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Tough Love for Drunks and Sinners

by

The late Brennan Manning once told a story about a new patient admitted to an alcoholic rehabilitation clinic. The patient, Max, appeared to be a healthy and respectable citizen. When grilled by the counselor over his drinking habits, Max described his behavior in a way that indicated he had no problem with alcohol.

The counselor was not convinced. “You’re a liar!” he shouted. “You drink like a pig.”

Max smiled, refusing to be drawn. He knew that his drinking was modest. He had nothing to be ashamed of.

The counselor picked up the phone and rang Max’s bartender. It turns out Max was drinking considerably more than he let on. Max exploded with rage. He swore at the bartender and spat on the rug. With a little effort he regained his composure.

His outburst was justifiable, said Max. Even Jesus lost his temper.

The counselor pressed further. “Have you ever been unkind to your kids?”

Max did remember some unpleasantness involving his nine-year-old daughter but he couldn’t recall the details. The counselor rang Max’s wife and got the whole story.

Max had taken his little girl shopping for a Christmas present and on the way home he had stopped at a tavern for a drink. He locked his daughter in the car promising he would be right out. It was an extremely cold day so he left the motor running.

At midnight, Max staggered out, drunk. The motor had stopped running and the car windows had frozen shut. His daughter was so badly frostbitten the doctors had to amputate two of her fingers. They said she would be deaf for the rest of her life.

Confronted by the horror of his sin, Max’s mask of respectability shattered. He collapsed on the floor sobbing hysterically. The counselor put his boot into Max’s side and rolled him onto his back.

“You are unspeakable slime!” the counselor roared. “Get out before I throw up. I am not running a rehab for liars!”

Manning’s point is that tough love is essential when you’re dealing with lying alcoholics. “In order to free the captive, one must name the captivity.” Before he can be helped, Max has to recognize his need for help.

The same is true of sinners.

If you don’t think sin is a serious business, then you won’t value the grace of God. You will be blasé about his forgiveness, and you will treat grace as a license to sin.

It’s not hard to find respectable sinners in church. They come in, like Max, with their masks of piety and put on a good show. They lead home groups and volunteer for the working bee. They tell a good story and make a good impression. But inside they are full of dead men’s bones.

The Apostle John was not fooled by outward appearances. Knowing his letter would be widely read, he speaks to the Maxes of the world:

If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth … If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. (1 John 1:6, 8, MSG)

In other words, “You sinners who think you’re too good for Jesus and don’t need saving, you are unspeakable slime! Get out before I throw up. I am not running a church for liars!”

And yes, John uses the word “liar” several times in his letter (1 John 2:4, 22, 4:20).

And “murderer” (1 John 3:15).

John lays down the law so that those who think they are sinless will realize their true state. Indeed, this is one of the three uses of the law.

To clarify, in the opening chapter of his letter John is speaking to self-righteous sinners. He is not speaking to the dearly-loved children of God. His tone completely changes when he addresses “my little children” at the beginning of chapter 2.

Nor is he speaking to lost or broken people. He is confronting pretenders who had infiltrated the church. People who walk in darkness and have no truth in them (1 John 1:6).

What message does John have for these frauds and phonies? Here’s my paraphrase od 1 John 1:9:

Stop calling God a liar and agree with him—confess!—that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness. Do that and God will be faithful and just to forgive not just the sins you did today, but the sins you did yesterday and the sins you are going to do tomorrow. Indeed, he will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Harsh words, but for phonies and frauds they are potentially life-saving words.

Those who refuse the gentle love of God, need the tough love of the law to reveal their true state.

—–

Extracted and adapted from The Gospel in Ten Words which came out this day in 2012.

Did you know we have just added 600 new entries to the Grace Commentary?

Filed Under: law

What is the Law of Liberty?

by


There are several types of law in the Bible, and if you don’t know which is which, you could get confused. Or worse. Follow the wrong sort of law and you could fall from grace and cut yourself off from Christ.

The laws in scripture

There’s the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ.

There’s the law written on our hearts and the royal law.

There is the law of sin and the law of the Spirit of life; the law of righteousness and the law of faith. But the law we’re interested in, is this one:

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)

The law of liberty is not a better or improved version of the Law of Moses. It is not a shinier version of the Ten Commandments. That old law binds people, but the law of liberty sets us free.

The law of liberty is not the scriptures, the gospel, or the teachings of Christ – although those things certainly point to the law of liberty.

Nor is it the royal law that James also mentions.

What is the perfect law of liberty?

The law of liberty is the flawless and perfecting rule of Jesus Christ in our lives.

When James calls it the perfect law, the word he uses (teleios) means complete. In contrast with the neverending demands of the old covenant law, the Spirit of Christ completes us and makes us whole. “In him you have been made complete” (Col. 2:10).

The law of liberty is another name for what James calls “the word of truth” (Jas. 1:18) or “the implanted word that can save you” (Jas. 1:21). It is the Lord Jesus, the Living Word of God who saves us and sets us free.

The law of liberty describes what Jesus has done (perfectly fulfilled or completed the law) and the fruit he will bear in our lives (perfect liberty) when we yield to him.

A new law for a new covenant

Under the old covenant, people looked into the mirror of the law and saw their faults. But in the new covenant, we look to Jesus and see his glory.

The old law demanded perfection but the law of liberty is perfect on your behalf. The Law of Moses bound people with heavy demands, but the law of liberty sets us free (2 Cor. 3:17, Gal. 5:1).

What do we do with the law of liberty?

