He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it."
There is such disappointment in Jesus's sigh. Where there is no faith, there can be no miracles (Mark 6:5-6). Why? Because even if miracles, signs, and wonders were done, they would not be believed.
The LORD through the prophet of Habakkuk states, "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." (Hab 1:5) Miracles do not always lead to faith (John 12:37). This is just as Isaiah said, "Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" (Isa 53:1) If the heart is skeptical to begin with, miracles, no matter how powerful, are explained away.
Counter intuitively, faith, no matter the amount, is required for miracles, not the other way around. Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains (Mat 17:20). If you cannot move mountains, it means your faith is not even as large as a mustard seed. Miracles only happen for the sake of those who will increase in faith because of them. This is why miracles are prevalent in countries like China and Nigeria because they are more willing to believe than in skeptical "enlightened" nations like America, England, and Sweden.
It turns out the more skeptical we grow, the blinder we all become.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Friday, October 7, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
There is a reason these three are kept close together. Although the greatest of these three is love, love is nothing without faith and hope. God is love, of that there is no doubt, and like love there will be times when he is readily apparent and times when he is not so easily perceived yet nonetheless there. So what is it during these dry times that perseveres love and sustains it through trials? It is the work of faith and hope together.
So many people believe that love will last, love is all they need, and love will keep us together. Love is an emotional, spiritual, and physical bondedness to someone and like most bonds it can be broken.
Faith (i.e. trust) in God and in another is what allows love to take place. Faith comes first and then love follows. You cannot love someone you do not trust. Hope, which stems from faith, is what keeps love alive even in the darkest times. Without faith and hope, love cannot grow and God cannot be. So the question to ask someone you want to marry isn't "Do I love you?" but rather "Will it last?" It is God who joins two people together (God is love) and if your faith and hope are in Him, then let no man separate.
There is a reason these three are kept close together. Although the greatest of these three is love, love is nothing without faith and hope. God is love, of that there is no doubt, and like love there will be times when he is readily apparent and times when he is not so easily perceived yet nonetheless there. So what is it during these dry times that perseveres love and sustains it through trials? It is the work of faith and hope together.
So many people believe that love will last, love is all they need, and love will keep us together. Love is an emotional, spiritual, and physical bondedness to someone and like most bonds it can be broken.
Faith (i.e. trust) in God and in another is what allows love to take place. Faith comes first and then love follows. You cannot love someone you do not trust. Hope, which stems from faith, is what keeps love alive even in the darkest times. Without faith and hope, love cannot grow and God cannot be. So the question to ask someone you want to marry isn't "Do I love you?" but rather "Will it last?" It is God who joins two people together (God is love) and if your faith and hope are in Him, then let no man separate.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Isaiah 1:24-26
"Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.
I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
I will restore your leaders as in days of old,
your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."
God never ceases to amaze. God vents his wrath not for the sake of destroying sinners, but to restore his holy people. His turning of his hand against us is the same as his removing all unrighteousness. He wants to restore us back to what were were at the beginning so that afterward we would be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful city.
However, the restoration and purification of God's elect involves the removal of those who are not God's elect. All who have sinned and gone astray will be purged as dross so that only the faithful remain. But not one of us is elect. All have sinned and are unrighteous, only to be purged, had not God sent His Righteous One to intercede for us. Only one has been faithful and obedient, Jesus Christ, and it is only as we find ourselves in him that we take part in the life of the elect for only Christ is elect. For the sake of one righteous man, God spared the world.
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.
I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
I will restore your leaders as in days of old,
your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."
God never ceases to amaze. God vents his wrath not for the sake of destroying sinners, but to restore his holy people. His turning of his hand against us is the same as his removing all unrighteousness. He wants to restore us back to what were were at the beginning so that afterward we would be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful city.
However, the restoration and purification of God's elect involves the removal of those who are not God's elect. All who have sinned and gone astray will be purged as dross so that only the faithful remain. But not one of us is elect. All have sinned and are unrighteous, only to be purged, had not God sent His Righteous One to intercede for us. Only one has been faithful and obedient, Jesus Christ, and it is only as we find ourselves in him that we take part in the life of the elect for only Christ is elect. For the sake of one righteous man, God spared the world.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Matthew 21:29-31
" “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered."
