Considering Health Care Reform Christianly

What are Christians, namely in the US, to think about health care reform? Here is a statement that I think should serve as a framework for Christians in the health care debate:

Neither the age to which a person lives, nor the amount of health enjoyed by that person truly affects life. So rather than focusing on the potential decline of capitalism, we must focus on the consistent decline of the gospel; the availability of heath care is perhaps in the balance, but eternal health is absolutely in the balance. Indeed we should seek to find our proper place in the health care debate, but we must realize that humanity does not divide into healthy or unhealthy, but into dead in Adam or alive in Christ.

Where do we go from here?

Response to A.C.Hanbury: The Prey of Prayer

Aaron presents a very interesting and, truly, important question. What do our prayers actually accomplish? There seems a precipice that is walked where on the left are daunting cliffs falling to a view that man's prayers have no effect on God, and, on the right, are inspiring heights climbing to a view that the prayers of men have an exaggerated effect on God; one where God is the puppet-master, and on the other, the puppet. One may say, "The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]" (James 5.16). Another may respond, "all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives" (Romans 3.23).

There are your two conflicts; but here is the arbitrator: "But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you]" (Romans 8.10). Our prayers, though outside Christ are made dung, become righteousness inside Christ. Our prayers then, in Christ, avail much.

As men and as believers, words have to be guarded and governed with grasping hands and particular eyes. God is very particular and articulate; in a manner, Christ manifests this as He says "For truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass away {and} perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it foreshadows] are accomplished" (Matthew 5.18; see also Revelation 22.18-19).

As an aside, it is interesting to read and study the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas from 1858. In them, each man claimed he desired to return the United States to "as the fathers made it"; in regard to slavery, Douglas meant this to interpret "all men are created equal" to be speaking of all white, European-descended men, while Lincoln interpreted it to be speaking of literally all men. Because our founding fathers were not specific (or were they?), an inch was stretched into a yard. We must be careful with words.

I say all this because we must be clear with Aaron's words. In concluding, he asked us to "Consider Philippians 2, where Paul tells the church that God works in them, both to 'will and to work,' his own will (12-13)"; in context, Paul wrote "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." That final clause is translated predominately as "for His good pleasure" (http://bible.cc/philippians/2-13.htm). In I John 3.21-22, John writes likewise, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him." There is a theme here of pleasing God in our decisions to obey Him; and man becomes a creature with choices. So where is the distinction between being a slave to righteousness and being freely willed?

This interested me, and gave me both an observation and a realization regarding God's will. The observation is, regarding our free will in Christ, that we are given a choice to obey or disobey God; and so even Christ in the desert (Matthew 4, Mark 4) was given a choice. All that we do is not according to God's will, as also it was not God's will for Joseph's brothers to sell him into slavery; however, God's goodness is so mind-alteringly good that even evil is clay before Him, and so He recasts evil into good. The realization is, from this, that God also shows nothing hinders His ultimate will; even should all men disobey Him, what He has planned will come to fruition. However, by His grace, there has never been a time when all men disobeyed Him, and a remnant of faithful children has always been living; and it is for them that God planned all His graces through the Old and New Testaments, and plans His return.

Aaron continued, "Can we ascertain from this that God works in people to shape and conform their prayers? Or what are we to make of verses such as Matthew 16:18 where Jesus tells Peter that he will build his church, 'and the gates of hell will not overcome it?' Clearly the church's growth (in this context) is not contingent on prayer." I believe that God's ultimate will and plan can not be changed or hindered. God will build His church, and this will never change. Perhaps, however, the means to the end, barring anything which contradicts Scripture, can be affected by prayer. The Christian can pray for strong leaders, for pure leaders, for bold leaders; for faith, for devotion to good doctrine; and so the church can be built in a way that honors God all the more. God has chosen the destination, and allows us to help plot or pave the path there.

