Biblical Leadership

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

(Matthew 20:25-28 ESV)

One of the things we see as we look at society, as well as at the church, is a misunderstanding of what leadership is to look like. We share this misunderstanding regardless of whether we see authority in a positive or a negative light. And we tend to understand leadership, we tend to understand authority, as a matter of control. We tend to understand it as a matter of domination.



The one who is in charge, we believe, is the one who yells the loudest. The one who is in charge, we believe, is the one before whom everyone cringes. The one who is in charge, we believe, is the one who uses his strength to force submission upon everyone else.



This is why we often bristle when we hear the Bible’s instructions for the order of the household. This is why we bristle when we read that women aren’t to teach or to have authority over the men of the church. If men are truly the head, we take this to mean that they’re to dominate women. If men are truly the head, we take this to mean that they’re to dominate their spouse and children. If men are the head, we take this to mean that they’re to control everything that goes on. And this, we believe, is demeaning to women. This, we believe, is abusive of children.



This is also why we have a natural tendency to resist those in authority over us. We don’t want to be controlled by anyone. And we won’t allow anyone to rule over us.



Yet, at the same time, we naturally desire to be that person in authority. We want to be the one in control. We want to be the one to whom everyone submits.



However, when we look at Jesus’ definition of leadership, it’s very different. Jesus tells us that, whoever would be great among us, must be our servant. He tells us that, whoever would be first among us, must be our slave.



In fact, he uses himself as the ultimate example of this truth. Even he, Jesus says, came not to be served. Even though he is God in the flesh, and even though he rightfully deserves to be served, that was not his purpose in coming among us. He came that he might serve. He came that he might give his life as a ransom for many.



In other words, to be a leader means to be a servant. To be a leader means to be a slave of all. To be a leader means that we willingly sacrifice ourselves for the benefit of others.



Even if we do have a measure of authority that’s been entrusted to us, we don’t use that authority for our own benefit. We use it for the benefit of those in our charge. We use it to serve.



We find the same thing in Ephesians 5, where Paul lays out the order of the household. The husband, he says, is the head. This, however, does not mean that he rules his household with an iron fist. He is called to lay his life down for the sake of his spouse. He is to use his authority for her blessing.



The wife, in turn, doesn’t submit simply because her husband demands it. She doesn’t submit because she’s forced to do so. She does it willingly. She does it voluntarily. She does so that, in this way, she might honor God and bless her husband.



We see this also, as Paul instructs children and fathers in Colossians 3. He tells children to obey their parents in everything. In this, we see the authority structure of this relationship. Yet, at the same time, he tells fathers that they’re not to provoke their children, lest they become discouraged. They aren’t to be harsh, they aren’t to treat their children unjustly, as they carry out their responsibility among them.



This is what it means to exercise authority at all levels. This is what it means to exercise authority as a husband, as a parent, as a church leader, or as a government official. This is what it means to exercise authority as a business owner or a manager. As Jesus used his authority to serve us, we’re to use our authority, whatever it may be, to serve those in our care.

The Right Hand of Fellowship

“On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

(Galatians 2:7-10 ESV)

As we look around at the Church, we see that ministry is carried out in various ways. There are wonderful preaching and teaching ministries. There are beautiful music ministries. There are exciting humanitarian ministries. There are engaging apologetic ministries.  There are ministries to specific people groups.  There are ministries targeting specific language groups.  There are ministries targeting specific age groups. There are ministries of translating Scripture, establishing congregations, and of evangelistic outreaches. And the list could go on for some time.



However, that being said, we have a tendency to believe that there is only one way to do ministry rightly. We have a tendency to believe that the best way to do ministry is the way that we do it. And only if others would get on board, if only they would do things our way, we think that the ministry of the Church as a whole would be so much better, and so much more effective.



As we look at the above passage, Paul was in the midst of a controversy. As he was reaching out to the Gentiles, some of the Jewish believers were insisting that they must be circumcised and follow all of the Jewish Law. Paul then went to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem to ensure that his ministry was not a waste of time. And he went to them to have his message validated.



As he did so, they added nothing to him. They added nothing to his message. And they recognized the specific nature of his ministry.



They acknowledged the fact that Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised. They acknowledged that they should go to the circumcised. And they acknowledged that Paul had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised. They acknowledged that he and Barnabas should go to the uncircumcised. And they gave to Paul the right hand of fellowship.



In other words, they acknowledged Paul as a brother in the Lord. They acknowledged him as a partner in ministry. They recognized his ministry, they validated it, and encouraged him to continue in it.



