Our Mission is Submission

Romans 13:1-2: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Submit to authority.

But what authority specifically is God commanding us to submit to?

Here scripture clearly says that no authority exists that isn’t established by God, so the list of authorities that we are to submit to is an extensive list, and goes on and on.

• Children are to obey their parents. Ephesians 6:1-3 tells us Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” which is the first commandment with a promise “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
  
  
• All must submit to the local authorities like employers and land lords, police and city officials, and on top of that, governmental authority as well.
  
  
• The Bible also teaches us that our pastors are our shepherds and spiritual authorities as well. We are to honor them, pray for them, and we are to submit to them as well.
  

So what does submission mean? Is it merely obeying the law? The rules set forth by the government? Is it just doing our chores as children, and doing our job as adults?

Paul tells us exactly what it means to submit to authority, in Titus chapter 3 verses 1 and 2.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

From this scripture, we can easily see 5 key points of true biblical submission:

1. Obedience. This includes abiding by the laws set forth by the local and federal government. Paul says in Romans 13:5 “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

• The obedience that the Bible calls for, doesn’t depend on our input, it depends on what the local and federal governments, the police department, and the IRS decide. Any less then full submission to the authority God has set up is not merely rebellion towards the authorities, but rebellion against God Himself.

2. Ready to do whatever is good. This stands out as one of the main themes for Christian living throughout the Bible. Doing good, can be summed up, in loving your neighbor, as you love yourself.

3. To slander no one. Did you realize, that God commands us, as believers, to respect authorities, even in how we talk about them. It doesn’t matter if we do not agree with them, or like them, or if they are making wise decisions, because the Bible teaches us, that it was God’s wise decision to put them there. Instead of bashing leaders, lets pray for the leaders we have, and ask for God to give them wisdom as they govern us. As Christians, we must understand that no authority, none, not Hitler, not Sadam Hussein, not Pharaoh, who oppressed Gods people for an entire lifetime, have come into power on their own. God put them there!

Romans 9:16-17 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

4. To be peaceable and considerate. This brings the last two points together, to be ready to do good and to slander no one. This kind of living is exactly what points your neighbor, your friend, your enemy, toward Jesus Christ. It is our lives that point others to Christ, if you truly live for Christ. You truly are a light shining out to the world when you carry out your life as both peaceful, and at peace with God, and you live that life with an open compassion and consideration toward others.

5. And to show true humility toward all men. Showing humility toward all men means, that you are not trying to be better then others, not pointing out the fault of others, and not trying to win the argument. The point is, that whoever exults himself will be humbled, but if you humble yourself, then God will exult you. Humility is seeing yourself in light of the Gospel, which tells us very plainly that we are all very sinful, and desperately in need of grace and forgiveness. If you spend your time looking deep down, into your own heart, into your own life, examining your own walk with Christ, you will most certainly find that there is plenty that you need to be dealing with first, before you go about “helping others” get the speck out of their eye.

So, (you ask) when do we not have to submit to authority?

This question is easy to answer, though Christians have been asking this for centuries to side step their obligation to be obedient. The answer is simple. Submit in every instance, unless you are told to violate God’s written commandment in His Word. You cannot know what to submit to, unless you read the Word, and know it for yourself.

We see this principal in the book of Acts, chapter 4:18-19.

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied. Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Here the apostles respectfully answered, but nevertheless held firm to Gods commandment, Peter and John literally lived and died by this principal, and in 1 Peter 2:13-17 Peter tells us the true heart of submission, that God desires in us.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong” and to commend those who do right. For it is God;s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.

Have we really looked at submission to authorities here on earth in light of our worship of God? I pray that as you meditate on these truths you will see yet another scriptural principal to live your entire life, as an offering of worship, to our Holy God, who alone is worthy of our complete submission, adoration and worship.

In His Service,
Brian Bivens

Let go of this World to Worship God

Matt 16:26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25)

What is worth your soul, or let me rephrase that, what is your soul worth?

Who here today would forfeit their eternity for a few years of pleasure on this earth? So many people would frown at the idea of “selling their soul” but the fact of the matter is, that every day the majority of the people in this world, are giving a piece of their soul away every day, by the way they live.

So again, I ask you, what is your soul worth?

Is it worth worrying about the things of this world? Getting the money you may or may not need, being fed, getting new clothes, or simply getting the things which you desire.

The life of a believer is to rise above these things. In Mark chapter 4 Jesus tells us a parable of the different kinds of people here on earth, who will hear His word, and respond in one of four different ways.

You can read about this in Mark chapter 4 verses 3-20, but today I want to focus on the seed, or the Word of God that falls on the thorny ground. The seeds here sprout quickly but the thorns “choked out the tender blades so that it produced no grain.”

Jesus tells us in detail just what this means to us. In Mark 4:18-19 Jesus says this: “The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out (or choked out) by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced.”(NLT)

It is interesting, that Jesus tells us who will produce fruit, in John 15:8. Jesus says: My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to My Father.”

Now it is only natural for us to worry about such things, Luke 12:30 tells us: "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.”
The fact of the matter is that Jesus tells us not to worry about our own lives, as far as what we will eat or drink, or clothe ourselves with. “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25)” In fact, He goes on to say that we must “Seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

If we focus on Christ, the kingdom of heaven, and God’s righteousness above all other things, God promises that He will meet us in our time of need, He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is faithful to His Word.

Our job here in this world, is to stay attached to God, and let go of all the other garbage that takes our hearts away from God.

We live our lives, hoarding up stuff, always seeking more and more, setting our affections on what ever the latest thing is, or on the different desires of our hearts, which is so silly, because we aren’t going to take it with us. I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-haul, and you won’t either. 1 Timothy 6:7 says “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.”

So then, as a believer we need to seek out things that are pleasing to God. Our time should be His, our desires should be His, our lives are to be His, and when they are He will take care of the rest.

In James 1:27 we learn that: Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

The way that we keep ourselves unstained by the world, is by not giving into the shameful ebb and flow of society, being so attached to the many appealing things this world has to offer, and instead shamelessly living a sold out, obedient life, clinging to the Word of God.

You need to live your life, depending on God as your life line. We need to think of God and need God, and seek God, like the air we breathe. If God takes the primary place in your heart, then all other things take a backseat.

Another way is to keep away from things that are impure.

Ephesians 5:5 states this plainly. “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

The fact is, you need to let go of this world and then hold on to God, you cannot serve two masters, and with a tight grip on the things of this world, you cannot hold onto the things of God. Just as Joshua said to the nation of Israel in Joshua 24:15:

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Let go of this world, and worship God with every part of your life.

In His service,
Brian Bivens

August Hymn of the Month: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

By: Augustus M. Toplady 1776

As the Truth Matters ministry really begins to take flight, it is fitting, that we look at Rock of Ages as the August hymn of the month. This song, being one of the most well known and most loved hymns of the church, was born from the passionate, heated and sometimes controversial debate between Calvinist and Arminian theology, and respectively Augustus M. Toplady, and John and Charles Wesley.

It is also fitting to see what took place in Toplady’s life, to lead him to make such a passionate stand against those whom he first followed when he came to Christ, especially in light of the open testimony of our Pastor, Charles J. Paul, who began his ministry on one side of the doctrinal fence, only to be promptly moved by the hand of God to the glorious doctrines of Grace.

Shortly after his conversion, Toplady was attracted to the ministry of the Wesley’s and the Methodist movement, however, in light of his own conversion, and God’s holy Word, he was drawn toward the biblical doctrines of grace. In fact, when speaking of his own salvation, and his conversion experience, Toplady writes:

“Strange that I, who had so long sat under the means of grace in England, should be brought right with God in an obscure part of Ireland, midst a handful of people met together in a barn, and by the ministry of one who could hardly spell his own name. Surely it was the Lord’s doing and is marvelous.”

