The doorknob of faith

Romans 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake

Introduction:
What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?  As the Apostle Paul begins his great letter to the church at Rome, the mark of genuine saving faith is demonstrated by the willingness to live out God's word.  When you see that phrase "obedience of faith", that little word "of" tells us that there is a relationship between "obedience" and "faith".  The relationship in this verse is that of a specific effect arising from a particular cause.  The effect in this case is obedience - willingness to follow Jesus Christ in what He says in His word.  So what is the cause?  Faith. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone unto a walk of faith that is never to be alone - but rather accompanied by works flowing from faith.

Faith is the doorknob of the Gospel that God points me to enter into a saving relationship with Him
The idea of "faith" being described by the great Apostle Paul is that of "saving faith". Faith in the original language refers to "firm persuasion" or "trust" in the truth of a matter. Ephesians 2:8-9 describes this saving faith as a gift that is expressed as a prompt response on our part to the voice of Jesus calling us to Himself by the Word of God. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 describes what takes place at saving faith:

"Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior."

Passages such as Psalm 19:7, Romans 10:17 and James 1:18 detail how faith occurs by the agency of God's word.  

To illustrate this point, we could liken God's grace brought to me by the Holy Spirit as the setting up of a doorway  - a doorway called "grace through Jesus Christ". The Holy Spirit points out to me in my sinful condition that there is a doorknob on that door called "faith". He informs me that unless I turn the doorknob of faith, I cannot enter into salvation. 

The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 3:23 "But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed."  Adherence to morality or clinging onto one's self-made righteousness will not gain access into salvation. At our home we have a door through which we gain entry into the house. If we have groceries or some other item in our arms, we have to lay such items down to use the doorknob. If we don't "let go" of what we have, we'll be stuck outside. 

Once the Holy Spirit shows me the door marked "grace through Jesus Christ" with its doorknob marked "faith", the response necessary to turn the doorknob is left to me. Letting go of one's self-confidence, self-righteousness and plain-old reliance on self is involved in saving faith. Once I act in response to His working and turn the knob of faith, I immediately begin participating in the very life of God (2 Peter 1:3-4). What God then does is take the doorknob of faith and places it in my hand. 

From the moment of saving faith, every opportunity will be presented to me whether I will follow through in obedience to God or try to go at it on my on strength. As long as I apply the doorknob of faith, which God tells me is now mine to use and develop, I can walk through any doorway of challenge, opportunity and trial that stands on God's ordained pathway of Christian growth. 

Why the Gospel is so powerful - introducing Paul's Letter to the Romans

Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Introduction:
Today we are considering what is arguably the most important New Testament book outside the Gospels: Paul’s letter to the Romans. The Bible Knowledge Commentary notes on the importance of Paul's letter to the Romans:

"This letter is the premier example of the epistolary form of writing, not only in the Pauline body of material and in the New Testament but also in all of ancient literature. It stands first in every list of the Apostle Paul’s writings though it was not first in time of composition. This bears witness to the importance of the work both in its theme and in its content."

A suggested theme for this great Bible book is: "God’s powerful Gospel". The key verse: Romans 1:16-17, gives us the core of this theme: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” 

As we consider the introduction to this magnificent literary masterpiece, today’s post is going to answer why the Gospel is so powerful to change your life. To answer this, we can first note that the Gospel is 

1. Based on powerful living words.   Romans 1:1-2
The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the words of God revealed and written by the prophets and apostles. 2 Peter 1:10-12 notes: "As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look." 

When one considers the words of the Bible, and specifically, the Gospel message of which they compose, we discover that God has ordained the scriptures as His tool for the conversion of sinners. James 1:18 states: "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures." Such words spiritual raise the dead sinner in the event of saving faith.

We understand from God's work of creation that He verbalized existence into being. Such an act was demonstration of His power as seen in Psalm 33:6 - "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host." 

As one traces other instances of God's power and His speaking forth through the Bible, we begin to witness a correspondence between God's speaking and power. For example, we find God's power and word at the Exodus described in Psalm 106:8 "Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known." 

We find further evidence of this relationship with respect to God's word in power in how He preserves the believer's salvation. The Apostle Peter notes in 1 Peter 1:5 "who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Or again, 2 Peter 1:3 "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence." These many examples ought to convey how powerful God's words are. His words, whether spoken over the creation or in written form, are powerful. Such words bring life and light. The Gospel is composed of such words and is powerful because of its basis in God's words. But notice why else the Gospel is so powerful...

2. Bringing forth of the powerful Christ to you. Romans 1:3-7

The marvel of Paul's opening to Romans is that he explains how Jesus Himself is brought to the sinner in salvation by the Gospel. Unlike all other religions in the world, only Christianity claims that at the verbalization of its core message (the Gospel), its founder (Jesus Christ) is brought to the sinner. 

Christ is brought not only in the salvation of sinners, but He is furthermore committed to remaining with the Christian throughout their post-conversion life (what we call sanctification). When we break down Romans 1:3-7, we gain understanding concerning who Jesus is , and why He is so powerful.  

A. First, He is the Divine Son in Romans 1:3a. Titus 2:13 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the "great God and Savior". John 1:1 rejoins with the emphasis upon the Son being co-eternal with God the Father. When Jesus Christ is brought forth in the Gospel, we instantly are brought into contact with the Personification of omnipotence itself!  

B. Secondly, we find that this Son came to be the man, Christ Jesus, in Romans 1:3b. In having the eternal Son, we now have Him as He is in His glorified humanity. His perfect humanity is accessible to our ever-perfecting, still-needing-to-be-completed humanity. We have the "right man on our side" as the hymn of Martin Luther proclaims.

C. Thirdly, this Son, who became man, came to die and rise from the dead to achieve salvation accomplished, as noted in Romans 1:4. Theologians often speak of Christ's overall redemptive work in two distinct ways: salvation accomplished and salvation applied. The former refers to His once and for all death and resurrection achieved in history (see 1 Peter 3:18). The latter occurs the moment the sinner responds in saving faith to His call in the Gospel (see John 5:24-25; Colossians 3:16).  

D. Fourthly, we find that this Jesus calls us by His Spirit to experience salvation applied in faith. Such saving faith in turn ought to lead to a changed life lived out in daily obedience to His Lordship. These realities are spelled out most plainly in Romans 1:6-7. 

As one follows the argument of the Apostle concerning the powerful Christ brought forth in the Gospel, we find that He changes lives. If a person who has heard the Gospel proclaimed remains unchanged, it is due to their persistent refusal to respond in faith to the Gospel. They may very well had "heard" the Gospel with their physical ears. However, there must be an inward work done by the Spirit to where the sinner's "inward ears-of-the-heart" are unstopped. The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 notes concerning this work of the Spirit, called "regeneration":

"There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."

Therefore, the second reason why the Gospel is so powerful is because of the Person of Jesus Christ brought forth in it. 

Closing thoughts:
Today we considered the introduction to Paul's letter to the church at Rome in answer to the question: "why is the Gospel so powerful?" We discovered two reasons: The Gospel is based on powerful living words and the Gospel brings forth the powerful living Christ. Whenever we consider these two reasons together, we understand that upon reception in saving faith, changed hearts and lives result.  

Defeating doubt, worry and fear this year

Romans 15:4 tells us: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” 

Introduction:
It is usually after Christmas and into January that people begin to experience waves of worry, doubt and fear. Along with the New Year comes concerns about how one will overcome what can be sometimes the anxieties associated with mounting expectations for the upcoming year. 

So, what is the difference between doubt, worry and fear? For Christians, doubt has to do with resistance to past insights from God and His Word spoken to me in the past.  Fear has to do with my hesitation in responding to God and His Word in the present.  If doubt has to do with what God said in the past, and fear has to do with how I’m relating to Him in the present, then worry deals with my perceptions of what He will do in the future. These spiritual maladies lie in the background of many of the garden variety worries, doubts and fears we experience on a daily basis. Dr. Adrian Rogers has noted that worry is a mild form of atheism. When one really thinks about it - doubt, fear and worry are species of unbelief. 

Now in pointing these things out, I certainly do not claim to be immune from such maladies. I find at times such states of anxiety coming over me like the periodic waves that roll onto the beach due to the invisible tug of the moon's gravity in the patterns of tide. The anxious soul can drift into such states without hardly being aware. Experiencing such things is not a sin itself, as long as we don't entertain them and give into their lies. If we do, there are provisions of grace to overcome them. These three emotional and spiritual states are weaponry used by the enemy to plague the people of God.  The Christian's spiritual warfare includes battling these species of unbelief that want to run unchecked in the human heart. When left untamed, doubt, fear and worry will contribute to blurring our vision of God and His character.  

Thankfully, God has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Sovereignty Lordship of Jesus Christ and the scriptures to combat these and other devices used by the enemy of our souls.  Thus we will considering some key passages from one of the great chapters in the Bible - Psalm 37.

