The Law is treated as a foreign language to those who are perishing

The purpose of the law is to convict of sin. The knowledge of it already dwells within the conscience of even the most hardened sinner. Unregenerate knowledge utilizes a language from the enemy [Satan] that is common among other unregenerate sinners. It is a relatively agreeable language, in that, sin is the common derivative. Certain gods and idols are uniquely fashioned to our liking and can easily transfer from one to another like a contagious disease. Because man is fallen, it is the agreeableness of the sin nature that seeks the opposite of what the law states, birthing self-indulgent pleasure; making man his own God and thus having forever committed moral suicide [Gen. 3:5]. “Honor your father and mother.” The sin language that sinners speak, at the very most, naturally do not agree to honor, love and respect those God has used to bring about their birth. “You shall not murder.” At the very least, we love to hate and approve of others who do the same. Apart from Grace, we cannot escape those things we naturally speak and do. The sin nature is a universal death language that is common among all mankind.

#1) Who is Jesus Christ to you?

In the conclusion of the salvation series, I wanted to pose the question, “Who is Jesus Christ to you?” I would like to team up with John Piper in the teaching and explanation of what Scripture explains about the Christ. The basics come from a sermon that was preached at the 2008 New Attitude conference.

In a nutshell, I appreciate the way that Dr. Piper explains human nature in such a simple, yet profound way. In our calloused, self-sufficient sinful hearts, we all fill our hearts and minds with something that we treat as a Savior. It may be our jobs, relationships, cars and even church itself. John used a common example of, “We treat God like a ticket at the movie theater. As soon as we get where we are going [inside the theater], we simply throw the ticket away.” It renders useless. As simple of an example as this seems, there is a profound spiritual implication that can be drawn from it. It explains exactly how professing Christians in America, in particular, respond to the Gospel. We don’t read the Bible, observe the biblical reality of sin, righteousness and judgment or have a clue about the Glory of God, but by golly, we are going to heaven. Our cultural mandate sifts through true spiritual affections to slide under the door of the church by meeting the bare minimum status quo for religion. We want church, tithing, mission’s trips, retreats and even heaven; but we don’t want Christ. As Piper explained, “We simply want a ticket to jump out of the line going to hell to jump in the line going to heaven.”

One of the things that I immensely cherish from the perspective of Dr. Piper [and obviously Scripture] that very few other Pastors preach or even understand is simply, “the treasuring of Christ.” It doesn’t take much time spent with anyone to find out what they treasure. If someone professes to love Christ but yet, never talks about Him and never seems to worship Him, how is it possible to treasure Him? The Scriptures say, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It is clear that we all worship and “treasure” something and the predominance of that worship is what the affections of the heart are set upon. Those who treasure Christ treat Him as the pearl of great price.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, ‘who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.’”
Matthew 13:45-46
Once you know Christ and have been effectually drawn into a relationship with Him [John 6:44], then your eyes begin to see and the heart begins to understand all that the Scriptures declare Him to be from eternity past. You realize that He is infinitely Glorious and forsake your entire life to follow Him.

One of the most captivating explanations of who Jesus is in the Scriptures concerning His Savior status may be Isaiah 53.

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Surely he has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet he opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked- But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When you make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And he was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”

If all knowledge or perfection of the Glory of Jesus Christ were to be written in a book, the whole world [Universe] could not contain it. The apostle John explained that the world could not even contain books written only about “the many other things” that Jesus did concerning only signs and wonders [John 21:25]. The eternally key measure to obtaining truth and knowledge about Jesus Christ of which the Gospels explain is to see and know Him as Savior. Although sinners have debated amongst themselves about who the Christ is since He walked this earth, He has clearly revealed Himself to man.
“Then they said to the woman, ‘now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” John 4:42
An unconverted sinner whose sins are not forgiven cannot begin to speak or write any righteousness word regarding the Christ, His Eternal Sonship, Righteousness, Infinite Glory and His Offices [as Prophet, Priest and King]. The only way to treasure Christ in even the smallest proportion is to renounce all self-sufficiency, worldly wisdom and carnal knowledge, acknowledge sin by having committed infinite transgression of the law, repent and embrace Him as Savior. It is only in the moment where Christ pierces the heart by His spirit, causing you to say to yourself, ‘He told me all that I ever did’, when you know who he is [as the Samaritan woman] and can speak a word of knowledge. Otherwise, the carnal mind simply acknowledges the reality of Christ and of God like a demon, who is completely cut off from Grace and the knowledge of His infinite worthiness.

The prayer of King Hezekiah to be delivered from the king of Assyria distinguishes the Eternal Lord from man-made idols.
“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” Isaiah 37:16.
After knowing the eternal worthiness of the living God, King Hezekiah is able to discern the difference between the true God and worthless idols and pray for deliverance.
“Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, ‘and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. ‘Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”
Isaiah 37:18-20
So is the mindset of the converted soul. King Hezekiah knew only One Lord. He did not develop a mixture of carnal ideas to make up his own god. He publicly renounced those gods and idols [made of wood and stone]. It does not matter the substance of a foreign god, whether it is an idea or physical statue of some sort. Hezekiah pronounced and pleaded his God to be “God alone”, “of all the kingdoms of the earth,” and “who made heaven and earth.” He claimed to have only one God. He did not leave a chance to be taken that one of the other gods could actually be the true God in a sense. He literally brought the idols to ashes, while exalting the true, living God, who was his all-consuming eternal deliverer.

The eternally begotten Son of God was made [before the world began] into the likeness of man. This blessed decree was the manifestation of the perfect Glory of God in all things. God spoke in various times and in various ways, but in these days, He speaks to us through His Son, through whom He also made the worlds [Hebrews 1:1-2]. The incarnation of the Christ displays the visible image of the invisible God. He is in all ways like God, for He is God, perfect in character and likeness. He is the perfect God-Man in who dwells no sin.
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
Hebrews 2:14-18
In order for Him to be Savior, God eternally decreed the incarnation. His plead was that He was in all ways like a man as He maintained a physical body, with blood and bones. He has a conscience and a brain. The only difference between Jesus Christ and any other man is that Jesus Christ is also God, infinitely maintaining moral perfection. So, the ‘only’ difference is truly an infinite difference in all ways. The One who created the human body in Genesis 1 chose to be subject to the weakness of the body, reflected in the incarnation, which perfectly demonstrates His infinite humility and Priesthood. He is then able to bear witness with those who are tempted of the flesh, for He was also subject to temptation from the Devil, yet without sin. That is the difference between Christ and all other flesh. He came to publicly triumph over death, Satan and to give life to others by his perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
John 12:24


Jesus Christ is the bread of Heaven. His description of how He is the bread causes some to be appalled at the thought but others to treasure and bow in worship at the very utterance of how we become one with Christ. He says that we are to “eat of His flesh” and “drink of His blood [John 6:53-58].” If interpreted in the literal sense as the Jews thought, then it is a disturbing and abhorring word picture [v.52]. But, hardness of heart and perversion of the mind do not prevail the purpose of Christ’s words. How much more does one treasure food when they are hungry? It is the same with drink. How replenished does one treasure water after dehydration? Every sinner has had such an experience at one point or another. In the physical sense, we all must eat and drink something to survive. It is the same in the spiritual sense that Jesus describes. We all must eat or drink, but to either be eternally saved or eternally lost. “This is the bread which came down from heaven-not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever” [v.58]. Jesus displays His power and glory in that all other “bread” or “manna” simply ends in death. Each of us is eating from either the Bread of Heaven, or we are eating of sensual religion or worldly bread that ends in corruption and ultimately eternal destruction. This was and is a hard saying of Jesus that His disciples did not understand [v. 61]. Nevertheless, it divides true disciples or those who are in union with Him by the spirit who gives life, and those who are merely after worldly manna and to please themselves.

