God's Grace Shining Through The Darkness - Romans 11:1-6

Romans 11:1-6 "I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."

Introduction:

I'll never forget the first time I saw a car with the new sort of halogen headlights that are common place today. The light was blinding, and targeted. The particular night in which I was driving was dark, rainy and foggy. Despite the darkness, those halogen headlights cut through the darkness, the rain and the fog. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is often likened unto light shining in the darkness (see 2 Corinthians 4:1-6). The Gospel's ability to cut through spiritual darkness and to reach the human heart is all do to its source in the Light of the World - The Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:9-13). As we read Paul's words about the nation of Israel and his burden for their salvation, he references an episode in their history involving the prophet Elijah. 

Elijah's ministry is recorded in 1 Kings 17-2 Kings 2. Elijah ministered in a time in Israel's history where spiritual darkness abounded in the court, the temple and the home lives of the people. In perhaps the greatest mountain top experience of Elijah's ministry - his defeat of the prophets of Baal atop Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:20-46) - we see Elijah's moments of despair as a flees in the aftermath of that public confrontation. Fleeing for his life from the threats of Queen Jezebel, 1 Kings 19 portrays Elijah fleeing some 100 miles to Mount Horeb. 

Elijah had lost all hope. The darkness he fought for so long had pressed into his soul - threatening to capsize his faith. He requested of God to take his life in 1 Kings 19:4, only to have an angel minister to him with food (19:5). Once more the angel would come in 1 Kings 19:6-8, urging Elijah to eat - since the journey was too great for him. 

Elijah arrives at Mount Horeb. As a prophet, Elijah was called to speak for God. In desperation, Elijah needed to hear from God - and He did. Elijah's complaint in 1 Kings 19:14 concerned his alleged isolation: 

"Then he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

God then responds in 1 Kings 19:15-18 with a new assignment for Elijah and the words we find quoted by the Apostle Paul:

"The Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; 16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. 18 Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Notice how God's grace cuts through the darkness in the verses above:

1. We see first and foremost the calling grace of God - summoning Elijah back to his senses, reminding him of who he is and Whose he is, in 1 Kings 19:16. God's grace never excludes the will of man. 

2. Next we find the grace of God's prophetic word in 19:17. Who would have the last word in Israel as to how things were going to go? Not Jezebel! Not those in power! Such people can only act to the degree God permits them to act. Furthermore, God even makes mention of what will be Elijah's successor. The prophetic power of God's Word will continue unabated. 

3. Then thirdly we see the grace of election in 1 Kings 19:18. God had set aside 7,000 - a remnant - or as Paul describes it in Romans 11:5-6 "In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." 

On this third point, the Baptist Faith & Message describes God's gracious choice as follows:

"Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility."

So we see then God's grace, in all its refracted colors, shining through the dreary days of Elijah and igniting hope in the Apostle Paul. The Gospel shines forth its light into every alley way - urging all men, without exception, to believe, repent and be saved. God's initiative and calling shines forth to draw sinners to a saving knowledge of the truth. God's graces of His calling, His Word and gracious choice are a three-braided rope of grace, never bypassing but beckoning the human will to respond to such amazing grace.

God is ever reaching out through the darkness to those who are spiritually blind, spiritually deaf and who are at odds with Him. God's work of salvation is His work and thankfully, no matter how dark it may get - the Gospel's candle dispels the darkness. As the Gospel shines through the darkness, to the heart open to truth - a free decision issues forth (John 3:11-12; Romans 10:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9). Paul's point is that His hope for the salvation of His fellow Israelites rests with God (Jonah 2:9). He urges. He pleads for them to believe, repent and be saved. So it is with all that are brought into contact with the Gospel. Would it be that they respond to God's grace shining in the darkness.

Gospel centered view of gender, marriage and the church

1 Timothy 2:3-4 "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and tocome to the knowledge of the truth."

When we consider the significance of the Gospel, we not only understand it's importance in regards to how sinners are brought to Christ in saving faith, but also how it informs our understanding of everything in life. To put it another way, some of the most basic truths behind what it means to be human, the meaning of marriage and the purpose of the church would not make sense apart from the Gospel. Today's post aims to demonstrate a Gospel-centered view of gender, marriage and the church from 1 Timothy 2:1-4:10.

What is the Gospel?

When we consider the Gospel or the "Good News", 1 Timothy 2:1-4:10 contains key verses that enable us to define the Excellent Savior, The Event of Salvation and Experience of salvation proclaimed in the Gospel. First, the Excellent Savior, 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." The good news about "The Good News" is that we are brought into contact with this Excellent Savior, Jesus Christ, Who is man for us before God and God to us who are undeserving men and women. 1 Timothy 3:16b gives further detail - "He who was revealed in the flesh,Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory." This Excellent Savior, God in human flesh, came down to earth to become a sinless human being for men, to minister among men, to die for men and to raise from the dead to be believed upon by men. Then, this same Jesus ascended up into heaven to demonstrate He being worthy to be worshipped by men. 

