And Such Were Some of You

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  I Corinthians 6:9-11

The early church at Corinth was a mess. Instead of growing in Christ and in unity of the faith, the congregation fell into many sinful and prideful practices.  The Apostle Paul penned a letter to the church, giving them a spiritual smack-down, calling them back to sound doctrine and Christian love and unity.  Paul didn't doubt that the congregation was comprised of true believers, having been justified by grace through faith in Christ alone. He was, however, rightly concerned about their lives of cheap grace, evidenced by their disregard for walking in a manner worthy of their calling to Jesus.  So he calls them out on their sins. It's hard not to read the list above and receive my own spiritual smack-down in several areas, but then Paul writes these beautiful words of encouragement:

"And such were some of you."

Paul reminds Christians that we have been washed of all our filthiness, we have been declared holy, our relationship with God has been made right, all because of the righteousness of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, the "bookends of the Christian life," as Jerry Bridges refers to them. We will continue to battle temptations to sin, they are literally all around and in us, but as we remind ourselves of the gospel, that we were bought with a price, that we are no longer our own possession (I Corinthian 6:20), we will yield to the power of the Holy Spirit to do his perfecting work in our lives for his glory.    

We simply can't go back to a life of cheap grace, if we truly understand the gospel.  

God's Faithfulness in Our Suffering

As we all know, it's not a question of if we'll face pain and suffering, but when.  It's inevitable in this fallen world.  Sometimes we see suffering coming, and other times it seemingly strikes out of nowhere.  Regardless, for those of us who know Christ as our Savior, we have the assurance that Providence is at work through the tough times.  Not only does God allow the pain and suffering, but he indeed orders our days, the good and the bad, to accomplish his sanctifying purpose in our lives, to his honor and glory.  

Alistair Begg, in his Truth for Life "My Times are in Your Hands" broadcast, explained the follow ten points that should be included in our theology of suffering:

1.  God chooses to use suffering to develop perseverance.  James 1:2-3 - "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

2.  God uses suffering to manifest his faithfulness to bring us to maturity in Christ. James 1:4 - "But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." 

3.  God uses suffering to assure us of our sonship through his loving discipline. Hebrews 12:7;11 - "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?. . .Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."  

4.  God uses suffering to prove the genuine nature of our faith.  I Peter 4:12-13 - "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trail which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

5.  God uses suffering to develop in us humility.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  

6.  God uses suffering to keep us on track.  Psalm 119:67 - "Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep your word."  Proverbs 3:1 - "My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands." 

7.  God uses suffering to deepen our insight into the heart of God.  Read the story of the prophet Hosea.  

8.  God uses suffering to help others in their trials.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 -
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

9.  God uses suffering to reveal to us what we really love and what matters most.  Do we love God more than we love ourselves?  John 12:25-26 - "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." 

10.  God uses suffering that we might display God's glory.  Read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37 - 50.  Genesis 50:20 - "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good." 

What I Learned by Hanging Out with Presbyterians

When I told Joel my title for this post, he responded, "You did more than just hang out with them; you were a Presbyterian!"  Yes, we were members of a conservative Presbyterian church (PCA) for about seven years, but I never considered myself a full-fledged Presbyterian. Even though we are no longer part of a Reformed congregation, I still like to "hang out" with those of the Reformed tradition, Presbyterian, Baptist, or otherwise.  I was recently pondering some of the ways I have benefited from their teaching and practices and came up with this list:

1. From Genesis to Revelation, God is revealing his eternal plan of redemption.  The Bible is not primarily about Israel or the church, but about Jesus Christ.  And since Jesus is the fulfillment of all Old Testament law and prophesy, the Old Testament must be studied and interpreted in light of the New Testament, not the reverse as many Christians interpret Scripture.  As we read through the Old Testament, we must ask what the passage says about Christ and what he has done.  Tim Keller recorded an excellent short video on this "fundamental question," which I used in a blog post about three years ago.  Click here to view.

2.  As we enter our places of worship, we should have the attitude that "we are crossing over from the profane to the holy," as R. C. Sproul says.  Our hearts and minds should be prepared to worship the Lord our God, and our worship services should reflect that "crossing over" as well.  Some begin this preparation on Saturday evening by setting aside time for Bible reading and reflection.  

3.  Liturgy isn't a dirty word. As long as the format allows for the work of the Holy Spirit, i.e. we are not bound by ritual, liturgy provides helpful transitions as we worship together, from the call to worship, to the readings of Scripture, to our prayers of confession of sin and assurance of God's grace and forgiveness, to our songs of praise, to the teaching of God's Word and our responses.  The proper focus of the obedient heart creates God-honoring formality rather than dead formalism.

4.  The Psalms really are for singing!  What a treasure it is to have a "hymnal" authored by God himself!  The psalter is included in the references to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs found in Ephesians and Colossians.  The Psalms speak to the broad range of human emotions as the psalmists poured out their hearts to the Lord.

5.  Grape juice doesn't cut it.  The sweetness of the juice doesn't properly portray the bitterness and anguish of the crucifixion, that Christ's blood was poured out as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.  The perfect Lamb of God bore the "cup of wrath"  of God on behalf of those who come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

6.  Creeds and confessions matter.  In this age of watered-down Christianity, where most Christians cannot accurately state the message of the Gospel, I appreciate the importance Reformers place on studying (even memorizing) the confessions of the faith.  We must know what we profess to believe!  Also, studying the legacy of Reformed Christians provides a valuable source of encouragement and insight to our faith. 

Good Soil, Fruitful Heart

It's always a blessing for me to revisit the parable of the soils found in Luke 8, Matthew 13, and Mark 4.  I guess it's a kind of "heart check". . .am I bearing fruit as the one true test of a changed life in Christ?  In the parable, Jesus is explaining to his followers that anyone who shares God's Word is a "sower," and the hearers of the Word are classified into four types of "soils" or souls of men. The first soil, or soul, is referred to as the wayside, where the Word doesn't take root because the seed falls on ground that hasn't been cultivated, the hardened heart.  The second soil represents the shallow heart.  There is a veneer of soil on top of the stony earth, allowing for an initial response to the Word, but it quickly withers as soon as temptations come along. The third soil is described as the thorny ground, the preoccupied heart. There is a response to the Word of God, but it perishes over time as the cares of life choke God out.  This heart is captivated by riches, pleasures or other passions, and those pursuits take precedence over a relationship with the Lord.  The last soil, the good soil, is the responsive heart. In contrast to the other hearts, this heart genuinely receives God's Word with gladness and is changed from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, resulting in a life of obedience to Christ.

So I have to ask myself:  Is my heart preoccupied with earthly desires and pursuits?  Is my life consistent in my private life as it is in church?  Am I growing in my love of Christ?  Does this love manifest itself in a love and concern for others?  Am I using my spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ?  

Jesus ended the teaching of this parable with this command, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" The Word of God demands more than just listening. Those with "ears to hear" delight in the mystery of redemption that is hidden in the person and work of Christ and the building of his kingdom.   

Creation's Keepers

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"  Genesis 1:27-28

I used to have a distorted view of the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve's life consisted of wandering around paradise, enjoying fellowship with God and each other, and eating luscious fruit as they so desired.  I overlooked the fact that God "took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it" (Gen. 2:15).  It was part of God's good design that he gave mankind stewardship over his creation, to labor, produce, and manage.  It's important to  note that this mandate was given before the fall, signifying that work had dignity; it was a good gift from the Lord, and was not given as punishment. After Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from the Garden, man's responsibility of subduing the earth continued, albeit with more difficulty.  

