The Perfect Murder

I was recently released by the judge to potentially be a juror in a high-profile murder trial [I presume one of the reasons was because my wife is very pregnant].  The effect of this experience was tremendous on my spirit.  Not only was it very much outside of my normal every day “Christian bubble” routine, but I was surrounded by people that I would never purposefully seek out in a lifetime unless it was directly affiliated with the preaching of the Gospel.  Although it was a very short-lived involuntary experience in which I was not ultimately selected as a juror, it is an experience that I will never forget as long as I live on earth.  I was not only specifically reminded of the utter depravity of man during this time, but of my own fallibility [depravity] as a Christian in my own corruption apart from the Sovereign Grace of God in my life.

            I am sure there are official statistics that would prove the average person has not and probably will not physically take another person’s life, i.e. murder someone.  Although murders take place every day around the world for seemingly various different reasons, they are few and far between when compared to the general population.  Therefore, the general population, as well as the law, evaluates murder as the most heinous crime that one can commit against another human being.  It seems that, no matter how often it happens, murder is always a shock to society and the community whenever it is plastered all over the television screen and newspapers.  It is a headline because it is an unthinkable crime.  Everyone seems to think about it as if it could hopefully be the last murder ever.  Indeed, to commit this crime is punishable by death.  If you have murdered someone or know someone that is very close to you, then you know murder perhaps more closely than you ever wanted to.

            But, the more I looked into the eyes of the alleged murderer while being within feet, the more I understood that he was really no different than I am.  Sure, he may not be as educated.  He also probably spent more time in the streets than I have growing up because I did not grow up in a Christian home either.  I am most positive that he “ran with a different crew” than I did as a child and teen.  His parents, assuming he knew them, probably did not care about his life as much as mine did [although they were not very orthodox].  Looking into someone’s eyes that has physically taken another person’s life is really no different than looking into anyone else’s eyes. 

As a human being, my natural inclination is to think that I could never, under any circumstances, take another person’s life.  I feel like, “nothing is ever that bad.”  I feel like if I physically murdered someone, it would utterly destroy my own life.  And it probably would.  It is such a heinous crime in that I believe it is an impossibility that I could ever do it.  If I hear that someone else murdered someone, I naturally think of how horrible that person is and wonder how they could ever perform such an atrocity.  Then, I think about the fact that I have never murdered anyone and lift myself above that person in reproach of them.  Perhaps if I had murdered someone, I would understand it better and seek justification for it elsewhere. 

However, I cannot evaluate the treatise of the crime of murder according to the U.S. judicial system as originally derived from our Constitution.  It is not because I am not a human and the rights do not pertain to me.  It is not because I do not approve of the Constitution.  It is because I am a sinner that I must evaluate it in light of Scripture.  Sitting in a courtroom and listening to lawyers, prosecutors and the judge himself discussing the issue of a particular murder as if Scripture does not apply caused turmoil in my spirit.  It was an exclamation to me that we live in a fallen world. 

Consider the first murder that took place in the history of mankind.  It was nothing like a CSI episode that we watch on television today.  There was not a plethora of cameras and media surrounding the alleged defendant.  There was not a prosecutor or a lawyer involved.  Although, there was a judge.  It is a story of two brothers, named Cain and Abel.  One was a tiller of the ground and the other was a keeper of sheep.  I suppose that both of them worked very hard throughout each day given them by God.  The issue between the two was that God accepted Abel’s offering but not the offering of Cain (Genesis 4:4-5).  The Scriptures describe Cain as being angry because of this.  “So the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry?’  And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.  And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. [v. 6, 7]” The very next verse states that Cain talked with his brother and it came to pass that Cain rose up against his brother and killed him [v.8]. 

Even though this was the first murder that took place in the history of creation, there was certainly no surprise to God that it happened [in His absolute Sovereignty and decree].  Since the murder of Abel was decreed to happen, the purpose of it was not to declare Cain as the most evil person on earth, so far.  Although, he was evil and the murder was declared to be a sinful and evil act.  God did curse Cain from the earth and declared him to be a fugitive and vagabond for the rest of his days [v. 11, 12].  I believe the first murder serves for at least two purposes in which I will elaborate upon for the rest of this exposition.

1.)  It was to publicly demonstrate man’s fallen sin nature and the repercussions of human depravity in being separated from perfect fellowship with God.  “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of the heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).”  It is to remind us of our fallen condition and our desperate need for grace and a savior.

 2.)  That although murder was clearly not common prior to the first murder happening, the root cause of it was.  The Scriptures did not simply say, “Cain will murder his brother soon because his offerings are not being accepted by God.”  Nor did it say, “Murder will soon be a vengeful act of mankind as demonstrated by Cain on his brother Abel.”  But, God Himself asked Cain, “Why are you angry [v.6]?”  He immediately followed up with, “And why has your countenance fallen [v.6]?”  God defined the terms of Cain’s murder as derived from anger or hatred that was already in his heart and mind.

