Category Archives: The Church - Page 2

Can’t I Just Ask God to Forgive Me?

Posted by on September 10, 2011 3 comments
ask

“I know that if I just ask God for forgiveness, He will forgive me.” This is one of the most common responses I get when sharing the gospel with unbelievers. Shockingly, the response above is most often given by those who claim to be believers. Sadly, this demonstrates a very sad state of the American church. It would be different if I lived in an area of the United States that was more liberal and not as churched, but I live in the heart of the south – in the Bible belt where there is literally a church on every corner. (In some places there are several churches on a single corner!) We’ve become a church culture so gospel-less that the average person who attends church cannot articulate the gospel.

What alarms me is that the average church-goer believes that they are heaven-bound because 1) they attend church and have been baptized or 2) they have asked God to forgive them. I want to focus on the second response since this is one that I hear most often.

One way I like to share the gospel is to turn it around and get people to share it with me. I’ll tell them that I have lived a horrible life and I have three minutes to live and desire to go to heaven. I’ll ask them to tell me how I can be forgiven and go to heaven. What I most often get is a simple, “just ask God to forgive you and He will.” I’ll ask, “is that all I have to do?” They respond, “yep!”

This is where there is an inadequate understanding of God and how he is revealed in Scripture. God is a forgiving God. The Bible tells us He is. But the Bible also clearly tells us that God is also just and He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. He is a just Judge and must deal with sin. If he just forgave us of our sins without dealing with our sins then He would be unjust and frankly would not be good. He would be a bad judge. One of the greatest questions that fallen humanity must ask is, “how can God be just and the justifier of the wicked?” This truly is the ultimate question. I believe it was Horatius Bonar in his excellent work The Everlasting Righteousness who began his treatise on justification by asking that very question.

So, this causes a dilemma. If we really begin to delve into God forgiving sinners we really must ask how can He justly forgive sinners without there being a penalty paid for the sin? How can God be just and justify guilty sinners? In fact, I believe it was Paul Washer in one of his excellent sermons on the gospel who used Proverbs 17:15 to setup “the gospel dilemma”. This verse teaches us that it is an abomination to God if the wicked are justified and the righteous are condemned. So then, based on this verse if an unbeliever were to simply ask God to forgive him and God did, then He would be going against His own word and would be an abomination in His own eyes.

Here is where the gospel shines with all its glorious splendor. God can and does forgive sinners but only if our sin is dealt with and His justice is satisfied. It is impossible for us to do anything to satisfy that debt since we are already sinners and even our most contrite and heartfelt sorrow is in itself tainted with sin. The only solution is for someone who is without sin to stand in our place. What we need is a great transaction. This is exactly what Christ did for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 is in my opinion one of the most glorious verses in all of Scripture. It tells us that God made Christ who was perfect and sinless to become our sin so that we would have the righteousness of God in Him. Christ is the answer to how God can be just and the justifier of sinners. God imputed all the sins of the elect on Christ on the cross (allowing Christ Himself to remain perfectly sinless) and poured out all the wrath on Christ in our stead. This way, God is just and has dealt with our sin. No created thing will ever be able to point the finger at God and accuse Him of being unjust in saving His elect. The other side of this amazing transaction is that through repentance and faith, Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed to us. When God looks on believers He sees the perfect, spotless righteousness of His Son.

So, God does forgive sin but only through the vicarious, penal, substitutionary death of His Son. No amount of tears or begging for forgiveness will work outside of faith in Christ. Think about it this way. If God just forgave everyone who asked, then Christ died needlessly. If God could just sweep our sin under the “celestial rug” and not deal with it taking only our plea for forgiveness then Christ’s death was pointless. The cross demonstrates to us not only the love of God but also His justice.

