J.C. Ryle on Holiness (Part 2)

J.C. Ryle on Holiness (Part 1)

"Would you be holy?  Then Christ is the manna you must daily eat, like Israel in the wilderness of old.  Would you be holy?  Then Christ must be the rock from which you must daily drink the living water.  Would you be holy?  Then you must be ever looking unto Jesus, looking at His cross, and learning fresh motives for a closer walk with God, looking at His example, and taking Him for your pattern.  Looking at Him, you would be come like Him.  Looking at Him, your face would shine without your knowing it.  Look less at yourself and more at Christ, and you will find besetting sins dropping off and leaving you, and your eyes enlightened more and more every day (Heb. 12:2; 2 Cor. 3:18).

"The true secret of coming up out of the wilderness is to come up leaning on the Beloved (Song 8:5). The true way to be strong is to realize our weakness, and to feel that Christ must be all.  The true way to grow in grace is to make use of Christ as a fountain for every minute's necessities.  We ought to employ Him as the prophet's wife employed the oil - not only to pay our debts, but to live on also.  We should strive to be able to say, 'The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me' (2 Kings 4:7; Gal. 2:20).

"I pity those who try to be holy without Christ!  Your labor is all in vain.  You are putting money in a bag with holes.  You are pouring water into a sieve.  You are rolling a huge round stone uphill.  You are building up a wall with untempered mortar.  Believe me, you are beginning at the wrong end.  You must come to Christ first, and He shall give you His sanctifying Spirit.  You must learn to say with Paul, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me' (Phil. 4:13)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Holiness (Part 1)

"Christ is not only all in the justification of a true Christian, but He is also all in his sanctification.  I would not have anyone misunderstand me.  I do not mean for a moment to undervalue the work of the Spirit.  But this I say, that no man is ever holy until he comes to Christ and is united to Him.  Until then his works are dead works, and he has no holiness at all.  First you must be joined to Christ, and then you shall be holy.  'Without Him, separate form Him, you can do nothing' (John 15:5).

"And no man can grow in holiness except he abides in Christ.  Christ is the great root from which every believer must draw his strength to go forward.  The Spirit is His special gift, His purchased gift for His people.  A believer must not only 'receive Christ Jesus the Lord' but 'walk in Him, and be rooted and built up in Him' (Col. 2:6, 7)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on Public and Private Religion

At the time J.C. Ryle wrote these words there had been an increase in the number of public services and those attending.  Though he was excited by the multiplication of what he called "public religion" he gave a word of caution:

"While we are thankful for the increase of public religion, we must never forget that, unless it is accompanied by private religion, it is of no real solid value, and may even produce most mischievous effects.  Incessant running after sensational preachers, incessant attendance at hot crowded meetings, [prolonged] to late hours, incessant craving after fresh excitement and highly spiced pulpit novelties - all this kind of thing is calculated to produce a very unhealthy style of Christianity and, in many cases I am afraid, the end is utter ruin of soul.  For, unhappily, those who make public religion everything are often led away by mere temporary emotions, after some grand display of ecclesiastical oratory, into professing far more than they really feel.  After this, they can only be kept up to the mark, which they imagine they have reached, by a constant succession of religious excitements.  By and by, as with opium-eaters and dram-drinkers, there comes a time when their dose loses its power, and a feeling of exhaustion and discontent begins to creep over their minds.  Too often, I fear, the conclusion of the whole matter is a relapse into utter deadness and unbelief, and a complete return to the world.  And all results from having nothing but a public religion!  Oh, that people would remember that it was not the wind, or the fire, or the earthquake, which showed Elijah the presence of God, but 'the still small voice' (1 Kings 19:12).

"Now I desire to lift up a warning voice on this subject.  I want to see no decrease of public religion, remember; but I do want to promote an increase of that religion which is private - private between each man and his God.  The root of a plant or tree makes no show above ground.  If you dig down to it and examine it, it is a poor, dirty, coarse-looking thing and not nearly so beautiful to the eye as the fruit or leaf or flower.  But that despised root, nevertheless, is the true source of all the life, health, vigor and fertility which your eyes see, and without it the plant or tree would soon die.  Now private religion is the root of all vital Christianity.  Without it we may make a brave show in the meeting or on the platform, and sing loud, and shed many tears, and have a name to live and the praise of man.  But without it we have no wedding garment, and are 'dead before God.'  I tell my readers plainly that the times require of us all more attention to our private religion" (J.C. Ryle, Holiness).

