03.30.09
J.A. Matteson
"…as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved." Colossians 3:12
Has your sojourning led you to the gentle crest of the Hill of Wonder to view with humility the transaction of Calvary? Or do you remain in the lowlands as Israel, “The LORD said…’The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me’” (Judges 7:2). Natural man is ego-centric regarding the spiritual, yielding an arrogant blind inclination towards self-ability when none is present.
Has grace revealed to you from the vista on the mount that Salvation is from the Lord; that more than merely providing a theoretical redemption—reserved for those who in their natural resources believe—the mercy of God assures the effectual application of the Gospel to the chosen? Have you accounted for your former misery in sin as that of a cesspool in a deep pit with walls as smooth as ice, from which you could not have escaped unaided? How do you account for your being in Christ? Perhaps you picked yourself up by your spiritual bootstraps and simply wised up, taking Jesus at His word that He is the Son of God. If that is so then certainly our Lord would affirm your thesis. But what does He say to Peter?, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).
According to Jesus, the natural mind of man is incapable of knowing Him as the Son of God; it is spiritually blind, deaf, and dumb. The basis of your salvation was grace manifested through divine initiative. While unregenerate you where not spiritually sick you where spiritually dead, and to be dead is to be unresponsive. Take the largest floodlight you can locate and place a blind man directly in front of its blinding illumination and he will see nothing but darkness. Blast the loudest trumpet straight into the ear of the deaf and he will hear perfect silence. Walk into the darkest graveyard and passionately command the dead to come forth and you will leave alone as when you arrived.
At one moment you stood condemned in spiritual death, without Christ, at enmity with God, helpless and hopeless in the world. In the next you found yourself translated in spirit into His marvelous light, suddenly believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and rejoicing in your new life of faith. To your flesh the pathway from darkness to light, from death to life, from enmity to peace, was sublimely simple, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31), and “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9); and you do in fact believe, your faith is real. Upon the hill it happened, a beautiful heavenly realization unfolded and gripped your heart, your mind was illumined by the Spirit to the wondrous reality of divine initiative in your salvation. Initially the natural cry of your heart was “That’s not fair!” to which the Apostle asked rhetorically, “What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!” (Romans 9:14).
The Spirit revealed that His ways are infinitely more graceful than yours, as left unaided you would still be in your sin. Regeneration precedes faith, which is a gift of God, “For to you it has been granted…to believe in Him….” (Philippians 1:29). Had you applied human reasoning to identity the divine nature of Christ the words of the Lord would be meaningless, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63), and “no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6:65). To you, the chosen of God, the Gospel proved effectual. The general Gospel call is ineffectual and heard by the living dead as idiocy, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Trecherous Traditions
03.27.09
J.A. Matteson
"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men…" Colossians 2:8
All a man needs is Jesus Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2: 3). Regeneration begets conversion and the saint is sealed with or in (τῷ) the Holy Spirit—not merely by, implying an incomplete work of grace—but with, indicating a thorough internal transformation and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. At conversion the saint stands as a new creation in Christ Jesus, complete as His ambassador, lacking nothing, looking to the Head alone who is able to keep him from stumbling and to present him blameless on that Day. The Apostle confronted head-on the evil traditions and teaching of men that were not founded by Christ—the Chief cornerstone of the Church, nor the teaching of the Apostles—its foundation, viz., that faith was insufficient for justification and that men were obligated to follow human philosophy and tradition, binding their consciences to the delusional whims of men rather than to Christ. In the present day there is an evil at work through human philosophy and traditions of men that is subverting the word of Christ and His Apostles. The Reformers confronted Papal decrees and councils, the vile sale of indulgences for absolution, and the viewing of relics to circumvent time in purgatory.
Protesting these and many other unbiblical teachings the evil was unmasked and those advancing the cause of doctrinal reform were vilified, many brutally killed by a man-centered religion desperate to remain in control over the souls of men. As the masses were led astray in past generations by men who engaged in fanciful isegesis of Scripture leading to extra-biblical doctrines that enslaved the consciences of men, so too the present generation is being held hostage to doctrines of men that have been elevated as authoritative for faith and practice, the end result has been the subversion of the inspiration, inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture to which the Apostle decries to the Corinthians, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
From the humanists who denounce the inspiration of Scripture; to the proponents of higher criticism who reject its inerrancy; to the existentialist who holds to experience as the end authority of truth; to the proponents of the “church growth movement” who profess the sufficiency of Scripture, but by their deeds deny the same; to the charlatans of the word-of-faith movement who devilishly prey upon the simple for sordid gain, living in luxury and promising health and wealth to all who surrender to them their paychecks; to the contemporary Gnostics who being deceived by angels masquerading as messengers of light seek after experience and esoteric knowledge, opening their minds to the principalities and powers of darkness; to the post-modern emergent church and its aversion to propositional truth, denying that truth can be known and by implication denying Christ who is Truth; to the misguided theology and praxis of the “seeker-sensitive movement” that exchanges Christo-centric worship for man-centered entertainment and titillation, designed and produced to amuse the unregenerate, feeding the goats while starving the sheep; and to the Later Rain movement’s self-appointed “apostles” who arrogantly proclaim a new “Word of the Lord”, uttering delusions amongst the gullible with insatiable appetites.
Evidence of the distance the Church has wandered from the truth of Scripture is recognized by the hostile reaction by the many to few who dare question the teachings and doctrines found in extra-biblical non-authoritative resources in the form of Christian books, seminars, DVD’s, CD’s, etc. Many Christians unwittingly have elevated these to the position of papal inerrancy—anathema! Cast aside the yoke of slavery and return to the Word of the Lord and the simplicity of Christ, “Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings” (Hebrews 13:9).
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
J.A. Matteson
"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men…" Colossians 2:8
All a man needs is Jesus Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2: 3). Regeneration begets conversion and the saint is sealed with or in (τῷ) the Holy Spirit—not merely by, implying an incomplete work of grace—but with, indicating a thorough internal transformation and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. At conversion the saint stands as a new creation in Christ Jesus, complete as His ambassador, lacking nothing, looking to the Head alone who is able to keep him from stumbling and to present him blameless on that Day. The Apostle confronted head-on the evil traditions and teaching of men that were not founded by Christ—the Chief cornerstone of the Church, nor the teaching of the Apostles—its foundation, viz., that faith was insufficient for justification and that men were obligated to follow human philosophy and tradition, binding their consciences to the delusional whims of men rather than to Christ. In the present day there is an evil at work through human philosophy and traditions of men that is subverting the word of Christ and His Apostles. The Reformers confronted Papal decrees and councils, the vile sale of indulgences for absolution, and the viewing of relics to circumvent time in purgatory.
Protesting these and many other unbiblical teachings the evil was unmasked and those advancing the cause of doctrinal reform were vilified, many brutally killed by a man-centered religion desperate to remain in control over the souls of men. As the masses were led astray in past generations by men who engaged in fanciful isegesis of Scripture leading to extra-biblical doctrines that enslaved the consciences of men, so too the present generation is being held hostage to doctrines of men that have been elevated as authoritative for faith and practice, the end result has been the subversion of the inspiration, inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture to which the Apostle decries to the Corinthians, “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).
From the humanists who denounce the inspiration of Scripture; to the proponents of higher criticism who reject its inerrancy; to the existentialist who holds to experience as the end authority of truth; to the proponents of the “church growth movement” who profess the sufficiency of Scripture, but by their deeds deny the same; to the charlatans of the word-of-faith movement who devilishly prey upon the simple for sordid gain, living in luxury and promising health and wealth to all who surrender to them their paychecks; to the contemporary Gnostics who being deceived by angels masquerading as messengers of light seek after experience and esoteric knowledge, opening their minds to the principalities and powers of darkness; to the post-modern emergent church and its aversion to propositional truth, denying that truth can be known and by implication denying Christ who is Truth; to the misguided theology and praxis of the “seeker-sensitive movement” that exchanges Christo-centric worship for man-centered entertainment and titillation, designed and produced to amuse the unregenerate, feeding the goats while starving the sheep; and to the Later Rain movement’s self-appointed “apostles” who arrogantly proclaim a new “Word of the Lord”, uttering delusions amongst the gullible with insatiable appetites.
Evidence of the distance the Church has wandered from the truth of Scripture is recognized by the hostile reaction by the many to few who dare question the teachings and doctrines found in extra-biblical non-authoritative resources in the form of Christian books, seminars, DVD’s, CD’s, etc. Many Christians unwittingly have elevated these to the position of papal inerrancy—anathema! Cast aside the yoke of slavery and return to the Word of the Lord and the simplicity of Christ, “Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings” (Hebrews 13:9).
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saving Faith
03.24.09
J.A. Matteson
"If indeed you continue in the faith…." Colossians 1:23
That which God ordains as holy remains holy unto the Lord in that positional sanctification is a sovereign work of God and does not depend upon the merit of its object, “For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). And even if what is holy suffers desecration—such as the temple by Nebuccanezzar—it does not diminish its intrinsic holiness; that which is holy is holy perpetually, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)—“us” in whom the Holy Spirit tabernacles.
The Apostle employs the term “saints” before his readers, “To the saints….” (Colossians 1:2) reminding them that by grace they have been set-apart as God’s people to His service and purposes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that they have been bought with a price and are not their own; that they have been mercifully rescued from the authority and domain of Satan, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13), and that the outworking of their deliverance—its validation or proof to themselves and others—is evidenced by a transformed mind resulting in a renewed life—the distinguishing mark of which is a persevering faith which does not diminish, but steadily grows deeper, manifesting good works which God foreordained, “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:21).
