Abram's Reward

“God promised not merely to give Abram a reward, but to be Abram’s Reward (Gen. 15:1). There is no greater blessing possible. God would Himself be the inheritance and portion of Abram and his seed.

                The magnificence of the promise seemed lost on Abram, but God did not condemn him. Rather, God called him out under this night sky to kindle his faith. ‘Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them…So shall your offspring be’ (Gen 15:5). The God who spread forth the galaxies would multiply the seed of Abram. God’s promise was sure. Abram looked up at the stars, and with the eye of faith he saw the glory of the Lord: ‘Abram believed in the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6).’”            

-          Dr. Ed Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery

Together for The Gospel 2012

There are only two more months left before I attend T4G 2012. I am very excited about this trip! I have posted a trailer video for your enjoyment as well. Standard registration for the event ends on February 29th. For more info, visit t4g.org



T4G 2012 Trailer from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

The Word of God

My dad has always enjoyed word play. He loves to listen to Hotel California by the Eagles because of lines in the song like, “some dance to remember, some dance to forget.” Or “We haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine.” Phrases such as these hold varied levels of interpretive meaning and being my father’s son, I am intrigued by puns as well.

                The other night my wife and I were sitting in our living room watching a sermon by Alistair Begg—yes, I know that we are two “nerdy” peas in a pod. As Alistair began his sermon with the reading of scripture he said, “Isn’t it good that we have our bibles to turn to.” I began to think about this phrase, and it has varied levels of meaning quite different from the lyrics of the popular Eagles song. Alistair Begg introduced his sermon with a pun of sorts and the paragraphs that follow represent my interpretation of his phrase.

                Isn’t it good that we have our bibles- The Holy Scriptures are God’s Word to His people. This may sound simple and cliché; however, the revelation of God’s Word is a truth of which we constantly need be reminded. Throughout redemptive history, God has spoken to His people through the writings of peasants, prophets, and kings. What an amazing gift these writings are! David said, “The rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” (Ps. 19:9b-10) May this truth be in our hearts and on our lips continually.

                Not only is it precious to have God’s Word to instruct, encourage, and guide us, but we are blessed to have the Sacred Volumes translated into our own common language. Men like William Tyndale have suffered agonizing torment and death so that we English readers can have the Word of God planted in our laps for personal study.  Isn’t it good that we have our bibles to turn to?

                We have our bibles to turn to- This part of the phrase could mean that it is good for us to have our bibles to turn to a particular passage, but aren’t we also glad we have our bibles to turn to in times of trouble or in times of confusion? When my wife and I lost our son last year, all theological superfluity sank like sand underneath the weight of our devastating grief. As the sand melted away, we were left standing on the pillar of God’s Word for comfort.

                It is good that we have the Bible to turn to. We are doubly blessed that God would mercifully speak to us, and give us His word in our own common language for study. I pray that you and I will not complacently study our bibles, but diligently peruse the bible for what it is, the Words of God (1 Thess. 2: 13). Aren’t you glad you have the Bible to turn to?

Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17 ESV)We see in this verse an illustration of someone taking two iron tools in hand and sharpening them against one another. Sharpening a tool in this way requires work; sparks may fly and rust and dirt will be removed. After all the sweat and dust are spent, the tools are made usable and razor sharp! Sharpening requires skill, but tools in the hand of a skilled sharpener make dull, rusty tools effective for use.

This iron-sharpening illustration describes the way accountability works in the Christian life. Our Christian friendships and relationships require work, time, and sometimes confrontation. However, if we have a desire to know God more and become better instruments for the Lord’s service, we will love, encourage, confront, and exhort one another as iron sharpens iron. Holding one another to account doesn’t mean that we should browbeat our friends, but we should be willing to call one another out when we find one another in sin. We must have a desire to love one another and make our church family more like Christ. By holding one another to account as iron sharpens iron, we make one another more effective tools for the Lord’s service. Iron sharpens iron; this is the essence of Biblical accountability.

Galatians 6:1-2

Galatians 6:1-2

        ”Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2 ESV)

In an accountability relationship, we should care for one another enough to be humble and restore others who are in sin with a spirit of gentleness. True accountability can only be performed with love and humility in the heart. When we see a brother or sister who has fallen into sin—not a moral grey area, but sin—we should love him enough to call him out for his sin. If we truly care for him and his relationship with God, we won’t allow him to wallow in his wrong. However, we should go to him with a humble heart in order that he might receive our correction in love as well. Holding a brother or sister accountable is a kind of “tough” love that doesn’t flatter or puff up, but truly cares.

As we love and correct our brother in his sin, we must be careful not to be tempted and fall into sin ourselves. We could be tempted to participate in the sin our brother or sister has fallen into, or we might be tempted to be prideful because we haven’t been rebuked for our sin. If we resist the devil, he will flee from us (James 4:7), and If we will be honest with ourselves, we know that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23), therefore none of us have any room to boast in our own righteousness. 

Christ bore our sins in His body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24), and became the example for which we should strive. Because of the saving power of the Gospel, Christians can now desire to love their brothers and sisters and help them bear their emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual burdens. By helping one another with our burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ. Aiding our brothers and sisters doesn’t add one ounce of merit to our salvation since we lean on Christ to save us, but we do please Christ in fulfilling His great commandment of loving our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31).

