The Battle With Sin.



Some have battled with sin in their blatant outward rebellion against God.

I struggle with quite the opposite.. Spurgeon describes it best.

[A cake not turned is soon burnt on the side nearest the fire, and although no man can have too much religion, there are some who seem burnt black with bigoted zeal for that part of truth which they have received, or are charred to a cinder with a vainglorious Pharisaic ostentation of those religious performances which suit their humour. The assumed appearance of superior sanctity frequently accompanies a total absence of all vital godliness.]


My pastor--{Mark Lauterbach] is so good to us to remind us of the danger of putting on an attitude of self righteousness/pride that resembles the Pharisee's...i felt most guilty of that this weekend during my baby sister's wedding weekend.

God in his gentle and loving ways, reminded me of graces so specific and so fresh.

Praise Him I am not left in my sin, Amen?

Photo Credit: Carissa Gallo

The Five Solas - Basic Reformed Theology: Sola Fide

Sola Fide! This is a Latin phrase that is meant to convey the Biblical doctrine that teaches that we are justified by faith alone.

Martin Luther said that this is the “doctrine by which the church stands for falls.” If Luther is right, then we seriously need to understand what it means to be justified by faith alone. Before we look at the Scriptures that teach us this very important doctrine or the reformation history and controversy surrounding it, let’s break it down in laymen’s terms.

JUSTIFICATION
Take a quick look at the root word of this theological and Biblical term. If you see the root word as “TIFICATE” then you’re way off base already (a little humor there). Of course you will all see that the root word of JUSTIFICATION is JUST. The idea behind justification is that it is a legal declaration from God that we are just, perfect, righteous, sinless, totally holy and blameless. So imagine standing before the just Judge of the universe and He looks down at you and declares to you from a legal standpoint, “You are not guilty. In fact, you are perfectly righteous.” That might sound as if God is lying. Doesn’t it? After all, you and I are sinners by nature. Having inherited our sin nature from Adam, we sin regularly. Scripture declares it. Experience proves it. So how in the world can God legally declare me righteous or justified, if in fact I am not righteous or just? That leads us to another doctrine that we must first discuss.

IMPUTATION
I love this word. It is marvelous and full of gospel realities. You need to love it and understand it, too. The book of Philemon is a great example of what this doctrine looks like. In this little letter (just 25 verses), we find the Apostle Paul writing to a man named Philemon. Philemon was sort of a wealthy guy and was able to open up his home as the meeting place for a local church of which he is a member. Well, Philemon has a servant who runs away from him. And from the implications of the letter, it appears that this servant stole something from Philemon. This servants name is Onesimus. In the course of time, Onesimus runs into the Apostle Paul, hears the preaching of the gospel, repents of his sin, puts his faith in Christ and then becomes a useful brother to Paul. For whatever reason, Paul decides to send Onesimus back to Philemon. I can only imagine the fear that Onesimus must have felt. He wronged his master. He committed a crime. He could have suffered tremendously for the injustice he committed. And so this letter was sent on ahead to Philemon so that when Onesimus arrived, Philemon would receive him as a brother in Christ, not as a runaway thieving slave.

Now when you read verse 17-18 you will see the doctrine of double-imputation. Paul says this to Philemon: “So if you consider me your partner, receive him [Onesimus] as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” And there you have a tangible instance of what the doctrine of imputation means and looks like. Philemon loved Paul and Paul was elderly and in prison for preaching the gospel. And in essence, what Paul said was this: “Philemon, you treat Onesimus as you would treat me.” But that’s not all Paul says. He goes on to say, “Philemon, whatever wrong Onesimus has done to you, I’ll bear the penalty for it. You treat me as if I were your runaway thieving slave.” The good standing that Paul had with Philemon was to be credited to Onesimus so that Philemon would treat Onesimus as if Paul were standing before him. Even though Onesimus was guilty of sinning against his master, he would be treated as if he were the beloved Paul. Conversely, Paul offered to take on the debt that Onesimus owed Philemon, so that Paul would be treated as if he actually did was Onesimus had done, even though he had not. The bad standing that Onesimus had with Philemon was to be credited to Paul. Paul arranged for all of this. Onesimus would simply be the recipient of Paul’s gracious actions.

