High Priestly Glory

John 17 is one of the most glorious passages in the gospel as it reveals so much about the glory of Christ and indeed the Triune God. John gives us a very detailed account of the night before the crucifixion of Jesus. We gain a glimpse not only of his intimate love for his disciples in the way He served and instructed them, but also in the way he prayed for them. This high priestly prayer tells us as much about Jesus' glory as it does about Jesus' desire for his disciples know it and live in it.

John 17:4-5 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

The glory of Jesus is displayed to us in that he has fulfilled his work on earth and has taken seat in reigning authority with the Father. Another way of saying this is to say that we see Jesus' glory in His condescension and exaltation.

If you meditate on the condescension of Jesus, you will soon find there is a list of wonder for you to marvel at as you think on him. He came from the glory of the presence of the Father in heavenly wonder to be a developing baby in the womb of an imperfect human in a sin-cursed world. While the distance between heaven and earth cannot be measured, we know that the distance between the perfect glory of God in heaven and the nature of humanity in a sin cursed world is an infinite one. Jesus, while having no sin nature as a human (or ever having any sin of his own), condescended the infinite distance of heavenly glory to human dwelling as he lived and breathed among rebellious wretches like us. If that wasn't reason enough for us to marvel, we know that Jesus came not only to be with us but die for us. The Son of God came for the cross. The glory of God is on overwhelming display in the sacrifice of our Savior. The infinite love, compassion, humility, justice, grace, and mercy of God and more are all on display in the work of Christ substituting himself for our sin.

The glory of Christ is also seen in the exaltation of Jesus. Jesus has taken his rightful place on the throne of Heaven with the glory he had with the Father before the world existed. The glory of God is on display in Christ in that he has shown us the very wonder of God and is exalted because he is God and has fulfilled the purpose and decrees of God in bringing reconciliation to creation. When we see the glory of Christ in his condescension and exaltation, we can easily see how we will marvel at his return when he comes to finally make all things new. He will return in unveiled glory with shouts of angels and ultimate power and authority for the consummation. His church will worship and praise him and glorify his name. This glory will be greater than we can ever imagine, but there is also an aspect of the glory of Christ that is so amazing it should overwhelm us to tears of joy.

John 17:10, 22 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ... 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.

WAIT....WHAT?... "I (Jesus) am glorified in THEM!" and "The glory that you have given me I have given to THEM!" What can we possibly give in the way of glory to Jesus? But... there is something that God has done in us that does shine the glory of Christ. Those who have rebelled against God and worshipped idols have been saved and transformed. It has been the Father’s will that wretches would be saved and worship and honor the Son. The Father has given us to the Son as a redeemed gift for his glory. Jesus, because of himself and not us, is glorified in us.

Furthermore, the unity that is so perfectly one in the Trinity is now on display in Christ's church. It is not a display in perfection (yet), but because of the sanctifying effect of Christ in us, we can know something of the glorious unity of holiness in the Trinity as we live as one body for him. In other words, as we all live in Christ and grow in his holiness together, we are a glorifying display of his work in us. Ephesians 3:17-19 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

These few small thoughts about the glory of Christ in his high priestly prayer help us to understand that the glory of Christ is possibly greater than we think. It is not just in his exaltation but in his condescension. It is not just in his glorious person and work, but in us as the recipients of his grace. This permeating glory is to be enjoyed now as we anticipate its fullness when he returns.

To God be all the glory!

Regarding Man or Regarding Christ

To Christians, it should seem an elementary truth to say that we should regard Christ over man. We all know that the world competes for our attention and loyalty, and we all know that Christ must be our first regard in all things. The question that Christians need to honestly ask ourselves is whether our attention is so encompassed by the world and the fear and enticements of man that we are missing the wonder of living for the glory of Christ.

God called Isaiah as a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem to warn them of exactly this problem. Rather than simply tell God's people that God's glory is greater than anything on offer in this temporal world, God described the ultimate glory that a faithful people of God could expect.

Isaiah 2:2-3 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

In language that they could comprehend, Judah and Jerusalem heard a description of the latter days when all the nations would see the glory of the Lord and seek to honor and worship Him. God's glory will come in such a spectacular way that it will fill the earth with worship. If this would be the future for the people of God, surely they should live in the present in a way that anticipates that glorious future. This is the appeal that God made to them. Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Sadly, it seemed that God's people were more interested in the idolatry of the nations than worship of the one true living God. The desire to see the future glory of God on such majestic display was not found to be as enticing as the benefits of the temporal world. In three repetitive statements, God tells them what will happen to people on that glorious future day if they have lived with no concern for his glory in the present day.

Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty. ... 19 And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. ... 21 to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.

Rather than live now in anticipation of God's glory, they will one day hide from his majesty and come under his terrifying wrath. The verse at the very end of Isaiah 2 gives us the entire reason why they would forsake such future glory. Isaiah 2:22 Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? In regarding man, Israel had disregarded the glory of God. They had forsaken eternal glory for temporal regard and would find themselves under greater judgment.

Likewise, today we are warned. If you claim to be in Christ and claim to have a greater and glorious eternity in Jesus, you will not find yourself looking for Christ's glory on the day of his return if you are not regarding it as greatest in your life today. If you believe you will one day experience the glory of the consummation, your life will be defined by the way you live for the desire to see the glorious beauty of Christ and worship him every day until he comes. The reason you may not be doing that is because you need to stop regarding man. We all need to regard Jesus most and delight in the expectation of his returning glory.

Meditate on Apostolic Repetition

This week for the blog, I'm simply going to ask you to meditate on some repetition. Every single one of Paul's letters includes a statement that is either word for word repeated, or a very close variation written. Every statement includes the Father and the Son. Every Statement mentions grace and peace. Is this repetition Paul's version of a polite platitude, or is this statement a reminder of an utmost important truth that the church should stop and ponder every single time we read one of Paul's letters? Why don't you spend some time prayerfully meditating on it this week. I wonder how the Holy Spirit might encourage your soul. (Perhaps you could share some thoughts in the comments section below).

Romans 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Note that this variation still specifically mentions being in Christ and the Father).