To the reprobate sanctifying grace possesses both a curious magnetic and repulsive characteristic. The Lord Jesus illustrated the magnetic attributes whereby a temporary outward piety, void of inner regeneration by the Holy Spirit, eventually manifests the bitter fruit of apostasy (Mark 4:1-9); the Apostle John reiterates the Lord’s dire warning, “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19). Saving faith—that which the Holy Spirit supplies—does not renounce Christ by apostasy. Beloved, what is the basis of your assurance that you are in Christ? Is it your confirmation, baptism, church membership, service, tithe, or some past “decision” for the Savior? Do you not know that apart from a vital living faith that these things are dead works, the end result of which is eternal damnation? The unpardonable sin is unbelief and those who belong to Christ cannot—rendered unable—forsake Him, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
The power of the Seed which indwells the saint saves and the same power secures unto eternal life. The saints of redemptive history have all displayed an abiding faith until death, one which does not perish. For many their testimony is one of unspeakable suffering at the hands of wicked men, many joyfully choosing horrible deaths while scorning the suggestion of apostasy by their perpetrators—this is the saving grace of the Holy Spirit. Shall we speak of Abraham, Noah, David, Joseph, Samson, Gideon, or the Apostles? The epitaph of Scripture to the enduring faith of such men declares, “And all these, having gained approval through their faith….” (Hebrews 11:39).
And beyond them we could speak of Polycarp, John Huss, Martin Luther, Jim Elliott, and countless others. The Scripture declares that, “…the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). The faith the prophet speaks of is not mere knowledge of theological propositions, but an intimate growing relationship with the risen Lord, the great I AM. Biblical faith daily seeks to work out its salvation with fear and trembling, hating sin, and puts no confidence in the flesh for salvation, while at the same time earnestly desiring to be pliable in the Potter’s hands so that the sweet fruit of good works unto the glory of God will be evident to all men. The holy ones of God, while imperfect and who stumble, die in a state of faith; this is the testimony of Scripture and Church history, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
Beloved, let us offer thanks and praise for His marvelous grace to save and to keep!
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
J.A. Matteson
"If indeed you continue in the faith…." Colossians 1:23
That which God ordains as holy remains holy unto the Lord in that positional sanctification is a sovereign work of God and does not depend upon the merit of its object, “For while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). And even if what is holy suffers desecration—such as the temple by Nebuccanezzar—it does not diminish its intrinsic holiness; that which is holy is holy perpetually, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)—“us” in whom the Holy Spirit tabernacles.
The Apostle employs the term “saints” before his readers, “To the saints….” (Colossians 1:2) reminding them that by grace they have been set-apart as God’s people to His service and purposes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; that they have been bought with a price and are not their own; that they have been mercifully rescued from the authority and domain of Satan, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13), and that the outworking of their deliverance—its validation or proof to themselves and others—is evidenced by a transformed mind resulting in a renewed life—the distinguishing mark of which is a persevering faith which does not diminish, but steadily grows deeper, manifesting good works which God foreordained, “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:21).
To the reprobate sanctifying grace possesses both a curious magnetic and repulsive characteristic. The Lord Jesus illustrated the magnetic attributes whereby a temporary outward piety, void of inner regeneration by the Holy Spirit, eventually manifests the bitter fruit of apostasy (Mark 4:1-9); the Apostle John reiterates the Lord’s dire warning, “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19). Saving faith—that which the Holy Spirit supplies—does not renounce Christ by apostasy. Beloved, what is the basis of your assurance that you are in Christ? Is it your confirmation, baptism, church membership, service, tithe, or some past “decision” for the Savior? Do you not know that apart from a vital living faith that these things are dead works, the end result of which is eternal damnation? The unpardonable sin is unbelief and those who belong to Christ cannot—rendered unable—forsake Him, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
The power of the Seed which indwells the saint saves and the same power secures unto eternal life. The saints of redemptive history have all displayed an abiding faith until death, one which does not perish. For many their testimony is one of unspeakable suffering at the hands of wicked men, many joyfully choosing horrible deaths while scorning the suggestion of apostasy by their perpetrators—this is the saving grace of the Holy Spirit. Shall we speak of Abraham, Noah, David, Joseph, Samson, Gideon, or the Apostles? The epitaph of Scripture to the enduring faith of such men declares, “And all these, having gained approval through their faith….” (Hebrews 11:39).
