Quoting Rick Warren . . .
At our Easter services in the last three years more than 5,000 people opened their lives to Christ - because YOU invited them! It's almost guaranteed that if you bring those you care about to a Saddleback Easter service, they will come to know Jesus.
From:
An Easter Letter For Your Congregation
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Unity Starts With Defining True Doctrine, Pt 2 Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Quoting Martyn Lloyd-Jones . . .
We are told that the Christian faith cannot be stated in propositions, that it is something mystical that cannot be analyzed or put down in a series of definitions stating what is right and what is wrong. By saying that, they are not only running counter to the practice of the church in the earlier centuries when she drew up her creeds and confessions of faith; They are also denying the teachings of the new Testament itself which maintains that the truth can be so defined that you can say that a man has departed from it. For how can you say that a man has departed from something if you do not know what the thing is? The whole presupposition is that it can be defined and described accurately. Nothing is so interesting as to contrast the ecumenical councils of the first centuries of the Christian era with the World Council of the Churches today. The great concern of the former was doctrine: definition of doctrine and denunciation of error and heresy. The chief characteristic of the modern movement is doctrinal indifferentism and the exaltation of a spirit of inclusivism and practical co-operation.
But the apostle goes even further than that. He says to the Philippians, "Brethren, be followers together of me" (Phil. 3:17). He does not hesitate to put it like that. He appeals to them to follow him and his teaching and example. That follows from what he has already said: "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing" (verse 16). They were to think the same thing, and to go on preaching and teaching the same thing.
In 2 Timothy 2:8 he talks about 'my gospel'. He is contrasting it with 'other gospels'. He is not saying what I once remember hearing in a sermon on this text: "The important thing is that you should have an experience, that you should be able to say "my gospel". Of course, it may not be the other man's gospel, but the thing is, can you say "my gospel"?" According to that interpretation, the important thing is to have an experience, to be able to say that something has happened to you. The precise cause of the experience is regarded as being unimportant.
But the apostle, surely, is teaching the exact opposite of that. He is saying that his gospel alone is the true gospel, not because it was his, or because of what it had done for him, but because of what God had done in Christ. The context in which he makes this statement is in the false teaching of others. He says "remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel". There were other teachers who said that 'the resurrection was past already', and they were overthrowing 'the faith of some' (verse 18). Do not listen to them, he says. The gospel that he, Paul, preached was the only true gospel, and any teaching that contradicted it was a lie.
In other words, he not only defines it, and says that it can be defined, but he says, This is it, and every other is wrong. The same truth emerges in Hebrews 4:14-16: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession" - our confession, the faith which we believe concerning Him - 'Jesus the Son of God'. The remedy for the unhappiness of those Hebrew Christians was not to cultivate a vague general spirit of fellowship, but to hold fast the cardinal doctrines. ...
Everywhere in the New Testament, as we have seen, there is an insistence upon true doctrine in contradiction to false doctrine. That is only possible because doctrine can be defined and stated in terms and propositions. We have an objective standard by which we can test ourselves and others.
From:
The Basis of Christian Unity (1962)
We are told that the Christian faith cannot be stated in propositions, that it is something mystical that cannot be analyzed or put down in a series of definitions stating what is right and what is wrong. By saying that, they are not only running counter to the practice of the church in the earlier centuries when she drew up her creeds and confessions of faith; They are also denying the teachings of the new Testament itself which maintains that the truth can be so defined that you can say that a man has departed from it. For how can you say that a man has departed from something if you do not know what the thing is? The whole presupposition is that it can be defined and described accurately. Nothing is so interesting as to contrast the ecumenical councils of the first centuries of the Christian era with the World Council of the Churches today. The great concern of the former was doctrine: definition of doctrine and denunciation of error and heresy. The chief characteristic of the modern movement is doctrinal indifferentism and the exaltation of a spirit of inclusivism and practical co-operation.
But the apostle goes even further than that. He says to the Philippians, "Brethren, be followers together of me" (Phil. 3:17). He does not hesitate to put it like that. He appeals to them to follow him and his teaching and example. That follows from what he has already said: "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing" (verse 16). They were to think the same thing, and to go on preaching and teaching the same thing.
In 2 Timothy 2:8 he talks about 'my gospel'. He is contrasting it with 'other gospels'. He is not saying what I once remember hearing in a sermon on this text: "The important thing is that you should have an experience, that you should be able to say "my gospel". Of course, it may not be the other man's gospel, but the thing is, can you say "my gospel"?" According to that interpretation, the important thing is to have an experience, to be able to say that something has happened to you. The precise cause of the experience is regarded as being unimportant.
But the apostle, surely, is teaching the exact opposite of that. He is saying that his gospel alone is the true gospel, not because it was his, or because of what it had done for him, but because of what God had done in Christ. The context in which he makes this statement is in the false teaching of others. He says "remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel". There were other teachers who said that 'the resurrection was past already', and they were overthrowing 'the faith of some' (verse 18). Do not listen to them, he says. The gospel that he, Paul, preached was the only true gospel, and any teaching that contradicted it was a lie.
In other words, he not only defines it, and says that it can be defined, but he says, This is it, and every other is wrong. The same truth emerges in Hebrews 4:14-16: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession" - our confession, the faith which we believe concerning Him - 'Jesus the Son of God'. The remedy for the unhappiness of those Hebrew Christians was not to cultivate a vague general spirit of fellowship, but to hold fast the cardinal doctrines. ...
Everywhere in the New Testament, as we have seen, there is an insistence upon true doctrine in contradiction to false doctrine. That is only possible because doctrine can be defined and stated in terms and propositions. We have an objective standard by which we can test ourselves and others.
