CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
Does God Save Us from God? Brad Jersak
Twitter statement: “God saves us from God. The One who mercifully drags us out of the rebellious city is the same One who rains down fire upon it.”
Thus wrote a popular tweeter whose handle I’ll withhold out of respect and concern.
God saves us from God? How so?
Penal substitution continues to be the most popular Western answer to the question, “Why did Christ die?” and is the default interpretation for Scripture’s assertion that “Christ died for our sins.” Rather than treating it as one of many atonement theories, major denominations are now ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
March 28, 2023 - Quote for the Day:
“The Cross of Jesus Christ is a consummate, far-reaching symbol of God’s love for all creation. Out of his eternity, God came down, vertically intersecting our horizontal existence on a planet where we are subjects of time and space. Because of the Cross, which fully reveals the love of God, we are united with him, in this once-and-for-all demonstration of his forever love. Jesus then was raised from the dead as a symbol of the undying love and the eternal victory of good over evil."
Originally published in: ...
It’s a Covenant, NOT a Contract!
While many make the mistake of assuming the relationship God offers each of us is more like a contract than a covenant, we should not make another mistake by assuming covenants don't involve counting the cost.
Have I Truly Accepted Christ? – Greg Albrecht
Question: When I asked for salvation at a younger age, a part of me wondered if I was truly accepted by Christ. I held to some bad theology and thought I’d committed the unpardonable sin in the past. I literally cried for forgiveness (wondering, “Is it even possible for me!”). But I was still not 100% completely convinced Jesus’ sacrifice would apply to my particular sin.
I believed in him entirely as the King and Source of salvation. I believe he died for our sins. I also looked to him in faith and begged for his help.
So was asking that enough to be ...
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ
Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus is the one "who is, who was and who is to come" (Revelation 1:8). Jesus is supreme, the author of our salvation, the center of all that we believe and the completion of our faith.
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
March 26, 2023 - Quote for the Day:
“God does not need nor is he obligated by our religious performances. Sadly, it’s virtually inevitable that the production of religious stuff makes people feel that God is obligated to them. Many religious people feel that God must reward their religious trophies, blue ribbons, diplomas, certificates and commendations. And that attitude leads to pride, the antithesis of the attitude of Jesus, which is humility. The humility of Jesus is the impoverishment of the human spirit.”
Originally published in:
B...
A Jesus Kind of Church — by Greg Albrecht
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." —Luke 4: 18-19
No Country for Old Men
Out in the endless, desolate desert of west Texas, a hunter looking for antelope stumbles on a crime scene. Abandoned cars and trucks are pock marked with bullet holes, and a half dozen or so dead bodies are scattered around.
In that odd and somewhat glib euphemism ...
Q & R: What do you make of Luke 13:23-28? – Brad Jersak
Question:
I am wondering, in light of A More Christlike God, what your take is on Luke 13:23-28. It seems like an instance of a not very Christlike Christ!
Response:
In the future, I plan to write something in greater detail about these type of difficult texts, which are similar to some of Jesus parables in their dire rhetoric. In the case of Luke 13:23-28, a number of interpretive factors come into play and I'm still sorting through how to weight each of them for relevance.
The passage goes this way:
23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few ...
Christ In You, the Hope of Glory
Jesus Christ is "the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations" (Colossians 1:26). In Christ we find meaning, significance and hope, even in the midst of suffering.
Trimming the Roses – by Laura Urista
A person who is good at reviving dead plants (or keeping plants healthy and vibrant) is often known as a “green thumb.” If there is such a nickname for someone who’s not very good at taking care of plants, I suppose it might be a “brown thumb.” That would come closer to describing my ability (or rather, inability) to take care of plants, bushes and flowers. My husband teases me that I have trouble just keeping silk plants alive!
But here in Southern California even a “brown thumb” like me can somehow manage to keep rose bushes ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
March 23, 2023 - Quote for the Day:
“Picking up our cross and following Jesus is not for the faint hearted. We must make a commitment and with Christ-centered courage and conviction, Christ in us imbues us with hope and faith for the journey, even when it takes us through dark valleys of death and despair.
Doubts and trials can lead us to deeper faith, greater spiritual maturity and more Christ-like convictions. Doubt borne of adversity and hardship need not be our enemy, but rather a stepping stone, albeit painful and difficult, toward, as ...
Love Your Enemies
As we study the radical call of Jesus to love our enemies we realize that the "business as usual" teaching of Christ-less Christendom allows for Christians to kill their enemies - in fact it allows for Christians killing each other.
April 2023
CLICK HERE to read now
(PDF Format)
Brad Jersak: Logos, Light & Lamb – pg. 2
Greg Albrecht: Everything Happens for a Reason? – pg. 4
Greg Albrecht: Nailmarks, Scars & Doubts – pg. 7
Bitterness and Resentment – by Greg Albrecht
Remember the older brother, the third major character of the parable of the prodigal son? As he witnessed the extravagant love and forgiveness of his father, lavished on his younger brother when he came home from wasting his inheritance, the older brother was eaten alive by jealously, envy and bitterness. The older, unforgiving brother refused to join in the festivities and celebration.
The older, responsible, hard-working brother felt that he was a faithful and diligent son, always trying to earn his father's favor.
But the celebration and festivities—the ...
Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy
Hebrews 11 is filled with praise for world changers who, as revolutionary Christ followers, believed and practiced the life changing extreme grace of the gospel. God is calling each of us to be world changers!
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