Before Almighty God

I'm working on an adult Bible class on attitudes. One of our lessons has to do with God. A question I pose in the lesson is "How should my knowledge of God affect my attitude toward myself?" In a time of quiet reflection, I composed my answer below:

Who am I, Lord? Who am I that you should notice me? Who am I that you should bestow upon me grace and favor? Who am I that you should listen to my voice or care if I serve you?

I am nothing, less than nothing. I am an unprofitable servant, incapable of doing more than my duty to an eternal and holy Creator.

I am proud and arrogant. In my foolish imagination, I believe myself wise. I think I have discovered much, but I know precious little. I have considered myself at the center of the universe. I am arrogant, insolent, and foolish.

I am a sinner. In ten thousand ways I have defied my God. By every willful act, selfish intent, or unholy thought I have rebelled against Him. I have lied, stolen, cursed, and hated. I have murdered and committed innumerable other sins in thought, if not in deed. I have doubted and ignored the sovereign Master of the universe.

Standing before the Almighty Creator, the Just and Righteous Judge, the Sovereign Master of the Universe, I have nothing to say in my defense. There is no defense. “Woe is me, for I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” I stand in shame and in fear, without strength, without defiance, with only a broken spirit, owning my guilt.

But, in Christ I am blessed. In Christ I have received the gift of repentance. Repentance without forgiveness is empty and without hope. In Jesus Christ I have received grace, pardon and mercy. I am confident, wise, strong, and hopeful – not of myself, but of Jesus Christ who gives me wisdom, strength, confidence and hope.

All that I have, I have received from my God. I have been bountifully blest, far more than I need and certainly more than I deserve. I have achieved nothing on my own. He deserves my very best, although He needs nothing from me. Any service I render, any souls I save, any good deeds I do are not for my glory, but for His. He works through me, a weak and often unreliable servant.

I am broken, humble, and submissive. I have given myself to my Lord because He cares for me and loves me. There is no room for boasting or pride. There is simply humble gratitude and submission.

-PG

Of No Effect

In 1 Corinthians 1:17 the apostle Paul says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. " That last phrase captures my attention -- "lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect". What did Paul mean by that statement?

Throughout the book it is evident that the Corinthians were enamored of human wisdom. In chapter 1 they are quoted as saying, "I am of Paul, and I am of Apollos, and I am of Cephas" (1 Corinthians 1:12), as though the different apostles and preachers of the gospel were different camps of philosophical thought. In vs 20, Paul chides them, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" He continues his theme in chapter 2. In 2:1 he says, "And I, brothers, when I came to you, did not come with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. " In 2:4 he says, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. "

I think that statement in 2:4-5 clarifies Paul's comment in 1:17. If Paul had come to the Corinthians with "words of [human] wisdom" their faith might "stand in the wisdom of men" rather than in the "power of God". Paul had "determined not to know anything among [them] except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (2:2). Why? Lest their faith should stand on anything other than the bedrock of the person of Jesus Christ.

What is the draw?

Considering Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians, we ought to ask ourselves, when converting others, what are we using to draw converts? What are we teaching them to build their faith on? What is my faith built on?

Are we drawing people, as so many churches do, with free coffee and donuts or lunch following services? Do we advertise active sports leagues and gymnasium facilities? Are we offering day-care, aerobics, or even Salsa dance classes? Is this the way Paul drew souls to Christ? I, for one, see no authority for such practices in scripture.

Or, are we hoping people will be attracted to a lively, up-beat worship service? Are we hoping people will be impressed by the skill, dynamic delivery and erudition of our preacher? Are we drawing people with our modern facilities, variety of Bible classes, or friendly atmosphere? Do we attract them with a vibrant youth, singles, or young couples ministry? I do think there is authority for these things. I certainly appreciate joyful, up-beat worship, a skillful preacher, modern facilities, friendly brethren, and active work among the young. But is that the primary focus? Is that the basis upon which to draw people to the church?

What about us? How do we choose where we will work and worship? Are we drawn to a compelling, entertaining preacher with a dynamic personality? Are we drawn to a fun-filled social circle? Is it all about what services the church can offer to us? Do we seek out a church that offers much, and requires little?

