Looking For Love Pt. 4; The Purpose of the Commandment

The Purpose of the Commandment

How does your understanding of God’s love effect your life? Can you say, “God is love.” or “I know that God loves me.” without in turn loving others? Can you take God’s love for granted? Certainly we all do at times. Now let me ask you another question. Does the teaching that you receive in your church inspire you to love others or does it make you want to separate from those who are not like you? As the Apostle Paul instructed the young pastor, Timothy to lead the church at Ephesus, his first instruction was to command false teachers to quit adding to the Gospel. This was obvious because their teaching brought endless arguing and debate. That is not to say that we should end all debate, but that the main fruit of it was not godliness and contentment but pride and contention. This ought not to be the case.

1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia–remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,  4  nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

Love certainly is not afraid of confrontation when it is needed. As these men who claimed the office of teacher showed the wrong fruit, it was necessary to stop them. They imagined themselves teachers of the Law (1 Timothy 1:7) but really did not base their teachings on the truth of God’s Word. The purpose of instruction in the church is not to show ourselves how wonderful we are. It is not to brag about our superior knowledge or morality. It is not supposed to generate an attitude of arrogance! Paul tells Timothy what the ultimate goal of all instruction is supposed to be.

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

In the context of the first chapter of 1 Timothy, it should become obvious that love for one another is the indispensable fruit of knowing Christ. In the Law and in the Gospel, love for God and one another is the goal;

Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  37  Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  38  This is the first and great commandment.  39  And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’  40  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  35  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Don’t take this as an assertion that the Bible teaches that we just love people without regard to truth or sin. The context of the passage in 1 Timothy certainly does not support that idea! Love looks out for the benefit of others; the true benefit! The Love of God, His creating, preserving and saving us from our sin was not just a feeling or a sentiment. It involved His own personal expense and suffering. Love does that. It also rebukes the one who is bent on self-destruction, i.e the false teachers in Ephesus.  But it does not teach us to hate people. It does not teach us to neglect or separate ourselves from them.

We certainly do not deserve the Love of God! To take it in and not see the need to let if flow back out to others is blindness in the extreme. What would your spouse say if you expected them to give in their relationship to you but you never gave back to them in that relationship? It would not be much of a relationship.

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’  44  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  45  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  46  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  47  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?  48  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The purpose of the commandment is, Love from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith. The teaching  that is done in our churches, that we listen to on the radio, television or internet, what purpose does it serve? It must be both sound in doctrine and conducive to generating an attitude of love in us or it is either inadequate or in error.

Audio of this message is available by clicking the link below.

The Purpose of the Commandment

In Christ!

Kevin

God’s Patient Love [Jonah Pt.9]

God's Patient Love

So, what does a story about a prophet of Israel going to preach to a bunch of Assyrians have to do with God’s plan working itself out in the Old Testament? Some of the Jews couldn’t figure that one out.  Bible Commentators Jamieson, Fausset and Borwn remark, “It seemed strange to Kimchi, a Jew himself, that the Book of Jonah is among the Scriptures, as the only prophecy in it concerns Nineveh, a heathen city, and makes no mention of Israel, which is referred to by every other prophet. The reason seems to be: a tacit reproof of Israel is intended; a heathen people were ready to repent at the first preaching of the prophet, a stranger to them; but Israel, who boasted of being God’s elect, repented not, though warned by their own prophets at all seasons.” This is certain. I would add to it that it is also a tacit reproof of Jonah and rest of the Jews who had an attitude of hoarding God’s Love. A desire not to let the promise God made to Abraham, to bless every family of the earth, actually come to pass.

Sometimes, we as Christians forget that God has saved us in spite of ourselves. Not because we are such wonderful people who are deserving of His love, but because His is a loving and faithful God. Jonah could not stomach the idea that the God who is, “…a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. ” (Jonah 4:2)  would behave that way to anyone other than his own people. Yet, his own people were once aliens from God and His promises and were called through Abraham, not because of who they were, but due to God’s love. (Deuteronomy 7:7-8) In spite of His love, they rebelled more and more as He called this with cords of Love to turn from their idols and their sin (Hosea 11:1-4)

As Christians we to were once “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12) In spite of who we were, God chose to set His love upon us. Totally Undeserved! If this is so, how can we look upon another person and feel any sense that they are undeserving of God’s mercy and more that we?

Titus  3:3-5 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

There is ultimately a lesson in the book of Jonah that we need to see. Jonah certainly had reason to hate the Assyrians. They had pillaged and plundered his homeland. They had subjugated it and forced it to pay tribute. Yet, when God chose to show mercy to them, Jonah was reproved by God for opposing His plan. How much less can we stand in judgment over God as He chooses to show mercy to others, no less deserving that ourselves? This it the heart of the message of Jonah as the Jews read it and continued in their sin, yet begrudged God’s mercy to heathen who obeyed His Word. May we never find ourselves in such a place as Christians. Hear God’s gentle reproof!

Jonah 4:10-11 But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left–and much livestock?

How easily our priorities can get shifted! How easily can our comfort and customs cause us to take God’s grace for granted and look with conceit upon others whom we deem less worthy. Yet as with Jonah, how patiently God deals with us, as He gently reminds us of His grace in our own lives.

You can listen to audio of this message by clicking on the link below.

God’s Patient Love

In Christ!

Kevin

Looking for Love; It’s Source and Supply

Its Source and Supply

What is love? In order to define it from a post-modern philosophical perspective it is just a certain way the chemicals in your brain respond to specific stimuli. It is nothing more than the firing of a synapse.  From a purely naturalistic perspective that is all you get. We all know that there is more to love than a chemical process. It is the driving force of society. From the Christian Worldview there is a much more satisfying answer.  Christian Thinker Francis Schaeffer says in his book, The God Who is There,

“The validity and meaning of love rests upon the reality that love exists between the Father and the Son in the Trinity”

That is right. Love existed in a very real way before there was one molecule to the universe. It existed perfectly and completely within the Godhead. Not only that, but just hours before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that that love would be known and understood through what He was about to do in order to bring people into a right relationship with that God. Just before He went to the Cross He prayed these words;

John 17:20-23 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  21  that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  22  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  23  I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

That love, expressed through the cross (for those who are not worthy of it!) was extended beyond the members of the Trinity. It came to a fallen race of rebellious men. It was demonstrated by the willingness of One of the members of the Godhead who willingly suffered, absorbing the wrath of God, the penalty for sin, for the benefit of those rebels.

Romans 5:6-8 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Because of this, the very same love that the Father has for the Son is offered to all who will repent and believe in what the Son has done. God’s love is extended through the sacrifice of His Son. To reject the Son is to reject the very love of God. To receive that Love of God through the Son is to go from being an alien and an enemy to being a member of the Household of God.

Ephesians 2:11-19 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh–who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands– 12  that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,  15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,  16  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  17  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.  18  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.  19  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

We will be studying this love for several weeks on Wednesday nights. I encourage you to join us or at least listen in here or on the church website. We can never explore this subject too much.

The past two Wednesdays we been in this study. You can listen to audio of the studies by clicking on the links below.

What Manner of Love? – 1 John 3:1-3

The Love With Which You Have Loved Me – John 17:20-26

I Christ!

Kevin

The Consequences of Repentance [Jonah Pt.8]

The Consequences of Repentance

What is the impact of the Word of God on your life? When it all comes down to it, we have to respond to it in some way. As Jonah “called out” the people of Nineveh on their sin, the Apostles and Prophets call each of us out on ours. Jonah said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown!”  and the people responded. They knew their sin and felt the weight of God’s displeasure.

Jonah 3:8-9 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.  9  Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

The King himself knew what had to be done and the bearing it had on the entire city. He did not make excuses or minimize his sin. He did not try to blame it on someone else or put it off until later.   “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes” (Jonah 3:6). He humbled himself and threw himself on the mercy of God. He did not try to cut a deal with God. He did not try to manipulate Him. He certainly did not expect to stand on his rights and make demands. Even as a king, he was able to submit himself to the righteous judgment of Almighty God. True repentance does that to us. It makes us humbly submissive.  That’s right, humbly submissive. That is what God’s Word does when it finally hits home. He is the Judge of the Universe, the Creator of all and the Ultimate Authority.

