Doers of the Word

Imagine you're on the edge of 2013, and you're looking back at 2012. What changes do you hope to see? What accomplishments do you hope to have? A lot of people don't like making New Year resolutions. Most of us are rarely successful at keeping them, so why make them.

I'm not so interested in getting people to make resolutions, rather I'm interested in why that make decisions to change. How do you make the decision? How does God's will affect your planning? Where do you turn for guidance?

At Monticello, the Word of God is our guidebook. The Holy Scriptures are our "authority in matters of faith and practice," and they "were given by the inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience."

We believe the Scriptures teach us all that we need to know about God, His will, and how we can be apart of it. The Bible teaches what to believe and how to act. Faith and practice go hand-in-hand.

James, a leader in the early church and brother to Jesus Christ, reminds us of this truth throughout his letter. In James 1:22-25, he urges us to be doers of the Word. Discipleship is more than mere profession. A true disciple is one who does what he has been taught to do.

If we are to be doers, we must search the Word diligently. We search the Word by reading (and rereading), studying, memorizing, and by seeking understanding. It has to be a continual, ongoing process. We must persevere in it. As we learn, we must put that knowledge into practice.

Genuine faith produces fruit. We call that fruit "good works." Our works do not save us, but they do demonstrate our salvation. Are you a doer of the Word?

Spiritual Songs "Shadows"

I recently discovered this song, and it has quickly become a favorite of mine. The song is a profession of faithfulness in the midst of difficulty. It is also a reminder of God's faithfulness to his people. This song is by the David Crowder Band and features Lecrae. I hope you find it encouraging.

FAQs Mondays: How Can Man Be Rescued? Part 1

Last week, we looked at man's fallen condition. You can read that post here.

This week, we will begin looking at the solution to mankind's problem. These questions and answers are from Henry Clay Fisher's Baptist Scriptural Catechism, Lesson 6, part 3. You can find it here.

We have seen that in Christ the divine nature was united with the human nature; why was this union necessary?
 

That he might make an atonement for sinner, by being "obedient to the point of death," and become the Savior of sinners (Phil. 2:8).

Could not some other being have made an atonement of sufficient value, for the salvation of sinners?
 

The necessary value of his atonement consisted, mainly, in his exalted dignity; and hence God alone could make an adequate atonement.

Could not God have saved sinners, without an atonement?
 

He could not. For it is written, "Without  the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22).

Would God have been true to his word, if He had saved sinners without an atonement?
 

No, for He had said, "The person who sins is the one who will die" (Ezek. 18:4).

Did not the justice of God also stand in the way of His pardoning sinners?
 

It did. Justice demanded the infliction of the penalty of His law, which pronounced a curse upon all transgressors. See Gal. 3:10.

Did the atonement of Christ remove this necessity for the punishment of the guilty?
 

It did. God set him forth "so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26).

Did Christ endure the same kind and degree of sufferings contemplated in the penalty pronounced against sinners?
 

He did not. His were not eternal sufferings, for he has "also suffered for sins once for all" (1 Pet. 3:18). Nor did he suffer remorse of conscience, as do souls in perdition, for he had known no sin. (See Heb. 4:15).

Did he suffer absolute despair, which, no doubt, lost souls suffer?
 

He did not; for we are taught to "consider him" who, "for the joy that lay before Him, endured a cross . . . so that you won't grow weary and lose heart" (Heb. 12:2-3).

Since, then he did not suffer the identical penalty due to transgressors, how could God, consistently, allow them to go unpunished?
 

Because his death secured the same great moral ends which justice and the law had in view; satisfying the demands of justice, and magnifying the law and making it honorable. See Rom. 10:4; John 12:24; and Isa. 42:21.

The only solution for mankind's sin problem is a Savior. These questions and answers focus on the how and why of Christ's saving work. There is no salvation in any other.

Note: All quotations are the HCSB. I took the liberty to update the quotations for easier reading.

Sunday Recap 12-25-11

Morning: We had a special Christmas morning service today. The sermon, "This Is Christmas," focused on the angel's proclamation from Luke 2:10-14.  The focus of this message was acknowledgement of the importance of Christ's coming.  The angel offered several important statements:

Don't be afraid. Perfect love drives out all fear. Because of Christ, believers will be able to stand in the glorious presence of God, unashamed and unafraid.

It is good news of great joy. The good news of Jesus Christ is the source of inexpressible joy. It is a rich and glorious joy. It is an enduring joy that lasts in the face of hardship and humiliation.

