tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74917979895586639022024-03-08T06:27:42.820-08:00The Joyful FollowerTom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-34786105377717510032023-11-15T14:53:00.000-08:002023-11-15T14:53:58.934-08:00Good Works<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">With the launch of our 24,000 hours of mission in 2024 (24k in ’24), there will be many things that need explanation. One key area is whether or not we should do the initiative at all. It has been asked, “Isn’t this works-oriented?” The intent is that if something is works-oriented, we should not do it. This is a way that many evangelical Christians think. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In response to this, let me make the following eight points. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>1. Not A Result Of Works<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Paul makes it clear here that we are not saved by works (see also Galatians 2:16 where Paul says it in other words, i.e., we are not justified by works of the law). We could put it this way: Works are not the root of our salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">So, if we were saying in our initiative that we must have everyone in our church involved in the 24k in ’24 initiative in order that they can be saved, or if we were suggesting in any way the works done in the initiative save, that would not only be wrong, that would not only be heretical, that would be a different gospel for which we would be cursed by God (Gal. 1:8-10). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>2. I Will Show You My Faith By My Works <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In James 2:14-26 we discover that true saving faith results in and is shown to be true by works. James puts it this way in verse 18: “…I will show you my faith by my works.” After all, James will later write, “…faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26). We could put it this way: Though works are not the root of our salvation, they are the fruit salvation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">If we stopped here, it would be sufficient to show the importance of good works and that they are a good thing and not bad. They are only bad if they are put forward as the object of faith for salvation. Yet, there is so much more we can say.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>3. Christ Redeemed Us To Be Zealous for Good Works <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Paul writes to Titus in Titus 2:13-14: “…Jesus Christ…gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession <b>who are zealous for good works</b>.” (emphasis added) In light of this passage, it is very sad that about the only teaching typically heard in evangelical churches about works is that they don’t save. This is why many are negative toward works. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>4. God Prepared Beforehand Works For Christians To Do<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Consider what Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, immediately following his comments that we are saved by grace through faith, not as a result of works (Eph. 2:8-9): “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” This not only teaches that we are God’s work of art, created (i.e. re-created or saved in Christ) for good works, but he prepared in eternity past the works that he wants us to do and he gives us all we need to do them. These are significant statements about the importance of good works.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>5. Salvation-Wrought Good Works Glorify God<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Jesus, speaking to citizens of his kingdom, taught: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">That good works glorify God shows how important they are. However, there is another truth about them that shows their importance. Consider the next point. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>6. We Will Be Judged By Our Works<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Paul writes in Romans 2:6-10: “He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Paul is not teaching that works save us. He is teaching that good works are such a certain outgrowth of genuine saving faith, our works can either demonstrate we are saved or not. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>7. We Are To Abound In Good Works<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Hear Paul’s powerful statement in 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">There is no doubt about it that good works are important for the Christian. This is why we should not be surprised about the eighth and final point.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>8. Spur Each Other On To Good Works<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Hebrews 10:24-25 reads: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">This is not an exhaustive treatment of what the New Testament says about good works. Yet, it is enough to show their importance and to refute any idea that “works” is a negative and harmful focus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">So, let’s get involved in our 24k in ’24 initiative, spurred on by one another, with great gusto and to God’s glory!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully And Zealously Doing Good Works With You,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-85591455771886513062023-06-10T12:07:00.004-07:002023-06-10T12:07:48.980-07:00Twenty-Seven Reasons Jesus Is Our Ultimate Necessity<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;">In Luke 10:42 we discover that only one thing is necessary in the ultimate sense, the sense that puts all other things into focus, and that is knowing and hearing the Word of Jesus. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">Here are twenty-seven reasons why Jesus is that one necessity.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">1. He entered into a covenant with the Father to save us, the elect, whom the father gave to him in eternity past (John 6:37, 39; 17:2). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">2. The Father chose us in view of being united to Christ, i.e. in him, in eternity past and so predestined us to adoption (Eph. 1:4-5). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">3. The elect are his sheep, he calls out to them, brings them to him, dies for them, and holds on to them with the Father so that no one can remove them from him (John 10:27-30). And so, he causes us to stand, to persevere, so that we do persevere—after all they are kept for and by Jesus Christ (Jude 1, 21, 24). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">4. He is the Creator, the goal of creation, and he is the sustainer of creation and all that is in it (Col. 1:16-17; John 1:2). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">5. Jesus lived in our place so that his perfect active obedience could be imputed to us (John 5:19, 30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:5-18), and so, as will be seen in the next point, we are dependent upon him for our right standing with God (Rom. 5:1-2). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">6. When Jesus died and was raised for us, he redeemed us, and accomplished the forgiveness of our sins, realities applied to us when we repent and trust in him as Savior (Rom. 8:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Peter 2;24; 3:18). As such, it is in Christ we are justified by faith—his righteousness (an alien righteousness) being imputed to us (Rom. 3:21-26; Phil. 3:9). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">7. When Jesus died and was raised for us he purchased for us our faith (1 Peter 1:21) and new life so that the Holy Spirit could be poured out upon us richly (Acts 2:33; Gal. 4:4-7; Titus 3:5-6), the very one who unites us to Christ and applies to us the person, power, presence, and work of Christ (John 3:1-8; Rom. 8:1-17). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">8. We have been adopted into the family and been given a right to all the privileges of God in our union with Christ (Rom. 8:12-17; Gal. 4:4-7). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">9. Jesus is not only the firstborn among brothers and sisters (Rom. 8:29; Heb. 2:11) and so in a family relationship with us (Rom. 8:12-17), he is also our friend (Jn. 15:15). He is the kind of friend (the ultimate fulfillment of such) that sticks even closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). This closeness also reminds us that he is the ultimate mighty man/hero (cf. Col. 1:12-14), the ultimate bridegroom to his bride (Eph. 5:32). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">10. Jesus is the one in whose image we are being transformed and conformed to, that we might glorify him (Rom. 8:29-30; 2 Cor. 3:18). This future glorification in him is certain (Romans 8:28-39). We will be like him in spirit and body someday because we are united to him (Rom. 8:29-30; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:20-21) and because he is the first born of our new life (Col. 1:18). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">11. From the time we trust Christ to the time Christ returns or we are taken home, Jesus shows us by his Word how to live the life God wills for us (Luke 10:38-42, he enables us to live the life God calls us to (Gal. 2:20), and so gives us the grace to abide in him and to bear much lasting fruit for the glory of God as his disciples (Luke 10:38-42; John 15:1-16; Eph. 3:21; Heb. 13:20-21). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">12. Because of Jesus we experientially and really know the saving, electing love of God (Rom. 8:28-39) and so we are assured of the love of God (John 14:21, 23; Rom. 5:6, 8; Eph. 3:14-21)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">13. United to Jesus Christ we have peace with God, stand in his grace, and we can rejoice in the outcomes of trials (Rom. 5:1-5; 1 Peter 1:3-9). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">14. Jesus has been, is, and continues to intercede for and to advocate for us before the presence of the Father, thus continually applying his saving work and calling for the very things we need to walk with and to serve him (John 17; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">15. Jesus Christ is forever a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, who can deal gently with us, and who can give us help since he has walked where we walked, been tempted with the same type of temptations, and he has put on weakness as us (Heb. 2:5-18; 4:15; 5:2; 7:25)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">16. Jesus Christ is the one in whom we are brought back to and reconciled to the Father (2 Cor. 5:11-21; Eph. 2:11-22), and so we have access in and through Christ to his throne of grace to find mercy and help in time of need (Heb. 4:16). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">17. Jesus has, he continues, and he will continue to send his Holy Spirit such that he permanently indwells and empowers us for Christian life and ministry (John 14:15-17; 16:5-16; 2 Cor. 3). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">18. Jesus Christ has promised that he is preparing a place for us in eternity future and will come again to take us to himself so that where he is we can be also and therefore our hearts do not have to be troubled (John 14:1-6), and he even gives us his Spirit to help us have this experiential peace (John 14:15-31). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">19. Because of Jesus Christ we will be resurrected, glorified, and so our labor is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:12-58). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">20. It is in Christ that we have the New Covenant whereby God gives us his Spirit, transforms us from the inside out, writes his law upon our hearts, and enables us in a new and deeper way to follow him (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-27; Luke 22:20; Heb. 8; 12:24).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">21. It should be no surprise that all God’s promises to us are fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), who is the fulfillment of: Israel (Mt. 2:13-15); the feasts, festivals, and dietery laws, as well as the sacrifices (Mark 7:19; Acts 10:15; 1 Cor. 8:8; Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 8). He also is our wisdom (Prov. 8:27-30; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:3). He is our prophet to show us the way to God (John 1:1-14; 14:6; Acts 3:22; Heb. 1:1-3), our priest to win and apply our access/peace to and with God (see above), and he is our king, the one who brings us the kingdom and into the saving reign and blessings of God (Mt. 4:17; 5:3-10; 7:21-23; Lk. 11:28). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">22. Based upon the previous point, then, we should not only read all the Bible, knowing that all God promises and all the conditions to those promises are fulfilled in Christ, but we should see that the blessed happiness that comes through the gospel of the happy God (1 Tim. 1:11), and through the savior who accomplished salvation because of the joy set before him (Heb. 12:2), all this blessed happiness comes in and through Jesus Christ (Mt. 5:3-10ff.; John 14:1-14; 16:23-24; Gal. 5:22-23). After all, our obedience comes in and through him (Rom. 1:1-7). It is the rich Christ who became poor that we through his poverty might be rich (2 Cor. 8:9). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">23. In Christ we find rest (Matthew 11:28-30; Heb. 4). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">24. In Christ we find hidden all the riches of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">25. It is because of Christ we are assured that God will give to us all we need to persevere and enter into our eternal joy (Rom. 8:32). As such, we can do all things through the one who strengthens us and can be assured that God will supply every need of our according to his riches in glory in Christ. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">26. Based on all that has been listed here, it is not only not a surprise that Jesus is the one and only ultimate necessity, but that he is the one and only one who is sufficient to help us with our problems and difficulties, and so he is always necessary in our lives no matter what other helps we utilize. There is no Christian or biblical counsel where he is not supreme and central. Apart from him we have not faced and dealt with our problems. As such, if we are to glorify the Father it will be through glorifying the Son (John 1:1-14; 5:23; Heb. 1:1-3). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 23.75pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;">27. As we discover in this very passage (Lk. 10:42) all that we have in Jesus Christ through being his disciple and following his Word is the one thing that cannot be taken away! See #08 below.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-52584001769263255432023-05-27T14:12:00.000-07:002023-05-27T14:12:37.811-07:00THE MEANING` OF “FOREKNEW” IN ROMANS 8:29<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">The term translated “foreknew” (<em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">proginōskō</span></em>) is used 5 times in the New Testament: Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pt. 1:2, 20.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> Three of these passages have to do with the salvation of man (Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pt. 1:2) and two of them with God’s foreknowledge of Christ himself as a Savior who would die (Acts 2:23; 1 Pt. 1:20).<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a> In all five instances the verb does not speak merely of a simple foreknowledge or even middle knowledge of what persons would or might do (or of whether or not they would believe). Rather it denotes that God determined beforehand to bring about certain situations or a certain intimate relationship with one(s) that involves his blessings (a person to be saved or of the Son’s mission). In the texts concerning Jesus Christ, the Father determined beforehand that the Son would be blessed as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of sinners. In 1 Peter 1:2 Peter writes that saints are elected according to God’s foreknowledge. He chooses them based upon whatever foreknowledge is. Yet, to determine what more specifically it means and to see that it means something other than awareness of what would or might happen, we need to turn to the background for the word. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">The background to this verb is found in the Old Testament.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[3]</span></span></span></a> God’s knowledge is vast. His thoughts number more than the grains of the sand (Ps. 139:18), his understanding is infinite (Ps. 147:5). Yet, “there is [also] an intimacy about God’s knowledge: it reaches even to people’s thoughts (Ps. 139:2) and to the motives of the heart (Prov. 16:2; Is. 66:18).”<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[4]</span></span></span></a> Isaiah deals with God’s foreknowledge more than any other book of the Old Testament. For him, knowing future events shows that <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">Yahweh</span></i> is the true God, above mere idols (41:20-29; 42:9; 44:7, 25; 45:21). God also foretold Cyrus’ restoration of Israel from captivity (44:24-45:13; cf. Ezra 1:1-4). Yet, some would ask in our time: “But how can this be? How can God know the future free actions of a human?”<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[5]</span></span></span></a> It appears that the Old Testament would argue that whatever answer is given must take into account God’s absolute sovereignty and unconditional foreordiation: ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">Yahweh</span></i>; he directs it like a canal wherever he pleases’ (Prov. 21:1).”<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[6]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">Even more to the point, Jeremiah 1:5 provides background for “foreknow.” There we read, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you as a prophet to the nations.” Here, in context, the verb “knew” (Hebrew:<span class="lextitlehb"> </span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">yada`</span></em>; LXX: <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">epistamai</span></i>) connotes more than mere awareness.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[7]</span></span></span></a> It appears to be synonymous to other places in the Old Testament where the verb <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">yada`</span></em> (“know”) connotes “choose” or “determine to focus upon with special blessings” (Gen. 18:19; Amos 3:2 [here the LXX has <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">ginōskō</span></em>, a cognate of <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">proginōskō</span></em>]), which have behind them passages where the “know” verbs clearly mean more than “have awareness” or “be acquainted with,” but rather “enter into intimate relationship” (cf. also Gen. 4:1). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">Because of this background, we should not be surprised to discover that in Psalm 1:6 for God to “know” a group of individuals can also be virtually synonymous with being focused on them to give saving blessings and true life: “For the L<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">ORD</span> knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Here “knows” (Hebrew: <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">yada`</span></em>; LXX: <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">ginōskō</span></em>) is opposite of “perish” (Hebrew: <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">'abad</span></em>; LXX: <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">apollymi</span></em>). The verb “perish” in this context and many others (Pss. 68:2; 73:27; Is. 60:12; Lk. 13:3, 5; John 3:16) connotes the undergoing of God’s eternal judgment, i.e. the opposite of true and full life.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[8]</span></span></span></a> The background of this word used in this manner is God’s judgment of Israel by removing them from their promised land due to their covenant breaking (Dt. 30:18; Josh. 23:16), a type of the ultimate judgment for sin. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">We discover similar uses of “know” in the New Testament, some of which most likely are influenced by the Old Testament. In John 10:27-28 the apostle records words of Jesus and uses the verb <em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">ginōskō</span></em> (“know”) to speak of entering into an intimate relationship (a saving relationship) with others:<sup> “</sup>My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish,<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[9]</span></span></span></a> and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” It is obvious the Lord is not speaking of mere awareness of his sheep. Based upon context, as well as the Old Testament background we have covered, his knowing of them is a turning of his attention in their way to save and enter saving relationship—to give saving blessings. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">A similar use (but in this case used of men toward men and men toward the Lord Jesus) is found in 1 John 3:1, where the apostle attributes the lack of acknowledgment, care, and respect (similar to relationship) for Christians by the un-saved world to the fact that they don’t have those affections for (or relationship with) Jesus Christ: “The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (<em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">ginōskō</span></em> in both instances).<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[10]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">Finally, in 1 Corinthians 2:2 the Apostle Paul affirmed to the Corinthians that when he was among them, he had determined not to focus intently on anything else as central, except the crucified Jesus: “For I decided to know (<i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">eid</span></i><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 29.333336px;">ō</span></em>) nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” The meaning is not that Paul forgot all knowledge except this. He is focusing upon a sense of “know,” which his readers would have understood, and that focused upon more than mere awareness of information. It is a turning of heart and affection toward this central message and viewing it as more important than all others. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">What we discover in the Bible, then, is that “know” verbs—used both with God and with man—often focus upon more than mere awareness, they connote a turning of the heart and affections toward a message or toward others. In the case of God, for him to “know” someone(s) is to turn his heart toward them in order to bestow saving blessings or at least to bless or use them in some special way. For him to foreknow them, most likely, then, appears to mean that God has determined ahead of time to turn his heart and affections toward them to bestow blessings in regard to a special calling and/or in regard to salvation.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[11]</span></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">Now, returning to Romans 8:29, given the reality that in Romans 9:11 we discover election is not based upon future works done by the individual (including the faith that brings forth the good works), it follows that an understanding of “foreknew” here in this passage, that it is merely an awareness ahead of time, is untenable.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[12]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">What is more, John Piper also highlights how the thought flow of Romans 8:29-30 affirms this understanding of “foreknew.” <span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">The plain point of this passage is that God is working infallibly to save his people, from foreknowing in eternity past to glorifying in eternity future. None is lost at any stage of redemption along the way. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">…Notice that Romans 8:30 says, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”Focus for a moment on the fact that all whom God calls he also justifies. This calling in verse 30 is not given to all people. The reason we know it is not is that all those who are called are justified—but all people are not justified. So this calling in verse 30 is not the general call to repentance that preachers give or that God gives through the glory of nature (Ps. 19:1-2). Everybody receives that call. The call here is given only to those whom God predestined to be conformed to the image of his son, as verse 30 says…. And this call leads necessarily to justification…. All the called are justified, not just some of them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">But we know that justification is by </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">faith</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> (Romans 5:1). So if all the called are infallibly justified, then the call itself must effect or guarantee the faith, since none can be justified without faith. Between God’s act of predestination and justification there is a divine act of calling. Since justification is only by faith, the calling in view must be the act of God whereby he calls faith into being. And since it necessarily results in justification, it must be effect[ive] or irresistible. None is called (in this sense) who is not justified. All the called are justified. So the calling of verse 30 is the sovereign work of God which brings people to faith by which they are justified.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[13]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">Piper continues:<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Now notice the implication this has for the meaning of “foreknowledge”in verse 29. When Paul says in verse 29, “those whom he foreknew he also predestined,” he can’t mean (as so many try to make him mean) that God knows in advance who will use their power of self-determination to come to faith, so that he can predestine them to sonship on that basis. It can’t mean that, because we have seen from verse 30 that people do not come to faith on their own. They are called effect[ively]. That is why Paul can say that everyone who is called is infallibly justified—justification is by faith, and so the divine call guarantees the faith. </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It is not the product of self-determination that God responds to. It is the product of God’s grace which God initiates</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">. </span></i>(emphasis added)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">So the </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">foreknowledge</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> of Romans 8:29 is not the mere awareness of something that will happen in the future apart from God’s active grace. Rather it is the kind of foreknowledge referred to in Old Testament texts like Genesis 18:19 (“I have chosen [literally: known] Abraham so that he may charge his children…to keep the way of the Lord”), and Jeremiah 1:5 (“Before I formed you in the womb, I </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">knew</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations”), and Amos 3:2 (“You only [Israel] have I </span></i><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">known</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> from all the families of the earth”). As C. E. B. Cranfield says, the foreknowledge of Romans 8:29 is “that special taking knowledge of a person which is God’s electing grace.” Such foreknowledge is virtually the same as election: “Those whom he foreknew (that is, chose) he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[14]</span></b></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">When we understand “foreknew” in Romans 8:29 in accordance with its near and far contexts, in accordance with the thought flow of these two verses, in accordance with the Old Testament background, and in accordance with other New Testament uses of the “know” (including “foreknow”) word group, we conclude that a good amplified translation for this clause seems to be: “…those whom he long ago thought of in a saving relationship to himself…”<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[15]</span></span></span></a> or “those whom in eternity past he determined to turn his heart toward and love in a saving manner with his saving blessings.” It does not speak of simple foreknowledge or middle knowledge (see Introduction and Chapter One for explanations and definitions). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.25in;">“Once we understand the biblical concept of foreknowledge, we see that God’s doing things in accord with his foreknowledge means that he does them according to what he desires, wants, purposes, wills”<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[16]</span></span></span></a>—and this includes entering into an intimate relationship with them that brings the blessings of salvation and/or a special mission.<a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[17]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> S. M. Baugh, “The Meaning Of Foreknowledge,” in Thomas R. Schreiner, Bruce A. Ware, ed’s., </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Grace Of God The Bondage Of The Will</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995), 188.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> It must be noted that in none of the five passages is faith the object of the foreknowledge (as one would expect, if the passages were referring to middle knowledge). When an object is clearly stated, it is always a person(s).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> In this discussion I am dependent upon Baugh, “Foreknowledge,” 185-92, for its direction. Yet, I have also added much of the specific content.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The verb</span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">proginōskō</span></em><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> (or its cognates) is not found in the canonical Old Testament. It appears eight times in the Apocryphal books—only one of which is clearly action on the part of God (Judith 9:6), and which appears to be synonymously parallel to “will/determined” and “prepared”. The rest speak either of a human’s or wisdom-personified’s prior knowledge (Judith 11:19; Wisdom 6:13; 8:8; 18:6; 19:13; 2 Macc. 14:3; 15:8), most of which could be understood similar to how the indeterminist would understand foreknowledge on the part of God, namely awareness ahead of time. Given the lack of Old Testament background for this verb, especially in relation to God, it appears that the best reservoir for understanding how it may be used is to examine how the non-prefixed </span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">ginōskō</span></em><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> is used, especially since it is used of God in ways that appear to have bearing upon the topic-at-hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn4"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Ibid., 185.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn5"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> This question is asked in regard to libertarian (indeterministic) freedom that would require either simple foreknowledge or foreknowledge according to the middle knowledge scheme—a prior knowledge of choices that always involve alternativity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn6"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[6]</span></span></span></a> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Baugh, “Foreknowledge,” 185-92.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Isaiah 46:10-11 (a passage dealt with in Chapter Five) comes as close as any in the Bible to setting forth a solution to the puzzle of how foreknowledge relates to God’s sovereign decrees. In that passage three parallel participles proclaim what God has done and will do in regard to Cyrus and Judah’s future deliverance: “declaring…saying… calling.” Though neither</span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></em><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">proginōskō</span></em><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">or </span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">ginōskō</span></em><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">is used in the LXX (or their equivalents in Hebrew), yet, the text does say with the first participial clause that God is “declaring the end from the beginning.” This could very well be similar to the idea God knows what will happen and so he declares it. Yet, in the other two participial clauses we discover both that God’s future plan is certain (“calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel…”), but also that these future events certainly happen because they flow from his counsel and eternal purpose: “saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” In other words, God does not decide what will happen based upon his knowledge of what humans would do in given circumstances (as if he were dependent upon or limited by such choices). Rather, God’s declaration of what would happen flows out of his counsel and eternal purpose. God, in other words, is the ultimate one who decides and not angels or man. This demands free human choices in the deterministic (compatibilistic) understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn7"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Note how it is parallel with “sanctified” and “ordained.” In other words, it suggests a meaning that God, in eternity past, determined to set Jeremiah aside for the blessing of a particular and special calling, a set of tasks as a prophet. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn8"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Read in the context of this psalm, for God to know the way of the righteous involves the blessings of life and fructification (v. 3), whereas perishing involves lack of blessing, life, and fructification—all part of God’s judgment (vv. 4-5). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn9"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Note how “know” and “perish” are opposing terms here, just as in Psalm 1.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn10"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Part of the background to this verse appears to be Isaiah 61:9, where the prophet speaks of the future inaugurated kingdom and New Covenant time in which the nations will come to God and be part of his people in this manner: “Their offspring shall be known (Hebrew: </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">yada`</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">; LXX: </span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">ginōskō</span></em><span style="font-size: 10pt;">) among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge (Hebrew:</span><i> </i><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">nakar</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">; LXX: </span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">epiginōskō</span></em><span style="font-size: 10pt;">) them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.” What is significant about this text is the parallelism between the Hebrew verbs </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">yada`</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> and </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">nakar</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">. The Hiphil form of the latter verb suggests the idea of “acknowledging with honor” (Gesenius’ Lexicon on-line). There is a thread of use of “know” words throughout both testaments which speaks of affection for, the presence of honor and a sense of importance, and the idea of intimacy or relationship—turning toward with praise, honor, or blessing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">See John 8:55 for another time John uses </span><em><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">ginōskō</span></em><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> to speak of man’s intimate knowledge of, their relationship with, God (or actually the lack thereof). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn11"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Feinberg, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">No One</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 519-22, agrees. He writes (522) that so many of the terms in the Old and New Testaments that speaks of knowledge or knowing refer to “knowing by personal relationship and experience. To know someone in this sense…is to make that person on object of concern and acknowledgment and to regard that person favorably. It means having a relationship with that person.” Feinberg continues: “When we add to this the notion of foreknowing, or knowing beforehand, all that is added is that at some time prior to the present, there was a decision to establish such a relationship. Hence, foreknowledge in this sense can be defined as committing oneself beforehand to someone in an act constituting a relationship and making that person an object of care and concern for the one uniting with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn12"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Craig, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Only Wise</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 34, wrongly asserts the following about the use of “foreknow” in Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 1:1-2: “On the basis of his personally knowing certain individuals, before they come to be, God elects them and foreordains them to glorification. I think we have to allow that this is a plausible interpretation of ‘foreknow’ in these passages.” Elsewhere, Craig, “Calvinism Vs. Molinism,” 73, more specifically argues this verse refers to God’s middle knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn13"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[13]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Piper, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Pleasures</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 140.