A Certain Future Because of the Past

When Christians are in the midst of suffering or anxiety, we often find another brother or sister in Christ ready to come alongside us with the comforting words that Jesus is in control.  They may even remind us that Jesus is on the throne and returning soon. The future is in his hands. While it is sometimes possible for us to use such words of comfort frivolously, we should also acknowledge that these words are true and are not in the category of false hope. We can remind each other of Christ’s control over the future because we have a concrete basis for our faith in such a comment.

In Revelation 5, John recounts the vision of the great scroll with seven seals that no-one is authorized to open. This scroll containing the sovereign victory plan of God has no eligible or worthy recipient to open or implement its content. John was distraught that there was no-one eligible to break the seals of this scroll until an elder from this great throne room scene identified the only possible candidate.

Revelation 5:1-5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

In Revelation 5:5 we hear a description that makes sense.  A great Lion, and the prophesied descendant of the great king, David, is able to open this scroll. This is exactly who we expect to see opening such a scroll in this vision. We understand something about the intimidating roar of the king of the jungle.  We have seen enough movies to see the great and powerful good king riding into battle to save his people. But…this is not where this description ends. After hearing this description from the elder, John looks and does not see a lion or a great and powerful king – at least not in the normal sense of such a description. Revelation 5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

If we imagined this scene in our mind and didn’t know any better, we might be tempted to lose confidence in the future. We were told of a great lion and king and yet we see a Lamb. Just picture a lamb in your mind for a moment. It’s not ferocious. It’s not what we would call powerful. In fact, most of us would think of this creature as defenseless and helpless. Not only that, but this Lamb is standing as though it had been slain. For a Christian, this picture becomes one of greater certainty than this world could possibly imagine.

This Lamb, described with seven horns and eyes, is the Second in the Trinity who has all power and knowledge and Who’s Spirit is present everywhere. A Lamb is the true and conquering Lion King because of his sacrificial work of atonement and his complete defeat of death and sin having risen from the dead. To die in the appeasement of human sin and to rise from that death is to show the greatest display of limitless Divine power.

John’s confidence is not in knowing exactly what is in the scroll, but in knowing who has authority and power to open it and carry it out. That authority, while described in terms of a powerful Lion and a descendant King, is seen in a Lamb who has brought the complete assurance of a victory already won.  John’s confidence in the future was sealed in Christ’s cross of the past. For John, this was an event he had already witnessed with his own eyes.

When we seek to give people comfort in their distress and we point to Christ’s authority over the future, this confidence is more than a platitude. It is a confidence that has already been determined in the death and resurrection of the Lamb. If the person you are comforting is to take any comfort at all from hearing that Christ is a reigning King, it must first come because they have faith in a slain Lamb who has risen with absolute authority over the future. Without the victory of the past, there is no certainty about the end.

We have a certain future because of the past.

Motivation for Mission: Guilt or Glory?

Is it wrong to have a negative motivation for the most important tasks in life? If we were honest, we would accept that some of our most important considerations are motivated by the potential of negative consequences. In our concern for human life, we prioritize safety. We wear seatbelts and buy cars with airbags because of what might happen if we didn’t have them. We check the ‘used by’ dates on food because we don’t want to get sick. We get lawyers to form legal wording that protects us from financial loss. We are creatures who constantly manage life because of the negative consequences of our Genesis 3 world.

For Christians, we know that the most significant consequence of a fallen world is being separated from God and under the condemnation of his righteous wrath. We know that this is the situation for all mankind outside of Christ and we know that if people do not hear and respond to the gospel, they remain under an eternal condemnation that they have no ability to change. If it were wrong to motivate by a negative consequence, then we should ask ourselves why the Apostle Paul does it. Rom 10:13-14 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? What Paul is saying here is that if we do not go out with the gospel, the people who do not hear it cannot call upon the Lord and be saved. How will they believe if they have never heard?

We don’t point the finger at Paul because he is putting some guilt trip on us. In fact, we know that for the great missionary Apostle there was so much more to mission than the negative consequences of human sin. As Paul continues in Romans 10, he makes us aware that Jews have indeed heard that gospel. They have had it all along and rejected it. Romans 11 shows us that God has all along purposed to graft into one tree both Jews and Gentiles who repent of sin and trust in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. God is truly in charge of his gospel that goes out to all nations even though originally rooted in one nation. There is one tree of life representing one people of God in Jesus Christ. In Romans 9-11, Paul leaves no doubt that this tree is planted, grown, grafted, and brought to full maturity by God. At the end of Romans 11, Paul makes this clear in one of the most powerful statements in all of Scripture. Rom 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Even when Paul calls us to consider that people will not be able to find salvation if nobody goes to them with the gospel, Paul also shows us that his ultimate motivation for all of it is because every aspect of God’s mission is for God’s glory. Paul may use a negative consequence to move our feet, but he ultimately wants to move our heart because a Christian should be most concerned about what God is most concerned about – His glory. It’s not wrong to say that we need to go to the nations because people need to be saved. It’s just not the highest motivation a Christian can grasp. When it comes to gospel mission, our heart and our feet move best when God’s glory is our greatest motivation. If you feel the guilt of the importance of mission, why not try grasping the glory? God saves for his own glory, and nothing could be more glorious.

Self-Confidence Results in Mission Reluctance

How many times do we hear that we need to have great confidence in ourselves to complete big tasks? Most of us grow up with a message, at least from our culture, that we need to believe in ourselves and step out into the world with confidence. If you don’t believe you can do it, you won’t do it. To achieve big things, you need to believe you can achieve big things. When it comes to the biggest task that any Christian can perform, we are told not to have any confidence in ourselves. In fact, an elevated confidence in self is more likely to see us fail.

Our Big Task:

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gave his disciples that great commission. They and all disciples after them are to go out in the authority of Christ with the task of making disciples of all nations. This is a monumental task and the barriers to it are beyond human ability. The task of bringing another human being to deny themselves, turn from their whole paradigm of belief and hope, and put all reliance, hope, and trust in Christ is an impossible mission.

Someone might object to that being an impossible task. Why would Jesus ever call us to an impossible task? We just need lots of training. We need to become experts in apologetics so that we can dismantle the worldviews of our opponents and persuade them with biblical logic. We need to know methods and questioning techniques that guide the lost down a path that is too good to refuse. In short, we need to have lots of training and intense practice. We need strategic goals and cleverly thought-out programs that bring people into our doors.

As we have applied the great commission, especially in the modern context, most Christians have experienced some degree of evangelistic strategies that are purposed to give us more confidence in our mission. While some of this training and even some programs can be helpful, I’ve never seen any of this overcome the general lack of confidence that Christians often exhibit when it comes to our great mission. The more confidence we put in human persuasions, ideas, and strategies, the more we realize that we are inept and even incompetent for the job. Even when there is a seeming show of success and mass attendance, we are still left with the question… “Are these people really disciples?”

