Zoarean's Purse

The Good, The Bad, & the Ugly (part 2)

2011-09-16T07:55:00.016-04:00

Part 1 has addressed the issue of an overly ecumenical stance from some professing Christians to be unequally yoked to non-believers with the supposed bond of a uniformity of belief in God. But is all belief in “God” the same? Comparing Scripture, that which should solely form all that the Christian believes, with the beliefs of Hindus & Muslims, or even with the Mormon & Jehovah Witness sects, would show the vast differences across the spiritual spectrum. Most fundamentally, what sets the Christian apart from all other religion & all deceiving sects is accepting & embracing the fact that Jesus is Lord, over all physical & spiritual creation, even the full measure of anthropos’ existence. No creature is outside the scope of Christ’s ability to give both physical & spiritual birth, nor His capacity to judge such that He gives life unto (Heb. 1:2, John 5:21-23).

So we embrace Christ as Lord & as the sole mediator between God & man. Furthermore, we believe this, in part, because of a conviction in our soul; but what must primordially form our belief is the witness of God’s written Word. There was a time we can recall when that conviction existed not, but Scripture’s witness remained yet steadfast. Our convictions matter tremendously, but there always remains the possibility of even the most ostensively committed Christian losing their senses & turning away from Christ (Gal. 1:8). Scripture alone, not man’s intuitions, is solely sufficient for forming something as central to our life as our convictions. God’s Word is the physical, tangible anchor to our soul in the storm of life.

Therefore, being that these are two central tenets to Christian life, we rightly can & should judge whether someone speaks from the Spirit of Christ or the spirit of the flesh, particularly by their dedication to these two fundamentals. It is unfortunate that Rev. Benke, a pastor & leader in the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod lead prayers at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 23, 2001 in the manner that he did. Just to make clear his failing & give assurance that we are not taking any of his statements out of context, allow me to present the full transcript of his prayer that day:

“Oh, we’re stronger now than we were an hour ago. And you know, my sisters and brothers, we’re not nearly as strong as we’re going to be. And the strength we have is the power of love, and the power of love you have received is from God for God is love. So take the hand of one next to you now and join me in prayer on this field of dreams turned into God’s house of prayer.

O Lord our God, we’re leaning on you today. You are our tower of strength and we’re leaning on you. You are our mighty fortress, our God who is a rock. In you do we stand. Those of us who bear the name of Christ know that you stood so tall when you stooped down to send a son through death and life to bring us back together.

And we lean on you today, O tower of strength. Be with those who mourn the loss of loved ones. Bring them closer to us day-by-day. O heavenly father, we pray at this time that you might extend Jacob’s ladder for those who ascended the stairways to save us as others escaped the fire and flames. O tower of strength, open innocent and victimized hearts to the sacrifice of the innocent one. Pour your consolation upon the promised eyes, especially our children.

O heavenly father, unbind, unfear, unscorch, unsear our souls, renew us in your free spirit. We’re leaning on you, our tower of strength. We find our refuge in the shadow of your shelter. Lead us from this place strong to bring forth a power of your love wherever we are in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”

To be clear, we are not criticizing him for a failure to speak of Christ. He does so, & commendably even indicates the significance of Christ’s death, as well the cross’s ability to reconcile God & man. Our issue is not in the general indicatives of that 2nd paragraph, but the specific imperative he gives his audience at the end of the first, & what that says about the his view of Christ, despite the 2nd paragraph’s apparent soundness of doctrine. It is not his words concerning Christ that we question, but his action that surrounds those words.

As the video illustrates, the audience he instructs to “hold hands…& join (him) in prayer” is clearly & purposely made up of every kind of religious belief the melting pot of NYC has to offer. It seems, by the transcript of the entire proceedings, each & every one was accorded an opportunity to pray to his particular deity. Muslims sang & read from the Koran, & made statements like “I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God”. Sikhs prayed to their god. Hindus prayed to “guru fathers”. A Roman Catholic prays to Mary. And yet in the very midst of all this adoration for lying religion, we have a supposed disciple of Martin Luther, no less, throwing the majestic name of Christ into the mix, as if it represents nothing more than just another name, just another form, of for the same deity that all the others are addressing. One must wonder, does he really believe that one & all, they address the same God? More precisely, what does this say of his view of Christ? Can Christ really be thought of being one & same with the Muslim’s “Allah” when the Koran calls Christ nothing greater than a prophet (The Koran: “Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them…Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah…say not "Three”…Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son”) & even denies that Christ died upon the cross, therein also denying His life-giving resurrection (“they slew him not nor crucified him…but Allah took him up unto Himself.”) Can this image of Allah & the Christian’s picture of Christ as God ever be as one?

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Apparently for those in attendance, it can. It is of no surprise that the Rev. Calvin Butts, a proponent of the entirely unbiblical & Marxist “liberation theology” (recall the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of President Obama’s former assembly) can call for a joining of hands in prayer, as he is clearly heretical. But for a supposed representative of the Augsburg Confession to join his God to theirs in this way is untenable at best & utter blasphemy at worst. It is interesting to note that Butts is the only other ostensive Christian at the podium that day to call for all in attendance to hold hands & join him in prayer. Since Butts was the one to precede him, maybe Benke felt obliged to do the same. We’ve all bowed to peer pressure to do things we’ve regretted later. So I would imagine the members of the LCMS honestly believed he would be open to their rebuke & repudiate his reference to this vast gathering of disbelievers in Christ’s glory as “God’s house of prayer”.

"I am ecumenical wherever I go, that is the problem” − David Benke, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/10/02

Disturbingly, he not only refused to repudiate his actions that day, but presses on with his heresy in a public campaign against the those of his own body calling him to account! Their formal rebuke was private, constrained within LCMS church structure, but his response was to publicly assail their motives. He decided to retain a law firm & take every opportunity to publicly libel the faith of those doggedly holding to Scripture’s image of Jesus as the only “way”& the only “mediator between God & men”. It speaks especially poor of his character that he chose to take this fight outside the bounds of his church, & into the court of secular public opinion. To this day, as the posted recent video clearly demonstrates, he not only continues to stand by his actions that day, but he also presses on to publicly vilify those of his own assembly who refuse to lose sight of Lutheran roots in, of all the crazy things, Luther, & his attendance to sound Biblical principles, as spelled out in the 28 articles at Augsburg nearly 500 years ago. In it, Luther was likewise addressing those of his day who sought to diminish the central & fundamental positional role of Christ…

“The churches, with common consent among us, do teach that the decree of the Nicene Synod concerning the unity of the divine essence and of the three persons is true, and without doubt to be believed: to wit, that there is one divine essence which is called and is God, eternal, without body, indivisible [without part], of infinite power, wisdom, goodness, the Creator and Preserver of all things, visible and invisible; and that yet there are three persons of the same essence and power, who also are co-eternal, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And they use the name of person in that signification in which the ecclesiastical writers [the fathers] have used it in this cause, to signify, not a part or quality in another, but that which properly subsists. They condemn all heresies which have sprung up against this Article, as the Manichees, who set down two principles, good and evil; in the same manner the Valentinians, Arians, Eunomians, Mohammedans, and all such like. They condemn also the Samosatenes, old and new; who, when they earnestly contend that there is but one person, do craftily and wickedly trifle, after the manner of rhetoricians, about the Word and Holy Ghost, that they are not distinct persons, but that the Word signifies a vocal word, and the Spirit a motion created in things.” Article 1, The Augsburg Confession

By specifically vituperating those who espouse no belief in the Biblical Christ, Luther, Melanchthon, et al. demonstrate utter opposition to the very manner of ecumenicism that Benke professes. As if there was ever doubt of his position in contrast to the Confession, Benke let slip his real belief on Feb. 18, 2003 when he incontrovertibly stated, in an e-mail exchange, his position that “the Muslim God is also the true God”.

Dr. Wallace Schulz, who was at that time the Second Vice President of the Synod, would be the one to formally charge Benke with the act of syncretism. As Benke would offer no apology, publicly or privately, on July 6, 2002, Schulz suspended him. It would seem good congregationalist church structure had won the day for orthodoxy. But, like cockroaches, you’ll never know how extensive your infestation is until you turn on the kitchen light in the dark of night. Shockingly, on April 10, 2003 the Synod’s president, Gerald Kieschnick, reinstated Benke on the grounds that he had appointed him to deliver the prayer. This absolved Benke of the charge of syncretism under LCMS rules, for it was now argued that he was simply acting in obedience to Kieschnick, his superior at the time.

Benke’s case polarized the Synod. Now it was no longer a fight for Biblical integrity in a mere district of the most orthodox representation of Lutheranism on American soil, but the Synod as a whole. By defending Benke, President Kieschnick revealed his own poor image of Christ. As Schulz succinctly summarized:

“If the Panel’s decision is permitted to stand unchallenged, its impact will reach far beyond the Benke case, fundamentally changing our Synod and leading it to resolve spiritual issues on the basis of men’s opinions rather than God’s Word.” - Dr. Wallace Schulz, official letter to LCMS Secretary Raymond Hartwig, May 11, 2003

Kieschnick won reelection in both 2004 & 2007, probably for the same reasons he was originally elected in 2001- his reputation for prospering church growth. He was well known for his ties to non-Lutheran mega churches in his prior years as the Texas District’s President, where he oversaw its 12% growth rate that looked especially favorable when compared with national numbers that shrank within the same time frame. But in retrospect, it is no surprise that he could grow membership when one considers his very inoffensive message that compels the proselyte to bear no cross of any real substance. His Gospel Lite message simply adds Christ to whatever it is one already thinks about God, the way that some “preachers” simply add a standard single tag line about Christ at the end of their so-called “sermon” every week. No doubt, he would have to have been doing something incredibly wrong to not be filling churches to the rafters in the course of leading his congregations towards the fairy tale Osteen sort of Christianity. The true Gospel always has been & always will be offensive to all who cannot accept it.

Matthew 10:34-39 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (35) For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (36) And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. (37) Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (38) And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (39) Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Thankfully, a good majority of the LCMS finally came to their senses & replaced Kieschnick in 2010 with Matthew C. Harrison. The new president seems desirous to heal the major rifts in the church that actually date back to the Synod’s Concordia Seminary battling to maintain the concepts of sola Scriptura & inerrancy in the late 1960’s. The Synod had been going through a similar battle with many of its seminarians espousing the higher-criticism method of interpreting Scripture. Naturally, this method appeals to liberals as it generally results in a picture of Christ as not supernatural, but just another “good teacher”. This small view of Christ fits well with large scale ecumenicism & a “social” Gospel that centers on man’s work, in missions & such, instead of upon God’s work on the cross. The Synod elected a conservative, one J.A.O. Preus, principally to resurrect the concept of the Bible’s inerrancy.

President Harrison seems intended to heal the strife by taking direct aim at the “Center” of the problem:

“People follow conviction, not coercion. That’s why theology, the Gospel and all its articles, is and has to be the force which binds us. Missions are not the binding center of the church’s life. The Gospel is. And where this is actually so, there is mission aplenty. Dale Meyer has nailed the issue in a recent brief, but penetrating, editorial titled, ‘Where is the Center?’

'There, I believe, is the Center: A theological enterprise centered in the
Scriptures of Christ. Such a Center is manifest in congregations walking
together because we talk together about our shared confession of the doctrines
of the Gospel. There are very few reasons left to perpetuate the Synod except
that we want to bind ourselves together around these doctrines and voluntarily
hold ourselves accountable to one another for the theology we preach and teach.
. . . We need each other, not so much for structured work as for nurture and
growth in the full Word that leads to salvation. . . . Theology can’t just
underlie; it has to be our Center'”- “It’s Time”

He quotes a past Synod president:

“Hence, if a church-body wishes to be preserved from party spirit or be cured of this malady when it has broken out, the only remedy is diligent study of God’s Word. The Word of God has the property of unifying and preserving in unity. Those who say that doctrines should not be discussed in order to avoid divisions within the church do not know what they are talking about. Luther writes in the Smalcald Articles:
‘Therefore the church can never be better governed and preserved than if we all live under one head, Christ, and all the bishops, equal in office (although they be unequal in gifts), be diligently joined in unity of doctrine, faith, Sacraments, prayer and works of love.’”

He gives a 3-part plan for courage in the fight:

"The challenges we face are many, and it will take courage to face them. There is a great deal of fear and discouragement these days in the church. Believe me, Luther’s knees were knocking when he gave his “Here I Stand” speech before the world. And ours will be too. But courage is simply fear that has been baptized. Luther noted three things that gave him courage:
1. First, repentance, because repentance is the path to a good conscience before God. And a good conscience frees one to act, to dare something for Christ and the Gospel. “A good conscience fills a man’s heart with courage and boldness.”
2. The clear Word of God, because we are not left wondering what the will of God is, paralyzed and unable to act. If I know clearly that my action is consonant with God’s Word, I can have courage that he shall bless, come what may. “Christian faith is ready to rest completely on God’s Word with all confidence and courage, and then to go joyfully on its way” (Luther).
3. Sacred vocation, because we can have courage that the Lord has placed us in this place, in this Synod, for this moment. Now is the time for courage, and to get our act together. The situation is ripe and brings to mind a statement of Luther: When the situation is hopeless and all plans and efforts are in vain, then be courageous, and beware of giving up; for God calls all things from the dead and from nothing. When no resource or hope at all is left, then at last God’s help begins."

Though desirous to heal the Synod in its entirety, he is not living in fantasy land in regards to compelling the most hardened liberals towards this Biblical Gospel “Center”:

“It is possible to unify 85% of the Synod in doctrine, practice and mission, I’m convinced.”

The big question is how does he plan on dealing with the remaining 15%? As of now, David Benke still holds both his NYC pastorship & position as Atlantic District President…

This all bears great import because of the fact that, while much of the larger Lutheran church has regretfully fallen under the spell of “higher criticism”, the LCMS has its roots in the forthwith departure of Christ focused & Bible centered believers from that larger assembly in the mid 19th century. But merely leaving the fellowship of heretics does not free us to thereafter blithely live without thought to continue to adamantly counter heresy at its every beastly appearance. We do well to keep in remembrance the admonitions of the apostle:

2Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: (2) preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (3) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, (4) and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (5) As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Acts 4:11-12 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. (12) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly (part 1)

2011-09-12T10:23:00.008-04:00

The 9/11 tragedy has illuminated the good, the bad, & the ugly of American society. We saw great acts of sacrifice in the moments & days afterward, which should inspire concordant reflection within believers upon the greatest act of sacrifice ever performed, that of Jesus Christ. In the months, years, now decades since, good preachers across this land have used those acts of heroism to illumine the Son of God hanging upon a tree, as well as pressing believers to sacrifice likewise in spiritual manifests. By God’s inspiration, these preachers find the golden nuggets in this tragedy & use them for His glory. As with Joseph, what is meant for evil, is turned for good (Gen. 50:20).

Nevertheless, this tragedy has also brought forth bad preachers & the ugliness of a doctrine that attempts correspondence with the Father outside of His glorious Son. Jesus taught “no one comes to the Father except through Me”. And the context of that clear indicative gives even more strength to it:

John 14:6-13 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (7) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (8) Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." (9) Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (10) Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (11) Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. (12) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (13) Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Overly ecumenical preachers who seek bonds with people that do not “ask in (Christ’s) name” as they beseech God must be questioned as to whether they themselves know either the Father or the Son. Ecumenicism is good as it unifies the true body of Christ in course of community actions. But, as the referenced text shows, one must know the Son to know the Father, then one must ask in the Son’s name, with honor for the Son’s resplendent glory, to possess any confidence in having the Father’s ear. Prayers offered hand in hand with Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, & rabbinical Judaism cannot & do not appeal rightfully to Jesus Christ as Lord of Lords, Master, Savior, ultimate Judge, & the only Way, Truth, & Life. So ironically, He alone is the key to the core thing that such messages desire to speak towards- peace on earth! We must continually press them with this query- How you rationally preach peace all the while completely ignoring the One Person who holds that illustrious title- “Prince of Peace”?!

Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.

The straight & narrow path to God, which is through Christ alone, becomes unjust & “crooked” as they attempt to plot a route to the Father around the Son. The simplicity of Christ’s singular & direct road to the Father’s presence becomes a bewildering maze of swerving switchbacks in a vain attempt to pick up all the hitchhikers of false religion the world over. Their convoy becomes huge as they continue down the wide road that leads to destruction. “A route to God without accepting Christ? Let me on.” the masses say, in ignorance of the fact that no other bridge across the enmity between man & Heaven's gate exist, & that a bottomless crevasse is instead their fate.

Ezekiel 13:15-16 Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, (16) the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the Lord GOD.

Part 2 will more directly speak to events surrounding the posted video...

Grace & Faith, Socratic Style

2011-08-21T04:03:00.002-04:00

1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Faith is often touted as supreme by the popular preachers of today. These lollipop lecturers point to faith as the key that opens the door to “God’s storehouse” of “abundant living”. They err foremost by exalting themselves, in that they concordantly teach that faith is something one whips up from within, instead of exalting God as the One gives us the measure of faith from without. Faith then, so ironically, becomes a work of man instead of a gift of God to their mind, therefore actually opposing a real faith in an omnipotent & sovereign God. “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not?” is how Paul puts it to such blowhards & braggarts.

Meanwhile, Scripture speaks of grace & faith in the same breath. Twelve times Paul has them both in even the same verse. The Bible speaks of both as gifts from above to His elect. We are here today to pose a rhetorical: Which gift from God is greater - His faith, or His grace? To rightly answer this, we must first pose an ancillary question- Which one is preeminent? Does faith bring grace or does grace bring faith?

We’ll begin with the verse that can cloud the subject if removed from its context & taken in isolation:

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God

Of course this verse clearly has faith leading into “this grace in which we stand”, but is that referring to the primal formation of God’s grace? Or is it the ongoing, continuous grace that we need as long as we are continuing to fall short of the glory of God? Does not even Paul need God’s enduring unmerited favor, given his confession of concurrent sinfulness two chapters later? (e.g. Rom. 7:23) Indeed, Paul needs God’s grace ever the more! Are not the degenerations of an adopted son’s erstwhile existence, before you took him in, easier to swallow than the ones he commits now, in your very presence?

Yea, verse 1’s mention of a past event, the having been justified by faith, along with verse 2’s present & future tenses in course of exalting such grace, seems to confirm the sense of an ongoing sort of grace being referenced herein.

But lest you think otherwise, let’s get contextual & look elsewhere in Romans for more on the marriage of grace & faith:

Romans 1:4-5 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (5) through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.

Romans 4:14-16a For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. (15) For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. (16) That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace.

Does not chapters 1-4 precede the supposed quandary of Romans 5:2? Is it not logical that a groundswell of support be built up to give credence to such a bold promise, of 5:2’s grace that has no lack & no end for His elect? Must not we first find substantive reason to believe in this splendid characteristic of God that will carry us into perpetuity with Him? And if our measure of faith is indeed comes from without, from another, what have we done to curry such favor? When 5:2’s supportive foundation (Rom. 1-4) tells us that all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, where is validation to be found for God’s deliverance of the seed of faith?
The answer is there is no answer. God gives His elect favor, & clearly, according to Scripture, it is unmerited.

Yea, Romans 5:2 reads as a promise, a blessed assurance of continuing grace that we sinners find hard to swallow if it were to rest upon the shifting sands of our faith. Oh, how the image of Paul’s “wretched man that I am” would instead continue to be our fate, how untrue are the further assurances of Romans 8, if the deliverance of God’s grace were to depend on our ability to stir up the requisite faith!

Yea, wretched are we. So must not God be the one to reach down & supply the miraculous seed of faith? Must not He alone be the one to give the growth, if we really can be free to “rejoice in hope of the glory of God”? Yes, mere men- like Paul & Apollos- labor to plant & water the seed of faith, but must not it be God alone that performs the mysterious miracle of germination? (for the answer, see 1Cor. 3)

Yea, faith must rest on the quality of God’s grace, but then, we may further enquire what quality of God does grace rest its weary head upon? If sin, being negative in nature, requires judgment (& it does), & grace is a positive outpouring of God, a gift, then should not the negative be addressed in due course, before the positive? Should God be so foolish to cast His pearls to pigs? Should He bestow unfathomable riches on the contemptuous man shortly destined for damnation? What then, must precede grace, for grace, then faith, to find their lasting consequence?

Ephesians 2:4-9 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- (6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Yea, faith cannot ever be something that man supplies, else it be of himself & allow his boast, in utter denial of Eph. 2:9. Therefore, its supply must depend on the God’s loving providence to the lowly sinner, in other words, His grace.

God’s gift of faith must rest on His grace, His grace must rely on His pardoning mercy, & his mercy is empowered by His great love, represented, in its highest form by the cross:

1 John 4:9-10 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (10) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Why does this matter so? What does it matter that we understand this order? Well, keeping things in right order seemed to matter greatly to our Lord:

Matthew 23:16-22 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' (17) You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? (18) And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' (19) You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? (20) So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. (21) And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. (22) And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

Homework:
1. Does not right order lead to right worship?
2. Why would Paul say love is greater than faith & hope?

What is an Evangelical?- The Term "Christian"

2011-07-31T08:45:00.006-04:00

John 17:20-26 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (22) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- (23) I in them and you in me--so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (24) Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. (25) Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. (26) I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

We’ve all seen & been surprised at the polls that indicate very large percentages of Americans consider themselves Christian. Well, either most Christians are living under rocks & in caves, only exiting to answer poll takers’ phone calls, or we have a large group of Americans who do not know what it means to be “Christian”. I think the latter is the more likely scenario, & an unfortunate recent event gives us yet another reducio ad absurdum argument against too broadly applying the term:

“A majority of so called agnostics and atheists in Europe are cultural conservative Christians without even knowing it. So what is the difference between cultural Christians and religious Christians? If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God then you are a religious Christian. Myself and many more like me do not necessarily have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God. We do however believe in Christianity as a cultural, social, identity, and moral platform. This makes us Christian.” -Anders Breivik’s manifesto, page 1307

Well, we could spend hours broaching all the contradictions in this paragraph alone, much less the devilish drivel on the other 1499 pages. Nevertheless, I want to focus in on this brief moment of lucidity found in Breivik’s manifesto; the clear delineation- the line in the sand, that he makes here. He speaks of one group, calling themselves “Christian”- these “have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God”, & yet another group, also identifying themselves as such, that “do not” have that bond. He himself speaks openly of lacking that relationship, yet he still lays claim to the title. So therein lies the pertinent question: What, or Who, should define the term “Christian”? Should it be based on a personal relationship, or can it be, as Breivik says, just “a cultural, social, identity, and moral platform”?

Defining ancient words from an etymological perspective is best way to find what should be their true meaning; and make no mistake the term “Christian” is very nearly as old as the faith that formed it (Acts 11:26). So what should be the root? (hint- this one’s a softball) Obviously, the word is a patronym, derived from a “fatherly” view of the Person of Christ (Is. 9:6). Accordingly, the first definition in any good dictionary will go along these lines: “a person who believes in and follows Jesus Christ”. Yes, the “cultural, social, identity, and moral platform” definitions will follow that primary meaning & that is key. In this case, the primary definition must truly apply for the secondary definitions to have true application. What’s more, the secondary meanings should act as an introspection to the depth one has accepted the primary meaning. Given Breivik’s actions, his factual denial of a relationship with Christ is wholly duplicitous. It should not need to be said that a person committing murder does not know Christ in any intimate way. His visible actions betray his invisible heart. (Luke 6:45)

Return then, to our question: What, or Who, should define the term “Christian”? Breivik's delineation between two clearly different entities is correct; where he errs is in the misapplication of the term "Christian" to both. To be “Christian” demands firstly a belief in, & following of, Jesus Christ, which results in the secondary connotations becoming evident. The term should be as it originally was, fundamentally founded not on the “what” of a cultural, social, identity, and moral platform, but upon a relationship with the “Who” of Christ.

