How can you be of use to Christ?

This is the manuscript (written out and the full version) of the sermon I preached for my preaching class. I preached the sermon to all men who are seeking to be in full time ministry (most of whom desire to be pastors), so it is addressed to them. However, I think everyone, whether women or people not seeking to be in full time ministry, can glean application and insight from this.
2 Timothy 2:21b-26
(Introduction) Often in prison, beaten times without number, often in danger of death; five times receiving thirty-nine lashes, three times beaten with rods, stoned once, shipwrecked three times; in danger from robbers, heretics, Jews and Gentiles alike; yet he did not revile his enemies nor did he slander them in their presence. Because of his conduct, there are few better examples of godly men who were useful vessels to God than the apostle Paul. It was his custom to correct the Jewish misunderstandings about the Messiah by reasoning from the Scriptures and explaining and giving evidence that Jesus was indeed the Christ; and that He had to suffer and raise again from the dead (cf. Acts 17:2). We have no evidence that Paul gave in to speculations about such things as where Moses’ body was buried, what was considered to be work on the Sabbath, and on what calendar day the Passover was to be celebrated. Rather, Paul preached and taught “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” and risen again (1 Corinthians 2:2). He did not give in to youthful passions, but rather Paul sought to live a quiet godly life. Through all of this, Paul longed with all of his heart that his brethren, the Jewish people, might be saved. But his final trust was in God’s providence, that though Israel was currently hardened toward the gospel, yet one day God would save all the descendents of Abraham. In light of this, his life experience, Paul wrote these words of advice to his dear child in the faith, the young pastor in Ephesus, Timothy.
“...be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:22-26).
(Transition) Here Paul gives three characteristics to Timothy of a godly life that you must apply, so that you will be able to be a vessel that is useful to Christ, your Master, so that you can trust in God’s work in correcting those who oppose the truth you preach.
(First point) First to be a vessel that is useful to our great Master Jesus Christ, a vessel “prepared for every good work,” demonstrate a mature faith. You must live a life that is led by the Spirit; a life that is above reproach. Paul gives you two imperatives, two commands to tell you how to live out this mature faith.
His first command to you is flee from youthful lusts. The verb "flee" is in the present tense, it is of continuous action; you must keep on fleeing youthful lusts. Take a cue from Harrison Ford’s character, Dr. Richard Kimble, in the movie The Fugitive. Dr. Kimble, who was wrongly accused and found guilty of his wife’s murder, escaped from the law so that he might search for his wife’s true murderer. If Kimble were to stop fleeing from his pursuers, they would catch him and return him to prison, where he would not be able to fulfill his mission. In the same way, you cannot hope to flee one time from the lusts of your flesh and think that you have won the battle. No, Satan does not give up that easily, and neither does the sin which still dwells in your flesh. You must continually fight. You must be determined in your mind and heart to flee from these lusts every time you are faced with them and you must stand firm with fellow believers to keep you from falling into such lusts.
Such lusts can include, but are obviously not limited to pornography, whether off the internet or out of magazines, arguments to prove that you are right and to inflate your own ego, and course joking. Take all the necessary steps to keep yourself from falling into these so called “youthful lusts,” for they can disqualify you from your ministry, and even worse, possibly from the prize of eternal life. If you fall into these, they can overwhelm you and prove that your faith was not founded upon Jesus Christ, who will keep those who are His until His return, but that you are unregenerate. So band together with others to hold one another up.
After you have fled the youthful lusts, you need somewhere to flee; a righteous lifestyle is that place. Paul’s second command to us is pursue what can be summed up as righteous living. “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.” You are to pursue these “with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” Pursue these four marks of a true Christian in both your relationships with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and pursue to sharpen one another in these four virtues, for “as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
1 Righteousness is a standard of living, a life-style if you will, that is in accordance with the desires and laws of God. Pursue righteousness as purity in your relationships. This includes your relationship with your wife or girlfriend. With your wife, be fully committed to her, refrain from flirting with other women, give her the love and devotion she deserves as your mate, and especially keep from adulterous relationships (whether physical or emotional) that are far too common in these days, even among those who claim to be teachers of the oracles of God. With your girlfriend, pursue righteousness by staying pure and saving the marriage bed until you have committed yourselves one to the other in the presence of witnesses and in the blessing of the state and the Church.
To hold to such a standard, seek out other God-fearing men. You need them, and they need you. Only together will we be able to live with a pure heart before our God. Also seek together with your wife or girlfriend to stir one another on toward righteous living. Humbly take care to listen to one another’s concerns in your relationship together. Also spend time with each other before the Lord in prayer and in Bible study. Help one another to understand the words and commands of Scripture, and hold each other accountable to live up to the requirements that Scripture, through the work of the Holy Spirit, convicts you to make.
Another place to pursue righteousness is your relationship with your friends. Together seek godly living and to sharpen one another unto the standards of God’s Word. Correct one another in a humble, loving manner when necessary. Keep one another accountable to live a God-ward life, always striving to live more like Christ in every area of life. And always be quick to complement one another when you attain goals that each of you has set. Keep the relationship itself righteous, pure from every defilement and from the deceptions of Satan, and together prod one another toward more righteous living in all relationships and areas of life.
We see that even Paul, that great apostle to the Gentiles, needed brothers in Christ to stand with him. We see his distress when he tells Timothy “Only Luke is with me” (4:11). All others had left him, and so Paul requests of Timothy to “make every effort to come to me soon” (4:9). Paul knew that he, as well as every person, needed brothers to help him to strive for righteousness and to keep him company. Man is a social creature. And so you must not think yourself any better than Paul and think to yourself that you can do it on your own. You cannot. If you try to do so, you will inevitably fail, and you may end up at the end of life unable to say as Paul has said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (4:7).
2 And we must keep the faith. Another area in which we are told to pursue righteous living is faith. Now “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is one of the great virtues of the Christian. We cannot see faith in itself, only God can. However, faith is evidenced in the works it produces, as both James and Paul attest.
The good fight of the faith for which we strive is “eternal life” itself (1 Timothy 6:11-12), and only by perseverance in the faith will you be able to attain this prize. You must do whatever it takes, whether you must “gouge out your eye,” as Jesus says (Matthew 18:19), or “sell everything you have and give to the poor” (Mark 10:21). The advice I give to you, and which Paul himself is giving to you here in our text for today, is to be faithful to those who “call on the Lord from a pure heart,” and to stand together, bearing one another’s burdens, and to walk together, to fight together and to drive one another along toward Christ in faith, keeping one another from falling into the deceptive snares of the devil.
You can do this practically by keeping all the promises you make to all the saints. Whether this means getting lunch together, making hospital visitations when an elderly saint is hospitalized, or taking a young saint out to play ball. Being faithful to others will build your rapport with them, and will give them an example to imitate.
To sharpen one another in faith toward God, encourage one another to go deeper and to be dedicated in daily devotions with God. Ask each other difficult questions about your relationships with God. We must stand together to make sure that “no one comes short of the grace of God” (Hebrews 12:15). Such accountability will help you not to fall prey to the lusts of the flesh. It will help you to help one another to keep your soil clean, and not to become plants in soil filled with thorns, which are the worries “of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth,” which “choke the word [of God],” detaching you from Christ, which will make you unfruitful (Matthew 13:22), and we know that everyone who is detached from Christ and unfruitful will be cut from the Vine which is Christ, and cast into the fire (John 15:2, 6). Such a one’s love for God and for his fellow man dries up.
3 This love for both God and your neighbor is another virtue Paul exhorts us to pursue. The greatest commandment is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” The second greatest commandment is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39). We have all failed at both of these commandments and continue to fail at them. If we obeyed both of these two commandments perfectly we would be sinless, for “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:40).
Since you are not perfect, you are bound to break these commandments, again and again. Yet if you will stand together with others who “call on the Lord from a pure heart,” you can exhort and encourage one another toward the standard of God in this love. You can do this by confessing your sins to one another, and discussing how each of you can work on being more loving toward others. Love toward one’s neighbor and toward God is practical. You can show it toward others by acts of kindness, visiting them when they are in distress, and by helping both your friend and enemy when they are in need.
This love, however, must flow from an inward love that can only be imparted by the work of the Holy Spirit. Anyone can outwardly show affections while inwardly harboring all sorts of malice and resentment toward others; at least for a time. Jesus is not calling for us to have mushy feelings toward everyone we meet, but He is calling us to have a joy in showing love to them practically, a joy that flows like a river from our inward parts. This is known as eternal life (cf. John 7:38). It is not merely an outward kindness, but an inward renewal. While you can spur one another on to love and good works outwardly, and you should do this for Scripture calls for such practical shows of love, the only way that you can produce this kind of love in another is by quoting to them the words of Scripture, that the Spirit might change his/her heart, and by praying diligently for the Lord’s intercessory work to occur in each other’s lives.
4 We are also exhorted to pursue peace. We pursue peace with God only through the forgiveness that we receive through Christ Jesus. We are justified and have this peace with God by His atoning sacrifice on the cross. This peace with God will drive us toward peace with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The writer of Hebrews commands us, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
This peace does not mean that we will not have disagreements with others in the church. Rather, it means that we are not being quarrelsome, we are regarding one another higher than ourselves, and we are seeking reconciliation with one another when we have wronged the other. Seek this peace. This is the peace that Paul is commanding for you to seek.
