Forgiving Someone That Does Not Deserve It - A Study on Philemon

Besides all the reading it requires to work on a master’s! -  I have been diving head long into the letter Paul wrote to Philemon. In fact, over the next month, I will be leading our SS class through this letter. I owe much to the ESV study Bible, and various podcast pastors for my understanding of this tiny letter. Philemon is quickly becoming one of my favorite (if not my favorite) “book” of the Bible!

Philemon

The Background -

Paul wrote this small letter to Philemon, his family, and the whole church in Colossae (v. 1-2). Many think this was a private letter, I believe that is not the case. Paul wrote to Philemon while he was incarcerated in Rome, along with other books of Bible including: Philippians, Ephesians, and Colossians. In fact, the church of Colossae met in Philemon’s house (v.2). It is believed that Paul lead Philemon to Christ during Paul’s trip to Ephesus (about 100 miles from Colossae).

The Characters –

Philemon = Philemon was a very wealthy slave – holding Christian man. As a result, he purchased and bought many slaves including Onesimus. There is no evidence that Philemon was an elder of the church at Colossae, but was influential.

Apphia  = Philemon’s wife

Archippus = Philemon’s son, who was believed to be in full time ministry. For info on his name check out Colossians 4:10-18.

Onesimus =  A slave bought and owned by Philemon. Onesimus wanted his freedom. So, he escaped from Philemon, stole from Philemon (v.18-19), and ran as a fugitive slave to Rome. It is in Rome where he was a runaway slave, homeless, and living on the streets. By God’s providence (Oh! How amazing is His providence) he bumped into Paul, who shared the Gospel with him, and gave His life to Christ! The show the amazing works of God’s sovereignty in our lives. God took Onesimus away from Colossae, to Rome, to bring Him to Himself. God has a sovereign working in all of our salvation stories…what is yours?!

Theme – The tiny letter bleeds the Gospel. Love, forgiveness, the Gospel transforming lives, a new heart, restoration, and reconciliation are hallmarks of every believer. This just pours out of the letters that make up Philemon. Paul is writing to Philemon to accept Onesimus back and to: forgive him, erase his owned debt, love him as a brother in Christ, and to be reconciled to him.  

The difficulty of forgiveness = we live in a world that does not like forgiveness. In fact Hollywood celebrates characters that get revenge on those who hurt them. Now, I am a sucker and enjoy watching westerns and mafia movies. Tombstone and Goodfellows are two of my favorites. The mafia and Doc Holliday are not very good at forgiving.   

Before we begin this study, ask yourself:

Is the there anybody have a hard time with? Especially, with the holidays ahead, you may have to be around that person?

Is there anyone you need to forgive that does not deserve forgiveness?  

Are you holding a grudge? Do you enjoy holding a grudge and play “getting them back” in your mind?

As believers we must forgive. WHY!! Because that is the Gospel!! If we don’t forgive, we are the biggest hypocrites around. How can we REJOICE in Christ forgiving us and then we the same heart, not forgive someone, especially another Christian!! That is not how the Christian responds. Christians have the ability to forgive stems from the new heart. What does Jesus say….Matthew 18:22– 70 X 7

An Unforgiving person has these poisons running through their veins: imprisoned to the hurtful/painful past, blames others for their unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip, slander and it shows on his or her face.

Now my friends, forgive.

The Chief End of Man

I recently asked this question to some friends: What is the purpose of your life? What is the reason God created you? After a discussion, my answer came out: What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Over the past few days I have been reading/studying the topic: to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. What does it practically mean to glorify God? As I live my life, day in and day out, being a husband, father, student, and working in full time ministry – what does it look like??

First I had to define the term. Glory is defined as the honor that everything in the universe ascribes to God. To glorify God in our lives would mean our actions and motives are set on honoring God with every area of our lives. That is the meaning of the famous verse in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” As Christians we are slaves to Jesus. Everything we do, say, or think is done in a way to honor our King Jesus. Or to say it another way, we are PR agents for God.

However, our hearts produce idols, idols of every kind.  We can easily give glory to things, ideas, people, or causes. What we honor gets our time, energy, and money. What we honor, we sacrifice for. As Believers, we are slaves to Jesus and Him only. BUT.. idols pop up and we have to recognize them and repent. Examples of what can easily take our honor:

·         Sports teams – (money) People give $1,000’s of dollars for season tickets and $1000’s to enhance the stadium, (time) spend hours upon hours watching it, (emotions) emotions fly – up/down.

·         People – We can easily idolize certain people. This can be a politician, pastor, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, child, mother, father, or even your own self. What they say becomes the Bible. We copy them – what they dress like, we eat what they eat, and our self esteem is all wrapped up in what they think about us. Worse of all is living our lives through our children.

