May 27, 2008
Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
In my earlier post entitled “3 Responses to the Gospel”, we dealt with Acts 13:48…
Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
Note carefully that being appointed to eternal life precedes belief.
If God is responsible for our faith, then what role does human responsibility play in our salvation?
If this is a question which gnaws on your mind… or if you simply want to learn more about the amazing salvation which God has graciously given to us… then I would whole-heartedly recommend that you take the time to listen to the 2-part message by C.J. Mahaney entitled “The Mystery of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility.” You can download these messages for free here http://www.sovereigngracestore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=A1251-00-51
Sola Gratia (“Grace Alone.”)
May 26, 2008
Three Responses to the Gospel – Acts 13:42-52
The following is a sermon preached Sunday morning at Maranatha Baptist Church on May 25, 2008.
Acts 13:42-52 (ESV) – 42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
What we have recorded for us here in the book of Acts is the results of Paul’s preaching in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch.
As was typical for Paul, he began his ministry in Pisidian Antioch by preaching in the synagogue before an audience of Jews and Gentile God-fearers. “God-fearers” were Gentiles who believed in the God of Israel, but had not fully converted to Judaism. They were permitted to attend the synagogue, but were not allowed to participate in the worship of God. They were allowed simply to observe, because they were outsiders to the people of God.
After the typical prayers and Scripture readings, Paul was asked by the rulers of the synagogue if he had a word of exhortation for the people (Acts 13:15.) Of course, Paul never turned down an opportunity to preach. So he stood up before the people and delivered a sermon to them (Acts 13:16-41), after which the synagogue service let out.
As they left the synagogue, people began begging Paul and Barnabas to speak to them about “these things” again next Sabbath.
What are “these things”? This is a reference to the sermon Paul had just preached. Let me sum it up for you…
Paul began by recounting the history of the Israel. Really, he was recounting the work of God on behalf of Israel and, by doing so, he described the character of God.
1) God is sovereign over all things… including the call of His people to Himself. God chose the patriarchs… Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… and called them to Himself (Acts 13:17.)
2) God is just. He judged the inhabitants of the land of Canaan for their wickedness (Acts 13:19.) He will not let sin go unpunished.
3) Yet at the same time, God is patient. He put up with the Israelites in the wilderness (Acts 13:18.) Despite their complaining and sin… God was longsuffering with them.
4) God leads His people…providing protection and guidance for those who are His (Acts 13:20-22.)
5) He is a God of salvation… a God who delivers His people with a mighty, uplifted arm (Acts 13:17.)
6) He is a God who makes promises… He made promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and David (Acts 13:23.)
And Paul makes it very clear that all these promises are fulfilled in Jesus (Acts 13:23-39.)
1) He is the Son of God.
2) The promised Messiah… the Savior and King which God had promised long beforehand to the patriarchs and David.
3) He lived a righteous life on our behalf, fulfilling all righteousness, so that His people could be declared righteous in the sight of God and enter into eternal life with Him.
4) He died for our sins upon the cross. He was cursed by God and punished for our sake so that we might be forgiven.
5) He was buried in a tomb…
6) But God raised Him from the dead on the third day, clearly demonstrating for all the world to see that Jesus is His only begotten Son… the Messiah… and Savior of sinful men and women.
This was the heart of the message Paul preached and he called all of his hearers to respond to the message by trusting in Jesus Christ, because through Him, God offers the forgiveness of sins and justification (i.e. being declared righteous) (Acts 13:38-39.).
Paul warned his hearers to take these things very seriously…
Acts 13:40-41 (ESV) – 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: 41 “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”
He warns them not to scoff. Don’t be astounded. Don’t be amazed by this. Don’t think this is too good to be true. Don’t cast this message aside. Because if you do… you will perish…and face eternal judgment.
This is an amazing message… the most amazing message ever preached… and the most important message ever preached. It is a message which demands a response.
This is the same gospel message we preach today. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the only living and true God. He is the eternal God… the unchanging God… and His message of salvation is the same today as in the days of Paul.
We are all sinful. That is true of every one of us without exception. All have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23.)
And God’s justice demands a punishment. He is patient with us, but He cannot allow sin to go unpunished (Ex 34:6-7.) And that punishment is death and hell for eternity (Rom 6:23.) .
God in His justice must punish sin, but God in His grace has made a way for sinful men and women to be delivered from the judgment to come. There must be a punishment for sin, so God provided a substitute for us… Jesus Christ… who lived and died and rose again in our place so that we might have eternal life through Him.
This is the only message of salvation. There is no other. And this the message which Paul proclaimed. And it is the message which we proclaim today.
This is a powerful message (Rom 1:16)… and it is a message which produces a response.
