Before He Speaks (Carrie Underwood Parody)

The Office of a Minister Defined by Jonathan Edwards

"A minister by his office is to be the guide and instructor of his people. To that end he is to study and search the scriptures and to teach the people, not the opinions of men - of other divines or of their ancestors - but the mind of Christ. As he is set to enlighten them, so a part of his duty is to rectify their mistakes, and, if he sees them out of the way of truth or duty, to be a voice behind them saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it.' (emphasis mine)

Hence, if what he offers to exhibit to them as the mind of Christ be different from their previous apprehensions, unless it be on some point which is established in the Church of God as fundamental, surely they are obliged to hear him. If not, there is an end at once to all the use and benefit of teachers in the church in these respects - as the means of increasing its light and knowledge, and of reclaiming it from mistakes and errors. This would be in effect to establish, not the word of Christ, but the opinion of the last generation in each town and church, as an immutable rule to all future generations to the end of the world."

--Jonathan Edwards, from the Journal on the Communion Controversy,

Dwight, Life of President Edwards, p. 358

Well, let me say two things: 1) May I always by God's unwarranted and inexplicable grace be found to be this kind of minister; and 2) Amen! Please close your bibles and let's be dismissed - here endeth the lesson!

Wheat or Tares?

Well, God was gracious enough to see us through another night. So, now I want to take up where I left off in yesterday’s post. Lest anyone think I am merely riding a “hobby horse” please take note that I am responding, with genuine grief, to a letter sent to Grace Partners concerning an individual who “apostatized” from the faith. The question I left hanging yesterday, was what do you do when someone responds to a gospel presentation? In reality the question is how do you tell if someone is genuinely saved? It is interesting to me to have received this letter at the same time that I reached the chapters detailing the controversy and dismissal of Jonathan Edwards from his pulpit in Northampton. The reigning issue of his controversy was his growing concern of admitting non-repentant and non-regenerate communicants to the Lord’s Table who claimed to have had religious experiences. It is obvious that none of us can tell if a convert is genuine or not. God has reserved the true knowledge and condition of one’s heart to himself. There are no “tests,” “surveys,” Barna Reports, or such that we can use to gauge the genuineness of a conversion experience. All we can do is rejoice, pray earnestly, disciple biblically, observe the fruit of the Holy Spirit and wait. I think one of the most difficult passages to not only interpret properly, but to accept is found in Luke 8; The Parable of the Sower. Of the four seeds sown, only one had true or real life. We know that because only one produced fruit. It is fairly obvious to us when we share the gospel and someone flat out refuses it or rejects it that they were not converted (doesn’t mean that they may not be someday.) It is harder for us to understand and accept when someone seems to accept the gospel and hangs around for awhile until trials, tribulations, or testings come their way. We must be absolutely careful with our presentation and the motives that we extend to people for accepting Christ and the gospel. If they are in it for what they can get, then when they don’t get they will leave. (Might not be good English but it is the truth) It is much harder when someone responds with great joy, looks like the real McCoy, sounds right and then digs in and serves or ministers just like you and then abandons the faith. Matthew 13 tells us, among many things, about the parable of the weeds, or the tares. It is amazing that people can and do have counterfeit gospel experiences. It is tragic and heart breaking to realize that this Lord’s Day you may sit and worship next to someone who really does not know the Lord and is actually counterfeit. God knows the heart but we can examine lives in order to effectively minister to people. If there is no evidence of any fruit for a lengthy period of time, we may need to go back over the gospel with in humble and earnest prayer. We may need at times to confront people who are lingering in sin or disobedience. We who are strong may need at times to find those who are weak and in need, as Galatians 6 states, and put our arms around them and help them through their sin, or problem, or difficulty. I grew up in a “fundamentalist” sect that for all practical purposes lived the motto – Win-em, Wet-em, and Work-em! Anyone who made a profession was considered instantly and for all times to be a believer and they were thrown into Christian ministry immediately. Rarely was there any waiting period, watching period, or disciplining period utilized in order for these “converts” to prove to be genuine and to grow. So, as we grow verbose, we can not know for absolute certainty the heart of anyone. We can be patient and take some time and look for evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. We can be selective and patient in using people or placing them in ministry. After all, does anyone remember the words of the Apostle Paul when he said, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.” (I Tim 5:22 ESV) Even then, it seems that someone can “receive it with joy…believe for awhile…and in the time of testing fall away.” (Luke 8:13 ESV) That is tragic.