We recognize God as the supreme owner of all things, but we also see throughout scripture that God provided principles regarding private ownership of property, for our own as well as our neighbors'. When Moses received the Ten Commandments, the Lord included "thou shall not steal" as the eighth commandment.  But the tenth commandment is equally pertinent, "thou shall not covet."  Why did this commandment make it into the top ten?  The sin of covetousness is at the root of many other sins, including the sins of theft and vandalism. As good stewards of creation, we are called to not only care for our own property, but also respect the property of others. Through our obedience, we bring honor and glory to the Creator of all things.  

From Worry to Joy in the Journey

As Joel and I are going through this time of transition from Michigan to Kansas, I'm discovering that I am more of a worry wort than I ever thought possible. Even though I can recite several related Bible verses, my emotions are not in sync with what I know to be true. I'm beginning to remind myself of my grandmother, who seemed to occupy her days looking for worry subject matter.  That's not a good thing.   

First it was the cats. How are we ever going to transport Phoebe and Beatrice over one thousand miles over two days when they pitch a meow fit just going one mile to the vet?  Will we be able to find a suitable pet-friendly motel?  How will the cats react to staying in a motel?  And what about their reaction to our new home?  How will they respond to the residual scent of the four cats who currently live there?  Will we be cleaning up markings all over the house? 

Then I directed my worry to the fact that since we haven't sold our home here in Michigan, we might have to leave it unattended for several months until it sells.  Who is going to take care of the mowing and the falling leaves in our large yard as we go into autumn?  And what if its not sold before winter?  How will we handle the snow removal? Should we program the lights so the house looks inhabited?  And at what temperature should we set the furnace before we leave?

I rest my case. 

As I was cleaning yesterday, I noticed the book by R. C. Sproul, Jr. that we bought on the Ligonier cruise - Believing God:  12 Biblical Promises Christians Struggle to Accept.  I thought surely he has something to say about worry or anxiety.  As I glanced through the contents, there it was, chapter 9 - "All Things Work Together," based on Romans 8:28:  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  R. C., Jr. began the chapter by telling of his struggle with anxiety over a trip to Southeast Asia.  It helped me put our move to Kansas in perspective.  He then discussed his two part "internal liturgy" that he goes through when confronted with life challenges:

Part One:

1.  What's the worst that could happen?
2.  Whatever the worst thing is, it's not that bad.

Part Two:

1.  What am I due?

"It is all too easy for us to lose sight of what we are.  We move through this world forgetting that we are, in ourselves, an unhappy joining together of dust and rebellion.  Because of our rebellion, we look at the world and its Maker as if we are owed peace and comfort.  The truth of the matter is that no matter what kind of hardship we might find ourselves going through, every human on the planet . . . moves through his days in a context of unfathomable grace . . . What we are due is eternal torment.  This is what God owes us, according to a strict standard of justice." (p. 91)

2.  What have I been given?  

"Here we enter into the depth of the blessing God has given us.  We enjoy much more than merely not getting what we deserve.  We receive from Him our daily bread.  We enjoy relationships with people we love.  We are all richly blessed." (p. 92)

3.  What have I been promised?

"When I take my eyes off my troubles and look instead to God's promises, my troubles melt in a sea of joy . . . We will see Him as He is.  We will be with Him.  We will be like Him.  We will enjoy at His right hand pleasures forevermore . . . How can we despair when He who made all things, whose word is truth, promises us that our joy will be such that no eye has seen it, no ear has heard it, and it has not entered our minds to think it." (p. 93)

But there's more to this point:

"Our calling isn't to suffer through our threescore and ten, knowing that things will get better in the end and make all our suffering worthwhile.  We do not manage this hardship or that by means of a promise about the future promise.  We do so in light of a present promise, a present reality.  The good news isn't that we can endure a present hardship because of future blessing.  The good news is that the hardship itself is, according to biblical promise, the blessing."  (p. 93)

How so?

