Titus 2, Our Objective: Evangelism (5)

In terms of preaching the complete gospel completely there is one more word from our Lord that we must hear.

·       The gospel must be proclaimed in all sincerity (Titus 2:5,8,10; 1 Peter 2:12).  To be sincere is to be without hypocrisy.  In the case of preaching the gospel, for people to have a good opportunity, the gospel must be preached in word and deed.  We are called to have your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Pt. 2:12).  Jesus spoke similar words in the Sermon on the Mount: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Mt. 5:16). 

o   Paul wrote to Titus in Crete, a society Paul noted was significantly evil (Titus 1:10-16).  One issue was that they profess to know God, but in works they deny Him (1:16).  Thus, as Paul spoke to the Church in Crete he exhorted them to live in such a way so that the word of God may not be blasphemed, that their opponents may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you, and that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things (2:5,8,10).  For added encouragement, read Peter’s word in 1 Peter 3:15-16.

We have heard Jesus speak to us from the Scriptures.  What are some things that a local church might want to consider in seeking to apply our Lord’s commands?

ü Do the members of the body know the true gospel?  Are they able to share that gospel properly with others?  Peter says we are to be ready, always, to give a reason for the hope that is in us.  Sometimes I think that if a person is a believer in Christ then they must know how to tell others of the message and response of faith.  The problem is that, both believers and the unbelievers, are quite vulnerable to corruption of the gospel.  It is widespread in the world today.  The strong emphasis on “good works” as the path to salvation, that is present in EVERY religion except for Christianity, is hard to set aside. 

ü The emphasis on reaching the immediate area around the local church and then branching out; it could be helpful to pray and plan for this.  When we first went to Ukraine, shortly after the Communists had left, and there was great interest in spiritual things, the churches in our area laid it on each existing church to start churches in at least two adjoining areas.  Prayer, planning and training and the Spirit’s work led from 32 to over 140 churches in 15 years.

ü A church must have a commitment to world missions in some way.  And a church would do well to find opportunities in their community to meet the basic physical needs of people.

ü As always, the bottom line is to have a church that knows how to hear what the Spirit is saying and to follow His leading in His strength.

1 Cor. 9:19-23; 1 Thess. 2:3-6, Our Objective: Evangelism (4)

What must happen for the gospel to be proclaimed completely?  What our Head tells us is that it must go boldly (with no holding back) and must go to all people.

·       The gospel must be proclaimed by all means (1 Cor. 9:19-23; 10:33).  Paul said that he sought to please everybody in every way, not for his own good, but so that (hina) many would be saved. 

o   It should be obvious, but Paul added and thus so will we: he did not use or allow for methods of preaching the gospel that were inconsistent with the gospel.  For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness nor was it in deceit … not as pleasing men, but God … neither at any time did we use flattering words … nor a cloak for covetousness … nor did we seek glory from men (1 Thess. 2:3-6).  He also reminded the Corinthian Church that he had not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom (1 Cor. 2:1).  He later said, in his defense of his apostolic ministry, we did not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3-5). 

o   Does our Head give us some idea of various “means”?  I think He does when we read the testimonies of Acts.  Peter, on the day of Pentecost, testified and exhorted the crowd (Acts 2:40).  Later, as a crowd gathered Peter responded (3:12) by doing what the Sanhedrin considered teaching and preaching (4:2).  The word speak in 5:20 indicates simple conversation.  Again, in 5:42 they taught that Jesus was the Christ, and the preaching was the Greek term for “gospel preaching.”  Phillip “preached” in Samaria (8:5) but the word is the term for “proclamation” of a message.  Paul was often more “apologetic” in his approach, proclaiming (9:20) and proving that this Jesus is the Christ (9:22).  Later he reasoned in the synagogue of Thessalonica (17:2).  The means of testifying appears frequently in Acts.  We are simply saying that, in different situations, as the Spirit led, there might have been different approaches.  Each was appropriate for the gospel.

We should summarize by saying that two things contribute to the means by which the preaching of the gospel takes place.  The first is the righteous character of the preacher himself; he does not use the common methodology of the world in trying to twist people’s arms or convince them to adopt some opinion.  Second is the leading of the Holy Spirit.  We do not really find a “playbook”, so to speak, of the best approach in proclaiming Christ.  What we see are people who are walking in the Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, our Head.  Thus the Head is leading them to the places and people and means that He deems appropriate for the situation.

Luke 14:15-24, Our Objective: Evangelism (3)

The objective of evangelism, as we have noted, demands …

THE COMPLETE GOSPEL COMPLETELY PROCLAIMED!

