I've been reading The Holy Spirit, written by the late Arthur Pink (1886-1952), and published posthumously. It has been an amazing study of the Scripture's teaching on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, both in the life of the Christian, and in the operation throughout the world (Christians and non-Christians included).
Instead of writing a typical post from my own studies, I thought that I would share from this book a section that to me has been enormously profitable. In this section, Pink outlines 18 parallels between Christ's coming into the world and the Spirit's coming into the world.
As one who lives and breathes Scripture (not in the sense that I perfectly embody Scripture--rather just that I constantly study, read, think, pray it, etc.), seeing connections therein which are obviously there to prove Sovereign God's goodness and transcendent intelligence has proven again and again to be fire-starting in my heart. Things like these cause me to glorify God, with the psalmist, saying, "Your testimonies are my delight--they are my counselors...I find my delight in your commandments, which I love!" (Ps 119:24,47), so that my prayer becomes, "Give me understanding that I may learn your commandments" (119:73), because His Word has proven to be more desirable "than gold, even fine gold, and sweeter than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb" (19:10). By His grace, I've begun to understand that I live "by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Deut. 8:3, restated by Jesus in Mt. 4:4). Seeing parallels such as what follows prove a real delight to the eyes and heart of faith. Hopefully as you see the similarities between Christ's Advent and subsequently the Spirit's Advent, you'll cry out with me, "Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Rom. 11:33)
Before you read, remember one thing: Jesus, the night He was betrayed, told His disciples, "It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you" (Jn 15:7). Without sacrificing reverence to the Name of our Sovereign Lord and God Christ Jesus (the only Name by which man can be saved), we understand His words to mean this: Whereas He, after dying to pay for sins and then rising from death, was to go to sit at the Father's right hand to intercede for His people until He returns finally (see Ps 110:1, Mt 26:64, Eph 1:20, and cross-references), the Holy Spirit would be sent to His people to replace Christ's physical presence on earth. The coming of Christ (His Advent) was to dwell on earth and then pay for sins, and the coming of the Spirit (His Advent) was to apply Christ's work to Christ's people and dwell with them until Christ returns (see Jn 14:16). Thus noticing the parallel is appropriate. That said...
1. Whereas Christ was present in the Old Testament (Ac 7:37-38, 1 Cor 10:4) but the fullness of His presence was to be realized in the New Testament, so it was with the Spirit that He was present with God's people in the OT (Neh 9:20, for example), but the fullness of His presence was realized in the NT.
2. Christ's Advent was predicted and foretold in the OT (as is well documented), but so was the Holy Spirit's (which is much less documented) (see Ps 68:18, Is 32:15, Ezek 36:26, etc.).
3. As Christ had John the Baptist to "prepare the way" for His coming, the Holy Spirit had Christ to prepare the way for Him.
4. Christ was sent by God "when the fullness of time had come" (Gal 4:4), just as the Spirit was sent by God "when the day of Pentecost was fully come" (Ac 2:1, KJV, also in Greek text).
5. Just as the Son of God was made incarnate in the Holy Land of Israel in Palestine, so the Holy Spirit of God descended first in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
6. The "angel choir" sang at Christ's coming (Lk 2:13) while was a "sound from heaven" at the Spirit's (Ac 2:2); likewise the "Shekinah glory of the Lord shone" around those present at Christ's coming (Lk 2:9) and there were "tongues of fire" which rested on those present at the Spirit's (Ac 2:3).
7. An extra-ordinary star marked the house where the Christ-child was (Mt 2:9), while a divine (truly extraordinary) shaking marked the house where the Holy Spirit was (Ac 2:2).
8. Whereas Christ was first made known to a few, but when manifested to Israel, was publically identified (Mt 3:17, Jn 1:29), so the Spirit was first made known to a few, but when manifested to Israel, was publically identified (by Peter--see Ac 2:16-36).
9. As Christ became a man, dwelling in a human "temple" (Jn 2:19), so the Spirit came to dwell in the bodies of those who belong to Christ (Jn 14:16), so that they are "God's temple, in whom His Spirit dwells" (1 Cor 3:16).
10. When Christ was born, "Herod and all of Jerusalem with him were troubled" (Mt 2:3), whereas when the Spirit came, with its loud sound, "the multitude (in Jerusalem)...were bewildered" (Ac 2:6).
11. While it was predicted that Christ would be unrecognized and underappreciated (see Is. 53), so also Christ predicted about the Spirit that "the world can't receive Him, because it doesn't see him or know him" (Jn 14:17).
12. As the Messianic claims of Christ were called into question (see Jn 7:40-52, and cross-references), so also the people, when the Spirit came, "were amazed, and doubted, saying 'What does this mean?'" (Ac 2:12).
13. As Christ was termed a drunkard (wine-bibbler, KJV) (Mt 11:19), so when the Spirit came, those filled with Him were accused of being "drunk with new wine" (Ac 2:13).
14. As the public Advent of Christ was heralded by John the Baptist (Jn 1:29), so the Spirit's was interpreted by Peter (Ac 2:15-36).
15. God appointed Christ to the work of purchasing His people's redemption (Mt 10:45), and so He appointed the Spirit to APPLY said redemption (see Romans 8:10-13).
16. As in Christ's work "the Son honored the Father" (Jn 14:10), so in His work, "the Spirit glorifies the Son" (Jn 16:13-14).
17. As the Father told the Son's disciples to "listen to Him" (Mt 17:15, cross-references), so the Son tells His Church to "hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev 2:7).
18. As Christ committed His true peoples' safe-keeping to His Spirit (Jn 14:16, 16:7, 2 Cor 2:22, Eph 1:14), so His Spirit is committed to delivering Christ's true people to Him (Jn 14:3).
I trust that reading this has been as profitable and fulfilling as it was when I first read it. God's Word is good, Christ as Lord is wonderful, and knowing Him truly is eternal life. Go in the Spirit, for "all who live by the Spirit are sons of God" (Rom 8:14).
Scott Stine - PhD, Pastor of Darlington Congregational Church, Pawtucket, RI. Follower of Jesus; husband, daddy, distracted by basketball. My book "Christ and Theology: Toward Typological Realism" (Wipf and Stock) is available most places.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Righteousness From Christ
"...in order that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith..."
Philippians 3:8-9
I was recently reading a Time Magazine publication that compared different religions, and it said that fundamentally Christianity was simply "following Jesus' example." Now whereas the need to follow His example is a fundamental aspect (see Rom 15:1-7, Phil 2:5-8, for example), to describe this concept as the whole of Christianity's scope is a misunderstanding.
Jesus tells His disciples in Acts 1:8 that when the Holy Spirit comes on them, they will "bear witness about (Christ)". Primarily the message the disciples were to preach was the Gospel (Mk 16:15) of Jesus' Person and work and all that He accomplished. This is why Peter immediately begins preaching Jesus as the Christ promised from the Scriptures (Ac 2:16-36) followed by a call to forsake self (repent) and take on Christ's Name to receive the same Holy Spirit (2:37-39). Later, as Peter is in the Temple in Jerusalem, he preaches Christ as "the Author of Life" (3:15--an unheard of designation to a "mere man") and then he challenges the people to "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus" (3:19-20). So the message is Christ's Person and work on the cross (2:23-24, 3:14-15), the application is forgiveness of sins as they're "blotted out", and the challenge is repentance for the sake of receiving Christ and His Spirit. Later on, Peter, before his Christian brothers in the Jerusalem Council, summarizes the effect (application) of Jesus' work by saying "We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus" (15:11). So this saving is something that happens by grace and the One who initiates it is Jesus. It's His grace that saves us. And the transaction is, in order, His work, our forgiveness, and His Spirit dwelling in us (Jn 14:16-17), as He promised.