As we encounter our fellow believers who have a specific gifting, or a specific calling, we should do the same. Instead of arguing which form of ministry is more important, instead of bickering about which form of ministry is more effective, we should do the same. As long as their ministry is consistent with the gospel, we should give to them the right hand of fellowship and commend them to their ministry.

Realistic Expectations

The Church, here in America, has had it very easy. We have enjoyed the freedom of religion from our nation’s inception. We’ve been able to worship the Lord, practice our faith, and share our faith with great liberty.



I, personally, am grateful to God for this freedom. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to share the gospel not only among our fellow believers, but also among those who don’t know him. I’m grateful that we are able to share Jesus with our community, our nation, and the world with impunity.



This freedom, however, has caused us to feel shocked as we witness the suffering of believers in other parts of the world. We feel that they should possess the same freedom of religion that we enjoy. We feel that, like us, they should be able to worship freely, proclaim the gospel freely, and live out their faith freely.



We also experience the same sense of bewilderment as our freedoms are challenged here in our nation. We are shaken when others challenge our rights. We are shaken when our freedoms are contested.



We are surprised, we experience a sense of panic, even though this is to be expected. It should be expected because of what Jesus experienced. And it should be expected because of the warning he’s given us.



In John 15:18-19, Jesus says: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

We shouldn’t be surprised by what’s being experienced by our fellow believers around the world, nor should we be surprised when others attempt to curtail our freedoms, because the world hated Jesus. When Jesus came into the world, he was despised and rejected. When he came into the world he was not received.

The world continues to have the same response to Jesus even today. The world continues to despise him and reject him. The world will not receive him any more now than it did then.

It’s to be expected, then, that we will also be hated. Because of it’s hatred of Jesus, the world will naturally hate us. Our association with Christ will automatically bring this response.

Realizing this, we should make use of our freedoms while we have them. We must not neglect this freedom. We must proclaim Jesus with all fervency, realizing that we may not possess these freedoms forever.

Yet, we must also be realistic when it comes to the world’s response to us. Although we don’t generally welcome suffering, we shouldn’t consider it an anomaly. We must understand that this is to be expected. And, like our brothers in faith around the world, we must continue to faithfully proclaim Christ, even in the face of hatred and persecution.

The Pursuit of Greatness

There are many great people in the world. There are many who fill positions of power and authority. Due to their office, they have influence over peoples and nations. They are able to turn the tide of world events by the power afforded them.



We know of these people. It’s impossible for them to escape our notice. Their decisions, actions, and statements constantly come before us. They are seen on TV. They are heard on the radio. We receive notifications of their activities on our phones. Yet, as powerful and influential as they may be, I do not consider them among those who have most impacted my life.



As I consider those who have most influenced me, I think of people like my parents. I think of the pastor under whom I grew up. I think of Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and others who have discipled me, or mentored me in the faith.  I think of teachers at school and others who have taught to me useful life skills or given to me godly advice.



In short, those who have most influenced my life are those who’ve served me in some way. They have ministered to me in some capacity. Even though they may not be great in the eyes of the world, they are great in mine.



This fits the definition of greatness given by Jesus in Mark 10. As two of his disciples requested the positions of greatest honor in his kingdom, Jesus told his disciples what it means to be truly great. And we find that greatness in the eyes of God is a stark contrast to that of the world.



Even though the rulers of the Gentiles lord their position over their subjects and exercise authority over them, this isn’t how it’s to be among the people of God.  Jesus says that anyone who wants to be great among us must be our servant, and whoever would be great among us must be the slave of all.



He then points to himself as the ultimate example of this truth. In verse 45, he says: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus came into this world not to be served by his people, but to serve them. And he came to serve them by giving his life on their behalf.



If anyone deserves to be served, it’s Jesus. He is, after all, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He’s the eternal, almighty, and omniscient God. He’s the creator and sustainer of all that exists. He’s the giver of life, both in this world and in eternity.



However, even though this is true of him, he didn’t use his position to demand service. He, instead, used his position to serve. He went to the extent of giving his life upon the cross to accomplish our redemption.



Even knowing this, we continue to seek greatness in the worldly sense. We continue to seek power and influence. We continue to seek fame and fortune.



We do so without realizing that the greatest influence is attained when we emulate Jesus. The greatest influence is attained when we serve those that God has placed around us and under our care. We attain the greatest influence as we love and care for our children. We attain it as we teach Sunday School or work with the youth. We attain it as we use the gifts God has given us to serve him and the body of Christ.

Enamored by Influence

“And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.”

Galatians 2:6 ESV

We get caught up with influence. We seek for it. And we fawn over those who seem to have it.

This is true not only in society. It’s true not only when it comes to celebrity culture or the political realm. It’s true also in the church.