In evaluating the Scriptures regarding human nature, everything that was in man had instantly changed the moment of the fall.  “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.  She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”  Genesis 3:6 It is eternally imperative that we understand what the fall means for man.  It is not a hopeful condition that was made a little less hopeful by simply eating of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  It was not just that perfect fellowship and communion with our Creator was slightly thwarted by our disobedience.  Most certainly, it is not perfection that was made a little less perfect.  In other words, according to the description of man’s fallen condition in Holy Scripture, we are not basically good with a slightly evil bent.  In fact, after the fall, we are described as completely dead in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1).  Therefore, we are so thoroughly evil and sin has so penetrated  the core of our souls and conscience, it is indeed impossible for man to do any good at all until God enables him to do so through the new birth and the granting of the Holy Spirit through grace, which gives life (Ephesians 2:5).  We are dead.  To clarify, prior to man’s salvation, he only does pure evil and sins in thought and deed pervasively. 

Pervasive sin is relatively defined as the doctrine of total depravity or radical depravity.   Only those who are born-again by the Grace of God have any conception whatsoever of the evil and indwelling sin that has corrupted the soul of every human being as a result of the fall.  The doctrine of total depravity as defined in the Doctrines of Grace in “Calvinist” or “Reformed” Theology is one that is generally completely embraced or completely rejected by Christians and specifically professing Calvinists.  In fact, many respected preachers and teachers of this doctrine will say that the other four parts of the acronym, “T.U.L.I.P,” otherwise known as the Doctrines of Grace hang on what is believed about total depravity.  It is a doctrine that the world knows nothing of because they do not know the perfect holiness of God.  Neither do they know the utter evil that dwells within them at any given moment.    If man claims to be basically good, then he believes that he has moral power within himself to respond to God. 

Consider the apostle Paul, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.  For what I am doing, I do not understand.  For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.  If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.  But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.  For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.  Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”  (Romans 7:14-20) I merely mention the doctrine of depravity and Romans 7 (among others) to establish a guideline of what is historically reflected in the human flesh since the fall.  Paul speaks of two laws that are warring within his soul.  As one who is a believer in Christ and justified by grace, it is the Holy Spirit that wills him to do good and to obey God’s commands, for they are not burdensome.  The other law that wars within him and all sinners is the doctrine of indwelling sin.  He follows up with, “O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me form this body of death? [v. 24]” Because of the dichotomy of the two laws, Paul acknowledges both as a perpetual reality within his soul, and that he also is depraved.

In the Old Testament law, anyone who committed any form of murder was put to death: 

“He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.”  Exodus 21:12

“But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by   treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die [v. 14].”

“He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death. [v.16]”

“And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death [v.17]

If a man were to strike another man so that he dies, the law states that that person should also be put to death.  There were no questions asked because that was the law.  No one could rise against the law and attempt to prevail over it or prove innocence.  If you murdered someone, you were put to death.  Since God made the law in His sovereign decree, infinite wisdom and omnipotence, then He is clearly witness to all public acts of sin as well as those that dwell within each of our wicked hearts.  He is, after all, the creator of all things.  Although each man may be out for himself and try to cover his sin any way he can, as David did, God Himself is the one who judges in perfect righteousness and holiness according to the law of our public sin and indwelling sin in the depths of our hearts. 

Although public acts of murder in the OT were immediately judged by putting the transgressor to death, that did not in any way negate from the judgment of indwelling “premeditations” (Exodus 21:14) of anger, envy or hatred (among all other secret acts of sin) after death [Romans 2:16, Hebrews 9:27].  It is clear by these particular judgments that murder is merely the full growth or the “birthing of sin” that James speaks of regarding the indwelling sin of someone being fully led astray and enticed by his own desires (James 1:14-15).  In the case of public murder, it is the full voracity or complete sinful demonstration and enactment of selfish and vengeful hatred.

Lastly, Jesus Christ himself divulges by ascertaining the law and proving with his very words in the flesh that murder [among other sins] begins in the heart.  “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, but whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.  And whoever says to his brother, ‘Racai!’ shall be in danger of the council.  But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.’”  Matthew 5:21-22 

Jesus did not only claim guilt by one committing the public act of murder.  He already declared that judgment by those who committed such acts in the law of old.  Because of our depravity, the vile nature of a sinner has a complete perversion of what love is.  Due to the effects of sin and the ruling of Satan in the hearts of men apart from grace, hatred dwells within each soul as naturally as each man is born from woman.  Much of the time, we are so consumed with our own self-righteous acts of supposed obedience to the law or Jesus Christ, they we are not even aware of the thoughts and intentions that are already upwelling within our soul to emit to the world at the slightest spark that nears the wick of the dynamite of our indwelling sin.  We haven’t an idea what we could be without the restraining hand or (common) grace of God himself preventing us from causing a public uproar of sin the first moment we are feasibly able to.  Therefore, even John the apostle boldly proclaims regarding the professed love of a believer that, “he who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15).  The extreme example is merely a differential statement between a believer and unbeliever. 

