Faking It With, “I’m Fine!”

It was the title that got my attention: No More Faking Fine – Ending the Pretending.  As it turned out the book was the life story of Esther Fleece, an autobiography, and it was a practical guide through the biblical practice of lament.  “Lament is how Christians grieve. It is how to help hurting people. Lament is how we learn important truths about God and our world. My personal and pastoral experience has convinced me that biblical lament is not only a gift but also a neglected dimension of the Christian life for many twenty-first-century Christians.”[1]

Esther begins No More Faking Fine with a story from her childhood—a moment which deeply impacted her. It was the day she began pretending. Over and over through the Bible, we read stories of lament. Stories where God’s people cried out to Him, demanding to know why. From the Israelites in Egypt to Job at Satan’s hands, God’s people lament. Some of the best laments are recorded in the Psalms. And it is these stories and laments that taught Esther to face her own pain and walk through it to help others.

The second and third part of the book, Esther looks at examples of lament prayers and then how lament moves forward to healing, respectively.  Jim Daly from Focus on the Family writes, “For many of us, when someone asks how we’re doing, our automatic response is “fine”—even when we aren’t. Esther Fleece transparently shares her story of “faking fine” until she couldn’t anymore—and how God has brought emotional healing as she learned to stop pretending. This is an encouraging and helpful book.”

Here are my quotations from the book that I think is impressive:

“Without lament, there is no joy.” (p. 15).

“Of course, the last thing I wanted was for anyone to know I felt this way. My busy days were spent performing and producing, keeping up appearances, praising God in public while wondering in private if He even cared.” (p. 18).

“The pressure to keep up is sometimes so significant that we default to everything being fine—even our unhappy lives . . ..”  (p. 31).

“I have learned through the years that God does not want just our happy; He also really wants our sad. Everything is not fine, and God wants to hear about it. He is drawn to us when we’re mourning and blesses us in a special way. God is not up there minimizing our pain and comparing it to others who have it worse than we do. God wants all pain to be surrendered to Him, and He has the capacity to respond to it all with infinite compassion.” (p. 35).

“Think of the people who say everything is “fine” all the time. How many times is “how are you?” asked in our church hallways and coffee times only to be responded with an automatic “good!”—even if it’s not true?” (p. 36).

“Laments don’t need to be carefully crafted prayers. Lament is the language that God has given us to use when we are hurting. It’s a language that sometimes means tears or groans or simply feeling an emotion.” (p. 76).

“Even though the psalmist was feeling despair, he chose to remember God’s goodness and His wonderful deeds. Could I try the same thing? Could I find something to praise God about? The enemy wants us to stay stuck in despair, but God wants our laments to lead into a deeper recognition and understanding of Him.” (p. 95).

“Far from a complaint, this lament is a bold declaration that God is present, hears, and is powerful to act on our behalf. “How long?” is an expression in Scripture of staking one’s hope in the only One who is able to save.” (p. 127).

“I was so used to sucking it up and making it on my own, and it became a gift when God made it clear that He no longer wanted me to live this way. God severs our “faking fine” tactics in order to show us a better way. I just didn’t see it at the time. We rarely do. (p. 178).

“You will know you are coming through a lament when you begin to hear a new song of praise.” (p. 206).

Esther Fleece Allan’s book, No More Faking Fine, Ending the Pretending is available on Amazon.  I’ve listened to several good sermons on Lamenting, both from my own Church and elsewhere.  A great series by the author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy Discovering the Grace of Lament, Mark Vroegop has a series online that can be found HERE.  A really helpful and moving book is, Lament for a Son, by Nicholas Wolterstorff. For students, Dr. Bruce Waltke’s, James M. Houston, and Erika Moore wrote a book, The Psalms as Christian Lament A Historical Commentary, which is an excellent commentary on Lament Psalms.    

“For to have a genuine human existence as God intended us to enjoy is to exercise lament before him. This is expressive of his sovereign grace, of our trust in his good purposes, and of our final destiny, to be transformed to the image of his Son.”[2]

 

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[1] Vroegop, Mark. Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy (p. 21). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

[2] Waltke, Bruce K.; Houston, James M.; Moore, Erika. The Psalms as Christian Lament: A Historical Commentary (p. 10). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

 

The People of God

In his book entitled, Between the Cross and the Throne, Matthew Emerson provides a beautiful description of the people of God all taken from the Book of Revelation.   Here’s some quotable quotes:

“John’s description of the Church can be summed up by Revelation 1:4b–5—“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.””

“The Church is the redeemed people of God from all tribes, languages, and nations (Rev 7:9). The entire people of God is possibly indicated by the “twenty four elders” in Revelation 4:4; 11:16; and 19:4. This number is made up of two groups of twelve—one representing the tribes of Israel, and one representing the apostles. This is also exemplified in John’s numbering of the “sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel” at 144,000 (Rev 7:4, 9; 14:1).”

“The people of God are clothed with white robes, which, according to Revelation 7:13–17, means that they are the “ones coming out of the great tribulation,” who have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). In other words, the white robes indicate that their wearers are believers in Christ, those who have repented of their sins, who have trusted Christ for forgiveness, and who have been made new by his Spirit (Rev 4:4; 6:11; 7:13–17; 19:8; 22:14).”