The Gospel tells of an Excellent Savior Who achieved the event of salvation, as recorded in 1 Timothy 2:6 "who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." This event entailed a transaction, a payment for sin by the Son to the Father. This event occurred on the cross wherein the Son became the curse of sin (Galatians 3:13) and became the very embodiment of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) while of course remaining the sinless Savior. All that we are and did became credited to Jesus so that all He did and is would be credited (or imputed) to us at saving faith. 

The Excellent Savior achieved the event of salvation, so that their could be a definite experience of salvation to all who are drawn by the Spirit to freely believe on Him. 1 Timothy 4:10 states - "For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." Jesus Christ is the Savior of all men in a historical and general sense, in that He died to delay the wrath of God and to give men the opportunity to hear the Gospel, repent and believe, as well as to show forth His goodness to them in common grace. (see Matthew 5:45; 2 Peter 3:9) In a second eternal and specific sense, Jesus Christ died specifically for believers, His church, who individually drawn by the Father and called by the Spirit make up the church. (see John 6:44; 16:8-12 and Acts 20:28) Hence the Gospel promises a genuine, definite experience of salvation at the moment of saving faith. This is the Gospel.

A Gospel-centered view of gender

As we noted earlier, issues such as gender cannot be grasped apart from the Gospel, nor for that matter, would the Gospel be understood apart from gender! The Bible is very clear when it comes to God's central focus on gender in Genesis 1:27 "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." God purposefully made man and woman because He intended for them to express distinctive equality within the bounds of their marriage relationship. God Himself expresses distinction and equality within Himself. The Bible reveals God to be One God (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:37-39) that exists as three co-equal yet distinct Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14) 

Biblical manhood is defined as men being spiritual leaders in their homes, churches and communities without hesitation. (1 Timothy 2:1-2, 8) Biblical womanhood portrays women as co-equal sharers in the Person and work of Jesus Christ while distinctively finding covering under the loving leadership of their husbands. (1 Corinthians 11:1-3) For women who may not be married, the concept of Jesus Christ being their covering, as well as their inherent value as human beings before God is underscored time and again. (Galatians 3:28) 

When Jesus came to this world, among the benefits He achieved on the cross, restoration of manhood and womanhood in the context of saving faith was among such achievements. (Colossians 3:12-21; 1 Timothy 2:9-15). Galatians 4:4 reminds us that in the very act of the incarnation, the Son chose to use the womb of the virgin to enter from eternity into time. Womanhood's purposes and dignity are restored in Christ. Luke 8 portrays various women serving Jesus and participating in the work He was doing. Undoubtedly the distinction of men and women are preserved insomuch as Jesus called the twelve disciples to be Apostles. Nonetheless, the equal value that women had in Jesus' sight is proven in the fact that they were the first eyewitnesses and proclaimers of His resurrection from the dead. (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20). 

Jesus also came to restore true manhood by becoming a true man, as recorded in passages such as Philippians 2:7. The place of gender functions so centrally in all that Jesus came to accomplish. The distinctive equality of men and women that was lost in the fall and warped by sin is restored in a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ by grace through faith. 

Whenever an attempt is made to erase the distinctions of gender, the Biblical Gospel is abandoned in favor of a man-made idea. The vision of the true and living God is blurred in favor of a deity that is neither real nor saving. Having then looked at the Gospel and a Gospel centered view of gender, we thirdly turn to....

A Gospel-centered view of marriage

What is marriage in the Biblical sense? How specifically defined is marriage? Genesis 1:26 and 2:24-25 specifically define marriage as one man, one woman and covenant with God for life. The Baptist faith and Message 2000 aptly notes about marriage: "God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race."

The Baptist Faith and Message (BFM 2000) goes on: "The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation."

This summary of the Biblical material demonstrates that marriage proclaims the truth of the Gospel (Jesus and His church). Whenever we see Jesus reiterating this specific, sacred and standard definition of marriage in Matthew 19:3-5 and Paul clearly connecting marriage to what Jesus achieved on the cross for the sake of His bride, the church, the connection between marriage and the Gospel cannot be avoided. To advocate any other sort of arrangement: co-habitation, pornography, adultery, pre-marital sex or same-sex marriage is lose sight of what marriage was designed to be. None of these other arrangements convey anything about the Gospel and demonstrate themselves to be portrayals of men and women having relationships apart from God's sanction and will. 