Yet we must be assured, our confidence in the efficacy of our prayers is that they are according to His will (I John 5.14-15); that we ask in His Name (John 16.23-24), and the Father will then be glorified in the Son (John 14.13-14); that we do this by abiding in Christ and letting His words abide in us (John 15.7), and we only receive because we keep His commandments (I John 3.22) and call on Him in truth (Psalm 145.18-19) with faith (Matthew 21.22).

God will indeed answer our prayers! And He does so when our prayers honor Him by desiring what He desires.

As Christ has taught us to pray, "Our Father, Who are in Heaven; hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven." The effectual prayer is that which seeks God's will above our own; even the Son of God prayed that the Father's will, and not His own, be done (Matthew 26.39). Therefrom we ask, "give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Here we change through prayer our situation; God hears this prayer, and gives us bread, forgives us our debts, leads us away from temptation and delivers us from evil. "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever." So we then couch our desires and needs within a profession that God's will is greater than all others, and that He is God. "Amen."(Matthew 6.8-13)

D.A. Carson asked, "If prayer changes things, how exactly are we to trust God's sovereignty?" I answer, by God being the One hearing prayers and changing things.

May our prayers daily grow more and more in and from our dear and sovereign, magnificent Trinity, dear family.

"Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever" (Ephesians 3.21-22). "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it) (Romans 11.36).

If I have erred, please let me know; surely I am prone to fail.

What say you?

John Piper on Prayer
John Piper on Prayer ii

Effects of Prayer: questions and reflections from Numbers 14

Prayer is an essential part of life. But what does prayer accomplish? This indeed is a fantastic mystery. Scripture is filled with the prayers of many of its central characters. These prayer have different effects. Of course, Scripture abounds with examples of prayers which seem to affect specific circumstances, and prayers which don't. For the most part, I've concluded (I like to think from Scripture) that prayer does not change things, per se. If a small bird can't fall without God's direction, then how can the prayers of a sinful human alter the course of history? With this in mind, I tend to think that perhaps prayer affects situations because God ordains both the ends and means, or perhaps prayer is (mostly) for edifying the person praying.

But then this morning I read Numbers 14. In this passage, the people of Israel become discontent with Moses and Aaron's leadership. God grows angry with the Israelites and shows a desire to simply allow the people go and then begin anew with Moses and Aaron (Numbers 14:1-12). Here's what follows:
Moses said to the LORD, "Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, O LORD, are with these people and that you, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 'The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert.' "Now may the Lord's strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.' In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now." The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked.
Verse 20 shocked me. God seemingly changes his plan because of Moses' intercession. Now, God does punish Israel (He does not allow the entire generation access to the promised land). But what's striking is that he seems to change his will because Moses asked him to.

How does this story (and many others like it) fit with NT teachings that God works everything to fit the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:11)? Consider Philippians 2, where Paul tells the church that God works in them, both to "will and to work," his own will (12-13). Can we ascertain from this that God works in people to shape and conform their prayers? Or what are we to make of verses such as Matthew 16:18 where Jesus tells Peter that he will build his church, "and the gates of hell will not overcome it?" Clearly the church's growth (in this context) is not contingent on prayer.

I cannot answer this question. I don't know. So what are we to do with dilemmas like this? Isaiah 55:8 tells us that God's ways are not our ways. But this truth should not cause frustration, but cause us to rejoice. We do not have a god who fits our intellectual capacities. Rather, we serve YHWH, triune in nature and perfect in will and action. Taking our example from Paul, may we take pleasure in this mysterious God.

D.A. Carson spoke on this subject in June (2009), answering the question "If prayer changes things, how exactly are we to trust God's sovereignty?" The mp3 (here) is helpful.

Semper Reformanda

Redeeming Personal Legalisms

Conviction. Legalism. Biblical conviction. Personal legalism. At whose expense will these terms be so interwoven and meshed together that legalists find no identity or individual integrity? Will there, in this resurgence/reforming/emerging church, be an explanation of the reasons we do things? Why is it that we will not quit saying “well, my pastor said this” or “I’ve seen this in my personal experience; therefore, it is wrong”? When did biblically-based convictions and moral standards cease? How long will you willingly live in ignorance, O man?!

This post is an attempt to establish the correct mindset of establishing convictions through correct interpretation of the Bible. In so doing, I pray we will reevaluate all of our convictions and line them up with the Holy Scriptures which are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Conviction. The word alone makes you want to watch “Remember the Titans” and go play backyard football. What is conviction? Definition, please? You got it. Conviction: a strong persuasion or belief. You would debate someone over conviction. To defend your stance based on logic and personal perceptions of whatever the matter may be.

Legalism: strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code. Is it a bad thing? It is always spoken AGAINST, but how often is legalism actually practiced? I’ve heard this word being spoken ill of from many different pulpits, only to be practiced by the very same authority in those pulpits. Excessive conformity describes this at its best.

Biblical conviction. Now we are getting somewhere. Let us now, please, step back and examine ourselves. If we move from the definition of conviction stated above and add the biblical sense, we would come up with a definition similar to the following: A strong persuasion or belief based on doctrine of the divinely inspired Holy Scriptures.

Personal legalism. This is where our understanding of truth can become greatly skewed should legalism not be exercised properly. Personal legalism: strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the personally derived concepts which enable me to live my life in a way I find works best for myself morally and experientially. Let us say I believe that I should work out twice a week in order to maintain the temple God has given me. This is not scripturally commanded; however, it is not contrary to the Bible either. I THEN, take this personal belief and teach it to my friends as truth. It grows into a national battle cry that is taken so far out of the original intention that it does not purify the church, but rather alienates those who do not agree. THIS, my friends, is where personal legalisms fail us. Are personal legalisms wrong? NO! May it not be that we restrain ourselves from the stumbling blocks that were once clouding our view of the holy and just One! May we lay aside every weight which so easily entangles and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us, as we are looking unto JESUS! (Hebrews 12:1-2). Wherein did it say to lay aside your weight and also, command your brother to lay aside that weight in his own life if it is not sin? How is that not just enabling sin to creep in through legalistic pragmatism we personally know as truth because someone rammed it down our throats? Is that not adding a weight to someone? How self-RIGHTEOUS are you to add to the Scripture? I pray that when we feel the need for God plus morality that we see the complete inadequacy of ourselves! WHO ARE WE TO ADD TO SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH?! Not of abstinence from alcohol, lest any man should boast. Not of having your “devotion every morning for a whole year,” lest any man should boast. Not of wearing a suit or shorts on Sunday mornings, lest any man should BOAST. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them. Do you not find the scripture sufficient, Christian? Do you feel the need to indulge yourself with just a little more morality for the sake of being a step ahead? Are you more deserving of God’s grace than any other? As Aaron Cline Hanbury paraphrases Jonathan Edwards, “A breath in the morning outside of grace through Christ is offensive and stench in the nostrils of God.”

Do you not find the Scriptures sufficient, Christian?

Stop itching your ears with morality! Stop imposing things outside of Scripture on your congregations! Run from the man who feels his will plus the scriptures is needed to fulfill the purpose we are all here, to glorify God and to enjoy him forever! May His Scriptures be satisfying to our longings for Christ-likeness. May our love for Him grow instead of our ability to follow rules. May we abide in His precepts (Romans 6), never forgetting the nature of the God we serve. May a complete awe fall upon us as we serve a God who ought rather to unleash on us His eternal wrath on us all, but instead loves and cares for us. May we be in His service forever as we fall under the grace of His Son. May a love for Christ explode from this message and may our lives be challenged Biblically.


-Chris Brantley

Response to Lucas: Rock On

"The all-sovereign, omniscient Jesus Christ knew that in only a few hours He would be betrayed and crucified, and He knew that all His disciples would abandon him. He knew if they were relying on their own faith for assurance that they would have crumbled to the ground in shame and disbelief. Because He knew they would fall and deny Him in a moment of weakness, he wanted them to be theologically-informed that their salvation did not rest in their own faith but in the hands of an unfailing Savior. Doctrine is extremely applicable even though we may not see its direct correlation to our personal life at times.”

