True Belief

"If we want to be saved, we must both be persuaded that no one ever spoke like this man (Jesus), He is who He says He is - He is true AND come to Him to drink. We must come to Him as our all-satisfying supreme treasure, we must come to Him as our thirst-quenching, life-giving water, we must come to Him as our hunger-stilling bread from heaven, we must come to Him as our perfect, precious, sacrificed Lamb of God in our place, we must come to Him as the all-illuminating, all guiding light of our life and we must embrace this water and this bread and this light and this Lamb as our supreme portion and feed off of Him and be transformed little by little into His image. He is everything to us - that's what belief is."

- John Piper

The Gospel

Tim Chaddick (Pastor of Reality LA): Jesus took our place as the condemned sinner. Jesus took our rightful place on the cross as the condemned one and we get put in the place of the innocent one. For it was there that Jesus would be judged and He did not receive mercy and even though Jesus was the perfect Son, He was treated as a common criminal guilty for the sins of humanity. But He rose again and through believing in His name we are justified so that the cross, Calvary, the place of judgment becomes the place of hope. The place where it is said "you are a sinner" it is also said "you are justified" if you've trusted in Christ.

Words of Wisdom from A.W. Tozer

With the veil removed by the rending of Jesus’ flesh, with nothing on God’s side to prevent us from entering, why do we tarry without? Why do we consent to abide all our days just outside the Holy of Holies and never enter at all to look upon God? We hear the Bridegroom say, “Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely.” We sense that the call is for us, but still we fail to draw near, and the years pass and we grow old and tired in the outer courts of the tabernacle. What doth hinder us?

The answer usually given, simply that we are “cold,” will not explain all the facts. There is something more serious than coldness of heart, something that may be back of that coldness and be the cause of its existence. What is it? What but the presence of a veil in our hearts? a veil not taken away as the first veil was, but which remains there still shutting out the light and hiding the face of God from us. It is the veil of our fleshly fallen nature living on, unjudged within us, uncrucified and unrepudiated. It is the close-woven veil of the self-life which we have never truly acknowledged, of which we have been secretly ashamed, and which for these reasons we have never brought to the judgment of the cross. It is not too mysterious, this opaque veil, nor is it hard to identify. We have but to look in our own hearts and we shall see it there, sewn and patched and repaired it may be, but there nevertheless, an enemy to our lives and an effective block to our spiritual progress.

This veil is not a beautiful thing and it is not a thing about which we commonly care to talk, but I am addressing the thirsting souls who are determined to follow God, and I know they will not turn back because the way leads temporarily through the blackened hills. The urge of God within them will assure their continuing the pursuit. They will face the facts however unpleasant and endure the cross for the joy set before them. So I am bold to mane the threads out of which this inner veil is woven.

It is woven of the fine threads of the self-life, the hyphenated sins of the human spirit. They are not something we do, they are something we are, and therein lies both their subtlety and their power.

To be specific, the self-sins are these: self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love and a host of others like them. They dwell too deep within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them. The grosser manifestations of these sins, egotism, exhibitionism, self-promotion, are strangely tolerated in Christian leaders even in circles of impeccable orthodoxy. They are so much in evidence as actually, for many people, to become identified with the gospel. I trust it is not a cynical observation to say that they appear these days to be a requisite for popularity in some sections of the Church visible. Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice.

One should suppose that proper instruction in the doctrines of man’s depravity and the necessity for justification through the righteousness of Christ alone would deliver us from the power of the self-sins; but it does not work out that way. Self can live unrebuked at the very altar. It can watch the bleeding Victim die and not be in the least affected by what it sees. It can fight for the faith of the Reformers and preach eloquently the creed of salvation by grace, and gain strength by its efforts. To tell all the truth, it seems actually to feed upon orthodoxy and is more at home in a Bible Conference than in a tavern. Our very state of longing after God may afford it an excellent condition under which to thrive and grow.

Self is the opaque veil that hides the Face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction. As well try to instruct leprosy out of our system. There must be a work of God in destruction before we are free. We must invite the cross to do its deadly work within us. We must bring our self-sins to the cross for judgment. We must prepare ourselves for an ordeal of suffering in some measure like that through which our Saviour passed when He suffered under Pontius Pilate.

Let us remember: when we talk of the rending of the veil we are speaking in a figure, and the thought of it is poetical, almost pleasant; but in actuality there is nothing pleasant about it. In human experience that veil is made of living spiritual tissue; it is composed of the sentient, quivering stuff of which our whole beings consist, and to touch it is to touch us where we feel pain. To tear it away is to injure us, to hurt us and make us bleed. To say otherwise is to make the cross no cross and death no death at all. It is never fun to die. To rip through the dear and tender stuff of which life is made can never be anything but deeply painful. Yet that is what the cross did to Jesus and it is what the cross would do to every man to set him free.

Let us beware of tinkering with our inner life in hope ourselves to rend the veil. God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust. We must confess, forsake, repudiate the self-life, and then reckon it crucified. But we must be careful to distinguish lazy “acceptance” from the real work of God. We must insist upon the work being done. We dare not rest content with a neat doctrine of self-crucifixion. That is to imitate Saul and spare the best of the sheep and the oxen.

Insist that the work be done in very truth and it will be done. The cross is rough, and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not keep its victim hanging there forever. There comes a moment when its work is finished and the suffering victim dies. After that is resurrection glory and power, and the pain is forgotten for joy that the veil is taken away and we have entered in actual spiritual experience the Presence of the living God.