Remember, use your sword in battling worry, fear and doubt

So where are you finding yourself doubting, worrying or fearing?  I would encourage you to read the scriptures out loud.  What Paul writes in Romans 10:17 concerning the beginnings of saving faith also applies to how one is kept in saving faith: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  I would encourage you to turn to Psalm 37 note some incredible verses that gives the believer the arsenal needed to defeat doubt, worry and fear.  

1. Warnings to heed

Psalm 37:8 states: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”  Notice that underlined word “fret”?  At least three times we find it mentioned in this Psalm.  In the Hebrew language this word “fret” is translated for the term “chara”.  "Chara" refers to literally getting oneself all hot and bothered or stirring up oneself into a heated frenzy.  Does that describe how you are feeling and dealing with life?  Do you feel pressure building in your gut, like you are going to explode?  That’s the Psalmist's warning to us.  So what is the solution? Consider the next thought.

2. Walk in the rest of God

Psalm 37:1-8 acts as a series of bullets that you can use when that disturbing, troubling notion grips your heart.  Note how God gives a series of commands.  Commands are particularly important, since for every command in scripture there is always a provision of grace to carry them out.  God’s commands are not given because I’m simply able to do them.  Many people get discouraged when trying to carry out God’s commands.  They will say: “They are just too hard”.  Dear friend, the commands of God are not hard, they are impossible – that is, if you are not taking advantage of God’s provision of grace. 

Note how we are given instruction on resting is God in the following verses: “Fret not” in 37:1; “Trust” in verse 3; “Delight in the Lord” in verse 4; “Commit your way” in verse 5.  With these commands we see the provision of grace in verse 6: “And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”  

So if you are in the midst of darkness, note that God’s word gives you provision to enjoy an open heaven, a noonday sun despite the midnight of your circumstance.  Psalm 37:7 tells us to “rest in the Lord” and in verse 8 to “cease from anger”.  We are not promised immunity from trouble, however we are given the “rest of God” whereby we can rise above doubt, worry and fear. So heed the warning and walk in God's rest as you battle doubt, worry and fear. But now notice one final strategy in overcoming worry, fear and doubt... 

3. Winning the battle (by knowing that God is fighting for you)

Psalm 37:40 states: “And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”  What is remarkable about this Psalm is that it begins with the command not to fret, and it ends with the confidence of victorious faith.  This is not a “pie in the sky, sweet by and by” theology, this is real life doctrine for the "nasty now-and-now".  Knowing that God will never leave me, not forsake me, is more than enough to overcome doubt, worry and fear.

The importance of devotional books and Christian spiritual biographies in one's daily quiet time

Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

The place of devotionals in one's daily quiet time with God
Today we consider the importance and place of looking to the scriptures and to the insights of past saints in building one's devotional life. Particularly, whenever we want to fortify our personal time with God, certain so-called "devotional writers" can greatly deepen one's walk with God. As the Apostle Paul was composing the Book of Romans, he often quoted from the Old Testament. The Old Testament was not only used to make certain theological points in Paul's letter, but certain people from the Old Testament were used to reinforce his points. 

Although Paul is referring mainly to the value of the Old Testament scriptures in the above text, he nonetheless brings forth a general principle concerning insights from past generations of Christians. This principle of the spiritual lives of past saints can be used to add concrete to our personal devotional life. Today's post aims to offer some thoughts on the importance of devotional books and spiritual biographies in one's daily quiet time.

A dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants
Over the years I have used devotional writers to guide my thinking, praying and Bible reading. To me, whenever I read the insights of past generations, I feel like a dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant. 

Recently I finished reading for a second time A.W Tozer's book: "The Pursuit of God." It amazes me how much the book affects me now versus when I first read it over ten years ago. My faith is still stretched by men like Tozer who walked in places with God that I have yet to walk. This year I plan on adding more Christian spiritual biographies to my devotional diet. Admittedly, I tend to oftentimes get too cranial in my Christian walk. What I need is a balance of the heart and mind. I have in my possession Charles Stanley's new autobiography. Even though I have only gotten into the first chapter, I'm already learning so much at the feet of this great man of God. 

Certainly there are several examples of devotional books and literature that could be mentioned. Oswald Chambers' classic devotional book: "My Utmost For His Highest" features one-page devotionals for every day of the year. This amazing book has been a blessing to me in times past. Chambers wrote in such a way as to be verging on the prophetic (meaning, he could penetrate the heart of the subject while penetrating the reader's heart as well, delivering personal, spiritually-illuminating exhortations). Other writers such as Richard Foster, St. John of Damascus, Augustine, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards and others will stretch the heart and mind when given full attention

Closing thoughts
As you and I hopefully aim to draw closer to God this year, we ought to consider utilizing a devotional in our quiet times. There will be those times of course when we find ourselves wanting to work our way through the scriptures unencumbered by the thoughts of others. Christian devotional books or autobiographies can add freshness to our daily walk with God. The principle of recalling what other saints of God of times past have learned can greatly inform our own Christian walk in this 21st century world. 