Here in Acts 13:42-52, we see three common responses produced by the proclamation of the gospel
First of all, notice that some took him seriously and wanted to hear more…“As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42.)
This message was astounding and some begged to hear more the next week.
But also notice that some of them were impatient. They weren’t willing to wait until the next week. They followed Paul and Barnabas, who told them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43.)
It is interesting that they were told “to continue” (προσμένω (pronounced prosmeno.)) In order to “continue” in the grace of God, a person must first enter into the experience of the grace of God. This implies that some of these people who followed them had already become Christians. They were believing in Jesus Christ and Paul and Barnabas urge them to hold fast to their Savior. No wonder they wanted to hear more. We’ll see more about them in a minute. But they weren’t the only ones who wanted to hear more.
Notice that the next week… “almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:44.) Most scholars agree that there is a little bit of hyperbole here. Pisidian Antioch was a very large city. It is highly unlikely that every person in the city showed up the next week. Many of the people in the city would have been completely uninterested in hearing about a message preached in a Jewish synagogue, since most of the city was not interested whatsoever in the God of the Jews. But there is no question that a large crowd turned out to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say.
Now really think about this for a moment… how did these people know to come to the synagogue on this particular Sabbath? It is doubtful that Paul and Barnabas… merely two men… could have gathered this large a crowd by themselves. They didn’t have email or television advertising. How did all these people know to show up in this place on the Sabbath to hear more about the gospel?
This turn out must have been the work of those who had been converted and those who wanted to hear more of this message. They must have talked with others throughout the week about these two men and the message they came preaching the week before. They must have invited others to come and hear the message of the gospel.
And people came…a whole lot of people came. It was much like a 1st century Billy Graham crusade. Christians went out and invited everyone they knew to come and hear the proclamation of the gospel. And many came, because they wanted to hear more about the gospel.
This is the first response we see here to the preaching of the gospel… some people wanted to hear more. But that wasn’t true of everyone, because some rejected the message of the gospel.
When Paul began speaking to this massive crowd, the Jews began contradicting everything he said. They argued with him and attempted to refute his message by speaking against him.
But this wasn’t all. They were also “reviling Him.” The word translated “revile” is the Greek word βλασφημέω (pronounced blasphemeo) and it typically means “to blaspheme.” Now the ESV renders it that they were “reviling him”, meaning Paul, but the pronoun “him” doesn’t occur in the Greek. The NASB gets it right here, they were simply “blaspheming.” Now this could mean that they were blaspheming Paul, but it seems more likely that they were blaspheming God.
There is an important point to be made here. To reject the gospel is blasphemy. Jesus Christ is the Son of God… the Messiah… who suffered and died for our sins and rose again the third day according to the Scripture. He is the greatest expression of the glory of God in human history (Heb 1:3.) To reject the gospel is to reject Jesus Christ… to deny that He is Who God says He is. And that is blasphemy…
They were doing exactly what Paul warned them against in verse 41, they were scoffing at the gospel.
Why? Notice that it wasn’t for theological reasons. It wasn’t because of their study of Scripture. It was because they were jealous. And not just a little jealous… they were filled with the jealousy.
Why were they jealous?
We aren’t told for sure, but it is not hard to guess. Paul and Barnabas were getting all their attention. People were listening to them and believing the message that they were preaching. This weakened their role in the lives of Jews and Gentile God-fearers.
The same thing happened in Jerusalem back in Acts 5. As the apostles were preaching this same message in Jerusalem, multitudes of men and women were being saved. And the religious leaders in Jerusalem didn’t like it, because they were jealous of the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17.) And they did all they could to stop the preaching of the gospel.
How did Paul and Barnabas respond to this rising opposition?)
They didn’t cower. They didn’t shut up. They spoke out all the more boldly and this is what they said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you…”
What does Paul mean by this? We find the answer in the next verse. Notice the word “for” (γὰρ.) This tells us that what follows is the ground of this statement.
Why was it necessary that the Word of God be spoken first to the Jews? Because “the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth’.”
Notice that the Lord has commanded “us.” Who is the “us”? Not just Paul and Barnabas, but the Jews. This is made clear by the passage from which Paul is quoting.
Paul is quoting here from the Second Servant Song in Isaiah 49:5-6…
Isaiah 49:5-6 (ESV) – 5 And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
This is speaking of the Servant of the Lord, who is identified in Luke 2:32 as Jesus. Notice what He will do. He will reconcile the Jewish people to God. But that isn’t all. In fact, that is “too light a thing” for Him to do. It isn’t big enough. His ministry will be much bigger than this. He will not only bring salvation to the Jews, but He will also be a light to the nations, meaning the Gentiles. He will bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
As I said, Luke 2:32 makes it clear that this is referring to Jesus in His role as the Servant of the Lord, but if we go back just 2 verses to Isaiah 49:3, then we see that the Servant of the Lord is identified as Israel.
