ENDURING TO THE END

We are not saved because we endure, but we endure because we are saved. The grace of God that saves us, secures us, and sustains us. Even though Revelation 14 speaks specifically of those who will come to faith in a future time of tribulation, it also applies generally to saints of all the ages, and their “patience,” that is, their perseverance, (v. 12-13).  Those who are blood-washed and born again belong to Christ and endure to the end.

We note their RIGHTEOUSNESS,  “here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” (v. 12b).  Because we are kept by the grace of God, we are governed by God and keep His commands. As has been said, “Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone.”  Faith in Christ is the root of our salvation, but obedience is the fruit of it.

Further, we find their REST,  “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: ‘ “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” ’  ‘ “Yes,” ‘ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors,’ “ (v. 13a). The righteous who are faithful unto death need not fear death when it comes. If we are “in the Lord,” having a genuine relationship with Him, then we die in the Lord’s arms, as He rocks us to sleep, and carries us home.

Then comes their REWARD, “ ‘and their works follow them,’ ” (v. 13b).  The all-knowing God is documenting every deed done in His name and for His glory. Others may not take notice. We may never get recognition here, but we are assured of reward hereafter!  This reality is echoed in Hebrews 6:10,  “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

So, servant of God—press on!  Do not think about quitting!  So long as God keeps you here, keep true to Him, and He will keep you by His grace to endure to the end!

LOVE, TRUTH, AND JOY

John was an old man—the last of the Twelve—who writes 2 John, this small, but substantive letter.  Was it literally written to a sister in Christ, or a church using symbolic language?  That debate will be for another time—for now, we recognize that it is eternal truth for us!  Three themes dominate the text: love, truth, and joy. 

We begin with LOVE, as John does. Love is used four times, (v. 1, 3, 5-6). In the first two, there is a connection to truth. Indeed, in the last two, there is the implication of truth, as love is spoken of as being commanded. Love and truth walk hand in hand. Love without truth is a toxic empathy—not really love. It is tolerating the intolerable, condoning the sinful, even celebrating the evil. It is tantamount to giving someone a pat on the back on their way to hell! Love cares enough to confront with truth, yet ever with a heart of compassion. I have never forgotten what John Maxwell said, “People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” You can have a mouth full of theological propositions, but a heart empty of real compassion. 

So, we move on to TRUTH. Truth is mentioned five times, (v. 1 [twice], v. 2-4).  We may add a term synonymous with Gospel truth, and that is “doctrine,” referenced three times (twice in v. 9 and once in v. 10). In addition, the core of the letter is a call to confront error, (v. 7-11). While we must be reminded that love without truth is toxic empathy, truth without love is cruel brutality. We must, however, equip our people to discern deception and reject it. It is not nit-picking about peripheral matters where genuine Christians may disagree, but it is holding to courageous convictions concerning the core of Christianity. John speaks particularly of the doctrine of Christ. Every cult and false religion denies the incarnation—the Only Begotten Son of God, fully God and fully man—and the only Way, the sole Truth, and the unique source of Life. We are to do all we can to defeat such deception by wielding the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!

Finally, John stresses JOY. Joy is referenced twice—once as “rejoiced,” (v. 4) and then as “joy,” in v. 12. Joy is the result of seeing the children of God walking in truth and love. Walking suggests progress—advancing in the things of God. Disciples have not arrived at perfection yet, for that awaits Heaven, but there ought to be progression in sanctification. Truth does not have to be taught with a scowl on the face and a growl in the voice. Doctrine ought to be declared with delight!  While, what I am sharing with you online I pray is helpful, there is nothing like being personally in the house of God with the people of God to hear the word of God as we engage in the worship of God for the glory of God!  John’s joy would be fully experienced as he saw his brothers and sisters face to face. May this be our reality on this Lord’s Day!

If you attend a liberal church where a false love is promoted to the exclusion of truth, get out as fast as you can!  Should you attend a legalistic church where truth is used to beat people down instead of lifting them up, find another church. If you attend a lifeless church, where it seems more like a funeral home than a joyful celebration, pray for revival to come, and if it does not, then go where you can rejoice in the Risen Lord! 

