New Truth?

Today we do not need more human wisdom, new ways of looking at truth, or new truth, “…because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25, NASB). What is desperately needed is the preaching of the old-time Gospel, a message that has never changed. The idea that we need more “relevance” is simply wrong. There is nothing more relevant than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Watering down and changing the Gospel message in order to be “relevant” to reach a new generation will result in no one really being reached and many false converts being made.

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (I Corinthians 1:21-24, NASB).

God is So Good

By My Anonymous Friend

“God is so good, God is so good!  God is so good!  He's so good to me!”

No doubt many who read this will recognize the words above as from a little chorus we sometimes sing. I have been thinking about this idea and wish to share with you a few reasons why we can say, "God is so good!"  There are many of course, but I want to share two from Ephesians 1:7-9.

1. We have redemption through His blood, and forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace.

I know you know this already but please take note of one word used here. It is the word "lavished." Other words used in English Bibles are words like showered, poured out, or abounded. We have had a huge amount of rain in the area where we are presently. Creeks and rivers are overflowing, and the ground is saturated from all the rain that has fallen. That is how God "rains" His grace on us. However, we should not conclude that this is arbitrary or that it simply gushes out from God in an emotional kind of outburst. It is rather based on wisdom and understanding. God skillfully arranged or carefully formed just how He would pour out His grace on us.

I hesitate to add this by way of explanation, but it seems a contrast to "wisdom and understanding" is what sometimes is called worship today. I attended a service this morning at a church that is becoming increasingly well-known worldwide as a promoter of the supernatural. The speaker told story after story of alleged miraculous healings and resurrection experiences. The audience  jumped up in delight and applauded with great enthusiasm. But as I listened carefully to what was said, I felt strongly that not all of the "stories" were factual. This did not seem to concern the audience, or at least a majority of those present. I strongly hesitate to write about  brothers and sisters in this way, but I just did not think "wisdom and understanding" were much in evidence. God does not gush out grace in an emotional frenzy. He gushes it all right, but it is still measured and marvelously arranged.

2. He made known to us the mystery of His will. 

I heard a sermon this past week that motivated me to think further on this concept. God self-discloses. Humans who are deceptive or dishonest hide things. Politicians who do not want citizens to know the full extent of laws they enact, do them at times when media coverage is likely to be less. They try to pass such laws quickly, before the details are known. God is so opposite. He does not hide. He reveals the mystery of His will so it no longer is a mystery and He does so at His good pleasure. God delights to make known His plans. God is transparent and is delighted to be so.

This is where my mind has been for the past few days, and I share these thoughts with you in the hopes that you will conclude more than ever, that "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me!"