Anticipating The New Jerusalem!

God promises Believers the hope of a new heaven, earth, and Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-8). As Christians, we view the world as it is in reality—physically decaying and spiritually infested with sin. This world and even this universe is dying and will one day be removed altogether. While there is still much natural beauty to appreciate and enjoy, there is also too much that is so very wrong, deeply evil, insanely unfair, and outrageously wicked. Sometimes we say with glee, "This world is not my home, I'm just passing through!" At other times, we utter the same words, but with soberness--a deeper and recently reinforced conviction--because something is not at all right in our world. However, there is no need for us to be pessimistic! We have hope for future glory—eternal splendor in Christ and forever with God. God also allows us to peep into eternity to steal a glimpse of the New Jerusalem--our eternal home. Indeed it is a new creation, a place where we share company with our wonderful Lord, enjoy other Believers, and it provides unique opportunities for the special care of God towards His people. Therefore, we—with tremendous excitement—look forward to the new heaven, new earth, and the New Jerusalem God has promised! Presently all is not well in our world, but we have the assurance that one day it will be. This wonderful passage (Rev. 21:1-8) heightens our anticipations of eternity by informing us of a new creation, city, and care.

BELIEVERS ARE A PART OF THE NEW CREATION (REV. 21:1).

John mentions, “a new heaven and a new earth.” Clearly this is a reference to a brand new reality and places fit for eternal beings to live and flourish in fellowship with God. You will recall the unfortunate disaster of this present world. Adam and Eve sinned, and this paved the way for death and decay to enter the beautiful world God made for us (Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary). Even today all of creation is subject to bondage and suffering anticipating God's day of deliverance and freedom (Rom 8:18-23). Almighty God, in infinite mercy and grace, will rectify the current situation unto His glory and our good.

Obviously, there will be a new heaven—universe (Rev. 21:1), for that is precisely what John saw so long ago. God promised this and the old creation must be replaced by the new creation if God is to be glorified. As best I can tell, He will literally create from nothing preexisting or of this current creation. Isaiah, the great prophet of old, said in chapter 65 and verse 17, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” The word “create” means He will generate a new universe from nothing at all. This is creation on a cosmic scale as at the beginning of this present universe: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1; 2:3; Isa. 40:26; 42:5). The scope is grandiose and truly universal--a colossal generation of a brand new cosmos! Great is the power of our God and mighty is He in all His deeds. His promises are sure to us; He Who promised this will bring it to pass. It is well within the circumference of His omnipotence. There still may be some minuscule ‘elements’ the Lord will recycle and reuse according to Isaiah 6:22, but by far the world with be fresh, unmolested, pure, unbroken, completely whole, holy, just, and good. What is crystal clear is there will be a new heaven—universe for the new earth to inhabit.

John also encourages us to look forward to a new earth (Rev. 21:1). Presently it is the Lord who sustains the planet and we know one day He will utterly destroy it in final judgment. As the Creator, this is His exclusive prerogative. Peter’s explanation helps to clarify this matter. He stated “the heavens shall pass away,” “the earth ... shall be burned up,” “all these things shall be dissolved” by means of fire (2 Peter 3:10-13). Peter also said in Second Peter 3:13, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” This strongly suggests the new heaven and earth are primarily different in nature from the old earth and heaven. We all have a special appreciation for the brand new. Think about the smell of a new car, the freshly fallen and untouched snow, the feel and presence of a brand new house, and of course the satisfaction of a new pair of shoes. God is promising us a new earth, yes this one will be no more. It will be replaced by another more glorious earth; it will be significantly different from the present one. Righteousness will dwell their permanently! Oh, how glorious it will be!!

Do not miss the picture being painted on the canvas of our minds, the entire universe will be replaced with an new eternal creation. This is everlasting cosmos fit for everlasting living and everlasting people (Rev. 21:1). That is, out with the old, and in with the new! In no way should this promise be construed as merely renovating,  giving a fresh paint job, tweaking a few things with cosmetic surgery, or reconstructing the old with some new fangled-dangled cosmic transplant operation. Our conclusion is well supported by the statement “for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away” (also see Rev. 20:11). The future cosmos will be new in time, quality, and nature (2 Pet. 3:10–13; Ps. 102:25, 26; Is. 65:17; 66:22). This is God's grand promise to you and me. He will make things right, beloved...He will make it all better...even perfect.  

As Christians, we look at our world honestly for what it really is. Physically it is decaying, being mismanaged by humanity, and succumbing to the abuse all of us inflict upon it in some way or another. God, in His common grace and providence, sustains it for our wise usage. We also embrace a biblical perspective concerning it’s spiritual character and condition. Our world is sin infested, riddled with evil, the playground of demons, and it presently writhes in agony as a consequence of sin and the curse. However, I insist this is not a platform for pessimism, nihilism, and cynicism! We still have hope for future glory. We look forward to the new heaven and new earth according to God’s promises. We can be confident His new order will be free of sin, sickness, and evil—Hallelujah!! In the meantime, let us take the hope of Christ into our communities, market places, and the world at large. This hope is ours to share.

BELIEVERS ARE A PART OF THE NEW CITY (REV. 21:2-3)

Though this promise is certain, it is still difficult to imagine what the eternal city—The New Jerusalem—will be like. The language pushes our imaginations to their very limits and we are without recourse for completely grasping this wonder. Recognizing my gross limitations, I will only attempt to restate the obvious.

First, this city is holy (Rev. 21:2). Simply, John refers to it as “the holy city” (see Rev 21:27). We also know it is characterized as a prepared city (see John 14:1-6). Clearly it is a habitation of perfect holiness. Perhaps it is called “the holy city,” in contrast to the earthly Jerusalem (which spiritually was compared to Sodom in Rev.11:8)(Walvoord & Zuck). It is a holy city prepared for a holy people. A people made holy through faith in the shed blood of Christ. As a result of God's grace working in each of us, let us lead lives that respect the holy nature of God (1 Pet.1:15, 16). May the quality of holiness that marks this city, mark each of us who will one day dwell there. 

Secondly, this city is the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2).  The “New Jerusalem” is the capital city of unique splendor, and not the earthly Jerusalem often mentioned in Scripture. This brings passages to mind that echo this very thought and grant us insight into this city and it character. Hebrews 11:10, says in reference to Abraham, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” God built this city; He is the highly skilled Architect Who designed it--it was birthed in His great mind. God is the Project Manager on this construction venture--be assured the integrity of this task is the highest. From the foundations to the pinnacles and spires, it is a municipality's dream! Additional insight into its nature, occupants, and general character also come from Hebrews 12:22-24:

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

This is obviously referring to new realities and blessings that are not presently physically accessible to us as Believers. They are present spiritual realities, but one day the spiritual and physical realities with sing together in brilliant harmony to the glory of God. Consider some of these privileges: 

• Our privilege is to enter the sanctuary of heaven for the worship of our Great God. As we enter the presence of God, we are surrounded by an august gathering. There are myriads of angels who are untainted by sin gathering with us.
• Then we are with the general assembly and the church of the firstborn ones who are registered in heaven (Heb. 12:23). The members of the church, the Body and Bride of Christ, are there consciously enjoying our Lord’s presence.
• But above all, we see our Father God, the Judge of all men, and we are summoned unto Him.
• Then last, but certainly not least, The Lord Jesus, Mediator of the New Covenant sealed with His own blood when He gave Himself as a ransom for many (1 Tim. 2:6), will also be there. We will be with our Lord there...we will be with Christ! This is what makes heaven, heaven! 

These realities and privileges pertaining to us New-Covenant people are so impressive because they are heavenly. We have come to this Beloved; we have not been summoned to the forbidding terrors of Sinai, but to the welcome of God’s amazing grace. If we Christians meditated on these realities suitably, we would be overwhelmed by them and more highly motivated to fulfill our calling—living according to the very highest privileges provided in Christ. In addition, no place on earth can compare with this wonderful city of God.

Thirdly, this city is heavenly (Rev. 21:2).  John saw it “coming down from God out of heaven.” This implies it already existed and it descends into the new heavens and new earth from its place on high (Rev. 3:12). It pre-existed because it was prepared by Christ, the Savior (John 14:1–3); it is a present reality. This fact also means it will have been in existence during the Millennium of our Lord’s reign on the earth (see Rev. 3:12; 21:9). Do not miss the point: it is a heavenly city. 

Fourthly, this city is adorned (Rev. 21:2). “Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” is the language John used to convey this. It’s a beautiful city, as radiantly beautiful as a bride on her wedding day. What could be more splendid than that! John further amplifies these brilliant characteristics in Revelation 21-22 (Wiersbe). How grand and gorgeous this incredible and indescribable place is. Yes, Beloved, this is your future home. 

Fifthly, this city is God’s tabernacle (Rev. 21:3). For me this is the most important thing about the city—God dwells there with His people. Heaven would not be heaven without Him! One commentator observed, in both the tabernacle and the temple, the veil stood between men and God. That veil was torn in two when Jesus died, thus opening to us a “new and living way” through our Lord’s Sacrifice (Heb. 10:19). We presently enjoy fellowship with God, but one day, we will live in God’s very Presence and enjoy Him forever. Hallelujah!!!

BELIEVERS ARE A PART OF THE NEW CARE (REV. 21:4-8).

The eternal city is so wonderful in many respects; one such wonder is the care God provides for His people there. Though it is hard to secure the right kind of attention anywhere any more, there will be such splendid considerations there. As a matter of fact, only God can provide the quality and variety of relief mentioned in this passage; He invites us to cast our cares upon Himself assuring us of His love and most unique maintenance (1 Pet. 5:7).

The first thing we notice is God’s care will eliminate some things (Rev. 21:4). John says, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes….” Yes, you read it correctly; there were tears on the cheeks of God’s beloved children. How many times have we cried ourselves to sleep and stained our pillows with our tears? No doubt God’s people have shed tears of frustration, tears of anger, tears of disappoints, tears of heartbreak, tears of loneliness, tears of regrets, tears of sorrow, physical suffering, perplexity, debt, bitterness, divorce, fears, betrayal, disease, confusion, death and on the horrid list goes. However, in our text we have this fantabulous promise that God will “wipe away all tears from their eyes” with a singular compassionate swipe. Oh, the healing power of His touch! Who can refrain from overt rejoicing because we realize there will be no more pain, tears, sorrow, or death! Weeping did endure for a lengthy night, but the joy of a glorious new morning is come (Ps. 30:5). For Christians facing hardness, opposition, torture, injustice, persecution, and death this promise is a breath of fresh air! In every age, the hope of heaven has strengthened God’s people in times of suffering (Wiersbe). Allow God’s promise to assure your heart from now on through this veil of tears.

Just imagine being in God’s awesome Presence enjoying a new intimacy with Him; exploring the new order free of any sorrows. Beloved, this will be realized in full. God will wipe every tear from our eyes—death with its mourning, and pain with its weeping will vanish away forever. You see, the old constructs will finally and forever be vanquished. They cannot abide in His glorious Presence!

Then we discover this care will afford some things as well (Rev. 21:5-7). Not only will God’s special care wipe away some realities, it will also usher in some blessed new experiences. Remember God is making everything new! We will explore and enjoy all the new stuff God has made for all eternity! If you have ever stood on the edge of Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon experiencing difficulty taking it all in then buckle your seat belts, because God has fresh new realities for you to know and experience! It is the understatement of the millennium to say, ‘we will be overwhelmed a zillion times over!’ Beloved, this is the God-given truth! Christ, the “Alpha and the Omega,” will achieve this wonder Himself (Rev. 1:8; 22:13).  The Lord Jesus will see it through, and Beloved, He can handle it!

So, what exactly will He avail to us? You see, as the citizens of heaven, we will be a satisfied people (Rev. 21:6). That is correct satisfaction will be as common there as dirt is here now. The thirsty and tortured saints throughout the ages will be glad and refreshed with this wonderful promise from the Lord (Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary). This is complete fulfillment and contentment in our Lord. Free and abundant living water for all of God’s children! Oh, dear thirsty and parched soul, drink deep from these living waters to be entirely refreshed and invigorated (John 4:14; 7:37, 38)! Yes, Christ will still satisfy for all eternity!!

Then as heavenly citizens we will be an overcoming people (Rev. 21:7-8). The concept of overcoming is a key mosaic in the Revelation (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; note also 12:11). The point we must not miss is that genuine Believers are indeed overcomers (1 John 5:4-5)! That is, every Believer is promised the inheritance of this new eternal reality! This is because Jehovah is our God, we are God’s children, and He will share an inheritance of “all things” with us. Beloved, great is our privilege and great is the grace that brought us to it! We will experience loses, reverses, missed opportunities, pass-overs, neglects, injustices, and inequities in this life. Rest assured…God will mega-over-compensate for it all in eternity! What out of the world care we will have!

Finally, this care will restrain some things (Rev. 21:8). In stark contrast to the blessings of believers, there are the woes of nonbelievers. The future for the unbeliever is dark and foreboding. What awaits them? The stunning answer…the lake of fire (Rev. 20)! Dr. Wiersbe astutely observed, “The world considers Christians as “losers,” but it is the unbelievers who are the losers!” Weirsbe also recognized that,

The fearful are the cowardly, the people who did not have the courage to stand up for Christ (see Matt 10:32-33). The word abominable means “polluted,” and refers to those who indulged in sin and were thus polluted in mind, spirit, and body (2 Cor. 7:1). The other characteristics mentioned in Rev 21:8 need no special explanation, except to note that all of them would be true of “the beast’s” followers (note Rev 17:4, 6; 18:3, 9; 19:2).

Beloved, we enthusiastically wait for God’s new order…the world will be absolutely free of sin, sorrow, sickness, injustice, inequity, and evil. We embrace this truth like a darling grandmother receives her first grandchild. Accept it and wed your soul to it like a wise groom embracing his sweet bride. These precious anticipations are a part of our hope package in Christ! This shall be our lift, a source of strength, and power to persevere until Christ comes for us! Realize assurance and peace in your inner most and deepest precincts by resting in these promises from our honest God.

Furthermore, the value of these truths is not exclusively for God people. Bible prophecy should stir and stimulate faithful and passionate evangelism. As we anticipate these glorious promises, we must aggressively go with Christ into our communities, and also the world to proclaim Him, His forgiveness, His salvation, and His hope! We go that others may also turn to God from idols and unto Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. In concert with God’s Spirit, we fight evil and the eternal impact of sin by doing so. Beloved, we have a message of hope for the nations and the universe!  

Is It Really Wrong to Judge Others?

Is it really wrong to judge others? Many will answer this question rather emphatically, "Christians should never judge others!"Then they will confidently point to Matthew 7:1-5 as their biblical authority. But, is this what the Lord Jesus meant? Is it really wrong to judge others? Actually, the Lord Jesus taught us the first principle of judgment, which states that we begin judgment with ourselves (Matt. 7:1-6). Christ sought to impress His followers with this grand imperative. You see, the Lord Jesus did not forbid us to judge others at all, nor should His command be taken comprehensively. That is, to mean we should make no judgments at all about people's actions or behavior. Quite to the contrary, careful and informed discernment and spiritual discrimination is an essential element of genuine mature Christian expression. Some will no doubt protest claiming that it is unloving to exercise judgment about another person's sins. However, godly agape-love is not blind at all to our personal sins, nor the sins of others; it is exercised properly with “knowledge” and “all judgment” (Phil. 1:9–10). Biblical love requires the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. It even involves the ability to discern between good, better, and best! The person who believes all that she or he hears, and accepts everyone who claims to be spiritual or committed will experience confusion and great spiritual difficulty (Rom. 16:17-20). God calls us to be decisive about identifying sinful behaviors and the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:13-26). This is expressly clear in the Word of God! But, do not miss the point our Lord Jesus is making; before we judge others, we must first judge ourselves.

