In Romans 1:1-7, Paul shared with the saints at Rome his call which involved his credentials as an apostle and the content of his message. In Romans 1:8-15, Paul shared with the saints at Rome his concern. Paul was doing all this in essence to show the saints at Rome who he was before he showed them his theology. As we study this section dealing with Paul’s concern for the saints at Rome we will see four aspects of that concern.
We have already considered the first aspect of Paul’s concern for the saints at Rome which was Paul praised the saints at Rome (1:8). Now we turn our attention to the other three aspects of Paul’s concern for the saints at Rome:
Next, Paul prayed for the saints at Rome (1:9-10). The saints at Rome did not know about Paul’s prayer support for them but the Lord knew about it and honored it. One of the burdens of Paul’s prayer was that God would allow him to visit Rome and minister to the churches there. He would have visited them sooner but his ministry work and God’s will kept him busy (Romans 15:15-33).
Paul wrote the letter to the Romans while he was in Corinth. Paul was about to leave Corinth for Jerusalem to deliver the special offering received from the Gentile churches for the poor Jewish saints. He hoped that he would be able to travel from Jerusalem to Rome, and then on to Spain; and he was hoping for a prosperous journey. However, we know that Paul had a very perilous journey and that he went to Rome as a prisoner after being arrested in the temple based on false accusations from the Jewish authorities. Paul eventually had to appeal to Caesar in order to not be handed over to the Jews who wanted to kill him. On his way to Rome as a prisoner, Paul was even shipwrecked. Some three years after writing to the Romans and wanting to visit them, Paul finally arrived – in chains.
Paul had total and unreserved commitment to be used by God however it pleased God – “For God, whom I serve in my spirit.” True service is worship in which believers present their bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is their spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1). True worship is service to God in the Spirit of God and putting no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). It is this that caused the apostle to pray unceasingly for the saints in Rome.
Paul’s primary service to God was the preaching of the gospel of His Son. But he went on to explain that service to God included deep, personal concern for everyone who believed the gospel, whether they heard it from him or someone else. Paul was not concerned for the saints in Rome because they were his converts, but because they were his brothers and sisters who had the same spiritual Father through trusting in the same Lord and Savior that had saved both him and them.
Perhaps because most of the saints in Rome did not personally know Paul, so he called the Lord as a witness to his sincere love and concern for them. He knew that God who knows the motive and sincerity of each heart would testify as to how unceasingly he made mention of them always in his prayers. Paul was concerned for the spiritual well-being of the saints in Rome and the glory of God through the churches there. As we read Paul’s letters to the churches we always see his prayers for the saints in each place. Witnessing, serving, and praying go hand in hand. We dare not attempt to witness and serve without also praying. Knowing the difficulties that Christians must endure for their faith we must always be praying for all the saints everywhere. Also, knowing the danger that unbelievers are under the wrath of God we are to pray for all men (1 Timothy 2:1).
Paul not only prayed for the spiritual well-being of the saints at Rome, he also prayed that he could be an instrument in the hands of God to go to them and strengthen them in their faith. As we pray for God to reach and strengthen others, we must be willing to be the answer to that prayer.
Paul had been making request for a long time that he could visit the saints at Rome and minister to them and be ministered to by them. Paul’s eagerness to serve God was always directed by his willingness to obey God and be in His will. Paul sought the advancement of God’s glory and kingdom through God’s own will, not his own.
Next we see Paul’s passion for the saints at Rome (1:11-12). Paul wanted to visit the saints at Rome in order to serve them lovingly in God’s name. He did not want to go as a tourist and visit the wonders of Rome – he wanted to go to give himself in the Lord’s service to the people; not to entertain and indulge himself. Paul was concerned for the spiritual well-being of the Christians in Rome and therefore he wanted to go and impart some spiritual gift to them. He wasn’t speaking of giving them a spiritual gift that only the Holy Spirit can do – but he was speaking of exercising his gifts so that they might be established.
Paul made it clear though that they would not be the only beneficiaries of his faith but that he also would be encouraged and would benefit from their faith. The great apostle knew that he would be strengthened and encouraged from inexperienced beginners. After all, every genuine convert has been gifted by the Holy Spirit and can contribute in some way to the spiritual progress of others. Pity the person who cannot learn from others because he no longer has a teachable and humble spirit.
Finally we see Paul’s plan for the saints at Rome (1:13-15). Paul wanted to make it clear to the Roman Christians that he had often planned to come to them (but had been prevented so far). As far as his own plans were concerned he would have come to them much sooner and would not have been prevented. However, God is sovereign and all-knowing and Paul was submitted to God’s will and not his own. Sometimes Paul was hindered because of the work of Satan – “But we brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while – in person, not in spirit – were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you – I, Paul, more than once – and yet Satan hindered us” (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18). But in this case it was Paul’s work for the Lord and the work of the Lord that kept him from coming as soon as he would have liked (Romans 15:15-33).
