Loved by God.

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Chicago, IL, United States
* It's good to suffer loss, for it draws me to the Cross where God's loss is more than what anyone ever lost. * We cannot hear what the stories of the Bible are saying until we hear them as stories about ourselves. * Let go of control. * Trust God. Thank God. Think about God. Talk to God. Talk about God.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Gospel Power

Romans 1:16-17


"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"


1:16-17 is the theme and the thesis statement of Romans in summary form. It summarizes Paul's theology as a whole.


"These two verses have an importance out of all proportion to their length." Leon Morris on Rom 1:16-17.


"The gospel is not advice to people, suggesting that they lift themselves. It is power. It lifts them up. Paul does not say that the gospel brings power, but that it is power, and God's power at that." Leon Morris on the gospel's inherent power.

  1. The word translated "for" or "because" is used three times in 1:16-17. How would you explain this?
  2. Why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel (16a)? See 1 Cor 1:18; 2:4-5; 4:20; 2 Cor 4:7; 6:7; 12:9; Eph 3:7; 1 Th 1:5. How do Christians sometimes show a lack of faith in the power of the gospel?
  3. What is the condition, universality and restriction for salvation (16)? What are the 3 tenses of salvation (Eph 2:8; Tit 3:5; 2 Tim 1:9; 1 Cor 1:18; 2 Cor 2:15; Phil 2:12; Rom 5:9-10)? Why can't we save ourselves (Eph 2:1, 4-5)? How does faith happen (10:17, 11-14)? How might faith be misunderstood as a work on our part?
  4. What does the gospel reveal? Explain the "righteousness of/from God" (1:17; 3:21-26; Phil 3:9) in three ways?
  5. How do you react when you think of the righteousness of God being imputed to you through the power of God? What feelings, if any, rise up in your heart? What response, if any, ought this to evoke in our souls?
  6. Explain "by faith from first to last" (NIV), "from faith to faith" (NASB), "from faith for faith" (ESV), "from start to finish by faith" (NLT)?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Romans summary (N.T. Wright)

From the NIB (New Interpreter's Bible)
  • Chapters 1-4: God's gospel unveils the fact that in the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the God of Israel has been true to the covenant established with Abraham and has thereby brought saving order to the whole world. In the face of a world in rebellion and a chosen people unfaithful to their commission, God has, through the surrogate faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah, created a worldwide--that is, a Jewish and Gentile--family for Abraham, marked out by the covenant sign of faith.
  • Chapters 5-8: God has thereby done what the covenant was set up to do: to address and solve the problem expressed in biblical terms as the sin of Adam. In the Messiah, Jesus, God has done for this new people what was done for Israel of old in fulfillment of the promise to Abraham: Redeemed from the Egypt of enslavement to sin, they are led through the wilderness of the present life by the Spirit (not by the Torah), and they look forward to the inheritance, which will consist of the entire redeemed creation. This is how the creator will finally put the whole world to rights. All this is the result of God's astonishing, unchanging, self-giving covenant love expressed completely and finally in the death of Jesus.
  • Chapters 9-11: This section highlights the peculiar tragedy of the gospel's revelation of God's righteousness--namely, the ironic failure of Israel to believe in the Messiah. This, too, however, turns out to be held within the strange purposes of God, whereby Israel's fall, acting out on a grand scale the death of Jesus, is the means by which salvation can extend to the whole world. This cannot mean that Jews themselves are thereby forever debarred from participating in the covenant blessing; Paul himself is a counter example, and God desires that even now, by recognizing that it is indeed their promised blessings that the Gentiles are enjoying, more of Paul's fellow Jews will come to share in the new covenant membership. Gentile Christians, therefore, are warned severely against anti-Jewish arrogance. This section ends with a paean of praise for the strange but glorious purposes of God.
  • Chapters 12-16: The community that is created by this gospel must live as the true, renewed humanity, in its internal and external life. In particular, it must reflect God's intention that Jew and Gentile come together as one worshiping body in Christ. Paul's own plans are bent to this end, and his greetings to different groups in the Roman church may indicate his desire to bring together disparate groups in common worship and mission.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Daring Greatly


"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,

so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt. Excerpt from the speech "Citizenship In A Republic" that is often known as "The Man in the Arena." It was delivered at the Sorbonne, in Paris, France on 23 April, 1910. Download PDF of complete speech.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Gospel Enthusiasm

Romans 1:7-15

"That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome" (Rom 1:15, NIV).

Questions:
  1. What are the three ways that Paul refers to the Christians in Rome (Rom 1:7)?
  2. What did Paul say about their faith (Rom 1:8)? Why?
  3. What assurance did Paul give them (Rom 1:9)?
  4. What was Paul's specific prayer request (Rom 1:10)?
  5. What reasons did Paul give as to why he wanted to see them (Rom 1:11-13)?
  6. What obligation (debt) did Paul owe (Rom 1:14a)?
  7. To whom did Paul seek to preach to (Rom 1:14b-15)? Define the terms and explain the difference.
  8. What can you learn from Paul's eagerness to preach the gospel in Rome (Rom 1:15)?

Next: Gospel Power and Righteousness (Rom 1:16-17).

Friday, September 19, 2014

A Vine Ripened Life


Stanley D. Gale, senior minister of The Reformed Presbyterian Church, West Chester, Pennsylvania, explains the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) in his book, A Vine Ripened Life. After two introductory chapters that encourages us to remain in the vine by abiding in Christ, Gale expounds in a chapter each on each of these nine virtues and finally concludes with humility and grace:
  1. Fruit of the Vine (Jn 15:5).
  2. My Father, the Gardener (Jn 15:1-2).
  3. No Ordinary Love (1 Jn 4:9-12).
  4. Joy Inexpressible (1 Pet 1:6-8).
  5. Peace Beyond Understanding (Phil 4:6-7).
  6. The Leaven of Patience (Col 1:9-11).
  7. Not-So-Random Kindness (Eph 2:4-7).
  8. Gracious Goodness (Gal 6:6-12).
  9. A Great Faithfulness (Lk 16:10-12).
  10. Gentle Strength (Mt 11:28-30).
  11. Self-Control or Willpower (2 Tim 1:7-9).
  12. Potent Humility (Jas 4:6, 10).
  13. Grace Grown (Tit 2:11-14).
There are also questions at the end of each chapter that are useful for personal reflection and group Bible study. A Vine Ripened Life is well written with many relevant stories that make Scripture real and applicable. It encourages readers to pursue the fruit of the Spirit not by our will power but organically through the grace of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in us. I recommend the book to all who want to grow in love, joy and peace.

I received a copy of the book for free from Reformation Heritage Books via Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my review. I am under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

Faith and Obedience


Obedience is a NT teaching. In the NT, the word translated "obedience" (ὑπακοή) occurs 15 times (Rom 1:5; 5:19; 6:16; 15:18; 16:19, 26; 2 Cor 10:6; Phm 1:21; Heb 5:8; 1 Pet 1:2, 14, 22). So, like it or not, it is a teaching of Paul and Peter. Interestingly, Jesus did not use this Pauline word, but he used the word translated "keep" (τηρέω), which means to observe, guard and attend carefully to his word and teaching (Jn 8:51; 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10, 20; 17:6).


Obedience and faith are linked together. Check out Romans 1:5 in five common English translations. The NIV says, "the obedience that comes from faith." The ESV, NASB and HCSB says, "the obedience of faith." The NLT says, "believe and obey." The Message says, "obedient trust." N.T. Wright's The Kingdom New Testament: A Contemporary Translation says, "believing obedience." All translations link "obedience" and "faith."