The Corinthian church had a problem with human wisdom -- they prized it more highly than was appropriate. Our society can suffer from that failing as well, but we usually have a different problem. We often suffer from the "cult of consumerism". We ask what can the church do for me? Is the preacher entertaining to me? Does he make me feel good about myself? Does the church entertain my teenagers? Is it cool? Or, am I going to be put on a guilt-trip? We look around and seem to have so many choices. Why not pick the church we like best? "Are ye not carnal and thinking as mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3)

Paul determined not to know anything among them but "Jesus Christ, and Him crucified", lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. The draw must be the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, preaching the gospel will make people uncomfortable. Many will be driven away by the scriptural demands of discipleship. Condemnation of sin and the worldly standards of our society will be considered old-fashioned and uncool by many. But, I submit to you there is only one thing matters in selecting a church -- do they preach and practice from the heart the true gospel of Jesus Christ? All too often that question is lost in the superficial appeals of modern, consumer-driven churches.

-PG

You Never Know

I have a scripture quoted in my e-mail signature at work: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding", Proverbs 3:5. I put it there some 13 years ago. It has been so long, and I am so accustomed to seeing it that I hardly think about it any more.

Last week I received this instant message from a co-worker:

Just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you including Proverbs 3:5 in all your e-mails. I really needed that today... more than you will ever know.

Naturally, that made my day. It also made me think. When I am tempted to ask myself (usually after having done or said something really stupid), "What do people think of me?", I comfort myself with the thought, "probably they don't". That is, most people probably don't spare many thoughts on me since they have their own lives and troubles to deal with. I think that is usually true, but not always.

Sometimes you can influence people in ways you don't even realize. The quote from my e-mail signature is a prime example. I put it there specifically to reminding others of a spiritual perspective in a highly secular professional world. Even though I had nearly forgotten it, others still saw it. You never know who is watching. You never know who might be influenced by your words and actions.

Lest this sound like I'm patting myself on the back, I will touch on the other side of this as well. On another occasion I was reminded of that verse when someone felt my tone in an e-mail was at odds with that profession of faith. I'm ashamed to say that he was probably right. If we proclaim our faith publicly, we had better back it up with how we live. We must beware, lest "The name of God is blasphemed among the nations because of you" (Romans 2:24).

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven" Matthew 5:16. You may never see the fruit of that example, but it will have an influence on someone. And be assured that your Father in Heaven will see it.

-PG

Lost and Found

In Matthew 16 Jesus tells his disciples,

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matthew 16:24-26

This passage presents a great challenge. Naturally, passages such as this one call to mind the many martyrs throughout the centuries who have died for their faith. Do you desire eternal life enough to give up your life now in order to obtain it? Are you ready and willing to die for your faith?

Have you already died for your faith?

I'm convinced that Jesus is not presenting us with a hypothetical, maybe-someday situation. Dying for your faith in Christ is not optional, it is mandatory.

"Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." The loss of life here is not a physical death, but a figurative (though very real) death to self and sin. Our conversion, expressed beautifully in baptism, is a spiritual death and rebirth. In Romans 6 we read

How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Romans 6:2-3

Paul expresses this change of life in Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Also in 2 Corinthians 5, Paul writes

For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

When a martyr faces the sword of persecution, he is not giving up his life for his faith. He is refusing to hold on to what he has already surrendered to Christ. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

I am not my own. I have been bought at a price. I've been redeemed, purchased by the blood of Christ. I belong to Him. Am I reflecting that in the way I live each day?

-PG

Hard to be Humble

As a teenager I heard a song by country music singer Mac Davis, "It's Hard to be Humble". The lyrics featured the phrase "it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way". The song was a humorous view of a man with a very high opinion of himself, but it also provides some insight into a common view of humility.

Often when I think of humility I focus on my view of myself. I am humbled when I consider my short-comings. I am humbled when I realize all the mistakes I've made. I am humbled by the foolish things I have said. I am humbled when I compare myself with others who are smarter, kinder, more accomplished or more talented than I am. I am humbled when I consider the many blessings I have received that I realize I don't deserve. I am humbled when I consider my sins and my weaknesses. I realize I am far from perfect, so I have every reason to be humble.

