The title for my blog today is interesting for many reasons. First, it is the beginning of the end for my final semester of classes. I have been taking classes for what seems like forever. I went back to school nine months after my oldest daughter was born. That was the fall of 2009. That fall I began a two-year journey to get my Bachelor's degree in Bible. Nine months after I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree, I began classes at Gordon-Conwell Seminary to accomplish my Master's degree. After four online classes at Gordon-Conwell, I transferred to Capital Seminary and Graduate School to complete my MDiv. That was the fall of 2014. This Fall I will be completing my MDiv and graduating in December with my Master's Degree. That is an eight year marathon of classes. Yet, it is the beginning of the end for this phase of my education. I am a student, so this is not the end of my education or learning. Some day, Lord willing, I hope to get a PhD and complete the trifecta of pastoral education. But for the foreseeable future, this is it. This is the beginning of the end for my class time.
The second reason this is the beginning of the end, is my youngest child started school this year. God has blessed me with four amazing gifts and little image bearers to train. My son, my oldest, has started sixth grade this year. God is doing great wonders in him, as he continues to grow and mature into a little man after the heart of God. But this year, my youngest, my little Ellie, started Kindergarten. It is the beginning of the end now. Sooner rather than later, I will have four young adults and eventually four grown children living their lives separate from mine. This year marks the beginning of Ellie's education and the end of a little one still around. The beginning of the end is upon my wife and I as we now watch our four beauties begin to grow through formal education and Biblical training at home. It is the beginning of the end for sure in the family life I once knew.
The final reason my blog is entitled, "the beginning of the end" is I am beginning to preach through the book of Genesis this Sunday. Genesis is a book of God's Word that could be entitled the beginning of the end. Genesis marks the beginning of all things. The beginning of Creation. The beginning of sin. The beginning of marriage. The beginning of the family. The beginning of the covenant. The beginning of God's people. Genesis is the book of beginnings. But genesis is also the book of the end. When the beginning is studied, the end results are know. Genesis makes clear God has always existed. That means at the end, God is still going to be there. Genesis makes the covenant grace of God know. This means that at the end of it, God's covenant grace will still be ruling. When Genesis is studied in greater depth, the end results are know. Genesis not only teaches about the beginning, but even makes the ending clear. Genesis 3:15 points to the end, right in the very beginning. Yes, the serpent is still active and tempting, but Genesis the book of beginnings, makes the end very clear. Satan and sin will be stomped out by the seed of the woman. Genesis is the beginning of the end.
So the title, the beginning of the end, sums up the book I am about to begin preaching through, this final semester of classes, and the stage of life that I am currently in. But becasue God has chosen me before there was every a beginning, I can rest assure that my end will always be in Him and that I truly will never have an end. The beginning of my end will never truly be, becasue of the grace of God alone. The only God never to have a beginning or an end.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Thursday, March 23, 2017
How do I know my spiritual gift?
This week, I have the blessing of preaching the portion of 1 Corinthians where Paul lays down some gifts that the Spirit gives His people for His work in His church. One of the challenges of this section of the letter is the reality that Paul never defines or describes what each of the gifts listed are. Paul never explains what the gift of wisdom or miracles or prophecy actually is. This means for the church today our focus must not be on the details of the gift itself, but on the use of the gift to build up the local church and drive the common good of the local body. This is Paul's point in this section of the letter and it must be our point also in preaching this section of the letter. Yes, we can read through other sections of Paul's writing and look in a deeper way at the book of Acts to see how the gifts were used. But the local church must not get so hung up on the details of the gift, but keep the focus on the use of the gift for the common good and building up the local body, the gift is present in. This begs the question to every believer, "how am I using my gift to build up my church family"? Before we answer that question it is helpful to know what our gift from the Spirit actually is. Remember the Bible is not exhaustive of all of the spiritual gifts that are given, the Bible, especially 1 Corinthians, are only a sampling of some of the gifts the Spirit can give to His children.
Here are three questions that will help each of us discover and then use our gift from the Spirit.
1)What do I love?
If you have a passion or love for something or someone in particular, God has given you a driving force to serve and love Him. To love a group of people, a particular activity of the church, or a certain ministry, is a sign the Spirit wants you to get involved with said love. If you love something God loves, in a deeper, sacrificial, and truthful way, that is a sign for your gifted area.
2)What am I good at?
God has created each one of us with abilities, talents, and skills. The Spirit in many ways will use the way God designed us and created us for a deeper more special and graceful way to use said skill or talents in the church. If we are good at something that many others are not, it could be a serious sign for where our spiritual gift lays.
3)How can I build up my church for the common good?
If we can see clearly that there is an area that our local faith family is missing something or has a hole, we should get involved and see if we love it and are good at it. If we notice an opportunity for the building up of our church for good, God has probably given us a clear vision for a place we can serve and serve to discover whether we are gifted by the Spirit to be in that area. We can't know our gift by not doing anything. It is only through serving and building up our church, that we will truly discover what our spiritual gift is.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Why do you do that????
I was recently asked, why am I posting a series of posts or tweets everyday about something from church history? Why are you doing that? Now, this is not exactly how they asked the question, but I understood what they were asking. So in case you are not familiar with that I am doing daily on my social media accounts let me bring you up to speed and then explain why.
October 31st 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the church door in Wittenburg Germany. After the completion of the NT, this is the most important date in the history of God's people. On this date, Luther changed the course of not only the history of the church, but in fact the entire history of the world. If Luther had not posted the 95 theses, stood his ground against the direction of the church, and called for reform, the Evangelical, Protestant, Missional church of today, would not exist. And in fact millions of people over the last 500 years would be headed towards hell. I would be hurtling towards my eternal fate of hell, if it was not for the stand of Luther. This is why this date is so critical to know, appreciate, and learn from. On October 31st 2016, the church celebrated the 499th Anniversary of that event. And on October 31st 2017, we as a church will celebrate the 500th Anniversary of this monumental and eternally significant event. In honor of this date, in the final year, leading up to this event, I am posting important facts, dates, people, places, and events that must also be remembered and known, on top of Luther's 95 theses posting. Every day, by a given number, I post something important from the last 2000 years of the church. So that is what I am doing from October 31st 2016 to October 31st 2017.
But why am I doing this? The first reason I am doing this is to celebrate and honor this most critical of dates. Luther was a man of history. When he fought the church and brought reform, he used most importantly the Scriptures, but he also used the understanding that the church of history and the great church fathers, like Augustine and John Chrysostom brought. Luther understood what he was doing when he stood on his convictions. He got that he was bringing reform to his church, but also impacting the generations to come. So I want to honor this man and his courage by following his example and using history to teach and inspire the stand I take. I stand with Luther on his convictions, most of his beliefs, and his courage. So what better way to sand with Luther, than to point people to know what he knew and what has shaped us since.
The second reason I am posting a daily thought about church history, is to teach the church today about its history. If we do not know and learn from history, we are bound to repeat it. Too many Christians today could careless about the history of God's people, both in the Bible and since its completion. We need to be a people, in the church, who know our history well and learn from it. So I am using my influence, impact, and knowledge to teach people critical things about the history of us. If we do not know our history and what it taught us and how it has impacted us, not only are we bound to repeat the same mistakes, we are also bound to fall to heresy and head in the direction of death. So I am posting from history, to teach about history.
The third reason I am posting about the history of the people of God in the church is for myself. Posting everyday has taught me. I have learned and grown as I research and find important facts and truths to post. I have read on church fathers that I knew little about, so I can share the info. My understanding of the history of my people has grown and I knew this would happen. I have also become more grateful for the men, women, councils, and events that have shaped who I am and have become. Calvin, Augustine, Edwards, and Machen are men that have made me who I am. The Councils of Nicea and Orange have taught me what I know and hold to. I have become grateful for the history of me and how history has shaped me into who I am. Gratitude has become a result of my heart. And I have lastly grown theologically in my understanding of who God is, as I have seen more clearly this year how He has sovereign control in shaping my history over the last 2000 years. Without God's control in men like Patrick, John Owen, and R.C. Sproul, I would not be who I am, and God has controlled ever element of those men and in their influence on me. If it was not for Constantine's conversion, the sermon "Sinners in the hands of an angry God", or the Pentecostal movement, I would not hold to what I hold to. And I have seen more clearly than ever how God has shaped me through these events. So I have grown deeper in God, through these postings. So this last reason for posting is for me.
And these are just the top three reasons I post daily a thought about the history of God's people from the last 2000 years. The reasons and list could go on and on, such as; for the growth of a few people I love, for the benefit of other pastors, so my children can grow, so the world would see and hear truths, and on and on it goes....
October 31st 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the church door in Wittenburg Germany. After the completion of the NT, this is the most important date in the history of God's people. On this date, Luther changed the course of not only the history of the church, but in fact the entire history of the world. If Luther had not posted the 95 theses, stood his ground against the direction of the church, and called for reform, the Evangelical, Protestant, Missional church of today, would not exist. And in fact millions of people over the last 500 years would be headed towards hell. I would be hurtling towards my eternal fate of hell, if it was not for the stand of Luther. This is why this date is so critical to know, appreciate, and learn from. On October 31st 2016, the church celebrated the 499th Anniversary of that event. And on October 31st 2017, we as a church will celebrate the 500th Anniversary of this monumental and eternally significant event. In honor of this date, in the final year, leading up to this event, I am posting important facts, dates, people, places, and events that must also be remembered and known, on top of Luther's 95 theses posting. Every day, by a given number, I post something important from the last 2000 years of the church. So that is what I am doing from October 31st 2016 to October 31st 2017.
