Tribulations of Love

02.19.10
J.A. Matteson

“But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.’” Acts 24:25

As pilgrims labor to broadcast the gospel in the world, responses to it are unpredictable and diverse. It is not the disciple’s business to know whom the Lord has appointed to eternal life, to know whom He foreknew before the foundation of the world, who He by grace decreed would be effectually called to faith, and whom He will sanctify by His Spirit for glory. In as much as the Lord is sovereign in salvation, taking the initiative in redemption, so it has pleased the Lord of heaven to save certain men—those who believe, for all men are responsible to respond in repentance to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and those who reject it seal their own fate.

As was his pattern the Apostle Paul outlines the gospel before Felix, carefully delineating the Law of God’s righteousness, regeneration and the sanctification resulting in self-control, and the resurrection of the dead with the final judgment of the righteous and wicked including their respective eternal dwelling places of heaven or hell. The same message of grace that works to soften the hearts of those whom eternal life has been decreed has the opposite effect—hardening—in those for whom the Lord has purposed to pass over, leaving them to themselves.

In Philippi the response by Paul’s jailer was an unpredictable softening, “And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:29-31). While shackled that evening, God’s ambassadors patiently shared with their jailer the Gospel of righteousness, self-control, and judgment unaware of the condition of the soil in which their seed was sewn, but assured of the promise of the Lord, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).

In contrast to the reprobate who die in disbelief, Paul and Silas understood that the elect would believe their message and turn to Christ in repentance, for it was for the sake of the invisible elect or chosen that they labored tirelessly, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10). And to this end Paul recounts his trials and tribulations of love on behalf of the elect who believed and those who would be awakened to believe, “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:24-30). But the pilgrim must not conclude that an initial rejection of the gospel indicates a person is ordained to death, for Saul (Paul) was acquainted with the gospel and his response was to persecute the people of the Way. Yet the Lord had an appointed time when He would confront the proud Pharisee to humble and convert him as an instrument for His glory.

Therefore, beloved, as long as a man has breath he is not beyond the reach of the redemption which comes by the grace of God. Felix is mentioned once more in chapter 25 and there is no mention of him ever turning to Christ in repentance either in Acts or the rest of the New Testament. Had he been converted it is likely the event would have been recorded as a testimony to the world and an encouragement to the Church. Yet it appears he went the way of Judas Iscariot, Balaam, and Pharaoh, men of depraved minds who rejected the grace of God in Christ Jesus, deriding the Law of God, puffed up arrogant dogs whose condemnation was known before the foundation of the world, for whom the darkest and hottest reaches of hell were reserved, whose destruction was decreed before time began, men who would reject the Truth, “’A stone of stumbling and a rock of offence’; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed” (1 Pet. 2:8), and “…God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?” (Rom. 9:22).

What can be said in response to the marvelous and terrible mercy and judgment of God? Merely this: to those who name the name of Christ Jesus let them make their calling and election sure by daily seeking Him in humility and repentance, and let those to whom the message of salvation comes not harden their hearts and perish in their contempt for and disobedience to the gospel of the grace of God.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever..." Isa. 40:8).

He Has Led Me

02.16.10
J.A. Matteson

“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:5

Surely the LORD is good Israel, to those who call upon His name in Spirit and truth, by His hand He has led me to the mountain crest to behold His glory, He causes my heart to fear and tremble in the presence of His majesty;

As I consider Your splendor, O LORD, the wisdom of Your decrees, and the goodness of Your care, the nearness of Your Spirit captivates me, unspeakable joy fills my heart;

My lips will praise Your works for Your namesake, be glorified, O LORD, in the words of my mouth, incline Your ear to me, listen to my petition;

You spoke and my heart was jolted as a beast of burden under a yoke, sweet is the instruction of the LORD, peaceful are His ways, kind is the rebuke of the LORD, gentle is His chastisement;

You incline my heart to seek You, to thirst after Your ordinances as living water, grace upon grace has enveloped me, the LORD’s mercy and kindness are my refuge;

The LORD is my resting place, I will not be afraid, He quiets my soul and stills my restless heart;

Blessed are the children of Israel who by faith revere the LORD Most High, He causes His face to shine upon them, they will not be moved, they take their meals in gladness with simplicity of heart, their sleep is sweet;

Praise the LORD, you children of Abraham, exalt the LORD of heaven, bless the name of the Son of glory, Christ Jesus, for His lovingkindess neither fades nor withers.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever..." Isa. 40:8).

Deliver Me

02.15.10
J.A. Matteson

"Examine me, O LORD, and try me; test my mind and my heart." Psalms 26:2

Consider my ways, O LORD, let the light of Your righteousness shine in the secret places within, how can a man understand his ways, all of them are cloaked in sin and deceit, he cannot know them;

The mercy of the LORD is bountiful, probing the depths of the heart, He makes my soul to groan, uncovering sin unknown to me;

Gracious is the LORD who by fire tests confessions, refining testimonies, to the praise of His name, in Your goodness, O LORD, you revealed my sin that repentance may lead me in the way of everlasting;

Wicked is the heart of man, deceitful and bound in sin from birth, when I consider your Law my heart delights in it, desiring to obey your testimonies;

Beautiful and true are your ordinances, that my soul knows well, how can a man stand before the LORD on that Day and be found innocent?

My eyes are lifted up to Your holy throne, My LORD and Redeemer, deliver me for your Names sake from my sin and lead me in the way of everlasting;

Circumcise my heart that the meditations therein and the words of my mouth may bring praise to You, intercede for me, dear LORD, that my faith not fail during testing, but be refined as pure gold;

Forgive my sin and remove my transgressions from me, for in You I trust and will not be ashamed, the LORD is my Ebenezer, my help in time of need, He has brought me safe thus far and will receive me in glory;

Oh how marvelous are the ways of the LORD, my Rock, my Redeemer, my Sustainer, into Your hands I commit my ways for Your names sake, trusting in your loving kindness;

At Your appointed time you will bring me to Jordon’s bank, gently bringing me across, there with the redeemed I will dwell in the New Jerusalem, offering pure eternal praise, unstained by sin;

You have filled my heart with gladness, I will teach transgressors Your way, let Your gates receive a multitude, be exalted at the foot of Your throne.

Let the LORD be glorified in the works His hands, direct me, precious LORD, in the good works ordained for me from of old, indeed from everlasting, to the praise and glory of Your namesake.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries ("the word of our God stands forever...." Isa. 40:8.).

A Precious Jewel

02.03.10
J.A. Matteson

"You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did." Acts 7:51

Stephen experienced that among those who claim allegiance to I AM, nothing is more sinister, vicious, treacherous, and lethal than religious fanaticism divorced from the work of the Spirit. Circumcision of the heart produces a pliable spirit, one inclined toward obedience to the Word of the Lord. An uncircumcised heart is opposed to the Word of the Lord for it cuts at fallen human pride. Stephen, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spoke truth to these men, truth which they could not deny, truth that pierced the core of their sinful nature, and their response to it was raw anger bent on silencing or suppressing the truth he spoke. To malign and silence the Word of God is the nature of the uncircumcised in heart who, “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18).

Oddly enough the uncircumcised in heart, these emissaries of Satan, find a certain comfort and enjoyment in the company of the true children of Abraham. But they are thorns and thistles among the children of promise, prickly and irritating voices that are continually driven by the lusts of the flesh, professing an allegiance to the Beloved, but denying their bold assertions by their attitudes and deeds. They crave recognition by men and their tongues make great boasts, an outward piousness characterizes them while the fruit of their lives is bitter. A spiritual disconnect characterizes their profession from their practice. Like a moth attracted to the light of night these servants of Beelzebub are strangely attracted to the light cast by the children of God, going so far as to alter their appearance as a chameleon so as to be undetected.

The Lord Jesus spoke of these as tares in God’s field and early on they appear to be young stocks of wheat. A hallmark of tares amidst God’s wheat is their aversion to the light of Scripture. As those uncircumcised in heart (unregenerate) their allegiance to the Lord and His Word is superficial and when put to the test they fall away and become unfruitful. Amidst the body of Christ tares attempt to hinder the Spirit, aiming to retard His work within the children of grace as they perform His work in the world. Opposed to the living oracles of God tares prefer titillating entertainment to edification, correction, and rebuke. Comfortable in their lusts tares reject correction by the Scripture, are unrepentant, and lash out at envoys of the Lord who declare the righteousness of the Lord. These find the living Word of the Lord boring, irrelevant, confusing, burdensome, and restrictive. They prefer and suggest spiritual nourishment by alternate means, leaning instead to the teachings and doctrines of men. Above all tares detest their sin being exposed, unlike the circumcised in heart that are tender to the correction of the Spirit, tares exhibit a hardness of heart, a defiance to correction that contradicts their testimony.

By contrast the circumcised of heart manifest a faith that cannot be extinguished, that hopes all things, believes all things, that never fades away. They perceive with spiritual eyes the unseen things of God and discern His providences in all things. And foundationally their faith is firmly grounded in the Scriptures wherein the sweet promises of God are revered as a precious jewel for which the saint will unhesitatingly exchange all that the world has to offer to obtain and keep. The circumcised of heart love the Scripture. They love its study, meditation, and application for in so doing they come nearer and nearer to the God of the Word. The children of promise instinctively rejoice in sharing the Scriptures that others might by the grace of God come to the knowledge of the truth. None of these things is true of the tares whose activity is centered on suppressing the Word of God both within the church and in the world through humanistic entertainment. The power of the Spirit is in His Word; preach the Word and God’s redemptive power will build His church.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isa. 40:8).