Christ Church Paarl

Some reflections of Hebrews 2:

CS Lewis in his series the Chronicles of Narnia picks up on the idea of Hebrews 2 beautifully:  We find a family of average everyday children stuck in the harsh realities of the second world war with no control over their world.  As they enter the world of Narnia however, they find themselves transformed and honoured as princes and princesses of the kingdom, rulers of Narnia!!

The author of Hebrews reminds us that you and I, average everyday believers will one day be transformed  and will rule with Christ in the new heavens and earth.  In light of this glorious future chapter 2 starts with a warning not to abandon our great salvation.

1]   We are called to Remain faithful to the gospel

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, ³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”

We are to pay careful attention to what we have heard, received from the Lord.  We are to value the gospel, hold to it and preserve it.  As Paul instructs Timothy to “guard it closely!”  

In (v2) we see that the judgments, instructions and destruction spoken by angels were binding and came to pass!  How much more won’t the promises and judgements spoken by Jesus our Lord, not be binding and come to pass!  

(v3)  How will we possibly escape hell and the judgment of God if we ignore our great salvation.  The danger of “drifting away” is that we run the risk of losing out on a glorious eternal inheritance.  This glorious gospel was announced by Jesus Himself and confirmed by the apostles, signs and wonders and the work of the Holy Spirit!  The author goes on to remind us of the glory we one day will paticipate in, if we continue in our faith not moved from the hope held out in the gospel!

2]   We are reminded that we will rule in eternity because of Jesus Christ

^{“ 5} It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of him, a son of man that you care for him? ⁷ You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor ⁸ and put everything under his feet.”  In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. ⁹ But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

v5 -clearly reveals that in eternity it is not the angels that will rule the new heavens and earth, but you and I.   We are destined to be heirs and co-heirs with Christ!

Just the thought of this blows our minds and with the Psalmist we say “who are we that you are mindful of us Lord?” (v6)

Right now we have been made a little lower than the angels,  but we are crowned with glory and honour and everything is placed under our feet.  There is nothing that is not subject to us!

But as we read this you say, “Hold your horses my life is definitely not under my control, we are hard pressed from every side, perplexed and under pressure.  I definitely do not feel crowned with glory and honour! In fact I am floundering, nothing is under my feet!”

The author acknowledges this experience in v8b  “In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to Him, yet at present we do not see everything subject to Him” -   we don’t see it at the moment, we don’t feel like we are rulers and at the moment and we are probably not.  The promise however is that in eternity we will rule. It’s the “now but not yet”  We have salvation now, we are forgiven now, we have everything we need for life and Godliness, we have Jesus!  But we are not home yet, we still look forward to the “redemption of our bodies”  and the new heaven and earth!

In the midst of our earthly struggles how then do we know that we will rule one day?  How do we believe in the midst of our average every day lives that we are in fact kings and queens? How do we know that God is mindful of us? And reserved glory for us?

Well, by looking at Jesus….

(v9)  ‘But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so by God’s grace he may taste death for everyone”

Jesus is the pattern and promise of the future !  We know that we will reign in the future because Jesus suffered for a little while, was made a little lower than the angels but is now glorified and seated at the right hand of the father and is given the name above every name!  His life becomes the pattern for our faith and relationship with God.

3]   We are shown that the road to glory is marked by suffering and death

“In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer / author of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.”

Christ was made perfect through what he suffered!  If the author of our faith had to suffer, then how much more won’t we have to follow in his footsteps!   If we want to be united with Him in ruling in eternity we have to be united with Him in suffering and dying to self.

(v11)  “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. ¹² He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” ¹³ And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”   

We are of the same family – we are brothers and sisters with Christ, united with Him in this life in the midst of all our struggles and hardships and one day united with Him in glory

How often don’t we however want to rule now!  We have a theology that says we can have the kingdom in it’s fullness right now, claim it and avoid suffering at all costs…. Jesus wants you to have it all now!!  Many hold to this unbiblical view of suffering!  The road to glory is the road marked by faithful endurance through suffering and struggle of this life!

Remember what happened when the crowd rushed forward and wanted to make Jesus king and challenge the power of Rome.  He refused as His time had not yet come! “Not my will but your will be done!” Suffering and hardship are not the judgement of God, not even a result of the lack of faith, but are simply part of life in a broken sinful world! Believers need to “consider it pure joy” when they face trials of many kinds (James chapter one) and not be “surprised as though something strange were happening to you” (First Peter)

4]   We are encouraged that we have a saviour who understands and struggles with us

(v14) “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.”

Christ’s humanity is as significant as His deity.  He shares in our humanity, knows the struggles we face, is able to empathise with us in the midst of our brokenness because He was one of us!

In His humanity and death, Jesus breaks the power of Satan. He destroys the power of death and opens up eternity for those who believe in Him. 

(v15)  We are free from slavery to death and fear… This is our great salvation!

1 Cor 15 : 54  reminds us  “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

(v17) “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus becomes our “Merciful and faithful high priest”: Merciful because we constantly mess up.  Faithful because we are so often faithless.  Jesus is empathic with us in our struggles!  He is not sitting in heaven wanting to judge and nail you, but is interceeding and pleading for us before the Father! 

He knows what it means to be tempted. He knows what it means to face hardship and suffering and he knows the depths to which the human soul can sink…. and He cares!

The word Atonement  or propitiation means that Jesus “deflects the anger and wrath of God”.  Those who are in Christ will never face the wrath and judgement of God.  A great exchange has taken place:  His righteousness is imputed (accredited, ascribed as a characteristic) to me and my sinfulness is taken upon Himself.  I am declared righteous and blameless in Christ.  This is our great salvation!

He Himself suffered temptation and is able to understand and help and know,  forgive and strengthen!!  We have a merfucl and faithful High priest!

John Piper sums it up beautifully, “The wisdom of God devised a way for the love of God to deliver sinners from the wrath of God while not compromising the righteousness of God.”

This is our great salvation!  This is why we are to guard and watch our faith closely. Take great care not to drift away, not to stray from our merciful and faithful high priest.

About a year ago we started evening services at Christ Church. The goal was really to set aside the day for the Lord.  The opportunities to be shaped by God’s word are so limited in our busy lives that we really want to encourage everybody to make use of both our Sunday services.  Evening services start promptly at 18:30pm and we work to be finished by 19:30pm.   At the moment we are preaching through the book of Hebrews.  It is a wonderful book that places the focus of our lives back onto Jesus!

Hope to see you at 18:30m!

John 16: 5-12

What is it that makes a successful church?  What is it that gives you a successful ministry? Many people and Pastors ask the question, “What is the The X factor you possess to be a successful minister of the gospel?”  We so often believe that a succesful ministry is built on various factors such as great preaching, good relationships, a captivating personality, lots of charisma, a church with many Spirit filled signs and wonders!  But I wonder if these are the things that Jesus points to?  John 16: 5 – 16 gives us some sobering thoughts on the foundation or the X factor for any ministry.

Jesus tells his disciples that they are going to be left in the world and be persecuted.  To crown it all, He would also no longer be with them!  The disciples were naturally afraid, terrified, and bewildered!  How on earth would they possibly be believed and how would they carry out this huge, seemingly impossible task?!  The message of the gospel was one that would cause offense, and would probably not be easily accepted.  How would they, a group of uneducated, simple fishermen ever be believed?   How do we today convince and change the minds of people!?  How do we preach a message that seems to fly in the face of all that the world holds important?  So what was the disciples X factor that helped them change the world?

The answer is without a doubt, the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.  He alone was the disciples X factor!   (V7-8) tells us that the counselor comes not as an advocate for the world but rather as a prosecutor!  The Holy Spirit is the one that comes to convict the world of their guilt before a holy God!  We are simply placed on the stand as witnesses for God.  It is the Spirit alone who convicts and convinces us of our sinfulness and brokeness!   In Acts 2 it was not Peter’s sermon, charisma or personality that saved people, but rather the convicting work of the Spirit on that day!  The Holy Spirit alone prosecutes our hearts and directs us to Christ!

The Spirit of God does three things:

1]  He Convicts us of sin- (v9)  We often define sin simply as all the bad things we do, think and say, but according to verse 9 “with regards to sin, because men do not believe in me.”  Sin is defined as “not believing in Jesus.”  He is the bottom line! Forgiveness comes only through Jesus!  Sinfulness is living a life of ignoring Christ!  The hallmark of our faith is declaring our faith in Christ!  God’s Spirit convicts us of our sinfulness and our need for a saviour. It is very difficult to grasp our need for Christ if we do not first recogines our sinfulness.  The Spirt does the convicting not the preacher!

2]  Convicts us of righteousness- (v10) The Holy Spirit convicts me of the fact that I will not ever be good enough for God!  Romans 1 :16-18 Paul reminds us that righteousness is through faith alone and not through anything we can do!  Acceptance before God is based on Christ alone! His righteousness is imputed (assigned as a characteristic, credit) to us!   The Spirit points us to the work of Christ!  He alone points us to the great exchange (Christ’s righteousness for our sinfulness) Christ achieved this righteousness for us, on our behalf!   The Spirit has to convict us of self- rightousness and pride!  Not by my goodness but Jesus righteousness!  The work is finished! No more works of righteousness that need to be performed!

3]   Convicts us of judgment- (v11) The Spirit convicts me of the judgement of Satan and sin.   He is the defeated enemy of God!  Do we continue to follow Him? Or do we choose to follow Jesus!  The Holy Spirit convicts me and reminds me of the judgement to come!

So what is the X factor in any ministry or church? The Spirit of God at work in the hearts of men and women.   We as human beings cannot change the hearts of men!  He alone can through convicting and calling men! When the Spirit is at work, people’s lives will be changed.  We need to be careful not to try and manufacture change in people.  We need to be careful not to attribute transformation and growth to anything we do.  Be careful not to take pride in our own abilities, talents and personalities!  We need to be praying for the Spirits work in our midst!  The Spirit works through the faithful preaching and clear teaching of God’s word!   It is not about us! It is not about our failures or successes but rather the work of the Spirit!

He alone is the X factor!

(From a Sermon preached at Synod 2011)

I have just returned from Synod held this year at Christ Church, Umhlanga.  It was a great opportunity to catch up with old college friends and fellow Pastors.  Jacqes and I had a wonderful stay with our hosts Trevor and Sally Beaumont, and we really thank them for their hospitality and friendship.

Synod itself was a real blessing and Bishop Des Inglesby’s charge was a wonderful focus once again on who we are as a denomination and a reminder of the context in which we serve.  This charge will be available at the info desk for those who would like to read it.  We will also shortly be posting the 10 distinctives layed out  in the Bishops charge on our “Our beliefs” page.

The main discussion was around the process forward for our proposed denominational  name change.   The concensus is that CESA (Church of England in South Africa) is a hinderence to the gospel in many communities for various reasons (the main one being the associations with colonialism).  It is important to note that we are in no way changing or abandoning our theology, our distinctives or our stand on the word of God.  We are also not going to be changing or touching local church names at all.  We will remain “Christ Church Paarl”.  The timeline and process for this change will be e-mailed to us shortly and then we will make sure it is posted on our site for you to read.

A full synod report available in the next two weeks at the imformation table in church.   It is wonderful to be part of a denomination that is committed to the gospel, faithful to God’s word and intetional about transformation.  Both Jacques and I came away blessed and very encouraged.

How often have you not heard someone saying, “We don’t really worry about doctrine, we just keep it simple and follow Jesus!”  The sad reality is that what we believe always determines how we live!  All across our valley we see a lot of passion and enthusiasm for Jesus, but the reality is that much of this excitement  seems to be based on great worship, great experiences, great friendhsips but very shaky theology.  It seems that sound Biblical doctrine has been inadvertantly hi-jacked by a wave of experience, and emotion.

A leading charismatic pastor reflects on another ‘revival’ that seemed to arrive in his church and then pass again, “Many of us would rather watch a noisy demonstration of miracles, signs and wonders than have a quiet Bible study. Yet we are faced today with the sad reality that our untempered zeal is a sign of immaturity. Our adolescent craving for the wild and crazy makes us do stupid things. It’s way past time for us to grow up.” Great advice!

Anyone who raises questions about doctrine however, is often lablled as  old fashioned, legalistic and religious.  But we need to remember what Paul writes to Timothy in 1Tim 4:16 “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”  Notice that Timothy is instructed to watch or guard His life and DOCTRINE closely, protect it, value it. Notice the call to persevere in both…. for they will bring salvation!

In His 2nd letter to Timothy 4:2-6, Paul continues by saying, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.  

Amazing warning to believers, to parents and churches alike…. people will not put up with sound doctrine, but instead they will gather around themselves preachers and teachers that will give them what they want to hear!  The ‘feel good’ messages and motivational talks that we so consitently hear, with a bit of scripture attached to somehow make them Christian.   False teachers thrive because believers don’t do the hard work of dicovering and valuing what the Bible truly teaches.  The danger lies in the fact that often, false doctrine has the ring of truth and is presented by such nice people that we don’t want to cause offence by questioning it!   The result is that we are moved away from Christ centred biblical truth to human centred myths.  Personal experience and emotion replace sound doctrine as the basis for faith.  Experience and emotion have to be part of any relationship, but always need to be goverend and tempered by biblical truth.

I want to encourage all parents to question and know what your teenagers are being exposed to. Don’t just assume that because it is ‘Christian’  it is okay.  Much confusion  arises when our young people are exposed to teaching that is contrary to scripture. Doctrine is important, it shapes how we think and live.  Good doctrine forms the foundation for our responses to whatever life throws at us.  Let us not be swept up in the emotionalism and hype that seems to be sweeping across our valley, rather let’s do the hard work of studying the Bible and knowing what it is that we believe!

I close with an example.  If we throw a load of ‘wingered stompies’ on a fire, they burn intensly and very brightly but for a short while only.  When we place solid logs on a fire they burn brightly, intensley and consistently for a long time.  My experience is that when faith is built on emotion and experience, it might appear intense and spiritual and true but it flares up like the ‘wingered stompies’ for a short while, it however does not sustain the fire over a long period of time.  If our faith is built on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ and sound biblical doctrine, our faith will be consitent and sustained no matter what life throws at us!

“Discernment is not created in God’s people by brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance. It is created by biblical truth and the application of truth by the power of the Holy Spirit to our hearts and minds. When that happens, then the brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance will have the strong fiber of the full counsel of God in them. They will be profoundly Christian and not merely religious and emotional and psychological.” -  John Piper