Soli Deo Gloria

“The true test of discipleship is our witness to the world and not just the promises we make to God. Does our own discipleship pass this test? People make many promises when they are alone with God -– promises about living a better life, spending more time in prayer, or giving more money to charity. But the real test of our discipleship is what we say and do when we are under pressure to take a stand for Christ. What do we say then?

Unless we speak up for what we believe, then we ourselves become the deniers of Christ. I deny Christ when I talk with my friends about being involved in church, but not about what it means to know Jesus. I deny Christ when there is so little that is distinctive about the way I live people at work or school do not even know that I’m a Christian. I deny Christ when I am so afraid about what people think that I shrink back from telling people the biblical truth about controversial issues like abortion, or homosexuality, or the unique claims of Jesus Christ as the world’s only Savior. I deny Christ when I say something a Christian shouldn’t say or do something a Christian shouldn’t do because I want to have fun or to be popular. But if I cannot speak up and say something for Jesus, then what kind of disciple am I anyway?”

- Philip Graham Ryken (From his reformed expositional commentary on Mark)

“The Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. They were glad when they heard this, and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.” Mark 14:10-11

The narrative of Mary’s devotion to Christ (Mark 14:3-9) serves as an amazing contrast between the two bookends of Judas’ betrayal. The religious leaders wanted desperately to find a way to get to Christ before the Passover in order to avoid the crowds. Like a black and white contrast to Mary, Judas now comes on the scene.

Could it be that Judas has now come to the realization that Christ is not the political messiah he has hoped for? Scripture doesn’t tell us and we’d only be speculating what was going through his mind. However, what Scripture does tell us is that the actions of Judas were planned before time began and prophesied all throughout Scripture. While never excusing the horrific sin of Judas, Scripture makes it clear that the actions of this son of perdition were a fulfillment of Holy Scripture. (John 17:12)

When I read these two verses of Scripture concerning Judas there is a word here that causes me to think of another early event of the life of Jesus. Recall the temptations of Christ in the wilderness by Satan. Three times Satan tempted Christ with no success. What is striking is how Luke records that event. Luke tells us that Satan left Christ after the temptation until an ‘opportune time’. (Luke 4:13) When we read the other gospel accounts we learn that Satan entered into Judas inciting him to begin his betrayal. There is no doubt too that we see the sin of Judas’ greed and worldliness being used by Satan. While this truth should definitely cause us to realize that Satan is a powerful adversary it should also cause us to marvel at the absolute wisdom and sovereignty of our great God who will use the most horrific event in all of time to become the greatest and magnificent saving event. God, allowing Satan and Judas to spark the arrest and death of Christ, is by His sovereign hand and unsearchable wisdom orchestrating the greatest good which was planned before time began. It’s when we have a right and solid understanding of who our great God is in light of all of Scripture that we can truly grasp and hold fast to the amazing truth Paul pens that we are to be anxious for nothing. (Philippians 4:6-8) Believers truly can be anxious for nothing as we set our minds of things above and on the cross of Jesus Christ knowing truly that all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) May we be in awe of the great truth that “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?” (Romans 8:32)

Judas is an interesting study. With the watering down of the gospel in most of the American church today there is little to no teaching on the reality of apostasy. Judas would actually be a great example of someone who can be around Christ, His teachings and His people and yet be an enemy of Christ the entire time. In fact, it’s striking that in Acts when the disciples seek to replace the office of Judas with another that they make it a point to say that Judas shared in the ministry. (Acts 1:17) We should allow this passage to cause us to test ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) The life of Judas should also help us to understand the reality of real apostasy that the writer of Hebrews warns about. (Hebrews 6:4)

It is dangerously possible to grow up in the church and be baptized, sit under excellent teaching and preaching, partake of the sacraments and even be active in ministry and still be as lost as Judas. You see, participating in the motions of church does not save us. Sadly, there are many who may call themselves Christians in the same way Judas would have openly called himself a disciple of Christ but like Judas, are lost and outside of the saving faith needed to secure salvation. Like Judas, there are many who profess Christ only to have the benefits of Christ and not Christ Himself. This is a dangerous position!

This is where Mary makes an excellent contrast to Judas and why I believe Mark puts these two narratives back to back. Mary had true saving faith. We need to remember that while faith is a requirement for salvation, faith is not what actually saves us. Faith is a gift of grace from God that is the instrument that points us to that which saves us – the Person and work of Jesus Christ! Mary’s faith and love was in Christ Himself. Judas did not have this saving faith which is solemnly illustrated by his love for the world and how his life comes to an end.

