See the Grace of God, And Be Glad

Every other Tuesday night I work out with a friend and afterwards we head to Starbucks to talk and pray. Right now we're going through this book, so far it's been very helpful and one of the reasons is because there are questions at the end of each chapter. One question that guided a lot of our conversation was, "Whom have you seen changed by the outworking of God's grace, and how?" We talked about this and why being intentionally involved in others lives makes this kind of question easier to answer. One of the passages I brought to the conversation was Acts 11:22-24, it talks about this very thing.

The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

The people at Antioch that Barnabas was going to visit had just endured persecution, traveled out of Jerusalem to Antioch, and established a church. Barnabas goes to visit and encourage them, and when he gets there he sees the grace of God and it makes Him glad, he rejoices. Why? What did he see that made him rejoice?

He sees them glad and growing, and being sanctified by the very same grace that saved them. He sees them doing what God’s grace does in others: Trains them to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our (their) blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13) He sees them doing, increasingly, the good works that they’ve been created, by grace, in Christ Jesus, to do; and all of this after they just had their lives threatened. That’s why they were called Christians (Acts 11:26), not because of their conversion, but because of the grace of God manifested in their lives post conversion—their conversations, their motivations, their happiness, their free time—all of it changed and changing for God’s glory, because of God’s grace.

We’re so prone, in our pride (I know I am) to think at times that because we know so much about the doctrine of grace (or pick anything) that we some how have arrived at some sort of spiritual plateau--we’re mature now. Maybe you struggle with the idea that suggests, if someone can’t articulate their understanding of grace the way that we can, or even the way the people we know can, well, then they just aren’t very holy or spiritually mature.

The real question isn’t, can they articulate it with eloquence, but can you see it, in their life? Do you see it!? Does your looking for God’s grace in the lives of others stop at how well they know something and can articulate it? Let me assure you, and you probably already know this but let me just assure you, if someone can give me facts about grace, or a detailed outline on the doctrine of grace and say, “See I know that.” And then, they can cut someone down with their words or look down their nose at them because they don’t know the name of some theologian or don’t subscribe as tightly to a particular doctrine, then they don’t know grace. Because that’s not grace. That’s not the grace that they we’re given by God, in Christ—that’s arrogance, and grace doesn’t make arrogant people, it makes humble people.

Now, can knowledge be evidence of God’s grace? Yes. Is it something to be glad about when we see it gained by someone else? Yes. But what should make you really glad is the manifestation of that knowledge into the actual life, actions, words and motivations of another person.

Here’s another thought: Someone lives with perpetual guilt and depression because of their sin, feeling like every sin they commit and every time they miss “quiet time” is a rung that they’ve dropped on the ladder of God’s love and acceptance towards them and another step they have to take back to God’s loving embrance—they don’t get grace. Because that’s not grace, that’s a lie called legalism. You were saved by grace, through faith in the finished work of Christ alone, not your works.

Do our sins cause grief? They should? Do they cause a feeling of distance from God? Yes. Should that grief disable us to the point of, “God hates me now. . .He hates me! No! Grace says with Micah:

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression

For the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. (Micah 7:18)

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;

When I fall, I shall rise;

When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. (Micah 7:9)

Embracing the cross where Jesus died, as your payment for your sin. Debt paid! That’s a good work of grace.

So, what are you focused on? Are you looking for it in others? Are you like Barnabus, “God, I’m going to Antioch and I know they’ve been enduring persecution, I pray their still strong and I hope when I see them they’re still enduring and bearing fruit and growing in the midst of loss and suffering . . .show me your grace in their lives!” Barnabus saw them inside the sovereignty of God’s grace. He understood how they got to the point they were at—by God’s sovereign grace and choice. We ought to as well.

Death of A Young Egg Shocks Neighborhood

It was a tragic scene yesterday at the corner of the 52^nd block of Chestnut street in West Philadelphia. Humpty, a young egg walking home from school with his friends as usual, fell victim to a horrific accident. He, along with his companions thought it might be fun to climb a wall in the backyard of Philadelphia resident James Kingcrumb. “I didn’t even know the kids were out there, not until I heard the noise,” tells Kingcrumb. The noise Kingcrumb heard was Humpty, who lost balance along the wall and plummeted to the pavement, his hard shell and gooey insides leaking out into the street. Kingcrumb hastily tried to assemble the pieces, but it was too late.

Kingcrumb relayed his feelings to reporters with a mixture of anguish and aggravation, “I knew he was gone when I could smell him cooking on the hot summer pavement--that’s when I called the police. It’s sad you know, because this stuff happens too often in this neighborhood; just the other day a young piece of cheese was sliced to bits up on Baltimore Avenue, right outside the pizza place. It just really upsets me. . . makes me sick, because. . . you know. . .we all have to live here and nobody wants to live like this. I feel for the young kids in this neighborhood, they’re the ones who have to grow up in this environment and, well. . . it’s just horrible. Something needs to be done, this is just ridiculous…this can’t go on.”

Humpty’s friends declined to comment for reporters but have been seen entering and exiting the Humpty home all day, more than likely to offer their condolences and express their sorrow for the tragic accident.

“You never expect this kind of thing to happen right in you’re own backyard,” said Kingcrumb, “I guess now that it has, it’s not going over very easy for me. It’s just hard.”

The Story of Conversation

Someone recently asked me the question, "What is effective Gospel-centered conversation?" I had to think about it, in fact, I'm still thinking about it.

My wife and I lead a home community group in our local fellowship and conversation is part of what drives the group, you might say that without conversation the group would falter. Why? Why is conversation so important? What kind of conversation is important? What kind of conversation is most effective? I thought, if I'm going to get my understanding of this from Scripture I have to read "backwards" in God's story to get a better understanding of conversation and where it comes--what is the "story of conversation"?

The Great Announcer: God as the First Initiator of Conversation

God has the first conversation with Himself (Gen 1:26) and the next He has with Adam and the basis of conversation is announcing Adam's privilege(s) (Gen 2:17). God is proclaiming to Adam, "This is what I have for you to enjoy. Enjoy it!" So, it seems to me that if conversation is going to be understood properly we have to understand that it started with, comes from, and was first initiated by God.

The Questions of Conversation: Deviating From the Plan

The next conversation is not so helpful. There's no announcing or proclaiming, nothing said that can be stood on or trusted in. In fact, all that has already been proclaimed is now being called into question (Gen 3:1). All the questioning and debating about what has already been affirmed is really just temptation to throw out what God has already said in the name of, "good, thoughtful, intuitive conversation". Nothing good can come from this, right?

The Gracious Confronter: God as the First to Confront, Convict and Give Hope

The next conversation God has with man is unlike the first in that it is an actual conversation; meaning there is dialogue involved. Once again, it is initiated by God (Gen 3:9a). There is some questioning (Gen 3:9b; Gen 3:11, 13), all of which is done by God and all of which leads Adam and Eve to realize the weight of the error and the foolishness of their "intuitive conversation" and dismissal of all that was announced and proclaimed to them. Then, God does some more proclaiming and promising (Gen 3:14-19). Part of this announcement is a curse on a now fallen world, but in the midst of the curse there is a promise (Gen 3:15). So, to answer my previous question--Yes! Good can and did come from Eve's interrogative conversation in Genesis 3:1-7. In the midst of His promise to curse, God promises to redeem and in doing so He gives hope to an otherwise hopeless Adam and Eve. This hope is of coarse found in the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Our Conversation

God's conversation with Adam, Eve and the serpent in Genesis 3 is the Gospel. He confronts, which is what the Gospel does to us, He convicts them of sin, which the Gospel does, He promises a redeemer and victor over sin and death, which the Gospel does also, and all of this is done to lead Adam and Eve back to the God that they doubted and distrusted.

Shouldn't we pattern our conversation after this? If our most important moments of conversation are going to truly be effective and helpful then taking opportunities to lead one another to our Redeemer and King is crucial. This doesn't mean every word we speak to someone has to be about the Gospel but it should be driven by the Gospel. Are we loving enough to confront with grace when confrontation is needed? Do we believe in the power of the Gospel enough to rebuke and correct with gentleness when we know it is necessary. Is Christ's atonement and the hope of the coming Kingdom such a reality to us that we are eager and able to encourage others with its truth?

Does the history of our conversation mirror His-story of conversation?

The Bible is written to show us the true nature of reality. Scripture will either affirm or confront the stories by which we make sense of the details of our daily lives.

- Michael R. Emlet, CrossTalk: Where Life & Scripture Meet

Counting the Cost of Our Worship

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have not lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing God.

Heb 13:12-16

All of the decisions we make in life have something to do with how we perceive things, and so, our choices, our life, is very much a matter of perception. What does the Gospel have to do with our perception?

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of serving and worshiping with my local church through preaching on John 12:1-9. I pray the sermon diagnoses, convicts and encourages your hearts with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and what it has to do with our perception of reality.

The link is below:

Counting the Cost of Our Worship

A commentary that helped my preparation and will certainly help your study of John. Click on the book to get it, and other Cross-centered books:

Knowledge is Everything!

I've been trekking through a book called The Glory of Christ by John Owen (who is becoming "my favorite" the more I read him). It is the glory of Christ, but the book could rightly be titled The Glories of Christ because each chapter is about a facet of Christ's glory.

I make this distinction because of why I'm reading the book; someone told me that all sin is disbelief in a particular attribute of God. So, usually, when I see an area of weakness (i.e. love, patience, humility v. pride) or a discipline (i.e. prayer, meditation, writing) that is lacking I try to trace it back to an aspect of God's character and an area of the Gospel that I lack belief in. One of the things that I love about the Apostle Paul is that he talked about this kind of thing a lot in his letters (Eph 3:14-21; Phil 3:7,8)--to know Jesus is to grow in Jesus!

"The Glory of Christ? I need to read that. That's what I need," I said to myself. That's my first reason.

My second reason is because I live and go to church in Philly, and my heart really is that they would know know know Jesus! So many know so much about a few small things and so little about the One who made and makes all things (myself included). There are times when I'm walking or driving through a section of the hood (it doesn't matter which one) and I can see the proverbial cloud of deception and sin that cloaks people; I want to scream to hold back my tears.

How can I love my wife and others, serve others and speak truth into the life of the people in our church and community group, that actually affects them, if I'm not growing in my knowledge of Jesus? I can't. If I'm growing more in my knowledge of the Philadelphia Sports beat and where the best restaurants are downtown than I am in my knowledge of Jesus, I am not being culturally relevant or culturally helpful, I'm blending in and as a result, I'm killing my culture. I really believe that. When I sit down to talk with someone or end up having a conversation with someone on the street, I want to have more to offer them than a summary of the sports column, a little tidbit on the recent snowfall or a concurring comment on what the suits at City Hall need to get better at.

I thought, "Other people are looking for answers--ones that are filled with hope and substance and truth. Some of those people are looking to me and others close to me. What will give them? The Glory of Christ? I need to read that."

While I was reading Owen's chapter on 'The Glory of Christ's Work as Mediator' I was convicted of my lack of knowledge of Him and thus my lack of love for others, and hopeful and prayerful that the people in my city and our church would know Him, and grow. Here is what I read. I welcome your thoughts and comments:

When Adam sinned, he stood ashamed, afraid, trembling, as one ready to perish for ever under the severe displeasure of God. Death was what he deserved, and he fully expected the sentence to be carried out. In this sate, the Lord CHrist in the promise comes to him, and says, 'Poor creature! How terrible is your condition! How deformed you are now! What has become of the beauty, the glory of that image of God in which you were created . . . Eternal distress lies before you. But now, look up and behold me. . .do not continue to hide from me. I will take your place. I will bear your guilt and suffer that punishment which would sink you eternally into the hideous depths of hell. I will pay for what I never took. I will be made a curse for you so that you may be eternally blessed.' In the same vein the Lord Christ speaks to all convicted sinners when he invites them to come to him.

The Glory of Christ, Owen, p.60,61

Pick it up here:

That's NOT The Gospel!

The Apostle's Astonishment At Us

Cindy and I are working our way through Galatians at home and in the first chapter we see Paul mention to his brothers and sisters in Galatia that he's astonished that they've begun deserting Christ and following a different gospel (Gal 1:6). There are two ways to approach Paul's astonishment in the text; you can, and should read it in context and only discuss what specifically astonished Paul about the Galatians, or you (we) could consider that we are "foolish Galatians" (Gal 3:1) and search our hearts for reasons why the Apostle Paul might be astonished at us for following a different Gospel. We did the latter and it served our time in the Scriptures well.

Here's the truth--all of us, everyday, are tempted to, wrestle with and sometimes obliviously believe a "different gospel". What I mean by this is that we fail to see the true Gospel's applicability to every single area of our lives and in that momentary blindness we trust in something else as our righteousness, justification, satisfaction, joy, contentment, fulfillment, affirmation, identity, etc. All of the things in that list are truly and wholly realized in the person and work of Jesus Christ, not in how disciplined we are, how entertaining the movie is, how many people "accept us", how much stuff we have, how nice we are, how we look or how long we've been a Christian.

Paul is preaching to us in his epistle. We would do well to listen because we are foolish Galatians who daily desert the true gospel and need the truth of the real Good News to remind us again of the infinite value and worth of the gift of Christ, and what His blood has truly purchased for those who believe and trust in Him (2 Cor 5:21).

Why Does This Matter?

My city is filled with millions of people who believe bad news is good news everyday. My neighborhood is filled with thousands if not millions who believe the gospel of saving money is better than the Gospel of saving grace. My street is filled with hundreds who believe in the waning satisfaction of religious duty over the increasing joy of justification apart from works of the law, and my building is filled with tens, who we know, are boxing and bandaging the ills and wounds of a fallen, broken world with coffee, sports and entertainment, sex and sleep. Oh that we might believe and proclaim with our lives, the true Gospel of King Jesus to those who cannot see it yet!

For Your Consideration

Here are some questions and thoughts that might help you look at Paul's first chapter of Galatians in a more applicable light. I pray they bless you and feel free to leave a response.

1) Don't all of us, so quickly turn to another gospel? What gospel have you been turning to lately? How do you "preach" this gospel to yourself and to others? (Gal 1:7,8)

2) Paul says that those who preach a false gospel are to "be accursed". Have you ever thought of the fact that Jesus, at the cross, was accused and punished by His Father as if He he were a false preacher of the Gospel, a Gospel that belonged to and is only realized in Him, and all so we could believe and preach the true Gospel to ourselves and others? Christ became and bore the damning sin of being a false preacher so that we could believe and profess the truth.

3) How do the false gospels we preach to ourselves seek the approval of man? (Gal 1:10)

4) What is your response when you consider the truth that it pleased God, in His sovereignty to reveal His Son to you? (Gal 1:15-16)

Books and Commentaries that I'm using in our family study of Galatians (click on the books for great deals):

"The Buzz" Through Blood Stained Eyes

Unless you don't watch the news, don't read the news or don't browse the various news sites on the internet then you've probably heard about the unfortunate update on world famous golfer Tiger Woods. For many, his situation has been a source of entertainment, for others it's been a chance to hop on a soap box with finger pointing accusations of, "What's his problem! I would never!. . ."

I personally don't tune into stories like this, they sadden me and only serve to remind me of all the work my wife and I and other brothers and sisters in our city have to do in our own community if we want to see the Gospel of Grace transform people from unforgiven adulterers into redeemed lovers of Christ who have a high and holy view of marriage and build their understanding of sex around Christ, and not their lust or want for "companionship".

I do however listen to sports radio on occasion and amidst the buzz about A.I. coming back to town, Tiger's story has been on the radio. After playing football tonight with some friends, I got to talk with one specific friend and we both found that, big or small, we were struggling with being entertained by this story. It's obviously wrong. Were it not for the grace of God, that would undoubtedly be us--running from attention instead of chasing it.

Before our conversation was over he directed me to a blog he'd read recently that helped him with his view on this. It helped me as well; not only with this particular story but with how I'm seeking to see and do all things to the glory of God, watching the news included.

I pray that this blog encourages you and aids in your sanctification in all areas of life.

Some great books on related topics. Get them here: