Guest Post ~ Saved AND sanctified by grace through faith

Today I wanted to share a brief response a friend of mine gave regarding the place of the gospel in both our salvation and our sanctification. As a pastor, Mike Bowen is concerned that his people have a proper understanding of the hope of the gospel, that they might not be crushed by the weight of the law for salvation or sanctification. His hope is that the believer trusts in Christ for salvation and trusts in him for his or her continual growth in grace. The works of obedience flow from the heart of faith.  

What follows are his remarks:

I want people to understand that it is the gospel that fuels our sanctification. We all agree that we are justified by grace through faith, but I wonder if we believe that we are sanctified the same way. My problem is not that people might believe that we are justified by work. My problem is that they may believe they are sanctified by works. I think that has the potential of derailing the train if you will.

 

If I am struggling in the Christian life with temptation or sin--or anything--where does the problem lie? Is it an issue of obedience or an issue of faith? The Gospel reminds me who God really is and it reminds me of who I really am. If I struggle to obey, it isn't because I don't know or understand the law; it is more likely that I don't know and understand the lawgiver. You have often said that we all struggle with authority. I think the problem for Christians who struggle with authority is not so much that we disagree with the law or that we hate the law, but we are suspicious of and don't trust the lawgiver. I think the key to the Christian life is not looking at the law, but looking at Christ and in so doing the law becomes the way the Christian lives. It is, after all, written on the believer's heart.

I obey because I trust God. I disobey because I distrust God. I think it is always an issue of faith. If Christ is becoming lovely to me, and if God is becoming glorious to me, I will delight in Him and in His law, and I will readily and wholeheartedly (in as much as I am being sanctified) obey.

I am not antinomian, nor am I opposed to works. Works are necessary. But I think that what motivates and fuels obedience and what provides the nourishment for fruit bearing is "growing in the grace and knowledge" of Jesus.

Sacrifice... from God's perspective, part 6

Today, we wrap up our study of the sacrifice of Isaac. Over the past three weeks we've looked at it from Abraham's point of view and now God's point of view. Having passed the test, Abraham now stands approved. And, now, God gives Abraham the final evaluation and the final word of revelation for his long life.

~~~*~~~

Abraham has believed, obeyed, and seen Christ’s day. Over the course of these many years since his first calling, he has been pulled from a pagan culture, shaped and re-identified as the father of a new people, a unique people of God’s own choosing. He has slipped into the manner of the old way time and again, but by God’s gracious intervention he has had his thinking and actions corrected and reformed. The land has been declared his and his seed’s by promise. Abraham has believed in his heart and acted with his hand the faith that God has declared righteous. Now, the Lord speaks to him for the last time in a sort of capstone declaration that matches closely the initial call that began Abraham’s journey:

By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:16-18)  

This brief word resonates with reminders of the highlights of the relationship that has developed between Abraham and the LORD. When God says, “By myself I have sworn,” it hearkens to the covenant cutting ceremony back in Genesis 15 when God passed through the slain carcasses alone. In that formal ceremony God’s actions declared that the covenant’s fulfillment is certain, else his very character and nature are for naught. Now, he re-confirms that action with a further word of explanation.

Though Abraham did not pass through the pieces, he has taken the covenantal obligations seriously. He bears the mark of covenant in his very flesh, as do the males of his household and his sons. As God declares here, Abraham has not withheld his son: he circumcised the boy, marking him as one of his own and thus one of God’s own. The mark has not proven to be vain for Abraham stands on the mount, knife in hand, ready to offer Isaac unto the God whose mark they both bear. This is an act of monumental faith! He’s been told, “through Isaac shall your offspring be named” (Genesis 21:12). Fairburn comments, “According to this word, God’s purpose to bless was destined to have its accomplishment especially and peculiarly through Isaac; so that to slay such a son appeared like slaying the very word of God, and extinguishing the hope of the world."[1] To slay Isaac the child of promise is to slay the promises that God had given Abraham in the beginning. Without Isaac Abraham will not be a great nation. Without Isaac his name will not be great but a byword. Without Isaac the nations will not be blessed. The hope of what Paul calls the “gospel beforehand to Abraham” will be snuffed out when Isaac’s breath abates and his blood spills on the altar. Abraham is ordered to destroy all that he has hoped for, longed for, suffered for. He has believed in the surety of the promises of God but if God wants to cut off their possible fulfillment, Abraham will obey.

Abraham’s faith has been justly evaluated and proven true and now God reiterates the very promises that had been so desperately threatened. God will “surely” bless him and “surely” multiply him. These promises are certain and, what’s more, they are on a worldwide scale. God extends and compounds two of the metaphors that he had used before—dust and stars. As God had told Abraham when the covenant had been cut (Genesis 15:5), he tells him again: his offspring shall be “as the stars of heaven.” Prior to this God had said they would be “as the dust of the earth” (Genesis 13:16); now he says they shall be “as the sand that is on the seashore.” Wherever Abraham goes, that which is most numerous at his head and that which is most numerous at his feet shall picture for him the fullness of his descendants.

God then adds something to the promises that has not been spoken before. Abraham’s offspring shall “possess the gate of his enemies.” This is an image of sure possession of the land. Abraham has been informed that for now and for a few generations to come, he and his offspring are but sojourners in the land. Ah, but someday, they shall possess the land. Someday, their enemies shall not prevail against them. This is God’s reassertion that Abraham’s enemies shall be his enemies. It is, for we the reader, a prophetic image of the coming day of the Exodus and the conquest of the land of promise. Beyond that, it is a picture of the coming dominion of Christ, as the strong man is bound, as every thought is brought into obedience to him, as every knee bows and every tongue confesses that he is Lord.

Finally, God repeats the promise that is the gospel beforehand, the promise that is the one hope for all the world: “in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Abraham has not withheld Isaac from God and so God proclaims that he will not withhold his blessing to all the earth. God will make good the word and the action that he has bound himself to. God is satisfied in his judgment and satisfies any anxiety or uncertainty that may have crept into Abraham’s soul. The Patriarch turns and heads down the mountain to his servant men, just as he had told them he would. And, the test complete and passed, the band returns to Beersheeba together.

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[1] Patrick Fairbairn, p. 318.

Sacrifice... from God's perspective, part 5

Yesterday, I worked to explain to explain the nature of God's now knowing that Abraham believes and will obey. The pattern of evaluation and judgment that has been established in Genesis is, essentially, carried out again in Genesis 22 in the account of Abraham's binding of Isaac.

Today, we'll look at how the sacrifice of Isaac is a Christological picture, a prophecy of sorts of God's plan for the future of Abraham's people.