Are Sinful Thoughts Sinful? (part4)

2011-07-17T08:54:00.006-04:00

So we have this sad unmitigated reality that the seed of sin is with man from cradle to grave & that a holy God will not avert His eyes from judging all of its outgrowth, down to the very moment of germination. But there is good news! Another unmitigated reality is that there is another seed germinating in the garden of those drawn to Christ. Even more fantastically, this seed is strong enough overpower & eventually destroy the bad seed, & even its bad fruit! Hallelujah! How does this happen?

First off, believe in the eventual triumph of that seed by trusting in the ability of the Master Gardener that sowed it. We did not produce that seed, it was not of human descent, but of God, “lest any man should boast”. So while this fact denies us vanity, it also accords us tremendous confidence; a good seed does in fact dwell within, & it cannot be averted, destroyed, nor revoked (Rom. 11:29)- we indeed “will be saved” (glorification- e.g. Rom. 8:17-30, 1Cor 3:15). But faith in Christ’s seed is key to glorification’s prerequisites- justification & sanctification. We neither “were saved” (justification- e.g. Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:8) nor are “being saved” (sanctification- e.g. 1Cor 1:18, 15:1-2) apart from faith.

Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, (25) choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. (26) He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. (27) By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Therefore, since faith is so basic to being in Christ the pertinent question is- How does one believe to a greater extent?

The Master’s Good seed will grow a good crop, but He, in some part, leaves the when & how much to the due diligence of His fellow laborers. Paul makes the following fascinating statement as he instructs of God’s future fiery-styled judgment of our works:

1Corinthians 3:9a For we are God's fellow workers.

The honest & diligent student of the word knows Paul cannot be speaking of that aspect our salvation known as justification for, as he states elsewhere that one is justified by entirely by faith, apart from works (e.g. Rom 3:28).

Getting down to brass tacks, faith is grown in the most outwardly ordinary ways. True, it is God who delivers the measure of faith, but He does not generally do it by some arcane & mysterious impartation. It is unfortunate that so many Christians think this is the way the Spirit feeds our faith, because they therefore tend to be completely laissez-faire in regards to growing their spiritual maturity. Even reformed-minded believers can fall into this trap when they try to apply the concept of God’s utter sovereignty to the process of sanctification. Since both justification & sanctification are elements of the greater salvation (conversion) experience, some features, like repentance & faith, will be common to both. The Spirit leads all that are His to repent & believe for the purposes of justification, but the further measures of these godly traits are taken up under the auspice of sanctification. Therefore, in reference to justification & sanctification, there is an overlap in regards to the signs of repentance & faith, but not in regards to God’s utter sovereignty. God does all the work of justification Himself, but we are His fellow workers in the way of our sanctification & good works accomplished in Christ. Thus the necessity for Paul to confess our “fellow worker” status as he heralds the news that our diligence will be called to account in a very real way in 1 Corinthians 3...

“Uh… uh… I thought God was supposed to do it all” will be the regrettable words spoken by blasé believers on that day when it is revealed how little they have accomplished with all that God has given unto to them.

But of course there is a flip side to Paul’s edifying adjuration in 1 Corinthians 3, & this is directed as a warning to the other extreme- the proud & boastful overachiever. And here again, the phrase “God's fellow workers” is equally applicable; these run into the field without waiting for the Master’s lead, plowing & planting according to their own myopic understanding. They think to themselves “I’m capable of the work, I can do it on my own, I don’t need to wait on anyone else.” Their pride is all that leads them as they run ahead, leading the pack, instead of finding the Master (the Holy Spirit) in order to follow in His lead of producing eternal works likened to gold, silver, & precious stones. These infantile Christians accomplish everything & nothing at the same time.

Their lack of maturity (sanctification) is what hinders them, for increasing faith & repentance at work within them would destroy the fleshly pride that will otherwise surely cause them to be without on the day of fiery testing.

These will indeed drag copious works into God’s courtroom on their appointed day, but a giant fireball will be their only reward for all their proud deceiving diligence, as all their worthless “wood, hay, & stubble” is consumed.

1 Corinthians 3:1-16 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (2) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, (3) for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? (4) For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? (5) What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. (6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (8) He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. (9) For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. (10) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. (11) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- (13) each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (14) If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (16) Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Are Sinful Thoughts Sinful? (part 3)

2011-07-12T06:23:00.001-04:00

Psalms 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

In the former parts of this series, we delved into the depth of man’s depravity & found it sinful to the core while also discovering that God justly desires to deal with every bit of it. Man made religion relentlessly seeks to reduce his degeneracy so as to increase his comfort level in the company of a holy & almighty God. We do not feel at ease being so utterly bad in the presence of One so utterly good. But true religion seeks only truth. It never mitigates reality in pursuit of spiritual solace. The unmitigated reality is that the seed of Adam dwells within all, that we do not do right because we neither think nor desire right, & we are accordingly due swift justice for every such deviation from the nature of Christ. Grasp that. It was not merely Christ’s actions that set forth the standard for mankind, but His innermost nature. He alone was outwardly perfect because He alone was inwardly perfect...

Luke 6:43-45 For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, (44) for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. (45) The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

In pursuit of a concordant, systematic theology that aligns with Scripture, we must embrace the idea that Christ’s outward perfection stemmed from His inward perfection. Just as the tangible evidence of good fruit evidences the goodness of the tree, wholly perfect fruit evidences the wholly perfect Tree. And that Tree alone rises above all others as mankind’s model, his upward call (Phil. 3:14).

The question is often posed “Why did God even allow that cursed tree of evil knowledge within Adam’s purview?” as if all our eons of evil could have been avoided if only Adam had not opportunity to overtly display the desire of his heart. As if we would all be still be abiding in the Garden, blissfully at peace with God, if only we never needlessly tarried with that temptatious, tempestuous tree. But Christ’s words strike home here also, as we accept Luke 6:45 pointing to God’s purpose for that tree; it was as nothing more than a metaphorical marker for a mind that had already wandered outside its proper boundaries, away from the “image & likeness of God”, akin to the 12 stone monument at Gilgal (Josh. 4:20). The 12 stones of the river Jordan gave tangible testimony to an entering in, while the Garden’s tree evidenced an exiting out. Both only symbolized events of the past. Adam’s sinfulness did not begin with his grasping of that fruit, not with Eve, nay, not even with the appearance of the serpent; his sin began as pride had erstwhile developed deep within heart & mind. Adam, like his tempter, arrogantly despised his blessed portion under God, desiring instead to be as God. It is akin to a man, when presented with a gift of a perfect filet mignon, laid upon a bed of crisp asparagus, conspiring to secretly possess the farm & kitchen that gave forth such blessing, instead of rightly honoring his benefactor. Was he sinful as he first conceived his evil, or only as it was hatched? The judgment of man cannot peer into a man’s thoughts, & so cannot rightly judge thoughts, but God does know our thoughts, & therefore does rightly judge them.

“The Devil made me do it”…

Satan is not as he commonly represented by the naïve, as one who instills evil within an individual; rather, the much more ugly reality is as Job 1-2 & Luke 22:31-32 attest- his role is more often to “sift”, or draw out into the open our true, but obfuscated nature. Adam, Job, & Peter all failed Satan’s testing, as would we in their stead; in Scripture it is Christ alone who continues bearing perfect fruit in course of suffering all of the slings of Satan (Luke 4). Therefore, comprehend that Adam’s consumption of the bad fruit was simply indicative of the nature of his tree. Bad trees desire fruit that is accord with themselves; simply put, sin begets sin.

Are Sinful Thoughts Sinful? (part 2)

2011-07-07T08:33:00.003-04:00

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

In part 1we addressed the question of our culpability in regards to the degenerate nature, i.e., at what point should we feel that God judges the primordial sinful thought? Is it still sin, potentially accounted to us, even in its most nascent stage? Christ’s letter to Thyatira speaks His mandate to judge the entire human condition, from ostensive works to innermost thought & desire…

Revelation 2:18-23 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. (19) "'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. (20) But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. (21) I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. (22) Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, (23) and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Philippians 2:1-5 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, (2) complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (3) Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (4) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (5) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

These verses contain imperatives; the verb “have” says you must do something in gain that “unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” This clearly implicates our personal, individual culpability in regards to the primordial thought of sin. We can cultivate the ground of our heart & mind to readily grow such a bountiful crop of godliness, or we can choose to lazily let the land languish & continue to wonder why we get nothing but a crop of tiring tares & worthless weeds.

Matthew 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Yet, despite even the most fervent nurturing, the cultivated field will sometimes bear weeds; vigilance is the key to gaining a generally fruitful crop of godliness within your heart & mind. Pulling those weeds quickly, before they gain strong root & multiply with seed & spore of their own is key to opposing their degeneracy. But there is much more towards the goal of godliness than simply trying to deny the outside evil a place within; indeed Christ states that such effort at “cleaning house” is vain if it is forlorn:

Matthew 12:43-45 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. (44) Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. (45) Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation."

Colossians 2:18-3:5 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, (19) and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (20) If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations- (21) "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (22) (referring to things that all perish as they are used)- according to human precepts and teachings? (23) These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Simply cleaning up the pig’s mess does nothing to deny the pigs habitation. They simply return to carry on rooting up & destroying the garden of your soul. Barriers must be erected to prevent the pigs entry to your garden. We must detest & live set apart from “that woman Jezebel” have sustainable growth in godliness.

But Jesus teaches, then the Apostle elucidates (the typical NT narrative), that attempting to grow in godliness by simply cleaning up the day’s mess, erecting barriers, & living minimally apart from outside worldliness (asceticism) “have no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh”. Why is this? Why can’t a ten foot, electrified barrier prevent the pigs from rooting & defecating in our garden? Because of this profoundly fundamental fact that both Savior & saint laid down as well: that we owners are primordially pigs as much as those that live outside the garden of our heart, mind, & soul. The teaching of original sin declares the shocking reality that, despite our every effort, a pig lives inside the garden, & that pig is us! (Romans 7) Nathan’s parable to David had the king in a mood of righteous vengeance, until the point in the story that appalling truth came out. “You are the man!” was stated, & then all David could do at that point is fall on his face & weep out the words of the 51st Psalm.

Psalms 51 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. (2) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! (3) For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. (4) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (5) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (6) Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. (7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (8) Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. (9) Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. (10) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (11) Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. (12) Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (13) Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. (14) Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. (15) O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (16) For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. (17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (18) Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; (19) then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Colossians 3:1-5 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set (imperative verb) your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (3) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (5) Put (imperative verb) to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

What is an Evangelical? (part 1)

2011-06-04T09:05:00.007-04:00

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Christianity in Western society is often encumbered with heterodox labels that orthodox Christianity should understand so as to intelligently reject in the process of promulgating Biblical belief. These attacks frequently come from within the church. Therefore their proponents are adept at cunningly couching their heterodoxy in sentiment & language that can seem entirely benign & even benevolent to a Scriptural Gospel- in the same way that, for instance, a Pakistani could much easier reach other Pakistanis than a born & bred American could. We are naturally less guarded in the company of those who are culturally & linguistically akin to us.

“Emergent” is one label that becomes patently false to us as we contrast its teachings with the Bible. They believe in eviscerating the Gospel so as to make it acceptable to all. They teach a social gospel, not towards a goal of unifying Christianity, but instead all world religion. They are often the ones we see with the “coexist”, “peace”, & “believe” bumper stickers which morph the symbols of various religions into the letters that form these words. Their principle leader, a guy who deceptively takes the title of “Christian” himself, is Brian McLaren; his watered down “gospel”, which is really no gospel at all (Gal 1:6-7), leads to statements such as:

“I don't believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu or Jewish contexts…”

Now if he had in mind by “context”- the cultural effects of these religions, he would of course be correct. A Indian convert to Christianity is simply going to have to practice his newfound belief within the context of a largely Hindu society (1Cor. 5:10). But he is not saying this at all; he is stating that new Christian can continue to be a Hindu, changing nothing more than those aspects of Hinduism that seem (in McLaren’s eyes), to violate Christianity- like Sati rituals & the caste system of social stratifications.

This elucidates what McLaren sees as the Gospel; to him, it is something that is soteriologically centered around simply trying to become a “follower of Jesus”. Cedar Ridge Community Church teaches WWJD not as a response to the Gospel of a crucified & risen Savior, but instead of that one Way & His Gospel message. They enervate the good news of Christ by presenting a soteriology that has our potential for righteous morality as its base, instead of presenting Christ’s utter fulfillment of all righteousness as the only possible basis for salvation. But it is only therein, in this type of belief structured around Christ alone holding the key to our salvation, wherein the believer becomes bonded to Christ; only thus achieving for God His goal, spelled out by John 4:23, of a people worshipping Him in both spirit & truth.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, (12) training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, (13) waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (14) who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Sharecropper Co-opt

2011-04-17T08:57:00.002-04:00

Matthew 13:1-23 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. (2) And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. (3) And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. (4) And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. (5) Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, (6) but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. (7) Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. (8) Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (9) He who has ears, let him hear.” (10) Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" (11) And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. (12) For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (13) This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (14) Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. (15) For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' (16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. (17) For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (18) Hear then the parable of the sower: (19) When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. (20) As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, (21) yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (22) As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (23) As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

When many Christians read this parable, they become convicted towards uprooting the metaphorical rocks & weeds from their life & so thereby make their soil “good”. They rightly soul search for the things of life that deter the seed from taking firm root & growing towards full blossoming maturity. Whether it is inordinate pursuit of worldly gain, worldly relationships, or simply a big screen television with every imaginable feature except an off button, many things indeed seem to conspire against our maturity in Christ; Christians prove themselves both fervent & prudent in ferreting out such hindrances towards the hundred, sixty, or thirtyfold yield that is the Landowner’s due. But taking the Word of God not in part, but as a whole, we also know that:

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14, Isa. 64, Rom. 3)

Knowing this fact in addition to the parable, the fact that we cannot make our soil essentially “good” in any way at all, we face a compelling quandary- How do we get the seed to sprout to maturity if all our spiritually agronominous exertion fails in making good soil?

Quite simply, through faith- in a Farmer far greater than us.

Take note of two things in the context of this parable; firstly, the nine verses (9-17) between the simple telling of the parable & His further elucidation wherein Christ implores the disciples to accept that they have been given something special from above, apart from themselves- ears to hear, & eyes to see. This gift, like any gift, is not accounted to the recipient’s deserving, but to the giver’s generosity. So we see implied therein the soil is good not through human effort, but through God’s desire.

Secondly, recognize that Jesus does not speak of the good soil evolving into that state, as would be the case if it were being improved by the application of our agronominous exertion, but that it already was in the condition of being good soil at the time of the sowing. Its goodness was not post requisite, but prerequisite to the time of planting.

That soil was good before the seed was ever sown because the good soil is not you, but Christ within you!

Jesus has this to say in the context of Mark’s testimony of the sower’s parable…

Mark 4:26-29 And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. (27) He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. (representing man’s ignorance & passivity in regards growing the seed) (28) The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. (representing God’s ability & activity in growing the spiritual seed) (29) But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

Therefore understand, this passage is not leading you to labor as a farmer in the field of your soul, but instead rejoice that the essential labor is already accomplished! Rejoice exceedingly that God has worked over the soil of your soul so that it could receive Christ & produce a bountiful crop, for this gift is not universal among mankind. As Jesus told His disciples in the context of telling this parable, “blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” Are you really so bold that you would think those “blessed eyes & ears” are instruments of your own creation? No, such good soil comes from God, & is intended to readily receive the seed & produce a bountiful harvest.

In Philippians 4:3, Paul recognizes his & others’ labors in Christ, but he immediately follows this recognition of human effort with the following revelation- “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Why is this? Because he knows that his efforts are possible only because of Christ’s good soil already extant within him, even before the Damascus road experience, to empower him with ears to hear at the right time. Paul’s work, tremendous as it was, was nothing more than an outgrowth of the primordial work of Christ, already accomplished before Paul had done anything good at all.

So what else do we do in the midst of all this rejoicing in Christ? Get plugged in & allow God to continue working in your field. Even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto. Yeah, you’re right, that pastor, counselor, or Sunday School teacher is not God; but God will work your field through them (& others) if you’re plugged into their ministry.

1 Corinthians 3:5-11 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. (6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (8) He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. (9) For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. (10) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. (11) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, (18) yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. -

As long as you’re plugged in to His work, you are a “fellow worker”, so don’t worry so much about the harvest; because, after all, ultimately it’s His seed, His soil, His field, His laborers at work in that field, all culminating in His harvest. A bit of an enigmatic epiphany found within 1Cor. 6:19-20 makes it clear that we are mere sharecroppers even in our own field (“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price”). So God bands us together in Christ to form a co-opt of sharecroppers- many individuals, banded together in a common work, each working in others’ fields, each gaining through others’ labors in his own field; but at the same time, no one truly owns any fields. There is but one Landowner, and ultimately, all the harvest is due Him to re-distribute as He pleases since it’s all founded upon His soil, seed, & labor.

Romans 11 is yet another passage with God as a spiritual Farmer carefully tending His olive tree to produce His fruit, & how does Paul close this discussion? Read for yourself-

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

You may ask “Why is all this so important? What does it matter whether the believer understands his salvation to be entirely from God or whether he thinks his redemption originated, even in part, of his own will & goodness? Either way, he is still saved by Christ if he ends up trusting & serving Him, right?” And the answer would be yes, to trust in & serve Christ is the essence of salvation. But the real question should be “What form of service is that latter believer saved towards?” What you save them with, is what you save them towards. Evangelization that does not present Christ as both the Author & Finisher of faith will produce weak worship, for the proselyte thinks that he has had skin in the game, so to speak. He perceives less of Christ & more of himself as author & finisher, producing false pride that inhibits full worship. And make no mistake, the Christian’s first assignment, his first call of duty, if you will, is to worship. Christ said that if no one gave praise to Him, that the stones would instead cry out (Luke 19:40). He taught likewise of the importance of right worship to the woman at the well…

John 4:19-24 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. (20) Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” (21) Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. (22) You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (23) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus is speaking of the importance of worshipping God from a right attitude of the heart, as opposed to worshipping Him at a certain location or in a certain manner. He is saying the physical matters not- if the spiritual, the attitude of the heart, is fundamentally wrong…

Luke 7:36-50 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. (37) And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, (38) and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (39) Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." (40) And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." (41) "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. (42) When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" (43) Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." (44) Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. (45) You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. (46) You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. (47) Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." (48) And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (49) Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" (50) And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

The point of Christ comparing Simon’s treatment of Him with the anonymous woman’s manner was not to indicate her greater sin, but her greater perception of her sin. Scripture informs us that all have sinned, & maybe this woman did have a greater degree of trespass than Simon, but that is not the point. The point of Christ’s comparison is to call on Simon to dwell on his sin & Christ’s glory, enabling him to turn & offer likewise worship. The woman in this story worshipped rightly because she was more cognizant of both her trespass & of Christ’s ability to save her from concordant judgment. She was not in any way looking to herself as salvific, but instead was relying on Christ alone as she poured out true, spiritual worship upon her Savior. Simon clearly had confidence in himself- his lineage & Pharisaic works, while this anonymous woman had no confidence in anything she was or had done. She was relying solely on Christ to save her, in His abundant power, mercy, & grace.

This prototype proselyte worshiped fully as she had nothing but humility & faith feeding her adoring veneration of Christ. It is only when these two are all that propel us to worship is when we are the true worshippers that He seeks. And His closing words to her are most pertinent, for it is only when we worship God thusly, in spirit & truth, that we can truly find peace with Him.

The Height of Hypocrisy in Legalism

2011-03-12T22:33:00.007-05:00

Romans 10:15b As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

1 Corinthians 9:16b Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

The Reformation brought the light of the Gospel out of the dark shadows cast over it by the hypocritical liars & legalists of the church at Rome. These churchmen appeared pompous & aloof as they only preached doctrines invented by man instead preaching solely God’s Word. Praise God He raised up men like Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Melanchthon, & Zwingli to brightly illuminate His Gospel light once more.

But the battle to hold the Gospel at the center of all right preaching did not end there. It carries on, & the attackers to the Gospel’s integrity come from every direction; it is like doing battle with a thousand killer bees instead of the 800 pound gorilla of the 15th century Vatican church. Nevertheless, whether centered in one very powerful institution, or distributed helter skelter all over, the basic shadowy form of such attacks takes the same form in the world of dubious Christianity- hypocritical legalists preaching God’s Law (or even their own- Matt. 15:8-9) apart from God’s mercy & grace.

I present Fred Phelps front & center as “exhibit A”- the premier hypocritical lying legalist of our day. His little hive of beastly bees, better known as Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, is well known for their legalistic tirades primarily against homosexuals & anyone they can tie to homosexuality- which, of course is apparently every man, woman, & child on earth who does attend or embrace their fellowship. Every nation, every creed- Americans, Chinese, Swedes, Nazis, Muslims, Jews, & countless others have been inexorably linked to homosexuality & ostensibly have no alternative but the fires of Hell, if Westboro is to be believed. I find it particularly ironic that they love to proclaim “the Jews killed Jesus”; few instant litmus tests exist for a lying preacher, but know this is one. Scripture instead informs us Jesus died for the sins of His elect children; therefore every one of us who turn to Christ as Lord & Savior played a part in His death. Our bloody fingerprints are all over that hammer, those nails, that spear. By pointing the finger at others instead of themselves as the cause of His cross, they summarily prove that they themselves have no portion in Christ’s death, & therefore likewise have no portion in His life.

It would almost seem Mr. Phelps is setting us up with the perfect reductio ad absurdum argument against legalism in preaching, so lucid is his extreme hypocrisy & complete indifference to preaching the real Gospel- the “good news” that Jesus can, has, & will continue to save all manner of deviants- homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators, thieves, rapists, & murderers. By golly, I might be out on a limb here, but I would even say that He can reach out & save liars & hypocrites! Blimey! There is hope yet for the Phelps family!

Christ begins to close His Sermon on the Mount with the following:

Matthew 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. (2) For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (3) Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (4) Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? (5) You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

The legalist indicter of other men’s sin, if they contained a shred of integrity or Godly humility, would consider what manner of sinner they themselves were before preaching to others. In such course, perchance there be no better place to begin this quest than the beginning of this very Sermon? In Matt. 5 Christ makes clear the standard for all goes far & above the metaphorical 30’ pole vault of the O.T. Law (when only one man in history has ever cleared 20’). But the human heart is nothing if not proud, & Jesus had to contend with the boastful assertions of many that claimed they had indeed kept the letter of the Law & deserved to be lauded for such piety. These were the foremost preachers of legalism in that day, the scribes & Pharisees:

Matthew 23:11-13 The greatest among you shall be your servant. (12) Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (13) But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

The legalist hypocrite of today is no different from that of yesteryear. They preach law without preaching grace, & in a manner whereas they set themselves on a pedestal. They preach a standard while insinuating they have reached that standard. They are “good”, while you, the hearer, are “bad”. They preach vertically down to their listeners, instead of horizontally across- as from one who falling short to another falling short, as from hopeless sinner to hopeless sinner, as from forlorn wretch to forlorn wretch. I believe in preaching from a pulpit to esteem God’s Word & His Gospel, but at the same, the preacher needs to also preach horizontally to demonstrate, in himself, the only Way out of our mountainous moral morass.

Isaiah begins a treatise against sin (Isa. 59) with phrases like “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God”- to bring personal conviction to his audience; but as presses on with his indictment, he clearly amends his language- “for our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us”- to make his indictment complete. Paul wrote of his own sinfulness (Romans 7) as he wrote against the sins of others, therein casting his lot with theirs- yet not for Christ & His cross. Augustine’s first large literary work was the autobiographical Confessions, wherein he laid himself bare, acknowledging to all his every sin.

