Both Heaven and Hell are for God's glory

We began in April considering how the entire Bible is about Jesus.  We began with creation, and last time wrote about eternity after Jesus’ Second Coming.  Let’s pause this time to ask and answer the question, “WHY?”

Throughout this journey through the Bible, seeing Jesus at every turn, we have mentioned numerous times that God’s plan throughout it all is to create a people for Himself.  But what is the point of the story and plan?

The point of the story and plan is to glorify God.  There are two attributes of God that are most fully put on display because of this story and plan.  These two attributes are:  (1) God’s justice/wrath and (2) God’s love/mercy/grace.   The end goal of all things is that God puts these two seemingly opposite attributes on display—for His eternal glory. 

Romans 9:22-23  What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,  23  and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory…

How is God’s justice and wrath displayed?  God’s justice cannot be displayed unless there is an opportunity for someone or something to defy Him.  God allows sin (defiance of Him) so that He can put His justice on display by judging sin and sinners.

How is God’s love/mercy/grace displayed?  God’s grace is on display, first, merely by virtue of creation.  He didn’t owe anyone life, but He gave us life anyway.  That is grace.  But to really showcase God’s grace, God graciously saves sinners who cannot do anything to save themselves. 

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  9  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

To put His grace on display, God forgives some of those who defy Him.  And He does that through the death of His Son, who became a man so that He could live and die to save His people from their sins.  Jesus took our sin and the penalty we deserve so that we can have His righteousness and the reward of righteousness that He alone deserves.  God displays His grace not by saving good people, but by saving sinners.  Some of those He graciously saves are the worst of sinners.

Ephesians 2:4-7  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  7  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

The point of the whole story is God’s glory.

• God will be glorified by His justice and wrath poured out on sinners who persist in their rebellion against Him—who finally and ultimately reject God’s only remedy for sin:  Jesus Christ.

• God will be glorified by His Love/Mercy/Grace poured out on sinners who are no less deserving of God’s wrath than any others, but those who God graciously chooses to save.

Every one of us will glorify God—either as an object of wrath or as an object of mercy. 

What about you?  Will you glorify Him as an object of His justice and wrath, or as an object of His kindness, love, and grace?

After the Second Coming: Eternity

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1 

After Jesus’ Second Coming and judgment, Revelation 21:1 tells us that Christ will establish a New Heaven and a New Earth…

To learn about that place, read Revelation 21-22, regularly and often.  If you are a believer, that is your eternal home.  If you aren’t interested—you should be, since this life is temporary and eternity is—well, eternal!

We should be looking forward to, excited about, and anticipating Heaven.  Read the following and think more about Heaven: 

Revelation 21:2-8  Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.  4  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  5  Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  6  And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.  7  He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.  8  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

That is the “end of the story,” and the beginning of eternity. 

What is “the story” about?  It is about God’s plan to create a people for Himself.  But what is the point of the story and plan? Tune in next time!

Jesus is coming again! (2)

Last time we began a list of eight truths about Jesus’ Second Coming.  We listed the first seven, saving number eight for this post.  Here it is:

8.   The Lord Jesus, at His Second Coming will Judge…   

Who will He judge? According to Jesus in Matthew 25:31-33, He will judge not just individuals, but the nations!

Matthew 25:31-33  "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  32  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  33  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

He will also judge individuals who are lost. 

Revelation 20:11-15  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.  12  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.  13  The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.  14  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  15  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

And, He will judge His people!  Wait! Didn’t Jesus take our condemnation!  Yes, He did!

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

But the redeemed will be judged by the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:4  For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

(1)  What is the nature of the Lord’s judgment of the redeemed? The judgment of the saved is not about Heaven or Hell.  That was settled by Christ, at the cross. Rather it will be about eternal rewards, or the lack thereof.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  13  each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.  14  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  15  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

(2)  What will the judgment of believers be based on? Believers’ judgment will be based on faithfulness to Christ (not success as the world counts success!).

1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

(3)  What will these rewards be?  We cannot say for sure what those rewards are, but Revelation 4:4 speaks about believers having crowns on their heads—most believe these crowns represent rewards in Heaven.  Revelation 4:10 speaks of believers “casing their crowns before the throne on which Jesus is seated.” The conclusion is that once believers see the Lord, they will be so aware that He is the only One who is worthy of reward. As an act of worship, they will spontaneously cast their crowns at His feet declaring, “What is this crown doing on my head?”

All that is to say that the more faithful we are here and now, the more fully we will worship the Lord in Heaven forever. 

If anyone thinks, “Big deal, I don’t care much for worship anyway,”  (a) Worshiping God is what we were created for.  (b) Heaven is about worship.

Jesus is coming again! (1)

We have considered what Jesus did when He came the first time and what He did after He ascended into Heaven.  But Jesus is not done.  He is coming again!

The Second Coming is an essential doctrine of the faith.  All believers are not in perfect agreement regarding all of the details of the Second Coming, but all true believers must believe in the Second Coming of Jesus.

The Second Coming is not only essential, it is our blessed hope of future glory.

Titus 2:11-13  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,  12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”

Let us learn eight truths about the Second Coming:

1.   The Lord went away (bodily ascension into Heaven)

Acts 1:9-11  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

2.   The Lord will come back.

Acts 1:11b  This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

3.   The Lord will be gone a long time.  It has been a long time and we do not know how much longer—but He will come again!

Matthew 25:13 & 19  "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming… 19  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

4.   We do not know when the Lord will return.

Mark 13:32  "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

5.   The Lord’s people are to do business (grow in grace and evangelize the world) until He comes.

Luke 19:13  So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'

6.   The Lord’s people will suffer before He returns.

2 Timothy 3:12  Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

7.   There will be a great apostasy (falling away) before He returns.

2 Thessalonians 2:3  Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [second coming] will not come unless the falling away [apostasy] comes first…

The eighth is His judgment when He returns—next time…

God's one plan for His one people

We have been considering (with a few brief interruptions) that the entire Bible is about Jesus (John 5:39-40).  As a sub-category of that premise, we devoted several posts to Christ’s establishment of His Church.  In this post I want to write about another key element about the establishment of Christ’s Church, namely, the blending of Jew and Gentile as one people of God.  A very common mistake in reading the Bible is to conclude that God had a plan for Israel, but that since Israel failed (not only to keep the law, but to receive their Messiah), that God instituted a second, separate plan for Gentiles.  This is a mistake.

God has one plan.

Revelation 5:9  And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation…

Revelation 13:7  It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Revelation 14:6  Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people--

The conclusion:  God has one people, made up of sinful people who He graciously saves from every nationality.  That plan was fulfilled when Jesus Christ saved His sinful people by becoming a man so that He could live for them, die for them, and rise for them.

God gave the Jews the Law, but the Jews could never be saved by keeping the law.  No one can, regardless of nationality.  No one can be saved by keeping the Law since it is impossible for any sinner to keep the Law. 

Romans 3:20-24 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all [Jew and Gentile alike] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

The Law was never intended to be a means of salvation, based on obedience.  Rather, the Law points out our sinful state that cannot be reversed by our attempts to obey.  Once a person is sufficiently convinced of his hopeless sinful condition, he will cry out to God for mercy—which is found solely through faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

This is true not only for Jewish people but the law given to the Jews was to be a light to Gentiles as well.

Deuteronomy 4:6-7  Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the [Gentile] peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'  7  "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him?”

While it is understandable that some may think there is a difference between Jew and Gentile, and even that God has two plans (one for Jews and one for Gentiles), Paul tells us that the wall that separates Jew and Gentile has been removed by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:11-16 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from 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 both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Jesus is the Savior of one people, marked by faith not by ethnicity or nationality.

Jesus’ story is not done however, because He is coming again.  More on that next time. 

WAR!

I recently read an interesting article by Robin Schumacher, a Christian apologist. His opening statement was:

One of the oldest and most often repeated lies about religion and Christianity, in particular, is that it’s responsible for the majority of historical wars and bloodshed.

I know I’ve heard that particular attack on Christianity from time to time.  Even if it were true, how would that make Christianity a false religion?  It wouldn’t!

But it is not true.

It is true that wars have been waged in the name of religion, and sadly, Christians have been engaged in such wars, but what of the claim that “the majority of wars and bloodshed” have been religious in nature?

Schumacher points out the obvious: that wars in which Christians have been engaged, “barely register on history’s violence Geiger counter compared to the carnage and body count produced by secular governments [Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, etc.]” 

