I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16
Again listening to John Piper's sermons on Romans. God spoke the gospel into place before the beginning of time. His word is efficacious in power to cause that which is spoken. The gospel is the good news for all who believe. It is the plan for salvation for christians but it is, being spoken into being by God, the power by which our salvation takes place. It does not fail. It is the sufficient power to overcome sin, death and damnation. The word salvation here refers to the completion of our deliverance into glory with Almighty God. God will not fail in the power of the gospel in this deliverance. The gospel is also the power by which we initially come to faith, but in this verse Paul speaks of the fulfillment of our salvation. Through faith in God and in his gospel and in our Lord Jesus Christ's death and resurrection in the power of the Spirit, we are saved. This verse sets out the only prerequisite to the application of God's saving power into our lives, namely faith. Everyone who believes will be saved. There is no work to be done. No sin excludes a person from salvation with the exception of unbelief. Praise be to the One who has saved us by his power...a power that cannot and will not fail.
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Fix Your Eyes On Jesus
I was in Hawaii over the last two weeks for a time of celebration with my wife of twenty years. In spite of the surroundings and company, I had a three day period of deep despair for reasons that weren't completely clear in my mind. I felt as if God had left me...as if he had hidden himself from me. I looked and called to him but just felt alone. I remember sitting on the couch on the verge of tears thinking-- where are you? What has caused this? My wife, being extremely wise, knows to just leave my alone to think if I am in a funk. And so, in spite of the beach and sunshine, I sat pondering things in sadness. Fortunately, God lifted me out of the miry clay, and I am experiencing him again. After the fact, I think a number of things may have been contributing to my situation. I had been over the two weeks prior to my episode wallowing in discontent over difficulties in personal family relationships. I have been praying for the situation for a long time without much change and I became frustrated. I also had spent too much time meditating on theological questions about God that are unanswerable (Arminianism, Calvinism) instead of spending time listening and worshiping. Finally, I was struggling with feelings of guilt and sadness with my failures as a christian.
So, what did I learn from this experience? The most important thing in my relationship with God is spending time with him listening and worshiping...not necessarily knowing more theology. Discontentment in life is discontentment with God and is a manifestation of me taking my eye off of him. Guilt is a manifestation of unbelief except in cases of ongoing purposeful sin. Believe what God says! He says he will never leave or forsake me. He says my sins are payed for, and I am righteous in his sight.
So, what did I learn from this experience? The most important thing in my relationship with God is spending time with him listening and worshiping...not necessarily knowing more theology. Discontentment in life is discontentment with God and is a manifestation of me taking my eye off of him. Guilt is a manifestation of unbelief except in cases of ongoing purposeful sin. Believe what God says! He says he will never leave or forsake me. He says my sins are payed for, and I am righteous in his sight.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Saving Faith
Saving faith, then is the opposite of damning unbelief. Both issue from the heart: unbelief, from a heart that is alienated from God, which is in a state of rebellion against Him; saving faith, from a heart which is reconciled to Him and so has ceased to fight against Him. Thus, an essential element or ingredient in saving faith is a yielding to the authority of God, a submitting of myself to His rule. It is very much more than my understanding assenting and my will consenting to the fact that Christ is a Savior for sinners, and that He stands ready to receive all who trust in Him. To be received by Christ, I must not only come to Him renouncing all my own righteousness (Romans 10:3), as an empty-handed beggar (Matthew 19:21), but I must also forsake my self-will and rebellion against Him (Psalm 2:11,12; Proverbs 28:13). Should an insurrectionist and seditionist come to an earthly king seeking his sovereign favor and pardon, then, obviously, the very law of his coming to him for forgiveness, requires that he should come on his knees, laying aside his hostility. So it is with a sinner who really comes savingly to Christ for pardon; it is against the law of faith to do otherwise.
Saving faith is a genuine coming to Christ: Matthew 28; John 6:37, etc. But let us take care that we do not miss the clear and inevitable implication of this term. If I say, "I came to the U.S.A.," then I necessarily indicate that I left some other country to get here. Thus it is in "coming" to Christ: something has to be left. Coming to Christ not only involves the abandoning of every false object of confidence, but it also includes and entails the forsaking of all other competitors for my heart. "For ye were ‘as sheep going astray;’ but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25). And what is meant by "ye were (note the past tense—they are no longer so doing) as sheep going astray"? Isaiah 53:6 tells us: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." Ah, that is what must be forsaken before we can truly "come" to Christ—that course of self-will must be abandoned. The prodigal son could not come to his father while he remained in the far country.
Dear reader, if you are still following a course of self-pleasing, you are only deceiving yourself if you think you have come to Christ.
Nor is the brief definition which we have given above, of what it means to really "come" to Christ, any forced or novel one of our own. In his book, Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, John Bunyan wrote: "Coming to Christ is attended with an honest and sincere forsaking all for Him—(here he quotes Luke 14:26,27). By these and like expressions elsewhere, Christ describeth the true comer: he is one that casteth all behind his back. There are a great many pretended comers to Jesus Christ in the world. They are much like the man you read of in Matthew 21:30 that said to his father’s bidding, ‘I go sir, and went not.’ When Christ calls by His Gospel, they say, ‘I come, Sir,’ but they still abide by their pleasures and carnal delights." C.H. Spurgeon in his sermon on John 6:44 said, "Coming to Christ embraces in it repentance, self-abnegation, and faith in the Lord Jesus, and so sums within itself all those things which are the necessary attendants of those great steps of heart, such as the belief of the truth, earnest prayers to God, the submission of the soul to the precepts of His Gospel." In his sermon on John 6:37, he says, "To come to Christ signifies to turn from sin and to trust in Him. Coming to Christ is a leaving of all false confidences, a renouncing of all love to sin, and a looking to Jesus as the solitary pillar of our confidence and hope."
Saving faith consists of the complete surrender of my whole being and life to the claims of God upon me:
"But first gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5).
It is the unreserved acceptance of Christ as my absolute Lord, bowing to His will and receiving His yoke. Possibly someone may object, Then why are Christians exhorted as they are in Romans 12:1? We answer, all such exhortations are simply a calling on them to continue as they began:
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6).
Yes, mark it well, that Christ is "received" as LORD. O how far, far below the N.T. standard is this modern way of begging sinners to receive Christ as their own personal "Savior." If the reader will consult his concordance he will find that in every passage where the two titles are found together, it is always "Lord and Savior," and never vice versa: see Luke 1:46, 47; 2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:18.
Until the ungodly are sensible of the exceeding sinfulness of their vile course of self-will and self-pleasing, until they are genuinely broken down and penitent over it before God, until they are willing to forsake the world for Christ, until they have resolved to come under His government—for such to depend upon Him for pardon and life is not faith, but blatant presumption; it is but to add insult to injury. And for one such to take His holy name upon his polluted lips and profess to be His follower, is the most terrible blasphemy, and comes perilously nigh to committing that sin for which there is no forgiveness. Alas, alas, that modern evangelism is encouraging and producing just such hideous and Christ-dishonoring monstrosities.
Saving faith is a believing on Christ with the heart:
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness" (Romans 10:9,10).
There is no such thing as a saving faith in Christ where there is no real love for Him, and by "real love," we mean a love which is evidenced by obedience. Christ acknowledges none to be His friends save those who do whatsoever He commands them (John 15:14). As unbelief is a species of rebellion, so saving faith is a complete subjection to God: hence we read of "faith obedience" (Romans 16:26). Saving faith is to the soul what health is to the body: it is a mighty principle of operation, full of life, ever working, bringing forth fruit after its own kind.
