The Bible's Overall Teaching on Angelic Assistance

Hebrews 1:14 "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?" 

Introduction: Angels as God's settings for His precious jewels
Years ago my wife had to get her ring repaired at the Jeweler. Without those settings, the gemstone would have no means of remaining central to the piece of jewelry. Angels in the Bible function as settings for the gemstones and precious metal of truth revealed by God's character through His words to His people. As you and I as Christians walk out the Christian walk, we require God's grace to endure and even obey the commands he gives us. To one degree we may wonder about the purpose and place of angelic assistance, yet God is so pleased to use these fellow-servants (Revelation 19:10) to demonstrate to us the value of His salvation and of us to Himself. After-all, the church and its individual members are God's chosen bride being prepared for the day when her bridegroom comes to take her out of the earth to be with Him. (John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16; Revelation 19).

   

What does the Bible teach about angelic assistance in the believer's life

Angelic Assistance in the Old Testament 

Is it scriptural to say that angels are used and deployed by God to aid Christians in grasping and striving in the precious areas of the faith walk? Indeed so. Consider Psalm 91:11 "For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways." Abraham's life is an extended illustration of this truth, with later scripture providing the explanation. Other Old Testament saints exhibited the aid of angels in their faith walks. David for example speaks of this as a general principle in Psalm 37:4 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them." Daniel for instance was praying, and in Daniel 10:11 we read: "He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling."

Angelic Assistance in the New Testament

Jesus certainly illustrated the point of angelic assistant in the believer's life by how angels aided Him in His humanity.  Matthew 4:11 "Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him." Or how about Matthew 26:53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" As Jesus was praying in Gethsemane we read in Luke 22:43 "Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him."

In the life of the Apostles we see evidence of intersections between the angelic realm and their own. The Apostle Peter, when incarcerated, was set free by an angel as the early church prayed for his release in Acts 12:6-8. Or how about in the life of the Apostle Paul as he was on a ship in the middle of a two-week long storm? Acts 27:23-24 "For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you."

Angelic Assistance for Christians today
Perhaps upon reading such verses you may be tempted to think: "Abraham was the father of faith and was special. David, Daniel, Paul and Peter were Prophets and Apostles. Furthermore, Jesus was God in human flesh so it would only make sense that He have His own angelic secret service." However we must remember these words from Hebrews 1:14 

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?" 

Theologians of past and present day aid us greatly in seeing the importance of angelic assistance in the lives of Christians. Many able minds could be cited, but for our purposes two will suffice. First John Wesley notes: "They may assist us in our search after truth, remove many doubts and difficulties, throw light on what was before dark and obscure, and confirm us in the truth that is after godliness. They may warn us of evil in disguise; and place what is good, in a clear, strong light. They may gently move our will to embrace what is good, and fly from that which is evil. They may, many times, quicken our dull affections, increase our holy hope or filial fear, and assist us more ardently to love Him who has first loved us."1


More recently Michael Horton notes about the angels, that they are: "ministers of God's saving purposes for the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14)"...."(t)hey watch over believers (Pss 34:7; 91:11), learn the truths of God's unfolding mystery in Christ (Eph. 3:10; 1 Pet 1:12), and are said to bring believer's to Abraham's side (Lk 16:22)."2

Conclusions:
In today's post we have noted what the Bible has to teach about angelic assistance in the life of the believer. We have surveyed the Old and New Testaments and some observations from a couple of keen theological minds. My prayer is that this post has helped you in your Christian walk. May the Lord richly bless you.

Endnotes:
 1. See more at: http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/John-Wesley-Sermons/Sermon-71-Of-Good-Angels#sthash.bXmpdbHU.dpuf

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

Seeing God's Ultimate Will through tears

Habakkuk 1:2 "How long, O Lord, will I call for help,And You will not hear? I cry out to You, “Violence!” Yet You do not save."

A young boy trying to make sense of what happened, and why

I will never forget the night I had basketball practice as a young lad at our rural Pennsylvania high school. Both my parents were working at the time and so their pattern was that each would inform the other as to whom was going to pick me up after practice. Normally when the practice was finished, one of them would come after work and wait out front at the main pick-up area in front of the school.  On this particular night as everyone was exiting the building, I went outside expecting to get into one of their vehicles that had been kept warm by them while waiting in the chilly winter night.  They had not come, so I went in and waited, and waited, and waited.  