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:12)

Every one of us will be judged by our response to Jesus (2 Cor. 5:10). Did we trust him? Did we yield to him? Did we rest in him?

James says we are blessed when we abide by the perfect law of liberty. Under the old covenant, to abide by the law meant keeping all the rules. But in the new covenant, to abide is to rest or dwell in Christ.

It’s living with the complete dependence that a branch has for a vine and realizing that apart from him we can do nothing.

Put your trust in the Law of Moses and you’ll be cursed because the law written on stone ministers condemnation and death (Gal. 3:10). But look into the law of liberty and you’ll be blessed to discover that all your sins have been forgiven and all demands against you have been fully satisfied in Christ (Rom. 4:7–8).

How do we abide in the perfect law of liberty?

We abide by keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and trusting his indwelling Spirit to guide us. We choose to rest instead of worry knowing that our heavenly Father cares for us and is well able to bring his purposes to pass in our lives.

Thank God for the law of liberty that blesses us with salvation and freedom.

—

Grace Glossary word of the week: Abiding

Update: For the past few years I have been writing a grace-based commentary on the Parables of Jesus. If all goes to plan, the book will come out towards the end of 2024. Draft chapters are available now on Patreon and E2R’s Supporters’ page.

How to Rightly Divide the Word of Truth

by

Ever read something in the Bible that seemed to contradict something else in the Bible? I used to be confused about those apparent contradictions, but now I love them. I know that if I dig a little, I will likely uncover a gem.

The entire Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). But we also need to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). That well-worn phrase comes from the King James Version. Other translations say we need to accurately handle or rightly handle the word of truth.

How do we do that?

How do we rightly divide the word of truth?

It all comes down to covenants.

In essence there are two questions we should ask when reading any scripture in the Bible: (i) What does this passage mean in light of the cross? And (ii) who is the writer writing to or about?

Let’s start with the cross, which is the dividing point between the old and new covenants (and the single most important event in human history).

Before the cross the old law covenant reigned, but after the cross a new covenant made the old one obsolete (Heb. 8:13).

Under the old covenant you were blessed if you were good, but under the new covenant we are blessed because God is good.

Consider these contrasts:

Before the cross we were blessed when we obeyed and cursed when we disobeyed (Deu. 11:26-28). But after the cross we are blessed because Jesus obeyed and we have been set free from the curse of the law (Eph. 1:3, Gal. 3:13).

Before the cross we forgave in order to earn God’s forgiveness (Matt. 6:14). But at the cross we were unconditionally forgiven and we now forgive because Christ has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).

Before the cross loving your neighbor meant not coveting his wife or property (Deu. 5:21). But after the cross we love and accept others because Christ loves and accepts us (1 John 4:19; Rom. 15:7).

Before the cross God was distant and unapproachable (Ex. 19:12). But because of the cross we have been brought near to God to receive mercy and find grace (Eph. 2:13; Heb. 4:16).

Before the cross God held us responsible for our sins and not even sacrifices could clear a guilty conscience (Lev. 5:17; Heb. 9:9). But because of the cross Jesus’ blood cleanses us from a guilty conscience and he remembers our sins no more (Heb. 8:12, 10:22).

Before the cross we said “We will” (Ex. 19:9). But after the cross God says “I will” (Heb. 8:8-12). Before the cross it’s “do, do, do”. After the cross it’s “done, done done”.

Before the cross righteousness was demanded of sinful man (Deu. 6:25). But at the cross righteousness was freely given (Rom. 5:17).

Before the cross Adam’s sin meant condemnation for all men (Rom. 5:18). But because of the cross there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).

When we read the Bible we should ask, is this scripture describing the old law covenant which condemns sinners or the new grace covenant which makes sinners righteous? That’s the first question. Here’s the second.

Who’s the audience?

It’s also important to ask who the words were written for, otherwise you might end up taking someone else’s medicine. Because there are two kinds of people – those who put their faith in Jesus and those who don’t – the Holy Spirit uses the scriptures to bring two convictions:

  1. The Holy Spirit seeks to convict the world of unbelief (John 16:9)

If you are an unbeliever, the Holy Spirit (and a good preacher) will use the scriptures to convince you that God is good and trustworthy. Through the Son he will seek to reveal the unfailing love of the Father so that you may believe and have life in his name (John 20:31).

  1. The Holy Spirit convicts Christians of their righteousness (John 16:10)

With so much guilt and condemnation in the world, we who are in Christ often need to be reminded of our right standing before God (2 Cor. 5:21). Much of the New Testament was written to assure Christians that we belong to God our Father and nothing can separate us from his love (Rom. 8:38–39).

The short version: Rightly dividing the word means reading the Bible to see Jesus. It is through a revelation of the Son that we come to understand who God is, how much he loves us, and all the good things he has planned for us.

The entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals Jesus. Read the Bible to see Jesus.

—

Share this article with friends or in your church newsletter. Get grace by email. It’s free!

Got a question about God, the Bible, or life in general? Check out E2R’s growing list of FAQs.

This week on Patreon: “What Pastors Can Learn from Jerry Seinfeld“

How to Rightly Divide the Word of Truth

by

Ever read something in the Bible that seemed to contradict something else in the Bible? I used to be confused about those apparent contradictions, but now I love them. I know that if I dig a little, I will likely uncover a gem.

The entire Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). But we also need to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). That well-worn phrase comes from the King James Version. Other translations say we need to accurately handle or rightly handle the word of truth.

How do we do that?

How do we rightly divide the word of truth?