From Studies on Saving Faith by A. W. Pink
http://www.reformed.org/books/pink/saving_faith/
Saving faith is a genuine coming to Christ: Matthew 28; John 6:37, etc. But let us take care that we do not miss the clear and inevitable implication of this term. If I say, "I came to the U.S.A.," then I necessarily indicate that I left some other country to get here. Thus it is in "coming" to Christ: something has to be left. Coming to Christ not only involves the abandoning of every false object of confidence, but it also includes and entails the forsaking of all other competitors for my heart. "For ye were ‘as sheep going astray;’ but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25). And what is meant by "ye were (note the past tense—they are no longer so doing) as sheep going astray"? Isaiah 53:6 tells us: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." Ah, that is what must be forsaken before we can truly "come" to Christ—that course of self-will must be abandoned. The prodigal son could not come to his father while he remained in the far country.
Dear reader, if you are still following a course of self-pleasing, you are only deceiving yourself if you think you have come to Christ.
Nor is the brief definition which we have given above, of what it means to really "come" to Christ, any forced or novel one of our own. In his book, Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, John Bunyan wrote: "Coming to Christ is attended with an honest and sincere forsaking all for Him—(here he quotes Luke 14:26,27). By these and like expressions elsewhere, Christ describeth the true comer: he is one that casteth all behind his back. There are a great many pretended comers to Jesus Christ in the world. They are much like the man you read of in Matthew 21:30 that said to his father’s bidding, ‘I go sir, and went not.’ When Christ calls by His Gospel, they say, ‘I come, Sir,’ but they still abide by their pleasures and carnal delights." C.H. Spurgeon in his sermon on John 6:44 said, "Coming to Christ embraces in it repentance, self-abnegation, and faith in the Lord Jesus, and so sums within itself all those things which are the necessary attendants of those great steps of heart, such as the belief of the truth, earnest prayers to God, the submission of the soul to the precepts of His Gospel." In his sermon on John 6:37, he says, "To come to Christ signifies to turn from sin and to trust in Him. Coming to Christ is a leaving of all false confidences, a renouncing of all love to sin, and a looking to Jesus as the solitary pillar of our confidence and hope."
Saving faith consists of the complete surrender of my whole being and life to the claims of God upon me:
"But first gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5).
It is the unreserved acceptance of Christ as my absolute Lord, bowing to His will and receiving His yoke. Possibly someone may object, Then why are Christians exhorted as they are in Romans 12:1? We answer, all such exhortations are simply a calling on them to continue as they began:
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Colossians 2:6).
Yes, mark it well, that Christ is "received" as LORD. O how far, far below the N.T. standard is this modern way of begging sinners to receive Christ as their own personal "Savior." If the reader will consult his concordance he will find that in every passage where the two titles are found together, it is always "Lord and Savior," and never vice versa: see Luke 1:46, 47; 2 Peter 1:11; 2:20; 3:18.
Until the ungodly are sensible of the exceeding sinfulness of their vile course of self-will and self-pleasing, until they are genuinely broken down and penitent over it before God, until they are willing to forsake the world for Christ, until they have resolved to come under His government—for such to depend upon Him for pardon and life is not faith, but blatant presumption; it is but to add insult to injury. And for one such to take His holy name upon his polluted lips and profess to be His follower, is the most terrible blasphemy, and comes perilously nigh to committing that sin for which there is no forgiveness. Alas, alas, that modern evangelism is encouraging and producing just such hideous and Christ-dishonoring monstrosities.
Saving faith is a believing on Christ with the heart:
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness" (Romans 10:9,10).
There is no such thing as a saving faith in Christ where there is no real love for Him, and by "real love," we mean a love which is evidenced by obedience. Christ acknowledges none to be His friends save those who do whatsoever He commands them (John 15:14). As unbelief is a species of rebellion, so saving faith is a complete subjection to God: hence we read of "faith obedience" (Romans 16:26). Saving faith is to the soul what health is to the body: it is a mighty principle of operation, full of life, ever working, bringing forth fruit after its own kind.
