Presbuteros

Knowledge of Self and of God

2012-01-09T10:40:00.004-06:00

It's interesting to see how Calvin talks about the interconnectedness of our knowledge of God and our knowledge of self. He claims that unless we have a realistic understanding of ourselves we will see little need for God, beyond recognizing His creative power. But when we begin to grasp the depth of our sin we begin to understand our desperate need of a Savior. The knowledge of God as Creator may be almost instinctive for many of us, in fact you could claim that it is part of our human nature to respond to God in this way, almost a religious impulse; but the knowledge of God as Redeemer depends, at least to a degree, upon our apprehension of our fallen state. Calvin writes, "Accordingly, the knowledge of ourselves not only arouses us to seek God, but also, as it were, leads us by the hand to find Him." (1:1).

On the other hand, without knowledge of God there can be no true knowledge of self. We are experts at remaining, willfully, in ignorance, pretending that there is no problem when, self-evidently, there is. We love to judge ourselves by lesser standards and so find ourselves spotless. Calvin says, "For we always seem to ourselves righteous and upright and wise and holy - this pride is innate in all of us - unless by clear proofs we stand convinced of our own unrighteousness..." (1:2) It's only when we set ourselves against the standard of God's purity that we are able to recognize the folly of our sin. Only when we see the brightness of His glory are we able to see ourselves as we really are.

So, which comes first, knowledge of self or knowledge of God? Logically, the latter; but in reality we need both. And the knowledge of God, which goes hand-in-hand with knowledge of self, begins when true reverence and love are joined.

On Chastity

2012-01-05T09:55:00.005-06:00

I'm working my way, with others, through Calvin's Institutes, and have just come across an interesting sentence in the preamble, in which Calvin addresses the French king, Francis. He outlines a number of objections to the work of the Reformation often raised by Roman Catholics. In a section refuting the claim that the Reformers are violating the faith delivered by the Church Fathers (that is, the early Christian leaders such as Augustine), Calvin points out that one of the Fathers denied the need for a celibate priesthood.

"It was a father who denied that marriage should be forbidden to the ministers of the church, and declared that cohabitation with one's wife could be chastity." (Prefatory Address Section 4. p22 in the Battles translation).

Obviously, Calvin's point was that opposition to married clergy was not universal in the early Church, indeed, that at least one authority (Pathnutius the Confessor) spoke out strongly against clerical celibacy. Except in Roman Catholic circles, that is a dead argument nowadays. We no longer have to argue in favor of married pastors.

A more interesting point concerns Calvin's use of the word "chastity." He uses it to describe the cohabitation of a husband and wife. In this, he seems to support those who interpreted the, now defunct, line in the constitution of the PC(USA) that used to hold church officers to the standard of "chastity in singleness or faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman," to mean that sexual behavior outside marriage could be regarded as, in some sense, "chaste." I don't think that this argument holds at all. Calvin appears to be referring to the purity of a relationship; he would hardly have countenanced modern libertarianism as chastity. It's interesting to see, though, how things have changed, and how language intended to promote moral purity can be twisted to include licentiousness.

The Catholics accused Calvin of moving the boundaries of belief. His reply, that the Medieval Church had moved the boundaries, and that he was simply reinstating them, is equally valid for us. When Evangelicals within the denomination are accused of moving away from traditional Presbyterianism, one has to ask whether boundaries of belief are being moved or reinstated.

Just Imagine

2012-01-03T20:53:00.004-06:00

I note that Cee lo Green has been getting in trouble with the musical purists for messing around with John Lennon's lyrics while singing "Imagine" on New Year's Eve. As you may know, Lennon's original, which has become something of an anthem for secularism, contains the line "imagine... nothing to kill or die for, and no religions too". Green decided to change this about a bit and, on live, national TV, sang: "imagine.. and all religions true."

I suppose the question is, which version is more unacceptable to orthodox Christianity? The first is clearly unacceptable. It is a straight denial of the existence of God.

Imagine there's no heaven.

It's easy if you try.

No hell below us,

Above us only sky.

Imagine all the people

Livin' for today.

You, you may say I'm a dreamer,

But I'm not the only one.

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one.

Very nice, I'm sure. A celebration of atheism. Not a bad tune, but the lyrics are beyond the pale for Evangelical Christianity. I remember someone asking if they could play the song at a wedding. They had never taken any notice of the words, they just liked the tune. The answer was, "No!" in case you're interested.

But it's worth wondering whether the bigger threat isn't posed by Cee lo Green's alternative. You can't tell from the clip whether he is singing "all religions true" or "all religion's true" (i.e. all religion is true). Either way, he seems to be advocating a radical inclusion that is equally offensive to Evangelical Christianity. If Green is really claiming that all religions are equally true, then he is ignoring their competing claims. This is the universalism that has infected the mainline churches and undermined evangelism. If all religions are true, then we have no business seeking to convince anyone of the claims of Christ. It is not possible for us to praise Jesus Christ as "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" because Buddha is just as much a way to God. Every truth claim in the Bible becomes relative since we assert the metanarrative of universalism. Christ is not the way, he is, at best, a way. How dare we judge another person's religious experience?

Perhaps it is this non-judgmentalism that lies at the heart of Green's attempt to re-write Lennon's lyrics. I have a better idea. Just dump them. Neither atheism nor post-modern relativism can answer the longing in the heart. That longing can only be satisfied by Jesus Christ. No amount of re-writing is going to change that.

Believing and Belonging - Covenant

2011-10-25T09:47:00.002-05:00

My Covenant with Christ

and His Church

Believing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, I accept Him as my own personal Savior and acknowledge Him as my Master and Lord.

I confess my sins, repent of them, and put my whole trust in the love and mercy of God, revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Trusting in the Holy Spirit for guidance, I shall seek to lead a consistent Christian life, honoring Christ in all of my relationships.

I promise to be a faithful member of the Church, supporting it through prayer, Bible study, regular attendance at worship, unselfish Christian service, and stewardship of my life and possessions.

Believing and Belonging IX

2011-10-19T16:35:00.004-05:00

IX : THE SACRAMENTS

I Corinthians 11:23-26

Two sacraments are offered in Presbyterian churches – the sacrament of Baptism and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Both were established by Christ.

Baptism

In His last commission to His disciples, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”[1] In the same way, Peter issued a call to baptism in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost. “Repent and be baptized every one of you,” he said, “in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”[2] Baptism is a symbol of cleansing from sin. So, Ananias said to Paul, “Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away.”[3] The sacrament of baptism is the ordinance of admission to membership in the Church. Generally, in the Presbyterian Church, baptism is administered by sprinkling, not by immersion. In this, the imagery is taken from the Old Testament. During the Exodus, the people of Israel were told to sprinkle the blood of a lamb upon their doorposts to show that they belonged to God’s people.[4] In the same way, we believe that this sacrament demonstrates that we also belong to God’s people. It is no sense a guarantee of salvation, simply a sign of obedience. It must be accompanied by faith.

However, it is not necessarily the person being baptized who must have faith. “Let the little children come to me,” said Jesus.[5] In the Presbyterian Church, children of believing parents are baptized in infancy and claimed for Christ. When they are old enough to understand and to accept Jesus for themselves, they must make their own profession of faith, confirming the vows made on their behalf by their parents. In this way, Presbyterians draw a comparison between the Old Testament ordinance of circumcision and the New Testament sacrament of baptism. Before we even know what it means to believe, we are shown what it means to belong.

The Lord’s Supper

The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, was instituted by Jesus on the night on which He was betrayed. Gathering His disciples about the Passover table, “Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat, this is my body.’ Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”[6] This sacrament has always been at the heart of the Christian Church.

The observance of Holy Communion is a time of re-consecration, when Christian people come together at His table, in response to His invitation, and take a new oath of allegiance to Him. Therefore, all who love the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior are invited and urged to participate. It is not necessary for you to be a member of the Church to receive communion. In light of the seriousness with which this sacrament is regarded, it is only offered five or six times a year.

[1] Mark 16:15,16

[2] Acts 2:38

[3] Acts 22:16

[4] Exodus 12:7

[5] Luke 18:16

[6] Matthew 26:26-28

Believing and Belonging VIII

2011-10-17T11:50:00.002-05:00

VIII: THE PRESBYTERIAN FELLOWSHIP

I Timothy 4:12-16

Out of the Protestant Reformation there emerged several denominations which held to the same basic Christian faith as that witnessed to by the apostles but which differed in form of government. One of these denominations is the Presbyterian. Our church holds to a system of government shared by more than 90 million people around the world.

The Presbyterian Church has always stood for the sovereignty of God, the supremacy of the Scriptures, the freedom and responsibility of every human being, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, the necessity of works of compassion and justice, and the obligation to preach the Gospel to the whole world.

The Presbyterian Church has a representative form of government whose work is carried on by presbyters or elders elected by the people. There are four branches of government in the Presbyterian Church, all of which are made up of teaching and ruling elders.

The four elements of the Presbyterian system are: the session; the presbytery; the synod; and, the General Assembly.

The Session

Each local church is governed by the session composed of the pastor or minister, who is the “teaching elder”, and a group of lay people who have been elected by the members of the church and ordained to this office; these are called “ruling elders.” The number of ruling elders in each church is usually determined by the size of the church. The pastor is the moderator (convener) of session meetings. The session has charge of the spiritual oversight of the congregation. It is responsible for the five purposes of the church: worship, discipleship, fellowship, evangelism, and mission. This work is divided among various ministry teams or committees, consisting of both elders and members of the congregation. Generally, the session is a permission-giving body, deciding on general principles. Most of the work of the session actually takes place in the ministry teams. In every respect, these teams are responsible to the session.

Some churches still operate with a separate board of deacons, charged with the care of those in need and the administration of the finances of the church. Increasingly, these functions have been included in the responsibilities of the session.

The Presbytery

The presbytery is the governing agency of the Church through which individual churches in a particular area are united in ministry and mission. Pastors of local churches are members of the presbytery and not of the churches they serve. The presbytery consists of all of the pastors and representative elders from each church within its bounds. The presbytery oversees the process of ordination, which enables men and women to serve as pastors. It also plays a part in calling pastors to particular churches, and in dismissing them to serve elsewhere.

The presbytery has general oversight of the churches. Its chief duty is to unify and to make more effective the work of the individual churches, to make provision for evangelism and church growth, and to promote the work of the Church as a whole. Meetings of the presbytery take place three or four times a year; they are presided over by a moderator who has been elected by the body.

The Synod

The synod is made up of a group of presbyteries. Synod lines conform, roughly, to state lines with some having several states within their borders. Meetings of the synod are held on a regular basis, with representation from every presbytery. The moderator of synod is elected by commissioners.

In many respects, the functions of the synod are largely administrative. However, the synod does have the power to hear and judge all complaints and appeals from decisions of presbyteries. It examines the records of presbyteries and provides yet another check or balance to prevent abuse of any kind. It has no final authority on any matter that affects the doctrine and constitution of the Church.

The General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest court of the denomination. It meets every other year, and consists of commissioners from the presbyteries. These commissioners are elected by presbytery. In this way, every local church has the opportunity to say who will attend General Assembly. Meetings of the Assembly are presided over by a moderator elected by the commissioners. As in the case of the presbytery or synod, this person may be either a teaching elder (pastor) or a ruling elder.

The General Assembly is the highest court of the Church. It has the power, when cases are referred to it, to uphold or reverse the actions of synods or presbyteries. However, the General Assembly speaks to the Church, not for it. Any decision which requires a change in the constitution must be approved by a vote of the presbyteries.

Through the work of the General Assembly, and its agencies, the denomination seeks to advance the Great Ends of the Church. These have been identified as:

· the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;

· the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;

· the maintenance of divine worship;

· the preservation of the truth;

· the promotion of social righteousness; and

· the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

Membership

Membership in the Church is open to all who will accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and, confessing their sins, will seek to follow Him. Members of the Church are expected to endeavor to live a Christian life, to attend worship regularly, to use their spiritual gifts for the building up of the body and to serve others, and to support the Church as the Lord enables them to do.

There are three ways by which an individual may be received into membership:

· By profession of faith (for those who have never confessed faith in Christ as Lord);

· By reaffirmation of faith (for those who have not been active members in any church for some time); and

· By transfer from another congregation.

Profession of Faith

The following questions are asked of those who wish to be received into membership by profession or reaffirmation of faith. The questions are normally asked during a meeting with members of the Session.

Pastor Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?

Response I do.

Pastor Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in His grace and love?

Response I do.

Pastor Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying His word and showing His love?

Response I will, with God’s help.

Pastor Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, share in its worship and ministry through your prayers and gifts, your study and service and so fulfill your calling to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

Response I will, with God’s help.

Pastor Will you devote yourself to the church’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer?

Response I will, with God’s help.

Believing and Belonging VII

2011-10-13T16:54:00.003-05:00

VII THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Acts 2:38-47

The earliest records of the Christian Church are found in the Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles (Letters) of the New Testament. The growth of the Church was not really organized, but churches sprang up spontaneously wherever the Gospel was shared and as it was demonstrated in the lives of those who followed Jesus.

Christ left no definite plans for the organization of His Church; but He gave His disciples:

· A declaration of faith on which the Church would be founded – “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”[1]

· A mission for the Church to fulfill – “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”[2]

· A promise of continuing fellowship – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”[3]

All classes and types of people joined the Christian Church. As time went on its membership included some slaves and some free born; some poor and some very rich; some with pagan backgrounds and some raised in the strict Jewish tradition; some illiterate and some learned. The wonder, therefore, was not that there were differences of opinion within the group, but rather that there was a real sense of fellowship and an amazing growth of the Gospel throughout the known world. Within a hundred years, the apostles and those who followed them, empowered by the Holy Spirit, had carried the life and worship of the Church even beyond the bounds of the Roman Empire, and had written the books and letters which we now know as the New Testament.

The unity of the Church was due, to some extent at least, to the fact that each group of Christians elected officers to preside over them. They called these men elders or bishops. The names were used interchangeably; elders and bishops were identical in their duties and responsibilities. In addition to these were deacons, who assisted the elders with the care of the poor. Other office holders were sometimes called apostles, pastors, teachers, or evangelists.

With the widely differing backgrounds within the Church, there naturally developed differing forms of government in different areas. The Christians of the first century seemed to trouble themselves very little about these differences. Each local church seems to have adopted the form of government best suited to its needs. All local churches were united in the basics of the Christian faith.

The early Church was definitely and passionately evangelistic. Born in a glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Church was gripped with a tremendous conviction of the power of Christ to save and the need of all people for that salvation. It was the strength of that conviction and the zeal of that evangelism which enabled the early Church to make so deep an impression on the pagan world.

In His teachings, Jesus always stressed the importance of the individual, but as centuries went by and the Church grew, there developed a system of graded priesthood; and, as the authority in the local church centered more and more in one leader, the head of the Church in Rome, because of Rome’s size and political importance, began to assume more and more authority. When Constantine became emperor, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and the head of the Church in Rome began to use military and political measures to spread the power of the Church. Eventually, material values seemed to be of greater importance than spiritual truths.

