October 27, 2016 | End Of The Republic

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
[1 Timothy 2:1-2 HCSB]
Angst
Here we sit on the edge of November 2016, and I have never witnessed so much anger and confusion regarding an election. [Older and wiser friends tell me that 1968 was similar, but my pre-school mind was then happily absorbed with horned toads, crawdads, and other denizens of the creek behind our house.] A young adult wrote us at church, perfectly capturing the sentiment of millions of Americans:
 I am trying to figure out what I want to do and only feel lost. I know God has it all figured out but I feel like I am wandering around in a dark hallway looking for an open door that does not exist.
Empire
I think it very likely that the cause of much of this unsettled emotion wells up from a subconscious understanding that the American Republic may well be dead. It appears to be morphing into an American Empire, much as occurred in Rome 2000 years ago. One cannot be certain, as there is no set dividing line for such transitions. Historians are not even in agreement regarding the moment that Rome became an empire. [The waters are muddied by the fact that Octavian/Augustus – clearly an emperor – would only let himself be called “Princeps” (first citizen) and never “Emperor.”] Yet Rome did become imperial, and the ever-increasing power of the American executive branch, which now executes, legislates and judges, appears headed straight toward the Roman purple.
Reading the letters of late Republican/early Empire Romans, one hears dismay that remarkably mirrors the Facebook postings of today. Most of our rants are merely echoes of what Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote in his De re publica:
For nothing on earth is more agreeable to God, the Supreme Governor of the universe, than the assemblies and societies of men united together by laws, which are called States. [Book VI, 13]
Now, as then, there is great grief caused by the death of the republic of states and the rise of an all-powerful central government. Some first century thinkers, like the Apostle Peter, were prescient enough to see that an all-powerful empire would be especially severe on Christians. Similar persecution is very probable in America as our presidents become emperors. In his Christian Manifesto, Francis Schaeffer noted the reason for such state oppression:
No truly authoritarian government can tolerate those who have real absolute by which to judge its arbitrary absolutes and who speak out and act upon that absolute.
In summary, Christian, I won’t tell you how to vote but can tell why you are so upset. You surely realize that either candidate who has a chance of winning this election will continue the growing tendency of US Presidents to rule as an emperor. In fact, both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump are decidedly emperor-like in their demeanor and strategies.
How then should we live?
I asked some astute pastor friends that question, and found their answers to be brilliant:
  1. First and foremost, remember that Jesus’ return is imminent. The biblical authors clearly declare that Messiah will come and end this age. Even the proud Roman citizen Paul viewed the politics of his time in light of Christ’s return. [See 1 Thessalonians 5.]
  2. Thus, in the clash of kingdoms, look beyond this earth. The answer is never in human states, but God’s in eternal kingdom. [See Hebrews 13.] Such was Augustine’s point in writing The City of God – a book penned while the Empire also died, replaced by chaos.
  3. Speaking of the death of the Roman Empire, remember that as horrible as the end of the republic was, the expiration of the empire was worse. In many ways, including human life expectancy, the world was thrown into a recession that would take 1500 years to overcome. Thus, it is important that Christians remain engaged citizens of this world, caring for their country and the people around them. [For more on this, I recommend Michael Grant’s brilliant The Fall of the Roman Empire. It deals with the idea that Christian withdrawal harmed the empire.]
  4. Be salt and light no matter what. [See Matthew 5.] An increasingly dark and tasteless world needs you.
  5. Know what and why you believe so you can bless those who persecute you, making a defense for the hope in you. [See especially 1 Peter 3.]
  6. Remember that even as we submit to authority (as detailed in Romans 13, etc.), we do not violate God’s words. Much of the German church followed Hitler, telling themselves they were obeying scripture. Sadly, those churches never recovered. Better to be as Daniel and his friends, standing up to the emperor when commanded to violate scripture. As Calvin wrote:
We are subject to the men who rule over us, but subject only in the Lord. If they command anything against Him let us not pay the least regard to it, nor be moved by all the dignity which they possess as magistrates- a dignity to which no injury is done when it is subordinated to the special and truly supreme power of God.
          – John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
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October 20, 2016 | Galatians: The Charter of Liberty

“Paul, an apostle-not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead – and all the brothers who are with me: To the churches of Galatia. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.  To whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
[Galatians 1:1-5 HCSB]

 