So what is the point of all this? Jesus came to reconcile sinful Jewish men and women to God through His life, death and resurrection. But that isn’t all. That would be too small a thing for Him to do. He would also reconcile the Gentiles to God and He would do so through reconciled Jews (see F.F. Bruce, NICNT, 265-267.)
Paul and Barnabas went first to those who were to fulfill this role… the Jews… but…they thrust the gospel aside and judged themselves unworthy of eternal life.
Notice very carefully what Paul says here. They are responsible for rejecting the gospel. They thrust it aside and, by doing so, they are passing judgment on themselves. They are making a decision which declares them to be unworthy of eternal life.
Scripture is clear that this is our natural state. Apart from the work of God, every human being will reject Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel. That is because we are thoroughly and completely contaminated by sin…
Romans 3:10-11 (ESV) – 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
No one seeks for God. No one. Even though God’s attributes and power are clearly seen in creation, we willfully choose to suppress the knowledge of God and worship things in creation rather than God, our Creator (Rom 1:20-23.)
This describes all human beings in our natural state. We are innately sinful and idolatrous and we willfully choose not to seek after God. And in doing so, we judge ourselves unworthy of eternal life with God.
This is what we see going on here… the natural rejection of the gospel by sinful men and women.
Since the Jews rejected this message and the ministry which was rightfully theirs, Paul and Barnabas, taking on the ministry of the Servant of the Lord, they turn to the Gentiles. They turn to those who are receptive to the gospel. They become a light to the nations, proclaiming to them the gospel, so that they might be saved.
This leads to the third response to the gospel here in the text… some receive the gospel and are saved. “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord…” (Acts 13:48.)
We should remember that the Gentiles were excluded from the people of God and the worship of God. Even those who were God-fearers were not really part of the people of God. They were outsiders… strangers and aliens to the promise of God (Eph 2:11-12.) But now they are welcome to come to God through Jesus Christ and enjoy the full privileges of being His people.
No wonder they rejoiced and gloried in the gospel.
We are told here that they “believed.” Whereas many of the Jews rejected the gospel, scoffing at the Messiah and blaspheming God, these Gentiles believed.
Doesn’t this contradict what I just said about human beings being innately sinful and not seeking after God?
What makes the difference between these believing Gentiles and the unbelieving Jews?
These Gentiles who believed were “appointed to eternal life.” The word translated “appointed” is τάσσω (pronounced tassō) and it means to be “ordained” or to be “destined” for something. It is a perfect passive participle in the Greek, which means that it was something which happened in the past but has continuing results (perfect tense.) Also, it is something which was done to them (passive verb.) In other words, they didn’t appoint themselves. In other words, sometime in the past, they were appointed or destined by someone to eternal life.
Who appointed them to believe and receive eternal life? God did…
Compare this to Ephesians 1:3-6…
Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV) – 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
It is only because God in His sovereignty chooses some for salvation that anyone is saved. He chose us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world and, at the right time, through the hearing of the gospel, He causes His people to be born again (I Pet 1:23, James 1:18), granting us repentance (Acts 11:18) and faith (Eph 2:8), so that we can be saved.
This sovereign choice of God makes all the difference in the world…and all the difference in eternity. It determines who will accept the message of the gospel and be saved.
Some people will say this is unfair. After all, if God appoints some to believe and be saved and not others, than isn’t He playing favorites?
That is God’s prerogative if He so desires. He is the Potter and we are the clay and He can do as He sees fit with His people (Rom 9:19-23.)
But this question is ultimately missing the point. This question seems to picture God standing at the gates of heaven and pushing away those who are seeking to enter into His presence. That is not the case at all. There is none righteous, no not one. There is none who understand. There is none who seek after God (Rom 3:10-11.) We are all naturally running away from God as fast as we can. Naturally, we all choose to reject the gospel and be damned to hell forever. If left to ourselves, we would all judge ourselves unworthy of eternal life. But God graciously reaches out and seizes hold of some, drawing them to Himself and granting us eternal salvation (Jn 6:44.) If God didn’t do this… then no one would be saved…
God isn’t unfair. God is gracious.
If God treated us fairly, then all would be damned to hell. But God is gracious and saves some… those whom He has appointed to salvation according to His own sovereign will.
This is cause for rejoicing and those who are converted will rejoice and glory in the gospel… not just to themselves… but before the watching eyes of the world.
That is what we see going on here… “The Word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region” (Acts 13:49.)
Who was doing the spreading of the gospel? Those who believed and were saved.
A great thing is happening here. The gospel is going forth boldly and powerfully. But it seems like this only served to throw more fuel on the fire of the Jew’s jealousy, for they stirred up the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city against Paul and Barnabas. These were important Gentiles in the city. Most commentators believe that the women described here were Gentile God-fearers and the men were their husbands. These men were leaders in this region. They are powerful men and they began to persecute Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of the area.
As a result, Paul and Barnabas traveled down the road to Iconium to continue their ministry there. But as they leave, they shook the dust off their feet. This was a symbolic way of saying this city was unclean and bound for destruction. In fact, it is a way of saying that this city is so unclean that they didn’t even want the dust from the city’s streets to cling to their shoes.
We don’t know if these new Christians in Pisidia Antioch were persecuted after Paul and Barnabas left. But their teachers were thrust away from them. Yet God did not leave them as orphans. They were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. His Holy Spirit dwelt within them, filling them with joy even in the midst of persecution.
What do we learn from this passage?
There are three common responses when the gospel is preached:
1) Some will reject the message…
2) Some will want to hear more…
3) And some will be saved…
God is the One who determines how people respond to the gospel. Only those who are appointed by God to believe in Jesus Christ and receive eternal life will be saved.
This leads us to an important question. If God has already in eternity past appointed those who will be saved, then why do we share the gospel?
The simple answer is because God has commanded us to (Matt 28:18-20.) But we also preach the gospel, because God works through means to call sinners to salvation. He works through the proclamation of the gospel to call those who are His to Himself.
This is a privilege which God has given to His people, that we might take part in the saving work of Jesus Christ through proclaiming the gospel. Bringing salvation to the nations is His ministry… He is the Servant of the Lord… but through our relationship with Him, we are the means by which He brings light to the very ends of the earth.
Are you a Christian?
Then be a light to the world. Preach the gospel.
It won’t be easy. You will be persecuted. You probably won’t get run out of town… you might… but probably not… but you will likely be mocked and scorned.
Don’t let that stop you. Speak out boldly about Jesus… no matter what occurs…
If you are not a Christian then I would warn you… don’t scoff at the gospel…
To reject the gospel is to blaspheme God… And there is no salvation for those who those who reject Jesus Christ.
May 15, 2008
What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort?
Yesterday I reflected on the first question from the Heidelberg Catechism… today I will reflect on Question # 2 (along with support from Questions # 3-5)…
Question 2
Question: What do you need to know in order to live and die in the joy of this comfort?
Answer: First, how great my sins and misery are; [1] second, how I am delivered from all my sins and misery; [2] third, how I am to be thankful to God for such deliverance. [3]
[1] Rom_3:9-10; 1Jo_1:10.
[2] Joh_17:3; Act_4:12; Act_10:43.
[3] Mat_5:16; Rom_6:13; Eph_5:8-10; 1Pe_2:9-10.
There are three things necessary to fully appreciate the comfort which we have in Jesus Christ.
1) We must understand how great our sins are.
We are so prone to think of ourselves as basically good. But this is not the biblical evaluation of humanity. We are sinful…
Genesis 6:5 (ESV) – 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) – 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Romans 3:9-11 (ESV) – 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
Not only do we commit wicked acts… we also fail to commit righteous acts. We fail to do that which God has commanded of us. Jesus summarized God’s expectations for all mankind in Matthew 22:37-40 (see Question # 4 of the catechism):
Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV) – 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Until we know and remember how far we fall short of the glory of God… we cannot fully appreciate the comfort which is ours in Christ Jesus. In fact, until we know this, we will never even begin to seek our comfort in Christ Jesus, because we will see no need of a Savior.
From where do we learn the extent of our sins? (This is Question # 3 of the catechism.) We learn of our sinfulness from the Law of God.
Romans 3:20 (ESV) – 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
If we meditate on the Law of God and prayerfully examine ourselves in the light of it, then it won’t be long until we see the depravity of our own hearts and lives.
We cannot be “saved” until we realize our danger. We cannot be “found” until we are “lost.”
2) We must know how we are delivered from our sins.
We cannot save ourselves. There is nothing good in us (Rom 7:18.) Salvation from sin and its consequences is a gracious gift of God (Eph 2:8-9) and this salvation comes through one Source alone… through Jesus Christ. There is only one Mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all His people (I Tim 2:5-6.) Deliverance from our sinful state and the consequences of sin is to be found in Jesus Christ alone.
Acts 4:12 (ESV) – 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6 (ESV) – 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If only we would remind ourselves of this more often. We are so prone to think far too highly of ourselves. Our salvation is wholly the work of Jesus Christ.
3) We are live lives expressing our gratitude to God for this great salvation which He has provided for us.
