God so loved the world

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/god-so-loved-the-world-part-2

A social agenda that is merciful

The New Testament teaches a great deal about the love we should show towards one another starting with Jesus radical call to mercy. Jesus could be heard saying things like love your enemie. God has indeed called Christians to have a heart and a will to meet the everyday needs of all people especially the  poor, homeless, destitute of all people groups in his creation. The down trodden and those living on the margins of our societies, He has called us to have compassion and most of all, he has called us to show this compassion in real-time acts of mercy to our neighbor. Jesus illustrates in the parable of the good Samaritan that our neighbor is literally anyone who is in our path.

The Christian should and is expected to have a merciful lifestyle. Let us also be mindful to first have a worshipful lifestyle. The merciful life style cannot come before a worshipful life style. For if there is no worshipful life style our acts of mercy are not merciful at all. Paul in his twelth chapter of Romans  is unmistakably exhorting Christians towards radical self sacrificing mercy. But notice what he says in the opening verse before going on to this call for mercy.  Verse 1:  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship”. This is absolutely crucial for Christians to understand. We are called first to be worshipful and then merciful. We cannot be merciful in earnest if through all of our acts of mercy we are not making much of Jesus (worshiping). This is because the bottom-line need of every human being in the world is mercy; the mercy from God through Jesus Christ. If we are not making much of Jesus in honoring and treasuring this in our acts of mercy with intent to let people see and taste Christ and share in him, if this is not our design then we are not really being a merciful person. Because it is not merciful to make people more comfortable on their way to hell. No one would call that merciful. They would could it short sighted, condecending, neglectful but not merciful. If the mercy you are giving is not designed to display Jesus to them it is simply not merciful. If our acts of mercy are not designed to worship God, showing his worth through Jesus then our acts of mercy becomes a mere social agenda. Social agendas are extremely important, beautiful and necessary and expected of us. I mean, what greater cause if not for the welfare and care of precious souls. But if it is not an agenda that is rooted in worshiping God, to exalt God, showing his ultimate worth and glory and designed to display God through the agenda and with words to interpret the agenda then we are no longer exhibiting a merciful life style. 

While some have justified not going to church, Christians are at rest.

The first day of the week, the day we call the Lord's Day should be, for the Christian, a day of spiritual rest reminicent of the Sabbath day of rest. The Sabbath was a day of rest that pointed to the real rest the childeren of God would have in Christ Jesus. Even though Jesus' death and resurrection fullfilled the Old Testament law of Sabbath, there still remains a symbol or sign that points to our ultimate rest we have in Christ Jesus and that is the assembling of the local church on the first day of the week. It is the Lord's Day, the first day of the week. God has ordained in his word that we come together. This coming together is more than you might have realized. In part it symbolizes, celebrates, reflect upon the rest we have and will have in Glory. We are to come together and visibly commune taking the rest of our souls in prasise prayer and thanksgiving. The Lord's Day is a kind of New Testament sign still pointing to our ultimate rest at the coming of our Lord Jesus. Rest from all of our toils, strains, labor, suffering, pain. The first day of the week is for our joy and we should assemble together and visibly proclaim the Lord Jesus until he comes. Christians should go to church. 

The Scriptures first affirm you and then send you on the road to holiness

We have all heard the saying; it is hard being a Christian. Of course this saying can mean different things to different people yet I suppose every Christian can relate to this saying in one way or another. The Christian life can be characterized by suffering; all kinds of suffering (Rom 8:18). Many times the Christian will suffer unjustly (1 Pet 2:19). And so the Christian life can be hard in the sense of suffering.

The Christian’s walk is also characterized by war. The Christian is constantly being targeted by the schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11, 12). Because of this the Christian is instructed to put on the whole armor as in a war (Ep. 6:13). But not only does the Christian battle the schemes of the devil, they also battle against the passions of the flesh which wage war against their souls (1 Pet 2:11). And so the Christian life can also be hard in the sense of spiritual war.

Because the Christian must contend with these adverse elements and more; the life of the Christian is equally characterized by a life of enduring (Ro. 8:17). We must withstand attacks from spiritual enemies, battling the passions of our own flesh, being discriminated against as Children of God and not to mention contending with the everyday suffering associated with a fallen humanity.

