Signs of Spiritual Maturity #9: Truth is Valuable Enough to Labor For

“We are living in an age that dislikes precision and definitions. It is an age that is anti-theological, anti-doctrinal and which dislikes propositions and exact knowledge. It is a lazy age in every respect, a sentimental, sloppy age, an age that wants entertainment and dislikes effort” (DM Lloyd-Jones on Romans 10:3, “Romans,” p. 29)

by Elder Peter Lim

It is startling that D. Martin Lloyd-Jones’ quote from over 30 years ago bears so much accuracy and relevance to our present condition. We live in a relativistic post-modern society which is phobic to propositional truth. On the surface, it seems to be the more “loving” thing to do, that everyone’s beliefs are acceptable and no one should be criticized for being wrong, that is except for those who hold to absolute truths. The purpose of today’s article is not to delve too deeply into how the world is. However, I did want to share my observation that mature Christians consider truth to be valuable enough to work hard at obtaining.

It’s not easy to acquire absolute truth. Fortunately for us, we have been given all that we need to live a life that glorifies God. Never before in the history of the world have we had such easy access to the greatest source of truth in the world – the Word of God. The greatest tragedy however is that many Christians are too lazy to read it, let alone study it so that we are experts of it. This might’ve been understandable back when it was nearly impossible for ordinary people to own their own copy of the Bible. But now we have multiple copies in different translations and commentaries from gifted men to help us understand. It takes diligent study in order for us to “cut straight” the Word of God. (2 Tim. 2:15)

What this means for the rest of us is twofold: First, we need to read the Word and study it enough to understand what it means. We need to discipline ourselves to not waste time on trivial things like entertainment and hobbies and plant ourselves on our desks study laboriously. This will take a lot of discipline and effort. If you need help in this area, you are in luck because LBC is starting a new class on Feb 10 on Hermeneutics – the science of interpreting Scripture. Second, we need to appreciate our pastors and other teachers who study diligently to provide us with the very best teaching from the Word of God. It takes guts to go up on the pulpit and declare truth under public scrutiny. Let us value highly the Word of God that is taught to us and is available for us to study! It is God’s gift to us.

Basics, Illustrated

by Stephen Rodgers

This is long overdue, but James Shin has been cranking out illustrations for several of the series that are available to you in the Hub Post Directory.  This week, we’re highlighting Pastor Patrick’s series (from 2008/2009!) entitled “Getting Back to Basics.”

If you’ve never read it before, now’s a great chance to catch up, and enjoy James’ artwork in the process.

Let Us Not Sleep, As Do Others

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From 1 Thessalonians 5:6

There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, ‘To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse.’ Christian enquired, ‘Brother, where shall we begin?’ And Hopeful answered, ‘Where God began with us.’ Then Christian sang this song-

‘When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb’ring eyes.
Saints’ fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.’

Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take ‘sweet counsel’ with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open-the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them-a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.

3.5a

Weekly Links (1/25/2013)

I do believe that the very angels have never wondered but once and that has been incessantly ever since they first beheld it. They never cease to tell the astonishing story, and to tell it with increasing astonishment too, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary, and became a man. Is he not rightly called Wonderful? Infinite, and an infant — eternal, and yet born of a woman — Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast supporting the universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms — king of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph — heir of all things and yet the carpenter’s despised son. Wonderful art thou O Jesus, and that shall be thy name for ever. (Charles Spurgeon, “His Name–Wonderful!“)

by Richard Shin

God has been good this week. One way is in the way he used these men to write these articles.

