Conduct in the house of God

…I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15

This verse instructs and encourages me in the following ways:

It matters how we “conduct ourselves in the house of God.”  That’s right, there is conduct that is appropriate and acceptable and there is conduct which is not.  When we gather with God’s people for public worship we are not free to come any old way we choose.  This brief meditation disallows an in-depth explanation of everything that is acceptable and everything that is not.  Suffice it to say, we are all responsible to seek the Lord, not by searching our hearts (they are so often misleading, if not downright wrong), but by searching the Word of God.  Look at what God’s Word has to say about reverent fear, humble prayer, exuberant singing, esteeming others above ourselves, diligently searching the scriptures (attentiveness during preaching), and discerning the body of Christ while receiving the Lord’s Supper.  Let us conduct ourselves as those whose desire is not to please ourselves, but God and His people.

The house of God is the Church, and the Church is not the building but the people.  Though God is always everywhere at all times, He chooses to manifest His presence in His Church—particularly as we are gathered for public worship.  Let us esteem and love God’s preferred dwelling place as much as He does.  He never misses.  Dare we adopt casual attitudes about making the most of every effort to be in the house of God?

While no church is perfect, the Church of God that faithfully preaches the Word of God is “the pillar and ground of the truth.”  In a world of falsehood, the Church is to be a haven where we may find rest in God’s truth. 

Always both, and always in that order

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

The order is always the same—at least in Christianity.  Grace, followed by works.  Paul writes to the Thessalonians of God’s loving grace, by which we receive everlasting consolation, by which our hearts are comforted and established.  Sounds a whole lot like salvation, doesn’t it?

And the purpose of this grace?  To establish those who receive grace in every good word and work.

First grace.  Then good words and works.  Always in that order, and neither without the other.

Learn this eternal lesson from Adam and Eve in the Garden.  Did they need to do anything to be right with God?  Nothing at all.  They were in perfect love, peace, and relationship with God.  What did they do to merit that standing?  Nothing.  God created them in that relationship.  Yet they were given work to do.  Tend the garden.  To gain God’s love?  Not at all.  They already had it.  They were given work to please God and to keep from being idle.

What do those who have been recreated in Christ Jesus (saved by grace) need to do to earn God’s love and favor?  Nothing at all.  They have it all, perfectly, completely, and eternally in Jesus.  So why are Christians to be careful to maintain good works?  To please Him who loves us, and to keep from being idle.

Grace, then works.  Always both, and always in that order. 

Why did Jesus say, I MUST die and rise again?

“The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
Luke 24:7 

When the women came to Jesus’ tomb early Sunday morning, intending to anoint His body, Jesus was not there!  Instead, two angels asked them why they were seeking the living among the dead.  The angels seemed surprised that the women would think Jesus was still dead. After all, didn’t they remember Jesus’ own words foretelling of His death and resurrection on the third day?

Think about the word “must.”  The angels quoted Jesus as saying that He “must” die and then rise the third day.  Must?  Why “must” it be so?

First, it was the sovereign will of God the Father, agreed upon by all three Members of the Trinity, and determined from eternity past.  Therefore it had to happen.

Second, Jesus’ passion was to glorify the Father by obeying His will perfectly.  Since it was the Father’s will, Jesus had to do it—and He did do it for the Father’s glory.

Third, it was the only way for sin to be forgiven, death to be overcome, and Hell to be conquered.  Therefore, since that was Jesus’ mission, it had to happen. Some may wonder why He had to rise, since He paid the penalty for our sins by dying.  That is a legitimate question that has a simple answer.  Had Jesus not risen from the dead, He would not have conquered death to provide eternal life for those He came to save.  Jesus had to die and He had to rise!

Fourth, since Jesus died, He had to rise, since being none other than the living God, death could not hold Him.  Therefore it had to happen.

Jesus said it would happen and God’s Word is certain.  Therefore, Jesus died and rose—according to the Word of God.

This Easter, let us rejoice in what the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit planned, agreed upon, and determined to do.  Let us rejoice in the Son’s determination to do the Father’s will.  Let us rejoice in Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and Hell for those He came to save.  Let us rejoice that death could not hold our Savior.  Let us rejoice in the certainty of the Word of God.

And while we are at it, let us live trusting in the sovereign will of God, determining that we too will live to do God’s will.  Let us live in the victory Jesus secured for His people. Let us live as children of the living God, and let us trust God’s Word in every detail.

