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
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Notes from 'How to Study and Teach the Bible'
They're sketchy - sorry about that.
Interpretation
-What’d God mean?
-What’s he getting across to the original audience?
-What’s the sin problem the original audience is facing?
-How do you participate in the original audience’s sin condition?
-How does the text point to Christ – since all Scripture does.
Drench this in prayer - The Holy Spirit makes Scripture effective (see the HS notes)
-Most important question of interpretation – before application – what did God mean to the original audience?
Steps
-read the book over and over and over again – what’s the flow of the whole book?
-There is a flow to Exodus, Nehemiah, Romans
-Some books not – some of the poetry, prophets
-reading is GOOD with God’s word!
-fits individual passages into the context of the book (Rom. 7:14-25 ex)
-often gives historical context – example, Colossians, Galatians 2 ex
-read the passage – over and over again
-make observations
-paraphrase!
-look for logical connecting words (Rom 8:9-13 ex.)
-repeated words or themes/concepts (have people read matt. 8)
-what’s the point of the section – how’d you boil it down to a sentence?
-ask questions of the stuff you don’t understand – and seek to answer them using
-logical context (those connecting words!!)
-book context – thematic stuff – where is it in the book?
-analogy of Scripture!!!!!!
-Vine’s – commentaries - Calvin on ccel.org
-given the point – what’s the sin being pointed to in the original audience? (Ex. 6:1-9)
-how do you sin that way? (PRAY PRAY PRAY)
-How does Jesus fix it? Remember X Training notes re: Scripture – it’s all about Jesus
-Look for where OT things are mentioned in the NT
-search online bibles!!!!
-What are some ways that the NT talks about Jesus that fulfill OT stuff?
-Adam 2
-Noah rescued by unity with Christ/baptism – 1 Peter 3
-Babel – nations created – nations redeemed rev. 7
-God promises the ‘land’ to Abraham – but it’s really to Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel – so God in fulfilling promises to Israel is bringing about Jesus’ Kingdom
-The temple – Jesus – us, by incorporation
-The priesthood
-Purity – purity needed to enter God’s presence – purity Christ has to do so for us
-Moral laws -> we can’t obey, Christ did in our place
-ceremonial laws – purity symbolizing purity in God’s presence, accomplished by Christ for us
-Kings -> Jesus’ future Kingship (2 Sam 7)
-Jerusalem – place of kingdom/meeting with God (Nehemiah example)
-Look at context in NT!!!! Eph 4:15-17 – stands on 11-13 – and ch’s 1-3
-obedience in NT NOT about Lawkeeping
-affects memorizations
-Learn redemptive history – read “God’s Big Picture”
-Expand and earn the Kingdom – Adam
-Future kingdom lost (fall)
-Kingdom Promised (Abraham)
-Kingdom prefigured (Israel)
-must be earned to be kept -> Christ by pointing out sin
-still by faith/grace -> remnant, ultimately Christ
-Kingdom began by Christ
-Law(!) – live this way, but mostly, you need grace
-miracles – physical Kingdom evidence
-death-resurrection – Kingdom secured
-Kingdom spiritual (Church)
-Obeying Kingdom Law from Jesus’ ruling the heart
-Spreading it through evangelism, conversion
-Kingdom finished (Jesus returns)
Interpretation
-What’d God mean?
-What’s he getting across to the original audience?
-What’s the sin problem the original audience is facing?
-How do you participate in the original audience’s sin condition?
-How does the text point to Christ – since all Scripture does.
Drench this in prayer - The Holy Spirit makes Scripture effective (see the HS notes)
-Most important question of interpretation – before application – what did God mean to the original audience?
Steps
-read the book over and over and over again – what’s the flow of the whole book?
-There is a flow to Exodus, Nehemiah, Romans
-Some books not – some of the poetry, prophets
-reading is GOOD with God’s word!
-fits individual passages into the context of the book (Rom. 7:14-25 ex)
-often gives historical context – example, Colossians, Galatians 2 ex
-read the passage – over and over again
-make observations
-paraphrase!
-look for logical connecting words (Rom 8:9-13 ex.)
-repeated words or themes/concepts (have people read matt. 8)
-what’s the point of the section – how’d you boil it down to a sentence?
-ask questions of the stuff you don’t understand – and seek to answer them using
-logical context (those connecting words!!)
-book context – thematic stuff – where is it in the book?
-analogy of Scripture!!!!!!
-Vine’s – commentaries - Calvin on ccel.org
-given the point – what’s the sin being pointed to in the original audience? (Ex. 6:1-9)
-how do you sin that way? (PRAY PRAY PRAY)
-How does Jesus fix it? Remember X Training notes re: Scripture – it’s all about Jesus
-Look for where OT things are mentioned in the NT
-search online bibles!!!!
-What are some ways that the NT talks about Jesus that fulfill OT stuff?
-Adam 2
-Noah rescued by unity with Christ/baptism – 1 Peter 3
-Babel – nations created – nations redeemed rev. 7
-God promises the ‘land’ to Abraham – but it’s really to Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel – so God in fulfilling promises to Israel is bringing about Jesus’ Kingdom
-The temple – Jesus – us, by incorporation
-The priesthood
-Purity – purity needed to enter God’s presence – purity Christ has to do so for us
-Moral laws -> we can’t obey, Christ did in our place
-ceremonial laws – purity symbolizing purity in God’s presence, accomplished by Christ for us
-Kings -> Jesus’ future Kingship (2 Sam 7)
-Jerusalem – place of kingdom/meeting with God (Nehemiah example)
-Look at context in NT!!!! Eph 4:15-17 – stands on 11-13 – and ch’s 1-3
-obedience in NT NOT about Lawkeeping
-affects memorizations
-Learn redemptive history – read “God’s Big Picture”
-Expand and earn the Kingdom – Adam
-Future kingdom lost (fall)
-Kingdom Promised (Abraham)
-Kingdom prefigured (Israel)
-must be earned to be kept -> Christ by pointing out sin
-still by faith/grace -> remnant, ultimately Christ
-Kingdom began by Christ
-Law(!) – live this way, but mostly, you need grace
-miracles – physical Kingdom evidence
-death-resurrection – Kingdom secured
-Kingdom spiritual (Church)
-Obeying Kingdom Law from Jesus’ ruling the heart
-Spreading it through evangelism, conversion
-Kingdom finished (Jesus returns)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
10 Facts About Godly Decision Making
10 Facts About Decision Making – Finding God’s Will
1. Scripture is sufficient to equip us with the information we need to obey God. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Matt. 15:1-20; Heb. 1:1,2)
2. The Holy Spirit leads us to walk in conformity with God’s will/heart, which is revealed in Scripture. (Rom. 8:9-17; Gal. 5:16-18; Heb. 8:10)
3. We can and should pray that God would conform our wills to what his will-heart is as stated in the Bible. (Col. 1:9-12; Phil. 2:12, 13; Matt. 6:10; 1 John 5:14, 15)
4. The ideas of ‘feeling led’ or ‘feeling called’ or ‘feeling peace’ are not in the Scriptures. If Scripture is sufficient for every good work, then these are not only unbiblical means of making decisions, but anti-biblical. Feelings may be in line with what God has revealed in the Scriptures, through study and through fellowship and by being taught, but they may not.
5. The whole of the Scriptures are summed up in the command to love God – delighting in him and displaying him to every nation (nations supercede individuals). (Gen. 1:26, 27; Gen. 12:2, 3; Deut. 5:7, 6:5; Jer. 2:13; Matt 5:13-16; Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 1:21; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 2:15; etc.)
6. Every decision we make must therefore be weighed against that command. We should not ask, ‘can I do this for God’s glory,’ but rather, ‘do I want to do this because I want to glorify God?’
7. This applies to both ‘big’ choices and ‘small’ choices, since both reflect our desire or lack thereof to honor God. God’s will revealed to us is about our moral character and activity. (As a side, ‘big choices’ are rarely as big as we think – neither are they permanent – including marriage, vocation, etc. – nor are they as permanent as we think they are. However, recall that stewardship is an issue.)
8. The stain of sin still dwells in our thinking, feelings, and motives. We must weigh everything against Scripture and ‘kill’ what is not according to Scripture. (Rom. 8:13; Col. 2:8, 3:5)
9. You have been given particular abilities, unique to you, to serve the Church. Without significant ministry experience – really trying things out and serving – you’re not going to know what those are. Serve. As you discover your abilities in the context of fellowship and relationship to Church authorities, serve. (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, 1 Peter 4)
10. Ultimately, Jesus is building the Church, not you. You’re part of the building. The success of Jesus’ mission does not depend on the Church or its membership. Trust him to do so – and obey what he’s revealed – for his glory. (Matt. 16:18; John 10:16; John 6:44; Acts 2:39; Rom. 8:30)
1. Scripture is sufficient to equip us with the information we need to obey God. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Matt. 15:1-20; Heb. 1:1,2)
2. The Holy Spirit leads us to walk in conformity with God’s will/heart, which is revealed in Scripture. (Rom. 8:9-17; Gal. 5:16-18; Heb. 8:10)
3. We can and should pray that God would conform our wills to what his will-heart is as stated in the Bible. (Col. 1:9-12; Phil. 2:12, 13; Matt. 6:10; 1 John 5:14, 15)
4. The ideas of ‘feeling led’ or ‘feeling called’ or ‘feeling peace’ are not in the Scriptures. If Scripture is sufficient for every good work, then these are not only unbiblical means of making decisions, but anti-biblical. Feelings may be in line with what God has revealed in the Scriptures, through study and through fellowship and by being taught, but they may not.
5. The whole of the Scriptures are summed up in the command to love God – delighting in him and displaying him to every nation (nations supercede individuals). (Gen. 1:26, 27; Gen. 12:2, 3; Deut. 5:7, 6:5; Jer. 2:13; Matt 5:13-16; Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 1:21; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 2:15; etc.)
6. Every decision we make must therefore be weighed against that command. We should not ask, ‘can I do this for God’s glory,’ but rather, ‘do I want to do this because I want to glorify God?’
7. This applies to both ‘big’ choices and ‘small’ choices, since both reflect our desire or lack thereof to honor God. God’s will revealed to us is about our moral character and activity. (As a side, ‘big choices’ are rarely as big as we think – neither are they permanent – including marriage, vocation, etc. – nor are they as permanent as we think they are. However, recall that stewardship is an issue.)
8. The stain of sin still dwells in our thinking, feelings, and motives. We must weigh everything against Scripture and ‘kill’ what is not according to Scripture. (Rom. 8:13; Col. 2:8, 3:5)
9. You have been given particular abilities, unique to you, to serve the Church. Without significant ministry experience – really trying things out and serving – you’re not going to know what those are. Serve. As you discover your abilities in the context of fellowship and relationship to Church authorities, serve. (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, 1 Peter 4)
10. Ultimately, Jesus is building the Church, not you. You’re part of the building. The success of Jesus’ mission does not depend on the Church or its membership. Trust him to do so – and obey what he’s revealed – for his glory. (Matt. 16:18; John 10:16; John 6:44; Acts 2:39; Rom. 8:30)
Cross Training MP3's
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Discipleship_Lesson_1.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Discipleship_Lesson_2.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Evangelism_Training_Lesson_2.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Evangelism_Training_Lesson_3.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Evangelism_Training_Lesson_4.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Theology_Lesson_1.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Theology_Lesson_2.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Theology_Lesson_3.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member/derek/Theology_Lesson_4.wma
http://www.niucru.com/member
http://www.niucru.com/member
http://www.niucru.com/member
http://www.niucru.com/member
http://www.niucru.com/member
http://www.niucru.com/member
http://www.niucru.com/member
http://www.niucru.com/member
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Romans 7 Exposition and Discussion Guide
Romans 7:1-8:4
Exposition
This is one of the most misunderstood sections in Romans. Paul’s just got done in Romans 6 telling us that Christ’s death and resurrection kills our old nature which was governed by sin, and gives us a new nature which follows God. He teaches this in response to this question: if God justifies people on the basis of Christ’s obedience, received through faith alone, will we go on living in sin?
The answer of course is ‘no’ – Christ’s death and resurrection not only takes care of God’s requirements that we be righteous, but also gives us a new heart that does righteous things.
Chapter 7 begins to answer another objection. What about the Law? Paul’s addressed the Law a little bit with reference to Jews – they thought they could be justified by trying to obey it. Paul’s response has largely been to say, ‘no, it just shows you’re a sinner and condemned because you don’t keep it.’ (See 3:19, 20.)
Paul begins chapter 7 by talking about the fact that we’re not judged under the Law in vv. 1-6, Paul shows that our severance from being judged by the Law results in actual fruit bearing for God. The reason that we need to be cut from it, is because if we’re judged by the Law, sin in us rebels against it and disobeys it (see v. 8).
He starts this section by talking about marriage. It ends when you die. That’s the point. Don’t get stuck in the details.
Christ died the punishment that the Law demanded for lawbreakers. So we no longer have to respond to an external code by works, but we respond directly to God. The Holy Spirit works holiness in us (v. 6). Thus, we bear fruit – or ‘have results’ – for God. Note that they’re for God.
In v. 7, Paul raises an objection – is the Law sin? If the presence of the Law means we’re going to rebel and God’s going to kill us, isn’t the Law a bad thing? Paul’s answer to this question takes him through v. 25 in the famous ‘I do what I don’t want and don’t do what I want’ passage. But the ‘I’ is not the main character of the section – the Law and sin are. To focus on the ‘I’ – whoever Paul is talking about – is to miss the point.
Besides, what we’ve just seen in Romans 6 is that a Christian can’t go on living in sin. So if one takes this section to be about Christian experience, one is really missing the point.
So the Law shows what sin is (v. 7). But sin, reacting against God’s commands, rebels. Thus, in v. 9, people, because of rebellion, die. Even though if we did obey God’s commands we’d enter his kingdom, sin in people rebels and earns us death (vv. 10, 11). So the conclusion – in v. 12 – the Law is good. (We’re not!) And we see the Law didn’t kill us, sin did – the law just shows that it is sin (v. 13).
In defense of this, Paul begins to talk about how sin and the Law interact. If the flesh owns humanity, it results in us doing what we know isn’t good (v. 16).
And what we see in the next verses is conflicting desires – to do what the law requires – but the inability to do it. One might really love the Law (v. 22) – but being owned by sin and trying to obey the Law results in mere captivity to sin.
And this is the punchline – if you try to obey the Law, you will necessarily fail. Anyone who is trying to look good before God on the basis of the Law – Christian or not – is going to be stuck in sinning. That is the opposite of 6:17-23 and 7:6. Those verses say that God gives us a new nature and the Spirit and causes us to act in a holy way.
So the point of this whole thing – you try to obey the Law to be good before God, you’ll fail.
And you resultantly cry out what Paul cries out in v. 24. A person trying to obey the law is incapable of doing it (wretched) – and in need of rescue from his own inability to obey.
Verse 25 tells us that God rescues people from that helplessness. And the conclusion is that anything we do under the reign of the flesh is going to be sin. This person is divided – but rescue is here in Jesus.
Romans 8:1-4 tells us how that happens – and how we’re rescued from the condemnation we’d incur if we were ruled by sin (and therefore breaking the Law). There are two kingdoms at work – the Spirit’s – and the flesh’s (the old, sinful kingdom). The Spirit freed us from the old world because Jesus died – and when he died, our old natures which were governed by the old world also died (v. 3).
And the result of this is in v. 4: the Holy Spirit causes us to walk in such a way that we begin to fulfill the Law.
The practical application of all this is this: God’s Law is good, but we need to be separated from being judged by it to produce holiness – because if we treat it like we’re going to be judged by it, we’ll rebel more. On the other hand, we need to know that the Holy Spirit has given us new life because of Jesus’ death and resurrection – and will cause us to walk with him – so depend on him and realize that judgment has been carried out on Jesus – it won’t be on us. Praise God!
Discussion Guide
-The first thing you’re going to have to do is recap chapters 1-5. Make absolutely sure that the students know how we are justified. You also need to recap the objection in ch. 6, telling them how Paul answers it.
-Read 6:17-7:6
-What was true about you from these verses before you decided to rely on Jesus for forgiveness and submitted to him as your King?
-What became true of you after you did turn to Jesus?
-(You may want to define the Law here and look at Romans 3:19, 20).
-How did Jesus accomplish this?
-How does the Law relate to all this?
-Read 7:7-24
-(You have to explain here that the ‘I’ is not the subject – the Law and sin are.)
-What do you see sin doing in these verses?
-What does the Law do?
-What’s going to be true of a person who’s trying to be on God’s good side by trying to obey all that the Law requires?
-Read 7:25-8:4
-What do you see God doing in these verses?
-What did Jesus’ death accomplish?
-Explain vv. 3-4 if necessary.
-How does this contrast with the person’s experience in vv. 7-24?
-So how do you obey God? What should we do? (You’re looking here for believe that God has changed our nature because of Jesus’ death and resurrection - and has declared us righteous by his works - and depend on the Holy Spirit to produce obedience to the Law in us.)
Exposition
This is one of the most misunderstood sections in Romans. Paul’s just got done in Romans 6 telling us that Christ’s death and resurrection kills our old nature which was governed by sin, and gives us a new nature which follows God. He teaches this in response to this question: if God justifies people on the basis of Christ’s obedience, received through faith alone, will we go on living in sin?
The answer of course is ‘no’ – Christ’s death and resurrection not only takes care of God’s requirements that we be righteous, but also gives us a new heart that does righteous things.
Chapter 7 begins to answer another objection. What about the Law? Paul’s addressed the Law a little bit with reference to Jews – they thought they could be justified by trying to obey it. Paul’s response has largely been to say, ‘no, it just shows you’re a sinner and condemned because you don’t keep it.’ (See 3:19, 20.)
Paul begins chapter 7 by talking about the fact that we’re not judged under the Law in vv. 1-6, Paul shows that our severance from being judged by the Law results in actual fruit bearing for God. The reason that we need to be cut from it, is because if we’re judged by the Law, sin in us rebels against it and disobeys it (see v. 8).
He starts this section by talking about marriage. It ends when you die. That’s the point. Don’t get stuck in the details.
Christ died the punishment that the Law demanded for lawbreakers. So we no longer have to respond to an external code by works, but we respond directly to God. The Holy Spirit works holiness in us (v. 6). Thus, we bear fruit – or ‘have results’ – for God. Note that they’re for God.
In v. 7, Paul raises an objection – is the Law sin? If the presence of the Law means we’re going to rebel and God’s going to kill us, isn’t the Law a bad thing? Paul’s answer to this question takes him through v. 25 in the famous ‘I do what I don’t want and don’t do what I want’ passage. But the ‘I’ is not the main character of the section – the Law and sin are. To focus on the ‘I’ – whoever Paul is talking about – is to miss the point.
Besides, what we’ve just seen in Romans 6 is that a Christian can’t go on living in sin. So if one takes this section to be about Christian experience, one is really missing the point.
So the Law shows what sin is (v. 7). But sin, reacting against God’s commands, rebels. Thus, in v. 9, people, because of rebellion, die. Even though if we did obey God’s commands we’d enter his kingdom, sin in people rebels and earns us death (vv. 10, 11). So the conclusion – in v. 12 – the Law is good. (We’re not!) And we see the Law didn’t kill us, sin did – the law just shows that it is sin (v. 13).
In defense of this, Paul begins to talk about how sin and the Law interact. If the flesh owns humanity, it results in us doing what we know isn’t good (v. 16).
And what we see in the next verses is conflicting desires – to do what the law requires – but the inability to do it. One might really love the Law (v. 22) – but being owned by sin and trying to obey the Law results in mere captivity to sin.
And this is the punchline – if you try to obey the Law, you will necessarily fail. Anyone who is trying to look good before God on the basis of the Law – Christian or not – is going to be stuck in sinning. That is the opposite of 6:17-23 and 7:6. Those verses say that God gives us a new nature and the Spirit and causes us to act in a holy way.
So the point of this whole thing – you try to obey the Law to be good before God, you’ll fail.
And you resultantly cry out what Paul cries out in v. 24. A person trying to obey the law is incapable of doing it (wretched) – and in need of rescue from his own inability to obey.
Verse 25 tells us that God rescues people from that helplessness. And the conclusion is that anything we do under the reign of the flesh is going to be sin. This person is divided – but rescue is here in Jesus.
Romans 8:1-4 tells us how that happens – and how we’re rescued from the condemnation we’d incur if we were ruled by sin (and therefore breaking the Law). There are two kingdoms at work – the Spirit’s – and the flesh’s (the old, sinful kingdom). The Spirit freed us from the old world because Jesus died – and when he died, our old natures which were governed by the old world also died (v. 3).
And the result of this is in v. 4: the Holy Spirit causes us to walk in such a way that we begin to fulfill the Law.
The practical application of all this is this: God’s Law is good, but we need to be separated from being judged by it to produce holiness – because if we treat it like we’re going to be judged by it, we’ll rebel more. On the other hand, we need to know that the Holy Spirit has given us new life because of Jesus’ death and resurrection – and will cause us to walk with him – so depend on him and realize that judgment has been carried out on Jesus – it won’t be on us. Praise God!
Discussion Guide
-The first thing you’re going to have to do is recap chapters 1-5. Make absolutely sure that the students know how we are justified. You also need to recap the objection in ch. 6, telling them how Paul answers it.
-Read 6:17-7:6
-What was true about you from these verses before you decided to rely on Jesus for forgiveness and submitted to him as your King?
-What became true of you after you did turn to Jesus?
-(You may want to define the Law here and look at Romans 3:19, 20).
-How did Jesus accomplish this?
-How does the Law relate to all this?
-Read 7:7-24
-(You have to explain here that the ‘I’ is not the subject – the Law and sin are.)
-What do you see sin doing in these verses?
-What does the Law do?
-What’s going to be true of a person who’s trying to be on God’s good side by trying to obey all that the Law requires?
-Read 7:25-8:4
-What do you see God doing in these verses?
-What did Jesus’ death accomplish?
-Explain vv. 3-4 if necessary.
-How does this contrast with the person’s experience in vv. 7-24?
-So how do you obey God? What should we do? (You’re looking here for believe that God has changed our nature because of Jesus’ death and resurrection - and has declared us righteous by his works - and depend on the Holy Spirit to produce obedience to the Law in us.)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
How to Disciple Someone
Cross Training IX – Make Disciples
I. What is discipleship? (Matthew 28:18-20)
A. conversion - baptism
B. being taught to obey, including doctrine – Titus 1:9, 16; 2:1
C. with the ultimate authority being Jesus (for teaching/obedience)
II. Different types
A. general
1. public teaching – 2 tim 4:1, 2
2. personal instruction/shepherding – Titus 2:3, 4; 1 Peter 5:1, 2; Jesus’ example
B. for church leadership – 2 tim 2:2
III. Selection
A. Jesus selected certain people – John 15:16
B. Have to be available
C. Must realize they’re submitting to authority/teaching
D. Have to be responsible (if they’re going to take on responsibility!)
E. Of good character (see elder requirements in titus, 1 tim)
F. FAT –faithful, available, teachable
G. given 2 tim 2:2 – demonstrate ability to understand/explain Scripture
IV. What’s involved – relationship, duh!
A. A challenge – let them know what they’re getting into
1. Disciples in Jesus’ day understood that culturally
2. Understanding that elders have authority (1 tim 5:17)
B. Doctrine – 2 Tim. 2:2
C. Ministry skill
1. governing (ruling, administrating, responsibility)
2. evangelism (Matt 10:5-7)
3. study/teaching of the word
D. Model ministry (as Jesus did)
E. Delegate things to them to grow (like evangelism, etc.)
F. Character (elder requirement lists)
V. Tools of the trade
A. The Bible – not your advice or wisdom – you’re making disciples of Jesus – not you
B. www.centerfieldproductions.com (niucru - pass: huskies)
C. Westminster Larger Catechism (10 Commandments)
D. What Jesus Demands from the World (Piper)
E. http://derekjoseph.blogspot.com
I. What is discipleship? (Matthew 28:18-20)
A. conversion - baptism
B. being taught to obey, including doctrine – Titus 1:9, 16; 2:1
C. with the ultimate authority being Jesus (for teaching/obedience)
II. Different types
A. general
1. public teaching – 2 tim 4:1, 2
2. personal instruction/shepherding – Titus 2:3, 4; 1 Peter 5:1, 2; Jesus’ example
B. for church leadership – 2 tim 2:2
III. Selection
A. Jesus selected certain people – John 15:16
B. Have to be available
C. Must realize they’re submitting to authority/teaching
D. Have to be responsible (if they’re going to take on responsibility!)
E. Of good character (see elder requirements in titus, 1 tim)
F. FAT –faithful, available, teachable
G. given 2 tim 2:2 – demonstrate ability to understand/explain Scripture
IV. What’s involved – relationship, duh!
A. A challenge – let them know what they’re getting into
1. Disciples in Jesus’ day understood that culturally
2. Understanding that elders have authority (1 tim 5:17)
B. Doctrine – 2 Tim. 2:2
C. Ministry skill
1. governing (ruling, administrating, responsibility)
2. evangelism (Matt 10:5-7)
3. study/teaching of the word
D. Model ministry (as Jesus did)
E. Delegate things to them to grow (like evangelism, etc.)
F. Character (elder requirement lists)
V. Tools of the trade
A. The Bible – not your advice or wisdom – you’re making disciples of Jesus – not you
B. www.centerfieldproductions.com (niucru - pass: huskies)
C. Westminster Larger Catechism (10 Commandments)
D. What Jesus Demands from the World (Piper)
E. http://derekjoseph.blogspot.com
Jan. 24 Cru Talk on Mark 10:17-30 Notes
-Anchorman clip/Intro
-Ron loved Baxter. Losing him -> glass cage of emotion
-what would cause you to cry out?