It all comes down to covenants.

In essence there are two questions we should ask when reading any scripture in the Bible: (i) What does this passage mean in light of the cross? And (ii) who is the writer writing to or about?

Let’s start with the cross, which is the dividing point between the old and new covenants (and the single most important event in human history).

Before the cross the old law covenant reigned, but after the cross a new covenant made the old one obsolete (Heb. 8:13).

Under the old covenant you were blessed if you were good, but under the new covenant we are blessed because God is good.

Consider these contrasts:

Before the cross we were blessed when we obeyed and cursed when we disobeyed (Deu. 11:26-28). But after the cross we are blessed because Jesus obeyed and we have been set free from the curse of the law (Eph. 1:3, Gal. 3:13).

Before the cross we forgave in order to earn God’s forgiveness (Matt. 6:14). But at the cross we were unconditionally forgiven and we now forgive because Christ has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).

Before the cross loving your neighbor meant not coveting his wife or property (Deu. 5:21). But after the cross we love and accept others because Christ loves and accepts us (1 John 4:19; Rom. 15:7).

Before the cross God was distant and unapproachable (Ex. 19:12). But because of the cross we have been brought near to God to receive mercy and find grace (Eph. 2:13; Heb. 4:16).

Before the cross God held us responsible for our sins and not even sacrifices could clear a guilty conscience (Lev. 5:17; Heb. 9:9). But because of the cross Jesus’ blood cleanses us from a guilty conscience and he remembers our sins no more (Heb. 8:12, 10:22).

Before the cross we said “We will” (Ex. 19:9). But after the cross God says “I will” (Heb. 8:8-12). Before the cross it’s “do, do, do”. After the cross it’s “done, done done”.

Before the cross righteousness was demanded of sinful man (Deu. 6:25). But at the cross righteousness was freely given (Rom. 5:17).

Before the cross Adam’s sin meant condemnation for all men (Rom. 5:18). But because of the cross there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).

When we read the Bible we should ask, is this scripture describing the old law covenant which condemns sinners or the new grace covenant which makes sinners righteous? That’s the first question. Here’s the second.

Who’s the audience?

It’s also important to ask who the words were written for, otherwise you might end up taking someone else’s medicine. Because there are two kinds of people – those who put their faith in Jesus and those who don’t – the Holy Spirit uses the scriptures to bring two convictions:

  1. The Holy Spirit seeks to convict the world of unbelief (John 16:9)

If you are an unbeliever, the Holy Spirit (and a good preacher) will use the scriptures to convince you that God is good and trustworthy. Through the Son he will seek to reveal the unfailing love of the Father so that you may believe and have life in his name (John 20:31).

  1. The Holy Spirit convicts Christians of their righteousness (John 16:10)

With so much guilt and condemnation in the world, we who are in Christ often need to be reminded of our right standing before God (2 Cor. 5:21). Much of the New Testament was written to assure Christians that we belong to God our Father and nothing can separate us from his love (Rom. 8:38–39).

The short version: Rightly dividing the word means reading the Bible to see Jesus. It is through a revelation of the Son that we come to understand who God is, how much he loves us, and all the good things he has planned for us.

The entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals Jesus. Read the Bible to see Jesus.

—

Share this article with friends or in your church newsletter. Get grace by email. It’s free!

Got a question about God, the Bible, or life in general? Check out E2R’s growing list of FAQs.

This week on Patreon: “What Pastors Can Learn from Jerry Seinfeld“

How to Rightly Divide the Word of Truth

by

Ever read something in the Bible that seemed to contradict something else in the Bible? I used to be confused about those apparent contradictions, but now I love them. I know that if I dig a little, I will likely uncover a gem.

The entire Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). But we also need to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). That well-worn phrase comes from the King James Version. Other translations say we need to accurately handle or rightly handle the word of truth.

How do we do that?

How do we rightly divide the word of truth?

It all comes down to covenants.

In essence there are two questions we should ask when reading any scripture in the Bible: (i) What does this passage mean in light of the cross? And (ii) who is the writer writing to or about?

Let’s start with the cross, which is the dividing point between the old and new covenants (and the single most important event in human history).

Before the cross the old law covenant reigned, but after the cross a new covenant made the old one obsolete (Heb. 8:13).

Under the old covenant you were blessed if you were good, but under the new covenant we are blessed because God is good.

Consider these contrasts:

Before the cross we were blessed when we obeyed and cursed when we disobeyed (Deu. 11:26-28). But after the cross we are blessed because Jesus obeyed and we have been set free from the curse of the law (Eph. 1:3, Gal. 3:13).

Before the cross we forgave in order to earn God’s forgiveness (Matt. 6:14). But at the cross we were unconditionally forgiven and we now forgive because Christ has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).

Before the cross loving your neighbor meant not coveting his wife or property (Deu. 5:21). But after the cross we love and accept others because Christ loves and accepts us (1 John 4:19; Rom. 15:7).

Before the cross God was distant and unapproachable (Ex. 19:12). But because of the cross we have been brought near to God to receive mercy and find grace (Eph. 2:13; Heb. 4:16).

Before the cross God held us responsible for our sins and not even sacrifices could clear a guilty conscience (Lev. 5:17; Heb. 9:9). But because of the cross Jesus’ blood cleanses us from a guilty conscience and he remembers our sins no more (Heb. 8:12, 10:22).

Before the cross we said “We will” (Ex. 19:9). But after the cross God says “I will” (Heb. 8:8-12). Before the cross it’s “do, do, do”. After the cross it’s “done, done done”.