A Gospel-centered view of the church

The last point on marriage leads naturally into considering a Gospel-centered view of the church. In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 we see two ordained offices being mention: namely the Pastor (3:1-7) and the Deacon (3:8-13). The qualifications for each of these is over-whelmingly predicated upon sound marriage and family life. Why emphasize marriage and family in the qualifications for leadership and servanthood in the local church? Marriage is an enormous deal to God and it functions intimately with the Gospel. The church is the church of the living God, the "pillar and foundation of truth". (1 Timothy 3:15-16)

As one comes in 1 Timothy 4, warning is given about the error that will be circulating in the times leading up to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Pastors have the responsibility to proclaim the truths just mentioned. (1 Timothy 4:6) If a pastor fails to proclaim the Gospel, a gospel-centered view of gender, marriage, the church and really the whole counsel of God, he is forgetting the fact he will stand before the Lord to give an account. (Hebrews 13:17)

In like manner, the congregation is charged in upholding and living out Gospel-centered manhood and womanhood, marriages and church life. (see Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21; 1 Timothy 4:10). If churches and pastors give ground in any of the above areas, they have weakened their ability to be faithful stewards of the Gospel and end-up aiming to please men more than God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ must ever be at the center of any discussion we have about gender, marriage or the church. Why? Because the Gospel reminds us that apart from Jesus Christ, we would be lost in our sins and without hope. Such truths will ensure that we approach all people with truth in love and love in truth, since Gospel-centered living is what God is calling all Christ-followers to articulate and model in this 21st century world.  

The centrality of dying to self and cross bearing for the Christian

Matthew 10:38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."

Introduction and review
We ended yesterday's post on the meaning of the phrase "take up your cross", noting that the disciples of Jesus who were the Apostles in Acts ended up rejoicing in the face of persecution. They had taken up their cross in that situation, identifying with Jesus and loving Him above their own lives, comfort and self-preservation. 

We also discovered that when Jesus made these statements about "taking up the cross", there was a specific background event that would had stuck in the disciples mind. An attempted insurrection against Rome had taken place during or around the time of Jesus' childhood in Galilee. Thousands of Jews lost their lives and were crucified on crosses that lined the roadways of Galilee. In effect, that event would had been the "911" of their day. When Jesus told his disciples that they needed to "take up their cross" to follow Him, He was spelling out them that if need be, they would suffer the same end as all the followers of Judas the Galilean. How far are you and I willing to go and be in our discipleship journey with Jesus Christ? Today's post wants to look at all the instances Jesus makes this statement about "taking up the cross" to flesh out further insights. Unless Christians were willing to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow the Master, then they will fail to understand what it means to be a Christian who lives for and serves Jesus Christ.

1. Matthew 16:23-25  "But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me,Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Here we see the second occurrance of this phrase in Matthew's Gospel. It is in the context of Peter's grand confession of Jesus at Caesarea Philippi. One would think that after such an extraordinary revelation and confession, there would be no trouble. Yet, Peter is influenced by Satan and compelled to tell Jesus to skip the cross. It is at this point Jesus tells Peter the above statements. The cross alone can sustain the Christian, even in the midst of extraordinary illuminations received in seasons of insight from the Lord. Illuminations from the Spirit through the Word of God are needed and central to the Christian walk. Yet, the cross, not insights, is what enables the Christian faith to withstand the assaults of the enemy and move forward.

2. Mark 8:34-35  "And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.35 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it."


Mark's version of the scene at Caesarea Philippi includes an additional detail of Jesus addressing not only Peter and the disciples but the crowds. What are the requirements for following Him? Plain and simple: denying oneself and taking up the cross. Self-denial is so pre-requisite to following Jesus that it must be at the heart of saving faith itself. Some will try to pass off these verses on discipleship and Lordship as something one does after saving faith. However, the concepts of "self-denial" and "taking up one's cross" distinguishes genuine saving faith from its counterfeit version.

3. Luke 9:22-24 "saying, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.' 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it." 

Not only does "self-denial" and "cross-brearing" characterize the beginning of saving faith, but it also marks the tone of the walk of faith in sanctification. How frequent ought the Christian aim at "taking up the cross" and "denying self"? According to Luke's text, daily.

4. Luke 14:26-28 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?"

Dying to self and cross-bearing also enter into the realm of counting how much it is going to cost to follow Jesus. The short answer is everything. Self is the chief enemy of the Christian in their spiritual growth. Yes, Satan and his minions wage war and thus we know that we are in a spiritual battle. However, the self-life and desire to put my needs, my drives, my relationships above Jesus Christ is the internal struggle with which every Christian must battle. Preachers can be towers of exposition and slay devils with their sermons. However, preachers can yield to the flesh and instantly become weakened and anemic. Churchs and Christians must yield to the "death of self" message and recognize it as the heart of the Gospel itself. 

5. John 19:16-18 "So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between."

Why was Jesus so insistent on this twin emphasis of "denying of self" and "taking up of the cross"? Certainly such truths would had caused people to think of the tragic event that lain at the background of these statements. However when Jesus taught the "death to self" message, He was also looking ahead to His own pending crucifixion. The time would come when He would take up His own cross in a literal sense, forever altering the significance of crucifixion. Jesus never thought of Himself apart from the cross. 