From:
The Basis of Christian Unity (1962)
Arminian Idle ...a 'four point' sandy theology of faith
Here is the essence of an easy believism gospel from the Arminian suasion (notice the correct spelling of Arminian? Just pointing this out for Dr. Caner's benefit). Someone in an email over the weekend called me, "the Simon Cowel of evangelicalism." I don't know if that was a compliment or not. For those of you who may not know what I am referring to, Simon is one of three judges on the unprecedented popular hit talent show, "American Idol" (along with Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson). Simon is the one who tells it like it is, even if the audience boos him among Paula Abdul's constant over-the-top flattery or Randy's "dawg pound" props. He is the consummate spoiler of the status-quo dashing the dreams of thousands of unmusical "wanna be's" along the way. (I don't know if the comparison fits or not--you decide.) Here is how this Arminian "I.D.L.E." acronym breaks down. (BTW, this is not meant to be an exhaustive treatment of Arminianism, but a thumb nail approach. For a more thorough study visit A1M.org and go to the 107 THESES or click on the "End of the Spear" banner to be connected to the doctrines of grace. You can also click on the "End of the Spin" banner here at COT to be taken to an in depth "what we believe" statement of faith which includes the doctrines of grace. Or better yet, go to monergism.com for hundreds of excellent historical, theological, biblical articles on Arminianism and Calvinism.) Initiated by man Salvation by Arminianism is dependent on man accepting Christ; being a seeker; and responding to the gospel because he chose to do so out of his own free volition. IOW, the A.I. rendering of 1 John 4:19 reads, "He loves us, because we first loved Him." We were not chosen before the world began (elected); Jesus did not actually redeem us on the cross (particular redemption); and the Holy Spirit didn't actually regenerate us prior to faith being exercised (1 Cor. 12:3; Titus 3:6-7); or that it was God alone Who must grant to us saving faith to receive Christ as Lord of our lives (Eph. 2:8-9); but Jesus only provided a way of salvation for us at the cross and now sits in the heavenlies waiting for lost people to seek Him, choose Him, find Him, accept Him and "select Him" (as Dr. Caner so affirms - "elected, because I selected"). This is a picture, beloved, of an impotent Lord--not the great omnipotent Sovereign of the universe. Compare that with Ephesians 1:4-14. Dependent on free will Man is not so depraved and lost that he cannot, once presented with the right truth by compelling methods, accept Christ by his own merit and choosing. Man is not solely drawn to Christ by the Father (John 6:44), but decides of his own free volition to follow Jesus. We've all sung it a myriad of times haven't we? "I have decided to follow Jesus..." In the Arminian school, man's will is not so bound and corrupted by original sin or by the penalty and guilt of Adam's disobedience and sin (Rom. 3:10-18; 5:12-17); nor is he so completely dead in trespass in sin, or by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3) as to be restricted from "choosing Christ" as his Savior. Compare that with John 6:37-44. Lips service enough Repentance is a verbal assent to the truth--not a change of mind and life. It is, for example, Rick Warren's sinner's prayer of "Jesus I believe in You, Jesus I receive You..." and if you really meant it, you're born again. Heaven is that simple and easy for you and your family. You are now free to baptize them, put them on the roll, have them serve in missions; even teach a Sunday School class or go to seminary. No repentance required (the non-Lordship position), just come as you are in the rags of your own righteousness. If you're really sincere when you said that prayer, you are now a Christian--welcome to the family of God. Compare that with Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 14:25-30. Evidence not necessary Once you have made a verbal profession of faith you are saved for eternity. If you bear fruit or no fruit to that end in your life (John 15:1-5) it is deemed as non-essential. If you were sincere in saying your sinners prayer, then you are saved forever - regardless of how you live. Sanctification is divorced from justification and an elective in the school of Arminian theology and gospel preaching--not a necessary by-product of salvation. IOW, a verbal profession of faith secures your "fire insurance." Carnal Christianity is an acceptable state for some and ultimately leads to an antinomian view of grace. But I like what Dr. Tozer used to say, "to speak of a carnal Christian is to talk of a heavenly devil." In Arminianism, here is how 2 Cor. 5:17 reads, "if any man is in Christ Jesus he can remain the same; old things don't necessarily pass away, behold, nothing needs to become new." Remember the true words of John Jasper: "If you is, what you was, you ain't." Compare that with Titus 2:12; Matt. 7:21-23; Col. 3:1-14. (Or if you prefer keeping the acronym the "traditional IDOL", substitute 'obedience optional' for 'evidence not necessary.') No wonder a denomination like the SBC has so many names on their membership rolls, but dramatically less in their pews each Sunday. Many have been baptized according to their profession, but how many are truly born again? That is the bane of the "George Barna stats" when calculating the millions upon millions of born again evangelicals in America today claiming to be followers of Christ... Millions asserting they are saved by grace, but not living a grace-changed life. That really doesn't add up, does it? The doctrines of grace do not accommodate man's sin and sinfulness like "The Arminian Idle" does (Rom. 6:1; Titus 2:12). For further reading on this, may I suggest to you three excellent tomes among several: "The Gospel According to Jesus" by my friend and mentor, Dr. John MacArthur; "The Almost Christian Discovered" by Matthew Mead; and "By His Grace and for His Glory" by Dr. Tom Nettles. All of these books are not easy, fluffy reading--there is no 'Paula Abdul' in them. It is pure 'Simon Cowel.' (And you may want to order some copies for Dr. Caner as well--it just might be enlightening for him.) We preach not ourselves (Arminianism) but Christ Jesus as Lord (Calvinism). I close with a quote from brother Spurgeon the Calvinist:
"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness."
"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel , insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness."
Purity in Worship
All human inventions which are set up to corrupt the simple purity of the Word of God, and to undo the worship which he demands and approves, are true sacrileges, in which the Christian man cannot participate without blaspheming God, and trampling his honour underfoot. [John Calvin]
Earthly Riches
Earthly riches are an evil master, a treacherous servant, fathers of flattery, sons of grief, a cause of fear to those that have them, and a cause of sorrow to those that want them; and therefore, what rest is there to be found in the enjoyment of them? [Augustine]
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Unity Starts With Defining True Doctrine, Pt 1
Quoting Martyn Lloyd-Jones . . .
The majority-view today holds that the way to produce unity is not to discuss and consider doctrine, but rather to work together and pray together. The slogans include 'doctrine divides'. This becomes serious when applied to the question of evangelism. The most common argument used is that evangelism is impossible apart from this unity, that a divided church is an offense to the world, and that while we are divided the world will not listen to us. During an evangelistic campaign in London, a Christian newspaper carried the headline: "Let us have a theological truce during the Campaign".
A well-known theological leader had also committed himself to this: "We can all at any rate be ecumenical in evangelism". http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9360eab2d678461a565cThat it is only after the stage of evangelism that you begin to consider doctrine is a very common and prevailing view.
All of this makes it of vital importance that we should be clear in our thinking on these questions which I have raised with regard to the basis of Christian unity. ...