And beyond them we could speak of Polycarp, John Huss, Martin Luther, Jim Elliott, and countless others. The Scripture declares that, “…the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). The faith the prophet speaks of is not mere knowledge of theological propositions, but an intimate growing relationship with the risen Lord, the great I AM. Biblical faith daily seeks to work out its salvation with fear and trembling, hating sin, and puts no confidence in the flesh for salvation, while at the same time earnestly desiring to be pliable in the Potter’s hands so that the sweet fruit of good works unto the glory of God will be evident to all men. The holy ones of God, while imperfect and who stumble, die in a state of faith; this is the testimony of Scripture and Church history, “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
Beloved, let us offer thanks and praise for His marvelous grace to save and to keep!
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Psudo-Sovereignty
03.23.09
J.A. Matteson
"Be anxious for nothing…." Philippians 4:6
Pseudo-sovereignty reveals itself in apprehension, whereby the bewildered Christian soberly calculates himself to be a living contradiction—a spiritual schizophrenic—rather than a living sacrifice; one moment he affirms the sovereignty and Providence of God, and in the next instant he is annoyed by both. Born into sin the inclination of man’s heart is towards independence from his Creator, “… and you will be like God….” (Genesis 3:5). The supreme incommunicable attribute of God is His sovereignty, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). Grotesque before heavens throne is cosmic treason characterized by a refutation and challenge to divine sovereignty.
By grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Christian is forgiven of his former treason and declared righteous by a just Judge, and yet the annoying vestige of the former conspirator within—the old man—stubbornly persists and his demise entails nothing short of a declaration of all out war, “For from within…proceed the evil thoughts…deeds of coveting and wickedness, envy, pride….” (Mark 7:21-22). While speaking to His followers Jesus Christ tenderly summoned, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavyladen, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). What a delightful balm to the weary and agitated soul are the words of our Lord!
Through Providence the Spirit compassionately touches upon fleshly pressure points within the Christian in order to guide him to singularity with Christ, where the mind and heart operate in unison; what the Spirit initiates by way of loving grace so that Christ may be formed within, spiritual immaturity responds to in doubt, which is unbelief—“Has God said?” The fruit of unbelief is concern, worry, anxiety, and unbelief is sin. The pseudosovereign is preoccupied with the temporal, charting a cognitive course, developing grid to sift experiences and expectations, presuming upon future outcomes that serve what is perceived as beneficial. Providence then transpires and intersects the pre-fabricated understanding of the Christian, turning it on its head; intense anxiety is the resultant fruit, the root is a life characterized by a preoccupation with being its own sovereign; i.e., in control, “Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will wear for clothing?” (Matthew 6:31).
The Christian who mortifies the flesh and nails to the cross its aspirations, expectations, and presuppositions regarding future events walks as one yoked to the Savior, whose burden is light, and whose peace is beyond comprehension. Anxiety is not an attribute of the divine nature—the throne room of heaven knows nothing but perfect peace. The Spirit within the Christian has raised him up with Christ in heavenly places where peace and harmony triumph, “But God, being rich in mercy… raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places….” (Ephesians 2:4-6). Anxiety is not consistent with the new nature and is a mark of immaturity signaling a life not fully surrendered to Providence; for as God is not anxious within Himself the same is unbecoming in the place of His dwelling, “…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). And as anxiety generally finds its center in temporal preoccupations the Christian who walks victoriously in peace daily directs his attention heavenward, entrusting himself to Him whose Word is true and whose ways manifest perfect wisdom.
The Spirit of grace who leads the Christian towards maturity is evidenced by the inexpressible joyful realization of a pliable heart, one inclined towards peaceful submission to divine sovereignty and the outworking of Providence, knowing that the Father is indeed crafting unique circumstances for the spiritual benefit of the pilgrim, outfitting him for heaven where his citizenship is held, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3). Enduring peace and joy in the midst of unexpected Providences are the fruit of the Spirit, sprouting forth in a life abandoned to divine sovereignty.
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
J.A. Matteson
"Be anxious for nothing…." Philippians 4:6
Pseudo-sovereignty reveals itself in apprehension, whereby the bewildered Christian soberly calculates himself to be a living contradiction—a spiritual schizophrenic—rather than a living sacrifice; one moment he affirms the sovereignty and Providence of God, and in the next instant he is annoyed by both. Born into sin the inclination of man’s heart is towards independence from his Creator, “… and you will be like God….” (Genesis 3:5). The supreme incommunicable attribute of God is His sovereignty, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). Grotesque before heavens throne is cosmic treason characterized by a refutation and challenge to divine sovereignty.
By grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the Christian is forgiven of his former treason and declared righteous by a just Judge, and yet the annoying vestige of the former conspirator within—the old man—stubbornly persists and his demise entails nothing short of a declaration of all out war, “For from within…proceed the evil thoughts…deeds of coveting and wickedness, envy, pride….” (Mark 7:21-22). While speaking to His followers Jesus Christ tenderly summoned, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavyladen, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). What a delightful balm to the weary and agitated soul are the words of our Lord!
Through Providence the Spirit compassionately touches upon fleshly pressure points within the Christian in order to guide him to singularity with Christ, where the mind and heart operate in unison; what the Spirit initiates by way of loving grace so that Christ may be formed within, spiritual immaturity responds to in doubt, which is unbelief—“Has God said?” The fruit of unbelief is concern, worry, anxiety, and unbelief is sin. The pseudosovereign is preoccupied with the temporal, charting a cognitive course, developing grid to sift experiences and expectations, presuming upon future outcomes that serve what is perceived as beneficial. Providence then transpires and intersects the pre-fabricated understanding of the Christian, turning it on its head; intense anxiety is the resultant fruit, the root is a life characterized by a preoccupation with being its own sovereign; i.e., in control, “Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will wear for clothing?” (Matthew 6:31).
The Christian who mortifies the flesh and nails to the cross its aspirations, expectations, and presuppositions regarding future events walks as one yoked to the Savior, whose burden is light, and whose peace is beyond comprehension. Anxiety is not an attribute of the divine nature—the throne room of heaven knows nothing but perfect peace. The Spirit within the Christian has raised him up with Christ in heavenly places where peace and harmony triumph, “But God, being rich in mercy… raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places….” (Ephesians 2:4-6). Anxiety is not consistent with the new nature and is a mark of immaturity signaling a life not fully surrendered to Providence; for as God is not anxious within Himself the same is unbecoming in the place of His dwelling, “…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). And as anxiety generally finds its center in temporal preoccupations the Christian who walks victoriously in peace daily directs his attention heavenward, entrusting himself to Him whose Word is true and whose ways manifest perfect wisdom.
The Spirit of grace who leads the Christian towards maturity is evidenced by the inexpressible joyful realization of a pliable heart, one inclined towards peaceful submission to divine sovereignty and the outworking of Providence, knowing that the Father is indeed crafting unique circumstances for the spiritual benefit of the pilgrim, outfitting him for heaven where his citizenship is held, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3). Enduring peace and joy in the midst of unexpected Providences are the fruit of the Spirit, sprouting forth in a life abandoned to divine sovereignty.
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Paradigm Shift
03.18.09
J.A. Matteson
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:7
That the Apostle delineated the fact that he at one time held to specific values and that those beliefs had changed is of tremendous interest; pressing even harder upon the Christian, however, is the manor by which the change in perspective occurred; i.e., how the Apostle accounted for it. At the outset is the startling picture of a sincere and pious man who was appallingly self-deceived and ignorant of his dreadful standing before God. With all eagerness and discipline Saul invested his life in the pursuit of righteousness according to the only pattern available to him; viz., the paradigm of the fallen world. The system did repay him with a particular level of satisfaction, centered on what the fallen nature covets—self-righteousness, “as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Philippians 3:6).
The various means by which Saul sought justification before God were logically considered as gain by his contemporaries. And then it happened: he was encountered by the risen Christ at which time he experienced a titanic paradigm shift in his person and understanding. The circumcision of the Spirit—as with the flesh—cuts and removes. Divine initiative rooted in grace removed a dead heart of stone, eyes which saw but could not perceive, ears that heard but lacked understanding, and a soul which instinctively held self-preservation as supreme. Saul was born from above and his Adamic nature was redeemed from the curse of the Fall, “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10).
Our Lord spoke in parables to the crowds, not so they might understand, but to fulfill the words of the Prophet as a judgment against them, “Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted…Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled….’” (Matthew 13:13-14). With a new nature came a new heart that hungered after the true God, one inclined towards obedience, eyes that perceived spiritual truth, ears that heard and understood the Word of the Lord, and a heavenly citizenship that, prompted by the Spirit within the man, sought to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Paul understood two resurrections in the life of the Christian: the spiritual and the natural, “that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection (ἀναστάσως)…in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11). The first resurrection is to spiritual life from spiritual death, “…walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The second resurrection is physical, “…in order I may attain to the resurrection (ἐξανάσταςιν), lit. ‘out-resurrection’) from the dead” (Philippians 3:11)—a reference to a future bodily resurrection, “out” of the earth.
The Spirit brings new insights into and affections for Christ, His Kingdom and Church, “For neither is circumcision [physical] anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation [spiritual]” (Galatians 6:15). The Spirit initiates regeneration and will give life to flesh given over to decay, “if the Spirit of Him…dwells in you, He…will also give life to your mortal bodies….” (Romans 8:11). We do not initiate physical birth, neither do we initiate spiritual birth—it is by grace to the glory of God. The Apostle highlights supernatural affections for the Son of God as a mark of redemption, establishing the words of our Lord, “You will know them by their fruits….” (Matthew 7:16).