  • David Platt, who preached this death-defying sermon on the sovereignty of God in global missions at the last T4G conference, writes an article introducing this new book by John Piper. Titled Risk is Right, the book is about denouncing the comforts of this world and taking risks for God, which mentality many of us need to adopt.
  • Is anxiety really sin? That’s the question Julian Freeman seeks to answer in this post. It is biblically convicting to see what both Jesus and the Apostles taught in regards to anxiety.
  • It’s a great testimony of God’s faithfulness that both Presbyterians and Baptists can have differing views on different topics and still work together to advance the gospel to the nations. Ligon Duncan (a Presbyterian) and Thabiti Anyabwile (a Baptist), both leaders within The Gospel Coalition, discuss the issue of church polity in this video.
  • The National Sanctity of Human Life Day was this past Sunday, January 22. Russell Moore charges the church to consider how to encourage those who may have participated in an abortion, whether it be as the mother or a supporter. Church, we are not above this.
  • “How do I explain the wrath of God toward Jesus and his separation during [his death] for our sin and not separate the Godhead?” Matt Jenson from the Gospel Coalition seeks to answer this question here.
  • What does your evangelism look like? Do you even do it? Or are you the type that preaches “Evangelize always, and use words when necessary”? Matt Queen asks eight helpful questions the evangelist can ask himself to assess whether his evangelism is biblical or not.

Hope everyone is having a great Flocks week. See you when I see you.

Coram Deo

It’s a Great Year to Grow

by Pastor Patrick Cho

I’m so thankful for a good start to the New Year! Midweek Bible studies are back in session, Sunday School classes are meeting up again, and Sunday worship services are continuing as always. It was particularly good to begin the first weekend of the year by celebrating communion together with the church body and being reminded of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The New Year always brings a sense of excitement. Some take the moment to think back on their blessings and lessons learned from the previous year. Others look forward to new opportunities for self-improvement and growth. However you treat the New Year, as believers in Christ we ought to consider how we might continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).

Some of you will endeavor to read God’s Word this year. This is such a helpful commitment for spiritual growth. You cannot overemphasize the importance of being in God’s Word regularly to learn about Him and understand His ways. I hear people say all the time that they are not good at reading, but growth apart from God’s Word simply doesn’t happen. If you are not a good reader, you should work to become one. This would be worth every minute of investment. I believe many people simply use the excuse to justify their laziness and lack of discipline.

Others will seek to improve some other spiritual disciplines such as prayer or evangelism. These too are precious goals that every believer ought to strive to improve in their lives. With the New Year, we were able to look at James 4:2-3 and the topic of failure in prayer. We need to be honest with the truth that our prayerlessness is more than just a lack of discipline. It is a serious sin for which we need to repent. Our lack of prayer reveals a problematic attitude of the heart, one that ventures to live without God’s strength, provision, and grace.

Likewise, we should all strive to make opportunities to share the gospel. Considering the great need for the truth and how many continue in life completely blind to the light of Christ, we have an obligation to tell others about the hope of the gospel. Understanding this, some of you will seek to be more strategic in your conversations and relationships. We need to have the courage to broach the topic with others and to help them understand the meaninglessness and dreadfulness of life without Jesus. We worship and serve a God of mercy and grace who is full of love. Perhaps He will use some of our conversations this year to change people’s hearts and cause them to turn to Christ in faith.

Regardless of how you seek to grow, the greatest issue underlying these disciplines and practices is the motive behind them. We do not seek to grow merely for personal improvement. We certainly shouldn’t seek to grow for the esteem others give us as a result of our successes. At the heart of what we do should be a desire to see God magnified in our lives. We live for a glorious and great God, and we have the distinct privilege of knowing Him and living for Him. We can reflect His greatness and honor Him with our lives, or we can sadly live as though He is insignificant or even absent.

How big is your God? He is the one who created the universe and sustains it by His wisdom and power (Gen. 1:1; Acts 17:28). He is the one who knows the beginning from the end and is sovereign over all history (Isa. 46:9-10). He is the one with the wisdom to invent math, science, and logic such that all truth is ultimately His and there is no ultimate truth apart from Him (Ps. 18:30; Prov. 30:5; cf. Rom. 3:4). He is morally pure and not stained even by the hint of evil (1 John 1:5). The fact is that God is infinitely great.

As believers we can know Him, and His greatness is the greatest motivation for us to grow in Him. We can pursue Him with all our time and effort, and even be aided by His Spirit, and we will not exhaust what there is to know of Him. We could give Him every ounce of strength for every minute of every day and it would not be enough to match His infinite worth. It is always good to consider the greatness of God and to have an acute understanding of His attributes and character. We live in obedience to His will because He is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.

They Shall Be Abundantly Satisfied with the Fatness of Thy House

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Psalm 36:8

Sheba’s queen was amazed at the sumptuousness of Solomon’s table. She lost all heart when she saw the provision of a single day; and she marvelled equally at the company of servants who were feasted at the royal board. But what is this to the hospitalities of the God of grace? Ten thousand thousand of his people are daily fed; hungry and thirsty, they bring large appetites with them to the banquet, but not one of them returns unsatisfied; there is enough for each, enough for all, enough for evermore. Though the host that feed at Jehovah’s table is countless as the stars of heaven, yet each one has his portion of meat.

Think how much grace one saint requires, so much that nothing but the Infinite could supply him for one day; and yet the Lord spreads His table, not for one, but many saints, not for one day, but for many years; not for many years only, but for generation after generation. Observe the full feasting spoken of in the text, the guests at mercy’s banquet are satisfied, nay, more ‘abundantly satisfied;’ and that not with ordinary fare, but with fatness, the peculiar fatness of God’s own house; and such feasting is guaranteed by a faithful promise to all those children of men who put their trust under the shadow of Jehovah’s wings. I once thought if I might but get the broken meat at God’s back door of grace I should be satisfied; like the woman who said, ‘The dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table;’ but no child of God is ever served with scraps and leavings; like Mephibosheth, they all eat from the king’s own table. In matters of grace, we all have Benjamin’s mess-we all have ten times more than we could have expected, and though our necessities are great, yet are we often amazed at the marvellous plenty of grace which God gives us experimentally to enjoy.

3.4p

Weekly Links (1/18/2013)

The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God—the grace of God which depends not one whit upon anything that is in man, but is absolutely undeserved, resistless and sovereign.  The theologians of the Church can be placed in an ascending scale according as they have grasped that one great central doctrine, that doctrine that gives consistency to all the rest; and Christian experience also depends for its depth and for its power upon the way in which that blessed doctrine is cherished in the depths of the heart.  The center of the Bible, and the center of Christianity, is found in the grace of God; and the necessary corollary of the grace of God is salvation through faith alone. (J. Gresham Machen, HT: Ray Ortlund)

by Richard Shin

We are back and there is so much to share. Enjoy!

  • Steve Fuller from Desiring God shares five promises that are fulfilled by reading God’s Word and communing with God through prayer. If you haven’t today, before you move forward with the new links, maybe you should take some time to meditate upon God’s Word right now.
  • Now that over a week has passed, it seems forever ago, but I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the debacle that revolved around the White House and Louie Giglio. While there have been numerous articles posted by various bloggers, I point you to a noteworthy few: Albert Mohler’s, Russell Moore’s, and Sam Allberry’s.
  • Michael Kruger is beginning a new series that’s called Ten Basic Facts about the NT Canon Every Christian Should Memorize. I imagine this series will give a taste of his book Canon Revisited, which I must say was a stellar read and I highly recommend to anyone who wants to know more about the New Testament canon.
  • If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered the eternal significance of your vocation. Paul Rude from The Gospel Coalition blog shares an encouraging post about how truck drivers’ lives (and engineers’ and teachers’ and accountants’ and missionaries’ and so on) “possess breathtaking significance bestowed by the touch of God’s magnificent glory.” Click through to read more.
  • Christina Fox shares what it means to host without grumbling. There are so many practical applications to what 1 Peter 4:9 says, and if you struggle in this area, let this post be a primer on hospitality for you.
  • Josh Blount posts on Stephen Altrogge’s blog The Blazing Center asking a particularly poignant question, “Have you heard from God lately?” The cessationist in you may have jumped a little, but believe me: it’s not what you think.

I think that ought to keep you busy for a while. Have a great weekend.