Paul’s taking on of the debt of Onesimus AND Onesimus’ taking on the right (just) standing of Paul is a picture of the gospel. Paul represents Christ, Onesimus depicts sinners and Philemon portrays the Father. What happens to us when we are justified? When we are justified, Christ takes upon Himself my sin so that He is treated as if He had lived my wicked, wretched and sinful life. Conversely, when we are justified, we take upon ourselves the gift of Christ’s righteousness so that God will treat us as if we lived the perfect life of Christ. And Christ looks to the Father and says, “Father, receive this runaway sheep as you would receive Me—the perfect Lamb of God! And treat Me as if I had done wrong to You.” Brothers and sisters, this is what our Savior has done for us. He has given us His righteousness and has taken upon Himself our sin. There has been a great exchange. He has arranged all of this. You and I are simply the recipients of Christ’s grace.

You and I live eternally and have been saved because we have an “alien” righteousness—a righteousness that comes from without, not from within….a righteousness that comes from Christ. It is only when this transfer takes place that we can actually be called “justified” by God Almighty. Although we are not righteous, we are called righteous because we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

When does this transfer take place? That’s where the FIDE is Sola Fide comes into play. Remember that FIDE means faith. We are justified the moment we place faith in Christ. And we are justified by faith alone. We are not called just because we lived good lives and tried to be just or righteous…because we’ve already proved that we’re not righteous. Rather, we are justified by faith and faith alone. In other words, the moment we put faith in Christ, is the moment that the great exchange is applied to us--imputation. No faith in Christ = no justification. Faith is the gift of God through which we receive the righteousness of Christ.

Look at these verses that tell us how we ARE NOT justified:

Romans 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 3:10-11 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”


These are but just a few of the prominent verses in Scripture that clearly tell us that we ARE NOT justified because we attempt to live JUST lives. Our attempts to perfectly keep God’s Law does not make us just or righteous. That would be the essence of self-righteousness. Indeed that is what a self-righteous person truly is—one who thinks that they are just, good and holy on their own efforts. Just ask any unbeliever if they think that they are a good person and they will almost unanimously declare, “YES!” So if you rely on your efforts to keep God’s Law so that one day God can look at you and declare you righteous, then I have bad news for you: You are under a curse. You will surely be declared guilty (unjust) because any breaking of any of God’s Laws means that you’ve broken God’s Law.

Now look at these verses that tell us how we ARE justified:

Romans 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 3:11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”


Scripture makes it emphatically clear that we are justified by faith and by faith alone. Not faith plus your deeds. Not faith plus anything, but faith alone. Faith is the vehicle through which righteousness is delivered to us and even FAITH is a gift so that we cannot consider it a good work. Brothers and sisters, that is why it is so important to understand that when we call sinners to turn away from Christ that we call them to believe in Christ—to have faith in Him. The Biblical response to the gospel has always been, “Turn from your sin and trust in Christ’s finished work to save you.” In the name of evangelism, we have asked people to do all sorts of things in order to be justified. We’ve pleaded with people to walk the aisle, to pray a sinner’s prayer, to sign a commitment card, to jump off a plank, to ask Jesus in their heart, etc., etc. But the Biblical response to the gospel has been that of repentance and faith in Christ. We must call people to believe in Jesus and what He has done because it is through this gift of faith/belief that we receive His righteousness.

In the 1500’s, Martin Luther came out swinging against the Catholic Church’s understanding of justification. In their understanding of justification, when a person believes in Christ they are then infused with the life of God so that they can be transformed to look more and more like God in an experiential and daily way. They teach that God does this SO THAT we can eventually get to the point where our lives look so much like God’s that we are finally declared righteous because we have achieved a day-to-day experience of righteousness. It might seem like a small deal and small difference, but I assure you that such is not the case.

In the mid-1500’s the Catholic Church convened in order to try and put a stop to the Reformers and their teachings which included the doctrine of Sola Fide. This meeting was called the Council of Trent and in Canon 9 they said this:

CANON 9: "If any one says, that by Faith Alone the sinner is Justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema (damned forever)."