One who has not been rescued by the grace of God and blood of Jesus Christ has no idea of the hatred he is capable of and therefore hates as he pleases, giving birth to culpable murderous thoughts.  However, one who has regenerate knowledge of grace and the glory of Christ is enabled by the Holy Spirit to recognize the eternal deliverance from the complete dominion of indwelling sin and death itself.  Spiritual warfare has raged within in his faculties in the recognition of upwelling wickedness that will always attempt to overthrow the mind, body and soul and pervert the glory of God in the flesh.  Hence, only the believer knows the true heinousness of a fallen and sinful heart apart from grace.  He knows what he was delivered from.  He knows what he is saved unto.  And until he passes from this life to glorification, he knows that he and any given fallen heart is capable of the perfect murder.

photo credit

2010
01/27
POSTED BY
A.J. Williams
CATEGORY
Christian Living
The Law
1 comment

Revival in the land

Evangelicalism or historical [classical] Christianity as known in the fifteenth through nineteenth century at least, the term “revival” was not likely understood as much as it was experienced.  With clearly and incredibly gifted preachers, teachers and evangelists such as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon [among many at the time], one could not escape the knowledge of the true gospel.   In light of pioneer-like expository preaching and teaching that men exemplified at such a masterful level, it is no surprise that hundreds if not thousands of souls were drawn to the foot of the cross of Christ by merely expositing the Scriptures and directing the teachings of Christ and the inerrant Word to grip the soul of the troubled sinner.  That is you and me.  These days, it seems that it is difficult to define what a revival is. 

One may or may not be surprised that I would continue this excerpt with Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones.  To many, he is simply someone that an evangelical has heard of or respects as a preacher.  To other professing Reformed Christians as of late, it seems that he is virtually unheard of.  Most of these people would say that they know of John Piper, but Martin Lloyd-Jones is a faint memory of a familiar name.  But, to one who is very familiar with the doctrine of the Puritans and Puritan names in general, Dr. Jones is a jewel.  Most notably, he is seemingly the most recent [20th Century] vessel of Jesus Christ in the kindling or “re-kindling” of a revival in the evangelical church.

“There was another debate occurring during that time but it was private and known only within Martyn Lloyd-Jones himself. Martyn and his brothers had all joined their church back in Llangeitho in 1914 at the encouragement of their minister but Martyn was now beginning to take a hard look at the reality of his spiritual condition. He later wrote, “For many years I thought I was a Christian when in fact I was not. It was only later that I came to see that I had never been a Christian and became one. “3 As he struggled with his salvation a grace truth came into focus. Martyn had not really heard sound preaching of the gospel in his early life. As he said, “What I needed was preaching that would convict me of sin and … bring me to repentance and tell me something about regeneration. But I never heard that. The preaching we had was always based on the assumption that we were all Christians …”4 As the young doctor read for himself he slowly but surely saw the logic and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like the waves of the incoming tide, the reality of God’s grace swept over Martyn’s heart until trusting Christ was all he could do. As surely as that reality overwhelmed him personally it overwhelmed him professionally. Soon it became apparent that God was calling Martyn Lloyd-Jones to preach and for that the world would never be the same!”

I would like to note Martyn’s quote, “The preaching we had was always based on the assumption that we were all Christians.”  This was stated probably somewhere around 1920 or 1930.  The theological understanding of this fact in his modern day preaching sparked a conviction within his soul.  The preaching he had been sitting under was apparently an inoffensive gospel and clearly liberal.  Because of this conviction instilled by the Holy Spirit and realization of the condition of  the church in general at the time that was subjugated to such liberal theology, he by God’s Grace molded and shaped it by expositing the pure Word that eventually provoked a new revival in England. 

There are many other things that Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones has contributed to the church that books have been written about.  The truth is that it is only the efficacy and empowerment of the Holy Spirit alone that enabled Dr. Jones and any other believer to speak or preach the truth of God’s Word.  If theology was liberal then, it is more liberal now.  If the church were in need of a revival then, we are more in need of a revival now.  So, what is the definition of a revival?  I would define it as an urgently desperate effort and realization of one or more pastors or teachers of God’s word to simply restore the “pure Gospel” where it had been lost and perverted into man-pleasing doctrines [as the church has combated since the first century].  It is a particular effort to preach, in utter despair, about the dreadfully lost and radically depraved sinful condition of all man-kind that we are in need of regeneration and to be saved.  I do not believe that specific Scriptures are required for this, but the entirety of the Scriptures or any one Scripture can suffice to be exposited and expounded upon to teach sinners of their lost condition apart from the substitionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross in their stead.  Martyn Lloyd-Jones had an incredible grasp of this truth and consistently and thoroughly presented the radical nature of the true Gospel and what it requires of man.

