Something to Watch For

My article for the Summer newsletter at Midlane Park ARP Church:

I have been asked to deliver one of the sermons at this year’s meeting of General Synod. The text I have chosen for this sermon is Romans 16:17-20. It is an interesting passage because after a long series of greetings at the close of the letter, Paul writes these rather startling words of warning: “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them” (Romans 16:17, NASB). Paul is telling the Roman Christians to watch out for those who will cause divisions and set up stumbling blocks within the church by teaching things that are contrary to the gospel.

It really is a simple warning that Paul gives here, but one that goes against so much of conventional thinking today. We are often told we shouldn’t make a big deal about doctrine (which is simply another word for teaching), because “doctrine divides.” But Carl Trueman, in his book The Creedal Imperative, makes this interesting observation about the verse:

Notice what Paul says here. Contrary to the modern notion that doctrine divides, Paul here says exactly the opposite: these people who must be avoided are divisive precisely because they have departed from the true teaching. It is their doctrinal deviance, their departure from true teaching, that makes them sources of division.

 Sadly, many churches today give more attention to the advice of the world than the warnings in God’s word. They think that turning aside from sound teaching is a way to promote peace and advance the church. But John Calvin tells us that “the ministers of Satan are ever ready to take occasion to disturb the kingdom of Christ”; therefore, we always need to be on guard against false teaching and false teachers. This isn’t pastoral paranoia – it is the sobering warning of Holy Scripture!

Paul ends this sobering passage, though, by making three encouraging observations. First, he mentions the faithful obedience of the Roman Christians to the teaching of Scripture and how this has brought him much joy. Second, he tells them that God will soon crush Satan under their feet. It would be enough just to say that God would crush the evil one, but Paul tells them that this will happen under their own feet and it will happen soon! It is an encouragement that they will be successful against the false teachers if they will simply remain steadfast in the true teaching of the gospel – this is the only sure grounding for their feet. And finally, Paul reminds them of the blessing of God’s grace: “The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” If they succeed, if Satan is to be crushed under their feet, it will be through God’s grace and it will be because Jesus Christ is Lord over all things.

Contrary to popular opinions, faithfulness to the gospel does bring unity. Christ is Head of His church, and Christians are to be united members of His body. They know what their King says and take Him at His word, they seek to joyfully obey their King, and they make the good news about their King central to all they day. And they also know that the only kind of doctrine that divides is false doctrine. So, they know this is something always to watch for.

A Lack of Holiness

One reason God’s holy people do not pursue holiness is that they have not yet been born again by the Holy Spirit. Some pollsters and pundits look at the worldliness of the church and conclude that being born again doesn’t make a difference in how people live. We should come to the opposite conclusion; namely, that many churchgoers are not truly born again.

Kevin DeYoung, The Hole in Our Holiness, p. 18

(You can also listen to a conference lecture here.)

On Being a Part of Christ’s Body and in His Kingdom

Those who have opportunity to join the church and neglect it most grievously sin against because of his ordinance, and also against their own souls because of the blessing joined to it. And if they obstinately persist in their carelessness, whatever they otherwise profess, they can scarcely be counted believers truly seeking the kingdom of God.

– William Ames

The Valley of Vision

Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.

“The Valley of Vision”

Numbered with Him

From C.H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening:

“He was numbered with the transgressors.” — Isaiah 53:12

Why did Jesus suffer himself to be enrolled amongst sinners? … Our Lord Jesus was numbered with the transgressors in order that they might feel their hearts drawn towards him. Who can be afraid of one who is written in the same list with us? Surely we may come boldly to him, and confess our guilt. He who is numbered with us cannot condemn us. Was he not put down in the transgressor’s list that we might be written in the red roll of the saints? He was holy, and written among the holy; we were guilty, and numbered among the guilty; he transfers his name from yonder list to this black indictment, and our names are taken from the indictment and written in the roll of acceptance, for there is a complete transfer made between Jesus and his people. All our estate of misery and sin Jesus has taken; and all that Jesus has comes to us. His righteousness, his blood, and everything that he hath he gives us as our dowry. Rejoice, believer, in your union to him who was numbered among the transgressors; and prove that you are truly saved by being manifestly numbered with those who are new creatures in him.

The Presence of God

This is a nice little article that should remind us all of what a glorious thing it is to assembly with the saints on the Lord’s Day and come before the Lord in corporate worship.

When you think and interact with a fellow believer, you are touching the living, Spirit-filled stone of God’s holy temple (I Peter 2:5).  No wonder you should be careful how you treat even the least of the brothers of Jesus, and no wonder He says that the way you treat them is how you are treating Him!  When the minister opens the Word of God through reading and preaching, God is present by His Spirit speaking truth to His people.  Our hearts should be filled with the vibration and pulsation His Word brings!  When we bow in prayer, the King of heaven desires to fill us with His mercy and purifying love and assurance of His presence and glory.  When the sacraments are observed, we are being marked and touched and fed with His gracious presence.  How significant worship and life in the local church becomes then! Prepare your heart for worship by meditating on God’s gracious presence at your church this coming Sunday.  Then remember that this is but a taste of the consummated glory yet awaiting us in heaven.

What? No Analogies?

Why shouldn’t you use analogies to illustrate the doctrine of the Trinity? Here’s a humorous examination of why: