Today we find many Christians who look to the law for motivation to good works. This is a complete misunderstanding on what the law does. Mainly it is due to the lack of firm execution of the law in sermons. This was pointed out recently by Pastor Tom Baker of the Law Gospel broadcast.
In a recent television commercial a local Baptist Minister was inviting people to tune into the worship broadcast for practical insights for living to aid them. This is an historically conservative fellowship similar to the one in which I was raised. Years ago from the pulpit one would hear how miserably we are doing when compared to the Holy requirements of God. There were no pointers on improvement. No invitation to look to Jesus to help you with stress. The law was laid down with all its crushing force. Only then was the sweetness of Jesus’ finished work on Calvary was proclaimed. Jesus was not held out as an example we can follow. He was not presented as a cheerleader giving us a rah rah in our daily race.
2 Corinthians 3: 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ESV
Due only to the finished work of Jesus we have full confidence toward God. He is not sitting up there shaking His head back and forth at our failures to keep His commands. He determined long ago we were unable to do this. No when God looks upon those in Jesus He is well pleased with the fruit of the Holy Spirit that we do. These are activities that He has called us to do in our daily rounds. The faith that we have which receives His gifts of forgiveness of sins and trusting in His promises is well pleasing to Him as well.
Why are these fruit and faith so pleasing to God? For they are His doing and nothing from us contributes to them. We are passive receivers. That is what is so tragic with sermons such as this minister was promoting. It is causing people to either become secure or terrified sinners. Christ and Him crucified is to be the main thing in all sermons not a seminar for successful living. People need to be killed with the law and given life in the Gospel. This does not draw large crowds any longer. However, it does keep people from going to eternal death because of His promises of the gift of life through hearing the words of Christ.
Amen
In a recent television commercial a local Baptist Minister was inviting people to tune into the worship broadcast for practical insights for living to aid them. This is an historically conservative fellowship similar to the one in which I was raised. Years ago from the pulpit one would hear how miserably we are doing when compared to the Holy requirements of God. There were no pointers on improvement. No invitation to look to Jesus to help you with stress. The law was laid down with all its crushing force. Only then was the sweetness of Jesus’ finished work on Calvary was proclaimed. Jesus was not held out as an example we can follow. He was not presented as a cheerleader giving us a rah rah in our daily race.
2 Corinthians 3: 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. ESV
Due only to the finished work of Jesus we have full confidence toward God. He is not sitting up there shaking His head back and forth at our failures to keep His commands. He determined long ago we were unable to do this. No when God looks upon those in Jesus He is well pleased with the fruit of the Holy Spirit that we do. These are activities that He has called us to do in our daily rounds. The faith that we have which receives His gifts of forgiveness of sins and trusting in His promises is well pleasing to Him as well.
Why are these fruit and faith so pleasing to God? For they are His doing and nothing from us contributes to them. We are passive receivers. That is what is so tragic with sermons such as this minister was promoting. It is causing people to either become secure or terrified sinners. Christ and Him crucified is to be the main thing in all sermons not a seminar for successful living. People need to be killed with the law and given life in the Gospel. This does not draw large crowds any longer. However, it does keep people from going to eternal death because of His promises of the gift of life through hearing the words of Christ.
Amen
1 comment:
Post a Comment