The Process of Change – 4: Correction

            If the second step of biblical change outlined in 2 Timothy 3:16 is seeing what I am doing wrong (in thought, speech, and action), then the next step must be to see what I need to do in order to live correctly. What is “right?” The answer to that question should not be too difficult, since the Scripture that convicted me also spells out how to act in a way pleasing to God. In fact, the correction may be little more than making the negative statement, “Stop doing this” into “Start doing the opposite.” To use Paul’s language (Eph.4:22-24) the second step shows me what I need to “put off” (like dirty clothes) and the third step shows me what to “put on” (clean clothes).

What I do that displeases God needs to be repented of. Often people misunderstand the word “repent” to mean, “be sorry for.” However, that is only one element of true repentance. Sin has been defined as “any want (lack) of conformity unto or transgression of the Law of God” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 14). Sin is not only a failure to obey God (want of conformity), but it is also active rebellion  (transgression) against God. Repenting is therefore not only desisting from the active rebellion, it also involves active conformity (obedience) to God’s revealed will. Stopping a sinful action is only the beginning. True repentance moves us on to loving obedience to our Heavenly Father.

So, the liar, for example, has not repented when he stops telling lies. Repentance takes him on to speaking the truth. Correction is the goal of repentance. Doing right is what the child of God aims at. However, much of our problem stems from the fact that it is easy to be complacent in the Christian life. If we are not conscious of flagrant sin in our life, then it easy to go through our busy days on “auto-pilot,” much as a jetliner does on long flights. The captain sets certain instruments to automatically guide the plane along its route, and than he relaxes and more or less keeps his eye on things. If only living a fruitful Christian life were as easy as flying a plane! I am afraid we have very low expectations when it comes to bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

We all have many relationships to look after, many responsibilities to take care of, and many shortcomings and failures that need attention. God has something to say about all those things, and more besides. If we were to take inventory of the various connections we have with people and simply aim at loving each one as we love ourselves, it would take more study than earning a PhD! Add to that all the complications created by our own sin and theirs, as well as the lost world that needs to hear and see the gospel, and a lifetime is not long enough to take care of it all. Correction will keep us busy for the rest of our lives. How can people ever think they do not need more biblical input, that they have somehow "matured" or "arrived?"

The Process of Change – 3: Conviction

           According to 2 Timothy 3:16, when we come face to face with God’s righteous will we begin to see how unrighteous we are. Just take a look at the “practical” sections of Paul’s epistles to see not only how much we still fail to obey, but also how much we continue to disobey. Some of the things written to Christians make one wonder just how sinful we really are. 

           People can be forgiven it they think that conversion makes such a dramatic change in our lives that sin is not much of a problem any more. Although it may not be directly stated in evangelistic presentations, much of modern evangelism is focused on “getting saved” and on missing Hell.

The fact that the repentance that begins at conversion must continue and grow throughout the Christian life is often ignored. Some may think that salvation by grace excludes the idea of a changed life. They want to become believers but not disciples. While we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, yet that saving grace comes “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Tit.2:12). The idea that once we are saved we are done dealing with sin is absolutely foreign to Scripture. Christians should be the most sin-conscious people in the world. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

Therefore, when we read the Bible, we should not be surprised to see our own faults and shortcomings. On the contrary, we should look for them. We should look for the specific commands of Scripture to see that “there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed” (Joshua 13:1).

However, do not let Satan burden you with vague accusations and condemnation. When the Holy Spirit shows you your sin His work is precise and specific. He shows you the very definite, and usually obvious ways you still miss the mark of love for God and for your neighbor. This work of conviction is not for the purpose of making your life miserable. The aim of the Bible’s conviction is to save you from a path of sin that you habitually walk on. The aim of this second step is biblical change. The only path of joy in the Lord is the path of obedience (John 14:21-23).

The first step of biblical change leads us to say, “I know the will of God.” This second step brings us to say, “I see my sin and I repent.” What will the third step show us?

The Process of Change – 2: Doctrine

In 2 Timothy 3:16 the word translated “doctrine” in our Bible speaks of instruction by means of giving information. The emphasis of the word is on the content of what is taught. The Bible is our source of information about God and His saving work and will. Without Scripture we would have no redeeming knowledge that would “make us wise unto salvation” either in our conversion or in our daily progress in holiness. Without Scripture we would be ignorant of these things.

Moreover, apart from God’s revelation of Himself in the “sacred writings,” we would have many wrong ideas about Him. We are not born as a “tabula rasa” (blank slate), as unbelieving psychologists claim. We are born as sin-darkened rebels who hold many wrong concepts about God and salvation. We need the Bible not only to inform our ignorance, but also to expose and rectify our native idolatry.

So, the first reason we read Scripture daily is to grow in our knowledge of God as He informs us via the inspired page. God’s Word is our “instruction book” for life. In the OT the Hebrew word often translated “law” is the word “torah,” which speaks of instruction. The “law” is far more than only the Ten Commandments, or even all the commandments. Everything God says is “law,” in that whatever He speaks is authoritative instruction for man. And is that is just what we need – authoritative instruction for life and godliness.

We need to know God’s will for everything that touches our eternal destiny as well as our temporary stay in this world. In fact, from our present perspective, the eternal destiny part is pretty simple: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” It is the daily slog that we need daily light for. We have so many relationships, responsibilities and opportunities that we need a personal coach all along the way. And that is just what we have for daily Christlikeness – our gracious Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, enlightening and enabling us by the Holy Spirit to conform to His loving will as revealed in His infallible Word.

Is that why you read the Bible? I am sure that often we have read it in order to “get a blessing,” which may mean nothing more than a good feeling or a sense of God’s love. However, God’s aim is far higher – he wants to understand His will for our daily lives in this world. And that means far more than just what He wants us to do. It includes the multitude of ways that we need to change in order to stop reflecting our own egocentric lives and instead to reflect His love and holiness. It takes in all that there is of Christlikeness. Not a small topic! You think you studied in school! Christian, you are just beginning to get the picture! That Bible could be a lot bigger than it is, but what we have will take a lifetime to learn. Your assignment: know the Lord.

Next: think about what the second step might be. What will happen to us when we learn God’s will? 

The Process of Change – 1

2 Timothy 3:16

I thought I’d give you a few extra days to look for it. This verse outlines the four-step process of biblical change. This is how “progress in holiness” takes place. This is how we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2  Pt.3:18).

            In 2 Timothy Paul is seeking to fortify Timothy’s courage and faith. Paul himself is on the way to glory and this, of course, gives Timothy cause for concern. The young minister had leaned heavily on the old apostle and would miss him greatly. What’s worse, the outlook on the horizon is not any brighter, and the battle for the church is heating up considerably. Younger Timothy feels some trepidation over the prospects. Paul senses this concern and writes to help his younger protégé buck up for the coming battles. One of his themes throughout this epistle is the sufficiency of the gospel and the Word of God for all Timothy has to face.

            Paul reminded Timothy of the sacred writings he already knew in what we call the Old Testament. These Scriptures were used of God to make him “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (3:15). [Note: the OT is about “salvation through faith in Christ {Messiah} Jesus.” It is not a catalog of examples and precepts for us to follow. More on that in another post.] Moreover, the apostle urges him to “continue in the things” he had learned from Paul. Paul lets him know several times in this epistle that the apostolic teaching of the gospel is as authoritative as the sacred writings of the OT. In other words, they are the NT of God’s Word. Both OT and NT were “breathed by God” to be authoritative and reliable communication to us of God’s saving work and will.

            It is the same Word that was instrumental is Timothy’s faith in Christ that would be instrumental in both his work as a minister and his personal growth in grace as a believer. Christ our Prophet makes known to us by His Word and Spirit “what we must do to be saved” as well as “what we must do to be sanctified.” So, what must I do to be sanctified? Read 2 Timothy 3:16 and see what you can come up with before my next post, Lord willing.

Change: Sanctification

In our last post we thought about the three changes that occur in the Christian: conversion, sanctification, and being “made perfect in holiness” at death. The change that happens at death is obviously out of our hands. But the first two, conversion and sanctification, involve human activity. No one is converted who does not repent and believe the gospel. While only the Holy Spirit can enable someone to do that, no one is saved who does not do that. In the same way, our progress in holiness is both enabled by the Spirit and advanced by our obedience. This is what Paul says in Phil.2:12-13 – “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you (enabling) both to will and to do (obeying) of his good pleasure.” That is the lifelong change we call sanctification. The Holy Spirit is at work in you to lead you into a life of obedience. He directs that obedience through His Word.

Some people have said that this work of sanctification is a mystery. They don’t know how it happens. And as far as God’s part is concerned it is unseen, mysterious, and something that is beyond our comprehension. However, sanctification has two sides to it. From our side of things, there is no mystery about it at all. The Bible is perfectly clear about the process of our continual progress and growth in grace. God’s Word outlines our contribution to this process of change we call sanctification. That outline is found in – see if you can find it before tomorrow’s post.

Change is what Sanctification is all about.

The Need for Change - 2

The gospel tells us that saving changes are made:

1. FOR US on the basis of the sacrificial death of Christ. He purchased our eternal redemption, that is, our salvation from the guilt of our sins, from our slavery to sin, and from our well-deserved condemnation.

2. IN US by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit. His works in us are regeneration, initially, and sanctification, continually.