We look to the saints of old, counting them as better than ourselves. We look to those higher in the pecking order of the church hierarchy, believing them to be more holy. We look to pastors, missionaries, bishops, and popes, believing them to be worthy of adoration.

This is true even in the Protestant Church, where the priesthood of all believers is the rule of our practice. We laud celebrity pastors, buying their books, and placing them on a pedestal. We separate, anew, clergy from the laity. We re-create a class system where one believer is more significant than another.

Scripture is clear that we’re to respect those in authority. It’s clear that we’re to respect our spiritual leaders. And although some err by failing to give these people the respect they’re due, others err by regarding them too highly.

As we look at the second chapter of Galatians, Paul had gone to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem as conflict raged. As he preached the true gospel, others came in who added to the gospel of Christ. And he went to those who seemed influential to check himself, to check his message. He went to them  to ensure that he wasn’t running his race in vain.

However, notice his words: he went to those who seemed influential. He then adds that what they were made no difference to him. And he goes on to say that God shows no partiality.

In the eyes of God, there is no distinction. In the eyes of God, there is no totem pole. Although there is a difference in terms of the roles we’re called to play, there is none when it comes to our status in Christ. 

As Paul went to the church in Jerusalem, it wasn’t the validation of greater men that he sought. It wasn’t the validation of a greater apostle. It was a validation of the gospel by the church that he desired.

And this validation is exactly what Paul got. They added nothing to him, Paul says. In other words, they neither challenged nor sought to change anything of the message that he proclaimed.

In the same way, although we should respect those called by God to lead us, and although we should honor those sent by God to proclaim his Word, we must not go too far. We must not make too much of them. We must realize that, like us, they are sinners saved by the grace of God. We must realize that, like us, they are men who are gifted by God to serve his church. We must realize that what is truly important is the gospel itself.

Preserving the Gospel

“But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in-- who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-- to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.”

 (Galatians 2:3-5 ESV)

There are times in life when we can be flexible. There are situations in life in which we should bend. There are circumstances when it’s proper to allow the preferences of others to take priority over our own.



Our tendency is to be stubborn in all things. Our tendency is to insist on our own way. However, when the issue is not one of truth, when it’s not a matter of right and wrong, when it’s a matter of personal taste and preference, it’s then that we can and should give priority to the preferences of others.



However, there are times when we should not bend. In fact, there are circumstances in which we must not bend. There are situations in which it would be harmful to do so.



This is what Paul is addressing in the above passage. Some were insisting that the Gentiles, who were coming to faith in Christ, must be circumcised. And Paul saw this for what it was: a perversion of the gospel.



We are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. And to allow anything to be added to the gospel is to pervert it. Allowing anything to be added to the gospel would lead people to trust in something other than Christ for this blessing that we so desperately need.



This would hinder the salvation of the lost. It would prevent them from hearing and receiving the gospel, by which we are saved. It was truly a life or death matter.



For this reason, Paul stood firm. He did not yield in submission to these people for even a moment. He would not do so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved.



In the same way, there are times we cannot bend. There are circumstances where we must not bend. And this is especially true when the salvation of souls is at stake.



We must not alter the truth of God’s Word. We must not amend the gospel of Christ. To do so would mean abandoning the call given to us by God. To do so would mean denying salvation to the lost. To do so would mean leading astray the souls for which Jesus died.

Connections

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV)

As we come to faith in Christ, and even after we’ve trusted in him for many years, many of us maintain an unhealthy connection with the world around us. We continue to derive our primary fellowship, not from our brothers and sisters in Christ, but from the world. And we continue to do so in spite of the differences between us.



This often acts as a hindrance in our life of faith. The non-believers, with whom we are bound, pull us away from the Lord and the blessings he provides. They tempt us and lure us into the beliefs and practices of the world.



We often take the above passage to speak to marriage. But, while it certainly applies to marriage, the context is much broader. And we are told plainly that we’re not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever.



Now, this isn’t saying that we have to cut ourselves off from the world completely. Nor does it mean that we must completely cut ourselves off from unbelievers. In that case, it would be difficult to reach out to the lost and to make disciples.



However, we are not to be joined together with unbelievers. We’re not to be mismatched or bound together with them. We’re not to have the same connection with them that we have with the church.



Paul’s reason for this is clear. We have nothing in common with them. Just as light and darkness have nothing in common, just as Christ and Satan have nothing in common, and just as righteousness and lawlessness have nothing in common, neither do we have anything in common with an unbeliever.



We’ve been called by God to be separate from them. We’ve been called to be holy. We’ve been called to be the sons and daughters of God.



