NewSpring's new motto: "We love to hear kids cuss!!"

If you want to know what really motivates and inspires Perry Noble--well, it's not hearing a child say they love Christ. It isn't hearing that a child stands up to kids who mock him for not giving in to peer pressure. And no, Perry Noble isn't invigorated by watching the life of a former reprobate turned into a life that is lived in holiness and righteousness to God.

No, what really gets Perry Noble amped up is.....

......hearing a child cuss. Don't believe me, do ya? Well, read it for yourself, from Noble's own blog:

A first time visitor (probably around 9 or 10 years old) walked into our 4th-5th grade room in KidSpring at our Anderson campus and was BLOWN away!He looked at the children’s worker who met him at the door, and, after looking around the room he said, “you guys have a wii?”

“Yep,” she said.

“And you guys have a PSIII?” he said!

“Yes sir, we sure do,” she replied.

“And we can play these for free?” He asked.

“Yep,” she answered.

Then he turned to his friend and said out loud, “This Sh_t is awesome!”

Wow, how cool is that!! Hearing a 9-year-old use words that shouldn't even be used by a grown-up!! That should bring a tear to any pastor's eye...*SNIFF SNIFF*....[/sarcasm]

Now, how much you wanna bet that if they took those video games away from that kid, he'd go into a screaming fit, and there'd be a blue streak hovering over Anderson, SC for days. In his blog post, Noble makes it perfectly clear that all of this kid's wants and desires were met. They had things to keep him entertained. And that was what Noble bragged about.

Of course, he probably heard the same watered-down "gospel" that most people probably hear at BitterSpring--the one that says you can ignore all the places where the Bible talks about saints being different from the world, and that you can say a little prayer and ask Jesus into your heart and not change your behavior. In fact, you can read more about the guy that runs the children's "ministry" at BitterSpring--and his choice in music--here. So, just what kind of message do you think this guy is sending these children? Now, if this child continues to attend BitterSpring, he can sit under the "ministry" of this guy, and his "clever repartee" of vulgar language.

So, did this child get saved? Did this child hear and accept the gospel? Did he leave proclaiming a love for Christ? Good question. The answer is......we don't know. Noble neglected to tell us anything about that in all of his self-praise. But we do know this--he really had fun playing video games!! That's what's important!! Oh, and he heard something about some Jesus dude that fed people.

Well, I guess I'm a jacka**

Well, well, well. It seems as though the High Guru of the hip/cool/relevant, Purpose-Driven, marketing-driven, gospel-less goat pen known as BitterSpring Church doesn't think it's all that important to teach the truth of God's Word. Yeah, I know--go figure, right? This is from the same guy that has no problem joining the house of God with pagans and Satan-worshippers, and who encourages his flock of sheeple to indulge in entertainment that promotes drinking and sexual gratification. And who says that anybody who critiques his Pope, Rick Warren, can "Kiss my..." (I'll let you fill in the blank).

Well, now, Goat Master Noble has sunk to calling those of us who labor in the word "jacka**es." Don't believe me, go over to Apprising Ministries and listen for yourself to what this "man of God" has to say for yourself. Gee, don't you wish you could be half as hip/cool/relevant as Perry Noble? After all, with one comment, he has managed to disparage men like: Martin Luther, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield, John Owen, AW Tozer, John MacArthur, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and many, many others--maybe even your own pastor. All in the name of "engaging the culture" and keeping people biblically illiterate. Truly, a devoted student of the High Priest of Purpose.

If Perry would actually blow the dust off his Bible and actually read it, he just might find these words from the apostle Paul in 2nd Timothy 4:1-3--I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. Did you catch that, Perry?

But hey, who needs to read that dumb old Bible when you can be fed on the regurgitated vomit of Purpose-Drivenism? Just more fruit from the poisonous tree planted by Pope Warren.

To certain poor shepherds...