·         Causes – This should be VERY CLEAR to you with all the facebook post on politics since the recent government shutdown. Sometimes we care more about being right than honoring Jesus.

·         Holding to a certain theological position – I have seen people get so wrapped on a theological position they everybody that does not agree with them is of the devil and everybody that agrees with them is Jesus. A way to evaluate yourself is: Do you take it personally when others don’t agree with you? Are you easily aggravated at others who do not agree with you? Trust me; you don’t want to become the next cult leader.

·         Yourself – When I was in Romania I asked several pastors what they thought the number one idol was in America. Their answer --- yourself!!

·         There are many, many more…. For example – appearances (we live in the airbrush generation and thus eating disorders is a common sin among many young ladies), your status, money, and your reputation just to name a few.

My prayer is that of Paul’s in Romans 11:36, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be GLORY forever. Amen." 

Praying for the 10/40 window

Last week I stumbled across the website Joshua Project. I stayed on the site for five hours. I was convicted, prayed, and motivated as I read the need for the Gospel in so many countries. As a result, I have claimed October, "Pray for the 10/40 window month". Each week someone from our small group will present a country we are to pray for that week. This week's country....... Turkey. .

Within Turkey lies the roots of the Christian faith. Acts is filled with cities reached with the Gospel that are in.....Turkey. They were some of the first believers to experience the New Covenant promise of the Holy Spirit bringing gentiles into the Kingdom. 

The church of Colossae and Ephesus were two cities in Turkey. We have Paul's letters written to them. Revelation mentions 7 churches that can be found in ...... Turkey. You can even take a tour of all the seven churches if you ever visit Turkey.

What was once a place where the Apostle Paul walked, shared the Gospel, planted churches, and discipled men and women is now home to a county where less than 1% of the population is Christian. Join me and my small group as we pray for Turkey.

Who are you? A Biblical understanding of your identity in Christ

Who are you?

I was recently asked this question, “Who are the two most important people who ever lived?” As a believer, the most important person to ever live is Jesus. But who would be second? Your answer to that question reveals your world view and a little about your identity.

Your identity reveals what you value. When the perception of who we are is threatened we freak out, which leads to anger, anxiety, stress, and depression. For example – fill in the blank:

I am ________________ (fill in the blank) a jock, pretty, fat, skinny, single, hard worker, lazy, committed husband, wife, a strict parent, ethnic race, or rich and poor. Your identity is placed on your appearance. And when you appearance is changed (you gain weight, you lose weight, you are fired, you win the lottery, your kids are out of control) you “lose” your identity.

However the Bible tells us that, as Christians, our identity is wrapped up in Jesus. On the cross rest our identity. Our circumstances will change. Our identity will be threatened. People will let us down.  God’s love stands firm and will never change.

A beautiful picture of our identity and the church is found in 1 Peter 2:9-10.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

What is your identity as a believer? According to Peter you are

Chosen

A Royal Priesthood

A Holy Nation

A People for His own Possession

Called out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light

Have received Mercy

How sweet is that! This is true of every Christian ---- Forever!!! That is grace, sweet grace that God gives us. Putting our identity in worldly things or going through an identity crisis will often lead to anger, frustration, stress, anxiety, and depression. Why? Because this is not our home! We are aliens just passing through. Live as Jesus really sees you – redeemed, loved, chosen, forgiven, and free! This is a Biblical view of your identity in Christ! 

Repent or Perish

Christians and non-Christians often ask the same question when tragedy happens. Whether it is the recent chemical attack from Syria or hurricanes that hit the east coast, humans naturally ask the same the questions. How could a loving God allow this to happen?

How should Christians respond when tragedy strikes? With the internet and smart phone aps , news spreads quickly. I think Jesus gives us an answer. I hope this strengthens your theology and enables you to minster to an unbelieving world.  

Luke 13:1-5

English Standard Version (ESV)

Repent or Perish

13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

5 points that I gleaned from this passage:

1.   Everyone dies. Sin runs deep. We offend a Holy God. Jesus says, “you all will likewise perish.” No one born will live on this forever. Everyone dies, because we are sinful people.

2.   Because sin runs so deep, God is justified to kill you at anytime. Romans 5:12, “…Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin.” We don’t know when we will die but we will die.

3.   Life is short, very short. We are midst, we live, and we die. Four generations after we die, our families will not even know our name. What are the names of your great, great grandparents?

4.   Bad things don’t only happen to bad people. Christians and non- Christians both die and suffer.

5.   Repent. When tragedy happens, Christians tell the world, repent. The same thing is going to happen to you. You will die, you don’t know when, Repent or you likewise will perish. 

