Doctrines of the Faith: Saved From What?

I remember an evangelist who told the story of being in the Miami, Florida area to do a revival. He and the local pastor were driving around inviting people to the revival and witnessing to anyone who would listen. They found themselves in a very affluent neighborhood with massive houses and expensive cars. They spied a man out in his front yard and stopped to visit. After speaking to him of the need for salvation, the man spread his arms in a grand gesture of all he owned and said, “Saved from what?” Then he dismissed them with a laugh. That man was Jackie Gleason – famed radio, television, and movie star.
I am sure you know John 3:16. It reveals the heart of the gospel: God loves sinners. But Jesus also said: “Whoever does not believe [in Him] stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (v. 18). Here’s the rest of the story (nod to Paul Harvey). God sent His Son because all of mankind is condemned because of sin. Not because of our sinful actions, but because sin is the human condition since the fall. We’re not sinners because we sin – we sin because we’re sinners. It’s not just what we do – it’s who we are. The destiny of all people is eternal condemnation – the wrath of God. Unless we believe in Jesus – and then our destiny is eternal life. That is what Paul means when he says: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
Hebrews continues the thought saying, “You have come . . . to the spirits of righteous men made perfect” – just as we will one day be. “You have come to Jesus . . .” Just stop right here and rest a moment in that statement. That changes everything. “You have come to Jesus – the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (v. 24). The new covenant is a covenant of mercy – of a love that saves through holy blood that was shed, not from jealousy and rage, but from divine providence. Abel’s blood brought about a curse on Cain. Jesus’ blood brings salvation from the curse of sin for everyone who believes.

Jesus Cares About All of You

Several years ago I came home from work to discover that someone had broken into our apartment. What they took was of little value but the one thing they stole that really mattered was my peace of mind. The next day I told a coworker about our ordeal. He said, “Be grateful no one can steal your salvation.” Honestly, I was annoyed that he dismissed my feelings so flippantly – and so “spiritually.” Of course I was grateful that my salvation was eternally secure, but was my relationship with Jesus only good for the next life? What about the days when my heart is hurting, when my body aches, when my nerves are frazzled, and my load is heavy? Do I face those days and seasons on my own?
Let’s ask the widow of Nain whose only son had died. Jesus encountered his funeral procession and his broken-hearted mother. Luke said, “When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, “Don’t cry.” He was moved deeply by this mother’s pain and He touched her heart before He touched the son’s coffin and raised him from the dead (see Luke 7:11-17).
When a great crowd of people stayed and listened to Him teach for several days, He was concerned for them. He told His disciples, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” He miraculously stretched a few loaves and fishes to feed more than four thousand people. He cared about their souls, and their empty bellies (see Matthew 15:29-39).
What would the leper say whom Jesus not only healed, but touched with His own holy hand (Matt 8:1-4). Or the centurion who came to Jesus to beg for healing for his servant? The man was made well by Jesus’ spoken word (Matt 8:5-13). How about Peter’s mother-in-law and a house full of sick and demon-possessed people who received healing? Ask the sick little girl and the sick old woman – Jesus ministered to both of them (Mark 5:21-43). All through the Gospels, He healed the physically blind, sick, and lame, comforted the hurting and marginalized, and ministered to the spiritually unwell.
Beloved, Jesus cares about you – all of you – body, soul, and spirit. He came to redeem and restore and He came to heal and comfort. Trust me when I say you can trust Him with your life – now and forever.

Grace

Joy asks a thousand questions a day – that’s how she learns and so I try to be patient with the never-ending stream of “Why?” and “What?” and “How?” Yesterday she saw some honeybees in the ligustrum bush and started asking about what they were doing which became how do bees make honey. So after her bath, we surfed YouTube for videos about bees.  She loves to learn new things and I love to help her explore the world around her.

But sometimes she asks questions with a different motivation. We have rules in our house that have been in place all her life. They haven’t changed just because she isn’t here all the time anymore. She knows the rules well, but sometimes she will ask the question hoping to catch me off-guard and give her a different answer. I may be old and slow, but I’m no dummy. The rules are the rules.

God gave the Israelites the law – the commandments and regulations that must be strictly observed to maintain a relationship with Him. He is holy and righteous and His people must live holy and righteous lives. The law was given to instruct them in His ways and ensure their standing before Him. But the people failed to keep the law – “Everyone did as he saw fit” (Jud 21:25). Which meant they did not obey God’s law. Man was and is still sinful. Sin demands death. The Israelites relied on animals to die in their place, but that was not enough.