But why am I doing this? The first reason I am doing this is to celebrate and honor this most critical of dates. Luther was a man of history. When he fought the church and brought reform, he used most importantly the Scriptures, but he also used the understanding that the church of history and the great church fathers, like Augustine and John Chrysostom brought. Luther understood what he was doing when he stood on his convictions. He got that he was bringing reform to his church, but also impacting the generations to come. So I want to honor this man and his courage by following his example and using history to teach and inspire the stand I take. I stand with Luther on his convictions, most of his beliefs, and his courage. So what better way to sand with Luther, than to point people to know what he knew and what has shaped us since.
The second reason I am posting a daily thought about church history, is to teach the church today about its history. If we do not know and learn from history, we are bound to repeat it. Too many Christians today could careless about the history of God's people, both in the Bible and since its completion. We need to be a people, in the church, who know our history well and learn from it. So I am using my influence, impact, and knowledge to teach people critical things about the history of us. If we do not know our history and what it taught us and how it has impacted us, not only are we bound to repeat the same mistakes, we are also bound to fall to heresy and head in the direction of death. So I am posting from history, to teach about history.
The third reason I am posting about the history of the people of God in the church is for myself. Posting everyday has taught me. I have learned and grown as I research and find important facts and truths to post. I have read on church fathers that I knew little about, so I can share the info. My understanding of the history of my people has grown and I knew this would happen. I have also become more grateful for the men, women, councils, and events that have shaped who I am and have become. Calvin, Augustine, Edwards, and Machen are men that have made me who I am. The Councils of Nicea and Orange have taught me what I know and hold to. I have become grateful for the history of me and how history has shaped me into who I am. Gratitude has become a result of my heart. And I have lastly grown theologically in my understanding of who God is, as I have seen more clearly this year how He has sovereign control in shaping my history over the last 2000 years. Without God's control in men like Patrick, John Owen, and R.C. Sproul, I would not be who I am, and God has controlled ever element of those men and in their influence on me. If it was not for Constantine's conversion, the sermon "Sinners in the hands of an angry God", or the Pentecostal movement, I would not hold to what I hold to. And I have seen more clearly than ever how God has shaped me through these events. So I have grown deeper in God, through these postings. So this last reason for posting is for me.
And these are just the top three reasons I post daily a thought about the history of God's people from the last 2000 years. The reasons and list could go on and on, such as; for the growth of a few people I love, for the benefit of other pastors, so my children can grow, so the world would see and hear truths, and on and on it goes....
Monday, March 20, 2017
I did it!
Have you ever drank out of a fire hydrant? You probably never have becasue if you did, you would not live to tell the story. Over the last 12 weeks, I have felt like I was drinking out of a fire hydrant. I was taking 2 classes on the Hebrew language. I felt like I was at the source of a great fountain with pure streaming water pouring into my being. I could not consume as fast and as much of the water of God's Word that was pouring at me. I was learning not only the alphabet, but also nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Right after I was challenged to have the vowel letters memorized, I was given passages to translate, verses to explain, and stories to apply (only given to me in the Hebrew language). Over the last 12 weeks I felt many times, totally overwhelmed. But God is gracious and gave me the strength and mind to withstand the pressure and amount of information that was being thrown my way. God's grace carried me through and as a result I have discovered a few amazing truths that I will carry with me the rest of my life.
1)The first truth that I now have, is a deeper love for God's Word. I am now able to drink right from the source of the Bible. I have a basic sense of what my Hebrew Bible says, and have the ability to pick it up and with my own mind, read it, and with the help of many tools, understand clearly what the Hebrew is saying. This has given me a deeper thirst and appreciation for God's Word. As a result of these 12 weeks of endurance, I now have a deeper affection for what I read, preach from, and apply to my life as the very Word of God.
2)The second truth I found important is the reality that drinking from a fire hydrant is a good thing. It is a challenge to consume all the knowledge and information that is thrown at a person this way. Drinking this amount of truth in a short period of time builds strength and character. I know what true perseverance looks like now and even feels like. I now what endurance builds up, and how to manage a busy time in my life. I also have a real understanding in what it means to be carried by the grace of God during a season. The last 12 weeks was a good thing for my walk with God. It has pushed me to a new height of faith and trust in Him.
