Does Sincere Love Eclipse Our Motivation For Reward?

Serving Christ for the the promise of reward is neither self-serving nor selfish ambition when we understand the true nature of Biblical rewards.  

The Bible is replete with persuasive evidence that the saints of God were motivated by the matchless hope of the Lord's reward to faithful servants.

When we allow the following to shape our thinking, the promise of reward and serving with unfeigned, sincere love for Christ embrace as mutual friends:

#1.   When you consider that we are dependent creatures who “. . . in him we live and move and have our being . . .."(Acts 17:28, NIV);  of whom as Christians, Jesus said,  ". . .  apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV); and “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13, NIV) – would it be appropriate to view "rewards" in terms of our personal achievement?  No, of course not.  So there is a sense that when God rewards your righteousness He is really applauding His grace working in you.

#2.   Consider the opposite of the first point. When man is left to his own the Scripture makes plain that all our righteousness is “. . . are like filthy rags . . .” (Isaiah 64:6, NIV) ; and “. . . when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”” (Luke 17:10, NIV).   So in the first instance rewards cannot be viewed as achievements, nor can they be viewed as independently earned.  Paul wrote: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV)

    

#3.  When we view rewards, not as a debt due to us, but a gift given to us in accordance with God's promise -- it changes everything. I think getting a reward in heaven will be like losing all your wrestling matches at the Commonwealth Games and then being invited to stand on the podium during the final ceremonies.  You know, ultimately, it is a gift. To know that increases our motivation and in fact increases are heartfelt love for our Lord.  When we view rewards this way make love and reward friends, not enemies.    The fact is, God does not have to reward us for what we do. Instead, he chooses to and delights to.

#4.   Lastly, heavenly rewards never bring self-glory because they are only a means to an end.  All of God's gifts are to be used for His glory.  In heaven the saints of God receive their crowns of glory – their reward, but they are given because in heaven the rewards find their greatest use – they become instruments of worship.  In Revelation 4:10-11 we read:  "¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ¹¹ “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”  Crowns are given casting, not for conceit.

Everything Happens For A Reason -- REALLY?

In the last several weeks I have heard, this somewhat innocuous statement -- many times:

Now, this idea is often communicated by people, who at least appear to be expressing this in a less than religious context.  It comes across as a truism that is widely accepted by a diverse group of people. Now I am a unapologetic Christian.  Somewhere along the line, every Christian has to believe in the sovereign, providence of God. To  say that is to say, "Everything happens for a reason."

This maxim in the context of Christianity affirms the Biblical position that we are all dependent upon a personal, creature God, who ". . . doth uphold, direct dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy." (Westminster Confession of Faith)

My question is this: to what force or being does one who does not believe in God attribute such power that they can say with confidence that everything happens for a reason.  Of course to be cynical we could say that things happen for a reason does not necessarily mean that such an event occurs with particular significance. To say something happens is just an acknowledgment of reality. But the context that many use this is that things happen for reasons that bring worth, validation and affirmation of what they just experienced.  So this begs the question.  If you do not believe in God as the Bible portrays Him, to whom do you attribute such power?

To fail to believe in the sovereign God of the Bible is to generally believe in random order or at least a self-generating cosmos.  To believe that things happen for a purpose dismisses the former and gives incredible super-powers to a non-rational entity like the cosmos.

I can only imagine that non-Christians seek to borrow equity from the Christian faith in order to promote an idea that everything happens for a reason.

Is this not the height of hypocrisy?  A consistent unbeliever must hold to a randomness to life to the degree that when something happens, the best that can be said, is that: Life happens. That's it!

“Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?” (Lamentations 3:37–38, NIV).

Living With Longing!

Psalm 119:81–88 (NIV),

⁸¹ My soul faints with longing [1] for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 

⁸² My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” 

              ⁸³ Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke [2], I do not forget your decrees. 

⁸⁴ How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? 

             ⁸⁵ The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law. 

        

⁸⁶ All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause. 

