Heart to Heart

There are two ways to look at “God’s will” for things. One way is to think in terms of God’s decree, i.e. His sovereign will by which He has ordained all things that come to pass. All of the Bible’s passages about God’s sovereignty, e.g. Job 42:2, Daniel 4:35, Psalm 115:3, speak about this; but the repeated phrase in Ephesians
1:3-14 is most explicit: God does all things “according to the purpose of his will.”

However, we are not meant to live out of God’s decree. “The secret things”, i.e. what God has decreed, “belong to the Lord our God.” (Deuteronomy 29:29a). We don’t know what these decreed things are, but we trust that “the Lord our God does all things well”, as we sing in one of our hymns. “But the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy
29:29b).

Simply put: God’s will is God’s word! Like Jesus, we are meant to “live out of every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.“ (Matthew 4:4, cf. Deuteronomy 8:3). That’s one of the wonderful things about having God’s Word. It is our GPS to tell us where we are and how to get to where we need to go throughout our lives. (Of course, our ultimate destination is New Heavens and New Earth - and only the Bible as it focuses on Jesus can direct us there!). The whole Word of God is given that we might be “thoroughly equipped unto every good work” (II Timothy 3:17) and those good works are certainly God’s will for our lives.

But when most people ask your question, i.e. “How can I know God’s will for my life?” they want to know specifically what God wants them to do now and in the future. That begins by your entirely surrendering yourself to God with a commitment to serve him with your whole being because Jesus committed himself to you with His whole being. “I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1) We’ll get into specifics of that next week but, for now, I simply ask you who want to know the will of God for your lives: Are you presenting yourselves moment by moment as living sacrifices for the glory of God? That IS God’s will for your life!

In the first part of the answer to your commonly-asked question, I emphasized that God’s revealed will, not his decreed will are what we are meant to live out of, Deuteronomy 29:29. That will is what we learn from the Bible, rightly interpreted and rightly applied. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God, Matthew 4:4. The Bible is our GPS to direct us through life. I also emphasized that the most important way to know God’s will for our lives is to surrender ourselves to Him as He is made known in Jesus Christ. Romans 12:1 calls us to do that as our “reasonable service”, Romans 12:2 tells us that in that way, i.e. by not being conformed to this world, but by being transformed by the renewing of our minds, we will, by testing, know that God’s will is good, pleasing and perfect.

This testing comes as, moment by moment, you do what God would have you do according to His word. When Psalm 119:105 says that God’s word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path keep in mind that there were no LED lights in the ancient world (The Psalms - like the rest of the Old Testament - were written several hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ!). The lamp and light were candles that illuminated the next step of your walk in darkness. That gives a profound insight into part two of the answer to your question: God’s will is that you do right now what His word calls you to do.

Right now I am preparing the bulletin for our worship this Lord’s Day. We need a bulletin so that we can worship decently and in good order (I Cor. 14:40) and also so that we know the kinds of service the Lord would have us do as part of The Haven (e.g. Titus 2:14). The bulletin must get to the printer today because this is a short work week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. If I don’t do it now you will not have it for its intended purpose. God’s will for me right now is to finish this project. After that, because I have made a promise to my grandchildren who are with us (to get them bagels for breakfast), I will “let my “yes” be “yes, i.e I will do what I say, because Jesus told us to do that (Matt. 5:37). I will go get the bagels - bringing grandson Caleb with me because I also promised that. And I will drive safely because the 6th commandment tells me not to kill - which means that I am to do everything necessary to preserve my own life and the life of others. And, when we prepare the bagels to eat, we will do that work heartily unto the Lord (Col. 3:23), we will pray before we eat (I Tim. 4:5), and we will eat (and drink) to God’s glory (I Cor. 10:31)!

I think you get the point: The principles and the precepts of God’s Word are God’s will for you in everything and at every moment. And that is tremendously liberating because you know why you are doing what you are doing, and you know that God is pleased with that as you obey with childlike trust. But what about knowing God’s will for your future? We’ll consider that next week.

In many cases when people ask this question, they want to know long-term what God’s will is for their lives. This is especially true of young people who are trying to decide what career to pursue or as they face decisions (like marriage) that will impact their whole lives.

This is somewhat trickier than thinking about God’s will that begins with your personal surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ every day and as you make moment by moment decisions in each of those days (see parts 1 and 2 of my response to this question.). On the one hand, “the mind (or the heart) of a person plans his or her way” (Prov. 16:9). We do this naturally because we are made in the image of God who has planned all things according to the counsel of His will (see Ephesians 1:11 and other verses about God’s sovereignty). On the other hand, we are warned not to hold our plans with too heavy a hand. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ - you do not know what tomorrow will bring…Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (see James 4:13-16). So, it’s not wrong to plan, but do it living each day as if it is your last day. (That’s harder for young people than for those of us who are older, but we should all be living this way - every day!)

But how do you make these long term plans? Here are a few biblical principles:

1. Seek counsel from others who know you well and can help you discern your strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and lack of ability. The practical principles that “without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisers (wise ones, I would add) they succeed” (Prov. 15:22) and “plans are established by counsel” (Prov. 20:18) apply here.

 

2. Assess your own gifts, abilities, and interests carefully. In Romans 12:3 (immediately after the passage that calls you to the most basic aspect of knowing God’s will: Presenting your bodies as living sacrifices to God), the apostle Paul calls Christians not to think of themselves more highly than they ought to think, but rather to assess oneself with “sober judgment.” God has made each of us different. Wisdom is to respect that, be thankful for that (even revel in that), and to ask how the unique “me” can be most useful to the Lord as a living sacrifice.

 

3. Delight yourself in your God and then think about what you really want to do for His glory and for the good of others (which is the essence of Christian life and Christian love). Remarkably, the Psalmist, after calling us to “Trust in the Lord, and do good” to “dwell in the land”, i.e. to live your life in fellowship with God’s people, and to feed on (God’s) faithfulness then adds “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:3,4.) St. Augustine had it right: “Delight yourself in your God, then do as you will!”

The word “angel” simply means “messenger”. In that sense, even pastors are called “angels” - which is probably the meaning of “the angels of the churches” in Revelation 2, 3. The Lord Jesus was giving messages which the pastors were to bring to the particular local churches.