When redemption does not mean Redemption

Matthew 21:33-46 is an interesting passage. To fully grasp the impact of this passage we have to take this all the way back to Exodus 12.

After being held captive under Pharaoh for many years, God rescued the people of Israel from under his cruel leadership. God sent plagues, harden hearts, and made a sea part to accomplish His plan and purpose to redeem Israel. Moses (the first choir director) sang a song of rejoicing in Exodus 15. Exodus 15:13, “You have led in your steadfast love the people who you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode” (ESV).

The question is redeemed from what? They were redeemed from slavery, slavery from Pharaoh NOT sin. One cannot read this passage and draw the conclusion that Israel was spiritually redeemed (which would mean every single person in that nation had their sins forgiven and was born again).

Now, that brings me to Matthew 21:33-46. Here is a breakdown of the parable.

The master in this parable is God.

The tenants are the nation of Israel (including the chief priests and Pharisees).  

The servants are the Old Testament Prophets.

The heir is Jesus.

God redeemed (physical picture of our spiritual redemption) the nation of Israel. They had the covenants and all the special privileges. Our Messiah came from the seed of this nation. The physical redemption of Israel was and is very important.

Jesus is telling them, through this parable, the reality they are facing. In fact, in verse 41, is the answer to their own reality, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death”. Jesus reveals something that the Apostle Paul later calls a mystery. God will “let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give Him the fruits in their season.”  

The other tenants are the gentiles. This is a foreshadowing of Acts. Jesus comes to earth, and what did His people do, they killed Him. Just like they killed the other prophets. Why? They were not really God’s redeemed people. After Jesus death, resurrection and ascension the Gospel goes to the world. Here, along with believing Jews, the church is formed. The Church is the true redeemed people of God, which are mostly gentile believers.

Matthew 21:43-44 is a summary and interpretation of the parable. Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away for you and giving to a people producing its fruits”. The real people of God (the church) produce fruit. Fruit is evidence that you are part of God’s Kingdom. Without fruit (having a new heart or being born again) you will not inherit the kingdom of God. Israel, as a whole, did not produce fruit.

The physical redemption of the nation of Israel did not produce real, authentic faith. It was only a temporary picture of the true people of God, the Church. Also, the nation of Israel was not “Carnal”. There are some that would say the nation of Israel had faith to follow Moses out of Egypt but did not submit to God’s law, thus making them carnal. That is just not true and cannot be proven in Scripture.  

Why does this matter? I am a 30 something guy living in Eastern North Carolina, who like tailgates and BBQ. My family tree traces back to England. How does this impact my life?

1.       There are 39 books in our Bible about the nation of Israel in some way (Old Testament). If you include the four Gospels that is 43. All of Scripture is inspired by God, including the Old Testament.  How we read it, interpret it, is important.

2.       This should cause you to reflect on your own salvation. Believers are saved, not from Pharaoh, but from the slavery to sin. The fulfillment  is found in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”. Believers have their sins forgiven AND the Holy Spirit. We have new life.

3.        It should cause you to be humble. Very humble. Just as the nation of Israel had no part in their redemption, neither did we. Prideful people bring a resume to Jesus, humble people bring nothing. True Believers know they bring nothing to the game. Jesus did it all.

4.       It should cause us to sing praises. After crossing the red sea, Israel sang praises. When a redeemed heart understands what has happened in their life – it sings. It may not be out loud with music, it may be in silence. But the heart sings (Ephesians 5:19). When worship music is played at our church, sometimes I don’t sing, I reflect on the words and what Christ has done for me, allowing my heart to sing. 

Jesus is better than Aaron

The issue in Hebrews 10 and for the most part, the whole book of Hebrews is the cross. What did Jesus accomplish by His death on the cross?

Hebrews 10:1-4

10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ Forit is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

First, it says in Hebrews 10:1 that the law is a shadow of the good things to come. The shadow is referring to the Old Covenant system that God gave to the nation of Israel. Part of the Old Covenant law was the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16). A priest had to offer sacrifices every year for their sins and the sins of the people of Israel. This was done by sacrificing bulls and goats. Hebrews 10:4 reads, “For it is impossible for the blood and goats to take away sins.” Our sin against God requires a perfect sacrifice, not animals.

The priest, which includes the shedding of a bulls blood is the shadow, while Christ is Real thing or fulfillment and shed His blood which took away the sins of the Church.  Jesus’ death really did something; the blood of bulls and goats does nothing.

Second,   the Day of Atonement never really took away sins. It was only a picture. However, Jesus death on the Cross atoned for the sins of His people (the elect). Jesus does not have to die over and over again, and we don’t have to come to Christ over and over again. So, Biblically there is no such thing as, "I came to Christ at age 7 and Jesus became my Lord at age 22." Believers have their sins forgiven AND we also get a new heart or a changed life, when we believe. Both are applied at the time of belief. Hebrews 10:14, “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Both, forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit changing our lives, are part of the atonement. This is sometimes referred to as Lordship Salvation.

Third, the Day of Atonement took place every year. Jesus only died once to pay for sins.

Fourth, a priest represents a people to God. Therefore, Jesus represents all those who will believe (the elect) by offering His own life on the cross as the sacrificial offering to the Father on behalf of His Church. Those whom Jesus represents will never ever lose their salvation.

In summary, we are crazy to think the blood of created animals will cover our sins against a Holy God. We have sinned against at God that is holy, pure, righteous, and sovereign. God chose to send His Son to die on the cross so I could worship Him forever. 

God's Sovereignty and Evil - Theology Applied

One of the first questions to God’s sovereignty regards evil.  “How can a loving, good, God be sovereign over evil?”If He can stop evil, why does He allow it to happen in His world?  This is a valid question. In fact I asked those same questions years ago as I was figuring this all out. As R.C. Sproul says, “We have a built in allergy to sovereignty”. Let’s see what the Scriptures say.

1.     

             God’s Attributes. First we have to have a Biblical understanding of God’s attributes. God is Holy (Isaiah 6:3), He has no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5), and God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13).

2.       God uses evil to accomplish His purpose. In God’s sovereignty, He uses evil to accomplish His eternal plan in our lives. The best example is the cross (Acts 4:27-30). God planned that His Son would die on the cross for the sins of the elect. Think about that. God was 100 % sovereign over the cross. For that to happen people had to sin (including me!). The cross was not plan B. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that God had to come up with a plan B after the fall. The cross was always plan A (Ephesians 1:4). The question has to be asked, “Who was responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross?” Jesus was the only innocent person who ever lived. For Jesus to die evil had to happen. Well, the Scriptures put blame on Judas, Herod, Pilate, and those for whom Jesus died. Yet we must remember Acts 4:28. “to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” This was planned and put into motion by our perfect, loving, holy, Father.

3.       Other examples of God sovereignty over evil.  Isaiah 45:7 reads,” I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, and I am the Lord, who does all these things.” In Deuteronomy 7:1-2 God commands His people to destroy other nations, which would include women and children (See Isaiah 13:16). We must remember this was done by a holy God who can’t sin. It is hard for our minds to grasp this truth – that God is holy and uses evil. Believers have to trust and give glory to God.

4.       God and the lying spirit.  1 Kings 22:22-23 is a crazy passage. Here it tells us that God put a lying spirit into the mouth of the false prophet. Also, we must remember the Biblical truth - God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Even though God was sovereign over this, He did not sin. He used evil to accomplish His Sovereign will. Again, in a way we do not understand, God is holy and uses evil to accomplish His plan.

As Christians this should encourage us. God is sovereign over everything, including evil. Nothing is outside of His control. So when people lie about us, hurt us, let us down, gossip about us, slander us, and intentionally hurt us our God is in control. This is not outside of God’s sovereignty. He has chosen to use this in a loving way, to mold us into the image of His Son (2 Corinthians 3:18). This gives the believer comfort. Life may give us different twist, turns, and trials yet – God is holy and sovereign over evil. This is one of the reasons worry and anxiety are so sinful. When I worry, deep down I do not believe that God is sovereign. If I truly lived out the fact that God is 100% sovereign I would not worry, but would give thanks. When I complain about the weather, I am complaining about God’s sovereign plan. Practically, believing in and trusting in God’s sovereignty should always lead to thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). This is theology applied.  

A study of God's Sovereignty

It is my experience that one of the most difficult, yet most basic, doctrines for Christians to grasp is God’s sovereignty. Serving in college ministry for fourteen years, I have seen believers struggle with this doctrinal truth. I have seen individuals portray a wide arrangement of emotions when taught this truth: anger, sorrow, frustration, pride, joy, thankfulness, humility and worship. Comments like – “I am not a puppet!” or “A good, loving, sovereign God would never allow bad things to happen.” and the classic, “I have free will, I choose what I do, not God”.  And from a positive note comments like, “This is the most freeing doctrine.” and “I don’t know how someone can go through disaster and not believe in God’s sovereignty.”

The question I often ask myself is, “Why is God’s sovereignty so hard for people to believe?” When I first came to Christ, I had questions about God’s sovereignty. In fact I went so far as to look in the back of my Bible and look up the word predestine! And yep, that word is in the Bible.Over the next few days, I want to blog about how this doctrine continues to change my life. In my ministry, once someone believes in this biblical truth, it always ends with them giving God glory.  Having a correct Biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty changed my life and I hope to show you how it can change yours.