You see, when we really view the aspect of salvation, it is truly an amazing thing that the Lord has done. Our part in salvation is merely that of a thankful recipient, and this wonderful hymn goes to great lengths to express the emotion and heart cry of a broken sinner, who has been made fully aware of his falleness, his frailness, and his helplessness. Of one who, being drawn in by the effectual call of grace, from a merciful and loving heavenly Father, promptly turns and repents from his wickedness, and clings to the Cross of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as his one and only hope.

Without any further introduction, lets look at this apologetic reply, and defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of the sovereignty of God, and of the amazing grace involved in the salvation of sinners.

The first verse of this wonderful hymn strikes me as one of the most beautiful and simple statements about the result of salvation, and the hope that a sinful man like myself can have in the redeeming work of God. When we come to God, it is amazing to see just how we come to Him, as scripture reveals quite plainly that those who are outside of Christ, are the enemies of God. This is a frightening truth, and one that is all to frequently neglected in today’s pulpits, but as we look at this verse, notice how beautifully we are tucked safely away, into Christ, by the water and blood that He shed for us on His cross, and how His sacrifice, not only saves us from our status as enemies of God, and the punishment that comes with that status, but also goes one step further, in purifying us, both in the sense of our justification, but equally important, in our progressive sanctification. (c.f. 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.
Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.

Now this next verse is an affirmation of our helplessness in the drama of salvation, and is also a direct written response to Arminian doctrine, which teaches that a man of his own accord must realize his sins, have a remorseful and contrite heart, and repent to God for his sins. You see, the remorse we feel for the wrong we have done can never satisfy the debt we owe God. In fact, Toplady writes: “Even as England could never pay her national debt, so man through his own efforts could never satisfy the eternal justice of a holy God.” (c.f. Ephesians 2:1-9)

Not the labor of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; Thou must save and Thou alone.

Continuing on in this very theme of our total inability to woo over God, to impress Him, to move His heart to accept us, we come to the profound and accurate portrait of our sinful state. We have nothing, but Christ died on the cross. Our righteousness is filthy rags, but by grace we are dressed in the robes of Christ’s righteousness. We run to the salvation of God, once we see our need for cleansing, and the truth is, unless He washes us, we die. (c.f. Isaiah 64:6-7)

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked come to Thee for dress, Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul I to the fountain fly, Wash me Savior or I die.

The final verse of this hymn truly fills me with joy. We know by faith that something amazing awaits us, but we don’t know exactly what it will be. We know that God has promised us “no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind can know what God has in store for those who love Him” and we know that when we draw our final breath that we will be with Him. We are left with Toplady, and believers all over the world, in awe and wonder, to ponder in faith and to trust in God that when the time comes for us to rise from this world, into that which Jesus has gone to prepare for us, and that when we stand before our God, who will not condemn us for our sins, but instead, will welcome and reward us for our service, we stand confident in the Rock of Ages, that we will be safe and secure, tucked away in Him and with Him, for all eternity, (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.

What's Wrong with "User Friendly" Churches?

by John MacArthur

Recently, the 11^th edition of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary was published. The reprint included 10,000 new words– words that will bring us all up to date. Words like "phat" (excellent), "dead presidents" (paper currency), and "McJob" (low paying, dead-end job) are among the entries that will finally help us communicate with our teenagers.

How did those words make it into the updated dictionary? There is one criterion: usage. A word qualifies for the new edition based on how widespread its usage has become. While I can't imagine how phat, McJob, and dead presidents will find a place in America's pulpits (e.g., The love of dead presidents is the root of all kinds of evil?), there is one phrase borrowed from the computer industry that has spread into mainstream usage in the church– it's impact has been monumental.

"User-friendly" was first used to describe software and hardware that is easy for the novice to operate. Applied to the church, it describes churches that offer a decidedly benign and non-challenging ministry model. In practice, it has become an excuse for importing worldly amusements into the church in an attempt to attract non-Christian "seekers" or the "unchurched" by appealing to their fleshly interests. The obvious fallout of this preoccupation with the unbelievers is a corresponding neglect of true believers and their spiritual needs.

If you want to know how user-friendly a church has become, the emphasis, or de-emphasis, on biblical preaching is the yardstick. A church that buys into the new paradigm sidelines provocative and convicting sermons for music, skits, or videos– less confrontational mediums for conveying the message. Even when there is a sermon, it is frequently psychological and motivational rather than biblical. Above all, entertainment value and user-friendliness are paramount.

I once read through a stack of newspaper and magazine articles that highlight a common thread in the user-friendly phenomenon. These observations from newspaper clippings describe the preaching in user-friendly churches:

• "There is no fire and brimstone here... Just practical, witty messages."
• "Services at [the church featured in the article] have an informal feeling. You won't hear people threatened with hell or referred to as sinners. The goal is to make them feel welcome, not drive them away."
• "As with all clergymen [this pastor's] answer is God– but he slips Him in at the end, and even then doesn't get heavy. No ranting, no raving. No fire, no brimstone. He doesn't even use the H-word. Call it Light Gospel. It has the same salvation as the Old Time Religion, but with a third less guilt."
• "The sermons are relevant, upbeat, and best of all, short. You won't hear a lot of preaching about sin and damnation, and hell fire. Preaching here doesn't sound like preaching. It is sophisticated, urbane, and friendly talk. It breaks all the stereotypes."
• "[The pastor] is preaching a very upbeat message... It's a salvationist message, but the idea is not so much being saved from the fires of hell. Rather, it's being saved from meaninglessness and aimlessness in this life. It's more of a soft-sell."

So the new rules may be summed like this: Be clever, informal, positive, brief, friendly, and never, never use the H-word.

The pastors and leaders in the church-growth movement certainly wouldn't portray their own ministries in that way. In fact, they would probably laud their success in drawing people into the church without compromising the message. But they fail to understand that by decentralizing the Scripture and avoiding hard truths, they are compromising. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26, emphasis added). If the design is to make the seeker comfortable, isn't that rather incompatible with the Bible's own emphasis on sin, judgment, hell, and several other important topics?

The gospel message is a confrontational message. When you remove the confrontation–or soften, downplay, or bring it in through the back door– you have compromised the message. The modern pulpit is weak, not for a lack of witty messages, but because men fear to speak the hard truths of God's Word powerfully and with conviction.

The church is certainly not suffering from an overabundance of forthright preachers; rather, it seems glutted with men pleasers (cf. Gal. 1:10). But, as it was in the early church, when men are faithful to preach God's Word with boldness, God will give the increase. "And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching... then fear came upon every soul... and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42, 43, 47).

When a sinner wanders into the church and sits through skits, mimes, interpretive dances, and the like, and yet never hears a clear, convicting message about his dangerous and tenuous spiritual situation– that he is a depraved sinner headed for an eternal fire because he is a daily offense to a holy God– how can that be called successful? You could achieve the same level of success by sending a cancer patient to receive treatment from a group of children playing doctor. A sinner must understand the imminent danger he is in if he is ever to look to the Savior.

C. H. Spurgeon, facing a similar mindset in his day, once said:

'I fear there are some who preach with the view of amusing men, and as long as people can be gathered in crowds, and their ears can be tickled, and they can retire pleased with what they have heard, the orator is content, and folds his hands, and goes back self-satisfied. But Paul did not lay himself out to please the public and collect the crowd. If he did not save them he felt that it was of no avail to interest them. Unless the truth had pierced their hearts, affected their lives, and made new men of them, Paul would have gone home crying, "Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"...

