The Faithfulness of God

 

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Romans 11:29 ESV

 

We have all known those who were once faithful. At one point they were very devoted to the Lord. But, somewhere along the line, things changed.

 

No longer are they devoted. No longer are they trusting in Christ. And no longer do they believe his Word and promises.

 

It makes us wonder if we were somehow duped. It makes us wonder if these people ever truly believed. And it leads us to ask if they were ever truly saved.

 

Much of this comes from the idea of “once saved, always saved,” espoused by American Evangelicalism. We reason that, if these people are not now believing, they never did. And we determine that, if they are not now saved, they never truly were.

 

We certainly can’t deny this possibility. There are some, I suppose, who go through the motions and say the right things, pulling the wool over our eyes. There’s also the possibility, however, that, for whatever reason, they turned their backs on the Lord and walked away from the faith they once held.

 

Yet, even in that case, we don’t give up on them. We don’t give up on them because the Word and promise of God is just as valid now as it was then. We don’t give up on them because, should they return to faith in Christ, God’s salvation remains available to them.

 

This is the encouragement we receive from the above verse. Paul had been addressing the spiritual state of Israel. And he noted their fall.

 

As things currently stand, the Jews, or what we might refer to as national Israel, are enemies of God. They have rejected his promises that were fulfilled in Jesus. And, in this way, they have rejected the salvation of God that was provided by Jesus.

 

Yet, Paul notes, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. They are beloved because of the faith of their forebears, namely Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Although they had rejected God, God had not rejected them.

 

The gifts and the calling of God, he tells us, are irrevocable. They are binding. They are unchangeable.

 

Paul is not suggesting that they are saved simply because they are Jews. Nor is he suggesting that he’ll overlook their rejection of Christ for the sake of their ancestors. He’s saying, rather, that God’s grace, that his invitation, still stands.

 

They were not outside of God’s reach. They were not beyond saving. If they received God’s Word and promise, looking to Jesus in faith, his grace was available to them.

 

And this, you see, is the comfort this passage provides to us. It provides comfort to us when it comes to our friends and loved ones who have turned their back on God. Although they may now stand condemned, although they may now be outside of the grace of God, his gifts and calling are irrevocable.

 

The promises that he once made remain valid. They are still in force. They have not lost their applicability.

 

Should they receive the grace of God still being offered to them, they can yet be saved. Should they again trust in his promise, God will welcome them home. Until the return of Christ, until the day of grace comes to an end, his invitation and offer still stands.

Who's at Fault?

 

“But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.””

(Romans 10:21 ESV)

 

We get very defensive when it comes to the matter of our salvation. If it is even suggested that we are not good people, we become upset. And when we are told that we need God’s forgiveness and mercy, we are offended.

 

We believe that it would be wrong, we believe that it would be unjust of God to withhold from us his salvation. Even though we acknowledge our imperfection, we believe ourselves to be well-intentioned. Even though we acknowledge the fact that we sin, we believe ourselves to be generally obedient. And although we admit to wrongdoing, we believe that we’ve performed far more good deeds than bad.

 

We also get defensive when it comes to the salvation of our friends and loved ones. Even if they have rejected the gospel, and even if they’ve lived a life of unrepentance, we believe that it would be wrong of God to deny them salvation. We become upset as we believe them to be inherently good and deserving of the blessings of God.

 

We even become defensive when it comes to those unknown to us. We become defensive when it comes to those on the other side of the world, with whom we’ve had no contact whatsoever. From our perspective, how dare anyone question the fact that they will be saved?

 

Again, we believe most people to be good people. We believe them to be well-intentioned. And if they have not believed the gospel, or if they have not heard the gospel, we insist that it’s not their fault.

 

In our view, most people should be saved. Other than those who have lived horribly wicked lives, we believe that most should be saved. And if they’re not, we try to pass the blame onto God.

 

He, we think, should’ve done more. He should’ve given them greater opportunity to hear the gospel and to believe. And we believe that, if only he’d done more, if only he’d worked harder, everyone would believe.