I do not want to be a Grinch (Pt.2)

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:2

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Revelation 22:18-19

 I pray that my arguments regarding images of Jesus in the previous post make sense and are convincing.  But what about TV and movies depict biblical events?  If there are no images of Jesus, what could possibly be dangerous about portrayals of other biblical characters and events?

First, this is not necessarily as dangerous as images of Jesus, but we need to be careful nonetheless. Why?

The first and greatest danger associated with TV and movie depictions of biblical characters and events is that these productions do not merely “take artistic liberty” (as some admit to in the opening credits).  They routinely almost always leave out essential elements and emphasize their “artistic liberties,” inserting as major points characters and events that are nowhere to be found in the Bible.  What is the serious danger of doing these?  Here is the main point: Unless the viewer knows his Bible very well, said viewer is likely to believe “the Bible says” what the Bible does not say!  I trust you can plainly see that this perverts the scripture because it blurs (or obliterates) the line between fact and fiction.

A personal experience: When Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” first came out (2004), I did not want to see it.  I succumbed to adult peer pressure and attended with a group from our church.  (This was before my convictions were cemented against images of Christ.)  There was one scene in that film that dramatically impacted me more than any other.  That scene is not in the Bible and it is virtually impossible that it ever happened.  Because of my biblical and theological education, not to mention having been in full time pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years at the time, I believe I knew the Bible better than most.  If that unbiblical scene was as impacting to me, how might it have affected someone who did not know it was unbiblical—and believe it was?

You might be aware of a series currently on Prime Video about the biblical king David.  I decided to preview it because I figured some in our church would watch it.  As is typical, the “artistic liberties” were rampantly prominent.  One episode (the last I watched), was virtually all extra-biblical—emphasizing entire characters and sub-plots that are nowhere even hinted at in the Bible.  How many people, including believers who do not know their Bibles, are left assuming that “the Bible says” what the Bible does not say?  

Brothers and sisters, adding to or taking away from what the Bible says is disobedience to God’s clear declaration in His Word is sinful!  We are incredibly better off reading our Bible, and not watching fictional (unbiblical) TV and movies that misrepresent the Bible, and mislead even Christians.

What about this movie or that TV series?  Unless you know your Bible very well—read what the Bible says enough times before viewing these scripture-twisting dramas to know what is biblical and what is not—my advice is: boycott biblical dramas.  If you do know the Bible well enough, why would you want to watch these dramas?  Would you knowingly read a translation of the Bible done by a known cult?

May we be those who Peter describes in 1 Peter 2:1-3:

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk [of the Word], that by it you may grow up into salvation--if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

I do not want to be a Grinch (Pt.1)

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth…
Exodus 20:4

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9

I do not want to be a Grinch, robbing you of some good thing you have come to enjoy immensely!

Nor do I want to impose my personal convictions on you.

However, in addition to the shepherd’s job of encouraging the sheep, responsible shepherds are also tasked with warning the sheep of wolves—especially those dressed in sheep’s clothing.

What specific danger am I warning about?  TV and movies depicting Bible events, especially those depicting Jesus.

Are you still reading?  Good, because I can imagine some may have already tuned out!  Please don’t.  This matter is more important that just about any of us realizes.

I want to present at least reasons these are dangerous.

The Foremost Reason.  Images of Jesus must be avoided at all costs, because of God’s prohibition in the Second of the Ten Commandments.  We are not to create images of God.  Period.  Why?  (a) Because God says not to—in the Ten commandments.  (b) Because many (granted, not all) of us are prone to associate such images with God in our minds.  This is a degradation of God because every man-made image of God is infinitely beneath God.

Since the fullness of God dwelt bodily in Jesus (Colossian 2:9)… and since Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15)… And since Jesus told the disciples “if you have seen Me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9)—dare we make an image of the one and only true image of God found in Jesus?

I know the opposing arguments.  I used to espouse them.

Argument number one: “Our images of Jesus are not of His deity, but of His humanity.”  That argument opposes an essential article of orthodoxy[1], namely that the divine and human natures of Jesus are united in the Person of Jesus the Son.  The two are distinct, but never separated!  This argument allowing for images of Jesus’ humanity but not His deity, dissects the God-Man, Jesus.  This is a serious error.

