Just BECAUSE .... Part 1 - James A.E. MacLellan

Unless Christians understand and apply the phenomenon of multiple causes we will fail to grasp the magnitude and the wonder of God’s relationship with men and women. Embracing complex causation leads to worship in the true sense of the word: admiration for God and responsibility in life.

I think the concept of multiple causes is critical to proper Christian understanding of God’s interaction with men and women.  Let’s start with an easy illustration:

 A married couple has a beautiful baby girl.  We are absolutely aware that this event occurred because this couple engaged in the marriage act which produced a baby.   But this wasn’t the first time they tried to have a baby.  What was different this time?  Well in the most basic sense, there was unification between a sperm and an egg.  So conception occurs because of this union.  Later in life this little girl grows and she asks her mother where she came from.  As my daughter likes to mimic: “Daddy loved Mommy very much and that is why you are here.”   Well of course that is a means of keeping the details to a minimum, but there is truth there.  Behind every act there is a decision a decision that more than often occurs in the deep recesses of one’s subconscious.  That baby girl is here because of the choice of the mind.

Now wait a minute.  Paul affirms about God that “the God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,” (Acts 17:24, ESV).  Psalm 139 is a classic text that insists that this baby girl of our subject is here because God made her.

So you will notice that I used the word because four times in this make-believe story.  A baby girl is here BECAUSE a man and woman chose to engage in sexual intimacy.  She is here BECAUSE they did.  She is here BECAUSE of the union of a sperm and an egg.  She is here BECAUSE God formed and fashioned her in her mother’s womb. 

Theologians (and scientists) have sometimes framed this discussion in terms of primary and secondary causes. The drawer in the theological filing cabinet that contains this discussion is called providence. God is the primary cause of all things.  The uncaused Cause of the universe. But God relates to mankind through secondary causes. When Joseph reconciled with his brothers, Moses records the classic text that reflects this existence of multiple causes. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20, ESV).

Correct biblical understanding will indeed show a pecking order in this arena of causation, but to deny compound causes will not only deny the reality of living, but will stunt one’s understanding of the relationship between God and man.  People who fail to embrace multifaceted causation also tend to become myopic – focusing on one aspect of reality rather than seeing the entire picture.

To be continued … at http://jamesmaclellan.blogspot.ca/

Trying to Make Sense of Alberta Bill 10 - James A.E. MacLellan

On October 7th of this year, Liberal MLA Kent Hehr introduced a Motion (503) that Alberta essentially follow the practice of Manitoba and Ontario requiring school boards to show support to any student who wants to establish a gay-straight alliance (GSA) and activities that will show an inclusiveness with respect to students regardless of sexual orientation. Wikipedia defines a Gay-Straight Alliance as student-led organizations that are intended to provide a safe, supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their straight allies.

The Motion is voted down and then on the 15th of October, Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman announces plans to introduce a private member's bill in support of the GSA directive, which she did on November 15th through Bill 202.   A few weeks later, newly elected Premier Prentice announced that 202 wasn't needed since the government was intending to introduce Bill 10 that would render it redundant. Bill 10 passed second reading but has now been placed on "pause" for more study.

To read more click HERE.  

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE OT TABERNACLE? (Dr. Sam Storms)

A lot of people struggle to make sense of the first ten verses of Hebrews 9. But there is much for us to learn here. Read the text closely.

1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and man earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation (Heb. 9.1-10).

The Tabernacle was, for lack of a better way of putting it, a portable temple with a movable courtyard. The courtyard itself was approximately 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. I provided the people at Bridgeway a measure of perspective by comparing the size of the tabernacle with the size of our auditorium. Our auditorium is approximately 120 feet long and 90 feet wide. So, the courtyard was only 30 feet longer and 15 feet narrower than where the people to whom I minister sit each week.

The fence surrounding the courtyard was about 7½ feet high. After you entered the courtyard the first object you would encounter was the bronze altar or the altar of burnt offering (Exod. 27:1-8;38:1-7). It was a hollow wooden box about 7½ feet long and 4½ feet high and was overlaid with bronze. A few steps farther in would bring you to a stand on which was a bronze basin filled with water where ceremonial washings would occur (Exod. 30:17-21; 38:8).

TO READ MORE CLICK HERE.