One last point. It’s is inevitable that when sharing the gospel that unbelievers will quote 1 John 1:8-9. They will use this verse to “prove” that all they have to do is ask God for forgiveness and He will forgive. There is a problem though. This verse is not written to unbelievers. It applies only to believers in Christ Jesus. There is a very important little four letter word in this verse that is essential to our understanding of the gospel. That little word is “just”. John tells us that if believers will confess their sins to God as Father that He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. He can only be just in forgiving us our sins because Christ has stood in our place and bore the wrath. So this verse is speaking of the constant need for believers to confess their sins to God as Father so that fellowship with Him is unhindered. An unbeliever cannot claim the promises of this verse since he is not covered under the atoning work of Christ.

I hope that as you’ve read through this that you will marvel with me at the wisdom of God in the gospel. Marvel at His grace and mercy but be aware that His grace and mercy are made available only through the cross-work and merit of Christ Jesus. Our prayers as believers should go out to the church in America that it will return to proclaiming the full and true gospel of Jesus Christ and repent from the gospel of moralism and legalism. I see first hand week after week when evangelizing to people who are active church members who know absolutely nothing of the true gospel. They believe they are saved and going to heaven for every reason imaginable except for the one and only way through Christ.

I pray also that if you’re reading this and you have been trusting in your own act of asking for forgiveness for your salvation, turn in repentance and faith to the only One who can save you – Jesus Christ. Cry out to God to open your eyes to the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6) that you may embrace Christ as your Lord and Savior. Today is the day of salvation!

Soli Deo Gloria

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Christianity Today

Posted by on August 11, 2011 1 comment

“Christianity today is man-centered, not God-centered. God is made to wait patiently, even respectfully, on the whims of men. The image of God currently popular is that of a distracted Father, struggling in heartbroken desperation to get people to accept a Savior of whom they feel no need and in whom they have very little interest. To persuade these self-sufficient souls to respond to His generous offers God will do almost anything, even using salesmanship methods and talking down to them in the chummiest way imaginable. This view of things is, of course, a kind of religious romanticism which, while it often uses flattering and sometimes embarrassing terms in praise of God, manages nevertheless to make man the star of the show.” – A.W. Tozer

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Are You Amazed at Prayer?

Posted by on June 4, 2011 3 comments

“Far too often, we rush into intercession, asking for God’s help in this or that, without first basking in the fact that we can address Him at all!” – Derek Thomas

I absolutely love the quote above from Thomas’ book, Praying the Saviour’s Way. I remember hearing someone say that we need to pray backwards. This means that our prayers should begin with a real awe in the fact that we can address God as Father and come before His mighty throne of glory all because of Jesus Christ. Because of Christ we’ve been adopted into God’s kingdom and can call God Father. This should astound us. A right view of the glories of the gospel will cause us to marvel at the amazing privilege of prayer.

Sadly, very few in the church pray often. I am no prayer expert and include myself in that statistic, but it breaks me to pieces to think of so great a privilege and yet we neglect it so often. Worse, we focus our prayers on our needs alone neglecting the pattern our Lord’s gives us in the Lord’s Prayer to begin with worship of our Great Heavenly Father who is in heaven.

We truly need to pray backwards and begin in utter awe that we can address the Ancient of Days who is a consuming fire as Father all because of the glorious life, death, resurrection, ascension and exaltation of Jesus Christ the Lord!

Soli Deo Gloria

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True Ministers of Christ

Posted by on June 3, 2011 1 comment

“We are not the ministers of Christ if we preach in such a way that unconverted men do not know they are unconverted. Unless preachers preach so as to make the consciences of their hearers feel in what spiritual condition they are truly in, then they may be ministers of Satan, but they are not ministers of Christ.” – William Fenner (1600-1640)

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Ransom to Satan?

Posted by on April 4, 2011 1 comment

I’ve seen this touching and powerful little story emailed around for quite some time and was reminded of it from a forwarded email this evening. You’ve probably seen it as well in your inbox. Here is how the story goes in the email…

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak. “I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, “What do you have there, son?” “Just some old birds,” came the reply. “What are you going to do with them?” I asked. “Take ‘em home and have fun with ‘em,” he answered. “I’m gonna tease ‘em and pull out their feathers to make ‘em fight. I’m gonna have a real good time.” “But you’ll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do then?” “Oh, I got some cats,” said the little boy. “They like birds. I’ll take ‘em to them.” The pastor was silent for a moment. “How much do you want for those birds, son?” “Huh?? !!! Why, you don’t want them birds, mister. They’re just plain old field birds. They don’t sing. They ain’t even pretty!” “How much?” the pastor asked again. The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, “$10?” The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy’s hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story: One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. “Yes, sir, I just caught a world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn’t resist. Got ‘em all!” “What are you going to do with them?” Jesus asked. Satan replied, “Oh, I’m gonna have fun! I’m gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I’m gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I’m really gonna have fun!” “And what will you do when you are done with them?” Jesus asked. “Oh, I’ll kill ‘em,” Satan glared proudly. “How much do you want for them?” Jesus asked. “Oh, you don’t want those people. They ain’t no good. Why, you’ll take them and they’ll just hate you. They’ll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don’t want those people!!”" How much? He asked again. Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, “All your blood, tears and your life.” Jesus said, “DONE!” Then He paid the price. The pastor picked up the cage and walked from the pulpit.

While the story does convey some truth, the explanation of Christ’s death is based on a wrong view of Christ’s atonement that is commonly held by the Eastern Orthodox church called the “Ransom to Satan Theory”. This un-biblical view teaches that Christ’s death somehow paid off Satan. This is nowhere in Scripture and gives Satan way more credit than he is due. Scripture is clear that Christ’s death satisfied the wrath of God (1 Thes. 1:10), not Satan. Christ’s death was a propitiation to God. (Heb. 2:17; 1 John 2:2) When the gospel is understood rightly, we see the glorious love of God and His justice – all at the same time.

Sadly, I have heard the gospel explained in churches this way! Even more sadly, while these types of emails and stories are well written and captivating, they paint a very inaccurate and dangerous view of Christ’s cross-work. We must get the gospel right.

May this be an exhortation to us all to tuck away God’s word into our hearts that we may not sin against Him. (Psa. 119:11)

Soli Deo Gloria

 

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The Description of a Christian

Posted by on April 4, 2011 1 comment

“You want a simple definition of a Christian, a true Christian? He is one who glories, who boasts, who rejoices in Christ Jesus. His glory is not ambition, work, women, hobby, house, nor hunting trips. One dear old lady, whenever convenient, would bring the conversation around to her grandchildren. That was her glory. I’ve known folks that had collections of cars, tools, arrowheads, or even buttons. That is what made them stand out. For some, it is a weird hairstyle, a piece of clothing, or even their poverty. For some it is their church or their ministry. Folks must have something in which to glory, even if it is their sin, their shame, Philippians 3.19.

But the Christians glory in Christ Jesus – His person and His work. We boast of His eternal existence, His humble incarnation, His perfect life, His miraculous deeds, His substitutionary death, His powerful resurrection, His supreme exaltation, His effectual intercession, His sovereign reign, His second coming and righteous judgment. We boast of His incomparable love, His incomprehensible peace, His tender mercy, His incredible forgiveness, His great salvation, His majestic saints, His surpassing wisdom, and His blessed hope. It is the nature of a Christian to shun boasting in anything but the cross of Christ where his sin-guilt was put away, Galatians 6.14.

The Christian has seen that there is nothing else worthy in which to boast. All else is passing, is frail, is weak, is dust. All else is relative and next year someone else will do it better and then die. Kings die. Empires crumble, forgotten. But Christ Jesus lives and reigns. In the end, all will appear before Him and He will get the glory. We shout it from the housetops. Are you proud of Christ Jesus?”  – Bob Jennings

HT: Puritan Fellowship

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The Church is the Pillar and Support of the Truth

Posted by on March 14, 2011 Comments Off

“Truly biblical ministry must hold forth truths that are absolute… We must take an unmovable stance on all issues where the Bible speaks plainly… Sound doctrine divides, it confronts, it separates, it judges, it convicts, it reproves, it rebukes, it exhorts, it refutes error.  None of those things is very highly esteemed in modern thought.  But the health of the church depends on our holding firmly to the truth.”

John MacArthur, Reckless Faith: When the Church Loses Its Will to Discern

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Sin in the Sight of a Just God

Posted by on March 8, 2011 Comments Off

I firmly believe that one of the least discussed Biblical truths in the church today is sin. We are inundated with feel good sermons that tend to focus on your best life now and how to be successful while overlooking what true progress in the Christ life exemplifies: an ever increasing war with sin.

As a street evangelist, one of the most common things I hear is that God is all forgiving and while He may not be too happy about sin He seems to have the magical ability to overlook it. Now let me make an important point – God is forgiving, but God is not unjust. There is a big difference.

The problem today is that the majority of professing believers I run into have created a god in their own image. Instead of allowing Scripture to be their rule and guide to properly understanding and worshiping God, they have allowed the culture and their own minds and hearts to construct a god of their own liking. For example, it is all too common to hear those I witness to tell me that they believe that God is all loving and all forgiving and He will forgive their sins if they simply ask Him. Before I respond to that statement let me first take us back to how the Bible describes God’s view of sin. Sadly, many today even in the church have a very loose view of sin and an even looser view of how God views sin. Our culture and media are bombarding us with so much sinful activity painted as the common life that our minds can become callous to the heinousness of sin. This is where we need to heed the call of the Scriptures to constantly be renewing our minds in the mighty truths of God’s Word.

So, let’s go all the way back to the beginning. In the book of Genesis we learn that God created all things and said that it was good. God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and then gave to him his wife, Eve. All of this takes place in the first two chapters of the first book of our Bible. However, in the very next chapter we read of what is called The Fall. It is in this chapter that Satan tempts Eve to disobey the one rule God had put in place. Now here is where we really need to stand back and see the full picture of the sinfulness of sin. Adam and Eve commit one sin. That’s right – one sin. Because of one sin, God places a curse on mankind. Because of that one sin all die. The simple fact that everyone to this day continues to die is proof positive that the covenant God made with Adam is still in force. Not only did mankind receive the curse of death and God’s wrath but we also read in Genesis that creation also became cursed as well. Paul elaborates on this truth in Romans that all creation groans as it eagerly waits for Christ to return since it too has been affected by the one sin of Adam and Eve. Now this should really help us to see the utter sinfulness of sin. If one single sin against God Almighty brought about the curse from God that affects all of creation why is it that the majority of folks today believe that as long as their good works outweigh their bad that God will simply overlook their sin? It’s because we have an incorrect and often blasphemous view of sin.

The Biblical truth is that every single sin demands an eternal punishment. We sin against a Holy, eternal and just God and thus our sin demands an eternal and just punishment. This now gets us back to that statement that many hold fast to concerning God and His forgiveness. You’ll recall that many today believe that they can just ask God for forgiveness and He will just overlook their sin and excuse it. My friend, if you really believe that then you are flat out saying that God is unjust. Let me put it this way. If God were to just overlook your sin and forgive it without His justice being met He would not be holy and He would not be just. He would actually be unjust – which is the absolute opposite of His character. This is why we must be ever careful to worship God rightly. We must worship Him as He has revealed Himself through His Word and through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Scripture proclaims to us that it is an abomination in the eyes of God to justify the wicked. (Prov. 17:15) This sets up the great dilemma – how can God be just and justify sinners? It’s only through the glorious cross of Jesus Christ that we see this question answered. In fact, to ask how God can be just and justify sinners should be the greatest question we can ask.

When we gaze at the cross of Christ we see the very wisdom, justice, love, mercy and grace of God. The cross of Christ demonstrates to us that God hates sin. The cross demonstrates to us God’s love. The cross of Christ demonstrates God’s wrath. It truly is the lens to view nearly all of the glorious attributes of God at one time. The Lord Jesus Christ came to become sin on our behalf so that we may have the righteousness of God in Him. God is just in forgiving a wicked sinner such as I because God took my sin and imputed it to His perfect, sinless Son and doled out all the eternal wrath and condemnation that I deserve on His Son. Through repentance and faith I am justified and sanctified (and am being sanctified) all because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. It’s also in Christ that death no longer has its sting. This, my friends is the wonder of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So we learn from the gospel that the only way God can forgive us is through Christ. There are not multiple ways to God and all roads do not lead to heaven. To come to God not trusting in Christ and expecting Him to forgive you because you ask Him is futile. Think about it, if I could simply ask God for forgiveness and He would forgive me then why would Christ need to die at all? What would have been the point of His crucifixion? What would have been the point of the very animal sacrifices all through the Old Testament that pointed to Christ and His sacrifice since the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin.

We must get the gospel right! If you have been trusting in your own goodness or even if you have believed that God is going to overlook your sin and simply excuse it since you’ve asked Him for forgiveness I urge you to look deeply at the cross of Christ and repent of your idolatry and turn to Christ. Put your faith and trust in Him and Him alone and understand that only through Christ can forgiveness be found. Allow the cross of Christ to demonstrate to you not only the love of God but also His perfect justice and His absolute hatred for sin.

If you are a believer, never look away from the cross. Believers truly can only live a gospel and cross-centered life. It’s by looking at the cross that we are reminded not only of God’s love to us but also His hatred for sin. Allow the cross of Christ to remind you constantly of the wickedness of sin and then remember that it is only by knowing the grand truth that you have died with Christ, you have been raised with Him and you are seated with Him in the heavenly places that you have died to sin. The gospel not only saves us from the penalty of sin which is God’s wrath in hell but also from it’s grip and power. Paul reminds us how shall we who have died to sin continue to live in it. We must remember that we’ve died to sin because we have died with Christ. We are now alive as a new creation in Christ and through walking by the Spirit we are able to put to death the deeds of the flesh.

This is the grand and wonderful truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sadly, the American church today has watered down or forgotten these great truths. May we cry out to God Almighty for forgiveness and return to a gospel-centered and cross-centered life and proclaim the full and wonderful good news of Jesus Christ. May we also see sin the way that God sees it as He has taught us in His living Word. In the words of the great Puritan theologian John Owen, “be killing sin or sin will be killing you.”

Soli Deo Gloria.

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Missional: A Great Misunderstanding

Posted by on February 21, 2011 Comments Off

Joel Taylor over at 5pt Salt has posted an outstanding response to the popular error in the church today concerning the misunderstanding and unbiblical views of what is called the “missional church”. It’s become such the buzzword among some prominent names even in reformed circles and sadly it’s very unbiblical.

One main point that continues to amaze me is how much the church today thinks it needs to cater to the needs of unbelievers. Bottom line – the church is not for unbelievers but for believers. Period.

I encourage you to read his article on his blog – he does an excellent job breaking down a recent statement made from a conference on this very topic.

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Point to Christ!

Posted by on January 31, 2011 Comments Off

I saw a great quote over at a blog I frequent called unashamedworkman concerning preaching:

‘Preachers can become like a best man who draws attention to himself rather than the groom. Like John the Baptist, we should know our place and point only to Christ.’ – Derek Tidball

This is such a true statement. This not only applies to preachers but also to teachers of God’s Word. This is a statement that we all need to hold fast too and be mindful of constantly. May our work as preachers and teachers be so that those in earshot do not see or hear us but see and hear the Lord Christ through the heralding of His Word! It’s also a reminder to us that preachers and teachers are not therapists or psychologists but heralds of the Gospel. Sadly, far too many today think they are the former.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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The True Test of Discipleship

Posted by on August 27, 2010 1 comment

“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)

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The Dangerous Reality of Apostasy

Posted by on August 20, 2010 Comments Off

“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

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