Author Archives: Royce

Jan 29 2012

Is Jesus Enough?


For many Christians around the world the question “Is Jesus Enough?” would be met with alarm, surprise, and some would liken such a question to blaspheme. Why would I pose such a question you ask? Recently I was one of many who made comments on a blog post at Jay Guin’s OneinJesus blog.

Finally, after a series of comments by several people, when I pressed the question in response to some of the respondents teaching of a works based salvation, two or three of the men finally admitted in print that in their view,  No, Jesus was not enough! Even knowing how far off base they are theologically I was shocked to see them finally admit it.

Some months ago I bookmarked a text at biblia.com. I was reading some Scripture online as is my custom and this text really spoke to me in a profound way.

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and  But the free gift abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I hope you will carefully read this passage and allow it to sink in. While it is staggeringly profound and meaningful it is at the same time not terribly complicated. When I read a great passage such as this one I like to organize it in my thoughts by trying to see what it says in a systematic way.

First, it is always a good idea to ask “What is the ‘therefore’ there for? Looking back to the beginning of chapter 5 you’ll see that it begins with the word “therefore”, taking the reader back to chapter 4. And in Romans 4 we learn how Abraham was justified by faith and not by what he did. What he did confirmed that his faith was genuine. And in the same way we are made righteous by believing what God has said about the person and work of Jesus. Our common salvation depends on faith so that it may be by grace and not earned.

Now in the previous section of chapter 5 there are some very important truths that I wish every Christian knew. Unfortunately, not many Christian leaders know these things, at least they don’t practice them.

For example, verse 9 informs us that we have already been justified and yet will be saved in the future. We have, like Abraham, already been counted righteous but we will in the future be saved from God’s wrath against sin.

Since, therefore,we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Romans 5:9

Next we learn that we were actually reconciled to God long before we were born. It was the body of Jesus offered for our sins that reconciled us, and that body (and holy life) was enough!

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Romans 5:10

Now, against this backdrop let’s look at verses 12-21

First there is the Problem of sin. It came through Adam and spread to every person born after him. Men are guilty sinners, not because of Adam’s sin, but because of their own sinning. However,  the proclivity, or the nature to sin comes with the human body. All people sin and sin is against God and offends him deeply.

 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man…vs 12

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men…vs 18

The Problem of sin is its Penalty. It is a capital crime to offend God by sinning. Every sinner must die. That’s just the way it is. These verses make this principle crystal clear.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. vs 12

Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses. vs 14 & 15a

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man.. vs 17

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men. vs 18a

Condemned! Every person who sins like Adam, (that’s all of us) are on death row. Each of us is condemned and helpless to do anything to reverse the curse of the coming wrath of God. But, this is not the end of the story. It is bad news! But, good news is coming!

There has been a Payment for our sins. Jesus died “for us”,  in our place. Now, having died for us, fully paying the owed debt, he now gives a “free gift”. Forgiveness of sins and eternal life is a gift. It is not given based on how good you are, or how faithful you are, but on God’s grace.

 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and  But the free gift abounded for many vs 15

the free gift following many trespasses brought justification…vs 16

much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ vs 17

…so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. vs 19b

How can anyone miss this? Over and over it says “free gift”! Jesus has done all that needs to be done to secure the salvation of all who believe. Men do not “become” righteous, they are “made” righteous. Just as sure as the result of Adam’s disobedience all die, even so by Jesus’ obedience all in him will live forever.

One last Bible verse says it well, and with it I close this  post. Jesus is enough!

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

 

 

Jan 24 2012

George Whitefield – The preacher of the “Great Awakening”


An Anglican priest, Whitefield would become one of the most well-known preachers in his time and remembered by everyone who has even a slight interest in preachers and the spread of Christianity in the United States in the early years of the country.

Whitefield was a small man, cross-eyed, but preached with such zeal that he preached the gospel to tens of thousands in the open air, often to more than 10,000 in one event. Whitfield eventually would become one of the founders of Methodism and he was the voice God used to shake the colonies in what has become known as the “Great Awakening” of 1740. He preached every day for months bringing the good news to multiplied thousands. One of the people who became very fond of this little, odd preacher was none other than Benjamin Franklin.

Whitefield is one of the key figures God used powerfully in modern-day gospel preaching. He also founded churches and an orphanage. He was one of the first to preach to slaves in America.

He is buried in a crypt under the pulpit of a Presbyterian church in Mass. At his request. He was born in 1714 and died in 1770.

Royce

Jan 24 2012

William Carey – The Father of modern gospel missions.


William Carey was a brilliant scholar, learning Latin and Greek and other languages while a teen working as an apprentice in a shoe shop. He became a Baptist pastor and school teacher. He was concerned for the “heathen” masses who did not know the good news about Christ and eventually moved to India where he lived and labored for 41 years. He translated and printed the Bible into several languages, preached and taught school, and founded a school to train indigenous preachers.

Before going to India he founded a mission organization called the Particular Baptist Missionary Society. Baptists and many other groups have employed Carey’s methodology for doing missions and for funding the work ever since. He is widely recognized as the father of modern gospel missions.

William Carey was born in 1761 and died in 1834. His legacy lives on in the mission model he began and in the six schools named for him around the world. Carey is easily one of the top five most influential Baptists of all time and a great example of a missionary.

Royce

Jan 10 2012

The Mission Field Is Closer Than You Think


One of my favorite preachers is Matt Chandler. Matt is a young man who is Senior Pastor of a mega church north of Dallas. The Village Church has grown wildly since Matt became pastor in April of 2002. Each Sunday he preaches to thousands.

What I love about Matt is his absolute resolve to stay Christ/gospel centered. And, because he faithfully does that he regularly tells his affluent congregants that he believes most of them are lost (they appear to love him anyway..). Why would a pastor tell his people that?

Most of them (the members of the Village Church) grew up in homes that were considered “Christian homes” and moms and dads were members of the local Baptist church just like their parents and grand parents. What Matt Chandler knows is that many 30 somethings feel secure in their standing with God based on their family history, church attendance and membership, and good clean living, none of which qualifies one for eternal life or heaven.

So, Matt continually pounds the gospel into those good, moral church members and many of them are in fact being born again. Is there a slight possibility that in your church or mine there could be some faithful members who are leaning heavily upon church tradition, family history, and morality to get them to heaven? The answer seems obvious to me.

There is no doubt. In our fellowship, (churches of Christ), people routinely will refer to an acquaintance or family member with the qualifier “he is a member of the church”. Or, they might ask of someone they don’t know well, “has he been baptized?” Of course we expect that sincere Christian believers will be members of a church and will have been baptized. What we must know and admit is that neither is a substitute for having an ongoing, personal, trust in Jesus Christ.

I have always been struck by how gospel focused the Apostle Paul was. Remember in Romans chapter 2 he told the Christians at Rome that he desired to preach the gospel to them? It seems odd at first glance because he said of them:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. Romans 1:8

Wow! What exemplary Christians! They were known all around the world for their faith. But even to these wonderful Christians Paul said:

I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. Romans 1:13-15

The great Apostle was keenly aware of his obligation to preach Christ to everyone (Greeks, barbarians, etc.) but he also intended to preach the gospel of Jesus to these fine Christians too. Why Paul? Why do you want to preach the gospel, preach evangelistic sermons to Christians? I think there are at least two very good reasons why.

Christians need the gospel message to sustain and encourage them.

Many of you who read this is not old enough to remember the deeper life movement of the 1970’s. Preachers were all the buzz if they were deeper life preachers. And those with English, Scottish, or Irish accents were the most popular. Somehow it was assumed (and still is) that people with those accents are much more intelligent than say American southerners. It was expected that these men could lead people to a deeper walk with God. Well, it was yet another Christian hula hoop, a fad that came and went.

There is nothing deeper than what Christ accomplished for ungodly sinners by his life and death and resurrection. Christians who want to please God and have a close walk with him must never be far from the simple gospel of Christ. The good news about the worth and work of Jesus must be a constant theme in our own personal study and our preachers and teachers need to preach the gospel all the time. It is knowing the gospel story that instills hope, makes joy fill the heart, and gives compassion for others. There is nothing more important!

There are likely some members of almost every church who are lost.

Paul told the Roman Christians that he desired “to reap a harvest among them“. Some people are offended by such an idea. But, Jesus taught about weeds growing among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). And, about people who do all sorts of good things that he will declare has never known (Matthew 7:22-23) and they will be condemned. I can’t think of a more sad end than for a person to be a member of a church and attend for years, teach classes and do all sorts of good things, and in the end be rejected by Jesus because he was not a true Christian.

So it is imperative that we preach the good news both to those in the church and out of the church, to the down and out and the up and out because everyone needs the gospel and no one can be finally saved who is not actively trusting Christ the best they can. God doesn’t grade on the curve. A person is either in God’s family or out, there is no in between.

Some years ago I became friends with a woman who had been raised in church. From the time she could remember there were few Sundays when she didn’t go to Sunday school and church. She was taught to live a moral life, to be kind, to give to those less fortunate, etc. As I got to know her better it became clear to me that she was not a Christian. After our bowling league we would have a sandwich each week at a local McDonald’s. I started teaching her about what Christ accomplished for sinners and how God loves sinners so much that Jesus died in our place, for our sins, so we could be made righteous in his sight based wholly upon his worth and work. After perhaps two or three months of our weekly talks she walked up to me one day with a broad smile saying that she had trusted Christ as her Savior and on the next Sunday she would be baptized and wanted me to be there.

This church member had no inkling of an idea she was headed for destruction. She thought she had done and was doing all the right things. She lived a very good life. It was only after understanding the gospel, (something by her own admission they never taught in her church) that she repented and turned her heart toward Christ and started living for him.

The mission field is closer than you think. As God opens doors and gives opportunity we must be faithful to teach people the very good news about Jesus and his work for ungodly sinners. Those who need him are everywhere, even in our churches.

Royce