09.30.07
The Abundant Life - Now or To Come?
Most of modern day Christianity has its place in the pit of hell. Today I write to you not to sell Christianity to you as they have done so cleverly but to plead that Christianity is the only way a man can be saved from eternal separation from God on judgment day.
You see, the “pastors” of today are saying come to Christ; He will bring you homes and cars and money and security and He came so you can have an abundant life now. They are liars.
If we say that we have come to know Christ then we should walk in the same manner as He walked (see 1 John 2:6). And what did Christ say about His “walk” when a man who wanted to be a disciple came to Him?
Matt 8:19-20
19 And a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
NASB
What a twisted version of the True gospel is being presented today. The Son of God, the Blessed One, the richest man ever to set foot on this cursed ground we call earth did not live in a 4800 Square foot home nor did He have a chariot caravan take Him from city to city. He walked from place to place and at times He had nowhere even to lay His precious head to rest.
“But Wesley, the pastor even read a verse in the Bible that says He came to give us an abundant life.”
Yes, I am sure He did. Satan also recited verses to Jesus from the Old Testament that were practically word for word during His temptation. And Christ battled him by saying “we must live by EVERY word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” And if your pastor was interested in telling you the truth, rather than selling you a gospel, then He would tell you that the abundant life is not to be lived now but later.
Here is what Christ has said about the abundant life:
John 10:10
10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
NASB
These words are no lie. They are true. It is the interpretation of that passage that is the distortion of facts. If I extract this passage from the book of John, I could easily deceive you into believing that His purpose was to give you whatever your heart desires while you live in this present evil age. In other words, sell you a gospel. Who wouldn’t you want to come to an all powerful God who promises you bliss? You mean I get homes and cars and anything that I can squeeze into those words “abundant life”. Count me in! Right.
What have we done with the Gospel?
Let us look at what else John has written about “life”. Let us follow Jesus’s example and live by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth.
John 12:25
25 “He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
NASB
You hypocrites, what do you say now? Has Christ decided to give you an abundant life in this world and then did He command you that you must “HATE” that very same abundant life? Have you no sense?
I really encourage you to meditate upon that question.
The “life” that is talked about is “life eternal” not the ”life in this world”. There is a definite distinction made in the Scripture. But I know your dilemma, you can’t sell an abundant life that you don’t receive now to an evil generation.
Who will tithe? Right. If you taught the men and women in your congregation a doctrine similar to “Foxes have holes but the Son of Man has nowhere even to rest His head”, who would remain in your congregation? Who wants to live a life of sacrifice and suffering when a current life of abundance is being promised?
ONLY THOSE WHO TRULY LOVE CHRIST!
Paul loved Christ and here is what Jesus said to him:
Acts 9:16
16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. ”
NASB
I speak to you “pastor”. I suppose without the “feel good” and the “abundant life” gospel the healthy tithe from the congregation would cease to exist and even your own livelihood would be threatened. You may not even have a place to lay your own head! But you don’t dare go down that road, because truly your teaching is about keeping a congregation and not about saving a congregation.
But your professed Lord (Who is Lord) is quite different from you. He was not afraid to preach the hard things so that men could understand the fullness of His message. This is why He is the Savior. And as a result …
John 6:66
66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore.
NASB
What a concept! If the world did not accept Christ teachings then they, as a whole, will not accept yours if you faithfully preach Him.
John 15:20
20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
NASB
Let me share one more passage out of many possible:
Matt 19:29
29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, shall receive many times as much, and shall inherit eternal life.
NASB
Today, to follow Christ is not about “leaving houses” as written in the word of God, but they will tell you that it is about gaining houses. They say following Christ is not about sacrificing your family life to any degree for Him and gaining it eternal but it is about Him providing an abundant family life for you right now. What a disservice they have done to the whole truth written in Scripture.