Paul planned to obtain some fruit while in Rome visiting the saints there. Paul wanted both the fruit that comes from maturing those who already saved and the fruit that comes from leading others to Christ. Paul wanted to be used to help the Roman church grow through new converts and to grow in sanctification.
Paul had an obligation to minister in Rome as the apostle to the Gentiles. He was under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians. The Greeks considered every non-Greek a barbarian. The Greeks considered themselves wise because they were steeped in centuries of philosophy and they considered everyone else foolish. But Paul felt an obligation to all men, just as we need to feel a burden for the whole world.
Paul was eager to visit Rome that he might minister to the believers there and evangelize the lost there. It was not the eagerness of a sightseer, but the eagerness of a soul-winner. Paul was eager to preach the gospel in Rome. He knew that Rome was a dangerous place and that Christians there had already experienced persecution. He knew that the false apostles would be spreading their destructive heresies there. He knew that the capitol city of the empire was steeped in immorality and paganism, including emperor worship. He knew that he would be despised by many and that they would probably seek to harm him. Yet he was boldly eager to go there for His Lord’s sake and for the sake of the Lord’s people.
Showing posts with label preaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preaching. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Ministry of Persuasion
The pulpit, whether it be in a prison house or a church house, is not a platform for entertaining people, telling jokes, promoting opinion, or performing mass psychology – the pulpit is a platform for preaching truth, solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading men concerning Jesus Christ from the Scriptures. Any platform or opportunity that God provides for the preaching and teaching of His truth is to be considered a pulpit and is to be treated with our utmost respect and reverence for His Majesty.
Nowhere in the Bible do we see the men of God belittling their God-given opportunities to preach and teach. They were not lackadaisical or irreverent in discharging their duties. Instead you always find that in their ministry of persuasion, God’s men were always serious and solemn. Why? Because they were given the ministry of persuasion – convincing and convicting others of God’s truth. God has committed to us the word of reconciliation. “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
God never gives us a platform for our own personal advancement or popularity but always and only for the preaching of His kingdom and His Christ. In this ministry of persuasion we are royal ambassadors because we are representing the King of kings and Lord of lords and proclaiming His truth – not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2) - and not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ will not be made void (1 Corinthians 1:17) – and not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
We have been given the ministry of reconciliation which necessitates the ministry of persuasion and it is not to be trivialized or minimized but we are to be serious and solemn in discharging our duties as ambassadors for Christ. Acts 28:23-27 shows us some necessities in the ministry of persuasion.
Paul believed in clear explanation of God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
The duty of the preacher is to give the meaning and correct interpretation of God’s Word. We are not to be interested in the preacher’s opinion, his clever speech or his persuasive words of wisdom – we are to be interested in what has God really said! We read in verse 23, “and he was explaining to them.” This means that Paul was giving the meaning of God’s Word to his hearers. Just like Ezra the scribe in the book of Nehemiah who read from the book of the Law from early morning until midday and they read from the book, from the law of God, translating (explaining) to give the sense so that they (the people) understood the reading (Nehemiah 8:8). Ezra was a good example for preachers – “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
We also have the example of the Lord Jesus Christ who after his resurrection appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus and, “Then beginning with Moses and with the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). Explaining and expounding the Scriptures is the only way to persuade men concerning the truth of God’s kingdom and His King.
Paul believed in the serious handling God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
We read, “And he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying…” (23). This ministry of persuasion through preaching is no laughing, joking, or irreverent matter. We had better never forget whose ambassadors we are and in whose presence we speak! “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Preaching is a serious matter! God isn’t concerned with whether or not we are well liked, popular, funny, clever, or entertaining – He is concerned with our proper handling of the Word of truth which alone is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Paul believed in the divine intent of God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
We read, “And he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus” (23) and, “Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ…” (31). First, Paul was solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God. When John the Baptist came on the scene and came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). When the Lord Jesus Christ began His ministry after His baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist, He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). And then in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 the Lord Jesus gave the characteristics of the citizens of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 5 He spoke of kingdom citizens being marked by true righteousness, in Matthew 6 He spoke of kingdom citizens being marked by true worship, and in Matthew 7 He spoke of kingdom citizens being marked by true judgment. The kingdom of God is about the King and His subjects. The kingdom of God also entails those who rebel against the King and who hate His people.
The truth of the kingdom of God serves as a grave warning and call to repentance for those who would foolishly take their stand against the rule and authority of God through His Messiah, His appointed King. See Psalm 2.
This is where teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ or trying to persuade concerning Jesus comes in. He is the promised Messiah, the One who fulfills Scripture, the One whom God has made both Lord and Christ, and the only One through whom God will ever grant salvation. The book of Acts is very thorough in establishing the truth of the Kingship of Christ. We only have to get to chapter two of Acts before this wonderful and profound truth is made clear – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Jesus is the King of the kingdom of God and God does not ask us to make him King or Lord of our lives – God commands that we repent and bow in worship receiving Christ as our King based on the truth that Jesus Christ the King laid down His life for us! Kingdom citizens are drawn into the kingdom by being drawn to the King! It is for this reason that we sing, “Amazing love, how can it be, that you my King would die for me?”