After a half-hour more I started to get nervous and so I began digging around in my pockets to find a quarter to put in the pay-phone (perhaps some of you reading this may remember those). When I called our house, there was no answer.  As a young man, with the lights turning off in the gym and only the janitors sweeping up before closing down, I felt abandoned.  I recall screaming into the phone - "Where are you!" - to no avail.  When I came back out of the payphone area and rounded the corner, there my parents pulled up and with tears and many apologies, informing me that each of them thought the other had came to get me.  Needless to say I was relieved and to know what had happened, as well as why it happened, afforded me much clarity.  

Meet a prophet trying to make sense of what had happened, and why?

Since that time I have had seasons of life where time and again I have found myself trying to make sense of God's purposes through veils of tears. I relate to the prophet in the Bible who through tears was trying to make sense of what His heavenly Father was doing, and why.   The prophet's name may be difficult to pronounce, however the meaning of it is clear.  The prophet to which I am referring is Habakkuk, and his name means "to cling, to embrace." The opening of his book quoted above in Habakkuk 1:2 relays to us the fact that he was crying out to God for answers.  The Hebrew word translated "cry" in that text speaks of someone crying at the top of the their lungs in search of help and deliverance.  Habakkuk's pen would had quivered as he wrote his prophecy, for his tears undoubtedly stained each line which the Holy Ghost inspired him to write. 

Able commentator George Adam Smith writes concerning Habakkuk's prophecy: Habakkuk feels justice cannot prevail in Israel, because of the disorder which God permits to fill the world. It is true that he arrive at a prophetic attitude, and authoritatively declares God's will; but he begins by searching for the latter, with the appreciation of the obscurity cast over it by the facts of life."1

Habakkuk is portrayed, in accordance to the Hebrew meaning of his name, clinging to His God while at the same time not understanding completely the God to whom He clings. Habakkuk's book is valuable because at its heart lies the search for God's ultimate will.  In this post I want us to consider what it means to see God's ultimate will through the tears of Habakkuk.  In this post today we will briefly consider how God's ultimate will is made up of various tributaries that run their course through Habakkuk's cries, complaints and comfort. Four headings will be used to walk through Habakkuk's words: God's Ultimate Will; Unrevealed Will; Permissive Will and Revealed Will.

God's Ultimate Will

When we speak of God's will in the Bible, we are talking about His overall plan and purposes for creation, salvation and eternity. Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him." Ephesians 1:11 reminds the reader that He works all things after the counsel of His will.  Romans 11:36 comprehensively states in few words: "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."  So God has an ultimate desire, purpose or will for all things, all people and all times, which lies at the heart of what is meant when we say God is Sovereign.  

Habakkuk undoubtedly asserts God's ultimate will in each chapter of His book: He states God is from everlasting in 1:12; that God will fill the earth with His glory in 2:14 and that He alone is Habakkuk's strength in 3:19.  Habakkuk knows God's ultimate will will prevail.  However the struggle of Habakkuk, and the reason for his tears lies in the fact he does not know how it will happen nor why what is obviously contrary to God's Holy character is happening? It is here where we see three more headings that fit under the larger umbrella term of God's ultimate will that can offer maybe not all the answers, but can certain bring us much relief.

God's unrevealed will.  Habakkuk 1

Whenever you see "how" and "why" questions in the Bible, that indicates a lack of knowledge or answers.  Habakkuk asks God in Habakkuk 1:2 "How long"?  Then Habakkuk asks two why questions: "why do you let me see iniquity?" (Habakkuk 1:3) and "why has God made men who creep" in Habakkuk 1:14.  There are aspects of God's will that we as believers can never know.  Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law." Whenever the disciples probed Jesus about the exact time of His coming, His response to them in Acts 1:7 was - "He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority." Clearly there were details about the Father's purposes and reasons for doing His will that would not be revealed to Habakkuk.  

Unless God reveals His intentions by His Word, the matter remains closed.  Why does God not disclose everything? Among the numerous answers that we could give, let me suggest just two: to leave room to live by faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) and to discover the glory of His wisdom and purposes (Proverbs 25:2). You and I can hardly understand what is revealed, let alone what God has chosen to keep hidden.  However, along with Habakkuk we too can say that the same God who has an unrevealed will is the same Good and Powerful God who has both a permissive and revealed will.  So then in God's ultimate will there is undoubtedly an unrevealed side, however there is also a second aspect, namely...

