Purpose of this Blog

I've come up with three purposes for this blog:

1. Cutting and pasting my book "The Real Good News!" chronologically.

2. An ongoing Bible Study through the book of Genesis titled "Beginning at the Beginning". It's purpose is to a God and His purposes when view through the paradigm of a God who wins totally. Not just wins with one or a billion casualties, but a God who wins everthing.

3. Various Life Thoughts.

I have gone back and properly titled all three of these purposes.

I hope these bless you.

Charlie

Beginning at the Beginning

Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This verse is such a breath of fresh air. Direct and to the point. Simple and easy to understand. No unnecessary embellishment. However, it requires faith from the very first. How did the writer of Genesis receive this information? He may have received it from oral or written tradition. If this is truth then someone had to receive this information directly from God by revelation. Maybe the writer of Genesis was Moses. If so, it was likely Moses who received the knowledge of Creation directily from God. It does not get any more revelationary (made it up) than this.

Do you believe this Creation account? It is impossible to believe this without faith. How do you obtain this faith. We will probably wait until we get to Abraham before we discuss faith in more detail.

The first name given to God in the Scripture is a plural word. The name is Elohim. Elohim is a plural of Eloah. However, even though it is plural it governs a singular verb or adjective. Why is a plural name given to our one God? There are many scholarly opinions as to what this would signify. An example being The United States. United States ends in an "s" and is plural, signifying the States which are United. However we see it as a singular entity. And it takes a singular verb or adjective. We know this singular entity is made up of many states which are united. This in itself proves nothing, but it does clearly open the door of wonder.

The Real Good News!


A FEW GUIDELINES

When presenting the Gospel of the Salvation of All, I’ve discovered there are a few guidelines which must be understood and followed, if the learning is to stay on course.




Who Should Read This Blog?

There are many different reasons why I decided to write this blog. Many different people this blog is directed towards.

Satisfied Attenders

It is written to believers who are attending traditional church and who are satisfied with the doctrine of salvation being taught from the pulpit. They believe that everlasting torment is a necessary pillar of the gospel. Perhaps this blog may be used to begin the eye opening process.

Dissatisfied Attenders

It is written to believers in Jesus who are attending traditional church, but who are not satisfied with the inconsistencies offered from the pulpit. Those believers who are currently looking for answers that traditional Christianity does not offer. Who are not afraid to question and are hungry for the truth.

Dissatisfied Non-Attenders

It is written to those who are believers, but who no longer attend church. They have seen through the inconsistencies and are looking for consistent answers.

Those Who Have Left the Faith

It is written to those who used to believe in Jesus, but left that belief because of all the inconsistent and abusive baggage that went along with it. They were taught that unless you believe in Jesus in time, then you will be tormented forever. They were not able to accept this doc-trine and they thought that was what the Bible and Jesus taught, so they left them both.

Non-Believers

And it is written to those who have never even seriously considered Christianity. They have heard that the Bible teaches that if you don’t make a wise and timely decision to accept Christ, you will burn forever. They know that makes no sense, and since they have never been indoc-trinated to accept the nonsensical, they are not interested.

Back Filers

Last, but not least, this is written to get the attention of those believers who just don’t care. They believe in the reality of everlasting torment, but have placed the whole idea in the “back file” of their minds. They rarely think about it and don’t understand why it is so important. They have yet to see how the threat of everlasting torment cannot coexist with the character and attributes of God. I hope to show them that everlasting torment has no place in, and in fact destroys, the Gospel of Grace declared by Paul.

Beginning at the Beginning

Introduction

Today I am starting a bible study. What better place to start then at the beginning... Genesis.

The book of Genesis lays the structure for all the major themes we find throughout the rest of the Bible.

Creation, Sin, Judgment, Sacrifice, Death, Law, Grace, Faith, Salvation and Family, to name just a few.

The two most important truths that we begin to discover in the Book of Genesis are the Character of God and the Attributes of God. If we start by laying a faulty foundation in either of these two areas then there is little stability, comfort, or security in our world view. When Christian teachers start allowing anything that is inconsistent regarding the character and the attributes of God to affect their interpretation of Scripture then a confusing, muddled, mixture of law and grace is the fruit.

When they know no better they think they are walking in a decent amount of clarity, but believe that they must accept several mysteries that just can't be understood in this life. That is a faulty foundation.