The New Testament everywhere insists upon true doctrine. I emphasize this because, as we have seen, the whole tendency today is to discourage talk about doctrine and to urge that we work together, because 'doctrine divides'. Doctrine is being discounted in the interests of supposed unity. The fact is, however, that there is no unity apart from truth and doctrine, and it is departure from this that causes division and breaks unity. The first thing the New Testament emphasizes is that doctrine can be defined.
If this were not so Paul would never have written his Epistle to the Romans. ... He had been unable to visit them, so he writes to them a summary of his teaching. It is a great doctrinal statement in which the cardinal doctrines of justification, atonement, union with Christ, assurance, the final perseverance of the saints, and so on, are set forth.
Let us remind ourselves again of 1 Corinthians 3:11: "Other foundation can no man lay than is laid". The apostle had already laid it: Jesus Christ and Him crucified; there is no other. That is an absolute. What is the purpose of 1Corinthians 15? Is it not to say just this: that belief or disbelief in the literal physical resurrection is not an immaterial or unimportant point? The apostle says that it is as important as this, that if it had not happened, "then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain...ye are yet in your sins" (verses 14,17). But the whole tendency today is to say that it does not matter whether a man believes in the literal physical resurrection or not. The apostle Paul says that it is an absolute and that there is no gospel apart from it: 'Ye are yet in your sins'!
The same argument is found in 2 Tim. 2. Nowhere, perhaps is it stated more clearly than in the first chapter to the Epistle to the Galatians. He 'marvels' that they are so soon turned away from the gospel which he had preached to them: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; which is not another..." (Gal. 1:6-7) How can he say that if you do not define the gospel? But that is far removed from the modern http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=08b59454a9a749928b0cattitude, and the way in which the subject of unity is being presented today.
From:
The Basis of Christian Unity (1962)
The majority-view today holds that the way to produce unity is not to discuss and consider doctrine, but rather to work together and pray together. The slogans include 'doctrine divides'. This becomes serious when applied to the question of evangelism. The most common argument used is that evangelism is impossible apart from this unity, that a divided church is an offense to the world, and that while we are divided the world will not listen to us. During an evangelistic campaign in London, a Christian newspaper carried the headline: "Let us have a theological truce during the Campaign".
A well-known theological leader had also committed himself to this: "We can all at any rate be ecumenical in evangelism". http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9360eab2d678461a565cThat it is only after the stage of evangelism that you begin to consider doctrine is a very common and prevailing view.
All of this makes it of vital importance that we should be clear in our thinking on these questions which I have raised with regard to the basis of Christian unity. ...
The New Testament everywhere insists upon true doctrine. I emphasize this because, as we have seen, the whole tendency today is to discourage talk about doctrine and to urge that we work together, because 'doctrine divides'. Doctrine is being discounted in the interests of supposed unity. The fact is, however, that there is no unity apart from truth and doctrine, and it is departure from this that causes division and breaks unity. The first thing the New Testament emphasizes is that doctrine can be defined.
If this were not so Paul would never have written his Epistle to the Romans. ... He had been unable to visit them, so he writes to them a summary of his teaching. It is a great doctrinal statement in which the cardinal doctrines of justification, atonement, union with Christ, assurance, the final perseverance of the saints, and so on, are set forth.
Let us remind ourselves again of 1 Corinthians 3:11: "Other foundation can no man lay than is laid". The apostle had already laid it: Jesus Christ and Him crucified; there is no other. That is an absolute. What is the purpose of 1Corinthians 15? Is it not to say just this: that belief or disbelief in the literal physical resurrection is not an immaterial or unimportant point? The apostle says that it is as important as this, that if it had not happened, "then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain...ye are yet in your sins" (verses 14,17). But the whole tendency today is to say that it does not matter whether a man believes in the literal physical resurrection or not. The apostle Paul says that it is an absolute and that there is no gospel apart from it: 'Ye are yet in your sins'!
The same argument is found in 2 Tim. 2. Nowhere, perhaps is it stated more clearly than in the first chapter to the Epistle to the Galatians. He 'marvels' that they are so soon turned away from the gospel which he had preached to them: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; which is not another..." (Gal. 1:6-7) How can he say that if you do not define the gospel? But that is far removed from the modern http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=08b59454a9a749928b0cattitude, and the way in which the subject of unity is being presented today.
From:
The Basis of Christian Unity (1962)
Numerical Growth Can Be Deceptive
Quoting Nathan Busenitz . . .
Numerical growth can take place for wrong reasons. For example, during Jesus' ministry, much of the crowd that followed him was more interested in his miracles than in his message (John 6:26). In fact, the wrong measure of success can be outright deadly - lulling churches into thinking that they are doing well when in fact they are not.
Quantitative growth can be deceptive. It may be no more than the mushrooming of a mechanically induced, psychological or social movement, a numerical count, an agglomeration of individuals or groups, an increase of a body without the development of muscle and vital organs. . . . In many ways the expansion of Christendom has come at the expense of the purity of the gospel and true Christian order and life. The church has become infested with pagan beliefs and practices, and is syncretistic in theology. . . . Large segments have become Christo-pagan.
Sadly, by watering-down the message and using unbiblical methods, [these churches] may be doing more harm than good - filling their auditoriums with vast crowds of lost people who think they're spiritually okay.
Having investigated both its evangelistic message and its evangelistic model, the sad conclusion is that the gospel according to Hybels and Warren falls far short of the biblical paradigm. Influenced more by pragmatic business principles than by prescribed biblical precepts, it is little wonder that seeker-driven churches are both numerically vast and spiritually shallow. Christ, of course, promised that He would build His church (Matt. 16:18). However, it is obvious that the building must be according to His plan. Attempting to build the church by human means only competes with the work of Christ.
Instead of always looking for new ways to do ministry, pastors and evangelists should content themselves with studying and applying the biblical principles for evangelism - being ever mindful of their God-given calling. God has already given His church the instructions they need. When they invent their own instructions, the end result is guaranteed to fall short of His standards. ...
From:
The Gospel According to Hybels & Warren
Numerical growth can take place for wrong reasons. For example, during Jesus' ministry, much of the crowd that followed him was more interested in his miracles than in his message (John 6:26). In fact, the wrong measure of success can be outright deadly - lulling churches into thinking that they are doing well when in fact they are not.
