So, I have felt like I have written more on my book that ever before. I am really enjoying the process of going through Romans and seeing why God causes and permits trials and suffering. I also feel that I have found a format that works for me and will also permit me the ability to build on this work with research and real-like stories.
So, the structure is like this:
Text: I quote the text because so often the text is passed over or quickly referenced. But I really want people God's word and what He says on the issues of trial and suffering.
Truth: I haven't gotten super organized on this part. I just begin to expound upon the truths that I see coming from the text in regards to trials and suffering.
Tidbit: I put the truth in a simple morsel of a bite so that the reader has a sound byte for why God causes and permits trials and suffering. It's one sentence that is hopefully memorable.
Tradition: I want to know what the church throughout the ages has said on these issues. So if you come across content from men of old on the passage being discussed, let me know.
Takeaway: This section is to encourage the action and application of the previous components. God's word not put into action is unacceptable. We must respond to His truths!!!
Testimony: I want to hear from you all. How have these texts impacted your life, or the truth from them come into play in your situations? For example, when you were an unbeliever, or if you are one now and feel comfortable sharing with me, tell me how you felt wrath in your life for the wrong you were doing. That would give validity to the experientially-minded folk.
Test: This section is to encourage thought on how this truth would play out in a scenario.
If anyone wants to help in this process, I would love to receive it. I have been encouraged to see just how much truth there is in Romans in reference to trials and suffering, let alone all of Paul's letters, let alone all of the New Testament, let alone all of the Old Testament! Know that God is intentionally causing and permitting trials and suffering for many good and helpful and revealed! reasons. My hope is that any person in the world experiencing trials would be encouraged to trust God in the midst of difficulty, seeing that God is intimately involved in every situation of life.
Grace and peace,
Mike Ward
Friday, August 28, 2009
8.28.09 Suffering and Romans 2:1-11
Text
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality (Romans 2:1-11).
Truth
I hesitated to address this text because to answer the question why God causes and permits trials and sufferings, most people think of here and now. But when the weight of eternity comes into play, eternal wrath must be discussed. This fury will even help shut the mouth of unbelievers if they understood just how painful and horrific God’s wrath is for those that do evil! God’s justice should make every believer’s mouth tremble to speak as speaking the words of God and also motivate us to pray for the conversion of people who are currently under the wrath of God! This passage definitively argues that the reason people will suffer wrath is because they judge people, condemn in hypocrisy, always looking out for their own interests and resistant to follow the truth but follow sinful paths. There will be no escape from the eternal trial of Hell and the constant rendering of suffering for the works of evildoers. Thus, people suffer because they live in sin. They suffer the wrath of God and the fur of God and the judgment of God and the tribulation of God and the distress of God. I believe that these renderings are both eternal and temporal because unbelievers can attest to tribulations and distresses they have experienced. These Jews and Greeks might not express their pain in terms of wrath and fury. But the believer sees how God is involved in every aspect of life. Does this mean that believers should tell lost people that every time they experience pain it is the wrath of God? I think we should be slow to speak in times of pain, being sensitive to the individual and the context. But if we love people, we will tell them of the coming judgment and how it is expressed in this life to wake us up from unbelief so that we might come to cling to the One who suffered the wrath of God on the cross! And if they don’t repent and believe (which is expressed according to this passage as patience in well doing, seeking for glory and honor and immortality and doing good) but instead have hard and impenitent hearts, they will experience an even more painful path of punishment! And this punishment is righteous, even though it is very sobering. God has to render righteous judgment to everyone to maintain His love for righteousness and goodness. So, we can warn about the fury of God’s wrath but we must also encourage with the blazing goodness of His mercy in Christ for those who repent and believe: the reward of glory, honor, immortality! Paul repeats glory and honor and then gives peace as the promise for those who do good! And the promises of God for eternal life should also encourage a believer to endure all the suffering that comes from doing good. God’s rendering of each work should also exhort us to do good by avoiding unnecessary pains caused by evil works and sinful pursuits.
Tidbit
God causes and permits trials and suffering because God is committed to righteousness to repay people with hard hearts and wicked deeds.
Tradition
What have men and women said before us?
Takeaway
1. Examine your life for any possibilities of hypocrisy.
2. Don’t presume God will have mercy on you for your evildoing. You might receive wrath if you don’t repent from it.
3. Soften your heart and repent from any known sin.
4. Meditate on how God will repay you according to your deeds. How you live and respond to trials and suffering will be judged.
5. Preach the gospel to lost people so that they might escape the wrath and fury of a righteous God eager to judge, through Christ alone.
Testimony
How have people experienced this text, truth, tidbit and/or takeaway?
Test
You are on a lunch break and some co-workers who are conversing about the party they loved where there was drinking and drugs. They know you are a Christian and ask you, “How come you don’t drink and smoke?” How could you include the consequence of wrath and fury for those who do evil into the conversation, instead of merely saying, “I’m a Christian” (i.e., I might be self-righteous). What would it like to lovingly warn them of the destruction to come, while also pointing them towards the solution of wrath, namely, Jesus Christ?
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality (Romans 2:1-11).
Truth
I hesitated to address this text because to answer the question why God causes and permits trials and sufferings, most people think of here and now. But when the weight of eternity comes into play, eternal wrath must be discussed. This fury will even help shut the mouth of unbelievers if they understood just how painful and horrific God’s wrath is for those that do evil! God’s justice should make every believer’s mouth tremble to speak as speaking the words of God and also motivate us to pray for the conversion of people who are currently under the wrath of God! This passage definitively argues that the reason people will suffer wrath is because they judge people, condemn in hypocrisy, always looking out for their own interests and resistant to follow the truth but follow sinful paths. There will be no escape from the eternal trial of Hell and the constant rendering of suffering for the works of evildoers. Thus, people suffer because they live in sin. They suffer the wrath of God and the fur of God and the judgment of God and the tribulation of God and the distress of God. I believe that these renderings are both eternal and temporal because unbelievers can attest to tribulations and distresses they have experienced. These Jews and Greeks might not express their pain in terms of wrath and fury. But the believer sees how God is involved in every aspect of life. Does this mean that believers should tell lost people that every time they experience pain it is the wrath of God? I think we should be slow to speak in times of pain, being sensitive to the individual and the context. But if we love people, we will tell them of the coming judgment and how it is expressed in this life to wake us up from unbelief so that we might come to cling to the One who suffered the wrath of God on the cross! And if they don’t repent and believe (which is expressed according to this passage as patience in well doing, seeking for glory and honor and immortality and doing good) but instead have hard and impenitent hearts, they will experience an even more painful path of punishment! And this punishment is righteous, even though it is very sobering. God has to render righteous judgment to everyone to maintain His love for righteousness and goodness. So, we can warn about the fury of God’s wrath but we must also encourage with the blazing goodness of His mercy in Christ for those who repent and believe: the reward of glory, honor, immortality! Paul repeats glory and honor and then gives peace as the promise for those who do good! And the promises of God for eternal life should also encourage a believer to endure all the suffering that comes from doing good. God’s rendering of each work should also exhort us to do good by avoiding unnecessary pains caused by evil works and sinful pursuits.
Tidbit
God causes and permits trials and suffering because God is committed to righteousness to repay people with hard hearts and wicked deeds.
Tradition
What have men and women said before us?
Takeaway
1. Examine your life for any possibilities of hypocrisy.
2. Don’t presume God will have mercy on you for your evildoing. You might receive wrath if you don’t repent from it.
3. Soften your heart and repent from any known sin.
4. Meditate on how God will repay you according to your deeds. How you live and respond to trials and suffering will be judged.
5. Preach the gospel to lost people so that they might escape the wrath and fury of a righteous God eager to judge, through Christ alone.
Testimony
How have people experienced this text, truth, tidbit and/or takeaway?
Test
You are on a lunch break and some co-workers who are conversing about the party they loved where there was drinking and drugs. They know you are a Christian and ask you, “How come you don’t drink and smoke?” How could you include the consequence of wrath and fury for those who do evil into the conversation, instead of merely saying, “I’m a Christian” (i.e., I might be self-righteous). What would it like to lovingly warn them of the destruction to come, while also pointing them towards the solution of wrath, namely, Jesus Christ?
8.27: Suffering and Romans 1:26-32
Text
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, and insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them (Romans 1:26-32).
Truth
God gives people to their shady desires which will cause all kinds of suffering. The passions that are dishonorable cause unspeakable horrors! Think of all the pain that takes place in heterosexual and homosexual relationships, because one partner embraces sinful feelings and thoughts! Then there is more suffering caused because of the due penalty! And then even more pain comes from the sexual sinner who keeps embracing the lies! Punishment comes to those whom God has given over to sin and error. This punishment could be primarily eternal but most definitely includes the real suffering of this life. And Paul characterizes these sinners as people who do not think it is right to acknowledge and to know God intimately, thus leading to debased minds that embrace all that is bad. He then lists all the types of sins people who engage in homosexuality commit. These acts lead to suffering in so many ways. When a child disobeys mom and dad, the child might run into oncoming traffic instead of listening to the warnings of loving parents. Then the parents experience suffering because of this foolishness. Then the person who hit the child feels sorrow over the accident, struggling with guilt (as will the parents and the child as well if he lives!). Then a mother who sees this story on the 6 o’clock news is reminded of how her child died because of an accident and this event opens up an old wound. The depravity of man comes about because God gives man over to the passions of the heart and mind, which produces all kinds of pain! All of this devastation is deserved because man is receiving the due penalty of his depravity. Not every suffering is because of someone’s specific sin. But it is clear that when God gives people over to their dishonorable passions, suffering is inevitable because God causes it and the natural consequence of bad minds is a painful expression of death in a world that doesn’t know or care about God.
