Interpretation does not happen in a vacuum. Every action, every statement, every occurrence is interpreted behind filters. These filters are cultural, familial, relational, economic, linguistic, and a slew of others that affect how we receive and comprehend the world around us. For instance, think about when someone says, "Could you turn off the lights, please?" We interpret that message and decipher its content through a litany of lenses that help us to make sense of what is actually being communicated.
Whether it is listening to the fall breeze blow outside your window, watching a television commercial, or discussing the plans for the weekend's events with a friend, interpretation is essential to life as a human. In many cases, how accurately we can interpret any specific message or phenomena is dependent on how well we can be aware of the interpretive lenses we are using to interpret.
This is especially important when talking about the Bible. The Bible is an ancient anthology of ancient literary pieces. The various books of the Bible each were written at a specific time in a specific historical context with its own set of rules and its own way of writing that is firmly grounded within its own era and context. However, we, as interpreters, inevitably live in a wholly different, modern context. This means that the first step of biblical interpretation involves an intentional process of learning both about our context as well as the distinct context of the book under examination.
While this may sound abstract or conceptual in nature, the point is incredibly practical. Our goal as interpreters of Scripture has been, is, and will always be to get the most accurate interpretations of Scripture that we possible can. And one of the essential tasks to accomplish this is for us to look beyond our contextual lenses so that we can engage Scripture on its terms instead of trying to make Scripture contract to our terms. Let us then take time when interpreting to understand where we are coming from so that we can understand where the Bible is coming from as accurately as possible.
Showing posts with label Bible Verses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Verses. Show all posts
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
How Jesus Summarized the Christian Lifestyle
Summing up the whole of the Christian life in a single phrase is no small feat. Some Christians point to John 3:16 for this task, while others may point to Eph. 2:8-10, or even Romans 10:9-10. But, luckily, we are not left to our own theological preference when it comes to summarizing Christianity, specifically in matters of living, for Jesus Himself summarized the Christian life for us.
As far as salvation is concerned, perhaps the Gospel of John has the most to say about faith and salvation. While John's Gospel is unified in pointing to the efficacy of belief in receiving salvation, which is that grace of God enacted by Christ Jesus' work in life and death, it is how Jesus answers the sly questions of the slithering scribes in Matthew's Gospel that give us the best summary of how God desires believers to live.
The scene goes something like this: while in Jerusalem before his Passion, Jesus is having to deal with constant barraging attacks and theological traps set by the religious leaders who wish to destroy Him. In one such inquisition, the Pharisees, seeking to trap Jesus, ask Him, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?" Jesus, without a flinch or beat responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37)."
While this is a beautiful and easily memorizable passage the importance of it should not be lost due to its ease. Jesus quoted directly from Deuteronomy in His reply (Deut. 6:4-5). In doing so, not only did Jesus defend Himself by relying on the authority of Scripture, He also made clear to Christians that what God has asked from humans in history past is the same thing He asks of us now: utter and complete devotion.
This should be a convicting but comforting truth. For God has not changed in what he requires of us: everything. So, when Jesus responds to the testing traps of the Pharisees and leaders of the Law, He is not only answering them their question, He is answering us ours. How far does God ask us to go in our devotion? All the way. Every single crevice and nook is to be focused and filled with devotion to God. This is the Christian life style in a nutshell straight from the mouth of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
As far as salvation is concerned, perhaps the Gospel of John has the most to say about faith and salvation. While John's Gospel is unified in pointing to the efficacy of belief in receiving salvation, which is that grace of God enacted by Christ Jesus' work in life and death, it is how Jesus answers the sly questions of the slithering scribes in Matthew's Gospel that give us the best summary of how God desires believers to live.
The scene goes something like this: while in Jerusalem before his Passion, Jesus is having to deal with constant barraging attacks and theological traps set by the religious leaders who wish to destroy Him. In one such inquisition, the Pharisees, seeking to trap Jesus, ask Him, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?" Jesus, without a flinch or beat responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37)."
While this is a beautiful and easily memorizable passage the importance of it should not be lost due to its ease. Jesus quoted directly from Deuteronomy in His reply (Deut. 6:4-5). In doing so, not only did Jesus defend Himself by relying on the authority of Scripture, He also made clear to Christians that what God has asked from humans in history past is the same thing He asks of us now: utter and complete devotion.
This should be a convicting but comforting truth. For God has not changed in what he requires of us: everything. So, when Jesus responds to the testing traps of the Pharisees and leaders of the Law, He is not only answering them their question, He is answering us ours. How far does God ask us to go in our devotion? All the way. Every single crevice and nook is to be focused and filled with devotion to God. This is the Christian life style in a nutshell straight from the mouth of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Grace through Faith
If there were ever a passage of Scripture to memorize, Ephesians 2:8-10 would be it: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; for it is the gift from God, not by works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, that He has prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
These brief sentences hold a wealth of theological truth to chew upon. For starters, the first phrase, "For by grace you have been saved through faith," speaks immeasurably about the transaction of salvation. It had always been assumed that salvation was bestowed by God only on those who were deserving. Thus grace was to be understood as a conditional affair, dependent on one's obedience to Torah. Now, Paul makes this radical assertion that salvation is a matter of grace that is acquired by faith. The simplicity of the statement is only overshadowed by its profundity.
The follow up, "And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift from God, not by works so that no one may boast," is equally as provocative. Beware that we overlook the depth of Paul's declaration: not only is salvation a matter of grace that is appropriated by faith, but no human deeds can merit it. Moreover, this is by design. God intends that no one may boast because of salvation. Think about the effect of this statement. Because of its content, pride, then, has no place in any conversation of salvation, for nothing could earn it.
Understanding the previous verses as such, then the next phrase, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, that He has prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them," takes on a different tone. This passage is clear to indicate that we have been give the gift of God, which is is grace and salvation assigned by faith. Additionally, faith is coupled with good works that are the actions of faith, not to merit faith but to act out faith.
The purpose of this discourse has been not only to highlight this important passage but also to offer an insight into some study methodology. This is one method of many to employ when dissecting Bible passages. Through the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit the wealth of the Word may permeate our lives. Let us then press into the Word as to press into God!
These brief sentences hold a wealth of theological truth to chew upon. For starters, the first phrase, "For by grace you have been saved through faith," speaks immeasurably about the transaction of salvation. It had always been assumed that salvation was bestowed by God only on those who were deserving. Thus grace was to be understood as a conditional affair, dependent on one's obedience to Torah. Now, Paul makes this radical assertion that salvation is a matter of grace that is acquired by faith. The simplicity of the statement is only overshadowed by its profundity.
The follow up, "And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift from God, not by works so that no one may boast," is equally as provocative. Beware that we overlook the depth of Paul's declaration: not only is salvation a matter of grace that is appropriated by faith, but no human deeds can merit it. Moreover, this is by design. God intends that no one may boast because of salvation. Think about the effect of this statement. Because of its content, pride, then, has no place in any conversation of salvation, for nothing could earn it.
Understanding the previous verses as such, then the next phrase, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, that He has prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them," takes on a different tone. This passage is clear to indicate that we have been give the gift of God, which is is grace and salvation assigned by faith. Additionally, faith is coupled with good works that are the actions of faith, not to merit faith but to act out faith.
The purpose of this discourse has been not only to highlight this important passage but also to offer an insight into some study methodology. This is one method of many to employ when dissecting Bible passages. Through the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit the wealth of the Word may permeate our lives. Let us then press into the Word as to press into God!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Defending from Heresy
The Word of God is clear and perspicuous, meaning that it is accessible to all believers. Conversely, it is not open to non-believers, because non-believers will not have eyes to see or ears to hear its truth apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Although any person with the ability to read can read the Bible, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that illuminates the Word as the divinely-inspired infallible truth that it is.
It is this "second" step of interpretation, the Spirit step, that is oft overlooked. Without relying on the Holy Spirit to guide interpretation, particularly in regards to application and doctrine, heresy inevitably arises. Heresy refers to any doctrine or teaching that stands in opposition to the teaching of the Bible. It is important to note that Christians have been interpreting the Bible for some 20 centuries. Thus, there is a wealth of tradition and orthodox teaching compiled that can help guide interpretation.
Although traditional doctrine should not be accepted uncritically, many very educated and highly intelligent interpreters have come and gone, leaving valuable Scriptural insights for future generations of believers. For instance, Paul was one of the first Christian interpreters. Romans is a veritable theological treatise on Scriptural (OT) interpretation in lieu of Jesus. Similarly, the writer of Hebrews left an indispensable source of hermeneutical technique in his interpretations.
These were some of the first people to look to the Hebrew Scriptures and interpret them Christologically, that is to say, through a Christ-centered lens. Following the first century, there have been hundreds of important individuals that have left important and influential marks on interpretation: Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, etc. The work of these people, the traditions of interpretation they brought about, should be studied so that we can understand and make the most accurate interpretations possible.
Differences in interpretation will appear; however, when interpretative variants arise, we should not be quick to throw away the interpretations of the past. For instance, in 19th century Germany, new "critical" approaches to interpretation arose. Although the techniques were not wholly immoral or useless, they tended towards the very liberal and anti-orthodox. Unfortunately, many believers were led so astray and liberalized by these techniques that their version of Christianity looked less like the church than it did the world and all its trimmings, thus heresy was formed. In reaction, fundamentalists rose up to combat the liberal interpretive techniques and modern evangelicals are direct descendants of this reaction.
Paul, Peter, John, and the other first-century Church leaders also had to combat heresy. In fact, fighting heresy is an essential part of the Christian life. We, as image bearers of Jesus, must defend that which is essential and orthodox doctrine. The basics are non-negotiable and should be defended vociferously: Jesus is the risen Son of God, a real human being who lived and died and resurrected so as to take on the sin of all mankind, and through confession and belief, believers are blessed with salvation and deliverance from sin. Heresy should not be accepted but should be snuffed out. However, throughout our defense of orthodoxy, we need to maintain the gentleness, kindness, and grace that is becoming of the children of God.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christ's Christmas
Some 2,000 years ago, in a small rural suburb of Jerusalem, a woman and her soon-to-be husband arrive at an inn but there is no vacancy available. The woman, though a virgin, was quite pregnant and the baby's delivery imminent and near.
Months earlier, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, had come to the woman and prophesied that the Lord Most High would descend upon her and she would bear a child, the Son of God, and that she would call His name, Jesus, meaning God saves. The man she was betrothed to discovered that she was with child and, though he thought of divorcing her, when an angel came to him, in a dream, revealed that his betrothed's child was the Christ, the Messiah who would save all mankind from their sin.
At this time, near the end of the young woman's pregnancy, the emperor issued a decree requiring that everyone return to their ancestry's land to be censored. The man took his pregnant fiance to the place of his ancestry, to Bethlehem. The trip was arduous and long. Upon arrival, the woman realized that it was time: she was going to deliver her child.
Although the inn was full, a man offered the couple a cave that served as a stable for livestock for them to stay in. The woman delivered her child, an infant boy. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a trough.
Meanwhile, shepherds nearby were watching their sheep by night as an angel of the Lord appeared before them and told them that in Bethlehem a child was born. The angel told the shepherds to go to the town and to offer praises to the newborn as He was to be the Messiah, the savior of all mankind. They left their flocks and the fields to find the couple and their child in the stable, the infant resting in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. It was just how the angel had prophesied it to be.
The Christmas story is repeated yearly in the Christian calendar. It is the beginning of Jesus' life and His ministry. At this time, the 25th of December, let us take time to remember Christ, to remember the dozens of prophecies that were fulfilled in His birth, let alone His life. A time to remember that God is sovereign and holy, and that He condescended into humanity for the purpose of redeeming His children from sin. Now we can enter into right relationship with Him by Him and for Him. Truly, this is what Christmas is all about.
Months earlier, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, had come to the woman and prophesied that the Lord Most High would descend upon her and she would bear a child, the Son of God, and that she would call His name, Jesus, meaning God saves. The man she was betrothed to discovered that she was with child and, though he thought of divorcing her, when an angel came to him, in a dream, revealed that his betrothed's child was the Christ, the Messiah who would save all mankind from their sin.
At this time, near the end of the young woman's pregnancy, the emperor issued a decree requiring that everyone return to their ancestry's land to be censored. The man took his pregnant fiance to the place of his ancestry, to Bethlehem. The trip was arduous and long. Upon arrival, the woman realized that it was time: she was going to deliver her child.
Although the inn was full, a man offered the couple a cave that served as a stable for livestock for them to stay in. The woman delivered her child, an infant boy. She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a trough.
Meanwhile, shepherds nearby were watching their sheep by night as an angel of the Lord appeared before them and told them that in Bethlehem a child was born. The angel told the shepherds to go to the town and to offer praises to the newborn as He was to be the Messiah, the savior of all mankind. They left their flocks and the fields to find the couple and their child in the stable, the infant resting in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. It was just how the angel had prophesied it to be.
The Christmas story is repeated yearly in the Christian calendar. It is the beginning of Jesus' life and His ministry. At this time, the 25th of December, let us take time to remember Christ, to remember the dozens of prophecies that were fulfilled in His birth, let alone His life. A time to remember that God is sovereign and holy, and that He condescended into humanity for the purpose of redeeming His children from sin. Now we can enter into right relationship with Him by Him and for Him. Truly, this is what Christmas is all about.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Not Conformed to the World
The world is full of shimmer and shine, temptations that distract and lead people astray. John was clear that we should not desire the world and its fleshly desires, and that the love of the world is not compatible with the will of God. Paul confirms this position as well as giving us further exhortation for handling the world. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of 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 (Rom. 12:2)." Understanding the richness of this verse and the theology thereof is a multi-faceted venture.
First of all, what is the pattern of this world that we should not conform to any longer? Although answering this question is complex, a contracted summation could be defined in two words: irreverence & sin. The most striking feature of the world is its irreverence to the Lord. And, as a result of this irreverence, the world does not fear the Lord. This inevitably and without fail leads to sin.
In contrast, Christians are to live a life of fear and reverence to the Lord, which prevents believers from falling into sin. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Pro. 9:10; Psa. 111:10). Therefore, any person that strives to wisdom will begin with this basic assertion and will live in reverence to the Lord.
Moreover, the world defines itself in individuality, autonomy, and independence. The central theme of the world and those living within it is the "I" and "me." The individual strives to assert his/her individuality and lives life as if independent and autonomous. The world's identity is defined by the individualism. Thus the individual pursues individuality and self-reliance. The irony is that we can categorize the world's individuals, making them less than unique.
This is antithetical to Christian life which is defined as dependent. The Christian is to be reliant on the Lord and dependent on the body of Christ. The individual in Christianity is established not in terms of worldly identity but in reference to divine design and gifting. The Christian does not strive for individuality but his/her uniqueness is defined in the body of Christ, not autonomous but contingent.
Understanding the world that we are no longer to conform to is the first step in understanding Romans 12:2. The next step is the renewal of our minds. This is essential and not passive. It requires study and diligence. Our identities are deeply entrenched in how we think. When our minds our renewed by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, who we are changes to be inline with the will of God.
Lastly, being able to discern the will of God is the product of the renewal of our minds. It is important to note that the will of God is not the only will that is presented to us. When Paul says that we are to discern the will of God implies that we will still have to choose His will among other potential choices. Not conforming to the world and renewing our minds is the preparation that equips us to be able to choose, to discern, the will of God.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Life Eternal
John 3:16, one of the most known and memorized verses of the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life." John, more than any other NT author, is clear that the reward given to Christians for belief in Jesus is eternal life (John 10:28; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-12). Moreover, those that do not have the son do not have eternal life but its converse: eternal death and damnation.
Although eternal life is significant and an essential teaching of the New Testament, it is important to note that eternal life is not the purpose of confession and belief in Christ. Eternal life is a side effect of a right relationship with God. Think of it logically, God is life and the Holy Spirit resides in believers; therefore, believers are blessed with eternal life as a result of their relationship with the Lord.
Again, eternal life is not the purpose of belief, it is a side effect of belief. The purpose and end of belief in Christ is a reconciled right relationship with the Lord. This, in and of itself, is the most wonderful and amazing gift that confession and belief in Jesus provides for Christians. It is the right relationship with God that belief offers; a side effect of that relationship is eternal life.
God is the giver, the Lord of life. Death is a result of sin. In Eden, Adam and Eve had eternal life because they were in right relationship with God but, due to the Fall, their relationship was damaged and their eternal life revoked as a result. Because the Lord is life, when we are obedient to Him, His will and Word, we will be blessed. Part of His blessing is life, eternal life.