There is no amount of confidence we can put in a human being to obtain what can only be a super-human result. The transformation of any single human being from death to life can only be accomplished by One who has all power over human life. When we put confidence in humans or in human schemes for mission, it actually works against our confidence in mission. We find confidence for our evangelistic mission in one place alone – GOD.  That’s why we never see the apostle Paul thanking any human for the work of salvation being wrought in another human. We have confidence because we serve a God who saves.

 Romans 6:17-18 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, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Human Frailty Helps You Worship

One of my favorite accounts of Jesus’ miracles in the gospels is John’s account of raising Lazarus from the dead. It grabs our attention because death is death, and no human can defeat it. When Jesus raises a man from the dead we marvel at the impossible and grasp the true hope that Christ really can defeat death and give eternal life. Besides the life-giving power of the Messiah, we also see Jesus in complete sovereign control of the whole situation without any stress or anxiety about what he is doing or where he is going. The same cannot be said for us.

In John’s account (John 11:1-16) our focus is turned toward the conversation that Jesus has with his disciples. While the glory of Christ will be magnified beyond understanding in his resurrection miracle, the disciples exemplify human frailty for us all.

1.     We get ill and die.

This is obvious! We all know that the frailty of humanity is seen in illness and death, but while we rely on medicines and treatments, we all know that we face something in our life in this world that is ultimately incurable and will be our demise. That’s a fact of human frailty.

2.     We are finite in power and knowledge.

In verse 4, Jesus says that Lazarus would go through this so that Jesus’ glory might be manifested. Surely the disciples could not possibly understand how Jesus would know the outcome of this situation or how he would reverse it by his power. Our lives are limited in that we live only in the present and have no real power or absolute knowledge over the future. We are finite creatures bound by time and space and cannot control it.

3.     We are pressured by the urgent.

Jesus knew his friend was going to die. In fact, by the time Jesus arrived at the tomb in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. When Jesus found out that his friend was ill, he waited two more days before doing anything (vs. 6). When we read of this two day delay, we want to ask, “why?” We want Jesus to ride in on a galloping horse doing all he can to get there in time to stop death occurring in the first place. The reason we are pressured by the urgent is because we are subjects of our circumstances. Jesus is able to reverse the consequences of any and every circumstance whether past, present or future.

4.     We are fearful.

The disciples were well aware that Jesus had previous troubles in Judea. The Jews wanted to stone Jesus (vs. 8), but Jesus knew it was not yet his time. Sometimes even in fear we are willing to go to our death for those we love.  It seems that this may have even been the case for Thomas (vs. 16). We are so often at the mercy of others, and it can be a scary thing. Jesus only came under the brutality of men when it was his sovereign will for them to crucify him.

5.     We see a vast difference between illness and death.

To us, even when sick, the difference between illness and death is the difference between life and death. To Jesus, death is every bit as curable as influenza. Jesus described to the disciples that he was simply going to awaken Lazarus. The disciples believed that Lazarus must still simply be sick and sleeping. Jesus had to tell the disciples that Lazarus was indeed dead. For the disciples, to go to a dead man is simply to mourn his death. The opportunity for help had passed. Jesus faces death with the omnipotence due only to God.

When we read accounts like this in the gospels, we should look both at the wonder of Christ and the frailty of humanity. When we see our frailty for what it really is, the glory of Christ shines brighter. Our hope in Christ is strengthened. Our need for Christ is heightened. Our love of Christ is intensified. Our worship of Christ is authenticated.

We have all the need, and he has all the glory.

Following Faithful Christians

In Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus addresses a crowd and his own disciples in the temple courts and basically tells them not to follow the Scribes and Pharisees.  He explicitly tells them not to do what they do and not to seek what they seek. They preach what they do not practice, so do not follow the unfaithful. Surely then, the opposite would be to truly follow the faithful.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.”  This is a beautiful statement from Paul.  He doesn’t simply say for the Corinthian church to simply imitate him, but only on the basis of him imitating Christ.  Imitate faithfulness.  Another beautiful example of this is found in Paul’s letter to Timothy and this time the example is Timothy’s mother and grandmother.

2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. Paul doesn’t say that Timothy believes the same dogma.  He doesn’t say that Timothy has merely had the same intellectual ascent and worldview as his mother and grandmother. He says that Timothy has a sincere faith that first dwelt in Lois and Eunice.  I can only imagine the beautiful examples that these wonderful women were to this young man. This was not a case of hypocritical Pharisees teaching excessive rules and not keeping them themselves.  This was the case of two women committed to the truth of Scripture and lovingly living it out as Timothy watched and listened. Timothy experienced the beauty of faithfulness and with his own sincere faith in Jesus became to Paul, a true child in the faith.

Often, especially if you are a parent, it’s easy to forget that the example of faith is the powerful communication of the authenticity of the faith we proclaim. Timothy witnessed this in his mother and grandmother and Paul reminds him of this, twice.  2 Timothy 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

It is not Lois and Eunice who can take credit for Timothy becoming wise unto salvation. That was a work of God’s sovereign grace. Even so, Paul reminds Timothy of the vehicle of God’s grace that he used to bring him into the faith and equip him with the beautiful truth of the gospel and the entire Scriptures as he pastored a church to train them in every good work.

This is the rallying point for every Christian as we seek to honor God as faithful witnesses - To be the faithful servant of the Lord.  We pray that we might follow the faithfulness of the example of these two ladies.  We pray that people may be able to say what we say and do what we do as we proclaim Christ and imitate him.

The Questioning Child

Guest Blog from Ryan Liebert

Matthew 18:1-3

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

When I think back to being a child, one thing I remember is how much I longed for the time when I would no longer be a child! There was an anticipation of turning 16 and being able to drive a car. There was a desire for the freedom that would come with turning 18 and legally being considered an adult. And of course, there was a distant hope of a career and the autonomy that seems to follow “growing up.” I thought, “When I’m older, I’ll have freedom, authority, and I’ll be able to do what I want!” However, when Jesus instructed His disciples on greatness, He directed their attention away from self-exaltation and toward the example of a little child. He told them, “Whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” It is this child-like humility that God is seeking to cultivate in His people and is a true mark of greatness. Here are three characteristics of this child-like humility that we should cultivate.

First, child-like humility leads to an accurate view of who we really are before God. When we’re blind to the Lord and His gospel, the result is a pride that grows into deluded self-exaltation. John calls it the pride of life (1 Jn. 2:16), where the motivation to make a name for ourselves and be esteemed by others turns our focus to personal achievement and advancement. The reality is that our self-exaltation does not achieve the righteousness of God and isn’t even a real representation of who we are! Just as Paul says, “For if anyone thinks that He is something when He is nothing, He deceives Himself” (Gal. 6:3). But when God shines the light of the gospel into our hearts, we see the greatness of God. He is the one who breathed the universe into existence, He is the one who is rightly called The Almighty. Under such revelation, we find our rightful place of child-like humility. A child has no pretension of his position in the world. While God’s power is limitless and His greatness unmatched, I am actually very small and insignificant. At the same time, I can look up to such a great God and exalt in Him. Such revelation should stir in us a child-like humility that says with David, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Psa. 8:4).