Argument number two: “It is okay to have and look at the image so long as we do not worship the image.”  Really?  When God forbids idols, He does not endorse having and looking at them so long as we do not worship them.  He demands that we do away with images.  Pagans worship images.  God’s law not only forbids worshiping idol,s He forbids worshiping Him using idols as the pagans do[2].  God is to be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth, not with images (whether two or three dimensional!).

One last though for today:  Once we associate an image (or an actor) with Jesus, in our mind’s eye do we not think of Jesus when we see the image (or the actor)?  And do some (granted, not all) not think of the image when thinking of God?

Bonus Video:  Check out this less than 2 minute video:  Click Here

Next Time: The next big reason depictions of Bible events are so dreadfully dangerous.

Notes:
[1]  Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)  [Jesus is] “acknowledged in Two Natures unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the difference of the Natures being in no way removed because of the Union, but rather the properties of each Nature being preserved, and (both) concurring into One Person and One Hypostasis; not as though He was parted or divided into Two Persons, but One and the Self-same Son and Only-begotten God, Word, Lord, Jesus Christ.”
[2] Remember the Israelites claimed they were worshiping Jehovah using the Golden Calf!

Thinking about Good Friday, a week from today

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.  But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. 
Psalm 66:18-19

No one has ever enjoyed more perfect communion with our Father in Heaven than Jesus, His only begotten Son.  Because Jesus is sinless, there has never been any restriction or impediment in conversing with the Father.

Except once.

When Jesus hung on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, He was “made sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  When that event occurred, sin got in the way of Jesus’ prayers.  Our sin.  Jesus cried, “Why have You forsaken Me?” because when He bore our sin, He prayed and was not heard.

We, whose prayers are halted and stammering at best, because of our sin, are now able to come boldly into the presence of the Almighty (Eph. 3:12, Heb. 10:19).  Why?  Because Jesus voluntarily was cut off that we may be brought near.

As you pray, remember that while your sins used to mute your prayers, you are now heard, because Jesus was not.

While this is but one of the many aspects of what our Savior endured to purchase one of many elements of our great salvation, it is precious indeed. 

Footnote: This does not relieve us from the necessity of confessing our sins (1 John 1:8-9).

Never out of His sight

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ
Colossians 3:22-24

One of the hardest places for us to live out our faith is at work (or as students in school, or as homemakers at home).  We work hard and sometimes receive no recognition or no raises. Promotions go (unfairly at times) to the other person.  It is easy to become disgruntled.  Paul reminds us to obey our bosses anyway.  To do our best in everything we do, not to be seen by men, but because God is always watching.  We are reminded that ultimately, we work for Him and He is the One who will reward us for our diligence and faithfulness, even if the rewards of men never come our way. 

This is not always easy to put into practice, so let us prayerfully go to work or school tomorrow, doing what we do as an act of worship for God’s glory.

Be encouraged child of God.  Your ever-loving Heavenly Father sees.

Our only hope is in the LORD

Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless.  Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
Psalm 60:11-12

Our nation is in trouble.  Big trouble.  Sadly, many, including a large number of professing Christians, really seem to believe that the answer will come from the government.  Sure.  Listen: The answer is not in who lives in the White House or who occupies the houses of Congress.  The answer is in our houses.  Here are two reasons why:

One, because if we are not ordering our houses according to God’s Word (how many of us repeatedly admit that we are “not in the Word like we should be”?), how can we be surprised when all of our houses combined make up a nation that is so sinful in the eyes of a perfectly holy and righteous God?

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

Two, because the only solution to sin (yes, indebtedness, not to mention abortion, are sins) comes from God.  Dear ones, let us look to God.  Let us humble ourselves before God, confessing our individual, family, and national sins.  Let us abandon all hope in man, including ourselves or government, and cry out to God for mercy.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Acts 17:30 …God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

"Considering ourselves"

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 
Galatians 6:1 

This is addressed to “brethren,” meaning, Christians.  Christians are told that if we are aware that a brother or sister is overtaken in any trespass, we who are spiritual are to restore that person.  Note the words “any trespass.”  We tend to assign a hierarchy to sins.  We don’t find it too difficult to graciously forgive and restore people who have sinned in some ways, but we tend to be much more stingy with forgiveness and restoration if someone crosses a line we have drawn to separate acceptable from unacceptable sins.  The Bible is not advocating that we be soft on sin; but we have no right to be hard on sinners.  We are commanded to humbly forgive and restore each other no matter what another’s sin is, helping repentant sinners in the process of restoration.

