Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
This important OT messianic prophecy is also a Christmas text. Micah foretold that Christ would be born in Bethlehem 710 years before He ever became flesh in a Manger.
This prophecy is amazing because the way the deity of Christ is expressed in the verse’s final phrase, “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
The birth of Christ in Bethlehem was not the beginning of Christ as God’s Son and our sovereign Lord. He is eternal. He “came forth” from Bethlehem, but He did not come from there in the first place. His “goings forth have been from old, from everlasting.”
But I want you to notice that this prophecy is spoken directly by God the Father. God the Father says this: “out of thee he shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.” Or, to say it this way, “from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel.”
Don’t miss the importance of those two words, “for Me.” God the Father is sending the eternal Son to be born and to rule and to redeem His people, and to make righteous reign over all the earth. The Scriptures testify of this truth:
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 10:36, “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?”
Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”
1 John 4:9-10, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:14, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
Yes, Christ came to die for our sins but he first came to satisfy the Father’s offended holiness that we might be brought into the Father’s presence.
Christ died for our sins but He also died for God. He came for God to die for God. This truth is expressed in the doctrine of propitiation.
Ro 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
1Jo 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
1Jo 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Propitiation is the atoning death of Jesus on the cross, through which he paid the penalty demanded by God for sin, thus setting the sinner free from sin and death thru faith of the sinner. The Son’s death appeased or satisfied, the Fathers offended holiness.
The gospel is imbedded in this prophecy. God the Son came to this earth sent by the Father, on a mission of mercy and redemption. He calls us to repent of our sins and believe in Him.
He does all the work of redemption Himself. It’s not up to us to atone for our own sin, we simply lay hold of His grace by faith. No man can come to God without God's grace; neither can he come without saving faith.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Impeccability of Christ
1. Was Jesus Sinless?
Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
John 8:46 “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” He challenged His enemies to show that He was a sinner, which they could not.
John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”
During his trials and crucifixion, He was declared as innocent 11 times [by Judas, by Pilate 6 times, by Herod, by Antipas, by Pilates wife, by the repentant thief, and by the Roman centurion].
Jesus never offered a sacrifice, He was the sacrifice.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1 Peter 2:22 “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”
1 Peter 1:19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”
1 John 3:5 “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”
Hebrews 7:26-27
Most agree Jesus was sinless, but the debate comes with the Question, “Could Jesus have sinned?”
2. Could Jesus Have Sinned?
A. Two words or views:
1. Peccability? Latin for the fact that Jesus could have sinned. Liberals believe He could have sinned and did sin.
Heb. 4:15- If temptation was real then Christ had to be able to sin; otherwise the temptation was not a genuine temptation. This view does not sufficiently consider Christ in His person as God as well as man. Temptation does not demand the ability to sin. Temptation is used of God the Father and the holy Spirit [Acts 15:10; 1 Cor. 10:9; Heb. 3:9]. It is unlikely they could have sinned.
2. Impeccability? Latin for the fact that Jesus was not able to sin. Christ’s temptation was real, but it was impossible for Christ to sin.
6 Observations from Matt. 4:1-11
Observation # 1- The purpose of the temptation was not to see if Christ could sin, but to show that He could not sin. To show the nation he was the impeccable Son of God.
Observation # 2- The Holy Spirit initiated the temptation and not Satan [4:1]. If Christ could have sinned, then the Holy Spirit enticed Jesus to sin. God does not entice to sin [James 1:13].
Observation # 3- His divine and human nature could not be separated from the person of Christ, and since His divine nature could not sin, it must be affirmed that Christ could not sin.
Observation # 4-Christ’s temptation in Matt. 4:1-11, was for demonstrating His holiness and sinlessness [Heb 4:15] without any possibility of enticement to evil [James 1:13].
Observation # 5- They were designed to test a God-man [Matt. 4:1-11]. No ordinary man could have been tempted to turn stones into bread, jump off a high place expecting to land unharmed. No ordinary human could take seriously Satan’s offer of the kingdoms of the world. These were peculiar to the God-man.
Observation # 6-. The testing of Christ fell into these 3 categories [Matt 4:1-11; 1 John 2:16; Hebrews 4:15].“All points” means all means or manner.
Christ was sinless and impeccable- He could not have sinned.
7 Evidences that Jesus could not sin
Evidence # 1- Christ is immutable [Heb. 13:8]. If He could have sinned on earth, what assurance is there that He will not sin now?