The knowledge of our true, natural state and the salvation which God has provided for us should do more than simply stimulate our thinking. It should stimulate our hearts to love and good deeds. It should affect us deeply and eternally.
1 Peter 2:9-12 (ESV) – 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
God has saved us for the glory of His grace (Eph 1:6, 12, 14.) Our lives should reflect the work which God has done in us and we should shine brightly as God’s workmanship so that the world may glorify Him (Eph 2:10, Matt 5:16, Eph 5:8-10.)
This is the purpose behind our salvation… the glory of God! In order to fully appreciate the comfort which is ours in Christ Jesus, we must be striving to fulfill the purpose behind our salvation… that God Himself might be honored and praised for the work which He has done in us.
“…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5b-6 (ESV))
May 13, 2008
The Emergent Church and the Gospel
Speaking of false teachers… John Hendryx has posted an excellent article on the distortion of the gospel which is prevalent in the emerging church movement. It is worth reading. You can find it here http://www.reformationtheology.com/2008/05/the_emergent_church_and_the_go.php
May 7, 2008
Cosmic Treason – By Dr. R.C. Sproul
The following is an excerpt from an article written by Dr. R.C. Sproul in the May 2008 issue of Tabletalk Magazine:
““The sinfulness of sin” sounds like a vacuous redundancy that adds no information to the subject under discussion. However, the necessity of speaking of the sinfulness of sin has been thrust upon us by a culture and even a church that has diminished the significance of sin itself. Sin is communicated in our day in terms of making mistakes or of making poor choices. When I take an examination or a spelling test if I make a mistake, I miss a particular word. It is one thing to make a mistake. It is another to look at my neighbor’s paper and copy his answers in order to make a good grade. In this case, my mistake has risen to the level of a moral transgression. Though sin may be involved in making mistakes as a result of slothfulness in preparation, nevertheless, the act of cheating takes the exercise to a more serious level. Calling sin “making poor choices” is true, but it is also a euphemism that can discount the severity of the action. The decision to sin is indeed a poor one, but once again, it is more than a mistake. It is an act of moral transgression…”
Dr. Sproul goes on in this article to state that Scripture describes sin in at least three broad categories:
1) Sin is a debt owed to God.
2) Sin is an expression of enmity against God.
3) Sin is a crime committed against God.
Read the whole thing here http://www.ligonier.org/tabletalk/2008/5/1058_Cosmic_Treason
Psalm 130:3-4 (ESV) – 3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
May 6, 2008
Sin: What We Do Or What We Are
Tim Challies has posted an excellent discussion on our tendency to think of sin as simply what we do rather than the fruit of what we are (i.e. sinners.) Here is an excerpt:
“I have met countless people who consider themselves Christians and who admit to sin in their lives and feel guilt and remorse for individual sins, but who seem unable or unwilling to admit the incontrovertible fact that their hearts are in rebellion against God. The Bible tells us in plain terms that we are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners. And I don’t think we can overstate what a fundamental difference this is! We do not need to seek forgiveness merely for the sins we commit, but for our fundamentally evil and rebellious hearts—hearts that, in their natural state, hate God and are fully and completely and gleefully and willingly opposed to Him.” (read the whole thing here http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/sin-what-we-do-or-what-we-are.php )
Well said…
We must remember the following about ourselves…
Genesis 6:5 (ESV) – 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) – 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Psalm 53:1-3 (ESV) – 1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Romans 8:7-8 (ESV) – 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) – 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
It is only when we remember how sinful we are in essence that we can truly appreciate the grace of God in Christ Jesus!
Solus Christus! (Christ Alone!)
May 5, 2008
The God Who Did Not Spare His Own Son…
The epistle to the Romans is basically the Apostle Paul’s systematic exposition of the gospel message. In the first three chapters (Rom 1:18-3:20), the apostle Paul lays out a devastating indictment against all mankind. We are all idolaters… we worship created things rather than the Creator (Rom 1:18-23.) We sin against our consciences which contain fragments of God’s Law written upon it (Rom 2:12-16.) There is no one who is righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands or seeks after God. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:10-23.) Despite this, God has given His Son as the sacrifice for our sin. While we were helpless to save ourselves… vile sinners at war with God… Christ Jesus died for us (Rom 5:6-10.) Through our relationship with Christ, we have died to sin and we walk in newness of life (Romans 6.) There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1.)
After this detailed exposition of the gospel, Paul comes to a climax of majestic proportion in Romans 8:31-39…
Romans 8:31-39 (ESV) – 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Although there is much that could be said regarding this passage of Scripture, I just want to highlight the teaching of Paul in one specific verse…
Romans 8:32 (ESV) – 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
What would you not give up for your children? Our children are some of the most blessed gifts which God bestows upon us in this life. They are precious to us. Is there anything you wouldn’t give up for your children?
Probably not. But let me ask a different question. What would you give your children up for? Who would you give your children up for?
Paul tells us here that God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all. We… who were His enemies. Vile, wretched sinners. He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us.
Behind this statement of Paul lies the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 (Paul is quoting Gen 22:12 from the Greek translation of the Old Testament):
Genesis 22:1-12 (ESV) – 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
The Hebrew implies that Abraham had every intention to follow through with the sacrifice of Isaac, but God spared Abraham’s son. But God did not spare His own Son. God provided the lamb for a burnt offering for our sin… His only begotten Son Jesus.
Isaiah 53:5-6 (ESV) – 5 But he (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all… but notice the consequences of this: “How will He not also with Him graciously give us all things.”
Notice three things here:
1) Paul promises that God will give us “all things.” Not some things. “All things.” This is not a promise that God will give us earthly prosperity (read verses 35-36… Paul describes these things as the present tense experiences of believers.) The promise here is that God will give us all things that are necessary for us in the Christian life (cf. 8:28-30.)
2) All things are graciously given to us. We don’t earn the blessings which God bestows upon us. All the blessings which God heaps upon us are free gifts of His grace.
3) All things come to us freely “with Christ.” Every blessing that we receive in the Christian life comes to us in Christ. Apart from Him there are no blessings in the Christian life. (Read Ephesians 1:3-14, then read the post dated May 1, 2008, entitled “The Centrality of Christ in All the Christian’s Blessings, found here http://mbcpastoringlobe.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/the-centrality-of-christ-in-all-the-christian%e2%80%99s-blessings/ )
Now read this verse in context.
How do we know as Christians that we will not be condemned when we stand before God (Rom 8:34)? Because He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously justify us.
How do we know that tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword will not separate us from the love of Christ (Rom 8:35)? Because He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously keep us near Him.
How do we know that we will be more than conquerors as we face the trials and tribulations of life (Rom 8:37)? Because He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us victory over our trials.
How do we know that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:38-39)? Because He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things.
All of our blessings, both now and in eternity, are grounded in God and they flow to us through Jesus Christ. We can be assured of these blessings… not because of anything in us… not because I am a good churchgoer… not because I do good works… we can be assured of these blessings because God has demonstrated His immeasurable love for us in that while we were yet sinners, He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all.
May 2, 2008
The Call of God
Matthew 22:14 (ESV) – 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
What does it mean to be “called” by God?
Scripture often speaks of the call of God. Scripture speaks very specifically of Christians as being “called” (Rom 1:6-7, I Cor 1:2, Gal 1:6, Eph 4:1, 4, Col 3:15, II Thess 1:11… just to list a few.)
What is this call of God? It is a call by God for sinful men and women to respond to His saving purposes.
Scripture speaks clearly that this call of God goes out universally to all men and women everywhere (Isaiah 45:22, 55:1, 6-7, Matt 11:28) in three distinct ways:
1) Through creation –
Romans 1:18-20 (ESV) – 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Fallen humanity has no excuse for denying the existence of God. We can clearly see that God exists from creation (cf. Psalm 19:1-4.) If we know God exists, then do we not have an obligation to seek Him out and honor Him with the lives that we live? Creation is calling humanity to respond to God…
2) Through our consciences –
Romans 2:12-16 (ESV) – 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Even though the Gentiles did not possess the special revelation of God’s Law, there are fragments of God’s Law written upon the conscience of fallen mankind. Our God-given consciences are calling us to respond to God…
3) Through the proclamation of the gospel –
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) – 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As the redeemed people of God, we are commanded by Jesus Christ to “make disciples of all nations.” We are to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. As the gospel is preached, human beings are being called to respond to God…
This is often called the general call of God because it goes universally to all humanity.
However, the call of God is not always welcomed and responded to by those who hear it (Jer 7:13, Isaiah 65:2, Lk 13:34, Rom 10:21.)
In the parable which precedes Matthew 22:14, Jesus is addressing the Jewish nation in general. They were called by God to repentance and faith in their Messiah, but they rejected Him. They were called, but not chosen for salvation.
What does it mean to be “called” but not “chosen”?
Human beings will not naturally respond to the call of God. Scripture is clear that sinful human beings naturally:
1) Do not understand God (Rom 3:11.)
2) Do not seek after God (Rom 3:11.)
3) Are hostile to God (Rom 8:7.)
4) Are blinded by Satan (II Cor 4:4.)
5) Are spiritually dead (Eph 2:1) and unable to respond to God’s call (Jn 6:44.)
Although the call of God to respond to His saving purposes goes out universally, only those chosen by God for salvation will respond to this call.
Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44.)
