Category Archives: scripture

Humble Orthodoxy

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Humble Orthodoxy – Joshua Harris teaches on 2 Timothy2:14-26.  Are you reacting to the previous generation or God’s approval? Do you try to prove yourself right or desire to turn people to Christ.  What does it mean to be a generation approved by God? Handle the word of truth rightly…

2 Timothy2:14-26 – Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.  Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.  Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.  If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

The Tree

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Been thinking lately through various issues of ministry.  One analogy comes from a tree that fell down in our church yard.  The tree has probably been 20-30 years old or even older judging from the diameter of the trunk.  But after a recent storm, it was blown over revealing a hollow interior.  In the span of years or even decades the rotting on the inside of the tree weakened it so much that it would not be able to withstand a wind storm and was uprooted.

From the outside, the tree looked fine.  It was still growing, the roots were still getting nutrients, but the decay on the inside of the tree was hidden from view.  It was only after a mighty storm did it reveal the true nature of the tree.

And so it is with the Christian life and even ministry.  Sin, no matter how small, if not dealt with immediately, will continue to linger and linger, creating a cancer that when fully grown will be destructive.  Bitterness, unforgiveness, secret lusts, love of money, infidelity, etc… all start off as small sins.  In the end, though, is always death.  If not dealt with, these small roots will grow into something so destructive, that nothing can stop, except the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

So a lesson from the rotting, hollow tree.  The tree not only died, when it fell down, it broke down on the neighboring property and even damaged other things.  Sin is not just a personal issue, it has repercussions that will affect many around.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged. – 2 Cor. 7:10-13

but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  – James 1:14-15

The Center of Paul’s Theology

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Paul’s theology has a center.  In his teachings, some things are more important than others.  At the same time, each is not equally important or controlling to him.  There is a large circle of interest.  Within that circle, each interest is more or less central.  Safest ground is best when we identify passages where he is more or less clearly providing summaries that have an overview sweep in his own words or utilizing formalizations of his core concerns.

1 Corinthians 2:2 in the context of 1:18-3:22.  Paul’s concern is his defense of his apostolic ministry.  “For I did not judge to know anything except Jesus Christ and this Jesus Christ crucified.”  This is his basic theological epistemology.  He wanted to know nothing except the crucified Christ.  In a similar vein, 2 Timothy 2:8 “remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, this is my Gospel.”

In 1 Cor. 15:1-4 Paul recounts the gospel he preached to them.  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.  The resurrection of Jesus is not just an aspect of his teaching, it is his teaching in its entirety.  This disposes us to say that Paul’s theology is his gospel.  Paul preaches a gospel-theology.  Or if we view things as concentric circles, the center of these concentric circles is Christ and his death and resurrection.

Little Gidding IV

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Dr. Gaffin referenced this poem in talking about the connection between the baptism of Jesus and Pentecost in which the Holy Spirit was given.

For the messianic people to escape the destructive aspect of the messiah’s own baptism of holy spirit and fire, for them to be saved from fire, (even for there to be a messianic people), eschatological judgment, for this to happen, there needs to be a messiah that must go through eschatological judgment that the sins his people deserves. Because of that he emerges triumphant from this baptism ordeal as that happens. He must be baptized with condemnation and curse. When the messianic baptizer comes to baptize his people, just as he promised he would, when that happens, fire must happens.

Tongues as of fire that rests on each one. How are we to understand that sign? Very frequently the fire-tongue as symbolizing the refining or purifying aspect of the spirit’s work. Also the empowering of the spirit. The fire of destruction has been exhausted, abated. The fire is there but does not destroy or harm. The fire has been domesticated. Spirit and fire had both connotations…

In as much as the outpouring of the spirit has clear affinities with the messianic ordeal, the death and resurrection of Christ. Cross and resurrection belongs together. Pentecost has the efficacious empowering of the church for service, but also the effective demonstration that the church is subject to God’s wrath. What takes place during Pentecost, with background of who Jesus is, both baptizer and baptized, the church is no longer under condemnation, the church is the justified people of God.

The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tongues declare
The one discharge from sin and error.
The only hope, or else despair
Lies in the choice of pyre of pyre—
To be redeemed from fire by fire.

Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar Name
Behind the hands that wove
The intolerable shirt of flame
Which human power cannot remove.
We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire.

- TS Elliot, Little Giddling

to live is Christ and to die is gain…

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i have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer i who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me — galatians 2:20

but may it never be that i would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and i to the world — galatians 6:14

if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? — luke 9:23-25

he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his woulds we are healed. — isaiah 53:5

greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends — john 15:13

when Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. — dietrich bonhoeffer

true fasting

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read this a couple weeks back, but everytime i open my bible, God brings me back to this passage… will wait and see why… isaiah 58:3-12…

‘why have we fasted and You do not see? why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’

behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and drive hard all your workers.

“behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist you do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.

“is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? is it for bowing one’s head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?

“is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?

“is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

“then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

“then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry, and He will say, “here I am ‘ if you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.

“and the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones;
and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

“those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

amos…

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hear this word which the LORD has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of egypt: “you only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment? does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? does a young lion growl from his den unless he has captured something? does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no bait in it? does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all? if a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble? if a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it? surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets. a lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! who can but prophesy? — amos 3:1-8

God speaks through his prophets… been reading and meditating through some major and minor prophets in the old testament. God upholds his name and keeps his covenant with his people. He is a God of justice and righteousness. He is holy and despises sin. He is a God who will uphold the innocent, the helpless, the oppress, the hungry, the sick, the fatherless, the imprisoned… everything that Jesus said that He would do was fulfilled…

our God is a God who enters into time and space and history and fulfills his promises. our God is faithful.

truly amazing…

The LORD saves… and is glorified… and is faithful

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the book of isaiah has been one of those books in the bible that slows me down. there are so many things I just don’t understand/hard to understand.

i read through isaiah 36-37 today about how assyria threatened to destroy judah, but through hezekiah’s prayer and isaiah’s prophecy, God saves the day and His glory is made known.

hezekiah ends his pray by pleading with God… “now, o LORD our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, LORD, are God.” isaiah 37:20

isaiah says this is what God says… “For I will defend this city to save it for My own sake and for My servant david’s sake.”

God will act according to His will… for His name sake and to keep His covenant. God is faithful to His word and is faithful to uphold his holiness, glory, and majesty.

a recurring theme throughout isaiah and the histroy of israel is the forming of alliances with unholy allies either for convenience sake, security, wealth, etc, but God wanted His people to rely solely on Him. He wanted a people who would be HIS people and HIS alone.

and that continues to be His desire for us. He wants us to be a people who will look to Him, to cry to Him, to seek Him in all things… for all things… He wants us to be His people and He wants to be our God. All to Him for His name sake and for His glory and for His Kingdom…

sacrifice/offerings

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Both Cain and Abel came from the same parents, with the same upbringing, the same God… both knew God… both gave offerings to God…

“The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.” Genesis 4:4-5.

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

God does not leave Cain in his sin. God graciously rebukes Cain, but even with this grace, Cain rejects the living God to pursue his own interests. This is humanity at its lowest.

The story of Cain and Abel represents two sides of the human condition. Dignity and depravity. We know the good we ought to do but so easily choose that which is depraved. Why? Why? why? We are deceived, we are selfish, we are depraved… we are dead spiritually… we know God, but we choose to reject him…

Why? because we chose to.

church growth

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been thinking recently about growth in general. how do we as a church grow? how do we as christians grow?

the common answer is that God does the growing. so what do we as christians do? plant the seeds, water the seeds, prune the leaves, cut off dead branches… how do we mature? how do we change from immature to mature? how do we grow from young adults to elders?
God. 1 corinthians 3

stepping out in faith; taking on of more responsibilities is a step; open to being stretched, challenged, and used; serving; being mentored, pruned…

how does the church grow? when the body is united with christ… we cut off those that aren’t growing… we prune those areas that are growing. we remain in Him… john 15