            ⁸⁷ They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 

           

⁸⁸ In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

Father, You are eternal, time is somewhat irrelevant to You. It's especially frustrating when I'm in a hurry and You are not. That's why I feel that sometimes my life is shriveled up and its hard to endure. Tomorrow can't come too soon.  There is a sense where every true heart, born of Your Spirit, cries "How long Oh Lord."  Sometimes Your promise seems like a sunrise that is ever so slow in mounting the horizon.  But our confidence is not in what is seen, it is in the promises of Your Word.  Your Word was established before time and therefore it is not eroded by time.   Some of us, Oh Lord, have been ordained to be persecuted by people -- people who have no cause.  Some of us are harassed by events -- circumstances over which we have no control. Some of us know what a loveless bondage some relationships are. But again Father we are reminded that Your Law is trustworthy and within it there is relief and escape.  The Bible unlocks the prison of our circumstances; and the Bible enables us to live above the circumstances. In light of this assurance, with Your help, grant me the grace to trust You more; obey You more; and hope in You always -- even if the answer doesn't come -- right away.  For the sake of Jesus. For the encouragement of Your Church.  For the glory of You, my God and Father.  Amen.

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1. כָּלָה [kalah /kaw·law/]  ("faints," v.81; "fail," v.82; "wiped [out]," v.87). The word kalah means “to come to an end” or “be consumed.”

2. An unused wineskin, hanging in the rafters, becomes shriveled by the smoke; this is an image of one’s vitality “drying up.”  [Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (1097). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.]

Justification Through Judaism Is Paganism.

Galatians 4:8–11 (NIV),

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ¹⁰ You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

This is a vicious thrust of the Apostle when you recall that the recipients of this letter are Gentiles. He is saying that to return to the practice of Judaism for righteousness is no different than pagans returning to their false gods.  Stated clearly, it is Paul's view that for a Christian to return to Old Testament worship, to gain acceptance with God, is no different than him or her returning to pagan idolatry.  Bottom line: "Whosoever is fallen from the article of justification, is ignorant of God, and an idolater . . . Therefore, as many as trust to their own strength and righteousness, do serve a god, but such a god as they themselves have devised, and not the true God indeed." [1]

But this is not the case, these people "know God" (or are "known by God").  This is a poignant slip of the pen for Paul.  He is making a point.  "Wherefore, even by these words, “ye are known of God,” he taketh away all righteousness from the law, and denieth that we attain the knowledge of God through the worthiness of our works." [1]  God by His gracious pleasure has known you. Why go back to such "weak and miserable forces."   Such a demeaning statement of the Law of Moses is nowhere stated in the Apostolic literature.  "Paul seemeth to speak very spitefully of the law, when he calleth it the rudiments (as he did also before in the beginning of this chapter), and not only rudiments, but weak and beggarly rudiments." [1]

"Paul’s question shows the absurdity of their desire to be slaves again. They were in the process of leaving the light and liberty of Christianity for the shadow and slavery of legalism. Ritualistic observances are heathenish in principle. They are a system of bondage opposed to God’s grace. How can anyone want to exchange the robe of Christ’s righteousness for the filthy rags of heathenism, Judaism, or any other “ism”?" [2]

"Therefore he saith that they, losing the grace and liberty which they had in Christ, were turned back to the serving of weak and beggarly elements. For they were persuaded by the false apostles, that these laws must needs be kept, and by keeping of them they should obtain righteousness; but if they kept them not, they should be damned." [3]

So Paul sighs, "I am afraid that all my hard work among you has gone up in a puff of smoke!" [4]

Father it almost is incredulous to think that men and women who are steeped in pagan idolatry and false worship would come into the light of the Gospel and then think it to be good to fall back into that form of bondage -- except that it is clothed with religion now -- the Jewish religion -- moral, law-keeping religion.  Justification through Judaism is nothing short of paganism.  And no wonder Luther would explain how easy it is to drift away from the Gospel. Indeed ceremonialism and legalism sure look good.  Unfortunately they will take us to Hell. Prone to wander Lord I feel it.  Prone to leave the God I love.  Father, bind my heart to the true and saving Gospel.  Help me to see through the cloak of religion to the Devil who inhabits all pagan worship.   The Gospel, Your Gospel is the only message that saves.  Thank you for it. Keep me in it, I pray.

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:8). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2391). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:10). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

4. Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: The Bible in contemporary language (Ga 4:11). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.

May I Walk The Talk!

Psalm 119:73–80 (NIV),

⁷³ Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. 

     ⁷⁴ May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. 

⁷⁵ I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 

     ⁷⁶ May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. 

⁷⁷ Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. 

     ⁷⁸ May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your         precepts. 

     ⁷⁹ May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes. 

     ⁸⁰ May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.

