Oct 6 2011

The sure way to bitterness, refuse to forgive.


This is not the first time I have written on this subject and will not likely be the last. About two years ago I wrote a post you can read here, some of what I say in the current post will be repetitive. But, it can’t be said too much.

Jesus’ teaching, and that of his Apostles, set a very high standard for his followers regarding forgiveness. The disciples prayer, His answer to the question “How many times should we forgive…?”, and the ultimate model of forgiveness, his words from the cross “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing…”, all weigh heavily upon the duty of every Christ follower to be serious about forgiving others of their wrongs, real or imagined.

As I thought about this today at work and driving home, I was especially struck by Paul’s words in Colossians 3.

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:11-15

Paul said the same thing in his letter to the Ephesian brothers and sisters.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

“As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” and “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Forgiveness is always possible.

Those who want to forgive can forgive. Don’t say things like, “I just can’t forgive him again…” or “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive her...”. Be honest and admit you have chosen to not forgive. It isn’t that you are unable to, it’s that you don’t want to. How crazy would it be for God to again and again tell us do something we can’t do? Yes, you not only can forgive, you must!

Start with an extreme makeover!

Get alone with God and refuse to come out until you have started to:

Have a compassionate heart. Ask God to give you compassion for the offender.
Be prepared to show kindness to the offender. You can do it!
Humble yourself. Never forget, sometime you will be the one in need of someone’s           forgiveness.
Develop meekness. Get off your high horse! Who appointed you judge and jury?
Learn to be patient. As we say in Louisiana, “Put up with” him or her.

A personal inventory based on the Colossians passage leads to the high standard of the Ephesians passage.

Ask yourself a question and live out the answer.

The question is, “How has the Lord forgiven you?” Was your forgiveness based upon your goodness, your merit, your worth, your tears? What was it then?

… as God in Christ forgave you.

When you deserved it or didn’t deserve it? When you were good enough to earn it? Please! When you asked in the right way? When you made restitution? How then was it?

Oh, you know quite well if indeed you are in Christ and He is in you. All of your objections are squashed, you must forgive unconditionally, over and over, each time forgiveness is needed.

Forgiveness in shoe leather

You have forgiven someone when in your thoughts, in your words, and in your actions, you treat them as if you had never been wronged or offended, and you have God’s peace and are thankful.

Every believer can forgive others, (especially other Christians) must forgive others, there is no option but to shake your fist in God’s face and say “I refuse”.

Forgiveness is by faith, not by feelings.

To be people who are forgiving as a lifestyle as God desires we must lean heavily upon Him. We must trust him to love the unlovable through us, we must count on him to give unnatural compassion and patience to those we encounter. Every opportunity to trust God to help you forgive someone who my any measure is unworthy is an opportunity to give glory and honor to your Lord.

Do not go along with your feelings. Your feelings will lie to you over and over. There is a voice still crying out from the fallen part of us that resists that still, small voice in us, leading us to glory and victory over sin. Deny yourself and He will lift you up.

Let us become habitual forgivers!

Royce
Oct’ 06, 2011

Sep 30 2011

…on Christian unity..What is your litmus test?


Oh yea, you probably have one or likely more. I do too, so I’m not trying to step on your toes, I’m trying to sort out some truth on the subject, so consider the following thoughts.

In my adopted tribe, I often hear (or read) discussions about who XYZ church will “fellowship” and who they will not and why. The litmus test varies, but it’s usually instrumental music in worship or no, it’s about baptism, how it’s done and what is said when it’s done, and for what purpose, and a garden variety of other things.

Take heart Cambellites, it isn’t just us. In other groups the Reformed leaning brothers will not associate with the free will brothers, the KJV only people do not consider the NIV people Christians, the pre-trib folks are certain they are more holy than the post-trib people and on and on ad naseaum.

Ready for a shocker? What if God isn’t as concerned about all that stuff as we are? What if He wants us to act in loving, sacrificial ways toward one another?

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good,  3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written,”The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Romans 15:1-9

I suppose all of us would rather not be around some others who wear the name “Christian” and consider those rejects “weak” don’t we? I mean, after all, if they were strong in the faith they would believe and do everything right, like us! Wow, have we missed the mark!

The Purpose of unity: The glory of God

There is no higher purpose than the glory of God. Denominational purity, the ancient pattern for the Lord’s church, the praise of men, defending the faith once for all delivered to the saints… Everything pales in comparison to God’s glory. Every good He accomplishes is for his own glory, even our common salvation has that end.

We are charged (and empowered) to live in such harmony, that each life is lived with a single goal, so that the goal of what we do and the result of what we do are the same, God gets glory!

that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Path to unity: The good of others

It sounds as if Paul is describing Jesus doesn’t it?

 bear with the failings of the weak
not to please ourselves
Let each of us please his neighbor,
for his good

What? It’s not about ME? Are you kidding? It’s not even about my church tradition and doctrine? It’s about God and others?…oh my, have we missed the mark a country mile!

