Some Thoughts On How Divine Aseity Gives Understanding To Christian Identity And Biblical Manhood

Isaiah 48:11 “For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another."

Introduction:

In the last post we explored God's Divine Aseity (A-say-i-tee). To grasp once again this core trait of God's Aseity, I quote from the great Christian scholar and defender of Biblical Christianity, Dr. William Lane Craig: 

"When we come to the subject of God’s self-existence that we’ve been looking at, we can say that the Scripture clearly teaches that God is uncreated and independent of anything else. Everything other than God depends upon God for its existence, whereas God depends upon nothing." 

In today's post I want to consider how focusing on God's Divine Aseity can greatly clarify God's identity and its relationship to Christian identity. This study will offer a starting point for considering how true Biblical manhood can be sculpted by considerations centered-on God. Specifically, we will see how Christian men (and women of course) can benefit from focusing upon this incredible quality of God's Divine Aseity.

How Divine Aseity is core to God's Identity

Isaiah 48 and 49 are among some of the greatest chapters in the Old Testament to get a glimpse into the Triune identity of God. Isaiah 48:1-11 has the Lord affirming the Oneness of His being, namely that He and he alone is God, and that He does not share His glory with another. In fact as we have been noticing the past couple of days, the phrase "I am the first, and I am the last" and other phrases like it affirm the Oneness and uniqueness of God in His Aseity (a-say-i-tee). 

To remind the reader again, God's Aseity refers to how He is independent and His own source of life and existence. Bible teacher John MacArthur comments on Divine Aseity in his exposition of John 5:26:

"But now when you talk about His self-existence, you’re talking about the essence of His nature. One is eternality, two is equality, three is essence. His self-existence is critical. Through the years, this has kind of been an abstract idea, kind of left in the back waters of theology and theologians have a word for this, they call it the aseity of God … a-s-e-i-t-y, the aseity of God, very obscure term but it means the self-existence of God."

MacArthur continues on: 


"What does it mean that He is self-existent? It means in simple language, go down to verse 4, here it is again, four words. I told you John’s economy of words is stunning. “In Him was Life.” In Him was Life.” John 5:26 says it again, that in God is life and in the Son is life. This is an amazing statement. Life not bios, not just physical life, but zoe, the biggest, broadest term for all kinds of life. And what it’s saying is this. Life was in Him. What do you mean by that? Well look at it from a negative standpoint. He didn’t receive life from any from any other source. He didn’t develop life from some other power. This is self-existence. He wasn’t given life, He didn’t receive life, He possesses it as an essential of His nature. In Him was life."

All things, whether people, angels, rocks or stars depend on God for their existence or life. God however is different and is the only Being who is self-sufficient, meaning then that He alone can Create, Perform Salvation and reign over all things. As was already noted in previous posts, Divine Aseity is what defines God as God; aseity is God's "Godness". 

Men in particular need a fresh, powerful appreciation of Divine aseity

This trait is important in Isaiah's overall argument against idolatry and the worldliness that was stealing away the hearts of his people and which still attempts to grab hold of our hearts today. Men in particular prize the thought of self-sufficiency. The autonomy of humanity is a major by-product of fallen man. God alone is self-sufficient. Whenever a man tries to "do it all on his own" or "be the lone-ranger", emotional, spiritual and relational burnout in marriages, jobs and life result. As a man myself, I constantly have to battle that tendency to be a "lone-ranger" and see my own insufficiency. Asking help from others and being immersed in a Christian community (i.e the local church) reinforces this notion that we as creatures are dependent on outside sources, and God alone is sufficient in-an-of-Himself.

Men in the Bible who were transformed by the revelation of God in His Divine Aseity

When we scan the scriptures in both Old and New Testaments, we find God revealing Himself to men to effect change in their lives and to clarify His calling to them. Think of Moses for example. In Exodus 3, we find God revealing to Moses His very Divine name that is centered around Divine aseity - namely "I am who I am" or Yahweh, Jehovah. Moses' life and character was radically changed as a result of that encounter, resulting in a catapulting of him into leadership and service to God. 

Other Biblical characters could be mentioned: Abraham, David, the 12 Apostles and the Apostle Paul. A moments reflection and further study of the relevant Biblical texts will show how much Divine aseity can transform a man into a man of God. We can of course apply all that has been said to the women of the Bible such as Sarah, Hannah, Mary and Martha. 

