Acknowledging Christ Before Men and Blasphemy of The Holy Spirit

But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, "He's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That's where he gets the power to cast out demons."              Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. "How can Satan cast out Satan?" he asked.                                                                                                                         "A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger--someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house."I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven,but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. This is a sin with eternal consequences."He told them this because they were saying, "He's possessed by an evil spirit."Mark 3:22-30

Several years ago, about the time that Rob Bell’s book Love Winscame out, I got into a comment and email exchange with a fellow who insisted that God will not condemn anyone to an eternity in hell. He said that it is only a temporary place that will be emptied when all things are reconciled to God in eternity. It did no good to use clear scripture references to show him that he was ignoring a great deal God’s truth even though I tried. One thing that struck me was his stance that Romans 5 was blasphemous in reference to the doctrine of Original Sin and condemnation for all men by it, but there is justification and life for ‘the many’ (Romans 5:12-17). Was this a case of ‘blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?’

"Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he's the one to fear.

"What is the price of five sparrows--two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.Luke 12:7

The Greek word Luke used here which is translated as ‘hell’ is γέεννα orgéenna. This is the place or state of the lost and condemned (Matthew 5:29,30; Matthew 10:28; James 3:6). What is our Lord exhorting us to do here?                                                                                 He is telling us to not fear those who attack our doctrine and us. The word ‘fear’ in this passage is the Greek word φοβέω orphobeō. In classical Greek, this word is used to describe actions that cause others to run away or to terrify them or frighten them. Our Lord is exhorting us to not allow anyone to terrify us into compromising our stand. Why? What can they do to us from an eternal perspective? They can hurt or injure us. They can defame us. They can ruin us financially. They can threaten us with lawsuits. However, they cannot do anything about our standing with God because our advocate is the Lord Jesus Himself. We are to fear God in obedience instead of men.

"I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God's angels.

But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God's angels. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said."Luke 12:8-12

Those who accuse the brethren of being of the devil are actually "attributing their good works to the enemy. The Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees did this very thing against our Lord. They accused Him of doing miracles by the power of Satan and that He had a demon. This is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Notice that He did not say that speaking against Himself was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and that those who did that will be forgiven. However, those who commit the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Those who come to Christ and are saved often have said dishonorable things against Him in their spiritual blindness. When they ask Him for forgiveness they will receive it. A good example of this would be Peter’s rejection of Jesus in Luke 22:54:62 and his subsequent restoration found in John 21:15-19. What is it about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable? I have been approached by many contrite individuals in secret who are terrified that they have committed “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” They are tormented individuals who will not usually listen to me as I try to lead them through the Gospel. What’s going on here?

This blasphemy is committed when people are persistent in their un-repentance against the work of the Holy Spirit and His message concerning our Lord (Acts 7:51). Our Lord says that this sin will never be forgiven. Those who commit this sin persistently harden their hearts against God, against the work of the Holy Spirit, and against the provision of Christ as Saviour. They are outside the reach of God’s provision for forgiveness and salvation. Genuine believers need not worry whether they have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit for that very concern is evidence of the openness to the work of the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that God’s Elect will be preserved from this sin prior to salvation. After regeneration, they become incapable of it.

Therefore, the message we should take from this is to not fear men nor fear our enemy. Why? They can do nothing to us that can take away our eternal standing with God. The Holy Spirit has sealed us in Christ. However, that does not mean that we will not incur the wrath of Satan and his seed. Our Lord tells us in this passage to not be anxious about how we should defend ourselves or what we should say. Why? The Holy Spirit will teach us in that very hour what we ought to say. Whatever that is that we are going to say will bring glory to God.

What we must never forget my brethren is that the unregenerate are spiritually blind. They may be quite intelligent, but they cannot perceive God’s truth that even a child can understand by God’s grace through the faith that is His gift to the Elect. There are so many in our time who insist that they are Christians, but they are among those who are not known by our Lord and prove it by their fruit.

15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

We are commanded to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). However, doing so will incite the wrath of those our Lord describes above. When we recognize their bad fruit and warn the brethren about them then watch out. We must not fear them. We must stand firm and never waver from the truth. We know in whom we have believed and we know that He will keep us and hold us until we are through this life. Then we will be with Him. Our Lord also said in His Sermon on the Mount to not give what is holy to dogs or throw our pearls before pigs.

