Soli Deo Gloria » Church

Tempted and Tried

Jay — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:37:42 +0000

I am working my way through an excellent book by Dr. Russell Moore entitled Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph and Christ. Below is a snipper from the chapter entitled Starving to Death where Moore gives excellent Biblical insight into the root issues behind sin and how Satan works in the lives of believers. It’s refreshing to see a book that highlites the reality of the war with sin and temptation in the lives of believers and how God often uses that struggle to conform us more into the image of Christ. I also admire Moore’s understanding of how important it is for the community of the church to bear one another’s burdens through a biblical understanding of the struggles with sin in believer’s lives. I highly recommend this book. It’s well written and also gives some very excellent O.T. insight that often has the reader saying, “oh now I see the connection!” I know I’ve already had some “aha!” moments as I plow through this book.

Enjoy this snippet:

Sometimes we actually empower Satan by the way we speak of Christian conversion. We highlight the testimony of the ex-alcoholic who says, “Since I met Jesus I’ve never wanted another drink.” Now that happens sometimes, and we should give thanks for God’s power here. But this liberation is no more miraculous, indeed in some ways less so, than the repentant drunk who says, “Every time I hear a clink of ice in a glass I tremble with desire, but God is faithful in keeping me sober.”

The girl with the same-sex desires might conclude she is doomed to be a lesbian because she isn’t drawn to boys and still fights her attraction to girls. Family members who have to cut up their credit cards to keep from spending every paycheck on what they see advertised may conclude they’re just not “spiritual” enough to follow Christ because they still war against their wants. Nonsense! You are not what you want. You are who you are. And that’s defined by the Word of God. It might be that God frees your appetite from whatever it’s drawn toward, but usually he instead enables you to fight it. This might go on for forty days, for forty years, for an entire lifetime. That’s all right. There must be room then in our churches for a genuine bearing of one another’s burdens when it comes to appetites. Pretending the appetites are instantly nullified by conversion is a rejection of what God has told us – that we are still in the war zone.

True Revival

The Church is the Pillar and Support of the Truth

Jay — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:05:58 +0000

“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

Missional: A Great Misunderstanding

Jay — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:55:51 +0000

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.

Neglecting Attendance in the House of God

Jay — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 01:26:03 +0000

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

“People who neglect attendance at the house of God are not only being unscriptural – let me put it bluntly – they are fools. My experience in the ministry has taught me that those who are least regular in their attendance are the ones who are most troubled by problems and perplexities … it is a very foolish Christian who does not attend the sanctuary of God as often as he possibly can.” – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

No related posts.

The Sunday Christian

Jay — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:14:09 +0000

“When the fear of people overcomes the fear of God, we are likely to deny the gospel. Unless we are willing to stand up for God at work on Monday, we are just pretending at church on Sunday.” – Philip Graham Ryken

Love for the Brethren

Jay — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:22:35 +0000

I hear it all the time. People who profess Christ will tell me that they do not need to go to church. That the church is full of hypocrites and that they would rather worship from home and not go to church. You see, their lives may be too busy on a Sunday morning to attend church and forsake the fellowshipping of believers. There is a problem with this statement though and it is one that demonstrates a sickness within evangelicalism today.

Churches today are doing everything they can to get people in the door. I just recently read about a church in California that is giving away cars, x-boxes and even jewelry to people who would enter their doors on Easter Sunday. Or maybe the church down your street holds entertaining concerts on Sunday morning in lieu of worship in order to attract the world. The problem with all of this is that I believe we are overlooking the real problem. You see, a true believer will not need to be convinced or enticed to come to church. They will want to since they are new creations – indwelt with the Holy Spirit who gives us new longings and affections. One of those affections will be a love for the brethren and a God-given desire to be around them – especially in corporate worship. We’re also missing the important truth that when a soul truly is regenerated they will also have a desire to obey their Lord, and of course that would include having a desire to go out into the world as lights and share the gospel with the world.

Let us not forget that the world’s biggest problem is not cancer, poverty, politics, health care or a recession. The world’s biggest problem is God. God is rightfully angry at every single human being because we have all broken His law and sinned grievously and willfully against the Creator. Would not one who has been showered with the riches of Christ’s grace which He lavished on us not have a burning desire to share that glorious good news with the world? Why is it that most leaders in the church today find it necessary to lure the world in when they should instead be spending their time preaching the Scriptures to the regenerate flock within the church calling them to holiness and equipping the saints to go therefore and make disciples. Christians will then be out in the world heralding the gospel making disciples and these converts will then have a desire to look for a church – for if they are truly regenerated they will now have a new disposition craving the corporate worship of Jesus Christ and a desire to be around their eternal brothers and sisters adopted into the kingdom through Christ Jesus. And if an unbeliever does come into our churches should they not see and experience something so unlike the world that it should cause them to pause and wonder who this Jesus is that these people are so in love with and how much they are unlike the world? Sadly, this is rarely the case in the typical church today.

I am saddened by what I hear week after week when I am out on the streets witnessing to folks alongside my brothers and sisters in our evangelism team. Professing believers tell me time and time that they believe they are saved because of a prayer they repeated or because they have been baptized and all-the-while they have absolutely no love for the Church – no love or desire to be in the company of believers. (Much less a love for Christ.) Scripture is strikingly clear – if there is no love for the brethren the love of God is not in you. (1 John 3:14) This is simply saying that if you have no love for other believers, you cannot be a believer yourself.

Allow this quote from Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity to speak to this better than I ever could:

“A common argument of many nominal Christians is that they love Jesus but don’t care for the church. The teaching of 1 John exposes the flaws of this argument, revealing it to be an unbiblical dichotomy. All who are saved by God possess the Spirit, which links them to all other people who possess the Spirit. The local church, of course, is not perfect, and some have had difficult experiences with churches they have attended. But when God saves a person, He gives them a love for His people. His people are the church.”

We need to return to the truths of God’s Word and return to the preaching and teaching of the full counsel of Scripture. Have we completely forgotten that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation and not the latest gimmick, concert or pragmatic approach to increasing church membership. I will borrow a great truth from Dr. Mark Dever and state that the biggest problem with the church today is lack of regenerate membership. May the Lord forgive our foolish ways and may we repent and turn back to heralding the full counsel of God’s mighty Word as we lift high the cross of Christ and determine to know nothing but Christ Jesus and Him crucified! (2 Corinthians 2:2)

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Blessed Hope

Jay — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:42:54 +0000

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

Titus 2:11-14

Paper Pastors

Jay — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:32:12 +0000

In the reformed circles it is not uncommon to be talking with friends and have a focus on great men of the word such as Piper, MacArthur, Washer, etc. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with this admiration there is a great danger in allowing these men to become as Dan Phillips writes, “paper pastors”. Dan, over at Team Pyro, has written an outstanding article on the importance of understanding the importance of our local church pastor and to have a healthy understanding of the impact that pastors of other churches who write great books and are in the public spotlight can have on Christians – especially new ones. When it comes to the reality of life, sin and church discipline there is no replacement for your home church pastor! Kudos to Dan for writing a timely and important article.

“Their real pastor isn’t you. It’s Dave Hunt. Or it’s John Piper. Or it’s John MacArthur, or Ligon Duncan, or Mark Dever, or David Cloud, or Joel Osteen. Or it’s Charles Spurgeon, or D. M. Lloyd-Jones, or J. C. Ryle. Or Calvin, or Luther, or Bahnsen, or de Mar, or R. B. Thieme, or J. Vernon McGee.” – Dan Phillips

Please take a moment to read Dan’s article over at Team Pyro…

The Rape of Solomon’s Song

Jay — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:51:34 +0000

Dr. John MacArthur provides a much needed and powerful article on the trend in American evangelicalism to lower ourselves to the standards of the world when it comes to an obsession with sex.

Head over to Shepherd’s Fellowship to read it …

Once Saved Always Saved?

Jay — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:35:18 +0000

Understanding “Once Saved Always Saved”

This term has been misused by folks in thinking that once you pray a prayer or walk an isle you are “in the club” and you quite simply cannot lose your salvation. The key to understanding this statement is to understand where the term came from. The early reformers had a series of statements about the doctrines of grace and one of those statements was called “perseverance of the saints”. This statement affirmed the Biblical truths that someone who is truly saved cannot lose their salvation. The reason? The reformers rightly understood that before we are saved we are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and a dead person can no more respond to the gospel than a corpse can talk. It takes a supernatural work of God to cause a sinner to be born again, or “born from above” in order for that dead person to be able to respond to the gospel call. The Westminster Confession of Faith rightly states, “They, whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” Jesus clearly taught that one must be born again before they can enter the kingdom of heaven. God causes spiritual rebirth as a gracious, sovereign choice. So the reformers understanding was very Biblical in that they taught that a true believer is kept by God and that believer will persevere because the Holy Spirit will cause that person to continue in the faith even amongst the strongest persecution and temptation.

“Once Saved Always Saved” has been used in the 20th century to promote an idea of “cheap grace” in that you can accept Christ in repeating a prayer then live a life of unrepentant sin all the while on your way to heaven. Scripture is clear in many areas including the book of 1 John that a true Christian cannot and does not live a life of sin as a pattern. A true Christian is a new creation and he will now hate sin and seek to obey God. In essence, he will hate the things he once loved and love the things he once hated. A professing believer who lives a life of unrepentant sin with no obedience to Christ and His word would most likely indicate the person is not truly born again. (1 John 3:16) This is not to say that Christians do not sin. They do. But there is not a pattern of unrepentant sin in the life of a Christian that does not display a level of war with that sin and a holy hatred for sin in their lives and the lives of others.

So as you can see, a correct understanding of the phrase “once saved always saved” brings us to a healthy perspective of truly what Scripture teaches.

What Scripture affirms “perseverance of the saints”?

Actually the entire Bible affirms it. Because we are sinners and are dead in our sins and transgressions only God can save us. All glory goes to Him alone. So how can I lose something that I never gained on my own? Scripture teaches us that when we are born again, or “born from above” as the literal translation, we are new creatures in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) For us to “lose our salvation”, God would have to undue that new creation and no where is that stated in Scripture.

Among many other verses that teach that it is God who saves and that a true Christian cannot lose their salvation is Romans 8:30. Here, Paul uses a progression or glorious theological terms to show the progress of salvation or the “order of salvation”. Notice that those God predestined, He then called, then He justified then He glorified. Notice that every single action is God doing the action – from calling us out of death to life to actual glorification when Christ returns with our new bodies like Christ’s. It’s all of God to His glory!

Scripture also gloriously affirms that absolutely nothing can separate a true Christian from God’s love. (Romans 8:38-39) Equally, absolutely nothing can separate a true Christian from Christ’s hand because His hand and the Father’s hand are equal. (John 10:28-29)

Bottom line, how can one lose something they never attained on their own power? Salvation is of the Lord. (Jonah 2:9) In addition, God promises to complete that which He started (our salvation) and bring it to perfection. (Philippians 1:6)

Can a true believer lose their salvation?

There are those who believe that a true believer can in fact lose their salvation. Scripture, however does not teach this at all. There are several verses that some hold to that they believe teaches that one can lose their salvation. One in particular is Hebrews 6:4-6. On a cursory read, without looking at the context of the entire book of Hebrews, one may come to the conclusion that this verse teaches that a true believer can walk away from the faith and be lost. Let’s consider what this verse truly teaches.

A careful study makes this passage crystal clear. The elemental teachings (the Law of the Old Testament) discussed in verse 6:1 points us to things that merely point to Christ. All of the things listed in verse 1b and 2 are things the Pharisees would do – yet they only point to Christ. Notice verse 1b ends in “faith toward God” – where is Christ in this? Absent! (Note Hebrews 7:25 for the only way to come to God as well as a study of Romans where Paul taught that the Jews had a zeal for God but not according to knowledge.) The warning here is clear – if you hang on to the types and shadows and fail to embrace what they point to: Jesus Christ, there is absolutely no way you can be saved – it is impossible.

So Scripture, while it calls and exhorts us to press on is actually at the same time teaching that true believers, by the grace of God, will do just that – press on. Scripture that warns us in place to cause all professing believers to test themselves to make sure they are in the faith. (2 Cor. 13:5) In the case of someone walking away or denying Christianity John has the ultimate answer in 1 John 2:19. He quite simply states that if someone denies Christ or walks away after professing belief for a time was never a born again Christian to begin with. He tells us that they went out from us because they were never of us to begin with. Simply put, they were never a true believer to begin with and their actions simply illustrate that. For John to say this means that he clearly believed that a true believer will not (and in fact cannot because of God’s grace) turn away and lose their salvation.

