The View from Culver's Swamp

The Requirements of the Covenant of Redemption

22/12/2019

Intro: Last week we turned our attention to ancient history that preceded the creation of the world, looking at the evidence in scripture for a COVENANT OF REDEMPTION that was established between God the Father and God the Son.

We found ample evidence in the Old Testament, the teaching of Jesus and the writing of the Apostles to establish the fact that the ADVENT and INCARNATION of Jesus Christ was planned before the foundation of the world.

That means that the events we observe at Christmas and Easter are part of the original plan of God.

God who is infinitely wise and infinitely good set out on this particular course of action because he knows it to be the best of all possible worlds.

Now let us review what we know of covenants for a moment.

We know that covenants are a binding agreement, often between a greater and a lesser party, with obligations and blessings.

In the case of this ancient covenant, we see that it is a covenant established between two equals - the Father and the Son. We see that it has certain obligations and certain blessings. To say it another way, it has certain requirements and certain rewards.

In order to receive the blessings or rewards, the obligation or requirements must be met.

This week we will look at the REQUIREMENTS of the Covenant of Redemption and how they were met in Jesus Christ.

Next week we will look at the REWARDS of the Covenant of Redemption and what that means for the world.

There are three requirements or obligations in the Covenant of Redemption. We can find them in many places in the Old and New Testament, but we will give particular attention to the writings of the Apostle Paul in Galatians and Philippians and also the writer of the book of Hebrews, who is unnamed. We’ll begin to look at Romans 5 this week but put our attention more directly upon that passage next week as we conclude the year.

The three requirements we want to wrap our mind around today are these:

The requirement that God become fully human.
The requirement that God place himself under the law.
The requirement that God atone for sin with his own blood as a substitute for his people.

1. The requirement that God become fully human.

a. In order to serve as a representative of the human race, the one who would satisfy this covenant must be human. It was humans, as image bearers of God, who had failed to keep the covenant of work, had entered into rebellion against God and had multiplied sin upon the earth. So to restore the race, a man would have to accomplish what a man had failed to accomplish.

We see this spelled out in Hebrews 2:17-18 - Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

b. We understand that Jesus (the name that was given to the man who was born to Mary) is unlike every other child ever born. He is the only one who existed before he was born. This is the eternal God, particularly the 2nd person of the trinity, whom we would refer to as God the Son. He is in no way inferior or subservient to God the Father or God the Holy Spirit.

Scripture testifies to his eternal origins:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authroities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell… Colossians 1:15-19

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:1-3

Scripture establishes not only his eternal existence, but his complete equality with the Father. He is the one by whom, through whom, and for whom the world was created.

c. The scriptures reveal that God the Son willingly laid aside his glory and took upon himself human nature.

…Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men… Philippians 2:5b-7

He emptied himself by pouring himself into human nature. Consider the great humiliation:

The one who was once the epitome of beauty and glory became a man of no reputation… Isaiah declares of his human form that… he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.’ Isaiah 53:2

The one who had INFINITE power and through whom the world was made took upon himself the limitation of a human body… we find him WEARY from travel and sitting down at the side of a well; we find him in search of rest on the other side of the lake when the crowds continue to follow him; we find him asleep in the bottom of a boat.

The one who possessed all the cosmos as his inheritance became poor… how poor?

He was born in a borrowed stable and laid in a borrowed manger.
He borrowed a boat to travel in…
He borrowed a donkey to ride upon…
He borrowed an upper room for his last supper…
He borrowed a tomb when he was buried…

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

d. In taking upon himself flesh - he became vulnerable… fragile!

The marauding terror of Herod’s murder squads, which could never have threatened God in heaven were a real threat to God in the flesh.

The Jews could never have threatened God in heaven with stoning, but they picked up stones to stone him upon the earth.

The Jews of Capernaum could never have thrown God down from heaven to his death, but they tried to throw Jesus off a high cliff.

The leaders of the Jews could not have plotted to murder God in heaven, but upon the earth they plotted repeatedly to kill him.

In becoming a man - a real man - a man just as you or I are human - he became vulnerable, fragile… able to die.

Before the first atom swirled through the cosmos God the Father and God the Son agreed that the Son would become a man. This was the first condition of the COVENANT OF REDEMPTION.

2. The requirement that God place himself under the law.

a. The moral law - that which defines what is right and moral for all people - this reflects the very nature and character of God. But when we speak of Christ being born under the law, we mean that he has been constrained by every aspect of the law. He has taken upon himself all the ceremonial aspects of the law. He is obedient to the FOOD RESTRICTION and the FEASTS and CIRCUMCISION.

b. Listen to what the scripture declares:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

Since then we have da great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus himself declares his mission:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18

c. We see this in two regards. First of all, in the OBEDIENCE of the Son to the Father. In coming under the law, he becomes entirely subject to the Father by obligation. But secondly, we see that he opens himself up to the threat of the law.

In this we see Jesus taking up the yoke that had crashed to earth with Adam’s fall. He takes up the old covenant of work with its PROMISE and its THREAT. Do this and live forever, fail and you will surely die.

d. He is taking up the obligation that Adam could not meet.

He is taking up the obligation that Noah fell short of.

He is placing himself under the obligation of Abraham’s severed animals - that if I do not do this then may my body be torn asunder.

He is true Israel taking up the entire Mosaic Covenant with all of its promises and threats - the people said they would do all God commanded, but they never did - but Jesus will put himself under the law.

He is true seed of David - the king with the law upon his heart who does it perfectly. At every place where man was meant to obey and failed, Christ will obey. He will endure every temptation and every test.

HE WILL BE PROVED! PERFECT, RIGHTEOUS, HOLY, GOOD, JUST - FULLY GOD, FULLY MAN - COMPLETE!

Before the first word of creation was spoken the Father and the Son had agreed that the Son would leave heaven and place himself under the yoke of the law and obey.

3. The requirement that God atone with his blood for the sin of his people and so redeem them.

a. In keeping the whole law, Jesus meets the condition that Adam failed to meet. To him belongs eternal life; not only because he is God, but because as a man he has MET THE CONDITION he has WON IT, he has EARNED IT. But the penalty of the broken covenant lies upon all of his people, so the final REQUIREMENT of the COVENANT OF REDEMPTION is that God the Son present himself as a willing substitute to die in the place of his people.

b. What saith the scripture:

…Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5b-8

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Romans 5:6-9

c. In order to meet the OBLIGATION/REQUIREMENTS of redemption, it was not enough that God become a man - although he HAD TO BE A MAN.