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
J.A. Matteson
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:7
That the Apostle delineated the fact that he at one time held to specific values and that those beliefs had changed is of tremendous interest; pressing even harder upon the Christian, however, is the manor by which the change in perspective occurred; i.e., how the Apostle accounted for it. At the outset is the startling picture of a sincere and pious man who was appallingly self-deceived and ignorant of his dreadful standing before God. With all eagerness and discipline Saul invested his life in the pursuit of righteousness according to the only pattern available to him; viz., the paradigm of the fallen world. The system did repay him with a particular level of satisfaction, centered on what the fallen nature covets—self-righteousness, “as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Philippians 3:6).
The various means by which Saul sought justification before God were logically considered as gain by his contemporaries. And then it happened: he was encountered by the risen Christ at which time he experienced a titanic paradigm shift in his person and understanding. The circumcision of the Spirit—as with the flesh—cuts and removes. Divine initiative rooted in grace removed a dead heart of stone, eyes which saw but could not perceive, ears that heard but lacked understanding, and a soul which instinctively held self-preservation as supreme. Saul was born from above and his Adamic nature was redeemed from the curse of the Fall, “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10).
Our Lord spoke in parables to the crowds, not so they might understand, but to fulfill the words of the Prophet as a judgment against them, “Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted…Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled….’” (Matthew 13:13-14). With a new nature came a new heart that hungered after the true God, one inclined towards obedience, eyes that perceived spiritual truth, ears that heard and understood the Word of the Lord, and a heavenly citizenship that, prompted by the Spirit within the man, sought to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Paul understood two resurrections in the life of the Christian: the spiritual and the natural, “that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection (ἀναστάσως)…in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11). The first resurrection is to spiritual life from spiritual death, “…walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The second resurrection is physical, “…in order I may attain to the resurrection (ἐξανάσταςιν), lit. ‘out-resurrection’) from the dead” (Philippians 3:11)—a reference to a future bodily resurrection, “out” of the earth.
The Spirit brings new insights into and affections for Christ, His Kingdom and Church, “For neither is circumcision [physical] anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation [spiritual]” (Galatians 6:15). The Spirit initiates regeneration and will give life to flesh given over to decay, “if the Spirit of Him…dwells in you, He…will also give life to your mortal bodies….” (Romans 8:11). We do not initiate physical birth, neither do we initiate spiritual birth—it is by grace to the glory of God. The Apostle highlights supernatural affections for the Son of God as a mark of redemption, establishing the words of our Lord, “You will know them by their fruits….” (Matthew 7:16).
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Harmonizing Profession with Obedience
03.17.09
J.A. Matteson
"He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:8
The work of Providence is to test the Christian’s heart, harmonizing profession with obedience, bringing into alignment the academic with the actual. The academic precedes the actual and the actual validates the academic as wrought in Christ. Lost in the Garden of Eden was obedience, being replaced by rebellion. The Lord cleanly stripes away all pretense by revealing the genuine fruit of the academic, “If you love Me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Love is manifest at the divine intersection of humility and obedience. The end of Providence is obedience; the means is humility; the pathway is death. By Providence the Christian sojourns to the base of difficult hills at which point the academic and actual are juxtaposed, he will at that place continue on the pathway of Providence which leads up or elect to become his own providence and traverse around the base of the hill. Spiritual immaturity seeks to be its own providence. The outworking of maturity is humility unto obedience and the tutor unto humility is Providence. Spiritual immaturity isolates circumstances as separate from Providence; it artificially fabricates a distinction between what it perceives as ordinary and the divine. Humility willingly accepts God’s providential appointed ends and His means toward that end, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
The Providential pathway towards obedience leads directly through the Valley of the Shadow of Death where humiliation and worldly-loss remain constant companions. To these things the Lord assures the pilgrim, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30). What has Providence required of you that you squirmed under, choosing rather to become your own providence? At what intersection have the academic and the actual caused you to pull back? At what point has the outworking of the academic and actual proved incongruent—a startling disconnect, tempting you to become your own providence rather than ascend the hill which Providence assigned to you? Watch out, Jonah was such a man and he soon found himself inside the slimy reeking belly of a fish. Saul was such a man and the kingdom was stripped out of his hands and given to one younger. The foundation of obedience is love and perfect love casts out fear, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). It is through obedience that the Christian demonstrates that his love for the Lord is genuine, that the relationship between the academic and actual in his life is progressing as he imitates the Lord’s obedience to His Father, “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29).