The Lord Jesus did not teach that judgments should never be made; Matthew 7:5 clearly speaks of removing the speck from our brother’s eye. To obey Him requires a judgment. Our Lord’s point was that Christians should not be habitual criticizers or critical of a speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye when he or she has a plank in his or her own eye. Such actions are violently hypocritical. Though judgment is sometimes needed, those making the distinctions must first be certain of their own lives and integrity. Our Lord requires that we have our own eyes clean so we can see clearly to actually help other. He never condones condemning others merely for the sake of being right; Christ advocates righteous judgments and a pure life so that we can actually help people rise up out of their sinful behavior patterns to walk in holiness. 

Our Lord requires that we refrain from being judgmental people (Matt. 7:1-6). The word “judge” can mean evaluate or analyze. It also refers to private, judgmental attitudes that tear down others in order to build up oneself. The command “judge not” does not refer to judging in a court of law, nor is it a blanket statement against critical thinking. Believers are to be discerning and we must make certain judgments to comply with the will of our Father. For example, Jesus said to expose false teachers (Matt. 7:15-23) and to admonish others in order to help them (Matt. 18:15). Then the Apostle Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline when a Believer fails to conform to biblical ethics (1Cor 5:1-5). Certainly, judgment is most appropriate when confronting sin (1Cor. 5:12).

As followers of Christ, we should not be critical or condemning in our attitudes toward others. A judgmental, critical spirit differs radically from biblical love. Love demands gracious actions toward another—aiding, assisting, helping, and investing. A critical spirit is usually fixated on ascribing blame with little or no emphasis on loving people to obedience in Christ and healthy change. Our special position with Christ does not give us the latitude to take God’s place as judge. People who carelessly judge others in this flagrant manner will find themselves judged likewise by God. As God will have mercy on the merciful (Matt. 5:7) and forgive those who forgive (Matt. 6:14-15), He will likewise condemn those who condemn (Matt. 7:2b). The way we treat others as Jesus’ followers is the way our Heavenly Father will treat us.

Finally it is most critical for each of us as followers of Jesus Christ to focus on our own spiritual maturation as our first priority. This involves authenticity and transparency with God, ourselves, and then with others. Christ's design for Christian living demands that we be real. He does not want a group of fakes pointing out everyone's faults and failures while we blatantly dismiss our own sinful ways. No, our Lord requires that we take care of number one first, and then we will be in a position to help someone else traverse the Lord's will for them. Staying in the Word of God allowing it to shape our sense of right and wrong--to develop genuine spiritual discernment--is the imperative of the hour. Walking each day in Christian love in all our interactions is our goal, and God will mature us by His grace and wisdom. As a result, we graduate into tools and instruments He can faithfully employ to aid and assist others on their spiritual journeys. 

Are We Preaching Another Gospel?

 This certainly is a provocative point of reflection, and it could spark some fairly interesting discussions or debates. From the start allow me to state clearly that I am not interested in splitting insignificant theological hairs. I also would like to say that this is a study for me that began in the fall of 2012, during my last missionary furlough. I was conducting a study on revivals in the Bible by investigating entire chapters and Scripture segments over the course of three months. I found that some of my conclusions about revival were valid while others where a bit skewed. Rest assured; this is not the first time the Bible has straightened me out! I also felt impressed of the Lord to study New Testament salvation messages. This was a great time of reinforcement in the Word and by the Spirit of God as well, but not entirely. I found myself grappling with a few nagging questions and they would not cease to prompt and push me to reexamine the gospel presentations we use today. After nearly twenty years of Christian vocational ministry even I can sense God challenging me to be honest with the Scriptures and the message we preach to the unsaved. This article is not only and examination of these same nagging questions, but also a sincere appeal for each of us to reexamine our gospel witnessing in the light of New Testament preaching and witnessing.

FIRST QUESTION
I know by now you are wondering what my questions were...right? Well, here is the first volley. Does the New Testament invite people to salvation—conversion—by offering them ‘heaven?’ Are there any examples of the Lord Jesus encouraging sinners to be saved in order to ‘go to heaven when they die?’ Did John the Baptist, the Apostle Peter, or the Apostle John employ this approach? It is true that heaven and hell are relevant topics to an informed decision that would lead to salvation. I personally talk a little about both eternal realities during my own gospel presentations. They are very compelling and persuasive tools with regards to strict argumentation strategies. Heaven and Hell are eternal realities! The problem arises when the message is perceived by the sinner as merely getting eternal spiritual insurance against going to Hell. As a result the sinner ‘believes on Christ,’ attends church for a little while, and eventually quits with the assurance that at least his eternity is fully insured. Many who have followed this pattern failed to realize that Christ calls us unto discipleship now…today…each day…for the rest of our lives (Matt. 11:28-30). In this passage the Lord Jesus issued a call to salvation and discipleship in the same breath. The Lord Jesus’ invitation is issued on the heels of a hell-fire message of judgment and eternal condemnation to the cities that had rejected His message and Person. Christ did not call sinners to repentance so they could go to Heaven, but so they could come to “Him” for salvation and follow Him as disciples (Matt. 11:20-30). Jesus’ message of repentance and faith was welded to a discipleship requirement for genuine converts! Could it be we have inadvertently precipitated or exacerbated the current trend of quitting when we started emphasizing heaven and hell as primary features in our gospel witnessing? Has this shift divorced the immediate requirement for discipleship from a salvation witness? I am thinking…we have unwittingly erased the emphasis on the immediate imperative to become a follower of Christ, and opted to emphasize ‘eternal salvation’ because discipleship is more immediately demanding. It is more demanding on the convert and on the church; such a message is also discouraging to the sinner contemplating faith in Christ. This is even more distressing because our culture does not value commitment! I am fearfully suggesting that many witnesses, churches, and evangelism programs have taken the path of least resistance and difficulty. Convenience wins the day, but have we diluted or even sacrificed the authentic message of hope?

SECOND QUESTION
Another question that kept gnawing away on my conscience related to the general tone, emphasis, and feel of the average gospel presentation. What is driving our nuancing the gospel message or our prevailing emphasis today? In our overly politically correct culture, just about everything confrontational, corrective, biblical, just, or righteous has been labeled offensive. Some of our national political leaders cannot even bring themselves to call a terrorist a terrorist anymore! No one wants to be perceived as negative, bigoted, judgmental, intolerant, Elizabethan, or unwilling to afford the same freedoms to others that we cherish for ourselves. In my small opinion tolerance has been exalted as the supreme American value in our pluralistic culture. However, beloved, it is in this context Christians are being shut up, while others are being afforded every imaginable platform possible to speak up! Some strange stuff is coming out of the closet, while the Lord Jesus and Believers are being forced into it! This growing trend, I fear has impacted the way we share the gospel anymore. There is a palpable fear of being branded, misunderstood, or of what taking a stand for Christ will cost us. Such fears did not come from God (2 Tim. 1:7). We spend far more energy accentuating the positives, and down playing the negatives to avoid offenses. The perception is that the worst thing that could happen is to be branded as an unreasonable, fanatical, closed-minded bigot. As a result, our modern ‘gospel’ presentations have made a benefit of salvation the featured consideration. Again salvation messages, witnessing presentations, and gospel tracks are all about going to heaven. The actual gospel of Christ is mentioned in passing, but it is not the primary feature of our witnessing efforts anymore. While I am all for graceful speech, avoiding needless offenses, polite interactions, and courteous decorum, we still must speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). What about the true main arguments in a gospel presentation? What about the fact that sinners have offended the Most High God, and we desperately need to get right with Him through the death, burial and, resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:29-40)? What about repentance and entrance into a faith-relationship with this gracious God (Acts 20:20, 21)? What about expecting the gospel message, coupled with the Holy Spirit’s conviction, to drive sinners into a profound sense of guilt over sinfulness, bankruptcy, and utter desperation before a righteous God (Acts 2:36-37; 3:12-26; John 16:5-15)? What about Paul’s message, “We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:20, 21)? New Testament gospel preaching certainly did emphasize these truths coupled with a God-centered perspective. Their message was not heaven-centered, nor even predominately human-centered.