Evidence # 2- Christ is omnipotent [Matt. 28:18]. How could He be all-powerful and still be able to sin?
Evidence # 3- Christ is omniscience [John 2:25]. If Christ could have sinned then He really did not know what would happen if He would sin. Christ cannot be deceived because He knows all things.
Evidence # 4- Christ is deity. God cannot sin. Which nature was stronger?
Evidence # 5- The nature of temptation [James 1:14-15]. Christ was tempted from without not within. Jesus did not possess a sin nature to respond to the outward temptation.
Evidence # 6- If Christ could have sinned then His human will would be stronger than His divine will.
Evidence # 7- The authority of Christ [John 10:18]. If Christ had authority over life and death then He had authority over sin.
Christ was sinless and impeccable- He could not have sinned.
Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”
John 8:46 “Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?” He challenged His enemies to show that He was a sinner, which they could not.
John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”
During his trials and crucifixion, He was declared as innocent 11 times [by Judas, by Pilate 6 times, by Herod, by Antipas, by Pilates wife, by the repentant thief, and by the Roman centurion].
Jesus never offered a sacrifice, He was the sacrifice.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
1 Peter 2:22 “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”
1 Peter 1:19 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”
1 John 3:5 “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”
Hebrews 7:26-27
Most agree Jesus was sinless, but the debate comes with the Question, “Could Jesus have sinned?”
2. Could Jesus Have Sinned?
A. Two words or views:
1. Peccability? Latin for the fact that Jesus could have sinned. Liberals believe He could have sinned and did sin.
Heb. 4:15- If temptation was real then Christ had to be able to sin; otherwise the temptation was not a genuine temptation. This view does not sufficiently consider Christ in His person as God as well as man. Temptation does not demand the ability to sin. Temptation is used of God the Father and the holy Spirit [Acts 15:10; 1 Cor. 10:9; Heb. 3:9]. It is unlikely they could have sinned.
2. Impeccability? Latin for the fact that Jesus was not able to sin. Christ’s temptation was real, but it was impossible for Christ to sin.
6 Observations from Matt. 4:1-11
Observation # 1- The purpose of the temptation was not to see if Christ could sin, but to show that He could not sin. To show the nation he was the impeccable Son of God.
Observation # 2- The Holy Spirit initiated the temptation and not Satan [4:1]. If Christ could have sinned, then the Holy Spirit enticed Jesus to sin. God does not entice to sin [James 1:13].
Observation # 3- His divine and human nature could not be separated from the person of Christ, and since His divine nature could not sin, it must be affirmed that Christ could not sin.
Observation # 4-Christ’s temptation in Matt. 4:1-11, was for demonstrating His holiness and sinlessness [Heb 4:15] without any possibility of enticement to evil [James 1:13].
Observation # 5- They were designed to test a God-man [Matt. 4:1-11]. No ordinary man could have been tempted to turn stones into bread, jump off a high place expecting to land unharmed. No ordinary human could take seriously Satan’s offer of the kingdoms of the world. These were peculiar to the God-man.
Observation # 6-. The testing of Christ fell into these 3 categories [Matt 4:1-11; 1 John 2:16; Hebrews 4:15].“All points” means all means or manner.
Christ was sinless and impeccable- He could not have sinned.
7 Evidences that Jesus could not sin
Evidence # 1- Christ is immutable [Heb. 13:8]. If He could have sinned on earth, what assurance is there that He will not sin now?
Evidence # 2- Christ is omnipotent [Matt. 28:18]. How could He be all-powerful and still be able to sin?
Evidence # 3- Christ is omniscience [John 2:25]. If Christ could have sinned then He really did not know what would happen if He would sin. Christ cannot be deceived because He knows all things.
Evidence # 4- Christ is deity. God cannot sin. Which nature was stronger?
Evidence # 5- The nature of temptation [James 1:14-15]. Christ was tempted from without not within. Jesus did not possess a sin nature to respond to the outward temptation.
Evidence # 6- If Christ could have sinned then His human will would be stronger than His divine will.
Evidence # 7- The authority of Christ [John 10:18]. If Christ had authority over life and death then He had authority over sin.
Christ was sinless and impeccable- He could not have sinned.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Living the Christian Life
Hebrews 13: 20-21
These verses are a benediction of the writer to the Jewish Christian who were in danger of not going on to maturity in the faith.
The writer calls on God to make possible the outward working of the truth in the lives of His people.
