Love Gives Life; Infinite Love Gives Eternal Life
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by Jon Buck
Immanuel—The God Man
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by Jon Buck
He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things. ~ Eph 4:10
The incarnation of the Son of God at Christmas is one of, if not THE, most glorious truths of the Christian faith. The beauties of the Son of God, born to suffer for the sins of His people for the glory of God are magnificent. However, there can be a difficulty in the minds of Christians, at times, with the immanence and the transcendence of Jesus.
‘Immanence’ means working inside of something or existing within something. It is often confused with ‘imminence’, which indicates that something is about to happen. The immanence of Jesus is His experience as humanity in the incarnation.
Jesus was immanent to the human race. He truly and really took on flesh, was born in a manger in the tiny village of Bethlehem, was raised by impoverished parents, and was trained as a carpenter. He was known, loved, hugged, and dialogued with by those who interacted with Him.
But Jesus wasn’t only immanent. ‘Transcendence’ means to be beyond the reach of any possible experience or knowledge. Things that are transcendent are impossible to grasp in any rational way. He is gloriously transcendent in His person, as the second member of the Trinity, in whom the fullness of Godhead dwells bodily (Col 2:9).
He is the One who created the universe, Who sits at the right hand of the throne of His Father, Who has all authority in heaven and on earth, and Who dwells in unapproachable light. He is the mighty God, the sustainer of all things through the word of His power.
How do we bring these things together?
To be honest, I don’t think we can. The apostle John was one of Jesus’ closest friends on earth. He calls himself ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’, and at the last supper, he leaned on Jesus’ bosom as a dear brother and friend. And yet, when Jesus appears to him on the island of Patmos to give him the book of Revelation, John didn’t shake hands or give Jesus a hug. He fell down in terror. Jesus was immanent, but He is transcendent.
Nativity scenes and other Christmas decor often seek to harness this truth. There are stars over the infant, attempts to paint light around the manger, and other such things. But this is not the point of the birth of Christ.
Paul explains these two realities to us in a simple sentence in Eph. 4:10. Jesus really did descend to earth (this verse is not talking about a descent into hell—it means He became a man). He entered into the world just as any other baby has entered into the world. He was consummately human. And, in a cattle stall in little village in the country, everything was dirty, humid, grimy, and probably quite uncomfortable.
But that was the point.
The very One that lay in the manger is the same One who ascended above all the heavens, in order that He might fill all things! The baby was the Creator and Sustainer of all matter—transcendent and glorious beyond all describing. He is consummately God, very God, self-existent and sustaining all things that exist.
This is so stunning to Paul that he emphasizes it—He who descended is Himself also He who ascended—this is one being who fills both of these roles. But that’s the whole point. He is the God-Man, the incarnate Son of God.
The whole point of Christmas is Jesus—Son of God, Son of Man, immanently human in all ways like we are, and yet transcendently glorious beyond all our deepest imaginings. He is Immanuel—God with us.
Thanksgiving as the Highest Expression of Worship
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Rom 1:21 - For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Thanksgiving is a day that many in the US gather with friends and family and give thanks for God’s care through the year. A host of traditions have been built up around it…various foods that we only eat this time of year, pies and whipped cream, and pumpkin in literally everything.
But in the midst of all the pumpkin-ness, there’s actually a beautiful truth in giving thanks that the Bible speaks of frequently. The terms in Greek are used more than thirty times, and always in very important contexts.
For example, Paul tells the Colossians to let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts, through the body of Christ in the church, and, as a summary statement, to be thankful (Col 3:15).
And a number of other passages make similar statements. Here are a few samples:
Eph 5:4 - …and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Phil 4:6 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Col 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
And perhaps most striking…
1 Thess 5:18 - …in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This is the will of God for us in Christ! Isn’t that remarkable?
But why is giving thanks such an important part of the Christian life? Why does God place such a dramatic emphasis on giving thanks in His Word?
In a very simple answer, Paul tells us that acknowledging God and giving thanks are the very things that divide believers from unbelievers. In Romans 1:21, Paul says that even though unbelievers know God, they do not acknowledge Him as God, or give thanks!
Giving thanks is the very mark of a believer because giving thanks is acknowledging the goodness and sovereignty of God. If God is good and loves us, and if He is sovereign, then everything in our lives is from Him, and should be a source of thanks!
BUT if He isn’t good, or isn’t sovereign, then the first response of our hearts will be grumbling, complaining, and unthankfulness. We won’t acknowledge Him, or give thanks to Him, and He will not receive the glory that He rightfully deserves in our hearts! In fact, the act of giving thanks is the very highest form of worship we can offer God!
Thanksgiving can be day filled with blessings or pains — a joyful or a tough day. But today, no matter how complex things are in your life, and no matter how hard or difficult your financial situation, relationships, or health are, remember—God is sovereign, and He loves you. Give thanks to Him and glorify Him today!
God Uses Your Pains to Teach You Theology
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by Jon Buck
Life is full of difficulties. Job tells us that man is ‘born for trouble as the sparks fly upward’, and the older I get, the more I feel the truth of this statement.
I often find myself thinking that things will ease up after the next hill, so to speak, but there’s always another hill, another ridge, another mountain. There’s always more difficulty to come.
But this, of course, is God’s design. In our sufferings, God is doing all sorts of powerful things for us. He’s teaching us that our faith is real (James 1:1-4), that the love of God causes us to endure (Rom 5:1-5), and that we have a lasting hope of glory (Rom 8:16-17), among other things.