But, in most cases, “angels” in the Bible refer to spiritual beings, i.e. they do not have bodies - although they can assume them when necessary. We do not know when they were created, but quite possibly they were part of God’s work referred to in Genesis 1:1 when we read simply that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The world of angels was (and, for many angels, still is) part of the world of heaven.

We also don’t know precisely what caused some of the angels to become fallen angels; but most assume that, under the leadership of the angelic being who would be called Satan, pride entered in and there was some form of a rebellion against God. (“The condemnation of the devil” mentioned in I Tim. 3:6, probably refers to pride as that which brought about the condemnation of the devil. It is very sobering to realize that pride puts us in the evil path of the one who was cast out of heaven because of his pride. It also heightens the wonder of Jesus as the humble Savior.) What we do know clearly from the Word of God is that there are un-fallen “holy angels”, or “elect angels” (I Tim. 5:21), and there are non-elect angels who sinned and, therefore, “left their first estate” (II Peter II:4, Jude 6). This latter group is part of what is referred to the New Testament passages that speak of “thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers”, e.g. Eph. 6:12. This indicates that, even there is a rank and order for un-fallen angels, there is also a rank and order for fallen angels. There is a realm invisible to us that is very much involved in this world. “The Lord of hosts”, e.g. Psalm 46:7,10, is the Lord who is sovereign over these, and who uses them to accomplish his holy and good purposes in history.

The Word of God gives a vast array of things that the holy, un-fallen angels do. They worship God (Matt. 18:10) - led by the Cherubim and Seraphim (plurals of cherub and seraph) who are close to the throne of God (Isaiah 6:1ff, Rev. 4). Holy angels rejoice in God’s works (Job 38:7). They are agents to carry out the will of God (Ps. 105:20), becoming our models as we pray, “Let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven”, i.e. by the holy angels. As God’s servants they are involved in the affairs of nations (Dan. 10:12, 13, 21, 11:1, 12:1). They
watch over the activities of particular churches (I Tim. 5:21, I Cor. 11:10). They assist and protect the Lord’s people (I Kings 19:5, Dan. 6:22, Heb. 1:14). In glory we will be stunned to realize how much angels were involved in assisting and protecting us! Angels are also involved in punishing God’s enemies (Acts 12:25, and many places in the book of Revelation).

It’s interesting that angels appear on the pages of Scripture at times of the special works of God’s redemptive activity, e.g. At the giving of the Law (Acts 7:55, Gal. 3:19), and particularly at the times of the birth, temptation, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

We’ve already learned that angels (which means “messengers”) were probably created at the time the Lord tells us that he created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)   In the realm of “the heavens”  God created a class of beings that - unlike humans - have no bodies (see Matt. 8:16, 12:45, Lk. 7:21. among others).  They are creatures, so they are finite and limited, although they stand in a freer relation to time and space than human beings do.   Michael (Dan. 10:13, 21, Jude 9, Rev. 12:7) and Gabriel (Dan. 8:16, 9:21, Lk. 1:19,26  are specifically named angels.  Some of the orders of angels in the Bible are Cherubim (the plural of “Cherub”) , Gen. 3:24, Ex. 25:18, Ezek. 1, and many others  Seraphim (the plural of “Seraph”), Js. 6:2,6,  and what are referred to as “principalities, powers, thrones and dominions,”, Eph. 3:10, Col. 1:16, 2:10.  It is important to keep in mind that some of the angels fell under the leadership of the fallen angel who is called Satan (or “Beelzebub”, or “the Destroyer).  He is the head of what are commonly called “fallen angels”  (II Pet. 2:4, Jude 6)   The book of Revelation contains many references to both fallen and unfallen angels and to their work “behind the scenes.”  Bottom line:  There is an entire realm of angelic beings that we cannot see, but are nevertheless very real and very active.  

In general, along with their work of praising God day and night, e.g. Job 38:7, Is. 6,, Ps. 103:20, etc., unfallen angels are called “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister, i.e. to serve, those who are heirs of salvation in Christ, Heb. 1:4.  They rejoice at the conversion of a sinner, Lk. 15:10, watch over believers in Christ, Ps. 34:7, 91:11, protect the Lord’s little ones, Matt. 18:10, are present in gatherings of churches, I Cor. 11:10, I Tim. 5:21 as they hear and learn and rejoice in the manifold riches of the grace of God in Christ, Eph. 3:10, I Pet.1:12, and conveying the souls of believers into “Abraham’s bosom”, Lk. 16:22 - a reference to the gathering of the souls of those who die in Christ to the place of eternal fellowship with all of the Lord’s people.   It is an absolutely mind-boggling fact that the Lord ministers to us in ways we will never understand by the multitude of the unfallen angels who serve Christ in the many details of the administration of his Kingdom.

However, the Bible does not teach that we each have “guardian angels”.  Matthew 18:10 is sometimes cited as evidence that we all have “guardian angels”, i.e “See that you do not despise one of these little ones.  For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”    However the text does not say that each person has his/her “guardian angel”, but that there is a group of angels particularly charged with the care of little ones - particularly covenant children. And when in Acts 12:15 the gathered group does not believe that Peter has been able to escape from prison (and that he is standing in the gateway waiting to be let into the house!), and says “(it is not Peter), it is his angel” - all the text is saying is that people in that day believed in guardian angels.  However, there is no biblical passage in either the Old Testament or the New Testament that affirms this.

Far better than each one having “a guardian angel” is to know that all of the angelic armies of heaven are under the command of King Jesus to do His bidding to minister to us, Heb. 1:4.  And what a comfort it is to know that the number of those angels who are helping us is far greater than one “guardian angel” and even more than all the forces that are against us.  See II Kings 6:15-17.  Praise the Lord!

QUESTION: YOU EMPHASIZE “THE CHURCH” A LOT AT THE HAVEN, OPC. I’VE BEEN HURT BY THE WAY CHURCH LEADERS HAVE USED THEIR AUTHORITY IN OTHER CHURCHES I’VE BEEN IN. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS?

PASTOR BILL RESPONDS (PT. 1):

Yes, we do put a lot of emphasis on “the Church”, because the Scriptures themselves do - and they are our final authority in faith and life. Jesus didn’t say that he will save God’s elect (although he does!), but I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Now, in his exalted state as he reigns with all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), he is head over all things to, i.e. for the sake of the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:22,23). All of human history is the scaffolding within which the Lord is building his Church. That makes the Church quite important - far more important than we usually make it.

