How then do we overcome this shallowness? John Macarthur offers his opinion:
”I am absolutely 100% convinced that the weakness of the church in America, the superficiality of the church, the shallowness of the church, the hypocrisy of the church is directly related to the absence of any cost or any price to be paid to be a Christian. If you don’t have to pay a price, heh, just jump on the bandwagon. If persecution came to America, you would see a very different kind of Christianity. A whole lot of people who are really good to talk about Jesus won’t be talking about Jesus any more. Who profess to know Jesus and to be part of the church, they will stop talking very fast if the price was as high as it is for some people.”
Obviously, no one should be advocating persecution for persecutions sake, but there is some truth here. We don’t have to work at it; neither do we seem to really want to work at it.
He offers some things we can do to increase our discernment. I commend the entire article to you but in summary he recommends:
Desire it – Proverbs 2:2-5. If you desire only health, wealth and comfort then you will not be spiritually discerning. Ask God to change your desires.
Pray for it – 1 Kings 3:9, James 1:5, Phil. 1:9-10. You will not be a spiritually discerning person without the power of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:11-16) Ask God for wisdom and discernment.
Learn from others – 1 Corinthians 12:10. Discerning truth and error is a spiritual gift in the church today. There are those gifted by God revealing the false teachers. Learn from what they teach and write. The local church is important in finding, and sharing, this gift.
Study God’s Word – 2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11. You could do all the above and still not be spiritually discerning if you don’t diligently study His Word. In His Word is the only place you will find the truth to discern. As the Bereans we have to compare the message we receive with the Scripture. This will take maximum effort and work but it is what we are called to do to bring honor to God.
Implicit in these recommendations is a desire to support churches that practice discernment. Churches that have a high view of God, a high view of Scripture, a high view of theology and a high view of church. Churches that preach doctrine from the Word in a way that magnifies Christ and edifies the church. Churches that are serious about worship.
Next week: Final thoughts
You can find all the posts in this series here.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Something Light - A 100 Yard Kickoff Return
For my daughter who asked to see a 100 yard kickoff return. Well, here are two - in the same game!
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Greatest Threat to Christianity - A Low View of Church
A low view of church – We need to save the lost by winning their favor is the “relevant” slogan. If they like us then they will like Jesus! This mindset turns our churches into avenues of entertainment, places for motivational seminars, or “a distribution pint for spiritual goods” as “Christianity Today” put it.
“In Reveal [a survey undertaken by Willow Creek Church], talk about the church is framed as if it were merely a distribution point for spiritual goods and services. For example, the study says that the dissatisfied, more than any other segment, have a much higher level of expectation “for what the church can and should deliver.” Furthermore, the dissatisfied say that when it comes to engendering personal spiritual growth, “the church is letting me down.”
The study’s answer suggests a disturbingly low view of the church: It concludes that the dissatisfied need to realize that “much of the responsibility for their spiritual growth belongs to them” (emphasis in the original). And “We [at Willow] have to let people know early on in their journey that they need to look beyond the church to grow.” (emphasis added).
But according to the apostle Paul, the church is where each one is given a gift “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).
For Paul, solid spiritual growth cannot be found “beyond the church,” but only in its midst. The study rightly says, “Our people need to learn to feed themselves through personal spiritual practices.” Unfortunately, the study fails to hint that these spiritual disciplines are intrinsically grounded in the ongoing life of the church. This implicit dualism (between private and corporate spiritual growth) suggests something different from Paul’s view that it is in the body of Christ that we are joined together to “grow up into him who is the Head” (Eph. 4:15)”
This is evident in most churches in that the biblical requirement to practice church discipline (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) is non-existent. There is no church discipline at all. Confrontation over sin is seen as judgmental. This is a lack of awareness of the holiness of God. God’s desire for the church to be holy, set apart for Him is lost when the church looks and acts like the world.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Next week: What can we do?
You can find all the posts in this series here.
“In Reveal [a survey undertaken by Willow Creek Church], talk about the church is framed as if it were merely a distribution point for spiritual goods and services. For example, the study says that the dissatisfied, more than any other segment, have a much higher level of expectation “for what the church can and should deliver.” Furthermore, the dissatisfied say that when it comes to engendering personal spiritual growth, “the church is letting me down.”
The study’s answer suggests a disturbingly low view of the church: It concludes that the dissatisfied need to realize that “much of the responsibility for their spiritual growth belongs to them” (emphasis in the original). And “We [at Willow] have to let people know early on in their journey that they need to look beyond the church to grow.” (emphasis added).
But according to the apostle Paul, the church is where each one is given a gift “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).
For Paul, solid spiritual growth cannot be found “beyond the church,” but only in its midst. The study rightly says, “Our people need to learn to feed themselves through personal spiritual practices.” Unfortunately, the study fails to hint that these spiritual disciplines are intrinsically grounded in the ongoing life of the church. This implicit dualism (between private and corporate spiritual growth) suggests something different from Paul’s view that it is in the body of Christ that we are joined together to “grow up into him who is the Head” (Eph. 4:15)”
This is evident in most churches in that the biblical requirement to practice church discipline (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) is non-existent. There is no church discipline at all. Confrontation over sin is seen as judgmental. This is a lack of awareness of the holiness of God. God’s desire for the church to be holy, set apart for Him is lost when the church looks and acts like the world.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Next week: What can we do?
You can find all the posts in this series here.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sermon Notes - It's Hard to Enter the Kingdom!
It’s Hard to Enter the Kingdom!, Mark 10:23-31
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 22, 2009
1.The amazement of the disciples – Mark 10:24,26
They were amazed that the man, who looked like he did everything right, would have a hard time entering the kingdom. They were amazed about the teaching of the children entering the kingdom. They were amazed before that at the teaching on divorce. Amazement heaped on amazement. They were shocked by who gets into the kingdom (the children), who misses the kingdom (the rich man), and the difficulty of entering the kingdom.
He is saying it is hard to be a Christian. We think exactly the opposite today. We think we need to just say a prayer and accept Him and then you are a Christian. We think of becoming a Christian different than Jesus did.
2. The difficulty of entering the kingdom – Mark 10:23-25
Why is it hard?
There is only one way in – through Jesus and Jesus alone.
There is only one way to live once you are in – it is not just about believing certain facts but embracing the life of Jesus. We must walk the path He walks.
We must go through the gate and walk the path. It isn’t just one or the other. To enter the kingdom you must surrender and submit to His authority, thus it is hard.
Matthew 7:13-14 – think of a solid door with a cutout of a cross in it as the gate. The only way to enter is with arms outstretched in complete surrender. We don’t want to drop our bag of possessions to walk through the gate but we can’t fit in with it. It is even harder for those with a truckload of possessions as opposed to just a bag. There is just more to give up.
The point is not that it is a sin to be wealthy. The point is just that the more wealth you have the more difficult it is to embrace the life of Jesus. The farther you are from a life of self-denial the harder it is to enter a life of self-denial. You have a farther distance to go. Jesus is saying that it is dangerous to have those things, so just be careful. It is a warning.
Similar to fire in that the ability to have fire is a good thing, but it can be a dangerous thing. It will consume. Money will consume your affections for Christ. Scripture clearly views money as a blessing but something we must be very careful of. It has incredible power to lead us away from complete devotion to Christ.
What are the dangers?
Danger of trust – Proverbs 18:11, 10:15. Psalms 52:7. The provision, or trust, is not in God but in what he has.
Danger of affections – Psalms 62:10. Your heart goes where your treasure is. Your affections should belong to Christ.
Danger of distraction – Luke 12:13-21. The upkeep is constant. Two cars take more time than one. It is a distraction from the things of the kingdom.
Danger of devotion – Matthew 6:24. You cannot serve two masters. We neglect one for the other.
Danger of love – 1 John 2:15. There is a constant temptation to love the things of the world. We are to love Christ more.
Danger of perspective – Revelation 3:17. It creates a false view of reality. We begin to think we are safe when we really aren’t.
Danger of reward – Matthew 6:19. Our heart should be drawn to Jesus, not treasures of this world.
Paul thought dieing was gain because he had nothing here. We don’t long for heaven because we have everything here. Heaven can begin to lose its appeal when we have everything here.
When we want more money are we not just asking God to bring on the danger?
3. The hope of entering the kingdom – Mark 10:25-27
How many times have you heard of the “eye of the needle” gate and the camel entering? There seems to be no real proof for that. It means what it says, a real camel and a real needle. It is impossible. It is impossible for the rich or the poor to enter the kingdom. Only by God’s grace do we enter. Only by God’s grace do we hear the call, enter the gate and walk the path.
The rich man thought he could be taught to enter the kingdom or that his goodness would get him in. He didn’t understand it was impossible.
4. The promise of entering the kingdom – Mark 10:28-30
Peter is asking, “What about us?” The promise is as certain as the call, we will receive one hundred times in return. He isn’t saying that we will receive material blessings. We can understand hundredfold in eternity, but what about the hundredfold in the present? It is a reference to the church of God. We have 100 brothers and sisters. Our many needs are met by the church. Unfortunately, today we have lost a true view of heaven and the church.
Mark 10:31 – Summary statement. The kingdom works on a different set of rules. What if, in the kingdom, it is a greater blessing to be poor than rich so you could be better prepared to go to the mission field? What if it is a greater blessing to be less beautiful, less smart, less talented or less healthy. Maybe you would call on God more. What if being beautiful, smart, talented and healthy actually made it more difficult to enter the kingdom? What if all the disadvantages of the world are advantages of the kingdom? We manifest the power of God through our weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 8:9 – though He was rich, He became poor.
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 22, 2009
1.The amazement of the disciples – Mark 10:24,26
They were amazed that the man, who looked like he did everything right, would have a hard time entering the kingdom. They were amazed about the teaching of the children entering the kingdom. They were amazed before that at the teaching on divorce. Amazement heaped on amazement. They were shocked by who gets into the kingdom (the children), who misses the kingdom (the rich man), and the difficulty of entering the kingdom.
He is saying it is hard to be a Christian. We think exactly the opposite today. We think we need to just say a prayer and accept Him and then you are a Christian. We think of becoming a Christian different than Jesus did.
2. The difficulty of entering the kingdom – Mark 10:23-25
Why is it hard?
There is only one way in – through Jesus and Jesus alone.
There is only one way to live once you are in – it is not just about believing certain facts but embracing the life of Jesus. We must walk the path He walks.
We must go through the gate and walk the path. It isn’t just one or the other. To enter the kingdom you must surrender and submit to His authority, thus it is hard.
Matthew 7:13-14 – think of a solid door with a cutout of a cross in it as the gate. The only way to enter is with arms outstretched in complete surrender. We don’t want to drop our bag of possessions to walk through the gate but we can’t fit in with it. It is even harder for those with a truckload of possessions as opposed to just a bag. There is just more to give up.
The point is not that it is a sin to be wealthy. The point is just that the more wealth you have the more difficult it is to embrace the life of Jesus. The farther you are from a life of self-denial the harder it is to enter a life of self-denial. You have a farther distance to go. Jesus is saying that it is dangerous to have those things, so just be careful. It is a warning.
Similar to fire in that the ability to have fire is a good thing, but it can be a dangerous thing. It will consume. Money will consume your affections for Christ. Scripture clearly views money as a blessing but something we must be very careful of. It has incredible power to lead us away from complete devotion to Christ.
What are the dangers?
Danger of trust – Proverbs 18:11, 10:15. Psalms 52:7. The provision, or trust, is not in God but in what he has.
Danger of affections – Psalms 62:10. Your heart goes where your treasure is. Your affections should belong to Christ.
Danger of distraction – Luke 12:13-21. The upkeep is constant. Two cars take more time than one. It is a distraction from the things of the kingdom.
Danger of devotion – Matthew 6:24. You cannot serve two masters. We neglect one for the other.
Danger of love – 1 John 2:15. There is a constant temptation to love the things of the world. We are to love Christ more.
Danger of perspective – Revelation 3:17. It creates a false view of reality. We begin to think we are safe when we really aren’t.
Danger of reward – Matthew 6:19. Our heart should be drawn to Jesus, not treasures of this world.
Paul thought dieing was gain because he had nothing here. We don’t long for heaven because we have everything here. Heaven can begin to lose its appeal when we have everything here.
When we want more money are we not just asking God to bring on the danger?
3. The hope of entering the kingdom – Mark 10:25-27
How many times have you heard of the “eye of the needle” gate and the camel entering? There seems to be no real proof for that. It means what it says, a real camel and a real needle. It is impossible. It is impossible for the rich or the poor to enter the kingdom. Only by God’s grace do we enter. Only by God’s grace do we hear the call, enter the gate and walk the path.
The rich man thought he could be taught to enter the kingdom or that his goodness would get him in. He didn’t understand it was impossible.
4. The promise of entering the kingdom – Mark 10:28-30
Peter is asking, “What about us?” The promise is as certain as the call, we will receive one hundred times in return. He isn’t saying that we will receive material blessings. We can understand hundredfold in eternity, but what about the hundredfold in the present? It is a reference to the church of God. We have 100 brothers and sisters. Our many needs are met by the church. Unfortunately, today we have lost a true view of heaven and the church.