Because eternal life is a side effect of right relationship with the Lord, the giver of life, eternal life is not an "after death" venture. Instead, eternal life is the life we now live in preparation for our lives after the ceasing of this mortal coil. In essence we should strive to live in a constant state of eternal life. In reality, this means that we will pursue a right relationship with the Lord. Remember, not only is eternal life a side effect of a right relationship with God through Jesus, but it is a life to be lived now not after death. Therefore, let us be diligent to live lives pleasing to Him and to His will.
Although eternal life is significant and an essential teaching of the New Testament, it is important to note that eternal life is not the purpose of confession and belief in Christ. Eternal life is a side effect of a right relationship with God. Think of it logically, God is life and the Holy Spirit resides in believers; therefore, believers are blessed with eternal life as a result of their relationship with the Lord.
Again, eternal life is not the purpose of belief, it is a side effect of belief. The purpose and end of belief in Christ is a reconciled right relationship with the Lord. This, in and of itself, is the most wonderful and amazing gift that confession and belief in Jesus provides for Christians. It is the right relationship with God that belief offers; a side effect of that relationship is eternal life.
God is the giver, the Lord of life. Death is a result of sin. In Eden, Adam and Eve had eternal life because they were in right relationship with God but, due to the Fall, their relationship was damaged and their eternal life revoked as a result. Because the Lord is life, when we are obedient to Him, His will and Word, we will be blessed. Part of His blessing is life, eternal life.
Because eternal life is a side effect of right relationship with the Lord, the giver of life, eternal life is not an "after death" venture. Instead, eternal life is the life we now live in preparation for our lives after the ceasing of this mortal coil. In essence we should strive to live in a constant state of eternal life. In reality, this means that we will pursue a right relationship with the Lord. Remember, not only is eternal life a side effect of a right relationship with God through Jesus, but it is a life to be lived now not after death. Therefore, let us be diligent to live lives pleasing to Him and to His will.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Piece of Peace
Peace is an interesting word. Its meanings range from quiet to solitude, from tranquility to contentment. The breadth of peace's place in the believer's life is huge. This peace, divine peace, is a gift from God and is to cover our hearts and lives. We are to live in the peace that God bestows upon us.
The peace that Christ gives to believers surpasses all understanding and is to guard our hearts and our minds (Phil. 4:7). Peace serves a purpose, it is not just an attitude but is a state of being that keeps and protects believers from sin. When we let the peace of Christ rest over our hearts, it acts as a protectant that prevents us from things like malice and envy, sin that can taint.
When peace is our state and how we handle the waves of this life, we will not let the fickle and mercurial nature of the world hinder our ability to live godly lives. Jesus gives a peace that is dependable. We can rest upon it. This becomes crucial when we are constantly pushed to not be peaceful. When life throws curves we should rely on the peace that God bestows to carry us through the toughest of situations with grace and dignity.
Being full of peace, peaceful, is also a way to live, an attitude to handle all of life's struggles. Living in a state, an attitude, of peacefulness can be invaluable because we will become not be able to be overly-encumbered or overwhelmed by the world but will be in a place of contentment grounded in the Lord. If the root of our peace is the Lord, we will not be shaken for the peace that passes understanding will help us to maintain a life of satisfaction.
The reality is that God desire for us to delight in Him and to only seek our satisfaction in Him. This is what peace is all about: having our contentment and satisfaction met in Him. When we truly rely on the Lord as the source of our strength and fulfillment, then we will understand what peace is all about.
The peace that Christ gives to believers surpasses all understanding and is to guard our hearts and our minds (Phil. 4:7). Peace serves a purpose, it is not just an attitude but is a state of being that keeps and protects believers from sin. When we let the peace of Christ rest over our hearts, it acts as a protectant that prevents us from things like malice and envy, sin that can taint.
When peace is our state and how we handle the waves of this life, we will not let the fickle and mercurial nature of the world hinder our ability to live godly lives. Jesus gives a peace that is dependable. We can rest upon it. This becomes crucial when we are constantly pushed to not be peaceful. When life throws curves we should rely on the peace that God bestows to carry us through the toughest of situations with grace and dignity.
Being full of peace, peaceful, is also a way to live, an attitude to handle all of life's struggles. Living in a state, an attitude, of peacefulness can be invaluable because we will become not be able to be overly-encumbered or overwhelmed by the world but will be in a place of contentment grounded in the Lord. If the root of our peace is the Lord, we will not be shaken for the peace that passes understanding will help us to maintain a life of satisfaction.
The reality is that God desire for us to delight in Him and to only seek our satisfaction in Him. This is what peace is all about: having our contentment and satisfaction met in Him. When we truly rely on the Lord as the source of our strength and fulfillment, then we will understand what peace is all about.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Die to Live
Sin creates a chasm of unholiness between creation and its holy creator. Sin must be paid and atoned for. The wages of sin are death, meaning that in order for the cost of sin to be covered, blood must be spilled. Under the Mosaic covenant sin was covered by the sacrificial offerings of bulls and lambs.
However, these sacrifices were wholly unable to remove iniquity, and the sin of man still stood as a debt. God was not pleased with the sacrifices of bulls and goats and desired a perfect sacrifice. Fortunately, the Lord Himself determined to condescend into creation to become the perfect spotless sacrifice, Jesus (Heb. 10:4-14).
Because Jesus paid man's sin debt in full, spilt blood is no longer required for salvation. Now salvation comes through true confession that Jesus is Lord and belief that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:19). Additionally, we are saved by God's grace alone, not by works so that no one can boast of his own righteousness (Eph. 2:8-10).
Before Christ, we were required to die, literally, to pay the penalty of our sin. Under grace we still die physical deaths, this truth is not disputed; however, the physical death that we die now is a gateway into eternity, damnation or exaltation. There's more to the story though: we now die to self in order to live to Christ.
In Colossians 3, Paul exhorts believers to die to sin, die to self, and be made alive to the Spirit, alive to God. This is the Christian life in a nutshell. When we die to our flesh, we are able to live a life unencumbered with the trappings of the world because it will no longer hold any weight in our eyes. Also, we begin to see what really matters, what's actually worth living for.
Dying to self so that we can live to Christ is one of the sincere joys and constant challenges of the Christian life. It is the essential truth. To live a life of belief is to live a life of denying and dying to self in order to be made new in Jesus Christ, the Lord of all creation. This is not a passive activity, we do not die to self apathetically. On the contrary, truly dying to self in order to live to Christ, requires a very active believer. We are to be in the Word and praying regularly, meditating on His precepts constantly, and pursuing Him. This is how we live to God and die to self.
However, these sacrifices were wholly unable to remove iniquity, and the sin of man still stood as a debt. God was not pleased with the sacrifices of bulls and goats and desired a perfect sacrifice. Fortunately, the Lord Himself determined to condescend into creation to become the perfect spotless sacrifice, Jesus (Heb. 10:4-14).
Because Jesus paid man's sin debt in full, spilt blood is no longer required for salvation. Now salvation comes through true confession that Jesus is Lord and belief that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:19). Additionally, we are saved by God's grace alone, not by works so that no one can boast of his own righteousness (Eph. 2:8-10).
Before Christ, we were required to die, literally, to pay the penalty of our sin. Under grace we still die physical deaths, this truth is not disputed; however, the physical death that we die now is a gateway into eternity, damnation or exaltation. There's more to the story though: we now die to self in order to live to Christ.
In Colossians 3, Paul exhorts believers to die to sin, die to self, and be made alive to the Spirit, alive to God. This is the Christian life in a nutshell. When we die to our flesh, we are able to live a life unencumbered with the trappings of the world because it will no longer hold any weight in our eyes. Also, we begin to see what really matters, what's actually worth living for.
Dying to self so that we can live to Christ is one of the sincere joys and constant challenges of the Christian life. It is the essential truth. To live a life of belief is to live a life of denying and dying to self in order to be made new in Jesus Christ, the Lord of all creation. This is not a passive activity, we do not die to self apathetically. On the contrary, truly dying to self in order to live to Christ, requires a very active believer. We are to be in the Word and praying regularly, meditating on His precepts constantly, and pursuing Him. This is how we live to God and die to self.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Submission
Submission means relinquishing authority to another to the denial of self. Needless to say, this is so intricately woven into the tapestry of the Christian life that it warrants discussion. There are three basic authoritative forces that Christians are to submit to: God, church leadership, and the state.
