Penal Substitution

I was blessed today to go to a Christology class at Bethel College with a friend who presented a lecture on his view of Christ's Atonement, penal substitution (which I affirm also). Though it may come as a surprise to you, there are various views on Christ's atonement. J.I. Packer says of penal substitution:

The notion which the phrase penal substitution expresses is that Jesus Christ our Lord, moved by a love that was determined to do everything necessary to save us, endured and exhausted the destructive divine judgment for which we were otherwise inescapably destined, and so won us forgiveness, adoption and glory. To affirm penal substitution is to say that believers are in debt to Christ specifically for this, and that this is the mainspring of all their joy, peace and praise both now and for eternity.

I agree.

Lord willing, I will return to the same classroom next week to hear Greg Boyd articulate his view of Christ's atoning work, Christus Victor. You may recognize Boyd's name as one of the leading proponents of Open Theism (with which I totally disagree). Open Theism is built on a very faulty premise, such as:

It is the teaching that God has granted to humanity free will and that in order for the free will to be truly free, the future free will choices of individuals cannot be known ahead of time by God.

Here are a few excerpts from the Christus Victor article linked above:

Jesus life and death was not the fulfillment of a legal system, it was the fulfillment of the relational model of love.

God did not require Jesus' death. Hate killed Jesus when he stood up for love. But God used this tragedy to bring about life.

Sin was not overcome through a payment to satisfy the Powers, but by God triumphing over the Powers.

My question is not, "Is there some truth in what the Christus Victor view purports?" Of course there is some truth. Jesus was loving. Hateful people killed Jesus. God used the death of Christ to bring about life. God triumphed over the "powers." Ok, but what else? How about, Jesus DID fulfill the legal system (Matthew 5:17-19); God DID require Jesus death - and more, He planned it! (Acts 2:23); Sin WAS overcome through a payment to satisfy God (Romans 3:21-27).

The question pertains to what is central to Christ's atoning work. For a great article on this subject I again commend to you Mark Dever's recent article from Christianity Today Magazine.

Church Planting Helps

I've been helped by this book, this book, this book, and this manual.

Diagraming and Arcing the Word of God

Don't let the title "Biblical Exegesis" scare you away from this helpful method of Scripture study.

Ephesians 1 - (12th Meditation) - "The Life of God in the Soul of Man"

Henry Scougal, a puritan pastor, was vexed by the question, "How can someone know for sure if he belongs to the Lord?" Needless to say, he wasn't content to point to a one-time experience that yeilded little-to-no sanctifying effects. Are you?

The title of Scougal's book, The Life of God in the Soul of Man, is the answer to the question that he realized and embraced after much biblical meditation. The book is simply the fruit of his meditation. Aren't you glad he wrote it! Perhaps you wouldn't be a believer today if he didn't. Think that's an overstatement? Consider your spiritual heritage. Someone had to tell you about Christ...someone had to tell them about Christ...etc...

How does Scougal's book fit into your conversion (assuming you are the Lord's)? Well, the greatest preacher ever to step foot on American soil was converted as a result of reading Scougal's book.

When he was 17 he entered Pembroke College at Oxford in November, 1732. He was gradually drawn from former sinful associates, and after a year, he met John and Charles Wesley and joined the Holy Club. Charles Wesley loaned him a book, The Life of God in the Soul of Man. This book--plus a severe sickness which resulted because of long and painful periods of spiritual struggle--finally resulted in his conversion. This was in 1735. He said many years later:

I know the place...Whenever I go to Oxford, I cannot help running to the spot where Jesus Christ first revealed him- self to me, and gave me the new birth.

If you are a Westerner, you would be hard-pressed to convince any honest historian that Whitefield's influence had no effect on those who have passed the gospel down to you.

Why share this historical aside in a meditation on Ephesians chapter one? Because it is the best way I know of describing the majesty of what God reveals in Ephesians 1:13-14.

Click the verse link above and READ IT SLOWLY. See it? More importantly, can you identify with it?

GOD lives inside of His people! The Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of our inheritance...to the praise of His glory! Believers have GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT living inside of them.

So, Scougal was right.

Q: How can someone know if he belongs to the Lord?
A: "The Life of God is in the soul of the man." - or, God lives in you.

Now would be a good time to be preoccupied with the God of your salvation - who lives within you!

The 13th meditation will be a meditation on 1:13, and will lean on the thesis of Scougal's book; "The worth and excellence of a soul is to be measured by the object of it's love."

Is this true?

Gospel Bloggers

I was greatly blessed by the Together for the Gospel conference in Louisville, KY last week. The main sessions, gospel conversations, sharing Christ with a post-modern guy downtown, and connecting with dozens of old friends was such a blessing.

I also attended a pre-conference session for bloggers and met the authors of these blogs.

Of course we are not endorsing everything you find on these blogs. We trust that you will be able to find much to point you to Christ. To that end, we gladly recommend them for your perusal.

(HT: Timmy Brister)

Ephesians 1 - (11th Meditation) - "The Means of God's Saving Purposes"

Ephesians chapter one prompts me to worship GOD.

We've already considered that genuine salvation, according to Ephesians one, is God's plan to bring us to Himself. He is the goal of His saving purposes. But what means does He uses to bring us to Himself?

When I consider the dual truths that (1) God is holy, and (2) the the way He operates is equally as holy, I am drawn by His Spirit to evaluate my life (See Leviticus 11:44; Psalm 77:13).

Though we may not think about it often, it is needful to meditate on the fact that God's modus operandi is holiness. He is holy in His person, and He is holy in His actions. Not only does He want to bring us to Himself (goal) but He also wants to bring us to Himself by holy measures (means). What sort of means could possibly be as holy as Himself? Ephesians answers this question, but first, think about this...

Paris Reidhead, in his classic sermon, Ten Shekles and a Shirt, accurately asessed a crucial problem in our religious climate when he spoke against "utilitarian religion," "a useful God," and "expedient Christianity." Reidhead was arguing against the thought of a "Christian" using God as a means for selfish gain rather than the his most desired End. I agree with Reidhead's asessment. But, have you ever felt the weight of God's means to get us to Himself?

Now to our question. Ephesians teaches us that there is a sense in which the Bible clearly portrays God BOTH as the End (He is the Goal) of our salvation AND the means (He is the way to get to the Goal). Otherwise, there would be no adequate answer to the question. Only God is as holy as God. Therefore, only God could be the means that bring us to God. Now worship as Ephesians unfolds this great truth.

In Ephesians chapter one, the Holy Spirit describes the means with God uses to bring us to Himself in an abundantly clear fashion. I marveled this morning as I meditated on these verses:

He (The Father) chose us in Him (the Son) - Ephesians 1:4

Clearly, in the verse above, the Son is the Means through which God chose us (see also, John 14:6 for another familiar verse where Christ offers a similiar description of Himself as the Means by which a person comes to God as the Great End of salvation).

Notice the litany of verses in Ephesians chapter one that show Christ to be God's means to get us to Himself.

He (The Father) predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself - Ephesians 1:5

The glory of His (The Father's) grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Christ) - Ephesians 1:6-7

In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses - Ephesians 1:7

He (The Father) made known to us the mystery of His will (The Father's), according to His (The Father's) kind intention which He (The Father) purposed in Him (Christ) - Ephesians 1:9

Ephesians chapter one displays Jesus Christ ("Very God of Very God" - Nicene Creed) as the means of God's saving purposes.

Here's how my heart is prompted to worship God as I consider Christ as God's means for our salvation:

As we grow in our awareness of what we are saved from (The Righteous wrath of GOD) and what we are saved to (Eternal fellowship with GOD), then we will increasingly marvel at HOW God has chosen to save us(GOD provided His only Son, Jesus Christ)!

Treasuring Christ Together

We give praise to God for Bethlehem Baptist Chruch.

On Sunday, April 23rd, the congreation of Bethlehem voted unanimously to graft Grace Church in to their "Treasuing Christ Together" (TCT) church planting vision, as well as assist Grace Church financially.

Join us in saying thank You to the Lord for yet another tangible piece of evidence that the He is calling Grace Church into existence!

Favorite Hymn?

I will be enjoying the Together for the Gospel conference this week in Louisville, KY. As a result, I will not be adding any posts to Solus Christus. Instead, would you comment on this post with the lyrics to your favorite hymn? I'll begin...

