Taste-That-Which-is-Good: September 2009

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Pilgrim's Progress - Simple, Sloth, Presumption

Every tub must stand upon its own bottom.

John Bunyan still dreaming describes how Christian almost immediately upon leaving the cross and continuing in the way runs into three men: Simple, Sloth, and Presumption. Bunyan writes:

I saw then in my dream, that he went on thus, even until he came at the bottom, where he saw, a little out of the way, three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name of the one was Simple, of another Sloth, and of the third Presumption.

Christian then seeing them lie in this case, went to them, if peradventure he might awake them, and cried, you are like them that sleep on the top of a mast, Prov 23:34, for the Dead Sea is under you, a gulf that hath no bottom: awake, therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons. He also told them, If he that goeth about like a roaring lion, 2Pet 5:8, comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth. With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort: Simple said, I see no danger; Sloth said, Yet a little more sleep; and Presumption said, Every tub must stand upon its own bottom. And so they lay down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way.

As my girls and I read the above we could see some very pertinent warnings here as follows:

Simple: not necessarily someone who is a born idiot but who chooses not to know, not to study, not to read, and not to learn of the dangers that might be present, not to understand. The scriptures warn us and Christian lovingly repeated those warnings but Simple says, "I see no danger." I can almost hear him: "Why make such a big deal about Penal Substitutionary Atonement? Why speak of the dangers of self-love and those that encourage it? Why should I be awake now ... Why should I dig so deep into the gospel? ... Why do I need to learn such big words as justification, sanctification, regeneration, redemption, atonement, propitiation, expiation? Why should I etc... ... I see no danger?"

Sloth: "A little more sleep... Don't speak to me of diligence. Don't tell me to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling or to make my calling and election sure. Study... not me .. a little more sleep... pray.. no I don't think so.. a little more sleep."

Presumption: This one scares me the most. This example brings the most conviction. And I must confess I was slow to understand Bunyan here when Presumption's response to Christian's warnings was this: "Every tub must stand upon its own bottom. " I remarked out loud, my girls hearing my confusion, "What does this mean?"

It was my youngest who said, "Could it mean that he want's to do it all by himself and he doesn't want anyone to help him." I think she fairly well explained Bunyan's point exactly. In Pilgrim's Progress the characters have names which also describe who they are. If the name, Presumption, is taken with this meaning, "blind or headstrong confidence," as described in the Webster's 1828 Dictionary it fits. Plus it turns out that this phrase is an old proverb calling for one to be independent.

Hence, Presumption is saying to Christian, "I don't need your warnings. Don't bother waking me. I'm my own man and will wake myself in my own way and in my own time. My secret sins are my own concern and I don't need the help of another to overcome them. Confessing your faults one to another does not apply to me." James 5:16

Lastly, DID YOU NOTICE Christian's first rebuke: "you are like them that sleep on the top of a mast," which is taken from Prov 23:34 ;

Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

Incredible word picture and as many times as I've read Proverbs I didn't remember that phrase. Suitable warning.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Pilgrim's Progress - AT THE CROSS

My girls and I just wrapped up our visit at the Interpreter's House which I enjoyed very much. We saw the amazing scene of a fire that burned hotter and brighter even the more water that the enemy was casting upon it - discovering once we looked behind the wall that secretly the oil of grace was more the being supplied with the more vigor the enemy sought to douse the fire.

Proceeding forward we had a very solemn visit with a man in an iron cage. A man who could not find repentance, a man though once he thought himself a very good christian even having good opinion of the same from those who knew him but now finds himself caged up, in despair and a picture and warning of reprobation. Solemn indeed.

Lastly Interpreter took us to talk with a man who every night dreams the same thing. A dream concerning the Great Day of Judgment. So then we entertained our own thoughts of that final Great Day of the Lord.

And having been thus equipped by the Interpreter we watch Christian go on that straight path which is enclosed by walls named Salvation. And then Christian comes to the cross where finally his burden falls off. Having thus been freed of his burden Christian continues to look upon the cross.

We read from Bunyan's pen:

"He looked, therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the water down his checks."

13 yr old responded: "Oh that's cool."

Dad asked: "But what does it mean?"

Three girls respond: in silence

Dad asks: "What are springs?"
13 yr old answers: "Aren't they a source of water, where water comes up from the ground?"

11 yr reverently whispers: "He is crying."

13 yr old shouts: "OH WOW THAT IS SO COOL...."

Much conversation continued on concerning how looking at the cross would cause his burden to fall away.

Q. What is that burden?
A. Not just sin but the guilt and judgment of it also bearing down upon him. We read from Mark 2:5 dwelling much on Jesus words: "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."

