Okay, enough exclamation points and hype. For a long time I’ve promised to update the study guide, and I finally have. It is now available in PDF format here. It’s not an astounding change over the first Study Guide, but I have improved some of the study questions, based on my own experience leading a study of the book. Every time I look through a chapter, I come up with new questions and new ways to approach subjects, so the study guide is not the only way, or even the best way, to teach through the book. It will, however, hopefully give you a bit more to think about. And hey, it’s free!
From Mockingbird:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
I’ve written on Stephan Pastis’ work before; Pearls before Swine is my favorite comic strip, and I read it daily. Pastis typically displays what we might call “great acumen about human nature.” And he’s done it again here in the above (and below) strips.
It’s naïve Pig’s response that caught my eye. When asked why he’s excited, Chained-up Dog replies with tremendous enthusiasm, “New Chain!!” Pig’s right, being excited about a new chain is quite optimistic. In fact, it’s nothing to be excited about, because it’s not good news—the dog is still chained up. But, truth be told, don’t we all get excited about the new thing/behavior/rule/diet/routine that will be the key to real success, to us finally achieving control over our lives. It’s in our fallen nature to be oriented as such. I’ve seen this in my own life, and I’m sure you’ve seen it in your own. I’ve seen it in my tendency to be attracted to the newest diet craze (where are we now, gluten?) to my fruitless efforts to watch just one show at night (wait…how is it 12am?). I desperately try to control broken behavior with behavioral changes, and that is just switching out an old law for a new one; that’s not freedom and it’s certainly nothing to be excited about.
The good news is that the Gospel is not a new chain, a new law. It is a word of freedom, silencing the law and its tyranny in my life, in our lives.
Read the rest here.
Here’s some more good news from my blog, discussing Romans chapter 7:
The Plague of Sin
As I’ve said before, if you read through the Gospel of John, you see that Jesus consistently seems to treat sin as a disease, a plague on humanity. He never judges those afflicted by sin, but in pronouncing “Go and sin no more,” he sets people free from the bondage of sin. Who Jesus does condemn are those who by their legalism and condemnation perpetuates the plague.
Paul seems to be taking a similar position here; sin, like a virus, is waging war on our bodies (v. 21-23), and Paul himself does not appear to be free from this war going on within us. But, turn the page to Chapter 8, and my point above is affirmed: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
No liability. No guilt. No condemnation.
For the whole post, go here.
Tonite’s Bible Study focused on Chapter 6 of The Gospel Uncensored, which discusses the three reasons that Paul gives for being so sure that the gospel message that he preached was the only gospel message, and that anything else was not a mere variation, but the utter eradication of the real gospel. It was an interesting night, giving me an even better understanding of Paul’s argument presented in Galatians 2. As we processed this, I kept thinking of a quote I had recently read by Gerhard Forde (as quoted on the Mockingbird blog) that “sanctification is thus simply the art of getting used to justification.”
I love it when synthesis and clarity happen — and especially when they happen to me.
So what does the gospel have to do with sanctification? A whole lot, actually. Many of us are used to thinking of the gospel as the message of salvation, and then the rest of the Bible kicks in to give us the practical teachings that will take us the rest of the way. However, Paul’s rhetorical question in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (ESV)” What Paul is getting at is that the gospel is not just for justification, it’s also the key to sanctification, “the art of getting used to justification.”
Paul’s 3-part argument
Paul begins his argument by appealing to a higher authority — the gospel came to him by direct revelation in the person of Jesus. However, knowing that revelation is subjective, his second point was that he submitted his revelation to the apostles, and after hearing Paul’s explanation of the gospel, they “added nothing.” If this weren’t enough, he put his gospel to the test by confronting Peter — not regarding an issue of salvation, although Peter’s actions had certain ramifications concerning the inclusion of the gentile Christians, but about an issue of daily life, dietary laws and who to sit with at dinner.
Sanctification certainty
The issue with the Galatians, circumcision, was not an issue of salvation, but an issue of moving to the next level, or becoming more holy, as some might say. Paul’s point: adding any kind of rules or behavioral expectations to the work of Christ makes the work of Christ of no benefit. If you’re going to keep one iota of the law, you’re accountable for all of it. You can’t supplement the gospel, even when it comes to holiness.
Many of us are certain enough of our salvation, although there are those who do their best to undermine even that with questions like, “Do you have saving faith?” If that isn’t a question from hell, I don’t know what is. But, there are very many of us who at times wonder if we are doing enough or if we did more, would we get sanctified quicker?
If we take Forde’s definition, that question becomes nonsensical. If sanctification is really just us growing into our justification, or gaining understanding as to what being saved really means, then we can’t do anything to become more sanctified. The very act of trying to do more prevents us from grasping the reality of justification. In other words, adding human effort of any kind to the work that Christ has already accomplished hinders us from ever being certain that the gospel has any effect whatsoever.
Paul was certain — and, as he wrote in Romans, “not ashamed” — of the good news gospel that Jesus has justified us and that only by resting in that certainty will we become acclimated to the reality of our justification that we call sanctification. We are certainly justified by faith apart from works, and so are we being sanctified.
I’m certain of it.
We continue to receive reports of folks blessed by The Gospel Uncensored, both here and abroad, for which we are thankful.
Locally, we have heard of the book making inroads into a very law-based church, resulting in families deciding to leave that church. While I am not free to provide any further details, it is encouraging to know that the message of the Gospel is being spread through the book, bringing light into dark places.
We are also encouraged to hear that some individuals involved in prison ministry are having the book sent into the prisons (apparently they cannot bring the books in themselves, but can have them delivered there)!
