Rom. 7:13-20, The Sufficiency of the Cross Applied (6)

Quoting from page 271f of Christ Among Us, we read this about preparing for Easter from “Ash Wednesday and on through Lent – (violet vestments).  Through this time of prayer, fasting, and voluntary self-discipline, we make up for our sins which caused Christ’s sufferings.”  This “making up for our sins” is common language in the RCC.  Repentance I understand.  Abhorring sin I understand.  Putting to death the deeds of the body I understand.  The Bible teaches me about this.  The Bible does not indicate that Jesus needs me to “make up for” my sins.   (If you can explain how this fits being “under grace” leave a comment on this blog.)

Further, there is a question about the 40-day period of time set aside for lent.  The evangelical pastor of whom I spoke did tell me there would be great value in this time of self-discipline.  He explained from the Bible the issue of self-discipline or temperance.  He then told me I “should” join them in this exercise.  In this case he is in agreement with the RCC.  He reminded me that Jesus was 40 days in the wilderness, Elijah was 40 days running from Jezebel, Moses was 40 years in the desert in the middle portion of his life, and he might have mentioned that it rained 40 days and nights in the time of the flood.  I noticed he did not tell me I should spend three years in the desert re-structuring my theology as Paul did.

But the problem is, none of these things were what is called “lent.”  Jesus was led into the desert for 40 days of fasting.  If the Spirit leads you to do that, you should do it.  But Jesus never, that we know of, told His disciples that they should do that.  After 40 years Moses was adamant that he was not interested in accepting the calling God had on his life.  And who needs to say anything about Elijah. 

I will just suggest to you that what is called “lent” in my view is addressed in Col. 2:20-23.  If you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations – do not touch, do not taste, do not handle.  This is exactly what “lent” is, and the basic wisdom of the world is: “if you can do it for 40 days, and let everyone know, the limited experience will make you a better Christian.”  The world always thinks like that because in the world the essence of religion is keeping rules and laws.  But Paul says, These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.  No value!

You might ask, how can a program for self-discipline be of no value?  It’s the making of laws and rules that is the problem.  Go back several posts and review: we are not under law but under grace.  I.e. we don’t come to know Christ by keeping any law and we don’t grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ by keeping any law.  Not even a law I came up with myself that fits some problematic issue in my life. 

Again, I see in the encouragement to keep “lent” someone trying to cheat me of my reward, someone trying to keep me from holding fast to the Head! I think I need one more post on this area of application, and then we will consider others.

Psalm 101

Time and again in the Scriptures, God’s people are encouraged to be patient, to wait on the Lord.  In my Bible reading today this theme showed up in the great 40^th chapter of Isaiah.  The point of the chapter is that comfort is coming to Israel.  God’s word is eternal; and God is fully capable of fulfilling what He has promised.  So don’t think that God does not see your way, or that He has passed you by.  God is faithful and will not grow weary.  He will keep His word!

The reason for this repeated theme is that it is a repeated occurrence in the lives of the saints.  We grow weary.  And in our weariness we may have the tendency to mix our impatience with ungodly shortcuts.  What we mean is that we grow tired of the affliction and may choose to try ungodly means so as to avoid the pain or the disappointment. 

These shortcuts are frequently extenuated (i.e. we decide our impatience is excusable or not as serious a sin) because we set our focus on the wicked around us who, we think, are enjoying much easier lives.  Psalm 73, among others, dealt with this problem.  And so does Psalm 101.  Except that in the case of today’s Song the writer is addressing the problem head-on.

Notice that he is in a situation where he desires God to bring an answer (v2).  But notice that he openly confesses his desire and plan to maintain a walk in holiness, to walk within my house with a perfect heart.  There is no place more difficult to walk in holiness than in our own home because we may feel we have the possibility of hiding our unfaithfulness.  We may find it hard to continually keep from setting wickedness before our eyes (v3). 

But notice that the hymnist also confronts the issue of those in his inner circle, so to speak.  He commits to have none in his focus who will lead him astray.  Rather my eyes shall be on the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me (v6).  This issue of focus is fundamental.  In the New Testament we see it often when we are urged to set our minds on the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5), with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18), to not lose heart as we look on the eternal things which are not seen (2 Cor. 4:16-18), to meditate on the things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report (Phil. 4:8), to seek those things which are above, where Christ is (Col. 3:1-4), to remember that Jesus Christ … was raised from the dead (2 Tim. 2:8), to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith … to consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls (Heb. 12:2-3), to rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).

We must choose what we set before our eyes so as to behave wisely in a perfect way and with a perfect heart!

Mk. 7:1-8, The Sufficiency of the Cross Applied (5)

Before coming to the issue of “lent,” as background for this I came across the issue of the “liturgical year.”  The Catholic doctrine says “through the liturgical year the Church systematically brings forth before us God’s Word, the bible” (p271).  So that is interesting, in light of the fact that the RCC for generations forbade church members to have their own Bibles and read and study them.  The Church was the only valid interpreter of Scripture.  I say “was.”  I am aware that Vatican II encouraged Catholics to read the Bible.  But while it seems there is some of this evident in the USA I will be interested to see whether it is the case when we are in a country where Catholicism is the dominant religion.

Further, I was not aware that for different times in the year the priest apparently wears different colors of robes.  The 4 advent Sundays before Christmas involve “violet vestments;” Christmas, Jan. 1 and Epiphany on Jan. 6 get “white vestments;” the Sundays after Epiphany get “green vestments.”  Where does all this come from?  It is strange to me.  But here is the explanation:

The liturgical year … is not a cold and lifeless representation of the events of the past, or a simple and bare record of a former age.  It is rather Christ himself who is ever living in his Church.  Here he continues the journey of immense mercy which he lovingly began in his mortal life, going about doing good with the desire of bringing men to know his mysteries and … live by them. (From Pope Pius XII)

One observation about the Pius’ words: he tells me that all this liturgy is the means by which Christ is merciful with the mercy He began in his mortal life.  I am sure Pius will object to this, but he is speaking of a Christ who did not finish the work of grace and mercy on the cross.  The veil was torn in two to give me access to God and His grace and mercy.  I come to Him for grace and mercy (Heb. 4:14-16).  I do not need additional mercy.  And furthermore, as RCC theology says, for me to receive God’s mercy requires “the bible and the liturgy – ‘Word and Sacrament (p187).’” 

The answer to my question as to where the various robes and the liturgy is that it is TRADITION.  It does not come from the Bible but from men.  Why should I not have the same attitude about this that the Lord Jesus had: This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (Mk. 7:6-7).  Jesus spoke of Judaism: For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men – the washing of pitchers and cups and many other such things you do (7:8).  Why would He not have the same judgment for Catholicism?  They have added to the requirements that must be fulfilled to have access to God and His grace and mercy, and what they have added is “the tradition of men.”  Whoever tells me I must make this part of my relationship with God is cheating me of my reward (Col. 3:18).

1 Cor. 11:23-26, The Sufficiency of the Cross Applied (4)

In the previous post we mentioned seven sacraments in Catholicism.  You may be aware that non-Catholic denominations do practice baptism and the Lord’s Table or “communion.”  As we mentioned previously, we do not believe that these works bring grace.  Again, Catholicism says,

The bible gives us God’s teaching, and at the same time prepares us to receive his grace in the sacraments.  Christ speaks to us through the scriptures, arousing faith in us, leading us to respond by the sacraments.  The better prepared we are by the scriptures, the better is our worship and the more of God’s grace-presence the sacraments bring us. (p188)

The one consistent truth about water baptism (immersion, that is what the Greek term means) is that it is for those who have already received the grace of God through faith in Christ.  “Communion” is all about remembering what Christ did for us (1 Cor. 11:23-26).  But in Catholicism the “mass” is both a reenactment and a continuation of Christ’s death for us.  Here is Catholic doctrine:

Christ wants us to take part with him in his death and resurrection

… the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ.  By the power of Christ working through the priest the bread and wine, though still appearing to be bread and wine, become Christ.

When Jesus Christ living among us in the holy eucharist prolongs his death and resurrection so we can take part, this is the Mass.