Q. Who is it that said this?
A. Jesus.

Q. What did others think of this?
A. Some said, "How dare he!" -- to which we understood - He is Jesus the son of the living God. He knew what they were thinking - he perceived it in himself. He is God manifest in the flesh...the son of Man hath authority to forgive sins on earth. If Jesus says: "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." They are forgiven. If Jesus who knew no sin was made sin - then indeed I can be made the righteousness of God in Him. My sins are forgiven, my savior has purchased pardon. My burden is loosed from off my back. Blessed Savior, blessed be the man who bore my shame.

Dad Asked again: "So what does it mean to "Look upon the cross?"

10 yr old answered: "It means to study how Jesus died there on the cross for our sins....."

Dad's countenance: very happy.

At this point in our Bunyan book we come to Happy Christian singing. Dad asks thirteen year old to read...no sing.... like Christian in our book his song which he sang at the cross:

Thus far did I come laden with my sin,
Nor could ought I ease the grief that I was in,
Till I came hither: what a place is this.
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?

Must here the burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest cross! Blest sepulchre! Blest rather be
The man that there was put to shame for me!

Liking the sound of his daughter's voice so much the same was repeated with 10 yr old, who with an entirely different tune sang again the same words, then repeated this process with 11 yr old and who, with new tune in tow, sang once more. So delighted was everyone, 13 yr old wanted to sing it again, to which Dad said.. Ok but sing it like Lecrae... and she did.

Now Dad gives it a try.......

Oh well, the words remain beautiful and still a delight to me as I see them in an email's signature section of a dear brother in Christ only moments ago reminding me again of our sweet study.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

ROMANS 1:8 - Faith is a Gift

(This picture reminds me of the apostles prayer: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened.. Eph 1:18)

This post is part of a study in Romans, whereby we identify keywords and phrases for each chapter with the goal of having a handle on the subject matter and flow of thought within Romans whereby we can preach the gospel to ourselves and others every day. See here for a introduction and description of our study in Romans.

Back in 2005 I spent several months studying the first eight verses or Romans Chapter 1. The following are my notes reviewing verses 1-7 plus a detailed study on Faith is a gift branching off from Romans 1:8. I left some references to the original language intact for those that may enjoy them.

ROMANS 1:8

Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Rom 1:8 Πρῶτον μὲν εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ μου διὰ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν, ὅτι ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν καταγγέλλεται ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ.

Rom 1.1-7 constitute a salutation to the letter, Amazing and wonderful how much blessing and instruction is contained in a bare salutation.

The following of which is for us a very brief review of how I spent a great part of 2005:
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
The humility and position of Paul: a servant – a slave. No small thing to be a servant of Jesus.
An apostle not by his own will and purpose but by the Divine CALLING and purposes of God.
Apostle: an office – when the word is received from Paul it is truly the very word of GOD.

Apostle: no longer an active office, no more the qualifications being met. The definition of the word may vary – some may falsely claim this office and others may use the word with a different meaning. This office is a great encouragement to us to accept every word of scripture as inspired of God brought to us by GOD’s Holy Apostles and Prophets.

Separated: Paul with a holy purpose and appointment in the GOSPEL.

Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,)
Promised afore: Not a new message but Paul bringing that same gospel long promised in the Scriptures:

Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Concerning: Greek word PERI, from whence we also get the word perimeter. The gospel is ALL ABOUT Jesus.

Made of the seed of David: Jesus very man of very man. 100% man.
According to the Flesh: not something we would normally say regarding our sons and daughters but necessary in explaining the humanity of the ETERNAL SON OF GOD.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Jesus: Very God of Very God, 100% God. NO less God having been made flesh. Two natures in one person the Great Mediator and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The word made flesh, who made all that is in the world.

Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name;

Received: Paul divinely enabled to be an apostle that not only Jews but some from among all nations would be obedient to the faith ie. that they would believe the gospel.

For his name: The gospel is entirely GOD-Centered. All things for His Glory. What he does – he does first and foremost for his Glory. Truly the Chief End of Man is to GLORIFY GOD. And this ought to direct us in all our actings, and in all our understandings regarding our purpose.

Rom 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
Called: You also belong to Christ, Israel was his called, you who believe can be assured you our Christ’s.

Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rome: This letter written to the believers in Rome but we also are intended to learn from their directions and instructions. This epistle being a great exposition of the Gospel.

Beloved: what a title, and we truly are able to love him because he first LOVED us, when we were yet sinners and enemies.

CALLED: Those that believe are those who have been called to this. This speaks of an effectual CALLING. All that the Father gives to the Son shall come to the Son and none will come otherwise. If you are believing Thanks be to God.