Perhaps Steve is genuine and God will grant him repentance. Perhaps he was merely seed on rocky soil that had no root and eventually through testing proved himself to be a tare. Only God knows.

Does She or Doesn’t She? (The Difficulty of Discerning True Salvation)

We have a terrible practice today of authoritatively pronouncing an individual as a believer if they have conformed to a pattern of either praying or repeating a simple prayer. As a result there are so many within the visible church, not to mention an innumerable company of individuals outside of the visible church who have been pronounced as ‘believers’. As you are also aware the accompanying mantra is usually, “Now never doubt this, don’t ever let anyone including the devil cause you to doubt what you just did.” There is no salvation in that prayer formula. Yes, it is a response to the question, “What must I do to be saved?” It patterns the biblical response, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” The salvation is not in a repeated or manipulated prayer, the salvation is in the working of the unseen Holy Spirit as He opens the heart of an individual by giving regenerating life and the gift of faith. This new life imparted by the Holy Spirit and the gift of faith issues forth in repentance of and from sin and a new heart with a new direction of life. Jonathan Edwards in his Religious Affections wrote: “Grace planted in the new-birth is a ‘principle of holy action or practice’ and it always produces an abiding change of nature in a true convert.” Why then, are not all of our so called “conversions” accompanied by such notable distinctions? The alternative was argued by John Wesley in 1773 when he wrote against Edward’s premise; “The design of Mr. Edwards in the treatise, from which the following extract is made, seems to have been chiefly, if not altogether, to serve his hypothesis. In the three preceding tracts he had given an account of a part of these ‘turned back as a dog to the vomit’. What was the plain inference to be drawn from this? Why, that a true believer may ‘make shipwreck of his faith’. How then could he evade the force of this? Truly, by eating his own words, and proving as well as the nature of the thing would bear, that they were no believers at all.” Wesley’s answer as to why a number of people could become excited about the things of Christ, seem to have the ear-marks of salvation and then fall completely away was simply this – ‘that persons can be renewed, and then, ultimately lose both their holiness and their salvation.’ The problem that Edwards and Wesley faced is the same problem we face today. Quoting Ian Murray, “…Edwards believed that the problem involved the recognizing of true Christian experience as a fact.” We face this same problem – we can not tell if a “conversion” is real or not, so how can we pronounce someone authoritatively saved on the basis of praying a short, simple, scripted, and sincere prayer? Edwards argued that there were always some missing ingredients from what he called the “affections” of those who had some type of religious experience or profession of faith. Let me list those ingredients which we may or may not go into greater detail later: An attitude of humility is missing. We are driven by the Spirit of God until we discover that we deserve nothing but judgment and death. We discover that we are unworthy to receive such a gift as this glorious salvation being provided by our Savior. Hence Edwards is right, humility should mark a true convert. An abiding sense of sin is missing. There must be repentance from something, such as sin, and a turning to something or someone, such as Christ. There is to be some ‘mourning’ for sin. Christ spoke on this often. An attitude of true balance is missing. By this Edwards seems to mean that there is to be a balancing combination of assurance of salvation with ‘holy boldness’ with a ‘lessening of self-confidence and more modesty.’ One more thought from Edwards to chew on – “The love and the pursuit of holiness is the enduring mark of the true Christian.” What are we to do as either leaders or members of a visible congregation when someone responds to an invitation to “receive Christ?” Let’s take that up in tomorrow’s post, shall we? May our gracious, loving, and kind Lord be so willing!

The Danger of Religion & Religious Activity

Many of you are Grace Partners and supporters of Grace To You. As a result you received the same letter from John that I did detailing the apostasy of a man named Steve. How tragic that letter is! I don’t think that there is any real need to reproduce that letter here; suffice it to say, that Steve, who thought he had been a Christian, who had pastored for over ten (10) years, and who had received “much help” from Grace To You walked away from the God that he had professed.

So, many of us would say, how can that be? How can something so tragic with such monumental consequences take place? Naturally, the accompanying interview between MacArthur and Phil Johnson on a recorded CD gives the ultimate answer – Steve was never a Christian at all.

Johnathan Edwards had asked three (3) penetrating and eternally important questions in the preface of his book, The Religious Affections. More than likely there are not any greater questions that could ever be asked, unless it be “What must I do to be saved?” Those three (3) question are as follows:

"What are the distinguishing qualifications of those that are in favor with God, and entitled to His eternal rewards?"

"What is the nature of true religion?"

"And wherein do lie the distinguishing notes of that virtue and holiness that is acceptable in the sight of God?"

We are ever in need to be reminded of the profound statement made by Jesus Christ, “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

Hebrews 12:14 is an equally challenging and chilling passage of Scripture that I have been meditating on and off for quite some time – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (ESV)

Strive for the holiness, what holiness? It is not the physical acts of holiness or sanctification such as church attendance, bible reading, giving, serving, or acts of separation that is being spoken of. We are to seek after, follow after, strive to detect and determine the work or effect of the Holy Spirit in our lives as the evidence of true redemption.

The distinction is important because the writer is not talking about the fact that you have been set apart as holy for God, or that you do holy things. The idea that is conveyed in this word is the underlying truth of the reality of salvation in your life. This reality has been made possible and is being made possible by Christ and accomplished by Christ through the working of the Holy Spirit in your life. It is the effect in Christians, so that the "hagiaomos" or the sanctifying effects of the HS is the living form of the Christian state. Let me say it another way – this holiness that the writer is talking about is the working of the Holy Spirit that is made evident by His fruit.

The fact that the HS is present in our lives and demonstrates that presence by conforming us to the image of Christ is the sufficient evidence that we are true believers. Not because we do or don't do certain things. Yes, the flip side of this coin is that we do and don't do certain things because salvation is evident in our lives - but let's not get side-tracked. The atonement of Christ is the basis or foundation of the Christian life. The sanctifying effect of the Holy Spirit is the moral form which develops out of the atonement of Christ and by the way without this work of the Holy Spirit no one can see Jesus Christ. So, do you see the distinction? We are striving after, or seeking to know certain the effects of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are not striving after church membership, church attendance, or any so called Christian activity.

We are striving after the moral influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives; which of course will produce true Christian activity. Otherwise, how would we differ from the Pharisee or the hypocrite? We are to be constantly, continually and actively striving for the effects of the Holy Spirit in our lives since this is the gauge by which we have certainty that we are the children of God.

This is what Steve missed. Steve, it seems, got caught up in visible signs of “sanctification” without having been diligent and earnest in seeking the signs of the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit in his life. This is how people can think they are believers for long periods of time, and even pastor churches who have never been brought to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May those who name the name of Christ never forget this warning and admonition by the writer of Hebrews. May those who name the name of Christ never be found to be apostate due to the fact that the the effect of the Holy Spirit is missing because He is missing in their lives.

When The Rubber Meets The Road

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your (my) adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone (me) to devour. Resist him, firm in your (my) faith…” (I Peter 5:6-9a ESV) If there ever was a time I wasn’t sober and watchful, it was today. Talk about being blind-sided – now and then regardless of your love for the Lord, faithfulness in your walk, and correctness in your doctrinal teaching and theology, your faith will be tested. Today is that day for me. “Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence and the integrity of your ways your hope?” (Job 4:3-6 ESV) Yikes! Ouch! Oh how sometimes we must practice what we preach! It is one thing to teach on trials, tribulations, and testings with all the scripture references that go along with it all, but another when I am wearing that ill-fitting shoe. But I trust that when I am tried I will be able to say as Job; But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (Job 23:10 ESV) Thank God for His Word and for His everlasting care! I have a Father who cares for me and I have nothing to fear. It is enough for me!

The Gospel - It Is Of First Importance!

This morning I am starting a five (5) day spring vacation. We aren't going anywhere- simply staying home and catching up on a number of things. I "slept" in this morning - really I just laid under the warm, comfy covers and let my mind race around the things that I wanted to do today. The first, was post something before I began my devotion. I have been thinking allot lately about the gospel - and I am reading a little book that was graciously given to me; A Gospel Primer for Christians, by Milton Vincent. Milton opens with this quote from C. J. McHaney's The Cross Centered Life" "If there's anything in life that we should be passionate about, its the gospel. And I don't mean passionate only about sharing it with others. I mean passionate about thinking about it, dwelling on it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look a the world. Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be." This quote seems to have come from reflecting on I Corinthians 15:1-4: "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel - what a shame that we have to be reminded of the truths and implications of the gospel, but thank God that faithful men are given by God to remind us - I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved - unbelievable and indescribable that God has chosen to save any of us - if you hold fast to the word I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain." I hope that you have never gotten over the gospel! I hope that you think much on it and its implications to you. I shall be thinking much this week on the gospel and hope to post some thoughts off and on as God impresses these truths even deeper into my heart and soul.

Jesus is the Word of God and He is the light of the world!