Wednesday, October 31, 2018

"No Condemnation" October 31 Readings: Romans 8


Today's Reading - Romans 8


Background


All of God's Word is inspired, inerrant, God-breathed and useful to teach, correct, and train us in righteousness. It's all God's and it's all good. But there are still certain mountaintops among the passages of God's Word. If there is a Mt. Everest in the Bible, it is Romans 8. Starting with the affirmation that there is no condemnation in Christ, through the promise that all things work for the good of those who love him, and ending with the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We could do a year of daily devotions from this passage and not exhaust its glories. Should we look at verse 1 and revel in the fact that there's no condemnation in Christ (uh...yes, we will). Should we look at verse 18 which reminds us that our present sufferings aren't worth comparing to the glory that awaits us, or verse 28 which promises that all things work together for good? What about verses 29-30, the glorious process of salvation, which presents even our glorification as a done-deal? Then there's the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and that we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8 is great!

Devotional - No Condemnation 


There will be a fearful day, spoken of in Revelation, when the sinners of all time gather before the Great White Throne of God and receive their judgment; their just condemnation for all the sins they have committed. The wages of sin is death and that will be payday. Those who have died in their sins will be cast in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels to receive the punishment their sins deserve.

It is horrible to even imagine this, but the God of Heaven is holy and the day of judgment is real. But there is one bit of good news for me.

I won't be there!

Well, at least I won't be on the receiving end of the fateful words, "Depart from me, you who are cursed..." I will be standing with my Savior, already transformed into his image and with nothing facing me but an eternity of glory.

Why? Because of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1-2 makes this absolutely clear.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
No condemnation. None. Not even a little. I face none of God's judgment against sin. And it's not because I'm not guilty. I am. In one form or another, I've broken all of God's laws. But according to this passage, the Spirit's law of life has set me free. Through Christ's death and resurrection and through the work of the Spirit in me I am forgiven - once and for all. 

I put other things ahead of God and tried to create gods to my own liking. I broke the law and I deserved death. But the law of life freed me from the law that revealed my sin and brought condemnation. No condemnation now exists. 

I have failed to take time for God and used his name in vain. But there is no condemnation for me, because of the law of life at work in me. I disobeyed my parents, walked in anger (murder of the heart), lusted (adultery of the heart), spoke lies, took what did not belong to me, and coveted what was not mine. Were I to stand before the Throne to be judged for those sins, the law would convict me and God would judge me. I would be without hope. 

But for me, there is no condemnation because Jesus Christ paid it all. The Spirit's law of life has set me free from the law that reveals my sin and would send me to death. Through Christ, there is no condemnation. Do I deserve judgment? Yes, but Jesus set me free. Could I earn heaven? No, but Jesus earned it for me? Could I defeat sin on my own? No way! But Jesus forgave me because of his finished work. 

Shall we sing the Doxology right now? 

It is the greatest truth in the world - guilty sinners are set free by the blood of Christ and face no condemnation through him. Regardless of my spiritual struggles, failures and sins, there is no condemnation because I am in Christ - redeemed, sealed, secured and free!

  There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel's vein, 
  And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose ALL their guilty stain!
Father, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I deserved death, but in you I have life. Thank you. 

Think and Pray


Take time today to not only confess sin, but to glory and rejoice in the fact that your sins are covered by the blood of Christ, that you bear them no more! Thank God for his saving grace through Christ.

As you read through Romans 8, write down all the great blessings you find.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

"My Greatest Ene-ME" October 30 Readings: Romans 6-7


Today's Reading - Romans 6-7 


Background


  • I've been saved by grace so it really doesn't matter if I sin, right?
  • Forgiving my sin brings glory to God, so I might as well sin so that he can be glorified in forgiving me, right?
  • We aren't under the Old Testament Law anymore, right? So I can live any way that I please!

It is amazing how many ways people have found through the years to distort and pervert the teaching of the greatest truth ever - salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In Romans 6, Paul begins of his teaching on "righteousness by faith" that would continue through chapter 7, dealing with the common objections to the teaching and excuses people might give for living shoddy lives after receiving God's grace.

He answers three questions - excuses, really - that people have set forth for sin. Many take the beautiful, wonderful teaching of grace and twist it into something ugly, an excuse to sin, and this causes others to reject grace. So Paul at the very beginning answered these questions. He makes it clear, in the baptismal formula in verse 4, that...

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Since this is true, verses 12 and 13 explain clearly how we ought to live.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Those who have been given a free salvation, won by Christ's work and not our own works, ought not to use that as an excuse to sin. We ought never to allow sin to reign over us - Christ has broken its grip, it's mastery over us - but instead, we ought to offer ourselves completely to God and every part of our existence to him for his use.

It is the only fitting response to so great a salvation as ours.

Devotional - My Greatest Ene-ME


Hey, who has been reading my diary? That's not right! 

