from The Righteous Judgment of God: Romans 2:1--3:20 (177)

God's unconditional promises do not depend upon the faithfulness of man -- indeed, were that to be so, there would never have been a salvation at all! That, in a sense, is the great message of the Old Testament. God has chosen this people. He has made them for Himself. He gives them all the promises. He treats them in grace, and yet look at their constant and repeated failure! If it had been left to them, the nation might very well have been exterminated, and none of the promises of God would have been brought to pass or would have had any effect. But it is in spite of His people that God goes on with His great purposes and fulfills His wonderful covenant.

05.16.12w  |  MP3  |  19:49 My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less Hebrews 6:19-20

from Reformation by Carl R. Trueman (81)

What is needed above all at the present time, then, is a ministry which handles the Word of God with respect and which impresses on the congregation not just the fact that God’s Word is true and powerful, but why it is so and what the significance of this is. The only way that one can consistently do this, I believe, is through systematic expository preaching, which impresses upon congregations the fact that the Bible ultimately tells one story, that of humanity’s fall and redemption, and contains one history, that of God’s dealings with men and women, culminating in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is not important, after all, because it warms my heart or inspires more than, say, a love letter from my wife. Indeed, such a letter would no doubt often have much greater emotional impact on me than many passages of the Bible. No, it is the fact that the Bible centers on Christ, witnessed to by the Holy Spirit both in the act of inspiring its composition and applying it to my heart, which makes it unique in a way that my wife’s love letter, while special to me, can never be.

It might help to think of this series as Chapter 1 of a larger book. We'll spend about six weeks on this first series and then break. When we resume it will be a new series, but like starting Chapter 2 of the same book. In essence, it's breaking down the big book into chapters, and then breaking those chapters down into weekly installments. By the time we're done we will have covered all of 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.

1.6 A Dangerous Illusion

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

Earlier in this series we talked about branches that can show signs of life even when they are already dead. Cut a branch off a tree in the spring and watch it for a few days. You might be surprised to notice that it doesn’t shrivel up and die right away. Some of the buds on it might even start to bloom. But the branch is dead.

Without a connection to the tree, it has no hope of continuing life. Have you ever heard someone say something like “I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off?” The reason this phrase even exists is because a decapitated chicken’s body can remain in motion after death. The longest recorded incident lasts an incredible 18 months! That’s a year and a half of what we might call “life” but there was no egg-laying or eating or breathing going on. Just some twitching of nerve endings and curious looks from cows.

Why all of this about trees and chickens? Because they demonstrate an important point: things that are dead can still show signs of life. Not everyone who goes through the motions of a Christian life is a child of God. That’s why it is possible for a spiritually dead person to have the appearance of life yet remain dead. Consider what Paul says:

[21] But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. [22] But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 6:21-23]

There are things we can do—many things, religious things even—and remain dead to God. Filling our lives with church-centered activity or religious busyness is like strapping on a life vest while the Titanic is sinking. It might make us feel a bit better about our chances, but it does nothing to help us. The ship is still sinking; the water is still below freezing. Putting on a life vest – putting on three life vests – can’t help us survive when out time on the boat is over.

It can be tempting to think that we are the first people to deal with these issues, but even a casual reading of the New Testament tells us that this was an issue the first century church dealt with as well. With Christianity still in infancy, a question that was commonly addressed had to do with how fellowships could identify those who were genuine believers among them. Many churches dealt with false teachers and troublemakers seeking to cause confusion or make a name for themselves at the expense of the ministry. 

In order to help young congregations avoid the errors of such people, many of the apostles wrote on the manner in which genuine Christians would live. The apostle John dedicated most of his three epistles to such a purpose, and while he certainly has much to say about this topic, we’ll take a quick look at one passage that sums it up rather nicely for us:

[9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. [1 John 3:9-10]

Be careful to notice that John is not saying if you practice righteousness and love your brother, then you will become a child of God. Thankfully, that is not true. What he is saying is that if you are a child of God, then practicing righteousness and loving your brother will be natural (or supernatural, as it were) by-products of the Spirit within you.

In other words, if you have been saved by grace, through faith in Christ, then the conduct of your life will reflect that genuine, God-powered change from death to life. We cannot alter our conduct to earn a new life, but our new conduct will come from our new lives in Him. It’s a fine line, but one of vital importance.

If you think you can do enough good things to merit God’s favor, then you are wrong. It cannot be done. You may fool other people with your façade, but the all-knowing Judge is not tricked so easily. Never forget that if the power of salvation were in your hands, He would not have sent His Son to die.

