Galatians 1:8-9
(8) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
(9) As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
I have been known to use this passage in a little proof-text war with Roman Catholicism. After all, this is the language that they quoted at the first Council of Trent when they declared the Reformation idea of justification by faith alone to be anathema (what is translated "accursed" here). Basically, the idea is that there is only one gospel and anyone who preaches a different one is accursed.
But as I review this passage I am struck by a different point of emphasis. The authority here is in the message. Paul is emphasizing the truth of the gospel that the Galatians first received. In Gal 1:1 he states his authority as an apostle. But here he makes the point that even he does not have the authority to give them a different gospel.
To me, this is a great argument for the importance of Scripture. Yes, it is important to have educated people interpreting what the Bible says and means. However, I think this passage makes it clear that no one has the authority to change the gospel in any way. If Paul didn't then we certainly don't.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
(1) Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
(2) and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.
Hold fast to the gospel!
EDIT: R. Scott Clark happened to write something similar here. I promise I wrote this before I read what he wrote. I find it reassuring when a "real" theologian writes something that I also wrote. It makes me feel like I'm stumbling in the right direction in this case.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Security in Preaching
Jeremiah 1:17-19
(17) But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
(18) And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
(19) They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you."
Young Jeremiah had a very difficult task ahead of him. He had to preach judgment on a self-satisfied and self-righteous people. In this passage God gives Him reassurance that He would protect Jeremiah through it all.
What I note from this is that there is no promise of ease or comfort. In fact, in verse 19 He assures Jeremiah that there would be a fight. Yet He also promises that Jeremiah would prevail in the end. I think of fortified cities, iron pillars, and bronze walls. I think the point of this imagery is that they can take a licking and keep on ticking. They do nothing to prevent the attacks, but they can withstand them.
I am reminded of this verse:
Ephesians 6:13
(13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
If you are a Christian then you are called to preach at some level. If you never share the gospel then you have to wonder if you're really a Christian. They will know us by our love, right? Well, if people are on the road to eternal damnation then we had better be willing to tell them how to get off that road. The problem is that we will likely suffer to some degree if we are faithful in that calling.
This is not easy for me. I don't know where the line is between sharing the truth in love and turning people off to the gospel. All I know is that I am called to share it. I don't want to be a stumbling block for anyone, but I also don't want my inaction to be the reason someone never heard the gospel clearly articulated either.
(17) But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
(18) And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
(19) They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you."
Young Jeremiah had a very difficult task ahead of him. He had to preach judgment on a self-satisfied and self-righteous people. In this passage God gives Him reassurance that He would protect Jeremiah through it all.
What I note from this is that there is no promise of ease or comfort. In fact, in verse 19 He assures Jeremiah that there would be a fight. Yet He also promises that Jeremiah would prevail in the end. I think of fortified cities, iron pillars, and bronze walls. I think the point of this imagery is that they can take a licking and keep on ticking. They do nothing to prevent the attacks, but they can withstand them.
I am reminded of this verse:
Ephesians 6:13
(13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
If you are a Christian then you are called to preach at some level. If you never share the gospel then you have to wonder if you're really a Christian. They will know us by our love, right? Well, if people are on the road to eternal damnation then we had better be willing to tell them how to get off that road. The problem is that we will likely suffer to some degree if we are faithful in that calling.
This is not easy for me. I don't know where the line is between sharing the truth in love and turning people off to the gospel. All I know is that I am called to share it. I don't want to be a stumbling block for anyone, but I also don't want my inaction to be the reason someone never heard the gospel clearly articulated either.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Redeemed
Galatians 3:13-14
(13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"--
(14) so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
A few verses earlier we learn that everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law is under a curse. Think about that. By default we were under a curse from God. It's one thing to have someone get mad at us and curse us. But I don't want to be under a curse from God.
Yet Christ solved that problem. He hung on the cross to redeem us from that curse. There are so many images used to picture redemption. The bottom line is that because of His sacrifice we are no longer under a curse. He bore the penalty for our sins.
Do you believe that? Are you finding joy in that? Does this fill you with hope for dealing with today? I sure hope so. If not, consider what this means in your relationship with God. Are you under a curse or have you been set free?