Ever felt that way when you were listening to a preacher and suddenly its like he is talking directly to you, like he knows your heart and life? That's how I feel when I read Romans 7, especially verses 13-24.
(NOTE: Theologians debate this passage as to who Paul is talking about - many doubt that some of Paul's statements could apply to the redeemed. That is silly to me. Every Christian I've ever known is both redeemed AND struggling - just like Paul's testimony here. Sometimes theologians perhaps theologize too much for their own good?)
In those verses, Paul describes the inner struggle that Christians go through between the work of God's Spirit within them, drawing them toward righteousness and holiness and the power of the sinful flesh that remains in each of us. Verses 22-23 say, 
For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
Paul admitted being torn between the inner work of grace and the remaining power of sin. It was a constant and lifelong struggle, even for the redeemed. And Paul often felt trapped in this struggle. He wanted to do what was right, to follow the ways of God, but sin continued to lay its appeal before him. Verses 18-21 explain the conflict. 
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. 21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me
That's me in a single paragraph. I want to do right. I want to break bad habits and build new ones. I want to say yes to God and no to sin. I really do want to, but sin is still there. I do not do what I want to do and what I want to do I do. Evil is right there ready to fight against the work of God in me. 

I wish a day would come when the struggle would be over, when my flesh would no longer draw me toward sin, when the Spirit's work in my soul would be complete and my life would only be righteous. I wish. And it will be like that one day. It's called heaven. Glory. But here in this world, we have to live with the struggle. 

But we do not have to lose the struggle. We may lose battles along the way, but Jesus Christ died and rose so that sin would not control us or enslave us. Observe verses 24-25. 
Wretched man I am! (Anyone else feel that way from time to time?) Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Some days I want to give up on myself because of my fleshly failures but thank God, it's not about me! Jesus Christ has delivered me from the penalty of sin. He will one day deliver me from the very presence of sin. And today, day by day, Jesus Christ is working to deliver me in this lifelong, intense, often challenging and discouraging battle against the power of sin. He strengthens me! Thanks be to God that Jesus does for me what this wretched man cannot do for himself - to battle sin and win. 
I thank you, Father, that through your Son I have hope. I get so frustrated with myself, but you are patient and powerful. Father, fill me with your Spirit today that I may walk in the victory over sin you have given me. 

Think and Pray


Do you use the grace of God as an excuse for careless living? Repent and ask God's strength to walk in the new life God prepared for you.
Remember that Jesus Christ gives us victory as we walk in him and he can and will give us the strength we need in this battle with our own inner, "wretched man." 




Monday, October 29, 2018

"While Still a Sinner" October 29 Readings: Romans 5


Today's Reading - Romans 5


Background


In this passage, Paul concludes his explanation of the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. He explains that all humanity is basically counted under one of two people - the first Adam or the second. The first Adam sinned and brought sin on the entire race. The second Adam (Christ) died to show us God's love and brought forgiveness and righteousness on all who would believe.

Every human being is either in Adam and facing judgment or in Christ and due eternal life.

Devotional  - While Still a Sinner


 I was out working in the yard and I needed badly to get cleaned up. There was my shower - hot water, shampoo, soap - all the things I needed. If only I could find a way to get myself clean enough to be worthy of getting into the shower. It was so clean I just wasn't sure if I would ever find a way to work my way up to shower-readiness.

Absurd, right? You don't clean up to get into the shower, you get in the shower to clean up. We instinctively know that when it comes to getting clean. But when it comes to life and to our relationship with God, we revert to the same absurdity.
"One of these days I'm gonna clean up my life, start going to church, and get my life right with God." 
We have a fundamental tendency to believe that our relationship with God is based on what we do, on our activity and merit. We have to do enough, be enough, become enough to earn God's favor and gain a place in his kingdom.

But Romans 5:8 gives the lie to that idea.
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God does not ask us to clean ourselves us, get our lives in order or make something of ourselves. While we are still in our sin - messed up, broken, dirty, and depraved - Christ died for us. That is how God showed us his love. He took the first step, reaching down to sinners who couldn't help themselves. That is an amazing love. 

It is one thing to show love to someone who can help you, who can enrich you, or give you something you desire. That's not what God did. He loved the unlovely, those who were enslaved to sin. You and I do not have to earn God's love, it is a free gift in Christ. 

So, our job is not to live to earn the love of God, but to simply revel in its blessings day by day. 
Thank you, Father, for showing me your love through Jesus Christ, when I didn't deserve it and couldn't earn it. 

Think and Pray


Thank God that he loved you while you could not help yourself and that his love changes you. If you are in Christ, give thanks for your salvation and your eternal standing. If you are in Adam and have never trusted Christ, repent of your sins and believe. 



Sunday, October 28, 2018

"By Faith!" October 28 Readings: Romans 3:21-4:25


Today's Reading - Romans 3:21-4:25


Background


Romans 3:21 is a turning point in the book. Through verse 20 Paul has been a total downer, exploring the depths of human depravity. Now, though, he is getting to the heart of his argument - "the righteousness that comes from God - apart from the law," He is going to lay out a new way. In chapter 4, he shows that it is in line with OT truths as well. 

Devotional - By Faith!


