Good People Go To Heaven…Don’t They?

As you might have guessed by now, I really like to read, so on to the topic at hand.  Well a good friend of mine let me borrow a book called the Five dilemmas of Calvinism, for those who don’t know what Calvinism is, it is Reformed Theology named after John Calvin.  But thats a different topic for a different day.  While I was reading the book chapter four was interesting so I thought I’d write a blog about it.  Chapter four deals with the misconception that many people have, that being “If I’m a good person and I do good it is enough to get to heaven.”  Other religions other than Christianity and even some misguided Christians think this way.  Lets look at some examples from the book:

• Radical Muslims become suicide bombers because it will please Allah and therefore get them into paradise.
• Young Mormons go door to door for two years to fulfill a “work” requirement.
• Roman Catholics attempt to follow decrees of the church in an effort to earn their position with God.
• Misguided Christians donate to religious groups under the misconception that these gifts will assure blessings on this earth and salvation in the afterlife. 
• Fundamentalist Christians strive to do good deeds and avoid bad deeds so as to earn favor with God.  Their churches often add requirements that are not in the Bible, such as prohibitions against playing cards of bowling or movies, in a legalistic approach to encourage people to live good lives. 

Lets take a look at what the Bible has to say about good works.  Ephesians 2:8-10 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not you own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…”  So there it is not by works, no amount of good deeds will get you into heaven because the redemptive work was already done by Christ alone.  So does that mean that we don’t have to do good works??  Of course not!  The bible tells us to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), it also tell us that if we are fulfilling the royal law according to scripture then we love our neighbor as we love ourselves (James 2:12).  So even though our salvation is not dependent on our works God still calls us to do good.  But why should I if I don’t have to.  Well why do we do what our parents tell us to do, and if we don’t they give us that mean look and we know we better do it or else.  Well God is also like a father to us so since he has called us to do something we must obey it.  Which brings me to another point.  If we are obeying God then we will bear fruits and we must share the fruits which we bear whether it is food, or knowledge but how can we share what we don’t have.  Proverbs 1:7 says that the beginning of knowledge is the fear of God.  Again this calls us to obey and if we do we will be recompensed with blessings for obedience.  Though I say be careful and do not seek rewards when you serve God but do it humbly for those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who are humble shall be exalted (Matt. 23:12).

Grace and Peace

 

The Way, The Truth, and The Life

I was at Barnes and Nobles and I was looking at books and what not because I enjoy reading, and I opened a book by Tim Keller called The Reason For God: Belief In An Age of Skepticism.  So as I was flipping through it I read the first three pages and it was talking about how people problem with Christianity is its thought if exclusivity, that is that it is the only way to God.  While many believe that there are many paths to God and if you live a “good” life you’ve made your peace with God.  Many people believe this fallacy and continue on in ignorance.  The so called “exclusivity” of Christianity is that we as Christians hold stead fast in the belief that salvation can only be attained through the belief in Jesus Christ as our sufficient and only saviour.  Now many say that it is this thinking that has people so angry with the Christian faith.  People might say that how can we make a claim that only one religion is the true faith and that it is arrogant to say that.  I agree with the religion part because yes, religion is bad, many atrocities have been done in the name of religion.  9/11 was done in the name of religion, the crusades were done in the name of religion.  But just think about this quote by Alister McGrath for a minute,

“The 20th century gave rise to one of the greatest and most distressing paradoxes of human history: that the greatest intolerance and violence of that century were practiced by those who believed religion cuased intolorance and violence.”

So I say to you that if you have taken some serious thought about this, and not just labeled me as a fundamentalist crazy, Jesus is the only way you will ever attain true happiness, forgiveness for your sins, and eternal life.  

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”                                   John 14:6

Grace and Peace

 

 

Trip Lee – 2020

New Album is fire, as always Christ centered, giving all the glory to God, and very inspiring to the listener. 

 