But, have you ever considered that someone can be humble even if they are perfect in every way?

For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be held on to, but emptied Himself, and took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross -- Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus was humble, but he had no short-comings or imperfections to be humble about. Why should He, of all people, be humble?

For Jesus humility was not about His view of Himself, but about His view of others. Jesus was humble because we needed Him to be. Jesus emptied himself and took on the form of a servant not because that was His natural position, but because that was the position we needed Him to take. Humility in this case has less to do with what He thought of Himself than with how much and how often He thought of others.

Jesus was Almighty God incarnate. He was worthy of all glory, honor and praise. He never denied that was His rightful position. He accepted worship. He acknowledged that He was the Master. Yet, He came as one who serves. He was obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. He served God in doing so, but ultimately He served us. The Creator humbled Himself to serve the creature.

If ever you are in the extremely unlikely position where you undoubtedly are the smartest, the most talented, the most experienced, the most gifted, or just the best looking person in the room, consider. For the true servant of God humility isn't about you. It's about others.

-PG

Camping

In 2 Corinthians 5:1 we read,

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Paul describes a man's "earthly house" -- his body -- as a tent. That is, our bodies are temporary dwelling places. When I think of tents, I think of camping. Come with me as we take an imaginary camping trip.

You arrive at the camp ground in mid-afternoon. The first order of business is to arrange the camp site before darkness falls. There is plenty of time and you quickly layout and put up your tent. While you are busy erecting your tent you notice that there is another camper in the next camp site also putting up his tent. You wave, then head off to gather some firewood.

On your way back from getting the firewood you notice that your neighbor is spending more time putting up his tent that you did. He seems to have a bunch of stuff to put into his tent. You don't think much about it and decide you have time for a hike before dinner.

Returning to your camp site an hour later you look up and -- but no, it can't be. Is that guy actually laying sod? What on earth would possess him to do that at a camp site? So, with horrified fascination you settle down in your camp chair to watch this guy. For the next several hours and well into the next day your neighbor works ceaselessly. He installs a lawn (with tiny little sprinkler system), bushes, a tree and a six-foot privacy fence. He also works inside the tent itself, making all sorts of "improvements".

Now you know that this particular camp site does not allow camping for more than three consecutive nights. Why on earth would anyone spend so much money and effort on such a temporary dwelling? Doesn't this man know that he can't keep it? In just a few days he will have to leave. All his work and property will be left behind. What is he thinking?

The illustration is, of course, ridiculous. But the parallel is more sobering. Do we realize that we are living in a very temporary dwelling? Do we know that we can't keep all the stuff we spend so much effort to accumulate? Are we aware that in just a few days we will have to leave our tent and move on?

1 Peter 2:11 describes Christians as "strangers and pilgrims". We are to live in this world, but not be of this world. This world is not our home, we are just passing through.

How do you spend your time? Are you preparing for the journey, looking ahead to your eternal destination, or are you still fixing up the camp site?

--PG

Baptism (What shall we do? Part 4)

Baptism necessary for salvation? Really? This teaching is not popular in contemporary Christianity. But what do the scriptures say?

Gospels

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!

Acts

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

Epistles

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
Rom 6:3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

1Co 12:13 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

1Pe 3:20 that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:
1Pe 3:21 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

These passages, taken together paint a pretty clear picture. Baptism is a washing and it is a burial. Romans 6 describes it as a death. In baptism we are dying to our old way of life and being raised by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit to walk in newness of life. It is clear from Acts 2 and Acts 22 it is during baptism that our sins are first washed away. Peter says that baptism now saves us, not because we are physically washed by the water, but because our consciences are cleansed through the power of Christ's resurrection.

Objections

There are many objections to the idea that water baptism (immersion) is necessary for salvation.

A prominent objection is "baptism is a work and salvation is not of works". Interestingly, baptism is not a work done by the believer. Baptism is something that is done to the believer. As Martin Luther said, baptism is a work, but it is a work of God. The real "work" in baptism is the spiritual resurrection and sanctification done by the Holy Spirit. The only thing the believer does is submit and allow it to happen.