We have considered the “complete gospel.”  There are other issues that might be raised and a local church needs to be aware of this matter.  Things added to or taken away from the gospel message make it incomplete.

Let us now consider what the Bible says about the ways in which the gospel needs to be “completely proclaimed.”

·       The gospel must be proclaimed with boldness (Eph. 6:19-20; Phil. 1:27; Col. 4:3; 1 Thess. 2:14-16).  In other words, there can be no holding back; and there can be no lack of clarity.  Boldness addresses both these issues.  Paul asked prayer that (hina) he might fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which he was in chains.  Inner fear can be a hindrance.  External chains might also be considered a hindrance.  In 2 Timothy 1 Paul encouraged Timothy not to allow timidity (a form of fear) to cause him to be ashamed of the gospel.

·       The gospel must be proclaimed to all people (John 11:52; Rom. 3:19; Gal. 1:16; 2:9).  In NT times, where there was a “Jew-Gentile” issue, it is made clear that the gospel was to be preached to both, in other words, to all.  Peter was preaching to Jews, Paul to Gentiles.  The emphasis of either man was not to mean the other was wrong.  It was all necessary and they went with blessing.  Jesus predicted this “worldwide” preaching in the parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:15-24).  Leading Jews were invited but refused.  Unprivileged Jews were invited but there was still room.  Then Gentiles were compelled so that (hina) my house will be full.  Remember that in Revelation people from every tribe, language, people and nation will inhabit heaven (Rev. 5:9).  Later in Revelation we see that the eternal gospel is preached to all people (Rev. 14:6).  Jesus said the end would not come until the gospel of the kingdom was preached to all the world (Mt. 24:14). 

o   We should note that Jesus even gave His apostles the strategy for doing this.  He had said, literally, as you are going, make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:19).  In Acts 1:8 He told them to begin where they were, in Jerusalem.  Then He told them to continue expanding to Judea, Samaria and the farthest parts of the earth.  As you read Acts you see that the expansion was aided by the persecution.  Literally, as they were being pushed out of Jerusalem, as they were going, they continued to preach the gospel wherever they went (Acts 8:1,4).  You also see the Apostle Paul use the same strategy.  He went to significant cities, and then as the Church grew in that city, the gospel went out into the countryside and to smaller towns around (Ac. 19:10).

Acts 4:5-12; 17:1-4, Our Objective: Evangelism (2)

The work of evangelism is preaching the gospel.  We declare who Christ is and what He did.  When we preach that “This Jesus … is the Christ” (Ac. 17:3) we are putting out in front of people the real issue.  This was the question Jesus asked of His disciples: Who do you say that I am (Mt. 16:15)?  It is the confession that His death and resurrection call for (John 20:28).

A good “gospel” conversation begins with the question, “who is Jesus Christ”?  It sets the discussion on the correct path.  If we begin by asking, “do you believe Jesus died for your sins and was raised from the dead” we might find that unsaved people will answer “yes”, not understanding what they are really saying.  Remember, “good Friday” and “Easter” are common holy days in the West that have been made into “feel good” stories about new life and baby rabbits and chicks and colored, hard boiled eggs.  But to ask “who is Jesus Christ,” or to testify that Jesus is the reason for your hope” (1 Pt. 3:15) puts the issue out in front of people. 

Look at how Peter did this before the Sanhedrin in today’s passage.  He spoke respectfully: rulers … elders.  He made clear the subject of his brief answer: Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  He pointed out the sin of these men: whom you crucified.  He pointed out the strong declaration of Jesus’ deity: whom God raised from the dead.  Then he boldly proclaimed the greatness of Jesus of Nazareth: the chief cornerstone.  He concluded by drawing the line in the sand: nor is there salvation in any other.  He did all this in three sentences, preaching the complete gospel as to WHO Jesus was and WHAT He did. 

Paul’s preaching at Thessalonica shows the same “fullness.”  This is just a summary of his message, but it shows how the complete gospel is easily preached.  Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead; and the point of this is: This Jesus I preach to you is the Christ. 

One other matter, when speaking of the “complete gospel,” is that the gospel message need not include many other important subjects in Scripture.  Eschatology, election, Body life, the Christian’s walk and so forth all have a connection to the gospel.  But they are not “the gospel.”  When I read of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:7-26) I think of this.  He immediately engaged her in considering who He was.  If you knew the gift of God and who it is who is talking to you (v10).  He ends by saying, I who speak to you am He (the Messiah, v25-26).  Along the way she tried to get off on the question of which mountain was more important (Mt. Gerizim of the Samaritans or Mt. Moriah of the Jews).  Jesus answered the matter but immediately brought her back to the issue.  All else distracts from the real issue.  We need to keep to the real issue.

Rom. 1:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:3-8, Our Objective: Evangelism (1)

It is not an oversimplification for us to say that the message of the gospel is “Jesus.”  Peter and John told the Sanhedrin that there was no other name but “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” by which men could be saved (Ac. 4:10-12).  They did not cease “preaching and teaching Jesus the Christ” (Ac. 5:42).  Phillip “preached Christ” to the people of Samaria (Ac. 8:5) and he “preached Jesus” to the Ethiopian eunuch (Ac. 8:35).  Saul/Paul immediately after his conversion “preached Jesus” in the synagogues of Damascus (Ac. 9:20).  The “good news” is Jesus.

Why is this?  It is because Jesus is the personification of the grace of God.  This is what Paul meant when he wrote, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11).  Paul is talking about Jesus:  He is the One who appeared to all men to bring salvation.  He is the grace of God.

The problem with God’s “grace” is that for God to grant forgiveness of sin to man, God must take account of that sin to satisfy His holiness and justice.  He cannot simply declare people free of sin and righteous so as to be reconciled to Him.  He must satisfy His justice that says, the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).  The good news is that He has done this, through the work of His Son. 

The most succinct passage describing this, I believe, is Rom. 3:21-26.  Additionally, there are two NT passages that specifically say what the gospel “is.”

·       Romans 1:1-4: The gospel is WHO Christ is.  The “gospel of God” (v1), which was promised through the OT prophets (v2), concerns His Son (v3).  What specifically about “His Son”?  First, that He was of the seed of David “according to the flesh”.  This stresses His true humanity as well as His fulfillment of the Messianic promises.  Second, the gospel is concerned with His deity, so that through the resurrection there was a powerful declaration of this fact.  Note: the resurrection did not make Jesus the Son of God; He already was “His Son.” 

·       1 Corinthians 15:1-4: Paul’s subject is “the gospel” which he preached to them and in which they believed.  What is that gospel? It is good news concerning WHAT Christ did.  He died for our sins; He rose the third day.  As in the Romans passage, so here: this gospel was first revealed in the OT, the Scriptures. It is in His death that Christ paid the price of redemption that our sins might be forgiven.  In His resurrection we see that the Father received the payment of death in full and was satisfied.  When one believes the gospel, believes in His Son, that persons sins are forgiven and they receive eternal life.

When we speak of the need to declare the “complete gospel” I believe we must not only declare what Jesus did; we must declare who He is.  When you read Acts, I believe you will see the Apostolic preaching did this (e.g. Acts 2:36; 17:3).

Psalm 119:169-176

Jesus promised a life of trouble from this world to those who would follow Him; He also assures them that He has overcome the world (John 16:33).  In other words we are foolish to think that our life of obedience will ever become free of affliction.  Likewise we are foolish to ignore the provision of Christ for His people.

The Psalmist understands this.  In this final stanza we again find him pleading with God for help.  It may be that the trial that forms the backdrop for Psalm 119 is still ongoing; or it may mean he has seen the next difficulty on the horizon.  Either way, he continues to put his hope in the Lord and His word.

He is still “crying” to the Lord (169).  He still lifts his supplication (170).  But there is a thought in this stanza that should encourage all of God’s people.  He has experienced so much of God’s word in his trial; now he desires to share it with others.

o 171: he has been taught so much that he would declare his praise to the Lord for all to hear.

o 172: he is so overcome by the way he has seen God’s righteousness that he would speak God’s word to others.

Having expressed this desire he does not allow himself to become proud, as if he had learned all he needed and can now walk on in his own strength.  The closing 4 verses continue to call on God for help.

o 173: let your hand be my help.

o 174: I long for Your deliverance.

o 175: let my soul live; let your judgments help me.

o 176: seek Your servant.  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; without You I will do it again.

The longer we live our lives the less we may be shocked by the things that happen in the lives of believers.  The longer we live hopefully the more we know of God’s word so it can be used in our lives.  But we never outgrow our dependence on God.  Nor do we ever completely escape the temptation to stray away from our Good Shepherd.  May our time in this longest of Psalms be a motive to come back often to find in God’s word that which we need to glorify Him in our afflictions.

God be praised!

Read Rom. 12:1-8, Our Objective: Evangelism

Before we move on, we need to make a cautionary statement: Christ is never honored by our works done in the flesh.  The nature of our study on “The Mission of the Church” requires a lot of talk about “doing.”  Those kinds of discussions are often the cause of a lot of fleshly work.  The Bible is clear: the work that pleases God is that work done in the power of His Spirit and by His grace!  We actually never come to the place where we design plans and programs by our own creativity.  Through prayer and the leading of the Spirit our Lord, the Head of the Church, is always the one who is directing us. 