That's where Romans 8:28 comes in.  Do I believe God's promise that He is working through this stressful time in our lives for our good and His glory?  Do I remember that my purpose on this earth is different from those outside the kingdom of God?  R. C. explains:  "If . . . we understand . . . that our end is something more significant than personal peace and affluence, then we can begin to see how these hardships might in fact be good things.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism . . . begins with this question:  'What is the chief end of man?' It answers, 'Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.'" (p. 95) We exist that God's glory might be made manifest and that we might delight in Him always."  If we are in Christ, all the events of our lives are helping us grow in grace, as we are becoming more like Him.  R. C.  refers to our sanctification as our "Jesus-ification."  I like that.  

It is my prayer that through this time of transition,  I will trust that each day is part of the Heavenly Father's plan to "Jesus-fy" me.  I want to see the blessings of sanctification along the way, rather than only focus on the joy to be realized at the end of the journey.  To Him be the glory. 

Good Answer

In an interview Tim Challies recently did with Dr. R. C. Sproul, the following question was asked:

If you had five minutes to talk with the pope, what would you say or ask? Five minutes.

If I had five minutes to talk to the pope, I’d just ask him one question. I would say, “Why don’t you believe the gospel?” And I’m sure that would be provocative enough to fill up the five minutes.

Good answer!  You can read the interview here.  

Ligonier West Coast Conference

All the sessions from the Ligonier West Coast Conference on "Standing Firm" are available for free streaming!  There were over 3000 of us gathered for the conference in Seattle; the conference was part of our Ligonier cruise, two days of great teaching from R. C. Sproul, Steven Lawson, and John MacArthur.  Joel and I were so encouraged to see so many young adults at the conference, especially considering Seattle is known as liberal land.  We keep praying for revival in the land.

Bragging Rights?

And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.  Galatians 6:9-10

As Christians, we know our lives should be characterized by good deeds, because the love we show to our Christian brothers and sisters and others is a primary test of our love for God. But is there ever a time when we have "bragging rights" for how well we think we are caring for others in need, either individually or as a church body?  I think not.  Here are a few reasons why:

1.  For every time we have done a good deed, there have been other times when we've failed to minister to others in their time of need.  The reasons could include the following:  we have misplaced priorities, we do not love our neighbors as ourselves, we are guilty of the sin of making individual distinctions (as described in James 2), or we simply lack thoughtfulness.  And on the flip side, even if we are faithful in doing good deeds, our motives are sometimes tainted by sin, e.g. serving out of a sense of obligation or in an attempt to make a good impression.


2.  We must guard against becoming prideful.  God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).  And we are instructed to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (Philippians 2:3). 


3.  Our good works are empowered by the Holy Spirit as evidences of our salvation; we have no reason to boast but in the Lord and what he is doing in us and through us.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 

The Triumphal Entry

The next day [Monday] the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.  So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"  John 12:12-13

Prophesied in the book of Revelation:  I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"  Revelation 7:9-10

From John Piper:

"The entry into Jerusalem with waving palms (John 12:13) was a short-lived preview of the eternal Palm Sunday to come.  It needed to be said.  If the disciples hadn't said it, the rocks would have.  But if Jesus had taken his throne on that first day of palms, none of us would ever be robed in white or waving palms of praise in the age to come.  There had to be the cross, and that is what the disciples had not yet understood. . .They saw him as a king moving in to take control.  And he was.  But they could not grasp that the victory Jesus would win in Jerusalem over sin and Satan and death and all the enemies of righteousness and joy--that this victory would be won through this own horrible suffering and death. . .And their misunderstanding of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem results in a misunderstanding of the meaning of discipleship."


"Here is a question put to every believer by this text:   does discipleship mean deploying God's missiles against the enemy in righteous indignation?  Or does discipleship mean following him on the Calvary road which leads to suffering and death?  The answer of the whole New Testament is this:  the surprise about Jesus the Messiah is that he came to live a life of sacrificial, dying service before he comes a second time to reign in glory.  And the surprise about discipleship is that it demands a life of sacrificial, dying service before we can reign with Christ in glory."


[Jesus said] If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it" (Luke 9:23-24). 

