John Calvin on Three Main Attributes of God

"God, the Creator of heaven and earth, governs the world which was made by him.  In every part of Scripture we meet with descriptions of his paternal kindness and readiness to do good, and we also meet with examples of severity which show that he is the just punisher of the wicked, especially when they continue obstinate notwithstanding all his forbearance.

"Assuredly, the attributes [of God] which it is most necessary for us to know are these three: loving-kindness, on which alone our entire safety depends; judgment, which is daily exercised on the wicked, and awaits them in a severer form, even for eternal destruction; righteousness, by which the faithful are preserved, and most benignly cherished.  The prophet declares, that when you understand these, you are amply furnished with the means of glorying in God.  Nor is there here any omission of his truth, or power, or holiness, or goodness.  For how could this knowledge of his loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness exist, if it were not founded on his [incorruptable] truth?" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin).

The Myth of Righteous Anger

“A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. ‘There's nothing wrong with losing my temper,’ she said. ‘I blow up, and then it's all over.’

“‘So does a shotgun,’ Sunday replied, ‘and look at the damage it leaves behind!’”

In John 2:13-17 we read about Jesus’ cleansing of the temple.  He makes a whip of cords, overturns tables, and drives people and animals off of the temple grounds.  This passage is rightly often used as an example of righteous anger, but anger is not the point of Christ’s actions nor is it the lesson meant for the disciple of Christ.  In fact, if this passage teaches anything about anger it points to the fact that rarely is our anger righteous.  More often our anger leaves damage behind similar to the firing of a shotgun.

What makes anger righteous for the disciple of Jesus Christ?  Is it even possible for us to have righteous anger?  What is the reason for Christ’s reaction in the temple?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we strive to answer these questions and more in our study of the Gospel of John.  May we be prayerfully prepared to encounter His Word for His glory.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark

The Servant of God

Sign on door: “Gone out of business.  Didn’t know what our business was.”  (University Christian Church, NY, 1963).

The background story to the above statement must certainly be interesting.  It is difficult to run a business successfully when one does not know the business of the business (if you get my drift).

The same can be said for the church of God.  Though the body of Christ is far from a business, it is true that the church cannot be the church is it doesn’t know how to be the church.  In other words, everything done by the church must have a focus, a purpose, an end-goal.  This is far from the Purpose Driven Life made famous by Rick Warren.  This is the purpose driven life to which the church has been called by our Creator God.

In 2 Timothy 2:22-26 Paul once again encourages Timothy to flee sinfulness, pursue righteousness, and correct false teachers.  But the full purpose behind this is not to have Timothy’s or the church’s reputation held high.  The end game is far greater than any reputation of a man or group of believers.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we look at God’s Word together, seeking the truth, and striving to give God the glory in all things.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

Hasty Speech and Anger

“In the spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a routine baseball game.  But what happened that day was anything but routine.  The Orioles’ John McGraw got into a fight with the Boston third baseman.  Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in the brawl.  The warfare quickly spread to the grandstands.  Among the fans the conflict went from bad to worse.  Someone set fire to the stands and the entire ballpark burned to the ground.  Not only that, but the fire spread to 107 other Boston buildings as well” (Daily Bread, August 13, 1992).

Uncontrolled anger expressed in the heat of the moment usually produces unintentional and unexpected consequences.  As disciples of Christ we are called to a higher standard and how we handle and express ourselves in times of frustration is no different.  James 1:19-20 tells us clearly the results of hasty speech and anger and none of them reveal God’s righteousness.  Perhaps you have found yourself in a situation where anger has quickly risen to the surface only to regret the hasty words that have left your mouth.  It is easy to remind ourselves the righteous results of self-control, but to live it out is much more difficult.

The next two Sunday mornings will find us digging into God’s Word in James.  Whereas this week we will study the results of uncontrolled anger and hasty speech, next week we will discover the mark of genuine Christianity.  I would encourage us all to read through and study the first chapter in James in preparation for this week.  May God speak to us as we study His Word and may the Spirit reveal to us His Truth, transforming us as His disciples. 

Christ as Righteous

Advent literally means a coming into place, view, or being.  When applied to Jesus Christ the Advent is His coming down to earth in full view of the world.  But the Advent would not be if it weren’t for the very character of Jesus Christ.