The importance of Christian meditation in one's daily devotional life

note: above image derives from a photo off of pinterest.com. The point of the picture is to highlight the goal of having daily devotions and meditating on God's Word: spiritual maturity. 

Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Introducing an important concept in reinforcing one's daily quiet time with God: Christian meditation

Whenever you read a passage of scripture or hear a sermon, do you remember any of it five to ten minutes later. If you find, like I do, the inability to recall what was read or heard, it is a sign of the need of a very important Christian spiritual discipline called by the scriptures and Christians of old: "meditation". 

Unfortunately, when people hear the word "meditate", they conjure up images of a person sitting cross legged with hands out-stretched, finger-tips touching and the hum of the word "um". As is always the case, the enemy of our souls counterfeits the genuine articles God revealed for the betterment of the Christian.  Today we want to consider this very important concept for bridging the time one spends in their quiet-time with God to that of their daily routine: Christian meditation on God's Word.


Defining Christian Mediation
In the original language of this Psalm, the word "meditation" has to do with a "deeper pondering" over the meaning and significance of the words of scripture. We see in the above opening verses the core meaning of this concept of "meditation". Joshua 1:8 conceives of meditation on God's Word as ensuring that one won't forget what they just read or heard. In Psalm 19 we find that meditation is that "deeper pondering" that aims to make the believer's life a pleasurable one before God. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 envisions such mediation as internalizing the virtues gleaned from God's Word and stirred-up by the Holy Spirit's kindling of the heart's affections. Ancient Christian writers often spoke of a fourfold process one went through when interacting with the Bible:

a. Reading the text

b. Meditating on the text

c. Disciplining yourself to live out the text

d. Knowing that you got the meaning of the text by praising and worshiping God.

It is the second step that bridges one's "reading" of the Bible to the realm of life application (the third step) and a lifestyle devoted to worship of God (the fourth step). 

A suggested way of meditating on God's Word
The following steps are a suggested method for practically meditating on God's Word:

1. Read the text

2. Read it again (out-loud or silently)

3. Read it a third time, marking down your initial thoughts or verbalizing to yourself what you read

4. Walk away and think on what you read

5. Come back to the text again and repeat steps 1 through 4

So Why meditate on God's Word?
Every blog I write, sermon I preach, lesson I teach, quiet time I do or sharing of God's word that I communicate requires meditation on God's Word.  When you and I meditate on scripture, we are aiming to get it from before our eyes or in our ears to reside in our hearts and out in our actions.  Meditation is what you do "in between" your times in the scriptures. You can meditate while waiting in line at the grocery store, on break at work or at lunch room at school.  As a husband, father and pastor living in the 21st century, I experience the demands that life places upon me. What mediation does is break down the artificial wall between "Christian spirituality" and "the rest of life". Without this discipline, the ability to keep ones mind clear of clutter and ones obedience clear of procrastination will be great limited. Meditating on God's Word in indeed important, but what benefits can we note about this practice?

The benefits of Christian Mediation
Notice the benefits that comes as a result of mediating on God's Word here in Psalm 19:14:

1. Right Attitudes - The Psalmist desires to please God.  Only scripture can stir up the Christian to want to live more for the Lord. (1 Peter 2:1-2)

2. Right Thoughts - How many of you want a better thought-life?  Cleanse your mind with the scriptures.
Meditating on the scripture cleanses our heart and mind.  Jesus even talks about this particular quality of the word of God. (John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26).

3. Right Words -  He wants the right words to flow from his mouth.  God's word makes your "have to's" into "want to's".  As Jesus teaches, out of the overflow of the hearts comes forth the words of the mouth. (Matthew 15:18)

4. Right Motivation - The Psalmist ends this Psalm by praising God, His "Rock" and His "Redeemer".  We know from the names of God in the Bible that the term "Rock" refers ultimately to Jesus Christ.  Though the Psalmist lived 1,000 years before Jesus Christ came to this earth, He writing under Divine inspiration was referring to Him.  

Closing thoughts
When you and I meditate on the scriptures, we will be motivated to live for Jesus Christ and have a stronger daily walk with the Lord.