You can take all the time you need to tell God how much you don't want to do something. God understands, for the heart of man is desperately wicked (Jer 17:9).
In the end, it does not matter if you want to do something or not, only that it gets done. And it should be no surprise to us that God will call us to do things we do not want to do! In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." If you are called to be like Christ, you are called to a life of self-denial and obedience like Christ. These things are hard!
But the thing is, Jesus understands what he's asking you to do, and he asks you to do them anyway. He knows full well what you can endure and what you can accomplish if you put your trust in him. He knows you don't want to do them, and yet he still asks. And so the only question that remains is do you have the faith to follow Christ, even to the cross? If not, pray for faith, otherwise for strength and endurance.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered."
You can take all the time you need to tell God how much you don't want to do something. God understands, for the heart of man is desperately wicked (Jer 17:9).
In the end, it does not matter if you want to do something or not, only that it gets done. And it should be no surprise to us that God will call us to do things we do not want to do! In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." If you are called to be like Christ, you are called to a life of self-denial and obedience like Christ. These things are hard!
But the thing is, Jesus understands what he's asking you to do, and he asks you to do them anyway. He knows full well what you can endure and what you can accomplish if you put your trust in him. He knows you don't want to do them, and yet he still asks. And so the only question that remains is do you have the faith to follow Christ, even to the cross? If not, pray for faith, otherwise for strength and endurance.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Deuteronomy 5:29
"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!"
This is the LORD's hope and prayer for us. His one desire here is to see it go well with us and our children forever. He has given us his divine precepts, the Ten Commandments, in order that we might live healthy and blessed lives. His intention is not to harm us or to condemn us, but so that we might prolong our days and live. The Law was meant for our good, but because of sin in us, it has brought about our destruction (cf. Rom 7).
We break the rules and cast aside the law which was put in place for our own protection and benefit. We believed the lie that it is a restriction on our freedom when it was the very thing that allowed us to enjoy it without fear. We have thrown ourselves into bondage as slaves to unrighteousness and have brought about our own destruction. Who will save us?
But God's prayer is not frustrated. He is the Almighty, able to do anything he sets his will to. By his strength he has rescued us from sin and caused us to live. By his grace through faith in His Son Jesus it will go well for us who fear the LORD. Where the law made us willing, the Spirit now makes us able. No longer do we live according to our own sinful desire, but we live by God and God alone.
This is the LORD's hope and prayer for us. His one desire here is to see it go well with us and our children forever. He has given us his divine precepts, the Ten Commandments, in order that we might live healthy and blessed lives. His intention is not to harm us or to condemn us, but so that we might prolong our days and live. The Law was meant for our good, but because of sin in us, it has brought about our destruction (cf. Rom 7).
We break the rules and cast aside the law which was put in place for our own protection and benefit. We believed the lie that it is a restriction on our freedom when it was the very thing that allowed us to enjoy it without fear. We have thrown ourselves into bondage as slaves to unrighteousness and have brought about our own destruction. Who will save us?
But God's prayer is not frustrated. He is the Almighty, able to do anything he sets his will to. By his strength he has rescued us from sin and caused us to live. By his grace through faith in His Son Jesus it will go well for us who fear the LORD. Where the law made us willing, the Spirit now makes us able. No longer do we live according to our own sinful desire, but we live by God and God alone.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Mark 4:38
"Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" These are the words of the disciples, unaware that Christ's very presence was an answer to his question. God does in fact care that we are perishing. That is why he came down to us in order that we might live.
And yet Jesus was found asleep on the boat as it was tossed and turned by the waves on the open sea. How could Jesus remain so calm when death seemed imminent? Either he doesn't care or they were not perishing. Judging that God came down from heaven to save us, the latter must be true.
In the presence of Christ, we will never perish. If He who is eternal lives in us, how can we die? And if we who have been baptized died to sin, how then can we die to it once more? We have been reborn so that the life we have we live to God so if you feel like you are perishing, ask yourself, "Is the LORD with me?" for if He is, you have nothing to fear.
"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" These are the words of the disciples, unaware that Christ's very presence was an answer to his question. God does in fact care that we are perishing. That is why he came down to us in order that we might live.
And yet Jesus was found asleep on the boat as it was tossed and turned by the waves on the open sea. How could Jesus remain so calm when death seemed imminent? Either he doesn't care or they were not perishing. Judging that God came down from heaven to save us, the latter must be true.
In the presence of Christ, we will never perish. If He who is eternal lives in us, how can we die? And if we who have been baptized died to sin, how then can we die to it once more? We have been reborn so that the life we have we live to God so if you feel like you are perishing, ask yourself, "Is the LORD with me?" for if He is, you have nothing to fear.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Romans 16:25-27
"Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen."
Jesus came into the world to bring about the obedience of faith. It is through this obedience of faith that the only wise God is glorified forevermore through Jesus Christ. God is no longer a secret, but plainly seen and beheld by all in the person of Jesus Christ through the obedience of faith, that is, the obedience that is faith.
To believe in the One God has sent is a work (John 6:29) of obedience. We are called to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (that is the gospel which is Jesus Christ which he also proclaims) (Mark 1:15) and to trust the Lord God. Those who love the Lord then you trust him as well. If you trust God has your best interests in mind, why wouldn't you obey him?
And God has proven himself through Christ to be just and good for while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He saw us kicking about in our blood and said to us "Live!" (Ezekiel 16:6) So to him who is able to strengthen us through the gospel be the glory forever and ever!
Jesus came into the world to bring about the obedience of faith. It is through this obedience of faith that the only wise God is glorified forevermore through Jesus Christ. God is no longer a secret, but plainly seen and beheld by all in the person of Jesus Christ through the obedience of faith, that is, the obedience that is faith.
To believe in the One God has sent is a work (John 6:29) of obedience. We are called to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (that is the gospel which is Jesus Christ which he also proclaims) (Mark 1:15) and to trust the Lord God. Those who love the Lord then you trust him as well. If you trust God has your best interests in mind, why wouldn't you obey him?
And God has proven himself through Christ to be just and good for while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He saw us kicking about in our blood and said to us "Live!" (Ezekiel 16:6) So to him who is able to strengthen us through the gospel be the glory forever and ever!
Monday, July 4, 2011
James 2:15-16
"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"
James says in verse 17 that dead faith is useless. And what is dead faith? It is a lack of compassion and concern for your brother or sister. It allows you to see suffering and simply go on your way. It makes you feel great about yourself while another goes without the things they need to survive. It tricks you into thinking you are alive when you are not. Dead faith walks past God's children and leaves them to starve.
And if the faith is dead, it is not good for anything. When batteries die, they need to be recharged or thrown out. Dead faith does nothing. It doesn't work. It bears no crops. It yields no harvest. There is no righteousness reaped. There are no works to be had because the faith cannot produce them. It is dead faith. Dead.
But if faith brings forth the fruit God desires, then it is alive. If it remains in the vine, then it will bear fruit. Works make complete the faith and brings it to maturity. Faith must be made complete in order for it to save. Faith must have works, else it is a dead faith and a dead faith is no faith at all. Faith is dead without works, so we need a faith that works!
James says in verse 17 that dead faith is useless. And what is dead faith? It is a lack of compassion and concern for your brother or sister. It allows you to see suffering and simply go on your way. It makes you feel great about yourself while another goes without the things they need to survive. It tricks you into thinking you are alive when you are not. Dead faith walks past God's children and leaves them to starve.
And if the faith is dead, it is not good for anything. When batteries die, they need to be recharged or thrown out. Dead faith does nothing. It doesn't work. It bears no crops. It yields no harvest. There is no righteousness reaped. There are no works to be had because the faith cannot produce them. It is dead faith. Dead.
But if faith brings forth the fruit God desires, then it is alive. If it remains in the vine, then it will bear fruit. Works make complete the faith and brings it to maturity. Faith must be made complete in order for it to save. Faith must have works, else it is a dead faith and a dead faith is no faith at all. Faith is dead without works, so we need a faith that works!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Philippians 1:27
"Whatever happens, above all else conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel"
No matter what, we are in this together. That is the message Paul is giving us in Philippians. This is the first command he gives and it is also the most important. Above all else, do this. It is a call to unity and to endure together no matter what comes of him, whether he lives or dies in prison. But why is it so important that the church be unified?
In John 17, Jesus Christ prays for all believers to be one just as He and the Father are one in order that the world would know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It is through our unity that Christ proves his divinity.
It is our unity that shows the world that there exists a God in heaven who loves them.
It is our unity that brings about saving faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It not only saves others, but it saves us as well.
And so not only our salvation but the salvation of the entire world depends on the church standing firm together.
No matter what, we are in this together. That is the message Paul is giving us in Philippians. This is the first command he gives and it is also the most important. Above all else, do this. It is a call to unity and to endure together no matter what comes of him, whether he lives or dies in prison. But why is it so important that the church be unified?
In John 17, Jesus Christ prays for all believers to be one just as He and the Father are one in order that the world would know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It is through our unity that Christ proves his divinity.
It is our unity that shows the world that there exists a God in heaven who loves them.
It is our unity that brings about saving faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
It not only saves others, but it saves us as well.
And so not only our salvation but the salvation of the entire world depends on the church standing firm together.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
What the Old Testament reveals is that we are guilty beyond compare. Because we know the laws God requires, we are law breakers who do not do them. God's standards for holiness are so high that breaking even one law breaks all of them. We are prisoners to our own sin, deserving of death for our own wickedness. If you believe the Scriptures, you also must believe you are a prisoner of war.
But faith sets you apart for salvation.
It is not your works that save you-- it is Christ. It is not your worship that saves you-- it is Christ. It is not your joy or your piety that saves you-- it is Christ. It is not even your faith that saves you-- it is Christ and his faithfulness that brings you up out of the land of slavery.
Do not look to heaven to call down eternal blessing through your pitiful prayers, but look to Christ who hears them. Make no mistake, you are not at all worthy or important except for Christ who makes you worthy and important by the sheer fact that he designates you to be so. Do not be fooled, for you are nothing until Christ makes you something. Look to Christ so that he may grant you rest. Christ is your salvation and there is no other.
What the Old Testament reveals is that we are guilty beyond compare. Because we know the laws God requires, we are law breakers who do not do them. God's standards for holiness are so high that breaking even one law breaks all of them. We are prisoners to our own sin, deserving of death for our own wickedness. If you believe the Scriptures, you also must believe you are a prisoner of war.
But faith sets you apart for salvation.
It is not your works that save you-- it is Christ. It is not your worship that saves you-- it is Christ. It is not your joy or your piety that saves you-- it is Christ. It is not even your faith that saves you-- it is Christ and his faithfulness that brings you up out of the land of slavery.
Do not look to heaven to call down eternal blessing through your pitiful prayers, but look to Christ who hears them. Make no mistake, you are not at all worthy or important except for Christ who makes you worthy and important by the sheer fact that he designates you to be so. Do not be fooled, for you are nothing until Christ makes you something. Look to Christ so that he may grant you rest. Christ is your salvation and there is no other.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Mark 10:21
"And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."
What Jesus tells that man when he asks "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" is not what we would answer to someone asking the question of us. Most of us would say, pray to ask Jesus into your heart, read the Bible every day, go to church, fellowship, worship, and so on.
Does that mean we think Jesus was not really serious with his answer? Jesus says absolutely none of those things we would expect. If we do not take Jesus seriously, should we expect Jesus to take our faith seriously? This isn't a specific command for one person in particular, and when taken as the answer to the question "What must I do to inherit Eternal life?", this answer seems rather important to salvation.
Jesus gives a rather practical answer. The faith he is asking this man to show is not personal saving faith but rather interpersonal saving faith that touches the heart of social concern. What Jesus is asking for is a radical trust in him and not in possessions. So no matter how much technology we can cram into our churches, we could do more for not only the world's salvation but ours as well if we only sold it to the poor and followed Him.
What Jesus tells that man when he asks "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" is not what we would answer to someone asking the question of us. Most of us would say, pray to ask Jesus into your heart, read the Bible every day, go to church, fellowship, worship, and so on.
Does that mean we think Jesus was not really serious with his answer? Jesus says absolutely none of those things we would expect. If we do not take Jesus seriously, should we expect Jesus to take our faith seriously? This isn't a specific command for one person in particular, and when taken as the answer to the question "What must I do to inherit Eternal life?", this answer seems rather important to salvation.
Jesus gives a rather practical answer. The faith he is asking this man to show is not personal saving faith but rather interpersonal saving faith that touches the heart of social concern. What Jesus is asking for is a radical trust in him and not in possessions. So no matter how much technology we can cram into our churches, we could do more for not only the world's salvation but ours as well if we only sold it to the poor and followed Him.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Romans 9:18-20
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”
Salvation is God's choice. There is no doubt about that. However, what people cannot accept is its corollary: condemnation is also God's choice.
