Gospel Efficacy

As Paul advises his young protégé he points to the goal of love (1Tim 1:5).  The problem in Ephesus arose from some who were espousing different doctrines and devoting themselves to speculative myths and intricate genealogies.  Timothy must charge them to desist from such unfruitful endeavors and turn their attention to the stewardship from God that is by faith (1Tim 1:4).  It is a reference to the good news of Christ.  This gospel is the instrument by which the Holy Spirit will cultivate in our hearts the virtue of love.  As Jesus Himself said, we are sanctified in the truth (Jn 17:17).  As the gospel is more clearly understood, more tightly embraced and more consistently followed, the necessary conditions for love will emerge, namely a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  This triad is the fountain from which true charity will flow.  Christian love can only radiate from a heart that is purified by hope in Christ (1Jn 3:3), a conscience cleansed from works that are dead (Heb 9:14) and a faith tested and confirmed by a credible profession (1Cor 11:19).  Since this triumvirate is cultivated by the gospel of Christ, how important is it to give pride of place to the gospel?  How important is it to clearly understand the gospel?  If it is something into which angels long to look (1Pet 1:12), should we not take time to look and look again?  The goal will not be reached by slick gimmicks or novel techniques, but by a steady devotion to the gospel of Christ.  Our mission as a church is to exalt, proclaim and treasure Jesus Christ so that He may have devoted followers throughout the world.  Insofar as we are consistent with that terse mission statement, the threefold fountain from which true love flows will enable us to bring glory to our Redeemer King.

Why Do Christians Die?

In his correspondence with the Roman Christians the apostle Paul makes a statement that helps explain an important issue regarding the death of Christians. He says, For one who has died has been set free from sin (Rom 6:7). It is through death that liberation from sin’s power and dominion is achieved. Now of course that has to do primarily with the death of Christ, who died for us that we might be freed from sin’s clutches and might live in Him for God. But it also helps clarify the reason why believers, now forgiven and accepted by God, must still experience physical death as sin’s wages.

The Westminster Divines dealt with this question and codified it in the Larger Catechism. They asked, Death being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ? (Q 85) Their answer echoes the apostle and is very illuminating: The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it; so that, although they die, yet it is out of God’s love, to free them perfectly from sin and misery, and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory, which they then enter upon (A 85). While the death of Christians seems to be an inconsistency, it is really a severe mercy by which our loving Father frees us from sin and introduces us into glory. So in Christ’s death we are freed from sin legally, morally, spiritually, and in our own death we are freed from sin perfectly. What a glorious gospel! God in Christ has overruled the curse so that the very punishment for sin itself is now a means of tremendous blessing. What a glorious God! Is death an enemy? On one level, yes it is. On another level, it is not at all. It comes out of God’s love to free us perfectly from sin and misery. This is why Christians may look forward even to death itself. It is why we need not fear the valley of the shadow. For the one who dies has been set free from sin!

Familiarity & Contempt

It has been said, "Familiarity breeds contempt." Familiarity is a wonderful thing, especially when it describes one's relationship to God. But when twisted by sin, it can trigger a despicable response. Our culture's general disdain for anything Christian is an illustration of this. It scorns those ideas and convictions that served to undergird our nation's structure. Familiarity with our founding principles has bred contempt. The alarming result is an erosion of the collective commitment to what is true, honorable, just, commendable and excellent (Php 4:8). Sadly, the contemporary Church is not immune from such attrition. While regularly handling sacred things she seems to have lost much of her appreciation for those hallowed privileges entrusted to her by Christ.

Jesus taught that those who saw gospel works and heard gospel words would be truly blessed. This has been fulfilled in our day. Our generation enjoys the blessings of which He spoke. More blessed are we than many prophets and kings who desired to see and hear gospel things, and did not (Lk 10:24). The best, the brightest and the most influential of the Old Testament longed to behold the fulfillment of ancient promises. But they were unable because they did not live to see the gospel age. Today, even the humblest Christian has access to these glorious mysteries. The most unassuming believer is in a more exalted position than John the Baptist himself (Mt 11:11). By grace alone we are living in the latter days. We regularly see proof of God’s miracles of grace in human lives. We routinely hear glad tidings of great joy about Christ's cross and resurrection. Do we cherish these amazing gospel privileges? Do we fully appreciate our place in history? Oh, let not sin pervert the familiarity we have with Jesus. Consider His Person. Ponder his benefits. Deal not falsely like the other familiar friend (Ps 55:13).