Tag Archives: Jesus

Sep 24 2009

The Lord’s Supper – Remember


In the church of Christ tradition our church eats the bread and drinks the cup every Lords’s day. There are many ideas about the meaning, the motive, and the method of this holy communion. One thing is very clear though. The central purpose is to keep us centered on Jesus.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

By this wonderful reminder we are again and again pointed to Jesus. By taking the bread we remember that he suffered and died in a real body. He offered a real human body for us so that we might live in a new body when he comes. And, as we drink the fruit of the vine we remember that his pure blood purchased the new covenant that assures us of heaven.

Remembering Jesus is not the only message of the Lord’s Supper but it is the most important. Mark is down, Christians are to be centered on the gospel and on Jesus. People who are centered on Jesus are not given to foolish controversies, divisions and factions, fights about worship styles and attacking other believers.

The next time you take a bit of communion bread remember the Lord Jesus and what he suffered that you might have life. And when you drink from the cup remember the royal blood that was shed to take away your sins. Focus on Jesus and you will clearly see how he wants you to live in his stead on this earth.

for Jesus,
Royce

Aug 6 2009

It takes 2 to tango..


Yesterday I learned the discourse at GraceConversation.com is no more. What began as sincere effort for two theological camps within the churches of Christ to have a civil conversation about apostasy ended abruptly with a verbal smack down by Mac Deaver.

My hat is off to Jay Guin who hosted the discussion at OneInJesus.info for his hard work to make the conversation between “Conservatives” and “Progressives” a possibility. I was not surprised that it ended as it did.

On the “Conservative” side, first Greg Tidwell bowed out citing health issues and the business of being a preacher. Then Phil Sanders stepped in to take Greg’s place. Now Sanders is “too busy” and Mac Deaver decided it was “pointless to continue”.

Both Todd Deaver and Jay Guin (especially Jay) articulated their views and challenged the views of the “Conservatives” with clarity, charity, and consistency. It was clear to this observer that the conversation was not going to accomplish very much shortly after the first exchanges by the two sides. The “Conservatives” were unable to state solid biblical evidence for their views and their inconsistencies were glaring.

The series of posts by these five men generated perhaps more comments, including my own, than any blog within the scope of churches of Christ. In the comments the “pattern” (pun intended) continued. Traditionalists stated positions, many of which cannot be supported by Scripture, that were well worn in the 60’s. And, with some exceptions, those on the “Progressive” side won the day with more reasoned conclusions and more Biblical foundation.

My conclusions are the following:

  • GraceConversation.com was not about grace. It was a discussion between two theological schools of thought, neither of which fully comprehends God’s grace. (In Jay’s defense, it was stated from the beginning that the conversation was to be centered on apostasy, with both sides agreeing that a Christian can be saved, and then lost, the only disagreement being when or how).
  • Behind all the talk, the whole of the discussion centered on one issue, instrumental music in worship in churches of Christ. The whole discussion can be summed up in this neat package. The traditionalists believe people who have a piano in worship are lost and the progressives don’t. That is what the whole debate was about.
  • It is a tired subject and will not be resolved. There is not one verse of Scripture that addresses musical instruments either being used or not being used in the assembly of New Testament churches. Traditionalists decide arbitrarily what is sinful and what is not based on their church history, and personal preferences. It is better for them if they can find a proof text but it isn’t necessary to have any to doom those they disagree with to hell.
  • Both the tradiditionalists and the progressives believe that at some point God may damn a born again Christian, one side just believes God is more patient than the other. Neither can say at what point God decides to zap a Christian back into a non Christian status. So, the conclusion is clear. According to Greg Tidwell, Phil Sanders, Mac Deaver, Jay Guin, and Todd Deaver, staying saved depends on how well a Christian performs, and not upon the ground of the work and worth of Christ Jesus our Lord.
  • The light of God’s truth is shining in the fellowship of believers called “churches of Christ”. I have seen many signs of hope in the past decade. Just look at how far we as a people have come away from fear and a legal system, and many, many of our dear people are tasting the fresh, life giving grace of God in Jesus Christ.
  • I long for a day when if the average church of Christ member is asked the question “Are you sure you are going to heaven?” they well be able to give a quick “Yes!”answer based on what Christ accomplished for sinners. Until that day comes I will keep holding up Jesus and the salvation He purchased with His own blood as the only ground and hope of helpless and hopeless sinners.