God's permissive will.   Habakkuk 1-2

God's permissive will had to do with what He allows and yet does not advocate.  Habakkuk complains about God's permission in 1:13 "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil,And You can not look on wickedness with favor.
Why do You look with favor On those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up?" In Habakkuk 2 we see Habakkuk crying out in prophetic taunt against the idol makers and ruthless of Israel who have been permitted by God to continue.  Truly we know from passages such as Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28 that God permits what He hates in order to accomplish the good He intends.  

God is certainly not the author of evil, yet He wills to use the decisions of good and evil willing agents, as well as good and bad circumstance to accomplish whatsoever comes to pass.  Acts 2:23 perhaps most clearly drives home this point: "this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death."  As one writer has noted, the gear works of an old clock run counter to one another from the back, however when you flip the clock to see the front, its face depicts perfect timing running in the same direction.

So we see through Habakkuk's tears God's ultimate will, which contains His unrevealed and permissive wills.  But there is one last aspect that is perhaps the most comforting, namely...

God's Revealed Will.  Habakkuk 2-3

After pouring his heart out in Habakkuk 1, Habakkuk states He will wait until he hears from God.  Habakkuk 2:2 gives us these words: "Then the Lord answered me and said,'Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run.'" God has spoken, and is revealing.  Remarkably its not until you get into chapter 3 that you discover that God's will runs like a mighty river through the book, with the various tributaries of unrevealed, permissive and revealed wills working in and among the chapters.  Certainly Habakkuk's tears fall into those first two tributaries of God's unrevealed and permissive wills, however it is in this final tributary of God's revealed will that we see God dry those tears.  

In Habakkuk 3 we see the prophet break out in song.  Certainly he relates the fact that the trials of this world are still in his line of sight.  He even goes as far to say that even though crops may fail (3:17), animals may die (3:17) and the farm so to speak be ready to fold (3:17), yet....  .  Now whenever you see that word "yet" or "nevertheless" in scripture, that little word cancels out whatever was just written, and prepares you to see that truly reality of the situation.  Notice how Habakkuk closes his book in 3:18-19 "Yet I will exult in the Lord,I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments."

There truly is nothing more comforting than the words of God in the Bible.  These scriptures are God's revealed will for both us and our children. (Deut. 29:29) By these words our souls are preserved, saved and profited. (1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 3:16)  Many a saint's tear stained Bible has brought comfort and the peace that surpasses all understanding.  Why? Because when God speaks through his words, the heart is able to say in the words of the song: "it is well with my soul". 

Conclusion:

Through the tears of Habakkuk we have witnessed God's ultimate will and its various parts: God's unrevealed, permissive and revealed wills.  Though we may be as a child trying to make sense of why and how, the important thing to know is the Who, God Himself. As Chuck Swindoll states: "The Sovereignty of God may not answer all of my questions, yet it surely does relieve me of all my fears."

Endnotes:

1. George Adam Smith. The Book of the Twelve Prophets - Volume II. Harper and Brothers Publishers. 1928. Page 132-133

God's Humility & Christian humility

1 Peter 2:13 "Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest". (Young's Literal Translation)


Introduction
In today's post I want to share what is undoubtedly a major attribute or characteristic of God's Divine nature that most people don't think about or talk about - humility. Let me ask you this question: Is God humble? If so, why is that significant? In the course of Peter's exhortations for Christians to exercise humility in all of their relationships and dealings in 1 Peter 3, this concept of Divine humility provides the rationale as to why Christianity at its heart is about humility.

When you look at the text above, the particular translation of Young's captures most closely the thought of the original text. Quite literally, the grammar and wording of 1 Peter 2:21 suggests that God is the cause behind the very humility He is commanding His people to exercise. How so? As will be suggested in this post - humility is one of the key attributes of the Divine nature shared between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Without humility being one of the key moral attributes of God, we would not have creation, redemption nor the promise of a glorious future as Christian people! Its that important.

Defining humility - both Divine and human
First and foremost, what is humility? According to the best available dictionaries, the word translated humility speaks of a yielding of oneself to another. When we read of humbling or submitting ourselves, it refers to a voluntary submission of oneself to another for that other person's sake. Certainly the idea of stooping down could also be included in this word. Therefore when we take together those threads of thought, we can offer up the following definition of humility: to yield oneself to another for the sake of relationship.