I plan to write about Gods sovereignty and how it relates to: evil, trials, free will, pride, humility, salvation, spiritual gifts, our attitude, thankfulness, and spiritual warfare. God is 100% sovereign over all the above, in fact He is sovereign over everything. He always, always, always gets the glory. 

The Bookend of Romans

The book of Romans begins and ends with the same thought process. I picked this up when I was in Romania and it has impacted my life in so many ways. Here are the observations and how it has affected my life. Get your Bible and notice the similarities.

1.       Romans 1:2 and Romans 16: 25-26 = thankfulness. The Gospel was not clear in the Old Covenant. We see a picture under the Old Covenant but not the reality. It becomes clear when Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave, and the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost.  I am thankful to see the fulfillment, only by God’s grace.

2.       Romans 1:5 and Romans 16:26 = missions. The Gospel will be taken to all nations. This is the mission of the church. Every year I evaluate my life in light of this truth. I ask myself, “How did I do this year in making disciples of all nations?”

3.       Romans 1: 5 and Romans 16:26 = obedience of faith. True faith or the true effects of the Gospel in a person’s life or real belief or what Jesus accomplished on the cross for all who believe is…. Obedience of faith. True believers will have a changed life. This hits the easy believism that is so prevalent in the church culture between the eyes. A changed life is not optional, it is a work of and evidence of the Holy Spirit.  

4.       Romans 1:5 and Romans 16:27 = God always gets the Glory. The goal of missions is to bring glory to God. When someone comes to Christ, our God is worshiped. His name is gloried. His name is made famous. Not ours. 

God as my Father

The writing of J.I. Packer has influenced my life tremendously.  One statement made by J.I.  Packer has stuck with me for fifteen years. I can’t remember it verbatim but it went something like this… To truly grasp Christianity is to call God, Father. Wow!

To call God, Father, was a foreign concept to the nation of Israel. Yes, comparisons of God as father are found in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 32:6), but the Jews as a whole did not call God, Father. The first time Jesus calls God Father is Matthew 6:9, when teaches His disciples to pray. The religious leaders were furious that Jesus would refer to God as Father. It got Him killed.

This is a New Covenant concept! God is redeeming His people for Himself. God is Father and believers are His children (brothers and sisters). Everyone cannot make that claim. All people are created in God’s image but not all are God’s children in this way. For example:

Romans 8:14-17

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons^[a] of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

And…

Galatians 4:6-7

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

John goes even further in 1 John 3:1-10. Believe me; what John says is not politically correct.

Here is how the doctrine of God as my Father has impacted my life:

1.       Assurance. No one had to teach me assurance of salvation. After I came to Christ, I knew my life was different. I understood, in some way, that I was at peace with God. God is my Father. Before coming to Christ, I could not say that. I believe that is the point of Romans 8:14-17.

2.       Access to God (Ephesians 2:18). Through Jesus, I can go to God any time I choose to. I don’t have to go through a priest or “clean myself up” before I pray or read my Bible. I have free access to God. He is my Father. Just as my kids have access to me, I have access to my Father.

3.       Every Christian is my brother or sister. The question I have to ask myself is, “How do I treat my brother or sister – whom Jesus died for”. I am sad to say that Christians often don’t get along. Christian’s slanders, backstab, talk about, and pick on other Christians who are not a part of their “camp”. It should not be that way. How we treat brothers and sisters is very, very important.

4.       Humility. We attribute NOTHING to our salvation. Just as I did not choose my earthly father, I did not choose my Heavenly Father. I am adopted into His family, I did not adopt Him. Even the faith to believe is a gift given to me by my Father.

5.       Obedience. It is my desire to bring God glory through my actions, thoughts, and motives (1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 1 John 5:3). I still sin, and will sin. However, my desire is obedience.

6.       Discipline. The author of Hebrews asked a question, “For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Hebrews 12:7). I expect to go through discipline. It is my response to discipline that matters. Do I complain or give thanks?

Sunday Worship

As believers, our theology of worship is important. I use the word theology because what we believe about worship is what we live out. For example, do you say “I am going to a worship service!” or “We have a worship band that rocks it out!” or “I have an awesome worship leader at my church!” If you say that (and yes I am guilty) then you are identifying worship as an event held in a building or lead by a single individual. That is an Old Covenant view of worship. Music is part of worship, but not the whole. Music is no more important than preaching, serving, going to Target, purity in dating relationships and what is looked at on the computer. Worship is not 10:00-12:00 in a building on a certain day of the week.  