…it was not enough that he humbled himself and placed himself under the full weight of the law and kept it perfectly - although he HAD TO BE UNDER THE LAW.

He had to die.

Peter preached on the day of Pentecost:

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know - this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Acts 2:22-23

When was this plan put into place? The DEFINITE PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD?

It is the ETERNAL PLAN of the Godhead…
The plan which was established before the foundation of the world…

This is the OBLIGATIONS that God the Son willingly accepted in order to win the BLESSINGS that were promised.

Conclusion: We have set our eyes on only one side of this covenant this week - but you know enough of the story to know the riches of the blessing that will flow from this.

But let me tempt you to come back next week by saying that you have not begun to fathom the GREATNESS of the GLORY that will flow from this.

God, who is infinite in wisdom and goodness; looking upon this plan, declared that of all possible possibilities, this was the highest, the greatest and the best.

God the Son agreed. What future could be so wondrous that the immortal should put on mortality and die?

The world that is revealed in the PROMISES of the Covenant of Redemption.

A world where a human king would reign forever over a perfected world that blazes with a never-ending flood tide of glory.

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Sermon Notes on the History of the Covenant of Redemption

15/12/2019

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Intro: One of my favourite poems is entitled ‘The Book of Life’ and is by John Piper. I love it because it cuts across the grain right from the opening line to point us to the reality that there is a story lying underneath the words of all the other stories. That story, the deeper story, is the story that is telling all the other stories.

Before the night he was betrayed,
The Lord of glory died;
Indeed before the world was made,
The Lamb was crucified.

Before the sin, the spear, the lash
(Eternal was the flood!)
God put his inkwell at the gash,
And filled it with his blood;

Then with his crimson ink and quill,
A holy world compiled,
And wrote his kind and costly will:
The name of ev’ry child.

Then, finally, with tears, he took
A blade to foreordain,
And graved the title of the book:
The Life, the Lamb, the Slain.

We have looked progressively at the unfolding covenants of scripture. We have moved from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses and on to David. But this week, though you might think we would go directly on to Christ and consider the ‘NEW COVENANT’ we back up to BEFORE THE BEGINNING.

We are going in search of the MYSTERY hidden for ages and finally revealed in Christ.

The theologians - those who have spent an entire lifetime studying the scriptures - have called this ‘The Covenant of Redemption’. Those words never appear in scripture, in fact there is no single passage that we can go to and read about this covenant. But we are CERTAIN that an agreement existed between the trinity before the words of creation were even spoken.

When we speak of MYSTERY we are not speaking of something that is UNKNOWN but rather of something that was hidden and then revealed - it is the great PLOT TWIST. If you’ve ever read a truly great mystery novel, you discover that you can read it twice with enjoyment. The first time through you are in the dark, though you know that there is something unknown. The second time through, with knowledge of the mystery, you wonder how you didn’t recognize it the first time - on every page you see the secret revealed.

So Paul writes: …I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27

Over the next three weeks we will peer into this revealed mystery.

This week we will track the EXISTENCE of an ANCIENT COVENANT THAT PREDATES CREATION.

Next week we will consider the REQUIREMENTS of the Covenant of Redemption.

The final week of the year we will consider the REWARDS promised in the Covenant of Redemption.

This week we want to look at the Evidence in the Old Testament; Evidence in the Statements of Jesus and Evidence in the Writings of the Apostles.

I. Evidence in the Old Testament

a. Psalm 2:7-9 - I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Note the word DECREE? God has decreed that the nations will be subject to his son. Of course, this Psalm predates Jesus by centuries, but in the book of Acts and Hebrews the fulfilment of this Psalm is ascribed to Jesus Christ.

b. Psalm 40:6-8 - Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

These words are also ascribed to Jesus by the New Testament writers. Note that the servant comes declaring that he has come to accomplish WORDS ALREADY ESTABLISHED… WRITTEN IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK?

c. Isaiah 49:1-3 - Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

It is Jesus himself who will later identify himself as TRUE ISRAEL the true servant of God.

d. Isaiah 53:10-11 - Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

The whole of Isaiah 53 speaks of the SUFFERING SERVANT of the Lord who comes to make atonement for his people.

II. Evidence in Jesus’ Statements

a. Luke 2:46-49 - After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

b. John 6:38 - For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

c. John 12:27-28a - “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”

d. John 17:4-5 - “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

All of these passages make clear that Jesus has a STRONG SENSE OF MISSION. There is a work that he has been given to do, there is a purpose and an HOUR for which he has come forth, he is not acting INDEPENDENTLY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER.

How does Jesus know what he has come to do? We read no verse in the New Testament of God giving direction to Jesus.

When was this MISSION established?

e. Matthew 26:39, 42 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

There is no doubt that Jesus comes to earth with a mission to fulfil. The only question is WHEN his work is established. Is this a CONTINGENCY PLAN come up after creation because Plan ‘A’ failed? Not at all.

III. Evidence in the Apostle’s Writings

a. Galatians 4:4-5 - But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

b. 1 Peter 1:20 - …[Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you…

c. Ephesians 1:4; 3:8-11 - …even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord…

d. 2 Timothy 1:9 - …who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began…

All of these passages are pointing to the same thing.

…before the foundation of the world…
…before the foundation of the world…
…the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God…
…the eternal purpose that was realized in Christ… (not plan ‘b’)
…his own purpose and grace before the ages began…

The message of the scripture is that there is a plan, a purpose, a story that is older than our oldest memory. That there is an agreement between the godhead that was established before the world was made.

Well does the poem declare it:

Before the night he was betrayed,
The Lord of glory died;
Indeed before the world was made,
The Lamb was crucified.

Conclusion:

If this is true, if in fact there is a covenant that precedes creation, this raises a question; and the answer to that question answers a number of other questions.

The question (is this not your question) is this:

If God knew before the first ATOM was called into being that the result of this act would be the fall of man and sin which would only be redeemed at the cost of the life of God the Son. Why did he do it?

I offer two answers, one that speaks to his chief end, the other that speaks to the question of suffering.

The CHIEF END OF GOD is the display of his own glory. The end of creation is not the redemption of man, that is AN end, but it is subordinate to his chief end. There was an end that could only be accomplished in this way - the beauty, the comprehensive display and manifestation of God’s glory could not be displayed apart from creation, fall, redemption and glorification.

“Thus it is necessary, that God’s awful majesty, his authority and dreadful greatness, justice, and holiness, should be manifested. But this could not be, unless sin and punishment had been decreed; so that the shining forth of God’s glory would be very imperfect, both because these parts of divine glory would not shine forth as the others do, and also the glory of his goodness, love and holiness would be faint without them; nay, they could scarcely shine forth at all…”. Jonathan Edwards, Concerning the Divine Decrees, The Works of J.E. Vol 2, p. 528

The second answer also offered in the voice of Jonathan Edwards speaks to whether it was MORAL or ETHICAL to make a world knowing the suffering that would come forth:

“It is impossible for an infinitely wise and good being to do otherwise, than to choose what he sees on the whole to be best. And certainly reason requires us to suppose, that of all possible events with respect to sin, and the conversion and salvation of particular persons, it is better that one of those possible and opposite events should come to pass than another; and therefore, an infinitely wise and good being must choose accordingly. What God permits, he decrees to permit.” Jonathan Edwards, Concerning the Divine Decrees, The Works of J.E. Vol 2, p. 537

Put in simple and modern language, Jonathan Edwards is stating that since God is INFINITE he knows the outcome of every possible choice; since God is WISE he knows out of all possible worlds (including no world at all) which will produce the highest and best possible end; since God is GOOD it is impossible for him to choose anything but the very best.

Therefore, in the time before time; knowing the outcome of his act; God, who is INFINITE, and WISE, and GOOD established a covenant with his Son for the creating, redeeming and blessing of the world for the display of his glory.

This is why when Adam and Eve fail in the garden, their failure is not met with immediate death - but rather with the mysterious words of the PROTOEUANGELION - the serpent shall strike the heel of the seed of the woman, but he shall strike its head.

This is why God is able to make covenants with sinful and flawed men like Abraham, Moses and David - because there is already a covenant in play which STANDS SURETY FOR ALL.

The Messiah is coming… and the Messiah is none other than God made flesh.

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A Sabbatical to Rest and Reflect

9/12/2019

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In 188 days I will leave for a 90 day sabbatical.

Yesterday my congregation gave consent to my request for this rest, and today I am sharing the fact with the wider world.

How vulnerable should one be on social media? I will risk sharing because I feel the need to explain why I’ve asked for rest and how I hope to find it.

Over the past year I have been tracking the symptoms of ‘burnout’ in my life and ministry. That term isn’t necessarily helpful, so let me define it. I have felt more tired than usual week by week; it never seems there are enough hours in the week to complete my work; I find myself feeling low about things that have never caused me to feel discouraged before; my interest in reading has waned and I struggle to find desire to read good books that will nourish my soul; I find myself feeling stressed on Sunday mornings instead of looking forward to worship; and I constantly feel guilty for not working hard enough, even though I often work 70 hours in the week with rarely an evening at home.

WIth some concern I have tracked these feelings wondering if I am on track for burnout. I have read about men who have had a physical or emotional breakdown due to exhaustion and have even lost heart for ministry. I love my church, my people, my congregation. I don’t want to burnout on them. I don’t want to leave them. I don’t want to wake up one day and not be able to function as a pastor.

But I will honestly say that I felt guilty whenever someone suggested a sabbatical to me. Why should the church pay me to ‘not work’? Is any of this even biblical?

But as the sense of weakness has not left me for over a year, I began to look more closely, to ask more questions, to wonder whether sabbaticals were taken by the sort of pastor I look to with respect. I was surprised at the evidence I uncovered.

Elijah, a day after his greatest triumph, fled into the wilderness in seeming despair. God restored him to ministry, but not before providing him with 40 days rest while feeding him day by day. Moses was called up onto Mount Sinai for 40 days to be alone with the Lord and receive instruction for leading Israel in the wilderness. Jesus regularly called his disciples away for times of rest and prayer. Paul went on three very powerful missionary journeys, but it seems apparent that in between those times there were times of rest when he was being prepared for further ministry.

Amongst ministers of a later era, I reflected on the fact that Charles Spurgeon spent most winters of his later life resting in the South of France. His rest was a reality forced upon him by a body that was breaking down, but he did go and he did rest. John Piper, a man whose ministry I highly admire, and a man who cannot be faulted for lack of productivity, took an 8 month sabbatical with the distinct purpose of NOT working, but resting.

As I considered these things, I realized that even when I am on vacation I am often working. Over the past number of years I’ve used half my vacation time to serve in camp ministries; and on many of my other family vacations I find myself preaching at another church. Preaching 7 weeks of Sunday’s each year means that every 7 years I preach a year’s worth of Sundays. In my 17 years at Walsh I’ve preached over 2 years worth of Sundays. The time has come to rest and be restored.

How?

Most denominations recommend a sabbatical period be granted every 6-7 years for a period of 3-4 months. Usually these periods are intended to be a time of study or honing new skills. As I communicated to my deacons, this sense of burnout will not be helped by a seminary course. I need to take off the harness and set it aside. I do want to read and write and reflect and pray, but not in a classroom setting, nor in a preparation to preach or teach material setting. I want to go outside and look at creation. ‘The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork’, so says the Psalmist in Psalm 19. I need to go drink in the glory of creation, to walk in the woods and gaze at the stars and reflect on the creator.

I want times of silence and solitude for reflection and thought. I want to read books for the sake of reading the book. I want to journal again, I gave that up a couple years back.

To that end, my congregation has graciously released me for the summer and I will be riding my bike across Canada. This will give me times of quiet, times of solitude, time to rest and think. Someone will say, ‘How can riding 7300 kms be considered resting?’ For a man who works with his body, this might sound like the opposite of rest, but for the man who works with him mind, physical exercise is an excellent source of rest.

This is not a vacation, it is a sabbatical. It has specific goals and purposes. It is intended to bring me back rested physically, mentally and spiritually.

I would covet your prayers as I prepare for this time and as my congregation prepares to function somewhat differently this summer. It is my hope that they will thrive in my absence, that they will find new strength and new delights. I know that they are in good hands under the preacher that has agreed to lead the services. I will need help to gather certain resources for my journey this summer. I hope to keep this trip simple - simplicity and ruggedness are good for me. So I plan to ‘wildcamp’ most of the way, sleeping on Crown Land which borders much of my route. I’ll also be stopping in to see friends along my route. I plan to rest on Sunday’s from cycling and attend a local church to worship and soak in the word. Most of the other days will see me riding for 5-6 hours which leaves ample time for reading, meditating upon God’s word, and writing… and resting.

I expect to have the cost of two flights, one at the beginning of my trip and one at the end. I’m also budgeting for a few hotels along the way to allow for a good shower and some time to do laundry. I expect to cover most of the cost on my own, but if you’d like to share in my expense, I would be grateful. I’ve set up a ‘Go-Fund-Me’ account figuring on $0.50 per km I hope to secure $3500 for the trip to cover flights and hotels. I’ll also share a ‘wish-list’ of supplies I still need to purchase.

