The View From Ninety-Two

"Hell is terrible, but not unfair. God honors peoples' rejection of His love, and He give them what they want --- His absence."
-Dr. Rick Cornish, "5 Minute Theologian"

Matthew 3:7b-10 NIV
"[7b] You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? [8] Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. [9] And do not say to yourselves, 'we have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. [10] The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

Strong words by John the Baptist. The point? Can a diseased tree produce good fruit? Can an apple tree produce oranges? Just as the type and condition of a tree is recognized by its fruit, so a man is recognized by what he does. A man isn't justified before God by what he does (only the pure blood of Christ Jesus was able to make that purchase). And since man is good at rationalizing behavior, John cut right to the chase, and then added a warning: a man's actions (fruit) reveal the state of his heart (condition of the tree) regardless of how you see yourself ... and a bad tree will be disposed of.

"Our (the believer's) new status in God's eyes is not based on any actual condition of righteousness in us but on Christ's imputed righteousness that God considers ours. Because imputation does not infuse us with righteousness, our internal character is unchanged by imputation. Imputation refers only to God's crediting Christ's righteousness to our account, not our acquiring righteousness in our nature. That righteous character is developed over time through spiritual growth reulsting from the sanctification process."
- Dr. Rick Cornish, "5 Minute Theologian"


It seems common for people to "get saved" and not feel any different. The above statement gives some perspective.

When God brought me to the point of decision and gave me the faith to believe, He "connected the power." Salvation/justification is a one time occurance. But learning how to use the power is my responsibility. Though God puts a desire in each of us to know Him and follow (Philippians 2:13), we still need to make effort. Sanctification is the ongoing pursuit of personal righteousness through personal communion with God. It doesn't come as standard equipment ... it's an option.

I'm sitting here watching one of my fellow Christians taking it on the chin again by a guy who thinks he knows "everything" ... even though that's not what he'd say. So, it strikes me (no pun intended), once again, that any fool can intimidate and fight ... but true strength is exhibited through restraint (which my Christian brother chose).

The sadly ironic part is that in his ignorance, "Lashing Out Guy" (LOG) proves the Bible's insight and truth about mankind by his very actions. And as much as it angers me to see my friend persecuted, it makes me feel hopless for LOG.

Psalm 119:98-100 NIV
[98] Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. [99] I have more insight than all of my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. [100] I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.

These claims are bold [and weren't made by Muhammed Ali .... :)]. These claims can be true for anyone. How? Follow the leader. This Psalmist built a library in his head to acquire and store wisdom (God's commands). Then he invited his heart to visit the library ... to ponder the personal implications of that wisdom. Then he "took to the streets" with what he'd learned ... being not just a hearer, but also a doer of wisdom.