Cultural Or Liberal "Christianity" Limits The Influence Of God In Our Lives

But to the wicked God says:

"What right have you to

declare My statutes, or 

take My covenant in 

your mouth. Seeing you

hate instruction and cast

My words behind you? 

Psalm 50:16-17

     How can one know that a person is a liberal or cultural Christian? By their behavior!  We cannot know what is in a person's mind other than how this thinking is demonstrated.  It is by this demonstration that we are to judge them and to, at least attempt to, teach them the truth of God's word.  Cultural "Christianity" is a different sort of beast that is Authentic Biblical Christianity. Cultural "Christianity" creates a set of standards that acknowledge some actions must stop, i.e., don't recite any creed, and don't be accused of being liturgical, etc., and then develops conceptual framework for standards that are regulated. Such developments may be found in teachings that require that there by a "second" baptism of the Holy Spirit in which a person receives some special supernatural gift, and especially that a person must speak in some gibberish tongue. This form of faith operates exists in the larger context, or paradigm.  What does this mean?  This cultural faith resides in the model of true faith the one that sets forth the pattern, yet, cultural "Christianity" is lived in this framework but their faith operates in the smaller conceptual framework. How? Certain of their thoughts, time, resources, and influences are under this paradigm set forth in Scripture and are under the jurisdiction of faith. The remainder of an individual, who claims "Christianity" lies under their self-constructed box.  Here are some things within that box: Faith is for Sunday, that is, if I meet my religious obligation, I am free then, free to live my life as I please.  If I just shout and scream at some emotional service, and act as pious as I can, no matter that this is unscriptural, I feel "holy" and God must love me, then leave the service and live culturally. Cultural and Liberal "Christianity" diminish the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  They may think that the Holy Spirit is controlling them, but He is not, they are doing what makes them feel good, and not due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who empowers them to live as Authentic Biblical Christians. Authentic Biblical Faith is limited, limited expansion in their lives, the Holy Spirit cannot possess more and more of their lives, they are doing what they believe is necessary to be a "Christian." The Holy Spirit is ineffective.  This does not mean that good things can be done by such person, but those things are nothing more than some philanthropic act making themselves proud, a life of pride. 

     When Jesus Christ is not free to possess more and more of who we are, then there is a tendency over time to take even what we have placed withing the smaller framework and move it out into the larger context.  This can be seen in such movements as the Bethel Church of Redding, in Pentecostal Churches, and other who rely on the supernatural having great influence in their worship.  This can be found in other religious beliefs such as the Mormon religion. While they think they are progressing in faith, the fact is they are regressing.  They are losing the value of true Authentic Biblical Faith, and all that will be done and is being done is to diminish true faith and replace it with some new paradigm that is not Biblical. In name only are those who will not live according to Scripture, to grow in grace, in Sanctification, and become Authentic Biblical Christians, to leave behind that which is not pleasing to God and to do that which pleases themselves. This has been the genesis of the Church as more and more the culture of this world invades the thinking of those who will not live according to Scripture, but devise a religious dogma that is easy to accept, but far from the will of God.

     This false and hurtful movement within the Church can be overcome with truth, but to learn the truth may be hard, even such to place God above all things, to live as in the image of God's Son, Jesus Christ. But men throughout history of the Church have done so, even at peril to their lives, but they know, and we should know, this life is temporary, we have a Savior who has promised His children everlasting life with Him in Glory. We are not stepchildren, we are adopted children, we are of God's family, and we can live now by the power of the Holy Spirit as Authentic Biblical Christians, and do the will of God, bringing the Gospel to every creature on earth, then come before Him knowing that God will declare: "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:23).

Deliver me from the guilt of

     bloodshed. O God, the God 

of my salvation, and my tongue

    shall sing aloud of Your righteouness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth 

    shall show forth Your praise.  For You

do not desire sacrifice, or else I would 

    give it; You do not delight in burnt

offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a

    broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart--

these, O God, You will not despise.

                                        Psalm 51: 14-17

Praise God In All You Do

Richard L. Crumb

Cultural Or Liberal "Christians" Are Known By Their Behavior

Whoever believes that Jesus 

is the Christ is born of God,

and everyone who loves Him 

who begot also loves him who

is begotten of Him.

By this we know that we love

the children of God, when we

love God and keep His commandments.

1John 5:1-2

     The word used by the Apostle John is a familiar Greek word used so often by Christians: "Agape" and while it is translated "love" the meaning is deeper than our English word "love."  This "Agape" love is a love that has as its base principles, a principled love, a God love who is the truth and the highest form of any principle.  If you have principled love for God, then you will have principles love for Jesus Christ, who is God, and you will have principles love for the brethren.  You might say: "I love my car."  How? How can you love a non-living anything? You might like it, have high regard for it, but to love? We use this word so easily and so often wrongly.  We love God who first love us, a living Being who created us, the world in which we live. Yet, we live not according to His principles, His commandments, rather we live according to those ideals that we can agree with because they sound so good, so theologically based, but are not! You may say that you love God, that you love Jesus Christ His only Begotten Son, and you may have real feelings, a feeling of love, but is it love that is based upon principles or feelings?  True or false Christianity is most demonstrated by behavior.  

     Another word that is bounced around today is, "faith."  A person says: "I have faith," then goes off and lives like the world.  Furthermore, faith is so often held at arm's length, people come close to the truth but not close enough.  Another words, they come close enough to say that they have faith but they are not close enough to master the intricacies of true faith.  what do I mean?  True Authentic Biblical Faith is one that so pervades our lives that everything is affected by that faith, and shown in our behavior.  It is a matter of the heart and its reality is our supreme influence.  I am not speaking of some outward demonstration that pleases the senses, rather that inward faith, that is demonstrated in every thing you do. This is a faith that is pleasing to God, a faith that drives us to root out anything that is contrary to the truth.  Unfortunately, many are so pleased with what they are being taught, so easily affected by the "nice" sounding messages that they will not take the time to examine whether or not their faith is Authentic Biblical Faith. 

     Authentic Biblical Faith is this: Jesus Christ comes to dwell in our lives by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  This is the foundation of our faith, and by this knowledge and presence we are forced to measure all we do against this reality. All of our thoughts are measured by this reality, any defective truth, is there can be such as it seems to me that if it is not the truth then it has to be a lie, are resisted.  Our motivation is due to the presence of the Holy Spirit who is grieved when we accept that which is not of Him, the truth, when we have accepted man's teaching, no matter how good sounding, as truth, and not the truth of Him as revealed in His word.  Every fiber of our being is affected, and we grow in grace, our Sanctification is enlarged as it grows and leads us to behave as Authentic Biblical Christians. 

     This is the sad news: many among us have a different thinking, that which is altogether different, and have created standards that are not Biblical, that which is not Authentic Biblical Standards.  For many among us, those who claim to be "Christian" and to love God, who believe that they are truly in the "truth," have set standards that are not of God, rather they are of man. Listen to the Apostle Paul: "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (1John 5:18-21).  Being of God then we should behave as such, adopted children of God.

This is love, that we walk

     according to His commandments.

This is the commandment, that as

     you have heard from the beginning,

you should walk in it.

                                    2John 6

Be glad, rejoice, God dwells in all His children

Richard L. Crumb

The Basic Requirement For Authentic Biblical Faith

And you shall love the LORD

your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all

your mind, and with all your

strength. This is the first 

commandment.

And the Second, like it, 

is this: You shall love your

neighbor as yourself.  There

is no other commandment 

greater than these.

Mark 12:30-31

     These words of Jesus Christ are more than just a summary of the Ten Commandments; they are what is required for all Authentic Biblical Christians, for Authentic Biblical Faith.  This being the primary pursuit of Christians, Authentic Biblical Christians and everything secondary, then, God is not interested in sharing His glory with any competitor. Jesus did not end the requirements to keep all ten commandments for if you examine those commandments you will find that the Ten Commandments are divided in to two parts: Verses one through eleven are all about our worship of God, and verses twelve through seventeen are how man is to live in accord with other men. If you love God with your whole heart then to have anything above Him it is idolatry and God is specific that "you shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). Whatever draws our hearts from Him, that which engrosses our minds, or holds the first place in our affections, are idols. God is to be the supreme object of our worship.

     How can it be seen in you whether or not you are Authentic as a Christian or that you have allow liberal Christianity to become your theology, and that you have allowed cultural living to be what guides and drives you. We must take this seriously for is we do then we will not become complacent.  But if we do not take this serious then we will be in contradiction to the will of God for other things will be our passion. It is unreserved commitment to the glory of God, to the service of God, this is the foundation on which Authentic Biblical Faith will be built in a person's life who desire to be Authentic as a Christian. Making this commitment to God, and to ourselves will serve to help us be and do all God desires.

     Cultural Christianity, which leaves one to wonder how Authentic Biblical Faith can coexist with the culture, has and is what has become the mode of worship for many Churches, and those attending those Churches.  One such thing that seems to have a pejorative meaning is the word "liturgy."  It is said, "We are not a liturgical Church."  Yes, you are: liturgy is the form of public worship, nothing more or less.  Yes, there are those whose liturgy is more formal and those where informality is the mode of worship.  Another such word that has become pejorative: "Creed."  Most liberal, cultural Churches do not recite a Creed, as though to do so is unChristian, unbecoming in some manner, rather they rely on emotional stories, or just plain stories, and the very basic beliefs from the founding of Christianity is the Creeds.  But these things are not mentioned or rarely mentioned in the Church.  Cultural Christians do not set aside a day, the Sabbath to just meditate upon God, to give to God this day, a day of rest; rather, they are boating, shopping, fishing, etc., and God gets the leftovers; if even that!  Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments in his arms, written by God, commandments not just for the nation of Israel but for all Israel, and that is what we are as Christians, grafted into Israel, spiritual Israel, and those commandments are for us as well: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). Are you keeping the Sabbath day holy, or has other things become more important, things that are really nothing more than idols for you worship them more than God.  How can I say such a thing?  When we don't keep the commandments then we have displaced God for something else. If we are going to change so that we worship God authentically, then we must change from the inside out, we must leave behind what is cultural, what is liberal, and live and worship God with our whole heart, mind, and soul.  We grow in sanctification, or we are stagnant, if stagnant, then all that can be expected is to digress, even with all the good sounding words, and verses that one puts forth, it is what we are doing, either God is first or something is: which is it? You and I must decide, it won't be easy, for sin is always crouching at the door, but possible because we have the Holy Spirit in us as His children; we can overcome sin.  

Look upon me and be merciful to me,

     As Your custom is toward those

who love Your name.  Direct my steps

    by Your word, and let no iniquity 

have dominion over me. Redeem me

   from the oppression of man, that I

may keep Your precepts.

                                         Psalm 119:132-134

Remove doublemindness: worship God

Richard L. Crumb

Faith Will Be Measured By The Factors That Are Characteized By Authentic Biblical Growth

But he who is joined to the Lord

is one spirit with Him. 

Flee sexual immorality.  

Every sin that a man does is

outside the body, but he who

commits sexual immorality

sins against his own body.

Or do you not know that your

body is the temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you, whom you have from God, 

and you are not your own?

For you were bought with a price;

therefore glorify God in your body

and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Corinthians 6:17-20

     Before I write this blog I must apologize for not writing yesterday.  I was injured Sunday night as I tried to catch a dog and slipped on wet grass, injuring my left thigh, the back muscles and could not sit down in a chair.  In fact, I am sitting now but it is not easy.  Life is full of frustrating things, and I could blame Satan for this injury, this event, but he did not cause it, it was me, my desire to catch this dog not realizing that my dress shoes, slick soles and the wet grass were not compatible.  But having said this, and complaining (ha!) I do know this that even though things happen, God is providential and can use even this injury to aid me in my growth in faith.  This too will pass, if not, well glory is all that is ahead of me, and any of God's children.

      Let us all face facts:  we are fallen souls, and we have the same fight; sin.  It is not going away until Jesus Christ returns, but we do have a say in how we operate in this world.  We can live for Jesus Christ realizing that He bought us with a price, His death upon the cross.  Who did He buy?  Not everyone, for not everyone is going to heaven, some will be thrown into Gehenna.  He came for the elect, and the elect are not their own for their sins are paid, it is done, and we are now not our own, we are His.  Furthermore, it is God who instills into each of His children not only the faith that is needed to choose Him, we by that faith can live for Him.  We are joined to the Lord Jesus Christ.

     Among those elected by God and are being sanctified by growing in faith possess the same denominator, that is, Authentic Biblical Faith, and they (you and me) become determined, that is intentional, to be devoted to Him and in our service to God. On top of this we have the understanding that we are inadequate to achieve this goal without grace and empowerment.  Scripture is not devoid of truth, and the truth is stated in such terms that this truth is intended for all Christians. No one is exempt.  The motivating principle in an Authentic Biblical Christian that will give them a joyful obedience are the same principles for all of God's children and the only logical response is universal as well.  All Christians are to be servants and children of God. To begin with a person must be "born again" and not just make a "decision" for Jesus Christ as so many Churches push as the way to be saved.  Yes, we do decide to follow Jesus, that is true, but if only a decision then in time it is possible for that decision maker to make another decision.  Jesus said: "Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again'" (John 3:5-7). All Christians are to serve Him and submit to Him with the attitude and actions that belong to such relationships.  

     The commandments from God and delivered to us by our Savior Jesus Christ is: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment" (Mark 12:30). These words have meaning and validate all that I have been writing about: we must change from the inside out, for the love of God is the basic requirement for Authentic Biblical Faith.  Heavenly treasure should be our primary pursuit.  Even the love of our family is to take second place for our love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A lukewarm faith is an affront to all we affirm about Him. 

     Yes, it is hard to live a Christian life for we are affronted on all sides, and Satan and his demons are busy at work to destroy the Gospel, to put to shame those who are God's children.  Don't try to fight this fight on your own; you can't win!  You don't have enough strength to overcome the devil, or his demons, you are still, even though growing in faith, fallen, and susceptible to sin.  Therefore, pray for guidance, strength by means of the Holy Spirit to lead you, be in His word, apply His word, and ask for forgiveness when you have failed either by commission or omission.  God is merciful, God is our hope, our Savior and He will not leave His children unattended, and is our help in times of trouble.  The Psalmist writes these words of comfort: "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver hi and honor him. with long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (Psalm 91:15-16). 

Oh, sing to the LORD a new

     Song! Sing to the LORD, 

all the earth.  Sing to the LORD,

     Bless His name; proclaim the

good news of His salvation from

     day to day. Declare His glory

among the nations. His wonders 

    among all peoples.  For the LORD 

is great and greatly to be praised; 

    He is to be feared above all gods...

                                          Psalm 96:1-4

True humbleness is a sign of sanctification

Richard L. Crumb

Growing In Grace Is The Work Of Authentic Biblical Christians

I have been crucified with Christ;

it is no longer I who live,

but Christ lives in me; and the

life which I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself

for me.

Galatians 2:20

For to me, to live is Christ,

and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

     As I bring this series on growth in grace to a finality, I must communicate to you an absolutely essential means for spiritual growth in grace.  This means is regular and habitual communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not speaking of just spouting Scriptures, or writing Scripture for others to see, and while this is good it is not what I am speaking for it is personal growth, what is inside of you that determines who you are and whose you are; therefore, you and I must communicate with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I am not speaking of communication with Jesus Christ in reference to the Lord's Supper, while this is a form of communication it is not what is being spoken of for I am speaking of personal growth in grace and a personal communication with Jesus Christ. So, what do I mean? What is meant is developing a daily habit of communication between you and the Savior Jesus Christ and this communication is carried on by faith, prayer, and meditation. The question for those desiring to please God and our Savior Jesus Christ is: are you and I developing this habit?  I am afraid that many know little of this habit and many just rely on one means; i.e., reading the Bible, and trying to live a Christian life, but do not have a personal association with Jesus Christ.  It is possible to union with Jesus Christ and yet to have little communication with Him.

     All saints in Jesus Christ are taught in Scripture that they are to have communication, or communion with Jesus Christ. it is getting close to Him, laying hold on Him with confidence, a faith that is made more intense and sure each and every time with spend time with Jesus Christ. This is intentional, that is, to build a habit of communication with Jesus Christ and not just be content with knowledge of Him, having orthodox knowledge without this private communication.  Yes, it is true that we are not justified by works, and that justification is a gift of God received by us in faith and our trust is in Jesus Christ and His promises. When are in close communication with Jesus Christ we will come to Him with every need, to talk with Him about every difficulty, to consult with Him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit Who will lead and guide us and by the power of the Scriptures whereby God communicates directly to us and not by some outward sounding voice, as some believe, God leads us by what He has revealed and the Holy Spirit will guide us to Scriptures that will give us the needed help. We lean on God, the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to aid us to live the live that God desires of all His chosen children. The person that lives this way will grow in grace.

     Awakes, God is awake: "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber not sleep.  The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your right hand" (Psalm 121:4-5).  Don't stand still and be apathetic, lazy, having intentions without action. Don't just wish and hope, rather seek Jesus Christ that you may live and grow in grace. Go forward! March on! Cast aside idle talk that it is foolish to be extreme or have gone to far.  We are afar from those who believe we are stupid for following a Savior we cannot see, and touch, and they may be right if our faith is exercised outside of Scripture but they have no grounds if we are exercising our faith according to Scripture. Every Christian is on their path to grow in grace, in some form or other, at some level or other and we cannot judge their hearts, we can judge their demonstration of their faith, but we must mind our business of growing in grace and this is a requirement of our Savior when He spoke to Peter about John: "Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?' Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?  You follow me" (John 21:21-22). 

     Let us now grow in grace, use the means available to you, put into practice daily those things that will give you the ability to grow in grace.  Will this take away the things of this world that are burdensome, horrible at times, bringing sorrows upon us?  No! Even our Savior underwent these problems of sin that brought upon Him persecution, sorrows, and even death on a cross: "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:10). 

     Remember, all this is to teach us lessons and not to see these things as strange, rather let us say to ourselves; This also is for my profit, that I may be a partaker of God's holiness.  This is the love of God sent to you.  Grow in grace.

For we have become partakers

    Of Christ if we hold the 

beginning of our confidence

   steadfast to the end. 

                                             Hebrews 3:14

Spend time with God: Today

Richard L. Crumb

Serving Christ In This Life Is Difficult: But Doable As We Grow In Grace

Do not be deceived: 

"Evil company 

corrupts good habits."

Awake to righteousness,

and do not sin; for

some do not have the

knowledge of God.

I speak this to your shame.

1Corinthians 15:33-34

     Growth in grace and the means for such growth is the subject of these blogs and it is by the Grace of God that we can have means; but often we overlook them or refuse to use them.  One such means that must be examined is our need to be cautious towards the company we keep, and the friendships we form.  The old saying; "A bad apple will destroy the barrel of apples," certainly applies to those with whom we associate. Sin is a disease, a disease that Jesus Christ said that He would heal: "Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Indeed we do come to You, for You are the LORD our God" (Jeremiah 3:22).  Disease is infectious, and that infection means simply that you can catch the disease.  So, then, why associate with diseased people?  Sin is sin, and sin is a disease and that sin, or disease can infect you and others with whom you associate. As an Authentic Biblical Christian you must choose with whom you will associate with and with whom you will spend time, other than those that are in our workplaces, or in needs of life, i.e., gas stations, stores, etc.  Who are you clinging too?  Is it some "rock star?' Is it some person in the entertainment industry that lives lives that are far removed from Christianity?  How do we associate with them?  By attending their movies, watching them on TV, etc. and they earn money, your money, when you associate with them.  Therefore your faraway friendship with such diseased persons is helping them to continue in their sinful lifestyles.  

     It is hard enough to live an Authentic Biblical Christian life in this word, and due to our fallen natures, but we can if we are intentional to live for our Savior Jesus Christ and not just for ourselves.  James writes: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.  Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

     This then is the means for you to grow in grace.  Associate with other brothers and sisters in Christ, more than those of the world.  Seek Christian friends and pray for those friends, read the Bible with them, take time with them and be concerned about their souls, be a Christian in your employment, people should see in you that you are a Christian and have little or no need for you to tell them so. A true friend is one that sharpens you and you sharpen them for you both have the same interest; to serve the living God. 

     Growth in grace therefore has the means to protect us from harm. This is true only if it is applied in your and mine, lives.  Does this mean that we are isolationists? No, it means that we are always conscious of our associates and how they may affects us, and not infect us. This is one way in which we can grow in grace and every Authentic Biblical Christian has this need; to grow in the Lord.

Draw near to God and He will

     draw near to you.  Cleanse 

your hands, you sinners; and 

     purify your hearts, you

double-minded.....

     Humble yourselves in the

sight of the Lord and He will

    lift you up.

                       James 4:8,10

Praise God and Commune with Him

Richard L. Crumb

Authentic Biblical Christians Are To Be Examples Of Our Savior Jesus Christ

He who loves father or mother 

more than Me is not worthy

of me. And he who loves son

or daughter more than Me is

not worthy of Me. 

And he who does not take

his cross and follow after Me

is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 10:37-38

     Harsh, harsh, harsh, are those words of Jesus Christ.  Does He really mean that we are to put Him ahead of those who we love?  Maybe it has other meanings? Does it? Or is this exactly what is required?  Now Jesus has done it: what words that are hard and seemingly unattainable, yet required: "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). Yes, it is plain, and very clear, we are to place in our lives, ahead of every thing else, on Him, Jesus Christ.  From the beginning of creation man was made different from all other living beings, God made man in His image: "then God said, 'Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.  So God crated man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:26-27). Man did not leave well alone, for he left behind this fact that all men are created in the image of God, that is we have the attributes of God, love, ration thinking, the authority over this earth as God would have us use that authority as being in His image, but we have left this fact and this is due to the fall of Adam, and our inherited sin, but this is not to be true if we then in our lives become conformed to the image of His Son: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).  Unfortunately, many, even within Christian Churches, man has become conformed to this world, they have become cultural Christians, liberalism in theology has been the result and not Authentic Biblical Faith and we have been warned against such: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).  As Authentic Biblical Christians we follow a new and better way: "Therefore, brethren,having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and  living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:19-23). There it is: we are to do exactly as our High Priest and Savior requires, He is to be first in our lives in all things, even those things we hold dear. 

     The means to grow in grace is also to be watchful over our conduct in the little matter of everyday life.  This means to be watchful over our tempers, our tongues, the discharge of our daily relations in life. This would include where we work, our time at work.  I notice this one fact and maybe you have seen the same or have participated in this act, I know that I have, hopefully the change I made is not broken as I consciously attempt not to do this: a car speeds by in a 70 miles per hour zone, or any other posted zone, with a "fish" symbol on the back of the car going much faster than the posted speed. What a witness! Not a good one! No wonder people speak ill of Christians, they cannot even follow God's word. Peter reminds us: "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good" (1Peter 2:13-14). We are the living witnesses of God; therefore live as such!  Be intentional, God requires us to be precise for He is a precise God and we are made in His image, we are conformed in the image of His Son, who is God come in the flesh.  

     It is not easy, it is hard, we are fallen creatures and our morality is flawed, but this is no excuse for we have the sure and true words of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and we have the Holy Spirit that will aid us in our efforts to serve Him (Why would He serve a person who is not willing to follow God?). Jesus said: "Then he said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. for whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for for My sake will save it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the hole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His won glory, and in His Father's, and if the holy angels" (Luke 9:23-26).  Growth in grace is first implicit, that is, it is inside a man, then it is explicit, that is, it is shown in every day life.  This is one way by which we grow in grace.

Beloved, I now write to you

     this second epistle

(in both of which I stir up your

     pure minds by way of reminder),

that you may be mindful of the words

     which were spoken before by the

holy prophets, and of the commandment

     of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.

                                           2Peter 3:1-2

Spend time in Communion with God: today

Richard L. Crumb

Our Private Life should be Seen In Our Public Life

Live joyfully with the wife

whom you love all the days of

your vain life which He has

give you under the sun, all

your days of vanity; for that

is your portion in life, and in

the labor which you perform 

under the sun.  Whatever your

hand finds to do, do it with your

might; for there is no work or

device or knowledge or wisdom

in the grave where you are going.

Ecclesiastes 9:9-10

     I have been writing on growing in grace and the means for such growth is our current lesson.  What has been taught so far is that we must be diligence to perform private means in our Authentic Biblical Faith. We are to self-enquirer about our souls.  Furthermore we must be careful in our public use of grace.  What do I mean?  As a Christian you are the visible Church.  Not the building or lands where you go to meet with other Christians, they are only the objects that we use to corporately worship God.  The Greek word that we so easily translate as "Church," can get lost in its true meaning, and then be seen only as the place of worship. This Greek word, the one used in the Scripture to denote true Christians is:  ἐκκλησίᾳ:

Ek = out; klesia = called; therefore the visible Church are the ones called out, called out to be a special people for a special purpose and it is upon the "called out" ones that Jesus said that He would build His Church, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18), that is, a group of people that are called as a society that is knit together by the closest of spiritual bonds. As Authentic Biblical Christians we are the visible Church, not the buildings, or anything else, we are the Church.  This is what the world sees, us, and when we publicly are not being diligent in our calling then we are grieving the Holy Spirit, that is God.  The visible things that are seen are; attending regularly Sunday worship, uniting in common prayer, and praise, and in receiving the sacrament that is the Lord's supper, preaching the word.  This diligent public use of the gift of God's grace has much to do with the prosperity of your soul.  
     There is a problem that has invaded the Church and that problem is the acceptance of the culture and has changed the way people worship God, and show their respect, and faith for our creator and Savior Jesus Christ, for God, and the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to live as Authentic Biblical Christians.  That problem can be seen in such things as doing things on the Sabbath that are not worshiping God, rather they are satisfying our emotions, and personal desires to have fun, or other things that are far removed from the Sabbath a day in which we take time to be with other like believers, and to rest and just meditate on the our Savior, our souls.  But this has not been the case as liberal thought, and the invasion of the culture has become the "norm,"  or as the words that are now so often used as if the use of them show a person to be sophisticated: "The New Normal."  People seem reluctant to live as Christians, that is to allow the Scriptures to lead them and not the world.  For instance, so many people today come to worship with Bermuda shorts and flip-flops, shirts that are great if you are vacationing on some island.  Women dress as though they want everyone to see what they have, bodily, dresses with low cut fronts (girls we know you have those body parts and we do not need to have them thrust in front of us and especially our children), would you dress like this for the President of the United States? Or we have made worship to be more like the "hippy" Woodstock music affair.  How can we try to teach respect to our children if we are not respectful?  It is this carelessness that is seen publicly.  If we are to grow in grace we must practice in public that grace for we are the living Gospel, that is, we put forward in life what we believe.  We must be on guard here or we will damage our witness. Yes, there are times whereby we do not need to be so formal, and those are good times, such as a men's breakfast, etc., yet, there are times when we do need to dress properly in respect towards God and to others for they do judge our faith, rightly so, how we actually present our faith publicly.
     Some Churches do not speak of the Creeds, or use the old hymns, as if they are "old" and not "current", and the old prayers are not spoken of either, and worse of all they do not preach the truths, rather much is nothing more than "psycho-babble." These are signs of poor spiritual health, but they do draw many people through the doors, people with money, or even to satiate the senses that many people are coming, unfortunately there is a loss of appetite for real spiritual food, a decline in grace.  Whatever we do in public, let us do it with all our might.

But He turned and said to Peter,
     'Get behind Me, Satan! You are
an offense to Me, for you are not
     mindful of the things of God, 
but the things of men.'
                                Matthew 16:23

Live Life And Live For God

Richard L. Crumb

The Means For Authentic Biblical Faith Growth

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is 

from above, and comes down from the 

Father of lights, with whom there is

no variation or shadow of turning.

Of His own will He brought to forth

by the word of truth, that we 

might be a kind of firstfruits 

of His creatures.

James 1:16-18

     Authentic Biblical Faith is not a stagnant faith, one that is apathetic, one that is dormant, no, it is a faith that is growing even in spite of setbacks.  Setbacks come when we do not apply the means for growth. If you desire to grow in grace then the means for that growth is first given to you by God who supplies every good gift, even the gift for growth in faith. God is pleased to give gifts, to work by means for God has ordained by decree the means as well as the ends. Again, to grow in grace is to use the means for growth.  Every Christian has the means for growth, no one has special means or that you must be satisfied with the gifts you have, no, you are not to be content, you are to be intentional in your growth.  All believers can reach this goal of growth as all have the means available, they are not out of reach.  Those who grow in grace use means.

     Be advised; no believer can excuse him/herself for not growing in grace, it is your or her's fault. Period!  A man who is quickened by the Holy Spirit is not some mere dead creature, rather he/her is a being with capacities and responsibilities.  To be laze is to bring grief to God: "The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich" (Proverbs 13:4). 

     One area of means for Authentic Biblical Christians to grow is in their private use of grace.  What is meant: no one can use the means for you, you must use the means alone, such as private prayer, private reading of the Scriptures.  Do you read other material more than the Bible? Do you watch TV more than read the Bible and pray?  Do you take time for private meditation ( I do not mean mediation in the Oriental sense, or as some "Christians" promote, to empty your mind) no, it is to think deeply on God's word allowing the Holy Spirit to lead your thoughts to the truth. Do you take time for self-examination?  If you do not how do you expect to grow?  These means are the roots of Christianity. Use them!  What is more important to you?  This life or to please God?  Why do not Christians grow in grace?  Many of those professing to be Christians are sloven and careless about their private time in pray before God.  They seldom read the Bible.  They have little spirit for the things of God unless they are being emotionally roused.  They have little thought for sermons that are exegetical, rather they like those allegorical, or psycho-babble sermons.  They enjoy those little "dittys" song over and over until your emotions are raised in pitch, but they do not have the spirit to enjoy good sermons from the Bible.  Those who are setback "Christians" do not spend quiet time with God, thinking about the state of their souls: they are happy with where they are "in Christ." 

    I have the excuses, so have you, that this world is so "bad" that it is so worse than ever before, that we are in the "last days" and this world is so dangerous.  Get over it! The world has always been dangerous.  There has been trouble in the world since Adam fell from grace.  What can be seen is that many so-called "Christians" are so culturally minded, that they have become so "liberal" in their faith, wanting the excitement that this world can bring; in fact they bring that needed excitement into the Church.  As Daniel wrote: "But you Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4).  So many are ready to hear sermons, go to public meetings seeking sensation, just look at the turn-out of people to hear such babble, such non-Christian teaching (Yes, some do hold the Bible up as though they are teaching from it), but they are not teaching God's word, they are teaching a form of cultural living, with little Scripture.  Man is not taught to seek and use the means that the Bible is so plain and clear about, they will not hear and apply the words of King David: "Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still" (Psalm 4:4). I do suspect that two hundred years ago people read their Bibles more that today, spent more time alone with God than people today.  Yes, we are undated with so much to do, so much to watch on TV, so many movies to attend, so many things to do that give us personal pleasure, there is a difference in our time and the past, this is true, and knowledge is growing, especially in the area of technology, i.e., ipads, smart phones, medicine, space efforts, etc.  

    If any of wish to grow in grace, to please God first, before we are pleased with ourselves, we must use the means of private religion, then our souls will grow.

The LORD is good to those

    who wait for Him, to the

soul who seeks Him.  It is

    good that one should

hope and wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD.

                                Lamentations 3:25-26

Spend Time In Prayer

Richard L. Crumb 

Authentic Biblical Christians Have A Growing Interest In The Salvation Of Souls

Therefore we must give the

more earnest heed to the things

we have heard, lest we drift away.

For if the word spoken through

angels proved steadfast, and

every transgression and disobedience

received a just reward, how shall we

escape if we neglect so great a 

salvation, which at the first began

to be spoken by the Lord, and was

confirmed to us by those who heard Him...

Hebrews 2:1-3

     Are you hearing the word of God? Are you responding to the word of God? Jesus Christ paid a debt for sin, a debt we cannot pay as fallen creatures due to inherited sin.  This debt that was paid secured forever salvation to those who respond to the word of Jesus Christ, the life of Jesus Christ, and the words written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Growth in grace is marked by an increase in your zeal and diligence, not only for yourself, but also for the unsaved, those souls who when hearing the Gospel respond.  Who are they? I have no idea!  I am not required to know who will respond to the Gospel, our work is outlined in Scripture: 1. Live according to God's word.  2. Preach the Gospel. 3. Know this that God will save those who are elect. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Theologian, Doctor a great defender of Orthodox faith, (313A.D.), a fighter against the heresy of Arius who taught that Jesus was not God, rather a created being, wrote: "We also, by God's grace, briefly indicated that the Word of the Father is Himself divine, that all things that are owe their being to His will and power, and that it is through Him that the Father gives order to creation, by Him that all things are moved, and through Him that they receive their being" (On The Incarnation Of The Word; Creation and The Fall; chapter One, par. 1). It is God who saves, it we who preach the Gospel for God is pleased to use us humans to reach other humans, but this work is hindered when we do not have zeal and diligence in our efforts to reach lost souls.  How do we know that we are growing in grace in this area of our lives?  Our zeal is not some infatuated glorifying, and titillating emotional effort on our part, no, it is our zeal in accordance with such a great salvation that has been imparted freely to us by Jesus Christ and our understanding that God will bless our efforts in the fields of missions, sending missionaries to preach the Gospel, yes, to also aid physically those in need.  Our zeal is to remove the darkness that sin has spread over the minds of people, even God's people that He has chose from the foundation of the world.  We are diligent in this work, that is, we place this work high on our priority list; not just things that make us happy, rather our happiness is knowing that the Gospel is being preached in every place on this earth. We do not become weary, even in the face of failure, temporary failure, for it is God who is blessing our efforts, it is God who by His Providence is bringing His children home. We just work on, praying, speaking, preaching, living, visiting, etc.  If you are not increasing in this area of Authentic Biblical Faith then your are decreasing, this is not some static grace, it is either growing or not, and you know whether it is growing by your zeal and diligence in this area of ministry. You are an ambassador for Christ?  Are you not? (2Corinthians 5:20). Then your concern is for the salvation of souls.
     These marks of growing grace in our lives may seem hard, but that is the fact, it is hard, we are fallen and we do not like to do things that don't give us immediate reward, and for some Christians these hallmarks will not please them.  Do they please you?  For many high-flying religionists, whose only notion of Christianity is that of a state of perpetual joy and ecstasy, who tell you that they have got far beyond the region of conflict and soul-humiliation, such persons no doubt will regard the marks I have laid down as "legal", "carnal" and "gendering to bondage."  These hallmarks of Authentic Biblical Christian growth are not any of those things, these are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we are to heed those words for it is He who came, God Himself, the very Wisdom of God, the Word of God, the creator of the universe and all things contained in the universe; let us not neglect so great a salvation and be able to answer: I am growing in grace!

For the LORD God is a sun
     and a shield;
The LORD will give grace 
    and glory;
No good thing will He
    withhold from those
who walk uprightly.
                     Psalm 84:11

Prepare Now For The Sabbath

Richard L. Crumb

Authentic Biblical Christians Love All People: Especially Their Brothers And Sisters

Though I speak with the 

tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love, I have 

become sounding brass or a 

clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift 

of prophecy, and understand 

all mysteries and all knowledge,

and though I have all faith, so that I 

could remove mountains, but have

not love, I am nothing.

1Corinthians 13:1-2

     The love that is spoken by Paul is not some form of philanthropy, any can show philanthropy, sinners do it all the time, pagans are famous for their show of love, even throughout the ages.  This is not the love we are speaking of here, it not some form of love that encompasses all things, excepts all things, does all things for people, causes people to go on missionary trips, for if it is not the love that Paul speaks of then it is some other form of love.  The word in Greek used here by Paul is agape, that is a principled love, a love that is of God and not of man, not some wishy-washy love, rather a true love of God for others, even for this earth.  Furthermore, those who wish to use verse one of the above Scripture to prove that Paul spoke in tongues, that is use this as a proof verse, should do more study, for this is not what the Greek words say. In English we use the word "though" here but the Greek word is "ean" meaning "if" that is, "if" I do, or "if" I don't, but it is clear that if Paul was using some gibberish form of language it is nothing more than the "sounding of brass, a "clanging cymbal," that is it is not to be understood by anyone.  You can say that you have a special gift, i.e., prophecy, knowledge, even to have faith that could remove mountains, it is nothing if not of true Authentic Biblical Faith, that is; Biblical love. 

     Growing in grace is exercised in an increase in charity, that is; love, each and every year it is growing.  This may drive us to to things for those in such as Rescue Missions, or evangelize, or even to go on missionary trips, but if not shown to your brothers and sisters within your Church, then you are doing it for other reasons than what is true of Authentic Biblical Christians.  You start at home, your home, and extend to the Church, then spread out to the world.  Yet, many would rather have the thrill of "doing" something for Christ.  Well, that is good! But it is not true faith in its sense of growing Christians, for if we do not start with our families and then spread out, then it could be that our efforts are to please us than to please God. Paul writes: "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing" (1Corinthians 13:3).  Are you caring for the needs of your family? If so; good! Are you caring for the needs in your Church? If so; good! If not get started!!  Do you know of any needs in your Church, families that are struggling, having problems meeting their bills, possibly due to the current economic problem?  Are you helping them? Or are you sitting back in your will established home, putting money away in savings and 401k's, which is good, if you are taking care of the poor.  Do you thing that you are going to live forever on this earth? Or are you doing heavenly things now, acting according to your faith, that God is love, and you are love, if you are then act like it.  One thing that I have noticed and speak often of is the way people act at the end of worship service.  Yes, I do speak of the lack of respect in dress, men in attire that is good for the beach, women in low cut dresses, revealing much too much, and then crying out when it is addressed. How is that from either showing love, concern for the brothers and sisters?  What is so prevalent in the Churches is the "mad" rush for the door at the end of the service, as though there are more important things to do than to share time with those who will be with you in heaven for an eternity.  What are you doing? Are you just waiting for that time?  I Hope Not!  

     Our love will be shown actively in our growth in disposition to do kindness, to take trouble for others, to be good-natured, to be generous, sympathizing, thoughtful, tender-hearted, and considerate. This growth is marked by our disposition becoming meek and patient towards all men, to put up with provocation, and not to stand upon rights, to bear and forbear much rather than quarrel. A Christian that is not cultural, or liberal, will try to put the best construction on other people's conduct.  This we do when we allow "agape" love to rule our lives and not some philanthropy that is good, but not necessarily of God. How do we know we are growing in grace?  Look inside yourself and see if charity is growing, showing itself towards all those we come into contact with, especially those of the brotherhood.

And now abide faith,

     hope, love, these

three; but the greatest

    of these is love.

                         1Corinthians 13:13

Who Can You Help Today?

Richard L. Crumb