Finally, I am grateful to my wife, my deacons, my congregation and my brothers in ministry who have enabled this journey. My wife and fellow pastors for encouraging me to see my need for rest; my deacons for stepping up to bear some added responsibility; and my congregation for graciously allowing the time to go. I will be praying for you and trust you will be praying for me too.

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RE: Sex-Ed Curriculum - A letter to My Child's Teacher

12/12/2016

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December 12, 2016
Dear __________________,

Thank you for your note and the copy of the parent’s guide to the health and physical education curriculum. I commend you on your wisdom in sending this home to parents and inviting concerns and questions.

I have read through the parent’s guide a couple of times and wanted to write a brief note so that you can understand the perspective my wife and I take as parents. My only area of concern is related to the section on ‘sexual health’, and my concerns here are very deep. As a parent with deep and specific moral convictions, I find it tragic that we have now reduced sexual morality to the question of consent. Rightly understood, what we are teaching the next generation is that anything is acceptable, provided both parties are consenting. This is not the morality that has long established the culture you and I grew up in, and I believe it will bring forth very bitter fruit in the future. Having said this, I realize I am in the minority.

I think many people are surprised to discover how openly matters of sexuality are discussed in the home of Christian’s concerned for their children. We speak openly, and at age appropriate times, to our children about all matters related to human sexuality. Unlike the current provincial curriculum, however, we hold a much higher standard than consent. I would agree, that any sexual act that goes against consent is wrong, but I would also teach my children that there are sexual acts between two consenting adults that are also wrong. The standard we teach and hope our children will be faithful to is that all sexual action is wrong when it occurs between two unmarried people. Furthermore, we believe that marriage cannot be redefined by the government and will always exist only between one man and one woman. Again, I realize that I am the minority in this regard, however, this is the firm belief I hold and what I teach my children.

In many circles, this sort of teaching is now being exaggerated by our opponents, as if we would teach our children to treat others with disrespect when they hold views other than that which we have taught them. I hope that you will see in S____ and E_____ that this is not true, that they are taught the older, and I believe more sincere, form of tolerance, that every one has a right to hold an opinion, but not all opinions have equal validity.

I have written this note in the hopes of imparting some deeper understanding to the reason behind my request that my children not be instructed in ways that contradict what I believe. I would be pleased if more teachers took a moment to seek the input of parents on these very sensitive matters. It is my strong belief that public educators are not rightly equipped to teach morality to children, this is the realm of the parent.

I realize that as a public educator you are required to teach certain curriculum. I also realize you have your own personal views on these matters. My request, in this regard, is simply that S____ be excused from any class where there will be specific instruction on human sexuality. I think it would be most helpful if you could let me know by the agenda of upcoming days when this curriculum will be taught so that I can make alternative plans and you will not have to disrupt class in order to centre S____ out and excuse him to the hall.

Please feel free to contact me if you wish to work these things out further. Be assured of my respect and support for you in your role as S____’s teacher, and thank you for honouring my role as his parent.

Sincerely,

Marc Bertrand

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Genuine (Christian) Love

19/7/2015

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Ever had a response like the one below to an article you’ve written or a post you’ve shared online?

“…my basic truth leads me back to what Jesus would do. He walked with sinners. Prostitutes, murders, thieves. He counseled all. He preached love and exemplified love. Rules and guidelines come with religion... one very clear rule that has come down through scripture is that we don't sit in judgment of each other. So I try to understand the different views... but my default is to champion love and understanding.”

This is one of a number of similar responses that have appeared in the comments to a recent article I wrote on how Christians should respond to the SCOTUS ruling in the US. This response sums up well the common response from religious people who have a ‘fuzzy’ idea of what the Bible says, often backed by the teaching of a pastor who also has a ‘fuzzy’ idea of what the Bible says.

(By the way, there is a solution for those with a ‘fuzzy’ idea of what the Bible says – but that isn’t what this article is about.)

Clearly the Bible has a great deal to say about love, and Jesus, in particular, spoke in terms of love. (Use your computer to search love, loved, loving, etc. in the gospels – you’ll find many results – and most of them aren’t the ones being used to paint Jesus as a gentle flower of inclusivity.)

Here are the ones that are popularly used on social media:

John 3:16 – ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’

John 13:34 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

John 15:9 – As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (Make sure you DO NOT read the next verse or it ruins the impression that Jesus was calling all people to a non-discerning position of general acceptance of all people and positions.)

Or – to draw from a different gospel…

Matthew 5:43-44 – ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…

Matthew 22:39 – ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

These sorts of responses have a tendency to set a lot of Christians on their heels; after all, they believe the Bible is the Word of God, and the Bible truly says the things that people are quoting, so maybe opposing same-sex marriage isn’t a Christian thing to do!

However, in Romans 12:9, the Bible gives us a working definition of genuine love. This little verse is worthy of your consideration if you’re trying to figure out how Christian love works.

‘Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.’ Romans 12:9 (ESV)

I want to define three terms from this short verse.

I. Let Love Be Genuine

The Greek text at this point contains no verb. To be super literal, the apostle Paul simply writes: ‘Genuine Love’ (agape anupokritos) and then goes on to his teaching. Every major translation supplies a verb, transforming this into an implicit command, and that is the intent of the passage. This verse heads a section that describes and defines what genuine love looks like in the church and the Christian life.

We need to consider this. Our culture doesn’t use words very clearly. Those who hold to liberal theology – that is, theology that would reject the infallibility of scripture and would scoff at believing that every word in the Bible is the word of God – default to ‘love-language’ on a regular basis.

But my own camp, the camp of historic conservatism does not repudiate love – we simply want to define it.

If, for example, what you mean by love is that we are willing to perish in order to give you an opportunity to hear the gospel – and we will pour out our lives to get it to you, and dig you a well and build you a school while we pray and preach and plead for you to leave behind your old idols and come to Christ. We are all for that. Our gospel drive is fuelled by love.

If, on the other hand, what you mean by love is that we respect and honour people too much to disrupt their lives by explaining that there is a just and righteous God before whom all the world will one day stand and give an account; that in their current state they stand condemned and separated from God; that no amount of effort on their part can save them – but that God has sent his own Son to pay the penalty for their sin and will save them on the basis of his righteousness if they will only lay their faith on Christ alone. If you mean by love that we don’t do that – we simply make sure that you have water, food, education and a micro-finance loan because it would be unloving to link the GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION with the good news of clean water. If that is what you mean by love – than historic conservatism repudiates you as a citadel of Satan; doing the work of the devil by shoveling souls into hell.