Jesus Christ is the King and we can neither make Him King nor dethrone Him as King. He was impaled once on an old rugged cross but He will never be impeached. He died once but He will never die again! He is the King to whom all men must give an account and He is the King whom all men will one day, whether they like it or not, confess that He is Lord! “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).
Paul believed in the absolute veracity of God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
We read, “And he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the prophets…” (23). Paul believed in the absolute truthfulness or veracity of God’s Word. When we read that he was trying to persuade them from both the Law of Moses and from the prophets we are to understand that Paul was using the totality of the Old Testament as the sole basis for establishing the truth of the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ as its King. This is what the Bible teaches. In our persuasion we are to use God’s Word because His Word is truth and it is His Word that produces faith – “So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). It is not our cleverness or our persuasive words of wisdom that have power unto salvation but God’s Word alone. Paul told Timothy, “From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Paul would have began in Genesis and worked his way to Malachi showing over and over again the truth of Jesus Christ the suffering Messiah and exalted King!
Paul believed in the convicting power of the Word of God in his ministry of persuasion! (24)
We read, “Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe” (24). We should never forget that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God not only results in some being persuaded/believing but also in some who will not believe. Those who will not believe have hardened their hearts and will not receive and believe the clear, serious, and absolute truth of God’s Word concerning His kingdom and His King. This rejection is willful and in the face of the convicting and convincing power of the truth of the Word of God. Those who will not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved will receive a deluding influence so that they will believe a lie and be judged. As is clear from the following three verses, God will harden the hearts of those who harden their hearts and will not believe.
The Holy Spirit uses the accurate preaching of the Word of God to convict concerning sin (the rejection of the Lordship of Christ in our lives as evidenced by our deeds); to convict concerning righteousness (the kingdom of God and His sinless always obedient King); and to convict concerning judgment (the defeat of all the enemies of God).
Conviction doesn’t come from our cleverness, or ability to talk people into things (persuasive words of wisdom) or our craftiness – conviction comes from the Holy Spirit using the convicting power of the Word of God.
Paul believed in the divine inspiration of the Word of God in his ministry of persuasion! (25-27)
We read, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers…” (25). Paul had been using the totality of the Old Testament while testifying and persuading concerning the kingdom of God and Jesus. Everything that the Bible says is true not only concerning the kingdom, its citizens, and Jesus its King, but also concerning those who take their stand against the kingdom and the King. The reason that everything the Bible says is true and that we can believe in the absolute veracity of the Word of God is because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God who is not only the Spirit of holiness, He is also the Spirit of truth. What He says is right and true!
We can trust the Bible because we can trust its Author – “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Since the Bible is divinely inspired it is true and what it says about God, His Kingdom, His King, His subjects, and His enemies is right. This is one of the reasons we read so much in the Bible about not only what marks the children of God but also what marks the children of the devil. And what is absolutely clear about the differences between the children of God and the children of the devil is that the children of the devil will not receive and believe the truth while the children of God do. Look at verses 26 and 27 – these men had just spent the majority of a day listening to solemn testimony and persuasion from the Word of God and many of them would not believe – a truth the Holy Spirit inspired to be written into the Bible through Isaiah the prophet.
God only uses truth to draw men and women to His Son and it is that same truth which draws some and yet repels others. Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men with the truth of God’s Word!
Nowhere in the Bible do we see the men of God belittling their God-given opportunities to preach and teach. They were not lackadaisical or irreverent in discharging their duties. Instead you always find that in their ministry of persuasion, God’s men were always serious and solemn. Why? Because they were given the ministry of persuasion – convincing and convicting others of God’s truth. God has committed to us the word of reconciliation. “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
God never gives us a platform for our own personal advancement or popularity but always and only for the preaching of His kingdom and His Christ. In this ministry of persuasion we are royal ambassadors because we are representing the King of kings and Lord of lords and proclaiming His truth – not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2) - and not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ will not be made void (1 Corinthians 1:17) – and not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
We have been given the ministry of reconciliation which necessitates the ministry of persuasion and it is not to be trivialized or minimized but we are to be serious and solemn in discharging our duties as ambassadors for Christ. Acts 28:23-27 shows us some necessities in the ministry of persuasion.
Paul believed in clear explanation of God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
The duty of the preacher is to give the meaning and correct interpretation of God’s Word. We are not to be interested in the preacher’s opinion, his clever speech or his persuasive words of wisdom – we are to be interested in what has God really said! We read in verse 23, “and he was explaining to them.” This means that Paul was giving the meaning of God’s Word to his hearers. Just like Ezra the scribe in the book of Nehemiah who read from the book of the Law from early morning until midday and they read from the book, from the law of God, translating (explaining) to give the sense so that they (the people) understood the reading (Nehemiah 8:8). Ezra was a good example for preachers – “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
We also have the example of the Lord Jesus Christ who after his resurrection appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus and, “Then beginning with Moses and with the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). Explaining and expounding the Scriptures is the only way to persuade men concerning the truth of God’s kingdom and His King.
Paul believed in the serious handling God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
We read, “And he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying…” (23). This ministry of persuasion through preaching is no laughing, joking, or irreverent matter. We had better never forget whose ambassadors we are and in whose presence we speak! “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Preaching is a serious matter! God isn’t concerned with whether or not we are well liked, popular, funny, clever, or entertaining – He is concerned with our proper handling of the Word of truth which alone is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Paul believed in the divine intent of God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
We read, “And he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus” (23) and, “Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ…” (31). First, Paul was solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God. When John the Baptist came on the scene and came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). When the Lord Jesus Christ began His ministry after His baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist, He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). And then in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 the Lord Jesus gave the characteristics of the citizens of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 5 He spoke of kingdom citizens being marked by true righteousness, in Matthew 6 He spoke of kingdom citizens being marked by true worship, and in Matthew 7 He spoke of kingdom citizens being marked by true judgment. The kingdom of God is about the King and His subjects. The kingdom of God also entails those who rebel against the King and who hate His people.
The truth of the kingdom of God serves as a grave warning and call to repentance for those who would foolishly take their stand against the rule and authority of God through His Messiah, His appointed King. See Psalm 2.
This is where teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ or trying to persuade concerning Jesus comes in. He is the promised Messiah, the One who fulfills Scripture, the One whom God has made both Lord and Christ, and the only One through whom God will ever grant salvation. The book of Acts is very thorough in establishing the truth of the Kingship of Christ. We only have to get to chapter two of Acts before this wonderful and profound truth is made clear – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Jesus is the King of the kingdom of God and God does not ask us to make him King or Lord of our lives – God commands that we repent and bow in worship receiving Christ as our King based on the truth that Jesus Christ the King laid down His life for us! Kingdom citizens are drawn into the kingdom by being drawn to the King! It is for this reason that we sing, “Amazing love, how can it be, that you my King would die for me?”
Jesus Christ is the King and we can neither make Him King nor dethrone Him as King. He was impaled once on an old rugged cross but He will never be impeached. He died once but He will never die again! He is the King to whom all men must give an account and He is the King whom all men will one day, whether they like it or not, confess that He is Lord! “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. But emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6-11).
Paul believed in the absolute veracity of God’s Word in his ministry of persuasion! (23)
We read, “And he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the prophets…” (23). Paul believed in the absolute truthfulness or veracity of God’s Word. When we read that he was trying to persuade them from both the Law of Moses and from the prophets we are to understand that Paul was using the totality of the Old Testament as the sole basis for establishing the truth of the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ as its King. This is what the Bible teaches. In our persuasion we are to use God’s Word because His Word is truth and it is His Word that produces faith – “So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). It is not our cleverness or our persuasive words of wisdom that have power unto salvation but God’s Word alone. Paul told Timothy, “From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Paul would have began in Genesis and worked his way to Malachi showing over and over again the truth of Jesus Christ the suffering Messiah and exalted King!
Paul believed in the convicting power of the Word of God in his ministry of persuasion! (24)
We read, “Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe” (24). We should never forget that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God not only results in some being persuaded/believing but also in some who will not believe. Those who will not believe have hardened their hearts and will not receive and believe the clear, serious, and absolute truth of God’s Word concerning His kingdom and His King. This rejection is willful and in the face of the convicting and convincing power of the truth of the Word of God. Those who will not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved will receive a deluding influence so that they will believe a lie and be judged. As is clear from the following three verses, God will harden the hearts of those who harden their hearts and will not believe.
The Holy Spirit uses the accurate preaching of the Word of God to convict concerning sin (the rejection of the Lordship of Christ in our lives as evidenced by our deeds); to convict concerning righteousness (the kingdom of God and His sinless always obedient King); and to convict concerning judgment (the defeat of all the enemies of God).
Conviction doesn’t come from our cleverness, or ability to talk people into things (persuasive words of wisdom) or our craftiness – conviction comes from the Holy Spirit using the convicting power of the Word of God.
Paul believed in the divine inspiration of the Word of God in his ministry of persuasion! (25-27)
We read, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers…” (25). Paul had been using the totality of the Old Testament while testifying and persuading concerning the kingdom of God and Jesus. Everything that the Bible says is true not only concerning the kingdom, its citizens, and Jesus its King, but also concerning those who take their stand against the kingdom and the King. The reason that everything the Bible says is true and that we can believe in the absolute veracity of the Word of God is because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God who is not only the Spirit of holiness, He is also the Spirit of truth. What He says is right and true!
We can trust the Bible because we can trust its Author – “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Since the Bible is divinely inspired it is true and what it says about God, His Kingdom, His King, His subjects, and His enemies is right. This is one of the reasons we read so much in the Bible about not only what marks the children of God but also what marks the children of the devil. And what is absolutely clear about the differences between the children of God and the children of the devil is that the children of the devil will not receive and believe the truth while the children of God do. Look at verses 26 and 27 – these men had just spent the majority of a day listening to solemn testimony and persuasion from the Word of God and many of them would not believe – a truth the Holy Spirit inspired to be written into the Bible through Isaiah the prophet.
