|
Post by Admin on Sept 9, 2023 21:59:48 GMT -5
Three Benefits of God’s Sovereign Grace CalvinismDoctrines of Grace Share
g3min.org/three-benefits-of-gods-sovereign-grace/ JOSH BUICE
man in black long sleeve shirt writing on white paper Perhaps all you know about the doctrines of grace (aka – Calvinism) is that they’re used as subjects of debate on Facebook or Twitter among your friends. Is that really why Paul penned the first two chapters of Ephesians in his letter to the church in the city of Ephesus? Is that why Paul wrote the ninth chapter of Romans? Was his goal to provide an opportunity for theological debate or to spur on division among the church? Absolutely not.
Have you paused to consider why God has chosen to reveal the mysteries of his sovereign work of salvation to us? He could’ve kept it a secret and never revealed it to his people, but the things that have been revealed to us, he does have a purpose in revealing them to his people. Consider three key blessings that come to us in the knowledge of God’s sovereignty in salvation.
Assurance of Salvation Many people have a favorite text or portion of Scripture that has been a great blessing to them throughout their lifetime or in seasons of difficulty and darkness. For me, that text is Romans 8. I remember curling up in a hospital bed and reading that text to my daughter who was very sick and was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. That text has been a great comfort to me through the years.
In Romans 8:29-30, we find these words often referred to as the “Golden Chain of Salvation” by theologians throughout church history.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Notice the language of the passage. The elect people of God are referenced by “those” whom God foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified. In other words, every last person God foreknew and predestined before time will be glorified in eternity future. The same group is in each of the references to “those” people. It’s not as if the group was really large in predestination and far smaller at the end stage of glorification because many fell away from God’s grace. This passage actually links the exact same group from foreknowledge and predestination to the future work of glorification, which hasn’t happened yet, and there is not one person lost along the journey.
God’s electing love and the doctrine of predestination actually reinforces the fact that every last one of God’s people can have great assurance that salvation is of the Lord from the beginning to the end.
God’s electing love and the doctrine of predestination actually reinforces the fact that every last one of God’s people can have great assurance that salvation is of the Lord from the beginning to the end. That’s one of the reasons why Paul pens Romans 8-9 is to demonstrate the great love of God for his people which spans back before time and is accomplished according to his sovereign will. What a truth. What a great assurance such love delivers to God’s people.
Confidence in Evangelism We have all witnessed bad techniques and methods in evangelism as if the preacher needed to use manipulation techniques in order to get people to respond to God’s call of salvation. While that’s certainly shameful and should be avoided, we must likewise avoid the trap of believing that our ability to close the deal in evangelism is what determines whether or not a person comes to faith in Christ. If we approach our conversation with friends and family members in this way, it will lead us to a lack of confidence in evangelism, poor manipulative techniques, and in some cases an avoidance to evangelism altogether.
When we share the gospel, we can do so with great confidence that God will use the gospel shared for his divine purpose. We spread the seed, water the seed, and God is responsible for the harvest (1 Cor 3:6-9). While we do not know who the elect of God are, we share the gospel indiscriminately and trust God for the outcome. It was Charles Spurgeon who once said the following:
If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect I would go around lifting shirts. But since He didn’t I must preach “whosoever will” and when “whatsoever” believes I know that he is one of the elect.
Salvation is a work of God’s grace and it is God who calls sinners out of darkness into his marvelous light. In Romans 1:16, Paul describes the gospel as the “power of God unto salvation.” As we share the gospel, we must have confidence that the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to call sinners to repentance and faith. As Jesus described clearly in John 10, the sheep hear his voice and they follow him. This provides us with great confidence as we engage in gospel conversations with unbelievers.
Truth that Leads to Passionate Worship The worship of God should be based upon truth which then leads God’s people to respond in humility and passionate worship. Sadly, much of what we call worship within evangelicalism is based upon emotional feelings and man-centeredness rather than the grand truths of God’s saving grace.
The next time you’re in a worship service and everyone suddenly throws their hands into the air, is that based on the arrangement of the music or is it based on the truth of God’s Word? When Paul writes about God loving Jacob and hating Esau and that such love was not based on anything they had done since it was before they were born—he is pointing the people to worship God as he builds to a climax in this section of the letter at Romans 11:33-36:
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Paul is making it clear that all things are from God and through him—which includes the choice to save his people according to his divine will as described in chapter nine, ultimately for his glory. When we gather together weekly for worship on the Lord’s Day, we should think about the grand doctrines of salvation in such a way that causes us worship God and praise him and adore him for his saving power and sovereign grace.
Before entering into a theological debate on the doctrine of limited atonement on Facebook, ask yourself how this doctrine should impact your worship of God.
Before entering into a theological debate on the doctrine of limited atonement on Facebook, ask yourself how this doctrine should impact your worship of God. Before surveying the entirety of Scripture to find verses to support your view of limited atonement to debate with your friends over pizza, ask yourself why John the Apostle said what he did in John 1:11-13. How do these grand passages help us worship God who raises the dead spiritually, gives sight to the blind, and calls sinners out of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ?
Be encouraged as you study the doctrines of grace and find encouragement in these truths as you consider the assurance of your salvation, as you engage in evangelism of your friends and family, and as you gather each Sunday to worship our Triune God.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email Related For God so Loved the Church in Rome Rome was not only a strategic city in Paul's day—it was a powerful city. From politics to ideologies, the city of Rome was at the center of the world and in God's providence, God raised up a church in this important location at this juncture in history to accomplish his…
Salvation by Grace Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus these words, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 - ESV). A proper understanding…
5 Reasons to Preach on Predestination on Sunday Morning Predestination is one of the most hated and debated doctrines in the Bible. Yet, Charles Spurgeon said, “I am persuaded that the doctrine of predestination is one of the ‘softest pillows’ upon which the Christian can lay his head and one of the ‘strongest staffs’ upon which he may lean…
AUTHOR
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 15, 2023 12:03:08 GMT -5
Women, Theology, the Great Commission, and the Local Church ChurchWomen Share
g3min.org/women-theology-the-great-commission-and-the-local-church/ JOSH BUICE
woman reading book while sitting on chair Women, Theology, and the Great Commission | Josh Buice In recent days, certain voices have been questioning whether or not women should read, study, and teach the Bible. What exactly is God’s design for women in this world? That’s an important question considering that a great number of people don’t know how to define a woman, much less understand God’s design for women in the home, the church, and the secular sphere.
Women and Theology The great goal of life is the pursuit of God. J.I. Packer, in his book Knowing God, writes:
What were we made for? Knowing God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God.
He goes on to warn:
Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.
How are we to know who God is? It’s not through the study of nature or the expanse of the stars above. It’s through the study of special revelation—in God’s holy Word. To be clear, theology is the study of God. To suggest that women are not permitted to study theology would be a grave error. That would mean they are not permitted to know God.
To suggest that women are not permitted to study theology would be a grave error. That would mean they are not permitted to know God.
In Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:11-12, we find the following words:
Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
While he provides his design for women in the life of the church, he restricts her from the roles of authority and teaching men, but what was quite revolutionary was his encouragement for women to be learners. Women are called to learn and to study the doctrine of God, which involves the study of Scripture. This is one of the foundational reasons why G3 Ministries launched an expository teaching workshop designed for women. We believe that women need to know how to rightly handle the Scriptures in their personal Bible study and in their engagement in discipleship.
Women and the Great Commission When Jesus gave his Great Commission to his followers in Matthew 28:18-20, he was including in his commission the need for both men and women to be active in this call to make disciples of all nations. In a real sense, women are on the front lines with their own children in their living rooms on a daily basis teaching the gospel and making disciples within the sphere of their own family. This is a woefully underrated calling for women in our age. Yet, it’s vitally important.
Mothers who are committed to home education seek to teach their children through a biblical worldview rather than a secular worldview. That process involves both evangelism and discipleship by teaching children the Scriptures faithfully. Mothers cannot teach their children to know God by becoming stargazers. Faithful mothers will point their children to see God through the special revelation of God in his sufficient Word.
For women to be muzzled and prevented from sharing the gospel with other women would be to setup an artificial boundary that God never intended.
Beyond their own homes, women are to be sharing the gospel of God in the local community as God opens up opportunities to share the hope of Christ with unbelievers. This is God’s plan for Godly women. For women to be muzzled and prevented from sharing the gospel with other women would be to setup an artificial boundary that God never intended.
Women and the Local Church God’s Word is indeed sufficient and we know that God has spoken clearly on the subject of women’s roles and responsibilities within the sphere of the church. From the Garden, we see male headship and leadership established by God before the fall. Therefore, when Paul addresses Timothy in the New Testament regarding the local church, he cites the creation account from Genesis.
The natural man has a problem with authority, and often he seeks to avoid it or usurp authority that he doesn’t possess.
Boundaries are often viewed through a negative lens due to the nature of human depravity. We are constantly asking “how far is too far” and laboring to see how close we can walk to the edge of the cliff without falling. This is a most dangerous approach to life in general—and within the world of theology. When you play with fire, you will eventually get burned. The natural man has a problem with authority, and often he seeks to avoid it or usurp authority that he doesn’t possess. Historically, the liberals have embraced women’s liberation theology as a means of elevating women to their rightful position among men in the church. Such theology does much damage to God’s design for the home and the church. John MacArthur writes:
Women may be highly gifted teachers and leaders, but those gifts are not to be exercised over men in the context of the church. That is true not because women are spiritually inferior to men but because God’s law commands it. He has ordained order in His creation—an order that reflects His own nature and therefore should be reflected in His church. Anyone ignoring or rejecting God’s order, then, weakens the church and dishonors Him. 1
In 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul articulates a clear prohibition related to women in the local church. He says, ” I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” There is a distinction between the teaching and exercise of authority that should be acknowledged. Paul then revisited the historic boundaries in the area of teaching that God had already put into place back in the Garden. Women, as Paul stated, were not to teach men. This is a reversal of roles.
The word teach, “διδάσκω,” according to Thomas Schreiner, has in mind the public teaching and involves authoritative transmission of tradition about Christ and the Scriptures (1 Cor. 12:28-29; Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 3:16; James 3:1).2 While women are permitted to discuss biblical theology in a mixed group setting such as a Sunday school class, women teaching children or other women (Titus 2), or in a private setting such as with Apollos’ instruction that was gleaned from meeting with Priscilla and Aquila—biblical teaching, when among the church as a whole or a mixed audience should be led by men. It seems clear that Paul was addressing an issue that was taking place in the life of the church and needed to be corrected.
When it comes to teaching men in our present day, we have the conference culture that often stretches these boundaries. This is a dangerous practice, since conferences are designed to strengthen the church and to model what the local church should be promoting in their local assemblies—i.e., expository preaching, sound biblical theology, and other important, if not essential, practices. Therefore, to have women stand and open the Bible and teach a group of men in a conference setting is not beneficial to the Church represented in the conference from many different local churches. Such stretching of the boundaries is a common practice in our day and we should be cautious when we see women teachers invited to speak to a mixed audience.
Paul also points out that women should not have authority over men. This is most likely a reference to the office of elder in the local church. The office of elder is a teaching office and is connected with oversight authority, but the idea of teaching and authority can be distinct among themselves. For, one can teach the Bible with authority without being an elder in a local church, but he cannot be an elder without authority nor can he preach without authority. While there are overlapping connections, there are distinct qualities that must be acknowledged as well.
To capitulate on any area of headship in the family or leadership in the church is a grave mistake. The smallest sin can lead to the greatest catastrophe just as a small spark can set an entire forest on fire.
When referencing authority, Paul uses the word, “αὐθεντέω” as he addresses this boundary for women in the church. When Paul makes his statement, he goes on to explain by writing, “For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor” (1 Tim. 2:13-14). This is not a curse on women because of the fall, but rather a design from the beginning instituted by God. This was God’s good design and pointed to the role distinction between men and women. To reverse the roles is dangerously irresponsible. This in no way means that Paul was a male chauvinist who degraded the value of women in the church. Thomas Schreiner rightly states, “It is a modern, democratic, Western notion that diverse functions suggest distinctions in worth between men and women. Paul believed that men and women were equal in personhood, dignity, and value but also taught that women had distinct roles from men.”3
In 1 Timothy 2, Paul addresses Timothy by stating that women are to remain “quiet.” This word denotes an idea of submissiveness—especially in relation to male headship in the home and in the local church structure. In other words, women are not to be in authority in the church, but they are permitted to learn and to speak. The speech of women is not to be proclaimed in an official sense—from the pulpit or from the office of elder, but they are permitted to speak, teach, make disciples, and be involved in the life of the church. This is clearly seen in Jesus’ own treatment of women in his day as well as Paul’s high esteem for women such as Phoebe and the many others listed in Romans 16.
We must avoid legalism at this juncture, but we must not go the route of liberalism or antinomianism. The progressive attitude seeks freedom from authority, but God has never designed authority to be a burden to his people. William Varner, in his excellent book, To Preach or Not To Preach, writes:
The issue involved in 1 Timothy 2 is not an inherent inferiority of woman’s intellectual and spiritual capabilities, but her function in ministry. She is not subordinate in her capability, but she is to be subordinate in her role. Let it also be noted clearly that Paul does not ground his reasoning in the male-dominated culture of his day. He does not write: “Women should not teach because men will not accept them as teachers.” He grounds his teaching in the order of creation and fall. The mores of culture changes with time, while the order of creation is supra-cultural and is valid whatever the time and place.4
To capitulate on any area of headship in the family or leadership in the church is a grave mistake. The smallest sin can lead to the greatest catastrophe just as a small spark can set an entire forest on fire. Whatever God expects from us as clearly stated in the Scriptures, rather than working diligently to find loopholes—it would be for our joy and our good to submit. Beware of those who are constantly looking for ways around God’s commands.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email Related The Deafening Silence of the Black Church on Homosexual Marriage The reason traditional (heterosexual) marriage receives certain civil benefits that non-traditional (homosexual) marriage does not, is because traditional marriage is the means by which families are, and have throughout the whole of time, been created and propagated and, consequently, earthly societies and cultures sustained. Marriage is first and foremost a…
Satan Is Pleased to Use Pornography or Systematic Theology to Rob God of Worship group of people watching concert Stop Singing Hillsong, Bethel, Jesus Culture, and Elevation References
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2023 13:00:21 GMT -5
Real Christianity Results In Proper Listening, Speaking, and Anger Quick to HearSlow to Speak Share
g3min.org/real-christianity-results-in-proper-listening-speaking-and-anger/ JOSH BUICE
photo-boards-25QCezs8-oo-unsplash James was an extraordinary leader who was not only humble but a man who truly walked in the footsteps of Christ. He was known as James the Just or James the Righteous. He was the half brother of our Lord Jesus Christ and served as the leader of the church at Jerusalem after the resurrection of Jesus.
According to the historical accounts of James, he was known for having knees like a camel due to his faithful prayer life. He was bold and willing to suffer for the sake of Christ. James was thrown down from the top of the Temple (about a 100 ft.) which did not kill him, so according to church tradition, the angry mob dragged him outside the city gate where they beat him to death with clubs.
This is a man who understood what it was like to be a true Christian. I want to learn from men like James. In his short epistle that is packed with pithy statements, he writes the following:
James 1:19 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger
It’s one thing to claim to be a follower of Jesus, but it’s quite a different thing to act like a Christian.
Consider the language of this powerful little verse. Arranged with parallelism, James delivers a punch with his proverbial statement. He’s obviously writing to Christians as noted by his use of the word “brother” and followed by the next phrase, “let every person” indicates that he’s not merely referencing leaders among the church. What follows is for every Christian within the church of Jesus Christ and should be examined carefully. It’s one thing to claim to be a follower of Jesus, but it’s quite a different thing to act like a Christian.
Quick to Hear: The Art of Listening There is an art to listening. Many people appear to be listening when in reality they’re simply thinking of what they will say when the talking ceases. That’s really poor listening. Proper listening involves processing the information that’s being spoken with a desire to carefully consideration and respect of the individual who is speaking.
There is a need to recover the art of proper listening within the church today. This goes for normal conversation and the worship service as a whole. Listening to a sermon and listening to the singing (the actual words) is essential to a healthy church. However, as it pertains to conversations among friends, meetings, and confrontations—listening is essential to the pursuit of the truth and maintaining peace and unity among the body of Christ.
Due to the speed of information that comes our way through social media, we have become really poor listeners. Dopamine (a hormone in our brain) impacts us with specific reward and motivation functionality. Social media is designed to provide us with instant happiness in a short period of time through shallow information, likes, retweets, and follows. Cell phone companies create notification sounds and buzzes that create bursts of euphoria which communicates to the brain and encourages more usage for the pursuit of happiness and pleasure. In short, it’s like a drug, and like all other drugs—if not used properly it can adversely impact a person’s brain function. In this case, it hinders a person’s ability to focus on things that will not produce that instant high.
The command is for the Christian to be quick to hear, to listen, to engage the other party with a listening ear. The church must recover the art of listening.
We want information quickly and we don’t like waiting on people to speak. We have been conditioned to listen poorly. Our attention spans have become woefully short and that hinders our ability to listen with patience and respect. Notice how James phrases this command, “be quick to hear.” We all know what it’s like to be around someone who is quick to speak, quick to tweet, quick to respond with words, but what James commands here is the opposite. The command is for the Christian to be quick to hear, to listen, to engage the other party with a listening ear. The church must recover the art of listening.
Slow to Speak: The Discipline of Silence The great temptation is to be quick to speak. James understood this reality because later in his letter he provides a sobering warning regarding the power of the unbridled tongue (James 3:5-6). In the opening section of his letter as he unpacks pure religion, he directs the brothers and sisters in Christ to be slow to speak.
I recall my father teaching me to drive. He as a fireman and paramedic for 36 years in our community. His advice was for me to drive slower rather than faster. He once said, “Son, always remember this simple lesson. A slow wreck is always better than a fast wreck.” As a fireman and paramedic, he had pulled plenty of people out of wrecked automobiles. He understood the devastating results of wrecking at a high rate of speed. A person is more likely to walk away from a slow wreck than a fast wreck.
When it comes to speaking, the same principle is true. A tongue that is moving at a high rate of speed will eventually wreck and the results will not be good. A sharp tongue and unbridled speech is characteristic of a fool. This is why James points the Christians in the opposite direction. James certainly understood what Jesus said about the tongue:
Matthew 12:36–37 – I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
With this in mind, we need to approach conversations, meetings, social media, and cases of church discipline with careful thought before we open our mouths. We will give an account of how we use our tongues—for good or evil. James likewise built his teaching off of the wise words of Solomon who provided the following exhortation:
Proverbs 17:28 – Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Beware of the person who is always setting blazes with the tongue—this person’s faith must be seriously questioned.
When a fool opens his mouth, he reveals his folly to everyone. However, it’s much more respectable to remain silent than to open your mouth and reveal your ignorance with unrestrained speech that harms others and creates division. Beware of the person who is always setting blazes with the tongue—this person’s faith must be seriously questioned.
Slow to Anger: The Restraint Necessary for the Christian Anger is not sinful if used properly. A passionate displeasure for the things that God hates is not wrong, but to not restrain your anger is sinful (Eph 4:26-27). When we consider the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ was angry, but he did not sin—this proves that anger is not sinful (Matt 21:12-13). However, we must likewise remember that not one of us within our local church is Jesus. We must be very cautious in our displays of anger because of the power, passion, and destruction that anger can bring about if left unrestrained.
Beware of the person who refuses to control his or her temper. This person is a dangerous individual who should be avoided. The Scriptures place this person in the category of a fool.
James commands restraint. He says, “be slow to anger.” Once again, the guardrails must be set accordingly. A hot temper and outbursts of unrestrained passion can be destructive. Beware of the person who refuses to control his or her temper. This person is a dangerous individual who should be avoided. Jesus provided us with a sobering warning in his sermon in Matthew:
Matthew 5:22 – But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Certainly James was building upon the teachings of the Proverbs that teach this same principle. We find these words in Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” We all know what it’s like to be around a person who is quick tempered. Sometimes people excuse themselves by stating that they inherited a quick temper from a family member. The fact is, all of us inherited sin from Adam, but that’s no license to live in sin. We are to put off the old unsanctified person and put on the new person in Christ (Col 3:9; Eph 4:22-24).
In the Christian life, imagine how fruitful and healthy our local churches would be if we were all pursuing holiness and a life of self-discipline that resulted in being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
Communication is key to all relationships in life. It involves listening, speaking, and emotion. In the Christian life, imagine how fruitful and healthy our local churches would be if we were all pursuing holiness and a life of self-discipline that resulted in being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Semper reformanda involves more than holding to reformed positions. It means we are to be always reforming in doctrine and life for the glory of God. The personalities of Hollywood and influences of social media glorify an unrestrained tongue and a hot temper, but the church needs to listen to the wisdom of James—a man who truly followed in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email Related Misunderstanding the Five Solas—Sola Gratia Today I'm continuing a short 5-part series on the five solas of the Reformation. The five solas are specific Latin slogans that emerged from the Reformation era as a means of identifying specific doctrinal positions that stand in contrast to the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The…
Paul’s Prayer for the Church Yesterday I preached from Ephesians 1:15-23, and it's quite apparent from the beginning of this paragraph that Paul is not only writing a letter, but he is likewise praying to the Father. Paul's prayer is not lacking in theological depth. This is far removed from a shallow repetitive prayer that…
The Book of Ephesians Yesterday, I preached the first sermon through our series in the book of Ephesians. As we began this expositional study, I wanted to point out some important facts about the letter penned by Paul and help us to be prepared for what we will learn and what we will be…
AUTHOR
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 4, 2023 16:30:36 GMT -5
Lights, Stage and Altar: Assessing Trends in Modern Worship Share
g3min.org/lights-stage-and-altar-assessing-trends-in-modern-worship/ JOSH BUICE
concert photos It’s quite possible that you’ve walked into a church building in recent days and asked yourself why the church service felt more like a production than a worship service. Was it the lights or the musicians? Was it the pastor’s method of communication or his attire? What caused this question to be raised in your mind as you were seeking to worship God? The reality is, much change has occurred within evangelicalism within modern church history that necessitates explanation. Let’s talk about lights, stage, and altars in our approach to the worship a sovereign and holy God.
Why Darkness Rather Than Light? For many years, the church gathered together under the dim light of candles or scheduled their primary gatherings for worship on the seasonal schedule of the sunlight. During the years prior to modern technological advancements, the primitive church figured out how to meet without the use of electricity and modern light systems in a way that was both edifying and efficient.
Today, modern churches with all of the technological advancements of a modern era within modern church campuses are choosing to dim the lights, or in some cases, to turn them off altogether. Why would churches want to gather in dark rooms? What’s the point? The fact is, many churches are driven by pragmatism and a commitment to production effects rather than the prescriptions of worship in Scripture.
Consider the contrast between light and darkness in Scripture (Gen 1:3; Job 33:28; Ps 56:13; Ps 27:1; Matt 4:16; Luke 2:32; 2 Cor 4:4-6; Eph 6:12; 1 Pet 2:9). God’s people are called out of darkness into the marvelous light of Christ. Even the period of darkness during the 400 years between the close of the Old Testament and the dawning of the New Testament, we see that God was silent and that the people of God were encompassed by darkness. Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12), and his people are to be a city set on a hillside that cannot be hidden (Matt 5:14). Christians are people of light rather than darkness. Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Oh that thy words, like the beams of the sun, may enter through the window of my understanding, and dispel the darkness of my mind!”1
Church leaders today choose to intentionally dim lights in order to control the mood of the room by color packages with stage lights and backlight designs. These lights are not intended for seeing. They’re intended for feeling. It’s about the emotions of the people. This is a production decision that flows out of the world of entertainment which has been used for many years in the theater and concert scene. The fact is, lights can manipulate how we feel and that’s why nice restaurants will often dim the house lights in the evening to create a specific mood for those who enter the room.
