So what version of Jesus and Christianity are you giving this world – the Jesus that brings all the power and authority of the heavenlies into your life and that is full of Grace, Hope, Faith, Love, and that heals, that casts out demons, that raises the dead or are you giving the world the cardboard version of Jesus that is stripped and void of any real power and authority to heal, to cast out the demons that oppress us, to bring Joy, Peace and Hope into lives?
Do we tell the world about the real Jesus and then give them the cardboard Jesus that fits conveniently into our man-made denominational doctrines that causes people to say, “This is a piece of junk! I want the real Jesus!”? And to that, are we giving the often expected response of, “But you can’t have the real Jesus. You get the Jesus that we’ve made up. We aren’t comfortable with all this healing, speaking in tongues, deliverance from evil spirits, prophecy and Gifts of the Holy Spirit truth that God talks about in the Bible. That Jesus-as-Rebel version that the Bible shows us that rescued souls from the gates of hell is good reading but we dont’ want to get all Jesus Freaky on people. That was just a nice little PR campaign to bring you to the cross and then indoctrinate you into our way of spiritual thinking. True, you may never experience the real power of Jesus at work in your lives but we have a really nice sanctuary, good singing and good preaching that makes up for all that other stuff.”
Is Jesus just a “Limited Time Offer” that is good while it lasts or is He the real deal for you? Are we giving the world the Jesus that changes lives and changes us into new creations full of the power of the Holy Spirit or the one that is handcuffed to our tired and stale demoninational doctrines that tells people how Jesus can or can’t work in their lives?
is salvation a ‘limited time offer’?
By: tophet144 on October 26, 2009
at 12:42 pm
Jesus died on the cross for all to receive Salvation, through the blood of Christ, that believes in Him through Faith and Repentance. It is a gift that has no expiration date, no hidden agendas. As long as this world turns, and as long as someone is breathing, the world, and an individual can receive salvation. Doesn’t matter what type of life you lived or what type of person you were, you can still receive salvation in your dying moments. Jesus loves us THAT much!!!
Unfortunately, we often treat Jesus as a “limited time offer.” We tell the unsaved about the glorious mercy, grace, love, hope, authority and power of Jesus but once they have accepted Him into their lives as Lord and Savior, then we replace the real Jesus with the Jesus that fits into whatever denominational doctrines we cling too. More accurately, we replace the Holy Spirit (Spirit of the Living Christ) with a tamer version, weaker version or more easily understood version.
For example, Jesus clearly states in the Bible that we, his disciples, will do the same things…and even greater things than He did. Jesus healed and cast out demons. We, in and through the Spirit, can do the same. But many denominations choose to ignore this (for various reasons), in essence, stripping the Spirit of His power in the believer’s lives. Instead of people being healed and freed of spiritual oppression by the use of our Spiritual Gifts, then people continue to live in bondage, unhappy, joyless, hopeless and in despair.
By: patrickandchristy on October 26, 2009
at 2:36 pm