BoldGrace

A friend once asked me why it would benefit someone to believe in the gospel of Grace and Peace… and that why I think the story of God’s grace upon the world through His Son which brought an unheard-of peace to all humanity…. is true? The conversation went something like this;

Friend: If this gospel is true, and "sets people free", won’t it free people from the motivation to do good works?

Me: Motivation to do good works through fear? That’s a good thing?

Friend: Yes, whatever motivates people to good works is good, even if it’s "fear".

Me: Fear only motivates people to self protection. When "self" is the motivating factor, the works are tainted with our own filthy (Paul’s description) agendas.

Friend: What’s wrong with self-protection, especially if it motivates people to do good for others?

Me: It is "self"ish. Doing good for others because of selfishness is really only doing good for ourselves. Fear only motivates us to protect ourselves, even if it "looks" like we’re doing good for others. Until we can remove fear from our hearts, and live free to experience the best of self and others, will we truly do good for others.

Friend: I think I see what you mean.

Me: I’m not sure you really can. Until one has experienced that incredible freedom, even for a moment, it is probably impossible to comprehend.

Friend: How can you experience that freedom?

Me: It’s simple, really. Just let yourself believe that the Work of the Cross of Christ brought redemption, in one short instant, to all the world. Let yourself imagine that God, through the Cross of Christ, released His mercy and love to all the world, once and for all, whether you believe it or not! Let yourself soak in the wonder of His righteousness, which He placed on all humanity, including you… whether you believe it or not! Let yourself float in the assurance of God’s message of Forgiveness, that it is un-earnable, no matter what you do, but has been freely given to all, including you, whether you believe it or not!

Friend: I thought the Bible says that you must believe?

Me: You will never know what you truly believe until you give yourself permission to not believe. The problem is, you believe that God is generally displeased with you, and only through your actions (believing what you’ve been told you have to do to please God), can you "get right with God". Well, I say that’s a bunch of crap! It’s not up to you to get right with God… just give yourself permission to understand that God… got right with you! That’s what the Cross was all about, and that’s what will set your mind free!

Friend: But, if I am free from fearing God, won’t I do all kinds of bad stuff?

Me: Why would you even imagine that to be true? The gospel of grace and peace frees us from our fears, doubts, guilt, shame, and worry… so that we can truly be who we were meant to be! God didn’t create you to be "bad", but the pain that you let creep into you life causes you to dwell on hopelessness, suffering, and hurting are pushing you, manipulating you, and controlling you. It’s those things you are fighting against, and every time you are defeated in that fight, it adds to your pain. It’s those things that cause you to want to do "bad" things. When we are set free from our pain, we enter a Life of peace, and in that place, there is no need to hurt ourselves and others (do bad stuff). Love spills out of you into a world that responds to love, and in that exchange, good things happen!

Friend: So, pain causes us to do bad things?

Me: Not necessarily. But pain, along with worry, sorrow, hopelessness, and despair, certainly add to the "burdens" that rob us of life. And I’m not talking about physical pain, I’m speaking of the spiritual pain that runs deep in our souls… that longing for peace with God that seems so impossible, and so unreachable. Our culture has taught us that righteousness is a gift from God, but we need to do something to take possession of that gift… CRAP! NO WAY! In the spiritual sense, there is nothing we can do to receive the gift. It is in us, right now, and there is nothing you can do to get it, or to lose it. If you will allow yourself to think this way, it will change your life, whether you believe it or not!

Friend: I’m not sure I can think that way. I’ve been told all my life that I’m a sinner, and I need to get right with God. It seems like that will always plague me, and hold me in fear.

Me: Well so be it! You can live in fear all your life and miss out on some of its most spectacular aspects… but you’ll still be OK. Don’t worry about it. Maybe a fullness of Peace isn’t in the cards for you. Maybe you don’t really need it. Maybe you can suffer through with the nagging fear that God will, at some point, judge you "unworthy" of relationship. Maybe you will drive yourself crazy trying to gain God’s acceptance, and finally give up. That, my friend, is the best thing that will ever happen to you. Maybe then, you can finally realize His unconditional love for you, and begin to enter the Heavenlies and experience that "abundance" of life that you hear about.