We always hear the story of Mary and Joseph and how they traveled to Bethlehem. And of course we see the Nativity scenes with the manger and Mary and Joseph and the wise men. True or False—the “wise men” were there at the manger when Jesus was born. False. But we just assume they were there because they're in all the Nativity scenes, right? BUT!! If we look at the timeline in the gospel according to Matthew, we see that the wise men didn’t come along for quite some time after. Matthew 2:1-2, 7, 12, 16—Now after Jesus was born—OK, so after Jesus has already been born—after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him”…Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared… Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way…Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. So, Jesus was probably about 2 years old or a little less when the wise men came, but no, they were not there the night He was born.

But there were three of them, right? We don’t know. The only thing we know is they were wise men from the east. But they were kings, right? No. They were sorcerers, pagan priests, but no they were not kings. The word “Magi” literally referred to a worshiper of fire. So “We 3 kings from Orient are”—eh, not so much. But were there shepherds at the manger that night? Yes. And we’re gonna look at the Nativity story from their perspective. Think about the words to "The First Noël":

The First Noël the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay.

We know what happened that night. But imagine yourself being there when those angels sang that first noel. Bethlehem was what might be called a little backwater town. Although it was the birthplace of Israel's most beloved king, King David, no one paid much attention to it. Nothing ever really happened in Bethlehem. Kinda like living in Rockwood or Coalfield. And if you live in Rockwood or Coalfield, I mean no offense. Now, imagine you were a shepherd in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago. You're out watching your sheep one night. And it's a night like any other night. It doesn't feel any different than any other night. And having spent enough nights outside, you know what the sky should look like. You know what belongs and what doesn't. You've tried to count the stars, you've seen a few of them shoot across the sky.

But tonight, when you look up, you notice something. And this thing you notice looks very different than any other thing you have ever seen before. You call your friend Jakub over. “Do you see that up there?” “Yes, I do. What is it?” Then, you notice something. It's getting bigger...it’s getting brighter...and it’s getting closer. Suddenly you realize, “That is no star! If I didn't know better, I'd swear that looks like a...a man?” Luke 2:8-9 (KJV)—And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. “Jakub!! This is an angel of YHVH!!” At first you're thinking, “WOW!! We are being visited by this messenger from YHVH!!” But then you stop and think. “Has he come to perhaps fulfill God’s wrath? Has YHVH sent this angel to destroy?” And you start to get scared.

But then the angel speaks. Luke 2:10-12 (KJV)—And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Joy?! An angel bringing news of great joy from on high!? “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Of course, being Jewish, you're hearing this in your native Hebrew. You hear three words that grab your attention: “Yasha”, or “Savior.” “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Yasha.” It is the root of Hebrew names like “Joshua” and “Yehoshua”, which are the roots of the Greek “Iesous”, or “Jesus.” Then you hear the word “Mashiacha.” We know that word as Messiah. “Anointed.” Christ. The prophet Daniel wrote that this Messiah would bring peace between God and man. “Adonai,” the Lord. The One who is above all. Even as He laid in that bed of straw in a cave, Jesus was Lord of all!! “For unto you is born this day in the city of David Yasha, which is Mashiacha the Adonai.” Our Saviour, Christ the LORD.

Then it’s like all of Heaven opens up, and Luke 2:13-14 (KJV)—And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” And when it's all over, your heart still pounding, “Jakub!! Let’s tell the others and see if they—nah, they're never gonna believe it! An angel came to US—shepherds?? Yeah, right!!” But then you look, and ask Jakub, “Hey—is that Yitzhak running this way?” Of course Yitzhak stops before he gets to you because he's thinking, "Nah, they're never gonna believe me!!" But then everybody realizes they’ve all seen the same wonderful sight, and heard the same glorious words. Maybe heaven really did open up this night! And you all run to each other and rejoice, and sing praises to God! And Yitzhak says, “Ya know, I heard that the prophet Micah wrote that although Bethlehem was small, out of it shall come the One who is to be Ruler in Israel! One who has existed since before the beginning!” (Micah 5:2). You look around, and see all these other little groups of shepherds gathered together, and they all seem to be very excited. It's like a shepherds' convention.

Before you know it, it occurs to you that sunrise is close at hand. You ain't gonna sleep tonight. So, Luke 2:15-16 (KJV)—And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” So you gather up your stuff, and head into Bethlehem. Maybe your sheep are still with you, maybe they're not—do you really care? Because right now, all you know is that something wonderful has happened! And along the way, you remember hearing a rabbi read from the scroll of Isaiah. Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)—For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. “Could this be what he meant? Is this the One that shall have the rule of Earth upon His shoulders? Whose name shall be Wonderful Counselor? Mighty God? Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace?”

So you get to Bethlehem, and you look around, and all the city is…acting like nothing happened. There’s a ton of people there because they all had to come home to be counted in the census. And you look at each other, and you say, “Uh, guys. We did all see the same thing, right?” So, you start looking through the city, pushing your way through the crowd, knocking on doors. And you remember, “Manger! The angel said something about a manger!” So you start asking at all the farms and all the inns. And you ask at this one place and they say, “Well, yes, a young man and woman came to us last night. And she was indeed with child. We had no more rooms available; we did let them have the use of our barn; that was the best we could do. You can check; they may still be there.”

And you go to the barn, and lo and behold Luke 2:16 (KJV)—And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Literally, the feeding trough. You see a young lady, with her husband, and a newborn child which they lovingly wrapped in “swaddling clothes.” Time out: Ask 100 people “what are swaddling clothes?” I dare say 90 of them will give you this answer: (insert blank stare here). For many years, I didn't know what they were. Think about what you see at those nativity scenes: They show Mary, and Joseph. The wise men who weren't there. Jesus lying in that manger—and what is He always wearing? Right, usually it’s just a cloth diaper. GET THAT IDEA OUT OF YOUR HEAD!! It is not biblical!!

For one thing, is a newborn’s skin pretty delicate? Very sensitive. Now, have you ever baled hay? What happens when that hay rubs against your skin? Is it pretty irritating? Imagine that on the skin of a newborn child. But even more than that, the Bible says He was wrapped in “swaddling clothes.” Many countries, especially in the Middle East, they still do it to this day. It is a sign of a love that parents show their child. According to the ISBE—“The swaddling-clothes consist of a square of cloth and two or more bandages. The child is laid on the cloth diagonally and the corners are folded over the feet and body and under the head, the bandages then being tied so as to hold the cloth in position.” They would wind up looking kinda like a little burrito. John MacArthur—“This was for warmth. This was for security. I mean, that little baby in the womb is in there all cuddled and nestled tightly in there and all of a sudden comes out into this stark hospital room, nothing touching it, his little extremities flailing in every way. No wonder they're screaming. This is a scary experience…they also believed that wrapping up those limbs and wrapping up that little body protected that little child. Also believed that it helped to keep their bones straight when they grew in early life…This is just a normal little baby. This is just a baby like other babies. Physically looked like any other child. Physically treated like any other child. No royal robes, no fancy clothing, didn't come out with a little halo over His head. He came out like everybody else comes out, same exact way.”

Now, question. Swaddling was a fairly common practice. Still is. So why would Luke include this seemingly insignificant detail? I'm glad you asked. Even though you didn't. But you should have. When you read the gospel according to Luke, or the book of Acts—which was also written by Luke—watch for details. Little details. Details that may not seem that important. But there was always a reason he included them. Luke 23:50-53 (KJV)—And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone. Now, flip back to Luke 2:7 (KJV)—And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. Don’t skip details! Now, back to our shepherds.

You hear one of your friends ask this young lady a question that makes you wonder if he’s lost his ever-loving mind. He asks this young lady, “Are you a virgin?” You know he didn't just say that. “Jakub, have you flipped your lid???? She just gave birth. What in the world would make you think she is a virgin???” But then you're really stumped when she answers—what? “Why, yes I am.” OK, now you're reeeeeeealllyyy confused. Jakub tells you, “Shimeon, have you never heard what Isaiah wrote?” “What do you mean?” Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)—Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. “Shimeon, this is the virgin. This is the Son. This child is Immanuel, God with us!!” The girl looks up and says, “I'll never forget what the angel said when he came to me and told me I would conceive. I asked him, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’ (Luke 1:34 KJV). But then he told me, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God’ (Luke 1:35 KJV).”

