Tag: Jesus

Faith + Nothing = Salvation

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical10 Comments

The gospel presents a radically different idea of salvation than most people believe, even among those who call themselves Christians. Salvation is either thought of something you earn, or as a belief only. These two forms of salvation are called Moralism and Relativism.

Depending on where you life, Moralism or Relativism may be more or less popular. To generalize, Moralism is often popular in the red states, while Relativism is more popular in the blue states. On the surface, Moralism appears more dangerous because there is a perceived goodness in the individual that provides them with salvation, while it is often clear the Relativist is living in sin. In reality, they are both just as dangerous and need to be corrected by the gospel.

What is Relativism and Moralism? How does the gospel correct them both? Let’s start with the former of the two questions.

Relativism and Moralism

Relativism stresses grace without truth. God accepts us all, sin has no bearing on us, and we have to decide what is true for us. While the Moralist creates additional laws, the Relativist cast off law completely, thinking they can do whatever they like because they have been extended God’s grace.

In doing so, they create a god of their own making. A god they only have to believe in, not one who is the Lord of their life. The reason they do this is to appease their conscience and their fleshly desires at the same time. Belief in God provides their conscience with comfort, while a license to sin provides for their flesh. The gospel, however, tells us we can’t have our cake and eat it too.

Moralism stresses truth without grace. Salvation is obtained by obedience only. Grace is thrown out for proper behavior and additional self-imposed laws, which are believed to help them earn God’s grace.

The Moralist, just like the Relativist, creates a god of their own making, even though their god is completely different. Instead of allowing them to live how they want, the god of the Moralist only accepts them based on their works. Legalism then dominates Moralistic societies.

The Gospel: A Third and Better Way

In contrast to both Moralism and Relativism, lies the gospel, which is not a set of rules. Rather, it is an understanding that believing in Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient for salvation.

How the Gospel Differs from Both Moralism and Relativism

The gospel differs from Moralism in that it does not require someone to earn their salvation. Rather than earning their salvation, they are saved through Christ’s sacrifice alone, which means they are then freed to live out their righteousness. In other words, their righteous actions become a product of their salvation, not a way to earn or keep their salvation [1].

The gospel differs from Relativism in that it does not give one a license to sin. Paul makes this explicit in Romans 6 when he says,

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:1-4)

God’s grace is not to be abused. Rather, His grace frees us to walk in newness of life. It frees us from the grip of sin. It allows us for the first time in our life to live according to God’s commandments.

Conclusion

Relativism and Moralism show us that man has a tendency to distort the Bible’s teaching in an effort to save himself independent of God. The biblical model of salvation, however, leaves no room for either Relativism or Moralism. The Bible heralds the message of justification by faith alone apart from any works of the Law. A message that is radically different than the world’s, but one that is radically freeing. Through the gospel alone we are free to live out our righteousness without seeking to earn our salvation, as well as we are freed from the grip of sin to live in accordance with God’s commandments. Therefore, the Bible’s message of salvation is: Faith + Nothing = Salvation.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you see yourself obeying God’s Word in order to earn something from Him?
  2. After reading Romans 6, do you think you abuse God’s grace?
  3. How does the gospel radically change your idea of salvation?
  4. Why do you would obey God’s Word?

Resources

[1] Thoughts on Moralism, Relativism, and the Gospel taken from The Centrality of the Gospel by Tim Keller

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How Do You Know You are a Christian?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical3 Comments

Fish Symbol

How do you know you are a Christian? If you call yourself a Christian, Christ follower, Believer, or whatever other label that is out there, you must answer the question.

Searching the internet I find that some believe they are a Christian because they were born into a Christian family, attend church every Sunday, have been baptized, or walked the aisle. While others believe they are a Christian because they live in the United States, or because they are a good person. Are these adequate answers? I don’t think so. If these answers will not do, then what makes you a Christian?

The book of 1 John answers the question for us. Let’s see what it says.

