Comments on: What If? http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:04:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: James Flanders http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-5646 James Flanders Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:25:17 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-5646 Why would anyone interpret it any other way? "For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son." None of us could ever pay a high enough price to merit salvation. Jesus paid the price for us. That is why it's called "good news." Some may call that "cheap grace" but the truth is that if it wasn't cheap none of us could afford it. If we had to pay for it...then it wouldn't be grace at all. JESUS paid the price completely, He left the glory and wonder of heaven to come to earth to do for you what you could never do for yourself. The glorious gift of salvation cost the BLOOD of CHRIST...that is a very high price indeed. Our part is to simply believe/trust in what He accomplished for us. What must I do to be saved? "Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you will be saved." IT IS FINISHED! Why would anyone interpret it any other way? “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son.”

None of us could ever pay a high enough price to merit salvation. Jesus paid the price for us. That is why it’s called “good news.”

Some may call that “cheap grace” but the truth is that if it wasn’t cheap none of us could afford it.

If we had to pay for it…then it wouldn’t be grace at all.

JESUS paid the price completely, He left the glory and wonder of heaven to come to earth to do for you what you could never do for yourself. The glorious gift of salvation cost the BLOOD of CHRIST…that is a very high price indeed. Our part is to simply believe/trust in what He accomplished for us.

What must I do to be saved? “Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you will be saved.”

IT IS FINISHED!

]]> By: societyvs http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4441 societyvs Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:59:46 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4441 Now that's the good news of the gospels, true love that we have a tough time fathoming. Now that’s the good news of the gospels, true love that we have a tough time fathoming.

]]> By: bruced http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4419 bruced Sun, 27 Aug 2006 11:49:52 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4419 I first heard that interpretation a while back from a fellow named Mike Williams (www.gospelogic.com). He has very interesting approach to the Gospel... a real eye opener! I first heard that interpretation a while back from a fellow named Mike Williams (www.gospelogic.com). He has very interesting approach to the Gospel… a real eye opener!

]]> By: Greg http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4405 Greg Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:30:03 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4405 Today, Jen was reading to the kids from the story in the Bible about Zaccheus and Jesus, and when they were done, she re-read the last line of that story to me. "Jesus came looking for the lost". She said with having read this last night, and the scriptures I found above as well... that line was just extra cool. He really is the one looking for us. And that is so amazingly cool! Today, Jen was reading to the kids from the story in the Bible about Zaccheus and Jesus, and when they were done, she re-read the last line of that story to me. “Jesus came looking for the lost”. She said with having read this last night, and the scriptures I found above as well… that line was just extra cool. He really is the one looking for us. And that is so amazingly cool!

]]> By: 2tim4:3 http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4361 2tim4:3 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 19:36:57 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4361 Wayne, Yes, the words are from Jesus. It's the interpretations I'm questioning. There is no doubt God loves us. Romans 5:8 says so very explicitly. If people want to see the same thing in Matthew 13:45-46, fine, but I think they are missing greater things -- the Kingdom itself. The reason I like Jamal's story is he sees the Kingdom. I get pumped when I hear stories like that. I've experienced similar things myself, and they are worth far more than anything I could ever materially own in this life. Wayne,

Yes, the words are from Jesus. It’s the interpretations I’m questioning.

There is no doubt God loves us. Romans 5:8 says so very explicitly. If people want to see the same thing in Matthew 13:45-46, fine, but I think they are missing greater things — the Kingdom itself.

The reason I like Jamal’s story is he sees the Kingdom. I get pumped when I hear stories like that. I’ve experienced similar things myself, and they are worth far more than anything I could ever materially own in this life.

]]> By: Loren Rosser http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4359 Loren Rosser Fri, 25 Aug 2006 18:14:51 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4359 That makes total sense! I mean at first I was like, "Wait a minute, what about guys like Paul who gave it all up to advance the kingdom?" Then it dawned on me, duh! We become like who we follow! If we're receiving Father's amazing love we're going to end up having the same heart that was in Jesus. So we'll be like Him! And if He sold everything and gave it all up so He could purchase that pearl of great price those who follow Him will be prone to do the same thing! So it makes perfect sense, He did it! All we're doing is being conformed to His image! So if we give anything up for the kingdom, it's only because He did it first. That makes total sense! I mean at first I was like, “Wait a minute, what about guys like Paul who gave it all up to advance the kingdom?” Then it dawned on me, duh! We become like who we follow! If we’re receiving Father’s amazing love we’re going to end up having the same heart that was in Jesus. So we’ll be like Him! And if He sold everything and gave it all up so He could purchase that pearl of great price those who follow Him will be prone to do the same thing! So it makes perfect sense, He did it! All we’re doing is being conformed to His image! So if we give anything up for the kingdom, it’s only because He did it first.