The most obvious and central object of submission is and should always be God. Submitting to the Lord and to His will is the foundation of all Christian life. The Lord requires obedience and submission to His holiness in our lives: sanctification. When, as we are reading and meditating on the Word and/or praying, He speaks to us, we are to listen and submit. This is true submission.
After God, the next authority that we are to submit to is the leadership of the church: elders, deacons, wise teachers, etc. Those that God has blessed with sanctification and wisdom are spiritual elders, divinely-gifted to guide and train believers. This does not, however, mean that we should unequivocally and unabashedly accept any and all teaching that our church leaders give us. Instead, we should weigh every teaching against the Word and the Holy Spirit. Again, submitting to God should never be usurped by submitting to the church. The church submits to God, His Word and the Holy Spirit, not ever should that hierarchy be overturned.
The other authority that we are to submit to is political authority. Both Paul and Peter exhort believers to submit to civil leaders and authorities (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17). The important point here is that believers should never submit to the civil authorities of government and leadership if it goes against the Will and Word of God. Again, any authority that warrants submission is secondary to submitting to the Lord Almighty.
Submission is a challenging activity. It requires denying the self in order to acquiesce to the commands and wills of another. This stands in direct contrast to our natural inclinations of self-determination and manifest destiny. However, when we submit to God, we enter into His kingdom as heirs. Submission to the Lord should be pursued. In a real sense, we should strive for opportunities to devote ourselves in submission to the Lord. The beautiful thing here is that when we submit to Him, He promises to bless us.
The most obvious and central object of submission is and should always be God. Submitting to the Lord and to His will is the foundation of all Christian life. The Lord requires obedience and submission to His holiness in our lives: sanctification. When, as we are reading and meditating on the Word and/or praying, He speaks to us, we are to listen and submit. This is true submission.
After God, the next authority that we are to submit to is the leadership of the church: elders, deacons, wise teachers, etc. Those that God has blessed with sanctification and wisdom are spiritual elders, divinely-gifted to guide and train believers. This does not, however, mean that we should unequivocally and unabashedly accept any and all teaching that our church leaders give us. Instead, we should weigh every teaching against the Word and the Holy Spirit. Again, submitting to God should never be usurped by submitting to the church. The church submits to God, His Word and the Holy Spirit, not ever should that hierarchy be overturned.
The other authority that we are to submit to is political authority. Both Paul and Peter exhort believers to submit to civil leaders and authorities (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17). The important point here is that believers should never submit to the civil authorities of government and leadership if it goes against the Will and Word of God. Again, any authority that warrants submission is secondary to submitting to the Lord Almighty.
Submission is a challenging activity. It requires denying the self in order to acquiesce to the commands and wills of another. This stands in direct contrast to our natural inclinations of self-determination and manifest destiny. However, when we submit to God, we enter into His kingdom as heirs. Submission to the Lord should be pursued. In a real sense, we should strive for opportunities to devote ourselves in submission to the Lord. The beautiful thing here is that when we submit to Him, He promises to bless us.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Holy Intercessor
Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a helper, a comforter, and an advocate who will come and abide within us, aiding us to traverse the pitfalls and obstacles of this life as well as interceding on our behalf throughout this life (John 14). In reality, the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of God into the lives (heart, body, mind, soul) of His children.
The Holy Spirit is the perfect guide and voice of wisdom to believers that helps us to discern right paths, make right choices, and follow through when the time is right. But, much like the Holy Spirit seals guarantees believers (Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:21-22), the Holy Spirit has a number of specific tasks in the lives of Christians.
One of the tasks that the Holy Spirit performs is interceding in prayer at the behest of believers. Only rarely do we, as finite and fallible creatures, truly understand and know what we need or what is best for us, particularly when we are weak under the weight of life. It is in this that we rely on the Holy Sprit to intercede for us, praying for us that which, for whatever reason, we are incapable of (Rom. 8:26-27, 34-35).
The issue here is a matter of recognition and reliance. When we recognize our inabilities and shortcomings, it should prompt us to rely on the Lord. Under strain and in duress, when our discernment can be clouded or our vision hazy, the Holy Spirit not only keeps our paths true, but also intercedes for us. This causes believers to more fully rely on the Lord to comfort, heal, strengthen, etc.
Intercession, in this sense, could be referred to as a direct conduit that channels our specific needs to God, who fulfills. Often times we do not realize or know that this communication is happening because so rarely our we truly in tune with the depths of ourselves. But God is. He, through the Holy Spirit, is thoroughly entrenched in the mire that sloshes in our deepest parts. He communicates our most dire and desperate needs to God because He is God. Remember: One God, three distinct persons.
That God would so love and care for us that He would indwell within us is a marvelous propositional truth. When we become believers, the Paraclete, enters into us and advocates before the Father and for our growth and devotion. This is a beautiful and mysterious thing and we should rejoice that the Almighty Lord Himself would not only save us on the cross through Jesus, but would walk within us and care for us directly through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the perfect guide and voice of wisdom to believers that helps us to discern right paths, make right choices, and follow through when the time is right. But, much like the Holy Spirit seals guarantees believers (Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:21-22), the Holy Spirit has a number of specific tasks in the lives of Christians.
One of the tasks that the Holy Spirit performs is interceding in prayer at the behest of believers. Only rarely do we, as finite and fallible creatures, truly understand and know what we need or what is best for us, particularly when we are weak under the weight of life. It is in this that we rely on the Holy Sprit to intercede for us, praying for us that which, for whatever reason, we are incapable of (Rom. 8:26-27, 34-35).
The issue here is a matter of recognition and reliance. When we recognize our inabilities and shortcomings, it should prompt us to rely on the Lord. Under strain and in duress, when our discernment can be clouded or our vision hazy, the Holy Spirit not only keeps our paths true, but also intercedes for us. This causes believers to more fully rely on the Lord to comfort, heal, strengthen, etc.
Intercession, in this sense, could be referred to as a direct conduit that channels our specific needs to God, who fulfills. Often times we do not realize or know that this communication is happening because so rarely our we truly in tune with the depths of ourselves. But God is. He, through the Holy Spirit, is thoroughly entrenched in the mire that sloshes in our deepest parts. He communicates our most dire and desperate needs to God because He is God. Remember: One God, three distinct persons.
That God would so love and care for us that He would indwell within us is a marvelous propositional truth. When we become believers, the Paraclete, enters into us and advocates before the Father and for our growth and devotion. This is a beautiful and mysterious thing and we should rejoice that the Almighty Lord Himself would not only save us on the cross through Jesus, but would walk within us and care for us directly through the Holy Spirit.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Work
Work and working is a part of life. It is inescapable. Work is defined as any effort, physical, mental, or otherwise, that is exerted in order to achieve a specific purpose or end. Often we define work as a means to an end. For example, in contemporary terms, we work at jobs as a means for payment in the form of a check, etc. Although true, this view of work could be short-sighted and sparse, for work is more than merely a means to an intended end.
The biblical notion of work is broader and considers the effort and activity of work as valuable as its future result. Practically speaking, this means that the paycheck is not and should not be the sole function and purpose of work. Solomon, the author and main character of Ecclesiastes, says that man should strive to find satisfaction and joy in the toilsome labor that is life's lot (Ecc. 2:24; 5:18). In a real sense, we are called to enjoy our work; the work itself not just work's end.
Additionally, Christians are called to work hard, with diligence and zeal (Rom. 12:11; Tit. 3:14; Col. 1:9-10). There is a reason that we should work hard: because the source of our strength is not of the strength of this world. No matter how strong or stubborn a person may be, inevitably, their strength will fail and endurance will betray him/her.
However, a Christian's strength is rooted in the omnipotent God. Ergo, we work as an example of God's power. In a very real sense then Christians should work harder and longer than unbelievers, not for themselves or for their own gain but because the ethic of their work, the very cause of their vigor is the Lord. The source of strength and endurance for believers is the Lord. Thus, when we work by the strength of God, we are an earthen example of the Lord.
This should not seem radical. It is quite logical. We are a testament to Him in everything, not just His grace, mercy, and love. His power and His strength, these are also important parts of His character that we, His children, are to point to with our lives as well. Therefore, we should always strive to overcome the sloth and pride of our natural selves. These sinful traits compel us either not to work or for us to work beyond hard but for our own glory.
Instead, work itself, the manner in which it is done, should be an example of God's character. This is why we take joy in our work, because our work is a way that we give glory and praise to the Lord. What a beautiful gift that work is! God created us to praise Him. He also created us to work. The fact that He created our work to be praise points all the more to the majesty of His divine creativity. What a wonderful Lord we serve!