During the Middle Ages, power-hungry men saw the Church as a means of personal advancement. Corruption set in. Yet, even in these dark times the Spirit of God spoke to His people; authentic Christianity survived, despite those who attempted to usurp the Gospel to their own ends. A new movement of the Spirit led some Christians to seek to recover what was in danger of being lost by translating the Bible into the languages of the people. A new desire for learning developed; the common people began to read the Word of God for their first time in their own tongues, instead of struggling with Latin, which few understood. In different countries, leaders arose to voice the yearnings of the people. So, we find in England, John Wycliffe; in Bohemia, John Hus; in Florence, Savonarola; and, later, in Germany, Martin Luther; in France, John Calvin; and in Scotland, John Knox – strong men of God who tried to reform the Church in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament. This resulted in the birth of the Protestant or Evangelical Church.

[1] Matthew 16:16

[2] Mark 16:16

[3] Matthew 28:20

Believing and Belonging VI

2011-10-10T14:12:00.003-05:00

VI PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY

Psalm 119:9-16

We learned in our study of the Christian life that growth depends upon our seeking God’s wisdom through prayer and Bible study.

Prayer

To be a Christian without praying is like trying to live without breathing. Christ left to His Church no form of organization; but He left it with something far more important – an experience of power through prayer.

There are certain things that should accompany each approach to God in prayer. These are set forth in Isaiah’s vision of the glory of the Lord. The following combination Bible study will help you to understand what these things are.

A STUDY OF PRAYER

Isaiah 6:1-8

What aspects of prayer do we find in this story of the calling of the prophet Isaiah?

1. An experience of awe in the presence of God (vs. 1-4).

2. A sense of sin, and confession of that sin (v.5).

3. An experience of forgiveness (vs.6,7).

4. An experience of complete dedication of self in the service of God (v.8).

It is of tremendous value in your growth as a Christian if you will enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer. Find a quiet place where, physically at rest and as free as possible from the noise and distractions of the world round about you, you can take your Bible in your hand and experience prayer for yourself. Many Christians find it best to begin the day with personal devotions. Often, a devotional booklet will prove useful.

There are three elements in what is called the prayer of petition: the request itself, the answer, and the acceptance of the answer. The first two are sure, the last depends upon you. You should pray knowing that you will be heard and that the Father will answer; but you must also be prepared to accept His answer. In the Bible, the story is told of a man with a withered hand who had often prayed for healing. Jesus said to him, ‘“Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.’[1]Christians should pray with hands outstretched, as it were, with minds alert, and with hearts eager for the blessing that He is eager to give.

Bible Study

“The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him” (Westminster Shorter Catechism). In addition, there are two other reasons why Christians should read their Bibles. The Westminster Shorter Catechism is also clear about these: “The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.”

1. Christians should make time to read the Bible each day. There are many plans available to help with this. It is better not to try to read the Bible from beginning to end, but to follow a program. This type of devotional reading schedule is designed to help us to learn “what man is to believe concerning God.”

2. There are various ways in which Christians have sought to find, through the Bible, “what duty God requires of man.” Some have opened the Bible randomly, expecting to find guidance. A much better way is to read with the aid of a devotional aid or Bible study booklet, such as “The Upper Room” or “These Days.” Find a quiet place; begin in prayer, thanking God for the blessings of this life. You could use the Psalms to help you to adore God for who He is. Then, read the assigned Scripture text. Don’t read the commentary immediately; instead, ask what the passage means to you. Does a particular phrase stand out? Jot it down in a journal or notebook. Then, read the devotional guide. Add any insights you glean to our own. Then, close your Bible and think for a moment what it would mean that day for you to follow what you have read. Pray again, commending the coming hours to God, asking for His guidance, mentioning any who have asked for prayer, or whose names are on your heart.

“Thy will be done”[2]is a prayer often to be found on the lips of Christians; but with that prayer there must be the realization that, if His will is to be done, it must be done by every one of us in our homes or at school, at work or at play, on the streets of our busy cities or the quiet country roads. Christ’s followers must prepare themselves to accept the answer to their prayer. If you really want to do God’s will then you must take the trouble to discern it, through prayer and the study of God’s Word; and then you must seek the courage to live out what you have learned.

[1] Matthew 12:13

[2] Matthew 6:10 (KJV)

Believing and Belonging V

2011-10-03T10:27:00.002-05:00

V : THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Ephesians 4:23-32

Jesus explained the entry point into the Christian life by telling Nicodemus, “You must be born again.”[1] This is “justification,” being made right with God. If you want to follow Jesus Christ you must begin as a child, depending entirely upon God as your Heavenly Father, on Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and upon the Holy Spirit as your Helper and Guide.

The Christian life is one of continual growth, which is called “sanctification” or growth in holiness. Just as growth is natural in a child, so a Christian must strive to grow in the knowledge and likeness of Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus, when a boy, “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,”[2] and in the same way, you should strive to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”[3]

The path of Christian discipleship is not an easy one. It is not passive. “Do this and you will live,”[4] said Jesus to a man who was knowledgeable in the Jewish law. The trouble was not that the man didn’t know what to do, it was that he didn’t do what he knew to do.

What, then, is Christian living? There are certain things that you, as a Christian, will put at the top of your priorities.

1. You will endeavor to grow in knowledge and favor with both God and others. Realizing your own weakness, you will seek help through daily prayer and the study of the Scriptures, and through fellowship with other Christians.

2. You will be faithful in attendance at worship, participating with joy.

3. You will do everything you can to make sure that you are present for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

4. You will be faithful in your everyday life, remembering that you are only a steward of the gifts God has given, and so you will be ready to share your time, talents and resources in His service.

5. You will be faithful to the church as your spiritual family, accepting responsibility for service on the basis of your gifts, as opportunity offers.

6. You will share your Christian experience with others, seeking always to relieve suffering, to help those in need, and to win others to Christ.

7. You will take an active interest in the extension of the Kingdom of God throughout the world.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,”[5] wrote the psalmist long ago. You never really know what a house is like until you live in it. And you never really know what Christ is like until you live in Him. The best way to test the Christian life is to try it. It’s not really a set of rules at all; it’s a relationship. And your profession of faith will be demonstrated, best of all, by the manner of your daily walk with Jesus Christ.

The Life to Come

No statement regarding the Christian life would be complete without a word regarding the life to come. Jesus spoke regularly about “eternal life,” meaning life after death. He seldom spoke about physical death, presumably because He regarded death not as an ending but as an incident on the Christian journey. We cannot see beyond death, but we can put our trust in One who has been there. “In my Father’s house are many rooms,” He said, “if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”[6] So, although we cannot know everything about life beyond the grave, we can know enough to have confidence in the promises of God. There are some things about which a Christian can be sure:

· Heaven is where Christ is.

· Death is a release from the bonds of pain and age.

· Broken relationships will be restored in heaven, when we meet those who have also trusted in Christ for salvation.

· There shall be no more tears in heaven except, perhaps, tears of joy, for we shall see our Savior face to face.

We shall follow Christ there, as here, and surely, as in His days on earth, He will go about “doing good.”[7]

Christians should not pretend to know the last details of what heaven will be like; but we should be confident in our hope in eternal life, which is the gift of God.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”[8]

[1] John 3:7

[2] Luke 2:52

[3] II Peter 3:18

[4] Luke 10:28

[5] Psalm 23:6

[6] John 14:2

[7] Acts 10:38

[8] I Corinthians 13:12

Believing and Belonging IV

2011-10-01T15:30:00.002-05:00

IV : SIN, CONFESSION AND SALVATION

I John 2:1-14

What is Sin?

“Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.”

(Westminster Shorter Catechism)

There are no exceptions. Sin is anything that breaks the law of God, and a sinner, therefore, in the simplest and plainest words, is a lawbreaker. The Bible never lets us lose sight of sin and always emphasizes our own individual responsibility for what we do wrong. Its teaching is that we are all lawbreakers and that in word, thought, and deed, we daily break the holy law of God. To break the law of God is not merely to violate His commandments, but to fail to live up to the requirements of the law. John sums up the teaching of Scripture concerning this matter when he says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”[1] The responsibility for our sins is ours because sin is a matter of the will. We all make our own choices – to keep or to break the law of God.

What is the Law of God?

To a young man who came to Him asking how he might gain eternal life, Jesus said, “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”[2] Later, when a lawyer asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”[3] Every thought and all action can be tested by these words. Do you worship God half-heartedly? That is sin. Do you disobey His commandments? That is sin. Will the fulfillment of your desires make another unhappy? That is sin. Do you think of yourself before others? That is sin. Do you fail to do what you know is right? That is sin.

Confession

Just as surely as we are responsible for our sins, so surely it is impossible for us to turn from them in our own strength. And so we turn to God, our Heavenly Father, conscious of our need of Him. This is the first step toward salvation – a sincere acknowledgement of our need. With this turning to God in sorrow over our sin, which is called repentance, there must necessarily follow confession. John says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive…”[4]

Salvation

Even as the Bible warns against sin, it also offers a way of salvation from the penalty of sin. “For the wages of sin is death,” writes Paul, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[5] “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved,”[6]is as true today as it was two thousand years ago.

When we say that you must believe in Jesus, we do not mean merely that you must believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, that He loves the world, and that He died for the sins of the world. What we mean is that you must be able to say that Christ died on the cross for you, that you are so sure of this that you put your whole trust in Him, believing that Christ alone is able to save you from the consequences of your sin. Believing in Jesus Christ is to be able to say with assurance, “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”[7] Keep your hope fixed on Christ; He is the only way to be freed from the power and the penalty of sin.

It is always faith that saves. If you never put your foot on the bridge you will never cross the stream. If you never put your hand to the plow you will never reap a harvest. If you never put your faith in Jesus Christ you will never find salvation. Trust Him; put your hand in His; walk with Him. This is salvation.

[1] I John 1:8

[2] Matthew 19:17

[3] Matthew 22:36-40

[4] I John 1:9

[5] Romans 6:23

[6] Acts 16:31

[7] Galatians 2:20

Believing and Belonging III

2011-09-25T10:29:00.002-05:00

III : THE HOLY SPIRIT – OUR GUIDE

John 16:7-13

“There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Jesus was always conscious of the Holy Spirit in His own life, but it was not until His work on earth was finished that the Holy Spirit came to His followers. So important was the coming of the Holy Spirit to the future of God’s Kingdom on earth that Jesus said to His disciples, “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Comforter will not come to you… When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.”[1]Jesus often emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit (called “The Comforter” in this text). He told His disciples that it would be through the Spirit that they would find the strength to be able to follow His commands. It was through the Spirit that they would be enabled to meet, courageously, the problems of living and of dying.

The strength of the early Church can only be explained by the coming of the Holy Spirit. Great numbers were added to the Church at that time. The timid were made bold. The weak became strong. The silent became vocal in witnessing to others of salvation through Jesus Christ. A third person of the Godhead had come in power – the Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Simply speaking, the Holy Spirit is the power of God let loose in the world; but that power has personality. Do you ever feel an inner urge to do a kindly or loving deed? Don’t ignore it. That urge is the Spirit whispering in your ear. Do you feel an impulse to give Christ a larger place in your life? Act upon it. The Spirit is speaking to you. Do you hear a still small voice within you impelling you to a pure and holy way of life? Respond to it. That is the Holy Spirit at work in you. Do you feel yourself strong in temptation, encouraged in moments of despair, comforted in times of sorrow? Accept His help. He is the Holy Spirit.

As Christ walked with His disciples, so the Holy Spirit walks with us today – convicting us of sin, warming our hearts, persuading and helping us to accept Jesus as our Savior, deepening our spiritual lives, making us witnesses for Christ, transforming our weaknesses into strength; and the fruits of this companionship are these: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”[2]

[1] John 16:7-8

[2] Galatians 5:22

Believing and Belonging II

2011-09-22T14:14:00.003-05:00

II : JESUS CHRIST – OUR SAVIOR

Philippians 2:5-11

“The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

The Son of God

Who is Jesus Christ? This is the question each one of us must answer. Two thousand years ago people were asking it. In those days, some said He was John the Baptist, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. But Jesus stressed the importance of answering the question for oneself. “Who do you say that I am?” asked Jesus. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”[1] It is upon this statement that the Church was built. Whatever others thought of Him, Jesus knew that He was the Son of God. Nothing less than that is acceptable as a confession of faith from those who would follow Him today.

The Gift of the Heavenly Father

Jesus Christ is the supreme gift of the Heavenly Father to His earthly children. “For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life,”[2] is the best-loved statement of the Christian faith. As the gift of God, Jesus had a mission and often spoke of it. “The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost,”[3] He said. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”[4] “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”[5]

Our Redeemer

Given for our salvation by the Father, and in turn giving Himself on the cross that we, through Him, might be saved, Jesus states His claim in no uncertain terms, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (that is, will not die eternally). “Do you believe this?”[6]

And so through the years, Christ remains a fact in history, a force in believing hearts, a guide to Christian living, and the Savior of all who will believe, placing into His nail-scarred hands the empty hands of faith.

What we believe is encapsulated, for us, in the words of the -

Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

[1] Matthew 16:15-16

[2] John 3:16

[3] Luke 19:10

[4] John 14:6

[5] John 10:10

[6] John 11:11

Believing and Belonging

2011-09-20T09:43:00.004-05:00

I'm going to post the chapters of a new booklet we are producing at First Presbyterian. It's called "Believing and Belonging" and is a brief introduction to church membership. Today, after an introduction, we look at the nature of God.

Believing and Belonging

What does it mean to be a member of First Presbyterian Church? As with any organization, there are expectations laid upon us all as members. There wouldn’t be much point in saying that we belonged unless that belonging actually made a difference in the things that we believe or in the way in which we live. So, what is expected of you when you become a member? This booklet will help you to understand and, we hope, decide that you, too, want to say that you believe and belong.

There are certain foundational beliefs to which you must subscribe if you are to be a member of the church. Don’t worry, we’re not going to ask you how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, or to explain supralapsarianism, whatever that is! But we do think you should be able to say who God is to you, and what Jesus Christ has done for you. In the following pages you will find an introduction to these core beliefs. It’s only an introduction, but it’s a start. We hope that you will learn more and more about what it means to call yourself a Christian as you take the journey of faith with us.

You will also find a basic introduction to the way the church is organized, locally, regionally, and nationally. You’ll learn some of the terminology that will help you to understand us. Hopefully, too, you will be able to discern the shared values that are important to us. Most of all, we hope that you will feel that you want to belong. Of course, you are already welcome, but if you become a member you will be able to participate in every aspect of the church’s life.

We hope that you will never stop asking questions, but we trust that, in the faith we share, you will find enough answers to be able to say that you take:

- The Father to be your Father;

- The Son to be your Savior and Lord; and

- The Holy Spirit to be your Helper and Guide.

May God bless you richly.

Alan Trafford.

I : GOD – OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

Isaiah 40:28-31

Who is God?