A Catholic's understanding of justification has everything to do with what God gives us, THEN what we do with what God gives us. We have to live in a way that produces righteousness in us so that God can finally declare us just. We in essence would have to earn our justification by completing what God started in us. The Reformation and Protestant understanding of justification is that nothing we do makes us just. We are called just because of what Christ has done—He has been perfect for us. One teaching relies completely on Christ’s work. The other relies on Christ’s work plus what we do. If there is anything clear about the Scriptures above, it is that we are not justified by anything we do, but what Christ has perfectly done.

Let me say that when we are justified that the Bible teaches us that we do grow in holiness. That gradual and certain growth is called SANCTIFICATION—to be set apart from sin. This does happen in the life of a believer--but sanctification is not the basis for our being called perfect. Justification and sanctification are entirely different but radically connected. Those whom God has justified will be gradually sanctified as the Spirit applies the Word to our hearts and minds. Catholic doctrine confuses the two and actually teaches that once you are fully sanctified THEN you can be justified. They reverse the order of justification and sanctification and confuse the definitions. Catholics would say that we are not justified until we can actually lives just and holy lives. Christians would say that we are considered righteous by God because of what Christ has given us, not by our trusting in Christ plus our keeping of the Law. This is what essentially divides Catholics and Christians and creates a host of other errors on the part of the Catholic.

This doctrine of justification by faith alone is the doctrine on which the church stands or falls. This much is true: the Catholic Church affirms justification by faith. But they do not affirm justification by Faith Alone. Reread Canon 9 in case you missed it or if that was unclear the first time. If the church declares that we are justified by anything other than faith alone in Christ alone then we would eventually have no true believers in the future…the church would fall completely. But thanks be to God that faithful Christians have contended for Sola Fide throughout the centuries and that many are justified because they have trusted in Christ alone.

Thank You, Lord, that You have called us to salvation and that we are now justified by your gracious and saving gift of faith. When we sin this week, let us not rely on our self-efforts and attempts of righteousness to be righteous and acceptable before You. Let us rest on Christ alone by faith alone. Then send us out into the world to live a life of worship that displays Your righteousness and glory for the world to see. Help us to proclaim to the world the wonderful news that peace with God is possible only when we are justified by faith in Christ. This we pray in the great name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Soul Cry

As the deer pants for the water, my soul longs for You
As the body dies without water, my soul dies without You

They may say, “Come on, get over it
Drink, be merry, for tomorrow we die”
That’s why I’d rather sit in the house of mourning
Than at the table with fools
Blessed are the hungry—You said it, I believe it
Hunger is an escort into the deeper things of You
You satisfy, you satisfy

My soul cries, my soul cries, my soul cries for You

Take me to the place where You satisfy, take me to the river
I’ll do anything, God; there is no price, take me to the river

They may say, “Come on, get over it, everything is okay”
They may say, “Why the hunger?
Why the thirsting? Why the mourning?”
But my soul cries, my soul cries

All my tears You hold in a bottle; You will pour them out like rain
Weeping endures for the night, for the night
But joy comes in the morning, joy comes in the morning

Blessed are the hungry, blessed are the thirsty
You said it, I believe it; I believe it, I believe it
Hunger is the escort into the deeper things of You

Deep is calling out to deep is calling out to deep

Yesterday’s depth is feeling really shallow
I’ve gotta go deeper, deeper, deeper still
And all Your waves and all Your billows crash over me
Pulling me deep, deep, deeper
From glory to glory, from strength to strength
From depth to depth, I want to fellowship with You

You’re not so far away, it’s not too mysterious
You’re living on the inside of me, Your Spirit on the inside of me

Spring up, O well; spring up, O well; spring up, O well, within me

Who Is Jesus?



[Click the picture to listen to a sermon jam that I made]

"The sermon jam that Brent made is possibly the most important sermon clip that you'll ever hear."
-Joseph Edward Mejia

"I will help you."


"It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already, What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose you; I gave up My life for you; and if I did all this, I will surely help you now. In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already. If you had need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it to you; you require little compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. Help you? Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of your granary asking for help, it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat; and you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all-sufficiency. I will help you."