I can remember the bumper sticker clearly. "Proud to be a Christian." That is an oxymoron. You can be proud. And you can be Christian, but you cannot be both. A proper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely, totally and eternally precludes any boasting on my part. I understand that the person with the bumper sticker may have had something else in mind - that he was not ashamed of his (or her) faith, that he would not apologize for his convictions. Perhaps. But it is a crucial point. Pride is the opposite of Christianity!

Paul made this clear in Romans 3:27.
The what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. 
Paul devoted chapters 1-3 to stating our utterly helpless position before God. We have all sinned and are guilty, Jews and Greeks. And in verses 21-26, he spelled out the real theme of the entire book of Romans. Now, God has revealed to us a righteousness that is not based on our works, our ability to keep the Law, or our merit. It is now based on God's grace and comes to us by faith.
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. 22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as an atoning sacrifice in his blood,received through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus.

And that, Paul concludes, leaves no room for boasting. I am no better, no more worthy, in no better standing before God (on my own) than are the despicable sinners of this world. I am as incapable of saving myself as is the lowest low-life on the planet. Anything I might be, anything I might become, any merit or good in me is a product of the grace of God.

Boasting about it just makes no sense!

There is a great scene in Revelation in which the saints who have earned crowns come and lay them at the feet of Christ. How appropriate. My place in heaven was secured by Christ's death on the Cross, not anything I have done. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who is at work to make me holy, to conform me to Christ. If anything good happens, it is the work of God and any rewards I might earn belong to him!

So, why wait? One day we will lay our crowns at the feet of Christ. Why not do so, at least symbolically, today? Humble yourself before the God of Heaven and thank him for all he has done for you. Give credit where credit is due. Thank him for everything!

Father, I am nothing without you. My soul is redeemed by the blood of your Son, my destiny is settled by his resurrection, my life is powered by your Spirit. It is all you, God. Forgive me for any moment when I have taken credit myself for the work that you have done. 

Think and Pray


Do you base your relationship with God (even subtly) on your own goodness, on your merit, or do you understand the concept of justification by faith, apart from works? 



Saturday, October 27, 2018

"Basically Bad" October 27 Readings: Romans 2:1-3:20


Today's Reading - Romans 2:1-3:20


Background


After setting the key theme in the introduction, "the just will live by faith," Paul systematically goes through the truth of Christ's saving work. After having established the world's depravity in chapter 1, he expands on that in chapter 2, explaining that even the religious are not righteous by their works. Then, summing it up in verses 11-20, he concludes that all are under sin - what is often called the doctrine of depravity. It is not a hopeful view of the human condition. But it sets the basis for salvation by grace through faith. We need Christ because of our depraved and helpless human condition. 

Devotional - Basically Bad

"People are basically good." It is established as truth beyond contestation in popular culture. Politicians flatter people by trumpeting the innate goodness of man. Educational systems are designed around the assumption that people, given the opportunity and resources, will make choices that are wise and good. Parents tell their children over and over again how good they are. Your heart will never lead you astray. Do what you think is right. Trust your feelings!

The problem with all of this is Romans 3! It presents a very different picture of the human condition. It will tell us in tomorrow's reading that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Today's reading is the foundation for that conclusion. In verse 9, Paul gives his preliminary conclusion, that Jews and Gentiles are united in sin and are thus equally under the wrath of God. He then, in verses 10-12, gets specific about this sin.
There is no one righteous, not even one.There is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God.All have turned away;all alike have become useless.There is no one who does what is good,not even one.
Doesn't leave much room for debate, does it? If that isn't clear enough, then look at verses 19-20.
Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
Standing before God, every mouth is shut because in his presence there is no self-justification, no excuse or explanation, no wiggle room. No one is justified by their own works and all are declared sinful and subject to God's judgment. 

Not a pretty picture!

But that is not the end of the story. We are all under sin, but there is hope. Jesus did not leave us in our sin, but he worked to redeem us through his blood. Where sin abounded, grace super-abounded. We may start our lives in sin and under judgment, but we do not have to end them there. The rest of Romans 3 through chapter 11 describes this righteousness that God brings through faith in Jesus Christ.

But this conclusion, that all are under sin and judgment, is fundamental to a proper view of humanity and of life. We are not, as popular culture says, good on our own. We cannot trust ourselves, our feelings or our own convictions. We must trust Christ. When we follow our hearts they will lead us astray. 

We have been broken by sin and must be fixed by God. You won't get popular in America by preaching this, but it is true nonetheless. Our lives are marred by our general sinful condition and the specific sins we have chosen and we must be corrected, must be restored. First, we need redemption from Christ and his work on the Cross. Then we need the constant ministry and work of the Spirit inside us battling sin and producing the character of Christ. 

The fact is that sin is a reality in all of our lives and that without Christ, it will produce death and hell. But the greater fact is that through Christ, we have redemption and the power of sin is broken. Sin is real but it is not the final reality. The righteousness of Christ is. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Father, thank you that in Christ my sins have been forgiven and by the Spirit I can walk in victory over sin. 