 
Brilliant thoughts from the past
I have just begun teaching through Galatians and was struck by these fantastic comments – the first from the 19th century and the other from the 20th.
Considering Paul’s apostleship, Dr. Lightfoot noticed:
The two threads which run through this Epistle-the defense of the Apostle’s own authority, and the maintenance of the doctrine of grace-are knotted together in the opening salutation. By expanding his official title into a statement of his direct commission from God, he meets the personal attack of his enemies; and by dwelling on the work of redemption in connection with the name of Christ (v. 4) he resists their doctrinal errors. – J.B. Lightfoot, The Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians
Regarding grace and peace in Jesus, A.W. Tozer wrote:
Brethren, we have been declared “Not Guilty!” by the highest court in all the universe. Still there are honest Christians, earnestly seeking the face of God, who cannot seem to break loose and find real freedom. The grave clothes trip them up every time they try to move on a little faster. Satan uses their past sins to terrify them. Now, on the basis of grace as taught in the Word of God, when God forgives a man, He trusts him as though he had never sinned. God did not have mental reservations about any of us when we became His children by faith. When God forgives a man, He doesn’t think, “I will have to watch this fellow because he has a bad record.” No, He starts with him again as though he had just been created and as if there had been no past at all! That is the basis of our Christian assurance-and God wants us to be happy in it. – A.W. Tozer, I Talk Back to the Devil
My study notes
Whenever we start studying a new book of the Bible, I share with you my personal study notes. Of course, many who read these are not learning directly with us at Frisco Bible Church or even able to view the messages online. Still, when you study Galatians for yourself and teach it someday, these notes may prove helpful. It’s an honor to learn and grow with you.
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September 29, 2016 | Glory To God Alone

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
[John 3:36 HCSB]
Soli Deo Gloria
While writing recently on the powerful truth that God alone deserves glory, I received this note from my pulpit team partner, David Wade:
Soli Deo Gloria is of course anathema to the flesh. I have struggled with it for years. But as God has worked in me to answer my repeated prayer (which Paul prayed for the Ephesians) “Please grant me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that I may know you better,” I have begun to see more and more how great He is, and how totally and completely my existence and my life itself (and all creation) depend on Him. In the light of this illumination I see how only He deserves glory and how foolish it is go with the flesh and seek my own glory or idolize some created thing. Yet that resistance is always hovering in the background and it requires constant turning away and praying to God that my actions should always seek to glorify Him – instead of falling into the default mode, “It’s all about me.” To my sorrow, that’s something I do much too often.
As David displays, the blessing of soli Deo gloria requires humility.
Solus Christus
I also was blessed to teach recently on solus Christus – the great biblical doctrine that salvation comes through Christ Jesus alone. If you want to enjoy the deep challenge of solus Christus, please first read the New Testament Gospels. After that, I highly recommend a book called On The Incarnation of the Word of God. It’s written by a 4th century Christian of enormous influence and insight – an African bishop named Anthanasius. C.S. Lewis’ introduction to the 20th c. English translation explains why we should not be intimidated by such venerable books. Here’s a small portion from Dr. Lewis:
There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books. Thus I have found as a tutor in English Literature that if the average student wants to find out something about Platonism, the very last thing he thinks of doing is to take a translation of Plato off the library shelf and read the Symposium. He would rather read some dreary modern book ten times as long, all about “isms” and influences and only once in twelve pages telling him what Plato actually said. The error is rather an amiable one, for it springs from humility. The student is half afraid to meet one of the great philosophers face to face. He feels himself inadequate and thinks he will not understand him. But if he only knew, the great man, just because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest student will be able to understand, if not all, yet a very great deal of what Plato said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on Platonism. It has always therefore been one of my main endeavours as a teacher to persuade the young that first-hand knowledge is not only more worth acquiring than second-hand knowledge, but is usually much easier and more delightful to acquire.
As C.S. Lewis exposes, the blessing of solus Christus demands courage.
I pray for myself and you that humility and courage lead us further up and further in to the life of God’s glory through Christ alone.
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September 22, 2016 | Universality of Faith

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
[John 3:36 HCSB]
5 belief systems
Not long after Jesus spoke on faith, a talented writer named Plutarch thought this through. In Plutarch’s massive collection of essays called the Lives, he recognized 5 logical categories that reflect how people approach faith: atheist, agnostic, mystic, pantheist, and theist. To Plutarch, it seemed that only the theist was reasonable. Though they all exercise faith, Plutarch showed how the non-theists exhibit huge gaps in their logic.
About 1900 years later, the late great Dr. Charles Ryrie wrote an update of Plutarch’s categories. Like Plutarch, Ryrie logically showed that all people exercise faith. Below are my summaries of Ryrie and Plutarch’s comments on each category:
Atheism – determination that there is no God – takes remarkable faith. As Ryrie notes, “no one can gather enough facts to prove that conclusion.” [Frank Turek expanded on this in his book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist.]
Agnosticism – assumption that one can’t know for sure about God – again takes faith, especially to decide that scripture doesn’t ring true. Agnosticism also requires remarkable hubris.
The pantheist – who today usually believes in an impersonal force – exercises massive faith, as there is no revealed witness. They are literally trusting nothing. In fact, pantheists hate any idea of objective reason behind their impersonal force. [Just mention midi-chloriansand watch their reaction.]
Mystics – who touch godhood via individual experience – show amazing
faith in themselves, though Plutarch noted they are blind to their self-centeredness. Ryrie says, “the idea that knowing themselves they can still trust themselves is incredible.”
Bottom line – all use faith. Plutarch agreed that theists use faith, but noted that theism was based on a logical and consistent approach to the phenomena of life, where the faith was reasonable.
Thus, the issue is not whether one believes but whether what one believes is reasonable and trustworthy.
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September 15, 2016 | 90 Days Challenge

 

“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” [2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV]
Reading not studying
I received quite a load of mail this week in response to a message on sola Scriptura, the doctrine that the Bible alone is the highest authority. Some of the letters concerned a challenge I threw down – to read the entire Bible in 90 days. [For some guides, check out www.friscobible.com/90days.] Mary speaks for many who took up the challenge:
This is a great opportunity, and we are excited about the 90 discipline. However, just a couple days in, I have found this very hard! It’s a spiritual discipline, I know, and thus to be empowered by grace, not legalism. Still, I keep getting lost in the passage, meditating and looking up related texts. At this rate it will take hours/day! After all, you’re the one who trained us to study the Bible in its obvious thought sections – something that doesn’t gel with reading these larger chunks. Help!
I totally relate to Mary. Maybe you do as well. If so, this part of my reply to her may help you:
Remember that we are only reading the Bible during this short season. This isn’t study. Sometimes it’s useful to step back from the trees and scan over the forest. It allows the text to speak to us in a different, bigger picture fashion.
Guard the treasure
Another message included these quotes from the wonderful old Puritan teacher William Gurnall’s book The Christian in Complete Armour:
This [God’s truth] is the great depositum–treasure, which God delivers to his saints, with a strict and solemn charge to keep against all that undermine or oppose it. Some things we trust God with, some things God trusts us with. The great thing which we put into God’s hand to be kept for us is our soul…That which God trusts us chiefly with is his truth…So Paul exhorts Timothy to ‘hold fast the form of sound words,’ 2 Ti. i. 13, and this, ver. 14, he calls the ‘good thing which was committed to him.’ …The word of truth is that testimony which the great God gives of himself to man, Ps. xix. 7, Is. viii. 20, He. xii. 1, Re. xi. 3. The saints are his chosen witnesses above others, whom he calls forth to vouch his truth, by a free and holy profession thereof before men–called therefore the witnesses of God. (Part Second, Direction Fifth, 306)
Truth finds few that love her gratis. And those few only will suffer with truth and for it. (Part Second, Direction Fifth, 310)
Copyright means copy it right
A few people wanted the exact quote I had shared from David Wade of our pulpit team:
Our real problem with the Bible is not resolving real or supposed discrepancies, it is applying what is manifestly clear!
 
Recognition is not choice
Here’s one last thought – a great observation from another friend, also named Dave:
During the sermon Sunday, one of the things that came to mind was the primary objection to sola Scriptura from within churches. The argument is a historical one, claiming that because the church assembled the scriptures, the authority of the church stands above the scriptures.
I particularly like John Calvin’s response: “It [is a] fiction that the power of judging Scripture is in the church, and that on her nod its certainty depends. When the church receives it, and gives it the stamp of her authority, she does not make that authentic which was otherwise doubtful or controverted. But acknowledging it as the truth of God, she as duty bound, shows her reverence by an unhesitating assent.”
In other words, the church never stood over the Scripture, but simply received it, acknowledged it to be God’s Word, and therefore submits to its authority.
What a blessing it is to grow with such a collaborative, brilliant, redeemed community!
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September 8, 2016 | Humble Hope

 

“Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you – protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.”
[Zephaniah 2:3 NLT]
That’s a wrap
As I concluded preaching through Zephaniah, I was blessed with many letters. Especially exciting were those notes that detailed how God was applying His great Word in life-changing ways. Probably my favorite came from my daughter, Jessica …
Here is what I saw in Zephaniah:
It is clear that God calls all people to worship him, and he will have everyone come before him. It is sad to think how many people are setting themselves up for horrible yet just judgement. Their identification with animals, environment, self-promotion, etc. will be a flimsy defense on the day Christ comes in all his glory and all fall before him. This gives me a sense of urgency to share truth with the community surrounding me.
I also see God desiring to draw people to himself as he calls for them to seek him humbly (2:3). This gives me hope.
Thus in the same book where we hear an urgency to share truth of the gospel we also see the reason to do so – that there is a loving God who desires the best for people. And the best is to be in his perfect presence forever. – JB
By the way, after I read her summary I thought, “Wow. She really writes well.” And then I thought, “Of course, you numbskull. That’s why you are in the process of writing a book together.” #parentalforgetfulness
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