It’s been a while since I’ve done an article in the “great books series” but I thought I’d write one today after thumbing through a couple on my shelf on the subject of grace. Grace is a tough subject in terms of Christian theology because godly men and great scholars disagree on the intricacies of how we’re to live under it. Here are five books on the subject of grace, which actually offer some diversity of opinion…
As Isaiah put it, God’s ways are above our ways, and His thoughts are above our thoughts. He is holy, transcendent, distinct, and set apart from us. And He is, as Noah put it, the “Judge of all the earth,” and He will “do right.”
But we often answer wrongly on His behalf. Let me say that I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t always explain things well. As a Pastor, I always like to think I have an answer, which sometimes prevents me from being honest enough to say, “I don’t have a clue why God has decided this, but He is right.”
Here are some reasons why God’s judgment is such a tough subject…
Note: Over the next week or so, I’ll be blogging through these seven great sayings, so subscribe or check back often.
The religious leaders had set Jesus up, paid a betrayer, and established false testimony against Jesus because of their intense hatred for him. They followed close to Jesus on his way to be crucified. The Roman soldiers had beaten and mocked Him and gambled over His clothing. One of the twelve had sold Jesus out, one denied knowing Him, and most of the rest were not to be seen – they had forsaken Him and fled. His creation had rejected Him. His nation and His own family had done so as well.
What would you say? You’re on the cross and given only a few breaths to speak to them all in your final moments. Would you argue your case one more time? Would you curse them? Jesus prayed for their forgiveness.
If there’s a command in the Bible that’s difficult to keep, it’s the repeated command to forgive others. It’s really tough. As you look at the model prayer of Jesus, He encourages us to express our forgiveness to others in light of the fact that we’ve been forgiven of so much.
W. A. Criswell defined teaching (from the pulpit) as “instructing a man in the will and ways of the Lord,” and preaching as “seeking to drive a man’s will God-ward.” There is a raging debate today over how much freedom people really have. A renewed fascination with Calvinism has brought this debate to the forefront. I’m not opening the whole can of worms here – just this one point. Preaching should be directed to the will of a person. Decisions count.
If you carry Calvinism as far as many, you’ll begin to say that there is no free will or free agency with man. This morning I read from Spurgeon’s evening sermon from December 27th, 1874 called Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth. Spurgeon never started a sermon softly. The second sentence declares “This every Christian minister must do if he would make full proof of his ministry, and if he would be clear of the blood of his hearers at the last great day.”
What Spurgeon said just moments later, however, issues a clarion call for addressing the will of our human hearers…
Remember, dear hearers, if the preacher does not push you to this–that you shall be converted, or he will know the reason why; if he does not drive you to this–that you shall either willfully reject, or cheerfully accept Christ, he has not yet known how rightly to handle the great ’sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’
We all do what we want every moment of the day. We make choices and decisions that impact eternity and preaching that does not appeal to the will of man fails to satisfy the expectations of the Great Commission. In case you wonder where I stand on the issue of God’s grace and His role in our salvation, I agree just as strongly with what Spurgeon said later in the same message:
The Lord alone must save you as a work of gratis mercy, not because you deserve it, but because he wills to do it to magnify his abundant love.
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The sovereignty of God is an ever-mysterious issue that we must struggle with and come to terms with as we seek to have an understanding of God’s role. Salvation is all of Him and not of us at all. But there is a receiving, an accepting of Him that must be decided in the human heart upon the call of one sent with the gospel.
Preach to change the mind. Preach to move the emotions. And preach to drive the will of man God-ward.
Yesterday, I preached about depravity. We’re journeying through the entire Bible and I came to the passage where Moses comes down off the mountain and the people have made a golden calf. God prepared him with the information, but Moses was still utterly shocked at their rebellion. That’s how we approach the subject of depravity – we can hardly believe it. I mean, sure, people mess up, but totally wicked to the core from birth?
I’ve struggled a bit for direction in what to teach in our midweek Bible study. I had wanted to tackle the subject of grace as it relates to living the Christian life. But I also wanted to touch on the subject of joy and how seldom we possess it. I thought also of the subject of the fulness of the Holy Spirit. All seem interrelated and books and materials abound on the subjects. Therefore, I’ve been reading from about six different books on the subject. Continue Reading »
At our wedding, Angie and I chose to have Louie Armstrong’s song played… What a Wonderful World. In light of yesterday’s shootings, and so many other monumental tragedies in recent years, is it really a wonderful world? We were driving to Fort Smith yesterday for the annual meeting of the BMA of America and were reflecting on some of the tragedies that have taken place at this same time of the year such as the Oklahoma City bombing (April, 1995), the Waco compound burning (April, 1993), and Columbine (April, 1999). Each of these tragedies evoked emotions of fear and trepidation about living in this present world.
Our daughter begins kindergarten this fall. She’s nearly five years old and we’re already speculating about the nature of the world in which she will grow up and go through school. The news media tackles subjects like campus security and the psychological reasons behind such an awful rampage. But the secular media can never fully comprehend the nature of human depravity. Evil men will do evil things, no matter our level of security. If not on a campus, then in a restaurant, an airport, or a World Trade Center. Is this really a wonderful world?
There are natural and supernatural factors that can only be seen through a God-centered world view. The depravity of man runs deep in the heart. Evil abounds in humankind and murder, war, and bloodshed will continue as long as lost mankind has some dominion over this present realm. Further, Satan is labeled in Scripture as the “prince of the power of the air… the god of this world.” We who live on earth, live in a time and place where darkness has dominion. Is it really a wonderful world?
My answer, surprisingly, is yes. Why? Because it is in this present realm that God is actively working to extend His saving and healing grace to a lost and depraved people. It is here that God moves. It was into this humanity that Jesus, the light, came into the world. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God’s glory was put on display through the life of Jesus Christ, through His atoning death, and through His miraculous resurrection. Do we live in a wonderful world? Only insomuch as Jesus makes the difference.
Last night, we were ministered to by a wonderful gospel singer who performed the old song Beulah Land. I love the lines… “Beulah land, I’m longing for thee, and someday on thee I’ll stand…” Our world, inundated with pain and loss and suffering, is merely a waiting room, a practice run, an incubation chamber for eternity. For those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, heaven is our real home. Hell awaits those who reject His free offer of grace.
Amazingly, we cannot forget that it is this world which will someday be renovated by fire. This world will be redeemed. It currently groans with birth pains, waiting to be delivered from its depraved lostness. It’s a wonderful world, plagued by the inherent sinfulness of humankind. It’s wracked with pain and evil. Yet everything on God’s time line is moving toward a great and triumphant finality. Jesus will rule and reign.
Our hearts are gripped, in times like this, with uncertainty and fear. Then Scripture speaks on behalf of its divine author… “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Is this world your home, or do you seek a city to come, a home not made with human hands preserved in the eternities for you? Jesus Christ came to be the light and hope of a lost and dark world. He came to offer you peace, pardon, and eternal life if you’ll only trust fully in Him, even in the world’s darkest moments. More is to come. Scripture foretells that times will wax worse and worse. Yet Jesus’ hand is always extended toward you. Embrace Him who is ready to embrace you, and enjoy the unspeakable peace and confidence of God.
“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him,… To me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” -Deuteronomy 32:11-12, 35
Isn’t it amazing that God can be both the mother eagle, caring for her young, and also the awesome God who takes vengeance on those who reject Him at the same time? It isn’t in our natures to be like God, so it’s difficult to understand, but notice that in the very same chapter of the Bible there is a picture of God as Provider as well as a picture of God as Destroyer. The first passage describes Him in His tender care for Israel. The second passage was the text of Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
This is our God. He’s the One who knew us before the foundation of the world, set His affection upon us, brought us into the world, provides for our needs, protects us from the enemy, grows us spiritually, and secures us in Christ for all eternity. But He’s also the One who cannot leave sin unpunished, created a lake of fire for those who sin against Him, and who will someday sit upon a throne in final judgment. If I’m His child, He’s my caregiver. If I’m His enemy, He’s my ultimate Judge.
What is God to you? Your Father? Your caregiver? Or is He your Judge, the One who will take vengeance on your life? He has a right to punish our sin, so He did so in Jesus for all who will look to Him for salvation. Look to Him today, and live!
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”—Galatians 5:1
Jesus said, “the truth shall set you free” and that once set free, we would be “free indeed.” But freedom does not necessarily mean the absolute liberty to do anything we please, but rather to do anything we please within the proper boundaries.
America has become a place in which we are overly sensitive to certain “freedoms.” We’ll protect just about any right no matter what effect it may have on society, so long as it does not directly violate an existing law (and even then we often simply change the law). We fight for “civil liberties” at the expense of the decency and moral excellence of this once great nation. Freedom is a God-given privilege, but even our own law gives evidence that our freedom must know its proper boundaries.
This is true in our lives as well. Christians today will argue tooth and nail for their freedom to do just about anything because we are “under grace.” Strangely, I never remember Paul arguing for the right to do something questionable, rather He was always willing to give up his own rights for the sake of Christ’s testimony. He was a slave, bound to Jesus. Like Paul, we are free not to sin anymore, not to try to live up to the law to please God, and we are free from the condemnation that once rested on us for sin. But also like Paul, we are bound to Christ and therefore our freedom must know its limitations, set by the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the absolute authority of Scripture in our lives.
So run free for God! But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to run away from God. Run, that you may obtain the prize He has waiting!
I'm a Christian, a Pastor to Bethel Baptist Church in Bentonville, Arkansas, a husband to Angie, a Dad to Ella, and I also enjoy graphic and web design. I'm a huge fan of Chick-fil-A and have a little dog named Beau!
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