The Apostle Paul’s Journey and Yours

The apostle Paul’s journey did not begin on the road to Damascus but began long before he started on that road. There was much preparatory work done in the life of Paul to put him in place to hear the gospel and be used by God as a missionary to the gentiles. The journey took him to Damascus where a brother in Christ (Ananias) meet him for follow-up. Ananias said to Paul, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17, NASB) It seems to me that Ananias preached the gospel to Paul. He repented and believed, the scales fell from his eyes and he regained sight, was baptized by Ananias, was regenerated (filled by the Holy Spirit) evidenced by his strengthening. (Acts 9:18) Paul immediately began to bear fruit keeping with repentance, preaching the gospel in the synagogues. Paul was not a stagnant Christian. Like a new born baby, he was growing stronger all the time. Paul’s evangelistic preaching had become so strong that the Jews plotted to kill him. Paul returned to Damascus from Arabia likely to follow-up on those who had received the gospel during his stay there. (Gal 1:17) Had they persevered? Where they bearing fruit? Are they growing stronger in the Lord Jesus Christ? Paul then went to Jerusalem to consult with those who were Christians before him. (Gal 2:1-6)

What Can We Learn from The Spiritual Journey of The Apostle Paul?

We can take from the spiritual journey of the apostle Paul that one’s election, calling, conversion, regeneration, justification, and sanctification is a process. Yes, on a single day we repented and believed but there is much preparatory work done by the Lord to get us to the place where we will hear the gospel and respond to it in repentance and faith. I believe that those who are saved were predestined for salvation before the foundation of the earth. However, effectual calling precedes conversion which precedes regeneration.¹ The journey does not stop at conversion or regeneration. Once converted and regenerated one is united with Christ, justified in the eyes of God and adopted as a son.² The true child of God is being sanctified; and therefore, should be growing in godliness which means bearing fruit keeping with repentance.³ All believers should be associated in fellowship with other believers. Secondly, all believers should be growing stronger in holiness. Lastly, all believers should be sharing the gospel with unbelievers, not doing so is disobedience. C. H. Spurgeon said, “I do not want to be your pastor simply so that I may preach to you; I long to see souls saved, and to see those who are saved seeking to win others for the Lord Jesus Christ.”⁴

Donald S. Whitney said, “I’m convinced that the main reason many of us don’t witness for Christ in ways that would be effective and relatively fear-free is simply because we don’t discipline ourselves to do it.”⁵ Evangelism is expected: I think that most Christians understand this but are disobedient.⁶ Evangelism is empowered: Some understand this, but many do not know that we preach by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not up to us to when soles but to preach the gospel.⁷ Evangelism is a discipline: I think that few understand this. In fact, the concept is new to me and I am now embracing it. I think that Whitney is correct the reason that Christians are disobedient in sharing the gospel is that they have not disciplined themselves to do it. 

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¹ Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3^rded. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013), 863.

² Ibid, 874-895.

³ Ibid, 897.

⁴ C. H. Spurgeon, The Soul Winner, (New Kensington: Whitaker House, 1995), 110-111.

⁵ Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for The Christian Life, 2^nded. (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014), 120.

⁶ Ibid, 120-122.

⁷ Ibid, 122-127.

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REDEMPTION

God created everything including man; therefore, whatever God commands is law.¹ Man rebelled against the law of God and has been in rebellion against the law of God from the time of the first man and woman and has continued in rebellion to this very day.² The penalty for sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.³ God is gracious; therefore, he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.⁴ Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, fully God and fully man except in sin.⁵ Jesus lived a righteous life, as a man fully obedient to the will of God the Father.⁶ Jesus promised eternal life to all who would ever come to believe in him, then he died in our place for our sins. On the third day Jesus defeated death and bodily rose from the dead.⁷ After this Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father God and will return at a time of the Father’s choosing to judge the earth.⁸ When he does, all the dead will rise to face him in judgment. Jesus will put those who received him on his right and those who rejected him on his left. Those who rejected him will go away to eternal punishment, the lake which burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death. Those who received him will go into eternal life in the new heaven and new earth living eternally with God.⁹ No man knows the day or hour of Christ return.¹⁰ Nor does anyone know the day or hour of their own death. Christ may return during this life and you will face him in judgment. Like most people throughout history you may first die then after this the judgment. Either way you are going to face the Son of Man in judgement.¹¹ When Christ returns will you be on his right or on his left? Repent and believe in the gospel. “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”¹² Jesus will listen to you and will help you repent and believe. Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ today before it is too late. Now is the acceptable time to call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now is the day of salvation.¹³