And we have heard from folks who have chosen to use the book and the study guide (available for free download on this site or $0.99 at the Kindle Store) for Bible studies.
For that matter, I am starting my own study, beginning Oct. 27, going through the book. If you think of us, and those mentioned above, I am sure we would all appreciate your prayers. And if you’re in the Salem area and wish to join our study, please let me know.
We would love to hear your stories, so feel free to e-mail me, or send us a note on facebook.
This is, I believe, part 1 of 4 videos from the Publisher’s release event in Thailand.
As I’ve written before, The Gospel Uncensored has been translated into Thai and has been now republished in Thailand. How this came to be is something of a long story, which I’ll abbreviate here.
Over the past few years, a couple of Ken’s sons helped start orphanages in 3 villages in the Tak province in northern Thailand (you can learn more about their organization, The Charis Project, at thecharisproject.org). Through relationships developed by Wayland and Aaron, Ken added Thailand to his speaking agenda.
Last year Ken visited, bringing some copies of The Gospel Uncensored, and was introduced to a publisher who asked to be able to republish it in Thai. Ken agreed, giving them the rights to publish it as they will. It was translated, and released toward the end of 2011.
The Gospel Unleashed
We had been hearing some reports from folks in Thailand that the book was being received quite well, and had even heard some amazing conversion stories of people who had been trapped in the recent floods with nothing to read but the book. However, Ken recently made another trip to Thailand, and came back with some even more amazing stories, including that the book is one of the best-selling Christian books in Thailand, exceeding all expectations.
The publisher explained to Ken that in Thailand, people are not readers. Very few books sell well, especially Christian books. Typically they will print a small run, and perhaps only sell 1/2 of that printing. In the few months that The Gospel Uncensored has been available, it has already sold out the first printing, and is now going into it’s 2nd printing!
The publisher was a member of one of the largest churches in Thailand, which also happens to be a very abusive, legalistic church. As a result of Ken’s teaching and the book, she left the church. She began sharing the book with others, and now about 2,000 people have left that church. As Ken put it, “we are now both loved and hated in Thailand.” (It is perhaps fortunate that my name doesn’t translate well into Thai—the closest they could come was “Alvin Goose.”)
Ken ran into people wherever he went who were familiar with the book. And, Aaron Blue told me that he was approached by someone who said they needed a study guide; he downloaded it from the site, and now that too is being republished in Thai. And, Ken has now been asked if he has any books on spiritual abuse that they could republish!
Why Thai?
The book’s success in Thailand is a mystery, what I call a “God thing.” Obviously, there is a need there, and The Gospel Uncensored is filling that need. I never anticipated that the project would have such an impact; it just goes to show what happens when you do what you think you’re supposed to do.
Alden
Mac & Louise Jardine are missionaries in Thailand, who were the driving force behind the translation of The Gospel Uncensored into Thai. In their January newsletter, available in its entirely here, he writes:
Ken Blue has published a new book on grace, “The Gospel Uncensored” and Sukit has had it translated into Thai. Two families who were stranded on their second floors for many weeks because of the flooding read the book. One lady, Du, cried most of the way through with her old pain coming up. Another lady, Noy, experienced spontaneous deliverance when she repented for her Buddhist practices. Our friend, Pink, has been on the phone regularly with these ladies, talking, explaining, praying with, teaching them how to pray for themselves in their isolation…God has come!!!!
I never anticipated, as I worked on this book, that it would have an impact in a remote part of the world in the midst of a disaster. It just goes to show that when we hand over our measly loaves and fish, we can never know how it will be multiplied.
From Resurgence:
You are already loved. Redemption is as certain as Christ’s resurrection. As heart change happens, so can our realization of the miracle that occurs. Jesus died in our place for our redemption. His blood was shed so that ours wouldn’t have to be. He endured the cross so that we wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for sin. Often, we stumble through life ignoring this miracle of redemption. Instead, we work for our own redemption. Before we know it, we’ve put God on the sidelines in the game we play of becoming a “better person.” Change is inevitable as the Holy Spirit is given room to transform us. Repenting to Jesus ignites the grace that God freely gives us. Our hearts are changed because God intends for us to become more like Jesus. Jesus is our redemption.
I recently heard a sermon (no, I won’t tell you who or even where) dealing with this issue that totally missed the point. Thinking he was preaching grace, what was actually communicated could hardly have been called “good news.” As one other hearer commented, “If that’s your gospel, your gospel sucks.”
Two verses come to mind:
For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son. John 3:!6
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10
In both verses, the order is important: First God loves; then He acts. In this we are redeemed—God’s love, mediated through Christ.
The 2001 International Money Changers Convention (that is, the International Christian Retail Show) is being held today through Wednesday (July 10-13) in Atlanta.
This year, The Gospel Uncensored is one of the books being featured at Westbow Press’ booth, which means it will be on display and will also appear in the ad materials being given away by Westbow at the convention.
My hope is that the very distinctive cover and the book title will cause prospective buyers to stop and take a look. Being Westbow is not a full-service publisher, it’s hard to say how good of a sales job they will do, but then, I am naive enough to hope that the gospel message is enough to make people want to carry the book in their stores.
My friend and neighbor Randy Butler will be there at the show, selling his own book “Reclaiming Heaven’s Covenant.” He promised to look Westbow’s booth and the book up and give me a report. I’m very interested in hearing what he had to say, not just about Westbow, but about his own experiences there.
I would appreciate your prayers this week as the show progresses. As we have no advertising budget, this show could be very helpful.
I’ll report after I hear what Randy has to say, and if I get any feedback from Westbow.
Alden
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