Getting a Grip on the Bible

One of the classes that I have taken this quarter has been Homiletics. It has been an extremely helpful and practical class to say the least. It has also been a good refresher on Biblical Interpretation and truthfully the majority of the class has been in essence a hermeneutics class. Dr. Ryan Pack is the pastor of FBC Hendersonville and has been a great professor with his passion for the Bible and its faithful exposition.

The last thing he shared to our class was something that he said was rather kindergarten. He had us to trace our hands on a piece of paper. That’s as kindergarten as it got that day. Next he proceeded to give us an illustration about proper Bible Study. I think its worth sharing, and so I’m sharing it with the world.

Dr. Pack held up his Bible and proceeded to show us how one cannot balance the book with just one finger, and as he gradually started holding it with four fingers he had a better balance and even better with a thumb. But even with all five fingers gripping his Bible it can still be pulled from his hand easily. It wasn’t until he had all five fingers and was gripping his bible with his palm that he had a firm grip on the Bible.

He then began to have us to write one principle for Bible study in each of the fingers we had traced. They were as follows:

1: Hear. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” – Romans 10:17

We learn more about the scriptures from hearing them proclaimed. This is one of the most influential things on our Bible study. We learn from those who teaches. (This should be a reminder to those of us that teach/preach that how we handle the text of scripture is emulated by those who are under our teaching/preaching.)

2. Read. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” – Revelation 1:3

To know the Bible you must read the Bible. Many of us claim to believe the Bible is the beneficial inerrant word of God but we don’t devote much time to it. But God calls for us to read his word. Psalm 119 is a great example of the primacy of the word of God in the life of a believer. Dr. Pack quoted the text from Revelation and I would add Paul’s words to Timothy, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” – 1 Timothy 4:13 This isn’t a liturgical option we are called to the public reading of Scripture and the private reading of Scripture.

3. Study. “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

The Bereans were diligent students of the Scriptures. They daily studies the Scriptures and they weighed the teaching of the Apostles against the Scriptures to see if what they said was consistent with them. This is the spirit of worship and of study we ought to have if we truly desire to know the word of God. We need to always be in the Scriptures if we desire to have a proper understanding of them. We also need to have a spirit of discernment when it comes to the Bible teachers we read and listen to. We need always compare what they are saying with what the entirety of Scripture really says.

4. Memorize. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you’ let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that i might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:9-11

Memorizing scripture is invaluable. It helps when reading other parts of the Bible. Its of tremendous benefit in the battle of the mortification of sin. Its great to know what God says when trying to share his story with others. Memorize Bible verses, I can’t say it enough.

5. Meditate. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” – Joshua 1:8 and “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” – Psalm 1:1-3

Spending time thinking about the Bible is certainly a great way to get to know it better. Meditation keeps the things of God upon our minds throughout the day and night as Joshua is commanded. If you’re not accustomed to meditation, try to think upon a verse of Scripture throughout the day. I believe you’ll find it of great benefit.

Those were the five ‘fingers’ so to speak that Dr. Pack gave us, but lastly he gave us the palm of a hand to really get a grip on the Scriptures. In the palm he had us to write:

Apply: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22

We must apply what we hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate upon. The Word of God is living and active and is useful for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness so that we can be equipped for every good work that God has prepared for us beforehand. The Bible isn’t for just mere intellect or a sense of piety. James’ imperative is quite plain, we’re to do what the Word of God written and properly proclaimed says. If we spend time hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, meditating upon, and applying the Word of God we’ll have a better grip on its content and our lives as Christians.

soli deo gloria

Give us this day…Jesus

Pray then like this:
    “Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.
    Your kingdom come,
    your will be done,
        on earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread,
    and forgive us our debts,
        as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    And lead us not into temptation,
        but deliver us from evil.
~Matthew 6:9-13 

Over the past several months I have fallen more and more in love with what I believe is the shining jewel of Christian prayer. Many of us know it as the Lord’s Prayer. Many good and sincere Christians debate this prayer and its meaning. Are we to recite it verbatim, is Jesus simply giving us an outline of a good prayer, or just telling us essentially what prayer is to be? I think perhaps all of the above is true. We cannot go wrong if we take any of those things to heart, and pray keeping those things in mind.

As I’ve spent more and more time over the last several months praying this prayer and meditating on its meaning I’ve become convinced of this truth…And perhaps I’m slow and it is perfectly obvious to everyone else…but I have become convinced that at the heart of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ is this: surrender/submission…and Jesus. Ultimately Jesus is at the heart of all things Christian, but you guys know what I mean.

“Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be your name.
  Your kingdom come,
  your will be done,
  on earth as it is in heaven...”

As we say those words, what are we saying but that, “Lord we acknowledge who you are…we acknowledge your greatness…we stand in awe of your holiness, your might, your power, your beauty, your majesty…may we see that here, now, on earth…visibly and physically.” We can’t do it. As we see who God is, and meditate on that reality, we realize our utter helplessness.

“…Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.“

I’m struck immediately as I see the words, “Give us this day our daily bread…” by the fact that Jesus tells us time and time again that He is the ‘bread of life’ and the ‘living bread that came down from heaven’. (See John 6) So when we pray these words, yes we are praying for God to provide our needs for the day, but even deeper than that, especially deeper than that, what we are essentially praying for is Jesus. Now when I say these words, in my heart I say, “Give us Jesus…Give me Jesus.” What more do we need? What is more essential to our lives and our daily living, and our walks of faith, than Jesus? As we pray through the rest of the prayer we essentially see what Jesus does, and through the power of His Spirit, what He does through us, in us, and with us. He graciously forgives our sins, and grants us the grace to forgive others. He allows us to overcome temptations, and ultimately He delivers us from all evil…both daily and eternally.

This prayer is drawing me closer to my Savior daily. As I say this prayer and meditate on its meaning daily I am more and more in awe of God, and fall more and more in love with Jesus. I am learning about surrender. I am learning more about Jesus. Nothing is more essential and at the heart of the Christian life more than those two truths. Surrender and Jesus. Christianity in two words.

Many Christians do not recite this prayer on a regular basis…for years neither did I. I suppose some feel it is too elementary. This attitude is dangerous. Regardless of your thoughts on what the meaning is behind this prayer…”Should it be recited? Is it simply an example?” The fact is saying it, and reciting it, and most importantly meditating on its meaning is a good exercise, and one that I believe will build you up, equip you, and help you love God more. I’ve even began reciting this prayer with my oldest son each morning before school, and slowly I am trying to talk to Him about what it means. Sometimes he wants to, sometimes he doesn’t, sometimes he’s just indifferent. That’s okay. I think all of us approach prayer like that. He is learning the importance of all prayer…as am I.

There are many great Christian and theological minds out there. They have said, and observed things about this prayer, and spoken about it much more beautifully and in depth than I ever could. More than likely what I’ve said is nothing new…But perhaps as I pour out my heart as to the importance this prayer, and all it means to me and my faith…you will be encouraged and drawn to explore and meditate deeper on this prayer, and ultimately Jesus Himself..which I believe is the embodiment and ultimate fulfillment of ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.

J.C. Ryle on the Perseverance of the Saints

Last week Chris taught from Colossians 1:23 and upon the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. In his teaching he shared with us these Scriptures from J.C. Ryle on the doctrine. I hope you find them to be of much profit and encouragement.

I shall write down the texts which appear to me to prove final perseverance, without note or comment. I will only ask you to observe as you read them, how deep and broad is the foundation on which the doctrine rests. Observe that it is not for any strength or goodness of their own that the saints shall continue to the end and never fall away. They are in themselves weak, and frail, and liable to fall like others. Their safety is based on the promise of God, which was never yet broken,—on the election of God, which cannot be in vain,—on the power of the great Mediator Christ Jesus, which is Almighty,—on the inward work of the Holy Ghost, which cannot be overthrown. I ask you to read the following texts carefully, and see whether it is not so.