~~~*~~~

The tension in the story eases when God stays Abraham’s hand and makes his judgment declaration. Abraham has been listening intently, his gaze fixed on Isaac. He looks up and sees what he had not seen before: a ram caught in a thicket. Whether this animal miraculously appeared or escaped Abraham’s notice before is not mentioned. God gives no directive but Abraham sees—understands—what he is to do. Now, the “natural” elements or provisions for the sacrifice are complete: fire, wood, ram. Isaac’s earlier question is answered; the Lord has truly provided for himself a lamb, just as Abraham had said he would.

Abraham turns and releases the ram’s horns from the thicket that wreaths its head and offers it up as a burnt offering to the Lord “instead of his son.” Prior to this, Isaac has been a picture of Christ, bound willingly by the father. He is like Christ, the suffering servant portrayed in Isaiah as “oppressed… and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (53:7). But Isaac is also a picture of mankind who will be plucked from the wrath of God when God himself provides his own ultimate sacrifice, his son. Abraham doesn’t understand the full import of what has been pictured before him; the revelation he has is limited. But in Isaac’s deliverance he catches a glimpse of Christ’s day of glory, the day when God the father demands judgment because all have violated his law. The day when instead God takes a substitute that he himself will provide, one free and without blemish. The day when the substitute dies and thereby Abraham’s sons—us—are able to live. This will be the glory of God as the substitute suffers and is raised back to life as Abraham believed could happen of Isaac. True, the picture Abraham sees is but dim and is not an exact parallel. Yet the pictured substitute, Christ, will still proclaim to the Pharisees, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56).  

So the rejoicing Abraham names the place “The LORD will provide” to confirm and commemorate what has happened on this mount. This mountain is now a testimony of this proven truth. On this mountain, God does provide and/or “sees” (as the word can also be translated). And, this mountain bears the name Moriah, the same name as the mount where the temple will be built, near where Christ will be crucified. The name is to remind the people of all generations that the Lord will provide for himself what he calls for from man, whether it is a ram crowned with a thicket or the Lamb of God crowned with thorns.