Mankind's purpose is to know God and he derives His purpose from God

Mankind was originally designed to be a being in relationship with others. In marriage, men are to relate to their wives. As fathers, the man is to consider his children's needs above His own. Then of course, the Christian man must remember that he derives his identity and sense of being from God. Manhood is best cultivated in the context of relationships.

God in His own unique way expresses His very essence by the inter-relating of the Three Persons of the Godhead. This One God identifies Himself in a plural way in Isaiah 48:16 as the One who was sent by the Lord God, along with the Spirit of God. Though only brief, the passage gives us a glimpse into the three-fold identity of God that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Applications for understanding Christian identity and Biblical manhood in light of God's Divine aseity

As we close out today's post, I want to suggest the following life-practical applications of Divine aseity to understanding Christian identy in general and Biblical manhood in particular:

1. God's Divine Aseity means we as dependant creatures are accountable to Him.

Knowing that we are accountable to Him in both this life and the one to come ought to affect how we treat fellow Christians, those outside the faith and prompt us to encourage everyone for Jesus sake. 

2. God's Divine Aseity means that God is sufficient and that without Him, we are insufficient.

Divine Aseity reminds me that Jesus is All-sufficient and that you and I by ourselves are insufficient. Christian men ought to take notice. The Lord and His word is the norm by which we live in an otherwise abnormal world that is dying and in need of Jesus Christ. 

3. God's Divine Aseity means God, rather than culture, is the norm by which we ought to live.

Culture attempts to conform men to its image apart from God. Jesus Christ, though sharing fully in the One Divine nature with the Spirit and the Father, still shares in our humanity. He by His Spirit urges us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to love His Father with all our hearts, souls mind and strength. (Matthew 22:37). 

4. Divine Aseity reminds us that apart from God, true manhood cannot be grasped, since the eternal Son took unto His Person a truly human nature

Without God, true manhood cannot be grasped. Afterall, the eternal Person of the Son chose to unite to His Person a truly human nature by which we could behold true humanity and true manhood in action. 

Closing thoughts:

May we ever depend upon our Master in heaven, upon whom we depend for everything that pertains unto life and to godliness through His word (compare 2 Peter 1:4-11).

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.  

P2 - A great resource for affirming Biblical manhood and womanhood

Genesis 1:26-28  "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Introduction:

Over 25 years ago, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (from hereon CBMW) was formed to equip the wider evangelical world on how to address the increasing momentum of changes introduced by the then feminist movement of the mid to late 20 centuries. With the blurring of lines between genders adovcated by the feminist movement, the attack on the Biblical distinctions between men and women was clearly in motion. The below statement, framed in Danver's Massachusettes, represented the beginnings of the CBMW and the need to affirm God's vision for men and women in the Bible. The hope is that the reader will explore the website of the CBMW in gaining a richer understanding of God's vision for men and women than what has been presented in an introductory fashion in these past two weeks on this blogsite. Here is the the link to the CBMW: http://cbmw.org/ . 

Yesterday we looked at what the Danver Statement has to say in regards to the rationale for biblical manhood and womanhood. Today we conclude this two-part look at the Danver Statement by noting it's affirmations of these vital truths. Like yesterday, numbers have been added to the below excerpt for easier reading. The reader is encouraged to read it and then check out the link I just mentioned. May all of us be equipped to better articulate God's vision for godly manhood, womanhood and marriage in this 21st century world. 

The Danver's Statement: A Summary of the need for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Note to reader: the entirety of this statement can be found at: http://cbmw.org/core-beliefs/

Affirmations
Based on our understanding of Biblical teachings, we affirm the following:

1. Both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18).

2. Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order, and should find an echo in every human heart (Gen 2:18, 21-24; 1 Cor 11:7-9; 1 Tim 2:12-14).

3. Adam’s headship in marriage was established by God before the Fall, and was not a result of sin (Gen 2:16-18, 21-24, 3:1-13; 1 Cor 11:7-9).

4. The Fall introduced distortions into the relationships between men and women (Gen 3:1-7, 12, 16).

a. In the home, the husband’s loving, humble headship tends to be replaced by domination or passivity; the wife’s intelligent, willing submission tends to be replaced by usurpation or servility.

b. In the church, sin inclines men toward a worldly love of power or an abdication of spiritual responsibility, and inclines women to resist limitations on their roles or to neglect the use of their gifts in appropriate ministries.

5. The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the roles of both men and women (Gen 1:26-27, 2:18; Gal 3:28). Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of male headship in the family and in the covenant community (Gen 2:18; Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; 1 Tim 2:11-15).

6. Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse.

a. In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should forsake resistance to their husbands’ authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands’ leadership (Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:18-19; Tit 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-7).

b. In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, some governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men (Gal 3:28; 1 Cor 11:2-16; 1 Tim 2:11-15).

7. In all of life Christ is the supreme authority and guide for men and women, so that no earthly submission-domestic, religious, or civil-ever implies a mandate to follow a human authority into sin (Dan 3:10-18; Acts 4:19-20, 5:27-29; 1 Pet 3:1-2).

8. In both men and women a heartfelt sense of call to ministry should never be used to set aside Biblical criteria for particular ministries (1 Tim 2:11-15, 3:1-13; Tit 1:5-9). Rather, Biblical teaching should remain the authority for testing our subjective discernment of God’s will.

9. With half the world’s population outside the reach of indigenous evangelism; with countless other lost people in those societies that have heard the gospel; with the stresses and miseries of sickness, malnutrition, homelessness, illiteracy, ignorance, aging, addiction, crime, incarceration, neuroses, and loneliness, no man or woman who feels a passion from God to make His grace known in word and deed need ever live without a fulfilling ministry for the glory of Christ and the good of this fallen world (1 Cor 12:7-21).

10. We are convinced that a denial or neglect of these principles will lead to increasingly destructive consequences in our families, our churches, and the culture at large."

P1 - A great resource for the rationale of Biblical manhood and womanhood

Genesis 1:26-28  "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Introduction:

During the past two weeks, this blogsite has dedicated two major series to the subject of biblical manhood and biblical womanhood. Such topics are necessary for our day and time, being that the issue of gender, sexuality and the roles of men and women are so skewed in out culture. Our time and challenges are nothing new in one sense. The only only difference is in the increased levels of overtness opponents of God's vision for men and women have expressed in trying to undermine and replace the Biblical framework for understand genuine maleness and femininity. 

Over 25 years ago, the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (from hereon CBMW) was formed to equip the wider evangelical world on how to address the increasing momentum of changes introduced by the then feminist movement of the mid to late 20 centuries. With the blurring of lines between genders adovcated by the feminist movement, the attack on the Biblical distinctions between men and women was clearly in motion. The below statement, framed in Danver's Massachusettes, represented the beginnings of the CBMW and the need to affirm God's vision for men and women in the Bible. The hope is that the reader will explore the website of the CBMW in gaining a richer understanding of God's vision for men and women than what has been presented in an introductory fashion in these past two weeks on this blogsite. Here is the the link to the CBMW: http://cbmw.org/ . 

The below statement is an excerpt from the Danver's statement mentioned above, with numbers added for easier reading. The reader is encouraged to read it and then check out the link I just mentioned. May all of us be equipped to better articulate God's vision for godly manhood, womanhood and marriage in this 21st century world. 

The Danver's Statement: A Summary of the need for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Note to reader: the entirety of this statement can be found at: http://cbmw.org/core-beliefs/

Rationale
"In December, 1987, the newly-formed Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood met in Danvers, Massachusetts, to compose the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Prior to the listing of the actual affirmations that comprise the Danvers Statement, we have included a section detailing contemporary developments that serve as the rationale for these affirmations. We offer this statement to the evangelical world, knowing that it will stimulate healthy discussion, hoping that it will gain widespread assent.
Rationale

We have been moved in our purpose by the following contemporary developments which we observe with deep concern:

1. The widespread uncertainty and confusion in our culture regarding the complementary differences between masculinity and femininity;

2. The tragic effects of this confusion in unraveling the fabric of marriage woven by God out of the beautiful and diverse strands of manhood and womanhood;

3. The increasing promotion given to feminist egalitarianism with accompanying distortions or neglect of the glad harmony portrayed in Scripture between the loving, humble leadership of redeemed husbands and the intelligent, willing support of that leadership by redeemed wives;

4. The widespread ambivalence regarding the values of motherhood, vocational homemaking, and the many ministries historically performed by women;

5. The growing claims of legitimacy for sexual relationships which have Biblically and historically been considered illicit or perverse, and the increase in pornographic portrayal of human sexuality;

6. The upsurge of physical and emotional abuse in the family;

7. The emergence of roles for men and women in church leadership that do not conform to Biblical teaching but backfire in the crippling of Biblically faithful witness;

8. The increasing prevalence and acceptance of hermeneutical oddities devised to reinterpret apparently plain meanings of Biblical texts;

9. The consequent threat to Biblical authority as the clarity of Scripture is jeopardized and the accessibility of its meaning to ordinary people is withdrawn into the restricted realm of technical ingenuity;

10. And behind all this the apparent accommodation of some within the church to the spirit of the age at the expense of winsome, radical Biblical authenticity which in the power of the Holy Spirit may reform rather than reflect our ailing culture."

The power to "be the man" God wants you to be!

Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Philippians 2:12 "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling."

Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent,children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear aslights in the world."

Introduction:

The past three posts have been aimed at understanding the biblical paradigm for what it means to be a godly man. In the first post we considered how God wants Godly men in our homes, churches and communities. Having considered God's call for Godly men, we then looked at particular foundations of godly manhood in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to achieve not only salvation, but among His specific achievements He came to redeem true manhood. Colossians 3:10 reminds us: "and have put on the new self who is beingrenewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him". So in having viewed the call and foundations for biblical manhood, we saw yesterday the biblical exhortation and command to be men of God. In yesterday's post we learned particular focal areas that are crucial for being consistent men of God: families, marriage, workplace and accountability. 

Thus far the above mentioned posts have aimed to lay out the biblical vision for godly manhood and the necessary exhortations to go and do it. Such truths are vital, however without the power to fulfill what God's Word tells us to do, casting the vision for Biblical manhood will be another failed attempt in laying on guilt trips and result in frustratation. As a man myself, I need to know: is the power to do what I know to do available? The answer is a resounding yes. Philippians 2:1-16 gives us three powersources that all derive from God and include God Himself within and through the resources. Today's post is a quick tour to alert readers, especially men, that the man of God has available the power to "be the man" God wants him to be! Lets look at each of these power sources:

1. Jesus Christ's incarnated life as a man empowers the man of God. Philippians 2:1-11
Recently our men's group at church has been doing a study entitled "33 The Series - A Man and His Design", by Dr. Robert Lewis. This study is powerful due to the fact it connects the vision to biblical manhood to what Jesus achieved in His incarnation as a man. Jesus lived on this earth for 33 years (hence the title "33 series). Even after Jesus died, raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, He ever remained a man, while of course ever being full God. 

I mention this study to bolster the point being made in this post - namely that apart from Jesus' Christ's incarnation, the vision for biblical manhood would be nothing more than an ideal. The Person of the Son chose to take upon Himself a second way of expressing His life - a human expression or nature, and purposefully injected Himself into the bloodstream of fallen humanity. When you look at Philippians 2:1-4, particularly 2:4, the command is issued to essentially put others above ourselves. For men, this is especially undesirable, since as men, we like to fulfill our wants and desires rather than put others first. Such a command, by itself, is nothing more than guilt laden moralism. However under Divine inspiration, the Apostle Paul takes the syringe of life-giving doctrine and injects into the command the full 33 years of incarnate life that Jesus lived while here on earth. Moreover, the injection includes the continuing, ongoing post-resurrected humanity Jesus to which we're connected to by the Holy Spirit at salvation (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). 

The reader needs to read Philippians 2:5-11 to see how they have the power to carry out Philippians 2:1-4. As Robert Lewis points out in his study, Adam and his fallen posterity (us men) have failed in three areas: responsibility to willingly obey, responsibility to work God work and the responsibility to our wives. Ouch! Yet there is hope! how? As Lewis points out, Jesus accepted responsibility for a will to obey (John 4:34); Jesus accepted responsibility for work to do (John 17:4) and Jesus accepted responsibility for a woman to love (Ephesians 5:25). So Jesus' Christ's incarnation is the first power course for biblical manhood, however there is a second, namely....

2. God's indwelling enables the man of God. Philippians 2:12-13
Philippians 2:12 "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Here again we see another command that apart from God is impossible, especially for men to fulfill. As men, we are naturally passive and to put it bluntly - lazy when it comes to what is truly important, whether spiritual or family responsibilities. In the fall of Genesis 3, Adam let his wife deal with the serpent, when in reality it was his job! 

So then, as men of God, we know we are to work out our salvation. But how can we do it? The answer is found in Philippians 2:13 - "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." God in the Person of the Holy Spirit ministers in and through Christ followers the Person of the Son, Who in turn reveals in us and to us the Person of the Father. 