A few recommendations on how to begin to have daily devotions

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Introduction:

Today we want to consider how begin having a personal quiet time or daily devotions with God. We noted in the last post that Jesus' example is the primary reason for having a daily time with God. It is patently obvious that spending time with God in both prayer and the Word is a critical spiritual discipline for the Christian. The above text lays out the importance of being in God's Word. King David is the author. His prayerful tone in the above verses demonstrate how prayer and time in God's Word mesh together like gears in a clock. We could say that having a daily quiet time with God will enable the Christian to "run-right" during the course of the day. What we want to know is: how does one begin their quiet time? The below suggestions are not intended to be comprehensive, but rather introductory. 

1. Grab a Bible you can understand and read it everyday

The average home in America has at least one to two Bibles. If a Bible is not accessible, there are many free downloadable apps one can download into their phone or look-up on-line (such as www.biblegateway.com or New English Translation online (NET Bible). There are numerous English translations and versions available to Bible readers. I recommend that the reader begin with one of the following translations or versions: New King James Version (NKJV); New American Standard Bible (NASB); English Standard Version (ESV); Holman Standard Christian Bible (HCSB); New Living Translation (NLT) and New International Version (NIV). The King James Version (KJV) is an appropriate version for readers familiar with it and can even be used in concert with one of the above translations for easier understanding. Once you have a Bible, treat it as a close friend. Access it's pages everyday. Your strength of faith is proportional to the frequency and time spent in God's Holy Word.

2. Start small and work your way up

When it comes to doing one's quiet time, starting small is the best approach. I recommend five minutes. Start by thanking God for Who He is (His power, His glory, His Word) and for what He has done (His provision of salvation, giving you the opportunity to talk to Him in prayer). Sometimes praying through the A.C.T.S acronym can aid people new to prayer. The acronym represents different sorts of prayer: adoration / confession / thanksgiving and supplication (that is, asking God for your needs). 

Starting out one's quiet time in prayer sets the tone for the remainder of you time alone with God. Once you have prayed, focus on a verse or two. The Psalms are a good place to begin, since they deal with prayer. The following specific Psalms are really good to look at when beginning to develop one's quiet-time with God: Psalm 1; Psalm 23; Psalm 139; Psalm 150. Another book of the Bible that is strongly recommended for those wanting to grow in their faith is the New Testament book of 1 John, located near the end of the New Testament. 

By focusing on just three to four verses a day, one can easily get through 1 John in one month. As time is invested on a daily basis, the five-minute time frame will quickly be outgrown.  I can recall in my younger days how the "five-minutes" turned into the sweetest times, quickly escalating to ten minutes, then fifteen and to the point where I no longer focused on "hurrying to get it done". We all start somewhere. Ask the Holy Spirit to whet your spiritual appetite. Make your time with God a matter of increasing quantity and quality.

3. Pick a place where you won't be distracted 

Jesus would go off into a secluded place to pray. In our 24/7 world, it is very easy to be distracted. Sometimes closing the door to one's bedroom or going to a room in the house that isn't used much can be a start. Sometimes people have found that praying on the way to work or school is a great time to talk to God. If anything, integrating one's prayer time in the routines of life sets the tone for how one may approach their job, their schooling or relationships. The point is that you are carving out both time and space to be intentional in your effort to grow in fellowship with God. 

Now be forewarned: efforts at doing one's quiet time will be met by increased distraction! It is of course no surprise, since the Christian life is characterized as one of continual spiritual battle. This is why the Christian needs to be ever asking the Person of the Holy Spirit in them to stir up the desire to persevere in such moments. Just like physical exercise relative to the physical body, the momentary discomforts of life strengthen the spiritual muscles to strive harder and farther with God. May we all grow in our daily walk with the Lord.

Why have daily devotions? Because Jesus did

Mark 1:35 "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there."

Luke 6:12  "It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God."

Introduction:
What does it mean to have a private time with God? sometimes this concept will be called by other names: "daily devotions"; "quiet-time" and other such designations. Is spending personal time with God on a daily basis important for one's spiritual growth in the Christian life? As Jesus models for us in the above opening verses, having a daily time alone with God is crucial. Whether one takes times in prayer and the Word in the early morning or late at night - the point is getting with Him before getting to it. Since we are at the beginning of a new year, I thought I would share this key principle of Jesus' example in spending time with the Heavenly Father to encourage us all to make time with God a regular part of our life. 