That is the point of John 4:24. When the Samaritan women encountered Jesus, she made a statement. John 4:19 reads, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship” (ESV). In response Jesus makes a radical statement, “Women, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him” (ESV).

In the New Covenant era, we worship God in spirit and truth. Worship in spirit means our worship is not bound to a building, time, day or lead by a single individual. All believers worship -24/7. That is 1 Corinthians 10:31 lived out. Believers worship wherever they go. Buildings are not holy, God is. Buildings are not God’s house, Christians are. Believers can and do worship God on airplanes, driving in crazy traffic, in the grocery store, on the basketball court, in caves in Iran, and in house’s in Turkey.

In our evangelical culture we have a bad habit of using Old Covenant language incorrectly. I think we should (including myself) change the way we speak to bring honor to our Lord. It matters. Church is not a building, worship is not from 10:00 – 12:00, and everybody worships something all the time. 

Christ-ian Worship

Here is an interesting article that will help believes think through if your local church gathering is making much of Christ.  Enjoy....

 http://www.crosstocrown.org/?p=5453

More on youth/college ministry....

Here are some noteworthy quotes from chapter two of Alvin Reid's book As You Go.

"The Gospel doesn't create Pharisees; we do" pg. 45

"The Gospel shows us how to do the very thing we are created to do: worship. But teaching worship as something done mostly in a service guided by particular forms loses the wonder of worship in our preferences and creates divisions, not unity." pg 45

"Life is worship." pg. 56 

"You see, our fundamental problem is our view of God. We are too easily tempted to think of God first from our perspective. In so doing we shrink God to our level. As a result we tend to make the Bible more about us than about God." pg. 51

"We were orphans who have been adopted by God (see Romans 8:15). Never get over what God has done in Christ!" pg. 54 

 "The challenge confronting student ministry is a challenge of theology, not ability." pg. 58

"She goes on to note how most students in our churches today cannot articulate clearly the fundamentals of our faith. While we obsess with lengthy series on dating or other topics, have we failed to give them a foundation in the glorious Gospel story?" pg. 59

"In the modern era, God's people have at various times lost their way by virtue of theological shallowness on the one hand or liberalism on the other.." pg. 61

 

 

 

 

 

Back row Baptist confronted

I love to sit on the back row. My family, unless we get to church late, always sits on the back row.  However, in our church culture there is another type of “back row Baptist.” Except, these people often sit in the back, middle, or front of the church. I define back row Baptist as those people who come to church on Sunday morning, sit and watch, then leave. Never speaking to anyone (except the.. Hey! Doing good are you?) and never getting involved in the lives of people. In essence they are hiding. Is this a Biblical way to approach church? A better question to ask would be “Is God glorified with the actions of this person.” I say no.

The author of Hebrews points us to the how and why we should meet together as the local church family. Biblically, what does it mean to be involved in a local church? Is it… come here a cool, edgy sermon with a bunch of one-liners or come listen to “awesome” music that I can’t sing to? I hope you will see that when it comes to the local church, interaction is crucial. Here is my breakdown of Hebrews 10:24

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.25.

Let us consider how to stir up one another to….

  Love -Matthew 22:34-40 – What is Biblical love?

Part of the reason we are to be involved in the local church is to live out what we claim to believe! It is easy to love people who agree with you, look like you, and praise you.  But the Bible calls us again and again to forgive those who hurt us, to put others above ourselves, and to be at peace with those in local body. The question must be asked, do people change churches to avoid conflict instead of forgiving the person they have conflict with? Or do people change churches when they don’t get their way, so in protest they leave the church?   They may be taking the coward’s way out instead of living out what Paul writes about in Colossians 3:12-15, “bearing with one another, forgiving each other…put on love…let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Colossians 3:12-17, 1 Corinthian 13, Philippians 2:1-17

     

Good works

Each family has different members that add various dynamics to the family. The same is true of the local church family. This is the point of Spiritual gifts. Every Christian has a spiritual gift to be used in the local church. However, we must remember that in God’s Sovereignty, He has already planned the works you will do so we can’t take credit for the good work or the spiritual gift. He gets the Glory! Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12 -14 and Ephesians 2:10.

  Don’t neglect to meet together

NO WHERE in the Bible does it say we should not be involved in the local church. In What is a Healthy Church Mark Dever writes, “If you call yourself a Christian but you are not a member of the church you regularly attend, I worry you might be going to hell.” Mark Dever, p. 21. That is a pretty strong statement.

  Encourage one another

Everyone goes through hard times in life. Part of the role of the church body is to encourage each other to continue living for our Lord when trials or hard times come our way. 1 Peter 1: 6-9

In light of this…

How should believers act towards others in the local body?