Since only the Holy Spirit can be given credit to the provocation and initiation of an eternally blessed revival, only a true and humble student of the word of God will be enabled to speak the words that will cause sinners to grip the pews in conviction.  For example, Martyn Lloyd-Jones was known to read the entire bible at least once a year and he would take many months or even years to expound a single chapter of the bible verse by verse in his sermons.  He was a student of the Word.  This means that He was a student of Jesus Christ.  This is what the church is lacking today.  We are no longer interested in church history or how we are able to hold the bibles we have.  We are no longer interested in theology and the deep things of God.  We have indeed developed itchy ears and man-made doctrines as we have all turned aside from the truth and into myths (2 Tim.4:3-4).  This is what already naturally happens in each depraved sinner.  That is why it takes a special work and power of the Holy Spirit to cause a revival to sweep the land, convert souls and make disciples.   

Apart from what we deduce from the Holy Scriptures and interpret using correct hermeneutics in light of sound doctrine empowered by the Holy Spirit, we cannot have a revival.  In other words, a revival cannot and will not happen using a “half- gospel.”  To define half-gospel in my terms, I believe it is just enough gospel truth preached to be calculably inoffensive and to seemingly purposefully “quench the Spirit” in terms of not starting a fire when one needs to be started.  In other words, it allows unconverted sinners to remain comfortable in the pew and indeed active in the church while they have no idea of the fire that awaits them if they should die in their sins.  Martyn Lloyd-Jones always started fires with his charismatic “Holy Spirit fire” doctrine and his understanding of the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”  He was bold about this doctrine contributing to and in fact being a part of regeneration, the bringing to life of a soul or being born-again.  However, he balanced this doctrine by not exalting the gifts above Christ and His Sovereign distribution of them.

A tongue that is able to speak of the sweet promises of the Savior Himself as well as divulge and despise error and sin where need be is one who may be used in a revival.  One who is an expert on the doctrine of sin may be used in a revival.  One who holds the Scriptures to be the inerrant and infallible Word of God may be used in a revival.  That is, one who is able to grasp and understand the eternal significance of the soul and the practicality of the gospel through grace as the only true source of strength, sanctification, regeneration and overcoming sin and temptation, may be used in a revival.  Lastly, one who acknowledges the reality of Satan, human depravity, spiritual warfare and daily need for repentance through the spirit’s work in communing with God may be used in a revival.

According to Scriptures [Acts 2 in particular], God uses revivals to not only convert souls, but to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  In other words, false converts are weeded out.  In a true revival, a false convert who attends a local congregation will either come to true repentance and will realize that he was never a follower of Christ, or he will leave because of the impact of such truth and the true power of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel.  Peter preaches to the masses, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’  Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” Acts 2:36-38

Many do not think the same gospel message that saved souls in the apostolic age is applicable today.  Many pastors today would not exclaim the above Scripture with the same urgency that repentance is just as much required today that was then.  Because of our sin and rebellion, we have all equally crucified the Son of God.  Since time does not forgive sin but only the blood of Jesus Christ, the same repentance is required of me that is required of the Philippian jailer.  Just as Paul states regarding the Holy Spirit in the obtainment of spiritual gifts, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.  So it is the same with the salvation of the soul.  It is the same mediator that passes over sins.  It is the same blood that was shed two-thousand years ago that justifies sinners today.  So on and so forth.

             Preacher, take the word and, as Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones did, diagnose the condition within each human soul.  “What purpose then does the law serve?  It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.  Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.” Galatians 3:19-20

Gaze into the congregation with the urgency that Peter had to convert souls.  It is not strictly an evangelistic effort, but an effort to revive the church!  It is to awaken the congregation to righteousness!  May we not be lulled to sleep and deceived by Satan into thinking that minimal effort is enough for the kingdom.  May we use the true power of the Holy Spirit, and let it change our lives to provoke practical communion and worship with Jesus Christ.  May we not denounce the utter importance of theology and what we believe about God, according to the Scriptures.  Yelling from the pulpit is not enough because what is said may not be true, or true enough.  We need men and preachers that do not care that the congregation is offended at gospel truth.  That is the very purpose of preaching the gospel!  Hearts must be broken over sin to be converted.  There is no other way to be saved.  As one who understands that it is far easier to write about the need of a revival than to actually start one, it doesn’t make it any less true to write about the decline of doctrine, theology and serious undermining of the power of the Holy Spirit in contemporary preaching.  It is gospel truth that actually converts souls.  May we raise up another Martyn Lloyd-Jones.  May we long for a revival.  Pray for that.

2009
12/31
POSTED BY
A.J. Williams
CATEGORY
Preachers and Preaching
1 comment

False prophets attempt to strip joy from believers

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  Any many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”

2 Peter 2:1-5 

            In the Christmas season, it is essential to meditate on the purity of the Word of God.  You have read in John 1, “The Word became flesh,” and this infinite miracle has been the pivotal point in which the mysteries of the Christ and the Gospel are understood to see His infinite glory and humility most clearly.  However, there are those who pervert and blaspheme the word of God and use the perfect pivotal point of the incarnation to create their own religion and turn aside to self-glorifying fables.  Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.  He is one-hundred percent God.  That means that He fully contains and infinitely maintains all the attributes and characteristics of God Almighty perfectly as defined in the Scriptures.  He is also one-hundred percent man, containing all the attributes and characteristics perfectly that defines a man as a human being.  Yet, Jesus Christ never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).  He is considered the Great High Priest because he was tempted in all ways as a human being, yet never sinned.  That, in itself, is a miracle that declares Him to be the Almighty and Great ‘I AM.’  His application of perfect sinlessness [i.e., never transgressed the law] distinctly separates Him from every other human and creature in the history of mankind.  Everything else, including every other human being that ever existed, plants, animals, cells and all the ground of the earth is cursed and dying due to the eternally devastating effects of original sin.  Therefore, any futile proclamation from the mouth of a sinner regarding the Gospel, God and Jesus Christ must have the Holy Spirit in charge in order to be declared and verified as truth according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 12:3).

            If we acknowledge these truths of the Christ, then we only begin to understand, with the assistance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the infinite measure of what the incarnation of God actually is or means.  The declaration of the Son of God coming to earth by conception of the Holy Spirit through a virgin shocks the human mind due to the obvious impossibility if it were a normal birth.  Even still, the Son of God was once a fetus, newborn and a child.  He developed in life exactly the same as a normal human being would.  The difference is that Jesus was and is the eternal God now manifested as a human being.  He is the God-Man.  This decree declares His status as infinitely humble and superbly majestic above all creation. 

“But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,’Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.’”

Matthew 1:20-21

            The beauty of the incarnation to believers is that, in its “foolishness” and humility, it publicly and eternally shames the wisdom of the world.  Sinners don’t want to be humble and naturally hate humility.  The religions that acknowledge Jesus Christ as a good teacher, prophet or leader, but do not acknowledge and revere Him as the Almighty sinless God who has decreed to succumb Himself to human flesh, utterly blasphemes His very name and purpose, regardless of the supposed intent or “respect” of Him.

“Pilate Therefore said to him, ‘Are you a king then?’  Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and that for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.’” John 18:37  It seems that Pilate has the same mindset of many cult heresies, i.e. Mormonism, Islam and Jehovah’s Witnesses, regarding who Jesus Christ was and is.  He asked, “Are you a king then?”  Pilate did not ask him this question as a reverent and contrite sinner, but as a completely arrogant, power-driven, self-righteous and ignorant man.  He presented himself to Jesus as if he had power over Him and did not see Him as God [John 19:10].  Pilate’s purpose to us is not to serve as an extreme example of one who personally ordered the murder [crucifixion] of the Son of God, but merely as an example regarding the natural futile and sinful thinking of someone who is directly under the wrath of God Almighty.  Pontius Pilate, like Judas Iscariot, merely served the purposed of, “crucifying the Son of God,” to fulfill the Scriptures as God had intended before the foundation of the world.  The mindset that Pilate and Judas were succumbed to have not changed since the fall.  In fact, all of sinful man thinks exactly like they do, due to depravity, apart from the Grace and Mercy of Christ.

            Many cults and heresies must not and cannot use the same Scriptures that God has Sovereignly ordained because the God-breathed Scriptures directly involve the foretelling, coming, humiliation, death, resurrection, ascension, return, worship and glorification of Jesus Christ alone.  To devise another “book” or “create another prophet” is to blaspheme God and divert the only way sinners can be truly cut to their heart of the deadly wickedness that dwells within them.  It is to attempt to snatch away the glory of God in Christ and clearly perverts the miracle of regeneration that must take place within a soul, wrought by the Holy Spirit of God to break a sinner’s heart of sin.  It is to make the cross of Christ foolishness and of no value to anyone.  The easiest way to know if a sinner is in error is to find if he is glorifying himself or working hard in a works-based religion, diverting attention away from Christ.

