I am writing this post as I get ready to go to work. Today is the first time I get to work an 8 hour shift at my "new" job. New being a relative term. This job is new in the fact I have not worked for the company longer than a month. But I have been employed by the company for multiple weeks. I have spent time on training shifts and learning. Today I hit the ground running though, as I get my first shift longer than 4 hours. And as I have been getting ready for my work day, I have come to realize the excitement, enthusiasm, and "newness" of the job is wearing off. As someone might say, "the honeymoon period is over".
We have all felt this feeling at times. After a few weeks of marriage, the newness and excitement begins to decline as we start to see the "warts" of our spouse. After a few sleepless nights of getting up with the newborn, our excitement of having our first child begins to wear-off. Multiple weeks in the new house or new car, we start to see all the problems with the house or car and why we should not have bought it. We even have this feeling with a new church we begin to attend as we get to feel our preferences versus what the church actually does.
In this life, there is always a honeymoon period where the excitement, joy, and freshness of the situation or thing, takes place. But in this life, this period always ends and reality sets in. Sin effects the situation. Brokenness makes an impact. The falleness of this world comes into the situation. The beginning period of anything in this world always ends in frustration, stress, or regret.
But there will be a place and time where the honeymoon period never ends. Someday, when Jesus returns to earth and God creates a new Heaven and Earth, there will be no "beginning" or "honeymoon" period. Every single day in this place and time will have the same excitement, joy, and amazement, as the day before. When God makes all things new, the "honeymoon" period will never come to an end.
We will learn new things every day. We will explore the new Earth or Heaven in a fresh way every day. We will discover something amazing about God and His creation each day. The joy of a sinless existence will be continuous. The anxiety or stress of falleness will be gone. And to make it all better, each moment of each day, we will be able to enjoy and feast on the perfect presence of God and Jesus, right before our eyes. In the new Heaven and new Earth, every day will be like the first day.
So in a world where things grow dim. In a day and age where the new wears out into the old. In a time and place where excitement gives way to routine. And in a life that is effected by the fall and our sin. We can and must look forward to the day when the joy and excitement will never grow old. We can and must live in view, this very day, of the time and place that is to come where, "the honeymoon never is over". Let us live today in view of that day for the glory of God and for our good in this world.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
The Atonement: The Purpose of God
"For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined he also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified".
Romans 8:29-30
This is another post, in my series on the atonement of Jesus. Our definition of atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today I want to think deeply about the purpose of Jesus' death on the cross. Why did Jesus die? What did God ordain, plan, and accomplish in the death of His perfect Son? What was the purpose in the atonement of Jesus?
Today's post is not going to be popular. Many people do not agree, and in fact, get angry at this truth. The purpose of Jesus death has been debated for millennia. Godly men and women have been on multiple sides of this discussion. I believe the Bible is clear on this issue, but I write my thoughts out today with great humility. I do not take lightly the death of Jesus. I do not write today's thoughts out in a trivial manner, as if God's purposes are something to be discarded. Jesus is my Savior and without the purpose of God in Jesus' death and the death Jesus accomplished for me, I would still be lost in the bondage and desire for my sin. But we must think for a few moments about the purpose of Jesus' death.
Before I explore a little of God's purpose in Jesus' atonement, I want to make a few points clear up front, so as not to be accused of something I do not believe.
First, I believe God is sovereign. What God plans and ordains is always accomplished. What God desires (in His will of decree), He always makes sure happens. God, being the God Most High, is in total control of everything, including the salvation of man. God is sovereign over salvation.
Second, I believe that not all humans will be saved. I am not a universalist. Hell will be full of humans. Not all those who hear the Gospel message, who know of Jesus death, will be in heaven. The hardness of the human heart. The human bondage and desire for sin. The reality of fallen humanity leads me to believe that not all people will be saved.
Third, even though God is sovereign over salvation and we know not all will be saved, this does not mean the Gospel should not be offered to all. I believe it is our duty as Christians to evangelize all people. Whether it is the atheist at work, the Buddhist in the neighborhood, the "Christian" next to us in church, or the morally good family member, every single human must be told the good news of what Jesus accomplished.
Fourth, I believe in the power of Jesus. Jesus' death is sufficient to save all humanity. There is power in the blood of Jesus. If God wanted all humanity to be saved, Jesus blood is sufficient to save all humanity and God is powerful enough to bring salvation to all humanity. God is not limited in His power. Jesus is not limited in His ability. The atonement is not limited in its sufficiency.
Fifth, I believe in the penal substitutionary atonement of Jesus. Jesus was my substitute in a perfect life and in His atoning death. Jesus lived the perfect life I could not, in my place and God imputed it onto me. Jesus also stood in my place, when He went to the cross and satisfied the wrath/holiness of God against my sin. God imputed my sin and punishment upon Jesus as He was dying on the Cross. I believe payment for sin either took place on the cross or takes place in Hell.
Sixth, I believe God does not do anything arbitrary or without a purpose. God never plans an event or goes about his ordained plan without having a purpose in His actions. Because God is sovereign, every action he takes has a purpose and that purpose is perfectly accomplished. Jesus death had a clear purpose, planned by God, since eternity past. And becasue God is sovereign and in total control, God accomplished His purpose perfectly on the Cross.
All 6 of these points now bring us to a few thoughts on God's purpose for Jesus' atoning death.
There is an idea or picture in Christianity that goes something like this..."when Jesus died on the cross He was thinking and picturing you". I agree with this logic to a certain extent. God sent Jesus (and Jesus totally, perfectly, humbly agreed) to die for sinners (their enemies). God and the Son, planned in eternity past to save a people for themselves. God knowing we are lost, sinful, and deserve His wrath, created and accomplished a plan through Jesus to save His enemies. So Jesus came to this earth knowing He was going to save His people. This means yes, Jesus was on the cross thinking of His people that He was saving by standing in their place.
Jesus had specific people in mind when he agreed to live and die. Jesus was not arbitrary. Jesus was specific. God was not random. God was intentional. As Jesus declares in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays His life down for the sheep". Jesus was sent by God to rescue the sheep. Isaiah the prophet makes clear, "we all like sheep have gone astray....and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all". God knowing humans are lost, sent Jesus to secure the sheep that are lost, the elect people He loved. So Jesus went to the cross to stand in for specific people that He was thinking about, not a random, conglomerate of "unknowns".
The question that needs to be asked is whether God or humans are the most powerful force in salvation. If God is the most powerful being in salvation then what He wanted to accomplish and secure in the death of His Son was fulfilled and humans are in God's grace for salvation. If humans are the most powerful being in salvation then salvation rests in man's ability and power to secure their own salvation and God is at a loss in accomplishing His plan.
Now, most people I know never say that humans are the most powerful beings in salvation. Most people I know declare confidently, salvation is from the Lord. Yet, they claim to hold the power of humanity in salvation. They claim that God's grace cooperates with the human will and power. They claim that God is unable to secure His people without His people making a choice or decision. They claim that God made salvation possible and it is now up to the power of humans to take the power within themselves and finish the job. But Jesus is very clear that salvation rests first and foremost in the power of God to accomplish what he decrees when he says in John 16, "you did not choose me, but I choose you". The power to save people rests in God's power.