A Savior has been born. As the hymn says, "The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in thee tonight." We don't have to wait for someone to come and rescue us, we have to trust in the one who has already come.

Give God the highest glory. Christ's humiliation is the source of his exaltation ( see Phil. 2:5-11). Because he came in the flesh, died, and rose again, Christ has been given the highest name. In the incarnation we see God's holiness and mercy meet.

There will peace on earth for those on whom God's favor rests. On whom does his favor rest? All those who receive Christ and believe on his name.

Christmas is a time for family, friends, gift-giving, and love. But it is also about God's great love. In his love, he sent his Son into the world to redeem it. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Spiritual Songs: Mary Did You Know?

This song, "Mary Did You Know," has been recorded by numerous people. The lyrics were written by Mark Lowery. The song asks the question many have wished they could ask Mary--how much did she really comprehend? It's a beautiful song. I hope you enjoy.

FAQs Mondays: What Is the Nature of Man?

We are going to continue looking at Henry Clay Fish's Baptist Scriptural Catechism. We will look at mankind in this post. These questions come from Lesson 5, part 2: "Man, His Fall, and Universal Corruption."

We have already noticed that God, having made man upright, and having placed him in the garden, commanded him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Did he obey that command?
 

He did not.  "Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it" (Gen. 3:6).

What penalty had God annexed to eating of the forbidden fruit?

God had said, "for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die" (Gen. 2:17).

What is meant by "death in this place; was it the death of the body, or moral and spiritual death; or was it both?

Did our first parents stand in such a relation to their posterity, as to involve them in the consequences of their transgressions?
 

They did. "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sin" (Rom. 5:12).  "For just as through one man

s disobedience the many were made sinners" (Rom. 5:19).

Are we not, nevertheless, alone responsible for our own sins?

We are.

What does the Bible teach concerning the wickedness of mankind?
 

It declares that "all have turned away;all alike have become useless" (Rom. 3:12),  that "there is no one righteous, not even one" (Rom. 3:10). See also Eccl. 7:20.

Is this corruption natural, that is, are men by nature depraved? 

They are.  "Man's incliination is evil from his youth" (Gen. 8:21).

Can we account for the very early waywardness and sinfulness of children, on any other ground than that of a natural bias to evil?

Is man wholly, or only partially depraved?
 

Wholly.  "The Lord saw that man's wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time" (Gen. 6:5). See also Ps. 14:1-4; Rom. 1:20-32, and Rom. 8:7-8.

Does the expression wholly depraved necessarily imply that all men are as bad as they can be?

It does not.

Does it imply that all men are equally wicked?
 

It does not.

Do not impenitent individuals often possess many amiable and estimable qualities?

They do.

What, then, is meant by being wholly depraved?
 

It means being who is destitute of love to God or true holiness and, not only so, but in a state of enmity against Him, "But I know you--that you have no love for God within you" (John 5:42). "For the mind-set of the flesh is death" (Rom. 8:7). See also Eph. 2:1-3, 5.

Is every impenitent individual, because of his sinfulness, under condemnation?
 

He is. "Anyone who does not believe is already condemned" (John 3:18). See also Rom. 5:16.

Are you under condemnation? If so, what should be your feelings?

The nature of mankind is fallen. We are not able to be what God demands us to be. If man in his disobedience is under condemnation (and he is), he needs help. We will begin looking at the solution for mankind's problem next week (hint: it is the work of Christ on the cross). Feel free to leave a comment.

Note: All quotations are the HCSB. I took the liberty to update the quotations for easier reading.

Sunday Recap 12-18-11

Morning: The sermon, "Jesus: the Reason for the Season," looked at Matthew 1:21. This text focuses on the reason that Joseph is to name the child Jesus. Jesus means the Lord saves.

The angel said, "He will save . . .," but what does he mean? What do we mean when we say that Jesus saves. Much like the context of this passage, we usually mean that Jesus saves from sin. What does it mean that he saves from sin. He saves from the penalty of sin (justification). He saves from the power of sin (sanctification). He also saves from the principle of sin (glorification).  When Jesus saves us he moves us from slavery to freedom, from death to life, from hell to heaven, from rejection to acceptance, and from alienation to adoption.

The angel said, "He will save his people . . .." It is interesting to note that the angel doesn't say that Jesus will save "God's people," that would be redundant. Jesus' identity is hinted at in his name. Jesus means "the Lord saves." The term "Lord" refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel. Yahweh was the covenant name of God, and expresses his compassionate, faithful nature (see Ex. 34:5-9). Jesus will save his people, those he has created and chosen to redeem. But what does he save his people from?

The angel said, "He will save his people from their sins."Scripture is clear, we have a big problem-sin. We have a problem even larger than our own sinning, and that is the sin nature passed down from Adam. Even if we could keep from sinning (which we can't), we still bear the sin guilt of Adam. God, who created mankind, set Adam as the head of our race. As our representative, he brought us into sin and death. Christ sent a second Adam, Jesus Christ, to become our head (representative), and he brings us into obedience and life (see Romans 5:12-21).

We need our sin forgiven, and Jesus provided the payment for our sin by dying in our place.

Evening: A group of 25 hit the road tonight and sang Christmas carols for some of our neighbors. At the risk of sounding boastful, I thought we sounded good. I want to thank everyone who participated.

Thursday Humor: "Christmas Songs" by Tim Hawkins

Here is some more Christmas comedy to make you holiday a little merrier.

Brotherly Love

In 2 Peter 1:5-8, Peter expresses the components of a vital, effective faith. He calls us to add goodness to our faith, knowledge to our goodness, self-control to our knowledge, perseverance to our self-control, godliness to our perseverance, brotherly kindness to our godliness, and love to our brotherly kindness. What is brotherly kindness?

Brotherly kindness, or better, brotherly love is the kind of love one has for their brothers and sisters. It is that kind of love that sticks together through thick and then. Brotherly love was a common expectation in the ancient world, much like today, although it wasn't practiced any more back then than it is today. It was a common enough problem that it is addressed by several writers in the New Testament (See Heb. 13:1, Rom. 12:10, and 1Pet. 1:22).

First John 3:11-18, helps us to understand the nature of brotherly love. John reminds us that the Christian message is rooted in love. We should love one another just as God loved us. We are now his children, and that makes us family.

John commands, "Don't be like Cain" (see 1 John 3:12). Why? Because Cain belonged to the evil one, he murdered his brother, and he was an evil doer. His hatred of his brother marked Cain as a son of the devil. The mark of God's children is love. The devil hates and murders; God loves and redeems. This dichotomy drives the tension between God's people and the world. God's people seek to do right and please God. The devil's people seek to do evil and disobey God. 

If Cain teaches us to understand hate, how are we to understand love? John tells us that we know what love is because Jesus' death. Love sacrifices itself. It gives to others, before taking for itself. John gives a practical example of how this plays out for believers: the will to help those in need. Those who don't want to help others, don't really show (or possess) the love of God. Our love is to be in word and deed.

The mark of the Christian is love. Love for God, and love for our fellow believers. Love isn't just what we are called to do, it is who we are. It is deeply ingrained in our spiritual DNA. Do you love your brothers? What are some of the ways you show it? Leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.

Spiritual Songs: "This Is Christmas"

Here is another great Christmas tune to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. I hope you enjoy it.

FAQs Mondays: What Are the Attributes of God? Part 4

Last week, we looked at the justice and holiness of God. You can read that post here.

This week, we will be looking at the goodness and mercy of God from the Baptist Scriptural Catechism, Lesson 3, part 6.

Do the Scriptures represent God as possessing the attribute of goodness?

They do, declaring that "God is love"(1 John 4:8) and that "You are good, an You do what is good" (Ps. 119:68). See also I John 4:16; Neh. 9:17; and Matt. 19:17.

Is not this apparent, also, from the light of nature?
 

It is.

Do the Scriptures attribute perfect goodness to God only?

They do. "There is only One who is good" (Matt.19:17).

Is He good to all His creatures?
 

He is; for "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing"(Ps. 145:16) and His "Compassion rests on all He has made" (Ps. 145:9).

Is the goodness of God liable to the least interruption?

It is not, "God's faithful love is constant" (Ps. 52:1).

Mercy, as you know, consists in doing good to an unworthy object, and that without hope of reward; is God a God of mercy as well as goodness?

He is. "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and rich in faithful love" (Ps. 103:8). See also Ex. 34:6-7; and Eph. 2:4.

Is man worthy of any blessings from God?

He is not worthy "of the least of all the mercies" of God (Gen 32:10). See also Matt. 8:8.

And yet does he not receive many blessings at the hand of God? 

He does. He is crowned "with loving kindness and tender mercies" (Ps. 103:4).

Does not this prove that God is a merciful Being?

Is not the very fact that we live, proof of it?

"Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end" (Lam. 3:22). See also 2 Pet. 3:9.

