As followers of Christ we need a biblical worldview of suffering. We have and will continue to face difficulties throughout our lives and it is necessary that we ask the right questions and look for answers in the right places during times of suffering. How do you view suffering? When “bad things” happen to you or someone you love what directs your view of what is taking place? I want to offer four biblical reasons for suffering in the life of the Christian. My hope is that through God’s truth we can learn to face sufferings not as the world but as those who believe and live in the certainty that all things are from him and through him and to him for his glory forever (Romans 11:36).
View #1: Suffering in this fallen world is universal to all. The creation after the fall was subjected to futility (Rom.8:20) and is groaning under the curse of sin (Rom.8:22). Therefore, as Job said in his suffering, man is born to trouble as the sparks upward (Job 5:7). Everyman is destined to die once and we all as we grow older are wasting away day by day. Suffering in this fallen world is common to all. This view is contrary to our rejuvenating culture. Man is always searching for a quick fix to the problems of everyday life, a cure and a way to take the inevitability of suffering away forever. In our home we seek to eat right, get enough rest and exercise, but we will all at some time see our health decline.
View #2: Suffering in this fallen world is sometimes for correction. When I was a child I lived with my father and mother who loved me. The expression of their love sometimes came in the form of corrective discipline that caused me to suffer in some way. On one occasion I “took the Lord’s name in vain”. I did not know what that phrase uttered by my mother meant, but after she shoved a bar of soap in my mouth I knew that the way I spoke of God was not correct. My suffering was not great, only a bad taste in my mouth for a good part of the day, but her discipline corrected me. In the same way God disciplines those he loves. He uses discipline to bring about our training and makes known to us through this discipline that we are truly his children. This kind of corrective discipline from the Lord results in our own suffering and difficulty, but it is for our good to bring us the fruits of righteousness and peace in the Lord (Hebrews 12:5-11). Elizabeth Prentiss in her hymn entitled “More Love to Thee, O Christ” leads us to pray to the Lord for this kind of corrective suffering when we sing,
Let sorrow do its work,
Send grief and pain;
Sweet are thy messengers,
Sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me,
More love O Christ, to thee.
When we find ourselves enduring a particular suffering we must go to the Lord in prayer and his Word asking him to reveal to us where we may be traversing outside of his will. He may show us clearly as we examine our relationships, circumstances, or particular attitudes and actions in the light of his revealed will. However, there may not always be anything in particular that is revealed.
View #3: Suffering in this fallen world is for the certainty of hope. The apostle Paul, Peter and James, the half brother of Jesus, make this clear. Paul says in Romans 5:3-4, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” Paul looks at the sufferings Christians face for the purpose of bringing us to all that God is for us in Christ through the instrument of hope. When Christians suffer they are given grace by God to endure suffering so that in that weakness they see more of the grace of God for them in Christ. These times of testing produce a life of faith, hope and love. This is why Peter says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you,...but rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1Peter 4:12-13) When the Christian suffers he suffers in Christ sharing in his sufferings. But he does this in hope that just as Christ suffered and was raised up to glory so to all who suffer in Christ will be raised up in glory with him. And this hope is strengthened in suffering. This is why James tells us, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). God is bringing his children to completion in Christ through suffering, and it is the hope that is forged on the anvil of suffering that leads his children to glory where they lack nothing.