O my soul, is this not enough? Do you need more strength than the omnipotence of the united Trinity? Do you want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring here your empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Hurry, gather up your wants. and bring them here--your emptiness, your woes, your needs. Behold, this river of God is full for your supply; what else can you desire? Go forth, my soul, in this your might. The Eternal God is your helper!

Fear not, I am with you, oh, be not dismay'd!
I, I am your God, and will still give you aid.

chs | morning by morning, January 16

Throw Away the Band Aids









Matthew 9:12-13



But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

So many these days try to fix their problems with a band aid. When I think of liberal psychology today I envision a person who sees a paper cut on their finger. The individual then realizes they need to fix the problem, so they get a band aid from the bathroom cabinet. After a day of keeping a band aid on their finger they realize they didn’t fix the problem because the cut is infected. How do they solve the problem? Change the band aid. Soon the cut is a blistering puss filled cesspool. The person with the paper cut got one crucial fact wrong in the beginning of the process; they perceived the issue to be a paper cut when in reality their entire hand had been cut off.

Modern day psychology misses step one of the healing process. There are nuggets of truth to be found in the field of psychology but they typically miss out on one fundamental truth: the nature of man. J.C. Ryle says, "Wrong views of a disease will always bring with them wrong views of a remedy. Wrong views of the corruption of human nature will always carry with them wrong views of the grand antidote and cure of that corruption." The fundamental difference between modern day pschology's view of man is that man is basically good and his problems are external, whereas Biblical Christ-centered counseling tells us that man is completely corrupt and his basic problem is internal.

Today's psychologists hand out band aids, and if the first band aid doesn't work they hand out another one. Biblical Christ-centered counseling adjusts the perspective of its patients first by giving them a glimpse into the reality of their condition. The glimpse is Christ hanging on the cross, marred by sins ugliness. Only by looking at the cross can we understand the seriousness of our condition; sin is the issue and it has polluted us. Author J.I. Packer address’ the importance of understanding sin when he says,"If you have not learned about sin, you cannot understand yourself, or your fellow-men, or the world you live in, or the Christian faith.”

A firm understanding of sin and grace, justice and mercy, and kindness that leads to repentance found in the gospel will heal our ailments and solve our problems more deeply than the band aids offered by today’s culture. In a teaching called, “Another Gospel”, author and speaker C.J. Mahaney says, “Popular literature and teaching today begins with man and then proceeds to make God in our image according to our preferences.”

The gospel is the fountain of youth for the old man that lives inside of us all. The center of the gospel story is the main character, Jesus Christ, the healer and great physician. “Jesus Christ does not merely give better answers to psychological questions, He gives the only answers to questions psychology does not even ask, much less answer.”

The Five Solas - Basic Reformed Theology: Sola Scriptura



























Sola Scriptura! That’s Latin for Scripture Alone! Simply put it means that Scripture is the only rule for what we believe and what we practice. Scripture alone is the revealed mind of God and tells us about sin and salvation, our wretchedness and God’s righteousness, hell and heaven, death and the life to come. While creation is a general revelation of God, Scripture is the specific revelation of God and tells us why the world is so sinful and how God redeems us through His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Without God revealing this to us, we’d be left to our own speculations and imaginings. This would no doubt lead us to many different attempts at being reconciled to Him. But God has not left us in the dark. He has spoken and what He has spoken has been written down. These writings, inspired by God and written at the hands of men, are what guide us in orthodoxy and orthopraxy—right belief and a right practice that flows from these beliefs.

Sola Scriptura does not mean that the Bible is the only book that we are to read and that we cannot learn from the books and writings of great Christians—living or dead. Indeed, God had given us pastors and teachers to edify the body of Christ so that we may mature spiritually. These pastors and teachers are given to us so that they may explain the Scriptures in a Christ-centered fashion and then call us to believe them and then live in a way that magnifies our Savior. And many of their teachings and sermons are written down and put into books so that their admonitions and insights can be passed on to future generations. Nevertheless, their teachings are to bow before Scripture—for Scripture alone is the ultimate authority and there is no other authority that rises to the level of God’s Word. The Lord’s Word written down is our ultimate authority because it comes directly from God.

