The Testing Place

“So we will be brought one by one to the testing place, and we may never know when we are there. At that testing place there will be no dozen possible choices for us — just one and an alternative — but our whole future will be conditioned by the choice we make” (A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God).

Our lives are filled with choices, and we like to think that our happiness, our fulfillment, is in having a lot to choose from.  People like a restaurant menu with a lot of entrees, a cable or satellite service with many channels, a mall with a variety of good shops, various options for their leisure time, multiple jobs to choose from, etc.  And even in their religious lives, people often seek churches with a lot of programs or activities, and preaching that gives some variety, and a number of friends so they can choose among the ones they like to be with.  Ah, that’s the life…

But the real choices, those that affect our spiritual relationship to our Father, are of a different nature.  There are momentous decision points, destiny-shaping choices to which we are brought at certain points in our lives.  They are rare, and as mentioned in the quote above, they are not “multiple choice”; rather they are generally of the yes/no – either/or – good/evil variety.  They take us through a door where everything is changed.  They are akin to Jesus’ trial in Gethsemane.  The choice of good is often painful and costly.  It may mean a sacrifice beyond what we ever imagined before. 

We naturally fear this test.  We will do all we can to avoid it, put it off if we can. When it comes, we wonder why it is happening to us, feel sorry about our “tough breaks”, maybe even complain about God’s forsaking us.  “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” I Pet. 4:12, ESV.

When you are ready, God will bring you to the testing place.  If he has not done it, you are not ready.  He is trying to prepare you.  When you are face-to-face with the decision, it is because God has designed it for you and prepared you for it.  “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” I Cor. 10:13. ESV.

"Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."  Ps. 46:2

Perhaps you have been there, and you failed.  You are tasting the bitter fruit, reaping the consequences of your decision.  You wish you could go back and undo these consequences, make everything right, but you can’t.   You can only humble yourself, confess your sin to God, rest in His forgiveness, but you can’t undo all of the consequences of that failed test.

The only test you can do anything about are the one that you are facing now, or the one He is working to get you ready for. “Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”  Jer. 18:6                       

Spirit, Water and Blood: Testimony in I John 5 (Part 2)

Coming to v. 6, John points out that Jesus came by water and blood. This seems likely to be addressing those Gnostics who saw Jesus as an ordinary man, but endowed with the Holy Spirit at his baptism; they argued that the Spirit left him as he came to the cross, and that he died just a man.  [This had to do with their idea that "spirit" could not undergo suffering and death, or be "tainted" by any such fleshly defeat.]  In other words, they held that the Son of God was born of water (at his baptism) but "escaped" the horror of the crucifixion.  John says no, "not by the water only, but the water AND the blood."

We are not immune to this error. We do not see Jesus' suffering as we should. We see it as a necessary evil, as a historic cruelty that He had to endure.  But the Bible tells us that He was "made perfect" through suffering, that he "learned obedience by the things he suffered".  And so must we.  More on that another time.

So John brings us to see that the water and the blood testified to Jesus as the Son of God. At his baptism, the voice from heaven said, "this is my beloved Son".  Just before his death, on the transfiguration mount, again "this is my beloved Son".  At the foot of the cross, the centurion said, "truly, he was the Son of God".  And as if to underscore the testimony, at his death darkness fell, the earth shook, the rocks were split, dead men were raised, and the vail of the temple was rent.  There all the universe is hinged and there all history turns.

So the water and blood testified in the days of his flesh, but there is another witness who continues to testify.  He is the Spirit of God who testifies to us of spiritual realities, because the Spirit IS reality - note what John says, He IS the truth!  Not that he speaks truth or writes truth, but he IS truth!  [No doubt the Spirit uses the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, to testify to us.  But that same word tells us there is more to it than that.]

Note that John has told us elsewhere that Jesus spoke the same way - "I AM the truth".  And earlier, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free".   He also told his apostles that He would go away, so he could send "another comforter" - it would be better for them if he went away.  He would be with them in a better way. Not the way of flesh and blood, but present with them spiritually - by means of God's Holy Spirit.  And it was not just for the apostles [though they did have special roles in revealing the word]. When Thomas asks, "How is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world", Jesus' reply was, "If any man loves me, my Father and I will come to him, and make our abode with him...".

Now John says, "The Spirit IS the truth". Paul says, "NOW The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of The Lord is, there is liberty".