It takes great humility to preach in this manner, for you preach against yourself every bit as much as others. Might this be the very reason Christ began His Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, summarized best in the statements “Blessed are the meek” & “Blessed are the poor in spirit”? Yes, for humility & the Gospel are the two prescriptions needed to heal the disease of hypocrisy in the preaching against sin. Ironically, legalistic preachers build no case stronger in favor of God’s judgment than the case against themselves. It seems quite clear from Matt. 7:5, as well as from the fact that Christ reserved His most acerbic tone for such preachers, that the hypocritical legalist preacher will be put at the front of the line on the day of judgment. Think about that fact- the same level of degeneracy was taking place in the world in that day as is today; yet Christ spoke harshest to unrepentant sinner in the church instead of to the unrepentant sinner of the world- despite the fact that the later likely had a greater measure of actual trespass against’ God’s Law.

Indeed we are all commanded to preach- of both sin & its requisite judgment. All the disciples followed Christ in this way; but they likewise & concordantly preached that such judgment has already been borne by our Lord for those who turn & believe on Him- His holiness, His righteousness, & His unique ability to forgive sin. They did preach “turn or burn” (to use a modern colloquialism), but the focus was always more on the turning towards Christ, than the turning from sin. It is not so much that we are called to sin less, but more so that we are called to adore & serve our Savior more. It is only therein that we can truly sin less anyway. All other effort is fruitless & justifiably so, for the main point of the Gospel is not as legalism proposes- the raising up of a people that simply sin less often or in less outwardly abominable fashion; instead the Gospel’s point is that a people be raised up for God. The eye that is on the prize, the eye that firstly examines the log of sin in itself will always likewise be the beacon of light in a dark & dreary land.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Luke 9:62b "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

We are called to simply “lay aside” sin as it is shown to be excess baggage which weighs us down, keeping us from the joy that has been set before us- Christ Jesus. The elimination of sin is not the goal, but it does remove an impediment to the goal. Olympic runners never look back, only forward, at their goal- the object of their highest desire; for the Christian, this purely & simply Christ, for He alone is worthy of such desire & affection. Hebrews 12:2 sets up Christ Himself as our example in this, as it details how Christ did not concern Himself with encumbrances like the injustice of the sinless suffering for the sinful; no, Christ’s focus was forward, on “the joy that was set before Him”, the joy of being freely & fully able to save all those who would set their eyes on Him as their prize.

Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

It is in this chapter that Jesus makes clear that hypocrisy in preaching is inexorably linked to legalism. Seven times He makes use of the word “hypocrite” & all seven times it is directly tied to the foremost legalistic preachers of 1st century Palestine- the scribes & Pharisees.

Understand, the scribes & Pharisees were hypocrites for the cause of stridently preaching towards the guilt of sin while denying their own concomitant culpability. They refused to even acquiesce (publicly, at least) the measure of their own sinfulness in the course of browbeating others for some degenerating onus.

But know as well that to simply liken your measure of guilt to that of your audience only pictures both speaker & hearer in a pit that they cannot escape without outside help. While true that you are no longer hypocritical as you preach the core Biblical narrative of universal (total) depravity, you still need to speak of the one “Way” you have found to escape the snare of sin, to give any real depth to your message & to finally move away from legalism. Priscilla, Aquila, & Paul discovered some Ephesians who were likewise only preaching sin & repentance; they found such admonition lacking & taught them to preach of Christ’s ministry of reconciliation as well (Acts 18:24-19:7).

Therefore, never let someone try to tell you that you have to become sinless before you can preach to them as sinful. You are not a hypocrite for preaching against sin- if you have rightly allowed the indicting pendulum of guilt to swing back & touch you as well, & have kept the Gospel, the “Good News” as your main overall focal point. Indeed, in preaching this way, you walk in the very shoes of all the disciples & apostles of Scripture as they likewise preached with an eye towards the Way- our Lord, God, Master, Judge, & Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dry Seasons & Dry Bones

2010-12-21T01:21:00.002-05:00

Have you ever noticed the phenomena of rain falling upon parched ground? I’m not sure if this is the case for all soil types, but when the sandy loam we have here in in Florida becomes excessively arid, rain will not penetrate it for some time. I’ve seen as much as a half inch of rain fall on such ground, yet afterwards it will just as dry as before. The rain will actually have no effect upon that portion of soil! The water will pool on top of the soil, as if trying to break through, but the ground simply refuses to receive it in. After a minute or so, the pool builds up to the point that it runs off somewhere else.

This potential allegory becomes a sort of open rhetorical. A midnight metaphor of sorts. Is the rain at fault for being cyclical & allowing drought to come upon the soil? Or should the ground accept the cyclical nature of the rainfall, & be more ready & willing to receive the blessing of the rain when it does come?

Are Sinful Thoughts Sinful?

2010-12-19T06:04:00.014-05:00

Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Repentance unto good works indicate the presence of God’s Spirit & should encourage the Christian that they have God’s promise for His elect (Rom. 8:16, 23, 26). Being thus radically transformed makes a most pressing case for faith in God’s election as it did for Paul in reference to his Thessalonian disciples:

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, (5) because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.(6) And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, (7) so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (8) For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. (9) For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

So confident hope comes as we see this outward ostensible change by God’s Spirit at work within us. But the war never seems to find conclusion with the utter vanquishment of the primordial thought of sin. While Paul & James inform us we are promised & given the mind of Christ in the course of our due diligence towards service in His name (the purpose of James 2), Paul also tells us there dwells, even within his fiery fervor, a shivering shortfalling that demands Christ to continually intercede for his ever present sinful nature:

Romans 7:21-24 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. (22) For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (23) but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. (24) Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

The student, of course, knows Paul gives the answer to this rhetorical in the next chapter, showing God, in Christ, as his confident (and only) hope in attaining the standard of true perfection.

In this vein lies the rub for me with so many Christians’ professions- when posed the question “Are sinful thoughts sinful?”, they frustratingly (to me, at least) respond no- because they think the thought to be so primordial in nature that it cannot be averted & therefore cannot be rightly judged by God. But what they do not comprehend is this is precisely the fundamental force behind “all have sinned & come short of the glory of God”. We can never save ourselves because perfection does not lie even within the base DNA, so to speak, of man’s nature. Sin runs deep to the very core of man & it would matter not if we could win even every battle of the mind & emerge to doing righteousness every time- because God, in Christ, has already set the bar higher than that.

Indeed, the one that desires to embrace this lowering of the concept of being faultless before God should ponder the words of Isaiah:

Isaiah 55:6-9 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; (7) let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Clearly one should see the equivocation, in regards to man’s degeneracy, in this passage between the “ways” of man & “thoughts” of man. God seems ready to judge both equally, to the degree hey fall short of His standard. This passage is but another bar in Scripture's "imprisonment" that should send us all running to "the promise by faith in Jesus Christ" to be set free (Gal. 3:22). He alone has the keys to our prison door. Remember again Matt. 5:48 & accept the fact that it is the Father’s yardstick of perfection that will measure our perfection. Ignorance is bliss, but ot is equally treacherous. Outside of Christ, it'll be Hell's bells that will toll for thee:

"Perchance he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill as that he knows not it
tolls for him; and perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as
that they who are about me and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me,
and I know not that." John Donne 17th century Anglican

I promise you, as John 14:6 tells us plainly, only those abiding in Christ will meet this standard, for it is the blessed Son alone that fills out the measure of the Father’s yardstick.

Thoughts of sin are an indication of the inborn sin that we cannot work out to utter extent. Yes, we can work out much sinfulness of thought, word, & deed by keeping our eyes on Christ alone as the “author & finisher” of our faith; but nevertheless, the ultimate “finish” of a perfect mind seems to elude us, at least in this life. But our response to such base ineptitude should not be to thereafter cause to regard it as inconsequential. No, instead those ungodly thoughts should send us continually to Christ as our only hope of the purity of ultimate perfection that is the standard that we must meet. Among the billions that have ever put on the flesh, Christ stands alone as having met that standard. Only in worshipful devotion to Him can we find true peace & rest. Instead of thinking “Well that’s just the way I am & God’s just gonna have to accept me” we must remember that no, God doesn’t have to accept any of us that fall short of His glory. It is only by His mercy & grace that we were, are, & will be saved, because of the fact that we were, are, & will continue to be “wretched” (Paul’s words) in some hopefully minimal measure right up to the moment we are taken up to Heaven. But minimal or not, all sin is worthy reason for God to judge.

Lamentations 3:21-24 (KJV) It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (24) The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

As with so many problems, the first (& for many the biggest) hurdle to overcome is the admission that there is a problem, thus the above dissertation. Secondly, in response to perceiving this primordial portion of our sinfulness, we need to lament as Jeremiah did in Lamentations’ five spiritual dirges, in proverbial sackcloth & ashes, grieving in like elegy over the death that so clearly dwells within (Rom. 7). In total contrast to the flesh’s desire to quickly say “It’s under the blood” & move on to more pleasant thoughts, we should sense the anguish that God’s Spirit feels with our every sin (Ps. 78:40, Is. 63:10, Eph. 4:30). Thirdly, following the manner of Lamentation’s third acrostic dirge, we should dwell on the glory of God’s mercy, so splendidly shown to us in the Person of Jesus Christ. Fourthly, we need to abide in this glorious habitation, meaning not simply dwelling on Christ, but in Christ, to win the battle of the mind. This is key to the fight, the war of the worlds that wages within our soul- Christ’s blood not simply on us, but in us. The life is in the blood, & we are fully justified as He covers us, but the further sanctification that we long for eludes us to the degree that we refuse His desire for a transfusion into us. Christ’s fervent desire, spelled out by John 17:21-23, is for intimate habitation with us; His prayer was for us to join the type of oneness that He shares with the Father-

John 17:23a I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one…

To sum, the changes in thought & deed that we see in ourselves & others should give us encouragement that the Spirit of Christ is at work within changing us into His likeness. But instead of trying to trivialize thoughts (& deeds) that fail His standard, we should instead take the apostle Paul’s lead & allow the “wretched man that I am” drive us ever closer to the security of Christ’s comforting arms. It’s simple really- just worship Him to best of your ability & I promise you He will in no wise cast you out.

The Steeplechase & the Lone Ranger (part 2)

2010-10-30T16:55:00.004-04:00

Ephesians 5:29-32 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, (30) because we are members of his body. (31) “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." (32) This mystery is profound (“megas”), and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

This passage is the cause of much strife, though not unexpectedly, as our hearts are proud & tend to refuse submission to either God or man. But that obstinate pride should be stymied in the one who’s deepest desire is to please God, for marriage’s highest honor is to be a walking, talking, breathing metaphor of the special bond that exists between Christ & His church. Interpreting Eph. 5:22-31 in the enlightenment of verse 32 should propel married Christians to go above & beyond to better their bond, not foremost in their love each other, but foremost instead in their love for God. In the same way that David perpetrated deadly sin against man, but then claimed to have sinned against God alone (Psalm 51:4), we must understand rejecting the God-appointed spousal duties is, in the eternal, the deepest, most “profound” sense, truly rejecting Christ Himself; for Christ clearly has appointed husband & wife to model His otherwise largely ineffable union with His church. Then, contrastingly, submitting to & embracing said calling is to embrace the more “profound” sort of submission prefaced in verse 21:

Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Once again, we see God’s calling purposed not primarily towards serving man, but God in Christ. As with King David’s confession, if we were to firstly concern ourselves with right service towards God, everything else would come into line. A King David rightly reverencing God would never want to be the cause of undue injury to Uriah, especially for the cause of coveting his wife. See, primarily, his “reverence for Christ” was lacking, which was the cause of his inability to submit to reverencing their marital covenant. What Psalm 51:4 does is push all the manifest effects of this lack of reverence aside & strike dead at the cause of the problem- a void of respect for God’s ordained order, & therefore, God Himself.

Similarly, the outlaw who rejects God’s ordained order of…

Ephesians 5:19-20 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (20) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (21) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

…primarily rejects Christ Himself. Take note of the fact that “addressing one another” is an inherent part of “making melody to the Lord”; that “submitting to one another” is part & parcel of “reverence for Christ.” Because they are united, as in marriage, one with the other, to heap undue aspersions on the bride is insult & denigrate the Groom as well. To insult my wife is no less than, & possibly even worse than, insulting me, for love would cause me to be more quick to respond in defense of my wife’s honor than in defense of my own. We should all therefore be slow to speak against God’s church, “out of reverence for Christ.” I’m not saying that we should hesitate to call out unbiblical doctrine, just the ad hominem attacks that we sometimes add to a proper respectful doctrinal rebuke.

There are generally two types of childish believers that refuse the maturing nature of steady Christian fellowship- the steeplechaser & the lone ranger. The first hops churches like the drunk hops bars- every time he doesn’t find what his flesh craves, he simply gets in his car & drives down the street to the next venue. This infantile Christian never matures because he never stops seeking the base fleshly desire. He always has poor words for the place he just left, & arrogantly considers himself a better Christian than they. His pride is his downfall, because it precludes his humble acquiescence to authority; again, as with King David, his transgression is at the most rudimentary level, a rebellion against God’s authority instead than man’s.

One may think the lone ranger Christian- the one not regularly attending any body of believers- to be someone at the polar extreme, but actually, it’s the same type of rebel, only with an even deeper degree of arrogant insolence. The steeplechaser at least senses the need for fellowship, but the lone ranger has developed such an audacity to think he can please God & grow to maturity without anyone’s help. It’s just me & God he says, I don’t need anyone else. Where does he find this model in Scripture or even in the early post-apostolic Church?

Indeed, the arduous trail that Antioch’s early 2nd century pastor Ignatius walks tells the tale of a submissive, but also tenderly loving fellowship of churches that interact with him on the on his slow march towards a martyr’s death in Rome. No bevy of lone rangers supported him or received instruction from him, even though in that age of Emperor Trajan’s severe persecutions a Christian could easily justify such a withdrawal from Christian fellowship. True believers instead traded the lone ranger’s invisible manner of worship for a public witness that was akin to kicking sand in the face of an 800 pound gorilla. No, even in a day when it was truly dangerous for Christians to gather, they still gathered, as evidenced by the record of the seven letters he wrote as he was carried in chains to Rome. They reveal a number of local church bodies united for the cause of Christ, yet even in that day the prideful lone rangers must have existed, given Ignatius’ words to the Ephesian & Roman churches of his day:

“Let no man deceive himself: if any one be not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two possesses such power, how much more that of the overseer and the whole church! He, therefore, that does not assemble with the church, has even by this manifested his pride, and condemned himself. For it is written, ‘God resisteth the proud.’ Let us be careful, then, not to set ourselves in opposition to the overseer, in order that we may be subject to God.”

“Remember in your prayers the church in Syria, which now has God for its pastor, instead of me. Jesus Christ alone will oversee it, and your love [will also regard it]…. My spirit salutes you, and the love of the churches which have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, and not as a mere passerby. For even those churches which were not naturally on my route at all came and escorted me from one city to the next.”

Hi-ho Silver, away- with the utterly unbiblical notion of a believer maturing in Christ, or fulfilling his “part” in God’s church apart from being in submission to & showing love towards a local fellowship.

To reject Christ’s body, pictured in its present form as a bride preparing for her blessed day, is to reject the Groom as well, for they are truly destined to become united as one. (Matt. 25:1-13)

The Steeplechase & the Lone Ranger (part 1)

2010-10-03T08:37:00.001-04:00

Church attendance & membership is a biblical given for all believers until Christ returns. Though some would like to contend otherwise, they have no Scriptural basis for such a claim. The whole of the New Testament record of the universal Christian body points towards the Apostles’ primary work of propagating & prospering the individual church bodies. Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, etc. were not individuals, but church bodies that Paul addressed. Moreover, the Lord Jesus Himself targeted His words in Revelation 2 & 3 not to individual Christians, but Christian assemblies.

There is no support to the idea of an insular Christian being accommodated by the apostles, while in contrast, there is much substantiation for the idea of all believers belonging & submitting to a local fellowship. Possibly nowhere else is this more addressed than by Paul’s first letter to that most dysfunctional of churches- the Corinthian. After a brief initial greeting, he immediately launches into a stiff censure of their “divisions” & “quarreling”, which was causing them to fail in the goal of being “united in the same mind and the same judgment.” Everybody was doing their own thing, as they each thought best, never instead acquiescing to the greater good of Christ & His earthly body. Yes, Paul addressed them as one body, but in reading chapter after chapter of their predilection towards self-centeredness, one can only conclude this manner of address to be purely nominal in nature. They selfishly only considered themselves- in regards to following various shepherds (ch. 1-4), sin & righteousness (ch. 5-8), the communion (ch. 10-11), & their spiritual gifting (ch. 12-14). It is here, as Paul begins to call out the irony of God’s gifts being used to feed man’s arrogance, that the apostle gives a most poignant presentation of the need for a humble & submissive fellowship of Christians:

1 Corinthians 12:4-30 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; (5) and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; (6) and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (7) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (8) For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (12) For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (13) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (14) For the body does not consist of one member but of many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (18) But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (19) If all were a single member, where would the body be? (20) As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (21) The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (22) On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (23) and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, (24) which our more presentable parts do not require.

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, (25) that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (26) If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (27) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (28) And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (30) Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

From here, of course, Paul enters in to chapter 13, closing there with the inference that the “greatest” gift is the one that ends in the display of love for another. Indeed, as Ignatius of Antioch (2nd century) states on his road to martyrdom:

“Wherefore none of the devices of the devil shall be hidden from you, if, like Paul, ye perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ which are the beginning and the end of life. The beginning of life is faith, and the end is love. And these two being inseparably connected together, do perfect the man of God; while all other things which are requisite to a holy life follow after them.”

What brother can the insular Christian reach with this “greatest” gift if he remains an island unto himself? If the end goal of God’s working within us is love for another (instead of the heretofore Corinthian model of self-love), then should it not be concluded that the Christian can never be brought to maturity insofar as he continues his rejection of Christ’s earthly body? For it is only in His body that God refines us into the likeness of Christ. That is one way that God brings honor to Christ’s only current tangible presence on earth. Witness Jesus’ call to minister as a community in His absence to the same degree as one would minister unto Him in His presence:

Matthew 25:31-40 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. (32) Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. (34) Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, (36) I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' (37) Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? (38) And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? (39) And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' (40) And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

To disparage Christ’s body on earth, however flawed & weak it may be, is to disparage Christ Himself. To slander the former is to slander the later, for biblically, they are inexorably linked:

Ephesians 5:29-32 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, (30) because we are members of his body. (31) “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." (32) This mystery is profound (megas), and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Reason upon Faith, part 1

2010-08-22T23:03:00.018-04:00

The Christian is often accused of using invalid reasoning in using Scripture to prove Scripture; e.g., using nothing more than 1 Thess. 2:13, 2 Tim. 3:16, etc. to validate the idea that God’s Word is actually God’s Word would be entirely circuitous logic; apart from elsewise evidence, such confidence would rightly be unfounded. But Paul’s statement that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God” only reaffirms what Scripture’s many manifold witnesses (prophecy, natural & archeological history, early church fathers, as well as the less tangible, but no less real Holy Spirit) cause us to reasonably embrace- that God has preserved His revelation of all man needs to understand of both the natural & supernatural in the 66 books of Scripture.

Nevertheless, there is the fact that most of what is called knowledge & reason is primordially founded upon faith. Logically deduced knowledge, if extensively traced to its origin, finds some postulate made as a fundamental starting point. Take the “Big Bang” model of natural creation; astrophysicists devote their lifetime to constructing reasonable causations that assimilate with one another in order to arrive at an integrated, rational timeline from the very nanosecond of the singularity’s “bang” all the way to the present day.

But what they don’t tell you as they boldly assign precise dates to all the events of their timeline (so often with such certitude that those dates & events seem to be as sure as yesterday’s news events) is that all their reverse-engineering of the universe is presumed upon three fundamental faith-filled suppositions:

1. The ubiquity of current classical & quantum mechanics; in other words, is the empirical physics of today acting in same way, with the same metrics, as the physics of 13.7 billion years ago? Especially questionable since science seems all too eager to toss established physics in the pursuit of a rational early ontology, i.e. the period of time prior to "Planck time". If it can be said the physical laws of the universe somehow “changed” at the onset of “1 Planck”, then how can we be so confident of anything transpiring prior to that? Or even after that? How are the physical laws “changed”, & if so, then have they morphed again & again, or just that once? Indeed, after thousands of years of observation, we still don’t comprehend all the physical laws acting upon us right now, so any theory based on unempirical physics has to viewed with extreme skepticism.

2. The isotropic (same in all directions) nature of the universe.

3. The homogeneous nature of the universe (e.g.- is the entire universe composed of the same basic elements, e.g.- hydrogen & helium?)

I'm not saying that their model is wrong, I'm simply saying that it takes a tremendous degree of faith to believe that it is right.

Science of the day rests its beliefs upon its chronologically & spatially narrow viewpoint of the physical universe. Should I confidently claim to know that all birds can fly simply because all the ones I’ve been able to observe from my residency in Florida have been able to do so? Or that no snake can kill simply I’ve never seen anyone die from one? This is the weakness of inductive logic, & much of the in vogue establishment (money-hungry) science is rife with it. They preach Copernicus (that we hold no special place or viewpoint in the universe), but, so ironically for them, this makes science’s dependency on induction so much the greater, due to this lesser vantage point. Yes, deductions are made, but the problem is they are boastfully touted, all the while the frailties of the founding inductions are ignored.

In other words, their knowledge is founded on faith. The only problem- it is not honestly spoken of as such.

Unfortunately, man is so myopic in his ability to perceive even his own tangible sphere while concomitantly being so arrogant in claiming understanding of things his limited vision prevents him from seeing. Witness the episode of “Seinfeld” where the character George goes around making outrageous claims about things he thought he saw after losing his glasses. With a modicum of humility, he could have said “I think I might have seen…”, but unfortunately, humility was not his forte. So people were led astray, & in the end, George had to endure embarrassment for his cocksureness in the midst of his clear myopic hindrance.

Science desires to do likewise. They have wasted billions on building & operating radio telescopes around the world for fifty years now hopelessly trying to detect a single sign of extraterrestrial intelligent life, only to incessantly hear the same interstellar static that any of us can hear for free in our car on an empty radio frequency. They spend untold billions on particle colliders in an effort to demonstrate the existence of a “God particle” (the Higgs-boson particle- a hypothetical particle that would allow for the construction of mass into massless particles), while leaving God Himself forlorn in their lifelong examinations of the physical causes of creation. They treat this potential particle as if it were capable of excluding God from the act of creation (therein its media name), all the while feigning ignorance that, as elementary as this particle would be to the theorized Big Bang model, something still would have had to create it. As science states, neither energy nor mass can be created or destroyed, they can only change forms (& even massless photon particles are considered as mass in this case, subject to the same laws of conservation). Thus there exists no rational theory, or even a founding postulate, of how the Higgs-boson “God-particle” came to exist, despite the fact that its supposed reality has flaunted by science for over 40 years now. No atheistic physicist (they’re not all atheists, but many are deists) has been so bold to propose a “first cause” for their “God”; its cause is essentially taken on faith. This type of challenge is known as the “ontological argument” & it is just as relevant today, despite the tremendous increase in scientific knowledge in the 1000 years since Anselm first used it to add reason to a faithful belief in God’s existence. It is the most fundamental bulwark against arrogant atheistic claims to have an ontology based purely on reason. They present the atheism vs. theism debate as solely about reason vs. faith, instead of truthfully stating it as two separate ontologisms, each with an abundance of reason, but each also founded on faith.