While we certainly believe genuine Believers will go to heaven and be with God for all eternity, there is no record in the New Testament (NT) of the Lord Jesus, the apostles, NT prophets, or anyone inviting sinners to be saved so they can ‘go to heaven.’ It appears the preachers and teachers in the New Testament did not proclaim salvation in this manner. They did not emphasize heaven to entice sinners, incentivize conversion, reduce the guilt impact, avoid cultural reproach, or simply to have a positive message. The evidence of the Word indicates there was very little or no priority to soften the gospel message to increase its appeal. This by no means implies that I endorse needless harshness, cruelty, insensitivity, or meanness while sharing the hope of Christ.

THIRD QUESTION
This brings me to my third spiritually distressing question. We asked, “Why are we emphasizing peripheral benefits while down-playing the crucial issue?” We have said this is to some degree the influence of our culture. But, why are we more impressed with the cultural dictates than with the biblical particulars? We describe ourselves as fundamental, Bible-Believing, Biblicists, and people of the Book. However, the evidence seems to say we are more attuned to the culture than perhaps we realize. No doubt someone will object and say, “Well, Paul was willing to become all things to all men that he might by all means save some” (see 1 Cor. 9:19-23). Yes, this is true; Paul’s strategy was to contextualize himself and his lifestyle to accommodate his gospel witnessing. He did this to be most effective and to avoid needless offenses as he moved from one cultural situation to the next. This is a healthy strategy and missionaries and cross-culture ministries wisely employ these techniques today. The important thing to realize is that the same message of the gospel was communicated. Sinners were called to repentance and faith in Christ. Paul accommodated himself to days, diets, and the local idiosyncrasies of the people he was addressing with the message of Christ. Please do not make the mistake of concluding Paul was altering matters of fundamental import to the gospel of Christ. No, he was a faithful steward of this message (1 Cor. 4:1). Never-the-less the questions remain: is it worth considering presently that political correctness has fundamentally influenced our gospel message? Are we really preaching ‘another gospel’ today? This is a serious question, and it is bursting at the seams with temporal and eternal ramifications. I am urging you to continue reading this article with tremendous concentration and prayer.

FOURTH QUESTION
Another question I have pondered is ‘did the Lord Jesus ever use heaven in His preaching and witnessing to sinners?’ I believe, like many of you, it is wise to turn to an absolute authority in moments of confusion. The Lord’s example is always and excellent choice. Accordingly, there is one instance when the Lord Jesus assures the thief on the cross of paradise (Luke 23:43). Paradise was the temporary region for faithful Old Testament saints prior to Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary. It is also referred to as “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:23, 24). Presently, paradise is considered to be the same as heaven (2 Cor. 12:4) and deceased Believers do go to be with the Lord in Heaven (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil.1:23). There is no question about what transpired on Calvary that day regarding the thief’s conversion. This thief initially mocked the Lord Jesus along with the other, but he eventually realized who Christ is, repented, and placed his faith in Him. He asked the Lord to remember him, and Jesus assured him that they both would die that day and be in paradise. The important point that we must not miss here is that Christ was giving assurance to a converted man, and not inviting a sinner to be saved. This thief evidently had a change of heart, believed on Christ, and the Lord Jesus assured him of paradise.

To clarify what I am asking you to ponder, consider a common witnessing introductory line (ice breaker) I have often used, “If you were to die today, are you 100% sure you would go to heaven or would you doubt it?” Generally speaking this is a good opener for a witnessing episode. It has been very effective for me when attempting to get into a spiritual conversation with the aim of presenting the gospel of Christ. While I am not condemning this initial approach, I am questioning the heart of any evangelism presentation that largely concentrates on helping sinners go to heaven when they die. Not always, but sometimes this initial approach is accompanied by an anemic ‘pseudo-gospel’ sales talk. Then what follows is a three steps-to-heaven process including acknowledging four verses, and a repeat-after-me prayer. Upon ‘asking Jesus into one’s heart,’ the individual is announced saved by the ‘evangelist.’ Though I am confident God has used this approach in some situations, I struggle with it because there is not even one model of this method in the Scriptures. While we do not require everyone to be saved through the uses of exact identical methods (during street preaching, in a worship service, during soul winning, or through a home Bible study), we do insist on the correct message and emphasis. Salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ and His gospel alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8, 9). Once the right conditions exist in the sinner’s soul (Holy Spirit’s conviction, repentant inner posture, and saving faith) he can indeed call on the Lord to be saved (Rom. 10:8-17). But recognizing this raises yet other important questions. Could it be that in our efforts to make evangelism easier for any Believer to participate, we have actually dumb down the gospel? Have we yearned so deeply for results and decisions through our evangelistic efforts that we have adapted the message to get results more readily? Are we, as good financial stewards, trying to justify or legitimize the cost of our current evangelism budget or outreach training program? Have we lost certain important evangelism emphasis in order to simplify how to reach people? I do not question necessarily the motives or sincerity of people who use these simple plans or easy strategies. I do; however, wonder if we perhaps need to rethink our strategy in light of biblical emphasis in the First Century. I also invite Believers to consider the fact that we minister to a Bible-illiterate population in the USA. People simply do not know the Bible, or spiritual realities like they did forty or fifty years ago. In addition, through the media there is far more religious and ‘spiritual’ confusion than ever before in America. These two realities should perhaps influence how we communicate the gospel to our generation in the future.

I can recall engaging in a number of conversations over the years that went this way: “How do we get new converts to grow?” “How is it people can claim to be saved, but will not join the church or attend consistently?” Obviously, these questions came from concerned, but slightly frustrated, pastors and Christian workers. While I do not want to over simplify this, I believe some ‘converts’ were never converted by God’s Spirit. Somebody picked the fruit while it was still green! These individuals are non-responsive to God, the Bible, growth, and church life because they are still dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:5). They are devoid of spiritual life; they are not born again people. One explanation may be they believed a watered-down version of the gospel, or they merely made a decision for Christ without the essential information. It is not hard for God to save a repentant sinner, but the sinner needs to know what God said in order to believe Him.

Yes, it is true that people respond differently and progress at varied rates. We all have dissimilar temperaments, we grow at different rates, and many other circumstances influence the pace of a Believer’s development. Certainly religious background, intellectual prowess, emotional maturity, and on the list goes…each playing a noteworthy role in spiritual formation. Having honestly acknowledged these many variables, there are lost folks who have merely made a profession of faith. There is zero reality to their claim of being saved. The Lord Jesus insisted upon this most definite situation in the Parable of the Four Soils (Matt. 13:1-23). He explained there will be unbelievers appealing for access to the kingdom of heaven using their religious resumes (Matt. 7:20-22). Sadly, to these the Lord Jesus will say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:23). Those who receive by faith the gospel into good soil and actually bear fruit are authentic converts to Christ. Likewise, those who appealed to their performance as the basis of their acceptance before God will learn they never belong to Christ. They lived their entire ‘Christian’ lives deceived; they never placed their faith in Christ and His gospel. This is one of the saddest portions of the entire Bible. Endeavoring to ensure we do not deceive people is worthwhile.

 I am growing in my opinion that there is a need to lay a foundation by exposing sinners to several key biblical realities before we rush ahead to secure a ‘conversion decision.’ Matters like sin, repentance, faith, the gospel, new birth, and conversion really need to be revisited by us as witnesses. These truths also need to be rehearsed for the benefit of the sinner in many instances. I recall being in the company of a ‘Christian’ attempting to lead someone to Christ without ever clearly establishing who Christ is (John 1:6-14; 3:10-21; 20:31), or what the content of the gospel is (1 Cor. 15:1-6)! They assumed these things were already understood and that it was a waste of time to cover such material with the lost individual. While this may be true in several instances, it is potentially reckless to employ this strategy as a standard. Canned presentations are good for beginners, but seldom does one size fit all. We all need to expand our evangelism repertoire and grasp of the gospel. To further clarify, I am not advocating that we give sinners a seminary education in theology before they can be saved. I think our strategy must be liquid enough to assess more accurately where the sinner is in his grasp of truth; we must become capable of presenting Christ—his death, burial, and resurrection—to people who are genuinely repentant.

FIFTH QUESTION
The last question I will ponder here is this, ‘how is salvation portrayed in the Scriptures of the New Testament?’ More specifically, ‘what are some less familiar characterizations of spiritual conversion that have fallen out of use because they grate on our cultural sensibilities?’ I have observed that many times in the New Testament salvation is referred to as turning to the Lord. In fact, ‘turning to the Lord’ is used repeatedly, but ‘how to go to heaven’ is never used. I am stating the obvious here on purpose—salvation is portrayed as turning to God and embracing a relationship with Him. It is not merely making a decision to secure a ticket to go to heaven one day. In addition, I must strongly insist that the gospel can never be reduced to a mere repeat-after-me prayer. Consider the following passages as some examples of biblical descriptions of conversion.·                   

• Luke 1:16, And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
• Acts 9:35, And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
• Acts 14:15, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
• Acts 15:19, Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
• 2 Corinthians 3:16, Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9, For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

 Clearly spiritual conversion is sometimes characterized as ‘turning to the Lord,’ or ‘turning to God.’ Certainly there are other terms like ‘born again,’ ‘saved,’ ‘believe,’ and ‘repent.’ Sometimes repentance is clearly taught or strongly implied when this language of ‘turning to God’ is employed. Repentance in simple terms is a change of mind and heart that results in a change of action. This is an apt definition that fits those instances referring to God and man. I think this evidence is significant and much more than merely splitting hairs. Notice the Apostle Paul’s language as he gives his conversion testimony and an insightful description of the nature of his ministry and message,

Acts 26:15-20, And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Several things are immediately notable in this text. There was a stark realization of the true identity of Jesus Christ, and a definite turning from sin, darkness, and Satan to forgiveness, light, and God! We also see the mention of a spiritual inheritance in verse eighteen. Finally, the Lord Jesus describes spiritual conversion as a command to “repent and turn to God” (v. 20); such a conversion should be accompanied by activities evidencing the genuine nature of repentance. This is how the Lord Jesus characterized a salvation conversion and Paul’s gospel ministry. Beloved, this should be extremely important to every witnessing Believer.

While this is an ongoing study for me, I admit that I am impressed with the fact that New Testament witnesses sought to turn sinners to God. In contrast, we today seek to show sinners how to go to heaven. I honestly believe this is far more than a matter of semantics. I am also growing in my opinion that the gospel message has been somewhat skewed or dumb down. This could be at least one explanation as to why Christianity seems far less influential in our country. Maybe…perhaps…New Testament Christianity made a greater impact on the First Century world because the message and/or emphasis were more accurately proclaimed. My observations are not conclusive, but this is worth pondering, researching, and reexamining the Scriptures to understand this issue more. If we discover a need to tweak our gospel presentation to embrace the biblical emphasis, then let us do so to be faithful to our Savior and His gospel. In addition, precious souls are hanging in the balance and need to be saved. Finally, God deserves the glory that should come from every human life; let us determine to reach them with the truth that they can glorify Him with us.

God Will Not Forget You!

Too often we sense acutely—suspicion—folks are habitually taking us for granted…. They just keep expecting, requiring, and demanding more from us without giving much back in return. “Why are others so fortunate to constantly receive benefits at my expense?” You protest. “When will it be my turn to receive for a change?” You complain. The inequities are extremely annoying. “This is not fair!” You exclaim. It sounds like someone feels a little too much like a doormat, used, and perhaps even abused…right? Well, I have good news…God has plans to reward you abundantly! Since you have poured out your life to enrich others, He will compensate you accordingly. God promises to personally ensure all you do for His glory will be properly rewarded at the appropriate time.

A Clear Promise

Several promises have been issued in the Bible to challenge us Believers to become all that God desires for us to be. Such promises should stir us to journey onward and progress further in our Lord’s service. In Hebrews 6:10, the writer reminds us that, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love”. God will not forget your service that is rooted in godly love (Heb. 6:9, 10).  He will not fail to recall your industrious exertions for His Name’s sake. In fact God upholds this promise with His own impeccable character and perfect faithfulness. His unadulterated fairness, absolute reliability, and flawless memory forbid even a hint of forgetting or overlooking your efforts. Our obedience and persistence will bring Him glory and He deems this as something He can reward. Beloved, we could never receive greater assurance than this!

Assurance of Capability

The Lord Jesus will remember everything you do in service to Him and reward you accordingly (1 Cor. 3:10-15)! He is entirely aware of all your sweat, tears, adjustments, sacrifices, readjustments, efforts, complications, setbacks, break downs, restarts, advances, and struggles to maintain pace with the tasks He has designated for you. Always bear in mind that we are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph. 2:10). Clearly we are not saved by good works, but saved unto good works. He recreated us in the Lord Jesus with our pre-designated assignments in mind. We are fitted to the works, and the works are fitted to us! You can do anything and everything God calls you to do. You need to know and trust this deeply.

The Glory of God

Also recall how the Lord Jesus challenges us to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven” (Matt 5:16). Again we engage in good works to glorify our great God Who is actually working in and through us to execute His wonderful will (Phil. 2:12, 13). The intent should never be to glorify or bring attention to ourselves. That would be sinful.

Christ Knows

Finally, the words of the glorious Christ spoken in The Revelation come to mind. “I know thy works” says the Lord Jesus to each of the churches in Asia (Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:8, 15). He knows fully! Our brilliant Savior totally recognizes how you have sacrificed time, energy, money, privileges, advantages, and opportunities to advance His will. He knows your struggles as you have sought to obey Him fully…He knows when your heart is in it and when it is not. He knows those who are opposing your efforts trying to frustrate you and His work…believe me, He really does know. Never-the-less, He will reward your faithfulness at the appropriate time; therefore, remain engaged for His glory and the good of your fellowman. Keep serving, helping, praying, singing, writing, supporting, witnessing, preaching, teaching, mentoring, equipping, exhorting, caring, counseling, loving people, challenging, modeling, encouraging, instructing, raising your family, evangelizing, giving, leading your home, and working to advance His plan through you. Consider the stirring words of the Apostle Paul, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).  Your industry, passion, and expertise are never ever expended in futility in the Lord Jesus. What a promise and encouragement to remain steadfast in service for His glory!!

A Second Mile Christian

Therefore, do not quit! Do not give up! Do not permit yourself to become frustrated or discouraged. While I realize you are hurting, Christ wants you to do this for Him. I realize you cannot continue for those trying to take advantage of you, but do it for Christ to sustain a testimony of His power and grace at work in you (Matt. 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36). Decide to do for the Lord Jesus what you would not normally do for anyone else…including yourself. Remember, the Lord Jesus was not only willing to become the doormat for the world; He actually did so at Calvary…even for me and you. It was not His honor that was most important—He looked beyond our faults and saw our need. Likewise, see the need of those around you. Look at them…do you see their need for Christ, a solid Christian testimony, an example of real devotion to God, and a life willing to be jerked out of its comfort zones to advance the cause of Christ? Let them see Christ radiantly shining fort from you. Through these challenges, transform your very interactions with them into a pulpit set ablaze by informed passion for Christ’s glory!

Overcoming Evil with Good

‘Bitterness’ and his cousin ‘Resentment’ are knocking at your front door greatly desiring a commanding influence in your heart. By the grace of God, refuse their entrance—there is no place for bitterness and resentment in Christ’s people. Yes, some may be trying to get over on you…thinking you are too stupid to detect what is happening…do not worry about that for now. God will judiciously handle this on your behalf. It is also true that others are only interested in using you…that is acceptable for now because God is using you in spite of them (Matt. 5:38-48). Heed the Apostle Paul’s counsel to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” that you may “please Him” Who selected you (see 2 Tim. 2:3, 4). Seek to please your Lord as His unique servant! Refuse to be conquered by evil; overcome their evil with God’s good through you (Rom. 12:21).

Use these promises to fuel your passion, inform your direction, inspire your faith, sustain your effectiveness, and refresh your energies. Allow them to stimulate your labors of love. People will fail to appreciate you down here, but still allow the love of Christ to compel and propel you (1 Cor. 13; Rom. 12). God will not forget you at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This you are roundly assured of by your faithful Heavenly Father.

Protected by Light

“Let us put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:12) counsels the wise Apostle Paul. Feeling vulnerable to the influences of sin? Perhaps you are presently under an outright attack by evil. Did you go further than you ever dreamed you would? Well, Commander-in-Chief Jesus urges us to put on the “armour of light” for protection against the onslaughts of sin, wickedness, and evil. What is this armor? It is the protection of a holy lifestyle deeply rooted in true Christian character. Practicing righteousness provides protection against the powerful influences and attacks of wickedness. When Christian soldiers don the armor, we are prepared for the daily assaults that will ensue, alert to the enemies’ strategies, and equipped for victory in each conflict (Ephesians 6:14–18). Yes, godly, upright, Christ-honoring living will protect us from enslavement to sin, regrets for needless failures that could have been avoided, and sinful behaviors against our holy and loving Lord Jesus.

Casting off the “works of darkness” (Rom. 13:12) should include, but is not limited to, discarding elements in our entertainment, reading, and media life. All of these venues feed the human heart/mind and Satan sets himself in battle array to capture our minds at all costs (2 Cor. 4:4; 10:3-6). For some casting off the “works of darkness” may involve changing the nature of a friendship because it repeatedly leads to sin and moral failures. For others it may have a great deal to do with defiling their bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:12-20). Think about your habits, dependencies, sexuality, and propensities…. Let us be brutally honest with ourselves here—no games. Is there a substance we need to cast off? Is there a relationship that must be radically changed or broken? Are we surfing websites that are lewd and pornographic? Are we being seduced to be unfaithful to our spouse through social media? Is social media consuming you causing you to neglect family relationships and vital responsibilities? Are you designing and scheming to seduce another?

Beloved, we who are of the Light, must live like people of light to enjoy the protection light provides. It is not by playing with fire that we avoid being burned. Neither is it through drinking poison that we can prove God can protect us from its impact. We have a God-given responsibility in this matter! With the proper gear we can survive in potentially deadly environments. Scuba divers survive underwater because they have the right equipment that enables them to breathe under water. By putting on the armor of light, by the grace of God, we will survive and even thrive in the Lord! I know we are in this wicked world and temptations assault us on every hand. For now, it is still safe enough in this world as long as this world is not in us (Jn. 17:14-19). It is perfectly find for a boat to be in the water, but you are in grave danger when there is water in your boat. When this happens to us, we are going down! I am simply saying if there is water in our boat, start bailing it out through confession, repentance, and cleansing through the blood of Christ (1 Jn. 1:5-2:2). Bail it out…pump it out now—you are in a state of emergency! This of necessity requires that we repent and forsake known sins while living righteously with genuine commitment (2 Pet. 3:14; 1 John 2:28; cf. Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:8–10; Heb. 12:1, 14; James 1:21; 1 Pet. 2:1; 4:1–3). Invite God the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh and control your thoughts, desires, and actions. Yield your body to Him as His instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6:12-18) and do right until the stars fall. When we do so we will enjoy the protective shield of living in the Light (John 12:36; Eph. 5:8, 14; Col. 1:12; 1 Thes. 5:5; 1 John 1:7; 2:10). With consistent and continuous application we will eventually enjoy a greater quality of life. Free of overwrought remorse and regrets, and filled with the peace and power of God’s brilliant-life-altering Presence. May you be absolutely blessed as you choose this; may you always glorify Jesus Christ in the light.

Comprehensive Grace

God’s undeserved favor is spiritually comprehensive, all-encompassing, and fully satisfactory for all of life’s opportunities and challenges. There is absolutely no circumstance or situation we can find ourselves in that God’s grace is inadequate to address with formidable competence. The tragedy is many Believers are not aware of how all-inclusive grace truly is. We often drag on through life without the necessary power or prowess relying on mere human wit and grit. The result is a growing sense that something is missing. There is little to no challenge to discovering what God avails to us. Even a cursory reading of the Word of God, will disclose many facets of God’s all-purpose lubricant for life. It is called grace—unmerited kindness from God—and anybody breathing is eligible for it if only we humble ourselves confessing our need for more. Consider just five of many areas God’s grace, all-purpose life lubricant, is applicable.   

SAVING GRACE

What is grace? No doubt you are familiar with the acrostic for G-R-A-C-E—God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace can also be described as the unmerited favor of God towards humanity. The Apostle Paul defined saving grace in Ephesians, 2:8, 9, “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.” We are entirely undeserving of God’s favor as sinners; He independently takes the initiative to grant us salvation motivated purely by His own character and love. The late pastor and Bible scholar Donald Barnhouse perhaps said it best: “Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace.” God’s grace can never be deserved or earned; it is afforded entirely by a benevolent God who stoops down low to fervently extend kindnesses to us. Dr. J. Vernon McGee aptly explains God’s unwarranted benevolences in his Thru the Bible commentary saying,

The grace of God is the passion of God to share all His goodness with others. Grace means that God wants to bestow upon you good things, goodnesses. He wants to make you fine and noble, and He wants to bring you into the likeness of His Son.

With regards to salvation God does for us what we could never do for ourselves no matter how hard we try; He delivers us from the eternal consequences of our sins because He is gracious. Though we are utterly unworthy of it, salvation is given to us on the basis of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (MacDonald & Farstad). Through a definite trust in the Son of God and belief of the Gospel as God's solution for our sin problem a person can be saved by God's grace (Rom. 10:8-17). Clearly, Paul said, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Christ suffered tremendously that we sinners might be saved through His sacrifice for sins. Since forgiveness for sin and a relationship with God are freely offered at Christ’s expense, why not repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved? Trust Christ and God will save you by His infinite grace.

SUFFICIENT GRACE

Did you know God’s grace is also truly sufficient for whatever challenges we are facing? Regardless of the nature of the challenge, at times God affords grace  instead of a fantastic miracle. Believe me God does not cheat us in any way at all by offering us grace instead of a supernatural production. Often we want to see God divide the Red Sea to give us passage beyond the present obstacles, but sometimes He prefers to change us. This is not a denial that He can perform such miracles; He is the Lord God omnipotent and He can do anything consistent with His character and will. Still, He knows it is better in some instances to minister deeply inside us to affect a greater miracle that will better prepare us for life's challenges. This is evident from Paul’s own struggles with a thorn in his flesh. 

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor. 12:8, 9).

Sufficient means enough to satisfy the needs of any given situation. God’s favor is the capability and adequacy for taking on a particular purpose or challenge; by His grace He makes us sufficient. Because sufficient grace strengthens, the weak are made strong by the “power of Christ”! Though God opted to leave the challenges or perplexities in place with Paul, He provided compensation in the form of internal strength to deal with these persisting developments. The Lord Jesus did not change Paul’s circumstance on this occasion; He chose instead to change the Christian! In the final analysis, Paul received from God the wherewithal to function according to God’s designs for him in spite of the "thorn in the flesh." I think we make a serious mistake when we relegate grace to only the conversion experience (Eph. 2:8, 9). God intends for His grace to serve a far more comprehensive role in our experiences as the children of God. If you are overwhelmed by life’s hurts, frustrations, and hindrances, look to God for more grace. He can strengthen us to make us fit for the challenges we must plow through for His glory. We are not being cheated by God when He denies us an overt miracle. He is still offering us the capacity to overcome life's nastiest challenges by giving us His all-sufficient grace. No, nothing is wrong with our faith to prevent us from getting what we wanted from God. He simply wants you to have something better instead of something good. 

SERVING GRACE

As Believers, this same grace takes the form of blessings, opportunities, power, and the wherewithal to function as a generous Christian in the service of our Lord. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church saying, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Once again man’s incredible inability provides opportunities to showcase God’s infinite all ability! God promises the generous heart will have the resources, abilities, and opportunities to continue to be generous. Actually He will see to it in abundant fashion, regardless of the desperate circumstances of the giver (Phil. 4:11–13; 1 Kings 17:9–16; 2 Cor. 8:1–3). God is able to supply us with resources so that we will both have a sufficiency ourselves, and are able to share with others (MacDonald & Farstad). As a result, we have enough for supporting every good work, endeavor, mission, and project for God’s glory. This divine supply is not necessarily meager; consider Dr. Wiersbe’s characterization of it:

To begin with, we start to share God’s abundant grace (2 Cor. 9:8). The “universals” in this verse are staggering: all grace; always; all sufficiency; every good work. This does not mean that God makes every Christian wealthy in material things; but it does mean that the Christian who practices grace giving will always have what he needs when he needs it. Furthermore, the grace of God enriches him morally and spiritually so that he grows in Christian character. In his walk and his work, he depends wholly on the sufficiency of God.

In addition, there are many other areas of Christian service that grace is absolutely essential to (Rom. 12:6; 15:15; 1 Cor. 3:10; 15:10). The Apostle Paul wrote Scripture boldly, served more effectively and fruitfully, and advanced church planting as a wise master builder all by God’s wonderful grace. He ascribes all credit for these successful endeavors to the grace of God working mightily in him. Yes, serving grace is quite comprehensive in application.

SANCTIFYING GRACE

In fact, God’s grace is a fantastic teacher of godliness, soberness, moral strength, righteousness, and our blessed hope in “the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Ti. 2:11-15). The same grace that saves a sinner will also sanctify a saint! Sanctification refers to the entire process of spiritual growth and Christ-like formation throughout the Christian life. Grace plays an integral role in our development. The idea that the grace of God permits Believers to excuse and wallow in sin is absolutely foreign to the Scriptures. No, God’s grace makes the drunkard sober, the prostitute pure, the minister effective, the Christian servant competent, the Christian holy, the teacher wise, the thief a giver, the liar honest, the adulterer devoted to their spouse, the sexually immoral chaste unto Christ, and the idolater a worshiper of the True and Living God. Yes, grace will rid us of some spots and stains from the world’s system; it will install gracious character and inner moral fortitude as well. Our Lord’s grace will supply us with a strong sense of right and wrong as well as discernment between good, better, and best options when making decisions. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ stimulates radical as well as refining changes in Believers’ experiences. The life instructed by grace is clearly a testimony to God’s active favor…much like a well-kept garden, it is flourishing--alive with growth. It is not an ignored garden overgrown with weeds and neglect. God maintains His people helping us progress and appreciate in likeness to Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

STEWARDING GRACE

Yes, the favor of God is as variegated as the colors of a brilliant rainbow (1 Pet. 4:10) and therefore adequate for all life and ministry challenges we may face! God gives us everything we need to live a devoted life and to fulfill His will.  This grace also encompasses stewarding our lives to advance our Lord’s purposes.

God’s favor is grand, spacious, wonderful, most accommodating, ever sufficient, multifaceted, undeserved, multi-layered, and absolutely amazing. Yes, I am referring to God’s amazing GRACE! It is more amazing then this incredibly inviting scene in Canada featured with this article. Each of us Believers have been entrusted with a ministry of stewarding God’s infinite grace (1 Pet. 4:10-11). “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet. 4:10). Two facts can be recognized in this passage: 1) Every Believer has a Spiritual Gift for the functions and the ministry of their church.  Every believer should be exercising his or her spiritual gift to build up their church. 2) We are to be good stewards of the multi-colored grace of God as we live and serve. A steward is a slave who was given the responsibility of the master’s estate, both his home and property. These servants had full charge of the master’s affairs. Likewise, we Christians have been given something to manage for our Master, the Lord Jesus:

·        Our Spiritual Gifts have been given to us to achieve the work of God

·        Our Ministry in our church to others is a responsibility to govern for the Lord

·        Our Finances and Income are to be wisely invested for Him as well

·        Our Time to execute His priorities must be diligently managed

·        Our Opportunities and Potential are to be maximized for His glory

Again the manifold grace refers to the multi-colored grace of God. Whatever the need in ministry, God has just the right color of grace to help us through it so we may continue with our functions for His glory. Note the multi-colored grace of our Lord:

·        When we feel somewhat BLUE, God has the perfect color of grace to lift our spirits

·        When we see RED because we are angry, God has the right color grace to help us respond graciously and not react regrettably

·        When we are feeling a little YELLOW, God has the proper grace to give us courage to stand for Him and righteousness

·        When we feel tainted, BLACK and dirty, God’s comprehensive Grace can cleanse us as WHITE as snow

·        When we feel a little BROWN and stale, God’s Grace revives and refreshes us to make us GREEN and fruitful again

Think about it, if God has all the varieties of graces we could ever need to do what He calls us to, then there are no circumstances that He cannot help us through. Again since God’s grace is so comprehensive, there is no task that should be left unfinished! Concluding that God’s grace really is sufficient opens up all the will of God to us for exploration with pure confidence in Him. Yes, like the grace of our Lord, we are marvelously fit for whatever opportunities God affords us! Not in and of ourselves, but thoroughly by His grace operating in our lives. More grace is ours as we have need when we humbly walk in the Spirit to prosecute God’s will (Jam. 4:6). In addition, we can cry out to God for more grace in our time of need; appeals at His “Throne of Grace” are heard on the basis of our wonderful High Priest, Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:14-16). Therefore, my beloved Brethren, go ahead…go strong…go all the way in the grace of our Lord Jesus.

Let Us Press On to Maturity!

Christian maturity…though we who have believed on Christ are Christians, we still have some difficulty grasping what a fully mature Believer is. It is true, God is not interested in giving us pacifiers forever! He would have us advance in our faith and grow-up in the Lord Jesus. Maturity is His design and desire for all of His beloved children in Christ. Sometimes the Scriptures use the term “perfection” to refer to spiritual maturity.  It is important to note that “perfection” (Heb. 6:1) is not sinless perfection or completely flawless living; it is progressing in spiritual development—growing up in Christ (Phil. 3:12-15; Col. 1:28; 4:12). Like any good parents, God does not want us to be spiritual babies forever; His will is for us to grow up strong and tall in our Lord. Furthermore, every believer in appreciation of our salvation and as a demonstration of genuine love for Christ should strive to become a fully functional disciple of Jesus Christ. Let us press on to maturity!

“Perfection” (Heb. 6:1) is not some notion that we can become sinless or that we cease to violate God’s perfect moral standards. As Christians we still have a fallen carnal nature that desires dominance of our being. Though we can walk in the Spirit refusing to give in to the desires of a fleshly life, we still will have occasions when we have failed the Lord, our love ones, and ourselves. Though we yearn for the day when we will no longer sin, which is after the Rapture, for now we battle the flesh to deny it any expression as much as possible. “Perfection,” according to Hebrews 6:1, should be understood as pointing to a fully developed disciple of Christ (Phil. 3:12-15; Col. 1:28; 4:12). No Believer has ever achieved ‘sinless perfection’ or has ceased to sin. Some have claimed to, but these are less then genuine claims! All great Christians endeavor to live holy, pure, righteous lives to the glory of God, but no biblical person ever claimed to become sinless during their trek here on earth. Even the Apostle Paul was painstakingly clear that he had not arrived, but He was still in full pursuit of God’s high calling in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:8-21). So it is with you and me; we must press on to perfection. Yes, onward, upward, and ever higher in our Lord and God by His grace and the power of His blessed Spirit—maturing. Becoming more like the Lord Jesus from the inside out is the goal!

Hebrews 5:14, teaches us the mature Believers have grown in the Word, and use it with notable profit in daily life. First, we note how solid spiritual food is for the full-grown, the perfect or mature Believer (Matt. 5:48; Eph. 5:1; Js. 3:2). This is like contrasting a bottle of milk with a T-Bone steak; steaks are not for babies! By obeying the light we have received from God’s Word, mature saints are able to formulate spiritual judgments and save themselves from moral and doctrinal dangers. Secondly, we note how mature Believers habitually and vigorously use or exercise their perceptive faculties/senses (Heb. 5:14). This results in the ability to discriminate between good and evil teachings, values, and actions.  Therefore, the mature Believer is well-informed, decisive, perceptive, sensitive, and while settled in their principles are still growing.

Again the ability to exercise our spiritual senses is a mark of maturity. As we apply the Word, we exercise our “spiritual senses” and develop spiritual discernment. It is a characteristic of little children that they lack discernment. A baby will put anything into its mouth. An immature Believer will listen to any preacher on the radio, television, or internet and not be able to identify whether or not he is true to the Scriptures. Likewise they may be a student in college, but because of spiritual immaturity they are unable to recognize principles and values that are diametrically opposed to the Christian Faith. Just as our physical bodies have senses without which we could not function, so our inner “spiritual man” has “spiritual senses” (Wiersbe, W.). For example: “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear” (Matt. 13:16). As we feed on the Word of God and apply it in daily situations, our inner “spiritual senses” get their exercise and become strong and keen. We taste, hear, and see spiritual realities in richer and deeper significance. This in turn influences our motives, aspirations, and behavior patterns. Paul called this process exercising ourselves unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7–8). Atrophy sets in when we fail to get enough exercise!

In addition, the mission of each New Testament Church is articulated by the Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection and just before His ascension to Heaven.  He communicates the Great Commission in passages like Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8. One of the primary intentions of these passages is to make and mature disciples in Christ. Churches were established to execute this God-given objective. This involves reaching lost people (evangelize) and moving them along a continuum towards maturity (edify). Maturity is just as important as evangelizing. Though the Bible uses different terms there is great stress on the objective of growing believers to full development (Eph. 4:13, 15; Phil. 3:12, 15; Heb. 6:1; Gal. 4:19; Col. 1:28; Matt. 5:48; Rom. 6:19, 22).

There should be continuous training through-out the Believer’s life as well. Such continuing training can be respectively likened unto high school, college, and then productive entry into the marketplace as a contributing member of society (Hemphil, K.). Such discipleship development would consist of the following features:

i.          Understanding that ongoing doctrinal training is essential to maturation (Hebrews 6:1-2)

ii.          Recognizing that Christian character is forged in the crucible of relationships (Ephesians 3:18-19)

iii.         Embracing skills development as essential to productive service (1 Timothy 4:12-15)

iv.         Calling believers to make deep commitments to Christ, and holding them accountable (Mark 8:34-38)

v.         Unleashing mature Believers into reproductive service (2 Timothy 2:2) (Hemphil, K.: The Antioch Effect)

So then, what does a fully mature and functional disciple of Jesus Christ look like? That is a fair question and the answer, though simple, is not as obvious anymore. We must identify these characteristics because they serve as sign posts on our journey to Christ-likeness. Without them we lose our way in the confusion of traditions, poor models, mystery, misconceptions, and pure nonsense! The importance of this can never be overstated; direction is afforded and motivation is fueled when we know where we are headed.  These mature characteristics are the objectives we are to aim for. We must not only identify these, but also fix our minds and hearts upon them with the hope of maturing.

A survey of the Scriptures reveal these features in mature disciples: they worship (Rom. 12:1-2), pray (1 Thess. 5:17), evangelize (Col. 4:3), know and apply Scripture to their lives (2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:11-6:3), serve the church body (Eph. 4:11-13), partake of communion (1 Cor. 11:23-26), display the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), give of their finances (2 Cor. 9:6-15), love others (1 John 4:7), and bear spiritual fruit (John 15:5) (Malphurs, Hemphill, & Chappell). These are the primary traits we must concentrate on in cooperation with the Spirit of grace. This is not merely a list of dos and don’ts; it is a portrait of genuine maturity and requires real faith in God's grace to realize. Along with these specific traits, I would further suggest that mature Believers embrace higher motives and are stimulated by roundly biblical values. They are stirred to glorify God above all, express compassion for the unsaved, love God supremely and their fellowman as their own person. While they are not ‘perfect,’ they do routinely evidence the chief graces of faith, hope, and charity (love) (1 Cor. 13:13).

Each of us, with the help of the Spirit, should demonstrate these priorities from the heart in devotion to Christ. As we do so, we will grow. Feed the heart and spirit with the Word of God and exercise yourself in the truths God is teaching...and you will grow (1 Pet. 2:2). Also younger Believers will understand better what to aim for in their own growth journeys as they witness us pioneering new territory in Christ (1 Tim. 4:15). Common sense tells us the likelihood of arriving at the proper destination (2 Cor. 3:17, 18) depends greatly upon knowing what the destination is at the beginning of the journey!

Pressing onward and upward in Christ as Paul did in Philippians 3 should be our focus. Ever steadfastly looking to God for grace and then making full diligent use of that grace to become more like our Lord Jesus. Becoming more like Him in devotion, commitment, sacrifice, generosity, power, peace, sufferings, and joy is what we take careful aim at. This is the very thing that Peter prescribed for all Believers in 2 Peter 2 requiring that we diligently add to our faith many more Christian virtues. Much like a newborn baby craves milk for its incredible hunger; let us desire the pure Word of God that we may grow to full maturity (1 Pet. 2:2). So there you have it; a snap shot of biblical maturity free of any mystery, misconceptions, and false traditions. Let us set a goal of growth in the Lord. Choose the area the Spirit of God indicates He desires to work on in you. Concentrate on Christ in the Word as He models that quality, and trust the Spirit to develop it in you. I will be doing the same for myself. I know our Lord is pleased as we see this through by His grace. Now then, Beloved, let us press on to perfection!