Hymn of the Day - Arise My Soul, Arise by Charles Wesley

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

Hymn of the Day - Jesus I am Resting, Resting by Jean Pigott

Hymn of the Day - Jesus I am Resting, Resting by Jean Pigott

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.


Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Song of the Day - Mystery of Mercy by Andrew Peterson and Randall Goodgame

I am the woman at the well, I am the harlot
I am the scattered seed that fell along the path
I am the son that ran away
And I am the bitter son that stayed

My God, my God why hast though accepted me
When all my love was vinegar to a thirsty King?

My God, my God why hast though accepted me
It's a mystery of mercy and the song, the song I sing

I am the angry man who came to stone the lover
I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd
I am the leper that gave thanks
But I am the nine that never came

My God, my God why hast though accepted me
When all my love was vinegar to a thirsty King?

My God, my God why hast though accepted me
It's a mystery of mercy and the song, the song I sing

You made the seed that made the tree
That made the cross that saved me
You gave me hope when there was none
You gave me your only Son

My God, Lord you are
My God, my God, Lord you are

A Little More Derek - Song of the Day - Rich Young Ruler by Derek Webb and chapter of the day Isaiah 58

C.S. Lewis, when asked if he enjoyed the sermon on the mount, responded that he enjoyed it about as much as being hit over the head with a sledge hammer. He concluded that anyone who read it for pleasure and with complete enjoyment was better suited for Islam than Christianity. I think the same principle applies to the song and the scriptures. Remember as you read (especially Isaiah 58) that the only one who has completely done all the requirements of the chapter is Christ. His offer is simply for us to completely renounce all of our own goodness and righteous and let him clothe us in his own. Read the chaper the first time and understand that keeping all of the requirements is the only way to approach God. Read it again believing that Jesus has kept the requirements and freely given them to you. This is the good news of the gospel. My friend, Bobby Guy, once asked me, "How will you live knowing Jesus has sold your house and given it to the poor for you?" Ask yourself that question as you read with a thankful and humble heart.

Poverty is so hard to see
when its only on your tv and twenty miles across town
Where we're all living so good
That we moved out of Jesus' neighborhood
Where's he's hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash

He says more than your cash and coin
I want your time I want your voice
I want the things you just can't give me

So what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and keep all the rules
even a few we made up

Come on and follow me
Sell your house, sell your suv
Sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor

What is this, hey what's the deal
I don't sleep around and I don't steal

But I want the things you just can't give me

Because what you do to the least of these
my brothers you have done unto me
because I want the things you just can't give me

Isaiah 58

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.

'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast a day acceptable to the LORD? "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the chords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well - watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with dwellings. "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father, Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Song of the Day - I Repent by Derek Webb

This is an incredible song about repentance. A few days ago I wrote about forgiveness. Repentance is so sweet when we know and trust that we are forgiven for all of our sins in Christ. The truth that all of our sinfulness has been exposed and paid for allows us to truly look at the depth of evil in our hearts. This song is a great example of a person who knows he is forgiven and is able to honestly repent for his own wretchedness. God, give us the faith and grace to do the same.


I repent, I repent of my pursuit of America's dream
I repent, I repent of living like I deserve anything
Of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife
in our suburb where we're safe and white
I am wrong and of these things I repent

I repent, I repent for parading my liberty
I repent, I repent of paying for what I get for free
and for the way I believe I'm living right
by trading sins for others that are easier to hide
I am wrong and of these things I repent

I repent for judging by a law that even I can't keep
of wearing righteousness like a disguise
to see through the planks in my own eyes

I repent, I repent of trading truth for false unity
I repent, I repent of confusing peace and idolatry
by caring more of what they think than what i know of what they need
for domesticating you until you look just like me
Oh, I am wrong and of these things I repent

What is forgiveness? and Hymn of the Day - She Must and Shall Go Free by William Gadsby

I received an email from someone who reads the posts asking if God is truly all powerful why couldn't he just forgive us. Why did Jesus have to die in order for us to be forgiven? Couldn't God just say, "No problem, I forgive you."

The answer is actually a lot simpler than you might imagine. Think of someone you can't forgive. Why can't you? The reason is you and I are not prepared to "pay down" the debt of the one who wronged us. Forgiveness is voluntary suffering. If someone steals $100 from you and you forgive them you lose $100. If you choose forgiveness you are choosing suffering. Imagine someone kicks you in the shin. Don't you want to kick them back? You want to make them pay. Forgiveness is paying the debt for them. If this is true for sinful humans imagine how much more it applies to a perfectly holy and just God. If a judge in your city releases a drug dealing abuser and says, "No problem. I forgive you" people would scream at the injustice (and on a side note, society would then pay the debt - the debt is ALWAYS payed by someone). God's justice will not allow him to leave sin unpunished. All sin is against him, so in order to save us he had to pay the debt himself. I hope this helps.

