The Slums of Heaven

Last night my husband was remembering the religion of his youth: How he was never given assurance of his salvation, but taught that, at the judgment, all of his life: every thought, word, and deed would be on display and aired as if on big screen for all to see, in one great moment of dread, fear, regret, humiliation, and anticipation of the verdict. As others awaited their crowns... their mansions for all their diligent pursuit of holiness and all those spiritual conquests, what would be his reward? Would he end up in the slums… the slums of heaven?

My friends, if this is the kind message you've heard or the kind of preaching you hear, please switch churches, teachers or podcasts. This is not the message that a blood-bought child of God needs or should want to hear. Completely contradictory to the victory that is found in Christ, alone, this is a message of doubt, despair and terror.

How does the Apostle Paul refresh and comfort the Christian? For there is now NO condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus. …What shall separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus? …No creature. Not even you, yourself. (Romans 8.)

The Prince of Preachers put it beautifully: “When God accepts a sinner, He is, in fact, only accepting Christ. He looks into the sinner's eyes, and He sees His own dear Son's image there, and He takes him in.” ~CH Spurgeon

If “It is finished,” if Christ has won the victory on our behalf, if His righteousness has been imputed to us and His blood has separated our sins from us as far as East is from West, then we have no need to despair his anger in this life, or his vindication against us in the life to come, not even for a minute.

There will be no slums or slum dogs in heaven; only princes: Beloved children of the King.

Best sermons unraveling the faulty thinking about Judgement Day in the evangelical church: 

Dr. John Fonville: Paramount Church. Sermon begins around min. 32, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nElvMQJhjg&ab_channel=ParamountChurch

Dr. John Fonville: Paramount Church. Sermon begins around min. 30, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnNZuSX7nm0&ab_channel=ParamountChurch&fbclid=IwAR1VOJrKo1-H9NrW8V3-In6jCswrR36JZvtBWQbzNVNrimuzQAFeVYIBexc

See also What Can I Expect When Jesus Returns? // Paramount Church // June 20, 2021: John Fonville: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlPSfzxe1Qk&t=3622s&ab_channel=ParamountChurch

Give Her Jesus, Johnny Mac

My response to John MacArthur's assurance video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHivtfyUmMc&t=31s

So many people lack assurance and are so lacking in real understanding of union with Christ, that they are sinking in pit of spiritual depression with no known remedy.

If you fail to see the problem in this scenario, perhaps you have not yet understood where our true assurance comes from, or understood justification and Christ's benefits to you. Assurance comes from looking to Christ. It will never come from endless looking inward.

This segment was beginning to end with one woman. The entire seven minute segment was her question and his answer. He spent very little time pointing her to the work of Christ on her behalf. He pointed her *inward. He pointed her to her own fruit.

Here is how he "encouraged" this dear despairing woman, largely pointing to her fruit, obedience, love and other inward qualities as the assurance of her salvation. Please don't glaze over "you" statements, because you are hearing biblical language. This is how he assures her:

1. you are asking these questions,  therefore God is working in your heart

2. you are looking to Him for salvation

3. you are here (at this Q&A)

4. you are sweet and honest

5. the way you know you are saved is by your desire to know

6. your desire to be known

7. your desire to love Him

8. your desire to honor Him

9. your desire to obey His Word

(...talks about Paul as our example of a supreme Christian; Romans ch 7 wretched man explained. Principle of needing grace.)

10. your cry is evidence

11. you recognize you're not everything you should be

12. you are dependent on God and the Holy Spirit.

13. It (assurance) is about direction, affection and love

14. He accepts us *if we love Him and He calls us to love Him more

15. don't evaluate salvation based on failures

16. assess salvation by your desires

17. reaffirms, she is there, and assures her of her salvation based on that.

18. your love and obedience reaffirmed as evidence of that which gives *the most assurance.

He never points to Christ's active or passive obedience, the satisfaction of His atonement and ongoing intercession as the basis for her salvation. That is a huge misstep. This is you/self-focused, not gospel-centered. My heart goes out to this young lady. Unless she finds her assurance in Christ, she will be perpetually exhausted and despairing. Grace to You? GIVE HER JESUS, JOHNNY MAC. Notice how the Heidelberg, in contrast, provides assurance based on the working of the Triune God, first for, then in us. It shows us a better way:
Q&A 1. Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own,. but belong with body and soul,. both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins. with his precious blood,. and has set me free. from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way. that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.

As R. Scott Clark states, "Believers are what they are by God’s grace and his promise is as sure as God is immoveable and faithful. We should not ask whether we are good enough (we are not) or whether we might fall (we shall) but whether God is faithful (he is) and whether he has sealed his promises with Christ’s obedient life, bloody death, and resurrection (he has), and whether we believe: by God’s grace we do." The unshakable foundation of faith in Christ: that is Christ alone, is the basis of our salvation and assurance.

If you are struggling to find assurance of your salvation, listen to "How Do I Know I'm Saved" by Dr. John Fonville at https://player.fm/series/proclaim-radio-with-john-fonville/how-do-i-know-im-saved

A Hill to Die On: Imputation of Christ's Obedience (RCSproul)

Take away my Savior's righteousness to my account and there is no good news left to the Gospel. I'm on my own. And what I can bring to the table is not enough to escape the wrath of a Holy God. ...Give me the imputation of Christ or give me death. I am happy, proud, honored to die on that hill. For the full sermon, listen to "The Doctrine of Imputation" at https://www.ligonier.org/learn/sermons/doctrine-imputation/

Who Are You Looking For?

John 18 1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples. 2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. 3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them,

“Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them,

**“I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

~~~~~~~~~~

"A whole legion of soldiers with the high priests and Judas came to arrest Jesus in the garden. ...This whole legion of trained killers, that would make MMA fighters look like Mr. Rogers. They were there to kill. Jesus is praying in the garden. He stands up, and says, Who are you looking for? They said, Basically, we're looking for Jesus of Nazareth; We're here to arrest him and kill him. Jesus looks at them and says *two words in the Greek: *Ego eimai. That means, I AM. Do you know where that came from? Old Testament, where He told Moses when he asked, Who do I tell Pharaoh you are? Pharaoh is the king of the world. He's got all the power. God says, Tell him I AM sent you. Jesus looks at a whole legion of soldiers, all the priests, and everybody with Judas, and He says two words to them, and you know what John says? They all fell down backwards and hit the ground! Two words, and BOOM, they're on their backs. Who do you think was in charge of that moment? They were exposed to the sign and their hearts were revealed (Luke 2:34,35)." ~John Fonville

Listen to the full sermon, The Song of Simeon at http://www.paramountchurch.com/mediaPlayer/#sermonaudio/358 courtesy of Paramount Church and John Fonville.