Obedience coming from faith. Scholars debate the exact relationship between these two words "obedience" (ὑπακοή) and "faith (πίστις)." Many think that Paul presents faith as the basis for, or motivating force of, obedience: "obedience that springs from faith" as rendered by the NIV: "the obedience that comes from faith." This places emphasis on post-conversion commitment and obedience of the Christian (after one believes in Jesus by faith) to follow and obey the truth, or doctrine, or Christ.


Obedience which is faith. The other option is to take "faith" as a definition of "obedience": the obedience which is faith, or the obedience which consists of faith. This expresses Paul's intention to promote the commitment of wholehearted devotion to Christ and to the truth of the gospel.


Together but not synonymous. In either option (which do not necessarily exclude each other), although faith and obedience do always belong together, they are not synonymous, and the NT usually maintains a distinction between them. Also of note is that this is the obedience of faith and not the obedience of law.


Faith alone includes obedience and wholehearted submission to Christ. Thus, the proper response to the gospel is faith, indeed faith alone. Yet a true and living faith in Christ both includes within itself an element of submission, especially because its object is "Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 1:4) or "the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 1:7). One who wholeheartedly submits to Christ as Lord willingly will invariably and inevitably live a life of obedience to Him.


From this coming Sunday, 9/21/14, I plan to begin preaching through Romans. My primary reference sources are
The Epistle to the Romans by Douglas Moo (NICNT, 1996), The Message of Romans by John Stott (The Bible Speaks Today, 1994) and Romans 1-7 For You by Tim Keller (The Good Book Company, 2014). I also just ordered Romans (N.T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides, 1999).

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Live Your Life With Christ


This attractive DVD and handbook series by author and gospel communicator Rebecca Manley Pippert addresses five common and very important and sometimes troubling issues for seekers, skeptics and new believers. Each of the five issues are addressed in five sessions on the DVD, with each session having three sections: 1) a short Introduction section. 2) a Following Jesus section that addresses the question. And 3) Three short Life Stories. The five issues are:
  1. How Do I Know It Is Real? (The DVD gives the evidences for Christ and the resurrection.)
  2. What Is The Good News? (The DVD explains what the gospel is.)
  3. Is It Worth It? (The DVD explains the cost and benefits of following Christ from three parables of Luke 15.)
  4. A Time For Commitment (The DVD explains Christian conversion.)
  5. New Life In Christ (The DVD
In the handbook, each of the five above sessions has a relevant text of Scripture, corresponding questions, live what you learn, praying together, and a final going deeper section:
  1. Doubt (John 20:19-31): Doubt and faith.
  2. Gospel (John 3:1-18): Why do we need the gospel?
  3. Cost (Luke 9:18-36): The cost of commitment.
  4. Conversion (Acts 9:1-19): God is faithful!
  5. Presence (John 15:1-13): People of the presence.
This is the first of three series entitled LIVE your life with Christ. This will be followed with GROW that has five sessions on how to grow as a Christian. The third series KNOW has five sessions on the core beliefs of the Christian faith.

I found this DVD handbook set very relatable, relevant to life, practical, thought provoking, appealing and accessible. I recommend this for small group discussions.

I received a copy of the DVD and the book from The Good Book Company via Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for my review.

Monday, September 15, 2014

What Is The Gospel?

Romans 1:1-6


What scholars, theologians and church leaders have said about Romans:

  • "It is the fullest and grandest statement of the gospel in the NT...a timeless manifesto of freedom through Jesus Christ." John Stott, The Message of Romans, 1994.
  • "Romans is Paul's summary of the gospel that he preaches. The theme of the letter is the gospel." Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, 1996.
  • "The quintessence and perfection of saving doctrine." Thomas Draxe, 17th century English Puritan.
  • Martin Luther wrote in his "Preface to the Epistle to the Romans" that Romans is "really the chief part of the NT, and ... truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul."
  • John Calvin declared that "if we have gained a true understanding of this Epistle, we have an open door to all the most profound treasures of Scripture."