-Brent talked about…
-turning to God means you have to see him as valuable
-when you thought about what’d put you in a glass case, was it knowing Jesus?
-Tonight: talking about what we have to turn from to turn to God – sin.
-sin – stuff (activities, ideas, things) – we love more than God
-results in us either not caring about him like we should
-or disobeying his rules and laws.
-What I want us to see tonight, is that to enter God’s eternal Kingdom,
it is necessary to turn away from seeking what we want
and to reorder our lives to be governed by seeking the spread of his Kingdom –
and that that life change can only be produced by God
-Looking at Mark 10:17-30 (remind, read)
-We’re going to take a look at five things
1 – desire to get eternal life
2 – 2 misconceptions about getting et. Life
3 – how to get eternal life – turning from sin to God (MBI)
4 – that that whole life change is a work of God
5 – what you can expect if God has changed your life
-(Pray)
-First, let’s look at the desire to have eternal life (read v. 17)
-makes sense
-Think about his situation – what he’s seen Jesus do… (death reversed!)
-(I am Legend example)
-So yeah – we should want to escape this world and enter Jesus’ Kingdom
-Second, let’s look at two misconceptions this guy has (read vv. 18-20)
-First, this guy was looking for what to do rather than the source (v. 18)
-his question doesn’t say not God (as cults); but asks re: identity
-trying to look for what to do, not source
-like asking world’s greatest painter what brush…
-Second misconception: (vv. 19, 20)
-Thinks he’s kept commandments! (earlier, murder – anger, etc.)
-Low view of sin; external, not heart/mind level
-How do we judge ourselves? Not murdering? Pr0n? Bible reading?
-They are sin if not done because you’ve reordered your life to spread God’s Kingdom – and missing the point that the external commands exist to show us that we need God to rescue us from our wrong desires
-Third, let’s look at how to enter Jesus’ eternal Kingdom – by organizing your life around the goal of spreading God’s Kingdom through the world (read vv. 21-25)
-loved him! (v. 21)
-the answer: (vv. 21, 22)
-points out this guy loves his stuff more than Jesus
-note: not go to church, read bible, and be willing – it’s do it
-doesn’t mean we sell our stuff and physically follow Jesus
-principle communicated: organize all your life around
-doesn’t mean do what you want and see if you can use it for the Kingdom; it’s do stuff because you want to spread the Kingdom
-I was thinking, well, college students don’t have a whole lot of money
-but time is the commodity - wasting it? Spring Break/Summer? Dating?
-And note that without real life change, no entry (vv. 23-25 – note on camel)
-Note that it’s a pattern for life (follow) – future job, spouse, income –everything
-Unsettled? Maybe you should be? Leads us to how that change is made –
-Fourth point: the heart and lifestyle change required to enter the Kingdom is something God does in a person. (vv. 26, 27)
-disciples amazed (v. 26) – makes sense – aren’t you?
-But Jesus tells us how this heart/lifechange happens – God (v. 27)
-God causes person to turn from sin and towards spreading Kingdom
-God produces life change – organization of one’s life around…
-God is the author of heart change – rescues people who don’t love him and changes their hearts so they’ll enter his eternal Kingdom
-Let’s look at Romans 8:1-4 (read)
-first, no condemnation – (v. 1) – why? First, Jesus died for us
-No condemnation because the old nature for all who turn was destroyed when Jesus died and a new nature was given! (vv. 2-4 – explain)
-New nature walks in a way that obeys God
-(T1 v. T2 example)
-Paul – killing Christians -> being killed for being one
-Zacchaeus
-What should we do?
- if you haven’t reordered your life around…. Do it, please…
-if you have, keep on living that way
-if you have, depend on God for continued life change (honor him)
Fifth: let’s look at the results of this heart change that God produces (vv. 28-30)
-here: (vv. 29, 30) (broken relationships, persecution, the love present among God’s people)
-later: eternal life! The Kingdom! Gaining Jesus forever. The righting of everything that’s wrong, suffering, sickness – and the ever presence of God
-if you’ve reordered your life, v. 30 is true of you
-be comforted – God has done it!
-enjoy the love present among God’s people
-expect your lifestyle to result in people treating you bad
-live in light of the fact that you are inheriting the Kingdom
-depend on the Spirit to produce real life change
-keep on choosing to do things because you love God/Kingdom
-time here, prep for future (major, spouse, etc.), sb, sp’s
-if you haven’t – Jesus loves you – do.
-Ron loved Baxter. Losing him -> glass cage of emotion
-what would cause you to cry out?
-Brent talked about…
-turning to God means you have to see him as valuable
-when you thought about what’d put you in a glass case, was it knowing Jesus?
-Tonight: talking about what we have to turn from to turn to God – sin.
-sin – stuff (activities, ideas, things) – we love more than God
-results in us either not caring about him like we should
-or disobeying his rules and laws.
-What I want us to see tonight, is that to enter God’s eternal Kingdom,
it is necessary to turn away from seeking what we want
and to reorder our lives to be governed by seeking the spread of his Kingdom –
and that that life change can only be produced by God
-Looking at Mark 10:17-30 (remind, read)
-We’re going to take a look at five things
1 – desire to get eternal life
2 – 2 misconceptions about getting et. Life
3 – how to get eternal life – turning from sin to God (MBI)
4 – that that whole life change is a work of God
5 – what you can expect if God has changed your life
-(Pray)
-First, let’s look at the desire to have eternal life (read v. 17)
-makes sense
-Think about his situation – what he’s seen Jesus do… (death reversed!)
-(I am Legend example)
-So yeah – we should want to escape this world and enter Jesus’ Kingdom
-Second, let’s look at two misconceptions this guy has (read vv. 18-20)
-First, this guy was looking for what to do rather than the source (v. 18)
-his question doesn’t say not God (as cults); but asks re: identity
-trying to look for what to do, not source
-like asking world’s greatest painter what brush…
-Second misconception: (vv. 19, 20)
-Thinks he’s kept commandments! (earlier, murder – anger, etc.)
-Low view of sin; external, not heart/mind level
-How do we judge ourselves? Not murdering? Pr0n? Bible reading?
-They are sin if not done because you’ve reordered your life to spread God’s Kingdom – and missing the point that the external commands exist to show us that we need God to rescue us from our wrong desires
-Third, let’s look at how to enter Jesus’ eternal Kingdom – by organizing your life around the goal of spreading God’s Kingdom through the world (read vv. 21-25)
-loved him! (v. 21)
-the answer: (vv. 21, 22)
-points out this guy loves his stuff more than Jesus
-note: not go to church, read bible, and be willing – it’s do it
-doesn’t mean we sell our stuff and physically follow Jesus
-principle communicated: organize all your life around
-doesn’t mean do what you want and see if you can use it for the Kingdom; it’s do stuff because you want to spread the Kingdom
-I was thinking, well, college students don’t have a whole lot of money
-but time is the commodity - wasting it? Spring Break/Summer? Dating?
-And note that without real life change, no entry (vv. 23-25 – note on camel)
-Note that it’s a pattern for life (follow) – future job, spouse, income –everything
-Unsettled? Maybe you should be? Leads us to how that change is made –
-Fourth point: the heart and lifestyle change required to enter the Kingdom is something God does in a person. (vv. 26, 27)
-disciples amazed (v. 26) – makes sense – aren’t you?