What or who are you putting your trust in? Just to be called a Christian means absolutely nothing unless God is the One who has caused you to be born again and sealed you with His Name in Christ by His Holy Spirit. Follow the lead of Mary and come to the end of yourself putting your faith and trust in Christ alone.

Soli Deo Gloria

Why is it that the majority of the church today simply refuse to do this:

“Now I urge you, brethren, keep you eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:17-18

“Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”  2 Peter 2:2-3

One thing that should never surprise a believer is the fact that true Christians are truly a minority. Our Lord taught over and over that many would follow the broad way to destruction and few would follow the narrow path that leads to eternal life. (Matthew 7:13) So it should not surprise us that Peter tells us that many, not few, will follow after the false teachers. As Paul wrote Timothy, people will simply want to have their ears tickled and to hear not the gospel of Jesus Christ but things that their carnal minds and hearts want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

These false teachers will be popular among the crowds of the world and because their carnal minds are corrupt they will also fall for the sensuality of the false teachers. The Bible puts much emphasis on the fruit of false teachers. In the same way that Peter has taught in the first chapter that true salvation produces a life of godliness here we see the contrast of the false teachers exemplifying a life of sensuality and carnal appetite. This is what the world revels in so naturally the world will follow after teachers who cater to that worldly mindset and heart. Through their wickedness and carnality they will maligned. The Greek word used here is actually blasphemy. So in their wickedness and false teachings they will actually be slandering the truth! It is precisely why Paul urges Timothy to quiet such false teachers in the church so that they will not introduce their destructive heresies. (Titus 1:11) Pastors and leaders in the church are called to protect their flock from false teachers and their heresies, not to simply ignore them as most do today.

These false teachers are greedy and through their false teachings will seek to exploit their followers from all that they own. One need only turn on the television to most “Christian” television stations to see that the majority of those on the airwaves are non other than what Peter is describing here. Their god is money and they will stop at nothing to rob people of money.

I agree with Paul Washer that God has allowed and may even setup false teachers within the church as a form of judicial punishment on people whose god is their belly and money. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3) The statement Peter makes about the judgment of the false teachers being from long ago also supports this idea.

May we constantly be renewing our minds in the living Word of God so we can properly discern truth from error and be a people of God who not only shields our own hearts and mind from false teachings but actively encourages and exhorts others in the household of faith to stand firm in the Biblical tenants of the Christian faith.

Let us marvel at the absolute and wonderful sovereignty of God in all things – even false teachers. May He forever be praised for His unsearchable greatness and wisdom and all glory, laud and honor to Him for His mighty sovereign grace in the lives of His elect!

Soli Deo Gloria

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Q. How does Christ’s ascension to heaven benefit us?

A. First, He pleads our cause in heaven in the presence of His Father (1). Second, we have our own flesh in heaven – a guarantee that christ our head will take us, His members, to Himself in heaven (2). Third, He sends His Spirit to us on earth as a further guarantee (3). By the Spirit’s power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand (4).

(1) Rom. 3:34; 1 John 2:1; Heb. 7:25
(2) John 14:2; 17;24; Eph. 2:4-6
(3) John 14:16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5
(4) Col. 3:1-4

Question 49 from the Heidelberg Catechism

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. “You know the commandments, ‘ DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’”And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “ How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! “ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to Him, “ Then who can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “ With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:17-29

We now come to a staggering scene in Scripture that teaches many great theological and evangelical truths. As Christ is on His way a man runs up to Him. We learn from other gospel accounts that this man is rich, young and a ruler. That being said, it’s striking to see such a man run. It was thought improper for a man of nobility to run in Biblical times so this no doubt shows this young mans great interest in Christ and probably a true and genuine desire to be with Him. Like many in the world today there may be many who have a genuine desire to be with Christ and even to have eternal life as this young man did. However, they want it on their terms and not Christ’s. This is the great lesson we learn from this passage and one that is so important for us to glean from today since there are so many in the world who are coming to Christ on their terms and not His. Christ makes it clear that we can come to Him only on His terms – any other way is to climb over the wall! (John 10:1)

As this rich young ruler asks the very important question on what it takes to have eternal life Christ then answers his question with a more important question. The man needs to understand two important truths. First, only God is truly good. There is none good in this world and we all fall short of His perfect glory. (Romans 3:23) In addition, Christ is also teaching this young man that he needs to understand that he is speaking with God in the flesh. If only God is good and this young ruler is addressing Christ as good he must understand that Christ is God. Only Christ is perfectly good and meets the holy requirements as the God-man to enter heaven and stand before God on our behalf. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Knowing this young man’s heart that he is trusting in himself Christ takes him through some of the commandments in the second table of the Law. These are the commandments that deal with our relationship with others and of course our relationship with others is only possible if the first table of the Law is first upheld.