“John also refers to believers as those who have been sealed on their foreheads with the name of God (Rev 7:4; 9:4; 13:8; 14:1; 22:4) and who have had their names written in the book of life before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8). Both of these images assure believers that their salvation, accomplished by Christ and applied by the Spirit, is secure because of God’s great power.”

“Believers are also those who follow the commands of Jesus, keeping themselves pure and blameless (Rev 14:4–5). This includes not only in their individual morality, but also their corporate holiness in the face of economic and political corruption (see the description of the Harlot in Rev 17–18).”

“ John also combines this last image of the Bride with the new Jerusalem, the holy city coming down from heaven (Rev 21:2).”

“John also describes the Church in Revelation 4:5b–5 as reigning with Christ. As with the first description of the Church as redeemed, John uses a number of different images throughout the book to convey this point. He starts and ends the body of his vision by picturing 24 elders (representative of the whole people of God) with crowns on their heads and sitting on thrones (Rev 4:4; 20:4, 6).”

[Emphasis Mine]

What Is Saving Faith?

Recently Matt Tully from Crossway Books interviewed John Piper on his new book, What Is Saving Faith?, from Crossway in a podcast entitled Can Affectionless Faith Be Genuine?  Here are some quotable quotes from the interview.

“A lot of people think that the people who have been born again out of the most horrific lives of sinning have the clearest idea of what depravity means and what salvation means. I think that’s wrong because I don’t think experience can come close to teaching us about the nature of our depravity that we find in Scripture . . . We have to see in the Bible what our condition was before we were saved, what our condition is after we are saved, and we get from the Bible that line in between, which is what we want to talk about—What is the saving thing that happened in our hearts?”

“What I’ve come to see is that I think the church, especially in certain parts of it, has many unbelievers who think they’re saved. It’s why the church is weak, it’s why the church is ineffective in so many ways, it’s why worship is so flat—because there are a lot of unregenerate, non-born-again people in the church who have been taught that they are to make a decision, so they decide to believe some doctrines, to believe that they are going to heaven, and nothing has changed in their heart.”

“The will, when it inclines vigorously with all of its force, we call affection. I prefer my wife over all other women. That’s not a small preference. I prefer life over death. In other words, the will can act without affection, and the will can act vigorously with affection.”

“America is a free will driven culture, meaning I have ultimate control over my destiny. I’m the captain of my fate! That’s all heresy. We don’t have ultimate control over our fate; God does.”

“Faith is affectional, and so it does rest on knowing and believing that I have a treasuring of Christ that ranks him above mother and father, because Jesus said, If you don’t love me more than your mother and father you don’t belong to me. I can’t get away from that. That’s real. I have to fight for that. I have to treasure him more than I treasure my wife and my children and my mother and father. Otherwise, I’m not a Christian. That’s truth from Matthew 10:37.”

“When we believe and do not work for our justification, we glorify the grace of God. We glorify grace by looking away from ourselves to the all-sufficiency of his justification by imputing Christ’s righteousness to us. However, God aims to get more glory than being a sufficient sin-forgiver, or an efficient righteousness-imputer. He means to get glory for being an all-satisfying treasure, so he built that into saving faith as well. Saving faith embraces Christ as my righteousness, embraces Christ as my Lord, embraces Christ as my treasure. In doing that it is satisfied in him, and so we arrive at the basic statement of Christian hedonism: God is most glorified in me when I, in my saving faith, am most satisfied with all that he is for me in Jesus.”

"It Takes a Lot of Faith to Lament"

 

Crossway[1] Podcaster, Matt Tulley interviewed Mark Vroegop author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. Here are some quotable quotes:

 

“Yes. I think lament in its essence is more process-oriented than what we’re familiar with. Lament doesn’t tie everything up in a nice bow. Sometimes it leaves the tension hanging in the air with unsolved problems, but a renewed commitment that I’m going to trust the Lord in the middle of all of this. While there are a bunch of things that I can’t control, a bunch of things that I can’t change or do, the one thing that I can do is talk to God.”

 

“I think the Christian life is in the space where we know God is sovereign, but the world is also broken. Those two things don’t always go together really well. You know that God is good, but there are events in life that it’s hard to make a direct connection between this specific event and God’s goodness. It’s precisely because of the fact that we believe that God is sovereign and that we believe he’s good that Christians complain. We say to God, How long, O Lord? Would you intervene? Why haven’t you intervened? Rather than throwing that in God’s face—You need to intervene because I’m telling you you need to intervene—lament actually enters into the space to say, God, you’re sovereign. You’re in control. You’re all-powerful. And yet, this brokenness is right here. I want it to be gone. I want you to do something. Lament wrestles with pain while also looking to God as the ultimate answer for that pain, with the hope that we can really fully place our trust in him.”

 

“I think, sadly, that many Christians believe that being a faithful follower of Jesus means that you never struggle with doubt, you never wrestle with despair, you’re not battling anxiety on a regular basis. They come to church, people ask them how they’re doing, and they fake it: Oh, we’re fine! Praise the Lord! But inside, their spiritual life is a train wreck and they don’t think that it’s okay to acknowledge, I’ve got unanswered questions. I have tension in my soul about God’s goodness and what’s happening in my life. So, lament enters that rather complicated terrain by saying here’s a way to talk to God about that tension.”

