O Glorious Love

O Glorious Love of Christ!

In my darkness Jesus found me;

Touched my eyes and made me see;

Broke sin’s chains that long had bound me;

Gave me life and liberty!


Oh, amazing truth to ponder;

He whom angel hosts attend,

Lord of Heaven, God’s Son, what wonder;

He became the sinner’s friend!


Chorus

 Oh, glorious love of Christ my Lord divine,

That made Him stoop to save a soul like mine.
Through all my days, and then in heaven above,
My song will silence never,
I’ll worship Him forever,
And praise Him for His glorious love.

       © 1970 John W. Peterson Music Company.  All rights reserved. 

Used by permission.

Have You Been Made New?

As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.  Galatians 6:12-15

Offensive Language

And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.  Matthew 15:15-20

It is biblical to view offensive language as a symptom of a person’s spiritual condition.   Too often, however, I believe our Christian evangelical focus becomes not the spiritual condition of the unbeliever, but his/her offense.

When the offense of the unbeliever becomes the focus, conformity to the believer’s standard of behavior becomes the goal.  What good is it for the unbeliever to change his speech while remaining unconverted?

The Great Commission is not about cleaning up unbelievers.  If you and I get unbelievers to stop engaging in fornication, drunkeness and blasphemy, they will still die and go to hell.

Biblical evangelism is not concerned with outward conformity. The goal of biblical evangelism is an inward transformation brought about by trusting Jesus Christ as one’s only hope of salvation.   

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17 

Note:  When did you last love a profane person?

Guest Blog – Voting in the Next Election

I have been hearing from many believers that their consciences will not let them vote in the current election for either candidate. I understand how you feel because my conscience began to bother me about my political choices in the 1980’s.  So I did a study of Scripture about the purpose of government from God’s point of view and my responsibility as a citizen.

We are told in I Peter 2 that one of the purposes of government is to punish those who do evil, and reward those who do good.  The other passage is found in I Timothy chapter 2 where it says we are to pray for our leaders that we may live a quiet and peaceable life, godly and dignified in every way.  So in the 1990’s I began to look at my responsibility to vote in this way.  Which vote will move the country in the direction that Christians may lead quiet and peaceable lives, godly and dignified in every way?  Only once in my adult life have I been able to vote for a political candidate about whom I could say this person’s worldview, mindset, and character are something I can endorse.  I realized that the day would come when I could not vote for an individual, but I did not want the depravity of our nation depriving me of my vote.

I would never urge you to go against your conscience, because the Bible clearly says whatsoever is not of faith is sin.  But if you find yourself in the same situation as I found myself, ask yourself this question:  Will my not voting move our country in the direction that I would want it to go?  If not, then use your vote to move the country in the direction you think it should go.  Notice, I have not encouraged you to vote or not to vote if that is your conviction.  I have not suggested anyone for whom you should vote because, as a believer, I want you to be a good steward of the citizenship with which God has entrusted you.

And finally, the reason I’m more concerned about the stewardship of your citizenship than I am about the election is because of Daniel chapter 4.  Remember the story?  Nebuchadnezzar had become proud because of all his accomplishments, and so God allowed him to act like an animal, eating grass for seven years.  He gives the reason for doing so in verse 17 …to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men.  So ultimately God will determine who wins this election, not our vote.  So please prayerfully consider the stewardship God has entrusted you with, and use your voting opportunity to glorify God.

If you have any questions, drop me a note at heritagebaptistnorthsioux.com.  

Have you prayed for your governmental leaders today?

Pastor Larry

(Used with permission.)

The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Church Today – Part II D – The Guarantee of Our Inheritance

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.  Ephesians 1:13 & 14  KJV

A comparative translation from the ESV says: In him (Jesus Christ) you (believers) also,……..were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,…

The word translated as earnest in the KJV is translated as guarantee in the ESV.   Both refer to a pledge or down payment.

The American Heritage Dictionary says that earnest refers to; money paid in advance as part payment to bind a contract or bargain (also called earnest money).  It is also defined  as; a token of something to come; a promise or assurance.

According to WE Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the word for earnest in the Greek is arrabon.  Originally this word referred to money deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed.  It came to denote a pledge or earnest of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine pledge of all their future blessedness.  See also II Corinthians 5:5.

The KJV  says; ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance.  The same passage in the ESV says; you also……. were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance.

The KJV grammar uses the word which to define the holy Spirit of promise as the earnest of our inheritance.  The Holy Spirit is not an object, power, or influence.  The Holy Spirit is a person and should be properly defined as He, who is the earnest of our inheritance.  The ESV correctly describes the Holy Spirit as He, who is the  guarantee of our inheritance.

 Although this passage emphasizes an inheritance which we regard as yet future, we have the Holy Spirit from the moment we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour (Romans 8:9).  That means that  benefits of our inheritance are available to us the moment we believe.  Our inheritance begins when we are saved, with full benefits when we step into glory.