Having said that, one of the things evident in Scripture is that God’s “normal” plan is to use people in the carrying out of His plan.  This is true in making disciples.  Here are a few examples of this from Jesus’ ministry.

·       John 5:7: The lame man by the pool of Bethesda needed someone to help him into the pool.  In the end, what he got was the Man Jesus healing him.

·       Luke 5:18: The paralytic needed four friends to bring him to Christ for forgiveness and healing.

·       John 1:35-51: John the Baptist prepared his disciples.  Then he directed two of his disciples to Jesus, who welcomed them and told them of Himself.  One of those disciples was Andrew who went and told his brother Peter about the Messiah.  Phillip had come to Christ and he told his friend Nathaniel.

·       John 19:35: John wrote the “Gospel of John” to testify of Christ so that others could believe.

How are we to do this work of “evangelism”?  In our study of the NT I believe we see that the proper work of evangelism involves:

THE COMPLETE GOSPEL COMPLETELY PROCLAIMED!

In the NT, the verb evangelize (Grk: euangelizo) means to preach the good news of gospel (“gospel” is euangelion).  If we are to preach the “complete” gospel it means there can be nothing added to nor omitted from that message of good news.

The first thing we must say about the gospel is that it is “good news” because of the reality of “bad news.”  The bad news is that all have sinned (Rom. 3:21) and are destined for death, separated forever from God and eternal life (Rom. 6:23).  Man’s situation is hopeless because he cannot undo the fact that he is a sinner.  Thus he stands in need of grace (unmerited favor) from God (Rom. 5:20-21).  Given man’s desperate situation this grace from God will have to be received by faith (the absence of works or merit) because man cannot measure up. 

The preceding paragraph is quite full, I realize.  But note: it is not the gospel.  It is the context in which the gospel is given and the only proper response to the gospel.  We will share the gospel in our next post.  It’s not hard.  The Bible is clear.

Mt. 28:18-20; Lk. 24:44-48, Our Objective, To Make Disciples

How is each local church to operate in its own location?  We are confident that each fellowship will have and should have its own “appearance.”  That is, depending on the locale and on the giftedness of those the Lord has placed in each body, they will serve accordingly.  But we are also confident that the Lord of the Church must, on the basis of His authority over the Church, have His say in how each church appears.

First, we learned that the Church exists for the glory of God.  Is that all we need to know from the Bible?  Do we go about designing ways to glorify our Creator?  For example, could a church decide that it will glorify God by being an outpost for conservationism or environmentalism or climate change?  After all, we might think, how better could we honor the Lord who made heaven and earth!  But, no, we have found that there is only one thing that glorifies God, and that is by the Church exalting the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

But now what?  Are we to set out and design programs and theologies that we think glorify Christ?  For example, could a church decided to establish a hospital or a school or a business and give the entity a name that includes the name of Jesus.  “The Jesus School.”  Or “The Jesus Investment Corporation.”  Or perhaps a church could decide to build a temple and call it the “Temple of Jesus Christ.”  Or what if a church were to collect signatures to put Jesus on the ballot for mayor of their city?  Some of this is silly.  Some of this might be what your church is involved in. 

What we discovered is that Jesus Himself is doing something, something incredibly important.  He was and is bringing salvation to the world.  Certainly, we must recognize that in order to exalt Jesus we must be “doing” what He is “doing.”  And, as it turns out, we also discovered that He gave a command to all His Apostles and to the Church to do that very thing.  Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them … teaching them … and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Mt. 28:18-20).  He gave this commission (yes, a “co” “mission”; us working alongside and in the very thing He is doing) out of His authority (v18) and said that as we are involved in this endeavor, He would be with us. 

So now we say: “Finally; we know what He wants us to do.  We must devise plans and methods and programs to do what He desires so He will be exalted!”  To that we say, no!  Not so fast.  It is still not time for us to exert our spirit-let creativity.  Our Lord still has things to tell us about how to carry this out. 

We glorify God by exalting the Son.  We exalt the Son by joining Him in His work by which He glorifies His Father.  Our objective is to make disciples through evangelism (preaching the gospel) and edification (building up those who believe the gospel).  Now we need to hear Christ as to how we fulfill these objectives.

2 Cor. 5:9-21, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (8)

What is Christ’s concern?  In one word we can say that He came to be the Savior of the world.  Salvation is His concern.  But as we have noted, this salvation is a now and forever salvation, a point of beginning and a continuing process.  He died that we might no longer live for ourselves but for Him, the One who died for us.  His once-for-all death is intended to bring about real change in the lives of believers.  We noted Titus 2:14 where Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed.  That redemption is an accomplished fact.  But then Paul goes on to say, “and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”  That is describing something that takes time.

This is not complicated nor is it surprising to anyone who has read the Bible.  In OT times God dealt with men in what we sometimes call “crisis” experiences, points in time when men expressed their faith (e.g. Abraham, Gen. 15:6).  But then God continued to deal with them to bring about life change, the application of that faith in times of affliction.  To Abraham, after years of silence, God came to Abraham and said, I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before Me and be blameless (Gen. 17:1).  It was always true, and it is true for us, that faith without works is dead; faith must be perfected (James 2:22).  And the key is this: Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

Let us say it this way.  Jesus is concerned with our salvation, both redemption (the once for all purchase, applied by faith) and sanctification (the application to our daily lives, growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ). 

What, therefore, must be our concern, in light of Christ’s concern?  First, we must be concerning with our salvation.  Like Peter (Mt. 16:16), like Paul (Acts 9), have we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, confessing Christ to be Lord?  Are we growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:17)?  Having been saved, are we maturing as disciples of Christ?

Further, what must be the concern of the Church that Jesus is building?  Again, it is salvation in its fullness.  We see this in the commission Jesus gave His disciples just before departing earth to return to heaven (Matt. 28:19-20).  In one command He told them (us) to make disciples of all nations.  But then He specified: baptizing them and teaching them to obey.  In other words, He emphasized the redemption, the coming to Christ in faith, expressed in the waters of baptism.  And He emphasized the sanctification, the life of obedience that stems from the redemption.

What we can say now is that there are twin objectives; that’s the best way I can say it.  There are two, and yet they fit together.  The objectives of the Church are “evangelism” and “edification.”  This fits the concerns of Christ.  This is how we share His concern for the salvation of the world.

1 Tim. 2:1-7, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (7)

What was Jesus’ concern while on earth?

·       1 Tim. 2:3-7: Men are separated from God, in a relationship of enmity, because of sin.  God wants all men to be saved.  So what did He do?  He sent His Son to be the mediator, the priestly go-between, a ransom for all.  Paul recognized that he had been appointed a preacher and apostle to declare the truth about Christ.  He was involved in what Jesus was concerned with.

·       1 Jn. 3:5: John says we know Jesus was manifested to (hina) take away our sins.

·       1 John 4:14: John, one of the Twelve who spent three plus years with Jesus, could tell you he clearly saw what Jesus was all about.  He was an eyewitness.  The Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

Jesus concern is the salvation of the world, Jews and Gentiles.  There is something important to note about Jesus’ concern.  What Jesus was doing was expressed in two spheres: the “eternity” sphere and the “now” sphere.  One way we see this frequently is in use of the past and present tense, where salvation is a once for all event for eternity and a continual process in time.  See it in these passages.

·       Phil. 1:6: Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you (in time) will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (eternity).

·       Heb. 10:14: For by one offering He has perfected forever (eternity) those who are being sanctified (time).

·       1 Tim. 2:4: God desires all men to be saved (at one point in time) and to come to the knowledge of the truth (the process of salvations application to the believer).

·       Col. 2:6: As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord (past tense, point in time), so walk in Him (process, growth).

·       Rom. 5:20-6:2: Read this great passage on our salvation and the application of salvation to our lives day by day.  It ends saying, How shall we who died to sin (past tense, point in time) live any longer in it (process, growth, life change).

Look at these “hina” (purpose) passages that emphasize the “once for all” work of Christ and its effect on those who believe (underlined).

·       2 Cor. 5:15: He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

·       2 Cor. 5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

·       Titus 2:14: Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Meditate on these.  Tomorrow we will consider what this means to the Church.

Luke 1:67-79, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (6)

Building on yesterday’s post, what we read in Acts 1:1-2 is quite interesting.  Luke, in introducing what we often call “The Acts of the Apostles,” indicates that the book is actually about the continuing work and teaching of Jesus.  Yes, it was the works of the Apostles; but their identity with Christ made it the work of Christ.  The result of this was the establishment of “the Body of Christ,” the Church. 

We began with a purpose, to glorify God.  Then we asked, what does God want the Church to do to glorify Him?  The answer was, to exalt Christ as Lord.  So now we ask, what does our Head want us to do?  We will know what He wants us to do when we understand what He was and is doing.  What was Jesus’ concern?

·       Matt. 1:21: The name “Jesus” (Jehovah is Salvation) tells us Jesus’ concern: He came to save His people from their sins.

·       Luke 1:68-75: The prophecy of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, tells us the concern of Jesus.  Zacharias knew his son was not the Savior, but that his son would prepare the way for the Savior.  Thus, Zacharias knew that the birth and ministry of his son was reason to praise the God of Israel who has come and redeemed His people.  The coming One was a horn of salvation in the house of David.  It was God showing mercy and remember His covenant with the Fathers. 

·       Luke 2:10-11: Again, from the time of Jesus’ birth, the angels told the shepherds that a Savior has been born … He is Christ the Lord!

·       Luke 2:29-32: The words of Simeon tell us what Jesus was all about.  Simeon knew that the Baby he was holding was God’s salvation for all peoples … a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.

·       Matt. 16:18: Here, Jesus makes a clear statement about what He will do, as a result of His incarnation.  I will build My Church.  Throughout the NT, these words continually ring out.  Paul and Peter and John and James were all serving Christ by their involvement in doing what Christ did: building His Church!

·       Luke 19:10: Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost!

·       John 1:29: John the Baptist did his ministry to perfection.  To His disciples he pointed to Jesus and said, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

·       John 3:16: The “golden text” of Scripture tells us Jesus’ concern.  He was the expression of God’s love for the world, so people would have an object of faith, Someone to look to so that they might not perish and have eternal life.

·       John 12:47: As Jesus neared the end of the earthly ministry, He again made it clear: I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

·       1 Tim. 1:15: Why did Jesus come?  To save sinners.  Paul could not be clearer.

We will continue this theme in the next post.

John 15:4-11, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (5)

Exalting Christ is more, much more, than obedience to Him.  It is living totally out of His life that has become our life.  Gal. 2:20 makes this clear: I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me!  This isn’t symbolic, allegorical nor illustrative; Christ lives in the believer!  We need to stress this truth.

·       In John 6:51-58 Jesus said I am the living bread.  He then said, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  The Jews misunderstood, asking “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat” (v52)?  Yet, Jesus did not back down on this strong language.  What did He mean?

o   The battle over these words has been fought with long-lasting lines drawn.  Catholics taught that in the Mass the priest was serving up the real flesh and blood of Christ.  Luther and Zwingli agreed on everything except this.  Luther taught that at the Lord’s Table, when the believer eats the bread and drinks the cup, those elements become the actual body and blood of Christ.  Zwingli understood the depth of this identification with Christ.  When one believes in Christ we die with Christ and are buried, raised a new person in the newness of His life (Rom. 6)!  Thus, believers were not ingesting the actual body and blood of Christ (Reformers often accused others of teaching “cannibalism”) but are remembering that their faith in Christ brought about a deep identification with Him.  He actually lives in us; He actually is our life.  But His life, eternal life, is not physical life.  Jesus was no more an actual loaf of bread than He was an actual plant when He said “I am the Vine” or a candle or light bulb when He said “I am the Light of the World.” 

o   Thus, believers in Christ have been called into “fellowship” (partaking, sharing the same life) with the Son (1 Cor. 1:9).  Christ “is our life” (Col. 3:4).  We are partakers “of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4).  True believers are those who are holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God (Col. 2:19; cf. Eph. 4:16).  The “marriage” picture (Eph. 5:31-32), the “temple” picture (Eph. 2:21-22), and the Vine/branches in today’s reading show the same deep identification we have with Christ.

·       We need to remember that this is what Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-23.  Jesus prayed for us, believers, to be one (v21,22).  We often mistake this “oneness” for organizational oneness, requiring us to all meet together in the same assembly.  But that is not what Jesus says.  He prays for us to be one as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You (v21).  The Father and Son are One in a deep, unfathomable sense.  So are believers with each other.  It is because Christ, in Whom is the Father, now lives in each believer (v23).  The life of Christ is real, very real; but it is spiritual, eternal, resurrection life.

Psalm 119:161-168

The remaining 2 stanzas provide a fitting end to this marvelous Psalm that speaks of the value of God’s word in my trials.  First we see the Psalmist ecstatic in his praise of God’s word (161-168).  Then, because his trial continues or because there will be more to come, he calls upon God in ways reminiscent of the entire Psalm.

How do you view the word of God?  Is it one book among many?  Is it appropriate for some of the situations in your life?  Let us hear from one who has made God’s word to be his daily portion?

o 161: though his suffering has been unjust, he stands in awe of God’s word.  We often sing, “I stand in awe of You.”  But remember to hold God in awe is to hold Scripture in awe.

o 162: he considers God’s word to be great treasure.

o 163: he loves God’s law, hating all that stands against it.

o 164: seven times a day he praises God for His righteous judgments.  In other words, his praise is without ceasing. 

o 165: he can give testimony that those who hope in God’s word have peace.  Because it lights his path he does not stumble over life’s obstacles.

o 166: while he awaits God’s deliverance he does not fail to keep the Word.

o 167: he not only loves the Word; he loves it exceedingly.

o 168: he recognizes that all his ways are before the Lord and thus subject to His precepts and testimonies.

The thing to note is that this is the testimony of experience.  He has not merely heard or meditated on the Word.  He has kept it in the context of a great difficulty.  This is how we truly learn God’s word.  This is how we truly get to know God Himself.

Remember Paul’s prayer in Col. 1:9-10.  He prays that they might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will with all wisdom and insight.  We must know the Word in it’s practical application.  But it is only as we walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, and being fruitful in all good works that we increase in our knowledge of God.

The Psalmists journey has caused his love for God and His word to grow.  How have you grown in appreciation for God’s word?  Do you today stand in awe of His word?

Acts 16:1-10, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (4)

Among Jesus’ final words to His disciples, before His ascension, were to tell them: All authority has been given to Me (Matt. 28:18).  He understood that this was the plan of the Father.  Given that truth, what did He tell His disciples He wanted them to do?  Therefore (since I have all authority) go and make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:19-20)!  If our purpose is to exalt Him, and He has been given all authority, then we must come before Him as servants, asking Lord, what do you want me to do (Acts 9:6)?

With that thought, let us consider some of the aspects of Church life that need to be examined and properly ordered so as to exalt our Head, Jesus Christ.  In one sense, the entire NT is about what Jesus desires for His Church.  Certainly, Rev. 2-3 (letters to the seven churches) should be prime territory since they are letters from Christ to specific, representative assemblies.  Having said that, here are some starters for thought on this issue.

·       The “ordinances” are matters of obedience.  How we carry out water baptism and the fellowship of the Lord’s Table is important.  The appropriate passages that instruct us on this must be regularly reviewed and applied.

·       “Accountability” is a matter of obedience.  In the American (Western) Church people can be quite individualistic.  But Scripture teaches believers to submit to each other and to submit to the leadership.  How do your relationships in the body of Christ carry this out?  We are responsible for each other and to each other, in the context of our submission to Christ.  Church discipline is often missing from our churches; yet, done Biblically, we are responsible to Christ to reprove those who are choosing to live in sin. 

·       “Leadership” is a matter of obedience.  Do we choose leaders according to Jesus’ instruction, fitting the godly descriptions found in the Pastoral Epistles?  Are these men like the early leaders, like Paul in determining where Christ wanted him to go and preach the gospel, men who pray and who know how to hear what the Spirit of Christ is saying?  Is the regular meeting of Elders more like a corporate business meeting or more like an old-fashioned prayer meeting?

·       How we conduct church “business” is a matter of obedience.  There are various styles of leadership.  I happen to believe in Elder-led churches.  But many churches have some level of congregational involvement in the making of important decisions.  Whatever the style, are we asking what our Head desires?  Are we bringing the Word of God to bear on policies and programs?

·       “Response” to teaching is a matter of obedience.  Whether the pulpit ministry or the Sunday School teacher or the small group leader, the Bible can never be like the newspaper that we read and then toss in the pile to go out with the trash.  It always demands a response of obedience.  Is that how we are geared?

Col. 1:13-23, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (3)

Another way we can see the exaltation of Christ is in what Scripture says about what He accomplished. 

·       He told Pilate, in John 18:37, You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that (hina) I should bear witness to the truth.  He was and is the Sovereign King.

·       In Hebrews 2:14 we see that inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that (hina) through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.  The devil is a defeated enemy because of what Christ accomplished.

·       Lastly, in 1 Peter 3:18, we see that Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that (hina) He might bring us to God.  How marvelous is God’s grace.  We were all born at enmity against God and against His Son.  Yet God has made a way for rebels to come and bow the knee to Christ now, today, in this life.  Rather than waiting for that time when people will have no choice.

Since Christ came to seek and save the lost, let us ask how the early Church applied the Lordship of Christ to their lives and ministry.  This will again involve verses with “hina” (purpose) clauses.  We will underline “hina” in each passage.

·       1 Cor. 1:17: Paul served under Jesus’ headship.  For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.  A ministry that emphasized fancy words or the wisdom of the world would be ineffective as a message of salvation.  We must carry out ministry in obedience to the Son of God.

·       2 Cor. 4:10-11:  Read these amazing words from Paul.  We die to self, carrying about the death of Christ that the life of Jesus might be manifested in our bodies.  Again, we are delivered to death for Jesus’ sake that the life of Jesus might be manifested in our flesh.  This is why Paul sought conformity to the death of Christ (Phil. 3:10).

·       Phil. 3:8: Thus, in the same vein, Paul counted loss and as rubbish all his former fleshly accomplishments, that I might gain Christ.

·       2 Tim. 2:4: Paul instructed believers to have the same attitude.  He challenged us to streamline our lives and set our focus on Christ that (we) may please Him who enlisted (us) as a soldier.  If our purpose is to exalt Christ, then our purpose is not to exalt ourselves.

·       Rev. 3:18: Jesus reproved the Laodicean Church, which claimed they were rich and well-dressed and strong in themselves, to seek riches and healing from Him so that they might have true riches and righteousness and spiritual eyesight.

Exalting Jesus as Lord is not just a verbal confession of faith.  It is a life and service that is subject to Him in every sense.

Phil. 2:1-11, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (2)

The Father’s desire and plan to exalt His Son is a story that begins in eternity past.  That is the trust expressed in Psalm 2:6-9.  The Lord says to the rebellious kings, Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.”  Then He speaks to the Son: You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.

This exaltation, in order to fit God’s love and mercy, required a sacrifice for sin so that the nations might, by faith, submit themselves to the Son.  Thus, the Son laid aside His glory, humbled Himself, even to death on the cross (Phil. 2:5-8).  But then God began to exalt His Son (Phil. 2:9-11), when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Eph. 1:20-23).

The Son is exalted as Lord over all; every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11).  Passages like that lead us to say: the one thing that glorifies God is the exaltation of the Son!

In passages we already have shared we see how extensive is the Lordship of the Son of God.  He is both the one who will rule on the throne of Zion (Psalm 2:6), and He is head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22).  We can say even more about this from Scripture.

·       Rom. 14:9: Jesus is Lord of the living and the dead.  His death and resurrection brought this about, the passage says.

·       Eph. 4:9-10: Jesus is Lord of the entire universe, having ascended into the lower parts of the earth, and ascended higher than the heavens.

·       Phil. 2:5-11: Jesus is Lord of those in heaven (saints who have died and entered heaven), those on earth (all who are alive today), and those under the earth (those who have died as unbelievers).

·       Col. 1:15-18: Jesus is Lord over the original creation (He is the firstborn, ruling Son, over all creation) as well as over the new creation (He is the firstborn, ruling Son, of those who died but will be resurrected).

Since Christ is head over all things to the church, we are not surprised that every Biblical picture of the Church places Christ in the Lordship position.  He is the Head of the Body.  He is the Shepherd of the Flock.  He is the Vine; we are the Branches.  He is the Husband of the Bride.  He is the Savior of the people.  He is the Cornerstone of the Temple.  Yes, our one purpose is to exalt Jesus as Lord.  This glorifies the Father.

John 5:19-30, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (1)

Several years ago (1983) in a book entitled Let the Church be the Church author Ray Ortlund described the variety of “model” churches.  There were …

ü Evangelistic centers, where everything all week long was geared towards an altar call on Sunday.

ü Mission centers, with a thermometer in front, a map on the wall, and lots of missionary reports from the pulpit.

ü Information centers, where the key terms were teach and teacher.  People come to fill their notebooks and their heads.

ü Program centers, where, if you thought this week was good wait till next week!  We have a gospel magician, three singing groups and a ventriloquist that will blow your mind!

ü Fellowship centers, where its all about “body life,” relational theology, discipling, small groups and spiritual gifts.

ü Counseling centers.

ü Rescue missions.

ü Training schools.

Here is what Ortlund said about this: “All these are good, and all may be part of what we seek to do or be.  But do these functions achieve God’s central focus for the church?”  The bottom line was: God has ordained the church for Himself!”

My study of the Scriptures leads me to something more precise than that.  You may have noticed that the title of this post is, “Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord.”  We just spent several days saying our purpose is to glorify God.  The way we have talked about it is that glorifying God is a total statement; nothing exists outside of that. 

Yet, Scripture makes it very clear: for the Church there is one thing that glorifies God and that is the exaltation of His Son.  Jesus referred to His disciples as those which You have given Me (John 17:2,6,9,11,24).  Did you see in today’s passage all the ways that the Father exalted the Son.  The Son gives life as the Father gives life.  The Father gave the Son all judgment SO THAT (hina) all may honor the Son even as they do the Father (v23).  Then there is a profound statement: He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 

There is much more that we will study on this.  But for the moment we need to figure out how this works.  We have one purpose, to glorify God.  Then God says, the one thing I want you to do is to honor My Son.  In a good business model, we would say, this is not good; two purposes that guide the entire operation guarantees a divided house.  However, we know this will not be the case for the Church because we know that there is no division between the Father and the Son!