God only uses truth to draw men and women to His Son and it is that same truth which draws some and yet repels others. Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men with the truth of God’s Word!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Popular or God's Spokesman?
Whenever one is more concerned about what man desires than what God desires, he is motivated by the fear of man rather than the fear of God; he is more interested in reverencing man than he is in reverencing God. Deeply ingrained in a man-centered approach to ministry is self-preservation – no persecution when all men speak well of you – and self-promotion – desiring to be popular in order to receive glory from one another and not the glory that is from the one and only God (see John 5:44).
So the question that we must answer is will we be popular, market driven, motivated by the fear of man or will we be God’s spokesmen, persecuted for the sake of righteousness, truth driven, motivated by the fear of God?
If we truly trust the Lord then we will be God's spokesmen. Being God's spokesmen requires faith as we trust Him with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Also our love for Him motivates us to desire to please Him more than anyone else so that our interest is not "what will others think" but "what will the Lord think!"
In this matter of serving God and being His spokesmen, speaking the truth in love inspite of the consequences, God has given us all that we need to empower us and equip us for the task. On February 2, 1998, the Lord spoke to me and called me into the gospel ministry setting me immediately on the right path by settling for me the issue between being popular or being His spokesman. Dr. Warren Wiersbe was preaching on Four Wonderful Discoveries for Leaders and through it the Lord spoke to me and asked me if I would be popular of His spokesman, to which I replied in my heart and wrote in my notes, "Your spokesman Lord!" The difference between those two possible responses is the difference between the fear of man and the fear of God and the difference between false preachers and teachers and true preachers and teachers.
Listen to this short clip
So the question that we must answer is will we be popular, market driven, motivated by the fear of man or will we be God’s spokesmen, persecuted for the sake of righteousness, truth driven, motivated by the fear of God?
If we truly trust the Lord then we will be God's spokesmen. Being God's spokesmen requires faith as we trust Him with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Also our love for Him motivates us to desire to please Him more than anyone else so that our interest is not "what will others think" but "what will the Lord think!"
In this matter of serving God and being His spokesmen, speaking the truth in love inspite of the consequences, God has given us all that we need to empower us and equip us for the task. On February 2, 1998, the Lord spoke to me and called me into the gospel ministry setting me immediately on the right path by settling for me the issue between being popular or being His spokesman. Dr. Warren Wiersbe was preaching on Four Wonderful Discoveries for Leaders and through it the Lord spoke to me and asked me if I would be popular of His spokesman, to which I replied in my heart and wrote in my notes, "Your spokesman Lord!" The difference between those two possible responses is the difference between the fear of man and the fear of God and the difference between false preachers and teachers and true preachers and teachers.
Listen to this short clip
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
What's Driving the Market Driven Church?
The question, what’s driving the market driven church, may seem absurd and ridiculous and one may feel that the obvious answer is “the market.” However, that any church is driven by the market is only the fruit of the problem and not the root of the problem. So let me rephrase the question: what is at the root of the market driven church?
Now most surely those within and promoting the market driven church would assign pure and noble motives to their actions. They would say that they are serving God with zeal through their man-centered and market driven methods. They would see nothing wrong with taking, what Robert Schuller describes as, “the human-needs approach”, in order to impress and attract the un-churched (Robert H. Schuller, Self Esteem: The New Reformation, Word Books, Waco Texas, 1982, page 12-13). Therefore not only are the programs of the church marketed to the “needs” (and I should also say “greeds”) of the community; the preaching of the church is also marketed in the same fashion. When this happens man becomes the focus and audience, culture is elevated to the place of preeminence, the Word of God is lowered to the place of being less than the prime authority in ministry, and Christ is dethroned as the head of the church.
However, pleasing men by meeting their desires through the programs and preaching of the church has never been and never will be God’s design for His church. The programs and preaching of the church must please God and not man. The message of the Master judges men and is sovereign and not the judgment of men on the message. One of the preacher’s primary responsibilities is to remember who is the real audience and who is the real judge of the message he proclaims – “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
So now we can see two totally opposite approaches to ministry: a man-centered approach where pleasing men is the goal; and a God-centered approach to ministry where pleasing God is the goal. A man-centered approach to ministry requires no biblical faith at all to do while a God-centered approach to ministry can’t be done without it.
This brings us to the place where we can answer the question: What’s driving the market driven church? The fear (reverence) of man!
Whenever one is more concerned about what man desires than what God desires, he is motivated by the fear of man rather than the fear of God; he is more interested in reverencing man than he is in reverencing God. Deeply ingrained in a man-centered approach to ministry is self-preservation – no persecution when all men speak well of you – and self-promotion – desiring to be popular in order to receive glory from one another and not the glory that is from the one and only God (see John 5:44).
So the question that we must answer is will we be popular, market driven, motivated by the fear of man or will we be God’s spokesmen, persecuted for the sake of righteousness, truth driven, motivated by the fear of God?
