Applying the Gospel in the New Year

It has been nearly a year of radio silence, or should I say blogging silence. A lot happened in 2015, much of it was wonderful: we finalized Gloria's adoption, I turned 40, and I became a doctor (of Education). Some of it was not wonderful: I have wrestled with diabetes, my contract at adult ed. wasn't renewed, and I got the flu. Throughout the year I found my resolved tested, and at times, I wasn't sure I would make it through, but by the grace of God, I have begun a new year.

Writing has always been a dream of mine, but somewhere in the back of my mind I didn't believe I had what it takes to be a writer. Having completed a doctoral thesis, I now know what I was lacking--perseverance. This blog got placed on a shelf as I did the hard work of writing my thesis and wrestling with my own insecurities.

During my course work at seminary, they called it "impostor syndrome." I think most people feel it no matter what they are doing: writing, studying, working, parenting, etc. It's a nagging voice somewhere deep inside that says, "You don't belong here. You don't have anything to contribute. If you don't turn back now, they will all know you're a fraud." Maybe you have felt that way. Maybe the voice you hear is meaner. Maybe it wants you to believe you don't have the right to enjoy your life.

But have you ever stopped to consider that the voice is wrong? The Bible teaches that every human being is created in the image of God (it also teaches that the image is marred because the presence of sin in the human heart, but that is a post for another day). Because we are image bearers, we all have something to offer. Whatever knowledge, experience, or skill set you possess, you are uniquely fitted to transform the environment in which you find yourself.

While you may be painfully aware of every one of your weaknesses and limitations, you must also become aware of your abilities, talents, strengths, and gifts. While it is not impossible to live a life of purpose without being aware God, it is certainly much more difficult. It is also much more dangerous because you might live your life for the wrong purpose.

The best way to combat that accusing voice is to apply the gospel. Humanity was made to be different, to live in communion with God, but sinned broke that relationship. All human beings are guilty of sin, and we feel it, even when we don't know how to express it, explain it, or even if we don't believe it. It manifests itself as guilt, shame, feelings of inferiority, feelings of superiority, pride, prejudice, and so on. God in his mercy sent his Son, Jesus to become like us, and to give his life as an offering for ours. He paid our penalty, so that we might share in his righteousness. Through that gift, God calls everyone everywhere to repent of their sin and believe in Jesus Christ. To accept his death and resurrection as the solution for our sin.

What does it look like to apply the gospel? Imagine the voice returns to you and says, "You don't belong." You can say, "Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (see Rom. 8:31-39)." The voice tells you, "You're a failure!" You can say, "I have an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus the Righteous (See 1 John 2:1-2)." The voice screams, "Nobody loves you." You can say, "But God shows his love to us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)."

If you are trusting Christ as the sole source of your righteousness with God, then you belong, and nothing can change that. To that end, I invite you to join me in the coming year as I renew my commitment to this project. I don't assume I have all the answers, but I want to share what I'm learning. The articles that I post will center on the things that view as most important: the gospel, the Bible, discipleship, family (marriage and parenting), and more. There will be several changes coming this blog in the weeks and months ahead. I hope you join me on this journey.

A Brief Look at the Gospel

Pastor and theologian, Mark Dever, offers a brief introduction the gospel in less than 2 minutes. It is worth listening to. I plan on discussing the gospel in greater detail sometime in the near future. But for now here is a good introduction.

Video: "What is the Gospel?"

Here is a video that does a good job of summing up the good news of Jesus Christ. The video was produced by Southern Seminary.  Check it out.

The Sinners Scale

If I were to ask you to rate sinners on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being the absolute worst sinner imaginable and 10 the person who sins the least, who would you put at number 1? Who would you put at number 10? Think about it. Do you have your scale yet? For example, Let's say Adolf Hitler is at 1, and Billy Graham is at 10.

Where do you rate on your scale? Surely you imagine yourself somewhere between 1 and 10. I know humility prevents you from saying you're a 9 or a 10. Where do you see yourself on the scale?

I'll play it safe and say that I'm a 5. I'm no Billy Graham, but then again, I'm not Adolf Hitler. But how does God view our scales? Are our scales like his? Somehow I doubt that it is. In fact, I'm convinced that it certainly isn't.

If ever in the history of the church there was a 10, it would be the apostle Paul. However, Paul doesn't seem to see himself as a 10. It doesn't appear he thought he was even a 5.  He explains to Timothy, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst" (1Tim. 1:15, NIV). Paul says that he is a 1.

It appears that the closer one draws to Christ, the more they understand of their own sinfulness. They see the multitude of ways in which they offend a holy God everyday. The Spirit refuses to allow them to settle into believing that their actions make them right. Two rights don't cancel out a wrong. Sin must be confessed and repented of before it can be forgiven and cleansed.

A temptation for us as believers in Christ is to assume that our sins don't matter because they have been washed in the blood of Christ. That is to say, we sometimes (wrongly) think that sin is permissible because Jesus has already atoned for it. Such thinking is blasphemous. It denigrates the sacrifice of Christ. Sin is always an offense to a holy God.