This is one of the central truths that the Reformers sought to bring back to the forefront of Christianity. The Catholic Church did not and does not hold to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Let me say that they do believe Scripture to be the Word of God; it’s just not the ONLY rule for faith and practice. They also believe that tradition, certain teachings of the pope and the verdicts of councils are to rule over the people with the same authority as God’s written Word. Let’s take for example the Catholic Church practice of Ex Cathedra.

Ex Cathedra is a Latin phrase that means “from the chair.” It is used in reference to the pope when he is teaching and his teachings are to be considered without error--or infallible. In real life application, this means that what the pope says in certain teachings is as good as the Word of God. It means that his teachings are binding upon the people within the Catholic Church. If a member of the Catholic Church were to disregard Ex Cathedra teachings, then this member would be considered as one who abandoned the faith and is an apostate—or a spiritual traitor. These people would be considered accursed by the Catholic Church for not adhering to the pope’s teachings.

In 1950 there was an Ex Cathedra doctrine that said that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken bodily up into heaven at the end of her life. Of course, there is nowhere in Scripture where this is taught. Yet if the pope is teaching Ex Cathedra and claims this, the Catholic Church is bound to belief this. After this doctrine was installed as official Catholic doctrine, these words were added to it: Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.

I hope you hear what the Catholic Church is saying. They are saying that Ex Cathedra teachings are directly from God and if you do not adhere to them, you have fallen away from the “true” and “universal” faith. They elevate the teachings of the pope to that of Scripture. So as far as Catholic doctrine goes, Sola Scriptura is a heresy and a danger to them. Sola Scriptura would require that all their teachings be subject to God’s Word and that whatever is not derived from God’s Word must be discarded and repented of. Reformation Theology teaches that scripture alone is our basis for doctrine and practice. Hopefully you see the vast difference between these opposing views.

But the Catholic Church is not the only group to deny the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Many Christians would affirm and say that this doctrine is true, but what they do actually denies this truth. Let me give you another example of how some Christians actually deny Sola Scriptura.

There is a prominent Christian author named Henry Blackaby. I’ve read several of his books and for a time in my life I agreed with his teachings and actually promoted them to others. I have since repented of these certain teachings. Blackaby says that God speaks through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church. Now you may say to yourself, “This man seems to affirm that God does speak through His Word.” And that is certainly true, but so does the Catholic Church as I mentioned earlier. The problem is not in his affirming that God speaks through His Word. The problem is that God’s Word is not seen as the ONLY rule for faith and practice. According to Blackaby, God also speaks through circumstances, prayer and the church. Here’s the problem with these three ways that God supposedly speaks to us.

Scripture never tells us that God speaks to us in prayer. Prayer is us speaking to God and praying for His will to be accomplished in the world and in our lives. As Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Contrary to popular belief, prayer is not a two-way communication. God speaks to us by His Word. We speak back to Him by prayer.

Secondly, Scripture nowhere teaches us that we are to look at circumstances to determine what God is saying to us. This is where the rubber meets the road for many Christians. A lot of Christians live their lives as if circumstances are some sort of tarot cards that they need to observe and then determine what God is saying. The look for signs and open doors and situations and when they see them “align” they say, “God is telling me to do this or that.” Oh, how many people have made poor decisions because they assumed that God speaks not by His Word only, but also by circumstances and open doors. Rather, we should to look to God’s Word to see what God requires us of, then ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment and then make appropriate decisions that do not compromise the glory of God and His gospel. God gives us much liberality to made decisions that are in accordance with His Word. To assume that God has some hidden agenda and will for your life and that you need to figure it out by gaining a higher knowledge that is not derived from Scripture is dangerous. That is mystical and has close ties to the heresy of Gnosticism that the first Christians fought against.

