A Prayer written by Robert Murray M'Cheyne (a year before his death in 1842)
Our heavenly Father, follow with thy blessing the reading of thy holy word. Hide in our hearts the very lessons it was intended to teach us. Sanctify us through thy truth; thy word is truth.
When we read of Judas, O Lord, teach us to be very jealous over ourselves, and to inquire diligently, lest after all we also should be cast away. Show us that we may know much of the Saviour, that we may call him, Lord, Lord, that we may do wonders in his name, and yet betray him after all.
Convince us of sin by thy Holy Spirit. Make us lie infinitely low before thee because of our vileness. Convince us that we never can justify ourselves in thy pure sight. Give us a soul-refreshing view of the excellency of the Lord Jesus. Give us a saving hold upon him as all our righteousness and all our strength. Give us to be vitally united to him as living branches to the true vine. Make us confident that he which hath begun a good work in us will preform it to the day of Christ Jesus.
When we read that the disciples found every thing as Jesus had said unto them, make us to set to our seal that this is true. O Saviour, it is impossible with thee to lie; thou keepest truth for ever. O Lord, help us to believe that we shall find as thou hast said.
Melt our hearts by a sight of the great love of Jesus. As he gave himself to be broken for us, so may we freely accept of him, and may our joy be full. Make us to love that holy ordinance wherein we testify that we close with him as all our salvation and all our desire. May we love to do this in remembrance of him.
When we read of thy disciples striving who should be greatest, may we be ashamed of the sins that mingle with our holiest services. O Lord, we blush when we think of our sins How often we have sinned thy love away. Plead thy blood and righteousness, O our risen Saviour, our advocate with the Father. Cover all our sins. say to us. Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more. Change our proud, selfish hearts. Give us the same mind which also was in Christ Jesus. Give us to wash one another's feet; to do to one another as Jesus did unto us.
Lord, deliver us from our spiritual enemies. Let us not be ignorant of Satan's devices. We know that he desires to have us more than the world, that he may sift us like wheat. O Saviour, pray for us, that our faith may not fail. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Help us to submit ourselves to thee: to resist the devil, and he will flee from us.
Guard us during the silent watches of this night. Thou that keepest Israel never slumberest nor sleepest. Keep our dear friends from evil. Preserve their souls. Strenghten the sick upon the bed of languishing. Comfort the bereaved. Give bread to the poor. Be with those that are afar off upon the sea. Pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh. Let the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.
Hasten the coming of the Saviour. Make us love his appearing. Why is thy chariot so long of coming; why tarry the wheels of thy chariot? Glory be to thee, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
R. M. M'Cheyne, Family Worship, The Banner of Truth, April 2014 (info@banneroftruth.co.uk)
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Preach the Word
In the original Table Talk, a collection of informal theological conversations at Martin Luther's dinner table, the German Reformer gave the folowing advice to a young minister: "When you are to preach, speak with God and say, 'Dear Lord God, I wish to preach in Thine honor. I wish to speak about Thee, glorify Thee, [and] praise Thy name. Although I can't do this well of myself, I pray that Thou mayest make it good.'"
Thissimple prayer provides a tiny glimpse into Luther's theology of preaching. More importantly, it underscores to pastors in every age that faithful preaching must be about God, for the glory of God, and in utter dependence upon God.
First, the content of our preaching must be centered on the nature and works of God (2 Cor. 4:5-6). Evangelical preaching today can often be shallow, therapeutic, and man-centered. It commonly lacks theological substance and gravitas. Personal stories and amusing anecdotes crowd the sermon, leaving God as an afterthought. The gospel, the grand theme of scripture, is vague at best.
Biblical preaching, however, always and unmistakably makes the triune God and His marvelous works of creation, providence, and redemption the main subject matter. God is the main subject of the Bible, and thus should be the central focus of our preaching. Why is Peter's Pentecost sermon, for example, so powerful and memorable (Acts 2:14-41)? Why were so many who heard it "cut to the heart" with Spirit-wrought conviction? It is because Peter's sermon boldly and skillfully directed the people's attention to almighty God, HisWord, and the fufillment of his redemptive purposes in Christ. Moreover, it is in light of God's mighty acts of judgment and salvation that the Apostle clearly communicated the need for sinners to turn from their rebellious ways and receive Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy (and all lawfully ordained ministers) to "preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:2). If ministers faithfully carry out this biblical mandate, their preaching will be full of God - and nothing will stir the heart of the church unto faith and obedience like a weekly view of God in the preaching of H is life-transforming Word.