-But Jesus tells us how this heart/lifechange happens – God (v. 27)
-God causes person to turn from sin and towards spreading Kingdom
-God produces life change – organization of one’s life around…
-God is the author of heart change – rescues people who don’t love him and changes their hearts so they’ll enter his eternal Kingdom
-Let’s look at Romans 8:1-4 (read)
-first, no condemnation – (v. 1) – why? First, Jesus died for us
-No condemnation because the old nature for all who turn was destroyed when Jesus died and a new nature was given! (vv. 2-4 – explain)
-New nature walks in a way that obeys God
-(T1 v. T2 example)
-Paul – killing Christians -> being killed for being one
-Zacchaeus
-What should we do?
- if you haven’t reordered your life around…. Do it, please…
-if you have, keep on living that way
-if you have, depend on God for continued life change (honor him)
Fifth: let’s look at the results of this heart change that God produces (vv. 28-30)
-here: (vv. 29, 30) (broken relationships, persecution, the love present among God’s people)
-later: eternal life! The Kingdom! Gaining Jesus forever. The righting of everything that’s wrong, suffering, sickness – and the ever presence of God
-if you’ve reordered your life, v. 30 is true of you
-be comforted – God has done it!
-enjoy the love present among God’s people
-expect your lifestyle to result in people treating you bad
-live in light of the fact that you are inheriting the Kingdom
-depend on the Spirit to produce real life change
-keep on choosing to do things because you love God/Kingdom
-time here, prep for future (major, spouse, etc.), sb, sp’s
-if you haven’t – Jesus loves you – do.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Romans 6: Exposition and Discussion Guide
Romans 6
Exposition and Notes
The beginning of chapter 6 is a pivotal point in Romans. As is the case with a lot of the book, Paul argues with an imaginary opponent of the gospel. But what he’s just taught in the last 5 chapters is going to bring a few objections to it, isn’t it? If justification before God – and therefore entry into glory – is on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness alone, received through faith alone, can we just go on sinning?
That’s the objection faced by Paul (and provided by him) in v. 1. His presentation of the gospel has been so clear that this is a very natural objection. I’m going to divide this chapter into three smaller sections: vv. 1-7, 8-14, and 15-23. The themes of these sections might be we died and so are no longer responsive to sin as if we were its slaves, Christ’s resurrection has given us a new life so we should act like it, and we’ve changed owners because of Christ – from sin to God – so we need to act like it and will get eternal life because of it.
In vv. 1-7 we first see the objection raised, and Paul brings up the symbol of baptism to refute it. We know that he’s using baptism as a symbol here – not a causal thing – for the following reasons: first, ch. 6 follows chapters 1-5 – which show that justification is by faith alone. Second, in v. 3 he makes baptism as a symbol the cause of being in Jesus. Third, in v. 5, he says that our ‘baptism’ will necessarily result in our future resurrection.
Now, on the other hand, Paul is assuming that all believers have been baptized. We should take note of that.
We also should take note of what this passage says baptism represents: not a public declaration of faith – but a celebration in the sovereignty of God in bringing them from death to life, from guilt to justification, and from this world to a future glorious one - because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
So v. 3 tells us that we have a new life because in v. 5 – Jesus’ resurrection guarantees ours (both present-spiritual and future-physical.) vv. 6 and 7 show us that since we died in Christ, or in other words, our old nature died in Christ, we’re free from sin’s mastery over us.
In this section, you really want your folks to get what baptism represents: everyone who has trusted Christ has crucified the old nature – and has a totally new one – and will be resurrected in glory. We’re no longer mastered by sin.
In vv. 8-14 we have the concept of our new life explored, and it’s applied finally in the first command in Romans – v. 11. V. 8 Tells us that everyone who’s died with Christ will also (in the future Kingdom) live with him. Vv. 9 and 10 tell us that Jesus died because of the sins of others – it was the justice of God. But he now lives for God, or towards God – being responsive to him. V. 11 then says that since we’re united to him, we have to think about ourselves the same way. We’re no longer under the rule of sin – but rather we’re alive – we have a new nature – a nature that is responsive to God and lives for him.
And in 13 and 14 we have this instructed in a command: don’t give your ‘members’ – or different aspects of who you are (mind, body, words, etc.) – to sin for sin to control them – act like who you are! Give your members to God for his control! In 14 Paul gives us the basis for this command – sin will not dominate us, because we’re not under law (or not held guilty by it) – but we live in the economy of grace. We have been saved by Jesus’ works. So the basis for the command is a promise – we aren’t slaves of sin because God has changed everything in Jesus.
In 15-23, Paul stretches out this analogy of slave and master (and sort of apologizes for the ‘human terms’ he uses in v. 19). He raises an objection to what he’s said last. Does not being judged by the law but in the economy of grace result in us sinning more? No – and his answer, in v. 16, is that you’re a slave to whatever you obey – but God (in v. 17) caused us to be obedient to what Paul taught (we trusted Christ), and so we’re no longer slaves of sin but of righteousness.
Because we’ve changed owners, he says in v. 19, we need to act like we have. And as we do, the result is ‘sanctification’ – or ‘holiness.’
He draws things out more in 20-23. He says in 20 and 21 that when we were slaves of sin, righteousness didn’t control us – and the ‘fruit’ – or ‘result’ – was death.
On the other hand, having changed owners, the result is holiness, and the end of that path is eternal life.
In 23 (which is widely misquoted), he gives us the basis for that. If sin is our master and we its slaves, it gives us a wage: death. But if we’re in Christ, God gives us a free gift: eternal life on the basis of what Jesus did.
Suggested Bible Study Discussion Guide
-What are some things you do to try to obey God and fight temptation?
-What has Paul taught about how people stand right before God in ch’s 1-5?
-Is there any connection between trying to be Christlike and the way God declares us righteous?
-Say that you’re going to be looking at the answer to the objection: “If salvation is totally a results of Jesus’ actions received by faith alone, can we go on disobeying God?”
-Pray
-Have someone read vv. 1-7
-Tell them that what’s coming is a treating of ‘sin’ as a master that controls people.
-What are some themes or repeated words you notice?
-What did Jesus death do?
-What did his resurrection do?
-What should we believe about ourselves from this passage?
-What does baptism represent?
-Have someone read vv. 8-14
-What do these verses say about Jesus?
-What’s true of us as a result?
-What are the commands in this section?
-How does this section empower us to obey?
-What kind of thinking about ‘having a sinful nature’ does this passage correct?
-Have someone read vv. 15-23
-What does this section tell us about those who act like they’re slaves to sin?
-What does it tell us about people that have genuinely submitted to Jesus as King?
-How does this passage fix our thinking about our relationship to sin?
-How does it affect how we try to obey God?
Exposition and Notes
The beginning of chapter 6 is a pivotal point in Romans. As is the case with a lot of the book, Paul argues with an imaginary opponent of the gospel. But what he’s just taught in the last 5 chapters is going to bring a few objections to it, isn’t it? If justification before God – and therefore entry into glory – is on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness alone, received through faith alone, can we just go on sinning?
That’s the objection faced by Paul (and provided by him) in v. 1. His presentation of the gospel has been so clear that this is a very natural objection. I’m going to divide this chapter into three smaller sections: vv. 1-7, 8-14, and 15-23. The themes of these sections might be we died and so are no longer responsive to sin as if we were its slaves, Christ’s resurrection has given us a new life so we should act like it, and we’ve changed owners because of Christ – from sin to God – so we need to act like it and will get eternal life because of it.
In vv. 1-7 we first see the objection raised, and Paul brings up the symbol of baptism to refute it. We know that he’s using baptism as a symbol here – not a causal thing – for the following reasons: first, ch. 6 follows chapters 1-5 – which show that justification is by faith alone. Second, in v. 3 he makes baptism as a symbol the cause of being in Jesus. Third, in v. 5, he says that our ‘baptism’ will necessarily result in our future resurrection.
Now, on the other hand, Paul is assuming that all believers have been baptized. We should take note of that.
We also should take note of what this passage says baptism represents: not a public declaration of faith – but a celebration in the sovereignty of God in bringing them from death to life, from guilt to justification, and from this world to a future glorious one - because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
So v. 3 tells us that we have a new life because in v. 5 – Jesus’ resurrection guarantees ours (both present-spiritual and future-physical.) vv. 6 and 7 show us that since we died in Christ, or in other words, our old nature died in Christ, we’re free from sin’s mastery over us.
In this section, you really want your folks to get what baptism represents: everyone who has trusted Christ has crucified the old nature – and has a totally new one – and will be resurrected in glory. We’re no longer mastered by sin.