Dr. John MacArthur notes regarding the identity of God in Philippians 2:13  "You say, “Well, now is Christ in me or is God in me?” And the answer is yes. The Spirit of Christ is God. “Well, isn’t the Holy Spirit in me?” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of God who is God. It’s the same. It’s God in the form of His Spirit dwelling in you. And always present, always supporting, always sustaining, always upholding, always supplying, always strengthening, always shielding, never out of His care, always producing, sanctifying effects in your life. That’s why He gets all the credit, because He’s doing all the work."

The reason for laboring this detail is to simply say that apart from the Holy Spirit's indwelling ministry, the man of God could not be a man of God. (Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:6; Colossians 1:27) The Holy Spirit is the One Who connects us directly to Christ's life changing perfect humanity and the Father's purposes in our lives. The Triune God is ever at work in the life of the Christian and for our purposes in this post, the man of God. So the man of God has the power of Jesus' incarnation and God's indwelling but now notice the third power source:

3. The Scriptures illuminate the man of God. Philippians 2:14-16
Philippians 2:14-15 once more gives God's people (and we will focus again on men in particular) commands to not grumble, complain and mutter under the breath. Men love to complain and make excuses. It seems as if Paul is delivering one set of commands after another. I do hope though the reader has realized by now that the power the man of God has to carry out the commands exceed the weight of the commands themselves. Notice the power of God's Word in Philippians 2:16  "holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain."

Without the Word of God, the man of God is just a man. The Holy Spirit uses and directs men who give themselves to the scriptures, since the scriptures are the means by which He feeds, empowers and illuminates the man of God to His true identity. Moreover, the scriptures are where we meet with Jesus and He with us. (Luke 24:44) Without the scriptures, the heart cannot be discerned nor have life. (Hebrews 4:12) By the scriptures is the man of God able to live for God and hate sin. (Psalm 119:9-11)

Closing thoughts:
Today's post has aimed to close out this string of posts that have dealt with the subject of what it means to be a man of God. Today we dealt with "The power to be the man God wants you to be." We considered three power sources from whence we can derive the power to take the biblical vision of godly manhood and turn it into reality:
1. Jesus Christ's incarnation
2. The God's indwelling
3. The scripture's illuminating work

Be a man! Focal areas of re-created manhood in Christ

Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the oldself with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him."

Focal areas of re-created manhood in Christ. Colossians 3:18-25
As we noted yesterday, alarms are sounding all around us about the "broken-male culture". The only solution is by recognizing the foundation of re-created manhood that comes by grace through faith in union with Christ. Foundations are vital, since whatever is built atop such foundations will only be as strong as the base upon which the building rests. Practically speaking, when it comes to Christian manhood, what focal areas does such an identity have the power to affect? Consider briefly the following focal areas mapped out in Colossians 3:18-25
1. Marriages.  Colossians 3:18-19

2. Family. Colossians 3:20-21

3. Workplace. Colossians 3:22-24

4. Accountability. Colossians 3:25

Just as Colossians 3 begins with urging us as men of God to prioritize and draw from the power available to us as re-created men in Christ, those priorities are spelled out above. Notice how for re-created manhood, others are first and the self is last. 

In the cultural understanding of manhood, self is first with others maybe or maybe not getting what is needed. In the men's Bible study by Dr. Robert Lewis entitled: "33 the series: a man and his design" (here is a link describing the study: http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/33+the+series+robert+lewis ), we read on page 32: It is sad and should be terrifying how easy it is for us as men to slip on the clothes of passivity, medioctrity and insignificance. Authentic men reject all that." Then on the next page of the same study the following challenge is written in bold print: "Let's 'Man Up' and make, create and cultivate our new normal in every phase and season of life." The term "new normal" is referring to the new life in Christ that is and should ever be both a real and experiential reality in every Christian man's life. 

In Christ the whole-man is rebuilt from the ground up. There is nothing recreational about the Christian life. Christ is not interested in renovating some rooms in the house of your life, but rather rebuilding you as a man of God. Imagine how a manhood re-created in Christ can affect our marriages, families and workplaces. Men of God, this is who we are called to be. Jesus Christ came to re-create true manhood. Our identity and our destiny as men can only be found in Him. Our marriages, families and workplaces will only be affected when we as men of God come to terms with who we are and whose we are.  

Three foundations for Christ-centered manhood

Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him".

Introduction:
Jesus Christ came not only to provide redemption and forgiveness of sins to all who believe but also to provide the restoration of what was lost in Adam. The phrase I have heard being tossed around by men's ministry leaders is the idea that we are the by-products of "broken male culture". Today's study will seek to equip Christian men on the foundations for the re-created manhood that is only found in Jesus Christ. The principles laid out below can be applied to men specifically or anyone in general.