Another objection is "I just don't see what immersion in water has to do with forgiveness of sins. I have repented. I have expressed my faith in Jesus. Why isn't that enough? I just don't get it. I don't understand why I have to be baptized." My answer to those questions is, "I don't know why, but I know that is what the scriptures say." Perhaps the Lord asks us to submit to baptism precisely because we won't understand it. If you only obey when you understand why, is that faith?

Another classic objection is "what about the thief on the cross?" The Lord said to the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise." It is often asserted that since the thief wasn't baptized, then baptism is unnecessary. Exceptional circumstances do not invalidate the rule. What does the thief's circumstance have to do with you? If you ever find yourself on a cross next to Jesus, then this passage may have some relevance. But that is not your circumstance. The scriptures still say "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins."

-PG

What shall we do? (Part 2 -- Faith)

It really should be sufficient to say "You must believe" or "You must have faith". The only problem is that the biblical concept of faith has been so distorted and so surrounded with misconceptions that we can't just leave it at that.

I want to make the point strongly up front that we are saved "by grace through faith, ... not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph 2:8,9). We need to understand that our salvation is a gift of God. It is a gift that none of us deserve. There is no way that we could earn it by anything that we do. God gives us this grace on the basis of our faith in Jesus Christ. The work of salvation was done by Jesus Christ and all glory goes to Him. Our part is simply the choice of accepting that grace through faith or rejecting it through unbelief.

But what is faith? Specifically, we need to understand what the New Testament writers meant when they talked about faith.

Faith is conviction

In Hebrews 11:1 the writer says "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (NKJV). Perhaps the NIV words it more clearly, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." One who has faith regards something he cannot see as though he could see it. He regards the thing he cannot touch as though he held it in his hands. In fact, he is more sure of those things that he cannot see, but believes in, than he is of those things he can see (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). How else could Christians throughout the ages have faced certain death to obtain an invisible, yet imperishable crown?

This conviction is not based on fantasy, or wishful thinking, but upon the solid evidences God has provided in His word. Christ proved Himself to be the Son of God through many "infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3; 2:22). So faith is conviction, based on evidence, of the truth of things we cannot directly see or feel. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him."

Faith is trust

Biblical faith is not just the conviction of the truth of facts, but it is trust in a person. It is one thing to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, it is another to put your faith in Him (John 12:42-43). James 2:19 says, "Even the demons believe -- and tremble!" Paul expresses this trust well in 2 Timothy 1:12, "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."

Faith requires a change of life

We can talk about skydiving in the comfort of my living room all day. But nothing answers the question, "Do you trust the parachute?" like jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet. If you don't trust that your parachute was properly packed, or if you don't think your sky diving instructor know what he is doing, you won't jump. The same thing is true about your faith in Christ Jesus. We talk about believing in Christ, about trusting in Him, and about making Him Lord. But when it comes to daily living, do we "jump" or do we stay in the plane?

Christ said, "But why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things that I say?" James put it this way, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17). Later he says of Abraham's faith, "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?" (James 2:22).

Some may object that I'm contradicting myself. On the one hand we are not saved by works, yet on the other we we must work! If time permits, I'll address this issue in more detail in a later post. For now I'll just note two things. First, I'm saying no more or less than what scripture says. Ephesians 2 clearly states we are saved by grace not by our works, yet James 2 says we cannot be saved by faith without works. The second point is that I don't believe these passages are contradictory. I believe Ephesians is pointing out we cannot earn our salvation on our own. James is pointing out that we cannot profess faith without the accompanying change of life.

Biblical faith is life-changing. Conversion to Christ isn't something you do one weekend, and then go on with the rest of your life. Conversion to Christ becomes your life. Too often we decouple faith from godly living. Too commonly we decouple our hearts from our actions. How can we say we have faith if we continue to live in sin? How can we say "I'm not perfect, but God knows my heart" when we make no effort to change? It is like the man who claims to be a skydiver who has never gone up in the plane! We cannot give God our hearts without giving him our lives. We cannot put our faith in Jesus, yet continue to live for ourselves.