1. We must have God’s power [vv. 20-21a]. “Make you perfect in
every good work.”
2. We must know His will [v. 21b]. “to do His will.”
3. We can’t please God in the flesh [v. 21c]. “Working in you that
which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.”
What does this mean?
1. We contribute willing yielded-ness to the Christian life. Let God’s
power work thru us.
2. Because Christ does the work, He alone deserves the credit and
praise.
2 Cor. 9:10; Phil. 2:12-13
These verses are a benediction of the writer to the Jewish Christian who were in danger of not going on to maturity in the faith.
The writer calls on God to make possible the outward working of the truth in the lives of His people.
1. We must have God’s power [vv. 20-21a]. “Make you perfect in
every good work.”
2. We must know His will [v. 21b]. “to do His will.”
3. We can’t please God in the flesh [v. 21c]. “Working in you that
which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.”
What does this mean?
1. We contribute willing yielded-ness to the Christian life. Let God’s
power work thru us.
2. Because Christ does the work, He alone deserves the credit and
praise.
2 Cor. 9:10; Phil. 2:12-13
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Witnessing to the Major Cults
1. What to say to a Mormon?
Refuting Mormons belief [Doctrines and Covenants Sect. 130:22] that God is material, a man with a body like us who progressed to Godhood.
God is a Spirit [John 4:24]. No man has seen God in his full manifestation and lived.
God is a spirit that does not have flesh and bones [Luke 24:39].
God is not a man [Hosea 11:9; Numbers 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29].
God is invisible [Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:27].
2. What to say to a Jehovah Witness?
Refuting Jehovah Witness as to the Deity of Jesus and the Trinity-
Jesus is God- Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Gen. 1:1; John 1:1; 10:30; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:10-13; 2 Peter 1:1-2; 1 Tim 1:1; 1 John 1:2; 4:2-3; 5:1; Rev. 1:8; 21:6 Jesus was not just a perfect man but he is the God-man.
The Trinity in the O.T.- Gen 1:1-2, 26; 3:22; 11:7; 19:24; Isaiah 6:8; 9:6; 48:16; 63:10; Psalm 45:6-7; 110:1
The Trinity in the N.T. - Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21
Refuting JW’s that Jesus is first created being-
John 1:1 [was God, not a god. Jesus was co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal with the Father] John 1:14; 5:17-18; 8:56-59; 10:30-33; Col. 1:15-20; 2:9
3. What to say to a Seventh- Day Adventist?
They are not the remnant church as they believe and the only ones who have truth. The church consists of believers from Pentecost to the rapture- Matt. 16:15-19; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:21; 4:4-13
The church is to worship collectively on the Lord’s Day not the Sabbath. Sunday worship is not the mark of the beast. The Sabbath was for Israel as clearly stated in Exodus to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt and God’s seal. Christ is our Sabbath. The church celebrates the resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week. The Sabbath commandment is the only one of the 10 commandments not repeated for the church in the N.T.- Rom. 13:8-10; 14:4-13; 1 Cor. 16:2; Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:13-17.
They believe the believer is kept by works which refuted by- John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:1-2, 35-39; Eph. 1:13-14; 2:8-10; 2 Tim. 1:12
Refuting Mormons belief [Doctrines and Covenants Sect. 130:22] that God is material, a man with a body like us who progressed to Godhood.
God is a Spirit [John 4:24]. No man has seen God in his full manifestation and lived.
God is a spirit that does not have flesh and bones [Luke 24:39].
God is not a man [Hosea 11:9; Numbers 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29].
God is invisible [Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 1:17; Heb. 11:27].
2. What to say to a Jehovah Witness?
Refuting Jehovah Witness as to the Deity of Jesus and the Trinity-
Jesus is God- Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Gen. 1:1; John 1:1; 10:30; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:10-13; 2 Peter 1:1-2; 1 Tim 1:1; 1 John 1:2; 4:2-3; 5:1; Rev. 1:8; 21:6 Jesus was not just a perfect man but he is the God-man.