Concluding thoughts
In closing today I want to list out life applications that correspond to each of the verses above to enable the reader to see the significance behind "self-denial" and "cross bearing". Why are these truths so germane to the Gospel and the Christian life?

1. Central in saving faith. Mark 8:34-35; Luke 9:22-24

2. Central in sanctification (what follows from faith) Matthew 16:23-25; Luke 9:22-24; 14:26-28

3. Central to supernatural ministry. Matthew 10:38-42; Acts 5:29,41-42

4. Centers on the Son. John 19:16-18; Hebrews 12:1-3

25 Riches of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

In this chief passage of the Apostle Paul's Epistle (or letter) to the Romans, we behold a statement regarding the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel must be heard or read at least once a day. Why? Because there are so many rich truths and benefits that are contained in it and explained by it. Like a brilliant multifaceted diamond, whenever we turn the Gospel diamond over and over in our minds and hearts, the Holy Spirit can shine His illuminating light upon its facets. As the Spirit of God illuminates the Gospel, we become more convinced of it being what it truly is - the power of God unto salvation. Below I have listed out some of the truths and benefits that are tied to the Good News of Jesus Christ. The reader may note that the headings correspond to each Person of the Trinity, being that the Triune God is the Architect, Achiever and Applier of salvation.  

God the Father's plans for each of His people described in the Gospel

1. Foreknown    Rom 8:29-31; 2 Pt 1:1

2. Predestined   Romans 8:29-30

3. Chosen  Ephesians 1:3-11

4. (incarnation), Son sent  John 3:16

5. (Pentecost) Holy Spirit sent Acts 2

6. Calling Rom 8:29-30; Ephesians 4:1

The Son's purchased achievement of salvation desribed by the Gospel

1. Reconciliation Rom 5; 2 Cor 5:15-21

2. Expiation or taking away of sin 1 John 2:2

3. Propitiation or satisfaction of God's wrath  Hebrews 8-10

4. Forgiveness of sins  Eph 1:7

5. Credited or imputed righteousness earned by His life and purchased by His death  Romans 4:24-25; 2 Cor 5:21

The Spirit's application of salvation described by the Gospel

1. Calling. John 16:8-12

2. Regeneration  1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18

3. Saving Faith. Eph 2:8-9

4. Repentance. 2 Tim 2:24-25

5. Conversion. Acts 3:19

6. Justification. Romans 4

7. Adoption. Romans 8:14-16

8. Sanctification. Romans 6:4-12

9. Preservation of our faith. Jude 24-25

10. Illumination of the scriptures Ps 119:105

11. His permanent indwelling. Eph 1:11-13

12. His filling ministry. Eph 5:18

13. Future glorification of believers. Romans 8:30-31

14. Raising believers at Christ's return

1 Thess 4:13-18

These listings are a sample of the richness of the Gospel. Each could be a blog post on its own. The point is to show the reader how wonderful the Gospel is and why we need to hear it, read it and tell it to ourselves everyday. By doing so, we as Christians will be reminded of who we are and Whose we are. By telling ourselves the Gospel, we will then desire to tell it to others.

P1 Reaching to make a difference - James 1:17-25

James 1:17-18 ¹⁷ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ¹⁸ In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Introduction:

The church that God has blessed me to pastor and to be a part of is a church that reaches out to people. However whenever I look at this passage of James 1:17-27, I discover that there are specific ways in which we or any church can be more effective in being a church that reaches to make a difference. Today's post is all about encouraging every church and every born-again child of God to reach out to make a difference. Five specific ways of "reaching" are mentioned here in James 1:17-27.  We will list them and then briefly expound on each of them:

1. Reaching out with the Gospel 1:17-18
2. Reaching up in prayer 1:19-21a
3. Reaching for the Bible
1:21b-25
4. Reaching towards holiness 1:26
5. Reaching the hurting 1:27


So how can churches and disciples of Jesus reach to make a difference? Notice first of all....


Churches reach out with the Gospel. James 1:17-18
The Book of James is the earliest New Testament we have and contains the earliest instructions to the church following Jesus' ascension. The Gospel in James' letter centers around the miracle that is regeneration. Regeneration, in the words of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is: "a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." The Gospel message is the vehicle through which the Holy Spirit works to bring the gifts of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and repentance (2 Timothy 2:25-26). In-as- much as the local church is composed of Christ's royal ambassadors telling sinners to "believe, repent and be reconciled to God", the Gospel's results cannot occur without the Spirit working through us. God desires to make a difference in the lives of people and has so ordained the preaching and teaching of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 1:21) This effort of reaching out with the Gospel is the primary task of the church and the chief reason why Jesus has to occupy until His return. (Matthew 28:18-20) So churches that reach in making a difference reach out with the Gospel, but notice secondly....


