Our Study on Galatains

We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM at the Courtyard-Marriott in Willoughby, Ohio. Our Wednesday evening meetings are a time of Bible study, discussion, fellowship and prayer. The theme of the basis of our relationship with God was the focus of our recent study on Galatians. Paul wrote the letter of Galatians to deal with the false teaching that had invaded that church and tempted those believers to forsake the gospel. Paul reminded them and us that we are constantly tempted to resort to earning favor with God by doing things. The false teachers that came to Galatia agreed that believers should believe in Jesus for salvation but that they should also add to their belief certain good works to show their faith and commitment. By performing these religious observances the false teachers reasoned that true believers would have true or full justification in God’s sight. Those false teachers taught that early Christians should keep the Old Testament laws and ordinances – those that were identified with the nation of the Jews. In essence, these Judaizers were teaching that Gentile believers needed to keep covenant with God in order to maintain their justification.

This point should not be lost on contemporary believers who hear of the so called Federal Vision movement in reformed churches. These contemporary false teaches have a similar problem that the first century false teachers did in Paul’s eyes. First century Judaizers taught that keeping covenant with God required observance of Old Testament ceremonies. Contemporary Federal Vision men teach that keeping New Testament ordinances maintains one’s justification. The believer’s justification is not based on anything that he does but all on Christ. It can be granted that one’s justification is proven or demonstrated visibly by his change of life and use of the means of grace. But these good works are in no wise meritorious.

Paul’s concerns are applicable to the issue of Federal Vision. “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal 3:3) and “…even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Gal 2:16b). This applies to any law keeping whether it be Old Testament or New Testament. Certainly God requires believers to live holy lives and to observe his ordinances. But such things do not and can not merit favor with God nor add to or maintain one’s justification. Justification is a singular act of God based solely on the work of Jesus Christ.

Tim Keller’s bible study on Galatians (www.redeemer.com) that we used doesn’t address the Federal Vision issue I’ve mentioned. However, Tim shows us that we all tend to fall back to trying earn favor with God by doing things. This is man centered religion which is opposed to God and Christ centered faith. Justification by faith is simply that. One is justified wholly and completely in Christ and received by faith. The realization of the Bible’s teaching on justification gives us freedom, assurance, and confidence. Come join us and find out the joy of the gospel! The gospel changes our relationship with God and with others.

Back with Two Objectives

I took a long hiatus from my posts due to time constraints and to reconsider what I wanted to accomplish on this blog. After prayerful reflection it seems that I should attempt two things here. One objective would be to share a bit of the riches God has for believers in Jesus Christ through the gospel. This would be a means to introduce to you what we are about at Lake OPC. We want you to get a vision of a reformed and Presbyterian church. As people committed to reformed and Presbyterian principles we are passionate about the gospel. We are really committed to the scriptures. We want you catch what we are about so you might be encouraged to join us.

Secondly, I thought it would be helpful to share some of what we are learning from the scriptures so that you might derive some benefit from that teaching and discussion also. Perhaps you might even feel compelled to interact with me here. We want to see the whole bible taught and lived in the lives of Christian believers. I believe that God has spoken in his word, the Bible, to give us knowledge of God and of his will that is necessary for salvation from God’s just judgment of our sin. Salvation is not a matter of keeping rules but of truly knowing God and being in fellowship with him.

The Bible teaches that we come to know God and have reconciled fellowship with him through his son, Jesus Christ. Most of us will admit that we are estranged or separated from one other whether in our marriages, our relations to our children, our relations to neighbors, co-workers, even in relations to others at church. At root is our separation from true fellowship with God. People have attempted reconciliation with God through religious observance – giving God his due so to speak or more recently seeking an emotional experience. Feeling close to God emotionally through a group experience of moving music and celebration fades like any other temporal emotion. Enduring reconciliation and fellowship is founded on objective promises and commitments. God has given us those things in the work of Jesus Christ, his son. When we find that we are accepted as righteous in Christ apart from anything we can do we have a whole new reason for living and really, for living a holy life. We aren’t trying earn God’s favor but rather we are living in free thankfulness to God. Being a Christian isn’t easy because it is opposed to our sinful and selfish way of thinking and living. Being a Christian is an exciting way of living in a new sense of freedom from guilt and trying to earn favor from God and others. The gospel is great news and that is what we want to communicate in word and deed at Lake OPC in Cleveland!

