Tag: christianity

On God’s Word

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Pastoral, Preaching, QuotesLeave a comment

God’s Word is bold, honest, and direct, cutting across the grain of popular culture. It penetrates hearts, illuminates minds, and transforms lives. Our circumstances and preferences don’t inform or liven up the Bible, dictate its meaning, or determine how it applies to our lives.

It is eternal truth, living and active, and it cuts to the heart of every issue.

Its meaning is fixed, and applicable to everyone, everywhere. Scripture speaks with absolute authority as it guides believers, confronts error, and brings clarity to even the most confusing theological questions.

There is simply no substitute for Scripture. Nothing else is as trustworthy and steadfast as the Word of God. Church tradition changes over time. Authors and pastors make mistakes. Even your own conscience can be wrong.

All believers must be like the Bereans Paul describes in Acts 17:11, measuring everything we hear, read, and see against the perfect, unchanging standard of the Bible.

The authority and power of God’s Word is unmistakeable and unforgettable.

Question for Reflection

  1. What do you think about God’s Word?

Resources

John MacArthur, John MacArthur: Servant of the Word of the Flock, 240.

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Why Do We Need A Savior?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical9 Comments

Savior

If you have been in church for any amount of time, or been around Christians, you’ve probably heard Jesus referred to as the Savior. But why do we even need a Savior? Aren’t we good enough already? 

Why Do We Need A Savior?

The reason we need a Savior is because we are sinners. Sinners are those who rebel against God. They don’t desire God. They don’t want to please or obey Him. They want nothing more than to get rid of God.

Since we are sinners, we don’t have a relationship with God. We are actually enemies of God. The Bible tells us God will punish His enemies. 

Jesus is our Savior. He saves us from the punishment we deserve. The way He saves us is by taking our punishment for us.

A Helpful Example

A professor of mine in seminary sets Friday nights aside for Friday Family Fun Night. One Friday Family Fun Night, they had gone out to dinner and were going to rent a movie. On the way to video store his son started misbehaving in car. He was picking on his sister.

His parents told him if he didn’t quit, he wasn’t going to be able to watch the movie with the family. Instead he would have to sit in his room by himself. Like any little boy, he listened to his parents for awhile, but when they got to the movie store, he started acting out again.

When they got in the car, his dad told him he wasn’t going to be able to watch the movie with them and would have to spend the rest of the night in his room. He couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t going to be able to watch the movie. The movie he picked. The one he had waited weeks to see.

On the way home, he apologized, not just to his parents, but to his sister as well. It was obvious he was remorseful for what he did. He wasn’t just saying he was sorry so he could watch the movie.

His dad saw an opportunity to teach his son about what Jesus did. He told his son, “You misbehaved earlier. Someone has to be punished for that. But instead of you sitting in your room, I am going to take your punishment for you. I will sit in your room, so you can watch the movie with the family.” So the father willingly took his sons punishment that night so he could enjoy the movie.

That’s what Jesus does. He willingly took our punishment, so that we might enjoy eternal life. 

Conclusion

The answer to our question – Why do we need a Savior? – should be clear. We need a Savior because we deserve punishment. As God’s enemies, we want nothing more than to get rid of Him. Destroy Him. Reign in His place.

God, however, is the rightful ruler of this universe, not us. God punishes His enemies. Jesus, however, takes our punishment for us. He saves us from God’s wrath by dying the death we deserve on the cross. 

Question for Reflection

  1. Is Jesus your Savior?

What is the Unforgivable Sin?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral11 Comments

Unforgivable Sin

What is the unforgivable sin? Who can commit it? How do I know if I have committed it? These questions run through our mind when we hear someone tell us there is a sin that will not be forgiven.

What is the unforgivable sin? In order to answer the question let me start with what it is not.

What the Unforgivable Sin is Not

In Matthew 12:31-32 Jesus says,

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

It is not sin in general or speaking against Jesus – Jesus tells us sin or rebellion against God will be forgiven. Even speaking against Jesus will be forgiven.

It is not Suicide – Some claim if you commit suicide, you can’t be forgiven because you can’t ask for forgiveness. But that is a misunderstanding of the gospel. We are not forgiven because we ask for forgiveness every time we sin. No, we are forgiven based on Christ’s work, not ours. We are forgiven because we turn from our sin to God (repentance). We are forgiven because we believe Christ took the punishment we deserve on the cross (substitution).

So that means one can commit suicide and still be a Christian. It is not what we should do. But if someone does do that, it doesn’t mean they have committed the unforgivable sin.

It is not Murder or Adultery – Murder or adulter can’t be the unforgivable sin because it is not mentioned in the context. Plus, King David did both and God said he was a man after His own heart.

So one can still come to Christ even if they committed murder or adultery.

What is the Unforgivable sin?

It is attributing the work of the Spirit to Satan, who is God’s enemy. It occurs when one has a crystal clear understanding of how the Spirit works, then they turn around and say, that didn’t occur by the Spirit of God Satan did that.

They deny the Spirit’s work because they don’t want others to believe in Jesus. They don’t want others to follow Jesus. Even though they know Jesus is the true Messiah. They have set themselves against Jesus and His kingdom and they will do whatever it takes to keep people out of it, including lying about the work of the Spirit.

So then, the unforgivable sin occurs when we have a crystal clear understanding of how the Spirit works and we deliberately attribute the work of the Spirit to Satan for the purpose of opposing Jesus so that others will not follow Him.

It is not something you can easily do. It is not something a Christian can do. It is not something someone who is seeking the things of God will do. It is not something someone who doesn’t know about God can do. It is a specialized position reserved for those who have a clear understanding of how the Spirit works, and have chosen to deliberately set themselves against God.

It’s debatable, but it seems the Pharisees commit this sin.

  • They have an understanding of how the Spirit works.
  • They attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.
  • They do it because they don’t want people to follow Jesus.
  • They have set themselves up against Jesus and His kingdom.

Resource

Post adapted from my most recent sermon Your Words Say A Lot About You

Contend for the Faith

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral1 Comment

Cross

Every Friday morning I attend a Men’s Group associated with our church. We meet at IHOP. Eat breakfast, drink coffee, and discuss a chapter of God’s Word. The Letter of Jude was our text today. While it is a short letter, just one chapter, it is hard hitting and presents a good reminder.

What was Jude’s purpose?

To motivate the church to contend for the faith. He writes,

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Our Day

In our day, we need Jude’s message. God’s grace is perverted. Jesus is denied as Master, Lord, Savior, and Christ. Sensuality runs rampant. I am not talking about secular society. These things are happening in our churches.

Homosexuality is accepted and praised. Preachers bend to cultural norms. Social Justice and Liberation Theology take the place of the true gospel. The Bible is reduced to passages we like. Passages that don’t offend or call us to repent, as committees decide whether or not Jesus really said what the author of the Gospels wrote. The inherency and inspiration of Scripture is denied. And there is much more taking place in our churches.

For that reason, we need Jude’s message. His appeal to contend for the faith. We need to take a stand on God’s Word. See it as our only authority. And call people in our churches to repent.

If we don’t, disaster awaits. Jude likens those preaching another gospel to the angels in heaven who rebelled against God, those in the wilderness who thought they couldn’t take the promised land, Cain, Balaam, and Korah (8-11). He calls these people hidden reefs (12). Lying in wait to rip a massive hole in our churches when we least expect it, if that hole hasn’t already started.

Challenge

So want you take a stand for the gospel? Want you contend for the faith? Want you be willing to stand on God’s Word, even if it is unpopular? That is Jude’s message for his church and our church today.

Question for Reflection

  1. How will you contend for the faith this week?

Resource

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7 Characteristics & Beliefs of Moralists

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical6 Comments

Moralism

In Matthew 12:1-21, the Pharisees interaction with Jesus over Sabbath regulations show their moralistic tendencies. Based on their interaction, here are 7 characteristics & beliefs of Moralists.

7 Characteristics & Beliefs of Moralists

(1) Moralists believe they can work their way to God (2; 7).

(2) Moralists believe they are free, but are really in bondage (2; 9-14).

(3) Moralists miss out on the teachings of Jesus and true salvation/rest (11:28-30; 12:18-21).

(4) Moralists are merciless (9-14; 20).

(5) Moralists are selfish (9-14).

(6) Moralists perform because they are forced (2).

(7) Moralists are strongly resistant to change (14).

Question for Reflection

  1. Are you a Moralist?

Resource

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Post adapted from my most recent sermon: Rest Not Works

There are No Self-Made Men in God’s Kingdom

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals6 Comments

Men at Work

Sam Walton – the founder of Wal-Mart – is a self made man.

He grew up during the Great Depression. His family was poor like most others. He had to pay his own way through College by working as a lifeguard. After college, he worked two jobs before serving in WWII.

Not until after the war did he catch a break. Using the money he saved, along with a loan from his father-in-law, he bought into a franchise, before opening his own store – Walton’s Five & Dime – and eventually Wal-Mart. His success as the owner of Wal-Mart earned him the title of America’s richest man.

We love stories like Walton’s. It motivates and inspires us. It drives us. That’s because it tells us if we work hard enough, we can become whatever we want. It’s the American Dream.

When it comes to our job, that way of thinking is fine, but we must set that aside when we turn to our relationship with God. Hard work doesn’t earn us success and acceptance with God. If we think that way, we are in trouble because there are no self-made men in God’s kingdom.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Resources

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Post adapted from my most recent sermon: Rest Not Works