That may seem like an extreme response, but I believe it is the biblical response – look again on this little verse and what it reveals about genuine love.

II. Abhor What Is Evil

‘Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.’ Romans 12:9 (ESV)

How is ‘Sincere Love’ described? The first description is to abhor what is evil.

Do you know how the lexicon defines the term ‘abhor’? To abhor is quite literally to hate exceedingly! Does that strike you as strange – I think Paul meant for it to strike you as strange! I think he was very intentional in setting up this paradox:

LOVE HATES EXCEEDINGLY!

What does love hate? Love hates evil! So how do we define evil?

If we were to ask the person on the street what is evil – what responses might we find?

ISIS – HITLER – CHILD-ABUSE – TERRORISM

If we were to ask the person in the pew, what is evil, the list would expand.

ABORTION – EUTHANASIA – SEX AS AN EXPRESSION OF PERSONAL PREFERENCE

But what answer would Paul give when we come back and ask him to define evil.

We don’t have to look far, he uses the term 11 times in the book of Romans – let’s look at how the term is used:

(Speaking of those who do not worship or thank God we come to these words in Romans 1:28-32) - And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (ESV)

Paul is describing every person in the world, evil is set in among four other words –

UNRIGHTEOUSNESS – the opposite of righteousness.

COVETOUSNESS – discontent with what God has given.

MALICE – the desire that bad things happen to people I don’t like.

Add EVIL to this mixture and you have a definition of how the whole world lives.

In Romans 2:9 we read that God’s judgment is upon those who do evil, and it is equally against Jew and Gentile: There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek…

If we stopped at this point in our examination, we would have a skewed picture. We would then say that love means HATING worldliness. We are opposed to the sinful practices of the world.

That is correct, but it isn’t the whole picture. The Christian who has sincere love looks deeper.

The apostle Paul, speaking of his own struggle with sin in Romans 7 writes: For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

Brother and sister Christian – it is to vague to speak of evil as the most heinous things of history perpetrated by people given to violence. Those things are evil but evil is closer to home.

It is not enough to speak of evil as worldliness, as unrighteousness and discontent and malice towards neighbours. These things are evil, but evil lies closer than this.

It is disingenuous to speak about evil only as that which God hates so much that he will finally destroy it in judgment – that is true – but there is more.

Evil, as Paul is describing it, is something that I struggle with day by day. Sin is evil. All sin is evil. My sin is evil.

So as I seek to ‘let love be genuine’ I am called to HATE the sin that I find in my life!

This is where the gospel comes in - Jesus is a Saviour who saves sinners. I do not rely on some internal goodness to overcome my evil – I turn to Jesus who has overcome all evil. This is good news, not only for me, but for those in every other list – the grace of God is great enough to wash away the evil of sexual sin, abortion, divorce, malice, covetousness and unrighteousness. Even the abuser, the terrorist and ISIS are invited to be redeemed by faith in Christ.

But there are two sides to genuine love, not only what we hate exceedingly, but what we desire deeply.

III. Hold Fast (Cleave) To What is Good

The old translations used the word CLEAVE and that’s a good word – because this word comes from the idea of marriage. We so desire the good that we bind it to ourselves. The word cleave carries the connotation of being bonded, welded or glued to something so that there is no way to separate one from the other.

We are to cleave to what is good! It is easy for Christians to be known only for what they denounce and reject. But we are to be equally known for what we affirm and embrace.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8-9

There are many things in this world that have been created for our enjoyment and to lead us to worship God in thanksgiving.

My desire is that I should be known for what I love and delight in as much as I am known for what I repudiate. I find in this little verse the command to hate sin in every incarnation – especially when I find it in my own heart and life. But equally to lay hold of the good that God has made and to delight in these things.

The true Christian should be famous for their happiness, joy and the fullness with which they partake in all the good that God has made – and it is right to be reminded at this point of the words that God spoke at creation over all that he had made… he called it good!

So, Christian LISTEN! LOOK! SMELL! EAT! TOUCH! God gave us senses. So I aim to listen to music and rejoice; to sit on my back porch and watch as many sunsets as I can with joy; to smell the flowers that I cultivate in my garden and to give thanks to God as I eat my grilled chicken!

Let us LOVE and DELIGHT in everything we find that is TRUE, HONORABLE, JUST, PURE, LOVELY, COMMENDABLE, EXCELLENT AND WORTHY OF PRAISE.

Christian, do not be silenced in your repudiation of evil with an argument from love – true love repudiates evil. But don’t get so caught up in repudiation that you neglect delight. Perhaps a review of your social media is in order. Does it reflect ‘Genuine Love’? Does it reflect both the things you repudiate and the things you delight in? Does your life reflect both? I hope, that when people seek to describe you, they can come as quickly to the things that you DELIGHT in and REJOICE over as they can in the things that you HATE and RUPUDIATE.

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On Facing Culture: Be Steady, Be Faithful, Preach the Gospel

30/6/2015

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My Facebook has been alight with articles, op-ed pieces and strangely altered profile pics for the better part of a week now. As a Canadian pastor, I have lived with and contended with culture on issues of sexual ethics more openly and longer than my American brethren. But I have been slow to post on this matter. A couple of years of open polemics have taught me that policies and opinions don’t turn on a dime, and posts made in haste are often the cause of later regret.

So I offer a few thoughts a week late – with the hope that this brief article will provide ballast for your pastoral ship in the rough seas ahead.

1. God is on the throne.

God has NEVER lost control of his universe. Wrap your mind around this, get it into your heart, pray over it, believe it – and you’ll sleep like Jesus in the bottom of any storm battered boat.

I offer two passages that are a constant help to me when it feels like the world has gone mad.

Isaiah 46:8-11 – Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purpose, and I will do it.

In case you don’t know the context, God is speaking both of judgment and redemption in the book of Isaiah. I don’t pretend in my pulpit, or in this paper, to understand the secret counsels and purposes of God. But I stand fast on the fact that nothing has occurred which God did not ordain – not even a 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court.

Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

I don’t think I need to take the time to spell this out. If you believe in the inspiration and authority of scripture like I do, you will recognize that God makes the claim that nothing is random, nothing is chance. God is in control.

2. Unless you’re ‘post-millennial’ these cultural shifts are to be expected.

The church of a century ago was reeling at the suddenness and ferocity of the Great War. Most churches of 1915 held some form of ‘Post-Millennialism’, the belief that culture would become progressively more ‘Christianized’ until Christian’s held the majority position, ushering in the second coming of Christ. The advent of a World War destroyed that confidence – a cursory reading of scripture should have destroyed it before WW1 had the chance.

We are not a ‘post-millennial’ people. It is going to get dark before the end… really dark. I’m not ready to call the game yet. I think the warnings of final Armageddon coming from some parts of America might be premature (and incredibly American-centric – why would God bring Armageddon based on the US decision and not on the Irish decision a month earlier or the Canadian decision years ago). I would counsel you to pray and preach in the hopes of revival – but realize that even revival is a mixed blessing. Every awakening has faded, and mingled with genuine conversion are false conversions – yet I cannot help but pray that God might be gracious and merciful to my generation and come down in power. That is what I pray for, and that is how I preach.

But remember what Paul warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING THESE ARE THE LAST DAYS? Yes. And these last days may extend well beyond your natural life-span, so get some ballast in the bottom of your boat, buckle down to faithful exposition of the Word of God, and preach so that you will not be ashamed if you are called to give an account tomorrow or in forty years for the souls God has entrusted to you.

3. There is not, nor has there ever been, a Christian nation.

We are waking from a strange time in the history of the church – a time of relative peace and complacency; a time when pastors were honoured and respected in the public square. But there are no Christian nations, there never has been one. To be a Christian nation, an entire nation would have to love God with all its heart – it would have to govern itself like a theocracy and every citizen would have to be regenerate and submitted to the will of God’s Spirit.

Jesus warned us to expect this. John 15:18 - If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it has hated you. Reflecting on the words of Jesus, the apostle John writes in I John 3:13 – Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

Yet we seem absolutely astounded that culture has turned on Christian morality. We seem flummoxed that we are being mocked, ridiculed and treated with contempt. Get used to it – it’s the default setting of the world. If your Lord stood before an angry mob bruised, bloody, with Roman spit dripping from his face, you need not expect better treatment. Even the preachers of the great awakening had to contend with rocks, rotten fruit and hostile crowds. You’ll survive – or you won’t – but don’t waste your suffering by griping all over Facebook that no one respects your opinion.

4. The answer you should offer when someone asks why you publicly oppose another person’s lifestyle.

This final thought is different from the others. In some ways it doesn’t fit, but I didn’t have time to construct another article for it (I have sermons to prepare and people to visit). So take it for what its worth.

I continually hear the question – ‘Who are you to legislate what a person can do with their own body.’ (Or something to that effect.) I’ve been thinking for a while about this question. I have an answer. It’s not an answer that will satisfy the culture, the world, or the liberal church friend that wants to celebrate what scripture won’t. But I offer it for your peace of mind – an answer that should satisfy you that you are right to stand firm against what scripture stands firm against.

The answer: You don’t belong to you (Psalm 2:1-6; 24:1-2; Isaiah 40:15-17; Daniel 4:35). No human being can look at anything in their possession, including themselves and say MINE. That is the council of scripture. We are, every one of us, stewards of what God has given.

God has granted me life (Psalm 139:13). He has granted me certain privileges in life (Proverbs 22:2). He has granted me both afflictions and joys (Job 1:21). He has given me an authoritative Word to tell how I should steward what he has granted (2 Timothy 3:16). And I ignore his counsel at my peril (Romans 14:10-12).

I am not opposing homosexuality because I have no regard for another persons happiness in this life. I am opposing homosexuality because I have great hope for their happiness in eternity – and God has declared that no one who practices homosexuality will enter the Kingdom of God; but that those who formerly practiced such things can yet be justified in the name of the Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

Don’t expect them to set down the rocks and rotten eggs when you explain yourself in this way. But remember you are not trying to convert the culture – you are calling out to individuals – and some will hear and be converted.

So I conclude with a simple call to Bible believing pastors. Be steady, be faithful, preach the gospel – earnestly, robustly, lovingly, winsomely, passionately. Present the means of salvation to the world and pray that the Holy Spirit might use it for God’s greater glory.

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Why Did God Harden Pharaoh's Heart?

29/3/2015

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Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Or did Pharaoh harden his own heart? Having just completed this portion in the book of Exodus, I wanted to look a little closer. So I set out the pertinent texts and asked two questions.

First, who hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Second, why was it hardened? Finally, how do these passages from Exodus and Romans apply to us?

I. Did God Harden Pharaoh’s Heart Before or After Pharaoh Hardened His Own Heart

This question is not unlike ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg.’ (All those who believe the biblical account of creation will know that the answer is ‘the chicken’.)

However, before we examine this question, we need to ascertain the condition of Pharaoh’s heart before Moses even arrives with a message from God. Was the heart of Pharaoh tender; did the evidence prior to his formal encounter with God indicate that he had neither inclination towards right or wrong? Had God not spoken to this man, would he have been found to be a just and righteous man?

Not at all. Every evidence we see before the arrival of Moses points to the very opposite reality. This is the man, who before Moses was born had ordered that every male child, born to the Hebrews, to be thrown into the Nile. Let us not waste any time making the case that Pharaoh had started out as a blank sheet neither inclined to wickedness nor to righteousness. The New Testament scripture will make the declaration that there is none righteous, not one.

This is a universal statement according to Romans 3. It applies not only to despots and dictators, but to youngest infants alive. Have you not observed an infant, who can neither walk, nor talk but who has been deprived of the thing they want most, be it a rattle, a bottle or a dolly? Have you not seen them a murderous rage that declares: ‘If I could talk I would curse you and had I control over my own limbs I would kill you – I hate you, because you have deprived me of what I want.’

By the time we grow to adulthood, we have learned to mask the beast within, to keep hidden the most wicked edges of our sin nature – but let none deny, that the sweetest little old lady, and the gentlest little old man have living within them a heart that has been hard and sinful from the moment of conception.

So I begin by saying that Pharaoh’s heart was naturally hard, as are the hearts of all humans.

Does this mean that God did not harden Pharaoh’s heart?

No. I believe that Pharaoh was sinful enough to damn himself to hell without any help; however the Word of God had a SUPER-HARDENING effect upon Pharaoh. That was God’s intent.

This is where things get interesting. Some commentators interpret Pharaoh’s response to God’s command in the following way.

(a) God commands through Moses that Pharoah should, ‘Let my people go.’

(b) Pharaoh hears the command, but hardens his heart repeatedly.

(c) After repeated ‘willful’ hardenings God takes over and hardens Pharaoh’s heart.

The Western world has an inclination to applaud this interpretation as it seems conform itself to our humanistic understanding of free will. We want to believe that any person is equally free to choose obedience or disobedience.

That is NOT, however, what the text says. Nor is it how the apostle Paul, writing thousands of years later, understands it.

Here is the sequence as scripture reveals it.

(a) God sends Moses to Pharaoh with a message and ALSO tells him that Pharaoh will refuse, because God intends to harden his heart. (Ex 4:21; 7:3)

(b) God commands through Moses the Pharaoh should, ‘Let my people go.’

(c) Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, in spite of disastrous plagues.

(d) God wrests his people from Pharaoh’s hand and then hardens him once more to destroy the Egyptian armies in the Red Sea.

It is important to point out that the earliest two references to hardening, before the first plague has fallen, state: ‘I will harden his heart.’

During the interplay between Moses and Pharaoh we see some occasions where the text declares that Pharaoh hardened his heart, and other places where the text declares that God hardened his heart. But we cannot deny that God has determined it before Moses even sets foot in Egypt again.

When we spring forward to Romans 9:14-16 Paul uses the story of Pharaoh as evidence that there is no injustice on God’s part in electing some to salvation and condemning the rest.

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Paul makes the case that God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is in no way unjust, because he is dealing with Pharaoh in the way his sin deserves. Rid yourself of the idea that sinners have some inherent ‘right’ to mercy. God could condemn all the world in justice and holiness today. He does not owe it to Egypt or America or Canada to save any. But in order to display the fullness of his glory, in love he sends his Son to redeem, at enormous price, people from every tribe and tongue and nation – by definition, he sends his Son to save the world.

II. Why Does God Harden Pharaoh’s Heart?

There are two answers to this question. The first is explicit in the text, the second is implicit.

Below are the texts that spell out the explicit reason that God ordained the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart: that God should be glorified. Glorified before the eyes of the Hebrew people by the great signs and wonders that would redeem them; glorified before the nations and peoples of the world; and glorified for all time.

This was God’s intent, and this was the exact result.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” (Exodus 10:1-2 ESV)

(God addressing Pharaoh through Moses.) But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16 ESV)

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so. (Exodus 14:4 ESV)

(Moses song after passing through the Red Sea.) The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased. (Exodus 15:14-16 ESV)

(Rahab, the prostitute, describing her own people.) For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. (Joshua 2:10-11 ESV)

Down through the history of Israel we hear the story recounted and retold – the story of the Exodus and God’s glory in creating a people by his own power and will. Truly God’s glory RESOUNDS through the history of Israel. (See Ex 20:2; Lev 11:45; 19:36; 22:33; 25:38; 26:13; Num 15:41; Deut 5:6; 6:12; 8:14; 13:5; 13:10; 20:1; 1 Ki 12:28; 17:36; Neh 9:18; Ps 81:10; Am 2:10)

Forty years later as Joshua leads the nation to the walls of Jericho, we hear on the lips of Rahab the testimony that the Canaanite nations tremble before the God of the Israelites, because they have heard of the Exodus and of God’s power to crush his enemies (Joshua 2:10-11).

Four thousand years later the world still knows the story. Indeed, God’s power has resonated around the world and down through the ages. This was his purpose, and his purpose was achieved. (We have not one but two major motion pictures and a major animation inspired by the story – albeit bent to Hollywood’s ends.)

There is also an implicit reason. Paul uses Pharaoh to exemplify the opposite side of unconditional election: For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:15-16)

The first definition listed by Dictionary.com for mercy is: ‘compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power…’

Mercy can never be demanded. Mercy is never a right belonging to anyone, let alone everyone. The person, towards whom mercy is shown, is a person who has fallen into the power of the one who shows mercy.

Mercy releases the one who should be rightly bound. Mercy does not demand payment, in spite of debt owed. Mercy offers life, where everyone expects death.

God is free in bestowing mercy.

God is free in withholding mercy.

To some, according to the mystery of his will (Eph 1:3-10), he extends mercy, which they did not deserve. To the rest, God gives justice.

The implicit reason that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, is that is exactly what his sin had bought him – the wages of sin are death (Rom 6:23), and God settled Pharaoh’s bill with his own justice.

Let no one be confused. Nowhere in scripture is the faintest suggestion that God’s mercy extends to every human. His common graces may send rain upon the just and the unjust (Mt 5:45), but his mercy is determinative. God gives mercy freely to whomever he will, and when God extends mercy, it never fails to achieve its objective (2 Cor 4:4-6). But in many cases, God does not extend mercy, and who can fault him, or complain that giving justice to the guilty is unjust?

It is the extension of mercy that changes the trajectory of the soul. Many may come under the preaching of the gospel – but the result of the gospel in the reprobate is merely to harden the sinful heart; while the result of the gospel upon the elect is to bring forth saving faith. The reprobate freely reject God and fairly receive the wages of sin. The elect graciously are given sight, and with it mercy.

III. Application for Today

I believe there are a couple of important applications to carry away from this study.

First, I believe that the doctrine of election is one of the most hopeful doctrines in all of scripture, in spite of the certain knowledge that there are some people who will never respond to the gospel. We have no way of knowing who will and who will not respond – but the doctrine of election teaches that as long as a person lives, there is reason to believe that they might yet be converted by the gospel. EVEN if they have rejected the message many times before.

In 2 Timothy 2:10 Paul writes to Timothy from a prison cell where he is chained as a criminal. He declares that he is suffering for the gospel, but he goes on to state in verse 10: Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This firmly rejects any form of hyper-calvinism that would be disinterested in missions or evangelism. It is the very fact that among the masses are the elect that fuels Paul’s endurance of suffering.

Paul knows better than most the strange workings of God’s mercy. When did Paul first hear the gospel? We don’t know for certain, but we know that he heard it preached at least once with power from the lips of Stephen and rejected it. He held the cloaks of the men who were stoning Stephen. From there he went on to press the persecution of the church – until that providential moment on the road to Damascus when Jesus broke through.

The declaration that God is free in giving mercy should fuel us to preach the gospel even to those who seem hardest to it.

Second, these passages should encourage us to hold fast upon the Word of God even when the powers that be show no inclination to hear us or heed us. God’s glory can be revealed both in those who humble themselves under his Word and those who are hardened by it. We may have to suffer terribly for a time, but the same God who brought Pharaoh to his knees is enthroned in heaven. Let us be so bold as to take our stand and proclaim the Word of God, believing that God will glorify himself through it.