The fact is, for both, it is not a matter of reason vs. faith, but reason built upon faith.

The bigger question: which is more believable- that matter & energy are self-creative, that a singularity containing all the potential of the universe just appeared without a causal dynamic, or that God exists “from everlasting to everlasting” (Psalms 90:2)? Neither gives any rationale for the academic to rally around to explain how something can come from nothing. God never tells us in His Word how He can exist infinitely in the space-time continuum; He simply says that He does. Atheists may mock such blind faith in a self-existent God, but to me at least, it seems eminently more reasonable that the supernatural can have this quality than the natural.

Indeed, such is my fundamental schoolyard-style challenge to the atheistic bully - that my blind faith is better, more reasonable even, than your blind faith.

Isaiah 44:24-25 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, (25) who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish.

Jesus’ Anthropomorphism in Relation to Omniscience & Omnipotence

2010-06-01T00:18:00.004-04:00

Most of my blog entries are from my Sunday School lessons & nursing home sermons, so they are pretty basic evangelical fare, as I believe is right; for neither S.S. nor a nursing home is the place putting forth concepts debatable within the reformed community.

But as a membership class has taken the S.S. time slot for the next couple months (a very needed thing), I will take this opportunity to blog a few of the ruminations I’ve been chewing on for the past year or so…

Luke 3:21-22 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, (22) and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

It is common for Christians to consider Christ in His earthly estate as being the same as He was (and is) in His heavenly estate- God in every respect. We think of Jesus as God, in all His fullness, walking amongst mankind, performing all manner of supernatural miracles of His own innately inborn power. This is how the Gnostics pictured Jesus, with their contrived stories of a pubescent Jesus supposedly using His power in a malevolent manner. They had Jesus, in His earthly form, completely backwards, picturing Him in youth as being fully imbued with the power of God, but lacking in character. Something akin to an young, immature Superman…

The Biblical picture is quite the opposite.

Luke 4:1-13 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness (2) for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. (3) The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." (4) And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" (5) And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, (6) and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. (7) If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." (8) And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" (9) And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, (10) for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' (11) and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" (12) And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" (13) And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Luke opens this passage by mentioning the fact that Jesus “was led by the Spirit”, which naturally begs the question- Why would an omniscient Jesus need the Spirit to lead Him? What void, what lack was there within an innately almighty Christ for the Spirit to fill up? Implicit here is the notion that the Spirit had knowledge that Jesus was not privy to in His wilderness wanderings.

But the questions for the believer in the corporeal, but still omnipotent 1st century Jesus should not stop there. In His prior (& subsequent) Heavenly estate, Christ commands the host of Heaven, & most certainly Satan as well. The image of that Person, with all His cache of utter authority over Heaven & Earth, actually being (potentially) tempted by such trivial things as dominion over the earthly kingdoms seems an outright silly concept. It would be like walking into a fine chocolatier’s confectionary to try to tempt the owner to trade it all for a Snicker’s bar; surely a laughable concept, because he presently owns, & is currently presiding over something far greater. But catch that owner far from his establishment, in a weak & lowly condition, & if paired with feeble character, the temptation becomes so much more plausible. Christ’s testing was in line with Esau’s testing, except it was a hundredfold times worse (Gen. 25:33). Quite literally in fact; Esau’s character failed in missing a single meal, while Jesus stood the test after missing approximately a hundred meals (40 days x 2-3 meals a day). Understand, what was being tested here was the measure of Christ’s character, & the only way His testing could be sincerely real would be for His intrinsic authority to have been divorced from His Person for a time. Only then could a temptation towards a lesser unordained authority be conceptually real. Only then would His testing be in line with Esau’s testing.

Only then would the chief chocolatier be truly tested.

And, only then could Hebrews 4:15 be candidly true- “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

If He had, perchance, gave that command for the stone to become bread, it surely would have taken place, but only by the abiding authority of the explicitly fore mentioned Holy Spirit. This brings to mind the primary contention in favor of “Superman” Jesus- that power most certainly seemed to emanate from His Person upon several occasions…

Luke 8:43-46 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. (44) She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. (45) And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!" (46) But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me."

Firstly, what seems odd here is the fact that her healing happened “immediately” upon the woman’s contact with the garment. If it had been innate "power" going out from Jesus (meaning of His own Person), then one would think that His cognition of the woman & her condition would surely be pre-requisite. Indeed, we don’t picture Jesus as a magical object, indiscriminately blessing anyone who touched His Person, as a pagan would be apt to think; in fact, the context bears this point out as it mentions the abundance of people “pressing in on” Him. No “power” went out to any of them, only this woman. Being a given that Christ’s healings were not universally nor haphazardly given (Matt. 13:58), the authority to dispense this “power” must have come of God’s Spirit, in His singular providence & ability. Jesus clearly felt the Spirit act, but just as clearly omniscience was not with our Lord at this juncture, & in light of other passages, it can be forthrightly taken that omnipotence was not either. It was the Spirit of God healing the woman through Christ, so as to “draw all men unto” Jesus as Master & Savior even while He was in such a lowly estate. It should be accepted that is precisely the primary purpose of the miracles (John 9:3-5). But it should also be accepted that the “power” does not need to emanate directly from the Savior, it (or more astutely- He- meaning the Spirit) only needs to operate through the Savior, in order to accomplish the goal of drawing God’s elect towards their Lord.

Continue reading in Luke to perceive that “power” within Christ to perform miracles was entirely the Holy Spirit…

Luke 4:14-18 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. (15) And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (16) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. (17) And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, (18) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

Luke 5:17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

This last sentence, & particularly the word “with”, strongly suggests the idea that such power was not always with Him, or at the very least, it was not naturally of Him.

Yes, an argument can be made that the power was of Jesus because of the instances wherein He anointed others with power (Matt. 10:1). But couldn’t the argument be given in support of the apostles also having innate authority, as in Acts 8:17? Indeed, such ability seemed outwardly to the uninitiated, like Simon the magician, as distinctly particular to the apostles themselves, something to be bartered for & used for personal gain. Paul reminds Timothy, in both extant letters sent to him, that he should “not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” In 2nd Timothy, the Pauline language is even more direct along these lines as he speaks of Timothy’s gifting only being there by Paul’s own initiative:

2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, (7) for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

What do we believe? That Paul was a "little god", giving spiritual gifts entirely of his own volition? The Mormon & Word-faith disciple may go there, but the true student of Scripture would never think in that way. In fact, verse 7 indicates the true source of Timothy’s anointing- “the (God-given) Spirit…of power and love and self-control.” Paul endeavors to remind his student of the laying on of his hands only so Timothy would likewise treasure the apostle’s words in these letters just as much. See, both have the same source- God’s Spirit- so in trumpeting the import of his God-given laying on of hands, Paul is likewise trumpeting the import of his God-given instruction.

So, despite the strong inference in language indicating inherent spiritual abilities- within either Paul or Jesus- we must contrast & interpret such notions with the rest of Scripture before arriving at any conclusions.

Acts 2:22-24 Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know- (23) this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. (24) But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Again, the word “through” lends tremendous evidence to the idea that the miracles were not of Him, but came from another Person of the triune God working “through” Him.

Acts 10:36-40 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), (37) you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: (38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

In stating God’s (the Father’s) simultaneous anointing of Jesus with both "the Holy Spirit & with power", Peter was confirming that power entered Christ only as the Holy Spirit entered Christ. Even if one declares these two occurrences to be purely coincidental (a difficult argument, to be sure) what one cannot deny is that the power was not something that descended along with His Person naturally; another Person of God had to specially “anoint” Jesus with power.

Hebrews 2:5-10 Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. (6) It has been testified somewhere, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? (7) You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, (8) putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. (9) But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (10) For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

In verse 7, man’s authority is described as a little lower than the angels, & verse 9 likewise relates Jesus’ 33 year existence by using the very same words. Note that verse 7 describes that status of man as beneath angels being so only “for a little while”. What essentially makes man temporarily “lower” than the angel sent by God to tend to that man? Spiritual insight & power. Insight of the sort that Elisha & his servant were given by the Spirit (2 Kings 6:17), & power to work in accord with that greater vision (& of course, God’s will). What has direct power in the spiritual, has like direct power over the physical, but those with direct power only in the physical (such as kings & judges) have nothing but mere pleadings to effect events in the spiritual. So they rank beneath, however temporarily (in the case of the elect), those angels with authority in the broader spiritual realm.

But what is especially noteworthy in Hebrews is verse 9, where Jesus’ visitation is spoken of in the same terms: “(He) was made lower than the angels”. Here, Christ’s corporeal existence is described in the same terms as any other man, reduced to having to depend upon the ministry of those temporarily greater than Him, though of course, only in the sense of innate spiritual vision & power. Where His Godliness was never reduced was in His Godly character or nature. He had our flesh with all of its diverse trappings, but what He never lacked was the most prevalent thing that makes God righteous in all He does- His utter goodness of character; this never has, nor ever will be divorced from Him. He was like us for a time, a jar of clay, weak & fragile; but unlike the natural man, that weak vessel was filled to the uttermost with the complete goodness of a Godly nature.

He was, for a time, as we are- stripped of innate power & insight into the spiritual realm, for the twin purposes of that Godly nature being fully tested by the flesh, & now, consequently, being able to rightly minister to us as One who has felt every sort of temptation & distress the flesh has to offer, & so can offer priestly “help in time of need”:

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

An earthly priest could often commiserate with the petitioner’s needs, because he had often experienced the same lowly fleshly temptations, & Christ is no different in His ministry as our one & only priestly intercessor with the Father. This starts to get to the crux of the reason why this matters: if Christ was Superman in those 33 years, meaning naturally enabled with special x-ray vision & tremendous strength, more naturally insightful & powerful than us, then it really can’t be said that He was tempted like us “in every respect”. Our greatest distress & temptation to sin comes in that time when we cannot perceive the spiritual realm (or when we fool ourselves to think that they do not see us). Understand, most of the Elisha’s servant, denying Peter, & doubting Thomas moments of trial in our lives would never occur if we were always enabled with spiritual insight & power into the realities of the Spirit world beyond our normal reach. None of those 3 persons would have been perfected by their trials if they were always enabled to see & work as freely in the spiritual world as they could in the natural world. Likewise, for Christ’s many diverse temptations to have been truly poignant & truly perfecting, He would have to have just as spiritually blind & weak as we are in those same circumstances. Only then could He fully “sympathize with our weaknesses”, for innate spiritual blindness & powerlessness are part & parcel of those weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 13:4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

This verse is a great encouragement to those “weak vessels” who become overwhelmed by the task of following Christ. “Jesus was God, but I am not, so I could never become like Him” is the rationale given to by those babes not pursuing sanctification, despite the biblical injunction that we should follow Him, not only in word, but in deed as well. In a individual sense that thought above is right, because we do not have the righteousness of God inherently, as Jesus did; but where it falls short is in the failing to accept Christ’s call to represent Him in this world in the interim before His appearing. We are, corporately, the “body” of Christ in this place until that day, so that means that, corporately, we are to be exactly like Him. Individually, we are “weak in Him”, but corporately, through the Spirit, we are the tangible Jesus in the world this day.

God’s Spirit makes the Person of Jesus Christ personal to us.

The fictional person of Sheriff Andy Taylor often revealed high character by facing distressing events without the comfort & confidence of a weapon. He felt better suited towards his role to be devoid of that power which his fellow Mayberryians did not possess, therein making himself more like them, despite his greater office. He desired to walk among them as they were, without imbued power, himself possessing nothing greater than the power of a higher calling, to serve their otherwise forlorn needs.

He made himself fully like them- so as to better serve them.

Hebrews 5:7-10 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. (8) Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. (9) And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (10) being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Kings do not learn obedience sitting on their throne, dispatching commands & ensconced in their place of authority (e.g. Daniel 4). No, learning some new measure of obedience would require them to forsake such authority & enter into a lowly condition. While all will agree Jesus wasn’t on His throne for those “days of His flesh”, if He walked this earth with royal scepter in hand, then, in a sense He was still on His throne, & not really “made lower than the angels”.

Only then, in such a destitute condition, could He have truly “learned obedience”.

Also, because of vs. 7b above, many read this passage with only the cross in view, only thinking of Jesus as weak as He was crucified. But verse 7a’s opening phrase “in the days of His flesh” indicates that the subsequent discussion of Christ’s weakness was applicable to His entire 33 year corporeal existence.

Thirdly, we can also glean from this text the point that Christ “was heard because of His reverence”; “was heard” denotes His reliance on the other Persons of the trinity, but “His reverence” highlights the aspect of His human existence that made Him most radically stand out as God amongst the sea of depraved humanity- His superior character. See, being stripped of His innate Godly power to exercise the supernatural allowed “His piety” (NASB) to stand out for all its brilliance. Like a table covered with intensely radiant jewels, it is hard to examine & test any single component of God’s glory when it is all on display together. But veil all the jewels save one, & the individual magnificence of that one can be thoroughly examined, tested, & appreciated for all its integrity. This, once again, is the purpose for Christ’s lowly weakness prior to the cross; the Father certainly knew of the Son’s radiant integrity heretofore, but He desired that such pure piety would be lucidly seen & embraced by all, for eternity; putting such a precious stone in temporary “setting”, completely to itself, accomplishes that goal.

This begs the philosophical discussion of what most makes God “better” than us. There are many reasons to be sure, even apart from the fundamental concept that Creator will always be greater than His creation. But if we consider God is better than us simply because He is more powerful or more knowledgeable, it would be in line with fallen Satan’s original temptation towards Eve that caused her & Adam to fall as well- that simply attaining the omniscience of God was to be “like God” (Gen. 3:5). This stems from a lesser recognition of God’s glory. They, & we, prove ignorance of what attribute of God primarily makes Him “better” than us- when reducing it to something less noble than simply His goodness & righteousness.

Consequently, pure righteousness, brilliantly exhibited by God in the Person of Jesus Christ, shines ever more brilliant as it is exhibited in the austerity of an otherwise fully anthropomorphic corporeal Christ.

In closing, I can understand the reticence to picture Christ in this fashion. For 2000 years, some have failed to embrace either His humanity or His Godliness, & the current trend is definitely skewed towards denying His divinity. I hope no one misjudges me, to put me into this later category, for few things could further from the truth. Having been raised in a religion that does fall into this later category, I have since sought to pound the pulpit on no point of doctrine more so than the Glory of Jesus Christ. But I also cannot ignore the seemingly clear adjuring of Scripture to accept this view of our Savior’s earthly visitation.

Hidden Treasure (part 2)

2010-05-18T10:52:00.003-04:00

Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Last week we dwelt on the first half of the parable, particularly the fact that the treasure was not exposed for all to see, but “hidden”, implying that the gospel is intended only for those who are enabled (by God) to find it. This speaks to the fact that the specific “whosoevers” that gain Christ’s righteousness were actually of God’s sovereign design. The seeming indiscriminate language of verses like John 3:16 KJV references the human perspective on who would embrace Christ as Lord; God has always known His elect. (John 6:64-65, 8:47, Acts15:18)

"Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

First of all note that there is joy. Sometimes a man can find treasure, without comprehending at first its true value. He still pays a price to gain it, but for a time may question whether or not it was truly worth it. Peter too had his doubts as he pondered the price he has paid…

Matthew 19:27-30 Then Peter said in reply, "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" (28) Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (30) But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

See, Peter’s dilemma was the same as ours: we sell out everything to gain the field, but we don’t immediately reap the full tangible value of the “prize” we have “attained”. In selling everything to gain what seems to the natural eyes to be of little value, it seems that we have taken a place at the back of the race because it seems that we have given up far more than we have gained…

Philippians 3:14-16 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- (10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (16) Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Both Paul & Peter were reflective, taking note of all they had lost in order to take possession of the field with its glorious treasure, but one seemed despondent while the other seemed joyous. What was the difference? Why did Paul, who at the time he wrote this had actually had lost more than Peter (with the loss of his freedom), have so much more joy than Peter? Verses 9 & 10 hold the keys- Paul had greater faith & knowledge in Christ. Truly, what “we have attained” by selling out to the natural man is the full righteousness of Christ. We really do possess the field & its inestimable riches, but can’t cash in to gain the full tangible value of the treasure right away. Examine Paul’s statement in verse 9, that we do in fact possess the righteousness of Christ, but cannot fully apprehend it, in this body, for all its magnificence. Therefore is the reason he says it “depends on faith”. In tough times, the natural man says “Look at all you have lost; for what? A worthless field that bears nothing but pain? O, woe are you.” Thus, the field seems in times of hardship to be too much of a burden to bear.

But yet there is joy to the one who keeps his eye on the prize of Christ & the day that the treasure’s full value will come to us. See, the thing to do in those low times is to take some time to research the value of the treasure. Spending time to study up on the as yet unattained full tangible value of the treasure of Christ that you surely possess will turn your depression into exuberant jubilation. This is, in part, is the value of Bible study, good preaching, prayer, praise, & fellowship. They train our eyes on “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

The field owner with no joy is the one who has lost sight of the glory of sharing in the riches of Christ. Study up on the value of having Christ’s righteousness & your joy will return.

Hidden Treasure (part 1)

2010-05-15T11:50:00.004-04:00

Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Let’s break down the riches of this short parable to find to see it for all it has to teach us.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up."

Like treasure hidden in a field, the Gospel is found most often by those who were not looking for it.

Who looks for treasure in an open field? Treasure seekers will spend their time looking in more likely locations- caves, shipwrecks, & shorelines. Spiritual seekers often do the same, hitting all the gurus with appealing messages that overtly sound really good right from the get go. The Gospel has no such appeal with all of its focus on our sin nature. This is how the “seeker-sensitive” word-faith, name it & claim it, blab it & grab it churches grow to the point of seating thousands while the true Gospel treasure is only found by the few drawn to dig into the dirt of their sinful nature.

So there was found the treasure, not intentionally looked for, but stumbled upon in the course of daily life. It seems, at first, to the uninitiated, a purely happy accident.

But the mature come to understand the complete sovereignty of God, that there are no “accidents” in all of God’s creation, happy or otherwise. God is the creator of all we see & He is likewise the sustainer of all we see, down to the most minor of minutia…

Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (26) Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (27) And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (28) And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, (29) yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (31) Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (34) Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

If God sovereignly cares even for such trivial concerns as the natural “grass of the field”, of course He would have concern for the Heavenly lasting treasure hidden under that perishing pastureland, now wouldn’t He? This first half of the parable magnifies the absolute authority of God over all of His creation. But note the fuller context of the quote above; though God is fully in control, this does not mean that our life will not have its share of “anxious… trouble” The “trouble” of Judas was known & prophesied of long before it happened, but it was still allowed to happen (Matt. 26:24).

So it is only as we mature & reflect on all the circumstances in our life that led to that supposed “accidental” finding of the riches of Christ, that we realize that it was indeed not a mere “lucky” happenstance that we stumbled upon His righteousness. Surely, it was one ordained circumstance after another that led us to toiling in that field with shovel in hand, merely intent on laboring for another day’s wage, but gaining eternal riches instead. How wrong we were to think that it was we who “decided” to accept Christ into our soul. No, it was God who prepared our hearts, so that at the right time, when we were ready, He could lead us to the exact spot, in the exact field, to dig to “find” that eternal treasure.

The fact that the treasure was hidden directly implies the doctrine of election. The treasure was not exposed for all passers-by to see & apprehend in all of its magnificence. It was instead buried & only found by the “elect”. Many try to quibble with election on ethical grounds, but one thing is for sure- no one can argue with it on Biblical grounds. Election is implicit in this parable by the fact that Christ’s glory is “hidden”, but is also explicit by the mere fact that He using a parable in the first place…

Matthew 13:9-17 “He who has ears, let him hear.” (10) Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" (11) And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. (12) For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (13) This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. (14) Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: "'You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. (15) For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' (16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. (17) For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Parables then have a twofold purpose; they allow the elect natural man, the “wheat”, to peer into the spiritual kingdom, while also shielding such insight from the “tares”, those who would have no such residence there. This is also why Jesus particularly restrained the full revelation of His glory when speaking in public, most often choosing instead the still prophetic, but demure title “Son of Man” in place of the more direct “Son of God”.

The utter sovereignty of God, & the doctrine of election that both Scripturally & rationally descends from that idea of complete sovereignty, are like golden threads weaved through the whole of God’s Word; no one can deny them without concordantly denying the entire revelation of His Word.

"The Prayer of Faith"

2010-04-18T08:20:00.002-04:00

Luke 18:1-8 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (2) He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. (3) And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' (4) For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, (5) yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" (6) And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. (7) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (8) I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Prayer to God is a fundamental outgrowth of the restored relationship with Him that is offered through Jesus Christ. Being that salvation comes to our soul not through our effort, nor through others- such as those pretentious flesh bound, would be “vicars” of Christ- we find our very roots, the fetus of our new-found creation, birthed by Christ alone. No New Testament believer in Christ can rightly take the title of “priest” over other believers, a word whose Greek roots mean “sacred”; for Hebrews reveals Jesus Christ stands alone as mediator between God & man (Hebrews 7 provides the instruction that Christ alone is God’s priest to mankind, while1Peter 2:5, Rev. 1:6, & 5:10 has those that Christ has ministered to as priest- turn & minister as a priest of sorts as well- but only to God & only in the sense of servitude). The primary OT role of a priest as a mediator between God & man is entirely absorbed into the Person of Jesus Christ alone.

Fundamentally realize & accept that we could never attain the righteousness that we “must” have to please God (Matt. 5:48) in our own due diligence. No, the “perfect” righteousness demanded of us in order for us to abide with God (or even for Him to abide with us in the form of His Spirit) must be “gifted” to us by Christ. Therefore, our righteousness cannot be tangibly apprehended in the natural realm (Heb. 11:1); this necessitates persistent faith that Christ truly died on that cross so many years ago with the purpose of delivering our souls to the Father by His righteousness alone, & that He lives today, even this very moment, to continually intercede on our behalf (Heb. 7:25, Rom. 8:34, John 17:9). If I could be saved by my own works, I could physically gaze upon those tangible works so near to me & therein find the solace that I am saved. But Scripture tells us instead that our righteousness comes only through Christ, who is unseen, & whose saving work was long ago, therefore requiring unrelenting faith to remain steadfast, not only in prayer, but in every other Kingdom capacity as well…

Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- (22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (26) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

This should draw us to Him continually, as the only means for our needs to find their end. The Canaanite woman’s faith would not allow her to leave Christ despite His apparently disparaging remarks (Matt.15:21-28). Understand, her humble persistence is what revealed her faith. This Gentile “dog” demonstrated “great faith” by displaying that she was no whimpering poodle but a tenacious pit bull, refusing to let go until her case was evidently dealt with by the lone “Judge” capable of rendering an effectual decision.

As with the widow in the parable, the Canaanite’s faith is aligned with a dogged persistence in continually, even tenaciously, holding fast to the only One capable of meeting her need. To paraphrase Peter’s response to Christ’s faith testing query in regards to whether he would leave Christ’s side as had so many other disciples- “to whom (else) shall (she) go? (Christ alone has) the words of eternal life, and (she has) believed, and have come to know, that (He is) the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

It was yet another Gentile whose faith Christ held up as exemplary in Matt. 8:5-13, as the Roman centurion spoke of Christ as his superior. As an agent of the occupying Roman government & with Jesus as his subject, he was above Jesus in the visible, earthly hierarchy. But his great faith in Christ as his actual superior was revealed when he told Him that he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home. Think about the context- here was a ranking officer in the Emperor’s conquering army telling his lowly Jewish vassal that he was “not worthy to have (Him) come under (his) roof”. Then the centurion goes on to describe Christ’s measure of authority in the larger spiritual realm as comparable to his own authority, restricted as it was to the lesser earthly realm. He was essentially assigning Christ the omnipotence of God- having complete dominion over both the physical & spiritual domains, & so demonstrating his belief in Christ’s unseen nature.

Hebrews 11 discusses such blind faith (in regards to our having not yet palpably grasped the fullness of Christ’s righteousness in our present state) by making mention of the patriarchs’ likewise need for faith. The writer recognizes the Christian’s challenge to steadfastly believe in that which he cannot see, but nevertheless presses him onward in this regard with this conclusive statement:

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Luke 11:1-13 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." (2) And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. (3) Give us each day our daily bread, (4) and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation." (5) And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, (6) for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; (7) and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? (8) I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. (9) And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (10) For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (11) What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; (12) or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? (13) If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

The Forever Facebook

2010-03-14T06:11:00.021-04:00

Luke 16:1-14 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. (2) And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.' (3) And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. (4) I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.' (5) So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' (6) He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' (7) Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' (8) The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. (9) And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. (10) One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. (11) If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? (12) And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? (13) No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." (14) The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

This parable is often considered as difficult to understand, & that is because we expect Christ’s parables to explicitly instruct us towards morality. But the Savior never veiled His moral imperatives in the parable’s inner sanctum- the metaphorical “Holy of Holies” of His teachings; instead He always chose to clearly teach essential righteousness in the outer court, so all could hear & none could contend ignorance in the day of judgment (e.g. Matt. 5).

Yes, as we have seen before (Matt. 13:10-17), the parable is meant only for the initiated- the children gifted with “ears to hear” by the Spirit of God. The parable’s goal, then, is to teach those already in the kingdom, the principles behind abundant life in the kingdom; not the basic nature of right & wrong, of which they would already have awareness of, & be repentant towards.

Christ used situations relatable to His chosen audience- thus the abundance of fishing, farming, & construction similes to His more often blue-collar converts. Most farmers then, as now, could scarcely afford to purchase a large tract of arable land outright; so the commoners had a concept of dealing with wealthy land owners through their managers. In addition, His “hearers” certainly lived in a depraved world filled with self-serving people, so surely they could apprehend the character of this dishonest manager who cared for no one greater than himself. Maybe they could even recall from their own past similar lowly virtues, & so be particularly convicted; they may therefore recall their prior high motivations for the short-term worldly reward having driven them to act shrewdly to gain such a prize. Therefore, with regards to this parable, the issue at hand is the Christian’s sometimes spiritual lethargy, wherein his abiding in Christ’s salvation never amounts to anything more than slothful slumber. This insolent spiritual dolt only gets out of bed to partake of eat his Master’s food; he enjoys all the comforts of such an extraordinary abode, but gives nothing in return. He won’t know what he’s got until it’s gone. Act shrewdly instead, my friend, in accordance with what you know & responding with all due diligence, for God knows how to deal with the lazy & insolent of His household (1Cor. 5:5)

Christ has already accomplished all that we need to have done for us to enter in to His kingdom. This parable, then, is not instructing us to use “wealth” to make friends so as to enable us to enter into His kingdom, but to actively, wisely, & “shrewdly” use all that God has put at our disposal to enable others to enter in & prosper. And because we are one body in the Lord, when one prospers, all prosper.

Philippians 3:8-16 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- (10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (16) Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

What goal is Paul calling us to press on with him towards in this passage? Certainly not the elementary foundation of being saved, for that he establishes that he already has through faith in Christ (v. 9). It is despite his inactivity, even more so because of his inactivity in this regard, vis-à-vis the complete comprehensiveness of Christ’s salvation, that impels him forward towards the goal, “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul stated earlier in this epistle that his continuing to live in the flesh meant “fruitful labor” for him, & he then specifically identifies this labor to be the continuing growth of the Philippians in Christ (1:21-23). He was torn; he wanted to go home to Christ, but yet he knows his work establishing his Philippian “friends” was not yet complete. He then states he wishes to stay for this purpose. Paul knew he still had spiritual capital that needed to be spent “buying” his friends’ eternal rewards. So it is because his his life is focused & his aim is singular upon this "goal" that he counts anything that does not enable it as "rubbish"; likewise anything that does enable it would be treasured as great "wealth". Oh, if the average Christian had only a tenth of Paul's focus upon a goal of like manner!

And the Philippians' rewards would pay dividends towards Paul's eternal reward as well, thus the fruit of his labor & his prize. It was a sort of “forever Facebook” account Paul was building up that he believed, in faith, would pay off in the Kingdom to come.

What’s more, Paul’s (and many other’s) “friends” list continues growing to this day. Every time someone uses the apostle’s words to mature someone in Christ, Paul’s account gains more “friends” for eternity. How’s that for some serious cha-ching, baby? (sorry, it’s March Madness) Be like Paul & “shrewdly” use all your short-term capital (physical & spiritual) to bank up your long-term reward.

Because there seems to be so much head scratching consternation about this parable, allow me to sum up & make the point of it explicitly clear. The manager was given a vision of his future in this world & was blessed for "shrewdly" taking hold of this vision & making preparation for it. Jesus desires that the Christian act similarly- in faith, "shrewdly" grasp the certainty of your destination in Heaven & likewise begin to make preparation for it. You have been made aware of your future. You know where you are going. Now wisely deal with that knowledge with the things you possess right now.

1 Corinthians 3:1-23 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (2) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, (3) for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? (4) For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? (5) What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. (6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (8) He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. (9) For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. (10) According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. (11) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- (13) each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (14) If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. (15) If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (16) Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (17) If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (18) Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. (19) For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (20) and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (21) So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, (22) whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, (23) and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

The immaturity of the Corinthians at the time of Paul's first letter to them was made evident by the use of their gifts in a worldly & fleshly fashion (1 Cor. 12-14). They were not using their present knowledge & gifting towards their future account in Heaven, but instead ignorantly & foolishly spending their treasure in the present to please the fading flesh. Suppose you did a family budget & found a $500 monthly surplus. You could giddily take that blessing & spend it on passing pleasures every month- high class dining & entertainment or a new car when the old one still runs good enough. Or you could, more prudently, take it & invest it towards your future. How many shrewd investors were mocked when they gave up their hard-earned capital to have a stake in an unknown retailer's IPO in 1970? But time has revealed their wisdom, as a relatively paltry $1000 investment in Wal-Mart at that time would net you multiple millions today.

Paul expresses great dismay over the Corinthians' wasting the treasure of their spiritual gifts; as they spend their reward- in the flesh, so accordingly they gain- only in the flesh. Such practice bears no lasting fruit & if not repented of, will result in their having "believed in vain" (1 Cor.15:2). As Jesus said concerning the fleshly person's vain public prayers "They have (already) received their reward". (Matt 6:2)

1 Corinthians 9:7-27 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? (8) Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? (9) For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? (10) Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. (11) If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? (12) If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. (13) Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? (14) In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (15) But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. (16) For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (17) For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. (18) What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. (19) For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. (20) To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. (21) To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. (22) To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. (23) I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (24) Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (25) Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (26) So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. (27) But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

The Lord is fair far beyond measure in all His dealings. Though He has already given us a gift of inestimable worth in the cross of Christ, He does not desire that we should now work as though to "pay back", in any way, that precious gift. See, that would diminish the value of the gift, & God will not have the glory of the Son's work devalued in any way- especially by the works of man, which would cloud the very important dividing line between the necessities of His work & our work, Between His cross & our cross. No, like Ornan the Jebusite's threshing floor, sacred things have a price (1Chron. 21:24), & nothing is more sacred to God than the work of His Son on the cross. That is why He adds heavenly rewards for our labor in His kingdom to His central & foundational gift of His justification, to demonstrate that such a gift stands apart & stands alone, separate from any work of mankind.

If all we have gained in Christ for eternity is a ticket to Heaven for ourselves, then we have accomplished nothing

with all the wealth of worldly gain & special abilities that God has lavished upon us; to say nothing of the wealth of mercy, grace, & love God has also poured out upon us- for again, it is Christ alone who gained that pitiful, lonesome ticket for us. God has poured out a wealth of His common grace & His special grace upon us; what have we done with such bountiful blessings? To accomplish nothing with so great a salvation… well let’s just hear & be pressed on by the letter to the Hebrews…

Hebrews 2:1-4 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (2) For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, (3) how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, (4) while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

In the south, we have a saying- "When you think you got it made in the shade, ya better watch out that the tree don't fall down on you."

And consider this kindred to the parable of the “shrewd manager” as well…

Matthew 25:14-30 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. (15) To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. (16) He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. (17) So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. (18) But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. (19) Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. (20) And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' (21) His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' (22) And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' (23) His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' (24) He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, (25) so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' (26) But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? (27) Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. (28) So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. (29) For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (30) And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Sharecropper Co-opt

2010-02-27T21:18:00.009-05:00

Samaritan

2010-01-31T01:33:00.002-05:00

Luke 10:25-37 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (26) He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" (27) And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." (28) And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live." (29) But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" (30) Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. (31) Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. (32) So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (33) But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. (34) He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (35) And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' (36) Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" (37) He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

Among those who seek after God, there are but two types- those that pursue Him based on their works, which is self-justification, & those that have the sense that no such approach is possible; that God alone justifies us as a “free gift”. Paul thus describes this only genuine justification in Romans 4 & 5 as a gift, & what makes a gift a gift is the fact that the recipient has done nothing to earn it; elsewise it would “not counted as a gift but as his due” (Romans 4:4).

Why would God throw out all the works of man, both good & bad, when assessing the merit of a man to be saved? Surely, Scripture gives many reasons, but three stand out as chief among them-

1. To maintain His sovereignty over those destined to be eternally in residence with Him,
for otherwise man, not God, would the decider of who’s in & who’s out.

2. To maintain the completely pure righteous nature of the Father’s heavenly realm,
for otherwise men would be entering on the backs of their own good works, but by necessity, be stained with their evil works as well. Instead, we enter Heaven pure as Christ Himself when we enter through Christ.

3. To express His inordinate mercy.

Ephesians 2:1-10 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (2) in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience- (3) among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved- (6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

See, salvation does not come from good works, as the scribe had supposed in his pursuit of self- justification, but rather for good works. Get that, get that, get that- because many on the wide road to destruction do not.

God’s justification comes first; then & only then, pouring out of His work of salvation, will your good works come.

What precisely do I mean by that? That only by comprehending the fullness of His work (the cross) will we be able to enter fully into our work.

The proverbial priest & the Levite also failed to understand this fact. They were probably either headed to or from the Temple in the administration of their duties at the sacrificial altar. But God says to such again & again that He desires “mercy, not sacrifice” (Prov. 21:3, Isa. 1:11-17, Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:6-8, Matt. 9:13 & 12:7). It was not that God despises sacrifice, but that He delights only in “right sacrifices” given because of “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17-19). In the parable, the scribe is represented in the priest & Levite, two persons devoted to following mere legal regulations in their pursuit of God’s justification, instead of being meditative in regards to the spirit of those same regulations. They misunderstood the depth of their depravity, thinking that merely whitewashing the outside of the tomb would restore the dead bones within. They apparently never pondered David’s words as he confronted his degeneracy in Psalm 51. See, David knew his sin well because of his deep lamentations, & he knew as well that forgiveness was not due him because of some shallow work, vainly done without any inward conversion. David appealed to God not on the basis of a work of sacrifice, but on the basis of “a broken and contrite heart”, depending only on God’s mercy to deliver him forgiveness.

And there lies the cause for the failing to mercifully care for your “neighbor”. You have not yet fully understood the measure of mercy God has already poured out on you. Get that, & the love for your “neighbor” will surely follow. Those that seek to justify themselves are to be pitied greatly, for in this they demonstrate that they have little experience with the love of God. The Apostle tells us in 1John 4 that we love God & our “neighbor” only because He first loved us. So our love, for both God & man, will be wholly contingent & comparable to our cognition of God's preeminent love for us.

Expressing the love of God is directly proportional to the measure that you have experienced the love of God. And that experience is borne in the throes of humble repentance & lamentations over your every depravity.

The preaching of sin is therefore fundamental at every stage of Christian maturity until you have been fully “perfected in love” (1John 4:18).

What is Good?- The Existence of Evil, part 4

2010-01-07T11:45:00.002-05:00

Romans 12:2-9 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (3) For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (4) For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, (5) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (6) Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; (7) if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; (8) the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (9) Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

In the previous three posts on this subject, I have endeavored to confront the atheist’s common objections to the existence of God. I do this for two reasons- to give the believer ammunition to respond to the atheist’s barrage of questions, but also to assail whatever measure of atheism dwells within us as believers as well. The biggest difference between the theist & the atheist is quite simply a matter of faith in “Theos”, the Greek term for God. Jesus speaks in one parable of faith as a (mustard) seed, & a seed’s value is tied to its growth. Thus my belief that faith is like a seed; it is buried, but pushes up out of seeming death towards the Light of life. Like that proverbial mustard tree, faith is something that is always growing, so also we are never fully grown until we can say that we perfectly reflect the nature of Christ in every facet of our life. So “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) speaks to every one of us as we mature upwards towards the light of Christ in regards to both faith & reality. Because, truly, it is the growth in the less tangible quality of faith that spurs growth in the more tangible reality. This concept was the impetus for James’ oft discussed 2nd chapter; read fully in context, James compares faith that is real & alive, faith that is evidenced by works (tangible realities), with a faith that is dead, a stillborn child never seeing the light of day, a seed sown, watered, & nurtured but never breaking through the soil to be seen by others, a hollow empty faith that has nothing palpable to show to verify its existence. In contrast with the person of this 2nd type of faith, Paul presents the Thessalonians whom he claims to “know” that God has chosen. Why? Because their faith has given corporeal evidence in support (1Thessalonians 1).

The atheist’s typical case against God consists of an attack on His integrity. They seize the obvious reality of evil to present as primary evidence against either God’s omnipotence or His inherent goodness. In support of this premise, they attempt to lay a foundation for logical argument with opening statements as follows:

“A morally good God prevents all the evil He has the power to prevent”

They then go on to build upon this foundation in an effort to present a rational construct against God. But any construct is only as strong its foundation (Matt. 7:24ff), & this building is built on quicksand.
At first it seems a statement that all can agree upon, but there is a sly supposition intrinsic to the argument that most do not see at first. It’s the same trap that Job & his three friends fell into, a trap of ignorance covered up by arrogance.

It’s the base assumption that man can, apart from God, discern what is good, & what is evil.

For much of the book of Job, the protagonist defends his character against his primary antagonists, his 3 friends. He does not see within himself a cause for his pain, so he begins to construct an indictment against the very goodness of God, for not preventing the evil that has prevailed against his supposed goodness. But then in chapters 32-37 a fourth fellow by the name of Elihu starts a counter-indictment, not towards judging Job for the sin that supposedly caused his suffering, but his sin that came out in his suffering. Then in chapters 38-41, God himself angrily confronts Job. God doesn’t respond to Job’s farcical line of questioning because his questions were rooted in ignorance of the nature of his situation. Instead, God presents his own line of questioning concerning what measure of either knowledge or ability, much less innate goodness, that Job retained within himself. A sample of God’s case:

Job 38:1-21 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: (2) "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? (3) Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. (4) Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (5) Who determined its measurements- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? (6) On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, (7) when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (8) Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, (9) when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, (10) and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, (11) and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'? (12) Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, (13) that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? (14) It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. (15) From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. (16) Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? (17) Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? (18) Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this. (19) Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, (20) that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? (21) You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

See, the reason why Job’s defense of himself & his concomitant indictment of God was revealed as fallacious reasoning was that it was based upon Job’s reckless assumption that he knew the full state of his affairs. He probably didn’t think he knew all things, but he did arrogantly believe in his ability to apprehend the full scope of his own existence. But a proper attitude towards God would have had him sounding much more like Sgt. Shultz (I know nothing!) & a proper faith in God as inherently good would have him praising Him for His goodness regardless of appearances.

So it becomes apparent that Job fell into the same trap that our atheist friends fall into, a most insidious kind of evil, a kind that deceives us towards faith in ourselves, as opposed to a faith in God alone, as inherently good.

I do not mean to say that, as Christians, with the illumination given through the Word of God & the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can never rightly discern good & evil; just that such ability is not innate to the natural man. Such discernment only comes to the degree that God freely offers it in grace & need. Certainly much wisdom can apprehended through the right foundation of His Word; then the Spirit takes these truths & builds upon them, opening our mind to further understanding of the spiritual world’s activities, as the frightened young man of Elisha’s day was ministered to (2Kings 6:17). But more often we are left blind to so much of God’s workings in the course of our daily lives. It is faith, in God’s power & absolute righteousness, that presses us onward in such times.

Faith is directly proportional to our joy in this life. We are anguished, but our joy is steadfast for the cause of faith in God as both supremely powerful & good in regards to our anguish. So faith is fundamental to joy. Faith is like a muscle, it grows as it is worked out. Atrophic faith is a faith that languishes on the couch with bonbons & TV remote in hand. It seems a good life, but is actually greatly pitied, for in the times of extended ease, the lasting joy of strong faith subtly degenerates towards feeble faith & the mere moments of pleasure found in self indulgence. Suffering is sometimes God’s workout plan to grow our faith to the point of trusting Him at all times, in all things.

Genesis 50:15-20 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him." (16) So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died, (17) 'Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. (18) His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." (19) But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? (20) As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Neither Job nor his friends had any cognition, much less faith, in God’s ability or desire to turn what Satan meant for evil around for good as God did in Joseph’s life. They saw nothing right or good in Job’s suffering. But they lacked God’s grand picture of what is “good”. Would you be in favor of someone breaking your bones, or cutting you with a knife? From the outset, these clearly seem to be not “good” things in any way, & the perpetrators would not be seen as “good” either. But what if the bone-breaker was a doctor resetting an improperly healing fracture? (happened to me!) What if the supposed offender with a knife turned out to be surgeon removing malignant tumors from some vital organ? Now the one speculated to be your persecutor turns out to be your friend & savior. Yes he brings you pain, but you accept such short term anguish because you trust faithfully in both his ability to heal & his goodness in motivation will lead towards your eventual benevolence. Who would trust an quack doctor to reset his fracture? Who would succumb to the diagnosis & treatment of a doctor thought to be moved by impure motives (like greed)?

Thus the cause for abdicating the throne of honor whereupon we suffer for the glory of God (2Thess. 1:5)- we lack faith in the doctor.

We must trust in God as a fully-able spiritual surgeon with the purest of motives like we would trust our closest friend. See, we would be much more open to having blind faith in the surgeon if we had a deep relationship with him. But the strongest relationships are built on faith, & faith is built upon trying times. There’s no one you trust more than the one who had your back in battle, the army medic who took fire & suffered himself in order to save you. Both his ability & character has been proven, but only in the throes of affliction. Thus we should accept that the quiet steadfast faith that we desire is often found upon the fields of affliction. Sometimes the Chief Surgeon details the 5-way kidney transplant that blesses so many others, sometimes He may not; but either way, to believe in His utter goodness & sovereign power is to believe that it all happens for good cause. Believe that you are in His will if your biblically & Spiritually informed conscience does not tell you otherwise.

Job 37:10-13 By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. (11) He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. (12) They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. (13) Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to happen.

1 Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (5) who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (8) Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (9) obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Christ’s very own disciples had the same Job-like myopic understanding of the causes of suffering. In John 9, they pose a question to Jesus regarding the purpose of the blind man’s affliction- “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Their myopically informed doctrine conjured only two possible causes for woe that the blind man had carried with him all his life to this point. But Jesus graciously opened their eyes as well; He gave them a glimpse into the big picture- the blind man suffered so “that the works of God might be displayed in him.” And it was because of such works that the Pharisees & the billions since that have read John’s Gospel since that time have seen that “light of the world” through this splendid display of both Christ‘s authority & the power of a (literally) blind faith in Him. Read again & note that Jesus said “that the works of God might be displayed in him.” More than one work. Christ’s Godly omnipotence was on display that day, but faith was too, in the man’s insistent, unrelenting belief in the One who healed him, despite heated accusations, scorn, & ridicule.

In such times, we should take affliction in grace, often praying that its days might be shortened (2Cor. 12:8), but always praising the very basic integrity & goodness of God that our faith is forged upon. Faith in God’s salvation is based on faith in His inherent goodness, therefore a mature faith always stays true to its roots- tenaciously holding onto God’s integrity instead of our own. Sometimes we find ourselves in like circumstance- we suffer, & fail to find any direct cause, but a mature faith will never fall away, but will always continue to praise Him for His goodness regardless- indeed in the manner of the apostles whose great faith led them to rejoice in God in such downtrodden times.

None Righteous, The Existence of Evil, Part 3

2009-12-01T05:23:00.003-05:00

Job 34:1-10 Then Elihu answered and said: (2) "Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know; (3) for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. (4) Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good. (5) For Job has said, 'I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; (6) in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.' (7) What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, (8)who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? (9) For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.' (10) "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

In this series, we confronted the atheist’s accusations of the Almighty as amoral. They sense sin within themselves & desire to try God in order to deliver themselves from judgment. But as typified in the natural man, they judge imbued with unrighteousness themselves; like the Pharisees, this precludes their ability to make the “right judgment” Jesus calls on unbelievers to make concerning Him (John 7:24). Part 1 largely used logic & the obvious demonstrations of evil perpetrated by mankind down through the ages to try to turn the would be indicter away from unhealthy, unrighteous exospection towards wholesome introspection. Jesus’ injunction in Matt. 7:1-5 was directed towards just such a person- the one so preoccupied judging another that he fails in his first duty to fully judge himself. Then we covered the importance that we too, as believers, should be wary, lest we also fall into the abyss of pretentious judgment in the course of dealing with the unbeliever. We too have been unbelieving towards Christ at some point, & in in the interest of the full disclosure & humility that we are pressing the unbeliever towards, should confess (at least to ourselves & God) whatever measure that our faith is currently lacking. Honesty should spur us towards examining whatever extent we have in common with the man that paradoxically stated “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Know this- any failure to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” & “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22) is a failure of faith; be assured of that. As Paul says:

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."

Understand that initially in the epistle, Paul lays down the fundamentals of man’s universal depravity, & Christ’s respondent work towards the justification of the elect. So this statement, in context, is primarily discussing the basic faith in Christ’s justification, but know too that the initial immature faith that gives cause for belief in the confessor’s salvation, that seed of faith which is wholly formed in his heart by the Holy Spirit, is also then further caused to grow, by His Spirit indwelling us in the very midst of our suffering, towards sanctification (1 Cor. 3:7).

But then by the 14th chapter, Paul is done laying the foundational concepts of being justified by that little initial seed of faith, & is in the midst of pressing us onward towards sanctification- the consequence of a mature faith:

Romans 14:22-23 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. (23) But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. (4) Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. (5) This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.

Paul opens his 2nd Thessalonian epistle the same way he opened his 1st- with recognition of the Thessalonians’ mature faith that is evidenced by their measure of sanctification. Their increasing love is counted as a result of their growing faith. So the cause of both justification & sanctification are found to be grounded in faith. But this faith does not grow in a spiritual vacuum; it comes at the cost of suffering. Clearly intertwined amongst the opening benedictions of both epistles is evidence of suffering; we see there the paradoxical convergence of pain & prosperity.

