A Provocative Statement about Marriage

Speaking of the difficulty the disciples had in hearing Jesus' words concerning marriage in Matthew 19, John Piper said Sunday,

"…how much more will the magnificence of marriage in the mind of God seem unintelligible in a world that we live in where the main idol is self, and its main doctrine is autonomy, and its central act of worship is being entertained, and its two main shrines are the television and the cinema, and its most sacred genuflection is the uninhibited act of sexual intercourse. Such a culture will find the glory of marriage in the mind of Jesus virtually unintelligible." [I have not yet finished this sermon, but it is an outstanding encouragement to faithfulness in marriage because of the creation of marriage by the hand of God for the glory of God.]

Music Worth a Listen

I don't often purchase new music — most of what I buy was written 200 (or more) years ago. And I rarely make musical suggestions to others. But the other day I found a reference to some new music, and on a whim, listened to some excerpts and then made a purchase.

In the album, "His Faithfulness," Jim Spencer provided arrangement for about 10 of Amy Carmichael's poems. It is outstanding. It arrived yesterday, and I have probably listened to it a half dozen times already.

The music fits well with the words, and the words reflect a biblical theology. It's already proven to be worth my $14 investment.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

Sunday Leftovers (1/28/07)

The cartoon character Broom Hilda once lamented,

"I've searched all my life for the key to happiness.
"I found the key to happiness once..."
"The next day someone changed the locks."

Even believers are not immune to such thinking. We believe that we have found the key to happiness, and then realize that what we thought would provide happiness, does not.

Yet the promise of God that He will give us eternal life is a directive to us that what we should pursue as an object of happiness is life in Christ (Col. 3:4) and eternal life (Jn. 6:54).

And just what kind of new life does Christ offer? James Boice tells of at least 10 things that become new in Christ because of His resurrection and the promise of our resurrection:

• Christ is known in a new way (Jn. 20:17)
• Believers are given a new title (Jn. 20:17)
• Believers are told a a new position (Jn. 20:17)
• Believers occupy a new place (Jn. 20:19)
• Believers are assured of a new blessing (Jn. 20:19, 21)
• Believers are given a new privilege (Jn. 20:19)
• Believers have a new joy (Jn. 20:20)
• Believers receive a new commission (Jn. 20:21)
• Believers are a new creation (Jn. 20:22)
• Believers have a new Indweller (Jn. 20:22)
  

These truths are the promise of God and are to be pursued and enjoyed as the overflow of our satisfaction in Christ. He is our satisfaction.

Must Reading

If you read one thing on the Internet today or this week or this month, let it be this morning's commentary by Al Mohler, "The Scary Logic of Peter Singer." The topic of bioethics and eugenics may not be a favorite of yours, but as believers, we must be informed about how the culture thinks and how we are to respond in thought and action. True, Singer's position is obviously and tragically flawed and minor, but there are massive shifts taking place in our cultural mores (listen to the discussion about homosexual marriage and think about how different similar discussions were even five years ago), and what is minority opinion today may be accepted opinion tomorrow.

So read Mohler's commentary and beware of the influences of the culture on your own mind and affections.

Sunday Leftovers (1/21/07 )

One of the great (and often over-looked) truths about salvation is that God draws (compels) men to believe. This action originates with the Father's eternal plan (Jn. 6:44; Eph. 1:3-6), but it also includes the resurrecting work of Christ as the means by which salvation is fulfilled (Jn. 6:39, 40, 44, 54) and the revealing of the Word of God by the Spirit of God as the means by which men come to know the truth (Jn. 6:45). In other words, your salvation does not come by your own self-exalting reasoning (as the Pharisees thought they could accomplish it), but by the cooperative work of the entire, triune God.

This salvation, while compelled by God, is available to all people everywhere (Jn. 3:16; Acts 17:30). Yet the belief that is produced is not singular — it is continual and constant. That is, belief is not something that is evidenced one time and then substantially forgotten. Belief in Christ is an ever-present reality for those who belong to Christ. This is why Jesus says, "he who believes (present tense -- emphasizing the ongoing and continual nature of the belief) has eternal life" (6:47) He does not say "he who believed (past tense) has eternal life." Those who have eternal life have it because of the gracious work of God which compels them to give evidence of their faith in Christ in a living, ongoing manner.

In their book How People Change, Lane and Tripp note that there is a "gospel gap" in many people's lives. Why is there a gap between what people say they believe about the gospel and how they live life? Because what they say they believe is not really what they believe — because they do not believe that Jesus must be really believed.

But when people believe, there is life — that is, Christ becomes all-satisfying. I like how John Piper says it:

Believing in Jesus means coming to him for the quenching of our soul's thirst. Faith in Christ is being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus.

That's belief, produced by the Word and work of God. And it is the great word about salvation from the Word.

Lessons Learned in a Crisis

Yesterday morning I made that statement that James 1 is a difficult passage for us to comprehend (and apply) because it is so contrary to the fleshly response when trials occur. In addition to the eternal help we receive from God's Word, God also provides us with godly people who respond to trial in God-exalting ways -- and thereby demonstrate for us the trustworthiness of His Word. Al Mohler is such a man, and his commentary this morning is such a help for us. It is worth reading, printing, and keeping.

A Prayer for a Lack of Prayer

This is from Adolphe Monod's book, Living in the Hope of Glory. It is a fitting preparation for our worship for Sunday, and for our preparation of our service today (and any day):

My God, forgive the way in which your church, which alone in the world knows enough to pray, does pray. Forgive the way in which we ourselves pray; the half-heartedness, the uncertainty, the unbelief we exhibit even on the least unfaithful, the least unbelieving days of our Christian life and ministry! My God, forgive the sin of our holy offerings! [p. 95]

Why is prayerfulness so important (apart from the fact that it is commanded by God in Scripture!)? Monod answers:

…most of the time we pray without praying. We have no idea of the weakness and unbelief that are mingled with our prayers for want of living with the invisible [his term for fellowship with God, particularly in relation to the future eternal state]. We have no idea of the blessings and favors of which we deprive ourselves. Oh, my friends, let us constantly repeat this prayer, 'Lord, teach us to pray!' When we know how to pray, we will know all, and what is of even greater worth, we will have all. We will know Jesus, and we will do better than simply know him; we will possess him. [pp. 95-6]

Sunday Leftovers (1/14/07)

It has been said that “the trouble with life is that it’s so daily.” Most of us identify well with that statement.

Daily-ness is not only the trouble with life; it is also the “trouble” with the spiritual life (it’s what makes the spiritual life difficult). We desire a sanctification that is instant and complete, but that kind of spiritual maturity is nonexistent. Instead, God has designed our sanctification to be progressive — to be a daily, moment-by-moment reminder that we are always dependent on Him for all our life.

As you think about your spiritual life this year, consider two complementary truths:

• see everything you do as an opportunity to grow in your dependence on (and love for) Christ.
• remember that for all you do to grow in Him, at the end of this year, you will not be fully perfected.

Everything that is part of our life is an opportunity to trust Christ and grow in fellowship with Him and moved forward in our sanctification. So paying bills and shopping for shoes and praying with children at night and praying alone in the morning and reading the newspaper and drinking orange juice and taking out the garbage every evening and calling a friend and getting your hair cut and commuting to work and listening to the radio and surfing the internet and writing thank you notes and preparing for Sunday worship on Saturday and then worshipping on Sunday and taking a nap and riding your bike and confessing your sin to your mate and forgiving an offense, and preparing a meal for a sick member of the congregation whom you don’t know and mowing your lawn — everything we do is an opportunity to trust Christ and grow in fellowship with Him. So see your life not as a series of disjointed events, but as a tapestry woven by Christ on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis to produce a life that is increasingly devoted to Him and satisfied with Him.

And then with that also remember that while you grow in Him, you will not be absolutely perfected until you reach glory (what a great day that will be!). So in that sense, the goal is growth, not perfection (we strive to live in all ways to the glory of God, but recognize that because of our fleshly bodies, we will not attain that on earth). When you fail, confess your sin, and thank God for the work of Christ on your behalf — the work that brought you to salvation, and continues to work that salvation in your life all day, every day.

The Cost of Obedience

Oswald Chambers makes a surprising and perceptive (and true) statement about the cost of obedience in this morning's devotional.

If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal. If we obey God it will mean that other people's plans are upset, and they will gibe us with it — "You call this Christianity?" We can prevent the suffering; but if we are going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid.

The Darkness of Depression — a Help

John Piper has long said that he has written only one book — Desiring God — all the other books he's written are merely expansions and explanations of that book. That is particularly true of the book When I Don't Desire God, which became one of my most favorite books by Piper after I read it. I was particularly encouraged in reading his final chapter, "When the Darkness Does Not Lift," which addressed the topic of pervasive depression and how to stand strong in the face of it.

That chapter has now been expanded into a short book: When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God — and Joy. It too is in my "to read" stack (near the top) — and it can be read for free by downloading it. Or if you prefer the "dead tree" edition, you may order it from Desiring God.

The book is described this way:

Even the most faithful, focused Christians can encounter periods of depression and spiritual darkness when joy seems to stay just out of reach. It can happen because of sin, satanic assault, distressing circumstances, or hereditary and other physical causes. This book, which is an expansion of a chapter in When I Don't Desire God, aims to give some comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritual darkness.

Readers will gain insight into the physical side of depression and spiritual darkness, what it means to wait on the Lord in a time of darkness, how unconfessed sin can clog our joy, and how to minister to others who are living without light. Piper uses real-life examples and sensitive narrative to show readers abundant reason to hope that God will pull them out of the pit of despair and into the light once again.

(HT: Justin Taylor)

Owens on Temptation

After Sunday's message I was moderately rebuked for not listing John Owen's works on sin, particularly On the Mortification of Sin in my resources.

So here they are:

• John Owens, Of the Mortification of Sin — this edition includes the classic introduction by J. I. Packer.
• Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, Overcoming Sin and Temptation: Three Classic Works by John Owen. This edition includes Of the Mortification of Sin, Of Temptation: the Nature and Power of It, and Indwelling Sin. This is essentially the complete text of Owens, with added footnotes for difficult vocabulary, integrated outlines of the books, and modernized punctuation. This is currently in my book bag — which is supposed to mean its on my "next to read" list.
  

And, as an added bonus, here is the well-quoted statement that Owens made about sin:

Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until he be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so will he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death.…Mortification abates [sin's] force, but doth not change its nature. Grace changeth the nature of man, but nothing can change the nature of sin....Destroyed it may be, it shall be, but cured it cannot be....If it be not overcome and destroyed, it will overcome and destroy the soul. And herein lies no small part of its power.…It is never quiet, [whether it is] conquering [or] conquered.…Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.

Sunday Leftovers (1/7/07 )

“Sanctification” has the basic meaning of being set apart or dedicated to God on the basis of the atoning work of Christ.

While God sees believers in Christ as being fully righteous (2 Cor. 5:21), sanctification most often refers to the process of the believer progressively working out his salvation so that he is increasingly freed from the power of sin and is increasingly more like the Savior.

The emphasis in that last sentence is on the two occurrences of the word “increasingly.” Sanctification is both constant and progressive. It is constant in that it is pursued continuously (not sporadically), and it is progressive in that the depth of fellowship with Christ is ever increasing. Those words are not gentle in the ears of Americans who love words like “instant,” “immediate,” “fast,” and “now.” Yet it is the constant testimony of the Word of God that sanctification is the process by which God demonstrates our dependence on and need for Him (note the emphasized words):

• …and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God (Col. 2:19)
• But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18)
• …but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Pet. 3:18)
• but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ (Eph. 4:15)
• so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10)
• My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you (Gal. 4:19)
• But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. (1 Tim. 6:11)

This is why Jonathan Edward’s second resolution was “Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote [whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time…].”

Every day our chief concern is to structure our schedules and orient our affections to being more satisfied with God and to increase our maturity in Him. Which is why I said that two fundamental activities of the believer every day are to:

• do everything you can to feed your hunger for and satisfaction with God’s Word (see 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
• do everything you can to abstain from anything that will abate your hunger and satisfaction for the Word of God.

Or, to grow progressively, starve sin and feed hunger for the Word of God.

A Good Word about the Word

I came across this statement about the authority of Scripture in my devotional reading this morning:

I declare, as though before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, where I expect soon to appear, my unshakable conviction that when Scripture speaks, God speaks.…When Scripture speaks, God speaks. When Scripture proclaims God’s will or the way of salvation or the great doctrines of sin and grace, and of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, what it tells us is no less true and no less certain than if heaven were opened above us at this very moment and the voice of God resounded, as it once did at Sinai, saying these same things to us.

There are no bounds to the trust and submission that we owe the Scriptures, any more than there are limits to the truth and the faithfulness of God.

The words were spoken by Adolphe Monod from his bedside just six weeks before his death from cancer. A series of 26 weekly talks from that bedroom were later transcribed by his friends and bound into a book, entitled Les Adieux (Farewells). It was recently translated from French and published in English under the new title, Living in the Hope of Glory. I stumbled across it recently while parousing the shelves of my favorite local used bookstore. It's proving to be quite a little treasure, taking significant theological themes and expounding on them in fresh and simple ways.

Resolved...

‘Tis the season for making resolutions and setting goals.

Perhaps you’ve already established your course for the year, or perhaps your resolution for 2008 is to make your resolutions before the new year has begun!

Perhaps you haven’t set any goals for the coming year because your experience with goal setting is an overwhelming sense of defeat. If so, perhaps you should consider one person’s suggestions:

• Gain weight — at least 30 pounds.
• Stop exercising — it really is a waste of time.
• Read less — it makes you think too much.
• Watch more TV. I’ve been missing some good stuff.
• Get further in debt.

Well, those may be easy to attain, but they may not be so profitable, either in this life or in the life to come.

Some people resolve to make no resolutions and set no goals because they fail too faithfully in meeting those goals. And one reason we all are defeated when we set goals and make resolutions is because we tend to view them as singular events (or a series of singular events) rather than as a process.

So we view losing weight as a one-time (one day, or one week or one month) act instead of a change in lifestyle. We view sharing the gospel as a singular act rather than as an ongoing process in which we are always looking for opportunities to talk about Christ. We view trials and difficulty as singular in nature rather than ongoing and repetitious. We view prayer as something we do once or twice or five times a day (morning, evening and at each meal) instead of a continual attitude of repeated intercession through the day, each day.

We even say our goals and resolutions should be measurable, so we establish them as things that we can count and mark as completed (4 books read, 6 verses memorized, and 8 people invited to dinner), rather than considering whether a heart attitude has been changed. In this Albert Einstein was correct (he was speaking of something else, but it applies well to the spiritual life): “We live in a time of excellence of methods and a confusion of goals.”

Almost three centuries ago Jonathan Edwards clearly understood the significance of resolutions in a manner that is relevant today as well. The goal is not the completion of a task, but the cultivation of a heart that follows Christ more passionately. This is demonstrated by his first resolution:

Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

And it is demonstrated throughout the remaining 69 as well. For example:

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

So how do we make resolutions in a way that will keep our eyes on the prize set before us? Here are three principles I have found helpful:

• Focus the goals on developing Biblical character more than engaging in activities.
• Spend some time each day in self-examination. (Am I moving toward the intended goal or am I merely completing checklists?)
• Keep the goals simple in orientation and realistic in number. Don’t overcomplicate your resolutions — even Christ said that the entire Old Testament law could be summarized into two — love God and love your neighbor. That too is our simple goal.

As you develop goals and resolutions for the coming week, month, year, or even decade, remember that our fundamental objective is to be as close to God as we can be, and that “every man is as close to God as he wants to be; he is as holy and as full of the Spirit as he wills to be” (Tozer).