How Far is Too Far?

The CCEF has released part of their 'mini-book' - which is article length - about how far one can 'go' sexually before marriage.  Good stuff. 

http://www.ccef.org/sex-marriage-how-far-too-far

Page CXVI

Some of you may remember a post of mine a while back bemoaning the state of modern Christian music - both for its lyrical content and for its lack of musical creativity and complexity.

You may remember I mentioned a band called Page CXVI that redoes hymns - and brilliantly at that.

There's a free download of one of their songs at http://www.pagecxvi.com

It is definitely worth your time to check out.

Church Government is about Worship, Part IV - 1 Timothy 3:16

(16f)  …(he was) taken up in glory. 

This is the last phrase in the ancient Christian hymn that Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:16.  Before we get to its meaning, its worth remembering that this hymn is worship.  God in this section gives us a declaration of his own glory in the midst of talking about how the local church is to be governed. 

Why?  Because the Church is to support and hold up the truth – and not merely to hold up the truth as true, but to hold up the truth as glorious and meaningful and holy and awesome. 

And so everything Paul’s been saying about the ministry of the local church serves this point – worship. 

Now, to turn to the phrase, ‘he was taken up in glory.’  This is a clear reference to Christ’s ascension into heaven after his resurrection.  The same word, ‘to take up,’ is even used multiple times in Acts to describe this event; for example, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven”(Acts 1:11). 

This event has multiple implications. 

First, it, as we see in the Acts verse, leads us to the fact that Christ will return to judge the world and to be marveled at among those who believed in him (see 2 Thessalonians 1).  And that is our great hope! 

Second, the phrase points to Christ’s position.  Since he’s been raised from the dead, he now has authority to govern all things.  He is the Sovereign King, ruling over all creation.  Consider Hebrews 1:3 – “After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.”  Since he reigns over all things, should we not honor him as such, taking comfort in his sovereignty despite our circumstances?  And should we not worship him because of his position? 

Third, the phrase points to Christ’s continuous intercession on our behalf.  “Who is to condemn?  Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised- who is at the right hand of God – who is interceding for us”(Romans 8:34). 

“For Christ has entered… into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf”(Hebrews 9:24). 

It is Christ’s death and resurrection and exaltation that result in our perseverance – in the proof of our justification.  He is now praying for us – and he is now securing for us perseverance and glory at his return – on the basis of his exaltation to the right hand of God.  Sovereign God and sovereign savior!  How great is Jesus Christ, Creator, Sustainer, Savior, Restorer! 

This is the reason for church government – the worship of Jesus Christ – our God and Savior. 

Summary: 

1)  Church government exists for the worship of Christ

2)  Christ’s ascension means that he is sovereign over all things, including our perseverance in salvation, and that he is returning to restore us to himself. 

Prayer:

Holy Christ!  You live in glory.  You reign over all things!  You have all authority and are deserving of all praise!  Holy are you, my God and Savior.  There is no one like you.  And yet – you reign through your death.  Your ever present blood has secured a people for yourself.  You have glorified yourself in your love to sinners here. 

O my God – let us worship you.  Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and lips to sing your praise forever. 

Amen.  

If you're in ministry, you need to watch this video:

Click here.  

And then you need to stop talking about 'building the kingdom of God.'  

But I don't have time...

Turn to Jeremiah 17. Right click here and open it in a new tab if necessary.

Two things are contrasted in the beginning - trusting in human strength for ultimate salvation and satisfaction vs. trusting in the LORD God for salvation and satisfaction in him.

Okay, we know that.

Now, satisfaction in the LORD God is found in a life of faith - but particularly in hearing the word of the LORD preached and responding in worship.

Jeremiah responds in a prayer for salvation to the LORD, honoring him.

He is immediately told to go rebuke Israel, by the words of the LORD, about their working on the Sabbath.

Think about that.  They were doing things they needed to do to get by on the day God had appointed to rest in him - to worship, hear the word, and to fellowship - without working for their livelihood.  The mark of faith in God was a day spent trusting that worship, prayer, the word, and fellowship were more important to life than 'all the stuff I have to get done.'

They lived in an agrarian society without modern conveniences.

And yet - how much do we give up time for God because 'we have too much to do'?

The danger in celebrity preachers...

I just got back from a conference called Together for the Gospel. There were many big name speakers. They were all excellent. They communicated God's word with clarity and zeal. They are men whose podcasts I listen to, and who I obviously traveled and paid to hear.

I just read Jeremiah 17:5. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength..."

God has surely ordained the office of preacher for the communication of his very message to us, the Gospel, written in the pages of Scripture.

Yet - I think we may be tempted to trust the messenger at times - even more than the message. How will this preacher convict me today? What turn of phrase will he use to cut to my heart? What new knowledge will he impart to me?

And it can be easy to forget - this merely is a man who is explaining God's words in Scripture. God's word, empowered by his Spirit, is the only thing that saves us from this evil age. We must be careful lest we put our trust in a fallible man - and not in the infallible words he is charged with teaching.

There is a flipside to this - that we turn to the LORD. Read the rest of Jeremiah 17. The LORD is the lifegiver - and that life comes through his word - and his word results in prayer, faith, and worship.

Church Government is about Worship, Part III - 1 Timothy 3:16

(16e) … (he was) proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world…

Verse 16 is an early Christian hymn that Paul inserted in the midst of a section about how the church is to govern itself. Why? Because church governance and structure exists for the worship of God.

And particularly, this hymn is about Jesus. It’s about what he did in the world and what he accomplished – and how that brings about godliness in and among God’s people. He has secured a people for himself – and he has secured worship for the Father.

In these two phrases we see something particular about Jesus’ ministry. The Jews expected a savior from the nations of the world. They were oppressed, constantly attacked, and enslaved.

Now, that is in part their own fault. God told them unless they repented, those things would happen. And yet, God had promised salvation from the God-hating nations of the world.

Yet here we see the victory of Jesus proclaimed among the nations. And what is the victory of Jesus but the victory over sin and death? The hold of the devil over all humanity has been broken, the guilt of sin over the nations has been done away with, and the necessity of death and hell for the whole of mankind has been erased completely and forever for all who believe, who are called, who are set apart by Jesus’ blood.

And so Jesus’ proclamation among the nations was not merely a proclamation of victory for himself, though it was that, it was a proclamation of his victory for the world and for the glory of the Father – because his victory meant the godliness of the nations through mercy freely bestowed by God.

And we who believe in Christ are among those nations. Christ is mercy for us. His victory is our victory, his resurrection is our godliness, his entrance into life is our entrance into the Kingdom of God. And so we come to the next phrase – ‘believed on in the world.’

Christ has been believed on in the world – among the nations. He is God over all things, not just a national God. There is no room for relativism here. There is no room for ‘truth’ meaning ‘whatever works for you’ or ‘whatever religion you grew up with’ – Jesus is Lord over everyone and everything.

And in his mercy he has brought saving faith to the world. His death and resurrection haven’t merely secured the proclamation of God’s glory in the whole world – but belief in it. Jesus has gotten a people from every nation for himself to the glory of the Father.

And this is why we have church government.

Summary:
1) Jesus’ victory over death is for a proclamation to all nations, in his mercy.
2) Jesus’ victory over death secures saving faith among all nations, not just certain ones.
3) We thus, are responsible for the proclamation of his name to all nations.
4) This is the foundation for church governance: the mercy of Christ through his death and resurrection, saving all who believe for the glory of God.

Prayer:
Holy God! What can I think of now but your great mercy. You have given your Son into this world and over to a brutal and violent death – but to vindicate him. He was and is righteous, and so you rewarded him with a Kingdom which will never pass away. And you have through him given us the mercy of the Bible – and the grace to believe – and therefore, you have saved us – and you are saving people from the whole world.
Father, this is a glorious thing – and it shows your greatness. O give me a sensitivity to your glory in your word and let us respond appropriately in the Church in thanksgiving and honor to your name.
In Christ I pray, amen.

Church Government is about Worship, Part II - 1 Timothy 3:16

(16d) …(he was) seen by angels…

We must remind ourselves that this hymn exists in a context about how the pastors are to govern the church of God. And so we see that the foundation and goal of church government – of teaching, of offices, of correction, of everything – is worship of Jesus the Messiah.

And if you don’t remember the first two phrases, go back and read them and remind yourself of the glory of Christ in his incarnation and resurrection.

And now we see that Jesus, risen from the dead, was seen by the angels.

Why is this significant? Angels spend their time in the presence of God. They do his will. They belong to a whole other realm; one that we can’t see. They behold glory unhindered, and so they cover their faces – see Isaiah 6.

Furthermore, when Jesus rose from the dead, he was granted all authority. 1 Peter 3:22 says that through his resurrection, Christ is “at the right hand of God (the place of authority), with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”

Speaking of the spiritual realm – though particularly fallen angels, Paul says in Colossians 2 that by Jesus’ death and resurrection, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame…”

1 Peter 3:19 says that Jesus, after his resurrection, made proclamation of his victory to fallen angels as well.

And more, we see that through Jesus’ humiliation and resurrection, he inherited a position much greater than the angels – who are in God’s presence forever, doing his will – see Hebrews 1.

And so we must be careful lest we make a mistake – and behold Jesus as a mere resurrected human. He is certainly a resurrected human. But he is not merely that. He is very God, exercising all authority in the universe – everywhere – eternally. The angels have beheld him. And though much more powerful than us, more wise than us, and certainly seeing God in a way that we don’t yet see him – they have seen the resurrected Son of God – who reigns from heaven over all things forever.

And now, according to Hebrews 2, they serve us at Jesus’ command – since he has perfectly rescued all who are his out of this world.

Summary:
1) The resurrected Jesus was seen by angels – they experienced firsthand his crowning as Ruler of EVERYTHING.
2) Angels are in the presence of God, and are smarter and stronger than us.
3) Jesus reigns over all things now. He is God, reigning forever – and with that authority, rescuing us.

Prayer:
Father, you have exalted Christ by raising him from the dead. He was righteous, and you have rewarded him for it. And because of that righteousness, you will one day reward us, who in your love, you have joined to your Son. You have magnified Christ in the spiritual realms – in realms we can’t see – but you’ve told us about it so we’d know just how great Jesus is. Cause us to have eyes that see how glorious he is, ears that hear with joy, hearts that give thanks, and an undying zeal to honor him who saved us by his blood.
And in that blood we ask, amen.