Notice how strong this statement is. Jesus states unequivocally that no one can respond to the gospel in repentance and faith unless the Father draws Him. They will be raised (to eternal life with Jesus) in the last day.
Romans 8:28-30 (ESV) – 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Notice that those who are called “are called according to His purpose” and “those whom He predestined He also called.” This verse teaches us that “the effectual call is rooted in God’s sovereign, elective purpose and infallibly results in justification and final glorification” (Bruce Demarest, The Cross and Salvation, Crossway Books, pg 224.) In other words, though the call of God goes out universally, only those chosen by God will respond to His call.
Dr. Sinclair Ferguson sums up the topic of God’s universal and effectual call in this way:
“There is a call which comes to all men from God through the many evidences he has left of His presence in the world. But there are also times when God sends notices of demand, as it were, rather than reminders: when He comes personally, knocking at the door, rather than by circular letter!
Of course, there is an element of mystery in this experience. We know what it is to hear God addressing us powerfully and personally, through a passage in the Bible, or a sermon we hear. But when we discuss the passage or sermon with others we discover that it has cut little ice with them. We may not be able to say why God has spoken in this clear way to us and not to others. We only know that in His sovereign wisdom He has. We know that two people can listen to the same evangelistic sermon and one will hear the voice of Christ calling him to faith while the other hears only the words of the preacher. Again, we do not know why this happens. We are at a loss to fathom the difference between a general call and this powerful, effectual call. We only know the difference is real” (Sinclair Ferguson, The Christian Life, Banner of Truth, pg 33.)
Are you a Christian?
Then praise God that you have been chosen and called and by God!
Soli Deo Gloria!
April 30, 2008
How Do I Know If I am a Christian? – Part 3
This is the third installment in a series entitled “How Do I Know If I’m a Christian?”
Matthew 16:13-18 (ESV) – 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The key distinction between the multitudes and the disciples is that, by God’s grace, the disciples know who Jesus is. They understand that He is the Christ (the Messiah, God’s Anointed King and promised Savior), the Son of the Living God (implying deity.) Jesus states that upon this confession of faith, proclaimed through the apostles, He would build His Church (cf. Eph 2:19-22.)
We have been examining how we can know if we are a Christian. We have been examining this topic from the First Epistle of John, in which the Apostle John provides a series of tests for whether or not we are a Christian. We have seen four tests of whether or not we are a Christian:
1) Christians have fellowship with God (I Jn 1:1-4.)
2) Christians strive to avoid sin and seek righteousness (I Jn 3:4-10.)
3) Christians love one another (I Jn 3:14, 4:20-21.)
4) Christians do not love the world or the things in the world (I Jn 2:15-17.)
The fifth test of whether or not we are a Christian is, “Do we believe the biblical teaching regarding the person and work of Jesus?”
1 John 2:18-22 (ESV) – 18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
John is warning Christians about the presence of many “antichrists” in the world. The term translated “antichrist” (ἀντίχριστος, pronounced antichristos) literally refers to someone or something which is “in the place of Christ” and which “opposes Christ” (Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary on First John, Baker, I Jn 2:18.) These “antichrists” oppose Christ by presenting false understandings of Christ in an attempt to deceive the unsuspecting.
Following is a list of the characteristics of “antichrists” in I John:
1) They have separated from “us” (from the church and an orthodox understanding of apostolic doctrine)
1 John 2:19 (ESV) – 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Unfortunately, we see this all the time today. Given our present, postmodern context, it is quite common for teachers to “reinvent” or “re-imagine” doctrine. Christians must take care to hold fast to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3.)
2) They deny that Jesus is the Christ.
1 John 2:22 (ESV) – 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
To deny that Jesus is the Christ is to deny that He is God’s Anointed King and promised Savior. This is probably a denial of the work which Jesus was commissioned by the Father to accomplish (i.e. I Jn 4:14.)
We see this among theological liberals and those in the emergent church. Many have rejected the biblical doctrine of the substitutionary atonement of Christ (I Jn 2:1-2) and have redefined the intended work of Jesus as being simply that of an example for us to follow. Although Jesus certainly is our example (for example: Phil 2:5-8), the overwhelming evidence of Scripture is that the purpose of God in sending Jesus into the world was to die for the sins of His people (see Old Testament sacrificial system, Isaiah 53, Mk 10:45, Lk 19:10, etc…) When someone redefines the work of Christ in another way, then they are an “antichrist.”
3) They deny that Jesus came in the flesh.
1 John 4:1-3 (ESV) – 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
John was probably arguing against a proto-Gnostic heresy which stated that Jesus was not truly human, but only appeared to be human (i.e. Docetism.) However, the full humanity of Christ is absolutely essential for the completion of Jesus’ mission to provide a substitutionary atonement for His people.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (ESV) – 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Apart from possessing full humanity, Jesus could not function as our representative (“high priest.”) Apart from possessing full humanity, Jesus could not make propitiation for the sins of His people.