SAINTS: Same greek word as also translated “HOLY”. Us who believe are called for this purpose TO BE HOLY and to BE CONFORMED to the image of his SON. Sanctification in main sense is progressive we are not all maturing the same, we are none of us perfect while yet alive, but we are growing in holiness and sometimes in a relapse and renewing – but God purpose is TO BE HOLY. But in another sense we are positionally perfectly HOLY in Christ by imputation. Which truth The Holy Spirit will communicate most fully in this letter.

And now, the salutation complete let us begin this glorious epistle.

FIRST – this word stands out. What Paul by the Spirit of God FIRST must mention is this expression of gratitude and Humility.

Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Rom 1:8 Πρῶτον μὲν εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ μου διὰ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν, ὅτι ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν καταγγέλλεται ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ.

I thank my GOD --- Through Jesus Christ. Again we are reminded of the person and work of Jesus Christ, God Manifest in the Flesh and the ONE mediator between God and Man. NO ONE May come to the Father but through HIM and Paul here brings his Thanks to GOD THROUGH the MEANS OF HIM. Because of who HE is and What he Has Done and Because we BELONG TO HIM.

This:
Glorifies God,
Shows that all is due to His Grace
Only Through Christ are we please to God. “praises and prayers”
Not only to pray for but give thanks for our friends and for all believers.

John Gill:
…his view in it was, to glorify God, to testify his affection to the saints, and to show that all they had must be referred to the grace of God. The object of thanksgiving is God not merely as a creator and preserver, but as a Father, the Father of Christ, and our Father in Christ; as the one God, and our God, Father, Son, and Spirit. 1

Matthew Henry:
Through Jesus Christ. All our duties and performances are pleasing to God only through Jesus Christ, praises as well as prayers. - For you all. We must express our love to our friends, not only by praying for them, but by praising God for them. God must have the glory of all the comfort we have in our friends; for every creature is that to us, and no more, which God makes it to be. Many of these Romans Paul had no personal acquaintance with, and yet he could heartily rejoice in their gifts and graces. 2

MY GOD:
Think what a privilege and blessing to acknowledge that GOD is: MUCH more that He is “MY GOD” and mine not because of my special qualifications, my abilities, my beauty, my condition pitiful or grand but MY GOD from eternity past in Covenant between the Father and the Son, my God by adoption in Christ, My GOD by Grace.

That Your Faith:
The Believers in Rome were of such that their Faith was spoken of throughout the WHOLE WORLD. People took note of them. They did not hide their Faith but Lived it.

FAITH IS A NECESSITY IF EVER WE HOPE TO LIVE AND PLEASE GOD:
We must believe, God does not believe for us, we are commanded to Believe.

We are to LIVE BY FAITH:
(Rom 1:17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.
(Gal 3:11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY FAITH:
(Rom 3:22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH:
(Rom 3:28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
(Rom 3:30) Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
(Rom 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
(Gal 3:24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Access into GRACE enabling us to STAND and REJOICE:
(Rom 5:2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(Rom 9:32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

STAND BY FAITH: but Jews BROKEN OFF BECAUSE OF UNBELIF:
(Rom 11:20) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
(2Co 1:24) Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

WALK BY FAITH:
(2Co 5:7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

THE PROMISE GIVEN BY FAITH:
(Gal 3:22) But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH:
(Gal 3:26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

WAITING BY FAITH:
(Gal 5:5) For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

CHRIST DWELLING IN OUR HEARTS BY FAITH:
(Eph 3:17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

(Phi 3:9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

(Heb 10:38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 11:
(Heb 11:4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
(Heb 11:5) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
(Heb 11:7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
(Heb 11:8) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
(Heb 11:9) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
(Heb 11:17) By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
(Heb 11:20) By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
(Heb 11:21) By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
(Heb 11:22) By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
(Heb 11:23) By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
(Heb 11:24) By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
(Heb 11:27) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
(Heb 11:29) By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.
(Heb 11:30) By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
(Heb 11:31) By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

FROM ALL THIS I CONCLUDE THAT WE CANNOT PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH:
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It also true that NO ONE IN THE FLESH CAN PLEASE GOD:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

FAITH is not produced by the FLESH. Flesh cannot please God. That ONE Greatest thing Man must do cannot be savingly produced by the FLESH. The great obstacle to man’s salvation requires a great work of God. The regenerating work of God by which a Man becomes a NEW CREATURE in CHRIST.

From this observation alone, I am confident if ever I believe in God to the saving of my soul, God will get all the Glory and Thanks and Praise. We must believe, God does not believe for us, we are commanded to Believe. But if ever we finding ourselves believing with saving Faith – Let God receive the praise and Glory for it.

NOTE:
Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

This commendation was not to puff them up as flattery, it was a matter of THANKSGIVING to God. Let God be praised for it. God be Thanked!! To God be all the Glory!