"When Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary road, he as not merely taking our place; he was setting our pattern.  He is substitute and pacesetter.  If we seek to secure our life through returning evil for evil or surrounding ourselves with luxury in the face of human need, we will lose our life.  We can save our life only if we follow Christ on the Calvary road."


~Quotations taken from "He Set His Face to Go to Jerusalem,"  sermon by John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, April 4, 1982. 

Washing Our Dirty Feet

Last week I had the pleasure of listening to R. C. Sproul, Jr. teach on John 13.  You know the story:  It's the week of Passover, and Jesus has withdrawn from public ministry to devote himself to his disciples.  After supper in the upper room, Jesus took off his outer garments and tied a towel around his waist to wash his disciples' feet, a demonstrative act of love and humility.  Imagine the Lord of Glory doing the dirty task reserved for the lowliest of servants!  But there's more going on than meets the eye.  Jesus was fully aware that "his hour had come to depart from this world" (v. 1), and, as part of his imminent death, he knew he would endure the outpouring of the wrath of God on behalf of sinful men.  Jesus was about to become the Sacrificial Lamb of God.  

When we know we're going to have a difficult day, or are in the midst of a bad day, our self-centered tendency is to want those around us to cater to our emotional needs.  We want to be treated with extra consideration and compassion.  But no human has ever experienced anything like Jesus did the day he was crucified.  Unlike sinful men, Jesus didn't rally those around him in selfish pity. Rather, he focused on loving his disciples and serving them.  How could Jesus do this?  Verse 3 says, "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God."  This verse takes us from his glory to his humiliation to his resurrected glory.  Jesus knew who he really was - God incarnate - and that he had a mission.  The washing of the disciples' feet symbolized the "washing" of sin that was about to take place on the cross, according to the eternal plan of the Trinity. 

The beginning of our own humility is learning to face the reality of our "dirty feet."  I liked what R. C. Sproul, Jr. said about us Calvinists:  we think we have the understanding of our sinfulness down pat because we believe in total depravity.  That's where we begin the doctrines of grace, after all.  But affirming the doctrine, that all mankind is born enslaved to sin as a result of the Fall of Adam, is not the same as understanding the depth of our own sin and humbly crying out, "Lord be merciful to me, a sinner!"  

A simple test of our humility is this:  When we hear someone talking about the sinfulness of man, do we focus on all the ways we've been sinned against, or are we mindful of all the ways we've sinned against God and others?   That's certainly something to take to the Lord in prayer.  

The Unity of the Godhead in Salvation

I mentioned last week that Ligonier's Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast is currently featuring Dr. Steven Lawson teaching on the doctrines of grace in the Gospel of John.  It was been rich teaching, as Dr. Lawson looks at Jesus' own words that clearly support the sovereignty of God in salvation.  You have to wonder how anyone can miss it!  

The other morning as I was listening to the broadcast on particular atonement, that Jesus died to redeem a particular people for himself, I was struck by Dr. Lawson's point that particular atonement actually exemplifies the unity of the Godhead. Each person of the Trinity is working together in perfect unity to save one group of sinners, those chosen of God for salvation.  Dr. Lawson explained that Arminians, whether they realize it or not, believe in a fractured unity of the Godhead.  They believe:

1.  God the Father looks down the "tunnel of time" and saves those individuals whom he knows will choose Christ as their Savior - a limited group of people.

2.  God the Son laid down his life to save the whole "world," i.e. every person who has ever lived on this planet.

3.  God the Holy Spirit woos only those who have heard the gospel of Christ - another limited group of people.  

When Jesus said "I and the Father are one" in John 10:30, he was not saying that he and the Heavenly Father are the same person; rather, Jesus explained that he and the Father are one in mind, one in mission, and one in purpose.  And that purpose was not to die for people without exception, but to die for people without distinction.   With his blood, Jesus "ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation (Rev. 5:9)."

On the Doctrines of Grace

This week on the Renewing Your Mind broadcasts, Dr. Steven Lawson is teaching through the Gospel of John on the doctrines of grace: the radical or complete depravity of man, unconditional election, particular atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints.  Excellent teaching by Dr. Lawson!  You can find the teaching sessions here.