We are to do this gently, humbly, with no airs of spiritual superiority, “considering ourselves.”  That means we are to remember that we are capable of the same, or even “worse” sins.  It also means taking care that we do not succumb to the temptation to look down on a brother or sister who has fallen.

We need to follow this path of grace toward one another for at least two reasons.  (1) God has forgiven us of much.  (2) Next time it might be you who falls and needs grace from others. 

Are we to “wrestle with sin,” or “rest in God’s grace”?

For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
Psalm 38:4

For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.
Psalm 38:15 

Are we to “wrestle with sin,” or “rest in God’s grace”?  Yes to both.  But that isn’t easy.  There is a tension between these two positions.

Wrestling with sin is evidence that one is saved, since the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin.  Conviction needs to lead us to confession and repentance, which (for the child of God) always results in forgiveness and cleansing.

When we have taken our sins to God for forgiveness, since He never withholds forgiveness from His children, we need to rest in His grace.  We must refuse to live in condemnation over what God has forgiven and taken away.

We all tend to be repeat offenders in areas of our own particular weaknesses.  When we commit a sin again, even after having been previously forgiven, we are convicted again.  That new conviction over an old and often repeated sin amps up the “wrestling with sin” aspect of the tension.  And it should.

But when we confess our sin, again, maybe for the umpteenth time, God forgives us.  Again.  And when He does, there is “therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)

This is why the healthy Christian life is one of constant tension between wrestling with sin and resting in God’s grace.  Do both.  All the time.

God is omnipotent, gracious, and loving

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

God has all power, by His grace, toward His people.  What a comfort to be reminded that there isn’t anything God cannot do because of a lack of power or ability (Matthew 19:26)!  And that power is graciously directed to, for, and through His people (those who trust in, and follow Jesus Christ).  Thank You God for Your power, the power of the gospel, graciously given to your people!

We therefore have all sufficiency in Him.  This has nothing to do with any sufficiency in us (2 Corinthians 4:7).  It is His sufficiency.  We are partakers of, and channels through which His sufficiency flows.  Thank You Lord for looking upon us in our weakness, and being pleased to fill us with Your strength in Christ!

For the purpose of accomplishing every good work.  God saves us, fills us, and uses us, not so that we can live for ourselves, but that we may perform the good works He has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).  Thank You Lord, for not merely saving us from sin and from the consequences of our bad works, but for saving us for the purpose of performing good works of righteousness for Your exceedingly abundant and eternal glory! 

We're all simple clay pots

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:7

Earthen vessels, or simple clay pots, are nothing special.  But what if something priceless is put into one?  According to Paul’s logic, the pot is still a clay pot—nothing special.  In fact the contrast between the simple clay pot and the costly contents draws our attention to ask the question, “Why would anyone put something so costly into an earthen vessel?”  Paul’s answer is so that the contents would not be confused with the container.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is more precious, more valuable, more costly than anything.  Yet God has been pleased to pour the gospel, Christ, and His Spirit into us—the simplest earthen vessels imaginable.  Why?  So that no one would ever confuse the contents with the container; the message with the messenger; Christ and the gospel with He has been pleased to save.

Let us therefore be careful not to think of ourselves as anything special because Christ saved us.  Remember, He came to seek and to save that which was lost; not for the healthy, but the sick, not the righteous, but the unrighteous.

Let us also be aware not to elevate our favorite teachers, preachers, or Christian leaders as though they are to be unduly admired.  They too are merely earthen vessels—vessels that contain, and through which that which is priceless flows.  “…that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

God's grace ahead of my troubles

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity…
Psalm 32:1-2 

Some have more. Some have less.  But everyone has problems.

Some problems are bigger.  Some problems are smaller.  But everyone has problems.

The great equalizer for those who are born of the Spirit and who trust in Christ for salvation, is that our transgressions are forgiven.  Our sins are forgiven.  Instead of iniquity, God has imputed the righteousness of Christ to our spiritual accounts.

Compared with that incredibly good news, our problems—regardless of their frequency or size—are manageable.  Our problems are still problems.  Pain still hurts.  Fear is still fearful.  But when we understand something of God’s amazing grace and the immeasurable gift of forgiveness and imputed righteousness, we can handle anything.  Problems, after all, are temporary.  Forgiveness and salvation are eternal.

Let us meditate more on God and on His grace, than on our problems.  It will not make all our problems disappear, but it will give us victory in spite of them. 

Worship by giving

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:  2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.  3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.  4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.” 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

The primary reason to give is not to support the Church or the ministry of our ministers. Giving is primarily an act of worship.  If God’s people are faithful to worship God through giving, we can be assured that He will support His Church, His ministries, and His ministers. That is not to say that giving has no bearing on how God supports ministries and ministers. It does, but we give as an act of worship, and God uses what we give to support ministries and ministers.

Here are five ways to worship through giving:

1.   We are to worship by giving obediently.  “I have given orders… so you must do.” (v.1)

2.   We are to worship by giving regularly. “On the first day of the week” (v.1) indicates regularity, whether one gives weekly or bi-weekly monthly.

3.   We are to worship by giving proportionately. “as he may prosper…” (v.2)  The percentage prescribed in the Bible is a tithe, or 10% (Malachi 3:7-12).

4.   We are to worship by giving thoughtfully (v.2) rather than based on emotional or guilt-inducing appeals.  Let us thoughtfully determine what God would have us give.

5.   We are to worship by giving responsibly (v.3).  We are to entrust the money we give into responsible hands.

In all of these, let us give as an act of worship! 

A reason to rejoice!

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 
1 Corinthians 6:11

The good news is that no matter where we came from, or what our lives were like when Jesus saved us, He has cleansed us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Backing up the page a couple of verses to 1 Cor. 6:9 & 10, Paul instructs us that our sin, no matter what sort, rendered us unfit for Heaven.  While some may look at the list and insist they were never one of those sinners, if we understand that sin begins in the heart—even if we do not act on our desires—we were all guilty.

Once again, the good news is that no matter where we came from or what manner of sin we struggled with, when we are in Christ we are cleansed.  We have been and are being sanctified, meaning that the Holy Spirit is continually cleansing us and growing us in holiness. Why? Because through faith alone in Christ alone we have been justified, meaning, declared righteous by God.

That, friend, is reason to rejoice and to walk in the holiness in which we stand!

Bonus question: Which sin listed in vv.9-10 do some people insist is not sin?  How can they do this in light of the clear teaching of scripture? 

God can be trusted

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call. 
Psalm 20:7-9

The one thing God wants from us more than anything is that we trust Him. Trusting Him shouldn’t be hard.  It ought to be a “no-brainer.”  After all, He is the Sovereign God of the universe who knows all things, has the power to do as He pleases—and He loves us.  We, on the other hand, are finite, fallible folk. 

Why wouldn’t we trust Him?  Because we are naturally (due to sin) stubborn and self-centered, preferring to trust in ourselves or in just about anything but Him. 

This is why God continuously reveals Himself in His Word. (There is no new revelation beyond His Word, since everything He has to say He has said in Christ and recorded for us in His Word, the Bible.)  What is the crux of His revelation?  (1) That He is God: holy, just, and good.  (2) That we are not; being finite creatures who are tainted with sin and rebellion, and therefore deserving of His righteous wrath.  (3) That Jesus is God’s one and only means by which we must be forgiven, and that we receive the benefits of the forgiveness Jesus secured on the cross—through faith in Him.  Faith.  Nothing else, just faith, which is trusting in Him—alone.

Of course if we truly trust Him, we love Him for who He is and for what He has done, especially in saving us.  If we trust in Him we will obey Him, not to get anything from Him—He has already given us everything in Christ.  We obey Him in faith, motivated by loving gratitude.

So do not put your trust in anything else—neither in chariots nor horses (symbolic of man’s strength found in weapons of war).  Instead, remember Him, and that He can be trusted.  While those who trust anything else will be crushed, we will stand in the Day of Judgment.  He will hear the cry of all who call out to Him for salvation.

Slaves of righteousness

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:17-18 

The Bible clearly teaches that those who have not been saved [redeemed, converted, born again, become followers of Christ] are slaves of sin.  That doesn’t mean that the unsaved are as sinful as they can possibly be.  Thank God for that.  They still have the freedom to choose to what degree they will sin.  The truth be told, however, when they are less sinful, it is because of the restraining grace of God.  Being a slave to sin means one cannot stop sinning altogether.