Schumacher then points us to a massive scholarly three-volume work entitled “Encyclopedia of Wars,” by Philip and Axelrod.  In that encyclopedia it is pointed out that,

“…of the 1,763 wars waged throughout human history, only 123 have been religious in nature. That amounts to a surprisingly low 6.98% of all wars resulting from religion.

“Further, when wars carried out in the name of Islam are subtracted, the percentage falls to 3.23%, meaning that all religions combined — minus Islam — have been responsible for less than 4% of all humanity’s wars and violent conflicts.”

Schumacher then cites a political science professor named R. J. Rummel who wrote, “Death by Government.”  In it, Rummel wrote the following:

“Almost 170 million men, women and children have been shot, beaten, tortured, knifed, burned, starved, frozen, crushed or worked to death; buried alive, drowned, hung, bombed or killed in any other of a myriad of ways governments have inflicted death on unarmed, helpless citizens and foreigners. The dead could conceivably be nearly 360 million people. It is though our species has been devastated by a modern Black Plague. And indeed it has, but a plague of Power, not germs.”  

Schumacher wrote more, and I refer you to read his article at: https://www.christianpost.com/voices/dealing-with-cosmic-tyrants.html

I’ll conclude my comments with two points:

First don’t be bullied into silence regarding our faith by the fanciful and incorrect allegations against Christ that come from those who hate him.

Second, the greatest war of all time is the war of rebellion waged against God by every sinner (until they are saved).  This war is a matter of Heaven or Hell for those who either trust in Christ or not.  The greatest news of all is that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, died on the cross and rose from the dead for all who surrender to and follow Him.

The vital importance of the Church (3)

…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18

We’ve been considering the vital importance of the Church. Here is a good question: Are house churches legitimate churches? Answer: Yes and No.

There are times and places that house churches are absolutely legitimate!

(1) In times and in places that the Church is persecuted and disallowed to meet publicly, Christians must meet secretly in small groups, often in homes. Let us remember to pray for our persecuted brethren in such circumstances.

(2) There are times and places that there are so few believers, that meeting in very small groups in homes makes perfect sense. We see the Church meeting primarily in homes in the 1st century as the Church was new and expanding. (When our church first began, we met in a home.)

But what about when and where believers are able to gather publicly and in greater numbers? (1) Though smaller home groups play an important role in a traditional church that meets publicly in larger numbers, these small groups are adjunct to typical churches, not a substitute for church.

(2) The house church movement in our nation is often (not always) made up of folks who claim they cannot find a church they agree with on everything. Frequently these churches have no elders, neglect the sacraments, lack vision beyond their door (no missions), and lack any accountability. These may not be legitimate churches.

Can’t find a church you agree with 100%? Find a legitimate church you can agree with most, and serve, not demanding that they agree with you.

The vital importance of the Church (2)

…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18

We began last time considering the vital importance of the Church. The following are more reasons why we need to be associated with a local church.

There are actions believers are instructed to take that cannot be done without being in a true local church. One example is found in the following verse:

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17

The context reveals that “those who rule” are the elders in the local church. If you are not in a legitimate church (one with biblical elders), you cannot do this. The same is true regarding elders in these verses:

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT TREADS OUT THE GRAIN," and, "THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES." Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. 1 Timothy 5:17-20

And what about when one is ill? How can one who is not in a church do this?:

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:14

Believers need to be members of a local churches that have biblical elders. Why membership? Membership is formal understanding of mutual accountability between the believers and the church (including the leadership). A fellow pastor who many of you know once said to me regarding membership: “How can elders watch over the souls of those who refuse to be accountable as members?” (See Hebrews 13:17 above)

Next time: The truth about house churches…

The vital importance of the Church (1)

…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18

We have been considering ways that Christ has been building His Church. I thought it of great value to mention some things about the vital importance of the Church.

Jesus made it clear that the Church is His Church, that He is it’s Builder, and that He guarantees His Church’s ultimate success. Jesus came not merely to save individuals (though we are all saved individually). He came to save His people collectively. Collectively, His people are known as His Church (also as His body and His bride, among other designations). The instant we are saved we are members of His Church.

In His infinite wisdom, the Lord established “local churches,” since one cannot function practically belonging only to the universal Church. Believers can be members of the universal Church, yet disobediently refuse to associate with a local church. It is in local churches that we belong, worship with other believers, serve, give, pray, etcetera. Proverbs 18:1-2 warns against not being connected:

Proverbs 18:1-2 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. 2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.