 

God, however, has done everything necessary to provide for our salvation. His work is sufficient. Although, rightfully, he could have left us in sin and judgment, he’s ceaselessly held out his hands to us.

 

This is the point Paul is making in the passage above, as it pertains to Israel. He pointed out that salvation had been received by the Gentiles, who had not sought it. But it had been missed by Israel, who was seeking it.

 

Yet they alone bore the fault of their judgment. Although God had reached out to them, they had refused him. It was they who were disobedient, and it was they who were contrary.

 

The same, you see, applies to so many of us today. Yes, there are those who have received the gospel. There are those who have trusted in Christ and received his blessings. But there are so many who have refused him.

 

And the problem isn’t God or his effort. The problem is us. The problem is our disobedience. The problem is our stubbornness. And the problem is our rejection of the Lord.

 

If we fail to receive the salvation of God, we will be without excuse. We will have no one to blame but ourselves. The fault of our disobedience and contrary nature is our own.

Our Neighbor's Good

 

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”

(1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV)

 

Society tells us to do whatever makes us happy. It tells us we should do that which fulfills us. And it tells us that we deserve these things.

 

It sounds very convincing. It sounds convincing because it frames this in the context of self-care. It tells us that it’s about taking care of both our physical as well as our mental health.

 

And, for the most part, we in the church have bought in. As we go about our lives, we naturally pursue those things that serve us. We pursue those things that satisfy us. We pursue those things that please us.

 

In reality, of course, this flows from our sinful nature. It flows from a nature that is inherently selfish. It flows from a nature which is fundamentally self-centered and self-seeking.

 

 As we look to Scripture, however, we find that it commands the opposite. It calls us to do that which goes against our natural tendencies. It calls us to turn from our selfish tendencies and to put our neighbor ahead of ourselves.

 

This is Paul’s point, in the passage above. He tells us that we’re to seek not our own good, but that of our neighbor. We’re to seek the welfare and the blessing of our neighbor ahead of our own.

 

We see this not only in the above passage, but throughout Scripture. For example, in Philippians 2:3-4 Paul says: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” And in 1 Corinthians 13, we’re told that love does not insist on its own way.

 

In John 13:34-35, Jesus says it this way: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” And we, of course, know how Jesus loved us. He loved us by laying down his life for us.

 

I’m not suggesting that we ignore our health and well-being. If we fail to take care of ourselves, we’ll be of no good to anyone. However, we’re to seek the blessing of others ahead of our own. And we’re to seek not our benefit, but that of our neighbor.

 

In fact, we serve God by serving our neighbor. We love God by loving our neighbor. And we worship God as we help and minister to our neighbor.

The Source of Faith

 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

(Romans 10:17 ESV)

I’ve run into few, over the years, who dispute the importance of the Bible. I’ve run into few who dispute the value of the Word of God. However, that being said, most are prone to neglect it.

Even those who believe that the Bible is inerrant and infallible tend to neglect it. They fail to make use of it. They ignore and disregard it.

As we look at the above passage, we see one reason why the Bible is so important. We find that it’s indispensable for us as Christians. We find, in fact, that we cannot be saved without it.

Paul made clear to his readers that salvation is available to all people. He said that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. He then asked how we’re to call on the Lord if we haven’t believed in him.

It’s clear that we can’t. Unless we believe in the Lord, we will not call on him and be saved. And he went on to argue that we can’t believe in the Lord unless we first hear of him.

This, you see, is why the Word of God is essential. This is why we can’t be saved apart from it. Unless we hear the Word of God, we cannot believe in Jesus. Unless we believe in Jesus, we cannot call on him. And unless we call on him, we cannot be saved.

Faith, you see, is not an inherent quality that we possess. Nor is it an ability on which we act. Just as our salvation is a free gift, given to us by God, so too is faith.

According to Paul, faith comes from hearing. As we hear the Word of God, we are enabled to believe. The Holy Spirit works in us, through the Word, drawing us to faith.