There are three other words that should claim our attention in John’s greeting: “Grace, mercy, and peace…from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ,” (v. 3). The bottom line is this: our capacity to express God’s love, to expound God’s truth, and to experience His joy springs from a genuine experience of salvation. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve—eternal life; mercy is not getting what we do deserve—no condemnation, being forgiven; peace is what results from these—peace with the Father through the Son!

VICTORY IN JESUS

The old Gospel song declares our “Victory in Jesus.”  Paul promised, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” (Rom. 8:37). Now, Peter proclaims the triumph of our faith in Christ and the means by which we secure it in 1 Pet. 5:8-11. 

First, consider THE REALITY OF OUR FOE,  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8). The Devil is not a fairy tale. Satan is real, and we best face this fact so as to be ready to fight.

This calls for seriousness. “Be sober,” Peter says. It is not a game. This world is a battleground, not a playground. We have an adversary on the prowl who is ready to pounce, and we must take this seriously. 

There must then be watchfulness. “Be vigilant,” is the command.  In the jungle of this world, Satan is a lion stalking his prey. Suddenly, he roars that he may paralyze us with fear. He will devour us, if we are not alert to the danger.

Second, observe THE RESISTANCE OF OUR FAITH.  “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world,” (1 Pet. 5:9). Faith is the antidote to fear. These are mutually exclusive.

This summons us to steadfastness. “Resist him, steadfast in the faith.”  Rather than turn our back and run, we take a stand and resist. When Paul described our spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20, he stressed that we are to stand our ground—the ground already secured for us by the victory of Jesus in His crucifixion and resurrection. One notes there is no armor for the back!  We are to face the foe. You cannot outrun the roaring lion, but you can outgun him! Faith is the victory that overcomes the world, (cf. 1 Jn. 5:4). 

Yet, there is also the fact of suffering as Peter stated, “knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” We can win, but that doesn’t mean there will be no wounds. We long for final victory, ultimate conquest, but that is secured when Christ returns. In this hostile world, suffering is a realty for the soldiers of the cross. But what the devil means for evil, God means for good—the fiery trials that refine our faith, as we find in the next section.

Third, note THE RELIANCE ON OUR FATHER, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet. ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭11‬‬). While we are no match for Satan, he is no match for our Father. It is in reliance on the Lord that victory is assured.

We have the promise of grace, as He is, “the God of all grace.”  There is grace for every need. God’s resources come to those in reliance. Martin Luther put it this way in his hymn:

1 A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

our helper he, amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

does seek to work us woe;

his craft and power are great,

and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
 our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.

You ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he;

Lord Sabaoth his name,

from age to age the same;

and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God has willed

his truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure,

for lo! his doom is sure;

one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly powers

no thanks to them abideth;

the Spirit and the gifts are ours

through him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

this mortal life also;

the body they may kill:

God's truth abideth still;

his kingdom is forever!

This grace leads to glory.  “[God] called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  It is all about the glory of God and one day we shall enter that glory—to abide in it. Paul echoed this when he wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” (Rom.‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬‬). These sufferings will purify us as gold and temper us as steel in the fire.

“To Him be the glory and the dominion direct and ever. Amen.”

SAVED TO SERVE

 

Most evangelicals are familiar with Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  We ought to have those words embedded in our mind. 

Yet, we may not be as acquainted with the next verse, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,” (v. 10). These go together—two sides of the same coin of salvation. While we are saved apart from our works—the root of salvation is solely in the work of Christ—our salvation is never apart from producing works—the fruit of salvation is seen in the work of Christ in Christians. The quote attributed to Martin Luther states it, “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.”  

We are saved to serve. That is true of every child of God. This Gospel message must be preached. It must also be observed in the preacher’s life as well as heard from his lips.  Otherwise the words ring hollow and we may be branded a hypocrite.  The call is, “Practice what you preach!”

