foundations
-

The Only Foundation of Jesus Christ – part I

Jesus Worldview

For a Christian the gospel that we believe is like our life’s foundation or our world view. We can track almost all of our behavior back to our gospel. Jesus Christ himself is the only foundation that will move into the future.

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

We should constantly reconsider and evaluate our own foundation, what we believe and why. We can also watch other people and find out what they believe about Jesus and their relation to him.

  • Is your worldview of God like a Santa’s nice list for blessings. God’s world revolves around your comfort and success? Your life is its foundation.
  • Is your gospel an after life business, an evangelism program that you are called to work hard for to please God? Foundation is self.
  • Is your worldview of God and church a social club for those going to heaven, “lets just all hang out and be friendly?”

Our gospel shows in our behavior, desire that it’s the same one Paul and John the Baptist and Jesus himself preached. That gospels is Jesus himself who is the only foundation, the chief cornerstone himself. Constantly be willing to have your foundation examined and perfected.

There are many gospels out there. More than ever, many involve parts of Jesus’, most steal ideas from him then exclude him.

Five Common Gospels Of Today:

Christian Gospel of libertinism, this gospel is primarily an afterlife program which teaches how you live doesn’t matter, it over emphasizes grace so that people can live and do whatever they want. Because their after life is set. Its true but its twisted and incomplete.

Christian Gospel of legalism, this gospel is about pleasing God with a list of things to try hard and accomplish. It over emphasizes the human role in service and it become extremely divisive because every legalist has a different list.

Christian Gospel of Catholicism, this gospel is about the catholic church centered in Rome, it seeks to sign people up under the Vatican’s hierarchy. It’s current version over emphasizes itself, the saints and Mary’s role in interacting with God. It has components of both libertinism and legalism.

Gospel of progressivism and enlightenment. Very common today, this gospel has as its foundation evolutionary theory, it believes humanity came up from the earth is evolving into something better and better. It emphasizes education and knowledge itself as the mechanism of human progress. This gospel enjoys the support of many governments in the world today as its official message and is taught to children at a very young age. It sees itself as superior to all religions. Enlightenment thinking typically pushes Jesus down as some religious figure while it plagiarises many of his teachings.

Gospel of Islam, This gospel is a message that rejects Jesus as God and exalts Allah as the single and one and only true God. There are many versions of it, some accept the old testament prophets view Jesus as one of them. Its central message is believe that Allah is one and only true God

There are many others….

The Gospel John the Baptist and Jesus and Paul preached

The gospel of the kingdom. I will elaborate in detail in Part II on 3/3/18.

Preview: The gospel of kingdom of Jesus Christ is about a new creation displacing the old. It’s about our death and his new life.

Also don’t miss the great work of Frank Viola on recovering the gospel of the kingdom.

What is your foundation?

Comments 0
What Jesus Said About Himself
-

“That Church is Dead”

A Dead Church

Recently someone told me something someone said about a church. “That church is dead.” So what is a dead church anyhow?

It’s a common accusation from Pentecostal Christians against most other churches. I have said it myself more than once.

The most common definitions of a “dead church” according to most pentecostals and charismatics are:

  • It is boring, the music is dry, the preaching is dull and there is little to no excitement about God.
  • It does not effectively disciple people.
  • Any church not their own to get more people to come to there’s.

If it Really Is a Church…It Is Not Dead.

If it really is a church (more accurately known as an ecclesia or a congregation of Jesus Christ) the meetings might be boring. They might be dry and unexciting but if Jesus Christ lives inside people in a church THERE IS LIFE.

I know this church personally and there are many people there with the life of Jesus on display, so this church is not dead.

When a church gets labeled dead its more about a dislike about worship style.

This “dead church” accusation is a by product of people believing that life comes from volume and extroverted excitement for Jesus. Lack of displays of excitement does not make a dead church.

A dead church cant exist, it is an oxymoron. If it is a church if disciples of Jesus gather together then there is life. Non Christians pretending to have church of other reasons do exist. They look the same on the outside, sermons, singing, Christian tradition. It could even be the loudest church in the city with the best music and the most dancing and hand waving.

Testing for Life or Death

The test of life is not numbers and growth as is commonly taught (by churches that are growing). Plenty of organizations and groups and blatantly evil things grow and increase in numbers. Things like cancer, virus’, religions that murder people, bank accounts of tyrants and criminals. None of these things are approved of God and they do not indicate health.

As in all things the real test of life or death is to simply ask “who is Jesus Christ here and what are people gathering around?”

Jesus Christ himself is the life of any group of Christians. Jesus Christ himself is the test of life.

A dying church is one where he cannot express himself regardless of number of attendees, ages of attendees, sermon or music quality. Dying ‘churches’ have existed for centuries, many of them never had an ounce of life in them from their start.

More on life:

Is there life in your church?

Comments 0
-

Video 7 – Learning to Live By the Life of Christ

It Is No Longer I Who Live

The life of Christ makes all the difference in life. Paul said “it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me”

Most evangelism today seems to be something like the following: “Believe in Jesus because he has a wonderful plan for your life… and avoid hell.” As if promises of goodness and blessing are needed to attract people to Jesus. No, Jesus does not have a wonderful plan FOR YOUR LIFE. His plan for YOUR LIFE is absolute unconditional surrender and death. That is what baptism indicates, an end to our lives and a beginning of a new life which is Christ’s life.

Living by Jesus’ life will be wonderful but it also might result in excruciating pain. For millions of people living for Jesus is well worth it. But for millions it is also filled with strife and pain and suffering.  Preaching that Jesus makes our lives wonderful is deceptive. It ignores the call to death and resurrection and potential for suffering with Christ.

If people get a glimpse of Jesus Christ as he really is. They would flock to him whether it resulted in their murder or prosperity. Torture or victory, Jesus Christ is attractive enough to convert the world in his own right.

It is incumbent on his people to learn how to live by that amazing life of Jesus Christ.

Real Discipleship

Discipleship is not becoming great, super obedient, super good attitude. Sorry pal but the best you can do is trash. Real discipleship is learning how to die, to get out the way and to live by the life of Jesus Christ. Following the life of God within, learning how to do that is rare. It is almost unheard of. Furthermore the number of people teaching others this is even fewer.

Frank Viola first opened my eyes about this topic he teaches a course on this, which some day I will purchase.

Also, the group in Austin from 3rd Race also have much to say about and have taught me a lot about this topic.

If you crave to be discipled (I mean really discipled), no more religious games. Then my recommendation is that you drop everything else in your Christian lives. Leave the endless church games behind and learn what you can from these saints.

Check out my other videos.

Comments 0

Stay Up To Date With Email

​-

I use & recommend Bluehost, buy your domain and hosting here!

Get Adam’s From His Side Book Here! Its about Church Transformaton from Institutional Church to Living Ecclesia

Visitors

  • 53,508 hits

Connect on Twitter

en_USEnglish
en_USEnglish