I've been preaching through Galatians for the last few months, and have two months to go. It's been amazing. I've studied Galatians, but never studied it in depth like this. Thus far, the churches have seen that Galatians really does lay out the basic tenets of Christianity:
-That there is only one way to salvation: Christ and the Gospel (1:6-9)
-That this Gospel is salvation by faith in Christ, and not works (2:16)
-That the Holy Spirit comes upon us when we believe the Gospel (3:1-6)
-That the Law is a curse on us as sinners, but Christ redeems us by His work (3:13-24), and
-That we're adopted into God's family by Christ and His Spirit (3:26-4:7).
This is Christianity in its most basic form: Inclusive/exclusive (invitation to all to trust in Christ, but salvation only belongs to those who do), justified before God by faith in Christ (meaning not just affirmation of the facts, but a personal looking to Christ), indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, and adoption into God's family which isn't a reality unless one has Christ.
The best place to direct any new or prospective christian who asks where they can begin in the Bible is John, Acts, and Romans (in that order). John is about Jesus' identity, Acts shows His Church on mission, and Romans explains what it means that we have Jesus. But studying Galatians, everything that one needs to know about being saved by faith in Christ might be in there, so maybe we have a new go-to book!
Still, the whole point of Paul's letter isn't to lay out basic tenets before it is to deal with a heresy prevalent in the Galatian church: that one needs works in order to be considered a child of God. None of us, including Paul (see Eph2:10, 2Tim3:17, and Titus2:14, 3:8, 3:14) would argue that good works aren't necessary for the Christian. The issue is whether they make one a christian. The answer to this question is emphatically 'NO'. Christ makes a christian a christian. Their being cleansed is one that happens by their looking to Christ, and their adoption into God's family is as well. The Galatian christians had been led astray into the belief that Christ was not enough.
This leads us to a very important question: Can a true Christian fall away from Christ?
This question has almost been an afterthought in 2013 Christianity, as most will emphatically say "YES", then cite passages from Jesus' 4-seed Parable (see Mark4), or from 1 Timothy, or Hebrews 6, 10.
I'm at odds doctrinally with many of my close friends and family (people who I believe do love Jesus and believe the Bible) because of this issue. I believe the Bible teaches that once one truly is drawn to Christ, they remain in Him, and don't fall away...and that if they do fall away, they weren't in Him to begin with. Jesus Himself said that He came to give his sheep eternal life (see John6:40, 10:28) and that this eternal life is a present reality at the point when one believes in Him (Jn5:24, cf 3:15-17). Therefore, if one trusts in Christ, they have eternal life NOW.
If their name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life "from before the foundation of the world" (Rev3:5, 13:8, 17:8) meaning that God saved them according to His purpose and grace He gave them in Christ 'before the world began' (2Tim1:9, Eph1:4-5), then they will come to faith in Christ, and they will remain in Him. Those whom God "predestined, He also called, and those whom He called he justified, and those whom He justified, He also glorified" (Rom8:30).
But what about all of those passages people cite about people falling away? A careful reading of those passages reveals that these were people who never belonged to Jesus, and this is WHY they fell away finally. Peter said that "whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved" (2Pet2:19), referring to people who have been led astray from the truth. If something overcomes them so that they're enslaved, could they really have belonged to Jesus? All the while, we hear promises like, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" (Phil1:6), and "He who called you is faithful, He will surely (sanctify you and keep you blameless)" (1Thes5:23-24). Finally, what could you say about the OTHER passages I just went through? It all must make sense together, for Scripture can't be broken.
Surely one must continue in the faith (see 1Cor15:2, Gal6:9, and Col1:23, for example). I just believe that while I repent and continue in Christ, HE'S the One who keeps me, "for apart from (Him), (I) can do nothing" (Jn15:5).
The issue is one of conversion, not continuation. If they don't continue in faith, the question becomes, "were they really soundly converted in the first place?" I think the answer is easy...if something led them from Christ, meaning that something was more attractive than Christ, then they must not have known Christ.