Foundations for Christ's re-creation of true manhood
As men of God, we're not called to be "recreational" in our manhood, but re-creations who have a totally transformed manhood. Colossians 3:1-17 describes the foundation of re-created humanity (and for that matter manhood). We can understand this foundation by noting what I term "three certificates" issued by Christ to the Christian.

Re-created manhood's power to prioritize things around God .  Colossians 3:1-2, 10-12
As a man born-again by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I am issued a birth certificate. (John 3:3-6; 1 Peter 1:23) Becoming a Christian is not merely turning over a new leaf, but becoming a whole new tree altogether. (Psalm 1) Thus as a re-created man, this first foundation tells me I have new priorities (3:1-2) and the power of a newly-formed nature in union with Christ to live out His priorities (3:10-12). 

2. Re-created manhood can put the past behind. Colossians 3:3-9
Colossians 3:3 states - "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." At the cross of salvation the sinner by God's graceful gifting through faith believes and dies to who they were in Adam. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Old convictions (described in Colossians 3:5) and old habits issuing forth from those convictions (Colossians 3:6-9) are written on my spiritual death certificate by the Heavenly Coroner, the Holy Spirit, at my salvation. As a man of God in Christ I have the power to put the past behind.  This is to be a daily resolve and not just merely a once and a while "re-commitment".  The cross that saved me is now the cross that is going to be changing me in my mind, emotions and will. Everyday I must in my mind, emotions and will go to the cross by way of taking in the scriptures and breathing out prayers to God.  Christianity is not a recreational activity, but a re-creational reality.  Old convictions and habits may attempt to rear their ugly head, and will at times.  However when a man has the newly created nature deep inside the core of their being, that means that by dying to self, the power to change convictions and habits is well within reach.  

3. Re-created manhood is united to the One who enables persistent change. 3:10-17
When my wife and I were getting ready to get married, we had to go to the courthouse to obtain a marriage license. Do you remember what it was like when you went from the single life to married life? What changed? Your union with your spouse undoubtedly affected everything about you: finances, relationships, eating, sleeping, thinking - everything! As Christians we are united to Christ at salvation. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Though that union is instant, the remainder of the Christian life is figuring out what happened!  

Think of the scriptures as the believer's marriage certificate that announces to Whom they are espoused. In the marriages of Paul's day, the couple to be married went through two stages: espousal or being regarded as legally bound to one another but not yet living under the same roof and then the actual marriage ceremony that would then be sealed by physical consummation and a lifetime of living under the same roof. As Christians, we are united to the Lord Jesus as His espoused bride and await for His return to take us to Himself to be with Him wherever He is in Heaven and then on earth. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:10ff) Included in this powerful truth is the literally transformation of our inward nature that takes place whereby we are made new creations in Jesus. (2 Cor 5:17)

The foundation to Christ's re-creation of a man's manhood involves the certificate of a new-birth (power for living) as well as a death certificate (putting the past behind). However unless we as men (and of course those who are women of God) are united to Christ at salvation, and understand in a growing way who we are in union with Him, we will never be convinced that change has happened, is occurring or must take place. 

The marriage certificate of the believer are the scriptures that declare the reality of a transformed life received by faith. Colossians 3:10 states - "and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him". What does this all mean? Through our union with Christ (like in a marriage), everything is made new: from attitudes (Colossians 3:12), to actions (3:13-15) to how I regard the scriptures (3:16-17). 

Closing thoughts:
As we saw already, the birth-certificate granted at salvation means new priorities and power for living. Furthermore, the death certificate means I can forsake the "old me" and live out who I really am in Christ as a re-created man. Then we saw that in our marriage certificate of the scriptures, all of those united to Christ by faith are espoused and thus have received a transformed nature that sets them on course to living for Christ until He returns. These are the foundations for re-created manhood in Christ. 

The kind of men God wants in families, churches and communities

1 Timothy 2:8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension."

Introduction:

In Paul's first letter to Timothy, the main purpose was to instruct both Timothy and the church on how to conduct themselves in the church of the living God. (1 Timothy 3:15) To expand out further for a moment, the three letters of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus are deemed "The Pastoral Epistles". They function as inspired manuals on how to have a Christ-centered church and leaders who can lead those churches. The vision for Godly leadership and churches in 1 Timothy, as well as 2 Timothy and Titus, is  to address families, pastors, deacons, men, women and children. 