While we are creatures designed by God with specific emotions, we should be careful to avoid manipulation by how we use lights in our approach to worship. I recall a conversation with a friend a couple of years ago who could not explain why she was constantly weeping during the worship service at her church. After additional conversation and explanation, it was clear that the music choices and the lights were creating a mood and leading her to be emotionally stirred. It wasn’t based on the Scripture or the theology being communicated.
Consider the fact that beyond the avoidance of manipulation, we must take note of the calling of Christians to address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as we make melody in our hearts to the Lord (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). How is this possible if we can’t see one another? It’s far less personal and edifying and in fact hinders Christian fellowship. A concert or theater purposefully directs everyone’s attention to the front, but the gathered assembly of the church should see one another sing. Since Christian worship involves this horizontal element, it must not be overlooked or minimized.
Corporate worship is just that—corporate. It involves an assembly. It’s not about creating an atmosphere of singularity and autonomy which is the goal of a dark room. Turn on the lights for Christian worship.
In short, children need to see their parents, grandparents, and other faithful church members singing, praying, worshipping through preaching, and partaking in the Lord’s Supper. Pastors need to see the congregation as opposed to a dark room with a bright light shining upon them. This is part of discipleship. Corporate worship is just that—corporate. It involves an assembly. It’s not about creating an atmosphere of singularity and autonomy which is the goal of a dark room. Is this goal of autonomy and singularity of purpose and feeling in worship why people often close their eyes while singing? Turn on the lights for Christian worship. We need to see one another, sing to God and to one another, and edify one another during corporate worship. This is not possible in a dark room.
From a more practical position, consider the fact that we need light to use our Bibles and hymnals. Many churches simply display the biblical text on the screens as well as the words to the songs, but it would be far more encouraging to have church members using their physical Bibles (not phones that can easily distract us away from God during worship) and hymnals (to see the musical notes and arrangement). Rather than being dependent upon screens (that frequently change) to display everything for us, we could be actively engaged with an open Bible and hymnal.
The worship of God is corporate and is happening throughout the worship auditorium. What happens on the back row of the church’s auditorium is very important during a worship service.
Consider the fact that by the use of lights that direct the attention of the room to the front, it’s quite possible that you lead people to embrace the false idea that whatever is happening up at the front on the platform is most important and central to worship which in actuality what is happening in the entire room is central to the church’s worship. The worship of God is corporate and is happening throughout the worship auditorium. What happens on the back row of the church’s auditorium is very important during a worship service. Turn on the lights so that everyone can worship without hinderance.
Brothers, We Are Not Performers It’s a common thing to hear people referring to the platform in the front of the church’s auditorium as a stage. Often, people with pure hearts and motives and with sound theology will use the “stage” language in the context of their church building. I would like to push back on that vocabulary with the knowledge that words matter. We should be intentional about how we speak about the elements and circumstances of worship.
Recently I was speaking at a conference and right in the middle of my sermon, the audience began to applaud. It shocked me. It’s not the first time that has happened, but when I’m preaching I’m not thinking about applause. The second time they applauded, I remember having to intentionally wait on them to finish so that I could continue speaking. It was a massive distraction to the preaching in my opinion. Pastors are not performers on a stage.
When pastors are turned into performers the church will be filled with consumers rather than worshippers.
The evangelical church is filled with performers. This performance mindset has influenced church leaders far and wide. At the heart of the issue is an insatiable desire for success. When pastors are turned into performers the church will be filled with consumers rather than worshippers. The same thing can be said with regard to those who lead musically. Anyone who holds a microphone must be committed to leading for the glory of God rather than for the applause of man.
Churches do not have stages. It’s that simple. The area in the front of the worship auditorium where the pulpit stands is not a stage. Everyone who gathers in the room should be there to praise, worship, and submit to our Lord. Our aim should be to please an audience of One rather than consumers. Dear brother pastor, we are not performers.
We Are Called to a Table, Not an Altar The people of God approached God in worship at altars. The altar was common among the directives set forth in Leviticus. In fact, when the Tabernacle was completed, if you entered the fence through the central gate, you immediately came into contact with the bronze altar. Exodus 20:24 reads, “An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.”
Under the old covenant, the people of God were to constantly offer up blood sacrifices to God to cover their sin. The Hebrew root for altar means “to slay” or “slaughter.” The burnt offering was common for Israel’s worship of God and it was at the altar where God met with his people. Gideon offered burnt offerings according to Judges 6. When the Ark of the Covenant was returned from the Philistines, burnt offerings were offered to God (1 Samuel 6). David offered burnt offerings as a result of his sin (2 Samuel 24). King Solomon offered 1,000 burnt offerings at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 3).
Each year at Passover, the city of Jerusalem would fill up with people and animals for sacrifice. Josephus, the ancient historian, claims that several hundred thousand lambs were herded through the streets of Jerusalem every Passover. Jews who lived outside of Jerusalem would travel home for the Passover celebration, but they would need to purchase a sacrificial animal. According to 2 Chronicles 35, when King Josiah celebrated Passover, he slaughtered more than 37,000 sheep.
Charles Finney introduced his “New Measures” during his ministry where he would invite people to immediately respond to the preaching and come to what he called the “anxious bench” at the front. According to Finney, if he could get you or your children to come to the anxious bench and pray, he could almost guarantee their salvation. This practice would be used by figures such as Billy Sunday and Billy Graham. By the 20th century, pastors began using the “altar” language to refer to the front of the church’s auditorium as they invited people to respond during what became known as the “altar call.”
As we gather to worship God, it’s clear that words matter. We try to distinguish between the church’s building and the gathered church. It’s essential to be clear that “praise and worship” is not merely the “singing part” of the worship service. We praise and worship God in various ways through prayer, song, and preaching. Therefore, when it comes to the “altar” language, I would like to push back against using it within the realm of Christian worship.
When Christ gathered his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion, he celebrated Passover with them around the table. That evening, Jesus brought Passover (the oldest Jewish feast) to a final culmination and inaugurated a new memorial meal (Lord’s Supper) which would continue under the New Covenant until Christ returns.
This memorial would not look back to the salvation of Israel from Egypt, but instead—the salvation of God’s people from their sin. This memorial would not look back at a lamb that was slain to spare people from the Angel of Death, but instead it would focus on the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world(John 1:29). This memorial would not look back to a time when God saved the Jews, but instead, would be focused on the salvation of God’s people from every tongue, tribe, people, and nation. John MacArthur observes, “In that one meal Jesus both terminated the old and inaugurated the new.”2
Christian worship is identified by a table rather than an altar.
Today, rather than an altar at the front of the worship auditorium, we have a table. This table is where the church gathers at the culmination of the worship service to celebrate the finished work of Christ on our behalf. Rather than approaching an altar to give another sacrifice, we come to the table to celebrate the once for all sacrifice of Jesus who as the Lamb of God fulfilled sacrificial system under the Old Covenant. We do not come to bring a sacrifice, we come to celebrate the grand sacrifice of all where Jesus saved his people from their sin. Christian worship is identified by a table rather than an altar.
Pragmatism is a cancer that sucks the life out of Christian worship. Words matter because theology matters. But rising from that theological foundation is our worship philosophy which matters too.
By way of conclusion, we need to be able to recognize trends that impact Christian worship. Rather than becoming slaves to new measures that promise instant results and success, we must remain committed to approaching God in the way he has prescribed in his Word. Pragmatism is a cancer that sucks the life out of Christian worship. Words matter because theology matters. But rising from that theological foundation is our worship philosophy which matters too. That’s the beautiful thing about worship, God has not left us to guess at how he desires to be worshipped by his people. He has given us his Word.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 6, 2023 10:41:16 GMT -5
Applying a Big God Theology to Your Life During Trials CalvinismDoctrines of GraceLead ArticleSovereigntySovereignty of God Share
g3min.org/applying-a-big-god-theology-to-your-life-during-trials/ JOSH BUICE
Return-of-Jesus-Christ When you first come across the theology of God’s absolute sovereignty over all things—it’s like you see the world through new eyes. Every page of Scripture, as you turn it, it’s as if the truth of the bigness of God leaps off the pages. Soon enough, you find yourself digging deeper and deeper into God’s Word, talking with friends, listening intently to the preaching, reading books, and enjoying God in a way that you haven’t in years past.
It’s one thing to think about the sovereignty of God in salvation and the absolute sovereignty of God in creation from an academic perspective or from a Bible study perspective—but what happens when the doctor walks into the room and diagnoses you with cancer? What happens when you receive the unexpected phone call informing you that your loved one has just passed away? Suddenly, it’s time to employ that theology into action in your life. It’s there in the pain of tragedy that you realize the value of such a big God theology in ways that mere academics cannot compare.
The Labor of Application Applying the Bible is not the job of the pastor only. The labor of application is something that every believer must engage in on a regular basis. When the congregation is listening to the sermon, there must be active participation taking place by everyone in the room as each individual seeks to take the truth and apply it to their own life.
Imagine the pastor preaching through a passage and is driving home the sovereignty of God—and he describes the omnipotence of God by looking at snapshots of Scriptures throughout the Bible. One young man is seated near the front who attends a local college. It’s his first semester as a college student and he has many fears and insecurities he’s working through. He feels unbelievably small as he walks onto the large and expansive campus, smells the books as he walks into the library, and sits in the large lecture hall to hear one of his professors teach a couple of hundred students.
On the other side of the church, a seventy-nine year old man is contemplating the recent diagnosis of cancer and his treatment options. Both individuals are at different stages of life, yet both of these men are facing challenges. It’s the same Word of God being presented to both, yet they labor and engage in the sermon to apply the grand truth to their own personal situation in order to find refuge in their big God.
While the pastor may provide a couple of general application statements, it’s the responsibility of the individuals in the congregation to hear the Word, work to understand the text, and then connect the dots from the ancient context to their present situation in order to apply the truth to their own personal life. Far too often people sit back and ask the pastor to spoon feed them while missing the point of a sermon altogether. There must be engagement and involvement and personal labor in the proper hearing of a sermon.
The Comfort of God’s Sovereignty David declared in Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” All through the Bible, we find bold statements about our big God.
It was Martin Luther, who in the midst of a dangerous season of persecution was kidnapped by his friends after his famous stand at Worms and was taken to the Wartburg Castle. While in hiding, in the safety of the structure, he translated the Bible into the German language. He worked at the relentless speed of 1,500 words per day.
During 1527, a dark time swept over Luther’s life—both spiritually and physically. He was physically sick due to the pressures of ministry and the battle of the Reformation. He battled spells of dizziness and fainted often. He felt as if he was going to die. But then, God brought him through it.
Soon the Black Plague swept through Germany killing many people. It was so bad – many people would flee for their own safety. Luther stayed and turned his home into a place of refuge—a makeshift hospital. During this crisis, his son almost died.
It was with this backdrop that Luther penned the words to “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” which is one of the most famous hymns in the history of the church. As he faced the plague, looked at the black death surrounding him, and contemplated the frailty of his own life (and the lives of his family)—he thought about the walls of the castle and how he once found refuge. Then he considered the words of Psalm 46 and applied the grand truths of God’s sovereignty to his dark situation.
A mighty Fortress is our God, A Bulwark never failing; Our Helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing:
No matter what you face today as you journey through this world with devils filled who threaten to undo you—you can walk with confidence that your God is big. “Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). No matter what trial you face or what challenge is presented before you, remember to lean on the theology of the Bible and find comfort and peace that passes all understanding in the God who is big, strong, and serves as our Rock and our Refuge! If God is for us, who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)?
Psalm 46:1–3; 6-7 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [2] Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, [3] though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah…The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. [7] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2023 14:53:14 GMT -5
The Assurance of the Holy Spirit Expository PreachingLead ArticlePreaching Share
g3min.org/the-assurance-of-the-holy-spirit/ JOSH BUICE
Sermon-Review Yesterday, I preached Romans 8:14 in our series through Romans. As we’ve noted already, the eighth chapter of Romans is a commentary on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and much of that ministry is centered upon the assurance of salvation. One of the great threats to joy and traps of discouragement in life is the lack of assurance that many people struggle with as they pass through this evil world. Some of that lack of assurance is because of struggles with sin and yet others are merely the ongoing attacks of the ancient enemy of God—the devil. In this one verse, we learn how to have assurance as believers.
Mortification of Sin Produces Assurance Paul writes, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” The word translated led comes from the Greek term “ἄγω” which means, “To direct the movement of an object from one place to another.” In Luke 4:40 the text says that people “brought” all those who had diseases and sicknesses to Jesus to be healed. This is the same word translated led in Romans 8:14. It implies movement. To be a Christian will involve movement and this movement known as sanctification involves waging war with sin.
Notice the connection between 13 and 14 as we see the connection language of “For” by Paul which is being used as a hinge. In other words, everyone who is led by the Spirit of God will be able to overcome sin and will be engaged in the mortification of sin. This is not something we can do on our own, but as we overcome sin, it’s yet another proof that we are being led by the Spirit and empowered to victory.
Progressive sanctification is the ongoing and progressive work of the holy Spirit changing from one degree to another—an ongoing spiritual growth that results in spiritual maturity—causing us to become more conformed to the image of Christ than the world. We see this language of sanctification and holiness all throughout the New Testament (1 Thess. 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 9:27; 1 John 4:4; Heb. 10:23). In other words, if you are not pursuing holiness and overcoming sin as a result of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, you don’t have a right to call yourself a Christian. In such a case, you should lack assurance.
The New Birth Produces Assurance In all of our study of salvation, we must not forget that the work of salvation is a work of our triune God. As we study the Trinity, we must not forget that the Holy Spirit himself is God. He is no less God than the Son, nor is he less God than the Father. He is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son—never created and will never cease to be God.
In Job 33:4 – The Breath of Almighty In Psalm 51:12 – The Generous Spirit In Psalm 143:10 – The Good Spirit In Psalm 51:11 – The Holy Spirit In Isaiah 11 – The Spirit of Wisdom, counsel, might, understanding, knowledge, and fear. In Hebrews 9:14 – The Eternal Spirit In Hebrews 10 – The Spirit of Grace In John 14 and 15 – The Comforter In 1 Peter 4 – The Spirit of Glory In Revelation 1 – The Seven-Fold Spirit In Romans 8:9 – The Spirit of Christ One of the great errors of many within religious circles – even many within evangelical circles – is to place a hyper-focus upon the Holy Spirit. When we read the New Testament, we find that his ministry is to lead us to Christ—not to himself. Therefore, the overarching ministry of the Spirit is to direct us to Christ in the pages of the Bible (2 Pet. 2:21) and to draw us by his work of conviction to a place of repentance and faith. We see this language of being called to salvation throughout the New Testament in verses such as:
called to fellowship with the Son (1 Cor. 1:9) called to inherit a blessing (1 Pet. 3:9) called to freedom (Gal. 5:13) called to peace (1 Cor. 7:15) called to holiness (1 Thess. 4:7) called to a worthy walk (Eph. 4:1) called to one hope (Eph. 4:4) called to eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12) The work of salvation is not a work of our human will. It’s a work of God’s saving grace. It is the work of the Spirit who causes us to be born again. After the new birth, we leave behind a life of slavery to sin and walk in obedience and submission to our new Master—Jesus Christ. We become slaves of righteousness. It’s the work of the Spirit to lead us and guide us to truth and to correct us of error.
As we live the life of a Christian, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and leading us, and the Spirit leads us to identify with God’s people in the church. Notice the language Paul uses in Romans 8:14, “sons of God.” That’s family language which implies that we are apart of God’s family. We have brothers and sisters in the faith—God is our Father—we are his sons and daughters. Therefore, we need one another and God never intended for anyone to journey alone. One of the evidences that you are a “son” or “daughter” of God is that you love the church! We are called to love the church, serve the church, forgive one another in the church, and encourage one another in the church.
Love the Church
Romans 12:10 – Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 1 Peter 1:22 – Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart 1 John 3:23 – And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 1 John 4:7 – Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Serve the Church
Galatians 5:13 – For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Forgive One Another
Ephesians 4:3 – eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Encourage One Another
Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works Are you plagued with fears and doubts regarding your salvation? Ask yourself a couple of very important questions as you examine your own soul. Do you have evidence that the Spirit of God is causing you to hate sin and to fight against it? Do you have a love for the church of Jesus Christ? If this is not true of you—you may simply have religion, but your religion apart from genuine faith in Jesus Christ is empty and vain.
If you’re not a Christian today—why not come to Jesus in repentance admitting that you’ve sinned against God and that you need his love and mercy and forgiveness through Christ?
If you desire to be a Christian – it’s God who works in you such a desire. Respond to him – call upon the Lord even now. He loves to save sinners.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email Related
The Holy Spirit Is Not Casper the Friendly Ghost
The Blessings of the Doctrine of Adoption The Spirit of God Provides Assurance of Salvation Yesterday I had the opportunity of preaching from 1 John 4:13-21 in our series through the epistle of 1 John. As we've pointed out all through the series, John has a desire for his readers to know some things about God, about themselves, and to have assurance of their salvation. …
AUTHOR
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 8, 2023 17:17:40 GMT -5
Want to Practice Apologetics? Be Negative 1 Peter 3:15ApologeticsFalse ProphetsHeresyLead Article
JOSH BUICE
Today we continue a three-part series (posted each Tuesday) that will focus on the positive side of being negative. Today’s subject is centered on the need to be negative in the work of apologetics. Last week the focus was evangelism and next week will be focused on the work of pastoral ministry. We’ve all heard the line, “Don’t be negative, you will push people away.” Is that true or is that merely the tagline of an ultra tolerant inclusive culture that demands positivity and tolerance at any cost?
We live in a culture that paints an improper picture of Jesus as the “nice guy” on the right side of the Bible rather than the wrathful God on the left side. Perhaps people should read all of the right side of the Bible – especially the first four books of the New Testament along with the last book of the New Testament as a fitting assessment of the true Jesus. Jesus was often straightforward and He placed a great deal of emphasis upon defending the truth of God and the sacred Scriptures.
Defining Apologetics Apologetics is not the practice of giving an apology. It’s the act of defending the faith. Cornelius Van Til once defined apologetics as “the vindication of the Christian philosophy of life against the various forms of the non-Christian philosophy of life.” [1] One of the key words in his definition is the word, “against” which points to the negative focus that must be included in the work of apologetics. Perhaps the key verse in the New Testament regarding apologetics is 1 Peter 3:15, which says, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
The Greek term translated, “to make a defense” is ἀπολογία – from where we derive the word – apologetics. The fact that we must defend the faith once delivered to the saints is clearly laid out in the Scriptures, and it’s clearly practiced by the early church. The New Testament is filled with apostolic examples of apologetics from Peter’s sermon at Pentecost to Paul giving a defense of the faith before Agrippa. Likewise, we see the early pastors being mandated to practice the work of apologetics in their pastoral ministry (Titus 1:9). In short, all Christians are apologists at some level. In the home as Christian parents, at your place of employment, or on social media. You don’t have to be called to full-time vocational ministry before you engage in apologetics.
Practicing Apologetics and Being Negative False teaching often lurks in the realm of evangelical circles. It’s one thing to refute the false teaching of Joel Osteen, but what about the individual who has crept into the church of Jesus Christ and is leading people astray? A.W. Pink once said:
False prophets are to be found in the circles of the most orthodox, and they pretend to have a fervent love for souls, yet they fatally delude multitudes concerning the way of salvation. The pulpit, platform, and pamphlet hucksters have wantonly lowered the standard of divine holiness and so adulterated the Gospel in order to make it palatable to the carnal mind. [2]
According to Jude 3-4:
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Notice two specific statements in these verses. First notice that Jude says, “contend for the faith.” The word contend is translated from the Greek term ἐπαγωνίζομαι meaning “to extert intense effort on behalf of something, contend.” The command to contend for the faith with intensity does not always mean with a positive tone nor does it demand tolerance. The idea that Christians are to tolerate false teachers and false teaching within the church is on the same level as a momma bear tolerating wolves entering her den where her babies are sleeping.
Secondly, notice that Jude says such false teachers had crept inside unnoticed. Jude then argues that such false teachers should be noticed and the work of making people aware of such individuals is part of the work of apologetics. Anytime light shines in darkness, it reveals error. The best teacher in the New Testament who consistently revealed error is Jesus. In His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently put false teachers on notice and it wasn’t always positive.
One such example is found in Mark 12:18-27. In this text, the Sadducees approached Jesus with a theological question. They wanted to know Jesus’ position on the marriage law mentioned in Deuteronomy 25:5-6Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)– or did they? Actually they were setting a trap for Jesus regarding His position on the resurrection of the dead. That was their real issue. Their question wasn’t exactly sincere, it was more of a theological trap.
Jesus fielded their question and then point by point exposed their false religiosity. Jesus wasn’t about to allow these false teachers off the hook. Why didn’t Jesus just remain positive in hopes of gaining new followers from the community? Why didn’t Jesus merely tolerate their different interpretations on the Scriptures? Jesus responded with a catastrophic bomb, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Mark 12:24)? The reason Jesus exposed them was because of their danger to God’s people. Notice, Jesus exposed their ignorance of the Scriptures.
Negative is not Automatically Nasty To be clear, as I stated in the first article on evangelism, I’m in no way insinuating that Christians should go around being rude, hateful, and harsh with everyone they come in contact with. All Christians are commanded to love sinners and treat people with respect – even people we disagree with. However, Christians are not to be spineless pushovers who allow anyone to say anything they want – especially as it pertains to the gospel.
The Christian community is often quick to press fellow Christians on the idea that we need to follow Jesus’ example of love, but what about His apologetic? Are we to employ the WWJD principle in the area of love only, or should we actually defend the gospel too? According to 1 Peter 3:15, we are to defend the faith “with gentleness and respect.” I can recall times when I wasn’t as gentle as I should have been in my attempt to defend the faith. There is a difference between gentleness and negligence. Exposing error necessitates negative facts, but it always has a positive goal rooted and grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The very moment we claim that pluralism is wrong, we aren’t doing so with the goal of being negative. We speak with the goal of pointing people to the exclusivity of Christ. When we call out the errors of LGBT inclusivism, we aren’t doing so with the goal of being a hater of LGBT people. To the contrary, we do so with the goal of pointing people to faith in Jesus Christ and protecting the church from such false teachers who would press the church into an inclusivist position. Apologetics involves exposing negative error with the positive goal of pointing people to Christ and guarding the gospel from perversion. Vance Havner once said, “The early Christians condemned false doctrine in a way that sounds almost unchristian today.”
Next week, we will look at the need to be negative in the work of pastoral ministry.
Cornelius Van Til, Christian Apologetics (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1976), 1. A.W. Pink, Sermon on the Mount (Lafayette, IN: Sovereign Grace Publishers, 2008), 344.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 18, 2023 18:38:20 GMT -5
The Beginning Matters: Why the Attacks on Genesis Should Be Taken Seriously CreationEvolution Share
g3min.org/the-beginning-matters-why-the-attacks-on-genesis-should-be-taken-seriously/ JOSH BUICE
dan-russo-adkrsIr_0iw-unsplash
Back in July of this year, I was invited by Answers in Genesis to join an invitation only group of Christian leaders for a trip down the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. The trip was a 7-day journey through the massive rock walls of the Grand Canyon that covered nearly 200 miles of the Colorado river. We slept on the side of the river each night under the stars, ate amazing food cooked in an iron dutch oven, fished for rainbow trout, and enjoyed great conversations with other professors and leaders of Christian organizations. Each day, we would take hikes through canyons and explore rock layers and fossil records as John Whitmore, a professor and geologist, would explain the significance of what we were seeing at various points.
Each evening, we would circle up together after supper and Terry Mortenson of Answers in Genesis or Bill Barrick who is a semi-retired Hebrew and Old Testament professor would speak to us from God’s Word. What I experienced on this journey was breathtaking. I have never struggled with the historicity of Genesis 1-11, the miracles of Genesis 1-2, or the judgment of God in a global flood as recorded in Genesis 6-9, but as I flew up out of the Grand Canyon on the seventh day by helicopter—I was reminded of how important the beginning of our Bible is and why we as Christians should take it seriously.
