Author: Lee A. Robinson

Is the Pope a Biblical Position? A Closer Look at Scripture and the Papacy

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

Introduction

This past week, the world watched as a new Pope was installed in Rome. For many, it marked a sacred milestone. But for those who view the Bible as the final authority in all matters of faith and practice, it raises an important question:

Is the office of the Pope biblically legitimate?

The Catholic Claim

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 882):

“For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as the Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church, has full, supreme, and universal power of the whole church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.”

This statement makes five bold claims about the Pope:

  1. He is called “Father.”
  2. He is the “Vicar of Christ.”
  3. He is the global “Pastor” of the Church.
  4. He holds “full, supreme, and universal power.”
  5. Submission to him is essential for salvation.

Let’s examine each of these claims in light of Scripture.

1. “Call No Man Father”

The word Pope derives from the Latin papa, meaning “father.” Yet Jesus clearly warned:

Matthew 23:9
“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

This is not simply about titles—it’s about spiritual authority. No earthly leader should take a title that belongs to God alone.

2. The Vicar of Christ?

The Pope is described as Christ’s “vicar” or substitute on earth. But Scripture declares:

1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

There is no room for a human substitute when Christ Himself is our living Mediator. The position of “Vicar of Christ” undermines the sufficiency of Jesus’ ongoing role.

3. Pastor of the Entire Church?

Peter, claimed by Catholics to be the first Pope, wrote:

1 Peter 5:4
“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear…”

1 Peter 2:25
“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Jesus—not Peter or any successor—is the Shepherd of the Church.

4. Supreme Authority?

Catholic teaching says the Pope has “full, supreme, and universal power.” But Scripture says:

Colossians 1:18
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Colossians 2:10
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Even Peter, held by Rome as the first Pope, was publicly corrected by Paul:

Galatians 2:14
“But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all…”

The Apostle John also condemned those who sought control over the Church:

3 John 9-10
“Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence… receiveth us not.”

The New Testament repeatedly opposes the kind of unchecked authority Rome assigns to the Pope.

5. Salvation Through Submission to the Pope?

In 1302, Pope Boniface VIII issued the Papal Bull Unam Sanctam, stating:

“We declare, state, define, and pronounce that it is altogether necessary to salvation for every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”

But this directly contradicts the Gospel. Nowhere in the Bible is submission to a church official made a condition for salvation.

Acts 4:12
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

That name is Jesus Christ—not Peter, and not any pope.

Conclusion: Christ Alone is Head of the Church

The office of the Pope, as defined by Roman Catholic teaching, is not supported by Scripture. It attributes titles, roles, and authority to a man that belong to Jesus Christ alone.

Ephesians 1:22-23
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body…”

Let us not look to men for spiritual headship, but to Christ—the true Shepherd, Mediator, and Head of the Church.

Share your thoughts:
Do you believe the office of the Pope aligns with Scripture? Comment below.

*The core content of this blog post is my original work. Some help was given by AI for paraphrasing.

God of the Big

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

God’s will for your life is probably a lot bigger than what you imagine it to be. God always seems to go big, and then doesn’t go home, but goes even bigger next time. It’s important to realize this, because if our mindset about what the Lord wants to accomplish through us is too small we will be easily tempted to be satisfied with our vision and settle for less power and grace, and ultimately fail to do all that He has called us to do. 

Think about our God for a moment – – – He is the God of Creation. How large is the Universe? That’s right, we don’t even know. We cannot begin to fathom in these pea brains how big it is. To think that you could even travel in one direction at light speed for millions of years is unfathomable. When God created, he went big. Even the earth seems big to us. Oceans, mountains, forests – each one is towering and too deep for us to fully explore, even if we had many lifetimes. When I think of how many people are in the world, with all of their individual lives, different cultures and locations, my brain stops pretty quickly to be able to comprehend it. A universe making God – a world making God – is not going to have a little, comfortable, shallow plan for your life. 

God’s call to humanity was not to have a couple of kids; it was to multiply across the face of the whole earth and to take dominion over it. Noah was called to build a ship large enough to withstand a global flood (when he had never seen rain before!) and to shelter each of the animals in it for months. Abraham was called to leave everything just “go” with his family, not knowing where he was supposed to be going, or what he was going to do when he got there! Joseph was called to suffer misfortune after misfortunate, disappointment after disappointment: why? So he could save the world from hunger.

Think about Israel! Wow. When God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt he parted an ocean and they walked on dry ground. That’s big! He fed them with food from the sky. Their shoes never wore out in a lifelong desert journey. He called his little flock – a small nation, untrained and unequipped – to conquer another land, and not just any land- a land full of giants!!! He parted the Jordan River as well. He didn’t just call Israel out of bondage, but into a glorious calling: to be a light to all the nations. Israel certainly struggled to fully embrace their new identity and to grasp the scope of Yahweh’s plan for them. That first generation failed to enter the promised land because their view of God was too small. They saw giants in Canaan and they saw themselves as grasshoppers, but they failed to remember Elohim, the God who created the universe and the world, and the one who redeemed them out of Egypt with a strong arm. 

God’s plan of redemption is so much bigger and fuller than we could have ever imagined. God came to earth, not in the way we would have guessed, but as a baby. He came, in the flesh, not through a delegation of some kind. He didn’t come to just straighten things out and then return to heaven. No, he came as us, identifying with us, becoming us, taking upon himself our sin, so that we might be freed. No one would have expected this. His plans are deeply profound. This rescue mission was, and is, millennia in the making. He didn’t just come to fight like a warrior against the enemies of God (like a regular king would). He submitted to death, then as a dead corpse, raised himself from the dead. You cannot get any bigger than this!!!!!!! 

He calls his followers to leave everything. He calls them to save and change the whole world (great commission). He calls them to be perfect. He is calling YOU to something BIG. When you truly hear his voice – his call over your life – you will be terrified and your first natural thought will probably be, “There’s no way.” Those reactions most likely mean you heard correctly. His will is scary, impossible and at the very least uncomfortable. We have a choice – to follow in faith or to flee in fear. He calls us to more than we are able, but he also offers us everything we need. He offers to go with us, to bear the burden, to fight the enemy, to do all the work. But we must be willing and obedient. We must open our eyes and our minds and let them be stretched. He says to the barren women, “Bear many children.” What is he saying to you? With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible!!!        

Lord’s Supper: What Does It Mean To Eat Unworthily?

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

There is an aspect of the Lord’s Supper that I think needs some clarification. The part I am referring to is the idea of partaking of the Lord’s Supper “unworthily.” What exactly did Paul have in mind when he said, “whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord?” (1 Cor. 11:27). I have had people come to me with deep concern about whether they should partake of the Lord’s Supper on certain occasions, fearing that they would be partaking “unworthily,” because they had a struggle with some sin in their life. This is a legitimate concern. Who wants to engage in a holy ceremony in an unholy way, be “guilty of the body and blood of the Lord,” and “drink damnation upon himself!?” I think I can see at least a part of the reason why the average church goer feels this way…

Typically, the pastor stands before his congregation (I’m coming at this from a Baptist background, where the Lord’s Supper occurs once a month or so and fills up the good part of a whole service) and rightly encourages his parishioners to “examine” themselves to make sure their life is order before God and that they are “worthy” to partake. The pastor soberly recommends this, in obedience to the Scriptures, indicating that there may be or probably is at least someone in the room who will fail to do partake in a worthy manner. At the very least it indicates that everyone present may be tempted to eat unworthily, otherwise there’s no need for the admonition. The room is most likely filled with average people: not violent gang bangers or hardened criminals. There isn’t usually a catalog of what kinds of sins or behaviors would serve as a checklist as to whether someone is “worthy” or not. 

Then you put on top of this the consideration: “Well, actually, who is even worthy to eat with Jesus anyways!?” I know me, and I know that I am not worthy to sit at the table of Jesus. If anything I’d be the slave who washes the feet of the people who come to dine with Jesus. I’m reminded of Abigail when David sent to marry her, she “bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” If she felt this way about David, how much more she we feel unworthy to eat at his table like we’re an equal with him! 

So, put all of that together, and it’s understandable that you have people in the church who struggle with some kind of sin – short temper, lust, gossip, laziness, etc. – just like everyone in the church does, who fears that they might be bringing damnation upon themselves for eating the cracker and drinking the juice. 

Now, I’d like to offer what I think is the right perspective. 

First, the fact that someone is being sensitive to the Spirit and concerned that they might be displeasing the Lord is a MAJOR indication that they ARE worthy to dine with Jesus. What does the Lord require of us? “He hath shown thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). “A broken and a contrite God will not despise” (Psalm 51). If you are coming to the table with humility and a repentant heart – regardless of what your besetting sin is – then you are coming in a worthy manner. The truly unworthy person who is not going to stress themselves out over whether they are following the Scriptures to a “t” or not. They will brashly take what they can get from God and the church. 

Secondly, on what basis are we relying to be worthy? Are we considering whether we have been “good enough” or not throughout the week? Do you feel like you’ll only be worthy if you overcome that pestering, besetting sin? Remember the Gospel!!! Our only worthiness to have any accessibility to God only comes through Christ – Christ alone! Not Christ and my goodness. We are welcomed into God’s favorable presence because of Christ. We are received as God’s children because we are born again by the Spirit of God. We are washed of our sins because of Christ. The only thing that makes us worthy to partake of the Lord’s Supper is Christ! In every way our access to Christ is conditional only by repentance and faith, but as long as we have that posture then we are worthy!!!

Thirdly, the context reveals to us specifically the “unworthy” behavior Paul had in mind. Verses 18 & 19 Paul chides the Corinthians for tolerating “divisions” and “heresies,” which both refer not to doctrinal impurity, but behavioral deficiency. One of the chief purposes of the Lord’s Supper is to highlight the unity that we have in Christ! We are “one body and one bread.” The broken body of Christ is the spiritual gluten (the Corinthians must have been a gluten free assembly – sorry, I had to) that holds very different people together in love. BUT, instead, the Corinthians decided to use this observance as a wonderful opportunity to display their selfishness and pride.