What can you personally do to be more involved in the lives of the local body you attend?

What is the goal of believers (or what is your goal) for being involved in the local church?

How can you use your time to serve your local church family better

Should a Christian vote Democratic?

I have been asked the question by numerous students and friends, "Should a Christian vote for and embrace the Democratic party?" The question is asked because if one party embraces the sins of abortion and homosexuality, without a doubt, it is the democratic party. Well......here is an interesting sermon from John MacArthur on this very issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0GqVyYYfHc&feature=youtu.be

I must say, I am surprised this has not been picked up by the media.  

Does youth ministry function as a para-church ministry in the local Church?

I am reading a book titled As You Go by Alvin Reid with our youth pastor/family pastor. We just finished reading and discussing chapter one, which was a great discussion. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the chapter....

"We turned youth ministry into a toy department of the church." (p. 17)

 "We must connect students to the lager church and not function as a parachurch ministry within a church building. Students need older believers in their lives. We need Titus 2 revolution where older men teach younger guys and older women teach younger ladies." (p.20)

"We have communicated Christianity as behavior modification..." (p.38)

"American young people are unwittingly being formed into an imposter faith that poses as Christianity, but that in fact lacks the holy desire..." (p. 38)

"We need student pastors and national and parachurch leaders who are better at theology than a new ideas." (p. 18-19)

 

 

  

Death will not prevail!!

One of the most controversial texts in the world may very well be Matthew 16:13-20. While there is a lot to unpack in this passage, I want to focus on verse 18b, “the gates of Hades (death) shall not prevail against it (the church).” What does “Hades, or death, will not overtake the church” mean? Well here are my thoughts….Jesus died, but death did not win. He rose from grave. Death did not win.

Throughout the history of the church, governments have tried to stop Christianity by using physical force.  Men like Nero, Stalin, Hitler, and Ceausescu are just a few who have physically persecuted Jesus’ church, resulting in the death of pastors and Christians. This passage should bring comfort for believers around the world when physical persecution occurs. Death did not win.

Matthew 16:18 should make us bold in the midst of persecution. I just returned home from a trip to Romania. Ceausescu was a horrible dictator in Romania for 24 years. I was able to hear firsthand accounts of his physical persecution. I rode by the jail cell of Voice of the Martyrs founder Richard Wurmbrand. He was arrested and confined to a jail cell with no widows or light. Wurmbrand was in complete darkness. Many other pastors were thrown in jail, killed, or intimated by the Romanian government. A friend of mine told me he kissed his wife and 6 month old son goodbye, not knowing if he would ever see them again. These stories exist all over the world. Yet, death did not win!

When heat comes from governmental authorities, have faith. Death will not win. Christians may and will die for the faith. It has happened since Jesus died. It could happen in America. BUT, stand fast, the gates of Hades will not prevail. As Believers our biggest need has been met. We have peace with the living God. We can be extremely bold with the Gospel. We can take the Gospel to the hard places in the world. We can live boldly for our Lord in a world that is in constant conflict with us. We may suffer, we may die, but the church will prevail. So my friends -be bold. Share the Gospel boldly. Take risk for the Gospel boldly. Teach the word of God boldly. 

Life is a Mist

James ask the question to us all in James 4:14, "What is your life?" The Biblical answer, "For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

Here is a video by Zach Sobiech that express just how short life is...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sDC97j6lfyc#!

Defining the Church, Part One

The Doctrine of the Church Part One

If you ask people in your city, “What is the Church?” what answers do you get? Well I asked a few of my unbelieving and believing friends that very question. Here are some of the responses I received, “A building”, “I attend the Baptist Church down the Street”, “Sunday from 11AM till noon”, or “Where the hypocrites go.” were the top responses. The problem with these answers are….well… they are unbiblical! So, questions like { What is the purpose of the Church? Am I using correct Biblical language to describe the Church? How would the world describe the Church? What does the New Testament teach about the Church? Are you being a Biblical Church member? Do you have a Biblical view of the Church? How was the Church viewed in Church history?} will be answered in the following weeks.

For starters the language we use to define Biblical terms is very important. Are we using the word church the way God intended? Are we using words like sanctuary or Sabbath the way God used them in the Bible? Are we doing more harm to believers by the language we use than good? So, let’s see how God defines Church. In the Greek (I don’t know much Greek just my research) the word church can mean either to assemble together or a gathering of believers.

First, we have to define who makes up the church. The universal Church is made of real believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Only those whom God chose, Jesus died for, and the Holy Spirit drew to Himself is the church. This includes believers across the world, for all times, who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. This would be the elect. This is different from the people of God (Israel) in the Old Testament. Israel was an unbelieving picture of the church. There were some who believed before Christ came, for example David, Abraham, and Moses. However, as a nation, Israel is treated in Scripture as unbelieving. Just read Hosea or Isaiah for proof.

To be part of the people of God under the Old Covenant, you were physically born a Jew. Now, the people of God include people from every nation, Jew and Gentile. That was Jesus’ point to Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus was referring to Ezekiel 36. It is no longer a national race but a Spiritual race. Galatians is very clear that this new people of God (the church) include both Jew and Gentile. Paul calls this in Galatians 6:16 “the Israel of God.” In summary, the Church is made up of all those who Jesus died, who were redeemed, both Jew and Gentile.  See – Ezekiel 36:24-28, John 3: 1-8, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 1: 11-14. 2 Tim 2:19   

We all know that in churches across this country unbeliever are present. That would include children of Christian parents (who have not believed) and false professions. This is why it is important to try to weed out as many false professions as possible. I was recently in Romania and asked a pastor friend what was his view of the American church. He replied, “You guys have way too many false professions.” I have been tricked by many professing believers, even those who embraced sound reformed doctrine, who have eventually proven themselves to be a false profession. For Biblical proof see – Matthew 7:15-23, 2 Tim 4:10, Acts 20:29-30.

NOTE: The Nicene Creed defines Church as “We Believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.”

Second, NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE does God define the Church as a building. How does the Bible describe the Church? See Romans 16:5 and 1 Corinthians 16:19. Notice the separation of Church and home. This changes the words we use to describe the “Church building “and it changes how we use words like, “Sanctuary”. The Bible never calls the place believers gather a sanctuary. For example, a friend of mine tells her children, “We are going to the building to be with our church family.” The church, Biblically, are people who have been redeemed!

Believers can gather anywhere and be as Holy and Honoring to the Lord as meeting in the nicest building on earth.  

Ephesians 2:18-20 says that the Church (people) is the dwelling place and influenced by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit changed the heart and life of all true believers. Our lives are to represent Jesus. Instead of going to a temple or building to find God, they now look at Christians who are salt and light to the world (Ephesians 3:10).

See – 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 1 Corinthians 3:16  

Third, the church is instituted by God. Just like marriage was ordained and instituted by God so is the Church. Jesus is the head of the Church and God calls the church the body of Christ.

See Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-29

TULIP Defined

I thought I would pass this along on my blog. This link will take you to notes John Piper used in a 2 day conference explaining Calvinism. Get your Bible, study, and give Glory to God.

Am I called to the ministry??

Good article by DeYoung

The story behind Valentine's Day

http://pastormark.tv/2012/02/14/valentines-day

From Connor

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/lecrae-raps-the-gospel-in-one-minute

Will the Heat be fined?

Wonder if the heat will be fined by the NBA like the spurs......

Is my salvation lost?

R.C. Sproul answers the age old question: Can a Christian lose their salvation based on sins he or she commits?

click here to find out!

Would you be happy in Heaven if God were not there?

This morning my Bible Study discussed this Piper quote. 

Treasuring Christ Above All Other Things

“ Would you be happy in heaven if God were not there? “

“The question must be asked: why do you want to go to heaven? They might answer,

‘Because the alternative is painful.’ Or ‘because my deceased wife is there.’ Or

‘because there will be a new heaven and a new earth where justice and beauty will

finally be everywhere.’ . . . So what’s wrong with those answers? What’s wrong with

them is that they do not treat God as the final and highest good of the gospel.

They do not express a supreme desire to be with God. God was not even

mentioned. Only his gifts were mentioned. These gifts are precious but they are not

God . . . Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above

seeing and savoring God. And people who would be happy in heaven if Christ

were not there, will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven;

it is a way to get people to God . . . If we don’t want God above all things, we

have not been converted by the Gospel.”

– John Piper, God is the Gospel pp. 46-47.

Do you see Christ as more valuable than all other things, even the gifts

God gives us? Is Christ your treasure?

Pastor and Author John Piper offers four practical ways to live this

verse out.

1.) “To live this out practically it means that whenever I am called

upon to choose between anything in this world and Christ, I choose

Christ.”

2.) “To live this out practically it means that I will deal with the things of

this world in ways that draw me nearer to Christ so that I gain more of

Christ and enjoy more of Him by the way I see the world.”

3.) “To live this out practically it means that I will always deal with the

things of this world in ways that show that they are not my treasure, but

rather show that Christ is my treasure.”

4.) “To live this out practically it means that if I lose any or all the

things this world can offer, I will not lose my joy or my treasure or my

life , because Christ is all.”

What would it practically look like in your life? What changes would do you need to make?