You Two Work It Out

In a way-back sermon from 1984, John Piper explains two of the both/and passages we find in the book of Philippians that hold in perfect tension God's work IN us and our work FOR Him.

The best commentary on Philippians 3:12 is Philippians 2:12–13: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you." Go hard after Christ, because Christ is at work in you! "Strive for . . . the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14), for the Lord is working in you what is pleasing in his sight (Hebrews 13:21).

The reason the Bible can make our salvation depend on our pursuit of holiness without turning us into self-reliant legalists who have no assurance is that it makes our pursuit of holiness depend on the sovereign work of God in our lives.

Work out your salvation, because God is at work in you.

Your work is his work for his glory when done in dependence on his power.

The most fundamental reason why you must go hard after Christ is that Christ is in you, moving you to go hard after him.

Read or listen to the entire sermon here.

Anything Meretricious?

My Hearer, are you seeking salvation by works—by anything that is meritorious or meretricious?
You are spending your money for that which is not bread!

Are you seeking a knowledge of salvation by your own feeling? Do you consult your frames of mind, hopeful or desponding, as one marks the rise or fall of a barometer? Do you dream of being prepared for Christ and fitting yourself to receive mercy?
This is to impose on yourself and to insult the Savior!

Christ needs nothing from you—He comes to bring everything to you! Even your sense of need He gives you.

All your fitness is to be unfit!
All your preparation for washing is to be foul!
All your prerequisite for enriching is to be poor as poverty can make you!

Come as you are to your God through Christ, the Mediator, and in Him you shall find salvation!

Salvation Bracelet and Bible Verses

One of the crafts we did during a recent Backyard Bible Club with our church was the well-known salvation bracelet.  These have been around for a while and are a great way to remind yourself of the Gospel as well as prepare yourself to share the Gospel.
I collected my own set of verses to go with the bracelet and to serve as a Gospel outline for those using this simple tool.  I don't know that my verses are better than anything else out there, but I wanted to include a few points that I couldn't find in other examples.
If you'd like to use this half-page format, you can download a pdf version here (RIGHT CLICK then "Save As").

From God, By God, Through God

I'm sure these aren't original with me, but I can't remember where I got them.  Nonetheless, in my Bible's margin I have these things written beside each of these verses:

Romans 5:9 | Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
:: We are saved by God from God.

Romans 5:10 | For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
:: We are reconciled to God by God.

Romans 5:11 | More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
:: We rejoice in God through God.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
(Colossians 1:16-20 ESV)

The Law and the Gospel

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlor that was full of dust, because never swept; the which after he had reviewed it a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, “Bring hither water, and sprinkle the room;” the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Christian: Then said Christian, What means this?

Interpreter: The Interpreter answered, This parlor is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel. The dust is his original sin, and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the law; but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now whereas thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to show thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin, doth revive, Romans 7:9, put strength into, 1 Corinthians 15:56, and increase it in the soul, Romans 5:20, even as it doth discover and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue. Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure, this is to show thee, that when the Gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit. John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26; Acts 15:9; Romans 16:25,26.

~John Bunyan, Pilgrims Progress

The Doctrine of Salvation

As part of my seminary assignments, I'm reading "The Doctrine of Salvation," a small paperback by Charles M. Horne that is no longer in print.  You can probably still find a used copy on Amazon.comfor a few bucks.

By way of recommending this very readable little book, allow me to just share a few of Horne's thoughts, two of the helpful charts he includes, and a couple of great quotes he often adds to aid the reader in understanding a particular issue.

Reflecting on Paul's message and method described in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Horne concludes, "...preaching is not the proclamation of a preacher's private opinions, nor the public airing of his doubts, but rather the full authoritative proclamation of the Word of God."

As we try to understand the different aspects of our salvation in Christ, Horne considers four facets:  sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation and redemption.  He says:

1. Sacrifice is directed to the need created by our guilt. 
2. Propitiation is directed to the need that arises from the wrath of God.
3. Reconciliation is directed to the need created by God's alienation from us.
4. Redemption is directed to the need created by man's bondage to sin.
   

Horne explains justification as the restoration of our spiritual relation to God.  He explains it to include 3 things:

1. The removal of guilt by the imputation of Christ's righteousness.
2. The removal of condemnation by the gift of forgiveness.
3. The removal of separation by the restoration to fellowship.

And here's a quote that would make a good twitter feed:


"Strictly speaking, it's not even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ who saves through faith."

Here are a couple of the charts that the author includes throughout the book that I've found very helpful & clarifying.

Lastly, here are a couple of quotes that Charles Horne includes from other theologians.  I've found them to be incredibly helpful in summarizing or drawing conclusions in regards to the different aspects of soteriology.