From Studies on Saving Faith by A. W. Pink
http://www.reformed.org/books/pink/saving_faith/
Thoughts on Justification and Faith
I had a meeting at church this morning that was a discussion on the justification of believers by God through Christ's work in his death and resurrection. Believers are justified by faith. Our sins are paid for, and we are credited with Christ's righteousness...his sinlessness and his complete obedience and faithfulness. God sees us as his children, spotless like Jesus. An amazing thing. I am completely unworthy, as are all human beings. This justification occurs when we believe God, specifically what he says about the substitutionary atonement in Christ's life. Just as Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, so it is with the believer today (Genesis 15). This justification occurs at the ititial acceptance of Jesus as our savior and remains intact for eternity. It is not dependent on our actions. During this discussion, my thinking drifted to the ebb and flow of my faith over time. There are days I struggle and wonder if I really believe. This is very disturbing to me but frequently it is short lived, often replaced through the struggle with a fire in my belly for God. We talked about faith being manifested in our actions just as a 3 year old girl jumps from the pool side to her waiting father's arms, because she believes he will catch her. She is afraid but jumps anyway, because she has faith in her father. Actions relating to God in this way bring us assurance of our faith particularly if done in obedience to a command of God (John 14:21). As I thought about things, it became clear to me that concern over whether I have faith in God is actually a manifestation of having faith in God. In other words, I would not be concerned about my faith if I didn't believe because it wouldn't matter to me. Praise be to all mighty God for reassurance today and for his great gift of justification to those who believe what he says.
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Sifting of Peter
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31, Jesus speaking).
Observations:
1) To sift in this instance is to try. Peter being the wheat and Satan shaking the sieve trying to cause that which is false to drop through the screen and become lost. Satan's hope (I speculate) is to show Peter as an apostate or to render him ineffective.
2) Note that, similar to Job's case, Satan must ask God to sift Peter.
3) God in this case allows Peter to be tried by Satan. By inference then there maybe times when God allows us to be sifted.
4) Note Jesus's intercession on Peter's behalf. He in the same way intercedes for us who believe (Heb 7:25, Isa 53:12).
5) Peter in his first letter speaks of the testing of a believers faith (after experiencing Satan's trial.) 1 Peter 1:6,7: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Testing our faith can result in praise, glory and honor and strengthening of those around us.
Observations:
1) To sift in this instance is to try. Peter being the wheat and Satan shaking the sieve trying to cause that which is false to drop through the screen and become lost. Satan's hope (I speculate) is to show Peter as an apostate or to render him ineffective.
2) Note that, similar to Job's case, Satan must ask God to sift Peter.
3) God in this case allows Peter to be tried by Satan. By inference then there maybe times when God allows us to be sifted.
4) Note Jesus's intercession on Peter's behalf. He in the same way intercedes for us who believe (Heb 7:25, Isa 53:12).
5) Peter in his first letter speaks of the testing of a believers faith (after experiencing Satan's trial.) 1 Peter 1:6,7: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Testing our faith can result in praise, glory and honor and strengthening of those around us.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Things That Strengthen My Faith.
We all have faith in something. I choose to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and the authenticity of the Bible text in revealing him to us. Others believe there is no God. Make no mistake about it, atheism is a belief system. But, I also know that at times all believers if they are honest struggle with doubt. I think the fact that it is a struggle is a manifestation that those in this situation are indeed believers. I also am convinced that faith by definition is NOT the abscence of doubt. In fact, John the Baptist, while in prison, sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was indeed the "one who is to come." Jesus said John was the greatest man spiritually to walk the earth (obviously other than himself). So, when I struggle with doubt, what are some thoughts that refocus me on God and his truth?
1) God has not proven his existence because doing so would eliminate mans' free will in regards to loving him. (In other words, there is a reason for the lack of proof). --My belief.
2) Believing there is no God requires as much faith as believing there is a God.
2) Creation is unexplained if there is no God. (one must believe in the spontaneous generation of matter from nothing or matter that has eternally existed if there is no God. These positions are unbelievable to me).