In vv. 8-14 we have the concept of our new life explored, and it’s applied finally in the first command in Romans – v. 11. V. 8 Tells us that everyone who’s died with Christ will also (in the future Kingdom) live with him. Vv. 9 and 10 tell us that Jesus died because of the sins of others – it was the justice of God. But he now lives for God, or towards God – being responsive to him. V. 11 then says that since we’re united to him, we have to think about ourselves the same way. We’re no longer under the rule of sin – but rather we’re alive – we have a new nature – a nature that is responsive to God and lives for him.
And in 13 and 14 we have this instructed in a command: don’t give your ‘members’ – or different aspects of who you are (mind, body, words, etc.) – to sin for sin to control them – act like who you are! Give your members to God for his control! In 14 Paul gives us the basis for this command – sin will not dominate us, because we’re not under law (or not held guilty by it) – but we live in the economy of grace. We have been saved by Jesus’ works. So the basis for the command is a promise – we aren’t slaves of sin because God has changed everything in Jesus.
In 15-23, Paul stretches out this analogy of slave and master (and sort of apologizes for the ‘human terms’ he uses in v. 19). He raises an objection to what he’s said last. Does not being judged by the law but in the economy of grace result in us sinning more? No – and his answer, in v. 16, is that you’re a slave to whatever you obey – but God (in v. 17) caused us to be obedient to what Paul taught (we trusted Christ), and so we’re no longer slaves of sin but of righteousness.
Because we’ve changed owners, he says in v. 19, we need to act like we have. And as we do, the result is ‘sanctification’ – or ‘holiness.’
He draws things out more in 20-23. He says in 20 and 21 that when we were slaves of sin, righteousness didn’t control us – and the ‘fruit’ – or ‘result’ – was death.
On the other hand, having changed owners, the result is holiness, and the end of that path is eternal life.
In 23 (which is widely misquoted), he gives us the basis for that. If sin is our master and we its slaves, it gives us a wage: death. But if we’re in Christ, God gives us a free gift: eternal life on the basis of what Jesus did.
Suggested Bible Study Discussion Guide
-What are some things you do to try to obey God and fight temptation?
-What has Paul taught about how people stand right before God in ch’s 1-5?
-Is there any connection between trying to be Christlike and the way God declares us righteous?
-Say that you’re going to be looking at the answer to the objection: “If salvation is totally a results of Jesus’ actions received by faith alone, can we go on disobeying God?”
-Pray
-Have someone read vv. 1-7
-Tell them that what’s coming is a treating of ‘sin’ as a master that controls people.
-What are some themes or repeated words you notice?
-What did Jesus death do?
-What did his resurrection do?
-What should we believe about ourselves from this passage?
-What does baptism represent?
-Have someone read vv. 8-14
-What do these verses say about Jesus?
-What’s true of us as a result?
-What are the commands in this section?
-How does this section empower us to obey?
-What kind of thinking about ‘having a sinful nature’ does this passage correct?
-Have someone read vv. 15-23
-What does this section tell us about those who act like they’re slaves to sin?
-What does it tell us about people that have genuinely submitted to Jesus as King?
-How does this passage fix our thinking about our relationship to sin?
-How does it affect how we try to obey God?
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
An Apology Regarding the Last Talk I Gave at Cru
When I say the word ‘apology’ in the title, I’m using it to refer to two senses of the word. First, I’m using it to say “I was wrong, and I’m sorry.” Second, I’m using the word ‘apology’ to signify a defense for statements made.
So first, I greatly wronged the audience by a failure to write that talk well. When I stated that Jesus caused the World Trade Center tragedy, I did not consider my audience; I merely considered myself. And frankly, emotionally speaking, I celebrate God’s sovereign reign over disaster and suffering.
What I did was twofold – I failed to put in the time necessary to write that talk, first. Second, and as a result, I failed to take the time to consider you, the hearer, and how you would respond. In doing those things, I detracted from the glory of Christ and distracted you from him and from his word. I’m ever so sorry, and will work to never do that again; though I’m sure that before he comes back or I go to heaven, I always will poorly reflect him.
That said, let me defend the statements I made regarding the sovereignty of Christ in causing suffering and death – which specifically shook some of you when I mentioned the World Trade Center tragedy. I will do so in the immediate context of Revelation 5:9, 10; in terms of how God is working in the world through history, and finally in terms of theology in general.
First, let’s look at the immediate context. God says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
The picture here takes place after Christ’s death and resurrection. He appears at God’s throne and takes a scroll from the one in a position of authority. Scrolls contained edicts or decrees of kings. The songs that are sung make it clear that Jesus has conquered and is ruling (v. 5), and owns all things, including authority (v. 12), and glory – which is garnered by what one does (v. 13). So he takes a position of authority, takes the King’s edicts, and is honored as the one who is reigning over a world and acting in it.
Then, his opening the seals causes world events. These include much suffering. And in the context of the book of Revelation, we’re dealing with Jesus judging the world – there is going to be suffering that results from that judgment.
One of these things being caused is the fear of human rulers, and they take note in v. 17 that what is being experienced is Jesus’ wrath – his just anger at humanity. And note that all this takes place before the final judgment! (The martyrs are not yet avenged – 6:9-11.)
So in the immediate context we have Jesus acting authoritatively, clearly causing suffering in the world prior to the final day of judgment, after his resurrection.
Second, let’s look at the fact of Jesus judging the world in terms of how God has worked in history. A huge thing to note is that Jesus was given all authority – or all power over all things - as a result of his death and resurrection.
Look at what Paul says in Philippians 2: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestwed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”(vv. 8-11).
And in Romans 1 Paul describes the Gospel – or Good News – and he says that it’s about Jesus, who “…was appointed to be the Son of God in authority according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead – Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We see this in Hebrews 1 in God talking of his Son as ‘begotten’ – which in this context means ‘crowned as King.’ We see it after Jesus resurrection in Matthew 28:18, where he said, “All authority/power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
That Jesus has started to use his power for judgment is evident from specific texts and from redemptive-historical theology. Some specific texts include John 3:18, 19: “The ones believing in him are not being judged; and the ones not believing have been judged already because they didn’t believe in the name of the unique son of God. And this is the judgment: that the late came into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light.” Judgment has already begun.
Also, take a look at John 5:19-30 – Christ is judging (v. 30) and that judgment has begun in his not calling certain people to life (v. 21, etc.). He leaves some of the dead as – dead. That death will be finished on the final day (vv. 28, 29).
There are a plethora of texts in John – one significant one, right before Jesus’ death, is John 12:31: “Now is the judgment of this world. Now, the ruler of this world will be cast out.” That’s pretty clear, right?
Let’s look at one final one. 1 Peter 4:6 says that people are all judged in the flesh (they die – remember that sin leads to God taking away life – Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-14). And then, in talking about Christians suffering for their faith, Peter goes on to say in v. 17, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” In the context here, we suffer as if we were sinners because we model Jesus, and Jesus suffered as if he was a sinner in the place of sinners. We also see God bringing suffering and death to the world in a way that will be consummated at the final judgment.
Now, in short form – in redemptive-historical theology, judgment of the world began with Jesus’ advent – his being here. I’m not going to show this here, but hopefully the aforementioned texts will begin to help point to it.
Third and finally, let’s look at some theological facts to establish that Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. It is clear from Scripture that God has decreed everything that happens. Amos 3:6 tells us, “Does disaster come to a city, unless YHWH has done it?” Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God is the one who “…works all things according to his purpose.” Note that he doesn’t react to things – he works the things themselves.
This of course doesn’t take away from human responsibility. Humans make choices and are responsible for them. But it is God who brings about their choices. For someone who is not a Christian, they are a slave of sin and all their choices, thus, are sinful. But God may direct their hearts in particular directions as they are motivated by sin (and as we’ve seen from John 5 – God directs things such that they would remain in sin.)
A couple examples of that include Cyrus and those who put Jesus to death.
First, Cyrus – I’m just going to cite a chunk of Isaiah 44, in which God talks about himself.
God is the one…
Is. 44:26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins’;
Is. 44:27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers’;
Is. 44:28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
Is. 45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
Is. 45:2 “I will go before you
and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
Is. 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
Is. 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
Is. 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
Is. 45:6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Is. 45:7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Many, many choices went into all that God was saying that he was causing. But note that God is the one causing all this! This confirms what God has said in Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of YHWH; he turns it wherever he will.”
Note also Peter’s statement regarding Jesus’ death in Acts 2:23 about Jesus – “…delievered up according to the definite plan and forechoice of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” We have here both God having done something – caused it – and it having been done by people. Their actions had been chosen by God.