Another way to think through this point is asking a second question. Did God make salvation a possibility or did God make it a sovereign decree? If God makes salvation possibility that we can choose to accept or reject, then he loses His power, sovereign nature, and is relying on the human power to accomplish what He wants. It is as if God was in heaven saying, "I hope humanity has the power becasue I can't seem to accomplish this without them". If God accomplishes what He ordains in His plan of salvation then humanity rest in the grace, love, and power of God to save them and God is still perfectly sovereign over salvation. Again, most human beings I know do not say God just made salvation possible. No, they declare confidently and securely that that God accomplished His salvation the way He decreed.
We as humans want God to have the power in salvation. But when we understand what God's power in salvation means, we reject this notion. If God has the power to save, He saves that which He intends to save. God's power in salvation means it is not up to humans to save. God sent Jesus on a mission. God's mission was to accomplish the salvation of those He intended to save. God did not have to create this plan. God had every right to let humans remain in sin and get what they deserve and desire. Yet God chose to enact His power to send Jesus to save people in His grace. God's grace is all through God's power to save certain people. If it was up to the human power in salvation, all humanity would be stuck. As Ephesians 2 makes clear, "we are by nature children of wrath, dead in our trespass and sins". Humanity has no power to save and must rely solely on the power of God to secure the salvation of His people.
A third way of thinking through the purposes of God is thinking through the back end of salvation. Many Christians I know believe that "once saved, always saved" truth. They believe that salvation, after they have come into it, rests in the power and grace of God to secure it to the end. Most people rest in the power of God in salvation on the back end. But the same people hold to the power of humanity on the front end. They believe that humanity has the power to get into salvation. They believe that it is up to them and their power to get saved to begin with. Human power to get in and God's power to stay in. Here is the deal. God in His holiness hates sin. God in His holiness abhors the sinful, wicked person (this is every human). Yet, many people hold to God's grace that their sin will not remove the salvation God has given them. Many people hold to the grace of God in keeping them saved, even as they wrestle and commit sin in their life. They hold to God's power in sealing them in the Spirit, making a way for them to get to heaven. Most Christians know they need God to keep them and secure them in salvation becasue they can't do it on their own. Yet these same people think they got saved by their own power. No, they are clear it was the power of God to wash them and the death of Jesus that redeemed them. But they claim it was their own power to chose God, their ability to want God, the human desire to be saved. These people want human power to get in and God's power to stay. Jesus death and the purpose of Jesus death was not to give humans power but to demonstrate God's power by securing a people for Himself. it is God's power alone (demonstrated in his grace) that saves people and keep people. God's grace alone is the power that saves people. This means Jesus died to secure a specific people in His power for Himself.
All three of these arguments of God's purpose point to one fact. Salvation is either in God's power, accomplishing perfectly God's purpose or salvation has no power in God and rests completely in the power of man to save themselves (with the help of Jesus' sacrificial death). I believe God accomplishes His plan of salvation perfectly. This means, yes Jesus was thinking of me when He went to the cross. In fact, Jesus was thinking of every single person He was dying for when He went to the cross. Jesus substituted Himself for specific people and satisfied God's wrath for specific people. Jesus died on the cross for His sheep, the elect of God. I believe the purpose of Jesus' atonement was to perfectly accomplish salvation for the elect of God.
Like I said, this belief does not make me popular.
This belief does not make me popular because most people misunderstand God's love (they define it on human terms), God's goodness (again defining it on human terms), God's grace (thinking they deserve it), and God's sovereign control over His salvation. I know I would have never wanted God without Him first acting in my life. I know in my power, salvation would have never been accomplished in me. I know that in my control, I would be spending eternity in Hell, getting exactly what I deserve and want. Yet in God's grace, He sent His perfect loving Son to go to the Cross for me to secure my salvation. I know it is only by God's grace alone in Christ alone for His glory alone that I am saved and experience the fullness of God's salvation. I know that Jesus' atonement accomplishing the salvation of particular people God elected, does not make me popular. But I rest today in the grace of God to still perfectly accomplish that which He sets out to accomplish in my life for His glory, which rests in His power alone to save me.
Romans 8:29-30
This is another post, in my series on the atonement of Jesus. Our definition of atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today I want to think deeply about the purpose of Jesus' death on the cross. Why did Jesus die? What did God ordain, plan, and accomplish in the death of His perfect Son? What was the purpose in the atonement of Jesus?
Today's post is not going to be popular. Many people do not agree, and in fact, get angry at this truth. The purpose of Jesus death has been debated for millennia. Godly men and women have been on multiple sides of this discussion. I believe the Bible is clear on this issue, but I write my thoughts out today with great humility. I do not take lightly the death of Jesus. I do not write today's thoughts out in a trivial manner, as if God's purposes are something to be discarded. Jesus is my Savior and without the purpose of God in Jesus' death and the death Jesus accomplished for me, I would still be lost in the bondage and desire for my sin. But we must think for a few moments about the purpose of Jesus' death.
Before I explore a little of God's purpose in Jesus' atonement, I want to make a few points clear up front, so as not to be accused of something I do not believe.
First, I believe God is sovereign. What God plans and ordains is always accomplished. What God desires (in His will of decree), He always makes sure happens. God, being the God Most High, is in total control of everything, including the salvation of man. God is sovereign over salvation.
Second, I believe that not all humans will be saved. I am not a universalist. Hell will be full of humans. Not all those who hear the Gospel message, who know of Jesus death, will be in heaven. The hardness of the human heart. The human bondage and desire for sin. The reality of fallen humanity leads me to believe that not all people will be saved.
Third, even though God is sovereign over salvation and we know not all will be saved, this does not mean the Gospel should not be offered to all. I believe it is our duty as Christians to evangelize all people. Whether it is the atheist at work, the Buddhist in the neighborhood, the "Christian" next to us in church, or the morally good family member, every single human must be told the good news of what Jesus accomplished.
Fourth, I believe in the power of Jesus. Jesus' death is sufficient to save all humanity. There is power in the blood of Jesus. If God wanted all humanity to be saved, Jesus blood is sufficient to save all humanity and God is powerful enough to bring salvation to all humanity. God is not limited in His power. Jesus is not limited in His ability. The atonement is not limited in its sufficiency.
Fifth, I believe in the penal substitutionary atonement of Jesus. Jesus was my substitute in a perfect life and in His atoning death. Jesus lived the perfect life I could not, in my place and God imputed it onto me. Jesus also stood in my place, when He went to the cross and satisfied the wrath/holiness of God against my sin. God imputed my sin and punishment upon Jesus as He was dying on the Cross. I believe payment for sin either took place on the cross or takes place in Hell.
Sixth, I believe God does not do anything arbitrary or without a purpose. God never plans an event or goes about his ordained plan without having a purpose in His actions. Because God is sovereign, every action he takes has a purpose and that purpose is perfectly accomplished. Jesus death had a clear purpose, planned by God, since eternity past. And becasue God is sovereign and in total control, God accomplished His purpose perfectly on the Cross.
All 6 of these points now bring us to a few thoughts on God's purpose for Jesus' atoning death.
There is an idea or picture in Christianity that goes something like this..."when Jesus died on the cross He was thinking and picturing you". I agree with this logic to a certain extent. God sent Jesus (and Jesus totally, perfectly, humbly agreed) to die for sinners (their enemies). God and the Son, planned in eternity past to save a people for themselves. God knowing we are lost, sinful, and deserve His wrath, created and accomplished a plan through Jesus to save His enemies. So Jesus came to this earth knowing He was going to save His people. This means yes, Jesus was on the cross thinking of His people that He was saving by standing in their place.
