Total Depravity

 Total Depravity

All God wants is for us to turn to Him, and ask Him to save us. It's that simple. He will show us that we need Jesus, and to confess Him as our Lord.

We are then washed clean in the Blood, and the Holy Spirit comes in to us and starts working on us.

It's that simple. There's no effort involved except turning to God, and confessing Jesus is the Lord.

You do not need to understand anything in order to be saved. You just need to turn to Him. Just ask.

Often times the reason we turn to Him is because we realize that we need Him. We realize He is the only real solution. He is the only one who can help, and He wants to help.

So, why do we need Him.

The scriptures say we are fallen. We are not the way God made us. We have become corrupted by something. When Adam fell humans changed. The entire world changed. We became corrupted, and death entered the world. We fell under the dominion of Satan. So, God laid a curse to get us to turn to Him and be saved.

This is why we might know what's right, but have a hard time doing it. This why we hurt people. This is why we have fears, and doubts and all kinds of other issues. This is why death is everywhere.

We are plagued. The Plague of Sin is in us and causes us to commit sins. We do not even know how bad we really are. (Rom.3:10-18)

You do not need to understand this to be saved. But, the Holy Spirit will start to teach you and show you things. He will change you. 

As this process goes on you will either learn the truth about yourself and turn more toward God or you will get offended and want to return to your old life.

If you return to your old life, God will still work on you if you are saved, but you'll not understand what's happening, because you refuse to listen and grow. But God will still do His work and fulfill His promises.

The Holy Spirit will try to show you the depth of your sin, so you can understand Total Depravity. Once you get that, then you can understand Total Grace.

We are so utterly wicked that we cannot save or fix ourselves. So, we need God to do it.

Even when we get saved, we are still fallen. We still need things worked out. This doesn't save us, but it is supposed to draw us closer to God.

Without understanding Total Depravity, you will think works saves you or that you need to help God. You can't help God. All our works of righteousness are as filthy rags. Without God, everything we do is tainted with Sin. It's pride or idolatry or lust. (Isa 64:6)

 

To think you can help God is pride.When we refuse to accept that we sin, we call god a liar. (1 John 1:5-10)

Our hearts are desperately wicked. We think we love but it's often selfishness. We think we are wise but often it's fear, which is a lack of trust in God. (Jer. 17:9)

We cannot fix ourselves. We cannot help God.

Just give it all to Him.
 

Even after we are saved we still have fallen thoughts and fallen deeds. Whether we see it or not. The only works that we do which are accepted by God are the ones we let Him do through us or in us.

As long as you think you are some how helping God to save you, then you do not understand how wicked we are.

Turn to Him

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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What Is Jesus Worth?

 What Is Jesus Worth?

I have been in church and heard a lot of sermons. I've listened to preachers on the radio and TV for decades.

And I can say that I have heard many sermons about how the employee needs to work harder.

"Work as unto the Lord! Work as though Jesus is watching you!"

Is the basic flavor of all these sermons.

"Don't complain about your job. Be thankful you have one. Some people have nothing."

Or

"The Bible teaches you that you should obey authority. That includes your boss..."

That's the gist of thousands of sermons.

But I have never heard a sermon telling employers how to treat workers.

Are there no Christian employers?

We know there are because they let us know.

They have a fish symbol on their business cards. They let employees have Sunday off...etc.

But let's flip the script.

What if Jesus was your employee?  How much is Jesus Worth?

Minimum wage?  One sick day with a doctor's excuse? 

Would you complain that no one wants to work if Jesus showed up every day?

Consider where Jesus said "What you've done unto the least of these my brethren you've done unto me".

 

Could it refer to your employees? Are they not poor? Are they not "The least of these"?"

What about that big house and new car? All bought by the cheap labor of Jesus at your store....

 

How much money should we horde off the whip scarred back of Jesus?

Jesus+profits= bass boat.

How much is Jesus Worth?  

Minimum wage? Unpaid sick days?  Can Jesus take his sick kid to the doctor? Can Jesus spend time with his wife and new born baby? Can Jesus not get sexually harassed today? Can Jesus get a mental health day? Can Jesus get insurance or maybe a vision plan? Can Jesus get stuck in traffic and show up late today?

Just asking.

 

And I'm referring to Jesus the Lord. Not Jesus from Mexico City who cuts your massive lawn.

What is Jesus worth?

 

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Chris Bunton is a writer,poet, and blogger from Southern Illinois.

Photo by the author The Bald Knob Cross of Peace, Alto Pass, Illinois.

 

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Should Christians Hate Social Media?

Should Christians Hate Social Media?

 

It is a tool for these last days.

I have noticed this ever since Social Media became a thing. It is apparent on my Facebook page, conversations I’ve had and in national Christian circles. Christians hate social media.

