Being Poor in the Spirit - Part 2

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" -  Mathew 5:3

In the first part here, the need for being poor in the spirit was discussed. Here I would like to discuss on another aspect of this, i.e. being poor in the spirit is also needed to be/continue in kingdom

• Realizing the need for Christ/Gospel enables us 
• To enter the kingdom 
• And also to stay/continue in the kingdom

A common misunderstanding is saved by grace kept by our works or in other words, Gospel is needed only to start with. This leads to another question, if gospel alone is enough then what is the role of leading a holy life, should there be not any efforts?

Therefore there are two questions to be addressed

• Why do we need to trust the gospel everyday
• What is the importance of leading a holy life/Should we not then put effort to lead a holy life?

Why do we need to trust the gospel everyday?

• Galatians had the same issue – Gal 3:3
• The requirement is to be perfect as always, therefore the reason for acceptance is because of Christ. E.g.: Fuel is needed for the car to start, and also to keep it moving. Thus the gospel not only saves you for a moment, it alone makes us complete. This is unlike a jumper cable/car battery, which is needed only for starting the car :).
• Religion says: ‘I obey – therefore I am accepted by God.'”
• Some examples of things that we think is the reason for acceptance are
• Coming to Church
• Giving tithe
• Praying
• Doing good
• Reading/meditating the Word
• All these are good and have a definite purpose, but the acceptance is not based on this. Legalism is treating which is good as essential
•  Not a performance driven life. If we add to the work, we do not trust His work. Gal 5:4. 
• If we look at Islam (on a very high simplistic way), the final salvation is by weighing the good works. if the good works outweighs the evil, you are saved. In Christian faith, the only reason you are accepted is because of Christ's work!
• Consider the parable in Luke 18: 9-14. The Pharisee never lied, he said only what he had done. The problem was that he thought he gained everything before God because of what he did.

Should we not then put effort to lead a holy life?

• When we are saved, we are conformed to His image. Saved for good works Ephesians 2:10
• The operating principle of the gospel is “I am accepted by God through what Christ has done – therefore I obey.”  
• Gospel is the reason for acceptance and is also, the motivation to obey
• Once justified, the sanctification process starts from there.
• What we do should be based on what he has done/motivated by it
• We strive for holiness because we cannot stay where we are. We are called as we are but not stay as we are (Tim Keller).
• A life that flows out of believing and not merely a religious life.
• The New Testament often calls God’s people to be what they are in principle in Christ and then to put effort to do, that which is in line with their new identity and position in Christ. Col 3:1-5, Romans 6:1-11
• Going to Texans game doesn't make you a fan of Texans. Of course you can go to please others or to show others. A real fan of the texans go for the game because he loves his team and is motivated by his team.

Questions to Ask Our self

• Have we ever thought about the acceptance we have because of the gospel?
• The things that we do, is it out of religiosity or out of our faith/love?
• Are we still religious and trying to earn from God?
• Do we pursue holiness/Godly life in our daily walk or are we trying to achieve his approval through works.
• Are we really saved or following a religion?

Tim Keller on PRAYER

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/10-questions-on-prayer-with-tim-keller

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/20-quotes-from-tim-kellers-new-book-on-prayer

Scripture portions study by John Piper

Be blessed by this study with John Piper.

http://www.desiringgod.org/labs/all

A real situation of 'transgender' issue

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/joan-or-john

Why is it the 'greatest' commandment?

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22: 36-40

I was initially surprised to know that Jesus would say something as the greatest commandment. I would think His answer would have been, 'OK all commandments are equally important, you have to obey everything'. However the actual understanding of why 'loving God' is the greatest commandment, points to a similar reason, it is the underlying reason that drives someone to obey everything that they can!
One way to understand the greatness or importance of this commandment would be to remove this for a second and then think about every other things that Bible says. We will find that the whole system fails without this command. None of the things would have any value without this. Love for God (because he first loved us) is the source for everything.
We can probably do many of the commands, but if its not based out of love for God we miss the whole point. For example whatever we do not out of love for God would lead us to idolatry. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul says that even if we have the gifts of the holy spirit, or give our body for hardship, if we don't have love its all a waste.
Everything that we do should originate from love for God and man, it should continue in love. 

FAQ: Life for the glory of God

This is taken from Tim Challies' blog

Q. ULTIMATELY, WHY DID GOD CREATE US?

A. God created us to bring glory to Him.

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

“…[I]n order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).

Q. HOW CAN WE GLORIFY GOD IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES?

A. We can glorify God in our day-to-day lives by doing good works.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).

Q. WHAT ARE GOOD WORKS?

A. Good works are works done for the glory of God and the good of other people.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

Q. AS SINFUL PEOPLE, CAN WE ACTUALLY DO GOOD WORKS?

A. Christians are able to do good works because of the finished work of Christ.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

“[Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).

Q. IN WHAT AREAS OF LIFE SHOULD WE DO GOOD WORKS?

A. We ought to do good works at all times and in all areas of life.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works” (Titus 2:7)…

“The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people” (Titus 3:8).

“Women should adorn themselves … with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9-10).

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

“Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity” (Acts 9:36).

Q. WHAT IS PRODUCTIVITY?

Productivity is effectively stewarding your gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Through this brief series of questions and answers we have established that we have been given life and salvation in order to bring glory to God by doing good to others. 