How Do You Know You are a Christian?

  • You know you are a Christian if you walk as He walks (1 John 1:5-7).
  • You know you are a Christian if you confess your sins (1 John 1:8-10).
  • You know you are a Christian if you keep His commandments (1 John 2:3-6; 3:19; 22-24; 5:2-4).
  • You know you are a Christian if you love one another. We cannot be a Christian if we hate others (1 John 2:9; 3:10-15; 4:7-12; 4:16-21; 5:1).
  • You know you are a Christian if you do not love the world (1 John 2:15-17).
  • You know you are a Christian if you remain steadfast in your faith until the end (1 John 2:19).
  • You know you are a Christian if you confess that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 2:22-23; 4:3; 14-16; 5:5; 10; 13).
  • You know you are a Christian if you continue in the doctrine you have heard from the beginning (1 John 2:24-25).
  • You know you are a Christian if you confess that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:28; 5:1).
  • You know you are a Christian if your life is not characterized by continual sinfulness (1 John 3:1-9; 5:18).
  • You know you are a Christian if you confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 4:2).
  • You know you are a Christian if other Christians agree with you rather than the world (1 John 4:5-6).
  • You know you are a Christian if you believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world (1 John 4:13).
  • You know you are a Christian if you believe that God has given you eternal life through His Son (1 John 5:11-12).

 Questions for Reflection

  1. Can you answer these questions yes?
  2. Do you believe you have to answer all these questions yes in order to be a Christian?

Resource

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My Top 10

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

Top 10

We are closing in fast on the New Year. Soon it will be 2013 and 2012 will be a thing of the past. Before we venture into the New Year, a time of reflection is in order. With that in mind, today I want to highlight my top 10 posts from this last year. These are not my favorite posts, but yours.

How did I determine your favorite posts? Not through complicated metrics or surveys. I simple looked at the stats to see which ones were viewed the most by my readers. Some of these you may remember, others you may not. Either way, these were the ones you clicked on the most last year. Without further ado, here are my top 10.

#10 A Christian View of Social Justice

#9 The Sanctifying Work of the Holy Spirit (part 1)

#8 Thoughts on Seminary from a Graduating Seminarian

#7 Faith + Nothing = Salvation

#6 For He has Risen, as He Said!

#5 What Does it Mean to be Godly?

#4 Colored Eggs, Scavenger Hunts, or the Resurrection

#3 Christian Meditation: What is it and What does it Involve?

#2 Celebrate the Savior for He has Risen

#1 The Keys to Unity

Resources

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Why Should I Repent?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Practical12 Comments

Castle

In Matthew 4, Jesus begins his ministry. His first act is to preach, and His first message is:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Not necessarily a motivating message by today’s standards, or is it?

While many pastors desire to motivate their congregations to commit to Jesus with promises of health and wealth, Jesus motivates in a different way. Even though His call to repent and be His disciple is radical – He calls us to choose Him over our family, give Him the right to direct our career, our entire life, allowing Him to use us as His instruments for His purposes – it is worth it.

What is Our Motivation to Repent?

In the simple message Matthew records for us, Jesus provides us with motivation for why we should turn from our sins and become His disciple. “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” He proclaims, making the Kingdom of Heaven our motivation to repent.

Why is the Kingdom of Heaven a motivating factor?

(1) The Kingdom of Heaven is ruled by God Himself and is a perfect kingdom.

There is no injustice or unrighteousness in it, no oppression or poverty, no disease or sickness. It is a perfect kingdom. A kingdom for which we all long, and it is here now.

Jesus has come to put everything right. Where the fall marred the perfect kingdom as sin entered the world, hindering relationships and bringing death and disease, Jesus has come to set class struggle, family breakdown, disease, sickness, and death, right. He has come as the perfect King to establish a new and perfect kingdom. A king and kingdom for which we all long.

(2) All those not in the kingdom will be judged and sentenced to an eternity in hell.

