Have you ever found yourself wondering why bad things happen? Have you ever asked yourself, "Why doesn't God stop sin from happening?" In part, God doesn't immediately judge sin, because he is showing mercy to the sinner. He willing shows patience to extend the opportunity of repentance to the rebel. Sometimes what seems like delayed justice is actually God judging through consequences.
Speaking about human conflict, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once wrote, "It is God's judgment upon us, not in the sense that he caused or sent war, but that He has allowed our sins to work itself out and lead to its inevitable consequences of suffering and pain" (The Plight of Man and the Power of God, pgs. 90-91).
Someone might argue, "But so many innocent people get hurt and killed during war." If we take the popular understanding of the nature of mankind, that people are inherently good, then it would seem that many innocent lives are consumed by the ravages of war. The biblical view of the nature of mankind is not so optimistic. The Bible teaches that mankind is inherently sinful. We are sinners by nature and sinners by choice.
Experience confirms this. Children instinctively learn to rebel against authority. Each night on the news we hear report after report of brutality, corruption, deception, etc. Education cannot erase the darkness of the human heart. Wealth does not eliminate it. Even the socially mobile can do despicable things.
The reality of mankind's sinful nature means that there is no truly innocent people. We have all fallen short of what God created us to be. We have all failed to love God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. We all stand condemned before a holy, righteous Judge. Therefore, it is consistent with God's just nature to allow mankind to go their own way.
Isaiah says we all like sheep have gone astray (see Isa. 53:6). The good news is that God has sent a Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come into the world to pursue us. He ransomed us through his death and resurrection and now calls us to turn from sin and place our faith in him. But for those who have rejected his grace and suppressed the truth with their unrighteousness, he has turned them over to their waywardness.
That sense of turning them over to their own devices is what Dr. Lloyd-Jones is talking about. Mankind wishes, for the most part, to be free of God's authority. Therefore, they erect structures and systems that undermine that authority. When God permits them to do so, these structures and systems bring destruction instead of freedom. Sinners reject God's rules for living, and then get angry at God for not keeping them from hurting themselves while they were doing their own thing. It is similar to a person gouging our their own eyes, and being upset by their blindness.
God, in his grace, has shown patience to humanity. Humanity has rebelled against God, and he has permitted them to go. The rebellious heart of mankind drives people farther from their Creator. The farther mankind gets away from God the more damage they do to themselves and others. Pain and suffering are the logically results of mankind's rebellion.
Had God not willed to rescue humanity, through Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection, we all would still be going astray. We would all be consumed by the darkness of the human heart unrestrained by the law of God. Were it not for the grace of God, humanity would have wiped itself out long ago. But God has preserved for himself a people. And in the midst of the suffering and pain of this world, there is a light. If only we will turn to Jesus, and find it.
Showing posts with label Consequences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Consequences. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Doctrinal Precision
This article was originally published here, on February 6, 2009.
Have you ever needed a dohicky? How about a thingamajig? Often when we are doing work that falls outside of our normal daily routine, terminology gets loose. You may not know or care what that tool that will aid you in loosening that bolt is called. You just want to get the bolt loosened. However, you would not want a brain surgeon working on you to turn to his assistant and say, "Could you hand me that thingamajig? No, not that dohicky, that one!" Repairing a toilet, while important, is not the same as brain surgery. Brain surgery requires precision. and brain surgery, while important, is not as important as leading others to Christ.
As Ezekiel was set apart as a watchman for Israel (Ezek. 33:1-9), so we, too, have been set apart to warn our generation of the coming judgment and to call them to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ. Ezekiel was instructed to sound the trumpet (warn of impending judgment) so the sinner could know to repent, but if he failed to warn the people God would hold him accountable. If we fail to call sinners to repentance, we will be held accountable, also.
If our call is not clear and certain, it will not be heard. Paul instructs the Corinthians, "Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Cor. 14:8). Paul's is saying that if we speak in a way that cannot be understood (in this context, by a foreign language) it does not do anybody any good. Applied to sharing the message of Christ, if we fail to clearly define our terms biblically and precisely our message will be misunderstood. Numerous cults and false religions use the same terminology as Evangelical Christianity: saved, faith, grace, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, God, prayer, etc. However, they purposely use these terms to confuse those who do not know the difference.