Second, child-like humility turns our mind toward the instruction of God’s Word. We can all think back to the stretch of our lives where we were ignorant of God and of the hope of the gospel. But at the right time, God revealed His Son and His gospel in us. After that, we finally could start to see the boundless mines of wisdom and knowledge that are available to us in Jesus Christ. While pride fools us into thinking that we know better than most or we have little to learn, God’s converting grace changes us into little children who admit they know little but are hungry to learn. Accordingly, we plant at the feet of Jesus and desire to hear any word of instruction from Him. As the Hymn goes, “Blessed Jesus, at thy word, we are gathered all to hear thee.”

And finally, child-like humility leads us to ask sincere questions about God and His gospel. Asking sincere questions has the ability to grow us up in our salvation. Asking questions sometimes makes us feel vulnerable because it reveals the limitations of our own understanding. We typically want to be the smartest person in the room (and often times think we are!). But when the reality of God and His gospel dawns on us, we are met with a Subject of study that can never be mastered. Asking questions about God and the gospel, is a lovely characteristic of child-like humility. A child freely asks questions with no consideration of what it reveals about how he compares to others. What is more, God tells us that He loves to hear our voice (Song. 2:14) and that if we lack wisdom we should ask through prayer (James 1:5). God gives us a church family where, as iron sharpens iron so two church family members can sharpen each other (Prov. 27:17). And God gives us pastors and teachers that are approachable and able to answer our questions if we would simply ask (Eph. 4:11-13).

May God help each one of us to cultivate a child-like humility that makes us great in God’s sight.

Let's Not Reduce Heaven to Sentimentality

Some time ago I wrote a poem that conveyed my thoughts about a husband’s love for his wife along side his longing for heaven. So often when we think about heaven, we can reduce it merely to the sentimentality of seeing loved ones and miss that God himself is our prize and is giving us a glorious reward in Christ beyond our imagination. When we understand the glory of the resurrection, we will still desire that our loved ones will be with us, but we will also anticipate that there is something so much greater. I hope my words somehow inspire some thought. It’s ok to have a loving caring sentiment, but let’s watch out so that we do not reduce God’s glorious eternity to sentimentality. Words inspired by Matthew 22:30.

You’ll Be There As Well.

With tender kiss and warm embrace, contentment filled my heart

I looked upon your restful face, God’s gift of finest art

And as I lay in moonlight’s rule, succumb to heavy eyes

I fell as slumber ruled my mind and dreamt beyond the skies.

I dreamt I stood before my God, with guilt laid bare to see

But Christ stood as my substitute, and He perfected me

I stood beside a cloud of saints, and on my knees I fell

The Lamb was roaring from His throne, and you were there as well.

I sat before the King of Kings, where tables filled His hall

A royal heir at every seat, to hear the Bridegroom’s call

Choirs of angels filled the room as heaven’s wedding bell

The consummation feast had come, and you were there as well.

I walked the garden of The Lord, with not a single care

The river flowed so fresh and clear, and praises filled my prayer

This new creation bares His name, new earth for God to dwell

With all the saints I worshipped Him, and you were there as well.

A ray of light in glory shone, in warmth of life and love

Illuminating from The Son, no need for sun above

I leapt in His great light of joy, with inner blissful swell

Christ is my everlasting light, and you were there as well.

The wolves were playing with the lambs and serpents had no bite

This Kingdom’s wealth is in The Lord, no need for widow’s mite

No sickness fear or sorrow found, no death to bid farewell

For Eden was redeemed at last, and you were there as well.

My heart was bathed in Jesus Christ, and to The Father’s praise

Perfected in The Spirit’s love, to live eternal days

And though my eyes were full on Him, I saw you in His house

And I remembered back on earth, that you were once my spouse

I woke from sleep and rested there, and dwelt upon my dream

The dwelling presence of My God is this celestial theme

For faith in Christ is now my life, His Kingdom my reward

In Him alone I have my home when all will be restored

I looked at you again my love, and knew my final vow

The most I can achieve for you is in the here and now

The best a human can obtain is given all of grace

To love you most comes my desire to point you to His face

My love for you in truth is this, the object of my search

That I will love you just as Christ has loved His blood bought church

And joy in me has overflowed to heights I cannot tell

To think today that when I’m home, that you’ll be there as well.

You Might Be a Zealot if......

First century zealots were a group of people who were intense Jewish nationalists and outraged at Roman rule. There were various conflicts and uprisings led by one main family of Zealots and they all ended in tragedy. Whether the zealots liked it or not, Rome was the power of the day and Caesar was in charge. Zealots were deeply religious and even associated with one of the rabbinical schools of the day. One of the two biggest differences between the two Jewish rabbinical schools of the time was that one school (Hillel) was intensely focused on Jewish worship while the other (Shammai) were intense nationalists and as such focused on the recovery of Jewish national identity. While Jews for the most part were not in favor of Roman rule, zealots were distinct. 

In his famous work, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Alfred Edersheim states how Jesus was completely opposite to the zealots. “Only the Kingdom of which Jesus was the King was, as he himself said, not of this world, and of far different conception from that for which the Nationalists longed.” There in a nutshell Edersheim has described the difference between Christ and not only Jewish zealots but every kind of zealot in history. The difference is one of longing. You might be a zealot if your longing for a particular national identity and geo-political entity trumps your longing for the Kingdom of Christ that is not of this world.

The fact that Jesus consistently avoids a nationalistic pursuit should not be lost on Christians when we read the gospels. It should not be lost on us when we see an absence of this pursuit in the proceeding New Testament epistles. We simply do not see this thrust in the New Testament. Most of all, we don’t see it in Jesus.

Jesus denied Satan’s temptation to give him all the kingdoms of the world. If his desire was to reform a Jewish nationalistic identity, surely it would be easier to take Satan’s offer and avoid the cross. After the display of Jesus’ power in feeding the 5000, the crowd wanted to take him by force and make him their king. Surely, if Jesus desired to reclaim and protect the Jewish way of life, he could have used that supernatural power to go with the crowd and stir the world to overthrow Rome. He is the One who can feed the whole world. Who wouldn’t want him on the throne? If Jesus could but speak so to cause a whole band of soldiers to fall over, surely he would have no real opposition to eradicating Roman rule in Jerusalem. Instead, Jesus rebuked Peter for the use of the sword, healed the ear of one of his captors, and went peaceably to his trial. 

Probably the most explicit statement from Jesus is heard as he faced the Roman Governor Pilate. John 18:35-36 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." If we read this carefully, in verse 35 Pilate describes Israel as Jesus’ own nation. Pilate is talking about the geo-political entity and its religious leaders. In verse 36 Jesus corrects Pilate stating that HIS Kingdom is not of this world. If Jesus was here to restore, reclaim, or reform a geo-political or earthly religious entity, his disciples would right now be fighting to free him. One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon, was a former zealot, and even he did nothing of the sort. The Kingdom of Christ, to which everyone in Christ belongs, is not of this world. For Christ, the way of his Kingdom was the cross, and he made the cross the entry point of his Kingdom for all mankind.