John the Baptist is the forerunner of Jesus. His preaching minister preceded Jesus’, preparing the people for Jesus’ arrival. In his messages leading up to the ministry of Jesus, he provides us with our second motivation for repentance. He tells those who came out to him:

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matt. 3:11-12)

He pictures Jesus with a winnowing fork in hand separating the chaff from the wheat. The chaff is burned, while the wheat is put in the storehouse. John’s message tells us that those who do not repent will be sentenced to eternity in hell. While those who do repent, will experience eternal life with Jesus in His kingdom.

For at least those reasons, we are motivated to repent of our former way of life and turn to the Lord.

Challenge

While the biblical motivation to repent differs from that of the world, it is right and good. So today, if you have never repented and turn to Jesus as your Savior, want you do so now? Turn from your sins toward the Lord. Call on Him as Lord and Savior. Submit to His rule over your life. Make the perfect King your King today!

Questions for Reflection

  1. Does knowing that Jesus is a perfect King who rules over a perfect Kingdom motivate you to follow Him?
  2. Can you think of other biblical motivations to repent?
  3. Can you think of other worldly motivations?

Resources

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How Should We Respond to the Good News of Jesus at Christmas?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals1 Comment

Jesus in the Manger

Here we find ourselves on the eve before Christmas. During this time of year we will exchange greetings of Merry Christmas. Send Christmas cards to friends and family, and even post on Facebook sayings such as: “Jesus is the reason for the season” or “Let’s keep Christ in Christmas.”

These things are good. They not only force us to think about Christ, but they also force others who may never consider Jesus to consider Him. So it is important we keep Christ at the center of Christmas, in our conversations, and even in our social media posts.

While it is good and right for us to do these things, what I’m afraid of is that even though we speak about Jesus, write about Him, and celebrate His birth this time of year, we may not really know how the Bible calls us to respond to the good news of Jesus Christ.

How should we respond to the good news of Jesus Christ? In other words, what should we do after hearing the message of the gospel? The shepherds response in Luke chapter two acts as a model.

Before we look at their response, let me provide you with some background information, so we know to what news they were responding.

Background

Chapter two starts with a decree by Caesar Augustus that everyone must return to their hometown for a census. Not a big deal for most, except for the fact that the decree would increase their taxes. For Mary and Joseph on the other hand, it was a big deal. Mary was nine months pregnant and Joseph’s hometown was ninety miles away. Nevertheless, they made the trip.

After successfully navigating their way to Bethlehem, when they arrived, Mary went into labor. To top it off, there was no place in town for them to lodge except for a stable. Mary had no other choice but to deliver Jesus in a stable and lay Him in a manger.

Shepherds were close by in the fields that night tending their sheep when an angel appeared to them. He told them the good news of Jesus’ birth. A Savior had been born, the prophesied Davidic King was here, and He was close by in Bethlehem.

Before they could go check things out, a host of angels appeared singing. Their song further clues us into the magnitude of the historical event; Jesus would shine forth God’s attributes in the world because He is God and He would bring peace to men through His death on the cross.

That night, when the shepherds responded to the good news of Jesus, they did more than go to a hospital room with a few cigars and a blue balloon in hand with “It’s a boy!” printed on it. They went to see for themselves if the good news the angel relayed to them was true.

The Shepherds Response

The First Way They Respond is Immediately

In verses 15-16, Luke writes,

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

After the angels left them, they went in haste to find the One the angels told them about. They did not delay, they went to search out the truth immediately.

Our response should be identical. When we hear the good news of Jesus – that He has come to save us, to restore our relationship with God, and make peace for us – we should respond immediately by seeking to confirm the truth of the message. The Shepherds responded in that way, and so should we.

If we are apathetic and lackadaisical, it means we have not yet grasped the magnitude of the message, or our need for a Savior. As well as it means we don’t understand that this world cannot offer us the peace that only Christ can offer.

The Second and Third Way They Respond is by Believing and Telling Others the Good News.