How has God, in the most striking manner, exhibited His mercy toward man?
 

"God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). See also 1 John 3:16, 4:10; Rom. 5:8; and John 3:16.

Is His mercy everlasting and unchanging?

Should not men be very thankful, and praise God for his goodness and mercy?
 

They should. "Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and his wonderful works for all humanity" (Ps. 107:8). See also Ps. 36:7-9;and 1 John 4:19.

How are you affected in view of these features of the divine character?

Through these questions, we are driven to consider the mercies of God. We also see another fine example of combining rote memorization with higher level questions. Students are being encouraged to think through these questions, take them to heart, and answer for themselves.  

This concludes our brief look at the attributes of God. Scriptures make clear that God is infinitely worthy of praise. FAQs Mondays will return next week. Feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Note: All quotes have been changed to the HCSB. Questions without answers lacked answers in the original source. You can check it out here.

Sunday Recap 12-11-11

Morning: The message, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," focused on Matthew 2:1-6. The main idea of the message was the that significance is only found in will of God. Although the passage deals with the arrival of the Magi, I focused on the prophecy to Bethlehem. Why did Jesus have to be born in Bethlehem? I know it was prophesied, but another town could have been. We couldn't answer the why because Scripture doesn't tell us, but we were able to glean some important principles to guide us.

One thing we learn is that our story has been woven to fit into God's story. Bethlehem was a small town, overshadowed by its more prominent neighbor, Jerusalem. However, it was the birth place of King David, and as we read the Scriptures we see how God worked in and through various people connected with Bethlehem.

We also learn that it is God's promises that make the difference. We can pursue many avenues as we want when it comes to finding significance, but apart from God's will we won't find true significance. God's promises make the difference. What God says he will accomplish through (and for) his people will be done.

We also learn that there is a Shepherd. Although we don't like to admit it we are sheep. We need someone to watch over us and protect us. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and Overseer of our lives.

The world may not see you as significant, but God treasures you. He loved you so much that he sent his Son to pay for your sins.

Evening: There was choir practice tonight.

Thursday Humor: "The Christmas Puppy"

I really relate to this one, except we ended up with a beagle. Hope it make you laugh (The video, not the puppy).

Godliness

As believers, we are called to live godly lives. But what is godliness? Godliness is a respect for God that makes you want to live for his pleasure. It's also known as the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord isn't just about fearing the wrath of God. It is about loving him.

The Bible is clear, God's people live in ways that please him. How do we do that? There are numerous places we could look for an answer. Here are a few Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 4:17-32, Colossians 3:1-17, James 4:1-10, 1 Peter 2:1-12, and 1 John 1:5-10.

In 1 John 1:5-10, we see one truth by which we measure every claim. John says, "God is light; in him there is no darkness." Most likely, John is stressing the perfect holiness of God. God alone exists in moral purity. John uses this as a backdrop to test the claims of belief.

Claim one says, "I know Jesus," but in reality the person lives like the devil. First John 1:6 states, "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." A profession of faith that lacks obedience is not genuine faith.

Claim two says, "I know Jesus," and the persons life shows it. First John 1:7 states, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Walking in the light, means that a persons lifestyle is one of obedient faith. Faithful obedience has fruit: fellowship and forgiveness.

Claim three says, "I have no sin." John states, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). We should not confuse forgiveness with sinlessness. We are completely justified before God, through Christ, but we still sin.

Claim four says, "I have sin, please forgive me." John states, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). This view understands that while we strive toward righteousness, we never fully attain it in this life. It is Christ's sacrifice that makes us pure in God's eyes.

Claim five says, "I have never sinned." John warns, "If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives" (1 John 1:10). Jesus took the penalty for all of our sin, but that doesn't mean it never happened. The sin we have committed, although forgiven through Christ, is still real.

If we aren't careful, we will confuse our standards with God's standards. God demands perfection. The only way to get it is by trusting in Jesus. We are called to trust Christ, and to live to please him. Godliness has great value in this life, and in the one to come. As the author of Hebrews said, "Without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).

Spiritual Songs: "Welcome to Our World"

This song, "Welcome to Our World," has long been a favorite of mine. Chris Rice is great song writer. His songs provide food for thought. As we move toward the celebration of Christ's birth, this is an excellent song to meditate on.  I hope you enjoy it (it ends abruptly, but it was the best I could find).

FAQs Mondays: What Are the Attributes of God? Part 3

We have been looking at the attributes of God for a couple of weeks now. Last week, we looked at the omnipotence and independence of God. You can read it here.