I’ve said it for years, but the tragic reality continues to worsen: There has never been a time in Church history when there have been more people who profess faith in Christ, yet willfully have nothing to do with His Church! There have been times when more people who are not saved have associated with Christ’s Church, but never more who profess faith in Christ, who not only do not associate with a local church, but insist that they do not need church.

Why do we need church?

The New Testament letters were written to churches, largely about church life. The only way believers knew of these Apostolic letters was by attending local churches were they were read, then circulated in other local churches.

Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts all believers to associate with a church—and to attend with regularity:

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

More next time…

Strengthening Christ's Church through persecution

…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:18

We have been exploring ways that Christ has been building His Church

First, Christ’s Church was established by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2.

Second, Christ’s Church expanded evangelistically, both through preaching and through writing the New Testament. 

Now for a third way in which Christ builds His Church: Christ’s Church experienced persecution. Persecution is almost always an ingredient in the strengthening of the Christ’s Church and growing individual believers in faith.  Our culture has experienced peace (no real persecution) for a long time.  Christians in other places in the world have suffered persecution all along. 

As a result of not experiencing persecution, Christians in our culture have grown soft (relative to our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ).  As the Church in America has been spared persecution, the American church been compromised and even perverted.  As it stands, the days of no persecution may be drawing to a close.  No one likes that prospect, but consider this: Christ’s Church is always strongest and most devoted to Christ when it suffers persecution. 

The next generation of Christians is likely to see our religious freedoms disappear and persecutions begin.  If that is God’s will, it will be painful, but it will be the means of separating the true Christians from the imposters.  People will not endure persecution for something that is not real and important. 

And by the way, persecution come not only from outside the Church. Sadly it comes also from within “the church,” historically when false churches persecute true Christians. Sadder still, it happens when people in the church wrongly judge, speak ill of, and cause division within the church.

Though the Lord uses persecution to strengthen His Church, those who persecute or divide His Church will be held accountable for their misdeeds!

How real is your faith? How important is it?  How willing are you to be hated, persecuted, or even martyred for Christ?  If being popular and liked are at the top of your priorities, you will not last—and you will turn in fellow believers to save your own skin.

Besides living and dying to save His people, Jesus rose.  Jesus ascended.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is establishing His Church. 

Next time: the vital importance of the church.

Writing the New Testament (2)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Lord expanded His church through the writing of the New Testament. Last time we considered the New Testament “epistles” (meaning letters). This time let’s give brief thought to the four gospels.

First, “the Gospel” is not the same as the four New Testament books we call “the gospels.” The Gospel (singular) is the good news of Jesus Christ that, when believed and obeyed, equals salvation. The Gospel is the plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

The gospels (plural) are the four New Testament books that tell us about Jesus—His life, death, and resurrection. So, what about these four gospels?

There are four of them, written by four different men, all telling the same story but from different vantage points having four different emphases. The first three (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), called the synoptic gospels, are similar and more biographical than the fourth gospel (John).

Matthew, written by a Jew primarily for a Jewish audience, presents Jesus as the King of the Jews and the One who fulfills Jewish prophecy. Matthew was one of the original twelve disciples.

Mark was not one of the original twelve disciples, but was tutored by Peter who was one of the twelve. Mark presents Jesus as the Servant. This gospel is the shortest and moves at a rapid pace.

Luke was not one of the original twelve disciples. He was not Jewish, but a Gentile. Luke wrote based on the information he gathered from eye witnesses (Luke 1:1-2). Luke is the longest of the four gospels and the longest book in the New Testament. Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man, emphasizing the humanity of Jesus (while not neglecting His deity).

John was one of the original twelve disciples, and was also one of the three who made up Jesus’ inner circle. (The other two were Peter and James.) John presents Jesus as the Son of God, emphasizing the deity of Jesus.

Each of the four gospels deserve to be read and studied individually, as their unique emphases are important. There is also great value in reading one of the many merged treatments of the four gospels-in-one to get the most comprehensive picture of Jesus’ life. Personally, my favorite is the gospel section of “The Daily Bible,” by F. LaGard Smith. 

Writing the New Testament (1)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Lord expanded His church through the writing of the New Testament.

Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, wrote at least 13 books of the New Testament:

Romans is Paul’s Magnum Opus on the Christian faith.  (The Gospel according to Grace.)

1 & 2 Corinthians are letters Paul wrote to Christ’s church which Paul planted in the Greek city of Corinth.  The letters are largely corrective because the church in Corinth had such spiritual problems.

Galatians is a letter to a number of Christ’s churches in the region of Galatia (modern Turkey).  It is a corrective letter reminding Christians that salvation and the Christian life is based on grace, not on human effort.

Ephesians is a letter to another of Christ’s churches which Paul planted in the city of Ephesus (He remained there for three years--longer than anywhere else).  It outlines Christianity in two parts:  Chapters 1-3: God’s grace.  Chapters 4-6: the Christian’s response to grace is righteous living.

Philippians is a letter to Christ’s church which Paul planted in Philippi.  Though Paul wrote from prison (at the same time as Ephesians and Colossians) the letter is an encouragement to be joyful in all circumstances because of the grace of God in Christ.

Colossians is a letter to Christ’s church in the city of Colossae.  Paul never went there.  It was planted by a person from Ephesus who was converted under Paul’s ministry.  The letter corrects a slide away from the gospel into philosophy (Gnosticism) by extolling Jesus above all things and calling believers to live to glorify Him.

1 & 2 Thessalonians are two short letters written to Christ’s church which Paul planted in Thessalonica.  These were brand new believers, and they needed guidance to grow in grace and to avoid errors that were already creeping in.  Both of these are also corrective.

1 & 2 Timothy are letters written to Paul’s younger protégé, Timothy, who continued as pastor of Christ’s church which Paul planted in Ephesus.

Titus is a letter to another of Paul’s protégés, Titus, who continued to pastor Christ’s church which Paul planted on the island of Crete.  It provides essential instruction about how Christ’s churches are to be ordered.

Philemon is the only personal letter of Paul’s in the New Testament.  It is an exhortation to a slave holder to accept a former slave who ran away, and while away, was converted.  Paul’s message is that the grace we have received in Christ is to be the grace we give to others.

There are other letters not written by Paul, called General Epistles:

Hebrews is a letter written primarily to Jewish believers reminding them that everything about Jesus and Christianity is “better” than what they had in the Jewish religion.  (Some speculate that Paul also wrote Hebrews, but we do not know that.)

James was written by Jesus’ half brother, an early leader in Christ’s Church in Jerusalem.  It is an exhortation on the Christian life, including warnings about errors.

1 & 2 Peter were written by the Apostle Peter.  1 Peter is about handling suffering in the Christian life.  2 Peter as about remaining steadfast in the faith, especially in the face of false prophets, while waiting for the Lord’s Second Coming.

1, 2, & 3 John were written by the Apostle John (the only one of the twelve who didn’t die a martyr’s death).  1 John is about love (God’s for His people, and ours for each other). 2 John is about remaining steadfast to the truth. 3 John contains a commendation of Gaius (a faithful servant of Christ) and a condemnation of Diotrephes (a false teacher who sought to undermine apostolic authority.)

Jude was written by another of Jesus’ half brothers.  It is a strong exhortation to be discerning, to contend for the faith, and to remain in the love of God.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ was written by the Apostle John and contains a series of visions intended to encourage and support Christians facing persecution.  The overarching theme of the Revelation is that Christ will triumph, just as He told the disciples in Matthew 16:18 that He would.  The Revelation concludes with the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

While many New Testament letters are expressly corrective, virtually all contain correction. What does that tell us?  Christians err.  Christ’s churches err.  Correction is needed.  God provides it—not only then, but ever since by recording and preserving these letters.  The New Testament is instructive and encouraging, but because we need it, it is also corrective.

 Next time, the four gospels

The establishment and expansion of the Church (1)

Let’s continue with our thoughts regarding Jesus’ establishment of His Church.

How the Lord builds His Church in the New Testament:

The book of Acts is the record of the first Christians and the earliest Church.

1. Christ’s Church was established by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  Acts 2.

2. Christ’s Church expanded evangelistically. 

Matthew 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Acts 1:8  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Jesus told the disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem (home), Judea (surrounding area), Samaria (nearby—to people not like us), and to the end of the earth (everyone everywhere!).