While we must ensure that this isn’t taken to far, our primary relationships are to be with fellow believers. This includes our marriage partner. But it also includes our primary friendships, our business partnerships, and so on. We are to seek the encouragement of those who are like us, who are distinct from the world, and who will build us in faith.

Running in Vain?

“Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.”

Galatians 2:1-2 ESV

I’m blessed to have the support of my local congregation. I’m blessed to have the support of our church leadership. And, more than that, I’m blessed to have the support of our national body, the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

I’m blessed also to have many resources available to me. I’m blessed to have many different translations of the Bible. I’m blessed to have a selection of commentaries. I’m blessed to have books containing the history of the church. I’m blessed to have resources in the Biblical languages, Hebrew and Greek. I’m blessed to have a computer program that helps me with these languages. And I’m blessed to have internet access for further study.

We often think, as believers, that all we need is Jesus and me. And we tend to think the same way when it comes to ministry. We believe that, with the Lord and his help, we have all we need.

However, we fail to recognize that the Lord works through his people. We fail to recognize that we also need the support and encouragement of other believers. We fail to recognize that we need the teaching and instruction of other believers. And we fail to recognize that we need the correction of other believers.

We see in the above passage that, although Paul had received the gospel directly from the Lord, and although he didn’t initially seek the approval of the other apostles when it came to his ministry, he now sought them out. He did so because of a revelation. And he did so to ensure that he was not running his race in vain.

He was being challenged by others, as he carried out his ministry, regarding Jewish ceremonial practice. He’d been teaching that the grace of God was sufficient for salvation. And he’d been teaching that faith alone enables us to receive this grace. But others insisted on circumcision and the practice of Jewish Law for believers in Jesus.

As he appeared before the church leadership, he presented to them the gospel that he proclaimed among the Gentiles. He did so that they might have opportunity to correct him if necessary. And he did so that they might affirm this message.

This is the blessing I have as I enjoy the fellowship of my congregation and church leadership. This is the blessing I enjoy as I maintain a relationship with other pastors and ministries of the AFLC. And this is the blessing that I enjoy as I make use of my books and resources.

In this way, I’m able to have the message that I proclaim validated. I’m able to receive correction or additional teaching. And I’m able to ensure that I’m not running my race in vain.

I’m able to go to them to make sure that my understanding of Scripture is correct. I’m able to go to them to make sure that my presentation of Scripture is correct. And I’m able to go to them to grow in my understanding of Scripture, and in my presentation of the Word of God.

My race would be in vain if the message I proclaimed was wrong or unscriptural in some way. In that case, it would be empty and devoid of power. It wouldn’t have the impact that the Lord, or I myself, desire for it. In fact, it could even have the opposite effect.

This is why Paul sought the affirmation of the church in Jerusalem. And this is why I cherish my brothers and sisters in Christ, those of the present and of the past. Knowing that I’m sinful, knowing that I’m imperfect, I need them to speak into my life.

The Depths of Sin

I can’t recall where I came across it, but it’s something I’ve found true in my life of faith. Someone once told me, or perhaps I read it somewhere, that the more you grow in faith the more you recognize the depth of your sin. As we grow in our understanding of the Word of God, as we grow in our understanding of the gospel, the greatness of our sin is better realized.



As we encounter the gospel for the very first time, the reality of our sin is acknowledged. After all, it’s our sin that has brought condemnation upon us. We are in need of a Savior because of our guilt.



However, and it seems this is largely the state of Christians in our nation today, we don’t think we are all that bad. Overall, we think of ourselves as pretty good people. We tend to think that, although we sin, our desires and intentions are basically good.



We look at our outward adherence to the Ten Commandments as the measure of our sin. If we haven’t stolen, if we haven’t killed anyone, and if we’ve remained faithful to our spouse, we think we’re doing pretty well. Even though we may acknowledge that fact that we’re a sinner, we don’t believe our sin is all that great.



We learn in time that, even if we haven’t outwardly broken God’s commands, we have done so internally. We've done so in our heart. We find that our heart desires not to obey the Lord, but to disobey.



Although we haven’t physically murdered anyone, we haven’t desired their well-being. In fact, we’ve often desired their harm. We may not have taken what doesn’t belong to us, but we haven’t sought to preserve our neighbor’s wealth and property. We may not have cheated on our spouse, but adulterous desires have filled both our heart and mind.



We then run across the words of Scripture that describe our true condition. For example, in Ephesians 2:1, Paul says that we were dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked. In Colossians 1:21, he says that we were alienated and hostile in mind.  And in Romans 5:10, Paul says that we were enemies of God.