Jesus had specific people in mind when he agreed to live and die. Jesus was not arbitrary. Jesus was specific. God was not random. God was intentional. As Jesus declares in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays His life down for the sheep". Jesus was sent by God to rescue the sheep. Isaiah the prophet makes clear, "we all like sheep have gone astray....and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all". God knowing humans are lost, sent Jesus to secure the sheep that are lost, the elect people He loved. So Jesus went to the cross to stand in for specific people that He was thinking about, not a random, conglomerate of "unknowns".
The question that needs to be asked is whether God or humans are the most powerful force in salvation. If God is the most powerful being in salvation then what He wanted to accomplish and secure in the death of His Son was fulfilled and humans are in God's grace for salvation. If humans are the most powerful being in salvation then salvation rests in man's ability and power to secure their own salvation and God is at a loss in accomplishing His plan.
Now, most people I know never say that humans are the most powerful beings in salvation. Most people I know declare confidently, salvation is from the Lord. Yet, they claim to hold the power of humanity in salvation. They claim that God's grace cooperates with the human will and power. They claim that God is unable to secure His people without His people making a choice or decision. They claim that God made salvation possible and it is now up to the power of humans to take the power within themselves and finish the job. But Jesus is very clear that salvation rests first and foremost in the power of God to accomplish what he decrees when he says in John 16, "you did not choose me, but I choose you". The power to save people rests in God's power.
Another way to think through this point is asking a second question. Did God make salvation a possibility or did God make it a sovereign decree? If God makes salvation possibility that we can choose to accept or reject, then he loses His power, sovereign nature, and is relying on the human power to accomplish what He wants. It is as if God was in heaven saying, "I hope humanity has the power becasue I can't seem to accomplish this without them". If God accomplishes what He ordains in His plan of salvation then humanity rest in the grace, love, and power of God to save them and God is still perfectly sovereign over salvation. Again, most human beings I know do not say God just made salvation possible. No, they declare confidently and securely that that God accomplished His salvation the way He decreed.
We as humans want God to have the power in salvation. But when we understand what God's power in salvation means, we reject this notion. If God has the power to save, He saves that which He intends to save. God's power in salvation means it is not up to humans to save. God sent Jesus on a mission. God's mission was to accomplish the salvation of those He intended to save. God did not have to create this plan. God had every right to let humans remain in sin and get what they deserve and desire. Yet God chose to enact His power to send Jesus to save people in His grace. God's grace is all through God's power to save certain people. If it was up to the human power in salvation, all humanity would be stuck. As Ephesians 2 makes clear, "we are by nature children of wrath, dead in our trespass and sins". Humanity has no power to save and must rely solely on the power of God to secure the salvation of His people.
A third way of thinking through the purposes of God is thinking through the back end of salvation. Many Christians I know believe that "once saved, always saved" truth. They believe that salvation, after they have come into it, rests in the power and grace of God to secure it to the end. Most people rest in the power of God in salvation on the back end. But the same people hold to the power of humanity on the front end. They believe that humanity has the power to get into salvation. They believe that it is up to them and their power to get saved to begin with. Human power to get in and God's power to stay in. Here is the deal. God in His holiness hates sin. God in His holiness abhors the sinful, wicked person (this is every human). Yet, many people hold to God's grace that their sin will not remove the salvation God has given them. Many people hold to the grace of God in keeping them saved, even as they wrestle and commit sin in their life. They hold to God's power in sealing them in the Spirit, making a way for them to get to heaven. Most Christians know they need God to keep them and secure them in salvation becasue they can't do it on their own. Yet these same people think they got saved by their own power. No, they are clear it was the power of God to wash them and the death of Jesus that redeemed them. But they claim it was their own power to chose God, their ability to want God, the human desire to be saved. These people want human power to get in and God's power to stay. Jesus death and the purpose of Jesus death was not to give humans power but to demonstrate God's power by securing a people for Himself. it is God's power alone (demonstrated in his grace) that saves people and keep people. God's grace alone is the power that saves people. This means Jesus died to secure a specific people in His power for Himself.
All three of these arguments of God's purpose point to one fact. Salvation is either in God's power, accomplishing perfectly God's purpose or salvation has no power in God and rests completely in the power of man to save themselves (with the help of Jesus' sacrificial death). I believe God accomplishes His plan of salvation perfectly. This means, yes Jesus was thinking of me when He went to the cross. In fact, Jesus was thinking of every single person He was dying for when He went to the cross. Jesus substituted Himself for specific people and satisfied God's wrath for specific people. Jesus died on the cross for His sheep, the elect of God. I believe the purpose of Jesus' atonement was to perfectly accomplish salvation for the elect of God.
Like I said, this belief does not make me popular.
This belief does not make me popular because most people misunderstand God's love (they define it on human terms), God's goodness (again defining it on human terms), God's grace (thinking they deserve it), and God's sovereign control over His salvation. I know I would have never wanted God without Him first acting in my life. I know in my power, salvation would have never been accomplished in me. I know that in my control, I would be spending eternity in Hell, getting exactly what I deserve and want. Yet in God's grace, He sent His perfect loving Son to go to the Cross for me to secure my salvation. I know it is only by God's grace alone in Christ alone for His glory alone that I am saved and experience the fullness of God's salvation. I know that Jesus' atonement accomplishing the salvation of particular people God elected, does not make me popular. But I rest today in the grace of God to still perfectly accomplish that which He sets out to accomplish in my life for His glory, which rests in His power alone to save me.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
The Questions
I love when God's people asks questions of God and the Bible. When a saint of the Lord asks a question, they are showing a desire to learn, grow, and better understand who God is and what He reveals to His children. In my Sunday School class recently, a dear older saint asked a very important yet thoughtful question. She slipped me a piece of paper with the question on it and asked if we could work through her question during Sunday School, in the near future. I was excited to explore her question and teach what God and His Word answered for her. The question she asked was, "does the Bible teach human free will"?
As I began to explore her question, I used four important resources that help answer questions. The four resources I used to answer her question, is what I want to explore a little in this post. The four resources I turned to, to help answer her question, are four areas all Christians can turn to, to help answer their questions. The four resource areas that help discover answers to hard questions are; Bible verses, word definition, other people, and related questions. These four areas brought a deeper understanding to her question. They also gave the full depth and width of what God had to say about the question. Let's explore each resource.
First, I turned to what the Bible had to say about free will. If a question is being asked of God or God's Word, the first place God's people must turn is God Himself. Maybe the Bible asked the same questions. For example the Bible asks, "who created the world"? Yet the Bible also answers this question for itself. So taking a question, whether we are asking it or someone asks us the question, and turning to Scripture is the first place to start. I took her question about free will and explored what the Bible had to say about human nature, the human will, the condition humans are born in, the power of God, and the plan of salvation. I took her question and went right to the truth of God's Word to discover what God's Word says. The Bible is the first place we must turn when answering a question.
The second resource I went to, to answer the question, was the dictionary. When a question is asked, many times we have to define words and what words in the question mean. In the case of the question asked of me, I turned to Webster's Dictionary and found definitions for words like "will" and "free". I also turned to my theological dictionaries and found definitions for words like regeneration, conversion, human nature, and desire. Finding the definition of words will help clarify the question being asked and the answers that are given. Finding definition of words can also help get everyone on the same page with what is being asked and how words play a major part in answering the question. This resource is critical to answering questions asked of God becasue it gets everyone on the same page with both God's Words and human expression.