This is Paul's dilemma in Galatians...the same Paul who said there's only one gospel also asked, "Oh foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?" (3:1). When Paul says, "I'm astonished you're so quickly deserting him who called you in the gospel" (1:6), and that "this persuasion is not FROM Him who calls you" (5:7), he's saying that he really doesn't understand HOW people could know Christ and then be led astray from him. It doesn't make any sense..."I'm astonished you're deserting him..." This is why Paul then says, "I'm afraid I may have labored over you in vain" (4:11). Paul is wondering if his whole work was all for naught because perhaps these people truly don't know (and never knew) Christ. Could these people truly have been in Christ, but have fallen out, even though Jesus said His true sheep won't? (see John10:27-28)
The answer is 'no', because as Paul writes so emphatically with such cutting language, he then gives us hope: "I have confidence in the Lord that you'll take no other view than mine...you were called to freedom brothers" (5:10,13).
Those who are brothers will listen to the Father. Those who are sheep will listen to the Shepherd (Jn10:16, 27). Those who love Jesus will keep Jesus' commands (Jn14:15).
Paul knows, as he writes, that these people who received the Holy Spirit and were adopted into the family of God are in a phase of rebellion, but that they'll come back. They're not like Hymenaeus or Philetus who have "swerved from the truth" (2Tim2:17-18). Nor are they like Judas, whos betrayal fulfilled Scripture until he died. Instead, they're like Peter, who was to deny Jesus three times and then return to Him....why did Peter return to Jesus? It was because Jesus had prayed for Peter, "that your faith may not fail...so WHEN (not IF, but WHEN) you return, strengthen your brothers" (Luke22:31-34).
In the same way, Jesus prayed for all of His sheep...that their faith wouldn't fail (John17:11), that they'd have joy in Him (17:13), that they'd be kept from the evil one (17:15), that they'd be sanctified in the truth (17:17), that they'd be united together (17:21), and that they'd know God's love for them and for Jesus (17:23-26).
Martin Luther famously said that all of life should be a life of repentance...this is why Jesus said that the one who follows Him must daily take up his cross (see Luke9:23). Those in Christ will do it, because they know that Jesus is worth it...He's captivated them, enraptured them, and shown Himself as glorious and worthy of praise. This is why Paul is confident the Galatians will listen to Him and take heart: because "those in Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal5:24).
Scott Stine - PhD, Pastor of First Baptist, Newton NJ. Follower of Jesus; husband, daddy, too distracted by basketball.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Christian=Slave of Christ
"Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him" (Jesus, John12:25-26)
With these words Jesus left no room to mistake what it means to follow him. It means death to self (Mk8:35), death to possessions (Lk14:33), death to God's Law (Rom7:4), and death to the world (Gal6:14). Characteristic of this lifestyle is that the very Life of Jesus is inside of us (Gal2:20), and our "fellowship" (ie, that community from which we derive our identity) is with Christ and the Father, and not with the world anymore (1Jn1:3, 2:15).
This is much different than asceticism (that true religion is self-mutilation and repentance from ALL things just because all things are bad). It's not turning from all things and killing yourself just for the sake of turning and killing yourself. It's hearing that Jesus says the world is jacked up, and the only way for true life and salvation is by following Him. It's coming to Jesus and being united with Him in His death and resurrection, which ushers in a new Creation (hence, "if anyone is in Christ he's a new creation"--2Cor5:17).
Jesus said that unless people repent (and follow Him) they'll die gruesome deaths (see Lk13:1-5), and that unless people trust in Him they'll die in their sin (Jn8:24). Statements like these are absolutely unmistakable--they can't be taken to mean anything else. Paul later said that unless people "believe into Jesus Christ" (Greek language, "in" = "into") no one will have a right-standing before a holy God (see Gal2:16). The final stanza of the Bible ends with Jesus himself saying He's coming soon (Rev22:20). How could it possibly be mistaken that Christianity is not about following and trusting in Christ with radical trust and obedience?
It's very simple: People drift towards religion, other people drift towards "tolerance", and all people drift towards hostility against God.
