Let me assure you that God is pleased with your desire to obey him no matter the cost. After all, he’s put that desire there! Permit me to explain for you how the Scriptures say we should answer that question.
But before we start - why the Scriptures? Because they – by their nature the only source identified as bearing the very words from God’s mouth – are there to make you fully equipped for every good work. Let that sink in. Fully equipped. Every good work.
So first – note that Jesus is the one building his kingdom – and the gates of Hell won’t prevail against it. Nothing you do is going to mess up God’s plan. Jesus’ building of the Church – his beloved Bride – is not going to get messed up by your picking the ‘wrong’ career.
So don’t worry. God’s got this whole world – governments, wars, births, deaths, the placement of landmines, the budding of flowers – his Church – and your life – under control. And he loves you.
I brought up ‘career’ choices. They often bear the connotation of ‘life’ choices. Thing is, those aren’t a reality. What you’re doing next year is by no means necessarily what you’ll be doing in five or ten! The more important thing to realize about those ‘big’ decisions is that they’re no bigger than the choices you make when buying things at the grocery store. Now, that’s not to say that they’re not important. It is to say that ‘small’ choices are important. You’re to be holy in all you do. God’s will – revealed in the Bible – is much more about your character than about your activity. And when it is about your activity, it’s very specifically about your activity as an overflow of your character. You’re to be holy.
Now let me tell you what the Bible doesn’t talk about. It doesn’t talk about ‘feeling led.’ It doesn’t talk about making choices based on emotional impression. God doesn’t say that those are a valid way of discerning his will. God in no way promises to reveal to you how you’re to make choices about particular circumstances. When the Bible talks about the Spirit – it speaks of him changing our characters – not ‘telling’ us (via emotional impression!) to do some particular thing.
That may come as a shock to you, but I encourage you to search the Scriptures. It’s true. And I beg you – review those first few paragraphs. GOD is in control. GOD is always loving you, actively. GOD has called you – first and foremost – to be… holy. He cares more for your character than about your activity.
So what’s the Holy Spirit doing? He is the one doing the glorious, amazing work of changing our characters – causing us to love more – to rejoice in the Lord more – to give up ourselves more – to trust him more. He’s changing our wills – our desires! He’s conforming us to be more like Jesus. He’s moving us to prayer! He’s convicting us of sin.
If you know Jesus, the Holy Spirit IS making you more like him. Trust him to do that and praise him for doing it!
More than that, flee sin. You have sinful desires. Run from fulfilling them. If those desires are causing you to desire comfort – run. Pick up your cross and follow Jesus. If there is an inkling of sin – run.
And run towards Jesus! He’s given you his word and is producing desires for holy things in your heart. Run after those things – no matter the cost.
Yes, pray for wisdom. Yes, ask wise people for their input – including about where you might be sinning and about what you might be best at in this great work of building Christ’s kingdom.
But the basis for those things – and for everything in the Christian life – is the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin – flee it – and in producing in you a love for those things God loves – chase his will, revealed to you through the Spirit by the Scriptures, relentlessly and tirelessly – no matter the cost.
The Lord bless your life. May it be to his glory, by his grace!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
College Students: They're Geniuses.
A good friend recently sent me a link to this article that was published in my alma mater's newspaper.
http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2008/04/28/OpinionColumns/Science.Religion.And.New.Internationalism-3352144.shtml
Fun stuff. I love how college students think they're so smart and novel. *grin*
Anyway, here's my brief response:
First, what I'm interested in in this article is that this is one of the few opinions I've read from a totally modernistic outlook in a long time. The celebration of science, reason and accomplishments for a positive and growing future are all very modernistic concepts that postmoderns, despite their own issues, have rejected as fallacious, empty, and failing to satisfy the deep longings of the human soul. I'm interested about the fact that he is celebrating a position which is quickly becoming a minority position.
Second, his big presupposition is that all religions are false. He makes unhistoric and untrue claims about Christianity, and interprets facts through his atheistic/naturalistic lens. (i.e. - tribal origins of monotheism to him means tribes made it up. To us it means that, well, duh, there is one God who's revelaed himself to different extents - of course monotheistic practice will be a reality.)
Third, because of his presupposition, he drives an unnecessary wedge between science (drawing conclusions from repeated, controlled observations) and religion (which says that whatever God says is of highest epistemological value.)
Fourth, this author, because of his naturalism, cannot define 'progress' or even what is 'good.' (Or logic for that matter.) But he employs those things, and thus assumes a Christian worldview though he decries Christianity.
http://media.www.dailyillini
Fun stuff. I love how college students think they're so smart and novel. *grin*
Anyway, here's my brief response:
First, what I'm interested in in this article is that this is one of the few opinions I've read from a totally modernistic outlook in a long time. The celebration of science, reason and accomplishments for a positive and growing future are all very modernistic concepts that postmoderns, despite their own issues, have rejected as fallacious, empty, and failing to satisfy the deep longings of the human soul. I'm interested about the fact that he is celebrating a position which is quickly becoming a minority position.
Second, his big presupposition is that all religions are false. He makes unhistoric and untrue claims about Christianity, and interprets facts through his atheistic/naturalistic lens. (i.e. - tribal origins of monotheism to him means tribes made it up. To us it means that, well, duh, there is one God who's revelaed himself to different extents - of course monotheistic practice will be a reality.)
Third, because of his presupposition, he drives an unnecessary wedge between science (drawing conclusions from repeated, controlled observations) and religion (which says that whatever God says is of highest epistemological value.)
Fourth, this author, because of his naturalism, cannot define 'progress' or even what is 'good.' (Or logic for that matter.) But he employs those things, and thus assumes a Christian worldview though he decries Christianity.
Illiteracy, Lying, and Theft
1) I'm thinking of doing a 'video blog.' Anyone know how to do that?
2) Part of the reason for that is because I firmly believe that our culture is not only biblically illiterate, but rather quickly becoming simply illiterate as well. And I'd like to help that process along.
3) One of the most frequently broken commandments today - and yes, the 10 commandments are binding on believers' consciences, is the command to not bear false witness. People in our culture take commitments as if they bore no weight at all.
One of the reasons I love the show 24 is because Jack Bauer is a real man - a man whose word means everything. Not so much in our culture anymore.
Oh - and not keeping commitments is also stealing - since you've given someone something and are taken it back. So that's two broken commandments of God's Holy Law.
Let's remember God's holy and live like it.
2) Part of the reason for that is because I firmly believe that our culture is not only biblically illiterate, but rather quickly becoming simply illiterate as well. And I'd like to help that process along.
3) One of the most frequently broken commandments today - and yes, the 10 commandments are binding on believers' consciences, is the command to not bear false witness. People in our culture take commitments as if they bore no weight at all.
