Author: Bible Community Church

Giving Thanks: A Response to Salvation

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2 Thess. 2:13

Giving thanks is an essential and important response to the gift of salvation from God. A grateful heart is the first response to such a wonderful and undeserved love from God who is holy. We who were once wretched and vile are now meant for glory in Christ Jesus.

To not give proper thanks and acknowledgement to God is a condemning sin (Romans 1:21).

God’s salvation has three aspects:

  1. A divine source (God has chosen you from the beginning)

  2. An earthly process (through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth)

  3. A heavenly result (that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A divine source
All men are sinners (Romans 3:10-16) deserving the wrath of God’s holy judgement. Man is also not capable of atoning for their own sin, nor do they want to. However God has chosen (elected) some men to be saved. Only God can choose and it is not based on any merit of man. God chose from the beginning when He alone existed. Without any external influence (because there was nothing but God), God chose to save.

Each and every genuine Christian is a part of the church by God’s loving choice. We must be thankful for every believer because all are undeserving.

An earthly process
Some may wish that God would skip the faith and sanctification process and go immediately to glorification. However, this is a blessing to us, that we might not only be redeemed but enjoy the blessings of our salvation here on earth by having faith and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit. All other religions spend their lives trying to earn salvation without knowing they are really saved, they only hope that when they die, they might be received. Christianity is not so, we have received full pardon and grace, and have the privilege to live by faith and serve our Lord in obedience while here on earth. What a joyful process we go through before glorification.

A heavenly result
The result of salvation is the most wonderful and glorious because it is for the glory of Christ Jesus. God’s salvation shares the glory of His Son to us through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:40-43) We will be with our Savior in heaven where there is no sin, only His light. (Revelation 21:23-27) God has given abundantly and graciously through His love.

The Response
We must respond with thanksgiving! How can we not? Our giving thanks is obligatory and constant because of the nature of our salvation. Our thanks must be only directed toward God. No one else should receive thanks for our salvation, especially not ourselves. We must be thankful always for others who have received such grace, not just for own. There is rejoicing in heaven over every sinner who repents, we also rejoice (Luke 15:5-7).

Thankfulness is not the final response but the initial. Giving thanks must lead to a love for God and a love to others (Matthew 22:37-40, 1 John 4:11). This love manifests itself as obedience to God and His word (John 14:16). It is not only proper but helpful to be thankful when obeying. Giving thanks allows service and love to be joyful and light. Brethren, if you wish to love and obey the Lord, start by giving thanks!

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Doubt Your Doubts! Part 2 – Luke 1:18-24

All Christians doubt at some point in their life. They might doubt that they are truly saved because of indwelling sin or they might doubt God’s word because what they read does not match what they perceive. When encountering a season of doubt, it is crucial that the believer rush quickly back to God’s Word and to the good news of the gospel, otherwise the doubt might grow into deadly unbelief.

“How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

Zacharias was full of doubt upon receiving the news that he would have a son named John. He was old, and his wife was also beyond childbearing age. Even though the news was delivered by the angel Gabriel, Zacharias own understanding of his situation filled him with doubt. Instead of responding with joy at the good news, he responds with a question.

Even the faithful can have doubt

  • Zacharias was a faithful priest who lived righteously in the sight of God (Luke 1:6) yet doubted God’s power.

  • Abraham and Sarah also doubted they would have a child in their old age

  • Job doubted God’s purpose in His suffering (Job 1:8)

  • John the Baptist wondered whether Jesus was the Christ (Matthew 11:3)

  • Thomas doubted the resurrection (John 20:24-25)

  • Spurgeon was plagued by self-doubt of his genuine salvation.

Doubt is a question, while unbelief is a statement. There is a significant difference as well as a connection between the two. Doubt asks if God is able or if God is willing, while unbelief is a willful denial of the truth. If undealt with, questions of doubt can lead to unbelief and a complete rejection of Christ. For example, Charles Templeton started questioning the creation account in Genesis which lead to his denial of Christ’s deity.

Why do Christians doubt?

  1. They do not apply their knowledge of God.

    1. Zacharias knew God had created the universe out of nothing and God had given Abraham and Sarah a child, yet this knowledge was applied to his own situation.

  2. They look to lesser things then God

    1. Zacharias saw only his physical condition and his wife’s old age instead of looking to God

    2. At first, when Peter walks on the water, he sees Jesus but as soon as he saw the waves of the storm, he doubts and starts to sink. (Matthew 14: 29-30)

  3. They distrust God’s word. Instead, their experience and worldly knowledge are their source of truth.

  4. They experience disappointment

    1. All Christians have unanswered prayers which lead to questioning if God is listening or if He cares

    2. Disappointment leads to discontentment and doubting God’s salvation or love for you.

  5. Comparisons to others can breed disappointment. A Christian must be careful to compare to others and define success in his own way. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man reminds us to not trust the exterior status of the current life.

To overcome doubt, the Christian must turn to God’s word. Here are four reasons to trust God and His word.

  1. God’s word is trustworthy: The angel Gabriel, whose name means God is strength, also had visited Daniel to deliver God’s message. God had proven numerous times that He accomplishes what He says.

  2. God’s word is authoritative: The only reason why sanctification is possible is by the power and authority of God’s word. Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, is representing His authority. (Esther 1:13-14)

  3. God’s word is for each individual: The news was for Zechariah and not for everyone. In the same way, God’s word is for you. The source of doubt can often be traced to the failure of personal devotion to the Word.

  4. God’s word is the gospel: The gospel is the most important and joyful truth. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) The hope to erase all doubts is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.

All believers face doubt and must be wary of falling into unbelief. The Lord has given us the perfect truth of His word and the gospel to take away all our doubt and strengthen our trust in Him.

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Doubt Your Doubts! – Luke 1:18-19

Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. Luke 1:18-19

All Christians doubt at some point in their life. They might doubt that they are truly saved because of indwelling sin or they might doubt God’s word because what they read does not match what they perceive. When encountering a season of doubt, it is crucial that the believer rush quickly back to God’s Word and to the good news of the gospel, otherwise the doubt might grow into deadly unbelief.

“How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

Zacharias was full of doubt upon receiving the news that he would have a son named John. He was old, and his wife was also beyond childbearing age. Even though the news was delivered by the angel Gabriel, Zacharias’ own understanding of his situation filled him with doubt. Instead of responding with joy at the good news, he responds with a question.

Even the faithful can have doubts:

  • Zacharias was a faithful priest who lived righteously in the sight of God (Luke 1:6) yet doubted God’s power

  • Abraham and Sarah also doubted they would have a child in their old age

  • Job doubted God’s purpose in His suffering (Job 1:8)

  • John the Baptist wondered whether Jesus was the Christ (Matthew 11:3)

  • Thomas doubted the resurrection (John 20:24-25)

  • Spurgeon was plagued by self-doubt of his genuine salvation

Doubt is a question, while unbelief is a statement. There is a significant difference as well as a connection between the two. Doubt asks if God is able or if God is willing, while unbelief is a willful denial of the truth. If undealt with, questions of doubt can lead to unbelief and a complete rejection of Christ. For example, Charles Templeton started questioning the creation account in Genesis which lead to his denial of Christ’s deity.

Why do Christians doubt?

  1. They do not apply their knowledge of God.

    1. Zacharias knew God had created the universe out of nothing and God had given Abraham and Sarah a child, yet this knowledge was applied to his own situation.

  2. They look to lesser things then God

    1. Zacharias saw only his physical condition and his wife’s old age instead of looking to God

    2. At first when Peter walks on the water, he sees Jesus but as soon as he saw the waves of the storm, he doubts and starts to sink. (Matthew 14: 29-30)

  3. They distrust God’s word. Instead, their experience and worldly knowledge are their source of truth.

  4. They experience disappointment

    1. All Christians have unanswered prayers which lead to questioning if God is listening or if He cares

    2. Disappointment leads to discontentment and doubting God’s salvation or love for you.

    3. Comparisons to others can breed disappointment. A Christian must be careful to compare to others and define success in his own way. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man reminds us to not trust the exterior status of the current life.

 

To overcome doubt, the Christian must turn to God’s Word. Here are four reasons to trust God and His Word.

  1. God’s Word is trustworthy: The angel Gabriel, whose name means God is strength, also had visited Daniel to deliver God’s message. God had proven numerous times that He accomplishes what He says.