Mercy Speaks by Jesus’ Blood
William Gadsby

1. Mercy speaks by Jesus’ blood;
Hear and sing, ye sons of God;
Justice satisfied indeed;
Christ has full atonement made.

2. Jesus’ blood speaks loud and sweet;
Here all Deity can meet,
And, without a jarring voice,
Welcome Zion to rejoice,
Welcome Zion to rejoice.

CH:“All her debts were cast on Me,
And she must and shall go free.
All her debts were cast on Me,
And she must and shall go free.”

3. Peace of conscience, peace with God,
We obtain through Jesus’ blood;
Jesus’ blood speaks solid rest;
We believe, and we are blest.
We believe, and we are blest.

One last note on God's justice. If God's justice has been completely satisfied in the atonement of Christ then he would be unjust to not forgive us of our sins. The debt does not have to be payed twice! If you trust Jesus you are forgiven and the debt is payed. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!!! (because he was condemned for us) Hallelujah, what a Savior. Hallelujah, what a friend!

Hymn of the Day - Laden With Guilt and Ful of Fear by Isaac Watts

Laden with Guilt and Full of Fears

Laden with guilt and full of fears,
I fly to Thee, my Lord,
And not a glimpse of hope appears,
But in Thy written Word
The volumes of my Father’s grace
Does all my griefs assuage
Here I behold my Savior’s face
In every page.

This is the field where, hidden, lies
The pearl of price unknown
That merchant is divinely wise
Who makes the pearl his own
Here consecrated water flows
To quench my thirst of sin
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
No danger dwells within.

This is the judge that ends the strife,
Where wit and reason fail
My guide to everlasting life
Through all this gloomy vale
Oh may Thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command,
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to Thy right hand.

Hymn of the Day - Love Constraining to Obedience by William Cowper

This is a great hymn about obedience for the Christian. We are certainly called to a demanding life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, but the fundamental truth we must stand on in our pursuit of holiness is we have already been given full salvation in the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 10:10 says, “...we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We die to ourselves daily already knowing we have been crucified with Christ. The penalty for our sins (past and future) has been paid.

I have heard two answers to this unfathomable grace. The first is this, “If it is all paid for then I can live any way I want.” A friend of mine once told me if this isn’t asked then you have failed to truly preach the gospel of grace. In Romans Paul gives the most detailed and systematic explanation of gospel in the Bible. In chapter six he poses this question, “should we continue in sin so that grace may increase?” Paul addresses the question because it is a normal response to five chapters of the gospel of grace. But realize this, it is the response of the unregenerate heart. When someone replies in this matter they are tipping their hands on why they obey God. They are admitting their obedience is based in fear and control. They are saying, “if salvation is really about grace I could do whatever I want, and I would choose disobedience.” Since they don’t believe salvation is about grace they obey because they fear the consequences of disobedience and because they believe their obedience actually puts them in a state of being owed something by God.

A heart that has truly believed the gospel of grace will respond in another way. The hymn below describes the regenerate heart's response much better than I ever could.

Love Constraining to Obedience

To see the Law by Christ fulfilled,
To hear His pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a child
And duty into choice.

No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright
And what she has, she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.
(Repeat chorus)

How long beneath the Law I lay
In bondage and distress
I toiled the precept to obey,
But toiled without success.
(Repeat chorus)

Then to abstain from outward sin
Was more than I could do
Now if I feel its power within
I feel I hate it too.
(Repeat chorus)

Then all my servile works were done,
A righteousness to raise
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose His ways.


Know that Jesus has lived the life you should have lived and died the death you should have died. He has paid your ransom. He has taken care of the law’s requirements of obedience and justice. You are free to obey him. There is no greater freedom!

Our Victory in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-3

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. In which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is not at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying our sinful nature and following desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

These verses do a wonderful job of summing up our battlefields. We are at war with the “ways of this world”, “the ruler of the kingdom of the air”, and “own sinful nature.”