Coram Deo

From Newtown to LBCSD’s Children’s Ministry: Lessons of Hope Amidst Tragedy

by Abram Kim

The start of a new year provides opportunities to reflect on the previous year. Of all the events of 2012, from my perspective, the single-most tragic event of the year came near the end of the year, on December 14 when 20 children and six adults were tragically killed and two more wounded at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Very few people knew of this small town before December 14, 2012, but now all of America and the world are familiar with the town. School shootings are always tragic, but the fact that this was an elementary school and that so many children lost their lives magnifies this tragedy.

I would have imagined that during the ensuing weekend, most of the churches across America held services and vigils to pray for the victims and their families at Newtown. LBCSD was no different. The day after the Newtown tragedy was LBCSD’s annual Christmas Concert, and the message from Elder Mike Chon related to the tragic events in Newtown and the hope we have in Christ. The next day, our church gathered that Sunday morning and Pastor Patrick Cho addressed the tragedy again, reminding us of the brevity of life and the hope that can only come from Christ. The news of Newtown was obviously on the hearts and minds of the leaders at LBCSD and it needed to be addressed to give our church proper biblical perspective. Pastor Patrick shared with LBCSD five reasons that Christians should speak up in the midst of tragedy like the one in Newtown. I wanted to use his outline to consider how parents and children’s ministry leaders can teach children to understand tragedies like Newtown.

1. Newtown reminds us that the real problem is our radical depravity.

What happened at Newtown is sad and very tragic. That goes without saying. But consider the gravity of the tragedy. Imagine in a moment’s notice the terror of that violence and rage from a complete stranger. Imagine not being able to play with your best friends because they are no longer with you. We need to explain the magnitude of this tragedy because it brings us closer to understanding the gravity of our sinfulness to the perfectly holy God.

Most of us may not experience in our personal lives or first-hand such wickedness. But regardless of what secular society may preach about man’s inherent good, the potential for this kind of wickedness, including its magnitude, resides in us all. It isn’t even that we are mostly good people that have sinned some and need a Savior to clean up the little mess in our lives, as some Christians may preach. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). It is only by God’s grace that tragedies like Newtown don’t occur more often. Newtown provided a sober look into the all-encompassing problem in this world and in man, our radical and wicked depravity.

2. Newtown reminds us that the gospel is the only solution to the real problem.

The immense gravity of wickedness can only be cancelled by an immense amount of righteousness. Of course none of us have any righteousness of our own to begin with. So who can save us? Of course, Christ alone! When we reflect on the depths of our own sins, we turn to the gospel of Jesus Christ and revel in the glorious depths of His grace. The greatest problem in this world we can emphasize to our young ones is sin, and the only solution is Jesus Christ. He is the only way, truth, and life (John 14:6).

3. Newtown reminds us that life is short and our opportunities are limited.

With all the advances in medicine today, the simple fact remains that no one can be certain of their last day on earth (even in some cases of attempted suicide). My mom would say that we may all have an order coming into the world, but there is no order leaving this world. Accidental deaths happen all the time. Homicides seem more tragic because they have the appearance of being preventable. But the fact remains that death is not far for any of us.

Consider the millions of babies in the womb that never get to hear the gospel because they are aborted before full term. As infants and toddlers, children may not fully grasp the concepts of holiness and sin, but we ought to teach them diligently. We believe God bestows special grace to those souls before the age of accountability. But no one can be certain what that age might be, and it might be different for every child. Every opportunity ought to be taken advantage of to teach the whole counsel of God’s Word, the character of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every Sunday School hour and LKC evening must count. Every little moment in the home and discipline opportunity must count. We must diligently be ready to teach and disciple and counsel and love and point toward our Maker, Savior, and Lord. So teach us to number our days, that we gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

4. Newtown reminds us to look to God because He is in control.

God is not the source of evil (James 1:13), but God is still in control over all the evil that happens in the world, and in the mystery of providence brings it all together for His glory (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28). We must be reminded that God is in control, even over the small and big evils in this world. When the world around you comes crumbling down, or your understanding of the world is shaken at its core, it is natural to seek someone or something to confide in. And we must teach our young ones that God is the most dependable one we can turn to, for He is always faithful. God was and is fully in control, and will continue to always be fully in control throughout all time. Tragedies in life ought to prompt us to repent of our sins and turn to the God who is in control (Luke 13:1-5).

