Tag: Religion

Fight the Good Fight in Community

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Discipleship, Practical5 Comments

Fighting Men

Sin is something we don’t like to talk about. Something we would rather keep hidden. It is certainly not something we want to tell others about. James, however, tells us we should tell others about our sin. He writes,

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16).

James exhorts us to confess our sins to one another, so that others might pray for us. Do you confess your sins to others? Do you ask others to pray God would remove sin in your life? If you don’t, I would encourage you to find someone you can trust, confess your sins, and ask them to pray for you. Don’t try to fight temptation and sin by yourself. Don’t be a Lone Ranger Christian. Fight the good fight in community!

Why Can We Confess Sin to Others?

Often confessing sin to others is hindered by what we believe others will think about us. We don’t want to appear like we don’t have it all together. We are afraid others will look down on us, if we confess our sin.

Christians shouldn’t think that way. The gospel should encourage us to confess our sins to others because it tells us we are not accepted based on our works, or what others think about us. We are accepted based on Jesus’ work for us. Concern for what others think shouldn’t dissuade us then from confessing sin. What others think doesn’t matter because our acceptance is not based on what others think.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you confess your sins to others so they can pray for you?
  2. Are you worried about what others might think of you?

Resource

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How Do You Know You Are Apart of Jesus’ Family

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn PracticalLeave a comment

Church Family

Who is apart of your family? That’s easy, it’s either those born into the family, those adopted, or those who married in. If they weren’t born or married in, or if they weren’t adopted, they aren’t apart of your family.

Jesus’ criteria for being apart of His family is different. You can’t be born in and you can’t marry in. But you can be adopted. The only way to be adopted is to believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

How do we know who are apart of Jesus’ family? Anyone can say they are apart of the family. How can we know for sure they, or we, are in?

Who Are Apart of Jesus’ Family?

In Matthew 12, Jesus tells us who are apart of His family. Starting in verse 46 Jesus says,

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50, ESV)

Jesus is explicit. Those who do the will of the Father are apart of His family. In other words, those who desire to live according to God’s Word are apart of His family, and those who don’t, aren’t apart of the family.

Jesus’ family members desire and live according to the Father’s will.

An Important Point

Jesus’ criteria is an important concept to grasp. There are many who claim to be Christians. Who claim to know God. Who claim that Jesus is their Savior. These same people, however, don’t desire, or do, the will of the Father. They don’t live according to God’s Word, which means they are not apart of Jesus’ family.

Jesus is explicit. If you don’t do the Father’s will, you aren’t apart of His family. If you don’t submit to God and allow Him to call the shots in your life, you aren’t apart of His family. If you don’t live according to God’s Word, you aren’t apart of His family.

You might be religious. You might be spiritual. You might be a good person. You might come to church every week. You might rub elbows with Christians. You might help everyone in your neighborhood. But if you don’t do the Father’s will, you aren’t apart of Jesus’ family.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Do you search God’s Word to determine His will?
  2. Do you desire to live in obedience to God’s Word?
  3. Do you allow God to be number one in your life?
  4. Do you allow God to direct your life?
  5. Do you seek to follow Jesus on a daily basis?

Resources

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Post adapted from my most recent sermon: Jesus’ Family Doesn’t Need A Sign

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

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