6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

In our Lord’s day, dogs lived in squalor and scavenged the streets for food. The Jews considered them unclean and, therefore, used the term to describe those outside of God’s covenant grace. Pigs were unclean according to the Mosaic Law. They were also scavenging animals like dogs. What are the Pearls and who is it that we are to avoid throwing them before? The Pearls symbolize the great value of the message of the Kingdom of heaven. We are to be merciful, forgiving, and slow to judge, however, we are to also wisely discern the true character of people and not continually proclaim the Gospel to those who adamantly reject it. Why? It is to keep us from becoming bogged down in unfruitful arguing and outright word wars with those who are never going to listen. This frees us up to move on and proclaim the Gospel to others (Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:46; Acts 18:6; Titus 3:10-11).

By Mike Ratliff Soli Deo Gloria!

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,for we have had more than enough of contempt.4 Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease,of the contempt of the proud.(Psalms 123:1-4 ESV)

The vast majority of people on planet Earth want nothing to do with the real Jesus. Many love and hold dear “another Jesus,” but he is one made up by people who don’t know the one who is real. Also their Jesus is “different” because they do not particularly like the one who is revealed to mankind in God’s Word.

Tragically, the numbers of professing Christians are growing continually who are also following “another Jesus” who does not resemble in least the one found in Sacred Scripture. Those who hold dear the real Jesus are those who are entirely reliant upon the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Undoubtedly there are immature Christians who whose faith is not strong. 

However, there are also huge numbers of “religious”  Christians who live as if their “decision for Christ” many years ago is their fire insurance. 
Some of these are quite religious while others are simply calling themselves Christian as if it is some sort of family trait, these being “cultural Christians.” 

Those who are completely reliant upon God, whose focus is His glory in all things are those who know the real Jesus and are known by Him. These are the believers whose eyes look to the Lord their God. They look unto God because this brings them knowledge of His countenance.                                                                                                                         Christians know God by interacting with Him in prayer, Bible Study, obedience and repentance and, of course, by partaking of the means of grace.                                         They are able to do these things with Him as they look unto Him, fully trusting Him to work out the details for His glory.

However, all believers have walks with God that have ups and downs. Sometimes they are on the mount while other times they are in the valley or somewhere in between.           Sometimes, God will allow the enemy to take them down in defeat by cutting in on them in the race that God has set before them.                                                                                           When they take their eyes away from their Lord, distractions come. (Hebrews 12:1-2)    Unless they are very careful, they will fall out of the race. This fall was caused by Spiritual leakage that began in the imagination over time.                                                                 The enemy distracted them so that their eyes averted from the Master towards self.           This may or may not involve some fleshly sin.
It may be nothing more than doubt growing as to the veracity of their close walk with their Lord.
When the eyes are averted from the Lord, the voice of the enemy may sound very much like the voice of another.
That is when they hear themselves thinking that they shouldn't have expected so much from their devotion to God.
They condemn themselves for trying to attain a spiritual stature that is too high for any person to sustain.
They are right no person can do it. It can only be sustained by remaining in the race and that requires eyes to be fixed on the Lord in complete devotion and obedience in full cooperation with Him in repentance.
The one who remains in the race knows that no effort can be too high for their Lord’s sake.

Sometimes Christians can stumble in the race as the result of a crisis when they make a stand for God and Truth and know in their heart by the witness of the Spirit that all is right, but during the battle they take many fiery darts from the enemy and the cost can seem very high.
It is at times like this that they may feel bereft of any support from anyone, even if it is there. God seems to not care about them.
They feel beaten down and think that perhaps that stand was not so wise after all.
Perhaps they should have listened to the more “careful” around them who never “take risks.” They start to believe that they were being highly pretentious or presumptuous in believing that God would be with them in the battle.
It is at this time that it is crucial for the Christian who is still stinging from the battle in discouragement and doubt to recognize that something has been coming between them and God.
What is it?
That something cannot come in between Christians and God as long as they remain in the race with their eyes fully fixed on their Lord.
It is as the enemy cuts in on the runner that distractions come into the mix.