View #4: Suffering in this fallen world is for the glory of God. When we see suffering we will sometimes assume that the reason is because of particular sins. Jesus’ disciples made this assumption with a man born blind. When they saw him they asked Jesus if he was suffering from blindness because of his own sins or the sins of his parents (John 9:1-2). Jesus declared that it was not because of sin that this man suffered but so that the works of God might be displayed in him (John 9:3). This view must penetrate the mind and heart of the Christian so that he does not live a fatalistic life. We must ask, “Were those years of suffering worth the glory of God being revealed in Christ who gave him sight and life?” The praises around the throne of God resound with a clear, “Yes!” Job suffered for the glory of God refusing his wife’s instruction to “curse God and die” and when he endured such unexplainable suffering he was able to say, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” (Job 42:5) God is glorified when he is known and enjoyed by his own and it is through suffering that his children will see his glory revealed. The way to the glory of the Son was the way of the cross, and the way to God being glorified in his sons and daughters in Christ is to follow in the road that Jesus walked.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Fighting for Hope in the Storm
While journeying on the sea from Caesarea to Rome the apostle Paul is lost at sea with 275 others on an Alexandrian vessel. In the midst of the storm tossed seas with darkness all around they find themselves in a hopeless situation. In Acts 27:20 Luke records there hopelessness in this way, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and no small tempest lay on us; all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.” This physical storm that the apostle and others faced is symbolic of many of the difficulties and storms of life that buffet us in a fallen world. It may be the storm of a sick child without any word of a diagnosis. It may be a call from the police that your wife or husband has been killed in a car accident. It may be the words from the doctor that your scans have come back and you have terminal cancer. It may be the news from your spouse that he or she is leaving you for someone else. It may be that you have lost your job, your retirement, investments or a business you have poured life into. Whatever the storm may be it buffets your soul and in the darkness of that storm you lose all hope.
These storms strike against the roots of our lives so that when we give way to hopelessness in the midst of the storms, our lives will bear fruit or spring forth life from the roots of hopelessness. John Piper says, “But when we lose hope, the world becomes fearful, threatening place, full of chaotic futility. Hopelessness saps us of energy and desire. It robs us of interest and appetite. We just want to curl up and protect our soul. We call it depression. The Bible calls it hopelessness.”
Why does this happen? The writer of Proverbs helps us to understand our hearts with these words, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Pr.13:12). When our hopes are deferred by the storms of life our hearts may enter into a sickened condition. And as we know from the Scripture we live our lives out of our hearts. Our hearts are the root system for the fruit of our lives born through speaking, seeing, hearing, thinking and acting. As the writer of Proverbs says in 4:23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life”. Therefore if the storms that buffet us put off a fulfilled hope then the fruit will be: Fear, Anxiety, Despair, Depression, Fatalism (nothing really matters), Bitterness, Anger, Self Preservation, Dependence on Sex, Drugs, or Spending. Those 276 persons on board that ship all had hopes of different kinds, they had desires that they saw would be lost forever, unfulfilled. There hearts were sick and it is evident in the words, “all hope of being saved was at last abandoned.” Have you ever been there or are you there right now? What is the fruit that your life is bearing because of your sickened heart?
The apostle Paul stood before those on the ship in the midst of the storm to strengthen them for hope in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation. I want to give you five theological principles derived from Paul’s words or situation that will enable you to face hopelessness in the storms of life, so that your hearts will be strengthened to bear fruit for God’s glory and yours and others good.
First, be assured that God is with you. I believe Paul was struggling with the same heart sickened condition that all the other passengers were facing, but in the midst of this God sent an angel to speak the truth to his heart (Acts 27:23). This assured Paul that God was with him, and with this certainty he sought to strengthen those on board that God was with them. Our sickened hearts need to be reminded that God is with us even when our hopes are deferred by the storms of life. He says to his own, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Josh.1:5) and that, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt.28:20). He will be with all who draw near to him by faith in Jesus Christ.
Second, be assured that you belong to God. Paul told them to “take heart…for this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong…” (Acts 27:23). He not only knew that God was with him but that he belonged to God. He knew he was his own and that he cared for him particularly as his own. This strengthened Paul’s heart. Do you know that you belong to God? If you are alive by the Spirit in Christ “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” (1Cor.6:19-20). The Scripture uses many different metaphors to make it known to those who are in Christ that they belong to God. We are told that as the church we are his body and that Christ is our head (Eph.5:23). We are told that we are living stones being built into a spiritual household (1Pe.2:5). We are told that if we are believing in Christ we have the right to be called the children of God (John 1:12). We are told that we are his own treasured possession (1Pe.2:9). We are told that we as the church are the bride of Christ (Eph.5:25-27). These and other metaphors are used by God to encourage his children so that they may be assured they belong to him even in the midst of great storms so that our hearts will be strengthened when our hopes are deferred.
