Hearing The Call Of God To Go

For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing 

to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, 

woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel! 

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: 

but if against my will, a dispensation of 

the Gospel is committed unto me. What is my 

reward then? Verily that, when I preach the 

Gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse 

not my power in the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:16-18

     These words of Paul first apply to him, then to all who are of God, those who are a child of God, those who are of Authentic Christian Faith. Do not dismiss those words that they do not apply to you, for they were written, first in defense of Paul, but also applies to all who are preaching, and teaching the Gospel. There will be those who will oppose you, your teaching, and preaching, and this is according to men who have other motives for preaching, and teaching a gospel that first benefits them, and then have a controlling power over those who agree with them. Notice: it is the Gospel, not man's words, not man's decrees, nor man's doctrine, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul did not give his approval for anything else than the Gospel, not how a sacrament was to be handled except by the words of Jesus when He instituted the sacrament. All other added things were not of Jesus Christ so they were to be discarded and a return to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

     What is this Gospel of Jesus Christ? Simple: God determined to save those who have faith in Him. Period! No faith in God, no salvation. The men of old, those people who never heard the word, Jesus Christ, who never heard the Gospel as we know it, rather the ones who were taught about God and that God had promised them salvation through One that He would send to accomplish His purpose: a people for His name. Scripture is very clear: God by means of the Holy Spirit, the One that hovered over the deep at the beginning of Creation, the One that led those who believed in God, entered into the womb of Mary and Jesus Christ was now formed, that is, Jesus, God Himself, the Second Person of the Trinity, now became flesh but not leaving behind His deity. How can this be? Simple: Mary had the 1/2 DNA of a human being, so if her egg, the ovum was impregnated then all that was needed was the other half and God provided that other 1/2 DNA, a DNA that is the essence of God Himself, just as when a male provides the other 1/2 DNA provides the essence of himself. Jesus became both man and God, that is Man due to His deity, and God because He was God a hypostatic union. Now due to Jesus being both God and Man whatever He would accomplish would be complete never to be repeated. That is why when Jesus said: "It is finished" it was finished, His work on earth was done and by His death death was destroyed for all who would put their faith in Him. To do this He provided proof that He was the promised Savior and by His resurrection from the dead that proof was manifested, evident and now that truth was to be preached to all. 

     This is what is to be preached, but this is not what is being preached by liberal Christians for they add to that message their message and while their message sounds good, it is rotten because Jesus Christ is lowered and man's words are risen above the Savior. Oh! A liberal Christian might speak of Jesus as Savior, but they teach that you must do this or that to show that you are saved. Jesus did not teach such hypocrisy, that you can be saved by your actions, your works, (Ephesians 2:8-9). This mask, hypocrisy, is veiling the simple truth of the Gospel: believe, nothing added, upon Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). Where does it say that you must speak some "gibberish rubbish" that which Paul had to address and correct? Where does it say that you must run through tunnels of fire as taught and practiced by the School of the Supernatural of Bethel Church? Where are we to certain methods of sacrament, or wear collars turned backwards, or clothing that depict you allegiance, such as with the Nuns of the Catholic Church, or the Pope and other Roman Catholic leaders where such garments to display their authority? NO WHERE! 

     I would question whether you have been called by God, whether or not you have actually repented of your sins against a holy God. I am not speaking about your salvation, for this is between you and God, but about your life, is it displaying the Gospel or some teaching from you denomination? If you would repent of your sins, believe on Jesus Christ as the One sent by God to pay this debt owed to God Himself, paid by God Himself, did you get that? If you have come to Authentic Christian Faith and that faith is simply the Gospel, the truth of the Gospel. 

     It is ok to have certain methods in application of a sacrament, but not to make your certain method, that is, if it is according to Scripture to be a litmus test as to your salvation. We, all of us, have been called by God to preach and teach the truth about Jesus Christ for He is the Gospel. You do not obtain sanctification or salvation for doing the will of God. No, salvation and sanctification come along another line for that is infinitely different. There are many ways that God calls us to preach and teach the Gospel, but if you are not listening for the call of God, you will miss His call. If you are looking for the call of God in some certain way, well, you may not hear the call of God for your way is the way you want to be called. 

    Are you preparing yourself (1Peter 3:15) to be used by God? If not, should you not begin to do so? 

Have not I written to thee excellent things

    in counsels and knowledge, that I might

make thee know the certainty of the words

    of truth; that thou mightest answer the 

words of truth to them that send unto thee?

                            Proverbs 22:20-21

 Hear the words of God

Richard L. Crumb

 

 

Eliminating Those Things That Hold You Back

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said

 unto him, One thing thou lackest: 

go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, 

and give to the poor, and thou shalt 

have treasure in heaven: and come, 

take up the cross, and follow Me.

Mark 10:21 

     The Greek word translated "beholding" means to be looking upon him, so do not make and spiritual connotation meaning for the Greek word "ἠγάπησεν" means not just
"love" rather the meaning is better to be understood that to set stare upon, or to love in a social or moral sense and as an aorist word it simply means that at a time Jesus "love", stared at, or discerned, this young ruler who approach Jesus to be a follower of Jesus.

     The young ruler had the passion to be perfect and this is the case for far too many people coming to Christianity. They want the "good" things Jesus may give, even to be like Him. Well, here is a problem: Jesus Christ never puts personal holiness to the fore when He calls a disciple. Here is the "rub" and this is what many people do not want for themselves: to annihilate all rights to themselves and to be completely identified with Jesus Christ. Here is the only "right" a person has if they are to be a follower of Jesus Christ: A personal relationship with Him and to have no other relationship ahead of Him. This relationship has nothing to do with sanctification, or salvation, but is an unconditional identification with Jesus Christ. So few have this identification so as to have a personal relationship that is pure, not motivated by any selfish desire or want. So few know them meaning of "come" and "take up the cross" and be abandoned to Jesus Christ. 

     What is this "cross" that must be taken up? The cross is not some "gibberish" unintelligable utterings, or going about praying to those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, to believe that they can be "perfect" without sin in this world. No. The "cross" is Jesus Christ and the work that He performed on the cross, that through Him salvation is possible and that the debt man owes to God is now paid. You can have the benefit of the "cross" and this is the message we are to bear, the "cross" we are to bear and bring to the world, nothing else will do. Yes, we can be philanthropic and do good things, and we must, but this is second place behind the Gospel, the "Cross." 

     Jesus told that young rich man to sell everything and this was not what the young ruler wanted to hear, for he wanted as the old saying goes: "I want the cake and eat it too." No, we are not told to sell everything, only those things that take us away from the Gospel, to do be all that Jesus wants for you to be: An Authentic Christian. If you are insistent upon your own way, then this manifests that you have yet to cast aside yourself and have placed yourself ahead of Jesus Christ, for you have the priority in life for yourself. You, me, all who desire to  come to Jesus and be in a relationship with Him, to put Him first in our lives must renounce fundamentally all possessions of all kinds, not to save your soul, no, you cannot save your soul, but you can put absolute reliance on Jesus and follow Him. The road of our life is to be the road Jesus traveled for that is the way He went. 

     What have you placed ahead of Jesus? What things must you renounce so that Jesus has the first place in your life? You must, all of us must, all who want to be Authentic Christians and living Authentic Christian Faith is to see from Jesus Christ's point of view is that it it union with Him and nothing in between. Question: Will you be a true follower or only want your "cake and eat it too?"

And now, O Lord God, Thou art that God, 

    and Thy words be true, and Thou hast

promised this goodness unto Thy servant:

    therfore now let it please Thee to bless

the house of Thy servant, that it may

   continue for ever before Thee: for thou,

O Lord God, hast spoken it: and with Thy

    blessing let the house of Thy servant

be blessed for ever.

                       IISamuel 7:28-29

Come and go: deny and follow Jesus

Richard L. Crumb 

God Sees All Things: His Reward Is For All: Good Or Bad

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men,

 to be seen oft them: otherwise ye have no 

reward of your Father which is in heaven. 

Therefore when thou doest thine alms do 

not sound a trumpet before thee, as the 

hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the 

streets, that they many have glory of men. 

Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left 

hand know what thy right hand doeth: that 

thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father 

which seeth in secret Himself shall 

reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:1-4 

     What is this "alms?" We do not use that word in our modern times, so what is it? Some people use it for tithes, others for works, and they could be included except the Greek word ελεημοσυνην used in the Textus Receptus is derived from the Greek word for compassionate, that which is exercised toward the poor, beneficence, to have mercy, pity, alms equals deeds. In the Critical text this Greek word is used in the above verses is δικαιοσυνην and in a broad sense, means a state of him who is as he ought to be; righteousness, a condition acceptable to God, in other words, the way in which a man may attain a state approved of God. It means integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting a sense of justice or virtue which give each his due. Upon examination of the variants between the Critical Text and the Textus Receptus I find that the Textus Receptus has more authority, more manuscripts than the Critical Text, therefore, I go with the Textus Receptus. What Jesus was saying in the opening verses is not to do your alms, your righteousness so openly as to receive some special benefit, self-acclamation, or to do your deeds so as to get some personal benefit, rather do them quietly, so as not to put yourself in front of Jesus who is the One that will accomplish your work, your alms. 

     This is a problem in many liberal Christian Churches as they rely on enthusiasm, or euphoric experiences, doing and acting out things that are not wholesome, nor of righteousness, but they who are doing these things believe that they are doing God's work, and so openly so that others will agree, they are spiritual. We must remember that God is drawing His children to Himself, and we must draw close to Him, to have a growing relationship with the One Whom He sent for our salvation, Jesus Christ. When a person comes to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her Savior then you begin a time of alteration of your disposition, to have a disposition as did Jesus. We further must remember that God does not build upon our capacity for God asks of us to do that which is hard, not natural, but He will fit us to His grace and the cross with all its meaning will come to you along that line always. 

     Yesterday's blog I wrote about rational, and rationalism. Those two words are in the same family of words but have two separate meanings. I know that some hate to think that a Christian must be rational. so what does rational mean? rational is based on or agreeable to reason, exercising reason so to have rationale then there is a fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something. a statement of reasons or principles. Therefore a Christian uses rationale, or is to be rational that is based upon the truth of Scripture and not from some words propounded or purported to be truth when in fact it does not have basis in Scripture. To just accept without using or being rational then rationalism comes to play in you life, a life that is on accepting reason as the supreme authority in matters of opinion, belief, or conduct. For the Christian rationalism is to use human reason, unaided by divine revelation as found in the Bible and find that rationalism is the sole guide to all attainable religious truth. I find this to be so with the students that attend the School of the Supernatural where they only become indoctrinated by men who ulterior motives for they teach that which seems rational but is not based on the sole truth of Scripture. Those caught up in this form of religion that is based on some sort of rationalism causes them to do things that Jesus warned us about when doing service to Him. God in heaven sees all things and will reward a person according to what he/she is doing and if it is in accordance to His will. 

     God has work for you and you will not always know upfront what is that work, but until you study His word, pray, and rest upon Him then you will be led to do His will for you and then you will look back and say: "God was doing all this before I knew it." Do what you know is to be done, that is things such as Sunday School teachers, or young people teachers, to be a deacon, or an elder, or even those things that are need for those in addiction, or other problems where you can be of assistance and bring to them the Gospel. We are not to rest on our "laurels" and say that God will do it, when God wants to use you, so get up, get ready, GO!!!!

Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith,

     I said indeed that they house, and the

house of thy father should walk before Me

    for ever, but now the LORD saith, Be it

far from Me; for them that honor Me I will

   honor, and they that despise Me shall be

lightly esteemed.

                         1Samuel 2:30

Walk before the Lord: Do alms to Him

Richard L. Crumb

How To Hear, To Know God, To Know Truth

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth 

not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth 

up come other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 

But he that entereth in by the door is the 

shepherd of the sheep. to him the porter openeth; 

and the sheep bear His voice: and He calleth 

His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 

And when He putteth forth His own sheep, 

He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him 

for they know they know His voice. And a stranger 

will they not follow, but will flee from him: 

for they know not the voice of strangers.

John 10:1-5

Yesterday I was gone to have another 6 month checkup in Palo Alto, a 5 hour one way trip from my home. This I must do for the next five years. So no blog, but much time to think. Oh! So far no sign of the Melanoma and no signs in my neck lymph nodes. Next Monday I go for a consult with my doctor who remove the large lipoma from my back and neck area and will find out if they is liposarcoma a cancer that is associated with some lipomas. Whatever the case: I will deal with it for my trust in in God who has promised me to be with Him forever upon my death. Until then: I enjoy life, and I will continue to give aid to those who are honestly seeking to be Authentic Christians.

     How can a person know Jesus? How can a person be assured that what they know is Authentic Christianity? For Liberal Christians they believe that they can become acquainted with God "only" through Jesus. Does this not sound right? It does have the appearance of authenticity. Yet Jesus Himself plainly recognized the validity of other ways of knowing God, and has shown us what we are to reject, those things, those other ways, yet we must understand that Jesus spoke of other things, other ways and those ways laid at the very foundation, the center of Jesus' life. How did Jesus do this? Well... Jesus taught us about God's hand in nature for He spoke of the lilies of the field that they revealed to Him the weaving of God. Jesus found God in moral law: the law that is written upon the hearts of men and that law was and is God's law, a law that revealed His righteousness. Jesus found that God was revealed in Scripture. Jesus showed this by His many uses of the Psalms and to say that such revelation of God is or was by Him invalid, or useless for us today, is to despise the things that lay closest to the mind and heart of Jesus. 

     To say that Jesus can only be the way to know God they they are denying all that Jesus revealed to us about God, and they deny the real knowledge of God.This is to say that the idea of God is independent of Jesus, This ascription of deity to Jesus has no meaning if when we say "Jesus is God," if we do not come to know the word "God" that has an antecedent meaning attached to it. If you do not know "God" and all that that word means, then to say Jesus is God is to say that which has no basis, no real meaning. We must remember this: Jesus said: "No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hat declared Him" (John 1:18)."He that is of God heareth God's words: Ye therefore hear them not, because you are not of God" (John 8:45). What John is telling us is that the words of Jesus does not mean that men cannot know God only that a man who has not come to believe in God, in Jesus Christ has attached another meaning to that word that a person can come merely acknowledging the character of Jesus. This is not correct for Jesus spoke to His disciples already had a idea, a very definite conception of God and presupposed in all that Jesus said the supremacy of God. The disciples, and we too should not just have a knowledge of God, of Jesus, but to have an intimate, persona contact and this comes only through an intercourse with Jesus. Jesus revealed in an most intimate way the character of God and this revelation has true significance only on the basis of both of the Old Testament heritage and of the teachings of Jesus. Let us be rational creatures, to have a rational theism, that the knowledge of God, the Supreme Person, the Creator, the Ruler of the world is at the very root, the very basis, the foundation of Christianity. 

     In the next blogs I will expand this thought about rational Christianity so as not to confuse you with rationalism. 

 Keep silence before Me, O islands;

     and let the people renew their

strength: let them come near; 

     then let them speak; let us

come near together to judgment.

               Isaiah 41:1

Are you being led by a stranger? Or the true Shepherd?

Richard L. Crumb

Having The Love Of The Father In Us

Love not the world. Neither the things that are 

in the world. If any man love the world,

 the love of the Father is not in him. 

For that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of the 

Father, but is of the world. And the world 

passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he 

that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1John 2:15-17 

     The Greek word "love" is a plural word, imperative, and is therefore a command to all. A command is if you are not doing something start doing it and continue doing what is commanded. I know that some Calvinist would object to my last blog, but that is ok for if the Father is not in you, not matter what, you are not of the Father therefore you are not saved. PERIOD! Lust, we often use this word in regards to sex and that is not all wrong for it does at times refer to a strong desire for what a person believes will give them enjoyment, in other words, lust promises enjoyment, or pleasure. Lust is derived from envy, a Resentful or painful desire for another's advantage: you want and this want is from you, from your lust to have even at the cost of another. Another person does not make you envious, it comes from you and when this envy becomes lust then you are compelled to act upon your enviousness. Many people say that they are not lustful, yet they are envious of the world and all it offers. This is where liberal Christianity has a major problem for it is based on feelings and not on the word of God. Let us observe this fact: if Christianity is based merely on feelings in the presence of God the Father, it is devoid of any moral quality whatever. If there are pure feelings than then it is not non-moral, but I am not sure if there is such a thing among men that can be called "pure feelings." Man is a fallen being their nature being corrupted by sin and nothing can be called pure out of man due to this sin. Think upon this: if human affection is really dependent on knowledge, then why should not it be the same that our supreme personal relationship be the same as the basis of Christianity? So it does make a difference as to what we think about God, the knowledge of God and for it to be the very basis of religion, of Christianity? 

     How then can we know God, to become acquainted with God, to have a personal relationship with God? The Gospel consists as an account how God saved man, and for us to understand this something must be known, about God, about man. The teachings, or doctrine (whichever word you choose to use) are of two things: 1. the doctrine of God. 2. The doctrine of man, these two presuppositions are of the Gospel. What is your conception of God? Liberal Churches do not teach about the conception of God, or teach much, if anything about the knowledge of God, they teach that to dwell upon theology is the death of Christianity. Liberal Christianity teaches that we should seek feelings, to merely feel His presence and to not dwell so much about having knowledge of God. It s not that they do not speak about such things at times, it is that they dwell on feelings, and feelings lead far to often to envy and envy then turns to lust and lust then, if not having the knowledge of God and man will lead a person to act on their lust. What do I mean? Dwelling on feelings, a want, want, want, want something and want the supernatural, to have what a person wants to make them feel good about themselves, this is what the Apostle John wrote about in the opening verses. If this is true of you: STOP IT! The love of the Father is not in you, you only love yourselves! It is true that we must come to believe in Jesus Christ, but liberal Christian preachers speak that we can only become acquainted with God only through Jesus. Wow! This sounds Christian! this assertion has an appearance of loyalty to Jesus Christ, but in reality it is highly derogatory to Him. Why? Jesus spoke of knowing God through many things and to reject that is to reject the very things that lay at the very center of Jesus' life. Did not Jesus show us the nature of God by speaking about the lilies of the field, and did not Jesus see God in the moral law, this law written on the hearts of men whereby the law of God revealed His righteousness. These things lay close to the heart of Jesus and we must not despise this and say only through Jesus can we know God. Read the first three chapters of Romans. Man is without excuse for God can be known through the things He created and to deny this is to deny God and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. 

      We can know God through nature, through many things, but we can only be saved if we repent, turn our lives around, deny ourselves and follow Jesus, and believe upon Jesus. The knowledge of God is everywhere and Scripture leads us to know what the will of God is: to save those who believe on Jesus Christ. Do not add to Scripture, do not make false reasoning to lead people to believe in feelings, to believe in things that are not according to Scripture. Lead people through the word of God and that alone: What else do you need? 

I make a decree, That in every dominion 

     of my kingdom men tremble and fear

before the God of Daniel: for He is 

    the living God, and stedfast for ever,

and His kingdom that which shall not be

    destroyed, and His dominion, shall 

be even unto the end.

                  Daniel6:26

Love the Father: not yourselves

Richard L. Crumb

How God Draws Men Unto Himself

No man can come to Me, except the Father 

which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise

 him up at the last day. It is written in the 

prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.

 Every man therefore that hath heard, and 

hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me. 

Not that any man hath seen the Father, save 

He which is of God, He hath seen the Father. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth 

on Me hath everlasting life.

John 6:44-47 

     Salvation comes to no man except by belief! No doctrine, not creed, no speaking in some ugly "gibberish"
speech, no going about attempting to heal people, no outlandish music, no outlandish shouting (as some preachers do), not even evangelism will save a person. You can pray, and pray (there is a prayer that God will not receive), meditate until the "cows" come home: this will not save you. A person will not come to God, to salvation, unless God draws that person. The Greek word translated "draw" is subjunctive, aorist 1, active, third person and a subjunctive word is one of contingency, or probability, of hesitating affirmation, a mood of possibility. An aorist word is one that tells us that at some time something occurred. The results of that occurrence is one that continues, duritive, or punctilitar and the aorist word does not imply anything with regard to completeness, but presents the action as attained. So to say anything about being drawn is to only note that in some time a person was drawn: but how? Did God just reach down in a person mentality and cause that person to be drawn, or did God use another means? Did John write this as something future, or deliberative, or volitive? We must look at the context as allow Scripture to answer our questions. a promise is given that if a person is drawn by God that he will be raised on the last day (vs 44). Now this drawing is done by teaching, not just by God Himself, but to be taught of God, the Greek word is genitive so we must in English add the word "of."  Romans 10:17: "So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." So then, John gives us that anyone who has heard the word of God, from the Father and has learnt, it is not enough to just hear, a person must learn, that person is the one who comes to God, through Jesus Christ. Now, a person hears the word of God, is taught the word of God, not some man-made doctrine, not some denominational doctrine, no the word of God alone, nothing added, nothing taken away. You do not have to be "slain in the spirit," no do you have to jump around like a drunk person, no scream, no do anything but be taught the word of God, learn, and then by this a person can come to believe. Believe what? Jesus, what, why, and how does the life of Jesus apply. This is the word of God for Jesus came to die for sin, and applies that propitiatory act so that your sins could be atoned for and for you to have everlasting life. 

     Liberal Christianity has added so much to the form of Christianity that is not necessary (but it does entice people and people are enticed to give money, just look at some of the wealth that some of the preachers have accumulated). It is be the grace of God that you may be saved and His grace alone. God has supplied for us men who teach us Him, not something else, about Jesus Christ, not something else. Ephesians 2:8-9 make this fact very clear, for faith is a free gift, and if a free gift then you have not earned it. God is handing to you this gift, will you receive it? If you receive this gift from God then you will be elected to have eternal life and that eternal life began when you first believed on Jesus Christ the One sent by God to do this very fact: die, and save you. Yes, your life will go on until death and you will have to face many things, even trials, persecution, etc., but it doesn't really matter: you already have eternal life and nothing can change that fact for to you death is just walking through the door into eternal life. So why not now, in this your time on earth do what the Savior has commanded for us to do and that is to live by the word of God, those commandments, both as how to deal with other people and how to deal with God, that is, to love God for all that He has done for you, not for someone else, for you! Take this Gospel, not this other gospel, that liberal gospel that is not the Gospel to anyone, anywhere, go be a disciple, and be an evangelizer, what ever it takes, according to your life, your circumstances, be an Authentic Christian. God will bless you now, but the greater blessing is waiting for you in heaven. This, and nothing else will bring joy into you life, not just happiness, but joy for joy is out of you and by your joy you can have true happiness, one that cannot be taken away. 

      As always: it is up to us to be taught, to learn, to believe, and to deny ourselves and follow Jesus.

Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks

     unto the LORD; for He is good; 

for His mercy endureth for ever.

                     Psalm 106:1

Put away all that is not of God

Richard L. Crumb

Avoiding The Commandments Of Men

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the 

rudiments of the world, why, as though living 

in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which 

all are to perish with the using;) after the

 commandments and doctrines of men? 

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom 

in will worship, and humility, and neglecting 

of the body; not in any honor to the 

satisfying of the flesh.

Colossians 2:20-23

     Liberal Christians are often subject to the world's opinion as to what should be done in our lives. This world's culture has become obsessed with nutrition, and foods that would do something beneficial to the body but have little, if any, scientific basis. This world's culture presents in appearance of wisdom but in actuality this is a "rabbit" trail leading people, either to spend money, or to feel that they are not attractive, or that to feel better about themselves they must do this or that, when in fact just eat, just live, and not worry about that which is perishing. Many Christians follow after the "fads" and in some way hold contempt for others who do not eat certain foods, or take certain supplements, teaching that this is not the way for a person to live. "I am a vegan," cries one, and other "I am taking that which has been purported to give good heath," don't smoke, don't drink alcohol, or wine, or soft drinks, etc., and all the while the path to life, to eternal life, gets pushed into the background. A liberal Christian looks exactly like a non-Christian, only they go to Church, or to other events attempting to veil over this discreption. 

     What the liberal Christian is doing is to substitute the Gospel into another gospel, another commandment or teaching of this world. What too many people believe is that something else is needed, is necessary, and Christ' work on the cross is replaced by man's effort to save themselves, to live longer, to be better and Scripture becomes less necessary for life. 

     Authentic Christians see the difference between these cultural teachings, and see the difference that the Bible teaches between what is Authentic Christian Faith, that is, Authentic Christians see the merit of Authentic Christian Faith and God's grace. If we do not see the difference between liberal Christianity and Authentic Christianity we are saying in effect that we will provide for ourselves even to provide our salvation. The fact is: liberal Christianity is hopeless under the load of sin. Liberal Christianity enters into the place that is hopeless reckoning with God. Liberal Christians never come to the place in their lives as to whether or not they have done enough so by piece work they strive to be "good people" or to be "good Christians," and lean on their own merit. Remember this fact: Jesus Christ will do everything or nothing, it is up to us to throw ourselves unreservedly on His mercy and trust Him for all things. 

     A sad fact is that within the Churches of Christianity matters of indifference have become matters of difference leading people down another "rat hole" or another "path" a path of least resistance. They find it easier to debate the indifference than to live the difference that is based solely on what Scripture has clearly defined as to how Authentic Christians are to live. Where or what is your emphasis, this world's culture, or Authentic Christianity, or your denominations particulars or what Scripture describes as to what is Authentic and what is necessary for Authentic Christians? All this backbiting is taking away from the dispensing of the Gospel: do not become part of this backbiting. Do not become so involved in eating certain foods, or doing certain things that are only things that are perishing and not things that encourage a person to live as God has shown to us how to live. 

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

     Fear God, and keep His commandments: 

for this is the whole duty of man.

                     Ecclesiastes 12:13

Rest in the Lord: not man

Richard L. Crumb 

Spiritual Blessings: How God Gives Them

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings 

in heavenly places in Christ: according as He 

hath chosen us in Him before the foundation 

of the world, that we should be holy and 

without blame before Him in love: having 

predestinated us unto the adoption of children 

by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the 

good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the

 glory of His grace, wherein He hath made 

us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:3-6

     I spent the day at the Veteran hospital in Sacramento yesterday so I could not wrote my blog as usual. This meeting was a post op meeting to remove bandages and to give me a report as to what they had found, it was a fat tumor, a lipoma about the size of 10 inches by 7 inches and about 3 inches deep and it was taken to pathology for examination and now on to another pathology lab to make sure that there is no cancer. I will not have the  results until Oct 2, so I wait. Well....wait I can do but there is more "fish to fry" and those fishes are those teaching a liberal Christianity. Many "Christians" were the badge of Christianity but are living and believing another gospel are are more about self-realization, a need to feel good, to be exhilarated, to euphoric enticements to feel godly. This is done is no many ways, music, eloquent speeches, going about doing rather than being what we are to be: holy and to recognize that as Authentic Christians we are adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ and that decision made by God was made for all who believe on Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world. He chose you, the one who has repented of their sins, to have become believers in Jesus Christ that through Jesus Christ you may have all the blessings of God. Well, some say that you were personally chosen before the foundation of God so that you have been before the foundation of the world elected to have eternal life. Partly that is true, you have been elected to have all the blessings of God, not that you have been personally elected until you receive the free gift of faith and this comes by the word of God and you make a choice to believe on Jesus Christ. Now, that will of God for His children applies to you and you should become "holy." Well, the Greek word that we translate "should" is an infinitive in the present tense and is literally "for us to to be" and their, due to it being an infinitive, no time limit, but it is to be presently in our lives and to continue throughout our lives.

     Too much additive to Christianity is a major problem within those Churches that have added doctrines and practices that are not warranted in Scripture. Jesus came, that is God came, so that Jesus Christ having the DNA of Mary, a human being, and that God was the Father, or the One who supplied the other DNA needed for Jesus to be alive and exist had God, not man's essence in Him making Jesus both man and God. This was necessary for Jesus to be the equal, the propitiation for our sins. He suffered as we do while He was on this earth, so we who are adopted, those who have received the Holy Spirit when be have chosen Him to be our Savior, means that our sufferings are also the sufferings of Jesus Christ who lives within us. When we sin we have sinned, not just against man, against ourselves, but we have sinned against God who lives within us. We need to repent, to return to what God has declared us to be: holy through Jesus Christ. We who are Authentic Christians, those who have Authentic Christian Faith, a faith that is of Scripture and not that of some man made doctrine that they are teaching; to deny ourselves and follow Jesus.

     What do you need to add to Scripture? Why do you need all this teaching that is not warranted in Scripture? Why do you not inspect what is being taught to ensure that the teaching is of Scripture and not some twisting of Scripture to meet a person' theology? Can you just "pull up" your pants, get to work, to live as an Authentic Christian following the commands of Jesus, not man, but Jesus? Do you need more than the fact that you are adopted children of God, that you are in the family of God? Do you not realize that you have been chosen to have all the blessings of God and all you have to do is follow Jesus? So, then, read, study, pray, and just do what the Bible says to do, do not that which the Bible says not to do. You have all the power of God with you, at your disposal, so it would behoove a person to know God and the truth of God and this comes by the word of God, not be the word of man. Yes, some men teach the truth, but others teach another gospel. You have the responsibility to know the difference and this knowing does not come some supernatural way for God has given us the "game plan" to way to know: use it!

Come now, and let us reason together,

     saith the LORD: though your sins

be as scarlet, they shall be white as

    snow; though they be red like crimson,

they shall be as wool.

                       Isaiah 1:18

Now is the time!

Richard L. Crumb

Learning the Histroical Evidence For Christianity

Of these things put them in remembrance, 

charging them before the Lord that they 

strive not about with words to no profit,

 but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to 

shew thyself approved unto God, a workman 

that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly 

dividing the word truth. But shun profane 

and vain babblings; for they will increase 

unto more upgodliness. And their word will 

eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus 

and Philetus: who concering ghe truth have 

erred, saying that the resurrection is past 

already: and overthrow the faith of some.

2Timothy 2:14-18 

     Yesterday's blog was about Church Creeds and the reason Creeds were written and how they have been forgotten in too many Churches and replaced with another form of theology. Many people if not more than 3/4 of the congregants have ever read or even heard a Creed. It is if the term "Creed" has become anathema. Yet, many congregants know the words and tunes of many songs, those outside the Church and even the new "ditties" that are written today that often make Jesus out to be a "teddy bear" rather than God, our Saviour. The truth about the Gospel has been replaced with some sort of Psychological ideology, or the words of counseling that are derived, not from Scripture but from those men, Freud, Spoke, and many others. The Christian conception, a Creed is not a mere expression of Christian experience, but on the contrary it is a setting forth of those facts upon which experience is based. 

     History, a subject much avoided, especially these days when there is a tearing down of history in the United States when monuments that are records of history have been removed due to some "Political Correctness." Yet, we must know history for history gives us insight into the present, how we have gotten to where we are: history is a matter of fact and to avoid it is to be easily misled. Christianity is a historical phenomenon and must be investigated on the basis of historical evidence. 

     All corporations have incorporation papers wherein the objects of the corporation are set forth. If a corporation pursues other objects not set forth in the corporation papers they are acting ultra vires of the corporation. So it is with Christianity. It is true that Christianity is not a doctrine but a life and this can only be settled by examination of its history. The early writers of the Bible may not have the authority to legislate for subsequent generations: but the do have an inalienable right to legislate for all generations that should choose to bear the name of "Christian." No matter what: Christianity can only be determined by an examination of its beginnings. 

     Liberal Christians lean on a theology that God will sent into the minds thoughts by which they can do certain things, or to have certain things and all the while the Bible is now lowered from the absolute truth that is needed for life. If what is thought in the mind cannot be substantiated by the Bible then it is not true. We must avoid such ones who are bringing this teaching into the Church. 

    In the next blogs I will give information about the history of Christianity.

I said, I will take heed to my ways,

     that I sin not with my tongue:

 I will keep my mouth wit a bridle,

     while the wicked is before me.

                       Psalm 39:1

Study, show yourself approved

Richard L. Crumb

The Importance Of Church Creeds

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them 

which cause divisions and offenses contrary to 

the doctrine which ye have learned; 

and avoid them. For they that are such serve 

not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;

 and by good words and fair speeches deceive 

the hearts of the simple.

Romans 16:17-18 

     My surgery went well and they removed a fat tumor about the size of a soft ball. Pain meds has helped as the pain form such a cut and the leaving of a void was a bit hard but I am getting better everyday. Thank our Lord for giving to man the ability to learn and make things better, especially is this so in medicine.

     I need to help understand the Greek words for the English does not give us good understanding as to what the Greek people heard and understood. The word "doctrine" carries, unfortunately, several meanings, both good and bad so to learn the Greek word aids us. The Greek word actually means "teaching." The English word "doctrine" means a particular principle, a policy taught or advocated, a position, or a system that relates to a certain or particular subject. This then means this: we must come to understand who is teaching, or giving of their doctrine, or the doctrine of another so that we are not following after that which is contrary to Scripture. Another word used in the opening Scripture is "simple." The English definition is large for this word can mean something easy to understand, or a simple design, but it carries more as it can mean unlearned, or even ignorant, unmixed. The Greek word simply means "innocent" or "unsuspecting," those who could be easily deceived. The Greek understanding should be our understanding as it is what is written in Scripture. There is a requirement on men and that requirement is to come to know the truth and not be any man's doctrine, or teaching, rather the "real" truth that is found only in Scripture. Scripture may be taken out of context, or used to promote a particular teaching (we can see this with Jehovah Witnesses where they rewrite words and verses to meet their theological beliefs) and we can see this being done by many preachers. We see preachers using Scripture to glean money from the innocent, the unsuspecting. A person who has been accepted into the ranks of Christianity is not necessarily one who has changed into a friend just because he has come into the Church, or that he or she is an eloquent speaker. 

     One of the aspects of the Church today is that of not teaching or learning the creeds, not just any creed but the creeds set forth by men who were associated with Christianity from the beginning, those early Church Fathers. The early Church faced open persecution and many false teachers began to infiltrate the Church, those of Gnosticism, or Judaism, so that it became necessary to set forth a document that held to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. There was the Roman Creed, the Gallican Creed, the Creed of Caesarea, and the Nicene Creed, the Apostles Creed, all setting forth the foundational teaching of Jesus Christ. Rufinus, priest of Aquileia after being exiled due to Arian influence (a teaching that Jesus was a created being) wrote:

1. I believe in God almighty

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord

3. Who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

4. Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate and was buried

5. And the third day rose from the dead

6. Who ascended into heaven

7. And sitteth on the right hand of the Father

8. Whence he cometh to judge the living and the dead

9. And in the Holy Ghost

10. The holy church

11. the remission of sins

12. the resurrection of the flesh

13. the life evelasting

This was written around 335 A.D. so then let us look at early creeds.

Ignatius (c.105, E),1.69

"Therefore, stop your ears when anyone speaks to you contrary to Jesus Christ, who was descended from David, and was also of Mary; who was truly born and did eat and drink. He was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilagte. He was truly crucified and died--in the sight of beings in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. He was alos truly raised from the dead, His Father raising Him to life--in the same manner as His Father will also raise us up, we who believe in Him by Christ Jesus."

Tertullian, the one who gave us the word "trinity" wrote (c.180,E/W), 1.417: 

"This rule of faith... is that there is only one God, and that he is none other than the Creator of the world, who produced all things out of nothing through His own Word, first of all sent of all sent forth. That this Word is called His Son, and, under the name of God, was seen 'in diverse manners' by the patriarchs, heard at all times in the prophets, at last brought by the Spirit and Power of the Father sown into the virgin Mary. He was made flesh in her womb, and, being born of her, went forth as Jesus Christ. Thereafter He preached the new land and the new promise of the kingdom of heaven, and He worked miracles. Having been crucified, He rose again on the third day. Having ascended into the heavens, He sat at the right hand of the Father. He sent in place of Himself the power of the Holy Spirit to lead those who believe . He will come with glory to take the saints to the enjoyment of everlasting life and the heavenly promises, and to condemn the wicked to everlasting fire. This will take place after the resurrection of both these classes, together with the restoration of their flesh."  

Tertullian wrote in (c213,W), 3.598:

WE...believe that there is only one God, but under the following dispensation or 'economy', as it is called: that this one only God also has a Son, His Word, who proceeded from Himself, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made. We believe Him to have been sent by the Father into the virgin, and to have been born of her--being both man and God, the son of man and the Son of God, and to have been called by the name of Jesus Christ. He suffered, died, and was buried, according to the Scriptures. And after He had been raised again by the Father and taken back to heaven, He has been sitting on the right hand of the Father. We believe that He will come to judge the living and the dead. And He sent also form heaven from the Father, according to His own promise, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the sanctifier of the faith of those who believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This rule of faith has come down to us from the beginning of the gospel, even before any of the older heretics."

      One of the largest problem in the Church is the lack of remembering, reciting, the creed set forth from of old. There is so much preaching about everything else that the foundational truth is being subverted by men who teach a false gospel. We all need to get back to reciting the creed, the Apostle Creed or the Nicene Creed that reflect the words that I recited above. We need constant reminding of our faith, a faith from the very beginning of the Church. 

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD,

     and the praises of the LORD, according to all

that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great

    goodness toward the house of Israel, which

He hath bestowed on them according to His 

    mercies, and according to the multitude

of His lovingkindness. For He said, Surely they 

    are My people, children that will not lie: 

so He was their Savior.

                  Isaiah 63:7-8

Take time today to read the Apostles Creed

Richard L. Crumb 

Understanding The Difference Between Liberal And Orthodox Christianity

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of 

you,saying, This people draweth nigh unto 

Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.

 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for 

doctrines the commandments of men. And 

He called the multitude, and said unto them,

 Hear, and understand: not that which goeth into 

the mouth defielth a man; but that which cometh 

out of the mouth, this defielth a man.

Matthew 15:7-11 

 

     Before I begin this blog I must define the words in italics for italics are used when the Greek word, or the need for an addition of a word(s) to make clear in English is used. The Word for doctrine in Greek, which means a teaching, is not used in verse 9 above, rather the word means, a precept, a commandment, or an ordinance. This is close to the word "doctrine" but is different as the word "ordinance" means an authoritative rule or law, a decree or command, a public injunction or regulation, an established rite or ceremony. We often do not have a good understanding of a word or the we use the word in a wrong manner leading us to develop our character. This need to examine what we believe, to examine why the translators used such as italics is important as we are told to demolish imaginations and every that holds itself up against the knowledge of God: "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God" (2Corinthians 10:5).

     The various teachings of the various Churches, such as the teaching of Orthodox Christianity or the teaching of Liberal Christianity. A person may object to "doctrines", that is, the teachings, creeds, injunctions, ceremonies, etc., but it is not just doctrine that is objective to, rather to one particular doctrine, may be your objection. Let us look at the doctrines (teachings) of Liberal Christianity who hold to a belief that their doctrines (teachings) are upheld that their beliefs, their doctrines are from the history of the Church. The Orthodox Christians say the same thing: so who is right? What should we believe? Here is an example of Liberal Christianity, their doctrine that teaches the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man. Is this Biblical or is this contrary to the doctrines (teachings) of Authentic Christianity? Both Liberal Christianity, and Authentic Christianity require intellectural defense or examination. To object to theology, that is, the study of God may find objection, and it does often in Liberal Christianity but this is only setting up one theology over the interests of another. The answers to the question as to Liberal Christianity over Orthodox Christianity will not be found is there is not a clear and thoughtful examination. 

     Why is all this important? Because character is determined by our choices. God does not alter our disposition until we enter into the experience of sanctification. We cannot overcome sin, this Jesus deals with and until Jesus has become our close friend and we have a relationship with Him we are at loss to fight the battle of sin. How can we then fight this battle? it is by moral choices for it by our moral choices that our character is transformed, or developed and this development of our character is built upon the word of God, or the culture of this world, but in either case we must have a clear understanding as to what is Authentic Christian Faith.

 I will be gone next Monday and Tuesday, maybe a couple of days more as I go to have a surgical procedure. Until I get back, read the word, pray, meditate upon the word, not your thoughts alone, but the word as it is written. You will be blessed and your character will conform more and more to our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul:

    he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

                       Proverbs 19:8

 

Develop your character according to Scripture

 

Richard L. Crumb