Gospel Hope in Suffering

Gospel Hope in Suffering

Why do Christians suffer?

There are certain trials we endure in life that cause us to question ourselves, our faith and even our God. We'll never know all His reasons for allowing suffering. But we do know that as the people of God we are allowed to enter into Christ's suffering (John 15:20) [*References linked below.] . We also know that He is with us in the suffering (Romans 8:35). He bore our sins and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4), and ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). He will also vindicate for all offenses done to us (Romans 12:19). In union with Christ, He feels every injury as if it were done to Him (Acts 9:4). We have a tender, compassionate Savior in Jesus.

It is easy for our flesh to despair and question God's faithfulness when we're hurting, but God the Father is not to blame for sin or the trials we endure. The blame is on us, humankind, as fallen, rebellious people (Genesis 6:5). The way to measure His heart is to look to the back to His Son, whom He sent out of love to rescue us from the ruin we bring upon ourselves (John 3:16). Then He sends His Spirit to guide and comfort us (John 14:26). Do not rest on the way things appear, rather on what we are told from Scripture. God's heart toward you is not evil, but kind.

Recall the comfort of Heidelberg 1.
"I am not my own, 1
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death, 2
to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3
He has fully paid for all my sins
with his precious blood, 4
and has set me free
from all the power of the devil. 5
He also preserves me in such a way 6
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head; 7
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation. 8"...
1.1 Cor 6:19, 20.
2.Rom 14:7-9.
3.1 Cor 3:23; Tit 2:14.
4.1 Pet 1:18, 19; 1 Jn 1:7; 2:2.
5.Jn 8:34-36; Heb 2:14, 15; 1 Jn 3:8.
6.Jn 6:39, 40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess 3:3; 1 Pet 1:5.
7.Mt 10:29-31; Lk 21:16-18.
8.Rom 8:28.
❤ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A20%3B+Romans+8%3A35%3B+Isaiah+53%3A4%3B+Hebrews+7%3A25%3B+Romans+12%3A19%3B+Acts+9%3A4%3B+Genesis+6%3A5%3B+John+3%3A16%3B+John+14%3A26&version=NASB

Flawed

I am so thankful for the flawed characters in Scripture, Old and New Testaments.

  I am thankful for Abraham, the father of faith who also failed in his marriage and family roles.
 I am thankful for Moses who also lost his temper and was privileged to see the glory of the Lord.
 I am thankful for David who conspired to kill, rape, and take another man's wife, yet is known as the apple of God's eye.
 I am thankful for Peter who made bold claims about his faithfulness to Christ Jesus and proceeded to deny Him not once, not twice, but three times, and yet the Lord's faithfulness to him prevailed.
 I am thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ down through history and on into the present who are equally as flawed and failed in their lives and walks with the Lord, who struggle and yet own their proneness to wander.
 I am thankful because they all show us one thing: That it is not the fortitude of our faith that preserves us. It is the unfailing strength of His mercy and grace in Jesus that has saved, saves and will save us. "He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it."
 Aren't you thankful? Let the truth sink in: Jesus, Who lived, died, was buried and rose again for our salvation, is the faithful Savior whose love is never spent and whose faithfulness never runs dry. When you show Him your flaws, He will only show you the scars on His hands, feet, and side.

Mortification of Sin

Mortification of Sin: Mortification of Sin has been defined as "The discipline and duty of resisting our inclination to sin by laying hold of the power of the Holy Spirit who resides in each believer. The Spirit makes effective in believers the benefit of Christ’s atoning death on the cross, the great redemptive act of love and power which broke the dominion of sin in the lives of those who have been justified by simple faith in Jesus Christ." (*citation below)

Listen to this good word from John Fonville: "We deny ourselves. We discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness, as Paul says, but it is the Spirit who sanctifies, not our efforts. We work BECAUSE God works in us- Philippians 2. There is a place to look inward (Rom. 7:13-24). But, the key is we do not stay there. Having been made aware (painfully aware at times) of our failure to live up to who we are in Christ and to keep God's holy, just and good law, we immediately look out of ourselves and outward in faith to Christ alone (Rom. 7:24-8:1)."