But He is not an evil tyrant. Jonah knew that. Once the city had repented he went of to pout because he was not pleased about what God had done.

Jonah 4:1-2 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.  2  So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.

Jonah knew what kind of God God is. One who is more ready to forgive than we are to repent. Nonetheless, He is also One who will judge the wicked, those who, in their pride, think that they are just fine without his mercy. Those who continue on in sin without regard to His authority, His justice and His hatred of sin. Many think that because they take His name on their lips that He will be satisfied and look the other way while they continue on in sin.

Psalms 50:16-23 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,  17  Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?  18  When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers.  19  You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit.  20  You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son.  21  These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.  22  “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver:  23  Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

We know that good conduct is not what “saves” us, but trust in the Covenant mercy of God. Repentance and good conduct is the evidence that we take God seriously. Do you acknowledge that God is the Sovereign Judge of the Universe and that He has the right to judge and find guilty all who live outside of His holy standard? If you do not, that is one more strike against you. Yet, as I have said, He is ready to forgive. Ready of His own initiative to extend mercy to the one who recognizes his own sin and is willing to fall on His mercy. That is why Christ came into the world. Not to overlook sin, but to give those who truly acknowledge their need forgiveness and mercy.

Acts 17:30-31 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,  31  because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

When the Greeks heard this, we read, “some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”  So Paul departed from among them. “ (Acts 17:32-33) What is your response?

Audio of the message is available by clicking the link below.

The Consequences of Repentance – Jonah 3:8-10

In Christ!

Kevin

He Hears Us [1 John 5:14-15]

It seems that the Lord is speaking to me a lot about prayer lately. Last Saturday we discussed prayer in our Men’s breakfast (see post Praying With Zeal).  A couple of Sundays ago we learned a lesson in prayer from Jonah and his adventure at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea while in the belly of the great fish (Two Messages from Jonah). This past Monday evening I arrived at 1 John 5:14-15 as I am working my way through that book of the Bible at the Lima Rescue Mission.

1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  15  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

This is not a license to selfishness. It is not a “name it and claim it” verse! It is a call to obedience in the knowledge that God will care for us and provide for us as we serve Him. It is not about presumption but confidence that God will supply what is needed to work out HIS WILL in our lives! The God who says no to our wants is not punishing or neglecting us but fostering and protecting us from what He know will separate us from Him rather than strengthen our relationship.

James 4:3-6 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.  4  Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  5  Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?  6  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

Selfishly asking God to serve us and give us the things that push us away from Him and toward the world, James calls adultery. God’s will is to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). He will not foster us in being conformed to the world. He will not aid us in our adultery. What are you asking God for? Is it “according to His will?”

Audio from the sermon can be heard by clicking on the link below.

He Hears Us – 1 John 5:14-15

In Christ!

Kevin

Interpreting Scripture, Part 2

Interpreting Scripture Part 2

Accurate interpretation of Scripture is of the utmost importance. If we are to live in a way that pleases God we need to understand what He has said. Last time at Donuts & Doctrine we looked at the basics of interpretation. This time we look more at the big picture of Scripture, particularly its Redemptive Historical theme. All of the Bible is really ultimately about redemption. All of it takes place in human history. God interacts with people to establish His Kingdom. How does this work and how does it apply to me, living removed by thousands of years and thousands of miles from where it all took place? This is what we discuss in the second installment of Interpreting Scripture.

I encourage you to listen to the lesson by clicking on the link below.

Interpreting Scripture Part 2

In Christ!

Kevin

Getting It Together [Understanding Spiritual Gifts pt 8]

Getting It Together

Now it is time to tie up any loose ends and instruct the Corinthians in what it means to be the Church of Jesus Christ.  As the Apostle Paul closes this section of his epistle, this is what he does. We have seen what the gifts are and what they are able to accomplish in chapter 12. We have seen in chapter 13 that without love they are worse than useless. As we transitioned into chapter 14 we have been instructed that they are merely the tools that we use to get the job of ministry done. As tools are important to the tradesman, the gifts are important to the Christian who is serving Christ and his brothers and sisters in the Church. From 1 Corinthians 14:6-40 Paul shows us how these things should fit together as he critiques the Corinthian’s order of worship.