...Fear is not faith; remorse is not repentance; nor is there sufficient power in mere terror to effect the conversion of the heart.  The heart is turned by the attraction of the Saviour's love...
James Buchanan, The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit

Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church.  We are fighting today for costly grace...Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession.  Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Reconciliation is much more than a change of feeling on man's part towards God, and must imply first of all a change of relation in God towards man.

W.H. Griffith Thomas, The Principles of Theology

So now you've had a very piece-mealed exposure to this great book by Charles M. Horne.  I trust it's been helpful and that it might  have encouraged you to obtain your own copy.

HIStory of Me :: part I

As part of my seminary application, I was required to write out my salvation testimony. It ended up being three pages long, but I'd still like to post it here on the blog. I'll divide it up into several pieces for easier reading, and spread it out over the next few days.

Now, I've hesitated several times to post this thinking it to be rather self-aggrandizing. But this is not my story. This is HIS story of me. This is a testimony of God's grace in me. And because of that, we should all share our own HIStory.

(All four posts here)

Growing up in a good home can sometimes be more dangerous to your soul than being in a bad home. I was in a good home and my soul was indeed in danger. My parents were good to my younger sister and me. We were well taken care of. In my eyes, mom & dad were near perfect.

We occasionally attended the Methodist church in our small town of several thousand, sometimes more frequent than others. By the time I was in seventh grade, I became active in our church youth group and was a regular attendee. I gradually took on youth leadership roles within our church and was soon gaining the respect of the adults around me... even the pastor once asked if I’d ever considered the ministry as a vocation. I had a good life… but I did not know God.

During my most formidable years at home and in this church, I cannot once remember hearing the Gospel. I cannot remember ever carrying my Bible. I can't remember ever hearing of my wretched sinful condition nor of the holy wrath of God set against me. Of course, I was taught that Jesus was God and that I needed to be good, but if I wasn’t good Jesus would forgive me anyway. He was simply Someone you believed in, not a sufficient Savior Who’s death satisfied the justice of God on my behalf.

I always figured I was doing all right with God. I figured I was safe. My good outweighed my bad. In my own mind I was better behaved than most of my peers and well thought of in my church.

I didn’t start rebelling until my last year or two of high school and on into college. And, because my sin habits were concentrated in “just” a couple of areas, I still thought I was a good guy. After all, I often thought, at least I don’t drink or do drugs. This particular area of abstinence was my self-awarded badge of moral honor.

To be continued Thursday.

HIStory of Me :: part II

Continued.  (All four posts here)

Several events during my late teens and early twenties pushed me farther into sin and away from God. The death of my grandfather, the senseless murder of one of my childhood friends, my parent’s divorce (after many turbulent years of separation) as well as my own failed relationships, all made me question much of what I barely knew to be true. I soon found myself living alone several hundred miles away from my family, estranged from my father, having all but flunked out of college, and barely able to pay my rent. The only thing I had to enjoy in life was my sin. I was twenty-two years old.

It was during this very low point in my life when I actually made a very mature decision. I had been living in Trumann, Arkansas for barely a month - just getting settled in when I got a phone call from my 19-year-old sister. She was living with my mother in Sheridan at the time and was several months pregnant. She had called to tell me that her boyfriend just ended their relationship. She was distraught. So, in a rare moment of reason and responsibility I made a quick choice to pack up my belongings and move back home to take care of the two women in my life. Looking back, I can only attribute this to the beginnings of God’s merciful drawing of me to Himself.

Though I was home to help these two women who had experienced broken relationships, I spent the summer in and out of several sinful relationships myself. I was enjoying my sin for a season, but there was certainly no lasting value or purpose to my life. This was the summer of 1992. Just a few months later, in the fall, I met the girl that would three years later become my wife.

I was smitten by Anita’s beauty and our personalities couldn’t have complimented each other any better. I was certain that we were a match made in Heaven. Since I knew Anita was a “religious” girl, I knew I had better watch some of my sinful habits, but I wasn’t necessarily ready to walk the straight and narrow. Nonetheless, after our very first date, I ended up inviting myself to her Baptist church the following morning. I had no idea why. Again, in hindsight I see the hand of God.

I still remember the title of the sermon that morning, “So Close and yet Lost.” The fiery, red-headed and red-faced preacher gave example after example of people who had lived good lives, done good things, served in church, etc. and yet did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He was talking about me. And when the end of the service came and the invitation was given and the question was asked, “If you died tonight do you know you would go to Heaven?” I was pierced to my soul. I knew the answer to that question. I knew I had no hope of Heaven. I knew I should walk the aisle. But I didn’t.

To be continued tomorrow...

HIStory of Me :: part III

Continued.  (All four posts here)

Having heard the gospel and experienced God's conviction for the first time in my life left no small impression on me. That conviction remained with me over the next few days. I wanted to pursue this Christian life. I wanted Jesus; but I also loved my sin. By God’s grace, somehow I knew that I couldn’t have both.

I think it could’ve been that following Wednesday evening when I was sitting on the patio behind my mother’s house talking to God. I could almost visualize in my mind a life with Christ on one side and my life of sin on the other. I had to choose. And I did. That night I experienced what I now know to be repentance, a gift from God, not my own, that resulted in a changed life. That night the Lord granted me repentance to turn from my sin and He gave me faith to trust in the finished cross-work of Christ. I’m confident that I didn’t understand it quite that way back then, but I did know that I was ready to leave my old life behind.

The changes that took place over the following months were obvious. I rarely missed an opportunity in the Lord’s house, I was reading my Bible and understanding it’s basic truths. I was baptized and joined the church. My life was being transformed and those around me noticed. Though I had much to learn I finally had a good life – a godward life.

Almost two years after the Lord saved me and I had been active in my local church - even serving in different capacities and sharing my faith with my co-workers - I wasn’t satisfied. After listening to many preaching tapes during my commute to work I soon realized a growing desire in my own life to teach the Bible. I was growing more and more discontent with my career because of this conflicting desire so I quit my job and the following Sunday made my desires for ministry known during the altar call at my church.

As is the custom among many Baptists, they put this new “preacher” in the pulpit the following Sunday evening and enrolled me in a nearby Bible college that same week. I spent the next four years completing my Bachelors degree in Biblical studies. During the second year of my schooling I took a position as a youth pastor at a growing church in a small rural town in central Arkansas. Anita and I were engaged to be married. Life was getting even better.

To be continued tomorrow...

HIStory of Me :: part IV

Continued.  (All four posts here)

During my last year of Central Baptist College I met two groups of people that were extremely instrumental in my walk with the Lord. Ray Ortlund, Jr. introduced the first group of people to me in his book, “A Passion for God.” I didn’t know anything about Ortlund, but saw that John MacArthur endorsed his book. I knew who MacArthur was and really appreciated his ministry, so I went on MacArthur’s recommendation and bought the book.

This book remains at the top of my list. In it, Pastor Ortlund gives his paraphrase of the book of Romans derived from his Greek translations. He divides the verses into small portions and after each he writes a prayer in response to the passage. Then he would quote a dead guy. This was the pattern of the book throughout. Just as I knew nothing of Ray Ortlund, Jr., I knew nothing of these men he often quoted – except for the fact that most of them were dead and they all had some profound things to say. I eventually understood these men to be our church forefathers, puritans, hymn writers and reformers. What these men (and Ortlund) had to say about God, man and the Christian life was far beyond the depth of thought I had ever given to such things. This book increased my love for God and decreased my love for self.

The second group of people I met had at least one obvious thing in common: The Bible Church of Little Rock (BCLR). I met several men from BCLR at a conference where theologian Wayne Grudem was speaking. I learned that these men were studying through Grudem's Systematic Theology text and I asked if I could join them. I did and for the next year met with these men at 6am on Friday mornings for what they called, “Doctrine and Devotion.”

I also stayed for a lunchtime study through Alexander Strauch’s, “Biblical Eldership.” It was during this year of study with these men that I came to realize that my level of ministry training was probably inadequate for a full-time, vocational pastor. For over four years the determining factor for me being in ministry was the subjective call (1 Timothy 3:1) that I had expressed when I “surrendered to preach,” and yet now I realized that there were other more objective qualifications (1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4) that had to be evident. These objective qualifications would eventually, in my mind, either affirm or deny the subjective calling I thought I had. Subsequently, after much prayer and counsel I stepped away from vocational ministry and moved to Little Rock to attend BCLR to experience this philosophy of ministry and hopefully to receive more training.

We’ve been at BCLR now for twelve years. I’ve received many hours of formal training in class with Dr. George Zemek that include several years of Greek, Theology, Hermeneutics, Homiletics, etc. I've also spent 3 semesters attending the The Expositor’s Seminary before withdrawing to re-evaluate ministry desires and direction. I've been on staff at BCLR as the Children's Ministry director since the fall of 2009.

In August of 2012, my family made the biggest move of our lives to Lufkin, Texas. I am currently the Pastor to Children & Families at Keltys First Baptist Church.

The days ahead are exciting and also intimidating, but my wife and I are humbled and grateful for these opportunities.

Life is still good because our God is so good.