Why have daily-time with God? Because Jesus did it
As we already discovered in the above opening verses of today's post, Jesus modeled a crucial component of true progress in the Christian life - personal time with God. In Mark 1:35, we find Jesus making His personal time with the Heavenly Father the very first thing that He did. In Luke 6:12, we find the Lord Jesus taking the late-night hours to spend time with God in prayer. In both instances, we find Jesus exercising the practice of alone-time with God to draw closer to the Heavenly Father, make important decisions and set the tone for His life and ministry. 

So why did Jesus do this? After all, Jesus is God in the flesh. He had already enjoyed perpetual fellowship with the Father from all eternity. Here is why. In passages such as 1 John 2:6 and 1 Peter 2:21-22; we are encouraged to follow in Jesus' steps. He modeled in His humanity the very life and principles he wanted His disciples to have. Of course, such principles were never to be isolated from dependence upon and the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit brings to bear in the Christian the living power of Jesus Christ. 

Closing thoughts
Thus, when we rely upon Jesus by the Holy Spirit, beginning the practice of daily devotions goes from being a duty to delight. The chief reason for getting into the habit of having daily-quiet times with God is because Jesus did.  

Convictions worth living for and dying by in 2017

Acts 7:59-60  "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  ⁶⁰And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU FOR 2017           
As we begin this year of 2017, I want to propose to you that you make this the year that you find something that is both worth living for and dying for.  Many of you reading this blog have made a "New Year's Resolution" in which you believe you have found something worth living for.  Fewer people have ever found something worth dying for that is of eternal value. The Christian life cannot proceed on preference and opinion, since such things can never lead a person to live and die for something greater than them nor for the sake of others. True conviction identifies all at once that the thing worth living for and dying for is located in a Person (Jesus Christ) and the truth of the scriptures. Stephen was the first martyr recorded for the Christian faith. He modeled what it meant to live for and die by His convictions - The Entire Bible and the Entire Christ.

STEPHEN PREACHED TO THE DEATH           

As he stood before his accusers, the charges leveled against him were those of blasphemy and attempting to replace the Jewish religion with Jesus Christ.  The religious leaders who were accusing Stephen did not have anything eternal to live for or die for.  They had tradition, ideas, self-righteousness and themselves.  

When they actually ran across someone who was proclaiming what he believed was worth living and dying for, Stephen's words became as a stench in their ears.  Mediocrity will always hate excellence. Religion will always detest true godliness. Self-righteousness will forever wage war against Christ.

STEPHEN LIVED AND DIED BY THE ENTIRE BIBLE          

Stephen first of all believed that it was worth living for and dying by the entire Bible.  His sermon in Acts 7 gives the entire history, in highlight form, of redemptive history from Abraham to Christ.  Before it is all said and done, Stephen will had referenced over 60 Old Testament passages, mentioned eight major Old Testament figures, covered 2100 years of time and summarized 40 books of the Bible.  Stephen burned with a white hot passion for the word of God.  He knew that his sermon was going to end in death - yet he never felt more alive.

STEPHEN LIVED AND DIED BY THE ENTIRE CHRIST          

Then Stephen secondly believed that it was worth living and dying for the entire Christ.  In the lives of the people mentioned in Stephen's address, we find pictures of Christ.  Abraham pictures the promised Christ. Isaac the Sacrifical Son.  In Jacob's life we are reminded of Christ anticipated and in Joseph the picture of Christ's death and resurrection.  In Moses we see Christ the intercessor for His people. Moses' successor, Joshua, portrays the victorious Christ.  David reminds us that Christ was to be the King of Kings and Solomon foreshadows Christ our wisdom.  Stephen also briefly mentions the prophets, reminding us that Christ alone could reveal the glory of God - since He is God.   Is it no wonder that as stones bludgeoned Stephen to death that he echoed the prayer of forgiveness that Christ prayed when He was being crucified.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU?     

Will you this year make the entire Bible and the entire Christ your standard by which you determine what is worth living and dying for? There is an old saying that goes something like this: "whatever is done on this earth will pass; but whatever is done for Christ will last".  Christianity's cornerstone is shaped by the Written Word and The Living Word - Jesus Christ.  Make 2017 your year by which you make the Christ of the word and the word of Christ your core convictions worth living for and dying by. 

P2 Why the Gospel is so powerful - Romans 1:1-17

Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Introduction:
Yesterday we considered why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so powerful. We noted two reasons. First, the gospel is so powerful due to it being based on life-giving words - the scriptures. The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are God's written revelation. In 40 some people, God moved by His Spirit so that they in their own language, writing styles and thoughts could convey His purposes and will towards mankind. The Bible is a living book - meaning that whoever hears its contents has the opportunity to be changed. Hence the Bible's life-changing power in its living words inform the Gospel - making it God's power unto salvation.