All of the doctrines of grace really hinge on the view of the spiritual nature of man apart from Christ. . .is mankind spiritually well, spiritually sick, or spiritually dead?  I encourage you to take time to listen. 

Think: On Scholarship

"He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him."  Colossians 1:15-16


I'm continuing to make my way through John Piper's book Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God, as he makes his case that all thinking ultimately exists for the love of God and the love of our fellow man.  In chapter 13, Dr. Piper directs the reader's attention to the truth that all scholarship should be for the love of God and mankind; that God not only reveals himself through the person of Jesus Christ, as recorded in Scripture, but he also reveals himself through the created world, nature and human life.  He writes:

"All the natural world was created through and for Jesus.  This is a spectacular statement.  Every scholar who devotes himself to observing the world should think long and hard about the words 'All things were created. . .for Christ.' Surely, the least we can say is that this means all thinking - all scholarship - of every kind exists ultimately to discover and display the glory of God, that is, the glory of Jesus Christ, in his Word and in his world. . .Therefore, the task of all Christian scholarship - not just biblical studies - is to study reality as a manifestation of God's glory, to speak and write about it with accuracy, and to savor the beauty of God in it, and to make it serve the good of man.  It is an abdication of scholarship when Christians do academic work with little reference to God.  If all the universe and everything in it exist by the design of an infinite, personal God, to make his manifold glory known and loved, then to treat any subject without reference to God's glory is not scholarship but insurrection."

"And Then?" A Parable from Octavius Winslow (1808-1878)

A young man, whom he had known as a boy, came to an aged professor of a distinguished continental university, with a face beaming with delight, and informed him that the long and fondly-cherished desire of his heart was at length fulfilled - his parents having given their consent to his studying the profession of the law. As the university presided over by his friend was a distinguished one, he had repaired to its law school, and was resolved to spare no labor or expense in getting through his studies as quickly and ably as possible. In this strain he continued for some time; and when he paused, the old man, who had been listening to him with great patience and kindness, gently said, "Well! and when you have finished your career of study, what do you mean to do then?" "Then I shall take my degree," answered the young man. "And then?" asked his venerable friend. "And then," continued the youth, "I shall have a number of difficult and knotty cases to manage: shall attract notice by my eloquence, and wit, and acuteness, and win a great reputation." "And then?" repeated the holy man. "And then!" replied the youth, "why then there cannot be a question- I shall be promoted to some high office in the state, and I shall become rich." "And then?" "And then," pursued the young lawyer, "then I shall live comfortably and honorably in wealth and respect, and look forward to a quiet and happy old age." "And then?" repeated the old man. "And then," said the youth, "and then- and then- and then I shall die." Here his venerable listener lifted up his voice, and again asked, with solemnity and emphasis– "And then?" Whereupon the aspiring student made no answer, but cast down his head, and in silence and thoughtfulness retired. This last "And then?" had pierced his heart like a sword- had darted like a flash of lightning into his soul, and he could not dislodge the impression. The result was, the entire change of his mind and course of his life. Abandoning the study of the law, he entered upon that of divinity, and expended the remainder of his days in the labors of a minister of Christ. 

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."  Romans 8:5 - 6

Quotable - Think

"To all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

Faith that receives Jesus is saving faith.  But what does it mean to "receive Jesus"?  Many people say they have received Jesus, but they give little evidence of being a new creature in Christ, and they have little interest in pursuing the excellencies and beauty of Christ as their all in all. If this is the case, have they really received Jesus?

John Piper comments:  

"One way to describe this problem is to say that when these people 'receive Christ,' they do not receive him as supremely valuable.  They receive him simply as sin forgiver (because they love being guilt-free), and as a rescuer-from-hell (because they love being pain-free), and as healer (because they love being disease-free), and as protector (because they love being safe), and as prosperity-giver (because they love being wealthy), and as creator (because they want a personal universe), and as Lord of history (because they want order and purpose).  But they don't receive him as supremely and personally valuable for who he is.  They don't receive him the way Paul did when he spoke of 'the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.'  They don't receive him as he really is -- more glorious, more beautiful, more wonderful, more satisfying, than everything else in the universe.  They don't prize him or treasure him or cherish him or delight in him.

Such a 'receiving' of Christ is the kind of receiving an unregenerate, 'natural' person can do.  This is a 'receiving' of Christ that requires no change in human nature.  You don't have to be born again to love being guilt-free and pain-free and disease-free and safe and wealthy.  All natural men without any spiritual life love these things.  But to embrace Jesus as your supreme treasure requires a new nature.  No one does this naturally.  You must be born again (John 3:3)." 

~taken from Think by John Piper, pp. 71-72. 

Think

I just began reading John Piper's book Think:  The Life of the Mind and the Love of God.  I hope to share some nuggets with you as I read through the book. In the first chapter, John discusses his lifelong tension between thinking and feeling and doing. Here is today's quote on the importance of thinking:

"Thinking is indispensable on the path to passion for God.  Thinking is not an end in itself.  Nothing but God himself is finally an end in itself. Thinking is not the goal of life.  Thinking, like non-thinking, can be the ground for boasting.  Thinking, without prayer, without the Holy Spirit, without obedience, without love, will puff up and destroy (1 Cor. 8:1).  But thinking under the might hand of God, thinking soaked in prayer, thinking carried by the Holy Spirit, thinking tethered to the Bible, thinking in pursuit of more reasons to praise and proclaim the glories of God, thinking in the service of love -- such thinking is indispensable in a life of fullest praise to God."  (p. 27)

Fervent Love

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."  I Peter 4:8

We've all experienced it, and we've all done it.  We've all been the recipient of nitpicking, and we've also dished it out.   Sometimes we even actively look for "material" - those irritating or annoying faults and failures of another person.  Left unchecked, these sinful attitudes/actions can destroy relationships in the family, church, or workplace.  That's why the Apostle Peter stressed the importance of loving one another earnestly by stating we should make love a priority above all other stewardship of grace.  The note in my study Bible says that the word for earnestly means "to be stretched or strained." Rather than just tolerating others, our love for each other should be fervent, putting the spiritual good of others ahead of ourselves.  It is our calling as Christians to "cover" the sins of others, always ready to forgive insults and mistreatment, and not seek to expose our brothers' and sisters' petty weaknesses. 

The theme of "covering" is found throughout scripture.  In Genesis, God found Adam and Eve cowering in their guilt for disobedience, but, as an act of divine love, he made clothing to cover their shame.  On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest sprinkled the sacrificial blood of the bulls and goats on the altar as a sign of covering of Israel's sins.  And in the New Testament, those redeemed by the sacrificial blood of Christ are clothed with his righteousness.  Because of his love for us, Christ "covered" our sins.  We must continually look to him as our example.  

An Unexpected Journey - Part 5

The last in my series on the doctrines of grace:


I find it interesting that the doctrine of man's radical corruption (aka total depravity), the doctrine that is foundational to the other doctrines of grace, was the last piece of the puzzle for me.  Because I didn't initially have systematic teaching on the doctrines, there was a time between my understanding of the Holy Spirit's effectual call (choosing) of some to salvation and why it must be so.  Once one understands man's total depravity, the remainder of the doctrines of grace logically fall into place. 

Man's total depravity doesn't mean that man is as wicked as he possibly could be, as in utterly depraved.  Even quintessential bad guy Adolf Hitler was not as evil as he could have been.  Total depravity means that sin penetrates to the very core of our being; every part of us is tainted by sin...not just our body and soul, but also our mind, emotions, and will. Ever since the first transgression of Adam and Eve, man commits sin because he is born a sinner; that is our nature.  Scripture teaches that "There is none righteous, no, not one. (Romans 3:10)"  R. C. Sproul explains, "We are not considered unrighteous because the dross of sin is mixed together with our goodness.  The indictment against us is more radical:  in our corrupt humanity we never do a single good thing...Fallen sinners can refrain from stealing and perform acts of charity, but these deeds are not deemed good in an ultimate sense.  When God evaluates the actions of people, he considers not only the outward deeds in and of themselves, but also the motives behind these acts.  The supreme motive required of everything we do is the love of God.  A deed that outwardly conforms to God's law but proceeds from a heart alienated from God is not deemed by God a good deed.  The whole action, including the inclinations of the doer's heart, is brought under the scrutiny of God and found wanting."    

Apart from being regenerated by the Holy Spirit, every man is spiritually dead in his trespasses and sins and is by nature a child of God's wrath (from Ephesians 2).  From R. C. Sproul:  "To be dead in sin is to be in a state of moral and spiritual bondage.  By nature we are slaves to sin.  This does not mean that the fall has destroyed or eradicated the human will. Fallen man still has all the faculties to make choices.  We still have a mind and a will. The problem is not that we cannot make choices.  Natural men make choices all the time.  The problem is that, in our fallen condition, we make sinful choices. We make these choices freely.  We sin precisely because we want to sin, and we are capable of choosing exactly what we want to choose." But we do not want to choose, nor can we choose, to convert ourselves to become followers of Christ, because, as spiritually dead men, we have absolutely no desire for the righteousness of God.  Our salvation must be of the Lord!        

Quotes by R. C. Sproul taken from Grace Unknown, Chapter 6

An Unexpected Journey - Part 4

Some weeks ago, I began a series on my unexpected journey to the understanding of the doctrines of grace.  I'm not able to identify a particular "light bulb" experience when I first understood that Christ died for the sins of the elect; rather, along the way in my understanding, I had to gradually work through the following questions:

1.Is Christ a real Savior, or is he a "potential" Savior?
2.Did Christ die to to atone for the sins of every human being?
3.What part did my faith play in my salvation?  Did my faith make Christ's death effective for me?
4.What was God's original purpose in sending Christ into the world?  

Several years ago we were involved in a Bible study on the doctrines of grace.  During that study, the teacher presented the following three possible options for Christ's atonement...


Either...
1.Christ died for all the sins of all people;
or
2.Christ died for some of the sins of all people;
or
3.Christ died for all of the sins of some people.


The first option represents the view of universal salvation, which is not taught in the scriptures.  Many who deny universalism would argue, though, that Christ's death created a possibility of salvation for everyone if they believe in Christ.  If this were true, then individual faith is not only a condition for redemption, but is the very grounds for redemption.  R. C. Sproul explains, "If the atonement is not efficacious apart from faith, the faith must be necessary for the satisfaction of divine justice.  Here faith becomes a work with a vengeance because its presence or absence in a sinner determines the efficacy of Christ's work of satisfaction for this person." The Bible clearly teaches that we do not earn God's grace by any good works that we do (Ephesian 2:8-9, Titus 3:5), and even our faith is a gift from God.


Obviously, the second option is faulty.  Complete atonement is not achieved for anyone.  So, that leaves the third option that Christ died for all the sins of some of the people, God's elect.  Quoting R. C. Sproul again:  "If God sent Christ to save everyone, then he must be eternally dissatisfied with the results.  Though the Son may receive satisfaction from knowing that some have availed themselves of his atonement, his satisfaction must be partial because so many have not.  This raises the cardinal point in the doctrine of limited atonement.  The ultimate question has to do not so much with the sufficiency or efficiency of the atonement, but with its design.  What was God's original purpose or intent in sending his Son into the world?  Was his divine plan to make redemption possible or to make it certain?  If God planned to redeem all men, did his plan fail?"  God's sovereignty necessitates that his plans and purposes never fail.

The next and final stop on my journey will be humanity's radical corruption.  

The Sproul quotes I used in this post came from his book entitled Grace Unknown:  The Heart of Reformed Theology.