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-2 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Titus 1:4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Philemon 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise God, I'm Fragile

Fragility is not something that our world sees as a positive attribute. We want to show that we are strong. We are unbreakable. We want to have lives that matter and leave our mark for generations to come. We also live in a culture that assigns the utmost importance to individuals being the ultimate promoters of self. When the Scriptures place the fragility of humanity in a positive sense, to us it seems not only counter-cultural but counter-instinctive.

The Scriptures show frailty and fragility in a real and positive sense. There is one, huge, obvious reason. The Scriptures are God's self-revelation to us. We are the creatures; He is the Creator. Neediness in humanity has never been a negative attribute. We were created as needy creatures. Perhaps you might object to this and highlight that Adam and Eve were created that they might have dominion over all the earth. That certainly does not sound like we were created to be frail and fragile. Let us not forget, however, that we could only carry out God's command to spread his glory across the earth as we relied on His continual sustaining hand to do so.

Genesis 2:15-18 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." 18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."

It is God who put Adam and Eve in the garden, God who provided every source of food in abundance. It is God who commanded mankind's obedience and reliance on Him for all things. It is God who provided Adam with an Eve because he could not possibly fulfill God's purpose alone. Humans are, and have always been, needy, fragile, frail, and finite. Unfortunately, because of sin, we also became foolish. We believed the lie that we could be like God. That lie was originally posed by Satan. Genesis 3:5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

It is not our frailty that is the problem, it's our inability to accept that humans are not God. It's our inability to accept that we are finite creatures who constantly rely on the Creator for every breath. The Psalmist doesn't mix his words when he reminds us of the nature of our finite and fragile lives. Psalm 103:15-16 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. How can we possibly read verses like this and see them as positive truths for our lives?

These are only negative truths if they are considered outside of the greater context that the Scriptures provide. Let us read these verses again except this time with their immediate surrounding verses. Psalm 103:14-17 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children.

Surrounding our fragility is an everlasting, all-powerful and holy God. He is the Creator, we are the creatures, and even though we have sinned against our Creator, we who know His everlasting, saving love have ultimate encouragement. In our fragility we can look to God who is infinite and unlimited in all his glorious attributes. He is God. If you are not living in the saving mercy and grace of God, this has no comfort to you. In fact, it should be terrifying. If you are living in the saving grace of God, being his fragile and finite child is a thing of beauty. We can place ourselves in the arms of One who is unconquerable and eternal.

In Christ, fragility not only helps us to look at God and recognize that He is God and we are not, it helps us to look at God and experience the peace, joy and comfort from saying, "He is MY God."

Pilgrim's Plea for Easter

In John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, there is a character that often comes to my mind as probably the most devastating character in the entire book. This character is so distressing that Christian (the pilgrim) is told to remember this person so that he would be a warning to him as he continues on his way to the Celestial City (heaven). The character in question is the man in an iron cage and Christian is taken to this man as he spends time in the house of the Interpreter.

Read the following selection from Pilgrim’s Progress as carefully and thoughtfully as you can:

So He took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a

man in an iron cage. Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, What does this mean? At which the Interpreter told him to talk with the man. Then Said Christian to the man, What are you? The man answered, "I am what I was not once."

CHRISTIAN. What were you once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in my own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I once was, as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get there.

CHRISTIAN. Well, but what are you now?

MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. O now I cannot!

CHRISTIAN. But how did you come to be in this condition?

MAN. I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the Word, and the goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and He is gone; I tempted the devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and He has left me; I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But is there no hope for such a man as this?

Ask him, said the Interpreter.

No said Christian, Sir, please, you ask.

INTERPRETER. Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?

MAN. No, none at all.

INTERPRETER. Why, the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.

MAN. I have crucifed Him to myself afresh; I have despised His person; I have despised His righteousness; I have “counted His blood an unholy thing”; I have “done despite to the Spirit of grace”. Therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.

INTERPRETER. For what did you bring yourself into this condition?

MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profts of this world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning worm.

INTERPRETER. But can you not now repent and turn?

MAN. God has denied me repentance. His Word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, Himself has shut me up in this iron cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out.

O eternity! eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity!

INTERPRETER. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man’s misery be remembered by you, and be an everlasting caution to you.

The man in the iron cage is under the darkness and delusion that there is no grace for him if he were to repent. What is it that this man cannot see? Why can't he see that Jesus stands waiting to forgive? Why can't he see that there is no sin so big that Jesus cannot cover? The only sin that awaits the certainty of hell is the sin of dying in unrepentance. Why can't this man simply repent?

The man is caught in the despair of his sin and the key to understanding this is to see that he is locked in a cage. He is unable to look beyond his own situation. He is so introspectively concerned about his own sin that he cannot see the wonder of Christ. He cannot see the glory of the cross. He cannot see the comprehensive nature of God's grace and power to save.

This Sunday is Easter. We celebrate the cross and particularly the victory of Jesus in his resurrection glory to give us new life. Please take this caution to Christian from the Interpreter and apply it for yourself this Easter. Let it be an everlasting caution also to you. Please know that your sin is not so big to render you hopeless while you still have breath. Sometimes the biggest problem with our sin is the lying despair that says that your sin is more powerful than your Savior. It simply is not. To believe so, is to live in a cage.

This Easter, look beyond yourself. Look to Christ.

In Counseling, I'm Not the Expert.

I have an accreditation in biblical counseling through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). I don't need it. It's helpful to have it, but not necessary. I'm thankful for the way ACBC has served the church to provide training for the church to help real people with real problems. I'm super thankful for the mentor they provided to help me navigate conversations directed by the inerrant truth of the Scriptures. I also realize that if all I had was God's Word, I have all I need to sit with someone in their troubles and point them to their hope and healing in Christ. The fact that God uses his church as his means of helping each other does not make us experts in human problems or in opening the hearts of the hurting to the truth that helps. For God to impart sufficient hope and help, we need God. More to the point, we need the Holy Spirit.

In writing to the church in Ephesus, Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to live new lives in Christ. They were called not be like they were in their former life before Christ. Paul puts it this way: Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. While the Ephesians were indeed Gentiles, they had now become part of God's family. They had new lives, and new minds in Christ. Paul wanted them to be active in this new life and instructed them accordingly. Ephesians 4:22-24 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. They were to put off the old and put on the new, but they were to be rightly instructed in what "the new" was. Paul said they were to be renewed in the spirit of their minds. They required a complete internal transformation of heart and mind to trust and obey Christ as believers.

How do people who have grown up enculturated in a particular society and worldview change to the degree that they think and live and act in a completely new context of thought and reason and behavior? Earlier in the letter Paul reminded them of what happened to them when they came to believe in Jesus. Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. They had received the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit upon their believing the gospel. Not only that, but Paul also prayed for the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Ephesians 1:16-18 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.

Paul's confidence for change in the lives of the Ephesians comes from his confidence in them having transformational truth in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform them through the application of that truth to their hearts and lives. As they sit with each other and center on their new gospel understanding of the world, the Holy Spirit would guide them in renewing their lives around the truth of Christ. It was not a truth that they invented but one that was imparted to them through apostolic authority in the inspiration of the Spirit.

We have that same apostolic authority in the New Testament today. It is the Holy Spirit inspired text of the bible. Just like the Ephesians, we have received the Holy Spirit upon believing in Jesus. He gives us understanding and transforms our lives as we open His word with each other to grow in the likeness of Christ.

There is only one expert of change in the counseling room. It's not me. It's not you. It's the Holy Spirit working through his word.

Counseling From Beyond the Sun

So often people are coming to biblical counselors with worry, anxiety, past trauma, or present sin. No matter what they bring to their counselors, they are all looking for satisfaction and contentment in a life lived in a world corrupted by sin. Ecclesiastes is a book that describes that world and helps us make a significant statement to those we counsel. If you want contentment living "under the sun" in this world, you must look beyond the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

The first statement that the "Preacher" makes about this world is that it is vanity. This can also mean that this world is meaningless, valueless, worthless. It is not that the Preacher is undermining God's glorious work of creation, but he is describing the affect that sin has brought ever since the fall of humanity. In this Genesis 3 world, our attempts at contentment and satisfaction in life can only fall short and are ultimately described as vanity. The ways that humans have attempted to solve our problems and find fulfillment have not essentially changed. We do the same thing repeatedly and sometimes put it in different clothes, but it never really changes as we live under the sun.

In Ecclesiastes 2 the Preacher helps us to think through a very confronting truth. As we attempt to solve our life problems, we search through every different category imaginable only to find that we remain completely unsatisfied. The Preacher seemed to search through these categories himself. He tried laughter (2:2), wine (2:3), enjoying nature (2:5-6), industry and hard work (2:7), wealth, entertainment, and sex (2:8), and power and position (2:9). He even found no resolution in human wisdom. In every attempt to find satisfaction to our human needs, the Preacher only found that our attempts under the sun fall short. At the end of his pursuit, he sounded as if he was at his lowest point. Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Is it right for us to hate life? When you try everything you can in the world and realize that there is nothing that brings true satisfaction to the human soul, what is there to like? The Preacher makes a very strong statement to help us all understand that there is nothing to satisfy the human soul when we seek the help of fallible humans living in a sin cursed world.

The beauty of the book of Ecclesiastes is that it pushes us to reach beyond our finite existence in this world. If we are to find satisfaction and true meaning in our life, we must find a way to grasp infallible rather than fallible help. We must find satisfaction that takes us beyond our finite existence under the sun. We must reach beyond the sun.

You may say that is impossible and indeed it is, yet at the very end of Ecclesiastes we are given enormous hope. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. From beyond the sun, God has revealed his infallible word. God's word helps us to understand his perfect standard. We understand our responsibility in life as we live before a Holy God. We understand that as God saves us through Jesus Christ, we are given truth that makes sense of our life and hope beyond this finite existence. Only through revelation that has come to us from beyond the sun can we find satisfaction.

The revelation of God from beyond the sun is most perfectly seen in Jesus Christ who came to us to reveal God to us and to bring us into reconciliation with God. It is through that reconciliation that we understand true hope and a perfect satisfaction that never ceases.

If we want to help humans with real human problems and give them real hope, there is only one revealed truth that satisfies from beyond the sun. It is God's Word and the message of his redeeming love. Counseling each other from beyond the sun means that we are using God's inspired word to bring infallible truth and eternal hope. While counseling restricted to under the sun can only end up in vanity, grace from beyond the sun takes us from hating life to loving Christ who IS our life.

Why You Need Counseling

As we come into a teaching series that helps us to consider the sufficiency of the Scriptures to guide us through the problems of life, I hope that you will give me an ear to tell you why we all need counseling.

Over the past few weeks in 1 Thessalonians 5, we have encountered the Greek word, noutheteō. Some of us know that biblical counseling used to be called, nouthetic counseling. This word can be translated into English as admonish, instruct, or even counsel. Paul even uses this word in explaining one of the ways the church should act toward each other. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. I wonder if any of us would ever say to the Apostle Paul, "Thanks, Paul, but quite honestly I'm doing fine and don't really need anyone to come and instruct me in all wisdom. I'd just rather do it on my own." The problem with a statement like that is there is no verse in the entire Scripture that affirms that Christians can live our lives to God's glory without help from each other. Take, for example, some wisdom from the Proverbs.

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Perhaps you may not be confident that someone can give you the right counsel. I am confident that there was not one perfect church that Paul wrote to, and yet he was confident that there was sufficient resource for churches to help each other. Romans 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct (from noutheteō) one another. The church in Rome (and every Christian church for 2000 years) has had everything needed to counsel one another. They have had the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the word of God.

Our biggest barrier to receiving counseling for our life is simply pride. So many of us are weary of unveiling our lives and showing sin, deficiencies, weaknesses, and ignorance. We live in marriages that could use help, but we are too prideful to say we need it. We live with great frustration in parenting because we don’t want others to see that we don’t have the perfect little family. We live with constant failure in sin and temptation because we are ashamed of someone knowing that something below the surface isn't right. All of these and more amount to a barrier of pride that only prohibits us from the help that God provides us in his church that helps us to grow in his likeness.

As we go through our series on the Sufficient Help of Scripture, I wonder if you might think through where you could use a brother or sister coming along side you and opening God's word as a means of God's grace in your own life.  

The wise seek counsel, and God has provided!

Sovereign Sanctification

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Paul prays that God might sanctify the Thessalonian church completely. If there is one prayer that the church should pray with great frequency, it is this one. In a few short words Paul is telling this church that his complete confidence in their salvation and ongoing growth in Christian maturity and holiness is in God alone. Not only that, Paul's confidence in God's work in the life of believers is so strong that he writes, "He will surely do it."

We should be careful to note that these comments from Paul follow a list of instructions for this church to live and grow as God's people having peace among themselves. They have been instructed to be long-suffering with each other, have a community wide God-directed focus, and to never despise good instruction from God's word.

When Paul then tells this church that it is God who will sanctify them completely and that he will surely do it, he is not encouraging them to passivity in the faith.

Consider what Paul later writes to the church in Philippi. Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. There are two very important truths in these verses.

1. God does not save us to be passive in faith.

In Philippians 2:12, Paul refers to the time that he was with the Philippian church. This church has obviously come to faith in Jesus Christ and had obeyed the call of the gospel. While Paul was with them, he saw their immediate obedience to the truth of Christ in the transformation of their lives. He therefore wants to encourage this church to be this way even more while he, the Apostle, is not with them. They need to continue to rely on Christ in their Christian life, not the Apostle. He therefore gives them an instruction for his absence. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." In other words, Paul is telling them to continue in obedience in the faith even in his absence because their faith is lived before the exalted Christ who is King and God.

2. It is God who works out our salvation for his glory.

In Philippians 2:13, Paul makes a very comforting statement. As we live by faith before the Lord, the Lord is working that faith out in our life as he grows us to be more like him. He is doing the work in us. Look again at Paul's words: "for it is God who works in you." The God of the universe who works all things to his glory is working in believers to reflect his holiness. God is doing it for his pleasure and God is perfectly pleased in his own perfect character. If God is doing a work in us that pleases him, it means that this work will end in us being a perfect reflection of his own goodness. Will God fail? No, he is God.

We do not become holy because we can manufacture our own holiness. We become holy because God is holy, and he has saved us to be his children. God is working HIS holiness in us as we live by faith in him. His holiness will grow in us as he works in us and as his ultimate purpose is to bring everything to its perfect completion.

Do you ever wonder if the life ahead for you as a Christian is one that matures in the holiness of your Savior? Trust in Christ. Obey his word. Believe his truth. Apply his wisdom. Enjoy his grace. Hold onto his mercy. Look at his beauty. Live in his hope.

And in this application of faith, watch him work!

Where are all the Prophets?

The New Testament does talk about the ministry of prophetic speech and yet in many non-charismatic/non-Pentecostal churches, we don't tend to use "prophetic" as an adjective. It seems in the debate about spiritual gifts and ongoing revelation that it is too easy to simply abandon the use of a word or concept because we think it has been wrongly used by others. So... what do we do with the fact that the New Testament letters seem to talk about prophecy as a gift and even prophecies as something that should not be despised?

In the Scriptures we should first see that prophecy can denote both foretelling and forthtelling. If you were to survey the Scriptures, you would see that the most common form of prophetic ministry was the forthtelling of the truth of God applied to the audience. Sometimes it came through encouragement, sometimes through serious warning and calling God's people to his truth. At other times we do see prophets foretelling according to the promise of God to bring a Messiah and save his people and restore his creation.

In the New Testament, Paul tells the Ephesians that prophets were among the word-based ministries that God had graciously given to the church. Eph 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. As far as the office of apostles and prophets are concerned, Paul had already told us that apostles and prophets were given as a foundational platform for the ministry of the church. Ephesians 2:19-20 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. This then suggests that out of the word-based ministry of the church, the apostles and prophets were the foundation on which the evangelists, shepherds and teachers would build as the church continued to grow upon that foundation. (It should be noted that many also believe that "prophets" in Ephesians 2:20 are a reference to Old Testament prophets).

Whatever the ministry of the prophets exactly was during the birth of the New Testament church, we can be sure that the direct inerrant revelation that formed the ministry of the apostles and prophets is now finally contained in the canon of the New Testament Scriptures. We still have the foundation of their ministry in the word of God.

What we can be sure about is that prophecies in the church were always meant for the edification of the church. They were to strengthen the church in their faith in Christ. Those who claim prophetic gifting and seek to tell me that I should paint my kitchen green have missed the point. 1 Corinthians 14:12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

1 Corinthians 14:29-32 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. The word 'prophecy' and 'revelation' are used in this text synonymously and the point is that the speech seems to come from a true understanding of truth and is weighed carefully by those listening. It is spoken for the sake of the edification of the body. There is no indication here that this is direct revelation from God in addition to the inspired apostolic teaching in Christ. It is however weighed according to that apostolic teaching and the rest of Scripture.

All of this is to say that while there may no longer be inspired apostles and prophets in the church, the ministry of prophecy remains as the church teaches, counsels, corrects, warns, and instructs from the bible. The prophetic word is alive and well in the church whenever we open the Scriptures and minister with them. The whole church is a prophetic ministry to each other and the world. The ministry of the word is always primarily for the building up of the body of Christ.

From a Shepherd to Sheep

Dear Grace and Truth Church Cincinnati,

In our preparation for our text on Sunday in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, I want to ask that you simply read this following passage and hear the heart of a reflective shepherd (lower case "s") who loves his church family.

1 Peter 5:1-4 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the exhortation that the Apostle Peter gives to the elders/pastors is one that applies directly to the elders in our church. Notice that the exhortation comes by way of the acknowledgment of the sufferings of Christ. It is not a call to the greatness of a leader's stature, but to the suffering humility of our Savior.

Brothers and Sisters, the humility of Jesus is never going to be matched in the elders you have at GTCC. We readily acknowledge that, and yet we are consciously aware that a leader can only love the church when the sacrificial humility of Jesus is our goal. The exaltation of glory that comes for all of us, comes because Christ first humbled himself. We want to lead that way too. We need your help. We answer first to Christ and then to his church for our pursuit of sacrificial service to God's family. Please keep your elders accountable to this, and please keep your elders in prayer. Whenever you see a Christlike display of humility, please follow it.

Peter says that leadership in the church is not selfish, but selfless. That selfless leadership is to be a desired, willing, and intentional work among the flock. There is no way to see the eldership of a church as a board of directors. To be among the flock is to be hands on as a Shepherd in the midst of sheep - exactly what we see when look at Jesus in the gospels. Elders are to have a view of the church that compels them to love even when it's difficult.

Brothers and Sisters, we love you and want to serve you. I believe this is the sincere desire of every elder at GTCC. I've sat in our meetings as we have prayed fervently for you. I've seen us counsel individuals who need it most. I've seen our elders work in hospitality toward you, in encouragement of you, and in care over you. I've seen it as a corporate oversight and an individual intimate love. While I do see evidence of our elders serving well, I know we make mistakes, and unknowingly overlook needs. If you know evidence of that, please come and tell us so we can put it right. We don't love you out of compulsion but out of gratitude for the gospel hope we all have in Christ.

Peter makes a point of differentiating domineering leadership from the loving caring sacrificial leadership that should be on display in the church. The only way the right leadership happens in the church is if leaders are being examples that reflect Jesus.

Brothers and Sisters, we always want to point you to Jesus. One of the ways leaders are instructed to do this is to be living examples of him. Our elders are committed to teaching and preaching in a way that Jesus is front and center for all of us. We are not Jesus. We are men; brothers in the family of God just like you. May I please ask that you not forget to also point us to Christ too. If we are to lead as examples in Christ, we need your response by always pointing us in the same direction we are pointing you. Also, please encourage us by following Christ as you see any example of Jesus in us.

We want to "shepherd the flock" well.

We ask you to tell us when there is lack.

We ask you to forgive us when we err.

We ask you to follow us when you see Jesus.

We ask you to pray for us always.

We ask you to treat us like a fellow brother and sister in Christ.

We ask you to respond faithfully to the truth of Christ.

We ask you to respond obediently to the commands of Christ.

We ask you to work with us for the sake of Christ.

We love you!

Jesus Is Your Armor

The more Christians see the light of Jesus, the more we see the darkness of the world. Every day we are confronted by the effects of Genesis 3 as we encounter human selfishness and idolatry. We are also constantly living in the reality of our own fallen nature and are often tempted by worldly enticements. We are in constant need of spiritual armor for our spiritual battle.

If you've been a Christian for even a short period of time, it's likely you are familiar with the concept of putting on the armor of God. You have most likely found yourself reading about this armor from the commonly referenced passage, Ephesians 6:10-17.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

This is not the only place where the Apostle Paul encourages the church to put on armor as an intentional focus for our life in this world.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Romans 13:11-12 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

At every reference Paul is telling us to remind ourselves of the spiritual realities we have in Christ so that we can be armed with truth to confront life in a world that is contrary to Christ. Also, Paul seems to be referring us back to the Prophet Isaiah so that we consider who Jesus is as we seek to live in him for the battle.

Isaiah 59:15-20 Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. 17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. 19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives. 20 "And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the LORD.

It is evident that the Apostle Paul wants us to know something about the armor he encourages us to wear. God himself will send a Redeemer and he will bring justice to his enemies and salvation to the redeemed. He comes in the armor of righteousness and salvation with judgment and zeal. This armor tells us that Christ is our great warrior. He fights our battles for us. Essentially, Paul is telling us to put on Christ.

If you want to be ready to engage with an anti-God world, put on Christ who is both the Judge of the world and Savior for all who will turn from their sin and trust in Him. Simply put, Christian, if you want to be ready for battle - put on Jesus.

Eschatological Evangelism

I wonder what answer you would get if you asked your non-believing friends if they believe whether they are accountable to anyone for their life? Many people are willing to say they believe in God, but so often that statement is divorced from truly being accountable to God. That lack of acceptance of accountability is seen everywhere in our world. When there is no accountability outside of self, there is only self. There is only what we can get out of this world for us. Imagine if our gospel response came by way of a very important question. Would you be terrifyingly surprised to find out that you are accountable to God and that at an unexpected time he will appear before you as the ultimate judge? Would you be further surprised to find out that his judgment will be based on his own perfect standard of goodness?

We live in a world that has a dangerous mentality of "out of sight, out of mind" when it comes to God. Every day we live with the enticements of money, popularity, sex, power, and every other allurement to keep our attention focused on the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We have more than enough to keep us striving for ourselves so that we never have to think about one day being accountable to an ultimate authority. If you think this is a problem only for our culture and our time, think again. This is an ongoing human problem.

The Scriptures inform us that this problem has been the temptation for humanity from the beginning.

Genesis 3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. Satan's temptation of Adam and Eve was partly based on the lie that they would not be accountable for rebellion against God.

Gen 7:22-23 Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark. The people of the world in the time of Noah watched him build an ark for decades. In the ignorance of their accountability to God, all humanity except for eight people were drowned in the comprehensive judgment of God. Mat 24:37-39 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

2 Peter 3:3-4 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." In the time of the Apostle Peter in the first century AD, people were saying that there is no coming day of judgment for them. Out of sight, out of mind.

Two thousand years later and we are no different today. What if they knew? What if the warning of the coming of Christ and the final day of judgment became part of our gospel discussions? What if people could know that while there is no way for them to meet God's standard for that day, there is One who already has and offers his righteousness for their sin?

The gospel is not simply, Jesus died for you so that you can be in heaven. It is the fact that Jesus died for you who are guilty in sin and accountable to the judgment of God that will inevitably come for all humanity. The gospel gives us hope that, only through faith in Christ, we can be judged righteous by God on the final day because His righteousness will cover us. The gospel changes our life in the way we live today according to that accountability, and we also live today according to that hope.

What if people could know and see that truth?