Paul instructed Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim. 4:16). Doctrine matters. It mattered to Christ and it mattered to the apostles. It should matter to us. We lack the authority to define ourselves. God defines us as he reveals his will and ways to us through his Word. The Church did not establish the Word, but by the Word, God established the Church. If we do not truly understand God, as he reveals himself in the Scriptures, then we are not truly worshiping God. If our Jesus is not the Jesus of Scripture, then he is not Jesus. We must be precise in our understanding of the teachings in the Bible.
Misunderstanding the person and work of Jesus has major consequences. It is like the difference between a being locked in a burning building by the arsonist and being rescued from the building by a firefighter. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to offer ethical advice, but he cannot redeem the sinner from hell. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to inspire or motivate, by he cannot rescue the sinner from death. Imprecision in our doctrines of God, Jesus, and salvation and lack of clarity in the gospel message leads to eternal death. If a do-yourself plumber messes up, he can always call in a real plumber and a cleanup crew. If a surgeon messes up, people are either maimed or die. If we mess up the gospel and doctrine, people die, in their sin, and go to hell.
The grave consequences for wrong theology should move us to be diligent students of the Word. We should seek to understand it correctly and to present it carefully to others. We should be careful that they understand what we are saying and careful that they understand that it applies to them. Friends, heed Paul's admonition to watch your life and doctrine closely.
Have you ever needed a dohicky? How about a thingamajig? Often when we are doing work that falls outside of our normal daily routine, terminology gets loose. You may not know or care what that tool that will aid you in loosening that bolt is called. You just want to get the bolt loosened. However, you would not want a brain surgeon working on you to turn to his assistant and say, "Could you hand me that thingamajig? No, not that dohicky, that one!" Repairing a toilet, while important, is not the same as brain surgery. Brain surgery requires precision. and brain surgery, while important, is not as important as leading others to Christ.
As Ezekiel was set apart as a watchman for Israel (Ezek. 33:1-9), so we, too, have been set apart to warn our generation of the coming judgment and to call them to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ. Ezekiel was instructed to sound the trumpet (warn of impending judgment) so the sinner could know to repent, but if he failed to warn the people God would hold him accountable. If we fail to call sinners to repentance, we will be held accountable, also.
If our call is not clear and certain, it will not be heard. Paul instructs the Corinthians, "Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Cor. 14:8). Paul's is saying that if we speak in a way that cannot be understood (in this context, by a foreign language) it does not do anybody any good. Applied to sharing the message of Christ, if we fail to clearly define our terms biblically and precisely our message will be misunderstood. Numerous cults and false religions use the same terminology as Evangelical Christianity: saved, faith, grace, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, God, prayer, etc. However, they purposely use these terms to confuse those who do not know the difference.
Paul instructed Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim. 4:16). Doctrine matters. It mattered to Christ and it mattered to the apostles. It should matter to us. We lack the authority to define ourselves. God defines us as he reveals his will and ways to us through his Word. The Church did not establish the Word, but by the Word, God established the Church. If we do not truly understand God, as he reveals himself in the Scriptures, then we are not truly worshiping God. If our Jesus is not the Jesus of Scripture, then he is not Jesus. We must be precise in our understanding of the teachings in the Bible.
Misunderstanding the person and work of Jesus has major consequences. It is like the difference between a being locked in a burning building by the arsonist and being rescued from the building by a firefighter. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to offer ethical advice, but he cannot redeem the sinner from hell. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to inspire or motivate, by he cannot rescue the sinner from death. Imprecision in our doctrines of God, Jesus, and salvation and lack of clarity in the gospel message leads to eternal death. If a do-yourself plumber messes up, he can always call in a real plumber and a cleanup crew. If a surgeon messes up, people are either maimed or die. If we mess up the gospel and doctrine, people die, in their sin, and go to hell.
The grave consequences for wrong theology should move us to be diligent students of the Word. We should seek to understand it correctly and to present it carefully to others. We should be careful that they understand what we are saying and careful that they understand that it applies to them. Friends, heed Paul's admonition to watch your life and doctrine closely.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Doctrinal Precision
Have you ever needed a dohicky? How about a thingamajig? Often when we are doing work that falls outside of our normal daily routine, terminology gets loose. You may not know or care that that tool that will aid you in loosening that bolt is called a 3/4 inch crescent wrench. You just want to get it done. But, would you want a brain surgeon working on you to turn to his assistant and say, "Could you hand me that thingamajig? No, not that dohicky, that one!" Repairing a toilet, while important, is not the same as brain surgery. Brain surgery requires precision.