There is an ongoing battle over the beginning of Scripture, and the church must be resolved to remain steadfast and immovable on this foundational doctrine. The beginning of the Bible matters.
Today, I will focus on why the attacks on the miracles recorded in Genesis should be seriously opposed. Next week, I will focus on the importance of the history of the flood as recorded in Genesis 6-9.
Casting Shadows of Doubt on the Miracle of Creation Evolution is a multi-tiered theory that involves cosmological evolution, geological evolution, and biological evolution. Darwinian evolutionary theory dates everything you see in the billions of years. According to the evolutionists and their “big-bang” theory, the age of the universe is estimated to have evolved over 14 to 17 billion years. Contemporary findings from the Hubble space telescope have prompted astronomers to reduce their evaluations of the universe’s age to a range between 8 to 12 billion years.
For many years, Darwinian evolutionary theory has been the dominant storyline within the sphere of secular education. Science books have been teaching a false theory as fact while openly denying the teaching of Scripture for a very long time. This is why today the primary belief of our society is that our world evolved into existence over the last 8-12 billion years. While you might expect secular unbelievers to openly deny Scripture on a university campus, certain voices have become a threat within evangelical circles. Did you know that only one educational institution within the Southern Baptist Convention actually has a stated position of young earth creationism?
We have witnessed attacks on the literal and historical record of Genesis among Christians for years. The Gap Theory was popularized by C.I. Scofield (August 19, 1843 – July 24, 1921) in his once popular study Bible. In recent years, pastor, author, and apologist Tim Keller (September 23, 1950 – May 19, 2023) denied the literal record of the creation account by claiming that God could have used evolution to bring about his creation. He stated the following:
Many believers in western culture see the medical and technological advances achieved through science and are grateful for them. . . . How then, can they reconcile what science seems to tell them about evolution with their traditional theological beliefs? Seekers and inquirers about Christianity can be even more perplexed. They may be drawn to many things about the Christian faith, but, they say, “I don’t see how I can believe the Bible if that means I have to reject science.”1
He goes on to say:
There is no logical reason to preclude that God could have used evolution to predispose people to believe in God in general so that people would be able to consider true belief when they hear the gospel preached. This is just one of many places where the supposed incompatibility of orthodox faith with evolution begins to fade away under more sustained reflection.2
The church has been bombarded with all sorts of theories (Gap Theory, Theistic Evolution, Framework Hypothesis, and Progressive Day-Age Creationism) that attempt to blend God’s miracles with evolutionary theory in attempt to accommodate the secular culture. They take the Hebrew word “day” (yom) in Genesis 1:5 (as repeated in the creation account) and claim that it should be interpreted differently than Genesis 8:22 or Exodus 20:9-11. In Genesis 8:22 and Exodus 20:8-11, the word “day” is to be taken as a literal 24-hour period of time while in Genesis 1, the word should be interpreted as a very long period—even millions or billions of years.
Not only is this a perverted method of biblical interpretation that does violence to the text of Scripture, these theories make God appear to be weak. Did God need billions of years to do it, or could he speak light into existence and form the universe in an instant by the power of his spoken word?
Anytime we cast doubt upon the literal record of God’s miraculous work in Genesis we open the gates to the ancient dragon and enemy of God. Every single time you hear a politician, professor, or a pastor referring to the age of the earth as being millions and billions of years—hear that as a direct assault upon the Word of God.
Casting Shadows of Doubt on the Historical Adam Dr. William Lane Craig has published a book, In Quest of the Historical Adam, in which he argues that the historical Adam was real, literal, and historical, but at the same time—mythical. In his book, he argues for a man named Adam but claims that the details recorded in Genesis 2–3 about the origin of mankind and the nature of their fall in sin are what he terms as a mytho-history which denies the literal historical narrative of Genesis.
In an interview with Christianity Today, Dr. Craig explains his positions by saying:
History is a narrative concerning real people and events, and so a mytho-history would be a sort of fusion of the two: a narrative concerning real people and events told in the language of myth in order to ground a culture’s identity and institutions in events of the primordial past.
Dr. Craig was asked a follow-up question. “One reason you support the mytho-history classification is the presence of what you call ‘fantastic elements’ in the text. What are these, and how do they differ from supernatural elements?” He responds:
I define “fantastic elements” as those which, if taken literally, are so extraordinary as to be palpably false. Myths are typically characterized by these sorts of fantastic elements. For example, in the Mesopotamian myth The Epic of Gilgamesh, there’s a story of how the bull of heaven—that is, the constellation Taurus—comes down to Earth and rampages through the town of Uruk until Gilgamesh and his cohort grab the bull by its tail, slay it, and distribute its meat to the town’s citizens.
Similarly, the primordial history of Genesis 1–11 includes elements which, if taken literally, would be so extraordinary as to be clearly false. Take, for example, magical trees with fruit that, if eaten, would impart the knowledge of good and evil or immortality, or the presence of a talking snake that tempts the man and woman to sin. Now, these are different from supernatural or miraculous elements, which concern events God brings about directly. Given the existence of a transcendent creator and designer who established the universe and its laws, it’s perfectly plausible that such a person could work in ways unexplainable by natural causes.3
Dr. Craig claims that the text of Genesis contains “’fantastic elements’ as those which, if taken literally, are so extraordinary as to be palpably false.” In other words, if you claim that Genesis is literal, you deny the real message of the book. To suggest that Dr. Craig is casting a shadow of doubt upon the miracles of Genesis would be a gross understatement. This is a direct and vicious assault upon the text of Scripture and the historical record that God has provided us at the very opening pages of sacred Scripture.
Science is not opposed to the Bible and the Bible is not opposed to science. You can’t measure a miracle by science, but you can observe the aftermath scientifically and see evidence of the miracle such as the rock layers of the global flood.
The Bible is not a science book. Our God created the laws of nature, so it’s not a science textbook, but rather a book that unveils who God is and what God has done and continues to do in his creation. Science is not opposed to the Bible and the Bible is not opposed to science. You can’t measure a miracle by science, but you can observe the aftermath scientifically and see evidence of the miracle such as the rock layers of the global flood. To suggest that historical narrative cannot contain records of God’s literal actions that happen to be extraordinary and miraculous is to deny the trustworthiness of God’s Word. Such a claim is merely an echo of the words of Satan to Eve, “Did God say?”
To suggest that historical narrative cannot contain records of God’s literal actions that happen to be extraordinary and miraculous is to deny the trustworthiness of God’s Word.
The Bible begins with a miracle and the Bible closes with the anticipation of a miracle. If a professor or a pastor can cast doubt upon the miracles in Genesis—it’s likely that he can tempt you to deny the miracles in Luke or Revelation too. If the ancient dragon can tempt you to reject the literal and historical record of the first Adam, he might tempt you to reject the literal and historical record of the last Adam—Jesus Christ.
If the ancient dragon can tempt you to reject the literal and historical record of the first Adam, he might tempt you to reject the literal and historical record of the last Adam—Jesus Christ.
Thomas Jefferson enjoyed reading the Bible, but he rejected the miracles. He took a razor knife and cut the miracles out leaving behind the “moral teaching” of Jesus. His version of the Bible is on display in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History officially called the The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, but most people know it as The Jefferson Bible. We must guard against cutting and pasting the Bible to fit our own opinions. We would not dream of treating the Constitution of the United States in this manner, so why would we dare approach the Word of God with such a destructive hermeneutic?
There is an ongoing battle over the beginning of Scripture, and the church must be resolved to remain steadfast and immovable on this foundational doctrine. The beginning of the Bible matters.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email References
References 1 Tim Keller, “Creation, Evolution, and Christian Laypeople” [accessed: 8/12/23] 2 Ibid., [accessed: 8/12/23] 3 William Lane Craig, “William Lane Craig Explores the Headwaters of the Human Race” Interview, [accessed: 8/12/23]
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jan 2, 2024 12:10:03 GMT -5
25 Quotes on Calvinism Share
g3min.org/25-quotes-on-calvinism/ JOSH BUICE
justin-ha-bxKKZNNsqTg-unsplash When it comes to the study of salvation, there are two main ways of viewing the doctrine of soteriology. It would be safe to say that the prominent view elevates the free will of man within evangelical circles. The less popular view elevates the sovereignty of God and rejects the idea that man is free. The Arminian position, which is the most common position, rejects the divine decree of God in electing some people to salvation through Jesus Christ. In the Arminian position, man is ultimately free to choose or reject God.
The Calvinistic position emphasizes the sovereignty of God in saving sinners (see Ephesians 1-2; John 1:12-13). In this system of thought, God’s sovereign grace is necessary due to the total depravity of man who is completely incapable of choosing God nor does he have any desire for God apart from sovereign grace.
Years ago I found myself very discouraged over the debate between Arminianism and Calvinism. I talked to my pastor and he provided some good resources for me to read. One of those books was A Journey in Grace, by Richard Belcher. To this day, I am grateful for the recommendation and gentleness in which my pastor displayed in pointing me in the direction of the doctrines of grace.
As time would progress, I would spend many hours studying these issues as I attempted to establish my position in this historic debate. Through the years, I read many passionate voices that would seek to demonize the opposing side of the theological fence in blog articles, seminary lectures, and conference sermons. Ultimately, I would come to embrace the Calvinistic position. At first, I considered myself to be a 4-point Calvinist. That would later change as I continued to read and study the Scriptures.
The final piece of the puzzle for me was Limited Atonement. Several voices, including my pastor who was a 5-point Calvinist, William Carey a missionary from church history, and Charles Spurgeon (arguably “the Prince of Preachers”) would all be used to persuade me to embrace the doctrines of grace. However, it was in my study of John 3:16 that I became completely convinced of limited atonement.
My journey may be different than yours, but needless to say this debate is one that is often fueled by more heat than light which is unfortunate. When I’m asked about this doctrine, I encourage believers to read extensively and pray earnestly through this study. I’ve compiled some helpful quotes on the doctrine of salvation. I trust that these quotes will be a means of encouraging you and challenging you as you engage in this historic study on the doctrines of grace—otherwise known as Calvinism.
1. John Calvin “We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by which He compacted with Himself what He willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is foreordained for some, eternal damnation for others.” 1
2. John Knox “God has predestinated some to life, and others to destruction.” 2
3. Charles Spurgeon “There is a prevalent opinion that says that Calvinism should be, if it is discussed at all, reserved for more mature Christians, not taught to new converts, and certainly never ever preached to the unbelievers in an evangelistic message. This is one result of the idea that Calvinism is somehow incompatible with evangelism. From the several sermons quoted, it is obvious that Spurgeon did not believe that Calvinism should be hidden from the unconverted nor the new believer. Why? Because Calvinism is the Gospel:
There is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called . . . , after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor.” 3
4. William Carey “The doctrines of God’s sovereign grace do not interfere with the responsibility of man nor destroy the freedom of his will.” 4
5. John Knox “Predestination we call the eternal decree of God, by which He has determined in Himself what He would have to become of every individual of mankind.” 5
6. Paul Washer “The proof or validation of genuine conversion is that the one who professes faith in Christ perseveres in that faith and grows in sanctification throughout the full course of his life. If a person professes faith in Christ and yet falls away or makes no progress in godliness, it does not mean that he has lost his salvation. It reveals that he was never truly converted..” 6
7. John MacArthur “Scripture speaks with absolute, unmistakable clarity on these vital issues: (1) Sinners are utterly helpless to redeem themselves or to contribute anything meritorious toward their own salvation (Rom 8:7-8). (2) God is sovereign in the exercise of His saving Will (Eph 1:4-5). (3) Christ died as a substitute who bore the full weight of God’s wrath on behalf of His people, and his atoning work is efficacious for their salvation (Isa. 53:5). (4) God’s saving purpose cannot be thwarted (John 6:37), meaning none of Christ’s true sheep will ever be lost (John 10:27-29). That is because (5) God assures the perseverance of His elect (Jude 24; Phil 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5).” 7
8. Voddie Baucham “Being born again is not a work of man. Being born again is not a work of the flesh. And being born again, by the way, precedes our faith.” 8
9. Steven Lawson “Calvinism is the biblical understanding of the plan of salvation.” 9
10. Joel Beeke “Calvinism is a system of theology that honors God and His Word by giving Him all the credit for man’s salvation from beginning to end.”10
11. Sinclair Ferguson “Calvinism is not a dry theological system, but a powerful and practical way of understanding the Christian life.”11
12. A.W. Pink “When the solemn and blessed subject of Divine foreordination is expounded, when God’s eternal choice of certain ones to be conformed to the image of His Son is set forth, the Enemy sends along some man to argue that election is based upon the foreknowledge of God, and this “foreknowledge” is interpreted to mean that God foresaw certain ones would be more pliable than others, that they would respond more readily to the strivings of the Spirit, and that because God knew they would believe, He, accordingly, predestinated them unto salvation. But such a statement is radically wrong. It repudiates the truth of total depravity, for it argues that there is something good in some men It takes away the independency of God, for it makes His decrees rest upon what He discovers in the creature It completely turns things upside down, for in saying God foresaw certain sinners would believe in Christ, and that because of this, He predestinated them unto salvation, is the very reverse of the truth. Scripture affirms that God, in His high sovereignty, singled out certain ones to be recipients of His distinguishing favors (Acts 13:48), and therefore He determined to bestow upon them the gift of faith. False theology makes God’s foreknowledge of our believing the cause of His election to salvation; whereas, God’s election is the cause, and our believing in Christ is the effect.”12
13. Thomas Watson “God’s decrees are the very foundation of free-will; for He decreed what man’s will should be.”13
14. Isaac Watts “Salvation is all of grace, and that grace is sovereign, discriminating, and distinguishing.” 14
15. John Bunyan “The doctrine of predestination and the doctrine of free will are not contrary to one another, but are perfectly consistent.”15
16. John Newton “The doctrine of election is a very humbling truth, but it is a very sweet one to those who have been made to taste that the Lord is gracious.”16
17. Martin Luther “God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly.”17
18. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Calvinism is the only system of theology that is truly biblical.” 18
19. George Whitefield It was Charles Spurgeon who once quoted the great evangelist George Whitefield. He said, “George Whitfield said, ‘We are all born Arminians.’ It is grace that turns us into Calvinists.”19
20. William Perkins “Predestination is God’s eternal decree, by which he did foreordain two things: First, to glorify himself in some men, as in the vessels of mercy; secondly, to show his justice in others, as in the vessels of wrath.” 20
21. John Flavel “God hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creature; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.”21
22. Jonathan Edwards “God decrees all things that come to pass, so that there is a necessary connection between the decree and the event decreed; God decrees things in such a manner, that He is the sovereign Disposer and Orderer of all events; but yet so that the contingency of events remains; and that there is a real liberty of second causes. God decrees the manner of events, the time, place, and circumstances; but yet so that the events themselves are contingent, and free actions are not necessitated by anything going before, either in God or the creature.”22
23. John Owen “The Arminians hold that Christ died equally and indifferently for all men. We affirm that Christ died for all and only the elect. If He died for all, and yet all are not saved, then His death is not efficacious. But if He died for the elect, then His death is effectual for their salvation.”23
24. Richard Belcher “There would never be a situation where one of the elect would not want to be saved, for the regenerating power of God will grant sight, desire, power and enablement to the elect in the work of salvation.”24
25. R.C. Sproul “If God’s sovereignty is restricted by man’s freedom, then God is not sovereign; man is sovereign.”25
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jan 6, 2024 17:13:57 GMT -5
MAY 07, 2019 GOD Why You Should Fear God FearFearFear of GodLead Article Share
g3min.org/why-you-should-fear-god/ JOSH BUICE
Fear-of-God According to statistics, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older. That equates to 18.1% of the total population. When we consider the vast number of people who are plagued with fear, it’s amazing to consider that there are many different types of causes or sources to the anxiety. There is a phobia based anxiety and then a more general anxiety disorder as well. At the end of the day, millions of people in America are afraid of many different things, but we would be shocked to know how small the percentage of people is in America who actually fear God.
Why You Should Fear the Wrath of God There are many people today who are living life in complete rejection of God’s presence and complete denial of his authority. Some claim to be agnostic while others embrace atheism. Still others live such lives as Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Catholics while rejecting the authority of God. Religion is not what shields people from God’s wrath. Countless numbers of people have gone to hell while being very much committed to religion.
Years ago, a wicked Pharaoh ruled Egypt and placed the Jews under brutal slave practices. God raised up a prophet named Moses to lead the people out of the land of Egypt. However, when Moses went before the wicked king to announce the plan and demands of God, the arrogant king responded by saying, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). It would not be long before the God of all creation made himself known to the arrogant and confused ruler. It would be a lesson he would never forget. We must not forget that Pharaoh was very much a religious man—but he refused to bow to the one true and living God.
In this life, we have many things that can cause us to fear. Such examples may include the fear of spiders, snakes, or violent storms. Still others fear disease and death itself. While there are things in this life that instill fear into the hearts of people, we must be reminded that we must fear God. Storms and snakes may damage your physical body, but it’s God who can damn your soul in hell for eternity. Listen to the words of Jesus:
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28).
If you have never turned to God by faith in Jesus Christ and repented of your rebellion and the violation of God’s law—you have a reason to fear God. Consider the fact that the very Creator of the entire universe—the sovereign ruler of the entire world has given us specific demands, yet as a rebel of his law you will be judged by him. Holy justice will be executed on your soul and there will be no plea bargain. In short, you should fear God. Jesus said, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Consider the terms used in Scripture to describe the place of damnation:
Matthew 5:22 – “hell fire” Matthew 8:12 – “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:13 – “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Luke 13:28 – “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mark 9:44-48 – Three times the Bible mentions “worm dies not” and “fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:47 – “hell fire” Revelation 20:14 – “lake of fire” Beyond specific references to hell, the Bible likewise uses other references in a more indirect manner to describe the judgment of God upon sinners. Such references include:
Pit (2 Pet. 2:4). Falling into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31). Second death (Rev. 20:14). Blackness and darkness forever (Jude 13). Why Christians Should Fear God Too As a child of God, we have the wonderful joy of knowing that all of our sins have been atoned for in the death of Jesus on the cross (1 Pet. 2:24; John 3:16). As a result, we are no longer the enemies of God (Rom. 5:10). We are now adopted into the family of God and enjoy the privileges of sons and daughters of God (Rom. 8:15-17). However, even so, we too must fear God!
When we as God’s children fear God, it’s a different type of fear than an unbeliever who must fear the wrath of God. As the children of God, we learn that we fear God by reverencing his sovereign power, his benevolent love, his transcendent holiness, and his providential rule of the entire universe. Consider what God’s Word teaches about such fear:
Psalm 103:17 – But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children Psalm 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. Proverbs 14:26 – In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Although this is not an exhaustive list, it’s a good reminder of how we as God’s children should approach God with humble hearts and a proper fear that is genuine respect of who God is and what he has accomplished in the salvation of our soul. A proper fear of God leads to a proper worship of God. A proper fear and worship of God leads to a proper lifestyle that brings glory to God. Without a proper fear of God—we will be led down the path of pride and self-serving that doesn’t bring God glory.
Do you have a proper fear of God?
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jan 8, 2024 20:07:04 GMT -5
The Assurance of the Holy Spirit Expository PreachingLead ArticlePreaching Share
g3min.org/the-assurance-of-the-holy-spirit/ JOSH BUICE
Sermon-Review Yesterday, I preached Romans 8:14 in our series through Romans. As we’ve noted already, the eighth chapter of Romans is a commentary on the ministry of the Holy Spirit and much of that ministry is centered upon the assurance of salvation. One of the great threats to joy and traps of discouragement in life is the lack of assurance that many people struggle with as they pass through this evil world. Some of that lack of assurance is because of struggles with sin and yet others are merely the ongoing attacks of the ancient enemy of God—the devil. In this one verse, we learn how to have assurance as believers.
Mortification of Sin Produces Assurance Paul writes, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” The word translated led comes from the Greek term “ἄγω” which means, “To direct the movement of an object from one place to another.” In Luke 4:40 the text says that people “brought” all those who had diseases and sicknesses to Jesus to be healed. This is the same word translated led in Romans 8:14. It implies movement. To be a Christian will involve movement and this movement known as sanctification involves waging war with sin.
Notice the connection between 13 and 14 as we see the connection language of “For” by Paul which is being used as a hinge. In other words, everyone who is led by the Spirit of God will be able to overcome sin and will be engaged in the mortification of sin. This is not something we can do on our own, but as we overcome sin, it’s yet another proof that we are being led by the Spirit and empowered to victory.
Progressive sanctification is the ongoing and progressive work of the holy Spirit changing from one degree to another—an ongoing spiritual growth that results in spiritual maturity—causing us to become more conformed to the image of Christ than the world. We see this language of sanctification and holiness all throughout the New Testament (1 Thess. 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 9:27; 1 John 4:4; Heb. 10:23). In other words, if you are not pursuing holiness and overcoming sin as a result of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, you don’t have a right to call yourself a Christian. In such a case, you should lack assurance.
The New Birth Produces Assurance In all of our study of salvation, we must not forget that the work of salvation is a work of our triune God. As we study the Trinity, we must not forget that the Holy Spirit himself is God. He is no less God than the Son, nor is he less God than the Father. He is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son—never created and will never cease to be God.
In Job 33:4 – The Breath of Almighty In Psalm 51:12 – The Generous Spirit In Psalm 143:10 – The Good Spirit In Psalm 51:11 – The Holy Spirit In Isaiah 11 – The Spirit of Wisdom, counsel, might, understanding, knowledge, and fear. In Hebrews 9:14 – The Eternal Spirit In Hebrews 10 – The Spirit of Grace In John 14 and 15 – The Comforter In 1 Peter 4 – The Spirit of Glory In Revelation 1 – The Seven-Fold Spirit In Romans 8:9 – The Spirit of Christ One of the great errors of many within religious circles – even many within evangelical circles – is to place a hyper-focus upon the Holy Spirit. When we read the New Testament, we find that his ministry is to lead us to Christ—not to himself. Therefore, the overarching ministry of the Spirit is to direct us to Christ in the pages of the Bible (2 Pet. 2:21) and to draw us by his work of conviction to a place of repentance and faith. We see this language of being called to salvation throughout the New Testament in verses such as:
called to fellowship with the Son (1 Cor. 1:9) called to inherit a blessing (1 Pet. 3:9) called to freedom (Gal. 5:13) called to peace (1 Cor. 7:15) called to holiness (1 Thess. 4:7) called to a worthy walk (Eph. 4:1) called to one hope (Eph. 4:4) called to eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12) The work of salvation is not a work of our human will. It’s a work of God’s saving grace. It is the work of the Spirit who causes us to be born again. After the new birth, we leave behind a life of slavery to sin and walk in obedience and submission to our new Master—Jesus Christ. We become slaves of righteousness. It’s the work of the Spirit to lead us and guide us to truth and to correct us of error.
As we live the life of a Christian, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us and leading us, and the Spirit leads us to identify with God’s people in the church. Notice the language Paul uses in Romans 8:14, “sons of God.” That’s family language which implies that we are apart of God’s family. We have brothers and sisters in the faith—God is our Father—we are his sons and daughters. Therefore, we need one another and God never intended for anyone to journey alone. One of the evidences that you are a “son” or “daughter” of God is that you love the church! We are called to love the church, serve the church, forgive one another in the church, and encourage one another in the church.
Love the Church
Romans 12:10 – Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 1 Peter 1:22 – Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart 1 John 3:23 – And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 1 John 4:7 – Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Serve the Church
Galatians 5:13 – For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Forgive One Another
Ephesians 4:3 – eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Encourage One Another
Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works Are you plagued with fears and doubts regarding your salvation? Ask yourself a couple of very important questions as you examine your own soul. Do you have evidence that the Spirit of God is causing you to hate sin and to fight against it? Do you have a love for the church of Jesus Christ? If this is not true of you—you may simply have religion, but your religion apart from genuine faith in Jesus Christ is empty and vain.