Father I live among others who fear You -- in my family, my church and my community.  There are brothers and sisters in Christ who observe me.  They naturally make judgments about me. I pray that the study, the reading, the meditation and prayer in Your Word will be a testimony to others.  I certainly want to learn more about Your will; and I long that Your Word be my delight, but if it does not transform my life -- if if those in Christ do not witness a transformation of my character and a maturity in my understanding, then I am learning only to be puffed up. If I am reproached without basis then I will not worry about it because Your Word teaches me of Your love and compassion.  But Father help me not to be shamed for things for which I know better. May the instruction of Your Word and the behavior of my life be the same. I welcome Your discipline where I err for I long to be known as a follower of my God.  I pray this for the sake of Christ and for the ultimate and resounding joy of the Church. Amen.

God Hears The Cry Of His Child, Because It Is He Who Cries!

Galatians 4:4–7 (NIV),

⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

"God sent his Son at the right moment in human history, when God’s providential oversight of the events of the world had directed and prepared peoples and nations for the incarnation and ministry of Christ, and for the proclamation of the gospel." [1]  "In these words he comprehendeth both the person of Christ and the office of Christ. His person consisteth of his divine and human nature. This he sheweth plainly when he saith, “God sent his own son, born of a woman.” Christ therefore is very God and very man. His office he setteth forth in these words: 'Being made under the law to redeem them that were under the law.'” [2]

Luther then asks this important question, "How did Christ redeem us?"  "Although he be the Lord of the law, and therefore the law hath no authority or power over him (for he is the Son of God), yet of his own accord he made himself subject to the law . . . For it accused him as a blasphemer and a seditious person: it made him guilty before God of the sins of the whole world: it so terrified and oppressed him with heaviness and anguish of spirit, that he sweat blood, and briefly, it condemned him to death, yea even to the death of the cross (Luke xxii. 44)." [2]  

Yes, the Lord of glory who was completely sinless came and lived under the very Law He established that in our place it might condemn Him.  As our sins were placed upon Him, He suffered the consequence of the Law.  “Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12, NIV).  

"So Christ, a divine and human person, begotten of God without beginning, and born of the Virgin in the time appointed, came not to make a law, but to feel and suffer and terrors of the law with all extremity, and to overcome the same, that so he might utterly abolish the law." [2]  We all deserved death -- "everlasting death" but instead have received the blessings of adoption.  Are we recipients of this grace because of what we have done?  Absolutely not.  He was made a curse for us.  He redeemed us.  To God be the glory!

Not only that, we are given the gift of the indwelling Spirit of God.  "Every child of God is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19–20). He is the earnest of our inheritance (Eph 1:13–14). All guardians and stewards have been discharged; their supervision is no longer needed because believers are full-grown sons indwelt by the Holy Spirit." [3]  "And although it appear not before the world, that we be renewed in mind and have the Holy Ghost, yet notwithstanding our judgment, our speech, and our confession do declare sufficiently, that the Holy Ghost with his gifts is in us." [4]

And as Luther writes, "When we are in terrors and in the conflict of conscience, we take hold of Christ, and believe that he is our Savior."  It is then we cry, "Abba, Father."  "“Abba” is the intimate Aramaic word for “father,” being equivalent to the English “Daddy,” or “Papa.” Thus, the intimacy of the relationship between God the Father and men, His sons through Christ, is emphasized." [5] 

And it is not just the difficulties of life, but the terrors and torments of the Law that trouble us.  To this too we cry to our Savior. "Wherefore, in the midst of thy temptation and infirmity, cleave only unto Christ, and groan unto him. He giveth the Holy Ghost which crieth, “Abba Father.” And this feeble groaning is a mighty cry in the ears of God, and so filleth heaven and earth, that God heareth nothing else: and moreover, it stoppeth the cries of all other things whatsoever." [6]  It is this cry that confirms that we are sons of God and not merely slaves.  And we must remember that "there is no work or merit that bringeth to him the inheritance, but his birth only." [6]

Father, we as Your children are still in a daze as we ride this rocket of a passage.  In a flash we move from incarnation to glorification, from slave to heir, from fear to firmly grasping Your hand.  I have often struggled with how to help others in the assurance and affirmation of their faith in You.  Today I see that the assurance is in the Gospel.  The essence of the Gospel itself gives us the confidence that we are children of God.  The Gospel is self-authenticating.  What joy! What amazing joy comes from the Gospel.  And oh the depth of the riches of Your grace. Thank you Father for sending Your Son to take the lashes of the Law for my sake.  Thank you for sending Your Spirit to cry into my soul, 'Abba, Father.'   Thank You for Your everlasting peace and infinite love that takes a rebel like me and makes me an heir of Your kingdom.   What amazing, amazing, yes, amazing truth!  May the whole world see it.   To God be the glory!