Lord, how excellent are Thy ways, and how devious and dark are the ways of man. Show us how to die, that we may rise again to newness of life. Rend the veil of our self-life from the top down as Thou didst rend the veil of the Temple. We would draw near in full assurance of faith. We would dwell with Thee in daily experience here on this earth so that we may be accustomed to the glory when we enter Thy heaven to dwell with Thee there. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Stumbling Block

1 Corinthians 1:23

Today I was at a small dog park in Manhattan Beach and I met a nice older couple, Beth and Don. After chatting with them for a little bit about dogs, I asked them if I could ask them a question. They said sure, so I asked them if they were believers in Jesus Christ? Beth replied, "No, quite the opposite." I asked her what she meant by that and she said that they are Jewish. I then asked them if anyone had ever explained the Gospel to them, hoping that I would be able to, but they were not interested in hearing it. I asked if they are waiting for another Messiah and Beth's response was, "Not another Messiah, the Messiah." I then asked her if she had ever read Psalm 22. She said, "I don't really......," which to me implied that she doesn't really read, nor know the scriptures very well. I encouraged her to read Psalm 22.

The reason I encouraged her to read Psalm 22 is because it is in the Old Testament (the Jewish Bible), which Jews and Christians consider divinely inspired scripture. It also contains some of the most amazing prophecies concerning the Messiah. Verse 1 says, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" These are the very same words Jesus uttered when He was nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:46). When Jesus cried out those words, the Jews that were there would have immediately known that He was quoting Psalm 22 because they knew the scriptures so well. They would have then recited the rest of the Psalm in their heads and must have been in awe when they arrived at verse 16, which says, "they have pierced my hands and feet," and verse 18, which says, "they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." The events prophesied in Psalm 22 were happening right before their very eyes. Jesus is the Messiah! Keep in mind that this Psalm was written by King David about 1,000 B.C. and at a time when crucifixion was not even practiced yet.

On my way home I began praying for Beth and Don that they would read Psalm 22 and realize that Jesus is the Messiah. Please join me in praying for their salvation.

Walk

What does the Word of God say regarding the manner in which Christians are to walk? A concordance search of the word "walk" revealed the following verses:

Romans 4:12 - "and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also WALK in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."

Romans 6:4 - "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might WALK in newness of life."

Romans 8:1 - "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
*Some manuscripts add "who WALK not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

Romans 8:4 - "in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who WALK not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Romans 13:13 - "Let us WALK properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy."

2 Corinthians 5:7 - "for we WALK by faith, not by sight."

Galatians 5:16 - "But I say, WALK by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

Galatians 5:25 - "If we live by the Spirit, let us also WALK by the Spirit."

Galatians 6:14-16 - "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which [1] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who WALK by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God."

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should WALK in them."

Ephesians 4:1 - "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to WALK in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called."

Ephesians 4:17 - "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer WALK as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds."

Ephesians 5:2 - "And WALK in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Ephesians 5:8 - "for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. WALK as children of light."

Ephesians 5:15 - "Look carefully then how you WALK, not as unwise but as wise."

Philippians 3:17-18 - "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who WALK according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, WALK as enemies of the cross of Christ."

Colossians 1:10 - "so as to WALK in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Colossians 2:6 - "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK in him."

Colossians 4:5 - "WALK in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time."

1 Thessalonians 2:12 - "we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to WALK in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."

1 Thessalonians 4:1 - "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to WALK and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more."

1 Thessalonians 4:12 - "so that you may WALK properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."

1 Thessalonians 3:11 - "For we hear that some among you WALK in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies."

Important Questions About Life

How did we come into existence?

Why are we here?

What happens after this life?

There is someone who can provide answers to these important questions. His name is Jesus. God in the flesh (John 1:14). He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one goes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). He was crucified for our sins and then resurrected on the third day. Over 500 people witnessed the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:6), many of them willing to go to their death for testifying to what they saw.

Please, repent and put your trust in the only one who can forgive your sins and give you everlasting life (John 3:16).

Representatives

Imagine you work for Apple, Inc. There is an upcoming meeting with a potentially huge client and Steve Jobs asks YOU to represent Apple, Inc. at the meeting. He tells you to wear your best suit, to be clean shaven, to speak professionally and to study Apple's product so you are as knowledgeable as possible at the meeting. He tells you that there is a lot at stake at this meeting.

Despite what Steve told you, you show up to the meeting wearing shorts, t-shirt and sandals. You haven't shaven in a week. Throughout the meeting you use inappropriate language and you did not study so you are unable to explain Apple's product to the potential client.

The meeting is a complete and utter failure. The potential client is completely turned off from ever doing business with Apple, Inc. Their perception of Apple, Inc., based on what they saw in you, is terrible.

When you return to your office, Steve is furious. He has already spoken to the potential client and knows everything that happened at the meeting. He tells you how disappointed he is and fires you for not properly representing Apple, Inc. at the meeting.

We, as Christians, are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has chosen us to represent Him at the important meetings which we have every single day with people who are lost, blind and deceived. His word describes very specifically the manner in which we, as His representatives, are to conduct ourselves. We are to live in such a way that makes us separate from the world, so that when we speak to someone, they will see that Jesus is not only our Savior, but also our Lord. When we fail to live in such a manner, we are not only disobeying, but also misrepresenting God. If we truly love Him, then this should never be the case. Jesus made that perfectly clear in John 14:21.

I write this as an encouragement to myself and to all who call themselves Christians to remember that we have been given the great honor to be the chosen representatives of the Lord of all creation. We must be in His word constantly to make sure that we are living lives that honor Him and also so we can be as knowledgeable as possible for our daily meetings with the lost.

We are his chosen representatives.

Scripture References:
Psalm 86:12
Matthew 5:16
Matthew 15:7-8
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Peter 2:12