John Stott writes, “Paul is not content to say simply that we once walked in trespasses and sins. The expression is a Hebraism, indicating our former behavior or lifestyle. But a walk suggests (at least in Western minds) a pleasant promenade in the countryside, with leisured freedom to enjoy the beauties of our surroundings. Very different, however, was our former walk in trespasses and sins. There was no true freedom there, but rather a fearful bondage to forces over which we had no control. What were they? If behind death lies sin, what lies behind sin that we are held in such captivity? Paul’s answer, when put into later ecclesiastical terminology, is the world, the flesh, and the devil. For he refers to these three influences as controlling and directing our former pre-Christian existence.”

Our battle will continue as long as we are on this earth. There is a concept taught in orthodox Christianity referred to as the “already and the not yet.” Christ’s kingdom (the heavenly city)has already invaded earth and men and women have become sons and daughters of God. This has already happened, but it hasn’t happened in its fullness. There is a day coming when all the enemies of Christ (the worldly systems of men, the devil, and our sinful flesh) will be defeated forever. This was completed in Christ, but it hasn’t taken place in entirety.

We have been justified, sanctified, and glorified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:9-10; Hebrews 10:10) yet we look to the day when we obtain those promises in entirety. We live in the tension of the already and the not yet. This is actually (I believe) the secret to living an overcoming life. Realize what we have been given in Christ and live in the finished work. He has already set us in the heavenly places with Christ. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guarantee our full redemption. He has already glorified us with Christ. Believe the word. Read Ephesians 1. Paul spends the first half of the chapter telling the Ephesian believers what they have been given in Christ. He spends the second half praying that they would see and believe it. Share his prayers. Read the words and ask God to give you the faith to believe His promises in Christ.

Later in Ephesians Paul writes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his might power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10- 12

Realize that as you fight daily you are not going up against other men and women. People are not our enemies. This is vital to understand so that we will have compassion instead of judgement and anger when we encounter those still enslaved to Satan. Remember what Paul wrote in chapter two. We were dead and enslaved before Christ made us alive by faith. When you meet someone who is enslaved to the flesh, the world, and the devil you can know they have no other choice but to act contrary to the word of God. Be merciful to them and remember that we were once like them. We were once enslaved but he has saved us and made us alive in Christ by faith (not of works lest any should boast!!!)

Continuing in Ephesians 6, Paul writes, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the wicked one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

As you read Paul’s description of how to be armed for battle, notice the gospel centered theme in each piece of armor. The full armor of God is to know and believe the gospel!!! What is the truth in the belt of truth. It is the truth of God’s word. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. God’s word tells us that his wrath and justice have been met in Christ (1 John 2:2). What is the righteousness in the breastplate of righteousness? It is the righteousness that comes from God through faith in his son (Romans 3:21-31) What peace comes from the gospel? The contentment, hope, and joy we having in knowing we have peace with God through his son (Romans 5:1-2) Why the shield of faith? Our faith is our access into the peace of God. When Satan accuses us with his flaming darts and tells us we are unlovable and not God’s children we are shielded by our faith in Christ which reminds us of the promises we have in Christ. What does the helmet of salvation do? It protects our mind as we realize we are completely saved in Christ. We have received a great salvation. By pondering it and fixing our eyes on our salvation in Christ we put on the helmet of salvation. Lastly, take up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. God’s word reminds us of all we have in Christ. It is our greatest weapon against the schemes of the devil.

Friends, the good news is this. God’s wrath was strong against us. We were dead and enslaved. Our only hope was for God himself to love us enough to be punished in our place. He did and we have been pardoned by the ransom he paid. Arm yourself with that truth and know that Satan’s greatest desire is to tell you it isn’t true. We know that it is. We have complete humility because we are so messed up GOd himself had to die for us. But we can have complete confidence because we are so loved God was willing to die for us. Beleive the gospel Know it is true. If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed.

Hymn of the Day - Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken by Henry Lyte

This is the only way to live.

Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heaven are still my own.

Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like them, untrue.
And while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me, show Thy face and all is bright.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn and pain!
In Thy service, pain is pleasure; with Thy favor, loss is gain.
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”; I have set my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.