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, in his book THE HOLY SPIRIT, wisely writes:

“…THE EXHORTATIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHILE INTENDED TO BE TAKEN TO HEART INDIVIDUALLY, ARE GENERALLY EXPRESSED IN THE PLURAL TO THE WHOLE CHURCH. THE SPIRIT DOES NOT ISOLATE INDIVIDUALS, BUT CREATES A NEW COMMUNITY” (P. 192).

Keep in mind that most of the New Testament letters are sent to churches, eg. I Corinthians 1:2, II Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:1, etc.

Evangelical believers in our very individualistic American culture have tended to put their emphasis on “Jesus as my personal Savior.” He certainly is that to all who look to him in faith; but don’t stop there! He saves people in order that they might be part of the Church (and the local churches) that He is building. The Lord added to their number, i.e. the Christian church that began on the day of Pentecost, …those who were being saved. And baptism marks people out as being united both to Christ and to his body, the Church (I Corinthians 12:12,13).

Probably the best way to keep the biblical emphases is to speak like this:

• Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and by his grace he saved me! Praise the Lord!
• Christ Jesus came into the world to build His Church, and by His grace, I’m a part of it! Praise the Lord!

But you asked about “authority” in the church. Too often that authority is abused by church leaders, rather than rightly used by them. We’ll start looking at that very important subject next week....

QUESTION: YOU EMPHASIZE “THE CHURCH” A LOT AT THE HAVEN, OPC.   I’VE BEEN HURT BY THE WAY CHURCH LEADERS HAVE USED THEIR AUTHORITY IN OTHER CHURCHES I’VE BEEN IN.  CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS?

PASTOR BILL RESPONDS (PT. 2): 

Sadly, too often church authority can be abused rather than used as the Lord intended it.  The popularity of books like Churches That Abuse, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, and Recovering from Churches that Abuse show that you are not alone in the hurt you have experienced in some churches.   The church is a place in which people are meant to find guidance for their lives. It is all too easy for church leaders to replace Christ’s authority with their authority.  And it is just as easy to replace the gracious, long-suffering love of God in Jesus Christ with the harsh, impatient and lordly dictates of aggravated overseers. Truth becomes ugly, and people are turned away from the Lord rather than attracted to him.  The fallout from that is disastrous. 

The Bible teaches that there is to be submission to leadership in the church:

• We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you… (I Thessalonians 5:12)
• Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to .give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  (Hebrews 13:17)
• Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders, i.e. probably a reference to church elders (I Peter 5:5).

But the Bible also teaches that this authority is to represent the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only King and Head of the Church.

• I, Paul…entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. (II Corinthians 10:1)
• …the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.  (II Corinthians 13:10)
• .…not domineering over those in your charge, i.e replacing Christ’s lordship with your own, but being examples to the flock. (I Peter 5:3).

We say that authority in the church is “ministerial and declarative not magisterial and legislative.”  Church authority is to declare the Word of God, ministering it in the name of and in the character of Christ.  It is most emphatically NOT authority to govern by human decrees in an overbearing, pompous, and arrogant manner.

What does the right use of church authority look like?   We’ll consider that next week...

Give some thought to the last section of Frederick S. Leahy’s excellent book: Satan Cast Out: A Study in Biblical Demonology published by The Banner of Truth Trust.

From Chapter 11: “The Challenge of the Demons to the Church of Christ” “The Challenge to the Church’s Spirituality”:

Without necessarily endorsing Pentecostal theology, we must recognize that our Pentecostalist brethren frequently show a fervor and earnestness which are lacking in the older Protestant communions; and in prayerfulness, responsible giving, and fellowship, some of them set an example to all…

We, today,…should be seeking to present doctrine of the (Holy) Spirit which is truly Biblical and which relates to the life and outreach of the Church.

One thing is clear: The fulness of the Spirit is the Church’s daily need. A powerless, languid Church is a sign of a fellowship unfilled by God’s Spirit. But it is not the teaching of Scripture that the Church was meant to eke out a bare survival in a hostile world, holding a fort in conditions of siege. The enemy will not retreat before the preaching of a listless Church. (Emphasis mine - Pastor Bill).

The essential connection between the ministry of the Spirit and the preaching of the Church is all-important in the confrontation of evil powers.

Paul asks, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 5:2).

The connection between the preaching of the Gospel and the working of the Holy Spirit is unmistakable.

The term “power of God” is applied both to Christ and to the preaching of the cross of Christ (Romans 1:16, I Corinthians 1:24).

How vital, then, for the Church in every age, to know the power and fulness of the Holy Spirit.

The very power and defiance of the forces of darkness are a rebuke to the powerlessness and complacency of the Church, a complacency which regards revival as exceptional and lukewarmness as the to- be-expected!

Until the church begins to think differently (and pray differently - Pastor Bill), it is unlikely that her experience will be different.

QUESTION: YOU EMPHASIZE “THE CHURCH” A LOT AT THE HAVEN, OPC.   I’VE BEEN HURT BY THE WAY CHURCH LEADERS HAVE USED THEIR AUTHORITY IN OTHER CHURCHES I’VE BEEN IN.  CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS?

PASTOR BILL RESPONDS (PT. 3): 

All authority in a church that would be governed by the Word of God (and all churches should have that commitment) is ultimately and actually the authority of God in Christ.   The apostle Paul described his work (and the work of all who would follow him as what we now call “Ministers”) as being “ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us:  We implore you (literally, “we beg you”) on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (II Cor. 5:20).  Later in that same book he entreated the church at Corinth “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” (II Cor. 10:1).   And all of this is done in the character of Paul’s favorite designation of himself:  Though he was an apostle, he also called himself a servant (Rom. 1:1, I Cor. 9:19, Gal. 1:10, Phil. 1:1, Titus 1:1) - a servant of God and to others., particularly to the churches and their members.

These verses, and many others, give us an absolutely awesome (and humbling) picture of what authority in the church should look like:

As an ambassador represents, in word and conduct, the national leader who commissioned him, those called thorough the church to serve as ministers are meant, in all their words and in all their conduct, to always (and everywhere) represent the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

As official representatives of God, ministers and elders ought to represent that God (in all of what we call His “communicable attributes”): His holiness, His truth, His love, His mercy, His kindness, His grace, His long-suffering, His wisdom, His justice, and His goodness.   When people see and hear church officers (particularly ministers) they should see reflections (admittedly very imperfect ones) of God himself.  

That must come by ministers (and elders and deacons in their distinct offices) living in close communion with Jesus Christ.  Only by close communion with the One who had “grace poured upon His lips” (Psalm 45:2) will church leaders become men of gracious speech and conduct.   Only in daily coming to the One who said “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28,29. will church officers (especially; ministers) be the types of people who make others want to come to Christ.  Church authority flows from weary and heavy-laden men who find rest in Christ.  Because they have found Christ to be gentle and humble, they are gentle and humble as well.   No other church leadership befits the one who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…”  (Phil. 2:8)

And far from being lordly and domineering, those with authority in the church will always exercise that authority as servants, saying and demonstrating that they are, first and foremost,  “your servants for Jesus’ sake’" (II Cor. 4:5). 

If church authority was exercised more like this, there would be fewer hurts such as you have experienced.  May the Lord grant us all church leaders with the heart and mind of Christ. 

Give some thought to the last section of Frederick S. Leahy’s excellent book: Satan Cast Out: A Study in Biblical Demonology published by The Banner of Truth Trust.

From Chapter 11: “The Challenge of the Demons to the Church of Christ” “The Challenge to the Church’s Spirituality”: Is it not a fact that all too often, perhaps more often than not, the Church at large lacks the fervor and power experienced by believers at Pentecost?

The risen Lord said to his disciples,

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8).

This power was to be wholly different from what the world terms power. Instead of the political power which once they had sought, they would receive heavenly power.

The command was “Stay in the city (of Jerusalem) until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49).

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to believers in a new fashion and inaugurated a new era in the life of the Church. We read that they were all “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). And we are commanded to be so filled (Ephesians 5:18) so that we may know the power of Pentecost.

It is true that Pentecost, as the commencement of a new era, was a once-for-all event. That glorious dawning does not need to be repeated, but we certainly need to walk in the light of that day. Too often believers “grieve the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30) and “quench the Spirit” (I Thessalonians 5:19) instead of “being filled with the Spirit” (See: Ephesians 5:18, cf. Colossians 3:16).

Too often in the present century the picture of the church is to be found in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, chapters two and three. The power of Pentecost is sadly lacking, because the Holy Spirit is not honored and loved.

If conservative theologians produce a reactionary theology in the face of modern Pentecostalism, there is a danger that this state of affairs might be perpetuated. It is possible rightly to stress the “once-for-allness” of Pentecost, but, at the same time, fail to grasp the divine program for the Church in every age.

We must not fail to emphasize that the power received by the Church at Pentecost may be received and known by the Church now, and that we cannot afford to be without it. (Emphasis mine, Pastor Bill)

This is a very important point!              

Jesus speaks of Satan (or “the Devil”) as the “Ruler/Prince of this world” in John 12:31, 14:30, and 16:1. 

The Apostle Paul calls him “The god of this world” in II Corinthians 4:4 (a very important verse to study in order to understand the usually irrational opposition to the Gospel and to Jesus Christ that we witness around us.)  

“World” in the Bible can have a variety of meanings. 

“God made the world” eg. Acts 17:24, and most other references to the world as created and formed by God in the first six days of the creation week (Genesis 1) (refer to the things we see around us that come from God’s hand and were declared to be “good.”  These created things are good in themselves and we are meant to enjoy them and use them to God’s glory as good stewards of the world He has given us, I Corinthians 10:31.  

However, Satan brought corruption into the world by his successful temptation of our first parents, Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).

That brought into the world the multiplied effects of sin. 

That fallen world is referred to, particularly in the New Testament, as “this world” “the present world” or “this age.”  

In Ephesians 2:2, for example, the Apostle Paul speaks of “the age of this world” the world in which we all once walked by nature. 

Along with following the sinful thought patterns that flow out of evil hearts and that combine to form “worldviews” that suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18ff.), by nature - in “this (fallen) world” we are captive to  “the spirit that is now at work in the (children) of disobedience”:  Satan himself. 

Here he is called “the prince of the power of the air” - another description of Satan as the ruler or prince of this world.             

The great news is that Jesus Christ came to deliver us from this “present evil age” (Galatians 1:4).  

By His sovereign power he transfers people from the kingdom/domain of darkeness (where Satan has blinded the spiritual eyes of people, II Cor. 4:4) “and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”  

That Son, Jesus Christ, is now given authority over all things (Matthew 28:18) - including the Devil and the demons - so that, by the Gospel, the kingdom of “this world” might more and more become the kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15).  

That will never be perfect in “this age”; but we continue to bring the powers of “the age to come” to those around us as we tell them the Gospel. 

In that way, we seek to see applied around us the victory that Jesus has gained over the “prince of this world.”

  From Haven member, Arthur Tomlinson.  God’s free man in the Eastern NY Correctional Facility 

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

II Corinthians 3:17

Free. Free to be me, the me God intended before time, the me whose works were ordained from eternity to be walked in. Free. Free where the Spirit is and that is on the inside me where no one and nothing can get at Him.  

Free I am on the inside and even if they run me through with one of those mulch-making whole tree shredders, they still couldn't separate the Spirit from me.

Free to grow and prosper, to change in ways and far beyond the extent of all that I could think to ask for. Metamorphosis (transformed): Something no mere human can do, as it is impossible to gain a new heart or any of its fruit any other way.

Free to be a doulos (bondslave), free to be a son. Free to have no man to be my master, free to be a servant to any man and every man. Free to be about the business of God's glory - and what a freeing thing that is!

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want."

"Those to whom the Lord is Shepherd lack nothing needed in order to glorify God, their chief desire and satisfaction."

So said Charles Spurgeon, and I know it, too. I have all I need to freely fulfill my purpose in life, nothing hindering, all is tuned to conform to the counsel of his will, especially the hard and painful parts; the parts no one wants that come to all sooner or later, unless perhaps, they are numbered with the poor, unfortunate wicked allowed by providence to suffer no ills in this life, or very few, - nothing they can't handle.

Me, I'm free to be broken and dependant and independent of this world's goods that enslave so gently (at first). Free to have a measure of this world's goods and call it "enough," for my satisfaction is in Christ Jesus my Lord and he is enough and more than enough.

Free to enjoy little things, and see the big hand of God in them all.

Free to be constrained by the love of Christ but oops! Now I've slipped into II Corinthians chapter 5 and didn't even get out of chapter 3!  

I am free. Grace being limitless there is more, but my imagination only has so much steam to work with and only 6000 characters to say it with.          

This is an important question because the very first vow for membership in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is “Do you believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and its doctrine of salvation to be the perfect and only true doctrine of salvation?” This commitment was the primary reason the OPC came into existence in 1936, and it remains the hallmark of the OPC’s doctrinal commitments: The Bible IS the Word of God, and it - and it alone - is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice.

But how do we know the Bible is the Word of God? Ultimately, that conviction only comes as the Holy Spirit works that faith in our hearts (I Cor. 2:9,10). But that’s true of everything we believe that comes from God! The Holy Spirit must open our hearts and teach us because, by nature, we are dead in trespasses and sins, and we suppress the truth in our own unrighteousness, cf. Eph. 2:1, Rom. 1:18)

However, when the Holy Spirit opens our hearts by the power of God’s grace, we
see the Bible as we never saw it before:
• We’re struck with the fact that over 2000 times in the Old Testament alone, i.e. the 39 books written between about 1425 and 425 years before Christ was born and that point us forward to His coming, we read “Thus says the Lord…”
• The New Testament confirms what we call the “inspiration” of the Old Testament when the apostle Paul says, “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God (literally, “God breathed out”) and is profitable…that the man of God might be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16,17). And the apostle Peter says that the Scriptures did not come by the will of man, “but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter 1:21)
• Jesus Himself frequently described his life and ministry as “to fulfill what the Lord had spoken…”, eg. Matthew 1:22f, 2:15, 17, etc.
• Jesus clearly taught that the Old Testament words came from God himself, e.g. Matthew 19:4,5.

And the Bible (unlike other “holy books”) shows itself to be the Word of God.
We’ll look at that next week.

The Bible (with the Holy Spirit at work in you as you read - pray for that!) not only declares itself to be the Word of God (see last week’s Haven Heart to Heart), but it shows itself to be the Word of God:

• There is an amazing unity in all of the 66 books of the Bible (written over a period of more than 1500 years) that develops themes like God with us, atonement for sin, the need of a perfect righteousness that can only come from God, Sabbath rest, New Heavens and New Earth - all of which are fulfilled perfectly with the coming of the God-man Jesus Christ and his work to redeem us from our sins. No other “holy book”, e.g the Koran, the Book of Mormon, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures even comes close to the Bible, either in the way each is written or in displaying such marvelous unity. (And no other “holy book” offers full, free forgiveness of sins in a way that satisfies the justice of God so that we might be saved by grace alone,)

• The Bible accurately describes God, the world, and ourselves. We find satisfaction in the real God, even when it is difficult to understand so many things about Him. (Which isn’t surprising: He IS God!) The Bible describes the world as it really is (full of so many good things, but still under a curse). And the Bible is like an MRI as it describes us. The Bible is REAL: We see ourselves as sinners, but we also have hope because of God’s promises that He will fulfill in Christ. Read any other “holy book” and you will find the view of God very confusing, the view of the world as simply not in accord with reality, and the view of yourself as either unrealistically hopeful or utterly hopeless.

• The Bible (and the Bible alone) enables us to make sense of the great “elephant in the room of human history”: the coming of Christ into the world (which some “holy books”, e.g. in the Buddhist religion, never mention), his death on the cross to conquer Satan and to atone for human sin (which the Koran rejects), and the resurrection and reign of Jesus Christ (which most “holy books” other than the Bible completely neglect or misrepresent). Take away the Bible and you have no way to correctly understand the great person and work in whom there is hope for everlasting life.

• Its consistently specific (and unified) details are vastly different than the vague generalities and often absurd and blatantly contradictory of other “holy books”, e.g. much of the Apocrypha. The Bible invites you to “dig in”, get to know the people and events that are recorded in it, and, above all, to believe in, to love, and to obey the God who tells us of himself in the pages of the Bible, and who wonderfully shows himself in the God-man, Jesus Christ.

So dig in to your Bibles, and see for yourself that it is what it claims to be: The inspired, inerrant, and finally authoritative word of the living God!

I’m so glad that you want to begin reading the Bible. Both the Old Testament (the 39 books written between 1450 - 425 B.C., i.e. before the coming of Christ), and the New Testament (the 27 books written after Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension and through at least the middle part of the first century A.D.) are the inspired word of God, cf. II Timothy 3:16,17. While these books have human authors like Moses, David, Isaiah, Matthew,
Mark, Luke, John, etc. God so superintended their thinking and writing processes that what they composed is the very Word of God. That’s why reading the Bible is so important. It’s our GPS from God to help guide us through this world. I’m glad you’re beginning what will be a lifelong adventure!

Before we get to some specific answers to your questions, let’s think about the kind of Bible you should buy. There are so many available that it can be very confusing for the person who is new to Bible reading.

1. Some Bibles are paraphrases, e.g. The Message, The Living Bible, Good News for Modern Man/Today’s English Version. I don’t recommend them to new Bible readers because they are not “word for word translations”, but very loose interpretations of the biblical text. The New International Version is somewhat better, but a more literal translation is far better. The New King James Version is a translation that is very close to the historic King Janes Version (but without the outdated language). It reads beautifully and is good for memorization. We use the English Standard Version at The Haven because it is an excellent translation, is easy to read, and is the version used in Orthodox Presbyterian publications and by many other evangelical churches. The New American Standard version is also an excellent translation, but it’s better for study than for daily reading, in my opinion.

2. I’ve not been a fan of Study Bibles, because it’s too easy for people to confuse the notes that are included in the Study Bible with the Bible itself. But, in the case of those who have little or no familiarity with the Bible, a good Study Bible can be helpful. It will include information on the author, date, and main purpose of each book of the Bible, helpful notes on difficult passages or words, cross references so that you can look at verses that shed light on what you are reading, maps so that you can see the areas mentioned in the Scriptures, and various other helps. I highly recommend The Reformation Study Bible if you’re wanting to buy a Study Bible.

3. Font size and spaces on a page are very important. If the font size is too small and if there is little white space on a page, your eyes will get tired very quickly and you won’t want to read very much. Take a good look at the pages of the Bible you are considering - either in a book store or if you are purchasing on-line. I cannot overstate how important this is. You must enjoy reading your Bible and the font, spacing, and format will either contribute to your enjoyment or detract from it.