We know that justification is wholly outside of ourselves. Christ alone makes us righteous, by His righteousness. Christ alone atoned for us, for the forgiveness of our sins. Christ alone was buried and rose again so that we are resurrected to new life now, and in the world to come. Yet sometimes we become confused and perplexed about our sanctification. The WSC provides us comfort. Even sanctification is a "gift of God's free grace." He does not fail to conform us to the image of His Son. So, do not despair. As you are aware of the reality and gravity of your sin, humble yourself, confess, then rejoice! Your acceptance with God has not changed, because He is faithful. He lived for you. He died for you. He is ever interceding for you.

*Missouri Presbytery Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Memorial Presbyterian Church for Hosting the Revoice 18 Conference in July 2018

Secure in Christ

Secure in Christ

John 10:28, Jesus talking: I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Romans 8 in addition to John 6 and John 10 are key references proving that we cannot lose our salvation. Wesleyans, Arminians teach that you can, based on a misinterpretation of some verses in Hebrews (ch 6) that refer to those who have had the privileges of being part of the visible church but forsake it.

We (Reformed) understand the distinction between receiving the outward and inward administration of the covenant. That is, someone can externally receive the benefits that the elect receive, but it may not take root in the heart (example: Esau: Romans 9:10-13).

Listen to those who bring you comfort and assurance in the Gospel. That which He gives us by grace is not then turned over to us to merit or keep. Reformed churches should feed you on Gospel hope, week after week. If any church fails to do so, find another.
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John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Romans 8: 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Repent!

If you've ever been stuck in some type of besetting sin...  (not some pious standard set by some holier-than-thou church-goer) ... a real sin, and were delivered from it, you probably know that it wasn't a command to "Repent" that actually caused you to repent.

So often the word "Repent" is used with no explanation leaving the hearer with the impression that he can just pull himself up by his bootstraps and stop sinning. That is a misunderstanding and a miscommunication.

What is Repentance?
Heidelberg 88 states, that involved in genuine repentance or conversion, are "Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the rising-to-life of the new."
Repentance is far more than behavior modification.

1. In dying to self, you begin to understand your sin, where it has taken you, and what it has done to God and neighbor.
2. And in new life, you know and believe that there is a Holy and Loving God, Who gave His One and Only Beloved Son to give His righteous in exchange for your sin, by living, dying and rising again, and ever lives to make intercession for you.

So, as you think about repentance, remember that too, is a gift from the Lord that only happens in the context of being convinced of the Gospel by faith. Preach repentance, but in your preaching, don't forget the Gospel. 

Scripture Twisting

Scripture Twisting

Sometimes what is stamped with the word "Biblical" is not. Satan was the first Scripture twister, and he continues attempts to deceive people through this kind of Christianese language that churchmen and laypeople speak. But when trying to decipher the truth from the lies, you need a knowledge of the broader context of Scripture, and often the interpretation of sound, gospel-informed teachers down through the ages.

One example of the kind of teaching called Biblical, but is actually diabolical is this idea that because "love keeps no record of wrongs" (I Cor 13), Christians cannot take note of patterns of sinful behavior.

Here's what I mean. Jay Adam's states, "Nouthetic Counselors help people to live in the present with an eye fixed on the future. They encourage counselees to look to the past only to remember God’s goodness to them in past times." *
This idea is in exact contradiction to Matthew 18 and the order of church discipline. Without the ability to note patterns of behavior, the offended party continues to be harmed, the offending party is not called to repentance for offensive behavior, the church is discredited, and the Gospel is not adorned.

Don't let a misinterpretation or misuse of Scripture leave you in a helpless position. Know the truth. Speak the truth. Live in accordance with the truth. Learn from trusted teachers past and present. Remember the Gospel. Lean on your Defender and Friend. He is faithful!

*Past Tense Living: Posted on November 23, 2015: http://www.nouthetic.org/blog/?p=551

Who To Follow

We often have Friday night fellowshp at our home. One Friday, part of the conversation was around how to go about determining who is a good teacher and who to believe. With so many voices in the evangelical and Christian world, it can be difficult to determine who's right and who's wrong. Here are some things I have learned over the years, and some things I have put into practice. 

1. Don't follow personalities. Follow who is teaching the Gospel, clearly and persistently.
2. Don't trust everyone. Follow those with a true desire to nurture and protect Christ's sheep, doctrinally and practically over time.
3. If it's new, it's probably wrong. Trace the teaching back and back and back. The Lord has preserved His truth from generation to generation, back to the time when Scripture was being penned.

With those things in mind as you study and read, I believe you will be encouraged, growing, and strengthened in your faith.