But perhaps what is most commonly meant by those who say being a Christian is hard is that it is hard to put on Christian ethics. Against our own efforts to be holy we find ourselves wanting to snap off, cuss, hate, get back, have it our way, discriminate, exude pride and all the while having a relationship with lust. The struggle is coming from within (Rom 7:15-20).

What’s more... scripture is chalked filled with exhortations to live holy, love and be about good works which puts more pressure on the Christian who reads it as an "or else" proposition. The word of God warns against the dangers of living an unholy life and issues out threats of not entering God’s rest. And because of this we press and are filled with anxiety when it is not going right. But God has a word!

While scripture does exhort and threatens, clearly the greater emphasis of scripture is on the amazing splendor of a secure salvation we have in Christ. There are so many exhilarating truths for the Christian. Encouragement comes in knowing what God has personally prepared for you. Strength comes in searching the promises of God.  The encouraging reality is that you and I as Christians can have complete assurance that we will surely endure.

If we are to be steadfast and continually progressing in sanctification we must keep close to our heart and mind what God has already done and secured. Before you chose to trust in Christ Jesus he first chose you to be in him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:14). How else do you think you could choose a Holy God? The bible says there is none that seek him, no not one. You were created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them (Eph 2:10). When you heard and believed the gospel, you were sealed with his Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of your inheritance until you acquire possession of it (Eph 1:13, 14). These are absolute unwavering truths of the Christian faith that should be a source of strength and encouragement to every Christian.

When we are tossed and thrown; when our feet seems to be on shaky ground; when we slip into a pattern of sin that sends us down the winding road of shame and guilt; when our good ethics and disciplines we so often mistakenly gage our acceptance before God with suddenly betrays us; leaving us doubting and unsure of our faithfulness. It is precisely in these times we are most objectively assured in Holy Scripture. The Holy Spirit has carefully and lovingly given the believer a wealth of scripture to draw strength from.

Consider these texts for your joy. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” The reason the Gospel is so amazing is because it says that Jesus has died to sin once and for all. Therefore in Christ we too have died to sin once and for all (Romans 6:10). The reason we can have hope, the reason we can be steadfast in spite of our weakness, in spite of our failure and heart aches is because for the joy that was set before Christ he endured the cross (Heb 12:2). In Christ we are liberated! Free from the bondage of sin, Satan and death. The unwavering truth of scripture is precisely the reason we can run with endurance and not grow fainthearted (Heb 12:3). 

Scripture has a way of first grounding the hope of salvation and then because of that grounds scripture then exhorts us to holiness. This is important to know. In other words our holiness (sanctification) flows from the knowledge of our salvation. It is because we are saved and are being saved we can be instructed on how to live holy. Jesus has died to free us from sin in order that we can live out God’s eternal purpose in our calling. We are now free to live out our calling.

Unfortunately many Christians wrongly see their salvation flowing from their holiness. In other words they live their life trying to be holy in order that they may be saved. When Christian burden themselves down with this false understanding of the gospel, the saying it is hard being a Christian will surely stand true.

But as for you be strengthened and encouraged in the living hope of Christ. For he is personally bringing you to Glory! (Rom 8:30)

I got a question

Acts 19:2 Paul asks some guys: " Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"

WHAT? COME AGAIN. Today this would seem like an off the wall question to take serious. What do you mean Paul; did I recieve the Holy Ghost when I believed? You are making it sound like there should be something precievable or experiential in the scope of recieving the Holy Ghost.

I think that is precisely the point. Christianity is confirmed through the Holy Spirit of God and it is unmistakable and apparent. 

I can imagine today the Christian would answer,  sure the bible says that's what happens. Thier answer is based on the inference and not necessarily experience. It is assumed we get the Holy Ghost when we believe? For too many Christianity and the gospel has been reduced to a decesion they make instead of a life altering experience. 

I am not referring to an outward manifestation like speaking in tongues or some supernatural external occurances but nevertheless, Christians should be able to experientially affirm and confirm the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit in thier lives. God's Holy Spirit is transforming and therefore precievable and observable. Paul says in Romans 8:9b " Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his". The Holy Spirit of Christ is noticable in the Childeren of God. It is through the Spirit that we know we are childeren of God. 

Since you have set under the preaching of the gospel has God so worked in you such a work that you now hate the sin you once loved? Since you have set under the preaching of the gospel has God worked such a soverign work that you now adore and desire the God that you once ignored, hated or taken for granted? you now esteem and desire him above all things. These are experienced and observable things to the Christian. Christians should definitely be able to answer yes with experiential evidence to the question: have you recieved the Holy Ghost since you believed? 

When you know the truth about God it overflows the mind and flows into the rest of you. you don't just know it you see it.

Hypocrites!!

It is easy to see the failures of someone who claims to be a Christian and call them a hypocrite. That’s why behavior modification should not be the first  indicator to label someone a true Christian or a hypocrite. Indeed Christians are to be holy because God is holy and he has called us to a high standard of spirituality, purity, benevolence, and righteous behavior.


 When overly pious Christians or non Christians observe an inconsistency in the life of someone who goes to church and who professes to be a Christian they quickly conclude this person is a hypocrites. However what must be brought out is that true Christians are claiming to be Christians and are not claiming to be sinless.


 For others to witness that a Christian is indeed a sinner does not automatically show that he/she is a hypocrite. All hypocrisy is a sin but not all sin is the sin of hypocrisy. It is easy for the Christian to find him/herself in the sin of hypocrisy. 


Many times when not reaching the biblical standards of righteousness in our behavior and actions we become fearful and embarrassed of being found out. When this happens it is easy to fall into the sin of hypocrisy usually by trying to cover up and convince others and yourself that you are what you profess to be. When this happens the Christian has looked away from the cross and must refocus and keep the cross of Christ in view. Instead of putting on a good show or covering up and not facing our sin we must remember that the Christians’ righteousness resides in Christ. We strive to holiness and righteousness with all of our mind and strength through the same Holy Spirit that empowered the ministry of Jesus our great Lord and savior. Relying on Christ and his righteousness allows us to face and confess our sins knowing that our righteousness resides in Christ's righteousness. Seeing Christians fail in areas of their Christian walk and fighting on to holiness and purity is not always hypocrisy, in many cases it is redemption. 

God's will vs. Man's will.... who's is free (er)

The question isn't if man has free will. Man certainly has the freedom of choice and he exercises this freedom everyday. There are other questions like does man's free will supersede the will of God? or just how free is man's free will? Historically this subject has been hotly debated and many on both sides of the issue hold strong emotional allegiance to thier respective views. In fact when this topic is set against the brackdrop of the biblical teaching of predestination it becomes a very sensitive undertaking; especially when the notion of man's soveriegn free will is either theatened or called into question. I do not pretend to suggest that I understand how to reconcile the truth of man's free will and the truth of God's sovereignty to elect a people for himself; I only beleive them both and thus do not try to cancel either one out.

But could it be that the free willers are overstating things just a little bit. I recognize that I have free will but I also cannot help but recognize how limited my free will is and how contrary it is at times to the living God. Man's free will is cherished and defended yet in most cases all he does with it is run to hell’s gate clamoring to get in. And at best it is a limited free will. I can’t will to fly, I can’t will to raise the dead, I can’t will my aunt’s cancer to leave, I can’t will my wayward family members or friends to recognize the grace and will of God (But God can). I often think if my free will opens the possibility of me running away from God; I  will just assume say thanks but no thanks. The value in free will in my estimation is only to the degree that I am able to run to Christ. there is no value in free will as I see if it is for me to run away from God.

God’s will is the only true free will there is and his will is sovereign (yes, don’t scream and rip your clothes) his will is even sovereign over our limited free will. Though man is a free moral agent his will cannot thwart the ultimate will of God. Oh you say but God is fair and just and would not violate the free will he has given man. You are right to say he is fair and just and does not violate. Whatever God does by definition is fair and just, that’s what sovereign God means. We are all sinners by nature and choice (which means by our own free will). And we all justly deserve the active wrath of God smashing down on us resulting in the eternal damnation of our souls without hope. Yet in God’s grace he chooses to save some. Again you say that is not fair nor just, God would not just save some. You say all should either be left to utter darkness with no hope or all should be saved and ushered into the glory of God? Is this your argument? Is that your cry? Listen to the apostle Paul. “Who are you O’ man who answers back to God” (Romans 9:20-24).

I think God’s wisdom is best. I am ecstatic that God in his grace acted on me, allowing me to choose him by my own free will through his ultimate will of electing me first, calling me and keeping me. My free will is not violated or compromised by God’s ultimate will of choosing for himself sons before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1). I do not know how this works but I will not choose one doctrine in God’s word over another. I will accept them all to the glory of God.