Before the cross righteousness was demanded of sinful man (Deu. 6:25). But at the cross righteousness was freely given (Rom. 5:17).

Before the cross Adam’s sin meant condemnation for all men (Rom. 5:18). But because of the cross there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1).

When we read the Bible we should ask, is this scripture describing the old law covenant which condemns sinners or the new grace covenant which makes sinners righteous? That’s the first question. Here’s the second.

Who’s the audience?

It’s also important to ask who the words were written for, otherwise you might end up taking someone else’s medicine. Because there are two kinds of people – those who put their faith in Jesus and those who don’t – the Holy Spirit uses the scriptures to bring two convictions:

  1. The Holy Spirit seeks to convict the world of unbelief (John 16:9)

If you are an unbeliever, the Holy Spirit (and a good preacher) will use the scriptures to convince you that God is good and trustworthy. Through the Son he will seek to reveal the unfailing love of the Father so that you may believe and have life in his name (John 20:31).

  1. The Holy Spirit convicts Christians of their righteousness (John 16:10)

With so much guilt and condemnation in the world, we who are in Christ often need to be reminded of our right standing before God (2 Cor. 5:21). Much of the New Testament was written to assure Christians that we belong to God our Father and nothing can separate us from his love (Rom. 8:38–39).

The short version: Rightly dividing the word means reading the Bible to see Jesus. It is through a revelation of the Son that we come to understand who God is, how much he loves us, and all the good things he has planned for us.

The entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals Jesus. Read the Bible to see Jesus.

—

Share this article with friends or in your church newsletter. Get grace by email. It’s free!

Got a question about God, the Bible, or life in general? Check out E2R’s growing list of FAQs.

This week on Patreon: “What Pastors Can Learn from Jerry Seinfeld“

Spiritual Gifts – An Incomplete List

by

Do you know your spiritual gifts? Every believer has spiritual gifts (see 1 Pet. 4:10), but not every believer has put their gifts to work. Have you?

Spiritual gifts are special abilities God gives us that enable us to experience his divine life and reveal his heart to others. Everything God gives us – salvation, faith, righteousness, the Holy Spirit – is a spiritual gift. If you are good at something, such as writing music or showing hospitality, you can thank God for giving you that ability.

Yet in scripture, certain abilities are identified as “spiritual gifts”. An incomplete list of spiritual gifts includes:

  1. Wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8). The gift of wisdom is the ability to receive spiritual insight, known as “a word of wisdom,” which illuminates and brings clarity to situations. A word of wisdom helps us understand the Holy Spirit’s read on a specific situation. To have the wisdom that comes from above is to see earthly problems from a heavenly perspective.
  2. Knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8). The gift of knowledge is the ability to receive spiritual revelation – a word of knowledge – that helps us to know something that we could not have otherwise known (e.g., Acts 9:11–12, 10:19–20).
  3. Miracles (1 Cor. 12:10, 28–29). The gift of miracles is the ability to co-labor with Jesus the miracle-worker by working miracles such as healing and deliverance (e.g., Acts 19:11–12). Other examples include supernatural provision (e.g., Matt. 14:19–20), raising the dead (e.g., Acts 9:40), supernatural protection (e.g., Acts 28:5), and instantaneous travel (e.g., Acts 8:38–39).
  4. Prophecy (Rom. 12:6, 1 Cor. 12:10, 13:2). The gift of prophecy is the ability to impart truth from God’s heart in a way that encourages, strengthens, and comforts people (Acts 15:32, 1 Cor. 14:3). Sometimes this gift will be experienced as visions or foresight (e.g., Acts 11:28, 16:9–10, 21:10–11).
  5. Speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 12:10). The gift of tongues is the ability to speak, pray, or praise the Lord in an unknown language (Mark 16:17, Acts 19:6, 1 Cor. 14:14). Other languages include human languages (e.g., Acts 2:4–6) and heavenly languages (1 Cor. 13:1).
  6. Interpreting tongues (1 Cor. 12:10). The gift of interpretation is the ability to make sense of what has been spoken in an unintelligible tongue (1 Cor. 14:13). In public settings, speaking in tongues will ideally be accompanied by the gift of interpretation (1 Cor. 14:27).
  7. Hospitality (Rom. 12:13). The gift of hospitality is the ability to reveal the unconditional acceptance of Jesus by making a safe space for others. This is typically done by receiving people into your home or to your table (e.g., Acts 16:14–15). Although we are all called to be hospitable (Luke 14:12–14, Heb. 13:2, 1 Pet. 4:9), those with this gift are true ambassadors of the kingdom. They excel in making the unwelcome feel accepted and connected.
  8. Teaching (Rom. 12:7, 1 Cor. 12:28, Eph. 4:11). The gift of teaching is the ability to reveal Jesus the Living Word of God (Acts 4:2, 13:12, 15:35, 18:11, 28:31, Col. 3:16, 2 John 1:9). Teaching also includes the ability to unpack the scriptures (Acts 2:42).

You may not know it, but you are already gifted. The moment you were joined to the Lord in spiritual union, his grace began to flow into your life and one outcome of this is one or more spiritual gifts.

God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts and ministries that are uniquely ours… (Romans 12:6, TPT)

But what if you don’t know what your gifts are? How do you discover the gifts God has given you? There are several ways.

Perhaps when you read the list of spiritual gifts above, some gifts excited you more than others. They resonated with your spirit and you thought “That’s me,” or “I would like to do something like that.”

Or maybe when reading the scriptures you get inspired by specific types of ministry. “I would love to lay hands on the sick like Jesus did.” “I’d like to be known as a Son of Encouragement like Barnabas.” “To preach to unreached groups like Paul would be a dream.”

These sorts of desires signal the gifts that God has given you.

—–

If you would like to learn more about spiritual gifts – what they are, how to discover yours, and how to put them to work, check out my new study note “Spiritual Gifts: How to Use the Gifts God Has Given You.” It’s available now on Patreon and E2R’s Supporters’ Page.

Read this article in Portuguese.

Spiritual Gifts – An Incomplete List

by

Do you know your spiritual gifts? Every believer has spiritual gifts (see 1 Pet. 4:10), but not every believer has put their gifts to work. Have you?

Spiritual gifts are special abilities God gives us that enable us to experience his divine life and reveal his heart to others. Everything God gives us – salvation, faith, righteousness, the Holy Spirit – is a spiritual gift. If you are good at something, such as writing music or showing hospitality, you can thank God for giving you that ability.

Yet in scripture, certain abilities are identified as “spiritual gifts”. An incomplete list of spiritual gifts includes:

  1. Wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8). The gift of wisdom is the ability to receive spiritual insight, known as “a word of wisdom,” which illuminates and brings clarity to situations. A word of wisdom helps us understand the Holy Spirit’s read on a specific situation. To have the wisdom that comes from above is to see earthly problems from a heavenly perspective.
  2. Knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8). The gift of knowledge is the ability to receive spiritual revelation – a word of knowledge – that helps us to know something that we could not have otherwise known (e.g., Acts 9:11–12, 10:19–20).
  3. Miracles (1 Cor. 12:10, 28–29). The gift of miracles is the ability to co-labor with Jesus the miracle-worker by working miracles such as healing and deliverance (e.g., Acts 19:11–12). Other examples include supernatural provision (e.g., Matt. 14:19–20), raising the dead (e.g., Acts 9:40), supernatural protection (e.g., Acts 28:5), and instantaneous travel (e.g., Acts 8:38–39).
  4. Prophecy (Rom. 12:6, 1 Cor. 12:10, 13:2). The gift of prophecy is the ability to impart truth from God’s heart in a way that encourages, strengthens, and comforts people (Acts 15:32, 1 Cor. 14:3). Sometimes this gift will be experienced as visions or foresight (e.g., Acts 11:28, 16:9–10, 21:10–11).
  5. Speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 12:10). The gift of tongues is the ability to speak, pray, or praise the Lord in an unknown language (Mark 16:17, Acts 19:6, 1 Cor. 14:14). Other languages include human languages (e.g., Acts 2:4–6) and heavenly languages (1 Cor. 13:1).
  6. Interpreting tongues (1 Cor. 12:10). The gift of interpretation is the ability to make sense of what has been spoken in an unintelligible tongue (1 Cor. 14:13). In public settings, speaking in tongues will ideally be accompanied by the gift of interpretation (1 Cor. 14:27).
  7. Hospitality (Rom. 12:13). The gift of hospitality is the ability to reveal the unconditional acceptance of Jesus by making a safe space for others. This is typically done by receiving people into your home or to your table (e.g., Acts 16:14–15). Although we are all called to be hospitable (Luke 14:12–14, Heb. 13:2, 1 Pet. 4:9), those with this gift are true ambassadors of the kingdom. They excel in making the unwelcome feel accepted and connected.
  8. Teaching (Rom. 12:7, 1 Cor. 12:28, Eph. 4:11). The gift of teaching is the ability to reveal Jesus the Living Word of God (Acts 4:2, 13:12, 15:35, 18:11, 28:31, Col. 3:16, 2 John 1:9). Teaching also includes the ability to unpack the scriptures (Acts 2:42).

You may not know it, but you are already gifted. The moment you were joined to the Lord in spiritual union, his grace began to flow into your life and one outcome of this is one or more spiritual gifts.

God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts and ministries that are uniquely ours… (Romans 12:6, TPT)

But what if you don’t know what your gifts are? How do you discover the gifts God has given you? There are several ways.

Perhaps when you read the list of spiritual gifts above, some gifts excited you more than others. They resonated with your spirit and you thought “That’s me,” or “I would like to do something like that.”

Or maybe when reading the scriptures you get inspired by specific types of ministry. “I would love to lay hands on the sick like Jesus did.” “I’d like to be known as a Son of Encouragement like Barnabas.” “To preach to unreached groups like Paul would be a dream.”

These sorts of desires signal the gifts that God has given you.

—–

If you would like to learn more about spiritual gifts – what they are, how to discover yours, and how to put them to work, check out my new study note “Spiritual Gifts: How to Use the Gifts God Has Given You.” It’s available now on Patreon and E2R’s Supporters’ Page.

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Faith Without Works Is Dead

by

There is perhaps no more controversial scripture in the Bible than this gem from James:

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)

Since this seems to contradict what Paul says – “We’re not justified by works, but faith alone” (Gal. 2:16) – people have come up with some strange conclusions:

  • Paul and James preached different gospels
  • James did not really understand grace
  • putting James in the Bible was a mistake
  • James is not talking about works for salvation but other kinds of works

Let me suggest that these conclusions are wrong. There is only one gospel, the gospel of grace, and both James and Paul preached it.

And both men preached justification by faith. James does so just a few verses later when he says “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Jas 2:23).