So we conclude that once saved always saved is a very valid, Biblical statement but only one that applies to someone who is truly saved.

How Do You Read Romans 1:16?

Jay — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:59:20 +0000

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

How you read Romans 1:16 tells a lot about you. Which of the following best resembles how you interpret the text?

1. Christian
For I am not ashamed of the gospel (the death burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior), for it (the preaching of that gospel and absolutely nothing else) is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (not a superficial shallow mental ascent, but a complete dependence and trust upon Christ)

2. Charismaniac
For I am not ashamed of the gifts of the spirit, for they are proof of the power of God and proof of your salvation to everyone who believes…

3. Word of Faith Charismaniac
For I am not ashamed of pleading for money, for sowing your faith seed offering is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…

4. Roman Catholic
For I am not ashamed of Mary, the Pope, and the Mother Church, for they are the power of God and the only way to salvation to everyone who believes and receives the sacraments, attends meritorious masses, is baptized, keeps the law, does good works, purchases indulgences, endures purgatory, etc…

5. Jehovah’s Witness
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of the New Earth that we peddle door to door, for the Watchtower is the only ones who speak for God and is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes and exhaustively works their tails off for the Watchtower almost every waking hour of the day for their entire life to obtain Jehovah’s favor, which is not guaranteed…

6. Mormon
For I am not ashamed of the restored gospel, even though I am ashamed and embarrassed about our church history and the things our church prophets have said (that was just their opinion and they were not speaking for God when they said all those awful things) for the Melchizadek Priesthood which only we have is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes and follows the following conditions as outlined in Gospel Principles pages 303-304 (1997 edition): 1.) We must be baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. 2.) We must receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 3.) We must receive the temple endowment. 4.) We must be married for time and eternity.In addition to receiving the required ordinances, the Lord commands all of us to– 1. Love and worship God. 2. Love our neighbor. 3. Repent of our wrongdoings. 4. Live the law of chastity. 5. Pay honest tithes and offerings. 6. Be honest in our dealings with others and with the Lord. 7. Speak the truth always. 8. Obey the Word of Wisdom. 9. Search out our kindred dead and perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for them. 10. Keep the Sabbath day holy. 11. Attend our Church meetings as regularly as possible so we can renew our baptismal covenants by partaking of the sacrament. 12. Love our family members and strengthen them in the ways of the Lord. 13. Have family and individual prayers every day. 14. Honor our parents. 15. Teach the gospel to others by word and example. 16. Study the scriptures. 17. Listen to and obey the inspired words of the prophets of the Lord. Finally, each of us needs to receive the Holy Ghost and learn to follow his direction in our individual lives.

7. Universalist Unitarian
For I am not ashamed of the value found in all religions regardless of whether or not they conflict with one another on core issues , for whatever truth is for you, it is the power of God, gods, goddess, no god, or whatever you believe for a better world to everyone who believes or chooses not to believe.

8. Seeker-Friendly
For I am not ashamed of shameless church marketing, for the end justifies the means and pragmatism is the power of God for filling seats on Sundays to watch our awesome worship rock band followed by our hip and and oh, so cool pastor and we’re also giving away free gas cards to everyone who attends our local campus.

9. Liberal
For I am not ashamed of supporting any socialist cause or liberal issue, for a woman’s right to choose and a homosexual’s right to marry is the power of self-empowerment for salvation from the oppressive chains that the white, Anglo-Saxon, Capitalist, fascists have placed on the backs of everyone in this nation.

10. Emergent / Emerging
Romans? Is that in the Bible?

HT: Defending Contending

10 Indictments Against the American Church

Jay — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:35:23 +0000

Every Christian, especially evangelical pastors, should listen carefully to this sermon. Brother Washer speaks the truth in this passionate call for the American church to wake up. What a wonderful sermon to take the time to watch on this Reformation Day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7wzfvYkCW0

I’ve heard people complain that this sermon is too long. Tally up the time we spend in front of a movie screen or television set and then compare that to the time we give to God in hearing the preaching of His living Word.