Christmas

I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

'The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
And give you peace...
Numbers 6:24-26

My Christmas gratitude.... Nicodemus?

In the most important conversation in human history, Jesus tells a probing Nicodemus one night, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:6-8).

And it is here where our entire faith and hope hinge.

When I was born again, I had no idea where the Holy Spirit came from (Though I do know its source). I had no idea why the Spirit has chosen to fill me (Though I do know because of the meritorious cause of our justification - the blood of Jesus Christ). I have no idea where the Spirit is going to next (Though I do know it will be wherever a new believer is).

Wesley said "The wind bloweth - According to its own nature, not thy will, and thou hearest the sound thereof - Thou art sure it doth blow, but canst not explain the particular manner of its acting. So is every one that is born of the Spirit - The fact is plain, the manner of his operations inexplicable."

The one thing God always asks of us is to trust in Him. Genuine faith is trusting that we may not have all the answers, but that is okay. When we are inwardly renewed by the Holy Spirit the moment of genuine faith, we begin to understand what this means.

Indeed, I don't know why God chose me - but, in no uncertain terms, I am unequivocally sure that He has, by the presence of the Holy Spirit that captured and transformed, and continues to do so every moment of my life here.

When Nicodemus tiptoed to Christ that night, He invoked a conversation that revealed a secret kept before the start of time. When we are born again, everything is anew. The eyes and heart I perceive life with are everything the Old Testament champions of faith longed for, and they are everything we can ask for in this life. Assurance of God, assurance of His immutable character and Love, and assurance that this Helper indwelling in me is my minutely reminder that a eternity of joy is just around the corner.

Thanks be to God... and thanks be to Nicodemus.

The Body of Christ in (or out of) New England

My wife and I are constantly weighing the choice of moving out of New England to raise a family. While it is taking the rest of America much more time to deviate from its Christian roots, New England has essentially dismounted from Christianity, becoming instead a secular region governed by self-sustainment, humanism, pluralism, and everything that America wasn't founded on. Unfortunately, I guess, many of our friends and family are located here, and thus it is for obvious reasons, the magnet to stay in the region.

When these things come up in discussion, liberal humanists (any atheist, Universalist or agnostic) are quick to point out that this country was founded on religious freedom. Of course. But the issue is whom founded it, and on what principles religious freedom was founded upon. For instance, almost 95% of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were deeply-grateful Christians, and language from every important historical document is reflective of the deep and true faith and reliance on God Almighty that early America had.

A microcosm of what has happened to America, particularly New England, was in today's Boston Herald (the link below).

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1219085&format=comments#CommentsArea

Today, all the things that this country was founded on has all but disappeared. Accordingly, this country is in the middle of a transition from a semi-moralistic (as much as any country can be, at least) world power, to a subservient, confused, secular country. This has nothing to do with poor global economic strategy and bad math SAT scores; these are minor symptoms of a rotting illness that defines America today - just like delivered Israel did in the days of Aaron, delivered America in these days have turned their back on their God of deliverance, creation, hope and sustainability.

Being a Christian American today is like being on a sinking ship; as I start to think about passing things onto the next-generation, I can't help but be concerned by the country the next-generation of Americans will grow up and live in. What has happened to America is yet another tragic chapter in the book of humanity, and should serve as a constant reminder of why we all need to repent both singularly and corporately and turn to our only hope.

While our country falls, importantly, this needs to serve as a reminder of the dangers of putting our hope into anything that isn't God, especially the things that seem wholesome and pure. Even though our country was once made up of mostly Christians, it still was not the body of Christ. When we put our hope in family or country or self, we show we are as lost as we always were; when we put our hope in God and in the family of God, only then we can know even though the ship may be sinking, we will always be delivered. And this deliverance won't necessarily be with family members, our neighbors, our co-workers and our fellow Americans - nor was it ever to be- it will be with those scattered around this world and history that have put their faith in the one true God.

Jesus came to save sinners (John 1), and/but He also came for His sheep, and made it clear that there was no human bond that would be strong enough to disrupt His separation of sheep and goats (Luke 11:17, 12:49-53). In fact, He came to "divide" even "Father from Son", (Luke 12:50-52), perhaps the most intimate and historically important human bond there is. This is a part of following Christ that is both the cross we bear and the abundant blessing we receieve; it's being saved and joined with others, yet divided from others whom we have established strong, meaningful bonds with. It's being part of a country we adore, yet being part of a country we do not rely on for our identity or our deliverance.

Thus, I've come to conclude it really doesn't matter where in this country me and my wife raise our family - for when two or three are gathered in His name, so will be Christ (Matthew 18:20). Even more, He is with us always (John 16-18). There are Christians in Pakistan right now (very persecuted ones, at that) that are more of our family then the guy who lives next to us, or even some of our own biological family or best of friends, will ever be. That is an astonishing truth we need to grasp and understand. The family of God has no boundaries: ethnical, socio-economical, generational, or physical.

This is what it means to be part of the Christian family. It does not change. Even in or out of New England.

Amanda Knox and Legalism

Like many Americans and Europeans, I have been watching the Amanda Knox case from afar with interest. For those who have not, Amanda Knox was a college student studying abroad in Perugia, Italy, when one of her three roommates was murdered; she was charged with the crime (along with her boyfriend, a drifter, and a bar owner) and convicted around 6pm eastern time yesterday (midnight in Perugia).

To understand the background of the case, Perugia has a large cohort of foreign (many of these American) students whom study there for a semester or year. The economy is heavily reliant on these students, but, like almost all college students, nightlife is a big part of the experience. The residents in Perugia seemingly resent the students way of life - Amanda Knox was no exception.

Let me just say three things. Amanda Knox was supported by her native Washington family the entire time; they are completely broke now, but they showed amazing support (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, etc) for the entire two-year period in which she was held. Second, there was not one piece of forensic evidence against Amanda Knox. Zero. Thirdly, I was talking with a Boston University professor friend of mine today, and he made the interesting point that the State Department will probably get more involved, and ensure that Amanda Knox will be freed during one of her appeals in the Italian courts. This way, Italy doesn't demonstrably concede their justice system is corrupt, and the Obama administration can save face a bit, as the general consensus to this point is they have done nothing to stop this gross injustice. Let's hope so. But this is all speculative and peripheral to my point.

As Amanda Knox was leaving the courtyard after the guilty verdict, hundreds of Perugians - joining what I'm sure to be millions of others across the globe- could be seen cheering outside, glad to see the debaucheror sentenced to rot in a foreign jail.

Like those whom picket in front of Planned Parenthood (for the record, I am 100% pro-life), and roll up their window in disgust as the homeless beg for change, the message from these folks is clear - You are a bad person, and you - not I - deserve punishment and judgement.

In theology, we call this legalism. Legalism is trying to "work" your way to heaven in some part; it goes hand-in-hand with thinking you can be morally better-off than someone else. I don't have mixed feelings, or wake up confused about, or even dislike, legalism. I hate legalism.

From His words, I suspect Jesus hates legalism too.

Jesus didn't reserve harsh words for Herod or Judas or the Jews calling for His blood (or getting His blood). He used his harsh words for the legalists:

"They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." (Matthew 5)

This world is full of legalists. They are lining the streets of Perugia as we speak, and will be waiting in line for church tomorrow. In every sense, in and out of religion, "they tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." Matthew later records Jesus putting it a different way: they point out the speck of dust in your eye, but they refuse to remove the plank of wood in theirs (Matthew 7). They say "I may not be perfect but look at her". They stand up and exclaim, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector!". (Luke 18:11). They say "look at me, I have a job and a family and I try to do the right thing every day, but they..." They say "she was a flirt and a slut and she deserves jail."

This is legalism. It is as rampant as humanism right now, but it's much worse. Where humanism denies the need for the Gospel, legalism takes the Gospel and hides it in the depths of the earth, and then masquerades as the Gospel.

Legalism is always artificial, ignorant, and a sure sign of non-regeneration. It is antitruth, antilove and antiChrist.

There is one alternative to legalism.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30.)

My Wasted Life

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62).

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14).

I can't help but reflect (look back) and see my life as a giant mess. I think it's fair -that is one of the things it was certainly before I believed the Gospel.

It was also terribly obscene, unloving and deceitful. It was fleshy and lusty and full of abusive and dangerous and hurtful words and thoughts, and all those things that the prophets and Jesus would demonstrate, and insist, man's non-regenerative life, and heart, is. But more so than anything, overwhelmingly, it was utterly wasteful. All the selfishness and ambition and lust drowned out almost every conceivable opportunity to make a loving impact in this world. That was my life. It's hard not to lament about it.

But I can take comfort in Saul's life. Before he became the Apostle, Saul was as self-righteous as any person we can imagine. After his conversion, Paul lived the most impressive life of any fallen human. He realized he was "the worst sinner of all", yet he lived his words: "Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead."

In February my wife and I are expecting, thanks be to God, to welcome a new person into this world. The start of any new life is exceedingly exciting - it's an amazing gift, an opportunity.

Many of the things that will be strong influences to this newborn are of this world. Soon too this child will feel the consequences of Adam - the cravings of sin, the false hope of self-sustainment, the false promises of ambition and security, the self-centeredness we all strongly reek of.

Straining ahead for Paul meant spreading the Gospel of Grace no matter what the cost. For me it means being a gentle, guided hand to this child, the clear and strange beckoning of the Holy Spirit to good and great things. Things like mental and physical development, intellectual advancement, and future possibilities will dominate the conversations. I want God to bless me with a healthy baby. Sure. But the rest of those things I'm not concerned with - they aren't what matter. I'm concerned - no, consumed - with being a loving, steady presence in my child's life. I'm consumed with showing love that is comforting, eternal, and, most of all, unconditional.

I need to have this love because I want that baby to know that as deceitful and cunning and abusive and predatory this world is (and how he or she may very well become to some degree all those things), that all of those things are meaningless and temporal. I want that baby to know that how many times myself or his mother or everybody else in this world let him/her down, their is one that will never let them down. I want that baby to know that he/she could grow up to be happily married with a large family, to grow up and be a famous actress, or a professor, or an engineer, or a basketball player, or a congressman (or another basketball player turned congressman), to have all the money and prestige and "security" in the world - and yet they will realize that none of that matters. I want that baby to know that no matter how badly things ever got, no matter how much their dreams fade, it does not matter. I want that baby to know the only thing that matters is faith in a God of Love expressing itself through ridiculous, incalculable, unexpected, non-bias, non-prejudicial, always available, spontaneous, selfless love. I want that baby to know that God is Love, and we can love because He loved us first (1 John 4:19).

And back to me. Why? Because even though I am re-born I am still self-centered enough to have a blog and expect people to care about what I have to write. I'm still vulgar enough to use the F word three times consecutively because I made yet another mistake at work. Better yet, I'm still at work because I cover selfish ambition up with the notion that the advancement of my work is vitally important to the welfare of cancer patients. Meanwhile, I continually neglect my wife, God's ministry work I'm involved in (half-heartedly at times), my very talented mother's play on Friday night, and tens of things a week for late nights in the lab. Selfish ambition. Worldly lust for prestige. These are only the tip of the iceberg of the things i struggle with not daily, but minutely, that pull me away from living a life worthy of my calling. This is part of my humanity that will improve with time, but will always be very, very imperfect until the day I see Him (1 John 3:2).

I've wasted most of my life. It's gone. I continue to waste most of my life. But looking forward, not looking back, I earnestly try so share the free gift of love that I have been given with others. This is exactly what Jesus of Nazareth asks of His followers. And this is how the rest of my life is defined and directed. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. And since I live the life I live in the flesh by the faith of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20), my primary responsibilty as a parent is helping show our child that there is a point to all that he or she will face in this world. There is a response to all that he or she will face in this world. And this response is accepting the unconditional love of our God, and then sharing it. And then, yielding to Christ's and Paul's advice, not looking back and lamenting on a life wasted. And for me, (most importantly of course), just like the love that I and my wife have received in our lives from family and friends that helped direct our lives toward the Love of God, my life post-wasted life is to show uncondional love to this child, in order that just once, before I go to be with Christ, I hear the desiring, believing whisper of this child as he or she gazes upward- "Abba", "Father" - and watch this child crawl, walk or run back into the loving arms of their one and only True, Holy, Eternal, and Loving Father.

From the internet to visions: The Muslim phenomenon

"For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." (Luke 9:56A)
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit by following the Law or by believing what you heard?" (Galatians 3:2).

As we approach the Christmas Season, the mercy and love of God seems to be particularly effectual. As this season of mercy arrives, we are compelled more than ever to preach the Good News of the Gospel so those whom believe will be sealed with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:2, Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:21) until the day of redemption. I want to say a word about a phenomenon that is an amazing manifestation of the promise of God to Abraham to bless the descendants of Ishmael.

Thousands upon thousands (at least) of Muslims have reported visions of Jesus Christ that has prompted their conversion to Christ. Even as we are just now starting to reach the Muslim masses with the Gospel of Christ, it would seem the Holy Spirit is directly evangelizing these God-fearing folks, reaching those zealous for God with the Gospel of Christ without human intermediates. I encourage you all to read and investigate this further - there has been an increasing amount of available literature on this.

One of the greatest joys of Christian life is watching God bring his lost sheep to the herd. I am involved in an organization called Campus Crusade for Christ - last year there were over a million indications of people who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior by "digitally hearing" the Gospel message on the internet or over their cell phone. Many of these were from dominantly Muslim areas of the world.

Whether we share the Gospel with a lost soul or they receive it through vision, the Holy Spirit is still and always the active agent. Just like Jesus corrected James and John, following rejection after trying to secure a stay in the Samaritan village on their way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:55-56), we all could use this kind reminder as Christmas 2009 approaches: God did not send His one and only Son in this world to condemn it, but to save it (John 3). The Gospel of Christ is the message of God's available and intimate love for all those whom are willing to receive it (John 1:12)- all one needs to do is open themselves to the transforming love and forgiveness of God. Let us remember the Easter message of God's redemptive power is only made possible by the Christmas message of God's unconditional love for every person. Thanks be to God, this message is being received all over the world at unprecedented numbers, through unprecedented methodology. Thanks be to God, His promises are always true, wonderful, and eternal.

The Love of God, the God of Love, and Richard Cory

"For God so loved the World that He gave His one and Only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

Richard Dawkins is a leading biological scientist, who has written many, best-selling, highly-regarded books, is a highly-coveted and gifted speaker, and is an intellectual giant in his field. And he is an atheist evolutionist.

I remember reading "The Selfish Gene" in graduate school. It's peculiar when I think back on some of my impressions from the book. I remember thinking, more than anything, this guy sounds angry. I didn't really understand what was behind it. But tonight I received some clarity. Back to that later.

For instance, this is what Dawkins has to say about God in the OT, in his book, "The God Delusion".

"The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all of fiction. Jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic-cleanser; a misogynistic homophobic racist, infanticidal, genocial, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal…"

Is this whom God is?

This was been a struggle for some for quite a while. In fact, the idea that the OT God could not be the same as the NT God was amongst one of the earliest Heresies, called Marcionism. A cursory look of the OT and the NT can indeed lead to perceived differences between the revealed character of God in the OT and the NT. However, this is poor perception. God is immutable (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) and God is, and has always been, love (1 Tomothy 4:10). Not only is God love, but we can love, "because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). This is a remarkable verse in Scripture.

Our entire capacity to love is based on our Creator. Yes, God is severe. There is nothing more severe than judgment of humans, particularly if the deck is completely stacked against us. Again, God is most certainly severe. But He is severe because He is Holy. He is severe because He is Perfect, and the only way we can spend eternity with Him in bliss is if we are perfect too. God's gift to us - our perfection through the imputation of Christ's perfectness. Why? Because God is Love. I remember when I first was aware of the Holy Spirit indwelling me. I was in graduate school. At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to Peter and the apostles, the non-believers accused them of being drunk (Acts 2). I know what they mean. I felt like I was drunk for days. Weeks. Months. It was something that I cannot explain adequately. It was the love of God. It was more than I could handle, and it was just a small drop of the non-exhaustive "well" of love that God offers to all who want His blessing. If you asked me to describe God's Love during that time, I wouldn't have the words. I still don't.

I once read about a famous preacher whom lived and preached in 19th century America. He once gave a week-long sermon on John 3:16. Every single day he preached on the verse he would take the level of thought and analysis to a deeper and deeper meaning and exegesis. For five straight days all he did was lecture on the love of God. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Then came Friday night and as he reached to somehow, in words he had learned, in a language he had learned, in any communicative manner he had at his disposal, unveil the love of God in one last climatic way, the preacher, looking out at the crowd, could only say this. "How can I describe the love of God?... For God so loved the World, He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

One of the most beloved parables, if not the most, that Jesus told was the Parable of the Lost Sheep recorded in Luke 15. Most know the story well. It is here that God goes after the lost sheep and leaves the other 99 in the open country. It is here that the God of the OT and of Creation delicately and precisely out of nothing creates the sky and all in it, the land and all on it, the sea and all under it, and, as He surveys His work, and all that would follow over the next millions and millions of years, still in all His omniscience and Majesty says , "It is very good." It is here the Psalmist steps in and proclaims, "His love endures forever." It is here that God knows "every hair on your head" "the number of days of your life" the "deepest crevices in your heart." And He still says, "It is very good." He still leaves every last sheep in the open country, yet seeks you with fervor and purpose and hunger. One of things I hold incredibly comforting whenever I let doubt creep into me into how much God loves His Creation is the idea that God was content with extremely simple organisms crawling around this world for millions of years. God was utterly in love with His Creation even at levels of what we perceive, relative simplicity. How can anyone doubt His love for every human being that is conceived? "It is very good."

My pastor says from time to time that what keeps him up at night are the people that never experienced the love of God. The people that have been so hurt and marginalized and abused by this horrible world we have re-created ourselves, that they cannot even understand a God of love, nevermind repent towards one. These people are more than the obvious cases; they are and have been historically and geographically ubiquitous. Some are worldly successful, worldly rich, worldly powerful, even seemingly happy. Like in Edward Robinson's famous poem, even though "Richard Cory" was "admirably schooled in every grace", and everyone wished they "were in his place", he took his life, despite all he "had", "one calm summer night." There are as many Richard Cory's as there are African children who have grown up around violence and rape and corruption;there are as many Richard Cory's as there are sexually abused children who pay it forward;there are as many Richard Cory's as there are overtly sad, displaced and broken human beings. Today in the United States people are worried about H1N1 virus. There are more people that will die from heroin overdoses this winter than H1N1 virus. All over the world, as I type and you read, mothers are holding their children for the last few precious minutes on this earth after watching helplessly as they have starved to death, slowly. This world is filled with hurt covering hurt. And underneath it, there is always a person that has no idea what John 3:16 is about, because at this moment there life of hell is drowning out every promise of life and love. At this moment they cannot identify Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is love and the world is pain. They cannot identify God because God is love and the world is hate. They cannot respond to the Gospel because they have never even tasted what love feels life, what love hopes for, what love conquers. They have never had the chance, as the thief on the cross did, to feel what it is like to gaze into the eyes of a Loving God.

I suspect Richard Dawkins has no idea what it is like to lose a child to hunger. I suspect Richard Dawkins has no idea what it is like to be born into a world with a craving for a drug he would have never known otherwise. I suspect Richard Dawkins has never lost a mother to Alzheimer's or watched a friend die in war. But I do suspect Richard Dawkins is a lot like Richard Cory. I suspect he may have been outcast early for his intellect; maybe his parents weren't overly loving to him, maybe they were pre-occupied with their own artificial happiness. Maybe he had his heart broken over and over again. We don't know. But i have to guess, with some level of certainty, that, like Richard Cory, Richard Dawkins did not know what sincere and unconditional love feels like. He cannot believe in a God of Love, because he has been deprived of any taste, any clue, any fix of it. How do we reach these people with the Gospel?

We have made such a mess of this world, we have allowed these people to be formed by all the hurt. We can look up in exasperation to the heavens, but God needs just focus our attention back into the Garden. This is how we wanted it to be. We wanted to be our own Gods, re-create His creation. How do we reach these people with the Gospel?

Richard Dawkins is a real victim here. It sounds foolish and naive and absurd. But it's true. He's not a poor child starving or a woman that is HIV-ravaged, but he is still a victim nonetheless. He will grow older and frailer and his once sharp mind will eventually desert him, and whatever perceivable purpose he thinks he has, will evaporate. And unless we, yes, we, can show him and every other unbeliever the love of God which we have received, Richard Dawkins will be no closer to not calling and believing God to be all those horrible things on the day that he dies. God is Love, and we must be that love in this world that God somehow, someway, still loves. And we must be that love in this world to do everything we can to reach the Richard Corys and the Richard Dawkins of this world with the Gospel.

Believing in Jesus Christ

Courtesy of "Good News for Catholics."
gnfc@gnfc.org

Since Jesus’ death on the cross was enough to pay for all sin, God is now able to make you a wonderful offer. He wants to forgive your every sin—past, present, and future—and to stamp the record of your sins PAID IN FULL. He wants to break the power that sin has over you, make you a new creation, and change you into the likeness of Christ. He is ready to bring you into his family and have you live with him in heaven forever.

God is willing to do all this for you “by grace.” Acting out of his love, generosity, and kindness, he wants to bless you beyond description. This great salvation, the above verses tell us, is “the gift of God.” It costs you nothing, for Christ has already paid its awful price. You do not have to earn it. It is “not by works.” What could you do to earn forgiveness and eternal life in heaven anyway?

“I think I’ll make it to heaven,” a Catholic woman told me as we stood in front of her parish church, “by going to church, living a good life, and keeping the Ten Commandments. I think I have a pretty good chance.”

That poor woman hasn’t any chance at all. The Bible says that no one will get to heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments. That is not their purpose. God gave them to us to show us how far short we fall of his perfect standard. Through the law “we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20). It helps us to see that we need a Savior, that we need Jesus.

“I think the good in my life will outweigh the bad,” a man told me outside the same church.

That poor man hasn’t a chance either. All the good works in the world can’t make up for one sin. Neither can suffering for a time either here on earth or later in some imaginary place, like purgatory. The penalty for sin is death, eternal separation from God.

Don’t even think of trying to work your way to heaven. It’s hopeless. Instead, praise God that he sent his Son to die for you! Thank him that he is willing to forgive your sins and give you eternal life as a gift.

A lost sinner once asked the apostle Paul life’s most important question, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:30-31). Here the Word of God tells us what we must do to receive his gift of salvation: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

Maybe you are thinking, What’s new about that? I’ve always believed in Jesus.

No doubt, you accept the basic historic truths about Christ. You have probably recited the Creed at Mass more than a thousand times.

Believing in Jesus for salvation, however, means more than agreeing with certain facts about him. It is to rely upon him to make you right with God. It is to place your faith in Christ as the one who died in your place, taking your punishment for you. It is to trust him, and him alone, to rescue you from the coming wrath. God’s Word says that salvation is in Jesus and “no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

If you have never trusted Jesus to save you from the punishment of sin, you can receive him as your Savior now. Here’s how.

* Salvation starts with repentance. If you have not done so already, humble yourself before God, admitting your sin and guilt. Express your desire to do his will, trusting him to give you the ability to do what is right.

* Next, place your trust in the Lord Jesus to save you. Tell God you are relying on Christ’s death on the cross as the complete payment for your sins.

* State before God that you are not going to depend upon anyone or anything else for your salvation—not yourself, your priest, Mary, the saints, the Church, your baptism, your participation in the other sacraments, your attempts to obey the Ten Commandments. Not even your good works. Tell God you have decided to trust Jesus, and him alone, for your salvation.

* Thank God for his free offer of forgiveness and eternal life. Acknowledge that you do not deserve such generous treatment, but humbly accept it as a gift from God.

You can do this today, speaking to God in prayer, using your own words. Once you do so, tell your family and friends of your decision to repent and trust Jesus to save you. Encourage them to do the same. The Bible says that God’s offer of salvation is for “you and your household” (Acts 16:31).

Christian criticisms

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

There are three great criticisms, as I see it, that followers of Christ often receive in this day and age, in countries that practice religious freedom: i) the exclusivity and offensiveness of the Gospel message they preach and spread; ii) the manner in which they claim their understanding is correct; and iii) the seemingly "disunity" of the churches.

Firstly, Jesus' claim He was "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6) is at the heart of the Gospel. Christians rightfully echo the declaration of Peter and the early apostles: "Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given to men which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The Gospel is the power of God (Romans 1:16). We preach the free gift of salvation through no one's merit (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:18-19, John 6:47, John 5:24). John MacArthur, one of the leading Christian voices in the world, is often criticized for his views on cults and heretics in Christianity today, and all those outside of Christianity today. His answer is what our answer should be. "There is nothing more loving than the truth."

Secondly, are Christians arrogant? Do they lack the humility that Jesus Christ always had? Well, of course we do, and of course, in some respect, we like all people will have some degree of arrogance in our corrupted beings. But its a false argument to say Bible-believing Christians are arrogant in their knowledge of "the way, the truth and the life." If we believe Scripture, we are believing what God has chosen to tell us, as the author, overseeing the Superintending Holy Spirit, and speaking through the character and literary style of those whom recorded His word. The Gospel message needs no interpretation. God cannot lie or deceive, and He does not change His mind or His will (Psalm 19:9, 33:4, Malachi 3:6, Romans 3:4, James 1:17, Hebrews 6:17-18). Jesus not only proclaims the word of God as nothing less than truth, but He asks the Father to "sanctify" us by the truth (John 17:17). Thus, being assured of what He has told us through Jesus Christ and the Scriptures is not only warranted, but it is part of the believers' responsibility and conformation.

When I was in school I was arguing with somebody over a topic. Somewhere along the line, we both realized we were being foolish in arguing over this topic, because when we were honest we knew we didn't really know the whole truth about the topic. When we picked up an authority on the subject, and read about it together, we were easily able to understand what the truth was on that topic (whether we liked it or not, whether we admitted we were wrong or not, etc). This was because though we hadn't initially seen eye to eye on the topic, we did see eye to eye on the authority of that topic.

Thirdly, when we learn about God and what He has thus far revealed to us, in His Word, we understand whom our Creator is and whom are Joy is. While small differences in non-Gospel related subjects have led some Protestants to worship in some churches rather than others, one of the great joys on this earth are we are always united by the truth and joy of the Gospel, the gift of our eternal life. We are truly brothers and sisters of the same body and we are constantly working together to do the Lord's work and praying together for each other. On any given Sunday in my church, you are bound to find not only members of other Methodist churches, but members of Baptist churches, Pentecostal Churches, Congregational Churches etc. When my wife and I go away we will attend any close Protestant church. On some Sundays, even when we are home, we will attend an Episcopalian Church to rejoice with our brothers and sisters there. The love and unity of believers is something that cannot be adequately put into words.

I remember one day when I was working at a place serving food. Two of the other servers were from a local Pentecostal Church. Pentecostals have a reputation of being a bit more, lets say, outgoing. As they served folks food they would be singing hymns, telling each recipient that Jesus loved them. Now this wasn’t a Christian shelter- I couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed by it all. Surely, some folks just wanted a hot meal without the personal conversation. But sure enough, as the day progressed, I felt more and more at ease with my brothers’ way of evangelizing and walking as Christ walked, and surely, so did some of those folks at the shelter.

While I have never been to a Pentecostal Church, I learned a lot about how these brothers and sisters lived and worshiped that day. At some point they formally invited me over to their church for service. It was a bit on the other side of town, and while I could certainly make the trek, I haven’t yet, and may never (I don’t even think I have the address anymore). Maybe sensing this, maybe not, when we were all walking out, the bigger guy of the two stripped off his hairnet and turned to me. “Hey brother, we’ll catch you on the rebound.”

“The rebound” may be an odd term, but I kind of like it. He was referring to the afterlife, where he knows, as well as I do, the promises of God in the Bible will come true for all believers. We may not see each other in the meantime, but both those guys are part of my walk as a Christian, and we are all part of the body of Christ.

The body of Christ is visible and strong. It preaches one way back to God, Jesus Christ. It is confident because it believes God and Jesus Christ. And while the body of Christ may not worship in the same buildings, we all worship in the same truth and spirit (John 6:63), and through our relationship with each other, the community, and the lost, we try to live a life worthy of our calling, always in the unboastful understandment that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Assured of Heaven (2)

My friend Doug recently posted on the meaning of eternal life assurances from Scripture http://lifewithoutcaptions.blogspot.com/2009/10/assured-of-heaven.html. It's both thoughtfully practical and practically thoughtful. It made me think, amongst other things, of what exactly it means to me.

I think the answer for me has two parts. Firstly, the assurance of eternal life is part of the faith of a believer. Romans 4:25 - "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." The redeeming power of God can be seen as 1) the finished work of the cross or the declaration, "Telestai" and 2) the Resurrection of Jesus by God the Father.
God's Redeeming Power, i.e. the Power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) is faith in the atoning life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. It is the power of God to save us through Him. How can we believe in a righteous God, claim Jesus and claim saving faith if we don't trust in Jesus for our salvation? And if we claim all these things (in some form), how can we deny the assuredness of Heaven if we believe Jesus?

Secondly, not only did Jesus testify to what the Law and all the prophets were saying (Romans 3:21), by again showing the Jews that the revolutionary way to eternal life was Him (John 14:6), but he showed the Jews what eternal life actually was (John 17:3) viz. "knowing God". Thus, having eternal life is knowing God presently, because He is Life.

We much too often (guilty as anyone) bicker over exegetical matters, in which the complete answers are beyond our comprehension. True, Scripture holds everything needed for salvation; but we rightfully struggle to understand "it all" because we live in the limitations of a small number of dimensions and with a small number of neurons. The same problem arises when we are asked, "when were you saved?" I can answer with some assuredness "it was when I believed the Gospel." But it wasn't and isn't that simple for me - and many others, I suspect, can relate. For me it was more of a process, maybe when the few neurons caught up with my heart stuck in those few dimensions, and I realized, I trusted Jesus Christ with my life because He is Life, the only Way back to God, and not my best option - my only option. For me, that is what is meant by "repentance unto life."

As the Body of Christ we can bicker amongst ourselves if this process starts at Infant Baptism or one peculiar Sunday in Church or when the piercing truth of our wretchedness drops us to our knees one night. But, I suspect, The real answer is this: "I was saved before the creation of man and earth. I was saved because God chose to love me when I was like the clay of the potter. I was saved because God chose to still love me when I was the rebel in the Garden. I was saved because God chose to still love me when I was the lover of iniquity, the Son of Satan, the worst sinner of all." I think when we start to wrap our head around the awesome assuredness of anything God does with purpose, in particular, love, it becomes an impossible thought that death, or life or angels or principalities....or anything could separate us from the Love of God (Romans 8:38-39). I suspect this is what Paul means earlier in Romans 8 ( And those he predestined he also called, those he called he also justified, those he justified he also glorified). In other words, we are assured of eternal life because we were predestined, just like we were predestined because we were glorified. Time isn't an issue with our God, thus we can say I was saved before the creation just like we can say I will be saved at the bodily resurrection.

So being assured of having eternal life is being assured of knowing God, and that can only be accomplished if we are convinced in our minds and our hearts that Jesus Christ died for our sins. And as a result, the response is to trust in the Risen Christ. Again, I suspect this is what Paul meant in Romans 10:10, "For it is with your heart you believe and are justified." And again in Romans 10:11, As the Scripture says, "no one who trusts in Him will be put to shame." And again in Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." This, I strongly suspect, is a different faith than what many practice today.

David was assured of Heaven because he, like Noah, and every Godly man I have read about in Scripture, understood the Gospel before Paul could explain it. "guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." (Psalm 25:5) (italics mine)

The churches in Corinth and Loadicea and the Eucharist (the Lord's Supper)

One of the most fascinating parallels in Scripture for me can be seen in Paul's writings to the church in Corinth, Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3), and the book of James.

The subject of the writings and words were presumably true believers, eternally saved. However, the churches in Corinth and Laodiciea had major flaws with sincere love for their brothers and sisters. For instance, 1 Corinthians 13, the great love treatise, aimed at the church of Corinth and, as an example of its powerful sermonic tone on love, repeated at most Christian weddings I have ever been too; while the church in Laodiciea was neither "hot nor cold", and thought they were "rich" and did not "need a thing" (Laodiciea had become a very material wealthy city), when, in fact, like all humans, saved and unsaved, they were (are) "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked" (Revelation 3:17) (ironically, the great Newton anthem, Amazing Grace, that proceeded from these truths can be heard at most Christian funerals, "that saved a wretch like me/I once was blind", etc....).

Strangely enough, a lot of doctrinal disagreement about the Eucharist has come from Paul's words nearly begging the Corinthians to act on and in the love for each other that they had through their faith (1 Corinthians 11:27). (Actually, a lot of traditional theologians have identified the "body of Christ" with the actual crucified Jesus Christ. While there are a lot of folks who have much, much deeper theological minds than I that favor this interpretation, for me the better fit for Paul's words involve whom make up the body of Christ, and, perhaps, the most satisfying understanding is the truth is Paul had both in mind). Here in, Paul continues to preach the missing love these folks had for each other, for their brothers and sisters (or at least some) were drinking the blood of Christ and eating the body of Christ without recognizing the body (the entire communion of believers) and the blood (the sacrifice of Jesus which gracefully freed us from everything the law could not) of Jesus Christ.

The parallel for the Loadiceans is they did not know they were "wretched, blind, naked (thus drinking without recognizing the blood of Christ), and Jesus knew their deeds, and they were "neither hot nor cold." Isn't the obvious parallel than that the church, during their Eucharist celebration, was "drinking without recognizing the Body"? Weren't they in essence answering the apostle John's redundant question, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has not pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (1 John 3:17). Note, this is exactly what James is saying: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17). Even more apparent, James was writing of the same problems that the church of Corinth was experiencing. In simple terms, some people who were part of the church thought they were spiritually, physically, financially or in some other way/all of the above superior to some of their brothers and sisters. Not surprisingly, there are many in churches today with members or - even worse- leaders, who think they are spiritually better or socioeconomically better than their fellow believers. Genuine, Biblical, saving faith is in no way compatible with persons who think this way. In every way, loving works will always accompany faith, and this faith will never be alone - because (i) true believers always possess and are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) and (ii) that is God's plan (Ephesians 2:10). The Loadiceans were "rich" but were not recognizing the body of Christ and all the needs of the body of Christ, because they were "lukewarm", and while their faith was not "dead" (cold), it was not the faith that came with the understanding that we are all "wretched", and no better spiritually or in any way than other people, especially those in the body of Christ.

Just like the church in Corinth and Loadicea, if we are to partake in the Eucharist and thus declare our faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord, than our faith must be one that does not in anyway promote or condone favoritism, and sees all true believers as equal partakers in the promises of Christ, whom we have genuine love for, and could never see go cold or hungry - or spiritually misled- without acting (1 John:2, James:2, and Galatians 1). If our faith does not include this, we need to desperately "examine" ourselves (1 Corinthians 13). Folks, if we are partaking in the Eucharist and in some way not loving ALL our fellow Christians, we need to "examine" ourselves, and see if we do in fact have genuine, saving faith.

Why? "Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we partake of the one loaf" (1 Corinthians 10:17).

Orthodox Augustinianism

The link below is to a wonderful article on the revival of the Augustinian understanding of grace, two hundred years before the Reformation came to fruition. It is also a startling reminder of the corruptions that have invaded the Gospel today, even in so-called "reformed" circles.

http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=articledisplay&var1=ArtRead&var2=448&var3=issuedisplay&var4=IssRead&var5=46

The second book of Acts- Ambrose and the fellas.

I think it is safe to say we are desperately in debt to those who proceeded us, who risked a lot more as a believer than say, a 21st century American believer as myself. Without in particular, the first several generations of believers, our ability to believe the Gospel in 2009 would be a much different experience.

One of the most influential Christians to ever live in the post-apostolic era is Ambrose, a 4th century Bishop. Perhaps the only post-apostolic Christian up to the Reformation that has been more influential in Biblical interpretation is Augustine - of course, whom was baptized and highly influenced by Ambrose.

There can be no doubt that Ambrose was deeply conscious of his sinful nature, and saw his only hope in Jesus the Christ, a justification fully by faith. It is no accident the early Reformers often referenced Ambrose. For instance, he is all over the Augsburg Confession:

"In Adam I fell, in Adam I was cast out of Paradise, in Adam I died. How shall God call me back, except he find me in the Second Adam – justified in Christ, even as in the first Adam I was made subject to guilt and destined to death?"

He points out, stunning in its accuracy, "By humbling myself I have broken the bonds of that ancient transgression by which Adam and Eve had bound the whole line of their succession."

Here, Ambrose has captured in one sentence what I will not be able to in any series of posts. In order to call on the name of Lord, we must realize the great need, the great desperation, and reach out to our only hope.

Ambrose, concludes a little later:

"Here is one reason that the Law was unnecessary and became necessary, unnecessary in that it would not have been needed if we had been able to keep the natural law; but, as we did not keep it, the Law of Moses became needful to teach me obedience and loosen that bond of Adam’s deception which had ensnared his whole posterity. Yes, guilt grew by the Law, but pride, the source of guilt, was loosed, and this was an advantage to me. Pride discovered the guilt and the guilt brought grace.
Consider another reason. The Law of Moses was not needful; hence, it entered secretly. Its entrance seems not of an ordinary kind, but like something clandestine because it entered secretly into the place of the natural law. Thus, if she had but kept her place, this written law would never have entered it, but, since deception had banished that law and nearly blotted it out of the human breast, pride reigned and disobedience was rampant. Therefore, that other took its place so that by its written expression it might challenge us and shut our mouth, in order to make the whole world subject to God. The world,²⁴ however, became subject to him through the Law, because all are brought to trial by the prescript of the Law, and no one is justified by the works of the Law; in other words, because the knowledge of sin comes from the Law, but guilt is not remitted, the Law, therefore, which has made all men sinners, seems to have caused harm.
But, when the Lord Jesus came he forgave all men the sin they could not escape, and canceled the decree against us by shedding his blood [Colossians 2:14]. This is what he says: “By the Law sin abounded, but grace abounded by Jesus” [Romans 5:20], since after the whole world became subject he took away the sins of the whole world, as John bears witness, saying: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” [John 1:29] Let no one glory, then, in his own works, since no one is justified by his deeds, but one who is just has received a gift, being justified by Baptism. It is faith, therefore, which sets us free by the blood of Christ, for he is blessed whose sin is forgiven and to whom pardon is granted (Psalm 32:1)."

We would all benefit from reading about Ambrose's understanding of Biblical Justification. Ambrose reminds me of the story in Luke, of the man who was distraught over his sinful nature, and the words of Jesus..."I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)."

Justification - the true reformed view

Dr. Joseph Mizzi shares his Biblical views regularly with an audience through a gospel E-letter and through a website, justforcatholics.org. Since this month he speaks of the matter of justification, it was appropriate to add in to this discussion (text below). Of course, Dr. Mizzi rightfully points out that the faith that justifies is the faith that trusts God who "justifies the wicked." Thus, Romans 4:5 specifically stands at the crux of the matter that Paul so vehemently fought for. Dr. Mizzi also makes it a point that we are justified, as Scripture says, for the purpose of good works, that God predestined us to do (Ephesians 2:10-11). An amazing thing to me about Reformed theology is its inability to communicate this, leaving non-reformed Christians scratching their heads at the apparent gap between the obvious moral code Jesus neccesitated in His followers, and the love God showed to us, Romans 5:8, "while we were still sinners." Justification and Works

Do you believe that faith leads to justification? Faith does not only lead to justification, faith in Christ actually and really justifies the ungodly. The Bible states that "everyone who believes is justified" (Acts 13:39), the sinner is justified “through faith” (Romans 3:25), “justified by faith” (Romans 3:28), God justifies “by faith” and “through faith” (Romans 3:30), we are “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1); one is justified “by faith” and again, “justified by faith” (Galatians 2:16), God justifies “by faith” (Galatians 3:8), righteousness is received “through faith” and “by faith” (Philippians 3:9). Do you believe that justification leads to good works? Yes, justification inevitably and most certainly leads to good works. We are not justified before God on account of the merits of our good works, but, having been justified by faith, we are at peace with God, and therefore God is pleased by our moral and spiritual sacrifices. A person who is not yet justified is at enmity with God and therefore nothing that he does can ever please him as long as he remains an outlaw and rebel against the throne of heaven. Good works are impossible unless one is already justified by faith. Does this mean that the person who is justified never sins and will always do good works? No, it does not mean that the justified never sin, nor does it mean that the justified are always and constantly doing good works. As Christians we readily confess and admit our many failures. When we read in the New Testament about the life of the early believers, we discover that they too endeavored to act righteously and shun every sin, and yet they too were not as fruitful as they could have been, and sometimes they sinned against their God and Father. If the justified person does sin, what’s the difference between a sinner without faith and a sinner with faith? There is all the difference in the world. A sinner without faith is under the curse of the law. With every sin he increases the weight of guilt and punishment that will be meted out to him on the Day of Judgment. When a saint sins, he is still a saint and a child of God; he is still in Christ; he is still justified on account of his blood. The disobedient child incurs the displeasure and discipline of God his Father and is moved by the Spirit to repentance. The consequences of sin in the believer are many – the disobedient son displeases God the Father, loses the joy of salvation, suffers personal misery and spiritual weakness, hurts others, tarnishes his testimony, and loses rewards that the Lord gives when he comes again -- but the believer does not loose his legal right-standing before God. If it is true that the believer is still justified when he sins, it would make faith in Jesus is a license to sin. This is the accusation that has been made against the gospel of justification by grace through faith ever since the beginning (‘Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?’ Romans 6:1). Does faith in Jesus imply a license to sin? No! A million times, no! Faith in Christ is the first place, the ONLY way we can be freed from the guilt and condemnation of sin, as well as giving us a right relationship with God, which is the basis for our sanctification, the work of the Spirit in the justified, teaching us to abhor and avoid evil, and to love and practice righteousness. Don’t think that the only motive that will keep people from sin is the threat of hell; the believer has a purer motive -- the glory of God his Saviour. The believer is moved by love to the one who loves him with infinite love! What makes me treat my wife with kindness and gentleness, seeking to bring her joy and not sorrow – is it the fear that I will be brought to court and sentenced to prison? No, rather I am moved by love – her love to me and my love to her. Does that mean that I never offend her or that I always treat her in the best way possible? No, but loves gives hope of change, growth and maturity in our relationship. Am I correct in stating that under your concept of justification, that once a person is justified, the intent is to do good works because you love God and want to please him, but always doing good works is not possible or is not a requirement? God intends that all his children, who were justified on account of Christ’s blood and righteousness, should do good works in response to the grace they had received. We love him, says the Bible, because he has first loved us. Whether it is possible to ‘always’ do good works, to live a perfect moral life on this earth – I answer that on this side of eternity all Christian fail to reach moral perfection. Indeed, we must confess in the words of the apostle John, ‘If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.’ Our Lord taught to ask the Father for forgiveness in the same breath that we pray for our daily bread. Whether good works are a requirement or not, it is important to qualify that question – a requirement for what? If you ask whether good works are optional or obligatory in the life of the justified, then the answer is an emphatic ‘yes’ - good works are obligatory and commanded by God! While the Bible excludes personal works for salvation, the same inspired text informs us that we are saved for that purpose, ‘unto good works’ that we should walk in them. But if you ask whether good works are required for our justification, i.e. to be justified on account of personal merit, the answer is plain, no! For justification personal merit must be excluded. The Bible says that it is him who does not work but believes in God who justifies the ungodly that his faith is credited for righteousness. We are justified freely by grace, through faith, on account of the perfect obedience and the shed blood of our Redeemer. We ought to be careful not to allow what is good (‘good works’) keep us from fully relying by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for our justification.

Piper, Wright, and the great Justification fog

Many folks have been familiarized with the N.T. Wright-catapulted conversations concerning Pauline interpretation on justification. As a non-scholastic onlooker, I can only be quietly surprised at the amount of attention Wright, and the entire "New Perspectives on Paul" group has been able to draw (I'm a guilty contributor - I dropped 25 bucks on Wright's new hardcover... woops) This is not because their arguments are not illogical or even precise. For me, the entire case of justification by faith has gotten to be quite complicated, much more so than "believing" on Jesus Christ.

Of course, in his day, Edwards did not hear of the "New Persepective on Paul". But I cannot afford not to go back to Edward's summations of Pauline justification, as the Holy Spirit superintended his words 2000 years back. The question for me is If you don't count justification as an imputed righteousness in its complete whole, and everything that must be true that follows, is that another gospel? (Note, I use "gospel" in the non-Wright tradition) This is an excerpt from Gerstner's piece on Edward's beautifully clear illustrations of exactly what God and Paul meant, by justification.

So justification is righteousness, however we come by it. We do not come by it by ourselves, but by Christ. How we come by it by Christ is the question. Edwards’ answer is clear: Christ’s righteousness belongs to the faithful by virtue of their “natural union” with him. The Reformers, especially Calvin, and the Puritans, especially Owen, also saw union with Christ as the basis of justification. Edwards is, perhaps, even more precise. He observes that Christ achieves his own righteousness which, second, becomes ours by union with him. Christ “was not justified till he had done the work the Father had appointed him, and kept the Father’s commandments through all trials; and then in his resurrection he was justified.”

Since the faith that justifies is a true faith and is seen as such by God when he justifies the believer, Edwards stresses the importance of faith’s being a working faith. “They that do truly come to Christ they at the same time take Christ’s yoke upon them.” In the application he urges his people not to trust in their supposed comings to Christ which may be nothing more than a “flush of affection.” Rather, let them examine themselves to see whether they have counted the cost, whether they are laboring under the yoke of Christ. Any other type of faith is vain, he insists.

Noted as Edwards is as a champion of solafideanism, he believed ultimately in justification by works. The only basis that justification could ever have was works or actual righteousness. Justification by faith is justification by faith in Christ’s justification by works! “If we inquire what we must be saved for or on account of the answer is it must be for works, but not our works; not any works that we have done or can do but works that Christ has done for us.” The justification of the sinner is by his union with Christ, who is justified not by faith but by works. So in the ultimate sense of the word the sinner too is justified by works — not by his own, originally and actually, but none the less his own by faith. “God acting the part of a judge determines and declares that men have a righteousness and so they are justified by their works.”

From http://www.apuritansmind.com/Justification/GerstnerJohnOnEdwardsOnJustification.htm

Let me add this though: I simply do not think anybody fully understands what it means to be justified by our Holy God. In terms of the Piper and Wright camps, I think it is difficult to argue against anything but the traditional reformed Pauline understanding of imputation of the righteousness of Christ.

One of the things I really like about what Wright says, however, is one end point which he hopes evolves from this soteriological and ecclesiological debate with Piper; that is, the returning of believers to Scripture.

If this conversation is a means to get believers to Scripture, I applaud it.

This blog is for sinners, for "Christians"

I decided to spend time on a blog in hopes to reach any of the masses that have been deceived by the false teachers, the agents of Satan, that have been working diligently throughout history.

Perhaps the most strikingly false and dangerous doctrine that has crept into contemporary Christianity is that God justifies the "good" Christian, the one that believes and is overall, "good".

(I'll pause here - this conversation can only include those whom trust Scripture as our source of truth.)

Why do people become Christians?

Why we need a Savior can seem simple to some, but gets complicated with time clocked on this earth. Minimally, we are by nature born into this world as children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) with every ounce of our body and soul oozing with a proclivity towards evil, away from God. As life progresses, this gets complicated with consciousness of our deceitful heart (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9) and all its inevitable desires, the general weariness of the life (and people) around us, and the general surrender to the horrendous lie that some of us are relatively good people, and, if we believe in hell and all those things, it is something for the Stalins and Madoffs, and, possibly even, the Vicks of the world.

The conversation of saving faith I think begins here, because true conversion I think begins here. "If we claim to be without sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth isn't in us" (1 John 1:8). Jesus came to save "sinners and not the righteous" (Mark 2:17). In fact, God's whole redemptive plan can be hung on Romans 5:8 and Romans 5:12: "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, " and "Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned."

If we claim Christianity, if we claim Christ as our Lord and Savior, we need to understand, err, firmly believe, that through Adam we inherited a sinful nature, and our only chance is Jesus the Christ (John 14:6).

We maintain, that we are justified by the righteousness of God, as manifested by the faith of Jesus Christ. As Luther and some of the original reformers pointed out, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference”, Romans 3:22, is central to understanding this. In other words, we are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16), both through his perfect obediance, and his death and resurrection.

One of the most striking lines found in Scripture is "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13b).

I am hopeful that this entire blog will begin, end, and hover over this Biblical Truth.

What does it mean to call on the name of Jesus to be saved?

Certainly, certainly, an awareness of a sinful condition must be present in order for anyone to be so desperate, so out of options, that they rely solely on mercy for their reconciliation to an invisible God.

The awareness of this condition was certainly present in Abraham, in Job, in David, in the sinner that beat his chest with is arms in agony of his self, and in the thief on the cross who saw his only hope at eye level.

Christianity, eternity, and this conversation, begins here, I believe.