The central point in all of human history unfolded right in front of your eyes. The singular event in all of time—God wrapping Himself in sinful flesh and stepping down into His creation—and you are there. A shepherd!! Yet Almighty God chose you to witness the birth of His Beloved Son in whom He is well-pleased. In fact, this was a moment that made all the faithful in Heaven leap for joy. Jesus told the Pharisees that “Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56 KJV).

And they kept it to themselves, right? Luke 2:17-18 (KJV)—And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Now, you gotta remember something here. Being a shepherd was not the most respected profession. Socially speaking, they were the bottom of the food chain. It would be kinda like those guys that walk around with picket signs that say, “The end is near!” or some other message. And people look at them like they're crazy? Yeah, that. They made known abroad the saying which was told them.

Can you imagine them running into the middle of the synagogue, while the priest was doing what he did? A bunch of…shepherds? But there were many who didn’t necessarily consider it to be so crazy. “I know they're just a bunch of dirty old shepherds, but they can't all be crazy, can they?” And can you imagine all these people running to their rabbi and asking them about the words of Isaiah and Micah and Zephaniah, and others—the words these rabbis had taught them, and now they were being fulfilled. Like I always say, if you want to know what’s gonna be in the paper tomorrow, read the Bible today.

Maybe these shepherds didn’t understand why this child was born of a virgin. Maybe they didn’t live to see the day when the hands that were wrapped in those cloths would be pierced for their sins and that tender forehead would be gouged by a crown of thorns. They may never have seen the day when He was wounded for their transgressions, and bruised for their iniquities. Maybe they didn’t live to see Him after He rose victorious from a borrowed tomb. But if you were one of those shepherds, you knew, beyond anything else, that you were indeed looking into the very face of the one, true, living God. After much joy and celebration, you all return to your homes, knowing you have seen something many of the greatest men of God have only dreamed about. Luke 2:20 (KJV)—And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

And think about this: one day, we're gonna get to talk to those shepherds. And we’ll get to talk to that young virgin mother. She won’t be sitting on a throne. She will be worshipping God with the rest of the saints. And with us.

Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

Verse-by-verse through Philippians (3:2-3:7)

There has been a trend over the last few years among quote-unquote evangelical churches, to avoid the subject of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They don’t want to offend people, so they say that you can get saved in January, and eventually, you can......gradually......give Jesus the privilege of making Him Lord. One popular “Christian” magazine ran an article that said the following: “Since the decision to make Christ Lord is possible only for those who have already trusted Him as Savior, the gospel presentation should not contain anything about yielding in submission to Christ as Lord to be obeyed.” Did you catch that? “The decision to make Christ Lord.” WE DO NOT MAKE Christ Lord!! To say that is nothing short of heresy. I ain't afraid to say it, and I will back it up with Scripture. Acts 2:36—“God has made this Jesus, both LORD and Christ.” Philippians 2:11—Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. Romans 10:9 (NASB)—If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. If you confess Jesus is Lord, you will be saved. What is the opposite of that statement? That if you don’t confess that Jesus is Lord, you will NOT be saved. Over 100 times the NT declares that Jesus IS Lord. We don’t make Jesus Lord. He already is!!!

One day, those of us who labor in the word and teach and preach and follow our Lord’s command to do the physical work of building up His body will not be able to do the work any longer. There will come a day when these tabernacles of flesh are folded up and put in the ground. And we will leave that work for someone else to carry out. And when we do, we will have to trust in the Lord to raise up someone who will carry out that work faithfully and not lead the people into error. The apostle Paul went through the same thing when he heard from many of the churches that he had planted. That he had worked so diligently and suffered so much in teaching them the gospel, only to have people come in behind him and undermine those efforts. He had to write a very long letter to the Corinthians to follow up on the first very long letter he had written to the Corinthians. He wrote to the Galatians for the same reason. And one thing that these false teachers had in common was they were very boastful, very proud and they appealed to people’s sense of self-righteousness. And when we see this section of this letter to the Philippians, Paul lets it be known that “Hey, if anybody wants to boast—I could outboast anybody any day, anywhere, anytime.”