Think and Pray


Have you bought into the worldly message of the basic goodness of humanity?
How does our treatment of people change if we believe they are sinful?
       (Note - it is not about degrading people but EVANGELIZING them)

Friday, October 26, 2018

"Servants, Saints, Sons" October 26 Readings: Romans 1


Today's Reading: Romans 1


Background


Donald Grey Barnhouse was the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia for decades. He spent many of those years preaching verse by verse through Romans and compiled a wonderful set of commentaries on the book.

This raises a crucial problem as we begin reading Romans. Chapter 1 has so much depth, I could do devotionals from this chapter for a month and not run out of topics, and we are reading it in ONE DAY. After the introductory greetings, Paul sets his theme. "I am not ashamed of the gospel." "The righteous will live by faith." We relate to God not on the basis of our own works, but by God's grace, by the righteousness Christ won for us at the cross.

Having set that theme, Paul begins to systematically develop that theme - righteousness by faith. He begins by explaining human sin and depravity, the reason we need a righteousness from God. He will go on to teach the glories of our salvation and of the Christian life, all the way through the end of chapter 11.

If it took Dr. Barnhouse 30 years and several volumes of commentary to teach Romans, I am certainly not going to do it justice in these devotionals.

It was during his stay in Corinth (Acts 20:2-3) that Paul wrote to the church in Rome, a church he'd never visited. He did have many personal ties to the church. It seems likely that his friends Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquilla may have been among the founders of the church.

Devotional - Servants, Saints, Sons


Since Paul was not known to many of the Roman Christians, it was important that he establish his identity in writing this treatise. Apostle. Man of God. Leader of the church. Keeper of the mysteries of Christ. There were so many ways that he could have described himself. But he went in a totally different direction.
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus.
A slave. A common household servant - a position of humility, even humiliation that no Roman wanted to accept. The Romans viewed being a servant as intolerable and awful. But Paul embraced it. Serving Jesus was not humiliating, it was glory. He embraced the concept of devoting his life fully to the service of Jesus Christ.

But when it came to describing other believers, he focused on something completely different, in verse 7.
To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.  
When speaking of others, he emphasized their position in Christ, their high status. They were loved by God, adopted into the heavenly family and recipients of the glorious love of God. He also mentions that they are saints, made holy by the work of Christ, set apart for God.

The Roman Christians were also servants of God. Paul was loved by God and called as a saint. But when he spoke of himself, he focused on his own humble place in the economy of God. He is a lowly servant, the chief of sinners who has been redeemed and brought into the service of Jesus Christ. He chose to honor the Romans believers, emphasizing their exalted place in Christ. He humbled himself and honored his readers.

What a great lesson that is for all of us. Our normal, human tendency is to lift ourselves up and often to put others down in the process. He did the opposite. He imitated the humility of Christ during his earthly ministry, who came not to be served, but to serve others, to seek and to save the lost.
Father, may I imitate the humility of Paul who imitated the humility of Christ. May I honor others and serve them in Christ's name. 

Think and Pray


Do you seek the humility of Christ, and of Paul, or do you seek power, status, and authority? We are called to be like Christ (and like Paul who was like Christ!). Examine your heart and your life to see if you are living as a servant.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

"Paul's Weird Resume" October 25 Readings: 2 Corinthians 11:16-13:14


Today's Reading - 2 Corinthians 11:16-13:14


Background


This section continues, a powerful description of true ministry, and frankly, an odd and counter-cultural defense of a man's ministry. Paul defends the reality of his faith and his apostleship not by his successes but by his sufferings. He then goes on, in chapter 12, to "boast in his weaknesses, because it is in those weaknesses that Christ is glorified.

Paul discusses the concept of the "thorn in the flesh" in chapter 12 as well. This was possibly a temptation or more likely a physical malady that God did not heal to keep him humble and usable. 

As he always does, Paul closed his letter with personal comments and admonitions. There's almost a note of regret in his tone. He's been harsh and he wants to leave on a good note. He calls them to unity, to strive for restoration and unity - which is always the purpose, even when he is giving a stern rebuke.

He is preparing to come and visit them for the third time and hopes that he can do so in joy and peace, not in conflict and tension. 

Devotional - Paul's Weird Resume


 I've seen some internet stories about horrible resumes people assembled in their desires to get jobs - instead of saying the right things to induce an employer to hire them they say the kind of things that make them scratch their heads. Terrible resumes - but perhaps not as bad as Paul's! 

In 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Paul sends his resume to the Corinthian church. He is not looking for a job, but for their respect. As an apostle, he carries the responsibility to lead them in the ways of God, but they have been all too prone to following the false prophets and teachers. So, Paul sets forth his credentials, his curriculum vitae, which he believes should induce them to listen to him. 

It is not at all what you'd expect. He does not trumpet his preaching skills or give a listing of his advanced academic degrees (Saul of Tarsus was likely a highly educated man, but Paul never mentions it). He lists no awards conferred or honors received or offices held. Goodness, my resume looks better than his. 

