"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Jesus Christ & Edsel Ford: Examining the Uniqueness of the Only Son

By Shane Kastler

There is a very special relationship between a father and a son. Sometimes it is extraordinarily strained, while other times they are extremely close. But it is a relationship that is unique in many ways. Not like any other.

When Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company decided he would step aside and appointment someone to replace him as president there was only one real, legitimate candidate. Henry had only one child, and that child was a son named Edsel. He had been enmeshed in the family business his entire life and not surprisingly he assumed the presidency at his father's retirement. While he had many qualifications that might make him a viable candidate; he had something else that no one else at Ford Motor had. He was Henry's son. He had the same bloodlines. He had the same genes. He was of the same nature as Henry, both of them being “Fords.”

In similar ways, the same could be said for God. Both Father and Son have the very same nature. There is no one else who has a relationship as unique as Jesus the Son does to God the Father. They are both divine; they are both eternal; they both rule as one who is sovereign. The author of Hebrews wrote this of Jesus: “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” (Hebrews 1:3 NASB) If you read through the first chapter of Hebrews you quickly find that Jesus is unique. He is begotten, but not created. He is the first-born in status, but not formed as other humans are. He has always been, never sinned, then died and rose again. There is simply none like Jesus. Do you know him as Lord and Savior?

The Bible calls us to turn from our sin in repentance and submit to the Son by faith. The only way we can know the Father is through the Son. And for this to happen, the Holy Spirit (the third member of the Trinity) must open our spiritual eyes. If you don't know Jesus, then you can't know God. It's as simple as that.

Edsel Ford sometimes used his name and power to get friends into the company as employees. It helped to know the son, though at times the son and the father disagreed on various issues. But this is not so with the Godhead. Perfect unity. No sin. No darkness. Complete joy and perfection. And by His grace we too can take part in this relationship. Edsel can't help you at all. But Jesus can help you eternally. Trust in Him, know the Father, and be saved today.

Christ Gave Himself

By Shane Kastler

It is a remarkable thought to consider that someone would give their life for you. It's even more remarkable if you consider that “someone” to be God Himself. And furthermore, the amazement of this fact grows even more when we realize that this gift is something that none of us deserve.

When the Apostle Paul thought upon the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, he marveled at what Jesus had done for him. You might remember Paul's history. He was once a blasphemer who hated Jesus and hated His followers. When the first Christian was martyred for his faith, it was Paul (also known as Saul) who had taken part in the execution. In Acts 7 we are told that Stephen was stoned to death as Saul gave his hearty approval to the entire violent scene. Yet God showed Saul grace.

The Lord changed Saul and granted him a repentant heart and a brand new life. He who once tried to destroy Christianity had himself become a Christian. This did not happen because of anything good within Paul, but rather because of the goodness and grace of the Lord. Many years later as Paul considered these matters he was humbled. He wrote to the Galatians these words: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NASB)

Jesus loved Paul and He gave himself for Paul. The same can be said of every Christian. Are you a follower of Jesus? Then rest assured the reason for this is not that you were good, but that Jesus was good. You didn't become a Christian because you initially loved God, but rather it was because He loved you. You did not pay for your own sins, indeed no one can. But rather, Christ “gave Himself” for you.

There is an old hymn that speaks of God's grace as being “greater than all our sins.” Regardless of what you have done, the payment of Christ is sufficient to pay for it. Will you turn from your sin in repentance and place your faith in Christ today? The love of Christ is a glorious thing. His grace is truly amazing. Paul came to understand that. Hopefully you will as well; and you too will be able to bow your head and humble your heart with awestruck wonder at Christ “who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”

Apologetics Audio Links from Greg Bahnsen

The late Greg Bahnsen excelled at presenting a Presuppositional method of defending the faith.  As a student of Cornelius Van Til; he taught that man knows God but suppresses this knowledge in unrighteousness.  Yet, this is God's world and even sinners must live in it.  Therefore they adopt from the Christian worldview to try and argue their case against Christianity.  They use universal laws of sceince, logic, and morality; even though their atheistic worldview cannot account for such conformity.  The following audio links were 5 lectures Bahsen gave in 1991 to a group of college freshman.  He did a masterful job of teaching them how to defend the faith; and he did so in terms they could understand.  Here are the links:

Lesson 1:  The Myth of Neutrality (Click here to listen or download)

Lesson 2:  Introduction to Worldviews (Click here to listen or download)

Lesson 3:  Worldviews in Conflict (Click here to listen or download)

Lesson 4:  Defending the Christian Faith (Click here to listen or download)

Lesson 5:  Problems for Unbelieving Worldviews (Click here to listen or download)