(13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"--
(14) so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
A few verses earlier we learn that everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law is under a curse. Think about that. By default we were under a curse from God. It's one thing to have someone get mad at us and curse us. But I don't want to be under a curse from God.
Yet Christ solved that problem. He hung on the cross to redeem us from that curse. There are so many images used to picture redemption. The bottom line is that because of His sacrifice we are no longer under a curse. He bore the penalty for our sins.
Do you believe that? Are you finding joy in that? Does this fill you with hope for dealing with today? I sure hope so. If not, consider what this means in your relationship with God. Are you under a curse or have you been set free?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Reading about Reading
Psalms 1:1-6
(1) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
(2) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
(3) He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
(4) The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
(5) Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
(6) for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Now that I finished Isaiah I'm taking a little time to read through some of the articles in my ESV Study Bible. I read two articles about reading this morning. One was an article about reading the Bible for personal worship and the other was about reading for personal application. Great stuff.
As I think about what I read I am convicted on a couple of fronts:
Ephesians 1:3-10
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
(4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
(5) he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
(6) to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed 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 upon us, in all wisdom and insight
(9) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
(10) as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
This speaks of how the God of the universe chose me before the beginning of time to be part of His master plan. How can I not dwell on that?
Sorry to get away from the usual journaling here. This is on my heart this morning and I ask for your prayers.
(1) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
(2) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
(3) He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
(4) The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
(5) Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
(6) for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Now that I finished Isaiah I'm taking a little time to read through some of the articles in my ESV Study Bible. I read two articles about reading this morning. One was an article about reading the Bible for personal worship and the other was about reading for personal application. Great stuff.
As I think about what I read I am convicted on a couple of fronts:
- My prayer life is not particularly vibrant. This would be helped by taking the time to pray through Scripture.
- My reading is often too heady.
Ephesians 1:3-10
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
(4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
(5) he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
(6) to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed 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 upon us, in all wisdom and insight
(9) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
(10) as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
This speaks of how the God of the universe chose me before the beginning of time to be part of His master plan. How can I not dwell on that?
Sorry to get away from the usual journaling here. This is on my heart this morning and I ask for your prayers.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Broken Spokes
Isaiah 66:3-4
(3) "He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations;
(4) I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight."
In our "tolerant" culture a lot of people seem to think that there are many valid paths to God. They look at God as the center of a wheel with many spokes coming to it. The problem is that you have to chuck the Bible if you're going to believe that. This isn't a problem for many, but if you do call yourself Bible-believing and you have universalist tendencies you might want to look at this passage.
Here God is condemning the practices of His people. What's interesting is that these are the very practices that He set up. What He is telling them is that there will come a day when those sacrifices are actually abominable to Him. They are as bad as those who would offer sacrifices while ritually unclean. To a Jewish reader this comparison would be very obvious.
I believe that we are to understand that God sent His Son so that we would no longer have to go through all this stuff to get closer to Him. In fact, there is nothing we can do to get ourselves closer to God. Jesus is the final, once-for-all sacrifice for sins. He is the ultimate offering. I hope that this brings joy to your heart. It certainly does for mine.
(3) "He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations;
(4) I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight."
In our "tolerant" culture a lot of people seem to think that there are many valid paths to God. They look at God as the center of a wheel with many spokes coming to it. The problem is that you have to chuck the Bible if you're going to believe that. This isn't a problem for many, but if you do call yourself Bible-believing and you have universalist tendencies you might want to look at this passage.
Here God is condemning the practices of His people. What's interesting is that these are the very practices that He set up. What He is telling them is that there will come a day when those sacrifices are actually abominable to Him. They are as bad as those who would offer sacrifices while ritually unclean. To a Jewish reader this comparison would be very obvious.
I believe that we are to understand that God sent His Son so that we would no longer have to go through all this stuff to get closer to Him. In fact, there is nothing we can do to get ourselves closer to God. Jesus is the final, once-for-all sacrifice for sins. He is the ultimate offering. I hope that this brings joy to your heart. It certainly does for mine.
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