So the Thessalonians were commended for treasuring the sweet aroma & beauty of the rose of faithfulness to Christ enough to eagerly endure the attendant entangling thorns of suffering. Job likewise was faithful enough for a time, but as introspection found nothing, these thoughts of himself as blameless turned to an exospection of God’s ultimate goodness in allowing his trial. At first, his faith was such that he knew that God was omnipotent over the sudden downturn of events in his life & believed in God’s righteous purpose despite not understanding why he was suffering. But the additional pressure of defending himself against his three friends’ unrelenting & unevidenced accusations squeezed his sin to the surface. Inordinate pride in his measure of “blamelessness” caused him to become indignant with the suffering & fall into the abyss of self-righteousness. Instead of humbly walking in the knowledge that, regardless of whatever measure of sanctification his faith had led him towards, in the end God alone is righteous, his faith revealed itself as stunted by haughty pride when it buckled under the strain of suffering. Ironic, for his growth in sanctification had caused pride in himself & therein to lose sight of the very essence of his prosperous growth- God’s unjustified justification of him. David states & Paul reiterates “All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one”, so if Job was justified in God’s sight it was not due to inherent goodness. He was no different than us- called by God to accept a justification that comes “by grace… through faith… (that is) the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9; also Rom. 4, Hebrews 11 for the concept). But Job did boast in his own righteousness, indignantly accusing God of wrongdoing in allowing his undue suffering. In the course of suffering, we should pray & examine ourselves to discover any evident evil in our life, but the lesson of Job is that sometimes no direct cause will be found. At such times, a faith that is based on the inherent goodness of God, being part & parcel of a mature faith, will still not shrink back from praising Him. Job found no just cause for the evil that God had allowed to overtake his life, so he consequently attributed the injustice of undeserved punishment to God’s nature. His faith was rightly formed upon an omnipotent & omniscient God, but he lacked faith in God’s omnirighteousness, the concept that all that God does is good, all of the time. More on this in part 4.

Ironically, his friends were the overtly guilty ones, as they brought continuing baseless accusations against Job’s general integrity.

The book of Job has many things to teach us, but understand this lesson foremost- no matter the measure of sweet smelling sanctification we attain to, we should never forget our humble beginnings as a rotting, rancid corpse justified & raised into newness of life only by the unwarranted grace of God (lest we begin to stink again).

The Existence of Evil- War & Peace

2009-10-03T12:11:00.009-04:00

About a year ago, I wrote an article entitled “The Existence of Evil” wherein I confronted the atheist’s intent to deny the existence of God, or at a least an actively “good” God, for the cause of evil’s enduring existence. I essentially picked up on the tack of Job 40:7 & 8, whereupon God recriminates the self-purportedly good & wise would-be indictors of God (Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, & Zophar) by appearing in a whirlwind & questioning their knowledge & abilities relative to His; God proceeded to denigrate their arrogance for supposing to understand the cause for which this suffering has happened upon His servant. None of these earthbound creatures held the awesome spatial spectrality of the transcendent Creator; they were anchored by both space & time, but as both the Beginning & the End, He transcends space & time. Their relatively greater (in relation to other men) cognitional capabilities only drove them to madly think themselves to be on plane with God Almighty, with their pretentious claims to understand things for which they have no evidence (Job 38:2). Like so many gifted, but pompous academics, their blessing of intellect became for them a curse of contemptuous pride. As Paul speaks of their sort: “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:21,22) They claimed to know so much, yet their wisdom was shown as poor & pitiful by the Lord’s questioning statements of chapters 38-41.

All four sinned- Eliphaz, Bildad, & Zophar in purporting to “know” that Job’s suffering was due to some unascertained evil he must have committed- & Job for his pretentiousness to “justify himself rather than God” in the face of his friends’ probing accusations (Job 32:2). Essentially, Job claimed innocence & therein accused God of wrongly causing him to suffer. He declared himself righteous & questioned God’s ultimate goodness for allowing such evil to happen upon him. He laid the onus for origin of evil upon God’s doorstep. His faithful integrity stood fast at first (Job 1:21-22 & 2:9-10) but faded down the stretch as he speculated his life would be better apart from God (Job 10:20). Just as Satan was allowed into the Garden to reveal, to draw out the sin deep within Adam & Eve’s hearts, Satan was allowed to put Job’s heart through a trial by fire to find the wicked way that dwelled deep within. The sin in the Garden came not at first bite, but at the initial craving for more than God had given.

Jeremiah also suffered without evident righteous cause, but he accepted this as God’s trial of his character. Despite his pain, he never accused God of unrighteousness:

Jeremiah 12:1-3 Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? (2) You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. (3) But you, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.

In Job’s suffering, as in Jeremiah’s, the evil was clearly evident in the nature of the persecutors (Satan & King Jehoiakim, respectively), but not so explicit in the persecuted. Sometimes suffering comes not for the cause of extroverted, apparent sin, but for the introverted, unrealized, & unrecognized sin nature. As with Job (Job 1:8 & 2:3), we may appear outwardly blameless, but inwardly “full of dead men’s bones” (Matt. 23:23ff). It is the “inside of the cup” that is most in need of cleansing, & sometimes no people better exemplify this than the zealously religious. Few have better demonstrated the irony of the whitewashed tomb better than the Pharisees; but we all have the potential to present a perfect persona while obfuscating the ugly reality within.

In the trial, God “pulls out” the wickedness within so that it may be dealt with & “slaughtered” in the throes of Christ’s cross. In that sole act of justification, Christ, through His cross, saved us; but it is in the manner of our cross of suffering that God provides sanctification (Luke 9:23, Rom 5:3,4).

This is where His suffering, after it provides for our justification, continues to cross paths with our daily suffering to continually give birth to sanctification (or, "newness of life"- Rom 6:4). Jesus speaks of our “cross” at many times through the Gospels, but Luke 9:23 hints how our cross differs from His. His perfection necessitated that He should take up His cross only once for all time for the task of our justification (Rom. 6:10), but our imperfection in sanctification demands we must take up ours “daily”.

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (13) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Simply put, His cross justifies us in the presence of an angry God, while our cross sanctifies us for “his good pleasure”. The conflagration that ensues as the holy & righteous One abides within our unholy & unrighteous soul is a cause of great tension. We fear & tremble in the very midst of, more so- because of- our salvation, for His will & work is not at peace with the natural man’s will & work. The Spirit of God does bring peace to our soul, but it only comes through the terrible costs of war. This is the tension that Paul lucidly expounds upon in Romans 7. Our emotional, & sometimes physical suffering works out towards peace with a perfectly holy, therefore angry God.

In our walk, we will suffer, but then cathartically rejoice, as God purges the evil from within us:

Romans 6:4-7 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (7) For one who has died has been set free from sin (8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (9) We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (10) For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (11) So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

In suffering, we are called not so much to wonder why,
More so- to suffer & die.
What must suffer most is the evil, fleshly way,
Else there we truly suffer to stay.

The Shepherd as Teacher

2009-09-28T11:58:00.003-04:00

The Shepherd

2009-09-12T16:52:00.002-04:00

Good News!

2009-08-31T18:25:00.002-04:00

God’s Prophet of Today

2009-07-23T18:59:00.002-04:00

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Our last discussion of Ephesians 4:11 dwelled on the biblical precedent & therefore definition of the apostle. We formed a biblical perspective of what an apostle is based on what an apostle was in the first generation church.

In like manner, let us examine the principles & precedents of the true biblical prophet to rightly judge the prophet of today.

The prophet of Scripture was the messenger of God’s revelation to men. In the secular sense, prophecy is often narrowly defined as the foretelling of future events, but that is only a fortune-teller. God’s prophet reveals the heart of man & the will of God. He speaks for God to man. When he prophesies, the prophet speaks not of his own heart nor of his own mind, but only the heart & mind of God. Early on in Scripture, Aaron modeled the role of the prophet (Ex. 4:15-16 & 7:1) as he himself worked signs & wonders but was primarily purposed to be Moses’ mouthpiece.

The prophet Amos describes the role of the prophet:

Amos 3:1-8 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: (2) "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. (3) Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? (4) Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing? (5) Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing? (6) Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? (7) For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. (8) The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?"

When God speaks to the heart of His prophet, that prophet cannot shut his own mouth. His oration is nothing less than a direct pipeline from God

His prophetic utterance is therefore inerrant, as God himself is inerrant

The prophet of God will always present Jesus Christ as God & the events of his 33 year material visitation as the only way for man to be saved from God’s wrath for sin. The right prophet leads the humble towards embracing this truth, & in so doing leads them closer to Christ. The prophet that leads men away from worshipping & following Jesus Christ is the false prophet despite any seeming supernatural abilities:

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, (2) and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' (3) you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (4) You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. (5) But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

The prophet of God is also one who most often brings men disturbing testimony about themselves. They are always a polarizing lot, dividing wheat from tares, the hard-hearted from the “poor in spirit”. They are wildly unpopular to secularists, but a draw to the humble in heart, for they speak to that humble heart. Theirs is not a glamorous or even desirous vocation, but one that is often sorely despised- even by themselves. They don’t pursue the office of prophet, the office pursues them…

Jeremiah 20:1-18 Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. (2) Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the LORD. (3) The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD does not call your name Pashhur, but Terror On Every Side. (4) For thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They shall fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall strike them down with the sword. (5) Moreover, I will give all the wealth of the city, all its gains, all its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them and seize them and carry them to Babylon. (6) And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into captivity. To Babylon you shall go, and there you shall die, and there you shall be buried, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied falsely.”
(7) O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. (8) For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, "Violence and destruction!" For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. (9) If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (10) For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my close friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him." (11) But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.
(12) O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. (13) Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers. (14) Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! (15) Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, "A son is born to you," making him very glad. (16) Let that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without pity; let him hear a cry in the morning and an alarm at noon, (17) because he did not kill me in the womb; so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb forever great. (18) Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?

Allow me to repeat my principal thesis of last time concerning apostles, for I believe it applies to the office of prophet as well:

“Ephesians 2:13-22 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (15) by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (16) and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (17) And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (18) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (22) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Such a momentous structure as this, a building with no less than Christ as the cornerstone & His apostles & prophets being the very substance for the rest of the foundation, is not the kind of building I could imagine being utterly torn down past the foundation & rebuilt with every generation that passes.”

So as Christians gaze upon the modern church, for better or for worse they often search for God’s prophet of today. We should “not believe every spirit, but (we) test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). We firstly apply the litmus of 1 John 4, that they must primordially confess Jesus Christ as “coming into the flesh”. This means they must teach He existed beforehand (that He had been God) & came into a completely corporeal existence (that He became man as well). We examine them for inerrancy in their prophetic utterances. We assess their message as to whether it is convicting of sin. We rightly ask: “Do they rebuke the proud, & give grace to the humble?” As prophets, they lay claim to intimacy with the heart of God; Scripture shows this is central to His nature ( Prov. 3:34, James 4:6, & 1 Peter 5:5).

But it grieves God’s heart as Christians search for a prophet for today, for in doing so, we dismiss surely the greatest & most sure prophecy that has already been given & established. This prophetic word proclaims throughout the “testimony of Jesus”, validating its “spirit of prophecy”(Rev. 19:10). It has stood the test & been proven time & again; never having been shown to be false. It has ministered to billions. It most often speaks not to itching ears (2 Tim 4:3), but hardened hearts. If Moses & the OT prophets were deemed ample as instruction for the rich man’s family (Luke16:31), then how rich are we in prophetic instruction, as their teaching is expounded upon by the teachings of NT apostles, prophets, & even Christ Himself? (e.g. 1Cor 9:9-10)

Revelation 22:7 And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

The office of Prophet is indeed alive & quite active as well today. It is alive & active in the form of the Scriptures. We are profitably prophetic every time God’s Spirit uses us to speak its concomitantly admonishing & edifying words to teach, reprove, correct, or train in righteousness (1Tim 3:16).

Revelation 19:9-10 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." (10) Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The Origins of Sin, Mercy, & Grace

2009-07-12T08:32:00.000-04:00

Luke 17:3-10 "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, (4) and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." (5) The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (6) And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. (7) Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? (8) Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'? (9) Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? (10) So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"

Forgiveness is fundamental to the Christian walk. We have nothing of a lasting consequence in God’s kingdom if He retains our sin against us (Psalms 130:3). Therefore the act of forgiveness is, by necessity, a primary point underlying our relationship with God. For His desire for loving rapport to take effect, He must first forgive.

Christians read verses 3-4 above & think that, by obeying such teachings, they are following Christ. They are, but only minimally. There is definite distinction between mere obedience & true discipleship; between mere conformity to rules & conformity to Christ. Christ continues to forgive our multitude of egregious trespasses against His perfect righteousness & holiness as we entreat His bountiful mercy & grace; then we are called to do likewise in verses 3-4, but in order to obey Christ’s subsequent call to press beyond doing only “what (is) our duty”, we must understand & retain within our soul when He forgave our sins originally.

Romans 5:1-11 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, (4) and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (6) For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die- (8) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (10) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (11) More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Luke 17:3-4 commands forgiveness only when repentance is proffered. Many a Christian has validated his withholding of love to someone based on that person’s impenitence. Then, when they do repent, we think highly of ourselves as we so graciously accept our offender’s apologies & embrace him once more into our company. O how far removed from Christ-like love is this?! Where would we be if Christ demanded that our hearts soften towards Him before He would do anything for us? Then the cross of Christ could only come at the end of time, only after all were afforded the opportunity to beg of its saving mercy & grace. But no, the Father gave His Son, the Son gave His cross & the Spirit afforded us repentance & acceptance of that cross- all this “while we were still sinners”. Such mercy & grace bestowed to such unworthy individuals!

1 John 4:9-12 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (10) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (12) No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

There is much more to following Christ than simply following His commands; in maturity, we must press on to follow His example as well.

The Apostle

2009-07-04T23:30:00.012-04:00

Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Much ado has been paid to titles & gifts in the church; some claim titles based on fanciful notions of innate abilities, as well as outright self-centered avarice. But titles come as abilities are given, nurtured, then proven by experience. Like salvation itself, they are not borne from the heart & ability of man, but the purposed will & authority of God. (1 Cor. 1:1, 2 Cor 1:1, Gal. 1:1, et. al.)

The apostle is the highest calling man can have. He is a man “set apart for the gospel of God” (Rom. 1:1) & has entire churches as a testament to his “workmanship in the Lord” (1Cor. 9:1-2). Paul spells out more of the traits of the apostle in 2 Cor 12:12- “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.”

Jesus selected only twelve of His disciples to be apostles & gifted them:

Mark 3:14-15 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach (15) and have authority to cast out demons.

Luke 9:1-2 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, (2) and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Acts 2:42-43 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (43) And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Quite simply an apostle is nothing less than one who possesses, by the appointment (1Tim. 2:7) of God, all the titles & gifts of God in his person. He shepherds, preaches, teaches, prophesies, evangelizes, works miracles, & has complete authority over comparatively large portions of Christ’s church body. All gifts of God are potentially actionable through the office of apostle.

Yet even at this level of stewardship to Christ, such are not perfect. Their faith was sometimes weak (Luke 17:5), & despite their anointing, their authority was sometimes suppressed by this faithlessness (Luke. 9:40-41). The apostle Peter had to be dressed down by the apostle Paul for conduct “not in step with the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:14). Paul himself confesses that the intransigent old man is still at war against his soul (Rom. 7) & he is powerless (but still joyful) against Satan’s thorn in his flesh as a result (2 Cor 12:7). So perseverant humility & transparency are shown to be more marks of the apostle.

It would seem to have been a requirement to have actually witnessed Jesus Christ for one to be accorded the office, given the statements of Acts1:22-23 & 1 Cor. 9:1. Yet another standard the guy on TV or the strip mall storefront probably doesn’t meet.

Then, further denying the concept of the modern apostle, is the fact that his “workmanship” is taught to be foundational not simply to a church, but the church; that “household of God” that been has passed down for nearly 2000 years…

Ephesians 2:13-22 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (15) by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (16) and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. (17) And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. (18) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (22) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Such a momentous structure as this, a building with no less than Christ as the cornerstone & His apostles & prophets being the very substance for the rest of the foundation, is not the kind of building I could imagine being torn down past the foundation & rebuilt with new apostles & prophets with every generation that passes. As Moses & the prophets were deemed sufficient for the rich man's family (Luke 16:29), God has apparently determined the original apostles & prophets to be sufficient for us.

The Greek “apostolos” means “a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders” (Thayer) & clearly- according to Acts 1:2- God is their only “commander”. Pretty large person; indeed, so large that Heb. 3:1 even attributes the title to Christ Himself:

Hebrews 3:1-3 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, (2) who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. (3) For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses- as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.

It is the natural man’s typical impetus to crave such power over other men. But I see no man since the days of the early church exhibiting such Godly power, & it may well be until Christ returns that earthly eyes would gaze upon one in possession of such authority again.

So one would be wise to beware of anyone claiming such a title, for pride & deception must surely rule his soul. Possibly, ignorance of the scope of the biblical precedent for apostleship might be the cause for a modern "apostle's" misguided appropriation of such a title, but that biblical ignorance proves as well his improper appropriation.

There is one more way the true earthly apostle imitates Christ- the ultimate Apostle (for He was also "sent"- John 3:16)- the apostle often suffers death for the sake of the Gospel:

Luke 11:49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute.

Church history records that every established apostle but John died for his witness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27-28 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
(28) And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Who Owns Your Life?

2009-05-05T19:39:00.002-04:00

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

It is puzzling for the Christian to look into the eyes of unbelievers & see them lacking the fear of judgment. We read God’s Word & are humbled at the extent of His wrath upon men for sin. But it is for the sake of justice & righteousness that God must produce an indictment for every sin.

Ezekiel 18:1-4 The word of the LORD came to me: (2) "What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? (3) As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. (4) Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

“The soul who sins shall die”- Thus the reason for the utter pervasiveness of death. As Scripture teaches, “all have sinned” & so all must suffer through the sting of a physical death. Sin & death are a tangible tandem testifying to the truth of judgment; both are clearly real, for they are all around us, & so they, in the light of God’s Word, add veracity & conviction surrounding the certainty of God’s judgment.

God is righteous despite the many deadly tragedies occurring worldwide on a daily basis. We see apparent randomness in suffering & death in that the elect of God suffer right alongside (or worse, out in front of) the ungodly. We grouse “Why, Lord?” Aside from the aforementioned tandem testimonies of sin & death, we miss the fundamental truth that our lives are not our own. All life is a gift from God- as Deuteronomy 32:39 states- “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” And if all life originates, as well as reverts to the Almighty, therein making them all His possession, how much more so would this be true in the case of His bond-servants, even His very children? Therefore:

We err when we view this life as our possession. God has said “Behold, all souls are mine;” life is His to give & His to take away- as He desires.

Ezekiel 18:23-32 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (24) But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. (25) Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? (26) When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. (27) Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. (28) Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. (29) Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
(30) Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. (31) Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? (32) For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live."

God judges the impenitent not in gleeful delight, but in somber duty. Therein, in judgment, there is no pleasure for the righteous; yea, the Most Righteous is all the more not pleasured to judge.

Nevertheless, for those under the oppression of the wicked judgment, the righteous judgment comes with great joy, for both Judge & defendant. Witness the words of David as he suffered unjustly, but expected God’s future judgment:

Psalms 35:9-12 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation. (10) All my bones shall say, "O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?" (11) Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. (12) They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft…(28) Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant." (28) And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.

1 Chronicles 16:33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD; For He is coming to judge the earth.

So we rejoice not in the suffering of the wicked, but in the sovereign power of His salvation. How can we neglect so great a salvation as this that always triumphs, either at the cross or the Bema Seat, in righteous judgment?

Who else could own your life but the very One who enabled you to “pass from death to life“?

Does Jesus Promise Abundant Life or Abundant Living?

2009-03-08T08:47:00.005-04:00

John 5:24-26 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (25) Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (26) For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

False preachers abound in this day; they delude many with “plausible arguments” (Col. 2:4). My point has always been that the wolf’s sheepskin vestment can ripped away if we pursue the course of the noble Berean. Scripture, taken in full scope, will reveal the lies of the false preachers to the true believer every time.

One untruth often taught is that, despite the obvious fact that the old man of sin still dwells within, God desires nothing for us but popcorn pleasantries. The God who hated our sin so much He sent His beloved to be sin for us has no ill emotion towards the depravities that still dwell within our soul- or so they would say. But like the young rich ruler, one mark of the true believer is his cognition of a “lack” (Matt. 19:20). Even the most zealous & mature of Christians will testify of this “lack” if they are true, as Paul does in Phil. 3:12.

So the question for today is “What is the nature of this ‘life’ that Christ so often promises to us?”

John 10:1-10 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. (2) But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (3) To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (4) When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (5) A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (6) This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. (7) So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (8) All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. (9) I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

A prevalent teaching amongst spiritual thieves & robbers is that the “life” of John 10:10 refers to an “abundance” of health & wealth in the walk of every believer. Any believer found lacking prosperity, as defined by the world, is said to be lacking in his faith. They load upon the backs of believers the heavy burden of having it all in this life, else it dare be said that that they are not even in Christ. These “podium pundits” proclaim prosperity as the mark of believers, & falsely lead many towards trying to bear unbearable burdens.

Christ instead promises that our burden will be light. The life He promises is not the weighty one wasted trying to battle Satan in a vain attempt to force him to “give us back our stuff”, but a life dedicated to follow in the steps of Christ Himself. The “pulpit preacher” declares the life of Christ on earth to be our pattern for living on this earth as well.

Charles Spurgeon preached from a pulpit. The word speaks to a place where a hard, but needed message is spoken from. Even in the secular, the term infers a place where a difficult, hard to swallow truth is spoken- hence the President's "bully pulpit".

Sometimes the most insidious message is the not the one explicitly teaching falsehoods, but the one with a misplaced focus on minor issues, therein overshadowing the major issues. We don’t see anything clearly contrary to God’s Word taught, so we relax & take in what is taught as good & right. But before we get comfortable we should step back & judge what seems to be the aim of the ministry- maybe empowering “your best life now”- & then we should see the incongruity of this ministry with Jesus’ ministry. Oftentimes, even as the Savior met peoples’ most obvious, apparent, & present needs, He would overshadow these needs by majoring on their deepest need- for a Savior to rescue them from judgment for their sin. Clearly, Jesus saw the paralytic’s faith in Christ, but did not regard his infirmity as his fundamental lack, as the first thing He said to him was “Man, your sins are forgiven you" (Luke 5:20). Christ has not only saves us from Hell, but He promises us- through His righteousness- a position in Heaven. This is primarily the “life” that Christ promises.Thus, the danger of the subtle lie. The Gospel should not be reduced to one line at the end of a message on abundantly prosperous life. The Gospel should be the message, for our life is found only in Christ.

For us, the liars say, no discipline, no pain, no suffering are ever in the heart of God As they would tell it, Christ not only served us by suffering the indignities & anguish of the cross 2000 years ago, but He lives to serve our every whim today.

They have no awareness of the measure of abundance found in the joyful prescience of a person looking forward to the promise of an eternity with Christ.

Colossians 3:1-4 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (3) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Matthew 18:7-9 "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! (8) And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. (9) And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire."

Crippled, lame, & half-blind doesn’t line up very well with the false preacher’s portrait of “abundant” life. Then again, they are rarely dissuaded by such barriers as countermanding Christ’s call to desire the eternal richness of the Holy Spirit. Christ instructs His disciples to be poor in their own spirit- like the tax collector of Luke 18:13- so as to instead “enter life” & receive the riches of God’s Spirit. Light & darkness do not co-exist; rather, the Light that is Jesus Christ illuminates the otherwise dank darkness of man’s heart.

2 Corinthians 4:8-11 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (10) always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (11) For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Clearly, the life promised here is not a life of pure peaches & cream, but one expressly of afflictions, perplexities, & persecutions. The “abundant life” is in the not being crushed, disparaged, or destroyed despite the aforementioned strife, not the simple doing away with such troubles.

When Paul said “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21), he was fixing his eyes upon the prescient hope of dwelling with Jesus for eternity; this speaks to the Biblical truth of the truly blessed life being the one to come in heavenly places. False preachers love to quote John 10:10, but the far more common descriptor of the kind of life Jesus promises is “eternal life”. 43 times in the NT (ESV) the Spirit describes the life given to believers in this way. Indeed, if the false preacher dared read on in John 10, they would see Jesus clarifying the manner of “life” that He guarantees us:

John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Our fundamental promise is not founded upon the witness of bountiful blessings in this life, but a joyful, confident expectation of the life to come in Heaven. We should not judge the measure of God’s love for us by the measure of either health or wealth we seem to possess here; instead we should look to the cross to rightly judge the true measure of God’s love for His beloved:

1 John 4:9-10 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (10) In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Anyone really desiring the truth on this need not even go outside the Gospels to find further evidence that sometimes God does indeed give us a cross of suffering for us to carry in this life:

Mark 8:34-36 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (35) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. (36) For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

But we do not even need to go that far from John 10:10 to see the “life” Christ promises is not one centered on the pleasantries of this life. Indeed, those “podium pundits” could flip back the page to John 9 to see that God does not always have a life of pure pleasure in store for His people. The blind man suffered blindness his whole life to that point in time so “that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Or, they could flip ahead to John 11:

John 11:1-6 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (2) It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. (3) So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." (4) But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (5) Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. (6) So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Given that He suffered for us, sometimes He allows suffering to enter our life in this world too. This is where the “perplexities” Paul mentions above sometimes come into play. Although the Spirit gives us understanding in the examples of John 9 & 11, we don’t always know why we suffer; but our faith in the sovereign authority & utter goodness of God places trust that He has our back in the end.

Furthermore, what we need to fix our hope upon in this life is the revelation that this “life” is with us here as well. Scripture that Christ is with us here too, & He substantially is this “life”.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 17:1-3 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, (2) since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. (3) And this is eternal life- that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Just Believe (pt. 5)

2009-02-21T12:15:00.005-05:00

John 5:17-24 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Galatians 3:22-26 (KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Scripture often teaches of things beyond our knowledge, but that’s the point of all true teaching. We didn’t walk into seventh grade Algebra 1 with an innate knowledge of algebra that needed to be simply reinforced; no, we needed to be taught algebra to understand it. The Bible was meant to do that; it was given to feed our lack of innate & intimate knowledge of the nature of God & the true nature of man. Some hear these teachings & dismiss them as untrue because this is not what they think to be true. But the good student does not allow his personal opinions to bulwark the wisdom of his teacher. He may have a contrasting belief, but that belief must be set aside to gain the wisdom of his master. The student who arrogantly defends an erstwhile understanding cannot receive the new understanding set before him. He cannot be taught difficult firsthand truths from his master while tenaciously defending what he thinks is true- his own beliefs- that come merely secondhand.

Paul (in the KJV) uses the term “schoolmaster” to speak of the OT Law that men of God were “kept… shut up” under until the revelation of Jesus Christ comes to their heart. He is counterattacking Galatian tendencies to exalt the works of OT Law as significant, therein supposedly reducing the need for Christ. Paul rightly teaches the “schoolmaster” of the Law is dead upon our belief in the completely substitutional righteousness of Christ as salvific. Slavish adherence to the 613 commands of the Torah belies understanding of what is the whole of righteousness. The Law’s role is to bring us to despair of ever saving ourselves; it brings us to the point of worshipping the Law-giver & Judge as the real source of true righteousness.

But what I am analogizing as our ongoing “schoolmaster”, the “guardian” (ESV) that should not be ignored as we take hold of faith in Christ, is the full corpus of God’s Word. This master can never be left behind in our pressing on towards greater understanding & faith in Christ, for it is the very source of what can be concretely known of things unseen. We all thought things about the true natures of God & man before studying Scripture, but those mere secondhand opinions must be set aside, if not completely dismissed, to take in the superior firsthand account of the Creator of all things.

Faith in the veracity of difficult truths can be challenging indeed. Some truths are difficult because of the obstinacy of the proud old nature buttressing the confines of the heart & mind against the testimony of God‘s Word. Nonetheless, God shows His sovereignty by breaking down the barricades that would impede faith in such hard teachings as the universal depravity of man. As Gal 3:22 states, He gives faith “to them that believe”. Their faith is not unlike the grace of God; it is given in full by God alone so we would have no place for boast.

But we do feed the faith that God planted in our soul through embracing the fullness of His Word.

The Trinity is hard for us to comprehend; even the best theologians grapple with explaining the nature of a monotheistic, but triune God. Jesus taught of the Father, the Son, & the Spirit as all equally being God, yet He also demanded that God is One. Some dismiss the Trinity based on the difficulty of marrying these two teachings, as if they must be able to comprehend something in order for it to be true.

Faith is necessary for that portion of truth that extends beyond our comprehension.

Matthew 19:11-12 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. (12) For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Do not be dismayed as others around you do not receive the truth of God as you have. Do not be discouraged as your faith in things somewhat unfathomable to your mind, like the omniscience of God throughout His grand creation, are dismissed by unbelievers as preposterous. Know that they simply have not, as yet, been given the faith to believe in the fantastic. Counter their obstinacy with the query “Do you fully understand all that you believe in? Did you have to study the science of electricity before turning on a light switch? Did you have to learn the laws of motion before learning to walk?” No, you believed the simple truths first; possibly deeper understanding came later to help further in your quest to be an electrician, or an Olympic runner. Nevertheless, the greater comprehension must come on the back of the basic instruction. Likewise, our faith in the fantastic morphs into knowledge as we continue to faithfully receive the schoolmaster of God’s corpus Word.

"Do not fear; just believe..." Jesus (Luke 8:50)

Just Believe (pt. 4)

2009-02-15T20:25:00.002-05:00

John 5:17-24 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Last week, in speaking of an active & vibrant faith, I mentioned 2 Corinthians 13:5- “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

Paul knows that faith in Christ, like food, is useless unless it is taken & consumed. Belief that is bounded by the flesh to the inner confines of the soul is a moribund faith- it is a waning fire. The flesh binds faith by its selfish, lazy, & fearful nature. We don’t let our faith in Christ out of its mortal cage oftentimes because we fear the rebuke of man more than the praise of God. It does not often suit our fleshly goals- indeed, it often impedes such goals; or we are simply too lazy to add effort to the faith formed within us. The latter was the sin of the beneficiary of the one talent. His righteous master & judge made clear in the course of his sentencing that his sin was laziness (Matt. 25:26).

Whatever the cause, the test is in the pressing on of oneself to unhinder the faith in Jesus Christ God has placed within you. Act more in accordance with the mind of Christ that dwells within instead of the mind of man & your faith will grow. The world will see to that. Christ promised that the world would hate his disciples to the same degree that they hated Him (John 15:18ff) as they faithfully spoke truth to the power of the natural man in & of the world. This is the form of testing that James speaks of as well. A testing that is part examination, part trial by fire:

James 1:2-15 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (5) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (9) Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, (10) and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. (11) For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. (12) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (13) Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (14) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (15) Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Testing is blessing from God that beats down the temptations that dwell in the soul of man. Tortuous temptations lurk within us & the rest of the world as well; the testing draws them out in open where they suffer & die. They cannot live in the place of persecution. This action is the cause of the consequent “steadfastness” James erstwhile mentions. We have a choice of either continuing to afford those temptations a peaceful abode in the soul of man (both in us & the world), or faithfully confronting them & therein bring them out of the boudoir of the elect‘s heart. The French word “boudoir” is broke down into its linguistic derivatives to mean “a place to sulk in”. There is much sulking going on within the soul as the new creation suffers the old man having the run of the place. But the shoe changes feet as the new creation responds to the test by boldly taking hold of the joyous faith set before him & rising up to throw the former nature into a sulking sullen sea of sorrow.

John the Baptist did his case no favors as he faithfully pointed out the sin of his earthly judge Herod. But his actions bore testimony as well as further girded his greater faith in God as the real judge of man. He persecuted the selfish, lazy, & fearful sin nature, ostracizing it from his soul. Peter likewise said to those men of rank who threatened him towards being silent for Christ- “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). This bold proclamation of truth to power came shortly subsequent to the promised test of his faith that was his thrice denial of Christ. Remember what the Savior said to him concerning which: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Man’s temptations & desires give birth to sin & death, but God gives life through faith in Christ. Faith gives birth to the “crown of (eternal) life” as we receive it & apply it to the circumstances of our mortal life.

Just Believe (pt 3)

2009-02-01T20:19:00.004-05:00

John 5:17-24 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Last week we covered the concept of faith in Christ as a cause & the more perceptible signs that follow- e.g. confession, baptism, good works, & a yearning towards sinlessness- as effects of said faith. These are only the outward signs of the inner reality of a saving belief in God’s grace extended to man through Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

See, both the faith & the grace are gifts from above so that no one may boast of saving oneself.

But we are called to examine the gift of our faith (2 Cor 13:5). We examine the outward signs of the inner reality & often find ourselves seeming to be in lack, & such that we justly understand it as a gift, we naturally make request of God to deliver more to our inner being. We rightly pray the prayer of the penitent father of Mark 9: “I believe; help my unbelief!”. Though, as we pray that prayer, we should ask ourselves “Have I actually utilized all of what I have already been given? Is there latent belief lying dormant in the closet of my heart as I, like a spoiled child, ask for something new? Could I be so cold & callous to ignore the precious gifts my loving Father has already ministered unto me?”

“Is the faith I seek truly already been given, but not exercised, & so is not evident?”

There are many suitable applications of the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14ff), & I think one of them is towards utilizing the gift of faith in Christ placed within you. Consider the first two servants as they took possession of their master’s property. They were regarded as “faithful” as they made use of it, not lazily, according their desire, but obediently, “according to their ability”. Contrast these with the “slothful” servant who did nothing with what his master had accorded him except hide it away.

Maybe a greater understanding the kind of faith I am referring to as “latent” faith can be seen in an exploration of the two modes of energy- potential & kinetic. Potential energy is static energy that is in a form ready to do work- such as in a charged battery, a compressed spring, or a skier perched at the top of a mountain. The energy is put into the battery by charging it, into the spring by compressing it, & into the skier by the ski lift. Kinetic energy is that energy released, or unbounded to perform work. Such energy should be released in controlled fashion so as to properly perform the task at hand. The battery’s voltage should be regulated, the spring’s force should be modulated, & the skier should be capable of steerage & braking for the welfare of himself & others.

God has ministered to His elect by binding within us “potential” faith in the power of Christ‘s resurrection.

Before receiving Christ as our Lord, the Spirit builds up that “potential” faith within us; then, at the right time, He simply releases it to kinetically impel us towards our Savior. Up to this point, it has been all Him; we may think it is our decision, but little do we understand that all the events of our salvation have been orchestrated autonomously by the triune God. He will not lose a single one of His children.

But it is my belief that, after we have come to His salvation, we have some measure of control over the “release” of our faith. I say our faith not to say that it has originated from us, but to the point that it has been given to us. Just like the talents, it is ours to take & put to work, not so much for our welfare, but primarily for the welfare of the Master. Sometimes we use it unwisely, without moderation, to little effect. Like I did with the expensive bicycle my father gave me when I was young, we often crash hard as we put it into use. This should not dissuade us from pressing on with it though, because it was given to us for a purpose. God’s purpose.

Faith can be expressed, & therein brought to maturity in so many ways. One way the recluse often avoids is through fellowship with other believers. “Potential” faith within racked balls on a pool table will remain so until the “kinetic” faith of the cue ball strikes them. In this, some of the cue ball’s kinetic faith is delivered to every other ball set upon the table. With every stroke of the cue stick, faith is distributed around the table; but the balls not in play can receive nothing.

Maybe the prayer we should pray sometimes is “Lord, how can I release the latent “potential” faith already within me? And Lord, let it not explode forth with unregulated force, except as you would desire. Allow me to bless, & do no harm to others as your faith, given to me, impels me down the mountain of life.”

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Just Believe (pt 2)

2009-01-25T08:14:00.002-05:00

John 5:17-24 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Last week we discussed the foundational nature of faith in Christ; that intangible underpinning of the elect. We discussed Romans 10:9 & Matt. 10:32; we established that the good confession spoken of is not a cause of salvation, but an effect. Sincere faith in Christ will always elicit confession of Christ; otherwise such faith is insincere & lacking. Jesus held up child-like faith (& humility) as the emblematic goal in Matt. 18:3; conversely, a faith that remains silent is instead childish & immature. Jesus allowed Satan the opportunity to sift Peter like wheat (Luke 22:31-34). Peter’s ensuing thrice denial of Christ gave the apostle blessed proof that, contrary to his own understanding, his faith was not yet mature. His silence delineated the humble confines of his faith.

We put forward the idea that faith, while intangible, is not necessarily unquantifiable. To some extent, we can measure it by examining what is palpable- the signs that “accompany those who believe”.

Mark 16:16-18 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (17) And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (18) they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Note, as with Romans 10:9, it seems at first glance that a work has been given to us in order accomplish our salvation. There was no mention of a baptism as intrinsically salvific in last week’s quotation of John 3:18. If the nature of salvation both commenced & concluded with Mark 16:16a, as some in the church would lead us believe, then we would be pressed to immediately conduct a baptism after every conversion to Christ to finish the deed. But Jesus contrarily informed us, as He breathed His last on that day- “It is finished”. No work of man augments the work of God unto the glorious miracle of our salvation. The Father commenced the work of our salvation the blessed day He gave His Son unto the world & the Son concluded the work the day He suffered the weight of the world’s sins.

No, the statement “whoever believes and is baptized” is shown by John 3:16-18, 5:24, 6:40-47, 20:31, et al to merely add an attending sign to the bedrock of a belief in Christ’s work alone to save us. Indeed, that is further shown by the omission of “baptized” in verse 16b; the text does not declare “whoever does not believe and is not baptized will be condemned” now does it? Mention of the attendant sign is herein removed because it is not, in any way, a cause for our salvation. Again, it is only an effect that pours forth from so great a salvation.

But the corporate take on Scripture shows too that the “accompanying signs” listed thereafter in Mark 16 are neither all-inclusive nor all-exclusive. These are some of the evidential signs of the corporate body of believers; they are not demanded of each individual. As with the sign of baptism, there are some in the church that would like to shout over the testimony given by Paul in 1st Corinthians 12, demanding that all believers must proceed to speak in tongues, heal the sick, or test God’s patience by purposely drinking deadly potions & handling venomous snakes. While baptism is shown to be a universal sign for believers by Romans 6:3-5, clearly Paul states that is not the case for many other signs:

1 Cor. 12:4-11, 27-30 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; (5) and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; (6) and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (7) To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (8) For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills… (27) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (28) And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (30) Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
(31) But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Take note of all the “to anothers” Paul mentions as he speaks of us as corporately (& temporarily) the material body of Christ on this earth. Jesus Christ said to us “follow me” & gave us the promise that we would indeed do “greater works” (quantifiably), but these “works” are shown by John 14:12 to follow belief. No one person will be exalted (by the Spirit) as a sole vicar (Latin vicarius- "substitute”) of Jesus Christ & thus steal the spotlight from justifiably illuminating the one & only Son of God.

But the “still more excellent way” Paul speaks of is his lead into the greatest “sign” of them all- the way of an undeserved, yet unmitigated love. In the next precious 13 verses, Paul downplays the signs that draw the massive hype & egos for perhaps the most illustrative sign of Christ’s saving presence in the believer: a warrantless sort of affection for another.

Jesus told us that a love that simply responds to the love of another is nothing special & is quite common in man (Luke 6:32), but 1John 4:10 tells of a higher initiating type of love that comes from God alone.

We come to believe in Jesus as he reveals to us the certainties of a penalty for sin & Christ’s payment of that penalty for His children. At this point in our walk, our love for God & man is nothing special, it is simply responding to God’s initiating (agape) love. It is only as we press on, exercising the faith we have been given, that the sign of His “agape” manner of love begins to be seen. The “work(ing) out (of our) own salvation” begins with such signs as the “every tongue confess(ing) Jesus Christ as Lord” (Phil. 2:11-12). Make no mistake, the causative work of salvation was performed by Christ alone and, again, the “work” called for here is not causal unto salvation, but effectual from salvation. Introversive love reveals a repressed faith. Extroversive love is from thoroughly exercised faith. Paul is demanding that we join with him in “press(ing) on toward the goal” (3:14) in faith towards the likeness of Christ’s perfection. Agape affection is the ultimate effect of the exertion of the measure of faith we have been given. And it is then, when we exercise all we have, that more may be given to the “good & faithful servant” (Matt. 25:14ff).

Just Believe (part 1)

2009-01-24T20:29:00.004-05:00

John 5:17-25 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (25) "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Ever since the time of Christ’s first appearance in the flesh man has sought to add requirements to the wholly Christological work of salvation. And the concept of salvation by faith in Christ has as its essential bedrock the understanding that He is every bit as much “God” as the Father. This is why Jesus had to call attention to His divine nature on so many occasions: His body & His blood would suffer all the wrath of God’s righteous hatred of His children’s sin, making the distinct Person of Jesus Christ Himself our one hope of salvation. If He had never presented Himself as the everlasting “I Am”, our faith could not rest securely in Him. Our belief could not be justifiable if were to rest on another mere man, for all (mere men) have sinned & fallen short of God’s glory. It is a fragile faith indeed that rests on the shoulders of someone less than God Almighty. Thank God for His revelation of Jesus’ true nature to our souls, for our consternating conscience over sin would never otherwise find lasting respite or reprieve.

The concept of the Latin phrase “sola fide” in relation to our salvation finds its root in Scripture. “Faith alone” is taught many times by Jesus & the apostles:

Mar 5:36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."

John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Clearly, here & elsewhere Scripture states "belief" as the most fundamental determinant of the saved (with God as the sole determiner of who should "find" that belief). Salvation is promised here to all “whoevers” that can establish “belief” in Him. It seems a simple thing, this “belief”. It is, but we must also understand that belief is a very large concept:

Mark 9:17-24 And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; (18) and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it."
(19) And He *answered them and *said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!" (20) They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. (21) And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. (22) "It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" (23) And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." (24) Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

We can claim to believe in all manner of things, but often our words or actions will reveal the true parameters of our faith. A CEO can proclaim loudly his belief that his company will not enter bankruptcy, but when he thereafter chooses to cash out all his stock options, his divesting action reveals the failing of his stated belief. Conversely, most of us never gave a thought to the structural integrity of the chairs we are sit in before we sat down today. If the chair had failed to support us, we would have been very taken aback. Experience has taught us to place unreserved faith in our chairs to the point that we don’t bother to inspect or test them before placing our full weight upon them.

We blindly believe in the chair’s ability to support us, & this action demonstrates the measure of our faith.

So don’t be perplexed as Scripture seems to add something more to the foundation of faith alone as salvific. Fideism’s under girding firmness is not being doctrinally challenged; it is only the parameters of your belief that are being challenged:

Romans 10:4-11 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (5) For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. (6) But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) (7) or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). (8) But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); (9) because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

At first glance, verses 9 & 10 seem to add a secondary requirement of confession to the mute nature of the heart’s belief. But that is Paul’s point- true faith cannot remain muted. If the Light inside you is real, then it must burst the basket’s confines to reveal itself at some point. Understand, in Matthew 10:32, Jesus is not giving you a work to accomplish to then become worthy of His salvation, He is giving form & definition to the nature of the individual who claims to believe in Him. He is telling you that, devoid of the good confession, your faith is in darkness.

Dragging your faith out of the dark shadows allows the Light to shine upon it & bring it to maturity. Just believe; then act from that substance of faith, allowing the material evidence to pour out of your otherwise muted belief. (Hebrews 11)

Enlarged Entitlements?

2009-01-12T01:18:00.002-05:00

Matthew 6:1-13 (NASB) "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. (2) "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (3) "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (4) so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (5) "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (6) "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (7) "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. (8) "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (9) "Pray, then, in this way:
'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (10) 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. (11) 'Give us this day our daily bread. (12) 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (13) 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'

A right attitude towards God must form the rudiment of right prayer. Jesus paves the way for the proper prayer mindset in His Sermon on the Mount by first instructing us in the way of humility- the Beatitudes; then the way of true righteousness- summarized not in the letter, but in the spirit of the Law. He spends most of His time before chapter six attempting to convince people of this fact- that even if they were able to walk out the letter of the Law, they would never, in themselves, achieve the spirit of the Law. The higher measure of complete righteousness demanded by God was, is, & always will be achieved by God alone. His last statement in chapter five, summarizing this teaching, is as follows:

Matthew 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Sermon, to this point, thus imbues the child of God with the quality of humility & the understanding that the complete righteousness demanded of him is retained by Jesus Christ alone. No one else has walked out a purely righteous life on this earth, so we can find no other Way to attain said demand- but through Jesus Christ alone.

But then in the sixth chapter, Christ begins teaching His elect children- largely those who have stayed with Him thus far. He speaks to those that have received the difficult truths He has laid down, & instructs them in the manner of proper prayer.

We are called to study then, this model framework for speaking to the Almighty.

“Our Father who is in heaven,”

This prayer is premeditated upon the precept of a Sovereign God, One who rules the seen, physical dimension from His throne established in the unseen, spiritual aspect. He commands both realms because He formed both realms, & it is noteworthy to mention that He rules from the dimension that we cannot enter by any measure of might or knowledge that we may retain. (1Tim 6:16)

“Hallowed be Your name. (10) 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”

This gets to the meat of the matter; our model prayer is founded upon the notion that we exist primarily for God’s benefit, for a ministry dedicated to His good pleasure. Despite those who would desire other, albeit Scriptural, prayers to be the model, we see here our only Savior telling us to “Pray then, in this way”.

Jabez’s prayer (1Chronicles 4:10) was indeed a good & proper manner of prayer, but it was not to be the model of prayer. In other words, the famous author of “The Prayer of Jabez” was right to teach of this prayer, but his exegete failed as he instructed his readers to daily say to themselves “My name is Jabez, & this is my prayer”, thus making their fundamental prayer one based on God serving them.

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, (21) equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The child of God who perceives God rightly sees his own utter lack of righteousness & humbly presses Him foremost for mercy & grace for his soul. Upon the right-minded child’s inner acceptance of God’s promised forgiveness & Christ’s ministry of bestowing His righteousness, the elect’s focus should then be centered on their serving of God, in response to His already established tremendous work of service at the cross, instead of God continuing to serve them.

We pray for daily bread; it is the old nature that greedily & constantly craves the “enlarged” loaf.

“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'

Psalms 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Of Tractates & Tractors

2008-12-28T08:54:00.004-05:00

John 5:15-25 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. (16) And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. (17) But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (25) "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

Simply said, God’s Word is our source of life. It is appointed as His voice to His people in the present day. Scripture is the primary expression of the heart of God to mankind- it is both the foundation & final litmus test for all teaching & ministry in the church today.

But it is oftentimes difficult to hear. His thoughts & ways are not our thoughts & ways, so deafness to God’s tractate becomes self-evident in the soul of the natural man. We easily hear the Word with our ears but it hits an impenetrable fortress at the door of our heart. This is why the “decision” for Christ truly cannot lie in the self-determination of man, for our hearts are feloniously fallow & infertile in their fallen state. The soul of the natural man is naturally unreceptive to the seeds of spiritual life strewn along the path.

Luke 8:5-15 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. (6) And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. (7) And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. (8) And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (9) And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, (10) he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' (11) Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (12) The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (13) And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (14) And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (15) As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Now we know from Scripture that all men’s hearts are depraved as God declared in Noah‘s day:

Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

We may say: “But surely that changed after the flood, for God started over, so to speak, with the righteous Noah.” But God reveals the depth of man’s depravity as He says post-flood:

Genesis 8:20-21 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (21) And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.

God wiped out the worst of mankind, sparing none but these righteous eight; yet the first thing righteous Noah does upon disembarking is build an altar & sacrifice to the Lord. Noah was well aware that he was just spared the judgment of the truly righteous God. He knew he was righteous only in terms of comparison to other, greatly wicked men, not in terms of comparison to God, & thus still worthy of His wrath. Despite this washing away of the most sinful of men, God’s first post-flood thesis on the nature of man’s heart was the very same as His last pre-flood thesis: that man’s heart was fallen & evil.

Romans 3:9-12 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, (10) as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; (11) no one understands; no one seeks for God. (12) All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

We must understand, the “honest & good heart” (Luke 8:15) where the seed of Scripture finds root is not the natural state of that heart. For the source of such an anomaly, we should look back to verse 10: “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God”. God’s workers rightly labor at the sowing & watering of the soil, but unless that infertile soil of the soul is made rockless, robust, & rich by the gift of God’s implements, no good thing can ever take solid root. We often think of poverty as a bad thing, but to the farmer, a poverty of thorns is pure joy. Those cares, riches & pleasures of life look good until God’s Spirit rips the roots to reveal the rocky ground that lies below.

The tractates of God, blessed as they are, can find no firm root in the human heart apart from the tractor of God working over the soil of our soul.

1 Corinthians 3:4-7 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? (5) What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. (6) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (7) So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Can I Get an Amen?

2008-12-23T23:00:00.010-05:00

John 5:15-25 "The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. (16) And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. (17) But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (25) "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." (ESV)

I believe every jot & tittle of Scripture is both inspired & purposed. There is a reason for every seeming difficulty in diction therein. One such difficulty is posed by the translation of the original words for Jesus’ oft-quoted introduction “truly, truly” (also “verily, verily” in some versions). In fact, no translation is necessary; only a transliteration, for the word is the same in English as it is in Hebrew & Greek - the word is “amen”. “Amen” is used throughout the Bible, the Church, & even greater society as an affirmation or an exclamatory witness of a prior statement.

The normative usage of “amen” is dictated by it’s most common definition- “so be it”. Such usage is founded upon & characterized by such passages as Deuteronomy 27:15ff. God, or God’s witness (a priest or prophet) makes a statement & the hearers accept & verify it as true by responding with “amen”. All the Gospels & most other NT writings close with this word as well, using it likewise- as an agreement, a confirmation, or a witness to the truth of a testimony.

But the primary usage of “amen” by Jesus in the Gospels is an Scriptural & cultural oddity; it is introductory & lacks any backward reference to a previous proclamation. This is why our Bibles use other words as a substitute. “Amen” does not seem to fit Jesus’ application of it. The problem is that we fail to see His purpose. Jesus used the word in prefatory fashion to affirm His own utterances, not those of someone else. He founds the veracity of His words upon the strength of His own witness. And that further drives home the point of John 5- He speaks as One who has the authority in Himself to speak things into being. Jesus retains all the full sovereignty of God- for He Himself is a prime mover, a creative cause.

Unlike mere men, Jesus, being God, is able to witness His statements as true Himself, before they are even uttered. Anything God speaks is either already a reality beforehand, or becomes a reality as it is spoken (regardless of whether or not the evidence is immediately manifest to our senses). Genesis 1 attests to the power of God’s spoken word. Ten times God spoke, & ten times tremendous things became manifest. Mankind has a ready witness to that time & God’s existence by the order & splendor of the universe. The pagan’s perfunctory proposal of a “big bang” without prior causation defies reason. All things, from the micro to the macroscopic, have come into order, & this is in opposition to the second law of thermodynamics, given the atheistic view of the universe as an entropically closed system.

Likewise, by prefacing His most pivotal statements with a word defined as “so be it”, Jesus rests our hope of what He says following- on the assuredness of what He has done previously. As God incarnate, He needs no further witness to corroborate His testimony, save for His past demonstrations of utterly comprehensive Godliness- His miraculous power merged with His magnificent character. For example, consider His healing of the paralytic paired with His righteous rebuke of that man’s sinfulness in the first half of John 5; this was foundational to His children’s acceptance of His challenging claims in the second half of the chapter. The OT paints a portrait of God as a Person who hates sin, but simultaneously loves His sinful children. Jesus' actions bear out a testimony that He is that God.

Though He does go to on speak of other witnesses to the truthfulness of what He says. He mentions John the Baptist in verse 33. But then in 36, He returns to founding His word upon His best & most faithful witness- God Himself. In John 8, Jesus speaks further on the strength of the Father’s testimony. Then in John 16, He speaks of the Holy Spirit’s confirmation:

John 16:13-15 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. (14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. (15) All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." (ESV)

Jesus says the Father & the Holy Spirit are the Ones who will add the “amen” postscript to His word & deed. God empowers us with a mighty faith as all three Persons of the Trinity of God bear testimony to our hearts, bookending His promises with amens front & back, saying "so be it” to our very soul.

2Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (KJV)

Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation...' " (ESV)

Learning Love through Submission

2008-11-30T21:17:00.003-05:00

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Eph. 5:31-33

The heart of the command to submit is to learn obedience & discover the nature of Christ. That is why Paul prefaces the teaching of specific forms of submission with a call for submissiveness in general (Eph 5:21).

Submission is defined as “a willingness to yield or surrender to somebody, or the act of doing so”. This takes its most evident manifestation in the willingness of the wife to yield her authority to her husband, but Paul points to another form also- the husband’s deeding over his desires to compassionately care for the wants & needs of his wife. The husband surrenders his own desire to take a nap after a long day to do the laundry so his beloved can rest instead. He yields to his wife’s desire to go to dinner instead of his desire to go the big game. He defends his wife against peril & danger with his own life when necessary. Paul assigns the husband the task of proactively leading in love.

The wife primarily yields to her husband in spirit & the husband primarily yields to his wife in action.

This is all really designed to mirror the mind of Christ to mankind.

1 John 4:10 states that we did not first love God, but God- in & through the Person of Jesus Christ- first loved us. Just like a truly righteous husband, Christ leads in love, by example, into perceiving the depths of real love. But it is only when we, like the truly righteous wife, are completely surrendered to His will that we are in the place to both perceive & receive His love.

Facing the cross, Jesus displayed both qualities. He was submitted to the Father as He said “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). And He was yielding in love to the needs of mankind as He also said to His Father “For their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:19).

Husbands should keep their eyes on Christ, the author & perfecter of their faith, so as to pursue the goal of giving up their desires to serve their wife’s needs. Wives should take up the cross of humble submission with eyes set on the joy set before them- a closer walk with the One who learned obedience Himself- by humble submission.

Hebrews 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Psalms 85:4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!

The point is even Christ Himself learned obedience through swallowing His righteous indignation, submitting not only to His perfect & righteous Father, but also imperfect & unrighteous sinners, all for the sake of love. Following in His steps, we learn of Him. We model Christ to our spouses & thus teach the character of Christ by displaying His nature for all to see.

Ephesians 5 makes clear that submission has, as its end goal, the purpose of all being made into the likeness of Christ. It is easy to get caught up arguing the minutiae of the individual commands therein, but the goal should be clearly evident- it is just another way for us to follow in His steps, picturing the nature of Christ to our souls, our mates, & others as well.

Fixing Your Eyes

2008-10-12T20:33:00.005-04:00

Luke 9:51-56 "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (52) And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. (53) But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. (54) And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, 'Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?' (55) But he turned and rebuked them. (56) And they went on to another village."

Jesus didn’t turn & rebuke the Samaritans, these half-breeds of the Jews who were against Him. Instead, His rebuke was reserved for the ones who were claiming to be His disciples, yet had no mercy for their enemies. James & John were desirous to be quick to avenge the wrongs of the Samaritans, while Jesus only desired an avenue of mercy for His antagonists.

Sin besets man; it mendaciously ensnares him in scrupulous study of others’ wrongs. The endless trappings of judging others distracts the mind & heart from healthy self-inspection. The normal proclivities of the natural man & lying spirits is to lead man to judge another rather than himself. One of the most popular staples of television today are the “court TV” shows. We like to sit in judgment of another & think “I would never do that” or “I would never go that far”. Judging another’s seemingly greater sin makes us feel better about ourselves.

James & John deserved rebuke because their indictment of another went beyond their indictment of themselves. The only reason they had not rejected Jesus as well is because He chose them-

John 15:16-17 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (17) These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

Jesus, in union with the Father & Spirit, chose James, John, & every other true believer in Christ out of the mire of their own degradation. We cannot rightly bring a conviction to bear on another for rejecting Christ; for we would be in that place ourselves were it not for God’s merciful election.

We must remember that we are not better than they on the basis of our acceptance of Christ, for our acceptance of Him is not our doing.

More so, He chose you & appointed you towards a goal- to bear fruit. Among the riches of Christ’s fruit is the ability to love the unlovable. As the believer expresses love towards the unbeliever, he is mirroring what Christ has done for him. The Spirit takes this expression of true Godly love & rains conviction down on mind & soul…

Romans 12:9-21 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.(10) Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (11) Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (12) Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (13) Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (14) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (15) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (16) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (17) Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (18) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (19) Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (20) To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." (21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Again, the purpose of God’s love within us is to bear fruit. We manifest Godly love by doing as He does- loving the unlovable. The Spirit joins with us in our time of “weakness” (as the world would consider such actions to be) to open the eyes of the unbeliever to a genuine display of Christ’s love. In such times, we truly demonstrate Christian love.

God does abhor evil, but all the while genuine love pours forth from Him for the worst degenerates. His kind of love within the believer does not pull up stakes when evil rolls into town; it stands firm, looking forward towards Christ-like love, instead of forlornly back at man’s selfish & shallow form of love.

Let us return to finish our opening text-

Luke 9:57-62 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." (58) And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (59) To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." (60) And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." (61) Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." (62) Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Always looking ahead to Christ’s measure of mercy & grace, instead of backwards at our own, is the goal.

Following Jesus means loving the unlovable…

Jesus indeed saw the Samaritans’ sin, but pressed on ever the more towards Jerusalem. He pressed on in love for the Samaritans’ sake, for the cross would be awaiting Him in in that place (though at a later date). Our opening verse (Luke 9:51) makes clear the cause for His fixation on Jerusalem- preparation for His appointed time to be "taken up". His greatest expression of love was waiting for Him there; from His first miracle (John 2) onward, the cross was never secondary, it was always His primary focus & goal (John 12:27). For the cross was His primary act of benevolent love for the Samaritans, & all us as well.

Philippians 3:7-14 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- (10) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (11) that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (12) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

One God, One Honor

2008-10-05T22:01:00.002-04:00

John 5:15-23 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. (16) And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. (17) But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (22) The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

What does Jesus refer to as He requires “all” to “honor” Him? We should consider every way we honor the Father, & not withhold that honor from the Son either. One thing the Father is clearly due is worship for His benevolence, mercy, forgiveness, & love. We should bless His name for being that guiding light of goodness for the slacking sojourner. We should be thankful and full of praise for the One who holds the scales of justice, the one who sees every injustice done by every soul & is a vanguard for the wrongly oppressed.

But that’s the point; all these qualities of God we see mysteriously manifested in the ages before Christ, we see expressly manifested in the age of Christ.

In the Old Testament, God showed the glory of His righteous nature from on High- there was a physical disconnect between the dwelling place of God & that of mankind. God was clearly higher, better, & stronger than man; He demonstrated that as He set His kingdom up & ruled the observable physical dimension from the unseen spiritual dimension. Though He did do so, Christ did not need to make the verbal claim to be that God, the One whose sovereignty rules over all creation- both Heaven & Earth- for Jesus demonstrated His Godliness by His nature.

Because God was set apart from man, accordingly we may have thought “He’s never felt physical pain, the pangs of hunger, or the distress of human temptations- because He‘s God. He can‘t know my pain until He‘s walked a mile in my shoes.” But through Christ, God did walk- not a mile in man’s shoes- but a lifetime. For thirty years before He was to initiate His ministry, God labored & toiled for His daily sustenance just as we do, yet because of His higher nature, He knew no sin. As He began His ministry, He went without for longer than most any man has ever gone without food, yet He was without sin. In this greatly emasculated, enfeebled condition, He spurned grand temptations to grasp something more than was due Him at that time. In no less a place than in tremendous poverty, in a place of unfathomable suffering, this God in man’s shoes rejected the allure of sinfulness. Conversely, mankind had dominion, comfort, & riches beyond belief in the Garden of Eden, yet demonstrated his lesser nature by craving still more. For man, enough is never enough, yet Jesus demonstrated His Godliness by embracing a dearth of dominion, comfort, & riches for the sake of another- namely, His elect children.

John 12:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Every one of us is that aforementioned “slacking sojourner” in need of a light for his path. Part of the manner we worship Christ is by following in His steps. We truly worship Him “in Spirit & in truth” by endeavoring ever more to walk a mile in His shoes- to feel but a moment of His pain- & therefore more so perceive His magnificence. As we fight the good fight to do good instead of evil- to live out the commands of the Sermon on the Mount, we grasp the enormity of what is true goodness. It is there, in that place, that we begin to truly comprehend breadth and length and height and depth of God’s unique nature…

Ephesians 3:13-21 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (14) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, (15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, (16) that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (19) and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (20) Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

He is to us firstly God, & we should worship Him for that foremost- for even if He were what the Deists claim Him to be- a God unconcerned with our needs- He is still due worship for the mere fact that He is God & we are not. Even in such a minimalist’s view of God’s goodness, He is still Creator & we are still the created.

But our view of God goes beyond that of that of the Deists’ sect, for we believe that He indeed has demonstrated Himself beyond reason alone. He has clearly revealed His nature to us through Christ.

God has revealed his nature to us through the manifestation & ministry of His beloved Son

Sadly, many today dishonor the Son of God in order to increase their own self-image. They desire to discredit Christ so as to credit themselves. This motive is not often readily apparent at first glance, but as we know, human nature naggingly portends prodigious pride more as the rule than the exception. No different than when Adam & Eve first partook of the forbidden fruit, we always desire more than we have. No matter the extent of our abundance, we want more. More power, influence, fame, knowledge, & wealth. The riches of Christ simply don’t fulfill the natural man’s appetite for self indulgence. But they were never meant to; for darkness & light cannot cohabitate- that fact is a witness of Christ’s glory & requisite honor.

Attaining a Degree in Me

2008-09-28T19:06:00.002-04:00

Lately, I’ve been dwelling on John 5 a lot, in which Jesus delves into His nature & His co-existence with the Father. But my last piece was a departure from this; for it was intended solely as a sermon separate from this line of study. “The Existence of Evil” was written with the intention of informing the mind & stirring the soul to accept “the hard fact that we are not so good”. To me, this is a theologically shallow concept; it is primitive in comparison to understanding the nature of Jesus Christ as taught in places like John 5.

So I would say that I was a little dismayed by the measure of affirmation for the piece among mature Christians. I thought “This is kindergarten Christian teaching.” Nothing is more rudimentary to salvation in Christ than the egregious nature of our personal sin in the face of God’s holiness. I thought “I’ve taught much more profound pieces on this. Why is this so well received?”

As a church body, we recently went to see the movie “Fireproof,” wherein the protagonist is having marital issues. He is told to press on in studying his wife to know her beyond the level he knew her when they were dating. The line went something like “If you had a high school diploma in “Catherine” when you were married, you need to keep going- on to a bachelor’s, master’s, & a Ph.D.”

You don’t stop trying to understand more of the ones you love.

So it is with Christ. We press on to know Him better through His Word, illuminated to our mind through teachers inspired by His Spirit. But in thinking about this movie’s protagonist, in his wider experience of saving his marriage, I realized he needed something more than a degree in “Catherine”. He also needed a fundamental understanding of himself- a degree in “me”. Regardless of how well he understood his wife, the relationship would go nowhere until he perceived & started to come to terms with his own nature- particularly the evils that lurked within & expressed something other than love to his beloved. He knew & carried out all manner of works that should have pleased his wife, but they would in fact would not please her. All that effort was for naught as long as he coldly & unrepentantly persisted in doing the things that offended her.

So I am again made to understand that no matter what measure my understanding of Christ’s nature rises towards, I must continue to pair that understanding with the understanding that I was a sinner worthy of nothing but Hell’s fire before He saved me. What’s more, I continue in sin today. My only prayer is that God would grant me ability towards ever greater repentance- for as Luther said “To do it no more is truest repentance.”

It is a dual major we are studying for; the degree in “Jesus Christ” is but worthless parchment apart from the degree in “me”.

The Existence of Evil

2008-09-15T21:11:00.011-04:00

The atheist poses many a query concerning the nature & existence of God. Most commonly, they center on the basic concern “Why does a good God allow evil to exist?” But as they endeavor to challenge the existence of God, or at least indict God as being less than good, they pass over the much more poignant & personal probe “Why does a good God allow mankind to exist, when man commits so much evil?”

The response the first question is simplistic- obviously, evil exists because man exists & perpetrates it. The atrocities of Auschwitz occurred because men consciously perpetrated them. The Cambodian genocide of the 1970s’ was not committed by an unseen force; it clearly had direct human causes. Even today, colossal evils go unchecked in many places- most notably Darfur. It’s man’s inhumanity to man, as the textbooks call it, but as it can be attested that there have been major events such as these across the entire span of man’s recorded existence, it should be seen as more typical than atypical behavior. As such activity would appear to be normative for humans, maybe it should be re-termed “man’s humanity to man”.

And the fact that the Darfurian tragedy continues to play out makes the rest of the world complicit in its evil. If we see a crime taking place & just obliviously carry on with our day, we give our consent to the deed & are therefore guilty of collusion. Most of us are appalled at the evils of Auschwitz in retrospect, but at the time it apparently didn’t bring great conviction- for Allied forces had intelligence on the death camps, but chose to allow them to continue operating unfettered. At the very least, they could have disrupted their ghastly operations by bombing the rail lines leading to them. This speaks to the evil lurking within even the hearts of the (comparatively) “good guys”. We see “bad” even in the hearts of the “good”. We may say that we were good because we chose to fight against the agreeably evil regimes of the Axis powers, but truly, no Allied power arose to fight the demonstrably evil Axis powers until they themselves were threatened. We, as a populace, were largely oblivious to the plight of suffering Asians, Africans, & Europeans until Pearl Harbor. It was much more self-preservation than altruism. As an ancillary to the mindset that would pose “Why does a good God allow evil to exist?”, we should in turn ask “If man is so good, why does he allow evil to exist?”

The hard fact is that man is not so good. We truly are not anywhere near as good as we think we are. When atheists, agnostics, or even Christians are befuddled by the supposed riddle of “Why does a good God allow evil to exist?”, they demonstrate an inherent proclivity to judge others without judging themselves, in violation of Matthew 7:1-5. The point of Jesus’ words here is that our ability to rightly judge the measure of another’s wrongs is constrained by our inability to judge evil at its closest proximity- within our very own soul. In other words, how can we rightly judge from afar (the heart of another), if we are incapable of rightly judging that which is very near?

The prisons are filled with people who have little, if any, conviction concerning their crimes. The petty thief thinks himself to be good for not being an armed robber, the armed robber thinks himself good for not hurting anyone, the murderer thinks himself good because he only killed one person, the rapist thinks himself good because, “you know, she was really asking for it”… the problem is the convicted have so little conviction concerning their crimes against humanity. But this attitude is not constrained to prison populations. How many of us have overlooked our own sin in the mad rush to judge another? I know I have been passed by the guy doing 90 MPH in a 70 MPH zone & indignantly thought “What a nut.” Sometimes I would be pleased to come upon him pulled over by a police officer a few miles later & would be contented as I thought “He got what he deserved”. But, thankfully, God would bring conviction to me as His Spirit asked my heart “But when will you get what you deserve?” God reminded that I was in fact doing 80 MPH when he passed doing 90 MPH. I had to slow down when I saw the officer too. While his sin was clearly greater than mine, I was most certainly a transgressor, worthy of punishment, as well. This is what Jesus meant when He said “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” A man blind to his own depravity cannot rightly decry the depravity of another.

Psalms 7 “A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, (2) lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver. (3) O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, (4) if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, (5) let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah (6) Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. (7) Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high. (8) The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. (9) Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous-- you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! (10) My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. (11) God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. (12) If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; (13) he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. (14) Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. (15) He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. (16) His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. (17) I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.”

David responds to evil intent of his pursuers by asking for God to be involved. He wants God to intervene & cease the evil being perpetrated against him. But in verses 3-5, David is well aware of the possibility of evil within his own actions as well; for that reason he seems to have the understanding he would also be caught up in the very judgment he desires for others. He clearly has judged his own actions in regards to this situation, & considers his own integrity first. But just as clearly, David’s sins are easily witnessed in the larger scope of his life. He was not confidently calling for God’s final judgment of His life overall, for he knows he has no integrity in that larger scope. He simply desires a righteous Judge to intervene & make a judgment as to the improper persecution he feels he is suffering. He is not asking any obtuse philosophical questions about why evil generally exists; he knows it exists, & first of all wants to repent of it within himself.

The atheist wags his finger at God for His supposed delay in judging evil, but is ignorant of the truth of the matter. This riddler enjoys his mock trial of God, so ignorant of the only thing staying the Lord of all from calling the real trial into order- the one where the riddler is the defendant- is God's awesome mercy. Man always has a ready indictment for the evil of others instead of himself, & the atheist is only taking this blind, hypocritical insolence a step further when he accuses God.

God’s desire for mercy all that restrains His “whetted sword” & His “readied bow” of fearsome judgment.

The atheist desires to judge God, but two things are required to make a right judgment concerning another- having understanding concerning the nature of sin that only comes by contrasting the standard of God’s Word with the deplorable inner reality & a repentant attitude concerning said reality. While there are many who hesitate at the doorway of repentance, most in the world never accept the validity of step 1: accepting God’s standard as the standard for judging what evil actually is. We lie to our bosses, cheat (& speed) if we think we won’t get caught, fornicate, & abide passively while all manner of evil goes on around us, yet moan about a God who allows evil. What hypocrites we are! If God ever decided put a stop to evil, Jesus would be returning to completely barren world, for no one would survive past the age of two!

The Lord declares to all “lower courts” of judgment:

Job 40:8 "Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?

If the riddler’s convictions regarding evil began with an honest scrutiny of the evil actively lurking within himself, his question would morph into the most poignant & personal probe: "Why does God allow me to exist, given that I have done wrong?" Try as we might, we cannot divorce the question of evil’s existence from the question of our own existence. Again, it is quite simply apparent that evil exists because we exist. All have sinned & fallen short of God’s standard of sinlessness, so that begs the real question: “Why does a good God allow me to live after my first evil thought or deed?”

Mercy.

Our focus would thereafter not be entranced upon the alleged inactivity of God regarding evil, but upon our own inactivity regarding our own evil.

I say “alleged inactivity” because God in fact has been very active. Those that think God to be inactive in regards to evil show that they have never accepted the splendor of the Person nor the cross of Christ.

John 3:14-21 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (19) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (20) For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. (21) But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Two thousand years ago, God was so deeply concerned about the problem of evil in the world that He Himself came down to deal with it face to face- literally. He confronted evil Himself time and again, yet, unlike us, it never was able to enter into His nature. This proved that Jesus alone was worthy to take on the punishment for our every evil deed.

Romans 8:24-28 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? (25) But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (26) Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (27) And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (28) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Note the present tense language here, praise God, He did not cease interceding in man’s affairs with Jesus’ departure; no, God gives us His Spirit as a daily intercession against the influence of evil in our midst.