Churches must reach up in prayer. James 1:19-21a
The wording of James 1:19-21a reminds me of two other passages of scripture that exhort believer's to pray.  The first is Paul's admonition in 1 Timothy 2:8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." A heart full of bitterness will never be able to be a heart full of prayer. This is why we see the second passage of Ephesians 4:30-32 "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Whenever we see James writing his words, implied in the instruction is the need to reach up to God in prayer. Notice what he says in James 1:21 "in humility receive the Word implanted...". How else do you humbly receive what God has, except through prayer? As Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:4-5 "And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Or even more so consider Jude's instructions on the need to reach up to God in prayer in Jude 1:20 "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit." So any Christian or church that is going to reach out to make a difference needs to reach out with the Gospel and reach up in prayer. Lets consider one more way of reaching for today, namely.....


Churches much reach for the Bible. James 1:21b-25
Clearly the bulk of James' instructions centers around the Christian's individual life and the church's corporate life being transformed by the scriptures. Notice the following statements in 1:21b-25:


1:21b - "in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls."


1:22a - "But prove yourselves doers of the word...."


1:23 - "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror."


1:25 - "But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."

Why does James so emphasize this point of reaching for the Bible? Because the same Words that convert in James 1:17-18 are the same words that cleanse the soul of the saint in 1:19-25. James cites or alludes to nearly 90 passages from the Old Testament and the words of Jesus in his short letter of five chapters. James' instructions are so saturated with scripture that not a verse scarcely goes by where he is not alluding to an Old Testament statement or a word of Jesus. This ought to tell us something as disciples of Jesus and churches living in the 21st century - we need to be Bible saturated. Unless we are Bible saturated people, we cannot saturate our culture with Jesus Christ. Churches that reach to make a difference reach out with the Gospel, reach up to God in prayer and reach for their Bibles.

More tomorrow....

Defining the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1-5 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.



What constitutes the core of the Gospel?
In the above text we see presented the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Three areas are presented that provide starting points for knowing the God of the Bible:


1. Salvation by grace through Faith Alone


2. Jesus Christ


3. The Scriptures. 


Below we will unpack these three-core truths of the Gospel in order to identify how one can tell when they are being faithful to it.





1. Salvation is received by Grace through Faith Alone. 15:1-2
The Gospel is received only one way - by faith alone. John 1:12 states - "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."  It is God's grace which delivers the divine gifting of faith, whereby the sinner is positioned to make a decision of trust in Jesus Christ.  As a matter of fact, the next verse, John 1:13, affirms the necessity of God's grace for saving faith - "who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." .


All belief systems claiming to provide salvation must affirm not only the necessity of faith, but the sufficiency of it.  Faith by itself is enough to receive the gift of eternal life.  Faith alone is the exclusive means ordained by God whereby a sinner is reconciled and credited by God with Christ's righteousness. Once declared righteous (what the Bible calls "justified"), God also declares in Romans 8:14-16 that I am  a son by adoption, reconciled and loved. From the starting point of saving faith, I walk in progressive obedience and desire for God, or what we call sanctification. (Romans 6:12-13)  We are saved by grace through faith alone, and true conversion results in a working faith that is never alone. (James 2:14-26)  So saving faith is the first fundamental truth or starting point for understanding the Gospel, but now lets consider the second....



2. Salvation is in Christ alone. 15:3-5
The Gospel centers around one Person as both the source and object of saving faith - Jesus Christ.  It is vital that we get Jesus right, and that we have the right Jesus. A Jehovah Witness Christ cannot save, since their version of Jesus presents him as just a creature. The Mormon Jesus cannot save either, since He is some type of hybrid creature that is neither fully God nor fully man. A Muslim version of Jesus cannot save, since in their book, the Quran, Jesus never died on the cross.


So which Jesus are we referring to when we say: Jesus Christ alone can save sinners from the wrath of God to come? Only the Jesus presented in the Bible can save. Christ's death, burial, resurrection and appearances are the focus of 1 Corinthians 15:1-5.  More could be brought in from other scriptures: namely His human life before His crucifixion, His Eternal Deity prior to His taking on humanity, and then His ascension into Heaven. 


Furthermore, Christ is returning again in a literally, bodily return. The truth of Jesus' second advent or coming is spoken of in over 200 places in scripture. 

Jesus Christ is not only fully man is but also fully God. 


Along with the belief of there being One God, Christians assert the full Deity of Jesus Christ.  He perfectly and visibly reveals the Father, with whom He shares the same, undivided nature.  Additionally, along with God the Son, Christians assert the full Deity and Personality of the Holy Spirit.  He functions as the third Person of the Trinity who enjoys equal fellowship in sharing the One, undivided nature with the Father and the Son. (Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:9-23; Acts 5:4-5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; Revelation 4)  Jesus Christ is our gateway to the Divine Reality of the Trinity. (Ephesians 2:18)


Why mention all of these details? Because if we get the wrong Jesus, we will end up with no salvation. The two fundamental truths of the Gospel we have looked at thus far are that people are reconciled to God by grace through: a). Faith alone in b). Christ alone. All that we just mentioned above is contained in the most basic confession of saving faith: Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord. But now lets consider one more fundamental starting point in understanding the Gospel.....



