Holy, righteous, good - all of Christ

Are believers really saints? Can we practice righteousness or holiness? Does Christ really see us in this light? The answer is, yes. We're reborn. Paul defines the unrighteous, what they do and how they act, and then he says, 

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
When it says "sanctified", this is what it means (taken from biblos.com):
hagiazó: to make holy, consecrate, sanctify
Original Word: ἁγιάζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hagiazó
Phonetic Spelling: (hag-ee-ad'-zo)
Short Definition: I make holy, sanctify
Definition: I make holy, treat as holy, set apart as holy, sanctify, hallow, purify.

Total depravity (our standing before God) is overcome, here and now, by the flowing mercies in Christ Jesus. 

Here's an excellent article on all that we are in Christ Jesus: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-stupendous-reality-of-being-in-christ-jesus

Consider Romans 11:16, which references Christ as the root and believers as branches:

If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. (Romans 11:16)
Christ is the root. If Christ is holy, then according to Paul, all those in Christ are made holy by virtue of being in Him. Christ said Himself, "I am the Vine; you are the branches". 

Let’s look quickly at the two words, “good” and “holy”.agathos = good
Reference: Ephesians 2:10; besides others
Definition: Intrinsically good, good in nature, good whether it be seen to be so or not. 

This goodness originates from God, and is empowered by Him. But in Ephesians 2:10 it says the Lord prepares good works for us to accomplish. He is a God of life and action, and He gives us actions to accomplish.

hagios = holyDefinition: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred.
References: 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, Romans 6:19, Hebrews 12:14, Romans 11:16, 1 Corinthians 7:14, Ephesians 5:27

Again, this originates from God in that we become like Him, pronounced to be like Christ, set apart from the world because we are like Christ. This is what Christ has done: set us apart for Himself.

We submit fully to Christ. That’s what living righteously is all about: submitting fully and joyfully to Christ so that we can be used of Him. He works through us. We live in righteousness, we witness to others, and we present our bodies as living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God for the purpose of Christ’s exaltation and proclamation.

How would you define submitting fully to Christ? I would define it as something like “Here I am; Lord, send me!” When faced with His glory, our response is praise, worship and service.

Believers do not live rightly or do any holy thing outside of Christ. The ability to do anything in a godly manner comes from God, Who is goodness and mercy. This is the relationship:

We do good works (which God has laid out for us) by His grace in enabling us to do so. We do not do good works or live righteously because we want to "look good", or because we want to earn something; we do them because God has amazingly saved us, and it is a “reasonable service” to live our lives for the glory of God in whatsoever we do. We cannot earn what we already have. 

We cannot be righteous without Christ. However, with Him, we can. So the idea that believers can be righteous is cemented in the fact that Christ is the difference. Christ enables us to be so. God is in living, active relationship with us, right now. Christ is exalted and magnified by the idea that He has accomplished what He set out to do, finishing His work and revealing a people much changed by what He has done.

Why not go to Him? Cast all your cares upon Him. Cry out to Christ to change you, to wash you clean. We need constant reminders of the gospel, all day, every day. Christ came to save the needy, the broken, the sinful. He is the Great Physician, healing hearts and lives. Why not turn to Him? 

Total depravity: not the believer's reality

I have had discussions in the past concerning the doctrine of total depravity. I believe the doctrine of total depravity is true, yet I feel I must write concerning the doctrine's misuse*, especially when it comes to total depravity and believers.

What is total depravity?
The doctrine of total depravity as I understand it runs thus:

Because of the fall (Genesis 3), man is unable by or of himself to believe in the gospel of salvation. Man is from birth rebellious against God. He is dead, blind and deaf to the things of God (Matthew 13:13). His heart is corrupted, his will is bound to Satan (Ephesians 2:1-2), and his inclination is constantly towards evil (Genesis 6:5). This depravity affects man physically, mentally, and spiritually, so that every part (the total) is depraved.

Are believers totally depraved?
You tell me: according to the historical definition of total depravity, can believers properly be defined as remaining in this state? Are believers unable to believe in the gospel of salvation (Acts 15:11)? Then how are they believers? Are they rebellious against God? Then how are they united to Him (Romans 6:5)? Are they dead, blind and deaf to the things of God? Then how can they have a relationship with Him (Galatians 4:6)? Are their hearts corrupted? Then why does God say He has given them a new, clean heart (Ezekiel 11:19)? Is their will bound to Satan? Then why does God say He has set us free (Galatians 5:1)? Is their inclination constantly towards evil? Then why does the Bible say believers desire the heavenly (Hebrews 11:16)? Why do they seek to be Christlike?

In answer to the question, I say no, believers are not totally depraved. Total depravity is a pre-Christ state. It is what we were, not what we are. When we are in Christ, we are set free, changed, renewed, redeemed, forgiven, restored, adopted, sanctified, glorified, justified…the change is endless (1 Corinthians 6:11, Romans 8:30). We are a new creation. The old has passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are recreated in Christ Jesus. Reborn. We have the indwelling Spirit. We abide in the Vine. Our eyes are opened, our ears can hear, and our hearts can respond to the gospel.