Later, Paul explains even further. In Romans 1-2, he has been laboring to show the effect of sin and peoples' ignorance of God and His righteousness since the beginning. He concludes the section in 3:9-11 "All, both jews and greeks, are under sin...None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." If this were the case, then even man's intellect is under sin--so as man attempts to "follow Jesus' example", he'd continually fail, because in his sin, he can never be sure if he's living in truth, or if he's missing the mark, sure that he's doing "a good job" while JESUS doesn't think he is. To be "under sin" is to be enslaved to it, meaning that righteousness in and of one's self is entirely impossible. Jesus himself had said this in Jn 8:34: "All who sin are slaves to sin". This means that one can try and try to save himself by good works and by even obedience, but sin will always win out.
So Paul says next, "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received in faith" (3:21-25). With these words Paul explains the riddle of the transaction we saw earlier--it is Jesus' work (propitiation--a sacrifice of judgment, whereby he redirects God's wrath over our sin from us to Himself by taking the sin onto Himself) which brings justification, and this justifying (counting people righteous though they aren't righteous) is received "by his grace as a gift...to be received in faith". With these words Paul explains to us that salvation before a holy God can only be received as a gift, because man is too sinful to be able to DO anything to save himself. This is the whole point of why Jesus had to come--if man could be righteous by himself, "Christ died for no purpose" (Gal 2:21). But Christ came and was righteous for me, and in his suffering, my sin is dealt with, and faith in Jesus' Person and work of suffering and dying instead of me justifies me entirely before God. In this, God is "just, AND the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Rom 3:26). I'm saved by faith in Jesus' work.
It is no coincidence that each sermon in Acts is 95% about Jesus's work and only 5% about our response (those of course are not actual figures). This is because salvation is worked when one understands what Jesus has accomplished, because when they understand it, if it be received in faith, they are justified. RC Sproul has said "justification by faith alone is one of the simplest of concepts, and yet it is one of the most difficult to accept". The reason for this is that man wants to feel in control and that he could be righteous if he wanted to (and many think they ARE). But man isn't in control and he isn't righteous...he is enslaved to sin...He's a sinner who can't stop. "The intention of man's heart is evil from the time he's a youth" (Gen 8:21); "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick--who can understand it?" (Jer 17:9); "all who sin are slaves to sin" (Jn 8:34); "the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God..it does not submit to God's law, indeed it can not" (Rom 8:7). Man is not righteous before a holy God, because a holy God expects holiNESS, and unless man be completely holy, he has no righteousness before God.
But the reason why Jesus came was to provide a way...THE Way (Matt 7:14, Jn 14:6, Act 16:15). And this "Way" is very simply what HE has done. Speaking of the sin and subsequent death that came into the world through Adam "and spread (from him) to all men, because ALL sinned" (Rom 5:12), Paul continues by saying, "If, because of one man's trespass (Adam's), death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ" (5:17). Death came through Adam because Adam sinned; but grace and the gift of righteousness has come through Jesus Christ. "One act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men...by one mans disobedience (Adam's) the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience (Christ's) the many will be made righteous" (5:19).
Do you understand? It is Adam's sin which brought death and condemnation (though we are responsible, because we've all sinned!); but it is Christ's righteousness and obedience which brings something else...righteousness! It is Jesus' living a perfect life, entirely righteous and obedient before the Father, and then pouring out His life on the cross in obedience that, received by faith, connects me with His righteousness, and accounts His righteousness to me. "He became sin...that (I) might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21). Though I'm NOT righteous in and of myself, Jesus is, and faith in His Person and work accounts me righteous, on the basis OF His Person and work.
But what does it mean to "have faith in Jesus"? What is "belief in Jesus"?
First, it's something that must be believed in the heart (Rom 8:10). Second, since the heart is deceitful and sick (Jerem. 17:9), only the Holy Spirit of God can enlighten the heart and draw it to Christ. "It is the Spirit which gives life; the flesh is no help at all" (Jn 6:63). "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 12:3). Just as only the Father can draw the wayward sinner to Christ (Jn 6:44), only the Father can reveal to the spiritually dead sinner that Jesus is the Christ (Matt 16:15). "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9), because only the Lord can illumine the person to understand that before a righteous and holy God, they have no righteousness or holiness. And when they realize this, they are confronted with the truth of the Gospel--that gracious and wonderful and life-giving truth: "by Christ's obedience, YOU are made righteous...to be received in faith".
This is why it's nowhere near sufficient to say that Christianity is fundamentally about following Jesus' example. Of course, "even the demons believe, and shudder!" (Jms 2:19). But belief, for the Christian, is trust...trust in what? In the righteousness of Christ to make me righteous before a righteous God. I, in and of myself, have no righteousness. It is all Christ, or it's nothing. Yes, I believe, but only because the Spirit quickens me. Yes I follow Jesus' example, but only because God has accounted Jesus' obedience to me by grace through faith. It completely takes the onus off of me, and puts it on Jesus. Not what I do--what HE does, and what He continues to do. Otherwise, the Gospel isn't good news at all--it's just another religious theory for how to present yourself before God. But the Christian gospel IS good news because it's the news about what Jesus has done for us--and when it is believed on and trusted in, then "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Cor 5:17).
This is why (in the Philippians passage) Paul wants to be "in Christ", not having a righteousness of his own but the righteousness from God through faith in Christ. Paul knows that Paul doesn't HAVE any righteousness...his righteousness can only be that which is from Christ. When you understand this, it's wonderful. And when you know it's all you'll ever need, it begins to be all you ever want.
Philippians 3:8-9
I was recently reading a Time Magazine publication that compared different religions, and it said that fundamentally Christianity was simply "following Jesus' example." Now whereas the need to follow His example is a fundamental aspect (see Rom 15:1-7, Phil 2:5-8, for example), to describe this concept as the whole of Christianity's scope is a misunderstanding.
Jesus tells His disciples in Acts 1:8 that when the Holy Spirit comes on them, they will "bear witness about (Christ)". Primarily the message the disciples were to preach was the Gospel (Mk 16:15) of Jesus' Person and work and all that He accomplished. This is why Peter immediately begins preaching Jesus as the Christ promised from the Scriptures (Ac 2:16-36) followed by a call to forsake self (repent) and take on Christ's Name to receive the same Holy Spirit (2:37-39). Later, as Peter is in the Temple in Jerusalem, he preaches Christ as "the Author of Life" (3:15--an unheard of designation to a "mere man") and then he challenges the people to "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus" (3:19-20). So the message is Christ's Person and work on the cross (2:23-24, 3:14-15), the application is forgiveness of sins as they're "blotted out", and the challenge is repentance for the sake of receiving Christ and His Spirit. Later on, Peter, before his Christian brothers in the Jerusalem Council, summarizes the effect (application) of Jesus' work by saying "We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus" (15:11). So this saving is something that happens by grace and the One who initiates it is Jesus. It's His grace that saves us. And the transaction is, in order, His work, our forgiveness, and His Spirit dwelling in us (Jn 14:16-17), as He promised.
Later, Paul explains even further. In Romans 1-2, he has been laboring to show the effect of sin and peoples' ignorance of God and His righteousness since the beginning. He concludes the section in 3:9-11 "All, both jews and greeks, are under sin...None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." If this were the case, then even man's intellect is under sin--so as man attempts to "follow Jesus' example", he'd continually fail, because in his sin, he can never be sure if he's living in truth, or if he's missing the mark, sure that he's doing "a good job" while JESUS doesn't think he is. To be "under sin" is to be enslaved to it, meaning that righteousness in and of one's self is entirely impossible. Jesus himself had said this in Jn 8:34: "All who sin are slaves to sin". This means that one can try and try to save himself by good works and by even obedience, but sin will always win out.
So Paul says next, "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received in faith" (3:21-25). With these words Paul explains the riddle of the transaction we saw earlier--it is Jesus' work (propitiation--a sacrifice of judgment, whereby he redirects God's wrath over our sin from us to Himself by taking the sin onto Himself) which brings justification, and this justifying (counting people righteous though they aren't righteous) is received "by his grace as a gift...to be received in faith". With these words Paul explains to us that salvation before a holy God can only be received as a gift, because man is too sinful to be able to DO anything to save himself. This is the whole point of why Jesus had to come--if man could be righteous by himself, "Christ died for no purpose" (Gal 2:21). But Christ came and was righteous for me, and in his suffering, my sin is dealt with, and faith in Jesus' Person and work of suffering and dying instead of me justifies me entirely before God. In this, God is "just, AND the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Rom 3:26). I'm saved by faith in Jesus' work.