What does God do here? Those who stumble and fall out of the race are still His.             They are only wounded and confused and distracted.
God will cause ministries to halt. He will bring service to full stop.
What once flowed smoothly is now nearly impossible.
It is only as God does this that the Christian who is thrashing about in self-reliance realizes what has happened. What is the cure?
The Christian must get back in the race. How is that done?
Prayer, repentance, submission, surrender, all culminating in the Christian giving all of self to God to do with as He sees fit.
When this takes place, the eyes go back to Christ and the Christian reenters the race.

No Christian is immune from this happening to them.
In fact, the more we work with God the more of a target we become.
Never forget that God will allow our enemy to use people, even other Christians, as weapon bearers against us.
Doubt and fear are what he wants to use to defeat us and he is not beyond using those very close to us or those we deeply respect as the means to deliver those weapons.
The one in race easily overcomes doubt and fear, but the Christian who is distracted or mired in self-reliance or self-absorption or self-focus is highly vulnerable. Why?
They are in Spiritual leakage mode and the enemy, even though limited by God, can easily deliver his weapons into their hearts.

Let us devote ourselves to running the race God has set before us.
If we do this we will find that we will be working with Him instead of for Him.
We will not have doubt nor will we be fearful no matter how fearsome the enemy appears.
We will be devoted to the prayer closet and the Word of God and walking in repentance.
We will be obeying our Lord no matter how severe the battle becomes.
Those reading this who are wounded, fearful and doubtful must readjust your walk.
You must get back into the race. If you do not then you will be mired in mediocrity.
However, if you are in the race and are working with God instead of for Him be ever watchful of the one trying to cut in on you to make you stumble and fall out of the race.

The Christian music group Sons of Korah do a very good Job of interpreting the Psalms.
I find their music tremendously soothing when I have been involved in any form of spiritual warfare.
One of my favorite albums by them is called “Light of Life” and the one song on it that I play over and over at trying times is titled simply “Psalm 116″.
If you follow that link and click on “Music” you will also see a link to their first CD which was “Light of Life” and from there you can listen to “Psalm 116.”
A dear friend and fellow warrior who has been in the fire as much if not more than most of us told me about this resource and I find that listening to God’s Word like this is especially soothing to my soul and that I will soon be at peace, full of joy and worshiping our God in spirit and truth instead wasting all of my time in fear, worry, and sorrow about the way the battle is going.

Here is Psalm 116 from the ESV.

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
10 I believed, even when I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”
12 What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord! (Psalms 116:1-19 ESV)

By Mike Ratliff Soli Deo Gloria!

GOD THE REFINER

Throughout the Bible God uses many analogies to help us better understand His thoughts and desires. Today I would like to examine in a little more detail one of the analogies God uses in the Old Testament. If you would, please turn with me to Malalchi chapter 3 verse 3. Malalchi here is talking in particularly about the end time, however it still applies to what God is doing with us today.                                                 We see here that God describes Himself as a refiner and purifier of silver and gold, 

Mal 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.

These words refine, purify and purge all express the same concept of cleansing and removing of imperfections by a process, a process that we as Christians must under go if we are to become perfect like Christ. The concept of being perfect or pure is a vast topic and I won't assume to even broach it today, however I would like to look at the actual process by which silver and gold are refined and try to show some spiritual parallels that may be of assistance in our struggle to live God's way.

To give a bit of a background silver, up until 500 BC was regarded as the most valuable metal on earth, indeed. it was during Solomon's rain that gold replaced silver as the most precious metal. Gold and silver share some important properties that  explain why they were viewed so highly by the ancients and even by people today. 

Silver is the second most ductile and malleable metal next to gold making them both very easy to fashion and mold. Both have a brilliant metallic luster or shine that does not tarnish or corrode making them beautiful to look at and ideal for jewelry  The reason gold and silver do not tarnish or corrode is because they do not react with the atmosphere, even at high temperatures gold and silver still remain inert. In a minute you will see why this is so important. 