At first, Christ’s Church huddled in Jerusalem and didn’t go, the way Jesus commissioned them to go.  So God stirred them up and out of their comfort zone through persecution and tribulation.  We’ll consider persecution a little more next, but now, understand this:  There was a great famine in Jerusalem, and because the Jews revolted against the Romans, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.  This stirred Christ’s Church to go.  Acts 1-8 is about Christ’s Church in Jerusalem.  Acts 8-12 is about Christ’s Church in Judea and Samaria.  Acts 13-28 is about Christ’s Church expanding to the ends of the earth.

One of God’s primary agents in this expansion was the Apostle Paul.  Paul was not always Paul.  He was born Saul of Tarsus. He was a serious Christ-hater and persecutor of the Christ’s Church.  As Saul was persecuting Christians (Acts 9), God miraculously saved him and commissioned him to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.  Ironic, isn’t it? Saul’s persecution scattered Christians all over the place, and then God sent him (then, Paul) to be the Apostle to these distant lands.)

Next time: the expansion of the Church through writing.

How Jesus saves His people (5)

We continue considering how Jesus saves His people from their sins.  We have already mentioned that Jesus (1) Lived for his people.  (2) He died for His people.  (3) He rose for his people.  (4) He ascended into Heaven where He intercedes for His people.  (5) He sent the Holy Spirit for His people.  And now for number (6): Jesus established, builds, and guarantees the success of His Church.

Matthew 16:18  I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Let us understand that the Church is not merely a place for saved people to worship and serve—it is that, but the Church is one of the ways the Lord sanctifies He people.

From Jesus’ words in Matthew 16, we learn three truths about the Church of Jesus Christ: 

First, Christ’s Church belongs to Jesus.  Not to preachers, or congregations, or denominations, or the state, but to Christ Himself.  The Church belongs to Jesus because He established it, and because He purchased it—with His blood, no less!

Second, Jesus will build His Church.  He is the Master Builder.  Our role is to do as He says—not to try to come up with new innovative ways to promote and grow Christ’s Church, or individual local churches.  All Christ looks for in us regarding the His Church is that she is faithful to: preach the Word and shepherd His sheep in love, including administering the sacraments and exercising church discipline as needed. 

Part of the problem is that we want to evaluate the Church’s success (or lack of success) by worldly measures: bodies, buildings, and bucks.  That is not how Jesus builds His Church.  He merely looks for faithfulness, and then He builds His Church in His way, and in His time.  His building program sometimes includes subtraction as well as addition.  Sometimes even good churches close, but Christ is still building His Church.

Third, Christ’s Church will triumph. The Church will succeed because it is His Church and He cannot fail.  Read Revelation 4, 5, 7, and 20-22 to see what the Church triumphant in Heaven looks like on into eternity

Next time: How the Lord builds His Church in the New Testament

Independence Day 2024

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…
1 Timothy 2:1-3

On this American Independence Day holiday let me share a few random thoughts from these verses.

“First of all, then…” That is how the passage begins, reminding Timothy (and us) the importance of what follows. Friends, this is important!—especially in the tumultuous times in which we live.

Second, let us not forget the essential necessity of prayer. Let us never forget or undervalue James’ word on the subject:

James 4:2-3 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Third, let us not neglect to pray for our government and for those who lead our government. Pray that we might be able to lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. This means many things, not the least of which is not becoming political junkies and/or those unnerved by politics. As bad as things are in our nation, which has largely forsaken God, Jesus is still the King of kings. Our ultimate citizenship is in His kingdom, which is eternal and cannot fail!

Fourth, let us pray for those who lead our government with the next verse in 1 Timothy in mind:

…who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4

Pray not only for governmental leaders to make wise decisions and enact biblical laws—but that they may be saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Lastly, let us remember on this Independence Day that the only safe and wise independence rests in absolute dependence on Jesus Christ as Lord!

How Jesus saves His people (4)

We have been considering six ways Jesus saves His people from their sins.  So far we have pondered the first four of six.  They are Jesus (1) lived for us, (2) died for us, (3) rose for us, and (4) ascended into Heaven where He intercedes for us.  What a glorious ministry our Savior has in saving His people!  

