The Gospel and The Kingdom

One of my former professors, Dr. Ed Stetzer, has written an interesting article concerning the Emerging Church.  If you know a little bit about this movement and are torn, as I am, as to its effectiveness, or even its legitimacy, this is a good place to start.  It seems as if the article is a few years old, but that may have increaed its relevance now that the movement is picking up more speed.  Hope that you enjoy!

Trying to impact the culture biblically…

We have heard it said and we may have even said it.  “Do not let you heart be troubled!”  Maybe we have even repeated this Scripture to ourselves in a time of need.  Maybe a family member has broken your heart.  Maybe your once secure job is now not so secure.  Maybe your once rock solid family is now not so solid.  Maybe you are in a time of despair or a time of unknown future.  Regardless of the situation, we still have this command from Jesus in fourth Gospel to not let our hearts be troubled. 

As believers in Christ, we often think of this verse immediately in our times of despair.  However, we fail to recite the rest of the verse and hence, fail to apply a complete and full understanding the intention of Jesus’ command.  In this verse, Jesus does tell us that we should not let our hearts be troubled, but He also tells us why we should not let our hearts be troubled.  Namely, that we are to believe in God and also believe in Him.  Now let’s flesh this out with the understanding that we are not separating two persons from the Trinity.  We still acknowledge (In accordance with the Baptist Catechism) that “there is but one only living and true God.”  We also acknowledge according to the same that there are “three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.”

First Jesus tells us to not let our hearts be troubled because we are to believe in God.  God is sovereign and there is no other.  In keeping with the Baptist Catechism, “God is the first and cheifest being.”  Because He is sovereign, because He cares for the sparrow and the lily, because He created us and has a plan for us, we are commanded to not be troubled but to comfortably rest in His hands.  Secondly, Jesus tells us to believe in Him.  He is our righteousness, He and He alone.  Jesus Christ walked this earth in perfect accordance with the law, which no human could, can, or ever will do.  Jesus Christ died a death meant for sinners, of which everyone is born.  We are condemned in Adam’s sin as the Bible tells us.  Therefore, we are to believe in Jesus, who attained a righteousness that we cannot attain and offered a sacrifice in accordance with the demands of the law that we could not offer, and yet was raised that we may have eternal life in Him, if we believe.

So, again, why are we not to have troubled hearts?  We are to believe in God who sovereignty is at work and in complete control, and believe also in His Son who is our righteousness, our life, and is God’s glory.  Child of God, you have nothing to fear; God is in control and even in death, we are secure in Christ.

Believing with you…

Some have asked what and where the tune is to the hymn I posted about yesterday, He Who Would Valiant Be.  Here is a link to the midi file of the tune, St. Dunstans’s, written by C. Winfred Douglas in 1917.  This tune is used by the permission of The Church Pension Fund.  Enjoy this wonderful hymn!

Blessings…

For the past few days, I have had the words to this old hymn in my head. This hymn was written by John Bunyan, one of my most favorite Pastor-Theologians. The Baptist Hymnal (#384 in the 1975 edition by Broadman Press) has this song listed as being composed by John Bunyan in 1684. While Bunyan himself did not compose the tune, it is rather fitting to the words of the song. However, I am no muscician.

As you read the words below, listen to them…

What a wonderful hymn by this long ago saint of God. Shall we in constancy follow our Master who has called us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of Light. Let us know that, in Christ, there is no foe that may fall us. Let us labor night and day…..to be a pilgrim.

Laboring with each of you…

There is an interesting discussion going on at the T4G blog.  What is the gospel? and What is the biggest barrier in the 21st Century?  Sounds like a relevant quetion to the plight of the evangelical church today.  Check it out.

Blessings in Christ…

For the past few weeks, I have been reading through the gospel of John so that I may be able to help others understand who Jesus is from this fourth gospel.  The words of Jesus are comforting at times and peircing at others as I see how I fail to completely realize who He is in my own life. 

One of those passages that has been especially comforting to me in recent days has been John 5:21.  The ESV says, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.”  This is just one verse in two paragraphs there in John 5 that proclaims the Deity of Jesus.  This verse, for the believer, provides great comfort and for the unbeliever, provides great hope. 

The Bible states that we are dead in our trespasses and our sins (see Ephesisans 2:1).  We dead, we do not have life.  Yet, John tells us that Jesus gives life to whom He wills.  Where is the comfort for the believer?  If you have trusted in Christ, you once were dead, you are now alive, and your salvation has never been, is now, nor will ever be secure by your own works and standards.  Salvation is a good work begun in you by God who will bring it to completion (see Philippians 1:6).  I am glad that salvation is something that is not done by me, a fallen, polluted sinner who is saved by grace.  Yes I am a new creation, but the old creature is still present until the Day of Jesus Christ. 

How does this provide hope for the unbeliever?  If you have not trusted in Christ, you are dead and there is no life in you.  Jesus Christ can give you life.  He is a well springing up unto eternal life (see John 4).  You, without Christ, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today.  You, child of God, proclaim this message to those you know are without hope and do this today!

Speaking the name of Christ with you…

I added my first picture to my Funny Church Signs page.  If you have some you think are worthy, email me the picture, where you found it, and when.  It might just make the page!

DHE

This afternoon I have been reviewing my sermon for final preparation for tomorrow morning.  I will not preach the sermon here in this entry, but the title is God’s Marvelous Work: Turning Tragedy into Joy from Acts 8:1-8.  I was thinking through some of the Psalms where God’s providential hand is described as providing joy for His people.  Psalm 30:5b describes this perfectly.  “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

I do not believe that the times of the day (night/morning) should necessarily be taken literally.  I believe the application for believers today is that though weeping may incur for a period of time (usually in the midst of a trial or tribulation - i.e., the night), joy will come with the morning (newness). 

For the believer, whatever he or she may be going through, it will last for a brief period of time.  Now let me clarify this.  This period of time is appointed by God and is brief in relation to eternity with Him for those who have trusted in Christ.  Weeping may endure, tarry, be incurred, for a breif time.  But to those who are counted in Christ, joy, inexpressible joy, will be coming in the morning.  Joy will come when we are gathered with our Creator for endless worship around His throne with our brothers and sisters in Christ crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come!”

Delighting in everlasting joy with you…

Recently, I was speaking with someone about death and the performing of funerals from the perspective of a pastor.  I was asked if there is something that particularly speaks to me regarding death and the comfort that we have as Christians in Christ.  Immediately, this poem by George Herbert, came to mind.  If you do not know George Herbert, I would advise you to read of his life from the link above.  He was a wonderful, godly parson who gave up royalty for the pulpit and service in God’s kingdom.  His poem, listed below, has provided volumes of comfort to me in recent years.  Christ has abolished a second death for those who have trusted in Him!

A Dialogue-Anthem

The idea that one day, death will be no more, should alone exhort us to worship Him who died for sin. 

Escaping the second death on the basis of the cross…

I was reading the Owen County News-Herald this afternoon and came across this editorial that is both encouraging and convicting as a pastor in this county.  I encourage you, especially those of Elk Lick Baptist Church, to read this article and to pray about ways that you may be involved in providing and meeting needs for those in our county.  Attend the special meeting on April 19 so that those who are on the Owen County Care Team can offer those who have no hope the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.  If we are, as a county, going to serve others, would it not be more beneficial for both those who are not worshipping Christ in the hearing of the gospel and those who worship Christ through God exalting service for believers in Christ to be a part of this team? 

Serving Owen County with you…