Man may trouble and distress me, ’twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me; heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me while Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Take, my soul, thy full salvation; rise o’er sin, and fear, and care;
Joy to find in every station something still to do or bear:
Think what Spirit dwells within thee; what a Father’s smile is thine;
What a Savior died to win thee, child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee, God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope soon change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Spurgeon Quote

“We are prepared, I hope, to die for the doctrine of justification of faith and to assert before all adversaries that salvation is not of works. But we also confess that we are justified by a faith that produces works, and if any man has a faith that does not produce good works, it is the faith of devils. Saving faith appropriates the finished work of the Lord Jesus, and so saves by itself alone, for we are justified by faith without works. However, the faith without works cannot bring salvation to anyone.” Charles Spurgeon

Hymn of the Day - I Asked the Lord by John Newton

This song speaks powerfully to our suffering and its purpose. It is imperative for us to understand that the sacrifice of Christ guarantees that our suffering will never be retribution. Our suffering is always the discipline of the Loving, Heavenly Father. Since Jesus has received the retribution for our disobedience, the Father would be unjust to punish us in that matter. Justice is satisfied in Christ!!!

I Asked the Lord by John Newton

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace
Might more of His salvation know
And seek more earnestly His face

Twas He who taught me thus to pray
And He I trust has answered prayer
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He'd answer my request
And by His love's constraining power
Subdue my sins and give me rest

Instead of this He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part

Yea more with His own hand he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed
Cast out my feelings laid me low

Lord why is this I trembling cried
Wilt Thou pursue thy worm to death?
Tis in this way the Lord replied
I answer prayer for grace and faith

These inward trials I emply
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou mayest seek thy all in me
That thou mayest seek thy all in me

Addressing Gnosticism

In one of Todd’s posts he mentioned Gnosticism. I thought it might be helpful to elaborate a little bit on the Gnostics and what they believed. There are some glaring similarities between CGT’s doctrine and that of the Gnostics.

Gnosticism mixed pagan ideas with Christianity. The word “gnosis” basically means the knowledge of divine and profound things. The Gnostics were obsessed with delving into the profound mysteries of the divine. It is no coincidence that much of The DaVinci Code’s premise comes from the Gnostic Gospels. Early Christian writers connected Gnosticism to Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8).

It is important to understand I do not believe CGT is an exact representation of the Gnostics. There are many differences, but there are some obvious places of agreement that must be acknowledged.

The Gnostics believed in a great god called the Abyss. He was good, incomprehensible, and had no darkness. They taught that there were lesser deities called Aeons that emanated from the Abyss. They taught that Christ was the highest and most glorious Aeon.

According to the Gnostics, there are two realms of existence. There is the pleroma (the heavenly ans spiritual realm) and the kenoma (the material world full of emptiness). Christ came, not to redeem this material creation, but to allow mens’ spirits to escape their material bodies. Obviously, they practiced extreme asceticism and wanted nothing to do with sensuality or matter. The only noble pursuit in life was that of the pleroma. Material concerns were base to Gnostics.

The Gnostics had three views of mans’ eternal dwelling. The Pneumatics were the highest spiritual ones and their spirits floated to the pleroma after death. Again, it is crucial to understand how evil they believed flesh and material were. The floating to the pleroma emphasized their separation from their material bodies. The next group was the Psychics. These were the Christians. They believed they would go to a middle world because of their simple faith, but they couldn’t move to the pleroma because they didn’t achieve full enlightenment of the profound mysteries. Lastly, the Hylics were completely obsessed with sensuality and the material world and were confined to eternal torment.


So, the most glaring similarities between CGT and the Gnostics are their preoccupation with the “profound” knowledge, their belief that Jesus emanated from or was created by the Father, and their ascetic practices.

Biblical Christianity strongly contradicts all of these premises. The best place to start this study is by looking at who Jesus is. (Sheryl, this should also speak to the second of your questions.)

Philippians 2:5-6 - Your attitude should be that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.
Hebrews 1:3 - The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by the power of his word.

John 1:1-3,14 - In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made...And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us, and we beheld his glory.

Acts 20:28 - Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

2 Peter 1:1 - Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Titus 2:13-14 - ...while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

The New Testament writers clearly believed in the full deity of Christ. At this point we have to pause to address a CGT half truth (please remember that all half truths are full lies). They will tell you they believe in the deity of Christ, but they teach God created Jesus as a g(G -not sure which to use in this sentence)od. Bro. Mears example was always that if he had a son he would be human, so if God had a son he would be God. This is not biblical Christianity!!! If something or someone is created he or she is no longer eternal. If something is not eternal than the creation ceases to be deity. The name and concept of God implies eternal existence without a beginning or end. They will claim to give Jesus the title of God, but do so in title only. They withhold his true deity by saying he was created. (The Nicean council was called to address this heresy known as Arianism. A quick side note - Historic Orthodox Christianity does not believe in the full deity of Christ because of Nicea. The doctrine of the incarnation (God becoming man) is from the bible and was elaborated on at Nicea.)

