Friday, March 06, 2015
Words and Deeds
CP:
I think that may be one of the biggest problems confronting the church today - it is not just about information. We change worship services, which is really about communication, we seek "relevancy" (Whatever that is) which is about importance of information. And so it goes. It's not an information thing - it's a life thing.
Making the gospel a matter of information is cheapen it in ways that are almost indescribable. The cross was not a message it was a death. The resurrection was not an event it was a victory over darkness, on levels beyond our comprehension. You see information we can manage and control. The Holy Spirit we cannot.
I think that is the key - this thing is really out of our control.
change information words
There was an occasion when some of the Lord's followers decided to abandon the Messiah and move on to other pursuits. Jesus then asked the twelve, "You don't want to leave too, do you?" Simon Peter responded with these famous words, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:67,68)Fascinating idea, but really, seriously, I think it is a short sale. The Holy Spirit does so much more than deliver a message. In Biblical times "word" carried connotations with it that extended far beyond information. The Holy Spirit does not simply convey information to our hearts. He changes our hearts and minds - He transforms us. Yes, eternal life comes from that process, but it is not a matter of simple information.
Stop and consider what Peter was saying, and what he wasn't saying. Peter wasn't simply stating that Jesus used the words "eternal" and "life." Nor was Peter merely saying that Jesus helped people imagine what it would be like to live forever. No, Peter was saying something much more profound. Peter was stating that Jesus spoke words which literally give eternal life to people who receive those words in the right way.
Believe it or not, the Lord's words are able to transfer the blessing of eternal life into your possession. This is why the Bible states, "We have this treasure in jars of clay." (2 Cor. 4:7) How did the treasure get inside believers? It came through words. "Faith comes from hearing the message." (Romans 10:17)
So here is how it works. Men and women share the good news about Jesus. The Holy Spirit delivers this message to the heart, and brings people into God's family as they repent and believe the good news.
Jesus is the living Word. (see John 1:1-14) When He speaks, new life is given. And that includes the miracle of eternal life.
I think that may be one of the biggest problems confronting the church today - it is not just about information. We change worship services, which is really about communication, we seek "relevancy" (Whatever that is) which is about importance of information. And so it goes. It's not an information thing - it's a life thing.
Making the gospel a matter of information is cheapen it in ways that are almost indescribable. The cross was not a message it was a death. The resurrection was not an event it was a victory over darkness, on levels beyond our comprehension. You see information we can manage and control. The Holy Spirit we cannot.
I think that is the key - this thing is really out of our control.
change information words