Quantitative growth can be deceptive. It may be no more than the mushrooming of a mechanically induced, psychological or social movement, a numerical count, an agglomeration of individuals or groups, an increase of a body without the development of muscle and vital organs. . . . In many ways the expansion of Christendom has come at the expense of the purity of the gospel and true Christian order and life. The church has become infested with pagan beliefs and practices, and is syncretistic in theology. . . . Large segments have become Christo-pagan.
Sadly, by watering-down the message and using unbiblical methods, [these churches] may be doing more harm than good - filling their auditoriums with vast crowds of lost people who think they're spiritually okay.
Having investigated both its evangelistic message and its evangelistic model, the sad conclusion is that the gospel according to Hybels and Warren falls far short of the biblical paradigm. Influenced more by pragmatic business principles than by prescribed biblical precepts, it is little wonder that seeker-driven churches are both numerically vast and spiritually shallow. Christ, of course, promised that He would build His church (Matt. 16:18). However, it is obvious that the building must be according to His plan. Attempting to build the church by human means only competes with the work of Christ.
Instead of always looking for new ways to do ministry, pastors and evangelists should content themselves with studying and applying the biblical principles for evangelism - being ever mindful of their God-given calling. God has already given His church the instructions they need. When they invent their own instructions, the end result is guaranteed to fall short of His standards. ...
From:
The Gospel According to Hybels & Warren
God's Worship Style is Not Entertaining & Casual
Much of today's worship is oriented, consciously or not, around the idea of entertainment. Pastors and elders fall under tremendous pressure to conduct services that are lively, practical, and relevant in order to keep the people in the pews interested in what is happening. The constant fear is that members will leave a boring style of worship for the church across town with better music, a bigger and younger congregation, and with better lighting and sound systems.
Sermons are becoming messages geared more to "felt" needs than to driving home the needs that the bible says fallen men and women (both redeemed and unredeemed) have. And the message itself is delivered by someone who tries to come across as a "regular guy," not God's servant who is a steward of the mysteries of God, who must handle the word of truth with care, and who has been set apart for this holy task.
Writing in the Christian Century, Edward Farley recently commented that contemporary worship creates a tone that is "casual, comfortable, chatty, busy, humorous, pleasant and at a time even cute." He goes on to suggest that "if the seraphim assumed this Sunday morning mood, they would be addressing God not only as 'holy, holy, holy', but as 'nice, nice, nice.'"
Some defenders of contemporary worship even go as far as to deny that there is any distinction between the purposes of worship and the purposes of entertainment. In a recent book tellingly titled Entertainment Evangelism, one megachurch pastor argues that effective worship is measured by the extent to which it is a good entertainment. This is because those "raised in an entertainment age find church to be insufficiently interesting or stimulating".
Another book puts it more cautiously when it asserts that worship should take place in "an informal service with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, and contemporary styles in language and music". Following this logic, worship style becomes a matter of taste. We would agree, but only if the taste that He is referring to is God's taste. Irreverent worship is a violation of God's holy style. God desires reverent worship, worship that reflects the seriousness that is inherent in a religion that required the death of His only begotten Son in order to redeem a chosen people from the bonds of sin and misery, and to deliver them into the glorious blessedness of God's children.
From:
With Reverence and Awe
Sermons are becoming messages geared more to "felt" needs than to driving home the needs that the bible says fallen men and women (both redeemed and unredeemed) have. And the message itself is delivered by someone who tries to come across as a "regular guy," not God's servant who is a steward of the mysteries of God, who must handle the word of truth with care, and who has been set apart for this holy task.
Writing in the Christian Century, Edward Farley recently commented that contemporary worship creates a tone that is "casual, comfortable, chatty, busy, humorous, pleasant and at a time even cute." He goes on to suggest that "if the seraphim assumed this Sunday morning mood, they would be addressing God not only as 'holy, holy, holy', but as 'nice, nice, nice.'"
Some defenders of contemporary worship even go as far as to deny that there is any distinction between the purposes of worship and the purposes of entertainment. In a recent book tellingly titled Entertainment Evangelism, one megachurch pastor argues that effective worship is measured by the extent to which it is a good entertainment. This is because those "raised in an entertainment age find church to be insufficiently interesting or stimulating".
Another book puts it more cautiously when it asserts that worship should take place in "an informal service with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, and contemporary styles in language and music". Following this logic, worship style becomes a matter of taste. We would agree, but only if the taste that He is referring to is God's taste. Irreverent worship is a violation of God's holy style. God desires reverent worship, worship that reflects the seriousness that is inherent in a religion that required the death of His only begotten Son in order to redeem a chosen people from the bonds of sin and misery, and to deliver them into the glorious blessedness of God's children.
From:
With Reverence and Awe
The TRUTH of God's Word does MATTER
“The majority-view today holds that the way to produce unity is not to discuss and consider doctrine, but rather to work together and pray together. The slogans include ‘doctrine divides’. This becomes serious when applied to the question of evangelism. The most common argument used is that evangelism is impossible apart from this unity, that a divided church is an offense to the world, and that while we are divided the world will not listen to us. During an evangelistic campaign in London, a Christian newspaper carried the headline: “Let us have a theological truce during the Campaign“.
LUIS PALAU TEAM UP WITH JACK GRAHAM AND T.D JAKES.
Here is another instance of prominent evangelical leaders partnering with a popular heretical leader. Luis Palau, widely know for his circus evangelism events, and Dr. Jack Graham, Dallas pastor and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, have entered into a partnership with Modalist pastor T.D. Jakes. Christian Post reports….
The GDOP (Global Day of Prayer) broadcast this year is part of a local Christian initiative collectively called “Transformation Dallas” which includes: the Global Day of Prayer; 90 days of love-in-action through urban renewal in depressed areas of the city; and “Celebrate Freedom,” a Christian music and extreme sports festival featuring Luis Palau expected to draw 200,000 people June 29-30.
“Dallas is one of my favorite cities in the world,” Palau said, who joined the Jakes-Graham team GDOP broadcast last year, in a statement. “I’m inspired and encouraged by its diversity and by the powerful impact of the church community at so many levels. It’s also blessed with some of the greatest leaders in the Christian faith.”
Sadly, this is one more example of what happens when leaders become more interested in numbers and popularity than being totally true to the Word of God. Rick Warren, Erwin McManus, Ed Yound Sr., Ed Young Jr. have all be a part of movements or events that have knowingly compromise the faith. It seems that once the newspaper articles are written and the TV cameras start rollin, some will do anything to just “get along”. Where are the voices of leadership to say this is wrong?
The GDOP (Global Day of Prayer) broadcast this year is part of a local Christian initiative collectively called “Transformation Dallas” which includes: the Global Day of Prayer; 90 days of love-in-action through urban renewal in depressed areas of the city; and “Celebrate Freedom,” a Christian music and extreme sports festival featuring Luis Palau expected to draw 200,000 people June 29-30.
“Dallas is one of my favorite cities in the world,” Palau said, who joined the Jakes-Graham team GDOP broadcast last year, in a statement. “I’m inspired and encouraged by its diversity and by the powerful impact of the church community at so many levels. It’s also blessed with some of the greatest leaders in the Christian faith.”
Sadly, this is one more example of what happens when leaders become more interested in numbers and popularity than being totally true to the Word of God. Rick Warren, Erwin McManus, Ed Yound Sr., Ed Young Jr. have all be a part of movements or events that have knowingly compromise the faith. It seems that once the newspaper articles are written and the TV cameras start rollin, some will do anything to just “get along”. Where are the voices of leadership to say this is wrong?
KNOW FEAR ?
God is a loving God, right? Ask anyone on the street about God and you are more than likely to get a description of God that includes love. Typically this “love” ends up meaning that God doesn’t judge sin or send anyone to hell — it’s an inadequate understanding of love. But the point remains, people understand God to be loving.
So many of God’s attributes like grace, mercy, tenderness, patience, and forgiveness, are indicative of His love. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Paul affirms God’s love again in Ephesians 2:4-5 when he writes, “but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” What about 1 John 4:7? “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.” Even the glorious John 3:16 begins, “For God so loved the world . . . .”
But, have you ever noticed that despite all the descriptions of God’s love, you and I are exhorted throughout the Bible to fear God? Why? If God is love why would I fear Him? Doesn’t 1 John 4:18 say, “perfect love casts out fear?” How can I fear a God who is perfect and whose love is perfect? Perfect love does cast out fear; nevertheless, we must fear God.
You see, there is more than one kind of fear in the Bible. In Scripture we find the kind of fear that is characterized by being afraid. There are people who should fear God in this way. They should be afraid of God. Unrepentant sinners have much to fear, since their sins have not been covered by Christ’s blood. Such individuals do not realize the full implications of Hebrews 10:31. Ironically, the people who need to be afraid of God — because He is a powerful and just God who will condemn unrepentant sinners to an eternity in hell — are the very people who do not fear Him.
The other kind of fear is distinguished by two primary qualities – holy reverence and obedience. Just like someone who walks away unharmed from a car crash which should have taken his or her life, we too need to reflect on God’s love demonstrated to us through the death of His Son with a sober and reverential heart. But reverence without action makes a mockery of God’s love. If we truly fear God with a holy reverence then we will demonstrate that fear by worshiping Him.
Allen Ross puts it this way, “The fear of the Lord expresses reverential submission to the Lord’s will – it characterizes a true worshiper.” If we have a holy reverence toward God then we will worship Him, and that worship is most vividly expressed by obedience.
I am amazed just how many times in Scripture the fear of the Lord and obedience are treated as equal. In Deuteronomy 6:2 the Israelites were to fear God, “by keeping all His statutes and His commandments.” In Joshua 24:14, at Shechem Joshua challenged the people to “fear the Lord and serve Him in all sincerity and truth.” Solomon’s life-long pursuits revealed that we are to “fear God and keep His commandments.”
So fearing the God who is love does not present the believer with a conflict of interest. In fact, we fear God because He is a loving God. But our fear is not a terrified dread; rather it is an attitude of holy reverence which is demonstrated by worship and obedience.
So many of God’s attributes like grace, mercy, tenderness, patience, and forgiveness, are indicative of His love. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Paul affirms God’s love again in Ephesians 2:4-5 when he writes, “but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” What about 1 John 4:7? “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God.” Even the glorious John 3:16 begins, “For God so loved the world . . . .”
But, have you ever noticed that despite all the descriptions of God’s love, you and I are exhorted throughout the Bible to fear God? Why? If God is love why would I fear Him? Doesn’t 1 John 4:18 say, “perfect love casts out fear?” How can I fear a God who is perfect and whose love is perfect? Perfect love does cast out fear; nevertheless, we must fear God.
You see, there is more than one kind of fear in the Bible. In Scripture we find the kind of fear that is characterized by being afraid. There are people who should fear God in this way. They should be afraid of God. Unrepentant sinners have much to fear, since their sins have not been covered by Christ’s blood. Such individuals do not realize the full implications of Hebrews 10:31. Ironically, the people who need to be afraid of God — because He is a powerful and just God who will condemn unrepentant sinners to an eternity in hell — are the very people who do not fear Him.
The other kind of fear is distinguished by two primary qualities – holy reverence and obedience. Just like someone who walks away unharmed from a car crash which should have taken his or her life, we too need to reflect on God’s love demonstrated to us through the death of His Son with a sober and reverential heart. But reverence without action makes a mockery of God’s love. If we truly fear God with a holy reverence then we will demonstrate that fear by worshiping Him.
Allen Ross puts it this way, “The fear of the Lord expresses reverential submission to the Lord’s will – it characterizes a true worshiper.” If we have a holy reverence toward God then we will worship Him, and that worship is most vividly expressed by obedience.
I am amazed just how many times in Scripture the fear of the Lord and obedience are treated as equal. In Deuteronomy 6:2 the Israelites were to fear God, “by keeping all His statutes and His commandments.” In Joshua 24:14, at Shechem Joshua challenged the people to “fear the Lord and serve Him in all sincerity and truth.” Solomon’s life-long pursuits revealed that we are to “fear God and keep His commandments.”
So fearing the God who is love does not present the believer with a conflict of interest. In fact, we fear God because He is a loving God. But our fear is not a terrified dread; rather it is an attitude of holy reverence which is demonstrated by worship and obedience.
Rick Warren 'Works With' and 'Strengthens' Mormon Churches and Other Non-Christian Sects
Did you know that Rick Warren and Saddleback church will work with and help ANY church become "Purpose-Driven" regardless of its 'doctrinal convictions'?
Here is what Saddleback Church said last week:
"There are Purpose Driven congregations in more than 200 different denominations and associations. Our desire is to work with denominations to strengthen their churches. Each church can maintain its own heritage and doctrinal convictions while cooperating with others on accomplishing the five purposes" (Online Source)
By their own admission Rick Warren and his Purpose-Driven ministries will 'work with' and 'strengthen' ANY church.
Where does this 'strengthening' and 'working with' take place?
Answer: At a Purpose-Driven Church Pastors-Training Seminar
Here is what the Purpose-Driven website says:
The Purpose Driven model offers leaders in your church a unique, biblically-based approach to help them establish, transform, or maintain a balanced, growing congregation. What is a balanced, growing congregation? It’s one that is growing larger in numbers as it grows deeper in carrying out the God-given purposes for churches... (Online Source)
But, did you know that these training sessions are attended by Mormons, Catholics and Jews?
Here is what Rick Warren told USAToday about his "Purpose Driven" training programs:
"Warren's pastor-training programs welcome Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women." (Online Source)
Wait a minute! Mormons and Jews are NOT Christians. How on Earth can a "Christian Pastor" 'work with' them and help them 'strengthen' and grow their congregations?
Here is Rick Warren's explanation for training Mormons and Jews. Said Warren:
"I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won't try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?"
Since when is helping to strengthen and grow a non-Christian church a "non-essential"?
Christians are not called upon to help train non-Christian churches on how to strengthen and grow their congregations! Those congregations are sending people to hell? We don't want them to be healthy, strong and growing. We want those non-Christian churches to shrink and die by having their members repent and believe in the true gospel.
Plus, God forbids Christians to do this! Here is what the Bible says on this matter:
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
Sorry, Warren's explanation demonstrates a complete disregard for clear Biblical teaching! Warren said that he didn't want to be 'divisive' but in reality Warren IS being divisive by flatout disobeying God and helping to strengthen and grow these non-Christian sects.
Sadly, Rick Warren is trying to portray himself as being 'magnanimous' by working with leaders from all faiths and "building bridges" with them. But, when you compare what he is doing to what God’s Word tells us to do you'll discover that the correct word to describe Warren's behavior IS "divisive". The reason for this is because he is being openly rebellious to God's clear commands which forbid Christians to be in partnership with false churches and unbelievers.
For those of you tempted to think that USAToday got their facts wrong, please consider this: The week that the USAToday story broke, Rick Warren's Pastors.com website said this about the article:
Click Here to Visit the Pastors.com website
Rather than repudiate the article's claims regarding Warren's training of Mormons and Jews, Rick Warren instead asked for people to pray that the article would be successful in introducing the "The Purpose-Driven Life to a whole new secular audience."
Rick Warren obviously approved of this article and its contents.
Here is what Saddleback Church said last week:
"There are Purpose Driven congregations in more than 200 different denominations and associations. Our desire is to work with denominations to strengthen their churches. Each church can maintain its own heritage and doctrinal convictions while cooperating with others on accomplishing the five purposes" (Online Source)
By their own admission Rick Warren and his Purpose-Driven ministries will 'work with' and 'strengthen' ANY church.
Where does this 'strengthening' and 'working with' take place?
Answer: At a Purpose-Driven Church Pastors-Training Seminar
Here is what the Purpose-Driven website says:
The Purpose Driven model offers leaders in your church a unique, biblically-based approach to help them establish, transform, or maintain a balanced, growing congregation. What is a balanced, growing congregation? It’s one that is growing larger in numbers as it grows deeper in carrying out the God-given purposes for churches... (Online Source)
But, did you know that these training sessions are attended by Mormons, Catholics and Jews?
Here is what Rick Warren told USAToday about his "Purpose Driven" training programs:
"Warren's pastor-training programs welcome Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women." (Online Source)
Wait a minute! Mormons and Jews are NOT Christians. How on Earth can a "Christian Pastor" 'work with' them and help them 'strengthen' and grow their congregations?
Here is Rick Warren's explanation for training Mormons and Jews. Said Warren:
"I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won't try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?"
Since when is helping to strengthen and grow a non-Christian church a "non-essential"?
Christians are not called upon to help train non-Christian churches on how to strengthen and grow their congregations! Those congregations are sending people to hell? We don't want them to be healthy, strong and growing. We want those non-Christian churches to shrink and die by having their members repent and believe in the true gospel.
Plus, God forbids Christians to do this! Here is what the Bible says on this matter:
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
Sorry, Warren's explanation demonstrates a complete disregard for clear Biblical teaching! Warren said that he didn't want to be 'divisive' but in reality Warren IS being divisive by flatout disobeying God and helping to strengthen and grow these non-Christian sects.
Sadly, Rick Warren is trying to portray himself as being 'magnanimous' by working with leaders from all faiths and "building bridges" with them. But, when you compare what he is doing to what God’s Word tells us to do you'll discover that the correct word to describe Warren's behavior IS "divisive". The reason for this is because he is being openly rebellious to God's clear commands which forbid Christians to be in partnership with false churches and unbelievers.
For those of you tempted to think that USAToday got their facts wrong, please consider this: The week that the USAToday story broke, Rick Warren's Pastors.com website said this about the article:
Click Here to Visit the Pastors.com website
Rather than repudiate the article's claims regarding Warren's training of Mormons and Jews, Rick Warren instead asked for people to pray that the article would be successful in introducing the "The Purpose-Driven Life to a whole new secular audience."
Rick Warren obviously approved of this article and its contents.
One-Eyed Monster
We have an idol in our home
With one great glaring eye,
He occupies the foremost place
And I will tell you why...
We sacrifice to him our time:
Because he'll entertain
And to our bulging eyes display
All of life's sorry train.
Of vice, and crime, and viciousness,
Or horror, shame, and sin
(We've wasted many precious hours
Since we have let him in.)
For now he dominaters our home,
For God we have no time,
Our eyes are dimmed by gunsmoke
And our minds are filled with crime.
"I bring into your living room
Bartender, harlot, theif,
And from the sick commercials
I give you no relief.
" I brainwash little children, and prepare
Their minds for what they hear;
I make attractive violence,
Sin, cigarettes and beer.
"You speak of young deliquents
And deplore theii evil deeds
While I continue merrily
To sow the vicious seeds.
"The cheating wife, or husband,
Is the accepted thing
We're living in a 'modern' world,
Go to it, have your fling!