Then Jesus came on the scene. He said that He came to “fulfill” the law and the Prophets – but not to abolish them (Matt 5:17-20). What did He mean? The purpose and demands of the law had not changed. What changed was how one approached God. Under the law, all the rituals and rules – God’s “house rules” – must be followed to a T. But Jesus came “full of grace” (John 1:14). He lived the perfect life that man could not live. And He died to fulfill “every jot and tittle” of the law. Jesus – God in flesh – shed His divine blood to meet the demands of the law. All who receive Jesus’ work are under grace.

That means if you are a believer, you can breathe a sigh of relief because Jesus did all the hard work for you. And He sent His Holy Spirit to live in you and help you live out your holy standing. The rules haven’t changed, but how we obey them has. Beloved, you cannot; but Jesus did. Now you can live in grace.

Take What God Has Given You

“Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess” (Numbers 33:53). This was God’s word to the Israelites when they came to the edge of the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. They were about to take possession of the territory that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long ago – land was already inhabited by powerful people who would not surrender without a fight. The Israelites would have to go in and take what God had given to them.
The Holy Spirit nudged my heart, “What has God given to you that you need to take possession of?” Let’s see what the Scripture says.
This past year has been full of turmoil and anxiety for me. But Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (Jn 14:27). That means I don’t have to search for His peace, He had already given it to me.
I confess that I have said, “I don’t think I can do what You expect of me. It’s too hard.” But His Word says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3). God has prepared us for life in His Son.
I have always tended to be melancholy – I don’t naturally “bubble over,” but Jesus has given me Joy – His Joy. He said, “My Joy may be in you . . . that your Joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). And He told the Father that we have been given “the full measure of [His] Joy” (Jn 17:13).
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you” (Jn 15:9). From Genesis to Revelation the Bible speaks of God’s unfailing, abiding, lavish love which He freely gives to you and me.
“I have given them your word” (Jn 17:14). Jesus came to earth as the Word of God made flesh (Jn 1:14) so that we could know God’s heart.
“I have given them the glory that You gave me” (Jn 17:22). Read it again. This is incredible! Jesus has given you and me His very own glory. He has exalted us in Him before the Father.
And this is the greatest gift of all – “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 Jn 5:11). Words fail me. It is too wonderful for my finite mind.
All of these are ours in Christ. Not just will be. Are. But we must lay hold of what has already been decreed for us as God’s children. Beloved, it’s time to take what belongs to you by God’s grace and favor.

My Rescuer

Image: “The Lost Lamb” by Alfred Usher Soord (1868-1915).

I have been in some hard places in my life, some of my own making, some the result of other’s actions, and some through the ups and downs of life. Some were frightening, some were heartbreaking, and most were depressing. Two things were certain – I felt all alone and I thought my situation was hopeless. I’ve lived through quite a few of those places and I have learned some things I hope will encourage you through your own.
First is the promise that you are not alone in your hard place. The Lord God journeyed with the Israelites for forty years in a wilderness, through the desert and the rocky crags, through blistering hot days and cold nights and He never abandoned His people. But most importantly, He was faithful to them through their rebellion, failures, mistakes, and disobedience. He was with them in battle and in the drudgery of their daily lives. The entire book of Exodus is the story of God’s goodness to His chosen people. And lest you forget, others have walked the same valleys of hardship and heartache and are happy to journey with you through yours.
There is also the assurance that God will faithfully provide for you and me, even in the hard places. I marvel constantly at how God has met my family’s needs through the years. From car repairs to rent, groceries, school supplies, a place to live, a job, and even my education. God knows what we need and He is a good Father who cares about and for His kids.
But this verse from the prophet Micah speaks volumes to me about the hard places. “You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the Lord will redeem you” (Micah 4:10). I learned that knowing God is the most important thing in my life and you and I will only know Him through experience. I know He is the God who rescues His children because He has rescued me time and time again. Here’s the point: I would not know this facet of His character if I’d never been in “Babylon” – if I’d never been in need of rescue.
I am prone to trouble. But I know that wherever I am, whatever caused the difficulty, however deep the pit, God will rescue me because He has done so before. Beloved, hard places are not the end of your story. They are where God comes to your rescue. They are how you come to know your Redeemer.

When I am Weak . . .