This is why the question that must be asked is “are you born again?” not “do you go to church?” or “do you busy yourself with Christian activity?” Those in Christ don’t simply adopt new conduct, they are made a new creation. New conduct comes from the new life, not the other way around.

Imperfect Imitation

There is a kind of false humility rampant among Christian men that says: "Don't look at me, I'm not worth imitating. I'm not perfect." Well, trust me: no one's arguing that you are perfect, least of all your wife and kids. But if you are a Christian then you most certainly are supposed to be worth modeling. Immaturity isn't something to be proud of.

There should be a quality of life—or better said, of Christ’s life through you—others can see and watch and mirror. We don't need any more mature Christian men passing over opportunities to lead and serve because they aren't "worthy" of them. Your worthiness isn't the issue (never mind the fact that, if you felt you were worthy enough to serve God then you wouldn't be qualified to do it anyway). The issue is not your worthiness, but your responsibility. What has the Lord commanded older Christian men to do?

God's people need you. They do not need to see only a veneer of pretense coating your life, nor do they need you to be a "know-it-all" spiritual guru. We have enough of those charlatans to go around. The goal isn't to make a name for yourself, but to do good works so that others might see the life of Christ in you. When you serve—yes, imperfect, needy, weak you—you are living proof that the power does not come from us but Him.

Learn how to trust Jesus and then show others how to do it too. Don't try to be Jesus to someone else; that position's already been filled. Instead, point other people to Jesus, relying on the Holy Spirit. The degree to which you fulfill your responsibility among the body of Christ is dependent on the degree to which Christ is seen through you. The Christian legacy has nothing to do with buildings bearing your name or luncheons given in your honor; it's not about you at all. 

	The Two Fears Tremble Before God Alone Chris Poblete THEOLOGY
	A Guide to Adoption and Orphan Care SBTS Press Guide Book No. 002 Russell D. Moore (editor) THEOLOGY

Ah, the good ole' church directory pictures. This one is from 1998, featuring the entire family, although by that time I was no longer going to Hazelwood, having started at Parkwood two years earlier. Still, gotta have the whole fam together for the pic!

 

Fashionable Faith (22) 05.13.12a  |  MP3  |  35:31 Church Life (2): Older Women Titus 2:3-4

State of the Civil Union

President Obama made official yesterday what has been fairly public knowledge since his state senate campaign remarks in 1996: he supports gay marriage. This comes on the heels of North Carolina voters affirming to define marriage as between one man and one woman. This is not a new issue, by any means, but these two events have brought it back to the immediate forefront. For those interested, here are some pertinent links:

The National Review has an article called Marriage and the Presidency by Ryan T. Anderson (and others) that highlights many of the main points.

Jim Hamilton from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has been making many cogent points and asking a lot of related questions on his Twitter feed. Here's a taste:

Op-ed columnist Ross Douthat of the New York Times tackles the subject with The Success of the Gay Marriage Movement, noting that Obama has lied to the American people for the last four years on one of the biggest civil rights issues of our day.

Albert Mohler gives a rundown of the flip-flops that Obama has done on this very issue in his article: Evolution's End? President Obama Calls for Same-Sex Marriage.

Since Obama used Scripture to defend his views on gay marriage, Denny Burk takes a closer look at the passages used in President Obama's Scriptural Defense of Gay Marriage. (Burk also posted the content of a Touchstone Magazine open letter to the President by Joe Carter. It's titled The Blasphemy of Barack Obama.) 

Last year, Trevin Wax posted an article entitled How I Wish The Homosexuality Debate Would Go which is well worth your time and consideration.

Collin Hansen speaks to the broader issue of How to Win the Public on Homosexuality in an honest, and much-needed article found at The Gospel Coalition.

Finally, on a decidedly uplifting note, the video of Ian & Larissa's story has been making the rounds. It's about 9:00 long, but easily worth every second. I first came across it on Justin Taylor's blog. It's a powerful testimony to the power of a Christ-centered marriage.

from Glorious Christianity: Acts Vol. 4 (19)

You cannot face this Gospel as it is and still feel happy, still feel that you are good and that you are right and that because you seem to be better than other people, that puts you right with God. This is a message that demolishes our whole position and reveals us all as guilty sinners before God. Here is something that tells us that there is only one way to a knowledge of God and forgiveness and the hope of everlasting life, and that is to believe in the Son of God, our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let me simply ask you one question: Do you know what you have rejected? Do you know the case for the Gospel? Oh, may God open the eyes of each one of us by nature to our need of salvation and to the fullness of the salvation that God has provided for us freely in His dearly beloved, only begotten Son.

Praying By The Book (28) 05.09.12w  |  MP3  |  16:57 To the Glory and Praise of God Philippians 1:11

	Preaching and Biblical Theology Edmund P. Clowney THEOLOGY
	What is Worship Music? Basics of the Faith Series Paul S. Jones THEOLOGY

This is me in baby mode, being held by my Grandma Jackie (she was my Dad's mother). She lived on Lawndale, in south Louisville, but rode the TARC to work downtown as a waitress at the Colonnade, a restaurant in the basement of the Starks building (next to the old Galleria, where Fourth Street Live is now.)

 

	Amazing Wonders / VBS 2012 (2 of 5) 05.06.12p  |  MP3  |  43:06 Hakuna Matata God's Power Over Circumstances Daniel 6:1-28
	Fashionable Faith (21) 05.06.12a  |  MP3  |  39:38 Church Life (1): Older Men Titus 2:2

from Love So Amazing: Colossians 1 (20-21)

We men and women are not merely animals, we are not merely bodies with minds and a certain amount of reason. We are more than that. We have a soul, we are related to God. And when we go out of this life we will stand before God who made us, the Judge of all the earth, and we will give an account of what we have done with the gifts that He has given us. That is what makes life such a tremendous thing, and that is the tragedy of this present time. Nobody is thinking about that. It is more, 'How are we going to get on? How can we get more money and do less work at the same time? How can we get more pleasure?' These are the things that everybody is thinking about. But the thing to be concerned about is the fact that every one of us is only here on a very temporary lease. 'Brief life here is our portion.' Let me tell you about a young widow and her infant child. The husband, the father, a young doctor, died recently. I believe I am right in saying that he was not yet thirty years of age, with life before him, and prospects. But now there is to be a funeral service for him. What does it all mean? In the midst of life we are in death! Suddenly taken ill without any warning, dead in a few weeks! 'Warning every man'! The warning is not only for those who are tottering on the brink of the grave! I am not only referring to octogenarians or nonagenarians; I am preaching to the child and to the young man or woman. I warn you. You have got to die, and so have I, and then what happens? Well, you stand before God in the judgment! And you will be judged as to what you have done with the gift of the soul which God gave you. You will be judged as to whether you have lived your life to His glory or to your own glory; whether you have lived to please Him or to please yourself.

Praying By The Book (27) 05.02.12w  |  MP3  |  19:13 Marks of Love (4) : Filled With the Fruit of Righteousness Philippians 1:11

Mirror, Mirror

Most mornings I take a glance in the mirror before I leave for work. I used to do that to see how my hair looked, but that's not so much of a problem these days. Still, it's good to make sure I don't have any bits of banana stuck between my teeth. It's an even better idea to make sure one of my boys didn't decide to use my shirt as a Kleenex.

The Bible functions like a mirror for our souls. As we read it and hear it, God uses it to reveal areas of ongoing sin and struggle in our lives. Perhaps we had a lingering suspicion something was wrong (like feeling something stuck my molars) and other times it hits us like a snotty sleeve.

What would be really weird about all of this is, having seen the banana in my teeth, if I chose to simply walking away from the mirror and do nothing about it. I'm not ignorant of my problem just indifferent toward it. Might even be able to go most of my day without thinking about it. But pretty slim chance of a welcome home kiss from my wife.

When we are made aware of the problems, it becomes time to take action. Not a "do it yourself" mentality, mind you. Save the bootstraps or elbow grease. Instead, an honest acknowledgement of the difficulty and an equally honest plea to God for help. (This plea is always effective for Christians, seeing as God has already--quite conveniently, it seems--provided a Helper for us.)

With His help, we use the mirror to bring ourselves into alignment with the One we are to be reflecting; the very One whom we are born (and reborn) in the image of.

	Christians Get Depressed Too David P. Murray THEOLOGY
	Illusion Frank E. Peretti FICTION
	The Great Tradition of Christian Thinking Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition Series David S. Dockery & Timothy George THEOLOGY

Here are Luke and I in a fierce gridiron battle! I'm guessing on the year, but 1980 seems about right. I have long since forgotten what that electronic football game was called, but we certainly got a lot of mileage out of it over the years. And don't overlook the sweet shag carpeting...