It is no coincidence that each sermon in Acts is 95% about Jesus's work and only 5% about our response (those of course are not actual figures). This is because salvation is worked when one understands what Jesus has accomplished, because when they understand it, if it be received in faith, they are justified. RC Sproul has said "justification by faith alone is one of the simplest of concepts, and yet it is one of the most difficult to accept". The reason for this is that man wants to feel in control and that he could be righteous if he wanted to (and many think they ARE). But man isn't in control and he isn't righteous...he is enslaved to sin...He's a sinner who can't stop. "The intention of man's heart is evil from the time he's a youth" (Gen 8:21); "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick--who can understand it?" (Jer 17:9); "all who sin are slaves to sin" (Jn 8:34); "the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God..it does not submit to God's law, indeed it can not" (Rom 8:7). Man is not righteous before a holy God, because a holy God expects holiNESS, and unless man be completely holy, he has no righteousness before God.
But the reason why Jesus came was to provide a way...THE Way (Matt 7:14, Jn 14:6, Act 16:15). And this "Way" is very simply what HE has done. Speaking of the sin and subsequent death that came into the world through Adam "and spread (from him) to all men, because ALL sinned" (Rom 5:12), Paul continues by saying, "If, because of one man's trespass (Adam's), death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ" (5:17). Death came through Adam because Adam sinned; but grace and the gift of righteousness has come through Jesus Christ. "One act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men...by one mans disobedience (Adam's) the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience (Christ's) the many will be made righteous" (5:19).
Do you understand? It is Adam's sin which brought death and condemnation (though we are responsible, because we've all sinned!); but it is Christ's righteousness and obedience which brings something else...righteousness! It is Jesus' living a perfect life, entirely righteous and obedient before the Father, and then pouring out His life on the cross in obedience that, received by faith, connects me with His righteousness, and accounts His righteousness to me. "He became sin...that (I) might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor 5:21). Though I'm NOT righteous in and of myself, Jesus is, and faith in His Person and work accounts me righteous, on the basis OF His Person and work.
But what does it mean to "have faith in Jesus"? What is "belief in Jesus"?
First, it's something that must be believed in the heart (Rom 8:10). Second, since the heart is deceitful and sick (Jerem. 17:9), only the Holy Spirit of God can enlighten the heart and draw it to Christ. "It is the Spirit which gives life; the flesh is no help at all" (Jn 6:63). "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 12:3). Just as only the Father can draw the wayward sinner to Christ (Jn 6:44), only the Father can reveal to the spiritually dead sinner that Jesus is the Christ (Matt 16:15). "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9), because only the Lord can illumine the person to understand that before a righteous and holy God, they have no righteousness or holiness. And when they realize this, they are confronted with the truth of the Gospel--that gracious and wonderful and life-giving truth: "by Christ's obedience, YOU are made righteous...to be received in faith".
This is why it's nowhere near sufficient to say that Christianity is fundamentally about following Jesus' example. Of course, "even the demons believe, and shudder!" (Jms 2:19). But belief, for the Christian, is trust...trust in what? In the righteousness of Christ to make me righteous before a righteous God. I, in and of myself, have no righteousness. It is all Christ, or it's nothing. Yes, I believe, but only because the Spirit quickens me. Yes I follow Jesus' example, but only because God has accounted Jesus' obedience to me by grace through faith. It completely takes the onus off of me, and puts it on Jesus. Not what I do--what HE does, and what He continues to do. Otherwise, the Gospel isn't good news at all--it's just another religious theory for how to present yourself before God. But the Christian gospel IS good news because it's the news about what Jesus has done for us--and when it is believed on and trusted in, then "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Cor 5:17).
This is why (in the Philippians passage) Paul wants to be "in Christ", not having a righteousness of his own but the righteousness from God through faith in Christ. Paul knows that Paul doesn't HAVE any righteousness...his righteousness can only be that which is from Christ. When you understand this, it's wonderful. And when you know it's all you'll ever need, it begins to be all you ever want.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Christianity: A Past Event and Present Reality
"I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."
--1 Cor. 15:3-5
All too often the cross and resurrection of Christ is proclaimed as though it's a fairy-tale. I don't question whether preachers and Christians believe in it or not. I think most of them do believe it happened--I just know that for a long time I believed in it like I believed in poverty in other countries: Something that's real, but since it didn't immediately effect my present situation, I never was forced to wrestle with it or think about it in deep and "present" terms. It's important, but only in conversation--not existentially.
Yet Christianity, since it's inception, has been entirely wrapped up in an event that happened. The work of the Son of God who stepped foot onto earth 2000 years ago and fulfilled the Law of God which man is entirely incapable of keeping (see Mt 5:17, Rom 8:1-4), is to pay a ransom for the sins of many people (Mk 10:45) who are His sheep/Church (Jn 10:15), that they would be "set free from sin" (Jn 8:34-36, Ac 13:39). His being betrayed, tried, condemned, and crucified was all the work of Sovereign God opening the way of salvation (see Ac 2:23, 3:18, 4:27-28) for those in darkness, as also was Christ's being risen the work of God (2:23, Rom 8:11). Through His work on the cross--His death as a perfect final sacrifice instead of the person--the person can receive the gift of eternal life simply by having faith in the goodness of the work in Christ's death and resurrection (see Rom 3:23-26), because through the work of Christ, His Spirit comes from Him to the person, and they are counted righteous, seated with Christ "in the heavenly places" (Eph 2:4-5), and through His work they begin to walk in "good works, which God has prepared for (them) to do" (2:10).
Do you understand this? The cross and resurrection as an event that actually happened is at the center and core of all that Christianity is. If it didn't happen, or if it is only approached flippantly and half-asleep, the natural course of the Christian message will be legalism masked as "Gospel": "Obey these commands, and you'll be saved", which is no different than the Law of the Old Testament. This is why almost all Christian preaching and writing is to one of two extremes: Hyper-legalism (command-keeping as the central tenet), or Relative-loveism (no command matters, just love). Of course, these are both the same thing. The former is just explicit with setting up a Law for sinful and spiritually dead people to follow by their helpless self; the latter deceives itself to think it has the better standard, but it certainly is still a standard which helpless people have to keep, and so is a Law as well.
And neither one is a Gospel, because both give the hearer a standard to have to measure to from where they're at presently.
But the Christian message has been about good news even 400 years before it happened (see Isaiah 40:9, 52:7), as it was from the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry (see Mk 1:15), and so also when He ascended to heaven after the resurrection his disciples were to preach the same good news/Gospel (see Mk 16:15). And what was the message?:
--"When the Spirit comes upon you, you will bear witness about me"--(Jesus in Ac 1:8).
This is why every page of the book of Acts has the Apostles preaching sermons about Jesus' good work on the cross and out of the grave. And this is why Paul, writing in the original passage at the top of the page, reminds the Corinthian church that just as he came preaching the gospel of "Christ crucified" (see 1 Cor 1:17-24, 2:1-5), he also came preaching Christ resurrected (15:4-5). The message, from first to last, was entirely Christ's finished work of going to the cross, rising from the grave, and sitting down at the right hand of God (see 15:27, and the Old Testament passage there quoted).
Because of this event in history, there are infinite riches in the present reality. The gift of Son/Daughter-ship is a present reality dependent upon the past event (Rom 8:15-17, Gal 4:4-7), as well as the gift of belonging to Christ (1 Cor 3:9,16,20; 6:19-20), and the gift of the sanctifying power of Christ to make us pure and holy in Christ-likeness (Jn 17:19, 1 Cor 6:11, Eph 5:26-27, 2 Thes 2:13, Heb 9:14).
Of course this is all dependent upon the greatest gift of all: His Holy Spirit. It has been said that Christ's work was really meant to be the precursor to the fuller work of the Holy Spirit. This wouldn't be inappropriate to say, especially in light of the fact that the Prophets have God's giving His Spirit as THE Great Promise (see Prov 1:23, Ezek 38:27, Joel 2:28-29), and Jesus refers to Him (the Spirit) as the "promise of the Father" (Luke 24:49).
