Is life without death possible?

            Suppose that Jesus lived a life different from what has been recorded in Scripture. For example, suppose that Jesus lived out his life to a good old age and peacefully passed away in his sleep. Or, if this hypothetical is a struggle because it is assumed his body could not die because he was without sin, then what if he, like Elijah and Enoch of old, was merely caught up to heaven with God. Any number of other scenarios could be created that have Jesus pass from this earth peacefully; even naturally, rather than amidst a very bloody and cruel scene. What would such an alternative mean with respect to redemption or salvation?

            Is it as simple as this? At death, the deceased is ushered into the Kingdom of Heaven, even before God, to receive the news that there are no worries, God has loved them all along and there is nothing to fear. Although, one can understand a temporary aversion to this theory, in the end would it really matter, if…, all is well? In fact, a scenario can almost be imagined where Jesus does not even come to earth, but merely looks on from Heaven and when one dies He welcomes them with open arms and tells them that they are forgiven. If the crucifixion of Christ never happened, would it affect eternal life?

            Well, the answer is, OF COURSE IT WOULD MATTER!!!

            Matthew 27:42 reads in the English Standard Version, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. It is very telling that people are willing to believe a jesus who does not demand death before He gives life. People want a jesus who condones a person’s rebellious life and asks for nothing in exchange for his friendship. Even to the end the people were looking to see if Jesus would not do something to save himself. Yet, Jesus purpose was to show the Father’s judgment of sin through his death and the Father’s mercy through His resurrection.

            The truth is that the crucifixion is essential to salvation. For in the death of Christ, not only is Jesus identifying with humanity in her suffering, but the crucifixion also demonstrates the justice of God against sin. It would be impossible for a person identified as a sinner due to sins committed against God to stand before God without the overwhelming sense of condemnation. To stand before a perfectly holy God is something that no person is ready for, nor is anyone even slightly confident about what to expect. However, the testimony of Scripture is consistent; no one will stand before God in there sin and live. In truth, to stand in the presence of the holy God requires that the one standing be holy also. Through the death of Christ, that is, through believing that one has died with Christ and has also been raised with Christ, one becomes holy taking on the character of holiness. This transformation of identity from sinner to saint; the result of faith in Christ’s death and resurrection; leads to a confidence in the presence of God. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 5, “We have peace with God…”

            For those who mocked Christ asserting that his failure to “save himself” from crucifixion somehow nullified not only his ministry, but even more, his testimony that He and the Father are one, only proved more succinctly there need for him to remain on the cross. Had he come down, and “saved himself” then no one could have been saved from condemnation and judgment. There would have been no way for anyone to die with Christ and consequently to have been raised up with him. Everyone would have been condemned to sin’s bondage and judgment rather than to the freedom of eternal life that is only received by faith in the risen Christ.

            Thank you Lord Jesus, for not saving yourself! Thank you that you were willing to suffer and die, so that our condemned lives could die with you and that we can be given new life, resurrected life, in you. May we live our life to your glory!!!

                 Serving Him
                 Pastor Gibbs

Fuel for the Journey

The parable of the Ten Virgins found at the beginning of Matthew 25 reveals how essential it is for us to recognize the importance of preparation. In the story there are 10 young women who are waiting for the groom to return to his home with his wife so that those who wait can begin the celebration of this new marriage. In the first century Middle Eastern culture, weddings were a very big deal and were celebrated accordingly. The groom would leave his home with a few selected friends and walk to the home of his new bride. Then this party would dance and sing all the way back to the grooms home often taking the long way back in order to extend the celebration and to let as many people in the village as possible know about the joyous event. This tradition resulted in long delays. [i]

The 10 Virgins, or young women, would have been waiting for the return of the groom with his bride along with everyone else. Essential to the story is the important fact that in this culture it was very important that women keep a lamp with them at all times if their activities would lead into the night. According to Kenneth Bailey, this lamp served not only to help them see, but more importantly was used to illuminate their face so that they would be identified in the dark. A woman without a lamp was opening herself up to unwanted speculation regarding her motives.[ii]

Now, in the story all 10 women are excited for the celebration and are waiting with great anticipation for the honored party to arrive. All have their lamps lit and seem prepared for the bride and groom to arrive. But, the night wares on and the arrival is delayed, so much so, that all 10 of these wary celebrants fall asleep. While they sleep the oil in their lamps runs out. Then, in the middle of sleep they are aroused with the shouts of the parties return. Five of the women have prepared for such a delay, for they immediately grab a small flask of oil and replenish their lamps. The other five, however, have not prepared and begin to demand that the oil of the others be shared with them. However, there is only enough oil in each flask to replenish one lamp. So, the five negligent Virgins are left to go and find some more oil. While they are away all who were prepared, go into the house to begin the celebration and the door is shut. Finally, the other five arrive, but it is too late, for the Lord of the house answers their plea to “open up for us” with, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.”