Those words revolve around me a little and resound softly in my ears. As I think about those words and those I just wrote, I recoil a little and open my eyes wider to spy a devil in the shadows. Surely you must be wondering at what I am even saying. But I ask merely that you entertain me for a little time, and recall to your memory your childhood, for a memory must be in there as it is in my own. Recall the times your father took you into the field or to the park, or even when you went there with your friends; and imagine the ground being strewn about with rocks, big and small, almost to the point of being preposterous as if there had been a war of rock-men there in ancient days. Remember, we were kids; and our imaginations ruled the day. At least mine did. Yet remember your father pointing you to the rock, almost as big as you were, and remember the gasp and excitement of it when he said there were secrets hidden underneath or some such thing; and turning the big, sturdy rock over, all the little creatures and things, even sometimes snakes, were grappling and scrounging to return to its cover and dark.

What I say here is that Lucas has given us a solid rock here, large and sturdy; sometimes rocks, as are mountains, are beautiful and awesome, and so is this rock that he has given us. Yet sometimes the greater and heavier those rocks are, the more terrible the creatures are that try to hide under it, and we have to be careful that we are not taken by them. Please know that any analogy or metaphor for God will never be satisfactory, because nothing on earth can ever be fitly compared with that of Heaven, and certainly my analogy is much to be pitied. But take from it this, if you will: before us is a great and beautiful Rock! And we have to choose what to do with it. We can look at it in amazement, and walk away without changing; and we can even play with it and turn it over and find things that can harm us if we are not careful; that is to say, we can play with those words Christ has told us and that Lucas has reminded us of, and not do anything with it.

We are here to live our words, not just to say and play with them. Christ is not our toy; He is our God.

Recall the words of Christ about a rock.

Matthew 16.13-18 (Amplified)

Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is?

And they answered, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am?

Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.

And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].

So this is our Rock! Our Rock is Christ, and that Christ is the Son of the living God. Resound those words and the words of this passage to yourself, and dig into it. Think of who the people of our culture say that Christ is! A prophet? A virtuous man? A liar? I remember reading Tim Keller defy these things in that if Christ is anything other than the Son of God, He should be called a lunatic (Tim Keller’s Reason for God). But this is what Christ finds important: who do YOU say that He is? Be careful of your response; be sure to mean your words if you speak as Peter did. Our confession is not just words but a promise we will be held accountable to. I rejoice with you that, as we realize that we did not discover Him on our own, we see that God the Father revealed this to us! There is another rock here; as God revealed to us knowledge that will give us salvation in Christ, we find that God has not a heart to abandon us; God has a heart to save us. Rock on.

A dear friend Gabe Bush once asked me what I thought Christ meant when He was talking with Peter about the rock He would build His church on. I said I would think about it and look forward to having a conversation about it; we never did have that conversation, but I hope I can respond now. Some will say the rock is Peter, as our Catholic friends and brothers have thought. A church built on a man will fail, as we have seen throughout the ages. Our dear apostle Peter was only a man, and as sinful as we are. Others will say it is the words that Christ is the Son of God, as we ourselves can say at times without thinking about it. But know that our salvation is not in words, but it is in the only living, breathing, conquering, and reigning God. Christ is building His Church on Himself, our glorious and fearsome Son of God.

Lastly, I leave to you a hefty passage from Hobbes’ Leviathan which I have been reading in graduate school. I was reminded of them in those words of Lucas’ he began with. Although Hobbes is by no means a man to look to for theological wisdom and faith, he has spoken wisely here. Dig into his words and discover the rocks; and think of the Scripture that tells us what he is saying.