But also note that the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' and the Scripture's own words, can't come unless He goes to the cross and then ascends back to heaven (see Jn 7:39 "those who believe in Him were to receive...the Spirit...(but it) had not been given (yet), because Jesus was not yet glorified", and also Jn 15:7 "it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."). And when the Spirit comes, He will "guide (believers) into all the truth" (Jn 16:13), dwell in the believers as Christ's presence (see Jn 14:16-24, and read it carefully), and He will cause them to bear witness about Jesus (Ac 1:8, and note the structure of the sentence).
Do you see what I'm saying? The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is what drives and fuels all of the Christian life, and from it we derive all of our life and identity and worth and focus. But without the Cross and Resurrection as an explicit and definite event that happened, approached in reverence and humility among the people of God, the benefits of it's work will never be understood clearly, and so Christianity will be lost among those among whom it has no reason to be lost. Legalism (on one polar end) and relative love-ism (on the other) will be the message to be preached. And while the intention of the proponents of either might be as good as can be, neither message is a Gospel. And so neither message is Christianity. Because neither depends on Christ.
--1 Cor. 15:3-5
All too often the cross and resurrection of Christ is proclaimed as though it's a fairy-tale. I don't question whether preachers and Christians believe in it or not. I think most of them do believe it happened--I just know that for a long time I believed in it like I believed in poverty in other countries: Something that's real, but since it didn't immediately effect my present situation, I never was forced to wrestle with it or think about it in deep and "present" terms. It's important, but only in conversation--not existentially.
Yet Christianity, since it's inception, has been entirely wrapped up in an event that happened. The work of the Son of God who stepped foot onto earth 2000 years ago and fulfilled the Law of God which man is entirely incapable of keeping (see Mt 5:17, Rom 8:1-4), is to pay a ransom for the sins of many people (Mk 10:45) who are His sheep/Church (Jn 10:15), that they would be "set free from sin" (Jn 8:34-36, Ac 13:39). His being betrayed, tried, condemned, and crucified was all the work of Sovereign God opening the way of salvation (see Ac 2:23, 3:18, 4:27-28) for those in darkness, as also was Christ's being risen the work of God (2:23, Rom 8:11). Through His work on the cross--His death as a perfect final sacrifice instead of the person--the person can receive the gift of eternal life simply by having faith in the goodness of the work in Christ's death and resurrection (see Rom 3:23-26), because through the work of Christ, His Spirit comes from Him to the person, and they are counted righteous, seated with Christ "in the heavenly places" (Eph 2:4-5), and through His work they begin to walk in "good works, which God has prepared for (them) to do" (2:10).
Do you understand this? The cross and resurrection as an event that actually happened is at the center and core of all that Christianity is. If it didn't happen, or if it is only approached flippantly and half-asleep, the natural course of the Christian message will be legalism masked as "Gospel": "Obey these commands, and you'll be saved", which is no different than the Law of the Old Testament. This is why almost all Christian preaching and writing is to one of two extremes: Hyper-legalism (command-keeping as the central tenet), or Relative-loveism (no command matters, just love). Of course, these are both the same thing. The former is just explicit with setting up a Law for sinful and spiritually dead people to follow by their helpless self; the latter deceives itself to think it has the better standard, but it certainly is still a standard which helpless people have to keep, and so is a Law as well.
And neither one is a Gospel, because both give the hearer a standard to have to measure to from where they're at presently.
But the Christian message has been about good news even 400 years before it happened (see Isaiah 40:9, 52:7), as it was from the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry (see Mk 1:15), and so also when He ascended to heaven after the resurrection his disciples were to preach the same good news/Gospel (see Mk 16:15). And what was the message?:
--"When the Spirit comes upon you, you will bear witness about me"--(Jesus in Ac 1:8).
This is why every page of the book of Acts has the Apostles preaching sermons about Jesus' good work on the cross and out of the grave. And this is why Paul, writing in the original passage at the top of the page, reminds the Corinthian church that just as he came preaching the gospel of "Christ crucified" (see 1 Cor 1:17-24, 2:1-5), he also came preaching Christ resurrected (15:4-5). The message, from first to last, was entirely Christ's finished work of going to the cross, rising from the grave, and sitting down at the right hand of God (see 15:27, and the Old Testament passage there quoted).
Because of this event in history, there are infinite riches in the present reality. The gift of Son/Daughter-ship is a present reality dependent upon the past event (Rom 8:15-17, Gal 4:4-7), as well as the gift of belonging to Christ (1 Cor 3:9,16,20; 6:19-20), and the gift of the sanctifying power of Christ to make us pure and holy in Christ-likeness (Jn 17:19, 1 Cor 6:11, Eph 5:26-27, 2 Thes 2:13, Heb 9:14).
Of course this is all dependent upon the greatest gift of all: His Holy Spirit. It has been said that Christ's work was really meant to be the precursor to the fuller work of the Holy Spirit. This wouldn't be inappropriate to say, especially in light of the fact that the Prophets have God's giving His Spirit as THE Great Promise (see Prov 1:23, Ezek 38:27, Joel 2:28-29), and Jesus refers to Him (the Spirit) as the "promise of the Father" (Luke 24:49).
But also note that the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' and the Scripture's own words, can't come unless He goes to the cross and then ascends back to heaven (see Jn 7:39 "those who believe in Him were to receive...the Spirit...(but it) had not been given (yet), because Jesus was not yet glorified", and also Jn 15:7 "it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."). And when the Spirit comes, He will "guide (believers) into all the truth" (Jn 16:13), dwell in the believers as Christ's presence (see Jn 14:16-24, and read it carefully), and He will cause them to bear witness about Jesus (Ac 1:8, and note the structure of the sentence).
Do you see what I'm saying? The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is what drives and fuels all of the Christian life, and from it we derive all of our life and identity and worth and focus. But without the Cross and Resurrection as an explicit and definite event that happened, approached in reverence and humility among the people of God, the benefits of it's work will never be understood clearly, and so Christianity will be lost among those among whom it has no reason to be lost. Legalism (on one polar end) and relative love-ism (on the other) will be the message to be preached. And while the intention of the proponents of either might be as good as can be, neither message is a Gospel. And so neither message is Christianity. Because neither depends on Christ.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Coming to the Cross
"He who would come after me must deny himself and take up His cross to follow me."
Mk 8:31
If one could keep the commandments of God just by sheer will, the Christ wouldn't have had to go to the cross. But since He did go there, all others who follow Him must go there as well. Following Him there means not just obedience to His command (though it does include this), but it first means acceptance of the fact that sheer will is not enough get there. Rather, we're led and drawn to the cross. Every command of Jesus must be understood in light of the cross, and this means that Christ's righteousness poured out on the believer (through the cross) is what BRINGS them to the place of obedience to the command. This is because they can't be justified/saved/righteous by obedience (they're NOT obedient). They need an initial act on God's part BRINGING them TO obedience. That initial act is Christ going to the cross. Otherwise, the commands are just isolated commands to isolated individuals who, isolated, must decide...CHOOSE...whether or not they'll follow Jesus. But "those who did receive Him..he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, NOT of...the will of flesh or the will of man...but of GOD" (Jn 1:12-13)..."whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out IN GOD" (3:21).
With these words the Scripture imprisons any obedience or following on our part up underneath the gracious work of God first. Perhaps much of Christianity's softness in our time is directly related to the fact that most have refused to come to the cross by accepting that their coming is an act of God. And this is certainly also the reason for much of Christianity's hardness, too: those who have "come to Jesus" are convinced that they were 'good enough' to bring themselves to it. If it's about what WE do, then either a) the unbeliever must will their self to be as obedient as I have been, or b) since 'a' is not a very loving perspective, we must just "love" people and not preach the cross. And the Gospel is left out of both scenarios. "When you've lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I Am Who I Am" (Jn 8:28, Greek). One can only know Christ through the cross, and one can only come to the cross through "the Word of Christ" (Rom 10:17).
"I've obeyed, others haven't, therefore I have room for boasting", some might say (wouldn't SAY, but would certainly FEEL). But this is not in accordance with Scripture. The question is much less about a theological agenda (there is no such thing for those in Christ), but much more about whether or not one has denied one's self completely by coming to the cross completely, "to show that their works have been carried out in God".
In this, those that are in Christ must be humble and gracious, because they know that Christ has been humble and gracious towards them. That which conservatives hate (a lack of costliness in the gospel) is covered by Christ, and that which liberals hate (a lack of love) is covered by Christ. How is this so? In the fact that it is much more about Christ and HIS call, than it is about us.
Mk 8:31
If one could keep the commandments of God just by sheer will, the Christ wouldn't have had to go to the cross. But since He did go there, all others who follow Him must go there as well. Following Him there means not just obedience to His command (though it does include this), but it first means acceptance of the fact that sheer will is not enough get there. Rather, we're led and drawn to the cross. Every command of Jesus must be understood in light of the cross, and this means that Christ's righteousness poured out on the believer (through the cross) is what BRINGS them to the place of obedience to the command. This is because they can't be justified/saved/righteous by obedience (they're NOT obedient). They need an initial act on God's part BRINGING them TO obedience. That initial act is Christ going to the cross. Otherwise, the commands are just isolated commands to isolated individuals who, isolated, must decide...CHOOSE...whether or not they'll follow Jesus. But "those who did receive Him..he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, NOT of...the will of flesh or the will of man...but of GOD" (Jn 1:12-13)..."whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out IN GOD" (3:21).
With these words the Scripture imprisons any obedience or following on our part up underneath the gracious work of God first. Perhaps much of Christianity's softness in our time is directly related to the fact that most have refused to come to the cross by accepting that their coming is an act of God. And this is certainly also the reason for much of Christianity's hardness, too: those who have "come to Jesus" are convinced that they were 'good enough' to bring themselves to it. If it's about what WE do, then either a) the unbeliever must will their self to be as obedient as I have been, or b) since 'a' is not a very loving perspective, we must just "love" people and not preach the cross. And the Gospel is left out of both scenarios. "When you've lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I Am Who I Am" (Jn 8:28, Greek). One can only know Christ through the cross, and one can only come to the cross through "the Word of Christ" (Rom 10:17).
"I've obeyed, others haven't, therefore I have room for boasting", some might say (wouldn't SAY, but would certainly FEEL). But this is not in accordance with Scripture. The question is much less about a theological agenda (there is no such thing for those in Christ), but much more about whether or not one has denied one's self completely by coming to the cross completely, "to show that their works have been carried out in God".
In this, those that are in Christ must be humble and gracious, because they know that Christ has been humble and gracious towards them. That which conservatives hate (a lack of costliness in the gospel) is covered by Christ, and that which liberals hate (a lack of love) is covered by Christ. How is this so? In the fact that it is much more about Christ and HIS call, than it is about us.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Religion Apart From the Gospel
"You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that by his poverty you might become rich."--2 Cor. 8:9
The Gospel of Christ begins and ends with what God has accomplished through Him, apart from any works or "doings" on humanity's part. Even the very betraying, condemning, and crucifying of the Lord is attributed in Scripture to God's doing (see Ac 4:28 for example). Far too often the commands of God are preached, taught, and understood as starting from man and not from the Gospel--as commands to be obeyed apart from "the grace of our Lord", instead of commands to be kept BECAUSE OF "the grace of our Lord" through which HE kept what we by nature are unable to keep (Jn 15:5, Rom 8:3). This has become almost so universal that it's not even questioned by most anymore. Most understand Christianity as obeying a set of rules, apart from God's doing, as though God's only parts to be played in humanity's existence are a) creation, b) answering of prayers (that man brings to Him of his own initiative), and c) judgment (at the End). In this, God has no part to play in man's life presently, and man is "on his own" in his faith, obedience, and religion. And in this, the very Gospel itself is betrayed.
If you were to read through your New Testament, you would see that all of the commands of God are connected to Christ and His work. Christ's work is of both fulfilling the Scripture (Mt 5:17, Lk 4:17-21, 24:44-45, Jn 5:39,46) and keeping the commands SO THAT through faith in Him and by His power, righteousness would be kept in us (see Rom 8:1-4 and 2 Cor 2:20-22 for example). If mans' sin is that he's "fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23), the only way he could be saved is if God Himself sends a Christ who will fulfill "the glory of God" perfectly--this is promised to be the case in Is 11:1-5, 42:1, and being fulfilled in Christ (see Mt 3:17 and Jn 13:31-32, 17:4), it is the new "Way" of salvation for God's people. By Christ's obedience, believers are MADE righteous (Rom 5:19), so that His righteousness and obedience would be accounted to us and applied to us--and the fruit of it is His believers striving for His glory in all things. (Do a study of how often the New Testament says "to God be the glory in Christ" or something similar...you'll be amazed). This is why He's a faithful and necessary Savior (see Heb 5:7-10).
This is why all of Paul's writings of admonition (teaching, commands, etc.) begin with Gospel theology and then move into the practical implications (notice Romans has 12 chapters on Gospel theology and ch 13 begins with practicals, and the rest of the letters are similar). Peter's is the same, John's, James', etc.
But what about all of Jesus' teaching in the Gospel accounts? He seems to lay down a pretty heavy load of teaching on what we are to do and not do...how do we reconcile with that? It's very simple--every gospel account ends with Him being crucified and resurrected. All of Jesus' teaching is meant to be understood in light of the cross, because all of His teaching inevitably leads to the cross and flows from the cross. This is why He says that in order for one to "follow Him" he must "take up his cross" (Mk 8:34). Coming to and following Jesus means "learning from Him" (Mt 11:29), and not only that, but keeping and obeying what He says (see Jn 14:15, 15:10). It would seem burdensome, because who could keep His commands perfectly? That's the point--if He was just another teacher of the Law, there would be no gospel. The point is that HE keeps the Law for us, that by faith in His Person and work, "the righteous requirement of the law would be kept in us, who walk by the Spirit" (see how Jn 14:15-17 connects with Rom 8:3-4...amazing!). We take up our cross, because Jesus took up His cross, and we obey because Jesus obeyed to make us able to obey...by His Spirit. This is why Jesus says "apart from me you can do nothing"...apart from Him who went to the cross in my place, I can't do anything. But IN Him, "I can do all things" (Phil 4:13). What a wonderful gospel!
To preach obedience and righteousness apart from Christ's obedience and righteousness is to completely miss the point of the Gospel (and sadly, many...including the writer for a long time...have missed it). In the same way, to preach God's love apart from His anger over sin is to miss the point. The Scripture never proclaims His love apart from Christ's righteous obedience (see Jn 3:16-17). The reason is that you need Jesus in order to have God. "No one comes to the Father except through me...apart from me you can do nothing."
Christ, who is so rich that all things have belonged to Him for all of eternity, became poor, homeless, despised, and rejected. He who holds all things in His hand (Heb 1:3) gave himself into the hands of sinful men (Ac 2:23)...sinful men whom He had created and whose lives He upheld even in those moments! These men thought that they were rich, great, and "in control"...and yet Christ was in control the whole time (Jn 10:17-18, Ac 4:28). And what did He do? He suffered...because only through HIS suffering could anyone actually be reconciled to the Holy God-Creator from whom they were fallen (Rom 3:23) and of whom they were hostile enemies (Rom 5:8, 8:7). In this, there are riches beyond comparison (Mk 10:21, 1 Cor 3:21-22, 1 Pet 1:4)...but outside of this it is only death and it will all perish.
The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ will continue to be proclaimed and sung by the people of God for all of eternity...we'll worship Christ because He went to the cross (see Rev 5:9-10). Because He suffered and wept and was betrayed, one day, when all things are new, we the people of God will never suffer, weep, or be betrayed ever again (Rev. 21:4). Those are true riches--riches that are worth dying for. They're riches that Christ DID die for. Let all of God's people rejoice!