3) Conscience points to right and wrong. If there is no God, there is no reason for an inate sense of guilt when wronging others. (In fact, evolutionary theory would suggest wronging others in many circumstances is beneficial to the one doing the wronging).
4) The Bible is approximately 1500 pages long, written over around 2000 years, by 40 different authors, in multiple locations BUT with one theme. (The Koran for example was written by one man).
5) Out of the 12 Apostles present after Jesus death and resurrection (not including Judas who was replaced by Matthias), eleven were martyred for their faith and one died in old age as a believer. (The Apostles died for Jesus even though there was no gain financially, materially or positionally to following him).
6) The tomb Jesus was laid in was and is empty. No reliable explanation exists as to how this happened. The tomb was guarded. Those who crucified Jesus wanted no questions arising regarding the truth of Jesus death. And the disciples would have risked persecution for no benefit in attempting to move Christ's body.
7) The heavens declare the glory of God (Romans 1, Psalm 19). Who can look at the stars on a clear night and deny the existance of the Almighty?
8) The inability to understand God and his working completely does not exclude me or excuse me from believing in him. If I point a gun into the night sky, eliminate friction and gravity where will the bullet end up? I believe in the universe without understanding it.
9) Seeing God is not necessary for belief and not seeing God is not an excuse for disbelief. The wind is invisible, yet I see it move the leaves and feel it on my face. In the same way, if we look we see God's Spirit moving around us in the lives of others.
10) The strongest assurance is the realization of what God has done in me...making me a new creation. I am not the same as I was before. Some can tell. Others may not be able to But, I am a different man.
1) God has not proven his existence because doing so would eliminate mans' free will in regards to loving him. (In other words, there is a reason for the lack of proof). --My belief.
2) Believing there is no God requires as much faith as believing there is a God.
2) Creation is unexplained if there is no God. (one must believe in the spontaneous generation of matter from nothing or matter that has eternally existed if there is no God. These positions are unbelievable to me).
3) Conscience points to right and wrong. If there is no God, there is no reason for an inate sense of guilt when wronging others. (In fact, evolutionary theory would suggest wronging others in many circumstances is beneficial to the one doing the wronging).
4) The Bible is approximately 1500 pages long, written over around 2000 years, by 40 different authors, in multiple locations BUT with one theme. (The Koran for example was written by one man).
5) Out of the 12 Apostles present after Jesus death and resurrection (not including Judas who was replaced by Matthias), eleven were martyred for their faith and one died in old age as a believer. (The Apostles died for Jesus even though there was no gain financially, materially or positionally to following him).
6) The tomb Jesus was laid in was and is empty. No reliable explanation exists as to how this happened. The tomb was guarded. Those who crucified Jesus wanted no questions arising regarding the truth of Jesus death. And the disciples would have risked persecution for no benefit in attempting to move Christ's body.
7) The heavens declare the glory of God (Romans 1, Psalm 19). Who can look at the stars on a clear night and deny the existance of the Almighty?
8) The inability to understand God and his working completely does not exclude me or excuse me from believing in him. If I point a gun into the night sky, eliminate friction and gravity where will the bullet end up? I believe in the universe without understanding it.
9) Seeing God is not necessary for belief and not seeing God is not an excuse for disbelief. The wind is invisible, yet I see it move the leaves and feel it on my face. In the same way, if we look we see God's Spirit moving around us in the lives of others.
10) The strongest assurance is the realization of what God has done in me...making me a new creation. I am not the same as I was before. Some can tell. Others may not be able to But, I am a different man.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saved By Grace
We are saved only by the grace of God, through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). This is not of ourselves. God loves us even as sinners (Romans 5:8), he draws us (John 6:44) and he atones for our sin and grants us eternal life if we believe. He does it all. The great exchange-- our sins for his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
If we believe, we have the right to be called children of God (John 1:12). But what is belief? Is it knowing the gospel? I would say that is not enough as even the demons know the gospel and they are doomed to eternal torment (James 2:19).