“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

“My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John x. 28, 29.)

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

“Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. viii. 35-39.)

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1 John ii. 19.)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John v. 24.)

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever.” (John vi. 51.)

“Because I live, ye shall live also.” (John xiv. 19.)

“Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die.” (John xi. 26.)

“By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Heb. x. 14.)

“He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John ii. 17.)

“Sin shall not have dominion over you.” (Rom. vi. 14.)

“The very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Rom. vi. 14.)

“A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench.” (Matt. xii.20.)

“Who shall also confirm you to the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. i. 8.)

“Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter i. 5.)

“Preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” (Jude 1.)

“The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom .” (2 Tim. iv. 18.)

“I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thess. v. 23,24.)

“The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” (2 Thess. iii.3.)

“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor.x. 13.)

“God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath;

“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” (Heb.vi.17,18.)

“Fear not little flock; for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke xii. 32.)

“This is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” (John vi. 39.)

“The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord Knoweth them that are His.” (2 Tim. ii. 19)

“Whom He did predestinate, them that He also called; and whom He called, them He also justified; and whom He justified, them He also glorified.” (Rom. viii. 30.)

“God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess.v. 9.)

“God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.” (2 Thess. ii. 13.)

“The vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory.” (Rom. ix. 23.)

“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Rom. 11. 29.)

“If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. xxiv. 24.)

“He is able to save to the uttermost all them that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. vii. 25.)

“Able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” (Jude 24.)

“I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (2 Tim. i.12.)

“I have prayed for thee, That thy faith fail not.” (Luke xxii. 32.)

“Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me.” (John xvii. 11.)

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (John xvii. 15.)

“I will that day they also whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” (John xvii. 24.)

“If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom. v.10.)

“The Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John xiv. 17.)

“Being confident of this very thing, that He which begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. i. 6.)

“The anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” (John ii. 27.)

“The Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephes. iv. 30.)

“Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession.” (Ephes. i. 13, 14.)

“Born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible.” (1 Peter i. 23.)

“He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” (Heb. xiii. 5.)

Reader, I lay before you these forty-four texts of Scripture, and ask your serious attention to them. I repeat that I will make no comment on them. I had rather leave them to the honest common sense of all who read the Bible. Some of these texts, no doubt, bring out the doctrine of final perseverance more clearly than others. About the interpretation of some of them, men’s judgments may differ widely. But there are not a few of the forty-four which appear to my mind so plain, that were I to invent words to conform my views, I should despair of inventing any that would convey my meaning so unmistakably.

8 Reasons It Matters that Jesus is God

We had the joy of listening and learning from Chris Canuel last night in our Tuesday night Bible study. We’re working our way through Colossians and he taught on 1:15-16 last night. Colossians 1 is such a huge Christological passage its worth much time and study. Understanding who Jesus is means everything, if you get that wrong, everything else fails. As Chris stated last night, “A failure to understand who God is, is the root of all heresy.” So in equipping us last night Chris shared the following from Ligion Duncan. There is a little length to it, but its worth reading, printing out, sticking in your bible or filing cabinet somewhere.

The Significance of Christ’s Deity

The Westminster Larger Catechism asks in Question 38: “Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?” It wisely and biblically answers:

It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience and intercession; and so satisfy God’s justice, procure his favour, purchase a peculiar people, give his spirit to them; conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.

Herein we may detect at least eight theological reasons for the indispensability of the deity of our Lord.

(1) Christ’s divinity was necessary to bear the force of the atonement. The weight of the wrath of God, for the sins of the world, is so great that no mere mortal could have borne it. It was Christ’s lot to drink that cup to its bitter dregs. Only a divine Savior could have survived it.