Last week Andrew led us in a study of Christ’s humility and the impact of His humility on our faith.  Christ’s call for us to follow His example and humble ourselves has a huge impact on our growth in God.

On this second Sunday of Advent we will be focusing on the righteousness of Christ.  What is righteousness?  What is the importance of Christ’s righteousness to our faith and salvation?  Why is my “righteousness” not enough for right standing before God?  Was Christ really righteous and was His sacrifice needed?

Let this time in God’s Word and our focus on Christ’s righteousness be a catalyst for growth and deepness in relationship with Christ.  May Christ’s righteousness be an encouragement to us and give us reason to praise and glorify His name.  God came to this earth, humbling Himself by coming in the form of a little baby.  This righteous, perfect, Creator became human in order to fulfill the will of God and save His people.  This alone is reason to glorify His name.  Join us this week as we study and are transformed by His Advent.

Sufficiency of Christ

Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV) ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,¹⁰and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

You know the feeling.  When you look into your own heart and are ashamed by what you see.  How can God love such a sinner as I?  And why do I live by the flesh more than the Spirit?  These are only some the questions that run through the mind as we get closer to Christ.

And precisely the problem is that we try to live for Christ on our own too often.  When looking back on my life I have to admit that anything good that came out of me come directly from Christ and His influence.  As scripture says, "No one does good" (Romans 3:10-12).  I am only righteous through the blood of Christ who is fully God and able to forgive sins.  His righteousness is imputed to me.  Oh, the glorious grace of God.

I cannot live for Christ on my own strength.  It is only through the power of Christ in me that any good comes from my life.  He is sufficient.  And with Christ within me, His power strengthening me to fight the battles against my flesh, nothing can stand against me.

"In Christ we have been filled, and since He is fully God, Paul means [in Colossians 2:9-10] that all believers have been filled with the very fullness of the Almighty Himself. . . Thus, indwelt by the Spirit, we have the power of God to conform us to godliness, and we do not need anything or anyone else to make us holy" (Tabletalk, February 2011 issue).
Praise God.

His Grace is Sufficient

Genesis 15:6 (ESV)

^"And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness."

This verse has such a rich, deep, and profound meaning for the elect today.  Abram believed God's promises and God counted him righteous not because he was circumcised, not because he earned it, and not because he deserved it.  Abram was righteous because God proclaimed him so.  God bestowed His grace upon his servant and he was justified because of it.

After I spoke on this passage last Sunday morning a very trusted friend gave me a definition of grace.  Grace can be literally defined as God's ability.  When God tells us that His grace is sufficient for us He is telling us that His ability is sufficient no matter the circumstance.  I wholeheartedly agree, but I believe there is a deeper understanding to His grace.

My children are not perfect.  In fact, they tend to drive their mother and I crazy at times.  When they disobey, the consequence for their actions is losing a specific privilege.  But there are times when we decide to give grace.  (My son has even been known to ask for grace when he has gotten in trouble.)  We do this purposely to teach him the truth of God's grace.  When we give grace to our children it isn't because they deserve it or earned it.  We give grace because we love our children and desire to teach them about God's character.

God gives us His grace not because we deserve it, but because He is God, loves His children, and places His grace upon whom he wishes.  What was true for Abram thousands of years ago is still true today for the children of God.  His grace is sufficient for me.  And praise God I don't have to earn it.

Final Inheritance

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) ^"13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

We have all had one of those days.  A day in which nothing goes right, everything irritates you, and you just want to find a hole and hide.  Not only can this world bring us trouble but more often our own sinfulness brings us down to despair. 

When I look at my own life intimately I find that I have a lot to work on.  I get caught up in my own sinfulness and my frustration increases to the point that I want to throw up my hands and give up.  But it is comforting to know that I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit.  Of course, this does not mean that I've reached the pinnacle of spirituality and righteousness.  On the contrary, the Spirit is just the down payment of my inheritance.  He is only the first installment of the total inheritance which I will receive at the throne of the Father.

I have to remind myself that this world is temporary.  My sinfulness is only temporary.  But until I receive the final inheritance in full I will have to trust in the Holy Spirit and my Savior to get me through each day.  This world will end and His children will come into their inheritance.  What a wonderful day that will be.

To His Glory!