4. Consider getting a genuine leather Bible. In most cases these will have a better binding than hardbound Bibles; and they will last much longer. It’s better to pay a little more and get something that you will use with pleasure for many years.

Get your Bible this week, and next week we’ll start looking at hints for reading it.

So, by now you have decided on the good Bible translation you want and you’ve purchased a Bible that has a good font size and page format so that it’s easy to read (and mark with a pencil and/or marker if you want). What’s next?

1. Set a time and find a place that’s quiet and well lit. If you’ll be reading in the early morning (always preferable) or the late evening, sit in a place that isn’t so comfortable that you’ll fall asleep. (And it is perfectly permissible to read your Bible in the morning as you sip a good strong cup of coffee or tea!) I have a raised desk in my study, so I stand when I’m reading my Bible and doing my related studying. Standing keeps you awake, and it’s good weight-bearing exercise.

2. Always pray for the Holy Spirit to attend your reading of the Word of God. He’s the Author (and it’s wonderful when you can have the author of a book with you as you read!), and He knows how to show you Jesus Christ in all of the Scriptures. That’s his work (see John 15:26,27; 16:14,15). You also want his work to transform you more and more into the image of Jesus Christ (see II Corinthians 3:15-18). A simple prayer to use (which comes right from the Bible itself) is: “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” and out of the Gospel, too. (Psalm 119:18) And pray that you will be transformed by these wondrous things.

3. Have a reading plan and stick to it. Don’t open your Bible to any spot and just start reading. The Bible is not a ouija board! It’s a book composed of 66 books that have purposes, human authors with a mission, times and places in which and to which they were written, and particular recipients. Most Bible versions (but not all) include information like that as an introduction to each Bible book. Take time to learn a little about the book you are reading.

There are many different Bible reading schedules available. I can give you a Through the Bible in a Year schedule that I have used for years. Even if I want to take two years to read through both the Old and the New Testaments, I can still check off what I have read so that I have a record of my progress. (And, be honest, we all like records of our progress in reading through a book as large and as important as the Bible). Or, you can Google “Bible Reading Schedule” and you’ll have an array of suggestions. (The ones from Ligonier and The Gospel Coalition are particularly helpful). Bottom line: Follow your reading schedule….with this caveat:

4. If you’re new to Bible reading, I do NOT suggest that you begin at Genesis and work through to Revelation. You will get bogged down once you get to the book of Leviticus! And that will discourage you. Start with the New Testament. Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and public ministry (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) Then read of how the Church grew following the day of Pentecost (Acts). Then read of how God the Holy Spirit addresses particular churches, bodies of believers, and individuals (Romans - Jude). Finally, be in awe as you read the vivid and richly symbolic book that tells you: “The Lamb, i.e. Jesus, wins!” (Revelation).

Next week we’ll look at how to read the specific genres of the Bible.

The Old Testament is a compilation of 39 books, all written between about 1450 - 425 BC.
i.e. Before the birth of Christ. The study of who wrote those books and how they were compiled
is fascinating - but that’s way beyond the purpose of this series in The Haven Heart to Heart.
These books are commonly divided into three “genres”, or types of literature: Historical,
Wisdom literature, Prophets. The Historical books are the first section of the Old Testament: From
Genesis through Esther. What should you keep in mind as you read these books?

1. They ‘re history! If you could go back in a time machine you could see the 6 day period
in which the Lord created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. You could see a
real worldwide flood. You could see the Israelites passing through the parted waters of the Red
Sea, etc. The New Testament constantly refers to the Old Testament books as accounts of real
history, eg. Matthew 19:4,5, Romans 5:12,13, James 5:17,18, etc. We should read the Old
Testament - and especially the historical books - in the same way. They’re real history!
2. They all point us forward to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Jesus is the last Adam, I
Corinthians 15:45. He is the great Noah (which means “rest”) who brings an everlasting rest for
the people of God, Hebrews 4:1-13. He is the ultimate “seed” - offspring - promised to Abraham,
Galatians 3:16. He is the prophet who is greater than Moses, Hebrews 3:1-6. He is the great
Joshua (The Hebrew name for “Jesus”/Savior) who saves us from our sins, Matthew 1:21. He is
King David’s greater (and greatest!) son, Acts 2:34, 35, Hebrews 1:5, 13. He is the King who is
greater than Solomon, Matt. 12:42. He is the prophet who is greater than Jonah, whose ordeal in
the great fish’s belly was a picture of Christ’s ordeal in the grave, Matthew 12:40,41. As you read
the Old Testament - especially the historical books - always be thinking about how they point us
forward to Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior and King of his Kingdom.
3. They are not primarily books of moral lessons, but pictures of sin and grace, unbelief
and faith. We must be very careful about using the historical books for moral lessons. While it’s
true that Abraham’s wife, Sarah, is, in many ways, a model of holiness in submitting to her
husband, Abraham (I Peter 3:5,6), she also laughed in unbelief when the Lord said that she would
bear a son even when she was past the age to bear a child (Genesis 18:12ff.). Noah is a model of
faith as he built an ark according to the words and plan that God gave him (Hebrews 11,7); but
he also became drunk, giving an occasion for God’s judgment on his sons, Genesis 9:21ff. David
was “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22), and a man whose heart for God became the
human source of many of the Psalms, but he also was guilty of adultery and murder (II Samuel
11).

Instead of reading the historical books to get moral lessons, always keep the big picture
in mind: “The best of men are men at best” -and, add to that, they are sinners who must be
rescued from sin and death -and they continue to be very imperfect in this life. But God is faithful.
He is full of gracious love. He disciplines his people for their good (Hebrews 12:3ff.). He is
perfectly just. But he is also richly merciful because of his son who would cause both mercy and
justice to kiss one another on the cross, Psalm 85:10. Hallelujah - Praise the Lord!

The “Wisdom Literature” are, basically, the middle part of the Old Testament, i.e. the books that were written in about a 1000 year period before the birth of Jesus Christ.). That’s appropriate because even as they take up the heart of the Old Testament, they represent the heart of the life of a true believer in the true and living God. But, before that, they represent the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom the whole Old Testament leads, Lk 24:27, 44.

The books of the “Wisdom Literature” are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. How do they show you the heart and life of Christ?