(2) Christ’s divinity was necessary to imbue his mediatorial labors with limitless value. An almost infinite satisfaction was due God in view of the sins of humanity. No finite being could pay such a price and thus answer the full requirements of strict covenantal justice.

(3) Christ’s divinity was necessary to quit God’s punitive wrath. The covenant of works required perfect and personal obedience, upon penalty of death. The consequent defection of Adam and Eve from their covenantal obligation plunged the whole race into an age-long rebellion against God. Only the Father’s costly sacrifice of his beloved only begotten Son was adequate to fulfill the just sentence due us all from the Almighty.

(4) Christ’s divinity was necessary to secure the Father’s favor. Not because God had to be forced or coaxed to love his people. Not at all. Indeed, the atonement did not “make” God love us, but rather is the expression of his love and indispensable condition of his covenantal favor towards us. Nevertheless, once God set his love on us to redeem us, and infinite penalty and positive righteousness was required to secure his eternal benediction. Such an accomplishment required the divine Savior.

(5) Christ’s divinity was necessary to redeem a people for himself. The divine Christ literally purchased his people Christ earned our salvation. We are saved by works: his works! Only a divine savior could have paid the costly purchase price for redeeming us from our bondage to sin and death.

(6) Christ’s divinity was necessary for the pouring out of the Spirit on his people. It was essential that our salvation be both accomplished and applied. Christ told his disciples that it was necessary that he ascend to the right hand of the Father in order to send the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:7). Only the eternal God-man holds the right to send the Spirit where he will, that his salvation might be applied to all his people.

(7) Christ’s divinity was necessary for the conquest of all his people’s enemies. Our Lord, the Captain of our Salvation, not only made satisfaction for the condemning power of sin, but also decisively destroyed the might of Satan, the world, and death. This destructive work of redemption required the infinite capacities of the divine Captain of the Hosts of the Lord.

(8) Christ’s divinity was necessary to accomplish our everlasting salvation. Our eternal blessedness essentially consists in the enjoyment of our Savior. He is not only the author of our redemption, he is the matter of it. He is not merely the means of our salvation, he is the goal of it. In glory we are not only made happy by him, but in him. Only a divine savior could serve as the great fountain of blessedness for all redeemed humanity.

George Whitefield: What think ye of Christ?

Some, and I fear a multitude which no man can easily number, there are among us, who call themselves Christians, and yet seldom or never seriously think of Jesus Christ at all. They can think of their shops and their farms, their plays, their balls, their assemblies, and horse races (entertainments which tend to exclude religion out of the world); but as for Christ, the Author and Finisher of faith, the Lord who has bought poor sinners with his precious blood, and who is the only thing worth thinking of, alas! he is not in all, or at most in very few of their thoughts. But believe me, O you earthly, sensual, carnally minded professors, however little you may think of Christ now, or however industriously you may strive to keep him out of your thoughts, by pursuing the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, yet there is a time coming, when you will wish you had thought of Christ more and of your profits and pleasures less. For the charmed, the polite, the rich also must die as well as others, and leave their pomps and vanities and all their wealth behind them. And oh! what thoughts will you entertain concerning Jesus Christ that hour?

–from What Think Ye of Christ?, a sermon by George Whitefield on Matthew 22:42

Meditation on ‘The Gospel’

Below is a post I recently posted on my personal Blog…I figured it was fitting to post it here as well.

At Bible Study this week our Pastor quoted the following two definitions of the Gospel:

“The Gospel is the good news about the great salvation purchased by Jesus Christ, by which He reconciled sinful men to a holy God.”

–  Lorraine Boettner

“The gospel is the good news of God’s saving activity in the person and work of Christ. This includes his incarnation in which he took to himself full (yet sinless) human nature; his sinless life which fulfilled the perfect law of God;his substitutionary death which paid the penalty for man’s sin and satisfied the righteous wrath of God; his resurrection demonstrating God’s satisfaction with his sacrifice; and his glorification and ascension to the right hand of the Father where he now reigns and intercedes for the church.”