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In 2008 Sam became Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sam is on the Board of Directors of both Desiring God and Bethlehem College & Seminary, and also serves as a member of the Council of The Gospel Coalition.

THE ROLE OF THE LAW IN OUR SANCTIFICATION

by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson, Dennis E.

If we live by faith in Jesus Christ rather than by faith in ourselves and our works, we’ll know the joy that protects us from accusation and we’ll live in the love that will constrain true obedience. Since we no longer view the law as the means to obtain righteousness, since it no longer has the power to either harm or threaten us, we may now use it as it’s meant to be used. We will be free to delight in the law because we are freed from the power of the law to curse us. 

All of the wonderful obligations of the law will then help us on our way toward godly living and sanctification. Since we cannot be made any more perfect in God’s eyes than we already are, we are now free to make the law serve us. It will serve us by making us more thankful for Christ when we see how we fail to obey it, and it will serve us by showing us how to love God and our neighbor as we long to. Rather than viewing the law as our enemy, we’ll learn to say along with our Savior, “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Ps. 40: 8). From this position of security and rest in God, the psalmist wrote: 

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold,even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Ps. 19: 7– 11) 

When the law is kept where it belongs —as a means to draw us to Christ and to show us how to love—it is delightful and causes us to rejoice. When it goes beyond this and attacks our conscience, we must silence its threatenings by remembering the gospel and putting the law back in its place. The law is a light on our path, but it is not the path, and it cannot impel us toward holiness nor make us love God." [1]

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1.  Fitzpatrick, Elyse M.; Johnson, Dennis E. (2009-06-23). Counsel from the Cross: Connecting Broken People to the Love of Christ (Kindle Locations 1902-1919). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

The Holy Spirit Never “Convicts” Christians - Joshua Rogers

The Holy Spirit Never “Convicts” Christians

by Joshua Rogers on October 15, 2014

I’ve spent three years of my legal career as a criminal prosecutor, a job that usually has one goal when it comes to wrongdoers: conviction.  Once the defendant has pleaded guilty or has been found guilty by a jury, it’s all over.  He has been convicted, and the only thing left to do is sentence him.

Early in my legal career, it struck me how often the word “conviction” gets used in the Christian community.  In Christianese, the word is used anytime somebody feels guilty about something and wants to explain that the Holy Spirit was the source of their guilt (for example, “I felt convicted about speaking in anger”).  But in Scripture, “conviction” is a legal term – not a word used to describe a feeling.

The Bible certainly uses a courtroom analogy when it talks about Christians; but for believers, Satan is the prosecutor, God is the judge, Jesus is our defense attorney, and we’re declared innocent of all charges (Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 2:1, Revelation 12:10).  However, the word “convict” or “conviction” is never once used to describe the day-to-day interactions of the Holy Spirit and believers.  Instead, “conviction” basically describes (1) how the Holy Spirit interacts with people who don’t believe in Jesus; and (2) what happens to Christians who try to follow rules instead of the Spirit (John 8:9, 16:8; 1 Corinthians 14:24; James 2:8-10; Jude 15).

To read more click HERE!

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New Online Study. Second Letter of John. James A.E. MacLellan

Today I start a new blog with the joy of digging into a new portion of Scripture.  John, the disciple of Jesus wrote the Gospel of John and also the Book of Revelation.  But between these two mammoth texts, he also wrote three letters.  The first letter tends to get good air time.  But how many of us have read, or even studied, or even heard extensive preaching on 2 John and 3 John?  That's part of my motivation.  These two little letters have been sadly neglected by 'yours truly' and possibly by you. So let's correct that.  What's the big deal about 2 John?  We get sense of that by reading it through. It doesn't take long.  There are thirteen verses.

Well we could summarize the letter by saying that the letter says something of Christians loving one another but at the same time Christians are not to accept those who teach wrong things about Jesus Christ.  Let's dig in by looking at just two words. The letter starts this way: Ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐκλεκτῇ κυρίᾳ καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις.   I point you to the original language to note that like our English bibles translate it, the letter starts with these simple words: The elder (Underlined in the Greek phrase.)

That word πρεσβύτερος is pronounced in English, 'pres·boo·ter·os' meaning, presbyter or elder. Scholars are confident that the author is John.  "The style, diction, and content of 2 John mark it as written by the same author as 1 John and the Gospel of John. This author has been traditionally identified as the apostle John, son of Zebedee, and no more plausible ascription has been proposed." [1].  So why would an apostle (one of the infamous Twelve) refer to himself in the salutation of this letter as simply: The Elder?  "'Elder' was a common term for pastoral leaders of local congregations in the early church. In calling himself 'the elder,' John is simply affirming his pastoral role, as Peter also does ('fellow elder,' 1 Pet. 5:1)," [2]  

[Note below further discussion about the relationship of elders and pastors.] [3]

This teaches us a couple important things -- not the least we should recognize the transition that at least two of the original Twelve expressed in their lives.  As the Gospel went out into the world and people were saved, churches started.  These churches over time must have taken on a degree of form and substance.  One of the major changes was that elders were appointed as spiritual leaders of the congregation instead of the Apostles.  There is no hint of priests or even the Twelve.  A plurality of elders now served the church.   But secondly we should recognize that this John who had been given a unique and impressive calling with great authority, is not writing on the basis of his apostolic position, but on the basis of his mature and heart-felt concern for the flock of God.

Lastly, this author was known to the recipients.  He simply had to introduce himself as The Elder.  For those of us who are pastors, we recognize the deep affection and trust in those words. When the Church simply refers to you as "pastor"; when you kindly reflect on the wonder, that in God's grace, you get to be their "pastor;" what a blessing this is!  There is no title that evokes the same feeling of love and affection as "pastor".   Some call the same person "preacher".  Some call him "reverend". But there is no more biblical and no more pregnant title in Scripture of the one who loves, feeds, cares for and seeks to nourish the Church than simply "Pastor".  

Father, I have had the deep and abiding honor of being called Pastor now for these 25 years.  The honor bounces in two directions.  One is that ultimately Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of His Church and I am simply an under-shepherd -- and under-pastor.  I am not an associate.  I am not a partner.  I am a servant of Christ Jesus. He is my Pastor.  He is our Pastor.  But secondly the honor goes elsewhere because I am truly only a pastor when I am truly pastoring.  I am neither a professional, nor am I a CEO.  I am not a coach nor am I a strategic leader.  I am a pastor.  Help me today to keep that focus.  Help me today to really be who I am.  May my joy of pastoring, manifest the great Shepherd of the sheep.  May He alone receive the glory and the praise.  Amen.

For more articles on 2 John go to http://jamesmaclellan.blogspot.ca/

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1.  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 (2 Jn 1). Nashville: T. Nelson.

2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2439). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. Elders (v. 1) are entrusted with the responsibility to shepherd the flock (Gk. poimainō, “to tend sheep; to act as a shepherd”; cf. John 21:16; Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11), from which the English verb and noun “pastor” is derived (Latin pastor means “shepherd”). Elders are also entrusted with exercising oversight (translating Gk. episkopeō), which is the verb form of the noun “overseer” (Gk. episkopos), which is another title for those who serve as elders (cf. Acts 20:28). The terms “shepherd” and “exercising oversight” emphasize the function of elders (i.e., they are to feed and watch over “the flock”), while the title “elder” focuses on the office. [Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2412). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.]

Five Questions with a Former Muslim Who Converted to Christianity - Joshua Rogers

Nabeel Qureshi was raised in a Pakistani-American family and grew up a devout Muslim. While he was in medical school, he read the Bible for research in his debate against a Christian friend, and this began a journey that eventually led to his becoming a Christian. He shared his conversion story in his book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, and he also works with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries telling his story and providing encouragement to those who seek to share their faith with a changing world.

In light of the fact that the Muslim world is front and center in the international press right now, we thought it would be particularly helpful to talk with Qureshi. He began by sharing his insights into some common misconceptions about Muslims.

1. What are a few common misconceptions evangelical Christians have about Muslims?

To read more click HERE.

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You can follow Nabeel @NAQureshi on Twitter and hear his interview on The Boundless Show at For Such a Time as This: Episode 322.

"I LIKE JESUS. IT'S THE CHURCH I CAN'T STAND." REALLY? - Sam Storms

September 3, 2014 | by: Sam Storms|

How many times have you heard it said: “I like Jesus. It’s the Church I can’t stand!” I wish I had time to write a lengthy article in response to that ill-informed and utterly misguided statement, but I don’t. So I must be brief.