3. THROUGH the instrumentality of the Word of God. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom.10:17).

The Christian life in this world is a life that:

·        Begins with a change – conversion

·        Grows through lifelong change – sanctification

·        And ends with a change – “made perfect in holiness”

Change is what the Christian Life is all about.

The Need for Change

        “In a world of sin everything goes to pot” (Jay Adams). Scientists tell us that the created world is characterized by atrophy – everything is running out of energy. Furthermore, the history of civilizations also reveals a pattern of decline. Our own country is a case in point. However high the moral standard of our founding fathers may have been, the last two hundred years have brought us to the brink of moral collapse. Things that were abominable to previous generations are now the goals of political and social action. Societies made up of sinners never get better. The best we can hope for is a temporary arrest of the moral slide and a temporary stay of execution. In addition, the Bible tells us that this moral downgrade is true of individuals. Sin is never satisfied. And the outcome of a life of unremitting sin is judgment.

        In this world of sin the creation is deteriorating, societies are falling apart and individuals are steadily going downhill. Unless there is a change in the nature of these things, there is no hope of escaping the expected judgment.

        But, thank God, there is the hope of change, because there is a God who changes things. One day He will change the creation. Its present groaning under the curse of sin will be changed into psalms of praise. There will also be a new society of changed people on that new earth who will reflect an atmosphere of God’s holiness and love. But, both of these longed-for changes are yet in the future. However, individuals can know God’s changing grace here and now. That is the hope in the gospel – God changes sinners into people who:

·        Are no longer under the cloud of God’s coming judgment;

·        Are no longer under the curse and control of sin; and

·        Are THEREFORE no longer known for their progress in sin, but rather for their progress in holiness.

        These changes are true for every one of God’s children. These are changes that each and every Christian experiences.

Change is what the Gospel is all about.

Two Extremes: Head and Heart

Throughout the history of the church the pendulum of Christian experience has swung between the extremes of Scholasticism and Pietism – between an emphasis on the head and a focus on the heart. Scholasticism was prevalent in the generation after the Reformation. The followers of the Reformers turned heartfelt faith into a matter of the intellect. They had not had the heart-rending experiences of their spiritual predecessors. The faith they inherited was a new system of understanding Christianity that had put them outside the Roman Church and had founded new churches in their respective countries. The ground was fertile for the development of the great cardinal truths that had been so recently unearthed. However, their enthusiasm often carried these new theologians far into the realm of the speculative. The warmth of a personal knowledge of God faded into the background as unity based upon creeds came to the fore. Along with an intellectual focus came a stress on church attendance, reception of the sacraments and learning the catechism. All this was done to educate the masses, but the effect was to produce a sterile state church.

The most notable movement of Pietism (from which we its name) came as a reaction to the dead orthodoxy of German Lutheranism. This view of Christianity took its beginning with the individual. The Pietists focused on personal conversion and faith. Personal experience of God’s saving grace led to baptisms of adults and the gathering of believers into fellowships. The gospel spread from these groups and people from all classes of society were converted. There is much to cheer about with Pietism.

However, the important point to note with Pietism is the individualistic nature of this version of Christianity. Pietism can easily lead one into thinking that life is all about himself. The Bible becomes a book of personal feelings and experiences. It becomes a book that is full of “examples” to imitate. The pietist goes to the Bible looking for himself. The words of Scripture are taken to point us to the thoughts and “lessons” of the authors, not to the message of God. The key hermeneutical (interpretative) questions are, “What did this person feel, experience or think?” and “Why did he do what he did?” not “What does God say?”  Of course, the authors were inspired to write the thoughts of God and were themselves learners of these thoughts. However, the Bible is a message that comes from God, not from men and their inward (e)motions.

Dr. Michael Barrett has well said, “all study is devotional.” That statement is a balanced perspective between the two extremes outlined above. We who are dead in our trespasses and sins definitely need a life-giving experience to become Christians at all. Dead orthodoxy never raised any sinner to newness of life in Christ. The regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit is irreplaceable. However, the Book that God inspired is not “all about us.” It is all about Him. It is God preaching and revealing His thoughts to us, which are higher than our thoughts. The words, the grammar, the syntax (how words are put together to form sentences and paragraphs), the genre (type of literature a particular text is), and the historical background are all parts of God’s “sermon.” These elements require serious and strenuous study. If we are to hear God speaking in His Word, then the literary elements listed above must all be taken into consideration by those who would teach us and preach to us. The Bible is not about what I “feel” it is, about some warm fuzzy feeling I get from it, or about the “message” I might “get” as an experience in prayer. God has already spoken. The message is already there. The role of the teacher and preacher is to let God speak through His already-given message. Teaching and preaching will simply pass on to others what God has already said. That is the only message that will bear fruit. That is the only message that God will use to change peoples’ lives.