The Gospel of Christ begins and ends with what God has accomplished through Him, apart from any works or "doings" on humanity's part. Even the very betraying, condemning, and crucifying of the Lord is attributed in Scripture to God's doing (see Ac 4:28 for example). Far too often the commands of God are preached, taught, and understood as starting from man and not from the Gospel--as commands to be obeyed apart from "the grace of our Lord", instead of commands to be kept BECAUSE OF "the grace of our Lord" through which HE kept what we by nature are unable to keep (Jn 15:5, Rom 8:3). This has become almost so universal that it's not even questioned by most anymore. Most understand Christianity as obeying a set of rules, apart from God's doing, as though God's only parts to be played in humanity's existence are a) creation, b) answering of prayers (that man brings to Him of his own initiative), and c) judgment (at the End). In this, God has no part to play in man's life presently, and man is "on his own" in his faith, obedience, and religion. And in this, the very Gospel itself is betrayed.
If you were to read through your New Testament, you would see that all of the commands of God are connected to Christ and His work. Christ's work is of both fulfilling the Scripture (Mt 5:17, Lk 4:17-21, 24:44-45, Jn 5:39,46) and keeping the commands SO THAT through faith in Him and by His power, righteousness would be kept in us (see Rom 8:1-4 and 2 Cor 2:20-22 for example). If mans' sin is that he's "fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23), the only way he could be saved is if God Himself sends a Christ who will fulfill "the glory of God" perfectly--this is promised to be the case in Is 11:1-5, 42:1, and being fulfilled in Christ (see Mt 3:17 and Jn 13:31-32, 17:4), it is the new "Way" of salvation for God's people. By Christ's obedience, believers are MADE righteous (Rom 5:19), so that His righteousness and obedience would be accounted to us and applied to us--and the fruit of it is His believers striving for His glory in all things. (Do a study of how often the New Testament says "to God be the glory in Christ" or something similar...you'll be amazed). This is why He's a faithful and necessary Savior (see Heb 5:7-10).
This is why all of Paul's writings of admonition (teaching, commands, etc.) begin with Gospel theology and then move into the practical implications (notice Romans has 12 chapters on Gospel theology and ch 13 begins with practicals, and the rest of the letters are similar). Peter's is the same, John's, James', etc.
But what about all of Jesus' teaching in the Gospel accounts? He seems to lay down a pretty heavy load of teaching on what we are to do and not do...how do we reconcile with that? It's very simple--every gospel account ends with Him being crucified and resurrected. All of Jesus' teaching is meant to be understood in light of the cross, because all of His teaching inevitably leads to the cross and flows from the cross. This is why He says that in order for one to "follow Him" he must "take up his cross" (Mk 8:34). Coming to and following Jesus means "learning from Him" (Mt 11:29), and not only that, but keeping and obeying what He says (see Jn 14:15, 15:10). It would seem burdensome, because who could keep His commands perfectly? That's the point--if He was just another teacher of the Law, there would be no gospel. The point is that HE keeps the Law for us, that by faith in His Person and work, "the righteous requirement of the law would be kept in us, who walk by the Spirit" (see how Jn 14:15-17 connects with Rom 8:3-4...amazing!). We take up our cross, because Jesus took up His cross, and we obey because Jesus obeyed to make us able to obey...by His Spirit. This is why Jesus says "apart from me you can do nothing"...apart from Him who went to the cross in my place, I can't do anything. But IN Him, "I can do all things" (Phil 4:13). What a wonderful gospel!
To preach obedience and righteousness apart from Christ's obedience and righteousness is to completely miss the point of the Gospel (and sadly, many...including the writer for a long time...have missed it). In the same way, to preach God's love apart from His anger over sin is to miss the point. The Scripture never proclaims His love apart from Christ's righteous obedience (see Jn 3:16-17). The reason is that you need Jesus in order to have God. "No one comes to the Father except through me...apart from me you can do nothing."
Christ, who is so rich that all things have belonged to Him for all of eternity, became poor, homeless, despised, and rejected. He who holds all things in His hand (Heb 1:3) gave himself into the hands of sinful men (Ac 2:23)...sinful men whom He had created and whose lives He upheld even in those moments! These men thought that they were rich, great, and "in control"...and yet Christ was in control the whole time (Jn 10:17-18, Ac 4:28). And what did He do? He suffered...because only through HIS suffering could anyone actually be reconciled to the Holy God-Creator from whom they were fallen (Rom 3:23) and of whom they were hostile enemies (Rom 5:8, 8:7). In this, there are riches beyond comparison (Mk 10:21, 1 Cor 3:21-22, 1 Pet 1:4)...but outside of this it is only death and it will all perish.
The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ will continue to be proclaimed and sung by the people of God for all of eternity...we'll worship Christ because He went to the cross (see Rev 5:9-10). Because He suffered and wept and was betrayed, one day, when all things are new, we the people of God will never suffer, weep, or be betrayed ever again (Rev. 21:4). Those are true riches--riches that are worth dying for. They're riches that Christ DID die for. Let all of God's people rejoice!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
"Keep Them In Your Name"
"Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one."
John 17:11
In this one short verse Jesus sums up the difference between false Christianity and true Christianity. As He prays to His Father on behalf of His followers ("sheep"--10:2-30, "His own"--13:1), His prayer is very simple and unmistakable: that God the Father who is sovereign over all things would make sure that His sheep remain sheep regardless of what happens.
A short survey of the surrounding context shows the "troubles" that are sure to come to His disciples: Jesus' departure and leaving them (14:12), hatred from the world on account of Himself (15:18) and corresponding preaching of the Word anyways (15:27), temptation to fall away (16:1), sorrow (16:19-20), and "tribulation" (16:33). Surely we mustn't forget perhaps the darkest one of them all: Jesus' telling Peter that Peter WILL deny Jesus when He is handed over, to which the other gospel accounts show Peter scoffing at Jesus (13:38). How scary of a statement would it be for an emotionally vulnerable person to hear that they will soon betray that which is most precious to them?--that they are so flappible and so wavering that they WILL have a fall, when it appears that this is the least possible thing that could happen? It must have been devastating to Peter when he actually DID deny Jesus, and this is why each of the Synoptics have Peter "weeping bitterly" the moment he denies Jesus' fellowship the third time (Mt 26:75, Mk 14:72, Lk 22:62).
But Jesus' prayer is that the Father will KEEP His followers. There is nothing more powerful than the prayer of the Author of Life (Ac 3:15) who is the Word of God (Rev 19:13) who has authority over all things (including salvation--Mt 11:27) (Mt 28:18).
In fact, Lk 22:31-32 has Jesus telling Peter (regarding his eventual fall) that Satan demanded to have him, but "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter then says (again) that he won't fall, to which Jesus (again) tells him that he will. But the point is that Jesus prayed for him. Jesus' word is more powerful than Satan's. And this is why He tells Peter "when you have turned again" and not "if you turn again"...it's not up to Peter whether his fall will be final or temporary--it's up to Jesus, as it always is. It's so sure that Jesus speaks of it almost in past-tense terms: "When you have turned again...". This is much like Paul calling Christians those who are "glorifiED" (past tense-->Rom 8:30), as well as those who are "seatED with Christ in the heavenly places" (clearly a future-tense reality, but it's so sure that it's considered a present reality-->Eph 2:6).
And notice what Jesus tells Peter to do "when he has turned again"--"strengthen your brothers". Why should Peter do this? Because in denying Jesus three times like Jesus said He would, Peter sees his utter helplessness in and of himself, but in knowing that he didn't fall away finally because Jesus prayed for him, he will rest in Christ and His sovereignty...and this will make him capable of "strengthening his brothers". Only when one has absolute and utter faith in Christ's power over themselves will they ever be able to "strengthen" anyone--especially when they are in an important position of authority like Peter was.
Jesus saying trials will come isn't simply a message of His foreknowledge--it's a message of his predestining that these are necessary for a Christian. Much like that Jesus' betrayal, sentencing, flogging, and crucifixion was predestined by the Father to take place (see Ac 2:23, 3:18, 4:28, 14:27--unmistakable) to bring about salvation to His sheep, His sheep will undergo trials, temptations, and hardships as part of the predestined plan of God as well.
This is the unmistakable message of Paul: "We are afflicted...persecuted...struck down..always carrying in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh...this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory..." (2 Cor 4:8-11, 17)--notice he thinks there is a purpose for his persecutions...as though God is in control of them.; "We sent Timothy...to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one may be moved by these afflictions...for we are destined for this" (1 Thes 3:2-3)--very simple message: we are DESTINED, as Christians, for persecutions and trials.
This is the unmistakable message of James: "Count it joy..when you meet trials of various kinds, for...the testing of your faith produces steadfastness...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing...Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised those who love him..." (Jms 1:2-4, 12)--I wish I could spend more time looking into the depth of this passage and the surrounding context, but that'll be for another time.
This is the unmistakable message of Peter: "Blessed be..God..he has caused us to be born again...(you) by God's power are being guarded through faith for salvation...in this you rejoice, though now for a little while, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith...may be found to result in praise and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:3-7)--to Peter, these trials are here SO THAT we will praise and glorify Jesus when He returns; again, it's God who brings this about IN us, and He who will bring it to completion, as Paul had elsewhere said in Philippians 1:6.
Finally, two more points of reference:
First, twice does the Book of Acts tell us of this point (9:16--when Paul first becomes a Christian, God tells Ananias to take him in, because "(God) will show him how much he must suffer for (God's) name"...as though it was planned; 14:21-22--Paul goes on a ministry tour for the purpose of "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God"...since it is not only a certainty but something that is necessary for us;
Second, Jesus himself (again) makes clear that this is going to happen as a necessity for their faith (Jn 15:18-20--"If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you...a servant is not greater than his master...if they persecuted me they will also persecute you"...taking all of the above passages into consideration, they persecuted Jesus because God had planned it to take place, and Jesus is telling the disciples that "just like they've done this to me, they will do it to you, too" as though that's part of God's plan...and it is (again, see above passages, esp. Ac 14:21-22, 1 Thes 3:2-3, and 1 Pet 1:3-7).
And remember that both James and Peter said that the Christian life will be full of "various trials" (Jms 1:2, 1 Pet 1:6), meaning it doesn't always just mean social persecution...often it means exactly what we saw earlier that Luke and John had recorded: lapses in faith, temporary falls, lapses in judgment, etc. Peter also reminds us that "your adversary the Devil prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9 {also see v10}), using the exact same language as Genesis 4 when God tells Cain "sin is crouching at the door. It's desire is for you" (4:7) referring to Cain's jealousy...apparently our battles as Christians aren't always outward, but many times are inward. But these are necessary, so that we would be made holy, which is God's final will for us (see 1 Thes 4:3,7).
But the point of all of it is that Christ has prayed for us. He has prayed that, as Christians, we would be kept in the Father's name, that we may be "one" with Him and His Son Jesus. Being united with Him, we have hope, rest, assurance, and peace that He will bring us through the trials and keep us rooted in Him. "He who has ears to hear" will hear this and rejoice. He who doesn't will scoff and say "I'm still in control of my life", and will eventually "fall away" because he never belonged to Christ in the first place (see the intentional language of Heb 3:14 and 6:4-9 and read it carefully, asking for the Spirit's discernment; also 1 Jn 2:18-25 and 5:18-20 and read these carefully as well, with the Spirit's discernment).
"But you beloved...keep yourselves in the love of God"...but that's not all it says!..."now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory...to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever, Amen." (Jude 20-21, 24-25). The command is clear: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling...FOR it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil 2:12-13).
John 17:11
In this one short verse Jesus sums up the difference between false Christianity and true Christianity. As He prays to His Father on behalf of His followers ("sheep"--10:2-30, "His own"--13:1), His prayer is very simple and unmistakable: that God the Father who is sovereign over all things would make sure that His sheep remain sheep regardless of what happens.
A short survey of the surrounding context shows the "troubles" that are sure to come to His disciples: Jesus' departure and leaving them (14:12), hatred from the world on account of Himself (15:18) and corresponding preaching of the Word anyways (15:27), temptation to fall away (16:1), sorrow (16:19-20), and "tribulation" (16:33). Surely we mustn't forget perhaps the darkest one of them all: Jesus' telling Peter that Peter WILL deny Jesus when He is handed over, to which the other gospel accounts show Peter scoffing at Jesus (13:38). How scary of a statement would it be for an emotionally vulnerable person to hear that they will soon betray that which is most precious to them?--that they are so flappible and so wavering that they WILL have a fall, when it appears that this is the least possible thing that could happen? It must have been devastating to Peter when he actually DID deny Jesus, and this is why each of the Synoptics have Peter "weeping bitterly" the moment he denies Jesus' fellowship the third time (Mt 26:75, Mk 14:72, Lk 22:62).
But Jesus' prayer is that the Father will KEEP His followers. There is nothing more powerful than the prayer of the Author of Life (Ac 3:15) who is the Word of God (Rev 19:13) who has authority over all things (including salvation--Mt 11:27) (Mt 28:18).
In fact, Lk 22:31-32 has Jesus telling Peter (regarding his eventual fall) that Satan demanded to have him, but "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter then says (again) that he won't fall, to which Jesus (again) tells him that he will. But the point is that Jesus prayed for him. Jesus' word is more powerful than Satan's. And this is why He tells Peter "when you have turned again" and not "if you turn again"...it's not up to Peter whether his fall will be final or temporary--it's up to Jesus, as it always is. It's so sure that Jesus speaks of it almost in past-tense terms: "When you have turned again...". This is much like Paul calling Christians those who are "glorifiED" (past tense-->Rom 8:30), as well as those who are "seatED with Christ in the heavenly places" (clearly a future-tense reality, but it's so sure that it's considered a present reality-->Eph 2:6).
And notice what Jesus tells Peter to do "when he has turned again"--"strengthen your brothers". Why should Peter do this? Because in denying Jesus three times like Jesus said He would, Peter sees his utter helplessness in and of himself, but in knowing that he didn't fall away finally because Jesus prayed for him, he will rest in Christ and His sovereignty...and this will make him capable of "strengthening his brothers". Only when one has absolute and utter faith in Christ's power over themselves will they ever be able to "strengthen" anyone--especially when they are in an important position of authority like Peter was.
Jesus saying trials will come isn't simply a message of His foreknowledge--it's a message of his predestining that these are necessary for a Christian. Much like that Jesus' betrayal, sentencing, flogging, and crucifixion was predestined by the Father to take place (see Ac 2:23, 3:18, 4:28, 14:27--unmistakable) to bring about salvation to His sheep, His sheep will undergo trials, temptations, and hardships as part of the predestined plan of God as well.
This is the unmistakable message of Paul: "We are afflicted...persecuted...struck down..always carrying in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh...this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory..." (2 Cor 4:8-11, 17)--notice he thinks there is a purpose for his persecutions...as though God is in control of them.; "We sent Timothy...to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one may be moved by these afflictions...for we are destined for this" (1 Thes 3:2-3)--very simple message: we are DESTINED, as Christians, for persecutions and trials.
This is the unmistakable message of James: "Count it joy..when you meet trials of various kinds, for...the testing of your faith produces steadfastness...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing...Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised those who love him..." (Jms 1:2-4, 12)--I wish I could spend more time looking into the depth of this passage and the surrounding context, but that'll be for another time.
This is the unmistakable message of Peter: "Blessed be..God..he has caused us to be born again...(you) by God's power are being guarded through faith for salvation...in this you rejoice, though now for a little while, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith...may be found to result in praise and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:3-7)--to Peter, these trials are here SO THAT we will praise and glorify Jesus when He returns; again, it's God who brings this about IN us, and He who will bring it to completion, as Paul had elsewhere said in Philippians 1:6.