Contained in this statement is a truth which I believe will bring much practical comfort and direction to every believer, I thank God…That your faith….

FAITH IS A GIFT: we are dependent on grace even for this THING which we must have if ever we Hope to Please God.

The above syllogism demonstrates that: without faith it is impossible to please God...but they that are in the FLESH cannot please God, Hence Faith is not a product of the Flesh, it is a GIFT of GRACE.

Following I shall endeavor to demonstrate this DOCTRINE to your full satisfaction and to the Grounding of your souls on a TRUTH that I believe you will find most comforting, God Exalting, and full of Practical Implication and guidance to continue your trip heavenward.

VERSES THAT CLEARLY SHOW FAITH IS A GIFT:

2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Phi 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Act 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Act 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

John Piper Writes:
In the context, this is not a limited reference to the unique spiritual gift of faith which only some believers have (1 Corinthians 12:9). For Paul says, "I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgement, as God has alloted to each a measure of faith. (emphasis added). "To each" refers back to "everyone among you." God has given all Christians varying measures of faith. This is the faith with which we receive and use our varying gifts. It is the ordinary daily trust of the Son of God (Galatians 2:20) by which we live and minister. 3

1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

John Gill Writes:
with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus; these are the effects of the love and favour of God displayed in conversion, or which the grace of God brings along with it, and implants in the soul at that time, as it did in the apostle; for by "faith" is not meant the faithfulness of God to his Son, and to his covenant, oath, and promise, which now began visibly to be made good; nor the faith of the Gospel committed to the apostle's trust, which was an high favour; but the grace of faith, which is a pure gift of God, and a distinguishing instance of his grace; for all men have it not, only his elect; and is a most precious and excellent grace, and of great use and importance: it receives every blessing from Christ, and gives him all the glory; through it. 4

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John Piper in Desiring God Writes:
Re: Eph 2:5-8
"The words for "grace" and "faith" are feminine in the original Greek. The word for "this" is neuter. Some have used this lack of agreement to say that the gift here is not faith. But this ignores the implication of verse 5: "Even when you were dead!" Grace is grace because it saved us even when we were dead. But it saves "through faith." how does it save the dead through faith? By awakening the dead into the life of faith. That is why faith is a gift in Eph 2:5-8. "This" refers to the whole event of salvation by grace through faith, and therefore does include faith as a gift. (Cf. Acts 18:27, "When he arrived he greatly helped those who through grace had believed.)"5

2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

VERSES THAT DRIVE HOME OUR INABILTY TO COME TO GOD WITHOUT REGENERATING GRACE:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

We must believe, it is our duty and responsibility before God. But How to do that which is good, in the flesh I cannot find it! Thus, Let God be praised, if you find yourself believing the gospel – for such things are spiritually discerned.

REGENERATION PRECEDES FAITH: Faith is a gift resulting from the effects of regeneration. By being born-again we are enabled to believe. We are no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit.

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Believing is evidence that the new birth has already occurred:
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1Jo 5:1 Πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ὅτι ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς, ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ γεγέννηται, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν τὸν γεννήσαντα ἀγαπᾷ καὶ τὸν γεγεννημένον ἐξ αὐτοῦ.

Who believes? – those that have already been born of God.

Must we first LOVE to be born of God???? Love is the grace resulting from the effects of the new birth.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Note the same grammatical use of effect preceding the cause.
1Jo 4:7 ᾿Αγαπητοί, ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους, ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστι, καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ γεγέννηται καὶ γινώσκει τὸν Θεόν.

1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
A similar statement to 1Joh 5:1. Could also read “whoever doth not commit sin is born of God.”
1Jo 3:9 Πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἁμαρτίαν οὐ ποιεῖ, ὅτι σπέρμα αὐτοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ μένει· καὶ οὐ δύναται ἁμαρτάνειν, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ γεγέννηται.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins

Act 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

VERSES THAT TEACH WE WERE DEAD BEFORE REGENERATION.
(dead men dead to God need a resurrection to life in order to savingly believe.)

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

ETERNAL ELECTION also demonstrates that SALVATION IS ALL OF GRACE, the GRACE of FAITH in the ELECT being an accomplishment of God’s Eternal Purpose of Election:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

Joh 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

SUMMARIZING:
I Have tried to show thus far that the doctrine, FAITH IS A GIFT, is true. This was demonstrated in the following ways:

1) Direct Scriptural References that teach this truth.

2) That man in the flesh is unable to believe. 1Co 2.14, Rom 2.21, Rom 8.7

3) The syllogism that without faith we cannot please God (Heb 11.6), no one in the flesh can please God and in fact is unable to do so (Rom 8), and thus we must first be in the SPIRT before we can exercise our duty of FAITH. God enables us to do that which he has commanded we must do.