But then James adds:

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

Which kinda sounds like James is changing his mind from verse to verse:

  • Abraham believed and was reckoned righteous
  • You see? He was justified by works and not faith alone!

Make up your mind, James.

Or maybe, James isn’t flip-flopping but he has a specific definition of works in mind.

Faith without works

When we think of works, we tend to think of the dead works of self-improvement. “I must do this and that to make myself right with God.”

But James is talking about faith works. What are works of faith? He’s just told us: Abraham believed.

James is talking to Jews who believed in God but they weren’t sure about his Son Jesus. To say “faith without works in dead” means “having faith in God without believing in the One he sent means your faith is useless.”

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the action that reveals our faith. It may seem strange to think of believing as a work, but believing in Jesus is the work of God (see John 6:29).

Faith vs believing

The Biblical word for faith is a noun (it means persuasion or conviction), but believing is a verb. If faith is the state of being persuaded that God saves you by grace alone, then believing is the verb or activity that flows from that persuasion.

We do not believe in order to create faith. Rather, believing is the action that reveals our faith. “Having the same spirit of faith… we also believe” (2 Cor. 4:13).

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)

To be a doer of the word is to receive, with humility, the word of truth that can save our souls (Jas. 1:21). To receive is to accept, believe, trust, and rely on the promises of God regarding our salvation.

James does not leave us guessing when it comes to works of faith. He says we need to

  • submit and draw near to God (Jas. 4:7–8)
  • humble ourselves and receive his grace (Jas. 4:6, 10)
  • hold onto the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1)

Sadly, many think that James is preaching good works or charitable works as a substitute or complement to faith. As a result, they try to balance the grace of God with their works.

“I am saved by grace, but I have to prove my salvation through good works.”

There is no balancing grace with works (Rom. 11:6). It’s one or the other, not both. Any works done to earn or maintain right standing with God are dead works.

Faith by itself is dead

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)

We are all creatures of faith, but unless our faith is in the Savior, ours is a dead or useless faith (Jas. 2:20, 26). Faith in Christ leads to eternal life (John 3:16), but faith in anything else leads to death.

John Calvin famously said that faith alone justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is never alone. In other words, faith in Christ will lead to good works, and those works prove that one has faith in Christ.

While it is true that right living follows right believing (Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:10), James is not discussing charity or works of service in general. He is talking about salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23).

In this context, the work that counts is believing in Jesus Christ.

—–

Extracted and adapted from The Grace Bible: James.

Grace Glossary word of the week: Faith. Read more about works of faith.

Get grace every week by email:

Faith Without Works Is Dead

by

There is perhaps no more controversial scripture in the Bible than this gem from James:

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)

Since this seems to contradict what Paul says – “We’re not justified by works, but faith alone” (Gal. 2:16) – people have come up with some strange conclusions:

  • Paul and James preached different gospels
  • James did not really understand grace
  • putting James in the Bible was a mistake
  • James is not talking about works for salvation but other kinds of works

Let me suggest that these conclusions are wrong. There is only one gospel, the gospel of grace, and both James and Paul preached it.

And both men preached justification by faith. James does so just a few verses later when he says “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Jas 2:23).

But then James adds:

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

Which kinda sounds like James is changing his mind from verse to verse:

  • Abraham believed and was reckoned righteous
  • You see? He was justified by works and not faith alone!

Make up your mind, James.

Or maybe, James isn’t flip-flopping but he has a specific definition of works in mind.

Faith without works

When we think of works, we tend to think of the dead works of self-improvement. “I must do this and that to make myself right with God.”

But James is talking about faith works. What are works of faith? He’s just told us: Abraham believed.

James is talking to Jews who believed in God but they weren’t sure about his Son Jesus. To say “faith without works in dead” means “having faith in God without believing in the One he sent means your faith is useless.”

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the action that reveals our faith. It may seem strange to think of believing as a work, but believing in Jesus is the work of God (see John 6:29).

Faith vs believing

The Biblical word for faith is a noun (it means persuasion or conviction), but believing is a verb. If faith is the state of being persuaded that God saves you by grace alone, then believing is the verb or activity that flows from that persuasion.

We do not believe in order to create faith. Rather, believing is the action that reveals our faith. “Having the same spirit of faith… we also believe” (2 Cor. 4:13).

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)

To be a doer of the word is to receive, with humility, the word of truth that can save our souls (Jas. 1:21). To receive is to accept, believe, trust, and rely on the promises of God regarding our salvation.

James does not leave us guessing when it comes to works of faith. He says we need to

  • submit and draw near to God (Jas. 4:7–8)
  • humble ourselves and receive his grace (Jas. 4:6, 10)
  • hold onto the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1)

Sadly, many think that James is preaching good works or charitable works as a substitute or complement to faith. As a result, they try to balance the grace of God with their works.

“I am saved by grace, but I have to prove my salvation through good works.”

There is no balancing grace with works (Rom. 11:6). It’s one or the other, not both. Any works done to earn or maintain right standing with God are dead works.

Faith by itself is dead

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)

We are all creatures of faith, but unless our faith is in the Savior, ours is a dead or useless faith (Jas. 2:20, 26). Faith in Christ leads to eternal life (John 3:16), but faith in anything else leads to death.

John Calvin famously said that faith alone justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is never alone. In other words, faith in Christ will lead to good works, and those works prove that one has faith in Christ.

While it is true that right living follows right believing (Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:10), James is not discussing charity or works of service in general. He is talking about salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23).

In this context, the work that counts is believing in Jesus Christ.