J.C. Ryle on Our View of Ourselves

"What do you think of yourself? What Paul thought of himself you have seen and heard. Now, what are your thoughts about yourself? Have you found out that grand foundational truth that you are a sinner, a guilty sinner in the sight of God?

"The cry for more education in this day is loud and incessant. Ignorance is universally deplored. But, you may depend, there is not ignorance so common and so mischievous as ignorance or ourselves. Yes, men may know all arts and sciences and languages, and political economy and statecraft, and yet be miserably ignorant of their own hearts and their own state before God.

"Be very sure that self-knowledge is the first step towards heaven. To know God's unspeakable perfection, and our own immense imperfection, to see our own unspeakable defectiveness and corruption, is the ABC in saving religion. The more real inward light we have, the more humble and lowly-minded we shall be, and the more we shall understand the value of that despised thing, the gospel of Christ. He that think worst of himself and his own doings is perhaps the best Christian before God. Well would it be of many if they would pray, night and day, this simple prayer: 'Lord, show me myself'" (J.C. Ryle, Holiness).

"Behold, the Lamb of God"

“A gathering of friends at an English estate nearly turned to tragedy when one of the children strayed into deep water. The gardener heard the cries for help, plunged in, and rescued the drowning child. That youngster's name was Winston Churchill. His grateful parents asked the gardener what they could do to reward him. He hesitated, then said, "I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor." "We'll see to it," Churchill's parents promised. 

“Years later, while Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia. The country's best physician was summoned. His name was Dr. Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered and developed penicillin. He was also the son of that gardener who had saved young Winston from drowning. Later Churchill remarked, "Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same person." (Ron Hutchcraft, Wake Up Calls, Moody, 1990, p. 22.)

As Jesus approached him, John the Baptist declared in a voice for all to hear, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).  Jesus has redeemed the sinner.  He has taken away the sins of those who put their trust in Him, repent of their sins, and follow His commands.  To change the above words of Winston Churchill, “Never has one man owed his life for all eternity to the same person.”  And yet in Christ this truth is found.

Join us this week as we study John 1:29-34 in an attempt to understand the work of the Lamb of God in the lives of sinful humanity.  May the work of the Spirit be evident as we strive to understand our God and His call for our lives more deeply.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known!

The Power of the Word

After his Edmonton Oilers lost the 1983 National Hockey League Championship to the New York Islanders, Wayne Gretzky walked past the Islander locker room.  He did not hear loud celebrations as he expected.  Instead, all the Islanders players were sitting down with ice packs on knees, hips, ankles, and other joints.  They were beaten, bloody, and bruised in their quest to win the championship.  Gretzky recognized that if he and his teammates desired to win a championship their bodies would have to pay the price.  Gretzky and his teammates would go on to win five championships in the next seven years.

One would think that being a child and disciple of the Almighty God would bring a life of comfort, ease, and peace without any troubles or trials.  One would think, but reality is much different.  There is a price to pay for the disciple of Christ who lives in a world that denies and hates Christ.  There are consequences for the child of God who lives out their faith unashamedly.  But though the cost of living for God is high the rewards are eternal.  For the power of the Word of God, namely the Gospel message, has a power to change, mold, encourage, convict, renew, and equip the believer of Jesus Christ into all righteousness.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we dig deeper into 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and seek God’s wisdom and guidance as we search out His truth for our lives.

Striving to know Christ and make him known.

Set Apart for a Godly Task

Recently my brother-in-law and I replaced a window in my house which was not doing it’s job.  The purpose of a window is to keep the weather out and let the sunshine in, but this window was failing to do one while accomplishing the other.  As we removed the old window the true extent of the problems became obvious.  Much of the wood around the window was rotten due to the window’s lack of ability to keep the weather outside.  To fix this issue we replaced the rotten wood with new, treated wood before replacing the entire window. 

There are times when the church is not accomplishing the good work that God has called it to undertake.  It has allowed rot to set in and some major renovation needs to take place.  The rot must be removed.  Or to use the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:21, the church is in need of a good cleansing.

The church of God is called to be set apart, to be holy, for Godly work.  How can the rot within the church be recognized and dealt with quickly?  How does this truth affect the church as a whole and each individual within the church of God?  What renovations need to be done within the church so that it can accomplish it’s call?

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we study 2 Timothy 2:20-21 and discover God’s desire for us as His people.

Striving to know Christ and make him known!

A Hymn of Praise

“A farmer took a piece of bad earth and made things flourish thereon.  Proud of his accomplishments, he asked his minister to come by and see what he had done.  The minister was impressed.  ‘That’s the tallest corn I’ve ever seen.  I’ve never seen anything as big as those melons.  Praise the Lord!’  He went on that way about every crop, praising the Lord for it all.  Finally, the farmer couldn’t take it anymore.  ‘Reverend,’ he said, ‘I wish you could have seen this place when the Lord was doing it by himself’” (Ronald Reagan, in a speech in Indianapolis).

This farmer does not realize that no matter how much care he puts into his crops, they could not and would not grow without the Lord’s power and grace.  The same can be said for the human heart when it comes to salvation.  Pride tends to get in the way and credit for all the “accomplishments” in our faith and salvation begin to point inwardly.  But the reality of salvation and sanctification (becoming more like Jesus Christ) is that it can only happen through the power of Christ.

The words of Paul in 2 Timothy 2:11-13 are a reminder to us all where all credit and praise should be focused. For he is the life-giving, unchanging, and faithful King.  To Him be glory forever and ever.

2 Timothy 2:11-13  (ESV)

11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12        if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13        if we are faithless, he remains faithful—  

      for he cannot deny himself.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as God’s Word comes alive, meeting us where we are, and changing us for his glory and praise.

Striving to know Christ and make him known,

Pastor Mark

J.C. Ryle: To Not Have the Holy Spirit's Work Seen in Our Life is to be Without Christ

There is a problem within the church.  I used to think it was an isolated issue, one that only affected the church in the United States.  But reading these words of J.C. Ryle from over a hundred years ago is a reminder that this issue is not an American "thing."  It is a sin "thing."  There are many within the walls of our churches (perhaps even those reading these words) who are fooling ourselves. We believe with all our hearts that we are God's children, that our place in the heavenly mansion is set and reserved, but when others look at our life and actions in more detail they begin to question our "conversion."  The words below are not meant to guilt anyone into submission to Christ.  Only the Holy Spirit can convict.  But do we who profess to be children of the High and Holy God live out the holy calling to which we were called and do those around us see this calling being lived out?  May the words of J.C. Ryle shake us to our core.

"A man is 'without Christ' when the Holy spirit's work cannot be seen in his life.  Who can avoid being, if he uses his eyes, that myriads of professing Christians know nothing of inward conversion of heart?  They will tell you that they believe the Christian religion; they go to their places of worship with tolerable regularity; they think it a proper thing to be married and buried with all the ceremonies of the church; they would be much offended if their Christianity were doubted.  But where is the Holy Spirit to be seen in their lives?  What are their hearts and affections set upon?  Whose is the image and superscription that stands out in their tastes and habits and ways?  Alas, there can only be one reply!  They know nothing experimentally of the renewing, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  They are yet dead to God.  And of all such only one account can be given.  They are 'without Christ.'

"I am well aware that few will admit this.  The vast majority will tell you that it is extreme and wild and extravagant to require so much in Christians, and to press on everyone conversion.  They will say that it is impossible to keep up the high standard which I have just referred to, without going out of the world, and that we may surely go to heaven without being such very great saints.  To all this, I can only reply, 'What says the Scripture?  What says the Lord?'  It is written, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'  ' Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'  'He that says he abides in Christ, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.'  ' If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His' (John 3:3; Matt. 18:3; 1 John 2:6; Rom. 8:9).  The Scripture cannot be broken.  If Bible words mean anything, to be without the Spirit is to be 'without Christ'" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle on the Christian's View of Christ

"I am afraid that many who profess Christ in our day have lost sight of our Lord's person.  They talk more about salvation than about their only Savior, and more about redemption than the one true Redeemer, and more about Christ's work than Christ Himself.  This is a great fault, one that accounts for the dry and shriveled spirit that infuses the religious lives of many who profess faith.