Defending Your Faith

I have, for the past month maybe, been reading a book called Defending Your Faith by R.C. Sproul.  The book is categorized under apologetics and is meant to be an introduction to apologetics.  First off I’d like to say that the book is amazing.  I recommend it to any seasoned vet as well as the beginner.  Well anyways as I was reading Chapter 17, Kants Moral Argument (For those who do not know Kant was an 18th Century philosopher, some of his most famous works include Critique of Practical Reason and his Critique of Pure Reason) and in this chapter Dr. Sproul was discussing Kants view of justice as a means to why God has to exist.  So a few days later I was reading the New York Times and I came across an article about the Sean Bell case and how the three detectives who shot at him were acquitted.  The article was about the peaceful protests that they were having in Harlem.  Obviously these people did not feel that justice had been served. Now how does this relate to Kant and God, well Kant stated that that morality without God makes no sense. This is what is said in the book “What would it take for objective moral standards to be meaningful?  The first thing that is necessary for ethics to be meaningful, said Kant, is justice.  If crime ultimately pays, then there is no practical reason to be virtuous.”  Saying that if it pays to do wrong then why not go ahead and do wrong.  Then the book goes on to say “But after this has been establish, what would be necessary for justice to take place?  Since justice obviously is not dispensed perfectly in this life, Kant said, it must be doled out perfectly in a state beyond this life.  Because in this lie”innocent” people perish at the hands of the wicked, there must be life after death, or a place were the wicked will get their just deserts.  Consider how the saint long ago puzzle over the same question:  ”O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?” (Ps. 94:3; cf. Pss. 37; 73).  THe wicked can exult only in a place were justice is not perfectly carried out.  THere is no absolute justice in this world.  Nonetheless we seek justice, and we have courts to dispense justice, even though justice is no always served.  There must be, then, according to Kant, perfect justice somewhere, and that somewhere is in the life hereafter.”  With that being said, the perfect justice which Kant speaks about is that of God.  God is Holy, Just, and Righteous.  If we take a look at Isaiah chapter 6 we see mans reaction in the presence of that Holy, Just, and Righteous God.  So I guess in a way I want this post to be one of inspiration to the believer.  Do not let yourself get down when times seem rough in your life when you feel that there is no justice in the world because we see those who are in the world and they have all the best cars and the best jobs.  The word says that we cannot live in carnality and expect the benefits of Christianity. 

Grace and Peace

Ron

 

Real Hip-Hop Cont.

Check It out, it’s real hip hop with a message to edify.
 

 

 

Real Hip Hop

If you can’t read what the smaller captions say let me break it down for you from head to toe.

Designer Baseball Cap – $89

Stereo Headphones – $145

Ray Bans – $250

Earrings – $350

Top of the line CD player – $395

Latest Tunes – $99

Designer Silk T-Shirt – $85

Designer Low Slung Jeans – $115                                                                                                                  

Air Jordans – $475

Oh and just ignore the voter registration card in the trash because that doesn’t really have anything to do with this post.  But yea all those things are on the cartoon there and your thinking what is he gonna say about that.  First of all I’m not trying to hate on anyones style on any race or culture.  But what I am hating on is the message that hip hop gives to millions of youth that listen to it.  Because in essence hip hop has conveyed it’s message to the masses for over 20 years now.  And I’m not sure what that message set out to be when it first started.  But now that message is that you can get money because you were shot nine times and it’s cool.  That message is that its not cool to get good grades in school.  That message is that women are female dogs.  That message is that drugs and alcohol are the only ways to have a good time.  That your ultimate goal in life revolves around money and without it your nothing.  Now again, don’t take this as me saying I’m better than you, because that is not the case.  I use to listen to hip-hop all the time.  As a matter of fact I still do, though it’s christian hip-hop now.  But lets take a few notable secular hip hop artist and just examine the titles of some of their songs.  The Notorious B.I.G. has a song called “Ready To Die”, I don’t know about you, but I’m sure not ready to die anytime soon.  Noreaga has a song called “Married To Marijuana”, so what is he an addict?  If you like this type of music I’m not hating on you, because like I said I use to listen to all this too.  But Christ opened my eyes, this music has no positive influence on me.  Most of the lyrics carry negative vibes about murder, death, killings, drug use, alcoholism, and that is what sells and they know it.  And like I said I’m not saying you can’t listen to hip hop but there’s hip hop that is so much better so much more edifying so much more worth your time.  This is to all the believers and non-believers out there.  Examine what is going into your ears, some people say that they only like the beats, but that beat wasn’t made with the intention of giving the glory to God.  I’m just gonna leave you with this, “He traded me his life for my death, He paid the fee his strife for my breath, my groans were bitter when i was a lonely critter at sins slave auction he was the only bidder.  Though i had no purpose a useless tool i felt so worthless the rudest clueless fool deserving hell from the first offense but he paid an infinite price when i wasn’t worth cent i wasn’t worth a dime but he searched to find me in dirt and slime and turpentine.  who’d of thought my evil deeds would be redeemable, but your gracious compassionate forgiving, personal, patient, immaculate, your giving, merciful your anger you don’t retain because you delight in unchanging love.”  Powerful words from a hip hop artist named tim brindle.  Thats the true love of Christ and I don’t know about you but those last two lines are just amazing.  Christ love is so real and so true and so amazing.  So why not edify yourself and make yourself feel better and listen to music that will give all the glory to God. 

 

Grace and Peace

Ron

 

 

 

 

Can you relate?

“Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father,”A son is born to you,” making him very glad.” Really, really depressing words by none other than Jeremiah, a prophet of the LORD. Bad days will come, and trust me they come, whether you lose your job, or you fail a test, or you get a speeding ticket, or you lose someone dear to your life. All these situations cause us to feel sad and at times even angry with God. When a tragedy happens people tend to ask God why, and they demand answers from Him. When they don’t get the answers they are looking for, they assume God has abandoned them. A while back I was in church and my pastor said something that really got to me. He said that sometimes people pray to God for a miracle when a loved one is sick. They pray to God night and day that he will heal them, but instead their loved one dies. Now God in His infinite sovereignty chose not to heal that person, but why? My pastors response was that perhaps that person is now better, they are no longer in pain and anguish. If they have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ they are now in paradise enjoying life. But what about the person who is left here on earth. Who now feels the pain and anguish of not having their loved one with them anymore. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) The word mourn in this verse characterizes a person who is so full of heart break and cries from the deepest parts of their soul. Jesus Himself mourned–he mourned over his friend Lazarus, knowing that he was about to resurrect him shortly. So if you can relate to how Jeremiah was feeling, I just want to let you know that God will always be there to comfort you, and that comfort that is found in God cannot be found anywhere else. Many people try to find that comfort in a bottle of alcohol, or in drugs, or sex, or whatever their vice is, but in the end all those thing still leave you feeling empty, at times even emptier than you were before.

 

It’s been a while..

So yea haven’t written anything in a while, I’ve been somewhat busy with midterms and work.  But I’m gonna try to write at least one or two entries a week.  Well anyways the other day I was listening to my dude C.J. Mahaney and he said that his all time historic hero was Charles Spurgeon. Well he quoted Spurgeon by saying that “We admit that we shall die, but no so soon as to make it a pressing matter.” So that got me thinking about death, yea I know what a cheerful subject to think about and discuss. But it is a reality that we all must one day face. I for one am not really all that fearful about it, yea I do agree with Spurgeon, but I for one am not wishing my death anytime soon. If it was up to me I’d live for like 1342 years even if i was really old and could barely walk or hear. But the reality is that I one day will die. But the grave isn’t the end for me because the bible tells me it isn’t. And why should I believe a book? Because it is the inerrant word of God and the way he has revealed himself to man. So check it out the bible states that we will die because it is a consequence of Adams sin (Gen. 3:19 “from dust you are and to the dust you will return.”) But the bible promises a resurrection, Jesus resurrected numerous from the dead, one example was his good friend Lazarus. Jesus himself resurrected after three days and a resurrection of bodies followed the resurrection of Christ. The Old Testament also affirms the belief of the resurrection (Job 19:25-27). But the resurrection that I am talking about will take place but we do not know when. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Cor. 15:52). That is referring to one of two resurrections, this first one is one of life, and will occur a the second coming of Christ. The second, which is preceded by a period of 1000 years, is that of judgement. At the first resurrection of the righteous our bodies will be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. So if you are a saved Christian who has believed that Christ alone has taken the debt that was owed on our behalf then you have nothing to fear when it comes to death. Rather you should consider it a time of rest and relaxation in paradise while you wait for your final reward. But on the other hand if you have chosen to ignore God I sincerely ask you to take a step back and evaluate life. Because all who have not believed in Christ will be judged by God according to their works. And to be honest with you my works would get me to hell just as fast as anyone else’s because even the most righteous acts are still filthy in a Holy God’s sight. I don’t want this to come off as me condemning people because I am not here to do that. God doesn’t even want that, he is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. So again to all those who are saved, you should not fear death, for the time will come when we shall rejoice in the presence of God. And to all those who are not yet saved, examine your life and really think about it, is all that you do now really worth eternal condemnation and separation from the God who gives you life everyday.

Grace and Peace to All

 

But I’m not lost….

Lost, it’s a term Christians use often to describe the state of others who are not Christians and have not made the choice to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and saviour.  But many people in this world refuse to admit that they are “lost”,  mainly because they really don’t think they are.  Just because your not a junky or an alcoholic doesn’t mean your not lost.  People might say, I’ve got a good job, and make good money, or I go to school  and I will have a good job and make good money so how can I be lost when I know exactly were I’m going in life.  But I gotta tell you, that yea, even the big time lawyer with all the cash and the bentley is lost.  The bible clearly states that we are.  Isaiah 53:6 says, We ALL, like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.  So if a sheep has gone astray then it is lost right? RIGHT!  Now that we have established that you really are lost I wanna offer you a solution.  That solution is Christ!  Whoa! pump your brakes, before you hit that “x” on your top right or left if your a Mac user like myself, let me just say I’m not selling you a religion here.  I’m trying to introduce you to a relationship.  This Sunday is Easter and I’m pretty sure the churches are gonna be filled with lots of people.  But check it out some people don’t even know why they are there.  Your going to church because that is the day the Christ resurrected.  Feel me its the day that the only Man in history ever rose from the dead.  I hope you took the time to read this and it intrigued you or made you think and reflect on your life. Grace and Peace 

 

So I thought I’d start a blog….

I’ve never really had interest in a blog. I thought they were sorta dumb, but I’ve found a use for them inspired by a friend of mine. Heart Of Flesh thats his blog, check it out if you want. Well anyways, my name is Ron and I am a Christian. I started this blog to share my faith, for the glory of God, with others and just to give my opinions on certain issues that plague young adults such as myself. Oh and the name of my blog is Redeemed Thought, I took it from one of my favorites Christian rap groups named the same thing. Check em out. Well anyways thats it for my first post.