The third resource that I turned, in answering her question, was other writers, theologians, and pastors. The church has been around for 2000 years. This means, this was probably not the first time this question has been asked. Discovering how others in the church have answered the question is a huge resource in working through questions that are asked now. We are God's people, saved by a community (the Trinity) for a community (the church). This reality means we are not an island and have an individual arrogance of thinking we know all and understand all. Getting help to answer questions from past and present Christians is a huge resource in answering questions. We must turn to others in the church (who are clearly orthodox in thinking) to find help in answering questions. This resource was a huge help for me becasue the nature of humanity and free will has been a huge discussion since the church began 2000 years ago.
The final resource to turn when asking a question, is other questions that are being raised. In the case of the dear saint's question of free will, it raised at least 8 other questions that I could think of. A question is never asked in isolation. In almost every situation, when a question is asked, it brings with it numerous other questions. Questions that are related to words, other authors, or other Bible passages. A single questions is never a single question standing by itself. Exploring the other questions that are raised will help lead to answering the original question that was asked. In the case for my Sunday School class, exploring the multiple other questions asked by the original question helped the discussion and discovery becasue it clarified and simplified the original question.
As finite human beings, we are always asking questions. Asking questions is a good thing. I made it clear to the dear saint in my Sunday School, her question was valid, important, and a great opportunity to learn more about God and human nature. No, not every question we ask, will have a clear, full answer. God is a holy infinite being that is mysterious. But many questions that are asked, when explored and understood with the four resources above will have an answer. In the case of the saint's question of free will, the Bible was explored (what God says), words were defined (unity in question and answer), others were consulted (other answers to the question), and other related questions were explored. And I praised God an answer, that was full and satisfying was found. This dear saint found an answer to her question as we explored these 4 resource areas.
So we must ask questions, yet remain humble and diligent enough to explore all the resources we have in helping us find the answer. By God's grace we will be given many answers to the many questions we ask of God and revealed Word.
As I began to explore her question, I used four important resources that help answer questions. The four resources I used to answer her question, is what I want to explore a little in this post. The four resources I turned to, to help answer her question, are four areas all Christians can turn to, to help answer their questions. The four resource areas that help discover answers to hard questions are; Bible verses, word definition, other people, and related questions. These four areas brought a deeper understanding to her question. They also gave the full depth and width of what God had to say about the question. Let's explore each resource.
First, I turned to what the Bible had to say about free will. If a question is being asked of God or God's Word, the first place God's people must turn is God Himself. Maybe the Bible asked the same questions. For example the Bible asks, "who created the world"? Yet the Bible also answers this question for itself. So taking a question, whether we are asking it or someone asks us the question, and turning to Scripture is the first place to start. I took her question about free will and explored what the Bible had to say about human nature, the human will, the condition humans are born in, the power of God, and the plan of salvation. I took her question and went right to the truth of God's Word to discover what God's Word says. The Bible is the first place we must turn when answering a question.
The second resource I went to, to answer the question, was the dictionary. When a question is asked, many times we have to define words and what words in the question mean. In the case of the question asked of me, I turned to Webster's Dictionary and found definitions for words like "will" and "free". I also turned to my theological dictionaries and found definitions for words like regeneration, conversion, human nature, and desire. Finding the definition of words will help clarify the question being asked and the answers that are given. Finding definition of words can also help get everyone on the same page with what is being asked and how words play a major part in answering the question. This resource is critical to answering questions asked of God becasue it gets everyone on the same page with both God's Words and human expression.
The third resource that I turned, in answering her question, was other writers, theologians, and pastors. The church has been around for 2000 years. This means, this was probably not the first time this question has been asked. Discovering how others in the church have answered the question is a huge resource in working through questions that are asked now. We are God's people, saved by a community (the Trinity) for a community (the church). This reality means we are not an island and have an individual arrogance of thinking we know all and understand all. Getting help to answer questions from past and present Christians is a huge resource in answering questions. We must turn to others in the church (who are clearly orthodox in thinking) to find help in answering questions. This resource was a huge help for me becasue the nature of humanity and free will has been a huge discussion since the church began 2000 years ago.
The final resource to turn when asking a question, is other questions that are being raised. In the case of the dear saint's question of free will, it raised at least 8 other questions that I could think of. A question is never asked in isolation. In almost every situation, when a question is asked, it brings with it numerous other questions. Questions that are related to words, other authors, or other Bible passages. A single questions is never a single question standing by itself. Exploring the other questions that are raised will help lead to answering the original question that was asked. In the case for my Sunday School class, exploring the multiple other questions asked by the original question helped the discussion and discovery becasue it clarified and simplified the original question.
As finite human beings, we are always asking questions. Asking questions is a good thing. I made it clear to the dear saint in my Sunday School, her question was valid, important, and a great opportunity to learn more about God and human nature. No, not every question we ask, will have a clear, full answer. God is a holy infinite being that is mysterious. But many questions that are asked, when explored and understood with the four resources above will have an answer. In the case of the saint's question of free will, the Bible was explored (what God says), words were defined (unity in question and answer), others were consulted (other answers to the question), and other related questions were explored. And I praised God an answer, that was full and satisfying was found. This dear saint found an answer to her question as we explored these 4 resource areas.
So we must ask questions, yet remain humble and diligent enough to explore all the resources we have in helping us find the answer. By God's grace we will be given many answers to the many questions we ask of God and revealed Word.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Circles of Connections
At my Pastor's breakfast last week, one of my friends raised an important question. He asked, "how do we structure our churches in its relationship circles"? After the question was asked, as a group of 8 we discussed how Jesus structured His life into discipleship circles. Jesus had 3 men who were the closest to Him on this earth. Jesus had 12 men who where in an intimate relationship with Him for a 3 year period. Jesus had 70 followers who knew Him and His heart for the world. Jesus had a crowd of hundreds of people who followed Him around and sat under His teaching. And Jesus had the world at large around Him, who knew of Him, and were being impacted by His life. Jesus circles of connection were 3, 12, 70, crowds, and the world.
My friend, who asked the question, challenged us to think of our churches in these discipleship circles. My friend has a church of 100 people. He talked about how he structures his church in these types of connections. He led us in a discussion thinking through small groups, discipleship groups, shepherding groups, intimate friendship, the world, and the intimacy specific groups. We discussed groups of 3, 10, 70, crowds, and the world, both in our own lives and the lives of those we lead as Pastors.
Thinking through these circles of connection, I began to identify certain people in specific groups. I began to think about my level of intimacy with each group and my level of responsibility to each group. In my smallest, most intimate group, my wife, best friend, and brother reside. In my circle of 10, I have other men and women in my life like; my Pastors group, my mentors, an Elder in my church, and a few other close friends. My circle of connections that is 70, consists of my local church, and a few people I know and disciple in my local community, outside of my church. The crowds in my life are the people I have known from my past (that I still talk with), my neighbors, my new co-workers, and the people who know me. The world circle consists of those I do not know but rub shoulders with on a weekly or daily basis (for example the guy who I pay at the gas station). As my friend talked about circles of connections, these are the people I thought through in my circles.