One of the most interesting things that God is doing in our trials is teaching us to have good theology, and Paul’s example in Romans 15:30-33 and Phil 4:6-7 is a prime example.
In Romans 15, Paul is beginning a trip to Jerusalem, and writing the Romans to ask for their prayers. He’s going there to carry a gift from the Gentile churches, and he is aware that all sorts of difficulties are in front of him. The unbelieving Jews want him dead. The believing Jews don’t know if they can trust him. The ruling Gentiles are uncomfortable with Jewish rebellion in the city, and believing Gentiles are outcasts. Jerusalem is a perfect storm of suffering for Paul! And yet, God has called him to go there.
And so Paul requests prayer from his brothers and sisters in Rome, and not just any prayer—agonizing prayer with Paul. He asks them to petition the triune God for his rescue from he unbelieving Jews, and for unity with the Jerusalem church. This of course makes sense, given the massive problems that he could face when he arrives. Paul’s need is great, and his request is not surprising.
But, we find in Acts 20-21 that Paul’s requests are answered, though not how he would have expected. And so, Paul’s prayers, and the prayers of the Romans were God’s will.
But what did this experience teach Paul?
We find out, actually, in Phil 4:6-7. Paul is writing from prison after his experience in Jerusalem, and he tells the Philippians to be anxious for nothing, but to make their requests known to God with thanksgiving.
Now, there’s a lot that we could learn from Paul’s request before his trial, and his wisdom after his trial. But I think one of the most interesting is his use of the word ‘peace’ in both passages.
In Romans 15:33, he asks that the ‘God of peace’ be with the Romans—that is, that they would experience God’s peace, even as they pray for his deliverance. However, in Phil 4:7, Paul says that God’s peace will be present for those who make their requests known to God.
What had Paul learned?
God had taught Paul that peace wasn’t related to outcome or to circumstance, but to the knowledge of God, and giving thanks to Him in all circumstances. God had taught Paul to trust Him in sufferings, and so Paul was teaching the Philippians what he’d learned.
And the same is true for you today. God is using your trials, your sufferings, and you hardships to teach you important things about Himself, and those are more important than any blessing!
“My Pastor is too Busy”—An Encouragement Toward Pastoral Communication
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by Jon Buck
It’s not uncommon for folks to call their pastor seeking wisdom or help or even just fellowship, but then to apologize for calling.
I can understand this sentiment. I remember many times before I became a pastor when I would reach out to the pastors who were over me in order to seek similar things. I think the heart of those who apologize in these types of situations is good!
There may be a host of motives for saying sorry, and we’ll discuss those below. My goal in this article is to free you to call your pastor more, rather than less!
Busyness—Perhaps there’s the thought that your pastor is too busy to take your call! It is true that pastors are generally busy people. Those who aren’t busy aren’t generally the best pastors! Ministry is tough! Jesus’s disciples didn’t have time to eat, and Paul himself said that all the churches weighed down on him.
However, from a pastor’s perspective, there is never a time when a man is too busy to hear from his sheep. In fact, just the opposite—pastors love to hear from their sheep! One of the most painful things about pastoral ministry is to not hear from someone, and then discover that they’ve been struggling, or made a decision, or pursued a situation that you never heard about.
Instead, it’s far better to know what’s happening among the flock, and one of the best ways for that to happen is through open pastoral communication. Pastors love to hear from their sheep, and to be
What’s more, your pastor’s own spiritual life and communion with Christ is dependent on his care for you (Heb 13:17)! How grateful would he be to know how you’re doing?
2. Discouragement—A second common hesitancy is the fear of discouraging your pastor by sharing your struggles or sins. Again, I think this comes from a good place. As a sheep, you might be afraid that your pastor will be discouraged that his sermons aren’t helping, or that his counsel isn’t taking root. You might be concerned that the ‘last thing he needs’ is to hear about your struggles.
However, from a pastor’s perspective, the exact opposite is true. Pastors love to hear from their sheep, even when (especially when) a sheep is struggling. Pastors are called to shepherd the flock of God among them, and to exercise oversight—to watch over the souls of the sheep that God has allotted to their care. When a pastor doesn’t know what’s happening in a person’s heart, they are unable to fulfill this calling that God has placed on them!
Instead, pastors love to hear about what’s going on in a person’s heart so that they can care for them. The greatest joy in a pastor’s heart is to hear that his people are doing well…and the only way people are going to grow into doing well is through the care and oversight of pastors. And so, from a pastor’s perspective, it’s much better to hear from the sheep so that they can be helped!
3. Just Encouragement—A third thing that could happen in a person’s heart is that they might think that their current enjoyment of God, and their spiritual life isn’t worthy of a call to their pastor. Again, this isn’t a bad-hearted sentiment. Things are going well! They’re not in any struggles. In fact, they’ve been growing in Christ! So why interrupt a pastor’s study with that news?
Simply put, this is a great joy and encouragement to a pastor’s heart! It’s a blessing to hear from a brother or sister about how the Lord is working in their life. It doesn’t matter if God used the pastor himself, or the sermons from a pastor down the street. The greatest joy a pastor has is to hear that his sheep are doing well. It isn’t a time-waster or a distraction—quite to the contrary. It is a great joy to hear that God is working among His people!