• Job was a greatly afflicted man who, following his ordeal, was blessed beyond measure.
Jesus is the ultimate Job: A “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Is. 53:3), who was
humbled and glorified in fulfillment of what Job’s life was a type and pictures.
• The book of 150 Psalms displays every facet of individual and corporate life in relationship to
God, particularly suffering, glory, and the “ups and downs” (humanly speaking) of the
Kingdom of God.
• Proverbs is a goldmine of pictures and lessons about walking wisely, i.e. walking and making
decisions in the fear of God, which is the “beginning” or the principal part of all wisdom, cf.
Proverbs 9:10. What a window they give us on Jesus who is the very wisdom of God in flesh,
I Cor. 1:30; and who grew in “wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man” (Lk. 2:52)
• Ecclesiastes depicts “life under the sun”, which is full of blessings, but is only “vanity” if that’s
all a person lives for, cf. Eccles. 1:2, etc. (“Vanity” means a puff of air). In union with Jesus’
life by true faith, that curse is taken away. Your labors are NOT in vain in him, cf. I Cor. 15:58.
• Song of Solomon is a rich picture of the love of a husband and wife. But remember that all
marital love has its great original in Christ and the Church, Eph. 5:32. To learn about the love
of Christ for HIs church and the love of the Church for Christ, read the Song of Solomon!
Here are some practical suggestions for reading the Wisdom Literature:
• Try to read Job all in one sitting. (A great project for your Lord’s Day morning). Be struck with
how God’s self-description in chapters 38-41 is the answer to “the problem of evil.” That, and
also the cross of Jesus Christ!
• Pray through the Psalms. Memorize them. Sing them (as we do at The Haven). The Psalms
are the heartbeat of Christ’s life. Make them your heartbeat as well.
• Note that there are 31 chapters in Proverbs. Read the chapters according to the days of the
month. (On a 30 day month read chapters 30 and 31). Remember that Jesus is the only
perfect “Proverbs Person”.
• Read Ecclesiastes to get a “reality check” on the things of this world. Praise the Lord that that
all vanity is taken away in Christ’s perfect life and death.
• Get your picture of true passionate love in the Song of Solomon. Christ’s passionate love first.
Ours in passionate response.

The last section of the Old Testament (Isaiah - Malachi) is called “The Prophets”. Next week we’ll look at how to read and understand them.

The Old Testament Prophets are the books from Isaiah through Malachi (the last book of the Old Testament.) They were written between approximately 750 years before Christ (B.C.) and 450 B.C. This was a tumultuous time in the history of Old Testament Israel. In 722 B.C. , the Northern Kingdom (Israel) fell to the Assyrians. (Isaiah is one of the prophets who writes about this). In 586 B.C. the Southern Kingdom (Judah) fell to the Babylonians, and Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. (Jeremiah is one of the prophets who writes about this.)

Beginning in 605 B.C. the Babylonian empire began to take people from Judah into captivity (Daniel is one of them. You can read about that and the entire period until 539 B.C. known as The Exile in both Daniel and Ezekiel) In 539 B.C. the Israelites began to return to their land and re-build it and the temple. (You can read about that in the so-called ‘post-exilic books”, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). For the Old Testament prophets, it really is very helpful to have a Bible that gives you at least a little information on the historical background of each book.

As you read the Old Testament prophets, keep these things in mind:

1. They are both history and accurate prophecies of what would come to pass. Jonah really was swallowed by a “big fish”, cf. Matt. 12:40. And Isaiah and Ezekiel really did have extraordinary visions of God, cf. Is. 6:1ff. Ez. 1:1ff. (And what Ezekiel saw was NOT a flying saucer!). Amos really was a herdsman from Tekoa, cf. Am. 1:1. And, likewise, the painful descriptions of God’s judgments given in most these books, e.g. Lamentations, Joel, Obadiah, are accounts of things that really happened to the nation of Israel and to the nations around them. God is very serious about justice as well as about mercy. Both come together in the cross.

2. The failure of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and of their kings and, accordingly, the judgments those kings and kingdoms experienced, are designed to make us look ahead to one who would be a “corporate Israel”, eg. Matt. 2:15, representing all of his people in himself; and also a perfectly obedient son and King. From that Messiah, Jesus Christ, all of the blessings that the nation of Israel forfeited - and much more - would be attained both for Christ and for all who are united to him by grace in true faith. This is why the Old Testament prophets are full of prophecies of the Savior who would come into the world, e.g. Is. 7:16, 9:1-7, Micah 5:2,, etc.

3. You must read the prophecies of judgments to come as well as the prophecies of the Kingdom that Jesus the King would bring in as if you are looking at two mountain ranges separated by a couple of hundred miles. The first mountain range would refer to either the judgments that would come in human history, or to the first coming (the Advent) of Jesus Christ. The second mountain range (which looks as if it’s a part of the first one as you are looking at it while you move toward it) refers to the judgment of the last day when Jesus Christ returns in glory to judge the living and the dead, or to the New Heavens and the New Earth which Jesus will usher in after that great judgment day. The “couple of hundred miles” separating them is our age - the Gospel age - which is “the day of salvation.” , cf. II Cor. 6:2.

Next week we’ll consider a few specific examples of this “two mountain range” perspective in the Old Testament prophets.

Reading the New Testament Epistles. A first century AD “epistle” was a letter.  The 2 New Testament epistles (Romans - Jude) were letters written to churches, areas, or individuals. Most of these epistles were written by the apostle Paul (Romans - Philemon). Others were written by the Apostles Peter (I & II Peter). and John (I, II, III John), James, the brother of the Lord Jesus (James),  and by James’ brother, Jude (Jude).  We’re not sure who wrote the book of Hebrews (although many make the case that it was written by the Apostle Paul.)            

These books compose “the foundation” of which Jesus Christ is the “cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20).  Even as the apostles (which means “ones sent with a commission”) were sent out by Jesus both to represent Him and to explain the meaning of His person and work, so the epistles (plus the books of Acts and Revelation) represent Jesus to us in many ways and also develop the meaning of the work of Christ in saving His people and building His church.            

As you read the epistles, keep in mind the theme(s) of each.  (Some Bibles, especially Study Bibles, will give introductory material that includes this information). 

Here are some examples:

• Romans:  An overview of the whole Gospel plan, including justification sanctification, and the grand purpose of God for Jews and Gentiles.