A couple final notes: God has the right to judge the world and is doing so. Look at Romans 3:6; at Romans 1 (we’re handed over to sin more by God in his righteous wrath); and death reigns over the world because we sin (Romans 5:12-14). That death exists now as punishment for sin is clear all over Scripture. If you want another example, look at the Tower of Siloam incident in Luke 13:1-5.
So all this to say, yes, Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. He is indeed the one that creates calamity and rules over all things. And we need to – as they did in Revelation 5:9, 10 – honor him for it. This is our King. This is the real Jesus.
But this is the real Jesus who also died for the sins of people from every tongue and tribe and people and nation – and thus has secured their entry into his Kingdom.
I realize that this is tough stuff. We don’t like considering ourselves sinners, really, when it comes down to it. We don’t like to think that God has complete rights over people to do what he pleases (Psalm 115:3). But he does, and we must worship him for it.
I do not want this all to detract from the point I was making in my talk. Jesus’ death secured the entry of a particular people from every people-group on earth into his Kingdom. He did not die for everyone. Those he died for will come into his Kingdom. They will do so by hearing the gospel from other people and believing. For this reason, evangelism is vital.
We should feel mercy for every individual. But there is a practical reality in the world – the gospel is accessible – even prevalent – in America. It does not exist in many places on earth. God is all about his glory among every people group. We need to be too. And that means that foreign missions among unreached people groups is more vital than ministry in America. Yes, people need to stay here to disciple the Church of God here. But more are needed to go.
I suggest this: go unless it is clear that God has called you to remain. (Knowing that is a subject for another blog entry, eh?) Get discipled here, learn the Scriptures, learn some practical ministry skill, and abandon comfort for the sake of the glory of Christ among every nation – and out of love for his Church.
May God grant us sinners here mercy, as we serve him ever so imperfectly – but as he brings in the fullness of his Kingdom. Amen.
*For the Scripture quotations, I either did the translating myself or cited the ESV.
So first, I greatly wronged the audience by a failure to write that talk well. When I stated that Jesus caused the World Trade Center tragedy, I did not consider my audience; I merely considered myself. And frankly, emotionally speaking, I celebrate God’s sovereign reign over disaster and suffering.
What I did was twofold – I failed to put in the time necessary to write that talk, first. Second, and as a result, I failed to take the time to consider you, the hearer, and how you would respond. In doing those things, I detracted from the glory of Christ and distracted you from him and from his word. I’m ever so sorry, and will work to never do that again; though I’m sure that before he comes back or I go to heaven, I always will poorly reflect him.
That said, let me defend the statements I made regarding the sovereignty of Christ in causing suffering and death – which specifically shook some of you when I mentioned the World Trade Center tragedy. I will do so in the immediate context of Revelation 5:9, 10; in terms of how God is working in the world through history, and finally in terms of theology in general.
First, let’s look at the immediate context. God says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
The picture here takes place after Christ’s death and resurrection. He appears at God’s throne and takes a scroll from the one in a position of authority. Scrolls contained edicts or decrees of kings. The songs that are sung make it clear that Jesus has conquered and is ruling (v. 5), and owns all things, including authority (v. 12), and glory – which is garnered by what one does (v. 13). So he takes a position of authority, takes the King’s edicts, and is honored as the one who is reigning over a world and acting in it.
Then, his opening the seals causes world events. These include much suffering. And in the context of the book of Revelation, we’re dealing with Jesus judging the world – there is going to be suffering that results from that judgment.
One of these things being caused is the fear of human rulers, and they take note in v. 17 that what is being experienced is Jesus’ wrath – his just anger at humanity. And note that all this takes place before the final judgment! (The martyrs are not yet avenged – 6:9-11.)
So in the immediate context we have Jesus acting authoritatively, clearly causing suffering in the world prior to the final day of judgment, after his resurrection.
Second, let’s look at the fact of Jesus judging the world in terms of how God has worked in history. A huge thing to note is that Jesus was given all authority – or all power over all things - as a result of his death and resurrection.
Look at what Paul says in Philippians 2: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestwed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”(vv. 8-11).
And in Romans 1 Paul describes the Gospel – or Good News – and he says that it’s about Jesus, who “…was appointed to be the Son of God in authority according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead – Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We see this in Hebrews 1 in God talking of his Son as ‘begotten’ – which in this context means ‘crowned as King.’ We see it after Jesus resurrection in Matthew 28:18, where he said, “All authority/power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
That Jesus has started to use his power for judgment is evident from specific texts and from redemptive-historical theology. Some specific texts include John 3:18, 19: “The ones believing in him are not being judged; and the ones not believing have been judged already because they didn’t believe in the name of the unique son of God. And this is the judgment: that the late came into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light.” Judgment has already begun.
Also, take a look at John 5:19-30 – Christ is judging (v. 30) and that judgment has begun in his not calling certain people to life (v. 21, etc.). He leaves some of the dead as – dead. That death will be finished on the final day (vv. 28, 29).
There are a plethora of texts in John – one significant one, right before Jesus’ death, is John 12:31: “Now is the judgment of this world. Now, the ruler of this world will be cast out.” That’s pretty clear, right?
Let’s look at one final one. 1 Peter 4:6 says that people are all judged in the flesh (they die – remember that sin leads to God taking away life – Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-14). And then, in talking about Christians suffering for their faith, Peter goes on to say in v. 17, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” In the context here, we suffer as if we were sinners because we model Jesus, and Jesus suffered as if he was a sinner in the place of sinners. We also see God bringing suffering and death to the world in a way that will be consummated at the final judgment.
Now, in short form – in redemptive-historical theology, judgment of the world began with Jesus’ advent – his being here. I’m not going to show this here, but hopefully the aforementioned texts will begin to help point to it.
Third and finally, let’s look at some theological facts to establish that Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. It is clear from Scripture that God has decreed everything that happens. Amos 3:6 tells us, “Does disaster come to a city, unless YHWH has done it?” Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God is the one who “…works all things according to his purpose.” Note that he doesn’t react to things – he works the things themselves.
This of course doesn’t take away from human responsibility. Humans make choices and are responsible for them. But it is God who brings about their choices. For someone who is not a Christian, they are a slave of sin and all their choices, thus, are sinful. But God may direct their hearts in particular directions as they are motivated by sin (and as we’ve seen from John 5 – God directs things such that they would remain in sin.)
A couple examples of that include Cyrus and those who put Jesus to death.
First, Cyrus – I’m just going to cite a chunk of Isaiah 44, in which God talks about himself.
God is the one…
Is. 44:26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins’;
Is. 44:27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers’;
Is. 44:28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
Is. 45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
Is. 45:2 “I will go before you
and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
Is. 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
Is. 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
Is. 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
Is. 45:6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Is. 45:7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Many, many choices went into all that God was saying that he was causing. But note that God is the one causing all this! This confirms what God has said in Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of YHWH; he turns it wherever he will.”
Note also Peter’s statement regarding Jesus’ death in Acts 2:23 about Jesus – “…delievered up according to the definite plan and forechoice of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” We have here both God having done something – caused it – and it having been done by people. Their actions had been chosen by God.
A couple final notes: God has the right to judge the world and is doing so. Look at Romans 3:6; at Romans 1 (we’re handed over to sin more by God in his righteous wrath); and death reigns over the world because we sin (Romans 5:12-14). That death exists now as punishment for sin is clear all over Scripture. If you want another example, look at the Tower of Siloam incident in Luke 13:1-5.
So all this to say, yes, Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. He is indeed the one that creates calamity and rules over all things. And we need to – as they did in Revelation 5:9, 10 – honor him for it. This is our King. This is the real Jesus.
But this is the real Jesus who also died for the sins of people from every tongue and tribe and people and nation – and thus has secured their entry into his Kingdom.
I realize that this is tough stuff. We don’t like considering ourselves sinners, really, when it comes down to it. We don’t like to think that God has complete rights over people to do what he pleases (Psalm 115:3). But he does, and we must worship him for it.
I do not want this all to detract from the point I was making in my talk. Jesus’ death secured the entry of a particular people from every people-group on earth into his Kingdom. He did not die for everyone. Those he died for will come into his Kingdom. They will do so by hearing the gospel from other people and believing. For this reason, evangelism is vital.
We should feel mercy for every individual. But there is a practical reality in the world – the gospel is accessible – even prevalent – in America. It does not exist in many places on earth. God is all about his glory among every people group. We need to be too. And that means that foreign missions among unreached people groups is more vital than ministry in America. Yes, people need to stay here to disciple the Church of God here. But more are needed to go.
I suggest this: go unless it is clear that God has called you to remain. (Knowing that is a subject for another blog entry, eh?) Get discipled here, learn the Scriptures, learn some practical ministry skill, and abandon comfort for the sake of the glory of Christ among every nation – and out of love for his Church.
May God grant us sinners here mercy, as we serve him ever so imperfectly – but as he brings in the fullness of his Kingdom. Amen.
*For the Scripture quotations, I either did the translating myself or cited the ESV.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A Brief Exposition about THAT part of 1 Timothy 2
God says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." Paul here is talking about teaching in the church and exercising church authority. How do we know this? Well, he's writing to Timothy first of all - who was overseeing the appointment of elders/pastors in churches! He's addressed teaching already (1:6) and goes right on to talking about qualifications for eldership. The reason this is important is because this does not prohibit conversations between men and women regarding the BIble - but it does prohibit the teaching of men publicly. And in our culture, that sounds rather strange. After all, women can be Professors, CEOs, etc - but this isn't really addressing those particular jobs. And so we should ask 'why?'
God begins to give us the reason why in the following verse: "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." That sounds a bit odd, doesn't it? Why would it be significant that Adam was formed first? Paul really only addresses Adam here in 1 Timothy - and in Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Corinthians 15. In two of those cases when Paul talks about Adam it's in the context of Adam's breaking of the Law having the effect of subjecting all humanity to death. In one (1 Cor. 11), it's about how men and women are to operate in the Church - acting accordingly to how God has created the genders differently - with men acting as the authorities. I'll return to that in a second, though.
And then we look back at Genesis 2 - and we see something very significant happening. Adam was given the prohibition not to eat from the tree before Eve was around; and Adam was given the command to begin ruling the earth (in naming the animals) before Eve was around. So in other words, because Adam (man) was there first, God put him in a position of exercising doctrinal and practical authority. (Eve was given to him to compliment and help him as he led in doing that.)
And so when Adam broke God's Law (covenant, specifically - see Hosea 6:7), it wasn't Eve's lawbreaking that counted for humanity - it was Adam's - because he was acting as the 'covenant head.' That means that he would exercise authority over people in the covenant that humanity had with God - and that he represented them. Adam's being created first put him in that position. Hence, 1 Corinthians 11 and it's focus on 'headship' - that is, authority.
In 1 Timothy 2 - unlike in Paul's other writings - we see Eve's lawbreaking/transgression referred to. Given what we've just looked at, isn't that odd? And isn't it weird that Paul calls her deceived and a transgressor - and says that Adam wasn't deceived? Yeah, that's weird. We need to ask why that is, because Adam indeed WAS deceived and DID become a transgressor.
What happened in Genesis 3 is this: Satan addressed Eve and asked her to make a decision for the family! For the first church! It wasn't that she was more easily tricked or something like that - it was that she was the object of Satan's deception. (The form of the word 'deceived' in Greek permits this idea, and the context, as shown, supports it - Adam was deceived and did transgress.) So what did Satan do? He overthrew gender roles in tempting Eve and having her act as the authority in the relationship - as it regarded God's word and his commands.
And this overthrow results in a further overthrow of what gender roles are to look like. When God curses them (in Genesis 3:16), he tells Eve that her desire will be for her husband, and he will rule over her. That's a weird expression, but it is used again in a more clear way in Genesis 4:7 - Cain sinned against God, and God told him that sin was crouching at his door - and sin's desire was for him - but he must rule over it! In other words - sin was seeking to supplant man - to take him over by deception and manipulation - trickery. And Cain was commanded to 'rule' it - but 'rule' isn't a kind, gentle rule here - it's a dominating, abusive rule that would hurt 'sin' a lot. So the curse becomes further sin - women become manipulative, seeking to supplant man's authority. Men use their authority to abuse - or like Adam, don''t use it at all - even though they should be using their authority for the protection of the Church from sin!
So what is happening in God's recreating the world by what Jesus did - and now in the Church - is that God is restoring human relationships to the way they are supposed to be. Man is to act as the authority at home and in the church - but in a loving, serving way that points us to God. They are to act as God's representatives as elders in churches, communicating God's covenant-message and enforcing it - and in the home, doing the same - and in both - representing the Church's new covenant head - Jesus.
Women are to be subject to men (see this passage, Ephesians 5:21, Titus 2, 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc.). This does not mean they are not to have a ministry in the Church! They ARE supposed to. Rather, it means that their ministries should fit within the rubric of how God has created - and is reforming - relationships - with man as loving and sacrificial authority for woman's holiness - and with woman as responsive to God's word, communicated by the men in authority, serving in the church in various ways for the progress of God's Kingdom - including teaching God's word to other women (Titus 2).
God begins to give us the reason why in the following verse: "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." That sounds a bit odd, doesn't it? Why would it be significant that Adam was formed first? Paul really only addresses Adam here in 1 Timothy - and in Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Corinthians 15. In two of those cases when Paul talks about Adam it's in the context of Adam's breaking of the Law having the effect of subjecting all humanity to death. In one (1 Cor. 11), it's about how men and women are to operate in the Church - acting accordingly to how God has created the genders differently - with men acting as the authorities. I'll return to that in a second, though.
And then we look back at Genesis 2 - and we see something very significant happening. Adam was given the prohibition not to eat from the tree before Eve was around; and Adam was given the command to begin ruling the earth (in naming the animals) before Eve was around. So in other words, because Adam (man) was there first, God put him in a position of exercising doctrinal and practical authority. (Eve was given to him to compliment and help him as he led in doing that.)
And so when Adam broke God's Law (covenant, specifically - see Hosea 6:7), it wasn't Eve's lawbreaking that counted for humanity - it was Adam's - because he was acting as the 'covenant head.' That means that he would exercise authority over people in the covenant that humanity had with God - and that he represented them. Adam's being created first put him in that position. Hence, 1 Corinthians 11 and it's focus on 'headship' - that is, authority.
In 1 Timothy 2 - unlike in Paul's other writings - we see Eve's lawbreaking/transgression referred to. Given what we've just looked at, isn't that odd? And isn't it weird that Paul calls her deceived and a transgressor - and says that Adam wasn't deceived? Yeah, that's weird. We need to ask why that is, because Adam indeed WAS deceived and DID become a transgressor.
What happened in Genesis 3 is this: Satan addressed Eve and asked her to make a decision for the family! For the first church! It wasn't that she was more easily tricked or something like that - it was that she was the object of Satan's deception. (The form of the word 'deceived' in Greek permits this idea, and the context, as shown, supports it - Adam was deceived and did transgress.) So what did Satan do? He overthrew gender roles in tempting Eve and having her act as the authority in the relationship - as it regarded God's word and his commands.
And this overthrow results in a further overthrow of what gender roles are to look like. When God curses them (in Genesis 3:16), he tells Eve that her desire will be for her husband, and he will rule over her. That's a weird expression, but it is used again in a more clear way in Genesis 4:7 - Cain sinned against God, and God told him that sin was crouching at his door - and sin's desire was for him - but he must rule over it! In other words - sin was seeking to supplant man - to take him over by deception and manipulation - trickery. And Cain was commanded to 'rule' it - but 'rule' isn't a kind, gentle rule here - it's a dominating, abusive rule that would hurt 'sin' a lot. So the curse becomes further sin - women become manipulative, seeking to supplant man's authority. Men use their authority to abuse - or like Adam, don''t use it at all - even though they should be using their authority for the protection of the Church from sin!
So what is happening in God's recreating the world by what Jesus did - and now in the Church - is that God is restoring human relationships to the way they are supposed to be. Man is to act as the authority at home and in the church - but in a loving, serving way that points us to God. They are to act as God's representatives as elders in churches, communicating God's covenant-message and enforcing it - and in the home, doing the same - and in both - representing the Church's new covenant head - Jesus.
Women are to be subject to men (see this passage, Ephesians 5:21, Titus 2, 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc.). This does not mean they are not to have a ministry in the Church! They ARE supposed to. Rather, it means that their ministries should fit within the rubric of how God has created - and is reforming - relationships - with man as loving and sacrificial authority for woman's holiness - and with woman as responsive to God's word, communicated by the men in authority, serving in the church in various ways for the progress of God's Kingdom - including teaching God's word to other women (Titus 2).
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