesus and then have the opportunity to accept it and believe it.

They will find out that Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world thus His blood reached to all humans. ( Rev.13:8). They will find out that Jesus' blood covered their sins and was the propitiation for--the payment for--ALL peoples sins. They will realize that they too were crucified with Christ, raised with Christ, and ascended to the Father's right hand in Christ along side all humans who ever lived. ( Ehpesians 2:6). Then to experience this, they must accept it and believe it. By not believing it only misery and suffering would remain for them.

I can not believe that Christians are satisfied with multiple billions of people suffering in a state of Hell forever because they did not find out in this life WHO Jesus Christ was/is.

God's plan for mankind to be with Him forever was architected before the foundation of the world for ALL humanity. ( Ephesians 1:3-14).

Remember "as in Adam all die, so in Jesus Christ ALL will be made alive, EVERYONE in time." ( I Corinthians 15:22-23 ).

I believe Lord, help my unbelief.

For more information go to my web site at : www.newlifewcg.org

Paul

Thursday, May 22, 2008

MEMORIAL DAY AND THE GOSPEL

Memorial Day. What does Memorial Day have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Let's see.
Another name for Memorial Day is "Graves Day". This is from the practice of placing decorations on the graves of fallen soldiers from the past.

Jesus resurrects Lazarus to life in John 11, proving to Martha, Mary and others He had the power to resurrect the dead. In Matthew 27, after the resurrection of Jesus the graves in and around Jerusalem were opened and DEAD people rose up out of those graves. Again demonstrating God's power to resurrect the dead and to provide a forshadowing of the resurrection of ALL humanity in Jesus. Jesus had proclaimed in John 11:25, that " I Am the Resurrection and the life."

In Jesus Christ ALL are made alive in His resurrection and ascension to the Father's right hand. Ephesians 2:6. Christ was FIRST. But then EVERY man in his own time will share in Christ's resurrection. There is only one way a person can be resurrected and that is to pass from phyical to spiritual. To be changed. For those who have died regardless of the cause, in this case war, Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Remember in Adam all Die, but in Jesus Christ ALL are made ALIVE. I Corinthians 15:22. And this through RESURRECTION.

"War is Hell" as General Sherman declared during the March to the Sea as the Civil War came to a close. Mothers and Fathers have lost their sons and daughters. Grandparents as well. Loved ones have been separated through death in war. War is HELL. But the good news in Jesus Christ is that Death has been conquered. All are resurrected in Jesus. He is the Resurrection and the life for EVERYONE.

We honor those who have fallen in the service to our nation. And we are encouraged that the Mothers and Fathers and loved ones separated by those conflicts WILL be reunited with their loved ones in Jesus' Resurrection.

Because of Jesus Christ death is not the end but a beginning. FOREVER.

" Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Friday, May 16, 2008

IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

Genesis 1:26-27 says that God created man in God's image, both male and female. There has been much speculation on this statement over the ages with books being written on the subject.

It has been postulated that what it means to be created in God's image is to have the ability to think, possess creativity, and be human in appearance as Christ was human. Further, to be able to love and be loved. To give and to receive. Also, to have a mind capable of great thinking and concepts of physical, mataphysical, philosophical and theological understandings.

While all of these are God given capabilities which no animals possess they all miss the point of what it means to be created in the image of God.

God speaking in Genesis 1 is not some unknowable, untouchable, cosmic Giant possessing "all everything" only to be revered, bowed down to, exalted, worshipped, and who is unapproachable as if He were some cosmic Budda or Zeus or one similar to these only infinitely greater.

John 1:1 shows God to be Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a Triune God of three persons yet one essence. . The word "with" here relates to relationship as the Triune God is "face to face" one with the other. Not just 'existing' but living in RELATIONSIP with one another in an entwined 'perichoretic' relationship of love, peace, joy happiness, acceptance, appreciation, honor, fun, and the mutually sharing of life together.

This love relationship overflowed to the point that this Great Triune God decided to make children to share this abundance of love with and to share LIFE with in this perechoretic relationship which would take humanity INSIDE God's life and include man in God's life through being 'Adopted' as God's very own children and placed inside this Divine relationship FOREVER. (See Ephesians 1:3-14 and John 14:20; John 17:20-26). And all of this to be done IN, BY, FOR, and THROUGH Jesus Christ. The Divine UNION was to be and WAS completed in Jesus. God in effect established man's destiny before ANYTHING was ever created.

Triune God is Spirit. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are Spirit. For man AND woman to be created in God's image in this Divine relationship demonstrates God's esteem for both sexes equally and His love for all of His children without partiality.

There simply is no other being in God's creation that in any way fits the description of one(s) being created IN God's image. Man and woman only can and do fit this profile.

The rest of the creation including all animals and all of nature and all of the cosmos was created FOR humans to be in charge of. Hebrews 2:5-8 shows that EVERYTHING created is to be under the "feet" --under subjection--to man. That day is coming but it is not here yet. The future world to come is not even going to be put under the authority of angels, but MAN.

This relates to man and woman being created in God's image. The fact that God is sharing His Divine Nature, His Divine LIFE with humanity demonstrates God's confidence in placing ALL things ultimately under man's feet--in subjection to man.

In the image of God is to be IN eternal RELATIONSHIP with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is to share mutual Trust, love, confidence, and nature. God will have billions of sons and daughters IN His image sharing in His LIFE and in the maintenance and care of the cosmos with ALL things being under their feet.

Great theologians such as Karl Barth, the great Athanasius, T.F. Torrance and others knew this truth and taught it.

Maybe now we can understand a little better another dimension of God's great love for all of us--love that will allow Him to share His very Divine life and eternity with us.

Friday, May 9, 2008

WHAT DO YOU MEAN-- REPENT ?

REPENT !!! Or else! Firey preachers have for centuries cried the repent warning. Flee from the wrath to come! Turn around and sin no more! Do a 180 in your life. Repent to be forgiven.
Sound familiar?

Since no one can remove all the sin out of their life many Christians live in the constant fear that they are not repentant enough, not good enough, haven't overcome enough, and literally live their life in mental BONDAGE to a wrong concept of what repentance really is.

Before we say what repentance is let us say what repentance is NOT. Repentance is NOT denying our humanity, not being sorry for all the individual and specific sins we have committed in our life and continue to commit, not turning our life around and ceasing from all sin and living a spotless life in this flesh. So what then is there to repent of? What is real repentance?

Repentance in scripture is translated from the Greek work, Metanoia, which means to "change one's mind or thinking." Or, " think again."

Repentance involves how we look at God and how He looks at us. Wrongly looking at God we would see a God who us just waiting to 'get' us for sins and not 'repenting' of those sins and therefore holding us over the flames of ( Plato's Hell) hell and burning us forever. Much the way Jonathan Edwards' sermon said in " Sinners in the hands of an ANGRY God". Oooooh, not good!

Rightly looking at God we see a Loving Father who devised an eternal plan for us IN Jesus Christ to place us in His life with Jesus making it SO! Through Jesus we have EVERYTHING needed to "make it happen." ALREADY!

Repentance is NOT looking to see what we can do to make it happen or how MUCH we can do to make it happen BUT, seeing what Jesus has already done to make it happen. Repentance is seeing how much God loves us and is DETERMINED to live forever WITH us. ( As Karl Barth said, " God does not intend to live forever WITHOUT us.")

All humanly devised religions have some sort of works and rewards program for the individual to live up to in order to see the after life in a good state. They are all contests to see if one measures up. Their 'repentance' is changing and doing SOMETHING to make it happen. All based on the individuals success and personal merits and accomplishments.

The TRUTH is different. God's plan is a GIFT to humanity IN Jesus without ANY requirements on man's part. In Jesus it is ALREADY done. It is a DONE deal. It is done because of God's GREAT LOVE for us from before the foundation of the world.

Repentance is coming to see this truth. It is coming to believe it. It is changing our mind from a perception of a god who is anything but love and who loves us ETERNALLY.

All of our sins and shortcomings have been taken care of in Jesus Christ. He is the payment or propitiation for ALL sin for ALL time for ALL humans. Period. We all stand in FORIVENESS in perpetuity. Perpetually. Continually.

Repentance is seeing what God has done. It is taking YOU out of the equation. It is reducing your only response to BELIEVING. This believing then WILL produce the changes in one's life through Jesus that demonstrate and witness to the person's repentance.

By not repenting, by not believing one can only live in continual suffering, pain, angst, misery, and in a state of perishing. And, frankly that theoretically could last forever!

"Repent and believe the Gospel." It really is GOOD NEWS!