Now observe, brethren, if I, or you, or any of us, or all of us, shall have spent our lives merely in amusing men, or educating men, or moralizing men, when we shall come to give our account at the last great day we shall be in a very sorry condition, and we shall have but a very sorry record to render; for of what avail will it be to a man to be educated when he comes to be damned? Of what service will it be to him to have been amused when the trumpet sounds, and heaven and earth are shaking, and the pit opens wide her jaws of fire and swallows up the soul unsaved? Of what avail even to have moralized a man if still he is on the left hand of the judge, and if still, "Depart, ye cursed," shall be his portion?'" ["Soul Saving Our One Business," The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 25 (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1879), 674-76.]

That is precisely my concern about today’s pragmatic church-growth trend. The strategy focuses on attracting and keeping the unchurched. For what? To entertain them? To get them to attend church meetings regularly? Merely "churching" the unchurched accomplishes nothing of eternal value. That is where their strategy seems to end.

What's worse is when seeker-focused churches baptize the masses with their watered-down gospel, assuring them that positive decisions, feelings, or affirmations about Christ equal genuine conversion. There are now multitudes who are not authentic Christians identifying with the church. The church is literally invaded with the world's values, the world's interests, and the world's citizens. It isn't an invasion prompted by overt hostility; people are simply responding to a survey that came in the mail. Ironically, Satan isn't sowing the tares; church leaders are.

As you set your strategy for church ministry, you dare not overlook the primary means of church growth: the straightforward, Christ-centered proclamation of the unadulterated Word of God. If you trade the Word for amusements or gimmicks, you will not only find that you have no effective means to reach people with the truth of Christ, but you will find yourself working against the Lord Himself.

Adapted from Ashamed of the Gospel: When the Church Becomes Like the World, © 1993 by John MacArthur. All rights reserved.

Worshiping God for His Grace Part V

1 Timothy 1:12-17:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am the foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, that in being the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The next two verses of our text really bring out the heart of Paul’s testimony, the heart of this message, the heart of our Savior, and the reason we preach the Gospel. These verses show us the Mission of Christ. 1 Timothy 1:15-16

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”

Vs. 15 is a strong comparison to Jesus’ words in Luke 5:29-32:

And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax-gatherers and other people who were reclining at the table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax-gatherers and sinners?” and Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Remember our previous verse, “there is no one who is righteous, not even one”? Here Jesus is specifically saying, if you don’t see yourself as a sinner, then you cannot see your need for a Savior. Only an openly honest sinner can repent. The sinners that Christ calls to repentance are those whom by grace He has made aware of their sins, they are drawn irresistibly to the Son, and truly do repent of Their sins.

Next, I want to take a minute to show you how Paul’s thinking progressed. Jesus told His disciples “he who wants to be great must become the servant”, and His point, His example, and His desire for us is a growing humility and dependence on Him alone for our salvation.
With this in mind I want to show you Paul growing more and more humble as his walk with Christ progressed:

• 1 Cor 15:9 Paul says “For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” This was written in the first half of 55 AD.

• Then between five and seven years later he wrote the following in Ephesians 3:8 “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ”

• Then in our verse here, written near the end of His life, probably between 62-64 AD, Paul calls himself the foremost of sinners, or chief of sinners.

Do you see the pattern?:
-First, he’s the Least of the apostles
-Then the Least of the saints
-And finally the Chief of sinners

Now, it’s one thing to look at Paul’s salvation and Christ’s patience as an example for the working of the grace of God, but it is an entirely different thing to look at this picture, in contrast with our own sinful lives, and see just how far this grace of God can stretch, to cover our sinfulness, to wash each of us individually clean.

I love what Matthew Henry writes about this verse:

“No man, with Paul’s example before him, can question the love and power of Christ to save him, if he really desires to trust in him as the Son of God, who once died on the cross and now reigns upon the throne of glory, to save all that come to God through Him.”

That is the mission of Christ, to save all that come to Him. Listen to these amazing words of Christ and know, that if He has truly given you a heart to come to Him, a desire for forgiveness and submission to His will, then He will by no means reject your cries for forgiveness and salvation. He will welcome you, and strengthen you, and put you into service, just as the scriptures during this study has shown us.

John 6:37-40: A

ll that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day.”

We know very well that Christ Jesus came to die on the cross for sins, we know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and I am writing today to share the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person who will read this article. No matter what you have done, no matter where you have been, no matter what your present circumstances are, Christ’s death on the cross is most certainly sufficient to pay the penalty for your sins. It is God who holds salvation in His hand, and He alone has the power to save you.

No wonder Paul breaks out into this Doxology, this praise song in the midst of this letter; and our final verse of study. Paul takes everything that we have looked at, every aspect of the grace of God, and he can't contain it any more, it is time to worship God in light of these tremendous truths. Looking at verse 17:

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen”

Paul looking back at his sinful life and horrible offenses, looking back and seeing God’s sovereign intervention, God’s amazing grace, His saving power and eternal plan, he then sees truly, especially when our salvation is concerned, that it is God alone who deserves all the glory honor and praise for His wonderful, merciful beautiful work of redemption, that He so freely extends to us, even to us, this glorious Gospel of grace.

When you stand back and observe salvation, in light of the grace of God, there is nothing left to do, but worship Jesus for His sacrifice, worship the Father for His grace, worship the Spirit for the drawing of our hearts, we worship God, for His grace, in our salvation.

May God bless you, as you seek His will, His kingdom, His glory, In His service,

Brian Bivens

Worshiping God for His Grace Part IV

1 Timothy 1:12-17:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am the foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, that in being the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Now that we have seen the call of God, initiated by His will, apart from our works, apart from our faithfulness and righteousness, apart from our decision, we then moved on to see our very sad condition of lawlessness and rebellion before God.

Paul isn’t alone in being a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent aggressor;

David isn’t alone in being an adulterous, lusting, lying, murderer;

No, we all continually live for our own selfish desires, and that means that we all sin against one another, and more importantly against a holy God. This sin requires repentance; a true change in our hearts and actions, which can only occur when there is an awareness of our sin. All of these things work together to show us the next point: Salvation by Grace Alone, Through Faith Alone in Christ Alone.

Lets look together at 1 Timothy 1:14.

"And the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus."

I have been striving to show you that God’s Grace is required for faith in Christ;

That Faith is required to truly love Christ;

And that a love for Christ, which consequently is the most important aspect of our salvation, can only exist with true salvation.

Lets look back to one of the first things we said today, Grace is the unmerited favor and kindness of God shown to the undeserving sinner. God doesn’t owe grace, you cannot earn grace, and without grace, you cannot be saved.

There is nothing inside of anyone, that is deserving of salvation. There is no action that can be performed that would merit salvation. Salvation from start to finish is by the grace of God alone.

Lets look back to Paul’s life, and his conversion. In 1 Timothy 1:16 Paul goes on to say “Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”

Now we will cover this verse in a few minutes, but this patience that Christ demonstrated in Paul’s life and salvation is to serve for an example for all who will believe, so it is an excellent place for us to see exactly how salvation through the grace of God works.

In Galatians 1:13-16 we find another account of Paul’s conversion, his testimony is repeated six times in the New Testament, and again that points to the significance it has in the life of each true believer in Christ.

“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles.”

Notice again, Paul was certainly not looking for Christ, he was looking for Christians, and his intent was to destroy them. Then God, already having planned the entire course of Paul’s life from before birth, at the perfect time, God’s perfect time, revealed to Paul his sin, gave him the faith to believe, and put him into service for the kingdom.

Lets look together at another verse that emphasizes how the grace of God, including the faith to believe is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8:

“for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

Here the word “that” is a specific reference to the entire statement of salvation, not only the grace, but also the faith.

Although men are absolutely required to believe in Jesus Christ, His perfect sinless life, His atoning death on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave, even that faith is part of the gift of God which saves, and cannot be exercised in ones own power. God’s grace is the primary factor in every aspect of salvation, from His call on our lives, to the revealing of our sins, to the faith needed to repent and believe on Christ.

The Westminster Confession of Faith, which was written by a group of over 150 theologically learned men, who met 1,163 times over a course of five and a half years, who finished the document on February 22 1649, has this to say of Effectual Calling and grace:

Chapter 10 Article 1: All those whom God hath predestined unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.

Paul was so adamant in glorifying God for this grace, that every letter he wrote both begins and ends with a pronouncing of grace from God to the recipients of the letter.

If you are reading this article right now, and know Christ; Not just know about Him, but love Him, worship Him, appreciate Him and serve Him; You have Him and Him alone to thank for where you are right now, and what an amazing thing it is to think about where He has brought us from!

July Hymn of the Month :: Just As I Am

Just as I am
By: Charlotte Elliott 1836

Charlotte Elliott wrote nearly 150 hymns, yet none of these hymns have had a more profound impact on the lives of so many people. In fact, after her death, there was found more than 1,000 letters from people all over the world, sharing with Charlotte just how much this hymn had meant to them. The hymn meant a great deal to her as well.

Charlotte had a carefree life when she was younger, and had gained notoriety among the English for the humorous poetry that she had been writing. At the age of 30 however, things changed dramatically. Within a short period of time, Charlotte had become an invalid, completely bed ridden, and dependant upon her family for care. Under these circumstances, and the sharp contrast from the previous years of her life, she became greatly depressed. In 1822, an evangelist, Dr. Caesar Malan, visited the Elliot household. He spent some time with Charlotte, and counseled her concerning her depression, and spiritual state, and during his visit, he told her: “You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. “ It was during this visit, that God used Dr. Malan to proclaim the truth of the gospel to her, and lead her to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Even though 14 years had passed, these words were never too far from Charlotte’s mind. It was 1836 and the ministry opportunity arose for her brother, Rev. H.V. Elliot, to raise money for, and build St. Mary’s Hall at Brighton, a school built to provide high quality education for the children of humble clergymen, that Charlotte was taken by a feeling of despondency. She wanted so badly to be a part of the ministry and was overwhelmed by feelings of uselessness, and fruitlessness. It was during this time when she remembered the words of her dear friend, and she penned the words to this beloved hymn.

This hymn to me is a very special collection of answers to the many thoughts and feelings I have struggled with personally as a believer. I too, like the thousands who wrote Charlotte letters, have deeply been touched by the words of this timeless song, and yet, continually, am strengthened, and grow, as I meditate on the Biblical truths this song continues to teach us.

I would like to examine a few of these verses, and share with you, the scriptural truths behind the lines of the hymn, and the overwhelming confidence we can have in our salvation, which is wrought, not by our deeds, but by the completed work of our savior.

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me
and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

There are three powerful truths in the midst of this verse that I would like to focus on, the first being our helplessness, and utter inability to do anything to win over the affections, and forgiveness of God.

We come to Him naked, in fact, the truth is much worse; we come clothed in filthy rags, stained by the filth of our own sins and selfishness. In this state, God cannot even bear to look at us, so to even come to God, our first realization is to acknowledge that we are spiritually bankrupt. Hopeless, helpless, sinful and impure. This is something the Scriptures continually teach us, they teach us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), they teach us that the wages of these sins are death (Romans 6:23). So first in coming to God, we have no plea to make for ourselves. There is no deal we can make, no offer that we can put on the table. Scripture goes so far as to say that we are the enemies of God and by nature children of wrath (c.f. Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:3). This is the truth on which our salvation must be built.

Immediately following this truth is the answer. It is not something within ourselves, not even in the slightest. It is in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, by His perfect sinless life, by His blood and sacrifice on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave that He alone accomplished on our behalf. He alone accomplished salvation, bringing it to us. Apart from His work, there is no salvation. It is not on anything that we have done that we plead for God’s mercy, but instead, we are viewed with the very righteousness of Jesus Christ, because He took the punishment and shame for every sin, that every true believer in Christ would every commit (c.f. 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Finally we see the truth that He bids us to come to Him. Not only are we helpless to please God on our own, even more so, we are helpless to seek after God on our own (c.f. Romans 3:11). I can think of no work that one could do that would be more pleasing to God than to willingly set aside their sinfulness and deny themselves for the cross of Christ, but scripture makes it clear that no one can come to Christ unless he is drawn by God the Father (c.f. John 6:44; 65).

When these three truths are brought together, it is very encouraging. If God has chosen us for salvation, who could possibly overturn His will? If Christ has paid our penalty, and taken our wrath, then what have we to fear? And though we are sinners, if we realize, that by faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ, that we are never more justified before God than at this very moment, we can have assurance that even though we struggle, even though we sin, even when our walk with Christ slows to a crawl, our confidence is in what God is doing, and accomplishing in us, and we can be confident, that if He drew us to Christ, that He will be faithful to complete the Good work that He has started (c.f. Philippians 1:6).

The fifth stanza of this hymn, though frequently unsung is equally assuring to the Children of God.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God I come! I come!


God has promised to receive us, Jesus tells us in John 6:37 that all who the Father gives to Him will come, and He will by no means ever cast them out. He loves us with an undying ever-faithful love in spite of our wickedness. And when God sends us running toward the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, sends us running to Jesus fully aware of our shameful state, and the answer that He alone can provide, it is then that we fall into His grace, repentant, and justified by a Holy God, who took the initiative on our behalf, because He knows our frame, and remembers that we are merely dust (Psalm 103:8-14)

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Him whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, though tossed about,
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, poor, wretched blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea Thine alone
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Worshiping God for His Grace Part III

1 Timothy 1:12-17:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am the foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, that in being the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Continuing on in our study, lets move along to verse 13, and our next point, where we see Paul as the Repentant Sinner.

“even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.”

Repentance is literally defined as a change of both mind and heart, and turning away from sin. Repentance is not a one time thing that takes place, but a continual action in the life of a Christian; where we recognize our sin, and we turn away from it. In Matthew 3:8 John the Baptist tells the Pharisee’s “therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”

In our verse here Paul shows us two things, he acknowledges his sins, and he changes his ways.

• “Even though I was formerly” this is a strong statement emphasizing the change. He no longer acts the way he did, which is the final outcome of true repentance.
• “A blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” Here it is important to acknowledge Paul’s full understanding and right view of his sin. He admits that he has broken the first four commandments, as a blasphemer, and he has broken the last 6 as a persecutor and a violent aggressor.
  

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was in Mark 12:28-31 He replied: “The foremost is, ‘Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, ; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Notice how Paul’s confession freely admits that he transgressed in every way, he was a blasphemer, and therefore was acting out against a holy God, and he was a persecutor, and a violent aggressor, acting out against God’s beloved children. Paul’s repentance wasn’t superficial, it didn’t hide the truth, but he fully exposed his weakness before the Lord. Our repentance must be just that, completely open, completely honest, and in complete agreement with God’s righteous judgment against sin.

If we were to turn anywhere in Scripture to find an example of Biblical repentance it would be Psalm 51. Here we see David’s cry of anguish for his grievous sins of covetousness and adultery with Bathsheba, and his sins of lying and murder against Uriah, but listen to his words in Psalm 51:1-4:

“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when you speak and blameless when You judge.”

Although his transgressions were clearly against others, it was God’s heart he had offended, and God alone who could purify him. But David doesn’t stop there, he continues in repentance, for his sin nature in verse 5:

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.

Here David isn’t charging his mother with an illegitimate relationship, but instead is admitting what Scripture teaches over and over again. From birth we have a s sinful nature, and our hearts are inclined toward evil. In fact, right before God destroyed the earth with the flood He makes an observation that accurately describes the fallen nature of mankind, our sin nature passed down from Adam and Eve.

In Genesis 6:5 we see one of the most startling statements in the Bible:

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Now this of course is before the flood, before God wiped out all those sinful people right? Certainly after Noah entered the ark and all those wretched sinners were drowned, then things would change, right? Wrong, listen to Gods words as Noah comes off of the ark in Genesis 8:18-21: S

o Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

We find so many other passages that reflect this same truth, but I think none more profoundly speak about our inability to please God, or seek for Him on our own as Romans 3:10-12 does;

as it is written, " THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS;
 THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

We learn that this sinful nature corrupts us from the start, and this corruption penetrates into the deepest part of our being. We don’t have the moral ability to choose God and His righteousness, in fact, we are incapable of pleasing God in any way on our own.

We view ourselves in light of those around us, and can confidently say “I’m not so bad, look at this guy over here, he’s a terrible person!” we know that there is always someone worse then we are, so we can’t be that bad, right? WRONG!

Without God’s intervention we cannot see our sin for what it is, which is an abomination before a holy God. We remain as enemies of God, and unless He reveals to us our horrible helpless state of sinfulness, and without a proper view of our sinfulness, we cannot repent, and as Jesus said in Luke 13:3 “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

I just want to address one other point while covering verse 13. Paul finishes the verse by stating “Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;”

It is important to understand that Paul was neither a Jewish apostate nor a Pharisee who clearly understood Jesus’ teaching and still rejected Him, on the contrary, Paul was a zealous passionate Jew trying to earn his salvation through works and outward righteousness, thus, like all others in any false religious system of works righteousness, he was damned.

Here Paul isn’t making a plea for innocence due to ignorance, nor is he denying his responsibility and guilt. He is pointing out that until Christ confronted him with the truth about his sin, he thought he was doing God a favor by persecuting the Christians, and therefore was ignorant of the truth.

If everyone who was acting in ignorance received mercy solely on the basis of their ignorance, then every man woman and child would receive salvation simply based on the fact that we are all ignorant before God from start to finish.

This however would violate every teaching of Christ, from repentance, to self denial, to salvation by faith in His atoning work on the cross. We also know that “the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.” This of course is contrasted to the narrow gate that only a few will ever find.

Worshiping God for His Grace Part II

1 Timothy 1:12-17:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am the foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, that in being the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our first point of emphasis today is the Truth of God’s Grace, and it all starts with the Call of God.

Before we delve into this first point I want to take a moment to emphasize two separate types of the Biblical term called, or the call of God:

• The outward, or external call

• The inward call, or drawing of the Holy Spirit

The outward or external call can easily be viewed in passages where people hear the clear presentation of the Gospel message, and reject it. The inward call or drawing of the Holy Spirit is displayed clearly in many passages, including Romans 8:30: “and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Jesus told a parable about a great wedding feast, and all of those invited came up with different excuses as to why they couldn’t come. He finishes the parable in Matthew 22:14 with the startling statement “many are called, but the chosen are few” This includes both those who have been called externally, by hearing the message, and those who have been called both externally by hearing the Gospel, and internally, by the drawing of the Holy Spirit. It is those who have been chosen, that are drawn by the Spirit.

Focusing on 1 Tim 1:12 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,” I want to zero in on the fact, that in this passage, Paul is the object of Christ’s plan, and not the cause. Notice the string of actions taking place on Christ’s initiative:

• I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me
• Because He considered me faithful
• Putting me into service

Just taking a forward glance into verse 13 we see that this wondrous call of God is apart from any merit of Paul, as he tells us: “Even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.”
In fact, lets not stop there, lets go back, and see exactly where Paul was when Christ strengthened him, considered him faithful, and put him into service.
Turn with me to Acts 9:1-6. Here we read the account of Paul, or Saul’s conversion.

“Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” and he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

Notice the lack of choice given to Saul here, he is knocked off his horse, blinded, told where to go, and what he “must do.”

God certainly didn’t consider Paul faithful because of his actions against the Christians, on the contrary, God considered Paul faithful because of His choice for Paul’s life. In the same account of Paul’s conversion, look at verse 15 “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”

The Greek word used here for “chosen instrument” is Ekloge: this is literally rendered vessel of election, and defined in Thayer’s Theological Greek dictionary as “the act of God’s free will by which before the foundation of the world He decreed His blessings to certain persons”

This same word is used a total of 7 times in scripture. Each time it appears, it is used to describe God’s sovereign choice in salvation.

• Here in Acts, 9:15
• Romans 9:11; 11:5; 11:7; 11:28
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4
• 2 Peter 1:10
  

Romans 9:11 defines this word perfectly: “for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls.”

Here we see the call of God, unaffected by our choices, works or our will. God makes the choice that affects our future, it’s not the other way around.

Worshiping God for His Grace

When worshiping God, often we find ourselves worshiping in general. There isn't anything wrong with just worshiping God, but I find in my own life, and in scripture, that praises and doxologies that focus on specific attributes for worshiping God, such as His grace, His justice, His love, His faithfulness and so on, leave a lasting impression on my heart, and my soul, and draw me closer to the most amazing display of His character of all, the cross.

There are so many things that God has revealed to us through His word, that we should worship Him for, so for the next two weeks or so, we will involve ourselves with a study, intended to focus our worship on His amazing grace.

When the “Doctrine’s of Grace” are mentioned within Christian circles, you can expect a variety of different responses. Some groups will hear the word “doctrine” and immediately disregard the conversation. Others will actively engage you in conversation and bring their views to the table. Any Protestant Reformer hearing these words will instinctively think of Calvinism and the acrostic T.U.L.I.P., where the “T” stands for the Total Depravity of Man, “U” God’s Unconditional Election, “L” Limited Atonement, or as it is better stated Definite Redemption, “I” for God’s Irresistible Grace, and “P” for the Perseverance of the Saints. I love to discuss the grace of God with others, and though, I am in the latter group that immediately associates the words “Doctrines of Grace” with Calvinism, I want to step back for just a moment and show you how every Biblical doctrine is a doctrine of Grace.

Biblically Grace is referring to the unmerited favor and kindness of God shown to the undeserving sinner. But I want to show you just how much ground that covers.

• It was the amazing grace of God to display His power, and reveal Himself through His creation.

• Psalm 19:1-2 tell us “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

• Romans 1:19-20 “because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

So, in this amazing act of grace, God revealed Himself to His own creation, so that in just looking at the wonders of nature, the changing of seasons, the stars in the heavens, the mighty sun lighting the earth and every facet of this marvelous earth, we can see God’s divine nature and eternal power!
How about the intimate access we have to God’s privacy, the backstage pass to see His true character as He reveals Himself to the world, through His Word. God completely discloses Himself to us in the pages of scripture, He forfeits His privacy, so that we can see who He really is. These certainly are acts of grace and mercy, because of the simple fact that we do not deserve them. God doesn’t owe anything to anyone at anytime, but in kindness, He has given so much more then we could ever think to ask for.