The third way we fight for hope in the midst of the storms of life is to be assured that we are in the service of God. Paul says, “the God to whom I belong and whom I worship.” (v.23). Paul was sure he was in the service of God. He was sure that he had been called by God and that he would speak of Christ before the emperor in Rome (v.24). Paul tells all who have been saved by grace in Christ that, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph.2:10). Just as he brought Israel out of Egypt to worship or serve him, so he has brought all who belong to him out of sin and death to worship and serve him for his own glory. The storms come by his providence to strengthen us for his worship. But our hopes and desires must be in him seeking first his kingdom and righteousness then our hearts will not grow sick, but we shall be as a tree of life because our hopes are fulfilled in him who is never moved.
Fourth, Paul was assured that God was working in every circumstance. He had heard from God and he said, “So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” (v.25). Paul knew that even the storm and the subsequent shipwreck (v.26) were the circumstances God was using for his glory. He says in Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.” Hope is secured not in circumstances, situations or relationships but in God who is in the heavens doing everything that he pleases (Ps.115:3). As William Cowper wrote,
“God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform; he plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill he treasures up his bright designs, and works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break with blessings on your head.”
Can you be assured that the circumstances in the midst of the storms are for God’s glory and good toward you? Take heart in the midst of the storms, “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom.8:28).
Fifth, be assured for hope through God’s revelation. The apostle Paul is strengthened in hope when God reveals himself and his word to him through the angel (v.23-24). He was then able upon the certainty of the authority of God’s word to encourage others to take heart (v.22, 25). In the midst of the storms that buffet us we do not rely upon revelations from angels but we have a more sure word from God, the prophetic word (2Pe.1:19). The Word of God that is breathed out by God (2Tim.3:16) is the light shining in the dark places and it is not from man but from God as he carried men along by the Spirit (2Pe.1:19-21) to give us the Word of the prophets and apostles with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone (Eph.2:20). In the Word of God we have the surety of who God is and what his will is, we have the certainty of who he has been in the past and what he has done in the past fulfilling all his promises. We have the certainty of his promises for our future and this is the bread that feeds the soul in the midst of the storms of life. Those who were at sea with Paul had not eaten for fourteen days in the midst of the storm and when Paul knew they had been without food (v.21) he stood to give them the food of God’s promise to strengthen their sickened hearts (v.22-25). We must eat the bread of heaven in the times of calm so that we are prepared for strength in the storm. And in the storm we must fight to eat from God’s hand the bread of who he is, who he promises to be for us and what he has promised to do. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt.4:4; Deut.8:3).
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The heart that is assured that God is with him, that he belongs to God, that he has the grace to worship and serve him, that every circumstance and situation are in the realm of his sovereign providence and that holds fast to his revelation in his word, will be a heart that hopes in the midst of storms and from it will be a life that glorifies God and does others good. The storms are a reality, they are inevitable and are coming. We do not know their times or seasons, but let the church be ready by desiring him who is able to keep us from falling and who will not let anything separate us from the love he has for us in Christ Jesus.
These storms strike against the roots of our lives so that when we give way to hopelessness in the midst of the storms, our lives will bear fruit or spring forth life from the roots of hopelessness. John Piper says, “But when we lose hope, the world becomes fearful, threatening place, full of chaotic futility. Hopelessness saps us of energy and desire. It robs us of interest and appetite. We just want to curl up and protect our soul. We call it depression. The Bible calls it hopelessness.”