As I have been thinking about these circles of connections, I bring it up for 2 reasons. First, if we do not understand the health these circles bring us, we will stretch ourselves to the breaking point. Because we have different circle of connections, we have different levels of responsibilities to each group. I have a greater responsibility to my wife or my best friend than I do to my neighbor next door. I have a more intimate relationship with my Pastor's group than I do to the single widow in my local church. My level of responsibility is dictated by the circle of connection the person is in. If we structure our lives around these circles, we will keep our priorities set, our commitment level in check, and our lives will be structured based upon relationships. Structuring our lives through the circles of connections will help our lives be rhythmic and running in such a way we become less stressed and hectic.
The second reason I bring up circles of connections, is for the love factor. As Christians we know we are supposed to love others. We know Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, love our enemies, and love our families (both church and blood). But the circles of connections dictate the level and type of love we are called to give the person, based upon the circle the person is in. I am commanded to love my wife in a totally deeper way than I am commanded to love my next door neighbor. I love the widow in my local church very different than I love the waitress who served me breakfast. Based upon the circle the person is in, my level and type of love will be different. Understanding the circles of connections will help us understand how to love the person, when to love the person, and in what ways we can show love to the person.
Jesus structured His life in circles of connections. Yes, this is a descriptive part of Jesus life. He is not commanding us to structure our lives in relationship circles. But Jesus lived a life of perfect worship where he was never stressed, never not loving, and never unable to connect with people around Him. So Jesus gives us a great example how to live a healthy life of relationships. He showed us this example by living His life in different circles of relationships. Structuring our lives in these types of relationship circles can be healthy, loving, and bring worship to our Creator.
Have you ever thought about these types of relationship circles? How do you show love to each circle of connection?
My friend, who asked the question, challenged us to think of our churches in these discipleship circles. My friend has a church of 100 people. He talked about how he structures his church in these types of connections. He led us in a discussion thinking through small groups, discipleship groups, shepherding groups, intimate friendship, the world, and the intimacy specific groups. We discussed groups of 3, 10, 70, crowds, and the world, both in our own lives and the lives of those we lead as Pastors.
Thinking through these circles of connection, I began to identify certain people in specific groups. I began to think about my level of intimacy with each group and my level of responsibility to each group. In my smallest, most intimate group, my wife, best friend, and brother reside. In my circle of 10, I have other men and women in my life like; my Pastors group, my mentors, an Elder in my church, and a few other close friends. My circle of connections that is 70, consists of my local church, and a few people I know and disciple in my local community, outside of my church. The crowds in my life are the people I have known from my past (that I still talk with), my neighbors, my new co-workers, and the people who know me. The world circle consists of those I do not know but rub shoulders with on a weekly or daily basis (for example the guy who I pay at the gas station). As my friend talked about circles of connections, these are the people I thought through in my circles.
As I have been thinking about these circles of connections, I bring it up for 2 reasons. First, if we do not understand the health these circles bring us, we will stretch ourselves to the breaking point. Because we have different circle of connections, we have different levels of responsibilities to each group. I have a greater responsibility to my wife or my best friend than I do to my neighbor next door. I have a more intimate relationship with my Pastor's group than I do to the single widow in my local church. My level of responsibility is dictated by the circle of connection the person is in. If we structure our lives around these circles, we will keep our priorities set, our commitment level in check, and our lives will be structured based upon relationships. Structuring our lives through the circles of connections will help our lives be rhythmic and running in such a way we become less stressed and hectic.
The second reason I bring up circles of connections, is for the love factor. As Christians we know we are supposed to love others. We know Jesus commands us to love our neighbors, love our enemies, and love our families (both church and blood). But the circles of connections dictate the level and type of love we are called to give the person, based upon the circle the person is in. I am commanded to love my wife in a totally deeper way than I am commanded to love my next door neighbor. I love the widow in my local church very different than I love the waitress who served me breakfast. Based upon the circle the person is in, my level and type of love will be different. Understanding the circles of connections will help us understand how to love the person, when to love the person, and in what ways we can show love to the person.
Jesus structured His life in circles of connections. Yes, this is a descriptive part of Jesus life. He is not commanding us to structure our lives in relationship circles. But Jesus lived a life of perfect worship where he was never stressed, never not loving, and never unable to connect with people around Him. So Jesus gives us a great example how to live a healthy life of relationships. He showed us this example by living His life in different circles of relationships. Structuring our lives in these types of relationship circles can be healthy, loving, and bring worship to our Creator.
Have you ever thought about these types of relationship circles? How do you show love to each circle of connection?
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
The Atonement: Christ, the Sin-Bearer
"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed".
Isaiah 53:3-5
This is another post, in my series on the atonement of Jesus. Here is the definition for this series of posts. The atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today I want to think a little more about what it means that Jesus bore the penalty and punishment for our sin. What does it mean that Jesus was a sin-bearer?
Central to the atonement is Jesus nature and ability to bear sin. Isaiah in his servant song (52:13-53:12) speaks much about the actions that Jesus does in saving His people. All throughout this servant song, the Prophet, Isaiah, declares Jesus ability to bear sin and remove sin becasue He is both human, yet perfectly obedient in every way as a servant of God. Jesus ability to bear sin depends upon his perfect obedience to the Father.
First, Jesus had an active obedience with the Father. Jesus active obedience means He was in perfect communion and fellowship with God. Jesus never sinned against God. Jesus never had a moment of unbelief in God. Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness. Thus Jesus was perfectly in step and union with God the Father. Jesus active obedience is the righteous life God imputes upon the saints.
Second, Jesus had a passive obedience with the Father. Jesus passive obedience describe His willingness, desire, and fulfillment of going to the Cross. Jesus passive obedience points to Jesus becoming a curse for the elect. Jesus passive obedience describes His suffering and anguish on the Cross. Jesus passive obedience is His willingness to be crushed by God for the sin He was bearing. Jesus passive obedience is where the sin of the elect is imputed upon Jesus.
Both Jesus passive and active obedience point to the reality that God sent His Son in human flesh (as God in the flesh) to live a perfect life and then die the sin-bearing death, so God could condemn sin in human flesh and bring salvation to His people.
In order for Jesus to be the Savior, He had to be the sin-bearer. For Jesus to be the sin-bearer, He had to be fully human, yet fully God. This allowed God to condemn sin in the flesh and for Jesus to live a perfectly righteous life. Both aspects of Jesus come into play in the atonement. Yet through it all, Jesus was perfectly obedient but was crushed and cursed for sin He never committed. Jesus was the only one who could be the sin-bearer.
Most times when we think about the atonement or Jesus saving His people, we think of the love Jesus must have had for us. I have even heard the expression, "when Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of you". I think this expression is right (which we will explore in the next post in this series). But when we use the expression of Jesus in love think of us, we can't separate it from the sin He took upon Himself for us. Jesus was our sin bearer. Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for the lust we have committed, the greed we have done, the lying we do, the gossip we tell, the hatred we spew and the angry we feel. Jesus went to the cross to bear our specific sin upon Himself and as a result took our penalty.
When we think of salvation and Jesus saving us from our sin, let us not forget that Jesus saved us by being a sin-bearer for us and all the filth, unbelief, and treason we commit against God daily.
Isaiah 53:3-5
This is another post, in my series on the atonement of Jesus. Here is the definition for this series of posts. The atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today I want to think a little more about what it means that Jesus bore the penalty and punishment for our sin. What does it mean that Jesus was a sin-bearer?
Central to the atonement is Jesus nature and ability to bear sin. Isaiah in his servant song (52:13-53:12) speaks much about the actions that Jesus does in saving His people. All throughout this servant song, the Prophet, Isaiah, declares Jesus ability to bear sin and remove sin becasue He is both human, yet perfectly obedient in every way as a servant of God. Jesus ability to bear sin depends upon his perfect obedience to the Father.
First, Jesus had an active obedience with the Father. Jesus active obedience means He was in perfect communion and fellowship with God. Jesus never sinned against God. Jesus never had a moment of unbelief in God. Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness. Thus Jesus was perfectly in step and union with God the Father. Jesus active obedience is the righteous life God imputes upon the saints.
Second, Jesus had a passive obedience with the Father. Jesus passive obedience describe His willingness, desire, and fulfillment of going to the Cross. Jesus passive obedience points to Jesus becoming a curse for the elect. Jesus passive obedience describes His suffering and anguish on the Cross. Jesus passive obedience is His willingness to be crushed by God for the sin He was bearing. Jesus passive obedience is where the sin of the elect is imputed upon Jesus.
Both Jesus passive and active obedience point to the reality that God sent His Son in human flesh (as God in the flesh) to live a perfect life and then die the sin-bearing death, so God could condemn sin in human flesh and bring salvation to His people.
In order for Jesus to be the Savior, He had to be the sin-bearer. For Jesus to be the sin-bearer, He had to be fully human, yet fully God. This allowed God to condemn sin in the flesh and for Jesus to live a perfectly righteous life. Both aspects of Jesus come into play in the atonement. Yet through it all, Jesus was perfectly obedient but was crushed and cursed for sin He never committed. Jesus was the only one who could be the sin-bearer.
Most times when we think about the atonement or Jesus saving His people, we think of the love Jesus must have had for us. I have even heard the expression, "when Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of you". I think this expression is right (which we will explore in the next post in this series). But when we use the expression of Jesus in love think of us, we can't separate it from the sin He took upon Himself for us. Jesus was our sin bearer. Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for the lust we have committed, the greed we have done, the lying we do, the gossip we tell, the hatred we spew and the angry we feel. Jesus went to the cross to bear our specific sin upon Himself and as a result took our penalty.
When we think of salvation and Jesus saving us from our sin, let us not forget that Jesus saved us by being a sin-bearer for us and all the filth, unbelief, and treason we commit against God daily.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
The Atonement: Sacrifice for Satisfaction
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-for it is written 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'".
Galatians 3:13
Galatians 3:13
This is another post, in my series on the atonement of Jesus. Here is the definition, I created, for this series of posts. The atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today we are going to think about the fact that Jesus became a curse during the atonement. Let's work through the Biblical truth that Jesus becomes a curse (a sacrifice that satisfies) step by step in the full nature of the atonement.
First, everyone who disobeys a single part of the law is under a curse from God. The law of God exists for multiple reasons. By as Paul makes clear ( in Galatians 3), one major reason the law exist is to show the standard of holy living humans must achieve. But all humans are sinners by nature. This reality makes clear that no human can meet the standard of the law and thus falls under a curse. This curses humanity becasue it shows the full clarity and weight that humans are under a curse from God. For Christ to atone, He must deal with the curse of the law.
Second, Jesus lived the only perfect life in human history. Christ was the only human to walk the earth and not be under the curse of the law. Christ was not cursed by the law (because He obeyed it perfectly) and as a result could stand before God perfectly righteous and holy. Jesus was the only human not deserving the curse of God for a single act of disobedience to the law. This truth is why Christ atonement was a sacrifice that satisfies. Christ did not deserve to be cursed, yet substituted Himself as a sacrifice (as a curse to satisfy the curse).
Third, Christ becoming a curse means the curse for those whom He became a curse for, was satisfied. As Paul makes clear in the verse above, Jesus hanging on a cross means He was cursed under the law of God. But Jesus taking upon Himself the sin of His sheep means, sin brought Him under the curse. No, Jesus never committed a single sin in His 33+ years of life. But on the cross, God the Father imputed the sin of the elect onto Jesus and imputed Jesus perfect righteousness onto the elect. The moment Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the elect, He became a curse because God reckoned all the law breakers to Him. Jesus thus sacrificed His perfect righteousness to become a curse and satisfy the payment for the curse.
Lastly, when Jesus redeemed us, it was through becoming a curse and paying the penalty for being cursed. Galatians 3:13 is a verse that includes many of the other points of the atonement. Jesus became a curse for the elect so God could justify the elect. Jesus became a curse to redeem the elect. Jesus, as being cursed, propitiated the wrath of God. Jesus, by taking upon Himself the curse brought reconciliation between God the Father and His creation. Jesus, by becoming a sacrifice that satisfies (becoming a curse) fully atoned and completed every part and action needed for salvation from God. Jesus becoming a curse, for the cursed, to free the cursed from the penalty of the curse fully atoned for the sin and curse of the elect.
The work Jesus did on the cross was done for other people, on behalf of them, and as a substitute for them. Jesus Christ was the only human who deserved (and could have demanded) God's blessing. Yet, Jesus took upon Himself the curse instead. Jesus knew what He was getting into. Jesus knew, in order to save His people, He had to take the cup from the Father and drink down the full wrath and curse of sin. Jesus knew He was going to bear "hell on earth" while dying on the cross as a curse. Jesus knew that becoming a curse was going to result in the forsaking of His Father's grace, love, favor, and instead fully bear the wrath, holiness, and anger of the curse. Yet, Jesus willingly and loving went to the Cross, took upon Himself the curse, and removed the curse of the law from the elect. Jesus Christ became a curse (a sacrifice that satisfies) to redeem those under the curse of the law. How beautiful and deep the atonement of Jesus is.
The work Jesus did on the cross was done for other people, on behalf of them, and as a substitute for them. Jesus Christ was the only human who deserved (and could have demanded) God's blessing. Yet, Jesus took upon Himself the curse instead. Jesus knew what He was getting into. Jesus knew, in order to save His people, He had to take the cup from the Father and drink down the full wrath and curse of sin. Jesus knew He was going to bear "hell on earth" while dying on the cross as a curse. Jesus knew that becoming a curse was going to result in the forsaking of His Father's grace, love, favor, and instead fully bear the wrath, holiness, and anger of the curse. Yet, Jesus willingly and loving went to the Cross, took upon Himself the curse, and removed the curse of the law from the elect. Jesus Christ became a curse (a sacrifice that satisfies) to redeem those under the curse of the law. How beautiful and deep the atonement of Jesus is.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Witness
Since Easter Sunday, I have been reading passages from the Gospels that take place after the Resurrection, yet before the Ascension. Today I came across this thought from Jesus.
"You are witnesses of these things". Luke 24:48
Jesus, in one of His final teachings with His disciples, tells them they are witness of His life, death, and resurrection. Not only are they witnesses, but they are supposed to go and be a witness of these events to the world. So what does it mean to be a witness for Jesus?
First, the word witness, in the Greek, is where we get our word "martyr" from. This truth of being a witness was very real for the disciples. All of the disciples, in fact most of those who were witness to Jesus life, all paid the price with their lives. All of Jesus disciples became martyrs. They gave up their life becasue they were pro-claimers of the good news.
Second, Richard Peace defines witness as being a Christian. He states, "witnessing is just being honest as a Christian. Witnessing is simply being true to what God has done and is doing in your life". Being a witness is being a person who is transparent with others with the work of God in our lives. This can be showing repentance. This can be through ministering to others in grace. This can be genuine forgiveness when sinned against. This genuine witness is showing others the work the Holy Spirit is doing through sanctification.
