I Quit - The Jesus Trip

Many think that "faith" is a self-generated attempt at believing in God. In this sense, faith could be wrongly defined as a self-work. In this week's episode, John gives a true definition of faith, not as a product of human willpower. Instead, faith is a gift that is marked by the flavor of rest, trust and abandonment of human effort. The scriptures literally show us that to have faith means to "give up"!
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Category:

Education

Tags:

• John Crowder
• Mystical Union
• Seven Spirits Burning
• Faith
• Trust
• Predestination
• election
• limited atonement
• double predestination
• universalism
• calvinism
• armenianism
• grace
• willpower

[Buckyrhino]

John - in the below Q&A, you mention asking forgiveness of sins. This is a BIG can of worms in Grace circles. Can you expound quickly on 1John 1:9 versus 1John 2:1? Some (mostly those under the mixture of law and grace) say we must confess every sin or be separated from God. I say that negates the work of the cross & is an invitation to salvation, and 2:1 is then Jesus pleading our case before the Father after we are saved. If we have to confess every sin to restore fellowship = self works.

[SonsofThunderPub]

@Buckyrhino I agree. Christ entered in as High Priest to absolve us of sin once for all. Every sin you commit is a "future" sin from the vantage point of the cross. We don't need to go around navel gazing, looking for sins to repent of and individually confess. However ... if we do something wrong, I think its mentally and emotionally helpful for us to recognize it and maybe even feel some momentary remorse. As James says, "Confess ... that you may be healed." But it's not a salvation issue.

[bettcher777]

John,

What about the Command to Repent? Mark 1:15 and Acts 17:30-31 and Acts 26:20b, and Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19.

I do commpletely agree that Faith is a Gift, but what about Repentance? those passages are very clear arent they? and what about Phil 2:12-13-"work out your salvation" (I know that verse doesnt mean we save ourselves by works but how do you understand it)?

Thanks much!

Nick

[SonsofThunderPub]

@bettcher777 Repentance is a fruit of salvation, not a prerequisite. AS Way translation is best to see what "work out your salvation" means. Has nothing to do with your self effort - just the opposite. Literally means "work it out with fear and self-distrust, ay, trembling self-distrust." Don't trust yourself in any way for this salvation! :) That negates Christ's finished work. The passage goes on to say it is God who is working through you. Much more on that verse in my book Mystical Union.

[shill700]

love it - i've realised for a few years now that 'giving up' is one of the most under-rated things in Christianity

[stacydenboer]

That's it right there!! Man cannot boast.. end of story!!!

[InTheOrderOfEzekiel]

by the way... in Hebrew emunah (=faith) אמונה has the same root as the word mother - em אם and thus, it goes along well with the whole nurturing side... faith has a feminine part to its side... you drink it up as a baby drinks from a mother

[shuminahdingydong]

I think the key is understanding he chose you and maintains that union by his power you just yield and enjoy it you might have a break from the river but just cause you hop out for a little bit and do some 'outter' kingdom things doenst stop the river from flowing you cant stop it you dont have a choice in that regard

[exstasis7]

And now he's wearing glasses just like Jim Jones to cover up his eys :P !

Seriously, good word man. It's a really good synopsis of grace theology. Much love to you, John! Keep on truckin' in the Holy Ghost... or I guess I should say, keep letting Holy Ghost truck *you* around ^_0 .

[bettcher777]

Thanks for all the replies on my first question..

John,

another question i have.. if i may?

John, people have accused you of having "false experiences" with God in the past, and from that i ask if when someone doesnt have a particular "experience" with God, how can one say "they do not believe enough" or dont have "enough faith?" (as does happen in Charismatic groups) doesnt that end up really meaning that they "must Beleive (by willpower)" in order to have a God experience? wut ya think?

[GeraldOwens1954]

Thanks for your almost-insane emphasis on the centrality of the Cross in your books "mystical union" and "Seven Spirits burning": the Spirit was able to use your faithfulness to finally get it into my head not only WHY the Cross is central, but even showed me how to "appropriate" it: The Holy Spirit is the inheritance left by Jesus to his brethren. Some of us may have to fight our way into it, but once in, WE REST AND ENJOY IT.

[SpeakingTheWord]

which iPhone app is that with the Mirror translation??

[memast5]

LOL I quit looking for work and just believe for work.