The Holy Spirit in You and Your Resurrection Hope

Below are a few notes taken from my study of Romans 8:9-11

Romans 8:9

Note that being in the Spirit, having the Spirit of God dwelling in you and having the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you are all three equal statements. To have one is to have all three. This verse demonstrates that there is a trinity in the Godhead and that the members of the Godhead are of the same nature.

Romans 8:10

When we are redeemed from sin and death, we yet remain in a corrupt flesh. This is why Paul says Christ can be in you and yet your flesh can still be dead because of sin. When we are redeemed in this flesh our salvation is complete once and for all, but in another sense we have to wait for it's full impact to be realized. Our resurrection is certain and as good as done, and yet, we must still wait for it.

Part of partaking in Christ involves suffering through the miseries of a fallen flesh and proving the power of Christ by overcoming that flesh while still living in it. As we share in his suffering, we move toward that glorious day that we will share in his resurrection too, and then, our flesh will be made alive again in Christ.

Romans 8:11

We can take great confidence in our certain resurrection because it will be accomplished by the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. That is one reason why the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is so essential to all believers. If the Spirit does not live in you, how do you expect to be raised from the dead. But, because the Spirit does dwell in you, you can have certain confidence that you will be raised one day from the dead and your mortal body will be made perfect, just as your spirit is already perfect today.

Let us give thanks to God for the indwelling presence and power the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ!

Where to Look for Grace - Revelation 1:4

Grace is defined as “favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves."1 When I think about that definition I wonder who can show me true grace. To whom should I look if I truly want kindness from them that is rooted solely in their love for me and not upon any merit of my own? We know that we have trouble showing favor toward even our children without some consideration of the joy and happiness that they bring us. There is a natural human inability to show perfect kindness to people who do not deserve it. Yet, I want to be shown favor. I want to be the recipient of unconditional kindness. So, if I am to be shown favor and kindness, to whom should I look?

John prays for the seven churches of Asia that they would receive grace, and he prays that the giver of that grace would be the one who is and was and is to come. In other words, for John, the grace that we need comes from God. Why not just say so? Why not just pray that they would be given grace from God? Why the long title? Well, as you might guess it more than just literary beauty that drives John to use the phrase “who is and who was and who is to come.” There is something in the description of God that makes the receipt of His grace more meaningful and desirable.

In that phrase John expands the idea of God's eternal immutability; his unchangeable character; his sameness yesterday (who was), today (who is) and forever (who is to come). If God the Father, before the foundations of the earth were laid, determined to save me based solely on the merit of his son and not on any of my righteous acts, which are as filthy rags, and if this same God never changes, then based on these two facts, 1. his choice to give me grace on his son's merit 2. his unchangeable character, I can be confident that his grace toward me will always be perfect and motivated solely by his unchangeable love for me. I will never have to earn it. I will never have to work to hold on to it. It will always flow from him to me because of the blood of Christ, which has washed me and bought me and made me his own.

If am to look to anyone for grace, for that undeserved favor and kindness which brings true peace to the soul, then I will look to God and to no other.

1. Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.

Working It Out/Living It Out

Have you ever wondered about Philippians 2:12, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling”? Have you ever asked yourself, what does that mean, what does that look like, what is the purpose and/or reason? I have. It can be a perplexing statement, but it is an instructive one. To understand the statement it is important to put it in its context.

In chapter one Paul begins to talk about his resolve to continue in life in order to continue ministering to the churches. His one request of the Philippians is that they conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel (1:27). He then gives them his reasons, the ultimate of which is that “...to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for his sake...” (1:29). He then begins to talk about all the benefits found in the Christian faith: encouragement, consolation or comfort, fellowship, affection and compassion. He then says, if you have these things in Christ, and you do, then live like it; be unified; look out for one another; be selfless. The sum of this would be that Christians, who have been granted the privilege of suffering with Christ will love one another even to the point of dying for one another.

Having said this, he gives them a perfect example and shows them how Christ subjected himself to humiliation in order to serve others. He faced and went through the miseries of this life, including a cruel death, in order to deal compassionately with us. As a result God exalted him. God lifted him up above all others in stature and worth and made him Lord over all with the power to subdue the nations and one day judge all people. This is our example. It has been granted to us to share in that humiliation. So it has also been granted to us to share in that exaltation. Christ faced his humiliation with tears and sweat drops of blood, but through it he was exalted. Through his selflessness he became the highest sovereign.

When Paul says that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling he is saying to us, abandon your perceived rights to comfort, privilege, and respect, and give yourself over to the humiliation of Christ, which comes inherently when you live for others to save them from hell. Live out the privilege of your salvation, the privilege of suffering with Christ. It will be no easy thing, and so you must do it with great fear and trembling, weeping through the sorrow that you must surely endure for the sake of Christ and others.

This is what it mean to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. You are not earning something, you are living something out and doing so is a fearsome thing. But, oh the reward, to share in his exaltation, his resurrection. This is a gift worth looking forward to, even through tears.

Recovery From Personal Failure and Humbly Rejoicing in the Success of Others

In 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul is writing to Timothy about some people and things he wants Timothy to bring to him. In particular he tells Timothy to “Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.” This could not always be said about Mark. During Paul's missionary journey Mark, who had gone with them, had deserted them and this had left Paul with little respect for Mark and his value in ministry to the degree that Paul refused to take Mark the next time they went out and splitting with Barnabas took Timothy instead.

Now Paul is close to the end of his life, he is cold and in need of companions to help him and continue his work. Timothy has been of great value to Paul and is even called by Paul “my true son.” So, one has been left in disgrace and the other has come to great prominence...until now. Now Paul tells Timothy, Mark is useful to me. The former who had fallen is now restored. The later who has never failed is now asked to bring the former back.

Two thoughts occurred to me as I looked at this scenario. I wonder how Mark felt about his return to favor with Paul. How his ministry with Barnabas must have changed him, given him greater confidence to share his faith, and travel through dangerous lands to proclaim Christ to a hostile people! Through the patience of Barnabas and the grace of God Mark found redemption. He found courage. He regained his status as useful to the work of the gospel.

It is a profound reminder to me that, because of the grace of God, my failures can never keep me from doing the good works that God prepared in advance for me. In fact, my personal failures must necessarily be providential events in my life designed to prepare me for just such works. May God be praised. This also teaches me to never discount a brother or sister as lost who has fallen or failed, for their God is the one and same God who loves me and keeps me.

The second thought that occurs to me is, how did Timothy feel about seeing Mark restored to Paul's favor. Was he glad for Mark's redemption seeing it as an evidence of God's grace and mercy, or was he troubled with feelings of jealousy or incredulity by the fact that this one who so greatly failed Paul could find favor again, when he himself had faithfully served Paul. Was his attitude that of the older brother to the prodigal son or that of the father who rejoiced in the the son's redemption?

Too often we find ourselves struggling to be happy with another person's spiritual success or prominence in the faith, when we should rejoice in God's blessings as given to all his children. The pettiness of child-like jealousy and the critical hearts that come from it are a blight on the church. We must pray to value God's work of grace in the life of another as much as we do in our own. We must pray that God's graciousness to us will never give us reason for pride and boasting in ourselves, but that we will see it as evidence of our own need and be humble.

I have a feeling Timothy rejoiced in Mark's personal redemption. May God help us rejoice likewise in the redemption of a fallen brother or sister and in the prominence of others in the faith. Amen

What Happens When Infants Die?

Recently I was asked how I would respond to someone who had lost an infant. What would I say to her when she asked, "Is my baby in heaven?" I have to admit I was caught off guard by the questions, and I realized quickly as we discussed the situation that there is sometimes a conflict between raw theology and the everyday needs of the heart.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying theology takes second place to comfort and everyday needs. Nor am I saying that the two don't agree and that theology is somehow only a head thing and doesn't apply to reality. What I am saying is that the black and white categories into which we sometimes paint theology don't always answer for the task of soul care. I've learned that God's grace plays an important role in how we apply our theology biblically to our souls.

So what should I say to this dear woman or her husband when they ask that heart wrenching question? My initial response was to comfort them with an assurance that God is sovereign and good, and therefore, we must take our refuge in him. We don't know the answer to this question, and I can't give you an assurance that your child is in heaven.

My response stems from my theology. We are all born with a corrupt heart and therefore subject to the wrath of God. Only the elect are saved. Logically (here is our problem sometimes) not all infants that die are elect so not all infants that die go to heaven. By the way, I think this logic is good. Sharing it with a grieving mother and father might not be so appropriate.

But someone might protest, "What about David and his infant son, can we not claim his confidence too?" Here is where it gets tough for me. I know about this passage of scripture in 2 Samuel 12:15-23. While his son was sick, David refused to eat or drink and lay on the ground weeping night and day. When his son died he arose, cleaned himself, worshipped God and ate a meal. Those around him questioned his behavior. They had expected even worse mourning than they had seen while the boy was ill. They asked David for an explanation and his response was, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

This last statement, “I will go to him” gives many a confidence that infants who die may go to heaven. The logic is this; David was a believer in God and therefore would go to heaven. So, if he had confidence that he would see his son in the afterlife, then his infant son was in heaven too.

Now most will admit that this is a weak basis on which to build their doctrine on this issue, but then again, it really is one of a few places that we get an indication of what happens to infants when they die. There is Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:14 that gives some hope, but again this is not a strong proof.

The question is, “Did David believe that his infant son was in heaven?” It is doubtful that David had as developed of a concept of the afterlife as New Testament Christians have. Throughout the Old Testament, the afterlife is called Sheol and is described as a single place for the dead to spend eternity. Jacob, when he thought that Joseph had been killed by wild beast stated, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son. (Gen 37:35)” He thought he would die from his sorrow and the place of his eternity was Sheol. Job believed that when he died he would go to Sheol (Job 7:8-10), and he believed that everyone, including miscarried infants, the wicked, the rich, the weary, princes and kings, they all go to Sheol (Job 3:13-19). It was not until much later that the understanding of two separate divisions in Sheol and then later a heaven and a hell began to be prominent in the view of eternity for God’s people.

Because of this, and because of the integrity with which I seek to bring to theology and it’s application to life, I can’t rest on David’s statement as any hope at all that infants who die go to heaven. So where does this leave me? Really, I am back where I started. The answer that I thought was weak is now what I believe to be the most comforting answer for the believer.

God is sovereign. God is just. God is merciful, God is good. God keeps his own council on to whom he shows mercy and to whom he leaves to the just rewards of their sinful nature. I must rest in him as the source of my strength in times of trouble. Christ is my high priest and has suffered and been tempted like me and now intercedes for me at the throne of the Father and I must trust him to do that which will bring him the greatest glory and the me the greatest good, even if I do not understand how what he brought about in my life could possibly be good for me.

In the end I must say to you who have experienced the gut wrenching loss of an infant; I do not know the mind of God, nor do I pretend to see into his will for the eternal disposition of any single soul, but this I do know, that my God will not disappoint. Your faith in him must increase and so, I pray that he would grant you the faith necessary to rest in his perfect holiness never doubting that all the ways of God, though they be mysterious to us, are good and just and right, for his glory and our good.

Christ's Humiliation - Our Example

As I think about Christ's example to us in his humiliation and I look at Phil 2:3-8, I find interesting the motive that Paul gives us for considering other people as more important than ourselves.

There are a lot of reasons to have this attitude, most of which are inherently selfish. It makes us feel good, gives us a good image in the world, makes people like us and on and on we could go. But wait, are we putting others ahead of ourselves then? I don't think so.

The only real motive for considering others as more important than ourselves lies in something completely different. The motive that Paul gives is this: You regard others as more important than yourselves because Christ regarded you as more important than holding on to his own Divine glory.

We truly regard others as more important than ourselves when we are doing so because of the example that Christ set for us and are truly following his example to us. That means, regarding others as more important than ourselves will likely cause us to suffer pain and humiliation.

Like Christ we should not concern ourselves with our own discomfort, sorrow, pain, or humiliation, if it is the result of working to save someone from the bondage of sin and death, which is the ultimate expression of our love for them. May God grant me the grace to follow Christ's example.

Nearly 40 Protesters Arrested at Notre Dame - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

What a sad day.

It may seem radical to some and the tactics of some of the protesters were crude, but Christians need to stand up and defend against abortion rights even if it means being labeled radical or being sent to jail.

A tough choice.

Frankly, I am proud of the fact that Victor Saenz respects the authority of the Church enough to not only follow its lead but proclaim it to others.

Nearly 40 Protesters Arrested at Notre Dame - Presidential Politics Political News - FOXNews.com

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