1 Corinthians 14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

First, remember that whatever gift we have it is used for edification of the Body. There is no profit in speaking in a language that is not able to be understood. The benefit is in instruction, “what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?” Therefore:

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

So Paul gives them instruction on how this Gift of Tongues is to be used in the context of a church service. 1 Corinthians 14:13-17 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.  14  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.  15  What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.  16  Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?  17  For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

So then a Tongue, or Language that does not communicate some kind of content that is understood does not edify and so it must be translated or it is of no use in the church.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;  19  yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

In the context of the church service the Gift of Tongues is expendable. Paul goes on to say that it is a sign, or a miracle that is intended to be given to unbelievers. He goes on to speak of it as a sign of judgment on Judah who did not want to be instructed by God and so He sent them people who spoke in a language they could not understand (1 Corinthians 14:21-25). It seems that this applies to the Corinthians as they abused a gift that was more outwardly showey and rejected the more important gift of prophecy or proclaiming God’s truths. Therefore he puts restrictions on this gift that only two or three can speak this way and only when it is interpreted.

Next he tells them: 1 Corinthians 14:29-31 “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.  30  But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.  31  For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.” Prophets are able to speak or preach to the congregation, again only two or three at a meeting. All of the prophets speak “one by one” in order that the meeting is kept in order. This is Paul’s main point in all of it.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.

The question comes, “Are Tongues in use today?” And I believe that they are not. God used those gifts to verify the message of Jesus and the Apostles (Hebrews 2:3-4). The message is here and complete. As controversial as this may be the next two verses are even more so.

1 Corinthians 14:33b-35 As in all the churches of the saints.  34  Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.  35  And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

Again, this needs to be understood in the nature of the Apostle’s critique of the Corinthian order of worship. Things must be done in order and for edification. Order is the key here. Paul only speaks of this two other places, 1 Corinthians 11:3-12 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. In both places he refers to the Created Order. Women cannot usurp the order of creation and be in order in the worship service. This does not demean women any more than subjecting Himself to the Father demeans Christ! How much is that?

Philippians 2:5-9 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  6  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,  7  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

Things work best when we do them as God has prescribed. That is all that there is to it. As a matter of fact, Paul is really strong on this as we see in the next few verses.

1 Corinthians 14:36-38 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?  37  If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.  38  But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

WOW! Paul drives it right home here. This is how the Lord has said to do it. It is His plan and His authority. To change it is to take upon ourselves the prerogative of dispensing the truth of God. And then Paul says, “But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.” That is, your ignorance won’t change a thing! God’s truth stands.

And so the conclusion to the matter is; 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.  40  Let all things be done decently and in order.” Order, God’s order is the rule of the matter. Order. Edification. The gifts given by God’s Spirit, exercised for the unity and edification of His Body according to his prescription and we can then all say Amen!

You can listen to audio of this message by clicking on the link below.

Getting It Together

In Christ!

Kevin

The Tools and The Job [Understanding Spiritual Gifts Pt.7]

The Tools and the Job

We have considered the parts of ministry as the Apostle Paul has broken them down for us into two main parts. The Gifts of the Spirit and the Love required to use them are each a necessary part of a healthy congregation.

Paul took that ministry apart in 1 Corinthians 12-13 so that we could examine these and now as he transitions from chapter 13 into chapter 14 we see him reassemble them and give us the proper ratio for effective use.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  10  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.  11  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  12  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  13  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

We see here that as he begins to transition he makes sure that we know that the Gifts are temporary and incomplete. They will “cease” they will “fail” and they will “vanish away.” As well we “know in part.” That is not to say that they are insufficient but that they are limited because they serve a purpose in time whereas love is eternal, it “never fails.”

Paul illustrates this with metaphors about the things of children no longer being needed as we grow up. and going from a foggy vision to a complete and clear vision. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  12  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” This is what the gifts do for us as we exercise them in the Church. They mature us and clarify our understanding.  And when it is all said and done that is what remains. The gifts will  not be needed when we come to the end of our earthly existence.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

So the final contrast is made and we see that the job is a priority over the tools used to create and build. Both are important. A mechanic cannot work without his tools but the mechanic that values his tools above the repair of your car is not the mechanic that you want to go to.  Likewise the Christian that is more concerned with showing off his gifts rather than truly ministering in love to the people that the Lord has given him is not behaving correctly. This was indeed the problem that Paul was correcting in the Corinthians Church. They were all about the gifts, the showier the better. They were not at all about using those gifts to serve one another.

As the Apostle brings in the transition he gives them another example of the proper understanding of the gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:1-4 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.  2  For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.  3  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.  4  He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Love is to be pursued, chased down. Gifts are to be desired. Some gifts are more useful for the edification or “building up” of the church. Those are the one that you should want the most. It is not about self-edification but about the edification of the Body of Christ!

We all struggle with this on some level. Ask yourself, “What is my ‘gift of tongues?’” What is the gift that God has given me to serve Him with that I would rather hold on to than use for the benefit of others? It may be a spiritual gift. Maybe you are called to preach but don’t want to offend anyone so that they will think well of you and instead of preaching the whole counsel of God you tone it down so people will like you. Or maybe it is a temporal gift like time or money that you refuse to part with because it is more valuable to you than a man’s soul. The Corinthians would rather impress someone with speaking in a foreign language than to translate it and use it for the edification of the church.

I have to ask, what is more important, the tool or the job we have been called to do? What do you think the Lord values more? It is obvious as we read the inspired words of the Apostle Paul that the temporary tools are great and useful but the Job at hand is the priority. The tools are good and helpful but they are the means and the building up of the Church is the end. Don’t lose site of that.

I encourage you listen to the audio of this one by clicking on the link below.

The Tools and the Job

In Christ!

Kevin

Love Doesn’t [Understanding Spiritual Gifts Pt.5]

Love Doesn't

What’s love got to do with it? According to the Apostle Paul, everything! Not just emotion, but real love, self-sacrificing love. We have returned to our study of 1 Corinthians to see that as the Apostle Paul instructs the Corinthians in the proper use of their gifts that he expects them to be exercised in love. The gifts are important and to be desired,  but exercised apart from real love, they are useless and even annoying!

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.  13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

And so we must ask, What does real love look like?Paul gives us a series of short statements about what love is and about what it is not. Very probably because he intends to correct their vices as much as to instruct them in what is right. First we will look at the negative side of his instruction and see what Love Does Not Do.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6  …… love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  5  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,

We see here that pride and love are incompatible. In fact, envy, pride and self-seeking are the very opposite of love! John Calvin says of this section, “Hence where envy reigns — where every one is desirous to be the first, or appear so, love there has no place.”

The Corinthians struggled with this issue in a bad way. As you may remember, Paul began the letter by rebuking them for divisions and attitudes of superiority 1 Corinthians 1:10-12 “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  11  For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.  12  Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’”

Love is in it for what it can give, pride for what it can get. Christ, being the example of true love certainly was not in it for Himself. Rather He made the ultimate sacrifice for the benefit of others. The Apostle John tells us much the same thing in 1 John 4.

1 John 4:10-11  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

God showed His love to us in sending Jesus into the world to be the sacrifice. If God loved us in this way (so loved us) then that is how we ought to love one another! This is the very opposite of the pride that the Corinthians were struggling with!

1 Corinthians 13:5-6 ….is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Love does not expect evil from others and does not consider it in return. It is not happy when others fail but loves to see them walking in the truth.

As we consider what Love Doesn’t Do, we need to ask ourselves, Do I do these things? Am I in it for what I can get or do I seek to benefit others? Am I more concerned about what people think of me or what their needs are? Do I often think that people think evil of me? Would I just as soon see them fall into sin or would it make me happy to see one that I have been at odds with walking in the truth?

The true love of the Christian is willing to give up some comfort, rights or pride in order that our neighbor is benefited. This militates against our fallen human nature and thus proves itself all the more, a Gospel truth.  I encourage you to listen to the audio of this sermon by clicking on the link below.

Love Doesn’t

In Christ!

Kevin

The Anatomy of Faith

Does faith have an “anatomy?” you may ask. Doesn’t it just happen? It happens when we understand and accept a certain truth or proposition. But every time we say, “I believe,” that is not to say we have fully embraced that truth or proposition. Evidence of this is given in several places in the New Testament. We began in John 8:28-31 where Jesus was preaching to the Jews during the Feast of Tabernacles. He was speaking to them of His crucifixion and of His deity and we read in John 8:30 “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.”

What was Jesus’ response to this “believing” of the Jews? Did He immediately take them by the hand and say, “Well then, repeat this prayer after me and you will be saved?” No. As a matter of fact it seems that He did quite the opposite,

John 8:31-37 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  32  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  33  They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”  34  Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.  37  “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

Jesus challenged these “believers” at the point that they professed faith. He began to talk about sin and their need to be freed from its bondage and they did not like the rest of His message and went from believing to being ready to kill Him. Did Jesus blow it with this group of potential converts? Could He have coaxed a profession out of them that would have gotten them saved? Many modern Evangelical Christians might think so. But Jesus knew that there was more to faith than just mental assent or agreeing with the facts. There must be three aspects to saving faith as we see it in the Bible. Historically in Protestant Theology these are known as Notitia, Assensus and Fiducia.

Notitia is the information that needs to be believed. It is our message. We see that the Jews were willing to believe a part of the message, but they were not willing to believe one of the most important parts of it. Believing that Jesus was from God and that He would be “lifted up” or crucified was comfortable enough for them, but being accused of sin when they were so meticulous to keep the Law of Moses was unacceptable to them. Many modern people, though far less scrupulous in their religion are much the same way. The have no problem that Jesus came as God in the flesh or that He died and was raised on the third day, but when it comes to their dire need for this service that He rendered they cannot abide with the idea that they are desperate and hopelessly lost without His atoning sacrifice. So, the message must be complete, that is the responsibility of the one who preaches.

Assensus, that is understanding the truth or proposition and mentally saying, “I understand and agree.” Many stop here and say well, what more can you ask for? But the Bible says that this is not enough. James 2:14 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” James teaches us that a “said faith” is not a saving faith. Faith must motivate us to action. True faith is demonstrated by the life of faith that is lived.

John 2:23-25 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.  24  But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,  25  and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

You see, Jesus understood what superficial faith was. People began to believe in Him early on in His ministry but as they “believed” in Him, He did not “commit” Himself to them. “Commit” in verse 24 is the same in the Greek as “believe” in verse 23. The word pistuo is also often translated as “faith.” Even though the people believed in Jesus, at this point He did not believe in them, John 2:25 “and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” They needed to move on to the next level.

Fiducia, that is absolute trust. It is easy to get the sense of this word as it is used in the English language. Fiduciary is used in the banking industry as related to the handling of other people’s money. There is not much more concern than what someone will do with your cash. Trust is the key word here, and so we often see the words Bank and Trust together.  This often falls short as an illustration with the banking industry as it stands, but you understand why that word is used in this situation. It comes down to the question, Can I rest all of my hope upon this thing that I believe?

Titus 3:4-5 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,  5  not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Am I trusting in something that I have done to repair my relationship to God or completely resting in His mercy and grace? Do I think that I need to add my own righteousness to the equation or is His sacrifice and resurrection sufficient for all of my hope? You see, I can believe that Jesus is God and that He died and rose again as the payment for sin, but if I add the slightest bit of me to that equation it is not the kind of faith that saves.

Truly resting in the righteousness of Jesus Christ will indeed provoke me to live differently, this is evidence that my faith is real as James points out in the second chapter of his epistle. But I do not count on those works to satisfy the justice of God in any way.

I encourage you to listen to the message and I pray that as you do you see clearly what faith is and what faith does.

The Anatomy of Faith – John 8:28-31

In Christ!
Kevin