The Providential pathway for individual Christians differ but their destination is the same—glory. In this regard two errors ought to be avoided: firstly, the inordinate pondering of the Providences of other pilgrims, this merely distracts and retards your own progress along the path the Lord has set for you—resist the temptation, “Lord, and what about this man?...what is that to you? You follow Me!" (John 21:21-22); secondly, becoming a hindrance to other pilgrims as a result of ignorance as to their own paths of Providence, “…we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, 'What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'” (Acts 21:12-13). Jesus Christ maintained a sharp focus on his mission as the Lamb of God, “But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27), and motivated by love for His Father He humbled Himself to obediently remain on the Providential pathway set before Him. As with King David the pathway of God for each pilgrim is revealed through Providence, and it is each Christians obligation to follow that pathway with humility and obedience, for in so doing he fulfills the Lord’s plan for his life, “For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers.” (Acts 13:36).
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
J.A. Matteson
"He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:8
The work of Providence is to test the Christian’s heart, harmonizing profession with obedience, bringing into alignment the academic with the actual. The academic precedes the actual and the actual validates the academic as wrought in Christ. Lost in the Garden of Eden was obedience, being replaced by rebellion. The Lord cleanly stripes away all pretense by revealing the genuine fruit of the academic, “If you love Me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Love is manifest at the divine intersection of humility and obedience. The end of Providence is obedience; the means is humility; the pathway is death. By Providence the Christian sojourns to the base of difficult hills at which point the academic and actual are juxtaposed, he will at that place continue on the pathway of Providence which leads up or elect to become his own providence and traverse around the base of the hill. Spiritual immaturity seeks to be its own providence. The outworking of maturity is humility unto obedience and the tutor unto humility is Providence. Spiritual immaturity isolates circumstances as separate from Providence; it artificially fabricates a distinction between what it perceives as ordinary and the divine. Humility willingly accepts God’s providential appointed ends and His means toward that end, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
The Providential pathway towards obedience leads directly through the Valley of the Shadow of Death where humiliation and worldly-loss remain constant companions. To these things the Lord assures the pilgrim, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30). What has Providence required of you that you squirmed under, choosing rather to become your own providence? At what intersection have the academic and the actual caused you to pull back? At what point has the outworking of the academic and actual proved incongruent—a startling disconnect, tempting you to become your own providence rather than ascend the hill which Providence assigned to you? Watch out, Jonah was such a man and he soon found himself inside the slimy reeking belly of a fish. Saul was such a man and the kingdom was stripped out of his hands and given to one younger. The foundation of obedience is love and perfect love casts out fear, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). It is through obedience that the Christian demonstrates that his love for the Lord is genuine, that the relationship between the academic and actual in his life is progressing as he imitates the Lord’s obedience to His Father, “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29).
The Providential pathway for individual Christians differ but their destination is the same—glory. In this regard two errors ought to be avoided: firstly, the inordinate pondering of the Providences of other pilgrims, this merely distracts and retards your own progress along the path the Lord has set for you—resist the temptation, “Lord, and what about this man?...what is that to you? You follow Me!" (John 21:21-22); secondly, becoming a hindrance to other pilgrims as a result of ignorance as to their own paths of Providence, “…we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, 'What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'” (Acts 21:12-13). Jesus Christ maintained a sharp focus on his mission as the Lamb of God, “But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27), and motivated by love for His Father He humbled Himself to obediently remain on the Providential pathway set before Him. As with King David the pathway of God for each pilgrim is revealed through Providence, and it is each Christians obligation to follow that pathway with humility and obedience, for in so doing he fulfills the Lord’s plan for his life, “For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers.” (Acts 13:36).
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Our Spiritual Battlefield
03.15.09
J.A. Matteson
"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." Ephesians 6:10
The Christian ought not to naively entertain the notion that in his natural endowments he is Satan’s equal. In the natural those in the Beloved are no more a match for the prince of darkness than is a squirrel to the ravenous the lion. In the natural Satan will devour you swiftly, effortlessly, and thoroughly while contemptuously mocking and laughing at your naivety. The adversary is adept at being crafty and modifies the variety, intensity, and duration of his assaults.
His relentless pursuit is intended to wear you down as a predator his prey. By grace the Christian can withstand this fiendish assailant, but to do so he must heed the conditional directive of the Lord, “Abide in Me and I in you… apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5); to be victorious the branch must remain in the Vine. The Roman coat-of-arms was intended to protect the soldier’s body from a mortal blow. The battlefields of the world experience periods of violence followed by peace. The spiritual battlefield on which the saint finds himself is vehemently more hostile, and perpetual. There will be no truce, as it is a fight to the finish; there will be no treaty, in that light and darkness have no part with each other; there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace returns in glory and His enemies become His footstool. The serpent loathes the Seed of the woman and marshals every force of hell in a vain attempt to destroy her children; their existence is in defiance to his temporal dominion, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
In the Greek the Apostle refers to the armor of God in the singular. The translators have supplied the antecedent “whole” so that the English reader would understand that the Lord’s armor consists of the entirety its parts; if a part is missing the armor has not been put on and the saint cannot prevail. With the armor Christians can be victorious to stand against demonic forces that in the natural would obliterate them instantly. With God’s spiritual armor Joshua came against Jericho and David against Goliath—it was not their physical armaments that won the victory, “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God” (Psalm 20:7).