Thirdly, while God does use pastors, teachers and other believers to disciple you and train you in God’s Word, they should be simply reiterating what God has already said. God is not speaking fresh revelation to us through those whom He has called to preach. If He were speaking fresh revelation, then we would need to have those words recorded down for future generations to have. If He were speaking fresh revelation through preachers or other church members then our Bible would continue to grow and grow and additions would be needed. But Scripture tells us that we need to contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. In other words, Scripture says that what we need to know from God has BEEN delivered and is not continually being delivered and added to.

As you dive deeper into the teachings of Blackaby, you get caught up in looking to all sorts of things from which to hear God…and they are all apart from Scripture. The only sure word that we have for faith and practice is God’s Word and God’s Word alone. So while many Christians will give lip service to Sola Scriptura (like I did), they actually deny it (like I once did) through their everyday living and practice.

The biggest argument against Sola Scriptura is that it’s tough to find that doctrine directly in Scripture. You won’t find a verse that explicitly says, “Sola Scriptura!” That much we have to concede. But we would all agree that there is no higher authority than God Almighty. And if God has spoken, then what He says must have ultimate authority in our lives. If God has spoken, and if we know what He has said, then that is what we must ultimately submit to. And since Scripture claims to be the Word of God, then we must either submit to and yield to Scripture as the authority of God…or else we must prove that the Bible is not the Word of God written down.

If God’s Word is not the ultimate authority in our lives then we are left to the whim and feeling of every person who claims to hear from God or wants to define truth in their own terms. Truth then becomes subjective or based on personal experience and personal feeling, rather than its basis in the ultimate Truth Giver. For example, you will hear Christians say that they can no longer regard homosexuality as a sin because of the hurt that a homosexual family member has had to endure. Their standard for truth is subjective, internal, based on what they feel is right. It is not based on what God has said. Their ultimate authority ends up becoming themselves. Be on guard against those who profess to be Christians but use experiences, traditions, circumstances, feelings and other things to determine what they believe and how they should live. They may be true Christians, but they are sorely misguided. Sola Scriptura ensures that what we believe and what we do is in sync with the mind of God. As an aside, may I also say that while church constitutions and by-laws are important, they too must yield to the Word of God. Those documents are man-made and when they need to be adjusted or re-written to be in accordance with God’s Word, let it be done with glad and joyful submission.

Lastly may I say that God’s Word is precious to us. It is most vital for our salvation and spiritual growth. Without God’s Word we would be perishing in our sin. Without God’s Word we would still be under God’s wrath and judgment. The fact that God has spoken to us and called us to salvation is remarkable. If you just missed what I said, let me rephrase it. You and I are saved because God has called us to salvation, which requires words. Scripture shows us our sin and need for the Savior. Scripture shows us who this Savior is and what to believe about Him. Scripture grants us spiritual life so that we can grasp the spiritual truth about Jesus. Scripture is what God uses to give us faith. Scripture is what transforms us to look more like Christ. Look at what God says about His Word

1. Scripture is what the Holy Spirit uses to CONVICT us of sin. Romans 7:7 – “What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’” Another synonym for God’s Word is the Law. The Law or God’s Word shows us our sin and damnation before God. John 16:8 – “And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

2. Scripture is what the Holy Spirit uses to REGENERATE us or make us born again. In other words, the Word of God is what the Holy Spirit uses to bring about a spiritual resurrection in our lives. The Bible says that we are spiritually dead because of sin. Spiritually dead people cannot respond to a spiritual being or comprehend spiritual truth—they are spiritually dead. In order for them to believe in Christ, which is a spiritual act, they must first be brought to spiritual life. That is why the Bible describes believers as those who are raised (past tense) with Christ. We have been resurrected to spiritual life. God’s Spirit uses God’s Word to accomplish this for us. 1 Peter 1:23 – “Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” What grace we’ve been shown! John 3:6-7 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.

3. Scripture is what the Holy Spirit uses to grant us FAITH in Christ. How amazing is God’s Word. Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Do you believe that Christ is the Savior? Do you trust in Him alone to save you from God’s wrath and from sin? If you do, you do so because of God’s Word. The gift of faith comes to you by your hearing God’s Word. Faith is not internal or inherent in us. It comes from without as a present to us from God. Amazing grace!

4. Scripture is what the Holy Spirit uses in SANCTIFICATION or in making us more like Christ. Believers are called to salvation by God’s Word in order to have the sin marred image of Christ restored in them. Remember back to the garden of Eden when God created man to be representations of God’s glory. “Let us make man in our image.” Well, sin wrecked that. And salvation is not only about God saving us from hell, but it’s also about God restoring us to look like Adam and Eve did before sin entered creation. Christ, who was God in the flesh, was the only one to ever have lived the perfect life that Adam and we were commanded, but failed to do. We are supposed to look like the human Jesus, the Adam before sin, but we don’t. So part of our salvation includes having that image slowly but surely restored---God will do it. And He does this by His Word. That transformation of us is called sanctification. John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” A Christian who fails to sit at the teachings of our Savior and His apostles is a person who is not growing to look more like Christ. If you still struggle with sin, like I do, then the answer is more of God’s Word. He will put His Word in your heart so that you will not sin against Him.

In light of all that Scripture says about God’s Word, it’s hard to think that anything else could ever do what God’s Word does for us. The exhilarating reality is that God’s Word stands alone as ultimate authority and the only thing that can bring us effectively to salvation. His Word endures forever! – Isaiah 40:8, 1 Peter 2:25.

The Ugly Truth




Quick what is the most offensive thing someone at work can do?

Steal your stapler?

Show up 15 minutes late to a meeting?

Take credit for your work?

No silly, it’s showing up to work in a Hawaiian shirt.

I know business casual has not been clearly defined in the employee handbook but I c’mon that shirt is so errr…..uhhh…BRIGHT!




For arguments sakes it does have sleeves, collar, and it does button up, but c’mon it has flowers, tropical birds, and it’s so err…….BRIGHT! And on top of that it’s Wednesday couldn’t you have waited to wear it on Friday? Plus the fact that your blasting the best of Jimmy Buffet does not help your case.

Please someone talk to this guy. People are starting to file complaints at the HR office cause that shirt is so offensive.

Now telling someone that their shirt is ugly errr… I mean…uhh.. BRIGHT is not an easy task. Its has no other option that coming across as offensive. That’s why whoever tells him has to be as loving and tactful as possible to give him the uncompromised truth.

Evangelizing is very similar to this.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. …to the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 1 Cor 9:19 and 22

I am a firm believer in the fact that it is possible to be both loving and bold in our gospel presentation.

Telling an unbeliever that they are living an offensive life and need a savior has no other option that coming across as offensive. So we have two options. Beat them over the head with the Bible. Or befriend them and serve them so that by all means with the divine intervention of God, save some.

That's why it is our duty as Christians, to be aware of others cultures, customs, and emotions so when we boldly yes... boldly present them with the Gospel it is only God's word that confronts and convicts them. People have never gotten into heaven through someones clever gospel presentation. But it is your personality, honesty, and love that God uses as tools to rely his message.

I’m sure there are more tactful ways of telling some who wears Hawaiian shirts on Wednesday that their shirt is so hideou……err I mean ….obnoxiou……err I mean …oops….I mean unsightl…….uhhh I mean …BRIGHT!

God's Grace Makes Much Of God



If there is one thing I love, it is the grace of God. And this grace was supremely revealed at the cross of Christ, where He was slain for the sinful. When I think about my salvation, I always like to put it in its proper context in order to make much of the grace of God. Grace pictured incorrectly diminishes God and makes grace look cheap. So, I don't picture myself standing at the gates of Heaven begging God to let me in. Then, God finally calls my name and I come sprinting through the gates of Heaven breaking the golden ribbon that was conveniently placed there to add drama to my entrance. Upon entrance there is a set of bleachers, you know the kind you see at a little league game, with a group of angels raising signs saying, "You made it," "Go you." No I don't picture my salvation like that, as flattering as it is. I don't picture myself playing a game of hide and go seek with God, one where God is hiding under my kitchen counter and I conveniently walk in as he sneezes alerting me to his position. Then, as I creep up to the counter doors I throw them open yelling, "FOUND YOU." No, when it comes to salvation God is definitely not the one hiding. I don't think either picture even comes close to touching the true reality and depth of the grace of God in a sinner's conversion like me. I like to picture my salvation like this: God is standing at the door of Heaven saying "Whosoever will, may come." But I am deaf to that call because I am running toward Hell with all the strength I can muster up all the while indulging myself in sinful passion along the way. But God overflowing in grace grabs me, turns me around, calls to my dead heart, "ARISE," and displays His infinite glory and worth to me. That is the way I picture my salvation and you should too, because apart from the grace of God you were deaf to God. And apart from the grace of God you were dead to God. Those who understand the reality of their deafness and deadness will picture their salvation like this, because it makes much of the grace of God. When I get to Heaven I am going to blame God for getting me there, because the same grace that grabs me is the same grace that guides me home. And that is how grace makes much of God.