A second reason we noted yesterday as to why the Gospel is God's power unto salvation is due to its focal point and subject - the Lord Jesus Christ. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as the following to say about Jesus:

"He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord."

Paul unfolds in Romans 1:3-7 of how Jesus Christ is the "seed of David", meaning that in His humanity He powerfully fulfilled all that God promised and predicted through the patriarchs and demonstrated such by His resurrection from the dead. By raising from the dead, Christ also demonstrated the claims He had made in His earthly ministry of He being God. 

As the God-man, all that Jesus achieved on the cross was accomplished as God in human flesh. As man He died. As God His sacrifice was infinite in value. As man His resurrection vindicated all He did. As God He demonstrated that He had life in Himself. Such a powerful Person is brought to us in the Gospel - thus making it a powerful message. 

Today we want to consider two other reasons why the Gospel is so powerful.

The Gospel is powerful due to God's ordained method of its delivery - preaching

In Romans 1:8-15 we find various terms used by Paul to indicate how the preaching of the Gospel and God's power are associated with one another. In Romans 1:8 we find the Gospel being proclaimed throughout the then Mediterranean world, resulting in lives being changed. In Romans 1:9, Paul indicates that in his preaching of the Gospel, his prayer life on behalf of the Romans is empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Romans 1:15 Paul states - "So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome." 

Preaching is God's ordained means of communicating the good news of Jesus. If it were up to human beings, others means would had been chosen as the flagship method - entertainments, dramas, music, art and other tools of communication. Certainly these other methods have been used throughout the history of the church and some have proven more beneficial than others. Undoubtedly music for example plays a very vital role in the life of the local church. However, preaching is God's primary method. Its seemingly "intrusive", sometimes "out-of-place" function in a world of visual effects and technology make it the perfect vehicle for transformation of sinners and strengthening of God's people. Preaching is the tool where man has the least likelihood of getting the credit and God getting the full credit. This is the logic behind God choosing preaching as the primary means of communicating the Gospel. 

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:20-21 "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." Or again, Romans 10:14-15 "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!"

Now what makes preaching so powerful is not the preacher, but rather God's Holy Spirit attending and empowering the sermon and the preacher. Furthermore, the Spirit works to open the ears of the hearts of people listening to the Gospel. This is God's choice method. Anything He chooses to use, no matter how seemingly weak, is made powerful. 

Think of Moses' staff for instance. In Moses' hand it was but a walking a stick. When God told him to lay it down and pick it up again, it turned into something other than what it was. The point being made by God was that in the hands of God so-to-speak, a plain stick can split seas and bring mighty monarchs to their knees. In God's hand, Moses' staff was used to deliver the people of God. Was it Moses holding the staff? Yes. However, it was God working through the man and the gifting to bring about the effects. 

So the Gospel is powerful due to the living words of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ and His choice method of preaching. Now lets consider one final reason...

The Gospel is powerful due to it's life-changing power

Let's place before our eyes Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” When I was a boy, I would often find myself getting into mischief. When I would carry-on and engage in horseplay, I would hear my mother or father tell me: "Mahlon, straighten-up"! Now why did they say that? was it because I was bent over in poor posture? no; instead, I was exhibiting a crookedness in my soul. Whenever I would "straighten-up", I would modify my behavior to appease them and to avoid discipline. But do you know, deep down inside I would often think: "what right do they have to tell me to "straighten-up". In those moments I exhibited the truth contained in Romans 3:23 - "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God".

No man has the power within himself to "truly straighten-up". The word "righteousness" used by Paul here in Romans 1:16 speaks of a moral and spiritual standard whereby one is "made right-with" or "fit-to-be" in God's sight. Now Paul will unfold the full import of this in Romans 3-4. Suffice to say, Paul is strongly hinting at what will be the crown jewel of his letter: justification by faith alone. This precious truth explains God's judicial decree of my innocence and "rightness" at my salvation. This "rightness" which He declares is not my own, but rather the "rightness" earned by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus on my behalf. When I by faith trust in all Christ did and is, His life, death and resurrection is credited (or imputed) to my account (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Now in the verses prior to Romans 1:16, we discovered the power of the Gospel's words and Person and the delivery method of preaching. We have seen the reason why the Gospel is so powerful. But now, when we consider its effects on the person who trusts in what it says by faith - we come to grasp the practical realities of such power. The inability I had and remain to have to this day to "straighten-up" or to "be right with God" on my own strength and volition is delivered to me by the Gospel. 

The amazing reality of where we find this ability to be right with God or righteousness is found within the Gospel itself. Romans 1:17 proclaims that "in it", the Gospel, is found all that a person needs to be right with God. Furthermore, Paul quotes an Old Testament passage (Habakkuk 2:4) to reinforce the notion that what he is writing is not a novel invention, but has been God's design of the Gospel all along. The Gospel is so powerful due to the fact that within the message itself is our life-changing solution - the God-given ability to truly "straighten-up" per the power and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Closing thoughts
Over the last two days we have consider why the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. We noted four reasons for this:

1. Living words of the Bible
2. Lord Jesus Christ
3. Preaching
4. Life-changing power of the Gospel         itself

P1 Why the Gospel is so powerful - Romans 1:1-17

Romans 1:16-17 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Introduction:
Why is the Gospel so powerful? This theme of "the power of the Gospel" headlines Paul's letter to the church at Rome. Commentator Warren Weirsbe notes:

"No wonder Paul was not ashamed: He was taking to sinful Rome the one message that had the power to change people’s lives! He had seen the gospel work in other wicked cities, such as Corinth and Ephesus, and he was confident that it would work in Rome. It had transformed his own life, and he knew it could transform the lives of others."

Romans 1:1-17 introduces this marvelous epistle of Paul. Romans 1:16-17 is Paul asserting his stance on not being ashamed of the God due to it possessing the power of God unto salvation for everyone that believes or trusts in it. All that prefaces these key verses and all that follows serve to expound on the power of the Gospel. Today we want to know why the Gospel is powerful. We will offer a brief exposition of Romans 1:1-17 in attempting to understand why Paul and us can conclude that the Gospel is powerful. Notice the following reasons why the Gospel is so powerful as stated in Romans 1:1-17...

1. Life-changing words. Romans 1:1-2
We read in Romans 1:1-2 "Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures." The word translated "scriptures" is the Greek word "graphe" from whence we derive such English words as "graphics" and the mineral "graphite" found in the pencil leads we use to write on paper. The term "scripture" itself (from the Latin "scriptura") refers to that which is written, the words of God in the Old and New Testaments. In our English Bibles, our word "scripture" is simply a carry over or transliteration of the Latin "scriptura", which in the Latin translation of the Bible (the Vulgate) was a translation of the word "graphe". 

When English translations appeared on the scene, translators familiar with the Latin Vulgate saw the term "scripture" as appropriate in conveying the truth of the Bible being God's very words. These words of the Bible are God's very voice in written form. When read or preached, they impart life to the soul which can raise the spiritually dead heart to life in so far as the sinner responds to such words in saving trust (see John 5:24-25; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). No other means is used by God to impart salvation other than the scriptures. The words of the Bible are powerful and effective (Hebrews 4:12). Such a repository of Divine revelation is powerful. Hence, the Gospel is powerful due to the life-giving words upon which it is based and revealed. There is a second reason though for why the Gospel is so powerful...

2. Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:3-7
Recently theologian R.C. Sproul's Bible teaching ministry (Ligonier Ministries) released a statement of faith on the Person and work of Jesus Christ that outlines His identity, natures and power as God and man. Below we find the introductory two paragraphs of the statement:


"We confess the mystery and wonder
of God made flesh and rejoice in our great salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
the Son created all things, sustains all things, and makes all things new.
Truly God, He became truly man, two natures in one person."
Jesus Christ is no doubt the mystery and wonder of God personified. The late preacher Adrian Rogers once remarked: "He is so much God as not to be man and so much man as to not be God." This One person is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Who is truly and fully God and truly and fully man. Only a Person such as Christ could be powerful enough to be the focal point of the Gospel. Jesus is not only the Gospel's object but supreme subject. He is actually brought to the sinner by the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. 

In other words, Jesus is not hermetically sealed of in history or the pages of the Bible. When the Gospel is presented, Christ comes forth. The totality of His glorified humanity and endless deity are united in Himself, making His entire Person as God and man available to all who trust in Him.

This living Christ is supremely powerful. He is what makes the Gospel the Gospel. The good news of the Gospel is that God is with us, for us and in us. The good news of the Gospel is that we have a perfect human representative for us in the heavenly realms. In Jesus, in saving faith, we are more than accepted before God. In Jesus, we are united to God by the One who is God and man. His perfect humanity defines the believer's identity and ability to commune with God. 

So the Gospel is powerful due to it being based on powerful, living words (Romans 1:1-2) and the Lord Jesus Christ. In the next post we will consider other reasons from Romans 1:1-17 why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful.