Grace and Peace

I was studying and writing today in Philippians 3 where Paul the Apostle contrasts his life as a Pharisee and his life as a follower of Christ.  He writes, “that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.  (Philippians 3:8b-9 Holman Christian Standard Bible).”  Paul understood the value of a grace righteousness as opposed to a works righteousness.

Not long after that study time, I took a break to read a few of the blogs that contribute to the debate in SBC life and came across this excellent commentary by Marty Duren entitled, Fundamentalism vs Grace.  I urge you to read it and celebrate the marvelous grace with which God has saved us.  If I could add anything to that commentary, it would be a word of caution that freedom has responsibilities.  But freedom and grace are, none the less, to be celebrated and enjoyed.

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 NKJV)

A pitcher seeks to pitch the ”perfect game”.  Criminal masterminds plot the “perfect crime”.  A young woman spends hours and mega-bucks to achieve the “perfect look” before venturing out to the prom.  A young man searches for that “perfect diamond” for his true love.  Yet, all of these things are flawed in some way.

The pitcher undoubtly missed his target with some of his pitches and needed some great plays made by his fielders to perserve his “perfect game”.  The criminal always makes some error which leaves behind a microscopic shred of evidence that allows the detective to solve his “perfect crime”.  The prom queen has some splotch or pimple, which although cleverly concealed by make-up, still in her heart of hearts spoils her “perfect look”.  That “perfect diamond” looks great until his fiancee meets a friend with something bigger, better, and more expensive.

Human perfection is an illusion.  It is unattainable.  That does not mean that we should not strive for excellence and make our best effort.  It does mean that perfection is the exclusive property of God.

Note how John uses the metaphor of “light” and “darkness” to describe God’s perfection.  “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”  Light dispels darkness.  Light and darkness are mutually exclusive.  God is Light.  He illuminates.  He warms.  He has no hidden flaw.

Celebrate the perfect and immutable God today.  Let the perfect work of His Son, our Lord Jesus, have its full efficacy in your life.

–that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.  (1 John 1:3-4 NKJV)

One can’t help but note in the first chapter of this letter the sense of urgency John brings to his role as a witness for Jesus.  This is an undercurrent in his letters, gospel and the Revelation also.  John has taken to heart the responsibility he bears as an Apostle (and a Christ follower) to bear witness to the risen Christ.

But don’t miss the important theme of fellowship in this letter.  Fellowship here is more than a pot luck dinner or an elevated sense of friendship.  John correctly ties fellowship to knowing Jesus.  Our fellowship is all about our kinship in Christ.  That means that in the truest sense of the word, you can’t have fellowship with someone who doesn’t know Christ.

Now that is not to say that Christians aren’t to love those who don’t yet know Christ…most definitely we should…but Christian fellowship is based on a mutual relationship with Christ.  The real source of fellowship is Jesus.

When we have known and experienced the love of God in Jesus Christ, then we can take that same love and share it with another believer.  That believer then identifies with that affection, because he too knows experientially the love of God through Jesus and reciprocates.  That’s fellowship…when you love and are loved by another believer like Christ has loved you. 

Make a choice today to be encouraged by the riches of God’s love by expressing it to another Christian.  Let that brother or sister in Christ near to your heart and enjoy the kinship and fellowship that Jesus brings.  By the way, you might just encourage them, too.

Check out this article I read this morning:

Pulling of ‘Prayer’ Posters in Classroom

Results in 1st Amendment Lawsuit

Jim Brown, AgapePress

A public high school in
Virginia is being sued for removing prayer-themed posters from a Christian teacher’s classroom wall while he was out sick for several days last fall. A poster promoting the National Day of Prayer and depicting George Washington praying at Valley Forge, and a picture of President George W. Bush praying were among the items school officials confiscated from Spanish teacher William Lee’s classroom at Tabb High School in Yorktown.

Even a small cross in a display about a former student was cut out with scissors and thrown away by the school while Lee was out. Lee’s attorney, John Whitehead with The Rutherford Institute, says York County school officials wrongly claim the prayer posters violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. “The problem with most school officials is they forget that there are other rights that are in the Bill of Rights that counterbalance the so-called separation of church and state,” the attorney says, “and that’s our rights to free speech, freedom of religion, [and] to be treated equally under the law.” Lee had also put up posters of the Peruvian Inca sun god festival and Mayan creature gods — things often discussed in his Spanish class. However, those religious items were not removed. Whitehead has filed the lawsuit in the eastern district of Virginia on behalf of Lee.

This is another example of the double standard that exists in our country in regard to the activities of believers in society.  Any other group can propagate its message no matter how nonsensical or vulgar.  But if Christians speak about their faith outside the church walls or, God forbid, publicly express their faith; they are remonstrated for being extremist or divisive. 

Are we not called to take the Gospel of Christ to a world dying in sin?  Of course we are!  It was Jesus who said:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Salt was a preservative in the world of Jesus time.  It was also a condiment for food preparation.  As “the salt of the earth” we are to be a preserving influence in society preventing decay.  We are also to “flavor” our relationships with the grace of God and make men and women “thirsty” for Jesus.

A light in the room dispels darkness and allows us to move freely about without stumbling over items of furniture.  As “the light of the world” Christians are to dispel the “darkness” of sin and bondage and shine light on the pathway to freedom and life through Jesus.

Earlier in the fifth chapter of Matthew, Jesus warned about persecution that would come as a result of living for Him.  But along with the warning, He also gave a promise:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12)

So, don’t loose heart in times of persecution, my friends.  Instead rejoice that our glorious Lord and Savior has made us worthy to suffer with Him and later enjoy the riches of heaven with Him.

In calling Abraham, God was choosing for himself a holy people (Gen 12:1-3). The recalling of this election and vocation found frequent expression in the words of the prophets: “I will be their God and they shall be my people” (Jer 31:33; Ezek 37:27; Hos
2:23, also echoed in 2 Cor 6:16; Heb 8:10). Through the Word of God and the Spirit of God, God chose one from among the nations to bring salvation to all. The election of Israel marked a decisive moment in the realization of the plan of salvation.

The covenant God made with Abraham entailed many things which are of interest to those of us in the church age.  This includes the foreshadowing of Messiah in Isaac, the promised son.  Of particular interest is the account of the offering of Isaac by his father upon “the mount of the Lord” in the land of Moriah.

Now fast forward about two thousand years to the time of Jesus. In light of the ministry, teaching, and above all the death and resurrection of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we see the ultimate fulfillment of what God promised Abraham.

In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were a pilgrim people journeying towards the fulfillment of the promise that in Abraham all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. In Christ this is fulfilled when, on the cross, the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile is broken down (Eph 2:14). Thus the Church, embracing Jew and Gentile is a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation”, “God’s own people” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Another term with Old Testament implications, yet one, which serves as a very descriptive metaphor of the church, is the term “temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:11, 16-17; Ephesians 2:29-22; 1 Peter 2:4-8).  The temple is the place where God dwells, thus the church is the dwelling place of God. God not only dwells in the members of the church collectively, but in each Christian individually.[1]  Not only was the temple the place where God established his presence, it was also the place of worship.[2]

In the temple of God, each Christian is a separate stone.  When joined together, we make up the temple with the Lord as the Chief Cornerstone (1 Cor 3:16-17; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Pet 2:4-8).  As the Cornerstone, Jesus forever unites two diverse groups (the Jews and Gentiles) as part of his temple (Eph. 2:14-22).[3] The cornerstone was the most significant part of the temple as it was the chief load bearing point of construction and it also insured that the building was “square”.

One consideration that is striking about the temple of God metaphor is that the temple is still under construction.  Stones are being added each day as the Lord adds to his church.  We are not only stones then, but workmen whose task it is to join the work of building God’s magnificent temple.

Paul used the term “body of Christ” many times in his letters to the churches. In a few instances, he referred to the actual body of Jesus, but most of the time he employed this metaphor in referring to the local church.  This is the most prominent image in Paul’s letters and the only one with no Old Testament equivalent.[1] Of all the images of the church, this is perhaps the most familiar. 

Paul often had to write the churches to call them to task over behavior that magnified the individual above the corporate body.  In Romans 12:4-21, he used the metaphor of the “body” to express the absurdity of one member exalting his function and importance over another.  Instead Paul argues that we “are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”[2]  He goes on to describe in detail the many ways we are to love and serve one another.

That Jesus Christ is the head of the body is made abundantly clear in Colossians 1:15-20 and Ephesians 5:19-32.  In the Colossian passage, Paul builds a multifaceted argument that establishes Christ as the head of the church due to his (Jesus’) deity, rights as Creator and death and resurrection.  The Ephesians passage uses that last point as its theme and builds the case for Christ’s headship on this ultimate act of love. Further, Paul affirms Christ as not only the head of the church, but also as “the head over all rule and authority.”[3]  From these two passages we can clearly see that there is no limit to the scope of the rule of Christ. 

As we move to consider the terms, “members” and “body,” we should note that within the New Testament, they are virtually synonymous in meaning and are used interchangeably by Paul.  Just as the head directs the human body and employs its members to get about and accomplish various tasks, “so the church from its inception has constituted the body of Christ, the means to the fulfillment of the purpose of him who fills all in all.”[4]

In letters to three separate churches (
Rome, Corinth and Ephesus); Paul used the “body” metaphor in discussing spiritual gifts.  The gifts were always given in the corporate context, no one individual being given all the gifts, but every member receiving at least one gift.  God knew this was best and gathered people into the local church so they could cooperate with each other and work together in order to discern and do God’s will.  In this way, we learn to exercise our own gift(s), appreciate the gifts of other members and thank God for giving them to the body.  When the church functions in this manner, all the credit for its accomplishments goes to God.

Yet sometimes, selfishness and pride rears its ugly head even in the church.  Struggles can ensue over issues of position or prominence and individual members can refuse to exercise their giftedness.  Boatman suggests, “a non-functioning body may be occasioned by any one of three states—immaturity, injury or infirmity.”[5] 

This has tremendous significance for our individual-centered culture and warns us that we will not gain the full value of those gifts if we adopt the attitude that God should recognize and gift us as individuals so that we can each go out into the world and do great works with the Spirit’s power thus claiming the credit for ourselves.  Neither will we prosper from selfishly withholding or stubbornly refusing to exercise our giftedness in service to others and for the glory of God.

From these passages, the image of the church as the “body of Christ” begins to come into focus so that we might better see its impact on evangelism and church growth. Let us first note that this image accents the church’s unity but recognizes its diversity.

The diversity is the result of the multiplicity of personality types, backgrounds, races and assortment of gifts that we are given by the Holy Spirit.  It might also be appropriate to mention here, that the picture of the church that emerges from the New Testament does not fit the homogenous unit principle so widely espoused in church growth circles.  The body of Christ certainly included Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, male, female, old and young.  The unity of the body did not come from shared demographic similarities but rested wholly in the fact that all were members of Christ and each other.[6]  All born again believers in Christ have membership in the body of Christ.

This metaphor as discussed by Paul in Romans 12, demonstrates the foolishness of power struggles and church fights, which damage the public witness of the body of Christ.  On the last night of his earthly life, Jesus gathered with his disciples and prayed for the unity of the church:

I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.[7]

The integrity of our witness is predicated on our unity. Unity is only possible as we all acknowledge and follow the Lord Jesus as the Head of the body.

God chose marriage as an illustration to utilize in both the Old and New Testaments to express the intimacy of his relationship with his people.  In it we see displayed his love, concern and care for the church.  In turn, we discover our absolute dependence on him. 

In Criswell’s, The Doctrine of the Church, he directs us to Isaiah 54 as an Old Testament expression of this type.[1]  God is pictured as both the husband and Creator of Israel and is identified by no less than eight names.  Each name reveals a different aspect of his relationship with
Israel.   The passage also serves to highlight the unfaithfulness of Israel in contrast to God’s unfailing love.

To explore this image in the New Testament one has but to examine Paul’s writings in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 and Ephesians 5:22-32.   Both passages emphasize the love of Christ for the church and his full and adequate provision for her.  In addition, we see the responsibility of the church to submit to the Lord, remain pure and continue in wholehearted devotion to him.

The Apostle John further contributes to the understanding of this metaphor in his writing in Revelation.  The bride mentioned in Revelation 19:7-9 is the church which will rule with Jesus on earth for a thousand years (Rev 20:4-6).  We also see an emphasis on the “righteous acts of the saints”.[2]  This is in contrast to the Ephesians’ passage, which stresses the work of Jesus in his sacrifice on behalf of the church:

So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.[3]

In Revelation 21, we see “the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”[4]  One interpreter sees this city, personified as a pure and holy bride, not so much as a place as it is a people; specifically a people meeting their God in eternal union.[5]

John’s final mention of the bride is in Revelation 22:17.  Although the “I, Jesus” of verse 16 is not repeated here, there is no evident change of speaker in this verse.  J.R. Michaels shares this observation in his commentary on Revelation:

Contrary to all modern translations, therefore, Jesus, not John, is the one quoting what the Spirit and the bride are saying, and inviting the thirsty to take the free gift of the water of life (v. 17). This is appropriate because only God or Jesus has the authority to give such an invitation to life (compare 21:6; also Jn. 4:14; 6:35; 7:37-38).[6]

The bride is pictured in concert with the Spirit, echoing Jesus’ “joyous summons to life.”[7]  This invitation however, is not without its limitations.  Michaels helps us see the scope and limitations of this passage in his commentary:

Jesus’ concluding invitation to come and take the free gift of the water of life is similarly directed to anyone. The only exception is those who are truly “outside” (v. 15)–in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15; 21:8, 27). Just as in the parables of Jesus (above all in Matt 22:1-14), there is an unmistakable tension between the universal offer of life and the rejection of those who have not prepared themselves to receive life. This tension pervades the entire book of Revelation, in fact, the entire Christian religion. Christianity preaches a universal gospel of salvation, but not a gospel of universal salvation. All are invited to come, but not all do come. God respects human freedom to the extent that evil never disappears, even though it is defeated.[8]

While no one is outside the scope of God’s loving invitation, clearly there are those whose hard hearts will cause the summons to fall on deaf ears.

The church as the bride of Christ yields several insights that impact that the area of evangelism and church growth.  First, it is good for us to note that God is the originator of the church.  We have not banded together to seek him rather, it is he who has created and called us.  This is made clear in the prophet’s declaration:

For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” says your God.[9]

Even though we are inferring this truth from an Old Testament passage that deals in particular with God’s relationship to Israel, we are not abusing the scripture.  Paul asserted Jesus’ claim as the creator of the church when he wrote, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.”[10]

This fact should lead us to be wary of evangelistic and church growth practices that become centered on methodology instead of the Master. It is easy to become more preoccupied with space analysis and demographics than we are with prayer and obedience to the Lord. I do not mean to minimize the importance of church growth methodologies, but we must not exalt them over the “God who causes the growth.”[11]  It is, after all, his church.

Secondly, the intimacy of the marital relationship and the fact that our Lord willingly died for us eloquently expresses the depth of the Lord’s love for us.  Paul powerfully reasons that “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”[12]  Out of God’s great love he provides everything we need.  That is why Paul could express such confidence in his letter to the Philippians:  “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”[13] 

Such great love and provision motivates us to reciprocate that love, as the Apostle John wrote; “We love, because He first loved us.”[14]  The ultimate motivator for involvement in evangelistic and missionary enterprise is the gracious and steadfast love of God.  Obeying his commands, living a pure life and embracing his mission are tangible ways of expressing our love for Jesus.

A life lived to the glory of God is a powerful witness.  People need to observe a living example of God’s love and power at work in another human being. Jesus exhorted his followers not only to preach the Gospel, but also to live it.  As the evangelist D.L. Moody used to say:

The only Bible the world reads is the one bound in shoe leather: you and me! They must see this miracle-working power at work in our own lives, as a genuine living sample and proof that it can happen! This is our major witness.[15]

We live in strange times. All weeklong we’ve been reminded about the uncertainties of life …the runaway bride in GA…Social Security reform… insurgents in Iraq…bombs in New York City. Truly we live in dangerous times.

While I was thinking about all that, I ran across an article that has been floating around the Internet in various forms for years. Although it is sometimes said to be anonymous, other sources indicate that George Carlin wrote it after the death of his wife.  But that is not true! It was written by Dr. Bob Moorehead: minister, author, and former pastor of Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, Washington (near Seattle).  It was later published in his 1995 book, WORDS APTLY SPOKEN.

“The Paradox of Our Time”

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more but have less; we buy more but enjoy it less; we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems; we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, yet less wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results. We drink too much; smoke too much; spend too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get too angry quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too seldom; watch TV too much and pray too seldom.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, but short character; steep in profits, but shallow relationships. These are times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; higher postage, but slower mail; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorces; these are times of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, cartridge living, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer, to prevent, quiet or kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room. Indeed, these are the times!

Every part of that seems very true, but I was especially intrigued by one sentence: “We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space.” We’ve sent men to the moon, we routinely place satellites in orbit around our world, and even send probes to the other worlds and the edge of our galaxy, but inner space is another problem. We’re not even close to conquering that. The human heart seems as unruly as ever.  Perhaps, we need to revisit the prayer of David in Psalm 139:23-24, after all, it is only God who can tame this heart of mine.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

     Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

     And lead me in the way everlasting.