gospel Archives - Faithful with a Few

The Purpose of Christ’s Death … And Why It Wasn’t Financial Wealth

A few days ago prosperity preacher Creflo Dollar posted this on Twitter (it has since been taken down): “Jesus bled and died for us so that we can lay claim to the promise of financial prosperity. #ProsperityInChrist #WealthyLiving #AbundantLife”

A phrase like this is exactly why we started our business – not only do money issues matter, but MORE importantly, spiritual truth matters.

Honestly, I started this post the SAME DAY because I was upset. I was feeling a LOT of things. When Khaleef came home, I rallied him into doing a Periscope with me on the subject!

It wasn’t my most polished moment … Khaleef was fine and a lot more articulate. I was just emotional. And, there is a way that I’m fine with that. Here is the video that we recorded that same night (follow this link if reading via email):

But I’m glad that I’ve had time to settle down and really think about what should be said about this.

To be honest, Creflo Dollar’s statement shouldn’t be alarming because it’s the same message he and others have been sounding for at least three decades and since the recession, thankfully, more Christians have evaluated their thinking about God and the long-term effects of that theology.

Addressing the True Reason

But what still needs to be addressed, in my opinion, and magnified, is the reason why Christ did die.

The truth of the gospel is what matters. Khaleef and I believe that if you get the gospel right – if you get Christ right, then everything else He gives will help you to get the other things right, like your finances. So we need to start here.

I can assure you of this, as Christ sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed all night to the Father, and asked that the cup of death and punishment of sin that He was about to drink be passed from Him…

As He prayed for His disciples and for the disciples of future generations that were to come, for their unity, for their love, for their safety…

As He went to the cross and fulfilled what He set out to do before the world began — based on these things expressed so beautifully in the scriptures, I am assured that temporal comfort or success for you and me was not on His mind.

The breach between us and the Father, that animosity that existed, because we were blinded in our sins, that we didn’t even know about? Yeah, that was on His mind. (Psalm 7:11, Romans 1:18, Romans 5:5-8)

The magnitude of Christ’s death can not be fully understood while we are on this earth, but the bible does allow us to see some important points on why He had to bleed and die for us.

Why Did Christ Shed His Blood:

Hebrews 9:15-22

¹⁵Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

¹⁶For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.

¹⁷For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

¹⁸Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

²⁰saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”

²¹And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.

²²Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (emphasis mine)

Matthew 26:27-28

²⁷And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

²⁸For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (emphasis mine)

From both these passages we see that the significance of Christ shedding His blood had to do with the Old Testament sacrifices and the protocol that God put in place so the transgressions (sins) of the people would be forgiven. These sacrifices were temporary and were powerless to free us from sin.

Christ served as our sacrificial Lamb, His sacrifice being perfect, lasting, and eternal. Christ’s blood had to be shed for the perpetual forgiveness of sins. Period.

Reasons Christ Died:

1. He died so we can be reconciled back to God.

Romans 5:10

¹⁰For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ[,] God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Colossians 1:19-22

¹⁹For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

²¹And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, ²²yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

2. He died so we can have eternal life.

John 3:16-17

¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 5:11-12

¹¹And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

3. He died so we can be forgiven for our sins.

1 John 2:1-2 tells us:

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

²He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

That word ‘propitiation’ means that he satisfied a requirement for our sins.

Our sins come at a cost. A cost that had to be paid. And if you don’t know Christ, you still owe that debt, but there is good news!

Here it is from someone who is way better at explaining it than me :-):

The good news, the gospel, is that God while being just and holy, is also gracious and merciful. And so He offers complete forgiveness for all violations of His Law. And He offers complete escape and deliverance from just punishment. To whom is this given? It is given to all who have saving faith in His Son Jesus Christ. For anybody who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, who repents for sin and embraces Jesus Christ, there is forgiveness, forgiveness of all sin and deliverance from the penalty of sin, eternal damnation. And instead, there’s the promise of eternal blessing and holy perfection. That is the gospel. That is the good news that follows the bad news.” – John MacArthur

Christ’s sacrifice was a lot more glorious, eternal, and urgent than financial wealth! I’ll save all the warnings about going after riches for another article. I’ll also add that for the believer, Your Heavenly Father knows what you need and is faithful to provide!

Blessings, acquiring wealth, doing well, etc., these are all things that can be good and have their place – but it’s always at least second place (I would honestly even say a comfortable fifth or sixth). And to see someone (who claims to believe as I do) merge the most important event in history, and the most significant event for our eternity, with something so ordinary and terrestrial as financial gain is disheartening.

He Sees Countless Evils In Each One Of Us! – Devotion

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about the evil that is in our hearts, and why the gospel is truly “good news” by J.C. Ryle, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Mark” 1857)

See what a black catalogue of evils the human heart contains

“For from within, out of a person’s heart, come . . .
evil thoughts,
sexual immorality,
theft,
murder,
adultery,
greed,
wickedness,
deceit,
eagerness for lustful pleasure,
envy,
slander,
pride, and
foolishness.
All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.” Mark 7:21-23

Let us distinctly understand, when we read these words, that our Lord is speaking of the human heart universally. He is not speaking only of the notorious profligate, or the prisoner in the jail. He is speaking of all mankind. All of us, whether . . .
high or low,
rich or poor,
masters or servants,
old or young,
learned or unlearned
–all of us have by nature such a heart as Jesus here describes! The seeds of all the evils here mentioned, lie hidden within us all. They may lie dormant all our lives. They may be kept down by . . .
the fear of consequences;
the restraint of public opinion;
the dread of discovery; or
the desire to be thought respectable.

But every person has within him, the root of every sin!

How humble we ought to be, when we read these verses! “We are all as an unclean thing” in God’s sight. He sees countless evils in each one of us, which the world never sees at all, for He reads our hearts. Surely of all sins to which we are liable, self-righteousness is the most unreasonable.

How thankful we ought to be for the Gospel, when we read these verses! That Gospel contains a complete provision for all the needs of our poor defiled natures. The blood of Christ can “cleanse us from all sin.” The Holy Spirit can change even our sinful hearts, and keep them clean, when changed. The man that does not glory in the Gospel, can surely know little of the plague that is within him.

How watchful we ought to be, when we remember these verses! What a careful guard we ought to keep over our imaginations, our tongues, and our daily behavior! At the head of the black list of our heart’s contents, stand “evil thoughts.” Let us never forget that. Thoughts are the parents of words and deeds! Let us pray daily for grace to keep our thoughts in order, and let us cry earnestly and fervently, “lead us not into temptation!”

Nine Ways To Share The Gospel At Work

By // by Kevin M

Witnessing for Jesus Christ through work is not an easy task. America is no longer a “Christian nation”, and sharing the Gospel at work could even land you in hot water. But you don’t necessarily have to witness in the typical way – there are subtle ways to do it that can get the message across without getting you in trouble with anyone.

9 Tips For Sharing The Gospel At Work

1. Keep A Bible On Your Desk

A friend told me about this approach over a decade ago, saying he actually heard it somewhere else. You don’t need to say a word to anyone about the Gospel – all you have to do is to keep a Bible in an obvious place on your desk. People will see it, and will understand exactly what it means, even if they never ask any questions.

When the moment comes that they do have questions, and are seeking faith-based answers, you may very well be the person they come to first.

2. Don’t Participate In Gossip And Obscenity

One of the best ways to witness is by not participating in non-Christian activities. Gossip and obscenity are practically participation sports in many workplaces. People spend eight or nine hours together each day, and this becomes a form of entertainment. By not participating in it, you are quietly making a statement that you are a different kind of person. And in the process, you will also avoid hurting anyone’s feelings.

3. Do More Than The Minimum

How you go about your work is also an indication of Who you answer to. There are enough people in the workforce who do the absolute minimum possible. But you can make a statement for the Lord through the quality of your work. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” – Colossians 3:23.

4. Be Ready To Help Where You Can

If it seems as if someone in your department is overloaded with work, be ready to help. Similarly, if someone approaches you about helping them, do it enthusiastically. By doing this, you earn people’s respect. Witnessing – however minimal – will be more accepted when you have people’s respect.

Of course, this doesn’t mean helping everyone to that point that your own work slips. But help out if you can, at least a little.

5. Don’t Compromise Your Integrity

It is unfortunate but true that in many workplaces, we are called upon to compromise our integrity. You should always want to protect your integrity – it’s your credibility in life – protecting it can also be a platform to witness from.

When you’re asked to do something that clearly violates your faith as a Christian, you can cite your faith is the reason why you can’t participate. Once you do, everyone will clearly know where you stand. Yes, some will hate you for that stand. But others will see you as a leader – even a spiritual leader – who dared to say “no” to doing the wrong thing.

6. Get Along With Everyone, Even The People You Don’t Like

Romans 12:18 tells us “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” That directive doesn’t evaporate the minute you arrive at work. You should try to get along with everyone at work, even and often especially the people you don’t like.

Realize that sometimes when we are working closely with someone who we don’t like, it is God Himself who has put us in that position. It’s a test of faith for us, and a strong likelihood that God has a purpose for our being with that person. You may even be the only Christian that person ever knows. Embrace it as an opportunity.

7. Be Ready To Listen, And To Be A Friend

There is probably no behavior on your part that will more identify you as a believer then being ready to listen and to be a friend. At some point time, everyone feels lost and lonely. You will be an oasis in the desert to a lost person who has no one else to turn to. That is usually the time when people are most receptive to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

8. Know The Bible, Know What You Believe

It is a sad but true statement that many professing Christians have only the most superficial understanding of Scripture. Many get it second- or third-hand from preachers, televangelists and even from Christian friends. But that is not the kind of faith that stands up well to the storms of life. And you can hardly relate a credible testimony to nonbelievers with that level of faith.

The only way to truly understand Scripture is to study it personally, meditate on it, pray about it, and put it into practice in your life. That is the primary training you need in order to be able to effectively witness to nonbelievers. And don’t forget – sometimes it’s other believers who need witnessing. Life can wear down even the most convicted Christian. The testimony of another believer can be just what’s needed to pick them up.

9. Never Overstate Your Case

Never forget when you’re in the workplace that the Gospel may not be officially welcome. As well, some people are turned off by in in-your-face witnessing, no matter how genuine it might be. The subtle approach – using some of the tips above – will probably be more warmly accepted.

These days, millions of people have been raised without any semblance of faith. In witnessing to them, you must always be aware of this, and proceed accordingly. If you come on too strong, you risk turning them away. Witnessing should be thought of as a soft, long-term process that will require patience, subtlety, and an understanding that many people will never accept what you’re saying. This can be especially true at work, where there is usually something of a secular support structure that turns people the other way.

Don’t forget that it’s not we who “win souls”, but the Holy Spirit. Our job is to spread the Word, even if that means doing it by example, rather than with actual words. As Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with saying, “Witness at all times. If necessary, use words.” Nowhere is that better advice than in the workplace.

Do you ever try to witness at work? How does it work for you? What are your biggest obstacles?

Are You Born Again? 6 Distinguishing Marks of a Born Again Believer

By // by Khaleef Crumbley

Today, I am posting a great outline on what it meas to be born again from J.C. Ryle, courtesy of Grace Gems:

Are You Born Again?

Are you born again? This is one of life’s most important questions. Jesus Christ said, “Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

It is not enough to reply, “I belong to the church; I suppose I’m a Christian.” Thousands of nominal Christians show none of the signs of being born again which the Scriptures have given us—many listed in the First Epistle of John.

6 Great Marks Of A Born Again Believer

1. No Habitual Sinning

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin” (1 John 3:9). “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin” (1 John 5:18).

A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends.

But the true Christian–hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it.

Sin no longer pleases him, nor is it even a matter of indifference to him; it has become a horrible thing which he hates. However, he cannot eliminate its presence within him.

If he said that he had no sin, he would be lying (1 John 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin–and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appealing in both his words and his actions.

He knows that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). But he can truly say, in the sight of God, that these things cause him grief and sorrow, and that his whole nature does not consent to them.

What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

2. Believing in Christ

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God” (1 John 5:1).

A man who is born again, or regenerated, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Savior who can pardon his soul–that He is the divine person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose–and besides Him, there is no Savior at all. In himself, he sees nothing but unworthiness. But he has full confidence in Christ, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven.

He believes that, because he has accepted Christ’s finished work and death on the cross, he is considered righteous in God’s sight, and he may look forward to death and judgment without alarm.

He may have fears and doubts. He may sometimes tell you that he feels as if he had no faith at all. But ask him if he is willing to trust in anything instead of Christ–and see what he will say. Ask him if he will rest his hope of eternal life on his own goodness–his own works, his prayers, his minister, or his church–and listen to his reply.

What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

3. Practicing Righteousness

“Everyone that does righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29).

The man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God’s will–to do the things that please God–and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example, as well as his Savior–and to prove himself to be Christ’s friend, by doing whatever He commands.

He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself, which is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.

Though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether or not he is a Christian at all, he will be able to say with John Newton, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in the eternal world. But still–I am not what I once used to be! By the grace of God I am what I am.”

What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

4. Loving Other Christians

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).

A man who is born again has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love; but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Savior, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers.

He is never so much at home, as when he is in their company.

He feels they are all members of the same family. They are his fellow soldiers, fighting against the same enemy. They are his fellow travelers, journeying along the same road. He understands them, and they understand him.

They may be very different from himself in many ways—in rank, in station and in wealth. But that does not matter. They are his Father’s sons and daughters–and he cannot help loving them.

What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

5. Overcoming the World

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4).

A man who is born again, does not use the world’s opinion as his standard of right and wrong. He does not mind going against the world’s ways, ideas and customs. What men think or say no longer concerns him. He overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which seem to bring happiness to most people.

To him they seem foolish and unworthy of an immortal being.

He loves God’s praise more than man’s praise. He fears offending God more than offending man. It is unimportant to him whether he is blamed or praised; his first aim is to please God.

What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

6. Keeping Oneself Pure

“He who is begotten of God keeps himself‘ (1 John 5:18).

A man who is born again is careful of his own soul. He tries not only to avoid sin–but also to avoid everything which may lead to it. He is careful about the company he keeps. He knows that “bad company corrupts good morals” and that evil is more contagious than good, just as disease is more infectious than health.

He is careful about the use of his time; his chief desire is to spend it profitable.

He desires to live like a soldier in an enemy country—to wear his armor continually and to be prepared for temptation. He is diligent to be a watchful, humble, prayerful man. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

These are the six great marks of a born again Christian.

How You Should View These Characteristics of Being A Born Again Christian

There is a vast difference in the depth and distinctness of these marks in different people. In some they are faint and hardly noticeable. In others they are bold, plain and unmistakable, so anyone may read them. Some of these marks are more visible than others in each individual. Seldom are all equally evident in any one person.

But still, after every allowance, here we find boldly painted–six marks of being born of God.

How should we react to these things? We can logically come to only one conclusion—only those who are born again have these six characteristics, and those who do not have these marks are not born again. This seems to be the conclusion to which the apostle intended us to come.

Do you have these characteristics? Are you born again?

photo credit: Chris Barna