]]> By: Wayne http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4358 Wayne Fri, 25 Aug 2006 17:50:35 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4358 Peter, I actually appreciate your caution over stories like Jamal's. I do know for a fact that most things presented in the Christian media and often in sermons are sensationalized beyond any reflection of reality. They justify it to get a response from people. Unfortunately, it is often the response that you allude to, "Gee, what a shmuck I must be!" I think we should treat all such stories suspiciously if we don't know the players involved, and in this case you do not. But I do. I stayed in the home of the people who were part of this story and the email excerpts are first-hand accounts by that person and he wasn't trying to impress anyone. He was simply trying to sort out the work God was doing in them. The fact that they turned down offers of money to help them speaks volumes to me. Just for others to know, I'm very careful about stories I post here or use in sharing with others. I have to know the people personally and have some reasonable assurance that the story is being told as authentically as it can be. I don't think Father needs any sensationalism from us. I also think the way he works is rarely all that sensational when we're in the midst of it. It just seems so normal. It is only when we look back at all the things he tied together, that we're awed at what he did. It's what some call supernaturally natural. And I think our Father is a master at it. Wayne Peter, I actually appreciate your caution over stories like Jamal’s. I do know for a fact that most things presented in the Christian media and often in sermons are sensationalized beyond any reflection of reality. They justify it to get a response from people. Unfortunately, it is often the response that you allude to, “Gee, what a shmuck I must be!” I think we should treat all such stories suspiciously if we don’t know the players involved, and in this case you do not.

But I do. I stayed in the home of the people who were part of this story and the email excerpts are first-hand accounts by that person and he wasn’t trying to impress anyone. He was simply trying to sort out the work God was doing in them. The fact that they turned down offers of money to help them speaks volumes to me.

Just for others to know, I’m very careful about stories I post here or use in sharing with others. I have to know the people personally and have some reasonable assurance that the story is being told as authentically as it can be. I don’t think Father needs any sensationalism from us. I also think the way he works is rarely all that sensational when we’re in the midst of it. It just seems so normal. It is only when we look back at all the things he tied together, that we’re awed at what he did. It’s what some call supernaturally natural. And I think our Father is a master at it.

Wayne

]]> By: ron http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4357 ron Fri, 25 Aug 2006 17:42:13 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4357 "wouldn't that change everything about the way we relate to God?" How would that change anything about how we relate to God? This kind of interpetation doesn't rattle me, I've heard this kind of gospel everywhere in the self centered message of western christianity. Its all about me, me. Maybe if we started to see God in all of His wonder, majesty and eternal glory again we would really worship Him as the "pearl and treasure" that He is and sell all of our consumeristic, me centered talk and setlle for only wanting the glory of God to be exalted. “wouldn’t that change everything about the way we relate to God?” How would that change anything about how we relate to God? This kind of interpetation doesn’t rattle me, I’ve heard this kind of gospel everywhere in the self centered message of western christianity. Its all about me, me. Maybe if we started to see God in all of His wonder, majesty and eternal glory again we would really worship Him as the “pearl and treasure” that He is and sell all of our consumeristic, me centered talk and setlle for only wanting the glory of God to be exalted.

]]> By: Peter http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4356 Peter Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:59:21 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4356 2tim4:3 What is it you liked better about Jamal's story? For me, I was left wondering if it was even true. After all what is a foreign doctoral student doing working at a service station? I didn't think you were allowed to work on a student visa. I'm sorry -- I'm just very cynical after deacades of sermon excamples that are suppose to encourage us but have the opposite effect when they turn out not to be true. Pastors even have a term for this. It's called <b>'Evangelasticly Speaking'</b> (i.e. stretching the truth). They intend that to be funny, but I am filled with rage on the inside. My reaction is: you are suppose to share God's truth with me, but you deliberately lied. I don't think Wayne is deliberately lying to us here, but this doesn't come from his first hand account. I don't know where it came from or how many hands it's passed through (the old game of telephone), so I don't tend to let myself be moved by stories like these. I am much more open to someone sharing scripture in a new light. I can look that up and see for myself. Peter 2tim4:3

What is it you liked better about Jamal’s story? For me, I was left wondering if it was even true. After all what is a foreign doctoral student doing working at a service station? I didn’t think you were allowed to work on a student visa.

I’m sorry — I’m just very cynical after deacades of sermon excamples that are suppose to encourage us but have the opposite effect when they turn out not to be true. Pastors even have a term for this. It’s called ‘Evangelasticly Speaking’ (i.e. stretching the truth). They intend that to be funny, but I am filled with rage on the inside. My reaction is: you are suppose to share God’s truth with me, but you deliberately lied.

I don’t think Wayne is deliberately lying to us here, but this doesn’t come from his first hand account. I don’t know where it came from or how many hands it’s passed through (the old game of telephone), so I don’t tend to let myself be moved by stories like these. I am much more open to someone sharing scripture in a new light. I can look that up and see for myself.

Peter

]]> By: Wayne http://lifestream.org/blog/2006/08/24/what-if/comment-page-1/#comment-4355 Wayne Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:06:34 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=347#comment-4355 2tim4:3, I guess I'd understand your comment better if we were the ones saying it. But if that's what Jesus said, it wouldn't be narcissitic at all. It would be an awesome demonstration of his love for us all... Wayne 2tim4:3,

I guess I’d understand your comment better if we were the ones saying it.

But if that’s what Jesus said, it wouldn’t be narcissitic at all. It would be an awesome demonstration of his love for us all…

Wayne

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