A Good Read

"If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32)

A friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to an article written by Swami Vivekananda relating to the Vedanta Philosophy and commented that it was “a good read”. He was correct and I enjoyed reading the article.

This Vedanta Philosophy reminded me of the above words from Jesus. The truth that will “make you free” remains the truth whether we believe it or not, or however and whenever God allows us to find it. And I am convinced ALL mankind will find it, and it will set them "free". They are to become one with God, finished in His very image, according to the Bible.

I occasionally read the writings of other religions, but I have made the conscious choice to restrict my personal search for truth to the Bible simply because it is the only religious book which categorically claims to be the Word of God. I cannot prove that it is but my choosing to believe it allows me to have a firm foundation for my search for "the truth", rather than be “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine” as the Bible says. (Ephesians 4:14). It has been hard enough for me to sort through the bad translations and false teaching of the Bible.

My study of the Bible has shown me that all mankind (regardless of their cultural circumstances or religious convictions) will eventually be “made free” or as the Swami might say - be  “enlightened” or reach “nirvana”.  After men die and are resurrected from the “natural body” to their final “spiritual body” they will then be immortal and sinless (the "nirvana" of the Swami in my opinion). Jesus instructed Paul to write the following about the resurrection of the body and soul of man…

“It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam (Jesus) became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual…Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-58)

And of course the “work of the Lord” is setting mankind “free” from death into immortal life. 

In referring to Jesus the Swami says…

“Jesus and others like him are free spirits; and Jesus of Nazareth took human form, not by the compulsion of his past actions, but just to do good to mankind. It is not that when a man becomes free, he will stop and become a dead lump; but he will be more active than any other being, because every other being acts only under compulsion, he alone through freedom”

The Swami’s analysis comes closer to the truth about Jesus than the views of some theologians of Christianity that I have encountered, but there is much much more to Jesus than just a "free spirit".  So I don’t plan on starting Yoga anytime soon, but again, thank you Nic, it was a good read.

It Is Finished

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)

It appears to me that the percentage of people in the world who profess Christ as the savior is no more, and maybe less, then the percentages at the close of the third century AD. We have more buildings, organizations, missionaries, ministries and raise more money than at any time in history yet very little impact on the percentage of people who follow Christ.

So why? Well my opinion is simply that we have misunderstood passages like the above. We interpret the above passage as teaching that Christians are to DO the work of the Lord. But that is NOT what it says. The work of the Lord was done BY THE LORD and it was to “seek and to save those which are lost”. The LORD was Victorious. He SAVED the world. The work “is finished”. There is no WORK left to do for evangelicals or anyone else.

So what is OUR “labor” which is said not to be "in vain” mentioned above?

Our "labor" is to tell people, starting with our children and grandchildren, that they have been RECONCILED to God by the blood of Christ and will be SAVED from death when Jesus returns to RESURRECT the dead. Then there will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, suffering, sin or evil. Then there will be no more liars, thieves, murders, child molesters, politicians, theologians, republicans or democrats. As for NOW they should do the best they can to live life in appreciation for what God has and will do for them in Christ and do the best we can to convince others to do the same.

“…since we know what it is to be in awe of the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God….Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again… All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation…God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)

Evangelicals hear sermons on grace, salvation and discipleship every week, but do not distinguish between Law and Grace or Salvation and Discipleship. Salvation is a done deal. Discipleship is a matter of living life like we appreciate such great Grace that saved us.

“When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him…Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing…the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One…He said, IT IS FINISHED! And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (Luke 23:33-35; John 19:30)

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it”. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

God Himself will completely sanctify those who die…their spirt, soul and body…they are "preserved BLAMELESS" at the second coming of Jesus. God is faithful and He will do it.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…the dead will be raised imperishable…then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?...Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:51:58)

Always “be abounding” in “the work of the Lord”, NOT in the work of men or in their religious institutions. The various “toils” that we experience in this life…will NOT be in vain.