In case you didn't know this about me, I love theology. Ever since January I have been consumed by the wonders that is systematic theology. In this time, I've read many books, listened to dozens if not a hundred sermons, and I've spent a lot of time in prayer.

I haven't blogged in a long time, I've been busy with college and working, and I've had no time to edit manuscripts down into a point where I can post them on here and maintain profressionalism, so I stopped. I stopped blogging on my Xanga too. I've even recently dramatically decreased all the debating I've done with people.

I've been going through a lot of changes last night, my heart doesn't feel the same, and neither do I. Something is just currently erupting inside of me where I don't feel myself, I feel like the Holy Spirit is just working on my heart inside and helping me understand things because that's what He does.

Now I digress. In case you didn't know, I'm reformed. I'm a Calvinist. I am very stubborn about some beliefs, and because of my view on Calvinism I often try to have people understand where I'm coming from. I'm not saying Arminiasm (polar opposite of Calvinism) is wrong, I'm not saying Calvinism is right, I'm simply working on making a point. The point is that after listening to a sermon segment, it really just makes sesne to me that it's not about Calvinsim and it's not about Arminiasm. Neither of these things matter a single thing in the world when it comes to finding the lost. There is one emphatic point that I want to get across to you all, this is what matters. Regeneration.

Regeneration is a rather disputed topic that exists, but I think to disregard it is silly. Regeneration is simply a part of theology which states that when we are truly saved, we are regenerated and given new birth. Our actions will change, our thoughts will change, our life will change, and our world will change. It will literally fulfill that if one is in Christ the old has gone and the new has come.

To you, as the listeners of Redemption Radio, there is one thing I want to tell you. It's not about the clothes we wear, it's not about the contents of our wallet, the car we drive, or what job we have. It's all about Jesus. It's all about us as truly regenerated Christians seeking to know Jesus more and more and become like Jesus. It's not about turning over a new leaf, or having good and bad days, it's about becoming like Jesus.

As we work our way through these beatitudes, there's one thing I really want to tell you all. Being a Christian, starts at beatitude #1. Blessed are the poor in spirit. This is where Christianity starts, and it follows through with #2. Blessed are those who mourn.

There is a lot of confusion, a lot of peril, a lot of false teaching, and a lot of problems that I see going on in the church today. Kids today proclaim the name of Christ, yet aren't willing to suffer and insult for it, while men in Nicaragua are willing to proclaim the name of Christ, and are willing to be slaughtered at the name. We are all soft and aren't growing or being educated the way that we should be.

While some of you might be more sensitive to this and reject it, or some of you might embrace it, I want to clarify this.

Salvation isnt' praying a prayer. You can get almost any man, if not every man to admit he's a sinner. It's no problem having men admit that they are a sinner. What truly is the difficult task, is hearing a man that hates his sin. Being a Christian starts at hating sin. 1 John is full ot challenges and tasks, it mentions that we must not be like the world, but we must rather be like the Father.

Christianity isn't signing up for a club, it isn't making some conscious decision that you're going to be this new spiritual person. That's what religion is. Christianity is when God lovingly comes to us and transforms our lives from the inside out and conforms us to the image and likeness of His Son. Christianity is hating your sin and hating the evil things of the world. It's an ongoing lifestyle of sanctifcation, and we will ultimately end up in the state of glorification where we are without sin, without blemish, and are perfect before the Father clothed in His righteousness.

Some of you might base your salvation off of a two minute prayer, where you repeated words in verbatim. Yet I am here to tell you salvation is something that happens from the second of regeneration until the very second of glorification. You are always being saved, you are always being sanctified, you are always being restored, and you're always seeking Christ. That's the beauty of it all.

We try to make our Christianity religious, and sing songs, pray prayers, and know the answers to say we're a Christian. And some of you might insist that we can't judge a book by its cover, but Jesus Himself said we can judge a tree by its fruit. When we're a Christian, it's really going to show, it's really going to be evident. It's going to be that we are renewed and restored, and we have this unending passion and desire for Jesus more, and more, and more, and more, and more.

In my closing words and final exhortation to you, I want to encourage you that if you don't hate your sin, you plead before the throne of God this very second. I beg that you pray, and pray, and pray, and pray until God answers your prayer and your sin sickens you to the point of feeling nauseated.

There is so much for me to begin to say to you all, there is so much farther I can take it all. But rest assured, that while some of you may view me as judgmental, cruel, or what have you. I don't know you, but my heart burns for you. My heart has this endless burning desire and passion that you all, whether I know you or not know Jesus. I pray for you all collectively constantly. Before every sermon I pray for your hearts and I pray that God make shake and rock your worlds, that you are built on a firm and solid foundation.

It's not about Calvinism, and it's not about Arminaism anymore. When it all comes down, it's all about Jesus. It's all about us knowing Jesus, it's all about us conforming to Jesus, seeking Jesus, loving Jesus, and just wanting to be with Jesus. That's what Christianity is. It's that endless process of sanctification, and sanctification can only start when we hate our sin and begin to cast it off for the desire and pursuit of Christ.

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