This is a sobering end to the parable. The interpretations of this passage vary. Some try and make every element of the story represent something in reality. In truth this parable, while certainly possessing enough content for numerous applications, has one essential point, namely, that if anyone intends to be a follower of Christ, then they best prepare for a lengthy, and often times, arduous journey. It has been referred to as “easy believism” or as Bonhoeffer said, “Cheap Grace” this idea that being a disciple of Christ amounts to some shallow acknowledgement of Jesus without any real personal cost. But, true discipleship is revealed over time, as one travels along in life and is given many opportunities to put their faith in Jesus. Each time we exercise our faith we replenish our lamps. Even while we sleep and our lamps go out, we have walked with Jesus enough to trust that He knows us and that we know Him and that this truth illuminates us for his arrival.

It is my conviction that all within the church culture could be placed in this parable, either on the side of the five prudent or five negligent virgins. All 10 appeared excited and ready, but as time wore on and the groom delayed, it was discovered that five virgins were in reality pretenders. One might even conclude that their presence at the celebration was to benefit themselves, rather than to celebrate this beautiful marriage. Let each of us examine ourselves to make sure that our faith in Christ does not wane as the long night overcomes us and we sleep. Let us know for sure, that when the Lord arrives, our faith and confidence is not in ourselves, but in his generous mercy and infinite grace.

                                                Waiting with oil for His Return

                                                Pastor Gibbs

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[i] Kenneth E. Bailey, “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes,” IVP Academic, 2008, p260ff.

[ii] Ibid.,

What are we looking for?

            I know what I am looking for as it relates to the weather, I am looking for signs that this cold winter has finished her work and conceded to springs advance. It seems that human nature has an insatiable appetite for signs, for information, that will disclose clues, if not about the meaning of life, at least about what might be expected in the very near future. My desire to see any “signs” of spring would encourage my hope that the cold weather has moved on and that warmer, sunnier, days are in store.   Just recently, I received a sign that my favorite basketball team from Manhattan might be back on track to make a run in the NCAA tournament after defeating two ranked teams in the past two weeks, one of those teams being ranked number one. This is exciting for all the fans excited for a season whose early signs suggested a great year was in store. However, those “signs” faded quickly as K-State suffered through several losses. I regret to admit that I had little hope remaining that “my” team might turn things around. But, yet again, the signs are indicating that this season might turn out to be special after all. (EMAW!)

            Still, what is our fascination with signs? Signs give us clues about TRUTH! There is an interesting account in Matthew’s Gospel found at the beginning of chapter 16, where it is written that the, “Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.”
            Now, the problem with signs is that they cannot be manipulated; they are simply indicators of what is true. Take the signs related to K-State’s mid-season woes, for example. Those signs indicated that K-State was not as good as their fans had hoped. The response of the fans was to accept those signs or not, but to change the signs was not an option. Alternatively, a KU fan might want to reject the current signs suggesting that their in-State rival is worthy of respect. Reject the signs they are free to do, but they are not free to change the signs.
            So, the Pharisees and Sadducees were asking to see a sign from Jesus. I can only guess at their motive but the passage indicates that they were testing Jesus. My conviction is that they were refusing to believe the innumerable signs surrounding the person and ministry of Jesus. These signs were establishing the fact that this Rabbi from Nazareth, was a man, but much more than a man, in fact, the signs were indicating that He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, God in the flesh.  The signs were then pointing to the reality that Christ loved people, that He desired to heal people, that he wanted to save people, and not only people from His cultural background, but all kinds of people, from every walk of life. These signs could not be altered or manipulated by anyone because they were simply reflecting the TRUTH! This is one reason why I feel the Pharisees and the Sadducees asked Jesus for a sign, they wanted the TRUTH to be something else. I believe that they refused to accept that God was so merciful to all people, because that would mean that their own attitude and conduct would need to change and that they would need to love people who were at present their enemies.
            I believe one of the sad, but actual truths about people is that they will look for “other” signs from God, perhaps to distract them from what the current signs are indicating. However, God has already given the greatest of all SIGNS, indeed the realty to whom all signs point, His beloved SON! In His Son, Jesus, God has shown the world the truth about Himself, namely that He is a God who is Holy, Just, Merciful and full of Grace. He is a God who desires for all people to receive forgiveness, to know Him and to be in relationship with Him. All the signs point to this truth. How people respond to the signs will determine whether or not they are a follower of Christ, or a follower of self!

                                                                        Trusting the signs,

                                                                        Pastor Gibbs

Prioritize Priorities: Things I wish I knew when I signed up to plant a church but am glad that I am now beginning to learn. « Ordinary Pastor

Helpful tips for the pastor/church planter

Prioritize Priorities: Things I wish I knew when I signed up to plant a church but am glad that I am now beginning to learn. « Ordinary Pastor

What We Need

            In Matthew 9 there is an account of a paralyzed man who is brought to Jesus by some people. “…when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.’” (Mt. 9:2 ESV)

            Strange response by Jesus! This man is in obvious need, and Jesus has the power to restore his ability to walk. Why would Jesus respond the way he did? Should Jesus not have gone ahead, healed the man, and then talked with him about forgiveness. Seems like Jesus has his priorities misplaced, right? Or is Jesus simply revealing what mankind’s greatest need really is?

            What is it that the paralytic really needs? Of course those who brought him to Jesus understood that his greatest need was to walk. But Jesus is not toying with him or with those who brought him when he responds with “…your sins are forgiven.” What this man really needed, above all else, even above his need to walk, was to know that his sins are forgiven. This is the greatest of all mankind's needs, to know he is forgiven. When a man, woman, boy or girl has complete confidence that they are forgiven, and the cause of their guilt and shame has been removed, then they are free to enter into the eternal bliss of having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

            Ironically, there were some in the crowd who considered what Jesus said to be blasphemy. Amazing! How can God's will to forgive be associated with blasphemy? Jesus says it is because we think evil in our hearts. Imagine for a moment! These religious scribes are thinking that forgiveness, far from being something to rejoice in, is actually something that is evil.

            Why do we find it so hard to imagine that God forgives so quickly and completely? The answer is simply that we don't know God! Also, why isn't the healing of the paralytic considered evil? Jesus seems to suggest that it is more difficult to heal this man's legs, than to forgive him, yet Jesus, in an effort to demonstrate his authority to forgive shows his power to heal. People can accept the physical healing of someone as a miracle, as something wonderful, but to say that this man is forgiven is evil.

            This passage presents us with a dichotomy. In one sense, people are often willing and even excited about the potential for someone being physically, psychologically, or emotionally healed. But, when the point of one’s spiritual healing surfaces, then there is a much more negative response. People seem to think that the offer by God of complete forgiveness to anyone willing to accept it is too extreme, even for God. Two reasons for this: First, it is difficult for people to accept that God, by His free grace, is willing to forgive us entirely. The presence of pride in us forces us to resists any notion suggesting that we can do nothing to please God, but must simply rely entirely on God’s grace and mercy. Second, as a result of the first point, people find it impossible to imagine that God can forgive someone who has done evil, either against them, or against society. “Go ahead and heal their body, if you must, heal their psyche, I guess, but don’t think about releasing them from the prison house of their own guilt and shame. That is the punishment they deserve.”

            What Jesus shows us in this passage is that Mankind’s greatest need is to be forgiven; to know the grace of God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus reveals to all who will accept it that God offers complete and total forgiveness of sin. What an awesome God we serve! What an amazing message of good news we are privilege to know and to share.

            Do you know that you are forgiven…completely forgiven? Jesus says that you are. Do you know that God has also completely forgiven the person the thought of whom may stir up hatred in your heart? Everyone needs to know that their sins, which are many and often very evil, are forgiven. Live in the freedom that the truth of God reveals!

                                                Living free in Christ,

                                                Pastor Gibbs

Partnering to Remember: The 2011 Philippians Memory Moleskine « Provocations & Pantings

Great resource for memorizing the book of Philippians, as well as helping to get this important Christian discipline established.

Partnering to Remember: The 2011 Philippians Memory Moleskine « Provocations & Pantings

P2R.indd - Powered by Google Docs

Anyone interested in memorizing scripture, here is a great tool for memorizing the book of Philippians

P2R.indd - Powered by Google Docs