Paul went in a completely different direction. In verses 23-25 he "boasts" about how many times he has been imprisoned and punished by the authorities - beaten 5 times by the Jews and 3 times by the Romans. That is not what most people tend to use to lead off their resume. He forgets, evidently, that you are always supposed to be positive, and he recounts all the dangers, struggles and opposition he has faced in his ministry. 

He's never gonna get the job that way, right? 

Not unless we begin to look at things from a divine perspective instead of the human way. In God's eyes, it was Paul's faithful, sacrificial service that made him useful in leading Corinth. It was not his human skills and talents, his intellect or rhetoric, his training or charisma. It was his faithfulness -through good times and bad, through trial and suffering and pain, he continued to serve God's people. 

This is a message we see over and over again, my friends. God can use a talented man or woman if that person will yield his abilities humbly to the master's hands. But God specializes in using ordinary folks who will be faithful and will humbly serve the Body of Christ. You may not be a star in human eyes - we tend to look for different things than God looks for - but if you serve the Body, proclaim Christ and keep on keeping on, you are useful to God. 

Human beings look at Paul's resume and say, "What a fool." God looked at it and said, "Well done, faithful servant." 

Whose approval do you want, when all is said and done? 

Father, may I live my life for you, faithfully serving you in all things, humble and committed to your kingdom and your people. 

Think and Pray


Are you seeking success in the eyes of the world and by worldly standards, or are you interested in the approval of God and are you willing to give yourself completely to the service of God? 

.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

"Dark Angel of Light" October 24 Readings: 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15


Today's Reading - 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:15


Background


This begins the intense part of Paul's letter, continuing through the end of chapter 13. In fact, some believe this is actually the "painful letter" Paul refers to in chapter 2, added on to the end of this book. I do not believe that, but the intensity of this section certainly gives rise to those theories.

Corinth was rife with false teachers who were attempting to lead the people astray and Paul here ratchets up the defense of his ministry and his attacks on the false apostles.


Devotional - Dark Angel of Light


In Genesis 3, when the Serpent tempts Adam and Eve, it uses (abuses) the words of God to do so. When Satan tempts Jesus he quotes (misquotes) Scriptures in the attempt. Our enemy is a "scholar" of God's word who uses it freely. The problem is that he always twists it.

In 2 Corinthians 11, we are told about false teachers in the church of Jesus. Guess what. They don't preach from the Bhagavad Gita! Like Satan, they use and abuse God's word and the people of God need to be wary of their presence. 

Almost every Scripture that speaks of the end times warns us of the proliferation of false Christs (who would claim to be God’s new representative on earth), false apostles (claiming new authority over God’s church), false prophets (claiming new revelation to add to or clarify what God’s perfect Word already says) and false teachers (who lead God’s people astray by twisting truth for their own reasons – generally money and power). We are duly warned that such will always be within the church (yes, that is right – INSIDE the church) trying to lead God’s people astray from the inside.

But this spirit of antichrist was already at work in the church of Corinth. There were those who had come in among the brethren there and tried to undermine Paul’s authority and call the gospel of grace he proclaimed into question. It was the presence of these men, these false apostles, that caused Paul to deal so harshly with the Corinthian church. He was worried that they would follow the lies into spiritual destruction.

Wouldn’t it be great if liars and deceivers wore signs and marked themselves clearly? I was reading today of a well-known “evangelical” writer who has now compromised on pretty much every doctrine and moral standard that we hold dear. Yet he never says, “I’ve left the faith and am no longer a Christian.” He continues to maintain that he is both a Christian and faithful to God’s Word. He is pleasant, a great writer, charismatic (in the personality sense) – seems all around like a nice guy. But his doctrine is increasingly poisonous. Wouldn’t it be nice if he owned his doctrine deviation and admitted it, so that no one would be confused?

That is not the way of false teachers, false prophets, false apostles or false Christs. Paul addressed this in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. He begins by describing those against whom he contended, in verse 13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”
Then, in verse 14, he explains the reason for this.
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
He makes this conclusion in verse 15.
“So, it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”
Satan is not a hideous creature of with grotesque features – like he is presented in fiction. He is an being of light who presents his ways as beautiful, wonderful and happy. “God wants you to be happy,” he whispers as you try to decide whether to do the right thing or not.  “It’s all about you.” “Just follow your heart and do what you feel is best.” Satan whispers sweet things to us and tells us what we want to hear.

It is all a masquerade. His purpose is to kill and to destroy. From the beginning of time his strategy has been to lie to God’s creation and to get us human beings to choose what is wrong instead of choosing obedience. By shining his lying light on us, he induces us to choose the wrong path and bring the consequences of sin on our lives.

He seems fair and happy and beautiful but he pays off in death and destruction. Don’t be fooled by the light. It can be simply a means of being induced into the darkness.

When his false teachers enter the church, they follow his pattern. They tell us nice things, things we want to hear. They tell us to stop talking about sin, to ignore biblical standards that might make us or others unhappy, to cast off the yoke of Christ and to maintain control of our own lives. It all sounds so good but it is a mirage, a lie. It brings the death of the church instead of the blessing of God.

We must be deep in the Word of God and sensitive to the Spirit of God so that we can identify these false workmen who would lead us astray from the inside.

Father, help me to be a proclaimer of truth and righteousness, to identify and expose those who would lead the Body of Christ astray.

Think and Pray




Do you assume that every person who quotes God's word is a true man or woman of God?
Do you exercise discernment, judging teachings against the clear teachings of God's word or do you just accept what you are taught and assume that there is no such thing as a false teacher?





BONUS ARTICLE - Weapons of Our Warfare

(This is a favorite post from my blog, based on today's reading)
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

What was Peter thinking?  A detachment of soldiers, led by Judas, found Jesus and the disciples in the olive grove across the Kidron Valley, to arrest him.  Peter, for reasons that escape me, had brought a sword to the prayer meeting, and he swung it. Badly. Being a fisherman, not a soldier, the best he could do was lop off the ear of the High Priest’s servant.  Jesus told him to put away the sword, healed the servant’s ear, and presented himself to the soldiers, to “drink the cup the Father has given me.”

It would be easy to judge Peter if we did not so often emulate him.  He misunderstood the situation and reacted in the wrong way.  All Peter did by his sword-swinging attempt to help Jesus was tobecome an obstacle to God’s work.

Peter failed to realize that the arrest of Jesus was part of God’s sovereign plan of salvation.  God was working through the tragedy, accomplishing his redemptive purpose.  It just didn’t look that way to him.  Peter was sure things had gone very wrong.  Somebody had to do something about it.  Peter took up his sword and went to work to make things right.

Because Peter forgot that God was still in control, he also forgot that human weapons and human ways do not accomplish the work of God.  He swung his sword in full confidence that Jesus would applaud his courage and bless his efforts.  But Jesus did not applaud Peter, he rebuked him.  In Peter’s attempt to “do something for Jesus” he only made a bad situation worse and caused pain for others.

What If Peter Had Succeeded?

Consider this: what if Peter succeeded?  What if he had been able to fight off the soldiers and free Jesus?  What would have been accomplished?  He would have stopped the Cross!  His attempt to help could have doomed us all to eternal hell.   God would never let that happen, but it makes you think.  How often do we cause kingdom chaos in our efforts to help God?  We pick up human weapons of power politics, persuasion, control, manipulation, gossip, and strife, thinking we can do good.

Peter assumed that Jesus was unarmed.  But Jesus did have weapons.  Jesus was fighting with the most powerful weapon in the world – God’s love.  He was on his way to the cross to lay down his life for sinners.  By obedience, by submission, by sacrificial love, Jesus did what Peter’s puny sword could not.  Jesus, by laying down his life, conquered sin, and death, and hell.  He redeemed lost humanity and stepped on Satan’s neck.  He accomplished all of that without Peter’s sword.
God has made the weapons of Christ available to us.  “The weapons of our warfare are spiritual,” said Paul.  When we love our enemies, when we return good for evil, when we lay down our lives for the sake of others, we wield powerful weapons that God uses in mighty ways.

Peter, trying to do good, did evil, because he operated on his own judgment, by his own power, with his own weapons.  Jesus was operating on the Father’s agenda, by the Father’s power, with the Father’s weapons.  Peter messed up.  Jesus saved the world.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 
Frankly, I’m not sure that we in the Christian world understand this.  I forget it way too often.  We have weapons, but they are not the weapons of the flesh.  Anger.  Vitriol.  Scheming.  Political organization. Gossip.  Slander.  These are the weapons people in the world use to accomplish that which they desire.  But those are not our weapons.  We have different weapons – better weapons – weapons that actually accomplish mighty and powerful works.

I would like to point out three things about these weapons.

1)  Our Weapons are Not Worldly

We do not fight with the weapons of the world.  Power politics won’t get the job done.  Legalism is pointless.  Trying to follow the rules of religion in the power of the flesh is futile.  And we don’t do battle with anger and condemnation.  These fleshly weapons have no power.  They seem effective but they accomplish nothing of eternal significance.

2) Our Weapons are Spiritual and Powerful

When we use the weapons of God, we fight with “divine power.” Did you get that?  When I use God’s weapons, I fight Satan with God’s power.  Wouldn’t that wipe the smirk off the devil’s face?  We are so used to doing much and accomplishing little.  We jump in with a great splash but we are seeing little real spiritual transformation.  Could it be that we are using the wrong weapons, fighting with the force of the flesh instead of the power of the Spirit?

3)  Our Warfare focuses on the Mind

Satan works to spread lies and deceive us into defeat.  God speaks truth to our spirits and casts down the strongholds of Satan’s lies.   It is not religion that will change us, nor our good works.  We cannot try our hardest and succeed.  Victory comes when the Word of God casts down the lies of Satan in our minds and we begin to walk in the victory of God.