This heretical view of the person of Christ is not particularly prevalent today. However, we might find some variations of this in certain new age spiritualities.
4) They are from the world… and the world listens to them.
1 John 4:5-6 (ESV) – 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Notice that antichrists are accepted by the world. The world listens to them, because they are from the world. At the same time, the world “does not listen to us” (cf. I Cor 1:18 – the gospel is foolishness to them.)
This should be a strong warning sign for us as Christians. If the world accepts a particular teaching, then we should examine it closely to ascertain whether or not it is biblical, because the world does not accept that which is of God.
5) They deny that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) – 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The world… and the world’s teachers (i.e. antichrists) are overcome by the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Although the doctrine of the deity of Christ has been constantly disputed throughout church history, Scripture is abundantly clear that Jesus is “very God of very God.”
John 1:1-3 (ESV) – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) – 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 2:9 (ESV) - 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV) – 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Given all this, the biblical teaching regarding Jesus in First John can be summed up as follows:
1) Jesus is the eternal Son of God.
2) Jesus is fully human, like us in every way, but without sin.
3) Jesus is the Christ, God’s Anointed King and the Savior of His people through His substitutionary death upon the cross.
If a person does not adhere to this understanding of Jesus, then they are not a Christian.
1 John 2:23-25 (ESV) – 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
Christians hold fast to the gospel (“what you heard from the beginning”, cf. I Jn 1:1-4.) Those who deny the biblical teaching regarding Jesus do not have a relationship with the Father. Those who know Jesus and are trusting in Him “abide in the Father” and they have eternal life. They are Christians!
Who do you say Jesus is?
Do you believe that He is the eternal Son of God?
Do you believe that He is fully human and fully divine?
Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins, that He was buried and that He rose again the third day?
Do you pass the test?
The Christian Life – “God’s Broken Image” – Sinclair Ferguson
“We will never properly understand the work of God which takes place in the Christian life unless we first of all have some kind of grasp of why we need the grace of God” (Sinclair Ferguson, “The Christian Life”, Banner of Truth, pg 11.)
If we are to even begin to appreciate the greatness o f the grace of God in the gospel, then we must grow in our understanding of sin.
In his book, “The Christian Life”, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson discusses four aspects of the fallen and sinful nature of humanity:
1) The image of God in man is defaced.
God created all things for His glory (Rom 11:36, Rev 4:11, I Cor 6:20, I Cor 10:31.) However, human beings are unique among all creation for we are created in the image of God to reflect His character within creation (Gen 1:26-27.) However, the sin of Adam brought death upon humanity (Gen 2:17, Gen 3) and a defacement of image of God within us. The image of God is not completely destroyed (Gen 9:6), but it is seriously defaced (Rom 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…”)
The gospel offers us hope in light of this problem, for in the gospel we have the promise of God that we are “a new creation” in Christ Jesus (II Cor 5:17.)
We have no ability to recreate ourselves… this work must come from God… and it is a consequence of regeneration (John 3:1-8, cf. Ezek 36:25-27.)
2) People are under the dominion of sin and death.
The apostle Paul says it better than I ever could…
Human beings under the dominion of death:
Romans 5:12 (ESV) – 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Romans 6:23a (ESV) – 23 For the wages of sin is death…
Human beings are under the dominion of sin:
Romans 7:18-20 (ESV) – 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
The gospel alone is the answer to this problem…
Romans 6:6-11 (ESV) – 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
3) Human beings are guilty before God.
Read Romans 1-3 carefully. In this passage, the apostle Paul brings a devastating indictment against all humanity. All human beings, without exception, are guilty before God.
Romans 3:10-11, 23 (ESV) – 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God… 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
There is a consequence for our guilt before God…
Romans 6:23 (ESV) - 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 1:18 (ESV) - 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Only through the work of Christ Jesus can the consequences of our sin be removed…
Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) – 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Romans 8:1 (ESV) - 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
4) Human beings are naturally in the grip of Satan.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) – 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The answer to this problem is found in the saving work of God alone…
Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV) – 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
“We need recreation by Christ in order that the image of God, once distorted by sin, may be restored. We need deliverance form the dominion of sin in order that we may live freely for God. We need to be rescued from the power of Satan so that our lives may be given to Christ the Lord as His glad bondslaves. We need to be saved from the wrath of God so that, released from this most terrifying of all prospects, we may live the life of forgiven sinners. It is the glory of the gospel that it meets our need” (Sinclair Ferguson, “The Christian Life”, Banner of Truth, pg 16.)