Finally, two more points of reference:
First, twice does the Book of Acts tell us of this point (9:16--when Paul first becomes a Christian, God tells Ananias to take him in, because "(God) will show him how much he must suffer for (God's) name"...as though it was planned; 14:21-22--Paul goes on a ministry tour for the purpose of "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God"...since it is not only a certainty but something that is necessary for us;
Second, Jesus himself (again) makes clear that this is going to happen as a necessity for their faith (Jn 15:18-20--"If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you...a servant is not greater than his master...if they persecuted me they will also persecute you"...taking all of the above passages into consideration, they persecuted Jesus because God had planned it to take place, and Jesus is telling the disciples that "just like they've done this to me, they will do it to you, too" as though that's part of God's plan...and it is (again, see above passages, esp. Ac 14:21-22, 1 Thes 3:2-3, and 1 Pet 1:3-7).
And remember that both James and Peter said that the Christian life will be full of "various trials" (Jms 1:2, 1 Pet 1:6), meaning it doesn't always just mean social persecution...often it means exactly what we saw earlier that Luke and John had recorded: lapses in faith, temporary falls, lapses in judgment, etc. Peter also reminds us that "your adversary the Devil prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world" (1 Pet 5:8-9 {also see v10}), using the exact same language as Genesis 4 when God tells Cain "sin is crouching at the door. It's desire is for you" (4:7) referring to Cain's jealousy...apparently our battles as Christians aren't always outward, but many times are inward. But these are necessary, so that we would be made holy, which is God's final will for us (see 1 Thes 4:3,7).
But the point of all of it is that Christ has prayed for us. He has prayed that, as Christians, we would be kept in the Father's name, that we may be "one" with Him and His Son Jesus. Being united with Him, we have hope, rest, assurance, and peace that He will bring us through the trials and keep us rooted in Him. "He who has ears to hear" will hear this and rejoice. He who doesn't will scoff and say "I'm still in control of my life", and will eventually "fall away" because he never belonged to Christ in the first place (see the intentional language of Heb 3:14 and 6:4-9 and read it carefully, asking for the Spirit's discernment; also 1 Jn 2:18-25 and 5:18-20 and read these carefully as well, with the Spirit's discernment).
"But you beloved...keep yourselves in the love of God"...but that's not all it says!..."now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory...to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever, Amen." (Jude 20-21, 24-25). The command is clear: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling...FOR it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil 2:12-13).
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
...except that it be given him from heaven.
"A person can receive nothing except that it be given him from heaven."--Jn. 3:27
Most people really have a hard time accepting gifts. Most feel the need, when receiving a gift, to do something in response, in effect paying for the gift (which would make it no longer a gift!). Others have no problem accepting gifts--they receive the gift, say "thank you", and move on the enjoyment of said gift.
The Gospel meets both types of people (and I do believe most people are one or the other). The reason the Gospel meets both is that it says that all is dependent upon the grace of God, along with the fact that it says we're responsible creatures. This would mean that even our responding positively to God's command is also a gift, "so that he who boasts would boast in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31).
After John the baptizer says what he says in John 3:27, Jesus later sheds even more light on it. In context of speaking with his disciples about their bearing good fruit for him, he says, "As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me..." almost immediately adding, "..for apart from me you can do nothing" (15:4,5). Jesus' point is very clear--we can do nothing apart from Him.
This means that not only is my good fruit a result of His life in me bearing good fruit, but my very faith in the first place is a result of God's grace towards me (see 1 Cor. 15:10, Eph. 2:8), which means that my being grafted into Him the Vine is also a result of God's grace towards me (see Rom. 11:17-21). We remember Jesus' sobering reminder to the disciples lest they become prideful, "You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide" (Jn. 15:16).
This shouldn't be hard for Christians to understand--in fact it should be readily accepted. Unfortunately it is hard to accept and believe by many American Christians who are more American than they are Christian; we so struggle with finding out complete identity in Christ because our culture has told us to "believe in ourselves" and "achieve our dreams", which has bred a people who desperately want credit for what they do. Those in Christ should know of no such thing--the whole POINT of God's work in Christ is God's glory and not ours. He testifies to it in the Prophets (Is. 12:3-4--"In that day you will draw water from the wells of salvation, and you will say, 'Give thanks to the Lord..make known his deeds among the peoples"; Ezek. 36:27,38--"I will put my Spirit in you and cause you to walk in my statutes and obey my rules...(and) then they (cities, nations, etc.) will know that I'm the Lord"), and Peter testifies to it in his epistle (1 Pet. 2:9--"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness".) The whole point of the work of Christ is for us to exalt the glory of God and make known HIS deeds--because man truly can receive nothing unless it's given him from heaven, and this includes faith, obedience (see Ezek 36 passage), and good fruit.
We have a sovereign God who "works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Eph. 1:11), and He has united us with His risen and resurrected Son who sits at His own right hand in heaven. My prayer today is that you understand that God is to be glorified because everything, from you fruit to your obedience to your faith has been accomplished by Him in the first place anyways--therefore it's insanity and foolishness to want to take any credit. Those in Christ won't--because those in Christ know that they're in Christ as a gift given them from heaven. When God is glorified, then your heart will fill up with thanksgiving, and you will be filled with joy. Only this time, it will be joy as coming from the Father, so it will be complete, instead of the half-joy that is rampant among the Church today. And this true joy from God will be for our good, and His glory.
Most people really have a hard time accepting gifts. Most feel the need, when receiving a gift, to do something in response, in effect paying for the gift (which would make it no longer a gift!). Others have no problem accepting gifts--they receive the gift, say "thank you", and move on the enjoyment of said gift.
The Gospel meets both types of people (and I do believe most people are one or the other). The reason the Gospel meets both is that it says that all is dependent upon the grace of God, along with the fact that it says we're responsible creatures. This would mean that even our responding positively to God's command is also a gift, "so that he who boasts would boast in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31).
After John the baptizer says what he says in John 3:27, Jesus later sheds even more light on it. In context of speaking with his disciples about their bearing good fruit for him, he says, "As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me..." almost immediately adding, "..for apart from me you can do nothing" (15:4,5). Jesus' point is very clear--we can do nothing apart from Him.
This means that not only is my good fruit a result of His life in me bearing good fruit, but my very faith in the first place is a result of God's grace towards me (see 1 Cor. 15:10, Eph. 2:8), which means that my being grafted into Him the Vine is also a result of God's grace towards me (see Rom. 11:17-21). We remember Jesus' sobering reminder to the disciples lest they become prideful, "You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide" (Jn. 15:16).
This shouldn't be hard for Christians to understand--in fact it should be readily accepted. Unfortunately it is hard to accept and believe by many American Christians who are more American than they are Christian; we so struggle with finding out complete identity in Christ because our culture has told us to "believe in ourselves" and "achieve our dreams", which has bred a people who desperately want credit for what they do. Those in Christ should know of no such thing--the whole POINT of God's work in Christ is God's glory and not ours. He testifies to it in the Prophets (Is. 12:3-4--"In that day you will draw water from the wells of salvation, and you will say, 'Give thanks to the Lord..make known his deeds among the peoples"; Ezek. 36:27,38--"I will put my Spirit in you and cause you to walk in my statutes and obey my rules...(and) then they (cities, nations, etc.) will know that I'm the Lord"), and Peter testifies to it in his epistle (1 Pet. 2:9--"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness".) The whole point of the work of Christ is for us to exalt the glory of God and make known HIS deeds--because man truly can receive nothing unless it's given him from heaven, and this includes faith, obedience (see Ezek 36 passage), and good fruit.
We have a sovereign God who "works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Eph. 1:11), and He has united us with His risen and resurrected Son who sits at His own right hand in heaven. My prayer today is that you understand that God is to be glorified because everything, from you fruit to your obedience to your faith has been accomplished by Him in the first place anyways--therefore it's insanity and foolishness to want to take any credit. Those in Christ won't--because those in Christ know that they're in Christ as a gift given them from heaven. When God is glorified, then your heart will fill up with thanksgiving, and you will be filled with joy. Only this time, it will be joy as coming from the Father, so it will be complete, instead of the half-joy that is rampant among the Church today. And this true joy from God will be for our good, and His glory.
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