(See much more on this subject through the links on our web site at www.newlifewcg.org )

Blessings,

Paul

Thursday, May 8, 2008

HOW BIG IS GOD WHO IS LOVE ?

How big is God? How much does God love all of His children? We say God loves us and the whole world. Most of us can not begin to understand the magnitude of God or the God who is Love. God does not just have love for us or extend His love to us. God's love is much bigger than this. John 3:16, perhaps the most famous verse in all of the Bible declares that God loved the whole world.

I Corinthians 13:8 states that Love NEVER fails.

I John 4:8 tells us not that God HAS love but that God IS LOVE. Throughout eternity God has always existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in LOVE. Love one for the other in the Great Triune God relationship. Everything that God is or does is an extension of His being LOVE.

God's original plan to create human beings and take them INTO His being, within His circle of life was a plan to place man INSIDE God's very being within the Triune relationship God shares with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ the bridge is crossed creating UNION between man and God. This union takes man into the same relationship Jesus has with the Father by the Spirit. The union takes man INSIDE God's life, inside God's love--permanently and eternally in relationship JUST AS JESUS lives in the eternal relationship with the Father. And, again I Corinthians 13:8 tells us that this LOVE never, NEVER, fails.

All of this salvation, Adoption, and Inclusion into the live of God is by God's DOING. It was planned from BEFORE the creation of the cosmos and this world. Its was mapped out, blue printed, and declared so by God for man backed by the Power of God to make it so IN Jesus.
( See Ephesians 1:3-14 ).

By God's LOVE sin has been defeated in Jesus. Humanity has been redeemed by God's LOVE in Jesus. Creation has been reconciled to God by God's LOVE through Jesus. All humanity has been given Justification and declared righteous by the Faith OF Jesus Christ and this because of God's GREAT LOVE.

How big is God's Love? Big enough to NEVER FAIL. And, He shares it with us ALL. The question is, " Are we BIG enough to believe it?"

I believe, Lord help my unbelief.

Pastor Paul

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

GOD OR TRIUNE GOD. WHICH?

In defining God most people would start with Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. With this starting point God is further described as the Great being who is all powerful, all knowing, omni present, "all everything" and so great and distant, seperated from man, unknowable, non human and nothing like a human, and only to be revered, feared, worshiped, receiving continual praise and adulation. And, man has come up with all kinds of descriptions and inventions attributed to God and gods. Also, a God who rewards for good works and punishes--even forever--bad works and deeds. The sad thing is that many people STOP here at Genesis 1:1 with how they see God.

John 1:1, a scripturally parallel verse to Genesis 1:1, REVEALS a much different kind of God. THE TRIUNE GOD. Note, " In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was WITH God and the WORD was God. Along with the Holy Spirit, the Word--the Son--and the Father were the Eternal Triune God. Always having lived in a loving, harmonious, peaceful, and beautiful RELATIONSHIP existing in a relationship WITH each other, but not only with each other but face to face. Intimate. In agreement. In Love. In appreciation. Without competition. In Joy. In peace. PERFECT UNION AND RELATIONSHIP. Not in need of anything.

This Triune God John reveals is the God who desired to share this LOVE RELATIONSHIP with created sons and daughters--humanity--and purposed a plan from BEFORE CREATION to do just that. ( Ephesians 1:3-14). The Plan was to Adopt and Include humanity into the very life of God THROUGH Jesus Christ. The Adoption was not meant to just give a name to the children, but to include them into the very life and circle of God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus came to "make it happen".

Jesus came to reveal, not some 'Omni-being' way out in the cosmos someplace, but to reveal the FATHER who He had known from all Eternity AND to reveal that the Father was love and desired to share His love with His children FOREVER in RELATIONSHIP. This Jesus makes Plain in His message. He came to reveal the Father and His love and the absolute certainty of its outcome.

When we start to define Who or What is God, we MUST begin with the Perfect relationship that has always existed in the Triune God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then we can understand His love and what He has planned for all of us His children from Before the Foundation of the World.

This is all why the INCARNATION is so important. It reveals how God came to man's life to take man into God's life. The bridge is crossed. The Union is made. Jesus said it best in John 14:6, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE--No one comes to the Father except by me!

Maybe this will give all of us a little better view of our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. The Heavenly Father Jesus came to reveal. The Heavenly Father who plans to live eternally with His children in Perfect Relationship and Love.