We learn that we’re not a mostly innocent people who occasionally slip up. We're not a mostly good people who make the occasional mistake. Our natural state is one of hostility and enmity toward God. It not only resists the will of God, but actively opposes it.



Although this may seem discouraging, it makes the gospel that much sweeter. It reveals to us the greatness of God’s love. It shows the immensity of the grace he has lavished upon us.



Completing Paul’s thought in Colossians 1, he says: “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him…”



Our sin is greater than we can imagine.  However, despite our condition, God has reconciled us to himself by the death of his Son. In this way, and in this way alone, are we counted holy and blameless before him.

Responding to the Season

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”

 (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV)

With the new year upon us, one of the things that we naturally consider is time. We often note how quickly the time passes. We note that, the older we get, the faster time seems to go. And, for this reason, we are bent on managing our time well. We’re consumed with controlling the time that we have.

The passage, above, is a familiar one for most of us. It’s familiar because we often hear it read at funerals. It’s often chosen because of its reference to death and a time to die. But, at the very least, we know this passage from the famous song by the Byrds, Turn, Turn, Turn.

The point of this passage, however, is something we need desperately to take to heart. It’s something we tend to miss.  But it’s something we see clearly as we stop and consider the individual phrases being used.

There is a time to be born and a time to die. Yet, both of these times are outside of our control. We have no choice in the time of our birth. We have no choice in birth itself. And, in the same way, we have no control over death.

There is a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. But, again, both of these times are outside of our control. Farmers plant when the time is right, when the conditions are right. And they harvest when the proper time comes.

There is a time to kill and a time to heal. Now killing, of course, is not something we should desire. But there are times when it’s necessary. Perhaps it’s when we must engage in a just war. Perhaps it’s when government authorities are punishing a doer of evil. Or perhaps it’s when our home is violated and our loved ones are threatened. These circumstances are outside of our control, but they do come. And, in the same way, so do opportunities to heal.

We can go through these verses line by line and see the same truth. There are times and seasons of life that come upon us. And they are outside of our control. They are ordained, they are determined, by God alone.

We must recognize this fact. We must recognize that we can do nothing to alter the times and seasons. And, for this reason, we must stop fighting them.

We must recognize that the only thing we can do is act when it’s appropriate. The only thing we can do is respond to the season in the appropriate way. We can plant when it’s time to plant. We can mourn when it’s time to mourn. We can keep silence when it’s time to do so, and speak when it’s appropriate.

Many of us struggle with our desire to control. But when we receive this Word, when we take it to heart, it’s quite liberating. It’s liberating as we recognize our limits, as we recognize and submit to the will of God, and act in the appropriate way at the appropriate time.

Called by God's Grace

The desire of God’s heart is the salvation of the lost. We learn in Scripture that God desires for all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). And this desire is most clearly seen in Jesus, who is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

This desire is reflected also in the call God has given us. And what a great call this is. After receiving his grace and mercy through faith in Jesus, he calls us to carry the message of the gospel to others. He calls us to make disciples of all nations. He calls us to preach the gospel to the whole creation.

This is an intimidating thought to most of us. We don’t feel worthy of such a calling.  We think that a call like this is better suited for those who surpass us.

What we fail to understand is that, just as we are saved by the grace of God, so too are we called by God.  We see this in the words of Paul, spoken to his young colleague Timothy: “…share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us an called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace…(2 Timothy 1:8-9 ESV).

Just as our goodness and efforts play no part in the salvation of God, neither does it play a role in the call of God. His call is not something that’s given to those who are deserving. It’s given to us because of his grace.

If it were given only to the deserving, if it were given only to the qualified, none of us would be worthy of God’s call. None of us would be worthy because, as Scripture tells us, none of us are good. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

The call of God is an undeserved gift, an unmerited blessing, that he offers us. We bring absolutely nothing to the table. We neither deserve it, nor are we qualified for it. Yet, for his own purpose, he has chosen us to carry out this great task.

What, then, should our response be to the call that God has placed upon our life? Instead of rejecting it on the basis of our unworthiness, we should receive it as a gift and a blessing of God.  Instead of rejecting it because it seems to be a burden, we should receive it for the benevolence that it is.

Not Man’s Gospel

“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:11-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Many, today, think of the gospel as the teaching of man. They think of the Bible as the teaching of man. They believe it was authored because of the desire and intention of man.

For this reason, they believe the Bible to be flawed. The men who wrote the Bible, after all, were sinners like the rest of us. And it stands to reason that, just as we can’t do anything perfectly, just as we can’t do anything without our sin becoming apparent, neither could they.

For this reason, it’s also believed that it was a sinful motivation that led to the preaching of the gospel. They believe that it was a desire for power and control that led to its proclamation. They believe that a desire to overturn the regime of the day led to its proclamation. They believe that a desire for personal gain led to its proclamation.

However, as Paul makes clear above, the gospel he proclaimed was not his own. It wasn’t his own message. Nor was it the message of any other man.

He tells us that he didn’t receive this message from any man. It wasn’t taught to him by man. And, as he set out to proclaim this message, he didn’t consult with anyone.

Paul had received this message by a revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, this message was given to him by Christ himself. He proclaimed only the message that Christ himself had shared with him.

Knowing that this message was given by Christ, sin is removed from the equation.  As Christ is perfect, so too is his Word. There are no mistakes or flaws to be found within it.

Paul also makes it clear that he had no sinful motives in proclaiming this message. He had, in fact, opposed this message at the outset. He was very zealous for the Jewish faith and for the traditions of his people. And, for this reason, he’d rapidly advanced among them.

He also mentions how he’d violently persecuted the church of God. He’d sought to destroy it. But, then, Jesus graciously revealed himself to Paul.

This tells us, unequivocally, that he had nothing to gain by the proclamation of the gospel. In fact, he’d surrendered everything that could benefit him. He renounced everything that could lead to his personal advancement.

Paul’s point, in this passage, is that the gospel is trustworthy. It’s completely reliable. It’s detached in every way from the sin and wicked intentions of man.

For this reason, we can hear this message with confidence. And, for this reason, we can proclaim this message with confidence. We can hear and proclaim it for what it truly is: the Word and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Warts and All?

Most of us recognize our sinfulness. We recognize our imperfection. We realize that, no matter how hard we try, no matter how hard we strive to do better, we always fall short. And this is good.



It’s important that we recognize our sinfulness. It’s important that we recognize our inability to change ourselves. Without this recognition, we would never understand our need for salvation or look to Jesus in faith.



We would, instead, continue to look to ourselves. We would continue to trust in ourselves. And, in this way, we would miss out on this great blessing of God.



The problem is that we often resign ourselves to the sin with which we struggle. We tell ourselves that this is just the way we are. We tell ourselves that there is no changing. And for this reason, we believe that we, as well as others, have to accept ourselves warts and all.



In addition to recognizing our sin and our weakness, we must also realize that, in Jesus, we have hope. We must realize that he’s able to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We must realize that he can change us for the better.

In 1 Thessalonians 3, starting in verse 12, Paul says: “…and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

We have hope because the Lord can make us to increase and abound in love. He is able to establish our hearts blameless in holiness before God. Although we are naturally selfish and self-centered, the Lord is able to work within us.  He is able to transform us.

I’m not suggesting that we can be perfect on this side of eternity. Our sinful nature will remain a part of us until the end. However, we must not resign ourselves to the sins with which we struggle.

We must, of course, bring our sin to him in a spirit of confession. We must acknowledge to him our guilt, asking for his forgiveness. But we can also ask God to help us with our sinful desires and tendencies. We can ask him for strength that we might love one another as he’s called us.

As we do so, we can trust that God can and will produce growth in our lives. We can trust that he will produce in us the fruit of faith.  We can have hope that, by his grace, things can change for the better.

Struggling with Self

The Christian life can, at times, be discouraging.  It can be discouraging because, no matter how badly we long to live for the Lord, we continue to struggle with sin.  It can be discouraging because, no matter how greatly we detest our sin, we fall into it again and again.

Sometimes, by the grace of God, we are enabled to overcome a particular struggle.  Addicts, for example, are sometimes empowered by God to overcome their desire for alcohol or drugs.  And those who struggle with pornography or a tendency to swear are sometimes empowered by God to overcome those vices.

However, the struggle with sin continues for each and every one of us.  Not only do we fall short in the eyes of God.  We also fall far short of the expectations we’ve set for ourselves.  

We tend to think that, because of our faith in the Lord, and because of our love for him, it should be easy for us to live a godly life.  We think that, because of our faith and our love for the Lord, we should easily be able to resist any and every temptation.  We think that, because of our faith and our love for the Lord, we should be able to break free from our sinful habits.

We, then, become discouraged.  We beat ourselves up.  We sometimes even question if our repentance is genuine.

This is where the gospel offers to us a tremendous comfort.  This comfort comes to us in the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 1.  In verse 15, of that chapter, he writes: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Christ did not come for a people who were able to obey the law of God.  He didn’t come for a people that were able to resist their sinful desires.  Nor did he come for people who had overcome their sinful tendencies.

Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  He came into the world to save someone like Paul, who described himself as the foremost of sinners.  He came into the world to save sinners like you and me.

This, of course, doesn’t justify our sin.  It doesn’t free us to indulge our ungodly desires.  And it doesn’t free us to thumb our nose at God when his Word challenges our lifestyle.

It does, however, give us peace in the face of our sin.  It reminds us that our struggle with sin doesn’t not exclude us from salvation.  It reassures us that our failures do not remove from us God’s forgiveness.

Jesus came into this world to save sinners.  He came because we are incapable of living up to the standards of God.  He came because there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.  He came because only he could free us from sin and its consequences, enabling us to live eternally in the kingdom of God.

People Pleasers

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

(Galatians 1:10 ESV)

In modern times, the church has become a group of people pleasers. Our goal is to keep everyone happy all of the time. And, for this reason, we give in to every whim, to every emotion and response, of man.



We do so for multiple reasons. We do so because we dislike criticism. We’re afraid that, if we say or do the wrong thing, people will think badly of us. We’re afraid that, if we say or do the wrong thing, people will speak badly of us. We fear how it might affect our reputation or our standing in the community.

                                                                   

We do so because we fear persecution. We’re afraid that, if others disapprove of something we say or do, we’ll suffer as a result. Perhaps we’ll lose our job. Perhaps we’ll be shunned by the community. Or perhaps we’ll face physical attacks or threats.



We do so as a means of self-preservation. We’re afraid that, if we say or do something that others find offensive, they’ll stop coming to our church. We’re afraid that they might stop giving to our church. And we’re afraid that this might mean the end of our congregation.



When it comes to matters of personal preference, when there is no right and wrong of the matter, we can and should value the opinions of those around us. We can respect others and use deference when it comes to these matters. When it comes to things like music preference, worship style, carpet color, or church décor, the opinions of others can and should matter.



However, when it comes to the gospel, when it comes to matters of truth, we are not to be people pleasers. Our primary concern, as we engage in ministry, is not to be the negative response we may face. We see this as we look at the words of Paul, above.



As we’ve seen, Paul was bringing the gospel to the people of Galatia. And there were some who did not like it. There were some who were trying to impart a different teaching, a different gospel, within the church.



However, in the face of this, he recognized who it was that he should be trying to please. He recognized that, by pleasing the world, he’d be displeasing God. And he recognized that, by pleasing God, he would displease the world.



The same is true for us today.  So, the question we have to face is very simple: Which matters more, the will of man or that of God? And the answer to this question is obvious. No matter the response of the world, we should seek to please the Lord first and foremost.



Paul says that, if he were trying to please man, he would not be a servant of Christ. He would not be a servant of Christ because the desires of God and those of the world are at odds with one another. If his primary focus was the opinion of others, he would then be a servant of man rather than a servant of God.



The same remains true for us. We must seek to please God, first and foremost. We must seek to serve God, first and foremost. When it comes to the gospel, when it comes to matters of truth, the opinion of man must not enter into the equation.



Once again, this doesn’t give us permission to be a jerk. It doesn’t give us permission to be intentionally abrasive to those around us. We’re to always act in a spirit of love. However, we must recognize who is to be the focus of our devotion.

No Other Gospel

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” 

(Galatians 1:8-9 ESV)

Here, in the United States, we live in a very diverse society. Although most of us have a Christian heritage, many other religions and belief systems are held to and practiced. People hold widely varying views and worship a multitude of gods.

And we are called by society to accept those who believe differently than we do. We are called by society to acknowledge their beliefs and practices as equal to our own. We are called to acknowledge their scriptures to be just as holy as our own. We are called to acknowledge that our faith is no more true than that of others.

We’re told, today, that we’re to live our truth and let other people live their truth. We’re told that we’re to do what works for us and that we’re to allow others to do the same. We’re told that we’re to respect the beliefs and practices of others, even when they contradict our own.

In an age of tolerance, in an age of pluralism, and in an age of relative truth, the words of Paul sound harsh. They sound judgmental and unloving. They sound arrogant and condemning.

He is clear that there is only one gospel. He is clear that there is only one means of salvation. And, for this reason, if we follow the philosophy of the world, we stand condemned. For this reason, if we follow the philosophy of the world, we’re siting passively by as people are led into hell.

We are not to receive any other gospel. We are not to accept any other gospel. And we are not to proclaim any other gospel.

Anyone who brings another gospel is accursed. Even if it’s an angel who brings to us another gospel, he is accursed. And if we bring another gospel, we ourselves are accursed.

We are to believe and proclaim only one gospel. We are to believe and proclaim only the gospel brought to us in God’s Word. It is the only truth and the only source of salvation.