The Holy Spirit is God.  It is God who is the guarantee of our inheritance.  God will never default on His purchase.

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.  I Corinthians 1:21 & 22

 

 

 

Acceptable Patience

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  I Peter 2:20

Note: I’m not very good at this.

Hands Off!

There are some things that belong to God alone.  These are things that He will not give away.  They are things that we should just leave be.  Taking them to ourselves would make us thieves.  One is His glory and the other is vengeance.

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8

 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Romans 12:19

Spiritual Division in the Home

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.  I Cor. 7:12 & 13

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without a word be won by the conversation (manner of life) of the wives;  I Peter 3:1

In my blog article For Christian Husbands, I discussed how a Christian husband, who is supposed to be the spiritual leader in the home, submits to his wife.  The answer is found in Ephesians 5, under the Spirit filled characteristic of submitting to one another; the Christian  husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.

I want you to understand that submitting in Scripture between a Christian couple is a two way street.  If you are married to an unbeliever, it becomes a one way street, because the unbeliever is not able to submit or love in a biblical way.  The unbeliever does not have the Holy Spirit.  Biblical love and submission is possible only by the Spirit’s enabling.

If you find yourself in the situation of being married to an unbeliever, you need to understand the Scriptures outlined above and their meanings, so that you do not expect more of your mate than they are able to give.  The unbeliever will not be able to love you or submit to you as Christ has commanded the believer to do.

So what’s the point?…..Would you shout at a blind man because he stumbled into your flower bed?  Would you discipline your child for spilling his milk because of his/her childish awkwardness?  Would you become angry and resentful at your mate because he/she does not have the ability to be spiritually minded and obedient to God?

The point is that you cannot force, nor would you want to force, an unbelieving mate to conform to behaviour that is expected of a believer.  

A better approach would be to tell your unbelieving mate one time that you have become a Christian.  From there on, let them see Christ change your own life one day at a time.  Pray for them and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, but never force your unbelieving mate to conform to your new standard of behaviour.  Conformity on their part might make you feel better, but it would be absolutely disastrous for them spiritually.  Outward conformity without inward transformation is not only hypocrisy, it will create a false sense of  spiritual security for the both of you.

You must keep your priorities in order.  A believer’s priorities should be as follows and in this order:  (1) Your personal relationship to God.  (2) Your relationship to your mate and children.  (3) Your relationship to your church.  I list the family above church because the Scriptures clearly teach that a pastor whose children are not in subjection is not qualified for the ministry.  In other words, if a man cannot lead his own family, how shall he lead the church?  Ministry starts at home.

Keep in mind that the last place on earth an unbeliever would want to be is in church.  Do not manipulate them into being spiritual by guilting them into attending church.  This doesn’t mean that you should go to the lake every weekend with them, but on the other hand it doesn’t mean that you should leave your unbeliever alone every time the doors of the church are open.

I know a gentleman whose new mother-in-law found out that he was a football fan.  She was not.  What she did to develop a relationship with him was outstanding.  She learned all she could about the game of football.  She learned to talk football and developed a true interest in the game.  All this was done sacrificially by her in order to have a special relationship with her new son-in-law.  He said the only bad thing about it was that in the process she became a Nebraska fan!

So,……forget about spiritual manipulation.  Be a genuine husband or wife to your unbeliever.  Let God transform you before their eyes by letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly, and by letting the beauty of Christ be seen in you.  Only God can do the work of conviction, repentance and regeneration in your mate.

Note:  Biblical submission doesn’t mean that you submit to everything an unbeliever may conjure up.  If you are asked to disobey a clear command of God, you must gently but firmly refuse.  If they break the law, call the police first!

Also Note: When I refer to a believer or a Christian, I mean someone who is depending on Jesus Christ and His merit alone as his/her only hope of salvation.  Your unbelieving mate maybe very religious but depending on something other than Christ alone for salvation.  It is important that they see a transformation in your life.  I Peter 3:1 above states that the unbeliever may be won by your manner of life, not by coercion or manipulation.  This is not a show or an act that is put on for their benefit.  It is a way of life.

 

I Know A Fount

Are you hurting?  Are you shouldering a burden that is too heavy to bear?  Are you depressed with the circumstances of life?  Are you discouraged by failure?  Are you bitter and unforgiving?  Are you without hope?  Are you without peace?  Do you need forgiveness?  Are you alienated from God?  I know a place where you can find everything you need.  I know One who can quench your thirst.

I know a fount where sins are washed away,

I know a place where night is turned to day;

Burdens are lifted, blind eyes made to see;

There’s a wonder working power

in the blood of Calvary.

Words and Music by Oliver Cooke, 1873 – 1945


Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Chorus:

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Words by Fanny J. Crosby, 1820 – 1915

What is your story?

Do you have questions? Get answers; Read Your Bible!