Psalm 50

This “Psalm of Asaph” (one of the 3 musical directors appointed by David) issues a strong call to repentant faith in the context of a reminder of God’s ultimate judgment of all of humanity.  It reveals to us the most relevant of truth about God, that “God Himself is Judge” (v6) of all the earth (v1).  God alone is the one who can make the perfect distinction between His “saints” (v5) and “the wicked” (v16).  

·        V1-3 describe the One to whom all give account.  All are called, “from the rising of the sun to its going down” to be judged from Zion, “the perfection of beauty”.  Notice that God “shall not keep silent”.  This judgment is definite, a fire that cannot be diminished.

·        V4-6: The call first is for God’s own people who are defined as “those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”  This is a precise description of the saints of any age.  A blood sacrifice was always essential for man to come to God, from the very beginning (Gen. 3 when God clothed Adam and Eve with the skin of an animal; Gen. 4 when God accepted the sacrifice of Abel) to this very day when men put their trust in the once-for-all blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:22).  The bringing of a sacrifice was a demonstration of faith.  The worshiper brought the lamb to God’s representative, the priest.  As an act of faith the worshiper placed his hand on the animal as it was killed.  So today believers place their faith in Christ alone.  As Abraham promised Isaac (Gen. 22:8) God has provided Himself the Lamb.  

·        V7-11: God says “I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices.”  That means He has accepted the sacrifice of the saints.  There were times in Israel’s history when God rejected the sacrifices they brought because they were just going through the motions.  They lived in sin with no desire to repent; there was no faith.  Faith alone saves, but it is faith in a fitting sacrifice, always looking to the work of Christ!

·        V12-15: It is not that God is hungry.  That is ridiculous.  Again, the issue is the heart-faith of the worshiper.  Their offering must be true thanksgiving and a recognition that the LORD is the Most High God.  These are His people, the ones He will deliver and who will truly glorify Him.  

·        V16-21:  Contrary to His people are “the wicked”.  God will also judge them; He will “rebuke” them.  They misunderstood His seeming silence or patience as an indication that they were on a good footing with God.  Many people think that way today.  But these ones who “cast My words behind” themselves and whose actions and words are evil, these ones must consider their ways for they will someday stand before their Judge.

·        V22-23: Here is the thing for us to think about today.  Here is the truth.  There is no deliverance for those who have forgotten God!  But whoever glorifies God through a praiseworthy sacrifice, that one will know “the salvation of God.”  When the Bible speaks of judgment it is very black and white.  There are only two possibilities because it comes down to the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36).

2 Peter 3:3-10; 2 Tim. 4:3-5; Signs: Religion (2)

Continuing thoughts from New Years Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000.

2.     Theological questions:

a.     Is Jesus the only way?

                                                        i.      The postmodern world has settled on “tolerance” that demands that men not only allow others to hold divergent views but that men also affirm that divergent view as right for that person.

When a growing number of Christians find themselves unable to affirm that Christ is the only way to God, the implications for world evangelization are ominous, especially since some already on the mission field are wondering why they are there. (Debre Fieguth, Faith Today, Jan/Feb 2000, p18-21)

                                                         ii.      She quotes Geoff Tunnicliff, missions strategist: the Great Commission ‘isn’t a gospel of tolerance; it’s a gospel of love.’

b.     Is hell real?

                                                         i.      There are various views:

a.     Hell is a literal place (traditional protestant, Catholic).

b.     Hell is separation from God (current Catholic).

c.     Hell is total destruction (annihilation; 7^th Day Adventists, many cults and now a few Evangelicals.)

d.     Hell is the here and now.

                                                         ii.      Although images of hell still capture the imagination, some people are concerned that hell without fury is not only unscriptural but also gives us ‘no persuasive reason to be moral.’

c.     Is reconciliation with the Roman Catholic Church possible?

                                                              i.      In recent years we have bemoaned the willingness of many evangelicals to throw away the reformation in favor of friendship with the RCC.

                                                             ii.      The RCC set everyone straight this year with the document Dominus lesus, making clear that there is no salvation outside the Church – the holy Roman Church.

(There is more to consider from the year 2000 as well as today so we will continue to think of conditions in the apostate church in tomorrow’s post.)

2 Thess. 2:9-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-3: Signs: In the realm of Religion (1)

We have, on the occasion of the Sunday before the New Year, often stopped to reflect on the signs of the times, taking news items from the previous year to illustrate the Bible’s warnings about the latter days.  For a few days we are going to use the sermon preached at the beginning of this millennium, preached Dec. 31, 2000.  This is very topical.  You will see what we believe the Bible says will occupy the last days.  We believe it will give much reason to think and pray and act today.

1.     Signs in the realm of religion.

a.     An apostate Church, Mt. 24:10; 2 Thess. 2:3.

                                                 i.      Lukewarmness, Rev. 3:14-22; 2 Tim. 3:4b-5

                                              ii.      Scoffers, 2 Peter 3:3-10

                                           iii.      Great seduction in error, 2 Thess. 2:9-12

                                            iv.      False christs and prophets (cults), Mt. 24:4f, 11f, 23-26

                                               v.      Counterfeit signs/wonders/miracles, 2 Thess. 2:9-12

                                            vi.      Materialistic view of holiness, 1 Tim. 4:1-3

                                         vii.      Religion according to what people want, 2 Tim. 4:3-5

                                      viii.      World-wide ecumenical movement, Rev. 13:11-17; 17

1.     There was an article by Dennis Cone, editor of the Navigator’s Current Thoughts and Trends on seven trends in the Church to watch including …

a.     The breakdown of the family.

b.     Chinks in the armor of evolutionary theory.

c.     The expansion of the internet.

d.     Rampant materialism. “Christians immersed in the culture of instant gratification seem to have lost the will to continually battle the consumeristic mindset.”

e.     Postmodern relativism.  “When a majority of evangelical Christians believe there is no such thing as absolute truth, the Church is in trouble.”

f.      The rise (and fall) of tolerance.

g.     Our failure to discern.

Perhaps the most disconcerting trend of all is our reluctance as believers to put aside our own agendas so that we can see what God is doing and join Him in it.  We would rather discuss endlessly the degree of redness in the sky and what kind of storm it portends than to submit to the Creator of the universe and His sovereign purposes for us.  We, like the ‘wicked and adulterous generation’ of Jesus’ day, need to recognize that One greater than Jonah is among us and repent.

(In tomorrow’s post we will pick up right here and continue considering issues related to the end-time religious picture.)

Our own approach to tradition, 1 Peter 1:17-19

One thing we should note about the issue of tradition in the evangelical church today is this: there is nowhere near the emphasis on tradition today as in previous generations.  Denominations in many ways are becoming less important in this regard.  For the most part the huge churches of our day are nondenominational.  Thus most local churches are free to do what is right in their own eyes. 

I know that last statement is powerful, coming from the time of the Judges when that was what people were doing.  Every local church today would claim they are following the Lord Jesus; and we are not saying that they aren’t.  But we are saying that today the decisions about music (contemporary, traditional), preaching style (exegetical, topical, evangelistic, teaching), service times and frequency (Sunday, Saturday, Thursday), dress code, methods of evangelism, and so forth are very much up to each church.  Who is making those decisions and on what basis? 

Today’s passage reminds us that we were not saved by the traditions of the fathers.  But of course, our traditions can get in the way of what does save people.  They can obscure the gospel.  They can divert believers from the one passion, which is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.  What we mean to say is that the issue of tradition is not irrelevant.  We must truly know the leading of the one Head of the Church, leading that He communicates through the Word of God.

We are going to conclude these posts by referencing something I found helpful many years ago, something that helped me think about this question of what must be fundamental to a local body of believers.  It is a list from Francis Schaeffer’s book, The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century (and here we are 18 years into the 21^st century).  He felt that the Bible demanded these things, and that beyond these there was freedom.  Perhaps they will help you think through this issue in your own situation.  Schaeffer believed the Bible mandated:

1)  Local Churches made up of Christians.

2)  Sunday meetings.

3)  Elders responsible for the local church.

4)  Deacons responsible for material issues.

5)  Discipline.

6)  Specific qualifications for Elders and Deacons.

7)  A wider "fellowship" of churches.

8)  Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (Col. 2:8).