To do so is not unloving. In fact, it’s the ultimate expression of love. It’s the ultimate expression of love because it’s through this gospel alone that we’re saved.

Please don’t misunderstand what I’m trying to say. This isn’t a license for us to be a jerk as we hold to our faith and proclaim it. We must love our neighbor as we share with him the message that will save his soul.

To Which Gospel Do We Cling?

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”

(Galatians 1:6-7 ESV)

The term “gospel” means “good news.” However, it’s also more specific than this. It refers to the good news of Jesus Christ.



The term “gospel” refers to the salvation that God sent into the world. It refers to Jesus, the Son of God, who suffered and died on the cross, bearing the punishment of our sin. It refers to his resurrection from the grave, by which he defeated the power of death. It refers to the grace that is received through faith in him.



This may seem very basic. It may seem elementary. But I never cease to be amazed at how many people in our society, and even within the church, don’t get it.



Most people in our society believe in heaven. They believe in salvation. But their understanding, when it comes to how this is received, is way off.



Most people believe that heaven, that salvation, is attained by us. They believe that we simply have to be “good” people. They believe that we must do our best to keep the commands of God. And they believe that we must do our best to love other people.



This is true not only in society, but also in the church. Even in the body of Christ, where people confess the Scriptural and the historic Christian faith, they are depending not upon Jesus but themselves. They are trusting in their efforts rather than the accomplished work of Christ.



This is nothing new. This is also what was going on among the Galatians. This group, who had initially received the gospel, brought to them by Paul, was now looking to themselves. They were trusting a message, a false gospel, brought to them by others.



Paul was astonished at how quickly they’d turned away from the gospel. He was amazed that they would turn from the message of grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone to something that depended on their efforts. He was astonished that they would abandon a message that provided the assurance of salvation for one of uncertainty.



He explained to them that there is no other gospel. He told them that all other versions of the gospel were mere distortions. They were falsehoods, they were misrepresentations, of the good news of Jesus brought to them by those who wished to trouble them.



As we face these distortions, today, we must recognize them for what they really are. We must recognize them as false versions of the gospel. And we must reject them. We must reject them in favor of the true gospel, the message of forgiveness and salvation that’s found only in Jesus.

The Means of Deliverance

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

(Galatians 1:3-5 ESV)

There is no question that we are living in an evil age. We watch the news and hear continual reports of war and violence. Throughout the course of our life, we experience hardship and suffering in its various forms. And sooner or later we all experience disease and death.


This is our reality because we live in a world that is corrupted by sin. We are a sinful people living among a sinful people.  And, as a result, we live in a world that suffers the consequences of sin.


It’s safe to say that we all long to be freed from the evil of this age. We long to be set free from the consequences of our wrongdoing. And we have various ideas about how this can happen.


For many of us, this falls into the realm of politics. If we can only find the right formula, if we can only satisfy the needs of the masses, we believe that the effects of sin will go away. If only we can eliminate poverty, give equal access to health care, and provide access to a quality education, there will be no more need for sin or violence.


For others among us, it’s a matter of self-help. If people will only read the right books and pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, things will be better. If only they work hard enough, if only they would restrain themselves, the evils of this world would be a thing of the past.


And, while I’m not denying the reality of mental illness, some of us go to the extreme that every act of sin and violence results from a mental health issue. We believe that those who commit mass shootings must be mentally ill. We believe that those who abuse their spouse or children must be mentally ill. We believe that those who steal, who lie, and who are resistant to authority must be mentally ill. And if we can only help these people, the evils of this world will be no more.


Most of our ideas, when it comes to escaping the evils of this present age, have to do with creating a utopia. They have to do with our creation of a heaven on earth. They have to do with our creation of circumstances where acts of evil are prevented and no longer seem necessary.


However, as we look at Paul’s words in the above passage, we find that the solution to the evil of this age has nothing to do with us. We find that it is not we who will provide the escape that we desire. This is found only in Jesus.


Jesus gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age. In saying this, Paul is referring to Jesus’ death on the cross, by which he paid the penalty of our sin, and by which he defeated the power of sin. He’s referring to the fact that Jesus willingly laid down his life that we might be saved.


He did this according to the will of God the Father. In other words, Jesus didn’t do this of his own accord. He did this because he, along with God the Father, desire our salvation.



Although this deliverance was secured by Jesus’ sacrifice, it’s something that we anticipate. It’s not something that we can experience in this world or age. It’s something that we’ll enjoy in the life to come. It’s something we’ll enjoy when Jesus returns, the dead are raised, and the new creation is brought forth.