Another temptations for believers is to assume that what we do makes us right with God. We often think that if we do something wrong, we just need to do something good to override it. But this approach will never work. Just like flowers won't erase a bruise, so to good actions cannot cancel out bad ones.

In the end, the only solution is the gospel. The gospel teaches us that we have sinned against God. It also teaches us that God loves us and wants to rescue us through the finished work of Christ. We owed a debt (because of sin), and Christ paid (by dying in our place). The gospel strips us of all self-reliance because we cannot save ourselves. Jesus must always stand in our place.

How is it that Paul could see himself as a 1, and yet experience such joy and peace? Simple, he knew it was Jesus who made him right with God from start to finish, and he rested in the knowledge. Do you see the sin in your own heart? Where do you see yourself on that scale now? Are you moved to cling more closely to Christ? If you're trusting in Christ, don't fear. Jesus has you covered.

Come Ye Sinners

As I mentioned in a previous post, I love the song, "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy," or as it is also called, "I Will Arise and Go to Jesus."  The song captures the essence of the gospel.  Humanity is revealed in its weakness, Christ is displayed as gracious Redeemer.  The images are so well blended they both haunt and comfort the listener.

Verse one states, "Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love, and power."  This song is an invitation to receive the good news of Jesus Christ.  Sinners who are "poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore," are urged to come the the waiting Savior.  The Savior who awaits is not only wanting to save, but he also has the power to save.

Verse two states, "Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome, God's free bounty glorified; True belief and true repentance, every grace that brings you nigh."  In this verse, the demands of the gospel are laid out.  Salvation is an act of God's grace.  By his grace he calls us to believe and to repent.  Then in his grace, he receives our faith and justifies us in Christ.  The thirsty are compelled to come, in faith and repentance, and find grace in abundance.

Verse three states, "Come, ye weary, heavy laden, lost and ruined by the fall; If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all." Here the song speaks to the undecided.  They know that they cannot keep God's righteous commandments, but they afraid to approach.  They are wondering if it is possible the Jesus would greet them with open arms.  They feel the weight of their sin, but fear that it's too great of a burden for Jesus to lift.  After all, they reason, why would he want to save someone like me.  Their minds waffle back and forth, usually settling on a compromise--they will reform their lives, then they will seek God's forgiveness.  Here we are warned, "If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all."

The final verse states, "Let not conscience make you linger, nor a fitness fondly dream; all the fitness he requires, is to feel your need of Him."  The human conscience is warped.  Sin has damaged it, and without continual reformatting through Bible study it can lead us astray.  There is no righteousness in us.  No good thing dwells in our flesh. No is good, no not one. None seeks after God. (See Romans 3).  God requires a perfection that we do not and cannot possess.  We need a righteousness greater than the Pharisees (moralists), but the only way that can happen is to trust God to make us righteous through Jesus Christ.

The refrain offers the right response to the message of the gospel.  It says, "I will arise, and go to Jesus, he will embrace me in his arms; in the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms."  The Lord is calling humanity to return to him, to trust him.  Jesus stands ready to receive all who come to him in faith.  Have you heard that call?  Are you poor and needy?  Thirsty? Weary and heavy laden? Lost and ruined by the fall?  Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love, and power.  If you tarry till your better, you will never come at all.  Why not turn to Jesus in faith and repentance?

It's a Love/Hate Relationship

There is a scene in the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings where Frodo discovers that Gollum has followed the fellowship into the mines of Moria.  When he reports his discovery to Gandalf, Frodo learns that the ring has drawn Gollum to them.  Gollum, we are told, has a love/hate relationship with the ring, and with himself.  Because he can never be free from his need of the ring, Gollum can never be free of self-loathing.  Believers seem to struggle with a love/hate relationship, as well. 

Much like the ring, sin pollutes the heart and enslaves those who tinker with it (which is all of us). The ring enslaved and transformed the creature Smeagol, into the wretched beast Gollum, just as sin enslaves and transforms humanity into wretched rebels.   We are born into this world bent toward sin.  Thus, we develop a taste for sin very early.  When God, in his grace, sees fit to reveal his Son to us through the preaching of gospel and the witness of the Spirit, he calls us out of the darkness, and into his marvelous light.  By exposing our sin for what it was, God creates a holy hatred for sin within our hearts.  Our past experience with sin and the introduction of a new heart within us creates tension within us. Paul describes this tension well:

I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I don not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin living in me that does it. . . What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me form this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:15-20, 24-25, NIV).

When the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart through regeneration, he changes the desires of our heart so that we desire to do the will of God (see John 3:1-21; Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:24-27).   Even with this new heart, we still wrestle with the desires of the flesh.  We are torn in two directions.