When we are born again into God's family, Christ and The Father dwell in us. They dwell in us spiritually.  They dwell in us by the Spirit.  This is evidence to us, testimony to us, that Jesus is the Son of God. He is bearing witness, along with the water and the blood, of the reality of the spiritual realm.  John repeatedly says, "this is how we know", and his evidences are demonstrations of the life given up for Christ and his people - that is, the life filled with, and led by, the Spirit of God.  Certainly this includes reverence for and obedience to his word. But the word is our objective written guide and standard.  It must LIVE in us, and if it makes us alive spiritually, we are made alive not by the written letter, but by the living Spirit of Christ in us.

This is not to imply that our free will is lost, that some external force takes over, that we are directly inspired or have special revelations, that we work miracles, that we are infallible in our interpretations, or even that we are specially gifted in our Bible studies.  But it does mean that we belong to Him, that HIS will has become our will, that we surrender to Him whatever talents and opportunities we might have, rich or poor. 

It means that we treasure and honor the testimony we have been given: of the water, uniting with him in his death, burial and resurrection in baptism; of the blood, being crucified with Him, and remembering his death in the faithful observance of His supper; and of the Spirit, giving ourselves to let Christ live in us, and filling up what is lacking in His afflictions for His body's sake, which is the church (Col.1:24f).

In the Spirit, the water and the blood we have the witness of God borne TO us about His Son.   But note that John also says “he that believes in the Son of God has the witness IN HIMSELF.  This is God's witness: that He has given us His Son, and that He is the ONLY source of spiritual life - the true life!

Spirit, Water and Blood: Testimony in I John 5 (Part 1)

I chose the name of this blog from 1 John 5, because after decades, not until my late 50s, I saw in it something new (that is, new for me) and beautiful and powerful.  The Bible is full of things that the world cannot see, and that even many professing church members do not appreciate.  It is not because of intellectual limitation, and not because direct inspiration or further divine revelation is required. It is rather because one cannot see beyond his own horizons.  One must progress farther to see farther. 

[I stop to emphasize that I am not claiming some special insight or privilege.  It is true for all Christians who struggle honestly with the word, that some things come to be crystal clear - so clear that you marvel how you failed to see them previously.  So I feel about this issue.  Because of long-held assumptions, I was sadly blind to much of the power and comfort of this chapter.]

John is grounding his readers in assurance regarding a truth so profound it transcends their own intellect or performance.  That which is true, that which is according to his will, is the ground of all their confidence.  The "evil one" is all around them; the whole world is captivated by him.   Men cannot, of themselves, overcome the world, for they are already up to their ears in the quicksand.  Sin warps and blinds and weakens them.  They can't see straight.  Yet even when they cannot determine all that is true with certainty, they can know HIM who is true - his son Jesus Christ!  Their hope and confidence is in Him.  That accounts for the declaration at the end of the chapter, "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ."

John is saying that we are surer of Jesus Christ and his redemption than we are of our own power, intellect, or performance.  We are surer of him than we are of our own judgment and our own understanding about every detail of right doctrine - surer of Him, I say, than our own traditions or interpretations of Scripture.  This means, therefore, that we are surer of Him than our own accounting of our failings and sins.  Thus we are thrown back to dependence on "him that is true".

The Scriptures are truth, but they exist to reveal Jesus Christ and His cross and resurrection.  Our only hope is in his cleansing blood, as we confess our sinfulness, walking in his light.  So we humbly yield to him, surrender to him in faith.  And with regard to our own shortcomings, "this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us..."

Consider John's own statement as to why he has written these verses.  In v. 13, "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God."   So that you may know that you have (already) eternal life.  We at first recoil at the statement and qualify it, quick to point out that it will come later - after the second coming.  But His point is different. When he speaks of eternal life - as in most of his writing - he is talking about spiritual life here and now. To be sure, it extends to eternity, transcending physical death, but his point is that we have it now.  God has given us this spiritual life, and he has given it to us in his Son!  (v. 11-12).

With this perspective on why John writes this, we can better understand the earlier "spirit, water, blood" statement, beginning from v.1.

In v.1-3, those believing in Jesus as the Christ are born anew - new spiritual life deriving from the majestic and Holy Father. If we live this new spiritual life, we love all those who are sharers in such life from him, and we order our lives after his commandments. This righteous living shows our love for him and for his people. This is what the love of God is - the keeping of his commandments. [Not the legalistic adherence to a code, but rather the humble submission to his guidance].