Ours is a POETIC LIFE, “For we are His workmanship…”.  The Greek word for “workmanship,” is poiema.  Our English word, “poem,” is derived from that. We might say it is a life that is “poetry in motion.”  I heard my mentor, Dr. Stephen Olford, put it, “a life of rhyme and reason.”  

God is the Author. He has written the script in His providence. As I look back over the course of my nearly seventy years of life, I can see how God has worked in me and through me. What may seem isolated events at the time, are now seen to be lines of sacred verse that God has been putting together. Since we are still here on earth, we may be sure there are more stanzas to be written.

Ours is also a PRACTICAL LIFE, “created in Christ Jesus for good works…”.  Orthodoxy in our doctrine leads to orthopraxy in our duty. If our belief is Biblical, then our behavior will be practical. God sovereignly created Adam and Eve for a sacred responsibility—to steward the creation and to shun the temptation.  Yet, they failed. Sin is now part of our natural state. 

Jesus came to give us a new nature—to fashion a new creation in Christ. This is regeneration. Yet, we are to flesh out our faith in daily duty. In Christ, His crucifixion means we die to self, sin, and this sphere of the world system (cf. Gal. 6:14), as we have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, we live, so in Christ’s resurrection we live for Him—yet, not I but Christ living in and through me, (cf. Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6). 

Further, ours is a PREPARED LIFE, “which God prepared beforehand…”. Before you were born, God already knew you. He fashioned you in your mother’s womb, infusing you with personality and capacity to be His choice servant. Then, He directed your life to the point of conviction of sin and conversion to salvation by the Gospel of grace. 

How all this transpired has been the topic of theological debate for two millennia of church history—so I will not attempt to resolve every question in this brief devotion. Yet, we cannot deny that God is sovereign and He orchestrates all things to the fulfillment of His will. This all redounds to His glory. 

Perhaps you are familiar with the quote, “Try to explain predestination and you may lose your mind.  Try to explain it away and you may lose your soul.” I am content to accept there is mystery in the harmony of God’s sovereignty in His choices and my responsibility for my choices. To paraphrase the Shorter Westminster Catechism, “The chief end of [Dennis] is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  You can insert your name into that, as well.

In conclusion, ours is a PROGRESSIVE LIFE, “that we should walk in them.”  Perfection is not attainable on earth. That awaits eternity—to be glorified when we see Jesus face to face, “but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is,” (1 Jn. 3:2b). While perfection is not attainable, progression is achievable. John also said, “Beloved, now we are the children of God…. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure,” (1 Jn. 3:2a, 3). More and more, as I express the life of Christ within, I exhibit more of His likeness without. 

Jesus is the Model Servant. He set the example for us. We are being like Him than when we are serving others.  We are saved to serve!

THE FIRM FOUNDATION OF FAITH

The old hymn begins, 

    How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord 

    Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.

That firm foundation of faith is featured in Acts 4. There are several facets of faith that we see. 

FIRST, WE SEE A CONFESSIONAL FAITH (v.1-22). We have the confession of Peter and John. There are core convictions that Christianity has which are compelled to be communicated. Such terms as, “speaking,” (v.1), “teaching…proclaiming,” (v.2), and “the word,”  (v.4). As a result of the preaching, faith was formed in “about five thousand.”  The core message is Christ—“the name of Jesus…crucified, whom God raised from the dead,” (v.10). He is “the cornerstone” of faith (v.11) and the Gospel message declares, “there is no other name…by which we must be saved” (v.12). That confession is a must for true faith (Rom.10:9-10, 13). The Spirit bears witness to Christ through His church (v.8) compelling us to confess Christ, “for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard,” (v.20). 

FURTHER, WE SEE A COURAGEOUS FAITH (v.23-31). This courage is required because of the conflict. Proclaiming the Gospel is an assault on the kingdom of darkness. The devil and his minions will fight back, and so we note, “they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus,” (v.18). Such threats and rage had been predicted by David, writing Ps.2 quoted here (v.25-26). But, the kings of the earth are no match for the King of  Eternity!  The “Sovereign Lord” ( v.24), even uses the wicked to work His will (v.27), “to do whatever [God’s] hand and [God’s] plan has predestined to take place.”  The church’s prayer was not for the removal of conflict, but for the reinforcement of courage, “to continue to speak your word with all boldness,” (v.29). Such prayers will shake the world and send us out to speak boldly (v.31). 

FINALLY, WE SEE A COMMON FAITH (v.32-37). Now, by that, I do not mean the faith is cheap and ordinary, but that it is faith all believers have in common. This calls us to do life together in community (v.32). Such common faith produces uncommon fruit—“great power,” and “great grace,” (v.33), inspiring testimony and generosity (v.34-35).

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 23

The Power of Words

“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, so that I may make it known as I should. Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4:2-6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

We are dependent on the Lord throughout the whole process of evangelism. We not only need God’s power to open doors for us to share, but we need Him to give us discernment to know how and when to walk through the doors He has opened. When we find ourselves in a gospel conversation, we may wonder what we should say, do and when we should speak with boldness or ask questions. As the Holy Spirit guides us in our gospel conversations, we should not underestimate the power of our words. It’s not just about what we say in presenting the gospel but how we say it. As the Lord directs us, our words should be gracious and seasoned with salt so we would know how to respond to each person we encounter.

Pray the Lord would open doors for you to share the gospel with your one this week, and pray your words would be gracious as you share the good news of Christ. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 20

The Blindness of Unbelievers

“In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:4-6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

The way we live as Christians looks like foolishness to the unbeliever. They are prevented from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, and consequently, the things of Christ appear strange and foreign. They are prevented from seeing and being in an intimate relationship with God Himself. As we share the gospel with our one, we do not share in such a way as to make ourselves look great. We proclaim Christ as servant messengers who are praying God would use us to shine light into the darkness of the lives of unbelievers. May this light give knowledge to those we share the good news with each day.

Pray God would give “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory” to your one. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 15

The Lord Opens Hearts

“A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:14‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Opportunities to share the gospel can happen at unexpected times, and we have to be vigilant to recognize them when they come. Paul and his companions went to sit by a river to pray. When they found the space occupied, they engaged the women who were there. It is here we witness God open the heart of Lydia in response to Paul’s proclamation of the gospel.

We never know the degree to which God is working in a person’s heart, but we can depend on God to open the hearts of those we share the gospel with. God and His Word are sufficient to do the heavy lifting in our evangelism. Remain faithful to share His Word. You never know who may be listening and whose heart will be opened.

Pray you would be ready to share the gospel in the unexpected moments of life this week. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

LOVING ENEMIES

Read 2 Kings 6:8-23.

Can we be more concerned with winning souls than winning arguments?

Syrian raiders invaded Israel. The power of God, however, blinded them, and Elisha the prophet leads them to Samaria, where inside the city walls, their vision is restored, and they are surrounded by Israeli forces. The King of Israel sees the opportunity for revenge. That is the natural reaction. But, instead, Elisha extends mercy and grace.

Think about it. The Syrian soldiers were merely submitting to their sovereign. They were blinded. The spiritual man overcomes evil with good. He conquers with love. Those on the winning side reach out to the losing side, realizing they are just following Satan’s orders. They are blind to the truth and we need to pray that their eyes would be opened.

We can win people by love. That’s the way our hearts were won. Who is our war with anyway? Not with sinners.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12).

The Syrian soldiers were given mercy and grace. It was mercy that spared them from the death they deserved, and it was grace that gave them what they did not merit—a feast and freedom!  God has done that for us!  Now, He expects us to show mercy and grace to other sinners.

We must be careful that in our stand for God and for truth, that it doesn’t sound like an attack on the people Jesus died for. Can we speak against the act of homosexuality and witness to the homosexual? Can we cry against the act of abortion and reach out to the abortionist and those who have had abortions? Can we find the balance of Jesus who told the adulterous woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more?”  That balance is seen in that Jesus was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” (Heb.7:26), and yet was called the “friend of...sinners” (Lk.7:34).

We must never compromise Biblical convictions. Yet, this same Bible contains these words:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt.5:38-48).

THE SOURCE OF MERCY AND LONG-SUFFERING

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”
(Ps.86:15)

Out of the infinite fullness of a long-suffering God—from the bottomless well of His compassion and grace—flows the abundant mercy we must have.

Why would God be merciful?  Why would He be long-suffering?

You know what “long-suffering” is, don’t you?  Turn the word around—it is to suffer long with a problem or a person—and in this case God finds the problem is with the person—our sinful heart!  We are stiff-necked, stubborn, self-willed and self-absorbed.  Thankfully, Almighty God is patient with us.  He endures that we ignore Him, or worse deny Him, or even worse hate Him.

Why?  Because that is His nature.  God is love, and His love reaches out to those who merit His wrath.

Christ’s nail-scarred hand reaches out to lift us from our sin and deliver us from judgment, and what do we do?  We slap it away.  Then He reaches out again, and we jerk back.  Still, His long-suffering mercy is extended—for how long?

Not forever.  If we insist on our own way, there will come a time that even the patience of God reaches its limit and in holiness, compassion gives way to condemnation.

How does grace compare to mercy?  Think of it this way—grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve—heaven—while mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve—hell.

Thank God for His mercy and long-suffering!

GOD IS JUST TO PRESERVE THE SAINTS FROM WRATH

The greatest mystery is not that some will be sentenced to hell, but that any are saved into heaven.  God would be just to condemn all sinners and that is what we all are.  The saints, however, will be saved.  Notice what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7:

“which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,”

These sinners who are saved have become “saints,” as the Apostle designates them in verse ten. The word means “set apart,” and suggests that those who are saved are different from others.  But, “saints” does not mean a special class of Christian, as some false teaching, especially Romanism states.  The New Testament is clear that all the saved are saints.  We are sinners set apart from other sinners.  God has set us apart in election—calling us in sovereign grace unto Himself.  We are set apart from the world and unto the Lord.

The issue is, “How can a just God justify unjust sinners without compromising His justice?  How can those deserving wrath be delivered from wrath and God maintain His righteousness?  How can those fit for hell be fitted for heaven without God sullying His holiness?”

There is only one answer. God has poured out His righteous judgment that we deserve on His Son, Who freely took upon Himself that condemnation I deserve, “to demonstrate...His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”  As John Newton penned, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!”

FAITHFUL TO THE CALL

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,” (I Timothy‬ ‭1:12‬‬)

In Gospel ministry, it is easy for the pastor to be focused on fruitfulness. He looks for results—with a twofold temptation. He may be discouraged when the numbers of people professing faith and attending worship are in decline. He is tempted to give up. If, on the other hand, it is a season of growth—more bottoms in the pews and more bucks in the plate, he may be tempted to puff up.

It isn’t that fruitfulness is unimportant. Jesus said that the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8). The key to such fruitfulness is abiding in Christ—a vital and vibrant connection to His life within us (John 15:1-7). Yet, our ability to discern how fruitful we are is not always easily measured here and must await the judgment of Christ hereafter. A congregation may increase numerically through carnal means—a mile wide and an inch deep—or, the soil may be rocky, shallow, and weed-infested in the main (Matt.13:3-7) with small numbers growing spiritually (v.8) in ways hard to detect—such as in love (John 15:9, 17), obedience (v.10), joy (v.11), devotion to Christ (v.12-15), answered prayer (v.16). The church may not attract a lot of people, but be scorned by the world (v.17-25). The rejection of the world may indicate their connection to Christ!

So, yes, seek to be fruitful in ministry, but focus on being faithful. Our fruitfulness, as God evaluates it, will rest in our faithfulness. A farmer may be faithful in a season of drought and see little fruit. There are some things beyond his control. What is always within his control is faithfulness to the task. Thus, God is looking for faithful men. Paul rejoices in our text that God had “counted me faithful.”

Although we must surrender ourselves in sacrificial service to the Lord, nonetheless this is an indicator of God’s grace at work in us and through us, so that even in this we must give Him glory and not claim it for ourselves. Paul speaks of how God employed him—“putting me into the ministry”—and enabled him—“Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me.”  As the Apostle was grateful for the grace of a call to Gospel ministry, so must we, who have such an assignment, be filled with awe that God would choose us!

So, as a pastor facing another Lord’s Day tomorrow, let us prepare our souls spiritually in seeking the Spirit of God and prepare our sermons dutifully in studying God’s Word. Then, let us be faithful to preach the truth in love, without fear or favor, trusting in God to make us fruitful.

WHAT THE GOSPEL IS

It is good news from God about Christ.  This is the SOURCE OF IT.

Often we who have been in church most of our lives assume everyone understands the terminology we use—and that is a flawed assumption.  So, in case you only have a foggy notion of what the word “gospel” means, let me dissipate any clouds in your mind.  The word “gospel” means “good news.”  That’s it—simple in its definition, but profound in its implication.

The Gospel of God will be Paul’s primary thrust in the epistle to the Romans (1:1).

The good news that is the gospel is predicated on the fact there is bad news.  The bad news is that we are all sinners, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Rom.3:23), and the wages of sin is death, “For the wages of sin is death....” (Rom.6:23a). But the verse doesn't end there—the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (6:23b) and that’s the good news! It is the Gospel of God because it is His gift to us. He is the source of forgiveness.

That good news can be ours not because we deserve it, but because Jesus was willing to die in our place—so it is also the Gospel of Christ,  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (‭‭Rom.‭1:16‬).

This good news is rooted in the finished work of Christ, which the Apostle underscores in his opening words,
“which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ” (Rom.1:2-6‬).

In a bad news world, this is good news—the best news—that God’s amazing grace can save a wretch like me and like you!

A FRESH START: The Heart of the Matter

Read Genesis 8.

The flood waters had receded. The judgment of a wicked world was completed, and the earth had been washed clean of its wickedness by the flood. Or had it?

When Noah came from the ark with his family, there was still an issue. Noah had “found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” (Gen.6:8). That grace was extended to his family (and the representative animals) as he responded in faith. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith,” (Heb.11:7).  In other words, Noah was saved the only way anyone is ever saved—faith in Christ that responds to God’s grace communicated through the Word of God. The only difference is that Noah’s faith looked forward to a Savior to come while ours looks back on One who has come.

Since man first rebelled against God, the same problem has infected the entire race. The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.  That was unchanged by the flood.  It was why Noah built an altar and offered some of those rare animals as a sacrifice (Gen.8:20). Doubtless, it was an act of worship—gratitude for what God had done in providing salvation in the ark, but more—it was an expression of grace for what God would need to do in providing ultimate salvation in our Ark of Refuge, Jesus Christ.

Sin was still the issue. God said, “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen.8:21). As sure as the seasons change (Gen.8:22), so long as earth endures, there will be the problem of sin, God’s solution in Christ, and our need to respond in faith.  If you doubt that read Genesis 9.

This has tremendous implications for what parents must do in raising children.  If our children are grown, or we don’t have any, there are still essential lessons for how our church needs to reach the younger generation. That is what we will explore this week.

SHOW US YOUR GLORY!

The deepest longing of the human heart is for God.  There is a hole in our soul.  Sadly, because of our depraved nature, we try to fill that void with false gods—possessions, pleasures, power. We make our own deities and devise religious systems that appeal to our ego. It is like trying to satisfy your thirst by drinking water from the ocean.  The more you take in, the thirstier you become.

Moses expresses that heart cry properly, “Please, show me Your glory.” (Ex.33:18). It was a response issuing from grace, as God said, “you have found grace in My sight,” and rooted in a relationship with God, “and I know you by name.” (v.17b).