3. Salvation is understood from the scripture alone. 15:3-5
Paul's description of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 is saturated with references to the Bible.  We see the Bible referenced as "the Gospel that was preached", "the word" and twice we see the Bible called "the scriptures".  Salvation cannot take place without the presence, preaching or explanation of the scriptures to the hearer. (Romans 10:8-16)  In fact faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)  After all, Psalm 119:105 states: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."


Just as we noted on having the right Jesus as the Object of saving faith, we need to be sure we have the right book when defining the good news of Jesus Christ. No other religious book in the world can be considered the "Word of God" save the Bible. Out of all the characteristics we could cite for proving the uniqueness of the scriptures, the chief trait of Divine inspiration is evidence of fulfilled prophecy. No other book in the world claiming to be God's words has a shred of fulfilled prophecy, except the Bible. Furthermore, no other book in the world can convert the human heart to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ except the Bible. 



Only when we are right on all three can we say we are being faithful to the Gospel
In order to get the Gospel right, you have to be certain about the roles of faith, Christ and the scriptures. God's grace alone saves through faith alone in (the right) Jesus alone Who is presented in One Book - the Bible.  Any deviation, addition or deletion from any one of these areas will fail the test of what doctrinally defines the core of the Gospel.



Closing thoughts
When a person is brought to saving faith, they may not fully comprehend these truths in all their detail - yet there will be a fundamental understanding as provided by the Holy Spirit.  True saving faith acknowledges that God is addressing them through the Bible, that Christ alone can save and that by faith alone can they receive the  gift of salvation.  Once converted, the Christian builds the remainder of their Christian life from those three starting points, which comprise the core of the Christian faith.  The circumference of the Christian life, though ever growing and expanding in understanding and obedience, operates from this core.  May you and I today make it our business to know these three areas as much as we can: namely the roles of saving faith, Christ and the scriptures.

God's Gospel Lamp

Isaiah 42:6-7 “I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness,I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon and those who dwell in darkness from the prison."

Introduction:

Often times when we read passages in the New Testament, we can very easily rush over the many Old Testament scriptures that are quoted.  Case in point is Paul's sermon to the Jews at Pisidia in Acts 13:17-43 and then a second statement that he makes a week later in Acts 13:44-52.  Paul's two messages are very powerful and sweeping in their coverage and presentation of the Gospel. Both are anchored to two Old Testament references that give us a clue to interpreting and applying the whole of Acts 13:17-52 to our lives. I'm titling this post: "God's Gospel Lamp" in light of what we read in the two main Old Testament references of Habakkuk 1:5 in Acts 13:41 and Isaiah 42:6 in Acts 13:47. 

How we find God's Gospel lamp being referred to by Paul in his statements in Acts 13.

In Paul's first sermon of Acts 13:17-43, Paul is linking together all of redemptive history to the Person and work of Jesus Christ. As he draws that first sermon to a close, he mentions Habakkuk 1:5 in Acts 13:41 - "Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish;
For I am accomplishing a work in your days, A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.’” Why would Paul quote this passage? The prophet Habakkuk had ministered some 600 years before Christ in a spiritually dark Southern Kingdom of Judah. Times were so bad that at the opening of his prophecy, Habakkuk cries out to God: "Why?" God's response to Habakkuk's complaints over the wickedness of his nation was that He was going to Divinely send an even more wicked nation, the Babylonians, to discipline His people.  Such news is described by God in the terms we find being quoted by Paul. In other words, how God was going to bring about His redemptive purposes was going to be unexpected. Habakkuk writes in Habakkuk 2:1 "I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
And how I may reply when I am reproved."  In other words, the prophet was going to await until God showed Him the light of His purposes - which of course He would.  God's Gospel lamp was shining in Habakkuk's day, and Paul's usage of Habakkuk's prophecy in Acts 13:41 indicates that the Gospel Lamp was shining brightly in the place Paul was preaching.

The second text we find is Paul's quotation of Isaiah 42:6 in Acts 13:47 - "For so the Lord has commanded us,
‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”  Isaiah had written some 150 years prior to Habakkuk. In Isaiah's prophecy of Isaiah 42 we see a prediction made of the "Servant of the Lord", the coming Messiah - whom of course is identified in the New Testament as Jesus Christ. The Servant of the Lord is the light in Isaiah 42:6 and now Paul is saying in Acts 13:47 that Jesus, the "The Light of the World" is in a sense going to shine through Him to bring forth the light of the Gospel.  Again, God's Gospel lamp burned brightly in the prophetic statements of Isaiah and burns brightly is the apostolic statements of Paul. 


Point of Application: You and I as Jesus' disciples are to carry forth God's Gospel lamp.

How we see God's Gospel lamp shining forth in Paul's two sermons

Having focused our attention on the two key Old Testament texts that show God's Gospel lamp, we can now briefly consider three ways in which God's Gospel lamp is shining forth in the two sermons and sections of Acts 13:17-43 and 13:44-52.

1. The Gospel lamp is revealed in the scriptures. Acts 13:17-22, 47

I won't take time to unfurl the grandeur of the many scriptures referred to by Paul.  Lets just say for now Paul traces virtually every era of redemptive history from Abraham in Genesis, through Moses, through the Judges, through the united Kingdoms of Saul and David, to the days of Jesus.  The scriptures unfold for us the Gospel lamp. 

2. The Gospel lamp is Jesus Christ. Acts 13:23-37

As Paul delivers his two sermons, the focal point of both is none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12) and the lamp Who reveals God fully and completely (Hebrews 1:1-2; Revelation 21:23). The lamp that the prophets saw in faint outline through the telescope of prophecy shines brilliantly in the New Testament age. Jesus' virgin birth, incarnation, life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension occupies the fulcrum upon which history and eternity pivots. Jesus Christ is the Gospel lamp, Who is revealed in the scriptures, and thus...

3. God's Gospel lamp is carried forth by Christians. Acts 13:44-52

As Paul preached the Gospel, the light of the glory of Jesus Christ shined brightly.  The mystery of God's Sovereign elective purposes (so deemed by the Baptist Faith & Message 2000) and man's sure choice of rejecting the Gospel are set side by side in the text.  On the one hand, Sovereign grace alone explains why the crowd believed the Gospel in Acts 13:48 - "When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." When Sovereign grace attended the preaching of the Gospel, the Gentiles freely and genuinely believed and were saved. Yet, Paul indicates that those who rejected the Gospel did so of their own accord. The Gospel lamp is God's lamp. All who respond do so because of Sovereign grace working in their hearts.  All who reject do so because of their own decision. As Paul says in Acts 13:46 - "since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life...". 

What the Lord told Paul in Acts 13:47 can be applied to us as disciples of Jesus today.  2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (20)"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Would it be that you and I as believers in Christ carry forth God's Gospel lamp, the Lord Jesus Christ, by shining forth His Gospel through the scriptures. 

 

The angels: God's highlighters of Grace

1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

Introduction:
The first chapter of the book of 1 Peter is a wondrous chapter that speaks about the nature and strength of God's grace in our salvation. The whole theme of 1 Peter has to do with standing firm in the grace of God, with such grace being viewed as the starting point in 1 Peter 1.1  As we consider some of these opening thoughts, our interest in today's post has to do with that curious little phrase tucked in at the end of 1 Peter 1:12 - "....things into which angels long to look."  Have you ever thought about the angels marveling and wondering about your salvation? Why does Peter tie together angels, God's Word and our salvation? Scripture reveals the relationship angels have to God's revelation of Himself in His words both spoken and written.  Additionally, angels aid us in appreciating God's might, majesty and marvelous grace. (Hebrews 1:14) The angelic realm in scripture functions like a set of highlighter markers to bring into sharp relief features pertaining to God's might, majesty and marvelous grace.  

1. The Angels communicated God's might at creation.
Like rays are to the sun or like torches are in lighting the path to a king's throne room, angels are created lights that point and communicate the glory of God. (Psalm 104:3,4) As you begin to explore the scriptures, you discover in general that angels are integrally connected to Word of God.  Billy Graham comments about angels in the episode of God appearing to Moses in the burning bush: "This again shows that God used angels (or appeared as an angel) to make His will known and communicate His decisions to men."2 As you consider both the Hebrew and Greek meanings of the word translated angel, at the heart lies the meaning of "messenger". 

So when the angels were created along with the visible creation, what was their first recorded message? God created the angels to be a sort of "welcoming committee" for his bringing about of the main features of planet earth.  Job 38:6-7 comments - “On what were its bases sunk?Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?"  The angel's first recorded message issued forth in music over the Might of God.  Why were the angels shouting for joy? They were thrilled over the Might and power of God in bringing to bear His desire for an inhabited earth that would be populated by people - beginning with his original king and queen: Adam and Eve. (Isaiah 45:18)  

God's Word brought worlds into being and through His decree, both visible and invisible realms came about. (John 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17) The angel's message then was a joyful one about God's revelation of His might.  This is why theologian Michael Horton notes: "It is interesting how frequently their (angels) work is defined in relation to the Word of God." 3 So the angels communicate God's might by virtue of their own creation, and it is His might and power that was featured in their first thoughts and communication.  However there is a second thing angels aid us in appreciating and understanding....

2. The Angels communicated God's majestic holiness by way of His law
God created the angels at the near beginning of creation, and they beheld and celebrated His might.  We know that angels were present in the revelation of God's law at Sinai to communicate a second emphasis - God's majestic holiness. Deuteronomy 33:2 states - He said, “The Lord came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones; At His right hand there was flashing lightning for them." The Divine court of heaven came down on top of that mountain.  