The fear of man is at the root and is driving the market driven church!
Now most surely those within and promoting the market driven church would assign pure and noble motives to their actions. They would say that they are serving God with zeal through their man-centered and market driven methods. They would see nothing wrong with taking, what Robert Schuller describes as, “the human-needs approach”, in order to impress and attract the un-churched (Robert H. Schuller, Self Esteem: The New Reformation, Word Books, Waco Texas, 1982, page 12-13). Therefore not only are the programs of the church marketed to the “needs” (and I should also say “greeds”) of the community; the preaching of the church is also marketed in the same fashion. When this happens man becomes the focus and audience, culture is elevated to the place of preeminence, the Word of God is lowered to the place of being less than the prime authority in ministry, and Christ is dethroned as the head of the church.
However, pleasing men by meeting their desires through the programs and preaching of the church has never been and never will be God’s design for His church. The programs and preaching of the church must please God and not man. The message of the Master judges men and is sovereign and not the judgment of men on the message. One of the preacher’s primary responsibilities is to remember who is the real audience and who is the real judge of the message he proclaims – “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
So now we can see two totally opposite approaches to ministry: a man-centered approach where pleasing men is the goal; and a God-centered approach to ministry where pleasing God is the goal. A man-centered approach to ministry requires no biblical faith at all to do while a God-centered approach to ministry can’t be done without it.
This brings us to the place where we can answer the question: What’s driving the market driven church? The fear (reverence) of man!
Whenever one is more concerned about what man desires than what God desires, he is motivated by the fear of man rather than the fear of God; he is more interested in reverencing man than he is in reverencing God. Deeply ingrained in a man-centered approach to ministry is self-preservation – no persecution when all men speak well of you – and self-promotion – desiring to be popular in order to receive glory from one another and not the glory that is from the one and only God (see John 5:44).
So the question that we must answer is will we be popular, market driven, motivated by the fear of man or will we be God’s spokesmen, persecuted for the sake of righteousness, truth driven, motivated by the fear of God?
The fear of man is at the root and is driving the market driven church!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Morph! Are we really supposed to be conformed to the image of the culture?
Today we are being told to water down God’s Word in order to be relevant because people will not listen to clear truth – “This has clear implications for those weekend talks we give called the sermon. People are looking more for a path than pontification. They long for a path pointing them toward spiritual discovery – discovery those of us in the church are still experiencing with humility. Pontification that has the smell of doctrinaire arrogance is simply the phony turn off many outside the church have come to expect from those of us inside the church” (Ron Martoia, Morph: Group Publishing, 2003, pg 19. emphasis mine).
Pontificate: to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner (Webster’s Universal College Dictionary). I guess that the man who dares to be dogmatic and preach sound doctrine is too “pope-ish” and arrogant. While there are abuses, the true man of God cannot avoid being labeled “arrogant”, “dictator”, and all sorts of evil if he is true to the Word of God. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
God hasn’t called me to give “weekend talks”, He has called me to preach His Word and in so doing I must speak what I have seen and heard and I must say, “Thus says the Lord.” Shall I water down God’s Word in order to be relevant? Shall I be like Ron Martoia who gave the example of Chad and Christina? Chad, who “just couldn’t buy the ‘pat answers,’ and Christina who “would try church if ‘my kids don’t get brainwashed into believing this “Jesus is the only way to heaven” stuff’” (pg 20). And then Martoia said, “A year and a half later, they’re relatively consistent attendees at Westwinds and are slowly getting involved, cautiously exploring, and becoming noticeably intrigued by those around them” (20). What has he preached in a year and half? So what if they become members and regular attendees at Westwinds? Will that make them saved or deceived? Pragmatically speaking Martoia will be very successful – but what about biblically speaking?
Not only are we being told to depart from God’s Word by watering it down, we are also being told to defile ourselves with the world by conforming to the world. Martoia’s thesis is that in order to influence the world we must “morph” into the image of the culture which is the opposite direction in which the Bible uses the word metamorphe. He even uses 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 to attempt to prove that we are to be like the world (16). In his quest for “cultural context”, Martoia completely misses “scriptural context.” The context of 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 is found and begins in 1 Corinthians 8:1, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols…” and ends in 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.” Paul wasn’t speaking of conforming to the world to give them what they want – he was speaking of building bridges to give them what they need. No Jew would listen to Paul’s presentation of the Gospel if they were offended by him eating food that wasn’t “kosher.” No Gentile would listen to Paul’s presentation of the Gospel if they were offended by having to become Jews in order to be saved. No church would listen to Paul if they were offended by his conformity to the world – this man who said do not be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2) and that the world was crucified to him and he to the world (Galatians 6:14).
Martoia gives the quintessential example of philosophical humanism with his interpretation of the incarnation: “The quintessential example of genius intersection is, of course, the incarnation: God’s presence, voice, and message piercing and penetrating 1C culture. As we simply observe the potency of the incarnation, several things come to mind. God sent Jesus as a person. God could have sent the message packaged any number of ways. He didn’t choose a CD player to herald the good news, a Web page that automatically pops up every time someone logs on, or an MP3 download into our ear canal. The fact that he sent a person bespeaks God’s desire to be relevant, understandable, approachable, and relational” (pg.17 emphasis mine).