In the same way, God sustains us in faith. He upholds us in faith. And he enables us to persevere in faith. 

It’s for this reason, while explaining the Third Commandment, Martin Luther says we’re to fear and love God so that we do not despise his Word and the preaching of the same, but deem it holy and gladly hear and learn it. The reason we honor the Sabbath Day is that we might hear the Word of God. The reason we keep it holy is that we might receive the blessings God offers to us in his Word.

Knowing that Scripture is vital to our faith, we’re to make use of the opportunities God gives us to receive it. We’re to read it regularly. We’re to study it, both independently and corporately. And we’re to listen to it, we’re to hear it, as it’s preached and taught.

We must not make the mistake of believing that, in this way, we earn or become deserving of God’s mercy. We must, rather, recognize it as God’s gift. We must recognize that God works through his Word, enabling us to believe, that we might receive his salvation.

The Source of Righteousness

 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

(Romans 10:1–4 ESV)

When it comes to our faith, and when it comes to our desire for salvation, there is a common trap into which we fall. And the reason we fall into it is because it flows from our sinful nature. It is, in fact, our default.

The trap to which I’m referring is that of works righteousness. It’s an attempt to earn or to become deserving of the salvation of God. It’s the belief that we determine our salvation by way of ritual or deed.

This is the basis of every religion practiced in the world today, outside of Christianity. It’s the center of their teaching. And it makes up the core of their practice.

This was also the trap into which the Jews had fallen. As Paul expresses his desire for their salvation, in the passage above, he makes clear the reason they were not. Although they were zealous, he says, they were ignorant of the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own.

The righteousness of God, you see, was freely available to them in Jesus. It had been provided to them by his death and resurrection. And it could be received by faith.

Rather than receive the righteousness of God, however, they sought to secure their own. They sought to enact their own. They sought to achieve their own.

But this led only to their condemnation. It led only to their judgment. It did so because righteousness cannot be attained in this way. It did so because true righteousness is found only in Christ.

This, then, results as we attempt to establish our own righteousness. This is the result when we attempt to gain God’s favor apart from Christ. In that case, we receive only condemnation and judgment.

But, in Christ, this righteousness is received freely. And it’s in no way dependent upon us. It results neither from our nature nor from our accomplishments. 

This, then, fills us with peace. It comforts us with certainty. It enables us to rest in the fact that this righteousness is ours in spite of our deficiencies and failures.

Children of God

 “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”

(‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Christians, today, have some really strange ideas when it comes to the desire of God. We have some really strange ideas when it comes to the work of God. Some of us believe, for example, that God was interested in only one nation of people in Old Testament times while, today, he is interested in all. 

Many Christians tend to believe that the Israelites, that the Jews, were and are God’s people because of their bloodline. We believe that the Israelites, that the Jews, are God’s people because of their physical lineage. We believe that the Israelites, that the Jews, are children of God because they are descended from Abraham.

This, then, leads to our focus on world events, as they pertain to the modern-day nation of Israel. It leads to our anticipation of the rebuilding of a Jewish temple and the restoration of the sacrifice, even though we believe Jesus’ sacrifice to be sufficient. And it leads to our belief that the Jews are saved apart from faith in Christ, even though this contradicts the very gospel that we confess and proclaim.

This is addressed  in the above passage and, really, Romans 9 as a whole. Paul makes clear to us, in this chapter, that God’s people have never been identified or defined based on their bloodline. They have always been identified, rather, by faith. They have been defined based on their trust in the promises of God.

Paul tells us in Romans 9 that not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. In other words, the fact that they are Jews, the fact that they are Israelites, does not make them the people of God. Their heritage plays no role whatsoever in their standing before God.

He then, in the passage above, explains to us what it is that does so. He explains what it is that makes us the people of God. And he explains to us what changes our standing with God, placing us in a right relationship with him.

It is not the children of flesh, he says, who are the children of God. It is the children of promise. It is those who have received the promises of God by faith.