Friend: But, I feel like I have an abundance of life now. Things are pretty good between God and me. Why should I change the way I think about God?

Me: Good point! If what you have is working for you… super! I’m not concerned about your etermal destiny, because I know you are included in God’s reconcilation of the world, whether you believe it or not, and whether you want it or not. I’m not worried for your future, but compassion drives me to be concerned about your "present". My heart’s desire is to see you wildly happy, and content beyond understanding.

I posted this back in 2006 and after listening to it again I thought it a good one for everyone to take into this weekend Give it a LISTEN

DISCLAIMER:
These explanations are not necessarily the views and opinions of all or even any on the Bold Grace Team other than myself. (Geo)

2.    I believe: It is hard to Enter through the narrow gate. (Matt. 7)
3.    I believe: That wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (Matt. 7)
4.    I believe: That small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matt. 7)
Jesus said in Matthew 7: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

First let me start by asking a question…. What is Jesus talking about “entering” here?
I was taught in my evangelical days that the passage was talking about two places. Those that entered through the narrow and small gate were entering into the kingdom of heaven. But those who entered the wide and broad way were entering into hell. And that “ENTERING INTO LIFE” meant entering into heaven. But a closer examination of these passages says something quite different and life giving. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. If you read it slowly and carefully you will see that BOTH the narrow gate and the broad way are entering into the same thing! He does NOT say the narrow gate leads into one place and the wide and broad way lead to another! He does say that there are few who find the small gate and narrow way and those enter in. He does say that there are many who take the wide and broad way and they ALSO enter in! His advice here is to enter in through the small narrow gate and not through the wide broad way.

So what are these two ways? Just this………. The small gate and narrow way is only one thing, GRACE! And there are few who find it when compared to the wide & broad way. So what is the wide & broad way that many or most enter in through? LAWS, RULES & REGULATIONS. And how many religions have them? ALL do. Every religion that I know of has some types of rules or practices you must follow in order to be close to God or the God Nature. That road is VERY WIDE & BROAD and it leads to the destruction of self and the adherents enter through it. The Small & Narrow way of Grace Alone is the hardest thing and way to live in this realm! Why is it hard? Because the human psyche above ALL THINGS wants to be justified by what it does, says or accomplishes. Everything in life from the time we are born teaches and reinforces this. Examples of this are, Children are told, “If you are a good boy daddy will buy you that new fire truck.” Or “If you are a good girl mommy will buy you a Barbie Doll.” Or this, “ If you don’t quit doing that I am going to punish you.”  Then as adults, “Johnny if you can get this done on time we will give you the rest of the week off with pay. “ or “Johnny if this is not done on time your services will no longer be needed by this company.” I know these are generic things but you get the meaning. We are taught by the world from the cradle to the grave, “Do Good, Get Good, Do Bad, Get Beat” In the end this leads to destruction of a person. Or they become a driven self-centered egotistical maniac without even being aware of it.

The other small & narrow way is GRACE and it is very hard to enter in through. Grace says the only thing is GRACE! When you are wronged by another you give GRACE. When you wrong someone else you give yourself GRACE. If you think that is not a small and narrow gate then go see if you can find it in everyday in every situation! You see in this life we will use both gates and ways. Some days I use and can find the Narrow Way (Grace) very clearly. Other days I could not find the Small Gate (GRACE) If I tripped over it! Some days I enjoy trying to make others take the Broad way! Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t because you do to! Some days I love to try and help others see the Small Gate and so do you. So in the end both ways will enter into heaven and we all with great awe will stand together before Him who loved use and gave Himself for us that we might be one with Him as He is one with The Father. At least that is my belief at this time in my life. And as always let me add, I could be full of shit! Hahaha!

