The Transforming Power of the Gospel

I do not expect this blog post to be overly long, or to be very complex. I just want to share some of my experiences with those who would read this and I invite all to seriously consider these words.

A few weeks ago I preached at my church and the theme was evangelism. Before I preached that sermon, I had a sermon on the person of Christ prepared for months. However, the week I was scheduled to preach the Lord moved me to preach on evangelism. Now that I can look back on that sermon, I see that God's purpose in calling me to preach on that topic wasn't so much for the congregation as it was for me. Honestly I have never been the same since I preached it. It has transformed my mind and my person completely, I feel like a train hit me. As I studied the passage I was teaching on, 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, I began praying that the Lord would give me a revelation of Christ and Him crucified, and that I would have a passion for the gospel. The more I prayed that, the more a desire grew in me to live and die for the gospel. It began to consume my thoughts and I began to change. The emphasis in my life was not so much on election than on simply knowing what happened on that cross. It has gotten to the point where I think about it almost all the time, and marvel at the gospel more than ever before. I have even seen new power over old sins in my life--as I meditate on the gospel, the things of the world are becoming less and less appealing!

The other day I felt the call of God to preach the gospel at the park. I have wanted to open-air preach ever since I got saved but was too cowardly to do it. I was scared and worried what others would think of me, but this new passion overcame me and I preached on the sidewalk. Since then I wake up in the morning hoping for the chance to proclaim the gospel wherever I go, however I can, regardless of the consequences. I have been totally consumed by this one thing that I have caught a glimpse of, and my only desire is to spread it to the entire world: The bloody, rugged cross of Christ. All glory be to Jesus Christ for His eternal salvation!

So the Lord has truly done a work in me. It's not that I think that maybe the Lord has done something to me, no, I know that he has. I have gone from a passion for debates in the blogosphere to a passion for the foolish message which is the only power of God unto salvation. I have gone from fearful and defeated to victorious in the area of evangelism. I ask you, would you join me in seeking out the knowledge of Christ and the gospel? The first thing I learned in this endeavor is that it is very hard to get help when preaching the gospel--Friends, this ought not be. I hope and pray that Christians would be driven to their families, their workplaces and the streets by an all-consuming love for Christ and Him crucified. In the words of Jesus, GO!

Original Sin: Four Views

Some may wonder why it is needed to give attention to the old doctrine of Original Sin. The truth is that, although it has been commonly held to be an essential Christian teaching, the reality of our deadness in Adam has been greatly attacked recently by a growing Pelagian minority in so-called evangelicalism. A quick search on Youtube or other avenues of internet ministry will reveal a strong sect of street-preachers, ministers and theologians who are either completely Pelagian or hold at least some of its views. I have done the research myself and am appauled at how almost every publicly known street evangelist (save Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron as far as I can see) is preaching this damnable heresy. I can not adequately examine the data concerning this tremendous doctrine, but I hope to give a brief overview of the different standpoints and thus to set clearly before us what we need to weigh out when considering which one we fall under. Following is a study of each of the four views on Original Sin; the first two are the ones within the free-will camp and the second two are debated amongst Predestinarians.

The Pelagian View

In the fourth and fifth centuries Augustine lived and founded his views on grace and Predestination. His opponent was a man named Pelagius. In his eyes, Augustine's high view of grace would inevitably lead to licentiousness and loose living. To combat this and emphasize man's responsibility to live a holy life, Pelagius taught that man was essentially neutral to good and evil and was not disposed to either. In his thought every man was born in the same moral condition that Adam was--totally free to choose good and evil. In being consistent with his views he taught that sinless perfection with no assistance from grace was possible and essential.

Some say that Pelagians believe that we inherit nothing from Adam. This is a false concept. Pelagianism teaches that we inherit physical death and disease from Adam, but we do not inherit any moral depravity. To them, Adam was merely a bad moral example to the human race with no affect to his progeny.

The Semi-Pelagian (Arminian) view

In response to Augustine's teaching of man's deadness in sin and Pelagius' counter-teaching of man's complete freedom, the Roman church tried to find a middle ground in Semi-Pelagianism. This view teaches that salvation is essentially a cooperation between God and man. In their view of Original Sin, Adam's sin affected all aspects of the human faculties but our will is not completely effaced; we still have the ability to choose good. To them God gives prevenient grace--a divine enabling which woos all men to accept Christ. But cooperating with God's drawing man may be saved and made an heir of eternal life.

The Federal View

Amongst Reformed theologians the most common stance is the Federal view; most identified with Covenant Theology. In this schema Adam acted as the representative of the human race in the garden of Eden and as such his sin is imputed to the rest of humanity. Whereas the Semi-Pelagian view only believes a sin nature was inherited by Adam, in the Reformed views the actual guilt of Adam is the possession of every man from birth. The Federal system comes to this conclusion by seeing Adam as the head of the entire human race. as a representative.

The Augustinian/Traducian View

Finally, Augustine formed a unique understanding of mankind's union with Adam. It was named after him and is held by a minority of Predestinarians today. According to Augustine, all men were seminally and physically present in Adam's loins, in the same way Levi was said to be present in Abraham's loins when he paid tithes to Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:10). Thus, man being really and truly in Adam in the garden, his sin becomes their sin and they are considered to be guilty and spiritually dead just as him.

The scriptures have not been brought up in this discussion, but the reader is directed to Romans 5:12-19 for the Biblical account concerning this doctrine. The writer holds the Augustinian understanding as I think it is the most plain reading of Romans 5:12. All have sinned because all are sinners; may we earnestly contend for our total depravity and the necessity AND sufficiency of grace for salvation!

A Short Word on Faith

Some say "Salvation: So easy a cave man could do it" but I think this is false. Salvation is a VERY hard thing to accomplish for various reasons (If it were so easy why did it take the death of God Himself to secure it?). For one thing, the deadness of man in sin causes us to require a new birth in order to be saved. This new birth is a supernatural work of God alone that some have said "exceeds the power of God displayed in the creation of the universe." But there is another thing that makes salvation so hard and that is what it requires: Faith.

Faith is simple yet complex. I think it's safe to say that faith is a mystery of itself. It is such a simple requirement, and yet it costs its possessor everything. It transforms lives and goes completely against human nature. The Roman Catholics and other belief systems within as well as outside of Christianity have defined faith in two parts.

1. Knowledge of a thing.

2. Assent to it.

This is also the belief of non-biblical sects within Christianity that believe that one can have faith with no affect on the person's life. To these as well as the RCC, faith is mental assent to some kind of truth. This mental assent does not necessarily have to affect the life of the individual. It is mere hollow belief. It is this type of faith that James spoke of when he said "You believe there is one God; you do well. Even the demons believe, and tremble." It is clear that mental assent does not save. The Protestant (and, I believe, the Biblical definition) adds one thing onto the end of this equation. Faith in the orthodox Christian mind goes like this:

1. Knowledge of a thing.

2. Assent to it.

3. Trust in it.

It is the third point that defines faith. Knowledge and mental assent to God is not enough; one must trust in God and what he says. Faith reads of Christ being "pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53) and responds in absolute trust in that sacrifice, being confident of inclusion in it. Hebrews puts it this way: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). In other words, faith has confident assurance in what God has said even though the thing is "not seen." This is especially true of the gospel. One is left helpless and, logically, unable to be saved through the knowledge of the law but by faith one has assurance that another has kept the law for Him and atoned for His sin; Jesus Christ. But it can also be said of any Biblical revelation.

And this is where faith gets really hard. Believing the gospel and giving up on self-righteousness is a miracle in itself but it doesn't get any easier from there. By faith we are called not to lean on our own understanding. When joining in on the fun of the world seems so fulfilling to our needs and wants, God calls us to have faith that His ways are truly fulfilling. When a marriage is not going well and communication isn't happening between two people, it takes faith in God's goodness not to turn aside to the beautiful, talkative secretary at work. When an unbiblical TV show is on, one must believe that denying that lust is the better way to go based on the mere fact that a good, wise and loving God has spoken.

So the question becomes in regard to any situation: Do you believe God? It is indeed the hardest thing to do to abandon human wisdom, desires and ambitions and humbly trust in the will and wisdom of another. But what we have to remember, friends, is the character of the one we are called to trust in. If we can get a glimpse of the power, love and goodness of God one can see that trusting in His ability to justify the ungodly as well as regulate our daily lives is the only logical thing to do. May we base our entire lives on this truth: God has spoken.

Paul's View of Missions--1 Corinthians 1:17-3:23

Just today I was looking at statistics on the web and came across this one--

1/2 of 1% of youth between the ages of 18 and 23 have a Christian worldview.

Brothers, such a fact should startle us. Our country is spiraling downward into spiritual bankruptcy and almost every one of young adults--those who will comprise the next generation--are unbelievers. The question becomes, what are YOU going to do about it? I say, if this country is going to go to Hell at least let them go there despite our efforts! Friends, our people, the American people, are lost and without hope. Will we pass over these dead sinners and keep the saving gospel to ourselves? May God help us if we do!

I intend this short article to be something to drive us to a Biblical view of Christian ministry and missionary work so that we will be equipped to faithfully preach the good news. However, this is just an introduction. Such a lofty feat can not be done just by blogging. It is my prayer though that the Holy Spirit will use what is in here to spur us on to a Biblical understanding of these things.

1 Corinthians 1-3 contains Paul's views on Christian ministry and especially missions. My intent is to start at the beginning of his argument and work my way through so that we get a complete picture of what our mindsets should be as we preach Christ to those who are perishing.

His argument starts in 1:17 and is encapsulated in the first statement:

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

This is Paul's thesis. In Paul's thought the missionary has a central duty--to preach the gospel. So much for community service and baptized vacations for youth groups. However, he makes a strange statement. He says that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God. But one might ask "Isn't everybody 'perishing'"? Yes. So it follows that the crosss is foolishness to everybody. How, then, does anyone go from perishing and lost to saved? The answer is unfolded throughout Paul's argument. For now we must suffice to say, though, that in his thinking there is one way to minister, and that is through the preaching of the gospel.

For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

Paul seems to make no sense. He seems to cling so closely to the message to be preached and yet he acknowledges that it is unacceptable to the world. I can hear a church growth guru scolding Paul saying "Forget it man! Nobody wants to hear the gospel, you admit it yourself!"

And such a protest would be partly true. Paul does acknowledge that this message is unacceptable. Paul's basic premise, the entire foundation of his view of missions is that no one will accept the gospel when he preaches it! It sounds strange, but it is evident in Paul's language. What group of people is there besides Jews and Gentiles? Absolutely none; that is the entire human race. And Paul knows that both Jews and Gentles will reject his method of evangelism. Thankfully, though, Paul doesn't leave us there.

but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

Thus we see that in Paul's theology, the gospel will be effective because although the entire human race is hostile to it God has chosen a people, both Jew and Gentile, out of the world to be saved. And God has designed it in such a way so that in the end only God can be praised in the salvation of souls because (1 No one will come to salvation unless God has willed it and (2 God has chosen the least likely and the despised of the world to be saved. He has worked it out so that the people that the logical mind would say "Yes, God would choose him because he is wise, strong and able and could do much for God's kingdom." He has passed over and chosen the weak, the base, even the wicked and worthless.

The entire point of this teaching on God's election is that there is nothing in those who were chosen that moved God to choose them. It is based solely on His freedom, His prerogative. Let us examine the argument of foreknowledge at this point. The argument of the passage is that God didn't see people in time and say "You are wise, therefore I choose you." or "You are strong, therefore I choose you." Then wouldn't it be against this passage to say that God looked at mankind and said "You believe, therefore I choose you?" I would submit that the passage implies something that is completely contrary to the popular concept of foreknowledge.

So, God has chosen a smaller group of people out of the mass of fallen humanity to be saved. It is clear that this choosing is unto salvation since the choosing is to be in Christ Jesus, a good parallel would be the same argument that is made in Ephesians 1. Continuing with the study--

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

In this passage our initial question is answered. We asked at the beginning of the study, "If all men reject the gospel, how will anyone be saved?" We then learned that God has chosen a people out of the fallen race to be saved. And here we learn how those elected come to faith: By the Spirit revealing the truth of the gospel to them in the inner man. Therefore it is not ultimately the evangelist who is the defining factor in the salvation of souls, but the effectual work of the Holy Spirit of God.

This is in fact the Biblical view of missions. God has a chosen people in the world and He will call them to faith by the Holy Spirit's power when the gospel is preached to them. It is our duty to be faithful to the call and preach the gospel to all creatures, trusting God to call His sheep unto Him. As Paul goes on to say, One plants and another waters but ultimately it is only the work of God that produces any crop.

Christian, will you obey the call? Will you deny the wisdom of man and cling to Christ and Him crucified as the sum and substance of your missions strategy? As a young man I am learning more and more that we MUST NOT waste our lives waiting for our future to happen; a wife, kids, a home. Rather, our focus must be on being fruitful to God now and making an impact for the kingdom. This is a call to all believers to GO! Preach the gospel to every creature with boldness, and do so trusting that God will be faithful to save as you speak. Be faithful to the call and give your life to the Lord's work. Lord, raise up bold and powerful ministers of Your word in this country, and above all may You be glorified in our efforts!