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¹ Cf. Gn 1-2.

² Cf. Gn 3; Rom 3:10-18; 5:12-14.

³ Rom 6:23.

⁴ Jn 3:16-17.

⁵ 1 Pt 2:22.

⁶ Mt 17:5.

⁷ Lk 24:44-49.

⁸ Acts 1:9-11.

⁹ Cr. Mt 25:31-46; Rv 20-22

¹⁰ Mk 13:32.

¹¹ Heb 9:27.

¹² Rom 10:13, NASB.

¹³ 1 Cor 6:2.

What Is Worship?

Whitney said, “Worship is focusing on and responding to God.”[1]I agree with him but think that I would state it in a different way. My favorite text of scripture is Exodus chapter 34 because the Lord has used this passage to help me understand all of scripture, especially the incarnation of his Word in Jesus Christ. 

The Lord God told Moses to cut out two stone tablets like the former ones that Moses broke and bring them up to the top of Mount Sinai, there presenting himself to the Lord. (Ex 34:1-2)

“The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” (Ex 34:5-7) 

Seeing the glory of God and hearing the Word of God caused Moses to bow low toward the earth and worship, after which Moses prayed to the Lord. (Ex 34:8-9) 

Therefore, worship is a response to seeing the glory of God, and or hearing about God. I read from both the Old Testament and the New Testament every morning which causes me to respond in the worship of God: Father and Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. This is followed by a prayer of confession, thanksgiving and supplication. In order to improve in this discipline, I must persevere in it and I can only do that by the will of the Father in Jesus Christ guided by his Spirit. Many people call the singing of songs at the beginning of the church service worship. I find this curious, because we go from a time of chatting with one another to songs called worship. It seems to me since worship is a response to seeing the glory of God and or hearing about God from his inspired Word, shouldn’t the service begin with the reading and exposition of Scripture and not the other way around?

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[1]Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life,2^nded. (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014), 103.

The Need to Please

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. (1 Cor 10:31-11:1) 

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (Gal 1:6-10)

In the first passage it appears that Paul is saying that he is a pleaser of men but in the second passage he is saying that he is not a pleaser of men. Why is Paul calling himself a pleaser of men in his letter to the Corinthians but in his letter to the Galatians he is saying the he is not a pleaser of men? The great commission is to make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Triune God, and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded. (Mt. 28:18-20)

All that Jesus command can be summed up in what has been calledThe Great Commandment: “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 22:37-40)

Everything that we do as Christians should be guided by these two principles. We must seek the glory of God and the best for our neighbor. One should ask before doing anything at all, “Is what I’m about to do for the glory of God and is it the best for my neighbor?” I believe that this is what Paul was referring to in 1 Cor 9:21 when he said that he is under the law of Christ.

In the great commandment the love of God supersedes the love of one’s neighbor. Likewise, in these two Pauline epistles the glory of God supersedes the pleasing of men. For good reason, one cannot truly love one’s neighbor if one does not first love God with all of his heart, soul and mind; remember, man was created in the image of God. (Gn 1:27) 

In the context of 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 the best thing that Paul could do was please all men in all things because doing so both glorified God and sought the best for his neighbor leading to their salvation. However, in the context of Gal 1:6-10 the best thing that Paul could do was revile those who preached a different gospel. He did so for the same reason he was a pleaser of men in the 1 Corinthian passage because doing so both glorified God and sought the best for his neighbor leading to their salvation.

