Christ's Message Distilled For Dummies

Christ's Message Distilled for Dummies (You Might Not Like It) Christ’s message distilled is we all are born sinning, deserving of Hell (1) (but for Grace the Cross pays for), your pride in “your good acts” the proof of your fall. The “good” in your life is a gift that God’s driven (2) and born of His will (and not yours). Hearts are blessed that get tuned to His wavelength, find solace in God’s acts. False pride plagues your deeds! Hear Paul speak on this issue, “My pride’s just in one thing; Christ died to redeem me.” (3) Is faith in God’s purpose, not Christ’s act, what saves us? Christ’s acts are expressions of Love for His Father? As I understand Love, the Cross breathes God’s essence! (4) Is boast, “I’m a Christian,” a clown’s act (just spinning), (5) or Grace God gives sinners a gift (like each dawn’s door)? (6) True faith may ask questions (7) but chooses to stand tall, trust’s Grace for all futures (God’s outcome’s a given). The saved aren’t the slaves to one viewpoint, a white hat for obstinate priests sure they’re ‘Right’ (who post ‘Truth’ tracts). Humility rarely will ask for a tissue when questions arise, won’t call questioners “dummy!” Where truth is on trial, humility’s cautious. A brother’s a brother and never made ‘other.’ Do souls of faith’s stars ever pass adolescence? (8) Brian Johnston 13th of September in 2021 Poet’s Notes: All quoted scripture is NKJV 1. Matthew 19:16-26 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Are you not as astounded by verse 24 as the disciples were? Christ seems to be building up to the revolutionary idea that we are only saved “through faith, not works, lest anyone should boast?” Did obeying the Ten Commandments ever save anyone? Later, Christ tells us that to even think of sinning is equivalent to committing the sin. Poor Jimmy Carter! How reviled he was for acknowledging his need for Grace, that he had lust in his heart at times. The Law given to the Jews condemns us all, ancients and moderns. Both are saved only by Grace. All dreams of saving ourselves through our goodness are false pride! To live life in faith means God’s in control as He acts through the faithful, revealing His will. 2. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Isn’t James saying that only God is good? 3. Galatian 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Isn’t Paul saying, too, that only God is good? 4. John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” Isn’t Christ declaring here that only God is good? 5. James 2: 14-18 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. If it is by faith you are saved and not works, how is faith to be recognized in someone who claims to be a Christian but in whose life good works are either personal vanity or rarely seen? Can faith without works exist at all? Please expand "Poet's Notes" notes above for remaining footnotes.