Biblical Worldview and Your Future

When it comes to the study of the last things or final times (eschatology), hopefully we all appreciate that some truths are universally essential, and others are more difficult to discern. Take for instance the second coming of Christ. Jesus will physically return at a time in the future that is unknown (and unknowable) and that we all need to be ready for it. This fact is something that every Christian claiming biblical orthodoxy should hold tightly. Yet, all of us hold to some belief about the future that is not universally agreed upon. We might say these beliefs are less essential in nature, and some would say less important, but we should all understand that what we believe about the future will always affect our lives today. Our biblical worldview - the way we understand life and existence in the world around us through the bible - does not simply come from knowing our beginnings, it comes from what we also believe about the end of the age.

The Thessalonian church provides us a strong example of people who were living according to their belief about the future. That's obvious in the fact that Paul had to bring correction to their misunderstanding about the return of Christ. 1Thessalonians 4:13-14 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. It seems that some in the church of Thessalonica were losing hope in their expectation for Christ to return. It's very possible they were expecting an imminent, any moment, return of Jesus. They did believe that Jesus would come unexpectedly and at an unknown time and most likely even that it would be "soon." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4).

Why did Paul need to correct that? There is something in their belief about this that was causing them to lose hope for their brothers and sisters in Christ who had already died. Perhaps because they were expecting Jesus to return soon, they expected it to be in their lifetime. Perhaps they wondered if dying before the return of Christ prohibited them from receiving his promised resurrection. We'll never know for sure, but we do know that Jesus had not yet returned, their Christian loved ones had already died, and they were grieving without hope.

Jesus never said that he would come quickly in a way that he was saying "any moment." Jesus did say he would come at an hour we would not expect (Matthew 24:44). In the book of Revelation, Jesus says that he is coming soon (Revelation 22:7). Peter says that the end of all things is near (1 Peter 4:7). The writer of Hebrews says that the day is approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25). At the end of Revelation, John prays, "Amen, come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20).

Along with these statements there are other statements in the bible that give us cause to consider that Jesus' unexpected and 'soon' return will come after certain events. One such is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. However some may interpret what or who the man of lawlessness is, there is an indication that there is some kind of rebellion or apostacy that precedes the coming of Christ. Christians should be ready to withstand anything and everything as we wait for his soon, unknown, return.

For the Thessalonians, they had to be reminded that until Christ returns, death is not the end. They had not missed Christ's return, and even if they died, they would not miss Christ's return. The most important point is that they remain faithful to Christ in life so that they would be with Christ in either death or at his coming.

Perhaps they didn't know this, but there was also a great clue for them that would be written in the gospels to assure them that the return of Christ would not be any moment in their time, but simply soon. Paul's letter to them was written around 50AD. At this stage the Apostle Peter was still alive and wrote his letters around 60AD. They could at least know that Jesus would not return until Peter had died.

John 21:18-23 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? 

Knowing the truth about the return of Christ would reshape the way the Thessalonians live in expectation, grieve with hope, and be aware of anything that would cause them to stray into apostacy. Eschatology does that for us today. Our ideas around what happens in the last days can have a bigger effect than we might believe. It should always motivate us to ask if we are believing what the bible says and living by biblical truth rather than our own ideas to plug the gaps we find hard to discern.

Jesus is coming soon. Regardless of what happens in the meantime. We can live with hope, expectation, and awareness of anything that might draw our attention away from Him. This simple eschatology will have us living with our eyes always on Christ.

The New Covenant Conscience

The Old Testament narrative is a narrative of both hopelessness and hope. In hopelessness we find that God's people are saved out of bondage and called to be God's peculiar people who display His holiness. As they are called to be God's covenant people, they are given the law for them to keep in covenant with God as they live according to God's holiness. There is a constant trail of the failure of Israel in keeping that covenant and we are reminded that confidence in ourselves to be holy is hopeless. We cannot meet God's perfect standard. The hope in the Old Testament comes as we read of the coming Messiah who will keep God's perfect standard for us and in Him alone God will bring a new covenant forever kept in Jesus. In this new covenant, God's people will only be recognized as those who are in Jesus as our covenant keeper. They will be given a new heart, the indwelling Spirit of God, and they will all - every one of them - know God. Their conscience will be brought to life in a heart that seeks to please our Savior.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Ezekiel 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

The New Testament consistently testifies to the fact that prior to knowing Jesus, our consciences are seared and dead. In Christ, the Holy Spirit brings regeneration and enlivens our heart and conscience to a life that cares about pleasing God and imitating God's ethical heart. This is something that the Old Testament sacrifices could never do, but in Christ, the indwelling presence of the Spirit in all believers brings the victory of Christ over sin to our consciences.

Hebrews 9:13-14 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

There are so many other verses in Scripture that talk about the way the Holy Spirit guides the believer through our conscience. Paul, in Romans 9:1, speaks the truth in Christ with the Holy Spirit bearing witness in his conscience. In Romans 13:5, Christians should obey the governing bodies (short of sinfulness) for the sake of conscience. In 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 Christians are faced with the dilemma of what to eat and not to eat because our consciences are concerned about the nature of worship. In 2 Corinthians 4:2 Paul appeals to the church to see the purity of his ministry by appealing to their consciences. In 1 Timothy 1, Paul makes an argument for Timothy that his appeal is not just based on holding faith but also in its association with a good conscience. In Hebrews 10:22 we are told that our hearts are sprinkled clean from an evil conscience in the full assurance of faith. In both 1 Timothy 4 and Titus 1 we learn that unbelievers have a seared and defiled conscience. Titus 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

It is based on these Scriptures and the overall teaching about our conscience in the new covenant, that I am convinced that in Paul's discussion in Romans 2, he can only be speaking about the conscience of believing Gentiles. Regardless of the gentile believers in Rome not having the law as their heritage like the Jewish believers, the gentile believers have the new covenant promise of a heart of flesh, the law written on their hearts, and an enlivened conscience in the Spirit. Romans 2:14-16 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law by nature, do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts (New Covenant believers), while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

It is the believer, not the unbeliever, that has an enlivened conscience by the Spirit of God. This is the work of the cross. This is the work of God in regeneration. This is the glorious promise of the new covenant in our Lord Jesus who has done what none of us could ever do. This is why new believers change and while mature believers keep maturing. It is why the Bible starts to make sense to us and why we are convicted by and even hate our former sin. It is why we have any interest in holiness at all. It is why we can love each other in the integrity of God.