This week we look at the justice, truth, and holiness of God. The questions come from Henry Clay Fish's Baptist Scriptural Catechism, Lesson 3, Part 5.

What is meant by the word justice?

Giving to one his due; practical conformity to the laws of rectitude.

Is God perfectly just in all that He does?

"It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice" (Job. 34:12, NIV). See also Deut. 32:4; Neh. 9:33; Ps. 89:14; Rev. 15:3.

Does He demand anything of His creatures which it is not perfectly right that he should demand?

He does not. 'He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Mic. 6:8, NIV). See also Deut. 10:12.

Is God perfectly just in the distribution of His rewards and punishments?

He is: for "He will reward each person according to what he has done" (Matt. 16:27, NIV). Every one shall "receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10). See also Ps. 62:12; 2 Thess. 1:6.

Do the dealings of God with His creatures, in this world, always appear to be just?

They do not. The wicked sometimes "are free from burdens common to man," (Ps. 73:5) and have more than a heart could wish; while some good men are "plagued . . .punished every morning" (Ps. 73:14). See Psalm 73:3-14.

How did Asaph solve this apparent difficulty?

"When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny" (Ps. 73:16-17, NIV).

Do the Scriptures represent God as a God of truth as well as justice?

They do. He is called a "A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he" (Deut. 32:4, NIV). See also Rom. 3:4.

May we be confident that He will fulfill all His predictions and promises, and execute all His threatenings?

We may. "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and then not fulfill?" (Num. 23:19, NIV). See also Ps. 89:34. Prov. 11:21; 19:5; Matt. 5:18; and Luke 16:17.

Do the Scriptures also represent God as perfectly Holy?

They do. "'For the Lord our God is holy" (Ps. 99:9, NIV). "Who is like you--majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Ex. 15:11, NIV). See also  Lev. 9:2; Joshua 24:19; Isa. 6:3; Rom. 9:14; and Heb. 12:29.

Can He take any pleasure in impurity or unholiness?

He cannot. "You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell" (Ps. 5:4, NIV).

What should be the practical effect of the doctrine of God's justice, truth, and holiness, upon the minds of Christians? Of the wicked?

If you are unreconciled to God, may you not well be alarmed in view of these truths?

It is easy to memorize questions and their answers. It might be better to say, it is easier to memorize these questions and answers, than to really think through these truths. However, the last two questions force us to wrestle with the implications of God's justice, truth, and holiness. How will a holy God respond to our rebellion?

Sometimes, we allow ourselves to be lulled asleep in our thinking. We might think, "What does it matter if God is holy?". It means we cannot stand in his presence. It's good to think through these truths. Next week, we will continue to look at the attributes of God. Feel free to leave a comment.

Sunday Recap 12-4-11

Morning: The message, "Immanuel," focused on Matthew 1:22-23. In these verses, Matthew reveals the importance of Jesus. We can see four important things in these two verses.

First, we see that "all this" happened to fulfill Scripture. The "all this" refers to the previous 21 verses. Matthew is saying that the call of Abraham, the promise to David, the betrothal of Mary and Joseph, the supernatural conception of Jesus, all happened that God's Word would be fulfilled. Prophecy is not rooted in will of the prophet, but they speak what God has told them to say.

Second, there is a virgin with child. Before we dismiss this as a product of an unscientific, unsophisticated culture, we need to understand the need of a supernatural conception. The first promise of Christ's coming is in Genesis 3:15. God says woman shall bear a child that crushes the head of the serpent. Without a human father, Jesus would have been free of the taint of Adam. He would not have possessed a sin nature. The virgin birth is not a myth, but a historical event.

Third, she bears a son. David was promised a son to sit on his throne. The Son was the only one worthy to inherit the Father's kingdom. The Son lived to do his Father's will, and for his obedience he was given a name above every name.

Fourth, Mary's son, Jesus, would be called, Immanuel, "God with us." It isn't a name, but rather a title. It is the expression of the hope of God's people. They yearned, we still yearn, for the presence of God. Christ in his ministry demonstrated his divine nature. He was and is fully human, and fully God. He is the God-man. His presence in our lives brings forgiveness, healing, and acceptance.

This Christmas we need to remember that Jesus is God with us. God stepped down from glory and became one of us, so that we might be freed from sin and death. Christmas is a celebration of this gift.

Evening: Business meeting.

Thursday Humor: "Unconditional Love"

Here's a funny clip from Bob Smiley. I hope you find it funny, but I'll still love you even if you don't.