“Lastly, the testimony that men can render of divine Calling, can be no other, than the operation of Miracles; or true Prophecy, (which also is a Miracle;) or extraordinary Felicity. And therefore, to those points of Religion, which have been received from them that did such Miracles; those that are added by such, as approve not their Calling by some Miracle, obtain no greater beliefe, than what the Custome, and Lawes of the places, in which they be educated, have wrought into them. For as in naturall things, men of judgement require naturall signes, and arguments; so in supernaturall things, they require signes supernaturall, (which are Miracles,) before they consent inwardly, and from their hearts.

All which causes of the weakening of men’s faith, do manifestly appear in the Examples following. First, we have the Example of the children of Israel; who when Moses, that had approved his Calling to them by Miracles, and by the happy conduct of them out of Egypt, was absent but 40 dayes, revolted from the worship of the true God, recommended to them by him; and setting up (Exod.32.1,2) a Golden Calfe for their God, relapsed into the Idolatry of the Egyptians; from whom they had been so lately delivered. And again, after Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and that generation which had seen the great works of God in Israel, (Judges 2.11) were dead; another generation arose, and served Baal. So that Miracles fayling, Faith also failed.

Again, when the sons of Samuel, (1 Sam.8.3) being constituted by their father Judges in Bersabee, received bribes, and judged unjustly, the people of Israel refused any more to have God to be their King, in other manner than he was King of other people; and therefore cryed out to Samuel, to choose them a King after the manner of the Nations. So that Justice Fayling, Faith also fayled: Insomuch, as they deposed their God, from reigning over them.

And whereas in the planting of Christian Religion, the Oracles ceased in all parts of the Roman Empire, and the number of Christians encreased wonderfully every day, and in every place, by the preaching of the Apostles, and Evangelists; a great part of that successe, may reasonably be attributed, to the contempt, into which the Priests of the Gentiles of that time, had brought themselves, by their uncleannesse, avarice, and jugling between Princes. Also the Religion of the Church of Rome, was partly, for the same cause abolished in England, and many other parts of Christendome; insomuch, as the fayling of Vertue in the Pastors, maketh Faith faile in the People: and partly from bringing of the Philosophy, and doctrine of Aristotle into Religion, by the Schoole-men; from whence there arose so many contradictions, and absurdities, as brought the Clergy into a reputation both of Ignorance, and of Fraudulent intention; and enclined people to revolt from them, either against the will of their own Princes, as in France, and Holland; or with their will, as in England.”

Brothers, sisters; may we not put our faith on miracles (Mark 8.12), may we not put our faith on justice (Romans 3.10; Daniel 9.14), and may be not put our faith in men (Psalm 146.3 et al); they are all sand. Our faith will fail and fall.

On Christ the solid Rock we build and are built.

Matthew 7.24-27

Psalm 146.5-10

Have a most glorious, refreshing and blessed Sabbath, a day or rest and worship, Rockers.

Sean Brendan

Why Discuss Theology? Why blog about it?

As this group of young writers considered discussing theology, particularly on a blog, an important question came to our attention. Why are we doing this? This meant, “Why are we discussing theology?” and “Why are we putting our thoughts on the internet for everyone to read and respond?” First, we had to evaluate our motives for starting a blog that discussed theology before we began participating in this particular desire. We all had a desire to express our thoughts on God and the Word of God. But we had to decide if those thoughts were an end in and of themselves, or if we desired to express those thoughts so that we may love God more and live like Jesus Christ. The answer was obvious to all of us. If our motives were just to show everyone, and each other, our intellects (which aren’t that impressive) then we are wasting our time; in fact we are feeding our pride. But if our reason for discussing theology is to edify and exhort one another to good works, then yes, by all means, let’s blog.

Many young evangelicals in our generation do not think theology and doctrine are important; particularly, discussing theology in an open forum where anyone can read and respond. I disagree and I think the Bible disagrees. Here are some reasons why.

First, I want to look at a few passages from the New Testament that I believe show the importance of truth, theology, and doctrine. Second, I want to give two examples of how Christ’s teaching can impact our practical Christian lives (I thank Minister Ligon Duncan for his excellent teaching on this subject, which has influenced most of this note.).