Romans 9:16

"So then it depends not on human will and exertion

but on God who has mercy."

Photo Credit: Carissa Gallo

The King

Why would a rich man become a poor man?
Why would a King cast off his crown to put on the rags of a servant?
It is because the rich King is love incarnate; he is powerful in might yet strong in love.
The King could crush me with his power but instead cradles me in his arms.
This King was once cradled as well; cradled in his mother's arms.
The King, the creator of the universe, shackled himself to flesh;
It was the tender vulnerable flesh of a newborn child.
Self-sufficiency became dependency.
The one who breathed life into man took his first breath as he emerged into the world.
The one who sustains the world was sustained and nourished by his mother.
Yet, the cloud of holiness did not lift from this child; his perfection was being made perfect for sacrifice.
The King came to earth to give us his perfection. He was born for death.
Born for the grave and yet raised to life.
The tender vulnerable flesh became calloused and rough to be broken.
Broken, torn and ripped flesh, offered up on the altar of a tree.
This is our King who poured himself out and counted his Kingship as nothing.
This is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who came as a baby to bring his people out from the clutches of darkness.
He lived a human life so we might have life in him; he died to give me life eternally.

The Branch's Resolution



At the brink of each passing of the modern calendar year, scores of people resolve to change themselves by focusing on a habitual tendency. Something they want to get rid of. Something they want to add that's missing.

Life takes on perhaps the most introspective viewpoint of the year during the day that is literally like every other day. January first is no different than August seventh. But we make it so because a small number changes on everything we read, write on, or look at. Today, it will change from a "9" to a "10". It is the nearly global self-assesment beacon. It alerts us to spend at least a moment to look inward. It alerts us to assess who we are in our accomplishments or what we need to do next in order to 'upgrade' with that small digit. And it is the greatest of socially shared contexts for personal, simultaneous sin.

We love us... quite a bit, really. I often do, at least. I'm probably the biggest fan of "me". And there's not a whole lot more that we like to do than to think of ourselves and ponder ways to make "me" into something even better. And when New Years rolls around, we jump on a lot of opportunities to take advantage of how we can better ourselves in the future (new habits, new activities, etc) or pat ourselves on the back for the past (accomplishments, experiences, etc).

The majority of the world is aware of the new year and the trends of comparing our past year with what we want to do in the next. But do we look with eyes of praising God for our past, and pleading to our Father for our future? Or do we spend all of that time looking... inward?

New Years isn't a horrible thing... it's just a lot easier to become a deeper lover of ourselves. Or to simply take our eyes off the One who gave us all the grace we desperately needed to even be who we are (in Christ, no less... remember "I am the vine, you are the branches"?)

I like making changes in my life. I love it, actually. Especially when it involves my best friend, Jesus Christ. When I see that I've learned more about Him in September than I did in August, I like it a lot. January can be just like any other month, and to make a resolution isn't a bad thing. Making changes and praying that they actually happen is wonderful if it glorifies God.

So this New Year, please pray that your brother (that's me) and the rest of your family (that's all of you) will spend as much time as we can fighting against introspection and seeking... Christ-o-spection... or whatever it's called. He is to be praised for 2009; all of it. And our Father is He who will guide us through 2010 by His grace... no differently than 2009, or 2000, or 1258, or 33 when He crushed His Son for our sins that He would be exalted and glorified.