Monthly Archives: November 2020

Your Love Broke Through

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I have always loved this song by Keith Green and Randy Stonehill, published in 1976, and recorded by many since then.

It describes what life is like without Christ – it’s like living in another dream world where you’re actually “asleep” to the real world, the world of living alive in Christ. The dream world without Christ “seems so real” to the lost mind. But if you see Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior it is because his love broke through the barrier that kept out the light of the gospel.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:3-6)

This means that your ability to see your need of Christ was God’s sovereign love and decree, just like speaking Creation into existence. There was nothing to work with in creating Creation and likewise, there was nothing to work with in creating Gospel Light in your heart.

Let’s gather in the Lord’s House this Sunday and worship him who has broken through! And may God be gracious to break through the sleepy hearts of family and friends.

“The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness; The path to True Christian Joy”

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The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness: Timothy Keller: 9781906173418 - Christianbook.com

With only 44 pages, double spaced, about size 14 font, Tim Keller published a booklet in 2012 and to this day, I go back to and read some very helpful words. The title to his booklet is the title to this post.

Here is the back cover description:

“This is one of the questions the apostle Paul addresses as he writes to the church in Corinth. He’s not after some superficial outward tinkering, but instead a deep-rooted, life-altering change that takes place on the inside. In an age where pleasing people, puffing up your ego and building your resume are seen as the methods to ‘make it’, the apostle Paul calls us to find true rest in blessed self-forgetfulness . . . this is a truly liberating book for anyone who’s ever worried about what others think of them or been caught up in conflict.”

And here is a quote from Keller on page 39:

“Do you realize that it is only in the gospel of Jesus Christ that you get the verdict before the performance? The atheist might say that they get their self-image from being a good person. They are a good person and they hope that eventually they will get a verdict that confirms that they are a good person. Performance leads to the verdict. For the Buddhist too, performance leads to the verdict. If you are a Muslim, performance leads to the verdict. All this means that every day, you are in the courtroom, every day you are on trial. That is the problem. But Paul is saying that in Christianity, the verdict leads to performance.”

Buy the booklet! Buy bunches of them for stocking-stuffers this Christmas. There is nothing more freeing than to care about the only opinion of you that really matters: it is Christ’s opinion that matters most. Everyone else’s, including your own, matters little.

What Guides My Vote This Nov. 3, 2020: Scripture, as best as I can see.

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Render unto Caesar - Wikipedia

I hope that your days are going well amid many things that make life a little more challenging in these times that are proving to help you to live for Jesus Christ.

I started preaching the book of Romans in September 2018. About 6 weeks ago I began chapter 13, which addresses submission to the government through paying taxes, offering the support of revenue, honor, and respect. Over the past several weeks, a few of my heroes of the faith have lovingly and respectfully disagreed with one another. I’ve read their books, sat at their feet at conferences, and have appreciated with the highest respect, their contribution to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, they do have differences of opinion.

It is my prayer and hope that you will engage the arena of politics with the Bible open and do your best to honor the Lord with not only your your vote but especially with your ongoing understanding of how God’s Word applies to politics. True, you may have already voted. Or, you may have already chosen to completely abstain. Or, you may have chosen to write in a third party candidate – that you know does not have a chance to win, but out of conscience you support. I completely respect that.

However, for your edification, in terms of learning to hear things out, and weigh all things to scripture, here are just a few things that I have read over the past several weeks. With very little comment from me, may what you read (and you should read for the benefit of your mind to pursue Christ), prove to be helpful in how you think about the world we presently live in and the godly responses that you should take.

Please take the time to read all that they say – for a believer who is serious about having their mind transformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 12:1-2), I think that you will find more peace and comfort in what Scripture has to say about Government that what any news network has to say.

First up is Wayne Grudem, from Phoenix Seminary in Arizona. http://www.waynegrudem.com/letter-to-an-anti-trump-christian-

friendhttp://www.waynegrudem.com/list-of-25-good-things-president-trump-has-done-for-america

Then from John Piper that opposes Wayne Grudem:

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/policies-persons-and-paths-to-ruin

John Piper disagrees with his life long friend, Wayne Grudem. They love each other and respectfully disagree. But at the end of the day, I agree with Wayne Grudem.

Now enter Albert Mohler, President of Southern Seminary in St. Louis, KY, partly in response to what is being said:

https://albertmohler.com/2020/10/26/christians-conscience-and-the-looming-2020-election

I agree with both Wayne Grudem and Albert Mohler. May the Word of God guide your conscience today and all the tomorrows over the next decade and beyond for the welfare of your fellow man.