So, no matter what you might be thinking, remember, your pastor would love to hear from you. Whether he’s busy or not, and whether your call is one of struggle or blessing, pastors love to hear from their sheep! This is God’s heart for us as well, and as shepherds turn to the great Shepherd for help and care, they find the strength and joy needed to fulfill this calling!
Unspoken Requests
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by Gus Pidal
I will never forget that small church I visited over a decade ago. Melissa and I were in the midst of gathering our support to go to Spain and I was invited to this small congregation to present our ministry in Spain and to share what the Lord was doing in our lives. I was fresh out of seminary, very inexperienced, and I happened to come to the service earlier and sat in their adult Sunday school with 7 adults.
Before the class started, the teacher asked, “Are there any prayer requests?” An older saint raised her hand immediately, you can tell she had something to share, yet when she was called upon she said, “it’s unspoken”.
Two words, well two and a half words… “It’s. Unspoken.” What did that mean? What in the world is an unspoken prayer? The Sunday school teacher did his best to pray for Sister So and So and her “unspoken prayer,” yet the question still lingered in my mind… What is so private about a prayer request that this older saint could not share with the 7 people that were in that claustrophobic classroom? I do not know, but it really does not matter. Perhaps it was something very heavy for her to bear. Possibly it was private. Nevertheless all those years ago, I remember driving home, it was a very long drive that included a lot of L.A. traffic, meditating on a verse Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
It is easy to pile on this poor older saint for not being “real” and sharing her prayer request, but I believe that the onus is on us (no pun intended). We must create a culture where we bear one another’s burdens as we seek to glorify Christ with our lives. And how do we do this? We do it by being honest and sincere ourselves, we do it by seeing our church as our family in the faith, we do it by honoring the Lord with our lives by bearing, by carrying other’s burdens because of what the Lord is done for us.
We also do it by having a high view of God. The sovereignty and the love of God bring us hope and allow us to be open and honest with one another. So, instead of sharing unspoken prayers, we can be sincere with others because we know that God is sovereign over everything, even our faults and our frustrations. At the same time and in the middle of our difficulties, we know that God loves us because He already demonstrated his love for us in that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8).
The Bigger They Are…(An Encouragement to Share the Gospel Boldly)
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by Jon Buck
“…the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation…” - Rom 1:16
I’ve never been in a street fight.
They look pretty scary, honestly, and I have no desire to be in one. I’m not, by nature, a fighter, and would rather just back away slowly.
But the phrase ‘the bigger they are, the harder they fall’ has been used in the context of bringing down large and important figures in boxing for years. In fact, the expression is believed to come from boxing and became popular when Robert Fitzsimmons used it in a 1902 newspaper interview before fighting the much heavier James J. Jeffries.
If you’re like me, there are certain people in your life that you feel are the furthest from salvation. They’re so hardened, and so darkened by sin, that you’ve given up hope that God will ever save them.
You might be right, but can you imagine a more hardened sinner than the Apostle Paul? He was busy killing Christians when Jesus saved him. Of all the religious leaders of his day, Paul says that he was outworking all of them in self-righteousness, and in the persecution of the church (see his pedigree in Phil 3:1-6).
And yet, Jesus saved this hardened sinner.
And the weight of his salvation was felt around the world at the time, and has echoed down to us in our day through his ministry.
He was one of the biggest, but Jesus brought him down.
No wonder, then, that when Paul wrote Romans, he said that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. No matter how powerful, and no matter how important a person is, their power is nothing in comparison to the power of God.
And when that power of God is unleashed on a person for their salvation…well…they’re going to be saved. No matter how big an unbeliever is, friends, Jesus is bigger, and the Gospel is His power to bring them to Himself.
So, rather than despair for the hardest in our lives, and rather than make excuses for our lack of boldness because of the hardness of those around us, let’s willingly and openly proclaim the Gospel to a lost and dying world.
Those whom God chooses will be saved, and nothing can keep them from that destiny.
Why Did God Create A Massive Universe? A Brief Reflection on the Webb Telescope Images
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by Jon Buck
Thus says the Lord, “If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out below, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” declares the Lord. - Jer 31:37
NASA recently released a group of new photos from the James Webb Space Telescope—a state-of-the-art space telescope that has just recently produced its first deep space images. The most recent set of photos utilized the gravity from a group of galaxies in order to look substantially further into space than had ever been done before.
The resulting image is shocking and beautiful. The field of vision in the photo is approximately the size of a grain of sand, held at arm’s length, toward the sky. And, in that tiny space, there are literally thousands of visible galaxies, some of which are the furthest ever photographed at approximately 4.6 billion light years away.
The image has made news because of the incredible distance that exists between the objects and the earth, and because of the apparent age of the objects as well.
However, as a literal 6 day creationist, these findings are unsurprising. In fact, they are enjoyable to me!
First, it is glorious to see the profound power of God in creation. The bible tells us that God created the stars of heaven (Isa 45:12) with His voice, and that their motion and names are all known to Him (Is 40:26).
Second, it’s amazing to think that God created these celestial bodies, and created the light that exists between them and earth, simply by speaking. According to Genesis 1, God created light on the first day (dividing light from its source—something no ancient mind could have conceived of) and the luminaries on the fourth day. These wonders were made in a moment, simply by the spoken word of God.
However, this might leave us to wonder God’s purpose in creating such massively distant and numerous galaxies and celestial bodies.