If you’re not a Christian today—why not come to Jesus in repentance admitting that you’ve sinned against God and that you need his love and mercy and forgiveness through Christ?
If you desire to be a Christian – it’s God who works in you such a desire. Respond to him – call upon the Lord even now. He loves to save sinners.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email AUTHOR
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 1, 2024 11:32:31 GMT -5
The Pit of Pornography Share
g3min.org/the-pit-of-pornography/ JOSH BUICE
MacBook on brown wooden surface Throughout the years of pastoral ministry, one constant sin that has continued to surface during counseling sessions has been pornography. From young to old—it remains a massive pitfall for many men and an increasing number of women. In the Bible, we see a word used in the Greek “πορνεία” that is often translated sexual immorality. From that term we derive our English word, pornography. From this pit many men and women have perished.
The numbers regarding the pornographic industry are staggering. The industry generates billions of dollars annually and provides push button access to images and videos that are consumed by millions of men and women who are typing in words such as “adult” and “sex” into their smart phones by the minute.
Many monsters of society such as Bundy, Dahmer, Richard Ramirez, and John Wayne Gacy all professed to an ongoing porn addiction. That should not be something we read over too quickly. While pornography doesn’t always lead to serial murder, it rarely if ever remains self-contained within the realm of personal lust and sexual immorality. It almost always leads to additional types of rebellion.
While pornography doesn’t always lead to serial murder, it rarely if ever remains self-contained within the realm of personal lust and sexual immorality. It almost always leads to additional types of rebellion.
The present evil world that we live in is like Vanity Fair. The glitter of sin is constantly surrounding us. Even if you don’t think you live in Vanity Fair, you live near Vanity Fair because the power of smart phones and technology. Beware of the perils of pornography.
The Perils of Pornography All throughout the Scriptures, we are given the image of Satan as the ancient deceiver. In the Garden of Eden, he entices Eve and lures her away from God’s good provision to the forbidden fruit with deception. The ancient tactics of deception find their source in Satan’s toolbox. As the Scripture reveals, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Peril #1 – Deception
The first peril of pornography is deception. Being deceived is a horrible thing to experience. Perhaps you have been deceived by an online marketer or by a phone scam that cost you money as a result. The pornographic industry is built upon the foundation of deception. It creates a fake world with fake sexual freedom that results in much pain and often great destruction.
The devil has been masquerading as an angel of light from the beginning (2 Cor 11:14). The truth is, he’s an angel of darkness—the chief of all demons who love to deceive and destroy (John 10:10). One of the choicest tools used for devilish attacks is pornography. It strikes at the heart of the sanctity of human sexuality and destroys marriages and families. The subtlety of sin is often the danger. Sin never introduces itself as a deceitful devil or a powerful and destructive monster. The temptations of sin are deceptive tricks that the ancient enemy of God employs as traps that lead to much pain and destruction.
Sin never introduces itself as a deceitful devil or a powerful and destructive monster. The temptations of sin are deceptive tricks that the ancient enemy of God employs as traps that lead to much pain and destruction.
One common way pornography deceives a person is by making them believe that sex is a private and personal thing that can be performed alone. That is simply not true. Sex was never created by God for personal autonomy or to be performed in isolation. Sex by its very design is relational. Pornography creates the deceptive idea that a person doesn’t need marriage to enjoy sex, and that it’s possible to engage in sexual activity fueled by lust in isolation to the other person in the marriage covenant. This is a lie and it must be wholeheartedly rejected.
Peril #2 – Corruption
The pornographic industry corrupts a person’s view of human sexuality. God created sex as a good thing for marriage, not as a produced to be consumed for recreation purposes. The entire porn industry is built upon deception and deception leads to corruption. The fruit of pornography is a corrupt view of sex, but also a distortion of relationships.
Men who are enslaved by pornography often come to view women as objects to be consumed rather than people who should be respected and valued as image bearers of God. The pornography industry objectifies people and that type of consumption will impact how a man treats his wife in the general relationship of marriage as well as the marriage bed.
People who are consuming porn and are keeping it a secret from their spouses will ultimately lose their respect and trust when it’s revealed. It’s only a matter of time before a person’s sin will find them out. This is a high price to pay for something as cheap and disposable as pornography.
Peril #3 – Buyer’s Remorse
Sin will always take a person farther than they want to go, keep them longer than they are willing to stay, and cost them more than they are willing to pay. That is certainly true regarding pornography. Have you ever been tempted to purchase something at a shopping mall and after the purchase, you feel the regret of the purchase haunting you? It’s one thing to spend money that you didn’t have on something that you didn’t need. It’s quite a different thing to engage in porn use only to feel the disappointment of the sin weighing upon you on a regular basis.
According to the “American Perspectives Survey” by the Survey Center on American Life, only 26% of men who report having watched pornography in the past day say they are satisfied. The more you examine the statistics regarding those who watch pornography, it becomes evident that they consistently less than satisfied.
In fact, the study reveals that men who watched pornography recently report the highest rates of loneliness. The study reveals that 60% of men who watched pornography in the past 24 hours say they have felt loneliness and isolation. Those who use pornography are led to feelings of dissatisfaction and insecurity. When you consider the connection between suicide rates and porn use, it’s abundantly clear that those people who are entrapped by the porn industry are never truly satisfied. Porn is a product designed to never satisfy its customers in order to drive them back for further and more frequent consumption.
The Pathway to Victory The beautiful truth of the gospel is that it’s the message of good news to fallen sinners. In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul addresses the church and reminds them that they were all engaged in various lusts of the flesh and passions of sin. This is what Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.1
The same gospel that forgives sinners is the same gospel that frees sinners from the trappings of sin (John 8:32, 36). As with any addiction, the path is not easy, but there is freedom in Christ to overcome the addiction. Sin enslaves people. It becomes their master and the addict becomes the slave. The pornography industry at the most basic level is a slave market. In order to be free from the slave market of sin, a person must be given the freedom through Jesus Christ. We see this in Romans 6 as Paul writes to the church at Rome:
We know that our old self was crucified with him [Jesus] in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.2
We must also remember that the Scriptures are sufficient to address the perils of pornography. Although the Bible is an ancient book, it’s sufficient to address the complexities of our modern culture. The Bible has a high view of human sexuality. In short, God created sex as a good thing. When we come to view sex through a proper lens, we are able to have freedom over the depraved and twisted view of sex that flows out of the porn industry. As we study the Bible’s teachings regarding human sexuality and a biblical portrait of sex—we come to see it as sacred rather than a cheap commodity.
Clear Humility
In order for anyone entrapped by the slave market of pornography to overcome the addiction, there must be a clear and true humble approach. There can be no excuse offered for the addiction. The person must come to God with a pure and broken heart and a true admission of guilt before genuine freedom over the sin can be achieved. If a person plays the ancient blame game regarding porn addiction, he or she will only continue to return to the addiction like a dog returns to its vomit (Prov 26:11).
When David was confronted by Nathan regarding his sin with Bathsheba, he didn’t blame her for accepting his invitation. He didn’t blame his servants for fetching her and bringing her into his chambers. He took responsibility and recognized that it was ultimately a sin first and foremost against God. We see his humility as we read Psalm 51. The truly humble soul cries out to God for mercy without qualification.
Pursuit of Holiness
The Christian who truly desires a life free from the addiction of pornography will need to strive for holiness. The Christian life involves both positional and progressive sanctification. Positionally speaking, at the moment of conversion we are in Christ and separated from the world. Regarding progressive sanctification, it’s a process. The Christian life is an ongoing marathon of sanctification. We must see that sin is crouching at the door on a daily basis (Gen 4:6-7). It was John Owen who once remarked, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” That could never be more true than with regard to pornography. The Christian must make a choice to never be ruled or enslaved by pornography in order to be successful.
It was John Owen who once remarked, “Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” That could never be more true than with regard to pornography.
The Christian life requires a steadfast approach to walking faithfully with the Lord. The demonic forces of this present age will continuously seek to lead a person back into the pit of pornography. The Christian life demands a daily dying to the flesh and a consecrated heart before the Lord. There is no other pathway to victory other than the path of ongoing sanctification and a true pursuit of holiness. Thomas Brooks observes:
A holy man knows that all sin strikes at the holiness of God, the glory of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the law of God: and therefore his heart rises against all; he looks upon every sin as the Scribes and Pharisees that accused Christ; and as that Judas that betrayed Christ; and as that Pilate that condemned Christ; and as those soldiers that scourged Christ; and as those spears that pierced Christ.3
The next time you’re finding yourself enticed by pornography, view it as that Judas that betrayed Christ rather than the perceived beauty contained in the glittering image. The Christian must view pornography as a deadly viper. You would not take a deadly viper into your lap, so why would you embrace pornography considering that it’s far more destructive?
Dear Christian, there is hope for you in Christ. You can experience forgiveness for the use of pornography and freedom to overcome its power. Run to Christ and flee from the pit of porn. In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, he illustrates this well when Christian and Hopeful find themselves as prisoners in the Dungeon of Doubting Castle.
When the two friends were journeying together to the Celestial City, they made a great error. They followed Vainglory off the path of righteousness down another path. It was there that he fell into a pit and died. They couldn’t see him fall, but they heard it! Then, suddenly, they were captured by the Giant and placed in the dungeon of Doubting Castle. They were abused, mistreated, and discouraged. It was then that Christian remembered that he had this special key, the Key of Promise, in his chest pocket that would open any door in the castle. He tried it, and as Bunyan recorded, it caused the lock to open with ease. They were able to escape and return to the path of righteousness.
The same promise remains true for us today. If we hide God’s Word in our hearts, we will learn to not sin against our Lord.
Psalm 119:11 – I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (ESV)
———————
Recommended Resources
Accountable For You
This software will enable you to have ongoing accountability within your inner circle of friends and family.
Sexual Detox: A Guide for Guys Who Are Sick of Porn – Tim Challies
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 5, 2024 11:35:44 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 6, 2024 13:04:02 GMT -5
Does Hell Have Various Degrees of Punishment? Hell Share
g3min.org/does-hell-have-various-degrees-of-punishment/ JOSH BUICE
flame illustration The doctrine of hell is one that is often neglected or avoided simply because of the weightiness and darkness of the subject. However, it’s critically important that Christians speak about hell in the way that the biblical text speaks about hell. Our doctrinal positions should be formed on the basis of Scripture rather than our feelings about a specific subject. Is your doctrine of hell different than Jesus’ doctrine of hell?
What Did Jesus Teach About Hell? In Jesus’ earthly ministry, he preached many sermons and taught on various subjects which are visibly evident in his most famous sermon known as “The Sermon on the Mount.” The preaching of Jesus was not exactly light. As the Prophet greater than Moses, Jesus thundered the truth of the Kingdom of God including heaven and the judgment of God in “the hell of fire” (Matt 5:22). Jesus pointed to the certainty of both heaven and hell. Jesus likewise spoke of the eternality of both heaven and hell (Matt 25:46).
Is your doctrine of hell different than Jesus’ doctrine of hell?
The Lord Jesus himself frequently described hell as a place of righteous judgment upon rebels and lawbreakers. We see evidence of Jesus’ doctrine of hell in multiple passages (Matt 5:22; 8:12; 10:28; 13:42; 24:51; 23:33; 25:30; Mark 9:43–48; Luke 13:28). In these texts, we see weighty language of wrath, retribution, and punishment that point to the holy vengeance of a sovereign God who must judge sinners.
In Jesus’ parable in Luke 16 regarding the rich man and Lazarus, the doctrine of divine judgment in hell is illustrated vividly as the rich man immediately drops into the abyss of hell after his death. In the flames of hell, the rich man requests a drop of water to cool his tongue, because he states that he was in “anguish” in the flames of judgment (Luke 16:24). In contrast, Jesus points to the fact that the poor man (Lazarus) was in complete comfort in the presence of Abraham (Luke 16:25). The presence of Abraham was a means of illustrating a place of blessing since the Jews idolized Abraham as their Jewish hero. The parable points to the severity of the divine vengeance of God.
When we examine Jesus’ parables and his preaching on the doctrine of hell, it’s clear that he intentionally employed key words to underscore the severity of hell.