• I Corinthians:  How the Gospel applies to a church riddled with problems from divisions to chaos at the worship services, including at the Lord’s Supper.

• II Corinthians:  A second letter to this church in southern Greece developing how the Gospel is illustrated as the Lord makes his strength perfect in our weakness.

• Galatians:  A powerful rebuke of adding anything to the Gospel of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

• Ephesians:  Lessons about the wonder of the Church that Jesus is building, and how its members are to live as a body and in their families.

• Philippians:  The theme of “joy” is developed in this opening up of the meaning of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation, and in the life of God’s people in the Church.

• Colossians:  Similar to Ephesians (they were probably written at about the same time - when Paul was in prison)   It develops how the Gospel is different from all forms of legalism.

• I & II Thessalonians:  Correcting misunderstandings about the return of Christ.

• I & II Timothy & Titus:  Called “The Pastoral Epistles”, these are letters written to ministers who were laboring in local churches of the first century. They give windows on Christian ministry, the Church, and Christian church life.

• Philemon:  A wonderful story of the conversion of a slave and how he was to be received by his Christian master.  

Rich with lessons about what God’s grace does.            

And that will whet your appetite to find out about the other New Testament Epistles, Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, I, II, II John, and Jude.   Start reading them!            

This is one of my favorite things to think about. The contrast between the world into which Jesus Christ came (BC: Before Christ) and the world because He came (AD: Anno Domini: Year of our Lord) are given in Isaiah 8:21 - 9:7: Darkness vs. Light. Distress vs. Peace. The gloom of anguish vs. Joy.

Here are just a few specifics:

1. Ignorance of God vs. Knowledge of God: Prior to the coming into the world of Jesus Christ - the God-man, people “worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator”, bringing all kinds of miseries into human existence (Read Romans 1:18-32) People were enslaved to superstition, the very crude imaginations of humankind, and hopelessness, especially with respect to what happens after death. Jesus shows us God. He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6) and, through him, the whole world now has a GPS for this life and for the life to come!

2. Suffering vs. Help: Paganism that preceded Christ had no concept of assistance for the needy and the helpless. It was an evolutionary view: Survival of the fittest. The unfit were usually left to die. Christ’s very life and ministry (as well as his teachings, such as The Parable of the Good Samaritan) challenged all of that and brought the concept of hospitality (our of which hospitals grew), help for the poor, and kindness to the needy into the world.

3. Fear vs. Comfort: Before Christ people were beset with all kinds of fear. The weather, the change of seasons, eclipses, sickness, aging, and death were forces beyond human control and only to be seen as threatening. Jesus showed himself to be Lord of the winds and the waves, and He has power over all things - including the miseries of this life and death itself. This gives unspeakable comfort to those who know the Lord who told them over and over again to “Fear not!”

4. Inequality vs. Equality: The pre-Christian world was composed of the rigid castes of rich and poor, indigenous people and foreigners, laborers and property owners. And women were generally regarded as inferior to men and as objects for a man’s basest desires. Jesus changed all of that as he ministered to all groups of people and broke the social conventions regarding women. In Jesus Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek…slave or free, male or female.” The believer’s standing in Him makes us “one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

5. Bondage vs. Freedom: In the world before Christ, people were in bondage to sin, guilt, the world, the devil, and human ordinances. Christ Jesus conquered all of these by his own death on the cross (Colossians 2:8-22) and his resurrection. To live for Christ as Lord and Savior is to be free from punishment and shame and to be free to “glorify and enjoy God’ now and forever. Praise the Lord!

(For further reading, I recommend the book Unimaginable: What Our World Would be Like Without Christianity, by Jeremiah J. Johnston)

 One of our inmate Haven members is Arthur Tomlinson.  Shortly after he was incarcerated in 2012 the Lord reached Arthur’s heart and wondrously converted him to true faith in Christ.  Our communications from him reveal depths of understanding of the grace of God in Jesus Christ that are remarkable for their insight and for their sensitivity. We resume our Haven Heart to Heart series with excerpts from these communications.  You will find them to be stirring statements of the freedom the Gospel gives to all who truly look to Christ as Savior and Lord - even to those who are behind prison walls.  

Arthur’s reflections on Paul’s declaration in II Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…”  How should people forgiven in Christ receive these seemingly fearful words?

What if the replay of my life at the judgment seat of Christ, rather than a horror show, will be cast in terms of God’s grace, unfolded in such a way as to demonstrate the manifold, myriad ways in which his grace overcame all my weaknesses and finally proves to be all for a good I can see but dimly now; a tapestry beautiful beyond anything I could imagine or think to ask for - a good promised and secured?  Yes and AMEN to the glory of God in and through me?

“Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” “…to the praise of his glorious grace, by which he has made me to be accepted in the beloved.”

“God is in all things working for the good of all those who love him and are called according to his purpose.” His purpose is to be glorified in all things.  He will be glorified in all things!

…What fruit is growing from this root of judgment to come?   My fear is gone!  If what I say is the way it will be, then what is there to fear?  

If God is going to show me how his lovingkindness, his steadfast, unconquerable love threw all that was bad into reverse, undid it, made it come clean bright and good - why wouldn’t I be eager to see it so I can marvel at his wisdom and power, mercy and kindness with all the saints and angels gathered there to see it, too? 

The terrible things remain what they were: terrible; but even more terrible in its majesty, more terrible than evil could be is the Majesty On High who has worked such wonders for his undeserving creatures….

If our God is to be glorified in all things as he has said, then this telling of each redeemed life will have to be the story of his redeeming grace and love at work; and what could be more joyful to behold than when it comes to ourselves? 

We will, if I am right, see how the story of our lives is really His story and was from the very beginning.  Our crowns will be tossed at His feet as we exclaim and prostrate ourselves before the Lord of glory… I can’t imagine now just how it is that God-glorifying beauty will have come from the ugliness of my sin, but that’s a matter of details to be illuminated – for the ugliest sin of all time, that ever was or ever could be was the death of my Savior; and who can reckon the good that resulted? 

It is the cross itself that assumes me that the review of my life will not be dreadful but praiseworthy. Not praise for me – perish the thought – but praise redounding to God who ran the cross like a sword through my entire life. 

This will be the climax of losing my life for Christ’s sake as he shows me how all my decisions, vows, intentions, thoughts, words, desires, and actions all came into a line that points to Him alone, the Lord of glory indeed.