– Jeff Purswell

After hearing these two quotes I jotted down my own definition of ‘The Gospel’ in my notes…I think it is a sort of meshing of the two together:

“The Gospel is what God has done, and is doing through Christ to redeem and reconcile a sinful people and His creation to Himself”

I’m still meditating on my definition and phraseology, so that may get tweaked…but nevertheless I think it communicates what I believe to be the central message of what the Gospel is, and what it does. My Pastor summed up the Gospel by saying that, “Christ is the Gospel”. John Piper has similarly said, and has even written a book entitled, “God is the Gospel”.

I rejoice that there seems to be a new awareness of “The Gospel” and what it really is. For so long we simply thought of it as something we needed hear in order to be saved(get to heaven) or a presentation we had to make for someone else to be saved. We thought of “The Gospel” as the entry point into the Christian life, and then we graduated from there and got into the real “meat” of the Christian experience. I rejoice that there is a new attempt at defining what “The Gospel” means, and it’s implications in every area of our life. Books are still being written on the subject of defining “The Gospel”. Just look at the two quotes I posted above…You have one rather short and simple quote, and you have another more detailed and complex quote. This sort of begs the question: “So, is the Gospel simple or complex? How exactly can you define what “The Gospel” is and what it isn’t?”

To the first question I say yes, and yes. The Gospel is both simple and complex. For me that is the beauty of it. It is a well so deep that we can never reach its depths, or exhaust the life giving qualities…yet the simplest among us can come with our dixie cups, and skim from the top enough of it’s living water that we can be eternally secure in Christ. The Gospel is an ocean so deep that we can never plunge it’s depths, yet shallow enough for the smallest, and most timid among us to frolic along the shore with our water wings on. I’m sure those last couple of lines are similar to someone else, and if I knew who, or wanted to take the time I would give them credit…I wanna say C.S. Lewis has said something similar, but honestly right now I have no idea where I’ve read it, or even if it was an original thought.(though I confess I’m not very original…just stay with me for now though) God is so amazing and so vast that He has chosen to reveal Himself in ways that we can understand, yet we will never fully know Him on this side of heaven. I’m thankful I will have an eternity to get to know Him, and to learn His ways…

To the second question I would say you can read all of the definitions I’ve given thus far and have an accurate picture of “The Gospel”. That being said, I don’t know that they completely and fully define it, at least in ways that we completely understand. (Stay with me) The fullest and most accurate definition I would say would be that “God is the Gospel”. Everything that “The Gospel” is, God is. Everything that “The Gospel” does, God does. “The Gospel” was personified in the person of Christ, so in effect(or actuality) Christ is indeed “The Gospel”. That being said though, I think all of our attempts at defining “The Gospel” in human words fall short. Words tend to be exclusionary by nature. If we say something is this, then this can’t be that. But “The Gospel” is so vast, that it includes so much(everything?). So I think any attempt at defining what “The Gospel” is falls short because it is a part of every fabric of our lives…every fabric of our world even. I say this because there is nowhere that God is not active, and nowhere that God is not at work. “The Gospel” I believe is the truth that God is working all things together for His glory, to the completion, and fruition of His plan for all of creation.(Perhaps this is a better definition than the one I gave earlier?)

So many times in our definitions we say that the Gospel is this, but not that. The Gospel is that, but not this. My pastor even said the other night that, and I think this is a John Piper quote, missions is not the Gospel, but a result of the Gospel. I’ve heard others say that social justice is not the Gospel, but an outworking of the Gospel. I say yes, but these things are “The Gospel” because they are the Gospel at work. I believe this to be true of many other things that people say “aren’t the Gospel”. I think it better to say that these things alone are not the Gospel, because the Gospel is so much more. Perhaps this is splitting hairs…perhaps I’m missing something…but hopefully my point is being made.

God is awesome, God is amazing. We can’t fit Him, or His Gospel into a box. Ultimately all of our words fall short in defining Him, and what He is doing. Yet we can know Him, and cling to Him and His Gospel. We can embrace His Gospel, and live it, (at least to the degree in which He enables us to), and let it flow out of us onto and into others. The Gospel truly is good news for a world that so desperately needs it. Let us continue to explore the depths of what His Gospel is…yet know in our hearts, that ultimately His truths are simply too much for our finite minds. But isn’t that what makes Him God? Isn’t that what makes “The Gospel” good news? He brought His vastness down to us…He has given us a glimpse into who He is. He has given us enough to want Him, and desire Him more…He has given us a thirst that only He can quench. Oh how I thirst for you God…

“As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.”

Psalm 42:1-2

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!…
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-34,36

Is your theology good news?

Everyday I get an email with quotes from the great Anglican theologian John Stott. I find them to be edifying and often challenging. You can subscribe to get the emails here. There is also a daily bible study you can sign up for if you’d like. This mornings quote was one I desire to share.

In one sense the whole Bible is gospel, for its fundamental purpose is to bear witness to Jesus Christ and to proclaim the good news of a new life to those who come to him. Now if the Bible (which is God’s Word through men’s words) is gospel, then all theologies (which are human formulations of biblical truth) must be framed as gospel also. Too much contemporary theology fails at this point. It is incommunicable. But any theology which cannot be communicated as gospel is of minimal value. For one thing, the task of formulating truth is fruitless if, once formulated, it cannot then be more readily communicated. If it cannot, why bother to formulate it? For another, Jesus taught that only those who pass on to others the truth they have received will receive any more. ‘Take heed what you hear,’ he warned, ‘the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you'(Mk.4:24).

–John Stott, From “Culture and the Bible” (Downers Grove: IVP, 1981), p. 38.

As Waffle House Theologians we spend a lot of time sitting around talking about and debating theology. It would be wise for the student of theology to keep in mind the gospel in their study. Is what we study biblical? Does it edify? Do the doctrines we study and hold dear have ties and heart in the gospel?

May we stand firm in the gospel and preach Christ and Him crucified.

Reflecting on the Righteousness of Christ

Over the past month or so I’ve been reading a lot of Paul’s letters. I’ve been reading other parts of the Scriptures too. Over the past few Sundays I’ve heard sermons from Philippians. I’m going through a devotional in Romans with my lovely girlfriend. Along with this, I’m apart of a Bible study that has been going through Colossians. In all my Pauline reading over and over you see the same thought. You need righteousness that isn’t your own.

I’m at all these different places in the different letters. In Colossians we’re only on chapter one verse six and we’ve been studying for a month now. In Philippians I just jumped in with the church in the middle of chapter three. I’ve made my way to the third chapter of Romans today in the devotional I’m going through. In all these studies, I find I need Jesus. I’ve read all these letters countless times before. Yet the truth of the gospel remains afresh with every reading. But what stands so prominent now is the righteousness of Christ.

When you come to Philippians 3, you find a man who by the worlds standards has every reason in the world to boast. He once was of the most elite family background, was a political and religious leader of a nation, and had affiliation the best and greatest. Religiously he had all the reason to boast and was extremely pious in his own eyes and in the eyes of the people. Yet he says of all his boasting in the the flesh

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. – Philippians 3:8-11

All that Paul could have considered righteousness he considers worthless in light of what true righteousness is. Paul’s ultimate goal and striving in life is to be like Christ. Paul knows we need the perfect sacrifice of Christ the make us right before the one true living God. When all is said in done, its the work of Christ and his righteousness that matter most in life. All of our piety outside of Christ is blasphemy at best. Our strivings to worship apart from Christ isn’t worship at all. We need the perfect sacrifice of Christ for an aroma to rise before Almighty God, and by his perfect aroma the Father sees Christ and we stand before the throne justified in the righteousness of Christ. This is worth abandoning all and following. In the gospel of Christ is a treasure worth having. There is nothing more beautiful. It is what allows us to take all that we can boast in that is in and of ourselves and say ‘worthless’ apart from knowing Jesus.

The pastor this past Sunday said, “Without the righteousness of God, we are completely undone.”

What a truth! Praise be to God because of Christ Jesus that we can approach God in confidence because of his perfect sacrifice on our behalf. And praise be that his righteousness doesn’t just preform a justifying work, but that it causes continual transformation for those whose identity is Christ.

May we take heed to Dr. James M. Boice as he reflected on Romans 2:23:

“If you have been trusting in anything other than Jesus Christ and his death on the cross in your place, throw whatever it is completely out of your mind. Abandon it. Stamp on it. Grind it down. Dust off the place where it lay. Then turn to Jesus Christ alone and trust him only.”

Hallelujah, All I have is Christ.
Hallelujah, Jesus is my life.

God’s Gospel

If you read this blog or the other blogs of those who contribute you’ll find that we often time write on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Chris had a great post on the gospel that you can read here.

There is so much one can learn about the gospel. Its implications expand to every area of life. Somethings are incredibly deep, and others are quite elementary. Nevertheless, whatever aspect of the gospel you ponder it is surely worth meditating upon. One thing that should be thought upon and asked about the gospel is: Whose gospel is it?

James M. Boice in his commentary on Romans 1:1 said:

The gospel is God’s gospel. It is something announced and accomplished and what he sent his apostles to proclaim. It is something God blesses and through which he saves men and women. The grammatical way of stating this is that the genitive (“of God”) is a subjective rather than an objective genitive. It means that God creates and announces the gospel rather than he is the object of its proclamation.

The gospel is God’s gospel and he is that very gospel. He is the source of goodness and the news proclaimed. Apart from God there would be no good news. It is he who made provision and redemption for his people. The source of hope in the proclamation of the gospel in Christ’s Great Commission comes from the one who has been given all authority on heaven and on earth. It is God who is with the church always, even until the end of the age. There is wonderful hope in the gospel because it is God’s. From beginning to end the gospel is the work of God. In his providence from before the Earth’s foundations were laid to the coming of that blessed day that brings a never-ending dispensation of worship of the Lamb who was slain. The gospel is God’s from first to last.

Elders: What are they? Who are they? Part I

Today as I was headed to school I found someone preaching on the radio. I tend to listen at least for a moment or two when I hear preaching on the radio. If its someone I know and like I’ll often leave the station there. The pastor I heard preaching this evening was a rather popluar preacher. I missed most of his message but he began to talk about elders in the life of the church.

He quoted 1 Timothy 4:12: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

From there he began to talk about elders in the church and how they weren’t to be young. I’m not quite sure how you draw that conclusion from this text. Paul is writing to a young Timothy. We aren’t sure how young, but young nevertheless. He drew his conclusion from the English word elder, saying it mean older individuals. This pastor even said that pastors in their fourties were young for elders.

What I would like to is examine some biblical texts on polity and the role of elders/overseers/pastors/preacher-teachers in the church. There is much confusion in the church today on the role of pastors by clergy and laity alike. Many have shed a lot of light on the subject and I’ll be gleaning from them. But primarily I’d like to see what the Bible says about elders in the church.

I’ve posted several scriptures below that deal with elders and polity. I plan to use some of these texts if not all of them in forthcoming posts. Feel free to comment and interact even in this first posting with these scriptures.

(I would also note that this is a bit of an extension from some conversations that have happened at Waffle House.)

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. – Hebrews 13:17

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:1-5

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.- Titus 1:5-9

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.  – 1 Timothy 3:1-7

More to come soon….