The young man responds to Christ that he has kept all the commandments of the second table since he was a child. While it may be possible that he has kept them in a sense externally (although highly unlikely) the point Christ drives home is the heart condition of this man. Here we see the great love of Christ in this young man by revealing to him his true problem – idolatry.

Christ told him that he would need to sell everything he has and give it to the poor. This statement drove home the condition of his heart since it’s evident that upon this request of Christ the young man walks away sad since he owned much. His god was money and possessions. While he may have (in his own mind) kept the commandments of the second table of the Law he has in fact broken the first and highest commandment of the Law and therefore failed at all of them.

It’s important to note too that the religious leaders of the day taught that those who were rich were more blessed of God and had a greater chance of entering heaven. So the next thing Christ says to His disciples and the crowds was staggering. Looking around He says to His disciples that it is just about as possible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle as it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

This rich young ruler was trusting in himself and his works to make it into heaven and he also wanted to enter it on his own terms. When Christ demanded the relinquishing of all that he had his response was a firm no. Christ is not teaching that we must work our way to heaven by giving up all that we own. (He may very well ask us to do that and we must be willing to do so since He alone is Lord.) What we learn from this amazing account is how easy it is for idolatry to setup in the hearts of people. This young ruler thought himself to be doing quite well but he lacked the proper understanding of who Christ is, that God is perfect and requires absolute perfection and that God is a jealous God and will not allow any other gods anywhere in our lives. Sadly, we do not see the young ruler asking Christ the question the disciples ask. Instead this man walks away from Christ loving his riches and wealth more than the very One he claimed he obeyed and sought to spend eternity with!

However, there is a wonderful ending to this passage. The disciples, like we should be, are dumbfounded by this teaching and have come to the conclusion that it would be impossible to be saved! All along they believed (and were taught) that following the Law and being blessed with riches was their ticket to eternal life and here Jesus turns that entire belief upside down. Christ then reminds them and us that it truly is impossible for us to work or merit our way to heaven. But what is impossible with man is possible with God and miraculously it is made possible through the very One speaking to them!

You see, if we could obey the Law and work our way to heaven then Christ died needlessly. The cross of Jesus Christ demonstrates not only the love of God but also His perfect justice and holy requirements. On that cross Jesus bore the wrath that we deserve from God. Not only that, we have failed in keeping God’s holy Law perfectly – a requirement to stand before Him. Christ fulfilled the Law, not only prophetically but also by following it perfectly the thirty-three years He walked on this earth. So through faith and repentance in Christ we are forgiven of our sins and we are also given the perfect righteousness of Christ so that when God looks on us He sees not our sin but His Son! What glorious truth.

Sadly, like the rich young ruler, many today believe that they can work their way to heaven or do enough good things to please God. This is a lie of Satan. Let us recall the words of Christ to that young ruler that there is none good but God. That should wake us all up that only God is good and there is none who are good enough to stand before Him. All those outside of Jesus Christ will one day stand before God but only to receive the punishment, judgment and wrath that they truly deserve. Let this not be you. Repent from trusting in your own works and thinking you are good enough and instead of walking away from Christ like that young ruler run to Him and embrace Him in faith knowing that all who come to Him He will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)

The true believer’s desire to obey the Law is not to merit anything before God but to seek to obey Him (albeit imperfectly) out of sheer gratitude for all that Christ has done.

Oh may we rejoice in the glorious truth that while we are dead in our sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1) and absolutely unable to come to God that He has come to us in His Son and provided the only way to eternal life and forgiveness. Christ Jesus is not a way, but the way, the truth and the life and no man can come to the Father but through Him! (John 14:6) Is this not the wonderful truth that Christ taught this young ruler and us? Don’t be like the young ruler! Relinquish all that you are and all that you have to all that He is and all that He demands – for He is worthy!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Another excellent and Christ-exalting sermon from Paul Washer as he expounds on how prayer is not only intercession and requests but most importantly a time of sweet communion with God as we are adopted into the kingdom because of Christ and only because of Christ. I highly recommend this excellent sermon by brother Washer.