At Mass, we are not only present at Christ’s actual death and resurrection, we can actually take part in them to the extent that we want to. (p244-245)

You see that the priest is required for this event; it is only as he blesses the bread and wine that it is changed into the actual body and blood of Christ.  This challenges the fact that Christ was our High Priest, with a sufficient sacrifice for sin, so that there is no longer a need for a priest to bring us to God.  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:11-12).  We do not need another priest.  We do not need to literally drink His blood and eat His flesh.  Those words of Christ (John 6:51-58) refer to the faith that is required to receive Him by the grace of God.  It is past tense, once and for all that He “entered” heaven’s tabernacle, “having obtained” eternal redemption.  Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many (Heb. 9:28).  But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12).  We do not need to continually be joined to Christ in His death and resurrection.  Again, it is past tense: as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3).  Anyone who tells me I need another priest or a repeat of the cross is seeking to cheat me of my reward!

Gal. 6:11-15, The Sufficiency of the Cross Applied (3)

Along time ago, when we started talking about the “sufficiency of the cross,” and the Son being forsaken by the Father, and Christ refusing anything that would diminish His full identification with sin and sinners, I mentioned some recent non-Catholic churches we attended (I have attended 2 Catholic services in my lifetime: a funeral and a wedding, if you need to know) where the sermons were encouraging me to observe “lent.”  I also mentioned being aware of claims that many young people are moving to the Catholic Church these days. 

As we seek to apply the “sufficiency of the cross” I want to return to those situations and to the subject of Catholicism.  I am not picking on the RCC.  As I have said, every religion seeks to cheat believers of their reward.  I am going to speak of this particular one for the reasons I already gave: it has come up in my own experiences.  I understand as well that, especially in the USA, practicing Catholics might not understand the official doctrine of the Church.  For that reason, my issue is not with what people think about Catholicism but about what the Church actually teaches.  One additional reason for this approach is that we plan, Lord willing, to be in a very Catholic country for three months in the near future, where the teachings of the RCC are not so “debatable” as they seem to be in the USA.  My source for RCC doctrine is Christ Among Us: A Modern Presentation of the Catholic Faith for Adults (6^th edition) by Anthony Wilhelm.

Let me begin with the general issue of the “sacraments,” as I referred to these in the previous post.  There are seven (p187): baptism, confirmation, the holy eucharist, penance, the anointing of the sick, holy orders and marriage.  Here is the summation:

“The great means by which God gives himself to us are the bible and the liturgy – “Word and Sacrament.”  Each is a special meeting with Christ and the Trinity.  God uses them above all else to give us his grace and teaching.  Together they form the Christian’s way to God.”

Note that the Bible, and thus the gospel, alone is insufficient for a Christian to come into relationship or fellowship with God.  Sacraments are essential.  They are essential because they are means of receiving grace.  The “doing” of these things bring grace.  What the Bible says is that if our work is essential to receive grace then it is no longer grace but reward or payment (Rom. 11:6).  Faith along is the means by which we receive the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9).  And do not fall for the idea that a sacrament is an “act of faith.” Paul spoke of circumcision, a Jewish “sacrament” (they didn’t call it that but it fits the definition) saying it does not avail anything.  Instead he said, God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:14-15).  The above paragraph violates every doctrine of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, therefore Solo Cristo, and thus Soli Deo gloria!  Whoever tells me that the Bible is insufficient to bring me to God is trying to cheat me of my reward (Col. 2:18-19).

Rom. 7:7-12, The Sufficiency of the Cross Applied (2)

In Colossians who might have been cheating the Believers?  In some cases it was those “Judaizers” who tried to make the Church Jewish.  They tried to bring Christians back “under law” and thus not “under grace.”  Since Christ had satisfied the law, and was “the end of the law for righteousness” (Rom. 10:4), a return to the law was a return to the flesh and thus “carnal” Christianity.  It also might have been the “mystery religions” of the Roman Empire.  These promoted a religion that allowed you to submit to the Emperor as God or Savior, but who also had their own liturgy and doctrine to follow.  Most of them were wed to the Greek “Gnostic” philosophy that, among other things, claimed that in addition to Christ and the Bible you needed additional special knowledge (Grk. gnosis).  I think you see all of this in Paul’s words in places like Col. 2:8,16-23.  

It is no different today.  Any religion that tells us there is a “law” by which we can be righteous and have a right standing before God, they also are trying to cheat us, to keep us from holding fast to Christ, our Head, from whom we receive all we need to grow into His likeness (cf. Col. 2:18-19).  Paul illustrated this in the Ten Commandments which said, “Thou shalt not covet” (Ex. 20:17).  I could quote the law every day, and it would not cure my covetousness.  Only what I have in Christ can change my life.  If I continue to commit this sin I have not forgotten the law; rather, I have forgotten who I am in Christ. 

The problem is not just the “law of Moses.”  Every religion calls people to a carnal (fleshly) approach to righteousness and a right standing before God.  They all have laws/rules of some sort that are the key to fulfilling the demands of said religion.  Hinduism has the Dharma, Islam the five Pillars, Catholicism has seven sacraments, Seventh Day Adventists these days mainly judge you “in food or in drink,” and in the mega-business called Latter Day Saints the top of nearly every list is that you pay the tithe.  But hear this: any pastor who tells you that you can solve some deep moral issue by ABC or 12 steps or 10 laws is potentially setting you up for the frustration and failure of living in the flesh.

Before giving you specifics, you might consider me a hypocrite because I told you, from Romans 6, four words that are fundamental to sanctification.  So let me remind you: what Paul did was to call you to live life the same way you received Christ.  You received Christ by faith and faith must not be a work (Eph. 2:8-9).  It is the absence of work.  So what Paul said was: you KNOW this, so RECKON it to be true of who you are.  As you laid aside your works to become a Christian, lay aside your works to live as a Christian: YIELD your body to Christ.  Our good works are called “fruit” because they are the work of the Holy Spirit rather than the your work.  In every other system you are called to do some work that will cause God to bless you or give you grace.  In Christ you are called to faith whereby He produces the fruit of righteousness in our bodies.

Col. 2:16-23, The Sufficiency of the Cross Applied (1)

Col. 2:11-15 has made a powerful statement about the sufficiency of the cross of Christ.  Through the cross we have been spiritually circumcised and baptized into Christ.  Believers are complete in Him (Col. 2:10), being graced with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3), having all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pt. 1:3). 

One characteristic of Colossians is the repeated use of words like “all” and “none” and “every.”  These are words that have no room for compromise.  Here are some more of these terms. LET NO ONE JUDGE YOU.  LET NO ONE CHEAT YOU. If you weaken these you will be denying all that Christ has done through His cross.  For the honor of Christ, “no one” must mean not any one, at all, ever!

“Let no one judge you” applies to v16-17.  Let no one judge you in food or in drink or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths.  Some might try to limit this to a Jewish influence at Colossae.  Paul’s note in v17, that these are a “shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ,” might lead us to think this way.  After all, OT worship all pointed to Christ.  But on the other hand, find me a religion anywhere that does not have rules for diet and holy days.  Let NO ONE judge you in these matters.  This applies to any religion!

“Let no one cheat you” applies to v18-19.  “Cheat” is an interesting word.  This is the only use of this compound verb in the NT, but the main part of the word is used in Col. 3:15, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”  The “word” experts say it means to “act as an umpire.”  We should let peace call the “balls and strikes” in our lives, but don’t let anyone have that role if it means they are cheating you. 

How do you know if they are cheating you?  First, it again involves “religious activity” such as taking delight in false humility and worship of angels as was happening in Colossae.  But more importantly, if what they are calling you to do “vainly puffs up the fleshly mind.”  This is the nature of “religion.”  It involves a system that makes you proud of yourself.  The classic illustration is the first one.  God was not pleased with Cain’s worship in Gen. 4.  Cain brought the best he had, but God wanted something else, something specific.  Climbing the “ladder of religion” is all about doing the best I can.  Paul even warned Timothy about this in appointing elders in a church: not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil (read about it in Isa. 14:12-15).

But MOST important, this person or practice will be cheating me if it turns me away from the Head, from Christ who is the fullness of God, who is the source of my nourishment and growth in my new life (Col. 2:19).  The “religious” activities, with their false humility, are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.  If my religion takes that away, I am truly being cheated.  And yet, it is happening more and more these days.  And more on that in the coming posts.