Because of Christ, we have a Holy Spirit empowered conscience that is continually calibrated to the truth of God's word. It's time for Christians to start believing that in Christ we actually do have everything we need. Thank God for the conscience of a new heart.

The Holy Spirit and Real Life

Human weakness is real. If we were to start acknowledging our human weakness, we would see that we are weak when we fall in temptation to sin. We are weak when we allow circumstance to result in serious anxiety and depression. We are weak when we fear man in the face of opposition. We are simply weak. With all that Christians have before us, we are constantly reminded that we are weak. BUT... How often do we consider that in the real course of the events of our life, the Holy Spirit is strong.

Consider for a moment our battle with the trying circumstances of temptation. As Paul instructs the Thessalonian Christians, he tells them that they need to be holy. 1Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. In our weakness, we might want to say that this is an easy statement for Paul to make. God wants us to be holy in that he wants us to be pure and righteous like Him and to keep away from sinfulness. We might say that God has called us to be something we can never really be. When my sister snatches my toy, it's very hard not to yell at her in anger. When someone beats me to getting the job I wanted, it's very hard not to be despondent. When someone has something I want, it's really difficult not to be jealous. When a tempting advertisement comes on my screen, it's very hard not to click on it. Surely, I need more than just knowing that God has called me to be holy. If we know who God is, that should be enough, but in the very next verse we receive exactly what we need.

1Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. We are told not to disregard God but to remember a most extraordinary gift He has given us. He has given us Himself. He gave us Jesus to pay our sin and bring us to a new life and new reconciled relationship with God. In doing that, Jesus has also given us His Spirit -The Holy Spirit - and he dwells within us. We are to remind ourselves not to disregard God but to remember that He is with us and enables us. His strength makes it possible for us to obey when we are weak.

We should remember that the Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Jude 1:20). He has given us new life (Titus 3:5). He gives us power to live in hope (Romans 15:13). He helps us to endure through trials with joy (1 Thessalonians 1:6). He gives us power not to do the sinful things that our heart tells us we want to do (Galatians 5:16-18). He convicts us of what is sinful and unholy (John 16:8). He helps us to understand God's truth (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). These are just a few glorious works of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we trust in Christ.

If we listen to Paul, we will realize that in our moment of temptation and trial we are not disregarding God when we remind ourselves of His glorious help in our life because He indwells us. We are weak, but he is strong. God is our strength. It's true that when we fall, we have a Savior, but having His Spirit means Christians actually don't have to fall in the first place. The Holy Spirit is not some mystical power that we need to find, He is a Person who is always with us and wants to help us. He empowers us to obey our calling of holiness. Do we trust Him? Trusting Him means obeying God in the moment relying on His strength to get you through.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

This is the inerrant truth from the word of God. Don't disregard God who gives His Holy Spirit to you! You are weak. He is strong.

The Church's Confident Joy

Yohan Sebastian Bach wrote 200 cantatas in Leipzig.  Number 147 in the 200 cantata catalogue is often played at weddings, Christmas, easter and other big events. The whole Cantata is titled Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life.  The tenth and last movement of the cantata contains a melody that many of us know today as the piece “Jesus Joy of Man’s Desiring.” .... Thank you, Bach. There is another work that reminds me of the joy that we can have in Jesus. That work is by the Apostle Paul, is part of the corpus of the New Testament, and is called Philippians.

Philippians is often called the Epistle of Joy. When Paul opens his letter to this church, as is his custom, he begins by telling them what he is thankful for. For this church, he especially tells them that his thanksgiving to God is expressed with joy. Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Consider the extent of Paul's joy of thanksgiving in these words. He thanks God in EVERY memory of them. He does so ALWAYS in EVERY prayer. HE does so for ALL OF them and he does so with joy. Paul has seen God do something in this church. He has seen the regenerating power of the Spirit in their salvation. From that first day that these dear brothers and sisters came to Christ, their partnership with him in the gospel has not stopped.

Paul then is aware of something that must be a motivating reality behind his joy. In verse 6 Paul says that he is confident (sure of this) that God who did this marvelous saving work in this church will keep them in his preserving, faithful hands, and continue to sanctify them in their faithfulness until the day they stand before Jesus face to face. This tells us that salvation is a work of God, sanctification is a work of God, and the perseverance of the saints is a work of God. God starts, continues, and completes his work in the church. That should give us both confidence and joy as we serve Him.

When you see a faithful church partnering in the gospel, do you experience this joy? Do you consider that the only reason you can have it is because your confidence is in our God who saves to the uttermost?

Nineteenth century pastor and theologian, Charles Bridges, described this confident joy in Christ's work through pastoral ministry in the church with these words. "We must acknowledge that the grounds of support and encouragement are fully commensurate with the momentous difficulty of the work. How cheering is the recollection of our office, as the ordinance of Christ, and as the standing proof of his love to his Church! For will he not honor his own institution, and secure its appointed end, in the glory of his name and the prosperity of his Church? Will not he that sent us furnish us for our work? May we not plead his ordinance, as the ground of dependence upon him for all needful assistance and encouraging acceptance?...

Did we depend upon the failing support of human agency, or upon the energy of mere moral suasion that we should cry out prostrate in heartless despondency - 'Who is sufficient for these things?' But the instant recollection that our sufficiency is God, lifts up our hearts in the ways and work of the Lord... the cheering joys connected with the ministration of life and righteousness - together with our own personal interest in its blessings - all combine to invigorate faith and expectancy under all apprehended difficulties.

That sounds like the same confident joy that Paul describes to the Philippians and Bach compels us to sing. Be joyful, church, we are in GOOD hands.

What a Pastor Prays For in 2024

As our elders look forward to another year of leading, teaching and shepherding in 2024, we are faced with asking ourselves what we should be praying for the church family under our care. I can tell you that we will be praying about direction and wisdom for leading a growing congregation. We will be seeking God to keep us committed to teaching his truth and to protect us from error. We will be wondering about how best to spend our budget for the sake of the kingdom. We will be asking for God to enliven our hearts for evangelism and to save people through the testimony of our church. I'm sure you can think of many other items to add to the list. Probably one of the most pressing priorities will simply be to pray for our church family to be faithful to Jesus.

