This means war! Understanding the significance of spiritual warfare

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."

Introduction:

When Paul began writing the Epistle to the Ephesians, he made this statement in Ephesians 1:16-18 "do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." As Paul wrote to a church situated in a city regarded by the Roman Empire as the chief city of Asia Minor, he knew that much opposition would rise in distracting the Ephesians away from their quest to heed "the hope of His calling". Undoubtedly Paul's situation of being chained to a Roman soldier was used by the Holy Spirit in the commands we see in Ephesians 6:11-18 to "put on the whole armor of God."

Many other voices will attempt to throw us off the pathway of faith, nonetheless we have been equipped by God to "fight the good fight of faith" as Paul would speak about in his final Epistle of 2 Timothy 4:7.

Today's post is all about introducing the reader to a series of posts I plan on writing over the course of time. As Christians we are in a war. Victory is assured, however our safety and comfort (at least temporily) are not. Ephesians 6:11 and an unfolding of the epic battle between David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 will start us off in this series that I am entitling: "This Means War!" Today's post particularly will aim in helping the reader to understand the significance of spiritual warfare.

This means war: Ephesians 6:11 and a shepherd boy who would be king after killing a giant

Ephesians 6:11 reads: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil." The underlined words in the text set the tone for what will be this study. The first underlined set of words comes from a Greek word referring to a full set of armor worn by heavily armed troops. In ancient Greece and Rome, whenever a soldier had on his "full-armor", that communicated to the enemy that they were going to be defeated and that the soldier came to win. The second word translated "schemes" comes from a Greek word from whence we get our English word "methodology". Satan has devised numerous strategies or "methodologies" to discourage and destroy God's people. To therefore put on the "full armor of God" means then to put on, in obedience, the known will of God as revealed in Jesus Christ by the leading of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. 

To illustrate what Paul will be picturing here in the listing of the spiritual armor (which we won't get into today's post), it is worthwhile looking at the account of David and Goliath to see in the physical historical account of their epic battle what we can learn with regards to the significance of spiritual warfare and how we can prepare for it.

1. Methods of the enemy are pride and fear. 1 Samuel 17:1-11

As Goliath taunted the armies of Israel prior to David's arrival, he used a two-fold tactic of intimidating them in fear on the one hand and exerting arrogant pride on the other. Saul, the King of Israel, is totally looking at this impending threat through the eyes of the flesh and human ability. As we will see further down into the text, Saul's instructions to David will be to trust in human confidence and ability moreso than God. The methodology of Satan to this day employs either fear or pride, with numerous combinations and expressions of each of those.

When Paul wrote what he wrote in Ephesians 6:10-11, he warned about the necessity of taking one's stand against the Devil's "schemes" or "methods". Only when we put on the full armor of God can we employ the strategy necessary to fight the fight of faith. Knowing the enemy's methodology is the first step, as David learned and as we see from Paul's exposition in Ephesians 6. Now notice secondly....

2. The mission of the enemy is to afflict God's people. 1 Samuel 17:12-30

In 1 Samuel 17:14 we read that Goliath taunted the people of God for 40 days. the number 40 in scripture is often associated with times of testing or temptation. Israel was tested and tried in the wilderness for 40 years and Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days. Satan ever lives to afflict, discourage and relentlessly accuse the people of God, for he is by nature he Father of lies (John 8:44) and Accuser of the brethren. As you read on down through 1 Samuel 17, the resolve of the people of God gets worn down. In 1 Samuel 17:11 and 17:24 we see great fear gripping the people. When David shows up to deliver food to his brothers on the battle front, the taunts of Goliath bellow forth and all but David are frightened and ready to run. As David inquires about the audacity of Goliath, his own brothers (soldiers in Saul's army) rebuke David for being over confident and not grasping the situation. 

How is it that David was not able to give into the fear and pride strategy of Goliath? Though he did not nor would not put on physical armor, his mind and heart had been prepared spiritually for this moment. God's Word elsewhere recounts how God had use David's shepherding experience to train David mentally, physically and spiritually. Psalm 78:70-72 states - "He also chose David His servantAnd took him from the sheepfolds; 71 From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands." David recognized the mission of the enemy in taunting God and his people, and David instantly knew what his mission was - to engage the enemy on God's terms. When we realize that God's mission for us far exceeds the enemy's mission, we will be in effect putting on the spiritual armor of God. Notice the next thought we can learn about spiritual warfare from this text...