The answer is, like all others, found in the Scripture. God promised the nation of Israel that He would restore them to their land, and would faithfully plant them there, and bring them into a relationship with Him. These promises are salted into literally every Old Testament book.
However, the experience of any Jewish believer during those many generations might have caused some doubt. Unbelief, sin, judgment, and destruction was the constant experience of the nation, and God’s faithfulness may have been questioned.
God’s answer to the nation of Israel was simple—if you can measure the universe, I’ll forget you. But since God can’t ever change His mind or forget His promises, we can have great confidence that the universe will never be measured.
Each time the next generation telescope points its lens toward blackest space, God’s faithfulness is called to the test. And every photo sprinkled with galaxies at absurd distances simply indicates that God has passed the test. And, gloriously, if God is faithful to His promises to Israel, then He will be faithful to His promises to you!
So, next time you see a picture of distant galaxies and planets, remember…this is just a reminder to you that God will never and can never change. He will hold you until the end.
The Subtle Danger of Works Righteousness
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by Jon Buck
“It was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” - John Bunyan
One of the most fascinating things about the human mind is how it can process complex concepts rapidly, and with great understanding. And one of the most complex notions that we encounter as Christians is the concept of self-analysis. We can often be quick to examine our hearts and motives, and, at times, find ourselves despairing over whether we have truly submitted ourselves to Christ.
We might call this a ‘lack of assurance’ or ‘struggling with doubt’, but these internal dialogues are intense, and can be soul-crushing battles with fear and despair. And, of course, the Bible affirms that nothing will ever separate us from the love of Christ, and so we can trust that God will bring us through. But at times, it doesn’t feel that way.
One of the greatest causes of this breed of doubt is our own internal thoughts and self-analysis. These may take the form of sinful temptations, of sinful thoughts and desires, of an awareness of lack of love for Jesus, or countless other forms. These can sometimes come in tidal waves, and leave us bruised and battered, and filled with doubts about our salvation.
Now - if you’re careful, you’ll notice that this is an interesting phenomenon—we are doubting our salvation because we have doubts. In other words, the doubts themselves become infinitely regressive—doubts lead to doubting, and doubting leads to greater doubting, etc. This toilet bowl of confusion can pull our faith down rapidly.
It’s helpful to know that one of the greatest Puritan pastors, John Bunyan, struggled with this same issue.
At its core, this mode of thinking is actually works-righteousness, disguised as a subtle form of godliness.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ informs us that God does not accept us based on our good or bad ‘frames’, as Bunyan calls them. My own internal confidence, my own internal victory, my own internal struggle—these are neither the cause of my salvation, nor the forfeiting of it. In fact, none of my works, either good or bad, are the cause of my salvation.
In fact, the beauty of the Gospel is that I am accepted by God because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone. On my very best day, filled with joy and faith and service to God, I am no more loved than on my very worst day, filled with fear and doubt and struggle. God has accepted me in the righteousness of Jesus alone, and that cannot change.
So—how do we fight these doubts and fears?
The answer, of course, cannot come from inside us. Everything inside of us is confused and broken in those moments. So the answer must come from outside of us—the answer must come from God’s Word.
God has spoken, and His word is true. When He tells me that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15), this is true. I must trust His word more than I trust my own thoughts. I must remind myself that, yes, I am a sinner, but Jesus came to save sinners…Yes, I am sinfully doubting, but Jesus died for sinners…yes, I am fearful, but Jesus Christ came to rescue those who fear.
It is the Word—read, and believed—that will set me free. As another wise sinner like Bunyan once said, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Roe v. Wade: Praising God, Praying for Neighbors
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by Jon Buck
This morning, at 10 AM EST, the US Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade by a 6-3 decision. The decision was handed down amid substantial controversy after the illegal leak of the opinion several weeks ago. Since 1973, abortion has been considered a constitutional right in the US, but the decision now moves that choice to the individual states to decide.
I must say that waking up to this news splashed across the internet was one of the most joyful and encouraging things that has happened politically in recent years. Abortion is a wicked wrong in our nation, and the fact that there will be less access to abortion in certain states is a great blessing.
The decision is also one of the most polarizing in recent years. The internet is filled with cries of joy and cries of lamentation, depending on who is speaking. Politicians, actors, pundits and the like are all expressing their opinions, and often in the most vehement ways.
But what should our response be as Christians?
First, I hope that your heart is rejoicing at this step in the right direction for protecting the lives of the unborn. I hope that you are filled with thanksgiving to God for this decision that will undoubtedly lessen the number of infants who are mercilessly killed in our nation.
But second, I hope that we, as Christians, will take this opportunity to pray for those around us who disagree. The polarization around this issue can cause an even more complex situation for the Gospel. Those who believe in abortion as a constitutional right will be even more hardened by the decision to turn from anything that even begins to sound anti-abortion.
But the biggest problem for these neighbors of ours is not their support of abortion, nor is it any other political position, regardless of how sinful it may be. Instead, the biggest problem for everyone on both sides of this debate is where they stand before God—whether they have truly trusted in Christ for their salvation, or not.
In the coming weeks as this decision unfolds, we’ll see more and more videos of angry protestors and rejoicing protestors. Regardless of who you see, I hope your heart will pray for them. Pray that they would not be confused about what is the primary need in their lives. Pray that they would understand that abortion isn’t the main issue, but that Jesus is.
And, I hope that as Christians, we will seek to limit the vitriol that will inevitably spill all over the internet. I pray that we’ll protect the Gospel, and show Christ to our neighbors by our attitudes.
Is There Power Enough?
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by Jon Buck
“…and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.”
Eph. 1:19-20
There have been times in my Christian life where I’ve struggled with certain sins, and found myself in deep despair. After fighting and wrestling with my own sin, and finding myself unable to conquer temptation, I have sometimes begun to doubt if God was with me, and if He had power to change me.
I don’t think this struggle is uncommon.
Paul himself wrote in Romans 7:25 - “Oh wretched man that I am! Who will free me from the power of this death?”
Sin seems so incredibly powerful, doesn’t it? The temptations that course through us produce a nearly-constant potential to stumble in a wide variety of ways.
Perhaps you find yourself struggling with anxiety. You are anxious about a host of different concerns. And, having experienced the pain of anxiety already, you find yourself anxious about being anxious.
Perhaps lust is a dangerous arena for your heart. You find yourself constantly confronted by the unrighteousness of the world. The offer of evil pleasures seems ubiquitous, and your heart is often pulled in that direction. No matter how much you hate the consequences, you find yourself craving again and again.
Or, perhaps the appeal of the world—the craving of your flesh—calls out to you like a siren song. The allure of newer and better ‘stuff’. The appeal of vacations, and pictures of mountains or white sandy beaches. You find yourself day-dreaming, filled with discontentment of your circumstance, knowing all the while that your cravings are leading you into sorrow.
My question is, “Is there power enough to change me?”
Does God have what it takes to change my evil heart? Does He have the power of transform my desires? Can He actually make me more like Jesus, and less like the ‘old’ me?
Paul’s unequivocal answer is yes. There is plenty of power in God for all the needs your heart has, and that power is yours by faith.
In fact, in Eph 1:19-20, Paul explains his desire that all Christians know the ‘surpassing greatness of God’s power’, and particularly, the ‘working of the strength of His might’ that is ours through Him.
And, to show the immense power of God, Paul points to two different events—the resurrection, and the ascension. Why these two?
The resurrection is the pronouncement of God’s victory over sin and death. Jesus is alive, and our sin is dead. That power that conquered sin once and for all is the very power that works in you! Is there any power greater than the power to restore life? And the resurrection power of Christ belongs to every single child of God, right now!
The ascension points to the power of God over all circumstances that you might face. There is nothing that is outside the absolute sovereign control of the King who sits on the throne. Jesus has taken His seat at the right hand of the majesty of God the Father, and everything that is coming into your life—temptation or suffering—has come from His hand.
And so - is there power enough for you to change? The power that raised Christ from the dead, and the power that gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth is yours, right now, in Him.
Do you believe that? If you do, you have all the power you need!
Four Races, Three Denominations, One Gospel
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by Jon Buck
I love this picture.
I don’t love it because I’m in it. In fact, quite to the contrary—I’d rather not be!
I love this picture because of what it says about the Gospel and its power. This picture contains four different races, three different denominational and ecclesiological perspectives, and yet, one glorious gospel uniting it all.
Let me introduce you to these brothers.
On the far left is PJ Tibayan. He’s the pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Bellflower. This church is part of the Southern Baptist convention (SBC), is congregational, and practices a semi-closed communion.
Second from left is Bobby Scott. He went to the Master’s Seminary with me, and is the associate pastor at Community of Faith Bible Church in South Gate Los Angeles. He and I are more or less completely on the same page in terms of our theology.
The man next to me is Rudy Rubio. He is the pastor of Reformed Church of Los Angeles, a Presbyterian church in Lynwood. His church believes in infant baptism, holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith, and is part of the Acts 29 church planting network.
Now - I want to be clear. None of the four of us agree 100% on what we believe about the Bible. In fact, with the exception of Bobby, I would probably find it challenging to attend their churches for an extended amount of time, as they would find it challenging to attend ours.
However, we love one another as brothers in Christ, and pray for each others’ churches.
Why? Because the Gospel—the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for sinners, embraced by grace alone through faith alone is the heartbeat of each of these men’s ministries.
In fact, in the background you can see the T4G logo—Together for the Gospel. That’s what we are!
Heaven is very much like this—brothers and sisters of different backgrounds who lived their lives with various convictions about secondary and tertiary doctrines, but who were all radically committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and His glory alone!
The Gospel unites what the world, and even denominations, can divide.
I love this picture because it is a picture of heaven, and because heaven is about the glory of Jesus Christ!
Remembering When We Doubt
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by Jon Buck
“…who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
Eph 1:3
My Christian life has been marked by a constant ebb and flow of faith and struggle. At times, I have enjoyed seasons of faith and hope, and at times, I have wrestled with doubt and despair. Throughout these seasons of doubt, I forget many of the blessings that the Lord has already poured out for me.
Paul states this fact unequivocally in Eph 1:3. God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. There is no spiritual need, no spiritual strength, no spiritual concern that has not been provided for me in Christ!
Of course, in seasons of doubt, these realities are not clear in my heart. I doubt God’s love and care. I find myself worshipping idols. I forget His sovereign hand over me. And these are just a few!
The way back is always the same —I lack faith in all that God has for me and is for me in Christ. I have forgotten the glorious truth of this verse, and instead have focused on my circumstances, my sin, my needs. But I can always remember. I can always remind myself that the Lord is good, and that all the spiritual needs that I have are mine in Christ already.