So why did God include the angels in the revelation of Himself and His law? one word: highlighters.  In my Bible I frequently highlight words or phrases to help me fix my attention on key features of God's words. The highlighting does not add to the content nor to the value of the words - for they are God's Word.  Rather the highlighter serves to point out to me a key word or phrase.  Angels are God's highlighters.  His Majesty cannot be added to or improved, since He is perfect in majestic Holiness.  However in our frailty and flesh, we need the aid of His grace to explain and to appreciate His majestic holiness.  

Other passages shed light upon how the holy angels were in attendance in highlighting God's holiness during His revelation of His law.  Psalm 68:17 reveals the angels communicating by their presence the key attribute of God and the main purpose of the law: God's holiness and man's sinfulness in light of such holiness. Galatians 3:19 explains: "Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made."

As theologian Charles Hodge notes: "Under the Old Testament they repeatedly appeared as servants of God to reveal His will. They smote the Egyptians; were employed in the giving of the law at Sinai; attended the Israelites during their journey; destroyed their enemies; and encamped around the people of God as their defense in hours of danger."4 So angels throughout scripture are linked to God's Word at creation to communicate His might and to God's word in the Law to highlight the majesty of His holiness.  

Peter's remarks in 1 Peter 1:12 undoubtedly would include these connections between God's Word-->Angels-->People. However there is one more truth to note about the relationship between the angels and God's revelation of Himself in His Word, namely....

3. Angels communicated, then marvel at God's marvelous grace as centered on Jesus Christ, our salvation
Those angelic hosts beheld God's might in finishing our planet and celebrated.  Likewise when God was revealing His Law on Sinai and speaking His word of Covenant over the people, the angels communicated God's majestic holiness by their presence.  However as the marvelous grace of salvation was being revealed, the angels more and more realized that this was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.  When Peter writes what he does in 1 Peter 1:12, he is no doubt thinking in his mind about truths such as the ones we have discovered.  However his main point is to show how these angels' curiosity about our salvation points to God's marvelous grace.  Exodus 25:20 gives us this insight: "The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat."  

If Peter was indeed thinking of the cherubim, the figures of God's heavenly angels who are the guardians of his throne, then what we have then is reference to the angels beholding God's law in the ark of the covenant.  Yet atop that ark these golden representations of angels are mute witnesses to the sprinkling of blood that Israel's High Priest would had sprinkled once a year.  The name of the lid of the ark of which they were a part is called by the scriptures: "The Mercy Seat" or "the ark of testimony". (Numbers 7:89) 

Angels are are knowledgeable beings.  As Baptist theologian Augustus Strong notes: "They are possessed of superhuman intelligence and power, yet an intelligence and power that has fixed limits."5  They in many ways exceed our own.  However when it comes to God's grace in salvation, the angelic response is one of awe and wonder. They sing and exhibit joy at the announcement of the virgin birth of Christ.  Luke 2:10-14 states -
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Such reaction by the angels prompts the shepherds to broadcast aloud: "Christ the Savior is born." Their curiosity and wonder is explained further in 1 Timothy 3:16, which in describing Christ's incarnation states simply that He was "seen by angels". 

Conclusion The more God unfolds the wonder of His salvation, especially in the New Testament, the more awe and curiosity the angels exhibit. Ephesians 3:10 states concerning their response to Christians in the church:  "so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places." Christians are God's trophies of grace, put on display. God was so pleased to exhibit the might of His power and majesty of holiness through the angelic hosts, however it is through redeemed, believing humanity, in connection with Jesus Christ's work and Person that God puts on display His marvelous grace. Thus when we come to Peter's text, we see those beings who were created to communicate God's excellencies of might and majesty being in a position of awe over all He has done in Jesus Christ.  



End notes:
1. If we were to outline 1 Peter 1:1-12 for example, here is what we would find:

I. Four Great Truths of Salvation.  1 Peter 1:1-9
a. Basis of salvation is election.  1:1-2
b. Beginning of salvation is the New Birth. 1:3
c. Building of salvation is sanctification. 1:4
d. Blessing of salvation is security. 1:4-9

II. The Gospel revealed in Scripture. 1 Peter 1:10-12
a. Revealed in Progression. 1:10-11a
b. Revolves around the Son. 1:11b
c. Remains to be preached.  1:12

2. Billy Graham. Angels - God's Secret Agents. Bethany House. 1995. Page 78  

3. Michael Horton. The Christian Faith - A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way. Zondervan. 2011. Page 406

4. Charles Hodge. Systematic Theology - Volume 1. W.M B. Eerdmans. 1965 lithograph copy. Page 638

5. Augustus Hopkins Strong. Systematic Theology. The Judson Press. 19th priniting. 1956. Page 445.