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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Sin and the Remedy

Biblically, the word sin refers to a couple of things that are related to each other. For one thing, it refers to any specific act or attitude of disobedience against God. His commands are revealed to us in the Scriptures. Therefore, any specific act of disobedience against His revelation, in Scripture, is a sin. This includes idolatry, irreverence, theft, murder, adultery, lying, and envy (Exodus 20:1-17). And it also includes homosexuality, because contrary to what some falsely claim; the truth is that both the Old and New Testament, and Jesus Christ Himself, address the issue (Leviticus 18:22, Mark 10:6-8, Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). 

So, all specific acts/attitudes of disobedience against God are sins. The Greek word that is translated "sin" in the New Testament literally means "to miss the mark". In other words, it is a failure to meet God's standard of what is good. As the Scripture says; "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). No one can be good without God, because God Himself is the Absolute Decider of what is good. He sets and upholds the absolute standard. We can either obey, or disobey. It is evil to reject God's standard and substitute one's own. The problem is, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". None of us meets God's standard of goodness. 

And so this is another thing to which the word "sin" refers. It refers to the human condition. It refers to the fallen nature of the human race. When sin entered the world through one man, and death came by sin, (Romans 5:12) it affected the whole nature of the human being. As a result, we are all born with a sinful nature, inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve. Since that day in the Garden of Eden, humanity has been in a spiritual state of rebellion against God. Thus, every specific act of disobedience against God is symptomatic of the spiritual condition of the inward soul. This condition, this fallen nature, is referred to in Scripture as sin. Sin runs deeper than actions. Sin is a spiritual disease.

So all such things as faithlessness, kleptomania, malice, lust, gender confusion, every kind of sexual deviance, greed, inordinate anger, the state of being a sociopath or a compulsive liar; all tendencies and inclinations to disobey God, are sin (Matthew 5:21-30)The Bible says that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ came into the world and died in our place, for our sin. He didn't just die for specific acts of disobedience which we have committed. He died for our sinful condition.

Those who place their trust in Him are saved by His grace. And having been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive His Holy Spirit who works in us to reform our inward nature. This is a life long process. An individual may have a particular type of sin that is a point of weakness for them. The individual may struggle with that point of weakness throughout their life in this world. But each believer, when he or she stands before God at the end of his or her life in this physical world, will be perfected in accordance with His holiness through Christ (see Romans 5:1-2, Philippians 1:6, and 1 John 3:2). So, as we think of sin as a spiritual sickness, Jesus came with the remedy; the cure. This is why Christians like myself sometimes refer to Him as the Great Physician.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

A Christmas Poem

Our God is far higher than the notes and rhymes
Of the greatest players and poets of all places and times
Yet He generously inhabits the most artless praise
From the hearts of contrite sinners believing His grace

In the city of David, God's light has shone
Look there in a stable, the Child is born
The angels here, in a holy throng 
Are heard angelically singing their beautiful song

They sing with glad tidings and good will toward men
But for them the same song is a requiem
For Heaven's High Prince of Peace has now
To our cold, dark world descended low

Clothed now in mortal form
To make the most miserable depths of Sheol His dorm
All this to save sinners; broken, contrite
Reconciled to Him; wayward hearts set aright

Our God is far deeper than sin, death and shame
To deliver us from these three things He came
It may be at one's darkest place
That one meets the loving Savior's face

Trembling now I'd
With these feelings inside
Of reverence and adoration
With words here confide
With six strings allied
A song of great celebration!

But alas! All my words and melody
Too insipid to compare with His rhapsody
Which He has composed from eternity
Even unto eternity

Let it, then, so be
Let Him write in me
Let it, then, so be
Let Him live in me
Conduct, in me
His own symphony

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Why Science Is Great

The reason science is great, the reason it is even possible at all, is that the universe operates according to orderly sets of laws. If it did not, then our own brains would not operate in an orderly manner, allowing us to think and to make valid observations of the universe, of which we and our brains are a part. Now atheists would have us to think that this natural universe, which operates according to orderly sets of laws, came not from an intelligent Creator and sovereign Lawgiver, but from random, mindless, unguided processes. And these atheists make the ridiculous claim that theirs is the more rational worldview. But they are not rational. They are irrational, and spiritually blind. Their hearts are insensitive to the truth of God.

The word of God describes them rightly; that "... they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools"(Romans 1:20-22). They have the absurd view that since scientific laws govern the universe, that somehow refutes the word of God who made the laws that govern the universe. But science, the orderly, systematic study of the natural universe, is great because it truly points to our orderly Creator and sovereign Lawgiver who orders and commands His creation as He sees fit. 