Let me now briefly explain the actual process by which silver and gold was refined in Old Testament times. The refining of gold and silver follow the same process which is in fact quite simple. The impure or natural occurring gold or silver is placed along with pieces of lead, into a crucible type vessel. It is then placed into a furnace.where the metal melts and mixes with the lead forming a molten liquid mass of metal. Air, under force is then blown onto the surface of the molten metal while still in the furnace. 

As I mentioned previously gold and silver do not react with the air whereas the lead and any impurities like tin, copper and iron do react. The lead, once it comes in contact with the blowing air reacts then circulates throughout the molten metal. This circulating reacted lead then absorbs all the other metal impurities to form a mixture called dross, which vaporizes or floats to the surface. The floating dross is then subsequently blown over the edge of the crucible by the blasting air and is consumed by the furnace.The gold or silver is then left behind in the crucible free of all impurities. 

Now that I have explained how silver is refined let us look at what it says in Jeremiah 6:27-30. Here God sends Jeremiah to test and refine the Israelites but they refuse to be purified and God subsequently rejects them, but notice what God likens the Israelites to.

Jer 6:27-30 "I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people, That you may know and test their way. {28} They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers. They are bronze and iron, They are all corrupter s  {29} The bellows blow fiercely, The lead is consumed by the fire; The smelter refines in vain, For the wicked are not drawn off. {30} People will call them rejected silver, Because the LORD has rejected them."

So here the bronze and iron, which we know are impurities in silver are likened to the impure Israelite s  However in this particular refining process even though the air blows fiercely and the lead is consumed, the dross is still not drawn off and the wicked still remain. Again in Ezekiel 22:18 we see that God likens the Israelite s to the dross that is to be consumed instead of the pure precious silver that God desires them to be. 

Ezek 22:18 "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace they have become dross from silver. 

We know that in the silver refining process the dross is separated and burnt up, so also God does to the wicked. This is confirmed in many scriptures, there's no need to turn there but let me quickly read you a couple in Psalms.

Psa 119:119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies.

Psa 37:20 But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

These scriptures and others show the importance of making sure that we are not counted among st the wicked.

So then it remains for us to be like pure silver or gold and not like the dross, full of impurities. If we are to be pure then we must put away sin and live a way of life defined by God's word, which is its self pure. To be pure we must repent and be baptized accepting Christ's awesome sacrifice. But let us now turn to 2 Tim 2:22 were we see that part of being pure is having a personal commitment to God's way of life and His church.

2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

So what then am I saying, that through our own efforts we can become pure? 

If we look once again at the analogy of refining silver we see that this is definitely not the case, the silver does not refine itself nor separate itself from the dross. It is the heat of the furnace and the blowing air that removes the dross. Christ's sacrifice is what purifying is really all about as it shows in Heb 9:13-14

Heb 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, {14} how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

We have heard many times and rightly so that it is through our baptism that we partake in Christ's sacrifice. The idea of being washed or purified is an integral part of baptism. It uses the symbol of water to express the aspect of cleansing our life from sin, but this is not the only concept attached to baptism as we see in Matt 3:11. John the Baptist is telling the Pharisees about the difference between his baptism and the one that will come with Christ. 

Mat 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

So what is this baptism of fire that John the Baptist is talking about when referring to the baptism of Christ? 

This idea of baptism by fire can very easily be related to the furnace that is involved with the refining of gold and silver. It is interesting to note that the ultimate test that gold and silver undergo to check their purity is to be assayed by fire. If you remember we read in Jeremiah that he was sent to assay and test the Israelite s. 

Now to assay something is chiefly used in the reference to metals, meaning to test the metals purity. The gold or silver is tested by taking a sample, weighing it then refining it, and then reweighing the now known pure gold. If there is no change in weight then all the gold is pure, if a loss of weight then the gold is impure. 

Therefore this idea of a test that also purifies is a very important concept that matches, as you will see, very closely to the idea of being baptized with fire. In 1 Cor 3:13 we see that this very same idea is used to explain what will happen in the end time.

1 Cor 3:13-15 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. {14} If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. {15} If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Here we have a concept of fire used to test and at the same time used to save. Again in Zec 13:9 this idea is confirmed.

Zec 13:9 I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; An one will say, 'The LORD is my God.'"

So then when we are baptized by fire we are tested to show our impurities but at the same time as we are tested we also are refined. Doesn't this idea ring true with the many trials or temptations that we suffer as we strive to follow God's way of life. The trials reveal our weaknesses but as we persevere through the trials we grow and overcome and therefore become more pure. indeed only with the hot temperature of the furnace can silver be refined, don't we also need to experience some heat for us to change. In Isa 48:10 God testifies to the fact that He has tested us with this very necessary heat.

Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

When we think of examples of affliction or trials we tend to think of major examples like Christ dieing for us, or of Job and his great personnel and emotional loss and suffering. indeed we can read in the Bible of many people who have been afflicted in many traumatic ways. It is, however, I believe important to note when we think of trials and tribulations that God looks at all trials, great and small as a means to refine and test us. 

Some years ago during my first three years of high school I was verbally and physically abused by a group of peers, sometimes because of my beliefs other times just because of whom I was. It was not a life-threatening situation, however to me it was still a tough period and therefore still regarded as a trial in God's eyes. Some of you maybe experiencing this kind of thing at the moment at school or work, however we can take comfort in knowing that God is watching closely. James tells us that we should be glad when we experience these types of trials because it means we are being perfected.

That may all be well and good but what about when we experience trials that we think we can't handle, that are simply to tough to bear. I believe we can draw more encouragement if we once again look at the analogy of the refining of silver and gold.

During the refining process the heat of the furnace is critical, if too severe then the silver or gold will be vaporized and lost, if too cold then some of the lead will remain and the metal will not be pure. The smith watches very closely the temperature making sure that it stays exactly right. In other words the severity of our trials is extremely important to God for He wants us to be pure but never to be lost. In 1 Cor 10:13 no need to go there, our God, who can not lie promises that He will not tempt or test us beyond what we are able to cope with.

As we draw to a close please turn with me to 1 Pet 5:10 we see that we can draw comfort from the fact that our suffering is only for a short time.

1 Pet 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

We know that it is God's plan for us and that we be made perfect spirit beings dwelling with Him for the rest of eternity.


In conclusion let me briefly summarize the main points I have tried to show today successfully or otherwise by using the analogy of the refining of silver and gold:1] If we continue in the way of the wicked then God will remove us from His plan of salvation like dross is separated from the silver and consumed.
2] God requires us to be like precious pure silver, to have a pure heart free of all dross and impurities
3] When silver or gold are assayed they are tested by fire and therefore are refined, so to when God test's us He is also refining us
4] Silver and gold to be purified must experience the heat of the furnace, we also must be baptised with fire and experience trials and tribulations in the furnace of affliction. However we are never consumed or tested beyond our capabilities, just like the smith who closely watches the furnace temperature so God watches and cares for us.

Let's now turn to a final scripture Psa 66:10 that really encapsulates all these thoughts

Psa 66:10-12 For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. {11} You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. {12} You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

As the silver or gold nears the final stage of refining it experiences an action known as “brightening”, at the time that the last of the impurities are consumed the now pure molten metal suddenly emits a bright flash of light and immediately solidifies. I eagerly look forward to the time when God sees this happen to His people.By Russell Barnett

The Principle of Eternity | Paul David Tripp

Accountability and Budgeting | Paul David Tripp

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the founder of salvation

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10 ESV)

Adherents to any man-focused religion that call themselves Christian place the onus of salvation on the person and make God a passive entity who will not or cannot interfere with Man’s free will. This is not Biblical. It is philosophical. When we debate those who elevate free will above God and His sovereignty using Sacred Scripture their response is never in kind. That is because we are actually contending against a philosophy that is based on Man’s conceptions and understandings not on Biblical exegesis. Let us look at the founder of our salvation from the source our God gave us. Through this, He will make His truth apparent to our hearts by the working of the Holy Spirit as we study His Word.

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in  subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:5-9 ESV)

The writer of the book of Hebrews is unknown to all except God. Notice that the Kingdom of God is not in the hands of angels nor will they inherit it. Then the writer quotes Psalm 8:4-6. He is actually questioning why God would go to such great lengths to provide a way of salvation for Man. It is obvious that no son or daughter of Adam is worthy of this. The “him” in vv7-9 is referring to Christ.

Jesus Christ  is the Son, the second person in the Holy Trinity. He is the one through whom God created the Universe (John 1:1). He is far above the angels yet in order to accomplish the salvation of people God made Him a little lower than the angels. This is referring to His incarnation as a man. He was not sent as an angel, but a man. God originally gave dominion over the Earth to Man at creation. However, the fall in Genesis 3 made Man incapable of fulfilling that mission. However, our Lord Jesus Christ, since He became a man and fulfilled His redemptive work on the Cross has fulfilled all that is required in order that He became the supreme representative of our race (Romans 6:23; 1 John 4:10).

During the short period of His incarnation, our Lord was lower than the angels, but He is no longer. This is a point that many today overlook. When Jesus returns He will do so in all His glory. He will return to separate the Sheep from the Goats. He will tread down all who oppose Him. However, at the Cross He tasted death for everyone who believes, not everyone who has ever lived. This is a true statement because the death of Christ can only be applied in its efficacy to those who come to God in repentance and faith. This God given faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) causes all whom God draws to Christ (John 6:44) to ask God for saving grace and forgiveness of sins.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” (Hebrews 2:10-13 ESV)

While we view our Lord’s suffering and death on the Cross as horrible, it was fitting that God used this to bring His elect to glory (Ephesians 1:3-14).  The Greek word translated in v10 as “fitting” is πρέπω or prepō. This verb literally means, “to tower up” or become conspicuous in the context of becoming suitable or proper. Since this is describing a work of God then we understand that sending the Son to the cross to become the propitiation for the elect lined up perfectly with His character and by no means violated His sovereign righteousness.  In Christ’s victory through suffering on the Cross He became the founder of the elect’s salvation. He is the author of our salvation. He is the forerunner of all who follow Him in salvation and into eternal glory.

Our Lord calls all who believe “brother.” He loves His elect and even speaks of them to those who have preceded them into eternity. Notice that all who come to Christ are “given” to Christ by God.

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-18 ESV)

The Greek word for “share” in v14 is κοινωνέω or koinōneō. In this context it means “fellowship, communion, or partnership.” What could this mean? Believers have “shared” in what they are in flesh and blood with one who is not by nature flesh and blood. We see this in the verb “partook ,” μετέχω or metecho. This word means “to take hold of something that is not related to one’s own kind.” Our Lord Jesus Christ was not flesh and blood by nature, however, He “fellowshipped” in flesh and blood with those who were given to Him by God thereby providing redemption for them.

Never forget my brethren that Jesus was incarnated as a man so that He could die. He came to die. Why? He had to die in order to be resurrected. It was through His resurrection that the power of death, Satan, was defeated. This rendered our enemy powerless. At salvation, a believer is regenerated. This changes them forever. Formerly they walked through life in the fear of death and this made them slaves to our enemy. However, as God does His miraculous work in the heart by giving the new believer saving faith they soon realize that there is no need to fear death. Why? The power of death is broken for the believer. To live is Christ; to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)!

The Greek word translated as “help” in v16 means “to take hold of in order to rescue.” Who does our Lord “help?” It isn’t angels. No, it is the offspring of Abraham. Who is this? Who are the real children of Abraham? It is all who have faith as had Abraham.

Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross was the work of the High Priest on behalf of all given to Him by God. This sacrificial work made Him the propitiation for their sins. In other words, He atoned for their sins by taking on their sins and incurring the wrath of God in their place. Therefore, their sins are atoned for. Not some of their sins, but all of them.

What a blessing it is to know that our Lord was tempted in every way just like us! He understands and sympathizes with us because of this. He felt the full force of temptation, but never sinned.

It is a common-place thought, and yet it tastes like nectar to the weary heart–Jesus was tempted as I am. You have heard that truth many times: have you grasped it? He was tempted to the very same sins into which we fall. Do not dissociate Jesus from our common manhood. It is a dark room which you are going through, but Jesus went through it before. It is a sharp fight which you are waging, but Jesus has stood foot to foot with the same enemy. Let us be of good cheer, Christ has borne the load before us, and the blood-stained footsteps of the King of glory may be seen along the road which we traverse at this hour. There is something sweeter yet-Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned. Then, my soul, it is not needful for thee to sin, for Jesus was a man, and if one man endured these temptations and sinned not, then in His power His members may also cease from sin. Some beginners in the divine life think that they cannot be tempted without sinning, but they mistake there!

