Faith or works?

 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-9.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:7-9.

The juxtaposition of faith vs. works has been tested throughout the church age. Paul tells the Ephesians that they had nothing to do with their works, but James on the other hand says, "Faith without works is dead". Is faith enough, or must there also be the "fruit of repentance" as John the Baptist preached? 

Well, certainly faith IS enough, in fact, faith is "The only way to please God", writes the author of Hebrews. But what is faith? What is belief? Is it simply agreeing with a fact? No, for James writes that the devil's believe that fact, and they tremble. I have heard an old story about a daredevil named Blondin. He was a circus acrobat who had stretched a cable across the mouth of the Niagara River, just before the falls. He told the crowd that he would now cross that cable with a wheelbarrow blindfolded! He asked the crowd if they thought he could do this, and many shouted yes. His next question, though, was "who will get in?". And thus true faith is illustrated. Not only do we agree that God is enough, our faith must be made real by actually placing our trust in Him. 

How many of us in this camp meeting have a testimony about what it actually means to trust God? I'd venture to say that we could easily take up the rest of our meeting and then some to listen to all of them! Hebrews chapter 11 lists the testimonies of the OT saints. So we are indeed surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Our testimonies are added to theirs and together we rejoice with them. My challenge, though, is not about the times when we have had no choice but the trust God, and found that He was indeed enough. No, how do we deal with the every day reality that we find ourselves in? Are there what Hebrews calls "besetting sins that so easily entangle us". How well do we overcome in the seemingly endless days of ordinary life? 

I cannot speak for any other camp member. I can only offer my own testimony. Let's just say that overcoming besetting sins has not ordinarily  been a part of my experience. Looking back on my life, my assumption has rather been that, well, no one is perfect, and I am trying my best, but mastery over sin is not possible. But is that what the Word of God teaches? Certainly not! What then have I been missing? I believe what I was missing was actual TRUST in the power of the Holy Spirit to, as John writes, "cleanse me from ALL my sin"! The key, I am convinced, is to first of all repent, which simply means changing my mind about my sins. I must not believe that sin is inevitable, but rather invite the Holy Spirit to search my heart, Psalm 139:23-24. When He examines me, and challenges me to think again, I am giving then the opportunity to confess those sins, and be cleansed from their power over me. 

Will this be challenged? Absolutely! Satan will demand to "sift us like wheat". If my sin be materialism, he will attack my possessions. If it be envy, he will make sure my undeserving neighbor will be given a position ahead of me. The question then is, "In whom will I put my trust"? Will I get in the wheelbarrow, or turn aside? But if we have committed ourselves to repentance, the Holy Spirit will be at our side, "taking every thought captive" to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Let us accept this challenge saints!

Dealing with sin

 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:11-12

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I Jn 1:9

So what does Paul mean, "through the Spirit"? I think this goes to the very core of he disciple's life. Some believe this is a matter of motivation. If your intensions are good, then so must be your works. I wonder though if there is something more. I wonder if Paul could have written, "if through the POWER of the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body"? Might have nothing to do with good intensions. Rather, upon what are we trusting when confronting our sin? What is this power of the Spirit? How might be access this power? 

I have seen that my younger days have gone by, and I was trapped in my sins. I knew nothing of the verse, "It was for freedom that Christ has set me free". It did not matter if my sins were peccadilloes or Armadillos, I was not getting away from them. I did not know there was any way of escape the sinful thoughts and imaginations. But this is not true. Yes, there is no way, by the power of my mind, will and emotion, that I was going to be able to conquer them, but I did not see that in fact, the power to overcome my sins was already in me. I just needed to tap into it by believing God's promises to me. 

What to do, then, with sin. Well, repentance seems like a good idea. However, repentance is not well understood. The word is "Metanoia" and it simply means, "To change your mind". Confession is also thought of as verbally telling your sins to another believer, and it is that, but really it basically is saying the same thing about your sins as God says. I'd suggest to go to Psalm 139 to start with, "See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me into the way of life everlasting". When the Spirit radar picks something up, repentance involves in putting the "sin tag" on it, and confession zaps it by agreeing with God that indeed there is sin, and it must go. Prayer might be something like "God I agree that X is sin, and I am changing my mind that there would be no hope to deal with X. Help me trust you to cleanse me from the ravages of X". Could this be walking in the Spirit, saints?

Election

 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh,

they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:

though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:

in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;

he shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 27:1-5

For those who adhere to Calvinist theology, today is a holiday - it's ELECTION DAY. But seriously, what are political elections anyway? Do we really suppose that man can choose something that is not in the sovereign will of God? Why should the results of a Presidential Election cause any angst? The great Hymn says, "Though all around my soul give way, He THEN is all my hope and stay". Amen. 

I was offended at my unbelief. Surely, God, you will not put us in the hands of that evil candidate, right? Habakuk had the same question about the Babylonians. How could it be that God, who has always blessed America, allow her to be judged by those more evil than she is? All I can say now, though, is that no matter what, God is still sovereign. And I can rest in that fact. If we are to be ruled by those who hate Him, if we are to be persecuted for righteousness sake, well then perhaps the end of the age is upon us, and His return is sooner than we suppose. 

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, support us in the stormy blast, and be our eternal home. God's ways are not our ways. His part is to act, our part is to trust. No matter who he elevates to the US Presidency, let us always remember this. Amen. 

Citizenship

 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body.

Phillipians 3:20-21

The current election cycle, I admit, has my heart in angst. One candidate is a foul mouthed braggart, who appears not to have an ounce of humility. The other candidate for President has no new ideas, and could be just a continuation of the last four years, and those have not been good years. It looks like the first guy is winning. But who knows? I am still looking for an event that will bring something totally unexpected, like a landslide victory by whoever does win. 

Jesus tells me, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid", but the sad truth is, I am VERY afraid of what one candidate would do if she were elected. Why Dean? On the other hand, I would very much have hope if the other candidate won, but why? Am I not looking forward to that great and glorious day when, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever"? The outcome of this election has no affect on my true citizenship, which is in Heaven. Why should I be the very least concerned about what happens on Earth?

I am trying to be honest with myself. Just how much does the world still pull on my soul? Why would I lose my peace if one candidate prevailed, and why would I be happy if the other won? This world is not my home, so why would I care? If she wins, and begins to persecute the church in America, she is preparing us for the work of antichrist when he comes. The other guy might delay this four years, but the globalists will eventually prevail. So why all the angst? 

My goal between now and Election Day is to see that my heart is not reliant on the results for peace to come upon me. Slow down. Rest. Nothing is happening that surprises God. Be still, acknowledge that God is God, and I am not. 

 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mat 28:19-20

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Prof 11:30

Jesus is commanding His disciples to make other disciples, but how exactly does He tell them to do it? The first thing I see is authority. Based on the fact that all power has been given to Christ, THEREFORE . . . . Go teach all nations, or people groups . . . THEREFORE baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit . . . THEREFORE ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth. So it may be upon us to go, but it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we would be able to reach the world. I think it’s important to remember this. “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD”. Let us remember that victory has already been won, based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The vail has been torn, and we are now, via His righteousness, able to enter the Holy of Holies, and there know and be with our God. In this we rest forever, amen.

 

Now the verse in Proverbs is something different. The two parts of this verse would seem, at first, to be two different teachings. Yes, indeed, the fruit of the righteous is a tree of Life, but what does that have to do with winning souls? Well, what is a tree of life? Or more specifically, WHO is the Tree of Life? Is it not Jesus Christ our Lord? What exactly is it that the lost are looking for? Are they not thirsty for the streams of water that proceed out from the throne of God, as seen in Revelation? “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the Tree of Life, which bare 12 manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations”. Rev 21:1-2. 

The righteous, those who are abiding in the Lord, and whose character is formed by a life of abiding in Him, are bringing the very presence of Jesus Christ to a sin sick world. Sinners sin because, as it were, they have been programmed to sin. They don’t know any other way. But Jesus calls out to them, “Come unto me ALL ye who are weary, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. Those who are abiding in Christ, who are being changed into his likeness “From glory to glory”, are, by their very presence in the world, offering His rest to those who are looking for a way to escape the burdens of their sins. 

So in conclusion, there are two teachings on winning souls here. First of all, in all our endeavors, whether we are on campuses passing out Bibles, or in our workplaces, or our homes, or anywhere else, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that ANYONE would ever come to Christ. Secondly, we see that a life of relentless discipleship, being with Christ, so that we can become like Christ, results in the very Presence of Christ in our lives, and we begin to do the very work of Christ. This is the place of rest. This is a quiet confidence that He has already won the battle. We need only to rest in that place. Wait on the Lord. Be ready to share the hope that is in us. Amen. 

Being Like Our Lord

 "Beloved, now we are the sons of God, however, it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure". I John 3:2-3

I look back, I see this hope now. I am no longer defined by anything external to me. Beholding Jesus, I am being transformed into his image. How then to share this good news? Only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Look upon Christ, turn, see who He is. 

This is the discipline I must learn. If I am not looking to Him, interacting with Him through His Word, I am then not becoming like him. The world is not seeing Jesus in my eyes. But if I slow down, just linger for a moment in the garden, when the dew is still on the roses, then He is being formed in my heart. 

Mirror

"Therefore, get rid of all unclean thoughts, and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But demonstrate that you are doers of the Word, not just those who passively hear, and don't change, thus deceiving themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; but once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what he looks like. But the man who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and keeps on looking, not being one who looks and then forgets, but whose actions are changed, this man will be blessed in what he does" James 1:21-25

Recently there have been reports of pastors and teachers who have fallen away from the faith. These are men who have blessed so many souls, helping them understand what the Bible teaches, and giving direction on how we should live. But much to our surprise, when faced with temptation, so many times they fall away. How is this possible? Didn't they know what they were doing was wrong? 

I believe this is what James is teaching us in this passage. There is quite a difference between knowing the Word with our mind, and receiving the Word ingrafted into our hearts. I remember the testimony of a man who was a seminary professor. He had studied the Bible all his life, and could understand the original languages in which the Bible had been written. He had all the academic degrees a man could get, but he was not born again. He knew well what the Bible said, but he only knew this academically. But through a crisis in his life, he turned his heart to the Word, and he was saved. The next time he read the Bible, he said it was as if he had never read it before. The words on the pages became like fire, and his heart was never the same. 

James compares the Word to a mirror. I believe that everything God wants us to know about Him can be found there.  However, when we look into the mirror, we may only see the surface image, when there is so much more to see. This is only a quick glance. Very easy to forget what we just read. He encourages us instead to look intently. Stay awhile. Don't rush off. Let the Word speak to our heart. That is when we are changed from "Glory to Glory" as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 3. Having so meditated on the Word, it becomes ingrafted in our hearts, and we are no longer hearers only, but doers of the Word.