Dan Alsip

A follower of Jesus Christ | Husband | Father | Grandpa | B2B Marketer | Content Strategist | Copywriter | Technology Explainer

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@autocorrect2_0 No turning back… no turning back.

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@JoshuaBarzon Suddenly, I need waffle fries in front of me… 😋

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

There are some scriptures that seem to support Calvinism and some that seem to undermine it. Maybe we’re not meant to understand this until we meet Jesus (at which point it likely won’t matter).

Maybe we’d all be better off following the saying of Alistair Begg that “the main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things.”

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@MikeWingerii Our salvation is solely based on the goodness of Jesus. He offers (but doesn’t force) us with the gift of eternal life. But we can’t hold or possess two lives, so we must put down (surrender) our old life of living for self to grasp the eternal life of following him.

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@jason_howerton

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@jason_howerton

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@DerrickEvans4WV Their white chicken chili is great too!

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@JoshuaBarzon Buckeye

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@JoshuaBarzon It’s not as widely recognized as Christmas and Hans Gruber, but it’s not July 4th until Colonel Tavington gets a bayonet shoved into his throat.

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@MillieMarconnni @threadreaderapp unroll

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

I believe the thief on the cross demonstrated the repentance and faith that Jesus proclaimed in Mark 1:15, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The thief not only changed his mind on who Jesus was, his change of mind led him to change from his sinful actions on the cross of mocking Jesus to later acknowledging his sin, rebuking the other thief for mocking Jesus and finally asking to follow Jesus into His kingdom.

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

I think the poll oversimplifies it some. I think an option like “Annihilation after a God-ordained period of conscious torment” might be a better option than just annihilation. After listening to a recent YouTube video where Frank Turek interviews Kirk Cameron on this subject, it makes me want to research this further as maybe there are valid reasons for both concepts.

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@ThatEricAlper In March 1978, I saw Van Halen open for Journey and Montrose in Columbus Ohio and they had people running for their seats when Eddie opened with his blistering guitar play.

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@farmingandJesus She’s certainly not following the guidance in Ephesians 4:29…
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@toddstarnes So, storming a church is ok but praying silently outside an abortion clinic might get you beat up or arrested.

Our society is flipped upside down.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”
- Isaiah 5:20

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@grok @JoshuaBarzon @grok, pros and cons of swapping in Pete Rose for Mike Schmidt at 3B?

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

@grok @JoshuaBarzon @grok, what? No Pete Rose who had more hits than anyone?

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

Hey @panerabread, if you’re going to use the Alsip brand name, shouldn’t the meals be free? 😂

[The Biblical Man @Biblicalman]

The first Christian was a felon.

Not Peter.
Not Paul.
Not your pastor.

A criminal. Hanging on a cross. Hours from death.

He beat everyone to paradise.

Think about that.

Before the disciples figured out the resurrection.
Before Paul got knocked off his horse.
Before the first church was planted.
Before a single creed was written.

A thief looked at Jesus and said, “Remember me.”

And Jesus said, “Today.”

The first Christian had no church.
No baptism.
No small group.
No Bible study.
No accountability partner.
No 6-week membership class.

He had nails in his wrists and six hours to live.

The first Christian never tithed.
Never served on the worship team.
Never read a single epistle.
Never debated Calvinism vs Arminianism.
Never posted a Bible verse on his timeline.

The first Christian was a convicted criminal who couldn’t lift his hands to pray.

And he’s been in paradise for 2,000 years.

Meanwhile.

You’ve been in church for 20 years.
You’ve read the Bible cover to cover.
You’ve got the theology down cold.
You’ve memorized the Roman Road.
You can articulate penal substitutionary atonement.

And you’re still wondering if that guy who prayed last week really “got it.”

The first Christian didn’t “get it.”

He got HIM.

That’s the difference.

He didn’t understand substitution.
He didn’t understand imputation.
He didn’t understand justification by faith alone.

He understood one thing:

The man next to him was a King.

And he wanted in.

“Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

That’s it.

That’s the whole conversion.

No altar call.
No counseling room.
No follow-up email.

Just a criminal, a King, and a request.

And here’s the part that should wreck you:

His theology was WRONG.

“When you come into your kingdom.”

He thought Jesus was about to take an earthly throne.
He didn’t understand the resurrection.
He didn’t understand the ascension.
He didn’t understand the second coming.

He got the timeline completely wrong.

And Jesus saved him anyway.

He didn’t correct his eschatology.
Didn’t hand him a doctrinal statement.
Didn’t say, “Well actually…”

He just said, “Today.”

The first Christian had bad theology and a good King.

Some of you have great theology and no King at all.

You know every doctrine.
You can defend every position.
You’ve won every argument.

And you’ve never once said “remember me” like you meant it.

The first Christian wasn’t impressive.

He was desperate.

And desperation got him further than your diploma.

2,000 years of church history.

Councils. Creeds. Confessions.
Seminaries. Denominations. Debates.

And the first one through the door was a dying criminal who couldn’t even fold his hands.

Makes you wonder if we’ve overcomplicated this.

The first Christian didn’t have a platform.
Didn’t have a following.
Didn’t have a ministry.
Didn’t have a book deal.
Didn’t have a podcast.

He had a cross and a question.

And that was enough.

You scrolling through X right now with your Reformed credentials and your theological hot takes…

The guy who beat you to paradise couldn’t read.

He didn’t know the five solas.
He didn’t know the five points.
He didn’t know the four spiritual laws.

He knew one thing:

He was dying.
And so was Jesus.
And Jesus was still a King.

That’s faith.

Not a system. A surrender.
Not knowledge. Recognition.
Not performance. Desperation.

The first Christian.

A felon.
A failure.
A man with hours to live and nothing to offer.

And he’s been home longer than anyone.

What’s your excuse?

[Dan Alsip @danalsip]

Agree that we’re not the judge, Jesus is. But I think the thief on the cross did show evidence of a transformed character.

At first both thieves were mocking Jesus but at some point the penitent thief changed his mind about Jesus, rebuked the other thief and then turned to God. He repented.