I am going to tell you the truth. The gospel is about recognizing you are a sinner and that God has a Holy hatred for sin. All sinners will be punished eternally. Without a Savior you have absolutely no hope. The wages of sin is death. Christ came to save you from this sure death and to take away your sin. A true disciple of Christ has been bought with a price. He has died your death and you are to be living walking sacrifice for Him. It is true that an abundant life awaits the sanctified in Christ but to walk this earth like Paul, Peter or even Christ is not to walk in a life of luxury and bliss but it is to sacrifice everything for the Name of God and for His Kingdom.
For the Truth of my King
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Carol said,
October 1, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Excellent study! I’ve been seeing a lot of blogs about “success” for the believer. But the success they speak of is monetary - worldly. Nothing spiritual is mentioned. I wonder how their “success” message would go over to those being persecuted in Christ’s name?
I want to say more but I’ve been preparing something along the same lines. Theses “success”-preaching blogs ‘inspired’ me.
Great subject - keep it up!
King's Kid said,
October 2, 2007 at 11:03 am
Dear Wesley,
Very timely post, and as Carol has said, I also have been seeing post in regard to false “profits”.
I must say were are not to be discouraged, because these “shepherds” are fulfilling prophecy.
Isaiah 56:9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
God says that His watchmen are BLIND, IGNORANT, DUMB DOGS that can not bark (warn), and they are LAZY; GREEDY DOGS that never have enough, they can not UNDERSTAND, they follow their OWN OPINIONS, every one of them is for his OWN GAIN. They are full of false doctrine (drunken from the cup of abomination and the filthiness of the Whore’s fornication) and each day will be better (more profitable) than the day before.
Stay inspired my Brother and Sister, continue to “cry loud and spare not.”
Peace and blessing
King's Kid said,
October 2, 2007 at 11:14 am
…..WHO wants to live a life of sacrifice and suffering when a current life of abundance is being promised? ONLY THOSE WHO TRULY LOVE CHRIST!
AMEN, Brother!
Lance Gargus said,
October 9, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Christ gives us abundant life whether we deserve it or not.
Jeff said,
November 2, 2007 at 8:05 pm
You’re right. God said he wanted to prosper us, but I don’t think he meant with wealth and material possessions.
Lance Gargus said,
November 2, 2007 at 10:14 pm
I came back and read this again. It fits along the theme of my new post on Greed. You really will like it I believe.
Blessings,
Lance
http://www.lancessoulsearching.com
Pastor Rob Singleton said,
November 9, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Great post and blog. I appreciate your laying the truth out in a relevant and real way. Too many are deceived today and your scripture references show the truth in God’s word what lies ahead for unbelievers.
Also, just curious… I wonder if you ever have the same frustration as I do? As a pastor of a large church, I have close to 1,000 readers a day on my blog, but still have a very low authority on Technorati. I’ve learned that this is because I don’t have enough links to my site.
I was wondering if you would be willing to put in a link exchange with me at http://www.robsingleton.net. If so, please send me an email to robtherev@gmail.com showing me where you’ve linked it and I will do the same.
Look forward to hearing from you!
Rob Singleton
enemy of the republic said,
November 10, 2007 at 7:10 pm
I found your blog through Lance’s Soul Searching. How he found my blog is a source of amazement to me–even though I consider myself a Christian, I know that I don’t write like you guys and that is not a criticism. I see so much ambiguity in life, even the scriptures–we shall only know in part and because I read theology along with the Bible, I see God, salvation and redemption in more ethereal terms. I don’t blame you for getting upset at the current state of Christianity; it upsets me too. I work at a university and we see all the “You are going to hell” preachers, the “fetus on a stick”, the “homosexuality is sin” and all it does is harden the hearts of the students. I don’t see these people as hypocrites, but misguided; this is a problem with reading the Bible literally–without paying attention to the details that convey the meaning of the words. Evangelism has to become exemplification; our lives have to be the sermon. We can quote scripture until the cows come home, but if we show no mercy to hurting people, if we cannot give of ourselves and defend the rights of the disenfranchised, then what good are we to Christ? Jesus ate and drank with sinners; he even defended a woman caught in the very act of sin. Christians today have a hard time doing the same; instead there is polarization in churches and communities. I for one, will not live this way. And I ask God to help show me the way. I could write a post alone on this, and again, I admire your sincerity, but I find all these Christian blogs that just preach to the converted. What can be done to redeem the faith so that others don’t equate it with bigotry and hypocrisy? I don’t write for Christians; in fact, a lot of them don’t think I am really a believer. They are not my judges; instead, I care about those who suffer and bleed inside–they need Christ and what are we doing to bring him to them?