In the last section of Proverbs 4, we find an appeal for wisdom that could easily make up a wonderful focus of prayer for the church in 2024. The father (a picture of our true Father in heaven) is instructing his son in the way of wisdom and gives a general command. Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. In other words, as God's children we are instructed to guard ourselves from going the way of the world because if we let our guard down, that is exactly the way we will go. We are being told never to be complacent about how the world can affect our faith, hope, and peace that we have in Jesus. The more we allow worldly influences and pressures to impact our faith in Christ and commitment to his truth, the more we are at risk of those same influences and pressures flowing from us in direct contradiction to God's truth and grace.

The proverb continues by breaking down the general command into specific areas that we need to guard. Proverbs 4:24-26 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. We are to guard what we say, what we want to see, and the direction we want to go. None of these can be guarded if we are not also guarding how we think. Surely, that is why we are told not just to avoid a specific direction but to truly ponder our path. We are to give serious consideration as to whether our direction in life is matching the godly path God wills for our life.

The proverb ends with summarizing the pinpoint focus we are called to as those who walk in the wisdom of God. Proverbs 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. Keep on the straight path with a focus on one direction.

In his perfect wisdom, Jesus said something similar.

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

The writer of Hebrews also defines exactly where we should be looking in order not to swerve away from faithful wisdom. Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

So, yes, my prayer for Grace and Truth Church for 2024 will be prioritized in this way. That we would be faithful to God in guarding our hearts in a world of temptation and that we will do it by not looking right or left but keeping our eyes focused on Christ as our eternal prize.

My prayer is that we don't just pray this but live it.

Faithful New Year, GTCC!

Only Two Kinds of People

When we read the Scriptures, we may be tempted in thinking that the world is divided up into two types of people - Jews and Gentiles. While that may be apparent in one way, the bible's distinction of the two types of people that really matter is much more significant than an ethnic qualification. In the Old Testament, to be a part of the people of God was to be Jewish. To be truly Jewish was not simply in the sense that your physical heritage was in Abraham but in the fact that you were called out in Abraham to have the same faith as Abraham. This is how non-Israelites could know salvation as they trusted in the same promise of the Offspring of blessing that was given to Abraham. There were believers in Old Testament Israel and non-believers in Old Testament Israel.

When we get to the New Testament, there is still much discussion about the distinction of Jew and Gentile, but the significance of the distinction is only seen in the fact that it is obliterated in Christ. I would argue that in both the Old and New Testament, the greatest distinction in humanity is where we stand with Jesus the Messiah. Perhaps it will be helpful to see this in a few different passages. Paul, the most zealous Jew who ever came to Christ makes these arguments in the most powerful ways.

In writing to the Galatian church, Paul was concerned that this predominantly gentile church was being influenced by a Jewish contingent to believe that they needed to adopt Jewish practices to be a part of God's people. Paul was concerned that the churches in Galatia were losing the gospel in their temptation to pick up the Jewish law. He made his point very clear in Galatians 2:15-16.

       "We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." Faith in Christ is the only distinguishing factor for justification.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul makes a beautiful point that the warring hearts between Jew and Gentile is completely solved in Jesus. He does so by showing that there are never two distinct groups as God's people but only one people of God, one nation, one citizenship, one promise, one temple, one body, all in Christ Jesus.

       Ephesians 2:11-21 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-- 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

For one more example among many, Paul explains to the predominantly gentile Roman church that there is one tree that signifies the people of God. While its roots are Jewish, the only way to be a part of that tree is to be in Christ.

Romans 11:16-21 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

If Jews who rejected Christ are broken off from the one tree it is only in the acceptance of Christ that both Jews and Gentiles can be grafted in. There is one tree and one people of God.

At the end of the day this tells us something very important. There are truly only two kinds of people in the world. Those who are in Christ and those who are not. It makes an eternal difference which group you are in and reminds us how much everyone, both Jew and Gentile, need to hear and believe the gospel.

The Fatherly Gospel

When writing to encourage and reassure the Thessalonian church, Paul makes it clear that he considers himself to be a father to them as his beloved children. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. It's not just that this is Paul's perception of his relationship with them, but he clearly states that they know that this is how they were treated.

This is not the only time that Paul considers himself to be like a parent to the recipients of his gospel ministry. In writing to the Galatians, Paul was very concerned about how they were allowing dangerous influences into their churches. Those influences were causing great disruption to the believers and undermining the saving truth of the gospel. In his appeal to the Galatians, Paul told them about the urgency of his concern for them. Enemies were making much of them for no good purpose. They were exploiting the Galatians for their own gain. Galatians 4:18-20 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Paul calls the Galatians his little children and tells them that the intensity of his desire for them to live and grow in the truth of Christ is like the labor of childbirth. Paul's intense desire for the church whether in reassurance or rebuke is that of a loving father who yearns for his dear children to have the very best in life. The very best that Paul speaks of is the glory of the gospel and how it is revealed in a life of faith that longs of Jesus. Paul wants his children to know the wonder of living for Christ and in anticipation of his glorious return. He wants his children not to lose sight of a certain hope of eternal salvation and glory only found in Jesus. He wants his children not to let anything hinder them from receiving the prize. He will defend his children when threats arrive. He will be an example for his children in life. He will speak truth and appeal to his children out of love.

Paul may never have had physical children of his own, but Paul shows Dad's what fatherhood looks like. He also shows all of us the type of relationship that is established when the Lord uses you in gospel ministry for the salvation of another. Nothing brings a closer bond than the saving work of Christ.

When we walk into church, we walk into an assembly of saints who meet together in that very bond. The bond of a family. The church is a family built on the bond of the saving work of Christ and we yearn for each other in the same way Paul yearns for the recipients of his ministry. I'm thankful for the way the Apostle Paul speaks about the church because it helps me to see that despite the messiness of the church, I can still appeal, exhort, encourage, rebuke, correct, and comfort with the familial love that only the church can have in Christ.

Take a lesson from Paul. Start looking at your church this way.