The word translated "gospel" (εὐαγγέλιον) occurs 77 times in the NT. This word is particularly prominent in the introduction (Rom 1:1, 2, 9, 15) and conclusion (Rom 15:16, 19) of Romans--it's epistolary "frame." And this is the word that has pride of place in Paul's statement of the theme of the letter in Rom 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel..." Paul goes on to speak of the interplay of salvation, the interplay of Jew and Gentile (The New Perspective on Paul), and justification by faith (Luther and Calvin's theme)--each of which has been advanced as the theme of Romans.

In Rom 1:1-6, John Stott explains the gospel as follows:

  1. The origin of the gospel is ________ (Rom 1:1).
  2. The attestation of the gospel is ________________ (Rom 1:2).
  3. The substance of the gospel is ______________________ (Rom 1:3-4).
  4. The scope of the gospel is ____________________ (Rom 1:5-6).
  5. The purpose of the gospel is ________________________ (Rom 1:5).
  6. The goal of the gospel is _______________________________ (Rom 1:5).

Questions:

  • What is striking about Paul's description of himself as "slave" and "apostle" (Rom 1:1a)?
  1. What is the origin of the gospel (Rom 1:1b)? Why is this conviction important for authentic evangelism?
  2. What attests to the gospel (Rom 1:2; Jn 5:39; Lk 24:27, 44)?
  3. What is the substance of the gospel (Rom 1:3-4, 9)?
  4. What is the scope of the gospel (Rom 1:5-6)? What implications does this have for you? What is the role of "grace" (Rom 1:1:5; 12:3; 15:15; 1 Cor 15:10; Gal 1:15)?
  5. What is the purpose of the gospel (Rom 1:5; 16:26)? Can you differentiate between the obedience of faith and the obedience of law? Can you see the obedience of faith in your own life?
  6. What is the goal of the gospel (Rom 1:5)? How does your experience of Christianity match up to this?
  7. Extra: What do you know about the New Perspective on Paul?

Saturday, September 13, 2014

The righteousness of God - Martin Luther


I greatly longed to understand Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and nothing stood in the way but that one expression, "the righteousness of God," because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is righteous and deals righteously in punishing the unrighteous. . . . Night and day I pondered until . . . I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, he justifies us by faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before "the righteousness of God" had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a gateway to heaven.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

How Can I Be Sure

In a fallen world under God's curse and judgment and subject to Satan, doubt is to be expected, even and perhaps especially after one becomes a Christian. Former University of Birmingham Professor, John Stevens, assure us that doubts and questions about faith are not necessarily bad. Drawing from his personal encounters with various believers, he looks at such questions as:
  1. What is doubt?
  2. Why is doubt dangerous?
  3. What do I have to believe to be a Christian?
  4. How can I overcome doubt as a Christian?
  5. How can I develop a confident faith?
  • Conclusion: From doubt to faith.

I love the quotes in this book:

  • "The art of doubting is easy, for it is an ability that is born with us." Martin Luther.
  • "None has assurance at all times. As in a walk that is shaded by trees and chequered with light and shadow, some tracks and paths are dark and others are sunshine. Such is usually the life of the most assured Christian."
  • "Feelings of confidence about our salvation need to be tested before they are trusted." J I Packer.
  • "Doubt indulged soon becomes doubt realised." Frances Ridley Havergal.
  • "Faith, like health, is best maintained by growth, nourishment and exercise and not by fighting sickness. Sickness may be the absence of health, prevention is better than cure. Equally, faith grows and flourishes when it is well nourished and exercised, so the best way to resist doubt is to build up faith rather than simply to fight against doubt." Os Guinness.
Stevens shows through Scripture and stories he shares of people with doubts that God allows doubts to strengthen and refine our faith, to humble us, to equip us to understand others who doubt, and to fulfill his good purpose in our lives. This is a short and easily readable book that will encourage anyone who struggles with doubt.

I received this book from The Good Book Company via Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for a review.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Faith, a New and Comprehensive Sense (John Newton)

This visceral poem could be paraphrased as loving and delighting in God with all of our five senses and the entirety of our being.

Sight, hearing, feeling, taste and smell,

Are gifts we highly prize;

But faith does singly each excel,

And all the five comprise.

More piercing than the eagle's flight

It views the world unknown;

Surveys the glorious realms of light,

And Jesus on the throne.

It hears the mighty voice of God,

And ponders what he saith

His word and works, his gifts and rod,

Have each a voice to faith.

It feels the touch of heavenly pow'r, (Lk 8:46)

And from that boundless source,

Derives fresh vigor every hour,

To run its daily course.

It smells the dear Redeemer's name

Like ointment poured forth; SS 1:3

Faith only knows or can proclaim,

Its favor or its worth.

Till saving faith possess the mind,

In vain of sense we boast;

We are but senseless, tasteless, blind,

And deaf, and dead, and lost.

John Newton, Faith a New and Comprehensive Sense.

God, Our Intimate Friend (Ps 63:1-11). Tim Keller.
Intimacy with God (Rev 3:14-22). Andy Stanley.
Thoughts on Religious Experience, Archibald Alexander (1772-1851), 1844.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Idolatry, the Basic Sin

I is for Idolatry (Romans 1:18-25, 28-32; 2:1-5)


"...and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images... They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen." (Rom 1:23a, 25).

  1. As a Christian Jesus is always the right answer. But what do you truly want more than anything else in the world?
  2. What is the very essence of idolatry (23, 25)? What two commandments does idolatry break (Ex 20:3-4; Dt 5:7-8)?
  3. Why is idolatry inexcusable (19-20)?
  4. What is the root cause of idolatry (21a, 18)?
  5. What are some results of idolatry in our lives (21b-26, 28, 32)? Has this been true in your own experience? Share examples.
  6. Notice the 21 vices that Paul lists that is not exhaustive (29-31). How much disintegration does idolatry cause?
  7. How is the idolatry in 2:1-5 different from 1:18-32? What sins do you excuse in yourself while condemning them in others?
  8. How would you speak to those who think that because they are moral and keep rules, they are better than others?

Quotes for thought:


"An idol can be ... anything that can substitute for God." Os Guiness and John Seel, No God but God, 32-33.


"Every idolater is a prisoner, held in humiliating bondage." John Stott, The Message of 1 and 2 Thessalonians.


"Either we will love and serve God, or we will love and serve our idols. Idols exist in our lives because we love them and invite them in. But once idols find a home, they are unruly and resist leaving. In fact, they change from being the servants of our desires to being our masters." Edward T. Welch, Blame in on the Brain? 194.


"Self-righteousness—this is the largest idol of the human heart—the idol which man loves most and God hates most." Robert Murray M'Cheyne.


"We can make an idol of anything, including your church." Scotty Smith, A Prayer Lamenting "My Church" Idolatry.


"Most of us think of an idol as a statue ... worshiped by pagan people. But ... an idol is anything apart from God that we depend on to be happy, fulfilled, or secure. In biblical terms, it is something other than God that we set our heart on...it is something we love and pursue more than God." "It is important to emphasize the fact that idols can arise from good desires as well as wicked desires. It is often not what we want that is the problem, but that we want it too much." Ken Sande, The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, 104.


"To identify your own idols, ask questions: Where do I find my significance and my confidence? What things make me really angry? Anger usually erupts when an idol gets knocked off the shelf." Philip Graham Ryken, Courage to Stand, 90.


"...suffering itself does not rob you of joy—idolatry does. If you're suffering and you're angry, bitter, and joyless it means you've idolized--and felt entitled to--whatever it is you're losing." Tullian Tchividjian.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Biblical Portraits of Creation

As the title declares, Biblical Portraits of Creation is indeed a celebration of the Maker of Heaven and Earth. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I plan to use it and encourage its use in preaching and Bible studies. I highly recommend it.