(Transition) If you flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteous living, you will demonstrate a mature faith, the first requirement of being a vessel that is useful to the Master. To be a vessel useful to the Master, however, you must move forward. Paul’s second command to you is decline immature and foolish talk.
(Point Two) Discussing serious issues of faith and practice are not only beneficial to those who participate in them, but are actually essential for spiritual growth. However, there are many people who will argue merely for the sake of argumentation. Decline arguments with such people. Though they will often persist and may even grow hostile, as a minister of the gospel and a vessel who seeks to be faithful to your calling and faithful in the work God has given you, you must learn not to give in to such people. There are two things that you must do to keep yourself from falling prey to those who seek to debate for the purpose of debating itself, or even for the purpose of causing divisions.
First, realize the problems of speculations. Speculations are not merely discussions that seek for doctrinal purity or for an understanding of how we are to live as salt and light in this lost world. Speculations are often inconclusive, and result from idly pondering issues (often issues that can be divisive) almost always for the sake of gaining mere knowledge. And we know that such “knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Paul describes these speculations as “foolish and ignorant.” They are ignorant because they are inconclusive. There is not enough evidence to base a sustained argument from a reliable authority. In cases of theological speculation, this authority is the Bible, the pure Word of God. Arguments end up resorting often times to philosophies, often times fanciful ones, or they resort to glib remarks and demeaning language. They are foolish in that they are of no real value to discuss. Either those who are discussing and listening in on the discussion are thoroughly convinced and have heard all the arguments time and time again, or else they are discussions of issues that have no real bearing upon life, the pursuit of godliness, or the fulfillment of the “Great Commission.”
Such foolish and ignorant speculations could be of issues of personal preference. This could include the style of worship music to be played during the service, what is proper attire to wear during the worship service, and what color the children’s wing of the building should be. Speculations could also consist of personal convictions. As Paul takes no stance on the observance of ceremonial days and whether or not one should eat meat sacrificed to idols, but leaves this up to a person’s conscience, so we too must leave such issues as whether or not to observe traditional holidays, whether or not to dance, and whether or not to allow our children to watch television up to the individual’s decision.
It is not that all discussion of these issues is harmful. Actually, discussing these issues can actually help people see both sides of an issue and become convinced in his own mind on the proper action to take in any such situation (cf. Romans 14:5), and can keep such one from sinning (cf. Romans 14:23). However, seeking to force personal convictions on another upon speculations in issues upon which the Bible does not give us a definite stance to take, leads to quarrels and unnecessary division among believers. Realize this, and you will save your flock from divisions, and you will save your ministry from being tainted.
Second, refuse unprofitable speculations. Since you know these speculations only lead to quarrels, do not get into them with those who bring up such arguments. If you resist the devil he will flee (James 4:7), so likewise those who have been deceived by him will stop seeking unprofitable discussions of speculations if you refuse them. You must be firm in your resolve to resist such speculations, as often times you may have strong convictions about the issues they set-forth yourself. However, if the issue is based upon mere speculations, you will stop yourself and your opponent from causing a world of pain to the cause of Christ, if you resist.
(Transition) We have seen two things you must do to be a vessel useful to the Master are demonstrate a mature faith by fleeing youthful lusts and pursuing righteous living, and decline immature and foolish talk by realizing the problems of speculations and refusing to participate in unprofitable speculations. Paul gives to Timothy and to you one more command on how to be a vessel useful to our Lord and Master, Christ Jesus: Display maturity when facing opposition.
(Point Three) It is inevitable that ministers of the gospel will face opposition. The words of the Lord are always unpopular with those who are unregenerate, as well as those whom the Holy Spirit has not yet quickened to a spiritual truth. Those in opposition are always hard to deal with, especially when they are someone dear to us. This could include family members, coworkers, friends, or even partners in ministry. Whether those who oppose sound doctrine and right practice are close to you or enemies, your conduct toward them in face of their confrontation must be above reproach. You must display maturity when facing opposition to be a fruitful bondservant of the Lord.
The apostle Paul here says “The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome” (24, emphasis added). When opposition comes, and it will often come in the form of heated argumentation that could seriously sever relationships, if you are going to be a useful vessel for the Lord, you must not give in. These severed relationships can often be avoided if the parties involved remain cool-headed and count one another as better than themselves. Paul tells you how to act toward your opponents.
He is clear. Correct those in opposition. Yet “be kind to all.” This means you must go the extra mile to put your opponent first. Put his/her feelings first. Treat them as you desire to be treated.
Second, teach them. Show them, from Scripture whenever possible, why they are wrong and what Scripture commands for them to do in response to the correction. In order to be able to teach, you must “preach the word.” You must “be ready in season and out of season.” It is your role as a minister of the gospel to “reprove, rebuke, [and] exhort, with great patience and instruction” (4:2). In order to be an able teacher, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16, NIV).
Third, patiently endure them when you are wronged. Often, if those in opposition grow angry, they may slander you and mistreat you. Endure this with patience, the apostle says. Do not revile when you are reviled. Rather, return good for evil. Payback harsh words with kind words. Even if you are boiling inside, keep this anger to yourself and respond in a cool, compassionate manner.
Forth, correct them in gentleness. Restrain the fierce power of your arguments and the sharpness of your tongue. This will save you from all sorts of spiritual forest fires (James 3:5). If you are unable to control your tongue, do not be a teacher (James 3:1). You must respond from a humble, meek heart. Do not speak harsh words. Do not speak words that are incomprehensible to your hearer. Rather, speak in plain language that is not overbearing, showing your love and concern for both the truth and for the person who opposes you.
If you teach your opponent in kindness, patience, and gentleness, you will be a vessel useful to the Master. And Paul gives us hope. This hope is that you can trust the providence of God. There is a reason to display maturity when facing opposition: “Perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
Those who are in opposition to the truth of God are held captive to the snares of Satan. Some of these may be brothers and sisters in Christ who are in error and a sinful lifestyle or belief. James exhorts you, “if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). If you correct them, you may actually be saving their spiritual lives. Do not let a person continue in his or her sin; that is by far the most unloving thing that you can possibly do. The wisdom of Proverbs tells us plainly “better is open rebuke than love that is concealed” (Proverbs 27:5). If you saw a friend who in blindness was walking toward a cliff, would you be showing him love if you did not tell him about the cliff ahead and you did not tell him to turn back from his way? Even if he knew the cliff was ahead, would it not be better to warn him, at least for your own conscience’ sake of the dangers ahead and to turn his direction? So in the same way if you love a brother or sister in sin, you must tell them of the dangers they are in. If you do not, you will be held accountable. James again warns us, “one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
It is of the same importance to correct those who have never trusted Christ. They truly are blind men heading toward a cliff. This may be their last day alive. Humans are mere vapors, here today and gone tomorrow (Psalm 39:5). We do not know how long any person has. So if you do not tell them of the approaching danger of final judgment that awaits them if they fail to repent and trust in Christ, who will? You may be the last person they see. And they are most certainly held captive by Satan to do his will. As John Wesley said, “At present [they] are not only captives, but asleep; utterly insensible of their captivity.”
Yet have assurance. God is sovereign over salvation, as the Apostle Paul reminds us here. Teach those in opposition out of a mature faith and God may “grant” them repentance. Yes, repentance itself is the gift of God. In Acts the early church responded to Peter’s report about the conversion of Cornelius as “God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). Likewise in Acts 16:14: “The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” Those in opposition must respond in faith and repentance toward God, yet the first move is to be made by God through the quickening work of His Holy Spirit. Trust in God to work through your preaching and correction (cf. Romans 10:17).
This repentance of which Paul speaks leads to the life-giving “knowledge of the truth.” What is this life-giving knowledge? It is eternal life. Not merely an understanding of facts, but knowing God personally, as a son knows his father and loves him (cf. John 17:3). This knowledge will bring them to their senses, and they will escape from the snares of Satan and the sin which has bound them and hindered them.
This assurance ought lead you to take heed of your role in God’s work, as a vessel useful to the Master. Correct those in opposition in gentleness, for a sharp word may turn them away. But do not stop at your outward efforts to win those who are lost. Pray for them as well. In Luke 6:28 we are exhorted, “pray for those who mistreat you.” Those who oppose you will often mistreat you. Take this as an opportunity to pray for them. “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). God hears the prayers of His children, and we have the promise that “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). So pray for those who oppose you, trusting that God can turn them from the snare of Satan unto eternal life.
(Transition) To be a vessel that is useful to the Master, you must trust in Him. You must also demonstrate a mature faith, decline immature and foolish talk, and display maturity when facing opposition by correcting those in opposition in gentleness, and trusting in God’s providence.
(Conclusion) All who follow Jesus desire to be vessels useful for His service. Decide in your mind today that you will demonstrate a mature faith, decline all immature and foolish talk that arises, and that you will display maturity when you face opposition. Rely upon God’s strength through personal prayer, and trust in Him to bear fruit through you. Be sure to get help from close brothers and sisters to keep you accountable and to point out areas in your life that need correction in these areas.
Christian, if you have failed to demonstrate a mature faith, decline immature and foolish talk, and display maturity when facing opposition, do not beat yourself over it. You cannot take back what has been done. Rather, learn from your mistakes. If you remain proud, God will oppose you. But if you humbly seek His forgiveness, He will give you a great measure of grace (cf. James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5). God Himself can and will work through you to mend broken relationships and bring those who are in error to repentance. It is never too late to act in a humble manner. It may take time, but it is worth it. Because God may correct those in opposition, seek to be a vessel useful to Him.

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The Universal Fatherhood of God

Liberal Theologians have always tried to thrive under the banner of the universal fatherhood of God. In this endeavor, these theologians taught that God is the father of His creation and loves it all the same and accepts all the people of the world and their efforts at morality. Since they are His children, God accepts the worship of all people, as long as it meets some minimal liberal ethical standard, no matter who they claim Him to be and what they claim Him to be like; and He obviously gives them all life after death. It would be abhorrent for God to send someone to hell in their system and understanding.
The ethic they sought to advance was the simple commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself," a commandment given by Jesus and the Old Testament, and almost every religion throughout the world. This command was to be the unifying factor. Under this banner, these theologians sought to bring all people together under a brotherhood, to stop all forms of religious exclusivity, and to create a world in which peace and harmony ensued because we all just got along. Obviously this has failed, as most all religions still claim to be the sole heirs of God, war still exists, and people clearly do not just love one another. In spite of this, the succession of liberal theology has infected far and wide the understanding of many people, as is seen by the way they claim that all religions teach fundamentally the same thing.
This way, however, does not work because it cannot. People do not need just a new perspective on life, but a whole change of their will and their hearts. Outward calls to brotherhood cannot and will not bring this about. Jesus never saw loving one's neighbor as the primary goal of life. To Jesus, that act is always secondary to "love the Lord your God" (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus, as well as the whole Bible, claims exclusivity, and no Christian can claim otherwise. However, God's Fatherhood is universal, at least in one sense.
1 John reveals to us clearly both who are the children of God and what it means to be a child of God. The book of 1 John was written, in part, to help perfect the fellowship of a community of believers. Those who are to have fellowship together are not the Church and the world, for, as the apostle Paul rhetorically asks, "what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14) Fellowship for believers is with other believers (not that Christians are not to associate and spend time with those who are not believers (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:10, John 17:14-18)), as 1 John 1:7 states clearly, "if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." All who walk in the Light have fellowship both with God and with the communal body, the Church.
Starting chapter 2, John tells his "little children," the disciples for whom he is the shepherd, that they have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the One who is righteous and who is their righteousness. Yet He is not only their Advocate, but the Advocate for the whole world, every believer regardless of the restraints of space and time. Thus there is community between all believers; thus they are all able to approach the Father.
Not only can believers approach God the Father, He is their Father (cf. Galatians 4:3-7). There is a clear distinction drawn in first John between those who are the children of God, and those who are the children of the devil. These are the only two class distinctions made by John; one is either a son and heir of God, or a son and heir of Satan. John makes a clear distinction throughout chapters 2-4. There are the people of the devil, the world, and the people of God, the Church.
John gives both clear guidelines on how the children of God are to live, and how they are to be known. The children of God are not to sin, for "the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning." Christ appeared for the purpose of destroying the work of the devil (3:8). Thus believers ought not live as the children of the devil. If they do, they prove themselves to be children of the devil. "No one who is born of God practices sin [continual action is shown hear by the present tense of the verb], because His seed abides in Him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (9). The children of God and the children of the devil are distinguished by this: those who practice righteousness and love their brother are children of God (here brother means something like, fellow Christian; cf. John 13:35) (1 John 3:10). We know that we have passed from death in sin to life in Christ by our love for the brethren, the Church (14). If we do not love the brethren, we have no confidence before God (19-21).
On the other hand, those who do not love are dead; these are the children of the devil, these are the world (14). The world loves its own and listens to its own (John 15:18-19, 1 John 4:5). The world hates those who are not its own. Those of the world do not listen to the gospel, but reject it (6), for they are children of the liar, the devil, and they are in his icy grip (5:19). Because they are not born of God they do not love Christ, His Son. If they were of the Father, they would love His Son (5:1).
The children of God love because God loved them and sent His Son to be the propitiation for their sins (9-11). They have been forgiven much and so they love much (cf. Luke 7:36-50). God, who had reason to hate them loved them, and so they ought to love in the same manner (1 John 4:11). The children of God need not fear the wrath of God, for it has been appeased in Christ, the "Savior of the world" (where world does not mean the "world" as in the people of the world, but rather every race, creed, and clan of mankind). Those who love God can therefore not help but love their brother (19-21).
We know the children of God because they observe God's commandments, and by this we know that they love the children of God (5:2). If they do not keep God's commandments, they do not love the brethren (Christians) nor do they love their neighbor (everyone in the world). Those who are Christ's, however, will walk just as He walked and will keep His commandments (2:3-6). The children of God are not to love the world (its principalities, its powers, its rulers, and its system) nor the things of the world (its lusts and pleasures). "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (2:15). Those of the world love the world and they do not love God. In fact, all who even seek to be on good terms with the world are living in hatred toward God (James 4:4).
All of this does not mean that we are not to love our enemies and love the people who still abide in the world practically (for we do not know whom the elect children of God who have yet to be saved are). What it does mean is that our love is primarily and characteristically for the children of God (cf. Galatians 6:10 and 1 John 3:23). Believers in Christ are willing to lay down their lives for the Church, just as Christ Himself did (1 John 3:16). John wrote this to those "who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that [they] may know that [they] have eternal life" (5:13). This has not been written for those of the world.
Thus, according to John, those who are the children of God are those who "received [Christ]," those who "believe in His name," those who "were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13). This absolutely contradicts the teaching of the liberal theologians of the universal fatherhood of God.
Jesus did not teach the universal fatherhood of God, as the liberals understand it. Jesus taught the disciples to say "Our Father who art in heaven," not those who just belonged to the crowd. In the sermon on the mount Jesus referred to God as "your Father" sixteen times, according to Robert H. Stein. We must take note that the "you" to whom Jesus was speaking were "his disciples" (Matthew 5:1).(1) As R.H. Stein relates, "It is evident, therefore, that Jesus did not teach a doctrine of the universal fatherhood of God, and we do not find anywhere in the sayings of Jesus that since God is the creator, we are through creation his children and he is thus our father. On the contrary, there are some persons who can be described as having the devil as their father (John 8:44; cf. Matt 12:34)!"(2) (also see Galatians 4:6 and Romans 8:15-16).
God is, however, universally the Father of the world. How so? As John made clear, Christ is the propitiation for all who believe throughout the world, not just one community (1 John 2:2). Jesus came not just for the lost sheep of physical Israel, but for the true Israel, spiritual Israel. Thus we are now "one flock with one shepherd" (John 10:16). God is the Father of all who are in Christ, and only all who are in Christ, for He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). These are universally brothers in Christ (I do not use sisters because we are all coequally heirs, whether men or women). God is the Father of the Bride of Christ, the Church universal. Praise be to God through Jesus who in His will has brought this about; how unsearchable are His ways?!