4) That the scriptures teach Regeneration precedes Faith in the Order of Salvation. 1Joh 5.1, Joh 1.12.

5) That the Doctrine of Eternal Election infers that for God’s purposes to be assuredly accomplished he will supply the enablement to believe.

IMPLICATIONS of this Doctrine, Faith is a Gift, IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER:
1) It teaches a proper humility. We did not save ourselves, it is all of Grace, Salvation is of the Lord
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Eph 2.8-9 NO Boasting

Humility expressed:
1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2) It teaches us to give thanks to God for our Faith, that of our friends and all believers everywhere. And to seek God for an enlargement of our faith.

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

3) This doctrine will impact how we pray.
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
"Jesus prays for Peter's faith to be sustained even through sin, because he knows that God is the one who sustains faith." 6

4) We ought to pray in this way for ourselves and others:
Luk 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

John Gill writes:
...and the work of faith with power; faith is not only an operative grace; see Gill on 1Th_1:3 and is attended with good works; but it is a work itself, not of man's, for he cannot produce it in himself, nor exercise it of himself; but it is the work of God, of his operation which he works in his people; it has not only God for its object, and therefore the Arabic version reads, "the work of faith on him"; but it has God for its author: and this now, though it had grown exceedingly in these believers, was not as yet fulfilled or perfect; something was still lacking in it; wherefore the apostle prays that he who was the author would be the finisher of it: and this will be done "with power"; not of man's, for this work is neither begun, nor carried on, nor will it be finished by the might and power of men; but the same hands which laid the foundation of it, raise it up, carry it on, and give the finishing stroke to it; it is done by the power of God, and so the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "by his own power": which is greatly displayed in the production of faith at first; for a poor sensible sinner, in a view of all his sins, and the just deserts of them, to venture his soul on Christ alone for salvation; for a man to go out of himself and renounce his own righteousness, and trust to the righteousness of Christ for his justification before God, and acceptance with him, is owing to the exceeding greatness of God's power to them that believe; and the same power is seen in enabling faith to do the things it does; see Heb_11:1 and in encouraging, supporting, and maintaining it under the most difficult circumstances, as in the case of Abraham; and to make it stand fast under the severest persecutions, and at the hour of death, and in the view of an awful eternity, when it receives its full completion. 7

5) Acknowledging of this truth will guide the way we preach the gospel to ourselves. We no longer need to depend on the strength of our own will to believe to the saving of souls – BUT recognizing this as our solemn duty and privilege it will be seen as an enablement coming from GOD. We are responsible and will never be excused from this duty but GOD will get all the GLORY. It is to the glory of HIS OWN SON that we believe. Not a merit based on my works even my own work of faith but on God working in me to will and to do.
Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

6) Acknowledging of this truth will guide the way we preach the gospel to others. Our part will be seen in proclaiming the good news to HIS GLORY. We present the beauty of Jesus and the Gospel message in its fullness knowing that as many as ordained to eternal life will receive faith through the hearing of the Word of God.

7) Acknowledging of this truth will free many of unwarranted condemnation. Some are made to feel condemnation at their inability to CONVINCE others, some say they are playing the part of salesmen whose role is to sell the gospel. The success or failure of the sinner to embrace Christ lies squarely on their shoulders and their abilities. This running in the flesh was a main diet of my early Christianity and teaching. It also results from too high a thought of ourselves and to low a thought of God’s Sovereignty and power to save.

WARNING:
This truth can also lead to abuse. The flesh is very willing to leave one extreme (too high a view of one’s abilities combined with too low a view of God’s power and sovereignty) to another extreme (passivity, if faith is a gift and I must do all by faith then I will just sit here and watch TV until Faith comes upon me. )

Or misconstruing enabling grace for active doing. We cannot believe except it were given to us of God BUT God does not believe for us. We must believe and we must repent. This is our duty and responsibility! God does not believe for us.

This was explained in article by Geoff Thomas as follows – quoted at length:
So we need to believe in Christ to be saved, but only by God's wonderful favour through Jesus Christ is anyone able to believe. But now I want to say something that might seem at first to contradict everything I have been saying so far. If giving a new heart and a new nature is an act of God alone then believing is not the act of God. John Murray said that, "it is not God who believes in Christ for salvation, it is the sinner. It is by God's grace that a person is able to believe, but faith is an activity on the part of the person and of him alone. In faith we receive and rest upon Christ alone for salvation. It might be said: this is a strange mixture. God alone regenerates. We alone believe. And we believe in Christ alone for salvation. But this is precisely the way it is . . . It is our responsibility to be what regeneration effects. It is our responsibility to be holy . . . And we are never relieved of the obligation to believe in Christ to the saving of our souls. The fact that regeneration is the prerequisite of faith in no way relieves us of the responsibility to believe nor does it eliminate the priceless privilege that is ours as Christ and his claims are pressed upon us . . . Our inability is no excuse for our unbelief nor does it provide us with any reason for not believing" (John Murray, "Redemption Accomplished and Applied," Banner of Truth, 1961, pp. 106, 112).

In other words, faith does not believe for me, just as repentance does not repent for me. Repentance is something I must do, as I am also commanded to exercise faith. The jailor at Philippi said to Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved?" and the immediate answer he received was this, "Believe - you yourself have to believe - on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved," and so he did. But how did the jailor exercise that faith? Think of those times in Philippi: God had homed in upon that city, and then upon the jailor in his prison, and he led that man in a new direction. He gave him his first Christian friends, two men who had made Philippi buzz with their preaching. They had sung God's praises in his hearing and then they spoke the truth to him; God brought him to Christian preaching and knowledge. More! Throughout this time God was giving him a new heart, and he was taking away the jailor's heart of stone. God was active doing all of that. The sheer vertical sovereign grace of God accomplished it in him. The jailor was by nature helpless and passive and cynical about resurrection and redemption, but God had mercifully done a preparatory work in his heart. It was beyond his conscious experience, but it was a real work of God nonetheless. So when the command came to him to believe, God having worked in his life, the jailer freely chose to believe and be baptized. He had no excuse for not doing so. He had the ability to believe given him by God. He had a Saviour offered to him worthy of his trust, and he himself believed. There was immediate new concern. Was there anything th at he could do for Christ and his people and his cause? God had made him willing freely and personally to exercise his will and trust in Jesus Christ. I am saying that though saving faith is a gift of God it is we who exercise that gift and choose to believe in the Lord and to repent. 8

So with the closing words of John Piper I leave you to depend on GOD. Seeking him for an increase of faith and GRACE.

John Piper:
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

The great words, "Not I, but grace" are not energy- destroying words, but energy producing words. Listen to Paul again from Colossians 1:28-29, "We proclaim [Christ], admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which works mightily within me" (emphasis aded). Paul labors, Paul strives. But it is the mightly power of Christ that works in him, enabling him.

The point is this: God does not will instead of our willing; he wills in and through our willing. God does not work instead of our working, but through our working. God does not energize instead of our having energy; He energizes our energy. Therefore it is unbiblical and irrational to say that because the grace of God produces an active trust in God, we don't need to exert an active trust in God. 9

PRAY: Thank you Father for the gift of Faith! Thank you Father that though my eyes were blind and darkened by sin you have opened them. Amazing Grace! Not me but you, not my will but yours, not my strength but your enabling grace. Father as you have taught me to understand my total dependence upon your superabundant and overflowing grace even and especially to believe, I look to you for all things pertaining to life and godliness.

FOOTNOTES:
1. Dr. John Gill (1690-1771), John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, e-Sword, Rom 1.8.
2. Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714), Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, e-Sword, Rom 1.8.
3. John Piper, God Has Alloted to Each a Measure of Faith, www.monergism.com.
4. Dr. John Gill (1690-1771), John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, e-Sword, 1Ti 1.14.
5. John Piper, As quoted by Jim Hendryx in article, Answers to Objections to Faith Being a Gift of God, www.monergism.com.
6. John Piper, God Has Alloted to Each a Measure of Faith, www.monergism.com.
7. Dr. John Gill (1690-1771), John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, e-Sword, 2Th 1.11.
8. Geoff Thomas, Faith is a Gift of God, www.monergism.com.
9. John Piper, God Has Alloted to Each a Measure of Faith, www.monergism.com.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Romans 1:1-8

Q. 93. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the Gospel.

(Heb. 10:39; John 1:12; Phil 3-9; Gal. 2:15,16)

Second: Another use of this passage, which was pointed out by a dear sister in Christ as the class worked through this verse together, is that this verse should encourage us to seek God that we as a body of believers at MBC would have such a faith that it would be spoken of throughout the whole world, or at least beginning with our whole neighborhood, then our whole city and even then the whole world. Not that we are anything but that the God we trust is everything.

Faith is gift, we ought to seek then our God whom we love, whom we trust for every good and perfect gift, that we might as brothers and sisters together walk in grace and in more grace yet.