Standing at The Gates
Geo

1.    I believe: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
2.    I believe: It is hard to Enter through the narrow gate.
3.    I believe: That wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
4.    I believe: That small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
5.    I believe: That we should come out from them and be separate.
6.    I believe: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
7.    I believe: Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
8.    I believe: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
9.    I believe: That He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
10.    I believe: This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
11.    I believe: He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
12.    I believe: For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
13.    I believe: Jesus came into the world for Judgment.
14.    I believe: He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it.
15.    I believe: No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

That’s right I believe ALL of those things! Does that surprise you? Over the coming weeks I will take each one of the 15 things and give you my explanation of each one. In the mean time can you figure out how I can believe each one of these things? Because on the surface they seem to say just the OPPOSITE of what we say here on Bold Grace.

More Later

Peace

Geo

There have been a lot of questions asked lately as to what we believe here at Bold Grace. So I have a challenge for all who POST, READ OR COMMENT HERE. Go to the link below

http://www.glennkleinonline.com/webcast/guests/mwilliams.html

and listen to the webcast dated 6-18-2008. Then you will have the answer to some of the questions that you ask of us here at Bold Grace. The men on the show are Glenn and Mike. They are two good friends of Bold Grace and proclaimers of The Gospel of Grace & Peace. Then come back here AFTER you listen to the show in its entirety and tell us what your thoughts are.

Peace

Geo

It was said by one of our commenter’s here on Bold Grace that it is not wise to give the truth of the gospel of grace and peace to those who lack personal control and discipline.
It was said we that need to give them discipline and structure first and then freedom after they learn to control and discipline themselves?

If it is done in this manner then how is this taught in relation to the gospel?

And when is the truth about the freedom of the gospel revealed?

And when it is revealed to them and they understand that they have been lied to from the start how do you explain it to them?

And what do you do if while you are teaching them your discipline and control gospel they find the true gospel of grace & peace?

Do you explain to them that you lied to them for their own good?

Do you tell them that the true message of the cross is only for those who have progressed to a certain point in spiritually?

NO!!!!!
We at Bold Grace are not ashamed of the gospel any longer. We will not teach or agree with those who believe and teach that the message of Bold Grace is only for the more spiritually advanced.
But even in disagreement on this we acknowledge that those who give part of the truth are doing it out of their heartfelt belief that it is the only way. And we applaud them for saying it even if we don’t agree.

Peace 
Geo

What is IT?
Answer: IT Is

How do I get IT?
Answer: IT can be gotten, but is had by ALL

How do I keep IT?
Answer: It can’t be kept, but is kept by ALL

How can I know I have IT?
Answer: If you need to know how to have it then you don’t have IT.

Can I teach others how to get IT?
Answer: IT can’t be taught to others, but others are taught by IT.

Can IT be seen?
Answer: It can’t be seen but is visible to ALL

Can IT see?
Answer: IT cannot see but sees ALL

Can IT be touched?
Answer: IT can’t be touched but IT touches ALL.

To be continued……………….

Peace

Geo

Peace Geo

It has been said that the Internet, with its open exchange of information and ideas, caused the demise of the Soviet Union. When a people, closed off to the outside world, living in unrealized bondage to a system (a system they thought brought them security), are able to escape for a moment (even if just electronically), they might begin to glimpse a freedom to which they have had no access previously, and start to yearn for more. The contrast between "what is", and "what could be", ignites a passion that becomes an unstoppable force. And that force has the power to change the world.

I wonder if the Internet will also become the demise of organized religion?

Ben Franklin said, "Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security."

I have been lurking the past few weeks and have not responded or posted any thoughts here on Bold Grace. But after reading the conversation and comments on Cliff’s post titled “ Blessed Are The Pure In Heart” I decided to make this a post of it’s own and not a comment on that post. So here goes………………

John T. writes:
 Kevin
What happens to your mind and spirit when you’ve drifted from God and how do you get it back? Do you repent? Which I believe means to change your mind

GEO Responds:

John T. there in reality is nothing to “get back” as you term it. But if you want to repent or “change your mind” then go ahead. The problem comes in when we try and make others do the same in order to “feel clean” before God.

John T. writes:
      I notice one thing about BOLD GRACE the site. I think you guys are terrific and you try your best to share the love of God amongst us. But very definitely there is still huge resentment towards the Church as you see it.