 

Maybe hate is too strong of a word. Maybe hate is a sin. Maybe it’s fear. They fear social media. Course, fear is a sin as well.

I know they look at social media. I see them carefully Facebook stalking. But, still there’s this rejection and ridicule of it.

I have many Christian Facebook friends, and they hardly ever post. A few of them do. But, large amounts do not. They never “like” anything. They never comment. They only stay in their small safe circle. The same circle they have at church. Now, if it’s a post that is totally vetted and safe, then you might see some likes. . If it’s a quote from some world famous preacher, or an achievement that reaches the level of 20 “likes”, then you might see a few come out of the closet. But, it’s rare. I see Sasquatch more often. Maybe it’s just me.

I’m under the impression that Christians have a job to do, and that is to spread the Gospel, help others, and bring light into darkness. I believe God has allowed the internet and social media to exist in these last days for that purpose, before the Door is shut. But, where are Christians? My news feed should be full of Bible Quotes, and praise videos, at least every Sunday. But I hear crickets.

 

The scripture says we should encourage each other, and mourn and rejoice with each other. But, silence reigns. I hear that people believe visiting someone face to face is better than online. But, that cannot always happen, and it ends up never happening. At least posting on social media is an attempt to do something.

There are all kinds of excuses and ridicule given from the pulpit to keep the ranks in line. “If you saw it on Facebook it must be true!” is a common tool of ridicule. Things on Facebook have as much chance to be true, as some of the sermons I’ve heard in my life. Is it about the fact that the message is written instead of spoken? God’s Word is a written message. Paul’s Letters were written the same as text messages and Facebook posts. The Holy Spirit can use anything.

 

It's been said, "I've never seen someones mind changed by an argument on Facebook." 

You realize that a huge amount of Paul's letters are written arguments against false teachers, and false brethren in the Church, right? yes, there are ways to do it properly in love. But, acting like written arguments do not work, is utterly false. Paul proves it.

 

Christians talk about how much filth is on social media or how much drama. Well, fix it! Post good positive Godly stuff. You are allowing Satan to own it. This is a war. What are you doing? Hiding in your foxhole? Life is drama. That drama is a chance to serve. It’s a chance to pray. It’s a chance to reach out.

Perhaps this is only in my social circle, but I doubt it. I have seen world renowned preachers speaking the same thing. Maybe preachers are afraid the flock will be exposed to other ideas that might pull them away. Maybe believers are afraid to have arguments, online or not be able to defend their position. We are called to tell the great things God has done for us, to give an account of why we believe and to be a good soldier for Jesus Christ. By studying and stepping out in faith to do these things, we will get better at it, and less afraid. We will see God working, and the chances of other ideas pulling us away becomes less and less, because we see that He is real and we have a relationship with Him. But, when we refuse to serve Him, He is just an idea that other ideas can challenge. Ideas cannot challenge someone we know. A person is real. God is a person, not a concept competing with other concepts. Let the Truth go, and it will defend itself. A caged Lion can only roar. But, if he gets free, He can take down whoever seeks to recapture Him.

Noah was told to build an Ark. While he was building it he preached to those around him trying get them saved. He knew what was coming, and he reached out. In the end he only saved his immediate family. 8 souls.(Heb. 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20)

That is what believers should be doing. We see that the end is coming. We know the door will be shut. We are to be telling others. Even if the only people we save are a few folks on our Facebook page. Maybe God gave you them for that purpose. So, you can reach them. Maybe social media is the only way to get to some folks. The time is coming.

Of course there are wise ways to use social media. There are definite dangers to using it. But, that should not prevent us from doing our job. A cell phone allows us access to the evil social media. But, do you hear Christians condemning cell phones very often? Nope.

 

Most of the time people argue against social media out of guilt and fear. They themselves feel powerless to use the tool for Christ, so they don't want you to use it either, because it makes them feel guilty or weak for not using it.

 

Do not let the enemy keep you from serving. He will use fear and guilt and doubt to keep you down. 

 

If you are a believer on Social Media. Simply post a verse once a week. Post a sermon video.  Invite people to church. Share the things your church posts. Do something.

There's no need to argue. There's no need to be a famous preacher. But, you might convince your distant cousin. You might get your neighbor saved. 

Use the tool God has allowed in these last days to spread the Word and Love. Do not fear.

 

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“  a collection of dystopian short stories.“The Future is Coming” and his latest book “The Latter Days‘ is a book on Bible Prophecy and avoiding the deceptions to come.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Follow Him on Free Life Blog: https://myfreelifeblog.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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Support the work through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Image from the Author, a church door at a historical site in Mount Vernon, Illinois.