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NASB | 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. |
Subject: Theology of Glory versus the Cross |
Bible Note: Hi, Jesusman... The Osteen quote is from the October 14, 2007 broadcast of ABC's 60 Minutes. You can hear it for yourself at cbsnews.com. In the interview he cited no Scripture. However, as I recall, he stated that his teachings were based on Scripture. I was actually more impressed with Byron Pitts than Joel Osteen. He did a wonderful job of zeroing in on the real issues. He even pointed out after a critique of Osteen's Sunday message, "Not one mention of God in that? Not one mention of Jesus Christ in that?" (It is a challenge to base one's teachings on Scripture and not mention God!) Nevertheless, there was a great little commentary by Professor Michael Horton of Westminster Seminary in there. Joel Osteen was also on Larry King Live in 2005. King asked him, "If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They're [Jews and Muslims] wrong, aren't they?" Osteen answered, "Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus." Hmmm... that sincerity must be potent stuff! However, I would think a relationship with Jesus would at least start with getting His message straight. Anyway, you're right... context is important! Watch Osteen on TV or read his books if you like. I'd not advise it as the best use of your time, but I think you can ferret out the context from easily accessible public documentation. With enough squinting and selective reading you might be able to find something that looks a little like the gospel. In Him, Doc "To the question, 'What must I do to be saved?' the old gospel replies: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. To the further question, 'What does it mean to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?' its reply is: it means knowing oneself to be a sinner, and Christ to have died for sinners; abandoning all self-righteousness and self-confidence, and casting oneself wholly upon Him for pardon and peace; and exchanging one's natural enmity and rebellion against God for a spirit of grateful submission to the will of Christ through the renewing of one's heart by the Holy Ghost. And to the further question still, 'How am I to go about believing on Christ and repenting, if I have no natural ability to do these things? it answers: look to Christ, speak to Christ, cry to Christ, just as you are; confess your sin, your impenitence, your unbelief, and cast yourself on His mercy; ask Him to give you a new heart, working in you true repentance and firm faith; ask Him to take away your evil heart of unbelief and to write His law within you, that you may never henceforth stray from Him." --J. I. Packer |