Those who are offended by the eating of Christ’s flesh and the drinking of His blood are not offended by the grotesque expression. They are offended by the proclamation of who Jesus says that He is. Eat of His flesh! Drink of His blood! “No, I cannot bear to hear it!” says the hardened sinner. If you cannot see it or hear it, then you do not have life. One who rejoices at the thought and description from the very Son of God about the eating and drinking of Him is one who has life. It is a blessed saint who sees the very reason for the eating and drinking of Christ. It is one who sees his reflection as one who is a fallen wretch and a broken spirit. He sees the heinousness of his infinitely sinful [i.e. lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterous, murderous] nature and heart. Each description of the eating of Christ’s flesh and drinking of His blood is merely a shockingly sober reminder that we each are personally the reason for His crucifixion and that He is merciful enough to give us Himself.

In the beginning of our lives on earth, we are each individually alone in the darkness and susceptible to the utmost corruptible crimes under the full fury of the wrath of Almighty God. As an unregenerate, lifeless soul, we are tossed to and fro with waves of deception that blind the conscience from the truth of the Glory of Christ. We care about nothing other than to please our flesh and satisfy our bellies to our own moral demise. We are truly lifeless and eat the bread of worthless idols to merely fuel the infinite fire of God’s wrath. An unregenerate life is like being on a ship that sails into the middle of the ocean. The sailing is a seemingly glorious experience with the wind blowing, birds in the air and sun shining in all its glory. It is not in trouble until the ship undergoes a furious storm with wind and waves under the darkest and gloomy of skies. It is soon torn in pieces and we are suddenly in the water, all alone and no land on the horizon. As we sink deeper and deeper in the water, we are further and further from life and ultimately drowning in the deep abyss. It is certain destruction unless there is a rescuer. Thomas Boston beautifully explains the life of professing Christians,
“Ye cannot take Christ, as a Redeemer, if ye take him not in all his offices. He offers himself to sinners no other way. And what God has joined together let no man put asunder. Many pretend to take Christ as a Saviour to save them from hell and wrath, who do not hearken to him as a Prophet to teach them the saving knowledge of God, nor submit to his laws and commandments. How many call Christ their Lord, and yet do not the things that he saith? O the folly of the world, that reject Christ’s teaching, saying, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways! O the stupidity of those who despise Christ as a Priest, and think to recommend themselves to the divine favour by their own works of righteousness, which they substitute in the room of his righteousness! O the madness of those who contemn Christ as a King, refusing to submit to his royal authority, and who spurn at his laws and government! And how foolish are the princes of the earth that will not suffer Christ to reign freely in their dominions, but encroach on his authority, and make laws opposite to and inconsistent with his!”


Upon the born-again sinner’s recognition of the righteousness of God perfectly fulfilled in Christ alone, he begins to continually see and understand the futility of his efforts in religion and life. Once grace upon grace is imparted from the wisdom of God to the soul of the redeemed by revelation of the Holy Spirit and the Word, the sinner learns to walk in the ways of the wisdom of God. Christ’s ways becomes his ways. Christ’s words become his words. This is no longer a man alone in his ship until it crashes in the middle of the ocean and is lost forever! His sins are no longer held against Him. In fact, his sins have been separated as far as the east is from the west. Some misrepresent the nature of man before he is born-again. Some say, “I was seeking and finally found God” or “the man was reaching out in desperate need to be saved.” But, what caused you to seek? What caused you to reach out in desperate need to be saved? It is the Holy Spirit of God alone, enveloping the soul and sealing it by Grace.

The testimony of Christ according to the revelation of the Scriptures is one that is signed and sealed with blood. The One who created all the nations is the One who inherits all the nations. He, who made the law, came as a man to fulfill it and make a New Covenant with His own righteous blood.
“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

Hebrews 9:11-15

As Jesus was teaching His disciples, He opened their eyes as to who He was and His very purpose.
“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’ And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are all witnesses of these things.’”
Luke 24:44-48
There is an inexpressible, undeniable and all-consuming gratefulness of the crucifixion of Christ realized in the heart of God’s remnant. Picturing the inexhaustible worthiness of the Savior and heir of all things pouring forth His blood from a rugged tree for the transgressions of mankind, bearing the full wrath of God, is one that is eternally enamored. Just as horrid of a sight it is to see the King of Kings brutally scourged to an unrecognizable level and nailed to a cross, it is even more horrid to know God’s full wrath and infinite hatred toward sin and rebellion. An infinitely rebellious creature such as I should, according to the law, die for even one sin and suffer in hell for eternity. On the contrary, an infinitely glorious and righteous God-Man, Jesus Christ, according to the law, should never die because He never transgressed the law. Yet, it pleased God to bruise His Son.
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

The Creator of all things willfully separated Himself from perfect Triune love and harmony to be born of a virgin. He subjected Himself into the hands of sinners to be placed on trial; being accused of blasphemy. He withstood the mockery of Pontius Pilate and Roman soldiers and ultimately nailed to the cross as a sinless God-Man. After He died, He rose again on the third day in glory. He now imparts His Holy Spirit to those whom He has chosen in eternity past to reveal Himself in righteousness. Those to whom He imparts His Spirit are the nations that He has died for. That is His Bride. It is finished. The work is done. The infinite transgressions of these people are now nailed to the cross, and forgotten forevermore. They have now been reconciled to God because of the death and resurrection of the Savior [Romans 5:11] They now receive the Holy Spirit by faith, this great Grace from the Creator of Heaven and Earth, all things seen and unseen, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He has the authority to forgive sins. He forgives them for us by dying to bring us to Himself. It is for our eternal good. It is for His ultimate Glory. Once He becomes our Savior, then He becomes our Treasure.

#2) Do you desire to ‘mature in the faith’ or are you maturing in the faith?

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Hebrews 5:12-14

When a newborn baby proceeds from its mother’s womb, it is a rather helpless being. It is completely dependent on someone to take care of it in all ways. Mother’s in particular attest to the truth of all the time and effort that is required to raise a child from infancy. Namely, a child cannot proceed from the womb expected to devour any solid food. The stomach and digestive system is sensitive and delicate as it cannot absorb hard or non-liquid substances. In fact, it does not even go past the mouth, for an infant has no teeth. It cannot chew anything. The baby is born only able to drink milk or purely liquid substances. Since it is unable to consume or “take in” anything else, milk is the only thing that satisfies and nourishes the child. It is the same with all other mammals of other types on the planet. Without milk, there is no life. With milk, there is potential to satisfy the desire of hunger that also provides the ability to grow and develop into other types of foods to consume. Eventually, the baby will no longer need only milk as the majority of its diet, but other more solid foods will be the majority.

Spiritually speaking, the difference between milk and solid food demonstrates the progressive stages of spiritual maturity in the Christian. The writer of Hebrews beautifully and harmoniously portrays the spiritual and physiological contrast that humans [Christians] face daily. As even an atheist would tend to agree about the requirements for the nourishment of an infant, so it is regarding the Christian and the progressive stages of maturity. In essence, the level of maturity divides Christians [professors] in the form of doctrine. According to Hebrews, it is in the exercising of the spiritual faculties [the Holy Spirit] to discern good and evil that differentiates one who eats solid food and a babe who drinks mostly or only milk.

One who is ‘unskilled in the word of righteousness,’ may typically be one who has developed itchy ears and purposefully diverts the word of God to believe and practice fables and lies developed by men.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Upon conversion [if truly converted], although this person is perfectly aware of the truth of the word of God, he needs to be taught the basic principles. Because milk is the majority of the spiritual diet, he delights in the basics. His soul produces very minimal effort to seek to understand the deep things of God. If a man has an adult physical body, a diet consisting mostly of milk does not provide the nutritional value it needs. An adult would be malnourished very soon after consuming only milk. As milk is the necessary means for a baby to develop into an adult since it is a sign of birth, so it maintains that solid food is the necessary means for an adult to survive and be nourished enough to continue and thrive. In the same way, a man who delights in the basic spiritual principles cannot thrive. His own sin will be the stumbling block that prevents him from discerning good from evil. His judgment of the sinful nature will be like sap running down a tree. It is not quick, but drips slowly while soaking up everything in its way. He may even delight in his sin for a season, not recognizing how heinous it is before the infinitely Holy God.

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

Hebrews 6:1-6

Those who have been truly wrought of the Holy Spirit cannot and do not ultimately forsake the faith. The pendulum of the Christian faith in the sinner sways whichever way the Sovereign Lord wills. It is the Lord who grants the precious gift of repentance as well is well as unveiling the eyes and ears to have faith. The production is the eternal salvation of the soul. A man alone cannot believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, but it is the efficacy of the Holy Spirit alone that transforms the heart to have affections for God. Therefore, the only true enlightenment is by the Spirit and what God alone has done. Man is able to foster mimics of the same effects, but these effects are not ultimately produced by the righteousness of the Spirit. One who is religious cannot and will not ultimately come to true faith, apart from God bringing the soul to life. They, like Judas Iscariot, may walk with Jesus’ people for a time. They may also appear righteous before men. But, in the end, they crucify the Son of God and put Him to an open shame by the way they live their lives. It is their true hatred for God that dominates the affections to the eternal ruin of the soul.

However, to the chosen vessels who truly bear the name of Jesus Christ and whose names are written in the book of life, solid food [by Grace] dominates the spiritual diet. Solid food rejoices in sound doctrine and the soul consisting of this diet is never satisfied with only milk. Although milk plays a role at the beginning of every Christian life, the ever increasing sanctification provided by the Spirit causes the diet to shift. This is none other than the Grace of Our Lord alone, providing the way. The religious self-effort of man ends him up in utter despair and ruined in sin. That is the natural tendency of every man. Hebrews exhorts, “But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.” Hebrews 6:9 Our earthly glorifying of The Lord is viewed dimly due to the presence of sin in and among God’s people. But, in the things that accompany salvation, the emission of sound doctrine provided by the Spirit and the Word is the cross hairs nearing the bulls eye.

Spiritual milk initiates the basic understanding of the word of God. Words like prayer, reading, God’s will, seeking, knowing and being obedient are probably understood most often in the predominately milk diet [not that these are less important or ever become that way]. Words like, propitiation, expiation, justification, mediation and reprobation are more likely to be understood and theologically practiced in a predominately solid food diet. The purpose of Paul and the writer of Hebrews speaking about ‘solid food’ is not to cause a believer or new believer to feel inadequate in knowledge or spirituality [although we truly are]. Neither is it to exalt or glory in the knowledge of man. Eating solid food or practicing sound doctrine is what best reflects the Glory of God in the accuracy of the teaching of His inspired Word.

What we say about our Creator is either true according to His Word, or it is false, according to His Word. The way we grow more intimate with our Father is by understanding more of who He is. Like our earthly fathers, we know more about them by spending time in communion with them. We find out how they think, react and respond to certain situations. In the end, we grow to love them more by knowing them more. It is the same with our Creator. The more time we spend in communion with Him, the more we understand how He thinks and the more intimate the relationship becomes. Thus, it creates a greater understanding of His infinite glory and our eternal worthlessness. As we grow to understand of the true Character of God in that, he hates as well as loves and he condemns as well as justifies, the effects produced are the breaking of the hearts of feeble men where they stand, in humility. The more we see and understand His Holiness, the more we see our unholiness and thus desire to be Holy. The more we see and understand His hatred for sin and rebellion, the more we see our sin and rebellion and learn to hate it, etc.

The lifelong blessedness of solid food, i.e. practicing sound doctrine, provokes an orthodox [biblical] view of the illumination of the person of Jesus Christ. The blessed ability to see the eternal counsel of God in the person of Christ is indeed an anointed understanding. It is not only an understanding, but a multitude of facets are sought to be treasured and understood because of their eternal worthiness. These spiritual facets are the simultaneous understanding of particular doctrines and the role that Jesus Christ plays in each. Eternality, Love, Sovereignty, Hate, Mercy, Grace, Glory, Justification and Reprobation are all biblical doctrines that explain Jesus Christ and His eternal counsel in redemptive history. Only the illumination caused by the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to see the blessedness and eternal reality of the Glory of God and His fame. We understand this by seeking God in His word with a humble heart, moving on to perfection and laying aside the temporal desires of this world that fade before our very eyes.

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.”

Hebrews 6:10-11

#3) Were you ever baptized? [Why or why not?]

In the history of Christendom, baptism has played a significant role in the church. The purpose of this post is to not discuss the history of circumcision in the Old Testament, beginning with Abraham. Nor is it to discuss the differences between credobaptism and paedobaptism. Since I am a protestant believer and was born-again in a Baptist church, I was nevertheless personally ‘immersed in water’ after my conversion. I am not a proponent of infant baptism and will simply defend ‘believer’s baptism’ or ‘credobaptism’ based off the New Testament Scriptures on what the Apostle Paul teaches as well as Jesus Himself. Ultimately, the purpose should highlight the importance and commandment of a [new] believer to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.

Although baptism reflects newness of life, it is clearly not what saves the soul. It is merely a symbol or outward reflection of the inward change of life. Water itself cannot save the soul or forgive sin as much as it cannot become a pig and fly. There is no more power in water [sprinkled or immersed] than there is in a tree or stone. Immersion is the sacrament in the New Testament that publicly displays that a believer’s heart has been circumcised and is indeed ‘putting off the sins of the body.’
“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:11-13

In the task of baptism, the purpose and evidential power clearly lies solely in Jesus Christ. According to the whole counsel of Scripture and of God, it is only He who can forgive sins [John 1:29]. It is only Christ who laid His life down and took it back up again with His own power; so we trust and depend on that very act to ‘die’ to our flesh and this life to be raised by Him in the last day. In the process of immersion, the submersion represents our death and burial to sin and flesh in this life and the ascension out of the water represents our resurrection to a new life in Christ.
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-6
Just as Christ was glorified as well as the Father in His resurrection, so will we be glorified in our resurrection because of what Christ gave us access to by His death and resurrection. Baptism represents our death to sin [and its dominion] and union with Christ, just as marriage between a man and woman represents the sacrificial relationship between Christ and the church.

Perhaps the most convicting commands for baptism in the New Testament are from Jesus Himself as He correlates it with the Great Commission.
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’” Mark 16:15-16
I do not want to exaggerate baptism over the importance of preaching the gospel or believing. Without the preaching of the gospel and the Holy Spirit illuminating the eyes and ears of the heart to the stark truth of its wretched and hopeless condition without the new birth, there would be no belief or repentance. There would be no cause or concern for the need of baptism. Without belief and the repentance of sins that causes regeneration, baptism may only serve to rinse the body of a little dirt. It would therefore be impossible to truly display the glory of God in the public declaration of the forgiveness of sins if you are indeed dead in them. If one is baptized without true repentance or regeneration [the indwelling of the Holy Spirit], then it merely blasphemes God by claiming a miracle that has never taken place [that you are saved when you are really not]. It does indeed represent an earthly and sensual proclamation to do what one could never do on one’s own. To publicly claim to have died to your flesh and have been in union with Christ through the act of your baptism, and truly be dead in sins, is nothing other than Judas kissing Jesus on the cheek prior to delivering him to the Romans. Unless the Grace of God in His goodness snatches the soul out of the miry clay and the pit of hell, an unregenerate baptism is simply a publicized betrayal.

On the other end of the spectrum, there may be true believers who have never been baptized. Or, they may have been baptized at one point as an unbeliever, but then were truly converted at a later date. According to God’s word, I do not believe there is justification to not be baptized again. To reiterate, if one is truly converted by the Spirit and ultimately lead to repentance, then the fact that one is baptized [again] does not affect the justification process. But consider the humbling and conscience provoking example of Jesus Christ Himself.
“When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, then heaven was opened.”
Luke 3:21
This event set the perfect example for the rest of New Testament believers. The only difference is that Jesus Christ did not need baptism. Hence, John responded to Jesus’ request to be baptized by asking, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? [Matthew 3:14]” According to the eternal decree of God for the purpose of John the Baptist, he was a righteous man. He was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb [Luke 1:15]. He baptized sinners in the Jordan daily as well as commanded them to repent. Yet, he first exclaims to Jesus that it is he who needed to be baptized by Him. John’s reverence for the Lord displayed Jesus’ true glory and power to forgive sins. For the first time among John’s many baptisms, he baptized One who has never sinned. This public act not only demonstrated Jesus’ perfect righteousness, but now John was physically reminded that he was truly not worthy of unloosing the Savior’s sandal.
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He said the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
Matthew 3:16-17

In the infinitely proficient sustenance of Jesus’ baptism, His light continued to shine in the darkness. He explained in the Gospels that he did not come to be served, but to serve. Just as it is a great miracle and unfathomable gesture of Mercy for the Son of God to wash the feet of His disciples, so it is exactly what He explained His character and purpose to be. Just as Jesus physically washed the feet of His disciples as a perfect example, so we are to spiritually wash each others feet in sacrificial love and care for one another [John 13:14-15]. The same applies in the public baptism of Jesus. He justly and righteously does not need to be cleansed of any sin, for He knew no sin. Just as the King of Kings should justly and righteously have His feet washed all day by his disciples, He perfectly displays His own righteousness by the infinite kindness of His character to do as He did; to serve in such a way that fallen sinners do not naturally desire. If the eternal Son of God, who knows not sin, humbly came as a God-Man from the perfect Eternal counsel of the Trinity to be subjugated in the hands of sinners and ultimately nailed to a cross, what word do we bring against Him as infinite and justly condemned sinners? It is impossible to be changed by Him and not desire to serve and wash the feet of others. Just as the very act of the baptism of the sinless Christ weighs heavy on the conscience of those who have infinitely transgressed His name, so we should eagerly desire by the Spirit of God to perfect all righteousness by our baptism in demonstration of our union with Christ and unrelenting public gratitude for His infinite forgiveness of our sins.

#5 and #4.) What is your relationship to sin and when someone attempts to discuss your personal sin, do you get offended?

(Since #5 and #4 are so closely related, I decided to tie them together.)




Once a soul is born-again and made alive by the spirit, its relationship to sin changes. Namely, the diametric change of the soul’s destiny causes a completely new life and formulation of character in the current life on earth. It is no longer a slave to sin. In accordance to the relationship with God and His eternal decree, one who was once viewed and judged as a child of wrath [prior to conversion] fit only for destruction, is now viewed and judged as a child of God and judged according to the righteousness of Christ. Therefore, the response and relationship to sin should and must represent the necessary character change from an unrepentant to a repentant heart.
“ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-18


Once the new birth has taken place, there is a deep sorrow for sin that envelopes the heart and affections to lead the soul to repentance, treasuring the cross of Christ and His blood shed for atonement. Sorrow for sin and zeal for repentance is the signal of a broken heart before God in search of humility while casting down selfish ambition, self-sufficiency and the sinful nature. Paul states,
“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
2 Corinthians 7:9-11
The conviction instilled by the Holy Spirit upon the new birth heightens and magnifies sin to an unbearable level that leads only to repentance. The very purpose of the coming of the spirit is to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, i.e. our own natures [John 16:8]. It stirs holy fear in the soul that sins against the infinite God Almighty and is to be set apart from the rest of the world. Zealousness for repentance demonstrates the urgency caused by the spirit to obtain the obedience shone forth by the supreme example of Jesus Christ Himself; it brings forth the true joy in overcoming sin and temptation that provides the assurance of salvation. If one has not been wrought by the spirit, there is no zeal, indignation, holy fear or ultimate desire to be obedient, which simply brings forth death.

One who thinks he is in control and can handle his sin is not really battling it but is indeed embracing it. ‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places [Ephesians 6:11-12].’ Paul acknowledges and exhorts that we ‘wrestle’ or battle against spiritual wickedness, namely Satan, demons and our sinful nature. We cannot truly be changed by the Gospel of Grace if we do not persuade the continual diligence of battling evil and the desires of the flesh that we naturally desire to do [Galatians 5:19-21]. If we do not acknowledge the reality and ever presence of evil, then we do not know the benchmark in which to battle. In the same way, if we do not see or know the holiness of God and the infinite greatness of it, then we cannot see the utmost evil that dwells within us with any accurate measure. Therefore, if you are a Christian, then you are never “in control” of sin. If God has regenerated your soul, then a battle indeed takes place at all times. To the churches of Galatia,
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
Galatians 5:16-17
To walk in the Spirit is to not lust against the flesh. To lust against the flesh is to not walk in the Spirit. The reiteration of the “lusts” demonstrates the consistent battle between the two that must take place until the body is glorified.

Perhaps the greatest and most thought provoking example of the reality of battling sin in the New Testament Scriptures is that of the Apostle Paul in Romans 7. How could he be so incredibly gifted with the revelation of God, writing more of the New Testament than any other author and publicly declare the unceasing battle of spirit and flesh? If the Apostle humbly confesses the reality of battling his own body of death as a pleading disturbance, how much more must I, a common sinner? Paul does not make this declaration because he is the greatest of all chosen ones of God. His declaration is such that, even he has a body of death, tainted with sin as all sinners. It once again, leaves no room to boast in our abilities, but only Christ and His ability to forgive and kill sin.
“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will do to, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no long I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the veil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no long I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.”
Romans 7:14-21
This acknowledgement completely depletes the soul and conscience of any self-sufficiency to battle sin whatsoever. The body is dead. It is incapable of battling such uproar of dominant lusts from the pit. Even the supposed good desired by the body is a slave and sold under sin. It knows nothing but sin. Sin serves to merely please the fleshly desires only the body knows. The body and sin have perverted and perfected the greatest atrocities committed by man to oppose God. It is only the Spirit that can will to do good, yet the body perverts the good and desires to do evil. Only the Spirit can hate the flesh, but the body loves, desires and approves the flesh because if fuels the fire of perversion and corruption.

The spirit, by its power, reminds the sinner of his true indebtedness to God. Although man naturally does not have the ability or desire to pay the debt of his infinite transgression of the law, the enactment in the comforting of the Holy Spirit pierces the heart with humility and grief; this causes man to recognize his utter helplessness. It reminds the soul that we know sin according to the law [Romans 7:7] and the debt owed must necessarily be nailed to the cross by Jesus Christ in His substitutionary death. The end result is repentance.

How do you respond to the reminding of indwelling sin, believer? Are you learning to mortify sin daily or are you able to discern a sinful situation from one that is not necessarily? There are professing believers who hate to be reminded of personal sin. There are those who will proclaim to read the Scriptures, yet when one asks, “Hello Sir, how are you learning to kill your natural wickedness before God?,” they respond as such to prove to read something other than the Holy Scriptures, or nothing of any spiritual importance. The response may be that they still think they are a ‘good person’ or suddenly become extremely uneasy in attitude and character. There appears to be one justification for sin listed after another. For some reason, the conversation to the one avoiding personal sin confrontation travels in every direction but toward the word of God. I will say that if one is going to justify sin at all, it is according to the word of God, and what Christ had to have done for them.

Those who treasure the holy law of God learn to treasure Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. If one is truly born-again by the spirit, it is a great joy to be reminded of sin! Charles Spurgeon said, “If your sin is small, then your savior is small. But, if your sin is great, then your savior is great!” It is true that the better you consider yourself, the smaller your savior is. What need do you have for a savior if you are not part of the ungodly that Christ died for? If you are not sick, then you are not in need of the Great Physician to heal your soul. It is joyful for the believer to be reminded of personal sin and that he falls infinitely short of moral perfection because it reminds them of the once and for all sacrifice for sins. It reminds him to be on the sure path to life and not on the sure path to eternal destruction. For those who are in Christ, there is no provision to sin more [Romans 6:1-2]. The path that leads to life is only seen by those who died to sin and have become alive to Christ. Only those who are broken hearted over sin with great humility, while seeing the infinite Excellency and perfect sufficiency of Christ to forever forgive sins will receive with great joy the rebuke of it. We cannot repent from sin while clinging to it. To repent is to cling to Christ and see ourselves as the filthy worthless worms we are without Him. Hear about your sin and you may have life! If you care not to hear, then you care not about Christ and do not have life; for He came to die for sick, ungodly sinners and give them life.

#6) Do you ever share your faith with others or have an extreme desire to do so?

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ‘He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ‘And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ‘they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hand on the sick, and they will recover.”

Mark 16:15-18

The progression of the Christian faith upon regeneration should, by the very definition of sanctification, cause the Spirit to continually supersede our selfish ambition and desires. If one has been changed by the Spirit to hate the things he used to love and love the things he used to hate, certainly there must birth a holy desire to share the infinite love and justice of the Creator by commanding sinners to repent. Mind you, not everyone will be a George Whitefield or Jonathan Edwards; but, upon the new birth, the unceasing compassion and discernment for a lost soul to become converted for the glory of Christ becomes an ever-present conviction.

Focus your minds and hearts on the calling of the forerunner.
“John answered them, saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. ‘It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.’” John 1:26-27.
The one who baptized with water was to make the way known for the Savior to come and was incredibly blessed from birth [Luke 1:42]. Consider what Zacharias prophesied of his son,

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the
Lord to prepare His ways,
To give knowledge of salvation to His
People
By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on
High has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in
Darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of
peace.”

Luke 1: 76-79

The very purpose of the birth of John the Baptist is to proclaim the coming of the Messiah to the world. Although he baptized everyday, he did not proclaim to have the power to forgive sins. In fact, he confessed, “I am not the Christ” [John 1:20]. How can one man draw so much attention by baptizing for the forgiveness of sins and yet not be the one to personally forgive them? So that the Scriptures may be fulfilled, Sovereignty was expressed in that the Pharisees did not understand and were looking to accuse him of blasphemy by asking, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, or the Prophet [v.25]?” Although John was the prophesied one that Zacharias was speaking of, his defense consistently pointed not to himself, but to that of Jesus Christ and His complete sufficiency for the forgiveness of sins. This purpose was so that the very life of John the Baptist, as the one to ‘prepare the way of the Lord’, could decrease and the glory of Christ could increase [John 3:30].



Charles Spurgeon stated, “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.” Although no born-again Christians today are an official forerunner for the coming Messiah, the passionate zeal and truth proclaimed about the state of man from John is no less the responsibility of all those whom God has saved for His good pleasure and glory. We are not saved unto lies, but unto truth. We are saved from lies, the devils cunnings and the ultimate wrath of God Almighty. Our souls are given few options to oppose the very nature we are given upon the new birth. E.g., we are saved unto holiness and not wickedness [1 Peter 1:15-16]. We are no longer condemned before God but justified by His glorious Grace. How does one respond who knew well the unregenerate and natural state of man and then suddenly converted? What about the one who was dead in trespasses and suddenly brought to life? Is there no thankfulness, no proclamation, no zeal to speak life of to others of the Messiah and the forgiveness of sins through Him? John spoke,
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ‘This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” John 1:29-30

We need not consider with hubris this Gospel that is able to convert a sinner’s soul in an instant, but with the utmost humility. The Baptist said, ‘of whose sandal strap I am not worth to loose’ [v. 27]. Therefore, in considering the current fallen and wretched state of man, we neither are worthy to loose the strap of the Messiah’s sandal or necessarily worthy to speak a word of this good news. But it makes it all the more necessary when God decrees it worthy as He chooses such vessels of honor according to His infinite wisdom to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all nations [1 Tim. 2:21]. According to His wisdom, it causes the sinner to boast in nothing other than the cross of Christ that shames all worldly wisdom and living.

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’”

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

As we are individually effectually drawn and called to the Messiah empty-handed, so it maintains throughout that Christian life as the Spirit of God imparts the wisdom of God to those who may be despised and unimportant according to worldly standards and wisdom. As the spirit continually reminds the sinners soul to ‘glory only in the Lord,’ so it should speak and proclaim through us this eternal decree [The Gospel] that brings the shameful wickedness of men and all of their ways to naught and ashes.

Oh, to be only blessed enough to have a sinner ask like the Philippian jailer, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”! Acts 16:30. But, this is not typically likely as the world continually stands in rebellion shaking her fist at the God, seeking a way that seems right to man, but ending in destruction. May we also respond accordingly to these types and all others by telling them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and they will be saved, them and their household [Acts 16:31]. Evangelism is not [just] a spiritual gift or a calling to some followers of Christ, but it is a commandment to all believers to preach the good news. We are not to wait until someone approaches us as the jailer, but to seek those who are lost where they stand, as our Savior did. As our Sovereign and good Lord places His sheep amongst the wolves in various daily scenarios, we are to act and speak the light of Christ, proclaiming our unworthiness and His worthiness.

As believers demonstrate the particular mandate of sharing the good news of Christ with those who have not yet been converted, we must be reminded of the very cause of our own conversion. Namely, God has illuminated our hearts of the wretched condition of our own souls in that we are a fallen people and in desperate need of a Savior. We have committed sin against the Lord God Almighty. We know this by the Law presented to us in our own conscience that we sin against Him.
“For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of man by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
Romans 2:12-16


I do not remember Jesus saying in the Scriptures to make His Gospel known with cowardice and nonchalance. It is as foreign to the Scriptures as a believer not preaching at all [sharing the Gospel with unbelievers]. If we are unsure of the truth of what we proclaim about Our Savior spilling His blood for our atonement, then why should we have assurance of salvation? If we speak with such weakness, and lax knowledge, we make the crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah of no value to anyone. If your own life has not been transformed and made new enough for other people to know this has taken place, then you do not preach the Gospel to yourself enough [you must start there!], or regeneration has not taken place. Take heed our calling Christians and do not worry about an offense. The Holy Spirit of God does not take into consideration a sinner being offended or reminded of what he really is in the eyes of God. When do we realize that it is truly only God who is offended because we infinitely break His Law [Romans 3:23]? Do we not see the very reason Jesus was scourged and crucified? He was an offense to the Roman government [accused of blasphemy]! Martyrdom does not happen by agreeing with the world and what it stands for. Because it hated our Savior first, so it will hate any of His followers. This world is passing away and needs only to be reminded of the ultimate wrath and destruction pending [1 John 2:17]. Be as bold as a lion. May you decrease and the glory of Christ increase. Proclaim the Christ, “who takes away the sin of the world!”

“Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’”
Luke 3:7

#7) When you read the bible, do you find yourself very anxious to finish?

When discussing the necessity, inerrancy and reliability of the Holy Word of God, one may quickly discover the true human condition upon earth and treasure the anecdote [who is Christ] that brings forth breathe and life to the soul. Others may peruse to please their senses and sinful nature by attempting to find loopholes or escape the human condition and reality of judgment out of complete irreverence and rebellion to God. Still others will read out of a monotonous disposition, gazing over particular words, yet casually leaving others out as if to look forward to a task being complete and marking it off as if it is pleasurable to God.

God’s Word is not contingent upon man and his response. But mans condition and response is already acknowledged and expertly explained throughout all of Scripture. Sinners have not changed since the fall. We have not become better or become ‘more advanced’ as a people. We have naturally demonstrated a self-sufficient heart, mind and rule that contributes to the infinite corruption of the soul. “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die’” [Genesis 3:4]. Oh how many sinners are convinced every day that they will ‘not surely die!’ We are convinced by our deceitfulness of heart and Satan himself that we may be ‘just like God [v.5]’ if we simply disobey God. Our disobedience and sin results in separation, philosophy, self-governance and ultimately death [Genesis 2:17]. Therefore, God has decreed His Word to be the only foundation for knowledge, truth and life by portraying the nature and results of the human condition [namely, our fallen nature caused by sin resulting separation from God] through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. The greatest ordinance in the eternal realm is not the fall of man or presentation of the law to demonstrate man’s fallen nature, but it is in the perfect display and shining forth of the Father’s glory in the coming forth of His Son, Jesus Christ and His redeeming power; who is also The Word of God.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know who I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

2 Timothy1:8-12

The apostle displayed the truth of the Scriptures not only with the words of Scripture, but with his very life. Paul considered himself a prisoner of Christ. He was no longer a slave to his flesh, carnal thinking and death, but a slave to God [Romans 6:16]. Being a ‘slave to God’ or a ‘prisoner of Christ’ is a way of he spoke in human terms that we are now slaves of righteousness or holiness [v.19]. This is the contrary of our nature. Our nature represents being slaves of sin, all sorts of doctrine and death. So, Paul is explaining that he is no longer a prisoner of death but of life. He is no longer a prisoner of Satan, but of Jesus Christ, ‘who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.’ Although he was in literal chains as a prisoner [2 Tim.1:16, 2:9], he publicly demonstrated that he was a prisoner of truth and of sound doctrine by being a prisoner of Christ. He also spoke of the eternality of God’s word that never passes away. For, ‘His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,’ is the source of truth.

“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.”

2 Timothy 2:9

So is the word of God to those who have been writ by the Holy Spirit. It leads and guides us into all truth, exposing darkness along the way [Ephesians 5:11]. It reminds us constantly that we are not indeed self-sufficient creatures but utterly dependant on the very words of God to be holy and righteous. God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path [Psalm 119:105]. Since we are like sheep that have gone astray, susceptible to the utmost evil and corruption, the precepts written and illuminated in God’s word are the perfect enlightenment to shine light upon our natural darkness.

“Oh, how I love Your Law!
It is my meditation all the day.
You, through Your commandments,
Make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all
My teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every
evil way,
That I may keep your word.
I have not departed from Your
Judgments,
For you Yourself have taught me.How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:97-104

The word of God is not simply a resource, but it is life itself [John 1, Revelation 19:13]. It is also a judge [2 Timothy 4:1]. To disregard the rule and authority of Scripture is to blaspheme the Judge as well as the source of all life. Children of God rest in the promises of God revealed in His word. They must meditate upon the promises and precepts daily in order to grow and understand their Creator intimately. To know God and to love Him is to commune with Him in the reading His Word by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. If His word is truly a light to our paths, then we are learning evermore the discern good from evil and the presence of sin in the process of sanctification. We read the bible because it is the revelation of God in human terms to remind us of our human condition, the nature of evil, judgment, our utter nakedness and helplessness before a Holy God and the Good News of redemption through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

#8) What do you consider “fellowship” and how often do you have it?

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God said:

‘I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be my people.’

Therefore

‘Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.’
‘I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and
Daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.’”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

There is a thin line to walk considering the text that Paul has brought to light in the second letter to the Corinthian church. He does not merely say, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” and then move on. He follows this seemingly straight-forward statement with, [1] “What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?”
[2] “What communion has light with darkness?” [3] “What accord has Christ with Belial?” [4] “What part has a believer with an unbeliever?” [5] “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? Just incase the first question is misunderstood, Paul followed up with four more questions, using different examples to represent the same spiritual context. What began possibly as something that could be debated, ended with a crystal clear depiction of what it means to “not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”

What exactly does Paul mean? The first thought or comparison made by many Christians [including myself], is in the context of marriage. Of course no one expects a Christian man to marry an unbelieving woman or vice versa. Marriage is reflected in the context of two people becoming one for the rest of their lives on earth. It is beyond a commitment or partnership, but a covenant. The husband must be able and willing to essentially love and lead his wife, while willing to sacrifice his life for her sake. The wife must be able and willing to respect and succumb to her husband’s leadership. That is understandable.

What does is mean to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers”? The doctrine of justification generously explains and answers the series of Paul’s questions, demonstrating the difference between one who is justified and one who is not [or the difference between a believer and unbeliever]. In Romans, Paul speaks of the faith of David and Abraham:

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness from works:

‘Blessed are those whose lawless
deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord
shall not impute sin.’”

Romans 4:5-8

Speaking of the faith of Abraham,

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”

Romans 4:20-25

When Paul speaks of righteousness vs. unrighteousness and light vs. darkness, it is not comparing the good with bad people. Neither is it comparing one person who has sinned more or less than another. Rather, it is comparing someone who is dead to one who is alive; one who has been made alive to Christ and one who is not [Ephesians 2:1]. This explanation leaves no room for a ‘middle ground’ defense or compromising effort when being unequally yoked with unbelievers. For, one is either living in the darkness or the light as one is either dead or alive. There is no such thing as ‘somewhat alive’ or ‘basically dead.’ The main and fundamental difference is the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, which is the only decree that causes a sinner to ultimately live. Otherwise, we are all infinitely dead in sins.

If one has received the righteousness of Christ by faith [justified by faith/born-again], then they will in essence be drawn or led by the Holy Spirit to ‘bear witness’ with other believers that have the same status with God.

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Romans 8:11-17

Because Jesus Christ is the only one to live a perfect life and never sin, there is no boasting amongst the ones who are justified by faith. It is not our own righteousness that is imputed or glorified, but Christ’s alone. The implication of this status is monumental because it sets the soul into stark contrast to the rest of the world. The soul that has life is dispersed amongst souls that remain dead. Just like we obtain certain attributes from our earthly fathers, we obtain the exact [imputation] righteousness from our ‘Abba Father’ in Christ. It is due wholly to the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ and His resurrection [Romans 8:11].

Those who are justified before God have a different relationship to sin than those who do not. The unjustified sinner loves his sin. The justified sinner is learning to hate it more and more. In Matthew 18, Jesus is teaching on what to do with a sinning brother, one who is professing to be in the faith.
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17
If one is a brother, then he is to be treated as a brother. Namely, you fellowship with and enjoy each others presence and words because you are both justified and ‘bear witness’ with one another. However, the presence of public sin presents the issue of an unrepentant heart. Jesus explains that even after appearing to him with a couple of witnesses and before the church, to “let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” These are extremely harsh words coming straight from the Son of God regarding sin. At one point in fellowship, we are to treat someone as a brother, and the next as a heathen and a tax collector? One may say, “Blame the church!” or “Why would you sacrifice fellowship with someone who apparently needs it?” That is just it. They do not want fellowship. Jesus said, “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, ‘that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established’ [v.16]” and “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church” [v. 17]. Tax collectors and heathens do not want to hear the rebuke to repent because they spurn it rather than simply ‘not repent’.

If we are to discontinue fellowship with professing believers after display of [public] unrepentant sin, then how much more important is it to be in fellowship with ones who are overcoming sin by the Grace of God and displaying His Glory? The sheep must and will be separated from the goats, just as the wheat from the tare. Peter explains sharply,

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Now

‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’”

1 Peter 4:17-18


It is difficult enough for a saint to be in the world but not of it. Despite the attempts to fit in and fellowship with those who have not yet been made alive by the Spirit, it is unfruitful and impossible to be encouraged to live by someone who is dead. When Jesus walked this earth prior to His crucifixion, He called his disciples individually to simply “follow Him.” They immediately left everything to follow Jesus. So it must be with every Christian in order to be saved from their sins. They must not only leave and despise their sin, but flee those who hate God because they enjoy and relish in sinful lifestyles. It is the utmost hypocrisy to love God and sin, just as it is impossible to love God and to continually fellowship with unbelievers. Apart from the preaching of the Gospel, what commonality can you find with words? With the infinite number of sins and struggles that can be expressed and confessed affectionately among believers who have been changed by Grace [bearing witness], what are these things to one who cares not to change? One lives his life to glorify his Creator and to ultimately commit his spirit to Him. The other wants to live for what his eyes see and enjoy his sin in the meantime. One clings to the ever-present thought and eternally changing destiny of, “The Creator of Heaven and earth came as a man to shed His blood and die to save me from my sins and eternal death,” while the other has no concept of it and in fact hates the very utterance. What do you have in common?


Live with those who live and preach life to those who are dead.

#9) Are you more comfortable inside or outside the church?

“I know there are some who say, ‘Well, I have given myself to the Lord, but I do not intend to give myself to any church.’ Now, why not? ‘Because I can be a Christian without it.’ Are you quite clear about that? You can be as good a Christian by disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient? There is a brick. What is it made for? To help build a house. It is of no use for that brick to tell you that it is just as good a brick while it is kicking about on the ground as it would be in the house. It is a good-for-nothing brick. So you rolling-stone Christians, I do not believe that you are answering your purpose. You are living contrary to the life which Christ would have you live, and you are much to blame for the injury you do.” –Charles Spurgeon

I enjoy the above quote from Mr. Spurgeon as practical biblical truth has exposed any intent of the human heart or excuse it attempts to provide concerning the local church. It appears that not much has changed concerning this since the 19th century [or the 1st]. I posed the question, “Are you more comfortable inside or outside the church?” not to pompously prove one point, but to prove many points from one perspective concerning the [religious] affections and desires of the heart to either be with and serve Christ’s people, or not.


First, the purpose of the local church must be defined. It may be easier to first define what it is not. The local church is not [necessarily] a building. Its purpose is not to be attended only on Easter Sunday, Christmas or other major holidays. It is not a place to get free coffee or to be treated as a place to ‘hang out’ once a week. When observing and meditating upon the epistles of the Apostle Paul to the churches throughout the Mediterranean world, the purpose of the local church becomes clear. It is to demonstrate and proclaim the Gospel by the gathering of believers in a local body [part of the Body of Christ, which includes every Christian in every nation of all times] to serve and edify one another using the spiritual gifts that God has provided each for the ultimate glory of God [simplistic].

Concerning the professing Christians that do not attend church [or worship] at all, they are not even mentioned by Paul. In fact, they are generally called pagans. Of all immoralities and perversions committed within the church, the believers are compared to people “outside of the church.” There is no defense for them in the Scriptures, for believers outside of the church do not exist. If one has been truly born-again of the Spirit, then one has received at least one or more spiritual gifts to contribute to the local body or church, i.e. the Body of Christ [1 Corinthians 12:27]. Paul lays it out in a systematic manner:

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Paul teaches that the particular individual is not the one with power, but ‘the same God working all in all’ [v. 6]. Nevertheless, ‘the Body’ is the primary example used to describe the church. He also uses the simple yet elaborate spiritual paradox of comparing the human anatomy of a body to the spiritual body of Christ [or the church]. He was not necessarily a doctor or an anatomist, but one who has received this revelation from God, who made the Body of Christ and also the human body. As individual physical parts separate themselves from and thus affecting the physical body, it contrasts into the spiritual body when individual spiritual gifts contribute to the entire body of Christ.

“For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing [ears]? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling [nose]? But now God has set the member, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
1 Corinthians 12:14-18



Because born-again Christians are part of the Body of Christ, they are grafted in or sealed for the day of redemption [Ephesians 1:13-14]. Since you are sealed into the church by the Sovereignty of God in the enacting and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, then you are particularly gifted to serve as part of the Body, in the church. One may be gifted in prophecy or discerning of spirits. Another may be gifted in knowledge or interpretation of tongues. In contrast, one may be a nose and another, a foot. One may be an eye and another, an ear. The purpose of the analogous example in comparing the spiritual body with anatomy is that once grafted in or sealed, it is impossible to be detracted without affecting the body. Also, one cannot say that the nose is more important than the ear, for they each comprise an important and necessary part of the body.

“And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’: nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”
1 Corinthians 12:19-22

Charles Spurgeon’s example of the ‘good-for-nothing’ brick seems like a harsh example to one who may say, ‘Well, I have given myself to the Lord, but I do not intend to give myself to any church.’ When such a statement is examined in 1 Corinthians [e.g.] of how Paul describes the local church as being members of the body of Christ, one who makes such a statement is simply lying. If one claims to be a Christ-follower, then according to 1 Corinthians 12, they are part of God’s family. Thus, if one is a Christ-follower, being part of God’s eternal family, then they are specifically gifted to serve God’s people in the local church for the edification of believers. They are a nose, hand, eye, ear or foot [have acquired certain gifts by the Holy Spirit]. To make such a proclamation of following Christ while having no desire or do not intend to give themselves to a local church is committing a fundamental biblical fallacy and ultimately sinning against God. It is impossible for a separated foot to call itself part of the leg. It is the same with a separated hand calling itself part of the arm. If they are completely detached from one another, then they clearly do not serve the exact purpose of their existence. The arm can lift itself, but it cannot grab without a hand. The leg can take a step forward, but it cannot plant without a foot. The foot detached from the leg is useless just as the hand detached from the arm is useless. Spurgeon ended with, “you are much to blame for the injury you do.” It is true that if you profess Christ and do not regularly attend a local fellowship or congregational gathering, you are injuring yourself spiritually as well as the local body.

#10) What is your born-again experience?

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
This man came to Jesus by night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God;
for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?
Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:1-8

This powerful excerpt from the Word of God is a humbling and eye-opening truth that many people misunderstand, including Nicodemus, the great religious leader of the day [John 3:10]. In modern society, the term ‘born-again’ has taken on so many different meanings, that it seems to not only have no power in the world, but it has lost its power from the pulpit as well. If we truly understand and heed what Jesus is actually saying about being born-again in the context of which He taught it, then we leave no room for error or our own interpretation of what it means. Therefore, the more we understand what Jesus is saying, the more we realize the immediate implications, the miracle of regeneration and ultimate eternal ramifications of the soul.

Nicodemus was very learned in the Scriptures of the Law. He was one whom others sought for guidance and he taught others. Yet, the term ‘born-again’ confounded all of his knowledge because, according to Jesus, it was something that could not be learned. “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb?” he asked. Nicodemus’ inquisition was not primarily focused on eternal miracles but simply on righteousness according to the law, as he was a Pharisee. It is clearly a foolish question to inquire about the biological impossibly of one returning to his mother’s womb after he is born into the world. Certainly he knew this was an impossibly, but term born-again had never entered his mind prior to Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” [v. 5]. There must have been a fear-stricken ignorant state of mind in Nicodemus as this implication was completely foreign to everything he has ever learned or taught. As Jesus shifts gears from earth [natural birth] to heaven [supernatural birth or ‘born-again’], he opens up the true spiritual or heavenly realm.
“That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [v.6].” This verse implies a diametrical difference between the two births. The fact that we are all born [in the flesh] from a woman does not mean that we are all born-again. Even if we all wanted to be born-again [which many people claim to be], apart from the granting and predestinating of God by exuding Grace, it is as much of an impossibility as it is to be born from a woman. “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit [v. 8].” No one can see wind or how it works in everyday circumstances. It is uncontrollable and unalterable by any human force. It comes whenever and from wherever God wills it to come and goes wherever God wills it to go. He made it and designed it. So it is with the salvation of the soul.

Although the ‘experience’ of being born-again may vary from individual to individual, the ultimate realization of being born of the Spirit is the same. It is receiving life to the soul by Grace and the Holy Spirit of God through faith. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26-27
It is a completely new life of faith. We literally pass from death to life as our hearts are revolutionized by the Spirit. Paul teaches,
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

In John 3, Jesus was not only teaching the difference between natural birth and spiritual birth, but also ascertaining the difference between carnal knowledge and spiritual knowledge. Nicodemus proved his carnal mindedness and unregenerate state when he asked Jesus, “How can these things be?” [v. 9]. He was clearly not born again as he did not know what it meant to be “born of water and the Spirit”, which was Jesus’ very definition of the new birth. Since Nicodemus was a natural man, having no spiritual faculties of knowledge and wisdom given him by the Spirit, he was ignorant of the profound yet only primary event in the true Christian life [on earth]. Although Nicodemus probably knew more of the Scriptures than most modern day Christians, he remained in spiritual ignorance as he was dead in his sins.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

After reading the Gospel of John, it becomes clearer that merely believing or inquiring is not enough to be born-again. Jesus ends the encounter with Nicodemus by proclaiming, “Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” John 3:11-12
In two sentences from Jesus, everything that Nicodemus studied, represented, stood for and defended all of his life was immediately brought to ashes. It is not a mistake or a mere chance that one of the most religiously learned Pharisees of the time was confounded and embarrassed with real spiritual knowledge. Jesus not only told Nicodemus that he did not believe heavenly things; He said that he did not even believe the earthly things. Namely, Nicodemus was not questioning Jesus as God but as “someone that has God with him” [v.2]. Jesus was merely a religious leader to Nicodemus; someone who could stir up a crowd with his signs and wonders. Jesus was not his Lord as he was the disciples [whom He was with that evening]. He did not waste time or even attempt to debate with Nicodemus but cut him to his heart in only saying that he must be born-again and that every deed performed thus far in his life is only worthy of eternal damnation. Nicodemus attended numerous religious services as he was a religious teacher! He fasted, gave to the poor, tithed, prayed and read the Scriptures. Yet, it was all for naught as it did not glorify God but pleased his self-righteous religiosity. He wanted to make a name for himself. It was not done out of faith in Jesus Christ.

“He who believes in Him in not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:18-21

Jesus preached the correspondence of believing and repenting in the process of being born-again. If we are to be saved, we need not only believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but also repent of the infinite sins we have committed against Him. If we find ourselves believing that Jesus is the Son of God but love the darkness or our sin, then we blaspheme the perfection of His Name. “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4
When true believers acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, we abide in Him by walking as He walked [1 John 2:6]. One who is born-again wants his deeds to be exposed as the original disciples did. Peter could not walk with Jesus having sin in his heart for Jesus said, “Get behind Me, Satan!” The truth of the Gospel and saving knowledge is coming to the light, who is Christ, so that our [evil] deeds can be exposed to the reality of judgment. These sins that are exposed are ultimately nailed to the Cross on which He hung and, by His blood, Mercy and Grace, are no longer remembered. This miracle of miracles results in eternal life. Otherwise, we are like Nicodemus, merely making intermittent inquisitions to Christ while leading an infinitely blasphemous life.

Top Ten questions to professing Christians

10.) What is your born-again experience?

9.) Are you more comfortable inside or outside the church?

8.) What do you consider “fellowship” and how often do you have it?

7.) When you read the bible [assuming you do], do you find yourself very anxious to finish?

6.) Do you ever share your faith with others or have an extreme desire to do so?

5.) When someone attempts to discuss your personal sin, do you get offended?

4.) What is your relationship to sin? [Are you growing to hate it more or find yourself comfortable with it?]

3.) Were you ever baptized? [Why or why not?]

2.) Do you desire to ‘mature in the faith’ or are you maturing in the faith?

1.) Who is Jesus Christ to you?


“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1 Peter: 3-15-16


[Response to each one of these questions on next ten posts]

The Sovereignty of God [A.W. Pink]

I am currently reading a book by A.W. Pink called “The Sovereignty of God.” Until now, I have not written a blog post regarding a particular book.

I enjoy books that display sound doctrine in the sense that The Sovereignty of God is about a scriptural attribute of Him. He is not discussing things that may or may not be true about God [like the case is with many books], but of His very nature. Pink does an extraordinary job of not only expositing particular verses, but exemplifying God’s Sovereignty in each of them. So far, this book is a great deal of encouragement as it provides a biblical defense for what is so little preached in today’s society.

Most Christians, even among the reformed spectrum, do not attribute all things to the Sovereignty of God. Some verbally attribute that ‘God was Sovereign’ over certain situations, but not every situation. For example, some may attempt to say that God is Sovereign over ‘good’ things but not the ‘bad’ or ‘evil’ things. This book doesn’t necessarily have to prove that God is Sovereign, but simply enlightens the topic to show that God is Sovereign in every way over all things [created and eternally universal]. His decrees are infinitely beyond the scrutiny and compartmentalization of fallen sinners. Consider the following paragraph by A.W. Pink:

“Let us pursue a similar course of reasoning in connection with the human race. Is God governing this world of ours? Is He shaping the destinies of nations, controlling the course of empires, determining the limits of dynasties? Has He prescribed the limits of evil-doers, saying, Thus far shalt thou go and no further? Let us suppose the opposite for a moment. Let us assume that God has delivered over the helm into the hand of His creatures, and see where such a supposition leads us. For the sake of argument we will say that every man enters this world endowed with a will that is absolutely free, and that it is impossible to compel or even coerce him without destroying his freedom. Let us say that every man possesses a knowledge of right and wrong, that he has the power to choose between them, and that he is left entirely free to make his own choice and go his own way. Then what? Then it follows that man is sovereign, for he does as he pleases and is the architect of his own fortune. But in such a case we can have no assurance that ere every man will reject the good and choose the evil. In such a case we have no guaranty against the entire human race committing moral suicide. Let all Divine restraints be removed and man be left absolutely free, and all ethical distinctions would immediately disappear, the spirit of barbarism would prevail universally, and pandemonium would reign supreme. Why not? If one nation deposes its rulers and repudiates its constitution, what is there to prevent all nations from doing the same? If little more than a century ago the streets of Paris ran with the blood of rioters, what assurance have we that before the present century closes every city throughout the world will not witness a similar sight? What is there to hinder earthwide lawlessness and universal anarchy? Thus we have sought to show the need, the imperative need, for God to occupy the Throne, take the government upon His shoulder, and control the activities and destinies of His creatures (Pink, The Sovereignty of God, p.34-35) .”

Some may scrutinize Pink and many biblical teachers by writing a book on the Doctrine of the Sovereignty of God. Many consider it a difficult doctrine as it strips the thought of free-will that most men have. However, the purpose of the book is not to take away all power and free will of man [although it does]. It is not to demonstrate a comparison between man and God. Neither is the purpose to see just how many things God is Sovereign over or even how depraved man is [although it does this as well]. No. The purpose of this book for believers is to cause us to throw ourselves upon Mercy of God in utter dependence of His Sovereignty; which means that He is good. If God is good, then he will not be anything other than good. On the other hand, If God is Sovereign, then he will not be anything other than Sovereign. He is not in control sometimes and other times not. He is not Sovereign over most things but not some things. Otherwise, He would not be Sovereign. To be Sovereign is to rule and reign with absolute dominion. Resting in the Sovereignty of God causes complete humility in the hearts and minds of believers; thus it causes complete dependence upon Him and gives Him Glory. It reminds us that we have nothing in our hands to give to God but to trust Him for everything [I mean everything].
“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” Romans 11:36
It is only when we realize that of [from] Him and through Him and to Him are all things that we see and understand God’s Sovereignty. How can the One from whom everything came to be, not maintain and sustain absolute control over everything He has made?