The fifth is about the Holy Spirit, but in case we have forgotten, in John 14 Jesus told the disciples that He was sending the Holy Spirit.  So let’s give thought to #5:  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

On His last night with the disciples, Jesus told them that He was leaving.  That was sad news for them, but He also told them (John 14:1) “Do not let your heart be troubled.”  Why?  Because He promised to send the Holy Spirit (the 3rd member of the Trinity) to dwell in and to empower His people.  For what purpose?  To live like the new creatures He saved us to be. 

Granted, in John 14:16, 26, & 15:26, Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name, but in John 16:7, & Luke 24:49 Jesus says He will send the Holy Spirit. This is not a contradiction.  Rather it is further biblical evidence of the “oneness” of the three Members of the Trinity (John 17:20-21)

Jesus was around for 40 days after He rose from the dead—plenty of time to establish the reality that He really did rise!  Then Jesus ascended.  After He ascended into Heaven, the disciples waited ten more days, and on Pentecost (which means 50 days) the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled as God poured out the Holy Spirit on the people Jesus saved.  And that has been happening ever since.

People are saved when the Holy Spirit opens our ears, eyes and hearts, enabling us to understand the gospel.  The Holy Spirit redirects our affections so that we love Jesus, and want to follow Him.  And the Holy Spirit indwells believers, empowering us to follow Jesus, obey Jesus, and to testify to others about Jesus.

There is a sixth action that Jesus has been doing since Pentecost, is doing, and will continue to do until He returns in glory.  Next time… 

How Jesus saves His people (3)

We have considered three of six ways Jesus saves His people from their sins.  Do you remember what they are? Jesus (1) lived for us, (2) died for us, and (3) rose for us.  Most believers are aware of the first three, at least in a cursory manner.  But the fourth is an often forgotten and/or undervalued action Jesus took on behalf of His people.

Jesus ascended into Heaven for those He came to save.  This is important because once Jesus ascended into Heaven, He stands in the presence of the Father, as our Great High Priest, interceding for His people. 

Hebrews 7:25  Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

The most obvious action of Christ’s role as our Great High Priest rests on offering Himself on the cross as the once-for-all, never-to-be-repeated sacrifice for our sins.  Are you aware that our Great High Priest continues even now in Heaven as He intercedes for us all day, every day?

Our Intercessor prays in two ways:

First, that He prays for all of His people all of the time means that Jesus also intercedes for us when we are not explicitly sinning.  He prays for us just as Christian friends pray for each other—except that He never stops praying for us, and His prayers are always according to God’s perfect will. How wonderful that because our Savior prays for us, we do not sin as much as we would otherwise!

Second, Jesus’ continuous intercession is good news, especially since even as believers we still sin. 

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if [since] anyone sins, we have an Advocate [a defense attorney] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

The great news is that, while the devil accuses us (Revelation 12:10), our Savior continually advocates for us before the throne of the Father every time we sin! And what is the basis of His plea?  “Father, I died and rose for that sin too!”  When you confess your sin, rejoice that Jesus paid for that sin too! How wonderful that our Savior continues to save us from our sins by praying for us when we sin!

The God-Man, Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven where we have a Man interceding for us and pleading our case when we sin.

Having considered four ways Jesus saves His people from our sins, next time a fifth.

How Jesus saved His People (2)

Last time we considered two aspects of how Jesus saved His people from their sins:  He lived for us and He died for us.  This time: He rose for us!

1 Corinthians 15:14, 17 “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is EMPTY and your faith is also EMPTY… And if Christ is not risen, your faith is FUTILE; you are still in your sins!”

When He rose, He fulfilled at least two objectives:

First, by rising from the dead, Jesus proved that He is who He said He is. Jesus is God—the One and only true and living God.  That He is the living God means that He has always lived and can never die. That is why for the Son of God to become our Savior, He had to become a man. Only God can save us because only God is without sin. But since God cannot die, the Son of God became a man—not only to live for us to provide us with the righteousness required to enter Heaven, but also in order to die for us.

The Baby was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger so He could live and die for those He came to save. But being the living God means that even when the Son of God became a man, no one or nothing could take His life from Him. Nothing could kill Him. What about the cross? The cross didn’t kill Jesus.

John 10:17-18 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

He rose from the dead to prove that because He is God, death could not hold Him.

Second, by rising from the dead Jesus defeated sin, death and Hell for those He came to save. The most important thing Jesus came to do was to save His people from their sins. The greatest temptation Jesus faced in (the Garden of Gethsemane) was to say “No” to the Father’s will concerning the cross to save His people. The greatest sin Jesus could have committed would have been to say “No” to the cross. By saying “Yes” to the Father, and to the cross, Jesus defeated sin.

Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death…”

The wages or penalty for sin is death. By rising, even though all the sin and guilt of His people was poured out on Him, He defeated death.  By rising, Jesus defeated Hell. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Hell is not in the future of those He came to save.

There is another often forgotten and undervalued action Jesus took on behalf of His people.  Next time...

How Jesus saved His people (1)

“…you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
~ Matthew 1:21

If I were to ask you what did Jesus Christ do to save His people? what would you answer?  Like most, you would probably say He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  And you would be exactly right.  But He did more.  In the next blogs we’ll consider six actions Jesus took to save His people: 

1.   As we have already seen, before He died for us, Jesus lived for those He came to save.  By His righteous, sinless life, and perfect obedience to the will of His Father, Jesus earned the reward of righteousness.  He is the only one who has, or ever could, since all other people not only act sinfully, but we are born in sin.  By His sinless life, Jesus earned the reward of righteousness, which He gives to those He came to save.  We not only need our sins forgiven, but we must be righteous to enter Heaven.  We receive the righteousness required to enter Heaven from Jesus Christ—a righteousness He earned through living for us before He died for us.

2.   Jesus died for those He came to save.  On the cross, Jesus died for us.  When He died on that ghastly Roman cross, He experienced something infinitely more than the torturous pain of crucifixion.  He received the wrath of Holy God—the wrath that we deserve for the sins we have committed against God.  It was the wrath that God had to pour out on sin—not because He is mean, harsh or bad—but because He is holy and righteous.  Holiness demands holiness. We fail to be holy every day so we are guilty.  Righteousness demands justice.  God cannot not judge sin and guilt.  God cannot look the other way.  And the wrath we deserve for our sins against God is infinite and eternal.  Why?  What if we are not as bad as someone else?  The answer is simple:  Because God is infinitely and eternally holy, our failure deserves infinite and eternal wrath.  It doesn’t matter how we stack up against other people.  It matters only how we stack up against God, and compared to Him, we are infinitely and eternally guilty and therefore deserving of infinite and eternal wrath.

We are incensed when an imperfect human judge lets the guilty go free.  God is not an imperfect human Judge.  He is perfect in all His ways and He is the Judge of all the earth. Genesis 18:25 “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"  When Jesus died for us, the just wrath of God was diverted onto, and intercepted by Jesus.  He stepped in front of the wrath we deserve, so that those He came to save would never taste the wrath of God.  Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath and drained it dry.  “There is therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)  Why?  Because there is none left!  Jesus absorbed it all—in the hours He hung on the cross, He absorbed an eternity of infinite wrath—in our place.

But that is not all Jesus did for us. Next time: Jesus rose for us!

Two footnotes on Jesus' sinless life

Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
John 4:34

A couple of blogs ago, I wrote about how important Jesus’ sinless life is in providing us the righteousness needed to enter Heaven. Let me offer two important theological footnotes.

First, the importance of Jesus supplying righteousness for His people. Sin is a spiritual debt that Jesus paid by dying for His people, but paying our sin debt is not enough to provide us with entrance into Heaven. HUH? Let me explain:

Say I have a million dollar debt, and have zero dollars with which to pay. Someone pays my debt, the debt is erased, but I am still flat broke. Because God commands us to “be holy as He is holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16), even if our sin debt is paid, we are still spiritually flat broke. Even if our sin debt is paid, since we have no righteousness, we still cannot enter Heaven (Hebrews 12:14).

In addition to dying for His people to clear our sin debt, by living a sinless life for His people He provides us with the reward of His righteousness, completing the transaction.

Second, and this is a little technical, but wonderful. Jesus is eternally and intrinsically holy and righteous because He is eternal God. That is not the righteousness He gives His people! The righteousness He gives His people is the reward for His righteous living as a man. By living sinlessly, Jesus earned the reward for righteousness. But He does not need that reward because He is already eternally righteous. Wait for it… Jesus lived sinlessly to earn the reward of righteousness to give it away to His people! That is worthy of meditating on and worshiping Jesus for!

By the way: I learned this studying systematic theology in seminary, but it became precious to me when John Bunyan explained it (better than I just did) in “The Pilgrims Progress.”