When you view every little thing that God has done for us as a gift of His grace, then all the more gracious and merciful salvation becomes to the sinner, who has received a full pardon from guilt, from sin, and from the divine judgment and wrath of a holy God.

Our text for this study will deal with just that, the grace of God, in the salvation of man. Please prayerfully begin reading 1 Timothy 1:12-17 as we take this journey together, and keep looking for the next post!

The Quarter

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an opportunity to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much in change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount anyway, and the bus company gets too much fare already; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change." The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday."

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter." Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a vivid example of how much people watch us as Christians
and will put us to the test! Always be on guard --and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian." Your entire life is a worship service, and you have more opportunities than you would think, to worship Him.

June Hymn of the Month:

Lift High the Cross

By: George W. Kitchin 1887, Modified by Michael R. Newbolt 1916

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

Over the last two months, we have placed special emphasis on the amazing grace of God in salvation; about His sovereignty and divine will that is accomplished in the lives of His chosen; and the wonderful security that a true believer in Christ can have because of these astonishing truths. This month, I thought that we would move to the opposite end of the spectrum, and talk about our part, in God’s plan for salvation. John Macarthur said something once that continuously reminds me about our part in salvation. He said “any theology so focused on the sovereignty of God, that it causes the believer to stop contending for the faith, is a lopsided theology.” This statement is not only true, but I believe that it hits close to home in many of our lives.

This hymn comes just in time, as people are out enjoying the weather, taking vacations, enjoying the gift of life that God has given us. It comes in time, to remind us of our responsibility as believers in Christ, to lift His cross high, that men cannot help, but be drawn to Him. When we share the truth about Christ’s perfect sinless life, about His atoning death on the cross, His resurrection from the grave and ascension into heaven, in the light of our sinfulness, our depraved hearts, and our natural animosity toward the righteous things of God, we give those who hear the opportunity to have a real life, eternal life in Christ.

Make no mistake, God is sovereign, all of those whom He chooses will come to Him for salvation, but an amazing truth that should always be our focus is that God chooses to use His children to accomplish His sovereign will in salvation. We aren’t responsible for the outcome, we cannot make anyone believe, but God’s promise is that His Word will not come back void, it will accomplish that for which it has been sent. As it says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” In fact, in the same letter, Paul tells us about his part in the salvation of those he preached to in chapter 3:6-7 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

With these two truths, we should have an amazing confidence, and determination to declare God’s truth. We can have confidence, because we aren’t responsible for the outcome, only to faithfully proclaim the Word. You see, it is not you or I who wins someone over to Christ, it is God alone who gives the increase. In fact, the less of ourselves we offer up, and the more of God’s Word we proclaim, the better. It is the truth of God’s Word that draws men to Christ, not clever stories, not heart-warming melodies, not your testimony and certainly not hammering them with hellfire and brimstone. I’m not saying that these things aren’t useful, there is a time and a place for all of them, but we must remember, It is God’s Word that has the power to save.

In closing, I would like to share Romans 10:14-17: How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of Good things! However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
Please remember, that as a believer, you have been sent, by the Lord Jesus Himself, to share the Gospel of His cross, and of the redemption that can only be found through His name. There is nothing more amazing and wonderful than the pardon we have received through His atoning sacrifice, and there is nothing more worth sharing than this very truth.

Lift high the cross! The love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore, His sacred name.

Come brethren, follow where our savior trod,
Our King victorious, Christ the Son of God.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree
As Thou hast promised, draw men unto Thee

Thy kingdom come, that earth’s despair may cease
Beneath the shadow of its healing peace

For Thy blest cross which doth for us atone
Creation’s praises rise before Thy throne

Music in Corporate Worship

By: Bob Kauflin

Previously, we looked at the relationship between music and worship in general. Now we want to better understand the place of music in congregational worship.

Some authors have stated that music used in public worship should be God-glorifying. While well-intentioned, that statement is just vague enough to be unhelpful. When is music God-glorifying? How should music function in our times of corporate praise? Here are some thoughts.

Music should serve the lyrics. God is a speaking God. While communication happens on many levels, the Word is always central in God's dealings with us. We see this in the placing of the Ten Commandments in the Ark of the Covenant, and in the description of Jesus as the Word of God made flesh. So music should serve to emphasize and heighten the impact of the Word. Joyful words should be accompanied by joyful music. Words of repentance and awe are appropriately sung to music that is more somber. In general, music is effective when people in the congregation are more affected by the truth than the tune. (Of course, that implies that we're singing songs that have solid content!)

Music should serve the context. As an emotional language, music can prepare hearts to receive the Word of God. 2 Kings 3:1-16 provides a powerful illustration of this. Music can also give opportunity for people to respond emotionally to something that has just been said. Music can provide smooth transitions between segments of a meeting and can also give support to someone who is speaking. Movie producers are well aware that most scenes in a film can be made more moving with appropriate music. The same can be true in our public meetings. This approach only becomes manipulative when the emotions aroused are contrary to the context or the truth, rather than supportive of them.

Music should be relevant and edifying to the group. Assuming that the music we choose for corporate praise serves the words and the context, our next concern should be that it edifies those who are present. This means that the music must say what we want it to say. We shouldn't present complex classical music to children, or rock music to an older congregation. It also implies that the music should never overpower the words. Notwithstanding our relativistic post-modern culture, God still deals in truth, not simply experience. However, God is not against experience. Music is meant to stir our emotions. We don't have to fear strong emotions when they are a response to truth, deepened by their association with music.

God-glorifying music should be varied. From complex to simple, from modern to baroque, from short to long. Obviously, in a local congregation, the range of variety will be limited to the giftedness of its musicians. But stylistic variety makes possible a broader range of responses to God, opens our eyes to the greatness of God, and enables people of different backgrounds, preferences, and experiences to worship God wholeheartedly together. Those are worthy goals for anyone who leads congregational worship.

Speaking of those who lead worship, next time we'll begin to take a look at public worship and the musicians who lead us. What kind of musicians should we be looking for? More importantly, what kind of musicians is God looking for?

For His Glory,

Bob

Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/814766/

June Hymn of the Month

With such a focus on the sovereignty of God over the last few months, this month, I wanted to focus our attention towards our responsibility in the great drama of redemption.

God sovereignly elects, and ensures that His children come to faith in His Son, but we must remember, that He has chosen to bring His gospel through His servants, by the the power of His holy Word, in proclaiming His work on the cross.

This month, let us together, lift high, the cross of Jesus Christ.

Lift High the Cross
by: George W Kitchen and Michael Newbolt

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.

Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.

May Hymn of the Month:

Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee
by Josiah Conder

The hymn for the month of May, Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee, by Josiah Conder, will take us to the holy pages of scripture, to look at one of the most humbling, awe inspiring, and ultimately comforting doctrine in scripture; the sovereignty of God.

The doctrine of God's sovereignty could be the doctrine most assaulted of all found in the Bible, but make no mistake about it, it is all over the Bible. Now, when I say that this doctrine is assaulted, I truly do mean just that. Now, no true Christian would tell you that they don't believe God is sovereign, but when you really press the issue, you find precious little sovereignty left.

In the words of Charles Haddon Spurgoen:

"There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God's sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. On the other hand there is no doctrine more hated by worldlings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of God. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense alms and bestow blessings. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures gnash their teeth, and when we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter, then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on the throne is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne we love to preach. It is the God upon the throne Whom we trust."

Now, the exact point when we "turn a deaf ear" from this doctrine, is when it comes to the salvation of man. We want so badly to take a leading role in our salvation, that we will overturn the very pages of scripture to ensure that man remains autonomous. Unfortunately two things take place when we do this, first, we are attempting to claim merit for our own salvation, after all, what "work" would please God more than choosing Him, and second, we are taking the glory away from God, which He alone deserves.

Josiah Conder understood this fact very well, and when he read the words of Jesus in John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you." he could not help, but "let go, and let God." Now, this doctrine itself is found everywhere in scripture, it is not something that you would have any difficulty validating. In fact, for good measure I would like to throw out a few verses that you either have to deny completely, or concede that God is sovereign, but I will let you be the judge:

John 6:35-45 Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. They said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, I have come down from heaven? Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—

(emphasis added)Now these words make it plain, "no one can come" to Jesus unless "the Father draws them".

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed

. Here the words are very plain, as many as God had appointed to eternal life believed the Gospel.

Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved

This passage, (which continues for another 8 verses) demands of us to understand who the choice belongs to in salvation. If God Chose us before the foundation of the world, then we didn't have much of a choice. Some would reject that this is the case, with a misunderstanding of the foreknowledge of God, but Paul makes it clear in Romans 9:11 that it isn't on the basis of what we do (which would make us the one who is sovereign over salvation), instead, it is based on His choice.

So here it is, without further adieu May's hymn of the month:

Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee
by: Josiah Conder 1836

Tis not that I did choose Thee,
For Lord that could not be;
This heart would still refuse Thee,
Hadst Thou not chosen me.
Thou from the sin that stained me
Hast cleansed and set me free
Of old Thou hast ordained me,
That I should Live to Thee

Twas sovereign mercy called me
And taught my opening mind;
The world had else enthralled me,
To heavenly glories blind.
My heart owns non before Thee,
For Thy rich grace I thirst;
This knowing if I love Thee,
Thou must have loved me first.

AMEN

Interesting Article

When addressing the most important aspect of Christian living Jesus gave us a very clear mandate: "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24 Emphasis added)

The only absolute truth we have is the Word of God, and so to worship Him in spirit and truth, we must approach God, as He has revealed Himself through scripture. We don't get to decide how to worship God, He decides. Just look at how things turned out for Nadab and Abihu when they tried to get creative and worship God in a way that He "had not commanded them" (Leviticus 10:1-3)

This article is eye opening, because it reveals just how far some so called "christians" are taking a detour from the faith, and unfortunately, they aren't alone. Many people follow these radicals, because when your "faith" doesn't demand change, when your "god" doesn't demand submission, then religion becomes safe. It isn't amazing to me that people are going out of their way to dethrone God, and worship their own false images, what amazes me, is God's tremendous patience and long suffering with this wicked generation.

Let us join together in prayer not only for those who are right now preaching false doctrine, but for those who blindly follow their blind leaders away from the only light and life, Jesus Christ.

Not Much 'Lord' in this Church Service

Albert Mohler

The movement toward gender-neutral language for God has picked up steam in recent years, and liberal churches have been busy rewriting language for worship and theology. Just last year the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to "receive" a document that called for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to be replaced or supplemented with triads such as "Sun, Light, and Burning Ray," "Overflowing Font, Living Water, and Flowing River," and "Fire that Consumes, Sword that Divides, and Storm that Melts Mountains."

That report even suggested an explicitly female triad -- "Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, Life-Giving Womb." The report was controversial, but this kind of nonsense has been spreading for some time now. Many feminists simply insist that they cannot or will not worship a God who names Himself exclusively in male terms. Yet, to rename God is to create an idol -- a false god of our own creativity and invention. Put simply -- God gets to name Himself.

Now, a report out of Tucson, Arizona indicates just how far many churches have already gone down the road of reinventing God. As Stephanie Innes reports in the Arizona Daily Star, some churches have banished the word "Lord."

From her article:

At Tucson's largest Episcopal church, St. Philip's in the Hills, the creators of an alternative worship service called Come & See are bucking tradition by rewriting what have become prescribed ways of worship.

For the faithful, that means God isn't referred to as "him," and references to "the Lord" are rare.

"Lord" has become a loaded word conveying hierarchical power over things, "which in what we have recorded in our sacred texts, is not who Jesus understood himself to be," St. Philip's associate rector Susan Anderson-Smith said.

"The way our service reads, the theology is that God is love, period," St. Philip's deacon Thomas Lindell added. "Our service has done everything it can to get rid of power imagery. We do not pray as though we expect the big guy in the sky to come and fix everything."

These statements are nothing short of amazing. It is hard to imagine that they are meant to be taken seriously, but they clearly are. Take, for example, Susan Anderson-Smith's argument that the word Lord "has become a loaded word conveying hierarchical power over things." Has become such a word? The word, translated from both Greek and Hebrew word forms, has always meant hierarchy. Indeed, the word is meaningless without that meaning. Later, she expanded this point even further:

In the strictest Christian sense, "Lord" comes from the Greek word kyrios, which Greek culture in the first century understood in much different ways, Anderson-Smith said. Evidence suggests the word was used in talking about Jesus as the fullest embodied revelation of God, but it had a lot less to do with hierarchy than what the word means now, she said.

Once again, her statements are directly at odds with the truth -- and a truth quite easily demonstrated. There is not only every reason to reject her argument that "Lord" is more hierarchical in meaning today than in the biblical era -- there is good reason to see the truth as the precise opposite of her argument. Indeed, the most powerful display of the essentially hierarchical nature of this divine title is found in the New Testament itself:

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Philippians 2:9-11].

This verse stresses the hierarchical nature of the title. One day, every single knee will bow to Jesus Christ as Lord. It should go without saying that no creature will miss the hierarchical character of that moment.

The problem is deepened when Anderson-Smith proceeds to explain that Jesus was not interested in hierarchy at all. Jesus, she would have us think, was a modern egalitarian. The absurdity of this is breathtaking. Jesus -- the Lord -- called His disciples to follow Him. He did not follow them. He commanded them to obey His words. He did not obey theirs. Jesus castigated those who called Him Lord but did not obey Him [Luke 6:46]. He was not a mere "mentor" and "companion."

Deacon Thomas Lindell's comments add the icing to Rev. Anderson-Smith's cake. He boasts of having removed all the "power imagery" from the church's worship services. That, we might imagine, is rather hard to do. If God is not all-powerful, why worship? Without an acknowledgment of God's power, we are left with little to say. A God who is not powerful cannot help, much less save. What can you then sing? "O God our [well-intended but less-than-sovereign Spirit of helpfulness] in ages past?"

There is more:

St. Philip's isn't the only local church to re-examine its language. Other local religious leaders already are eschewing the use of "Lord" for similar reasons.

First Congregational United Church of Christ in Midtown even has a different name for The Lord's Prayer. They call it "The Prayer of Our Creator."

"We do still use the word 'Lord' on occasion, but we are suspicious of it," First Congregational pastor Briget Nicholson said. "Inclusive language is important. Our United Church of Christ hymnal does have hymns that will say 'Father' and 'God.' but the next verse will always then say 'Mother' and 'God.' It's gender-balanced."

Pastor Briget Nicholson is "suspicious" of the word "Lord" but will use it sparingly, so long as other terms -- terms not found in the Bible as divine names -- "balance" the use of "Lord."

As one might suspect, other doctrinal changes are afoot in these churches as well. Deacon Lindell explains that his church doesn't stress "the blood and gore of the crucifixion." The St. Philip's congregation appears to play to the liberal wing of the Episcopal Church USA while Pastor Briget Nicholson is identified on her church's Web site along with her female "spouse."

When you replace the biblical names for God with those of your own choosing, you create a new religion. The evidence for this flows directly from the rejection of the Bible as the authoritative revelation of God's names. If the Bible cannot be trusted to name God correctly, then why accept its verdict on homosexuality? If the biblical names for God can be updated and renovated, then why not do the same with the doctrine of atonement?

Reporter Stephanie Innes, describing the "Come & See" worship service at St. Philip's, noted: "There's not much Lord in this church service." It may well be that more accurate words have never been used in such a report -- or more damning.

© All rights reserved, www.almohler.com. Used with permission.
Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary — the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention and one of the largest seminaries in the world. He is a theologian and ordained minister, as well as an author, speaker and host of his own radio program The Albert Mohler Program.

May Hymn of the Month

Here is this months wonderful hymn, again I will be talking about it more in depth in the coming weeks, but I would like you to have the chance to read it over and dwell on these rich and reassuring words.

Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee

’Tis not that I did choose Thee,
For Lord, that could not be;
This heart would still refuse Thee,
Hadst Thou not chosen me.
Thou from the sin that stained me
Hast cleansed and set me free;
Of old Thou hast ordained me,
That I should live to Thee.

’Twas sov’reign mercy called me
And taught my op’ning mind;
The world had else enthralled me,
To heav’nly glories blind.
My heart owns none before Thee,
For Thy rich grace I thirst;
This knowing, if I love Thee,
Thou must have loved me first.

April Hymn of the Month:

Not What My Hands Have Done
By: Horatius Bonar

“Justification is still the article of a standing or falling church” -John Murray

This fundamental, essential and Biblical truth, 'justification through faith alone' became the keynote of the Reformation and has been a central tenet of God's true church till the present day and will continue 'until he comes'. It is unfortunate that many of God's devoted children are not familiar with this doctrine. Horatious Bonar understood clearly what it meant to be justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and these themes run richly through the lines of this beautiful and engaging hymn.

All true songs of worship and adoration to God must be songs that start with Biblical truth and are held together by Biblical themes. I cannot imagine a more telling example than this great hymn, and for our enrichment, let’s walk together through it to learn afresh the glorious Gospel of God's amazing grace.

Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I fell or do can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load

Titus 3:5
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.

It is important to understand that our works don't earn our favor and right standing with God. This by no means negates our requirement to live righteous lives, but instead becomes the driving force behind our newly revived hearts. When God sets the sinner free through faith in Jesus Christ, we then respond in thankfulness and love to the God who freed us, and willingly give ourselves over to Him. The reverse of this statement however cannot be found in scripture. We cannot be righteous enough on our own to earn approval from God, we are sinful human beings, and from the start we have no righteousness of our own with which to stand before a holy and righteous God.

To emphasize this point, lets look back toward the beginning of the great story of redemption, where we see one of the most startling statements in the Bible:

Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (emphasis added)

Now this of course takes place before the flood. Before God wiped out all those sinful people right? Certainly after Noah entered the ark and all those wretched sinners were drowned things would change, right? Wrong, listen to Gods words as Noah comes off of the ark:

Genesis 8:18-21 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by their families from the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. (emphasis added)

We find so many other passages that reflect this same truth, but I think none more profoundly speak about our inability to please God, or seek for Him on our own as Romans 3:10-12 does;

as it is written, " THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS;
 THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." (emphasis added)

We learn that this sinful nature corrupts us from the start, and this corruption penetrates into the deepest part of our being. We don’t have the ability to please God with righteous actions, because there isn't any righteousness within our sinful hearts to start with. In fact, we lack the moral ability to choose God and His righteousness without His sovereign and divine intervention in our lives.

Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not Mine, O Lord to Thee,
Can rid me of this dark unrest, and set my spirit free.

After we see our helplessness through the first verse, and even more so from the scriptures, we see our only hope, Christ, and Him crucified. This was the theme of the apostle Paul's life, and he proclaimed it everywhere he went until his death. Infact, this theme is so central, and this truth is so powerful, that when he went to the city of Corinth, he didn't waste his words, or his time on anything else.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Without this understanding, everything else falls flat. We have seen that we are sinful, and even our best attempts to please God on our own are guaranteed to fail. Now we see the only way to have a right standing with God; through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.

There is a defining word for the preaching of the Gospel. Substitution. We have to understand what took place on the cross to get the Gospel right.

Lets turn our Bibles together to 2 Corinthians 5:21:

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

To make sure you understand this, I would like to paraphrase:

God the Father made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.

Now, what does it mean that God made Jesus to be sin on our behalf? Does it mean that Jesus became a sinner on the cross? Not at all. Jesus was a spotless lamb, holy and undefiled. Then in what sense did God make Him sin?
In this sense, and I hope you get this: When Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross, God treated Him as though He had lived out our sinful, selfish lives, as though He had done all of the terrible things that we have ever done and will ever do.

Now, that is the first half of substitution, Jesus, sacrificing Himself in our place to satisfy God’s terrible wrath, but are you ready for the most wonderful part, look at the rest of the verse,

So that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Do you see it, Jesus took God’s wrath for us, He stood in our place, He became the substitution, but look, we become the substitution in His place. God looks at the believer, and doesn’t see our sin, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, so that we can stand before Him, on the basis of what Christ has done, not our works, nothing that we have, all from Christ, to the praise of His glory. Our sins have cost God a great price, because the price of sin is substitution.

Thy grace alone O God, to me can pardon speak;
Thy power alone, O Son of God, can this sore bondage break.
No other work, save Thine, no other blood will do;
no strength, save that which is divine, can bear me safely through

We are sinful, we are helpless, but God didn't leave us alone. He made a provision for forgiveness through Jesus Christ His son, through His perfect life, His suffering and death, and through the power of the resurrection. Now that in it and of itself is amazing, but the story doesn't end there. God takes it one step further and graciously reaches out to break our bondage of sin, that only He could break. This bondage runs to our core, it prevents us from desiring the righteousness of God, as we have seen. so through the work of God alone, He draws the sinner, into the state of regeneration, through the process of repentance on the road to redemption. This truth is hard to grasp, it alludes us if we attempt to casually rationalize it, however, if we are honest with the scriptures, we cannot get past it.

Jesus taught about the necessity of God's call for our salvation, and when He could have said or done anything to attract and keep a crowd, instead, He taught hard truth, where as John 6:66 tells us, that "from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more." What explanation is there for Jesus teaching in this manner. Well, I would say that no chapter in the Bible so strongly teaches about divine election and irresistible grace more than John chapter 6 does (which I urge you to read yourself), and He makes it clear that it isn't all the miracles and amazing things that He did that would bring someone to salvation. It isn't the monetary blessings from God, and fulfillment of lifelong dreams that keeps us in Christ. Instead, listen to how Jesus teaches that this bondage of sin is broken, to bring us to Christ.

John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

No I won't bore you with the grammatical details of the Greek behind this powerful text, but I will point out, that the words "no one" are an all inclusive statement. That means that not one person comes to Jesus "unless" God does something first. Now this truth is so important that in just 21 short verses, Jesus will repeat the same statement.

John 6:60-65
Therefore many of His discipler, when they heard this, said, "Thsi is a hard saying; who can understand it?" When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted by My Father."

Now the remainder of the song is powerful, and talks of our confidence that we have in Christ, not ourselves, but His righteousness, His works, His grace, and I fear that time will escape us in this short study, so I close with the final words of this song,

I love because He loveth me, I live because He lives

Remember, that God set His love on you before the foundation of the earth, and eternal life is only available to us, through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who now lives interceding on our behalf before God the Father almighty.

I pray that this study has enriched your life, as it has mine.

In His Service,
Brian Bivens