Lastly, when we hear the word witness, we think of a witness in a courtroom. The witness is someone who tells the truth of what they saw or heard during a specific event. The witness will answer questions they are asked. They relay information that is important. And they will get specific about certain details they remember. A Christian is a witness in the event of what Jesus has done for them and to them. A Christian is a witness of the radical change Jesus life and death did for them.
Being a witness is not hard. It is simply living a life of holiness before God and the world and making sure others hears the good news through our mouths. Yes, being a witness comes at a price. Being a witness has serious sacrifice. Being a witness takes courage. But all Christians can and must be witnesses of the work Jesus is accomplishing through them by the work He accomplish while He lived and died on this earth. Being a witness is serious Christian business. The question is, are we being a witness of Christ or another god we are worshiping?
"You are witnesses of these things". Luke 24:48
Jesus, in one of His final teachings with His disciples, tells them they are witness of His life, death, and resurrection. Not only are they witnesses, but they are supposed to go and be a witness of these events to the world. So what does it mean to be a witness for Jesus?
First, the word witness, in the Greek, is where we get our word "martyr" from. This truth of being a witness was very real for the disciples. All of the disciples, in fact most of those who were witness to Jesus life, all paid the price with their lives. All of Jesus disciples became martyrs. They gave up their life becasue they were pro-claimers of the good news.
Second, Richard Peace defines witness as being a Christian. He states, "witnessing is just being honest as a Christian. Witnessing is simply being true to what God has done and is doing in your life". Being a witness is being a person who is transparent with others with the work of God in our lives. This can be showing repentance. This can be through ministering to others in grace. This can be genuine forgiveness when sinned against. This genuine witness is showing others the work the Holy Spirit is doing through sanctification.
Lastly, when we hear the word witness, we think of a witness in a courtroom. The witness is someone who tells the truth of what they saw or heard during a specific event. The witness will answer questions they are asked. They relay information that is important. And they will get specific about certain details they remember. A Christian is a witness in the event of what Jesus has done for them and to them. A Christian is a witness of the radical change Jesus life and death did for them.
Being a witness is not hard. It is simply living a life of holiness before God and the world and making sure others hears the good news through our mouths. Yes, being a witness comes at a price. Being a witness has serious sacrifice. Being a witness takes courage. But all Christians can and must be witnesses of the work Jesus is accomplishing through them by the work He accomplish while He lived and died on this earth. Being a witness is serious Christian business. The question is, are we being a witness of Christ or another god we are worshiping?
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
The Action of the Atonement: Redemption
"Jesus Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works".
Titus 2:14
This is another post, in my series on the atonement of Jesus. Here is the definition of the atonement, I created, for this series of posts. The atonement is; “God killed His perfect Son to save hate-filled rebels from the wrath they deserved from Him”. Today we are going to think about an important part of the atonement, the portion of the atonement where Christ redeems a people for Himself.
Redemption is a marketplace term. To redeem something is to buy it at a store, market, or stand selling product. Redemption in the most basic sense is to buy and sell goods. But we do not think of going to the grocery store and redeeming our grocery. That is becasue redemption also includes something that is in bondage or owned by a master. Redemption was a word created to use in the slave market. When the word was originally used it referred to a slave being bought at a slave market, a prisoner being bought back from prison, or an individual being freed from the bondage they sold themselves into. To redeem someone, is to buy the person from bondage and take them home as the buyer's new possessions. This picture gives us the point of Jesus redeeming a people for Himself.
James Montgomery Boice defines redemption as, "deliverance from the bondage of sin by Jesus, at the cost of His life, becasue He loved us". The Bible is ripe with images of redemption. It begins with Abraham and Melchizedek. It continues to God redeeming His people from slavery in Egypt. Boaz and Ruth include images of redemption through the "kinsmen-redeemer". Hosea is commanded to redeem his prostitute wife, after she sells herself. Jesus talks about redeeming a people, as His people. Lastly, as our verse above shows, Paul teaches about Jesus redeeming a people for Himself. Redemption is an image from the beginning of the Bible all the way to the end.
Here is the reality of Jesus redeeming a people for Himself. People are in bondage. The people Jesus buys or delivers, are stuck in slavery to something. As previous post have discussed, humanity is in bondage to sin. Sin, the spiritual deadness of humanity, hold humanity in bondage and slavery to themselves. This means, humanity contribute nothing to their deliverance. Humans are stuck in bondage, cannot buy themselves out, and have nothing to aid in their deliverance (except the reason they need delivering; sin). Jesus redemption cost humans nothing.
Next, when we think about redemption, we need to understand it cost Jesus his life as the payment. Jesus payment to redeem His people, was to go to the Cross, take their sin upon Himself, and pay their payment for sin. The central theme of the cross is Jesus paying a price for a people. The payment for sin is either paid on the cross by Jesus or it is paid in Hell for eternity. Jesus delivered and redeemed a people by paying the penalty and payment for the sin, His people have committed. This means at the heart of Jesus redemption is the picture of deliverance.
Lastly, when the Bible speaks about Jesus redeeming a people for Himself, many times it uses the word ransom. Jesus became a ransom for His people. Jesus became a deliver for those he bought out of slavery. Jesus, through His atonement, became a redeemer for those He paid the price for. And this nature about Jesus needs to be driven home.
Jesus is our Savior. Jesus is our deliverer. Jesus is our ransom. Jesus is our redeemer. And these facts are the central feature of Jesus. These truths is what makes us worship Jesus. These titles of Jesus is why we love Jesus. These truths of Jesus is why we have salvation. No other part of Jesus matters or can even compare to to the fact Jesus is the Redeemer for His people. Do not fall trap to the lie of the Devil in Jesus as a good example or a good teacher. Jesus is the Redeemer of His people and to keep this as the focus is to exalt Christ where He must be.
Redemption is the action Jesus does to the elect. Jesus ransoms a people to Himself. Yes, Jesus propitiates the Father and the Father justifies the elect. But it is Jesus who redeems a people to Himself. As Paul makes clear in Titus, Jesus delivers His people, for Himself, from all of the lawlessness and sin they are in bondage to. But after Jesus redeems a people, the people are not free to do whatever they want. Just as the picture of redemption makes clear, Jesus redeems a people for Himself. The redeemed people are now slaves to Jesus, owned by Jesus, to do good works. This means, good works prove to others, Jesus has redeemed the person from the slave market of sin and bought them for Himself as His possessions.
What do our good works or lack of good works say about us?
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
The Goal of it. Theology pt. 5
In this series of post on the topic of doing theology, I have covered the 5 ways not to do theology, explored the source of doing it correctly, saw the help we receive from the creeds, confession, and catechism, and understood the place the church plays in our lives of doing theology. Today we come to the final post (for now) on doing theology. This post will cover the goal of doing theology.
Before we explore the goal of doing theology, a few important points to keep in mind. First, theology is the study God, the Bible, Jesus, sin, salvation, and all the other truths the Bible brings to light. When we read our Bibles we are doing theology work. When we listen to a sermon, we are listening to theology spoken. When we study the depth and beauty of God, either in His common revelation or His special revelation, we are drinking from the theological fountain. Theology is everywhere around us and is clearly taught in God's Word.