The important, glorious, majestic and dynamic doctrine of creation that emphasizes God as Creator (Gen 1:1) is very often a neglected theme of sermons and Bible studies in churches, which favors redemptive historical aspects of the Bible. But Biblical Portraits of Creation faithfully and edifyingly lays emphasis on the utmost importance of God as Creator. It captures the grandeur, glory and majesty of the creation (and new creation) texts of both the Old Testament and New Testament by explaining, expounding and exegeting those texts. (See titles for the 12 chapters and the corresponding biblical text below.) It is an excellent resource for Christians, pastors and lay Bible teachers who wants to preach and/or teach about creation and new creation. The concise and succinct summary points at the end of each chapter is very useful, along with study questions, which can benefit and facilitate group Bible studies.

The epilogue of the book is an appropriate call and a challenge for churches, Bible study groups and preachers to set aside a quarter of their annual Bible studies, sermon series and preaching schedule on multiple texts of the Bible and large blocks of Scripture that proclaims God as Maker of the heaven and earth and of the new heaven and earth, as Creator of life and new life (i.e. redemption). Three months preaching on creation texts seems excessive, but not if the creation message is integrated throughout the 66 books of the Bible with those texts covering all the biblical genres of Historical (Genesis 1:1–2:3, 2:4–25), Wisdom (Psalms 8 and 19, 29, 33, 104, 148, Proverbs 3 and 8, Job 38-39), and Prophetic (Isaiah 65 and 66) books of the Old Testament, and selected passages from the New Testament.

Note: I received this book for free from The Weaver Book Company through Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review. I am under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

1. Wisdom Was There Before God Created the World

     Proverbs 3:19–20 & 8:22–31 

2. In the Beginning God Created the Universe

     Genesis 1

3. A Garden for Adam and Eve

     Genesis 2:4–25 

4. A Divine Ode to Creation

    Psalm 104

5. How Magnificent Is God's Name in All the Earth

    Psalms 8 & 19:1–6

6. The Lord of the Seven Thunders 

    Psalm 29

7. Creation by the Word of God

    Psalm 33:6–13 

8. The Noise of Heaven and Earth!

    Psalm 148 

9. Getting the Facts Straight about God and Creation

    Job 38–39 

10. Jesus and the New Genesis Advent

      Matthew 1:1–17

11. The New Heavens and the New Earth

       Isaiah 65:17–25 & 66:22–24 

12. Our New Creation Confidence for Proclamation and Living

      2 Corinthians 4:6 & 5:17

      Epilogue: A Call and a Challenge


Saturday, September 6, 2014

Intimacy: Outline, Quotes

"O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you..." (Ps 63:1, NLT). [I is for Intimacy.]


Theme: God created us for intimacy. No one can truly live happily without it. Jesus was the happiest man who ever lived, because of his unbroken intimacy with One who loved him.


"Some of us know at times what it is to be almost too happy to live! The love of God has been so overpoweringly experienced by us on some occasions, that we have almost had to ask for a stay of the delight because we could not endure any more. If the glory had not been veiled a little, we should have died of excess of rapture, or happiness." Spurgeon.