Being Poor in Spirit - Part 1

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” -  Mathew 5:3

Understanding the text:

o   Beatitudes – Blessedness

o   Blessed –

§  Approved by God

§  Happiness not affected by circumstance

o   Poor in spirit –

§  Personal acknowledgement of spiritual bankruptcy

§  Conscious confession of unworthy before God

o   Kingdom of Heaven (God) – Life with in God’s dominion

Why are we ‘poor in spirit’?

o   God made us in His image to worship him, to reflect his attributes, to glorify Him in everything that we do. Expectation is to obey ALL the commands; failing one is failing in all.

o   But we are fallen, therefore everyone are objects of wrath

o   We are total depraved and everyone NEEDs God

o   We are all dead spiritually and therefore need Christ!

o   Rom 1, Rom 5:8, James 2:10, Rom 8:29, Rom 3

Consequences of being fallen

o   God is Holy, loving, righteous

o   God’s loving and righteous at the same time, therefore God’s wrath is on us due to the fallen nature of man.

Why is the ‘poor in spirit’ in the kingdom of God

o   Only a person who has the realization/attitude of being poor in spirit is in the kingdom of God

o   A person who has not understood the sinfulness, the depraved humanity, the consequences of it, cannot really appreciate the grace of God or salvation

o   If not understood, Christ is accepted for making better life, where as Christ is needed for a new life, since we are dead without Christ

o   Only a person who has this realization would continue in the faith and live a holy life in God, others would not persevere

o   This is not only a one time realization but an attitude that needs to be in a believer, trusting God each day and not on their performance (This is a whole another topic [Gospel centered life] probably talk about it as a second part on Nov 22)

o   When we come to Christ we rebuild our life on Christ not have Christ go with our life.

o   Romans 3, Luke 5: 8-10 (Peter),

Questions to Ask Our self

o   Have we ever thought or understood the holiness of God, His greatness!

o   Did we realize our un-worthiness, sinfulness and the wrath of God, when we heard the Gospel of Christ?

o   Or did we accept Christ for better, easy, materially blessed life?

o   Remember the attitude of being poor in spirit is a norm in the kingdom

o   Everyone walking around are carrying the weight of Gods wrath but they don’t realize it

o   When we present the gospel, first of all we need to clearly communicate the need, before actually getting on to the work of Christ.

o   If someone doesn’t realize the need for Christ, it becomes like throwing pearls before pigs

My sermon on this can be heard here                         

Being Gospel Centered - Definition, Benefits and Concerns

Definition -
http://www.challies.com/christian-living/living-gospel-centered
http://www.joethorn.net/2009/08/11/gospel-centered/

Benefits & Concerns -
http://www.challies.com/articles/the-gospel-centered-everything

Sessions from TGC
http://www.centerforgospelculture.org/tgc-new-england/

Call of the worship leader

An awesome post by Matt Papa here

Good reads for College Students

http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/dear-college-students-read-these-books

Romans 12:1-2 - Sermon by Tim Keller

Good sermon from Tim Keller on Romans 12:1-2 here

What made you turn to Christ?

We recently moved from Texas to California. Texas is known for its hot and humid summers. It goes up to 100-110F (~37-43 C) in summer. Also, coming from India, I know in some states in the North it goes up to 113F and I have heard in the Middle East it goes up to probably 122F or more. 
Wherever it may be, in my knowledge, there is not even one person who would love this kind of weather. Everyone who could afford would use an air cooler or some other things to get around this kind of summer. What we understand from this is that 'everyone tries to escape from heat'. May be I can extend that to say, any kind of suffering.

The reason I mentioned this is, some of the gospel presentation that we hear gives a similar picture of escaping from suffering. It would say, "Heaven is Good and, Hell is Bad. In heaven there is no pain, hell is full of suffering. Therefore believe in Christ and inherit heaven!!". Its true that heaven and hell are a reality, but the point that I would like to mention here is that they are only 'rewards'. They are not the ultimate thing that gospel is for. I think what is missing in this message is 'God' himself.

When the attitude of humans is to avoid any kind of suffering, any person would always want to be in Heaven. If they cannot afford to live without a cooler in a hot and humid place here they will definitely hate hell where it is supposed to be fire (or suffering). In a lot of churches where this message is preached as the 'gospel' a lot of people raise their hands or show positive response. After all, comfort is what people long for. The problem of hell as represented in this message might only be a little bigger issue than the summer in Texas.

But this isn't really the message of the gospel, and this in fact is presenting a very much 'self serving' message. As I said in the beginning there is NO God factor in this message. The reason we turn to Christ must be that He is God. This happens only by understanding the greatness of God, the love of God (the greatest commandment - Mark 12: 28-30) and  our wretchedness (Romans 3). And of course in order to come to that situation we need to understand how sinful we are and the punishment (wrath of God against sin) that is awaiting us. Paul in Romans (chap 1-3) talks about the wrath of God against the sin and then explains the justification through Christ. Therefore these are needed in the gospel presentation.

God is not a means to some other end, not even heaven. He is the ultimate end, and He himself is the complete satisfaction that we need! 
I would like to conclude this blog with a quote from John piper as in the video here.

"...............We are forgiven and justified to bring us to GOD. GOD is our treasure, GOD is the end. My forgiveness is NOT the end, My justification is NOT the end, my going to heaven and not having a sick body anymore is not the END. All of that is means, means to what, knowing Him, seeing Him, loving Him..............."-John Piper

Therefore in your sharing of the gospel, make sure that people are drawn to God and not for a better condition of self.

Heart of the gospel

A short video from Pastor Dr.John MacArthur on the heart of the gospel, in just a minute!

About new NIV Bible

http://thecripplegate.com/farewell-niv/

Story behind "I have decided to follow Christ"

http://thecripplegate.com/why-we-sing-i-have-decided-to-follow-jesus/

Qualified as a Pastor?

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2013/02/15/how-can-i-tell-if-im-called-to-pastoral-ministry/