Second, all of us are theologians. Every single person has a theological framework. Stephen Hawking had a theology of God, Creation, salvation, and the supernatural. Billy Graham had a theology of God, Creation, salvation, and the supernatural. Even the person who claims they can't read or thinks theology does not matter or rejects the use of the mind as a Christian, has a theological framework of God, Creation, salvation, and the supernatural (it just might be really poor or heretical). Everyone is a theologian, doing theology.
Third, theology is at the heart of a Christian, in that, what a person knows and thinks always drives what they do. Whether it is the Torah, the Prophets, David, Jesus, or Paul, all of the Biblical writers and speakers command a love of God with our minds. Paul is very clear, what you think in your mind drives your heart and passions, which in turn drives what you do. Theology is loving God with our minds, which in turns lights a fire and passion in our hearts (which is theology of the heart). When our hearts are on fire for God and being driven by the mind, what we do is being driven by we think. Theology is the center of a Jesus lover.
Fourth, doing theology is the point of both studying theology and living theology. Doing theology is theology in motion. What we think about God, drives our emotions which in turn drives our actions. How we understand God to save, drives what we feel and in turn drives how we live our lives. Because our mind is the engine that drives our actions, loving God with our mind in the deep truths of who He is will always lead to doing what we think of God. A true theologian does not just study theology, they live that theology out in action. Doing theology is both growing in love with God in the mind and loving God with the hands through action.
All four of these four points make it very clear, theology (including all the fields of theological study) revolve around a love, study, and worship of God. The goal of theology is to glorify God, period. Theology is a joyful and glorious activity becasue it is ultimately about glory and joy of our God. Theology is simply eloquence about God, called forth by His glory. Since we exist to glorify God, theology is about the glory of God.
Here is the problem. We as humans think it is about us, always. Even as Christians, we still think it is about us. We think God created us becasue He needed us. We think God is good because we need the goodness. We think God saves us because salvation is about us. We think the church (God's gathered people) exist for our good. We think the Bible is about us. We think singing songs in church is about us. We as Christians (in more ways than I can express) always think it is about us.
This has led people to think theology is about us. We study God to gain wisdom for ourselves. We dig deep into the depths of God's salvation, to prove we as humans have the power. We study creation to prove it is the human power that must save creation. We study the supernatural to see the power we as humans can have. We study the Bible to learn about Jesus and learn how we as humans must live righteously. We drink deeply from the end times prophecy to somehow be ready for our fate and future. None of the above things mentioned are inherently wrong. But we study theology becasue we think theology is about us, our knowledge, and our power. Sadly, theology has, nor ever will be, about us. Theology and doing theology has always been about God.
When Paul drinks deeply from the ocean of God's salvation (Romans 1-11), He explodes in glory to God. When David understands the beauty of God and His tender mercy, He stands in awe with worship. When Isaiah understands the depth of God's holiness, he declares "woe is me, all glory to God". And when John realizes the full plan of God, he writes for the glory of God in worship. True theologians are always only about the glory of God. It is God's glory that drives theology. It is God's great name that motivates a theological growth. It is God's praise that always produces theology in motion.
Doing theology always leads to transformation. Doing theology always produces worship. Doing theology always leads to God's glory being exposed. Doing theology always produces a pleasure in God that drives the theologian to want more. The goal of doing theology is always about the glory of God. We, as theologians, are simple partakers in the great divine glory of God. A true theologian is a worshiper. A true theologian is a living sacrifice of praise. A true theologian is one who exist for the glory of God above all else. Doing theology always leads to the glory of God as its only goal.
Before we explore the goal of doing theology, a few important points to keep in mind. First, theology is the study God, the Bible, Jesus, sin, salvation, and all the other truths the Bible brings to light. When we read our Bibles we are doing theology work. When we listen to a sermon, we are listening to theology spoken. When we study the depth and beauty of God, either in His common revelation or His special revelation, we are drinking from the theological fountain. Theology is everywhere around us and is clearly taught in God's Word.
Second, all of us are theologians. Every single person has a theological framework. Stephen Hawking had a theology of God, Creation, salvation, and the supernatural. Billy Graham had a theology of God, Creation, salvation, and the supernatural. Even the person who claims they can't read or thinks theology does not matter or rejects the use of the mind as a Christian, has a theological framework of God, Creation, salvation, and the supernatural (it just might be really poor or heretical). Everyone is a theologian, doing theology.
Third, theology is at the heart of a Christian, in that, what a person knows and thinks always drives what they do. Whether it is the Torah, the Prophets, David, Jesus, or Paul, all of the Biblical writers and speakers command a love of God with our minds. Paul is very clear, what you think in your mind drives your heart and passions, which in turn drives what you do. Theology is loving God with our minds, which in turns lights a fire and passion in our hearts (which is theology of the heart). When our hearts are on fire for God and being driven by the mind, what we do is being driven by we think. Theology is the center of a Jesus lover.
Fourth, doing theology is the point of both studying theology and living theology. Doing theology is theology in motion. What we think about God, drives our emotions which in turn drives our actions. How we understand God to save, drives what we feel and in turn drives how we live our lives. Because our mind is the engine that drives our actions, loving God with our mind in the deep truths of who He is will always lead to doing what we think of God. A true theologian does not just study theology, they live that theology out in action. Doing theology is both growing in love with God in the mind and loving God with the hands through action.
All four of these four points make it very clear, theology (including all the fields of theological study) revolve around a love, study, and worship of God. The goal of theology is to glorify God, period. Theology is a joyful and glorious activity becasue it is ultimately about glory and joy of our God. Theology is simply eloquence about God, called forth by His glory. Since we exist to glorify God, theology is about the glory of God.
Here is the problem. We as humans think it is about us, always. Even as Christians, we still think it is about us. We think God created us becasue He needed us. We think God is good because we need the goodness. We think God saves us because salvation is about us. We think the church (God's gathered people) exist for our good. We think the Bible is about us. We think singing songs in church is about us. We as Christians (in more ways than I can express) always think it is about us.
This has led people to think theology is about us. We study God to gain wisdom for ourselves. We dig deep into the depths of God's salvation, to prove we as humans have the power. We study creation to prove it is the human power that must save creation. We study the supernatural to see the power we as humans can have. We study the Bible to learn about Jesus and learn how we as humans must live righteously. We drink deeply from the end times prophecy to somehow be ready for our fate and future. None of the above things mentioned are inherently wrong. But we study theology becasue we think theology is about us, our knowledge, and our power. Sadly, theology has, nor ever will be, about us. Theology and doing theology has always been about God.
When Paul drinks deeply from the ocean of God's salvation (Romans 1-11), He explodes in glory to God. When David understands the beauty of God and His tender mercy, He stands in awe with worship. When Isaiah understands the depth of God's holiness, he declares "woe is me, all glory to God". And when John realizes the full plan of God, he writes for the glory of God in worship. True theologians are always only about the glory of God. It is God's glory that drives theology. It is God's great name that motivates a theological growth. It is God's praise that always produces theology in motion.
Doing theology always leads to transformation. Doing theology always produces worship. Doing theology always leads to God's glory being exposed. Doing theology always produces a pleasure in God that drives the theologian to want more. The goal of doing theology is always about the glory of God. We, as theologians, are simple partakers in the great divine glory of God. A true theologian is a worshiper. A true theologian is a living sacrifice of praise. A true theologian is one who exist for the glory of God above all else. Doing theology always leads to the glory of God as its only goal.
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