The Old Testament and Justification

by
No comments yet

[6] Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them, [7] and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [8] “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” [9] And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
[Moses Strikes the Rock]
[10] Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” [11] And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. [12] And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” [13] These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.
(Numbers 20:6-13 ESV)

[8] And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” [9] So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
(Numbers 21:8-9 ESV)

The promises of God and the deliverances of God always rested on belief. Unbelief always resulted in God's judgment. Moses strikes the rock twice because of Israel's rebellion and he did not believe the words of the Lord. The children of Israel were bitten by fiery serpents because they failed to believe that God was leading them to a better land.

However, God has alway provided a way of deliverance. It is through faith, or belief in what God says He is going to do. For the rebellious children of Israel, they were to acknowledge their wickedness and rebellion by looking to the bronze serpent to heal them.

Fast forward to the New Testament. I am a rebellious sinner who has a heart that is naturally inclined to evil. I distort boundaries so that I can accomplish my sinful agendas. I am ungrateful, unholy, and reject God in my actions and thoughts. God's judgment is upon me. But God provides a way of escape through belief in His Word, in his Son Jesus Christ. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:14-15 ESV) I can be healed of my sin by looking to the Cross of Jesus Christ, where the Lord Himself bears my judgment and pays the penalty of my sin that I may be declared righteous. The Lord is Holy and He will not tolerate my sinful rebellion. The Lord Himself bears my judgment and provides a way of escape by believing in the good news of Jesus Christ.

Sowing Holiness

by
No comments yet

"To 'sow to the flesh' is to pander to it, to cosset, cuddle and stroke it, instead of crucifying it...Every time we allow our mind to harbor a grudge, nurse a grievance, entertain an impure fantasy or wallow in self-pity, we are sowing to the flesh. Every time we linger in bad company whose insidious influence we know we cannot resist, every time we lie in bed when we ought to be up and praying, every time we read pornographic literature, every time we take a risk which strains our self-control, we are sowing, sowing, sowing, to the flesh. Some Christians sow to the flesh every day and wonder why they do not reap holiness."- John Stott, The Message of Galatians


"What you see in your spiritual life today is the direct result of what you've put in the soil of your life in days past...The difference between the person who grows in holiness and the one who doesn't is not a matter of personality, upbringing, or gifting; the difference is what each has planted into the soil of his or her heart and soul. So holiness isn't a mysterious spiritual state that only an elite few can reach. It's more than an emotion, or a resolution, or an event. Holiness is a harvest." Josh Harris

Father in Heaven,

Help me sow well. Every decision I make either leads me closer to you or draws me farther from you. Help me flee. I'm weak. I need your grace.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Seminary as Worship

by
No comments yet

Most seminary students go through a dry spell when the Bible is not fun and edifying to read anymore. What has happened is that the student creates a dichotomy between his academic life and spiritual life. Greek Exegesis, Grammar, and Philosophy becomes an academic discipline that is separated from the heart. This is very dangerous in seminary because the mind gets disconnected from the heart and vice versa. I need to rethink how I study at school, for all of life should be worship, including academic studies.


How do I worship God in Introduction to Exegesis?
  • Read the Word Reverently
  • Pray before class and ask for the Spirit's help
  • Seek to understand the true meaning of the text
  • Seek the long term goal and benefits of studying Greek rather than the now, the payoff is great.

How do I worship God in Philosophy?
  • How does God's attributes affect my spiritual life? (Self-Existence: God does not need us, Cosmological: God is immensely powerful, Teleological: God is immensely wise, Ontological: God is Necessary, Immutability: God does not change, Moral: God is the True, Good, and Beautiful
All of life needs to be an act of worship to God, whether tutoring, greek homework, resting, singing, fellowshipping, washing dishes, watching movies, etc....as an act of gratitude towards the merciful and loving Creator.

Reflections on the Gospel Coalition

by
No comments yet

What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ, supremely in his death and resurrection (Rom. 3:21-26).

I want to live a gospel-centered life in my ministry, church, and relationships. I want to grow in godliness and grace by applying the work of Jesus Christ to my life. He has made atonement for my sins and I am declared righteous before God the Father through faith in his work.

1. The Gospel shows me that I am an idolator (Rom:1-18-3:21)

I have sinned against God by loving created things more than the Creator. I am sinful by nature and my heart is naturally inclined to evil (Matt). I have rebelled against the Creator and deserve judgment and death.

2. The Gospel shows me that God gave His Son on my behalf (Rom. 3:24-25)

The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth, born of a virgin, lived a perfectly righteous life, was condemned as a criminal on a bloody cross, was buried, rose again on the third day, and is coming back again to bring the final salvation of all those who believe and bring judgment and wrath on all those who do not believe.

3. The Gospel shows me that God is just (Rom.3:26)

God does not tolerate idolatry and sin. He does not sweep my evil deeds under the rug. Every single sin will be punished. The Lord Jesus Christ bore my wrath to show that God is just.

4. The Gospel shows me that God is merciful (Rom. 3:26)

God is not only just, but merciful. He justifies the wicked and ungodly by the death of his Son. Because His Son was my substitute, I go free from sin, condemnation, and death. I have eternal life because God the Son became my substitute. It was not because of the deeds I have done in my righteousness, but all because of his gracious provision of Christ’s righteousness on my behalf.

5. The Gospel shows me that faith alone is necessary for salvation

I just embrace and receive this message by simple trust. I believe that Jesus loves me and gave his life for me. I believe that I can approach the throne of grace bodly because Jesus has made a way for me to approach God through his death. The curtain was torn in two to symbolize access to the very presence of God to me through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the supreme revelation of God.

The Gospel and Pastoral Ministry

1. The Gospel needs to be preached (2 Timothy 4)
Preach the Gospel in every sermon
The Storyline of the Bible is awaiting the announcement of what God is supremely going to do in Jesus Christ.
John 3:1-21, Rom. 3:21-26, 2 Cor. 5:18-21, 1 Cor. 1:18-2-2

2. The Gospel needs to be defended (Jude 3, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, 1 Peter 3:15)

How can I create a gospel ministry and gospel culture in my own life?

Personal
Read and Listen to Gospel-Centered authors: Tim Keller, John Stott, D.A. Carson, Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, Elise Fitzpatrick, Tim Chester, Mark Driscoll
Preach the gospel to myself everyday (Gal 2): My old sinful nature was crucified with Christ and I live a new life with the Resurrected Christ as a joint-heir and child of God.

Sunday School
Begin Teaching Gospel Christianity 101 by Tim Keller

Sermons
Preach Gospel Centered Texts and Christ in Every Sermon (See Ed Clowney/ T4TG Material)
Preach the Atonement and how everything flows from the penal substitionary death of Jesus Christ.

Conferences
Attend Gospel-focused conferences (The Gospel Coalition)

Small Groups
Think about how the Gospel affects daily life in community.
Create a culture of gospel people

1 on 1 Discipleship
Read Understanding the Gospel Handout
Read Greg Gilbert’s book: What is the Gospel?
Ask the question to everyone I see: What is the Gospel?
Train people to know the Gospel.
Train people to propagate the Gospel

Youth Group
Pray for them
Preach the Gospel in every Bible Study
Ask one another about the Gospel

I need to be intentional

by
1 Comment

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly" Col. 3:16


The greatest weapon to fight sin is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. I need to be intentional in fixing my heart and mind on God's word. I have been putting it aside lately because of my busy schedule. But I have also been a lot weaker in fighting sin. This is a healthy reminder to get back into the word of God.