"We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me." - Colossians 1:28-29
It is my opinion that spiritual immaturity is an epidemic in today's evangelical world. It seems that more than ever before believers are content to remain spiritual babies. Unfortunately, it seems that many churches are satisfied with allowing this to happen. I have heard of few places where serious Biblical and theological discipleship is taking place, and that concerns me.
As we can see from Colossians 1, it was never Paul's intention for believers to remain spiritually immature. His desire was to see each believer become complete or mature in Christ. In fact, for Paul it went much further than a desire. He believed it was his calling. He states a few versus earlier in verse 25 that he was called to be a minister "that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God." What does it mean to fully carry out the preaching of the word? I believe that he answers this question in the following versus, but for the sake of summary here is a short list of what Paul says about this kind of preaching:
1) That we proclaim Christ, the hope of glory (salvation)
2) That we admonish every man (counsel in life)
3) That we teach every man (doctrinal instruct)
Paul's calling as a minister was to accomplish those three things and I believe that it is the calling of every minister. Looking at these things from Colossians, how often do we preach an incomplete message? How often do we sacrifice our calling on the altar of our own personal agenda? The challenge for all of us is to fully carry out the preaching of the word. This means that we are to not only preach the way to salvation, but to disciple our people!
You might say, "if we preach doctrinal instruction then the 'lost' will be lost in the message." Do we think so little of God's word that we don't believe it can accomplish all three of the Colossians list at once? Have we become so vane in our preaching that we rely more on our words to direct the purpose of the message instead of allowing God's word to take its own path?
No, I don't believe we are thinking those things. I think that sometimes we just don't want to put in the work it takes to fully preach. Preaching this way is not an easy thing. Paul says that he labors and strives to accomplish this task. The Greek word used here is agonizomenos, and in this context Paul is literally saying that he is agonizing like an athlete in an arena to preach this way. He is working with every ounce of energy that he has and sweating out of every pore in order to preach Christ, to counsel for life and to disciple the people!
The epidemic of spiritual immaturity must be stopped. Will you move to stop it among those who you influence? The challenge from God's word is for us to realize that our calling is not over at a person's salvation, but that we are to fully carry out the preaching of the word of God. Yes, it is hard work but it is passed time for us to begin to get sweaty in our preaching!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Stretching the Glue
Many may ask the question, "what is the purpose of salvation?" When asked this question, a room full of Christians would probably give many different answers. Some may say "we are saved for God's glory," others might say "to spread the Gospel," and still others would say "to preserve the truth of God's Word." As the body of Christ sometimes we can be so divided and unbalanced. I have no doubts in the unifying power of Jesus Christ as the glue that holds all believers together. However, as sinful humanity we often find ourselves trying to stretch that glue in our own direction to fit our own agenda, or as some would call it, our "passion."
So what is the answer to this timeless question? I believe it is found in the first chapter of Romans as Paul writes, "we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentile's for His name's sake." The truth is that we are saved by the grace of God for obedience in the faith. This may seem like a simple truth, but so many times it is passed over for our personal "passions" and so the glue-stretching begins.
The realization of being given grace for the purpose of our obedience is one that is all inclusive. Yes, living a life that brings glory to God is obedience, spreading the Gospel of our Lord is obedience, and preserving the truth of God's Word is obedience. What we sometimes fail to see through our passion filled eyes is that all of these work together. They are not mutually exclusive, nor should they be treated as such. I often wonder what the Body of Christ would be able to accomplish if instead of stretching the glue as far as we can with our own agenda/passion; we rested in the glue of Jesus Christ and moved as one unified Body toward obedience.
So what is the answer to this timeless question? I believe it is found in the first chapter of Romans as Paul writes, "we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentile's for His name's sake." The truth is that we are saved by the grace of God for obedience in the faith. This may seem like a simple truth, but so many times it is passed over for our personal "passions" and so the glue-stretching begins.
The realization of being given grace for the purpose of our obedience is one that is all inclusive. Yes, living a life that brings glory to God is obedience, spreading the Gospel of our Lord is obedience, and preserving the truth of God's Word is obedience. What we sometimes fail to see through our passion filled eyes is that all of these work together. They are not mutually exclusive, nor should they be treated as such. I often wonder what the Body of Christ would be able to accomplish if instead of stretching the glue as far as we can with our own agenda/passion; we rested in the glue of Jesus Christ and moved as one unified Body toward obedience.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
The Journey of Grace
Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? - Galatians 3:3
"Saved by grace" is a common phrase within Christian circles. Not only is the phrase common, it is fundamental to our salvation theology. It is clear in Ephesians as Paul writes, "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." It is this gift of God, grace, that is so astounding. Foundational to God's saving grace in our lives is that we have done nothing to attain it. Not only have we done nothing, but we could never do enough in a million lifetimes to merit the grace of God. This gift comes to us freely from any action on our part and sadly that is where the journey of grace ends for many of today's believers.
Foundational to our salvation is God's free gift of grace, but i submit that God's grace toward us is also foundational to living the Christian life. Many people may agree with that statement right away, but few of us agree with it in lifestyle. Let me explain. The Bible teaches that we are saved by the grace of God, not of ourselves lest anyone should boast. That is the way that we enter a relationship with God and it is the way that we should continue in that same relationship. It is that last part that so many of us have a problem with. We have the same problem today that the Galatian people had when Paul wrote this passage. We are saved by grace, which we don't have a problem with, then we begin to throw our lives into a works based Christian life. It is as though after being saved by grace we choose to rebel against that once amazing gift.
It is to that thinking evidenced by lifestyle that Paul wrote the words of this verse. Paul is wondering why anyone who has been saved by the grace of God would be so foolish as to live the changed life based on works. Sadly, many of us have made this same decision. Are we so arrogant to think that we can improve on the saving grace of God by adding in our works? Are we so foolish to think that we need to work to pay off the free gift of God's grace? Are we unintentionally, or perhaps intentionally, rebelling against the grace of God through a live devoted to action instead of a life devoted to dependence?
In no way am I advocating a life characterized by merely sitting back and doing nothing all in the name of grace. A life that has truly come into contact with the powerful flood of God's grace would never sit back and do nothing. No, a life that has been affected by grace according to the unending riches of Almighty God will be a life motivated to action. Not action that develops out of a sense of duty; a desire to make payments; or a need to gain a holiness that we have already been given in Christ. Instead, this life of action will be one that leans on and is supported by the grace of God at every turn.
"We are brought into God's Kingdom by grace; we are sanctified by grace; we receive blessings by grace; we are motivated to obedience by grace; we are called to serve and enabled to serve by grace, we persevere through trials by grace; and we are glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God's grace." - Jerry Bridges
"Saved by grace" is a common phrase within Christian circles. Not only is the phrase common, it is fundamental to our salvation theology. It is clear in Ephesians as Paul writes, "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." It is this gift of God, grace, that is so astounding. Foundational to God's saving grace in our lives is that we have done nothing to attain it. Not only have we done nothing, but we could never do enough in a million lifetimes to merit the grace of God. This gift comes to us freely from any action on our part and sadly that is where the journey of grace ends for many of today's believers.
Foundational to our salvation is God's free gift of grace, but i submit that God's grace toward us is also foundational to living the Christian life. Many people may agree with that statement right away, but few of us agree with it in lifestyle. Let me explain. The Bible teaches that we are saved by the grace of God, not of ourselves lest anyone should boast. That is the way that we enter a relationship with God and it is the way that we should continue in that same relationship. It is that last part that so many of us have a problem with. We have the same problem today that the Galatian people had when Paul wrote this passage. We are saved by grace, which we don't have a problem with, then we begin to throw our lives into a works based Christian life. It is as though after being saved by grace we choose to rebel against that once amazing gift.
It is to that thinking evidenced by lifestyle that Paul wrote the words of this verse. Paul is wondering why anyone who has been saved by the grace of God would be so foolish as to live the changed life based on works. Sadly, many of us have made this same decision. Are we so arrogant to think that we can improve on the saving grace of God by adding in our works? Are we so foolish to think that we need to work to pay off the free gift of God's grace? Are we unintentionally, or perhaps intentionally, rebelling against the grace of God through a live devoted to action instead of a life devoted to dependence?
In no way am I advocating a life characterized by merely sitting back and doing nothing all in the name of grace. A life that has truly come into contact with the powerful flood of God's grace would never sit back and do nothing. No, a life that has been affected by grace according to the unending riches of Almighty God will be a life motivated to action. Not action that develops out of a sense of duty; a desire to make payments; or a need to gain a holiness that we have already been given in Christ. Instead, this life of action will be one that leans on and is supported by the grace of God at every turn.
"We are brought into God's Kingdom by grace; we are sanctified by grace; we receive blessings by grace; we are motivated to obedience by grace; we are called to serve and enabled to serve by grace, we persevere through trials by grace; and we are glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God's grace." - Jerry Bridges
Thursday, September 22, 2005
The Pursuit of Knowlege
"I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ than unravel all the mysteries of the divine Word, for salvation is the one thing we are to live for." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I read this quote not too long ago and was immediately impacted. Charles Spurgeon, in my opinion, is one of the most brilliant Christian minds who has ever lived. He has written scores of books, sermons, and articles that people dive into in an attempt to catch a glimpse of his genius. Spurgeon is also quoted by people everywhere to make the point that they are well learned in Christian theology.
It is true; Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a brilliant man. That is the reason why this statement is so amazing. In a time where unraveling the mysteries of God's Word and theology have seemed to grip so many people, we are being called out by one of theology's elite. We are being called back to something that he (Spurgeon) never left. We are being called back to the one thing we are to live for, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I would be the first to tell you that I enjoy a good theological discussion. I enjoy reading theology books and diving into the knowledge and mystery that exists in God's Word. I also agree that it is the duty of the Christian to grow in knowledge of their faith and the duty of the Christian to be solid in their theology. However, we have to ask ourselves, "What am I doing with my acquired knowledge?" Have we turned into a generation that loves knowledge for knowledge's sake? Have we walked away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and separated ourselves from the lost world to hide in a closet and learn?
Spurgeon has said it right, "salvation is the one thing we are to live for." We as Christ followers never need to cease in our pursuit of knowledge, but we need to understand that that pursuit must lead us into bringing the lost to Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that we are not the generation of people that choose to forsake the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the pursuit of knowledge. After all, "the Gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes: for the Jew first, then for the Gentile."
- Romans 1:16
I read this quote not too long ago and was immediately impacted. Charles Spurgeon, in my opinion, is one of the most brilliant Christian minds who has ever lived. He has written scores of books, sermons, and articles that people dive into in an attempt to catch a glimpse of his genius. Spurgeon is also quoted by people everywhere to make the point that they are well learned in Christian theology.
It is true; Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a brilliant man. That is the reason why this statement is so amazing. In a time where unraveling the mysteries of God's Word and theology have seemed to grip so many people, we are being called out by one of theology's elite. We are being called back to something that he (Spurgeon) never left. We are being called back to the one thing we are to live for, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I would be the first to tell you that I enjoy a good theological discussion. I enjoy reading theology books and diving into the knowledge and mystery that exists in God's Word. I also agree that it is the duty of the Christian to grow in knowledge of their faith and the duty of the Christian to be solid in their theology. However, we have to ask ourselves, "What am I doing with my acquired knowledge?" Have we turned into a generation that loves knowledge for knowledge's sake? Have we walked away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and separated ourselves from the lost world to hide in a closet and learn?
Spurgeon has said it right, "salvation is the one thing we are to live for." We as Christ followers never need to cease in our pursuit of knowledge, but we need to understand that that pursuit must lead us into bringing the lost to Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that we are not the generation of people that choose to forsake the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the pursuit of knowledge. After all, "the Gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes: for the Jew first, then for the Gentile."
- Romans 1:16
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