New Location

Here I am teaching the bible study. We meet on Wednesdays at 7 PM. We have a NEW location. We are meeting at the Courtyard - Marriott in Willoughby, Ohio just off I-91 and S.R. 91. The motel is on Maple Grove Rd just north of the interstate.

Why not come and check us out? We'd be happy to meet you!

Lake Presbyterian Church - OPC - an outreach of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church on Cleveland's east side!

Acceptance and Justification by Faith

In our Wednesday evening bible study we have been working through Paul's letter to the Galatians. The theme of this book of the bible is the wonder and truth of the truth of justification by faith alone. The doctrine of "Justification by faith alone" is a reformation truth. It is as powerful today as it was then...and certainly as it was in Paul's day. Just as then (both in the time of the reformation and in Paul's day) this truth of the gospel is not understood very well.

You'd think that after two thousand years the Church would keep this truth straight and communicate it well. You'd think that after two thousand years Christians would understand this wonderful truth. But, the Church is made up of new generations of sinners. Sinners always try to measure their acceptance to God by their efforts. Even when we understand that we are accepted by faith in Christ we often measure ourselves by our efforts in sanctification. Paul argues in Galatians that we can't perfect ourselves by the flesh or works of the law (3:3). Paul ISN'T saying that the law of God is of no use to the believer or that believers can live contrary to it as God's standard. That would be opposite to the goal of gospel, redemption from sin and holiness before God.

What Paul is after is the freedom we have from trying earn God's favor on any level. We can not earn God's favor for him to save us. We can only by accepted by God by faith in Christ's work for us. We can not earn God's favor to remain acceptable to him. Christ Jesus is our sanctification.

So this New Year are you a Christian? If not, what will you do with your guilt? We all are guilty because we all know that we fail God and others - especially the ones we love. Only Christ can pay the full penalty for your guilt. All other religions try to get you to work off your guilt by substituting religious efforts. The Bible teaches that Jesus became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13). This is only "work" we need...belief in Jesus as our substitute (John 6:29). It is Jesus' works not ours for we can not earn anything before God (Romans 4:4,5).

If you are a Christian - that is you believe in Christ and that he died for your sins - do you still have guilt? Sure, we all sin. We are not fully perfected yet. Do you feel weighed down by guilt and so question your acceptance before God today? Do you feel you just don't measure up? Do you feel you just can't live a Christian life anymore? Read Galatians. Remind yourself of the great truth of justification by faith alone in Christ alone! Christianity isn't about doing things. Its about believing things and living a life free in faith. Yes, we still deal with sin. There must be a change in our lives. The change comes by the Holy Spirit applying the work of Christ to every area of our lives. We need to believe that and live it. We aren't accepted by God because we've done certain things or kept God's law. We are accepted by God only by faith in Christ's work for us. When Christ lives in us by faith we live in him.

This New Year resolve to live by faith in Christ Jesus. Quit the habit of trying to earn favor with God by your own efforts. You'll never measure up!

Scripture, myths, and doubt

An interesting article is available at http://www.rpts.edu/pres_news_article.asp?articleid=37 where a friend of mine debunks many modern myths about the nativity narratives in the gospels.

Many Christians have joined the chorus of doubters about the Bible's teaching of the facts regarding the birth of Jesus Christ. Part of the reformation heritage is a strong belief, scholarly defense, and consistent application of the authority of the Bible. Too many of us have given up ground to naysayers and pseudo-scholars who have no belief in the Bible anymore. I am not talking about a mere defensive reaction to liberals but a robust and confident trust in the God of scripture and the scripture of God. Indeed, if we believe in Jesus as Lord and savior then we ought to believe in the word of God too for John 1 tells us that Jesus is the WORD of God. Belief in the scriptures as God's full revelation of himself and his will for our salvation is included in our belief of Jesus. The two concepts, belief in Jesus and belief in the scriptures go together.

May you join the chorus of the heavenly hosts in your heart and life as they sang, "Glory to God in the highest!" this year instead of the "doubting choir.

Faith & Worship

Wow, its been a while since I've posted here. Its been about 3,000 miles plus a trip to Dallas, TX! I've been traveling a bit but I want to get back to thinking about a reformed and Presbyterian church in the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. What makes Christian worship different? What makes worship at Lake OPC different?

Many people are looking for something more meaningful or perhaps more spiritually satisfying in worship. Some have thought that we need to adapt to the times. This has been the motivation for much of the contemporary worship movement and even the "emerging church" movement.

I think we need to constantly re-apply the gospel and principles of worship to our times. More importantly we need to use God's means. After all it is God's worship, not ours. God centered worship means more than just having God as the focus. It is using God's ways or means. The reformers of the 16th century wanted the church to be founded on the eternal principles of God's word not on the changing ideas of men. As we think about worship, the reformers helped us to identify the "means of grace." These are essentially the elements of worship; the Word of God (read and preached), the sacraments (Baptism & Lord's Supper), and prayer. These means actually and really communicate the benefits of redemption in Christ to the believer.

The way in which this is accomplished is through the instrument of faith. Faith is the instrument by which we receive all the benefits of Christ's work. Through faith we are justified in Christ. Through faith we receive the benefits of Christ's work. What I mean then is that we must use the means; the word, sacraments, and prayer, by faith. We must therefore come believingly into worship. So the writer of Hebrews writes, "Without faith it is impossible to please him (God), for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Heb. 11:6).

If you want more spiritually satisfying worship you don't need to do different things or modernize worship. You need to come to worship by faith. God has appointed the means for us to come to him in Christ. These are divinely powerful through faith. Too often we don't come to worship with belief. We want something we can hear, touch, feel. We need that which is truly spiritual and divinely powerful. Too often our worship is faithless. We can perform a lot of outward rituals or activity which seem like worshipful things. Paul writes about this in Colossians 2:20-23. Real worship is faithful worship or rather, worship through faith. Come and visit us at Lake OPC. We emphasize God's means. Your faith will be strengthened.

More on Worship and John 4

When I preached from John 4 I noted that in verses 21 & 22 Jesus spoke about worship being regulated by God's word, "we worship what we know." The other idea that Jesus talks about in John 4 is that true worship is in spirit and in truth. In John 4:23,24 Jesus argues that because God is spirit worship must be in spirit and truth. We can understand it this way, the purpose defines the design. Worship isn't about us, it is about God. If worship is about God then it should reflect God's character and desires. It must be appropriate to God. In fact, what is more radical is that God adapts us to himself. He makes us unrighteous sinners who are spiritually dead alive by and in the spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, so that we can worship spiritually!

So, there are false worshipers. Those that worship a god of their own mind. Jesus calls believers to be true worshipers. True worshipers worship the father. That is, true worshipers are those adopted by the father in Christ. They have the benefit of adoption - an act of God that is the result of justification. True worshipers are spiritually God's children.

What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? We've seen that worship in truth is worship that is according to God's word not man's ideas. Worship in the spirit doesn't mean without regulation as like a sort of free or uncontrolled worship. This would contradict the worship in truth idea. Spiritual worship doesn't mean emotional, passionate, or even characterized by the miraculous. In fact all these descriptions of spiritual worship are external. Jesus over and over chided the Jews with looking only for the miraculous or the external (see John 6:26,27). Spiritual worship is focused on spiritual realities in Christ. Old Testament worship was external with spiritual meaning. New Testament worship is powered from the changed heart and the spiritual realities of being in Christ by faith. New Testament worship should openly reveal spiritual truth.

Christ encourages us to think of God, the focus of worship. He is spirit. He isn't defined by earthly forms. God certainly made us human beings in flesh but we are also spiritual creatures. God does not delight in the things that bring pleasure to our fleshly natures. Beautiful buildings, comfortable seats, rousing music or instruments that please our ears are not necessary to worship nor even necessarily pleasing to God. God wants us to sing but the idea is make a joyful noise (a heart felt) praise to God. The building or place doesn't matter (Jn 4:21). Rather the music is to aid us in praising God. If we have Christ and his Spirit in our heart what more can we desire? Too much of what we often do in worship is for our comfort, joy, and pleasure.

True worship reveals God, our need of a savior, and God's gracious provision. We should come to public worship in our best for God. We should keep the meeting house of God's people in good repair and even beauty. But our focus is in the spiritual realities. For when believers gather for public worship God comes and raises them up in Christ into his very spiritual presence (Hebrews 12:22). Worship is what brings praise, honor, and glory to God. Worship is being in the presence of God spiritually and hearing him speak his gracious promises by his word. This can only be by the spirit and the truth. This is the glory of reformed worship and what you will find at Lake OPC.

Thoughts on Worship

I was preaching on John 4:19-26 recently. In this chapter Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well at high noon. She wanted to be by herself but God had other plans. He often does doesn't he? In this conversation she begins to realize that Jesus isn't just an ordinary Jew. He is special and he seems to have divine knowledge about her past. She calls him a prophet and asks a question about worship (perhaps to redirect the conversation away from her personal life). Actually I think her question in verse 20 really had bearing for her and it does for us! If we really are sinners (as Jesus pointed out to her in vv 17 &18) how do we get right with God? How ought we to come into his presence? Isn't that what worship is? Isn't worship really entering into God's presence?

Jesus speaks authoritatively about worship. Verses 22-24 are key here. The first point is that Christian worship is regulated by the word of God. Jesus states that worship isn't a question of tradition. Its not about what the "fathers" did. Now God had commanded that worship was to be in Jerusalem through the means of the temple rites of the Old Testament law. Things were about to change. Worship isn't defined by place but by God. Jesus had come and worship was to be through him. Jesus is the salvation from the Jews (v. 22).

Here is where Jesus teaches us that the word directs worship. Jesus stated that "you worship that which you do not know, we worship that which we know..." (v 22). How did the Jews know? They had the word of God, the law. That word was God's instructions to them (Deut 4:2). That word also promised Jesus as the Christ in type, shadow, and promise. So, if we are to worship in Spirit and in truth, we must know the truth, the word of God. God's word does tell us by command and example how we are to worship God. The Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 21 relfects this in its teaching on the regulative principle of worship.

What so often goes on in worship services is man centered. We think worship should be this or that. There is a great degree of freedom in New Testament worship but God does command us to worship him in spirit and in truth. I think many want the spirit but forget the truth. The truth isn't just the preaching of the word, but our whole approach, attitude, and content of worship. I think you will find this kind of reverential worship at Lake OPC.

Don't forget the first part of verse 22. Jesus told the woman that she worshiped that which she didn't know. If we don't worship the true God according to the scriptures we not only worship in ignorance but we are ignorant of the true God.

Yep, that is me. That little Camry and I cover a lot of road miles in a year. I am spending a bit of time in Lake County. I am meeting with about 5 families who really want to start a new Orthodox Presbyterian Church in western Lake County, OH. Right now we meet on Wednesday nights at 7 PM and on Sunday nights at 6 PM at the Kirtland Community Center on US 6 just west of SR 306. We are starting a study of the book of Galatians on Wednesdays and I am preaching through the book of John on Sunday evenings. These books have a richness in reformed theology! Come and join us.