Fire: Jesus often used the imagery of fire to illustrate the punishment awaiting the unrepentant. In Matthew 25:41 we find these words by Jesus, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels'” (ESV).
Outer Darkness: This term highlights the separation from God’s presence and the despair associated with eternal punishment. In Matthew 8:12, Jesus said, “while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (ESV).
Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth: This is descriptive language indicating the anguish and regret of those facing judgment. In Matthew 13:42, Jesus warned that those who experience the final judgment of God will be thrown “into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (ESV).
Degrees of Punishment The Bible teaches that hell will be more severe for some people than for others. While all unbelievers who die outside of the grace of God will experience the wrath of God for eternity in hell, we must recognize the clear teachings of Scripture that point to varying degrees of punishment in hell.
In Luke 10 and Matthew 11, a parallel passage is found in both Gospels that points to the reality of different degrees of punishment in hell. It may come as a surprise to some people, but Jesus actually taught that hell would be more severe for those who lived in cities like Capernaum than for those who lived in the wicked city of Sodom. Notice the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:
“Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”1
Jesus issues a woe to the people living in three specific cities and contrasted them against three additional cities. The cities near the Sea of Galilee (Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum) had been at the center of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The people there had seen a great light. They had witnessed his miracles, signs, and wonders—and heard his powerful preaching and teaching. They had filled up synagogues and houses as Jesus preached the Scriptures. Yet, most of those people had walked away and rejected Christ.
The other cities mentioned by Jesus (Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom) were all cities to the north—near the Mediterranean Sea. They were Phoenician cities. William Hendriksen explains:
Yet, from Isa. 23 and Ezek. 26–28 one receives the definite impression that the commercial seafarers and colonizers who inhabited these cities were proud, money-mad, and cruel. 2
Amos speaks of the people of Tyre selling Israelites as slaves to the Edomites. According to Joel 3:6, the Phoenicians sold the children of Judah and Jerusalem into the hands of the Greeks. We know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The city of Sodom was filled with homosexuality and vile sin. It’s from this city that we derived a word “sodomite” to describe sexual deviancy and rebellion against God in grotesque sexual sin. Yet, Jesus provided a warning to the cities that had the most access to his preaching ministry that their judgment would be more severe. As Matthew 11:20 states, because they had most access to Jesus’ ministry and yet they did not repent.
In a modern day example, a morally acceptable grandmother who attends church every Sunday morning and has never committed any vile crimes against children, embezzled money from her employer, or committed murder can die and go to hell as an unconverted church member. In contrast, the savage who grows up in a dark jungle and is taught to worship his ancestors and never one time hears the name of Jesus dies and goes immediately to hell too. However, the grandmother’s hell will be more severe. Why will it be more severe? According to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 11 and Luke 10, it will be more severe on the basis of her access to the gospel and being responsible for her ongoing rejection of Christ.
Hell will be far more severe than for others because our Lord is a righteous and perfect judge who judges with perfect justice and divine judgment.
Elsewhere in the New Testament, we find other passages that illustrate the various degrees of eternal punishment. In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus makes the following statement:
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
According to Christ, every word will be judged, which reveals that there will be a greater condemnation for some people than for others. In Luke 12:47-48, Jesus contrasts two servants who were given a command to follow, and one received a “severe beating” while another received a “light beating.” This too illustrates a difference in punishment that will be issued at the return of Christ.
And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, he writes the following in Romans 2:5:
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
In the verse that immediately follows, Paul writes, “He will render to each one according to his works.” The records of our lives will be opened according to Revelation 20:12. We will be judged by the deeds we have done and the words we have spoken. The books that chronicle our lives will be opened and every action, word, thought, and deed will be exposed, examined, and judged accordingly. Since every word and deed will be different for every person, it’s clear that different degrees of punishment will be issued.
In another passage in the New Testament, a clear warning is issued by the author to the Hebrews that points to the vengeance of God being directed toward those who commit sin. In Hebrews 10:29-31, we find the following words:
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The key language “worse punishment” and “vengeance is mine, I will repay” points to the fact that those who deserve worse punishment will receive worse punishment by the Lord himself. Hell will be far more severe for some than for others because our Lord is a righteous and perfect judge who judges with perfect justice and divine judgment.
While the doctrine of hell may have fallen out of popularity among many within evangelicalism, we must adopt the same doctrine of hell that Jesus taught and the same doctrine of hell that the New Testament apostles preached. The teachings of the New Testament point to hell’s severity, but also of the different degrees of punishment that will be measured out by the sovereign judge of all mankind.
Do you know someone who has delayed in coming to Christ? Remind that person that every day given to sin stores up more wrath. Every word spoken, careless thought, and lustful action will be judged accordingly.
Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is the most famous sermon preached in the history of America. Consider the words of a faithful servant of our Lord who preached this sermon powerfully and God used it to awaken many people to their need to repent:
The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. Thus all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life, are in the hands of an angry God.”3
Matthew 10:28 – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can both soul and body in hell.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 6, 2024 13:08:38 GMT -5
Does Hell Have Various Degrees of Punishment? Hell Share
g3min.org/does-hell-have-various-degrees-of-punishment/ JOSH BUICE
flame illustration The doctrine of hell is one that is often neglected or avoided simply because of the weightiness and darkness of the subject. However, it’s critically important that Christians speak about hell in the way that the biblical text speaks about hell. Our doctrinal positions should be formed on the basis of Scripture rather than our feelings about a specific subject. Is your doctrine of hell different than Jesus’ doctrine of hell?
What Did Jesus Teach About Hell? In Jesus’ earthly ministry, he preached many sermons and taught on various subjects which are visibly evident in his most famous sermon known as “The Sermon on the Mount.” The preaching of Jesus was not exactly light. As the Prophet greater than Moses, Jesus thundered the truth of the Kingdom of God including heaven and the judgment of God in “the hell of fire” (Matt 5:22). Jesus pointed to the certainty of both heaven and hell. Jesus likewise spoke of the eternality of both heaven and hell (Matt 25:46).
Is your doctrine of hell different than Jesus’ doctrine of hell?
The Lord Jesus himself frequently described hell as a place of righteous judgment upon rebels and lawbreakers. We see evidence of Jesus’ doctrine of hell in multiple passages (Matt 5:22; 8:12; 10:28; 13:42; 24:51; 23:33; 25:30; Mark 9:43–48; Luke 13:28). In these texts, we see weighty language of wrath, retribution, and punishment that point to the holy vengeance of a sovereign God who must judge sinners.
In Jesus’ parable in Luke 16 regarding the rich man and Lazarus, the doctrine of divine judgment in hell is illustrated vividly as the rich man immediately drops into the abyss of hell after his death. In the flames of hell, the rich man requests a drop of water to cool his tongue, because he states that he was in “anguish” in the flames of judgment (Luke 16:24). In contrast, Jesus points to the fact that the poor man (Lazarus) was in complete comfort in the presence of Abraham (Luke 16:25). The presence of Abraham was a means of illustrating a place of blessing since the Jews idolized Abraham as their Jewish hero. The parable points to the severity of the divine vengeance of God.
When we examine Jesus’ parables and his preaching on the doctrine of hell, it’s clear that he intentionally employed key words to underscore the severity of hell.
Fire: Jesus often used the imagery of fire to illustrate the punishment awaiting the unrepentant. In Matthew 25:41 we find these words by Jesus, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels'” (ESV).
Outer Darkness: This term highlights the separation from God’s presence and the despair associated with eternal punishment. In Matthew 8:12, Jesus said, “while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (ESV).
Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth: This is descriptive language indicating the anguish and regret of those facing judgment. In Matthew 13:42, Jesus warned that those who experience the final judgment of God will be thrown “into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (ESV).
Degrees of Punishment The Bible teaches that hell will be more severe for some people than for others. While all unbelievers who die outside of the grace of God will experience the wrath of God for eternity in hell, we must recognize the clear teachings of Scripture that point to varying degrees of punishment in hell.
In Luke 10 and Matthew 11, a parallel passage is found in both Gospels that points to the reality of different degrees of punishment in hell. It may come as a surprise to some people, but Jesus actually taught that hell would be more severe for those who lived in cities like Capernaum than for those who lived in the wicked city of Sodom. Notice the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:
“Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”1
Jesus issues a woe to the people living in three specific cities and contrasted them against three additional cities. The cities near the Sea of Galilee (Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum) had been at the center of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The people there had seen a great light. They had witnessed his miracles, signs, and wonders—and heard his powerful preaching and teaching. They had filled up synagogues and houses as Jesus preached the Scriptures. Yet, most of those people had walked away and rejected Christ.
The other cities mentioned by Jesus (Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom) were all cities to the north—near the Mediterranean Sea. They were Phoenician cities. William Hendriksen explains:
Yet, from Isa. 23 and Ezek. 26–28 one receives the definite impression that the commercial seafarers and colonizers who inhabited these cities were proud, money-mad, and cruel. 2
Amos speaks of the people of Tyre selling Israelites as slaves to the Edomites. According to Joel 3:6, the Phoenicians sold the children of Judah and Jerusalem into the hands of the Greeks. We know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. The city of Sodom was filled with homosexuality and vile sin. It’s from this city that we derived a word “sodomite” to describe sexual deviancy and rebellion against God in grotesque sexual sin. Yet, Jesus provided a warning to the cities that had the most access to his preaching ministry that their judgment would be more severe. As Matthew 11:20 states, because they had most access to Jesus’ ministry and yet they did not repent.
In a modern day example, a morally acceptable grandmother who attends church every Sunday morning and has never committed any vile crimes against children, embezzled money from her employer, or committed murder can die and go to hell as an unconverted church member. In contrast, the savage who grows up in a dark jungle and is taught to worship his ancestors and never one time hears the name of Jesus dies and goes immediately to hell too. However, the grandmother’s hell will be more severe. Why will it be more severe? According to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 11 and Luke 10, it will be more severe on the basis of her access to the gospel and being responsible for her ongoing rejection of Christ.
Hell will be far more severe than for others because our Lord is a righteous and perfect judge who judges with perfect justice and divine judgment.
Elsewhere in the New Testament, we find other passages that illustrate the various degrees of eternal punishment. In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus makes the following statement:
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
According to Christ, every word will be judged, which reveals that there will be a greater condemnation for some people than for others. In Luke 12:47-48, Jesus contrasts two servants who were given a command to follow, and one received a “severe beating” while another received a “light beating.” This too illustrates a difference in punishment that will be issued at the return of Christ.
And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
In Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, he writes the following in Romans 2:5:
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
In the verse that immediately follows, Paul writes, “He will render to each one according to his works.” The records of our lives will be opened according to Revelation 20:12. We will be judged by the deeds we have done and the words we have spoken. The books that chronicle our lives will be opened and every action, word, thought, and deed will be exposed, examined, and judged accordingly. Since every word and deed will be different for every person, it’s clear that different degrees of punishment will be issued.
In another passage in the New Testament, a clear warning is issued by the author to the Hebrews that points to the vengeance of God being directed toward those who commit sin. In Hebrews 10:29-31, we find the following words:
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The key language “worse punishment” and “vengeance is mine, I will repay” points to the fact that those who deserve worse punishment will receive worse punishment by the Lord himself. Hell will be far more severe for some than for others because our Lord is a righteous and perfect judge who judges with perfect justice and divine judgment.
While the doctrine of hell may have fallen out of popularity among many within evangelicalism, we must adopt the same doctrine of hell that Jesus taught and the same doctrine of hell that the New Testament apostles preached. The teachings of the New Testament point to hell’s severity, but also of the different degrees of punishment that will be measured out by the sovereign judge of all mankind.
Do you know someone who has delayed in coming to Christ? Remind that person that every day given to sin stores up more wrath. Every word spoken, careless thought, and lustful action will be judged accordingly.
Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” is the most famous sermon preached in the history of America. Consider the words of a faithful servant of our Lord who preached this sermon powerfully and God used it to awaken many people to their need to repent:
The bow of God’s wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. Thus all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life, are in the hands of an angry God.”3
Matthew 10:28 – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can both soul and body in hell.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
|
|