5. Newtown reminds us that God is judge, and He will avenge.

Some may feel that Lanza’s suicide somehow cheated our society from exacting justice on him for his wicked deeds, and cheated the families involved from experiencing justice in this world. Yet no human court could come up with the penalty due such evil. Vengeance is the Lord’s (Romans 12:19). God is the perfect Judge and Executioner. Evil will be dealt with justly, for God is the Great Judge. No one can hide, no one can escape.

For those who are in Christ, Jesus bore the great wrath of God that we deserved upon Himself on the cross. The punishment was immense because our sins were immense. It required an infinite sacrifice to atone for our infinite sinfulness. When will the time be when God consummates the world and brings final judgment to those that are still in their sins? God isn’t slow to fulfill His promise of justice, but rather is patient so that more will be saved in Christ (2 Peter 3:1-10). And may God be gracious to grant us the opportunities to share the gospel with those around us, especially our children, that they may be saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Great Joy of the Christian Life

by Elder Mike Chon

Life is uncertain. If you turn on the news today it won’t take too long to hear about all the events that no one could have predicted and all the different trials that people are facing today. You’ll definitely see the good, the bad, and the ugly in the news. Many times our personal lives seem as unpredictable as what we see on television. In a single day we can enjoy great happiness and in a moment experience the lowest of lows. Many of us live through life hoping and trying to avoid those disappointments or difficulties because we believe that avoiding these things will bring joy to our life. On the contrary, the Scriptures teach that we should consider it joy when we do face various trials in our life (James 1:2).

Why would Scripture teach us that we should consider it joy when we face these trials in our life? The reason is that God is using these trials to produce in us a spiritual change which results in being perfect and complete.(James 1:3-4) Our desire in this life is not to become comfortable but it is to become holy. If our joy is set on material things, our circumstances, or our health…we’ll interpret these difficult moments as obstacles that stand in the way of our joy. Instead we are to be concerned with those things that are eternal and find joy when we face trials since it will produce in us a greater faith, a greater trust, and a greater love for our Lord and Savior.

Even the apostle Paul understood this when he was given his thorn in the flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) After pleading three times with the Lord to remove this from him, Christ answered him with “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Again we see this perfecting work in the midst of a trial which God produces in us. The result for the apostle Paul was to state that he will boast all the more gladly of his weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon him. He was glad to boast about his weakness. Instead of it producing sorrow or anxiousness, Paul’s trial produced in him joy. His joy was found not upon his circumstance but instead knowing that through his circumstance that God is working in and through him. Even though the prayer was not answered the way that Paul wanted it to be, he found joy in knowing that God knows what is best for him. Paul found joy in the eternal and not the temporal.

A.W. Pink wrote concerning our expectations regarding prayer in the midst of trials:

“God’s answer is not always along the line that we think; how good for us that it is not. How little we are able to perceive what would be for our good. ‘We know not what we should pray for as we ought’ (Romans 8:26). Often we ask for temporal things, and God gives us eternal; we ask for deliverance, and He grants us patience. He does not answer according to our will but according to our welfare and profit. Hence we must not be disheartened if our requests are not literally answered. Sometimes God answers by reconciling our minds to humiliating trials. ‘My grace is sufficient for thee.’ Sufficient to support under the severest and most protracted affliction, to enable the soul to lie submissively as clay in the hands of the Potter, to trust His wisdom and love, to be assured that He knows what is best for us.”

The great joy of the Christian life is to know that God cares for us so much that he doesn’t allow us to believe that this earthly world is the best for us. He always wants what is best for us and at times that means that he may bring us through a difficult time to show us our need for him. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10)