Illustrating the Biblical concept of Divine humility and Christian humility
I often think of how as a Father I bend down to talk to my younger children in order to facilitate better communication. When a parent does this for their child, it does not introduce a change or diminishing of anything in the parent's being. All that is altered is the ease of access the child now has to the parent, and of course the parent's ability to relate to the child.
The fact that we as God's people are told to exercise humility in light of God's humility reveals humility to be what is called a "communicable attribute" of God, meaning that it is a moral trait shared between God and us.
Love for example is a communicable attribute of God that informs how we as Christians are to love. (1 John 4:19) So too is humility.Isaiah 57:15 states most clearly - "For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite." The highlighted words in this verse could be easily translated from the Hebrew "humble". In other words, God is pleased to stoop down and dwell with those who are humble. Does God retain His position as the Eternal One Who is Lofty and Holy? Yes. No change occurs in His being. What does alter and change is the object to which He is directing His humble intentions - namely the lowly and contrite of heart. 


How Divine humility enables us to appreciate the need Christian humility
The Evangelical Dictionary notes this about how God's stooping down in Divine humility relates to our own: "Such appreciation of humility springs form the prophetic conviction that man, made of dust, totally dependent and sinful, had nothing to be proud of except God's being mindful of him and visiting him with favor and redemption. God dwells with the humble (Isaiah 57:15) and requires that man walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). 1

Laying out an understanding of Divine humility in relationship to our humility in 1 Peter 2:13-25
So having defined humility and seeing briefly from scripture that God is humble and stoops down to interact and intervene, how does Peter specifically track out this idea of Divine humility as the basis for Christian humility?

Humble actions spring from God's humility - 1 Peter 2:13-19
As noted up above, God so chooses to stoop down to us. God in the Person of the Father is infinitely above us, nevertheless the Father humbles Himself or comes down to our level by way of written words and the Living Word, His Son Jesus Christ. Theologians Duffield & Cleave note: "Perhaps all God's moral attributes are encompassed in these two: His Holiness and His love. In His Holiness He is unapproachable; in His Love He approaches us."2 Older Theologians often use the imagery of God the Father functioning like a parent lisping to an infant as comparing the Divine Revelation of His words in the Bible.

In our submission to both authorities (1 Peter 2:13-17) and masters or employers in our day and time (1 Peter 2:18) we have the favor of our Heavenly Father to exercise such humble actions. 1 Peter 2:19a notes: "For this finds favor...", meaning that in the grace of humility from the Father we are able to submit ourselves and humble ourselves as commanded by Him. How many times have you ever told your children to do something that your yourself would not be willing to do? Any good parent would not have their children do something without them being willing first to do it nor equipping the child with the capability to do the action.

By condescending or stooping down to us in the words of scripture, the Father makes known His will and His way. Concerning the fullness of such revelation of Himself, the Father never deals with us without being in connection with the Living Word, the second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ.

Humble acceptance of suffering springs from God's humility. 1 Peter 2:19-20
As Christians are called to do humble actions because of the Father in Heaven being humble, we also understand that accepting suffering springs from the Spirit's willing humility. Note two passages in 1 Peter that connect Christian suffering to the Spirit's choice to enter into the sufferings of the Christian. 1 Peter 2:20 "For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God." Notice again how God's Divine favor or grace is connected with Christian suffering. Such favor automatically signifies God's willingness to stoop down to where we're at. Now notice 1 Peter 4:14 "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." See how God in the Person of the Holy Spirit humbles Himself down to where Christians are at in suffering.

Other passages such as Romans 8:26-27 indicate the Divine Holy Spirit's willingness to see through with us whatever difficulties by way of prayer and difficulty. How often have you seen other Christians suffering and saying to yourself: "there is no way I could undergo such a trial". Dear friend, the humility it takes to accept suffering is a work of grace done specifically by the Holy Spirit, who so chooses to enter into the pit with you. What drives love is humility's willingness to go where ever, so long as connection is not lost with that person. You and I as Christians can only act humble and accept suffering because of the Divine humility of the Father and the Spirit. But notice one more thought here in 1 Peter 2 concerning the relationship of Divine humility and our humility...