The Plan for unity: Welcome others as Christ has welcomed you

Your Bible might say “accept one another”, or “receive one another”, but “welcome” is perhaps the best translation. It’s different to grudgingly allow someone to enter your home, like a magazine sales person, or to receive someone because of some outside pressure, like an anniversary party. It is quite another to “welcome” someone in. You want them there, you are glad they are there, and you intend to show them gracious hospitality. That is the idea in this passage.

 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you

Each of us were welcomed by Christ when we didn’t deserve to be welcomed. We were welcomed while we were enemies for goodness sake! We did not have all the answers, we didn’t have any answers really. Our doctrine was not flawless. Our worship was not pure and perfect according to the NT pattern. But…we were “welcomed” by Christ who loved us..first. We were welcomed…”for the glory of God”.

But they clap and jump up and down when they worship we protest. A voice asks softly “How were you welcomed?” They are just flat wrong about baptism and I…. “How were you welcomed?” The’re Calvinists and everyone knows they are wrong and dangerous! I know my Bible and I know my rights…. “How were you welcomed?”

My toes are sore. Those who are living under the banner of Jesus Christ, I must accept, must welcome, thinking of their good, not mine, for God’s glory, not my ego. This is the standard of fellowship. It’s harder than drawing a line in the dirt and choosing sides. For you see, someone who is not really a Christian can do that. No, this is far more difficult. It requires a selfless love for others and a heart that wants to glorify God. This way is the way of Christ who welcomed you and me.

It’s a great big family! Let’s love them and glorify God.

Royce

Sep 27 2011

What the Gospel isn’t


Our English word “Gospel” when used as a noun, originated from a combination of Middle English words according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Middle English, from Old English gōdspel (translation of Late Latin evangelium), from gōd good + spell tale

English speakers commonly and correctly understand the word “gospel” to be defined as “good news”, but almost always specifically “good news” about Jesus Christ our Lord. At least that is the consensus meaning, but a careful observer will soon discover that there are many, many ideas about what the true “Gospel” is. I think it might be useful to be aware of what the “gospel” is not.

The whole of the New Testament is not the “Gospel”

I know people who insist that the complete New Testament is the gospel and that every rule in it must be carefully obeyed for a person to go to heaven. Of course just a moment’s consideration will cause one to conclude that such an idea is silly and impossible at the same time.

The New Testament is very important because in it we learn the good news about Jesus and how his living and dying impacted an ancient people and how we who love Jesus are to live in relationship with him and others who follow Him. Of course there is more, much more, but it isn’t all “gospel” or “good news”. There are warnings about perishing, about hell, and about the wrath of God, none of which is good news. It’s true news but not good news.

Doing more good things than bad things in your life will cause God to treat you more favorably in the end.

Such thinking is quite common, even among so-called “Christians” but is not “gospel” and completely untrue. The truth about this idea is that only one infraction of God’s law makes one guilty of it all and deserving of God’s punishment. You see, God doesn’t grade on the curve, each person stands alone before God and each will be judged by the man Jesus Christ, not by good works vs. evil works.

God will surely approve of me if I reform myself morally and start going to church.

Wrong! A dead man does not need reform of character, his only need is Life! If you are not a faith follower of Jesus, the Bible teaches that you are spiritually dead and a child of wrath by nature. The reason you make any admission that you might need to change the way you live is that you know much of your life is wrong. The reason you keep doing the wrong thing is because it is your nature to live that way. You must have a new nature, one like God’s own nature, and clean living and church attendance will not do the trick.

If I am baptized I will go to heaven.

You should, you must, but baptism is not the “Gospel”. Rather, it is one response to it. Remember this truth. Only God’s children are going to be in eternity with Him. No religious activity, no amount of self-denial, no accumulation of good works, no promises made, no public declaration will make someone who isn’t a son or daughter, a son or daughter. People only become sons and daughters by birth or adoption. Jesus said, “You must be born again“. A person can only have what he needs to be accepted by God with a new beginning. Only by depending on Christ alone, by trusting him and his promises can a person be made new.

What is the “Gospel”?

The most often quoted Bible passage used to answer this question is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-13. The essence of the passage is captured in part of verse 3 and verse 4.

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures

The good news about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the “Gospel”, or at a minimum, a part of it. But what does it mean? I know I can’t fully answer that question but a summary follows.

Mankind is sinful and ungodly, but, God loves ungodly sinners! God’s justice demands that sinners who have offended a holy God be punished. God’s mercy declares that though sinners deserve punishment, they will not be punished. God’s holiness demands that all who are His must be perfect in character as He is perfect. God’s grace declares that sinners will be counted as perfect by God’s decree.

How can a holy God accept a sinful person and still be holy? And how can a just God not punish wickedness and sin and remain just? Every sinner deserves to have God’s wrath, not his mercy. And everyone who falls short of moral perfection deserves to be treated as a fallen person, not as holy. Can God still be holy and accept unholy people as His own children?

