What is the Church’s Message? Ease and Prosperity?

A 2023 study from Lifeway Research found that more than half (52 percent) of American Protestant churchgoers said their church taught that God will bless them if they give more money to their church and charities, with one in four (24 percent) strongly agreeing with this teaching. In a 2017 study, only 38 percent of churchgoers made that same claim.  This is a form of the ‘prosperity gospel’

These beliefs seem to be coming more popular. This survey showed that in 2023 76 percent of churchgoers believe God wants them to prosper financially whereas in 2017 this was 69 percent. In 2023, 45 per cent of Christians thought they had to do something for God in order to receive material blessings from him in but in 2017 this belief was only 26 percent.   This ‘prosperity gospel’ says that:

The Abrahamic covenant is a means to material entitlement.

Jesus’s atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty.

Christians give in order to gain material compensation from God.

Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity.

Prayer is a tool to force God to grant prosperity.

In light of Scripture, however, the prosperity gospel is fundamentally flawed, it is a false gospel because it is based on a faulty view of the relationship between God and man. Simply put, the prosperity gospel centres on man. Whether they’re talking about the Abrahamic covenant, the atonement, giving, faith, or prayer, prosperity teachers turn the relationship between God and man into a ‘quid pro quo’ transaction, you do something and God will respond.

John Piper told a gathering of more than 1,000 college students,

“I don’t know what you feel about the prosperity gospel—the health, wealth and prosperity gospel—but I’ll tell you what I feel about it, - “Hatred.”

In 2014, Piper outlined six keys to detecting the prosperity gospel:

1. absence of a serious doctrine of the Biblical necessity and normality of suffering

2. absence of a clear and prominent doctrine of self-denial

3. absence of serious exposition of Scripture

4. failure to deal with tensions in Scripture

5. church leaders who have exorbitant lifestyles

6. prominence of self and marginalization of the greatness of God

This man-centred outlook so easily affects us all.  How awful we may say without realising that this way of thinking is now infiltrating many mainline evangelical churches in the UK.

Listen to these statements from sermons in churches purporting to be Bible based, notice who remains central:

“Come and feel the peace of God in our services”

“Ask Jesus to save you and you will immediately have all your sins forgiven for ever”

“Jesus will take you to heaven when you die and your sins will not be judged by God if you ask him.”

“If you turn to Christ you will be given peace and joy.”

“Jesus doesn’t want you to suffer or be in pain, turn to him and trust him.”

“Do you want to be happy, turn to Jesus.”

“Do you want to be healed, come to Jesus.”

Some Christians think they are evangelising when they talk about their church.

“There are such friendly people there.”

“You will enjoy the music church and the sermons are very gripping.”

Hopefully these will be true and may meet someone where they are but these are not what the church is primarily about – our message is about Jesus.

It is striking that recently the Church of England has decided to call its new churches ‘Communities’ instead of ‘Churches’.  Surely churches are primarily a collection of people who have been called by the Lord Jesus to be his representatives in a local society.  The idea behind a ‘community’ is much more man centred.  Clearly a people devoted to the Lord Jesus should have a great community feeling and much love for each other but our focus must always be on the gospel of and the service for the Lord Jesus.

Could this man centred approach be a major reason why so many churches are weak on standing up for Jesus in our society?  No-one can be a member of Christ’s Church until they have personally submitted to the rule of Christ and decided that, because of who he is, that he will control all we do.

The message of Jesus

The Bible is abundantly clear that there is a condition that we have to fulfil before we can be accepted and forgiven by God.  Jesus’ message was

“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15

The apostles emphasised this in all their sermons.  Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost stressed how people must respond to God in order to be acceptable to him.

“Repent and be baptised everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

At his second sermon after the healing of the paralysed man at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem he stressed:

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

When Peter and John were rearrested by the Sanhedrin for disobeying their command not to talk about Jesus they boldly replied,

“We must obey God rather than men.  The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead – whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.” Acts 5:29-31

When Paul spoke to Gentiles his message was the same, any relationship with God must begin with repentance.

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”    Acts 17:30

Repentance is nothing less than a change in management, it is the decision to die to self and start living for Christ.  This is what baptism enacts, a new Christian dies to the old life and comes out of the water, washed of their sins to begin a new life for the Lord Jesus.  Every Christian is to become the Lord Jesus’ representative.

This complete change in priorities is what God has always called his people to have.  God said through his prophet Jeremiah in the later 7th century BC:

“I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honour. But they have not listened.’ Jeremiah 13:11

Even back then a deep seated repentance, a turning to God to live for him and obey him was the condition of being restored into a relationship with him.  Those who are then his people have been chosen to serve God.  Evidence of being accepted is this desire to serve him. Even back then the same order of events was needed:

“Therefore this is what the Lord says:“If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me.” Jeremiah 15:19

Paul repeatedly reminded Christians that repentance is more than sorrow over things we have done wrong, ‘godly sorrow’ is seeing myself as God sees me and turning back to him to be my Lord.  Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and reminded them of the difference between ‘worldly sorrow’ and ‘godly sorrow’.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.”  2 Corinthians 7:10

To be recipients of saving grace requires us to genuinely repent.

On the day I was preparing this I went for a walk with my daughter’s dog.  I saw a man sitting on a bench whom I had talked with previously and given him an article explaining the gospel.  His opening words as I approached were:

“This is incredible!  I have just been praying that I would meet with you again as it must be over two months before we last talked.  You see, I need to come back to God.  I was brought up as a Christian but have gone my own way.  Now I have no peace and know I need God.”

We talked about what this would involve and he still seemed eager.  I asked if he would like to pray there and then but he said he would prefer to pray at home.  The he added,

“I will then ask God to give me peace.”

It would have been so easy to leave it at that but it did seem as if his prayer was going to be centred on himself and his longing for  peace but not on what the gospel is all about.

“Oh, you must say more than that.  God does give his people peace but the condition is that they must genuinely turn their lives over to him, to live them as he wants.  Without a complete change in life and priorities a relationship with God cannot be restored.”

I left him with the verse that reminds us all that becoming a Christian is a radical step:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

As we separated I reminded him what his prayer must include even if it starts with his own need.  The condition of salvation is a genuine turning back to Jesus as my Lord and boss.  When I typed this line on the computer I made a spelling mistake, I wrote ‘slavation’.  After correcting the mistake it dawned on me that becoming a slave of the Lord Jesus is precisely what the writers of the New Testament called themselves – slaves of Christ.

All Christians need to keep reminding ourselves that it is ‘the renown, praise and honour’ of the Lord Jesus that is now the purpose of our lives.  Furthermore let us pray that God’s Spirit will keep reminding those we have talked to about Jesus’ claims. They maybe those we have written to or given literature to or invited to some Christian event or who have been in our homes. Let’skeep praying that they will understand what the Christian message must include  my repentance, restoration by God and then my service for him.

Bernard V Palmer

Jehovah, LORD and Lord

Jehovah is a personal name of God that no-one else may use.