One implication is the question asked in verse 19. Paul's answer isn't very comforting, even though it is deeply rooted in Old Testament Scripture (Isa 29:16, 45:9, Job 38-42). How on Earth is God justified to do this? Is He just a tyrant?
God is God. Whatever he does, he does out according to his good pleasure. What pleases God? Certainly not wickedness! He is good, holy, and righteous. He is a God who is for us that none may stand against us.
How do we know this? Because Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. The Scriptures are his divinely inspired self revelation because he is a God who wants to be known for who he is and who he is is perfect, pleasing, and good. Therefore, we have no need to question God's motives, nor is it our place. Who can understand why God does what he does? God is who He says He is and that is enough.
Salvation is God's choice. There is no doubt about that. However, what people cannot accept is its corollary: condemnation is also God's choice.
One implication is the question asked in verse 19. Paul's answer isn't very comforting, even though it is deeply rooted in Old Testament Scripture (Isa 29:16, 45:9, Job 38-42). How on Earth is God justified to do this? Is He just a tyrant?
God is God. Whatever he does, he does out according to his good pleasure. What pleases God? Certainly not wickedness! He is good, holy, and righteous. He is a God who is for us that none may stand against us.
How do we know this? Because Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. The Scriptures are his divinely inspired self revelation because he is a God who wants to be known for who he is and who he is is perfect, pleasing, and good. Therefore, we have no need to question God's motives, nor is it our place. Who can understand why God does what he does? God is who He says He is and that is enough.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
John 9:41
Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains."
Sometimes truth is revealed very gradually, and lately one that has become more and more self evident is this dangerous little notion: Ideas have consequences.
God has given us the capacity for ideas and a means with which to communicate them and conversely enabled in us creativity, imagination, and the ability to dream and hope for the future. However, we started having the wrong ideas.
We started trusting in our own ideas rather than those of God. Our own perceptions have taken over and our vision of reality is distorted. The more we say that "we see", the blinder we become. We have given up God's vision for our own selfish and blind ambition. And this is judgment: that those who were blind now see and those who claim to see become blind (v39). God has blinded the hearts of men lest they turn and be healed (Isa 6:9-10) in his judgment.
But praise God now that the Truth has been revealed to us, God in Christ, so that all who look upon him and believe be saved (v37-38). No longer do our hearts sit blindly in judgment, but we have been shown our sin. There is, now, therefore, no excuse for anyone to not be in Christ unless their eyes are still blinded by God. Yet, Christ is being made manifest by his Church so that no man may have an excuse to be condemned.
Sometimes truth is revealed very gradually, and lately one that has become more and more self evident is this dangerous little notion: Ideas have consequences.
God has given us the capacity for ideas and a means with which to communicate them and conversely enabled in us creativity, imagination, and the ability to dream and hope for the future. However, we started having the wrong ideas.
We started trusting in our own ideas rather than those of God. Our own perceptions have taken over and our vision of reality is distorted. The more we say that "we see", the blinder we become. We have given up God's vision for our own selfish and blind ambition. And this is judgment: that those who were blind now see and those who claim to see become blind (v39). God has blinded the hearts of men lest they turn and be healed (Isa 6:9-10) in his judgment.
But praise God now that the Truth has been revealed to us, God in Christ, so that all who look upon him and believe be saved (v37-38). No longer do our hearts sit blindly in judgment, but we have been shown our sin. There is, now, therefore, no excuse for anyone to not be in Christ unless their eyes are still blinded by God. Yet, Christ is being made manifest by his Church so that no man may have an excuse to be condemned.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Romans 9:3
"For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises."
To ask for this, means to ask for a life apart from Christ, eternally cut off from the Father. Paul is willing to give up his salvation. This is crazy.
But what if Christianity isn't about getting into heaven? If it's not about the eternal reward at the end of the long race? If it's not about entering into the Kingdom of God and having your name written in the book of eternal life? From the looks of it, it's about saving everyone else but yourself, and risking life and limb to do so.
Jesus is the first among many heroes. Paul followed suit and many other martyrs even up to this day are dying for the sake of Christ and the gospel. Why? Because it is not their salvation they are after, but that of the world. Christians are heroes.
For Paul, eternal life was on his list of things that could be sacrificed for the sake of his ministry. He was never in it for himself, but for the love of Christ. And we all know that Christ was not in the world for himself, but descended solely for us. Crazy? Yes. Truth? Absolutely. Gospel? 100%.
To ask for this, means to ask for a life apart from Christ, eternally cut off from the Father. Paul is willing to give up his salvation. This is crazy.
But what if Christianity isn't about getting into heaven? If it's not about the eternal reward at the end of the long race? If it's not about entering into the Kingdom of God and having your name written in the book of eternal life? From the looks of it, it's about saving everyone else but yourself, and risking life and limb to do so.
Jesus is the first among many heroes. Paul followed suit and many other martyrs even up to this day are dying for the sake of Christ and the gospel. Why? Because it is not their salvation they are after, but that of the world. Christians are heroes.
For Paul, eternal life was on his list of things that could be sacrificed for the sake of his ministry. He was never in it for himself, but for the love of Christ. And we all know that Christ was not in the world for himself, but descended solely for us. Crazy? Yes. Truth? Absolutely. Gospel? 100%.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Philippians 1:29
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,"
Paul says what many Christians today don't want you to hear because Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. I mean the entire gospel, not just the good parts you tell your non-christian friends in hopes you might trick them into "faith". What good is it to "save" someone through deception lest they come to believe the entire gospel is a lie once they realize the truth.
What does Paul say? That not only is salvation a gift, but so are the sufferings we endure for his name. A gift. Because God likes to see his children suffer? Far from it! Those who suffer together strive together with one spirit and one mind for the faith of the gospel (v27). We suffer with Christ because we are in Christ and no servant is greater than his master (John 15:20). Our suffering together brings us into greater unity.
We are one Body and Christ is our head (Eph 4:15-16) because we are united in hardship. So we rejoice in our suffering (Rom 5:3-5) because through them we know we are in Christ when we suffer for his sake and the sake of the gospel (Rom 8:17). It is when we stand firm together despite suffering that is a sign to us of our salvation despite it appearing to the world that we are being destroyed (v28).
After all, those who lose their lives for Christ will save them (Mark 8:35), the one who is not ashamed of Christ, Christ will not be ashamed of him (Mark 8:38), and all who have left mother and brothers will not fail to receive a hundred fold what they have left, and with them persecutions (Mark 10:30). Don't be afraid to tell people the truth of the gospel, all of it, for half a gospel produces half a Christian with half of a salvation.
Paul says what many Christians today don't want you to hear because Paul is not ashamed of the gospel. I mean the entire gospel, not just the good parts you tell your non-christian friends in hopes you might trick them into "faith". What good is it to "save" someone through deception lest they come to believe the entire gospel is a lie once they realize the truth.
What does Paul say? That not only is salvation a gift, but so are the sufferings we endure for his name. A gift. Because God likes to see his children suffer? Far from it! Those who suffer together strive together with one spirit and one mind for the faith of the gospel (v27). We suffer with Christ because we are in Christ and no servant is greater than his master (John 15:20). Our suffering together brings us into greater unity.
We are one Body and Christ is our head (Eph 4:15-16) because we are united in hardship. So we rejoice in our suffering (Rom 5:3-5) because through them we know we are in Christ when we suffer for his sake and the sake of the gospel (Rom 8:17). It is when we stand firm together despite suffering that is a sign to us of our salvation despite it appearing to the world that we are being destroyed (v28).
After all, those who lose their lives for Christ will save them (Mark 8:35), the one who is not ashamed of Christ, Christ will not be ashamed of him (Mark 8:38), and all who have left mother and brothers will not fail to receive a hundred fold what they have left, and with them persecutions (Mark 10:30). Don't be afraid to tell people the truth of the gospel, all of it, for half a gospel produces half a Christian with half of a salvation.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Matthew 17:20
"He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.""
Two men came to a frozen lake and although seeing the "thin ice" sign, walked out onto the lake anyway. The first man said, "Let us walk boldly for this ice will not break!" while the second said with a quiver in his voice as he reluctantly stepped forth, "I don't know if this ice is going to hold." Which one had faith?
They both did.
In the end, both of them walked out onto that lake, one rather blindly and the other cautiously. They didn't fall in because ultimately it was not their faith that supported them but the object of that faith, the ice. We are not asked to believe blindly but to come and see for ourselves. Had the ice given way, the first man would have proven to be foolish, not that he isn't already a fool. It is better to test and discern God's will than to rush in blindly where angels fear to tread.
So I tell you the truth, it does not matter how much faith you have (even as small as a mustard seed), but who you have faith in. Nothing will be impossible for us because we believe in a God for whom nothing is impossible.
Two men came to a frozen lake and although seeing the "thin ice" sign, walked out onto the lake anyway. The first man said, "Let us walk boldly for this ice will not break!" while the second said with a quiver in his voice as he reluctantly stepped forth, "I don't know if this ice is going to hold." Which one had faith?
They both did.
In the end, both of them walked out onto that lake, one rather blindly and the other cautiously. They didn't fall in because ultimately it was not their faith that supported them but the object of that faith, the ice. We are not asked to believe blindly but to come and see for ourselves. Had the ice given way, the first man would have proven to be foolish, not that he isn't already a fool. It is better to test and discern God's will than to rush in blindly where angels fear to tread.
So I tell you the truth, it does not matter how much faith you have (even as small as a mustard seed), but who you have faith in. Nothing will be impossible for us because we believe in a God for whom nothing is impossible.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Hosea 2:23
"I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one' I will say to those called 'Not my people', 'You are my people' and they will say, 'You are my God'."
Originally this verse is taken in the context of the election of Israel over all other nations, however now all who were non-elect have access to this God who takes for himself a people to worship him eternally because Christ. God's purpose for us, then, is for us to realize the glory he has given us in causing us to be elect in Christ.
And this realization is not a "choice". We don't choose to recognize if our houses are on fire or not. We could deny the reality but our houses will burn down regardless. Our job as Christians is to tell of this glory and grace that all might recognize the world as it truly is.
Everything God does is so that he might be revealed to us as God. God has, throughout history, revealed himself through Human instrumentality. He has revealed himself through the history of the Jewish people as preserved in the Old Testament and through the humanity of Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God, and now through his Church, the Body of Christ in the present age. He lifted us up out of our sin. Once you realize the totality of the grace you have been given, you will be brought to faith by God.
Originally this verse is taken in the context of the election of Israel over all other nations, however now all who were non-elect have access to this God who takes for himself a people to worship him eternally because Christ. God's purpose for us, then, is for us to realize the glory he has given us in causing us to be elect in Christ.
And this realization is not a "choice". We don't choose to recognize if our houses are on fire or not. We could deny the reality but our houses will burn down regardless. Our job as Christians is to tell of this glory and grace that all might recognize the world as it truly is.
Everything God does is so that he might be revealed to us as God. God has, throughout history, revealed himself through Human instrumentality. He has revealed himself through the history of the Jewish people as preserved in the Old Testament and through the humanity of Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God, and now through his Church, the Body of Christ in the present age. He lifted us up out of our sin. Once you realize the totality of the grace you have been given, you will be brought to faith by God.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Romans 3:25
"God displayed [Jesus Christ] publicly as a Mercy Seat through faith in His blood. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;"
We have a public mercy seat for the forgiveness of sins, but not everyone realizes what it is. They see it clearly, but they do not understand it because it is not of this world, but now that this mercy seat has been revealed, there is no excuse not to come to it other than a failure to recognize it for what it is, that is a failure to recognize the goodness of the revealed Christ because it is foolishness to the wise and incomprehensibly foreign sinful man.
This is why we Christians must lead others to the mercy seat and testify to it's goodness. The grace is publicly available to all and is not resisted but simply not understood as grace. God's sovereign work is not recognized and is his basis for judgment because now that there is no condemnation in Christ, there is no justification for remaining condemned. The world must be brought to recognize Christ and confess that He is Lord and He is for them. They only need to come to the mercy seat empty-handed.
This is the good news that we take part in sharing: That God has elected himself for suffering and damnation and that God has elected us for salvation through Christ. Salvation has come to all men, so come to salvation!
We have a public mercy seat for the forgiveness of sins, but not everyone realizes what it is. They see it clearly, but they do not understand it because it is not of this world, but now that this mercy seat has been revealed, there is no excuse not to come to it other than a failure to recognize it for what it is, that is a failure to recognize the goodness of the revealed Christ because it is foolishness to the wise and incomprehensibly foreign sinful man.
This is why we Christians must lead others to the mercy seat and testify to it's goodness. The grace is publicly available to all and is not resisted but simply not understood as grace. God's sovereign work is not recognized and is his basis for judgment because now that there is no condemnation in Christ, there is no justification for remaining condemned. The world must be brought to recognize Christ and confess that He is Lord and He is for them. They only need to come to the mercy seat empty-handed.
This is the good news that we take part in sharing: That God has elected himself for suffering and damnation and that God has elected us for salvation through Christ. Salvation has come to all men, so come to salvation!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Ephesians 1:13-14
"And you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of His glory."
In this short little introduction to Ephesians, Paul marks out the will of God for the salvation of men. Here, we see the fullness of the Trinity coming together for our redemption; We are marked (by the Father) in Him (Christ) with the promised Holy Spirit. It is the Father who draws us in through the Son by the Holy Spirit. The Father is the fisherman, the Son the rod, and the Holy Spirit is the hook that never lets us go. Because it is God working in all three aspects of salvation, the process is made perfect. Were salvation from men, salvation would fail. But thank God that salvation is guaranteed for those who believe and are sealed with the Holy Spirit!
And this then is the mark of salvation for every true believer: That even when you sin and stray from the path, The Spirit will convict you, Christ will forgive you, and the Father will always bring you back to him for the Father always disciplines his children. All three Persons work together in perfect harmony for our redemption. Do you believe it? But truly, truly, by faith it is so!
In this short little introduction to Ephesians, Paul marks out the will of God for the salvation of men. Here, we see the fullness of the Trinity coming together for our redemption; We are marked (by the Father) in Him (Christ) with the promised Holy Spirit. It is the Father who draws us in through the Son by the Holy Spirit. The Father is the fisherman, the Son the rod, and the Holy Spirit is the hook that never lets us go. Because it is God working in all three aspects of salvation, the process is made perfect. Were salvation from men, salvation would fail. But thank God that salvation is guaranteed for those who believe and are sealed with the Holy Spirit!
And this then is the mark of salvation for every true believer: That even when you sin and stray from the path, The Spirit will convict you, Christ will forgive you, and the Father will always bring you back to him for the Father always disciplines his children. All three Persons work together in perfect harmony for our redemption. Do you believe it? But truly, truly, by faith it is so!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Galatians 5:13
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love."
Those who have been set free by grace should not return to the old ways of doing things (that is, the Law). Giving to the poor does not make you good. Reading your bible does not sanctify. Fasting does not make you holy. Only God in heaven is capable of doing that. How foolish it is to try and earn by human effort what can only come through the Spirit! After receiving grace, will you now try to earn it? We were not saved due to our good works, but from believing the gospel which we had heard.
Those who are under grace are free to sin without eternal consequence. However, Paul states that in our freedom we choose no longer to sin but rather serve in love. When we sin, it is not because we wanted to sin, but Sin living in us (our fallen nature). It is no longer we who sin, but Sin living in us, but now it no longer causes our condemnation! Hallelujah!
Christianity is not based on Law, but on Grace. There is now forgiveness for sin in Christ Jesus. So don't you dare feel guilty you hadn't prayed more or fasted longer. Those things only serve to worship the One who makes us holy, not to make us holy. You were called to be free from such nonsensical thinking.
Those who have been set free by grace should not return to the old ways of doing things (that is, the Law). Giving to the poor does not make you good. Reading your bible does not sanctify. Fasting does not make you holy. Only God in heaven is capable of doing that. How foolish it is to try and earn by human effort what can only come through the Spirit! After receiving grace, will you now try to earn it? We were not saved due to our good works, but from believing the gospel which we had heard.
Those who are under grace are free to sin without eternal consequence. However, Paul states that in our freedom we choose no longer to sin but rather serve in love. When we sin, it is not because we wanted to sin, but Sin living in us (our fallen nature). It is no longer we who sin, but Sin living in us, but now it no longer causes our condemnation! Hallelujah!
Christianity is not based on Law, but on Grace. There is now forgiveness for sin in Christ Jesus. So don't you dare feel guilty you hadn't prayed more or fasted longer. Those things only serve to worship the One who makes us holy, not to make us holy. You were called to be free from such nonsensical thinking.
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