Truth: God’s Word is the foundation upon which you stand and Satan tirelessly tempts you to doubt it, “Has God said?” (Genesis 3:1). Additionally, as children of Abraham the saint instinctively imitates his Lord by walking in the truth.
Righteousness: the breastplate protected vital organs from injury, especially the heart; the heart is deceitful and must be guarded from worldly pollution “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). After Bathsheeba grieving David reflected on the importance of guarding his heart, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
Shod your feet: proclaiming the Gospel is every saint’s obligation as it is a message of peace to sinners, alerting them that they are at enmity with God and that peace with Him is available through Jesus Christ. Shield of faith: the natural circumstances of life do not define spiritual reality; do not attempt to apply human reasoning to them. Practice childlike trust that your heavenly Father is providentially working things together for good and reject the fiery darts of doubt, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways”, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8).
The helmet: the helmet protected the head which houses the brain—the center of life; deliver a forceful blow and life will cease. After the Fall the Lord told the serpent that the Seed of the woman would crush his head, sealing his ultimate fate. Spiritual regeneration brings life eternal and while Satan may bruise and harass you on your pilgrimage he cannot extinguish the spiritual life which God supplies, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
Sword of the Spirit: the sword is both defensive and offensive and to be wielded every time the enemy releases an accusation or statement antithetical to the Word of God, “The Lord rebuke you Satan, for it is written….!”
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
J.A. Matteson
"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." Ephesians 6:10
The Christian ought not to naively entertain the notion that in his natural endowments he is Satan’s equal. In the natural those in the Beloved are no more a match for the prince of darkness than is a squirrel to the ravenous the lion. In the natural Satan will devour you swiftly, effortlessly, and thoroughly while contemptuously mocking and laughing at your naivety. The adversary is adept at being crafty and modifies the variety, intensity, and duration of his assaults.
His relentless pursuit is intended to wear you down as a predator his prey. By grace the Christian can withstand this fiendish assailant, but to do so he must heed the conditional directive of the Lord, “Abide in Me and I in you… apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5); to be victorious the branch must remain in the Vine. The Roman coat-of-arms was intended to protect the soldier’s body from a mortal blow. The battlefields of the world experience periods of violence followed by peace. The spiritual battlefield on which the saint finds himself is vehemently more hostile, and perpetual. There will be no truce, as it is a fight to the finish; there will be no treaty, in that light and darkness have no part with each other; there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace returns in glory and His enemies become His footstool. The serpent loathes the Seed of the woman and marshals every force of hell in a vain attempt to destroy her children; their existence is in defiance to his temporal dominion, “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
In the Greek the Apostle refers to the armor of God in the singular. The translators have supplied the antecedent “whole” so that the English reader would understand that the Lord’s armor consists of the entirety its parts; if a part is missing the armor has not been put on and the saint cannot prevail. With the armor Christians can be victorious to stand against demonic forces that in the natural would obliterate them instantly. With God’s spiritual armor Joshua came against Jericho and David against Goliath—it was not their physical armaments that won the victory, “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God” (Psalm 20:7).
Truth: God’s Word is the foundation upon which you stand and Satan tirelessly tempts you to doubt it, “Has God said?” (Genesis 3:1). Additionally, as children of Abraham the saint instinctively imitates his Lord by walking in the truth.
Righteousness: the breastplate protected vital organs from injury, especially the heart; the heart is deceitful and must be guarded from worldly pollution “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). After Bathsheeba grieving David reflected on the importance of guarding his heart, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
Shod your feet: proclaiming the Gospel is every saint’s obligation as it is a message of peace to sinners, alerting them that they are at enmity with God and that peace with Him is available through Jesus Christ. Shield of faith: the natural circumstances of life do not define spiritual reality; do not attempt to apply human reasoning to them. Practice childlike trust that your heavenly Father is providentially working things together for good and reject the fiery darts of doubt, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways”, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8).
The helmet: the helmet protected the head which houses the brain—the center of life; deliver a forceful blow and life will cease. After the Fall the Lord told the serpent that the Seed of the woman would crush his head, sealing his ultimate fate. Spiritual regeneration brings life eternal and while Satan may bruise and harass you on your pilgrimage he cannot extinguish the spiritual life which God supplies, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
Sword of the Spirit: the sword is both defensive and offensive and to be wielded every time the enemy releases an accusation or statement antithetical to the Word of God, “The Lord rebuke you Satan, for it is written….!”
Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)
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