"Away with outworn 'standards'
Our day is moderized,
There's no such thing as right or wrong,
For sin is glamorized.
"I set the world's criteria,
I am the houshold god
(If you protest against me,
You're a puritanic clod!)
"I am the one that rules your home,
From God I turn your heart
I fill your mind with banal trash
By foul hypnotic art."
Once family altars occupied
The place where we now see
The glaring eye of Cyclops,
Though now he's called "TV."
With one great glaring eye,
He occupies the foremost place
And I will tell you why...
We sacrifice to him our time:
Because he'll entertain
And to our bulging eyes display
All of life's sorry train.
Of vice, and crime, and viciousness,
Or horror, shame, and sin
(We've wasted many precious hours
Since we have let him in.)
For now he dominaters our home,
For God we have no time,
Our eyes are dimmed by gunsmoke
And our minds are filled with crime.
"I bring into your living room
Bartender, harlot, theif,
And from the sick commercials
I give you no relief.
" I brainwash little children, and prepare
Their minds for what they hear;
I make attractive violence,
Sin, cigarettes and beer.
"You speak of young deliquents
And deplore theii evil deeds
While I continue merrily
To sow the vicious seeds.
"The cheating wife, or husband,
Is the accepted thing
We're living in a 'modern' world,
Go to it, have your fling!
"Away with outworn 'standards'
Our day is moderized,
There's no such thing as right or wrong,
For sin is glamorized.
"I set the world's criteria,
I am the houshold god
(If you protest against me,
You're a puritanic clod!)
"I am the one that rules your home,
From God I turn your heart
I fill your mind with banal trash
By foul hypnotic art."
Once family altars occupied
The place where we now see
The glaring eye of Cyclops,
Though now he's called "TV."
Monday, May 21, 2007
ONE SINGLE SENTENCE
“I hold one single sentence out of God’s Word to be of more certainty and of more power than all the discoveries of all the learned men of all the ages”C.H. SPURGEON
Blessing him for pain and affliction
I bear my witness that the worst days I have ever had have turned out to be my best days. And when God has seemed most cruel to me, he has then been most kind. If there is anything in this world for which I would bless him more than for anything else, it is for pain and affliction. I am sure that in these things the richest, tenderest love has been manifested to me.Our Father's wagons rumble most heavily when they are bringing us the richest freight of the bullion of his grace. Love letters from heaven are often sent in black-edged envelopes. The cloud that is black with horror is big with mercy. Fear not the storm. It brings healing in its wings, and when Jesus is with you in the vessel, the tempest only hastens the ship to its desired haven. –Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Bearing the Cross By John Calvin
Still, however, we see not how necessary that obedience is, unless we at the same time consider
how prone our carnal nature is to shake off the yoke of God whenever it has been treated with some
degree of gentleness and indulgence. It just happens to it as with refractory horses, which, if kept
idle for a few days at hack and manger, become ungovernable, and no longer recognize the rider,
whose command before they implicitly obeyed. And we invariably become what God complains
of in the people of Israel—waxing gross and fat, we kick against him who reared and nursed us,
(Deut. xxxii. 15.) The kindness of God should allure us to ponder and love his goodness; but since
such is our malignity, that we are invariably corrupted by his indulgence, it is more than necessary
for us to be restrained by discipline from breaking forth into such petulance. Thus, lest we become
emboldened by an over-abundance of wealth; lest elated with honour, we grow proud; lest inflated
with other advantages of body, or mind, or fortune, we grow insolent, the Lord himself interferes
as he sees to be expedient by means of the cross, subduing and curbing the arrogance of our flesh,
and that in various ways, as the advantage of each requires. For as we do not all equally labour
under the same disease, so we do not all need the same difficult cure. Hence we see that all are not
exercised with the same kind of cross. While the heavenly Physician treats some more gently, in
the case of others he employs harsher remedies, his purpose being to provide a cure for all. Still
none is left free and untouched, because he knows that all, without a single exception, are diseased.
[John Calvin—On the Christian life-Ch. 3]
how prone our carnal nature is to shake off the yoke of God whenever it has been treated with some
degree of gentleness and indulgence. It just happens to it as with refractory horses, which, if kept
idle for a few days at hack and manger, become ungovernable, and no longer recognize the rider,
whose command before they implicitly obeyed. And we invariably become what God complains
of in the people of Israel—waxing gross and fat, we kick against him who reared and nursed us,
(Deut. xxxii. 15.) The kindness of God should allure us to ponder and love his goodness; but since
such is our malignity, that we are invariably corrupted by his indulgence, it is more than necessary
for us to be restrained by discipline from breaking forth into such petulance. Thus, lest we become
emboldened by an over-abundance of wealth; lest elated with honour, we grow proud; lest inflated
with other advantages of body, or mind, or fortune, we grow insolent, the Lord himself interferes
as he sees to be expedient by means of the cross, subduing and curbing the arrogance of our flesh,
and that in various ways, as the advantage of each requires. For as we do not all equally labour
under the same disease, so we do not all need the same difficult cure. Hence we see that all are not
exercised with the same kind of cross. While the heavenly Physician treats some more gently, in
the case of others he employs harsher remedies, his purpose being to provide a cure for all. Still
none is left free and untouched, because he knows that all, without a single exception, are diseased.
[John Calvin—On the Christian life-Ch. 3]
MOTIVATED BY LOVE By Nathan Williams
What motivates you to continued faithfulness in ministry?
I believe this is a question we should stop and consider frequently. If you are honest with yourself, I think you will find that any number of things motivate you to faithfulness in ministry. Anything from the desire to continue earning a paycheck and supporting your family to a sincere love for the people to whom you are ministering. These along with so many other desires motivate us to service. While some secondary motivations are good and necessary and some are inherently sinful, there is one motivating factor that stands above all the rest to spur us on to continued faithfulness in ministry.
This one unequivocal truth is that the God of the universe has set His own personal love upon us. The Scriptures are saturated with explaining the love that God has for His people and they consistently tie this love into our motivation for loving others and service for Christ.
1 John 4:10-11: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15: “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
I fear that in our ministries we can lose sight of the love that God has for us. We extinguish passion for ministry by focusing on ourselves and others to the neglect of considering our loving God. Of course we need to think about others and keep a watch on ourselves, but not to the point where we neglect focusing on God and His love. We often need to get our attention refocused on the love God has for us and let this motivate us to faithful, fruitful ministry.
Here are two practical ways to consider the love of God:
I. Consider the Doctrine of Election
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
God’s love for us is the basis for His election of us. He made us alive together with Christ because of the great love that He has for us. Election is truly a remarkable doctrine and one that will surely motivate us to praise and serve Christ. Scripture makes it clear that election is based on nothing inherently good within us (Rom. 9:11-13; Titus 3:4-7). God simply chose us for His own glory and His own good pleasure. Wayne Grudem summarizes the doctrine of election:
“Election is an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.”
When we realize that every person born into the world is a natural God-hater, this doctrine becomes even more amazing. Scripture is clear that we have no interest in God and even rebel against Him from the day we are born (Rom. 3:10-18). Yet, God chose to pursue us with His love and give us a new heart that is able to love Him in return. The doctrine of election certainly gives us insight into the very heart of God and motivates us to serve this God in ministry.
II. Consider the Gospel
The doctrine of election is certainly a major part of the Gospel. God chose people for salvation before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-4). However, God not only chose them for salvation but then sent His only Son to become a man and die so He could secure the salvation of those He had chosen.
Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The life and death of Christ are the demonstration of the love of God for us. Christ came to earth so that He could live a perfect and sinless life and then receive the wrath of God in death on our behalf. First John 4:10 tells us that God made Christ the propitiation for our sins. He completely satisfied the anger of God toward those of us who are Christians. The truly remarkable thing about this truth is that God put to death His only son for a bunch of sinners. Understanding the Gospel means understanding our own condition before a Holy God. When we begin to grasp the seriousness of our sin against God and the astounding story of the cross, then we will begin to grasp the depth of the love of God toward us.
“And that for such as these Christ should die is such a mystery, such a paradox, such an unprecedented instance of love, that it may well be our business to eternity to adore and wonder at it.” (Matthew Henry)
The challenge for those of us who have been Christians for some time is to continually be amazed by the love of God. We so easily get involved in ministry and get our attention focused on those around us that we forget to be motivated by the love of God. C.J. Mahaney speaks to our casual relationship with the love God has for us:
“The word amazement is related to the word maze, and its root meaning has to do with being perplexed and bewildered. But when you tell non-Christians, “God loves you,” they are not surprised, they are not stunned, they are not perplexed. Regrettably, the same is true among most evangelicals, who simply assume this gracious disposition of God-and therefore presume upon it.”
I hope you will be challenged to take a fresh look at the love God has for you and that this love will motivate you to pursue ministry with a renewed sense of purpose.
I believe this is a question we should stop and consider frequently. If you are honest with yourself, I think you will find that any number of things motivate you to faithfulness in ministry. Anything from the desire to continue earning a paycheck and supporting your family to a sincere love for the people to whom you are ministering. These along with so many other desires motivate us to service. While some secondary motivations are good and necessary and some are inherently sinful, there is one motivating factor that stands above all the rest to spur us on to continued faithfulness in ministry.
This one unequivocal truth is that the God of the universe has set His own personal love upon us. The Scriptures are saturated with explaining the love that God has for His people and they consistently tie this love into our motivation for loving others and service for Christ.
1 John 4:10-11: “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15: “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
I fear that in our ministries we can lose sight of the love that God has for us. We extinguish passion for ministry by focusing on ourselves and others to the neglect of considering our loving God. Of course we need to think about others and keep a watch on ourselves, but not to the point where we neglect focusing on God and His love. We often need to get our attention refocused on the love God has for us and let this motivate us to faithful, fruitful ministry.
Here are two practical ways to consider the love of God:
I. Consider the Doctrine of Election
Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
God’s love for us is the basis for His election of us. He made us alive together with Christ because of the great love that He has for us. Election is truly a remarkable doctrine and one that will surely motivate us to praise and serve Christ. Scripture makes it clear that election is based on nothing inherently good within us (Rom. 9:11-13; Titus 3:4-7). God simply chose us for His own glory and His own good pleasure. Wayne Grudem summarizes the doctrine of election:
“Election is an act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.”
When we realize that every person born into the world is a natural God-hater, this doctrine becomes even more amazing. Scripture is clear that we have no interest in God and even rebel against Him from the day we are born (Rom. 3:10-18). Yet, God chose to pursue us with His love and give us a new heart that is able to love Him in return. The doctrine of election certainly gives us insight into the very heart of God and motivates us to serve this God in ministry.
II. Consider the Gospel
The doctrine of election is certainly a major part of the Gospel. God chose people for salvation before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3-4). However, God not only chose them for salvation but then sent His only Son to become a man and die so He could secure the salvation of those He had chosen.
Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The life and death of Christ are the demonstration of the love of God for us. Christ came to earth so that He could live a perfect and sinless life and then receive the wrath of God in death on our behalf. First John 4:10 tells us that God made Christ the propitiation for our sins. He completely satisfied the anger of God toward those of us who are Christians. The truly remarkable thing about this truth is that God put to death His only son for a bunch of sinners. Understanding the Gospel means understanding our own condition before a Holy God. When we begin to grasp the seriousness of our sin against God and the astounding story of the cross, then we will begin to grasp the depth of the love of God toward us.
“And that for such as these Christ should die is such a mystery, such a paradox, such an unprecedented instance of love, that it may well be our business to eternity to adore and wonder at it.” (Matthew Henry)
The challenge for those of us who have been Christians for some time is to continually be amazed by the love of God. We so easily get involved in ministry and get our attention focused on those around us that we forget to be motivated by the love of God. C.J. Mahaney speaks to our casual relationship with the love God has for us:
“The word amazement is related to the word maze, and its root meaning has to do with being perplexed and bewildered. But when you tell non-Christians, “God loves you,” they are not surprised, they are not stunned, they are not perplexed. Regrettably, the same is true among most evangelicals, who simply assume this gracious disposition of God-and therefore presume upon it.”
I hope you will be challenged to take a fresh look at the love God has for you and that this love will motivate you to pursue ministry with a renewed sense of purpose.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
HERE I STAND
Here I stand,What about you ?http://theexpositor.wordpress.com/2007/05/12/here-i-stand/
I say TRUTH DOES MATTER and it's time for a modern day Reformation
I say TRUTH DOES MATTER and it's time for a modern day Reformation
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