Matthew 9:2-3 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, your sins are forgiven.” At this some of the teachers of the law said to themselves,”This fellow is blaspheming!”

Tom, Dick, and Harry walk into a bar. Tom punches Dick. Harry says, “Tom, I forgive you.” What is wrong with this scenario? No, it isn’t that the three boys are in a bar. The problem is Harry can’t forgive Tom for punching Dick. Dick has to forgive Tom because he punched him. Jesus is claiming to be the eternal God and creator of the universe in the passage. Since all creation belongs to Jesus because he made it, he has the authority to forgive sins.

There are countless examples of this in the Bible. Jesus calms the storm, casts out demons, and performs miracle after miracle by speaking to nature. He doesn’t call on a higher power. He IS the higher power. He doesn’t say, “Father, make the storm stop.” He says,”Peace be still.” He doesn’t say, “In the name of the Father, demons leave.” He says,”Come out.” Jesus is God incarnate.

“Actually the incarnation points to a truth that the cross will make clear - namely that our salvation is by sheer grace. In every other religion the founder is a human being sent by God to show us what to do to be saved. But Jesus is God himself. Now if God only needed to inform us what to do for salvation, he could have sent a prophet! His personal coming means he will not just tell us what we have to do to be saved, but will do for us all that we cannot do ourselves. He will live the obedient life we should have lived but did not. He will die to pay the penalty for the disobedient life we shouldn’t have lived but did. He came himself to accomplish our salvation for us.” - Tim Keller

Christianity is the belief that God himself paid for the redemption of the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28). CGT teaches God sent a creation to die for sins previously committed and to be an example of the life to live to be saved. This is a different gospel, my friends, and Paul says a different gospel is no gospel at all (Galatians 1).

Lastly, think about how this applies to Gnosticism. Here is one more quote from Keller: “... if God became truly human, then “matter” matters. The incarnation means God assumed a physical body and entered the material world. Many philosophies of the world see the material world either as an illusion (like eastern religions) or as polluted and intrinsically evil (like the Greeks) or as the product of random chance and doomed to final extinction in the death of the universe (like modern secularists). But the incarnation means that God believes the material world to be a good thing. Ant the resurrection shows us that he intends to redeem the physical world as well as the spiritual. This means that fighting disease, injustice, and hunger is on God’s agenda along with saving souls and forgiving sins. This also means the material world is a good thing and it is God’s will for us to enjoy it.”

Hymn of the Day - And Can It Be by Charles Wesley

I will probably always say this is one of my favorite hymns, but this time I really mean it. You can tell I am Shari's son! This hymn makes me cry every time. When I get to the part about my chains falling off and my heart being free I am overwhelmed with gospel joy.

One of our crosses after leaving CGT is the infatuation we were taught to have with the "secret knowledge." I am working on a post about Paul and John's words against that type of thinking, but I want to quickly say this. The knowledge we are to go deeper and deeper in is the gospel.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The power to forgive, defeat sin, and every other aspect of Christian life is in the message of the cross. This song is a great way to go deeper in the knowledge of the gospel.


And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father's throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature's night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Here is a great link to hymns and their stories. www.igracemusic.com

I would strongly recommend buying the cds offered.

Hymn of the Day

This is one of my favorite hymns. I believe our biggest problem is not believing the gospel. Paul says that he preaches the gospel to himself daily. This is a great song about that.

Begone Unbelief, the Savior is near
And for my relief
Will surely appear
By prayer let me wrestle,
and He will perform
With Christ in the vessel
I smile at the storm

Though dark be my way
Since He is my guide
Tis mine to obey
And his to provide
Though cisterns be broken
And creatures all fail
The word he has spoken
Shall surely prevail

His love in times past
Forbids me to think
He'll leave me at last
In trouble to sink
Each sweet Ebenezer
I have in review
Confirms his good pleasure
To help me quite through

Why should I complain
Of want or distress
Temptation or pain
He told me no less
The heirs of salvation
I know from his word
Through much tribulation
Must follow their Lord

How bitter that cup
No heart can conceive
Which he drank quite up
That sinners might live
His way was much rougher
And darker than mine
Did Christ, my Lord suffer
And shall I repine?

Since all that I meet must work for my good
The bitter is sweet, the medicine food
Though painful at present
Twill cease before long
And then, oh how pleasant
The conqueror's song

Begone unbelief, the Savior is near!