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Chapter 10 - The Sacrament of Living, Tozer's Pursuit of God

23/4/2014

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Chapter 10 – The Sacrament of Living

Did you make it finally? For a long time I had the bad habit of starting books and never finishing them. I had an endless stack of books that I needed to finish. A few years ago I felt convicted that this wasn’t the best use of the books I had invested in, so I made it a point to mark in the beginning of my books when I began them and often would mark the date I read each chapter. The practice of keeping all the books I was reading on a particular shelf reminded me of the ones I needed to finish. And in this manner I have managed to finish a great number of books.

This book on the Pursuit of God has a final chapter worth reading (if you’ve lost your steam along the way, let me encourage you to take in the final chapter). It addresses a chronic problem in the church today; the separation of life into sacred and secular.

Tozer points out that God makes no such separation, that all of life is intended to be lived for God – Jesus providing us with the perfect example of what this looks like. I have found tremendous freedom in this knowledge. This doesn’t mean that I can only ever do things like pray, read my Bible and sing hymns – I am free in Christ to drink deeply of all that life has to offer. When I ride my bike out into the country, I am able to do this for God’s glory. When I fire up the barbecue for dinner, this is equally something that can be done for God’s glory. I can enjoy time with friends and family for his greater glory. Is there anything that cannot be done for God’s glory? YES! Of course, a person cannot sin for the glory of God, so there are certain actions, activities and attitudes that have no place in my life – but none of those things can actually carry through on a promise of joy and peace – sin actually brings about the opposite result – grief and guilt.

But let me offer a caution to you as you discover the freedom to ‘live’ for the glory of God in the job you have and the family you are in. We cannot simply slap a bumper-sticker on our lives and make it true. What I mean by that, is that too often people take hold of this sort of teaching and use it as an excuse NOT to be holy, but rather to declare what is common holy. The upward call of God upon Christians is to live their lives intentionally for his glory – literally with God’s honour and glory at the forefront of our minds. That means I will go out of my way to obey him, to serve him, and to show my love for him.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones offered a single question as a means for rightly understanding the condition of our heart: “What is your supreme desire? Are you out for the fleshly carnal results, or do you long to know God and to become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you hungering and thirsting for righteousness?”

Answer this question honestly and you will know whether you are living for the glory of God or if you are simply asking God to bless your indifference to all things holy and living instead for the pursuit of STUFF that will leave you empty in the end.

Thanks for reading along. I hope you will continue to pick up books that challenge your thinking and lead you into a deeper love and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Chapter 9 - Meekness and Rest, Tozer's 'Pursuit of God'

4/4/2014

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I have found the principle that Tozer speaks of in this chapter to be ABSOLUTELY invaluable! There is no better path to peace than to trust God, and meekness is implicitly trusting God.

The character of David in his days in the wilderness demonstrate meekness beautifully. Consider David’s situation: He is running around the wilderness, hiding in villages and caves from murderous King Saul who has attempted to skewer him with a spear multiple times.

Is David too weak to defend himself? No, this is David, of whom the women of Israel sing, ‘Saul has killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands.’ This is David, through whom God slew Goliath. David does not lack the power to defend himself.

Is David without opportunity to rid himself of Saul? No! Twice David comes upon Saul with the advantage (once in a cave, and once while Saul is sleeping) and both times David spares the kings life, stating that he will not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed.

Now, consider what David knows. David knows that he has been anointed king over Israel. But David is meek. He is not weak, but he is patient, trusting that God who has anointed him king, will also bring his promise to fruition. God does not need David’s strength or David’s sword – so David places his faith in trust in God and continues to flee from Saul.

What does this speak to your heart?

To me, I am reminded of the promises that God has made to me – the promise that my sins have been forgiven, that my debt has been paid, that my place in heaven is forever secured by my Saviour. I am free now to live as a son of God, to delight in God, and live for Him. I often find myself caught up in spiritual conflict with the adversary, but I don’t concern myself with my own reputation, with what others will say about me, or think about me (though I feel that temptation upon me regularly). I am reminded that my God is supreme, my Saviour sufficient and my future certain and sure.

How is that for peace and rest. This is the peace that comes from resting in meekness on the power of God to accomplish what he has promised in his time, and to use me for his greater glory.

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Chapter 8 - Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation, Tozer's Pursuit of GOd

29/3/2014

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It's Saturday, and the end of a very busy week, that included all the usual sermon and Bible Study prep - but also a very important meeting on renewal that soaked up a lot of time and energy. So I apologize for the lateness of this post. I hope you're still reading along and finding gems in Tozer.

I really felt that he hit on a solid point about mid-chapter when he points out that the prayer, 'Be thou exalted', is the corrective for all things in the spiritual life. In his own words: "Let the seeking man reach a place where life and lips join to say continually, 'Be thou exalted,' and a thousand minor problems will be solved at once. His Christian life ceases to be the complicated thing it had been before and becomes the very essence of simplicity."

In my own experience I discover this when I stop worrying about 'what' God will do with me; and 'how' God might use me, and simply begin to pray that he might be glorified in me and through me. Then I believe that God is already doing what I have prayed and I open His Word and begin to obey whatever I find there. I don't worry if my finances seem to founder, or if attendance dips at the church, or if God seems to call me to a very 'unglorious' task. I have prayed that God might be glorified in and through me, and I am no longer concerned with whether I will receive glory, or whether my church will be glorified, or whether anyone will remember my name. However - I find I need to be reminded of this from time to time. The old flesh often pushes in and starts asking, 'Hey - How is this going to benefit me?'

I appreciate Tozer's honesty in pointing out that this is not 'perfection' that is on display in our lives, but 'holy intention'. We are inclined to seek God and his glory and in doing so "...God finds a theater where He can display His exceeding kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Beware... God often uses his faithful servants as a canvas for grace in the midst of suffering and sorrow. Daniel was thrown to the lions; David had to hide in caves from Saul; Paul was beaten and imprisoned. But in all of these characters, God displayed the marks of his glory and his grace.

So pray this with me. Pray that God might be restored to his rightful place as king and lord of your life, that you might find the genuine, lasting joy of being in the centre of his will and purpose for you!

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The Requirements of the Covenant of Redemption

Sermon Notes on the History of the Covenant of Redemption

A Sabbatical to Rest and Reflect

RE: Sex-Ed Curriculum - A letter to My Child's Teacher

Genuine (Christian) Love

On Facing Culture: Be Steady, Be Faithful, Preach the Gospel

Why Did God Harden Pharaoh's Heart?

Chapter 10 - The Sacrament of Living, Tozer's Pursuit of God

Chapter 9 - Meekness and Rest, Tozer's 'Pursuit of God'

Chapter 8 - Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation, Tozer's Pursuit of GOd

Marc A. Bertrand

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