CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
Q & R with Brad Jersak: In whom and when does the Holy Spirit “enter” us?
Question:
Thanks, Brad for bringing so much needed clarity to the issues in your blog posts.
I would love to see more information in regards to the work of Holy Spirit. When does he enter, manifesting his presence as sons, etc.?
Response:
That’s an excellent question, the answer to which has filled volumes of books for two millennia. My brief response will cover just the two major features of your question:
First, “When does the Holy Spirit enter”? Some say we all “receive” the Spirit when we first come to faith in ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
January 2, 2025 -- Quote for the Day
“We don’t impress God with our religious juggling, our spiritual dances, our religious hand-jive, ballet or soft-shoe. He doesn’t award us spiritual points based on our gymnastic religious performances. He intervenes in our lives, lavishing us with his grace, based on his goodness, not ours.
Think of the wise men from the East who came to visit the newborn Jesus. One day they were leading a normal life, doing their astronomical calculations, consulting their star charts, putting in a 9-5 day, ...
Grace at the Crossroads
Greg teaches from Matthew 7:13-14, taking issue with the popular idea of the precise identity of those who journey on the broad road, and, on the other hand, who is traveling on the narrow road.
A Lion and A Lamb
The triumph of the slain Lamb of God, improbable and impossible as it seems, is the triumph of the way of grace.
I Can See! It’s a Miracle! – Ken Williams
A familiar Christian song poses the question, did the Virgin Mary know when she kissed her firstborn baby’s face, that she was kissing the face of God. She had pondered the angel Gabriel’s words, but did she see God, when she looked at the swaddled baby boy she held in her arms? For that matter, what did the baby Jesus see when he looked into his mother’s eyes? What did he comprehend? I don’t know but I do know he was looking into his mother Mary’s eyes, and she was looking at God.
The apostle John’s beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ shares this conclu...
Do You Know Where You Are?
Do you know where you are spiritually? Are you found or are you lost? If you don't know where you are, you need to be found, and you need to listen to today's program.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0278.mp3
PTM in 2025 – Ed Dunn
This Month at PTM - January 2025
Watch a short video and the message on "PTM in 2025" by Ed Dunn as he updates us on the latest from Christianity Without the Religion and Plain Truth Ministries.
https://vimeo.com/1040529890
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
December 31, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“According to ‘Bad News Religion,’ humans need to repent of vices and make every attempt to overcome them and avoid them. According to the cross of Christ, Christians must repent of both vices and virtues. If you are mired in some religious swamp, your own presumed virtues may be a real obstacle that prevents you from accepting Jesus Christ. The cross of Christ means that all we do falls short of God’s perfection, and that nothing we do, be it a vice or a virtue, changes his love for us or his willingness to accept ...
Do You Know Who You Are?
Is Christianity a smooth, comfortable and secure road taking us to a blissful and serene future? Is it the smooth level paved road that we'd prefer, or is it more like a bumpy roller coaster?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0253.mp3
The 1,000 Year Millennium? – Greg Albrecht
Question:
Your perspective on the "1000 year reign" would be appreciated.
Response:
In chapter 11 of my book “Revelation Revolution” I devote several pages to this topic.
In summary to what I have written there, along with some additional perspectives, here are some general thoughts about the “millennium” –
The majority of Christians who are now alive do not subscribe to a literal period of time – 1,000 years as we know time – at the “end” of an age of human history before or ushering in the eternity of the Kingdom of ...
Turning the Corner on 2024 – by Greg Albrecht
Friend and Partner Letter from January 2025:
We made it! We made it through another madcap, tumultuous, challenging and wild roller coaster ride of a year. We made it through 2024! Or, more correctly, by God’s grace we made it. We made it because our Risen Lord empowered and enabled us, living his life in us.
There is great news as we begin this New Year of 2025! God is still in love with you. He cannot love you any more than he already has, because he has loved you, still does and always will… to the MAX! God is absolutely head-over-heels in love with ...
A Good God Who Doesn’t Always Heal? Brad Jersak
In A More Christlike God, I describe the self-revelation of God in Christ, who is self-giving, radically forgiving, and co-suffering Love. That image of God is cruciform, uncontrolling, but still deeply caring.
So how do we hang onto the image of God as a loving heavenly Parent when (1) Jesus told us to pray with boldness and faith, but (2) many of those prayers seem to go unanswered? What gives?
What follows is a dialogue with a friend about these complex and difficult issues:
AF: Hi Bradley:
I have a nagging subject that I found myself questioning ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
December 28, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“The Cross of Christ stands as the crowning, never-to-be surpassed monument to the power of God’s love – when Jesus, out of his love for us, gave us the ultimate gift – himself. The Cross of Christ is the vertical love of God meeting the hatred of our horizontal world – and triumphing over it.
The Cross of Christ is the presence of God in the most ugly, foul and reprehensible evils that will ever occur in the horizontal dimension experienced on our planet earth, taking on his shoulders all the perversion and ...
You Are Forgiven
Are you troubled by whether or not your sins are forgiven? John the Baptist said of Jesus, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Yet we wonder, will God always forgive us? What does it take for us to have absolute assurance that we are forgiven?
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0256.mp3
Confessing “Jesus is Lord” – Brad Jersak
Confessing “Jesus is Lord”
The Bible makes four profound claims about confessing “Jesus is Lord” that defy doctrinal certitude but function to invite faith.
Romans 10:9 — Those who confess “Jesus is Lord” will be saved.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
1 Corinthians 12:3 — No one can confess “Jesus is Lord” except by the Spirit.
“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 7:21 ...
January 2025 Plain Truth Magazine
The January 2025 Plain Truth magazine is now available:
CLICK HERE to read:
Articles:
God's Master Stroke for the New Year – pg. 1
It's All on Rails – pg. 2
Sunsets and Seasons of Life – pg. 5
"Rise Up and Walk!" – pg. 6
Mercy Drops – pg. 7
Quotes & Connections – pg. 8
If you have found our magazines helpful, please consider subscribing (free online). And if you'd like to help us help others, please consider sharing it with others and hitting the "GIVE NOW" button below.
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
December 26, 2024 - Quote for the Day:
“If Jesus had come as a health-and-wealth preacher, then people would have followed him, hoping to improve their physical status in life. He wouldn’t have been despised and rejected – he would have been celebrated.
If Jesus had come predicting the end time, holding huge prophecy crusades, writing a string of best-selling ‘left-behind’ novels, then he would have sold out amphitheaters and stadiums. He wouldn’t have been despised and rejected – he would have been a best-selling author and speaker.
If Jesus ...
More Than Conquerors
Jesus threatened the religion of the Pharisees by healing a man who had been born blind. The man who Jesus healed ran into the buzz-saw of religion, complete with inquisition. Jesus was teaching us that we're more than conquerors through him -- not through religion.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0248.mp3
He’s All In – Greg Albrecht
The word story painted in the first chapter of the book of Job speaks of Satan showing up at God’s house for a visit. Details are not provided, but we get the idea that Lucifer did not bring flowers.
It didn’t take long before the Prince of Darkness started to condemn Job, one of God’s servants. Reading this story the other day, I was thinking of another way we might imagine the Evil One visiting our heavenly Father—but this visit wound up on the cutting room floor when the final version of the Bible was edited.
...
Merry Christ-Centered Christmas
It’s possible to have the experience of Christmas, without coming to know its spiritual implications and significance. Join us for Christmas as we ponder a Christ-centered Christmas.
Plain Truth Ministries | Box 300 | Pasadena, CA 91129-0300