The Trinity in the O.T.- Gen 1:1-2, 26; 3:22; 11:7; 19:24; Isaiah 6:8; 9:6; 48:16; 63:10; Psalm 45:6-7; 110:1
The Trinity in the N.T. - Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21
Refuting JW’s that Jesus is first created being-
John 1:1 [was God, not a god. Jesus was co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal with the Father] John 1:14; 5:17-18; 8:56-59; 10:30-33; Col. 1:15-20; 2:9
3. What to say to a Seventh- Day Adventist?
They are not the remnant church as they believe and the only ones who have truth. The church consists of believers from Pentecost to the rapture- Matt. 16:15-19; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12-14; Eph. 1:22-23; 3:21; 4:4-13
The church is to worship collectively on the Lord’s Day not the Sabbath. Sunday worship is not the mark of the beast. The Sabbath was for Israel as clearly stated in Exodus to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt and God’s seal. Christ is our Sabbath. The church celebrates the resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week. The Sabbath commandment is the only one of the 10 commandments not repeated for the church in the N.T.- Rom. 13:8-10; 14:4-13; 1 Cor. 16:2; Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:13-17.
They believe the believer is kept by works which refuted by- John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:1-2, 35-39; Eph. 1:13-14; 2:8-10; 2 Tim. 1:12
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
What is True Worship Music?
The gathered church is to sing to God and edify each other when we come together. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” [Col. 3:16]. “Dwell in you richly” actually means to “fill the house with riches.” This scripture speaks of our being filled with the riches of God’s Word, out of which will come true worship. The Bible tells us to sing with understanding. If we can’t hear the words then we certainly can’t worship with understanding.
Paul gives the same instruction to the church at Ephesus where he connects the singing and the singer to being filled with the Spirit. “But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” [Eph. 5:18-20].
God sets a high standard for music in the church. It should never simply be “music for music’s sake.” The music we play and sing must come from the riches of God’s Word and in the fullness of His Spirit in us. When music is used under the influence of the Holy Spirit, it prepares the way for the preacher to preach. We don’t “work up” worship by the music, but rather, true music comes from a worshipful heart.
Church musicians are not performers or entertainers that attract attention to them selves, but lead the people to God. If we leave the service drawn to the singer or singers, then something went wrong. Music must be God-centered and not man-centered, which is operating in the flesh. We don’t use God to display man’s talents, but man’s talents are used to display God. Any offering that is not acceptable to God will bring no spiritual or eternal benefits to God’s people, no matter how much they enjoy what they hear or do. If the beat or music supercedes the message, then we are not leading people to God through the scriptures and have merely fleshly entertainment. Adrian Rogers used to say, “If the beat or rhythm move the feet before the heart, then it is from below. If it moves the heart before the feet, then it is from above.” True worship will stir the spirit and not the flesh. True worship was never intended to “get them in,” but rather, to be an expression of their worship because “they are in.”
Paul gives the same instruction to the church at Ephesus where he connects the singing and the singer to being filled with the Spirit. “But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” [Eph. 5:18-20].
God sets a high standard for music in the church. It should never simply be “music for music’s sake.” The music we play and sing must come from the riches of God’s Word and in the fullness of His Spirit in us. When music is used under the influence of the Holy Spirit, it prepares the way for the preacher to preach. We don’t “work up” worship by the music, but rather, true music comes from a worshipful heart.
Church musicians are not performers or entertainers that attract attention to them selves, but lead the people to God. If we leave the service drawn to the singer or singers, then something went wrong. Music must be God-centered and not man-centered, which is operating in the flesh. We don’t use God to display man’s talents, but man’s talents are used to display God. Any offering that is not acceptable to God will bring no spiritual or eternal benefits to God’s people, no matter how much they enjoy what they hear or do. If the beat or music supercedes the message, then we are not leading people to God through the scriptures and have merely fleshly entertainment. Adrian Rogers used to say, “If the beat or rhythm move the feet before the heart, then it is from below. If it moves the heart before the feet, then it is from above.” True worship will stir the spirit and not the flesh. True worship was never intended to “get them in,” but rather, to be an expression of their worship because “they are in.”
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Cleaning Church Rolls
Why should churches clean up their membership roles?
Mark Dever
1) Christ’s name and honor is at stake in the world. Think about the Apostle Paul’s passionate concern for who was associated with the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 5).
2) Membership in a church should reflect, as best as possible, membership in Christ’s Kingdom. We should neither receive nor dismiss members lightly. "Dropping someone from the rolls" should be treated with utmost care, even if the member himself has been careless.
3) Pastors, elders, and leaders will "give an account" to God someday for their shepherding (Heb. 13:17). God took Israel’s shepherds to task for repeated unfaithfulness (e.g. Ezek. 34).
4) Congregations will also give an account to God for how they receive members. Consider who Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 5!
5) Less mature Christians are at risk of being confused about the importance of the church in the growing Christian’s life and could be led toward complacency themselves.
6) The member who has moved out of the area should be encouraged to link arms with a church in his new hometown and make himself known to believers there. If he does not, his former church should encourage him to do so by letter or phone. If he remains unresponsive, the church should inform him that they will remove his name in the next members’ meeting, thereby sending the message that they can no longer account for his life.
How should churches clean up their membership roles?
If you tackle all the problematic membership cases at once, you will run into fire. But it’s difficult to predict where. Will your members be happy to remove local non-attenders? Out-of-the-area members? The dead? Pastor, be wise and only do what your people can tolerate. Be patient and teach until they are ready to move.
So where do you start? Picture multiple concentric circles (like a dartboard) with the center (the bull’s-eye) representing meaningful membership. The outer rings represent meaningless membership, and hopefully they are easiest to clean up. As you move from the outer rings to the bull’s-eye, your membership rolls should increasingly consist of confessing believers who are actively involved in your church. Let’s start from the outside and work in:
1) Members who are dead. (At my church we found 10!) This outer-most ring should be the easiest to clean up. At you church’s next meeting for conducting business, put these names before the congregation with a motion to remove them from membership in the following meeting. Don’t ask the congregation to immediately remove these names, but give them time to think about the motion.
2) Members whom you cannot find. Probably the next easiest group to remove. Two women in our church hunted for seventy members for six months in vain! These names were then put before the congregation asking for help. When all efforts were exhausted, a motion was put to the congregation to remove them.
3) Absent and disinterested members. Our church had dozens of members who we found but who wanted nothing to do with us. We found one woman in Germany who had become a Unitarian and was upset that we contacted her.
4) Members out of the area. These are people who are unable to attend on a regular basis due to distance, and any meaningful accountability is near-impossible. You will no doubt encounter people who have a wrong understanding of membership in this group: "I’ve held my membership in that church since I sang in the Junior Choir in 1959" or "I walked the aisle in that church in 1970, and I promised my mother I would remain a faithful member." Despite their emotional attachment to your church, this group needs to be taught a right understanding of church membership. Remember pastor, you will give an account for these individuals. Don’t be caught with names on your rolls of people whom you have never met. Make a motion to remove these individuals "for non-attendance" at your next business meeting.
5) Non-attending members in the area. Certainly we’ve reached one of the toughest circles. These people want to maintain their membership and they can attend; but they want little to do with the church. This circle is often difficult because of the relationships these individuals maintain with attending members. Maybe it’s a grown child or an old friend from the choir. Again, teaching is required and movement must be slow.
These first five categories are the biggest and most obvious targets. There are other categories like "attends, but won’t sign the statement of faith" or "in the area, but cannot attend." Old age or an infirmity might prevent a member from attending; they should not be dismissed, but specially cared for! Also, we encourage special charity toward elderly members who have moved out of the area and into retirement homes. Why? They often grew up with a different understanding of church membership and are unlikely to change. Out of love, consider allowing them to remain on the rolls.
Once again, out of love for your people, do not clean the roles more quickly than your congregation can handle. For some, this may take years to work through the different rings. Churches are too often divided over careless pastoral exercises when the goal should be unity. Remember, each listing on your roll is more than a name; it’s a soul.
Mark Dever
1) Christ’s name and honor is at stake in the world. Think about the Apostle Paul’s passionate concern for who was associated with the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 5).
2) Membership in a church should reflect, as best as possible, membership in Christ’s Kingdom. We should neither receive nor dismiss members lightly. "Dropping someone from the rolls" should be treated with utmost care, even if the member himself has been careless.
3) Pastors, elders, and leaders will "give an account" to God someday for their shepherding (Heb. 13:17). God took Israel’s shepherds to task for repeated unfaithfulness (e.g. Ezek. 34).
4) Congregations will also give an account to God for how they receive members. Consider who Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 5!
5) Less mature Christians are at risk of being confused about the importance of the church in the growing Christian’s life and could be led toward complacency themselves.
6) The member who has moved out of the area should be encouraged to link arms with a church in his new hometown and make himself known to believers there. If he does not, his former church should encourage him to do so by letter or phone. If he remains unresponsive, the church should inform him that they will remove his name in the next members’ meeting, thereby sending the message that they can no longer account for his life.
How should churches clean up their membership roles?