Does this mean believers don’t sin? Not at all. We sin and struggle on every plane, physically, mentally and spiritually. The effects of total depravity still linger in us. But believers are not totally depraved. That is not our condition. Not according to the historical definition, which indicated and indicates unsaved people. The doctrine of total depravity is not meant to define Christians, but to define humanity. We have a new existence in Christ Jesus. God sees us differently in Christ than outside of Him. Christ makes a difference - a major one. We have to consider our familial reality.

We still speak of being totally depraved in terms of acknowledging one side of the coin, which is our dependency upon Christ in all things. We are weak. But the reality is that, not only do we as believers depend on Christ for everything, but Christ fulfills every dependency we have! He is our strength when we are weak. This is why we are pronounced clean. This is why the epistles declare believers saints, not sinners. Our identity is changed. God has removed us from our sin, separating them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). He has drowned our sins in the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).

The believer's reality
Our reality is settled in Christ. The ability that we have been given is only by God’s grace in enabling us to do the good works He has foreordained (Ephesians 2:8-10). He has called us to act in righteousness, and He provides the way for us to do so. My ability to be good is not some sort of apart-from-Christ merit. Apart from Christ we can do nothing – but this implies that in and with Christ, we can do something.

We are the Body of Christ. Christ works through us in order to bring about His will on earth. There is an intriguing relationship between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. People pray for the salvation of a friend, and when the friend is saved they glorify God, not thinking that their prayer was the means, yet their prayer was the instrument God used in order to bring about His sovereign will in saving the friend. This is a glorious truth: God includes us in His plan and purpose. He is active in relationship with His people. He moves and creates and speaks and involves us. He allows us to participate in doing good works for His glory. That’s why we share the gospel or serve others in love: not to “be good”, but because God is good and He has allowed us a part to play.

Live, then, in the light and the joy of this reality. Live every day as though God has a plan and a purpose for you - because He does! He has plans for you far beyond what you can imagine. He is with you every moment. Christ does not forget about you, not even for a second. Leave the hours and the minutes of your life in the hands of the Sovereign God Who has pronounced you clean, Who has declared you worthy to be a steward of His righteousness, a messenger of His glory, a child who is welcome and loved. Leave your doubts and your confusions, and even your certainties, with the all-wise Saviour, Who knows you better than you know yourself. Look to Jesus, and be ready.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:21-22 ESV)


*I don't doubt that I have misused the term in the past; this blog is an attempt to correct my own errors as much as to address the errors of others.

Five women & God's grace

1

When others sinned against me, I sinned to gain security. I used deceit, cunning and immorality to ensure my deceased husband's inheritance, as well as my own future. I banked on the immorality of my father-in-law rather than trusting in the Most High God. Still, in all my sinfulness, God moved with grace, using me despite my sinful works, despite my fears, and allowing me to bear a son who would be in the line of the Messiah.

2

I am a prostitute from a pagan nation. I lived my life in immorality, in godlessness. Then I heard about the LORD, the one who delivered his people from Egypt, who brought them through the Red Sea, who defeated powerful nations. My heart melted within me at the word of this God, the God of the heavens above and the earth beneath. How I rejoiced and mourned when God spared me by his mercy and grace! Could it be that I, even I could be in the line of the Messiah? 

3

I am a Gentile. By God's grace I was saved, living with Naomi and refusing to go back to Chemosh and spiritual death. I forsook the idols of my people. God moved mysteriously and graciously, and in his providence I found myself married to Boaz, a righteous and worthy man. In my life I saw something of the final redemption through the Messiah. 

4

I am an adulteress. Called by the king, I went and lay with him. O, God - pregnancy! Proof of our iniquity, and my death sentence. To cover our iniquity, my husband, my righteous husband Uriah, was betrayed and slain. What have I done? My lament, my guilt, O my husband! O, my child. This consequence is great. I sinned against the Lord. But, O - God's grace. God gave us another son, a son beloved of the Lord. Could it be that my son, the son from my womb, is an ancestor of the Messiah? 

5

I am young, unmarried, and vulnerable. I am neither rich nor powerful. An angel appeared to me and told me wonderful things, things that were confusing and amazing. The Holy Spirit? Overshadowing? A Son - a Son of the Most High? Let it be so, according to your word. 

O, those months. The visit with Elizabeth; the joy in knowing Joseph believed me, that he would stay! - the long, aching travel; the inn. No room in the inn. Where am I to bear this child? The time has come!

My beautiful boy. Look at you - so small and frail, needing me. What is the grace of God, that I should bear the Saviour of the world? I need him. The whole world will need him. The shepherds came and told us their story, how the choir of angels sang. A Saviour. Christ the Lord. My baby. I will treasure these things and ponder them. Could it be that the promises of God have been fulfilled? The time of waiting is over - the Messiah has come!

Behold the lie

Behold the lie my mind would seek to tell;

Devastating me with backward truth:

"Death arrives with the tolling of the bell;

You have been truly wicked from your youth! 

"You are a sinner, saved by grace, but so?

Your sin is far too great for grace to grieve;

You have no hope, although you say 'credo';

It's not enough just simply to believe.

"You fail as a believer, as a friend,

You break and stumble at the slightest cause.

And you think God can love you? Here's your end!

Live your life recounting all your flaws!"

Oh, God! I need your swift rescue from me;

Save me from my lies and change my mind!

Give me renewed faith, and help me see

Your grace is greater than the sin I've left behind.

Believers: according to Philippians: part two

Partakers

The word for partakers is sygkoinōnós, which means a close companion or joint-sharer. It is amazing to think that we are not merely an audience, not passively watching grace, but that we are active accomplices, having fellowship with all believers through the Spirit. We are the hands and feet of Christ, serving one another out of reverence for Jesus. When Paul uses this word in Philippians, he is referencing the Philippians' willingness to share Paul's suffering and shame. You know a close companion when they stand by you in the worst of times, not just the best of times.

Brothers, Beloved, Children of God

These profound familial terms ignite our theology, bringing the truths of God's Word to light through relationship. Through His death, Christ has caused us to be born again, born into adoption. We are the children of God. To be adopted in Christ is an eternal and glorious relational aspect of our salvation. We are more than believers; we are beloved, loved by God as a father loves his children. We are co-heirs with Christ. Think about these mercies! I can barely understand them.

Not only does salvation affect our relationship with God, but it also changes how we fellowship with one another. Believers are brothers, united as the family of God, given new life and new purpose in Christ Jesus. We grow together in sanctification, love, joy, suffering, and everything else.

Lights in the world

As lights in the world, we shine brightly. We are not under baskets. We don't hide away, but rather declare the glories of Christ Jesus through the way we live and through what we say. How can we distinguish between what we say and how we live? It shouldn't be possible. If our "yes" really means "no", then there is something wrong. We are to live as lights in the world, shining the gospel of Christ into even the darkest corners. 

Citizens of heaven
We belong to the God of heaven, not the prince of the power of the air, nor this present darkness. We are sojourners here, living for Christ in the midst of our journey home. Our citizenry is with Christ, for we are seated with Him in the heavenly places, kept for, by, and through Jesus as we await the final day, the day when the "worst vacation ever" has come to an end.

Paul reminds the Philippians of many things in his short letter. I pray they've encouraged you as they did me. 

Believers: according to Philippians - part one

When reading through Scripture, you can find many different titles for believers. The term, "Christian" only shows up a few times, yet believers are referenced quite often, especially in the New Testament. Reading through Philippians I came across many different titles given among believers. Some are specific titles, such as "servants", used in Paul's introduction, as well as the titles of overseer and deacon. However, I think we can expand upon these titles in general. 

According to Philippians, we are

Servants

As I said, Paul uses this in his introduction: 

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, (Philippians 1:1)

However, this is not exclusive to Paul. John, Peter, Jude and James all refer to themselves in the same way. In light of that, I think it is appropriate that we follow their example in proclaiming our servanthood to Christ. I am a servant of Christ. What does this mean? This means my life is not my own. I have been bought with the price of Christ's precious blood. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. My whole life is lived in devotion to Christ, or that at least is what I strive to do. I want to live my life according to Christ's will and by His word. I want to grow in love for God as well as for those whom He has created, glorifying God through selfless ministry. I want Christ to live through me. In light of that, I am His servant. 

Saints

Again from verse one:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)

Believers are often referred to as saints in the New Testament. This is a declaration of our state in Christ: by His sacrifice, by His substitution, by His atonement and redemption, we have been pronounced pure and blameless, without blemish. We have been clothed in Christ's righteousness. We have been given new life in Christ Jesus. We are saints - set apart, holy unto the Lord. This one is difficult to understand, because it is wrapped up in the mystery of salvation. Yet we can know that this is how God sees us. He sees us through Christ, perfect, blameless, holy, redeemed. To be declared a saint is a glorious concept, and it is the reality for believers. 

Overseers and Deacons

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)

This does not refer to all believers, but to a specific group of men who are set apart within the believing community. These are elders, those who "supervise" the flock of God, who check the gospel pulse of the church. They keep watch, guarding against apostasy, guarding against the onslaught of the devil. They provide personal protection and care for believers. Deacons "kick up the dust" in ministry, serving the church in more practical, day-to-day-serving ways. Overseers have a great responsibility, and I think it is important for believers to pray for elders and deacons in their church. However, I think every believer can watch and guard against false teaching. We can all protect and care for one another through fellowship and prayer, and we can all certainly serve one another - in fact, we are called to do that very thing in Hebrews, stirring one another up to good works (Hebrews 10:24). 

Partners

All believers share things in common. Though we can disagree, though we can have many denominations and many different interpretations of any given Bible passage, we are bound together and unified in Christ Jesus. We share a fellowship through Christ. He is the unifier. He breaks down the walls of hostility and unites all peoples.

Cursed

I've been thinking this week about Jesus' death and resurrection (shocker!). A couple of days ago, as I read through Deuteronomy, it struck me just how much Jesus took on for my sake. 

Deuteronomy chapters 27 and 28 list many curses at length, showing the consequences of disobedience. You can read them if you like. The Israelites are warned of what will happen - what they will do to themselves - if they turn away from God. The horror struck me sharply, mainly because I read it in close proximity to Good Friday. These curses would fall upon us just the same had Jesus not taken the curse upon Himself. 

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14)

It's not just the Israelites of old, either. Paul presents, as he often does, the stark contrast between what we were and what we are: 

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Jesus makes all the difference. In light of the chapters in Deuteronomy, reading Isaiah 53 seems all the more potent: 

Who has believed what he has heard from us?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

and as for his generation, who considered

that he was cut off out of the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people?

And they made his grave with the wicked

and with a rich man in his death,

although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

because he poured out his soul to death

and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

and makes intercession for the transgressors.

(Isaiah 53:1-12)

Saints together

This is the power of Jesus Christ. 

Getting over my apathetic view of 1 Corinthians yesterday, I read chapter one and was subsequently blown away by something I had never caught before. I used to skim over the introductions of letters, thinking it was simply a greeting and the good stuff came later. However, that view died when my pastor preached from the book of James, and spent two sermons on the first two verses of the book. In reading 1 Corinthians 1, then, I paid close attention to the introduction of Paul. Look carefully:

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

The question that popped into my head was, "Where have I heard the name Sosthenes before?" Sure enough, he is mentioned in Acts 18: 

And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. (Acts 18:17a)

The context for this verse is essential in explaining the first sentence of this blog. Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, was beaten in front of the tribunal because a case against Paul had swiftly been dismissed by Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia. In his study Bible, John MacArthur states, "Since [Sosthenes] was the ruler of the synagogue, he would have presented the case to Gallio." Imagine that. Sosthenes was basically the lead prosecutor against Paul. When the case was dismissed, Sosthenes received the blame. He was beaten. He was shamed. He probably considered Paul his enemy - especially in light of Paul's "betrayal" of the Jews. Formerly Paul had been their knight in shining armour, ridding the world of the blight of "The Way". Then he converted to Christianity. Paul was no favourite among the Jewish leaders. 

This leaves us with the fairly valid assumption that Sosthenes hated Paul's guts. 

But then, Christ steps in. The power of the gospel in Christ Jesus flies in the face of that enmity. Sosthenes is saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. The Bible does not go into the particulars of Sosthenes' conversion, but we are given the epilogue of the vanished enmity between Paul and Sosthenes in 1 Corinthians 1. 

Paul calls Sosthenes "our brother". This term of endearment flows through Christ Jesus, Who is the Redeemer and Mediator. Through Christ we are adopted as children of God. Through Christ the walls of hostility are broken down. Through Christ believers, even former enemies, are united in love and peace. 

I find it quite interesting how Paul continues in his introduction, after mentioning Sosthenes. Paul may have had Sosthenes in mind as he wrote "called to be saints together". These two men knew the power of Jesus Christ. They knew His saving grace. They knew His mercy and His atonement. 

Paul, the former murderer and persecutor of Christ, and Sosthenes, the former adversary, full of bitterness, enmity and resentment, found themselves sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together. It is the same for believers today. Across the globe, in spite of multiple differences, diverse backgrounds, varying cultures and preconceived notions, Christ unites us, and by His power and mercy we stand united as the Bride. 

"Grace to you and peace" indeed. 

Offer him there

Genesis 22 (select verses):

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”


He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac.


When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.


But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 

It always makes me cry to think of being in Abraham's shoes. Imagine being asked by the God you love to give up - more than that, to kill yourself - the son you love. God tests Abraham's obedience. Abraham obeys the Lord, believing God will provide His own offering. Abraham believes that God keeps His promises, so he is willing to obey, knowing that God could even raise Isaac, his promised son, from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham is committed to his God.

Just before Abraham slaughters his beloved son, God intervenes and blesses Abraham. God provides a ram as a substitute. I always think of the relief and joy Abraham must have felt, receiving his son back, being blessed by God.

Part of the reason this passage brings me to tears is that God spared Abraham's son, but did not spare His own Son. God offered Him there on the cross. Jesus was sacrificed for our sake. Jesus knew, just as the Father knew, what was required for sinful men to be reconciled to God. Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace. 

God's power

I do not like deep water.

I can swim, but I prefer solid ground beneath me.

If I am forced to swim, I like seeing the bottom. As soon as it gets a little bit shadowed or dark, I begin to imagine that some deep-sea (or deep-lake) monster is going to rush up and grab me, dragging me down into the pressurized darkness, cracking all my bones. Deep water makes me nervous.

The monstrous, roiling waves, capable of overpowering the greatest of ships constructed by man, capable of destroying cities, of overturning houses, of pummeling rock to sand to be lapped up against the shore...this grand, terrifying body is subjected to the God I call Father.

Wow.

Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
(Psalm 42:7, emphasis mine)

I am not comforted by the sea. Yet I am comforted by the fact that the sea is God's sea. The waterfalls are God's waterfalls. The deep that calls to deep, the deep that thunders nervousness in my chest, is the deep that answers to the Creator's call.

When life sends wave after wave of trial and trouble at me, I know that these waves are not battering me in spite of God's attempts to protect me.

God is sending the waves.

And God is protecting me.

God will bring me through what He has in store for me, even if my journey consists of travelling down to the pressurized darkness of the deep. Even if I cannot see the bottom, even if I cannot see the end in sight, I will praise God, because He holds me, and the waves answer to Him.

• 
  

A living hope

A living hope sustained me today.

I know it is living, because it continued without my sustaining it.

I did not feed hope today.

Jesus did.

He tended and cultivated the little seed of hope, watering it with the life-giving sustenance only He can provide, giving me the comfort and the joy of resting in Him without having to do anything. Without being required to live in a certain way. Without being required to be happy and smiling, healthy and pumped for the day.

He accepted my frustration, my numbness, my sickness, my fickleness.

He is constant, faithful, loving, merciful, patient, giving, and on and on in endless, overpowering grace cascading down from the throne room of heaven.

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
(Psalm 71:5 ESV)

Can We Lose Our Salvation? Part Six..

Our Condition: Slaves of God

As John MacArthur says in his new book Slave, the Bible talks about believers (in both the Old and New Testaments) in the language of slavery over 300 times. Most modern translations translate the OT word, ‘ebed, and the NT word, doulos, as “servant”, yet the literal translation is slave. Considering this, what does it mean for us as believers? The best answer for that is found in Romans 6:

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Romans 6:16-22 ESV)

When you consider a slave, you think of someone whose whole life is bound up in the will and inclination of his Master. Bought and purchased, slaves had no freedom in regards to whom they served. Unless their Master granted their freedom, they were subjected to the whim of their Master their whole life.

Praise be to God, that He is a kind and gentle Master, full of mercy, abounding in steadfast love! We are slaves of God – and what a gift that slavery proves itself to be! We were bought at a great price – the price of Christ’s death on the cross. He has purchased and redeemed us for His own. He is our divine Master, and we are His slaves.

In light of this, how could He let us go? We are His, bought and sealed by His own blood, purchased and redeemed as slaves of God in righteousness leading to eternal life. Do you think it is possible that He would let us go merely because we wanted to turn away? Would He "sell us back" to the master of sin and unrighteousness? Would He sell us back to the bondage from which He purchased us? Would He take back His redemption price? 


If a slave wanted to go and do something that would harm or kill him, would a kind master let him go? Would that truly be the loving thing to do? Love sometimes means binding the arms that want to cut themselves open. Love sometimes means saying "no". 


The Master Who says yes, no, and go to us is also the Father saying "no" to His beloved children. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Rest in His magnificent power as Master of your life and soul! He is a gentle Shepherd, a careful Sovereign, a gracious King. 


"Blessed be God that Thou hast filled  the soul of Thy servant with joy and peace in believing." ~ Christopher Love

No Regrets?

Recently I read a quote from a grand ol' theologian who lived quite a number of years ago. In general, I love to read what he wrote. His words are a blessing and an exhortation. 
However, this particular quote gave me some pause. It said something to this effect:
"Let us strive to have no regrets on our deathbed." 
I know I will have regrets on my deathbed. I just will. I will regret not being braver, of saying nothing when I ought to have said something - or saying something when I ought to have said nothing at all. I will regret that I let opportunities pass by. I will regret that I have not loved as deeply or truthfully as I could have. I will regret every time I was unjustifiably angry. I will perhaps regret, as Andrew Fuller did on his own deathbed, that I will not have enough strength left to worship God. 
But it's not about my regrets. 
Life is not about being able to lay down your head for the last time and say, "I'm happy with what I've done and been." 
Life - and death - are about Christ Jesus. It is about what He has done for me. 
I will have regrets. Yet all my regrets will be demolished by this one thought: 
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:57)
All my regrets are washed and overcome by my Saviour. As I lay dying, if I am not taken swiftly, I hope that my mind will not dwell on what I have accomplished (or failed to accomplish). I hope my mind will be dwelling on my Jesus, praising Him for His gift of salvation, and smiling upon the last few moments of life that are all that remains between me and seeing His face. 

Answering questions from a friend

A friend of mine asked me some questions in response to my previous blog post. Since the questions are good, I thought I'd make another blog post out of it. Not that they're usually bad... ;)

If salvation cannot be lost then why did he say: “depart from Me, I never knew you!”

This is found in Matthew 7, where Jesus is finishing up His sermon on the mount.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

The implications of this can be quite scary. First of all, there are those who perform great and mighty works who have not truly put their faith in Christ Jesus. This is scary for more than one reason - not only are these people deceiving themselves, but it is possible, in light of Matthew 7:15-20, that these are influential people who could be leading others astray along with them.

The one concern I do not have is that this shows a possibility of losing salvation. The main reason for that is found in Jesus' words.

"I never knew you..."

The very idea of Jesus never having known them proves that they were never saved, for elsewhere Jesus has said:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28 ESV, emphasis mine)

Jesus knows His people. Believers have a family relationship with God. Through Christ we can cry, "Abba, Father!" This is talking about an intimate, close knowledge, far beyond speaking of God's omniscience. This is more personal. It is talking about first-hand relationship and perception.

For Jesus to say "I never knew you" implies that these people were never of His flock.

Also what is sin and what isn't?

Sin is not being or doing what God requires, or doing what God forbids. It is sin when God says "do this", and we say "I will not!" It is sin when God says "do not do this", and we say "I will, rather!" When we go against His character and command, when we go against what we ought to be, when we do not love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbour as ourselves, it is sin.

Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Failing to do what we know to be right is sin (James 4:17).

Is everything enjoyable sinful?

Certainly not, although we can most definitely enjoy things that are sinful. However, God made us with the ability (and need) to enjoy. God created beauty, and we are meant to enjoy it; He created relationships, and we are meant to enjoy them. The beauty of such things is corrupted and broken down from its original intent, but that does not mean that we may not enjoy what is enjoyable.

Specifically in relationships, people can certainly enjoy them sinfully, and yet there are relationships that are God-glorifying and most certainly enjoyable, and I would not say the enjoyment is sinful.

Are all altruistic behaviors grace?

I would say so, although altruism does not necessarily prove salvation (or the lack of it). All through the Bible there is mention of God being the giver of all things. It is most clearly seen in Acts 17:25:

...nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:25 ESV)

More to the point, though, I would say altruistic behaviours in people find their source in the character of God, for He is the Source of all good things, and selfless acts are understood universally to be good. God has created us in His own image, and so we do bear the marks of His character, stained though they may be.

Far beyond my own failing, pitiful altruism, I would emphasize that I most certainly find grace in what I consider to be the most supreme altruistic act, which was Christ Jesus giving Himself up on the cross as a propitiation for my sins, when He had committed no sins Himself. He bore the wrath and punishment reserved for me, and paid the price in full. Not only has He paid the price, but He has given me assurance in His promises that He will keep me forever, and no one is able to snatch me out of His hand. The heaviness of my sin (and, reading again what I wrote above about what sin is, it is quite the weight) is removed from my shoulders, and I am given joyful rest in Christ.

Concerning salvation

Straying is something Christians do. We fail, we fall, we rebel, we stray. We are not sinless.

Some would say that straying can lead to loss of salvation.

Yet, in the profound mystery of grace, we are viewed as sinless in Christ Jesus. His blood has washed away our sins. His death has brought us life. By His stripes we were healed. God does not see us as sinful anymore. He views us through Christ. So to lose our salvation, not only would we have to withdraw from God, but God would have to withdraw from us. He would have to withdraw all of His promises, and view our rebellion apart from Christ Jesus. Yet it must be asked: if Christ died once and for all for all those who put their faith in Him, then wouldn't any unbelief/rebellion/rejecti​on (sins) committed by a straying Christian be covered by His blood? So wouldn't any Christian, having once been Christian, even if they wanted to leave the faith, still go to heaven by Christ's merit? Whether a man lives his life in relative goodness, or lives a life of debauchery, Christ must still pay the redemption price. It is only by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus that we are viewed as righteous, and the blood of Jesus washes away all the believer's sins.

It would seem to me that Christians who stray would be treated like Peter jumping out of the boat. Christ saved Peter, and asked "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Despite Peter's doubting, Jesus saved him. Peter believed in Jesus. He did not have perfect faith in order to stay afloat, but Jesus does not rely on the perfection of our faith in order to act on our behalf. He is, after all, the Perfecter Himself. He completes and gives what we cannot produce.

The concept of secure salvation ties in to all of life. It gives me confidence to go forward in life and faith and ministry, knowing that Christ Jesus keeps me. My efforts have a foundation of grace. I don't have to worry that what I do is not enough - of course it is not enough. Jesus doesn't expect "enough" from us. He has given us everything. He has promised us everything. So taking the gospel, receiving the gospel, preaching the gospel, keeping the gospel, are all things that we do in very failing measures. We often go against God's Word. We often sin. We often fail to do what is required of us.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, gave up His Son. Because of Christ's propitiation, we are safe and secure. By the guarantee of the Holy Spirit, I can cry tears of joy, not worry, knowing that He keeps me, failure that I am. It gives me hope, and it most certainly gives me rest, but it also gives me enthusiasm to go forward for Christ's sake, because He owns and keeps my life, because my inheritance is kept in heaven by God, imperishable, undefiled and unfading.

Chainless

Do you know what Christ did for you?

Do you know the cross He bore?

Do you know you are forgiven;

Purified, redeemed, restored?

Do you know why Jesus did that?

Why He came down from above?

Well, there is a simple answer:

He did it all because of love.

For love He took the many beatings

In love He wore the crown of thorns

For love He faced the hilltop, meeting

Wrath and separation; scorn

From men who did not understand

That He was dying in their stead.

In love He took the nails through hands

That healed the lame and raised the dead.

In love He cried, "Father, forgive them!"

In love He died and rose again.

So we come forward as His children

For He saved us from our sin.

Jesus Christ is Love Incarnate

Living Mercy, Mighty Grace

Apparently He thinks we're worth it;

Meager us! Finding a place

Adopted as the Father's children,

Washed and cleansed by Jesus! Free

From former stains and sin's destruction;

Chainless. Called to purity.

Sight of Sin

I was reading through a book by Jerry Bridges, and he wrote at one point that we should be stern toward ourselves and tender toward others.

I think the only way to really do that is to have an undiminished sense of your own depravity.

Paul practiced this. He knew his own failings.

In remembering them he consequently did two things:

1) He developed compassion for others, and showed patience and love in his ministry.

In every book written by Paul you can see his love for the "brothers beloved by God". He loves them and therefore wants them to know and practice the truth of God. He writes with patience, understanding their limits because he knows his own.

We should be the same in our dealings. If we understand our own failure and lack, we will have more compassion for those among us who struggle. We will extend a hand, we will pray, and we will seek to show them the truth.

2) He exalted and glorified God more and more for His grace and mercy.

You can see both Paul's sense of his own sinfulness as well as his understanding of the glory of God in this passage:

"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." ~ 1 Timothy 1:12-17

He knows what he was formerly; he calls himself the foremost among sinners; so he thanks Christ Jesus, he praises the grace of the Lord...and gives God honour and glory as he praises His attributes.

As we think of what we are, we will undoubtedly praise God for His grace and mercy and perfect patience, just as Paul has done. Beyond that, in our every day dealings with other people there will be no room for pride or judgment.

No one is a sinner like I am. And no one is as magnificent and gracious as God is.

If we are stern toward ourselves, we will be tender toward others.

The more you understand your own sinfulness, your own darkness, and your own tendency to turn toward what is evil, the more sympathy you will have for those who struggle with sin. The more compassion you will feel for those trapped in the snares of the devil. The more you will overflow with God's grace and love and pour it out on others.

He Reached Out

My Pastor preached yesterday on "Seven Sayings From the Cross". It was a very good message, and I think I'll post about it all at a later time, but one thought struck me particularly in the message, and I wanted to share.

Even in the midst of His incredible pain and torment, while He hung on that cross enduring our shame, our torture, the wrath of God for our sin, Jesus reached out.

He reached out to the people who reviled Him, asking God to forgive them.

He reached out to the thief on the cross, comforting him and saying "today you will be with me in paradise".

He reached out to His earthly mother, Mary, ensuring that she would have someone to look after her.

As He hung on that cross, He was still ministering. He was still comforting. He was still saving.

What a wonderful Saviour.

More On Security of Salvation - Why Are We Called to Persevere?

Since this topic has still been bouncing around in my head while I ponder it ever so slowly, I wanted to expand on this particular aspect of salvation a little bit more. (Previous post found here.)

I wanted to stick mainly to this verse:

2 Peter 1:10 "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."

As a prior comment to verse 10, I would like to highlight a few things:

- Verse one states that we obtain faith of equal standing with the apostles by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

- Verse three states that God's divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

- Verse four states that God has granted to us (by His own glory and excellence) His precious and very great promises. Through these promises we become partakers in the divine nature. We have escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (Note: we are not "escaping"; we have escaped.)

- Verses five to seven state "for this very reason" i.e., because God has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, we must make every effort (do you see the tension of God's sovereignty and our responsibility?) to supplement things for greater things: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

- Verse eight states that if these qualities are ours, we will not be ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Verse nine states that whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind. It then states that this person has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (Note: this could mean either that the Christian has fallen into some grave error, or the "cleansing" was merely external.)

So, there's your precursor.

Then verse ten exhorts us to make our calling and election sure.

This has always interested me, because it is a verse that people will use in defense of the belief that we can lose our salvation. "Why," they might say, "would God command us to work out our salvation unless we in some measure could lose it?"

I think they miss the point of this verse entirely. You see, it's not talking so much about making sure we keep our salvation, but making sure we even have it in the first place. It's calling us to make our calling and election certain - to reveal the truth, whether we are lying both to ourselves and to others about our state, or whether we truly are followers of Christ. I think there are many people who call themselves "Christians" while not truly relying on Jesus for their salvation. Verses like 2 Peter 1:10 are a wake-up call: check yourself!

As to pressing on, we press on for one reason only: because Christ Jesus our Lord has made it possible, by making us His own.

Philippians 3:12 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own."

Here again there is a point of tension between God's authoritative sovereignty and our undeniable responsibility. We press on, but Jesus has made us His own. These two undeniable truths permeate Scripture.

Were it not for Him, for His power, glory, grace and love, we would not be able to continue in salvation. We would lose it, one hundred times out of one hundred tries. But God is gracious to us; He has paid the price for us, He has adopted us, and He will keep us forever. Praise God!

Security of Salvation

I've been musing over this for the past little while. The idea of being secure - having assurance of salvation - is one that I hold quite dear. I believe it is an encouraging truth for the believer.

The perseverance of the saints is often cast in a negative light. I don't think it should be, as it is something that should be received with joy and praise unto God. So, I'm going to outline as much as I can here in this post. It is of course a much weightier topic than one small post can justify, but bear with me as I try to explain it. I do not have the space to get into the biggest aspect of this argument - that of adoption - but I may at some point in the future.

Are We Secure?

The first question of course is whether or not we really are secure in salvation.

Friends of mine do not believe so. As far as I can tell, they believe instead that, while God is certainly at work in salvation, we can indeed fall away and no longer believe in Christ as Lord and Saviour. It is up to us to follow Christ and remain saved.

While I can agree with that in some measure, I do not believe it gives credit where credit is due. It is not us, after all, who are the instigators of our salvation. We do not make ourselves a new creation. We do not give ourselves a new heart. God does these things. God is first and foremost in all things, including the salvation of our souls.

More than that, we have promises from God in Scripture. The main one I want to highlight here is the idea of being sealed with the Holy Spirit, since that pertains to the idea of security.

Ephesians 1:13 "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

The definition of sealed is:

"established irrevocably;

closed or secured;"

It would seem to me that this means our salvation is kept by the power of the Holy Spirit - and we could only lose our salvation if the Spirit broke away.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 "And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."

Can We Therefore Be Assured?

Security and assurance are slightly different - security is from God's perspective; we are saved, and He will keep us for eternity.

Assurance, on the other hand, is our understanding - and acceptance - of this fact.

I believe that we can be assured of God's saving, powerful grace. We can take Him at His word, and trust in His promises, and be confident in our salvation.

Hebrews 13:6 "So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”"

Trust me, I have gone through rough times. I've never been afraid I lost my salvation; but I have wondered in the past whether I was truly saved or not. I still have struggles every so often, wondering if I'm fooling myself into believing I am saved when I don't really trust in Christ.

The remedy for such worries is to look to Christ. As Mom has said so often before, we have to preach the gospel to ourselves. If I wasn't saved before, I can be now. Trust in Christ! Trust in Christ.

We can therefore have confidence in the power of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. We don't have to worry whether we are doing or believing enough in order to remain saved.

Does That Mean We Don't Have to Try to Be Godly?

In no way does the perseverance of the saints mean that we don't have to strive toward holiness.

This is where the idea of "once saved, always saved" has such negative effects. Some take this to mean that they can then do whatever they want, live however they want, etc. and they will still be saved.

Perseverance of the saints argues against this. The whole idea of it is exactly opposite to "once saved, always saved" in this sense. For those who believe such things, I would say that the Bible states love of God equals obeying His commandments. We are responsible to change our lifestyles, to live in a way that is acceptable to God.

Some might say "Fine! I'm saved! Now I can go out and do as I like!"

But in the Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 5-6) Jesus says, No, you may not. He goes on to say there are characteristics we must have. We must look like Christ!

We should seek after holiness and put sin to death, not say "that's just the way I am". Those who would take such a "cheap grace" view would do well to reflect on these:

1 John 2:3-4 "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him..."

2 Cor 13:5 "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

James 2:14-17 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

All through Scripture there are commands to put things off - put off the old man, put off evil...and then put on; the new man, righteousness, etc. (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 2:11; Colossians 3:9; Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 6:11; Colossians 3:5 ; Colossians 3:10; Colossians 3:12; Colossians 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:8)

We are to battle every day with our sin nature.

2 Peter 1:10 "Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."

We do have to work out our salvation, but we must remember that we are not alone in doing this. While we are working on our salvation, God works in us too, for He is over all:

Philippians 2:12-13 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

Therefore

So, to cast perseverance in a more positive light, I hope you can see that we have hope in Jesus Christ as our Perfect, Eternal, Victorious Saviour. He will, He can, He has.

"My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God cannot do."

There are those who fall away. For some, this means they were deceived, and did not truly accept Christ or rely on Him. For others, for believers, falling away is something different.

It is not losing their salvation, but stepping into a dark, rebellious time; a time in which they have wanted nothing to do with God, where they'd prefer if God left them alone. This I have seen. I have also been there.

This kind of falling away of believers can also be something like a denial of God. In times of distress or pressure, we don't always have the strength to stand up for the truth. This also is a type of "falling away".

Mark 14:26-31 "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same."

But this does not equal a loss of salvation. Salvation is secured. Christ paid the price. The Father has adopted us. He has given us a place. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Hound of Heaven will by no means let us go so easily.

We need to remember something. If there is someone we have known as a brother or sister in Christ, who has suddenly come to a point where they say they no longer believe, we can do two things:

1) Act upon their former proclamation, and consider them to be a believer who has come to a rebellious point. Hold them accountable for their sins. Exhort them from Scripture. In short, still treat them (with all kindness, gentleness, and humility, mind you) as a believer.

2) Pray for their souls.

Remember this promise from God: those who abide in Him, abide in Him eternally.

2 John 1:9 "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."