I’m thoroughly convinced that people who declare their affection for Jesus but not the Church know little if anything about the Jesus they profess to admire. These people probably ignore the fact that this Jesus spoke more about hell and eternal condemnation than all the other NT authors combined.

They probably ignore the fact that this Jesus demanded undivided loyalty to himself and declared that only through faith in him alone could one experience a saving relationship with God the Father. This Jesus whom they say they like, perhaps even love, is also the Jesus who said that he would build his Church and that the powers of death would never prevail against it (Matt. 16).

This is the same Jesus who sent the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost to inaugurate the life of the local church. This Jesus, says the apostle Paul, is himself the head of the church, which is his body.

This Jesus, whom these folk profess to like and perhaps even claim to worship, is the same Jesus who, according to Ephesians 5, “loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor.”

This Jesus is the chief shepherd of the church (to use Peter’s language here in 1 Peter 5:4), the Lord of the church, the lover of the church, the savior of the church; he is the one who has such unrelenting passion for and commitment to the church that at the consummation of history he will eventually wed the church in what the Bible calls the marriage supper of the Lamb!

So, let me come straight to the point. Don’t give me any of this silly, high-minded claptrap and spiritual bologna about liking Jesus but not his church. Jesus himself simply will not let you get away with it. It’s not an option that he permits. The church is his body. The church is his bride. If you truly love him, you must love her.

That’s not to say, of course, that everything about the church is perfect. Only a fool would think that it was. We all see its flaws and shortcomings. Your experience of local church life, up to this point in time, may have been painful and disillusioning. I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But let me be perfectly clear: There is no such thing as Churchless Christianity any more than there is such a thing as Christless Christianity! To believe in and receive and love and follow Jesus is to live as a member and supporter and lover of his body, the church.

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In 2008 Sam became Lead Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sam is on the Board of Directors of both Desiring God and Bethlehem College & Seminary, and also serves as a member of the Council of The Gospel Coalition.

Sam's Blog: http://www.samstorms.com/enjoying-god-blog

My Favorite Blogs By (and For) Women - Tim Challies

August 20, 2014
by Tim Challies

It is a question I have received a number of times lately: Can you suggest some blogs written specifically for women? As it happens, I follow quite a few blogs written by (and often for) women. I am going to share a list of them today, knowing that I have undoubtedly forgotten some very good ones and owe a few apologies! So please accept this as an incomplete list.

To read more click HERE.

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ABOUT TIM CHALLIES

I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario, and am a co-founder of Cruciform Press.

Giving Someone a Fresh Start Solves Little - James A.E. MacLellan

Drs. Gentry and Wellum quote Dr. Bruce Waltke with this insightful comment:

"The sin of Noah sheds light on the human plight,  At one time or another, most people become disgusted with what is going on in the world -- the intractable problems among people: hatred, prejudice, and greed that lead to cruelty and war.  The problems are insoluble because hatred and prejudice are burdens of our depraved nature and our history.  Because we cannot change or forget, our nature and memory looms us.  In response, the idealistic one among us ask: 'What if we started over? What if we expunged history and wiped the slate clean?' The account of Noah puts the lie to that solution." [An Old Testament Theology, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007]

This is profound in a pastoral sense and very helpful. We have all heard the modern proverb: "If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you've always got." [1] When people mismanage their finances, paying off their debts and giving them a "fresh start" will not solve the problem.  So too with all sin.  God's saving grace doesn't merely forgive past debts and give people a new beginning.  God's justifying mercy forgives all sins: past, present and future.  He adds to the slate of the believer the righteous perfection of Jesus Christ.  He gives to the Christian a new heart that is bent on loving and obeying Him.  And He gives to this child of the King His Holy Spirit to grant him or her the will and the ability to live in a way that pleases Him.

Wiping the slate clean never solved anything.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).

“I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.” (Jeremiah 32:39–40, NIV)

 

That's better than a new start.  It's the promise of a secure future.

God not only gives the Christian a new beginning; but He also ensures a certain ending.  That's better than a fresh start.

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1. W.L. Bateman, http://www.quoteworld.org/quotes/1051#ixzz3AJ4v4fix

Did This Preacher/Teacher Add To the Bible? - James A. E. MacLellan

This is part of a conversation, not a condemnation.  Please think with me.  I'll explain in a moment why I chose not to make this an attack on any particular person.   Take a look with me at a particular passage that we are all aware of.  It's found in Luke 24:13–35.  Click HERE to remind yourself of this story.

In verses 1-12, the human author recounts the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is obviously a momentous and victorious event.  Luke alone, tells the story of the two disciples walking along the Emmaus Road.  If you were going to provide teaching on this subject would the following appear acceptable to you?

• Is the context about frustrated, disillusioned, discouraged disciples?
• Is the point of the passage is to show that Jesus enters our world in order to bring peace?
• Are there 3 main teaching points?  Are they:
• A. To find the peace of Christ through His Presence you must "Behold"[1].  That is, you must lean and and look for Him in the midst of your crisis? 
• B. To find the peace of Christ you must "take him home"?  That is, you have learned that these men were coming from a huge and momentous gathering of people in Jerusalem and are now on their way home.  To enjoy the manifestation of His Presence you must look for Him at home in the midst of your circumstance.
• C. To find the peace that Christ gives you must ask Him to come into all the dimensions of your home (i.e. “But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.” (Luke 24:29, NIV)?
• When you discovered in verse 16 that their eyes were kept from seeing Him, would you assume that this was because of some fault of their own?  And respectively when their eyes were opened in their home, was that because they had invited Jesus into all the rooms of their home? 

If you agreed with the bullet point 1, then I would certainly agree with you -- to a point.  Good start!  If you agreed with all the other bullet points, your are in company with a popular Christian speaker and author.  My question is this, "Why did the Holy Spirit inspire Luke to record this event?"

• Did God want us to know how to encounter Jesus along life's road?
• Is this a real-life parable that reminds us that along life's road Jesus comes along our sides, points us to the Bible and reveals Himself to us?

What is the exegetical message that comes to us today by the Spirit through His inspired Word? 

• Were the disciples not despondent because they did not understand the Old Testament?
• Did not Jesus need to show them that their entire Scriptures pointed to Him as the Divine fulfillment?
• Did not the disciples sense a deep stirring at His exposition?
• Did this not provide direct eye-witness evidence to the resurrection of Christ?
• Finally, is the point of the story, granted credibility when Luke records: “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.” (Luke 24:33–35, NIV) 

So ... can we honestly assume that to preach a message based upon the bullet point in blue, is "rightly dividing the Word of God?" (2 Timothy 2:15).  

I cannot bring judgment on the speaker eluded to in this blog, nor the countless number that use the Bible this way.  The reason is that when I examine my old sermons I used to also allegorize the text.  It is a common fault.   Some of the great preachers of old did this often.  It doesn't make it right.

Brothers and sisters we are not story-tellers.  We are to expound and expose the text. The task of the preacher/teacher is clearly enunciated in Nehemiah 8:8 (NIV),

⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

Brothers and sisters, give them the meaning of the text, not the meaning you'd like the text to say.

What's All This 'Gospel-Centered' Talk About? - Dane Ortland

The Gospel is not only the gateway into the Christian life, but the pathway of the Christian life.

"Gospel-centered preaching." "Gospel-centered parenting." "Gospel-centered discipleship." The back of my business card says "gospel-centered publishing." This descriptive mantra is tagged on to just about anything and everything in the Christian world these days.

What's it all about?

Before articulating what it might mean to be Gospel-centered, we all better be on the same page as to what the Gospel actually is.

I don't mean Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

What I mean by "Gospel" in this article is the outrageous news of what has been done for us by God in Jesus. The Gospel is the front page of the newspaper, not the back-page advice column; news of what has happened, not advice on how to live.

Specifically, the Gospel is the startling news that what God demands from us, He provides for us. How? In His own Son. The Gospel is the message that Jesus Christ delights to switch places with guilty rebels. The one Person who walked this earth who deserved heaven endured the wrath of hell so that those who deserve the wrath of hell can have heaven for free.

To read more click HERE.

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Dane Ortlund is senior vice president for Bible publishing at Crossway and serves as managing editor of the Gospel Transformation Bible.