Mark 10:31 – Summary statement. The kingdom works on a different set of rules. What if, in the kingdom, it is a greater blessing to be poor than rich so you could be better prepared to go to the mission field? What if it is a greater blessing to be less beautiful, less smart, less talented or less healthy. Maybe you would call on God more. What if being beautiful, smart, talented and healthy actually made it more difficult to enter the kingdom? What if all the disadvantages of the world are advantages of the kingdom? We manifest the power of God through our weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 8:9 – though He was rich, He became poor.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Greatest Threat to Christianity - A Low View of Theology
A low view of theology – A low view of Scripture leads to a low view of theology. From David Martyn Lloyd-Jones;
"Precise thinking, and definition, and dogma have been at a serious discount. The whole emphasis has been placed upon religion as a power which can do things for us and which can make us happy. The emotional and feeling side of religion has been over-emphasized at the expense of the intellectual. Far too often people have thought of the Christian religion merely as something which gives a constant series of miraculous deliverances from all sorts and kinds of ills.... The impression has often been given that we have but to ask God for whatever we may chance to need and we shall be satisfied.... We have been so intent upon ourselves and our moods and feelings and inward states, that when we are confronted by an external problem that nevertheless affects us profoundly, we do not know how to think or where to begin…”
This is so endemic throughout the church. Principles, correct though they may be, taught without reference to Scripture. You may have the principle down but when the cancer strikes if you don’t have the foundation from where it came, where do you turn? This is the importance of theology.
In talking of the letter to the Hebrews, Richard Phillips says,
“The recipients of this letter were like many Christians today who think that theology is a waste of time. What difference does it make, people ask, whether God is a Trinity or not, whether Christ’s righteousness comes by imputation or infusion, and whether regeneration comes before faith or after? What is important, they say, is that we get along with each other. Then they cite passages commending a childlike faith, as if that were the same thing as a childish faith, that is, one that is indifferent to or ignorant of the Word of God.”
Doctrine is not taught because it might be off-putting to the lost. Teaching on the doctrine of sin and hell is offensive. We can teach that later, after they are saved, so they say. Later never comes.
John MacArthur says it best;
“Some say that doctrine divides. That's true! If you set aside biblical truth and remain silent for fear of offending people, opposition will disappear, but so will some other things like truth, holiness, and God Himself.”
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3
Next week: A low view of church
Previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
"Precise thinking, and definition, and dogma have been at a serious discount. The whole emphasis has been placed upon religion as a power which can do things for us and which can make us happy. The emotional and feeling side of religion has been over-emphasized at the expense of the intellectual. Far too often people have thought of the Christian religion merely as something which gives a constant series of miraculous deliverances from all sorts and kinds of ills.... The impression has often been given that we have but to ask God for whatever we may chance to need and we shall be satisfied.... We have been so intent upon ourselves and our moods and feelings and inward states, that when we are confronted by an external problem that nevertheless affects us profoundly, we do not know how to think or where to begin…”
This is so endemic throughout the church. Principles, correct though they may be, taught without reference to Scripture. You may have the principle down but when the cancer strikes if you don’t have the foundation from where it came, where do you turn? This is the importance of theology.
In talking of the letter to the Hebrews, Richard Phillips says,
“The recipients of this letter were like many Christians today who think that theology is a waste of time. What difference does it make, people ask, whether God is a Trinity or not, whether Christ’s righteousness comes by imputation or infusion, and whether regeneration comes before faith or after? What is important, they say, is that we get along with each other. Then they cite passages commending a childlike faith, as if that were the same thing as a childish faith, that is, one that is indifferent to or ignorant of the Word of God.”
Doctrine is not taught because it might be off-putting to the lost. Teaching on the doctrine of sin and hell is offensive. We can teach that later, after they are saved, so they say. Later never comes.
John MacArthur says it best;
“Some say that doctrine divides. That's true! If you set aside biblical truth and remain silent for fear of offending people, opposition will disappear, but so will some other things like truth, holiness, and God Himself.”
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3
Next week: A low view of church
Previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sermon Notes - Hearing God in This Miraculous Moment
Hearing God in This Miraculous Moment, Ephesians 3:20-21
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 15, 2009
God speaks through His miraculous works. Psalms 145 tells us to meditate on His works. He always says something about Himself, His purposes and His ways.
1. We should never doubt His ability – Ephesians 3:20
“….to Him who is able…” – He is able. 2 Corinthians 9:8, Hebrews 7:25, Jude 1:24.
In these verses Paul had just finished praying. That prayer is connected to this doxology of verses 20 and 21. It is as if these verses are the foundation on which this prayer is built. If God isn’t able then why pray? Our hope is based on His ability. The minute you doubt His ability you lose hope.
Matthew 8:10 tells us of one of only two times that Jesus marveled. The centurion tells Jesus that there is no need to come to his house. The centurion tells Jesus that all He has to do is say the word. The centurion had a big view of the ability and authority of God, therefore Jesus marveled.
There is never a reason to doubt the ability of God. His ability to work exceeds my ability to ask, think or imagine.
2. We should never neglect to ask – Ephesians 3:20
The assumption is that we are asking and thinking. Asking demonstrates our inability and God’s ability. Ask specifically so you can see how much He goes beyond. It is impossible to ask too much.
3. Never forget His avenues – Ephesians 3:20
“…according to…” – the way in which God works. He does it through His power, His people and His church.
Power - Earlier, in Ephesians 1:18-23 Paul shows us objective evidence of His power – the resurrection of Christ. God’s power controls even death. This is power! For a believer death never wins.
People – He works through His people. Acts 1:8 tells us what He does through us, with His power. He doesn’t do it without us. He can but He chooses to do it through us. He does it through us when we give our money, our time, etc.
Church – In Ephesians 1:22 we see the importance of the church. There is nothing more powerful than the unified surrender of His people. The church can be an unstoppable force.
4. Never neglect to acknowledge – Ephesians 3:21
Paul piles on the superlatives here. He must be acknowledged every step of the way. He can stop it as quickly as He gave it. It is for the glory of God. Pride will stop the power. If it is for anyone else’s glory than God’s then it will stop.
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 15, 2009
God speaks through His miraculous works. Psalms 145 tells us to meditate on His works. He always says something about Himself, His purposes and His ways.
1. We should never doubt His ability – Ephesians 3:20
“….to Him who is able…” – He is able. 2 Corinthians 9:8, Hebrews 7:25, Jude 1:24.
In these verses Paul had just finished praying. That prayer is connected to this doxology of verses 20 and 21. It is as if these verses are the foundation on which this prayer is built. If God isn’t able then why pray? Our hope is based on His ability. The minute you doubt His ability you lose hope.
Matthew 8:10 tells us of one of only two times that Jesus marveled. The centurion tells Jesus that there is no need to come to his house. The centurion tells Jesus that all He has to do is say the word. The centurion had a big view of the ability and authority of God, therefore Jesus marveled.
There is never a reason to doubt the ability of God. His ability to work exceeds my ability to ask, think or imagine.
2. We should never neglect to ask – Ephesians 3:20
The assumption is that we are asking and thinking. Asking demonstrates our inability and God’s ability. Ask specifically so you can see how much He goes beyond. It is impossible to ask too much.
3. Never forget His avenues – Ephesians 3:20
“…according to…” – the way in which God works. He does it through His power, His people and His church.
Power - Earlier, in Ephesians 1:18-23 Paul shows us objective evidence of His power – the resurrection of Christ. God’s power controls even death. This is power! For a believer death never wins.
People – He works through His people. Acts 1:8 tells us what He does through us, with His power. He doesn’t do it without us. He can but He chooses to do it through us. He does it through us when we give our money, our time, etc.
Church – In Ephesians 1:22 we see the importance of the church. There is nothing more powerful than the unified surrender of His people. The church can be an unstoppable force.
4. Never neglect to acknowledge – Ephesians 3:21
Paul piles on the superlatives here. He must be acknowledged every step of the way. He can stop it as quickly as He gave it. It is for the glory of God. Pride will stop the power. If it is for anyone else’s glory than God’s then it will stop.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Sermon Notes - The Reputation of God and Marriage - Part 2
The Reputation of God and Marriage – Part 2, Ephesians 5:22-33
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, preached on April 29, 2007, listened to on November 14, 2007
The primary reason for our existence is to make a name for Him. Marriage is one of the avenues for us to do that. God has created marriage to say something about Himself so it affects all of us, whether you are single, divorced, child or otherwise.
1 Corinthians 10:31 and Romans 1:36 are foundational when talking of the reputation of God.
There is more at stake in marriage than we could have ever imagined because it is about the glory of God. It isn’t just about His general glory either, but He is trying to say something specific about Christ and His relationship to the church. Everything we do in marriage is for the reputation of God.
Mutual submission of believers - Ephesians 5:21
Egalitarian’s see this verse as an umbrella for everything that follows thus they see only mutual submission in marriage. This is true in the sense that as followers of Christ we love, serve, honor and give preference to one another. However, the verses that follow show that God has ordained distinct and different roles for husband and wife. A father submitting to his 16 year old son as a Christian filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean the father is submitted to the authority of the son. The father’s role of responsibility is still there.
“Most couples in the church are involved in same-sex marriage and they don’t even know it.” In most marriages men and women are both playing the role of the man. There is no noticeable distinction between the role of husband and wife. This is not an issue of non-equality, value, worth or maturity, it is an issue of God trying to say something about Himself.
Instructions to husbands – Ephesians 5:25-32
Lead and love for the reputation of God with Christ as the model.
Many of us never saw a human example, or model, of this. You still have no excuse as Jesus shows us how.
Ephesians 5:23 – “head” always refers to leadership. Ephesians 1:33, 4:15, Colossians 1:18. The husband has primary leadership responsibility in the home.
Ephesians 5:22 - “…savior of the body…”, is trying to get us to remember there is more to the saving work of Jesus than just the cross. He is protector, provider, and sustainer of our body. He is continuing to save us. In 1 Timothy 4:10 shows us that He is the sustainer of everyone, believer or not. You wouldn’t exist or have life apart from Him whether you believe in Him or not. This is common grace. This verse doesn’t mean that everyone is forgiven.
Aspects of leadership – Ephesians 5:25-28
Ephesians 5:25 – it is a servant leadership. “…gave Himself…” He led by giving His life. There is no forced submission. Christ is always teaching servant leadership. John 13, Matthew 20:28.
Ephesians 5:26 – it is a spiritual leadership. “…holy and blameless…”. Christ is concerned with the beauty of His bride. This isn’t external, physical beauty (1 Peter 3). The primary concern is for our spiritual health as ours should be for our family. We are accountable on judgment day for what we have done to sanctify and purify their spiritual life. Leading them to be more and more like Christ and teaching them about what God is doing in your life.
Ephesians 5:28 – it is a providing and caring leadership. “…nourishes and cherishes…”. Husband is primarily responsible for the provision of the home. Men carry the weight in providing for the family. Doesn’t mean wife can’t work outside home. Issue is that man is to feel that weight. A caring leadership is a gentle leadership for the physically weaker (1 Peter). The same word is used in 1 Thessalonians 2:7.
Ephesians 5:25 – love your wives. This is the umbrella over the leadership. Lead her because you love Christ, not because she deserves it but because Christ commands it. It is a covenant love like Christ’s. His love to us is not because of what we’ve done but it is a love based on His character and goodness. We didn’t deserve His love yet He gave it.
Romans 5:6-8 shows us that He demonstrated it. He didn’t just say He loved us. He went out of His way to demonstrate love and so should husbands.
All of this is overwhelming. We need to feel the weight of this responsibility. Not to the extent that we feel defeated but to the extent that we run to Him. He wants you to feel it so you will come to Him. We cannot do any of this apart from the grace of God and filled with the Spirit.
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, preached on April 29, 2007, listened to on November 14, 2007
The primary reason for our existence is to make a name for Him. Marriage is one of the avenues for us to do that. God has created marriage to say something about Himself so it affects all of us, whether you are single, divorced, child or otherwise.
1 Corinthians 10:31 and Romans 1:36 are foundational when talking of the reputation of God.
There is more at stake in marriage than we could have ever imagined because it is about the glory of God. It isn’t just about His general glory either, but He is trying to say something specific about Christ and His relationship to the church. Everything we do in marriage is for the reputation of God.
Mutual submission of believers - Ephesians 5:21
Egalitarian’s see this verse as an umbrella for everything that follows thus they see only mutual submission in marriage. This is true in the sense that as followers of Christ we love, serve, honor and give preference to one another. However, the verses that follow show that God has ordained distinct and different roles for husband and wife. A father submitting to his 16 year old son as a Christian filled with the Spirit doesn’t mean the father is submitted to the authority of the son. The father’s role of responsibility is still there.
“Most couples in the church are involved in same-sex marriage and they don’t even know it.” In most marriages men and women are both playing the role of the man. There is no noticeable distinction between the role of husband and wife. This is not an issue of non-equality, value, worth or maturity, it is an issue of God trying to say something about Himself.
Instructions to husbands – Ephesians 5:25-32
Lead and love for the reputation of God with Christ as the model.
Many of us never saw a human example, or model, of this. You still have no excuse as Jesus shows us how.
Ephesians 5:23 – “head” always refers to leadership. Ephesians 1:33, 4:15, Colossians 1:18. The husband has primary leadership responsibility in the home.
Ephesians 5:22 - “…savior of the body…”, is trying to get us to remember there is more to the saving work of Jesus than just the cross. He is protector, provider, and sustainer of our body. He is continuing to save us. In 1 Timothy 4:10 shows us that He is the sustainer of everyone, believer or not. You wouldn’t exist or have life apart from Him whether you believe in Him or not. This is common grace. This verse doesn’t mean that everyone is forgiven.
Aspects of leadership – Ephesians 5:25-28
Ephesians 5:25 – it is a servant leadership. “…gave Himself…” He led by giving His life. There is no forced submission. Christ is always teaching servant leadership. John 13, Matthew 20:28.
Ephesians 5:26 – it is a spiritual leadership. “…holy and blameless…”. Christ is concerned with the beauty of His bride. This isn’t external, physical beauty (1 Peter 3). The primary concern is for our spiritual health as ours should be for our family. We are accountable on judgment day for what we have done to sanctify and purify their spiritual life. Leading them to be more and more like Christ and teaching them about what God is doing in your life.
Ephesians 5:28 – it is a providing and caring leadership. “…nourishes and cherishes…”. Husband is primarily responsible for the provision of the home. Men carry the weight in providing for the family. Doesn’t mean wife can’t work outside home. Issue is that man is to feel that weight. A caring leadership is a gentle leadership for the physically weaker (1 Peter). The same word is used in 1 Thessalonians 2:7.
Ephesians 5:25 – love your wives. This is the umbrella over the leadership. Lead her because you love Christ, not because she deserves it but because Christ commands it. It is a covenant love like Christ’s. His love to us is not because of what we’ve done but it is a love based on His character and goodness. We didn’t deserve His love yet He gave it.
Romans 5:6-8 shows us that He demonstrated it. He didn’t just say He loved us. He went out of His way to demonstrate love and so should husbands.
All of this is overwhelming. We need to feel the weight of this responsibility. Not to the extent that we feel defeated but to the extent that we run to Him. He wants you to feel it so you will come to Him. We cannot do any of this apart from the grace of God and filled with the Spirit.
Sermon Notes - The Reputation of God and Marriage - Part 1
The Reputation of God and Marriage – Part 1, Ephesians 5:22-33
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, preached on April 22, 2007, listened to on November 14, 2007
God has a passion for His reputation. He has created us primarily to make a name for Himself. Everything in life is centered on Him – not us. Ezekiel 36:21. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Romans 11:36.
We must be thoughtful and contemplative Christians. We can’t be so hurried that we don’t take the time to think how God can be glorified in whatever we are doing.
There are some things that God has given us as primary venues to say something specific about Him. Marriage is one of those.
Do not tune out if you aren’t married, i.e. single, school age, widowed, or divorced. God wants everyone to learn something about Him through marriage. He uses marriage to conform two people to His image and to relate in such a way that even those that aren’t married would come to know something about Jesus Christ and His love for the church. So even as an “outsider” to marriage, as you watch a godly marriage, you will learn something about God.
All of us can learn because marriage is a picture, a dramatic presentation of the relationship of Jesus to His church. It is a drama and there is a role for the husband to play and a role for the wife to play. As they work together on this presentation God is glorified. If neither understands their role it doesn’t work.
Foundation for understanding marriage – Matthew 19:3-7
Matthew 19:3 – Jesus points back to creation as He talks about marriage. Marriage is God’s idea; it is not a human institution. He is the author of marriage. It is for Him.
Matthew 19:6 – Marriage is intensely spiritual. It isn’t just physical or legal. God brought them together so do not separate them. If we had brought them together then perhaps we could have separated but God brought those two together.
Matthew 19:7 – why talk about the command of Moses? Jesus says that Moses had to make a command concerning this because of the sinfulness of people, not because it was God’s plan. Pharisees were testing Jesus now so you would expect the disciples to step in and help but they ask Jesus why get married if this is true. They had a small, man-centered, carnal view of marriage and couldn’t comprehend the spiritual nature of marriage.
Specific instructions for marriage - Ephesians 5:22-33
This is a God-centered, Christ exalting view of marriage. It is initially hard to follow the theme here, is it about marriage or the church? They are so intertwined that the main point seems to shift. The primary point is marriage. Ephesians 5:25 mentions “as to” and “just as” which shows us this. To understand marriage we have to point to Christ and the church; however, there is a direct relationship. Therefore the first thing on our mind in a marriage relationship is what is it saying about Christ or the church.
Instructions to wives – Ephesians 5:22-24
Ephesians 5:22 – God is calling wives to submit and honor for the reputation of God. Pastors are scared of the “submission” word but scripture is clear that submission is part of marriage.
If we look back to Ephesians 5:15-21 we see Paul is talking about the Christian life. In Ephesians 5:21 he says that if we know the Lord there is a mutual submission to each other. We look at ourselves as secondary and others as primary and a priority above us.
Submit means to be subject to willfully and joyfully. As we willfully and joyfully submit to Christ’s leadership. “…as to the Lord…” This isn’t just a service to the husband but to the Lord. It is done not because the husband deserves it but because Christ asked you to. 1 Peter 3 confirms this as it talks to wives whose husbands may not be believers.
This submission for women is to husband only, not to all men. This tells us it is not an issue of equality then. It is about a role.
There is a relationship between your submission to your husband and your ability to submit to God. If you are constantly fighting against his leadership and wanting to take control in that relationship then you will want to do that in your relationship with God.
This doesn’t mean he is lord over you it is just that God has given us different roles, even if the woman may be a better leader.
Submission is not the same as the relationship between a parent and child or between a slave and master.
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, preached on April 22, 2007, listened to on November 14, 2007
God has a passion for His reputation. He has created us primarily to make a name for Himself. Everything in life is centered on Him – not us. Ezekiel 36:21. 1 Corinthians 10:31. Romans 11:36.
We must be thoughtful and contemplative Christians. We can’t be so hurried that we don’t take the time to think how God can be glorified in whatever we are doing.
There are some things that God has given us as primary venues to say something specific about Him. Marriage is one of those.
Do not tune out if you aren’t married, i.e. single, school age, widowed, or divorced. God wants everyone to learn something about Him through marriage. He uses marriage to conform two people to His image and to relate in such a way that even those that aren’t married would come to know something about Jesus Christ and His love for the church. So even as an “outsider” to marriage, as you watch a godly marriage, you will learn something about God.
All of us can learn because marriage is a picture, a dramatic presentation of the relationship of Jesus to His church. It is a drama and there is a role for the husband to play and a role for the wife to play. As they work together on this presentation God is glorified. If neither understands their role it doesn’t work.
Foundation for understanding marriage – Matthew 19:3-7
Matthew 19:3 – Jesus points back to creation as He talks about marriage. Marriage is God’s idea; it is not a human institution. He is the author of marriage. It is for Him.
Matthew 19:6 – Marriage is intensely spiritual. It isn’t just physical or legal. God brought them together so do not separate them. If we had brought them together then perhaps we could have separated but God brought those two together.
Matthew 19:7 – why talk about the command of Moses? Jesus says that Moses had to make a command concerning this because of the sinfulness of people, not because it was God’s plan. Pharisees were testing Jesus now so you would expect the disciples to step in and help but they ask Jesus why get married if this is true. They had a small, man-centered, carnal view of marriage and couldn’t comprehend the spiritual nature of marriage.