All Must Be Well

Happy Lord's Day to you. May you rest easy, may you remember to rely on our Father's love today, and the supply that Jesus is. Here is a hymn to remind you--and me--that "All Must Be Well," for the love of God is ours and Christ is at the helm. Click the title (below) to hear Matthew Smith's alternate version of Mary Bowley-Peters.

All Must Be Well

1. Through the love of God our Savior, All will be well
Free and changeless is His favor, All is well
Precious is the blood that healed us
Perfect is the grace that sealed us
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us
All must be well

2. Though we pass through tribulation, All will be well
Ours is such a full salvation, All is well
Happy still in God confiding
Fruitful if in Christ abiding
Steadfast through the Spirit's guiding
All must be well

3. We expect a bright tomorrow; All will be well
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All is well
On our Father's love relying
Jesus every need supplying
Yes in living or in dying
All must be well

Other's Thoughts

Here are some links to articles or audio I've found helpful lately.

In Christ I'm Not a Sinner--Blogger for The Gospel Coalition, Dane Ortlund describes the new identity that is ours in Christ. "I'm learning that the more I see of the gospel, the more I see how little I see it. For every inch gained in gospel understanding, I gain a foot in seeing how little I grasp it. I peer over the ledge of grace and see a new hundred-foot drop, which enables me to see also that the cliff extends another mile beyond that."

What to do When "For Worse" Means Mental Trauma--my friend and colleague, Stan Ward, recounts the struggles in his life during the past few years that have followed a terrible accident his wife had. He also offers excellent advice for those struggling in their marriages.

Mercy, Not Sacrifice--Pastor Timothy Keller speaks on Matthew 9:9-17. From Redeemer's website: "Our hearts naturally divide the world into 'good' people and 'bad' people. Jesus will have none of that. He comes to our world and flocks to the sinners, not the self-righteous Pharisees. Jesus shows us that God does not view people as 'good' or 'bad,' but as 'proud' or 'humble.'"

The Essential: Sin--blogger and author, Tim Challies briefly discusses the definition and nature of sin:  "Any time we see sin, whether in Scripture or in our lives today, the heart of it is willful contempt for God."

One sentence.

"All heroes are shadows of Christ." ~ John Piper

What kind of healing are you doing?

Jesus was a healer. Obviously. Here's a scene in which he heals Peter's mother-in-law:

29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (Mark 1:29-31)

Do you see what happens to her? She's ill. They tell Jesus. He heals her. She arises and serves. Is this some sexist situation? Not at all. Rather, Jesus restores her to her role and function in society.

~~~

Here's another example. It's not exactly a healing, but the resultant restoration is similar.

13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:13-17)

Matthew (Levi) is a tax collector, which essentially means he's a marginal person in Jewish society. He has chosen to serve Rome at the expense of his fellow Jews. Likely, they hate him. At the least, the Pharisees despise him as they look down their noses at his kind. What does Jesus do? He eats with Matthew. As an equal (in the human sense).

We find out elsewhere that Matthew restores what he has extorted from his fellow Jews... and then some. So what happens to him when Jesus sups at his home? He's restored and he starts to function in society as he was meant to function.

~~~

So then, when Jesus healed or forgave people he restored them to their proper function or restored to them their ability to work and contribute to society and to the work of the kingdom. He brought people back in (or in for the first time) and by their inclusion they become a part of the work of inclusion. (Yes, I know I've assumed much here. For proof of these claims, consider any number of the healings Jesus performed. Start with looking at the lepers.)

 In The book of Acts Luke tells us "And the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch" (Acts 11:26). "Christian" means little Christ. A "christ" is a savior. If this is so, then we are little saviors. And, as little saviors, we heal and we save. We heal and save in little ways, yes, and obviously not in the same ways and to the same extent that Jesus healed and saved. But we do heal and we do save. Jesus reaches his world through our words, through our hands. He heals and saves through us.

So I ask you, What kind of healing are you doing?

[Photo from thegatheringlex.org]

[This post is reprinted from a couple of years ago. I thought it needed to be heard again. I know I certainly needed to hear it again.]

All God's promises bound up in bread and wine

All God's promises are yes and amen in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 1:20). This is why when we pray we usually do so in Christ's name. We are essentially appealing to God to answer our prayers according to the promises he's made to us in Christ, based on his merit and not our own. 

The culmination of God's promises throughout history comes through Christ's life, death, burial, and resurrection. By his wounds we are healed (as Isaiah and a few Christian singers have said).

Healed? Yes. Restored to right union and communion with God and with God's people. Within ourselves.

The sacramental meal of the Lord's Supper shows us this union and communion in concrete, tangible form. We see, smell, feel, taste, touch the gospel in partaking of the Supper. We see, smell, feel, taste, touch our union and communion with God. And, while partaking we can look around and see our fellow heirs with Christ doing the same and we remember our link to them as well. Our union and communion with them.

This is life as God meant it to be. Harmony. Love. Fellowship. Union. Communion.

So, in a sense, all God's work in the world is bound up in bread and wine. 

Next time you are at table with the people of God, do remember (as directed by Christ himself); taste and see that the Lord is good.

Here's another of my communion poems that works to convey these realities in poetic form.

Bound up with bread and wine

All God’s work in the world—

Bound up with bread and wine.

From creation’s first day

To the consummation,

All summed up in a meal.

The glory of our God

Giving power for life

And power for right worship—

Full participation—

By precious promises

We’re somehow partakers

Of the divine nature—

Union and communion

Through the righteousness of Christ.

Waking then walking,

Conversing then sitting,

Remembering

and to the future looking…

Hoping in the taking

Seeing in the tasting

All the goodness of God—

All God’s work in the world—

Bound up with bread and wine.

MLK ~ a drum major... and a brother in Christ

Well, it may be cliche, but I'm going to talk about Martin Luther King today. It is the day to remember him, after all. And, in keeping with pastor John Piper's confession and discussion about racism in his newest book, Bloodlines (available for free download--click the title), I'll make my own confession today.

No, mine is not a confession of racism, though I'm probably guilty of racism to some degree--either in the past or today. And, if race hasn't been the issue for me, then mere difference was and is. (Maybe I'm guilty of differrentism. Yeah. Differentism is when you alienate another simply because they're different in some way. [I'm not sure if differentism is real word, but I'm adding it to my vocabulary today.] It's probably worse than racism. Both have the effect of denying the hope of the gospel, which is union and communion with God in Christ.) 

Okay. So here is my confession: I didn't give Martin Luther King, Jr. a fair listening when I first read him. No, it wasn't a race matter, as I've already said. It was a differentism matter. He didn't sound biblical enough to me--or biblical as I understood the theology of the Bible. Because of this, I didn't hear what he had to say, despite how rhetorically powerful his "I have a Dream" speech and his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

See, I missed the point. Entirely. I missed King's point and I missed the point of the gospel. Maybe King did slide into a sort of Social Gospel mentality (or maybe he was accused of such). And I'm not sure if he assumed too much hope in the power of the government to remedy the divide of the races or not. Regardless, he did long for unity of people. And, I think at the heart of this unity, he had Christ in mind, the only person in whom true unity can be found.

I confess that I don't necessarily agree with everything Martin Luther King, Jr. said and did. But I also confess that he probably understood the heart of the gospel better than I did and perhaps better than I do today.

In his own words, King (somewhat hesitantly, I gather) agreed that he was a drum major. In a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, he said, "Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that's all I want to say."

So today, I salute this drum major. I salute this brother in Christ. I salute his work for the bettering, not just of his race, but of all Americans, all people. I know that I am certainly better for his words and labors.

[Photo from bio.com]

It's coming...

It's December 23rd. The "day" is coming. And I've missed the feel, the sense, the thought.

Now, there's nothing magical about any one day of the year. Is there? I don't think so. But I do think that I need to be more mindful of the very thing I've been writing about the past two weeks.

Advent.

It's the season we Christians observe, expectantly awaiting and preparing for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus. Oh, we'll "celebrate." My kids can't hardly wait for the big day; they want to open presents so badly. But they've not really considered the birth of Christ too much. Why? Probably because I haven't considered it with them too much.

We've been reading thoughts about Advent when we sit down to eat at dinner time, but I can't seem to get us too far past the written words and into the heart of what's afoot.

Still, it's coming. Today, we'll stop... slow down--for that is what it will take... and consider:

God--who is a spirit and has no body as we do--became a man. Why? To rescue us from our sin and unto him.

That's astonishing. Amen.