Martin Bobgan, PhD.
Among the stellar emotional needs of humanistic psychology are unconditional acceptance, unconditional self-regard, unconditional self-acceptance, and unconditional love. The meaning of the word unconditional is “without conditions or reservations; absolute.”1 The practical extension of the theories of unconditional love is a permissive attitude and a morally nonrestrictive atmosphere. That means no conditions or restrictions in child rearing, counseling, and other human relationships. Since the parent or counselor is to be giving unconditional love, it must be an absolute love, unrestricted by human feelings or failings, since the very meaning of the word is “absolute.” But, if there is any absolute when it comes to love, it is that human love is limited. It is not what it was originally created to be, even in the best of people and circumstances, except when Jesus Himself is loving in and through a person.
Adler and Maslow considered these “unconditionals” to be basic human needs, essential to a person’s sense of wellbeing. They taught that people need to be loved and accepted unconditionally—without any conditions of performance. Thus their followers teach that parents must love and accept their children unconditionally. Moreover, they encourage all people to love and accept themselves unconditionally.
Adler, Maslow, Rogers and others believed that a human being will find answers to his own dilemmas and naturally blossom into his best self in an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance, by which they meant a permissive, unstructured atmosphere. Nevertheless, as much as they would like to think that they themselves loved their clients unconditionally, the truth of the matter is this: people are not able to love unconditionally.
The Myth of Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is a myth. That is because the human is naturally self-biased and the human heart is so deceitful that one can fool himself into thinking that he is loving unconditionally, when in fact he has all kinds of conditions. For instance, what kind of unconditional love and unconditional positive regard is at work when the client can no longer pay for services and therapy is discontinued? Furthermore, even the most nondirective counselors express approval or disapproval in subtle, if not direct, ways.2
The idea of people improving their life in an atmosphere of unconditional love is founded on the premise that people are born good and that their natural inclination to goodness is thwarted by their environment (mainly parents). In such a system, self is the victim of society but finds salvation, freedom, and fulfillment through unconditional self-love and self-acceptance. Unconditional love cannot be based upon performance or it wouldn’t be unconditional. Therefore, it must be based on the intrinsic worth of the person. Paul Brownback, in his book The Danger of Self-Love, explains it this way:
- . . . by unconditional love we are speaking of love on the basis of being rather than doing. One implication of this teaching is the place of grandeur that it gives to the human being. I am lovable just because I am human; therefore being human, in and of itself, regardless of what I do with my humanness, must have some sort of independent value or worth. It is by itself a sufficient claim to respect and esteem.3
Thus, according to these self theories, everyone is born with the right to receive unconditional love and unconditional acceptance throughout his entire life, no matter what!
Pastors assigned to shepherd God’s flocks, should have been alert to the subtleties of deception that would turn a believer’s eyes from God to self. But alas, rather than warning the sheep, many of the shepherds have joined the psychologists and embrace their teachings of unconditional love and unconditional acceptance.
A Misunderstanding of God’s Love
The basis for their eager embrace is a misunderstanding of the love of God which passes knowledge. They equate unconditional love and acceptance with the fact that God’s love is vast, unfathomable, and unmerited. Then they follow that with the idea that if God loves and accepts people unconditionally, they should also love and accept themselves unconditionally. While this may sound like a logical progression, there are some serious problems with the basic assumptions. Therefore, we must address the question: Is God’s love unconditional? Are there any conditions that must be met to become a recipient of His love?
Paul prayed that the believers in Ephesus would be able to comprehend the breadth, length, depth and height of God’s love. He desired that they know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, so that they would be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16-19). The wide expanse of God’s love has been the theme of the gospel throughout the ages, for to know His love is to know Him. Therefore, any consideration of His love is highly important and must be based upon His revelation of Himself rather than upon the imagination of men.
Love According to Secular Humanism
Ever since the rise of secular humanism in this country and especially since the establishment of humanistic psychology, the popular, “relevant” term to describe God’s love has been unconditional. The thrust of this word in humanistic psychology has been both to give and to expect unconditional love from one another with no strings attached. While unconditional love and acceptance supposedly promote change and growth, they make no requirements. But God, who is love, requires and produces radical change—new life—and He enables His children to grow in righteousness.
In humanistic psychology, parents and society are always the culprits. Since they believe that every person is born with intrinsic worth and innate goodness, psychologists contend that one main reason people experience emotional and behavioral problems is because they have not received unconditional love from their parents. Following that thesis, Christians have come to believe that the best kind of love is unconditional love. It is the highest love secular humanists know. It is touted as a love that makes no demands for performance, good behavior, or the like. It has also been associated with a kind of permissiveness, since it makes no demands and has no conditions, even though the promoters of the unconditional love jargon would say that unconditional love does not have to dispense with discipline.
God’s Love Revealed through Scripture
Because the concept of unconditional love permeates society and because it is often thought of as the highest form of human love, it is natural for a Christian to use this term to describe God. After all, His love is far greater than any human love imaginable. God’s love for humanity is so great that “He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Oh, the magnitude of the cost! We cannot even fathom His love even though our very breath depends upon it! His love indeed reaches to the heights and depths. Nevertheless, is God’s love truly unconditional?
God’s love is available to human beings by grace alone. There is nothing anyone can do to earn that love. There is no good work that is either demanded or even possible. Does that make God’s love unconditional? Because unconditional love is absolute and without any conditions whatsoever, all men would be saved if God’s love were unconditional. But that would be universalism. That would nullify the need for Christ’s sacrificial death and God’s condition of salvation by grace through faith.
We must also ask, does God’s love apply to the person who has sinned against the Holy Spirit by refusing to receive His grace throughout his lifetime and who is destined for hell? God chooses upon whom He will place His love and the benefits of his love. Did Jesus ever imply that God’s love is unconditional? He said to His disciples:
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21).
One might argue, however, that the story of the prodigal son proves unconditional love. It indeed illustrates the vastness of God’s love, forgiveness and longsuffering. However, the son repented. If he had had a prosperous evil life he may never have repented. And while the father would have waited and hoped, he would not have extended his love. After all, he did not go out searching for him to support his folly. Up to a point this seems to indicate unconditional love, and yet, God is not waiting in ignorance, not knowing what those for whom His son died might be doing. He knows, and there comes a time when those who have refused his offer of love and forgiveness die and face the judgment. It is difficult enough to understand God’s love without adding the term unconditional which is loaded with secular, humanistic, psychological connotations. The story of the prodigal son teaches grace, forgiveness and mercy—but unconditional love? No!
While God loves with a greater love than humans can comprehend, His holiness and justice also must be taken into consideration. Therefore the term unconditional love is inadequate for defining God. It does not account for God’s reaction to pompous men who devise plans against Him and His anointed. The psalmist goes so far as to say:
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure (Psalm 2:4-5).
And what about Lot’s wife as she turned to look at the smoldering cities? Or what about Jesus’ words to the cities that refused to repent?
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell . . . . it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee (Matthew 11:21-24).
Does that sound like unconditional love?
But perhaps one could say that God’s love for the Christian is unconditional since the Christian partakes of His love and grace through faith. Wouldn’t it be better to say that the conditions have been met? Jesus met the first condition, to wash away the sin that God hates. The believer meets the second condition by grace through faith. Or, perhaps it would be better to say that God’s love extended to a person is conditioned by His plan to give eternal life to those who believe on His Son. The conditions of God’s love are resident within Himself.
There is a strong temptation to use vocabulary that is popular in society in order to make Christianity sound relevant. Christians have something far better than what the world offers, but in expressing that good news they confuse people by using words that are already loaded with humanistic connotations and systems of thought. It would be better not to use the expression unconditional love when describing God’s love. There are plenty of other good words.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. . . .
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (1 John 4:9, 10, 16).
The incomprehensible magnitude of God’s love surpasses any concept of love devised by humanistic psychologists. The doctrine of unconditional love is a myth that glorifies man rather than God.
1. Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition, 1983.
2. Jay Haley. Strategies of Psychotherapy. New York: Grune & Stratton, Inc., 1963, pp. 71, 82.
3. Paul Brownback. The Danger of Self-Love. Chicago: Moody Press, 1982, p. 66.
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Abiding
What Did Paul Mean by “I Keep Under My Body”? [podcast]
In spite of all the evil that is me, dear LORD You have been so gracious (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7; Titus 3:5-7). Thank You Jesus. Please bless this life to be crucified with Thee!
If OSAS/eternal security is true, WHY did Paul say he himself that he could be “castaway” from God in the end if he didn’t endure to the end, perpetually keep under his body (the cross life)?
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
Here Paul speaks of his own need for the crucified life – to keep under his body, the flesh – in light of the sins that kept God’s people out of their promised land and his own jeopardy of soul if he were to neglect the cross in his own personal life (1 Corinthians 9:27-10-13).
Why O why would this apostle of Christ have uttered these words if he believed he was “once saved always saved”/”eternally secure” or that he was automatically going to be in Heaven no matter how he lived his life after being genuinely saved? Why would he ever had said that he would be cast away from the LORD in the end if he didn’t keep under his body if such were not possible? Paul follow Jesus and knew he was responsible to “endure to the end” of his earthly life to be saved into eternal glory (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39, etc.).
Most evangelicals have been sold on the lie that initial salvation means a saved person will automatically be in Heaven, no matter what he does after being saved. Not. Jesus and His holy apostles taught initial and final salvation.
Though the vast majority of those who pretend to represent Christ today do not preach His original Gospel, Jesus says that to follow Him, one must deny self and take up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24). These are what Paul calls “enemies of the CROSS of Christ” who are building a ministry busine$$ and know that the golden calf heresy of eternal security $ell$ (Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1-3).
The idol of self is the enemy, the antichrist we deal head on with everyday with the cross which slays the god of self!
We therefore can safely conclude that this daily denial of self, this cross, this crucified life, is exactly what the apostle is speaking of when speaking of keeping under his body, his flesh. When Paul penned these words, he was speaking of what he so often spoke about – the cross.
What is there to crucify, to “keep under”, to subdue?
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24
Believing we can live sanctified, abiding in Christ without the cross He prescribed is self-deception and only further confirms our need to be truly crucified with Christ, buried, and raised up daily by Jesus (Galatians 2:20).
“I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” = the cross, the crucified life.
Some who are hell bent of corrupting the plain words of Christ would say that this is not speaking of eternal glory, of one’s salvation being in jeopardy. Better think again.
Of this passage, Donald Stamps, in the Life in the Spirit Study Bible notes:
“9:24-27 RUN, THAT YE MAY OBTAIN. Paul illustrates the principle that if one fails to exercise self-control, self-denial, and love with regard to others, he himself will be rejected by God, even if he is a gospel preacher.”
“9:27 I MYSELF SHOULD BE A CASTAWAY. ‘Be a castaway’ (Gk. adokimos) conveys the idea of ‘failing the test,’ ‘being rejected.’ Paul uses this same term in 2 Cor. 13:5, where he states that Christ does not dwell in any who are ‘reprobates’ (Gr. adokimoi). Paul is not referring merely to the loss of ministerial reward. What he recognizes is the possibility that he may fail to obtain the prize (i.e., the inheritance of final salvation (vv24-25) if he should cease living a holy life, exercising self-control, and enduring hardships for Christ (vv 25-27).”
The correct preaching of the full counsel of God’s WORD creates in us the desire to be set apart to our LORD (holy) and to cease the things, the sins that defile such purity necessary to abide in vital union with our Maker who is our Savior!
Notice below how Jesus knits the denial of self, the daily cross, the putting off the deeds of the body, of keeping under the body – the iniquitous fallen nature – with the destiny of the eternal soul.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25
Jesus made it clear here that the cross is an original Gospel essential, an absolute imperative to eternal glory with Him! The cross is essential to eternal glory. In other words, following Jesus on His stated terms – living the crucified life! (Luke 9:23-24)
Each of us proves exactly who we love the most by the way we are living! – God or self!
Everything that is happening in your life now is being allowed by God in order to get you down low into the death and burial with Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 4.
There’s no such thing as a Heaven-bound person who does not love God enough to offer their life to Him a living sacrifice and thereby overcome sin. Read this passage closely.
“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death (separation); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:15-23
Notice in verse 22 that those having been born again and now truly abiding in Christ of the fruit of holiness, not sin. And to them alone will end up with everlasting glory!
Jesus made it clear here that the cross is an original Gospel essential, an absolute imperative to eternal glory with Him! The cross is essential to eternal glory. In other words, following Jesus on His stated terms.
The deeds of the body must be kept under the power of the Holy Ghost and such is only possible by way of adhering to the cross Jesus mandated!
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13
The cross is the condition for overcoming the ensuing 5 sins that Paul then teaches kept some of the children of Israel out of their promised land. Our promised land is Heaven and just as some of the God’s people didn’t make it, didn’t “endure to the end”, were like the 5 foolish virgins, some of those Jesus had saved will not “endure to the end” and be in glory with Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; 25:1-3, etc.).
Here are the ensuing words, the text immediately following 1 Corinthians 9:27. It’s a contiguous theme, warning from the apostle. Let’s read the whole passage, the context. He made no chapter divisions when he penned this divinely-inspired letter. Paul speaks of the personally responsibility and necessity of the crucified life in light of the 5 sins we all face which if we live in, will disqualify us from eternal glory. Here’s our main Bible verse, truth again and what follows:
“27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea (represents salvation);
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.
7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 9:27-10:12
Clearly in this passage we see that the cross is a prerequisite for overcoming the 5 disqualifying sins. | The 5 Sins that Kept God’s People from their Promised Land
Life in the Spirit Study Bible on 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
10:1 I WOULD NOT THAT YE SHOULD BE IGNORANT. The fact that one may be redeemed, partake of divine grace, and yet later be rejected by God, a “castaway” (see 9:27), because of unbelief and evil conduct is now verified by examples from the experience of Israel (vv. 1-12).
10:5 THEY WERE OVERTHROWN IN THE WILDERNESS. The Israelites had experienced the grace of God in the exodus. They had been delivered from bondage (v. 1), baptized (v. 2), and divinely sustained in the wilderness, experiencing close fellowship with Christ (vv. 3-4). Yet in spite of these spiritual blessings, they failed to please God and were destroyed by Him in the wilderness; they forfeited their election and hence, failed to reach the promised land (cf. Num. 14:30. Paul’s point is that, as God did not tolerate Israel’s idolatry, sin, and immorality, so He will not tolerate the sin of believers under the new covenant.
10:6 THESE THINGS WERE OUR ESAMPLES. The terrible judgment of God upon the disobedient Israelites serves as an example and a warning for those under the new covenant not to desire evil things. Paul warns the Corinthians that if they repeat Israel’s unfaithfulness to God (vv. 7-10), they too will receive His judgment and fail to enter the promised heavenly country.
10:11 WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION. The history of God’s judgment of His people in the O.T. was written down in the Scriptures to provide those in the N.T. with ample warnings against sinning and falling from grace (v. 12; see Num. 14:29).7
10:12 TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL. The Israelites, as God’s elect, thought they could safely dabble in the sins of idolatry, and immorality; yet they met with God’s judgments. Those who believe they can securely live without turning away from unrighteous conduct and worldly passions should take notice of the warning of God in this passage.
10:13 GOD IS FAITHFUL. A professing believer may not justify sinning with excuses that he is simply human and thus imperfect, or that in this life all born-again believers continue sinning in word, thought, and deed (cf. Rom. 6:1). At the same times, Paul assures the Corinthians that no true believer need fall from the grace and mercy of God. (1) The Holy Spirit explicitly affirms that God provides His children with adequate grace to overcome every temptation and thus to resist sinning (cf. Rev. 2:7,17,26). God’s faithfulness expresses itself in two ways: (a) He will not allow us to be tempted above that which we can bear, and (b) He will with each temptation provide a way by which we can endure the temptation and overcome sin (cf. 2 Thes. 3:3).
(2) The grace of God (Eph. 2:8-10; Tit. 2:11-14), the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:13; 1 Pet. 2:24), the Word of God (Eph 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 1:5), and the heavenly intercession of Christ bring sufficient power for the believer to be victorious over the poser of sin and demonic influences (Eph. 6:10-18; Heb 7:25).
(3) If the Christian yields to sin, it is not because Christ’s provision of grace is inadequate, but because the believer fails to resist his own sinful desires by the power of the Spirit (Rom 8:13-14; 2 Pet. 1:3).”
Was Paul involved in a relationship with Christ? Was Paul required to participate or was he a robot? Was it “all God,” “all grace” as the calvinist would claim?
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have FOUGHT a good fight, I have FINISHED my course, I have KEPT the faith: 8 Henceforth (therefore) there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8
If a person whose has been saved in the past is not fighting the good fight, finished what God began in him and called him to do – finishing his course, and keeping the faith, how can he possibly say with Paul “there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness”?
The kingdom of Heaven is to be pressed into and not taken casually.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12;
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14
Colossians 3:1-10
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
“The old man” must go down before “the new man” can be raised out of that grave – death and burial.
Ephesians 4:20-24
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Prayer of Returning: Holy Father, You gave all when You gave Your only begotten Son who came and died for our sins. You’ve also called me to lay down my life, to lose my life in this fleeting world. I have not done well at giving over my life to You … You alone who are worthy of my full, unreserved worship. Right this moment I ask You to forgive my sin of having another god before You which is self idolatry and spiritual adultery. I have alienated the affections of my heart away from You LORD and onto myself. For this I ask You to forgive me and I right here and now turn to You Jesus. Right this moment I lay my life in Your holy hands LORD. Into Your hands I submit my spirit – my whole being. Not my will but Thine be done LORD Jesus! I am no longer my own. I am Yours. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. I love You Jesus and am ceaselessly grateful that You bought me with the price of Your own blood! You must increase but I must decrease. I ask You to unite my heart to fear Thy holy name! Teach me daily to lay myself aside and to give the reins over to You! In Jesus’ Name, amen.
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Articles
Living with an Eternal Perspective [podcast]
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
Someone has rightly stated that covetousness and greed and the love of money is going to damn more souls than any other sin. Read Jesus’ parable of the rich fool and memorize Luke 12:15. See Luke 12:15-21. Jesus says:
“Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15
Is what you’re striving for, working for, and doing in your earthly life going to matter in 100 years? Does your focus and activities testify that you are heavenly minded or headed for hell?
“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38
Like a good parent who instructed his child to invest where it’s going to count in the long haul, so Jesus instructs us to lay up treasure in Heaven and not waste.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Gospel ministries that feed you and others are there by the ordination of God – to help you grown in Christ’s grace and to have a place to give to further Jesus’ Gospel and lay up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21; Ephesians 4:11-12). God’s Word calls us to support those feeding us (Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14, etc.). That’s all a gift of God – in your lap. Yet the “labourers are few” and so are the suppliers (Matthew 9:35-38).
“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
Would the few Gospel “labourers” be near dead broke if the LORD’s people were properly supporting HIS Work? Matthew 6:19-21; 9:35-38; 2 Corinthians 9:7-11; etc.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
Christ’s ministers have answered HIS call, not their own (Matthew 10:1-8; 1 Peter 5:1-6). They lay down their lives daily to do His will – to feed His sheep, the highest calling on earth (Matthew 28:18-20; John 21:15-17). And by doing so they are laying up their treasures in Heaven, not on the earth (Matthew 6:19-24). This bless-ed answer to the call of our God gives each of us the bless-ed opportunity to do the same, by supporting them, by supporting the work of our Master in the lives of His people (1 Corinthians 3:6-9; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11). | Support
“For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Dear saints, let us never assume that ministries that endeavor to preach the whole counsel of God’s Word are sufficiently support. That’s usually not the case.
Are You Serving Money or Christ? Test it…..
Corporatization creates robots who follow the fools. Example: the covid cons and the cowards who comply.
WHEN I was working in the Space Program for a company that was contracted to NASA, they were shooting for 100% opt-in, total cooperation for a % taken out of our checks to give to the United Way, a demonic murderous organization that supports and gives money to planned MURDER-hood. Gladly, boldly, I spoiled that party, drawing a line in the sand. They were coercively conning every single employee into giving to the planned MURDER-hood United Way and their standing was in jeopardy with NASA if they didn’t get everyone in. Not me. Nope. I plainly told them I will lay no finger on or give a single penny to assisting in the cold blooded murder of innocent babies. Didn’t care what the consequences were.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
Far too many people are serving money and therefore have a myriad of excuses as to why they compromise. All who serve mammon are as sure for eternal damnation as if they were already there.
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Articles
The Gospel: What is It? [podcast]
Do We Understand the Gospel?
The book of Romans is called by some “The ABC’s of the Christian faith,” and for good reason.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
The words “gospel of Christ … is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
The word “gospel” appears 104 times in the Bible, all in the New Testament canon. The bless-ed word “gospel” means the good news. And why is the Gospel good news?
The Good News, the Gospel, is good because of the bad news. The bad news is that fallen mankind is separated from a holy God via his sin. This is the bad news.
The LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and cannot have relationship with any person whom HE does not make holy by washing them of their sins (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). See also Psalms 5:4 and Habakkuk 1:13.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
Jesus came to take away the sins of the world so we can fellowship with God who is holy.
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
Our heavenly Father reconciled us back to Himself, out of a life of sin, through the precious blood of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ!
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19
Read Romans chapter 3 in the King James Bible.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: … 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:10, 23
The bad news is that we have “ALL have sinned” (Romans 3), and are all fully guilty. The impact, the guilt, and the shame is realized when we simply look at the Law of God—the 10 Commandments.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Exodus 20
- “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” v3
- “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” v4
- “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” v7
- “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” v8
- “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” v12
- “Thou shalt not kill.” v13
- “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” v14
- “Thou shalt not steal.” v15
- “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” v16
- “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” v17
See Ten Commandments Evangelism [podcast]
The law of God convicts the sinner that he is just that—a sinner, separated from his Maker, “alienated from the life of God” (Ephesians 4:18). Then comes the Good News, the grace, the cross.
The law of God convicts. The Word of God rejoices the heart and enlightens the eyes.
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalms 19:7-8
The law of God convicts sinners, convinces them that they have sinned before a holy God, and brings them to Christ.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is a good place to begin, where we read that the Gospel is the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ died, was buried, and raised again “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). That’s the Gospel!
WAS JESUS loving? Yes. The Son of God who died on a cruel wooden cross for your sins was loving enough to warn you that you are going to eternal damnation if you don’t choose to love, worship, and serve Him—on HIS terms (Mark 9:43-49; Luke 12:4-5,etc.). John 3:16 informs us that God so loved the world that He sacrificed His only begotten Son to save you from sin and the lake of fire. Have you personally repented before a holy God and received Jesus into your life? Today is your day. If you are not 100% sure you are genuinely born again, go here first to Make Peace with God
Jesus Christ came as the sinless Son of God to die on a cross, be buried, and raised again from the dead to justify sinners (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 Timothy 1:15). CHRISTOLOGY.
We have all sinned against our Maker. We have all lied, stolen, and used His holy name in vain, etc… and are in desperate need of His saving mercy which He gave us in and through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was buried, and raised again from the dead to justify us (Romans 5:6-11).
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth (displayed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:6-11
Jesus is God and sinless, and He came and died, was buried, and rose again. This is the Good News or Gospel in that He “finished” or “paid in full” the price for our sin with His own precious blood and thereby conquered sin and death saving those who will repent and believe, from having to pay for their own sins in hell forever (John 19:30). Jesus Christ alone fulfilled to the detail over 300 prophecies given by God through His prophets and He alone was qualified to satisfy the claims of His Father’s justice to redeem fallen mankind. He shed His sinless blood for our sin and He alone can save.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
“The gospel” Paul preached was that “Christ died for our sins … he was buried …he rose again the third day.”
The apostle also tells us here that it is by THIS “gospel … ye are saved” and that you must “keep in memory” the truth contained in this blessed and only Gospel or you will not remain in Christ (John 15:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:2).
Jesus Christ paid a debt He did not owe and we owe a debt we cannot pay. So, to repent and receive Christ appropriates this unspeakable salvation into our personal lives!
Jesus Christ is unique in all of history. He alone was sent from God the Father, died, was buried, and rose again to rescue mankind from the sin that separated fallen men from God. One writer puts it this way:
“The essentials of the faith include the gospel: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:1-4); the triune nature of God (1 John 5:7); Jesus is only begotten Son of God (John 3:16); the virgin birth (Matthew 1:20-25); salvation by faith through grace (Ephesians 2:8); and the timing and consequences of the second coming of Christ (Revelation 22:18-19). The Word tells us believing in the doctrine of Christ is essential in having both the Father and His Son (2 John 1:9). It is critical Christians know how to defend against doctrines of demons and deceiving spirits that are distorting and compromising the essentials of the doctrine of Christ (1 Timothy 4:1, 1 John 2:25-29).”
Do you know Him? Find out how to know Him here He loves you!
SEEING a lot of the devil’s agents in our midst? JUST READ GOD’S WORD FOR YOURSELF as He told you to do beloved (2 Timothy 2:15).
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Modern Church | Peace with God



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