 

“Absolutely. In fact, I think it takes a lot of faith to lament. I think lament is one of the most theologically faith-filled things that a Christian could possibly do. In the middle of the darkest of dark moments, when your pain is so raw and so real, you have the faith to talk to God about your pain. If faith isn’t present, you would give God the silent treatment, you wouldn’t talk to him, you would just be angry, you would be resigned and say that God really doesn’t care. But in the middle of your darkest moment, you’re talking to God about what’s wrong with the world. You’re asking him to be true to his promises and recommitting that you’re going to trust in him. I don’t know what could be more faith-filled than that.” 

 

[Emphasis is mine]

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[1] https://www.crossway.org/articles/podcast-how-to-lament-after-two-years-of-loss-mark-vroegop/

Seven Christian Truths That Will Not Change In 2022

 

1. Those who repent and believe the Gospel will be saved.  Acts 2:21 (ESV): “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

2.  God’s enabling grace will sanctify you. Ezekiel 36:27 (ESV): “And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.“

3. God’s regenerating mercies will keep you persevering in faith. Jeremiah 32:40 (ESV): “And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.“

4.  God will sovereignly and providentially guarantee to you the greatest good, i.e., to be like Christ. Romans 8:28–29 (ESV): “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

5.  He will not abandon you. Hebrews 13:5–6 (ESV): “for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” 

6.  Nothing can separate you from His love. Romans 8:38–39 (ESV): “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

7. God will accomplish His redemptive purpose for your life. Jude 24 (ESV): “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy . . ..”

Jehovah-Jireh (The LORD will see and provide)

Genesis 22:8,14 (NIV), ⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together . . . ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”  

[And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh (meaning the Lord will see to it thus He will provide).] [1]

Hebrews 11:17–19 (NIV), ¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸ even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” ¹⁹ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

"1. That the Lord will see; he will always have his eye upon his people in their straits and distresses, that he may come in with seasonable succour in the critical juncture. 2. That he will be seen, be seen in the mount, in the greatest perplexities of his people. He will not only manifest, but magnify, his wisdom, power, and goodness, in their deliverance. Where God sees and provides, he should be seen and praised." [2]

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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (60). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (53). Peabody: Hendrickson

The Road to Thanksgiving (An Exposition of Psalm 116) - Pt.5

This great personal psalm of thanksgiving was used in the congregational liturgy of the Jewish church.  It was part of the Egyptian Hallel.   I have already suggested that the form and structure of the psalm transmitted the core message.  That message was this: When we reflect on the mercies of God it results in a life-changing contemplation of His works and a commitment to live in loyalty to Him.  We see that pattern in the first half of the psalm and it is repeated in the second.  Note:

The Circumstance

¹⁰ I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; ¹¹ in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” 

In the midst of the trial, the psalmist still trusted, still believed.  He was able to see through the men that harassed him and saw them for who they are: vain, empty and liars.

The Contemplation

¹² What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? 

Based upon the goodness of God and His faithfulness, the psalmist then goes into his own thoughts and asks this important question: "What shall I return to the Lord?"   Or, "How can I repay the Lord?" Of course the question is rhetorical and there is no answer.  In fact there should not be an answer.  It is a vain thing to try to pay back God (see Romans 11:35-36),   As we see in verse 17 below, gratitude is often expressed in asking God for more!

At this point we need to be careful.  The psalmist is not suggesting that a committed lifestyle is a means of repaying God for His goodness. To repay grace annuls grace. But there is a pious response that is normal. True gratitude does promote holy living. It's the result of, not in payment for God's goodness.  

The Commitment

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 

¹⁴ I will fulfill 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 faithful servants. 

¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. 

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. 

¹⁸ I will fulfill 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, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

"As a token of his thanksgiving, the psalmist brings "a thank offering" (v.17) together with a drink offering (cf. Num 28:7), which he calls "the cup of salvation" (v.13). At the time of the thank offering, he called again "on the name of the LORD" (cf. vv.2, 17); but this time, not to ask for deliverance, but to thank the Lord and praise his holy name for his fidelity to his promises." [1] All this adds up to one word: worship!   We say thank you by worshiping. 

In tomorrow's blog we will look more closely at this "commitment" that the psalmist makes.

Father, in Your deliverance You help us see things more clearly.  Your deliverance also gives discernment.  We start to see people for who they really are by seeing You for who You really are. When You hear and respond to our need there is something within our independent, self-sufficient, merit-seeking, pride that wants to pay you back.  How foolish!  We cannot.  Your grace simply brings us to our knees in humble, thankful worship.  Your mercies cause us to value You, honor You, love You more and more.  Your precious promises make You more precious.  Thank you, Father, for Your grace to us this day.  May this day resound in worshipful living and Christ-centered loving.  Amen!

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1. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Psalms/Exposition of Psalms/BOOK V: Psalms 107-150/Psalm 116: Be at Rest, for the Lord Is Good/VI. Vows of Thanksgiving (116:12-14), Book Version: 4.0.2

NOTE:

A. Part 1 of this article is found HERE.

B. Part 2 of this article is found HERE.

C. Part 3 of this article is found HERE.

D. Part 4 of this article is found HERE.

Saving Faith Hopes and Works By Its Very Nature.

Galatians 5:5–6 (NIV),

⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Paul has just affirmed that to trust works and sacraments for salvation is to render Christ of no importance and no value. To trust Christ and then add sacramental duties as if to complete your salvation is to "fall from grace."   Now Paul uses two sentences started with the word "for."  

1. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.  The faith that saves, the faith that is a gift of God and brings the sinner into a justified relationship with Jesus, is a faith that also hopes for the realization of a practical righteousness.  We know that we are legally justified, but we also hope for a time when we are really justified (meaning that sin is finally expunged and we are glorified).  Even in our outworking of the Christian life we do not consider these efforts of good works to make us righteous.  Our hope is not in our good deeds. Our hope is in the complete righteousness that will be seen in us at the coming of Christ. 

"For as long as we live here, sin remaineth in our flesh; there is also a law in our flesh and members, rebelling against the law of our mind, and leading us captives unto the service of sin (Rom. vii. 13) . . . It remaineth then that we be perfectly justified, and this is it which we hope for. So our righteousness is not yet in actual possession, but lieth under hope." [1]

Luther in a very pastoral way shows us that often times we want to "feel" our justification even as we "feel" our sin.  But to "feel" our justification is to set aside "hope."  "Wherefore, thou must not judge according to the feeling of sin which troubleth and terrifieth thee, but according to the promise and doctrine of faith, whereby Christ is promised unto thee, who is thy perfect and everlasting righteousness." [1]   This hope is not something we conjure up.  No, it is by the Spirit.

2. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. So Paul repeats the affirmation.  If you are a Christian, trusting in Christ Jesus alone, works of the flesh, sacramental duties -- obeying the Law has no value -- no value as compared to Christ and Christ alone.   But there is something that counts: faith working through love.  This faith that saves is a ". . . living and active thing and produces love." [2]  "This coincides with the familiar statement, “Faith alone justifies, but the faith which justifies is not alone.” [3]   Luther comments: "It is as much to say as: He that will be a true Christian indeed, or one of Christ’s kingdom, must be a true believer. Now he believeth not truly, if works of charity follow not his faith." [1]

"The second point is that true faith, having an ethical side, works itself out "through love." This is what matters—this kind of faith! True, we are saved through faith rather than by works; but faith is no mere intellectual conviction, as if a Christian could do as he wishes so long as he believes properly. This is a horrible idea, as Paul writes elsewhere (Rom 6:1, 2)." [4]

True faith works.  The saving faith that is a gift from God is a faith that is accompanied by the will and the ability to work out one's salvation.   So Paul is essentially dealing with two objections.  First the objection is how can you say that you are made righteous by faith in Christ alone and still know you have sin in your life?  Your righteousness is a fiction.  Secondly Paul is handling the objection, well if you believe in justification by faith alone, then you have an easy-believism that means your saved and can live any way you want.  Both objections are dealt with. True saving faith intrinsically hopes and works.  Any other definition of Christian faith is wrong.

Father Your Word covers it all. It leaves no gaps. In this unique area of discussion there have been so many who have sought to controvert the truth of salvation alone in Your Son, alone. They have sought to mount all the arguments.  But Father, Your massive guns of Truth blow them to smithereens. When we find Your Word sufficient and true we can trust it.  Salvation is neither based on a feeling or self-effort.  It is hope and faith working in love.  May You find me in the activities of this day trusting You for that better day when I will be fully justified, head to toe; and may You find in me that wonder working power that is really Your gift to me -- working and serving Christ to the glory of God.  Amen and amen!

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2254). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2396). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Galatians/Exposition of Galatians/III. The Call to Godly Living (5:1-6:10)/B. The Danger of Falling From Grace (5:2-12), Book Version: 4.0.2

No Middle Ground!

Galatians 5:2–4 (NIV),

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Here Paul is stirred with great passion.  He speaks clearly, boldly and without fear of man.  To put your trust in circumcision for salvation is to make Christ useless. As Luther has stated so well:

Whosoever teach that there is anything necessary to salvation . . . besides faith in Christ, or shall devise any work or religion, or observe any rule, tradition, or ceremony whatsoever, with this opinion that by such things they shall obtain forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and everlasting life; they hear in this place the sentence of the Holy Ghost pronounced against them by the Apostle, that Christ profiteth them nothing at all." [1] 

I mean, think about it, if you can battle sin, gain forgiveness through your own work, then why was Christ brought into this world?  What was the purpose of His shed blood, death and resurrection, if you can add to your salvation? "This is therefore a most certain and clear sentence, that Christ is unprofitable, that is to say, he is born, crucified and risen again in vain to him that is circumcised, that is, which putteth his trust in circumcision." [1] 

But Paul does not stop there.  Not only will adding to Christ, devalue Christ, but note this: ". . . they which are circumcised, are debtors to keep the whole law . . . He that is circumcised, if also a debtor to do the whole law. For he that receiveth Moses in one point, must of necessity receive him in all. He that of necessity observeth one part of the law, hath a duty to observe all other parts thereof." [2] You can't pick and choose your favorite laws.  You obey Moses or put your faith in Christ.  There is no middle ground.

