From: kjh@pollux.usc.edu (Kenneth J. Hendrickson)
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: Re: Knowing HaShem
Date: 27 Jul 1992 16:13:48 -0700
Organization: EE-Systems, USC, Los Angeles
NNTP-Posting-Host: pollux.usc.edu

In article <1992Jul27.171056.18041@news.eng.convex.com> swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) writes:
>I too was a little disturbed by Kenneth's mention that "positive relations"
>are not a worthy goal of themselves.  If everything we do is only aimed at
>getting a conversion, . . .

Let me clarify my statement.  I am not opposed to having "positive
relationships" with Rabbinic Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Pagans, etc.  What
I am opposed to is having "positive relationships" without also sharing
the good news about Messiah Yeshua.  Having positive relationships "as
an end in itself" without also sharing the gospel is not loving nor
kind.

In addition, your above statement illustrates a misconception of how
HaShem saves His elect.  *We* don't get conversions.  We merely present
the message.  The good news of Messiah Yeshua, and Him crucified, is
*itself* the power of HaShem for salvation.

Let me quote a friend of mine, Michael Scott Horton, speaking about
"felt needs":
	If I, as a minister of the gospel, don't make my listeners
	experience a "felt need" of deliverance and forgiveness of sin
	from the face of the God who is an Holy all-consuming fire,
	then I've failed as a communicator of the gospel.

Rob Strom, please read the above paragraph again.  The Christian message
is an offense!  It was designed to be by HaShem Himself.  Man doesn't
want to hear that he is evil and morally despicable, and that he is
incapable of doing good until God changes his nature.  Man doesn't want
to hear that he is spiritually dead in his sins and trespasses, and is
incapable of believing in Yeshua and repenting, until God changes his
nature.  Man doesn't want to hear that both faith in Yeshua and
repentance are not self-generated, but that both are gifts from God.
Man doesn't want to hear how all of us deserve to go to hell, yet there
are some of us whom HaShem has chosen (elected) to forgive and save from
this fate, in spite of our rebellion against Him.  Yet, we who have been
given these great gifts of faith, repentance, and salvation by HaShem,
are also commanded by Him to tell everybody of our good fortune to be
removed from the kingdom of hell and placed in the kingdom of heaven--
and that all of HaShem's doing.  We are commanded not to change nor
water down the message.

So Rob, here's the message one more time:  Both you and your young
children have evil sinful natures.  You are an offense to HaShem, who is
supremely Holy.  HaShem's righteous wrath will soon descend upon you in
all its fury, unless you repent and believe in HaShem's righteous Son,
Messiah Yeshua.  However, HaShem has chosen many of us, and those He
*will* save.  All of those whom HaShem has given to Messiah Yeshua will
come to Him and believe.  All those who come to Messiah Yeshua will be
accepted by Him, and none will be turned away.  Messiah Yeshua is our
propitiation (sacrifice that turns away HaShem's wrath), and His
righteousness is given to us as a free gift.  Messiah Yeshua is the only
possible salvation.  Believe in Messiah Yeshua, tell everybody that
Yeshua is YHVH, and believe that HaShem has raised Him from the dead,
and you *shall* be saved.

-- 
"Arguing about predestination is virtually irresistible."    --RC Sproul
Ken Hendrickson N8DGN/6       kjh@usc.edu       ...!uunet!usc!pollux!kjh