The late Dr. Charles Stanley made a profound statement that has resonated with me for quite some time. “The prelude to great strength is great weakness.” I have always been open and transparent about my life, my failures, struggles, and weaknesses. Sometimes I think a little too transparent. But I do that for a reason. Well, two reasons, actually.
Paul said, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Cor 11:30). I am honest so that you will know that you’re not the only one with very human struggles. One of satan’s favorite ploys is to tell us we are the only ones who are suffering or struggling or stumbling. Everyone else has it all together, they are doing all the right things and they are wildly blessed – at least that’s what their social media shows. I am here to tell you that satan is a liar and I am exhibit A. Yes, me. The Bible teacher. I have hard things in my life. I get depressed and discouraged. I mess up on the regular. I’m not proud of it, but if being open about my life silences the enemy, then I will gladly “boast of my weaknesses.” For your sake.
Paul also said, “[The Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10). I also share openly about my weaknesses so that I can boast about the power of God in my life – and assure you that the same mighty God holds you in the palm of His hand. Our author praised God for His comfort in troubles that allows us to comfort others in the same way.
I tell you about God’s provision for me so that you will trust Him to provide for you too. I praise Him for rescuing me so you will know that He will also rescue you. I rejoice in His forgiveness – the same forgiveness He offers to you, my fellow sinner. He is my Healer and yours. He is my Protector and yours. He is my God and yours. He is my Strength and He is yours. If He can save a wretch like me, He can surely save you.
You and I walk this dusty road together. We need each other, but most of all we need God. Because we are weak, but Beloved, He is strong.

Covered in Grace

If I could go to heaven right now, besides seeing Jesus and so many others (that’s a post coming soon), I want to talk with one particular person – the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. Her story is found in John 8:1-11*. Remember that the Pharisees hated Jesus and devised a plot to trap Him (v. 5-6).
When Jesus appeared in the temple courts, the religious leaders brought a woman who had been caught in adultery – but only the woman. They confronted Jesus with the Law of Moses that commanded her to be stoned to death. Then they asked Him, “Now, what do you say?” And Jesus said nothing at first. He stooped down and wrote in the dirt and finally said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him cast the first stone” (v. 7). And no one did. They all slowly walked away. Jesus asked the woman where her accusers were; “Has no one condemned you?” (v. 10). “No one, sir,” she answered. “Then neither do I . . .” he replied.
We have John’s perspective but I want to see this through the woman’s eyes. I have so many questions – starting with what Jesus wrote in the dirt. A Scripture about intentional sin or maybe judging others? Perhaps the names of everyone in the crowd who had slept with her? I suspect that whatever He wrote convicted them as much as what He said. I want to see the compassion she found in His eyes and the gentle conviction in His words to her: “Go now, and leave your life of sin” (v. 11).
And I want to know about her life after that encounter. Surely she took His words to heart and left her life of sin. She must have been a changed woman. Most of all, I want to know how she left all her shame and guilt over her past. How did she live out the rest of her days? I expect she would say something like: “Covered in God’s grace.”
Shame and guilt and regret are the biggest burdens many of us bear. But we don’t have to. God’s grace is sufficient to cover them all. Paul said, “Where sin abounds, grace abounds more” (Rom 5:20). That means you and I can hand that sack of shame over to Jesus. Beloved, you aren’t a pack-mule. You were made for grace.

*Note: I acknowledge that some scholars doubt the authenticity of this passage as it is not found in the earliest manuscripts of John’s gospel. But it was accepted by the most influential early church fathers such as Jerome, Ambrose, and Augustine. The church has long held that it records an authentic episode from the life of Christ. And I trust that God has worked throughout the centuries to preserve His Holy, Sacred Word.

Nothing but Grace

I heard a new song yesterday – I can’t tell you the name or the artist, but one line caught my attention: “I am good enough.” It fits well in the recent focus of Christian music, books, studies, and even messages: “God saved you because you were worthy.” That’s a lie. Here’s a hard truth we need to face – none of us are good enough or worthy of salvation.

Paul said, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). All means all. He said, “I know that nothing good lives in me” (7:18). The same is true for you and me. Contemporary Christianity wants to tell us that God saved us because He saw something in us worth saving. That has no basis in Scripture. The Bible tells us that we are wretched sinners through and through.

I know what you’re thinking: “Where’s my encouraging word for today?” Here it is: Grace. If that doesn’t encourage you, you’d better check for a heartbeat. Grace is God’s unmerited, undeserved favor, it is His kindness to us in spite of our sinful state. It has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God.  In truth, the Bible tells us that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Is 64:6). At the risk of being indelicate, the word “filthy” refers to a woman’s menstruation. All our attempts to make ourselves worthy of God are like menstrual rags in His sight. Not at all attractive is it? That’s our true spiritual condition.

And it’s what makes grace such a beautiful thing. Paul said, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Rom 5:20). I went to a jewelry party once and hoped to be the model, but the salesperson chose a girl with a solid black top because the dark color made the sparkly, shiny pieces stand out better than my light blouse. Grace shows us best against the dark backdrop of our sin. And aren’t we supposed to be models for God’s grace? Grace is the word of hope the lost world needs.

Rather than saying God saved us because we were good enough, we need to proclaim the grace of God that saved us despite our filth and our sins. No, you are not good enough. What you are Beloved, is a beautiful work of grace.

Mercy

A verse jumped out at me and I am certain the Lord wants us to get a firm grasp on it. I believe it could make all the difference in how we evangelize the world in our generation. It resonated with me so deeply because I have been reading through one of the most important books in Christian literature: “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He points an accusing finger at the theology of “cheap grace” vs. the reality of “costly grace.” Peter wrote, “You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed . . .  but with the precious blood of Christ”(1 Pet 1:18 ). The grace that saves us cost Jesus His very life.

 Modern Christianity portrays salvation as if we are doing God a favor by accepting Jesus as our Savior. But that is not the Bible’s perspective at all. Here’s the verse that caught my attention this morning: “What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath—prepared for destruction?” (Rom 9:22). In our quest to add numbers to the church role, we have dismissed the case Paul made here for our need for grace and mercy. We are sinners. Every single human being save Jesus was, is, and will be a sinner. Not merely because we sin, but because we are born with a sinful nature passed down from the first man and woman. That sinful nature condemns us before a holy God. We rightfully bear the burden of death.

Paul painted a picture of God, who had every right to pour out His wrath on man, check His wrath, putting it in restraints so that He could first reveal His patience and mercy. But why? “What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy . . .” (v. 23). He did it for His glory – that men who experience His mercy might give him the praise, honor, and exaltation He deserves.

We’re not doing God a favor by accepting His salvation. He is doing us the favor by extending the invitation. Love’s greatest expression is mercy. I realize this isn’t the warm, fuzzy devotional you are used to, Beloved. But it is the truth. God loves you and He showed it at the cross. He paid the highest price to redeem you. Will you give Him the glory He deserves?

Thank You, Lord

I wish I were more useful and faithful to the Lord. No, I’m not fishing for accolades. I’m struck by Psalm 116:12 “How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?” When I consider how good God has been to me, I fall far short of what He deserves.

The fact of His gracious salvation is more than enough reason to devote my every breath to serving Him. For a holy God to pull this wretch out of the mud and mire of my own sin is extraordinary. But it’s how He saved me that goes beyond extraordinary. He sent His one and only Son to die in my place. I owe Him my entire being.

But He didn’t stop there – He has also given me the assurance of eternal life, of a home with Him in His heaven forever and ever and ever and . . . I cannot wrap my mind around such kindness. And I cannot work hard enough to deserve it.

But He gives more. Peace. Hope. His Word. Purpose. His presence. And Joy. Even the faith to believe comes from Him. And love. Oh, what love! Eternal love (Ps 136). Loyal love (Rom 8:35-39). Unfailing love (Ps 31:16). Gracious love (Lk 15:11-31). Abiding love (1 Jn 4:16). I am thankful that I do not have to earn His love, because I never could.

I could end it there, but He didn’t. He gave me a good man who has been by my side for almost 38 years. And a son after many years of waiting. And a granddaughter who fills my life with so much Joy. And the best job I’ve ever had. And a good home. And the opportunity to further my education. And a wonderful, loving church family. And opportunities to teach His Word. And so many precious friends – like you.

He has given me strength in times of weakness and comfort in days of pain and sorrow. He has put food in my pantry and gas in my car. He even provided a transmission once. He is my Protector, my Sword and Shield, and my Strong Tower. He is my Healer. He is my River of Peace and my Anchor of Hope.

So I will gladly pour out my life to serve Him, even if I fall short of what He is worth. How can I not, when He is my life (Deut 30:20). Beloved, is He yours?