Forgive my tirade. It wasn’t against you at all.
TruthofmyKing said,
November 11, 2007 at 10:08 am
Enemy of the Republic,
Thanks for reading and commenting. I agree with you in part. We have to live our sermons. If we don’t we are liars and the truth is not in us.
However, I do believe the crowd that advocates “suppressing the truth” or “sugar coating” the gospel are really the ones that are misguided. For example, who has said “No Homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God”?
IT WAS GOD THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL!
To disagree with the act of informing someone that no homosexual will inherit the kingdom would be to disagree directly with GOD. He is the one who has said it. Some of us only repeat HIS words.
You can go ahead and tell the sovereign God that He can’t say “homosexuals won’t inherit the kingdom” as for me I can not and will not. I will just accept HIS words as fact.
Whose side are we on anyways?
Will we stand with Paul and Peter and John and speak the words of our Sovereign God or are we going to create our own watered down version of what they originally said? You see, really the disagreement isn’t with me or with other bloggers but the disagreement is with the disciples and the God who inpired them to write such words.
If we agree with GOD and ALL of His word, then why not preach ALL of His word as though we agree?
Paul was a sinner, just like me. In fact we are all saved from some type of sin whether it be homosexuality, lieing, coveting, drunkeness, or anything else so I don’t quite understand why you bring up that Christ saved the prostitute. Christ has saved us all. None of us are SELF-RIGHTEOUS (maybe in the minds of some, but certainly not mine)
The only relevant question is: Did Jesus ever supppress the truth when He saved souls?
Now the question comes full circle to us: Are we suppressing the truth?
Will you stand side by side with Paul and preach the same message; speak the same words as he did to the Romans and the Corinthians?
1 Cor 6:9-10
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
NASB
Rom 1:18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
NASB
I do think you bring up a great point, that I have addressed in some of my other articles that if we don’t live our faith then it is dead and worthless but I can assure you that suppressing the truth in any way is not the answer.
If GOD has said it, then so should we!
May God save you and keep you!
For the Truth of my King
enemy of the republic said,
November 11, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Truth:
You latched onto my comment about homosexuality. How is that preaching the gospel? Homosexuality is a lifestyle, it is sexuality–it is an act and a practice. I know what Paul said. Paul has quite a list: drunkards, theives, the idolators, the swindlers, the revilers…let’s face it, that is quite a crowd. Many Christians pat themselves on the back because they are not homosexuals, but how many watch football and follow the stats instead of spending an afternoon ministering at a nursing home? How many try to get that extra tax break? How many have fantasized about sex with someone else? According to Christ, the thought alone is adultery. How many curse the driver ahead of them for going too slow? That to Christ, is murder. I do not suppress the truth because I don’t base my testimony on criticizing homosexuals or going after people who have abortions. I am not ashamed of my faith. But I am honest about it. I have not committed all the sins he named, but I have done my share, both pre and post salvation. Christianity is not the golden ticket to heaven while we watch the others fry in hell. It is constant repentance for our humanity and our sinful nature that God is perfecting. Christianity is not about issues; it is about Christ. He called adultery a sin, yet embraced the adulteress. He called greed a sin, yet ate with tax collectors. He kept to his message without alienating the wrongdoer–instead, he made them feel loved, accepted and craving for that new life. This is what I am talking about. Before I condemn others, I need to look at myself and no, I don’t always do that. This is why I need to live in repentance—if not, then yes, I am suppressing the truth.
I mean no disrespect. Thank you for your time.
TruthofmyKing said,
November 11, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Enemy of the Republic,
I actually applaud you for pointing out what most Christians wouldn’t dare talk about. Our sin. As you point out adultery, and murder, and greed.