We are Beginning at the Beginning again to show that many of the things traditional Christianity describes as mysteries, are really nothing more than inconsistent thinking which begins to destroy the character and attributes of God. However, if our primary motivation is to uphold the character and attributes of God then a consistent and clear understanding of God's Grace is the fruit.

Traditional Christianity teaches that we must choose to cooperate with grace and that we are given just enough grace to help us make this choice. However, Scripture reveals something else.

Scripture reveals a grace so powerful, that when sin increases, grace abounds even more (Romans 5:20). A grace which is abundantly given to us by God so that we may have all sufficiency in everything, and may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Cor. 9:8). A grace which has been lavished on us (Eph.1:8).

The purpose of this study is not to cover every detail and every question ad infinitum. Instead, our focus is to once again lay a foundation. A foundation which upholds God's character and attributes, as well as clearly outlines His plan for the ages.

Let's begin...

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning...

Here are a few other powerful examples of beginnings:

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. (Mark 10:6)

We see here that it appears Jesus thought the male/female relationship was the norm.

Next we have two very interesting examples:

for the devil sins from the beginning. (1 Jn. 3:8)

John the apostle says the devil sinned from the beginning.

he (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning (Jn. 8:44)

Jesus says the devil was a murderer from the beginning.

Traditional Christian teaching says the devil was created a perfect angel and through his own free will chose to rebel and sin. They get this idea from the following scriptures:

Isaiah 14:12-22 However, the first eleven verses of this passage make it clear these verses are talking about the king of Babylon.

Ezekiel 28:12-19 This passage is clearly telling us about the king of Tyre.

Why do traditional Christian scholars take these two passages which are clearly talking about two earthly kings and allegorize them so that they are describing the devil? Since they believe in everlasting torment God cannot be responsible for making the devil a sinner and murderer from the beginning. This would also make God a monster and be the one who is responsible for sending people to everlasting torment. Therefore, the devil had to have free will and decide on his own to sin and rebel. They believe this relieves God of any responsibility. But in doing this they seriously weaken the very foundation of God’s character and attributes. He is not truly sovereign. He is not Lord over Satan. He is not truly omnipotent (all powerful), because He is not powerful enough to make sure His will is done. He is not truly omniscient (all knowing), because He could not know this was going to happen. If He did then He would be responsible for allowing it to happen.

Here is the sure foundation:

God has temporarily subjected the creation to futility (Romans 8:20) and has temporarily bound up all men in disobedience (Romans 11: 32)

God is completely sovereign over everything, especially the devil. He is all powerful. Nothing can or will resist His will (Ephesians 1:11).

He is all knowing. I make known the end from the beginning (Isaiah 45:9-10).

Not only is He all knowing, but He is all causing:

The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. (Prov. 16:4)

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things (Is. 45:7)

For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly , and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Josh. 11:20)

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion . So then it is not of him that willeth , nor of him that runneth , but of God that sheweth mercy . For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up , that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth . Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault ? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God ? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? (Rom. 9:15-21)

God is the cause of All Things. God is truly sovereign. God is all powerful. God is all knowing. God is love. God establishes perfect justice, making all things right again. The complete character and all the attributes of God can be upheld when we see that He is completely victorious. Not one will be lost, even if they think they want to be. The outcome is that God will once again become All in All ( I Cor. 15:28). His will… will be done!

Life Thoughts

The God of Good and Evil

Job is believed to be the first book written in the Bible. Yep, it was probably written before Genesis. Job 2:10 says the following:

(My paraphrase) "What. Shall we receive good things from the hand of God and not be willing to receive evil things as well."

At first glance this may not appear to be a real uplifting verse. But here is what I think it is saying, and in it, I believe, is a path of real peace:

God Is In Complete Control!

Complete Control. Everything is His perfect will. He sends the good and He sends the evil. God has no permissive will. Even Satan, however you view him, has to get permission from God before he can do anything. Not just some of the time. But any and every time.

This only becomes a problem if you believe God is going to fail to complete His perfect will. If you believe a large, or even a small part of His creation will be able to remain in their darkness, evil, sin, pain and death.

If, however, you believe God is going to be a complete success, (yes, even more successful than Rick Warren and Joel Osteen combined). And you believe that everything in God's creation is surely coming back to Him, cleaned, restored and bursting with life, then there is no problem. Everything that happened to Job; losing his children, all he owned, the respect of his friends and his wife and being covered with pestilent sores was God's perfect will for Job. Job knew all good and all evil comes from God. The good only shines bright against the contrast of the darkness of evil. And one second after being birthed into the Euphoric Presence of God all the pain of the world will make sense.

Always give thanks to God the Father FOR everything,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Ephesians 5:20)

The Real Good News!

We Believe the Bible Declares That God Loves You
Unconditionally, Period! Without One String Attached.

- God Gives the Gift of Belief.
- God Gives the Gift of Repentance.
- God Gives Gift of Faith.
- God Gives the Gift of Your Physical Life.

God gives you All of these things in His Timing and for His Purposes. These are not gifts we have to choose to receive. God must even give us the willingness to receive these gifts. (For you theologians out there, No, we are not Calvinists. Please read further.) Since He has given these to some, He will give them to all. If not in this age, then He will do it in the ages to come. The teaching of the God of the Ages is one of the most neglected teachings of the Bible. We will more thoroughly discuss the often overlooked biblical doctrine of the ages a little later.

The following is where we agree with traditional teachings:

We confess that Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. He died for our sins and was resurrected on the third day, according to the Scriptures. The original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts are the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.

However, we also believe Scripture when it declares that when Jesus was raised up, He drew all men to Himself. We believe the Father will draw all men to Jesus. We believe every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. We believe that as all people died in Adam, even so will all people be made alive in Christ. Jesus is the Savior, not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world. He is 100% victorious and worthy to be praised! God is no respecter of persons. His mercy is everlasting.

We believe it is reasonable and consistent to come to an understanding from Scripture, church history and common sense, that God would never everlastingly torment anyone, but when it is necessary He will use suffering in different degrees, for different people, as a means of His kindness, to win everyone to new life in his Son, through the cross. Just like He did for many of you reading this.

Or… do you think there are people who are just too prideful, evil or stubborn to save, or too prideful, evil or stubborn to turn to God. Unlike yourself. You weren’t beyond saving. You weren’t too prideful, evil or stubborn. You were smart enough to turn.

Unless You are Able to Think for Yourself, This Blog is Not for You.

If you think in all things spiritual, that your pastor or elders or bishops or cardinals would always know better than you, then please don’t read any further. This book is for those who are able to think for themselves.

It is our hope in reading this book that you will learn to more completely rest in what our wonderful Heavenly Father has accomplished for us!

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!

(Romans 11:33, NIV)

The Real Good News!

Short Introduction

We are the Bishop Family. We live in the beautiful state of Georgia. Just a little bit about ourselves. My wife Leslie has her degree in Sociology from Gordon College. I am Charlie. I have a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The only reason I bring up this degree is that it is the only way some people will even listen to what I have to say. For you fellow Title Disdainers out there, please overlook my pronouncement. We have three wonderful children and one son-in-law: Courtney and Caleb, Katie and David.


I have worked thirteen years in the insurance field and have owned my own environmental home service business for 9 years and I am currently working at Publix. This has been a wonderful way to meet people, offering a needed service and sometimes having interesting theological conversations. We have not walked the traditional ministry road for a long time now. We believe the Scripture teaches we are to experience body life, where the concept of a professional clergy/laity distinction does not exist.


It was in the spring of 2005 that God opened our eyes to a clearer understanding of the Gospel of Grace, proclaimed by Paul. This book was written as a means of spreading the Gospel of Grace.


We are not out to change the Gospel message, or to proclaim a new one. We believe what we are proclaiming is the Gospel that Paul preached.


For 29 years as a Christian, I believed the message taught by the traditional church, that God loves you, repent, give your life to Jesus and if you don’t do this in time, then you will burn for eternity.


That, in a nutshell, is what the majority of the evangelical churches believe today. They proclaim that God loves you unconditionally, ex-cept for the condition that you believe in Jesus in time.


My conversion experience was wonderful and powerful. I knew Jesus Christ was my Savior, but just a short time after listening to the teachings of the traditional church I began to wonder, “Just what is the difference between Christianity and other religions?” Sure, we are initially saved by grace (as long as we help God out by working up the belief), but then what? If a certain level of good works is not a part of our lives, then perhaps we have lost our salvation. Or maybe we were never saved to begin with. What is that level of good works that we must have? No one ever knew, but you better have some. This is the same as every other major religion. A confusing mixture of law and grace.


I’ve listened to many Bible believing teachers and met many Christians across the world. The law and grace mixture is common to all traditional doctrine.