To those who profess Christ and then seek to add merits to their salvation, they are, by definition "fallen from grace."  They have left grace.  "Paul is not discussing here the question of whether a genuine believer can lose his or her salvation. He is only saying that people who may once have made a profession of faith, if they now are truly seeking to be justified by the law, must not really have a relationship with Christ and have fallen away from the grace that was offered and available to them." [3]

Luther's summation is compelling: "Whoso teacheth then that the law is necessary to righteousness, teacheth a plain denial of Christ and of all his benefits, he maketh God a liar, yea he maketh the law also a liar: for the law itself beareth witness of Christ and of the promises made as concerning Christ, and hath foretold that he should be a king of grace, and not of the law."[4]

Father, You have sent Your Son to be born under the Law, to completely and perfectly obey the Law, to die for the sins of Your people who disobey the Law and to bring new Christ-pleasing life in us who are born of the Spirit.  You leave no room for ritualistic, religion to augment or shore-up what Christ alone has done.  There is no middle ground.  We either believe You or call You a liar.  We either trust Christ or obey to perfection the works of the Law.  You leave no doubt, no ambiguity, no wiggle-room.  It is Christ and Christ alone.  Father, kill all forms of performance-ism, performance anxiety and performance pride in me today.  It is Christ alone who has performed for me.  He alone is my hope and assurance.  Grant to be a delight in grace. Grant that I would be strengthened by grace, not by self-effort.  For the truth and the glory of Christ, I pray.  

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:2). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:3). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

3. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2253). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

4. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:3). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Abraham's Seeds, Seed and More Seeds.

Galatians 3:23–29 (NIV),

²³ Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. ²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Verses 23-24 are very difficult to interpret.  It might be interesting to the reader that Luther gave this section very little attention.  We don't know why but perhaps the complexity of it was part of the reason. 

 Paul has already established that the faith of Abraham and the Christian faith are synonymous. So the faith he refers to in verse 23 must have a different nuance. The key is the idea of something being "locked up".  I would conclude that this must refer to Paul's notion of "mystery" where in other places he describes an idea that for a period of time God's plan for the ages was "locked up" -- a mystery.  But now it has been revealed.  "A “mystery” in the New Testament is something that had at one time been hidden but is now revealed to God’s people. Jesus spoke of “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11, NAS) that He was at that point revealing to His disciples. The apostle Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his Epistles. In each case, the “mystery” involved a wonderful declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God through divine inspiration. A mystery is that “which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:5). [1]

This mystery of the Kingdom had long been prophesied  Abraham along with others had a sense of it.  But as to how and when and by whom was not clear until the time of Christ. Now we see that it was the presence of the Law that kept God's eternal plan under wraps.  But now that Christ has come, the mystery is no longer a mystery.  Here we see another purpose of the Law.  Why? 

"So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."  That word "guardian" can also be translated "tutor." It is the Greek word παιδαγωγός [2] [pahee·dag·o·gos] [see Note 3].  So the Law was a means of protecting the "mystery" until the fullness of time had come; until this mystery could be comprehended in maturity.  I think this will become more clear as we look into Galatians 4:1f.

So now Paul reaches his conclusion to the theological argument.  “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26–29, NIV) "The Galatians, though they are Gentiles, are eligible for adoption through faith in Christ. Observance of the law is not a requirement or condition for becoming a child of God . . . he emphasizes here that the standard categories (race, social status, and gender), which normally divide people, no longer apply to those “in Christ.” It is not that people cease to be male or female; rather, these distinctions are not grounds for exclusion from the life that God offers all people in Christ." [5]

How does one benefit from this relationship? Paul introduces a new word in this Letter: "baptized". "This is how one becomes united to Christ. This is not baptismal regeneration and does not refer to water baptism, for that never put anyone into Christ. Paul speaks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit which places all true believers into a living union with Christ (1 Cor 12:12–13), and with each other (Eph 4:15–16). The Greek passive voice means that this was done for them and not by them. Baptism in water symbolizes, but does not effect, this glorious experience." [6]  Salvation then is essentially union with Christ and it is accomplished through faith in Him -- alone.

Then Paul repeats but makes clear that this is the exact way that Abraham was justified and therefore if you are united to Christ, you have the same faith as Abraham.  You are of all intent of purpose a real Jew. "Thus, by union with Christ, believers become "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Here that which Paul had previously declared to be Christ's—the inheritance of the promise made to Abraham (3:16)—he now applies to the Christian church as a whole by virtue of its actually being Christ's body." [7]

The implications of this are profound and the most important is that all the promises given to Abraham's seed according to the flesh (Israel) are ultimately found in fulfillment in Abraham's Seed, Jesus Christ. And all who have faith in Christ share in the same faith as Abraham (and all true believers from all ages) and are counted as Abraham's spiritual seed, thereby sharing in the promises to Abraham from a spiritual nature.  (To read more on this in detail I encourage you to read Abraham's Four Seeds, by John Reisinger.  It can be read online by going to this LINK.

