THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A pastor visited a soap-maker trying to lead him to faith in the Lord. The pastor expounded upon God's love and how He came to die on Calvary's cross for sinners.
The soap-maker protested and said, "I don't believe there is a God. For if He truly is, and He is love, then why are there so many murderers, thieves, corruptors, still living in the world?"
About that time, they passed some boys who were playing on the street. They were quite dirty. The pastor remarked, "I don't believe there is such a thing as soap. For if it truly was, and it really cleans people, then why are there so many dirty people?"
The soap-maker protested again, saying, "Well, they must USE the soap for it to work!"
The pastor said, "EXACTLY!"
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1 Cor 1:27-31
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
KJV
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There are many who come to an intellectual understanding of God and yet never comprehend the simplicity of His eternal salvation. There is a temptation in us all to try and define God (and salvation) by using our own intellect and experience.
Intellectualism led the early churches into Gnosticism, and introduced heresy.
The Grecians tried to mix philosophy with revelation.
Neology was fashionable in Hitler's Germany.
Whoever I am, I am not able to define God. Yes. I am made in His image, but He is certainly more than I am: INFINITELY more! So let me not try and limit God to my own intellect, reasoning, or experience!
We must come back always to the wonderful simplicity of salvation in the Person and finished work of Jesus Christ!
If we surrender to Him as Lord, it is enough to stimy the greatest intellect!
If we surrender to Him as Lord, it is enough to create an experiential life greater than all experiences!
If we surrender to Him as Lord, it is enough to make a simple plough-boy's eyes gleam with joy!
1 Tim 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
KJV
Christ is "made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:..."
He is ALL in ALL for you and me!
We may not be able to comprehend or understand all that Jesus is. We cannot understand how He gives us HIS "robe of righteousness" and let's us stand before the judgment throne blameless! We cannot understand how He sanctifies and keeps us clean until that final day! We cannot comprehend how He has redeemed us from the slavery of sin to the sureness of eternal life in heaven!
But we can certainly GLORY in the joy of His simple salvation!
Love ya,
Bruce