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1.  Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2251). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2390). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

5. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Ga 4:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

6.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

It's Either Kindergarten or Christ.

Galatians 4:1–3 (NIV)

¹ What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.

This shift in Paul's letter now gives explanation to what he meant earlier when he wrote: “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24, NIV).  In this sense Paul regards the law as a guardian or trustee which plays a role in a persons life while they are yet in a position not to make their own decisions. They are lacking the maturity needed to live as a full heir.  "When a son is a minor and too young to receive his inheritance, he might as well be a slave." [1]  This condition is in a real sense a condition of slavery.  You will see that in a moment. "The Greek perfect tense implies that we were in a real state of servitude under the legalistic system and not free sons under grace." [2]

Now this guardian is the Law!  As Luther explains: "Indeed he hath an assured hope of an inheritance: but before he come to his years, his tutors hold him in subjection, like as the schoolmaster doth the scholar. They commit not unto him the ordering of his own goods, but constrain him to serve, so that he is kept and maintained with his own goods like a servant." [3]  This time of tutoring -- this time while held in governance was not without hope.  "Moses did nourish us with the hope of the promise to be revealed in the time appointed." [3]

Then the Apostle expands the thought further to say, “So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.” (Galatians 4:3, NIV).  What is this "elemental spiritual forces of the world?"   "The word elements (Gr stoicheion) denotes things placed in a row, thus the letters of the alphabet. Hence, the ABC’s or . . .  the kindergarten department of instruction in religious observances which are external and temporal as contrasted with the permanent spiritual principles of faith in Christ." [4]  Luther interprets these "kindergarten" principles as the Law. "He calleth therefore the law the elements of the world; that is to say, the outward letters and traditions written in a certain book." [5]

If I understand this correctly (and to use an illustration from the Law) when a Hebrew family gathered around the Pascal Lamb ceremony and celebrated God's goodness and grace in bringing them out of Egypt and out of slavery.  This was "kindergarten".  This was Christianity 101.  But when Christ came He fulfilled what this ABC story was all about.  To leave Christ; to return to Judaism is to go back to "kindergarten". But this illustration also misses the weight of Paul's statement.   To stay in kindergarten is to also stay in slavery.  Luther explains: "For although the law do civilly bridle a man from evil, and constrain him to do well, yet notwithstanding being kept after this sort, it doth not deliver him from sin, it justifieth him not, it prepareth not a way for him to heaven, but leaveth him in the world. I do not obtain righteousness and everlasting life, because I kill not, I commit not adultery, I do not steal, &c. These outward virtues and honest conversations be not the kingdom of Christ, nor the heavenly righteousness, but the righteousness of the flesh and of the world." [5]

To fail to come into maturity on these things is to remain an infant in understanding and to remain in bondage.  "Wherefore let us not suffer the law in any case to bear rule in our conscience, especially seeing it cost Christ so great a price to deliver the conscience from the tyranny of the law. For he was made a curse for us, that he might deliver us from the curse of the law. Let the godly learn therefore that the law and Christ are two contrary things, whereof the one cannot abide the other." [5]

Under Judaism, the true Israelite, the true child of Promise was able to see past Christianity 101 and see Christ.  Abraham was able to see past the "land," “for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10, NIV).  Moses was able to see past the exodus because  “he regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:26, NIV).

Father, the revelation of Your Word is so amazing.  It is thrilling to me when all these truths come together in a fluid, fulfilling format. How childish it is to think that I can be justified in Your sight by good moral living and adherence to the Law.  Even to think so is immature.  To do so is bondage. And the truth is that none of Your servants and prophets of the earlier dispensations believed that in the first case.  Lord grant that I be like Abraham and see beyond the shadows and illustrations to that "better city."  That I might be like Moses and see beyond the parables of life to that greater reward.  Lord grant me the grace today to see Christ as a greater treasure than anything -- even the treasures of Egypt.   I thank You today for free grace.  I thank You today for freedom.  But as I pray this I know this was not a cheap grace or a discounted freedom.  This blessing of full maturity and sonship comes to me at the cost of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.   May His Name be praised in my words and my conduct today.  Amen and amen.

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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2251). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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

3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:1). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
4. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2389–2390). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
5. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 4:3). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.