(Hint: You can copy/paste hymn lyrics from this site).

Ephesians 1 - (10th Meditation) - "The End of God's Saving Purposes"

Our last meditation on Ephesians 1:1-14 sought to worship God by seeing the ground for which He set His saving purposes on His people. This meditation will seek to lovingly and worshipfully embrace His goal for saving us.

Ephesians chapter one is untouchable. A great deal of the chapter is given to what is known as the mysterious work of God in salvation. In other words, Ephesians one discusses the aspect of our salvation that we have absolutely nothing to do with - that which occurred in eternity past!

As we've considered (8th Meditation), God was motivated by love to predestine us to adoption as sons (v.5). There is nothing unloving about predestination - it is the work of God wrought in love!

We also considered that there were several ground reasons, or motives (9th Meditation), that God was moved to lovingly predestine us. Yes, something preceded even our being predestined (v.5) and chosen (v. 4).

That "something" was, as Paul said; "the kind intention of God's will" (v. 5), "the riches of God's grace" (v. 7), "God's kind intention which He purposed in Christ" (v. 9), "God's purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will" (v. 11).

BUT WHY? WHAT IS GOD'S CHIEF END, OR PRIMARY GOAL, IN OUR SALVATION? WHERE IS IT ALL HEADING?

I'm glad you asked! Paul uses five statements between verses 4-14 that clearly answer our question. Apostle Paul, take it away...

That we would be holy and blameless before Him (v. 4) (See also, 7th Meditation).

.

That we will eternally praise the glory of His grace (v. 5).

That all things will be summed up in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth(v. 10).

To the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory(v. 12).

That the Pledge of our inheritance that was given to us (THE HOLY SPIRIT!) will result in our being redeemed as God's own possession, to the praise of His glory!(v. 14).

Who Raised Jesus - The Answer

In a recent post, I asked the question, "Who raised Jesus from the dead?"

The overwhelming majority of texts clearly point to God the Father as the answer. Did any of you come across this verse?

Seems like the Father and Spirit participated together in the most cataclysmic event in the history of the world.

The LORD is risen! The LORD is risen indeed!

Grace Church Co-Pastor Team

We are still asking the Lord for over 500 intercessors BEFORE we begin the planting efforts this Fall in Memphis. Willing?

Bryan - Jordan - Nathan

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

We all know the second greatest commandment. Here's a site that will help you see if you can keep it.

(HT: Kenny Moore)

From Naïve...To Arrogant...To "Not so Fast!"

When I was first introduced to the Puritans (1996), I was discouraged. Primarily, the discouragement rose due to the lack of "puritanesqe" believers I encountered in contemporary culture. Unfortunately, I began to draw some very naïve (or more accurately; very arrogant) conclusions such as:

1. No one today is putting out theological treatments like the Puritans (This may be true).

Then, it quickly digressed to...

2. No one today is writing anything worth reading for Christians when it comes to theological accuracy and life application.


Then, all sorts of unhealthy conclusions could be surmised, such as:

3."I must save the day."

See the fallacy? (I'm assuming that you also are not interested in being an island unto yourself, but are actually seeking to benefit from the help of others - by reading helpful Christian literature).

Thank the Lord for pride-shattering wake up calls, like the one He gave to Elijah in I Kings 19.

You see, I was quickly succuming to the age-old "Messiah Complex." I was going to have to 'save the world from its terrible plight of having no one alive today pointing people to the richness of God's Word.'

Maybe you've also been duped by pride into singing Elijah's sob story - only to hear the Lord essentially declare, "I'm doing just fine without you."

Well, I'm thankful to now know that MANY are contributing VERY SOLID THEOLOGICAL AND PRACTICAL helps in our day - men who's stature I'll never come close to reaching!

Here's a brief list of contemporaries who have been a blessing to my life through their very solid writings - "of whom the world is not worthy." In random order:

Ligon Duncan
Sinclair Furguson
David Wells
John Piper
John MacArthur
R.C. Sproul
J.I. Packer
D.A. Carson
C.J. Mahaney
Richard Owen Roberts
Al Mohler
Mark Dever
John Stott
Iain Murray
Sam Storms
Wayne Grudem
Tom Schriner
Bruce Ware


And the list could go on! Thank the Lord we are not alone - and more accurately, we're not even leading the charge!

Lest this list be viewed wrongly, I must note that I don't agree with each of these men on every issue. Also keep in mind that the list does't even mention the names of people coming to my mind even now as I type; It can't mention those I've never heard of, but are writing excellent works nonetheless; nor does it mention those who are unable to write (because they might be killed for doing so), like the 1000's of Underground Church Pastors & believers in the 10-40 Window

Who are some of the contemporary authors who are contributing to your pursuit of the God of the Bible?

Jesus is Alive! But, Who raised Him from the Dead?

Thank God that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead! We love a living Savior! He has defeated the power of Satan, sin and death!

In light of Easter, I was blessed last week in meditating on the resurrection, and wanted to pass along a thought to you. In meditating on the great, and central, truth of Christ's resurrection, have you ever thought about Which Person of the Trinity was responsible for exerting the power that raised Christ from the dead?

Before you simply to think, "The Trinity does everything in unison (which is a true statement), therefore there are no distinctions of responsibility within the Godhead (which is a false statement)," it is essential to our faith to know the responsibilities that each Person of the Trinity exercises with respect to our salvation.

For example, it would be wrong, and un-Christian, to say that God the Son (Jesus) sent God the Father to die for our sins on the cross. Biblically speaking, that simply is not the case. So, it is vitally important to understand the roles of each Person of the Trinity in order to remain orthodox.

So, which Person of the Trinity exerted the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead?

A) Was Christ raised from the dead by His own power?
B) Was Christ raised from the dead by the power of God the Father?
C) Was Christ raised from the dead by the power of God the Holy Spirit?
D) All of the above?
E) The Scripture does not tell us the answer, and we should not spend our energies trying to discern the matter.

In order to provoke others to meditate with you, please supply verse references with your response when possible. Come on, don't be shy.

Interesting Site

USA - Religious Groups & Denominations by Percentage of Population

(HT: My Brother)

Mark Dever on Substitutionary Atonement & A Clarification

Mark Dever has contributed a wonderful article to Christianity Today on the issue of Christ's Substitutionary Atonement.

I asked Mark what he intended to communicate by his last line in the article, which reads:

Like Chad, we would do well to accept our guilt and admire God's grace, to let the Holy Spirit encourage us by the Savior's self-denying love to follow his example, and to savor God's love to us in this almost incredible sacrifice.

My question to Mark was:

What did you mean by "almost incredible sacrifice"? Your statement can be taken two ways - 1) Not quite incredible enough to be incredible, or - 2) Very incredible, but believable.

This is Mark's helpful clarification:

Dear Jordan,
The CT article as printed is correct. I was using “incredible” not as “very good” but as “unable to be believed” (as in, ‘this is SO GOOD it is ALMOST beyond being able to be believed’, like when we say something is “too good to be true”). Does that help?
Hope you’re well. It was great meeting you.
Your brother,
Mark D.

How The Apostle Paul Prayed for Christians

Ephesians 1:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, will give the believers a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Christ.

That believers would know the hope of our calling, the riches of the glory of God's inheritance in the saints.

That believers would know the surpassing greatness of God's power toward us who believe, in accordance with the strength of God's might - which He exerted in raising Christ from the dead and giving Christ all authority.

If this sort of prayer is answered, then surely ten-thousand lesser requests would be met as well! Let's join Paul in praying "big-hearted" prayers for one another as we plead for God to be glorified by Christ being treasured more!

Ephesians 1:1-14

If you've recently joined the Solus Christus conversation, here are the links to our Ephesians 1:1-14 series:

1st Meditation
2nd Meditation
3rd Meditation
4th Meditation
5th Meditation
6th Meditation
7th Meditation
8th Meditation
9th Meditation

Are you thinking about theologically straight-laced passionate devotional singing in Christian corporate worship?

Thinking about what you sing, and why you sing it, in corporate worship is important. Below are the links from several well-known Christian leaders who are having an ongoing converstation of sorts concerning a popular song titled, "Draw me close to You."

Each author also defends his perspective of what makes a corporate worship song helpful (or unhelpful).