The new heart wants to be obedient to God, but the sin present in our bodies wants to continue to rebel against the Lord.  The good news for us is that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ (see Rom. 8:31-39).  Although we might relate to Gollum's dilemma, we cannot say that it is exactly our dilemma.  While there is certainly a love/hate relationship with sin raging inside a believer, the Scripture is clear we are to live as if we are dead to sin.

Sin no longer has dominion over us.  We have been set free, through faith in Christ, from sin and death.  We have a continual cleansing presence in our lives, the Lord Jesus Christ (see 1 John 1:9).  Our sin, and the debt it has incurred, has been nailed to the cross.  If we did not have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we would have no way of overcoming our sin natures. But, in Christ, we do have the Spirit within us.  Therefore, we can walk in the power of the Spirit, and overcome the desires of the flesh.

Gollum's story, although fictional, is a sad one, because he could never be free of his need of the ring.  But our story is not, because Jesus has freed us from the penalty of sin (the lake of fire), and because he will, ultimately, rescue us fully and finally from the influence of sin when he comes in his glory.

Do you wrestle with a love/hate relationship to sin?  Do you find yourself doing what you hate?  How do you recover peace of mind?  How do you overcome self-hatred?  I would love to hear from you.

Wise Teaching at T4G

"The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death" (Prov. 13:14, ESV).

I have the privilege of being at the 2010 Together for the Gospel (T4G) conference this week.  Today, I have heard powerful messages from Mark Dever, R. C. Sproul, and Albert Mohler.  Each one, in his own way, has faithfully reminded us (attendees) to rightly understand and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Time and again, we have heard the speakers say the gospel is about Jesus and his work.  They have continually exhorted us to believe and preach/teach the Scriptures.  Their messages affirm and encourage gospel laborers who are pursuing the glory of God.

Because of these reasons, their words are fountains of life.  This year the theme for the T4G conference is "The Unadjusted Gospel."  So far the sessions have demonstrated ways in which individuals and churches make adjustments to the gospel.  Each speaker has sounded a clear call for their hearers to make certain that they rightly understand the gospel, and in turn rightly teach it.

In light of Paul's admonition in Galatians 1:6-9, the call to biblical fidelity and gospel clarity is of the utmost importance.  If we preach an adjusted gospel, we are to be condemned, because we condemn our hearers.  If faith comes by hearing the message of Christ (and it does), then preaching something other than the message of Christ cannot generate faith in the hearer.

I am looking forward to tomorrow when I will hear teaching from more wise men, and drink deeply from their fountains of life.  I pray that their words will turn back those who are stumbling toward error.  I pray that through this time I will experience a renewed heart for gospel ministry.  I also pray that God would be glorified through this conference.

Square One

My mind is drawn to a phrase from the old hymn, "I Love to Tell the Story." It goes, "I love to tell the story; for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest." The story Katherine Hankey, the hymn writer, loved to tell was the gospel story. The power of the gospel rests not only in its ability to bring life to the unbeliever, but also in its ability to sustain life in the believer.

When we speak of the gospel we are speaking of the good news of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that humanity was created to fellowship with God and to reflect his glory throughout the creation. However, something went terribly wrong. Our original parents, Adam and Eve, rebelled against God's command and ate of the fruit they were commanded not to eat. Sin and death became a natural part of human existence. Now all mankind possesses a sin nature. Paul informs us, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). He informs, "The wages of sin is death . . ." (Rom. 6:23). Thus, man is lost in sin, separated from God, destined to die physically and after this face judgment.

Thus, the bad news is that there is no righteous, no not one (see Rom. 3:10-10-20). All of humanity is broken and in desperate need of rescue. The good news (gospel) is that God had a plan all along. Let us return to Paul's words, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23, ESV). Christ's sinless life, offered as a righteous substitionary sacrifice, atones for sin for those who believe. Christ took the penalty for sin, that is death, for his people. As the Scriptures state, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13-14).

Therefore, those who turn from their sin and turn to Christ, through trust in his work on the cross and his resurrection, will be rescued from the wrath of God. The good news of Christ teaches us that our standing has changed. Once we were the objects of God's wrath, because of our sin. Now we are the objects of his delight, because we are in Christ, by grace through faith. Once our nature was at war with God. Now we have been given a new nature and are becoming the righteousness of God. Once we were far off, but now we have been brought near.

Now, through Christ, we have the ability to live in a way that pleases God. Now, our whole lives can reflect the glory of God as we humbly submit to his will. So the gospel becomes the starting point for everything else we do and believe. When we truly grasp the gospel in all its richness it radically alters everything in our life. Yet, we never move beyond the gospel, we only move farther into the gospel. As Katherine Hankey put it we are still "hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest."

When we say we want to hear a different story, we are expressing that we don't truly understand the message. When the story no longer captures our affections, we are confessing that our hearts are darker than we could possible imagine. When we say the story has lost its power, then we are demonstrating something about ourselves, not the gospel. The gospel brings life that abides, life that changes, life that looks like Jesus. Do you still love to tell the story?