In v. 4-5, this new spiritual life overcomes the world; that is, it transcends the material realm.  We are in the world but not of the world.  We walk in touch with air and water, rocks and dirt, wood and metal, paper and plastic, plants and animals, money and credit, power and politics. But they are the things of this world.  If we would outlast them, we have to overcome them!

And who is the one who overcomes them?  The one who believes in Jesus Christ as the  Son of God - the one who comes to us revealing this spiritual realm.  No, more than that, he is the king of that realm, and He is the author and finisher of our faith in that realm! (Heb.12:2)  Faith in Christ is what conquers; it is the surrender of our wills based on conviction regarding unseen, invisible things in the spiritual realm. 

(continued in Part 2)

What Was Done for God in the Cross?

For many people, the only purpose of God in His cross was to intervene and save men in their misery. While no one could argue that God DID save us by the death of Christ – praise Him for that! – could we dwell for a little bit on a higher level than ourselves?

Israel too often saw God only as a deliverer – they ignored him as much as possible, and then wanted to call on him when they were in trouble.  In other words, they exploited him as their deliverer but they did not want him as their Jehovah, their king. They would use their God, but Christ would sanctify him as the HOLY FATHER!

We can be much the same.  We can see the cross of Christ only as our “safety net” to keep us from falling to destruction, without thinking of what Jesus’ attitude actually was toward his death.  We are so grateful for forgiveness, and that we can escape hell because of the cross, but we rarely dwell on – or even perceive - the significance of it in the eyes of Jesus and his Father.

We are saved – ultimately – because of the holiness (righteousness) of God! God’s love is infinite because it is holy, righteous love.  And his name must be held holy for the universe to carry on. He will keep his name holy because of his nature, and he wills that man will also keep it holy.  And so he did not hold back his Son. And his Son did not spare himself in the hallowing (holding as holy) of that name.  This was the first function of the Cross.  And so He was the Savior and King - because first of all He loved God above all else – yes, even more than any man, and glorified the Father’s name over his own and all others.   His first business in his prayers was “Hallowed be thy name” and “Holy Father”.

And as far as God’s benefit is concerned – the cross’s purpose is to declare his righteousness, honor his holiness, uphold his majesty, hallow his name.  Paul holds closely together in Romans the universal need for the gospel and the seat of its power in the righteousness of God.

That is why the gospel holds the power to transform men – not just forgive the guilt of sin, but CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness!!  I Jn 1:9

In the cross, sin was judged!  Righteousness was declared.  The righteousness and holiness of God were upheld. Satan was defeated by his own weapons.  To uphold holiness and righteousness, a judgment on sin and on Satan was administered in mercy.  Why?  So that I can be righteous, that my conscience can be cleansed, and by faith I can be moved to repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus.  I can be reconciled to God by the Son of God.  I can identify with him in his death, I can be raised in the likeness of his resurrection, I can participate in his new life, and my spirit can walk in fellowship with the Spirit of the Holy God of the universe! HOW?  Through the CROSS of Christ.  This is the great failure of modern Christianity – the power of the cross is deserted and forgotten.

God was the planner, designer, instigator of it all. He was the sacrifice, he was the altar, he was the high priest, and he was the Holy Jehovah on the throne.  WHY?  So I can stand back and watch it, then go about my selfish business?  So I can indulge my material pleasures, live my grand lifestyle, wear my sexy clothes, strut my great body, impress with all my brilliance?  So I can have a “nice little house in the suburbs”?  So I can “do my thing”, showcase my talent in my “rock music” ministry?  So I can get with my brethren and gorge myself on that good old fried chicken or barbecue?  So I can live in a country where I am free?  Did Jesus die on the cross so the US flag can be proudly waved?  Or that of any other country?  So I can gather around me only people that look like me, act like me, and agree with me, and we can self-righteously condemn the “outsiders”?  So I can fight and wrangle and maul my brothers and sisters verbally?

NO – as far as man’s benefit is concerned the cross has one purpose – to deliver me from sin and cleanse my conscience of it by his blood. So I can suffer with him.  Die with him so I can live with him.  The work of the cross is effected in me in my humility, repentance, surrender, sacrifice – NOT in my achievement, my credit, my pride, my glory.  For that end, let us see in the cross the upholding of the holiness of God – the hallowing of his name.

