Month: April 2013

The Gospel of Peace in Marriage

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20130422-122224.jpgThe Gospel of Jesus Christ should influence every relationship and area of the Christian’s life, especially the marriage of believers. When one turns from their sinful, selfish ways and puts trust in Christ they find great peace (Romans 5:1), through the “Gospel of Peace”. Finding peace with God and no longer being His enemy effects the whole disposition of a person. And this peace carries over into every other relationship, especially the marriage relationship. The Gospel of Peace brings peace in our relationship with God and others by dealing with the problem of sin.

Sin & selfishness create enmity and turmoil in relationships (Romans 8:7, James 4:1-4) and the Gospel of Peace is the means of finding reconcilation. The Scripture says “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10 ESV). Think about how God acted toward you and I while we were enemies of God. He displayed love and kindness to us when we were disobedient, unthankful, unloving and unfaithful to Him. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 ESV). Through the sacrificial death of Christ you and I can be forgiven of our offenses and find peace with God.

This mercy & forgiveness that we have experienced through the gospel should also be extended to our spouses. The Apostle Paul wrote the Colossians and said bear “with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:13 ESV). Notice how Paul points to God forgiving you as the driving motivation behind your extension of forgiveness to others. Freely giving the forgiveness we ourselves have received is one way to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15 ESV). For when we withhold forgiveness from others there is deep distress and turmoil (Matthew 18:35). The gospel impacts marriage relationships bringing peace and reconcilation to the most broken and struggling marriages. If spouses followed the example of Christ then there would not be divorce, and much pain, stress and sorrow would be avoided.

There is a precious married couple that my wife and I are mentoring. They recently turned to Christ and have displayed beautiful fruits of believing and embracing the gospel. Their marriage relationship is being gloriously restored by the gospel. One of them recently told the other “we don’t fight like we used to” and the other responded saying “this is how it’s supposed to be”. There should be peace in every marriage that is truly gospel-centered.

Believe and embrace the truth of the Gospel and allow it to shape your marriage into a glorious reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Church. This is what God designed marriage to be, namely to display His glory. But every married couple has sinned and fallen short of displaying the glory of God in their marriage. God, however, gives grace through the gospel and by His grace He can make your marriage glorious. His strength fits perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

May God give grace & peace to you and your marriage.

Considering Death In Light Of Boston Bombing

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20130417-122358.jpgOne of the most heart aching and fear gripping realities for many people in this life is the fact that we will one day die. We are all apart of the ultimate statistic, namely that 10 out of 10 people die. For some death is a slow and painful process and for others it happens suddenly and peacefully. Nevertheless death is a problem that we all face and it isn’t healthy to avoid thinking about it and act as if it doesn’t exist. That is why the bible says that its “Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies—so the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2 NLT). It is good for us to think about the reality that one day we will all die and stand before our Creator, to give account for how we have lived our lives (Hebrews 9:27, Acts 17:31…) We all have an appointment with God that we won’t miss.

The terrible acts of violence that we recently saw take place in Boston are an unpleasant reminder of the reality of death and present evil of this world. When we see such wickedness and evil intent to destroy lives we are grieved and angered by the injustice that has taken place. And so is God. God will punish those who do such things along with those who practice various other kinds of sins (Romans 1:18-32, Revelation 21:8…) The punishment of God is called Hell and is described as the “second death” and the “lake that burns with fire and brimstone” (Matt. 10:28, Rev. 21:8). This evil has not gone unnoticed by God. God sees everything and nothing gets by Him. And He will take action.

God has taken action to help mankind with their problem of sin and death. In the beginning when God made everything, it was good, there was no death and suffering but mankind disobeyed God and brought death and suffering into this world (Genesis 1-3). God did give Adam & Eve a command and a warning of what would happen if they disobeyed. The consequences of sin was and is death (Genesis 2:17). Adam and Eve aren’t the only ones who sinned and disobeyed God, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). That means you and I are both deserving of death. The Scripture says “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 ESV). The bad news is that you and I deserve to die and go to Hell because of our sins but the good news (gospel) is that Christ took the death penalty for you and I that we might have the free gift of God, namely “eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord”. God the Father took action by sending Jesus to rescue us from the penalty of our sin (Matt. 1:21, John 3:16). Jesus came and lived a sinless life and died in our place bearing our sins on the cross, was buried for three days, and rose from the grave on third day, defeating death. Christ conquered the grave. Jesus has “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10 ESV).

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live'” (John 11:25 ESV). If you trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior then you need not fear death. Christ will release you from living life in bondage to the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14) because He defeated death. As it is written “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 ESV).

20130417-122409.jpgOne day Jesus will return and “make all things new”. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. God will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4-5).

May God comfort those affected by the the Boston bombing with this gospel truth that Christ has died in our place, conquering the grave and defeating death once and for all. May each person be comforted by the hope of Christ’s return to make all things new and ultimately remove death, sorrow, crying and pain.

God At Work In You

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20130415-153824.jpgOne of the first things we learn about God in the Scripture is that He works (Genesis 2:1-3). Not only did God work in creating but He also works in sustaining and caring for His creation (Psalm 147). The theological word for this is called providence. All of God’s work creating and caring for creation is good (Genesis 1:31, Psalm 145:9). But there is another good work that God has begun in every Christian that He will certainly be faithful to finish. The Apostle wrote about this good work in addressing the Philippians saying “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV). The good work that God has done in every believer is called salvation. Just as God spoke creation into existence He has spoken to each believer through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and has made us come to life from the dead. “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV).
God is also currently working in the lives of every believer whether they sense it or not. Paul also wrote the Philippians saying “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 ESV).
This should be a great word of encouragement for every saint because we know that God has not left us to serve Him and stand in this evil day with our own mere willpower or strength to do His will. We need God’s grace to do what He has called us to do (1 Cor. 15:10).

Recognize that God is at work not only in creation around you but He is also at work in you who are called “a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). You are His “workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10)
Rejoice in the wonderful works of God!

“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy” (Psalm 92:4 ESV).

The Gospel’s Influence On Our Work

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Keith Dollar's avatarFor The Gospel's Sake

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The very first mention of work in the bible is of God’s work in creating the heavens and the earth, from which rested on the 7th day (Genesis 2:2-3).
God works and He made man in His own image and gave man work to do. (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:2). The Lord did not leave mankind idle without direction or purpose. God blessed mankind gave them a responsibility to be fruitful & multiply, fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28). God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it and freely eat it’s fruit (Genesis 2:15-16).
Man by God’s design is made to work and God gets glory from His intended purpose being fulfilled in man. As image bearers of Almighty God whose work is faithful and good (Psalm 33:4, Genesis 1:31) we reflect His glory as good and faithful servants or workers. The biggest problem…

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You’re Called To Ministry

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Every Christian is a minister and called to function as a priest, ministering to the Lord and to people wherever they are at. This privilege and responsibility is know as the doctrine of The Priesthood of All Believers. It is something which Martin Luther advocated during the Reformation, at a time when the role of the Catholic Priest was exalted and corrupted in many ways.
Two major verses that this biblical doctrine is extracted from are:
“you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:5, 9 ESV)
Christian, this means you’re a priest and apart a priesthood. You are chosen as God’s very own special people called out of darkness into His marvelous light for purpose of proclaiming God’s excellencies.
When you go to work remember that you are apart of “a royal priesthood” and you’re “called” to minister right there in your context. When you are gathered for corporate worship with the saints remember that you are a priest and minister. The “work of the ministry” is not just for the pastor or the worship leader. Many Christians think that full time Christian ministry is “where it’s at” but really the “work of the ministry” wherever you’re at is “where it’s at”. And the role of spiritual leaders is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Most of the of the Body of Christ is not in full time ministry, nor can be and God doesn’t call them to be. God wants His glory manifested throughout the whole earth, in every area of influence, through all kinds of vocational work.
So portray and proclaim the excellencies of God right where you’re at. Love and serve people right you’re at. Pray for and practice the one another commands of Scripture right where you’re at. May you live for God’s glory and the good of others in whatever God-ordained vocation (calling) He has you in. Be a priestly plumber, engineer, artist, janitor, carpenter, mother, doctor, nurse, salesman, manager, architect, landscaper, roofer, waitress, chef …or whatever vocation God has you in. Whatever you do, do it with all your might for the glory of God (Ecc. 9:10, 1 Corinthians 10:31).