Tidbit
God causes and permits trials and suffering because depraved and destructive humans deserve to experience punishment.
Tradition
What have men and women said before us?
Takeaway
1. Acknowledge the triune God who can give you honorable passions and a new mind when you repent from these sins and believe in Jesus who was free from sin and didn’t deserve to die.
2. Avoid sins at all cost so that you minimize suffering caused by unrighteous thoughts, words, actions and interactions. Run away from gossip so that you spare the people you are talking about from the pain of being seen in a bad light. Fight to shut your mouth when you feel the urge to brag about your basketball ability at the expense of your opponent. Kill the thoughts that you can only be happy if you are in a homosexual relationship. Don’t trust passions but let the knowledge of God in the Scriptures dictate your life so that unnecessary pain can be minimized.
3. When you go to a funeral of an unbeliever, embrace the truth that the person deserved death and died because God gave that person over to his depravity. And don’t shy away to tell others that they deserve to die because they have debased minds and ignore the God who sent Christ to die in their place if they will turn from sin and turn to Jesus.
4. Stop approving of any sin, let alone sin that comes about because of God’s justice for depraved sinners. When someone makes a dirty joke, don’t laugh along with the guys. You are causing more sin and suffering. Don’t be okay with telling the parents you’re going to the game but are really going to test out alcohol. You are producing pain.
Testimony
How have people experienced this text, truth, tidbit and/or takeaway?
Test
A homosexual tells you he is born gay and can’t choose another lifestyle. How can you explain that God BOTH gave him over to homosexuality AND he is responsible for what he does? How can you point him to repent and believe? What questions can you ask to help demonstrate that his sinfulness has caused and permitted suffering? How can the knowledge of God change the lifestyle of the most flamboyant homosexual?
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, and insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them (Romans 1:26-32).
Truth
God gives people to their shady desires which will cause all kinds of suffering. The passions that are dishonorable cause unspeakable horrors! Think of all the pain that takes place in heterosexual and homosexual relationships, because one partner embraces sinful feelings and thoughts! Then there is more suffering caused because of the due penalty! And then even more pain comes from the sexual sinner who keeps embracing the lies! Punishment comes to those whom God has given over to sin and error. This punishment could be primarily eternal but most definitely includes the real suffering of this life. And Paul characterizes these sinners as people who do not think it is right to acknowledge and to know God intimately, thus leading to debased minds that embrace all that is bad. He then lists all the types of sins people who engage in homosexuality commit. These acts lead to suffering in so many ways. When a child disobeys mom and dad, the child might run into oncoming traffic instead of listening to the warnings of loving parents. Then the parents experience suffering because of this foolishness. Then the person who hit the child feels sorrow over the accident, struggling with guilt (as will the parents and the child as well if he lives!). Then a mother who sees this story on the 6 o’clock news is reminded of how her child died because of an accident and this event opens up an old wound. The depravity of man comes about because God gives man over to the passions of the heart and mind, which produces all kinds of pain! All of this devastation is deserved because man is receiving the due penalty of his depravity. Not every suffering is because of someone’s specific sin. But it is clear that when God gives people over to their dishonorable passions, suffering is inevitable because God causes it and the natural consequence of bad minds is a painful expression of death in a world that doesn’t know or care about God.
Tidbit
God causes and permits trials and suffering because depraved and destructive humans deserve to experience punishment.
Tradition
What have men and women said before us?
Takeaway
1. Acknowledge the triune God who can give you honorable passions and a new mind when you repent from these sins and believe in Jesus who was free from sin and didn’t deserve to die.
2. Avoid sins at all cost so that you minimize suffering caused by unrighteous thoughts, words, actions and interactions. Run away from gossip so that you spare the people you are talking about from the pain of being seen in a bad light. Fight to shut your mouth when you feel the urge to brag about your basketball ability at the expense of your opponent. Kill the thoughts that you can only be happy if you are in a homosexual relationship. Don’t trust passions but let the knowledge of God in the Scriptures dictate your life so that unnecessary pain can be minimized.
3. When you go to a funeral of an unbeliever, embrace the truth that the person deserved death and died because God gave that person over to his depravity. And don’t shy away to tell others that they deserve to die because they have debased minds and ignore the God who sent Christ to die in their place if they will turn from sin and turn to Jesus.
4. Stop approving of any sin, let alone sin that comes about because of God’s justice for depraved sinners. When someone makes a dirty joke, don’t laugh along with the guys. You are causing more sin and suffering. Don’t be okay with telling the parents you’re going to the game but are really going to test out alcohol. You are producing pain.
Testimony
How have people experienced this text, truth, tidbit and/or takeaway?
Test
A homosexual tells you he is born gay and can’t choose another lifestyle. How can you explain that God BOTH gave him over to homosexuality AND he is responsible for what he does? How can you point him to repent and believe? What questions can you ask to help demonstrate that his sinfulness has caused and permitted suffering? How can the knowledge of God change the lifestyle of the most flamboyant homosexual?
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
8.26.09: Suffering in the Scriptures: Romans
When people begin to read through the Bible, certain dots begin to connect and lights go off as similar words and ideas become synergistic. For example, a tree was the means of death in the garden when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yet in the days of Jesus, a tree was the means of death and life in the wilderness when Christ was crucified and paid for the sins of those who repent and believe.
But when you read through the whole Bible, you can also get confused as the clouds of nuanced words can challenge your entire faith. For example, Paul says we are justified by faith apart from works of the law. But James says we are justified not by faith alone but also by works. Huh? So, what is a person to do when approaching the Scriptures?
There is an approach to interpretation that will lend itself to credibility and deeper worship. It's called intratextual study. What intratextual study promotes is to dig deeply into what the author means throughout his own and whole text. So before one jumps to another book in the Bible to articulate the complexities of justifying faith for salvation from sin, wrath, death and Hell, one should study repeatedly how that one book looks at the subject extensively.
So, I thought it would be helpful to see how the apostle Paul, the author of the letter called Romans, written to the people of Rome, sees suffering. I will use the format of text, truth, takeaway and test to examine his perspective on how believers should understand and respond to difficulties, hardships, trials, pain, suffering and persecution. So, let's do some intratextual study!!!
13I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
The entire reason why the Romans letter was written was because Paul was unable to come to them, even after frequent intentions. What stood in his way? He had been prevented. When you read the book of Acts, it is obvious that Paul is prevented from doing many things because the Spirit protects him from persecution, because Jesus directs him into persecution, because of the wickedness of troublemakers and scoffers, because of the hatred of the Jews, because of the disciples discouraging him from preaching to a crowd, because of an impending threat that leads to a late night basket escape, because of being left for dead, because of unlawful imprisonment, because you get the idea. So, suffering prevents people from doing good things but God is sovereign in those moments to bring about other (and frequently better) goods. The book or letter of Romans came about because of persecution that led to prevention of Paul and the people of Rome coming together. Furthermore, God causes suffering in people's lives to increase their desires to see people, to grow in love for the people that they are prevented from seeing. Paul longed to see them and him being prevented only increased his burden to see them and preach the gospel to them so that he might have a harvest of seeing believers that trust God in Christ and finish the race of faith, to see the obedience of faith from all nations!
1. When you are prevented from doing something that you want, or something that is good, see how God might be using it for some other good or some, better good. So, you don't get a job at the Christian school to teach the Bible. Instead the Lord opens up a great job with the University of Phoenix. You don't get to go on that mission trip so that you can spend time writing letters to missionaries, encouraging them to bring about the obedience of the nations. You don't get to see family often because you're poor so you end up spending more time with the local church, and write letters and make phone calls and update facebook to keep up with cousins and siblings and parents.
You see an update about a brother in Christ whose house is burned by Muslims in Indonesia. This brother was just on his way to visit the church that sent him out to be a missionary among people of a different island in Indonesia. What other goods could God bring about in him being prevented from doing a good thing like reporting about the work he is doing?
But when you read through the whole Bible, you can also get confused as the clouds of nuanced words can challenge your entire faith. For example, Paul says we are justified by faith apart from works of the law. But James says we are justified not by faith alone but also by works. Huh? So, what is a person to do when approaching the Scriptures?
There is an approach to interpretation that will lend itself to credibility and deeper worship. It's called intratextual study. What intratextual study promotes is to dig deeply into what the author means throughout his own and whole text. So before one jumps to another book in the Bible to articulate the complexities of justifying faith for salvation from sin, wrath, death and Hell, one should study repeatedly how that one book looks at the subject extensively.
So, I thought it would be helpful to see how the apostle Paul, the author of the letter called Romans, written to the people of Rome, sees suffering. I will use the format of text, truth, takeaway and test to examine his perspective on how believers should understand and respond to difficulties, hardships, trials, pain, suffering and persecution. So, let's do some intratextual study!!!
Text: Romans 1:13
13I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
Truth
The entire reason why the Romans letter was written was because Paul was unable to come to them, even after frequent intentions. What stood in his way? He had been prevented. When you read the book of Acts, it is obvious that Paul is prevented from doing many things because the Spirit protects him from persecution, because Jesus directs him into persecution, because of the wickedness of troublemakers and scoffers, because of the hatred of the Jews, because of the disciples discouraging him from preaching to a crowd, because of an impending threat that leads to a late night basket escape, because of being left for dead, because of unlawful imprisonment, because you get the idea. So, suffering prevents people from doing good things but God is sovereign in those moments to bring about other (and frequently better) goods. The book or letter of Romans came about because of persecution that led to prevention of Paul and the people of Rome coming together. Furthermore, God causes suffering in people's lives to increase their desires to see people, to grow in love for the people that they are prevented from seeing. Paul longed to see them and him being prevented only increased his burden to see them and preach the gospel to them so that he might have a harvest of seeing believers that trust God in Christ and finish the race of faith, to see the obedience of faith from all nations!
Takeaway
1. When you are prevented from doing something that you want, or something that is good, see how God might be using it for some other good or some, better good. So, you don't get a job at the Christian school to teach the Bible. Instead the Lord opens up a great job with the University of Phoenix. You don't get to go on that mission trip so that you can spend time writing letters to missionaries, encouraging them to bring about the obedience of the nations. You don't get to see family often because you're poor so you end up spending more time with the local church, and write letters and make phone calls and update facebook to keep up with cousins and siblings and parents.
Test
You see an update about a brother in Christ whose house is burned by Muslims in Indonesia. This brother was just on his way to visit the church that sent him out to be a missionary among people of a different island in Indonesia. What other goods could God bring about in him being prevented from doing a good thing like reporting about the work he is doing?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
8.25: Why God Causes and Permits Suffering
I really want to write a book on why God causes and permits suffering because everybody goes through trials and I almost squirm in discomfort when I hear someone say, "We can't know why God causes or allows or permits suffering." I think God gives about 1000 reasons, more than enough for a book. So, perhaps this format might be helpful to some of you. Let me know what you think.
Text: Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Truths:
Having peace with God through the gospel of justification by faith leads to access to God and joy in the day when God will be completely glorified in His saints in the Day of Resurrection. But even on top of that, the gospel enables a believer in Christ to be happy in suffering, in trial, in pain, in difficulty. Why? Verse 3 gives the answer: you can rejoice because you know that suffering produces endurance. Why is endurance so important that suffering must be experienced to produce it? It's because endurance helps a person live by faith until death or until Christ returns. Furthermore, this endurance will lead to a character that is more and more like Christ, which is needed to demonstrate true, saving faith and also reflects the beauty of the character of Christ. On top of all this, this character will make hope in the heart of the believer. When your character becomes more like Christ's, you have hope not in this world but in the one of glory to come. You have hope that God is conforming you to the image of His Son. You have hope that makes you groan for the day when all suffering will actualize glory. Then Paul says that hope doesn't put us to shame. It's worth hoping in the glory of God being manifested in the New Heavens and the New Earth! So, when suffering comes, it should be a moment of celebration and rejoicing because of what suffering causes in chain reaction form: endurance to character to hope!
Takeaways:
1. Thank God when suffering comes. To rejoice involves thanking God for all that He is doing through suffering.
2. When you go through a trial, see what aspect of your faith He is trying to develop. Character comes to light when it is tested. So, if you suffer and grumble and complain, realize that God is testing to see if you will hope for the glory of God and see how He wants to sanctify your life.
3. Daily spend time hoping in the day when no suffering will exist, as the hope of the New World will put to an end all suffering and only Glory shall reign!
Test:
1. You lose your job in this shaky economy. How could a Christian respond when one gets a pink slip or a call into the boss' office?
Text: Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Truths:
Having peace with God through the gospel of justification by faith leads to access to God and joy in the day when God will be completely glorified in His saints in the Day of Resurrection. But even on top of that, the gospel enables a believer in Christ to be happy in suffering, in trial, in pain, in difficulty. Why? Verse 3 gives the answer: you can rejoice because you know that suffering produces endurance. Why is endurance so important that suffering must be experienced to produce it? It's because endurance helps a person live by faith until death or until Christ returns. Furthermore, this endurance will lead to a character that is more and more like Christ, which is needed to demonstrate true, saving faith and also reflects the beauty of the character of Christ. On top of all this, this character will make hope in the heart of the believer. When your character becomes more like Christ's, you have hope not in this world but in the one of glory to come. You have hope that God is conforming you to the image of His Son. You have hope that makes you groan for the day when all suffering will actualize glory. Then Paul says that hope doesn't put us to shame. It's worth hoping in the glory of God being manifested in the New Heavens and the New Earth! So, when suffering comes, it should be a moment of celebration and rejoicing because of what suffering causes in chain reaction form: endurance to character to hope!
Takeaways:
1. Thank God when suffering comes. To rejoice involves thanking God for all that He is doing through suffering.
2. When you go through a trial, see what aspect of your faith He is trying to develop. Character comes to light when it is tested. So, if you suffer and grumble and complain, realize that God is testing to see if you will hope for the glory of God and see how He wants to sanctify your life.
3. Daily spend time hoping in the day when no suffering will exist, as the hope of the New World will put to an end all suffering and only Glory shall reign!
Test:
1. You lose your job in this shaky economy. How could a Christian respond when one gets a pink slip or a call into the boss' office?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Beauty of the Mind and the Church
I am constantly amazed at God enables us to think on such complex levels!
We could all live like the caricature Cave Man and be motivated only by our appetites. But God gives the believer in Christ a new mind so that he can think upon the things of God. Here are subjects that have positively plagued my palate in the past few years:
1. God causes and permits and controls all suffering, evil, affliction, trials, difficulties.
2. God constantly nuances truths throughout the Scriptures so that His people understand His complexity and do not fall into foolish, one-sided traps.
3. Thus, God also holds sinners responsible for all suffering, evil, affliction, trials, difficulties. I am going to give an account when I cause them and for how I respond to them. So I cannot simply sit idle when there is hardship.
4. God is very compassionate and confrontational, affectionate and aggressive, merciful and mighty, subtle and straightforward and so much more. The complexities of His character are so rich we will need forever to fathom His greatness.
5. We know very little of the Bible. When I speak and when I hear believers speak, I feel like we so confidently speak on matters we have spent so little time pondering. We are so quick to assume (including myself) we know what is going on without thoughtfully scanning an entire Biblical worldview on issues. I have found D.A. Carson most helpful in this regard. He has written many books appealing to the evangelical community for realism on almost every issue imaginable. And when he writes, I find myself surprised at how thoroughly he has thought through content, even able to criticize people who were previously untouchable (Piper, Grudem, etc.). I love it! His model makes me want to dig deeper and more frequently into the word!
6. The importance of the church. Lecrae has a song called The Bride and talks about how the church isn't perfect but is God's chosen means to be the light and the salt of the world, with all her imperfections and areas of sanctification. When I taught a study at Jefferson Street Baptist Center (a transitional house for homeless men), I constantly ran into the idea that "I can be a Christian" and not be an active member of a local church. As slow and sinful the church moves and is, I still love the church and want to be in deep fellowship with her. My heart is also constantly encouraged by all the solid family members I come across in our local church, Immanuel Baptist Church. Here's a few:
Nathan McBroom: he has taught our Sunday school class with passion and consistency and humor and a drive to really motivate us to be missional minded in everything. I also love how he applies the sermon content to his lesson each week, to make his words that much more synergestic.
Jim Rairick: always a thinker, in the line of Jonathan Edwards, in the line of the best missiological men, in the line of Biblical prophet with no fear of man.
Jack Riddle: adopting two babies from Ethiopia, working a job that would be difficult for me at the Bank of America, thinking through mission issues that sharpen my thoughts and always praying as if everything hangs in the balance, with a fiery gentleness. I love it!
Our Care Group: the Stubblefields have let us borrow their car twice, people making meals for us and everyone always extending warm welcomes and goodbyes. David Dawkins always has meaningful and warm words to spread. Praise God for fellowship!
Beth Ward: my wife! What a treasure! I always refer to her as golden. She wrote me a card this week and I immediately resounded with a smiliing, "Golden." All of her words are so sincere, God-saturated, pensive, introspective to a healthy degree, expansive and comprehensive and a delight to read. She has also exhibited much patience with our two children and frequently causes me to say, "Thank God for you Beth."
The Eatons: Joey and Michelle have constantly been eager to bless my family and serve our children and give us food and prayer and happiness. Joey is the greatest servant I know. I strive to serve with the joy that He gets from Christ.
Abigail McBroom: she has held Katelyn on two different occasions so that my hands were free to engage in meeting with believers. Thanks Abigail.
Justin Collins: he is faithful to shower encouragement on me, respect my perspective, share his life with me and is always willing to do some ministry task. The other day I asked him to drive to McDonalds to buy a meal for one of our neighbors. He did it easily with joy. Awesome!
Ryan Mudge: he is always sending me an e-mail with a link to divine, historical, rich content that spurs me on to love God and truth.
Samuel Miesse: great heart for prayer and people.
Moms: so many moms enduring the lack of sleep, nursing children, and serving their husbands.
Leadership: making sure the gospel is center in almost every public word and deed.
How exciting it is to be able to think and do so with the church!
We could all live like the caricature Cave Man and be motivated only by our appetites. But God gives the believer in Christ a new mind so that he can think upon the things of God. Here are subjects that have positively plagued my palate in the past few years:
1. God causes and permits and controls all suffering, evil, affliction, trials, difficulties.
2. God constantly nuances truths throughout the Scriptures so that His people understand His complexity and do not fall into foolish, one-sided traps.
3. Thus, God also holds sinners responsible for all suffering, evil, affliction, trials, difficulties. I am going to give an account when I cause them and for how I respond to them. So I cannot simply sit idle when there is hardship.
4. God is very compassionate and confrontational, affectionate and aggressive, merciful and mighty, subtle and straightforward and so much more. The complexities of His character are so rich we will need forever to fathom His greatness.
5. We know very little of the Bible. When I speak and when I hear believers speak, I feel like we so confidently speak on matters we have spent so little time pondering. We are so quick to assume (including myself) we know what is going on without thoughtfully scanning an entire Biblical worldview on issues. I have found D.A. Carson most helpful in this regard. He has written many books appealing to the evangelical community for realism on almost every issue imaginable. And when he writes, I find myself surprised at how thoroughly he has thought through content, even able to criticize people who were previously untouchable (Piper, Grudem, etc.). I love it! His model makes me want to dig deeper and more frequently into the word!
6. The importance of the church. Lecrae has a song called The Bride and talks about how the church isn't perfect but is God's chosen means to be the light and the salt of the world, with all her imperfections and areas of sanctification. When I taught a study at Jefferson Street Baptist Center (a transitional house for homeless men), I constantly ran into the idea that "I can be a Christian" and not be an active member of a local church. As slow and sinful the church moves and is, I still love the church and want to be in deep fellowship with her. My heart is also constantly encouraged by all the solid family members I come across in our local church, Immanuel Baptist Church. Here's a few:
Nathan McBroom: he has taught our Sunday school class with passion and consistency and humor and a drive to really motivate us to be missional minded in everything. I also love how he applies the sermon content to his lesson each week, to make his words that much more synergestic.
Jim Rairick: always a thinker, in the line of Jonathan Edwards, in the line of the best missiological men, in the line of Biblical prophet with no fear of man.
Jack Riddle: adopting two babies from Ethiopia, working a job that would be difficult for me at the Bank of America, thinking through mission issues that sharpen my thoughts and always praying as if everything hangs in the balance, with a fiery gentleness. I love it!
Our Care Group: the Stubblefields have let us borrow their car twice, people making meals for us and everyone always extending warm welcomes and goodbyes. David Dawkins always has meaningful and warm words to spread. Praise God for fellowship!
Beth Ward: my wife! What a treasure! I always refer to her as golden. She wrote me a card this week and I immediately resounded with a smiliing, "Golden." All of her words are so sincere, God-saturated, pensive, introspective to a healthy degree, expansive and comprehensive and a delight to read. She has also exhibited much patience with our two children and frequently causes me to say, "Thank God for you Beth."
The Eatons: Joey and Michelle have constantly been eager to bless my family and serve our children and give us food and prayer and happiness. Joey is the greatest servant I know. I strive to serve with the joy that He gets from Christ.
Abigail McBroom: she has held Katelyn on two different occasions so that my hands were free to engage in meeting with believers. Thanks Abigail.
Justin Collins: he is faithful to shower encouragement on me, respect my perspective, share his life with me and is always willing to do some ministry task. The other day I asked him to drive to McDonalds to buy a meal for one of our neighbors. He did it easily with joy. Awesome!
Ryan Mudge: he is always sending me an e-mail with a link to divine, historical, rich content that spurs me on to love God and truth.
Samuel Miesse: great heart for prayer and people.
Moms: so many moms enduring the lack of sleep, nursing children, and serving their husbands.