Why does this happen? The writer of Proverbs helps us to understand our hearts with these words, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Pr.13:12). When our hopes are deferred by the storms of life our hearts may enter into a sickened condition. And as we know from the Scripture we live our lives out of our hearts. Our hearts are the root system for the fruit of our lives born through speaking, seeing, hearing, thinking and acting. As the writer of Proverbs says in 4:23, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life”. Therefore if the storms that buffet us put off a fulfilled hope then the fruit will be: Fear, Anxiety, Despair, Depression, Fatalism (nothing really matters), Bitterness, Anger, Self Preservation, Dependence on Sex, Drugs, or Spending. Those 276 persons on board that ship all had hopes of different kinds, they had desires that they saw would be lost forever, unfulfilled. There hearts were sick and it is evident in the words, “all hope of being saved was at last abandoned.” Have you ever been there or are you there right now? What is the fruit that your life is bearing because of your sickened heart?
The apostle Paul stood before those on the ship in the midst of the storm to strengthen them for hope in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation. I want to give you five theological principles derived from Paul’s words or situation that will enable you to face hopelessness in the storms of life, so that your hearts will be strengthened to bear fruit for God’s glory and yours and others good.
First, be assured that God is with you. I believe Paul was struggling with the same heart sickened condition that all the other passengers were facing, but in the midst of this God sent an angel to speak the truth to his heart (Acts 27:23). This assured Paul that God was with him, and with this certainty he sought to strengthen those on board that God was with them. Our sickened hearts need to be reminded that God is with us even when our hopes are deferred by the storms of life. He says to his own, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Josh.1:5) and that, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt.28:20). He will be with all who draw near to him by faith in Jesus Christ.
Second, be assured that you belong to God. Paul told them to “take heart…for this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong…” (Acts 27:23). He not only knew that God was with him but that he belonged to God. He knew he was his own and that he cared for him particularly as his own. This strengthened Paul’s heart. Do you know that you belong to God? If you are alive by the Spirit in Christ “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” (1Cor.6:19-20). The Scripture uses many different metaphors to make it known to those who are in Christ that they belong to God. We are told that as the church we are his body and that Christ is our head (Eph.5:23). We are told that we are living stones being built into a spiritual household (1Pe.2:5). We are told that if we are believing in Christ we have the right to be called the children of God (John 1:12). We are told that we are his own treasured possession (1Pe.2:9). We are told that we as the church are the bride of Christ (Eph.5:25-27). These and other metaphors are used by God to encourage his children so that they may be assured they belong to him even in the midst of great storms so that our hearts will be strengthened when our hopes are deferred.
The third way we fight for hope in the midst of the storms of life is to be assured that we are in the service of God. Paul says, “the God to whom I belong and whom I worship.” (v.23). Paul was sure he was in the service of God. He was sure that he had been called by God and that he would speak of Christ before the emperor in Rome (v.24). Paul tells all who have been saved by grace in Christ that, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph.2:10). Just as he brought Israel out of Egypt to worship or serve him, so he has brought all who belong to him out of sin and death to worship and serve him for his own glory. The storms come by his providence to strengthen us for his worship. But our hopes and desires must be in him seeking first his kingdom and righteousness then our hearts will not grow sick, but we shall be as a tree of life because our hopes are fulfilled in him who is never moved.
Fourth, Paul was assured that God was working in every circumstance. He had heard from God and he said, “So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.” (v.25). Paul knew that even the storm and the subsequent shipwreck (v.26) were the circumstances God was using for his glory. He says in Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.” Hope is secured not in circumstances, situations or relationships but in God who is in the heavens doing everything that he pleases (Ps.115:3). As William Cowper wrote,
“God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform; he plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill he treasures up his bright designs, and works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break with blessings on your head.”
Can you be assured that the circumstances in the midst of the storms are for God’s glory and good toward you? Take heart in the midst of the storms, “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom.8:28).
Fifth, be assured for hope through God’s revelation. The apostle Paul is strengthened in hope when God reveals himself and his word to him through the angel (v.23-24). He was then able upon the certainty of the authority of God’s word to encourage others to take heart (v.22, 25). In the midst of the storms that buffet us we do not rely upon revelations from angels but we have a more sure word from God, the prophetic word (2Pe.1:19). The Word of God that is breathed out by God (2Tim.3:16) is the light shining in the dark places and it is not from man but from God as he carried men along by the Spirit (2Pe.1:19-21) to give us the Word of the prophets and apostles with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone (Eph.2:20). In the Word of God we have the surety of who God is and what his will is, we have the certainty of who he has been in the past and what he has done in the past fulfilling all his promises. We have the certainty of his promises for our future and this is the bread that feeds the soul in the midst of the storms of life. Those who were at sea with Paul had not eaten for fourteen days in the midst of the storm and when Paul knew they had been without food (v.21) he stood to give them the food of God’s promise to strengthen their sickened hearts (v.22-25). We must eat the bread of heaven in the times of calm so that we are prepared for strength in the storm. And in the storm we must fight to eat from God’s hand the bread of who he is, who he promises to be for us and what he has promised to do. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt.4:4; Deut.8:3).
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The heart that is assured that God is with him, that he belongs to God, that he has the grace to worship and serve him, that every circumstance and situation are in the realm of his sovereign providence and that holds fast to his revelation in his word, will be a heart that hopes in the midst of storms and from it will be a life that glorifies God and does others good. The storms are a reality, they are inevitable and are coming. We do not know their times or seasons, but let the church be ready by desiring him who is able to keep us from falling and who will not let anything separate us from the love he has for us in Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
President Obama at Notre Dame
President Obama stepped to the microphone last week to deliver a commencement address to the graduates of Notre Dame in the wake of stirring controversy regarding his position and decisions regarding human life in the womb. In his speech he praised Father Jenkins, the president of the school for setting an example as one who is participating in “honest, thoughtful dialogue”. The remainder of the speech was a call “to live together as one human family” with an “open heart, open mind, and fair minded words.”
His speech was a lesson on can’t we just all get along in a postmodern world, or is it post-post modern, I can’t keep up. His speech focused on the fact that “we must find a way to live together as one human family”. He admitted that this is not easy because “part of our problem lies in the imperfections of man” which he referred to as “rooted in original sin”. He also said the obstacles to our one global family lies in the fact that we “seek advantage over one another”, live with “outworn prejudices and fear”, seek “immediate self interest and crass materialism”, “the strong dominating the weak”, and “the wealthy and powerful justify their lifestyles in the face of poverty and injustice.” And of course his answer is that all these well educated graduates have wrestled with these wrongs and now they can in their own ways seek to right the wrongs to help us become on big happy family.
It was inevitable that President Obama would talk about abortion in this speech. However in his Obamaesque delivery he only talked about how we talk about abortion. He used the issue of abortion to call the graduates to be active in addressing issues like abortion with their lives with an open heart, open mind and fair minded words. Therefore, Obama faintly referred to his position on abortion by using an example (“one that I describe in a book I wrote called The Audacity of Hope”).of how he decided to change his rhetoric on a web site where an aid had posted a line about Obama’s stance against “right wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to chose.” In the speech he says that a pro-life democrat had emailed him and was upset with him, not because of his position on abortion, but because of his narrow rhetoric. Obama admits that he did not change his position but only his words. This example he uses to urge the graduates on how to hold your positions, be active for what you believe is right and remain open and fair minded to your opponents. This is his answer for finding a way to live together as one human family. He even used some positive talking points in his speech to urge a concerted effort to reduce the numbers of women seeking abortions by “reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women." In this one statement there is something everyone can agree on and applaud. But he is still only talking about talking about abortion.
If he sees through the lenses of “sound science” that a womb is only a holding ground for a mass of stem cells then the almighty woman under the guise of “sound ethics” can chose to do with those cells whatever she determines is right. But if those cells in the womb are a baby and the creative work of the Almighty God to make a son or a daughter for his own glory that lasts forever then “clear ethics” says to do with that child whatever the woman wants is sin, and to take that child’s life through abortion is murder. But this kind of rhetoric cannot be delivered with a smile, flattering words, and a line to sell another book. President Obama is calling for human civility while in the United States this year there will be over 1.3 million children killed through abortion. Can we call it civil to keep legally killing children and is this the way to “live together as one human family” while the politically strong dominate the weak unborn without a voice, while they call on their constituents practice an open heart, open mind and fair minded words? The President did not expose his moral position and so kept himself in a safe political position, while millions of babies lie in a vulnerable position unprotected from the power of “freedom of choice”.
His speech was a lesson on can’t we just all get along in a postmodern world, or is it post-post modern, I can’t keep up. His speech focused on the fact that “we must find a way to live together as one human family”. He admitted that this is not easy because “part of our problem lies in the imperfections of man” which he referred to as “rooted in original sin”. He also said the obstacles to our one global family lies in the fact that we “seek advantage over one another”, live with “outworn prejudices and fear”, seek “immediate self interest and crass materialism”, “the strong dominating the weak”, and “the wealthy and powerful justify their lifestyles in the face of poverty and injustice.” And of course his answer is that all these well educated graduates have wrestled with these wrongs and now they can in their own ways seek to right the wrongs to help us become on big happy family.
It was inevitable that President Obama would talk about abortion in this speech. However in his Obamaesque delivery he only talked about how we talk about abortion. He used the issue of abortion to call the graduates to be active in addressing issues like abortion with their lives with an open heart, open mind and fair minded words. Therefore, Obama faintly referred to his position on abortion by using an example (“one that I describe in a book I wrote called The Audacity of Hope”).of how he decided to change his rhetoric on a web site where an aid had posted a line about Obama’s stance against “right wing ideologues who want to take away a woman’s right to chose.” In the speech he says that a pro-life democrat had emailed him and was upset with him, not because of his position on abortion, but because of his narrow rhetoric. Obama admits that he did not change his position but only his words. This example he uses to urge the graduates on how to hold your positions, be active for what you believe is right and remain open and fair minded to your opponents. This is his answer for finding a way to live together as one human family. He even used some positive talking points in his speech to urge a concerted effort to reduce the numbers of women seeking abortions by “reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women." In this one statement there is something everyone can agree on and applaud. But he is still only talking about talking about abortion.
If he sees through the lenses of “sound science” that a womb is only a holding ground for a mass of stem cells then the almighty woman under the guise of “sound ethics” can chose to do with those cells whatever she determines is right. But if those cells in the womb are a baby and the creative work of the Almighty God to make a son or a daughter for his own glory that lasts forever then “clear ethics” says to do with that child whatever the woman wants is sin, and to take that child’s life through abortion is murder. But this kind of rhetoric cannot be delivered with a smile, flattering words, and a line to sell another book. President Obama is calling for human civility while in the United States this year there will be over 1.3 million children killed through abortion. Can we call it civil to keep legally killing children and is this the way to “live together as one human family” while the politically strong dominate the weak unborn without a voice, while they call on their constituents practice an open heart, open mind and fair minded words? The President did not expose his moral position and so kept himself in a safe political position, while millions of babies lie in a vulnerable position unprotected from the power of “freedom of choice”.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
How Bad are You?
If you are trusting in Christ for salvation do you know how greatly loved you are? The doctrine of the new birth or regeneration is the orthodox explanation of the greatness of God’s love for his children. As John Piper says, “The new birth is the act of being greatly loved by God.” But many of us do not know the magnitude of God’s love towards us because we do not understand why the new birth or regeneration is necessary.
How many times have you looked at another person and asked, “How bad am I, really?” The asking and answering of this question is a necessary step in understanding why regeneration is necessary and in being able to fathom how great the Father’s love is for us. So how bad are you? Here are ten answers from the Scriptures (there are more!):
1. You are dead in your sins. (Ephesians 2:1,4). You are a “horizontal corpse”.
2. You are a child of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3) By your very nature you are a child made ready by your sins to be justly deserving of God’s wrath.
3. You love the darkness. (John 3:19) You desire, long for, and hunger and thirst after the darkness.
4. You have a heart of stone. (Ezekiel 36:26)
5. You are unable to submit to God. (Romans 8:7) God has a holy pleasure and you cannot submit to his will.
6. You are unable to accept the gospel. (1Corinthians 2:14) The gospel is foolish to you and you do not understand why it is desirable.
7. You are unable to come to Christ as Lord. (1Corinthians 12:3) You shun the Lord of the universe as the delight and desire of your life from the heart.
8. You are a slave to sin. (Romans 6:6) You are in the shackles and bounds of sin.
9. You are a slave to Satan. (Ephesians 2:2). You are compelled and bound to follow him in the way of disobedience.
10. You have nothing good that dwells in you. (Romans 7:18).
These truths about who we are magnify the necessity of the new birth or regeneration. We do need help, we need to be brought from death to life. Therefore Jesus can say to a very religious man, you must be born again (John 3:7). A religious man will look to his own belief, obedience or love to God as an assurance of belonging to God. But a person who knows who they truly are will look to the greatness of God’s love and mercy toward him in the new birth. It is the Spirit who gives life (John 6:63) showing us the riches of his mercy and the greatness of his love in making us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). Understanding who we are necessitates more than a renewal or rejuvenation. Understanding who we are necessitates a new birth or regeneration. And it is the act of God’s sovereign grace in the new birth that magnifies his love toward his children.
What wonders are wrought in the garden of the King.
He transplants weeds from the dunghill, and makes them
to grow as lilies in the midst of his fair garden.
-Spurgeon, "The King's Garden"
How many times have you looked at another person and asked, “How bad am I, really?” The asking and answering of this question is a necessary step in understanding why regeneration is necessary and in being able to fathom how great the Father’s love is for us. So how bad are you? Here are ten answers from the Scriptures (there are more!):
1. You are dead in your sins. (Ephesians 2:1,4). You are a “horizontal corpse”.
2. You are a child of wrath. (Ephesians 2:3) By your very nature you are a child made ready by your sins to be justly deserving of God’s wrath.
3. You love the darkness. (John 3:19) You desire, long for, and hunger and thirst after the darkness.
4. You have a heart of stone. (Ezekiel 36:26)
5. You are unable to submit to God. (Romans 8:7) God has a holy pleasure and you cannot submit to his will.
6. You are unable to accept the gospel. (1Corinthians 2:14) The gospel is foolish to you and you do not understand why it is desirable.
7. You are unable to come to Christ as Lord. (1Corinthians 12:3) You shun the Lord of the universe as the delight and desire of your life from the heart.
8. You are a slave to sin. (Romans 6:6) You are in the shackles and bounds of sin.
9. You are a slave to Satan. (Ephesians 2:2). You are compelled and bound to follow him in the way of disobedience.
10. You have nothing good that dwells in you. (Romans 7:18).
These truths about who we are magnify the necessity of the new birth or regeneration. We do need help, we need to be brought from death to life. Therefore Jesus can say to a very religious man, you must be born again (John 3:7). A religious man will look to his own belief, obedience or love to God as an assurance of belonging to God. But a person who knows who they truly are will look to the greatness of God’s love and mercy toward him in the new birth. It is the Spirit who gives life (John 6:63) showing us the riches of his mercy and the greatness of his love in making us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5). Understanding who we are necessitates more than a renewal or rejuvenation. Understanding who we are necessitates a new birth or regeneration. And it is the act of God’s sovereign grace in the new birth that magnifies his love toward his children.
What wonders are wrought in the garden of the King.
He transplants weeds from the dunghill, and makes them
to grow as lilies in the midst of his fair garden.
-Spurgeon, "The King's Garden"
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