As Biblical Christian brothers and sisters, we must love each other enough to say hard things, confront one another in a spirit of meekness, and aid one another in bearing burdens. We as Christians should strive to esteem each other as family instead of just regarding one another as friends we see on Sunday or Wednesday. By living life together in this way, we move closer to fulfilling Christ’s commandment for us. 

God, Who is Love, Wins

         Below is a recent review I wrote of the book, Love Wins by Rob Bell. 


                               DISCLAIMER ***There are spoilers in this review!*** 

          Love Wins by Rob Bell attempts to redefine Hell using scriptural proof, but fails. I appreciate Bell's enthusiasm for understanding biblical passages in their original context; however, I find little true biblical teaching in Love Wins. 

          I believe Bell is trying to help people who have questions about Hell by writing this book. But he bends scriptural texts and alters their meanings to ease the minds of readers about the doctrine of Hell. 

          For example, on pages 90-91 Bell introduces the Greek phrase found in Matt 25:46, that Bell says is "Aion of Kalazo," and means a "time of trimming." However, if we look closely at this phrase in its context, we will find that the phrase Matthew uses is actually "Aionios Kolasis," and this phrase is translated as "eternal punishment" in many Bible versions. Bell claims that this phrase actually means a "period of pruning." Bell is using the noun and verb forms of this phrase instead of the adjective and noun forms that are found in the Greek. Aion and Aionios are similar; however, Kalazo and Kalosis share a similar etymology but have different meanings. This phrase "Aionios Kolasis" does not mean a "time of trimming", but is accurately translated "Everlasting/eternal (time) Hell (suffering/punishment)." If we read this phrase in its context we will see that the period of time referred to there is an eternal age...an age of punishment for the wicked (as noted by Francis Chan, Erasing Hell). 

          Love Wins is lacking in exegetical integrity. On page 116 we find the following paragraph, "If we want isolation, despair, and the right to be our own god, God graciously grants us that option. If we insist on using our God-given power and strength to make the world in our own image, God allows us that freedom..." Nowhere in scripture is this claim evident. In fact, the teaching of scripture is opposed to this assertion as found in Love Wins. The Bible states throughout that God abhors any people who would worship other gods or even attempt to worship Him on terms other than His own. We cannot attempt to make ourselves gods and think that God will support our idolatry. The Bible teaches He alone is the only God worthy to be called by this name, (Exod. 20:3; Lev 10: 1-3). 

          Nearing the close of the book on page 172, Bell writes, "We are now invited to live a whole new life without guilt or shame or blame or anxiety. We are going to be fine." I find this statement--given its context--to be frightening. If we look to scripture and find the teachings in Love Wins to be untrue, then Love Wins gives its readers--or at least those readers who do not examine everything by the Bible--a false sense of security about their afterlife, and their lives at present. 

          Ultimately and authoritatively the Bible affirms the doctrine of Hell. And by process of direct declaration disproves the teachings in Love Wins. The doctrine of Hell is not a doctrine in which evangelical Christians should delight. In fact, this truth should grieve our hearts and kindle our motivation for evangelism. But our consciences are bound by the Word of God, and we must believe its teachings to be true regardless of what we want. I would love for everyone to eventually end up in heaven, and I would love for God to define love in the way that I define it. But God is God, He is good, and does whatever He pleases (Ps. 115: 3). He defines love...we do not get that privilege and this is why the pursuit of His truth is of upmost importance. 

          Love Wins is a book that seeks to explain Hell in a new and less offensive way. It is written by a kind man, who no doubt has a pastoral heart as big as Lake Michigan, but Love Wins presents teachings not found in scripture that will lead people astray, and this is why the book fails. 

          For a clearer, more in-depth rebuttal to Love Wins, I would recommend the book Erasing Hell by Francis Chan. Chan deals with the teachings of Hell in the Bible in a humble, lucid, and thorough way. If you are influenced by Rob Bell's teaching about Hell, I would encourage you to get in the Word and explore these passages of scripture--and the whole of scripture--for yourself. I would recommend Erasing Hell to you as well. What I find most comforting in life and death is not that, sentimental love, wins; but that God, Who is love, wins.

Happy Anniversary!

     

          Happy 4th Anniversary to my beautiful, good, God-fearing wife; my best friend, Halley. Halley, I love you more today than I did when we made our vows 4 years ago. I pledge by God's Grace to always be true to you, and I will try to love you as Christ loves the church everyday I'm alive. 

Sonnet CXVI

By: William Shakespeare

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark 
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks 
Within his bending sickle's compass come: 
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, 
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
   If this be error and upon me proved,
   I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Teach Us to Number Our Days

       
          As we begin another year, I would like to share an excerpt with you from the book Be Still My Soul, edited by Nancy Guthrie. Here is a chapter from the book written by D. A. Carson. Carson writes about Psalm 90 and learning to die well. I hope you find it as helpful as I have! I have also posted a link to the book in case you're interested. Happy New Year!
                                                                                  -Josh