A Picture of a Christian

Nomianism is a fancy theological term that means with law. Nomianism is the belief that Jesus is Lord, but His sacrifice on the cross alone is not a sufficient enough payment for your sins. Roman Catholicism is such a religion.

The reformers knew that this was not biblical Christianity so the protestant reformation happened. Scripture alone would once again be the authority of God among believers. Salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus alone, and is for the glory of God alone.

Out of the protestant reformation something else would then arise; it is the religion of Antinomianism. Antinomianism is a theological term that means without law. Antinomianism is the belief that Jesus sacrifice on the cross is payment in full for your sins, but that you do not need to capitulate to Him as Lord.

Neither Nomianism nor Antinomianism are biblical Christianity. The attached picture is allegorically a Christian. Not the man seen on the carriage, but the entire picture is allegorically a Christian. The horse represents his faith in Christ Jesus. The man on the carriage represents the Helper, the Holy Spirit. The carriage represents his good works. You cannot see the Christian, because he is in the carriage encompassed by his good works; which is being driven by the Helper, and pulled along by his faith in Christ Jesus as both Lord and Savior.



References
New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation
Horse and Carriage. Retrieved from http://www.bpauctions.com/HorseCarriage.jpg

Are You a Good Person?

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica architectural design is a combination Dome and Square. The word Basilica means a Roman building used for public administration. This buildings use was designed for the administration of the Roman Catholic Church, to house its high officials and to display its prestige. There is much history with regards to the building of this Basilica and the Protestant Reformation. "Michelangelo, who served as main architect for a while, designed the dome, and Bernini designed the great St. Peter's Square." (2) "The square is outlined by a monumental colonnade by Bernini", this is said to represent open arms. (2) "The great double dome is made of brick and is 42.3 meters in interior diameter (almost as large as the Pantheon), rising to 120 meters above the floor." (2)


The word Basilica means a Roman building used for public administration. The Basilica was built for the purpose of housing the Popes, past and present. Construction started in 1506 under Pope Julius II and was completed in 1615 under Pope Paul V. Donato. The Basilica was constructed by direction of the Popes in power during that time period. Rome had gone from a system of Caesars that controlled the Roman Empire to a system of Popes during the middle ages. It was towards the end of this time period that the Basilica was constructed. Rome was the center of rule for the Roman Empire, therefore, it is of no coincidence that the Basilica was built in Rome.


The Basilica is laid out as a Roman Cross incased by a square, with the Dome being the focal point of the cross. It is said by Rome that the site of St. Peter's Basilica is the location of the apostle Peter's death and burial. This is regarded as significant considering the Roman Catholics regard Peter as being their first Pope. A designation that neither he nor anyone else in scripture ever claimed. Given what I know about the apostle Peter from the four gospel accounts of our Lord Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God, from the Acts of the Apostles, and Peter's own epistles; he never considered himself to be such a person as this, it seems in scripture that the apostles leadership was pleural rather than singular.


The Basilica is the burial place of many of the past Popes. In the center of the square is a large Obelisk that is said to date from the 13th century B.C. Egypt. The square designed by Bernini when viewed from above looks like a pair of tongs ready to pick something up. This is called a Colonnade, on top of the colonnade are 140 statues, completed between 1662 and 1703. Near the stairs to the Basilica at the front of the square are two colossal statues to represent the apostles Paul and Peter. "Peter was sculpted by Giuseppe De Fabris in 1838-40 and stands 5.55m in height, on a pedestal 4.91m high. Paul was sculpted in 1838 by Adamo Tadolini, and is also 5.55m in height, on a pedestal 4.91m high." (2)


A Basilica is a Roman building used for public administration. This building has two primary purposes; to put on public display the glory of Roman Catholicism, and for administration purpose of Roman Catholicism. When construction began on the Basilica much of the world was under direct control of Rome and the Pope. There were heads of city states that were under the control of Rome. There is much history with regards to the Protestant Reformation and the building of the Basilica in Rome. In 1517 under the direction of Pope Leo X, the sale of an indulgence was issued to raise money in the building of the Basilica. An indulgence is an edict issued by the Pope or a Cardinal that upon the purchase of the indulgence sins of the purchaser or the purchasers loved one would be absolved. Scripture teaches that salvation is by the grace of God alone, through faith alone, in Jesus the Christ alone (Rom.3.24-25).  This total disregard of the Papacy for scripture and abuse of power on the people angered a Priest by the name of Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany. On October 31, 1517 he nailed his Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences (Commonly Known as 95 thesis) to the church door in Wittenberg beginning the protestant reformation. The Basilica is used today both for administrative purposes and as a tourist attraction.



Bibliography

1) New American Standard Bible 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

2) Sacred Destinations website. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/rome-st-peters-basilica.

3) www.spurgeon.org The Hall of Church History the Reformers. The 95 Thesis.

4) Webster Dictionary.

Righteousness

The Gospel is about the righteousness of God. God is righteous, therefore in order to come into His kingdom you must be righteous in the sight of God. "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God." (1Cor.6.9). But here is the problem; the Bible says, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” (Rom.3.10-12).

If you believe that you are righteous, if you think that you are good by your own merit, God has given His holy law for the purpose of bringing the knowledge of sin.

If you have ever told a lie even once, you are a liar.

If you have ever stolen anything, you are a thief.

If you have ever taken the name of the Lord your God in vain, that is using the name of your creator irreverently, you are a blasphemer. (Exodus.20)

Jesus said; "You have heard that the ancients were told, you shall not commit murder ' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, You good- for- nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." (Mat.5.21-22)

Jesus said; "You have heard that it was said, ' You shall not commit adultery '; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mat-5.27-28)

If you are honest with yourself, you know that you have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death, that is the bad news, and it is what you deserve for your sins against God. There is good news, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God justifies men, that means He declares them righteous in His sight apart from the Law. How can God forgive the sins of unrighteous men and continue to be Himself righteous? He does this only one way; by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

The English word GOSPEL is translated in scripture into English from the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (EUAGGELION); which means good news. Now here is a summary of the good news about Jesus that I also received. Jesus is the Christ the only begotten Son of God who came from God in human flesh, and lived a perfect righteous life; a life that you and I have not lived nor even can, but nonetheless is the life required by God for eternal life with God in His Heaven. Jesus promised eternal life, not to everyone who is perfect, but to everyone who believes in Him. This is good news, because we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom.6.23). Jesus willingly laid down His own life on the cross for His sheep, for our sins against God. He was crucified, nailed to a cross of wood and died. He was buried, then on the third day the very Man who promised eternal life to everyone who believes in Him, walked out of the grave alive. After His resurrection He first appeared to the women, then to two men on the road to Emmaus, then to Peter, then to His other apostles, and then to over five hundred brethren at one time; presenting Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the Kingdom of God. Believe in the gospel!

The English word BELIEVE is translated in scripture into English from the Greek word πιστεύω (PISTEUŌ); which means to entrust. This is more than a simple acknowledgement of the truth, it is an implicit trusting. Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" She *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." (John.11.25,26). She trusted in Him. If you have not trusted in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior what you must do is repent.

The English word REPENT is translated in scripture into English from the Greek word μετανοέω (METANOEŌ); which means to change one's mind. Jesus said to the Pharisee Nicodemus, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John.3.3). Change your mind and come follow Jesus; He is the Christ the only begotten Son of God, and has promised eternal life to everyone who believes in Him. "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark.1.15)







Bibliography
Holy Bible, New King James Version. (1982). Thomas Nelson, Inc.

NASB Strongs Dictionary. (1998). The Lockman Foundation.

New American Standard Bible. (1995). The Lockman Foundation.