He goes on to use Isaac as a case in point. He was not Abraham’s offspring because he was his naturally born son. He was the offspring of Abraham because he had been promised to Abraham by God. And,  more than that, he was the offspring of Abraham because he received this promise of God by faith.

In this way, you see, we are children of Abraham. Even though we are not descended from him in a physical sense, we are his offspring. And we are his offspring because we have received his promise in faith.

From the beginning of time, God has desired not only one people to be his own, but all people. He has desired not one nation to be his own, but all nations. And he has enabled us all to become his people, to become his children, by faith.

Saved from What?

 

“…you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

(Matthew 1:21 ESV)

 

Although Christmas is a Christian holiday, it’s truly a worldwide celebration. It’s a holiday that’s enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians alike. It’s even a holiday that’s celebrated and enjoyed by people of other faiths.

 

Even knowing that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, it’s clear that, for many of us, the true meaning of the holiday has been lost. It’s clear that we don’t understand the significance of his birth. And it’s clear that we don’t understand the reason for this holy day.

 

This is true, even knowing that Jesus is our Savior. It’s true even knowing that he is our Deliverer. It’s true even knowing that he’s our Redeemer.

 

We recognize the correct terms. And we use the correct terms. But we do so without fully grasping their meaning.

 

As I’ve said a couple of times recently, if Jesus came to save us, there is clearly something from which we need to be saved. And it’s this that we fail to grasp. We do not recognize our bondage, nor do we want to.

 

As the angel told Joseph in the above passage, the child to be born was to be named Jesus, which means “The Lord is Salvation.” This was to be his name because of what he was to do. He would save his people from their sins.

 

It’s this that we fail to believe about ourselves. It’s this that we fail to acknowledge about ourselves. And if we do, our tendency is to soften it.

 

We don’t want to acknowledge the fact that we are sinners. We might acknowledge the fact that we are imperfect. And we might acknowledge the fact that we make mistakes. But we struggle to believe or to acknowledge that we are sinners.

 

We also don’t want to believe or acknowledge that we’re deserving of the consequences of sin. We don’t want to believe or acknowledge that we’re deserving of death. And we certainly don’t want to believe or acknowledge that we’re deserving of hell.

 

But this, you see, is exactly why Jesus was born into the world. He was born to save us from sin. He came to deliver us from death and hell.

 

He did this, of course, by his death on the cross. He did this by offering himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He did this by taking upon himself the penalty that we’ve incurred.

 

This is the reason why we celebrate his birth. He came to do for us what we’re unable to do for ourselves. And, in this way, as we trust in him, we are granted the blessings of forgiveness and life everlasting.

A Heart for the Lost?

 “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

(Romans 9:1-5 ESV) 

Scripture is clear about God’s heart for the lost. It’s clear about his desire for the lost. It tells us that he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he should turn from his way and live (Ezekiel 18:23). And it tells us that he desires that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

We’re thankful for this, as it’s for this reason that he’s provided for our salvation. It’s for this reason that he sent his only Son into the world. And it’s for this reason that Jesus suffered and died. 

As his people, then, we know that we’re to share his heart. And it’s for this reason that he’s called us to proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. It’s for this reason that he’s called us to make disciples of all nations.

We see that Paul shared God’s heart, we see that he shared God’s desire for the lost, in the above passage. We see his strong desire for the salvation of his own people. He desired their salvation so much, in fact, that he expressed a willingness to be accursed for their sake.

In this way, he models for us the mind of Christ. He models for us the attitude of Christ. He models for us the mind and the attitude of Christ who was, quite literally, accursed for our sake.

While this is something that I admire, it’s something that I also find very convicting. I ask myself if I would be willing to do the same. And, as I do so, I face a troubling reality.

I do believe that I would be willing to suffer for the sake of others. I believe that I would be willing to endure hardship for the sake of others. I would do so that they might receive the salvation of God.

But would I be willing to die for the lost? This is a harder question to answer. And although I can’t say it with certainty, I may be willing to die for some. I may be willing to die for them knowing the life and salvation that God has in store for me.