When the Westminster Confession of Faith was being written, in the seventeenth century, in London, those who had been charged with writing it had great difficulty in formulating a simple, yet comprehensive, definition of God. It was during this period, in which they were earnestly seeking the right words, that one of the ministers was asked to lead in prayer. The words that came from his lips have come down to us as a wonderful definition of our Heavenly Father. He began, “O God, who art a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in Thy being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.” The Westminster Assembly took this and used it as the definition of God. It is still a fitting definition for us, today.

The Basis of the Christian Religion

All religions are founded on belief in God, but they differ as to who and what He is. The Christian religion begins with revelation. It is based on the belief that Christ is the Son of God; its understanding of who God is and of what God is is based upon what Jesus Christ said about Him, and upon the life Jesus lived on earth. Many times, Jesus referred to God as His “Father.” This is how He prayed, and this is how He taught the disciples to pray. “When you pray,” He said, “say, Our Father, who art in heaven.”[1] Or, “In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”[2]

How Jesus Revealed God

Jesus said, “He that has seen me has seen the Father.”[3]And so it is that, as we look at Jesus, we see God. We see Jesus feeding the hungry, and we know that God cares about our physical needs and our economic problems. We see Him weeping at the tomb of Lazarus, and we know that God is sympathetic to our sufferings. We want to know whether God forgives our sins, and we see Jesus bending over a sinful woman and saying, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and sin no more.”[4] We worry about death, and we hear Him saying, “I am going there to prepare a place for you,”[5]and we are at rest. We hear Him speak, and we hear the voice of God. As Christians, we know who God is because He has revealed His nature through His Son.

[1] Luke 11:2

[2] Matthew 5:16

[3] John 14:9

[4] John 8:11

[5] John 14:2

Fellow Servants of Christ

2011-09-01T11:26:00.005-05:00

Read Colossians 4:10-18

Paul's letter to the Colossians concludes with a portrait gallery of pen-pictures of his circle of friends and helpers. They live again for us in these verses.

First: three Jewish Christians (v.11). Aristarchus, who shared Paul's imprisonment, possibly voluntarily in order to serve Paul. Mark, who had failed so badly once that Paul would not have him as a companion; he is now back in his place on the team and is fully accepted. (Do we ever harbor grudges and keep people down by reminding them of their failures?) And Jesus, called Justus. Some commentators have wondered whether he changed his name in order to avoid using the same name as his Savior.

Second: five Gentile Christians (non Jews), all very different. Epaphras, the man of prayer, who is "working hard" (v.13), which demonstrates that prayer and hard work are not mutually exclusive, and that prayer is not a way of avoiding work! Luke, a dear friend and a doctor, which was God's way of providing a personal health service for Paul. Demas, who later yielded to the pressures of the world and walked away from his responsibilities. Nympha, who opened her house for the Christians to meet in - a risky thing to do in those days. And Archippus, a leader in Colossae, who needed to be encouraged to keep going and not to give up.

Have you ever wondered how your Christian service would be summed up in one sentence?

Prayer: Lord God, so work in my life that I may, in the end, hear Your commendation, "Well done, good and faithful servant." To you alone be the glory. Amen.

Devoted to Prayer

2011-08-20T14:27:00.004-05:00

Read Colossians 4:2-9

1. Dealing with God (v.2-4). There are four factors in prayer to consider here: two concerned with our attitude in prayer ("devoted" and "watchful"); and two concerned with the content of our prayer ("thankful", "pray for us, too"). "Watchful" suggests the sentry, on alert. Alert for what? Could it be for the voice of God answering our prayer? Do we make time to listen? "Pray for us," says Paul, reminding us not to be self-centered in our prayer.

2. Dealing with Non-Believers (v.5,6). "Be wise" suggests careful thought about our relationships with non-Christians; we have to remember that though they may not read or value the Bible, they are "reading" us. We may be the only bible they ever read. "Seasoned with salt" suggests deliberately including in our conversation comments which draw attention to God's plan for the great scheme of things.

3. Dealing with One Another (v.7-9). Paul doesn't stop at asking for their prayers, he takes care to supply them with information to help them to pray (v.8). "Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother" (v.9), was in fact a slave who had run away from Colossae and had come under Paul's influence in Rome. He is "one of you"; this means he is to be accepted back as if nothing had happened.

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I have stopped bothering to pray about... Draw me back to You. Give me a heart for those in need. Through Christ my Lord. Amen.

Yielding to Christ

2011-08-16T14:55:00.006-05:00

Read Colossians 3:18-4:1

1. Where Problems Start. Most of our lives are lived in some sort of relationship with other people - at home with our families, where each member has to learn to make some sacrifices for the sake of the family as a whole; at leisure with our friends, when we get together to enjoy common activities; or at work, where employer and employee, manager and apprentice are all involved in a network of relationships. We were made to live like this, but we quickly discover that this is where most of our problems begin. Our relationships can bring us great joy, but they can also result in quarrels, misunderstandings, jealousies, and so on.

2. Where Answers Begin. The key phrases are "in the Lord" (v.18), "pleases the Lord" (v.20), "reverence for the Lord" (v.22), "serving/working for the Lord" (vs.23, 24), and, most explicitly of all, "you also have a Master" (4:1). In other words, we do not rest content with training to be better managers, studying domestic relationships, etc. We are to see all these relationships as coming under the control of Christ. We are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). If this principle was really put into practice it would solve many of our problems, for what too frequently becomes a collision of wills would become a common concern to know and to do the will of God.

Prayer: Lord God, You have involved so many people in the story of my life, and I am grateful; help me, in all of my relationships, to seek to do Your good and perfect will. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

Put on Love

2011-08-13T14:48:00.004-05:00

Read Colossians 3:12-17

Here, we are called upon to do two different things - First "Put on" or "clothe" (v.12, 14); second, "Let..." (v.15,16). In the first case we have to take positive steps to do something; in the second we have a more passive part to play - we allow something to influence us. Both have their place in Christian discipleship.

1. "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (v.12). Here are five qualities which, as Christians, we are to cultivate. Paul does not mean that we have to pretend to have them, putting them on like an actor's make-up. He means to cultivate them as a gardener might cultivate flowers. We are also to "put on love" (v.14). This is like the string on which the pearls are threaded; without love the Christian virtues can be an untidy, unseemly mess; with love, they are orderly, winsome, and attractive.

2. "Let the peace of Christ rule..." (v.15). We cannot in any sense contribute to this; but we can open ourselves to Jesus Christ, in prayer and in trust, so that He controls us in thought, word and deed. His peace flows from absolute confidence in God. It is not affected by changes in our circumstances or in the world round about us. Then, Paul adds, "let the word of Christ dwell..." (v.16). Again, this is a case of keeping our minds and hearts open, remembering His Word, meditating on His commands. Results are sure to follow.

Prayer: Lord God, I need Your peace in my life to enable me to live at peace with others; so give me Your love, also, for I cannot be at war with those I truly love. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Therefore...

2011-08-09T20:32:00.004-05:00

Read Colossians 3:1-11

1. The Root of Christian Behavior. The apostle turns from matters of Christian doctrine and the special problems of the church at Colossae; now he deals with down-to-earth problems, specifically, with the question of behavior. These are not really separate subjects; they are closely linked, as verse 1 proves: "raised with Christ" means sharing all of the benefits of His death and resurrection - forgiveness, peace with God, salvation, the promise of eternal life, and so on. "(S)eek the things above" means "aim for those things which will please and honor God." To put it rather bluntly, a corpse has no appetite for the food which once nourished it - and Christians have "died" to their old, sinful way of life.
2. The Fruits of Christian Belief. So, we reach the great "therefore" of verse 5. We are to deal sternly with all kinds of evil - immorality (v.5), anger (v.8), lies (v.9) etc. Then, suddenly, Paul changes the metaphor. Instead of using the illustration of dying and rising again, he speaks instead of "putting off" the old way of life, like taking off an old suit. He then continues by urging the Colossians to "put on" the Christian life, like a new set of clothes.

Finally (v.11), Paul shows one outstanding consequence of this new life: it breaks down barriers - racial (Gentile and Jew), religious (circumcised and uncircumcised), cultural (barbarian and Scythian), and social (slave and free). Christ makes us one, whatever the accident of our birth.

Prayer: Lord God, You have given Jesus to be my Savior and my living Lord; I can do no less than to give my full allegiance to You. In the name of Christ. Amen.

A Full and Perfect Sacrifice

2011-08-06T14:48:00.005-05:00

Read Colossians 2:16-23

The teachers of error at Colossae were saying that the the cross of Christ was not the only, complete, and final way to be forgiven and accepted by God. That argument has recurred throughout the history of the church. Whenever this argument is voiced it is generally accompanied by an insistence that various rules or laws have to be obeyed in order to gain acceptance. The argument seems to be that, if Jesus Christ did not pay the toll fee in full, then those who want to cross the bridge to reconciliation with God must pay in part themselves. In Colossae, this led to rules about what could and could not be done on the Sabbath (Sunday for the early Church), rules about what could be eaten, and when, and so on. This was, in effect, a throw-back to how the Jews had understood religion before the time of Christ. It is, essentially, a religion based on merit. It confuses actions necessary for our salvation with actions that are appropriate because of our salvation. It mistakes the fruit of faith for its root.

Merit-based religion is still very popular. It can be detected easily. Those who practice merit-based religion are very fond of doing what verse 16 forbids. Some of the taboos are listed in verse 21. They contradict the plain teaching of Jesus in Mark 7:14-23. Notice how Paul restates the point in Colossians 2:23 - keeping strict rules and regulations may appear to be a very faithful way of living the Christian life, but in fact it is without merit in terms of salvation. "I came here to escape the temptations of the flesh," said the man in the monastery. "And did you succeed?" he was asked. ""No," the man replied, "for I find that I brought myself with me when I came...".

The underlying point to get clear is that if we distort the doctrine of Christ's full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for our sin, by either adding to it or taking something away, then we are bound to get our Christianity wrong in almost every other respect.

Prayer: O Lord, Your death was really a triumph; may something of its power be revealed in me today. Amen.

The Fullness of Christ

2011-08-04T09:18:00.004-05:00

Read Colossians 2:8-15

Again, Paul warns about the teachers of error; their "hollow and deceptive philosophy" (v.8) came from to sources - human tradition and spiritual agencies. Ephesians 6:12 is worth looking at on this matter. There is plenty of this kind of thing about today.

The answer, once again, is the fact that Jesus Christ is absolute and supreme. In Him there is:

1. "The Fullness of the Deity" (v.9). This means that He was and is truly and fully God, even as He was truly and fully man. This is hard to explain, but it is what gives verse 14 its authority - the "bridge" rests firmly on both sides of the chasm of sin, on God and Man, and because of this, many may cross it and be saved.

2. "Fullness in Christ" (v.10). This is the other side of the coin. The same Lord Jesus Christ who is fully God is able to fill us; that is, He renews, in us, the life of God, so that we become what we were always meant to be - those who know, love, and obey our Maker. So, there is no room and no need for any other bridge between God and humanity; Jesus Christ meets every need. He can carry all of the traffic that there ever could be between sinful man and a holy God. And the toll for the crossing? Verses 12 and 14 tell us how this was paid.

Prayer: Lord, I seek the fullness of Christ in me. May I know more and more of Your life in mine. For Your glory. Amen.

Christ the Key

2011-07-30T11:50:00.004-05:00

Read Colossians 2:1-7

1. The key to God's treasure. Paul writes, here, about those false teachers who were leading the Colossians astray (v.4). They seem to have been saying that, between man and God, there exists a series of angelic beings, and that Jesus was only one of these. But Paul is firm in his opposition. Today's English Version translates verse 3 in this way: "He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge." In other words, there may be many treasures, but there is only one key. God's treasures - love, mercy, truth, and so on - are not scattered around carelessly. Remember how Jesus warned His disciples not to "cast pearls before swine"? But these same treasures are available to anyone who uses the key.

2. The secret of God's life. Then the word-pictures change. Instead of the Christian being seen as a person with the key, opening up the storehouse of God's bounty, the Christian is seen as a living plant or a sturdy house, "rooted and established" in Jesus Christ (v.7). These two pictures appear to contradict one another, but Paul is simply using different metaphors. Mixing metaphors never bothered Paul. He simply wants to emphasize one thing , that Christians have only one source of life, that they rest on only one basis, and that is Jesus Christ Himself. When we first come to Christ we do so with simple trust and confidence; we must keep that confidence and trust as we grow in Him (v.6).

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to abound in thanksgiving as I live my life in Your strength and build my life on Your truth. Amen.

Christ in You

2011-07-26T11:15:00.003-05:00

Read Colossians 1:24-29

Reading this passage is a little like peeling an onion. As each layer is removed another is revealed until the very heart of the text is laid bare before us. Paul leads us from one level to the next.

First Layer: Paul is suffering as a prisoner, but he knows how to rejoice (v.24).

Second Layer: in some mysterious way, Paul's suffering is part of the total of Christ's suffering for His people (v.24).

Third Layer: Christ's people are so closely related to Him tht they can be described as His "Body" (v.24).

Fourth Layer: Paul had been set apart to serve that Body (v.24).

Fifth Layer: The way Paul serves the Body of Christ is by proclaiming the Word of God (v.25).

Sixth Layer: That Word concerned something that had only recently been made known (v.26).

Seventh Layer: this new development, recently revealed, was that the Gentiles (the non-Jews) had been brought into the circle of God's grace (v.27).

Eighth Layer: the very heart of the matter - this, Word of God, was all about "Christ in you..." (v.27); not simply about Jesus as some far-off or theoretical person, but "Christ in you," that is, the tremendous truth that the Savior actually lives in every person who truly believes and trusts in Him.

This was Paul's message. It involved "warning", teaching", "toil", and "striving" (vs. 28, 29), so it wasn't likely to make Paul very popular, neither did it describe an easy life for those who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord. But, what a gift, to have Him living within you! That alone makes it possible for us to live as Christ's disciples.

Prayer: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Lord Jesus, make Yourself so real to me today that the light of hope may shine out through all I do or say. Amen.

The Image of the Invisible God

2011-07-21T19:39:00.003-05:00

Read Colossians 1:15-23

1. "He..." (vs.15-20). Jesus Christ is the true "image" of God (vs.15, 19); that is one reason for taking our Bible reading very seriously, since it is in the Bible that we meet Jesus. But Christ is not just some kind of carved and painted figure, like an idol or icon. See how many different things He is described as being and doing in verses 16 to 18. The most important is put last, for emphasis (v.20). It mattered more to Jesus, and it cost Him more, to "make peace" between you and God than it did to fling the stars into space and to build the universe.

2. "And you..." (vs.21-23). Christian doctrine has to do with real people in real-life situations - "you" in Colossae, in London, in New York, in Lake Jackson. The paragraph has two parts: (a) What Christ has done (vs.21,22). Again, try to pick out the highlights. There is no one else like Jesus. To be the Church is to proclaim the fulness of the Godhead in Christ. No less will do. (b) What we have to do (v.23). Our part is straight-forward - holding on to what we have been given. "Every creature under heaven" - this is obviously a figure of speech. Paul means "far and wide across the Roman Empire." The Gospel has been proclaimed far and wide. It is beginning to bear rich fruit. That is a process that continues to this day. What kind of fruit are you bearing?

Prayer: For all that Jesus is and for all that He has done, I thank You, heavenly Father. Amen.

Help for Today

2011-07-18T10:07:00.004-05:00

Read Colossians 1:9-14

Paul had not visited Colossae - but he was often there, in his prayers. Note what Paul prays for: he outlines a program for Christian living.

1. Knowledge of God's will (v.9). Note that this is not just head-knowledge or human wisdom, it is "spiritual"; that is, it is given by God's Spirit to receptive Christians.

2. Living in God's way (v.10). This is made up of several parts: obedience, which pleases Him; good works, which are the "fruit" of His presence; and, a growing understanding of what God is like, which brings us nearer to Him.

3. Made strong with God's power (v.11). The purpose of this is not to help us to perform spectacular miracles, it is to help us to endure and to be patient. We don't usually think so much about this kind of virtue, but it's a sign of strength when we can suffer patiently, and "with joy."

4. Acknowledging God's favor (v.12). Usually, when we talk about people being qualified we are referring to their ability and their achievements; but see how, in this text, it is God who qualifies us. How? See verses 13, 14.

Prayer: Your will, Your way, Your power, Your favor, O God; let these dominate my life today. For Christ's sake. Amen.

At Colossae

2011-07-16T15:02:00.007-05:00

Read Colossians 1:1-8

1. "At Colossae..." "Faithful brethren..." This passage gives us insight into the daily surroundings and the human relationships of the Christians in Colossae. They were under immense pressure to conform to the way of life of the vast majority of people in a city noted for its idolatry, its paganism, and its loose morality. Followers of Jesus went about their daily tasks worried about making a living, but also facing the hostility of their idol-woshipping neighbors. They also had to endure the suspicions of those who did not believe it possible both to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and to be loyal to Caesar. As "brethren" they had to take special care of one another. The Roman world could be very harsh on outsiders; there was no safety net, no Social Security. The Christians had to learn to depend upon one another.

2. "In Christ..." "saints..." The passage also emphasizes the unseen world in which they also lived. Although they lived and worked in one world, they also inhabited another. In fact, they were to take that other world with them into their everyday experience. Even as they dealt with the pressures of the day, they were to draw on the strength and grace of Jesus Christ. They were "saints," which means that they were "set apart for the purposes of God."

To what extent are we citizens of another country? As we go about the business of our lives, do we remember that we are also citizens of the Kingdom of God?

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for Jesus, and for the peace that He can bring, even in a troubled world. May I live in hope and learn to cast all of my cares upon Him. Amen.

Listen and Learn

2011-07-12T14:38:00.004-05:00

Read Jeremiah 44:1-10

In these verses, the last of our readings from the book of the prophet Jeremiah, we have God's pronouncement against His people who were living in Egypt.

They would not listen (v.5). Again and again God's warnings had come to the people of Israel through the Law and the Prophets, but they had refused to heed and had gone on in their wicked ways. God then gives two reasons why they should have listened to His voice and turned from their sin. First, they were only punishing themselves (v.7) by bringing evil and sorrow upon the land and upon their families; and, second, they were provoking Him (v.8) and bringing punishment upon themselves for their sin.

They would not learn (v.9). The history of Israel was a long catalog of sin followed by punishment, and repentance followed by favor. Over and over again the lesson had been repeated, at individual, tribal and national level, but all to no effect. "They have not humbled themselves... nor have they feared, nor walked in My law..." (v.10). God's steady, persistent teaching had been met by a proud mind, a stubborn, hard heart, and wayward feet.

Are our failures more frequently due to the fact that we will not listen, or that we will not learn?

Prayer: Lord, open my ears to hear Your Word, my heart to receive it, and my hands to do it. For the sake of Christ my Lord. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah prophesying.

If You Ask God, Do What He Says

2011-06-26T22:15:00.003-05:00

Read Jeremiah 43:1-13

The people were insincere. What about the solemn promise they had made (42:5,6)? Jeremiah hadn't answered them on the spur of the moment or come back to them the next day. Only "at the end of ten days" (42:7) was Jeremiah certain enough of God's will to be able to pass it on.

The people had an excuse. Jeremiah was "telling a lie" (v.2). Had he told them the truth, they would have obeyed! But that wasn't the real reason: forgetfulness of the past, fear of the present and disregard for the future made the people disobey and insist on this suicidal course of action. Further, they condemned themselves, for they broke their promise to abide by his answer "whether it is good or evil."

The people went their own way. The trek to Egypt began, an exodus in reverse. Jeremiah and Baruch went too, possibly as prisoners. But notice, God's people couldn't get away from God's word (v.8-13). Running away from a problem is no solution. And when you turn your back on what God commands, your future can never be bright! This is solemn news, but it's true. Not a glimmer of hope shows up in these verses. The prodigal son found an answer (Luke 15:18,19), but it was a step the people of Israel were not prepared to take.

Prayer: Lord, make me as ready to hear Your rebukes as I am to enjoy Your promises. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah prophesying.

How to Make a Decision

2011-06-12T17:48:00.003-05:00

Read Jeremiah 42:7-17

The great national temptation at this time was to find refuge in Egypt. The idea was attractive, it would put a further 200 miles and the formidable Red Sea between the Jews and the Babylonians. But such a policy, urged Jeremiah, would be fatal:

1. It took no account of the past. God had rescued His people from Egypt at tremendous cost. How could they walk back again into the trap from which they had been released?

2. It took no account of the present. If they stayed, they had the firm promise of God's protection and presence. This was better than anything Egypt could offer.

3. It took no account of the future. God had promised glorious days for His people, but how could He be expected to fulfill His promises if they deserted the country at this time?

Solving a problem often involves a conflict between what is immediately attractive and what is right (when all of the facts are taken into account). Christians are privileged in that we can often consult a seasoned saint or an established leader; we can pray about all of the relevant issues and bring to bear, on our problem, any principles that God's Word makes clear. If you have a problem, the apparently easy way out may not be the right way. Work at it.

Prayer: Lord, when decisions have to be made, give me strength to resist the temptation to take the easy way out. Amen.

Image: Destruction of Jerusalem.

How to Give Advice

2011-06-03T20:21:00.004-05:00

Read Jeremiah 42:1-6

Bereft of their leaders, and perhaps afraid of further invasions, the officers came to Jeremiah to ask for his prayers and advice. Their mood seemed serious, their tone humble and their promises sincere. But Jeremiah appears a little cool and reserved. He doesn't welcome the deputation with open arms or great enthusiasm. If they had only listened to him in the first place, all would have been well. His answer, therefore, is conciliatory, but firm and uncompromising.

"I will pray." That was his priestly function - standing on the God-ward side to bring the needs and problems of mortals before the throne of mercy. Whenever we pray or intercede for others we are acting as priests, a function which belongs to all true believers. This is made quite clear in Revelation 1:6. To offer prayer, on behalf of others, to almighty God, is a privilege that belongs to all who own the name of Christ, not simply to those who have been ordained.

"I will tell." Here Jeremiah acts as a prophet. He has turned around now and is addressing a message to the people on behalf of God. Having represented the people to God, he now represents God to the people. As Paul puts it, "So, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us..." (II Corinthians 5:20). This, too, is a task for every Christian.

Prayer: Lord, make me faithful in the way I bring the needs of others to You in prayer; and make me faithful in speaking Your word in confidence but with humility. For Your love's sake. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah in Egypt.

True Loyalty

2011-05-30T14:18:00.003-05:00

Read Jeremiah 39:1-14

Nebuchadnezzar's raids now became a full-scale invasion, bringing utter defeat and ruin to Zedekiah and the city of Jerusalem. It is clear that Nebuchadnezzar was well-informed about the part that Jeremiah had played in recommending surrender, and this accounts for his lenient treatment of the prophet.

And so Jeremiah became, in the eyes of the people, not only a defeatist but also a traitor - a "Quisling." But these are emotive words. "Patriotism," said Edith Cavell, "is not enough." We are subject to a higher loyalty than any country can demand. Our ultimate loyalty must always be to God.

Loyalty to the laws of God has compelled many people to stand against their national leaders. Some have paid for their opposition with their lives. No, patriotism by itself is never enough. God asks us first and foremost for loyalty to Himself and to His laws. Having said that, if we do put God first then, in the long run, we are also serving the best interests of our country. Jeremiah could have claimed to be the real patriot. He who serves God faithfully also serves his country.

Prayer: Keep me clear-sighted enough to see, O Lord, just where Your honor and Your glory lie. Amen.

Are You Willing to be Misunderstood?

2011-05-26T20:29:00.003-05:00

Read Jeremiah 38:14-23

Have you ever found yourself in the strange position of only being really brave if you were willing to be thought a coward? True courage for Zedekiah meant refusing to fight to the end as the princes advised but, instead, following Jeremiah's counsel and surrendering without striking a blow. At heart he probably agreed with the prophet, but he was "afraid of the Jews" (v.19) and so refused to surrender the city.

The Christian must be ready for this sort of situation. Sometimes, for example, we can only really be kind by appearing to be cruel; and a person who is secretly generous often has to bear being thought of in public as mean or tight-fisted. It has in fact been said that the deepest form of humility is that which can accept without protest the charge of being proud.

It is one thing for people to misread our actions, but much harder to bear when they misunderstand our motives. Paul experienced this. People thought that his refusal to take a salary (I Corinthians 9) was due to the fact that he was not a real apostle unlike Peter, whereas all the time it was due to his desire not to be a burden to the growing Christian churches. It remains the case that loyalty to Christ is easily misinterpreted by those who do not know Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me always to be true to You, even if other think me false. For the sake of Christ my Lord. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah before King Zedekiah.

A Word in Season

2011-05-20T09:47:00.003-05:00

Read Jeremiah 38:1-13

As a pessimist, Jeremiah was just about tolerable, but as an out-and-out defeatist it was impossible to have him around any longer! In times of war, such people were imprisoned for spreading alarm and despondency, for "weakening the hands of the soldiers", and, accordingly, Jeremiah ended up in jail.

Time would show that all along Jeremiah had been speaking in the best interests of the people; his policy would be vindicated. To brave men, surrender is always hateful in the extreme, but it is sometimes better for all concerned than fanatical and hopeless resistance.

But, of course, the point here is not that Jeremiah was giving his own counsel or advice. Indeed, he probably hated the idea of surrendering to the murderous Babylonians as much as anyone else did, but he could only say what the Lord had told him to say (v.2). He could not alter it. Israel had sinned; they had to accept what was coming to them.

It is pleasant enough when you can say what people want to hear, but as God's servant you have to speak His words whatever the reaction. True, in the end there is always good news to proclaim; there is a remedy that is wonderful to hear; but it is a remedy that can only be received by those who have admitted their need, and pocketed their pride.

Prayer: Save me, O Lord, from watering down Your message out of fear of what others may say or think. For Your love's sake. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah in the pit.

God's Word Unfettered

2011-05-13T19:19:00.004-05:00

Read Jeremiah 36:11-26

There is something faintly amusing about Jehoiakim solemnly cutting Jeremiah's prophecy into pieces and throwing it into the fire. It's a little like King Canute sitting on the shore ordering the tide not to come in. The Word of God cannot be fettered or chained; neither can it be destroyed. The Word of God "abides forever" (I Peter 1:25), as King Jehoiakim found out, to his cost.

Throughout history there have been "Jehoiakims". Think back to the time when the English Bible was publicly burned by those who wanted its message to remain obscure and unknown. Or, what about Spain in the days of the Inquisition, or Eastern Europe under communism? Sadly, the same conditions exist for many Christians in Moslem lands. A new threat has emerged in recent years in militant secularism. In some places, sections of the Bible are regarded as hate-speech. A prominent actor declared, recently, that he always removes certain sections from Leviticus from the Gideon Bibles he finds in his hotel rooms, because he does not agree with the content. There are still those who believe that they can shackle the Word of God.

Why are the Jehoiakims of the world doomed to failure in the long run? Why has the Bible survived for so long? The answer is that the power of the Bible comes from God. For millions of people the Bible is the only book which answers the searching questions in the heart of every man and woman. As long as these questions remain (which will be as long as human beings exist), there will continue to be a hunger for the truths which the Bible contains, and an unceasing demand for it. Despite what people say about it, and despite its woeful neglect by some councils of the modern church, the Bible will remain what it has been throughout the centuries, the most powerful and the most precious book in the world. How could it be any other way, since the Bible is God's self-revelation, it is the Word that points to the Word-made-flesh, in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord God, for all those who have given their lives to preserve and promote Your Word. Help me to value the privilege and freedom that they have bought for me. In the name of Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Image: Jehoiakim burns Jeremiah's prophecy.

God's Word Must Speak

2011-05-08T22:39:00.004-05:00

Read Jeremiah 36:1-10

Exasperated by Jeremiah's apparent defeatism, the authorities had obviously banned him from making any further public statements. Now the only way he could get his message across was through his faithful secretary, Baruch.

Jeremiah's enterprise. Here was a man burdened with a tremendous message for his people. Prevented from speaking, Jeremiah went into print, so to speak, a simple but effective method of accomplishing his task. Paul faced a similar problem and overcame it. See II Timothy 2:9, God's Word cannot be chained or muzzled.

Where there is a will, a way can be found to transmit the Gospel. History is full of stories of men and women who risked their lives in an attempt to bring the message to those who needed to hear it. Death is better than a guilty silence.

Baruch's courage. Many secretaries remain anonymous, some do not wish to be identified with their bosses' opinions. Baruch was not like that. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Jeremiah. He was willing to speak Jeremiah's message, and to share his fate (v.19,26). He joins that great army of "second violins", people like Aaron, Jonathan, John the Baptist, and Silas. These were the men whose loyalty and devotion made the work of others possible.

Prayer: Lord, make me willing to play the second fiddle if necessary in order to make the Gospel known. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah and Baruch.

Head or Heart?

2011-05-06T21:36:00.003-05:00

Read Jeremiah 31:27-34

There are really only two kinds of religion, however many there may seem to be.

1. There is religion based on head-knowledge. Jeremiah points back to when God had given the Israelites His commandments (v.32). From then on, they knew (with their heads) what was right and what was wrong. Whatever God had said, "you shall..." was right, and whatever He had said, "you shall not..." was wrong. Many Christian people today live by a code that goes something like this: "You shall help your neighbor, be faithful to your husband or wife, give your children a good start in life, do your duty to God," and so on. The trouble is, with the best will in the world, they break their own rules (v.32).

2. There is religion based on heart-knowledge. When Jeremiah talked about the "new covenant" (v.31), he was looking ahead to the cross of Calvary. Read Matthew 26:28 where Jesus claims that His blood is the sign of a new covenant - a new way of knowing God. Now, notice: Christ's way is not just a matter of obeying new rules and trying one's best. As a Christian, I have the Lord in my heart! Now, read Jeremiah 31:33 and 34, and ask yourself whether this is your kind of religion.

Prayer: I pray, Lord, for all who have never invited Christ into their hearts. Show them the true and living way; through the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Image: Moses and the Ten Commandments - the Old Covenant.