One of the reasons I love the show 24 is because Jack Bauer is a real man - a man whose word means everything. Not so much in our culture anymore.
Oh - and not keeping commitments is also stealing - since you've given someone something and are taken it back. So that's two broken commandments of God's Holy Law.
Let's remember God's holy and live like it.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Greatest Commandment (Talk Given at STEP UP)
-Have you been in love? I have. I love my fiancé. That means a lot of things, doesn’t it? I’ve chosen her. I am committed to her. I enjoy her. I do work to make her happy.
-Love is an easy word to say – and to even understand. But it can be a hard word to do.
-Before we begin our discussion, we want to take a few minutes and look at the most important commands in the Bible.
-If you have one, open to Mark 12:28-34. Read, Pray.
-Context: arguments with religious leaders.
-First commandment: believing. Thinking. Remembering. Desiring. Delighting. Being careful to please him. Enjoying him and living for his joy.
-What would that look like practically? Wake up thinking about him – about how awesome he is, every day. We’d immediately be in prayer – telling him how amazing he is, asking that he would act for his own pleasure and glory. We’d be looking at studying the Bible constantly because that’s how God has fully revealed himself – and enjoying it. We’d be talking about him constantly. We’d be thinking about him during the day – trying to figure out how we could do things to please him; planning things to make him happy.
-But we don’t act like that, do we? Why is it that when we’re infatuated with a person we act like that – but we don’t concerning the God who created us and is going to be with us forever? We forget about him. We choose not to spend considerable amounts of time in prayer, in Bible study. We’re embarrassed to talk about him often. We distract ourselves with other pleasures – videogames, entertainment, relationships, success and goals…
-We do not love God.
-This is sobering, isn’t it? We’ll get to hope in a second, but let’s look at that second command – (read v. 31).
-That you love yourself is assumed. God commands us to love everyone else the same way we love ourselves. That means that my goals for other people must be the same as they are for myself. What governs your day? Why do you eat what you eat for breakfast? Go to – or not go to – class? Watch the tv shows you do? Hang out with the friends you hang out with? Why are you a Christian?
-You do things based on what makes you happy.
-What this commands is that our happiness be based on the happiness of others. This is empathy to the highest degree; but more than that – empathy with action.
-You work to secure your happiness. You make choices. You plan. You go through hard things to get happiness.
-This command is that you do the same for everyone else.
-What does this mean? When you see someone in emotional pain, you comfort them. Listen to them. Hug them. When you see someone in physical need, you provide to meet it. When you see someone who doesn’t know how to handle a situation, you come in and help handle it. Have you ever wanted help and didn’t receive it? We are to help those in need. And most of all, as we see those who are in danger of hell, we tell them there’s a way out.
-We break this commandment all the time, too, don’t we? We consider our time more worthwhile than the pain of others. We consider our money more important than the well-being of others. We consider our having fun more important than the consolation of the hurting. We consider our convenience more important than taking the time to help others. We consider our own prejudices more important than the alienation of others.
-We break this commandment – to love our neighbor. And we do not love God.
-Note what God says to the man here. “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But he is not in it. In Luke 10:28, Jesus is recorded to have said ‘do this and you will live.’ But we don’t do it. Which means we should be getting the opposite of eternal life…
-That’s sobering. Hold on to that. It is right to be sobered right now. To be sad. We should be. We have rebelled against God. We do rebel against God.
-But let’s take a moment to consider Jesus. Jesus couldn’t stop praying. He couldn’t stop talking about his Father – even when his family made fun of him. Even when he was cast out of towns. Even when people accused him of being the devil.
-It was his Father’s will that he die. And he suffered – and cried out ‘not my will but yours be done!’ And he, phil. 2 says, was obedient to death. In Heb. 10:5, 6, Jesus says this. (Read.) Jesus always lived for his Father’s pleasure – and right after he was baptized – representing his own death, God said, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus always loved the Father. And he suffered to please him – because he knew enjoying God was set before him (Heb. 12:2). Jesus enjoyed God fully, and lived fully for his Father’s joy.
-And more than that – Jesus always loved his neighbor. Consider this. He left his home; left a decent trade and income – became homeless, and spent his ministry going around to tell people that the Kingdom of God was coming – and that they needed to repent. He took time for widows, and those in pain. He took time to love children. He entertained questions. He confronted people with their own sin – being more concerned for God and for their souls than his reputation.
-He touched the dirty. Spent time with people who would tarnish his reputation. Stayed up all hours of the night so that people would know about the importance of his Kingdom.
-And – as far as believers go, that same ultimate step of obedience – of love – towards God – was the ultimate step of love for everyone who believes. He suffered all of God’s hatred for sin in their place when he died. Jesus’ love for you if you’re a believer means that he suffered for you – he loves you so much – wants you to enjoy God so much – that he suffered the fury of hell in your stead. So full was that fury and punishment in those hours, that all of hell was experienced by Jesus in your stead, and he rose again as King – and he’s coming back to bring you into his presence, to enjoy him fully forever.
-Jesus obeyed the greatest commandment in our places. And we stand, as a result, as children of God, waiting to enter his Kingdom.
-Where does that leave us? Well, we’re free from guilt. Jesus has fully shown us God – and completed the Scriptures so we can enjoy him. He’s given us his Spirit so we can see God’s glory in that word. He’s changed our hearts to make us capable of loving him – given us new eyes to see. Given us prayer and each other to drive us closer to him. He’s given us opportunity to talk about how great he is, and to love our neighbors by telling them about this great God.
-We stand free from the guilt that we had by breaking the commandment to love God and our neighbor. And we stand free from the inability not to. Jesus has given us what we need to pursue enjoyment of him, expression of that enjoyment, and freedom from the cares of this world that would prevent that – because a better one – where Jesus is – awaits us.
-Love is an easy word to say – and to even understand. But it can be a hard word to do.
-Before we begin our discussion, we want to take a few minutes and look at the most important commands in the Bible.
-If you have one, open to Mark 12:28-34. Read, Pray.
-Context: arguments with religious leaders.
-First commandment: believing. Thinking. Remembering. Desiring. Delighting. Being careful to please him. Enjoying him and living for his joy.
-What would that look like practically? Wake up thinking about him – about how awesome he is, every day. We’d immediately be in prayer – telling him how amazing he is, asking that he would act for his own pleasure and glory. We’d be looking at studying the Bible constantly because that’s how God has fully revealed himself – and enjoying it. We’d be talking about him constantly. We’d be thinking about him during the day – trying to figure out how we could do things to please him; planning things to make him happy.
-But we don’t act like that, do we? Why is it that when we’re infatuated with a person we act like that – but we don’t concerning the God who created us and is going to be with us forever? We forget about him. We choose not to spend considerable amounts of time in prayer, in Bible study. We’re embarrassed to talk about him often. We distract ourselves with other pleasures – videogames, entertainment, relationships, success and goals…
-We do not love God.
-This is sobering, isn’t it? We’ll get to hope in a second, but let’s look at that second command – (read v. 31).
-That you love yourself is assumed. God commands us to love everyone else the same way we love ourselves. That means that my goals for other people must be the same as they are for myself. What governs your day? Why do you eat what you eat for breakfast? Go to – or not go to – class? Watch the tv shows you do? Hang out with the friends you hang out with? Why are you a Christian?
-You do things based on what makes you happy.
-What this commands is that our happiness be based on the happiness of others. This is empathy to the highest degree; but more than that – empathy with action.
-You work to secure your happiness. You make choices. You plan. You go through hard things to get happiness.
-This command is that you do the same for everyone else.
-What does this mean? When you see someone in emotional pain, you comfort them. Listen to them. Hug them. When you see someone in physical need, you provide to meet it. When you see someone who doesn’t know how to handle a situation, you come in and help handle it. Have you ever wanted help and didn’t receive it? We are to help those in need. And most of all, as we see those who are in danger of hell, we tell them there’s a way out.
-We break this commandment all the time, too, don’t we? We consider our time more worthwhile than the pain of others. We consider our money more important than the well-being of others. We consider our having fun more important than the consolation of the hurting. We consider our convenience more important than taking the time to help others. We consider our own prejudices more important than the alienation of others.
-We break this commandment – to love our neighbor. And we do not love God.
-Note what God says to the man here. “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But he is not in it. In Luke 10:28, Jesus is recorded to have said ‘do this and you will live.’ But we don’t do it. Which means we should be getting the opposite of eternal life…
-That’s sobering. Hold on to that. It is right to be sobered right now. To be sad. We should be. We have rebelled against God. We do rebel against God.
-But let’s take a moment to consider Jesus. Jesus couldn’t stop praying. He couldn’t stop talking about his Father – even when his family made fun of him. Even when he was cast out of towns. Even when people accused him of being the devil.
-It was his Father’s will that he die. And he suffered – and cried out ‘not my will but yours be done!’ And he, phil. 2 says, was obedient to death. In Heb. 10:5, 6, Jesus says this. (Read.) Jesus always lived for his Father’s pleasure – and right after he was baptized – representing his own death, God said, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus always loved the Father. And he suffered to please him – because he knew enjoying God was set before him (Heb. 12:2). Jesus enjoyed God fully, and lived fully for his Father’s joy.
-And more than that – Jesus always loved his neighbor. Consider this. He left his home; left a decent trade and income – became homeless, and spent his ministry going around to tell people that the Kingdom of God was coming – and that they needed to repent. He took time for widows, and those in pain. He took time to love children. He entertained questions. He confronted people with their own sin – being more concerned for God and for their souls than his reputation.
-He touched the dirty. Spent time with people who would tarnish his reputation. Stayed up all hours of the night so that people would know about the importance of his Kingdom.
-And – as far as believers go, that same ultimate step of obedience – of love – towards God – was the ultimate step of love for everyone who believes. He suffered all of God’s hatred for sin in their place when he died. Jesus’ love for you if you’re a believer means that he suffered for you – he loves you so much – wants you to enjoy God so much – that he suffered the fury of hell in your stead. So full was that fury and punishment in those hours, that all of hell was experienced by Jesus in your stead, and he rose again as King – and he’s coming back to bring you into his presence, to enjoy him fully forever.
-Jesus obeyed the greatest commandment in our places. And we stand, as a result, as children of God, waiting to enter his Kingdom.
-Where does that leave us? Well, we’re free from guilt. Jesus has fully shown us God – and completed the Scriptures so we can enjoy him. He’s given us his Spirit so we can see God’s glory in that word. He’s changed our hearts to make us capable of loving him – given us new eyes to see. Given us prayer and each other to drive us closer to him. He’s given us opportunity to talk about how great he is, and to love our neighbors by telling them about this great God.
-We stand free from the guilt that we had by breaking the commandment to love God and our neighbor. And we stand free from the inability not to. Jesus has given us what we need to pursue enjoyment of him, expression of that enjoyment, and freedom from the cares of this world that would prevent that – because a better one – where Jesus is – awaits us.
A Warning
If you're like me, you love ministry. You love thinking about it. Coming up with strategies to do it. Long for everyone in your scope to hear the gospel, and long for the creative methods to accomplish such things.
A warning to you, and to me - though it is true that sometimes Scripture is silent regarding how particularly things are to be done, perhaps we should not assume it is 'til we've seen it to be so. And even in our searching to see what Scripture says on a matter, we may, and probably will see a framework and boundary which Scripture provides for our creativity.
Or in other words - always ask God's word first. Creativity is for God when it is based on his word - and is a sad and idolatrous thing before him when it is not.
A warning to you, and to me - though it is true that sometimes Scripture is silent regarding how particularly things are to be done, perhaps we should not assume it is 'til we've seen it to be so. And even in our searching to see what Scripture says on a matter, we may, and probably will see a framework and boundary which Scripture provides for our creativity.
Or in other words - always ask God's word first. Creativity is for God when it is based on his word - and is a sad and idolatrous thing before him when it is not.
How to Do Campus Ministry
or, "A Campus Ministry Catechism."
Perhaps it's a bit arrogant to say 'how to,' but I didn't want to assume everyone knew what a catechism was.
And incidentally, it's a series of questions and answers used as a teaching tool. Here it is.
-what’s our mission as Christians?
The expansion of the Kingdom of God to the whole world
-what does that mean on campus?
That everyone would have a chance to respond to the gospel and the discipleship of those who trust Jesus
-what are the four things that must happen to accomplish this?
Personal obedience to God, evangelism, discipleship, and the involvement of freshmen
-what is the fuel for personal obedience?
The Scriptures heard and read, prayer, fellowship, communion, and being under the caring authority of those God has established in such positions
-what is evangelism?
Giving others an opportunity to respond to the gospel
-what is the Gospel?
The good news that Jesus substitutionary obedience, substitutionary death, and resurrection restore all who believe in him to God
-what are the three components of discipleship?
Scriptural doctrine, godly character, and ministry skill
-why are freshmen so vital to the Kingdom here?
God will raise them up to be those who lead others to the Kingdom after we’re gone.
-what is our ultimate goal in all this?
The glory of God.
Perhaps it's a bit arrogant to say 'how to,' but I didn't want to assume everyone knew what a catechism was.
And incidentally, it's a series of questions and answers used as a teaching tool. Here it is.
-what’s our mission as Christians?
The expansion of the Kingdom of God to the whole world
-what does that mean on campus?
That everyone would have a chance to respond to the gospel and the discipleship of those who trust Jesus
-what are the four things that must happen to accomplish this?
Personal obedience to God, evangelism, discipleship, and the involvement of freshmen
-what is the fuel for personal obedience?
The Scriptures heard and read, prayer, fellowship, communion, and being under the caring authority of those God has established in such positions
-what is evangelism?
Giving others an opportunity to respond to the gospel
-what is the Gospel?
The good news that Jesus substitutionary obedience, substitutionary death, and resurrection restore all who believe in him to God
-what are the three components of discipleship?
Scriptural doctrine, godly character, and ministry skill
-why are freshmen so vital to the Kingdom here?
God will raise them up to be those who lead others to the Kingdom after we’re gone.
-what is our ultimate goal in all this?
The glory of God.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Why Calvinism is Cool
Unless you're either a) not involved in the community of people that follow Jesus, or b) living under a rock, you've noticed that Calvinism has become extremely popular among young Christians.
Now, some of you are saying, "Okay, fine." Some of you are saying, "That is weird... I think the last time that happened it was still cool for men to wear tights and wigs." Some of you are saying... "Calvinism?"
Let me hit that third question. When I say 'Calvinism,' I mean The Five Points of Calvinism, which were a response issued by a group of churches in Europe to a group of dissident pastors in the 17th century. They're often summed up in the acronym TULIP. I'll give a brief rundown, but if you want something more thorough, click here for the explanation that John Piper's ministry offers.
T- Total Depravity - Everything in a person is controlled by sin, and thus, they do not and can not come to Jesus
U- Unconditional Election - God chose people before he created the world to be saved, not because of any goodness in them or any good that they'd do, but solely on the basis of love.
L- Limited Atonement - Jesus actually died in the place of everyone God elected, and therefore the requirement that they be punished has been met. This requirement has not been met for anyone except those God has chosen.
I- Irresistible Grace - The people God chose he gives a new nature to - one that is no longer completely controlled by sin, and so they choose Jesus. It's irresistible because they don't choose the new nature; but having the new nature, they choose Jesus.
P- Perseverance of the saints - The people who God chose, after they choose to put their faith in Jesus, by God's grace, keep believing in Jesus forever.
Okay, there it is. So why the heck has that become cool in the last 15-20 or so odd years. I'm going to give four reasons. And maybe I'm missing something - maybe I'm wrong. Feel free to comment back with your own thoughts.
First, Calvinism partially affirms much of what our culture affirms about how people can know things. Our culture has gone through a decent amount of transformation. The last hundred years in America have been largely affected by the sciences and how the sciences acquire knowledge - by repeated testing and observation. The belief was that through scientific means, people could know and accomplish whatever they wanted.
Now, of course no one would deny all that science has got us. But let's not be stupid. Science doesn't solve every problem or every question. Our culture has realized that largely, and has reacted. Now, especially as it concerns spirituality, one can know nothing. You cannot know anything with certainty. You cannot find absolute truth about spiritual things.
Interestingly, Calvinistic doctrine agrees. It says people cannot know or understand spiritual things. But rather than assigning the cause of that inability to the nature of spirituality, it assigns it to rebellion against God. And rather than concluding that therefore there is no absolute truth, it concludes that absolute truth is defined by the Bible.
We can't let that similarity slip away too quickly, though. That is huge. When people believed we could find any truth we wanted through science, many Christians believed that the same was true about things of God. Now that people believe that we can't know things, the tide is turning, and many Christians believe that we cannot apart from God know him.
Second reason Calvinism is cool now - there are now cool Calvinists. Fact is, people like cool people. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure you could define 'cool' in that way. A cool person is a person that is, in personality, attractive.
So in other words, no longer do you have a bunch of stodgy old dudes breaking fellowship over a single point in the Westminster Confession. Rather, we've got groups of people, united by their love for the gospel and Reformed Theology (which includes Calvinism), celebrating God and appealing to people's emotions.
They're cool. We like them. They're people like John Piper. Aleister Begg. The late Dr. D. James Kennedy. All Calvinists - but all cool - all lovers of the gospel - and all men who wanted to impact the world for the glory of God - and give people a vision they could latch on to.
Cool people beget cool people. So as numbers swelled and as Calvinism became less sequestered in Presbyterian circles, there were more cool people embracing it. Cool people that people wanted to follow.
Okay, third reason: in the last twenty years, as opposed to the fifty or so which preceded them, there has been a greater focus on Scripture and theology.
The era that's preceded us, in Christian culture, had something of a disdain for intellectualism. Intellectualism was seen as a hallmark of secular academia - something to be suspicious of. Christian maturity was knowing the 4 Spiritual Laws and 10 Basic Steps Toward Spiritual Maturity.
That is no longer acceptable to many young Christians. Expository preaching - or preaching through books of the Bible - has become more popular. Reading theology - even the Puritans - has become something that people in large numbers are doing.
The fact is this - people that tend to be more intellectual about the Bible tend to be Calvinists. Now, that's partially a good thing - our minds need to be submitted to Scripture. But, there is an arrogance that can come with it - a sort of intellectual superiority. Basically, these people can become self-righteous, arrogant, and judgmental pricks. But that's another topic for another day - why people that become Calvinists are initially jerks that shouldn't be allowed to talk about it for about 2 years.
Pardon me - back on topic. The swing in Christian circles back towards studying Scripture in an intellectually rigorous fashion has resulted in more popularity for Calvinism.
The fourth and final reason I can think of for Calvinism's recent resurgence in popularity is our culture's focus on the 'self' as authoritative. Or in other words, I don't need to submit to other stuff or other people or other thought patterns - I need to figure things out for myself and I'm smarter than those that came before me.
And in the particular realm about which we're speaking - the subject of Calvinism - many of our forbears in the Church were not Calvinists. They, often, hated those five points. A lot of young people are now rebelling against that. Now, to their credit, a lot of what they're rebelling against is anti-intellectualism and a failure to study Scripture; but its still the desire to rebel.
More than that, they desire to be individuals - to be unique - to be 'edgy.' And quite frankly, because Calvinism says that we're more sinful than we could ever begin to know, and that salvation is all about God not us - that's edgy. It's honestly offensive unless one is convinced of it from Scripture.
So there you go. Four reasons, I think, Calvinism has become cool in Christian circles. What do you think?
Now, some of you are saying, "Okay, fine." Some of you are saying, "That is weird... I think the last time that happened it was still cool for men to wear tights and wigs." Some of you are saying... "Calvinism?"
Let me hit that third question. When I say 'Calvinism,' I mean The Five Points of Calvinism, which were a response issued by a group of churches in Europe to a group of dissident pastors in the 17th century. They're often summed up in the acronym TULIP. I'll give a brief rundown, but if you want something more thorough, click here for the explanation that John Piper's ministry offers.
T- Total Depravity - Everything in a person is controlled by sin, and thus, they do not and can not come to Jesus
U- Unconditional Election - God chose people before he created the world to be saved, not because of any goodness in them or any good that they'd do, but solely on the basis of love.
L- Limited Atonement - Jesus actually died in the place of everyone God elected, and therefore the requirement that they be punished has been met. This requirement has not been met for anyone except those God has chosen.
I- Irresistible Grace - The people God chose he gives a new nature to - one that is no longer completely controlled by sin, and so they choose Jesus. It's irresistible because they don't choose the new nature; but having the new nature, they choose Jesus.
P- Perseverance of the saints - The people who God chose, after they choose to put their faith in Jesus, by God's grace, keep believing in Jesus forever.
Okay, there it is. So why the heck has that become cool in the last 15-20 or so odd years. I'm going to give four reasons. And maybe I'm missing something - maybe I'm wrong. Feel free to comment back with your own thoughts.
First, Calvinism partially affirms much of what our culture affirms about how people can know things. Our culture has gone through a decent amount of transformation. The last hundred years in America have been largely affected by the sciences and how the sciences acquire knowledge - by repeated testing and observation. The belief was that through scientific means, people could know and accomplish whatever they wanted.
Now, of course no one would deny all that science has got us. But let's not be stupid. Science doesn't solve every problem or every question. Our culture has realized that largely, and has reacted. Now, especially as it concerns spirituality, one can know nothing. You cannot know anything with certainty. You cannot find absolute truth about spiritual things.
Interestingly, Calvinistic doctrine agrees. It says people cannot know or understand spiritual things. But rather than assigning the cause of that inability to the nature of spirituality, it assigns it to rebellion against God. And rather than concluding that therefore there is no absolute truth, it concludes that absolute truth is defined by the Bible.
We can't let that similarity slip away too quickly, though. That is huge. When people believed we could find any truth we wanted through science, many Christians believed that the same was true about things of God. Now that people believe that we can't know things, the tide is turning, and many Christians believe that we cannot apart from God know him.
Second reason Calvinism is cool now - there are now cool Calvinists. Fact is, people like cool people. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure you could define 'cool' in that way. A cool person is a person that is, in personality, attractive.
So in other words, no longer do you have a bunch of stodgy old dudes breaking fellowship over a single point in the Westminster Confession. Rather, we've got groups of people, united by their love for the gospel and Reformed Theology (which includes Calvinism), celebrating God and appealing to people's emotions.
They're cool. We like them. They're people like John Piper. Aleister Begg. The late Dr. D. James Kennedy. All Calvinists - but all cool - all lovers of the gospel - and all men who wanted to impact the world for the glory of God - and give people a vision they could latch on to.
Cool people beget cool people. So as numbers swelled and as Calvinism became less sequestered in Presbyterian circles, there were more cool people embracing it. Cool people that people wanted to follow.
Okay, third reason: in the last twenty years, as opposed to the fifty or so which preceded them, there has been a greater focus on Scripture and theology.
The era that's preceded us, in Christian culture, had something of a disdain for intellectualism. Intellectualism was seen as a hallmark of secular academia - something to be suspicious of. Christian maturity was knowing the 4 Spiritual Laws and 10 Basic Steps Toward Spiritual Maturity.
That is no longer acceptable to many young Christians. Expository preaching - or preaching through books of the Bible - has become more popular. Reading theology - even the Puritans - has become something that people in large numbers are doing.
The fact is this - people that tend to be more intellectual about the Bible tend to be Calvinists. Now, that's partially a good thing - our minds need to be submitted to Scripture. But, there is an arrogance that can come with it - a sort of intellectual superiority. Basically, these people can become self-righteous, arrogant, and judgmental pricks. But that's another topic for another day - why people that become Calvinists are initially jerks that shouldn't be allowed to talk about it for about 2 years.
Pardon me - back on topic. The swing in Christian circles back towards studying Scripture in an intellectually rigorous fashion has resulted in more popularity for Calvinism.
The fourth and final reason I can think of for Calvinism's recent resurgence in popularity is our culture's focus on the 'self' as authoritative. Or in other words, I don't need to submit to other stuff or other people or other thought patterns - I need to figure things out for myself and I'm smarter than those that came before me.
And in the particular realm about which we're speaking - the subject of Calvinism - many of our forbears in the Church were not Calvinists. They, often, hated those five points. A lot of young people are now rebelling against that. Now, to their credit, a lot of what they're rebelling against is anti-intellectualism and a failure to study Scripture; but its still the desire to rebel.
More than that, they desire to be individuals - to be unique - to be 'edgy.' And quite frankly, because Calvinism says that we're more sinful than we could ever begin to know, and that salvation is all about God not us - that's edgy. It's honestly offensive unless one is convinced of it from Scripture.
So there you go. Four reasons, I think, Calvinism has become cool in Christian circles. What do you think?
Romans 8:1-17 Exposition and Discussion Guide
Romans 8:1-17
Exposition and Discussion Guide
Exposition
We’re at the point in Romans where something extremely significant is going to be brought up. In chapters 1-5, Paul defended the doctrine of justification by faith alone on the basis of Jesus’ work alone.
That gave rise to an objection: if justification is by faith alone, can we go on sinning? Paul says no in several ways. First, in Romans 6, he says that we have had a change of nature, therefore we can no longer live in sin. Second, in Romans 7, he says as Christians, Jesus has already met the demands of the Law for us so we no longer have something to rebel against or try to be justified by.
And that brings us to the third answer – and that is in Romans 8. The answer – in short – is the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of God’s people.
Now, Romans 8 begins where Romans 7 leaves off. The point of the end of Romans 7 is hat trying to obey God’s Law will just result in realizing that you can’t. Hence the cry at the end ‘who will save me from this body of death?’ The answer: God, in Jesus.
But if you can’t obey the Law by trying to obey it – where does that leave us? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 8: the Holy Spirit causes us who have received Jesus to obey him. Let’s take a look.
vv. 1-4
In verse 1 we have a statement. Note that there is a ground for it, given that it starts with ‘therefore.’ The ground comes in the verses after it. Note that there’s no condemnation now for everyone in Christ. That is, already, even before the future judgment, there is at this point in history, no condemnation, which by the way is the opposite of justification. Justification is being declared righteous; condemnation is being declared guilty and being punished for it.