Our Weapons

Paul makes it clear what kind of weapons we have.
 ”By purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.” 2 Corinthians 6:6-7
The purity that is produced in us by the Spirit, the knowledge that banishes Satan’s lies, the spiritual fruit of patience and kindness which replaces anger and vengeance, the truth of God applied to our lives – these are the weapons of warfare that the Spirit of Christ gives us that have real power to make a real difference.

May we stop fighting the right battles with the wrong weapons.

A Not So Subtle Allegory

Once upon a time, the nation of Homino found itself constantly under attack by the armies of Skotos.  Homino’s fighters were armed only with bows and arrows, swords and spears.  They fought the best they could, but were no match for the modern army of Skotos, whose soldiers were equipped with machine guns, artillery, even an air force of bombers and fighter planes.  No matter how hard Homino fought, they could not stand against the power of Skotos.

One day, an emissary from the great king of Ouranos came to visit Homino.  “I can help you,” he promised.  “If you will swear your allegiance to our king, he will take you as part of his kingdom.  He will protect you and give you weapons more powerful than any of your enemies have.”  The people of Homino wanted that very badly, so they agreed to swear fealty to the King of Ouranos, and became part of his kingdom.  They were excited to see the new weapons they had been promised.
The king was as good as his emissary’s word.  Each soldier in Homino received body armor that would protect them from all the weapons of Skotos.  The king sent them the most modern weaponry.  He supplied them with an air force; with fighters that could evade Skotos’ fighters and shoot them down.  The new bombers had the most sophisticated smart bombs which could target the enemy and destroy them.  The people of Homino were amazed at the arsenal put at their disposal by the King of Ouranos and were excited to see what a difference they would make in their battle.

The next day, they were attacked by Skotos.  The army of Homino quickly gathered its bows and arrow, its swords and spears and went out to battle.  They were soundly defeated.  Day after day, the same thing happened.  They went to battle against the army of Skotos armed with their primitive weapons while the powerful weapons given them by the king sat idle.  Day after day, they returned from battle in defeat.

Some of the commanders of Homino’s army gathered to confront the emissary of the king of Ouranos.  “Nothing has changed,” they complained.  “Since we gave our loyalty to your king, we have not won a single battle.  All of your promises are empty.  In spite of all you have promised us, we are still defeated.”

The emissary shook his head slowly.  “My friends, the king’s weapons do no good unless you use them.  He has given you body armor, but still, you face the armies of Skotos unprotected.  He gave you powerful weapons to fight them, but still, you use your swords and spears.  You have an Air Force with the most sophisticated warheads in the universe at your disposal, but the only thing that flies is your bows and arrows.  The king has given you every weapon you need to defeat the forces of Skotos but you do not use them.”

Suddenly, it clicked.  They were supposed to use the king’s weapons in the battle.  The next day, when Skotos attacked, the people of Homino took up the weapons of the king.  They were shocked at what happened.  The armor the king gave them deflected every bullet fired by their enemies.  They bounced off harmlessly.  Their new weapons overcame the enemy and their bombers strafed them until they fled in terror.  For the first time, the forces of Skotos were defeated.

Today, in Homino, the battle still rages but the outcome is very different.  Sometimes, the people forget themselves and pick up their old weapons.  When they do that, they are defeated.  But more and more now, they are remembering to take up the weapons given them by the Great King of Ouranos.  And when they do, the bullets fired at them bounce off harmlessly.  Their weapons send their enemies fleeing every time.

And every time, they stop to give thanks to the king for the weapons of victory.

Father, may I never shy away from fighting the good fight of faith, and may I always fight with the weapons of warfare you have given to me!


Tuesday, October 23, 2018

"Giving God's Way" October 23 Readings: 2 Corinthians 8-9


Today's Reading - 2 Corinthians 8-9


Background


Are Christians required to tithe? Is the Old Testament standard still in effect today? Today's passage is the quintessential teaching on New Testament giving practices and shows exactly what the standard is. Two things should be said.

First, the OT tithe was far more complex than we've made it. Second, if we come to understand this principle we will find ourselves wishing all we had to do was move the decimal one place and write a check (tithing means giving 10% of income). This is a much more all-encompassing and powerful standard than tithing.

Devotional - Giving God's Way


It was at one time a tradition in Baptist churches that annually the pastor would preach a stewardship sermon in which he begged, pleaded, and cajoled the membership to tithe. It was called "Stewardship Sunday." When you read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 you see a completely different attitude about giving than was often on display on Stewardship Sunday. There were no rules, no emotional manipulation, no guilt trips, just a passion to invest in the work of God's kingdom.

In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Paul holds up the giving patterns of the Macedonian church (Philippi was chief among them). Out of overwhelming poverty the Spirit produced in them a rich generosity. They gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability.

Why? Did someone put the pressure on them to give? No. They had a deep and sincere love for Jesus Christ and gladly gave their money and possessions to help others in Jesus' name and to further the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They gave themselves completely and unreservedly to Jesus Christ and their earthly possessions naturally followed.