1 Robert H. Stein, The Method and the Message of Jesus' Teachings, Revised Edition, in the chapter "The Fatherhood of God" (82-89) (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), 86-87.
2 Ibid., 87-88.

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Preaching: Whosoever wills may come, or God's election?

I am not in the least surprised that the Bible says “whosoever wills may come” as many times as it says “God chose.” (At least that is what my Arminian friends tell me). It really only needs to say “God chose” once for our knowledge, since God knows His role. God is not going to one day say, “Oh yes, man cannot choose me on his own, so what am I supposed to do? Oh yes, choose him. I guess that is why so many people are not coming to me.” I would have personally expected the Bible to say “whosoever wills may come” far more often than it says “God chose.” Man is the one who needs to know his responsibility. Man is the one who needs to know that God will accept him if he turns from his sins and comes. Man is the sinful one whose thoughts are delusions and who thinks God is out to get him, or that the way of evil is acceptable.

It is an error on the part of those who argue that this shows that the free will side of the argument has as much backing as the sovereign grace side. “God chose” only needs to be said once to be true. Everybody but hyper-Calvinists believe that if a person wills to come, he/she can come and God will accept that person. The question is, “Why does that person will to come?” But since “God chose” occurs as many times as “whosoever wills may come” (I’m assuming those who looked this one up are correct when they tell me this, I haven’t actually checked it out myself), this gives a great advantage to those who say preaching God’s choosing of men is true and necessary. Since it is spoken of as much as “whosoever wills may come,” it means that it should probably then be preached as much as “whosoever wills may come,” or to “choose God.” This line just shows the responsibility of man. The other side shows how God works, and it must then be just as important to say “God chooses” as “if it is in your heart, turn to God.” Yet this is not what we see today, as “God chooses” is rarely mentioned, if even believed, by those who preach the gospel. The fault is that people are not preaching God’s election, which the Bible clearly does, and seems to do so as readily as it tells men to choose God. Glory be to God alone!

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The Justice of Hell: Why a Loving, Merciful God Requires Hell

Many people have objected to the thought and have vehemently disagreed with and argued against those who accept the notion of God’s eternal punishment in damnation of people in Hell. They posit that if anyone were to be sent to Hell, it would be unloving and unmerciful of God. How could the God who is love (cf. 1 John 4:8, 16) possibly allow, let alone send His children/creation to a place of eternal and unimaginable torment and suffering? They believe that God’s wrath could not possibly be that strong, and that it is not a perfect wrath that burns for eternity, but that it will subside, I guess with time (as the saying goes, time heals the heart).

But God does not dwell in the restraints of time; He is unchanging, He does not change His mind. The Bible is clear about the existence of Hell and why people go to Hell. Those who reject the existence of Hell are arguing with the very word of God. God does send people to Hell, and this in no way contradicts God’s love, mercy, or justice.

The key point to remember is that God is perfectly holy (and God’s holiness is the only attribute of God that is mentioned three times in succession in all of Scripture, Isaiah 6:3). Only the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm 24:3-5). Only those who are blameless will stand before God in His presence. God will not allow any who are evil to stand in His presence, for they are an abomination to His holiness and He abhors them (Psalm 5:4-6).

First I will show from Scripture that Hell does exist; that Hell is a real place.

If Hell were not a real, literal place, why would it be warned about so many times in Scripture? Jesus warns about it, Paul warns about it, and John warns about it in Revelation. Jesus and John specifically describe it as a physical place of great pain and suffering. If such a place does not exist, why warn against it? Such warnings would be unmerited, for they would bring about unnecessary fear; not to mention they would be liars for saying people will be sent there when no such place even exists. Hell does exist, and its fires grow hotter every day as they are fed with the souls of unrepentant sinners.

How does Scripture describe Hell?

It is described as “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30), as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (cf. Matthew 13:41-42): a place of extreme pain, suffering, and anguish. Mark records Jesus’ exhortations to fight sin diligently and with the most extreme seriousness, for those who do not will “be cast into hell, where their worms does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:48). This warning is of the utmost earnestness, for Jesus gives it three times (vv. 44, 46, and 48). The fire that burns them will not be quenched, it will rage on forever. The worm that feeds upon them will not die, ever. For the worm to live there must be a host for the worm to feed upon. Thus the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the one who is cast into Hell will also never “die,” in a sense, though they will be finally and utterly dead. (Jesus is here referencing Gehenna, the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem where the remains of the sacrifices were dumped; the place must have smelled awful, been a sore sight, and been utterly worm infested.)

In Revelation, it is described as “the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (21:8), which lake contains the devil, the beast, and the false prophet; the place where “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (20:10). Why would something different occur to these creatures than any other creature cast into this lake of fire? Why would they suffer for eternity while others are merely annihilated?

It is the lie of the devil to make people believe that Judgment is not coming and that Hell is only a temporary place where people’s sins are purged or where people are annihilated. This is seared into peoples’ consciences to excuse them (in their own minds) from not preaching and/or to give them a false security if they do not preach or if they do not consider eternity seriously. Such lies are dangerous both to those who seek to be preachers of the gospel and those who hear them. Paul warns Timothy to “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). Those who teach falsehoods are not doing one iota of good. Rather, people may and probably will end up in Hell due, at least in part, to such lies.

Secondly, I will now show you that it is God Himself who casts the evil persons into Hell.

Matthew 13:41-42 says, “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” But of the righteous He says, they “will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (43). It is Christ who sends out the angels to gather the wicked to be cast into Hell, and it is He who will reward the righteous. A few verses later Jesus says, “at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (49-50). These are the angels of the Most High. The angels that have not followed Satan (cf. Revelation 12:4) are the ones who will gather the wicked and cast them into the sea of fire, not the demons.

In Matthew 24, Jesus tells a metaphor in which He represents the master (45-51). The master comes when the senseless, evil slave is not expecting His return. When the master finds the slave in wantonness and wickedness toward his fellow slaves, the master Himself “will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (51). And it is Jesus who tells those who call Him, “Lord, Lord,” and yet practice evil, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23).

And Jesus warns His “friends”, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5). It is God alone who has the authority to cast one into Hell. Those who do not know God should definitely fear the power and wrath of God, for this wrath is against them (as Jonathan Edwards so clearly warned in His sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God). Believers have no need to fear God in this way, for “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). Yet those who love God should still revere God, recognizing His power. And they also ought to “work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), fearing sin and the effects of it and what the wrath of God can and will do to all who live in unbelief.

So who will take part in Hell and why?

Well, first, no children of God will take part in Hell. God will not abandon a single one of His children to a place of eternal destruction. Jesus cannot lose one, for He says, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” And He goes on to say “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:37, 39-40). The promise of Christ is that He will not lose one, but all that are given to Him by the Father; all who belong to the Father because God has chosen them and Christ has purchased them, are safe in Christ’s hands, and the Father’s. Jesus gives His sheep eternal life, and the one with eternal life cannot have it taken away, otherwise it is not eternal life (and eternal life is knowing God (cf. John 10:28; 17:3). No one can take even one of Christ’s sheep out of the hand of God the Father (John 10:29). They are kept by the power of God (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Further, only those who receive Christ are given the right to become children of God. Those who believe in His name are rightfully His children (John 1:12). At one time, God’s children were in bondage to sin (and they were children at that time, just not yet realized into the family, cf. Galatians 4:3), yet they have been redeemed as adopted sons, welcomed into the family to which they belong, which family is God’s, and are given the Spirit of God, and are heirs of God through Christ (Galatians 4:4-7). Those who die without Christ are not children of God, but children of the devil. The children of God and the children of the devil are differentiated in this way: the children of God do what is right and pleasing to God, the children of the devil do not (1 John 3:10). It is the children of the devil who will face Hell, not the children of God.

We must remember that God is not required to be merciful to any, let alone to be merciful to everyone. If God were to save only a certain people group, say Israel for example, He would be just in only saving them and not saving anyone else. Why? Because God is totally free to do as He pleases; and this belongs only to God. God has mercy upon whom He has mercy and He has compassion upon whom He has compassion, and He hardens the hearts of whomever He desires as well (Exodus 34:19, Romans 9:15, 18). This belongs only to God and He is glorified in this; and this is His glory—to be the sovereign God (Exodus 33:18-19). God is free to choose some to be vessels of mercy and others to be vessels of wrath (Romans 9:22-24). He is the potter, and He has every right over the clay. Some from His lump of clay He chose to make to receive mercy, not because they deserved it but because He chose to, and some He makes to receive the wrath of Hell, and they deserve it.

That God would show mercy to any, let alone to all people groups, Jew and Gentile alike, is truly astounding and mind blowing. Why should God show mercy to Abram, who was an idolater, living among the Chaldeans? Truly he was not worthy of mercy. Or why should the promise to Abraham run through Isaac who was as sinful as Ishmael? Or why should God give mercy to Jacob who was clearly an evil and deceptive man? He deserved none. It was not their own goodness, nor any foreseen goodness (any righteousness they possessed was not of themselves but the gift of God’s grace, and God decided before any good or evil was done anyway, Romans 9:11), but God gave mercy to some and not to others, as He told Moses is His practice. God poured out His mercy abundantly, and Christ had to take the wrath due for divine justice to be satisfied (Romans 3:23-26).

Why will they go to Hell?

I believe that the utter lack of understanding that pervades peoples’ minds today is the most essential reason why people cannot accept that God would send people to such a place (since most people see humans as fundamentally good). God does not send people to Hell merely because they have rejected Jesus (though this is a sin worthy of Hell). He does not send people to Hell because they have erred once (though those who have transgressed God’s perfect Law once have become guilty of all and are deserving of Hell (cf. James 2:10)). God sends people to Hell because they are fundamentally evil, and all day, every day of their existence, everything they do is sin. They constantly transgress God’s Law.

Paul, under the compelling and guidance of the Holy Spirit, tells us that “whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Any action, no matter how good it seems in the eyes of men, if it is done without faith (in unbelief), is utterly despicable in God’s eyes. Why? Because “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6). And God sees and judges not merely the outward appearances, but “the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do [NKJV reads “all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”]” (Hebrews 4:12-13).

How can this be the case? How could building a hospital possibly be evil in the sight of God? Such an act, if not done to the glory of God (as all things must be, 1 Corinthians 10:31), violates the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind (and Mark 12:30 adds “and with all your strength”)” (Matthew 22:37). A violation of the greatest commandment is the greatest possible sin. All who do not know God and worship Him as God, through Jesus (for He is the only way to the Father, John 14:6), are constantly, every moment of life down to the smallest possible degree of temporal measurement (for example, the nanosecond), committing this sin; an unimaginable amount of times in their lifetime. Not only this, but they are also failing to “love [their] neighbor as [themselves]” (Matthew 22:39). They should be telling their neighbor of the glories of God, and they are clearly failing to do this.

So those without Christ are constantly committing the two greatest sins possible. It’s not that they have merely done one or two things wrong, but that their whole being is corrupted (they are slaves to sin, cf. Romans 6), and so they sin constantly, and this is all they can do unless regenerated by the Spirit unto life and washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. And the punishment of a transgression to preserve holiness (as is set out as the reason and example for punishment under the Law) is an eye for an eye (cf. Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21, see also Numbers 35 which commands that life be taken for life in Israel so that the land not be defiled because God dwells amongst the people,. So how much more so will this be true of heaven, the dwelling place of the Most High, a place far more holy than the land of Israel?). So because a person has sinned against an infinite God, an infinite punishment is required (and it is God whom they have sinned against, as David often recognized (cf. Psalm 41:4; 51:4)).

God has set the universe up to work in this way by His good pleasure; so to say that His plan is not good is to say that He who devised the plan and upholds it is not good. The whole earth and all that is therein belong to the Lord; He can do with it and its inhabitants as He pleases (Psalm 24:1-2). Man has no right to speak back to God. “The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory….” (Romans 9:20-23). There are clear implications in this passage that I do not have time to get into now. God does not owe anyone mercy. So if it is the pleasure of God to send the unrepentant to Hell for their sins, then it is good—for God is good (yet God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (in other words he does not enjoy it) -Ezekiel 33:11).

Why have I written this? Because Hell is a reality and real people are going there. These people could be your friends, family, coworkers, or any number of your acquaintances. To warn somebody who is an unrepentant sinner who has no fear of God about judgment and Hell is only right, since the Bible clearly does so (and Jesus Himself spoke more about Hell than of Heaven). That may be exactly what they need to hear. This is also a clear teaching from Scripture, and all doctrine should be as clear as possible in our minds so that we may teach it accurately, so that it may affect our hearts, so that we may have a better view of God, and so that we may “be ready in season and out of season” to use it properly and in the best way possible (2 Timothy 4:2). My aim is that Hell will be so real that we might weep over it, so much so that we will preach the gospel and pray without ceasing for the salvation of those who have not yet come to the faith.

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Blood Bought Kindnesses

This is a poem a wrote a while back; from the sounds of it, I think I wrote it in the Spring.

With the rain pouring down from the clouds above,
I think upon the greatness of my Father’s love!
That He so loved the world He did send alone,
His Son for the sins of Greeks and Jews to atone.

Every rain drop bought by the blood of the Lamb,
Thunder and Lightning from His merciful hand.
It causes the trees to bud and the flowers to bloom,
For me to see other than Hell’s dark doom!

As the sun peaks forth or shines bright in the sky,
I consider well my Redeemer on high.
That He came to die so that men might not,
Born under sin and the Law, righteousness was His lot.

All the rays of sun that warm and tan my face,
Come straight from heaven and from God’s common grace.
Were ‘t not for the sacrifice of the Son of God,
None of this would be possible for those upon this sod!

In sweet breezes of spring and cool nights of wonder,
I ponder upon the One who has put sin asunder.
How the Father saw it fit and well in the Son,
To give life and breath and beauty to everyone.

Each gust of wind that men do savor,
Could not be, were ‘t not for the blood of the Savior.
Yet for His own a special love has been shown,
Salvation has been bought, Sin has been atoned!

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Sinner or Saint? A Defense of John Calvin

Though I agree with what I know of what Calvin said, I must admit that I have never actually read anything he wrote. Though I have many times been accused of almost worshiping him.

A while ago a friend of mine sent me a website that he had found that was blatantly anti-Calvinist; and even more so anti-John Calvin. On this site there are all sorts of sharp-tongued “refutations” of Calvinism. Even worse, there is a caricature of John Calvin burning Michael Servetus. Now, whether Servetus truly was a heretic or not, I do not know. However, that is definitely not a justification for Calvin burning him alive. That was murder.

But what is most alarming about this caption and site is what they deduce from their findings. The creators of the website have a ““You Shall Know Them By Their Fruits": John Calvin, murderer of Michael Servetus”. On this whole site, these people, who aren’t worthy to be called Arminians in my opinion, I have far too much respect for Arminians to call them such, are first of all passing judgment upon Calvin (and his “followers”, or those who agree with his findings.) And like all those who pass judgment, “in the way [they] judge, [they] will be judged; and by [their] standard of measure, it will be measured back to [them].” –Matthew 7:2

Their website shows clear signs of hatred toward both Calvin and his followers. They are guilty of the same crime that Calvin is guilty: murder! For as Jesus said, “everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” -Matthew 6:22 This is scary.

I have often been told by people that Calvin was an evil person, and that Calvinism follows suit. I have heard many reject the Doctrines of Grace merely because John Calvin made this one mistake (they know absolutely nothing else about his life). Again, I do not condone this action. Rather, I look at the rest of John Calvin’s life. Did you know that he was brought to Geneva to reform it, since the people there were living in such wanton sin? The people were seriously walking around drunk and naked, gambling, and doing all sorts of debaucheries. Calvin was sent away to France after only a year in Geneva because few results were seen from his preaching. Three years later, while living happily in France, the leaders in Geneva called Calvin back to Geneva because the situation there had grown worse. Calvin faithfully exposited God’s Word to the people (starting from the very verse with which he had left off three years earlier) and saw the city radically change as they grew in the knowledge of God. Why do those who accuse Calvin seem to always forget to mention this?