3)The third truth I have discovered is a real appreciation for the wise men who know the Word deeper than I do. Too many times I have taken for granted the scholars and godly men who study, know, and teach the Word to others. But if they know in a deeper way, a broader way, and a application way the Bible better than I do, then I appreciate them better and will quietly listen when they teach me the Word. Sitting at the feet of a teacher of God's truth has become a deeper joy and I have grown in appreciation for the chances I get to do this.
So I did it. But more importantly God did it for me and in me. I have survived the journey of rigorous work in Hebrew. I hope and pray I remember the feeling of the last 12 weeks and carry those feelings into the future. I also hope and pray that what I have learned about the original language of the Old Testament carries over to a more fruitful ministry and life. And lastly, I hope ad prayer that sometime in the future I experiences the same exact feelings of these last 12 weeks, so I can once more grow in appreciation of God, affection for His Word, and gratitude for those who know more than I ever will.
1)The first truth that I now have, is a deeper love for God's Word. I am now able to drink right from the source of the Bible. I have a basic sense of what my Hebrew Bible says, and have the ability to pick it up and with my own mind, read it, and with the help of many tools, understand clearly what the Hebrew is saying. This has given me a deeper thirst and appreciation for God's Word. As a result of these 12 weeks of endurance, I now have a deeper affection for what I read, preach from, and apply to my life as the very Word of God.
2)The second truth I found important is the reality that drinking from a fire hydrant is a good thing. It is a challenge to consume all the knowledge and information that is thrown at a person this way. Drinking this amount of truth in a short period of time builds strength and character. I know what true perseverance looks like now and even feels like. I now what endurance builds up, and how to manage a busy time in my life. I also have a real understanding in what it means to be carried by the grace of God during a season. The last 12 weeks was a good thing for my walk with God. It has pushed me to a new height of faith and trust in Him.
3)The third truth I have discovered is a real appreciation for the wise men who know the Word deeper than I do. Too many times I have taken for granted the scholars and godly men who study, know, and teach the Word to others. But if they know in a deeper way, a broader way, and a application way the Bible better than I do, then I appreciate them better and will quietly listen when they teach me the Word. Sitting at the feet of a teacher of God's truth has become a deeper joy and I have grown in appreciation for the chances I get to do this.
So I did it. But more importantly God did it for me and in me. I have survived the journey of rigorous work in Hebrew. I hope and pray I remember the feeling of the last 12 weeks and carry those feelings into the future. I also hope and pray that what I have learned about the original language of the Old Testament carries over to a more fruitful ministry and life. And lastly, I hope ad prayer that sometime in the future I experiences the same exact feelings of these last 12 weeks, so I can once more grow in appreciation of God, affection for His Word, and gratitude for those who know more than I ever will.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Brother in Arms
Before you every do anything, that you know is coming, you visualize it in your mind. I like to call this the mind's eye. Before we run a mile, we will visualize the mile and how we will do in our mind to mentally prepare for the event. Before we take a test, we will visualize the answer and how each section will come, before we ever put pen to paper. Even before I wrote this post, I visualized in my mind what I was going to write about and think through. We do this as humans, becasue it is part of our nature. And our nature hates the unknown and uncontrollable. So we visualize what is about to take place, becasue we want to be aware, thinking through, and be prepared for what is in front.
As a Pastor and minister of the Gospel, it is no different. I can still see where I was the very fist time I visualized what being a Pastor would be like. I can still hear the conversations that I had with many different people of what leading God's sheep would entail. I can still remember the prayers, thanking God for calling me into this exciting adventure and journey of being His hands leading His people. And then the blood curdling screams bring me back to reality.
Being a Pastor, is more times than not, going to war. We go to war against heresy, the world's influence, our own sin nature, the devils' tempting, the sin nature of the people, and the brokenness of the whole. This war comes with causality, injury, sweat, fighting, stress, unexpected shots, and every single element that you think of when you think of a war. Being a Pastor is being a soldier in the trenches. And more times than I would like to admit, it strait sucks, is painful, and is the most unglorious thing a person can do. Being a Pastor is not at all what my mind's eye saw.
But my mind's eye did not also see the comradery that would come with being a soldier. I had the privilege and blessing today of enjoying some time with a fellow soldier in arms. It was a blessing to grab some coffee with a fellow minister of the Gospel. It was the bolt of courage that I needed to trudge on. Praying with, talking with, listening to, and sharing time with another Pastor is a part of being a soldier I cherish the most. Patching each other's injuries, giving courage to one another's battles, and lifting one another up in prayer, are all parts of the comradery that makes ministry a blessing. Spending time with a brother in arms is exactly what the doctor called for and not what my mind's eye saw.
So even though my mind's eye was no where close to picturing Gospel ministry correctly, I am glad to say that having brothers in arms, is also an element of being a Pastor, that I was not anticipating. So thank you Tim for a great time of encouragement. But more importantly, thank you God for this good gift that keeps in giving, in being able to spend time with a brother in arms.
As a Pastor and minister of the Gospel, it is no different. I can still see where I was the very fist time I visualized what being a Pastor would be like. I can still hear the conversations that I had with many different people of what leading God's sheep would entail. I can still remember the prayers, thanking God for calling me into this exciting adventure and journey of being His hands leading His people. And then the blood curdling screams bring me back to reality.
Being a Pastor, is more times than not, going to war. We go to war against heresy, the world's influence, our own sin nature, the devils' tempting, the sin nature of the people, and the brokenness of the whole. This war comes with causality, injury, sweat, fighting, stress, unexpected shots, and every single element that you think of when you think of a war. Being a Pastor is being a soldier in the trenches. And more times than I would like to admit, it strait sucks, is painful, and is the most unglorious thing a person can do. Being a Pastor is not at all what my mind's eye saw.
But my mind's eye did not also see the comradery that would come with being a soldier. I had the privilege and blessing today of enjoying some time with a fellow soldier in arms. It was a blessing to grab some coffee with a fellow minister of the Gospel. It was the bolt of courage that I needed to trudge on. Praying with, talking with, listening to, and sharing time with another Pastor is a part of being a soldier I cherish the most. Patching each other's injuries, giving courage to one another's battles, and lifting one another up in prayer, are all parts of the comradery that makes ministry a blessing. Spending time with a brother in arms is exactly what the doctor called for and not what my mind's eye saw.
So even though my mind's eye was no where close to picturing Gospel ministry correctly, I am glad to say that having brothers in arms, is also an element of being a Pastor, that I was not anticipating. So thank you Tim for a great time of encouragement. But more importantly, thank you God for this good gift that keeps in giving, in being able to spend time with a brother in arms.
Monday, January 30, 2017
What they mean to me
Last week, I wrote a post on each of the 5 Solas of the Reformation. I wrote about what each of them are, gave a few of the Scriptures from the Bible that speak about them, and pointed to important application that come with each one. These 5 posts, teaching the 5 Solas in a basic way, followed up 4 posts teaching the Latin phrases that went with the Reformation. I have been writing a lot of teaching thoughts down over the last few weeks, and Lord willing I want to write some more teaching thoughts on the doctrines of grace in the weeks ahead. But I thought I would take a break from teaching on this blog for a little and write some reflective post. So today I want to reflect a little on what the 5 Solas mean and do to me.
First, I love the 5 Solas dearly becasue they have shaped and directed my life continuously. Last Christmas my wife got me a shirt that has the 5 Solas listed on them in order; Gratia, Fide, Christus, Deo Gloria, and Scriptura. On the cover of my oldest study Bible, I have the Sola, Sola Scriptura drawn. A book mark that I am currently using while I read different books has, Sola Gratia, on it with the English equivalent underneath. Taped to my laptop I have the Sola, Deo Gloria, very clear, so that I can see it every time I open and get on my computer to do work or surf the internet. I say all this to show that I cherish the 5 Solas and try to keep them not only close to my heart, but very clearly in view all time. The Sola Scriptura wording on the cover of my Bible has ingrained in my mind that the Bible alone is what is going to teach me what obedience looks like, what the will of God is, and how best to glorify God. Pasting Sola Deo Gloria to my laptop has been a huge reminder for me that I must work and write for the glory of God above all, and that God must always be glorified with what I am viewing on the internet. These 5 Sola doctrines have not only shaped my daily activities, but have kept me on the strait path and moving in a growing direction, more like my Savior each day.
Not only has the 5 Solas shaped my life, at every turn, but I also love them because they separate me from anything that the Devil and this world thrown my way. Some people in this world say that all gods are the same, that all religions eventually get us to the same place. Solus Christus is very clear that Christ alone is where salvation, eternal bliss, and comfort for this life can be found. As Jesus Himself says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by me". The world, and sadly even many so called Christians, claim that we can work our way to being approved by God. Sola Fide clearly teaches that salvation comes through faith alone. I have great joy and comfort in knowing that it is my faith alone that brought me justification from God. There is no work in me that brought his salvation and there is no work in me that must secure my salvation. The world also screams, daily if we notice it, do what feels good or live to please yourself. Sola Deo Gloria is very to the point that we exist for God's glory and God's glory alone. That means that my purpose in waking up every day, my purpose in writing this post, and my purpose in preaching a sermon, is for the glory of God. The world, and again too many so called Christian, preach that we are all good in our own born state. The Bible is very clearly against that. We are born dead, born already condemned guilty of wrath, and in fact conceived in a sinful state before we even leave the womb. Sola Gratia claims that in spite of our dead fallen state, in grace of God alone, we are born again, made alive, and justified through Christ. And finally, the devil has the world screaming that we are the highest authority and experience and feelings are the way to know. Sola Scriptura counters that with all its might. It is God's Word alone that is the highest and greatest authority and the way to know God, His plan of salvation, and a life of obedience to the King. These 5 doctrine separate me from the world around and remind me that it is in God and what He does alone, not the world, the devil or even myself.
So as I think about and pray over the 5 Solas, I feel great comfort. They are like a warm blanket on a cold winter night. The world is dark and cold. The world is lost and going astray. Sadly even many so called Christians do not understand or hold to the truth. I keep these 5 truths close to my heart and mind and it comforts me to know that I am close to the heart and pleasure of God.
These solas also bring me great joy. I find immense joy in the truth that salvation rest in what God does, says, and is, not in anything of me. It would be a totally depressing fact if I played any part in saving myself. I am a lost, broken, dead, vile, and at times evil being. Joy in that fact that it is all found in God, is the joy that drives me to live life for all of God.
And finally these 5 solas bring me great peace. I find great assurance knowing that it all rests in God from the very beginning to the very end. I know and can read what God did, does, wants, and desires. This is peaceful and assuring to know I am simply a sentence away from knowing the very heart of God and see His grace at work. Without knowing it is all in God alone that my salvation rest, I would never have assurance or peace. I would run around like a chicken trying to figure it out, do the next saving act, or chasing after assurance of any sort. So in these 5 Solas I feel, great comfort, joy, and peace, knowing that salvation is by grace alone, in faith alone, through Christ alone, for the glory of God alone, all told in Scripture alone.
First, I love the 5 Solas dearly becasue they have shaped and directed my life continuously. Last Christmas my wife got me a shirt that has the 5 Solas listed on them in order; Gratia, Fide, Christus, Deo Gloria, and Scriptura. On the cover of my oldest study Bible, I have the Sola, Sola Scriptura drawn. A book mark that I am currently using while I read different books has, Sola Gratia, on it with the English equivalent underneath. Taped to my laptop I have the Sola, Deo Gloria, very clear, so that I can see it every time I open and get on my computer to do work or surf the internet. I say all this to show that I cherish the 5 Solas and try to keep them not only close to my heart, but very clearly in view all time. The Sola Scriptura wording on the cover of my Bible has ingrained in my mind that the Bible alone is what is going to teach me what obedience looks like, what the will of God is, and how best to glorify God. Pasting Sola Deo Gloria to my laptop has been a huge reminder for me that I must work and write for the glory of God above all, and that God must always be glorified with what I am viewing on the internet. These 5 Sola doctrines have not only shaped my daily activities, but have kept me on the strait path and moving in a growing direction, more like my Savior each day.
Not only has the 5 Solas shaped my life, at every turn, but I also love them because they separate me from anything that the Devil and this world thrown my way. Some people in this world say that all gods are the same, that all religions eventually get us to the same place. Solus Christus is very clear that Christ alone is where salvation, eternal bliss, and comfort for this life can be found. As Jesus Himself says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by me". The world, and sadly even many so called Christians, claim that we can work our way to being approved by God. Sola Fide clearly teaches that salvation comes through faith alone. I have great joy and comfort in knowing that it is my faith alone that brought me justification from God. There is no work in me that brought his salvation and there is no work in me that must secure my salvation. The world also screams, daily if we notice it, do what feels good or live to please yourself. Sola Deo Gloria is very to the point that we exist for God's glory and God's glory alone. That means that my purpose in waking up every day, my purpose in writing this post, and my purpose in preaching a sermon, is for the glory of God. The world, and again too many so called Christian, preach that we are all good in our own born state. The Bible is very clearly against that. We are born dead, born already condemned guilty of wrath, and in fact conceived in a sinful state before we even leave the womb. Sola Gratia claims that in spite of our dead fallen state, in grace of God alone, we are born again, made alive, and justified through Christ. And finally, the devil has the world screaming that we are the highest authority and experience and feelings are the way to know. Sola Scriptura counters that with all its might. It is God's Word alone that is the highest and greatest authority and the way to know God, His plan of salvation, and a life of obedience to the King. These 5 doctrine separate me from the world around and remind me that it is in God and what He does alone, not the world, the devil or even myself.
So as I think about and pray over the 5 Solas, I feel great comfort. They are like a warm blanket on a cold winter night. The world is dark and cold. The world is lost and going astray. Sadly even many so called Christians do not understand or hold to the truth. I keep these 5 truths close to my heart and mind and it comforts me to know that I am close to the heart and pleasure of God.
These solas also bring me great joy. I find immense joy in the truth that salvation rest in what God does, says, and is, not in anything of me. It would be a totally depressing fact if I played any part in saving myself. I am a lost, broken, dead, vile, and at times evil being. Joy in that fact that it is all found in God, is the joy that drives me to live life for all of God.
And finally these 5 solas bring me great peace. I find great assurance knowing that it all rests in God from the very beginning to the very end. I know and can read what God did, does, wants, and desires. This is peaceful and assuring to know I am simply a sentence away from knowing the very heart of God and see His grace at work. Without knowing it is all in God alone that my salvation rest, I would never have assurance or peace. I would run around like a chicken trying to figure it out, do the next saving act, or chasing after assurance of any sort. So in these 5 Solas I feel, great comfort, joy, and peace, knowing that salvation is by grace alone, in faith alone, through Christ alone, for the glory of God alone, all told in Scripture alone.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Sola Scriptura
1 Peter 1:21
"For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit".
Deuteronomy 8:3
"And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers now, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God".
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All Scripture is breathed out by God ad profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work".
Scripture alone is the final piece to the sola puzzle by the Reformers. Sola Scriptura wraps the bow nicely around the 5 Solas in a clear, concise, yet very critical way. This week we have seen that salvation from God comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Sola Scriptura makes it clear first, that the only way to know the other 4 in any saving securing way, is through Scripture alone. Secondly, Sola Scriptura is very clear that since Scripture is the Word of God, then it is the final and highest authority alone. And finally Sola Scriptura was made clear in that Scripture alone is where a life of obedience can only be found for those who love God.
First, Sola Scriptura is the only place salvation can be found. Yes, the Gospel or good news is told by mouth from person to person. And yes, through preaching ministries, like Billy Graham, many people have found faith in Christ. But whether it is Billy Graham, the local Pastor, or even through friendship, the words of life and the good news is only found in the Bible itself. A person can't go into the woods and listen to the trees or birds tell them the good news. A person can't sit by the ocean and experience the roll of the waves and get saved. Salvation or more clearly, the plan of God to save His people will never be know, discovered, or learned without the Words of life being proclaimed. Sola Scripture or in Scripture alone is where our hope rest for the salvation of people. Experience, conscience, nature, or emotions will never lead a person to the saving knowledge of Jesus. Only in Scripture alone will the salvation of man be know.
Second, Sola Scriptura was a huge point for the Reformers in that Scripture alone was the final authority on all of life and faith. The Reformers stood in the face, of the Pope and the church, in their claim that there were other authorities that were equal to or even greater than the Bible. If, as the verses above show, the Bible is the very words of God to His people, and if God is the highest authority in the universe (spoiler alert; He is since He created it all), then that would mean His Word is the highest authority in this world and to His people. Now, we must be clear here and understand this is sola and not solo. Solo would imply that the Bible is all a person needs to live life. The Reformers were advocating Sola, in that Scripture alone is highest authority (and as seen in the last paragraph the only when it comes to true salvation knowledge). The Reformers were some of the clearest people to write about the importance of the faith community, the civil government, and family. So there are definitely other things that a person needs in this life, partnered with Scripture. But Sola Scriptura means that in authority, the Bible trumps every other authority in this world, every time.
Lastly, Sola Scriptura makes clear that it is the Bible where true obedience and a life lived for the glory of God will be found. From Genesis 1:27, through the final thought of Revelation 22 by John, the Bible makes known, through commands, what God wants His people to do. Through the commands of Christ and the application by Paul, the Bible tells a member of the family of God, how to live. Through the stories of Jacob and the Psalms of David, the Bible makes know what the child of God must think, feel, and understand. The Bible, if it is followed, will never steer a person wrong or lead a reader down the path of evil. If someone is following the Bible and goes that direction, it is always their misunderstanding, not the Bible leading them there. The Bible is the rule book for life, as the John Calvin rightly stated.
Sola Scripture is the icing on the cake. Without the Bible we would not know that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and for the glory of God alone. Without the Bible we would be our own highest authority. Without the Bible we would have no real clue about God, His eternal plan that leads to Himself, or how a life of obedience is a life of fruit. The Doctrine of Scripture is my favorite and most cherish doctrine. Without the Bible we will never know the nature of God, the life of Jesus, the point of the church, the work of the Spirit, our sin nature, the will of God, or what God has planned for the future. The Bible is all sufficient for what we need. The Bible is necessary for a life of faith and obedience. The Bible is God's perfect, a never erroring Word. The Bible is the highest authority in this life. And becasue of the Bible's highest critical place, someday I know I will be able to stand before the writer of the Bible and hear His words, face to face. Without the Bible, the train will roll off the tracks, the car will drive off the road, and we would walk off a cliff (spiritually speaking). Thanks be to God, who told us all we need to be a part of His eternal saving plan. Because salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone, we can read Scripture and know Scripture and submit to Scripture alone to enjoy and delight in God for all eternity, Sola Scriptura.
"For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit".
Deuteronomy 8:3
"And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers now, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God".
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All Scripture is breathed out by God ad profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work".
Scripture alone is the final piece to the sola puzzle by the Reformers. Sola Scriptura wraps the bow nicely around the 5 Solas in a clear, concise, yet very critical way. This week we have seen that salvation from God comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Sola Scriptura makes it clear first, that the only way to know the other 4 in any saving securing way, is through Scripture alone. Secondly, Sola Scriptura is very clear that since Scripture is the Word of God, then it is the final and highest authority alone. And finally Sola Scriptura was made clear in that Scripture alone is where a life of obedience can only be found for those who love God.
First, Sola Scriptura is the only place salvation can be found. Yes, the Gospel or good news is told by mouth from person to person. And yes, through preaching ministries, like Billy Graham, many people have found faith in Christ. But whether it is Billy Graham, the local Pastor, or even through friendship, the words of life and the good news is only found in the Bible itself. A person can't go into the woods and listen to the trees or birds tell them the good news. A person can't sit by the ocean and experience the roll of the waves and get saved. Salvation or more clearly, the plan of God to save His people will never be know, discovered, or learned without the Words of life being proclaimed. Sola Scripture or in Scripture alone is where our hope rest for the salvation of people. Experience, conscience, nature, or emotions will never lead a person to the saving knowledge of Jesus. Only in Scripture alone will the salvation of man be know.
Second, Sola Scriptura was a huge point for the Reformers in that Scripture alone was the final authority on all of life and faith. The Reformers stood in the face, of the Pope and the church, in their claim that there were other authorities that were equal to or even greater than the Bible. If, as the verses above show, the Bible is the very words of God to His people, and if God is the highest authority in the universe (spoiler alert; He is since He created it all), then that would mean His Word is the highest authority in this world and to His people. Now, we must be clear here and understand this is sola and not solo. Solo would imply that the Bible is all a person needs to live life. The Reformers were advocating Sola, in that Scripture alone is highest authority (and as seen in the last paragraph the only when it comes to true salvation knowledge). The Reformers were some of the clearest people to write about the importance of the faith community, the civil government, and family. So there are definitely other things that a person needs in this life, partnered with Scripture. But Sola Scriptura means that in authority, the Bible trumps every other authority in this world, every time.
Lastly, Sola Scriptura makes clear that it is the Bible where true obedience and a life lived for the glory of God will be found. From Genesis 1:27, through the final thought of Revelation 22 by John, the Bible makes known, through commands, what God wants His people to do. Through the commands of Christ and the application by Paul, the Bible tells a member of the family of God, how to live. Through the stories of Jacob and the Psalms of David, the Bible makes know what the child of God must think, feel, and understand. The Bible, if it is followed, will never steer a person wrong or lead a reader down the path of evil. If someone is following the Bible and goes that direction, it is always their misunderstanding, not the Bible leading them there. The Bible is the rule book for life, as the John Calvin rightly stated.
Sola Scripture is the icing on the cake. Without the Bible we would not know that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and for the glory of God alone. Without the Bible we would be our own highest authority. Without the Bible we would have no real clue about God, His eternal plan that leads to Himself, or how a life of obedience is a life of fruit. The Doctrine of Scripture is my favorite and most cherish doctrine. Without the Bible we will never know the nature of God, the life of Jesus, the point of the church, the work of the Spirit, our sin nature, the will of God, or what God has planned for the future. The Bible is all sufficient for what we need. The Bible is necessary for a life of faith and obedience. The Bible is God's perfect, a never erroring Word. The Bible is the highest authority in this life. And becasue of the Bible's highest critical place, someday I know I will be able to stand before the writer of the Bible and hear His words, face to face. Without the Bible, the train will roll off the tracks, the car will drive off the road, and we would walk off a cliff (spiritually speaking). Thanks be to God, who told us all we need to be a part of His eternal saving plan. Because salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone, we can read Scripture and know Scripture and submit to Scripture alone to enjoy and delight in God for all eternity, Sola Scriptura.
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