Again, I want to be clear, I am the most despicible person that Christ has saved. If you could only see who I was before I truly knew Christ. Not my white washed tomb but if you were to look in my tomb.
I HAVE HONESTLY LIVED ALMOST ALL THE LIFESTYLES THAT PAUL POINTS OUT IN THAT PASSAGE IN 1 CORINTHIANS.
And some of them to an extreme degree. I really am not that person who was “born and raised” a supposed elect “Christian” and has no time for the lowly of the world.
I AM THE LOWLY!!!
BUT I have been gloriously and wonderfully saved by Christ.
I am no longer those things. I do not live those lifestyles anymore. The root meaning of repent is change and that is what I have done from the inside out. Without repentance or change from a sinful lifestyle you, me, or anyone else will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:3
3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
NASB
Look, All I am saying is that it is not a crime to tell a drunkard that they will not inhert the kingdom of God if they remain in that lifestyle.
Heb 10:26-27
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.
NASB
If I am talking with a homosexual, there is nothing wrong with me telling them what GOD has said through Paul about their lifestyle?
1 Cor 6:9-10
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
NASB
Is it a sin for me to tell an adulteress man or woman who professes Christ as their Savior that the Bible says:
1 John 2:4
4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him
NASB
I have spoken with men and women who never even knew that Paul has said that homosexuals, drunkards, revilers and on and on will not inherit the kingdom of God. I show it to them and they are in disbelief that it is written and, more specifically, that no one has told them.
That is sad. Not on their part but on ours who know the truth and suppress it for whatever stated reason.
I personally don’t think there is one thing in the Scripture that should be suppressed. I am not going to judge which passages are more important than the other. I know that we are to live by EVERY word of God. Not just the ones we carnal men and women pick out as being important.
Matt 4:4-5
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
NASB
All Scripture has a purpose and if a passage is relevant to a conversation it needs to be talked about. Relevant meaning that if we are talking about adultery, then let us look at all the verses on adultery and NOT SUPPRESS ANY ONE of them because WE decide that some of what God has written is not important.
I agree with you on some of your points and never have disagreed with anyone making those same points. In fact, I probably agree with you more than you think. I certainly don’t mean you any disrespect either. However, I always speak up for the things I believe and one of those things is that if GOD has said it, so should we. It is not a crime to repeat God’s written word. Satan would like for us to believe that lie to ANY degree but it is not true.
I do wish you the best in your walk with Christ!
For the Truth of my King
Lance Gargus said,
December 1, 2007 at 9:39 pm
amen
lance gargus said,
January 18, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Where are you my friend?
http://www.lancessoulsearching.com
Rev Deb said,
July 27, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Very clear and concise. I like that! I would perhaps change your statement below to “some pastors” rather than “pastors” as I am one who does not teach this prosperity teaching. I am in agreement with you on this point:)
(”You see, the “pastors” of today are saying come to Christ; He will bring you homes and cars and money and security and He came so you can have an abundant life now. They are liars.)
My problem isn’t so much with leaders having blessings from the Lord
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ” Jam 1:17, It is how they flaunt it to the hurt and harm of those they are supposed to be protecting and caring for!!!
James 2 recognizes both the rich and poor alike. The problem wasn’t with the rich having their wealth. It was the way they treated others that were less fortunate. They should be following the golden rule of James, “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. ”
If the rich leaders or for that matter any believer who has great wealth applied this principal…
I believe that God blesses some believers with wealth to help care for His flock as James indicates.
One of the gifts of the Spirit is “giving” so we must “have” in order to give.. I believe it is the attitude that is more of the focus then the riches itself.
The rich man could not let go of his riches, which demonstrated where his heart’s attitude was. He was focused on himself, rather then being pleasing to the Lord. As believers, we must not put our hopes and security in riches and the things of this world, but rather see them as an opportunity to use all that the Lord gives to us to help the body of Christ.
(and Ps No I am not even close to being rich, LOL- Just rich in my faith, but if I was I would be helping the Lord’s family. I do what I can now in my own need to help whom I can in theirs).
I invite you to drop by and check out my blog, and leave your thoughts. I would be honored.
Many many blessings your way
Rev Deb