            Not many false prophets will dare mention anything “apart” from Jesus Christ.  Even if Islam makes him merely a prophet and Jehovah’s witnesses make him “a god,” they will still mention the name of Jesus.  Even atheists specifically attack the deity of Jesus Christ and usually not specifically Islam or Buddhism.  They claim they don’t believe in “any god or deity”, but they necessarily acknowledge biblical Christianity when they specifically quote from the Scriptures to attempt to refute it. In essence, they “borrow” a biblical worldview to say that it does not exist.  It is self-defeating logic and irrational circular reasoning.  It is like borrowing the engine of a car to try and prove that cars don’t exist.  It is the same with false doctrine, cults and heresy.  They all borrow the “idea” of a “God” or “Savior” from the Scriptures and then pervert and denounce anything sound in doctrine, according to the Scriptures.  It may have just enough “truth” in it to keep people listening and believing something that makes them feel important and part of something extravagant aside from being born-again to a new life in Christ.  The Apostle says that false teachers are as follows:

“For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.  For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, they latter end is worse for them than the beginning.  For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.  But it has happened to them according to the true proverb; ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”

2 Peter 2:18-22

            Generally, whenever a baby is born, those gathered around it are awestruck at the wonder of how it happens [especially the mother].  It is a miracle of God that any child is born.  Without the providential Sovereignty of God, no one would ever be born.    There is something about viewing the newness of life that causes others to respond favorably to the presented gentleness and grace of a newborn child.  Visualize the same scenario, but with a completely sinless newborn baby.  It is an altogether infinitely greater type of miracle in magnitude and majesty when God wills Himself to be born, as a man, from a woman who has never been with a man. 

            The wonder and splendor of Jesus Christ is in light of His Glory and wonderful Grace that He freely lavishes upon undeserving sinners.  The incarnation is merely one point among an infinite number of points that makes Jesus Christ especially beautiful and glorious.  It is because He is the Son of God that chose to make Himself known, as the God-Man, to save a remnant out of the fallen and sinful human race.  He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Mark 2:17).  Even as a baby, He is the visible image of the invisible God, perfectly representing the Almighty.  The unfathomable portrayal of seemingly perceived weakness and vulnerability in the incarnation truly illuminates His infinite wisdom, humility and mighty power over all creation.  Since we are eternally unable and unwilling to save ourselves from sin that saturates our souls to the deepest part of our thoughts and intentions, God in His goodness and decree, came as Jesus Christ the sinless God-Man, to die a bloody death on the Cross that we should deservedly die to bring us back to God.  There is nothing left for man to do.  There is nothing left that man can do.  There is nothing left that man should want to do.  We are sinners that are in desperate need for a Savior.  Repent and believe.  Receive Him by faith and grace alone that you may have new life.  We cannot get this wrong. 

 What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

 Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

2009
12/11
POSTED BY
A.J. Williams
CATEGORY
Cults and Heresy
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The deceptiveness of the sin of unbelief

            I suppose that the unregenerate and unconverted have no understanding of the sheer unbelief of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They have no excuse and even profess to believe, but through their thoughts, actions and lifestyle they publicly deny the commands of the Savior, and indeed the Savior Himself.  Perhaps what represents the most painstaking comparison of understanding belief and unbelief is in light of true believers.  It is one thing to be completely ignorant and irreverent of Jesus Christ in an unconverted state and in turn, portray the fruit of unbelief.  But, the Holy Spirit enlightens the spiritual senses and awareness of the soul of believers to believe the Gospel and thus provides the discernment necessary to be empowered as a Christian. 

            Paul states, “And I think Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”  1 Tim. 1:12-13 

As a Pharisee of Pharisees, Paul understood and mastered the Old Testament Law in knowledge, but he persecuted true believers as a blasphemous and insolent man, thinking that he was doing right, according to the law.  To some professing believers, Paul’s “unbelief” would merely be a distorting or distraction from the “whole truth.”  However, upon his conversion, revelation came to Paul in the knowledge of the truth of the Gospel from Jesus Christ Himself to believe.  “Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.”  Act 9:18

After Christ Himself came to Paul [Saul] and revealed Himself in glory, he immediately knew truth.  He believed the true Gospel because Christ took away his hardness of heart and rebellion and forgave his sins as he was filled with the Holy Spirit [v. 17].  What Paul understood as “belief” and “truth” according to the law prior to conversion, translated into blasphemy, insolence and ignorant unbelief after his conversion.

            The power, sweetness and purity of Jesus Christ through revelation of the Holy Spirit shatters unbelief in its most perverted form [anywhere from perverting certain doctrines, leading to heresy and to simply be unconverted].  It can turn the mind of atheism into a mind of a radical evangelist for the glory of God.  It can transform the demon-possessed and the utmost sexual and murderously perverse mind into a great saint of God, who worships in spirit and in truth.  It will break the heart and convict the most hardened of sinners, as Paul claimed to be chief [1 Tim. 1:15].  He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God, says the Scripture [John 3:18 emphasis mine]. 