To now zero in the focus today's post, 1 Timothy 2:8 expresses God's desire for godly men in the church. Such a need in our families, churches and communities cannot be over-emphasized. Without a doubt Paul is concerned about addressing the male church membership at the church of Ephesus in 1 Timothy, as seen in his specific use of the word translated "men". 

Why the men? Certainly Paul is not excluding women from his instructions on godly living in the church. The remaining seven verses of 1 Timothy 2 aim at demonstrating God's inclusion of women in his redemptive purposes. Rather Paul is underscoring the need for godly men. Ephesus was a center of culture and learning in Asia Minor and was known for its devotion to the false Greek female deity known as Artemis. This cult flourished in Ephesus and epitomized broken male culture, as seen in the crass forms of prostitution practiced by both men and women at the temple shrine. As the church at Ephesus began in Acts 18 and 19, the immediate need was evident - the need for godly men. The need was for men who could lead, be spiritual leaders in their homes and living examples of men who are transformed by Jesus Christ. Today we want to consider 1 Timothy 2:8 and simply note the kind of men God wants.

1. God wants Godly men. 

When Paul wrote: "I desire for men in every place..." at the beginning of 1 Timothy 2:8, he was not only expressing his thoughts and desires, but also the desires of the Holy Spirit inspiring His words. God so wills and desires for there to be Godly men in every generation and in every church. We see as early as Genesis 3 God's desire to redeem Adam. Adam had failed as the man and as a man to protect his wife, rebuke the Devil and heed the voice of God. Nonetheless God sought after the man and the woman both. The first five chapters of Genesis record over 1600 years of time and ten generations of human beings, with ten men carrying forth the Gospel like torch lights on an unlit runway. Afterward God raised up men like Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Hezekiah and others throughout the Old Testament. Certainly God utilized women in furthering the Kingdom like Deborah in Judges and Ruth and Mary, yet God's express desire more often than not was to call forth men. 

Why men? It's not because men are smarter, or better or more consistent. if anything, men oftentimes fail, are hard to find when it comes to the need for leadership and frankly, would rather let someone else do it. God's ultimate purpose in all things is His glory. (Romans 11:36) Any spiritual benefit flows from my life as a man cannot be credited to me, but God alone. 

The greatest evidence we have in scripture of God's desire for Godly men is in what His Son became when He came into this world. Jesus Christ, the Second, Co-Eternal, Co-Equal Sharer of Deity with the Father and the Spirit, assumed humanity in the virgin birth. To be more specific, Jesus Christ chose to become a man in the fulness of time. (Galatians 4:4) So clearly the first reason we need godly men is due to the fact that it is God's will for there to be godly men.

2. God wants Godly men that are spiritual leaders

So we have established that God desires godly men, and now we can build on that thought by including how God desires godly men who are spiritual leaders. However notice what Paul writes again in 1 Timothy 2:8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands....". Why the  public display of prayer and worship? It is quite simple really....God desires men to be spiritual leaders in their homes, churches and communities. Paul does not restrict male spiritual leadership in one location. He could very well had limited his instructions to "wanting all men in the churches to pray and lift up holy hands" or "wanting all men to pray" and thus put the period on the end of his sentence. However, that is not what the Holy Ghost intended. Rather, the instruction is very public and purposefully meant to convey the need everywhere and everyplace for men to be spiritual examples. 

3. God wants Godly men to be spiritual leaders who are unhindered in their walk with Him

Again notice what Paul writes in - 1 Timothy 2:8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." So many men either hold onto anger from the past or pride and thus dissension. Pride and anger lie at the root of Adam's fall into sin. These two traits are persistently used by Satan to sabatoge men who are redeemed by Christ in faith from enjoying their walks with God. 

God desires godly men, and godly men who will be spiritual leaders. However to add onto these last two thoughts, He desires men who won't hesitate in their walk with Him. It is clear that broken male culture is the outcome of men hesitating or not following through in their relationships - whether they be marriages, parenting or with their walk with God. We as men need to quit hesitating and throw our all into others and moreso into the Lord Himself. 

Christ came to re-create true manhood

Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him".