This teaching of course flies in the face of all who call themselves Dispensational or even Covenantal. It removes the importance of ethnicity and elevates faith.  Even to the Jews of his time, Jesus had to correct their thinking when He said, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did.” (John 8:39, NIV).  Abraham believed.  Abraham had faith. Later in this Letter, in Galatians 6:15–16, Paul will make this very plain: ¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

Father, Your ways are often so elaborate and complicated, its hard to understand what and why You've done what You've done.  There is a 'not knowing' when it comes to You. This is no surprise to me because You are God and I am not.  Yet You do give us sufficient understanding and this passage is an example of that.  The New Testament writers always understood the prophecies of the Old Testament to be spiritual in nature.  They transcend ethnicity so that they can include all ethnic people.  The Gospel if for all and Christ is the treasure.  Father, by Your Spirit, enable me to embrace with great joy the truth of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. And Father may that bedrock of faith provide the inertia to live for You more fully and more obediently today.  For the glory of Christ.  Amen!

 

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1. Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/mystery-of-God.html#ixzz38IiB9bWJ
2. Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

3.  Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.

4. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ga 3:24). Nashville: T. Nelson.

5. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 3:26–29). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

6. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2389). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

7. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Galatians/Exposition of Galatians/II. Paul's Defense of the Gospel (3:1-4:31)/B. The Doctrinal Argument (3:6-4:7)/5. Heirs with Abraham (3:23-29), Book Version: 4.0.2

8. The use of the word "seed" without the article is of great importance, for it keeps the necessity of a union with Christ constantly before the Galatians. The prize the legalizers had been holding before the eyes of the Galatian Christians and by which they had hoped to win them to the ceremonial aspects of Judaism was the possibility of becoming part of the seed of Abraham. They meant physical seed. Paul now replies that what the legalizers were offering through circumcision was actually already theirs in Christ. But it was only theirs in him. He is the seed to whom the promises were made. Believers enter into the promises by entering into him, thereby also becoming spiritual seed to God. (Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Galatians/Exposition of Galatians/II. Paul's Defense of the Gospel (3:1-4:31)/B. The Doctrinal Argument (3:6-4:7)/5. Heirs with Abraham (3:23-29), Book Version: 4.0.2)

Faith Receives Due To The Promise.

Paul has just reminded the reader that to fail to obey the Law is to stand cursed before God.  "He therefore that will avoid the curse, must lay hold upon the promise of blessing, or upon the faith of Abraham, or else he shall remain under the curse." [1]

Galatians 3:11–14 (NIV),

¹¹ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” ¹² The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Paul now appeals to another prophet, Habakkuk. If one is called to live by faith, then obviously it cannot be that we are live by the Law.  The two things are different.  "It is impossible therefore that faith should be of the law. For faith only resteth in the promise, it only apprehendeth and knoweth God, and standeth only in receiving good things of God. Contrariwise the law and works consist in doing, and in giving unto God . . . But faith requireth no works of us, or that we should give anything unto God, but that we believing the promise of God, should receive of him. Therefore the office of the law is to work, as the office of faith is to assent unto the promises. For faith is the faith of the promise, and the work is the work of the law." [1]

To seek to follow the Law, one must follow it fully.  "This expresses the principle of the law. Men are not commanded to believe the Old Testament law, but to do it. Failure to render absolute obedience is fatal."[2]  And now the Apostle reminds us that Christ took that curse of disobedience for us.  "For he saith not that Christ was made a curse for Himself, but for us. Therefore all the weight of the matter standeth in this word 'for us' . . . But Christ took our sins upon Him, and for them died upon the Cross; therefore it behoveth that He should become a transgressor, and (as Isaiah saith, chapter liii.) “be reckoned among the transgressors.” [3]

We note that all the blessings of the Gospel, the substitutionary life and death of Christ Jesus, come to us through Christ -- not Abraham, not of ethnic origin -- but Christ.  And this is so  “we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith . . . and this liberty and gift of the Spirit we receive not by any other merit than by faith alone. [3] "Paul began his argument in this section (vv. 2–3) by asking the Galatians how they received the Spirit. It was through faith. Given this, the Galatians have already experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham." [4]

This promise of the Spirit (Acts 2:33; [Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Joel 2:28; John 7:39; Eph. 1:13]) is that work of the Spirit baptizing believers into Christ.

Without faith, Father, it is impossible to please You.  Faith is required from beginning to end. Faith is that which receives with an open hand from You.  Faith never gives. You give. I will forever be the beneficiary of Your grace.  Faith loves the words "for us."  Christ came for us.  Christ lived for us. Christ died for us.  Christ ever lives for us.  Apart from the "for us" there is nothing for us.  The promise of the Spirit is the promise of sovereign and free grace.  It is the promise of the New Covenant bought for and paid for by the Lamb of God and applied by the Spirit of God.  It's a promise of security and a promise of assurance.  This is my rock today, Father.  There is no other word that brings hope and security.  Thanks be unto God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:10). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2385). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:13). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
4. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 3:14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

You Obey The Law By Not Doing The Law!

