SIN

Saved From What?

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.   Matthew 7:14-15

Jesus saves, Esposito scores.

As a young teenager this was our joke line. (Esposito was a high scoring hockey player at the time). Whenever someone approached us about Jesus and salvation this is how we replied. At that time, there was no correlation between life as a teen and Jesus. The entire discussion was unrelated to a young man trying to enjoy life while growing up. Words like sin, heaven, hell, and regeneration were not even in my vocabulary.

The message of Jesus just wasn’t relevant. The same can be said today for many who look at the religious Jesus as a myth of yesterday. There is a vast communication problem between the Church and the world. In many ways it looks like the world is winning. But we know differently. We may lose the battle, but Jesus has already won the war.

And it starts with one person at a time hearing the relevant message of Jesus. As the spiritual cylinders click in alignment, one captures the vision and life is never the same.

Yes, if a young man approached me today and ask “saved from what”, this is how I may respond.

Jesus came to save you from yourself, from the world, and from HIS enemies that want to destroy you. Jesus wants you to experience your potential. To enjoy everything good and wholesome that HE has created for you. You are uniquely designed for a meaningful and purposeful life. But the world is brainwashing you.

There are those who are pawns of supernatural forces that want to make you subservient to them. They will do anything in their power to distract you from God’s purpose for your life. The battle is primary for your mind, soul, and spirit. If they capture your inner world, your outer world is theirs forever.

They come in many different forms. They are governments, corporate businesses, and non-profit organizations. They first capture your attention and then begin to play with your mind. They hook you through entertainment. The movies. The music. The fashion. The educational systems. The news media. They know who you are and present their products and services to get your attention. They promise you utopia, but never deliver. They are masters of their craft. But their lives are empty. They themselves are crying out for help, but are caught in the roller coaster of the machine. They are afraid to jump off. They are looking for a savior, but in all the wrong places.

Enter Jesus. The God-Man who walked the talk. Divinity clothed in skin. The first of HIS kind. A man who was tempted by power, money, and fame. But denied himself to serve HIS God and mission. HE fulfilled Scripture written hundreds of years before HIS arrival on earth. The probability of one person fulfilling all HE did is next to impossible. But HE did. HE proved to the world HE was and is who HE claimed to be. God resurrected HIM from the grave after a brutal death. Naturally impossible, but then only a God can supersede the physical laws of nature.

HE started a movement. HIS message of a way of life that allows people to live life now to the fullest began to transform the world. People joined the movement. Lives changed. Hope became alive. But somewhere in history, the message became distorted. The good news became abridged. The message of God’s kingdom being available now on earth disappeared. Instead, the message became focused on the future. Accept Jesus and you will live for eternity in heaven. The now was being postpone for tomorrow.

It is easier to recruit converts by promising them utopia. The Church message spun into a worldly religion and into the 21st century as a commodity to consume. The power of the gospel message dissipated. But the Spirit didn’t back away. Renewals occurred. People still experienced the power of the Spirit in their lives. God isn’t going away. People may move the institution away from God, but God still remains with HIS people.

Saved from what?

The Bible writes about sin. Sin is the outcome of living life apart from God. Without God, one will live a life that causes anxiety, worry, and loneliness. Do you know anyone suffering from such emotional behavior? Jesus came and revealed a way of life to save one from such negative traits.

He brought heaven to earth via HIS kingdom. HE made HIS kingdom available for everyone. But you must first submit your kingdom under HIS authority. When you do, HE will bring HIS Father and Spirit with HIM to live HIS life in and through you. You will discover a way of life that produces real freedom and fulfillment. You will flourish emotionally. You will produce Godly fruit through your life. HIS love, joy, and peace will become the anchor of your soul. You will belong to a family who reigns in life.

What HE saves you from are the poisons this world throws at you and your neighbor. You find your spirit grows more and more like HIS. You develop defenses to protect yourself from the enemy. You even develop a swagger in your walk. You have come to know your heavenly Father. You have a Friend in Jesus. You also have a coach and trainer in the Holy Spirit. You are in good hands no matter what happens in this life. For you are HIS child. You get to play on HIS turf. And you know you have a home for eternity with HIM.

What does Jesus save you from? HE saves you from yourself and HIS enemies so you may live life to the fullest with HIM now and for all eternity.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Sin’s Red-line

Dr. Mike 2024 , ,

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”   Mark 14:38

When do you know you have crossed the line with sin?

I remember once hearing Dallas Willard discuss the process of sin. He explained the difference between a bad thought, temptation, and the actual sin. His teaching help clarify the process. He made us more aware to catch oneself before entering the alienation minefield. He outlined the process as three levels.

First there is the sinful thought that enters your mind. This is not sin. This is only the idea or concept. The question is what will you do with the thought.

If the thought is not removed, then the person will begin to move into the temptation level. This is where your thought meets the inclination to perform. You haven’t completed the act, but you are now leaning toward the possibility. The moment of truth has arrived for a decision. Will you or will you not? This is what temptation is.

If your character and spiritual formation is strong, you will likely choose wisely. The temptation will only be a temporary lure. You know the ugliness of sin and will refrain from the enticement. What we may not realize at first is sin also lives within our habits. We have unbeknownst in most cases trained our habits to sin. This is why we need to put into practice regular means of grace.

But if you are weak and unprepared with little character strength, what then? For sin is when you act out your thought and inclination. It is sin even if you don’t perform the deed but would do so if the conditions were right. This is why Jesus said if you had lust in your heart you have already committed the sin. The challenge is to train oneself in godliness. To have the willpower to push yourself away from the temptation. And humanity apart from God fails at it.

One needs to be born again with the Spirit of God to regenerate the heart. Then pursue a life of sanctification. This is the process to transform the human spirit and will after the likeness of Jesus Christ. This path is a high adventure with failures and successes. As we put forth the effort, God supplies us with HIS grace in the areas we are currently failing at. But over time, as we lean more and more on HIM, the inner soul is being modified after the character of Jesus himself. And we don’t take credit for the success. For we know it is only because of the grace from God we succeed.

Yes, this is a long process. But we know we are HIS workmanship. So whatever failure and successes we experience is a reflection of our weakness or HIS glory. But it requires our cooperation. If we keep failing, is it because we are not cooperating with HIM? Do we need to do more business with HIM? Or don’t we understand the life of a disciple of HIS? But then again, maybe you are becoming more like HIM than you realize. You may have higher expectations of yourself than God has of you. Maybe HE is working on something else. All this while you are struggling with what you consider more important. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, focus on Jesus. Learn from HIM. Integrate all you learn into your everyday life. And watch as God grows you into HIS masterpiece.

And yes, it helps when you know where the red-line is in your choices.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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What’s Your Biggest Problem?

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Romans 7:15-20

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”

What is the biggest problem you have to face each day?

I know mine.

Yes, I am about fifteen pounds overweight. My cholesterol is on the high side. My mental capacity not as sharp as in my mid-thirties. Arthritis is making its appearance in my big toe. The hearing from my one side is only about 50% normal. I have the tenancy to behave obnoxiously when tired. My house projects take three times longer and cost twice more than someone gifted with their hands. I’ve had more investment failures than the creative mind could list. More times than not, I say the wrong words at the most inappropriate moment. I could also continue about relationship issues, work tragedies, and financial failures. Also there are those mental gaps, recreational trauma, and social blunders. The list seems endless.

So what is the central core of all these problems? Would you believe “ME.”

Many of these problems are caused by my desires. Other issues are caused by outside forces which I did not properly respond too. But even these problems are the end result of misbeliefs, illusions, and self lies. All because of my adherence to be satisfied.

Whether the facts are true or not, whether someone gets hurt or not, whether there is a better way, doesn’t matter. At that moment, me, myself, and I need to please the inner desires of my flesh.

Yes, I am my biggest problem.

Yet my biggest problem always leads to the biggest solution. I am thankful for Jesus Christ, HIS work of salvation, and HIS mission of restoration.

It is not my responsibility to save the world. That is HIS job.

My responsibility is to serve him and allow the Holy Spirit to morph my heart, mind, and soul after HIS image.

Yes, there is a battle raging between my carnal desires and the divine nature. I now know the taste of each of their fruits.

Apostle Paul wrote Romans some twenty years after his conversion. He was still struggling with the deception of sin. The longer we live, the more we become aware of the ugliness of sin that resides in each of us. But at the same time, we are thankful for a Comforter and Healer of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, we battle every day between the forces of sinful desires and divine wants. As we mature, we realize the problem is not those around us, but ourselves. As we age, we learn to exercise more patience with others. We learn to love others as Christ loves us. We learn others will occasionally harm us as we have inadvertently harm them. Yet, as Christ sacrificed his life for us, HE also sacrificed himself for them.

Jesus is the answer to my biggest problem. I am so grateful for his intervention. Soon, more and more people will come to realize HE is also the solution to their biggest problem. Possibly even you if you have not already accepted HIM as your Lord and Savior.           

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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