If we really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives will be changed (2 Corinthians 5:17). This change is reflected in our behavior as we are obedient to God's commands. So James, the Lord's brother, says faith without works is dead. Works are behaviors spurred on by our desire to be obedient to God. Works do not save us. They have nothing to do with our salvation. However, they are evident in all who believe. If we say we believe but are not fruitful in our lives, we have no reason to be assured of our salvation. In Mathew chapter 25 the Lord tells three stories that are particularly convicting. The parable of the ten virgins demonstrates the need for watchful readiness for the Lord's coming. The five virgins that knew the bridegroom was coming but weren't prepared are left out of the wedding banquet. The parable of the talents shows we will be held accountable to produce fruit dependent on the gifts we are given. Fear is not an excuse for lack of fruit. Lastly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Lord separates people based on their behavior. Convicting and compelling words that we should take obedience to the commands of God very seriously.
So, we are saved by faith and works develop out of that faith and bring us assurance that we are Christ's. Faith without works is not a real faith.
Even though our works have nothing to do with our salvation, the Bible says our degree of reward in heaven will depend on our fruitfulness on earth relative to the gifts God has given us. Speaking to believers, Paul says we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.(2 Corintians 5:10). In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Paul talks about our works being tested with fire with resulting reward or loss depending on that testing. Now heaven will be awesome for all who believe, but Jesus was, I think, speaking literally when he said store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth (Mark 10:21).
The above is a reminder to me that if I truly believe I will be obedient to God. Disobedience can only come from unbelief. For who could stare at our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and disobey? Who could believe: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13) and not fall on their knees in submission?
O Lord, have mercy on me.
If we believe, we have the right to be called children of God (John 1:12). But what is belief? Is it knowing the gospel? I would say that is not enough as even the demons know the gospel and they are doomed to eternal torment (James 2:19).
If we really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives will be changed (2 Corinthians 5:17). This change is reflected in our behavior as we are obedient to God's commands. So James, the Lord's brother, says faith without works is dead. Works are behaviors spurred on by our desire to be obedient to God. Works do not save us. They have nothing to do with our salvation. However, they are evident in all who believe. If we say we believe but are not fruitful in our lives, we have no reason to be assured of our salvation. In Mathew chapter 25 the Lord tells three stories that are particularly convicting. The parable of the ten virgins demonstrates the need for watchful readiness for the Lord's coming. The five virgins that knew the bridegroom was coming but weren't prepared are left out of the wedding banquet. The parable of the talents shows we will be held accountable to produce fruit dependent on the gifts we are given. Fear is not an excuse for lack of fruit. Lastly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, the Lord separates people based on their behavior. Convicting and compelling words that we should take obedience to the commands of God very seriously.
So, we are saved by faith and works develop out of that faith and bring us assurance that we are Christ's. Faith without works is not a real faith.
Even though our works have nothing to do with our salvation, the Bible says our degree of reward in heaven will depend on our fruitfulness on earth relative to the gifts God has given us. Speaking to believers, Paul says we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.(2 Corintians 5:10). In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Paul talks about our works being tested with fire with resulting reward or loss depending on that testing. Now heaven will be awesome for all who believe, but Jesus was, I think, speaking literally when he said store up treasure in heaven rather than on earth (Mark 10:21).
The above is a reminder to me that if I truly believe I will be obedient to God. Disobedience can only come from unbelief. For who could stare at our God, the consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and disobey? Who could believe: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13) and not fall on their knees in submission?
O Lord, have mercy on me.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Risk
Faith is God inspired risk taking. God expects us to obey his commands, some of which are either risky or don't make sense from a worldly standpoint. He says: seek first the kingdom of God (put the kingdom before self-Matthew 6:33); lose your life for his sake (Luke 9:24); deny yourself (Luke 9:23); give money/talents/time to the church and the less fortunate (2 Corinthians 9:7); and turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) when people persecute you. We may risk our reputations, our friendships, our material wealth, possibly our health and even our lives. If someone truly believes in Jesus as his Lord, that person will be obedient. Even though he struggles with living out the application...dying to self....the long-- slow-- death-- of self. The struggle to mold the will to make it conform to God's will for us and the sacrifice that follows an obedient decision leads to perseverence and perseverence to character and character to hope (Romans 5:3-4). Courage is doing what is "right" despite fear. The Christian is courageous in his faith. As God said to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous." (Joshua 1). Faith produces God inspired risk taking.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Proof.