How To Have Intimacy

  1. A true knowledge of God and of ourselves (John Calvin, Institutes, Chap. 1, Sec. 1,2). "There is no deep knowing of God without a deep knowing of self and no deep knowing of self without a deep knowing of God."
    • "How can you draw close to God when you are far from your own self? Grant, Lord, that I may know myself, that I may know thee." Augustine.
    • "There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace, my happiness depend: to discover myself in discovering God. If I find Him I will find myself and if I find my true self I will find Him." Thomas Merton.
    • Salvation is not merely deliverance from sin, nor the experience of personal holiness; the salvation of God is deliverance out of self entirely into union with Himself." Oswald Chambers."Being most deeply your unique self is something that God desires, because your true self is grounded in Christ. God created you in uniqueness and seeks to restore you to that uniqueness in Christ. Finding and living out your true self is fulfilling your destiny." David G. Benner, The Gift of Being Yourself.
    • "Intimacy begins with oneself. It does no good to try to find intimacy with friends, lovers, and family if you are starting out from alienation and division within yourself." Thomas Moore (author, former Catholic monk), Care of the Soul."
    • Solitude is very different from a 'time-out' from our busy lives. Solitude is the very ground from which community grows. Whenever we pray alone, study, read, write, or simply spend quiet time away from the places where we interact with each other directly, we are potentially open for a deeper intimacy with each other." Henri Nouwen.
  2. The love of the Father (Jn 3:161 Jn 4:816Jer 31:3).
  3. The grace of the Son (Ac 20:242 Tim 2:1Gal 2:20Eph 2:8-9). "The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust - not only for all the gifts that I receive from God, but gratitude for all the suffering. Because in that purifying experience, suffering has often been the shortest path to intimacy with God." Brennan Manning.
  4. The presence of the Holy Spirit: love, joy and peace (Gal 5:22-23) and freedom (2 Cor 3:17). "The glory of God is man fully alive." St. Irenaeus (130-202 AD; early church father, apologist, bishop). This suggests that unless there is an intimacy between God and man, life may not feel like life.
  5. Having family, friends and a safe church who truly love you, care for you, and are invested in your life, future, success and happiness, while respecting you and not violating your boundaries.
* What John Calvin wrote in Institutes about the two most important things to know (bold italics headings are mine):


True wisdom consists of two connecting parts. OUR wisdom, ...true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other.

 

No person can know themselves without turning to God. For, in the first place, no man can survey himself without ... turning his thoughts towards the God in whom he lives and moves; because it is perfectly obvious, that (what) we possess cannot possibly be from ourselves; (no), that our very being is nothing (but sustenance from God). ...those blessings which unceasingly (come) to us from heaven, are like streams (leading) us to the fountain.

 

Until we know how bad we are, we cannot know how good God is. ...(infinite) good which resides in God becomes more apparent from our poverty. ...our feeling of ignorance, ...weakness, in short, depravity and corruption, reminds us that in the Lord, and none but He, dwell...true...exuberant goodness. We are accordingly urged by our own evil...to consider the good things of God; ...indeed, we can't aspire to Him in earnest until we begin to be displeased with ourselves.

 

Until you truly know yourself, you won't seek God. For what man is not disposed to rest in himself? ...so long as he is unknown to himself; ...contented with his own (life), and unconscious...of his misery?


No true self-knowledge is ever possible without contemplating God, because in our pride we always think we're basically OK, not that bad... since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, to flattering ourselves.


Until we see God for who He truly is...we'll never enjoy intimacy with him.

Friday, September 5, 2014

The Two Most Important Things To Know


  1. A true knowledge of God.
  2. A true knowledge of ourselves.

This is what John Calvin wrote in Institutes of the Christian Religion, Chapter 1, Sections 1,2.

True wisdom consists of two connecting parts. OUR wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other.

No person can know themselves without turning to God. For, in the first place, no man can survey himself without forthwith turning his thoughts towards the God in whom he lives and moves; because it is perfectly obvious, that the endowments which we possess cannot possibly be from ourselves; nay, that our very being is nothing else than subsistence in God alone. In the second place, those blessings which unceasingly distil to us from heaven, are like streams conducting us to the fountain.

Until we know how bad we are, we cannot know how good God is. ...the infinitude of good which resides in God becomes more apparent from our poverty. ...our feeling of ignorance, vanity, want, weakness, in short, depravity and corruption, reminds us (see Calvin on John 4:10), that in the Lord, and none but He, dwell the true light of wisdom, solid virtue, exuberant goodness. We are accordingly urged by our own evil things to consider the good things of God; and, indeed, we cannot aspire to Him in earnest until we have begun to be displeased with ourselves.

Until you truly know yourself, you won't seek God. For what man is not disposed to rest in himself? ...so long as he is unknown to himself; ...contented with his own endowments, and unconscious or unmindful of his misery? Every person, therefore, on coming to the knowledge of himself, is not only urged to seek God, but is also led as by the hand to find him.

No true self-knowledge without contemplating God, because in our pride we always think we're basically good. ...it is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he have previously contemplated the face of God, and...after such contemplation to look into himself. For (such is our innate pride) we always seem to ourselves just, and upright, and wise, and holy, until we are convinced, by clear evidence, of our injustice, vileness, folly, and impurity.

...since we are all naturally prone to hypocrisy, any empty semblance of righteousness is quite enough to satisfy us instead of righteousness itself. And since nothing appears...around us that is not tainted with very great impurity, so ... anything which is in some small degree less defiled delights us as if it were most pure...

Flattering ourselves. ...when we look up to the sun, and gaze at it unveiled, the sight which did excellently well for the earth is instantly so dazzled and confounded by the refulgence, as to oblige us to confess that our acuteness in discerning terrestrial objects is mere dimness when applied to the sun. Thus too, it happens in estimating our spiritual qualities. So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms...

Until we see God for who He truly is... But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being he is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue, to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity; ...and what presented the appearance of (virtue) will be condemned as the most miserable impotence. So far are those qualities in us, which seem most perfect, from corresponding to the divine purity.

How To Have Intimacy

Theme: God created us for intimacy. No one can truly live happily without it. Jesus was the happiest man who ever lived, because of his unbroken intimacy with One who loved him.

Have you ever experienced being too happy? Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, preached a sermon entitled Prodigal Love for the Prodigal Son (or Many Kisses for Returning Sinners). The verse he based it on is "...and kissed him." (Lk 15:20). In his sermon Spurgeon said, "Some of us know at times what it is to be almost too happy to live! The love of God has been so overpoweringly experienced by us on some occasions, that we have almost had to ask for a stay of the delight because we could not endure any more. If the glory had not been veiled a little, we should have died of excess of rapture, or happiness."

As a Christian, how does one find intimacy? We need to know the following about God and man (ourselves):
  1. A true knowledge of God and of ourselves (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Chapter 1, Sections 1,2).
  2. The love of the Father (Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 4:8, 16; Jer 31:3).
  3. The grace of the Son (Ac 20:24; 2 Tim 2:1; Gal 2:20; Eph 2:8-9).
  4. The presence of the Holy Spirit: love, joy and peace (Gal 5:22-23) and freedom (2 Cor 3:17).
  5. Having family and friends who truly love you, care for you, and are invested in your life, future, success and happiness.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Intimacy

Psalm 63:1-8; 1, NLT

"O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you..."

"The dominant characteristic of an authentic spiritual life is the gratitude that flows from trust - not only for all the gifts that I receive from God, but gratitude for all the suffering. Because in that purifying experience, suffering has often been the shortest path to intimacy with God." Brennan Manning.
  • Read Psalm 63:1-8. Do these verses describe your intimacy with God?
  • What does "my soul" (Ps 63:1,5,8, ESV) suggest about the psalmist's personal devotion to God?
  • How does earnestly and eagerly seeking God feel like to the psalmist (Ps 63:1-2)? To you? What is God's promise to those who earnestly seek him (Dt 4:29; Jer 29:13; Mt 7:7; 5:6; Heb 11:6)?
  • To the psalmist what is better than life and as satisfying as food (Ps 63:3, 5)? What does he do (Ps 63:1,2,3,4-5,6,7,8)?
  • When does the psalmist seek God (Ps 63:2, 6)? How different or similar are these two instances?
  • How does the psalmist express his intimacy with God (Ps 63:7-8)?