“Without the gospel everything is useless and vain; without the gospel we are not Christians; without the gospel all riches is poverty, all wisdom folly before God; strength is weakness, and all the justice of man is under the condemnation of God. But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ, fellow townsmen with the saints, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, heirs of God with Jesus Christ, by whom the poor are made rich, the weak strong, the fools wise, the sinner justified, the desolate comforted, the doubting sure, and slaves free. It is the power of God for the salvation of all those who believe.” (John Calvin)

Yesterday my good friend Bill Haynes commented on the blog and reminded me of JI Packer’s book Knowing God.  In that classic book Packer wrote a chapter, “The Heart of the Gospel.”  He talks about propitiation.  Read the following quote,

“What has happened?  The wrath of God against us, both present and to come, has been quenched.  How was this effected?  Through the death of Christ.  ‘While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son.’ The ‘blood’–that is, the sacrificial death–of Jesus Christ abolished God’s anger against us, and ensured that His treatment of us forever after would be propitious and favourable.  Henceforth, instead of showing Himself to be against us, He would show Himself in our life and our experience to be for us.  What, then does the phrase, ‘a propitiation…by His blood’ express?  It expresses, in the context of Paul’s argument, precisely this thought: that by His sacrificial death for our sins Christ pacified the wrath of God.”

It is no wonder that the hymnist penned these words, “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.  Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!  Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!”

Yesterday I shared that the reason Jesus could be our advocate is found in 1 John 2:2, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”  Those are incredible words, but what does the word propitiation mean?

The Greek word is hilasmos, but unless you have studied Greek that won’t do you a lot of good.  If you look up the verse most translations will translate it with the same word, but the NIV gives us a little insight to the meaning with its translation, “atoning sacrifice.”

You find the same word in Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17, and John uses it again in 1 John 4:10.  Wayne Grudem says it literally speaks of “a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes God’s wrath toward us into favor.”   John Piper put it this way, “Propitiation is the removal of the wrath of God against sinners by the death of Jesus. The ultimate problem that all human beings face is that God’s omnipotent wrath is against them. The ultimate good news is that there is a way to have the wrath of God averted — and that God himself has made the way.”   

While I was writing this blog my good friend Dr. Ryan Whitley called from the beach.  I asked him to define it and he said you need to break the word down phonetically–pro, God is for us; pit, God has gotten us out of the pit; and iation, God has done something for us that we can’t do for ourselves.  Now we have a word for what he did on Sand Mountain, but I’ll just say that in his off the cuff attempt at humor Dr. Whitley hit it on the head.  God did something for us that we could not do for ourselves–He paid the price for our sin.

We have all sinned and we are all under God’s wrath because of that sin.  You and I can either face God’s wrath on the basis of our works or we can face God on the basis of the work of Christ.  The problem for us is that all of our works are inadequate, but the Good News is that the work of Christ is more than adequate. 

It is only through the work of the cross that you and I can be saved.  It is only through the work of the cross that you and I can escape the wrath of God.  It is only because of the work of the cross that you and I have an advocate who can speak on our behalf because He paid the price; therefore, we don’t have to pay it.  That’s propitiation and that is the Grace of God!!

I’ve been following the Michael Vick story with some interest.  I was disgusted with what he did and I am glad he had to serve time, but the NFL seems to want to “partially reinstate” him.  The commissioner said he could play by week six…

Here is my problem– What Vick did was terrible, but he served 23 months for his crime.  I am not sure he will be able to play after a two year layoff, but I think he should be able to play now.  I do not think he should be punished twice for the same crime.

In 1 John 2:1-6 we are told that we have an advocate with the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our advocate is pleading for us on our behalf.  What is He pleading?  For years I thought He was pleading for mercy…something along the lines of, “Father, it’s John again.  Yes I know he promised to never do that again, but he did it again.  Father, he needs grace…”

That was how I pictured it until I heard a sermon by Tim Keller.  He said Jesus was not pleading for mercy or grace for us…He was pleading for justice.  Instead of the scenario I presented to you above, Keller suggested it goes more along these lines:  “Father, it’s John again.  Yes, he did it again, but I want to plead for justice Father–I already paid for that sin.  We can’t punish the same sin twice…”

Aren’t you glad there is no double jeopardy with God?  He is indeed our propitiation!  Tomorrow we will investigate what that means.

So what is true salvation?  True salvation begins in God, continues in God, and ends in God.  In other words the Bible teaches us that we have been saved (justification), we are being saved (santification), and we are going to be saved (glorification).  Any salvation formula that leaves out any part of this process is not biblical salvation.

The most important thing is to trace your salvation back to the source.  If you find anyone, including yourself, as the source you have a problem.  As I said true salvation begins in God, continues in God, and will end in God.  It is all about one thing–God’s Glory!

Are you saved?

Did you see the following article on www.foxnews.com ?  This is a sister in Christ and she is among the number spoken of in Revelation 6:11.  It’s legal to give out Bibles here in the US…it’s legal to share the Gospel here in the US…when is the last time you’ve done either one?  Pray for her family and pray for the boldness to stand for Christ even when we must give our lives to do it.

Report: North Korea Publicly Executes Christian Woman for Distributing Bible

Friday, July 24, 2009

“North Korea appears to have judged that Christian forces could pose a threat to its regime,” Do Hee-youn, a leading activist, told reporters, claiming public executions, arrest and detention of North Koreans are prevalent.

SEOUL, South Korea —  North Korea publicly executed a Christian woman last month for distributing the Bible, which is banned in the communist nation, South Korean activists said Friday.

Ri Hyon Ok, 33, was also accused of spying for South Korea and the United States and organizing dissidents. She was executed in the northwestern city of Ryongchon near the border with China on June 16, according to a report from an alliance of several dozen anti-North Korea groups.

Ri’s parents, husband and three children were sent to a political prison camp in the northeastern city of Hoeryong the following day, the report said, citing unidentified documents it says were obtained from North Korea. It showed a copy of Ri’s North Korean government-issued photo ID. It is virtually impossible to verify such reports about secretive North Korea, where the government tightly controls the lives of its citizens and does not allow dissent.

On Thursday, an annual report from a state-run South Korean think tank on human rights in the North said that public executions, though dropping in number in recent years, were still carried out for crimes ranging from murder to circulating foreign movies.

North Korea claims to guarantee freedom of religion for its 24 million people but in reality severely restricts religious observances. The cult of personality surrounding national founder Kim Il Sung and his son, current leader Kim Jong Il, is a virtual state religion.

The government has authorized four state churches, one Catholic, two Protestant and one Russian Orthodox, but they cater to foreigners and ordinary North Koreans cannot attend. However, defectors and activists say more than 30,000 North Koreans are believed to practice Christianity secretly.

The U.S. State Department reported last year that “genuine religious freedom does not exist” in North Korea.

One of the greatest areas of confusion in the church is the area of judging…we are forbidden to try to judge motives, but we are called to judge fruit.  In fact,  we have the responsibility to evaluate ourselves and to evaluate the lives of our brothers and sisters and to make judgments based upon our actions.  If they are not living a life that demonstrates transformation we have every right to doubt the sincerity of their salvation and to confront them about it.  Let me say it a little differently—if we are not living a life that demonstrates transformation the church has every right to confront us about it and to take us though the Matthew 18 process.

The concern of the Bible is not so much that you profess faith as that you possess faith.  Faith that is claimed must be demonstrated.  We are not talking about perfection here and there are differing degrees of growth, but there must be a demonstration.  The demonstration is not the cause of your salvation—it is the result of your salvation.  How can a person who has been justified not be changed?  Once you are saved God begins the process of conforming you into the image of Christ and moves you toward glorification.  We know of that process as the process of sanctification.  God does not skip sanctification in the lives of any of His children. 

Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 7, “Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus by their fruits you will recognize them.  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven…”  Strong words, but true.  We must expect the fruit of our lives to back up the words of our faith.  WE must expect it in our own lives and we must expect it in the lives of others.

So how does this apply to you in personal evangelism?  I want to suggest several things:

First, know what it is you are trying to achieve.  You are setting out to make disciples.  That means you share the entire Gospel with them—you don’t water it down so they will pray the prayer.

We reached several Muslims in Africa.  One of the things we had to do was ask them—do you understand that by professing Jesus as your Lord you are rejecting Mohammed?  Many said yes, but some said, “No, I want Jesus and Mohammed.”  That isn’t possible.  Know what you are trying to achieve—it is leading someone to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Second, know your part in the process.  You are called to share the Gospel.  God draws, convicts, gives the gift of faith, and enables the person to believe.  He is sovereign throughout the entire process.  When you step out into the Holy Spirit’s role and try to pressure them into making a decision you may get them to pray a prayer, but you probably won’t see transformation.

Third, trust in the Sovereignty of God.  Many people came to Jesus seeking eternal life and many found it, but Jesus was willing to let the Rich Young Ruler walk away as well as many others.  Don’t feel like you have to close the deal every time. 

That doesn’t mean you should shy away from trying to close the deal, but don’t feel like you are a failure because they rejected the invitation.  If they do—they are not rejecting you—they are rejecting the Gospel and your call is to present it.  You plant, you water, but let God cause it to grow.

Finally, don’t ever think the process is over because they have prayed and been dunked. 

You and I are spiritually liable for every person you lead to Christ.  You become Spiritual Fathers to them and you call is to teach them to be followers of Jesus.

We had a great day at the beach/pool today.  Hollie and KJ were building a sand castle close to the water and a wave came crashing in on their work.  Hollie kept building, but KJ went over and started kicking all of the waves…she was trying to push the waves back…Great sermons in that illustration, but I’m on vacation.  Use the comment section and apply that illustration!!

Martin Luther called James the epistle of straw and really had a hard time with this passage —especially James 2:24.  It seems to contradict what Paul said in Romans.  What we have to see is this—“James and Paul are not antagonists facing each other with crossed swords; they stand back to back, confronting different foes of the Gospel.”

James is talking about the manifestation of righteousness while Paul spoke of the imputation of righteousness.  James spoke of the result of justification while Paul spoke of the source of justification.  James speaks of the end of the Sermon on the Mount while Paul deals with the beginning.  Cranfield said James’ burden is not to prove that “we are saved through faith plus works, but that we are saved through genuine, as opposed to counterfeit, faith.”  James is not battling faith by adding works to it —James is battling superficial faith by showing it does not result in works.

You can’t read James’ letter and not see that he understands salvation as gift of grace.  James 1:17-19 teach us that salvation is a gift from above, and that it is a result of new birth that comes from the Word of Truth.  He is not teaching us that salvation is the result of works at all, but he deals a death blow to the idea that you can have genuine faith and not have works as a result.

I love what John Calvin said, “It is faith alone that justifies, but the faith that justifies is never alone.”  We know that faith is a gift from God and once we receive that gift everything changes.  Listen to John, “WE know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know that we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did…Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness…”  (1 J 2:3-6, 9)

Faith is not just an intellectual exercise—you can have all of the right doctrine and be lost.  Doctrine is vital to our understanding of God, but it alone does not save.  True faith moves from the head to the heart to the hand.

James illustrates this in verses 15-16 and then sums it up in verse 17, “In the same way, faith by itself, if not accompanied by actions, is dead.”  Can it get any more plain than that?  A dead faith is not a saving faith!

 Now let’s stop for a moment and consider what we are saying.  The reality of this is revolutionary when you consider the attitude of the church today.  Much of evangelism is centered in this attitude, “Just believe and you’ll be saved.”  That is true as long as your faith is real, but what did Jesus tell us to do in terms of evangelism?  Jesus told us to make disciples.  WE are so concerned with converts that we have forgotten the disciple making responsibility. 

Was Jesus concerned with making converts alone?  He could have had thousands more in terms of followers, but He laid the cost of being a disciple out there.  He told us to consider the cost—He told us to make sure we knew what we were doing.  I found it interesting that our convention was told that FAITH would lead us to having over 1 million baptisms a year.  We spent millions of dollars promoting the program and the result is we have had one of the lowest years of baptisms in recent history.  What does that teach us?

It’s not that FAITH was a bad thing…I’ve used the outline all over the world and in the local church.  Evangelism cannot become a program that we do—it must be a lifestyle that is a part of our day to day life.  Going out and winning converts isn’t enough—baptism isn’t the end of the evangelistic process—nothing can be called NT evangelism that comes up short of leading a person to become a true follower of Jesus.  A true follower of Jesus is a person who is passionately in love with Him and that is caught more than it is taught.

The Church should be able to expect a person who wants to join the Body of Christ or who claims to be a part of the Body of Christ to actually give evidence of their conversion.  We are not talking about legalism here—the Word is our guide, but you cannot come into contact with the Spirit of God and not be changed any more than you can come into contact with a live 220 volt wire and not be moved.

Why do we seek decisions over discipleship when the Bible clearly calls us to go and make disciples?  One reason is human pride—we get publicity when we lead the convention in baptisms.  We get recognition and popularity, but is that all we are called to do?  I can point you to a church in Alabama that baptized close to 100 people a year for the six years, but their Sunday School attendance stayed exactly the same.  What is going on?

In James 2:14-17 we find a clue as to what true salvation is.  The key phrase is found in verse 14. You have to see this in order to understand the rest of the passage—“What good is it my brothers, if a man claims to have faith…”  Did you see it—James is not describing someone who has faith—he is talking about someone who claims to have faith. Everything about the way he lives his life points against what he is claiming and James makes judgments with regard to actions and not words.  Warren Wiersbe said there are three kinds of faith described in this text—dead faith, demonic faith, and dynamic faith. 

What is involved in true conversion?  We have to get this right because, as my friend Buddy Gray says, if we get the Gospel wrong two horrible things happen—first, lost people are not saved and second, God is not glorified.  Paul said, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Belief must be a part of what you confess, but it goes way beyond what you say with your mouth—it must also go into what you believe in your heart.  It has to move from your head to your heart to your hands. 

We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for His glory alone.  Faith is absolutely essential to our salvation—Paul taught us very clearly that we are justified through faith alone and not by works.  Works will never save you—you cannot be saved by being good, but you are saved to do good works.  Listen to verse 14, “What good is it my brother, if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?”  The implied answer is “No, that kind of faith cannot save you.”  James points that out five times—verses 14, 17, 20, 24, and 26.  Faith that does not produce works is not real faith.