Could God have redeemed any other way? According to Martoia, “God could have sent the message packaged any number of ways.” But according to God’s Word, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendents of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:14-18).
Did God send Jesus for the purpose of cultural relevance? According to Martoia, “The fact that he sent a person bespeaks God’s desire to be relevant, understandable, approachable, and relational.” This is a gross misinterpretation of the incarnation. No wonder people could sit through his “weekend talks” for a year and a half and never be brainwashed into believing “this Jesus is the only way to heaven stuff.” Martoia obviously isn’t interested in preaching the truth of God’s Word but in speaking the language of the world – “they (false prophets) are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We (true prophets) are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:5-6).
Pontificate: to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner (Webster’s Universal College Dictionary). I guess that the man who dares to be dogmatic and preach sound doctrine is too “pope-ish” and arrogant. While there are abuses, the true man of God cannot avoid being labeled “arrogant”, “dictator”, and all sorts of evil if he is true to the Word of God. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12).
God hasn’t called me to give “weekend talks”, He has called me to preach His Word and in so doing I must speak what I have seen and heard and I must say, “Thus says the Lord.” Shall I water down God’s Word in order to be relevant? Shall I be like Ron Martoia who gave the example of Chad and Christina? Chad, who “just couldn’t buy the ‘pat answers,’ and Christina who “would try church if ‘my kids don’t get brainwashed into believing this “Jesus is the only way to heaven” stuff’” (pg 20). And then Martoia said, “A year and a half later, they’re relatively consistent attendees at Westwinds and are slowly getting involved, cautiously exploring, and becoming noticeably intrigued by those around them” (20). What has he preached in a year and half? So what if they become members and regular attendees at Westwinds? Will that make them saved or deceived? Pragmatically speaking Martoia will be very successful – but what about biblically speaking?
Not only are we being told to depart from God’s Word by watering it down, we are also being told to defile ourselves with the world by conforming to the world. Martoia’s thesis is that in order to influence the world we must “morph” into the image of the culture which is the opposite direction in which the Bible uses the word metamorphe. He even uses 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 to attempt to prove that we are to be like the world (16). In his quest for “cultural context”, Martoia completely misses “scriptural context.” The context of 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 is found and begins in 1 Corinthians 8:1, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols…” and ends in 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.” Paul wasn’t speaking of conforming to the world to give them what they want – he was speaking of building bridges to give them what they need. No Jew would listen to Paul’s presentation of the Gospel if they were offended by him eating food that wasn’t “kosher.” No Gentile would listen to Paul’s presentation of the Gospel if they were offended by having to become Jews in order to be saved. No church would listen to Paul if they were offended by his conformity to the world – this man who said do not be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2) and that the world was crucified to him and he to the world (Galatians 6:14).
Martoia gives the quintessential example of philosophical humanism with his interpretation of the incarnation: “The quintessential example of genius intersection is, of course, the incarnation: God’s presence, voice, and message piercing and penetrating 1C culture. As we simply observe the potency of the incarnation, several things come to mind. God sent Jesus as a person. God could have sent the message packaged any number of ways. He didn’t choose a CD player to herald the good news, a Web page that automatically pops up every time someone logs on, or an MP3 download into our ear canal. The fact that he sent a person bespeaks God’s desire to be relevant, understandable, approachable, and relational” (pg.17 emphasis mine).
Could God have redeemed any other way? According to Martoia, “God could have sent the message packaged any number of ways.” But according to God’s Word, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendents of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:14-18).
Did God send Jesus for the purpose of cultural relevance? According to Martoia, “The fact that he sent a person bespeaks God’s desire to be relevant, understandable, approachable, and relational.” This is a gross misinterpretation of the incarnation. No wonder people could sit through his “weekend talks” for a year and a half and never be brainwashed into believing “this Jesus is the only way to heaven stuff.” Martoia obviously isn’t interested in preaching the truth of God’s Word but in speaking the language of the world – “they (false prophets) are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We (true prophets) are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:5-6).
Watering down the Word of God (departing from the Word) and being like the world to win the world (defilement with the world) leads to the supreme outcome of apostasy (deceived by our own works).
The Purpose Driven, Seeker-Sensitive, Emerging Church movements are harbingers to the deluding influences spoken of in 2 Thessalonians that God is going to use to “first, gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into My barn” (Matthew 13:30). “In regard to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him….Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first…(2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3).
These movements are against everything God has called me to stand for and He has called me to stand against everything these movements stand for. Let no one in any way deceive you!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Famine in the Land...for hearing the words of the Lord
Is there a spiritual famine in the land? Respected Christian leaders say yes! In his book, Famine in the Land, Steven J. Lawson sets forth the thesis that we are in days of drought when it comes to true preaching, biblical preaching, expository preaching and that this is the greatest need in this critical hour. While Lawson deals with a more thorough examination of the present day problem in his book, I want to address one main aspect lacking in today's modern and popular style of preaching - namely that true preaching is confrontational.