Humble attitudes spring from God's humility. 1 Peter 2:21-25
Peter brings out the connection between the Christian's humble attitude and God's Divine attribute of humility clearly revealed in the Person of the Son. 1 Peter 2:21-25 is in Peter's letter what Philippians 2:5-11 is in Paul's writings - namely an explanation of God the Son becoming human flesh. In both the Philippians passage and here in 1 Peter 2 we see the act of Christ's humility in His incarnation being the basis for our attitude of humility. Philippians 2:5 says plainly: "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." The connection between our attitude of humility and Christ's humility in His incarnation and death on the cross is unmistakable. Consider 1 Peter 2:21 for comparison - "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." 1 Peter 2:22-25 Peter unfolds one of the clearest explanations of Christ's work on the cross you will find anywhere in sacred scripture.

Jonathan Edwards says these words in a sermon entitled: "The Dying love of Christ" -
"But Jesus Christ is infinitely above us in nature, he being of divine nature. There is no distance of nature between man and man, but between God and man there is an infinite distance of nature-a greater distance than there is between the nature of men and the nature of worms. There is greater distance between the Son of God and us than there is between the earth and the highest stars in the heavens." Edwards later notes:

"Therefore if we consider the dying love of Jesus Christ in this respect, there never was any love like unto it. Never was there any instance of such a stoop made by any lover. What are we, that one in such a height of glory and dignity should set His love upon us?"3

Conclusion
In this post today we have explored the relationship between Divine humility and Christian humility. We noted first of all that God is humble by nature and that such a characteristic is communicated to the believer and enables Christians to exercise humility. In tracing this main idea through 1 Peter 2:13-25 we concluded that:
1. Humble actions spring from God's humility. 1 Peter 2:13-19

2. Humble acceptance of suffering springs from God's humility. 1 Peter 2:20-21

3. Humble attitudes spring from God's humility. 1 Peter 2:22-25

Endnotes:
1. Walter E. Elwell. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology - 2nd Edition. 2001. Baker. Page 581-582

2. Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave. Foundations of Pentecostal Theology. Life Bible College. 1987. Page 77

3. Michael D. McMullen., Editor. The Blessing of God - Previously Unpublished Sermons of Jonathan Edwards. Broadman and Holman. 2003. Page 2279-280.

The reason to rejoice over October 31st

Romans 4:1-3 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Introduction:
I want to share with you today why I find so much joy over October 31st. One of the Greatest Revivals of all time - the Protestant Reformation, began almost 500 years ago on October 31, 1517.  This movement was used of God to realign Christianity back to the Bible and the centrality of the Gospel. Jesus promised his church in Matthew 16:18 - "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." Spiritual darkness had increased in the period of history called the Middle Ages (variously defined, but for simplicity we'll assign 800-1517 A.D). 

The light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, though dimmed by the human traditions of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe, was not quenched. True to Jesus' promise, the scriptures remained intact and throughout the centuries a handful of Bible teachers like John Wycliffe, John Huss and others preached the Gospel's central message of Justification by faith. Nevertheless Justification by Faith Alone was not the North Star doctrine of the church, but rather was on the outer edges of the firmament of the church's teaching.  The guiding light of the church in Europe was the Papal system, the Roman Catholic church's system of sacraments and centuries of tradition mixed with Christianity.  

Justification by Faith alone, taught by the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles needed to be front and center once again.  The Biblical Gospel needed to be in not just a few mouths of travelling preachers and groups journeying throughout the regions of spiritually darkened Europe, but central to the preaching of pulpits everywhere. In today's post I want to urge every Christian to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with at least one person over the next week. We will be surveying what took place in that move of God that began on October 31, 1517 called the Reformation. Below is the main reason I rejoice over October 31st.  May it be your primary reason by the end of today's post.


A SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CONFRONTED
As already noted, nearly 500 years ago the Roman Catholic Church had a repressive system of religion that had people buying what was in their minds a right standing with God. Over the centuries a whole system of church tradition had accumulated, telling people that in order to be right with God, they had to make pilgrimages to certain churches and make financial contributions to secure their place with God both in this life and the one to come. In addition, the church also manipulated people to make contributions, alleging that once paid, their dead relatives would be freed from an imagined place called purgatory, and thus go to heaven.

ONE MAN HAD REACHED HIS BREAKING POINT
One man, a monk, a "holy man" in the Roman Catholic system of religion, was very troubled in his soul. He had dedicated his life to achieving the salvation promised by the Roman Catholic church. Despite his best efforts, he felt more guilty and alienated from God, even though he confessed to the priests, prayed hours a day and went on long fasts. That man's name was Martin Luther.