There is GOOD NEWS!

God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ and in his living before man and God he was morally flawless. He completely satisfied every demand of God’s written code, no good was left undone and he was never guilty. He lived the life God wanted from each of us and we would not, and could not,  give it. God always wanted people to take him at his word and do what he wanted, but he never got what he wanted until Jesus Christ lived his life for us and for God.

Christ willingly offered his body as a sacrifice and a substitute for sinners and died on a cross as a vile offender of God’s law. He who had no sin took upon himself our combined sins and died for us. He fully satisfied the demands of the law as he lived for us and suffered all of its penalties when he died for us. God’s demand for perfect faith and obedience had been met and God’s demand that sin be punished had been fulfilled. So Jesus cried from the cross with his last breath “It is finished!” In his body sinful man had been reconciled to God. Salvation was complete.

Then, just as promised, Jesus arose from the grave after three days defeating death, hell, the grave, and the devil. He arose in victory never to die again making the gracious offer of forgiveness of sins and eternal life to “whosoever” would come to him in simple trust and depend only upon him.

It is very good news that in the person and work of Jesus God has already accomplished everything needed for you and me to be in a relationship with him as Father. Our love response is to have a change of mind about the course of our lives and go His way and not our way. We are called to demonstrate our faith in Him by telling others we are following him and by reenacting his death, burial, and resurrection in the waters of baptism.

God promises to those who will only take him at his word and put their whole confidence in Jesus, forgiveness of all sins, eternal life, and a future in his presence with all the saints in bodies like the body of Jesus. This is indeed GOOD NEWS!

God has made a gracious offer to a flawed people with a perfect remedy for their common condition. The work and worth of Jesus is all you need. Trust him!

Sep 8 2011

Eternal life is not a what, it is a Who


The ultimate claim of Christianity is the immortality of it’s adherents. I think that many of our well-meaning friends over emphasize that if you come into a relationship with Christ you can have a better life now, at the expense of the message of the resurrection life of Jesus.

If you follow those faithful followers of Jesus after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus the hope of shared resurrection was a constant theme in their preaching. Man’s greatest enemy had been decisively defeated. There was clear proof. Jesus’ closest associates had seen him, eaten meals with him, and had seen him ascend into the clouds. And, on one occasion over 500 people saw him very much alive at one time. And then there’s Paul the Apostle, perhaps Jesus’s greatest spokesman, who didn’t fit the mold of the others, but also saw Jesus face to face long after his resurrection.

The Gospel of John gives the account of Jesus’ conversation with the Jewish leader Nicodemus. What Jesus offered one of the most holy men in Israel was simply “eternal life”. He said it in no uncertain terms. The choices were, trust in me and live forever, or don’t trust me ….you are already condemned.

Then there’s the narrative of Jesus showing up later than expected after the sickness and death of his friend Lazarus. John 11 tells about Jesus’ words to the sister of the dead man saying “I am the resurrection and the life” and that “everyone who lives and believes in me, even though he dies yet will he live” and then asks “Do you believe this?”

Wow! “I am the resurrection and the life“! The implications of this, if true, are staggering. Well, it is true. You see, what God offers through the gospel about Jesus is Jesus himself. Eternal life is not just one of several benefits afforded like forgiveness, peace, community, hope, etc. Eternal life is a PERSON! I have said this to people in classes and small groups and they don’t seem to grasp the weight of it. It is true anyway.

The opening words of 1st John are very straight forward and hard to miss if read carefully and thoughtfully.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1st John 1:1-4

John’s testimony is that Jesus is himself eternal life! He has always been “the life” or “eternal life” and he was “made manifest” (the incarnation) and he is now proclaiming “the eternal life, which was with the Father (before Jesus’ human birth) and was “made manifest“. When you are looking at Jesus you are staring eternal life in the face. So when a sinner repents and puts his trust in Christ what God gives him is not a “something” but rather a “somebody”, namely the man Christ Jesus our Lord.

In the 5th chapter of 1st John it is confirmed and I think even more clear.

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1st John 5:10-12

The record is crystal clear. Jesus is eternal life. People who are living life dictated by the appetites and desires of their bodies and are swimming along with the culture toward certain destruction do not need religion. They don’t need a life coach or new resolve or even better morals. What they desperately need is Jesus who is eternal life and our blessed hope. What the good news offers is a person, A man who lived a life pleasing to the Father that you and I could never live, A man who willingly died being punished for our common sins, as a substitute for us, so we would never have to face the wrath of God.

In short, the good news is very good news! There is a way out! Jesus loves you, He died for you, and if you will put your whole trust in Him, He will give you himself with all that he is. He will come to be your constant companion and friend by the Holy Spirit, and as a promise that you never need worry if you will finally be with him forever when this earthly life is done. Sins gone, eternal life now, a free gift to you by the God who loves you. What a deal!

The Bible describes those who are not Christians as spiritually “dead”. A dead man needs only one thing, life! Here it is, His name is Jesus, trust Him now.