Brain surgery, while important, is not as important as leading other to Christ. Just as Ezekiel was set apart as a watchman for Israel (Ezek. 33:1-9), so to have we been set apart to warn our generation of the coming judgment and to call them to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ. Ezekiel was instructed to sound the trumpet (warn of impending judgment) so the sinner could know to repent, but if he failed to warn the people God would hold him accountable. If we fail to call sinners to repentance, we too, will be held accountable.
If our call is not clear and certain it will not be heard. Paul instructs the Corinthians, "Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Cor. 14:8). Paul's is saying that if we speak in a way that cannot be understood (in this context by a foreign language) it does not do anybody any good. Applied to sharing the message of Christ, if we fail to clearly define our terms biblically and precisely our message will be misunderstood. Numerous cults and false religions use the same terminology as Evangelical Christianity: saved, faith, grace, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, God, prayer, etc. However, they purposely use these terms to confuse those who do not know the difference.
Paul said it well when he instructed Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim. 4:16). Doctrine matters. It mattered to Christ and it mattered to the apostles. It should matter to us. We do not define ourselves. God defines us as he reveals his will and ways to us through the Word. The Church did not establish the Word, but by the Word, God established the Church. If we do not truly understand God, as he reveals himself in the Scriptures, then we are not truly worshiping God. If our Jesus is not the Jesus of Scripture, then he is not Jesus. We must be precise in our understanding of the teachings in the Bible.
Misunderstanding the person and work of Jesus has major consequences. It is like the difference between a being locked in a burning building by the arsonist and being rescued from the building by a firefighter. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to offer ethical advice, but he cannot redeem the sinner from hell. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to inspire or motivate, by he cannot rescue the sinner from death. Imprecision in our doctrines of God, Jesus, and salvation and lack of clarity in the gospel message leads to eternal death. If a do-yourself plumber messes up, he can always call in a real plumber and a cleanup crew. If a surgeon messes up people are either maimed or die. When someone messes up the gospel and biblical doctrine people die in their sin and go to hell.
The reality of grave consequences for sloppy or wrong theology should move us to be diligent students of the Word. We should seek to understand it correctly and to present it to others. We should be careful that they understand what we are saying and careful that they understand that it applies to them. Friends heed Paul's admonition and watch your life and doctrine closely.
Brain surgery, while important, is not as important as leading other to Christ. Just as Ezekiel was set apart as a watchman for Israel (Ezek. 33:1-9), so to have we been set apart to warn our generation of the coming judgment and to call them to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ. Ezekiel was instructed to sound the trumpet (warn of impending judgment) so the sinner could know to repent, but if he failed to warn the people God would hold him accountable. If we fail to call sinners to repentance, we too, will be held accountable.
If our call is not clear and certain it will not be heard. Paul instructs the Corinthians, "Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Cor. 14:8). Paul's is saying that if we speak in a way that cannot be understood (in this context by a foreign language) it does not do anybody any good. Applied to sharing the message of Christ, if we fail to clearly define our terms biblically and precisely our message will be misunderstood. Numerous cults and false religions use the same terminology as Evangelical Christianity: saved, faith, grace, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, God, prayer, etc. However, they purposely use these terms to confuse those who do not know the difference.
Paul said it well when he instructed Timothy, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers" (1 Tim. 4:16). Doctrine matters. It mattered to Christ and it mattered to the apostles. It should matter to us. We do not define ourselves. God defines us as he reveals his will and ways to us through the Word. The Church did not establish the Word, but by the Word, God established the Church. If we do not truly understand God, as he reveals himself in the Scriptures, then we are not truly worshiping God. If our Jesus is not the Jesus of Scripture, then he is not Jesus. We must be precise in our understanding of the teachings in the Bible.
Misunderstanding the person and work of Jesus has major consequences. It is like the difference between a being locked in a burning building by the arsonist and being rescued from the building by a firefighter. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to offer ethical advice, but he cannot redeem the sinner from hell. An unbiblical Jesus may be able to inspire or motivate, by he cannot rescue the sinner from death. Imprecision in our doctrines of God, Jesus, and salvation and lack of clarity in the gospel message leads to eternal death. If a do-yourself plumber messes up, he can always call in a real plumber and a cleanup crew. If a surgeon messes up people are either maimed or die. When someone messes up the gospel and biblical doctrine people die in their sin and go to hell.
The reality of grave consequences for sloppy or wrong theology should move us to be diligent students of the Word. We should seek to understand it correctly and to present it to others. We should be careful that they understand what we are saying and careful that they understand that it applies to them. Friends heed Paul's admonition and watch your life and doctrine closely.
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