REMINDER:
We plan to spend about two weeks per chapter. We covered the first half of Roman chap 1 last Sunday (actually Rom 1:1-16) and will, Lord willing, cover the 2nd half next time we meet. (Especially Rom 1:17-21)

Suggested Memory Verses for Romans Chapter One:
Rom 1:1
Rom 1:16
Rom 1:20 (if you are really ambitions you may want to memorize instead Rom 1:16-21)

Note - we will especially concentrate on verse 20 - so if you are hoping to limit yourself to memorizing only one verse, verse 20 will fit very well into our final goal of establishing keywords and phrases for each chapter.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Romans 1:1 - Paul an Apostle

Study in Romans

This post is part of a study in Romans, whereby we identify keywords and phrases for each chapter with the goal of having a handle on the subject matter and flow of thought within Romans whereby we can preach the gospel to ourselves and others every day. See here for a introduction and description of our study in Romans.

A consciousness of divine authority runs all through the Epistles of Paul….

Suggested Memory Verses for Romans Chapter One:
Rom 1:1
Rom 1:16
Rom 1:20 (if you are really ambitions you may want to memorize instead Rom 1:16-21)

Rom 1:1-5
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resrrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name;

Paul here states plainly that he is an apostle. I dwelt on this in some detail while reading Louis Gaussen's book, Theopnuestia, The Plenary Inspiration of The Holy Scriptures. click here to see online. That Paul is an apostle is an important truth for us to grasp and one that adds to our understanding of the doctrine of the Divine Inspiration of Scriptures. Below are some notes I previously compiled to accompany a study on this same truth in Gal 1.1.

The office is part of the FOUNDATION of which Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

An office listed First in Rank:
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Some of the qualifications Being:
Called directly of Jesus Christ as Paul also asserts in Gal 1.1:
Gal 1.1…(not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

1Co 1:1 ¶ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Ga 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Ga 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Rom 1.1 ¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Ro 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Having Seen Christ:
1Co 9:1 ¶ Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

1Co 15.7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Taught of Christ:
Peter when choosing one to fill the place of Judas spoke thus:
Act 1.22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

What other assurances do the Scriptures give us concerning the proper authority and position of the office an apostle?

Peter below equates the apostles alongside the prophets of the Old Testament.
2Pe 3.2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Peter Here equates Pauls writings along side the scriptures in equality.
2Pe 3.15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

And so Louis Gaussen writes in The Plenary Inspiration of Scripture:
“The writings of the apostles, then ,were that which those of the Old Testament were; and these being a WRITTEN PROPHECY--- that is to say, something spoken altogether by God – the latter are no less so. ” 1

They deliver to us the mystery revealed to them by Inspiration:
Eph 3.4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

What Paul writes are indeed the commandments of the Lord:
1Co 14.36 ¶ What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

What Paul brought to them was indeed the word of God:
1Th 2. 13 ¶ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

We might also remember with what Authority Paul writes to the Corinthian Church. Where our Lord Jesus gave no direct command, Paul as an apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead can give command in his name:
1Co 7.12 ff But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

And in verse 17:
1Co 7.17 ¶ But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

For Paul as an Apostle in whom the Lord works has the spirit of God and the Mind of Christ:
1Co 7.40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

1Co 2.16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

This passage from 1Cor 7 isn’t as some who are weak teach: This must not be holy writ – see how the apostle has plainly said it is I and not the Lord. What they should have understood is not that there was lack of inspiration here – but rather it is a demonstration that the Apostle does speak by inspiration as an apostle – where Jesus gave no clear command in the Gospels the Holy Apostle delivers to us as one empowered and enabled to do so by divine inspiration for he has the Spirit of God equipping and enabling to do just that service.
And so we are reminded that all scripture is given by inspiration :
2Tim 3.15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

LET US RETURN TO OUR VERSE:
KJV Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

See how in most of Paul’s Epistles he asserts his apostolic authority in his Greetings:
Rom 1.1 ¶ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

1Cor 1.1 ¶ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2Co 1.1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Eph 1.1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Phil 1.1 ¶ Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Col 1.1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

1Th 1.1 ¶ Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 1.1 ¶ Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

1Ti 1.1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

2Ti 1.1 ¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

Tit 1.1 ¶ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Phm 1.1 ¶ Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Gal 1.1 MORE STRONGLY ASSERTS PAUL’S APOSTLESHIP THAN OTHER SALUTATIONS:
Calvin Remarks that “he here asserts it (his apostleship) more strongly than in other epistles. ”2 Because in this epistle Paul by the Spirit of God adds:
“Not of men neither through man but by…..”

Paul shows here both what he is not as well as what he is. 3

S. T. Bloomfield Notes:
“The scope of this parenthetical portion is to show the grounds of Paul’s claim to Apostleship, which, it seems, had been called in question. 4” The apw "of" signifies “on the part of;” and the dia "through" “by the agency of mediation of.” Thus the sense is “not commissioned from men, meaning the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem, but from GOD, not by the agency of man, but by Jesus Christ.” It is plain that anqrwpou (which signifies any mere man) points to the Divine origin of Christ. Hence the passage was justly regarded, by…Fathers, as one among those which prove the divinity of our Lord. ”5

Paul wasn’t a “messenger with a commission” commissioned by men, not by the apostles or elders of Jerusalem, not by any body of men. He was not a messenger with a commission through the agency of a man – sent under the authority of a mere man, but BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BY GOD THE FATHER WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. A holy Apostle, a messenger with a divine commission, commissioned directly by Jesus Christ and God the Father.

ALWAYS CONSCIENCE THAT WHAT HE WRITES HE WRITES AS AN APOSTLE COMMISSIONED BY THE MOST HIGH GOD:
J. Gresham Machen writes so wonderfully on this truth. He tells us to remember as we read the Epistles of Paul that, “A consciousness of divine authority runs all through the Epistles of Paul….Paul never forgets that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. There is a loftiness of tone in these letters, a dignity, a profound consciousness of authority, that differentiates them sharply from merely private or casual or temporary communications. ….. If we forget that fact, as so many readers do today, we may understand some details…..we may obtain a superficial and piecemeal knowledge of what is said: but THE REAL HEART OF THE WRITER WILL REMAIN FOREVER HIDDEN FROM US. UNLESS WE RECOGNIZE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF AUTHORITY WHICH RUNS THROUGH THESE EPISTLES FROM BEGINNING TO END, ALL THE DETAILED LEARNING IN THE WORLD WILL GIVE US NOTHING BUT A SUPERFICIAL KNOWLEDGE OF PAUL. ” 6

PAUL WAS ENDUED WITH SUPERNATUAL AUTHORITY AND POWER AS ONE CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE BY JESUS CHRIST AND GOD THE FATHER WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.

Footnotes:
1 Louis Gaussen, Theopneustia, The Plenary Inspiration of Scripture, Moody Press, pg 74.
2 John Calvin, Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries, vol 11,Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Co, pg 8.
3 Rev. S. T. Bloomfield, The Greek Testament with English Notes, Vol II, Longman Rees & Co, pg 242.
4 Rev. S. T. Bloomfield, The Greek Testament with English Notes, Vol II, Longman Rees & Co, pg 241-242.
5 Rev. S. T. Bloomfield, The Greek Testament with English Notes, Vol II, Longman Rees & Co, pg 242.
J. Gresham Machen, Notes on Galatians, Solid Ground Christian Books, pg 5-6.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Study in Romans

(Pictured to the left is a word cloud on the entire book of Romans. Click on graphic for a large version, click here to see word clounds for 66 books of the Bible. )

Starting a new series teaching from Romans in our Sunday School Class for adults this upcoming Sunday. The class is based on an accumulation of studying and discussing the book of Romans over the past year and half with my three youngest daughters. I had thought of possibly naming the class, A Study in Romans by three girls and their Dad. Hoping that what we discussed as a family and what blessings our God blessed us with will be also of joy to our friends as we walk together through the book of Romans as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The following is a description of how we plan to proceed and what we hope to accomplish. But for all of this we wait on God trusting in His blessing.

"Study in Romans." The class is expected to last eight months where we will be spending two weeks per each of the 16 chapters in Romans. Our Study together will not be an exhaustive study of Romans but rather a survey and overview simply directed toward acquiring a grasp of key concepts from each chapter. Through our study together we will see how Paul's argument builds in Romans as he anticipates questions in the readers mind, which he then answers in subsequent chapters. During the class we will learn, discuss and identify key words, phrases and memory verses that will give us a handle to remember the subject matter of each chapter and also communicate to us how the chapters in the book of Romans build upon each other resulting in a foundation of gospel truth.

As the class progresses you will begin to see how stringing these phrases and keywords together will help you to both communicate the gospel to others, remember the content and organization of Romans and will be a helpful means in the "preaching of the gospel to yourself everyday."

Illustration:

In Romans Chapter one we learn that every man is without excuse for all of creation declares there is a God. The case against man grows as we find in chapter two that whether we have the law as written and delivered to the Jews or the law of God written on our hearts we will not in the law find righteousness but condemnation for the law condemns. Further in Romans Chapter three we learn that there is none righteous no not one. But is there no righteousness for me? How we will I ever find acceptance with God? Chapter Four answers this questions with a question and answer: "What does the scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness." Praise God, there is an imputed righteousness to be found which is ours by faith. But how does that work? How can righteousness be imputed? To which Chapter Five answers "it is by Christ who just as Adam represented everyone that was in him so also is Christ the Representative of all that are in him." (Keywords boldfaced and underlined.)