            If unbelievers are converted from complete unbelief [meaning everything they do is sin and rooted in selfish pleasure and pride that ultimately blasphemes God], then believers must never have unbelief, since they have the Holy Spirit causing them to believe?  No, it is the very truth of unbelief after conversion that is the most difficult to discern and repent from due to subtlety and deceit.  A believer may be convinced that what he believes is the truth when it in fact, may be a lie. A believer may fall into grievous sin rooted in unbelief.  A believer may doubt his salvation to the point of feeling utterly despaired and forsaken by God.  The deceitfulness of the flesh and “the old man” in the believer can possibly view unbelief in its truest sense as feeling “normal” or in its latest stages finally realized as being “lulled to sleep”  before awoken to [practical] righteousness by the Spirit.

There are at least three practical ways I believe “unbelief as a believer manifests itself”; if understood and acknowledged correctly, then the believer will be enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome unbelief [and all sin] with sound doctrine and simply believe and apply the Gospel in all areas of life [the same truths apply to the unbeliever but they simply cannot know these truths without the new birth].

 

Unbelief is rooted in:

1.)    Failure to believe that God, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, can and will deliver from sin and temptation.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as it common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

2.)    Failure to believe that all our sins [past, present and future] are forever forgiven and nailed to the Cross of Christ.

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Colossians 2:13-15

3.)  Failure to believe in the power and complete sufficiency of the bloody death of Jesus Christ on the Cross and physical resurrection that makes our faith, power and knowing Him possible.

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is not resurrection of the dead?  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God and He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.  For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.”

1 Corinthians 15:12-18

 Sanctification by the ministering of Spirit brings the light of Christ into the heart and mind of the believer and reminds him of his saved and eternally hopeful condition.  It is the Gospel of Christ that allows us to capture thoughts of the horrid, yet eternally liberating crucifixion to see the sins of all God’s remnant nailed once and for all to the cross and forgotten forevermore.  That is where the power of practically applying the Gospel to one’s life lies.  Without believing the death and resurrection of Christ and applying to every encounter and situation of life, we are prone to sin and indeed, do sin.  We are prone to moral failure because we do not acknowledge the true power of the Gospel.  But, this desire of the true believer is caused to see the Glory of Christ when tempted to sin and may be able to overcome because of Christ’s victory.  How are you overcoming sin, believer?  Do you see the Cross?  Do you see a religious self-effort?  Do you understand the true victory and power you have because the eternal Son of God died for and forgave your sins, in particular?

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  They are of the world.  Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God.  He who knows God hears us; He who is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

1 John 4:4-6

2009
11/07
POSTED BY
A.J. Williams
CATEGORY
Unbelief
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God does not only save us from hell, but to commune and fellowship with Him

An easy trap to fall into as a believer or more specifically a new believer is the fact that God only saves us from Hell. “I’m saved, I’m saved! I am no longer going to hell!” I have certainly exclaimed that statement at least a couple of times in my life [maybe not those exact words]. However, upon conversion, the spiritually dead and flesh-driven scales were peeled from the eyes. The first thing a believer is reminded of upon conversion is his own dreadful condition. The other most immediate response for the new believer is that he now must respond in faith to his entirely new life due to the recognition of the forgiveness of sin.

Once a sinner is converted, the fear of death and hell [and simply the unknown] now has the marvelous light of the Gospel shone upon it. All ideas and previous thoughts of death and the afterlife have now been realized as idolatry and foolishness. Since the sinner is now saved, he now has been imparted the knowledge and righteousness by the Holy Spirit to know that he is not forsaken. The Mediator, Jesus Christ, intercedes on his behalf for all things because He now knows this particular sinner [from eternity]. The spirit has given life abundantly within the soul to now be zealous about the things of Christ and the true power that is given upon conversion.

First, death is no more. Although the body dies because of sin, it will live because of the Holy Spirit imparted by Christ to make the soul alive to God [Ephesians 2]. When Christians speak of “living because of the Holy Spirit,” they should mean it in a literal [physical] sense and not only spiritual. Just as Christ’s resurrection was necessarily a physical resurrection, so our literal deadness is literally made alive by God. The unregenerate unknown has now been made known in the regenerate. The soul has been given life.

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’

O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-58.