How glorious is that? The needs I have this morning in my spirit are already mine through Christ and His shed blood. I need only remember this truth in faith, and my heart is filled with those very blessings.
So—if you’ve forgotten all that God has for you in Christ, or if you doubt, read this verse, and remember!
Beware ‘Nike’ Christianity
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by Jon Buck
“to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake”
Romans 1:5b
Nike - the massive sportswear company named for the Greek word for victory - famously utilized the phrase ‘Just Do It’ in an advertisement featuring an 80 year old runner named Walt Stack. Stack was the anchor of the Northern California running community, and is said to have run more than 62,000 miles in his lifetime. He often ran marathons and 50 mile ultramarathons well into his 80s. Stack died in 1995 at 87, having run a marathon as late at 1993.
Stack loved running, and continued to run until his death in large part due to his tenacity. He once said that he would keep at running ‘until he was planted’. He famously ran 17 miles every morning and was so consistent that someone once said that if he had fallen out of plane, he would fall at 8.5 minutes per mile.
This type of human endurance is really remarkable. We can, and should, see the glory of God in the power of the human body to continue with this kind of intensity for so many years. Walt’s tenacity for running was truly epic.
However, we must be cautious when applying this type of thinking to our Christian lives.
‘Just Do It’ is never the right answer for how we obey God.
There are a number of reasons why this is dangerous.
First, this is simply not what the Bible teaches. Jesus said in Matt 22:37-40 that love for God and love for neighbor are the first and second greatest commandments. He then told the lawyer who had asked Him that, “On these two hang all the law and the prophets.” In other words, if you love God and love people, you WILL obey the Law.
The inverse is also true—if you obey without love for God or for people, you aren’t actually obeying the Law at all. Instead, you are pursuing self-righteousness. This is exactly Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Second, if we succeed in powering through the Christian life through our own efforts, we bring glory to ourselves, rather than to God. There is no honor for God in the person who simply presses on, without a heart for the Savior.
And, sadly, if we fail, we will grow despairing (rightfully) and give up. When we rely solely on ourselves and our efforts for spiritual growth, failures leave us with nowhere to turn.
Third, the Bible never provides this type of human power and effort for obedience. In fact, Paul explains that the whole purpose of his ministry was to bring about the ‘obedience of the faith among all the Gentiles’ (Rom 1:5).
What is ‘obedience of faith’?
Very simply, it is faith-fueled obedience. Paul didn’t want people all over the world ‘just doing’ Christianity. He wanted dependent, Christ-loving saints, walking in holiness by faith, rather than mere external obedience.
This is, of course, the key to all obedience. When we believe the realities of our sin, of Christ’s life, death and resurrection on our behalf, and the truth of His love for us, obedience becomes the natural result.
We obey Him because we love Him. (John 14:15)
We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:10)
Our loving obedience is for ‘His name’s sake’. (Rom 1:5b)
Walt Stack was an amazing man, and Nike has built an amazing company on their motto. But as Christians, we have a greater motivation than simple human effort. We have the love of Jesus.
Have You Truly Repented of Your Sin? A Diagnostic Test
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by Jon Buck
“…repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:15b
Repentance is a word that gets thrown around quite a bit in conservative Christian circles, and rightly so. All men are sinners, and Christians are no exception. When we sin, God calls us to repent of that sin, and turn to Him.
However, a quick survey of Christians will quickly indicate that there’s some confusion on this topic. One of the most frequently asked questions relates to repentance, forgiveness, and the lack of change in life.
When we discuss the concept of repentance, we can often run a risk of simplifying that concept down into something that is dangerously akin to deciding which restaurant to try on a date night.
The problem, of course, is not only definitional, but also spiritual. When we reduce repentance to such a simple human choice, it creates a false sense of assurance in the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike.
On the other hand, misunderstanding repentance can leave Christians feeling defeated by sin. When we fail to truly repent, our hearts remain attached to our sin, in spite of our best human efforts. We will inevitably fall into similar patterns of sin, and find ourselves guilt-ridden and burdened.
So, with so much on the line, what is true repentance? There’s much to be said here, but a relatively simple summary is below:
Repentance is a faith-filled act of turning from sin that involves the will, the mind, and the emotions.
Breaking this down, we see several components.
The main point is the act of turning. True repentance involves a turning from sin toward God. This act of turning MUST occur, or a person has not truly repented. This might happen 100 times in an hour and still be genuine, but true repentance is always a turning.
The second component is faith. True repentance must be full of faith in the love and acceptance of God. To rightly turn to God, we must believe that He has and will continue to accept us through the finished work of Christ.
The third component involves the will. True repentance includes a volitional rejection of sin for the sake of pursuing righteousness.
Fourth, true repentance includes the mind. The mind of the repentant sinner is aware of the heinousness of their sin, is actively seeking to mentally assent to the Gospel, and choosing to volitionally make the turn to God.
The fifth component is the emotions. For repentance to be genuine it must include the emotional disgust of sin—a hatred for and sorrow over the sin that has been committed because of the pain it has caused their Father in heaven.
These five issues all describe true repentance. It is helpful to diagnose our hearts through this grid to see if we have truly turned from our sin to serve God in any given area (1 Thess 1:9).
One other helpful diagnostic question is, “Do you feel forgiven?” This question gets at the faith of the penitent sinner. True repentance always includes a heart of joyful acceptance of the forgiveness of God, and a zeal to pursue righteousness at any cost (Luke 3:8ff; 2 Cor 7:8ff).
So, have you truly repented over the sins in your life? If not, I would appeal to you to consider your heart even now. Jesus has died for sinners like us, and there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents (Luke 15:1-10).
Q&A - Are You Wise in Your Own Eyes? Part 2
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by Jon Buck
“…do not be wise in your own estimation.”
Romans 12:16c
This is the second article in a three-part series regarding being wise in our own eyes. The goal of these articles is to help us check our hearts regarding whether we have become proud in our thinking. And so, the second biblical mark of one who is wise in their own eyes is that they are obstinate and self-willed.
What does that mean? They are stubbornly unwilling to be convinced out of their opinions, but instead they act upon them without seeking wisdom.
To make this helpful, we’ll consider the two ideas separately, starting with obstinate. Now, there are a lot of words that are close synonyms for this idea. For example, the word unteachable would identify a person who will not listen to teachers. Or the word stubborn, which would indicate person who digs in their heels against wisdom. But I like obstinate because it basically means that a person is impossible to appeal to.
Consider James 3:17. James tells us that God’s wisdom—the wisdom from above—is marked by a number of important aspects. Obviously, if we are rejecting God’s wisdom, what are we doing? Clinging to our own, and we won’t be the things that James lists in this verse. He tells us that God’s wisdom is marked by being:
Pure - innocent, clean
Peaceable - desirous of making peace between others
Gentle - kind, tender
But the fourth aspect of God’s wisdom is the kicker. James says that God’s wisdom is reasonable - the word in Greek is eupetheis. It’s a compound word from the word for ‘easy’ and the word for ‘persuade’. Easily persuaded.
In other words, when it comes to non-biblical issues, this person is willing to listen and be persuaded. But a person who is wise in their own eyes is implacable, stubborn and obstinate about their opinion. They won’t be convinced.
But we can also consider the second idea as well - self-willed.
This term is used of elder qualifications in the Titus 1:7, and it’s closely related to being obstinate. However, obstinance deals with the inner person, while being self-willed deals with decisions. This is a person who, because of their obstinate heart, charges ahead, thinking they know the right answer, without seeking wisdom from other people. They act without thinking.
In Proverbs 12:15, Solomon says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” The word ‘listen’ here is to listen and OBEY. It’s the word shema in Hebrew - the word that starts the daily prayer - of Deut. 6:4 - ‘Hear O Israel’. A person who is wise in his own eyes will refuse counsel, and choose to do what he pleases in a rush.
On the contrary, a humble person will seek out and listen to others. He won’t cut people off in conversation, or scoff at the opinions of others. If someone gives him advice, he will be quick to consider it based on biblical principles, rather than just rejecting it.
So - are you obstinate and self-willed? Would the people around you say that you’re easy to appeal to, and that you seek out counsel? Or would they say that you’re hard to appeal to, and that you rush ahead with decisions in haste?
If you find yourself in the second category (and we all do, don’t we?) what should you do? The danger of ‘trying’ to be humble is always present. Instead, simply trust God. Jesus died for the obstinate and self-willed hearts of His people. Those sins have been paid in full.
When you trust the love of Christ for you, revealed in His death, your heart will rest in Him, and will be free to heed the thoughts and opinions of others!
Q&A - Are You Wise in Your Own Eyes? Part 1
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by Jon Buck
“…do not be wise in your own estimation.”
Romans 12:16c
The Proverbs are full of warnings about the ‘fool’. The fool is one who is unwilling to learn, filled with pride, and in constant danger of destruction. In fact, the word appears 99 times in the book of Proverbs, and none of them are complimentary!
In fact, check out this list of comments about fools in Prov. 26.
3. A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
4. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him.
5. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, that he not be wise in his own eyes.
6. He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7. Like the legs which are useless to the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8. Like one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9. Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10. Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11. Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
In fact, reading over this list, you’d think that there is nothing worse than being a fool. And, in a sense, you’d be pretty close to accurate.
But, shockingly, Solomon ends this brutal section of rebuke with a very important statement -
12. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
To Solomon, there’s more hope for a fool than for someone who is right in his own eyes!
So we’re going to consider a set of questions that are designed to check if we are right in our own eyes.
The first question comes from Proverbs 3:7 - a person who ignores the clear teaching of Scripture is wise in their own eyes.
Now, notice what is said here - Solomon tells us not to be wise in our own eyes, right? And he says to fear the Lord. But this comes on the heels of the verses right before—
Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
In all your ways acknowledge HIM - in other words, submit to His leadership and wisdom in your life — reverence Him. Fear Him and listen to Him.
When we are wise in our own eyes, we turn away from the wisdom in God’s word, and we refuse to submit to Him.
So - are there areas in your life where the Lord has CLEARLY given you direction, but you are unwilling to submit?
Are there areas where the Bible speaks, but you close your ears?
You might be wise in your own eyes!
Christian Maturity on the Playground
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by Jon Buck
“…do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.”
Romans 12:16b
I don’t know if you remember the playground at school, but maybe you do. If you’re like me, those days were often filled with either elation or devastation.
The kids would go out on the playground and play sports—soccer, football, and others—and the start of that was ‘picking teams’.
There were always two captains, and then each captain would pick teams, and the best players were chosen first, and down through the line it would go.
This was like emotional torture.
One week, you’d get picked early. Then maybe you’d drop a pass, or miss a route, and then the next week you’d get picked late.
And your social credit score would go up or down depending on when you got picked.
And that hierarchy - those cliques and ‘inner rings’ - are EVERYWHERE.
They’re in our workplaces.
They’re in politics.
They’re among the neighbors on our street.
They’re in friend groups.
They’re even in families.
And the danger of cliques like these is that they destroy love. They are built on the back of hierarchy.
CS Lewis said "I believe that in all men’s lives at certain periods, and in many men’s lives at all periods between infancy and extreme old age, one of the most dominant elements is the desire to be inside the inner Ring and the terror of being left outside.”
However, if there is anywhere that this should NOT occur, it is in the church. And yet, if you’ve been a Christian long, you’ve probably seen something like this. Perhaps you’ve been in a church like this, where everyone at church has a certain level of spiritual ‘stock’, so to speak. Or we might say, ‘street cred.’
There’s the head pastor - he’s like…some kind of all star, especially if it’s a big church, or he’s a well-known guy in evangelicalism.
And then there’s the elders and deacons….the people everyone kind of wants to be with.
Then there’s the spiritually minded who are not elders. They’re usually the slightly cool and rebellious types - on the inside, but too cool for an office.
And the list goes on.
You can often tell where people rank by their clothes. Are they wearing a suit? Do they have a little entourage of people running around behind them?
They’re class A people.
And Paul wants us to repudiate all that. It’s all trash. We cannot allow ourselves to slip into that model.
We are all the same, and if we’re thinking of everyone as equals, that won’t happen. It can’t happen because we’re thinking of everyone as equal to US.
In other words, there are no favorites. No all-stars. No higher-ups. We’re all equal.
And so Paul tells us in Romans 12:16 to not be haughty in mind.
Instead, we’re to associate with the lowly.
True Christian maturity is a willingness to associate with the lowly ones -the ones who don’t get picked. The ones who are outcasts. The ones who are left behind when everyone is together.
But how?
The answer, of course, is Jesus. He left us this perfect example of not being rapacious for position or fame, but instead considering others more important than Himself (Phil 2:3-6).
And, in dying for our sins, He has opened our eyes to see His glory—a glory that is so much sweeter than anything the world can offer us. The glory of His love for us can so satisfy our hearts, and we no longer seek the praise of man, but seek to love those who are in need, just as He did.
So - is your heart filled with the glory of Christ, and is your mind set on caring for others as His was? If not, remind yourself of His great love for you at the cross, see His glory, and be changed.
Persecution Training Wheels
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by Jon Buck
“Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.”
Romans 12:14
I have six daughters, and all of them have learned to ride a bike. The first step in riding a bike is to learn to balance. Until a child can balance on the bike, he or she cannot possibly pedal or steer.
Enter the training wheels. We had one set of training wheels on a little bike, and used those wheels for all our kids. The kids learn to balance, and eventually, to ride.
God is a good Father and He sometimes gives us training wheels in different areas. He brings small trials so that we will be prepared when the larger trial comes. He brings small struggles before the tidal wave of sorrow that will enter our lives. These training times prepare us for the larger pains, and the growth that follows.
Many have seen and commented on the fracturing in society, and the polarization of the political world in recent years. As time progresses, the divide between the two opposing political camps grows increasingly wide, and the vitriol that is poured out grows as well.
A few minutes on social media will reveal posts from both left and right that condemn, not only the ideas of their opponents, but the actual people themselves. It seems that the ‘flavor of the day’ is bitterness, rage, and cursing. Sadly, this has spread even to the church, where many well-meaning Christians condemn political leaders with ad hominem arguments, and denounce those who disagree with harsh and disrespectful words.
However, the Bible speaks directly against this kind of behavior for Christians. In fact, we’re told that our responsibility is to bless those who persecute us rather than cursing them. We are called on to be agents of kindness, praying for our persecutors, and treating them as we would want to be treated.
This is, of course, profoundly against fallen nature.
The world would never choose kindness in response to hatred. But this is precisely what we are called to do in the face of sufferings because it reveals in us a willingness to submit ourselves to God and His great love for us. In other words, it shows faith in a loving Father—the very thing the world needs, and the thing that brings most glory to Him.
In the conservative evangelical church we often hear people saying that persecution would be good for the church. I tend to agree in part, for the sake of the purity of the church. However, those who say this loudest are often the same men and women who are most harsh on social media, and are quickest to condemn anyone who disagrees with them.
When they say persecution would be good, what they mean is that it would remove the undesirable people who don’t agree with them. But I think they would find that true persecution would be something they had never expected. They had never learned to ride with training wheels, and so true persecution would come as a painful shock.
The Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who founded Voice of the Martyrs, was persecuted and tortured in a communist prison for 14 years. He once said, “I have seen Christians in Communist prisons with fifty pounds of chains on their feet, tortured with red-hot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt had been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold…and praying with fervor for the Communists.”
To maintain the analogy, suffering of this kind is like riding a motorcycle on a wire across the Grand Canyon. If we are going to respond to suffering like these faithful men and women, and bring glory to God, we must practice these things with the training wheels of minor persecution that God has given us in these days.
Are we quick to bless? Do we repent when we curse? Both with our hearts and our mouths?
If not, regardless of how vehemently we wish for persecution or trumpet our own future faithfulness, when persecution comes, we will be unable to remain in balance and glorify God. If we aren’t faithful in the little things, we will not be in the greater.
Sometimes There Isn’t An Angel
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by Jon Buck