God, in His sovereignty had extended grace,  “Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’” (v.19‬). That we are undeserving of such grace is what makes grace so amazingly gracious!  You don’t earn it; God gives it.  It isn’t based on who we are, but Who He is.

We can have “a foretaste of glory divine,” as the old hymn, “Blessed Assurance”, puts it.  While Moses could not look into God’s face and live, He was permitted an experience that would make his face radiant (read 33:20-23; 34:33-35), an experience He could renew before God.  So may we!

All this, will be consummated in Heaven.  We will have a new body that will enable us to look into the face of God.  Until then, our heart cries, “Please, show me Your glory.”  May we encounter the Eternal One as we meet with the saints for worship tomorrow!

DEDICATED TO GOD

Read Romans 12.

Paul has presented the glory of God’s Gospel in the first eleven chapters of Romans.  Now, he turns to the practical implications of that truth, as we see belief is to impact behavior.  His call is to complete dedication to God.

The basis of this dedication is in grace—what God has done for us, “I beseech [beg, implore] you therefore [because of what God has done for you], brethren, by the mercies of God [that has spared us from hell and opened up heaven], that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”  (v.1, comments added). That is, it is a perfectly reasonable thing for you to dedicate your all to the Savior who gave His all for you.

The means for this dedication has both a negative and positive dimension.  In verse two, the negative to avoid is “do not be conformed to this world,” and the positive to apply is “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” with the result, “that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  You will either be conformed to the world or transformed by the Word.  It’s your choice.  You can’t do both, for they are mutually exclusive. You cannot walk in opposite directions at the same time!

For the rest of the chapter, Paul makes practical application of what it means to be dedicated to God.  There will be the deploying of spiritual gifts in humble service (v.3-8). There will also be the demonstration of sanctifying grace in personal action (v.9-21). We are in the world to make a difference, but not of the world in being different. Our dedication to God is seen in our devotion to our fellowman.

JUSTIFIED!

Read Romans 5.

What does it mean to be, “justified”?  Someone has said, “It is JUST AS IF I’D never sinned.”

Of course, we are sinners—Scripture makes that clear.  In this chapter, we are referred to as, “ungodly” (v.6), “sinners” (v.8), and “enemies” of God (v.10). Yet, by God’s grace and through faith in the work of Christ, we can be declared, “justified,” and “have peace with God” (v.1).  Our sins are blotted out.  The record of our crimes against God’s law has been expunged.  We were guilty, but now pardoned by the Judge!

The Triune God has undertaken to bring salvation to us.  By God the Father’s initiative, He has sent His Son to be our Savior (v.1). God the Son paid the price for our sins and reconciled us to the Father (v.6, 8-11, 15-21). The Son of God became the Son of Man, that the sons of men might become the sons of God.  Further, God the Spirit, has been given to us (v.5), binding our hearts to God with love outpoured within us (v.5). His presence assures us of the unfailing hope of heaven.  It is not only the death of Jesus, but His life within us that assures us, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by HIS LIFE.” (v.10, emphasis added).

What a reason to rejoice!  We “rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character, hope.” (v.2b-4). “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (v.11).

Christ on the cross, suspended between eternity and earth, has connected the two.  His arms outstretched, with one reaching to Holy God, and the other reaching to sinful humanity—that cross becomes the great “plus sign,” that equals reconciliation in God’s equation of salvation.

GUILTY!

Read Romans 3.

Paul has systematically laid out the case of crimes against God for the violations of His holy law. In Romans 1, the Apostle states the evidence for the crimes of the heathen—their blatant debauchery.  In chapter 2:1-16, he shares the proof of crimes by the hypocrite—having a veneer of morality, but rotten at the core. From 2:17-3:8, Paul lays out the facts for the guilt of the Hebrews—who having God’s law, nevertheless have not heeded it. So, he concludes by summarizing God’s verdict on all humanity—GUILTY!  We all have sinned. There is none good—not even one.  No flesh can be justified through their own effort.  We have missed God’s mark.  His glory—God’s perfection—is the bull’s eye that we must hit.  No matter how hard any of us try, the arrow of our effort falls short of the target. Most don’t even get close.  Some may not miss it as much.  One thing is true of all—none will, nor can hit it.

Imagine that God stood us all at the edge of the Grand Canyon and said, “If anyone jumps over it, I will allow you into heaven.”  Some poor old granny just falls over the edge.  I wouldn’t jump far.  A teen could jump farther.  An olympic long jump champion would jump much farther. But, one thing is true of all—we would all fall short.  It wouldn’t even be close—and the distance between sinful humanity and God’s holiness is much wider than the Grand Canyon.

So, what hope is there?  Hope for everyone!  For our guilt there is His grace!  “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom.3:21-26‬)

The righteousness demanded that we cannot get in our work, is given by Christ’s work.  We receive that grace through faith—not in what we do, but in what Jesus has done.  That is the promise of God!

DOES GOD GRADE ON THE CURVE?

Read Romans 2.

I loved teachers who would grade on the curve.  My IQ was high, but my study habits were not. I preferred hobbies to homework and sports to study. I thought school was for socializing instead of scholarship.  However, when the teacher graded on the curve, I could pass the class with little effort.  I wasn’t graded on the objective truths of the textbook, but the subjective comparison to other students. I would get A’s and B’s while breezing through the course.

Some people think God grades on the curve.  They will admit they aren’t perfect, but compared to many, they don’t look too sinful.  I mean they aren’t serial killers or bank robbers.  In fact, some people are very moral outwardly, and seem religious enough.

But, not to God.  God does not grade on the curve.  Paul is dealing with that argument in Romans 2.  He has pointed out the sinfulness of the heathen in chapter 1.  He knew a lot of folks would say, “Sure, they deserve the judgment of God!  Look at how bad they are! But, I’m a good person.”  So, now the Apostle will move to the guilt of the hypocrite—who says more than he does—who is comparison to unholy people seems good enough, but compared to Holy God cannot measure up.  If we read the text—the Bible—objectively, we flunk.

In chapter 1, Paul appeals to the witness of creation to God’s existence and power—a witness outside us, and now He points in chapter 2 to the witness of conscience to God’s existence and purity.  If we will get beneath the surface level, where we may not appear that bad compared to others, and consider the guilt we carry inside us, then we must admit our need of a Savior—and the good news is that we have One—Jesus Christ.

A GOOD NEWS WORD FOR A BAD NEWS WORLD

Read Romans 1.

We are going to get a bird’s eye view of the book of Romans by reading and reflecting on a chapter each day. Today’s devotional will set the stage for the study as we are introduced to the Gospel as a good news word for a bad news world.  Here’s the key text:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” (1:16-17‬)

Four times in the course of this chapter, Paul uses the word, “Gospel,” (v.1, 9, 15, 16). The term means, “good news.”  The good news is that God loves us and sent His Son to die for us, so that by faith in the crucified and risen Christ we can be saved.

What makes the good news so good is that there is incredibly bad news.  It is like a jeweler who displays a diamond on a piece of dark velvet, which brings out the luster and beauty of each facet.  Paul will shine the light on the radiance of redemption by first laying out the dark contrast of our sin, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” (v.18-19‬)

As a prosecuting attorney, Paul will make his case, presenting the evidence before the Judge of the guilt of humanity.  In this chapter, he establishes the crimes of the heathen against God.  The pagan populace knew there was a Creator.  Creation bore testimony. But instead of glorifying God, they began to worship the creation, because of the depravity of their minds.  This depravity of belief became marked by increasing degeneracy in behavior.

What hope is there for such people?  The only hope for us all—the Gospel.  Jesus has provided a way for the heathen to get to heaven—the royal road of redemption.  It is the only way, and the Way is a person, Jesus. The sad news is a word of guilt and judgment, but the glad news is a word of grace and justification!