See much more of this discussed at our church web site, www.newlifewcg.org , and the other links listed there.

blessings,

Paul

Monday, April 28, 2008

TWO GREAT STUMBLING BLOCKS

Ignorance and vanity are, it seems to me, two of the greatest personal forces mitigating against one coming to understand more of the Love of God, the Grace of God, and the Trinitarian Adoption and Inclusion Gospel message of scripture. The other day I was at my health club and became engaged in a brief discussion with a nice man who happened to have a mainline Protestant denominational background. He wasn't attending church anywhere presently so I thought I would encourage him in the area of God's Love for ALL HUMANITY from before the creation of the world. Of course I could not get too detailed in the discussion since this is a LARGE subject. I did refer to a number of scriptures which pointed out God's Love for all humanity from before the creation of the world, ( Ephesians 1:3-14) and that Jesus died for ALL humanity and that actually He saved EVERYONE and Included all humanity in the life of God. And, that one must come to understand and believe just WHO they are IN Jesus. ( This Trinitarian Theology -- THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST -- is discussed in detail on the sites listed at my church site, www.newlifewcg.org, and is made much more plain.)

I referred to some of the greatest theologians of the last 2000 years who embraced THIS theology. Athanasius, Irenaus, Karl Barth, Tom Torrance, J.B. Torrance, Baxter Kruger, and others.

I was amazed that he held to HIS opinions which pictured God as love on the one hand, but a vicious, vindictive hanging judge on the other just waiting to fry sinners forever in ( Plato's) hell fire. Sad.

His last comment to me was that this 'different' theology which I was sharring with him was "just the OPINION " of all these men and no more correct than what he--untheologically trained as he was--thought!

It is amazing to me how we in defence of our personal thoughts and opinions will put down the greatest TRUTH OF ALL TRUTHS simply because we don't understand it from the old pardigm structures we have always held. " I did not come up with this, so it must NOT BE TRUE", is the thought of the day for many. Sad.

Our vanity and ignorance when admitted to ourself can be the greatest obstacles removed for the Holy Spirit to teach us His message which will set us free at last. " Free at last. Thank God Almighty we shall be free at last." MLK

Monday, April 21, 2008

WHERE THE "HELL" DID IT COME FROM?

I wanted to take this Blog space here to point all of you to the various links on the NEWLIFE web site. www.newlifewcg.org. This time I especially want to direct you to the link for
CHRISTIAN ODYSSEY and the lead article "Sinners in the Arms of a Loving God".

This article by Paul Kroll addresses the concept of "Hell" in our lives and beyond from a realistic
Biblical viewpoint. As you may know, the Western Christian Theological teaching of an ever burning, torturing Hellfire was a concept taken from the Greek Philosopher Plato from the 4th Century B.C. It was introduced into the Christian Church by St. Augustine ( Augustine of Hippo) in the 5th Century A.D. Augustine was an avid reader of Plato. Augustine saw that the FEAR tactic of a torturing Hell would keep individuals in the church walking the " straight and narrow".
Dante further embellished the concept of Hellfire in the 13th Century in the Divine Comedy.

Unfortunately this type of "Hell" and "Hellfifre" pictured God the Father as some type of blood thirsty monster just waiting to fry His children who did not measure up. The Truth of the Gospel is something quite different and is echoed over and over on the various LINKS that are listed on the Newlife web site.

The Adopted Life link is a wonderful link with MUCH inspiring information on this very subject of God's Amazing Love for ALL of His children.

What you are about to discover will CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER. And you will be GLAD it does!!!

Richest Blessings to you ALL,

Pastor Paul
April 21, 2007

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

WELCOME TO THE BLOG

Welcome to Pastor Paul's Interactive Blog. Isn't technology wonderful? I want to encourage you to check out all of the New Life Christian Fellowship web site at www.newlifewcg.org .

I have never seen so much information on one site. You could stay busy for days on end linking to and reading the available sources presented there.

In introducing this first blog let me just say that our loving God, Father, Son, and Spirit, the Triune God, loves you beyound your greatest imaginings. He has made the arrangements for you to be with Him forever in a state words can not desribe.

What you will discover on this link, www.newlifewcg.org, will transform your thinking and your LIFE. You are NOT reading this by accident!!

May God richly bless you and yours in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Paul