  2. God’s Word is authoritative: The only reason why sanctification is possible is by the power and authority of God’s Word. Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, is representing His authority. (Esther 1:13-14)

  3. God’s Word is for each individual: The news was for Zechariah and not for everyone. In the same way, God’s Word is for you. The source of doubt can often be traced to the failure of personal devotion to the Word.

  4. God’s Word is the gospel: The gospel is the most important and joyful truth. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) The hope to erase all doubts is found in gospel of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.

All believers face doubt and must be wary of falling into unbelief. The Lord has given us the perfect truth of His word and the gospel to take away all our doubt and strengthen our trust in Him.

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The Enduring Faith, Part 8 – Hebrews 11:15-16

And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Heb 11:15-16

One thing we have learned as we continue in this series on faith is that genuine faith endures. Despite setbacks, discouragement, and sins, the patriarchs persevered in their spiritual pilgrimage, overcoming their trials by faith. They had the opportunity to return to their old lives, but instead of looking back to the world, they continually looked forward to their heavenly homeland. Like the patriarchs, all who are in Christ Jesus are spiritual nomads in the world. We are on a journey to reach heaven, where we will dwell with God forever, so we must endure in faith and remain loyal to our God. In this portion of Hebrews, we consider what motivated the patriarchs to overcome the world by faith.

The patriarchs desired and look forward to heaven. (But as it is, they desire a better county, that is a heavenly one.)

The patriarchs’ fervent longing for heaven empowered their faith to continue forward in their spiritual journey. The patriarchs didn’t passively wait for heaven. They longed after the heavenly city, and they were wholeheartedly committed to endure until they reached it. Heaven must be the Christian’s daily desire. Believers who think little of heaven will think much of the world, and their lives will not be distinct from the rest of the world. Heaven is incomparably better than the world. Whereas this world is passing away, the heavenly city lasts forever. (1Jn 2:15-17) True satisfaction is experienced in heaven alone. Though we live as foreigners in this temporary world, we will finally be settled in peace forever once we reach heaven. (1Pet 1:1, Rev 21:3)

The patriarchs realized that God is not ashamed to be their God. (Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God…)

By faith, the patriarchs knew that God was pleased by them. (Heb 11:6) God is not ashamed to be our God, and He proved it by making a covenant with us to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Though there is nothing we have done or could do to please God, God smiles upon us and calls us His own because He placed us in Jesus, who has perfectly pleased God the Father. (Rom 8:15-17) We cast ourselves on God’s grace and mercy alone, and in Christ, we find grace upon grace and new mercies every morning to be accepted and loved by our God.

The patriarchs trusted in God’s work. (…He has prepared a city for them.)

God is the one who has prepared heaven for those who live and die in faith. We can not trust man’s work, but we can trust God completely. Heaven will be an indescribably beautiful city, built by the love of God. (Rev 21:18-19) There is no sickness or death in heaven- everything that we suffer through in the world will not exist in the city of God.

Faith will be strengthened as we meditate on heaven, God’s love, and God’s Work during our pilgrimage through the world. Take heart, for the God who has built this glorious city is the God who will sustain our faith until we reach our heavenly home.

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The Enduring Faith, Part 7 – Hebrews 11:15-16

Since the Christian’s pursuit of holiness will inevitably be fraught with trials and persecution, enduring faith is crucial to engage in this spiritual warfare. If the patriarchs were not fully resolved by faith to follow God’s call but rather yearned for their old way of life, they would not have endured in their spiritual pilgrimage. Their faith would have stalled, and they could have turning away from God and returned to their old country. These verses in Hebrews are a great reminder to believers about the dangers of backsliding and apostasy.

The cause and characteristics of backsliding and apostasy are similar, but their ends are completely different. What is backsliding? Backsliding is a spiritual lapse. When a Christian who has been passionate and faithful to the Lord departs from the Word and the ways of God without repenting, he is backsliding.

What causes backsliding?

Sin– Christians know what sin is, but some remain in it. Though they may be miserable, they go back to the bondage of sin. This is why Christians must repent every day.

Unbelief– When we doubt God’s Word, we will backslide. Unbelief causes us to sink in despair and drown out trust in God. The only antidote against the power of doubt is faith.

False teaching– False teaching misleads Christians, and causes them to depart from God’s ways outlined clearly in His Word.

Disappointment– Disappointment distorts your perspective and will cause you to be controlled by your emotions rather than by faith.

Backsliding is temporary, apostasy is eternal. The backslider is passive in his sins, but the apostate directly and proactively offends God. Peter was backsliding when he denied Jesus, but he repented in tears and returned to follow the Lord. Judas, on the other hand, was an apostate who betrayed and turned in the Lord Jesus to be put to death.

Some people begin backsliding and end up practicing apostasy. Take heed, anyone who sins secretly and habitually is in a dire situation of falling in apostasy. All Christians sin, but their hearts are pure and they earnestly desire and seek after what pleases God. We must understand what causes us to backslide. When we fail to love Jesus above all, we will backslide. The top priority in every Christian’s life must be to love the Lord with all his heart. We must constantly go back to our first love, remembering how our eyes were opened to see our hopelessness, and the grace and forgiveness that was poured out on us through Jesus Christ.

If we find ourselves backsliding, we must stop and examine ourselves by the mirror of Scripture. With solemnity, impartiality, and frequency, we must check our emotions, will, and mind and see where we are falling short of God’s Will. We must then repent of our sins, thinking about where and how we fell. Repentance is a radical change in mind about God, sin, self, and the world, which leads to a change in conduct. It’s not simply sorrow over the penalty of sin, but its to be contrite in heart for sinning against God. True repentance takes us back to see our hopelessness. It humbles our souls to find true hope in Christ alone, who saves undeserving sinners by grace alone. This is the only way to stop the pattern of backsliding that can lead to apostasy- repent and believe in the gospel.

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The Enduring Faith, Part 6 – Hebrews 11:15-16

The patriarchs lived by faith and died in faith. Considering themselves strangers and exiles in the world, they wholeheartedly sought the heavenly country that God had promised them. It would have been a dangerous thing for the patriarchs to constantly think about their old country from which they went out, for the opportunity to return was always with them.

This is the case with our conversion as well- to constantly think about our old lives, or to downright live a life full of compromise and love for the world and sin is a spiritual peril. (Prov 26:11) But it leads us to the question of whether a Christian can lose his salvation. Is it possible to lose your salvation because of a sin you commit? Yes and no. As John MacArthur once said, “If you could lose your salvation, you would.” This is the power of sin. It has a replaying effect in our lives, and without God’s grace and overcoming power to sustain us, we would surely fall away.

By God’s grace, once you’re saved, you’re always saved. This major doctrine of the perseverance of saints is foundational to biblical faith, and it is one of the core issues that distinguishes between Calvinism and Arminianism. Whereas Calvinists believe their salvation depends wholly on the grace of God, Arminians focus on human choice and power, believing that man is able to choose or oppose God’s salvation. Arminianism is based on a man-centered salvation, and tragically, most churches in America follow this erroneous doctrine.

Though the doctrine of the perseverance of faith has been abused by nominal Christians since the church of Acts, it is a good and precious doctrine that gives all glory to God for our salvation. Our salvation does depend on human will- it depends on the grace of God. When the Bible speaks of those who have fallen away from the faith, or when we ourselves witness people whom we have considered brothers and sisters in Christ apostate, we must consider whether they were ever genuinely converted, because those who are saved by God’s grace will endure.

What is true conversion? Christians were spiritually dead in the grave, with no desire to be saved. By God’s grace, we were raised up with Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. Salvation is not based on our activity, knowledge, or effort- by God’s grace alone, we were convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent and bear the fruit of sanctification. (2Sam 12:13) This is God’s way of salvation. It stands on His promise, His work, and His grace that is fulfilled and sealed by Jesus Christ. We are saved because God has placed us in Christ. Opposite from all other religions and man’s fallen way of thinking, those who are humble and completely dependent God alone are the ones who are truly strong. (Rom 8:32)

How do I know my salvation will not be lost? Those who hear and believe the gospel have eternal life. We don’t deserve this gift of salvation from God, but Jesus humbled Himself and laid down His life so that we would be lifted up with Him. As we focus on God’s love and grace, we will grow in humility, sanctification, and love for Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. (1Cor 1:27) God began this work of faith in us- He will maintain it and help us endure to the end. (2Tim 4:6-8)

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The Enduring Faith, Part 5 – Hebrews 11:13-14

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  Heb 11:13-14

Living by faith is always in the present tense- the faith you practice now will determine the faith you will have at the end of your life. None of us can control our circumstances, but we can control how we react and respond to them. To cultivate a practice of responding to all things by faith, let us consider the importance of the Christian mind.