"As ever you would grow in grace, and have joy and peace in believing, beware of falling into this error.  Cease to regard the Gospel as a mere collection of dry doctrines.  Look at it rather as the revelation of a mighty living Being in whose sight you are daily to live.  Cease to regard it as a mere set of abstract propositions and [hard to understand] principles and rules.  Look at it as the introduction to a glorious personal Friend.  This is the kind of Gospel that the apostles preached.  They did not go about the world telling men of love and mercy and pardon in the abstract.  The leading subject of all their sermons was the loving heart of an actual living Christ.  This is the kind of Gospel which is most calculated to promote sanctification and fitness for glory.  Nothing, surely, is so likely to prepare us for that heaven where Christ's personal presence will be all, and that glory where we shall meet Christ face to face, as to realize communion with Christ, as an actual living Person here on earth.  There is all the difference in the world between and idea and a person."

(Holiness, Ryle, J.C., p. 183)

The Reward for Endurance

In June of 2012 I ran a sprint triathlon.  I had never done such a thing before in my life and so I trained for months before the race.  My only goal was to finish the race without making a trip to the emergency room.  I knew that it would be difficult to run such a race, but my mind also convinced me that it wouldn’t be as hard as I thought.  That misconception changed as soon as I got out the water from the half-mile swim and slowly (and I do mean slowly) got on my bike for a 13.1 mile ride.  The realization of how wrong I was became even more apparent when I began running on my wobbling legs.  I still remember the feeling of utter exhaustion when crossing the finish line.  The interesting thing about this and any other race is that there is only one winner.  I certainly endured each of the events in this race, but only on person took home the crown of first place.

 

Around two thousand years ago the God-man Jesus Christ came to earth and entered the city of Jerusalem hailed as the Messiah who brings salvation.  One week later he was hung upon a cross for the salvation of the world. 

 

This week, we will be studying the words of James 1:12.  In this passage James speaks to the believer who has endured trials which have threatened to steer them away from their faith in Christ Jesus.  In an athletic race only the fastest can be crowned, but in the race of faith in Christ it is the one who endures who receives the reward of the crown. 

 

What is this crown?  What do the words of James and the act of Jesus that fateful week have to do with each other?  What does this passage teach us about faith, trials, and endurance through those trials?

 

Before our time together on Sunday morning may God prepare us to hear His words through his servant James and may those words do a work within our own hearts and lives as His disciples.

The Pursuit of Spiritual Wholeness

As we begin our message series on the book of James I feel it necessary to remind us all of the implications which we are about to encounter.  James, the half-brother of Jesus, is not one to beat around the bush or candy-coat his words.  And in so doing he very easily goes directly to the heart of many matters.  In studying this book in-depth we will encounter the actual state of our faith, hearts, thinking, and priorities.  This encounter may very likely cause us to become uncomfortable, defensive, or perhaps even angry through the conviction of God’s words through His servant James.  But those experiences should not discourage us but encourage us.

As we discovered a few weeks ago, the main focus of the book of James is the spiritual wholeness of the believer.  As James 1:2-4 tells us, this wholeness comes at a price.

Gold is a natural metal which does not come in a pure state.  The purer the gold the more it is worth, but to make gold more pure takes high temperatures, time, great effort, and a special devise called a crucible.  This crucible is made of metal or clay which can withstand great heat.  The gold is placed into the crucible and the temperature is raised to great amounts in order to melt the gold into a liquid form.  Once liquefied, the impurities found within the gold float to the top where they can be removed thus making the gold more pure.  The gold is cooled and if needed or desired run through the process a second, third, or fourth time.

James 1:2-4 speaks of trials in our life as a crucible where the end goal of this process is spiritual wholeness.  So, what is spiritual wholeness?  How can I be sure that the crucible of my life leads

towards spiritual wholeness and not bitterness or spiritual immaturity?  What is my role as a believer in this process?

May God speak to each of us who are His children and disciples to use this passage in our personal spiritual growth as well as our corporate growth as His church.  May we be prayerfully prepared to hear God’s Word and act upon His call for our lives.