So, Philippians 3:2-7—Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Look at the terms that Paul uses to describe false teachers in Verse 2. Dogs…evil workers…the mutilation. He makes no bones about it. First he calls them dogs. I've got a dog. I like my dog. She’s a good little dog. We think of dogs as happy little pets, they wag their tail, and we go, “Awww!” But that wasn’t always the case. In fact, in OT Jewish culture, dogs were considered vile. And here’s the thing: Jews would always refer to Gentiles as “dogs.” But now, Paul takes that term and turns it around and uses it to describe these Jewish teachers who wanted to drag people back to living under the burden of keeping the OT Law. The apostle Peter did the same thing in 2nd Peter 2:22—But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit.” These false teachers had heard the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, but they wanted to go back to keeping a set of rules and regulations. And they taught others to do the same.

But are we saved by keeping a set of rules and regulations? No. We are saved by hating the sinful things we used to do and by declaring that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord (not by "making" Jesus Lord. See above). Many times when a person gets saved—you're looking at a perfect example—there is a tendency to think, “OK, I'm saved. Now I have to never, ever, ever do anything bad ever again or I'm not saved.” That’s the kind of thing these false teachers were teaching. But we are not saved by keeping the Law. Galatians 3:21—If there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. In other words, there IS NO LAW that can give life. James 2:10—Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point—how much is he guilty of?—he is guilty of all.

If you take a chain that holds the anchor of the largest cruise ship in the world. Break one link. What good is that chain anymore? The same goes for anyone who thinks they are saved by “keeping the 10 Commandments.” Because in order to be saved, one must be absolutely perfect, and never, ever sin. People who say, “Well, I'm saved because I try to keep the 10 Commandments.” What's the key word there? "TRY." Ask them if they’ve broken even one—if they are honest they will say, “Yes.” And they will condemn themselves. Now, if we are saved, should we do our best to obey the commandments? Yes. It’s a fine line I'm drawing, but Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). 1st John 2:4—He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar. We do not become children of God by trying to keep those commandments. But if we are children of God, we will want to keep His commandments.

Next he calls false teachers evil workers. That word evil literally means.........“evil.” He doesn’t hold back here. He calls these men that corrupt the gospel of Christ “evil.” If I were a doctor, and I was performing surgery on a patient, and I walk into the operating room drunk. I take the scalpel and I just go and butcher the patient beyond recognition. Would people call me an “evil man?” I would hope so. Now, think how much more serious it is when someone teaches things that lead people away from Christ and sends them on the path to Hell. Who will that person answer to? And what does God think of that person? He calls them evil. There is no call from the apostle to “Let’s just all get along with these people because we don't want to hurt their feelings now, do we?” God is calling the false teachers “evil.” And if God calls them “evil,” should we not also consider them to be “evil?”

Now, the third thing he calls them is the mutilation. Referring to the practice of circumcision, which was part of the OT Law. If a male wanted to be in full compliance with the OT Law, he had to be circumcised. A few years before he wrote this letter to the Philippians, the apostle had gone through Galatia preaching salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and that salvation had nothing to do with keeping that OT Law. But after Paul left, here come these false teachers, saying that if you were a Gentile, you had to be circumcised. And in response, Paul wrote his most scathing letter, and as you read it you can almost hear him screaming at these people, “Didn’t you understand a word I said?” And in Galatians 5:12, he says I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! He uses a different word there, which literally means “to cut something off.” It’s the same word Jesus uses in Mark 9:43, 45 when He says, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off…if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.” And in John 18:10, when Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. And since, in Galatians, Paul was talking about circumcision, I think we know what he was saying they should "cut off."