Our minds control how we perceive and respond to circumstances. Unless we practice heavenly mindfulness, our response to circumstances will always be based on emotions- fear, anxiety, anger, etc. Faith is a reasoning trust. It is an expression of what is in the mind. Christians have been enlightened with God’s truth by the Holy Spirit- we are now able to see everything through the lens of Jesus Christ. (1Cor 2:14-16; Eph 4:17-18) If we don’t control our thoughts according to Scripture, we will be controlled by our emotions and circumstances.

How can we build up our minds in Christ? The measure of every Christian’s faith is determined by how much he meditates on God’s Word. Those who continually keep their minds in the Word have their love and affections set on heaven, where Christ is. (Col 3:1-2) Meditation allows you to regain control of your mind, by sanctifying your thinking and bringing it into submission to Christ. Meditation takes every thought captive to Christ, as you surrender your mind and yourself to the will of God. (Acts 4:19-20)

As we take control of our thoughts, we will naturally pursue what our minds are fixed on. The Old Testaments saints who had enduring faith sought a country of their own- heaven. They were in a passionate pursuit of heaven because their minds were set on the things above, not on the things of the earth. Faith that comes through meditation on Scripture will make you passionate for the things of God. (Phil 3:7, 9-11)Jesus desires us to live with a passion and love for Him- being lukewarm in faith is a condemnable sin. (Lk 9:62; Rev 3:15-16) Passion drives a Christian to labor for the Lord- without this faith and love, no works will be acceptable to God. (Rev 2:4-5)

Enduring faith comes through a renewed mind and a heavenly pursuit filled with passion. It begins with meditation, and will result in a zeal for the Lord and His kingdom.

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The Enduring Faith, Part 4 – Hebrews 11:13-14

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  Heb 11:13-14

The testimony of the patriarchs who died in faith shows us the three essential components of enduring faith- notitia, assensus, and fiducia. In the previous weeks we expanded on notitia and assensus– the content of faith, and the conviction- or believing- that the content is true. However, faith does not stop at mere knowledge and belief in its truthfulness. The third element- fiducia– is the personal trust, reliance, and love for Jesus Christ that is manifested by those who have saving faith. The patriarchs, having seen and having believed in God’s promises, welcomed what they saw and also confessed who they were in light of God’s promise, resulting in their total commitment and obedience to God.

Enduring faith abides, always expressing itself with good works. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to walk with the Lord in trust and obedience. However, there are things that can hinder us from walking by faith. Fearing something or someone other than God will make you shrink back from glorifying Him in all circumstances. Christian, do not fear what you can lose. Those who fear the Lord know He is with them, and put their hope in the Lord alone. (Matt 10:28) Prayerlessness is another great hindrance to walking by faith. Jesus showed us how important it is to pray. He prayed unceasingly during His earthly ministry, and He taught us how to pray to the Father. When we pray in the Spirit, our thinking and hearts are changed to do the will of God by faith.

As you live by faith in obedience to God’s Word, you are confessing with the patriarchs that you are exiles on the earth. Christians are missionaries, doing the work of God and passing through en route to their heavenly home. Those who truly live by this confession aim to live on earth simply, with thoughtfulness and faith. They live for the Lord and for His glory, while removing every kind of sin and distraction from their lives. They live in the world, but they do not love the world. What is the world? Whatever pulls you away from Christ is the world. We must constantly examine ourselves and guard our hearts. If you are living in the pursuit of money, success, or man’s approval, you are loving the world. (1Jn 2:16)

Those who live by faith strive to enter through the narrow gate. They turn away from the world by faith, and they follow God by seeking and obeying His Word. We must always remind ourselves and one another of who we are- we are children of a God. As pilgrims in this world, we have a glorious gospel to share with the lost. By faith, we will endure and live out our confession in trust and obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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