THE RELIGION OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS A RELIGION OF REPENTANCE AND REDEMPTION BY FAITH IN THE ONE WHO DIED THERE!  THE CHURCH IS DIVIDED AND HER WORK IS PERVERTED AND HER INFLUENCE IS SQUANDERED BECAUSE WE FORGOT THAT!

Jesus prayed for unity among his disciples; it was his dying plea.  Not just as a nice gesture, but rather the DEMAND on men who honor the Christ of the cross, which honors the holiness of His Father!  This should draw us together in a committed, self-sacrificing unity in Christ!

NOT unity in that “anything goes”, but unity in that “nothing goes” except the honor and glory of God in the cross, and what that can do to the conscience of humble men and women on their knees, penitent and sacrificial for the cause of delivering men from the selfishness of sin.            

[This article was inspired by selected readings from Peter T. Forsyth, especially including "The Justification of God".  Larry Walker, March 2012]

Progress or Redemption?

 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Men will JUST NOT LET GO of the idea that all of our problems will eventually be solved by slow and steady progress.  Think about it. 

We are told that blind and random and gradual evolution brought man to our current pinnacle of intelligence and power, and that one day all will be solved as we evolve to greater heights…  Really?  In all the recorded history of man’s dealings with man, have you seen any evolution that progressed toward solving our basic problems?  Well, maybe on the whole we are taller than we were years ago, but what progress did that bring to our greatest needs?

We are told that civilization is the key.  That eventually when we have built enough roads and farms and factories and schools, and when science and technology are king, that will give us the answers we need.  Those savage tribesmen just need progress in societal and industrial infrastructure and they will be much better off.

Then again, we are told that politics and government can bring all this to realization.  If the right people are in power in the right form of government, they will gradually pass laws and make changes in our countries that will allow us to realize the Great Society.  Social ills, poverty and crime will be destroyed and progress will prevail.

But others tell us, “No, what will really solve our problems is real progress in education.”  If everyone got a good high school or college education – especially the underprivileged – then over a period of a few decades, we will gradually progress to lifting people out of the lifestyle of crime and immorality.” 

You can think of several others.  Fix the economy and we will be ok.  Improve healthcare coverage and we will elevate our nation and our people.  We hear such stories ad nauseum from nearly everyone in our world who is able to think and speak to put two sentences together.  But these arguments come straight from the devil!

Now it is a very shameful thing that these very arguments are being brought to us by many CHURCHES in the world today!  Many churches of Christ are infected with it. They have given themselves to solve the world’s problems by politics, secular education, community building, and healthcare. They are preaching that what we really need is a little more progress in these areas, and program by program, that is exactly what they are going to major in.

The plight of the poor and downtrodden should no doubt be a concern of any child of God.  The heart of our Lord was moved with compassion for the poor and the sick. But he was under no illusion that his mission was social reform, soup kitchens, hospitals and clinics, economic development, or secular education.  He saw a deeper need.  As he went on his way, he used what he had to help the needy, but his mission was clear and sharp and bold.  “You sought me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and fishes, and were filled.”  “Be not anxious about what you shall eat, or what you shall wear.  Seek first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

In sharp contrast to the idea of salvation by gradual building, climbing the ladder of progress to solve our problems, the Bible gives us a different idea about our needed change: it uses words like repentance, crisis, conversion, taking up our cross, obedience, sacrifice, forsaking all.  None of these are gradual progressive processes.  They are points of decision, surrender, humility, and change.  Suddenly a newness of life.  A new creature.

Note that this says something to us about conversion, and it says something about our redemption.  We need a crisis, a point of decision.  In conversion, we need to come to our knees, to realize our deep need of salvation, and the great shame of our dishonoring of the Father.

And wonder of wonders, we have a redemption that is just suited to bring us to a crisis before God.  Where?  Sharply focused on ONE point in history.  A crisis of the Father and Son, a shaking of the order of all nature, a convulsion of the holy universe – when THE man, the Son of Man, the Holy God, the creator, the sustainer of the universe went to the cross!

Slow and gradual progress toward salvation?  Forget it.  Look at the cross. Let it shake your foundation.  Die with Him!  Be buried with Him!  Be raised up with Him!

And when that is done, then never cease to take up your cross daily; continue in daily walk with him; never cease to “eat his flesh and drink his blood”.   Until you COME to Him as Lord and Savior and are redeemed by His blood, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.

REDEEMED, HOW I LOVE TO PROCLAIM IT!  REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB…