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On September 25, 2024 By In Theology, Wisdom, Work

Vocational Harmony

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called….” ~Ephesians 4:1

We have a calling. Within that calling, we have callings or vocations. (“Vocation” is derived from the Latin, voco, “I call,” so “calling” and “vocation” are the same thing.) Paul has a focus for what he says in Ephesians 4:1: he is aiming for the unity of the church, especially with regards to the Jew and Gentile being united into the one body of Christ. Consequently, he aims at character qualities that promote unity: humility, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, and eagerness to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He then focuses on the seven ones (“one Lord, one faith, one baptism,” etc.). The calling of which he speaks is God’s call upon us as Christians.

What is “a call” or “a calling?” Marcus Barth describes Paul’s use of calling as “an act of creation and election; through this act non-being becomes being, not-beloved becomes beloved (Ephesians, ABC, 1:151) … further, it is “an appointment to a position of honor” describing the honorary place and function with which God has entrusted the saints. (Ibid., 2:427). God’s callings are what he has appointed you to do.

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On September 19, 2024 By In Discipleship, Prayer, Theology, Worship

Praying In The Spirit: What is Prayer?

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to God. ~Romans 8:26-27

At this time, in the created order, a hauntingly bright symphony is being performed. The creation is groaning and travailing in the pains of childbirth like the deep, resonating, sad tones of a cello. The groans of the cello are joined in the same melodic progression by the violins of Christians’ groaning. As Christians, we find ourselves in harmony with the creation, giving it further voice because we share in the same pain, waiting with the rest of creation for the redemption of our bodies. But there is a third voice, a voice deeper and more fundamental in this symphony that controls it and moves it toward its conclusion. It is the double bass of the Spirit, groaning out wordless music to the Father. We and the rest of creation with us have joined with him so that we are taking up his groans, and he is taking up our groans in this symphony of prayer.

This is praying in the Spirit.

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On September 13, 2024 By In Church, Culture, Theology

What Does Baptism Accomplish? Part Four: An Ordination Ceremony

In the previous installments, we’ve been examining the question: What Does Baptism Accomplish? Those who have been following will know the answer to that question is multifaceted and can be described from several angles.

At the most basic level, we saw that Baptism initiates a covenant relationship with the Triune God and with each of the three Persons in particular. In relation to the Father, baptism is adoptive: we become members of the Family of God. In relation to the Son, it is marital: we become members of the Bride of Christ. In relation to the Holy Spirit, it is ministerial: we become members of the Universal Priesthood of the Church. Therefore, baptism simultaneously functions as an adoption, marriage, and ordination ceremony. 

Having established the first two propositions, we turn now to the third. The argument to follow is structured around three points: first, the baptism of Jesus was His ordination ceremony; second, our baptism was our ordination ceremony; third, in keeping with the pattern, we will consider the objective and subjective dimensions involved.

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On September 12, 2024 By In Church, Discipleship, Theology

The Church’s People

Tychicus. Onesimus. Aristarchus. Mark. Justus. Epaphras. Luke. Demas. Nymphas. Archippus. If you know your Scriptures really well, several of these names are familiar to you. Mark and Luke wrote two of the Gospels. Onesimus is a focus of Paul’s brief letter to Philemon. The others are not so well known. Tychicus is mentioned several times in the New Testament as Paul’s companion. Epaphras is highlighted in the opening of the letter to the Colossians. If you know Demas at all, it is probably because he is infamous for abandoning Paul “having loved this present world” (2 Tim 4:10). What they all hold in common is that they are all mentioned at the end of Colossians either sending greetings, being exhorted, or receiving praise.

It’s often tempting to skim over Paul’s greetings at the end of his letters. The main body of the letter is complete, so we tend to tune out as we continue reading or listening just to check off our daily Bible reading. However, if God has included these greetings in the letter, there must be a significant reason why the church needs them. These greetings are not mere formalities, but they carry a deeper message that we should not overlook.

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On August 31, 2024 By In History, Theology

The Reformed Doctrine of the Necessity of Good Works

When the average Evangelical Christian talks about being “saved” he usually refers to the first moment of conversion, or justification by faith in Christ. He tends to reduce salvation to a past event in the believer’s life: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8). From this perspective, salvation is something that has already been accomplished.

But this perspective is myopic. The Bible paints a far richer picture, presenting salvation as an ongoing journey that culminates in the future. Believers have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved on the Last Day: “And the Lord added to the church daily those who are being saved” (Acts 2:47); “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Mt. 24:13).

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On August 20, 2024 By In Church, Culture, Family and Children, Theology

What Does Baptism Accomplish? Part Three: A Marriage Ceremony

In this series, I am seeking to answer the question: What Does Baptism Accomplish? To begin with, I said: Baptism initiates a real covenant relationship with the Triune God and with each of the Persons in particular. This means that there are three different aspects to this relationship and each one corresponds to one of the Three Persons of the Trinity. As it pertains to the Father, the relationship is adoptive. As it pertains to the Son, the relationship is marital. And as it pertains to the Holy Spirit, the relationship is ministerial. 

I covered the adoptive aspect and now I’ll be covering the marital aspect. First, I want to show that, in the Bible, the relationship we have with God in Christ is of a marital nature. Second, I’ll show the connection between marriage and baptism. Finally, I’ll provide some guidelines on how to think of this relationship in terms of objective and subjective realities. 

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On August 12, 2024 By In Church, Culture, Theology

What Does Baptism Accomplish? Part Two: Adoption Ceremony

When God enters into covenant with His people, there is always an adoptive element involved: He becomes their Father, and they become His children. And this has always been the case. In Scripture, even Adam’s relationship with God is expressed in terms of sonship (Hosea 6:7; Luke 3:38), highlighting the filial dimension to the covenant into which he was created. Later, after his Fall and recovery by God in Christ, that relationship was available to those who renewed their  covenant with God and maintained the true worship of the Lord (Genesis 4:26). They were called sons and daughters of God, while the rest of the world were called the sons and daughters of men (Genesis 6:2). 

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On August 5, 2024 By In Church, Theology

What Does Baptism Accomplish? Part One: Introduction

One of the questions often posed about the sacrament of Holy Baptism is: What does it actually accomplish? The answer in its most basic form is that Baptism initiates a covenant relationship with the Triune God and with each of the three Persons in particular. 

In this series, I will develop this answer in some detail, but first it may be helpful to give a brief explanation and defense of its several parts.

Baptism Initiates a Covenant Relationship

Some have argued that “initiate” is too strong of a word since baptism, like circumcision, merely “acknowledges” a child’s existing covenant relationship with God, provided that he was born to at least one believing parent (1 Corinthians 7:14). Indeed, such an argument is not altogether wrong, as the LORD states that a child not circumcised on the eighth day would be “cut off from his people” for having “broken My covenant” (Genesis 17:12-14). From this passage, it is evident that every Israelite boy had a legitimate covenant status prior to his circumcision. Otherwise, how could he have broken the covenant? Or what does it mean that he is to be cut off from God’s people? 

At the same time, however, we need to understand that this pre-circumcision covenant status was provisional. To use an analogy, it is like a temporary paper driver’s license issued to a new driver until the official one arrives. The paper license is real but is intended for limited and temporary use, and therefore bears the disclaimer: Not a Valid Form of ID. While imperfect, this analogy suffices. The thrust of Genesis 17:12-14 is that when the circumcision of an Israelite boy was refused or neglected by the father, the provisional covenant status of the child expired on the eighth day. Thus, the lack of circumcision annulled the status that the child enjoyed for the first eight days of his life. At minimum, this implies that birth alone—like the paper license—was not a valid form of Covenant ID in Israel.

In the same way, we might assert that any child born today to at least one believing parent has an interest in the covenant by virtue of his birth. In this sense, his covenant status is assumed but still pending. The child is holy, but with a provisional holiness (1 Corinthians 7:14). Thus, it is only when he is baptized that he enters into the church and is cleared and confirmed as a member of the body of Christ. Being baptized, his provisional covenant status is both formalized and secured.

However, while such an objection may be valid, it is nevertheless limited since it only applies to covenant children who are born within the church and fails to account for the men, women, and children who come in from the outside. For those who come from the outside have no covenant status to formalize or secure. In their case, baptism serves to confer that status for the very first time, as it unites them to Jesus Christ, brings them into the new covenant community, and incorporates them into the life of church: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Acts 2:41).

Therefore, there is nothing improper in saying that baptism initiates a covenant relationship with the Triune God.

A Relationship with the Triune God 

Of all the aspects of the answer provided, this is perhaps the easiest to understand. When a person is baptized, he is always baptized into the name of the Triune God. Jesus commanded the apostles to use the Trinitarian formula for Christian baptism, thus, employing a different form invalidates the rite. Unless we are baptized “into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19-20), we are not baptized at all. This command has been faithfully followed by the church for nearly 2,000 years. 

Unfortunately, many today question the necessity of using the Trinitarian formula, citing instances in Scripture where the apostles baptized people “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 10:48). To clarify this point, we must understand the flexibility of the term “name” (Greek: onoma). At times, it refers to a person’s reputation, as seen in Revelation 3:1: “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” At other times, it denotes a person’s authority, as when Paul said to the unclean spirit: “I command you in the Name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” (Acts 16:18). In this latter sense, the apostles baptized in Jesus’ name—they acted under His authority, as His appointed representatives.

Moreover, the term “name” is used in Scripture to denote the person himself. This is evident in the Lord’s response to Moses when he asked to see the Lord’s glory (Exodus 33:18). The Lord replied, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before you” (Exodus 33:19). Subsequently, as He passed by Moses, He proclaimed His “name” by listing a number of the communicable attributes of His own nature—specifically His mercy, grace, patience, goodness, truth, and justice (Exodus 34:6-7). From this, it becomes clear that God’s Name refers to God Himself, so that to be baptized into the Name of the Triune God is to be baptized into Him. Through baptism, we are united to God in Christ, made “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) and beneficiaries of His richest covenant blessings.

Nevertheless, as previously noted, the church remains committed to baptizing in the authority of Jesus Christ, who commissioned His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” This practice is essential to uphold.

With Each Person of the Trinity 

Here we transition from the “one” to the “many” and return to where we began. God is indeed one, yet He is one in three Persons. Therefore, while baptism initiates a covenant relationship with the Triune God, there are necessarily three distinct aspects to that relationship, each corresponding to one of the three Persons of the Trinity. As it pertains to the Father, the relationship is adoptive; as it pertains to the Son, it is marital; and as it pertains to the Holy Spirit, it is ministerial. Thus, baptism (serving simultaneously as an adoption, marriage, and ordination ceremony) at once incorporates the baptized person into the family of God, the bride of Christ, and the universal priesthood of the Christian church.

In the following three installments, I will take up and defend these propositions in turn, beginning with the assertion that Christian baptism is an adoption ceremony. This foundational aspect not only underscores our identity in Christ but also invites us into the profound and transformative relationship that God extends to each of His covenant children.

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On July 24, 2024 By In Family and Children, Men, Theology, Wisdom, Women

A Husband’s Love

“Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter with them.” ~Colossians 3:19

Marriage has been a fight for survival from the beginning of time. The present-day battle of the sexes is nothing new. Feminists rail against biblical marriage because the thought of submitting to a husband is barbaric and demeaning. But Feminism, with all its evils, is not the primary problem. The lack of masculine leadership is the principal problem; it has been since the Garden. Modern men respond to Feminism not by assuming masculine responsibility and seeking to win women back with strong, confident leadership but by agreeing with them that marriage is a bad deal for men as well. “The courts are stacked against us. A woman can take almost everything I have, including my children. Marriage is a bad deal for men.” Black-pilled (at least in the area of marriage) MGTOWs (Men Going Their Own Way) have blamed women for everything, becoming resentful. “Masculine” influencers encourage young men never to get married; in other words, never truly love a woman.

Marriage is risky. It always has been. You are entrusting yourself to another person, opening yourself up to the possibility of the greatest pain you can ever experience. But it is also true that you may experience some of the deepest joys known to a man. Masculine men take risks and take on responsibility. Effeminate men hide behind all the excuses of everything being against them, whine, and refuse to fight for what is good. Real men take the risk of loving a woman genuinely and deeply.

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On July 18, 2024 By In Discipleship, Family and Children, Theology, Women

The Submission of Wives

“Strong Independent Woman” has been a meme in our culture since the 1970s, and not a funny one. The character developed within the Feminist movement has leavened Western culture so that now this is the cultural ideal. Women who refuse this title are backward and old-fashioned in the worst possible way. The Strong Independent Woman “don’t need no man” and must never do anything for the express purpose of pleasing a man. If she happens to choose marriage, she will remain on a separate path from her husband. Her subservient husband (whom she will call an “equal partner”) supports her independence so that she can achieve her hopes and dreams.

Enter Paul’s words to Christian wives: “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (Col 3:18). The words come as so out of place to some Christian commentators that they see Paul’s command as “culturally bound” and can’t be translated into our more enlightened twenty-first-century context. Reading this part of what is called “the household code” must be only to “unmask them as texts promoting patriarchal violence.” (Fiorenza in David Garland, Colossians, 253).

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