GraceUncovered

Authors home articles Gracelife

GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION

An Early Look at Paul’s Next Book

by

My next book is a labor of love. I have been working on it for seven years and it’s time to let you know. It’s about a subject near and dear to my heart – the parables of Jesus.

The parables of Jesus are the world’s most popular stories. Millions of people know them. Each week, the parables are taught from pulpits and in Sunday School classes all over the world.

The parables reveal the way to life, yet they are often hijacked to preach dead works and self-righteousness. Apparently the parable of the Good Samaritan is about being kind to others, and the parable of the Shrewd Manager is about giving to the poor.

There is nothing wrong with being kind and generous, but Jesus did not come to repeat religious clichés.

Some use the parables to portray God as angry and uncaring. Apparently he’s asleep (the Friend at Midnight), he’s mean and corruptible (the Unjust Judge), and he murders people (the parable of the Wedding Banquet).

Nope.

Jesus was not another old covenant preacher frightening people with a scary God. He was the herald of the new covenant which is why his stories were full of surprises and reversals. They were new. They were different.

They were unlike anything we’d heard before.

Through his stories Jesus described a right-side up kingdom where prodigals are received, tax collectors are justified, and outcasts are invited to feasts. It’s a kingdom of justice and peace, of heaven on earth.

The disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables. Why not speak plainly? But plain speaking often led to hostility from religious leaders and skeptical crowds. Since some weren’t ready to receive the gospel, he told stories “to create readiness, to nudge people toward receptive insight” (Matt. 13:13, MSG).

The stories of Jesus disarm us. They resonate with our spirits and awaken our hunger for the things of God.

But only if they are told right. Which they usually aren’t. To twist the stories of Jesus into an anti-grace message is surely one of the greatest harms ever inflicted.

I have read many books and heard countless sermons on the parables of Jesus and found few that interpret these stories through the lens of the new covenant. Most preach dead works or mixture. “Get busy for Jesus.” “Prove your faithfulness through endless praying.” “Turn or burn.”

Yecch.

We need to take another look at the parables of Jesus. We need to read them through the lens of grace.

For the past seven years I have been working off-and-on on a grace-based book tentatively titled The Parables of Jesus. It is one of the biggest projects I have undertaken.

When I started I had no idea how big it would grow, but the more I dig into these treasures, the more I found.

The parables of Jesus are truly the richest and most powerful stories ever told. Read them right and they will change you. They will help you experience the divine life that is ours in Christ.

It has been a long time coming, but I’m approaching the home stretch. If all goes to plan, my new book should be available by the middle of next year. I trust it will be worth the wait.

Can’t wait? Check out these sample chapters on Patreon.

Four chapters are available now, with more being released each month.

I have also put some chapters on E2R’s Supporters’ page (for monthly supporters on Donorbox).

If the parables of Jesus leave you scratching your head – What did Jesus mean by that?! – this is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Paul

An Early Look at Paul’s Next Book

by

My next book is a labor of love. I have been working on it for seven years and it’s time to let you know. It’s about a subject near and dear to my heart – the parables of Jesus.

The parables of Jesus are the world’s most popular stories. Millions of people know them. Each week, the parables are taught from pulpits and in Sunday School classes all over the world.

The parables reveal the way to life, yet they are often hijacked to preach dead works and self-righteousness. Apparently the parable of the Good Samaritan is about being kind to others, and the parable of the Shrewd Manager is about giving to the poor.

There is nothing wrong with being kind and generous, but Jesus did not come to repeat religious clichés.

Some use the parables to portray God as angry and uncaring. Apparently he’s asleep (the Friend at Midnight), he’s mean and corruptible (the Unjust Judge), and he murders people (the parable of the Wedding Banquet).

Nope.

Jesus was not another old covenant preacher frightening people with a scary God. He was the herald of the new covenant which is why his stories were full of surprises and reversals. They were new. They were different.

They were unlike anything we’d heard before.

Through his stories Jesus described a right-side up kingdom where prodigals are received, tax collectors are justified, and outcasts are invited to feasts. It’s a kingdom of justice and peace, of heaven on earth.

The disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables. Why not speak plainly? But plain speaking often led to hostility from religious leaders and skeptical crowds. Since some weren’t ready to receive the gospel, he told stories “to create readiness, to nudge people toward receptive insight” (Matt. 13:13, MSG).

The stories of Jesus disarm us. They resonate with our spirits and awaken our hunger for the things of God.

But only if they are told right. Which they usually aren’t. To twist the stories of Jesus into an anti-grace message is surely one of the greatest harms ever inflicted.

I have read many books and heard countless sermons on the parables of Jesus and found few that interpret these stories through the lens of the new covenant. Most preach dead works or mixture. “Get busy for Jesus.” “Prove your faithfulness through endless praying.” “Turn or burn.”

Yecch.

We need to take another look at the parables of Jesus. We need to read them through the lens of grace.

For the past seven years I have been working off-and-on on a grace-based book tentatively titled The Parables of Jesus. It is one of the biggest projects I have undertaken.

When I started I had no idea how big it would grow, but the more I dig into these treasures, the more I found.

The parables of Jesus are truly the richest and most powerful stories ever told. Read them right and they will change you. They will help you experience the divine life that is ours in Christ.

It has been a long time coming, but I’m approaching the home stretch. If all goes to plan, my new book should be available by the middle of next year. I trust it will be worth the wait.

Can’t wait? Check out these sample chapters on Patreon.

Four chapters are available now, with more being released each month.

I have also put some chapters on E2R’s Supporters’ page (for monthly supporters on Donorbox).

If the parables of Jesus leave you scratching your head – What did Jesus mean by that?! – this is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Paul

Why We Are Not a Red-Letter Church

by

“What kind of church are you?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer the question. The lady who had rung my office was thinking of attending one of our Sunday services, but she wanted to know more about us. Were we evangelical, charismatic, Baptist, Lutheran or what?

It was a tricky question because we were all of the above. Our church in Hong Kong attracted people of every stripe from Catholics to Mennonites and full-on Pentecostals. We didn’t fit any particular box.

Then I had a brainwave. “We’re a red-letter church,” I said. “We emphasize the teachings of Jesus.”

I thought it was a brilliant answer to her question, but now I’m not so sure. I have since come to realize that telling people you’re a red-letter church means you’re preaching mixture.

Perhaps you have heard people say, “Don’t stray too far from the red letters.” It means, stay close to the teachings of Jesus and you can’t go wrong.

It sounds good, but it’s bad advice. Everything Jesus said was good, but not everything he said is good for you.

Read the red letters of your Bible and you will find stories of radical grace as well as merciless declarations of law.

Mix these messages and you will end up confused and lukewarm. The solution is not to balance law with grace but to filter all you read through the lens of the new covenant.

In other words, we need to interpret the words of Jesus through his mission and ministry.

Jesus lived under law

Jesus lived at the crossroads of two covenants. As humanity’s representative he came to fulfill the old law-keeping covenant in order that we might relate to God through a new and better covenant forged in his blood.

Since the new covenant could not begin before he died, Jesus lived all of his pre-cross life under the old covenant of the law:

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

Jesus was born under law, circumcised by law, and presented in the temple according to the law. Every Jewish person that Jesus met was also born under law. We need to keep this in mind when reading the red letters of Jesus.

What law did Jesus preach?

To those under the law, Jesus preached the pure and unadulterated Law of Moses. When the religious leaders came to trap him with questions, Jesus would respond with, “What did Moses command you?” (Mark 10:3). His law-keeping ministry honored the Law of Moses:

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. (Matthew 23:2–3)

Why did Jesus preach the law?

Like every grace preacher, Jesus esteemed the law and the purpose for which it was given. The law was given to silence every mouth and hold the whole world accountable (Rom. 3:19).

The purpose of the law is to make us conscious of sin and reveal our need for a Savior. But the law-teachers and Pharisees had ring-fenced the law with their traditions and interpretations. By honoring their traditions ahead of the law, they diluted the law emptying it of its power.

If the law had been allowed to do its proper work, the Jews would have been ready for a Savior. If the law-teachers and prophets had done their job, the nation of Israel would have rejoiced at the arrival of the Messiah.

Sadly, it didn’t happen. Since the law-teachers had been negligent, Jesus had to do their job before he could do his own. Before he could save the world from sin, he had to preach the law that made sin utterly sinful.

So Jesus became the greatest law preacher of all time.

As the prophet Isaiah had foretold, Jesus made the law magnificent (Is. 42:21). He lifted up what others had knocked down and raised the standard to glorious levels of perfection (Matt. 5:48).

How did Jesus preach the law?

Preaching the red letters of Jesus is a bit like drinking whatever you find in the laundry. Fail to distinguish his life-giving words of grace from his death-dealing words of law and you could do some damage. Consider these red letters:

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14–15)

This is vintage law and a killer scripture. It is not good news. This verse should make us shudder for it says that our forgiveness hinges on our ability to forgive others and we are poor forgivers indeed.

People sin against us all the time. Have we honestly forgiven them all? What if we miss one?

And what do we say to those who have been raped and abused? What do you say to a young child who has been molested?

“Sweetie, you need to forgive that evil man otherwise God will never forgive you.”

How do you forgive the unforgiveable? You can’t! Then you’re in trouble. The law condemns you as an unforgiver. Now you’re beginning to recognize your need for grace.

Any time you read a conditional statement from Jesus, you should interpret it as law.

“Do not judge and you will not be judged” (Luke 6:37). That’s good advice but it’s also law. To avoid something (judgment) you have to do something (don’t judge). It’s a blessing you have to pay for.

And anytime Jesus makes a threat, you should interpret that as law as well. “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Matt. 5:22). That’s bad news for anyone with a brother.

The law is not for you

Jesus came to reveal grace, but those who are confident of their own righteousness won’t receive it. They don’t see their need. What they need is the law and Jesus gave it to them in spades.

But Jesus’ ultimate purpose was to give us his life and his righteousness. So he also told stories about God justifying sinners and shepherds finding lost sheep. Then he went to the cross to fulfill the law on our behalf so that he might be the end of the law for all who believe (Rom. 10:4).

Why are we not a red-letter church? Because those who live by the red letters are living between two covenants. They’re mixing law with grace and ending up lukewarm.

So does this mean we can disregard the words of Jesus? Absolutely not.

Let us read the whole Bible through the lens of Christ. Let us honor the law Jesus taught while acknowledging that the law is good if used properly (1 Tim. 1:8). But let us also recognize there is only one medicine that saves – the grace of God that Jesus revealed.

If I was leading a church today and a visitor asked “What sort of church are you?” I would reply with something like this: “We’re a group of friends who are learning to walk in the unforced rhythms of God’s grace. We’re here to help others discover how much their heavenly Father loves them.”

Or something like that.

What would you tell a potential visitor? Let me know in the comments.

—

In next week’s post I will tell you about a book I’ve been working on for 7 years. You won’t want to miss it!

Escape to Reality is your roadmap to Real Life. Whether you’re in a church, can’t find a church, or have quit church and ain’t ever going back, E2R is your guide to walking in the grace of God. Sign up today and we’ll send you a four-book Grace Pack totally free.

Check out our recent articles, FAQs or our useful Scripture Index.

Are All Sins Forgiven – Past, Present and Future?

by

Are all your sins forgiven, past, present and future? This is one of those questions that sounds hard but is easy to answer, provided you have the right definition. What does forgive mean?

Biblical forgiveness

To forgive means to send away or dismiss. It means you are no longer holding onto an offense or a hurt.

In the New Testament two verbs are translated as forgive:

  1. aphiēmi means to send away (e.g., Matt. 6:12)
  2. charizomai means to show favor or kindness (e.g., Gal. 3:18) and can imply the forgiveness of debts (e.g., Luke 7:42)

The noun that is translated as forgiveness (aphesis) is sometimes translated as remission. It means a dismissal, pardon or release (e.g., Luke 24:47).

Capiche?

What did Jesus say about forgiveness?

Prior to the cross, Jesus preached conditional forgiveness to people living under the old covenant. “If you forgive, God will forgive” (Matt. 6:14, Mark 11:25). This was law for those under law.

But as the messenger of the new covenant, Jesus also proclaimed and demonstrated unconditional forgiveness (see Matt. 9:2, 18:22, 27, Luke 7:42, 47, 11:4, 15:22-24, 23:34, John 8:11).

In Christ’s ministry, we see TWO types of forgiveness:

  • old covenant forgiveness (for those under law)
  • new covenant forgiveness (for those under grace)

Which type do you prefer? Obviously we all want the second kind, unconditional forgiveness. And this is what God gives us. The cross is the proof.

How the cross proves God’s forgiveness

John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

When did Jesus take away sin? On the cross.

Whose sin did he take? The sin of the whole world (see also 2 John 2:2).

Did Jesus miss any sins? He carried them all, every last one .

How can we be sure?

On the night he rose from the dead, Jesus told the disciples to start preaching the remission of sins or the good news of unconditional forgiveness (Luke 24:47).

Do you see? Before the cross Jesus preached a promise: “All sins will be forgiven” (Mark 3:28). But after the cross, Jesus preached the promise fulfilled:

Did the apostles get the message? They sure did. They travelled the world encouraging people to receive the gift of God’s forgiveness:

Peter said that “everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins” (Act 10:43).

John said the blood of Jesus “cleanses us from all sin”—past, present, and future (1 John 1:7). Then he adds, “your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12).

Paul preached so that people “may receive forgiveness of sins” (Act 26:18). See also Acts 2:38, 5:31, 13:38-39, Rom. 4:7, 2 Cor. 5:19, Eph. 1:7, 4:32, Col. 1:14, 2:13, 3:13, Heb. 9:22, 10:18, 1 John 2:12.

What about these scriptures?

Preach the unconditional forgiveness of God and you will be hit with four “What about…?” scriptures. How do we read these scriptures through the lens of grace? Relevant responses are linked below:

  1. the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 6:15)
  2. the unforgivable sin (Matt. 12:31)
  3. confession of sins (1 John 1:9)
  4. the sin that leads to death (1 John 5:16)

Let’s recap. To forgive is to pardon or remit. It is not merely ceasing to be angry or resentful, but a deliberate letting go or dismissal of a debt or sin.

Are all your sins forgiven? Let me answer that question with another: Will Jesus ever come and die on the cross again? No. Once was enough. On the cross, all your sins were carried away by the Lamb of God.

His perfect sacrifice dealt with all sin including unconfessed sin, unrepented sin, and all the sins yet to be done.

As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

At Calvary, all your sins, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, were forgiven or carried away as far as the east is from the west. Your part is to believe the good news. Quit trying to get forgiven, and receive, by faith, the gift of God’s forgiveness.

—

Get answers to your questions about God and grace.

Got a question about a scripture? Check out The Grace Commentary.

Escape to Reality is proclaiming the good news everywhere thanks to the support of our readers. Become a monthly supporter and get instant access to bonus materials, classic sermons, and awesome study notes like these:

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.

Read this article in Portuguese.

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:

Categories

Recent Posts