--PG

What shall we do? (Part 1)

In Acts 2, when the men of Israel came to the realization that they had put to death the Son of God, the cried out, "What shall we do?" Similarly, the Philippian jailer in Acts 16 asked, "What must I do to be saved?" This is one of the most important questions in scripture -- what does a man need to do to be saved?

In our increasingly secular, yet loosely "Christian", society the answer seems to be "not much". When a public figure dies, if anything is said at all about the home of their eternal spirit, everyone seems to assume the departed has gone to heaven. Have they? I don't mean to be heartless about this, but the question is too important to trust to presumption and wishful thinking. In this series of posts I want to examine what the scriptures say about this subject. This first post will explore some common ideas about the subject. In the following posts we will look at what the scriptures have to say.

Many hold the idea that if you live a good moral life, God, who is merciful, will welcome you into heaven. Hell is reserved for the truly evil, like Hitler or Osama Bin Laden (maybe). But we face the problem that we are all guilty of evil according to God's standard (see post Good People). None of us will be saved by our own righteousness. So if we are all evil, how will God decide who is saved and who is lost?

Another view is that, while we have all sinned, God is merciful. God is love. How could a loving God send souls to eternal torment? So then, God will forgive. Yes, God is love, but God is also just. And yes, God will forgive. But we need to understand the basis and conditions upon which that forgiveness is given.

Finally, many have the understanding that the question "What must I do to be saved?" is misguided. You can't do anything to be saved. Salvation is a gift of God. It is done entirely on God's part. You have nothing to do with it. God chooses who will be saved and the Holy Spirit comes upon them and saves them. Once they are saved, there is nothing they can do to change that unalterable act of God. They are saved no matter what they do. Yes, believers are to live sanctified lives, in gratitude to the God who saved them. But such behavior is not strictly necessary for salvation. Is this what scripture teaches?

Stay tuned.

- PG

Picking and Choosing

Christians are committed to complete obedience to God. Unfortunately, we can fall into the habit of being selective in our obedience. There are many examples that I could cite, and our "selectivity" is very personal. For the purposes of illustration I'd like to address one command that I've been guilty of de-emphasizing.

In the sermon on the mount Jesus taught,

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, Love you enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
-- Matthew 5:38-45

Christ's teaching here is profound. It is simple and easy to understand, but difficult to practice. I have to admit, that since 9/11/2001 it has been more difficult than ever. We live in a world where we are opposed by a radical, violent, hateful enemy. Women, children, and unarmed civilians are their chosen prey. How could anyone love an enemy like that?

I think there are several things that can help us in doing what Jesus commands. First, we need to realize that loving our enemies does not mean accepting them as they are or approving of their behavior. Indignation over evil and desire for justice is natural. A well-ordered society will punish evil-doers and it is God's will that the governing authorities mete out such punishment ("for it does not bear the sword in vain" Romans 13:3). But that vengeance does not belong to the individual. Nor does the need for such vengeance mean we must hate the criminal. Evil works will have their own consequences, which should be meted out with calm, dispassionate justice. Don't let others' evil create an evil, hateful heart in you.

The first step in loving my enemy is to understand the wrath of God that abides upon them with compassion, rather than satisfaction. I don't want anyone to feel the flames of hell for eternity. They need my prayers. I can pray that they will change. I can pray that they will see the evil they are committing. I can pray that something will lead them to repent and seek God's mercy. There will be justice served in the flames of hell, but God would rather (and so would I) that everyone repent and receive pardon through Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4).

The second step is the realization that God loved me when I was His enemy. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Jesus died to provide the redeeming sacrifice for us while we were enemies of God in our sinful rebellion (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:1-5). If God had compassion for us, can we not have compassion for others?

There are, of course, other things we can be selective about. Let us continue to meditate on the word, and be honest with ourselves that we might bring "into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

--PG

Go And Sin No More

Sometimes there are phrases in scripture that we gloss over. We read them, but we don't fully consider their implications. I think one such phrase is found in John 8:11. In this instance Jesus is speaking to the woman taken in adultery. Jesus has mercy on her and tells her, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more". Have you ever really considered what that means? What did Jesus expect of this woman? Was He actually asking her to live the rest of her life without sin? Is that reasonable? Is it even possible?

We often state that no man is without sin (Romans 3:23). We know that all who have reached an accountable age are guilty of sin before God. 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." We understand that we have all sinned. None of us is perfect. No one can stand before God on the basis of his own righteousness.

But we go further. We convince ourselves that a man cannot live without sin from day to day. We expect to fail. We forfeit the battle before it is fought. This idea is so ingrained in our thinking that it sounds arrogant to say, "I'm going to live without sin". Yet that is exactly what Jesus is asking the adulterous woman to do. He makes the same request of a man whom he healed in John 5:14 -- "Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you." John wrote "My little children, I write these things to you that you may not sin" (1 John 2:1). That is God's standard. We can't afford to lower it.

Can you live without sin for the rest of your life? That sounds pretty intimidating! What if I told you that the Lord would return in the next 10 minutes? Could you live without sin for the next 10 minutes? How about the next half hour? Could you make it an hour?

If you can live without sin for an hour, then just take it one hour at a time. Put your trust in God and go to Him for the strength you need to make it happen. As preacher Mark Dunagan once put it, "Satan may trip me up again one of these days, but it doesn't have to be today." You can live without sin today.

Go and sin no more.

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Good People

Are you a good person? I don't think we often ask this question. We rarely ask it of ourselves and certainly not of others. Perhaps we don't ask because the answer is assumed. I'm convinced that most people believe themselves to be basically good. The human conscience requires that we justify our own actions to ourselves, lest we deal with the discomfort of self-condemnation. The scriptures certainly agree with this sentiment,

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Jehovah weighs the spirits.
Proverbs 16:2

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Jehovah ponders the hearts.
Proverbs 21:2

But, I return to the question, "Are you a good person?" How would you answer that question? Most people, faced with this question, would answer "Yes, I think so". Perhaps the more thoughtful would hedge a bit with "For the most part". I'd like to probe a bit deeper than just to settle for that level of self-evaluation. Let's ask a few more questions.

Q: Have you ever told a lie?
A: No, I don't lie.

Q: Any lie? At any time in your life?
A: Ok, yes, if you put it that way, I have told a lie.

Q: Have you ever stolen anything?
A: No.

Q: Really? Come on. You just told me you are a liar. Have you ever stolen anything, even something others might consider small?
A: Well, yes, I guess I have.

Q: Ok, so we have established that you are a liar and a thief. Have you ever looked on another (not your spouse) to stir up lust in your heart?
A: Yes, I suppose I have.

Q: In Matthew 5, Jesus says that you have committed adultery in your heart. Have you ever felt hatred for anyone?
A: I'm ashamed to say I have.

Q: 1 John 3:15 indicates that one who hates his brother is a murderer.

So, we have established that you (and I) are a lying, thieving, adulterous, and murderous fellow in heart if not in deed. Does that sound good to you? If God judged you today, based on these admissions, would you be innocent or guilty?

At this point we usually start in with the objections.

Objection, your honor: Everyone is guilty of these things!
Overruled: To say that all men are guilty is not to say that you are innocent. It is true that all accountable people are guilty of some, if not all, of these sins. Pointing out that all are guilty is not a defense. God does not grade on some cosmic curve. We are not judged relative to others, but based on God's universal standard.

Objection, your honor: While it is true that I used to do those things, I don't anymore. It's been hours since I last lied, stole, lusted or felt hatred.
Overruled: It doesn't matter if it has been be 2 minutes or 20 years since you last sinned. There is no statute of limitations on sin. Once you have sinned, you are a sinner and are condemned by God's just law.

Objection, your honor: But what about grace? Isn't there forgiveness?
Overruled: The question before the court is "Are you good" and "Would you be judged innocent or guilty if judged based on your own actions". Grace is not germane to the question.

