What Really Matters

As followers of Christ, while we are here on earth our mission is to glorify God! One frustration that I have with those in Bible colleges or seminaries is that they spend countless hours debating views of theology, soteriology, eschatology, worship style, denominational differences or whether we should wear ties to church or jeans! We are missing it! Theology and beliefs matter, but when we stand before God one day His questions will NOT be about how much biblical information we know or what church strategy we adhered to on earth. In Heaven, there will be no more need for teaching, evangelism, or preaching. Jesus explains why He came to earth, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" Luke 19:10. A great question to ask as leaders or future leaders is, "how many people are you investing in and sharing the love and grace of Christ?" I believe this question is more important than how much information or what theological camp you have decided to stake your tent. Our passion should be unity to glorify God. What really matters is our attitude, words, actions and lifestyles as leaders. I am hearing more and more that those who claim to be called into ministry are falling into using four letter filth words in their daily conversations and choosing lifestyles that are the same as the lost world. My encouragement is to compare your actions with scripture. 1 Timothy 3 explains the qualifications for those who want to be ministry leaders.

¹ Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. 1 Timothy 3:1-7

"Must be above reproach" does not mean perfection, but it does mean we are held to a higher standard. In other words, there should be no obvious, flagrant sin that distracts from leading people. Notice that Paul uses the word, "must." Being an example is not an option as a leader, it is absolutely necessary.

"Self-controlled" means that as leaders we should be reluctant to fight. The goal of the leader is to bring unity in all possibly ways. Are you self-controlled with your mouth? Do you lose control of your temper and give into wrath? We will all struggle with anger but if you aren't struggling with it, then you might have given into it!

"Not addicted to wine": As a leader you should not have a reputation as a "drinker." Why? Because it is a stumbling block for believers and non-believers. Another reason is that we won't be clouded in our judgment. For me, I choose not to drink. Why? I see no need for it and my last desire is to cause a student or another person to become addicted and fall into any distraction that will keep them from following and honoring Christ. As a leader, we should set an example and be radically different than the world. If we are not radically different, then why would a lost person want to follow Christ if their lifestyle is the same as yours?

"Not quarrelsome" As a leader the goal should be about redemption more so than winning the argument. One of the main reasons people do not come to church is because of all the bickering, fighting and arguments of those who claim to be followers of Christ. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35. Are you more passionate about winning the argument than winning the relationship with people? If you are only worried about winning the argument, then you are quite similar to the pharisees. Primary issues such as salvation, eternity, the virgin birth and Jesus being the messiah are important to discuss. But, whether a person wears a certain type of clothes or the worship style of a church is a secondary issue. I know I have fallen in this area but I'm striving to see beyond semantics and love people. What really matters is people need the hope of Christ and we need to begin loving each other instead of arguing!

How can a person be genuinely saved and the thought of a lost and doomed world never cross their mind? How can they read the newspaper or watch TV and see the depravity that is all around them and not figure out something to do about it? We have what the world needs and the answer is Jesus. Let's focus on what really matters and not on our personal agendas, leanings, or theological camps. Saturate your life in His Word and live out your faith to a lost and hurting world that desperately needs Jesus!

The Gospel According to Romans

Paul talked all about the terms righteousness, faith, redemption, and justification in the book of Romans. How are humans trapped in a hopeless predicament?  How has God acted to rescue people from the power of sin and death?

Righteousness means, “The righteous are those who trust that they will be vindicated by the Lord God. (Psalm 37:12-13). For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith alone, “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:16–17). “No longer did He make his aim the attainment of that righteousness before God which was based on keeping the law. He had found a new way of righteousness, based on faith in Christ[1]. God made things right through the cross and opened up the ability to have a relationship with God. Faith is an act of trust or reliance. It is trusting in what is unseen and believing that God is who He says He is. Faith breeds a spirit of obedience in the heart of believers. An important aspect of faith is to know the nature and character of God.

Redemption means the deliverance from the penalty of sin. God paid our sin debt on the cross and paved the way for freedom (Rom. 3:24). It is important that people understand that they are held in bondage by sin and through Jesus we are redeemed and the sin debt is paid in full. People continually try to find acceptance through earthly relationships and through the New Testament the focus is upon righteousness being found only through a personal relationship with Christ.

Justification is to simply be made right before God. Justification describes the process a non-believer undergoes when they become a believer. Christ followers no longer need to fear judgment from God, as they have been justified before him (Romans 8:1). God’s forgiveness is seen throughout scripture. His plan is to redeem and save mankind from the penalty of sin. The book of Romans captures the essence of God’s salvation work throughout history.

The greatness of Christ’s love for man is found in the teachings of Paul in the book of Romans. Romans 5 explains the redemption of God in the lives of those that are lost. Paul begins with the explanation that there is hope through the redemption of Christ through the cross. It continues to explain that we are spiritually dead (Rom. 5:8). It finishes by explaining the importance that with Christ taking our place by dying a substitutionary death, we have the hope of salvation.

The clear and encouraging truth is that the only way a person can be made right in God’s eyes is through Jesus alone for their forgiveness and salvation. The problem remains that we are not saved through our good works, but by grace through faith in Christ alone for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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[1] (Apostle of the Heart Set Free, 189)

Bruce, F.F. “Paul: Apostle of the Heart set free."

What is Sin?

Sin is literally to “miss the mark” that God has set for us, which is perfection. The reality is that sin is in the very nature of man and cannot be changed by good deeds or attitude. The statement that sin is a failure to let God be God is not true completely, in the essence of the definition of sin. Sin is the breaking of God’s law and the very reason Jesus went to the cross. The relationship between man and God is severed because of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. We are hopeless and separated from Christ. When a person sees their sin in light of the cross, they will realize why they need to be saved by Christ.

Many people today do not like to think of themselves as bad or sinful. Postmodern relativism is running rampant in today’s culture. Truth is based upon feelings, opinions and comparison. I have dealt with many students that have a hard time grasping the depth of sin and the need for salvation. Many compare themselves to each other and base their spiritual lives upon man’s standards. The truth is to always measure our lives to God and His word. The Bible is clear that we are to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have” (1 Peter 3:15), but at times we do not finish the verse, “but do this with gentleness and reverence.” It is our job to explain the gospel, need for salvation because of our sin and let the Holy Spirit draw them under conviction. When this happens, God’s grace becomes real and lives are changed. It will continue to get harder to share the truth of sin with this generation, but the focus must always stay on the finished work of Jesus on the cross! The only way to be in right standing with God is through a relationship with Jesus Christ!