Second, the ultimate aim of our preaching must be the glory and praise of God. Strictly speaking, the preaching of the Word is not primarily for the salvation of sinners. Instead, preachingis first and foremost for the glory of God - a doxological event that magnifies our Lord's sublime character and awesome deeds. Thomas Watson siad, "God is superlative good . . . better than anything you can put in competition with Him." Shouldn't the content of our preaching commicate this glorious reality?
We were created "to glorify God and enjoy him forever" (WSC A&A1; see Isa. 43:7). Biblical preaching, therefore, must underscore this foundational purpose, inspiring both preacher and hearer to joyfully "declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised' (Ps. 96:3-4a).
Third, preaching must be carried out in utter dependence upon God. Pastors should not rely upon their talents, intellect, or personality. Rather, from the study to the pulpit we must earnestly and humbly pray for a "demonstraation of the Spirit and of power" in the preaching of the Word (2 Cor. 2:4b). Indeed, apart from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, law and gospel will fall on deaf ears and stony hearts. In the end, preaching will never be effectual unless God makes it so (Ezek. 37:1-14). There is no place for pride or self-reliance in either the preparation or the act of preaching Apart from Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, we can do nothing (John 15:5b).
Preaching is a primary means of grace appointed by God to regenerate, sanctify, nourish, and comfort the souls of His elect in Christ (1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23-25). In confessional terms, it is .....an effecual means of enlightening, convincing, and humbling sinners; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ; of conforming them unto his image; and subduing them to his will; of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions; of building them up in grace; and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation. (WLC Q&IA 155)
No task, therefore, is of greater importance for the minister or the church than the faithful proclamatiion of the whole counsel of God (Acts 6:4; 20:27).
Even so, as a church planter, I experience the daily temptation to make sermon preparation and preaching a secondary matter. Of course, it is no different for pastors in established churches. Ministry is busy. Being mindful of this, let us, as ministers, renew our vow to faithfully "preach the Word." Let us trust God's promise to employ the foolishness of preaching for the advancement of his kingdom. And may we receive with humility the Wittenberg Reformer's sage advice to pray that our preaching would be chiefly about God, to the glory and praise of God, and in prayerful dependence upon Him. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36).
(Dr.Jon D.Payne, pastor of Christ Church Presbyterian, Charleston, S.C. Tabletalk, April 2014,
www.ligonier.org)
Thissimple prayer provides a tiny glimpse into Luther's theology of preaching. More importantly, it underscores to pastors in every age that faithful preaching must be about God, for the glory of God, and in utter dependence upon God.
First, the content of our preaching must be centered on the nature and works of God (2 Cor. 4:5-6). Evangelical preaching today can often be shallow, therapeutic, and man-centered. It commonly lacks theological substance and gravitas. Personal stories and amusing anecdotes crowd the sermon, leaving God as an afterthought. The gospel, the grand theme of scripture, is vague at best.
Biblical preaching, however, always and unmistakably makes the triune God and His marvelous works of creation, providence, and redemption the main subject matter. God is the main subject of the Bible, and thus should be the central focus of our preaching. Why is Peter's Pentecost sermon, for example, so powerful and memorable (Acts 2:14-41)? Why were so many who heard it "cut to the heart" with Spirit-wrought conviction? It is because Peter's sermon boldly and skillfully directed the people's attention to almighty God, HisWord, and the fufillment of his redemptive purposes in Christ. Moreover, it is in light of God's mighty acts of judgment and salvation that the Apostle clearly communicated the need for sinners to turn from their rebellious ways and receive Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy (and all lawfully ordained ministers) to "preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:2). If ministers faithfully carry out this biblical mandate, their preaching will be full of God - and nothing will stir the heart of the church unto faith and obedience like a weekly view of God in the preaching of H is life-transforming Word.
Second, the ultimate aim of our preaching must be the glory and praise of God. Strictly speaking, the preaching of the Word is not primarily for the salvation of sinners. Instead, preachingis first and foremost for the glory of God - a doxological event that magnifies our Lord's sublime character and awesome deeds. Thomas Watson siad, "God is superlative good . . . better than anything you can put in competition with Him." Shouldn't the content of our preaching commicate this glorious reality?
We were created "to glorify God and enjoy him forever" (WSC A&A1; see Isa. 43:7). Biblical preaching, therefore, must underscore this foundational purpose, inspiring both preacher and hearer to joyfully "declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised' (Ps. 96:3-4a).
Third, preaching must be carried out in utter dependence upon God. Pastors should not rely upon their talents, intellect, or personality. Rather, from the study to the pulpit we must earnestly and humbly pray for a "demonstraation of the Spirit and of power" in the preaching of the Word (2 Cor. 2:4b). Indeed, apart from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, law and gospel will fall on deaf ears and stony hearts. In the end, preaching will never be effectual unless God makes it so (Ezek. 37:1-14). There is no place for pride or self-reliance in either the preparation or the act of preaching Apart from Christ and the life-giving Holy Spirit, we can do nothing (John 15:5b).
Preaching is a primary means of grace appointed by God to regenerate, sanctify, nourish, and comfort the souls of His elect in Christ (1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23-25). In confessional terms, it is .....an effecual means of enlightening, convincing, and humbling sinners; of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto Christ; of conforming them unto his image; and subduing them to his will; of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions; of building them up in grace; and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation. (WLC Q&IA 155)
No task, therefore, is of greater importance for the minister or the church than the faithful proclamatiion of the whole counsel of God (Acts 6:4; 20:27).
Even so, as a church planter, I experience the daily temptation to make sermon preparation and preaching a secondary matter. Of course, it is no different for pastors in established churches. Ministry is busy. Being mindful of this, let us, as ministers, renew our vow to faithfully "preach the Word." Let us trust God's promise to employ the foolishness of preaching for the advancement of his kingdom. And may we receive with humility the Wittenberg Reformer's sage advice to pray that our preaching would be chiefly about God, to the glory and praise of God, and in prayerful dependence upon Him. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36).
(Dr.Jon D.Payne, pastor of Christ Church Presbyterian, Charleston, S.C. Tabletalk, April 2014,
www.ligonier.org)
Thursday, April 17, 2014
We're Back!!
We have been off line for several weeks because of computer/internet problems, which we hope we have been able to solve as of today. We'll be posting about 2 times each week as we did before.
Take Captive Every Thought
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2nd Cor. 10:5 NIV
The above Scripture suggests to me that people may give their heart to Jesus and keep their head under their own control and that is a dangerous way to travel through life. A dedicated heart and a rebellious mind cannot successfully co-exist. Our mind must be obedient to Christ! Our heart must feel comfortable with what our mind decides. I once knew a person whose business dealings would not bear close scrutiny and it was said of him that, "He did not let his Christianity interfere with his business." The Scripture maintains that our Christianity should interfere with our business as well as every area of our lives.
Some have said, "I wasn't thinking when I did that!" I'm not sure that anyone can "stop thinking" as long as we are awake but we can stop thinking right, and live to regret it. Some may say, "Bringing every thought into obedience to Christ is impossible!" It is true that we cannot control what thoughts pop into our mind but do have something to say about which ones we shall entertain. If our heart is dedicated to Christ and our mind dwells on thoughts that are displeasing to Christ; our heart will reveal it to us and our mind then has a decision to make.
The same one who wrote the Scripture above also said, "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1st Cor. 2:2) Paul maintained that he could decide what thoughts he would receive and what thoughts he would reject. It is well to remember what the writer of Proverbs said about the matter, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" (Proverbs 23:7) We shall become according to the thoughts that we receive and dwell upon.
If we are to be like Christ,we must think like Christ and to do that we decide what thoughts we will welcome and what thoughts we shall cast out.
Just consider what a great blessing we shall receive, what a great blessing we shall be to others and the trouble that we can avoid if we have "the mind of Christ" and therefore act like Christ.
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, WY, drbc@bresnan.net)
The above Scripture suggests to me that people may give their heart to Jesus and keep their head under their own control and that is a dangerous way to travel through life. A dedicated heart and a rebellious mind cannot successfully co-exist. Our mind must be obedient to Christ! Our heart must feel comfortable with what our mind decides. I once knew a person whose business dealings would not bear close scrutiny and it was said of him that, "He did not let his Christianity interfere with his business." The Scripture maintains that our Christianity should interfere with our business as well as every area of our lives.
Some have said, "I wasn't thinking when I did that!" I'm not sure that anyone can "stop thinking" as long as we are awake but we can stop thinking right, and live to regret it. Some may say, "Bringing every thought into obedience to Christ is impossible!" It is true that we cannot control what thoughts pop into our mind but do have something to say about which ones we shall entertain. If our heart is dedicated to Christ and our mind dwells on thoughts that are displeasing to Christ; our heart will reveal it to us and our mind then has a decision to make.
The same one who wrote the Scripture above also said, "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1st Cor. 2:2) Paul maintained that he could decide what thoughts he would receive and what thoughts he would reject. It is well to remember what the writer of Proverbs said about the matter, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" (Proverbs 23:7) We shall become according to the thoughts that we receive and dwell upon.
If we are to be like Christ,we must think like Christ and to do that we decide what thoughts we will welcome and what thoughts we shall cast out.
Just consider what a great blessing we shall receive, what a great blessing we shall be to others and the trouble that we can avoid if we have "the mind of Christ" and therefore act like Christ.
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, WY, drbc@bresnan.net)
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Defining Marriage
Abraham Lincoln was fond of asking, "If you call a dog's tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have?" "Five," his audience would invariably answer. "No," he'd politely respond, " the correct answer is four. Calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg."
Like Lincoln's associates, many of our fellow citizens - including many Christians - appear to fall for the notion that changing a definition causes a change in essence. A prime example is the attempt to change the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions. Simply calling such relationships "gay marriages," many believe, will actually make them marriages. Such reasoning, however, is as flawed as thinking that changing tail to leg changes the function of the appendage.
Consider the change that must occur in our tail/leg example. A dog's tail cannot perform the same functions as its leg. He can't use his tail to run or swim or scratch an itch. In order to use the term for both parts, we must discard all qualities that make a tail different from a leg. The new meaning of leg will require that we exclude any difference of form ( for example, we can no longer say that a paw can be found at the end of a leg) or function (for example, legs are not necessarily used for standing). In other words, by redefining the term tail we have not made it equivalent in form or function to a leg: we've merely stripped the term leg of its previous meaning and made it as generic a term as appendage.
The same is true with the attempts to redefine marriage. Because marriage requires the specific form of a union of man and woman (Gen. 2:24), applying the term to same-sex unions alters the very concept of what a marriage is for and what functions it takes.
For example, a significant percentage of people in same-sex sexual partnerships do not view monogamy or sexual exclusivity as part of the meaning of marriage. They may still use the term monogamy, but they have redefined that term too, in a way that means "monogamish," that is, relationships in which they are emotionally intimate with only one partner yet remain free to engage in sexual infidelities or group sexual activity. Changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions does not make it more inclusive, but rather more exclusive, since it requires excluding all the functions that were previously beieved to be essential to the institutiion of marriage (for example, sexual fidelity).
Some Christians, recognizing the change that occurs because of the redefinition of marriage, argue that we need a two-track system: marriage as defined by the state and marriage as defined by the church. The problem with this view is that it also misunderstands the nature of marriage. Neither the state nor the church has the authority to change the essential nature of marriage, since the institution was neither created by nor belongs to either the church or the state. As Dr. R. C. Sproul wrote in a previous issue of Tabletalk (June 2013): Marriage is ordained and instituted by God - that is to say, marriage did not just spring up arbitrarily out of social conventions or human taboos. Marriage was not invented by men but by God.
Because the three institutions of church, state, and marriage have interdependent yet independent existance, they can decide whether to recognize each other's legitimacy, but they cannot delineate each other's boundaries. In this way, the relationship is similar to nation-states. The U.S government, for example, can decide to "recognize" the state of Israel, but it cannot redefine the country in a way that contracts its border to exclue the Gaza Strip. The U.S. either recognizes Israel as it defines itself or it rejects its legitimacy altogether.
Some Christians may even concede that while the state doesn't truly have the authority to redefine marriage, we should go along with the legal fiction for the sake of the gospel witness. Although such Christians may have the best of intentions, they are actually subverting the very gospel they want to protect.