As the Christian work abounds, so does the worldview of this entirely new life as a new creature in Christ. His dead works are now alive as he now knows the Creator of the Universe. The mystery of this Gospel is that we no longer live as our previous lives manifested, but now it is Christ who lives in us [Galatians 2:20]. We are now therefore inseparable and inescapable from Christ’s gracious love. Everything that was seen, learned, fashioned, fathomed, performed and renounced in the unregenerate is now understood through the lens of the Gospel in the regenerate. There is no more fear of death and what happens after the grave. In fact, the very essence of this new life is that the believer has already died to the flesh. He is already dead to the things of this life. This life is considered completely worthless and meaningless because they gain the infinite, eternal value of Christ. All other things, as Paul states, are counted as loss. He knows that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

If everything stated above is true about the Christian, then it is impossible to treat Christ as simply a way out of eternal destruction in hell. The power and realization of regeneration by the very Holy Spirit of God should be mutually exclusive to the fear of death and hell. By nature, we are either under wrath or mercy. By nature, we are either a sheep or a goat; vessel of honor or vessel of destruction, adopted or forsaken. One is to be eternally blessed in Christ and the other eternally condemned because he has broken the law and deserves only death [Romans 3:23]. The diametrical separation of these two decrees is immutable and not fully understood by human minds due to the eternal nature of the policy that is begun by the spirit of God.

As the believer’s life is consumed in the sanctification process, they are lead and guided only by the Holy Spirit into truth. The days and years are lead further and further away from thoughts of death, condemnation and life in this wretched world that is passing away [although they become more and more understood]. Sin of all sorts is recognized as evermore heinous and dreadfully deadly. The heart, mind and affections are continually set upon the eternal realm and not the immediate or temporal. The result of this worldview and mindset is manifested and attributed to gratefulness for the undeserved eternal deliverance from sin and beholding the radiant glory of Christ.

Consider the prophet Isaiah, who knew his own sinful nature to a great degree. “So I Said : Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of people with unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5
It does not appear that his primary assurance and focus is on the deliverance from Hell, Hades, the Pit or Sheol. Although Isaiah prophesied into words the fall of Lucifer, who ultimately dwells in Sheol [Isaiah 14:12-21], he first saw that he was a man who has sinned and that his transgression was great. The sensitivity to his own natural wretchedness caused him to see the holiness of God in light of understanding the purging of his sin [revealed to him by an angel]. “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged. [v. 7].” His heart was changed as his own sinful nature was being revealed to himself as he proclaimed, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” At this point, the prophet’s deliverance from sin causes him to respond immediately and with joy to the Lord’s command for him to preach.

It should become evermore apparent that Jesus Christ has is absolutely sovereign and has command over all things, including life and death [and all the things in between]. With our finite and sinful minds, we cannot comprehend the “rebuking of wind raging water [Luke 8:24].” If we are in the boat during the storm the disciples were subject to, we should realize that we are at the complete mercy of God at all moments. Even though Christians are born-again, our faith is not perfect because we still sin [unbelief]. If faith were perfect, then we would not need to “have faith in Christ”. Things would just be as they are in a non-fallen world. We would already know Christ as He is, perfect and holy. Jesus calming the wind and the waves is so far outside of our scope of thinking, the disciples asked, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him![v.25]” Jesus calms the waves in the open sea in the same way He rebukes, judges and holds the souls of fallen sinners. They are all always under His Sovereign rule. If you see and understand His wonderful, fearful, omnipotent rule and care, then you may see that death and hell have no precedence in creation and that all comes from Christ. If you are with Him in the boat, then there is no cause for concern.

Lastly, Jesus calls sinners unto Himself. “Getting saved” or “becoming a Christian” is not like pulling the rabbit out of a hat trick. It is not merely a statement to men to receive an all-access grant into a church. Neither is it merely a profession of faith to receive baptism or a result of many years as a church member. Rather, salvation is the miracle of regeneration where the sinner’s soul is reconciled to God through the bloody death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At this point a relationship is enacted and God’s voice becomes familiar and distinct from all others in that He speaks directly to our soul by His word and the Holy Spirit. He continually conforms our image to His in a way that sinners cannot do on their own. “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” John 10:14
Since Christ is and will be the Bride-Groom for God’s entire remnant, He keeps them and holds them throughout their entire life on earth because they belong to Him for eternity. He reminds them of the wickedness that dwells within them. He commands them to take every thought captive to the obedience of Him. He commands repentance. Thoughts and deeds of the elect must be consistently dwelt upon the great Worth of their Savior. Christ is the One who snatches them from the surety of death and destruction apart from Him. Our mortality is swallowed up by the infinite blessedness of immortality because of the Great work of our Savior on the rugged tree. If Christ is the all-consuming fire that we proclaim Him to be, then we already have victory over death, the grave and Hades. Then, thoughts of death and hell become distant, futile and worthless compared to the worth of the Savior. Simultaneously, Christians have the heightened sense of the reality of the imminence of death because of the Spirit. Therefore, they are the only ones that can effectively proclaim the resurrection of the dead in Jesus Christ with zeal, compassion and urgency to all nations that Jesus calls us unto Himself.

“For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.”
Philippians 1:21-24

2009
08/28
POSTED BY
A.J. Williams
CATEGORY
Discipleship
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