Why hasn't God demonstrated his existence in "terms" which are incontrovertible?
God could present himself on the earth or in the heavens in all his glory for all to see and speak to us making his existence unquestionable. Carl Sagan (an atheist) asked why God does not just put a huge cross in the sky if he is real. Why doesn't he? It wouldn't be difficult for him. He created the heavens and the earth. Why does God not make himself obvious?
Love. Love is the answer. God is love (1 John 4:16). Love cannot be coerced. It cannot be forced. The only way for people to love God is if they have the opportunity to not love God. When I first met my wife, if I pointed a gun at her and said you will love me at this moment or I will shoot, she would have been unable to love me even to save herself. We cannot truly love God unless we have the opportunity to reject him. God loves us and wants us to love him. This has to be our choice by definition. In order for it to be our choice, God could not present the evidence for himself in incontrovertable terms.
Having said that, God has revealed himself to all people in atleast amounts that are enough to result in belief in him. Man has no excuse for rejecting him for the heavens declare the glory of God (Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1).
God could present himself on the earth or in the heavens in all his glory for all to see and speak to us making his existence unquestionable. Carl Sagan (an atheist) asked why God does not just put a huge cross in the sky if he is real. Why doesn't he? It wouldn't be difficult for him. He created the heavens and the earth. Why does God not make himself obvious?
Love. Love is the answer. God is love (1 John 4:16). Love cannot be coerced. It cannot be forced. The only way for people to love God is if they have the opportunity to not love God. When I first met my wife, if I pointed a gun at her and said you will love me at this moment or I will shoot, she would have been unable to love me even to save herself. We cannot truly love God unless we have the opportunity to reject him. God loves us and wants us to love him. This has to be our choice by definition. In order for it to be our choice, God could not present the evidence for himself in incontrovertable terms.
Having said that, God has revealed himself to all people in atleast amounts that are enough to result in belief in him. Man has no excuse for rejecting him for the heavens declare the glory of God (Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1).
Thursday, October 25, 2007
To Believe...
John Piper has an interesting comment on what it means to believe in Jesus Christ on his website (see here). Essentially, he notes that even Satan believes that God is real and that Jesus is the Son of God (James 2:19). To be a Christian implies that we cherish, value, love and honor Jesus, and that we long to spend time with him. Satan hates Christ. But what is in between these two opposing perspectives is the ambivalent person...the person who knows about Jesus but neither loves nor hates him. We cannot love, cherish, value and honor someone we do not spend time with, and we can only spend time with God through prayer, worship and in the reading of his word. O Lord help me to make the time to be with you, to not get caught up in the busyness of this world, to honor, glorify and love you.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Faith
What is faith and what does it mean to believe in God? There is a difference between knowing about Jesus and believing in Jesus. If I stand on the side of a cliff looking out over a deep gorge and I see a wood slat and rope bridge traversing that chasm, I know the bridge is there. My eyes can see it. Faith in the structural integrity of that bridge and it's ability to carry me to the other side of the gorge is only manifested as I walk across to the other side. There is no proof that the bridge will hold up under my weight. I must believe in my assessment of the sturdiness that is apparent to my mind through my vision or in the ability of those who constructed the bridge. Faith in God is like faith in the bridge. Knowing God is there is not enough by God's own definition. We are called to step out and put our weight on the words and promises of God. We are called to live our lives as God called us to because we believe in the structural integrity of his word. So, it is the man who walks across the bridge and the man who lives his life like he believes God's word is true that truly has faith. Which am I and which are you?
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