Who’s ‘in Christ Jesus?’ It’s helpful here to consider Romans 6’s language of inclusion into Jesus – unification with him. Everyone unified to Jesus, and thus spiritually alive and believing, is in Jesus. So those people – right now, have already had the end time judgment of condemnation pass by them and have been judged righteous in Jesus.
What’s the reason for this, though? V. 2 says that the reason is that there are two governing principles – or worlds, realms, or Kingdoms at work. He’ll flesh this out more in vv. 5-8, but here, note that there’s no condemnation because the principles of the Spirit’s Kingdom have freed us through Jesus’ actions from the principles of the old realm, which is going to be condemned.
Verse three tells us how this happened. The law couldn’t save sinners, because sinners rebel against the law. What God did in Jesus is to kill, or condemn, sin by killing Jesus. And notice that it’s not ‘sins’ – it’s ‘sin.’ The old nature. The part of us, that is, according to ch. 6, now dead because Jesus died.
Verse four tells us that God had a purpose in destroying the old nature in the death of Jesus. That purpose is that our behavior would be transformed – that we’d walk according to God’s Holy Spirit and do what the law requires.
vv. 5-11
In this section, Paul’s going to contrast the two types of possible people then – people that live in the old world – old Kingdom – the ‘flesh.’ – vs. people that live in the new Kingdom in the Spirit.
Note that vv. 5-7 begin with the word ‘for’ – and so they’re providing a basis for what precede them. So in v. 5, the introduction of this idea – there’s two kinds of people – in the Kingdom and out – is the basis for what comes before, that God did stuff to cause us to walk in obedience to him.
But note what the differences are. If you’re in the flesh – in the old world, your thoughts are governed by it, will cause you to die, is hostile to God because it doesn’t submit to God’s law and actually is incapable of doing so.
If you’re in the Spirit, your thoughts are governed by the Spirit, he gives you life and peace,he wells in you, causes us to belong to Jesus, and has given us and will give us new life.
vv. 12-17
In this section, Paul begins to exhort believers to obey God and trust him through suffering.
Note that 12 is the conclusion of what precedes it. The Holy Spirit has given us new life and will raise us from the dead, so we don’t owe anything to the old world – the flesh – living according to its ways.
What’s the basis for that? 13 – because if we do live like that, we’ll die. However, if in the Spirit we kill the deeds of the body, we’ll live. Of course here it’s talking about eternally live and die. So in other words – we’re not debtors to the flesh because if we acted like that, we’d die. The other option – is trusting in the Spirit and relying on Him and doing the things he’s commanded in Scripture, actively fighting sin in our lives. If we do that – we belong to the Spirit and we will rise from the dead – live.
His basis for that statement is that if we’re doing that – being led by the Spirit to put to death evil deeds, we’re God’s children. Or in other words, we belong to God, not the flesh.
How do we know we’re sons of God? We got the Spirit that causes us to cry out to God, who bears witness that we’re his children, assuming that we suffer trusting ourselves to Jesus, looking forward to our future glory with him – our future being with him in the completely remade new creation.
Discussion Guide
-Have someone read vv. 1-4
-What has God done here?
-What are the effects of what God’s done in us?
-How should this affect how we view our own sins?
-Be ready to explain things in this section; it’s quite difficult.
-Have someone read vv. 5-11
-What are some things that you notice about people in the flesh?
-What about people in the Spirit?
-What do we see God doing in these verses?
-How are they related to vv. 1-4?
-Have someone read vv. 12-17
-What has God done according to these verses?
-Is our future salvation conditional? Defend your answers!
-What should we do on a daily basis as a result of this section?
-How is all this related to the cross of Jesus?
Exposition and Discussion Guide
Exposition
We’re at the point in Romans where something extremely significant is going to be brought up. In chapters 1-5, Paul defended the doctrine of justification by faith alone on the basis of Jesus’ work alone.
That gave rise to an objection: if justification is by faith alone, can we go on sinning? Paul says no in several ways. First, in Romans 6, he says that we have had a change of nature, therefore we can no longer live in sin. Second, in Romans 7, he says as Christians, Jesus has already met the demands of the Law for us so we no longer have something to rebel against or try to be justified by.
And that brings us to the third answer – and that is in Romans 8. The answer – in short – is the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of God’s people.
Now, Romans 8 begins where Romans 7 leaves off. The point of the end of Romans 7 is hat trying to obey God’s Law will just result in realizing that you can’t. Hence the cry at the end ‘who will save me from this body of death?’ The answer: God, in Jesus.
But if you can’t obey the Law by trying to obey it – where does that leave us? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 8: the Holy Spirit causes us who have received Jesus to obey him. Let’s take a look.
vv. 1-4
In verse 1 we have a statement. Note that there is a ground for it, given that it starts with ‘therefore.’ The ground comes in the verses after it. Note that there’s no condemnation now for everyone in Christ. That is, already, even before the future judgment, there is at this point in history, no condemnation, which by the way is the opposite of justification. Justification is being declared righteous; condemnation is being declared guilty and being punished for it.
Who’s ‘in Christ Jesus?’ It’s helpful here to consider Romans 6’s language of inclusion into Jesus – unification with him. Everyone unified to Jesus, and thus spiritually alive and believing, is in Jesus. So those people – right now, have already had the end time judgment of condemnation pass by them and have been judged righteous in Jesus.
What’s the reason for this, though? V. 2 says that the reason is that there are two governing principles – or worlds, realms, or Kingdoms at work. He’ll flesh this out more in vv. 5-8, but here, note that there’s no condemnation because the principles of the Spirit’s Kingdom have freed us through Jesus’ actions from the principles of the old realm, which is going to be condemned.
Verse three tells us how this happened. The law couldn’t save sinners, because sinners rebel against the law. What God did in Jesus is to kill, or condemn, sin by killing Jesus. And notice that it’s not ‘sins’ – it’s ‘sin.’ The old nature. The part of us, that is, according to ch. 6, now dead because Jesus died.
Verse four tells us that God had a purpose in destroying the old nature in the death of Jesus. That purpose is that our behavior would be transformed – that we’d walk according to God’s Holy Spirit and do what the law requires.
vv. 5-11
In this section, Paul’s going to contrast the two types of possible people then – people that live in the old world – old Kingdom – the ‘flesh.’ – vs. people that live in the new Kingdom in the Spirit.
Note that vv. 5-7 begin with the word ‘for’ – and so they’re providing a basis for what precede them. So in v. 5, the introduction of this idea – there’s two kinds of people – in the Kingdom and out – is the basis for what comes before, that God did stuff to cause us to walk in obedience to him.