“Let them know that you alone are the LORD – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

In the Old Testament the word  יְהֹוָה  which is translated‘Jehovah’, comes 6114 times and, following Tyndale, is translated with capital letters, ‘LORD’.  Occasionally the Hebrew name יְהֹוָה (Jehovah) is translated ‘GOD’, also in capitals. Thus we read,

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

This name ‘Jehovah’ is exclusively used in the Old Testament but never in the New Testament. However the word ‘Lord’ is applied to Jesus over six hundred times in the New Testament – the apostles wanted everyone to Know that Jesus is the Lord, Jehovah.  In the book of Acts the phrase the ‘Lord Jesus’ come twenty-six times. .Thus:

“Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us,” Acts 1:21

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36

“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 4:33

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:59

This repeated use of the word ‘Lord’ when referring to jesus was deliberate.

Translations of the Old Testament in the New Testament

Whenever New Teastament writers quote from the Old Testament instead of using the Hebrew word יְהֹוָה  ‘Jehovah’ they use the Greek word  κύριος (kurios) which also means ‘Lord’ or occasionally θεός (theos) meaning God.  Here are some examples:

1.  Isaiah wrote:

“A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3

Matthew quotes this passage, applying it to John the Baptist, but it has been translated:

“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepeare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” Matthew 3:3

Here Matthew, who wrote his gospel originally in Hebrew, has had the word Jehovah translated as  κύριος.  They are clearly synonymous.

2.  Jesus quoted from the Old Terstament when he was tempted in the wilderness by Satan:

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Greek θεός).”’” Matthew 4:4

This original quotation in our Bible reads:

“ . . . that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 8:3

Jehovah and theos are again equivalent.

3.  Isaiah is quoting the Lord God when he writes:

“Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none but me. “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” Isaiah 45:21-23

Paul quotes this passage about Jehovah but applies it to the Lord Jesus:

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

Salvation isonly given to those who acknowledge that Jesus Christ has the standing of Jehovah, the Lord God who entered his world to save who recognise his right to rule them.

A day will come when everybody will see that this is true, when we stand before the Lord Jesus in judgment, but unfortunately for many it will then be too late.

There can be no doubt that Paul is placing Jesus on the same level as Jehovah himself.  As we have seen in his letter to the Clossians, Paul undoubtedly equates Jehovah with the Lord Jesus.

“He is the image of the invisible God . . . For by him all things were created . . .For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things . . .” Colossians 1:19

4.  The LORD God, Jehovah, said in Isaiah,

“This is what the Lord says - Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6

The apostle John repeatedly applies these words to the Lord Jesus:

“Behold, I am coming soon . . . I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13

Jesus is again equated with Jehovah, the First and the Last.  In the first chapter of this book the same words are used about The Lord Jesus at his second coming.

““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8

‘Coming with the clouds’ is meant to equate Jesus with the man in Daniel’s prophecy who would will enter God’s presence and will be treated as the equal of Jehovah - he will be worshipped:

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

In his vision John then see the glorified Lord Jesus and also bows at his feet in worship.

“Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18

Again in a later chapter John hears these words of God:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. . . . He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:3-6

John has no doubt who the Lord Jesus is.  Jesus is again identifying himself as Jehovah

The apostle John wrote at the beginning of his gospel,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1 and 14

Explanation

How can anyone miss what the apostles have made so clear.The New Testament writers were certain that Jesus was of the very nature of God as well as being a normal human being.  They wanted to demonstrate that Jesus was the Jehovah of the Old Testament.   This is why they repeated called him ‘the Lord Jesus’.

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Salvation has never changed

If you were asked, ‘Why did Jesus come to earth?’ what would you say?  Jesus had no doubt about this.  He said to Zacchaeus,

“I have come to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

In times of revival it was common for people to be asked,

“Do you know you are saved or aren’t you sure yet?”

Dr. Westcott was a very distinguished Greek scholar who became Bishop of Durham.  One day he was travelling in a train when a young Salvation Army girl in uniform entered his compartment.  She had just been to a training day in London.  She sat down opposite him.  After a few minutes she said to the Bishop,

“Excuse me asking you, sir, but are you saved?”

“Am I saved?” the surprised Bishop answered.

“Yes sir, are you saved?”

The godly Bishop smiled and then said,

“Well, my dear, which kind of ‘’saved’ do you mean.  In the Bible the word is used in three tenses,  Esosen is in the past tense, sodzomenois is in the present tense and sothesometha in the future.”

During the rest of the trip the bishop explained what it means to ‘have been saved’, ‘to be saved’, and what future salvation will be like.

Paul mentions all three senses in one verse, but note who has provided it, who is providing it and who will provide our future salvation.  Away from Jesus there is no salvation.

“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.” 2 Corinthians 1:10

The Bible’s message is clear, God has always called a people to be his representatives in his world.  These people are to live in a close relationship with him and are therefore committed to living as he wants.  God’s people have been chosen and put in the right with God, they have been given the status of being righteous.  First there was Adam and his descendants, then Noah and his family, then Abraham and his descendants and finally Jesus himself and his followers.  God’s people have always been characterised by a personal relationship with their Lord and this is shown in the way they live and speak.  All they do is for the glory of God.

Salvation in the New Testament

Christians know that they have been forgiven their sin because God himself has entered this world as Jesus and he took the penalty for our sin on himself.  The name Jesus, means ‘the Lord saves’. We are therefore safe because we have been saved from the penalty for our sin.  We have been credited with God’s righteousness.  In this sense, salvation is a done deal, it has already been won for us.

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” Titus 3:5

Salvation is not just forgiveness of sin, it includes the gift of the Holy Spirit who enables us to overcome temptations to sin.  Through the Spirit’s power God’s people are enabled to live for God’s glory.  This change is a demonstration of the Lord’s power.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Salvation is not just a legal deed of forgiveness, it is the beginning of a completely new life.  Our lives are now committed to being lived for his glory

God has promised those who are his people, and who demonstrate this by the way they live, that he has a glorious future for us.  In this life he will enable us to live as he wants but after we die he has promised us that we will live with him is a wonderful new earth.  The following verse mentions this future salvation twice but note that our future depends on what God has done for us in the past through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!   For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.” Romans 5:9-10

What a glorious difference this new life is compared to the old life from which we have been saved.

Psalm 27

Some people may think that this concept of salvation, in the past, in the present and in the future is just a New Testament teaching. How wrong they are.  A saving faith in the God who has demonstrated his love in past actions and that affects how we live now is the message of the Old Testament too.  The promise of future glory with God is also clearly taught.  Psalm 27 is just one example of this.  This psalm is all about the confidence David had in his Lord which showed itself even when he was facing life-threatening worries and dangers.

He could say,

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” Psalm 27:3

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living . . . “ Psalm 27:13

The reason David had this confidence was because he knows that his Lord is his Saviour.  This is another key word in the psalm.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;” Psalm 27:5

“Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Saviour.” Psalm 27:9

Past

How did David arrive at having this confidence in the Lord?  He knew it firstly from the Scriptures he had available which clearly portray the character of God and all he had done in the past.  God had cared for his ancestors, the Patriarchs, he had ordained extraordinary miracles in the time of Moses to free his people from Egypt and subsequently he had given them the Promised Land under Joshua.  The promises God had made all turned out to be valid.

For us today we have additional evidence.  The very Son of God, the Lord Jesus, has now entered his world.  He fulfilled all the prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah.  His miracles were seen by many and his teaching was extraordinary.  He came to die to take responsibility for our sin as the ultimate sacrifice and he rose again so proving that God had accepted his sacrifice.

Our faith, like that of David is based on evidence of what God has done for his people in the past.  Similarly it is abundantly clear that God hates all forms of sin in any people and will punish people, whoever they are.

Present

David’s faith in a loving God affects his attitudes in the present.  He lives his day to day life in the light of this faith in a Lord who loves him.  He knows that nothing can happen to him that God does not permit.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

David’s faith permeates all his emotions and actions in the present, the relationship he has with his Lord fills him with joy:

“. . . at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.” Psalm 27:6

It also meant that he wanted to know his Lord better. What he wanted of him meant more than anything else.

“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’” Psalm 27:8

“Teach me your way, Lord, lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.” Psalm 27:11

Today we learn God’s paths and the way he wants us to live in exactly the same way that David did - from Scripture.  Our aim is to then live closely with our Lord, just a David did.

Future

Look again at the tenses used in this psalm and note how often ‘shall’ and ‘will’ occur, I counted thirteen times in just fourteen verses.  This psalm is very much future orientated.  He knows the Lord will care for him both in this life and in eternity.

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Psalm 27:10

David recognised that even the closest of relationships in this life will inevitably cease but his relationship with his Lord is eternal.

David finishes the psalm with the utmost confidence in his Lord’s eternal care,

“I remain confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus gives us even greater confidence that we also will see the goodness of our Lord after we die and come to the ‘land of the living’.

Appeal

In the light of the fact that God has saved us and that we are being saved from the influence of sin and of the world David’s appeal to all of God’s people is timeless,

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

David knew that God’s Messiah was going to enter his world, just as we know that he will be returning. It is our responsibility to live in the light of this second coming:

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

How privileged we are to share in this faith and what a privilege to come to this God with our prayers and petitions. If you can make the time look at 1 Peter 1:3-9 that Peter wrote when he was imprisoned and under great pressure.  Note the senses in which he talks about his salvation and the effect this has on him.

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All Christians are Centred on Living for Christ

The fundamental need for anyone taking up a leadership role in a church is that they are clear about who Jesus is and are committed to living for his glory.  Christ must be their treasure!  They must be thrilled with him.   John Wesley was an ordained Anglican minister who travelled to America in 1736 to help in the young churches there.  The voyage there was fraut with very rough weather and danger and at times many of the passengers and crew were scared for their lives – but one group stood out.  They were a group of Moravian Christians families from Germany who were going out as missionaries to America.  John Wesley wrote in his diary,

“At seven I went to the Germans. I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers, which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired, and would receive no pay, saying, “it was good for their proud hearts,” and “their loving Saviour had done more for them.” And every day had given them occasion of showing a meekness which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying whether they were delivered from the Spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterwards, “Was you not afraid?” He answered, “I thank God, no.” I asked, “But were not your women and children afraid?” He replied, mildly, “No; our women and children are not afraid to die.”

From them I went to their crying, trembling neighbours, and pointed out to them the difference in the hour of trial, between him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not. At twelve the wind fell. This was the most glorious day which I have hitherto seen.

John Wesley went on to spend considerable time with these Moravian Christians and it became clear that it was their obvious love for the Lord Jesus that was the secret of their different lives.  It was their influence that later led John Wesley to understand that a Christian is someone who is dependent on the Lord Jesus because they have personally recognised that Christ had lived and died for them.  This is the same lesson that the apostle Paul taught.

Paul’s focus

When Paul wrote to the Philippian church he emphasised something important.

“It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” Philippians 3:1b

What is it that Paul kept stressing?  This how the verse began:

“Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!” Philippians 3:1a

We can so easily look for joy in the wrong places, in our abilities and skills, in our position of authority or in our successes.  Such joys are real but always temporary.  Paul keeps repeating that our deep satisfaction must be in our relationship with the Lord Jesus.  It is easy to know if this is true of a person.  They smile with recognition when the Lord is mentioned, they love to talk about him and include him in plans, they are committed to making his service the priority of their lives.  Paul was such a person, he was able to honestly say,

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

There is no doubt what motivated Paul, ‘For the sake of Christ,’ (3:7) ‘The surpassing worth of knowing Christ,’ (3:8) ‘That I may gain Christ,’ (3:8) ‘I want to know Christ,’ (3:10).  This is the central theme of this letter and he comes back to this:

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

Paul then asks all Christians to imitate him,

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

The apostle has no doubt that to make Christ our life’s priority is well worth while.  We will experience the shalom or peace of God.  This experience supersedes all others.  At times this Christ-centred attitude caused him problems.  He was imprisoned in Rome because of his teaching, chained to a Roman soldier, but he could say,

“ . . .what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.  As a result it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” Philippians 1:12

Whatever problems he faces he sees a way to glorify the Lord Jesus in them.  In the first chapter of this letter to the Philippians Paul mentions Christ eighteen times – that is highly significant.  He said to all Christians,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ . . .” Philippians 2:5

The priority of living for Jesus should be that of all God’s people, of all Christians,

“ . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

If this is meant to be the clear lifestyle and priority of all Christians, it is essential that the leaders of churches not only have this attitude bu that it should be apparent to all around them.

Jesus teaches about false prophets

In all generations people need leaders and all too often the characteristics they admire are not the best. Tall handsome men with low voices and smiles can go far in this world!  Get a team behind you and you can move mountains!  Look at the support Hitler and Putin have had in their countries when they have been promoted by a few in power!

The same was true in Israel in Jesus’ day.  The Pharisees were often very pleasant admired people yet what they taught was the opposite of what God wanted.  Jesus warned his disciples,

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15-19

This is a powerful warning to those who do not have the right priorities when appointing church ministers or elders.  Some people can be charming and very personable yet what they really stand for is not the glory of the Lord Jesus.  They look like lovely sheep but really will lead many into lethal pastures and these false shepherds will face the fire of God’s rejection.  How can such ‘false prophets’ be identified?  Jesus says it is by looking at the priorities of what they live for.  ‘To bear good fruit’ in the Bible is both to develop the fruit of the Spirit in our personality but also to be effective in winning others for Christ.  Both types of fruit are emphasised in the Bible:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. . .  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16

A false church leader will not be determined to develop the strong but humble character of their Lord.  Neither will they be that bothered about winning people for Christ.  They won’t talk about the Lord Jesus, a feature demonstrating that they clearly love him.  When listening to a false teacher note how seldom they mention the Lord Jesus and see the absence of warmth at the thought of him.

Jesus now gives a strong warning to such church leaders.  He describes what will happen when they meet him at the final judgment.  Then all their pride and self satisfaction will melt away when God’s judgment is given,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23

They assumed they were Christians but in god’s eyes all they did, their preaching and even their miracles  and exorcisms were done for their glory.  They were not living for Christ but for themselves in a religious environment.  How terrible it will be for those who have this judgment made about their lives,

“I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:23

Christians who have responsibility for the appointment of ministers or elders in their local church must be very careful.  Do the proposed candidates meet up with the high standards in Scripture.  Would you do better to defer an appointment?  We must all be wise and ensure that what Jesus teaches is our priority.  Without due diligence being made in the search, there may not be any obvious problems with a gifted candidate in the early months the short term but the lack of foundation will be come apparent when difficulties arise.  The wise man builds his life on the words of Jesus:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

Many people have heard of the children’s chorus, ‘The wise man built his house upon the rock’.  Many people assume that because they call themselves Christians they are secure, but note how this section begins.  The rock on which wise people build their lives are the ‘words of Jesus’.  No-one should call themselves a Christian with its assumed privilege of eternal life if they are not committed to doing what Jesus teaches in the Bible.

In every generation there have been church ministers or elders who never had or who have lost such a devotion to Christ.  I well remember a friend at university who was vice President of the Christian Union.  He was ordained and eventually became a senior bishop but by this stage he had lost his first love, the Lord Jesus, and replaced this with a love of religion.  What a comedown!  Fortunately others move in the opposite direction.

In March 1778, John Wesley was back in England visiting his brother Charles at Oxford when he was recovering from pleurisy.  Helping Charles was Peter Boehler, another Moravian Christian and subsequently a friendship developed between this Peter and John Wesley. It was through Peter Boehler John Wesley came to understand the Christian gospel, it is not what we do for God but what the Lord Jesus has done for us.

“. . . by whom (in the hand of the great God) I was, on Sunday, the 5th, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved.”

Not many have heard of Peter Boehler but he was a man that God used to influence many for Christ.  He was born in 1712 in Germany but at Jena university he himself had became a committed Christian and had joined the Moravian church that was committed to evangelising the world.  John Wesley wrote in his diary for May 3-4th 1778,

“Peter Boehler left London, in order to embark for Carolina. O what a work hath God begun since his coming into England! Such an one as shall never come to an end, till heaven and earth pass away.”

A week later John received a letter from Peter Boehler,

“I love you greatly and think much of you in my journey, wishing and praying that the tender mercies of Jesus Christ the Crucified, whose bowels were moved towards you more than six thousand years ago, may be manifested to your soul: That you may taste and then see, how exceedingly the Son of God has loved you, and loves you still; and that so you may continually trust in Him, and feel his life in yourself. Beware of the sin of unbelief; and if you have not conquered it yet, see that you conquer it this very day, through the blood of Jesus Christ. Delay not, I beseech you, to believe in your Jesus Christ; but so put Him in mind of his promises to poor sinners, that He may not be able to refrain from doing for you, what He hath done for so many others. O how great, how inexpressible, how unexhausted is his love! Surely he is now ready to help; and nothing can offend Him but our unbelief.

“The Lord bless you! Abide in faith, love, teaching, the communion of saints; and briefly, in all which we have in the New Testament. I am,

“Your unworthy Brother, Peter Boehler.”

What a wonderful Christ centred example this Peter Boehler was.  Wesley summarizes his life changing conversion experience in his diary on Wednesday, May 24, 1738:

“In my return to England, January, 1738, being in imminent danger of death, and very uneasy on that account, I was strongly convinced that the cause of that uneasiness was unbelief; and that the gaining a true, living faith was the “one thing needful” for me. But still I fixed not this faith on its right object: I meant only faith in God, not faith in or through Christ. Again, I knew not that I was wholly void of this faith; but only thought, I had not enough of it. So that when Peter Boehler, whom God prepared for me as soon as I came to London, affirmed of true faith in Christ, (which is but one,) that it had those two fruits inseparably attending it, “Dominion over sin, and constant Peace from a sense of forgiveness,” I was quite amazed, and looked upon it as a new Gospel. If this was so, it was clear I had not faith. But I was not willing to be convinced of this. Therefore, I disputed with all my might, and laboured to prove that faith might be where these were not; especially where the sense of forgiveness was not: For all the Scriptures relating to this I had been long since taught to construe away; and to call all Presbyterians who spoke otherwise. Besides, I well saw, no one could, in the nature of things, have such a sense of forgiveness, and not feel it. But I felt it not. If then there was no faith without this, all my pretensions to faith dropped at once.

When I met Peter Boehler again, he consented to put the dispute upon the issue which I desired, namely, Scripture and experience. I first consulted the Scripture. But when I set aside the glosses of men, and simply considered the words of God, comparing them together, endeavouring to illustrate the obscure by the plainer passages; I found they all made against me, and was forced to retreat to my last hold, “that experience would never agree with the literal interpretation of those scriptures. Nor could I therefore allow it to be true, till I found some living witnesses of it.” He replied, he could show me such at any time; if I desired it, the next day. And accordingly, the next day he came again with three others, all of whom testified, of their own personal experience, that a true living faith in Christ is inseparable from a sense of pardon for all past, and freedom from all present, sins. They added with one mouth, that this faith was the gift, the free gift of God; and that he would surely bestow it upon every soul who earnestly and perseveringly sought it. I was now thoroughly convinced; and, by the grace of God, I resolved to seek it unto the end,

1. By absolutely renouncing all dependence, in whole or in part, upon my own works or righteousness; on which I had really grounded my hope of salvation, though I knew it not, from my youth up.

2. By adding to the constant use of all the other means of grace, continual prayer for this very thing, justifying, saving faith, a full reliance on the blood of Christ shed for me; a trust in Him, as my Christ, as my sole justification, sanctification, and redemption.

I continued thus to seek it, (though with strange indifference, dullness, and coldness, and unusually frequent relapses into sin,) till Wednesday, May 24. I think it was about five this morning, that I opened my Testament on those words: “There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even that ye should be partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4.) Just as I went out, I opened it again on those words, “Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God.” In the afternoon I was asked to go to St. Paul’s. The anthem was, “Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. O let shine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? For there is mercy with thee; therefore shalt thou be feared. O Israel, trust in the Lord: For with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his sins.”

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate-Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation: And an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

It was John Wesley, his brother Charles and his friend George Whitefield who were to lead the eighteenth century Christian revival in Britain and in the Eastern States of America that itself had world changing consequences.

How such men are desperately needed in todays churches.  A short while ago Roger Carswell, an evangelist took me to look at the tombstone of the Rev John Berridge in the grounds of Everton church. He had been a Fellow in Clare College Cambridge before embarking on parish ministry.  In 1755 he was appointed to be the vicar of Everton in Bedfordshire where he remained until his death in 1793. Soon after arriving in this post he realised that his faith had been intellectual but not real and he subsequently turned to Christ as his personal saviour and he experienced the new birth.  A revival in the area began in 1759.  John Wesley said that two thousand turned to Christ for salvation in the following year through John Berridge’s preaching about Christ.  This is a picture of John Berridge’s tombstone.

The Gospel according to the Colossians

My wife and I were on a plane travelling down to Santiago de Compostello in northern Spain.  A Chinese lady in her twenties sat next to me.  I offered her a sweet for take-off.  She spoke very good English and explained that she had studied for a Masters degree in England.

“Did you meet many English families then?” I asked.

“No, but I did get involved with a group called ‘International Café’.”

“What did you do with them?”

“We went on excursions and met together to study the Bible.”

“Wonderful.  Can you tell me what a Christian is?”

She thought for a bit and then said,

“Isn’t a Christian someone who is kind, generous and honest?”

For the next two hours we discussed what the Bible teaches on this vital subject.

Unfortunately there are now many people who would be unsure how to answer this question about ‘What is a Christian’.  When asked why a person hopes to go to heaven, many respond,

“Well, I behave better than most, I am involved in a church.”

Such answers that centre on what I do are not Christian.  The Christian will always say,

“Because the Lord Jesus died on my behalf to take away the guilt of my sin.”

In 60AD Paul wrote a letter to a young church in Colossae which was sited in what is now modern day Turkey, inland from Ephesus.  He had never been there but he clearly wanted them to be sure what the Christian message really was so that they would not be led astray by false teachers.  He longed for them to know that the God who made us really cares for us.  The first chapter of Colossians summarises what everyone should know about the Christian message.

The gospel is Christ centred

Many people think of Christians as being morally decent people who are usually church-goers.  Paul starts by correcting this view.  A Christian is someone who lives under the authority of the Lord Jesus.  A person can be a pleasant decent person and even go to church and never have submitted to the rule of Jesus in their personal life.  The letter begins,

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus . . . to the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae. . .  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus . . .” Colossians 1:1-4

Any discussion about ‘What is a Christian?’ must centre on the person of Jesus?  Paul here describes him as ‘The Christ’, as ‘the Lord’ and as the ‘Son of God’.  This is crucial.  The Christian story centres on who Jesus is and what he entered this world to do.

The word ‘Christ’ is derived from the Greek word ‘Christos.’  This means the same as the Old Testament word “Messiah.’  The Messiah is a person that keeps being mentioned throughout the Old Testament.  He is ‘God’s anointed one’ or ‘God’s chosen King’, who is foreseen as entering this world to rule over all for eternity.  He would be recognised by his pedigree, by his birthplace, by his teaching, by the miracles he performs and ultimately by his coming back to life after death.  His followers would be welcomed into the Kingdom of God and will be forgiven all their sins against God.  Jesus himself claimed to be this Messiah and to have fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies!

When Mark wrote his gospel, using the information Peter gave him, his opening line summarises what he wants to substantiate.

“The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark 1:1

Our word ‘gospel’ is derived from the old English word ‘god-speil’ which literally means ‘good news.’  The coming of God into his world as a person is very great news.  In order to communicate with mankind God entered his world as a unique human being – that is the claim of the whole Bible.

A headmaster wrote the following in his autobiography,

“I was happy in conversation with boys always to tell them what ideal behaviour was and where selfishness, cruelty and exploitation lay, but unwilling to talk of the very centre of Christianity, the meaning of the cross, because I found it at times repugnant and in part beyond belief.  With this semi religion I was able to live with some contentment, but I knew well that it was ‘non-infectious’.  That if what I believed was all Christianity amounted to, it would attract few.  I knew that our Lord did not walk about Palestine beginning a world revolution, by saying,

“Come along everyone, be nice to everybody, be truthful, be honest.  No he spoke of repentance, of salvation from sin, of conversion.”

How right this headmaster is.  The Christian message is that God entered this world as a person and now the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of God, is at work. He enables individuals to recognise the rebellion against God that is in us all, and draws us to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of any who turn to him.  When we respond, his Spirit enters our life and begins the radical change in our characters.  The Holy Spirit wants us to be forgiven, to join God’s kingdom and then begin the process of becoming like Jesus and so enjoying the life he want for us.

This is the message that the churches must pass on.  The first words the great Bible teacher, C.H. Spurgeon, gave when he first entered the pulpit of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, in London were very significant,

“I would propose that the subject of the ministry of this house, as long as this platform shall stand, and as long as this house shall be frequented by worshipers, shall be the person of Jesus Christ. I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist; I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist; but if I am asked what is my creed, I reply, "It is Jesus Christ." My venerated predecessor, Dr. Gill, has left a [theological heritage] admirable and excellent in its way. But the [legacy] to which I would pin and bind myself forever, God helping me,...is Jesus Christ, who is the arm and substance of the gospel, who is in Himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth.”

The gospel is true

What is purported to be good news is not necessarily true but here Paul emphasises that the Christian story is true and dependable, is evidence based, and that the accounts we have about Jesus are really true.  Paul stresses,

“. . . that you have already heard about in the word of truth.” Colossians 1:5

“. . . and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” Colossians 1:6

That this message, passed on by the apostles, has all the markings of being true can be discovered by anyone who investigates the evidence.  A good place to start is to read through John’s gospel.  It is significant that those who are not serious in their search for answers will rarely take this up. Investigators may like to ask for and read the article, ‘Are the Gospels Reliable?’ that looks at some of the evidence that the four gospels we have were really written under the auspices of the apostles and are true accounts of what Jesus said and did.  The evidence is very strong that the Christian faith started suddenly and then spread very rapidly, in spite of marked opposition, during the first century AD.

The gospel is spread by people

Jesus described the Christian message as a seed and here Paul takes up this metaphor.  The message about Jesus was brought to the people of Colossae by a man called Epaphras, who himself was a native of Colossae.  We do not know when he heard the gospel but it may have been when Paul spent over two and a half years teaching in nearby Ephesus.  Paul had had daily discussions there in a hall owned by a schoolmaster, appropriately called Tyrannus.  Clearly one aspect of the early teaching about Jesus and his kingdom was the need for ordinary people who have become Christians to pass on the good news to others.

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant . . .” Colossians 1:6

So the gospel is a true story about what Jesus said and did.  It can be investigated and tested – is the story coherent historically and does Christ’s message resonate with all that we instinctively know?

What a tragedy it is that so few people understand the Christian message today., but they have never been told.  A recent survey revealed that of the 144 evangelical mission agencies based in the United Kingdom only 56 prioritise the sharing of the gospel about Jesus, 88 do not.  The percentage of our local churches and Christians that prioritise evangelism is even smaller.

The gospel is effective

David Hamilton who was deeply involved in the loyalist reaction against the IRA in Northern Ireland.  He had murdered, shot, injured and burnt the homes of those he considered to be the enemies of Northern Ireland’s union with Great Britain.  He became a Christian when in the Maze prison and became a changed man who spends his time telling people that God can change them too.

I have also just read about a doctor in Italy who has been immersed in caring for people with the Corona virus.  He and his fellow doctors were firm atheists but the troubles led them to realise how much we all need God and he, for one, has become a believer.  Throughout history a major appeal that the gospel has made has been when people see the changes that occur when people turn to Christ.  They now have a higher authority that guides how they behave and they inevitably change to become more like Jesus their Lord.

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” Colossians 1:6

“ . . . in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every good way; bearing fruit in every good work. . .” Colossians 1:10

Note again that a Christian is someone who is convinced who Jesus is and is therefore committed to living for him and his glory.  Any person who does not have this relationship with Jesus themselves is probably not yet a saved person, not yet a Christian.  This relationship, like a good marriage, is permanent and our Lord gives us the power of his Spirit to enable us to keep going on faithfully.

“ . . . being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves . . .” Colossians 1:11

It is the Lord Jesus who has paid the price for us to become members of his kingdom and it is he who empowers his people to change into the likeness of Jesus.  It is he who gives us great joy.

The Bible’s message is so powerful.  Mahatma Ghandi was speaking to a group of missionaries when he felt compelled to remind them about their priority,

“You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisations apart, to turn our world upside down, to bring peace to this battle-torn planet – but you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature.”

Martin Luther recognised the power that the God’s gospel has, a power that could overthrow any human dynasty such as the power of the papacy in Rome.

“I simply taught, preached and wrote God’s word – otherwise I did nothing.  And then, while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor ever inflicted such loses on it.  I did nothing.  The word did everything.”

Faith in God makes great optimists. Adoniram Judson, one of the earliest missionaries to Burma, was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, with a sneer on his face.

“Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?”

His instant reply was,

"The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."

The gospel offers great privileges

When a person recognises who Jesus is and submits to his rule in their life, he is given, as a free gift, a new status.  He is forgiven for all the sin that has marked his life in the past.  They are forgotten by God and so he asks us to do the same.  He is adopted into God’s own family and becomes a member of God’s kingdom.  There can be no greater privilege than this.

“. . . and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

Doesn’t this thrill you?

Because we are forgiven God promised us admission to heaven.  James Packer wrote in his book, ‘The Father Loves You’,

“We know very little about heaven, but I once heard a theologian describe it as ‘an unknown region with a well-known inhabitant,’ and there is not a better way to think of it than that.”

Richard Baxter, a minister in Cromwell’s time, expresses the thought of heaven with these words:

“My knowledge of that life is small,

The eye of faith is dim,

But it's enough that Christ knows all,

And I shall be with him.”

To those who have learned to love and trust Jesus, the prospect of meeting him face to face and being with him forever is the hope that keeps us going, no matter what life may throw at us.

The gospel is Jesus

Paul now returns to emphasise the centrality of Jesus - everything revolves around Jesus.

Paul writes that Jesus is:

Creator

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:15-17

This is clearly describing the God who created ‘the heavens and the earth.’  Jesus is one with that being.  He is God.  When we look at a beautiful person, a beautiful garden, an inspiring landscape, we should be saying, thank you Lord Jesus for all of this.  To think like this is to worship him.

Sustainer

Our health and very existence is sustained by Jesus, who existed before the world was formed.  Without him everything would collapse.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17

Ruler

Jesus Christ is the loving ruler of his people.  They now live as he wants and he will take them to live with him in eternity.  His resurrection proves that this gospel is true.  He promises that those who die holding to their faith in the Lord Jesus will be raised to live with him eternally, those who do not belong to him will also be raised but will be separated from every good thing God offers, and that will be hell.

“And he is the head of the body, the church;  he is the beginning, and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:18

How foolish it is for people to say that they are Christians when they don’t permit Jesus to reign supremely in their everyday lives.

The God who saves

Paul summarises this brief description of who Jesus is by combining who Jesus is with what he came to achieve.

“God was pleased to have all his fulness dwell in him, and though him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Colossians 1:19-20

This is a God who exemplifies love.  He wants everything to be unified and working together for God’s ends.  If a whole range of musical instruments are accurately tuned to one tuning fork they will all play together harmoniously.  When everything in the universe is tuned to our maker, all will again be harmonious.  That will be heaven.

There is a problem however.  What should a just God do with sin?  He cannot just overlook it and say, ‘It doesn’t matter’ because he is righteous and hates sin.  His answer was to pay for it himself by entering this world and dying in our place, as our substitute.  Such extreme love has never been repeated.  He gave his life, knowing that he would return to life, for those who were initially opposed to his rule, so that they could be forgiven.  Paul continues:

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation . . .” Colossians 1:21-23

Those who have turned to Christ, that is those who believe in him, are given the status of being righteous in God’s eyes simply because we belong to his Son.

I had a patient who was terminally ill but who had just become a Christian.  She was transferred to the local hospice and I visited her there.  I felt it was important for her to be reminded of her standing before God and to be assured of her future with him.  I wrote her name in bold writing on a piece of paper and then, lifting up my Bible, said,

“Let this Bible represent the Lord Jesus.  You have committed your life to him so you are now ‘in Christ.’

I then placed the piece of paper, with her name on, in between the leaves of the Bible to represent this idea of being ‘in Christ’ and then closed it, saying,

“You are now in Christ, so when God sees you he doesn’t see your sins, he only sees you through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus in whom you stand.  Because of what Jesus did on the cross you have been completely forgiven, you have been given the righteousness of Christ.  Furthermore, Jesus has gone to heaven to live there with his Father.  Because you are in Christ, you also will go to be with him in heaven.”

The response God demands

When a couple get married they have to learn to live in harmony with each other.  God has given us everything we need to make our relationship with him work out well.  If it doesn’t the fault is not his!  He asks us to determine to earnestly live as he wants, living in a close relationship with him for the rest of our lives.  The only condition God lays on us is that we must remain in Christ; outside of Christ there is no salvation,

“ . . . if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.  This is the gospel that you heard and has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Colossians 1:23

No-one becomes a Christian by being brought up in a Christian family, or by participating in church rituals such as baptism, confirmation or communion.  These are only valid actions if they reflect a genuine personal commitment to the Lord Jesus as my God and my Saviour and my everyday Lord.

We need Jesus to explain our existence, to forgive us for how we have treated our creator and others, to empower us to live as God wants, to give us a purpose for our lives as well as a hope for after this life. Augustine summarised the place that faith should have in our lives.

“God does not expect us to submit our faith in him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity.”

We all need to return to the God who created us and entered this world to save us, to do so rescues us from a life rebelling against God to a life spent enjoyably living for him instead of for ourselves.  What great news we have to share!

BVP   

Matthew 7:13-14. “Life is a Journey to Somewhere”

We are all on a journey through life.

The Large Gate and the Broad Road

Imagine a large gate at the start of a broad thoroughfare.  The entrance is so easy to find.  It is so easy to travel along this road.  There are lots of people on it.  Any baggage you want can come with you.  You don’t have to leave anything behind.  Indeed it seems the natural thing to enter this gate and travel this road.  You can just ‘go with the crowd’.  It costs nothing.  However there is a problem.  That faded signpost says, ‘To destruction – to hell.’

On the wide road you can keep doing your own thing and follow whatever foibles you enjoy.  You can gossip, cheat, enjoy pornography, be lazy and even lie.  On this road there is plenty of room for everyone so long as you don’t say one thing is right and another is wrong.  On this road it is acceptable for everyone to have their own opinions about what is right and wrong.

The wide road imposes few boundaries on our thinking or conduct.  On this road all you must do is accept that moral issues are controlled by consensus, the majority view, and not by God.  It is no coincidence that when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, the one thing they were forbidden to do was to ‘eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’.  The lesson is that only God has the right to decide what is right and what is wrong.

But, as many have experienced, journeying on this road is consistently unsatisfying.  The adverts of Satan are lies.  All immorality carries a heavy price later.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said,

“For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ” Matthew 7:13

Most people, in practice, have chosen to travel this road.  You’ll be with friends who think the same as you.  But do take note of what Jesus says, this road comes to an abrupt end, to an abyss and there is no way back from there.  This is the road that ends in destruction.

The Narrow Gate and the Narrow Road

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 5:14

How significant this little word ‘but’ is.  The contrast is with the road the majority are on.  The gate is tiny.  You can see it as a turning off the broad road.  The road beyond this gate is narrow too.  The gate is so narrow that you cannot take any baggage through, you, and you alone, can pass.

The Sermon of the Mount started with what we call the ‘Beatitudes’.  They start,

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit.”

I must accept that I am spiritually bankrupt in God’s eyes.  I have nothing of worth to offer God.  The second beatitude is about the sense of sin.

“Blessed are those who mourn.”

We mourn because we are not behaving in the way God has intended us to live.

A friend has sometimes taken me to watch Spurs play at their old White Hart Lane stadium.  To enter you have to show your ticket and then pass through a very tight turnstile that you have to squeeze through.  It is a picture of entering God’s kingdom.  We have to have a ticket that comes through turning to Christ and we cannot take any baggage with us.

It is hard to have to admit how selfish and rebellious we are and that we have nothing to offer God to make us acceptable to him.  Yet we must accept this about ourselves as this is the only way into God’s kingdom.

The narrow road ahead remains narrow, it doesn’t broaden out.  However we still do naturally like to wander along the edges of the path and not stick to the centre.  Yet Jesus says,

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

The Tripartite Gospel

The world’s religions tend to be a means of controlling societies by giving them both an ethic to live by and a reason for living that way. It is often taught that it is man’s responsibility to live such a good life that God will be satisfied with him. It is true that the ethics taught in most religious societies overlap; most teach the need for honesty, family values and hard work. The Bible is unique in that it teaches that man, on his own, can never satisfy the holy God who created us, it teaches that salvation must be won for him and then accepted as a gift.

The Bible says that mankind’s essential problem is sin. We need to be forgiven for this, our innate rebellion against God, and we need to be empowered to live in a way that pleases him. Neither of these can we do for ourselves. We need a Saviour who can achieve these for us. These three facts are precisely what the Christian gospel gives us, and that other religions do not, as the following passages confirm.

John the Baptist’s tripartite message

One of the reasons many people today find it hard to talk about Jesus is that they do not know what to say. Many preachers could learn from the emphasis of John the Baptist. Everything he said centred on Jesus. It is Jesus that mattered to him. But note who John says that Jesus is and what he wants to do for people. It is difficult to find three better sentences to summarise the gospel than the three that John the Baptist uses.

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

“He is the one who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” John 1:32

“This is the Son of God.” John 1:34

This is the Christian gospel in a nutshell. Jesus, who was sent to this earth by his heavenly Father, came to forgive our sin and to empower us to live a new, godly life.

Jesus’ tripartite message

Jesus and subsequently his apostles taught the same message.

a. Sin is our greatest problem

The greatest work of God was to send his son to repair the broken relationship between us and himself, a relationship that has been broken because of our natural rebellion against him, our sin. This rebellion, called sin, results in many different symptoms called sins. These include selfishness, pride, lying, stealing, promiscuity and the like. In the Old Testament this rupture was symbolically repaired by the offering of animal sacrifices. A lamb would take responsibility for the sin of a people or family and would then be killed as their substitute. These sacrifices had to be repeated again and again, so indicating their symbolism. This reminded people that sin, rebellion against the one true God, was the most serious of all their failings but that a final remedy was coming in the form of God’s Messiah. This is a problem that we are all born with.

“There is no-one righteous, not even one; there is no-one who understands, no-one seeks God.” Romans 3:10-11

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

b. The only remedy is Jesus the Christ

John the Baptist introduces Jesus as God’s own son who has come as the remedy for the problem of our sin. John the Baptist concluded,

“I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34

When saying how he was to be the remedy, he is surely alluding to the great prophecy in Isaiah that depicts what the Messiah, God’s suffering servant, would enter this world to do.

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:4-9

If Jesus is not part of the God who created us and has entered his world in the flesh, then his death cannot atone for our sin. Only the person sinned against can forgive.

Jesus said to a paralysed man, just before healing him,

“Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5

The teachers of the law who were present recognised the significance of what Jesus had said, saying,

“Why does this fellow talk like that. He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone.” Mark 2:7

The greatest need we all have is to be forgiven before it is too late, before we come face to face with our maker in judgment. Jesus alone has the authority to forgive us because of who he is. It is vital therefore to know for certain whether the penalty for our sin has been taken from us. To say, ‘I hope so,” suggests that a person is unsure and therefore at great risk. However, if Jesus has become the focus of our life and has taken control, he has given us the promise that we have been forgiven because he has already paid the price for our sin on his cross. John the apostle wants us all to be certain. At the end of his gospel John explained why he had written his gospel, he wants people to be certain they have been forgiven and reminds us how this comes about,

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

Jesus came ‘to take away the sin of the world’. Yet how many today pass by Jesus and his cross although this is their only hope.

c. Jesus empowers his people

The same divine Jesus, who takes responsibility for our sin, then drenches us in the life of God, he baptises us with the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that the two works of God in us come simultaneously. The ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit’ is not a second blessing. The work of Christ is both to forgive our sins and to baptise us with the Holy Spirit. When I come to Christ to be forgiven my sin, he gives me the gift of the Holy Spirit as evidence that I have been forgiven. No-one is yet forgiven if the life of the Holy Spirit is not developing in them. The apostle Paul wrote emphatically,

“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9

Forgiveness and empowerment go together. Although we call John, the cousin of Jesus, ‘John the Baptist’, it is in reality Jesus who is The Baptist. John only baptised symbolically with water, whereas Jesus gives us the reality, the power of God to live new godly lives for him.

d. Jesus is for all

The apostle John has already made it clear who the message about Jesus is for,

“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9

It is clear throughout the Bible that this message about Jesus being the ‘Saviour of the World’ is for people of all nations and for all classes of society.

How do people receive these gifts of forgiveness and empowering? The answer is simple, by entering into a personal relationship with Jesus, asking him to be both your Saviour and Lord. His empowering then enables us to live this new life with him in control. The apostle explains this,

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed on his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

This new life as a member of God’s kingdom begins with an individual coming to Christ, recognising his sin.

The tragedy is that most people do not know of this because we have not shared it with them.

People may have received water baptism, perhaps as a baby, but are uncertain whether they have been forgiven and are not being changed by the Holy Spirit into becoming like Jesus, with his character and ambitions. It is irrelevant whether we carry an Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist or other label, these groups cannot save us, only a personal relationship with Jesus can do that.

God has given us his Holy Spirit so that our lives will be on fire for him. Isn’t this why, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down on the whole church as ‘tongues of fire’?

There are some who have asked Jesus into their life but have not noticed a great change. Many years ago, a short man called Mr Falconer was working as a missionary to the sailors at Port Chalmers in New Zealand. He had just finished a short service for the seamen, which was held in a large loft used to store the ship’s sails. A young sailor, Frank Bullen, stayed behind to talk. Frank explained that he did believe and had prayed a prayer of commitment to Jesus as his Saviour and Lord, but no obvious change had occurred. He felt no assurance that he had been accepted by God. Mr Falconer read him one of the important sayings of Jesus:

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24

‘Ah, I see how it is,’ exclaimed Mr Falconer, ‘you are waiting for the witness of your feelings to the truth of him who is himself the Truth. You dare not take him at his word unless your feelings, which are subject to a thousand changes a day, corroborate it. You must believe him in spite of your feelings and act accordingly.’

Frank Bullen recorded many years later:

’In a moment the hidden mystery was made clear to me, and I said quietly, “I see, sir; it is the credibility of God against the witness of my feelings. Then I believe God!”

’Let us thank God,’ answered the little missionary and they knelt down and prayed. Little more was said. There was no extravagant joy, or effervescent enthusiasm, but just a quiet satisfaction of having ‘found one’s way after a long groping in darkness and misery’.

The real proof that the Holy Spirit is active is the presence of a new priority—a desire to live for and with Jesus! If anyone is unsure about how they stand with God, start again and open or reopen your life to God. He wants you to know that your sin has been forgiven, that you have been obviously given the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that you can go out confidently into God’s world to live for him.

The tripartite gospel

This tripartite gospel that the Son of God, the Messiah would enter this world, would die as the ultimate sacrifice for sin and would empower his people by baptising them in the Holy Spirit of God can be found throughout the Bible

John 3

Nicodemus was an eminent Jewish scholar who sat on the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews. He knew all about the need for an animal sacrifice to take responsibility for people’s sin. Yet his religious status and understanding were not sufficient to admit him into the kingdom of God. He did not understand that Jesus was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” or that Jesus was the person who will baptise his people with the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus talked to Nicodemus he explained how a person can enter the Kingdom of God. A kingdom requires a king. The whole Old Testament is about the coming of the Messiah, God’s chosen king, into his world.

“Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3

Jesus repeats this three times to make the point absolutely clear.

“I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:5

“You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’. John 3:7

Notice the emphasis Jesus gives. ‘I tell you the truth’ is a phrase Jesus used when he wanted to emphasise something strongly. ‘Must’ leaves no room for doubt - even good religious people ‘must’ be born again to enter God’s kingdom.

What is this ‘kingdom of God’? It is a phrase commonly used by the writers of the first three gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke but seldom by John. John usually speaks more of ‘eternal life’. A kingdom speaks of the rule of a king. It is a dynamic relationship. God’s kingdom is entered when we become subjects of King Jesus, but will be fully experienced later when the king returns. Matthew, Mark and Luke look forward to this fulfilment a lot. John emphasises what God gives to his people now – eternal life when they become followers of the King.

Here Jesus speaks to Nicodemus in terms of God’s kingdom. If he wants to see the kingdom of God – then he must be born again and accept the king, yes, even a man such as Nicodemus must submit. The king has arrived, his kingdom has now begun, and he is still not a member of it.

Nicodemus is puzzled even though Jesus is using Old Testament language that is clearly found in Ezekiel’s prophecy.

Ezekiel 36

In Ezekiel, God describes the new beginning that God will give to his people.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” Ezekiel 36:25

Ezekiel is saying that God himself will wash away peoples’ sin and give them a new spirit that will enable them to live as he wants.

In John chapter 3, Jesus is repeating Ezekiel’s message. In the Kingdom of God, God will cleanse his people from all their sin and furthermore, he will give us his Spirit so that we will want to live for God. Ezekiel is also talking of the tripartite gospel.

I recently attended a conference of a missionary society. One of its striking features was the way many of these missionaries were so content and satisfied, even though they were working in very tough areas with little or no public recognition. Their ambitions were different to those of many religious people, they really wanted to live for God and not themselves.

A minister asked a young boy in his church this profound question,

“What do you have to do to go to heaven?”

He thought for a moment before replying,

“You’ve got to die.”

How true this reply was. Clearly no-one can experience heaven until we have died physically. However to be admitted to God’s kingdom we have to die to self now. Paul understood this,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God (Jesus) who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Nicodemus, for you to be admitted to God’s Kingdom you must die to self and be born again.

It is a popular misconception that if we are pleasant, moral, religious people then God will look favourably on us when the judgment comes. This is not true. Nicodemus had to learn this, just as all religious people today must understand this.

Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah also looked forward to the time when a new covenant would be established by the Lord with his people. This also describes the Tripartite Gospel but in the reverse order.

“‘This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.” Jeremiah 31:33

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34

When will this new covenant be introduced and who will introduce it? Jeremiah has already explained that this will happen when God’s Messiah enters his world. This Messiah will be called ‘The LORD’. Whenever the word Jehovah is translated into English the four letters are all in capitals – LORD.

“The days are coming,’ declares the LORD ‘when I will rise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD our righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:5-6

The Lord has promised that he will always have a people to represent him, they will be the descendants of Abraham because they share his faith.

Luke 24

After Jesus’ resurrection, when he appeared to his disciples in the upper room, he showed them how everything that had happened to him had been prophesied about in the Jewish Scriptures. He emphasised the essentail threefold core of the Christian message. The Bible’s message centres on why he, God’s chosen king, the Messiah or Christ, the Son of God would treated in the way he was.

“This is what is written, ‘The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.’ “ Luke 24:46

The significance of this for those who accept his rule is clear,

“ . . . and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” Luke 24:48

God knows that for anyone to continue living for Christ they will need God’s power and this is what Jesus emphasises next,

“I am going to send you what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

This power, to live Godly lives for Christ, comes from the gift of the Holy Spirit whom all Christians are given.

Acts 2

When Peter gave his first sermon seven weeks after the death and resurrection of Jesus he explained to the crowds gathered in Jerusalem that when they heard the disciples explaining the gospel in their own languages they were witnessing an extraordinary miracle caused by the Holy Spirit being poured out on Jesus’ followers. The Holy Spirit always points people to Jesus and this is what Peter proceeds to do. He describes Jesus as God’s Messiah. Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Messiah.

“God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36

When the people heard this they were ‘cut to the heart’ and asked the apostles, ‘What shall we do?’ Peter responds using the same tripartite good news, Jesus is the Lord God, he forgives our sin and he baptises us in the Holy Spirit.

“Repent and be baptised every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

Galatians

When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he begins by stressing the first two points of the tripartite gospel,

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age. Galatians 1:3-4

Later in the book Paul emphasises the work of the Holy Spirit.

“Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or believing what you heard. After beginning with the Spirit, are you trying to obtain your goal by human effort.” Galatians 3:2-3

Again an apostle stresses the tripartite gospel. Jesus is Lord, who gave himself for our sins and gives us the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians

Paul again emphasises the tripartite gospel starting with an emphasis on the divinity of Jesus,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

He then emphasises the forgiveness of our sin that Jesus has won for us,

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins . . .” Ephesians 1:7

Paul then moves on to the empowerment and guarantee that Christians are given,

“Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

Titus

Paul again links all three aspects of the gospel,

“But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, who he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 3:3-6

Peter

In his second letter, Peter also emphasises the tripartite aspects of the gospel. Firstly he stresses that Jesus is divine.

“To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours.” 2 Peter 1:1

He continues,

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him.” 2 Peter 1:3

These gifts are given so that,

“. . . through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

The gospel is that the divine Son of God entered this world to die for our sin and to empower his people to become like him.

In the past there have been movements that have emphasised ‘The Full Gospel’. These movements wanted to emphasise the three aspects of the Christian gospel that the Bible so clearly emphasises but then they want to add something. This addition is about how the Holy Spirit will be experienced, and they stress such gifts as supernatural healing, tongues of angels, words of knowledge, and the like. The Bible stresses that God is a supernatural God who can break the laws of nature if he wants but he does not do this at man’s beck and call. The Bible does urge us to ‘test the spirits’, we must not be gullible.

“Dear Friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

“Test everything.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

It is apparent that many who claim to have supernatural ‘gifts of the Spirit’ do so for their own ends.

We must be careful however to emphasise that God is just as alive today as he has ever been and his Holy Spirit is changing people’s lives today as he has always done. In the gospel, because of the coming the Lord Jesus Christ, his followers are forgiven, have been washed of their sins and simultaneously have been baptised in the Holy Spirit to enable us to live new lives that honour our God and redeemer.

BVP