In acceding to laws that redefine marriage, they are doing the very opposite of what Jesus calls us to do: they are hating their neighbors, including their gay and lesbian neighbors. You do not love your neighbor by encouraging them to engage in actions that invoke God's wrath (Ps. 5:4-5; Rom. 1:18). As Christians, we may be required to tolerate ungodly behavior, but the moment we begin to endorse it, we too become suppressors of the truth. You cannot love your neighbor and want to see them excluded from the kingdom of Christ (Eph. 5:5).
What is needed is for the church to have the courage to speak the truth of the gospel: we cannot love our neighbor and tolerate unrepentant rebellion against God. We cannot continue with the "go along to get along" mentality that is leading those we love to destruction. We must speak the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31) and accept the fact that those who have fallen away may not ever return. We must choose this day whom we will serve. Will we stand with the only wise God or with the foolish idol-makers of same-sex marriage?
(by Joe Carter, Tabletalk, February 2014,www.ligonier.org)
Like Lincoln's associates, many of our fellow citizens - including many Christians - appear to fall for the notion that changing a definition causes a change in essence. A prime example is the attempt to change the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions. Simply calling such relationships "gay marriages," many believe, will actually make them marriages. Such reasoning, however, is as flawed as thinking that changing tail to leg changes the function of the appendage.
Consider the change that must occur in our tail/leg example. A dog's tail cannot perform the same functions as its leg. He can't use his tail to run or swim or scratch an itch. In order to use the term for both parts, we must discard all qualities that make a tail different from a leg. The new meaning of leg will require that we exclude any difference of form ( for example, we can no longer say that a paw can be found at the end of a leg) or function (for example, legs are not necessarily used for standing). In other words, by redefining the term tail we have not made it equivalent in form or function to a leg: we've merely stripped the term leg of its previous meaning and made it as generic a term as appendage.
The same is true with the attempts to redefine marriage. Because marriage requires the specific form of a union of man and woman (Gen. 2:24), applying the term to same-sex unions alters the very concept of what a marriage is for and what functions it takes.
For example, a significant percentage of people in same-sex sexual partnerships do not view monogamy or sexual exclusivity as part of the meaning of marriage. They may still use the term monogamy, but they have redefined that term too, in a way that means "monogamish," that is, relationships in which they are emotionally intimate with only one partner yet remain free to engage in sexual infidelities or group sexual activity. Changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions does not make it more inclusive, but rather more exclusive, since it requires excluding all the functions that were previously beieved to be essential to the institutiion of marriage (for example, sexual fidelity).
Some Christians, recognizing the change that occurs because of the redefinition of marriage, argue that we need a two-track system: marriage as defined by the state and marriage as defined by the church. The problem with this view is that it also misunderstands the nature of marriage. Neither the state nor the church has the authority to change the essential nature of marriage, since the institution was neither created by nor belongs to either the church or the state. As Dr. R. C. Sproul wrote in a previous issue of Tabletalk (June 2013): Marriage is ordained and instituted by God - that is to say, marriage did not just spring up arbitrarily out of social conventions or human taboos. Marriage was not invented by men but by God.
Because the three institutions of church, state, and marriage have interdependent yet independent existance, they can decide whether to recognize each other's legitimacy, but they cannot delineate each other's boundaries. In this way, the relationship is similar to nation-states. The U.S government, for example, can decide to "recognize" the state of Israel, but it cannot redefine the country in a way that contracts its border to exclue the Gaza Strip. The U.S. either recognizes Israel as it defines itself or it rejects its legitimacy altogether.
Some Christians may even concede that while the state doesn't truly have the authority to redefine marriage, we should go along with the legal fiction for the sake of the gospel witness. Although such Christians may have the best of intentions, they are actually subverting the very gospel they want to protect.
In acceding to laws that redefine marriage, they are doing the very opposite of what Jesus calls us to do: they are hating their neighbors, including their gay and lesbian neighbors. You do not love your neighbor by encouraging them to engage in actions that invoke God's wrath (Ps. 5:4-5; Rom. 1:18). As Christians, we may be required to tolerate ungodly behavior, but the moment we begin to endorse it, we too become suppressors of the truth. You cannot love your neighbor and want to see them excluded from the kingdom of Christ (Eph. 5:5).
What is needed is for the church to have the courage to speak the truth of the gospel: we cannot love our neighbor and tolerate unrepentant rebellion against God. We cannot continue with the "go along to get along" mentality that is leading those we love to destruction. We must speak the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31) and accept the fact that those who have fallen away may not ever return. We must choose this day whom we will serve. Will we stand with the only wise God or with the foolish idol-makers of same-sex marriage?
(by Joe Carter, Tabletalk, February 2014,www.ligonier.org)
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Our Anchor in a Changing World
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, The just shall live by faith." Galatians 3:11
We live in a rapidly changing world and hardly know what to depend on from day to day, but we desperately need something unchanging and secure to anchor our lives to and God has provided that security. It is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is 100% secure and trustworthy.
Paul preached and lived the Gospel of JesusChrist. He claimed that he lived by faith in the Son of God and assures us that we can and must live the same way.
Things didn't always go smoothly for Paul! He was attacked by mobs, falsely accused by his enemies, arrested by the Roman authorities and saw the inside of several Roman jails. The future often looked bleak for Paul, but his faith in the Gospel and in the Lord Jesus never wavered. He knew, as we must learn, that we cannot always depend on things as they appear to be, but we must depend on things to be as God promises that they shall be and that is called "walking by faith."
Someone wrote the following words;
'Tis better to walk by faith than sight,
in this path of ours and mine;
And the pitch-black night, when there's no outer light
is the time for faith to shine.
The world of our generation has a lot of serious problems and we hear a lot of proposed solutions. No doubt some are good and some not so good but of one thing I am sure, denying the claims of God and breaking His commandments is not a good solution. Many years ago a man called "The Preacher" wrote, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
There will, no doubt, be political and judicial decisions made in the days to come that will be, as we see things, definitely wrong. There are now and will be more, developments on the world scene that are scary but don't be troubled. We are men and women who, "...walk by faith, not by sight." (2nd Corinthians 5:7) and our lives are controlled by and our hope is built on, "...things not seen as yet...." (Hebrews 11:7). Like Moses of old we shall "...endure, as seeing Him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27). (Invisible to the eyes of unbelief but seen by eyes of faith).
In the end it will be as God has determined.
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, Wyoming, drbc@bresnan.net)
"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, The just shall live by faith." Galatians 3:11
We live in a rapidly changing world and hardly know what to depend on from day to day, but we desperately need something unchanging and secure to anchor our lives to and God has provided that security. It is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is 100% secure and trustworthy.
Paul preached and lived the Gospel of JesusChrist. He claimed that he lived by faith in the Son of God and assures us that we can and must live the same way.
Things didn't always go smoothly for Paul! He was attacked by mobs, falsely accused by his enemies, arrested by the Roman authorities and saw the inside of several Roman jails. The future often looked bleak for Paul, but his faith in the Gospel and in the Lord Jesus never wavered. He knew, as we must learn, that we cannot always depend on things as they appear to be, but we must depend on things to be as God promises that they shall be and that is called "walking by faith."
Someone wrote the following words;
'Tis better to walk by faith than sight,
in this path of ours and mine;
And the pitch-black night, when there's no outer light
is the time for faith to shine.
The world of our generation has a lot of serious problems and we hear a lot of proposed solutions. No doubt some are good and some not so good but of one thing I am sure, denying the claims of God and breaking His commandments is not a good solution. Many years ago a man called "The Preacher" wrote, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
There will, no doubt, be political and judicial decisions made in the days to come that will be, as we see things, definitely wrong. There are now and will be more, developments on the world scene that are scary but don't be troubled. We are men and women who, "...walk by faith, not by sight." (2nd Corinthians 5:7) and our lives are controlled by and our hope is built on, "...things not seen as yet...." (Hebrews 11:7). Like Moses of old we shall "...endure, as seeing Him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27). (Invisible to the eyes of unbelief but seen by eyes of faith).
In the end it will be as God has determined.
(Pastor Bill Cummins, Sheridan, Wyoming, drbc@bresnan.net)
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Appearance Is Everything?
An advertising agency wrote seeking our ministry's business: "Let's face it: appearance is everything. Let us help you enhance your image."