First, Chuck Colson's article in Christianity Today started the conversation.

Then, Sam Storms "respectfully disagrees" with Chuck Colson's CT article.

Then, Justin Taylor agrees with Sam Storms' "respectful disagreement" to Chuck Colson's CT Article.

Then, Tim Challies "respectfully disagrees" with Justin Taylor's & Sam Storms' "respectful disagreement" to Chuck Colson's article.

Finally, Bob Kauflin responds to all of the responses linked above with his own take on the matter.

What is your perspective?

The Next Generation

The Prayer Vigil was a good/bad experience.

GOOD: Praying with about 400 others for unborn babies was powerful - especially on the sidewalk of the largest abortion clinic in the Twin Cities.

BAD: Seeing a host of Pro-Choice demonstrators on the opposite end of the sidewalk - and several "clients" enter the facility.

Let's continue to join the Psalmist in his plea:

Psa. 78:6 That the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,and arise and tell them to their children!

Good Friday Prayer Vigil

Tomorrow morning at 10:30, Lord willing, I will have the privilge of sharing a meditation from Isaiah 52:13-15 at the annual Pro-Life Action Ministries Good Friday Prayer Vigil.

The vigil is specifically designed to pray for the unborn, their parents, and those who's vocation is to end the life of the unborn. The vigil will be held on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion clinic in the Twin Cities.

My heart's desire is for people to be saved, deep emotional wounds to be healed, and gospel relationships to be established with the unbeliving.

May God be pleased to use Isaiah's description of Christ's mangled body from Isaiah 52-53 to bring eternal healing through His wounds! (This passage was written by Isaiah 700 years before Christ was born!)

"So His appearance was marred more than any man (52:14); He was despised and forsaken of men (53:2); He was pierced through for our transgressions (53:5); And by His wounds we are healed (53:5); But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering (53:10); As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant will justify the many, as he will bear their iniquities (53:11); Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors (53:12)"

The "CCC"

The abreviation "CCC" is probably used for many things. In my life, for the last 10 years, it has stood for the "Clyde Cranford Challenge."

Early in my discipleship with Clyde, he challenged me to know the contents of every chapter in the Bible, or at least the key theme of each chapter. Wow. Needless to say, I've not mastered this challenge yet. The thought has resurfaced in my mind many times lately, so I've developed an Excel sheet that has a space for every chapter in the Bible. Hopefully, I'll be further along next month than I am now.

If it were a "closed Bible" quiz, how much of the spreadsheet could you fill in today?

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

Mobilizing churches to be missions-engaged churches is implicit in the Great Commission. The object of "make disciples," in Matthew 28:18-20 is "pante ta ethne" (Translated: "of all the nations"; "of all the peoples"; "of all the ethnic groups").

If a church is content to exist as a homologous unit in terms of her racial, ethnic, economic, and social makeup, then isn't Jesus simply relegated to being that church's tribal deity? If the Jesus we love and worship "doesn't work" for other peoples, then haven't we minimized His global redemptive purposes to fit into our own man-made paradigms?

The Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course has served well to mobilize many churches around the world to engage in being a truly missional organism. Seeing the world from God's perspective is integral to loving the peoples of the world with the gospel. Perspectives is a course designed to help Christians do just that - see the world from God's Perspective. We look forward to offering Perspectives, or something similar, as soon as possible at Grace Church.

May God be pleased to mobilize many members of Grace Church through the years to engage in planting churches among the unreached peoples of the world!

Ephesians 1 - (9th Meditation) - "The Dominating Theme"

I was blessed to be able to participate in the Stephen Olford Center for Biblical Preaching in the summer of 1998. The high regard for expository preaching held by the late Dr. Olford was a strong shaping influence on my view of preaching. Among so many helpful things I learned that summer, one stands out to me more than any other. Dr. Olford taught that students of the Bible should search for three key elements in every passage of Scripture. (Of course his teaching was presented in an alliterated outline - as were the 1000's of sermons he preached prior to his death). He taught that the three key elements one should look for are:

1. The Dominating Theme (Hence, the title of this post)
2. The Integrating Thoughts (Which support the dominate theme)
3. The Motivating Thrusts (Which are usually applications of the dominate theme)

If you were to use this study approach for Ephesians 1:3-14, what would be the dominating theme?

There are so many themes repeated in this chapter it may be difficult to discern the dominating theme. Moreover, it is likely that there are several equal dominate themes in this text.

My evaluation of the dominating theme of this text would be linked to the ground (or, foundation) for why God has shown us mercy in Christ AND to the goal (or, reason) for which God has shown mercy to us in Christ.

For the purposes of this meditation, let's consider the ground, and in our next meditation, the goal.

What is the fountain out of which all of the blessings of our salvation flow? According to Paul in Ephesians one, the answer is:

* "The kind intention of God's will" (v. 4)
* "The riches of God's grace" (v. 7)
* "God's kind intention" (v. 9)
* "The purpose of God" (v. 11)


Again, there are so many lofty themes presented in chapter one, but these thoughts seem to be the reason everything else in the text happens. Even being chosen (v. 4), and predestined (v. 5, 11), and redemption (v. 7), and forgiveness (v. 7), all flow out of the four themes mentioned above (Which I would argue, are really ONE theme).

The theme of Ephesians 1:3-14 (remember, this is one sentence in Greek), is the amazingly free exercise of GOD to predestine, choose, redeem, and forgive His own because of His own "grace," "purpose," and "kind intention" (the KJV renders "kind intention" as, "good pleasure," which I really like better).

It is difficult to refrain from writing the 10th meditation now, which will deal with the goal of God's free agency to act in such a sinner-saving way! Stay tuned...

How to Fold a Shirt

Can you do this?

All Nations Christian Fellowship

ANCF is the newest church plant from Bethlehem Baptist Church (March '06). They are one month old and God is doing many amazing things in and through this congregation already. Today, in an effort to continue to promote kinship between the two churches, the BBC staff meeting was held at ANCF's rented offices.

I thank the Lord for the way "mother" and "daughter" rejoiced in God's grace today!

It is such a powerful testimony to see two churches sharing the same vision of GOD and a passion for the lost. I commend to you the ministry of ANCF. You can hear Pastor Sherard Burns' sermons, and find many other helpful resources on their website.

We are thankful to the Lord for Bethlehem's role in planting Grace Church, and for our older sister, All Nations Christian Fellowship!

Passage, Click, "Waah-laah"

The Bible Commentary feature on the Ethereal Library site is very user-friendly. Just type a book, chapter, and verse and hit enter. Immediately there are a number of commentaries at your disposal, as well as several alternate English translations of the verse.

Several of the commentaries are very solid. I especially recommend Charles Hodges' work.

New Home

It appears official. The Thomas family will be closing on a new home in Memphis in May, and moving in late June.

Keep the Sawyer's in your prayers as they are trying to sell their home.

Peace Maker Ministries

I'm participating in a two-day Christian Mediation Training Practicum with Peace Maker Ministries this weekend. Excellent training.

Several months ago, the Peace Maker Resources informed the Constitution of Grace Church to include several clauses about how to handle conflict within Grace Church in a biblical way. Thank God for His word, and for those who help us to live it!

Home Prayer

We believe in prayer at home. But, this post is a request for prayer for a home.

Nathan & April are asking the Lord to sell their home in Covington soon so they will be able to move to downtown with Grace Church.

Tracy & I are praying for the Lord to perform His pleasure with regards to a home in downtown that has piqued our interest.

We praise the Lord that Bryan & Angie have been blessed with a rental home in West Memphis, which the Lord provided through friends of Grace Church.

Thanks for praying!

Ephesians 1 - (8th Meditation) - "Divine Motive"

"In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself." - Ephesians 1:4-5

A brief technical aside:

This verse is a classic example of how punctuation and verse numbering in the New Testament are not inspired. The NT was written in Koine Greek (Common Greek), in all CAPITAL LETTERS, WITHNOSPACINGBETWEENANYOFTHEWORDS
ORANYPUNCTUATIONATTHEENDOFSENTENCES. Weird huh? Well beyond seeming weird to us, it probably provided many difficulties in translation.

Thankfully, the thousands of existing manuscripts of Greek NT writings have been rigorously scrutinized through the science called textual criticism. The Greek New Testament text used in Seminaries today is a product of this scrutiny, and has been supplied with upper and lower case characters, punctuation, and a footnoted apparatus explaining the nuances found in other existing NT manuscripts.

My reason for noting this technicality in the NT is because the punctuation supplied in the Greek Testament has also carried over into our English translations. Ephesians 1:4-5 is an example of a punctuation boo-boo (That's the technical term:).

The encouraging thing, at least to me, is that you don't have to know Greek to pick up on many of these situations. Just meditate on each word of a good English translation of the NT (like the New American Standard, or the English Standard Version), and you too can see the mistake. In some cases, the punctuation does make a difference in what you believe, and therefore, how you worship.

In all of the English translations of Ephesians, the words "In love" are the last two words of verse four. However, they should be the first two words of verse five. Instead of reading, "...that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love," I think it should read, "In love He predestined us to adoption as son through Jesus Christ to Himself."

Does it really matter? I think so.

A brief meditation:

If the words, "in love" are the beginning of verse five, as I believe was Paul's intention, then we are gazing into a window of glory that is almost too much to stomach!

What was God's motive for predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ? LOVE! Love was His motive!

Why does God love? Because He does!

There was nothing else in existence except for the Triune God when He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself (see verse four)! He didn't predestine us because we did something good, or because He "looked into the future" and saw that we would choose Him. He just loved! Because He loved, He lovingly predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself!

Let the love of our loving God stimulate us to bless Him!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."

Details

Thank you for your prayers for our pastoral team. We are in the midst of a long discussion pertaining to several minute details related to Grace Church.

We are aware of the spiritual nature of all of life, but will be happy when we can devote more attention to matters that we are more engergized about!

We sense the Lord's help in our discussions, thank you for your prayers!

Birthday Girls

My oldest daughter, Taylor, and my wife of 95.616448% of 7 years, Tracy, both celebrated birthday's last week. I love 'em!

Taylor, your parents love you, and thank God for you! Our chief desire for you is that you will belong wholly to the Lord forever!

Tracy, you are wonderful! I thank God for your love for Him and your love for your five children (including Caleb (due in May) and me!)!

Happy Birthday Girls!

Monergism

We've already highlighted this site on Solus Christus. But I couldn't help doing so again! Are you kidding me? There's enough here to suffice for a lifetime of fruitful study! And very solid too!

Monergism.com

Enjoying God

Sam Storms is the president of Enjoying God Ministries based in Kansas City. He's in Minneapolis this weekend and next, Lord willing, preaching at Bethlehem during John Piper's sabbatical. Along with two other pastors from Bethlehem, I was privileged to have dinner with Sam after tonight's Saturday Evening Service and was greatly benefitted as we discussed as wide range of theological topics. He is truly a gift to the Kingdom, and I commend His writings, sermons, and conference ministry to you.

Enjoying God Ministries

Ephesians 1 - (7th Meditation) - Why?

Ephesians 1:4 - "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him."

Solus Christus exists to glorify God by treasuring Jesus Christ and spreading His eternal joy.

We see this as the theme of Bible.

God enables unworthy criminals to be acquitted, equipped, and inspired to glorify Him through faith in His Son, Who died a substitutionary death for His people and rose victoriously from the dead proving both (a) His ability to justify sinners before God and (b) His absolute reign over all things. The primary way God is glorified in such redeemed sinners is when they, by grace, ever-increasingly prize Jesus Christ as the most dazzling Person in existence. The primary evidence of glorifying God by treasuring His Son is displayed through a life surrendered to advancing Christ's kingdom until He returns. Or, in short, we exist to glorify God by treasuring Jesus Christ and spreading His eternal joy.

This truth is also packed into Ephesians 1:4.

Q: Why did God the Father chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world?
A: That we should be holy and blameless before Him!

I worship as I consider the weight of this truth.


God, before creating the world, chose (1:4) to share His joy with something outside of Himself. That's amazing!

God, in "eternity past" although completely satisfied in His Triune relationships, and wholly Self-sufficient lacking nothing, chose (1:4) us in Christ before the foundation of the world. That's amazing!

Jonathan Edwards saw two causes for this choosing, one primary and the other secondary. According the Edwards the primary cause for God's choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world is owing to the value God places on the relationship He has with Himself. The secondary result of God's valuing His Triune relationship was spilt over in creation. He valued the relationship which lead to creation. I think Edward's nailed it! Notice also, that Ephesians 1:4 teaches us that God chose us "before" He founded the world, which excludes the possiblity that He decided to save us after the Fall! It was before creation, much less the Fall. That's amazing!

But Why??? So much remains shrouded in mystery--and thank God for an eternity to unpack it!--but much is clearly revealed for us in God's Word.

"That we should be holy and blameless before Him!"

That statement reveals three reasons that God chose us in Christ! Only Christ could (1) present us holy, (2) present us blameless, and (3) only Christ could accomplish the goal of our salvation which is to bring us before God! That, I think, is the goal of our salvation! To bring us to God holy and blameless--otherwise, you can't come before Him. But in Christ, we too can enjoy rejoicing in God for eternity--which is what He's been doing for all eternity! That's amazing!

I Peter 3:18 - "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God..."

Ephesians 1 - (6th Meditation) - Who & When

This is the 6th meditation in our series. Now we are beginning to walk through 1:3-14 verse by verse and allow the Word of God to provoke us to worship!

Verse three is the fountain of the following 11 verses.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."

Verse three is the fountain of the following 11 verses because the next 11 verses provide additional explanations of verse three's amazing assertion!

Paul is answering the question "Who" in verse three. Who should be praised? The answer is God!

In other words, Paul is shouting to his Ephesian readers, "God be praised! Bless God! Bless Him because He's blessed you! God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing by giving you His Son, so bless Him! All of the blessings that were within God's unlimited reach ("in the heavenly places") have come to you in Christ, so bless Him! What are you waiting for? Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!"

In an earlier meditation we've already noted that verses 3-14 is one long sentence in the Greek. The run-on form of this sentence, in my estimation, is an indication of Paul's preoccupation with God (i.e., worship) during the moment he was being the Holy Spirit's inspired conduit of such breathtaking soteriological Himalayas. So my guess is that Paul's emanuensis was probably hearing Paul SHOUT this series of propostitions as he was worshipfully declaring what was to be written. If the Word is intended to compel us to worship God through Christ in the power of the Spirit, then surely the orginal reception of the inspired Word caused the inspired human author to worship too! Oh, that we would be as awe-struck by the Sovereign God of our salvation as Paul was in this text!

Verse three answers "Who" is to be worshipped. The answer is God!

Verse four answers "When" God planned to allow us to enjoy worshipping Him.

"Just as He (God the Father) chose us in Him (Jesus Christ) before the foundation of the world..."

Are you worshipping yet?

Humble Pie

Hat's off to Bryan who won our Grace Church NCAA bracket challenge. Nate, we'll let him know in a few years that we let him win.

Good pickin' B!

Slow Blogging

Sorry for the infrequent posts of late. As I noted earlier, I spent the last week in D.C. We are having a great time this week as Tracy's family is in town.

Thanks for your prayers for our pastoral team. We plan to speak at length tonight via conference call. We touched base with each other on Monday evening and rejoiced as we discussed how each of us are experiencing much of God's grace devotionally. Thanks for your prayers!

Belize

The Lord was so good and so gracious to us during our time in Belize, Central America. He granted us opportunities to share the gospel with people we visited in area villages and we pray that the Spirit would awaken them to the central truth of the gospel, namely the glory of God through the person and work of Christ.

It was also encouraging that two of our students expressed stronger desires to give their life 'magnifying God among the nations'. We praise the Lord for your prayers.

T4G

Hope you're checking the Together for the Gospel Blog fairly regularly. More, I hope you'll be able to attend the conference!