I may be willing to die for those who are the closest to me. I may be willing to die for those who are dearest to me. But, for others, I’m far less certain.

However, if it were possible for me to be accursed for their sake, I don’t believe that I would be willing to do so. After all, giving up my life is one thing. But to give up my salvation is another.

This, of course, is not possible. I cannot bear the sins of another. Nor can I take their curse upon myself. The only one who can do so is Christ.

But that being said, this reveals to me my own sin. It reveals to me my own selfishness. It makes plain, again, my need for the grace and mercy of Jesus.

God's Grace in Prayer

  “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

(Romans 8:26–27 ESV)

Quite often, in life, we’re at a complete loss. We don’t know what to do in the face of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. We don’t know which course of action will benefit us the most. And we don’t know which course of action is within the will of God.

For this reason, as we pray, we don’t even know what we should ask. The only thing we know how to do is to express to God our dilemma. The only thing we know how to do is express to him the way that we feel. And, quite honestly, we don’t feel that this is enough.

We feel that more needs to be said. These prayers seem to us empty and hollow. And we fear that we cannot receive God’s help, we fear that we will not receive his blessing, if we’re unable to find a way to put it into words.

We also struggle knowing our tendency to approach God with the wrong attitude. We struggle knowing that we sometimes approach him with a sinful attitude. We struggle knowing that, quite often, our requests flow from our own selfishness or from our covetous desires rather than a desire for God’s will to be done among us.

God’s grace, however, comes to us in many forms. And we see one such form in the passage above. We see the grace of God even in these times of weakness.

Paul assures us that, as children of God, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. Even though we don’t know how to pray as we ought, the Spirit himself intercedes for us. The Spirit of God prays for us. The Holy Spirit brings before the Lord the very prayer that needs to be prayed.

He does so in a way that we cannot. He comes to the Lord with groanings too deep for words. He, in other words, expresses to the Lord those prayers that we’re unable to express.

He intercedes for us rightly. He intercedes for us according to the will of God. He prays the very prayer that God is delighted to answer.

And we are assured that the Lord knows the mind of the Spirit. He knows the mind of the Spirit because their will is One. He knows the mind of the Spirit because they are united in intent    and purpose.

We, then, can be assured that these prayers will be answered. We can be assured that the Spirit’s intercession will be answered. We can be assured that our needs will be met according to the will of God.

This, then, fills us with peace. Even when we don’t know the words that need to be expressed, we have confidence that the Lord will act on our behalf. We know that he’ll provide that which will truly bless us.

The Normal Christian Experience

  “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” 

 (Romans 7:18–19 ESV)

The Christian life can often feel like a struggle. It can feel like an ongoing battle. It feels like a battle as we desire to live for the Lord, and strive to do so. Yet, at the same time, we’re faced constantly with temptation, and we regularly give in to our sinful desires.

We tend to find this discouraging. It causes us to question our Christian maturity. And it can even cause us to question our faith.

We believe that, if we truly trust in Christ, living in obedience to the Lord should be easier. We believe that, if we are mature in faith, resisting temptation should come more naturally. And we believe that, if the Spirit of God truly dwells within us, our sinful nature shouldn’t have such a strong influence in our life.

However, as we look at the above passage, we find that our reasoning is way off base. We find, in fact, that we have it completely backwards. We find that this battle indicates not a lack of faith or maturity. It indicates, rather, that we do have faith and that the Spirit of God is actively working in our life.

Paul, in this passage, is describing his own struggle with sin. And none of us would accuse Paul of being lacking in faith or spiritual maturity. Nor would we dare to call his salvation into question.

He is one of those whom we esteem for his great faith. He’s one of those whose maturity we admire. He’s one of those whom we seek to emulate in our own life of faith.

Yet, even though this is true, he struggled in the same way as the rest of us. He desired to do what was right. He desired to live for the Lord. However, he lacked the ability to carry it out. And he continued to sin. 