My first thought was that this agency doesn't reaize they are dealing with a Christian organization. Then it occurred to me that this is precisely the impression many unbelievers get from the state of evangelical Christianity today: appearance is everything. Truth and reality often take a back seat to image.
That mentality has long been a plague on the church, but in recent years it has reached epidemic proportions. Sadly enough, Christian leaders are often the most image-conscious of all. Whole churches are built on the philosophy that image is everything, while truth must be downplayed so that the church can appear in more appealing dress.
For example, in order to appear as genial and nonthreatening as possible, many churches forgo the practice of church discipline altogether, lest the all-important image be tarnished. Sin in the body is tolerable as long as the carefully polished veneer remains in place.
Worst of all, this attitude is pervasive at the individual level. Far too many Christians live as if a pretense of righteousness were as good as the real thing. That is precisely the error committed by most of the Pharisees of Jesus' day. They lived as though external compliance with the law fulfilled all the demands of divine righteousness while they harbored iniquity in their hearts or indulged in gross sin secretly.
Again and again, Christ rebuked the pharisees for their fastidious observance of the external, ceremonial law - married with a wanton neglect of the law's fundamental moral requirements. The Pharisees' teaching placed so much emphasis on external appearance that it was commonly believed that evil thoughts were not really sinful as long as they did not become acts. The Pharisees and their followers became utterly preoccupied with appearing righteous. Jesus likened them to white-washed tombs - spotless on the outside but filled wth corruption and defilement on the inside.
The notion that morality is merely external underlies all forms of hypocrisy. It is the very error Jesus decried in His exposition of the moral law in the Sermon on the Mount. The central lesson He underscored was this: external appearance is not what matters most.
Jesus' exposition of the law is a devastating blow against the lie that image is everything. Our Lord taught repeatedly that sin bottled up on the inside, concealed from everyone else's view, is no less damning than sin that manifests itself in the worst forms of ungodly behavior (Matt. 5:21-30). As Christians, we must never think of secret sins as somehow less wicked or more respectable than the sins everyone sees.
(Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, Calif. and president of The Master's College and Seminary. Tabletalk, February 2014, www.ligonier.org)
My first thought was that this agency doesn't reaize they are dealing with a Christian organization. Then it occurred to me that this is precisely the impression many unbelievers get from the state of evangelical Christianity today: appearance is everything. Truth and reality often take a back seat to image.
That mentality has long been a plague on the church, but in recent years it has reached epidemic proportions. Sadly enough, Christian leaders are often the most image-conscious of all. Whole churches are built on the philosophy that image is everything, while truth must be downplayed so that the church can appear in more appealing dress.
For example, in order to appear as genial and nonthreatening as possible, many churches forgo the practice of church discipline altogether, lest the all-important image be tarnished. Sin in the body is tolerable as long as the carefully polished veneer remains in place.
Worst of all, this attitude is pervasive at the individual level. Far too many Christians live as if a pretense of righteousness were as good as the real thing. That is precisely the error committed by most of the Pharisees of Jesus' day. They lived as though external compliance with the law fulfilled all the demands of divine righteousness while they harbored iniquity in their hearts or indulged in gross sin secretly.
Again and again, Christ rebuked the pharisees for their fastidious observance of the external, ceremonial law - married with a wanton neglect of the law's fundamental moral requirements. The Pharisees' teaching placed so much emphasis on external appearance that it was commonly believed that evil thoughts were not really sinful as long as they did not become acts. The Pharisees and their followers became utterly preoccupied with appearing righteous. Jesus likened them to white-washed tombs - spotless on the outside but filled wth corruption and defilement on the inside.
The notion that morality is merely external underlies all forms of hypocrisy. It is the very error Jesus decried in His exposition of the moral law in the Sermon on the Mount. The central lesson He underscored was this: external appearance is not what matters most.
Jesus' exposition of the law is a devastating blow against the lie that image is everything. Our Lord taught repeatedly that sin bottled up on the inside, concealed from everyone else's view, is no less damning than sin that manifests itself in the worst forms of ungodly behavior (Matt. 5:21-30). As Christians, we must never think of secret sins as somehow less wicked or more respectable than the sins everyone sees.
(Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, Calif. and president of The Master's College and Seminary. Tabletalk, February 2014, www.ligonier.org)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)