Galatians 3:10 (NIV),

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

We enter into what might be one of the most significant and important "contradictions" and arguments in this Book.  Paul has established that Christians are justified by faith in Christ, not in the Law.  “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16, NIV).

Now in this part of the discussion he appeals to Moses in Deuteronomy 27:26 (NIV),

²⁶ “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Paul has established that "the blessing was given to faithful Abraham before the law and without the law. Now like as Abraham believed in Christ which was to come, the giver of the blessing: so and by the same faith we believe in Christ which is come and present, and so are we now justified by faith, as Abraham was then justified by faith. They therefore which are under the law, are not blessed, but remain under the curse." [1] But then he goes on to say "that all men which are under the law, or under the works of the law, are accursed, or under the curse; that is to say, under sin, the wrath of God, and everlasting death." [1]  Paul and Moses seem to be at odds with each other.  Paul says if you do the works of the Law you will be cursed (i.e. you don't have faith in Christ alone) and Moses says if you don't do the works of the Law you are cursed.  

Luther argues that to "do the Law" is to obey the Law both externally and internally and do it perfectly. Then he asks, "But where shall we find him that will so accomplish the law?" [1]  Of course that man is Jesus Christ.  "Wherefore Moses together with Paul doth necessarily drive us to Christ, through whom we are made doers of the law, and are not accounted guilty of any transgression. How so? First by forgiveness of sins and imputation of righteousness, because of our faith in Christ. Secondly, by the gift [of God] and the Holy Ghost, which bringeth forth a new life and new motions in us, so that we may also do the law effectually."

We do the Law by first not doing the Law!  "For Christians are not made righteous in doing righteous things, but being now made righteous by faith in Christ, they do righteous things." [1] "It is impossible therefore, to accomplish the law without the promise, which is the preaching of Christ who was promised to Abraham, that through him the world should be blessed." [1]

In contemporary discussions this debate and "seeming contradiction" is posed to us from Catholics, legalists and often by well-meaning fundamentalists.  Some would argue that to expect salvation simply by faith alone will produce antinomian lifestyles.  But that is to misunderstand Law and Gospel.  For as Luther has rightly stated, the person that truly repents and turns to Christ for forgiveness of sin is made righteous and granted the Holy Spirit's help to live out this new life.  If there is no new life, one can argue that there has been no justification.

Father You do not grade our lives on a curve.  There is but one standard and that is perfect perfection.  I along with the entire human race have not lived one millisecond of perfection.  Your standards condemn us all, yet none of us can enter into an eternal relationship with You apart from perfection.  With Luther we ask, "Where can we find a man who can do this?"  Thanks be to You, Father, for the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the Man.  He is the Perfect Man.  Jesus lived a perfect life and You Father have freely given to all who believe His perfection.  He died fully and completely for every millisecond of transgression: past, present and future.  He gave to those who have faith, the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to obey the Law, not to save us, but because we are saved. I am truly overwhelmed by Your grace.  Truly there is none like You.  To rest in the Law condemns us.  To rest in Jesus saves us and fulfills the Law.  That is truly amazing.  May I show today by my love and obedience to You that I have and am resting in Jesus.  Amen!

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1.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:10). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

 

Check Out Your Experience

Galatians 3:2–5 (NIV),

² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? ⁴ Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Paul asks several questions here, all intended to show the foolishness of these people in seeking to revert back to the Law.  Whereas Paul rests his case upon doctrinal matters, in this part of his argument he causes them to look to their experience.

1. When you were saved (when you received the Spirit) was it because of adherence to the Law or by faith in Christ?  

2. Do you think that you start your Christian journey by faith in Christ but perfect it by obedience, making it certain?

3. Having believed the Gospel and already experiencing suffering because of that, will you count that as nothing and now reject it?

4. When you see the people changed, transformed and healed, is that because they obey the Law or believe in Christ?

Luther allows no middle ground on salvation.  "If by the law, then not by the preaching of faith; if by the preaching of faith, then not by the law. There is no mean betwixt these two. For all that is not the Holy Ghost or the preaching of faith, is the law . . . For they which are ignorant of the righteousness of God, and go about to establish their own righteousness (as Paul saith in another place) do not submit themselves unto the righteousness of God (Rom. x. 3)." [1]  In his commentary, Luther walks the reader through the Book of Acts and even into the Old Testament account of Gentiles that were saved -- all by looking to Christ and not to the Law.

"For as God gave the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles which lived without the law, by the preaching of the Gospel, so did he give the same to the Jews; yet not by the law, nor by the ceremonies and sacrifices commanded in the law, but by the only preaching of faith." [1] 

This matter of how the Old Testament saints were saved is important.  In summary we find that they too were saved by faith in the promised Messiah.  Click HERE to read more.

When Paul uses the word flesh here to suggest that these Christians thought they could be perfected by the flesh.  "Flesh therefore is here taken for the very righteousness and wisdom of the flesh, and the judgment of reason, which seeketh to be justified by the law. Whatsoever then is most excellent in man, the same here Paul calleth flesh, to wit, the highest wisdom of reason, and the righteousness of the law itself." [1]   There is nothing I can do so perfectly to complete my salvation apart from faith in the righteousness of Christ imputed to me by grace.  Every good and worthy deed is still riddled by sin and cannot save.  Only Christ's perfect merit can save.

As to the suffering, how silly to suffer for a Gospel that can't save. "Now, what a miserable thing is it, so suddenly to lose such inestimable glory and assurance of conscience towards God? Also to endure so many grievous afflictions and perils of goods, wife, children, body and life, and yet notwithstanding to sustain all these things in vain?" [1]

Paul was aware of the miracles that had been accomplished by the Spirit among these believers -- none of which could have happened by law-keeping. "Ye have not only received the Spirit by the hearing of faith, but whatsoever ye have either known or done, it came by the hearing of faith. As though he would say: It was not enough that God gave you once the Spirit; but the same God hath also enriched you with the gifts of the Spirit, and increased the same in you, to the end that when ye have once received the Spirit, it might always grow and be more and more effectual in you." [1]

"Therefore (saith the Apostle) your experience, O ye Galatians, ought to teach you, that these excellent virtues proceeded not of the works of the law: for as ye had them not before the hearing of faith, so ye have them not now, when the false apostles reign in the midst of you." [1]

Father I am amazed at how Your Word helps shape our thinking.  Many of us have been told that our experience is of little value.  I know that experience doesn't replace faith.  I know that experience doesn't usurp faith.  But I learn in this passage that there is an appropriate time to look to our experience.  Of all the times I tried to change and become better, I could accomplish nothing until You saved me and gave me Your Spirit.  Even today we who are Christians know that we can do nothing apart from Your grace.  Yes we are called to obey having received the Good News, but even our obedience cannot take place apart from You in us granting us the desire and the ability.  It is You alone, Father, that makes New Creations of sinners.  The part that is so easy yet so hard to believe is that it all happens by faith -- by faith alone in Christ alone -- but that faith doesn't stand alone.  There is evidence of justification that accompanies salvation.  There is an experience to look too.  Father, by Your Spirit, and through Your Son, may my experience give credence to the Gospel, today.  May my experience give glory to You through Your Son; and may my experience bring everlasting joy to Your redeemed.  Amen!

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:2). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Life In The Flesh But Not Of The Flesh

These verses may be some of the most familiar to us in Galatians.  Paul writes, 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NIV).

"This he addeth, to declare that the law is a devourer of the law. Not only, saith he, I am dead to the law through the law, that I may live to God, but also I am crucified with Christ." [1]

As noted in the previous Blog, there is a law of faith in Christ that supersedes the Law.  "But Christ is Lord over the law, because he is crucified and dead unto the law: therefore am I also lord over the law; for I likewise am crucified and dead unto the law, forasmuch as I am crucified and dead with Christ." [1]  This doctrine is developed fully by the Apostle in Romans 6.  This act of "crucifying" is a incomprehensible work of the Spirit.  "Here Christ doth all himself alone. But I believing in Christ, am by faith crucified also with Christ, so that all these things are crucified and dead also unto me." [1]

This identification with the death of Christ also leads the believer to new life in Christ.  Once "dead" he or she now lives.  But this living is with very clear definition.  "Here he plainly sheweth by what means he liveth; and he teacheth what true Christian righteousness is, namely, that righteousness whereby Christ liveth in us, and not that which is in our person. Therefore when we speak of Christian righteousness, we must utterly reject the person." [1]  The obvious juxtaposition is clear. An individual is placed in one of two dimensions: One, is to live in obedience to the Law; the other is to die and let Christ live through us.

"Now Christ living in me abolisheth the law, condemneth sin and destroyeth death; for it cannot be, but at his presence all these must needs vanish away. For Christ is everlasting peace, consolation, righteousness and life; and to these the terror of the law, heaviness of mind, sin, hell and death, must needs give place. So Christ living and abiding in me, taketh away and swalloweth up all evils which vex and afflict me." [1]

Paul is drawing us away from ourselves; our works; and our merits (which are entirely defective) and leading to Christ, and Christ alone.   But this mounts an obvious objection.  Does this mean we do not live the Christian life?   Are we robots?  Are we inactive?  No!  For Christ to live through us is synonymous with "The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God. "So then I live in the flesh, but not of the flesh or after the flesh, but in the faith of the Son of God." [1]

"... I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NIV).  Here the Apostle drives a deep wedge between meritorious effort and sovereign free grace.  Rather than saying, "I am a child of God because I correctly observed the beauty of Christ and set my love upon Him;" the Apostle reminds us that it is Christ who loves us and gave Himself for us.  If this love had not preceded redemption, there would be no justification.    

Father, we who are the redeemed can say without hesitation, we love because You first loved us. You first loved us before the world was created.  In the eternal counsels of the Godhead, You set Your affection upon Your elect people.  Out of love You predestined us.  Out of love Christ was sent, willingly sent, to be our propitiation.  Out of love you freely offered justifying grace to all who would believe.  Out of love, you gave the gift of faith to those You called out of the world.  Out of love You sent Your Holy Spirit to work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure.  Out of love we live and move in Christ.  All glory, honor, and praise belongs to You.   

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 2:20). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.