In verses 17-18, Luke writes,

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

After the Shepherds found Jesus just as the Angel told them, they believed and then told others the good news. Jesus, the Savior of the world, the King we are all awaiting, the Chosen Messiah, is here!

So those who believe the gospel message, tell others about the gospel message; that is the proper response, and it should be our response.

The Last Way They Respond is by Glorifying and Praising God. 

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:20)

After leaving, they responded by glorifying and praising God, which should be our response as well.

We use, read, and write these words frequently, but what do they mean? 

Glorifying God, which praise is wrapped up in, has two ideas attached to it. Those ideas are (1) Beauty and (2) Duty [1].

First, the idea of beauty. 

When someone or something is beautiful, we adore them; our imagination is captured by them; we praise, dote over, and admire them. As well as we talk about them, and long to look on them just to see more of their beauty. We do all this just for who they are not because we stand to have them do something for us.

Second, the idea of duty.

Duty entails service. Often, it means we do something to get something. When it comes to glorifying God, however, service is done not to get something, but just because of who God is. In other words, our service is selfless.

A few ways we can serve God selflessly and subsequently glorify Him by doing so is by:

  • Keeping His commandments.
  • Submitting to His rule over our life.
  • Telling others about Him.

When we do these things selflessly, expecting nothing in return, we glorify and praise God.

What does all this mean? How does this apply to us?

It all means that if we don’t adore, praise, talk about, if our imagination is not captured by, or we don’t long to look on Christ for just who He is, we are not glorifying Him.

It also means that if we don’t selflessly serve God by keeping His commandments, submitting to His rule over our life, or tell others about Him, we are not glorifying or praising Him either.

As well as it means we are not responding properly to the good news of Jesus.

Summary

How should we respond to the message of Jesus? How should we respond to the good news?

  1. Immediately by searching out the truth of the gospel message.
  2. Believe in the good news.
  3. After believing, we should tell others about the gospel.
  4. Lastly we should glorify and praise God.

That is how the shepherded responded to the message of the good news, and that is how we should respond to the message of Jesus this Christmas.

Why should we respond in this way?

Because God Himself has come to this earth to rescue us from death and destruction.

He has planned out His rescue mission before the foundations of the world. He has directed history, so that His plan would come about. He Himself has left His throne in heaven, was born as a man in a manger because there was no place for Him in the inn, He lived a perfect life, but went to the cross to die the death we should die, so that we might have life.

Isn’t that amazing? The King, the Creator of this world has come to rescue us from death and destruction because we rejected Him.

That is why we should glorify and praise God. That is why the message the Angel brought to the shepherds was good news. That is why we should respond to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Have you responded to the good news by searching out the truth?
  2. Have you responded to the good news by believing in Jesus?
  3. Have you responded to the good news by telling others the gospel?
  4. Have you responded to the good news by glorifying and praising God?

Resource

[1] Tim Keller, Father Son and Holy Spirit, Sermon on Mark 1:9-13, January 15, 2006.

How Does Jesus’ Temptation Apply to Us?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

Cross in Desert

Matthew 3 presents John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus, preparing the way for His ministry. Part of this preparation involved John baptizing Jesus. At His baptism, Jesus receives the Holy Spirit to empower and lead Him. The first thing the Holy Spirit leads Jesus to do is to go into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

Why did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus to be tempted by Satan?

There are many reasons Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted, but Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us Jesus was tempted so He could sympathize with our weaknesses.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Isn’t it comforting to know that our Savior knows what we are going through when we are being tempted? He knows exactly what we are experiencing, what we are going through, because He too was tempted.

So the next time you are facing temptation, know your Lord and Savior understands what you are going through. Since He understands, we can come to Him in our time of need. We don’t need to be ashamed. Instead we need to reach out to Him, asking Him to help us face our temptation.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you feel you can draw near to Jesus when you are tempted, or do you feel ashamed and push Him away?

Resource

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