Let me also note that such things were occurring all over Europe at this time (though this does not justify it). Let us not forget the horrible atrocities that were created by our own forefathers against the African Americans by forcing them into slavery and failing to give them equal rights. Let us not forget our own sins, which may actually prove to be worse than Calvin’s. After all, Calvin was zealous for the Word of God and for purity in the Church, from Communion to the Gospel. Surely we have failed to live up to Calvin’s zeal for the glory of God. We are sinners in this respect; and people are going to Hell because we have such a lack of unction. If you want to judge Calvin based upon his murdering a man, pass the same judgment upon yourself for your lack of concern for the glory of God. You shall truly know them by their fruit! “Love one another.” -John 13:34

I am not going to give out the website, since I do not really think it is worthy of being viewed, neither do I want anyone to stumble when they see the website and condemn those who have made the site. Rather, pray for them and those like them, that God would change their hearts.

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$$$ The almighty Dollar $$$

They're out in full force tonight! On one channel is "Choose to be Rich," an infomercial designed to make you think that by buying this man's program you will get rich. One woman talked about how she is now worth $3 million and how her wealth has given her success and how she now has security and what she has always wanted. She is no longer a slave to debt and financial troubles. In fact, all of the people on the commercial claim to have been set free by this system. The system has you use other peoples' time and money to make your millions. All you have to do is think it, learn it, and do it, and for only $9.95 for 30 days!

I guess they have never read Luke 12:16-21. Jesus gives a parable saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many good laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' But God said to him [and to all those who trust in wealth, including those on the infomercial], 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Rather what they should "Sell [their] possessions and give to charity; make [themselves] money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing trearue in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destorys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Luke 12:33-34

It does not matter if the system works. They may be free from debt, unless the market crashes, and perhaps they will live long lives, unless natural disaster strikes and destorys them and their possessions, or disease strikes, but they have no wealth in heaven. Their wealth is fleeting, it is vanity. They are still slaves to sin. They are like the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. Such people like this are, if nothing else, practical atheists.

On another channel, the notorious TBN, Benny Hinn relates his testimony of how God "blessed" him and God him out of financial troubles. This is apparently what led him to believe the system he now preaches.

Hinn is asking his viewing audience to call in and make a pledge. He promises that if they do, God will make them rich. What is Hinn's advice to get people to call in? Test God! Prove Him! Dr. Hinn, come-on, you know better! Perhaps Benny-boy feels that he is better than our Lord, Christ Jesus, who when He was told by Satan to cast Himself from the Temple so that God will prove Jesus to be His Son and God will prove Himself to be faithful responded with Scripture that "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." -(Luke 4:9-12) It seems that as for Hinn and his TBN household, they will serve the God of wealth, who is happy to be tested.

Now, I do not say this because we are any better than they. Rather, I say this as a warning to all of you Christians as to the deceptions of wealth and the evils of riches. It is very hard for the rich to enter into life eternal (cf. Luke 18:25). Both of these are examples, and both of them are preaching a "gospel" (a false one) to get people to follow their system. Do not be deceived, for what you sow you will reap, but rather walk the straight and narrow path to life. Give to missions, give to the poor, and give sacrifically, anticipating your reward in heaven (which will last forever, not a mere 70 years).

And pray for those like the "teachers" on TBN and those who desire riches to the demise of their souls. Pray that God may reveal to them the truth. Soli Deo Gloria!
*How's that for only citing the book of Luke? That just shows how much Jesus had to say about money!

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The Special Love of God for the Sons of Abraham

“For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham.” –Hebrews 2:16, ESV

Who is it that God loves? John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son;” and yet Psalm 5 says God “abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit” (6), and God “hate[s] all who do iniquity” (5:5). So God has a love for His creation, yet He despises and abhors those in His creation who are the enemies of His glory. Thus God hated all, for all are sinners, even those whom He predestined were at one time enemies, or hated ones (Romans 5:10). Yet He still loved His creatures. Perfect love and perfect hatred can only reside in God, for only He is perfect to that degree. Only God understands sin and righteousness in that way: to be able to perfectly hate and yet perfectly love.

He loved us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). Christ died for the ungodly, and He has justified the children of Abraham through His blood. This is a special kind of love that is shown to Abraham’s descendants that is not shown to every individual or even to angels in the least. Christ died to justify. It was an actual effectual justification achieved at the cross in His blood: for “these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified” (Romans 8:30).

As is the case with Old Covenant Israel and God’s dealings with them as opposed to His dealings with other nations, so God deals in a special way with the “New Covenant” descendants of Abraham: the Church. For God smote the uncircumcised Philistines as often as Israel would obey, but would not smite Israel ever for the sake of the Philistines. God was showing His special love toward His chosen people in this way. He did all things for their good, not the good of any other nation. They were offered salvation, the other nations were not. The fathers and the prophets and the Christ came through them, not any other nation. God deals in a special way with His covenant people that He does not deal with any other people-group.

Now the Church is the chosen people of God, the royal priesthood that He has designed for His name’s sake (cf. 1 Peter 2:9-10). And with the Church God has dealt in a special way that He has not dealt with the world. He has loved, and continues to love them in a special way that He did not love the world. He has blessed the children of Abraham in a way that He has not blessed those who are not the children of Abraham. These blessings apply to all his descendants, both those who were close to him and physically related, whose numbers are “as the sand which is on the seashore,” that is Israel, and those who are far off and not physically related, whose numbers are “as the stars of the heavens,” that is peoples from all the Gentile nations (Genesis 22:17).

So how has He loved this people in a way that He has not loved all others? It is not particularly in the outward call of the gospel. This is offered to the whole world. All men are able to see Jesus lifted up; the whole world can see Him upon the cross. It is also not particularly in the drawing of breath, in human relationships, or in eating and drinking. These privileges have been extended to all in Jesus’ blood. Jesus died so that all might partake in these blessings and so that God would be just in being merciful even to unrepentant sinners in this way. The justice of God is upheld in Christ’s blood to give such blessings to all persons in the world. For when Adam did not die immediately upon eating of the tree, Christ’s blood was interposed, making God just in giving Adam such unwarranted mercies as afore mentioned. Adam was promised death, but death was slowed, and Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years and was blessed with children. If it was not for Christ’s blood, Adam could not have lived to bear children and so mankind would have ceased to exist. In this way, Christ’s blood is applied to all persons throughout the whole world. Thus God “is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (1 Timothy 4:10).

Yet Christ’s blood does a special work for those whom have been predestined according to God’s purpose: the descendents of Abraham. He is the Savior “especially of believers.” This special love can be seen in five ways.
First, Christ purchased for the beloved sons and daughters of Abraham the promises of the New Covenant. Jesus tells His disciples that “this cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). The covenant is in His blood, and His blood is shed to purchase said covenant for His disciples. Matthew records Jesus’ words in this way: “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (26:28). His blood is shed for the forgiveness of sins for His many disciples, past, present, future, Jew, Gentile, free, slave, man, woman, etc.

This “New Covenant” was promised by God through the prophets and manifest in His Son (Hebrews 1:1-3). Ezekiel 36:22-27 states the New Covenant:

Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord God, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. "I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord God, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

The New Covenant is not a list of requirements that God gives, but a promise to circumcise the hearts of His people that they would fear Him and honor Him as God, which is not possible in their utterly sinful condition (Deuteronomy 30:6). God promises them the gift of grace, of faith, repentance, obedience, sanctification and glorification/eternal life: all by His Spirit. He makes good on His promise as is recorded in the New Testament: for He “has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3, cf. Acts 11:18; 16:14, Romans 6:23; 8:32, Ephesians 1:3-4; 2:8-10, Philippians 1:29, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, James 1:17).

Second, Christ layed His life down for His sheep (John 10:11, 14-15). He is the Good Shepherd and for them He lays down His life so that they might live. He layed down His life so that He might be pleasing in His Father’s eyes (John 10:17). He layed it down so that His sheep would become one fold. No longer are His sheep Jew and Gentile, but in Christ they are one body, the Church (cf. Galatians 4:7, Ephesians 2:19). The sheep were all continually going astray and following the ways of the Gentiles (but through His blood they are to no longer live as the Gentiles do –Ephesians 4:17), but now they have returned as they have heard the call of the Good Shepherd when He was lifted up to bring all men, whether Jew or Gentile, to Himself (John 12:32).

Third, Christ established His Church. He is the “Rock” upon which the Church is founded (Matthew 16:18). Ephesians 2:13-16 says
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity [between the Jews and the Gentiles].

Christ established the Church, breaking down all bearers dividing the Jews and the Gentiles (though there are still benefits to being a Jew (cf. Romans 3:1-2; 9:4-5)). He has made the two one.

But why are not all Jews saved? Why is not all physical Jews in Christ? “They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (Romans 9:6). God’s special love for the children of Abraham is for the spiritual descendends of Israel, not the physical. For a time physical Israel has been cut off from the vine which is Christ so that God may bring in the full number of the Gentiles: Gentiles from every tribe, tongue, and nation. But when God has brought in the fullness of the Gentiles, He will again graft Israel into His Son, the Vine (Romans 11:11-32). But “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” The Church will then have completed her mission and Christ will return.

Fourth, Christ is the propitiation for the Church. “He gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). He has propitiated for the whole world, all types of men (cf. 1 John 2:2, 1 Timothy 1:6, and Hebrews 2:9-10). He is the Savior of the whole world (John 1:29, 1 John 4:14). The debts of the Church have been nailed to the cross, all of them (Colossians 2:13-15). She has been set free from her bondage to sin. Christ was publically displayed to show all that He had triumphed over the powers of this world, He overcame them as He told His disciples He had done (John 16:33), and He put sin out of the way. In doing this, “by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified [or being sanctified]” (Hebrews 10:14). “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Christ died once, He will never face death again. He did this to perfect His Church and every member individually thereof: “and these whom He justified, He also glorified” (Romans 8:30).

Christ has appeared as the High Priest for His people. He did this by entering “through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves [for that is not able to save], but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12). He became the curse (Galatians 3:13). He serves as their High Priest so that they may come boldly to God’s throne to receive mercy (Hebrews 4:16). And for them He has obtained eternal redemption so that they will never be lost. They are kept by the power of God for the revealing of their salvation and the inheritance given freely to His children (1 Peter 1:3-5).

All believers were once enemies (Romans 5:6-11), and all who are still outside of Christ continue to be enemies of God:

we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7).

By the grace of God given in His mercy, which has been justified in Christ Jesus so that God would show His righteousness in justifying the ungodly (cf. Romans 3:24-26), we are saved. All who believe are saved (John 3:16). Those who do not believe are condemned because their sins have not been forgiven (John 3:18).

Fifth, Christ has become for believers the righteousness that is necessary for them to stand before God. Not only are their sins forgiven, but believers stand righteous. They are not merely neutral in the eyes of God, but sparkling jewels in His sight. God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Christ was made to be sin so that sin would be defeated in His flesh. Thus believers will not face the wrath of God, for the wrath they should receive has been poured out upon Christ: it is finished. Believers are forgiven, they are innocent. And more than innocent, they are righteous. They are holy in Christ, as God has commanded for His people to be (cf. Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:15). They are the righteousness of God: perfectly righteous. As their forefather Abraham, when his descendents trust God, it is “credited to [them] as righteousness” (Romans 4:3).

Thus the children of Abraham must exalt God through Christ, “through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:11, emphasis added). Christ is truly a redeemer; He has purchased for Himself a bride, He has not merely made it possible. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said,

I cannot therefore imagine, since Jesus Christ was the Son of God, that in his atonement and redemption, his real intention and desire can in any way be frustrated. If I were a Socinian and believed Jesus Christ to be a mere man, I could of course imagine, that the result of his redemption would be uncertain; but believing that Jesus Christ was very God of very God, equal and co-eternal with the Father, I dare not, lest I should be guilty of presumption and blasphemy, associate with that name of Jehovah Jesus any suspicion that the design of his death shall remain unaccomplished.(4:550-551)

Jesus’ blood was effectual in accomplishing its purpose. Everybody breathes because Christ has purchased them life. All eat and drink, are married, have relationships with other humans, are rained upon and see the sun because Jesus purchased them such gifts; and satisfied God’s infinite justice in giving such mercies. Yet atonement and the whole of salvation were purchased only for the children of Abraham, through the Seed of Abraham. This is God’s special love for the offspring of Abraham.

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Misunderstanding God’s Patience

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” –Luke 23:34

“But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.” (Romans 2:4-8)

It is sad that people misunderstand God’s endurance of evil. But Paul is clear; He is patient and tolerates the wickedness of this world to give opportunity for repentance. God shows Himself absolutely merciful. God could have righteously destroyed all those who are vessels of wrath without giving them any opportunity to turn from their sins. God is obligated to give mercy to no one (take the example of Edom, for instance). God causes rain to fall on both the righteous and the wicked. That He gives life, breath, and every good thing to all men (Acts 17:25) absolutely shows His kindness and mercy; mercy which was not free, but was bought by the blood of Christ. In the end, all of these blessings will come back upon the heads of the wicked like hot coals. They have rejected God’s mercy and have chosen their sinful ways to their shame. They will have all of eternity to contemplate this fatal error.

The wicked misinterpret God’s patience. It seems that when God is patient and enduring their wickedness that He is in support of their offenses. God is not giving them an opportunity to live in sin and enjoy the lusts of their sinful flesh for this season upon earth until they enter heaven where they have to be good forevermore. They misperceive what seems to be God’s laxity as either His acceptance of their wicked schemes or else that there is no just and avenging God. Such is foolishness (Psalm 14:1; 53:1, Nahum 1:2-8). God is patient to give mankind a chance to turn their deeds from wickedness to righteousness, that man may receive eternal life. For God “will render to each person according to His deeds.” Those who are in Christ will endure in doing good and will receive eternal life, as their works justify their faith before God (James 2:24). However, those who continue in selfishness, seeking their own covetous desires (which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), who do not obey the gospel of God but rather live in their own unrighteousness, who do not live as members of the kingdom of God, they will receive God’s wrath and His righteous anger, abiding upon them forever.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness.” God is patient in enduring evil for a reason: He “is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). Whether the “all” and “any” here refers to all of God’s predestined saints or to every individual, this fact remains: God’s patience has given an opportunity to those who are not predestined to be His own. Those who will not even come to God are given the opportunity to repent. They will, however, choose not to come to God through Christ. This is shame upon them. God shows Himself merciful, giving them seventy, eighty, even ninety years to forsake their wickedness, yet they never do, and of course they cannot do so since they have fleshly minds (Romans 8:6-8, 1 Corinthians 2:14). They miss their opportunity. So do the generations of their children, whom are also given generation after generation to repent, yet never do. Rather, they spit in God’s face and give Him obscene gestures. May God, out of His mercy, grant them repentance and faith and forgive their sins.

In light of this time that God has granted the wicked, this time in which we currently live, as members of the covenant community, as heirs of Christ and the ambassador’s of the Kingdom of God, we must warn the wicked of the coming judgment and plead with them to repent and receive God’s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. Only through the preaching of the gospel, the Word of God, does the Spirit work. We must tell them Jesus is Lord, the Kingdom of God has come and is yet to come at Christ’s return, and that they must live worthily in light of this. If we do not, who will? If we do not, we will be judged with their blood upon our hands. May God be merciful to us and grant us zeal in doing this.

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Whatever Happened to Sin?

What is more repulsive than having somebody tell you a lie about you (or at least what you believe is a lie) straight to your face? If I were to walk up to John Doe as he walks down the street and tell him, “Hey John, you have terminal (life-threatening) liver cancer. If you do not treat it, you will die from it. But it’s okay, I have the cure in my hand. Take two of these Cancer-X pills twice a day for the rest of your life, and you will not die of this cancer.” What would John think in this situation? Would he not think that I am a nut-case, and that taking those pills would only make his life more unpleasant than it already is? Yes, that is most definitely what John would be thinking. For all he knows, he does not really have cancer. There is little to nothing to make him suspect he really does have cancer; for all he knows, he feels fine.

What if, on the other hand, I told John, “You have terminal liver cancer, come with me for a quick check-up at the hospital and you will see that what I am saying is true. I am a doctor and I have seen many like you, and you show all the symptoms of terminal liver cancer.” So when John goes with me to the hospital and has some tests done, the results show that he does have liver cancer, and it is a very serious case, as I have just told him. John can either believe the results or he can write them off as inaccurate. But if he does see the truth of the scans, will John not reply, “Gee, doc, that is horrible news. Do you have a cure for this?” Then I reply, “I most certainly do. Take two of these Cancer-X pills twice a day for the rest of your life and they will surely suppress the cancer by taking it away and you will live a normal healthy life until you die of old age.” Hopefully John will believe me and take the Cancer-X pills as recommended and will live a normal healthy life. If he chooses to refuse this offer and try to treat his cancer his own way, I can plead with him, but that is his fault, I have done all that is in my power.

When most people that I have heard today preach the gospel, they sound like the first case. They tell the person to whom they are speaking, “You are sinful, you are separated from God. If you keep down this path you will surely die in your sin.” This statement is true, but it will rarely convince anyone of the truth. Most of them will be offended by being told they are sinful, as in they are a wretched sinner with no hope, just one breath away from judgment and infinite wrath. The god they believe in is not a wrathful god, nor are they that horrible that they deserve hell. After all, God needs to populate heaven, doesn’t He? And they are not half as bad as Adolf Hitler or Charles Manson, right? Sure everybody has done wrong, but God is a God of forgiveness and mercy. Who are you to judge someone?

To answer these questions, let us look at what we are telling them, and what we should be telling them. Now, it is very good for people to know God loves them. This should definitely be made clear in a gospel presentation, but it is not the first point that should be emphasized. We must first get people to realize that we are dealing with a holy, perfect, righteous, just God who abhors sin to the fullest. God will not allow sinners into His presence at all for God does not take pleasure in wickedness, “No evil dwells with [God]” (Psalm 5:4). In fact, “The boastful shall not stand before [God’s] eyes; [He] hate[s] all who do iniquity. [He] destroy[s] those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit” (Psalm 5:5-6). They must realize that “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8). God demands holiness. He commands, “You are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy” (Leviticus 20:26). Those whom God has set apart for Himself to be His people are to be holy just as He is. If someone wants to be part of God’s chosen people, that person must be holy.

Most people will not realize what holiness is, and that they are far from holy. This is where we bring in the tutor, the Law. “Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident” (Galatians 3:11). From what I see in Christianity today, we look down on the Law (the holy Torah of God) as if it is unclean. This is definitely not the case. Paul asks the question, “Is the Law sin?” His answer, “May it never be!” (Romans 7:7). He says “the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12). So where in the blue-blazing hills would we get the idea that the Law is a bad thing? It is probably due to a misunderstanding of Galatians. In Galatians, Paul is arguing that a person is not justified by the Law, specifically circumcision. If a person wants to try to be justified by the Law, he/she must obey every single commandment perfectly, which is impossible, “for all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them” (Galatians 3:10). Anyone who fails to live up to the whole Law is cursed to die, thus no one can be justified by the works of the Law.

However, the Law is a “tutor” to us (Galatians 3:25). For “I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, ‘You shall not covet” (Romans 7:7). Yet sin, being the complete master over the one who is not in Christ (cf. Romans 6), took “opportunity through the commandment, [and it] produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead” (Romans 7:8). Without the Law, we could not know that we were sinful, and yet sin turned around and used the Law as a springboard to make us sin more. Sin used the Law to show us more evil things we could do, and so we did them. Why? Because outside of Christ a person is “dead in… transgressions and sins, in which [they]… [walk]” (Ephesians 2:1-2). They live “in the lusts of [their] flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and [are] by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). Why? Because of the sin imputed to all men through Adam (cf. Romans 5:12-14). All men are accountable for the sin of Adam, for it follows his bloodline. And thus just as he sinned, so everyone else sins. That is why God gave man the Law, so that He might see His sinfulness. For men still die without the Law (cf. Romans 5:14).

So what is this tutor? What is this perfect Law? It is the Law that God revealed to the Israelites at Mount Sinai: The Ten Commandments. “What advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God” (Romans 3:1-2). What are these oracles of God? The Law that He gave to the Jews. They were able to know their sinfulness and repent and follow God, something the Gentiles were unable to do since they did not have the Law. But now the Law is to go forth unto all men everywhere, Jew or Gentile, so that they might know their sinfulness and turn to God (cf. Acts 17:30). Why do all peoples need to repent? Because God is going to judge the world, and everyone found living in sin, whether or not they received the Law, will be found guilty of sin, for their nature is sin, and they will be condemned.

The Ten Commandments, which can also be summed up in “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” is this perfect Law of God (Matthew 22:37, 39). We preach to them the Ten Commandments because it shows them that they have not kept these precepts, they have failed, time and time again. They will see this if they are honest with themselves. But if they are not seeing their sinful state, it is because they have been “veiled,” and continue to be in such a state, until God opens their hearts to the truth of the Law and the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3, cf. Lydia in Acts 16:14). Thus for such as do not see, we must pray for their hearts to be opened to the truth.

So why not just preach the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ? Well, for one they are going to think it is foolishness that God’s Messiah would die, since the Messiah is to be the Savior of the world (1 Corinthians 1:21-23, cf. John 4:42). Secondly, they will grow angry with you for telling them they are sinful, in fact sin is their nature, and that they are in need of a savior. And thirdly, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul” (Psalm 19:7). Yes, the Law, the Old Testament Law, restores people to God. It shows them their sinfulness and brings them to their knees. It turns them from the evil things of this world to God, showing them they need to rely upon the mercy of God, and that they cannot please Him on their own. So that is three strikes against those who do not use the Law when sharing the gospel.

When we preach the Law, people come to see their own sinfulness. They see they are liars, thieves, murderers (at least in their heart, cf. Matthew 5:21-22), adulterers (at least in their heart, cf. Matthew 5:27-28), coveters, blasphemers (they use God’s name as a curse word), idolaters, and in fact, completely worshipers of false gods (at least when we show them the spirit of the Law as Jesus did, and not just the letter). We can then show them that “whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23), that “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6), and that they have not done anything for the glory of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31), so all their works were done in vain. When they see this, it is a relatively small step for them to go from, “Wow, I sin all the time,” to “I’m a slave to the power of sin and in need of someone to raise me from the deadness of my sinfulness!” They’ll see they have broken the whole Law, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” Why is this so? Because “He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not commit murder.’” If a person does not commit adultery but does commit murder (or does not steal but does tell a lie), such a one “has become a transgressor of the Law,” God’s perfect Law (James 2:10-11). The Law is a unity of ten; it is one. This person has not broken an inanimate Law, but has figuratively given God the middle finger and has said, “No, I will not keep this one law.” They have transgressed the holiness of God and have spat in His face, calling Him imperfect. Now they can see they are as bad as Manson and Hitler, if the Spirit of God opens their eyes to this truth of their sinfulness, for the Spirit comes to “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in [Jesus]; and concerning righteousness, because [Jesus goes] to the Father…; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged” (John 16:8-11).

Some may respond to this unfortunately, “Who are you to judge?” In this case, all we can tell them is that we are not judging them, we are not condemning them, rather “the one who accuses you is Moses” (John 5:45). Not Moses, in person, but the Law given through Moses to the Israelites on Sinai. The Law will accuse them, for they have heard it and have not responded to the Law. Their beef is with the Law, though they may take it out on the messenger, the ambassador (see 2 Corinthians 5:20-21) of Christ who pleads with them to repent and return to God. That is all the Christian can do with such a person, plead with him/her to believe and return.

After preaching the Law, the sinner, if God has opened his/her heart, will see his/her sinful state and will be desiring the cure for this illness. He/she will hopefully be regenerated by God, brought to spiritual life and ready to accept the medicine. This is when we preach grace through faith. This is when we tell them about God’s great love: that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). That if they will trust in Christ, not a one time decision, though that is where it must begin, but that they must have a lifetime of faith, they will be saved. This faith will come with repentance, turning from sin to God; both of which are gifts of God! (cf. Philippians 1:29, Ephesians 2:8-10, Acts 11:18, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, 2 Peter 1:3, and 1 John 5:19-20) The sinner, if he/she has truly seen his/her sinful state, is now made alive to the things of God and will respond to the invitation to open the door and let Christ in (cf. Revelation 3:20). They will understand why Jesus is the only way, they will see Him as the Son of God, and they will treasure Him as a priceless treasure.

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