Introduction:
Jesus Christ came not only to provide redemption and forgiveness of sins to all who believe but also to provide the restoration of what was lost in Adam. Recently the phrase I have heard being tossed around by men's ministry leaders is the idea that we are the by-products of "broken male culture". Today's study will seek to equip Christian men on the foundation and focal-areas for the re-created manhood that is only found in Jesus Christ. The principles laid out below can be applied to men specifically or anyone in general.
Foundations for Christ's re-creation of true manhood
As men of God, we're not called to be "recreational" in our manhood, but re-creations who have a totally transformed manhood. Colossians 3:1-17 describes the foundation of re-created humanity (and for that matter manhood). We can understand this foundation by noting what I term "three certificates" issued by Christ to the Christian.

Re-created manhood's power to prioritize things around God .  Colossians 3:1-2, 10-12
As a man born-again by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I am issued a birth certificate. (John 3:3-6; 1 Peter 1:23) Becoming a Christian is not merely turning over a new leaf, but becoming a whole new tree altogether. (Psalm 1) Thus as a re-created man, this first foundation tells me I have new priorities (3:1-2) and the power of a newly-formed nature in union with Christ to live out His priorities (3:10-12). 

2. Re-created manhood can put the past behind. Colossians 3:3-9
Colossians 3:3 states - "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." At the cross of salvation the sinner by God's graceful gifting through faith believes and dies to who they were in Adam. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Old convictions (described in Colossians 3:5) and old habits issuing forth from those convictions (Colossians 3:6-9) are written on my spiritual death certificate by the Heavenly Coroner, the Holy Spirit, at my salvation. As a man of God in Christ I have the power to put the past behind.  This is to be a daily resolve and not just merely a once and a while "re-commitment".  The cross that saved me is now the cross that is going to be changing me in my mind, emotions and will. Everyday I must in my mind, emotions and will go to the cross by way of taking in the scriptures and breathing out prayers to God.  Christianity is not a recreational activity, but a re-creational reality.  Old convictions and habits may attempt to rear their ugly head, and will at times.  However when a man has the newly created nature deep inside the core of their being, that means that by dying to self, the power to change convictions and habits is well within reach.  

3. Re-created manhood is united to the One who enables persistent change. 3:10-17
Do you remember what it was like when you went from the single life to married life? What changed? Your union with your spouse undoubtedly affected everything about you: finances, relationships, eating, sleeping, thinking - everything! As Christians we are united to Christ at salvation. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Though that union is instant, the remainder of the Christian life is figuring out what happened!  

The foundation to Christ's re-creation of a man's manhood involves the certificate of a new-birth (power for living) as well as a death certificate (putting the past behind). However unless we as men are united to Christ at salvation, and understand in a growing way who we are in union with Him, we will never be convinced that change has happened, is occurring or must take place. Colossians 3:10 states - "and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him". What does this all mean? Through our union with Christ (like in a marriage), everything is made new: from attitudes (Colossians 3:12), to actions (3:13-15) to how I regard the scriptures (3:16-17). 

As we saw already, the birth-certificate granted at salvation means new priorities and power for living. Furthermore, the death certificate means I can forsake the "old me" and live out who I really am in Christ as a re-created man. Those three certificates in Colossians 3:1-17 describe the foundation for re-created manhood in Christ. But now lets look briefly at the four focal-areas for re-created Godly manhood.

Focal areas of re-created manhood in Christ. Colossians 3:18-25
As we noted at the beginning of this lesson, alarms are sounding all around us about the "broken-male culture". The only solution is by recognizing the foundation of re-created manhood that comes by grace through faith in union with Christ. Practically speaking what focal areas does such an identity have the power to affect? Consider briefly the following focal areas mapped out in Colossians 3:18-25
1. Marriages.  Colossians 3:18-19

2. Family. Colossians 3:20-21

3. Workplace. Colossians 3:22-24

4. Accountability. Colossians 3:25

Just as Colossians 3 begins with urging us as men of God to prioritize and draw from the power available to us as re-created men in Christ, those priorities are spelled out above. Notice how for re-created manhood, others are first and the self is last. In the cultural understanding of manhood, self is first with others maybe or maybe not getting what is needed. In Christ the whole-man is rebuilt from the ground up. There is nothing recreational about the Christian life. Christ is not interested in renovating some rooms in the house of your life, but rather rebuilding you as a man of God. Imagine how a manhood re-created in Christ can affect our marriages, families and workplaces. Men of God, this is who we are called to be. Jesus Christ came to re-create true manhood. Our identity and our destiny as men can only be found in Him. Our marriages, families and workplaces will only be affected when we as men of God come to terms with who we are and whose we are.