First we should look at what is actually happening in many pulpits today. Steven Lawson says, "Tragically, most of what passes for biblical preaching today falls woefully short of apostolic standards. Many pastors seem content to dole out pabulum to spiritual babies instead of teaching the full counsel of God. Many evangelical ministers have succumbed to delivering secular-sounding, motivational pep talks aimed at soothing the felt needs of restless church shoppers or, worse, salving the guilty consciences of unregenerate church members. Rather than expounding the depths of God's Word, many Bible-believing ministers have chosen the path of least resistance, content to scratch the surface of shallow souls and tickle the ears of languid listeners. The result is congregations are starving - even though many of the famished may not be aware of it - settling for sickly sweet, yet totally inadequate, spiritual pabulum" (pg. 38).
True preaching however is confrontational, calling for repentance, commanding a life-adjustment to truth, and seeking the transformation of the mind, heart, and soul of the listener. Confrontational preaching has always marked the proclamation of God's men down through the ages. "Noah's message from the steps going up to the Ark was not 'Something good is going to happen to you!' Amos was not confronted by the high priest of Israel for proclaiming, 'Confession is possession!' Jeremiah was not put into the pit for preaching, 'I'm O.K., you're O.K.' Daniel was not put into the lion's den for telling people, 'Possibility thinking will move mountains!' John the Baptist was not forced to preach in the wilderness and eventually beheaded because he preached, 'Smile, God loves you!' The two prophets of tribulation will not be killed for preaching, 'God is in his heaven and all is right with the world!'" (pg. 67)
Lawson continues, "Pastors who are committed to biblical exposition must have a confrontive element in their preaching if they are to emulate the prophets and apostles. Regrettably, this kind of reproof and rebuke is often missing from present-day preaching. Pastor Adrian Rogers calls for boldness in proclaiming God's truth by stating, 'It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills. It is not love and it is not friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God'" (pg. 68).
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Recovering the Gospel...the first step to recovering the Church
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (Jude 3-4).
There is no doubt that evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In such
matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor's dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread
dissatisfaction with things as they are and or equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. Without realizing it, we have during the past century bartered that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar enough in points of detail, is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty.
Why?
We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be 'helpful' to man - to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction - and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was 'helpful', too - more so, indeed, than is the new -but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first concern was always to give glory to God. It was always and essentially a proclamation of divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its center of reference was unambiguously God.
But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was religious in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach people to worship God, the concern of the new seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and his ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.
From this change of interest has sprung a change of content, for the new gospel has in effect reformulated the biblical message in the supposed interests of 'helpfulness'. Accordingly, the themes of man's natural inability to believe, of God's free election being the ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for his sheep are not preached. These doctrines, it would be said, are not 'helpful'; they would drive sinners to despair, by suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (The possibility that such despair might be salutary is not considered: it is taken for granted that it cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem.) However this may be (and we shall say more about it later), the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth.
Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to receive Christ at any time; we speak of his redeeming work as if he had make it possible for us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God's love as if it were no more than a general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet impotence 'at the door of our hearts' for us to let them in.
It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical gospel. The Bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. To recover the old, authentic, biblical gospel, and to bring our preaching and practice back into line with it, is perhaps our most pressing present need.
An excerpt from J. I. Packer's introduction to John Owens' classic sermon The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. I first viewed this at Steve Camp's site CAMPONTHIS.
There is no doubt that evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement. In such
matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor's dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread
dissatisfaction with things as they are and or equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead. This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. Without realizing it, we have during the past century bartered that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar enough in points of detail, is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty.
Why?
We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be 'helpful' to man - to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction - and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was 'helpful', too - more so, indeed, than is the new -but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first concern was always to give glory to God. It was always and essentially a proclamation of divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its center of reference was unambiguously God.
But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was religious in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach people to worship God, the concern of the new seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and his ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed.
From this change of interest has sprung a change of content, for the new gospel has in effect reformulated the biblical message in the supposed interests of 'helpfulness'. Accordingly, the themes of man's natural inability to believe, of God's free election being the ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for his sheep are not preached. These doctrines, it would be said, are not 'helpful'; they would drive sinners to despair, by suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (The possibility that such despair might be salutary is not considered: it is taken for granted that it cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem.) However this may be (and we shall say more about it later), the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth.
Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to receive Christ at any time; we speak of his redeeming work as if he had make it possible for us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God's love as if it were no more than a general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet impotence 'at the door of our hearts' for us to let them in.
It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical gospel. The Bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. To recover the old, authentic, biblical gospel, and to bring our preaching and practice back into line with it, is perhaps our most pressing present need.
An excerpt from J. I. Packer's introduction to John Owens' classic sermon The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. I first viewed this at Steve Camp's site CAMPONTHIS.
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