Specific instructions for marriage - Ephesians 5:22-33
This is a God-centered, Christ exalting view of marriage. It is initially hard to follow the theme here, is it about marriage or the church? They are so intertwined that the main point seems to shift. The primary point is marriage. Ephesians 5:25 mentions “as to” and “just as” which shows us this. To understand marriage we have to point to Christ and the church; however, there is a direct relationship. Therefore the first thing on our mind in a marriage relationship is what is it saying about Christ or the church.
Instructions to wives – Ephesians 5:22-24
Ephesians 5:22 – God is calling wives to submit and honor for the reputation of God. Pastors are scared of the “submission” word but scripture is clear that submission is part of marriage.
If we look back to Ephesians 5:15-21 we see Paul is talking about the Christian life. In Ephesians 5:21 he says that if we know the Lord there is a mutual submission to each other. We look at ourselves as secondary and others as primary and a priority above us.
Submit means to be subject to willfully and joyfully. As we willfully and joyfully submit to Christ’s leadership. “…as to the Lord…” This isn’t just a service to the husband but to the Lord. It is done not because the husband deserves it but because Christ asked you to. 1 Peter 3 confirms this as it talks to wives whose husbands may not be believers.
This submission for women is to husband only, not to all men. This tells us it is not an issue of equality then. It is about a role.
There is a relationship between your submission to your husband and your ability to submit to God. If you are constantly fighting against his leadership and wanting to take control in that relationship then you will want to do that in your relationship with God.
This doesn’t mean he is lord over you it is just that God has given us different roles, even if the woman may be a better leader.
Submission is not the same as the relationship between a parent and child or between a slave and master.
Submission is not an oppressive, authoritative relationship.
Submission is not agreeing with everything your husband has to say. 1 Peter 3 shows us there isn’t even an agreement on the foundational issues but submission is still required.
Submission is not not based on fear.
Submission is primarily about attitude and disposition. The wife is looking to the husband expecting and allowing him to lead because God has placed him in that role. We don’t submit to Christ because of fear or manipulation but because of His position. Because of His position we joyfully submit. It isn’t a matter of value or equality but a matter of role and function. Not oppressive but liberating.
Look and lean – We look to Christ when we make decisions and we lean on Him through those decisions. The world needs to see the same thing with wives and their husbands. Physically look to him and then lean on him and don’t be so independent.
The fear used to be that men would be oppressive when this was taught. The fear now is exactly the opposite. The fear now is men who refuse to lead and women who refuse to let them. This confusion in roles is direct from Satan.
We often think that wives submit because of the fall but this is not true. God created the husband as the head in Genesis 2. The fall did not occur until Genesis 3. This role described in Ephesians is not because of the curse. The role was that way from the beginning to demonstrate God to the world. The difficulty in actually doing it is a result of the fall. Men fall into the sin of not leading or being oppressive. Women fall into the sin of refusing to submit and wanting to control. This is why we must walk in the Spirit as shown in the previous verses of Ephesians.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Greatest Threat to Christianity - A low View of Scripture
A low view of Scripture – Feelings, voices, visions, experience, emotion, image and other subjective means are elevated above Scripture in our worship and in our personal lives. How many churches, and individuals, put their trust in music, drama, programs and buildings. This is deadly.
Tim Challies puts it this way,
“…spiritual discernment must be founded upon God’s objective revelation of Himself in Scripture. We can only judge between what is wrong and what is right when we know what God says to be true. We can know this only from Scripture.”
What gets overlooked by many is that Scripture is sufficient. Many may believe, and acknowledge, that the Bible is inerrant and infallible, but their practice shows a lack of trust in its sufficiency. By our practices, and actions, are we affirming the great Reformation thrust of sola scriptura, or are we putting our trust in something else?
In A Call For Discernment, Jay Adams writes:
"The Bible does not teach that there are numerous ways to please God, each of which is as good as the next. Nor does it teach that various opinions are more or less God's ways. What it teaches--everywhere--is that any thought or way that is not wholly God's is altogether wrong and must be rejected. According to the Bible, a miss is as good as a mile. There is only one God, and there is only one way of life--His! People today don't like to hear such things--even people within the church. Why? Because they have a different mindset. Many of them have not known the Bible from childhood or ever made an intensive study of it later on, so their mindset is unbiblical… With pastors and people alike growing up in an environment that stresses continuum thinking, antithesis is dulled as more and more people attempt to integrate sociology, psychology, and business management principles with Scripture."
May we all develop a biblical mindset.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
Next week: A low view of theology
Previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
Tim Challies puts it this way,
“…spiritual discernment must be founded upon God’s objective revelation of Himself in Scripture. We can only judge between what is wrong and what is right when we know what God says to be true. We can know this only from Scripture.”
What gets overlooked by many is that Scripture is sufficient. Many may believe, and acknowledge, that the Bible is inerrant and infallible, but their practice shows a lack of trust in its sufficiency. By our practices, and actions, are we affirming the great Reformation thrust of sola scriptura, or are we putting our trust in something else?
In A Call For Discernment, Jay Adams writes:
"The Bible does not teach that there are numerous ways to please God, each of which is as good as the next. Nor does it teach that various opinions are more or less God's ways. What it teaches--everywhere--is that any thought or way that is not wholly God's is altogether wrong and must be rejected. According to the Bible, a miss is as good as a mile. There is only one God, and there is only one way of life--His! People today don't like to hear such things--even people within the church. Why? Because they have a different mindset. Many of them have not known the Bible from childhood or ever made an intensive study of it later on, so their mindset is unbiblical… With pastors and people alike growing up in an environment that stresses continuum thinking, antithesis is dulled as more and more people attempt to integrate sociology, psychology, and business management principles with Scripture."
May we all develop a biblical mindset.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
Next week: A low view of theology
Previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sermon Notes - Who Will Receive the Kingdom?
Who Will Receive the Kingdom?, Mark 10:13-22
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 8, 2009
What must I do to inherit eternal life? This should be the main question on our mind that the text addresses today.
1. The children who model – Mark 10:13-16.
When Jesus saw the disciples rebuking the children it aroused his anger. He was furious because the disciples are an extension of Jesus. Whatever the disciples do speaks of Him. They thought their responsibility was to guard Jesus and the kingdom. (Mark 9).
“…for to such belongs…” - refers to those who the culture thinks of as least, not just the children. He doesn’t choose like we do. He chooses the leper, the demoniac, the bleeding woman, etc.
The children run with abandonment, dependence, humility and trust to jump in the arms of Jesus. There is no questioning of Jesus about what they must leave behind. He gives the kingdom to the unexpected with childlike faith who completely trust Him with absolute abandonment to hold them up. He will hold you up.
It wasn’t anything innately good that these children possessed or anything they had done or had to offer Jesus. The model was a disposition and attitude of the heart. Is our heart full of self-righteousness, confidence and withholding of things from Him?
2. The man who missed – Mark 10:17-22
We need to focus on the attitude and spirit of this man. There is no description of his outward appearance.
“…ran up and knelt…” – He came with a bit of respect and sincerity. He is looking for wisdom and advice.
“…good teacher…” – He shows he has a high view of Jesus.
“…what shall I do…” – He seems to be genuinely seeking the truth. He doesn’t seem to be a proud and arrogant man.
All of this makes what Jesus does even more startling because Jesus sees into the heart of the man. He asks him a question to draw out what he truly believes.
“Why do you call me good?” – He isn’t saying He isn’t God. He is saying the man doesn’t believe He is God. He didn’t come like Bartimaeus saying, “Oh, Son of David.” Jesus is saying He isn’t a good teacher, He is more than that, He is God. The man had a wrong view of Jesus and of goodness. The man is looking for good advice but should be looking for salvation. When people feel good about themselves they look for good advice so they can get “gooder”. They need a good God, not good advice. The last thing you need is good advice when you are going to hell!
This is a reminder to us about presenting the gospel. We need to make clear who they are and who Jesus is. We need to present the bad news first, then the good news.
“…Teacher…” – proves what Jesus thought. The man doesn’t say “God” but “Teacher”. He thinks all he needs is a little more help. He wanted to inherit eternal life without Jesus. Jesus then felt compassion and did the most loving thing He could do. He tells him the one thing he needed to do.
3. Faith is following Jesus – The answer of Jesus to this man is not a prescription for us. This was for this man only. Jesus knew this man and told him to give up the one thing he loved more than Jesus – with complete abandonment. The man went away grieving because he was unwilling to release his things. It takes faith to believe that Jesus is better than your things. Faith is not just mental assent. Faith is following Jesus – doing! The man wasn’t willing to follow.
Faith means following Jesus – not just saying a prayer. This man would probably be the model of a morally outstanding man, but he missed it. His moral attributes could not save him. Jesus is better than whatever we leave behind.
Remove anything in your life that robs you of your affections for Christ. Our lives are filled with things that aren’t evil, but steal our affections, attention and resources away from Christ and His church.
Mark 10:27 – embrace Jesus as the only way. He is the only one that can grant eternal life.
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 8, 2009
What must I do to inherit eternal life? This should be the main question on our mind that the text addresses today.
1. The children who model – Mark 10:13-16.
When Jesus saw the disciples rebuking the children it aroused his anger. He was furious because the disciples are an extension of Jesus. Whatever the disciples do speaks of Him. They thought their responsibility was to guard Jesus and the kingdom. (Mark 9).
“…for to such belongs…” - refers to those who the culture thinks of as least, not just the children. He doesn’t choose like we do. He chooses the leper, the demoniac, the bleeding woman, etc.
The children run with abandonment, dependence, humility and trust to jump in the arms of Jesus. There is no questioning of Jesus about what they must leave behind. He gives the kingdom to the unexpected with childlike faith who completely trust Him with absolute abandonment to hold them up. He will hold you up.
It wasn’t anything innately good that these children possessed or anything they had done or had to offer Jesus. The model was a disposition and attitude of the heart. Is our heart full of self-righteousness, confidence and withholding of things from Him?
2. The man who missed – Mark 10:17-22
We need to focus on the attitude and spirit of this man. There is no description of his outward appearance.
“…ran up and knelt…” – He came with a bit of respect and sincerity. He is looking for wisdom and advice.
“…good teacher…” – He shows he has a high view of Jesus.
“…what shall I do…” – He seems to be genuinely seeking the truth. He doesn’t seem to be a proud and arrogant man.
All of this makes what Jesus does even more startling because Jesus sees into the heart of the man. He asks him a question to draw out what he truly believes.
“Why do you call me good?” – He isn’t saying He isn’t God. He is saying the man doesn’t believe He is God. He didn’t come like Bartimaeus saying, “Oh, Son of David.” Jesus is saying He isn’t a good teacher, He is more than that, He is God. The man had a wrong view of Jesus and of goodness. The man is looking for good advice but should be looking for salvation. When people feel good about themselves they look for good advice so they can get “gooder”. They need a good God, not good advice. The last thing you need is good advice when you are going to hell!
This is a reminder to us about presenting the gospel. We need to make clear who they are and who Jesus is. We need to present the bad news first, then the good news.
“…Teacher…” – proves what Jesus thought. The man doesn’t say “God” but “Teacher”. He thinks all he needs is a little more help. He wanted to inherit eternal life without Jesus. Jesus then felt compassion and did the most loving thing He could do. He tells him the one thing he needed to do.
3. Faith is following Jesus – The answer of Jesus to this man is not a prescription for us. This was for this man only. Jesus knew this man and told him to give up the one thing he loved more than Jesus – with complete abandonment. The man went away grieving because he was unwilling to release his things. It takes faith to believe that Jesus is better than your things. Faith is not just mental assent. Faith is following Jesus – doing! The man wasn’t willing to follow.
Faith means following Jesus – not just saying a prayer. This man would probably be the model of a morally outstanding man, but he missed it. His moral attributes could not save him. Jesus is better than whatever we leave behind.
Remove anything in your life that robs you of your affections for Christ. Our lives are filled with things that aren’t evil, but steal our affections, attention and resources away from Christ and His church.
Mark 10:27 – embrace Jesus as the only way. He is the only one that can grant eternal life.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Greatest Threat to Christianity - A Low View of God
How did we end up this shallow? What has the church done, or not done, that has brought us to this point.
Tim Challies, in his book The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment lists a low view of God, a low view of scripture, and a low view of theology as some reasons for our lack of discernment. These are all interwoven but I would add a low view of the church to this list.
A low view of God – God is truth. Any minimization of the importance of the whole truth is a slight to the character of God.
This low view of God is manifested in the false gospel of the “health and wealth” preachers. Publishers Weekly noted this in a review of Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen;
“…it’s a treatise on how to get God to serve the demands of self-centered individuals. … Theologically, its materialism and superficial portrayal of God as the granter of earthly wishes will alienate many Christian readers who can imagine a much bigger God.”
When the secular world notices a low view of God then you know the problem is real. The “prosperity gospel” is an easy target. We all lower the majesty of God, however, when we promote an alternative “gospel” of personal comfort and self-improvement. God is not a means to our selfish ends.
As A.W. Tozer wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy;
“The message of this book … is called forth by a condition which has existed in the Church for some years and is steadily growing worse. I refer to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men.”
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.” Psalm 48:1
Next week: A low view of Scripture
Previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Tim Challies, in his book The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment lists a low view of God, a low view of scripture, and a low view of theology as some reasons for our lack of discernment. These are all interwoven but I would add a low view of the church to this list.
A low view of God – God is truth. Any minimization of the importance of the whole truth is a slight to the character of God.
This low view of God is manifested in the false gospel of the “health and wealth” preachers. Publishers Weekly noted this in a review of Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen;
“…it’s a treatise on how to get God to serve the demands of self-centered individuals. … Theologically, its materialism and superficial portrayal of God as the granter of earthly wishes will alienate many Christian readers who can imagine a much bigger God.”
When the secular world notices a low view of God then you know the problem is real. The “prosperity gospel” is an easy target. We all lower the majesty of God, however, when we promote an alternative “gospel” of personal comfort and self-improvement. God is not a means to our selfish ends.
As A.W. Tozer wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy;
“The message of this book … is called forth by a condition which has existed in the Church for some years and is steadily growing worse. I refer to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men.”
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.” Psalm 48:1
Next week: A low view of Scripture
Previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sermon Notes - God's Design For Marriage
God’s Design For Marriage, Mark 10:1-12
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 1, 2009
Our prayer is that the Scriptures set the agenda for what we preach. This is both a beautiful and a painful text. Painful in that marriage has been marred by sin.
The Pharisees motivation here is important. They don’t seem to be really seeking the truth but testing Jesus. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 is under debate amongst the Pharisees. There are two schools of thought around the word “indecency” from Deuteronomy. The strict view was sexual immorality. The broad view was anything, i.e. divorce for any reason.
They asked what was lawful. Jesus answers with a question. He doesn’t want to talk about what is lawful or permissible but what is ideal, or commanded. Jesus also doesn’t want to discuss divorce but He wants to discuss marriage. They want to know how far they can go. He basically says that is the wrong conversation to have.
Both views of Deuteronomy were ultimately wrong. Deuteronomy 24 is not descriptive but prescriptive. It was a prescription about something that was already happening. They thought it was a stamp of approval on divorce but it was prescribing rather than describing. This is similar to sending an engaged couple to marriage counseling at a divorce lawyers office.
Mark 10:6-9 is the ideal then. This is God’s design for marriage, with three non-negotiables.
1. Marriage is God's idea – It exists because God created it. It is not a human but a divine institution with two distinct genders, male and female. He created the universe and can set the rules. We cannot create our own rules for marriage.
Marriage was created by God, for God. (Ephesians 5) Marriage exists as a picture of the gospel and as a means to communicate that to a lost world. It isn’t primarily for our enjoyment or pleasure but as a picture of the sacrificial love for the church. When wives submit people see how we are to respond to God. When husbands love people see how Christ loves the church. Marriage is meant to display God to the world.
2. Marriage is a sacred union – It is more than a physical union. It is a spiritual union that God has joined together. It is a covenant before God ordained by God Himself. The breaking of this vow is a sin against the other person and against God.
3. Marriage is a permanent union – Mark 10:9. What God has joined together let no man have the audacity to separate. It isn’t your choice to separate. Divorce is never God’s plan or idea is the overarching principle. It is never wise or the best choice. It is never the right answer.
In Matthew 19:10 the disciples see that if there is no way out then it may be better if someone just doesn’t marry. Jesus agrees. It shows that the gospel would be corrupted if divorce was possible.
Notice in the text that Jesus answers their question with a question. He shows that it is the wrong question to ask. Other texts seem to say that adultery and unbelief are permission to divorce. This doesn’t mean it is wise decision. God doesn’t leave us when we commit spiritual adultery, and we do constantly.
Mark 10:10-12 are difficult but unequivocally clear. If someone is divorced and then remarried they are committing adultery. Matthew 5:31-32, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 show that the marriage vow is not broken until one has died. There is no exception clause in Mark because the issue isn’t divorce like Matthew 5, the issue is remarriage, thus there is no exception. Remarriage is not permissible. Divorce may be permissible in certain cases but it is never wise. We stay in the marriage because God stays with us.
Marriage matters because the gospel matters. God’s standard is high but we must submit because we love God.
J. Josh Smith, MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church, attended November 1, 2009
Our prayer is that the Scriptures set the agenda for what we preach. This is both a beautiful and a painful text. Painful in that marriage has been marred by sin.
The Pharisees motivation here is important. They don’t seem to be really seeking the truth but testing Jesus. Deuteronomy 24:1-4 is under debate amongst the Pharisees. There are two schools of thought around the word “indecency” from Deuteronomy. The strict view was sexual immorality. The broad view was anything, i.e. divorce for any reason.
They asked what was lawful. Jesus answers with a question. He doesn’t want to talk about what is lawful or permissible but what is ideal, or commanded. Jesus also doesn’t want to discuss divorce but He wants to discuss marriage. They want to know how far they can go. He basically says that is the wrong conversation to have.
Both views of Deuteronomy were ultimately wrong. Deuteronomy 24 is not descriptive but prescriptive. It was a prescription about something that was already happening. They thought it was a stamp of approval on divorce but it was prescribing rather than describing. This is similar to sending an engaged couple to marriage counseling at a divorce lawyers office.
Mark 10:6-9 is the ideal then. This is God’s design for marriage, with three non-negotiables.
1. Marriage is God's idea – It exists because God created it. It is not a human but a divine institution with two distinct genders, male and female. He created the universe and can set the rules. We cannot create our own rules for marriage.
Marriage was created by God, for God. (Ephesians 5) Marriage exists as a picture of the gospel and as a means to communicate that to a lost world. It isn’t primarily for our enjoyment or pleasure but as a picture of the sacrificial love for the church. When wives submit people see how we are to respond to God. When husbands love people see how Christ loves the church. Marriage is meant to display God to the world.
2. Marriage is a sacred union – It is more than a physical union. It is a spiritual union that God has joined together. It is a covenant before God ordained by God Himself. The breaking of this vow is a sin against the other person and against God.
3. Marriage is a permanent union – Mark 10:9. What God has joined together let no man have the audacity to separate. It isn’t your choice to separate. Divorce is never God’s plan or idea is the overarching principle. It is never wise or the best choice. It is never the right answer.
In Matthew 19:10 the disciples see that if there is no way out then it may be better if someone just doesn’t marry. Jesus agrees. It shows that the gospel would be corrupted if divorce was possible.
Notice in the text that Jesus answers their question with a question. He shows that it is the wrong question to ask. Other texts seem to say that adultery and unbelief are permission to divorce. This doesn’t mean it is wise decision. God doesn’t leave us when we commit spiritual adultery, and we do constantly.
Mark 10:10-12 are difficult but unequivocally clear. If someone is divorced and then remarried they are committing adultery. Matthew 5:31-32, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 show that the marriage vow is not broken until one has died. There is no exception clause in Mark because the issue isn’t divorce like Matthew 5, the issue is remarriage, thus there is no exception. Remarriage is not permissible. Divorce may be permissible in certain cases but it is never wise. We stay in the marriage because God stays with us.
Marriage matters because the gospel matters. God’s standard is high but we must submit because we love God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
Posts