HOW PEOPLE ARE TRULY MADE RIGHT WITH GOD
Martin Luther was so troubled that he began searching the scriptures and read these words in Galatians 3:11 - "The just shall live by faith". God's Grace was at work, and suddenly Martin Luther saw that all of the pilgrimages, the contributions to the churches, the confessions, fastings, being baptized into the church, even being a Monk - all of it - contributed nothing to his salvation. Alas, Luther rediscovered the heart of the Christian Gospel that all but a faithful few had forgotten over the centuries - that a man is made right before God by faith alone in Christ Alone.

16TH CENTURY VERSION OF FACEBOOK
Luther did a 16th century equivalent of facebook - He made a post. Only this post was pen and paper nailed to the door of a church (much like if we were to post on facebook or announcements on a bulletin board). Luther wanted to make a public announcement for all to see, posting what was called his "95 theses" on a church door in Wittenberg Germany. These 95 reasons or "theses" aimed to protest the Roman Catholic system to which the Bible revealed to be corrupt. Luther did this on October 31, 1517, sparking the greatest move of God in the past 500 years - The Protestant Reformation.  Luther's main objective was to oppose the system of Indulgences wherein the church promised to those who paid money access to the overflow of grace contained in the Roman Catholic Church's treasury of merits. 

The root or formal cause of Luther's call for Reform had to do with ultimate authority in the Christian life and church.  The big question Luther needed to answer was: is the Pope and his statements concerning who went to heaven and who did not the ultimate authority for the church, or is it sacred scripture that God alone revealed to communicate matters pertaining to this life and the one to come? As Martin Luther wrestled over such questions, his conclusion was - Scripture alone! 

As Martin Luther denounced the Catholic Church's system of indulgences, a second question emerged: how is a man or woman made right with God? It was in his reading of Paul's letters to Galatians and Romans that God showed him that God's gifting of faith is not only the necessary, but also sufficient means in which the sinner receives Christ's accomplished work of salvation. (compare Ephesians 2:8-9)  

Roman Catholicism of 16th century Europe, as well as today, communicates faith to be necessary for salvation - however it teaches that faith by itself is not sufficient.  According to Rome, one must participate in the Roman Catholic church system of baptism, confession, penance and Mass to be deemed right by God and to stay right.  

In contrast, Luther and those after him re-asserted the Biblical truth that faith alone is both the necessary and sufficient means of receiving the gift of salvation.  Following God's declaration of the sinner's righteousness in saving faith, the Christian life proceeds in Godly living with a faith that is not alone, but produces the fruits of Godliness. 

Thus Justification by Faith Alone became the central doctrine or material cause driving the vehicle of the Protestant Reformation.  The doctrine of scripture alone (sola scriptura) was Luther's fuel in the engine that drove His call for reform - Justification by faith alone (sola fide).  Luther himself noted that Justification by Faith is the one article upon which the church rises or falls.


MAIN REASON TO REJOICE OVER OCTOBER 31ST
Soon the then newly invented printing press was utilized to distribute copies of Luther's 95 Theses all over Germany.  As we already explained, the heart and sole of the Reformation centered around the re-discovery of the unique authority of scripture which proclaims the truth of Justification by faith Alone.  This is the main reason I find reason to rejoice over October 31. The Gospel shined forth not as a candle but as a brilliant sun, outshining all other would be contenders. Because of God's movement in the life of one man, the Gospel, preached by the prophets, Christ and the apostles, would once again shine.1  

LET'S TAKE BACK OCTOBER 31ST, REJOICE IN JESUS!
It is time to take back October 31, and use this day to proclaim the truth of scripture and the reformation, sparked on October 31, 1517.  Gospel Light, not darkness, should characterize our lives as Christians.  October 31st has been for years by Wiccans and people of the Pagan/Witchcraft worldview to observe one of the so-called "spirit nights" on their yearly calendar.  Rather than promoting a day of darkness and wickedness, witches and ghosts, Christians need to take a God-centered event like the Reformation and remind themselves of how God led His church back to the Bible and salvation through faith alone in Christ alone.  

IT IS MORE EFFECTIVE TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS
The Reformation was about calling forth people from spiritual darkness into the light of Jesus Christ.  Someone once said: "It is more effective to light a candle than merely curse the darkness".  Lets light the Gospel light and shine the glory of the Gospel.  As Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 - “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."   

End Notes______________

1 As with all major movements of God, the Protestant Reformation was not without God having moved upon prior people and groups who lived before Martin Luther.  Men like John Wycliff and John Huss, who both lived and ministered at the end of the 1300's.  John Wycliffe produced the first complete English translation of the Bible from what was then the prevailing Bible translation of the day - the Latin Vulgate.  John Huss preached 100 years before Luther came on the scene and ended up dying in Martyrdom.  Men such as these are referred to as the "morningstar" of the Reformation, since they signaled a precursor of the cry for Reformation that would ring throughout Europe in the 16th century.   

P2 - The significance of Christ redeeming men rather than angels - Steven Charnock

Hebrews 2:14-15 "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham."

In yesterday's post I provided a quote from the classic 17th century theologian Stephen Charnock's work: "On the Existence and Attributes of God".  The reason being was to explore the significance behind Christ's redemptive work being extended to lost human beings rather than the angelic realm.  The above text proclaims a significant truth and it is this blog writer's opinion that Charnock provides one of the best explanations on this subject.  We saw yesterday what he had to say with reference to the angelic realm.  Today we see further Charnock's comments on how God's goodness in redemption exceeds that of any goodness He expressed towards the fallen angelic realm. My prayer is that you will again be edified in reading this wonderful, Spirit gifted man.

An Excerpt from Stephen Charnock's "On the Existence and Attributes of God"1

His Goodness in redemption is greater than any goodness expressed to the fallen angels 2

"It is the wonder of his goodness to us, that he was mindful of fallen man, and careless of fallen angels; that he should visit man, wallowing in death and blood, with the dayspring from on high, and never turn the
Egyptian darkness of devils into cheerful day; when they sinned, Divine thunder dashed them into hell; when man sinned, Divine blood wafts the fallen creature from his misery: the angels wallow in their own blood forever, while Christ is made partaker of our blood, and wallows in his blood, that we might not
forever corrupt in ours; they tumbled down from heaven, and Divine goodness would not vouchsafe to catch them; man tumbles down, and Divine goodness holds out a hand drenched in the blood of Him, that
was from the foundations of the world, to lift us up (Heb. 2:16). 

He spared not those dignified spirits, when they revolted; and spared not punishing his Son for dusty man, when he offended; when he might as well forever have let man he in the chains wherein he had entangled himself, as them. 

We were as fit objects of justice as they, and they as fit objects of goodness as we; they were not more wretched by their fall than we; and the poverty of our nature rendered us more unable to recover ourselves, than the dignity of theirs did them; they were his Reuben, his first-born; they were his might, and the beginning of his strength; yet those elder sons he neglected, to prefer the younger; they were the prime and golden pieces of creation, not laden with gross matter, yet they lie under the ruins of their fall, while man, lead in comparison of them, is refined for another world. 

They seemed to be fitter objects of Divine goodness, in regard of the eminency of their nature above the human; one angel excelled in endowments of mind and spirit, vastness of understanding, greatness of power, all the sons of men; they were more capable to
praise him, more capable to serve him; and because of the acuteness of their comprehension, more able to have a due estimate of such a redemption, had it been afforded them; yet that goodness which had created them so comely, would not lay itself out in restoring the beauty they had defaced. 

The promise was of bruising the serpent’s head for us, not of lifting up the serpent’s head with us; their nature was not assumed, nor any command given them to believe or repent; not one devil spared, not one apostate spirit
recovered, not one of those eminent creatures restored; every one of them hath only a prospect of misery, without any glimpse of recovery; they were ruined under one sin, and we repaired under many. 

All His redeeming goodness was laid out upon man (Psalm 144:3); “What is man that thou takest knowledge of him; and the Son of man, that thou makest account of him?” Making account of him above angels; as they
fell without any tempting them, so God would leave them to rise, without any assisting them. I know the schools trouble themselves to find out the reasons of this peculiarity of grace to man, and not to them; because the whole human nature fell, but only a part of the angelical; the one sinned by a seduction, and
the other by a sullenness, without any tempter; every angel sinned by his own proper will, whereas Adam’s posterity sinned by the will of the first man, the common root of all. 

God would deprive the devil of any glory in the satisfaction of his envious desire to hinder man from attainment and possession of that
happiness which himself had lost. The weakness of man below the angelical nature might excite the Divine mercy; and since all the things of the lower world were created for man, God would not lose the honor of his works, by losing the immediate end for which he framed them. 

And finally, because in the restoration of angels, there would have been only a restoration of one nature, that was not comprehensive of the nature of inferior things; but after all such conjectures, man must sit down, and acknowledge Divine goodness to be the only spring, without any other motive. Since Infinite Wisdom could have contrived a way for redemption for fallen angels, as well as for fallen man, and restored both the one and the other; why might not Christ have assumed their nature as well as ours, into the unity of the Divine person, and suffered the wrath of God in their nature for them, as well as in his human soul for us? 

It is as conceivable that two natures might have been assumed by the Son of God, as well as three souls be in man distinct, as some think there are.

Endnotes:

1. Stephen Charnock. The Existence and Attributes of God. Baker Books 2000.  Originally Charnock had written his work in the mid-17th century.  The piece quoted above for today's post, as well as tomorrow's post, comes from Volume 2, pages 262-265

2. The electronic version of Charnock's work is quoted in today's post and the address is:

http://servantsplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Existence-and-Attributes-of-God-by-Stephen-Charnock.pdf

The significance of Christ redeeming men rather than angels

Hebrews 2:14-15 "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham."

Introduction:

Recently I came across a section from the 17th century theologian Steven Charnock's classic work: "The Existence and Attributes of God" that I felt had to be shared with you who read this blog. In the piece, Charnock explains how we may consider the height of God's goodness in redemption as exceeding the goodness He displays in creation. In perhaps no other work have I read such a clear explanation behind the significance of Christ having came to redeem men rather than angels. The piece is rich and I hope you find it edifying. 1 

An excerpt from Stephen Charnock'a "On the Existence and Attributes of God"2

It (God's goodness shown in redemption towards man) was a greater goodness than was expressed towards the angels.

"The Son of God did no more expose his life for the confirmation of those that stood, than for the restoration of those that fell; the death of Christ was not for the holy angels, but for simple man; they needed the grace of God to confirm them, but not the death of Christ to restore or preserve them; they had a beloved holiness to be established by the powerful grace of God, but not any abominable sin to be blotted out by the blood of God; they had no debt to pay but that of obedience; but we had both a debt of obedience to the precepts, and a debt of suffering to the penalty, after the fall. 

Whether the holy angels were confirmed by Christ, or no, is a question: some think they were, from Col. 1:20, where “things in heaven” are said to be “reconciled;” but some think, that place signifies no more than the reconciliation of things in heaven, if meant of the angels, to things on earth, with whom they were at enmity in the cause of their Sovereign; or the reconciliation of things in heaven to God, is meant the glorified saints, who were once in a state of sin, and whom the death of Christ upon the cross reached, though dead long before. 

But if angels were confirmed by Christ, it was
by him not as a slain sacrifice, but as a Sovereign Head of the whole creation, appointed by God to gather all things into one; which some think to be the intent of Eph. 1:10, where all things, as well those in
heaven, as those in earth, are said to be “gathered together in one, in Christ.” 

Where is a syllable in Scripture of his being crucified for angels, but only for sinners! Not for the confirmation of the one, but
the reconciliation of the other; so that the goodness whereby God continued those blessed spirits in heaven, through the effusions of his grace, is a small thing to the restoring us to our forfeited happiness, through the streams of Divine blood. 

The preserving of a man in life is a little thing, and a smaller benefit than the raising a man from death. The rescuing a man from an ignominious punishment, lays a greater
obligation than barely to prevent him from committing a capital crime. The preserving a man standing upon the top of a steep hill, is more easy than to bring a crippled and physical man, from the bottom to the top. The continuance God gave to the angels, is not so signal a mark of his goodness as the deliverance he gave to us; since they were not sunk into sin, nor by any crime fallen into misery."

More tomorrow..........

Endnotes:

1. Stephen Charnock. The Existence and Attributes of God. Baker Books 2000.  Originally Charnock had written his work in the mid-17th century.  The piece quoted above for today's post, as well as tomorrow's post, comes from Volume 2, pages 262-265

2. The electronic version of Charnock's work is quoted in today's post and the address is:

http://servantsplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Existence-and-Attributes-of-God-by-Stephen-Charnock.pdf