It’s clear from this that Paul had the same sinful nature as you and I. And he wrestled with it in the very same way. While he delighted in the law of God, and while he longed to carry it out, he lived in a body of sin that always pulled him in the opposite direction.

This, you see, is not the exception. It’s the norm. It is the shared experience of all who trust in Christ.

I say this not to justify our sin. And I say this not to approve of our wrongdoing. Our sin is still sin, even if it is normal.

I say this to comfort us in the face of this struggle. I say this to ease our doubts as we engage in this battle. It should, in no way, lead us to question our faith or our salvation.

If we had no faith, we wouldn’t struggle with sin at all. If we had no spiritual maturity, we wouldn’t struggle with temptation. And if the Spirit of God were absent from our life, we would have no desire for the things of God.

In that case, we would simply sin. We would live lives of sin, thinking nothing of it. We would engage in wrongdoing without any sense of guilt, and with no desire to live otherwise.

Realizing this, when we sin, we should come to the Lord in a spirit of confession and faith. We should come to him, trusting in Christ for the salvation he’s provided. And we must never allow our ongoing struggle to call this into question.

Righteous in God's Sight

 

“And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

(Genesis 15:6 ESV)

 

 

When we think of the saints, men like Peter, John, and Paul, and when we think of the Patriarchs, men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we think of them as a very spiritual people. We think of them as good and moral people. And we think of them as righteous people.

 

For this reason, we are reluctant to compare ourselves with them, believing that we do not measure up to them. We’re reluctant to liken ourselves to them, believing that we cannot compare with them. We tend to think of them on a tier or a pedestal above ourselves.

 

Looking at their lives, however, we find that they were quite messy. We find that they were sinners, just like us. We find, in fact, that they committed sins that, to us, seem unthinkable.

 

We find, for example, that Abraham allowed his wife to be taken by another man, not once, but twice, to protect himself. We find that Jacob was a liar. Paul was a murderer. And Peter, of course, denied even knowing Jesus.

 

It becomes clear in this way that, like us, they were undeserving of God’s blessing. It becomes clear to us that they too were unable to earn God’s blessing. And it becomes clear to us that, if they were to receive God’s blessing, if they were to receive his salvation, it had to result from his grace.

 

We see this clearly as we look at the passage above. It’s for this reason that Paul quotes this passage in his letter to the Romans in defense of the gospel. He tells us that, having received the promise of God, Abraham believed the Lord. And God credited this to him as righteousness.

 

No one has ever been saved because of their own goodness. No one has ever been saved by their own efforts. Even in the Old Testament, prior to Jesus’ birth, they were saved only by the grace of God through faith.

 

The message of Scripture is consistent. We see the same gospel proclaimed from Genesis through Revelation. We see both the consistency and the faithfulness of God as he’s worked for our salvation.

 

It’s this very truth, then, that we must take to heart. We do not deserve, nor can we earn, the grace of God. We deserve and we can earn nothing more than his wrath.

 

Our salvation is dependent upon Christ alone. And it has been provided to us, from first to last, by Christ alone. It’s by his goodness that we are saved. It’s by his efforts that we are saved. It’s by his sacrifice upon the cross that we have been redeemed.

This salvation is available to each and every one. And it is received through faith in him. As we trust in his work of atonement, and as we trust in his promises, we are saved. Like Abraham, God counts this to us as righteousness.

True to Yourself?

 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”

(‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

We live in an age where our single ambition is to satisfy our every desire. Our single ambition is to gratify our every urge. Our single ambition is to fulfill our every want.

We reason that, if it’s something that we feel, it must be right. We reason that it’s wrong to deny ourselves that which will please us. And we reason that it’s immoral to deny someone else something that would please them.

This, in fact, has become the greatest virtue of the society in which we live. And not only is it lived out openly. It’s also promoted by the media, taught in our schools, and enforced by our laws.

Sadly, this has become true of much of the church as well. No longer do we acknowledge God’s Word as right and true. It is now secondary to our emotions and our fleshly appetites.

We no longer believe these desires to result from our sinful nature. We no longer consider them a violation of God’s law. To deny our desires, we believe, is truly sin.

We’ve both accepted and promoted the mantra that people should do what makes them happy. We’ve accepted and promoted the mantra that people should do what feels right to them. We’ve accepted and promoted the mantra that truth is determined by what we feel.

When it comes to our faith, we understand that Jesus has forgiven our sin. We understand that, by his death, he’s paid the penalty of our sin. But we fail to understand that, in this way, he has also freed us from sin.

It’s this reality that Paul is addressing in the passage above. Paul had already explained to the believers at Rome that, in Christ, they have died to sin. They died to sin in baptism, and they were raised together with Christ to the new life given them by God. And, for this reason, he told them that they were to count themselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

It’s in this context that the above passage was written. And he told them that they were not to allow sin to reign in their mortal bodies. They were not to allow sin to make them obey its passions. And they were not to present their bodies to sin as instruments for unrighteousness.

In other words, Paul called them to deny these desires. He called them to resist these desires. And he told them that they were not to act on these desires.

Instead, they were to present themselves to God as those who had been brought from death to life. They were to live in the freedom and salvation that God had provided them. And they were to do so by presenting their bodies to God as instruments of righteousness.

They were to do so because they were no longer under sin. They were to do so because no longer were they under the dominion of sin. They were to do so because they were under grace. 

What mattered, then, was not what they felt. What mattered was not what they desired. What mattered is the truth God had declared and the life he had provided.

It’s clear, then, that our bodily appetites are not good. It’s clear that the desires of the flesh are not righteous. It’s clear, in fact, that they are sinful. 

For this reason, we must seek not to satisfy them. We must resist them and live the life given to us by God. We must live the life of repentance and faith to which God has called us.

Small, but Mighty

 

“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” 

(Matthew 17:20 ESV)

 

As we consider our faith, and as we live out the Christian life, we often view it on a spectrum. We view it as ranging from that of a new believer, with a young faith, to that of an older believer with a mature faith. And we often tell ourselves that, if only we might grow in faith, then we could do great things for God.

 

We, then, allow this mindset to hold us back from our service of both God and men.  We tell ourselves that we’re not yet mature enough to serve or to be used by God. And we tell ourselves that, someday, we may be able to do more.

 

This seems to be supported by the words of Jesus as we look at the circumstances surrounding the above passage. Jesus had already given to his disciples the authority to cast out demons. In fact, they had already done so. But, in this case, in the case of a man who brought to them his son, they were ineffective.

 

Jesus, when he learned of this, chastised their entire generation for their lack of faith. He referred to them as a faithless and a twisted generation. He, then, cast out this evil spirit himself.

 

When the disciples asked about their inability to do so, Jesus told them that it was because of their little faith. He said that it was because of the smallness of their faith, or the inadequacy of their faith.

 

This, then, feeds our perception that we must become more mature if we’re to serve God.  It feeds our perception that we must become more mature if God is to use us. And this is especially true, we think, if he’s to use us in great ways.

 

We must, however, look at this in the context of his larger statement. As we see in the passage above, he tells them that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, they could move mountains. If they had faith the size of a very small seed, they could work wonders.

 

The problem with the disciples, then, was not the immaturity of their faith. Nor was it the size of their faith. The problem was their lack of faith. They were not trusting in Christ to accomplish this work. They lacked faith when it came to the authority Jesus had given them.

 

We know this because, according to Jesus, it only takes a very small faith to do great things. Faith like a grain of mustard seed, which is tiny, is enough to move mountains. The disciples, then, didn’t need a bigger faith. They simply needed faith.

 

This truth, you see, is not meant to discourage us.  It’s intended to do the exact opposite. It’s meant as an encouragement. It tells us that God is able to use us in great ways if we have only a very small faith. And it assures us that it doesn’t take greatness in terms of faith to accomplish great works for the Lord.

 

We, then, must not use this as an excuse for our lack of service. Nor can we use it to excuse our unwillingness to serve. We can trust that God will empower us to serve him, even when our faith is small. We can trust that God will accomplish his purpose through us, even when our faith is immature.

We Need a Savior

 

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.”

(Romans 5:12-14 ESV)

 

We all understand and confess that we are sinners. We understand and confess that we’re far from perfect. We understand and confess that we violate the law of God and fail to live up to his standards. 

 

However, this is all that we understand sin to be. We believe that it refers only to our acts of disobedience against the law of God. We believe that it refers only to our violations of the will of God.

 

This certainly is sinful. Sin, however, refers also to something more. It refers to the state in which we find ourselves. It refers to condition in which we are born.

 

What I’m speaking of is commonly referred to as original sin. And what this means is that, from the time we are conceived, we have a natural bent, a natural tendency, to rebel against God. It means that we have a natural desire for those things that are opposed to the Lord and his will.

 

We do not enter into the world as innocent beings. Nor are we born into the world as good. We enter this world as enemies of God.

 

It’s for this reason that we’re in need of the salvation of God from the very beginning of life. Even the sweet, cuddly babies that we enjoy are sinners deserving only of God’s judgment. And we know this because they too are subject to the consequences of sin.

 

We see this as we look at the above passage. In it, Paul discusses those who lived between the time of Adam and Moses. He addresses those who lived between the fall of Adam that the law which was given.

 

There was this period where the law had not yet been given. It had not yet been spoken by God, nor had it been written down. And, for this reason, the people could not have been guilty of violating his law as did Adam, who violated a direct command.

 

They, however, remained guilty. We know this because they were subject to the consequences of sin, namely death. Death, you see, would not have been suffered had they not been guilty.

 

So, although sin is certainly a violation of God’s law, we must understand that it is something more. We must understand that it is a state, it’s a condition, in which we find ourselves. And it’s this state that leads us to commit acts of sin.

 

This sinful condition makes us guilty. It makes us deserving of God’s judgment. And this is true of us from even the beginning of our life.

 

We, then, are in need of forgiveness from the very beginning of life. We’re in need of salvation from the very beginning of life. We’re in need of atonement, we’re in need of redemption, from the very beginning of life.

 

The good news, of course, is that Jesus has provided just that. The good news is that his salvation has been provided and made available to all mankind. And it is received by faith in Christ.

 

 

Please, Be Quiet!

 “…aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 ESV)

People, today, have an opinion on everything. They seem to believe that they are experts when it comes to each and every subject.  They think they know the best course of action when it comes to politics, world affairs, economics, and even sports. 

They are also nosy. They want to know what’s going on in the lives of those around them. And they seem to think they have the answers to everyone else’s problems.

Additionally, we live in a society where everyone wants to be heard. They want to be recognized. And they want to stand out.

With the advent of social media, it even feels as though this is within our reach. We aspire to be the next YouTube sensation, or the next internet celebrity. We aspire to be the next great influencer. We seek to do so by making our every thought, our every viewpoint, known to anyone and everyone.

We are loud-mouths. We’re blowhards. We’re absolute windbags.

This is true of us, even as believers in Jesus. It’s true of us as churches. We want to express our every opinion, and we do so tactlessly.

The principle cited by Paul, in the above passage, is absolutely foreign to us. It’s one that most of us would never even consider. He tells us to aspire to live quietly and to mind our own affairs.

Rather than expressing every opinion and constantly attempting to be heard, we’re to work with our hands. In other words, we’re to speak less and toil more. We’re to pursue a peaceful existence, seeking only to carry out our duties and vocations.

The result, he says, is that we’ll walk properly before outsiders. We’ll be respected by outsiders. And, as we focus on our responsibilities, we will not find ourselves in need.

So, in this age of opinionated expression, may we learn to keep our thoughts to ourselves. In this age of unfettered assertion, may we mind our own business. May we tend to our responsibilities, seeking to live a quiet and a peaceful existence.