We who are in Christ share Christ’s purpose, and our longing is for his Kingdom which is not of this world. Jesus has led us by showing us a pin-point focus on purpose and destination that all of his disciples must follow. That is not the way of zealous nationalism, but a zealous mission of the cross. If the church loses our way on this, we lose the hope of the gospel. We lose everything. We need to protect ourselves from being zealots and the way to do that is to follow Christ.

You might be a zealot if the name of Jesus is being used for nationalistic reform rather than gospel proclamation. Even so, a Christian is zealous. It’s a missionary zeal for a Kingdom not of this world. John 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: Awkward!

People have often asked me about how I teach the doctrine of election as it relates to human responsibility. I often say, “When the text clearly states the doctrine of election, I preach it, and when the text clearly states human responsibility, I preach it.” In Romans 9, I preach that God will have mercy on whom he has mercy. In Romans 10 I preach that people must hear the gospel in order to come. I believe that salvation is all of God and all of grace and that every human being is completely and individually responsible before him.

We often find this awkward because these two realities do not have a clear attachment that works easily for the human mind. Some who attempt to attach the doctrines together in a neat little system end up destroying one of them in the process. Sometimes when we read through texts of Scripture and find these two truths in close proximity to each other we sense an awkward tension. Most scholars call this tension a ‘mystery.’ I like this word because it points us to the fact that there is truth beyond human comprehension that can only be known in the realm of God’s transcendent wisdom. On the human level, and outside our ability to fully understand the mystery, it remains a little awkward.

One great example of this is found in Jesus’ parable of the tenants in Matthew 22. In this parable Jesus talks about a group of people who reject an invitation from the king to the royal wedding feast for his son. This first group of people represents the Jewish rejection of Jesus. In response to this, the king sends out his servants to invite anyone and everyone they can find. In this illustration we have a very clear indication that the proclamation of the gospel, while rejected by Jews, is to be an indiscriminate proclamation to the entire world. The hope of the indiscriminate proclamation of the gospel is that all who hear will respond and celebrate the wedding feast of the king’s son. In this part of the parable, we have a clear acknowledgment of the reality of human responsibility before God.

At the end of the parable, Jesus finishes with these words: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Now we have an awkward tension. In the indiscriminate proclamation of the gospel, Jesus doesn’t say that few agree or accept or choose or decide. He says that few are chosen. In one small sentence, side by side, we see the responsibility of man and the sovereignty of God. Does it do anything more for us than simply present an awkward tension? I hope so.

We can be confident in these words. While we cannot make humanity accept the invitation of the gospel, we can be confident that God saves. We can be grateful for these words. While every single person in the world deserves hell, God extends mercy by his perfect love and wisdom. We can grieve over these words. So many humans hear the gospel and walk in willful rejection of their only hope of salvation. But we can also feel the urgency of these words. God uses the means of obedient servants proclaiming an indiscriminate proclamation of salvation to reach others, so we must mobilize the invitation urgently and globally.

“Many are called, but few are chosen.” It might seem like an awkward sentence, but it is true, and its ramifications are huge.

How Callous Do You Have to Be to Dismiss Jesus?

Hebrews 1:1-6 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

Why is it that so many people hear Christ and reject him? Why is it that whole religions have broken from Christianity on the basis of making Jesus to be less than who he is? The biblical answer is that we are dead in sin and need to be made alive through the regenerating work of God through his gospel. Even so, when the bible presents Christ to us (all through the bible), we are not given any uncertainty about who he is. The magnitude of our responsibility is multiplied by the magnitude of his authority and glory.

When the human author of Hebrews was introducing Jesus, he immediately made a distinct differentiation between Jesus and every other human and every other created being. Prior to the first advent of Christ, God spoke predominantly through his prophets who were servants of his word to his people. The prophets had mixed responses from the people of Israel and were often persecuted for bringing warnings of judgment to a disobedient nation. When Jesus came into this world as God taking on human flesh, God was speaking directly to us in and through the second in the Trinity – the Son. Not only is Jesus introduced as God’s Son, he is introduced as the Creator of all things and the Heir of all things. In Christ, all things exist and in Christ all things are owned. This separates Jesus from both humans and angels who are created beings of Christ. God never spoke about angels or other humans in the same way he spoke about his Son. Furthermore, God who never shares worship, declares that all, including angels, should worship Jesus.

When Mormons uphold their modern day prophets as God’s ongoing revelation and reject that Jesus is the final and full revelation of God, they callously reject the unmistakable scriptural presentation of Christ. Jesus is clearly the fullest revelation of God as the exact imprint of his nature. All the prophets pointed to him and in his special revelation to us; Christ is the fullest expression of God to us. The prophets have been fulfilled, and in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son. 

When Jehovah’s Witnesses express that Jesus is a created being and not in fact the One True Living God, the clear presentation of Jesus shows us that as Creator and Owner of all things and as the One receiving all worship, we are left without doubt that the Son is God.

When Jews ignore that Jesus is the Lord and Messianic King of the entire Old Testament, they are rejecting every prophecy fulfilled in his coming into this world from birth to ascension. They reject his purification for sins in the fulfillment of sacrifice and the temple and they reject his authority as the resurrected Lord on the throne of the Majesty on high.

I know that we could continue with a great list of religions that reject the reality of who Jesus is.  I know that each of them would have their own attempts to defend their positions.  But…. The Scriptures are clear and anyone reading the bible in the light of its countless declarations that it is the written word of God must at least admit that Christ is presented as the all-authoritative God of the universe and only Savior of the world through the substitutionary atoning work of the cross and that he is the Risen King returning to judge. This is who every human is responsible before. To deny what the Scriptures say about Jesus is to deny who Jesus is.

So I ask…. How callous does one have to be to dismiss Jesus?

Why Can't I Move Mountains?

In Matthew 21:21-22 and 17:20 Jesus tells his disciples that if they have faith (even little faith) and do not doubt, that they will move mountains. I have faith, even if it’s a little faith like the tiny mustard seed, but I cannot move mountains. The disciples proved themselves to be men of great faith. Paul never physically moved a mountain, but if you read 2 Corinthians 11 you will find that Paul’s faith exceeded what most of us would never imagine claiming. His list of beatings and whippings and shipwrecks displays an enormous persevering faith. It seems like most of the disciples became faithful martyrs and John was exiled for the sake of his faith. Not one of them physically moved a mountain – not one inch. There is not one discussion in all of the letters of the New Testament in them even making an attempt to move a mountain or expecting it to happen. In 2000 years of church history, not one Christian with the smallest or greatest amount of faith has ever moved a mountain.

When Jesus makes these statements, we should see them as examples of hyperbole in his speech. On two occasions, Jesus was making a point to his disciples that there are greater works than the physical manifestation of a tree withering or a mountain moving. The problem with us is that we can be easily tempted to think that we must be persuaded by a spectacular sign of our choosing. We can easily be led to be like the unbelieving Jews who “seek a sign” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Unfortunately whole movements within Christianity have made “signs and wonders” a necessity for the proving of faith.

Is there a great work that can be assessed as so significant that Jesus would describe it in terms of a mountain being thrown into the sea? I would say among other things, there is one specific work of God that makes such a wonder pale in significance. Which would you rather choose: to have the miraculous ability to pick up a mountain and throw it into the sea, or to watch a human being dead in sin under the eternal condemnation of God come to regenerating life and reconciliation with the Creator for all eternity? The one-time event of a mountain being relocated seems menial in comparison.

Interestingly, Jesus says prayer is required to do anything, even miracles. Why? Because at the end of the day it is not actually our work. None of us can revitalize a cold dead heart as much as we can throw a mountain. Both are a work of God and considering that he is the God who spoke the entire creation into existence, both are easy for God. If he wills, it happens. The one truth we all must realize in this is that it is only the work of justification that also required God coming into this world, taking on our sin, and experiencing the eternal wrath of God in substitution for us. Anyone rejecting Christ and his glorious sacrifice will be and deserves to be plucked up like a mountain and thrown into a sea. In effect that is what happens whenever the gospel we proclaim is rejected.

Let’s be people, even of little faith, who trust in our God who has both the ability and the desire to save. Let’s live in the strength of his unlimited power displayed so gloriously in the death and resurrection of Jesus our Savior and King.

Mercy Drives Worship

Romans 12:1 – “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

In what many regard as the Magnum Opus of the Apostle Paul, the book of Romans contains one case after another as Paul unpacks the devastation of human sin and the grace of God in the gospel of Christ. For 11 chapters, Paul has revealed the nature of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone ending in the last verses of chapter 11 exploding in praise to the acknowledgment that it is all to God’s glory alone. In chapter 12 Paul makes a statement about the life of the believer based on the character of God so explicitly revealed in the gospel he has so intricately explained. The believer is motivated by the mercy of God to live a life of unrelenting worship. In the fuller gospel context of the entire book of Romans, 12:1 seems to succinctly outline the only proper response to the limitless mercies of God – a living sacrifice of holy, acceptable worship.

The moment Paul uses the word, “sacrifice,” we immediately think of the altar of the temple and animals being slain in hope of atonement for sin. Paul can’t mean that we are going to sacrifice our own bodies as an atoning sacrifice because this is what he has spent eleven chapters explaining that Christ has already fully and finally done. The atoning work of Christ as substitution for our sin is the richest and most glorious aspect of God’s mercy toward us. He alone is our atoning sacrifice. What Paul is saying is that because of God’s mercy, most profoundly displayed in the atoning work of the cross, everything we are and have belong to him. He paid for it. Our lives are completely for him. In Christ we have been made alive to worship God. This is the purpose he originally had for us before Genesis 3 took humanity into a devastating tailspin.

As we think of being a sacrifice, we do consider the mediating work of the temple, but for us it is different. For the Old Covenant believer, the temple was where mediating sacrifice was done and where God was present in acceptance. It was through the temple that the Old Covenant believer could worship God and present total adoration and allegiance to our Creator. In the New Covenant, Christ has fulfilled the temple, atoned for sin, and in him we have direct access to the Father. We become a temple of the Holy Spirit. We are a temple of worship, and that worship is to be based on our new life given to him in sacrifice because of Christ’s sacrifice. It is based on God’s mercy. 

We who were once deemed utterly unholy, displeasing and unacceptable to God, by God’s mercy can now live in a completely opposite manner. We who were once unable to express any kind of acceptable worship have become temples of worship. Because of God’s mercy, worship has become our identity. It’s who we are, and therefore, how we are to live.

Jesus Stands on The Mount of Olives

When Zechariah was prophesying to the returning exiles, he was motivating them to continue with the building program for the temple and city in their worship of God. Under the inspiration of God and through a series of visions, Zechariah gives a message to God’s people to keep going. Part of the motivation of Zechariah’s message was to give them a glimpse of the ultimate victory of God for his people on “that day.”  In the 14th chapter, the day Zechariah seems to be talking about is the final day of deliverance and most Christians would ultimately see this as the second coming of Christ.

On that day, Zechariah says, “his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.”(Zechariah 14:4-5). In apocalyptic images, we have a picture of the Lord coming in final judgment and salvation on the Mount of Olives and his coming is so powerful and awesome that the very mountains spread out in his presence. This is a scene of absolute sovereign power and majesty. The return of Christ will be full of awe and glory.

Why is Jesus depicted as coming on the Mount of Olives?  We can only guess why this is chosen as the arrival destination of the Lord in this vision, but recently something stood out to me with piercing force.  Two thousand years ago this is exactly where Jesus came from in his “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem.

The Mount of Olives stands above the Temple Mount on the other side of the Kidron Valley.  I have stood at a lookout on the Mount of Olives as I looked down upon Jerusalem and the mosque that now stands in the place of the temple. This was once the glorious scene of the coming of Christ on this mountain.  He rode the foal of a donkey from the Mount of Olives toward the great City of the King. The crowd around Jesus threw their cloaks and cut of branches and threw them on the ground before the donkey in making way for the King’s procession. The shouts and acclamations of Hosanna echoed across the valley and the residents of Jerusalem looked up and across.  Shockwaves spread across the city of Jerusalem and the Judean residents demanded to know, “who is this?” (Matthew 21:1-11).

This was not the second coming of Christ, it was the first. In one sense it was a fulfillment without consummation. The King has indeed stood on the Mount of Olives, he has indeed come in victory and the people of Israel have looked up and heard his proclamation. He came into the city with both acceptance and widespread rejection.  They crucified him. Little did they know that their wicked judgment upon the rejected Messiah was the victory of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  One day he will return and like Israelites in Jerusalem we will look up and hear his proclamation.  The final day of judgment and salvation will arrive because the day of judgment and salvation has already arrived. On that last day, those who believe in him will be made like him because they will see him as he is. (1 John 3:2).  Others will perish for all eternity?  ….  Who is this? It is the one who brings justice and salvation.  He is the King.

Post 2020, The Church is Still Beautiful.

Let’s face it, 2020 was a difficult year for the church. It seemed to be a year when issues of conscience and preference took precedence in fierce dialogue between Christians – especially on social media. Shutdown mandates, masks, vaccinations, social justice debates, election campaigns and result allegations lit up social media and divided many congregations in a crescendo of opinion among believers about the place of public theology. As I reminisce about 2020, I would simply sum it up as a year that exposed that we all need a healthy biblical balance of grace and truth. And yet…I still say with great confidence that the church is beautiful and God will succeed in the display of his glory in his people.

The Prophet Isaiah wrote for a people who were exiled in Babylon and not at all feeling like a picture of God’s glory. In the midst of their darkness, God gave them this promise: “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” (Isaiah 62:1-4). This is quite a substantial promise, and the church can learn a lot from it.

1.     God will not be silent about his glory.

When we think that God does not seem to be declaring his glory through his people, we can be assured that in the course of God’s eternal plan, his glory will be profoundly displayed. This has already happened in its brightest display in the cross, but in Isaiah 62 God says he will display his glory before the nations through his people. We must be reminded that to the Lord, a day is as of a thousand years and vice versa. When we think that God’s glory may be muffled in a seemingly darker period in the church, we can know that God’s beauty is displayed in his way and in his time. Our faithful God has said that his declaration of glory will ultimately come through his people.

2.     God’s glory is not found in our own name.

In exile, Judah was told that their glory would shine through them by a new name. It was not their glory but glory in a name of God’s choosing and doing. While their name was associated with covenant breaking and unfaithfulness, God would give a new name associated with his glory in faithfulness and redemption. The elect of God finds our glory in Christ alone. We may have had a bad year, but Christ never loses his eminence. Our new name is in Jesus.

3.      The Kings of the world will see God’s glory in his people.

There are ultimately two ways that the people of God will display God’s glory to the nations. The first is through the proclamation of the gospel and the second through final judgment as the church shares final victory in Christ. Since Christ ascended, there has never been a time in this world when the gospel has not been preached. It has been preached in bondage and freedom. It has been preached under the persecution of a Roman church papacy. It has been preached in the open and underground. Whatever the time and circumstance, there has not been a time in the last 2000 years when the name of Jesus has not been preached with gospel precision. In every instance it has displayed the beauty of God’s church reflecting God’s glory. One day that beauty will be on full display before the entire world in all of the King’s children.

4.     Christ delights in his bride.

No matter the circumstance, God delights in his children when he sees them through the lens of Christ who ransomed us. God rejoices over us because we are the bride of Christ. The beauty is his, not ours.

It is true that more than once I was a little disappointed with how the church was presenting itself through the 2020 trial. Even so, there were people who heard the gospel during this time and Jesus remained infinitely glorious. In the imperfection of this Genesis 3 world the church doesn't always shine as brightly as it should, but the truth is that God will not be silent about his glory and in his good timing the church will be perfected in Christ before kings, rulers, powers and principalities. Years like 2020 come and go, but Christ is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The church is beautiful because Jesus is beautiful.

My Testimony of The Glory of Christ

Normally in my pre-sermon writings I consider some Scriptural theme that will help our church family to prepare for the Sunday sermon. As I considered our topic for this week, “The Beauty of Christ,” I couldn’t help but give my personal testimony about a subject that has become more valuable to me than anything in this world and my undying passion in pastoral ministry.

About 11 years ago, two dear friends who have since become invaluable mentors introduced me to the great Puritan, John Owen, by giving me a copy of The Glory of Christ. Little did I know that this book would be used by God as a powerful instrument of change in my life. The Glory of Christ is a wonderful journey into seeing all the aspects of Christ’s beauty and glory in his character and works, but Owen also talks about the importance of gazing upon the beauty of Christ. For a guy who would often read the bible and look for argumentation, doctrine, information, and any tasty morsel that could be used to show that I was a “bible guy,” The Glory of Christ completely reshaped my view of the Scriptures and my view of myself.

Owen wrote, “No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ in heaven who does not, in some measure, behold it by faith in this world.” This might seem like a simple statement of fact well known to every Christian, but to a guy who was all about dogma, doctrine, and reputation, I had to ask myself a very solemn question: “Do I truly behold the glory of Christ by faith in my life right now?” I was a man who could defend the deity and humanity of Christ. I was a man who upheld the historicity of his incarnation and the supernatural reality of his miracles. I would be quick to proclaim the bodily resurrection of Jesus as essential to the gospel. (Disclaimer: All of these are vitally important and I am not saying we should ever neglect the need to defend Christian orthodoxy.) But Owen challenged me with an enormous question: “You know about the doctrines of Christ, but do you treasure him and how does it impact your life?”

The Glory of Christ gave me a new sense of the exaltation of Christ in all of the Scriptures. I started asking myself questions about the person of Christ rather than simply about the doctrines of Christianity. I gazed upon the beauty of Christ’s pre-incarnate glory. I gazed upon the beauty of Christ’s infinite condescension in his incarnation. I gazed upon his grace. I gazed upon his piercing truth that pinpoints the reality of my heart. I gazed upon his love and his unrelenting mercy. I gazed upon him suffering and dying in my place. I marveled at the perfection of my substitute atoning for my sin. I gazed upon his obedience to the Father in the perfect unity of the Trinity. I gazed upon his perfect holiness in every word and action. I gazed upon his death conquering resurrection, and I couldn’t stop rejoicing that he was the one true all-powerful and sovereign King of the universe – My King.

I reconsidered the way I held every position of doctrine and truth in my life, and it yielded an overwhelming change. I no longer believed in Christ because I could uphold the authority of the Scriptures. I upheld the authority of the Scriptures because I most treasured Christ. This may not seem like much of a change to you, but for me, it was huge. As I gaze upon Christ and delight in his beauty, he reveals my pride, my idolatry, my fleshly motivations and ambitions. When I see his glorious humility, he shows me a new way. When I see his spectacular love and mercy, he shows me a new way. When I see his compassion for the lost, he shows me a new way. When I see his glory in suffering, he shows me a new way. That new way is not just his example, but in seeing his glory in every word and deed I see him and his way as beautiful. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. This now has new meaning to me because the person of Christ is infinitely beautiful. My concern for what people think of me and how people treat me in this world has been transformed. I am no longer anywhere near as anxious for the things of this world because as I gaze at the beauty of Jesus, “the things of earth have grown strangely dim.”

Owen put it this way: “If we regularly beheld the glory of Christ our Christian walk with God would become more sweet and pleasant, our spiritual light and strength would grow daily stronger and our lives would more gloriously represent the glory of Christ. Death would be most welcome to us.”

Doctrine is important, but please, please, please, let it point you to the beauty of Jesus. Gaze upon him!

When Beauty Condemns You

Two people sit on top of a mountain and watch the most beautiful sunrise anyone could imagine. They both see the spectrum of colors move as the sky changes its shade from the darker tones of night to the glimmers of red on the horizon and then the warmness of the orange beam that eventually transforms the whole sky into a satisfying blue. They both hear the morning song of the birds as they witness the unveiling of the majestic, green mountains. One of the two witnesses praises God in gratitude and delight and the other ignores any notion that this beauty declares the glory of the Beautifier. They both witness and acknowledge the same reality of beauty and yet the difference between them is infinite. For one, beauty builds the anticipation of standing before its Creator, for the other beauty demands wrath.

In Romans 1, Paul makes it clear that God’s wrath is revealed in those who experience the creation of God and exchange his glory to worship the creation rather than the Creator. It is not that one has to be a believer to acknowledge or experience beauty. One must be a believer to know and live in the purpose of beauty and praise God in his glory. In his Psalm, David put it this way, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”  (Psalm 19:1). In Romans 11:36 Paul declares, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”  The truth that we find so overwhelmingly clear in the Scriptures is that beauty can never be an end in itself. It is not good enough to acknowledge that something is beautiful. Every human being experiences the universal benevolence of God and can acknowledge the plain reality of beauty. Only some (the elect) can experience beauty in all the wonder of its purpose as they delight in the reality that beauty is a revelation of God. The difference between these two people is Christ.

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).

Mankind is blinded, not to the reality of beauty, but to the reality of God’s beauty in all his glory. Only through Christ can true beauty be known in its revelation of God’s glory. In every other way, the ignorance of God’s glory in every experience of beauty in this world is an accumulating mountain of evidence requiring a righteous judgment of eternal condemnation. For the Christian, as we know Christ by faith and live by faith, we know and experience God’s beauty in this world and delight in his glory by faith. Every time we don’t, we are called to repentance because everything that does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Consider the reality of this for just a moment. In the universal benevolence of God, Mozart experienced the beauty of God’s creation. This is a creation that included the beauty of sound, tone, harmony, structure and order. Mozart used all of this to create symphonies that resound in beauty. Can we call one of Mozart’s symphonies beautiful when it seems that it was written from an unregenerate heart with no care for God’s glory? The answer is yes, of course we can.  It is God’s creation of tone and harmony and structure, and it is God’s creation of human ingenuity and talent for which Mozart could compose a beautiful arrangement. In this sin-cursed world, those outside of Christ can compose beautiful art to their condemnation while those in Christ can enjoy that art to God’s delight.

How do you experience God’s beauty?

If God's Beauty Pleased Me Most

I could not abandon there

To start my day without a care,

To waive his counsel in that book,

Left closed beside my bedside nook.

 I would not rise with prayerless glee,

Entrusting daily tasks to me.

I could not live to Idly coast

If God’s beauty pleased me most.

I would not leave my mouth closed tight

While sun and stars are shining bright,

And then neglect the countless ways

Creation shouts his endless praise.

How could my thoughts think naught of him,

Who made and cares for life and limb?

His works ne’er shunned from coast to coast,

If God’s beauty pleased me most.

I’d not content my life in self,

Or in a trinket on a shelf.

I would not long for earthly greed,

Nor place in man my highest need.

I could not worry more for me,

To wonder where my life could be,

Nor in my own success to toast,  

If God’s beauty pleased me most.

There would be no delight in sin,

Nor beauty found in lust within.

I’d not exchange for what is true,

To long for what the wicked do,

And neither call an evil, good,

To stand on ground where Adam stood.

I’d ne’er then grieve the Holy Ghost,

If God’s beauty pleased me most.

But in the mercy of the cross,

Where beauty now discards its dross,

I’d see the glory of my King,

Invest in Him my everything,

To live in sanctifying love,

And render all to God above,

For Christ would be my only boast,

If God’s Beauty pleased me most.

Defending Genesis Boosts Confidence in Christ

The central tenet of our church is to glorify Christ. If anyone has come to our church for any period of time they would know that we simply aim to preach Christ, please Christ, and become more like Christ. Everything in our life and mission runs from this. Jesus, as the revelation of God and the reconciler of sinners is the essence of our entire being and purpose. Without an absolute confidence in Christ, we are left with an uncertainty that demolishes hope. Something many Christians fail to understand is that the certainty we have in Christ starts from the very first pages of Genesis. We should ask the question, “Why does defending the history in the book of Genesis impact the confidence we have in Christ and his gospel?”

Sadly, I have often heard pastors and theologians suggest that the defense of Genesis as an actual historical account of God’s creation work in six days is an unimportant issue compared to the gospel. Of course we all agree that no message can be more important than the irreducible gospel that we find Paul preaching in 1 Corinthians 15 or in Galatians 1:3-5. No doctrine, no apologetic, no preaching or teaching could be more central than the simple gospel message that God uses to bring those he is calling into repentance and faith. In saying this, when we hear someone emphasizing that Genesis is a secondary issue, we often hear it (and sometimes it may even be meant) as if the gospel is somehow disconnected from its place in the real history of the world. We should always understand that Jesus came into this world in historical reality because of the biggest human problem: that we disobeyed the Creator of reality. Understanding and defending the historical setting for the gospel in Genesis is par for the course in defending the historical reality of the gospel. What is that history we are defending?

1.     The very good creation.

When God finished his creation, he said it was very good (Genesis 1:31). One point that we must understand is that the work of Christ not only saves humans from sin in reconciliation with God, but Christ’s death and resurrection has also brought the hope of a completely reconciled physical creation (Colossians 1:20). That reconciliation, back to its former pristine condition, is described in the beauty of the perfect new heavens and earth outlined in Revelation 21-22. If we are to understand the comprehensive nature of Christ’s work of reconciliation, we can only do so in the understanding of a very good original creation that reflects God’s perfect character. To defend the very good creation is to defend the foundational history to Christ’s work of reconciliation.

2.     The image of God.

In Genesis 1:27, we read the account of man being created in the image of God. Humans are distinct from animals and every other aspect of creation in this way. Our purpose is to reflect the very character of God in the way we live in this world. In Romans 1, the apostle Paul tells us that humanity rejected God’s glory reflected in us to worship images of his creation. Ever since sin entered the world, we have failed at being the image bearers we were created to be. In the cross, Jesus placed his perfect record of image bearing upon us and paid the price of our failure in sin. In Christ we can be again conformed to the image of God. Defending the historical reliability of Genesis and especially the special creation of humanity in God’s image is to defend the foundational history that helps us to understand Christ’s restoration of the image of God.

3.     The comprehensive need for salvation.

If anyone knows the gospel, they understand that all humanity is sinful and is in need of a savior. In Romans 5 Paul describes this in the way that all who are in Adam die because since the original fall in Genesis 3, every human has been born with a sin nature under the condemnation of God. Defending the historical credibility of Genesis, especially that all humanity comes from Adam and Eve, specially created by God on the sixth day, is foundational to understanding why every human being needs saving.

4.     The price of sin.

In Genesis 2:16-17, God commanded Adam not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because he would die if he did. Death, both physical and spiritual, is a result of the original disobedience against God in the garden. To reject the Creator is a death sentence. Jesus was placed on a tree (a cross) as he took our death sentence in our place. The reason Christ had to physically die and physically rise in overcoming the consequence of sin was in direct correlation to God’s warning for all mankind in Genesis 2. Defending the historical credibility of Genesis in seeing that all death is a part of our world because of sin is foundational to understanding why Jesus had to die.

These are only four of many historical foundations of the gospel in Genesis, but they are huge. Defending the historical accuracy of the account of the six days of creation, the pristine condition of the creation, and showing that the consequences of sin had no place in the original creation is foundationally important to defending the historical significance of the gospel. While God saves only through the gospel and not through our ability to defend Genesis, we can never disconnect the importance of the historical setting in which we understand that gospel. Yes, defending Genesis is important.

Where is our Confidence in Apologetics?

 I am truly a big fan of apologetics. Even when I have forgotten specific answers to skeptical questions about the Bible, I have enjoyed great comfort knowing that there are answers and reacquainting myself with good resources knowing where to find them. I can honestly say that God has used the Christian discipline of apologetics in my life as a means of strengthening my faith and helping others when doubts attack. It may therefore be somewhat surprising to you that even though I teach and encourage others to know how to defend the faith, my confidence in both evangelism and perseverance in the faith is not centered in the discipline of apologetics.

As I have read the Scriptures, I have constantly found that apologetic arguments are a dear servant of the Christian faith and may even be seen as one of God’s means to bring people to the gospel or to calm the spirit of a conflicted Christian. I predominantly understand apologetics to be in such a subservient role for the following reasons: 1. The depravity of man in sin and 2. The sovereignty of God in the power of the gospel.

1.     The depravity of man in sin.

Whether in evangelism or discipleship, if we find our confidence in apologetic arguments, we are putting our confidence either in our own ability to convince somebody or their ability to accept a correct argument. Either way, our confidence is in fallible human ability. Particularly when the recipient is a non-believer, Scripture finds no confidence even in the most potent human argument. Writing to the church in Corinth, Paul says that, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).  This is a serious statement about the ability of human reasoning. Those not in Christ are under the blinding of Satan, and there is no silver bullet argument that can help them see light.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul said, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14).  These verses and many more tell us explicitly that humans need something greater than an argument.

Paul also makes it clear that this blindness to the gospel comes in different ways. Not only are we all impacted by spiritual blindness under Satan and our own natural incapability to discern spiritual truth, we are also impacted by the external influences of our own social backgrounds. In 1 Corinthians 1:22-23  Paul recognizes that “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” Gentiles and Jews seem to have different social barriers to the gospel. When we add up all of the barriers to Christ that the unregenerate human has, it seems that no amount of good argumentation could possibly bring them to the truth. Is this true? I say, “yes.” So why bother then with anything? Why bother attempting to defend the gospel and give people answers?

Even though it seems clear that no argument will bring people to a knowledge of the truth, I would also be very quick to add that arguments leading to the gospel are totally effective on the basis of God’s sovereign electing love.

2.     The Sovereignty of God in the power of the gospel.

Paul often divided the world up into two groups – Jews and Gentiles. So, when Paul says that Jews have a stumbling block in Christ and Gentiles see utter foolishness, he is saying that the entire world is opposed to Jesus as Lord and Savior even if in different manifestations. Paul’s next statement in 1 Corinthians 1 is where we find our absolute confidence in preaching Christ to the world. 1 Corinthians 1:24 – “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Notice where Paul places his confidence. It is in the electing call of God in and through Christ. Paul’s confidence is in the fact that preaching Christ (the gospel) is not a fruitless exercise no matter who is in front of him, whether Jew or Gentile. He may use different arguments to defend the faith in front of different people, but his whole hope is in God’s call upon the life of the person in front of him through the gospel. That’s also why in the very first chapter of Romans just before talking about the complete depravity of humanity, Paul says that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation first for the Jew and then the Gentile. (Romans 1:16).

The Scriptures constantly show us that the objective truth of the gospel must be defended and explained right alongside our confidence in the fact that salvation is a work of God’s power alone. We are obedient in preaching and defending the objective truth that will only penetrate the heart of another human through the subjective power of the Holy Spirit. 

To some this may sound like I am saying that apologetics is a meaningless exercise. Far from it. It is simply a powerless exercise in and of itself. Paul explained to the church in Philippi why he had such a strong love for them. Philippians 1:7 – “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” It seems to me that Paul commends this church because they have supported him and indeed join with him both in defending the faith and looking after him through the consequences that come with it. It seems that they partner as gospel apologists. It seems that Paul and the church at Philippi argue fervently for the gospel of Christ as a means that God uses in power to illuminate and regenerate those he calls into faith.  

This says to me that we should all do our best to learn how to defend the gospel in whatever way we can as we seek to point people to Jesus as we rely on God alone to save and keep those he calls. So, our church will learn apologetics on an ongoing basis, and in doing so we will keep our confidence in the gospel of Jesus and our sovereign God who alone is able to make a human blinded by sin to see. Apologetics is pointless, except when it’s serving the gospel in the infinite power of an electing sovereign God…. in that case it connects itself to an irresistible grace. So, defend the faith, preach Christ, and trust God.

This Is The Confidence You Have In Christ

When Christians talk about the confidence that we have in and through Christ, we often refer to our confidence being justified in his work of atonement. Christ’s atoning sacrifice for the full payment for our sin is certainly a significant reason for our confidence. One might even say it is THE significant reason for our confidence. Knowing that we no longer stand before God facing condemnation should put an extra boldness in our lives. Even so, we should realize that the confidence we have in Christ encompasses not just the success of the cross for us but also Christ’s exaltation having completed it. Our confidence is also in the fact that our Savior is seated in a reigning authority that has no equal. We have confidence in Christ’s full payment for our sins on the cross. We have confidence in Christ’s resurrection as a certain hope in victory over death. We have confidence in Christ’s ascension into heaven in complete acceptance of his vicarious work for us. And we have confidence that the one who loved us and died for us is the supreme King of an eternally undefeatable, glorious kingdom to which we belong.

If Jesus’ death and resurrection resulted in less than his absolute reign over all creation for all eternity, how could we be sure that the results of the cross for us would remain intact? Temporal success in this world gives us confidence for a time, but eventually it ends or is superseded by a greater problem. Eventually time and death bring an end to every earthly victory of man. Jesus did not simply win an earthly victory on the cross. He won a universal comprehensive victory over all matter, space, and time and over every realm both physical and spiritual. The Kingdom of Heaven has broken into this world with the coming of the King. He has overcome the world through his death and resurrection and sits in absolute authority and power as the undisputed victorious King. Both man and Satan’s attempt to exalt self in defiance of God have been overcome in the cross and is eternally destroyed in the eternal reign of the victorious King Jesus. Our eternal confidence is never misplaced in the exaltation of Christ as King of his eternally victorious kingdom. The success of the cross has crushed the curse of sin and death, defeated every enemy, and exalted the King in the highest place. This is the testimony of Scripture.

[Philippians 2:5-11 ESV] 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

[Ephesians 1:19-23 ESV] 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

[Acts 5:30-32 ESV] 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

[1 Peter 3:22 ESV] 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

[Acts 7:55-56 ESV] 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

[Revelation 19:11-16 ESV] 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Christ is King – That’s confidence – If you are in Christ.