Whitewashed Tombs

Paint can do something amazing.  It can transform an item which shows years of wear and tear into something that appears new and clean.  Over the past few years the fence in the back yard had begun to show its years of standing out in the elements.  It could very easily have been painted over and made to look new, but a coat of paint would not change the fact that dry rot had set in and many of the boards and posts were broken.  No amount of paint would fix what was broken.

In Acts 23, Paul confronts the leaders of the Jewish council who desired to see him die.  After the High Priest orders Paul to be struck on the mouth for the things he was saying, Paul says directly to the High Priest, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!”  There is deep meaning within these words that not only conjures up the words of Christ but also the prophet Ezekiel.  There is no amount of “paint” that could be used to hide the defects in the hearts of the council.

What do Ezekiel and Jesus teach us about being whitewashed tombs?  How can we evaluate our own hearts in an honest way to see what “paint,” if any, we are using to cover up our true spiritual condition?  Are we wearing a mask which looks good on the outside but only covers the darkness and hypocrisy within?

May God use this passage to speak to us this week and may we be prayerfully prepared to heed the work of the Spirit of God within our own hearts.

Once Bound by Death, Now Bound by the Spirit

Romans 7:5-6 (ESV) ⁵ For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Have you ever asked God for patience and found out that he didn't give it to you immediately?  As the phrase goes: If you ask for patience God won't give you patience.  He gives you opportunities to be patient.  This mindset applies to much more than patience.

Before Christ brought us into him we were bound by death and our sinful passions flooded the members of our body.  Our lives were controlled by death and we worshipped at its altar.  But Romans 7 clearly states that we are no longer held captive by death.  Death no longer holds sway over us.  This change in control over our lives is not because of anything we did to control our sinful passions.  Only the work of the Holy Spirit can make such a change. 

But the question still remains: Why then do I continue to sin?  Perhaps it is a sin that is new.  Perhaps it is a sin that is chronic within my members.  But why do I continue to sin despite the fact that I am no longer held captive by death?  I am held captive by the Spirit.  Shouldn't my life reflect that captivity?

The answer lies within the process of sanctification.  Yes, death no longer holds me captive, but the process of sanctification is very seldom easy or quick.  It may take time.  Years, perhaps.  But God will make us who he desires us to be in the time that is needed. 

Maybe, just maybe, when we ask for God to remove our passion for the sin within our members he won't take the sin away.  He may only give us the opportunity to deny the passions of the flesh and choose to live for him.

The Doctrine of the Trinity

Ephesians 1:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

There are some doctrines in our Christian faith that are difficult to understand.  One of these is the doctrine of the Trinity.  How can one God be in essence three distinct persons?  Our limited minds cannot comprehend such depth.  Those who are looking to prove Christianity as a farce point to this doctrine.  After all, the word Trinity isn't even found in Scripture.  Though the term Trinity is not found in God's Word does not make the doctrine untrue for it summarizes the truth of God as three distinct Persons yet one God.

TableTalk explains this doctrine well.

We see in [Ephesians 1:3-6] that the Father planned redemption, having predestines His people to eternal life in Christ.  The Song of God carried out the work necessary to secure the salvation our Father planned and promised.  Jesus Christ, the God-man who is the perfect union of the second person of the Trinity with our humanity, shed His blood to bring us forgiveness and, due to His obedience, is exalted as King over all (Ephesians 1:7-12).  God the Holy Spirit seals the work of Christ to us, applying the benefits of salvation and marking us off as our Creator's special possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Each person works distinctively to bring salvation, yet harmony pervades the process, for the works of the Trinity are undivided - all of the persons of the Godhead work together to achieve the same end and never stand at cross purposes with one another.  God, therefore, is irreducibly three in person - Father, Son, and Spirit - and one in essence.

We can stand firm in our faith that God the Father, Son, and Spirit are one, working together for the will of the Father.  May His name be glorified by our lives as we grow and are sanctified in Him.

The Abundance of Blessing in Christ

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV) 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.

When was the last time you sat and praised God for His blessings in your life?  In just the past twenty-four hours God has stirred my heart to recognize the many blessings He has given me that I all too often fail to recognize.  I have a beautiful, wonderful, loving, and caring wife that is more forgiving than I give her credit for.  After a few years of trying to have a baby now we have two.  My son doesn't stop talking from the moment he gets up to the time he goes to bed.  But his laughter, curiosity, and constant energy lift me up when I need it most.  I have a beautiful daughter who's smile and gorgeous eyes melt your heart every time.  There's nothing better than to hear your daughter run to the door to great you when you come home from work.  I am the pastor of a wonderful church of caring and loving people who truly desire to live for God.  It's not perfect (no church is) but God is doing a mighty work in the lives of people all around me. 

Finally, and the most important, God has blessed me with eternal life.  What a blessing to know that despite myself God has saved me.  The Son of God has redeemed me from my sins.   The Holy Spirit is at work within me to sanctify my and help me live like Christ.  This blessing is above any gift that God can give.  What a joy to know that I will be with Him forever in Glory.

We should remember to bless God for His blessings upon us.  They are undeserved and God should be praised for them.

I'll end with a quote from TableTalk by Ligoner Ministries.

There are many reasons why God deserves our praise, but in Ephesians 1:3 the apostle tells us that our Father should be praised for sharing the abundance of His goodness with us - for bestowing upon us spiritual blessings.

Amen and Amen.

The Fascinating Battle Between Flesh and Spirit

1 John 2:15 (ESV) 
 Do not love the world or the things in the world.

This is a very plain and simple admonition to seek God first in all things.  The "world" here is a system of rebellion and pride that seeks to dethrone God in my life.  And this world system is a constant threat to a believer's walk in Christ.

It has always fascinated me to observe the battle of my flesh and the Spirit within me.  1 John 2:17 reads,

"And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

The battle within me has been fascinating because as a believer I know that the things of this world will pass away, but the desire of the flesh within me towards the world is strong.  More often than not I give into my flesh and in a way dethrone God from my life at that moment.  But there is One who is greater than my flesh and the desires of this world.  There is no five-step process to defeating the world.  There is only One who can defeat the world.  And one can say that the one-step process is to believe with all my heart, mind, and soul that Jesus is Lord.  Then my life will truly follow.

God The All

O God whose will conquers all,
There is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying you
     and being engaged in your service;
Thou are All in all, and all enjoyments are what
     to me you made them, and no more.
I am well pleased with your will, whatever it is,
     or should be in all respects,
And if you bid me decide for myself in any affair,
     I would choose to refer all to you,
     for you are infinitely wise and cannot do amiss,
     as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at your disposal,
     and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
     and all I can do is to adore and bless you.
What shall I give you for all you benefits?
     I am in a strait between two, knowing not what to do;
I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer,
     and can only rejoice that you do all,
     that none in heaven or on earth shares your honor;
I can of myself do nothing  to glorify your blessed name,
     but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to you,
I know that you are the author and finisher of faith,
     that the whole work of redemption is yours alone,
     that every good work or thought found in me
        is the effect of your power and grace,
     that you sole motive in working in me to will
        and to do is for your good pleasure.
O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much
     about man's creaturely power and goodness,
     when, if you did not hold us back every
     moment, we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience, you have taught me
     concerning myself.

          (The Valley of Vision, Puritan Prayers and Devotions)

Take Off The Diapers

Ephesians 4:11-14 (ESV)
¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

What is the purpose of the church?  Contrary to some thought the church was not created to feed others.  We've all heard the excuse, "I don't like this church or pastor or teacher because I don't really feel fed."  What does that mean, anyway?  Is the purpose of the church to be a feeding trough once a week for people who don't know how to feed themselves?  Thinking like this brings to mind the image of an adult in diapers, sitting at a table, and the 70 year old mother spoon feeding him.  In society today we would call that crazy.  So then why do we assume that as an adult in the church we should be spoon fed everything for our spiritual development and growth?  Maybe it's because we still have "adults," who have been in the church for years, still wearing spiritual diapers.

God is very straightforward through His servant Paul.  The church is there to equip the saints for the work of the ministry of Christ, building each other up until we attain maturity in Him.  Remember, this is addressed to those of us who are believers, whether for a week or fifty years.  We are no longer to be like children who are gullible and fall for any doctrine that seems good to us.

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."  Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

We are to be honest with one another not to tear down, but to grow up.  Our desire should be for each and every member of the body of Christ to become mature in Christ for the glory of Christ.  Take off the diapers and become an adult.  Grow spiritually and become sanctified for the glory of God.

Amen.

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.