GEO Responds:

John T. statements such as this… 
“But very definitely there is still huge resentment towards the Church as you see it”.
Are your opinion and we respect it as such. The same way what we say here are our opinions and they are not to bind anyone to believe as we do. Nor are they meant to silence any thought or speech. As far as judgment of the church goes why should we not judge the church? The judgment talked about in the New Testament writings was, we are not to Judge another persons Redemption, Salvation or Acceptance before God. But we are encouraged in the New Testament writings to Judge when a wrong is done to another. And the Church has PLENTY to be judged for in that area. But while we at Bold Grace may Judge the actions & deeds of Institutions and People NEVER ONCE have we nor will we judge anyone’s Righteousness, Holiness, Redemption, Salvation or Acceptance by God! We believe those in the Church who are doing GREAT damage to others are Righteous, Holy and Redeemed! Do they believe the same of us? My experience has been NO! In fact most people still in that system, at least the majority of the ones that I have encountered since leaving it (organized religion) have said just the opposite and view us here at Bold Grace as unbelieving heretics who will burn in hell, while we believe they are Righteous, Holy, Acceptable and without spot before God! Do you really think they believe the same of us?

John T. writes:
After all that does seem to me to be quite self-centered, don’t ya think?

GEO Responds:

John T.,
Do you believe that we are in Christ and He is in us, which I do? If so then self-centeredness would be Christ centeredness would it not?

GEO Responds:

John T.,
When your wife said this:
 “If the people on this site were truly immersed in their understanding of the love of God, they wouldn’t waste their time judging the Church and how it creates Fear in everyone”.
She as you previously did was stating her opinion. And again the church is indeed in need of judging! (My opinion!) Again please never think that we here at Bold Grace are judging anyone’s Righteousness, Holiness, Redemption, Salvation or Acceptance by God. Again I say that in the NT writings it says we are to judge when another has been wronged. As a matter of fact Paul says we should be able to do just that! And the world is full of people who have been wronged by that system. And we here at Bold Grace will always speak against what we see as wrong in religious systems while NEVER once judging another’s Righteousness, Holiness, Redemption, Salvation or Acceptance by God.

GEO Responds:

John T.,
You wife was curious about this:
 Why are you are centered so much on Fear itself as a topic?

I cannot speak for others that are a part of Bold Grace but for me as I see it the topic of fear is the one most used by those so-called leaders in organized religion today. It is used to extort and extract money, time & labor from those under the so-called care of pastors, and leaders. That is why I speak of it and against it. Speaking against it sets the captives free.

John T. writes:
Anyways I like reading what you guys have to say and just enjoy bantering, it helps me grow in my faith.

GEO Responds:

If the bantering helps you grow in your faith John T. then our writings here at Bold Grace are a complete and utter failure for you! Because our whole focus here at Bold Grace is NOT to help you or anyone else grow in your faith! But to assist you and all who come to Bold Grace in coming to the complete and utter end of your personal faith & belief in God and Jesus Christ! Then and only then can you embrace the Faith of God that is IN Jesus the Christ. And when a person leaves behind the doctrines of Christ as Paul said and then embraces the Faith Of God that is in Jesus the world for that person takes on a new order and EVERYTHING changes!

But then again I very well could be full of crap! Hahaha!

John T., if I were a praying person (which I am not, because ALL of my prayers were fulfilled at The Cross) I would pray that you and others who visit here and indeed in the whole world for that matter would lose ALL of your and it’s personal Faith and Belief in God and Jesus! And that you would discover The Faith of God that is in Christ! A Faith that makes ALL People Righteous, Holy, Redeemed & Accepted by God regardless of their acceptance of Him or belief in Him!

Thanks Again John T. for adding a different viewpoint and helping us examine what we believe about God. But the most important belief is what God believes about us not what we believe about Him. And what He believes about us is that we are ALL Righteous, Holy and without spot or blemish regardless of our words actions or deeds. Because He sees Jesus His Son when He looks at His Creation! Now that is THE GOOD NEWS! News so Good even Christians for the most part do not believe it.