If you tackle all the problematic membership cases at once, you will run into fire. But it’s difficult to predict where. Will your members be happy to remove local non-attenders? Out-of-the-area members? The dead? Pastor, be wise and only do what your people can tolerate. Be patient and teach until they are ready to move.
So where do you start? Picture multiple concentric circles (like a dartboard) with the center (the bull’s-eye) representing meaningful membership. The outer rings represent meaningless membership, and hopefully they are easiest to clean up. As you move from the outer rings to the bull’s-eye, your membership rolls should increasingly consist of confessing believers who are actively involved in your church. Let’s start from the outside and work in:
1) Members who are dead. (At my church we found 10!) This outer-most ring should be the easiest to clean up. At you church’s next meeting for conducting business, put these names before the congregation with a motion to remove them from membership in the following meeting. Don’t ask the congregation to immediately remove these names, but give them time to think about the motion.
2) Members whom you cannot find. Probably the next easiest group to remove. Two women in our church hunted for seventy members for six months in vain! These names were then put before the congregation asking for help. When all efforts were exhausted, a motion was put to the congregation to remove them.
3) Absent and disinterested members. Our church had dozens of members who we found but who wanted nothing to do with us. We found one woman in Germany who had become a Unitarian and was upset that we contacted her.
4) Members out of the area. These are people who are unable to attend on a regular basis due to distance, and any meaningful accountability is near-impossible. You will no doubt encounter people who have a wrong understanding of membership in this group: "I’ve held my membership in that church since I sang in the Junior Choir in 1959" or "I walked the aisle in that church in 1970, and I promised my mother I would remain a faithful member." Despite their emotional attachment to your church, this group needs to be taught a right understanding of church membership. Remember pastor, you will give an account for these individuals. Don’t be caught with names on your rolls of people whom you have never met. Make a motion to remove these individuals "for non-attendance" at your next business meeting.
5) Non-attending members in the area. Certainly we’ve reached one of the toughest circles. These people want to maintain their membership and they can attend; but they want little to do with the church. This circle is often difficult because of the relationships these individuals maintain with attending members. Maybe it’s a grown child or an old friend from the choir. Again, teaching is required and movement must be slow.
These first five categories are the biggest and most obvious targets. There are other categories like "attends, but won’t sign the statement of faith" or "in the area, but cannot attend." Old age or an infirmity might prevent a member from attending; they should not be dismissed, but specially cared for! Also, we encourage special charity toward elderly members who have moved out of the area and into retirement homes. Why? They often grew up with a different understanding of church membership and are unlikely to change. Out of love, consider allowing them to remain on the rolls.
Once again, out of love for your people, do not clean the roles more quickly than your congregation can handle. For some, this may take years to work through the different rings. Churches are too often divided over careless pastoral exercises when the goal should be unity. Remember, each listing on your roll is more than a name; it’s a soul.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Lack of Assurance of Salvation
Why do some Christians lack assurance of salvation?
1. Some feel they are too sinful to be saved and have difficulty in accepting forgiveness.
2. They don’t fully understand the Gospel and the saving work of Jesus.
3. They believe that only the sins forgiven are those sins they committed before salvation. Christ’s atonement paid for the sins- past, present and future, for all who believe.
4. Some can’t remember the exact moment and occasion they got saved. A decision for Christ has been over emphasized over a present reality of faith in Christ’s atoning work. The evidences of true faith [1 John] play second fiddle to a decision that may not have been real. Some believe they can be saved without true regeneration.
5. Because of the battle with the flesh, some doubt.
6. Some don’t see God in their trials, and miss the strong proof of assurance which is a tested faith.
7. Some lack assurance because of sin which robs them of their joy.
8. Some lack assurance because they are not genuinely saved.
1. Some feel they are too sinful to be saved and have difficulty in accepting forgiveness.
2. They don’t fully understand the Gospel and the saving work of Jesus.
3. They believe that only the sins forgiven are those sins they committed before salvation. Christ’s atonement paid for the sins- past, present and future, for all who believe.
4. Some can’t remember the exact moment and occasion they got saved. A decision for Christ has been over emphasized over a present reality of faith in Christ’s atoning work. The evidences of true faith [1 John] play second fiddle to a decision that may not have been real. Some believe they can be saved without true regeneration.
5. Because of the battle with the flesh, some doubt.
6. Some don’t see God in their trials, and miss the strong proof of assurance which is a tested faith.
7. Some lack assurance because of sin which robs them of their joy.
8. Some lack assurance because they are not genuinely saved.
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