-Religion--these are the people who know that Jesus calls for radical obedience. But they've made a god of church traditions and maybe even Bible knowledge. They're pharisees who don't love Jesus because they love themselves more, and spend their time critiquing, but not loving and evangelizing.
-Tolerance--these are people who a) want everyone to be welcomed in, and b) want the world to accept the Church. Christians should want everyone to be saved...but they can't hate Jesus enough to change His truth for the sake of "getting everyone in". When the disciples asked if many will be saved, Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate" (Lk13:24) meaning that discipleship means getting your eyes off of crowds, and onto Jesus. "Love" does not mean "tolerance". Love tells the truth (like Jesus), doesn't "rejoice in wrongdoing" (1Cor13:6), and calls people to assume they're wrong if Jesus says they are. "Tolerance" is usually circular, in that most advocates of it have a moving standard that changes if someone disagrees with them...they pretty quickly break their own rule when confronted and don't do a good job of tolerating the person opposing them (see the immediate breakage?). The question is "what is truth?", and the answer is "whatever Jesus says", although many aren't asking this question.
-Hostility toward God--Since many people are religious and others are tolerant, they shoot daggers past each other, showing that their aim in battle is flesh and blood. While the real battle is for people coming to a knowledge of God through Christ (Jn12:45, 14:8; 2Cor10:4) and so having eternal life in Him (Jn17:3), many Christians' heaven would be a world where the other side is nonexistent. Because these Christians never truly came to repentance from the world and into Jesus in the beginning, they're still holding onto the glory of man, whether its their own glory (religion), or others' glory (tolerance). Jesus plainly said that if you're out for the glory of man and not the glory of God, you won't believe in Him (Jn5:44).
The christian call is a call to renounce all and come after Jesus. He takes our sin on himself and gives us His righteousness. All of our righteousness before God and others comes from Jesus. HE'S our good standing. He rises from the grave to show His power and give us eternal life by making us new creatures. I'm acting and thinking different because I am different...I'm a new creation in Christ. I'm adopted into the family of God because Jesus, the true Son of God, was crushed under the judgment of God that should have been reserved for me. Now I'm a son of God. And it's all because Jesus bought me and purchased me.
That's the Gospel. And this is my response: Repentance. "Thus it's written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from death, and repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed..." (Lk24:46-47). I'm not trying to save myself, because Jesus already saved me, and is working on me. And I'm not going to compromise Jesus' truth for the sake of acceptance and friendship with others. Jesus said I'd have trouble in the world, and that they'd hate me the way they hated him (Jn15:18-21). I was hostile to God, an enemy in word and deed and intention, but "while I was an enemy, I was reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom5:10, cf Col1:21). Christ is absolutely everything, and if the conversation isn't beginning with His life, death, burial, and resurrection FIRST, it's not a christian conversation, and it will be marred by our own interests and understanding.
If people disagree with me on things like homosexuality, abortion, religion, war, etc., we begin with Jesus. And by God's grace, people will hear that wherever Jesus calls us to change, His resurrection provides the power FOR the change. Apart from Christ, we're slaves to the world and sin (cf Jn8:34, Rom6:20, 2Cor4:4). But in Christ, we're slaves of Christ. And this way we're actually free. Christianity is nothing less, and if anything less is presented, it's counterfeit, because Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
With these words Jesus left no room to mistake what it means to follow him. It means death to self (Mk8:35), death to possessions (Lk14:33), death to God's Law (Rom7:4), and death to the world (Gal6:14). Characteristic of this lifestyle is that the very Life of Jesus is inside of us (Gal2:20), and our "fellowship" (ie, that community from which we derive our identity) is with Christ and the Father, and not with the world anymore (1Jn1:3, 2:15).
This is much different than asceticism (that true religion is self-mutilation and repentance from ALL things just because all things are bad). It's not turning from all things and killing yourself just for the sake of turning and killing yourself. It's hearing that Jesus says the world is jacked up, and the only way for true life and salvation is by following Him. It's coming to Jesus and being united with Him in His death and resurrection, which ushers in a new Creation (hence, "if anyone is in Christ he's a new creation"--2Cor5:17).
Jesus said that unless people repent (and follow Him) they'll die gruesome deaths (see Lk13:1-5), and that unless people trust in Him they'll die in their sin (Jn8:24). Statements like these are absolutely unmistakable--they can't be taken to mean anything else. Paul later said that unless people "believe into Jesus Christ" (Greek language, "in" = "into") no one will have a right-standing before a holy God (see Gal2:16). The final stanza of the Bible ends with Jesus himself saying He's coming soon (Rev22:20). How could it possibly be mistaken that Christianity is not about following and trusting in Christ with radical trust and obedience?
It's very simple: People drift towards religion, other people drift towards "tolerance", and all people drift towards hostility against God.
-Religion--these are the people who know that Jesus calls for radical obedience. But they've made a god of church traditions and maybe even Bible knowledge. They're pharisees who don't love Jesus because they love themselves more, and spend their time critiquing, but not loving and evangelizing.
-Tolerance--these are people who a) want everyone to be welcomed in, and b) want the world to accept the Church. Christians should want everyone to be saved...but they can't hate Jesus enough to change His truth for the sake of "getting everyone in". When the disciples asked if many will be saved, Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate" (Lk13:24) meaning that discipleship means getting your eyes off of crowds, and onto Jesus. "Love" does not mean "tolerance". Love tells the truth (like Jesus), doesn't "rejoice in wrongdoing" (1Cor13:6), and calls people to assume they're wrong if Jesus says they are. "Tolerance" is usually circular, in that most advocates of it have a moving standard that changes if someone disagrees with them...they pretty quickly break their own rule when confronted and don't do a good job of tolerating the person opposing them (see the immediate breakage?). The question is "what is truth?", and the answer is "whatever Jesus says", although many aren't asking this question.
-Hostility toward God--Since many people are religious and others are tolerant, they shoot daggers past each other, showing that their aim in battle is flesh and blood. While the real battle is for people coming to a knowledge of God through Christ (Jn12:45, 14:8; 2Cor10:4) and so having eternal life in Him (Jn17:3), many Christians' heaven would be a world where the other side is nonexistent. Because these Christians never truly came to repentance from the world and into Jesus in the beginning, they're still holding onto the glory of man, whether its their own glory (religion), or others' glory (tolerance). Jesus plainly said that if you're out for the glory of man and not the glory of God, you won't believe in Him (Jn5:44).
The christian call is a call to renounce all and come after Jesus. He takes our sin on himself and gives us His righteousness. All of our righteousness before God and others comes from Jesus. HE'S our good standing. He rises from the grave to show His power and give us eternal life by making us new creatures. I'm acting and thinking different because I am different...I'm a new creation in Christ. I'm adopted into the family of God because Jesus, the true Son of God, was crushed under the judgment of God that should have been reserved for me. Now I'm a son of God. And it's all because Jesus bought me and purchased me.
That's the Gospel. And this is my response: Repentance. "Thus it's written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from death, and repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed..." (Lk24:46-47). I'm not trying to save myself, because Jesus already saved me, and is working on me. And I'm not going to compromise Jesus' truth for the sake of acceptance and friendship with others. Jesus said I'd have trouble in the world, and that they'd hate me the way they hated him (Jn15:18-21). I was hostile to God, an enemy in word and deed and intention, but "while I was an enemy, I was reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom5:10, cf Col1:21). Christ is absolutely everything, and if the conversation isn't beginning with His life, death, burial, and resurrection FIRST, it's not a christian conversation, and it will be marred by our own interests and understanding.
If people disagree with me on things like homosexuality, abortion, religion, war, etc., we begin with Jesus. And by God's grace, people will hear that wherever Jesus calls us to change, His resurrection provides the power FOR the change. Apart from Christ, we're slaves to the world and sin (cf Jn8:34, Rom6:20, 2Cor4:4). But in Christ, we're slaves of Christ. And this way we're actually free. Christianity is nothing less, and if anything less is presented, it's counterfeit, because Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
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