The biblical notion of work is broader and considers the effort and activity of work as valuable as its future result. Practically speaking, this means that the paycheck is not and should not be the sole function and purpose of work. Solomon, the author and main character of Ecclesiastes, says that man should strive to find satisfaction and joy in the toilsome labor that is life's lot (Ecc. 2:24; 5:18). In a real sense, we are called to enjoy our work; the work itself not just work's end.
Additionally, Christians are called to work hard, with diligence and zeal (Rom. 12:11; Tit. 3:14; Col. 1:9-10). There is a reason that we should work hard: because the source of our strength is not of the strength of this world. No matter how strong or stubborn a person may be, inevitably, their strength will fail and endurance will betray him/her.
However, a Christian's strength is rooted in the omnipotent God. Ergo, we work as an example of God's power. In a very real sense then Christians should work harder and longer than unbelievers, not for themselves or for their own gain but because the ethic of their work, the very cause of their vigor is the Lord. The source of strength and endurance for believers is the Lord. Thus, when we work by the strength of God, we are an earthen example of the Lord.
This should not seem radical. It is quite logical. We are a testament to Him in everything, not just His grace, mercy, and love. His power and His strength, these are also important parts of His character that we, His children, are to point to with our lives as well. Therefore, we should always strive to overcome the sloth and pride of our natural selves. These sinful traits compel us either not to work or for us to work beyond hard but for our own glory.
Instead, work itself, the manner in which it is done, should be an example of God's character. This is why we take joy in our work, because our work is a way that we give glory and praise to the Lord. What a beautiful gift that work is! God created us to praise Him. He also created us to work. The fact that He created our work to be praise points all the more to the majesty of His divine creativity. What a wonderful Lord we serve!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Taming the Tongue
The tongue is a tool, a small one at that. But, like any tool, it can be used for good or bad. Taming our tongues is one of those distinct challenges to Christian growth and sanctification. James, in his epistle, spends a good deal of time discussing the immense importance that taming the tongue has for believers, especially teachers (James 3). James describes the tongue in three basic ways: a bridle, a rudder, and a fire.
The tongue as a bridle. Horses are mighty creatures, capable of remarkable feats of strength and of great endurance. However, horses, in all their majestic strength, are controlled quite simply by placing the horse's head into a bridle and a bit in its mouth. Thus a horse can be reined by its master. Interesting that James would use a bridle as an indication of taming the tongue because, if we are the horses that are bridled, logically, we cannot simultaneously be the rider of the horse. The master is God, the bridle is His Word. Bible study and the Holy Spirit are to be the bridle that guides our tongues, taming them to be godly and true.
The tongue as a rudder. When James describes the tongue as the rudder of a ship, he is rightly giving the tongue its due importance. Although a ship can be massive and its rudder relatively small, the rudder guides the ship, turning it to and fro. In this way, the tongue is not the entirety of the ship but it can serve immensely important purposes.
Think of a ship just off harbor whose rudder chain is detached. It will not be able to complete its mission. Moreover, the rudder mechanism must be repaired and, if not done with urgency, the ship raises the risk of running ashore or adrift because it is unable to steer itself. Similarly, the tongue has usefulness but if not connected properly to the Word and the Holy Spirit, can more often lead to disaster. In this is it is so important to keep watch over the tongue because it is the wheel that steers the ship of our lives. God is the one to turns the wheel and steers the ship but if our rudder is damaged or faulty, He cannot very well guide us to our intended courses without serious rudder repair.
The tongue as a fire. Fire has definite uses. However, fire has a tendency towards consumption and destruction. James is quite clear that fire lends itself more towards destruction than building, although this is not fire's intended purpose. Fire is intended to bring warmth and light to places of cold and darkness. Similarly, our tongues are meant to bring warmth, healing, and light to a cold and dark world. We can use our tongues to illuminate and refresh those around us or we can use our tongues to burn and destroy people and relationships. Our tongues were given to us by the Lord for the former though the latter is our fleshly bent.
Acknowledging the enormous responsibility and power that our tongues yield is overwhelming. It is a significant challenge to tame the tongue but one commanded by the Scriptures. The hope is to form good habits that avoid slander, flippancy, insincerity, and rudeness while striving for grace, kindness, and gentleness. Jesus is our example. He was kind and gentle even unto death. Although He often called the unrepentant to the task, He maintained a sense of grace and gentleness throughout. This should be our intention in taming our tongues: to be honest and honestly gracious.
The tongue as a bridle. Horses are mighty creatures, capable of remarkable feats of strength and of great endurance. However, horses, in all their majestic strength, are controlled quite simply by placing the horse's head into a bridle and a bit in its mouth. Thus a horse can be reined by its master. Interesting that James would use a bridle as an indication of taming the tongue because, if we are the horses that are bridled, logically, we cannot simultaneously be the rider of the horse. The master is God, the bridle is His Word. Bible study and the Holy Spirit are to be the bridle that guides our tongues, taming them to be godly and true.
The tongue as a rudder. When James describes the tongue as the rudder of a ship, he is rightly giving the tongue its due importance. Although a ship can be massive and its rudder relatively small, the rudder guides the ship, turning it to and fro. In this way, the tongue is not the entirety of the ship but it can serve immensely important purposes.
Think of a ship just off harbor whose rudder chain is detached. It will not be able to complete its mission. Moreover, the rudder mechanism must be repaired and, if not done with urgency, the ship raises the risk of running ashore or adrift because it is unable to steer itself. Similarly, the tongue has usefulness but if not connected properly to the Word and the Holy Spirit, can more often lead to disaster. In this is it is so important to keep watch over the tongue because it is the wheel that steers the ship of our lives. God is the one to turns the wheel and steers the ship but if our rudder is damaged or faulty, He cannot very well guide us to our intended courses without serious rudder repair.
The tongue as a fire. Fire has definite uses. However, fire has a tendency towards consumption and destruction. James is quite clear that fire lends itself more towards destruction than building, although this is not fire's intended purpose. Fire is intended to bring warmth and light to places of cold and darkness. Similarly, our tongues are meant to bring warmth, healing, and light to a cold and dark world. We can use our tongues to illuminate and refresh those around us or we can use our tongues to burn and destroy people and relationships. Our tongues were given to us by the Lord for the former though the latter is our fleshly bent.
Acknowledging the enormous responsibility and power that our tongues yield is overwhelming. It is a significant challenge to tame the tongue but one commanded by the Scriptures. The hope is to form good habits that avoid slander, flippancy, insincerity, and rudeness while striving for grace, kindness, and gentleness. Jesus is our example. He was kind and gentle even unto death. Although He often called the unrepentant to the task, He maintained a sense of grace and gentleness throughout. This should be our intention in taming our tongues: to be honest and honestly gracious.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
More than Milk
When children are infants, they do not yet have the ability to take in solid food and so must be fed through liquids, particularly milk. Not until they have teeth and stomachs to handle the complexities of more substantial food are they able to eat anything more than that. This is true in spiritual matters as well.
Prior to belief, at conversion and shortly after, we are infants, unable to intake or digest the full weight and substance of the Christian life. We need milk. Milk is made-up of the basic, elementary tenets of faith: repentance from dead works towards faith in God, belief in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and the reality of eternal judgment and grace, et al (Heb. 6:1-3). However, when we are ready, we are supposed to move beyond these basics towards more substantial matters of faith.
The more substantial food is the Word. The Bible, the Word of God, is not an easy read nor is it possible to understand its richness apart from faith. Although it is an amazing literary work, the wealth within its pages is not accessible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the very Word of God. Many major biblical scholars have made huge inroads of scholarship that can shed light into the Bible but, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of faithful readers, the Bible is nothing more than another anthology, no different from any other book ever written.
The substance of Christianity is found in Christ. Christianity is just another worldly religion if it is severed from its head which is Jesus. The revelation of Jesus is found in the Bible, the whole Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible speaks about Christ. Therefore, any Christian that desires maturity must be in the Bible. The substance that propels Christians towards maturity is found in the Bible, is applied by the Holy Spirit, and is accountably practiced in a body of believers.
Without the Word, the Holy Spirit working, and regular communion of believers, maturity will not happen. In this case, one of two things will occur: (1) the believer will spend the whole of their Christian existence stuck on the milk and never maturing; or (2) the believer will look outside of Christianity for spiritual food because the “real” spiritual food simply lies outside of their human grasp. This points to the necessity for devout, mature spiritual mentors to walk alongside believers to help guide them to maturity.