One faction in the church would get the scoop on when and where the “love feast” would occur. They would show up to the party early, eat all the food and get drunk on the wine before everyone else showed up. This is even more egregious when you think that their society didn’t have a welfare system like we do, there was a much more sharp contrast between the poor and higher social classes. This communal meal was probably a highlight for many people – a true feast – and for others who were poor it may actually have been the only meal that they would have eaten that day. Paul then enters into the narrative of when the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper: the sweet, serene setting where the Lord washed his disciples feet and then sat surrounded by his disciples. This was the night before his passion. He would be “broken” for them and shed his blood for them. Every time in the future they would gather to remember their Lord they would remember that night. They would recall with vivid memory the day following as well – his love, his blood, his cries, his agony, for them, for them all. 

Now, imagine people trying to use this memorial as an opportunity for the flesh. I can see any one of the apostles busting into that assembly with fire in their eyes, “Do you have any idea what you are doing!!! I was there when he washed my feet! When he suffered on that cross! He died for us! And you have the nerve to shame your brethren, steal all the food, get drunk on the wine, and arrogantly divide into factions amongst one another!!! And instead of being remorseful you glory in your sins and double down in your pride! The Lord is going to bring judgment on you for taking his name in vain!” This is what I see going on here in Corinth, and how I imagine Paul speaking to them. 

So, what does it mean to eat and drink “unworthily?” I think we have a strong case to argue that an unworthy participant is someone who is proud in their sins, who has no humility or repentance over their sins; someone who doesn’t have a desire for unity and has no problem being at odds with others in the church and who will use others in the church for their own gain. If that’s you, then yes, do not assume that Jesus wants to eat a meal with you, because he doesn’t. He wants you to put down your gift at the altar and go be reconciled with your brother first. God will not be mocked – mess with his church and you’ll pay. 

However, if you are a Christian struggling with your sin, and even being often overcome with it to one degree or another, but you hate your sin and confess it to God, let these promises wash over you, my dear brother or sister, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7,9). As soon as you confess your sins you are instantaneously and fully forgiven by your loving, heavenly Father. He says, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve already forgiven you. Come and dine.” The blood of Jesus is your worthiness to come to his table. 
Now, all of that being said, when you do approach the Table, you should examine yourself. It is a wonderful moment – probably the best moment – for God’s people to do some introspection, and allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart. Every Christian should leave the Lord’s Supper with joy in their hearts because they were all encouraged specifically to “do business” with their God. There is a need to reason with Christians to realize how devastating sin is and there are times to highlight the urgency of repenting of it. But I have sensed the need to give my brothers and sisters relief on this particular issue. If you’re a church leader, maybe consider covering this with your congregation at some point. God bless you in your walk with God and may your next experience at the Lord’s Supper be extra special!!!

The 7 Last Sayings of Jesus On The Cross

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

In recognition of the passion of Christ, I wanted to meditate on the crucifixion and take some time to write about it… 

The words that people use in their dying moments are supremely significant. If you only had a few minutes to live, what would you say to your loved ones or to the world? Most good people would probably boil it down to something like, “I love you,” if they only had one thing to say. Though Jesus had hours on the cross to speak, there is very little that he said (at least that is recorded for us), but a good way to summarize it would be, “I love you. I love you all – my family, my friends…my enemies.” Knowing who he was and that he was dying for the sins of all of us makes it so much more significant. Let’s take a look at each of his sayings while he hung on the cross . . . 

  1. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). 

As we read the accounts of the crucifixion we are bombarded with the evil and cruelty of the people involved. The Pharisees were inflamed with jealousy over Jesus. Their brutal envy forced them to betray the most innocent blood: and not just any innocent blood: the most gentle, wise, loving, caring prophet, teacher and healer in the land – the Messiah, the Son of God. Judas sold out his Teacher for the price of a slave, betraying him with a kiss. The bloodthirsty Roman soldiers fed off of torturing him. Corrupt, ignorant, vicious Israelites jeered, scoffed and mocked him while he suffered on the cross. Even the other criminals who were crucified next to him laughed at and derided him. This is some pretty evil stuff. It’s one thing when people mistreat you or take advantage of you, but this is people in broad daylight torturing a righteous man and laughing at him over it. 

What was Jesus’ response to all of this? “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Jesus prayed for his torturers. He prayed that they would be forgiven; that they would at some point have their eyes opened to the fact that what they were doing was truly evil, and that they would be delivered from being punished for it. Jesus recognized that there were dark forces enslaving these people – bad religion, corrupt teachings, a fallen world, a depraved heart – that molded these people to be filled with hatred. He wasn’t excusing their sins, but in his pity expressed his desire that they would be freed. Jesus could see past their immediate actions to the loving hands of God that created them. Jesus genuinely loved the people who murdered him. 

Jesus loves you, my friend. You may not believe in God. You may even mock Jesus like many people do in our society today. You may even hate Jesus, and if given the chance – if you were there 2,000 years ago – you would have joined in with the crowd in gladly crucifying him. Just know that he loves you anyway. He wishes goodwill on you even though you hate him. 

Christian, do you love your enemies this way? Jesus’ prayer was answered in your case: you have had your eyes opened. You do understand that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was being nailed to the tree on account of your sins. You have been forgiven by the Father and immeasurably blessed by him. Are you a yielded vessel allowing Jesus to channel that same kind of compassion, love, forgiveness and prayers to those around you? Forgive. Forgive your spouse, your sibling, your parents, your children, your friends and your enemies. Forgive them completely, forever and for everything. Why? Because you have been forgiven the same way. 

  1. “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Jesus was crucified between two criminals. Initially, they both railed on Jesus, but at some unknown point, the one criminal had a change of mind and heart. As the hardened thief was denouncing Jesus, the softened criminal began to rebuke him, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:40‭-‬42). What happened to this man? My guess is that he observed the love, compassion and pity of Jesus for the hateful world and it gripped his heart. He saw how confidently Jesus placed his fate in the hands of God and it birthed in him faith that this truly was the Son of God. He believed and was converted! Right there on his cross! He entrusted his life and eternity to Christ. Jesus turned to him and assured him that they would enter into paradise together that day! Wow! What a story! 

We see here the eagerness of Jesus to save people. Jesus didn’t justly condemn this man for his crimes. He didn’t remind the criminal that he deserved to die. No, this man already acknowledged that much. Jesus didn’t demand him to become religious or jump through any holy hoops to access grace. Jesus wants one thing and one thing alone – allegiance, loyalty, faith. This lawbreaker courageously identified with Jesus right smack in the face of the world in all of its rage against the true God. I’m sure the crowd got a huge laugh at this interaction. But as they laughed on earth heaven rejoiced! Even in this deepest moment of pain and agony Jesus was bringing another lost sinner home with him! 

What a sweet picture – Jesus entering back into glory after his cosmic mission, and who does he bring with him – a condemned criminal, one among the worst on earth! This is representative of who Jesus came to save. He didn’t come to call the “righteous,” but sinners to repentance. This is because there is no one truly righteous on the earth apart from repentance and faith in Jesus. God loves you. He loves the worst of the worst of the worst. He loves those on death row and those guilty of the most vile crimes imaginable. He does not grant us eternal life because we are “good” or religious. People with good standing on earth are not more likely to be accepted by God. Rather, if we love him who took our place on the cross – that is how be gain acceptance with God. We love him and believe in him enough to identify with him who died for us. True faith in Christ is the kind that will die beside him and confess that his crucifixion is our total hope. I hope that you identify with him and that you also will be with him in paradise. 

  1. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

From noon to 3pm, as Jesus was on the cross, God brought a thick darkness over the land. The darkness during midday was a sign of God’s displeasure and wrath. Jesus was always obedient to his Father, but in those moments on the cross Jesus was absorbing the wrath of God in his body for our sins. “For he (the Father) hath made him (the Son) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4‭-‬5). This is the ultimate reason why he said, “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me.” Jesus didn’t displease the Father, but he was receiving the displeasure of the Father on our behalf. Jesus pleased the Father through being obedient unto death – even the death of the cross. He was forsaken – an eternity of perfect union with the Father – SEVERED – so we could be brought near. Praise God. He was dealt with like a hardened, stone cold, depraved, unrepentant, unremorseful world, so that we could be treated like the beloved, faithful, dignified Son of God!   

Another reason Jesus said this on the cross is because he was quoting David from Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” (Psalm 22:1). In short, David was in extreme agony because he was being persecuted by his people even though he was righteous. Jesus was identifying with David on the cross when he cried out this phrase. 

Praise the Lord that we have a Savior who willingly stood in the way of the wrath of God and man for us! The Bible says that God is angry with our sins every day (Psalm 7:11). He is perfectly Just and has perfect hatred against sin. Jesus – the only one who could fully satisfy God’s righteous rage – went to that cross to take our punishment. Amen. He is our King and Defender against the wrath of man. If we desire to be righteous we will have enemies – even those persecuting us into the name of “god” or “truth” or “love.” Thankfully, Jesus was and is willing to take the shame, ridicule and mockery to cheer us up and encourage us along the way. 

  1. “Woman, behold thy son! . . . Behold thy mother!” John 19:26-27

As his torture was coming to a close we have the last four sayings of Jesus. Before he died there was one last bit of unfinished business he had on the earth. He looks down and sees his mother Mary and standing next to her one of his most beloved disciples, John. As he sees them together, there is a natural recognition that this man would be the one to care for his mother after he left. With the world’s guilty burden on his shoulder he did not forget about his precious mother! He said to Mary, “Behold thy Son!” and then he said to John, “Behold thy mother!” I can imagine both of them looking at each other at that moment, perhaps not knowing everything that this would entail for their futures, but knowing that if Jesus was calling for it, then it must be right. 

There are several things going on here in my mind. One thing was that Jesus was entrusting the care of his mother to his disciple. The Scriptures are silent about Mary’s husband Joseph (perhaps he died at some point prior to this?) It seems unlikely that Joseph would never be mentioned again after Jesus’ childhood. Jesus, in caring for his mother, wanted to make sure she would be taken care of by a righteous man. At this point we do not get the impression that Jesus’ brothers were very righteous. So this is very sweet! Amidst all of the chaos of ministry and the pain of torture Jesus didn’t forget to care for those closest to him. He didn’t let rescuing the world take priority over his family. Perhaps at times you feel like no one cares about you? You may be a vulnerable person, such as a widow, or poor or an orphan, or just for whatever reason a lonely, desperate person. Take courage!!! Jesus has not forgotten about you! Yes, he controls the galaxies, making sure they stay on course, and yes, he governs the nations, but he is fully concentrated on your every need as well. He knows how many hairs are on your head. His thoughts towards you cannot be numbered – more than the grains of sand at the beach! There is nothing that will ever separate you from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

But I also see another potential thing happening here. John would care for the mother of Jesus, but perhaps also Mary would care for the disciples of Jesus? He says, “Woman, behold thy Son!” For Jesus’ whole life Mary was unsure and perhaps mystified about who her Son truly was. Even if she understood that he was the Son of God, how could she possibly fully grasp what this meant for her, the world and their future? Mary had the natural motherly impulse to care for her Son, but she also believed in him as her Lord. She was about to lose her Son and her Savior. In the book of Ruth, Naomi went into despair when she lost her husband and sons. Now, here’s Mary losing everything. If the disciples were nervous that their Messiah was dying when he was supposed to reign, imagine how Mary must have felt! I think Jesus was redirecting Mary’s attention to how she could continue to be his Mother after he left. She could now channel her love and passion into serving the body of Christ, which John represented. Mary would be an integral part of the early church. I’m sure she had many opportunities to talk about Jesus to his followers about the glories of his childhood and the early stages of his ministry from her point of view. I’m sure very few other people were smitten so deeply with the love of God when she remembered the crucifixion. 

  1. “I thirst.” (John 19:28)

It is completely understandable that this would come out of the mouth of Jesus on the cross. The dehydration levels were through the roof because of the massive amount of blood loss on top of the crazy amount of physical exertion he experienced beginning the night before. Psalm 22:15 speaks prophetically about this moment, “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death” (Psalm 22:15). The thirst was not unique to Jesus among those who were crucified. What was significant about this scene is who it was that became so thirsty. Jesus was (and is) the Son of God. He knew glory, immeasurable and beyond comprehension. Yet we see him here so completely subjected to the frailties of humanity! Have you ever been so thirsty that you were begging for water? It is a very humiliating thing. Yet, because he loved us, he came to take on our humiliation so that we could be exalted. The Fountain of Living Waters became thirsty so that our spiritual thirst could be quenched. “O God, thou art My God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalm 63:1). “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” (Augustine, Confessions). Our sins rob us of spiritual vitality, deservedly. God’s holiness is not compelled to nourish a sinful heart. There must be some kind of satisfaction of his justice before he opens the sluice of heavenly blessing. Praise God for the willingness of the only One who could unlock it! 

This is such a beautiful statement, as well, on the true nature of Christ. He was totally Human (minus a sinful nature) as is seen here is his thirst. Other places highlight the divinity of Christ, but this one reveals his full humanity. Jesus was conceived in the womb of a woman and had flesh, blood and bones just like we do. He was birthed and breathed the same air we breathe. He got tired, hungry and thirsty. He needed rest and refreshment like we do. The big difference is that he didn’t have to subject himself to these limitations, but he did. He could have stayed in heaven in absolute perfection and limitless satisfaction. He, as God, needed nothing, because he was the source of everything. God never has a Need. However, Jesus willingly laid aside that divine prerogative, so that he could identify with us, suffer and die for us. Now he lives eternally as the God-Man advocating for us as our perfect, compassionate High Priest. He says to you, “I know your thirst: your pain and agony, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Come to me and drink. I paid for it all.”

  1. “It is finished.” (John 19:30) 

No one else has had such a glorious death, ever. At best, the closest parallel that comes to mind is the picture of a war hero who achieves the final victory as they give up their life. Wherever that has happened, it was most likely not willingly, but of necessity. Either way, what is going on here? Why did Jesus say this on the cross at his last moment? It’s clear from the rest of Scripture the whole reason why Jesus came into the world, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus came into the world to give his life as a ransom – a payment for our sins. God’s prescribed way to atone (make amends) for sin is through the shedding of blood, or the giving of a life. “He that sinneth shall die.” “The wages of sin is death.” God demands a life for sins to be forgiven. Jesus – because his life is of great enough value – was able to present it as a sufficient ransom payment for the sins of the whole world. God was satisfied with his offering. 

Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).

He said, “It is finished.” What exactly was completed or accomplished? What work had to be done? It was the work of reconciling God and Man. The mission of redemption was being completed, right then and there. As soon as Jesus took his last breath and actually died, sin was PAID IN FULL! There is now nothing left undone in order to reconcile humanity back to God. There are NO works that we need to do in order to access God’s forgiving and saving grace. All we have to do is come and receive the benefits of Christ’s finished work! 

Some people say, “It’s all about being good. Be good and hopefully you’ll get in [to heaven].” Yet, this is not at all what the sacrifice of Christ teaches us. The crucifixion teaches us that our sin is ugly and that God hates it – detests it so much that he would deliver his own Son to a tortuous, humiliating death. If all we had to do was “be good” then Jesus died in vain. Why would he go through something so horrific if there was another way? Even Jesus prayed that if there was another way for redemption to be accomplished that it would happen, and because there was no other way he gladly submitted to the Father’s will. The only way to be forgiven and given eternal life is as a free gift from God through faith in Christ. And praise God that gift is available to whosoever will come!!!

What do you believe? How are you situated before God? Are you hoping that your goodness is good enough to gain eternal life? Are you really trusting yourself instead of Christ’s finished work? We either approach God seeking his favor based on our own merits or with no merits at all seeking mercy. We cannot have it both ways. I hope that today you will enjoy the rich pleasure of knowing your sins are forgiven and that your account is forever paid in full through what Jesus did for you!

  1. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). 

The final words of Christ before his last breath was a commitment of his life into the hands of God. The whole life of Jesus had always been dedicated and obedient to the Father, but his last moments were the most difficult and painful. He trusted his Father all the way through. 

This statement though, like Psalm 22, is also a quotation from the Old Testament, “Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: For thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth” (Psalm 31:4‭-‬). Jesus, again, is identifying himself with David, who was a truly righteous man, but was being persecuted by his people (unrighteous Israelites) and had God alone to depend on. 

I like the way Peter words this, “…who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). Jesus believed that no matter what mankind did to him it could not overpower the sovereign will and goodness of God. God’s will in an ultimate sense will always be done. God’s Justice will always be satisfied. He will right every wrong in his perfect time. Jesus laid down his life in perfect cooperation with and faith in the Father’s will. Peter was encouraging his readers to follow the example of Jesus. When God calls us to difficult circumstances or to serve difficult people, we must, like Jesus, remember to commit ourselves into the Father’s hands. We must strive to keep the faith and serve in love, knowing that even if mankind ridicules, mocks, or even persecutes us for doing what’s right, God will take notice and make sure to reward us for what we do. 

The writer to the Hebrews also touches on this, “…looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus was laid in the tomb, but he did not stay there! The Father justified Jesus within the space of three days by raising him from the dead! Also, the Church was born and prospered in the first century while Jerusalem was burned to the ground, Judaism destroyed and the Jews scattered around the world in exile! Jesus was most certainly justified. The admonition for us is to follow Jesus’ example. Commit your spirit, your soul, your body, your life, your time, to the Father, and regardless of what man does, God will reward you. We must walk by faith and not by sight. Believe that God is stronger than your worst enemies. 

Conclusion

“Thank you so much, Lord Jesus, for what you did on the cross. Our whole hope is bound up in you and what you did that day. Give us even deeper hearts of gratitude. Help us to always and only serve you out of a heart of love and gratitude and never be motivated by anything else! Grant us the courage and faith to follow your example: to love and serve a fallen world that may brutally hate us and persecute us. Teach us again the power of your cross- that dying is the way to truly Live. We love you. Be glorified today. May many be converted so that you can receive the reward for your sufferings. Amen.”

Works Won’t Work

/ Lee A. Robinson / 1 Comment

How do we gain favor with God? Many people think that we “earn” eternal life by being good, religious and charitable, but works won’t work. Come see what the Bible says will work . . . 

We intuitively know that God wants us to be good and do good. We know that God is good and glorious, so it naturally follows that if we’re to be welcomed into his presence (favorably) then we ought to be good and seek for his glory. This human focused tendency is manifested in every religion mankind has come up with. Though culturally religions vary widely, the core principle of the systems are the same: God requires us to do certain things in order to gain his favor. Roman Catholics must follow the sacraments to hopefully gain eternal life; Muslims must faithfully observe the 5 pillars to gain paradise; Jehovah’s Witnesses must witness and obey the watchtower; Hindus achieve liberation through respect to Karma, etc. It all comes down to being good and doing good. But what does Jesus and the Bible teach?

Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day (the day of judgment), Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto you, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23 It is clear from his teaching here that there are many people who are professing worshippers of God who will be rejected by him. They say, “Lord, Lord…” showing repetition. These are people known to be religious and are consistent in their practice. Not only so, but they even carry a spiritual power: they perform wonderful works. There are people who can do supernatural things and are capable of doing unusual levels of philanthropy and altruism that will be rejected by God. Their works won’t work. Jesus told us in this passage that the person who will enter the kingdom of heaven is “he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 What is God’s will? “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40 Everlasting life is not earned by religious or good things we do, but is rather a gift given to those who believe in Jesus, who trust in the work that HE has done on our behalf.

The apostle Paul made it abundantly clear when he said, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 Eternal life is too precious to be purchased with our good deeds. It is and always will only be a gracious gift from God. Works won’t work, but faith will. Paul, in speaking about his own conversion wrote that God, “…saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Timothy 1:9 

He made this very plain in another passage as well, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-‬7 Favor with God is predicated on the fact that he has shown us mercy. In other words, we have all done wrong and need to be forgiven – this is the first step towards God. Criminals go to jail, not because of their lack of philanthropy, but because they have committed crimes. God has laws, and we have all broken those laws: do not lie, do not steal, honor your parents, etc. We deserve death and judgment from God. If we are attempting to argue our innocence before God’s throne on the basis of our good works, it won’t work. We don’t need a larger portfolio of charitable action, we need a changed heart. Our problem is internal. This is why the passage says that we needed “the washing of regeneration” and “renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Our lives are not naturally like spiritual soup kitchens that just need to feed more people. Rather, we are like abandoned, condemned sleaze motels that need to be torn down and rebuilt by God himself if we are to please him at all.    

Even if it were possible to work your way into heaven, no one’s work would be good enough. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 2:23 Do we really think that we could approach the God who made this universe and has continued to sustain it perfectly would be impressed with our accomplishments??? God rejects sinners who try to pay him off like he’s a corrupt judge. God is good and glorious. The way that pleases him is when we come to him humbly, with repentance, pleading for mercy, and receiving his wonderful gifts. Ultimately, it is set up this way so that he receives all of the glory. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” Romans 3:27 There will be only one person receiving praise in heaven for all of the souls saved and welcomed in – and that is Jesus Christ! 

A simple note of reasoning to think about – If you could work your way into heaven, then why did Jesus need to die???

Good works are good. We should be abounding in good works and pure forms of worship. However, it is only good if it is done from a heart of gratitude and to earn nothing from God.

My Journey In Karate

/ Lee A. Robinson / Leave a comment

Over the past two and a half years my daughters and I have been training in karate (Okinawan Shorin Ru). Tonight is our black belt test – you can pray for us 🙂 Believe it or not in this quick time frame I’ve put in nearly 500 hours at the dojo plus additional time practicing on my own. As part of our test we were asked by our Sensei to write about our journey in karate and how the principles we have learned can be transferred into everyday life. So here is my attempt at that. The areas in which I have been impacted the greatest are: the value of routine & repetition, the necessity for humility and the impact of knowing oneself. 

#1 Routine & Repetition.

Routine.  

Every class in the dojo we follow a standard sequence from the very beginning to the very end: The students all line up facing the wall and wait until the leader of the class says, “What is self discipline?” We reply, “Doing the things I know I should do whether I want to or not.” Then the leader follows up with, “What are the three steps?” and we reply, “Focus your eyes. Focus your mind. Focus your body.” From there we bow and pay respect. We then go through the same exact warm-up/stretching routine followed up with running laps around the dojo (5 on 5). Then we take a quick water break. Then we split into small groups to practice the individual things we’re currently working on. Then we come back together if anyone needs to have a test or do a performance of some kind. Then we “play,” meaning we do some kind of group game. Then we all reconvene for the conclusion of the class, most of the time by reciting our school’s motto.  

Everything is very structured and rote. It reminds me of the order of service in a liturgical church – same structure, just different songs and scriptures. I know many people in the East do view their involvement in their dojo as worship, and I can see why. What is the value of rote routines and drills? The only way we can really grow is in concentrated, focused faithfulness over a particular thing over a long period of time. A healthy body has a consistent, unbroken breathing rhythm and regular sleep patterns. Our lives are structured for strength and discipline when our weeks, days, hours, and even minutes are filled with routine things. Routines are proven to help people be healthier and happier, especially in children. Knowing what comes next allows you to focus on what is now. I am a person who has a natural bend towards spontaneity, changing things up and being flexible. This is good at times, but I think having strong routines in life forces you to challenge yourself in a unique way. I appreciate how karate has helped me in this way.    

Repetition.

Another thought closely related is in repetition . . . In our time so far in karate we have only been taught a handful of strikes, kicks, and blocks and only about 20 drills and katas, but even then they are simply variations of the same basic strikes, kicks and blocks. How many times do you have to practice the same punch or the same kata to master it!? It is said that it generally takes 10,000 hours to truly master a skill. Even though we are testing for a black belt, by this measure it would still mean that I am only 5% down the road of mastering these skills. Haha. This makes sense, because I still feel like a novice when it comes to the punch, or the sidekick, or the katas.   

As I said before, I tend to be the kind of person who likes to do new things: I like to explore new areas of life, new places, try new foods, study new areas of knowledge, etc. I like to travel. I like to change things up. I tend to not prefer the status quo, but see how I can improve something – even if it doesn’t really need improvement. So to experience our karate program as a whole, with all of its monotony – and seemingly no desire to change it – is really impressive to me. What is the lesson? In order to become a master you have to focus on one thing and make it a lifelong pursuit. Whether it be the dojo, the church, the studio, the gym, the shop: you have to be there – every time you’re supposed to be, for the rest of your life. Many times it’s not the environment or program that needs to change, it’s me that needs to change. This change only happens through concentrated, detailed, faithful, repetitive application of oneself to a particular program. How many times do I face the same problems in life in regards to my relationships or bad habits before I get it right? How many times do I have to try to be patient with someone before I get it right? The answer is, “Probably many more times.” If you’re not willing to face the same problem over and over again and focus on handling it right until you master it, it’s not going to happen.  

#2 Humility 

I think most people tend to assume they know something well just because they learned it, but there is a huge difference between being taught a skill and mastering it. It takes humility to accept the fact that I am really not that good – at karate or at life. I’m thankful that we have Sensei’s who rebuke us and will tell us the hard truth. Many of Sensei Colton’s phrases sum it up well: “weak,” “terrible,” “That’s not going to do anything,” “spaghetti arms,” “you have the reflexes of a dead cat,” “I’m offended,” “I’m louder than all of you and I’m not even doing it.”

I am truly unimpressed with how quickly I run out of breath, or how quickly my legs buckle in a good kibadachi stance. 

Most of the time in the dojo we are facing a mirror. If you actually focus and watch yourself in the mirror you don’t look as flawless as you feel like you do when you’re not looking in the mirror. Most people don’t want to see themselves in a picture or listen to a recording of themselves given a speech. We tend to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.

In life we tend to think that just because we have heard the truth and understand it, that it means that we’re also practicing it. Jesus instructed us to love God and one another. Easy enough, right? Easy enough to understand, but how little do I actually practice this? If we have to go over the basics of simple stances and punches literally thousands of times, how much more – if we’re honest – do we have to go over much deeper issues of life, such as love, respect, forgiveness, generosity, kindness, etc. How often, if I could actually step back and watch myself live do I handle conversations and situations with love instead of selfishness, with grace instead of harshness, with joy instead of complaining, with hope instead of discouragement? I need to learn to be humble enough to accept the reality that I live in mediocrity most of the time. God is gracious and merciful and we must ultimately rest in his power to help us to be like him, but it starts with acknowledging that our weaknesses exist and that they still need attention. 

The Bible is our mirror for life. Christ is our mirror. This is why it is important to know the Scriptures well and be reminded of them regularly. If we live our life with spiritual blinders on we will think we are good, but if we constantly compare ourselves to Christ we will see how far short we fall of living up to the good standard we were created to live by.   

#3 Knowing Oneself

It’s funny – our style of karate is pretty basic as far as the system goes, but the way it manifests itself in every person is very different. Every person has a unique stance and posture. Every person has a unique struggle in the dojo – physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. It is really interesting to hear how different people kiai. If we truly go deep down and bring out our true roar with real passion and no embarrassment, the sound that will come out of each person will be very distinct. Most people in their everyday lives do not utter a deep shout out of themselves. Karate is good for this. I think most often we don’t realize what is inside of us until we are faced with some kind of crisis. Being trained regularly for a crisis I think can somewhat help with that. 

I remember one time trying to help a young, very quiet kid who had a visible sense of shame and lack of confidence. He would barely talk and when he did it was very quiet and he wouldn’t look you in the eye. The thought just came to me to take him outside by the woods and just ask him to yell as loud as he possibly could. He looked puzzled and ashamed to do so, but after some prodding he finally did it. He probably thought the whole situation was weird, but I could see something in his eyes – the real him – even for that split second – that I hadn’t usually seen. Karate on the surface is about self defense, but deeper down it is more about self awareness. I don’t know if I have found my deepest “kiai” yet, but even trying is liberating. 

Finding Oneself

Having spent the last few years in regular contact with Sensei Borbon in and out of the dojo, I see a man who has truly found his passion in life and his whole heart and life is in it. He truly believes in the program and is persuaded that it has the power to transform people’s lives, because it transformed his. He is not in it for the money, but is very generous and selfless in the whole enterprise. This is an encouragement to me to continue to press open my heart, see where my true passion is, to receive that calling (and be content with it) and live it with joy, so I become a blessing to everyone around me. For some reason I am attracted to so many different things throughout my life. I have been in pursuit to be a master or professional at many different things, but the reality is, that you can probably only be a master of one thing, or very few things. I think my generation as a whole struggles with identity issues. I am encouraged though to see in Sensei someone who knows who he is and what he is to do.   

It amazes me to see someone who has just a few verses from the Bible that stand as pillars upon which he strives to live. It is better to strive to truly live by a few, unchanging principles than to know hundreds and fully be faithful to none. It is a challenge to me to drill down in my life and find those basic life principles which I live by (or should live by) and to make them my life principles and to strive to conform to them as much as possible, and in the end to be a blessing to those people around me. 

The Journey Continues . . . 

There is much more that can be said about our journey in karate, but these things stand as the main things. Karate has been a great addition to my life and the life of my family. I am grateful for our dojo and Sensei’s, the honor given to Jesus and the Bible, the commitment to challenge and stretch the students, but also to meet them where they are. May the Lord be pleased to give each and every one of us the desire to grow in discovering oneself and putting in the effort to change ourselves to become a black belt in life and to be more like Christ – The Grand Master.