Christians today don't have a giving problem, they have a heart problem. When people don't give it is not a money management issue, but an issue of spiritual priorities. When we love our own lives and our comforts more than we love Jesus, we will be stingy and resist sacrificial giving. It's all about the heart.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 Paul gives the basics of New Testament giving. It's not about rules or coercion or guilt. It's about joy and about Jesus.
The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. And God is ableto make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
Paul emphasizes three things in this passage. First of all, though this passage is badly abused by televangelists and word of faith practitioners, Paul affirms that the principle of reaping and sowing is in effect in terms of giving. Those who give generously reap generously, not (only) financially but in all the blessings of God. Those who are stingy and selfish reap sparingly.

In verse 7, the basis of giving is described. We are to decide in our hearts what we want to give, voluntarily and joyfully. Giving is to be an act of passion, a joy, an enthusiastic investment in the gospel and the kingdom of God. Giving is so much more than moving a decimal point and begrudgingly writing a check. It is giving all we can and even more to make Jesus known in this world.

Finally, verse 8 reminds us that God can take care of us when we give, even if we give sacrificially, to his work and to people in need. He can provide all we need so that we can do all he has called us to do. As he said to the Philippian church, God will provide all our needs (those who give generously) according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Father, fire my heart with a zeal for your kingdom that opens my wallet and focuses my life and my possessions on your kingdom work in this world. 

Think and Pray


Read through 2 Corinthians 8 and identify some of the things Paul says about the giving habits of the Macedonians.
Do you give cheerfully and generously, or are you stingy and reluctant?
How does your giving match up to the giving of Macedonians?

Monday, October 22, 2018

"Measuring Our Lives" October 22 Readings: 2 Corinthians 6-7


Today's Reading - 2 Corinthians 6-7


Background


These two chapters are an appeal to the church at Corinth to leave behind their wayward strayings and walk in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. He warns them against yoking themselves in partnership with wicked people and instead appeals to them to open their hearts to Paul. 

Devotional - Measuring Our Lives


Has my ministry been successful? Is our church doing well? Our world has certain standards that it judges by and the Christian world has baptized those standards and adopted them. We have turned success into a formulaic thing.- how many people, how many buildings, how big is the budget?

Paul had some strange ideas about success. Yes, at times he saw big numbers come to Christ in his ministry, but at other times he saw suffering, imprisonment, rejection and betrayal. When he defended his ministry he did not trumpet his numeric successes or his other measurable results. From this point on in this book he defends his ministry but it is in the strangest of terms. Look at 6:4-10. How does he commend himself? 

  • He defended himself by appealing to his hardships and calamities in the work of Christ. It's about endurance in suffering, not numbers and earthly success. 
  • He defended himself by appealing to the display of the Spirit's power through him. We do not know exactly what form that took, but God was at work and people knew that the things happening could only happen through the power than came from on high. 
  • He defended himself by appealing to the fruit of the Spirit evident in his ministry - purity, patience, kindness and other such character qualities. 

There are several others that could be mentioned, but the point is that Paul judged things differently than we do. He did not measure himself in ways that could be codified in numbers. He used spiritual qualities and character traits. We are measured not by anything human beings can quantify, but by our obedience, our endurance, our faithfulness to God, and our spiritual passion.

Father, may I become a man like Paul who lives in obedience to you and measures my life by your standards. 

Think and Pray


How do you measure your life? Your success or failure?





Sunday, October 21, 2018

"Biblical Self-Image" October 21 Readings: 2 Corinthians 5


Today's Reading - 2 Corinthians 5


Background


How do you view yourself? The world tells us that it is all about our self-image, our self-esteem. 2 Corinthians 5 defines a healthy self-image, one based on the realities of Christ's work in us, not on what who we are in ourselves.

  • We are people who of eternity, not of the present.
  • We walk by faith, not by sight. 
  • We recognize that we will appear before his judgment seat to give account of our lives.
  • We are new creatures in Christ. 
  • We live to bring others into reconciliation with Christ. 
  • We understand where it all comes from (v 21). He who had no sin became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God. 

Devotional - Biblical Self-Image


What is the key to having a biblical self-image? If you listen to the social experts in our world (who are the very definition of biblical fools so often) then you believe that it is self-assertion, loving yourself, and never letting anything have a higher priority than yourself in life.

But for the Christian, it is very different. Our self-image flows from the truths of the gospel, summarized in verse 21.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Life does not flow from who I am or my accomplishments, but from the love of God expressed through Jesus Christ. We are what we are not because we picked ourselves up by our bootstraps, not because of our will-power or determination, but because Jesus paid it all. Jesus did it. He made us new people. He gave us an eternal dwelling. He reconciled us to God and gave us a new purpose in life - the ministry of reconciliation. That's who we are and we are that because Jesus made us that.

Father, thank you for all you have done for me in Christ. May my identity be found in Christ, and in him alone. May I not seek identity, satisfaction, achievement, or success in anyone or anything but Christ. 


Think and Pray


Where is your identity?
What is the source of your self-image? Is it in human things or is it in the work of Christ in you?