Jesus is giving the high priestly prayer in John 17:13 (ESV) as He says, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your (the Father’s) word.” In verse 17 Christ says, “Sanctify them in Your truth, your word is truth.” We can draw some implications from these verses. Truth, about God, is for our Joy (“that they may have my joy”) and truth is for our growth (“Sanctify them in your truth”). When we discuss theology and attempt to understand theology, we do it so we can have joy and growth in Christ.

In Matthew 28, Jesus gives the disciples the Great Commission. Notice that the Great Commission is neither going only to certain people, nor does it give followers the bare essentials of the gospel. Jesus tells the disciples in verses 19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things [or everything] that I have commanded you.” We are commanded to teach all truth about God to all people. We must not equate this with majoring on the minors. We are called to be “gospel-centered," but we must engage our mind on all things taught from the Word of God.

Many of my peers in evangelicalism today seem to think that theology and practical Christian living have no correlation. They wonder why we learn so much about God and the person and work of Jesus Christ at church, instead of learning how to become a better people. In 1 Timothy 1:9-10 Paul says, “Understanding that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine.” Paul is making a clear connection between our ethics or obedience, and our doctrine. Paul believes that you won’t be able to live obediently if you do not have sound doctrine. Also, you fight sin not with “five simple steps to overcoming a problem.” That might appeal to some because it seems like a quick fix. We are told in the Bible to fight sin with our identity in Jesus Christ, Who is better and more satisfying than sin. If we do get a quick fix another way and it works, maybe it wasn’t the fix that Christ wanted for us.

Paul gives the reason for writing his letter to Titus in the first verse. Paul wrote this “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords to godliness.” We see again the main reason that Paul writes is to instruct them on doctrine or truth and that truth has direct correlation with faith and godliness. They are not meant to be disconnected.

Acts 17:2-3 shows that Paul made a definite practice of learning and teaching theology, particularly systematic theology. “And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’” Paul used the totality of Scripture that Jews would have had, to explain and prove the reason for Christ's death and resurrection. He is essentially using systematic theology to give the gospel.

Second, I want to give two practical reasons out of many why I think doctrine and theology are important:

1. For our assurance. In John 15, the disciples are in the upper room with Jesus and He is giving them some final words before His betrayal and death. You would think that Jesus would give his disciples a “tear-jerker” motivational speech; but He does not. He instructs them on the doctrine of election. He says in verse 17, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” Why would Christ instruct His disciples on the doctrine of election just prior to his death? The all-sovereign, omniscient Jesus Christ knew that in only a few hours He would be betrayed and crucified, and He knew that all His disciples would abandon him. He knew if they were relying on their own faith for assurance that they would have crumbled to the ground in shame and disbelief. Because He knew they would fall and deny Him in a moment of weakness, he wanted them to be theologically-informed that their salvation did not rest in their own faith but in the hands of an unfailing Savior. Doctrine is extremely applicable even though we may not see its direct correlation to our personal life at times.
   
2. For our joy. In Phillipians 3:1 Paul says, “Finally, brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” He follows that statement with ten verses dealing with the doctrines of justification, sanctification, and glorification. “Rejoice in the Lord” seems like it might be out of place with what follows. Paul is commanding believers to have confidence not in themselves but to have confidence solely in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who justifies and sanctifies and glorifies us. We are to learn doctrine so that we can rejoice and be filled with joy because of the work that Christ has done for us and in us. Doctrine is for delight! We cannot fully delight in Jesus Christ if we do not understand true doctrine about His person and work.
   

This is why we discuss theology. So we can delight in the Lord Jesus Christ and have joy in understanding “all things” about him. We love the simplicity of gospel and we have a burden to keep the gospel the “main thing.” But we are also called to observe more than just the ABC’s of the gospel; and that is the reason for our blog.

Luke