The conclusion of the court then, is that based on my own actions, I am a sinner and stand condemned. This should be no surprise to any of us. If we understand the gospel of Christ, we should know this. This fact is one of the first things anyone learning the gospel of Christ must come to grips with. Without the firm conviction that we are sinners and are condemned to eternal hell-fire, we cannot appreciate the grace of God, nor can we feel the remorse that is so essential to repentance. Repentance is not possible until we are brought to our knees in the knowledge of our own sinfulness before a just God.

Thanks and praise be to God that there is forgiveness and grace in Christ Jesus. We cannot stand before God on our own merits. But, through faith in Christ Jesus and obedient trust in Him, we have redemption and forgiveness. God can declare us justified and, yes, good based on the righteousness that comes through faith (Romans 4:3).

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The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is one of the few scripturally instituted rites of worship in the Christian faith. Understanding and properly observing the Lord's Supper are vital to maintaining a strong and vibrant faith.

The Corinthian church had a number of serious problems. Among other things, they were improperly partaking of the Lord's Supper. There folly turns out to be our gain. In correcting this problem the apostle Paul provides us with very clear instruction concerning the nature of and the proper observance of the Lord's Supper.

The texts for these teachings are 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. What can we learn from these passages?

The Lord's Supper is a remembrance

The most obvious observation is that the Lord's Supper is a remembrance of Christ. In instituting the supper our Lord says, "Do this in remembrance of Me." While he does not explicitly say do this "in memory of my death" or "in memory of my sacrifice", other details point in that direction. First, the occasion of the instituting of the supper is on the eve of his death (vs 23). Second, the emblems themselves are very suggestive. The bread Jesus describes as His "body which is broken for you." The fruit of the vine is "the new covenant in [His] blood". Clearly, His death is central to this remembrance.

The Lord's Supper is a proclamation

In vs 26 the apostle writes that "as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death, until He come." In each observance of the Lord's Supper we publicly proclaim our faith in the redeeming power of Christ's death. We publicly proclaim that He will come again.

The Lord's Supper is an examination

Prior to taking the Lord's Supper we need to prepare ourselves. First we need to examine our lives. Do we have any sin that we have not dealt with? Are we blameless before God, or are we harboring hidden guilt or rebellion in our hearts? In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus lays down the principle that we need to deal with sin before we approach God in worship.

In addition to that, we need to be sure that we are coming to God to worship in the proper frame of mind. God has no pleasure in those who approach him casually or flippantly. The Lord's Supper is precious to God and he that partakes of it in an "unworthy manner, eats and drinks condemnation to himself". This is a very serious matter.

The Lord's Supper is a communion

In chapter 10 the Lord's Supper is described as a communion, or sharing together, of the body and blood of Christ. I think there are two primary ways the Lord's Supper is a communion.

First, it is a communion of those partaking. "For we, the many, are one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread." In partaking we are affirming our relationship to one another in that we are all members of the body of Christ. We acknowledge that we belong to the same body; we are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Observe in chapter 11 how often the phrase "come together" is used. It is to be found in verses 17, 18, 20, 33 and 34. The supper is something we are to do as a collective body. Collective action is the scriptural pattern. There is no example or instruction that indicates Christians can or should partake of the Lord's Supper alone. Note that one of the problems the Corinthian church had with the Lord's Supper was lack of consideration for one another when partaking. They did not wait for one another. It seems factions and cliques would take the supper apart from the rest.

Second, it is a communion with Christ. It is the communion, or sharing, of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. What, exactly, does that mean? I'm convinced that it means we are not merely spectators, but active participants in the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is not just a memorial, where we recall the sufferings of Christ. We are invited to share in His sufferings and in His death through this supper. That seems like an extreme statement, does it not?

That may seem like an extreme way to express it, but it is eminently scriptural. In Galatians 2:20, Paul writes

I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives
in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.

There is communion in that verse! There is sharing there! I have been crucified with Christ. I have shared in His death. Not only that, the life I now live I share with Him because I live it for Him. Consider also 2 Corinthians 5:14-15,

For the love of Christ constrains us, judging this, that if one died for all,
then all died; and He died for all, that the living ones may live no more to
themselves, but to Him who died for them and having been raised.

Again, we see communion between believers and Christ. If He died for all, then we all died. We share His death and He shares our lives.
Also, Romans 8:17-18

And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with
Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

Not only must we share in His death, we must share in His sufferings. We are joint-heirs with Christ and will be glorified with Him, if we suffer with Him. So, putting it another way, we will share his inheritance and his glory, if we share in His sufferings.

So, if the Lord's Supper is a sharing in the death and sufferings of Christ, how, on a practical level do we do that? Very simply, in the Lord's Supper we die to ourselves again. We renew our committment to live for Christ. We renew our covenant with Christ that he is Lord of our lives. We make sure that the old man really is still crucified. We renew our inward man that Christ may live in us.

Is it any wonder that many in the Corinthian church were spiritually weak? We need a regular reminder of who we are and what committment we have made to Christ. We need a regular renewal of our covenant with Jesus. We need a genuine sense of communion with our brethren and with our Lord on a regular basis.

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Cutting through the clutter

I love the exchange between Jesus and his "intelectual opponents" in Matthew chapter 22. Jesus demonstrates a profound understanding the scripture and a solid faith in their clear teachings. This passage should serve as a pattern for dealing with misunderstandings and false teachings for us.

Consider the Sadducees' challenges in Matthew 22:23-28. They had the perfect hypothetical situation that demonstrated the absurdity of a resurrection. A woman had seven husbands. Which one would be her husband in the afterlife? Their argument appeared to be unanswerable.

Jesus cuts through the confusion and clutter of their hypothetical situation by pointing out the fatal flaw -- they assumed there was marriage after the resurrection. Christ simply asserts that this is not so. He doesn't cite any scripture simply because there is no scripture to cite. It should have been obvious to them on two grounds. First, there is no mention in the scriptures of any marriage relationships in the heavenly realm. So any assumption that there was is without authority. Second, their hypothetical situation points to the probability that marriage is an earthly institution, else remarriage in the event of the death of a spouse would not lawful. It is interesting to me that an objection often provides its own explanation if you just shift your point of view.

Then Jesus nails the issue with the simplest of arguments:

'But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'

Christ's argument was unanswerable.

I'd like to look Christ's words in detail briefly. His use of scripture tells us volumes of His repsect for and confidence in God's word. First, the entire argument rests on the tense of the verb "am". God didn't say "I was the God of Abraham". He said "I am the God of Abraham". The tense of that verb leads to His conclusion that Abraham was still, in spirit, living. Jesus believed that the word of God, written over 1500 years earlier, had been accurately preserved to the degree that He could confidently rest His whole argument on the tense of one verb.

Furthermore, look at how He talks about this passage. "Have you not read that which was spoken to you by God?". In context, God spoke to Moses and through Moses to Israel. But Jesus was telling people who lived 1500 years later that when they read that passage God was speaking to them. Jesus believed that God's word is relevant and His message IS to all generations, not just the generation to whom it was given.

Finally, it is reasonable to consider more contemporary applications. We need to be very wary of theological views based on complicated logical arguments -- particularly when numerous passages need "special handling" to be harmonized with such teachings. When faced with the choice of a seemingly logical systematic theology and a passage of scripture that seems to contradict it, I'll go with the plain reading of the passage every time.

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Just The Scriptures -- Introduction

Frankly, I had a hard time deciding on the name of this blog. I fully expect my topics will range far and wide. However, I believe the unifying theme will be a simple return to scripture. The target audience is those that profess or are interested in faith in Christ Jesus.

I expect most articles will be designed to provoke, to encourage, to challenge each believer to deeper faith, committment, and obedience to Christ. I will, however, spend some time discussing more doctrinal matters. Christianity is a religion of the mind and of the will as well as of the heart. We must understand and believe with the mind as well as trust with the heart.

I fear sometimes that many of those who believe in Jesus have lost two vital things. First, the vital importance of truth. Your faith is vain and useless if it is not founded on God's truth. How diligent are we in establishing a scriptural foundation for what we believe? Second, the vital importance of godly living. Christianity is a life-transforming faith. We can't proclaim our faith and trust in Christ, yet continue to live by the dictates of our godless society. We can't give Him our hearts without giving Him our lives.

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