Of course, the Scriptures tell that God has the power to command nature to behave differently than normal at specific points - any points - in time and space. When He does, we call the result a miracle. This should not surprise us since He made the universe. It is His. He owns it. From the astronomical, to the microscopic; all matter, all space, all time belongs to Him. Philip Yancy wrote, "Some see miracles as an implausible suspension of the laws of the physical universe. As signs, though, they serve just the opposite function. Death, decay, entropy, and destruction are the true suspensions of God's laws; miracles are the early glimpses of restoration".  

In the physical universe we can plainly see the order and splendor of our God who made all things. And we can also plainly see the brokenness of our world which groans under the weight of sin's curse. So we can see the need for a Savior. And if we read the Gospels, we can learn about that Savior. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of God. 

He took on human form and came into our broken world. He lived within the time and space of human history. He took on Himself all of the brokenness of our existence, and our world, though He had no sin. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin (Romans 6:23). And on the third day, He rose again, conquering death. All who trust in Him receive forgiveness of sin, and eternal life in Paradise with Him.

Science is great because we can see His work through the world that He created. And we can see the brokenness of our world because of sin. We can see our need for reconciliation with God. But the gospel of Christ is greater than science, because it tells us we can be reconciled with God now, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2).

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Faith and Sight - The Same Now As They Ever Were

A popular myth of our time is that the ancient people believed in the existence of the supernatural and God or gods because they lacked intelligence, knowledge, or understanding of the natural world and the laws that govern it. Accordingly, the myth says that the advent of modern science puts to rest any belief in the supernatural, and God.

But actually faith in God and the supernatural has always been fraught with tension against what can be seen with our natural eyes. In ancient times, people found it easier to place their trust in other people, or in natural means of worldly success and victory, then to trust in the loving providence and protection of the Living God who is love and who created all things.

The ancients, including the people of Israel, were more naturally inclined to trust in material wealth, military might, and physical strength or beauty to achieve their worldly goals, rather than simply have faith in God to provide for their needs, both physical and spiritual. This is why the Scriptures say things like:
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7).
"For I shall not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us" (Psalm 44:6-7). 
"For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Humans, whom God created in His own image, have always been an intelligent creature. In 1 Kings 4:29-34, we are informed that King Solomon was extremely intelligent. He was recognized as being wiser than all the other sages of his time. He wrote three thousand proverbs and one thousand and five songs. And he possessed authoritative knowledge, which he taught to others, in the areas of plant and animal life. His wisdom and knowledge were sought after by the kings of all the other nations. 

Yet King Solomon said, "The fear of (reverence for) the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). He also said, "The fear of (reverence for) the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). 

God has always been teaching His people that true wisdom and knowledge and understanding are achieved by looking beyond what can be seen with the eye, to trust in Him alone. When God spoke to Gideon, telling him to lead the people of Israel in battle against the oppressive Moabites, He told Gideon to whittle down the size of his army to a puny three hundred men. With this small force, God promised Gideon victory over the much larger Moabite army. And He kept the promise (Judges 7).

Centuries later, King Jehoshaphat sought the LORD's help against the Ammonite and Moabite forces that threatened Judah. God taught Jehoshaphat and his army to trust in Him alone, and not in military might. The enemy was defeated without the Judean army even having to fight at all (2 Chronicles 20). And these are just a couple of examples. There are many instances like these throughout the Bible.

In Genesis, Eve was deceived because she trusted in her own human observation that the forbidden fruit-tree was "good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise" (Genesis 3:6). She would have done well to trust in God alone, and walk by faith, not by sight. And the same goes for Adam. When Eve offered the fruit to him, he stopped trusting in God alone, and listened to his wife instead.

Asa, king of Judah was a relatively righteous man. But when he, in his old age, developed some kind of infirmity in his feet (perhaps gangrene; just my guess), he put all his confidence in his physician and didn't even bother to pray about it. Asa died of his illness (see 2 Chronicles 16:11-14; as well as 1 Kings 15:23-24).

The prophet Daniel was told beforehand that in the latter days, "knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4). In the last five hundred years (in the last twenty years for that matter) the human race has made astounding advancements in our understanding of the physical universe. And Jesus, when He spoke prophetically of these latter days, suggested that the love and faith of human beings would simultaneously decrease (Luke 18:8. Matthew 24:12).

The popular myth would have us think that humanity has, so to speak, "grown out of" the concept of faith. The wicked ones claim that faith is now out-dated and should be replaced by human observation. But in reality, things are the same now as they ever were. Today God calls us, just as He called the ancients, to look past what we can see with our finite eyes; to trust in His infinite wisdom and knowledge and understanding. He has repeatedly shown Himself to be worthy of this trust.

The existence of physical nature does not disprove the existence of the supernatural. That would be like saying the existence of humans disproves the existence of God. It never did. It never can. The existence of cells, chemicals, particles and so forth, does not disprove the existence of spiritual realities. Rather, the natural universe, in all its order, splendor, and brokenness, is simply the physical representation of spiritual realities.

And that is why, when atheists say, "Oh we've just learned so much about the natural universe that we no longer have need to trust in God", well-read and thoughtful Christians recognize that atheistic argument for what it really is; childish nonsense.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Public and Private Prayer

The assertion has been made by some atheists that Jesus commanded His followers to keep our faith to ourselves. They wrongly claim that Jesus taught His followers to keep all of our religious observances private, and out of public view. But this is a distortion of what Jesus actually taught about public and private prayer in His Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus was speaking out against the religious leaders who made long, loud, pompous prayers in public just to impress other people. Their hearts were not humbled to be in the presence of the Almighty God. Instead, these religious leaders were puffed up with self-pride, self-righteousness, and self-satisfaction. They were drunk on the applause of other people. And they did not think to look for the approval of God alone. That is what Jesus condemned when He said:
"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (Matthew 6:5-6).
He also preceded this teaching on prayer with a similar teaching on doing good deeds (Matthew 6:1-4). But Jesus also said, in the very same sermon:
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).
The difference between the public religious observances that Jesus condemned, and the public observances that He approved, is the inward intentions of the heart. Our motives are just as important to God as our actions are. To do the right thing for the wrong reason is an abomination in the sight of God. But to do the wrong thing for any reason is also an abomination in the sight of God. We are commanded by God, not only to do what is right and good in His sight, but also to do it for the right reason.

Jesus condemned the religious leaders of those days because their piety was all just a show to impress others with their own, pretensions. They were not trying to draw people to the heavenly Father. They were seeking applause and glory for themselves. Such outwardly religious persons probably would not practice private prayer much at all, since they are not really interested in communing with the heavenly Father. The people Jesus was speaking against were only interested in impressing each other and exalting themselves above others. But Jesus wants us to be unashamed to honor Him publicly. It's just that it is God that we are to glorify; not ourselves.

The right thing to do is to obey the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the right and proper motive is to give the glory and honor and praise to God. We are not to be the focal point. God is. We are to honor God with our words and actions; not so that others will praise us, or give us the recognition, but that they will give the praise and recognition to the only One who deserves it. And that is God. And God's approval is the only approval that we should be concerned with seeking.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Judging

Some folks like quoting the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 7:1. He said "Judge not, that you be not judged". Jesus said that. So it is a holy command that must be obeyed. But in the same sermon, He also said that false teachers can be known by their fruits (i.e. deeds; Matthew 7:15-20). And that is a description of the act of judging - knowing that a person is fake, based on their actions. Is this a contradiction? No.

The Christian life requires one to distinguish between good and evil, for the purpose of rejecting what is evil in favor of what is right and good in the sight of God. You can not follow Jesus without discriminating against evil. You can not follow Jesus without cultivating the spiritual discernment to recognize and reject sin and falsehood when you encounter it. 

In order to obey Jesus, one must learn to determine who is a good example of Christlike holiness, and whose example should not be followed or encouraged. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and said, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). 

So you see the logic. If one is following Jesus, then that one, in turn, becomes a tangible example for others who want to follow Jesus. But this automatically involves recognizing who is not following Christ, and therefore whose example should not be followed or encouraged. 

The cultivation of this discernment is accomplished largely by reading and studying God's holy word, the Bible, and talking to God in prayer. Further cultivation is achieved by practicing what you have learned from God's teachings, as well as conferring with fellow believers who also prayerfully read and study the Scriptures.

So how is this not contrary to the statement "Judge not, that you be not judged."? When Jesus said those words, He was talking about a certain attitude that one should not have while following Him. One should not have an attitude of superiority over others in the Church, or even outside the Church for that matter. 

One must be able to distinguish the good examples from the bad examples. But one must also be humbled by the realization that we are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God. It is only by the grace of Jesus Christ that any of us are saved (Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 2:8-10).

And so we have to realize that our power to judge is limited to deciding whose example is good to follow and encourage, and whose example is not good to follow or encourage. But only God Himself can really make the final, absolute judgement of what is going on in any person's heart and life.

We also have to be on guard against the tendency to be a fault finder. Some people sin by always intentionally seeking out flaws and short-comings in their neighbors, and never recognizing the work that God is accomplishing in them. And this fault finding tendency may distract the inordinate judge from surrendering his or her own self to God to be purified by Him. 

Or the fault finder might be just as hard, if not harder, on his or her self, and thus inordinately torment his or her self with excessive guilt and shame. Christ came to free you from shame and guilt, not to intensify it in you. If you are tormenting yourself with shame and guilt, you need to surrender that shame over to Christ. Let Him take it away from you. Let that guilt be nailed to the cross. You are not a prisoner to it anymore.