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn14"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[14]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Piper, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Pleasures</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 140-41.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn15"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[15]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Wayne Grudem, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">Systematic Theology</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> (Zondervan, 2000), 676.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn16"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[16]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Feinberg, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">No One</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 526. Martin Luther, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Bondage Of The Will</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, J. I. Packer, O. R. Johnston, Translators (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012), 80, similarly once wrote: “God foreknows nothing contingently, but that He foresees, purposes, and does all things according to his own immutable, eternal, and infallible will.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Now that I have explored the biblical usage of the “know” and “foreknow” words, it should also be noted that I am not arguing that “foreknew” and “predestined” are being used as synonyms, nor that “foreknew” merely means “choose” or “elect” as Craig, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">The Only Wise God</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, 32, 34, suggests of Calvinists.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p></div><div id="ftn17"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://69CEAB9B-A47E-4C9E-A27A-A92D8D88A714#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[17]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> Given the strong biblical evidence for how the “know” and “foreknow” words are used elsewhere, it would seem most likely that Peter (who introduces “foreknowledge” with no other indicators of what he means by it) would use the word “foreknowledge” in 1 Pt. 1:2 in a way consistent with this biblical background. Additionally, his strong view of God’s absolute sovereignty, exercised through meticulous providence, present elsewhere in the epistle (e.g. 3:17; 4:19), as well as his strong emphasis on God’s determinative relationship to regeneration in the immediate context (cf. 1:3), would also suggest this understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-7072599233467444012023-05-17T12:27:00.002-07:002023-05-17T12:27:22.012-07:00Clearing Up Misunderstandings<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Recently I’ve had a couple posts that show the importance of Christians engaging the public square. If you know me, you are not surprised by these posts since I have consistently taught the importance of engaging the public square through my whole pastoral career.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">What I want to do in this post is to clear up some misunderstandings that many Christians have regarding the public arena. In addition to clearing up the misunderstanding that Christians must stay in the middle and not be partisan (which I addressed in the last two posts), here are some other misunderstandings I will address. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>We Must Either Serve The Gospel Or The Public Arena<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Too many Christians think that one cancels out the other. Yet, the New Testament is clear that good works should flow from our embrace of the gospel since we are changed people (Eph. 2:8-10). In fact we should be zealous to carry out good works (Titus 2:14) and so should devote ourselves to them (Titus 3:14) so that God is glorified (Mt. 5:16). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Think about it this way: Do you believe that meeting the physical needs of people (feeding, clothing, housing, giving aid to those sick or hurt, etc.) opposes or snuffs out an emphasis upon the gospel? Most would say, as I have just argued, that these things flow out of a true embrace of the gospel and demonstrate that one’s faith profession is genuine. If all of this is the case, then to engage the public arena in a manner that would prevent hunger, homelessness, poverty, being hurt by lawlessness, etc., should also be an outworking of the gospel. This is especially the case in light of the fact that Scripture teaches the importance of work for our well-being and as part of our dignity (cf. Gen. 2:15; Prov. 6:6-11; 16:26; Eph. 4:28; 2 Thes. 3:10) and provision through work is the ultimate answer to all these issues (see Prov. 31:10-31). So, advocating policies that encourage work and created jobs is part of how we love others. Of course, we could also mention advocating pro-life legislation to save the lives of unborn children (see Ex. 20:13). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Remember that the New Testament calls us to live out our love for others in concrete ways to demonstrate its reality (James 1:27; 2:14-26; 1 John 3:11-4:12). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Involvement In The Public Square Signals a Wrong Focus For Salvation<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Many times throughout the last forty plus years I have heard the argument made that involvement in the public arena necessarily signals a person is trusting in Washington, D.C., for example, for salvation. Though this argument is often made, I have known very few people for whom this is true—and I have known a lot of people who value engagement in the public square. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Again, the response is simply this: Such involvement is not what will save us. It is the outworking of our truly knowing Jesus Christ as Savior, and loving others because we love our Lord (cf. Mt. 22:37-40). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Because God Is Sovereign Over Who Is In Office, It Doesn’t Matter What We Do<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">It is true that God is absolutely sovereign over who is in office or not (cf. Dan. 2:20-21). Yet, it is equally true that God uses means to accomplish the outcomes he has decreed. In other words, he ordains both the means and the end. And so, the Apostle Paul can, at one and the same time, teach that God works all things after the counsel of his will (Eph. 1:11) and yet at the same time we reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7). The Bible teaches that we must believe both and that God’s sovereignty is never to negate the importance of our choices and actions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">One other point on this is that the same argument could be made for feeding the hungry or helping the homeless: Well, God will decide where they end up and how. So, we don’t need to do anything. Yet, we never make this argument. We somehow know we need to be involved in this. And yet, when it comes to the political arena, it just seems like we are looking for any excuse we can to justify our lack of involvement. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Involvement Inevitably Will Make Some People Think They Are Not Welcome In Our Church <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">It certainly is possible this can happen. But let’s be clear. I have experienced several times having gay or Lesbian people attend churches I have pastored for a time and leaving after a while (even though I never took up during that particular time the subject of homosexuality). It was simply the conviction of the Spirit through the Word of God that bothered them. Yet, at the same time, I could point to many more people who have come to churches I have pastored and who differed with all kinds of biblical teachings and yet have come to submit to them all due to the work of the Holy Spirit in them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Since God changes people by His Spirit working through his Word, in response to prayer, and usually among his people, and since God calls us to be faithful to believe and to act upon his biblical truth, we dare not be disobedient. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In the long-run, God will bless our faithfulness to preach and stand for the whole counsel of his Word and it also is most likely the only way to see revival and reform in our culture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully Engaging The Public Square With You For His Glory,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">Tom Barnes<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-16069768832353745942023-05-16T08:20:00.000-07:002023-05-16T08:20:08.523-07:00Sunday Leftovers From Luke 10:13-15<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In Sunday’s sermon on Luke 10:13-24, we saw the following in verses 13-15: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">There are four implications from this text that we did not have time to cover. Here they are. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">First, there are different levels of judgment for those who will be in hell, just as there will be different levels of rewards to those in heaven (see also Mt. 5:19; 11:22, 24; </span>Luke 20:47; Mt. 11:22, 24; <span class="text">Rev. 2:23). No one should be comforted by this—as if you conclude that you will be under the least level of judgment. Instead, it should be a warning to those who have so many benefits, growing up under the hearing of the gospel, and facing the worst judgment in hell!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Second, we are reminded that God is omniscient, knowing all things and having all wisdom (see also Ps. 139:1-6; Jer. 32:19; Rom. 11:33). What we discover here in Luke 10:13 is that God not only knows all that happens and will happen. He also knows all that would happen if there were different events preceding that outcome. Jesus displays divine knowledge here in that he knows that if Tyre and Sidon would have seen the mighty works of Jesus done among them, they would have repented and trusted in him in a large-scale manner across their cities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Third, we see that even though God is aware of a set of events that would have led to the faith and repentance of Tyre and Sidon, for reasons known only to him, he did not decree these events. This demonstrates that God does not decree what happens in a manner dependent upon man’s future choices. The ultimate moving force is found in the decrees of God (his sovereign will of decree), not human choices. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Fourth, we discover especially in these verses that cultures of cities and/or countries can have an impact upon how citizens think and respond (or don’t respond) to the gospel (this is implied in Isaiah 25:3 and Acts 17:16 also). In other words, it appears to be the case that Jesus is affirming that in Chorazin and Bethsaida there were cultural influences that led to their large-scale rejection of Jesus and the kingdom. Most likely this influence revolves around shared false expectations about the coming Christ, as well as a false elevated view of their own standing before God—all which led to the thought they did not need a Christ and Savior like Jesus. Conversely, if a different set of cultural influencers were present in Tyre and Sidon, there would have been a wide-scale turning to Christ, just as there was a wide-scale turning to God in Nineveh, as seen in Jonah. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">If I am correct about this fourth implication, it demonstrates to us the importance of shaping the public square through things like education and public policies. Of course, these are not absolute, nor do they form a sure-fire formula. After all, the New Testament church was born out of two key cultural influences (the Jewish and Greco-Roman worlds) that were antagonistic to Christian doctrine. Likewise, in our own time we see the church growing much in places as antagonistic to Christianity as can be imagined, such as North Korea and China. These examples remind us God is God and we are not. Nevertheless, we should also remember the strong positive influence Christianity has had upon cultures, that in turn, have had positive influence on the spread of Christianity in those cultures (e.g. 16<sup>th</sup> c. Germany and Geneva, Switzerland, as well as 18<sup>th</sup> c. colonial America). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">By way of summary, we can say these four implications bring two other discoveries. To begin, many theological concepts arise as secondary implications in texts. They may not be the primary thrust of the passage, but they are nonetheless present. Finally, we see the importance of paying careful attention to the details of Bible texts we read or study. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully Discovering God’s Truth In His Word With You,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom Barnes<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-27175166216062743572023-05-15T08:52:00.001-07:002023-05-15T08:53:08.313-07:00The Boat Has Drifted: Why I Am Openly Partisan For The Sake Of The Gospel And My Neighbor, Part 2<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">An older definition of the noun, “partisan,” is, “An adherent to a party” (Webster’s 1828). The adjective, then, would describe someone as being united in opinion or conviction with others. In that sense of the word, I am very committed to the worldview known as orthodox, confessing Christianity. In other words, I am “partisan” when it comes to: <o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The belief that there is absolute truth (John 8:32;14:6).<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The belief that the one God in three persons, as revealed in the Scriptures, is the God who is there (Mt. 28:19). <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The belief there is only way to be forgiven, reconciled to, and thus to know God, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31). <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The belief that we are created in the image of God, as male and female (Gen. 1:26-28). <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The belief that the Bible is from God, always true, and the only ultimate binding source of divine authority (John 10:35; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">I could add more but the point is sufficiently made. Any Christian who stands upon the foundation of biblical truth adheres to clear convictions that are opposite what many in our culture currently believe. What Scripture calls me to do in regard to such people is to love them (e.g. Mt. 22:27-40). It is not to agree with them or to be unified with them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">In fact, if I love them, the Bible teaches that I will not only speak the truth to them (Mark 6:34), I will also seek to address their physical or material needs even when they are not favorable toward me (Luke 10:25-37; James 1:27). You might say that I am partisan about loving others in biblical ways, even those who differ from me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">The Bible teaches we are to speak truth to others, help those who have been attacked, hurt, and left for dead (Luke 10:25-37); meet the needs of widows and orphans (James 1:27); seek to prevent babies from being killed (Ex. 20:13); and feed people when they are hungry (Mt. 25:31-46). Since this is the case, would it not stand to reason that if we can have influence upon our government such that we encourage them to do their job of protecting law abiding citizens and punishing those who are breaking the law and hurting others (Rom. 13:1-7), if we can encourage our government to order things such that more jobs are created and so people can provide for the needs of self and family—a situation that provides greater dignity than having to rely on handouts (Gen. 2:15; Prov. 16:26; Eph. 4:28), and if we can influence our government to preserve and view life as sacred, should we not do this? And if we should do all this, how can we not be partisan? How can we stay in the middle? Or even more, how can we be unified with those who believe the opposite? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">I am not arguing for being unloving in how we go about what we do. But I do believe that the Church has been silenced in letting our light shine to God’s glory (Matthew 5:16) and to the benefit of others, all because we have bought the lie, “We must stay in the middle, we must be non-partisan, and we must just preach Jesus and not worry about these other things.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">I would agree that our priority is preaching Jesus and making disciples. But disciples do what Jesus commanded (Mt. 28:20), that is, they keep and obey God’s Word (Luke 11:28). In fact, the very reason we need the gospel Paul defines so well in Romans 3:21-5:21 is that we are sinners who fall short of God’s will and of glorifying him (Romans 1:18-3:20). And, when we have responded to the true gospel of the true Savior in faith and repentance, it results in our obeying our Savior and Lord (Rom. 6:1-8:39; 12:1-15:33). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">When we advocate for truth (and do it in love) in our culture we are laying ground for people to see why they need Jesus, we are laying ground for people being able to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5), and we are practicing love like Christ. And, when we advocate for good public policy, we are practicing the good works that flow from true salvation (Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-14). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">So, is it sub-Christian to adhere to and advocate for those in government or running for government office who hold to these same convictions?<span> </span>I argue it is sub-Christian to remain in the middle, uncommitted, and quiet. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">The reality is that though neither one of the two major parties in this country is perfect (they are far from it!), there is one party whose platform comes the closest to what I have outlined above. There is also one party that agrees with virtually nothing I have outlined above. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">I end up voting for those in the political arena whom I believe come the closest to those positions that honor God and help people most. These are expressions of the gospel of Christ in me that lead me to love God with all I have and other people as myself. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">So yes, I am unashamedly partisan and will advocate such partisanship for the good and future of this country, the benefit of its citizens, and for the glory of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text">Joyfully Following Our Lord Who Is The Truth,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom Barnes<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-32297853821947877982023-05-11T12:35:00.001-07:002023-05-11T12:38:53.962-07:00The Boat Has Drifted: Why I Am Openly Partisan For The Sake Of The Gospel And My Neighbor, Part 1<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Imagine that you are on a large boat that was tied to a dock. You have been on it for days, enjoying the company of family and friends. Yet, what you are unaware of is the fact that the boat came untethered two days ago and slowly but surely you have floated out to sea. To make matters worse a storm is gathering that will put everyone on the boat at risk. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">This is a good picture of where we are at in the United States. We are acting like it is still the 1960’s or 70’s and we are in a place in which the Church can still say, “We must not take sides in political issues. There are good debates to be had between two parties, we don’t want to make it look like we side with one or the other, lest we make it seem like a person is not welcome just because they are part of a certain political party, and besides there is virtually no difference between the two parties.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Yet, the reality is that the boat of our culture has come untethered, has drifted out to sea, and though many of us might feel like we are still in a place at the dock that allows us to say those kinds of things, the reality is that due primarily to one party in our country we have drifted out to sea and face destruction if something doesn’t change. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">It was true at one time that members of that party (think John F. Kennedy and Patrick Moynihan) were such that both parties could have legitimate and good debates on issues. Those days are gone. Consider that party now stands for: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">1. As many abortions (aka murders of unborn children) in our nation as they can make happen. No longer do they stand just for legal, safe, rare abortions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">2. Judging people in the opposite way that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued for. He longed for the day that people can be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. This party now stands for the opposite!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">3. Rewarding people with bad credit to purchase a house through an FHA loan by having those with good credit scores pay more for their loans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">4. Rewarding college students for not paying their loans and rewarding people for entering our country illegally.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">5. Lawlessness in our cities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">6. Human trafficking that has taken place due to this administration inviting people by word and action to travel weeks to the border of the United States and to enter illegally.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">7. Sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as a massive increase of Fentanyl deaths also due to their open border policy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">8. That males can become females and vice versa, and that children and youth can make such changes without informing their parents. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">9. That the mutilation of perfectly healthy bodies, along with the amputation of perfectly healthy organs, is fine and something to be pursued as people “transition”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">10. Truth is unimportant. All that matters is “spinning the truth” for the purpose of political gain. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">11. Energy and economic policies that have blatantly disregarded not only the wisdom of biblical law, but that of natural law and, as a result, have hurt the most vulnerable among us and have stressed the majority of families financially throughout the country. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">What the Democrat party in general and this administration in particular stand for are stances that are no longer viable options for debate, or at least they should not be—at least in the eyes of Christians who believe in the authority and truthfulness of the Bible, or even those who believe in the validity of natural law. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">It is because of these realities that I will no longer be quiet about the church’s silence. I will no longer stand by as Christian after Christian argues they cannot be involved or take sides for the sake of the gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Let me be clear. A person does not have to be part of a particular party to be a Christian. There are genuine Christians who still vote as Democrats. All people are welcome at our church no matter what your political affiliation is. Be all that as it may, I can no longer, through silence, act as if Christians ought to be in the middle, act like both political parties are equally bad or equally good, nor can I act like the loving thing to do is to be quiet and just “preach Jesus” while we act as if nothing else matter! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The current Democrat party in general and this administration in particular are morally bankrupt and make it impossible to stand for either one as a true Christian who desires to stand consistenly with the Bible in any way. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Church, we must stop trying to act as if we are “woke” and we must truly be awakened, through a spiritual awakening. We must return to believing in and teaching truth. We must stop just trying to get along with everyone and must begin speaking truth no matter the cost. The time is past and has drifted out to sea when we can act as if we can have nice discussions about benign differences. The differences do matter, Christians! They matter for our mission. They matter for the gospel, they matter when it comes to loving other people. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In my next post I will share more specifically why I am encouraging the church to be partisan, to be unified in Christ with one another, but not to be unified with a morally bankrupt political party and administration. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Concerned About The Health Of The Church And the Country,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom Barnes</span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-48170617961187295802023-02-09T14:37:00.003-08:002023-02-09T14:37:43.183-08:00THE GOSPEL'S EFFECTS IN ONE WORD<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">In 1 Peter 5:6, after telling readers to submit to elders, the Apostle Peter then commands them, “Humble yourselves….” In other words, have an accurate view of self that recognizes weaknesses and that does not act arrogantly toward others. The command has only one word, which is a form of the verb </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">tapeinoō</span></i>. The way Peter writes the verb communicates much about the effects that emerge from one’s embrace of the gospel and the subsequent transformation. In the following I show how.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><i>1. Humble Yourselves As Needed<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">The verb is in the aorist tense. Sometimes, as most likely here, this tense communicates an axiom. It is something that a person should do as needed, as for example when one has forgotten the need of humility and needs to come back to it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><i>2. Humble Yourselves By God’s Grace<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">The verb is in the passive voice. Voice, in Greek reveals the relationship of the person under consideration to the action. The passive suggests action that comes from outside the person or we could put it this way, action that is empowered by someone else. That someone is God (see the foundation Peter lays in 1 Peter 1:1-2:25). A literal translation would be, “Be humbled.” It is only by God’s grace that comes through the gospel that a person can be humble.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><i>3. Be Responsible To Humble Yourselves<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">Even though we have already seen that a person can be humble only by God’s grace and empowerment, nevertheless, they are commanded to be humble. The verb is in the imperative mood. Mood in Greek communicates the relationship of the verb to reality. Here it is not something that was happening, is in the process of happening, or might happen. It is something that is commanded to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">The way God works is to provide commands to us like this one and the way he empowers us is to work on the will to give the desire to respond (see Phil. 2:12-13). This, then is the heart of the gospel’s effects on believers. Whatever ethical action is under consideration, we ought to obey, but can obey only because we have been transformed and empowered by Christ’s Saving work and the indwelling of the Spirit. We are to be what Christ has already made us to be and do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"><b><i>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">What we see in this one word is a synopsis of what the New Testament teaches from beginning to end: The Christian life is about what Christ has done for us and our living out the new life he commands of us as a result of his gracious, empowering, saving work. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">Joyfully Living Out The Effects Of The Gospel With You,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-36695169996751852302023-01-09T07:09:00.001-08:002023-01-09T07:19:16.565-08:00The Sufficiency Of Scripture<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">The sufficiency of Scripture means “the Bible contains all that we need to know God’s will and live a life pleasing to him.”<a href="applewebdata://0F6FACEA-D094-44D6-A94B-2B17F2C0FC66#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> This is a doctrine that is clearly found in God’s Word (Ps. 119:1; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). More specifically, the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture affirms that the amount of special revelation God’s people have at any time in history is all they need at that time (e.g. Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 1:1-4; 8-10); the complete accomplishment of redemption by God leads to the completion of Scripture, so the Bible we now have is all we need (Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18-19; 2 Tim. 3:16-217; Heb. 1:1-4); the Bible has within its pages all that is absolutely necessary for its own interpretation (e.g. Mt. 15:1-9; Lk. 24:27; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pt. 1:20-21); and that the Bible contains all we need to know from God about any topic (e.g. John 17:17; Acts 20:32; Rom. 1:16; 16:25; Gal. 1:8-10; Col. 3:16-17; James 1:18).<a href="applewebdata://0F6FACEA-D094-44D6-A94B-2B17F2C0FC66#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a> Finally, the closer we get to heart or inner person matters (2 Cor. 4:16), the more the Bible is all we need (Ps. 19:7-10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pt. 1:3-4). So, the Bible should be the source for and the authority in all counseling.<o:p></o:p><w:sdtpr></w:sdtpr></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><span> </span>Not every Christian agrees with all that was just affirmed. Many integrationist counselors would deny the final point made, that the Bible contains all we need to know from God about any topic. Most integrationists who believe in the authority, infallibility, and inerrancy of the Bible have concluded that there are many issues dealt with in counseling that do not have sufficient answers in the Bible. For example, Stanton L. Jones and Richard E. Butman argue that depression is an example of something that does not have a fully biblical solution. They compare it to what one believes about thermodynamics.<a href="applewebdata://0F6FACEA-D094-44D6-A94B-2B17F2C0FC66#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a> In other words, in the same way that the Bible does not explain thermodynamics and so it is not a source for what a person believes about it and how to interact with this topic, so also the Bible is not a sufficient guide for many topics dealt with by counselors. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">Behind this approach are the convictions that all truth (even extra-biblical assertions made by researchers) is God’s truth, so we can apply assertions from other disciplines to help alleviate people’s suffering (which Jones and Butman affirm is their motivation for counseling, page 17); though the Bible is sufficient for the salvation of a person’s soul, it is not sufficient to address personal counseling problems, since many such problems deal with an aspect of humans (their body and soul) that Scripture does not adequately address; and so we need the wisdom from extra-biblical sources, if we are to be competent and helpful counselors. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;">This integrationist approach is flawed for the following reasons: (1) As noted above, Scripture affirms it is sufficient in all the ways stated; (2) the Bible is crucial in addressing issues that are not explicitly mentioned (e.g. though the word “depression” is not in the Bible, it sufficiently provides the truth needed to deal with it); (3) the integrationist position assumes the Bible lacks help in many counseling areas without doing the homework to see how the Bible is rich in wisdom for all areas of life (Col. 2:3); (4) the ultimate standard for what is true is God’s Word, not research (Mt. 4:1-11; 15:1-9; 2 Tim. 3:16-17); (5) it often starts with the wrong ultimate purpose for counseling (the immediate alleviation of suffering, rather than sanctification for God’s glory, 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 2:5-18); (6) it most often holds to a trichotomist view of humans rather than the biblical dichotomist position (2 Cor. 4:16); (7) it leads people astray, i.e. from seeing that even in outer man issues such as physical suffering, there is much essential wisdom to be gained from Christ and his Word (Col. 2:3) and that God calls us ultimately to trust in him, not merely human physicians or agents (2 Chron. 16:12; Ps. 20:7; Prov. 21:31); (8) and finally it denies the very promise that God has made to his people, namely that he has given all that is needed for a life of godliness, flourishing, and spiritual protection (Mt. 5:3-10; Eph. 6:10-20; 2 Pt. 1:3-4).<o:p></o:p></p><p><w:sdt docpart="214917F00D7CB242826CB5BFAC0018D2" id="-99961718"></w:sdt></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><a href="applewebdata://0F6FACEA-D094-44D6-A94B-2B17F2C0FC66#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px;">[1]</span></span></span></a> Heath Lambert, <a name="_Hlk59598497"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">A Theology Of Biblical Counseling</span></i></a>, 36. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><a href="applewebdata://0F6FACEA-D094-44D6-A94B-2B17F2C0FC66#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px;">[2]</span></span></span></a> I am dependent upon Heath Lambert, <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">A Theology Of Biblical Counseling</span></i>, 44-48, for these four further implications.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.25in;"><a href="applewebdata://0F6FACEA-D094-44D6-A94B-2B17F2C0FC66#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 20px;">[3]</span></span></span></a> Stanton L. Jones, Richard E. Butman, <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">Modern Psychotherapies</span></i>, 19. I also have been helped by Douglas Bookman, “The Scriptures And Biblical Counseling,” in John F. MacArthur, Jr., Wayne A. Mack, Eds., <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">Introduction To Biblical Counseling</span></i>, 68-94. <o:p></o:p></p></div></div>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-2485789992527811912022-11-30T12:05:00.000-08:002022-11-30T12:05:12.147-08:00CHRISTMAS AND THE "[DIS]RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT"<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the November 30, 2022 “The Sift” at wng.org we read the following:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0.2in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Twelve Republicans voted with Democrats in the Senate on Tuesday to pass the so-called Respect for Marriage Act. The bill would enshrine a right to same-sex marriage into federal law. Religious liberty advocates say the bill could infringe on the rights of individuals, churches, and organizations to express their religious views on marriage. Some religious liberty amendments were earlier added to gain Republican votes. But the Senate struck down three other amendments seeking more protections for religious liberty before 61 senators voted to pass the bill and 36 opposed it. The House must approve the measure once more before it heads to President Joe Biden’s desk.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">If the House of Representatives would vote in favor of this bill and if President Biden would sign it, then they will have codified into U.S. law that marriage is defined as something other than procreative in kind (between a man and a woman), a truth that all previous cultures in history have affirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Less than a month from Christmas this senate action provides a sharp contrast to the purpose of Christmas. Let me explain. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Hebrews 2:14-15 reveals to us that one of the key purposes for which the Son of God became man (the story of Christmas) was to destroy the devil and deliver those who, because of him, were subject to life-long slavery. Elsewhere Paul clarifies that this involves delivering a person from the domain of sin, Satan, death, and of darkness, and transferring them to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son through the forgiveness of sins in redemption (Col. 1:13-14). When sins are forgiven in Christ, a key tool Satan uses against us—accusation—is removed and he is therefore defeated (Col. 2:13-15; Rev. 12:11). As such, when this work is applied to the person, they are made alive together with Christ (Col. 2:13). This means that they can now function as God originally intended them to, namely to trust in and obey him, the very best life to live (Dt. 10:12-13). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Simply put, the Word of God became flesh and tabernacled among us (John 1:14) so that he might live, die, and be raised in the place of sinners so that we can be forgiven, saved, and transformed into the kind of persons who obey and glorify God (John 3:16, 36; Rom. 5:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:20; 5:17-25; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:4-10, 24; 3:18). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The way the Apostle Paul words this in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is that because of Christ our very identity is changed through our being justified, cleansed, and sanctified so that we are no longer chiefly characterized by our sins (and he lists adultery and homosexuality as examples), but we are now new people! We should not be surprised by what Paul writes here. After all, elsewhere, he makes it clear that he believes God created humans with binary sexuality, as man and woman, that marriage consists of a man and woman entering into covenant union before God, and that any deviation from this is sin—the very thing from which Jesus came to save humans (1 Cor. 7:1-2; Eph. 5:21-33; Col. 3:18-19). Paul even asserts that marriage is necessarily between a male and female since from the beginning of time God intended it to give a picture of the gospel in Christ’s saving of and love for his bride, the church (Eph. 5:32). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Jesus is in agreement with Paul. We know this because he affirmed that God created humans with binary sexuality, that marriage is between a man and woman, and any deviation from this is sin—the very thing from which he came to earth to save humans (Mt. 5:27-32; 19:4-6; Mk. 10:5-9). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">What we celebrate at Christmas, then, is that Jesus came to save humans from the destruction of sin, i.e. deviation from God’s moral will, which is given to us for our good (Dt. 10:12-13). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">This reality has a number of ramifications in regard to the bill the senate just passed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">1. Anyone who affirms same-sex marriage, transgenderism, and/or the “rightness” of same sex practice holds to a worldview that cannot be accurately labeled Christian. It is not a liberal or postmodern version of Christianity. As J. Gresham Machen said almost a century ago in his book </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Christianity And Liberalism</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span>about the Liberalism of his day, it is not a version of Christianity, for it is an altogether different worldview, religion, or system of thought.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">2. The Church across the United States should take a number of steps to counter what will most likely become the law of the land.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">a. Pray both for the destruction to adults and children that such a law will engender and for those fellow Christ followers who will not be protected from religious persecution under the law. Though right now Churches (but not individuals, schools, or businesses) would be protected from affirming same-sex unions through the language of the law, it is by no means guaranteed this will continue—especially since same sex marriage will be codified into law and opposing it will likely be seen as a civil rights violation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">b. Move to make a distinction between the true Church and those who profess Christianity but have compromised. Two ways I plan to do this are as follows: First, I will cease using the mere words “evangelical” or “Christian” to define myself. I will be intentional in adding descriptive words, such as this: I am a confessional (I hold to the ecumenical and Reformed creeds of Christendom), Reformed (I hold to the theology of the Reformers, especially the London Baptist Confession of 1689) evangelical. Second, I will no longer perform wedding ceremonies but instead will require couples not only to acquire their license at the courthouse but also to be officially married there. Then, what we will do in our church building is to join them in holy matrimony through a covenant ceremony before God, the church, and their friends. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">c. Preach the biblical gospel which makes clear that all are lost sinners who can be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone. Though the preaching of the biblical gospel makes clear that we are not saved by works, true salvation results in works consistent with God’s righteous will. This means that a truly saved person will want to do what God commands (even in the areas of sex and marriage) and they will be grieved when they fall short of his will. To preach a lesser gospel is potentially to set people up to think they are Christians when they are not and someday to see that they are grievously and eternally mistaken (Mt. 7:21-23). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">3. The Church across the United States must not give up on praying for and working toward putting lawmakers in office that advocate for laws to reflect the wisdom of God. This would mean those that affirm that marriage is between a man and a woman. Such is part of the good works for which any saved person is zealous to perform (Titus 2:11-14; 3:14). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">4. Finally, though Christians should hold accountable politicians who voted for this bill, they should not do so in anger or bitterness. They should speak the truth firmly and in love (Eph. 4:15). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 16.55pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">It is a sad day in the United States due to the devastation that will continue to be wrought by laws such as this. It is not a day to celebrate an act that purports to respect marriage but a day to mourn a bill that disrespects marriage. Yet, at the same time, it is not a day for despair. Throughout history people, apart from God’s gracious work in their lives, have opposed him, his will, and his people—hating all three. This time in history is no different. Our Lord and Savior calls us to take light into the darkness of this world and to show them the way to truth and how to flourish (Mt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-15). And while we do this, we can be assured he will continue to be for us, give us all we need to persevere and enter into our eternal joy, and he will continue to show to us a love from which nothing or no one can separate us (Romans 8:28-39). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Therefore, may we be faithful!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully Following Our Lord With You,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-85399777404201909652022-11-14T12:42:00.001-08:002022-11-14T12:43:05.035-08:00Christianity And Women<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Here in what follows is the full transcript of the August 9, 2022 podcast by John Stonestreet and Glen Sunshine that I referenced in Sunday's sermon. It counters the false narrative that Christianity is bad for women. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><span>Also, for another study that comes to the same conclusions see </span><span>Alvin J. Schmidt, ch. 4 (“Women Receive Freedom and Dignty”), in <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif;">How Christianity Changed The World</span></i>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span>Throughout Church history, church attendance and overall religiosity have been higher among women than among men. That seems to be changing, especially for younger generations. According to new data, the long-existent church gender gap, which shows up in both religious affiliation and church attendance, has now flipped. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span>However, the headline is not that more men are connecting with the Church. The story is that more women are disconnecting from the Church. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span> A number of factors have contributed to this demographic shift, not least of which are recent scandals of sexual impropriety and abusive leadership among prominent pastors and Christian leaders. Also, education and ethnicity seem to play a significant role in the religious identification of millennial women. “Among white respondents,” a recent Christianity Today article summarized, “women are 9 percentage points more likely to say that they have no religious affiliation compared to white men,” but “there’s no real difference in the share of male and female nones among Black, Asian, and other racial groups.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span>…In ancient Rome…the vast majority of women were seen as not much better than slaves. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span> Twelve was the legal age for girls to marry in Rome. If not married by 20, women were generally marginalized. Though divorce was available to both men and women, husbands caused most divorces since women rarely had other financial means. Ex-wives and widows were often left destitute. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span> In contrast, Christianity saw women as the spiritual and moral equal of men. Women and men shared the same created dignity, the same problem (sin), and the same solution, Jesus. As result, women in the Christian community had a higher status and more freedom than women in the broader Roman world. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span> The Christian rejection of divorce and sexual double standards, and its insistence on strict monogamy reflected this. Further, women were given more choice about whom and whether to marry and tended to marry later than their Roman counterparts. While widows were encouraged to remarry, the Church provided aid for those who did not or could not. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span> The Church also rejected abortion and infanticide as murder, meaning that women were not subjected to dangerous surgical procedures, and girls were not “discarded.” Thus, there were proportionately more women in the Christian community than in Roman society as a whole. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span>Because of Christian attitudes and behavior toward women, more women converted to Christianity than men, and many men who converted did so under the influence of their wives. Eventually, Christianity transformed the status of women in the Roman world….<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt;"><i><span> Nonetheless, Christianity did more to improve the status of women than any other historical force. Even today, as the Gospel spreads around the Global South, the status and freedoms enjoyed by women are being raised. The treatment of women is just one example of how the Church has been an essential force for good in the world. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-19792554021927748842022-08-08T12:02:00.000-07:002022-08-08T12:02:47.658-07:00ENCOURAGEMENT TO PARENTS WHO DISCIPLE THEIR CHILDREN<div style="text-align: left;">God’s covenantal faithfulness (i.e. his vow to be committed to his people and to fulfill his promises to them) stands underneath the call that parents have to disciple their children. The following is how. He has vowed to bless the nations through the seed of Abraham, the Christ (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:13; Gal. 3:16), and this involves God’s people possessing the nations (Is. 54) and thus causing the fear-inspiring city of nations to fear God and come to him (Is. 25:3), which is part of the New Covenant in which God will reach the nations through his people (Is. 54; 60:1-3ff.). The promise to reach and possess the nations as offspring also includes God’s New Covenant promise to teach these children of God’s people and to give them great peace (Is. 54:13), which is part of the New Covenant promises of God (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-27; John 6:45). Thus, as the Church is called to tell the next generation of the great works and salvation of God (cf. Dt. 6:6-9; Ps. 78), which is a subset of the mission to make disciples by teaching them to observe all Jesus commanded (Mt. 28:19-20), there is a promise that this will be successful and fruitful and this promise stands upon the power and authority of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Mt. 28:18). So, parents can be encouraged that God is going to do much in their discipling of their sons and daughters. What a joy that it does not ultimately depend upon us. Additionally, this should encourage any disciple of Jesus Christ who is discipling others (pastors and non-pastors). God will accomplish this mission and there will be the redeemed someday standing before him from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group worshiping him in heaven (Rev. 5:9-10; 7:9-13). This will include many children of faithful discipling parents. So disciple, disciple, disciple. God will bring forth much fruit (one of the reasons Jesus chooses us as his disciples (John 15:16)!</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><o:p></o:p></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-77723819988891606192022-05-31T13:50:00.003-07:002022-05-31T13:50:47.418-07:00THE SIX P's<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In Sunday’s sermon I mentioned six groups, each of which start with P, that I pray for regularly because I believe serving them in the various ways they need is important for fulfilling the Great Commission God has given us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Proximate Community<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">We must first reach those closest to us, including family, friends, community, co-workers, fellow students, those from other countries God is bringing to us, and speaking into the public arena to display our love and to set the stage for evangelism. Starting here is not only important since those who don’t make disciples at home probably won’t be involved in places farther away, but also since disciplemaking can help to raise up an army of people who can pray, send, support, and go when it comes to missions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Present Missionaries<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">This group is important since these are the folks that God has called us to send out and support so that missions throughout the world can take place. When we are not loving and supporting our missionaries well, we are hurting the church’s effectiveness in the Great Commission. The opposite takes place when we love and support them well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Pastors Undertrained<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> Through much of the world where the Spirit of God is moving and people are coming to Jesus as their Savior in large numbers, most pastors have less training than the average Christian attending church services on Sunday mornings in the United States. To serve this group well ultimately encourages and strengthens and brings greater health to the churches they lead and their oversight of discipling. This is a crucial part of the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Peoples Unreached<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">One third of the world, three billion people, have no access to a Bible or the gospel, no Christians around to tell them about the gospel, and no churches to serve them or nurture them if they would come to Christ. It is estimated that 160,000 people a day die and go into a Christless eternity. If Christians will obey Jesus Christ and go to these people, it will mean bringing greater spiritual health to the church so that there will be people who make the sacrifice to go to unreached peoples and to stay with it. This is especially true when one realizes that unreached peoples are in some of the hardest places and people groups to reach. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Poor and Persecuted<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">There are many throughout the world who are poor materially and to help minister to their physical needs often opens them up more to respond in genuine faith to the gospel (Acts 4:32-34; 1 John 3:16-18). This, then is an important aspect of fulfilling the Great Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">At the same time, the church throughout the world is often materially poor and suffering due to persecution. When Christians minister to fellow Christians in these circumstances, they are helping these front-line believers to continue to carry out the Great Commission and to do so fruitfully. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Parentless<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Finally, an important group to serve throughout the world are those in need of orphan care, including those in the foster care system, and/or those who need to be adopted. In most of these lives much pain and need are found. Helping to love such children not only can open the door for them to hear and respond to the gospel, but it also gives a powerful picture of the gospel in that it is true of all genuine Christians that God adopts them into his family and gives them a right to all the privileges of his children (Rom. 8:15-17; Gal. 3:26; 4:5; Eph. 1:5; 1 Jn. 3:1). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>Response <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">How can we respond? It is simple. Begin to pray for these six groups of people. As you pray for them, seek to learn as much as you can about them. Not only pray for the needs they have but also ask God how you can serve each one. Are there things he would have you do beyond pray? Watch and see how God answers you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully serving these six groups with you!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-45007339566778222272022-05-24T14:21:00.002-07:002022-05-24T14:21:18.163-07:00How Jesus Prays<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">As I said in Sunday’s sermon, Luke emphasizes the prayer life of Jesus more than any other Gospel writer. He showed us in the passage we looked at (Luke 4:42-44) that Jesus drew closer to God the Father, gained direction, and gained strength for his mission through prayer. We emphasized that we should follow his example in this as in everything. After all, as disciples of Jesus, we should emulate him (Luke 6:40; 1 John 2:6). And what is more, Jesus wants us to follow him and become like him (Luke 6:40; 9:23). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">This brings up an important question we should ask if we are going to follow his model in prayer: How did Jesus pray? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">There are at least five answers we can give.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">To begin, Jesus prayed in accordance with Scripture. We know this because his very last words before he died on the cross consisted of a prayer to the Father that quoted Psalm 31:5: “Into your hands I commit my spirit!” The fact that Jesus would both pray and quote Scripture as he did it as the last thing before death shows how much a part of his life communication with the Father was (note that he prayed for his current and future disciples on the night he was betrayed, just before going to the cross! John 17), yet also communication that was according to Scripture. It is because of this, in part, that Jesus calls his disciples to pray in accordance with his Word (John 15:7). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Next, Jesus prayed that God would help him carry out his mission. We know this because of his wrestling with the Father in prayer when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he committed himself to do the will of the Father (see Lk. 22:42). This is also apparent from his spending time in prayer at key times during his public ministry (e.g. Luke 4:1-2, 42 [in light of Mk. 1:35]). One of the best ways we know this is by looking at his prayer for his current and future disciples in John 17. Finally, it is seen in how he teaches his disciples to pray. He teaches them to pray for the glory of God, God’s will to be done, and for the kingdom to advance, i.e. to pray for the mission to which God has called them (see Luke 10:2; 11:2-4). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">What is more, Jesus did not only ask the Father for what he needed, he also praised and thanked the Father (Mt. 11:25; Lk. 10:21). This is in keeping with the Psalms, that Old Testament book that chronicles the worship life of God’s people (e.g. Psalms 100, 106, 107). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Also, we can say that Jesus prayed about all kinds of things, as is seen in his Garden of Gethsemane prayer (Luke 22:42) and his petition he made to the Father for himself as part of his prayer in John 17 (see verses 1-5). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Finally, what is most remarkable is that Jesus continually prays for all his followers (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25). There is little that should give us more comfort than the reality Jesus is continually praying for us. The Scottish pastor and author, Robert Murray M’Cheyne, once wrote: “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The life of Jesus shows us he is our Savior, the one who intercedes for us that we might be saved to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25), he is our source, the one through whom we have bold access in prayer to the Father’s throne of grace (Heb. 4:16), and finally he is our standard for how to pray, as we saw above. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Be encouraged Christian, and may we be able to say what King David did: “But I give myself to prayer” (Psalm 109:4). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully praying through and like Jesus with you!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-74768251680078640092022-05-02T13:04:00.001-07:002022-05-02T13:04:16.796-07:00Glory In Our Savior<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">On Sunday we looked at some treasures that Luke uncovered about Jesus Christ in his Gospel, Luke 4:16-21. I said that this is in keeping with what has happened through the history of the church, as teachers have called the church to focus upon the greatness of Christ for the sake of worship and faith. Here are some examples.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">1. John Calvin (16th c. French pastor in Geneva) in his commentary on Col. 1:12 writes: "For how comes it that we are carried about with so many strange doctrines, (Hebrews 13: 9) but because the excellence of Christ is not perceived by us? For Christ alone makes all other things suddenly vanish. Hence there is nothing that Satan so much endeavours to accomplish as to bring on mists with the view of obscuring Christ, because he knows, that by this means the way is opened up for every kind of falsehood. This, therefore, is the only means of retaining, as well as restoring pure doctrine—to place Christ before the view such as he is with all his blessings, that his excellence may be truly perceived." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">2. John Owen (17th c. British author and teacher), in </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Communion With God</span></i>, 104, writes: “Christ is [the saints’] delight, their crown, their rejoicing, their life, food, health, strength, desire, righteousness, salvation, and blessedness. Without Christ they have nothing. In Christ they shall find all things. Christ has, from the foundation of the world, been the hope, expectation, desire, and delight of all believers.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">3. Robert Murray McCheyene (19th c. Scottish pastor) adds: "Learn much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and grace, and all for sinners, even the chief. Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in His beams. Feel His all-seeing eye settled on you in love, and repose in His almighty arms. . . . Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of the sweetness and excellency of Christ and all that is in Him." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">4. Modern-day teacher and writer, Michael Reeves, </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Rejoicing in Christ</span></i>, 9-10, comments: "Jesus Christ, God’s perfect Son, is the Beloved of the Father, the Song of the angels, the Logic of creation, the great Mystery of godliness, the bottomless Spring of life, comfort and joy. We were made to find our satisfaction, our heart’s rest, in him." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">"He is not a mere topic, a subject we can pick out from a menu of options. Without him, our gospel or our system—however coherent, “grace-filled” or “Bible-based”—simply is not Christian. It will only be Christian to the extent that it is about him....<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">"I’m going to dare to say, in fact, that most of our Christian problems and errors of thought come about precisely through forgetting or marginalizing Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">"...consider Christ, that he might become more central for you, that you might know him better, treasure him more and enter into his joy. That, happily, is just how we will most honor the Father: by sharing his own everlasting delight in his Son (Jn 5: 23)."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">One of the treasures we looked at in the sermon was that Jesus serves as our standard and source for the development of godly habits. A “habit” means that which has become customary to do (i.e. what is almost always done) through repetition. Another way to word this is that through much repetition an attitude or action becomes more entrenched and second-nature to a person. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Some key Bible passages that deal with the importance of developing godly habits include the following: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">1. “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">2. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil: (Heb. 5:14).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The Bible also speaks of the reality of bad habits, even to the point they can feel like they are enslaving: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">1. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">2. “They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! …</span> <span class="text">They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:14, 19)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully Glorying In Our Savior With You,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-50329714209689540652022-04-25T12:48:00.002-07:002022-04-25T12:48:24.802-07:00A Free Choice Can Be Determined<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In Sunday’s sermon I affirmed that a decision can be free and a person can be responsible for it at the same time it is determined. We saw this in Jesus’ temptations, the outcome of which was determined and yet, at the same time, he was truly facing temptations and making real decisions. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The view of freedom to which I hold and which I represented in the sermon is known as compatibilistic freedom. In other words, it is a view that believes God can so govern all things that all things are determined (he is absolutely sovereign) and, at the same time, genuinely free choices can be compatible with this. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The other view of freedom to which Christians hold is libertarian freedom (or sometimes called indeterministic freedom). This view believes choices are free if and only if they are not determined. Often those who believe in this view of freedom will assert that a decision is free if, when the person chooses choice A, they could also have chosen choice B (aka alternativity). This view does not allow for absolute sovereignty. Rather it holds to a view of sovereignty that is limited since it is dependent upon what a person will choose and therefore some options may be beyond God’s ability to ordain. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">I do not believe libertarian freedom is what the Bible teaches. The Bible, instead, demands that human freedom must be compatible with absolute sovereignty (e.g. Acts 2:23). It also seems to teach that a truly free choice is what which someone wants to do (e.g. Philemon 14), without having to include alternativity. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">With that said, I want to share another illustration for how something can be determined by God and, at the same time, a true choice on the part of the person. In our sermon we talked about how the outcomes of Jesus’ temptations could be determined and yet he be truly tempted. This analogy is from my book <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Divine Sovereignty And Human Freedom</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Suppose that Mary decides to undergo a colonoscopy. As a result, the date is set and she faithfully abides by the instructions to fast and cleanse her colon in preparation. While she is in the procedure at the hospital the surgeon accidently damages her colon during a polyp removal. This leads to a reparative surgery and, as such, a longer time that Mary is unable to eat. Once Mary comes out of the procedure and is recovered enough to eat, she is very hungry. As a result, when the hospital offers a very appealing lunch to her (meatloaf and mashed potatoes, which is her favorite meal), she accepts and eats—very gladly and freely!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Once damage was accidently done to the colon, there was a kind of necessity upon the surgeon to repair it. It was determined. Given the fact that she is a competent surgeon, wants Mary to be well, and is capable of doing the procedure, she knows she must do it. However, she is not constrained to do the surgery against her will as if someone is holding a gun to her head or as if, at the time she thinks to herself, “I don’t want to do this procedure, but somehow I can’t help myself. It almost feels like the forces of the universe are compelling me to do this!” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Likewise, in Mary’s decision to eat, there is a necessity in that she is hungry, her body needs nourishment to survive, she wants to eat, is not nauseous from the surgery, feels fine, very much enjoys what is on the menu, she lacks any other compelling reason not to eat, and so she wills that outcome, which is also determined. However, if any of those things had not been true (for example, if she had been nauseous), there could have been a different outcome. What is more, no one is holding a gun to her head to make her eat, nor is anyone force-feeding her against her will. Also, she did not have the sense, “I really feel nauseous and don’t want to eat, but I can’t help myself. Forces larger than me are compelling me to order the food and now to take up the fork and eat it.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Though we can say that Mary hypothetically possessed the ability to reject the food (to make a different choice if she wanted to), given the other circumstances leading up to the decision and given the preference of her will itself, she would certainly eat and at one level there was a necessity. Yet, it was not a necessity that opposed her will. It was determined and, at the same time, free.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Right away some will respond, “Oh, but Tom, can’t you imagine a reason for Mary to refuse her favorite dish, such as her desire to keep going in her weight loss momentum of the past couple days so she could lose those few extra pounds she put on during the holidays? Or perhaps she is expecting family to visit soon and so she doesn’t want to eat while they are in the room?” To this we can say, Oh, we most definitely can imagine those. However, in each of these situations what we are proposing is that a new and greater motive has replaced the motive of enjoying the delicious food. Such an explanation is in line with compatibilistic freedom. And, with each of the parts of the chain we can not only say God decreed or willed it and brought it about causatively, permissively, or as a combination of both, but also Mary truly willed each decision. So, she has engaged in a free choice. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">I hope this helps further explain how Jesus’ decision regarding his temptations were determined and, at the same time real temptations and choices. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Writing For Your Joy,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Tom<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-55300055606329326172022-04-04T12:09:00.002-07:002022-04-04T12:09:25.784-07:00SERMON LEFTOVERS<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">There are three truths in yesterday’s sermon that I did not have the time to expand upon, each of which has to do with who Jesus Christ is. In this post I want to deal with these leftovers in more detail. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>1. OUR SAVIOR HAD TO BE GOD. <o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In the genealogy of Luke 3 we see that Jesus is God. There are at least three reasons why the Savior had to be God. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">First, the Bible teaches us that salvation comes from God. Another way to put this is that the Savior must be God. Jonah 2:9 puts it this way: “Salvation belongs to the L</span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">ORD</span>!” (See also Ps. 68:19; 98:2-3; Is. 43:11; Hos. 13:4; Rev. 7:10)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Second, the Savior must be God to ensure that his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective. 1 John 1:5 says of God: “</span><span style="background-color: white;">This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” The sacrifice must be sinless and perfect (Heb. 9:14; 10:1-18). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;">Third</span>, the Savior must be God so he could undergo God’s righteous wrath against sin and yet overcome death. Acts 2:24 captures this: “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b>2. OUR SAVIOR HAD TO BE HUMAN.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In the genealogy of Luke 3 and the subsequent temptations of Luke 4 we see that Jesus is fully human. There are at least three reasons he had to be human. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">First, the Bible teaches the Savior must be human so he could on the behalf of sinners perfectly obey the Law of God. God requires perfection (Mt. 5:48) which is why one seemingly insignificant sin, eating a forbidden piece of fruit (Gen. 2:16-17), plunged all mankind into sin and death. Jesus always did the will of God the Father (John 5:19, 30; Heb. 4:15; 7:26). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Second, the Savior must be human since humans are the ones who sinned, who must be saved, and the Savior must do this by suffering the punishment for sin, which is death (Col. 1:21-22; Heb. 2:17). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Third, the Savior must be human so he can sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><b>3. THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHESIED THAT THE SAVIOR, THE CHRIST, MUST BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID.<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">One of the key points made in the Luke 3 genealogy is that Jesus is a descendant of David as is necessary of the Christ, the Davidic King. Here are some examples of such prophecies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">2 Samuel 7:12-13: “When your days are fulfilled [David] and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Psalm 89:20-27: “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, 21 so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. 23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. 24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. 26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ 27 And I will make him the firstborn….”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Jeremiah 33:17-21: “For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever…. Thus says the Lord: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Ezekiel 34:15, 23-24: “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God…. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Ezekiel 37:24: “My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Joyfully Delighting In The God-Man And King With You!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-69313272683258520952022-03-21T10:07:00.001-07:002022-03-21T10:08:15.354-07:00Antinomianism<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The past two Sundays we have looked at six emphases John the Baptist had in his preaching ministry that pointed to Jesus as the Savior. We have affirmed that John engaged in pre-evangelism and post-evangelism. In each of these, John taught that God’s moral law (he mentions four of the last five of the Ten Commandments in Luke 3:10-14) still applies to us. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Many Christians have concluded that God’s law no longer applies to Christians at all. Such a position is called Antinomianism. I wanted to address this way of thinking in this post and then explain how the moral law still applies. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Antinomianism, “which means being ‘antilaw,’ is a name for several views that have denied that God’s law in Scripture should directly control the Christian life.”</span><a href="applewebdata://12BF4F43-2B80-4C5E-87C8-04A14125D999#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The primary reason that Christians conclude that the law of God no longer applies to them is because the New Testament says we are “not under law” (Rom. 6:14, 15; Gal. 3:23) and elsewhere it says that we are “under the law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2) and the “law of liberty” (Jm. 1:25; 2:12), and finally it says that “Christ is the end of the law” (Rom. 10:4). Yet, when we understand these texts correctly, we come to see that the Bible is not teaching that the law of God does not apply to Christians. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">More specifically, here are some reasons we know that the moral law of God still applies to Christians. By moral law of God, I mean all laws in the Old Testament that were always intended to be permanently applicable to the people of God. Dietary, cleanliness, sacrificial, and festival laws were temporary by design and fulfilled in Christ with the result that once he came, died, and was raised, they were no longer applicable (Col. 2:16-17; Heb.8:5).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">1. In those New Testament books that speak of God’s people no longer being under the law of God (Romans, 1 Corinthians, Galatians), we either see specific Old Testament laws being still applied to Christians (Romans 13:8-10)—which strongly implies that the phrase cannot mean God’s law no longer applies, an explanation that the meaning of that phrase means, “No longer under the law covenant or system” (Gal. 3:15-29), or it is clearly said that being not under or outside the law of God does not mean being outside the moral law of God, aka the Law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">2. The Law of Christ seems to be synonymous with the law of God and, most likely means the same as the law of liberty, namely the focus is that now, under the New Covenant, God’s people, united to Christ and permanently indwelt by the Spirit, have more liberty and Christi-given ability to obey God’s moral will, his law. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">3. The careful reader of the New Testament sees clear references to Old Testament laws still being applicable to the New Covenant believer (e.g. Rom. 1:26-28; 7:7; 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; James 4:11-12; 1 John 2:15-17; 3:4; 5:3, 21). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">4. The New Testament is positive toward God’s laws, not negative (e.g. James 4:11-12; 1 John 3:4; 5:3), implying that it is consistent with and not opposed to the gospel (1 Cor. 9:21; 1 Tim. 8-12).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">If the law still applies to Christians, in what way does it? Another way to ask this is what are the purposes of the law for Christians? There are three that the Church has historically acknowledged from the Bible. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">1. It shows the person that they are a sinner, that is, that they fall short of the glory of God, and thus need a Savior (Luke 3:10-14, 19-20; Rom. 7:7). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">2. It shows a Christian how to live once they have come to Christ (e.g. Luke 3:10-14; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 Cor. 6:9-10).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 0in 9.35pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -9.35pt;"><span class="text">3. It serves to restrain unregenerate society so that it is not as bad as it could be (1 Tim. 1:8-11). Because of this, then, the Christian can follow God’s direction in his law for how to shape the public square. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text">May we say about God’s Law, as the psalmist does (Psalm 19:7, 10): “The Law of the Lord is perfect…. More to be desired are [God’s laws] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">Joyfully Loving God’s Law With You,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="text">Tom <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><br clear="all" /><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in;"><a href="applewebdata://12BF4F43-2B80-4C5E-87C8-04A14125D999#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> J. I. Packer, <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 9pt;">Concise Theology</span></i><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span>(Crossway, 2020), 192.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-84420412366877012572021-04-01T09:00:00.000-07:002021-04-01T09:00:00.233-07:00A Modern-Day Holy Week Parable<p> <span style="text-align: justify;">In Romans 4:25 Paul
summarizes what we will celebrate from today (Maundy Thursday) through Sunday
(Easter): “He [Jesus] was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was
raised to life to make us right with God.” Here is a parable to give clarity to
what Jesus has done for us and how we should respond to it.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Imagine that you
are one hundred thousand dollars in debt through your own irresponsible
decisions. Creditors are now coming after you so much that you are convinced
you will not survive it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Then out of the
blue the investor, business tycoon, philanthropist, and the chairman and CEO of
Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, calls you up to say, “Hey, I have heard
about your tough situation and I would like to give you a gift of one hundred
million dollars. That will not only wipe out your debt, it also will assure
that you have sufficient resources for all you need the rest of your life. Will
you accept this gift? I will transfer the funds to your bank account.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Let’s say that
you have learned that Buffett is a man of his word and he can afford such a
gift. Two questions arise. First, will you turn from trying to make your predicament
right yourself and turn to Warren Buffett, trusting him to wipe out your debt
and to supply you with wealth for the rest of your life? In other words, will
you accept the gift? Most likely, the answer would be, “Yes.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, with what kind of attitude would you
respond to this offer? For many the answer is with great gratitude but also a
heightened sense of grief over your irresponsible decisions that made his
actions necessary and with a resolve to be faithful into the future with such a
gift.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">No parable is
perfect, but this one does help illustrate what Jesus Christ has done for
sinners like you and me and so it gives us a picture of what we remember during
Holy Week.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">We all are in
debt to God as those who have rebelled against him, lived as if he is not
there, and this debt is beyond what we can pay. What we owe God is to face the
eternal punishment for our transgressions against an eternal God. Jesus took the
penalty for sinners upon himself and paid it in full through his death upon the
cross.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">At the same
time, we not only face that debt, we face the need for a perfectly righteous
and holy life so that we can be in God’s presence and his heaven forever. Jesus
also met this requirement for sinners by living a perfect life, always doing
the will of the Father.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">And what is
more, when Jesus was raised from the dead he not only proved his death was a
saving death and not just that of a criminal, he conquered sin and death and
this results in the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>spiritual resurrection
of sinners now to a new way of living. His resurrection also results in the
future physical resurrection of those same persons to an eternal life with no
pain, suffering, illness or death, i.e. to ever-increasing joy in his presence.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">The main
question that is posed to us as a result of the work Jesus accomplished that
first Holy week is this: Will you turn from trying to save yourself and with grief
over your sin and a desire to follow Jesus in love and gratitude, will you
trust him alone so you can be forgiven of your sins by God with the result that
you will want to follow Jesus? In other words, will you, by faith, receive this
free gift of salvation? When someone does this, God credits them with the perfect
righteousness (his life and death) of Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">“This is the
work of God, that you believe in him [Jesus] whom he [God the Father] sent.” “And
this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and
love one another, just as he commanded us.” (John 6:29; 1 John 3:23)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Joyfully Trusting In The Savior,</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-15031021441873566832021-03-29T13:09:00.001-07:002021-03-29T13:09:04.856-07:00Faith In Jesus Christ (The New City Catechism #30)<p><span class="text" style="text-align: justify;">“What is faith
in Jesus Christ?” Since trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation is the
only way to eternal life (John 3:36; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 16:31), there is no more
important question than this asked by </span><span class="text" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The New City
Catechism</span></i> (#30). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">One of the
catechisms that </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The New City Catechism</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>was derived from, </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Westminster Shorter Catechism</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>(#86), asks the same question and answers this
way: “Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon
him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.” Here are some
biblical passages to support that answer: John 1:12; 6:35; Galatians 2:15-16,
20; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 10:39.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Here is the
answer given in </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The New City Catechism</span></i>: “Faith in
Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in
his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for
salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">One of the most
capable theologians that America has ever produced, the 18<sup>th</sup> century
New England pastor, Jonathan Edwards, explained saving faith this way:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Upon the whole, the
best, and clearest, and most perfect definition of justifying faith, [the most
scriptural one] that I can think of, is this, faith is the soul’s [fully]
embracing the revelation of Jesus Christ as our Savior. The word “embrace” is
[one of the clearest ones we could use]. [I]t is called believing, because
believing is the first act of the soul in embracing a [message] or revelation:
and embracing, when [talking] about a revelation or thing declared. [It] is
more properly called believing, than loving or choosing. If it were [talking]
about a person only, it would be more properly called loving. If it were [talking]
about a gift, an inheritance, or reward, it would more properly be called
receiving or accepting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The definition might
have been expressed in these words: faith is the soul’s entirely adhering [to] and
[complying with] the revelation of Jesus Christ as our Savior—Or thus: faith is
the soul’s embracing that truth of God, that reveals Jesus Christ as our Savior—Or
thus: faith is the soul’s entirely [complying with], and depending upon, the
truth of God, revealing Christ as our Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">It is the whole soul [trusting
in] and assenting to the truth, and embracing of it. There is an entire
yielding of the mind and heart to the revelation, and a closing with it, and
adhering to it, with the belief, and with the inclination and affection.</span></i></span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_30__Mar_29.doc#_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></b></span></a></span></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Praising God For The Gift Of Saving Faith
With You,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_30__Mar_29.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> From <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The New City Catechism
Devotional</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-46282172923901088642021-03-23T13:04:00.001-07:002021-03-23T13:04:09.588-07:00How We Can Be Saved (The New City Catechism #29)<p><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The New City
Catechism</span></i><span style="text-align: justify;"> #29 is this: “How can we be saved?</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Answer: Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in
his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of
having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God,
without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect
righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.”</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Pastor Kevin
DeYoung explains the question and answer in this way:</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_29__Mar_22.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span class="text"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are in prison when a
violent earthquake occurs. Prisoners are escaping, and the jailer wakes up and
is absolutely dismayed that everyone is running off. The jailer is about to
kill himself, and Paul stops him. And the jailer asks this very famous
question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v. 30). Paul gives him the
short, biblical, absolutely beautiful answer: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and
you will be saved, you and your household” (v. 31).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“What must I do to be saved?” There’s no more
important question in this life or for the next life. The answer to our
catechism question provides a wonderful summary of what it means to have faith
in Christ—the sort of faith that saves—and how God saves through faith.This
summary contains two key words. First is the very first word: only. Only faith
in Jesus Christ. You see, it wouldn’t be terribly controversial to talk about
faith. People are into faith and believing something. But it’s only faith, not
faith plus something else. It’s not faith in addition to your background, faith
plus your family of origin, faith plus how many good things you can do for
social justice, or faith plus how often you pray. It’s only faith, and it’s
faith in Jesus Christ—there is an object to it.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Many people will wax on and on about faith and belief
and say, “I’m a person of faith” or “You’ve got to have faith.” But faith by
itself doesn’t mean anything. It is the object of faith that saves us. It’s not
being a person who has strong beliefs, who is sincere, or who has a mystical
belief in spiritual things that saves us. It’s faith in Jesus Christ. He’s the
object. It’s the object of our faith that saves us. Faith is only an
instrument. It’s not the one good deed that God sees and says, “Well, you don’t
have much going for you, but you have faith, and I really like that.” No. Faith
is what joins us to Christ, and then he saves us. It’s the object that matters.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Growing up in a cold part of the country, I often went
ice skating and played hockey. I might tiptoe out onto that first freeze of the
year, and sort of wonder, “Is this ice thick enough?” Someone else might be on
the ice zipping around skating with great freedom and having a lot of faith in
the ice, while I’m gingerly tiptoeing and have just enough faith to get out on
the ice. But what makes both of us secure? It’s not the level of faith, though
you’d like to have the strong faith that’s zipping around there, but it’s the
thickness of the ice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">It’s the object on which you’re standing that saves
you. And that’s Jesus Christ. So it’s only faith in him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The other word that is so crucial here is imputes. It
is essential to the gospel and to the Christian faith that the righteous life
that Christ lived is imputed to us. That means it’s reckoned to us. It’s counted
to us. It’s sort of a wire transfer of funds. And there’s a difference between
a righteousness that is inherent in us, infused in us, a kind of righteousness
that says, “Well, look at me, I’m righteous. I do righteous things.” That’s not
what this is talking about. This is talking about the righteousness of Christ
that is outside of us, but because we’re joined to Jesus by faith, it gets
counted as our righteousness, so that God can be both the just and the
justifier of the wicked.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">That’s the problem in Romans 3, and that’s the good
news of the gospel—that though we are still sinners, God justifies us. And he
is just to do so not because he waves a magic wand or says sin’s not a big deal
(wink-wink); it’s because we belong to Christ and his righteousness is our righteousness
that God can be just and we can be justified.</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Delighting In Salvation With You,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_29__Mar_22.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Taken
from <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The New
City Catechism Devotional</span></i>. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-65325395221132793572021-03-15T09:04:00.001-07:002021-03-15T09:04:21.324-07:00The Difficult Biblical Teaching Of Hell (The New City Catechism #28)<p><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The New City Catechism</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>#28 reads: “What happens
after death to those not united to Christ by faith? Answer: At the day of judgment they will
receive the fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them.
They will be cast out from the favorable presence of God, into hell, to be
justly and grievously punished, forever.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Here is how John Lin in </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
New City Catechism Devotional</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span>comments on this subject.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">One of the Bible’s
more difficult and often misunderstood teachings is that of hell being a real,
conscious, eternal punishment. And this is understandable. All of us have
people in our midst who don’t know Christ—friends, family members, neighbors,
colleagues—about whom we would rather not think that hell could be their
future. In fact, people have had discomfort about the idea of hell throughout
history, because on the surface it seems inconsistent with everything we read
in the Bible about God’s mercy and love. And yet the Bible’s teaching on hell
as conscious and eternal suffering is unavoidable. Actually, without the
existence of hell, much of what we know about God’s love comes into question.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">First, Jesus, the
most loving man who ever lived, spoke about hell more frequently and vividly
than all other biblical authors combined. He described it as Gehenna, which was
a garbage heap where fires burned constantly, or as the outer darkness, where
there’s no illumination but only misery. In the story he tells of the rich man
and Lazarus, hell is a place of conscious and real suffering. Jesus warns us
about hell again and again (Matt. 13:41–42; Mark 9:42–48; Luke 16:19–31).<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Second, the existence
of hell helps us to understand the consequences of sin. In some ways hell is
the outworking of what we as sinful people have always wanted: autonomy and
independence from God. In hell we are therefore cut off from God and from
everything that God is. So in hell there’s no love, there’s no friendship,
there’s no joy, there’s no rest, because those are all things that exist only
where God is present.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">But most importantly,
until we acknowledge the reality of hell, we cannot truly understand the
meaning of the cross. Put another way, we cannot understand God’s love until we
understand the reality of his wrath. God’s wrath is a settled, controlled
opposition and hatred of anything that is destroying what he loves. God’s wrath
flows from his love for creation. It flows from his justice. He’s angry at
greed, self-centeredness, injustice, and evil because they’re destructive. And
God will not tolerate anything or anyone responsible for destroying the
creation and the people that he loves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Think of it this way.
Saying, “I know God loves me because he would give up everything for me” is
much different from saying, “I know God loves me because he did give up
everything for me.” One is a loving sentiment; the other is a loving act. And
while we may try to make God more loving by diminishing the reality of hell and
God’s wrath, all we’ve really done is diminish the love of God. Without a real
hell we can’t understand the real price that Jesus paid for our sin. And
without a real price that was paid, there’s no real love, there’s no real
grace, and there’s no real praise for what he has done.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Unless you believe in
hell, you’ll never know how much Jesus loves you and how much he values you.
Jesus experienced hell himself on the cross. Jesus was separated from his
Father. On the cross Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
(Matt. 27:46). When Jesus lost the eternal love of the Father, he experienced
an agony, a disintegration, an isolation greater than anything anyone of us
would have experienced in eternity in hell. He took the isolation and
disintegration that we deserve upon himself. Unless you believe in hell and see
what Jesus took for you, you will never know how much he loves you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The real issue is not
how a loving God would allow there to be a hell. The issue is, if Jesus Christ
would experience hell for me, then, truly, he must be a loving God. It’s not
“Why would God allow hell?” It’s “Why would God experience hell for me?” And
yet he did.</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Delighting In Divine Love With You,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-12854899658280542662021-03-09T15:37:00.001-08:002021-03-09T15:37:10.109-08:00“Our Gracious God” (The New City Catechism #27)<p><span style="text-align: justify;">In the 14</span><sup style="text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="text-align: justify;">
question and answer of the catechism we discover the biblically accurate
teaching that because of Adam’s sin “we are all born in sin and guilt, corrupt
in our nature and unable to keep God’s law.” In other words, we are all lost.
It is this reality that leads to a good question asked in question #27: “Are
all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Here is the
answer given: “No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by
faith. Nevertheless, God in his mercy demonstrates common grace even to those
who are not elect, by restraining the effects of sin and enabling works of
culture for human well-being.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Here we learn two important
truths, each about a different aspect of God’s grace. <span class="text"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>God Saves By
Sovereign Effective Grace</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Though it is God’s
moral will that all repent and turn to his salvation (Acts 17:30) and this is
the only way to be saved (Acts 4:12), he has not ordained that all will trust
in Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Mt. 22:44; 1 Pt. 2:8). People are saved
because God has chosen them (Rom. 8:29; Col. 3:12) and therefore they trust
Christ as Savior (Acts 13:48). In trusting Christ, they are united to him (Rom.
6:1-5). Not one of those whom God has chosen and given to the Son and for whom
the Son died will be lost (John 6:37, 39; 10:15, 27-30). God exercises what
some call sovereign effective grace in the lives of those whom he has chosen.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><b>God Displays
Common Grace To Those Who Are Not Elect.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">God displays
undeserved blessings (e.g. kindnesses, sunshine, rain, etc. Mt. 5:45; Rom. 2:4)
upon those whom he has not chosen to save, but whom he has ordained that he
would let them stay in their sin. Common grace is the “[undeserved favor] of
God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of
salvation.” (Wayne Grudem, </span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Systematic Theology</span></i>) The
word “common” speak of what all people experience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Specifically,
what the answer focuses on are two aspects of common grace. First, even though
we can look around at the world and see that it is extremely evil and painful, the
effects of sin are not as bad as they could be. Even the worst of sinners could
always be worse and besides, there are many unsaved people who do good things
that benefit others (e.g. unsaved teachers, physicians, dentists, mechanics, engineers,
carpenters, farmers, business owners, etc.).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Related is the aspect
of common grace whereby people are enabled by God to bring order in the world
in such a way that life can be more enjoyable and involves people flourishing. Consider
just one example, the way God has graciously enabled humans to have some
control over water—in irrigation of fields that would otherwise be too dry to
grow crops, over areas that would normally flood and can be protected, and through
digging wells such that people who would normally be without, can have fresh,
clean water for drinking and washing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Though the
unsaved will not typically give thanks to God for every good gift that comes
from him (James 1:17), the saved are called regularly to give him continual
thanks (e.g. Col. 3:15-17).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Enjoying God’s
Grace With You,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-3339741902954174512021-03-01T15:19:00.000-08:002021-03-01T15:19:01.254-08:00Future Glory: Free From The Presence Of Sin (The New City Catechism #26)<p> <i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The New City Catechism</span></i><span style="text-align: justify;">,
#24, correctly affirmed that Christ’s saving work redeems those united to him
from the penalty of sin (hell) and from the power of sin (i.e. growing to be
more like Jesus, Rom. 8:29). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">In the 26<sup>th</sup>
question it is asked if there is anything else part of that redemption: “What
else does Christ’s death redeem?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
answer rightly asserts that Christ’s death brings about the eventual total removal
even from the presence of sin: “Christ’s death is the beginning of the
redemption and renewal of every part of fallen creation, as he powerfully
directs all things for his own glory and creation’s good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul’s statement in Colossians 1:19–20 is one
of the clearest passages that supports this truth: "For in him all the
fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself
all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his
cross."</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Elsewhere, the
Bible refers to this future perfection of soul, body, creation, and even the
reputation of the believer as “glory” or the doctrine of “glorification (Ps.
73:24; Rom. 8:30; 1 Cor. 2:7; 2 Cor. 3:18; 2 Thes. 2:14; 1 Pt. 5:10; 2 Pt.
1:3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Since this future
glory is our certain hope (Rom. 5:2), it is helpful to give an overview of what
this doctrine entails:</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_26__Mar_1.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">God created mankind
with glory, a full and rich weightiness, a significance that consisted of being
made in His image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man’s original
identity was one in which he was intended to represent and reflect God in a way
that none of the other creation was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
very purpose for his existence was to bring other men and the angelic world to
worship God, to glorify God in response to His glorification of man.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">With the fall of
mankind into sin his original identity and purpose were twisted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man’s history has been one of only wanting to
honor himself and reflect his own glory, not God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The history of redemption has consisted of
God’s planning for, accomplishing, and working out His restoration of man to
His full identity and purpose of God glorification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Man’s restoration
takes place in and through Jesus Christ alone who is uniquely qualified as the
perfect and second Adam and the only begotten Son of God to reflect the glory
of God to and through man as no one else can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once united to Christ, man, through the saving work of Christ, is
continually transformed into His image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">This transformation
begins with spiritual change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within the
area of thought life, behavior, how he relates to God, man becomes more like
Christ and thus is able to serve as a billboard for the greatness of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This change progresses through life and
becomes complete at the time of death.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Yet it doesn’t stop
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the return of Christ God’s
perfected saints will be resurrected, thus being changed physically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This physical change will enable man to
resemble Christ in His glorified body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This transformation is necessary since man is whole only as both soul
and body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This shows the importance of
the physical, it also increases God’s glory--His redemption of man includes the
whole person.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Once man is glorified
fully, his reputation also will be transformed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the world will see who each believer is, who the Church is in
community, and how significant they are as billboards for God’s glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their true identity may be hidden now, in
fact, they may even be scorned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, at
the time of their glorification they will be the very trophies of God whom He
will praise and glorify that, in turn, He will be glorified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our desire for significance and purpose will
be fulfilled throughout all of eternity as we dive into the highest<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of all purposes--God Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">God also will
transform man’s environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The curse
of sin extended to the rest of creation and, as such, it must be transformed in
order for the restoration to be complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It also is necessary for the realization of God’s covenantal promises
and also as an accompaniment to man’s other aspects of transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glorified man cannot live in a fallen world.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally, we must see
that glorification not only deals with the perfection of each individual, but
also with the perfection of the Church collectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is only as men are in perfect community
with one another in the new heaven and earth that the image of God and the
glory of God through His redeeming grace will shine forth with the greatest
intensity.</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Delighting in Future
Glory With You,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_26__Mar_1.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> The
following is from Tom Barnes, <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">Living
In The Hope Of Future Glory</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span>(Evangelical
Press, 2006), 263-65.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7491797989558663902.post-38917472072652383222021-02-22T14:42:00.000-08:002021-02-22T14:42:03.157-08:00A Full Cure (The New City Catechism #25)<p><span style="text-align: justify;">One of my
favorite current preachers is Alistair Begg, a pastor in Cleveland, Ohio. I
listen to him through his “Truth For Life” app.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Alistair also
has written a helpful commentary for the 25<sup>th</sup> question and answer in
</span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
New City Catechism</span></i>, which reads: “Does Christ’s death mean all our
sins can be forgiven? Answer: Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross fully
paid the penalty for our sin, God graciously imputes Christ’s righteousness to
us as if it were our own and will remember our sins no more.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Here are his
comments:</span><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_25__Feb_22.doc#_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Some years ago when I
was diagnosed with cancer, my great concern was that the surgeon would get it
all. I wasn’t really interested in a cure that was only partial. And when we
think about Jesus bearing our sins, the mystery and the wonder of the gospel is
that he deals with all of them. He who was absolutely perfect died in the place
of sinners, identifying with us in our guilt and becoming liable to our
punishment. When Paul writes to the Corinthians, he tells them that God was not
counting their sins against them. And the reason for that is because he was
counting them against him. Jesus died not as a martyr, but as a substitute. The
invitation of the gospel is given to all, but the assurance of forgiveness is
only for those who are in Christ, whose sins have been counted to him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Augustus Toplady
captured the security of this when he wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Rock of ages cleft
for me,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">let me hide myself in
Thee;<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">let the water and the
blood,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">from thy riven side
which flowed,<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">be of sin the double
cure;<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">cleanse me from its
guilt and power.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Peter tells us that
the angels, actually, long to look into this (1 Pet. 1:12). And what they have
observed from a distance, the believer knows perfectly.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .2in; margin-right: .2in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The wonder of it all
is that our disobedience is completely covered by the obedience of the Lord
Jesus—all of our sins dealt with forever.</span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Delighting in Christ’s
Full Cure With You,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="text">Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Pastor%20Tom/Documents/blog/2021/The%20New%20City%20Catechism/The_New_City_Catechism_25__Feb_22.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> This can
be found either in the app for <i><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The New City Catechism</span></i><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span>or the devotional book for the catechism. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Tom Barneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10676582085056008895noreply@blogger.com0