But note what the differences are. If you’re in the flesh – in the old world, your thoughts are governed by it, will cause you to die, is hostile to God because it doesn’t submit to God’s law and actually is incapable of doing so.
If you’re in the Spirit, your thoughts are governed by the Spirit, he gives you life and peace,he wells in you, causes us to belong to Jesus, and has given us and will give us new life.
vv. 12-17
In this section, Paul begins to exhort believers to obey God and trust him through suffering.
Note that 12 is the conclusion of what precedes it. The Holy Spirit has given us new life and will raise us from the dead, so we don’t owe anything to the old world – the flesh – living according to its ways.
What’s the basis for that? 13 – because if we do live like that, we’ll die. However, if in the Spirit we kill the deeds of the body, we’ll live. Of course here it’s talking about eternally live and die. So in other words – we’re not debtors to the flesh because if we acted like that, we’d die. The other option – is trusting in the Spirit and relying on Him and doing the things he’s commanded in Scripture, actively fighting sin in our lives. If we do that – we belong to the Spirit and we will rise from the dead – live.
His basis for that statement is that if we’re doing that – being led by the Spirit to put to death evil deeds, we’re God’s children. Or in other words, we belong to God, not the flesh.
How do we know we’re sons of God? We got the Spirit that causes us to cry out to God, who bears witness that we’re his children, assuming that we suffer trusting ourselves to Jesus, looking forward to our future glory with him – our future being with him in the completely remade new creation.
Discussion Guide
-Have someone read vv. 1-4
-What has God done here?
-What are the effects of what God’s done in us?
-How should this affect how we view our own sins?
-Be ready to explain things in this section; it’s quite difficult.
-Have someone read vv. 5-11
-What are some things that you notice about people in the flesh?
-What about people in the Spirit?
-What do we see God doing in these verses?
-How are they related to vv. 1-4?
-Have someone read vv. 12-17
-What has God done according to these verses?
-Is our future salvation conditional? Defend your answers!
-What should we do on a daily basis as a result of this section?
-How is all this related to the cross of Jesus?
Notes from Talk at SALT
These are the notes from the talk I gave at the SALT Conference - the joint venture of Campus Crusade for Christ and the Cornerstone Movement, a fellowship of Indian-American students in Chicago.
MBI – Jesus’ recreation of our souls – and his continuing recreation of this world – compel us to specific, purposeful, and sacrificial action for the sake of his Kingdom.
What humanity was for
How Adam failed
What’s required of us – and how we fail
How Jesus succeeded
How his obedience is changing the world
How do we join him
MBI
pray
What we were created for Genesis 1:26-28 –
-ANE meaning of image
-So first thing – showing God off
-Happens in our existence – being persons (will, creativity, emotions...)
-But also in our character
-In what we do
-And where we do it (all over the world)
-so for glory in representing the rule of God (like flag on moon)
2 - How Adam failed (gen. 3:1-7)
-Character – what he valued
-valued relational comfort over obeying God’s word
-valued an opinion of someone else over future reward
-valued a ‘quick fix’ over the ‘hard’ road to glory
-In action
-Should have spoken up and led
-Should have risked himself and killed the serpent
-Should have said ‘no’ to immediate pleasure in hope of future pleasure
-In where he did it
-He had one job here – have sex.
-He saw what glory was – being like God – and picked that over sex
-tower of babel
3 - What’s required of us – 10 things
-be born again (John 3:3; 21) = change your nature (like telling a shark to eat a salad)
-righteousness must exceed the scribes/Pharisees (matt. 5:20)
-stringent requirements in the letter of the law, that and more required
-better than a cadet who always pleases his drill sergeant
-sell all you have and follow (matt. 19:21)
-Jesus came spreading the kingdom
-thus, reorientation of life around that priority
-not just being willing – willing + life change
-love Jesus more than family (matt 10:35-37)
-taking Jesus as King seriously -> relational strife
-in part because you’ll talk about him as such
-when I went on staff – yelling, removal of blessing/financial support, and not talking to me for I don’t know how long
-take up your cross and follow (matt 10:38-39)
-again – Jesus purpose – the spread of his Kingdom in the world
-he’s saying following him means suffering for that purpose
-put to death whatever is earthly in you (col 3:5)
-there’s stuff in us that rebels against Jesus as King
-we’re to exert force on it – make choices that hurt for his sake
-grandpa and black widow venom
-speak(!) – the assumption is Christians will be persecuted (2 tim 3:12)
-If Jesus is King and you care about it, you’re going to say it
-people are going to be mad
-love your neighbor as yourself (mark 12:31)
-you always operate for your happiness
-thus, you’re to always operate for everyone else’s with the same constant fervor
-hungry? Sleepy?
-you must be perfect./holy (matt 5:48, 1 peter 1:16)
-morally perfect
-always do exactly what God’s desire is
-not kidding (for instance, Jesus says don’t look to lust…)
-make disciples – people that bend the knee to Jesus - of all nations (matt 28:19, 20)
-not that’s not all people in a nation – it’s all nations
-contra tower of babel
-your life has to be about this
-heavy – right? Lots of practical questions – we’ll get there, but we need to wrestle with stringent requirements – and the fact that we are guilty of breaking God’s Law
4 - How Jesus obeyed the Father - 7 things
-had a nature pleasing to God – Col. 1:15a
-always obeyed God’s Law – 1 Peter 2:22
-always did the Father’s will
-John 6:38
-John 4:34 – loved it!
-oriented all his use of material things around spreading his Kingdom –
-Matt 8:19, 20
-Luke 5:30-32
-Jesus suffered
-John 7:3-5
-friends at home offended – Mark 6:1-3
-And that suffering was even unto death
-Phil 2:5-8
-That death rescued secured the spread of God’s image-glory over the whole world
-Rev. 5:9, 10
-talk about how next -
5 - What Jesus’ obedience is doing in the world – 4 things
-granting a new nature to people
-Rom. 6:4, John 3:8
-You have a new nature, then, that responds to God – faith = first mark
-dead to life; new creation; born again; enemy to child; hater of God to lover of God
-John 16:7, 8 – advantage – because every nation will be converted
-people counted righteous in Jesus
-our rebellion means judgment
-Jesus obeyed in the place of believers, and was punished in the place of believers – 2 cor 5:21
-The ‘day of judgment’ has already happened for everyone who trusts Jesus – and we are considered obedient and worthy to enter the Kingdom based on what he did alone
-You are – having trusted in Christ if you have – considered…
-firing squad analogy…
-And Jesus’ obedience to God will certainly result in that thru the world
-Rev. 5:9, 10
-Jesus’ obedience is producing obedience of believers all over the world
-Rom. 8:1-4
-in you
-in everyone – in every culture – that trusts Jesus for entry into his Kingdom
-that results in loving on the world – and a proclamation of the gospel throughout it! - Matt 4:13-17; Matt. 5:14
-Jesus’ obedience ultimately gains us entry into the new creation
-end of the world – new creation picture: rev 7:9-17
What can we do?
-in general, we’ve seen that Jesus’ obedience, even to death, results in the recreation of this world – including everyone who believes
-but what about specific action? Living on purpose? Taking up our cross…
-maybe you know stuff about Jesus – haven’t bent the knee to him -
-character – need accountability with giving up a certain behavior
-getting trained for evangelism – break, sp’s – on campus
-start discipling others, training them to be ambassadors (sg’s, etc.)
-start spending time with non Christians
-be a missionary – sp’s, stint/internship – perhaps this should be our m.o. unless God shows us otherwise
-enter into a time of response – let me pray, and we’ll give you time to pray, reflect, and fill out some response cards – these will help us serve you as together, we, the rescued children of God, pursue the expansion of his kingdom throughout the world
MBI – Jesus’ recreation of our souls – and his continuing recreation of this world – compel us to specific, purposeful, and sacrificial action for the sake of his Kingdom.
What humanity was for
How Adam failed
What’s required of us – and how we fail
How Jesus succeeded
How his obedience is changing the world
How do we join him
MBI
pray
What we were created for Genesis 1:26-28 –
-ANE meaning of image
-So first thing – showing God off
-Happens in our existence – being persons (will, creativity, emotions...)
-But also in our character
-In what we do
-And where we do it (all over the world)
-so for glory in representing the rule of God (like flag on moon)
2 - How Adam failed (gen. 3:1-7)
-Character – what he valued
-valued relational comfort over obeying God’s word
-valued an opinion of someone else over future reward
-valued a ‘quick fix’ over the ‘hard’ road to glory
-In action
-Should have spoken up and led
-Should have risked himself and killed the serpent
-Should have said ‘no’ to immediate pleasure in hope of future pleasure
-In where he did it
-He had one job here – have sex.
-He saw what glory was – being like God – and picked that over sex
-tower of babel
3 - What’s required of us – 10 things
-be born again (John 3:3; 21) = change your nature (like telling a shark to eat a salad)
-righteousness must exceed the scribes/Pharisees (matt. 5:20)
-stringent requirements in the letter of the law, that and more required
-better than a cadet who always pleases his drill sergeant
-sell all you have and follow (matt. 19:21)
-Jesus came spreading the kingdom
-thus, reorientation of life around that priority
-not just being willing – willing + life change
-love Jesus more than family (matt 10:35-37)
-taking Jesus as King seriously -> relational strife
-in part because you’ll talk about him as such
-when I went on staff – yelling, removal of blessing/financial support, and not talking to me for I don’t know how long
-take up your cross and follow (matt 10:38-39)
-again – Jesus purpose – the spread of his Kingdom in the world
-he’s saying following him means suffering for that purpose
-put to death whatever is earthly in you (col 3:5)
-there’s stuff in us that rebels against Jesus as King
-we’re to exert force on it – make choices that hurt for his sake
-grandpa and black widow venom
-speak(!) – the assumption is Christians will be persecuted (2 tim 3:12)
-If Jesus is King and you care about it, you’re going to say it
-people are going to be mad
-love your neighbor as yourself (mark 12:31)
-you always operate for your happiness
-thus, you’re to always operate for everyone else’s with the same constant fervor
-hungry? Sleepy?
-you must be perfect./holy (matt 5:48, 1 peter 1:16)
-morally perfect
-always do exactly what God’s desire is
-not kidding (for instance, Jesus says don’t look to lust…)
-make disciples – people that bend the knee to Jesus - of all nations (matt 28:19, 20)
-not that’s not all people in a nation – it’s all nations
-contra tower of babel
-your life has to be about this
-heavy – right? Lots of practical questions – we’ll get there, but we need to wrestle with stringent requirements – and the fact that we are guilty of breaking God’s Law
4 - How Jesus obeyed the Father - 7 things
-had a nature pleasing to God – Col. 1:15a
-always obeyed God’s Law – 1 Peter 2:22
-always did the Father’s will
-John 6:38
-John 4:34 – loved it!
-oriented all his use of material things around spreading his Kingdom –
-Matt 8:19, 20
-Luke 5:30-32
-Jesus suffered
-John 7:3-5
-friends at home offended – Mark 6:1-3
-And that suffering was even unto death
-Phil 2:5-8
-That death rescued secured the spread of God’s image-glory over the whole world
-Rev. 5:9, 10
-talk about how next -
5 - What Jesus’ obedience is doing in the world – 4 things
-granting a new nature to people
-Rom. 6:4, John 3:8
-You have a new nature, then, that responds to God – faith = first mark
-dead to life; new creation; born again; enemy to child; hater of God to lover of God
-John 16:7, 8 – advantage – because every nation will be converted
-people counted righteous in Jesus
-our rebellion means judgment
-Jesus obeyed in the place of believers, and was punished in the place of believers – 2 cor 5:21
-The ‘day of judgment’ has already happened for everyone who trusts Jesus – and we are considered obedient and worthy to enter the Kingdom based on what he did alone
-You are – having trusted in Christ if you have – considered…
-firing squad analogy…
-And Jesus’ obedience to God will certainly result in that thru the world
-Rev. 5:9, 10
-Jesus’ obedience is producing obedience of believers all over the world
-Rom. 8:1-4
-in you
-in everyone – in every culture – that trusts Jesus for entry into his Kingdom
-that results in loving on the world – and a proclamation of the gospel throughout it! - Matt 4:13-17; Matt. 5:14
-Jesus’ obedience ultimately gains us entry into the new creation
-end of the world – new creation picture: rev 7:9-17
What can we do?
-in general, we’ve seen that Jesus’ obedience, even to death, results in the recreation of this world – including everyone who believes
-but what about specific action? Living on purpose? Taking up our cross…
-maybe you know stuff about Jesus – haven’t bent the knee to him -
-character – need accountability with giving up a certain behavior
-getting trained for evangelism – break, sp’s – on campus
-start discipling others, training them to be ambassadors (sg’s, etc.)
-start spending time with non Christians
-be a missionary – sp’s, stint/internship – perhaps this should be our m.o. unless God shows us otherwise
-enter into a time of response – let me pray, and we’ll give you time to pray, reflect, and fill out some response cards – these will help us serve you as together, we, the rescued children of God, pursue the expansion of his kingdom throughout the world
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