It is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation. Herein is comfort for the sorely tempted ones. There is still more to encourage them if they reflect that the Lord Jesus, though tempted, gloriously triumphed, and as He overcame, so surely shall His followers also, for Jesus is the representative man for His people; the Head has triumphed, and the members share in the victory. Fears are needless, for Christ is with us, armed for our defense. Our place of safety is the bosom of the Saviour. Perhaps we are tempted just now, in order to drive us nearer to Him. Blessed be any wind that blows us into the port of our Saviour’s love! Happy wounds, which make us seek the beloved Physician. Ye tempted ones, come to your tempted Saviour, for He can be touched with a feeling of your infirmities, and will succor every tried and tempted one. – C.H. Spurgeon

My brethren, we are saved because of what God has done. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the founder of salvation. We are saved because God gave us to the Son. He is the one who draws us to Him. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to regenerate and indwell us. We are saved from first to last by God’s work. We do not become a Christian because we decide to, but because God opens the heart and causes us to believe. Praise Him, Oh Praise Him!

Soli Deo Gloria!

And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! — 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV)

The writers of the New Testament had no concept of a Christian whom many today would call a “Carnal Christian.” All believers still sin in this life and there will be times when they struggle with certain sins as if in a deadly battle, which they perceive as one they are losing. However, God will not leave His children this way. There will be no peace in the heart of a genuine Christian who is actively indulging his or her flesh. Instead, there will be heartache, self-loathing, and a deep desire to get the victory and draw closer to the Saviour much as David did when finally confronted about his horrible sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. There is no true peace in the heart of Christian who is hiding his or her sin. Those around them may not know what is going on, but God does  and so do those hiding their sin. It is not a spiritually healthy situation.

The proper walk before the face of God for the Christian is one of repentance. This walk consists of self-denial, prayer, and dying to the desires of the flesh. We often make the mistake of thinking that the way to do this is through will power or asceticism, but the best way to walk according to the spirit is to actively pursue God as His living sacrifice.

1 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. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

Here is this passage in Koine Greek from the NA28:

1 Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ θεοῦ παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν ἁγίαν εὐάρεστον τῷ θεῷ, τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν· 2 καὶ μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοὸς εἰς τὸ δοκιμάζειν ὑμᾶς τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ εὐάρεστον καὶ τέλειον. (Romans 12:1-2 NA28)

The following is my own translation from the NA28:

1 Therefore, I urge you brothers through the compassions of God to present your bodies as living, holy sacrifices, well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 translated from the NA28 Greek text)

The transformation we are commanded to go through takes place as we obediently embark on continual mind renewal. This is a way of life. This is to walk through each day with our minds on Christ and His Word. It is not about “experience” per se, but about knowing God through the means of grace He has given us such as Bible Study, Prayer, service, worship, and partaking of the Lord’s Supper, et cetera. It is not about making the mind go into neutral and fellowshipping with “familiar spirits.” Nor is it about interpreting God’s word via experience. No, it is about knowing God’s Word and applying it to our obedient lives. As we know God more and more the more we will be changed. We will begin to become more and more indentified as having a nature like our Lord’s, a “divine nature.”

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

Please notice that we take on this divine nature by God’s power. Our efforts could never produce this. Instead, it is by His divine power as we obey Him and partake of His promises. This increases the level of the divine nature in us. The more we obey God this way the more we partake of the divine nature, which is opposed entirely to the corruption and flesh orientation of this lost and dying world. This is how we become transformed (Romans 12:2) because this is how our minds are continually renewed. We must remain in this growth process. When we slack off and pursue the things of the flesh, we are going nowhere. We are not growing in Christian maturity. We are not having our minds renewed, so we are not being transformed. Instead, we are being fleshly-minded and this only leads to darkness and despair because we are off the narrow path and have taken the easy way, which only leads to Doubting Castle and imprisonment by Giant Despair. The only way out of there my brethren is to get back to the narrow path by believing and submitting to the promises of God made to all His children by and through the Cross of Christ. These promises will unlock all the doors in Doubting Castle and then we can escape Giant Despair’s clutches as we get back on the narrow path that is the only way of continual mind renewal in obedience to our Lord.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

This passage is a picture of how we must stay in continual mind renewal. We lay aside the weight and sin that clings so close so we can run with endurance the race God has set before us. The writer of Hebrews compares sin to a weight that keeps us from running with endurance. Laying it aside is a picture of repentance. We turn from it and move on. We refuse to pick it up again. We pray for the fortitude and courage to do this. Then we get into the race and run it by looking unto our Lord Jesus Christ for His direction and promised joy and strength to serve Him (John 15). Christ went to the Cross to save His people and the picture for us is that we must also be willing to lay down our own wants and desires so that we may obey God with our entire lives.

Those who  are being continually transformed by mind renewal as part of running the race set before them by God stay in the Word of God, prayer, worship, and obedience. This is how it is done. It requires submission to those around them. It calls for humility. Both of these are necessities in this as well as products of it. The more we run the race the more humble we become and it requires humility and self-denial to stay in the race. Do you see it my brethren?

We all blow it at times. We sin, we become self-focused and do and say stupid things that are bound up in the ways of the flesh. This is the taking up again of those weights that keep us from running the race. This is self-focused and rooted in pride. It ends our spiritual growth. It puts us out of the race. The only way back in is confession, repentance, and obedience.

When we are in the race our focus is eternal. Even those temporal things that seem to make up the boundaries and consistency of our lives in the temporal are seen for what they are and they have no hold on us. We are able to deny ourselves and move on with God. However, if our focus is temporal then our circumstances run our lives. Our possessions actually own us. We are self-focused and submit to no one. While in the race we grow spiritually, but while living and operating in the temporal as our focus then we stop growing spiritually until we repent and get back into the race.

My brethren, do an inventory of your spiritual walk and how it intersects with your temporal existence. Which controls which? Which defines how you live, worship, and serve? If we are controlled by the temporal, we can often look very much like active Christians. We can be deeply involved in Church and do all sorts of religious “works.” However, that is not the same thing as walking in repentance and living ones life as God’s living sacrifice. Those who are in the race will serve God in all they do. They will be involved in our Lord’s Church, but their daily walk with Him is what defines them, not simply their religiosity. On the other hand, those who have many religious “works,” but who live for self the rest of the time are not in the race. They may very well be in a huge battle here. I know this because I was there for many years.

I was a Deacon and Bible teacher in a church for many years, but my daily walk could best be described as a disaster. I indulged the flesh. I rebelled against putting parts of my life under the Lordship of Christ. I would teach on Sunday and live for myself the rest of the time. Oh, I had periods of repentance in which I would serve God as well as I could with my whole life, but eventually I would devolve back into self-focused spiritual mediocrity. The OKC Federal Center bombing sent me down a new self-destructive path. I was in the blast zone when Timothy McVie set off his truck bomb. I became depressed. I was angry, bitter, and resentful about nearly anything having to do with me not getting my way. It was an awful time. However, God had mercy on me.

In late 2003 I had been on a 6 month sabbatical from teaching in Church. At our Church Christmas party, I was asked to teach a new class for young adults. God made sure I knew that I was incapable of doing the legwork to get this going because of my lack of focus and obedience. This drove me to my knees. For the next 8 months or so God drew me to Himself. By the time August rolled around, I was in the Word, prayer, or worship all day nearly every day. It was amazing. The closer I drew to God the more grace He gave me. Increasing obedience marked my life. God transformed me continually through this. He changed my value system. He put me in position to run the race as it should be run. I was amazed and still am. I have grown quite a bit since then. God has not got tired of me pursuing Him. He has used me in the battle for the truth in ways that still amaze me. He has revealed His ways to me. This has brought His Word to life for me.

In any case my brethren, if you are struggling with the desires of the flesh then you are where I was before God drew me to Himself. I pray for you to turn from this as you draw near unto God. Pray that God will not allow you to become distracted from this pursuit. Go hard after God my brethren and He will come hard after you.

By Mike Ratliff Soli Deo Gloria!