Basically, what Paul told the Galatians was, “If these guys are so hung up on you being circumcised, let them circumcise themselves.” Now, in this passage in Philippians, he uses the word “mutilation” to refer to circumcision—not voluntary circumcision, but the fact that these “dogs and evil workers” were trying to say that we need to be circumcised in order to be saved. That kind of circumcision is unnecessary, and is, in effect, a type of “mutilation.” And what is the warning Paul gives us about these people? Beware!!! Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! Danger Will Robinson!! Danger!! Danger!! That word “Beware” means, “Keep your eyes open for these guys!” It's in the imperative mood--it's a command. And it’s in the present tense. “Be watching out for dogs! Be watching out for evil workers! Be watching out for the mutilation!” He is pleading in the worst possible way for us to watch out for them.

Jesus uses the same word when He warns us about false doctrines and false Christs. Mark 8:15 (NASB)—“Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” Luke 21:8 (NASB)—“See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them.” We are not to be all buddy-buddy with people teaching false doctrines. In fact, Paul says that if someone preaches a different gospel that they are to be anathema (Galatians 1:8-9). So, beware! Beware of the mutilation!

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. I think we all know what gets circumcised. Circumcision was what made a man a Jew. But look at what Paul says is now the true circumcision. Worshipping God in the Spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh. Whenever Paul talks about circumcision, he is very clear that since Christ has died and has risen again, it is not that circumcision that puts one in God’s family. Romans 2:28-29—For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit. We're gonna turn to Galatians 5. Galatians 5:2-3, 6—Indeed I say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law…For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Now, you may wonder why we’re going on and on about circumcision. There is a reason, so please be patient.

Galatians 5:2--If you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. In other words, if a person takes the gospel of Christ—salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone—and tells others, “Well, yeah, but you have to do something on top of it to make it complete.” Then that person can believe anything they want to about Christ and it won’t do them any good. Because they are adding to Christ’s gospel. Because, Galatians 5:3, every man who becomes circumcised is a debtor to keep the whole law. If a person thinks they will gain eternal life by believing in Christ AND by keeping the Law of Moses, then they will have to keep it perfectly from now until the day they die, never ever messing up even once. And in Galatians 5:6, we see why--For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. It is no longer an outward ritual. If we know Christ as our LORD and Savior, we don’t have to go around in fear all our lives. We don’t go around with this list of ordinances hanging over our heads. We are no longer under the Law. Because Christ fulfilled that Law for us. We don’t have a curse hanging over us. Christ took that curse upon Himself on the cross.

Now, flip over to Galatians 6. A person may wonder why these Judaizers would be so gung-ho about circumcising people. Paul tells us why. Galatians 6:12—As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. These Judaizers wanted to gain the praises of men, but they didn’t want their Jewish friends to shun them, so they compromised. They wanted to make a good showing in the flesh without suffering persecution. Galatians 6:13--For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. It was all about appearances. They wanted it to appear that they were a step above both the Christians and the Jews. They wanted to tell the Christians, “You have your faith, but you're not circumcised.” And they wanted to tell the Jews, “Yes, you keep the Law of Moses, but you need Christ to go with it.” But, in Galatians 6:15, we see they strike out from both sides of the plate, because in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. Back to Philippians.

So what does this mean for today? Well, this: there are some who say that if you don’t do this or you don’t do that you're not saved. What is the number one thing that people say you have to do in order to be saved? Get baptized. “If you aren't baptized you're not saved.” We don’t get baptized in order to be saved. We get baptized because we are saved. Go through all the places that Paul uses the word “circumcision” and substitute “baptism.” Anybody ever talk to someone who believes that? What is the argument they will make? They will compare it to OT circumcision. “Circumcision was the OT seal of being in God’s covenant people. But baptism replaced circumcision.” First of all, good luck finding any Scripture to support that. But let’s play along. If in Christ Jesus circumcision profits nothing, and if baptism is the NT equivalent of circumcision, then doesn’t it follow that in Christ Jesus baptism profits nothing?

Now, Paul says that WE are the circumcision. Because in Christ Jesus, circumcision is of the heart. That’s why he says that we have no confidence in the flesh. We know that there is nothing good inside us (Romans 7:18). So now we focus all of our faith, all of our trust, all of our love on our Lord Jesus Christ. But these Judaizers were only concerned with one thing, and that was the praise of men. They mutilated people in order to boast of their religiosity. They could boast all they wanted to.