T4G Blog
T4G Site

Weekender

I Thank God for the Capitol Hill Baptist Church, in Washington, D.C. This congregation loves Christ and is being led by elders who are "worthy of double honor" (I Timothy 5:17). By God's grace I was able to attend a tri-annual event hosted by CHBC this past weekend called the "Weekender." The forty or so pastors, non-staff elders, church leaders, and seminarians in attendance were privileged to observe a healty church in action, and more, interact in what seemed like uninterupted perpetuation with the leaders of CHBC throughout the weekend. Although this is nearly the twentieth time CHBC has hosted this event, the elders, and other church leaders, gave us virtually all of their attention from the time we arrived (Thursday), until the time we left (Monday). These men served us constantly with their time, teaching, prayers, example, and dialogue. I trust that Christ will be praised and pleased with more "deliberate" biblical fidelity in Memphis among the future congregation of Grace Church due to my opportunity to enjoy this great weekend of worship and training on Capitol Hill. (The title of one of the 9 Marks Ministries books is, "The Deliberate Church").

Ephesians 1 - (5th Meditation) - "Christ"

For our 5th meditation on Ephesians chapter one, I'd like to highlight the key Subject of the chapter (which is the same key subject of every portion of Scripture!). I count 15 references that give us a clue to the main point of chapter one:

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love
5He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him
11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Owen Intro - #1

(See last post for explanation):

"There are signs today of a new upsurge of interest in the theology of the Bible: a new readiness to test traditions, to search the Scriptures and to think through the faith. It is to those who share this readiness that Owen's treatise is now offered, in the belief that it will help us in one of the most urgent tasks facing evangelical Christendom today - the recovery of the gospel."

"Without realizing it, we have during the past century bartered that gospel for a substitute product which, though it looks similar enough in points of detail, is as a whole a decidedly different thing. Hence our troubles; for the substitute product does not answer the ends for which the authentic gospel has in past days proved itself so mighty. Why? We would suggest that the reason lies in its own character and content. It fails to make men God-centered in their thoughts and God-fearing in their hearts because this is not primarily what it is trying to do. One way of stating the difference between it and the old gospel is to say that it is too exclusively concerned to be 'helpful' to man - to bring peace, comfort, happiness, satisfaction - and too little concerned to glorify God. The old gospel was 'helpful', too - more so, indeed, than is the new - but (so to speak) incidentally, for its first concern was always to give glory to God. It was always and essentially a proclamation of divine sovereignty in mercy and judgment, a summons to bow down and worship the mighty Lord on whom man depends for all good, both in nature and in grace. Its center of reference was unambiguously God. But in the new gospel the center of reference is man. This is just to say that the old gospel was religious in a way that the new gospel is not. Whereas the chief aim of the old was to teach people to worship God, the concern of the new seems limited to making them feel better. The subject of the old gospel was God and his ways with men; the subject of the new is man and the help God gives him. There is a world of difference. The whole perspective and emphasis of gospel preaching has changed."

"Accordingly, the themes of man's natural inability to believe, of God's free election being the ultimate cause of salvation, and of Christ dying specifically for his sheep are not preached. These doctrines, it would be said, are not 'helpful'; they would drive sinners to despair, by suggesting to them that it is not in their own power to be saved through Christ. (The possibility that such despair might be salutary is not considered: it is taken for granted that it cannot be, because it is so shattering to our self-esteem.) However this may be (and we shall say more about it later), the result of these omissions is that part of the biblical gospel is now preached as if it were the whole of that gospel; and a half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth."

"Thus, we appeal to men as if they all had the ability to receive Christ at any time; we speak of his redeeming work as if he had make it possible for us to save ourselves by believing; we speak of God's love as if it were no more than a general willingness to receive any who will turn and trust; and we depict the Father and the Son, not as sovereignly active in drawing sinners to themselves, but as waiting in quiet impotence 'at the door of our hearts' for us to let them in.

"It is undeniable that this is how we preach; perhaps this is what we really believe. But it needs to be said with emphasis that this set of twisted half-truths is something other than the biblical gospel. The Bible is against us when we preach in this way; and the fact that such preaching has become almost standard practice among us only shows how urgent it is that we should review this matter. To recover the old, authentic, biblical gospel, and to bring our preaching and practice back into line with it, is perhaps our most pressing present need. And it is at this point that Owen's treatise on redemption can give us help."

J.I. Packer's 1958 Introduction to John Owen's "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ."

I'm beginning a new series of posts containing powerful quotes from J.I. Packer's Introductory Essay to a 1958 reprinting of John Owen's epic making work, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (From now on the titles in this series will read, "Owen Intro" with a corresponding # indicating which quote it is in the series).

This work from Owen is worth it's weight in gold! The introduction from Packer is of tantamount value!

NCAA with Grace Church

If you would like to join the tourney pool, send me your name and e-mail address and I will send you the group # and password.

I can't believe you called your mom so she would vote for you, JT, all-time low. I will have to call mine now, and maybe even the mother-in-law.

Notice yahoo! sports experts picked Arkansas to make it to the Sweet 16, before you Memphis fans hastily make your picks. By the way JT, is Minnesota in the NIT or are the folks up north silent this time of year. Also, did I mention the Hogs play their first two games in Barnhill South, when was the last time we lost in that building?

Soooooie!

5 PM = 0" / 11 AM = 11"

Minneapolis schools very rarely shut down due to snow. However, today was a different story. On Sunday evening, March 12, at 5:00 PM, there was no snow on the ground, and no snow falling from the sky. Monday morning, March 13, at 11:00 AM there was approximately 11 inches of snow covering our back yard and snow was still falling from the sky! There are some places were the drifts are over two feet deep! Needless to say, all schools are closed and many kids are happy - especially three kids I know who don't go to school anyway. Of course, everyone has had enough of it already and now we're inside drinking hot chocolate.

Pick Your Pastor

The "March Madness" NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament is the best sporting event there is! Then, when you think it is all over..."One Shining Moment" breaks forth! Is this heaven?

Our pastoral team from Grace Church is competing against one another in the infamous bracket pool. Which pastor do you think will come out on top? Pastor Bryan? Pastor Nathan? Pastor Jordan?

(Hint #1: The preceding names of Grace Church pastors crescendo in order of who will win).
(Hint #2: There will be NO upsets).

Please "pick your pastor" by commenting below along with a brief rationale for your pick.

"Emerging Church Movement"

Maybe you've never heard of "The Emerging Church Movement?" You will. Hopefully you will not be pulled into it's savvy way of making concepts such as "relational" and "missional" the idols of your heart.

The "movement," though difficult to define, is anti-ecclesiological, non-authoritarian, non-propositional, non-sermonic, Scripture-doubting, and in most cases, non-evangelical.

Like many things that our culture is sucked into, this "movement" has all of the emotional tags that would appeal to almost any person in America's younger generations (and, unfortunately, many in the older generations too).

Before you become the next proponent for an unhealthy thing, you should read this helpful critique of the "Emerging Church Movement."

50 Reasons

Here's a great offer from Desiring God Ministries that is designed to help us "give away our faith."

Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

Go...that His Name be great among the Nations

Lord willing, I, along with 11 other people will leave early tomorrow morning for a mission trip to Belize, Central America. Included in this group will be 8 high school students I teach, who have never been on a mission trip. This trip will consist primarily of going village to village to proclaim the Gospel, as well as, various mercy ministries of distibuting clothes and food. I have been given the opportunity to preach at a bak-a-bush (bush church) on Sunday. Would you join with us in praying that the God of the Bible that we go to proclaim would make much of His Son Jesus Christ and would cause His Name 'from the rising to the setting of the sun to be great among the nations' (Mal.1:11)
'This is eternal life. That they may know you, the only God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent'. John 17:3
Team Members
Alan Hill,Beth Turner,Brittany McIntosh,Gabe Rivera Heather Mashburn,Jessica Stapleton,Jessica Wynn,Justin Smith,Richard Glenny, Jamie Sawyer, Roger Sawyer, and Nathan Sawyer

First Tuesday Fast

There is a (good) tradition at Bethlehem Baptist Church called "First Tuesday Fast." The office staff, and any others who can join them, skip lunch the first Tuesday of each month and pray together for Jesus to come back! Very biblical, very soul-stirring. I recommend implementing something like this into your life as a regular pattern - until He comes!

Scripture Memory - Yes You Can!

Previously, on Solus Christus, I highlighted a helpful Scripture memory tool. Because I'm learning of an increasing number of believers who are benefitting from this memory pattern I'd like to highlight it again. You can find it here. (Click the "writings" tab on the left side, then click "An Extended Guide to Scripture Memory").


For those of you who are thinking you can't memorize Scripture, I'd guess this tool will help you be able to memorize at least five verses per week. Of course, you must heed the admonishon to depend wholly upon the Spirit of Lord for the grace to do it!

Monergism

Read the subheading on this site to know what "monergism" is. I agree!

Even though I've been recommending many websites to you recently, I couldn't pass up recommending this one as well. A wealth of great stuff! Once again, this is a site you should peruse liberally!

Robert Murray McCheyene

One of my favorite saints of yesteryear is Robert Murray McCheyne. Although he died at age 29, he had a tremendous satisfaction in Christ! As I quickly approach my 29th birthday, I'm challenged by saints like McCheyne to make good use of this "vapor" of a lifetime!

This is a solid poem written by McCheyne after he read a sermon by Richard Baxter entitled, "A Call to the Unconverted."

This is a site devoted to the preservation of Robert Murray McCheyne's work. You should spend some time playing on this site to acquaint yourself with one of those many men, "of whom the world was not worthy." (Hebrews 11:38).

Enjoy!

Clyde Cranford

Clyde Cranford died in the year 2000 after spending the last eight years of his life making disciples and pouring the last five years of his life into me. I am deeply indebted to Clyde, and thank God for all of His grace to me through him!

I happily recommend Clyde's book, Because We Love Him: Embracing a Life of Holiness, to you. Many of you know that I was able to have this book published posthumously through Multnomah Publishers.

Ephesians 1 (4th meditation) - "Blessings In Christ"

In this series of meditations on Ephesians chapter one, I've already focused on selected phrases in verses one through three. The three previous meditations can be seen here: (#1), (#2), and (#3).

Now, I'd like to worship with you, in this fourth meditation, as we consider the weight of Ephesians 1:3-14 as a whole.

First, we will be helped to realize that verses three through fourteen were originally ONE LONG SENTENCE! The Apostle Paul would have miserably failed HS English class because of his propensity to use run-on sentences (c.f. Eph 3:14-21). However, God defies man-made rules, and shows that explosive-spontaneous-Christ-exalting-worship knows no lexicographical boundaries! Thank God that the writers of Scripture were FIRST worshippers, and a distant second, concerned with grammatical constraints. (It should be noted that the Apostle Paul, though weak in speech (see, II Cor 10:10), was an author par excellence!)

In the upcoming mediations I plan to unpack some of what follows. But for now, drink deep in meditation on the following list of "blessings in Christ" which are all found in verses three through fourteen of Ephesians chapter one:

(Note: Each of these blessings are flowing out of the key promise in verse three that we, "HAVE ALREADY been given every every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places IN CHRIST!")

1. Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world! (v. 4)
2. Chosen in Christ...to be holy! (v. 4)
3. Chosen in Christ...to be blameless before God! (v. 4)
4. Predestined for adoption as God's sons & daughters through Christ! (v. 5)
5. Blessed with all of God's grace in Christ (v. 6)
6. Redemption through Christ's blood! (v. 7)
7. Forgiveness of our trespasses through Christ's blood! (v. 7)
8. The wise and insightful purposes of God's will, which was set forth in Christ (v. 8-9)
9. Cosmic uniting of all things in heaven and on earth in Christ (v. 10)
10. Inheritance in Christ (v. 11)
11. Predestination in Christ according to the purpose of God who works everything after the counsel of His own will! (v. 11)
12. Hope in Christ (v. 12)
13. The praise of the glory of God is our privilege in Christ (v. 12)
14. Upon belief in Christ, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit, Who is the Guarantee of our inheritance in Christ (v. 13)
15. The praise of the glory of God is our Spirit-enabled privilege in Christ (v. 14)

Unexpected Growth

1 Corinthians 1:27
"but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong."

I want to encourage everyone to continue to be faithful in sharing the truth found in God's Word, which may often seem to be falling on empty ears. This morning, I had a student who is often made fun of for his physical stature, and for being slow, pray something similar to this, "Father may others see that You do everything just for You."

It's amazing what he has retained and what glorious truth He has prayed for the last couple of weeks, and this from the mind of an 8th grade boy often accused of being slow.

Join me in praying for the continued spiritual growth of Matt, and the blessed promise that God will continue to use my foolish and weak vessel to speak the truth to him.

Seen This?

I've seen this link in about a dozen places in the last two days, so maybe you've already seen it too? If not, you should.

Autistic H.S. Senior is leading scorer on Senior Night!

Invisible Children

Here's a riveting documentary of child abduction in Uganda. May God fight for these precious children as others are trying to force them to fight! I plan to watch the film at Bethlehem next month and give feedback on Solus Christus.

And the Answer Is...

I radically affirm a sentence I just read in a book. I wonder what you would put in the following blank. (Hint- the answer is not, "addition of more shiny things").

"There's only one thing that's biblically necessary for building the church, and that's the _____________________."

What would you put in this blank? I'll post the book's answer, which is also the answer I affirm, sometime soon. Happy biblical thinking!

Please post answers by clicking the link at the bottom right hand side of this post

Comments?

If you find anything noteworthy on this blog, please supply a comment below our posts. You can simply click on the word "comments" below the post. We hope for you to use this blog as a source of interaction around many helpful subjects. Your thoughts will help stimulate others to gain insights on what you've enjoyed. Many blogs have multiple comments on every post, so don't be shy!

Getting the Gospel Right!

I gladly recommend to you the ministry of Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. You should especially check out his easy to read eight page work called "The Centrality of the Gospel" This brief treatment exposes many perilious trappings in our day such as "moralism," "legalism," "hedonism," "religion," and many more. Be helped by this brother's ministry!

Tim Keller will be among a hallmark of evangelical leaders who will be speaking at this Fall's Desiring God National Conference. Sell your house and quit your job to make it to this conference!

And Thus I Aspired

Romans 15:20
"And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation."

I have been dwelling in Romans 15 lately wrestling with the details of God's call on Paul's life. I am intrigued greatly by the aspiration of Paul to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim the gospel. The statement "And thus" comes from three phrases Paul mentioin earlier in this passage.

1. because of the grace given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. (vs. 15-16)

...and thus I aspire to preach the gospel

2. in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. (v.17)

...and thus I aspire to preach the gospel

3. I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me (v.18)

...and thus I aspire to preach the gospel

The reason Paul aspired to go to the ends of the earth was in Christ Jesus. It wasn't adventure, curiousity, or the challenge of reaching the next major city or country, but Christ alone. May God give us the grace to find reason in Him to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ today.

God-Centered Websites

Here are two God-centered websites that you may want to take advantage of:

EnjoyingGod - A ministry of Sam Storms
EternalPerspectiveMinistries - A ministry of Randy Alcorn

Change of Title

Now I know how to change the title. The previos blog should have been entitled "An Imaginary Friend".

Solus Christus

An Imaginary Friend

This post is so that all will know that Jordan does have a real friend named Bryan Smith.

Jordan has been asking me to post on this blog for some time now, but I for lack of a better excuse, have failed to learn how to blog. Even now as I am typing, I am unsure if this will appear anywhere or if it does appear have no idea where that might be. Three things seem to be certain, death, taxes, and blogging. So here is to Jordan and the blogging fad we all soon will join.

My first post is not quite as spiritual or reflective as the others on this page. Several of my more posh friends have gone before me in this endeavor...Kellee McCoy, Jeff Noble and countless others lead the way in the blogging world. Noble even e-mails you to remind you to read his blog. However, I am willing to succomb to the pressure, even though I remain stellar in my boycott of cell phones, which I have never owned, but often use.

Here's to blogging!

Ephesians 1:3 (3rd Meditation) - "Christ IS 'Every Blessing'"

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3

Meditate on God's inestimable esteem of His Son! When He gave us His Son as our Savior, Lord, and Treasure, in His mind, God gave us "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." That's a mouthful. That's God's perception of the infinite value of His Son! To be loved by God is to have all of the blessings in the heavenly places! To have Christ is to have all blessings in the heavenly places. Christ is the blessing! He is the end, the goal!

Herein lies the heart of Christianity. Is Christ THE Great Attraction of your soul to Christianity?

God indicates that Christ is the source, Christ is the fountain, Christ is the well-spring from which all of His blessings flow! Are you in Him?

God has loved us with the life of His only Son! More, God has given us His resurrected Son to enjoy forever!

How good and pleasant it is

It's true!

Psa. 133:1 - "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"

I thank God for Nathan and Bryan, and that I get to walk beside these brothers in planting Grace Church! We just finished another conference call and God supplied even more of His unifying grace!

The Living Sermon

I love this quote by William Gurnall:

"The Christian's life should put his minister's sermon in print."

For that matter, I love almost every quote on puritansermons.com!

Downtown Memphis

Here's a great site to stay current with social, construction, and governmental developments in downtown Memphis. I trust this will aid you in praying for Grace Church to have an impact on this city for the glory of God!

Oh My!

You must check out this complilation sermon on sermonindex.net entitled "The Revival Hymn!" Be warned, if you are regenerate, you will experience conviction.

Ten Shekles and a Shirt

Click here to listen to one of the best sermons I've ever heard!!! I'm not alone, it is the most listened to sermon on the web with over 30,000 downloads and counting!

This is good stuff!

There are so many good things for FREE on this website! You should be shot for not listening to Pastor John's seminars under the Leadership Education/Pastoral Theology tabs, let alone the other great stuff. Did I mention it is all FREE?

Gender Complementarity

One of the many things I've been able to ponder from a biblical perspective during this year of training is the "equal value but separate roles" given by God to men and women. Both created in the image of God, both of equal significance in the eyes of God. However, in His Word, God has shown the path for gender satisfaction to be very different than what the world (and many churches) are embracing. Here is a helpful site to think through complementarian issues

Helpful Blogs

Here are several blogs that I frequently receive help from.

Between Two Worlds
This blog is authored by Justin Taylor, who was formerly John Piper's theological assistant, and now is the chief editor for the ESV Study Bible at Crossway in Wheaton, IL.

Together for the Gospel
This blog is authored by several leaders who are gifts to Christ's Kingdom in our day (Ligon Duncan, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, and C.J. Mahaney)

Not to us O, Lord
This blog is authored by Anthony Carter who is another wonderful gift to Christ's Kingdom as he is being used to further God's purposes to advance theologically rooted racial harmony!

Don't go overboard, but I trust you'll be helped from clicking on these links from time to time and staying current with important issues in contemporary theology.

The Centrality of the Gospel

Is the gospel of Jesus Christ something that should be believed to "get in" to the faith and then placed aside?

No, the gospel is central not only to justification (entrance into Christianity) but also for sanctification (continuing to grow in grace, evidencing genuine faith), and glorification (being absorbed into the glory of God in heaven). Here are some helpful resources that exalt the centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ for an entire life of faith.

The Cross Centered Life
God is the Gospel
Redemption Accomplished and Applied

Happy reading!

Jesus, what is eternal life?

"to know the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent."
John 17:3

Wonderful Week

Our family enjoyed a wonderful week in Memphis last week. We were in town for a Southern Baptist Church Planter's Assessment. Thankfully, we received a very positive commendation from our assessor. Also, we praise the Lord for Union Avenue Baptist Church as they are in the process of becoming one of our partner churches. I was very blessed to be able to preach on Sunday morning at First Baptist Church of West Memphis as well. Thank you to all who are praying for us! The Lord is stirring our eagerness for Grace Church in every way!

Ephesians 1:2 - (2nd Meditation)

This is the second meditation on Ephesians chapter one.

1:2 - "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Each of Paul's Epistles opens with "Grace to you." This is proof that God's primary means of grace in our life is His written Word! Let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we are desirous of the grace of God in our lives if we are not also diligently seeking Him through His written word. The Word of God is like the great conveyor belt of eternal grace! Live upon it, believe it, pray for eyes to behold the wonders of God in it, and we will be joyful for endless ages! Neglect it, and it will prove to be the most miserable measuring rod on the day of judgment.

"Peace to you" is a wonderful phrase! Paul doesn't say, "Never another non-peaceful circumstance to you," but just, "peace to you!" For the believer, there is no other path to peace than the one marked with difficulty! Over and over again the truth is stated, "...for we rejoice in our sufferings..." (Romans 5:3). What?! It's true, the believing Christian has the grand privilege of being shaped by difficulties, through which God produces greater hope in God (Romans 5:5). Therein lies the only kind of peace that matters! "Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!"

Pronouns are so infinitely important! "OUR Father." Who is the "our" Paul is writing of? The previous verse answers the question. "Those who are faithful in (or, by) Christ Jesus." Indeed, only those who are persevering in the preserving power of the grace of God are those who manifestly have God as their Father! Many can claim God as their Father, but it takes demonstrable living in His grace in order to be included in the Apostle Paul's "our."

Definite articles are infinitely important as well! "THE Lord Jesus Christ." He is THE ONLY Lord! Notice also, that grace and peace are inextricably linked as the provisions of the Trinity. You cannot play favorites with the Persons of the Godhead. He is Three in One, One in Three. Ephesians chapter one is an exaltation of the saving grace of our Triune God (vv 1-14 mentions each Person of the Trinity repetitively).

As I mentioned in the first meditation, I believe the proper translation of verse one would conclude, "...who are faithful BY Jesus Christ." One of the many reasons found in this chapter is here in verse two. We see clearly that grace and peace flow from both the Father and Son toward believers "who are faithful." But why? How was the river of grace opened to us? The reason I believe Christ is mentioned in verse two, instead of only God the Father (Such as in Colossians 1:2, the mirror letter of Ephesians), is because Christ is the one who purchased believers and eternal promises for them through His work on the cross (this is what remains in 1:1-14).

Seeing Christ's finished work on the cross as an ocean of purchased benefits for justification, sanctification, and glorification is what Paul is aiming at. "Grace (yet to come) and peace (yet to come) to you from...the Lord Jesus Christ." Christ has indeed purchased sinners as well as infinite storehouses of grace and peace for them through His death, burial, and resurrection! We are faithful "BY" Christ Jesus!

Ephesians 1 (1st Meditation)

For Solus Christus, I'm beginning a series of brief meditations on Ephesians 1. Here's the first:

Ephesians 1:1 - "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus:"

Apostle literally means, "Sent out one." So Paul's opening statement to the Ephesians could read, "Paul, one sent out by the desire and design of God for the purpose of representing Jesus Christ." Although, in my view, the office of apostleship terminated in the first century, the concept of representing God as His ambassador didn't (II Cor 5:20). An important question for contemporary Christians is, "How is Christ being represented by our lives?"

The possessive word "of" occurs twice in this verse; "...OF Jesus Christ...," and, "...the will OF God..." This clearly signifies that in Paul's mind, Christ was the object of his apostolic mission (the purpose he was sent out), and God was the One who planned his apostleship (the cause of his being sent out). The point of Paul's apostleship was to make much of Christ. The origin of Paul's apostleship was the eternal purposes of God to see to it that Christ be made much of! Therefore the beginning and the end of Paul's ministry was God! Oh for a God-encompassed ministry like this!

The word "in" is also very significant. It could be taken in the locative form ("in"), or the dative ("to"), or the instrumental ("by"). I like all three, but the key to interpretation is the intention of the author, which in this case is the Apostle Paul. Because of the remaining context of chapter one (Context is the key to interpreting phrases that can be taken several ways), I am inclined to embrace the instrumental translation, "...the saints at Ephesus and who are faithful BY Christ Jesus." Hopefully my reasoning for this view will be clear in the upcoming meditations on chapter one! Blessings!

High Crime...Low Income...Mixed races?

Some have asked, "Why would you want to plant a new church in an area notorious for crime, well below the national average for household income, and on top of it all, an area where we would be a minority race?" Seriously, have we lost our minds? To some, like Festus, the answer will have to be "yes" (Acts 26:24-25).

There are two ways this question should be approached; the surface, and what lies beneath.

On the surface, there are obvoius implications that are driving this question. Those who have been submurged in suburbian living, nice fenced yards, two-car garages, remote controlled window blinds, nice countertops, homogenous skin-tones, and all of the other ammenities that many have come to view as "normal life," have immense difficulty with the notion that God would lead someone to forsake these "necessities." At this level, the question of "Why" we would desire to plant in urban Memphis is hard to answer because we are speaking a different language than the who is inquiring.

At a deeper level, there is something being revealed about the heart of the inquirer, right? Christ said, "But what comes out the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person" (Matthew 15:18). Is it wrong to live in the suburbs? No! Unless, of course, the suburbs are a way to fortify oneself in the pride of one's own culture! We are often duped into thinking that there are many noble reasons for operating in monocultural spheres of life. The key problem is that this wars against the gospel of Christ, Who has in His own flesh, "torn down the barrier of all diving walls" (Ephesians 2:14).

To believe in Christ, who effectively accomplished God's atoning work on the cross, defeated-death, and secured salvation by His glorious resurrection, is of paramount importance during one's lifetime! The effect of this saving faith in Christ flows out of the true believer in a stream of redemptive love towards all people.

I'd like to hear several saints from history answer the question that has been posed to me. Peter, who was crucified upside down. I wonder what he'd say about the "risk" of the inner-city? Paul, decapitated for his inner-city embracing love for Christ, I wonder what he'd say? Christ Himself, mangled, mutilated, and martyred for no just reason. I wonder how He'd answer the question?

How could it be more rational to stay in the burbs with strong evangelical churches on nearly every street corner instead of taking a risk for the gospel in the city where there are few strong evangelical churches? So, in Gospel fashion, I would like to pose a question instead of answering the question. Could it be that God has "many sheep that are not of the suburbian fold that must come to Him also?" (John 10:16). We pray that the answer is "Yes!" Please pray with us. Our faith is small, we are easily discouraged by doubters, and we tend to drift toward comfort just like everyone else. "For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything" (I John 3:20)!

Unanimous Affirmation

We praise the Lord that the elders of Bethlehem Baptist Church voted unanimously last night to affirm the vision of Grace Church! In keeping with the Biblical pattern of Acts 13:1-3, after affirming our vision, the elders rallied around me, laid hands on me, and prayed a commissioning prayer over our planting team. This moment of prayer was incredibly rich, and it was very difficult to hold back the tears. May God be pleased to answer every single prayer that was requested by these brothers...the request were by no means small!

Grace Church Presentation

Tonight, February 7, I am scheduled to present our church planting proposal for Grace Church to the elders of Bethlehem Baptist Church. These men love the Lord and love spreading a passion for His supremacy in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. We rejoice at the prospect of these men, and this church, becoming the "mother" of Grace Church! Thanks for your prayers as I present.

Physical Ailments

Please pray for my mom, Debbie Thomas, who has been admitted to the hospital with prolonged high fever. Also, my grandmother, Josephine Duncan, who is battling a chronic sickness as well. Finally, my I've managed to hurt my back again and am dealing with tremendous pain. Thank you all!

God's Purposes in Evil

Ever wondered why God sent ten horrific plauges on Egypt in order for His people, the Israelites, to be freed instead of devising another way? Check out Exodus 10:1-2 for the divine purpose statement over such catastrophic evil and have your jaw drop as you commune with this very God in prayer today!

Housing

Please join us in praying for each of the pastors to find housing in or near downtown. Thanks!

Four in Three

I can count four very specific answers to prayer regarding Grace Church that have come in the last three days. "I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy" - Psalm 116:1 (ESV)

The Bloodiest Verse in the Bible

Our faith is a bloody faith. Christ Himself sealed our salvation through His own ignominiously bloody death on the cross. Now, as His ambassadors (II Corinthians 5:20-21), we are to "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (I Corinthians 11:26).

Today, as tasteless comical caricatures of Mohammad are causing a heated dissension around the world, we as believers in Christ are reminded that Christ's scorning is the emblem of our faith! Instead of outrage, we are to "rejoice and be glad" when we are insulted, persecuted, and when others "say all manner of evil against us falsely on account of Christ" (Matthew 5:11-12). Against all logic, our joy in persecution is deeply embedded in the persecution of our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Had there been no reviling of Christ, no scorn, no wagging of the heads, no spitting upon, no mockery, no bloody dangling on a cross as a piece of meat suspended between heaven and earth, we would have no hope at all! Indeed our hope is securely rooted in the fact that our Christ was the object of ridicule!

Our bloody, throat-slit Lamb, is resurrected, ruling, and one day returning! In this interval between Christ's ascension to heaven and His return to earth, Christ has bid us to join in His redemptive purposes. But how? The gospel! The bloody gospel! Matthew 28:18-20 is not just the "Great Commission," it is the "Great Church Planting Commission." Where is church planting in the great commission? "Baptizing them...," that's where! This commission is a "local church" commission! How will we obey this "final command" of our resurrected Savior? By starting churches that preach a God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated, Spirit-empowered bloody gospel!

In America in the year 1900 there were approximately 30 churches for every 10,000 people. In 1950, there were approximately 24 churches for every 10,000 people. In 1996, there were approximately 16 churches for every 10,000 people. See the pattern? Every year about 3,500 churches "shut their doors" never to open again! On the flip-side, there are only about 1,500 churches started each year! Unfortunately we are on the retreat. More unfortunately this is diametrically opposed to Christ's teaching in Matthew 16:18, which teaches us to be on the offense with Christ in starting churches. Not neutral, not "holding our ground," but on the offense! "The gates of hell will not prevail against [the church]" (Matthew 16:18). The gates of hell tremble as we march forward with bloody-gospel proclaiming church plants.

How will we obey the Great Commission? How will we engage in an obedience that "makes disciples of all nations?" Now, in God's gracious providence, America is being infiltrated by peoples from all nations of the world. Although a clear call to "go" exists in the Scriptures, we find ourselves uniquely poised to "go" to the nations by driving around the corner from where most of us live! Many other nations are beginning to see this reality and are viewing America as one of their primary mission fields!

So, what is the bloodiest verse in the Bible? The bloodiest verse is the verse that commands us to make disciples of all nations. Why? In order to fulfill this command, and make disciples of Christ, we must introduce all nations (literally, "all the people") to our bloody Savior! "The gospel" of the capillary-bursting blood vessels of Christ, the cat-of-nine-tails shredded back of Christ, the nail-punctured hands and feet of Christ, the thorn-embedded skull of Christ, and the spear-injected side of Christ, the dead and borrowed-tomb buried Christ, and the resurrected All-Authoritative Kingly Christ, who in His death took the sins of man and exchanged them for the righteousness of God! This gospel "must be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations (literally, "all the people"), and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). Without this bloody gospel, there will be no disciple making among the nations! There is one entry for disciples into the local church, and into a proper "baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20), and it is the gospel of the bloody cross of Christ!

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." I Corinthians 2:2

Hearts Ablaze

A few weekends ago I was able to speak at a youth retreat for the students of Bethlehem. The theme of our retreat was "Hearts Ablaze." Thanks to all of you who prayed for us. Because I'm "under compulsion" to preach the gospel (words of Apostle Paul), and have precious few opportunities to do so this year, I would like to share with you an outline of the three messages from this retreat. If you have an opportunity to look at the passages, and see where the outlines come from, it should prove more helpful. "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wonderous things from Thy Law." - Ps. 119:18

1. Hearts ablaze for the God of the Word - Isaiah 66:1-2
- God is Transcendent
- God is Self-Sufficient
- This Glorious God looks to the humble and contrite
- This Glorious God looks to those who tremble at His Word

2. Hearts ablaze to Obey the God of the Word - I Timothy 6:13-16
- Our Greatest Need is a Great View of God
- Our Motives for Obedience Matter
- God is: Omnipresent; Life-Giver; Initiator of Second Coming of Christ; Happy; Sovereign; King of kings; Lord of lords;
Alone possesses Immortality; Dwells in unapproachable light; No man has seen; No man can see; Owns Eternal
Dominion, Desires and Deserves Honor; Amen!
- Christ is: The One who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate (sealing His doom for sinners!); Will appear
again!

3. Hearts ablaze to Seek the God of the Word - Matthew 7:7-12
- Carefully reading our Bible is fuel for seeking God (active and passive words matter)!
- Man is totally depraved
- The Logic of Jesus
- God gives us Himself, which is our greatest need...so give others God!

Acts 11

What is the first thing a new believer needs? According to Barnabas and the Apostle Paul, based on their ministry in Acts 11, it is a year's worth of solid theology! Having a solid biblical foundation is the cure for a thousand "felt needs."

Great to be together

The pastors of Grace Church were able to spend the past seven days together in Minneapolis. Our times of prayer, planning, conference attending, and fellowship were blessed by the Lord. Please continue to pray for us as the day is drawing nearer for Grace Church to become a reality.