Leadership: making sure the gospel is center in almost every public word and deed.
How exciting it is to be able to think and do so with the church!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
8.20.09: God is so amazing!!!
I tried to fall back asleep after Beth fed our daughter, Katelyn Michelle, but was unable to. So I turned on my I-pod to Lecrae and walked outside to participate in some rap devotion, a prayer time spurred on by lyrical theology.
I am in awe of the love of God!!! God eagerly loves sinners through Jesus Christ! What a blessing! What a joy to know that God forgives and frees and becomes friends with people who deserve Hell, all because God has chosen them in Christ! This is very good and very sweet news!
I have also been encouraged by the importance of written letters. How words can bring power! My wife and I try to write a letter once a week to each other. Every time I receive hers, it is like a pepperoni pizza, Reese's ice cream, and Christmas all at the same time! I encourage everyone to be busy in writing letters. Much of the New Testament is in letter format, personal words to encourage and challenge others. May we do this with joy and diligence!!!
God has been really gracious with my work time. I am required to sign up four students a month and have 6 recommendations a month. So far in August I have had 9 students and 60 recommendations! And I have enjoyed the time! I get to enjoy my co-workers through singing, jokes and motivational encouragement to keep working hard. I get to enjoy the students I talk to on the phone and encourage single moms to keep persevering. I get to help students improve their financial situations to be able to care for their families. I get to call my wife on my lunch break and see how she is. I can take classes for free (except PhD which I am considering, that's 75% off). God has been very good!
I have also seen the Lord's kindness in the birth of our daughter, Katelyn Michelle. Beth was having contractions throughout the day on 8.14.09. I got home around 6:30 and she was in the bathtub, looking like she could use relief. We saw contractions 5 minutes apart. We got into the car. I tried to drive as fast as I could without being reckless. We arrived at 7:20. Got in a bed at 7:30. Water broke at 7:31. Baby came at 7:38. Beth and I had prayed several times for a quick labor and a healthy baby and cooperative nurses. We received answers to all these. Beth didn't even have to receive a hep-lock because she went into labor so quickly!
And Beth has done so well as a mother of two! I am seriously impressed with her service towards her, her patience towards Caleb as he transitions into sharing parents and resources, her joyfulness in our daughter, so much! Praise God for the anchor she is in my life!
May God give all of a revived spirit to know the love of God in Christ, to love God in Christ through sincere obedience to the word of God in Christ, and to love one another as we see the Day approaching when all believers will be swimming in the love of our Savior!
I am in awe of the love of God!!! God eagerly loves sinners through Jesus Christ! What a blessing! What a joy to know that God forgives and frees and becomes friends with people who deserve Hell, all because God has chosen them in Christ! This is very good and very sweet news!
I have also been encouraged by the importance of written letters. How words can bring power! My wife and I try to write a letter once a week to each other. Every time I receive hers, it is like a pepperoni pizza, Reese's ice cream, and Christmas all at the same time! I encourage everyone to be busy in writing letters. Much of the New Testament is in letter format, personal words to encourage and challenge others. May we do this with joy and diligence!!!
God has been really gracious with my work time. I am required to sign up four students a month and have 6 recommendations a month. So far in August I have had 9 students and 60 recommendations! And I have enjoyed the time! I get to enjoy my co-workers through singing, jokes and motivational encouragement to keep working hard. I get to enjoy the students I talk to on the phone and encourage single moms to keep persevering. I get to help students improve their financial situations to be able to care for their families. I get to call my wife on my lunch break and see how she is. I can take classes for free (except PhD which I am considering, that's 75% off). God has been very good!
I have also seen the Lord's kindness in the birth of our daughter, Katelyn Michelle. Beth was having contractions throughout the day on 8.14.09. I got home around 6:30 and she was in the bathtub, looking like she could use relief. We saw contractions 5 minutes apart. We got into the car. I tried to drive as fast as I could without being reckless. We arrived at 7:20. Got in a bed at 7:30. Water broke at 7:31. Baby came at 7:38. Beth and I had prayed several times for a quick labor and a healthy baby and cooperative nurses. We received answers to all these. Beth didn't even have to receive a hep-lock because she went into labor so quickly!
And Beth has done so well as a mother of two! I am seriously impressed with her service towards her, her patience towards Caleb as he transitions into sharing parents and resources, her joyfulness in our daughter, so much! Praise God for the anchor she is in my life!
May God give all of a revived spirit to know the love of God in Christ, to love God in Christ through sincere obedience to the word of God in Christ, and to love one another as we see the Day approaching when all believers will be swimming in the love of our Savior!
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