I love and have the utmost respect for Jay Guin and Todd Deaver. It has never been necessary for a man to agree with me, or I with him, for me to love him deeply and respect him as a fellow follower of Jesus. We agree much more than we disagree. I sincerely hope to be out yonder in eternity with Greg, Phil, Mac, and Jay and Todd. I wish God’s best to each man and hope they live long, healthy, happy lives.

Finally, I realize that I am in a razor thin minority within the “brotherhood” of churches of Christ. I deeply appreciate so many of you who while disagreeing with me have embraced me with love and patience and have encouraged me to continue to preach Christ. I hope that every reader of Grace Digest will clearly understand that disagreement does not necessarily mean estrangement. My dearest friends on earth completely disagree with me on some theological points, and I with them, but our common trust in Jesus makes us one, and nothing else can. Thanks for reading and for your comments.

for Jesus,
Royce

Aug 1 2009

Religious but Lost


Scales

“And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

In the whole of the New Testament narrative, so far as the record shows, only one Pharisee was finally saved, Nicodemus.

The consistent record of the Bible is that legalists despise the message of grace. The most religious people of Jesus’ time were the Pharisees. It was this ultra-conservative troupe of zealots who could not, and would not, allow the king of human self righteousness to be dethroned.

It was not the drunkards, thieves, whores, and murderers who crucified Jesus, it was legalistic religious people who cried out “Barabbas” when given the choice of who would be crucified or released, and they cried out “Crucify him!” in reference to Jesus.

Not much has changed in my view. The true, unvarnished message of the grace of God to sinners, as revealed in the Bible, is offensive to the legalist church member. It was true in the first century and it is true in 2009. This is why the gospel, (if taught correctly), is offensive. (Romans 9:33, 1 Peter 2:8) Paul highlighted this truth saying:

 “But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed” (Galatians 5:11)

All Paul would have had to have done to stop the persecution was add works to his message of salvation. Sadly, many people have and are doing that very thing.

The “flesh” is God’s enemy today just as it was in Paul’s day. If you attempt to pry self righteousness out of the angry hands of religious zealots they will fight with every resource available to stop you. The grace of God is a direct threat to the seat of power, the human ego.

You will not win a debate with a legalist. The only way to deal with hypocrites is to keep preaching Christ alone as the way to God, and that sinful men are reconciled to God only by His life, death, and resurrection, and there is no salvation apart from faith in Him.

The salvation of sinners is what Jesus fully accomplished over 2,000 years ago. Jesus plus 0 is sufficient. Jesus plus anything is too much.

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

Central to the gospel is that God has set right (past tense) what was wrong with man because of sin. God in Christ reconciled man to God. What the person who depends a little or a lot on his own performance is attempting to do has already been done. When Jesus said “It is finished” (John 19:30) “It” was finished. The “It” of John 19:30 is the work of setting sinners right with God, it is the “work” of salvation, it is the ground of justification, it is the promise of sanctification, and the resurrection is the promise of glorification.

It is often said of salvation “There is God’s part and man’s part” and that is a true statement. But, Jesus did “man’s part”. What sinful man could never do was live in perfect obedience to God and without sin. This has always has been and still is God’s standard, He will not accept less. This is the life Christ freely gave the Father on behalf of wicked sinners. It was the perfect sacrifice, without even one blemish.

That was the positive side of Christ’s work. Man’s sin is offensive to God and must be punished; He can’t overlook sin and still be holy. Christ took every sin of every sinner upon him and the Father poured out his fury against sin as Jesus’ human body was beaten, his blood poured out, in his humiliation and suffering, until he breathed his last breath, my sins and yours were being punished. “It is finished!” A perfect salvation is complete.

Now God can declare a wicked sinner “not guilty” and still be just and holy, the sin has already been adjudicated. And, even more wonderful, God can declare that undeserving sinner “righteous” because a perfect life was given on his behalf.

This is indeed “Good News”, but not for the legalist. He demands credit for his own goodness. He is unwilling to embrace this love story of the grace of God, and is offended by it. May God open the eyes of their understanding that the light of the good news my shine in their hearts before it is too late.

For Jesus,
Royce