3. Might of God's strength can defeat the enemy. 1 Samuel 17:31-58

As soon as David had stated his interest in wanting to fight Goliath, word spread quickly through Saul's army. Times were desparate and there was one man who saw the situation differently than the rest. As David was brought to Saul, Saul continued looking at the battle and now David through physical eyes, rather than spiritual ones. As David recounted to Saul how God had given him victory in his shepherding over bears and lions in 1 Samuel 17:31-37, we then read of Saul trying to fit David with his own personal suit of armor. David's response in 1 Samuel 17:39 told Saul that the armor which he was trying on would fail, because it had not been tested. 

In spiritual warfare, the two common mistakes we can make is to mis-identify the nature of the battle and to mistaken the source of victory in the battle. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 tells us that our warfare is not fleshly or carnal, but is spiritual. Saul looked at the situation through the eyes of the flesh, however David ever kept in mind that the battle was not a man's battle, but God's. 

This then leads to the second mistake commonly made in spiritual warfare - namely in mistaking the source of victory. What was going to ensure the victory against Goliath? Saul thought his own armor and sword would be adequate. However David wisely knew that God alone could win the battle. Techniques and strategies of the flesh are like Saul's armor: "untested and unsuitable". When David said in 1 Samuel 17:47 that "the battle is the Lord's", he was identifying from Whom the victory would derive. Thus we see how even though the methods of the enemy are fear and pride and the mission of the enemy is to afflict God's people, the Mighty power of God alone can defeat the enemy. 

As many readers know, the outcome of the epic battle between David and Goliath came to an end, with David defeating the Giant with a stone and sling. There is no natural explanation for David defeating Goliath, only a supernatural one. In the flesh, the battle looked lopsided, however in the Spirit, the battle was already decided - with God being the Victor through David's sling and faith. Hebrews 11:32-34 reminds us: "And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight."

Closing thoughts:

So in putting on the whole armor of God, we can picture the spiritual process of doing so through the physical illustration of David and Goliath. As Paul will outline in Ephesians 6:11-18, and as we learned from looking at the account in 1 Samuel 17, we must grasp three truths to obtain victory in spiritual warfare:

1. Methods of the enemy are pride and fear. 1 Samuel 1:1-11

2. The mission of the enemy is to afflict God's people. 1 Samuel 17:12-30

3. Might of God's strength can defeat the enemy. 1 Samuel 17:31-58

Church Membershp Strengthens the Christian's Witness

1 Timothy 1:3-4 "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith."

Introduction:

A few days ago we had begun considering how God ordained church membership to strengthen Christianity. In terms of strengthening the Christian's faith, we saw how church membership was ordained and used by God to stabilize, sweeten and stretch Christian faith. We also saw how church membership is used to strengthen the Christian life flowing from Christian faith.  As I already mentioned, this series of posts are aimed at understanding how Church membership is not only Biblical but necessary for ensuring a stronger Christianity both within the church and outside in the world. 

Point of Application:

As you read what Paul would write in the book of 1 Timothy, you discover that one of the central concerns he had was to ensure that both the leadership and membership of the local church were unified and Christ focused against the rising tide of doctrinal and cultural opposition. Again our main point of application is: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. In what specific ways does God use the Biblical concept of church membership to underscore a stronger Christianity? Three answers emerge from looking through 1 Timothy 1:1-11:

1. Stronger Christian Faith 1:1-4 

2. Stronger Christian Living 1:5-7 

3. Stronger Christian Witness 1:8-11

We looked in earlier posts at the first two reasons and will close out this series by consider the third reason, namely.....

Church Membership makes for a stronger Christian Witness. 
When it comes to church membership, over time the Christian ought to become effective in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and knowing how to effectively distinguish between Law and Gospel. As the Apostle Paul was writing to Pastor Timothy, one of the errors that had to be addressed was those who were mishandling the scriptures in regard to mixing up the Law and Gospel. In 1 Timothy 1:8 we read - "But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully." As Paul then describes how some erroneous teachers were misapplying God's Law (i.e Ten Commandments), and one of the main ways in which the Law of God is to be applied, he then states in 1 Timothy 1:11 "according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted." 

The need for understanding the glory of the Gospel has never been more needed than today! With that said, unless we understand the justice of God and darkness of sin clearly revealed by the Law of God, we will never appreciate nor communicate clearly the brightness of God's grace and forgiveness of sins in Jesus and the cross revealed by the Gospel. Perhaps a story that I heard one time, which I will simply entitle: "Adam, Dr. Law and the Great Physician", will aid in driving home the point of why Paul wrote what he did in 1 Timothy 1:8-11.

Adam, Dr. Law and the Great Physician
Once there was a letter sent out from Divine Grace Hospital to a man by the name of Adam. Adam had been very ill for quite sometime. His thoughts were that perhaps he had a bad flu or perhaps some type of virus. In the letter Adam was told to come immediately to the Hospital where he would meet with a doctor to discuss his condition.

When Adam arrived, he came upon an office with the words written above: "Dr. Law". As Adam stepped into the main waiting area, he was immediately taken back. A high desk was in the room, along with ten charts, depicting the results of Adam's test. Dr. Law told Adam to sit down, as he had some news to share with Adam. The news was far worse than Adam thought. He had through carelessness contracted a fatal disease called "S-I-N". It was in its final stages, and its rate of mortality was 100%. Furthermore the disease was genetic and was guaranteed to infect all of Adam's loved ones.

At first Adam tried to ignore Dr. Law's diagnosis, but a still small voice urged Adam to listen, since Dr. Law's tests would show the true picture. As hour upon hour past, Dr. Law was relentless in his presenting of the test results. Alas Adam blurted out: "Doctor, what can I do? Is there anything you can do for me? Is there a remedy?" With hands folded and elbows resting on his desk, the Doctor told Adam that there was nothing he could do. All he could do was report the results. Doctor Law told Adam: "Our office doesn't prescribe medicine, we just report test results and make referrals." The message was clear: Adam was going to die!

Adam buried his head in his hands. No comfort was available. Realizing the nature of his disease, he got up to leave. Dr. Law told Adam: "By the way, there is a Great Physican down the hallway. I refer all my patients to him. The choice is yours".

As Adam left the office, he headed down grace hallway and stood in front of a doorway marked: "The Great Physician". As he looked back, he noticed other patients, like he, coming out of Dr. Law's office. Some were stumbling behind him, while others headed in the other direction. Adam could not ignore the diagnosis. Dr. Law's chilling diagnosis made him desperate for answers. He regretted his careless decisions. "Dr. Law was right", he thought, I'm going to die!"

As He opened the Great Physican's door, a gracious hospital worker came to Him and asked if Adam needed anything. With barely a whisper, Adam said: "I'm dying, I need help". Without hestitancy he was wisked into The Great Physician's office. In came The Great Physician. For a long time they sat in silence. Unlike Dr. Law, The Great Physican's walls were bare. Adam suddenly got on his knees and begged the Great Physician for help. He said: "Doc, I've been diagnosed by Dr. Law as having the S-I-N virus. I have no hope. I'm going to die. No medicine that I take can cure me. He referred me to you. Great Physican, you're my only hope!

With that admission, the Great Physician stretched out His hand, with a scar of a nail print, and with a voice that shook the entire building He said: You are healed! You are Forgiven! Live!
As we read in 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

The church of Jesus Christ exists not only to proclaim the Gospel to those outside the church walls but also to those within the walls. We all need to hear the dual refrain of the Law of God telling us as Christians that: "You're a sinner apart from grace, desparately in need of God's remedy" and the Gospel: "However you're a saint who by the Grace of God am redeemed, ready to live for God." As we learn and apply in various ways this vital distinction between Law and Gospel, we will then find going outside the walls of the church the true mission that it is. What is the mission? To tell sinners how they can be redeemed and why Christ alone can save them from themselves, since that is what He by His Spirit is ever doing in us.  Why else would Paul land where he does in 1 Timothy 1:11 by calling the Gospel "the glorious Gospel" of which he has been entrusted.

Closing Thoughts

Paul's concern in penning by Divine inspiration the opening of 1 Timothy was to ensure a stronger church membership, which in turn would yield a stronger Christianity. Again our main point of application is: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. In what specific ways does God use the Biblical concept of church membership to underscore a stronger Christianity? As we have explored in these past several posts, three answers emerge from looking through 1 Timothy 1:1-11:

1. Stronger Christian Faith 1:1-4 

2. Stronger Christian Living 1:5-7 

3. Stronger Christian Witness 1:8-11

How God uses church membership to strengthen Christian living

1 Timothy 1:3-4 "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention tomyths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith."

Introduction:

A couple of days ago we considered how God uses church membership to strenghen Christian faith. We saw how church membership is ordained and used by God to stabilize, sweeten and stretch Christian faith. Today we continue on considering the life style that flows from Christian faith. This series of posts on "God's plan for strengthening church membership" are aimed at understanding how Church membership is not only Biblical but necessary for ensuring a stronger Christianity both within the church and outside in the world. 

Point of Application:

As you read what Paul would write in the book of 1 Timothy, you discover that one of the central concerns he had was to ensure that both the leadership and membership of the local church were unified and Christ focused against the rising tide of doctrinal and cultural opposition. Again our main point of application is: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. In what specific ways does God use the Biblical concept of church membership to underscore a stronger Christianity? Three answers emerge from looking through 1 Timothy 1:1-11:

1. Stronger Christian Faith 1:1-4 

2. Stronger Christian Living 1:5-7 

3. Stronger Christian Witness 1:8-11

We will today consider the second of these, namely.....

Church membership makes for stronger Christian living. 
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:3-4 "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith." These verses remind us of what we covered the other day with regards to why Paul wanted Timothy and the church at Ephesus to be in a pastor/church relationship - so that competent leadership could strengthen the membership. Clearly there was all kinds of error being promoted at Ephesus in the form of myths (perhaps some sort of paganism, which was prevalent at Ephesus with the cult of Artemis) and endless geneaologies (perhaps some Jewish legalism mixed in with paganism). Regardless of what exactly was happening, the distraction away from strong Christian faith leading to strong Christian living was raising its ugly head. Both pastor and church members needed to band together under the banner of Christ to uphold the doctrine and necessary Christian living that flows from faith in Jesus Christ.

As Paul writes on in the opening of 1 Timothy, we read in 1:5  "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Clearly this "instruction" is meant to take place in the context of the local church where God's people are gathered together as a unified church membership. Church membership makes for a stronger resolve to live for Jesus Christ. Church membership, properly conceived (regenerate people, scriptural baptized), will function as a three braided cord for the Christian life, as spelled out here in 1 Timothy 1:5.

a. Love from a pure heart
The Christian life begins with a change of mind (repentance) and a simultaneous change of heart (faith). How else can a Christian be expected to have a heart sensitive to the things of God lest they are with other believers. (see hebrews 10:24-25) 

b. Pure conscience
The conscience is the super-highway that runs between the mind and the heart. What makes the conscience most vulnerable to moral and spiritual attack is when the Christian is separated from the flock of the local church. Hearing and heeding God's Word in the context of a local church membership gathered together in fellowship and relationship makes for a purer conscience in the Christian. (see Hebrews 3:12-13) 

c. Sincere Faith
When we speak of "faith" in the Bible, there is my "small 'f' faith" and the overall Christian "capital 'F' Faith". Paul here is speaking of the personal "small 'f' faith" of the individual Christian. When we gather together as church members, should not the net result of our gatherings be the making for a more sincere faith? This is what Paul is urging Timothy to aim for as he begins his preaching and teaching ministry at Ephesus.

Illustration: Coals on a BBQ
To drive home what Paul is emphasizing here in 1 Timothy and what we are aiming to cover in these series of posts, imagine if you will coals in a BBQ. When I cook hamburgers on a grill, I frequently notice how some coals will retain their heat and others will remain colder or even unlit. It won't be until I put those unaffected coals near the hotter ones that they are rekindled. Why? A coal in isolation from the lit flames of the combined coals will be ineffective. However when you put those coals in combination with one another, there is a strengthening of the life of the fire that was begun from the first lighting of the fire. Furthermore, when the coals are together, whether there be a gust of wind or even rain, those coals can withstand the elements.

Paul here in 1 Timothy is warning this pastor and really us of the necessity of church membership in this modern day of ours. The perils of false teaching, godless culture and temptation are swirling all around us. As we strive to live day to day for Jesus, we must realize that the Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. Sure there will be those seasons where illness, extreme job circumstances and family emergencies arise. No doubt God can and does give grace in such extenuating circumstances. However the bulk of Christians skipping out on their responsibility of being together with God's people is oftentimes due more to an unwillingness and obedience issue than life's circumstances. 

I have learned over the nearly three decades of being a Christian that time away from my Bible, prayer and the ministry of the local church yields a weakened Christianity 100% of the time. Of course we know that being a church member and even being at church all the time does not render a Christian immune from struggles in their Christian walk. However, the likelihood of having a weakened Christian walk is significantly reduced when we are in fellowship with the membership of our local church. This is God's intended design for strengthening Christian living - the local church.

More tomorrow.... 

Two challenges to Southern Baptists and all Christians regarding Reformation Day, 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.”

Note to Readers: You are invited to listen to a podcast on Reformation Day at the Growing Christian Resources Podcast site: http://gcrpodcast.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/podcast-reformation-day-a-cause-for-celebration/ and to read a post on three reasons to celebrate Reformation day, and what it is at the other blogsite at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/happy-reformation-day-2014/

Introduction:
Yesterday I began a two part series on what Reformation Day is and the three reasons to celebrate it. As we think about October 31, all Bible believing groups, including Southern Baptists, are deeply indebted to what God did through the Protestant Reformation that began on October 31st, 1517. In a 2007 sermon, South Western Baptist Theological Seminary President Dr. Paige Patterson noted the following about Reformation Day for Southern Baptists link: http://www.swbts.edu/campus-news/news-releases/patterson-celebrates-baptist-heritage-during-reformation-day-chapel/

“If you want to be faithful to the Book, and if you want to be faithful to that part of the Reformation that died on every hand (for teaching believer’s baptism) … then stop being ashamed of being a New Testament Christian and a Baptist,” Patterson said. “You are not judging anybody else’s eternity. Many other folks who are not a part of our movement are born-again believers. Praise God for that. All we are saying is that the best way to be faithful to the Lord Jesus is to keep the whole of the Great Commission.”
Today's post is aimed at issuing forth two direct challenges to Southern Baptists and all other Bible believing groups about Reformation Day, October 31st: A rejoicing challenge and a take back challenge. 

The Rejoicing Challenge: 3 reasons to rejoice on Reformation Day, October 31st 
So why rejoice over Reformation day, October 31st? First of all, 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! 

The second reason to rejoice over October 31st and Reformation Day is due to the fact that the Gospel of Justification by Faith Alone was recovered. In contrast to the man-made traditions of the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages, 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.  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.

Then the third reason to celebrate Reformation Day, October 31st, is because the Biblical concept of the church was recovered. 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? A church that does not derive its authority from the scriptures nor teaches the Biblical concept of the Gospel - justification by faith alone, cannot be deemed a true church. 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.  The Gospel in the Reformation's recovery of the church shined forth not as a candle but as a brilliant sun, outshining all other would be contenders. If God had not raised up men like Martin Luther to spark the Reformation movement, then perhaps I nor you would be here celebrating the revival of Biblical authority, justification by faith in the Gospel and the necessary truth of the local church committed to both those truths.

So we need to answer the challenge to celebrate Reformation day due to what God did in calling us back to the Bible, the Gospel and the Church. But now let me issue a second challenge, a take back challenge if you will...


The Take Back Challenge: Let's take back October 31st and celebrate God's Word, the Gospel and Jesus' mission for His church
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. Truly the message of the Reformation is a message about "after darkness, light" (post tenebras lux).  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, ghosts and goblins, 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.  

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." 

What Reformation Day (October 31st) is and three reasons to celebrate it

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 and tomorrow 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.  October 31st is celebrated by many Christians the world over as "Reformation Day". As I think about what this day means and the message it conveys, three reasons can be proposed as to why I find great cause to rejoice over what God did in the Reformation of nearly five hundred years ago. 

The Reformation was a movement back to the Bible
At the heart of the Reformation movement was the cry to get back to the scriptures. Dr. R.C Sproul tells the story of a monument dedicated to the Reformation in one of the key cities wherein the movement gained ground, Geneva Switzerland: "In modern Geneva, Switzerland, a memorial wall has been built and dedicated to the sixteenth century Reformation. This Reformation Monument is adorned with statues of the great leaders, Calvin, Beza, Farel, and Knox. Surrounding these figures is the phrase, post tenebras lux - "After darkness, light."
Below is a picture of the wall mention by Dr. Sproul, with credit to the link: http://biblicalgeographic.com/2012/03/14/reformation-wall-geneva-switzerland/


Thus we can praise God for the Reformation due to the fact that it was used of God to realign Christianity back to the Bible. But now notice the second and closely related reason...

The Reformation was a movement back to the Gospel.
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 alone. Justification by faith alone states that God declares the sinner righteous based upon the necessity and sufficiency of saving faith. Sadly 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 majority report teaching of the church of the Middle ages in 16th century 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. God used men like Martin Luther in Europe, John Calvin in Switzerland and Ulrich Zwingli to rekindle the Biblical Gospel that had become but a burning ember in the hands of a church loaded down by traditions of men. The Reformation is to be celebrated because of how God used it to get us back to the Bible, to the Gospel and then thirdly....

The Reformation was a movement back to the Biblical church
As men like Martin Luther began the reform process in the 1500's, a system of centuries old tradition needed confronted. 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. In such a system, saving faith would had been included in the defintion of salvation, but it would had not been sufficient for one to be justified. 

One man, a monk, a "holy man" in the Roman Catholic system of religion, was very troubled in his soul. This man, Martin Luther, had dedicated his life to achieving the salvation promised by the Roman Catholic church. In a freak thunder and lightening storm, history tells us that a thunderclap knocked Martin Luther from his horse and in a moment of desparation he pledged himself in service to the Roman Catholic Saint Anne and chose to become a Monk in the Augustinian order of the Catholic church. Despite Luther's 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. Luther earned Master's and Doctorate degrees in prestigious European Roman Catholic Schools and was even teaching Roman Catholic Theology prior to the great Reformation break through. Despite being at the top of the religious heap in the eyes of men, Luther could not find peace with the very God he professed to know but knew deep down that he had never known.

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.

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. Martin Luther's reformation movement in German sparked the beginning call for Reform across Europe and thus the recovery of the true church of Jesus Christ committed to the Word of God and the Gospel of Justification by Faith Alone. 

Tomorrow's post will feature a two part-challenge to apply the significance of Reformation Day to our daily lives.

  
  

God's plan for strengthening Christian faith is Church Membership

1 Timothy 1:3-4 "As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention tomyths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather thanfurthering the administration of God which is by faith."

Introduction:

Yesterday we considered the Biblical basis for church membership. In the book of 1 Timothy, the question can be raised as to why Paul was so concerned about young Timothy working to establish the leadership and church at Ephesus? One of the main reasons is because he wanted a church membership  that would express a stronger form of Christianity. 

Point of Application:

As you read what Paul would write in the book of 1 Timothy, you discover that one of the central concerns he had was to ensure that both the leadership and membership of the local church were unified and Christ focused against the rising tide of doctrinal and cultural opposition. As we noted yesterday and will note again today, the following main point of application will be: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. In what specific ways does God use the Biblical concept of church membership to underscore a stronger Christianity? Three answers emerge from looking through 1 Timothy 1:1-11:

1. Stronger Christian Faith 1:1-4 

2. Stronger Christian Living 1:5-7 

3. Stronger Christian Witness 1:8-11

We will today consider the first of these, namely.....

God's plan for strengthening Christian Faith is church membership. 1 Timothy 1:1-4

When you and I think of church membership, we must not think of it in terms of belonging to an organization, but rather an organism. As we saw in yesterday's post, the Apostle Paul bears this out in his comparison of the local church to that of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12. The church at Ephesus was among the strongest churches in the New Testament. It was the church that Timothy was to preside over as a pastor in 1 & 2 Timothy. We also see a separate letter that Paul wrote to the Ephesian church, as well as the beginnings of this church in Acts 18-20. As a matter of fact, the Church at Ephesus might be the only church we see in the entire New Testament whose history is portrayed from its inception to its latter years.

Now why bring these facts up? Because what will follow below are quotations of various New Testament scriptures that directly relate to the local church scene at Ephesus. Furthermore, by looking at these quotes, we can see how God ordained church membership in the local church to strengthen the faith of local believers in their dealings with various issues that crop up in the Christian life. In other words, we can note three ways in which church membership can be used by God to strengthen Christian faith.

1. Church membership stabilizes the Christian's faith.

We read in Acts 20:29-30 "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." Paul would had made that statement to the Ephesian Elders in roughly 55 A.D. When he wrote what he wrote to Timothy in 62 A.D, the prediction had already came true. Paul re-echoed this warning to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1, indicating that this pattern was to be the norm for every church of every age. Christians need the local church to be stabilized in their faith. Paul's establishment of Elders in Acts 20 and exhortations to Timothy in 1 Timothy underscore the need for men who will feed God's people the scriptures. Whenever Christians are in covenant with one another in the membership of the local church, their faith is stabilized. Now notice a second way in which church membership strengthens the Christian's faith...

2. Church Membership Sweetens the Christian's faith. 

We read these words in Ephesians 1:15-16 "For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers." Have you ever noticed what happens when, if you are a Christian reading this post, you are away from church? The tendency and temptation for bitterness and cynicism increases. This is why the writer of Hebrews in passages such as Hebrews 3:12-13 and 10:24-25 warns his readers to not forsake the gathering of themselves, lest they are hardened by the deceit of sin. When Paul wrote to the Ephesian church the Epistle to the Ephesians, the date would had been roughly 60 A.D, or two years before the composition of 1 Timothy. 

The church at Ephesus was being commended by her sweetness of faith in and among one another.  This is why Paul urges Timothy in his preaching and teaching ministry in 1 Timothy 1:5 "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Such sweetness not only requires God's people merely gathering together just for the sake of gathering together, but what must also be included is the teaching and preaching of the Word and songs of worship. (Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:13-16) We come to church to be a blessing to one another and outside the church walls - this much we know. However if we come and mentally check out the moment the sermon begins or the singing starts, then the benefit we gain from church membership will be no better than possessing a bottle of vitamins we never ingest. We must take in Jesus' prescription for sweetening and stabilizing our faith, church membership. Now let's consider one final way in which the Christian's faith is strengthened by Church membership....

3. Church Membership stretches the Christian's faith. 

In Ephesians 4:12-13 we read why God appointed leaders such as pastors:  "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." For anyone who has spent any amount of time in the local church, there are seasons that can be quite stretching. So often people leave over personality conflicts, as well as what can be legitimate doctrinal issues. To be honest, life as a church member can be challenging. Whenever you read Paul's letter to Timothy, his instructions include urging this new pastor to endure the hardships of ministry and to urge the membership to do the same. Pursuing unity as a church body takes work and dependance upon God's Holy Spirit. God appointed men such as pastors, teachers and evangelists to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. 

Church membership aims to stretch our faith. Its easy to criticize the church when you are not regularly in attendance. However what happens when you get involved in praying for the ministry and getting your hands dirty? As Adrian Rogers once noted: The church is not a cruise ship composed of passengers on a lazy voyage but rather the church is a battleship with soldiers ready to fight the fight of faith. 

Closing thoughts:

God's plan for strengthening the Christian faith is Church membership. Whenever a Christian joins a church, they are yielding to a Biblical arrangement that will aim to stabilize, sweeten and stretch their faith. 

This series will continue on Saturday, November 1st. Return tomorrow for a post commemorating a very special day.

The Biblical importance & basis of church membership

1 Timothy 1:1-4 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesusaccording to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you upon my departure forMacedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention tomyths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather thanfurthering the administration of God which is by faith."

Introduction:

As I was beginning to read the New Testament book of 1 Timothy the other day, the thought struck me: why was Paul was so concerned about young Timothy working to establish the leadership and church at Ephesus? Whenever we consider the New Testament letters of 1 & Timothy and Titus, they are commonly called "The Pastoral Epistles". In-as-much as these three books of the Bible are addressed to pastors (Timothy and Titus), their instructions apply equally to the person in the church pew. But now back to our question: Why did Paul urge Timothy to stay at Ephesus? In looking at the main verse of 1 Timothy 3:15, wherein Paul expresses his reasons for writing the letter, namely to instruct the people as to how they ought to conduct themselves in the church of the living God, we find the answer: because he wanted a church membership that would express a stronger form of Christianity. 

Point of Application:

As you read what Paul would write in the book of 1 Timothy, you discover that one of the central concerns he had was to ensure that both the leadership and membership of the local church were unified and Christ-focused against the rising tide of doctrinal and cultural opposition. The key thought to understanding the God-ordained means of building a stronger Christianity is by considering the Biblical concept of church membership. Thus we will consider the following main point of application for today: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. In what specific ways does God use the Biblical concept of church membership to underscore a stronger Christianity? Three answers emerge from looking through 1 Timothy 1:1-11:

1. Stronger Christian Faith 1:1-4 

2. Stronger Christian Living 1:5-7 

3. Stronger Christian Witness 1:8-11

Before we get to these three important reasons for church membership, we first of all need to establish how Biblical church membership is, and what it entails.

How we know church membership is Biblical, and not just a man-made idea

Before we go any further, I think it is important to demonstrate the concept of church membership as a Biblical concept lying at the heart of the larger Biblical teaching about the local church. Frankly if church membership is nothing more than a traditional concept or man-made convention, then what we are advocating for in this post is a waste of time. However it does not take long to see how Biblical the notion of church membership is. For example, as early as Acts 2:41, we see the early church keeping records of how many people were converted and baptized on the Day of Pentecost following the Apostle's Peter's preaching. We again see in Acts 4:4 a record of 5,000 additional souls added to the roles at Jerusalem, bringing the total church membership at that first church to at least 8,000 souls! The early church taught the concept of regenerate church membership: namely that people must be born again by grace through faith, followed by believer's baptism, resulting in their being initiated into the membership and life of the local church body.

Practical difficulties that can arise when church membership is not practiced

In the 30 years I have been a born-again Christian, I had occasion to attend churches where church membership was not practiced. The belief was that all someone had to be was a born-again believer. The confusion that resulted from this well-meaning practice was a lessening in value of other such practices as believer's baptism and the inability to exercise church disciple in needed. (see Matthew 18) Why abandon a practice that is so Biblical for convenience's sake? God's ordained means of maintaining the Christ-centered focus of His church must ever be retained if the church hopes to be Biblical.

More explicit proof of church membership being taught in the New Testament

Contrary to the practice of non-church membership, we discover that this language of "member" or "membership" is used explicitly in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 12:12 states: "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ." We must not confuse the word "membership" with the modern day idea of "membership' at a gym or "membership" at an organization like Sam's Club or at a Country Club. Rather the idea of membership is a highly organic one, referring to the inter-dependence we see in the various parts of a human body. 

Baptist preacher Dr. O.S Hawkins gives this insight into how life in the local church is all about relationships: "Let me hasten to add there are only three relationships in life... . There is the outward relationship we have with those at church, at work, in the home or in the social arena. There is that inward relationship we have with ourselves. And there is that upward relationship we have with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. The wise pastor realizes that we will never be properly related to each other until we are properly related to ourselves and this does not happen until will come into relationship with Jesus Christ so that we find our self-worth in Him and translate it to those around us." (Pastor's Primer, page 118, GuideStone 2006)

In scanning through the rest of the New Testament, the concept of church membership is undeniable. God in the Person of the Holy Spirit Sovereignly leads and places each church member in the local church as He sees fit. (1 Corinthians 12:12, 18, 20) The concept of church unity is practically and most properly expressed in church membership (1 Corinthians 12:20). Achieving Jesus' command to love one another and to submit to one another is best done through church membership. (John 13:34; 1 Corinthians 12:23-27)

Closing thoughts

In short, church membership's cry is twofold: We need Jesus and we need one another! To see elsewhere this concept of church membership in the New Testament, we only need to look at the opening salutations of Paul's letters to the churches (to the saints at Rome, to the saints at Corinth, to the churches of Galatia, and so on). Indeed, the church the world over is spoken of in the New Testament, composed of all truly redeemed and born-again people of God duly chosen and called by God and His Spirit. (1 Peter 1:1-2; Ephesians 2:20) However the vast majority of passages on the church have to do with the church local. As we have already seen, the most Biblical way to conceive of the local church and in how God uses it to strengthen Christianity in the world over is by considering church membership. As we noted today: Church membership is necessary for a stronger Christianity in our local churches and outside in the world. 

More tomorrow....