Should we be pleasers of men? Well, it depends on the situation. If doing so seeks the glory of God and our neighbors’ best interest; yes, being a pleaser of men is the best course of action. However, if being a man pleaser does not glorify God and seek the best for our neighbor it is best that we are not pleasers of men. There are two great rules by which we should judge every situation: “The first is the glory of God, and the second is the welfare of our fellow men.”[1]

I confess that meditating on and writing about these two passages has convicted me. Fear of not being liked by men causes me to not seek what most glorifies God or is best for my neighbor. I often seek what brings me glory to the detriment of my neighbor. I do not share the gospel in many situations because I don’t want men to be mad at me. I also, do not seek to please men if it cost me something. Lord willing, may we all seek the glory of God and the welfare of our neighbors in all things leading to their salvation.

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[1]William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: A Complete Bible Commentary in One Volume,4^thed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., 1995), 1784.

Evangelism and Discipleship

The defining mission of the church is to make disciples of all the nations, initiate the new disciples into fellowship through the ordinance of baptism in the name of the Triune God and teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded the first disciples; doing so by the power of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, Matthew 28:18-20 has been called the great commission because Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18) commissioned his disciples to do just that. There is an utterance of this great commission at the end of each gospel account and the beginning of Acts. (cf. Mk 16:15, Lk 24:46-48, Jn 20:21, and Acts 1:8) Why? Because evangelism and discipleship are the church’s purpose for existing.

For this reason, evangelism and discipleship cannot be separated. They are wholly dependent on one another. Jesus did not commission his disciples at the beginning of his ministry, but at the conclusion, and before his ascension. However, He did send them out on practice evangelism trips as part of their training. In Matthew chapter 10 the Lord sent the twelve out on a training exercise to the lost sheep of Israel. Instructing them how they are to do evangelism and warning them of the difficulties. He was instructing them in order to commission them for the ministry of evangelism and discipleship to all nations. 

Evangelism is how disciples are made, but evangelism is always preceded by discipleship because it is the mature disciple who learns to multiply and go make disciples.[1]With that being said, Evangelism is the intentional act of going out into the world to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is the act of being taught. Besides the English word disciple, another way that the Greek word μαθητής mathētēs can be translated is pupil. A disciple is a learner. A person who follows teaching.[2]There are many disciples (pupils) in the world, but the type of discipleship that I am talking about is becoming a pupil of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Why is Discipleship Important in the Life of the Church and the Believer?

There are both personal and interpersonal Spiritual disciplines. The personal disciplines are those which are done by the disciple in solitude: worshiping God, reading the bible, fasting, praying and journaling. The interpersonal disciplines are those done with other believers: worshiping God, reading and studying scripture, hearing the word preached and participating in the Lord’s supper.[3]The purpose of practicing Spiritual disciplines is godliness.[4]Whitney defined godliness “as both closeness to Christ and conformity to Christ, a conformity that’s both inward and outward, a growing conformity to both the heart of Christ and the life of Christ.”[5]This is true of discipleship. Jesus said, “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.” (Mt 10:25a, NASB) Therefore, the goal of discipleship is to become like our teacher and Lord Jesus Christ. So, discipleship is being a pupil and pupils are taught by a teacher. Our teacher is the word of God, but we need one another to be discipled and held accountable this is how discipleship is important in the life of the church and the individual.

Do you believe that whoever will call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved?[6]If you answered no, I dare say that you are not yourself saved, but if you answered yes, I have a few questions to ask you. “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?” These questions were pinned by the apostle Paul in Romans 10:14-15a. Then in vs. 17 he said, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

Why is Evangelism Important in the life of the Church and the Believer?

My all-time favorite book is “All of Grace” by C. H. Spurgeon. In the chapter, “What is Faith?” he gives this answer: “Faith is made up of three things: knowledge, belief, and trust. Knowledge comes first.”[7]In order for a person to have faith they must first have knowledge. This is the reason that the apostle Paul said, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Rom 10:17, NASB) Then they must believe what they heard but that is not enough. Faith goes beyond belief; faith grabs hold of the object of belief to trusting that it can do what you hope it will do. Jesus promised eternal life to all who believe in Him; therefore, faith in Jesus Christ, “Calling on the name of the Lord,” is trusting that He will save you on the day of judgment. Therefore, in order to trust, they must believe, but in order to believe they must be told. 

The word gospel means good news.[8]News must be heard or read. By hearing or reading one gains knowledge. Preaching is the means by which the news of the gospel goes forth. It is commanding men in the name of Jesus to repent and believe the Gospel; however, they cannot do that except by the grace of God.[9]We can all preach the gospel publicly on a street corner or privately in a one-on-one conversation knowing that this is the way to give knowledge about the Gospel to lost people, but we cannot make anyone believe the gospel or trust in the Lord Jesus Christ that they may call on Him, that is the work of the Spirit. It is the chief business of every believer and the church to do evangelism[10]in order to give lost people knowledge of the gospel which is the first step in saving faith. God has given to the church and individual Christians the privileged of accomplishing the first step in the process of saving faith. Now, is that just awesome or what?

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[1]Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is…How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2010), viii.

[2]Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1996), s.v. “disciple.”

[3]Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual disciplines for the Christian Life(Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014), 5.

[4]Cf. 1 Tm 4:7.

[5]Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual disciplines for the Christian Life(Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014), 9.

[6]Cf. Rom 10:13.

[7]C. H. Spurgeon, All of Grace(New Kensington: Whitaker House, 1983), 59.

[8]C. H. Spurgeon, The Soulwinner(New Kensington: Whitaker House, 1995), 13.

[9]Ibid, 145.

[10]Ibid, 7.

Suffering and Death in the ICU

Suffering: The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.¹ Death: The end of the life of a person.² Intensive Care Unit: A department of a hospital in which patients who are dangerously ill are kept under constant observation.³

These past 5 days are an example of what my work has been like for the past 21 years: I worked 4, 12 ½ hour shifts. I took care of 10 persons, all of whom suffered but some greater than others. A woman 10 years younger than I suffered a myocardial infarction (heart attack); a woman suffered greatly in the intensive care unit for over a month then died; a woman went into cardio-pulmonary arrest outside the hospital, was resuscitated at the scene but has no cognitive brain function; 2 men suffered coronary artery bypass surgery; a man greatly debilitated and in much pain; 2 elderly people with dementia in pain from fractures; and a woman learned that she has kidney failure. 

For the past 21 years I have been a witness to unspeakable human suffering and death, but that’s not all; I inflicted much suffering to suffering people in a vain attempt to keep them from death. I assure you that the curse is as strong today as it was when Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, but the curse is not permanent if you trust in Christ. 

The curse (suffering and death) are a result of sin. (Gn 3) Sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4) The cause of sin is temptation which comes from three sources: Satan, the world, and the flesh. (Mt 4:3, Jam 1:15, & Mk 4:19) Jesus defeated all of these in his incarnation: The law, Satan, the world, the flesh, sin, and the curse (suffering and death). Jesus was tempted by Satan, the world, and the flesh but never sinned. (Mt. 4:1-10 ) He took upon himself the condemnation for our sin; He suffered and died as a criminal in our place. On the third day Jesus defeated death and rose from the grave. Witnessed by the apostles risen from the dead. (1 Cor. 15:3-5) Jesus Christ is Lord, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. (Mt. 28:18 ) He ascended to heaven and is promised to return. (Acts 1:9-11 ) When Jesus returns all the dead will rise. Those who heard his voice and followed his word will go into eternal life in the new heaven and new earth; (Mt 25:31-46)  “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4, NASB) 

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¹ “Suffering | Definition of Suffering in English by Oxford Dictionaries.” 2019. Oxford Dictionaries | English. Oxford Dictionaries. Accessed January 2. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/suffering.

² “Death | Definition of Death in English by Oxford Dictionaries.” 2019. Oxford Dictionaries | English. Oxford Dictionaries. Accessed January 2. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/death.

³ “Intensive Care Unit | Definition of Intensive Care Unit in English by Oxford Dictionaries.” Oxford Dictionaries | English. Accessed January 2, 2019. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/intensive_care_unit.

In His Steps

Recently, I read In His Steps by Charles Monroe Sheldon. The book was first published in 1896 and has sold over 30,000,000 copies.[1]

Summary of Contents

The story is set in the late 1800’s in the midwest. A young man visits the community of Raymond. A community of well to do people. He came not looking for a hand-out but direction for employment and perhaps a little kindness. One morning he sits in on the service of the First Church of Raymond. After the pastor Henry Maxwell closed, the young man began to speak. The young man was troubled by hearing Christians sing,

“All for Jesus, all for Jesus,

All beings ransomed powers,

All my thoughts, and all my doings,

All my days, and all my hours.”

He was troubled by what they meant, because the words did not fit their actions. He said, “It seems to me there’s an awful lot of trouble in the world that somehow wouldn’t exist of all the people who sing such songs went and lived them out.” After saying these things, he collapsed and later died.

The pastor and others were convicted by the young man’s dying speech. The following Sunday, at the end of the service, Henry Maxwell asked for volunteers from the First Church who would take the pledge to not do anything for the next year without first asking, “What would Jesus do?” After asking, each volunteer is to follow what he/she knows Jesus would do, no matter the consequence. He challenged them to follow Jesus’ steps as closely and as literally as he taught his disciples to do.

There were about fifty persons who took the pledge; however, the narrative follows the lives of ten individuals who committed to follow Jesus’ steps: Henry Maxwell (pastor), Rachel Winslow (opera singer), Virginia Page (wealthy young woman), Mr. Norman (news paper owner), President Marsh (college president), Alexander Powers (railroad superintendent), Milton Wright (local store owner), Dr. West, and Jasper Chase (novelist) who broke his commitment and went back to the world. Others entered into the story the second year having been inspired by these disciples to follow Jesus’ steps. 

Evaluation of Contents

I had been led to believe that asking, “What would Jesus Do?” is a bad idea, because it causes people to create a Jesus who looks like oneself rather than the Jesus of scripture. However, this is not what I found in the context of Sheldon’s book. After taking the pledge, the characters seriously contemplated and asked, “How are we to know what Jesus would do?” The answer that they came to was two fold: First, they would know what Jesus did by studying his life and what he taught his disciples. Second, each of their situations are different than that of Jesus and his apostles; therefore, they needed to know what principles to follow. The group met together regularly to discuss what following Jesus Christ meant and Henry Maxwell (pastor) was their guide on what the scriptures taught. But it is the Spirit who would be their guide on applying the principles in each of their own life situations.

I believe that asking, “What would Jesus do?” before doing anything at all is what every Christian should be doing, but in order to do so, one must be studying what Jesus did and taught his disciples on a regular basis. This should be done in private study, contemplation and prayer, but it should also be done in community with other disciples seeking to follow in the steps of Jesus. Reading what Jesus did and taught must first be understood in the first century Jewish-palestine context in which he and his disciples lived. Second, one must understand what the universal principles taught in the text are. Thirdly, one must contemplate how those principles should be applied in his or her own situation.

Like the early church, the Characters in Sheldon’s book learned that seriously following Jesus is going to cost you something. The disciples in Sheldon’s story called it taking up the cross. Should we seriously follow Jesus Christ? Is marginal Christianity enough? Is marginal Christianity even Christian? I spent this advent season reading some of the things that the early church writers wrote. Christianity for the first 300 years of the church was illegal; therefore, Christians suffered greatly for following Jesus Christ. Marginal Christianity is not Christian. The characters in Sheldon’s book are fictional, but asking “What would Jesus do? before doing anything at all is a good one. This is something that I will be seriously considering in any decision I make going forward. Read “In His Steps” by Charles Sheldon.

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[1]In His Steps, cdli:wiki, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_His_Steps#cite_note-2.