—–

Extracted and adapted from The Grace Bible: James.

Grace Glossary word of the week: Faith. Read more about works of faith.

Get grace every week by email:

Faith Without Works Is Dead

by

There is perhaps no more controversial scripture in the Bible than this gem from James:

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)

Since this seems to contradict what Paul says – “We’re not justified by works, but faith alone” (Gal. 2:16) – people have come up with some strange conclusions:

  • Paul and James preached different gospels
  • James did not really understand grace
  • putting James in the Bible was a mistake
  • James is not talking about works for salvation but other kinds of works

Let me suggest that these conclusions are wrong. There is only one gospel, the gospel of grace, and both James and Paul preached it.

And both men preached justification by faith. James does so just a few verses later when he says “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness” (Jas 2:23).

But then James adds:

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

Which kinda sounds like James is changing his mind from verse to verse:

  • Abraham believed and was reckoned righteous
  • You see? He was justified by works and not faith alone!

Make up your mind, James.

Or maybe, James isn’t flip-flopping but he has a specific definition of works in mind.

Faith without works

When we think of works, we tend to think of the dead works of self-improvement. “I must do this and that to make myself right with God.”

But James is talking about faith works. What are works of faith? He’s just told us: Abraham believed.

James is talking to Jews who believed in God but they weren’t sure about his Son Jesus. To say “faith without works in dead” means “having faith in God without believing in the One he sent means your faith is useless.”

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is the action that reveals our faith. It may seem strange to think of believing as a work, but believing in Jesus is the work of God (see John 6:29).

Faith vs believing

The Biblical word for faith is a noun (it means persuasion or conviction), but believing is a verb. If faith is the state of being persuaded that God saves you by grace alone, then believing is the verb or activity that flows from that persuasion.

We do not believe in order to create faith. Rather, believing is the action that reveals our faith. “Having the same spirit of faith… we also believe” (2 Cor. 4:13).

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)

To be a doer of the word is to receive, with humility, the word of truth that can save our souls (Jas. 1:21). To receive is to accept, believe, trust, and rely on the promises of God regarding our salvation.

James does not leave us guessing when it comes to works of faith. He says we need to

  • submit and draw near to God (Jas. 4:7–8)
  • humble ourselves and receive his grace (Jas. 4:6, 10)
  • hold onto the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1)

Sadly, many think that James is preaching good works or charitable works as a substitute or complement to faith. As a result, they try to balance the grace of God with their works.

“I am saved by grace, but I have to prove my salvation through good works.”

There is no balancing grace with works (Rom. 11:6). It’s one or the other, not both. Any works done to earn or maintain right standing with God are dead works.

Faith by itself is dead

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)

We are all creatures of faith, but unless our faith is in the Savior, ours is a dead or useless faith (Jas. 2:20, 26). Faith in Christ leads to eternal life (John 3:16), but faith in anything else leads to death.

John Calvin famously said that faith alone justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is never alone. In other words, faith in Christ will lead to good works, and those works prove that one has faith in Christ.

While it is true that right living follows right believing (Matt. 5:16, Eph. 2:10), James is not discussing charity or works of service in general. He is talking about salvation (Jas. 2:14), justification (Jas. 2:21, 24–25), and being made right with God (Jas 2:23).

In this context, the work that counts is believing in Jesus Christ.

—–

Extracted and adapted from The Grace Bible: James.

Grace Glossary word of the week: Faith. Read more about works of faith.

Get grace every week by email:

10 Things that Distract you from Christ

by

The best lies are the ones that have a little truth mixed in. They sound convincing, they make sense, but like medicine mixed with poison, they can be deadly.

This is why you need a clear and undistorted view of the gospel. Not a vague idea, but a solid one, lest you end up like these poor fellows:

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6–7)

I am sure the Galatians didn’t intend to desert the Lord or fall from grace. But that’s what happens when you heed those who distort the gospel of Christ.

To distort means to corrupt or turn around. A corrupted gospel can corrupt you. A turned-around gospel can turn you around until you are walking away from Jesus.

Not good.

The Apostle Paul was prepared to give his life for the gospel of grace because he knew the grace gospel is the only gospel with the power to save. He vigorously opposed those “dogs” and “evil workers” who sought to distort the gospel by adding things to it (see Php. 3:2).

Here are ten things that can distort the gospel of grace. See how many you recognize:

  1. Preaching the Ten Commandments, a.k.a. the ministry that brought death (2 Cor. 3:7). God hid these inside the ark under the blood-stained mercy seat but you want to hang them on the wall?! Don’t you know that living under the law is cheating on Jesus (Rom. 7:1–6)?
  2. Pushing rules and regulations (Col. 2:21–23). “Don’t dance, don’t smoke, and wear a tie on Sundays. Keep the rules and you’ll be as pure as the driven snow.” Uh-huh. Vaping is bad for you, but unbelief is worse. Working on the Sabbath may wear you out, but Jesus still loves you.
  3. Human effort a.k.a. the flesh (Gal 3:3). Think performance-oriented Christianity. “Gotta get busy for Jesus. Gotta work for my salvation. Gotta start producing fruit or he’s going to lop me off.” Except that you don’t and he won’t.
  4. Lifeless traditions (Col 2:8). “That’s the way we’ve always done things around here.” Nothing invalidates the word of God like a manmade tradition (Mark 7:13). Nothing extinguishes grace faster than DIY religion.
  5. Hollow and deceptive philosophy, a.k.a. “big words and intellectual double talk” (Col 2:8, MSG). “He sounds smarter than me, so he’s probably right.” Not if he’s distracting you from simple and pure devotion to Christ he isn’t.
  6. Myths (1 Tim 1:4). Did Adam have another wife? Were the Nephilim angel-spawn? Where do demons come from? Where is Sheol? Does it matter?
  7. Angel worship (Col 2:18). God told you the name of the angel watching over this church/city/heavenly court? Okay, but let’s get back to Jesus.
  8. Endless genealogies (1 Tim. 1:4). You think you broke your leg because your grandfather was a freemason/slave owner/tarot-card reading gypsy? Weren’t you adopted into a new family when you believed? Didn’t Christ redeem us from the curse so that we might inherit the blessings of Father Abraham?
  9. Sin consciousness (Heb. 10:2, 22). Your guilty conscience won’t let you accept grace? You think your sin is greater than God’s grace? See the cross and repent for your unbelief. Get your mind off your badness and focus on God’s goodness. His best is greater than your worst and his grace is more than enough.
  10. Foolish controversies (Tit. 3:9). You think the president is controlled by who? You gave how much to that gloomy prophet/end time’s preacher/QAnon? That’s time and money you could’ve spent telling people the good news.

These things can be dangerous if they distort the good news and distract you from Jesus. They may be wrapped in gospel ribbons, but they are not good news. They may have appearance of wisdom and they may appeal to your flesh, but being worldly or demonic in origin, they have no life in them.

Consider yourself dead to these distractions and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Learn to abide in his love and you will never put a foot wrong.

—–

Share this good news with friends or in your church newsletter. Get grace by email. It’s free!

Learn more about the dangers of mixture.

Read Paul’s latest update on the state of the Grace Commentary.

10 Things that Distract you from Christ

by

The best lies are the ones that have a little truth mixed in. They sound convincing, they make sense, but like medicine mixed with poison, they can be deadly.

This is why you need a clear and undistorted view of the gospel. Not a vague idea, but a solid one, lest you end up like these poor fellows:

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:6–7)

I am sure the Galatians didn’t intend to desert the Lord or fall from grace. But that’s what happens when you heed those who distort the gospel of Christ.

To distort means to corrupt or turn around. A corrupted gospel can corrupt you. A turned-around gospel can turn you around until you are walking away from Jesus.

Not good.

The Apostle Paul was prepared to give his life for the gospel of grace because he knew the grace gospel is the only gospel with the power to save. He vigorously opposed those “dogs” and “evil workers” who sought to distort the gospel by adding things to it (see Php. 3:2).

Here are ten things that can distort the gospel of grace. See how many you recognize:

  1. Preaching the Ten Commandments, a.k.a. the ministry that brought death (2 Cor. 3:7). God hid these inside the ark under the blood-stained mercy seat but you want to hang them on the wall?! Don’t you know that living under the law is cheating on Jesus (Rom. 7:1–6)?
  2. Pushing rules and regulations (Col. 2:21–23). “Don’t dance, don’t smoke, and wear a tie on Sundays. Keep the rules and you’ll be as pure as the driven snow.” Uh-huh. Vaping is bad for you, but unbelief is worse. Working on the Sabbath may wear you out, but Jesus still loves you.
  3. Human effort a.k.a. the flesh (Gal 3:3). Think performance-oriented Christianity. “Gotta get busy for Jesus. Gotta work for my salvation. Gotta start producing fruit or he’s going to lop me off.” Except that you don’t and he won’t.
  4. Lifeless traditions (Col 2:8). “That’s the way we’ve always done things around here.” Nothing invalidates the word of God like a manmade tradition (Mark 7:13). Nothing extinguishes grace faster than DIY religion.
  5. Hollow and deceptive philosophy, a.k.a. “big words and intellectual double talk” (Col 2:8, MSG). “He sounds smarter than me, so he’s probably right.” Not if he’s distracting you from simple and pure devotion to Christ he isn’t.
  6. Myths (1 Tim 1:4). Did Adam have another wife? Were the Nephilim angel-spawn? Where do demons come from? Where is Sheol? Does it matter?
  7. Angel worship (Col 2:18). God told you the name of the angel watching over this church/city/heavenly court? Okay, but let’s get back to Jesus.
  8. Endless genealogies (1 Tim. 1:4). You think you broke your leg because your grandfather was a freemason/slave owner/tarot-card reading gypsy? Weren’t you adopted into a new family when you believed? Didn’t Christ redeem us from the curse so that we might inherit the blessings of Father Abraham?
  9. Sin consciousness (Heb. 10:2, 22). Your guilty conscience won’t let you accept grace? You think your sin is greater than God’s grace? See the cross and repent for your unbelief. Get your mind off your badness and focus on God’s goodness. His best is greater than your worst and his grace is more than enough.
  10. Foolish controversies (Tit. 3:9). You think the president is controlled by who? You gave how much to that gloomy prophet/end time’s preacher/QAnon? That’s time and money you could’ve spent telling people the good news.

These things can be dangerous if they distort the good news and distract you from Jesus. They may be wrapped in gospel ribbons, but they are not good news. They may have appearance of wisdom and they may appeal to your flesh, but being worldly or demonic in origin, they have no life in them.

Consider yourself dead to these distractions and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Learn to abide in his love and you will never put a foot wrong.

—–

Share this good news with friends or in your church newsletter. Get grace by email. It’s free!

Learn more about the dangers of mixture.

Read Paul’s latest update on the state of the Grace Commentary.

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