Lastly, Christian maturity has nothing, not one thing, to do with age. There are many young believers that, by the grace and power of God, are more mature than the older generations. Age is void as a determinant of spiritual maturity. Rather, spiritual maturity is assessed spiritually. If a person exhibits the signs of wisdom, patience, joy, hope, and a passion for God and His Word, they are mature. We should all strive and aim to spiritual maturity for it is a good goal and, in the least, it will bring us closer to God.
Prior to belief, at conversion and shortly after, we are infants, unable to intake or digest the full weight and substance of the Christian life. We need milk. Milk is made-up of the basic, elementary tenets of faith: repentance from dead works towards faith in God, belief in Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and the reality of eternal judgment and grace, et al (Heb. 6:1-3). However, when we are ready, we are supposed to move beyond these basics towards more substantial matters of faith.
The more substantial food is the Word. The Bible, the Word of God, is not an easy read nor is it possible to understand its richness apart from faith. Although it is an amazing literary work, the wealth within its pages is not accessible apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the very Word of God. Many major biblical scholars have made huge inroads of scholarship that can shed light into the Bible but, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit working in the hearts of faithful readers, the Bible is nothing more than another anthology, no different from any other book ever written.
The substance of Christianity is found in Christ. Christianity is just another worldly religion if it is severed from its head which is Jesus. The revelation of Jesus is found in the Bible, the whole Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible speaks about Christ. Therefore, any Christian that desires maturity must be in the Bible. The substance that propels Christians towards maturity is found in the Bible, is applied by the Holy Spirit, and is accountably practiced in a body of believers.
Without the Word, the Holy Spirit working, and regular communion of believers, maturity will not happen. In this case, one of two things will occur: (1) the believer will spend the whole of their Christian existence stuck on the milk and never maturing; or (2) the believer will look outside of Christianity for spiritual food because the “real” spiritual food simply lies outside of their human grasp. This points to the necessity for devout, mature spiritual mentors to walk alongside believers to help guide them to maturity.
Lastly, Christian maturity has nothing, not one thing, to do with age. There are many young believers that, by the grace and power of God, are more mature than the older generations. Age is void as a determinant of spiritual maturity. Rather, spiritual maturity is assessed spiritually. If a person exhibits the signs of wisdom, patience, joy, hope, and a passion for God and His Word, they are mature. We should all strive and aim to spiritual maturity for it is a good goal and, in the least, it will bring us closer to God.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thanks for Thankfulness
Thankfulness. Being full of thanks. It is foundational and lovely. Thankfulness is not merely gratitude, in fact, it involves so much more. True thankfulness is more a matter of praise and reverence than it is about appreciation. Perhaps an all-too-brief synopsis of what we should be thankful for is in order.
The Lord God, Yahweh Elohim, created the heavens and the earth by the power of His Word. He is perfect, just, and holy. Therefore, He is unable to be in the presence of sin. Mankind, on the other hand, is fallible, fickle, and sinful. And so there was a sin-debt that separated man and God that needed to be paid to restore right relationship. There was a grave and great chasm that separated man and God and disallowed any lasting relationship between humanity and God. Yet God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the sin-debt for all mankind. Therefore, man was able to enter into a right relationship with the Lord because of God's grace given through the work of Christ.
The heart of thankfulness. Additionally, being full of thanks is not just an attitude or a divine character trait, rather, it is a command. We are to be thankful (Col. 2:6-7). We are to be overflowing with thankfulness (Eph. 5:20; 1 Thes. 5:18). Also, thankfulness is to be the manner of conduct for our entering into the divine gates (Psa. 100:4).
Moreover, our thankfulness is in reaction to the goodness of God (Heb. 12:28). The two, God's goodness and our thankfulness, are proportionally related. As God, in His very essence is only good, then we should, in the very depths of our beings, be filled with thankfulness. It is not a matter of working towards thankfulness. Instead, when we are focused on the Lord, we will be thankful.
Lastly, thankfulness should never be the aim of Christian life. God is our aim. Thankfulness is our natural reaction to God. We should strive to be focused on the Lord, who He is, what He has done, and what He continues to do then our thankfulness will be pure, holy, and natural. Thankfulness is to be synonymous with praise. It should not ever be severed from its source which is Christ. So, when we are thankful, we should be thankful to Him. Thanks be to God for He is great and worthy of all praise and thankfulness!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Right Thinking
One of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life is controlling our thoughts. Out of our thoughts come our actions. Out of thinking comes sin. In fact, even wrong thinking is sin (Matt. 5). It is not enough to know the truth, we must cultivate a mind that thinks the truth, that thinks right. Right thinking is not only a matter of content but also of methodology. When we are thinking about right things, we should make sure we are thinking about them rightly.
In regards to content, right thinking must involve the Lord. If we are not thinking about the Lord and His will, then He is not filling the most intimate parts of ourselves. No one can know a man but the spirit of that man (2 Cor. 2:11). We must "let" the Lord into our thoughts. Moreover, the thoughts of man are to be the lamp of the Lord, the place of residence of the Lord Most High (Pro. 20:27). Because of this we need to be on guard as to what we let into our minds as what dwells in our minds becomes us. If we dwell on lust, lust becomes us as it does with anger, worry, malice, conceit, pride, etc. What we allow our thoughts to linger upon is of great importance and has significant ramifications, good or bad, depending on the content thereof.
The content that we fill our minds with can be quite revealing to the state of our sanctification. If our thoughts are constantly on wickedness, pride, lust, ungodliness, etc. then we are not letting the Holy Spirit in. More profoundly, if our thoughts are wicked, our whole selves are too (Pro. 15:26). In contrast, if we truly are being sanctified, we will be thinking about godly things, our thoughts will be spent on the Word, and we will be equipped to discern the good and perfect will of God (Pro. 16:20). If this is insufficient to compel us to use our intelectual faculties to think about godly things, the apostle Paul exhorts believers to only think about that which matters (Phil. 4:8).
Additionally, the methodology of our thinking should also be under examination. The Word should be the focal and aim of our whole beings, including our minds. Our thinking should be determined and molded by the Scripture, never the other way around. The Bible determines what we think, what we think should never determine what the Bible says. This means that we encounter the Word with a discipline to be malleable to it. This is extremely challenging because we can be very emotionally attached to what we think about Scripture, to dogma. This is dangerous.
Dogma has a way of letting us see only what fits that dogma and justifying that which disagrees with it. Instead, we should be humble enough to come to the Word with a childlike sense of wonder, acknowledging that the Word has its own rules. This means that we will be willing to change with the Word and not be so stiff as to not allow the Word to do its sanctifying work.
Right thinking is part and parcel to righteousness. As righteousness is only found in Jesus, then right thinking must be Christ-centered and Christ-like. Again, we are image-bearers of Jesus and are being transformed into the Word. It is not enough to merely read the Scriptures, we are to become the Scriptures. This takes discipline of the mind as to replace the fleshly-thinking of world with the right-thinking of the Lord. In order to be like Christ we need to think like Christ. This does not and cannot happen apart from Bible study and the work of the Holy Spirit. But it is not to be an arduous or undesirable change in thinking. In fact, having our thoughts change to the thoughts of the Lord is extremely beautiful and such a blessing.
In regards to content, right thinking must involve the Lord. If we are not thinking about the Lord and His will, then He is not filling the most intimate parts of ourselves. No one can know a man but the spirit of that man (2 Cor. 2:11). We must "let" the Lord into our thoughts. Moreover, the thoughts of man are to be the lamp of the Lord, the place of residence of the Lord Most High (Pro. 20:27). Because of this we need to be on guard as to what we let into our minds as what dwells in our minds becomes us. If we dwell on lust, lust becomes us as it does with anger, worry, malice, conceit, pride, etc. What we allow our thoughts to linger upon is of great importance and has significant ramifications, good or bad, depending on the content thereof.
The content that we fill our minds with can be quite revealing to the state of our sanctification. If our thoughts are constantly on wickedness, pride, lust, ungodliness, etc. then we are not letting the Holy Spirit in. More profoundly, if our thoughts are wicked, our whole selves are too (Pro. 15:26). In contrast, if we truly are being sanctified, we will be thinking about godly things, our thoughts will be spent on the Word, and we will be equipped to discern the good and perfect will of God (Pro. 16:20). If this is insufficient to compel us to use our intelectual faculties to think about godly things, the apostle Paul exhorts believers to only think about that which matters (Phil. 4:8).
Additionally, the methodology of our thinking should also be under examination. The Word should be the focal and aim of our whole beings, including our minds. Our thinking should be determined and molded by the Scripture, never the other way around. The Bible determines what we think, what we think should never determine what the Bible says. This means that we encounter the Word with a discipline to be malleable to it. This is extremely challenging because we can be very emotionally attached to what we think about Scripture, to dogma. This is dangerous.
Dogma has a way of letting us see only what fits that dogma and justifying that which disagrees with it. Instead, we should be humble enough to come to the Word with a childlike sense of wonder, acknowledging that the Word has its own rules. This means that we will be willing to change with the Word and not be so stiff as to not allow the Word to do its sanctifying work.
Right thinking is part and parcel to righteousness. As righteousness is only found in Jesus, then right thinking must be Christ-centered and Christ-like. Again, we are image-bearers of Jesus and are being transformed into the Word. It is not enough to merely read the Scriptures, we are to become the Scriptures. This takes discipline of the mind as to replace the fleshly-thinking of world with the right-thinking of the Lord. In order to be like Christ we need to think like Christ. This does not and cannot happen apart from Bible study and the work of the Holy Spirit. But it is not to be an arduous or undesirable change in thinking. In fact, having our thoughts change to the thoughts of the Lord is extremely beautiful and such a blessing.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Great Sustainer
God created and sustains all of the universe through His Word, which is Jesus (Psa 33:6; John 1:1-3; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:2). Nothing that has been made has been made without Him. This is hard teaching but it is one of the most fundamental truths in all of Scripture, continually reaffirmed and asserted; God is the great creator, and He sustains His creation by and through His Son, Jesus.
God is our Great Sustainer. He sustains creation. Logically, this means that all of creation is kept and held by Him from moment to moment. This is not just in terms of sheer matter, but also, and more importantly, He sustains us spiritually.
In Calvinism, spiritual sustaining is oft referred to as the perseverance of the saints. Simply put, God keeps and sustains those who are His. God protects and prompts the spiritual status and growth of believers. He accomplishes this purpose by propelling the spiritual growth of His children by His Word and the Holy Spirit, but He also acts in propelling the obedience of His children.
Salvation is certain in Christ. That being said, salvation is not and cannot be guaranteed apart from believers adhering to His will. "Once saved, always saved," is a common and pervasive heresy that should be quickly and decisively thrown out for the blasphemy it is. On the contrary, the biblical account of salvation is quite clear that salvation can be lost due to disobedience to Christ (Matt. 7:21; John 15; Rom. 8; Col. 1:21-23; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 10:26-29; Jam. 5:19-20).
The last two verses, Heb. 10:26-29 and Jam. 5:19-20, speak to this provocative truth directly. If we do not follow-up our belief with a life that conforms to the mind of Christ and the will of the Holy Spirit and the Holiness of God, then we will not be saved. There are conditions to the New Covenant which is in Christ (Jer. 33:31; Heb. 10). Luckily, we have the Holy Spirit, an advocate and helper that sustains us so that we can meet those conditions. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit is not working in our hearts, minds, and lives, we will not be sustained.
This is challenging doctrine. Our salvation is sustained and secure only in Him but it is made faulty and tenuous only in us. The conditional requirements of the Covenant of Christ are, in their minimum: confession, belief, repentance, and sanctification. In each of these steps, the Lord is the center and sustainer. The Lord, by the Holy Spirit, reveals sin which causes confession. He is the object of belief. He is the holy Lord who we repent towards as we repent away from ourselves. And He is the powerful working sanctifier who works in the lives of believers, continually causing growth in holy consecration.
Therefore, God truly sustains His children. We, as His children, simply need to believe in who He is and act out that faith by obedience and discipline to Him. He is our Great Sustainer and should be understood and praised for it. We, as His agents, serve purposes in sustaining by our obedience to His Word and in adhering to its requirements. By this, we are truly sustained in every circumstance, we are kept through every hardship, and we are continually being remade in His likeness. This is the ultimate goal of sustaining: that we may be kept in Him, at all times, and in all things. Praise be to God! For He sustains His children!
God is our Great Sustainer. He sustains creation. Logically, this means that all of creation is kept and held by Him from moment to moment. This is not just in terms of sheer matter, but also, and more importantly, He sustains us spiritually.
In Calvinism, spiritual sustaining is oft referred to as the perseverance of the saints. Simply put, God keeps and sustains those who are His. God protects and prompts the spiritual status and growth of believers. He accomplishes this purpose by propelling the spiritual growth of His children by His Word and the Holy Spirit, but He also acts in propelling the obedience of His children.
Salvation is certain in Christ. That being said, salvation is not and cannot be guaranteed apart from believers adhering to His will. "Once saved, always saved," is a common and pervasive heresy that should be quickly and decisively thrown out for the blasphemy it is. On the contrary, the biblical account of salvation is quite clear that salvation can be lost due to disobedience to Christ (Matt. 7:21; John 15; Rom. 8; Col. 1:21-23; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 10:26-29; Jam. 5:19-20).
The last two verses, Heb. 10:26-29 and Jam. 5:19-20, speak to this provocative truth directly. If we do not follow-up our belief with a life that conforms to the mind of Christ and the will of the Holy Spirit and the Holiness of God, then we will not be saved. There are conditions to the New Covenant which is in Christ (Jer. 33:31; Heb. 10). Luckily, we have the Holy Spirit, an advocate and helper that sustains us so that we can meet those conditions. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit is not working in our hearts, minds, and lives, we will not be sustained.
This is challenging doctrine. Our salvation is sustained and secure only in Him but it is made faulty and tenuous only in us. The conditional requirements of the Covenant of Christ are, in their minimum: confession, belief, repentance, and sanctification. In each of these steps, the Lord is the center and sustainer. The Lord, by the Holy Spirit, reveals sin which causes confession. He is the object of belief. He is the holy Lord who we repent towards as we repent away from ourselves. And He is the powerful working sanctifier who works in the lives of believers, continually causing growth in holy consecration.
Therefore, God truly sustains His children. We, as His children, simply need to believe in who He is and act out that faith by obedience and discipline to Him. He is our Great Sustainer and should be understood and praised for it. We, as His agents, serve purposes in sustaining by our obedience to His Word and in adhering to its requirements. By this, we are truly sustained in every circumstance, we are kept through every hardship, and we are continually being remade in His likeness. This is the ultimate goal of sustaining: that we may be kept in Him, at all times, and in all things. Praise be to God! For He sustains His children!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Useful Memory
Memory is an essential part of life because much of wisdom is learning from the past. Peter’s second letter is a treatise on remembering. Memory can be a powerful ally in keeping us focused, or it can be a fearsome, overpowering foe that weighs us down with regret and shame. Which role our memories play on the stage of our lives is dependent on both the memories we focus on as well as our attitudes towards our memories.
Every believer is to be born-again (John 3). If we do not fully understand this basic truth then we will not receive the full riches of Christ. To be born-again is not just a spiritual change; it is a whole transformation, body, mind, and soul. It is not a latent, reactive change but is proactive and dynamic.
The transformation referred to as “born-again” is describing a return to the intended relationship for man and God. When we are born again, we are consciously marking a turning point in our lives, as in, from here on out everything is different. Although we begin our new lives at conversion, we are still informed and entrenched by our previous lives. Enter memory.
The lives we once lived before our conversions remain with us. We carry the memories of our previous life with us wherever we go. It is how we think about that life that determines whether we treat our memories as baggage or as grace. If remembering our previous selves only arouses feelings of remorse or shame, then we are not set free from sin as we should be. Christ’s work destroyed sin’s grip on our lives, even our memories.
Instead of feeling guilt when we remember who we were before being born-again, we should view who we previously were as a testament to God’s grace. When we think of how truly wretched and abased we were before we gave ourselves to the Lord, it should only spurn us to greater devotion. Acknowledging the reality that only in and through Christ do we have any worth is the purpose of remembering. Our memories should never haunt us but should act as a catalyst to greater and deeper dependence on Jesus.
Additionally, memories of our previous lives serve significant purposes in evangelism. The fact that every believer came from a place of unbelief to a redeemed state of belief means that our previous lives are assets and bridges that allow us to speak honestly about Christ to unbelievers. We can meet unbelievers where they are because we were once there too. Therefore, we should be so thankful, and recognize not only that God has saved us through the work of Jesus, but what He saved us from. In conclusion, praise be to Yahweh for He has saved us from much and brought us to so much more!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Relationship Restoration
Restoration is a return to a previous pristine state. We speak of restoration referring to the end result of cleaning and shining so that what has become dirty and in disrepair is brought back to its original luster and usefulness. Jesus is the Great Restorer who restores broken and rusted humans to a previous state of glimmer and intent.
As a concept, restoration makes sense, but it is the reality of its application that can be challenging. To say that God is our restorer means that He is the One who cleans, fixes, and restores us to a previous state of shimmer and worth. Implied in this is the fact that we are not in this state currently and we are in need of restoration. The first step to this is understanding what we are being restored to.
Creation was perfect. At creation, God deemed that everything was good. It was at the Fall (Gen. 3) when creation fell into less-than-perfect status. Before the Fall, mankind was in perfect relationship and communion with God, we were naked, free, and unashamed. The tragedy of the Fall has nothing to do with the benefits and blessings of Eden that were lost. No. The heartbreak of the Fall was that mankind, because of unfaithfulness and disobedience, was no longer able to have perfect relationship and communion with the Lord Almighty. This is what is restored.
Jesus is our restorer. It is through the torn veil of Jesus' flesh that our relationship is restored to its original state. For those who have tasted Christ, this is what continually draws us to Him. When Jesus bore the burden of our sin and guilt upon the cross, He restored our broken relationship with the Lord to its intended origins. By delivering us and saving us from our sin, He tore down the wall that separated man from God. Because of this, we can have the intended relationship of communion with the Lord.
When we are restored to a right relationship with the Lord because of the work of Jesus it is imperative that we maintain our restored state. This means sustaining our focus on the One who, by His Passion, restores. Our first state of disrepair and tarnish was as a result of Adam's sin. But Adam's sin was overcome by Christ's work on the cross, which is applied to humans by confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9). However, once we become believers, it is our responsibility to prevent any corrosive element to enter in and rust our restored right relationship.
Because of our natural compulsion to entropy and towards corrosion, a constant and consistent awareness of the state-of-affairs in our relationship to God through Christ is essential and necessary. As Jesus is our restorer, if we ever find that we are not focused on Him and we fall into neglect, we can easily backslide into rust, disuse, and ruin. It is only when we remain focused on Jesus, our Great Restorer, that we will be able to maintain the right relationship that was intended at creation.
As a concept, restoration makes sense, but it is the reality of its application that can be challenging. To say that God is our restorer means that He is the One who cleans, fixes, and restores us to a previous state of shimmer and worth. Implied in this is the fact that we are not in this state currently and we are in need of restoration. The first step to this is understanding what we are being restored to.
Creation was perfect. At creation, God deemed that everything was good. It was at the Fall (Gen. 3) when creation fell into less-than-perfect status. Before the Fall, mankind was in perfect relationship and communion with God, we were naked, free, and unashamed. The tragedy of the Fall has nothing to do with the benefits and blessings of Eden that were lost. No. The heartbreak of the Fall was that mankind, because of unfaithfulness and disobedience, was no longer able to have perfect relationship and communion with the Lord Almighty. This is what is restored.
Jesus is our restorer. It is through the torn veil of Jesus' flesh that our relationship is restored to its original state. For those who have tasted Christ, this is what continually draws us to Him. When Jesus bore the burden of our sin and guilt upon the cross, He restored our broken relationship with the Lord to its intended origins. By delivering us and saving us from our sin, He tore down the wall that separated man from God. Because of this, we can have the intended relationship of communion with the Lord.
When we are restored to a right relationship with the Lord because of the work of Jesus it is imperative that we maintain our restored state. This means sustaining our focus on the One who, by His Passion, restores. Our first state of disrepair and tarnish was as a result of Adam's sin. But Adam's sin was overcome by Christ's work on the cross, which is applied to humans by confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9). However, once we become believers, it is our responsibility to prevent any corrosive element to enter in and rust our restored right relationship.
Because of our natural compulsion to entropy and towards corrosion, a constant and consistent awareness of the state-of-affairs in our relationship to God through Christ is essential and necessary. As Jesus is our restorer, if we ever find that we are not focused on Him and we fall into neglect, we can easily backslide into rust, disuse, and ruin. It is only when we remain focused on Jesus, our Great Restorer, that we will be able to maintain the right relationship that was intended at creation.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Dragnet Darkness
Jesus is the light of the world who came into the world for the purpose of dispelling darkness and its grip on humanity (John 8:12; 12:46). Darkness is usually understand as a catch-all for that which is anti-god. For the biblical world, darkness also referred to ignorance and lack of knowledge. Jesus came to fulfill that knowledge, the knowledge man has always most lacked, knowledge of God. Before Jesus, who is the Word, believers only heard the voice of God from His prophets and their writings (Heb. 1:1-2). But when Jesus came into the world, man was no longer relegated to the darkness, but was able to enter into the light. The problem is that darkness has a gripping way of keeping people from the light.
When we are in God, we are in the light, meaning that we are authentically and truthfully known. This can be a terrifying position before a holy and just God. If we were to stand naked in front of the Lord apart from Jesus covering our transgressions, we would be totally undone and the wretchedness of our selves would be overwhelming. Because of this, the darkness has a pervasive pull. Since the darkness holds a place for people to "hide" their sin from God, people naturally choose the darkness (John 3:19).
This is appalling and tragic. First of all, there is no place that man can hide from God (Psa. 139:11-12; Job 34:22; Dan 2:22). All of creation and all of reality belongs to Him and thus there is no place to hide from Him. Hence when we attempt to conceal ourselves from God by hiding in the darkness, we are intentionally adding to the sins that we are covering by trying to cover them.
Also, to think that darkness does not belong to God for His purposes is unbiblical. Not only does God rule over darkness (Isa. 45:7), but He uses darkness to accomplish His will. In the first place, darkness is used to conceal His nature from the natural man (1 Kgs. 8:11-12; Psa. 18:11). This is because the natural, unspiritual man has no need or desire for God and ergo is not fit for His presence (Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2:14). Additionally, Jesus explains the depths of eternal judgment in terms of the darkness (Matt. 8:112; 22:13). Under either of these divine uses of darkness, it should be avoided at all cost.
God's Word and thus Christ is the only sure deterrent and lightener of darkness. Jesus is the light, and His Word is the lamp that guides the paths of righteousness (Psa. 119:105; John 8:12). Therefore, in order to know that our paths are sufficiently lit so that we will be sure to follow only the Lord's course, we need to dedicate our lives to consistent devotion to Jesus and to His Word. When we do this, the snares and traps that trip humanity in the darkness will be exposed by the shining light of Christ.
When we are in God, we are in the light, meaning that we are authentically and truthfully known. This can be a terrifying position before a holy and just God. If we were to stand naked in front of the Lord apart from Jesus covering our transgressions, we would be totally undone and the wretchedness of our selves would be overwhelming. Because of this, the darkness has a pervasive pull. Since the darkness holds a place for people to "hide" their sin from God, people naturally choose the darkness (John 3:19).
This is appalling and tragic. First of all, there is no place that man can hide from God (Psa. 139:11-12; Job 34:22; Dan 2:22). All of creation and all of reality belongs to Him and thus there is no place to hide from Him. Hence when we attempt to conceal ourselves from God by hiding in the darkness, we are intentionally adding to the sins that we are covering by trying to cover them.
Also, to think that darkness does not belong to God for His purposes is unbiblical. Not only does God rule over darkness (Isa. 45:7), but He uses darkness to accomplish His will. In the first place, darkness is used to conceal His nature from the natural man (1 Kgs. 8:11-12; Psa. 18:11). This is because the natural, unspiritual man has no need or desire for God and ergo is not fit for His presence (Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2:14). Additionally, Jesus explains the depths of eternal judgment in terms of the darkness (Matt. 8:112; 22:13). Under either of these divine uses of darkness, it should be avoided at all cost.
God's Word and thus Christ is the only sure deterrent and lightener of darkness. Jesus is the light, and His Word is the lamp that guides the paths of righteousness (Psa. 119:105; John 8:12). Therefore, in order to know that our paths are sufficiently lit so that we will be sure to follow only the Lord's course, we need to dedicate our lives to consistent devotion to Jesus and to His Word. When we do this, the snares and traps that trip humanity in the darkness will be exposed by the shining light of Christ.
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