But look at what Paul says in Philippians 4:4-7--If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Before He met Christ, Paul had it made. He was training at the best school for Jewish rabbis. He was learning from one of the greatest teachers ever. When it came to knowing the Scriptures—nobody could touch him. He even had authority from the Jewish leaders to go out of his jurisdiction to round up Christians and bring them to Jerusalem to have them put to death. He was probably pretty well off. He had it all. Until the day Christ stopped him cold and Paul realized he had nothing. In fact, he realized he had a negative balance. Luke 9:25—“What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” Remember that rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22? “Good Teacher, what must I do to enter into life?” What did Jesus tell him? “Keep the commandments.” “Hey, great, got that covered! Check that! What else?” “Sell all you have; give the money to the poor, and follow Me.” What did that young fellow say? “Sorry, can't do that.” And he traded away eternity for a few years of ease.

How many times do people do that today? You don’t even have to be “rich” to do it. Everybody has their own idol. Whether it’s cars or money or houses or jewelry or clothes—even if it’s nothing more than a habit they don’t want to give up. If someone is putting anything ahead of worshipping Christ, they are no different than that rich young ruler. And whatever it is they're holding on to, one day they will realize they did not gain anything—but they lost everything. They counted Christ to be loss for the sake of all things earthly.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
Then the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Jesus Christ is Lord.
Amen.

Abby Johnson: New target of left-wing hatred

Abby Johnson has just made herself an enemy of the state. The pro-abortion camp are, no doubt, painting a target on her back, and planning on how to take direct aim at her, her life, her family, everyone and everything she holds dear.



Simply because she saw the truth and saw that it was the truth. And now, the pro-death side is scared that more people will see abortion for what it is--the excruciatingly tortured dismembering of a human being who just happens to have the misfortune of being in the fetal stage of development. And just to show how scared they really are, they have gone to court to shut her up, with wild accusations that Ms. Johnson is going to release information on patients (From The Houston Chronicle):

BRYAN, Texas — Planned Parenthood has filed a temporary injunction to prevent a former director of its Bryan clinic from teaming up with a local anti-abortion group to release records from her eight years of work at the family planning clinic.

The employee, Abby Johnson, said Monday that she never planned to release the records.

Either way, the case, which has gained national attention on conservative online media sources and anti-abortion blogs, has caused a skirmish between the clinic and the Brazos Valley Coalition for Life, which recently moved its headquarters several hundred feet away from the clinic.

A hearing on the issue is scheduled for Nov. 10 in the 85th District Court.

The injunction was filed Friday and signed by District Judge J.D. Langley. It prevents Johnson and the coalition from releasing anything that Johnson, who was executive director for about two years, may have retained while working at Planned Parenthood -- at least until the hearing.

Yeah, I know. Ludicrous. But, what do you expect from people who are blinded by greed:

The 29-year-old said she resigned from the clinic because she felt guilty after witnessing an abortion in September. She also said she was concerned about pressure from the organization's regional manager that the Bryan clinic focus on more abortions because of financial reasons.

"Definitely the most lucrative part of their business was abortions," she said. "One of the things that kept coming up was how family planning services were really dragging down the budget, and family planning services include education about contraceptives. It was a drain on the budget, but abortion services were really running up the budget and that was keeping the center afloat."

An employee at Planned Parenthood's Bryan clinic declined to comment and referred questions to the organization's regional office in Houston. A spokeswoman from the regional office released a statement but declined to answer any questions.

This is to be expected. After all, when pro-death supporters shoot a man in a wheelchair and try to beat up a 70-year-old man for exercising their first amendment rights--Oops. Sorry, I forgot. That whole first amendment thingy only applies to liberal pro-death people. We pro-lifers are supposed to keep our mouths shut.

Happy Reformation Day!! Here is "The Reformation Polka"

A humorous little summary of what happened in 1517 in Wittenburg. For an explanation of the lyrics, click here.



When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:
"You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!
Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
"Are these your books? Do you recant?" King Charles did demand,
"I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting "George" as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin's model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Let's raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that 'catholic' is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!