When we are saved, the bondage to sin is broken by God in Christ.  We still sin, but we are no longer slaves to sin, but we willingly obey an evil master (sin) who, because of Christ, no longer has jurisdiction over us.  Instead of being slaves to sin, God saves us to become slaves of righteousness. When we were slaves of sin, we had the liberty regarding the degree to which we sinned.  As slaves of righteousness, we have responsibility to choose how devotedly we obey our new master: Christ and righteousness.

Why do we who are Christians still wrestle with sin as we do?  Because we are used to sinning.  Because temptation still abounds.  Because at times, temptation deceives us into thinking, and then acting, as though disobedience will be more rewarding than obedience.  It never is.

How do we gain victory over these lingering patterns of sin? (1) Remind ourselves over and over again, and then believe what God’s Word says about no longer being slaves to sin, but to righteousness.  (2) Allow what we believe to dictate what we do.  (3) When we are aware that we have sinned, confess and repent immediately.  (4) Trust in God’s grace based on Christ’ performance—not on our works based on our performance.  (5) Praise God for grace!

The #1 reason to praise the Lord!

“I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.”
Psalm 9:1-2 

This wonderful Psalm encourages me once again that praise is based on who God is and on His marvelous works, not on my circumstances, whether they be good or bad. 

While the psalm opens with two verses of unrestricted praise to God, the bulk of the rest of the psalm is about trials.  David speaks of enemies (v.3), oppression (v.9), those who sought to entrap him (v.15), wickedness (v.17), and the poor and needy (v.18).  Clearly the psalm is seasoned with undesirable circumstances—yet David praises God throughout, trusting that He is in control and He will avenge.

What is the take-away from this?  Praise God because of who He is and because of His marvelous works, irrespective of whether you are on top of the world, or the weight of the world is crushing you.  Remember, if you are in Christ, your sins are forgiven!  

On receiving Christ when it is "convenient"

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
Acts 24:25

 Paul stood for trial before the Roman Governor of Judea, Felix.  As always, Paul seized even his trial as an opportunity to proclaim Christ.  The result in Felix’s heart was fear, followed by postponement.  The gospel troubled him, but because he was not willing to bend the knee to Christ. He said he would deal with it later—later when it is convenient.  We all know what usually happens to later: it never arrives.  And as for convenience, when is it convenient to renounce self to follow Jesus?  Never.

What happened to Felix’s later at a more convenient time?  Paul was all but forgotten in prison for two years!

When Felix was on his way out, and Festus was on his way in, Paul’s unsettled case came up again.  Festus, along with Agrippa and Agrippa’s wife, Bernice, ended up hearing Paul’s case and once again Paul proclaimed the gospel.

What happened to Felix?  He is referred to in Acts 25:14, but he had already departed, and we can assume that he never again considered the gospel—at least not in a way that resulted in salvation.

Be encouraged, Christian.  As you share Christ, even though some may be convicted, not all will surrender.  Do not be discouraged when people’s response is, “later when it is more convenient.”  Whenever the next opportunity arrives, be like Paul: proclaim Christ again, to whomever will listen.

Let us be Bereans, not Thessalonians

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11

Paul and company, fresh from a quick stop in Thessalonica—where they met with passionate resistance to the preaching of the gospel—left hurriedly, traveling fifty miles to the southwest to Berea.  The Bereans were comparatively (and dramatically) more receptive to the preaching of the gospel than were the Thessalonians.

Why?

Spiritually, we must recognize that in the providence of God, some are simply more perceptive because God graciously opens blind eyes and softens hard hearts.  God gave them “fairer minds” and more receptivity.  Let us therefore pray for our unsaved family and friends that God would do a similar work in their lives.  Let us also pray for ourselves, that we would not harbor defensive attitudes to the Word of God when we read it or hear it preached.

God’s work in the Bereans made a difference.  They “searched the scriptures” to see if what Paul preached was in line with the Bible (they only had the Old Testament).  Let us learn to test all things by the Word of God (like the Bereans) instead of succumbing to emotional responses (like the Thessalonians).

Then let us resolve not merely to be hearers of God’s Word, but doers of it as well (James 1:22-25).

Lord, forgive any resistance to Your Word in our lives.  Grant us grace to be eager to hear what You have to say, and may Your Spirit grant us grace not only to hear, but also to do.