Archive for May, 2007

A Few Thoughts on 1 Peter 4:19

Josh May 17th, 2007

1 Peter 4:19

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

If one reads through this epistle, they’ll notice the power-packed messages of enduring suffering, responding in love, and praising God for the circumstances a Christian may find himself in. In fact, this last verse of 1 Peter 4 we find a multitude of spiritual instructions knocking on the walls of exposition, dying to get out, be known,and applied to the life of the believer.

Therefore
First, we consider the conjunction Therefore. This implores us to consider the current words in the light of all of Peter’s aforementioned words. This illustrates the importance of considering a passage’s immediate and extended context for the purpose of properly understanding the thrust of the author’s current statement in all its many facets. The detriments to interpreting a passage divorced from its context are manifold (my list is hardly exhaustive):

1. Most of the time, especially in light of the fallibility of man’s heart, one will misintrepret and
2. This will result in misapplications, which gives light to adage “Ideas have consequences.”
3. One may gather little or none of all the richness which is to be found in the said passage.

Now, of what does this Therefore consist? I’m hardly qualified to give a thorough commentary which will give one a mastery of what Peter has said, thus I’ll briefly mention the basic theme running throughout his epistle. In chapter 1 (vs. 3-7) the Apostle reminds his readers about the wonderful salvation God has given them in Christ. This is to serve as a motivator to continue on in what I think is a major reason for Peter’s writing of this epistle: suffering and trials.

1 Peter 1:6-7

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Peter then enjoins (v. 13), with another therefore, the believers to “set [their] hope fully on the grace” of God, during these trials. He tells them to keep on truckin’ in areas of holiness, steadfastness, etc. especially during these hard times. There’s much more to the chapter of course, but we’re trying to deal in brevity. In chapter 2 (particularly 18-25) he touches again on suffering. More specifically he is beseeching Christians to understand that this is, not “might be”, a part of the Christian Life.

2 Timothy 3:12

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

Then, in chapter 3, Peter again mentions suffering for righteousness’ sake and declares that we should respond well to suffering and persecution becayse by doing so ”those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (v.16) This is called one practicing what he preaches…and it’s effective in showing one’s motives behind what they do. It gives creedence to the “defense [of the] reason for the hope that is in you” (v.15)

So considering what the therefore of our opening passage in 1 Peter 4:19 is pointing back to helps us to better appreciate the rest of that particular verse itself. We have seen a theme of suffering for Christ’s sake  throughout each chapter. Now we consider the particulars of 4:19

I. Let those who suffer according to God’s will…

Remember that suffering comes from the will of God. Consider Job, Joseph, David, etc. Now that being recognized Peter says:

II. Entrust their souls to a faithful Creator…

So, if suffering comes from the will of God (and it does), then we must know that it’s in some way, shape, or form good. Why? Because God is inherently good! So Christians are to be steadfast during hard circumstances knowing that all that befalls them is from the hand of a loving, kind, and good God.

III. While doing good.

Trials have a tendency to bring us to a state of paralysis. We become so focused and internalized on ourselved and our plight that we somehow think the world may stop turning for a moment, so that we can get a grip. But that’s not how it works. What does Peter say? Keep on doing good. When we’re overcome with sorrow, suffering, or persecution is also when we must, with all of our might, continue doing good to folks.

May it be so.

It’s a Roller Coaster Life, but God is a Promise Keeper

Josh May 15th, 2007

Life has its ups and its downs. Some people experience the fluctuation therein more, others experience it less. Whether it be just a shade of melancholy, or full-blown, paralyzing depression, I suppose all people have experienced it somewhat. Growing up, I heard a lot about depression, etc. and always had a difficult time understanding such a concept. I’ll be honest, in my high school years I cynically scoffed at the idea of depression. My thoughts were that people ought to “buck up” and get over their problems. Then, a few years later, I experienced my first real bout of depression.

It was unreal. Not only was it unreal, it was so unexpected. Not only was it unexpected, it was unfamiliar. I mean, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this happy guy named Josh was floored by….well, something he didn’t know. To this day, I can’t really put a finger on it. I wasn’t revelling in sin. I wasn’t in unrepentant rebellion toward God. No family members or close friends were dying or dead. Nonetheless, I was brought low. I got to the point where everything was done out of obligation. I wasn’t happy about anything. I remember many of my prayers, crying out to God to bring me through. I remember eating a few bites and being able to stomach no more.

Even now, I still don’t know what the cause of that time was. All I know is that I didn’t want to get out of bed, shower, socialize, __________ (fill in the blank with all the normal things I routinely did and even liked doing). Despite not understanding, I now know this: my lack of sympathy for those going through a tough time (and being unable to pinpoint its cause) was very presumptious and without knowledge. This bad time wasn’t without purpose. Number one, I knew that even though I didn’t understand what was going on, I had to trust God at all times in all things. I felt like the Psalmist who saw all his enemies closing in around him. He would cry out to God and not see His hand in all of this. Nonetheless, he would end the Psalm with hope, trust, and belief that the Almighty knew what He was doing.

He was very gracious to carry me through that period. God also taught me how to have sympathy and compassion on those who’re going through similar things. You know, even when people are experiencing rough times on earth because of their own sin, we ought to be burdened for them. Thus, when we go to confront them to repent, we may do so with a heart of love and mercy– versus a heart of condemnation and judgment that we’ve no right to have. Even still, there are those who experience these things which are not a cause of unrepentance, sad situations, etc.

It’s in these times that the Christian must especially hold fast to that which they know to be true from Scripture, lest they be fooled by their circumstance. That God is good all the time. That everything which happens in the saint’s life is furthering the purpose of God (which is a good purpose). That God is sanctifying us through even our sorrows. That his purpose is more important than our temporal comfort. You see, though I’ve not experienced again what I did eight years ago (an almost paralyzing depression from an unknown source), I have had my ups and downs. Sometimes I have a melancholy looming over me for a few hours. Sometimes, a few days. Other times there’s a great frowning providence sent via my own circumstances. And yet, because of the faith God has graciously given me, I cling to His promises. You know why? Because His promises are surer and more enduring than my finite experiences, good or bad.

Even today I have doubts and insecurities rearing their ugly heads. Nontheless:

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

-Psalm 62:5-7

Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

Just Some General Thoughts About Life

Josh May 10th, 2007

Well, God be praised! He has graciously brought me through a semester of full-time work, full-time school, parenting and various opportunities to teach and exhort at Texarkana Reformed Baptist. I had the awesome privilege of delivering a message to our congregation last evening at our weekly prayer meeting, and I hope and pray that my feeble comments upon the Scripture’s content were edifying to the saints. It has been a fast few months, and yet I’ve not felt this fulfilled in a long time. Lord willing, I’m just few semesters away from attaining a degree.

I’d ask for you, my readers, (if you’re so inclined) to pray for me on several fronts. First, that I’d be faithful in the daily graces God has given for our sanctification: Prayer, Scripture Reading, Mortification of Sin. Secondly, pray that I’d be a godly father to my daughter, teaching her the statutes of the Lord so that her heart might be pierced and brought to saving faith (if it’s not already arrived). I also ask that you would be in prayer for me concerning that of the pastoral office.

Ever since my 9th grade year in school, I’ve had an unceasing desire to read, know, love, and teach the Scriptures. When looking toward the future, I’ve never been able to envision myself doing anything else as a “career”. Now I’m not a charismatic, nor am I mystical in the way I decide what is or what is not from God. I love the Word of God, and I judge the circumstances of my life and the righ reactions thereunto by measuring them up against His precepts. My desire or inability to see myself doing anything else in life by no means is indicative of God’s call in my life to be a minister of His Word.

The Scriptures teach that it’s a noble thing for one to seek the office of an elder, but just because a man seeks it doesn’t mean it is to be so. Certain qualifications have to be met, of course. So please pray that these things would be solidified in my life. Please pray that as God gives opportunities for me to teach/preach/exhort via the context of my local church, that my elders and those in the congregation would be objectively examining my gifts (or lackthereof). This would be a great help for me. Thanks so much.

The temperature tonight was perfect outside. I’ve recently returned to a more consistent time of running and tonight has been my best run thus far. I’ve ran on and off for most of the year, but this last week has been the best insofar as frequency and consistency go. I praise God for the good time I had this evening while running by getting to enjoy His creation.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord. He is good to me.

The Refreshing Nature of the Old Testament

Josh May 2nd, 2007

Though I’ve read particular Old Testament (OT) books many times over, I can probably count on one hand the times I’ve read consecutively from Genesis to Malachi. In the few years since God so graciously moved me to the theology of the Reformers and Puritans of old I must say that reading the Old Testament has been, in fact, new. In retrospect of my pre-Reforming days I confess shock and shame at the apparent flippancy and carelessness with which I read and interpreted the OT Scriptures.

I’m certain that most of my spurious OT reading habits and hermeneutic were a product of the semi-Dispensational lens through which I viewed God’s Word. I say semi because I was never much exposed to the term Dispensationalism, much less did I know what it meant in the scheme of hermeneutics and systematic theology. like most growing up in the typical, inconsistent-Arminian (Only holding to the “P” in T.U.L.I.P.) Southern Baptist environment, it was my understanding that to be a Bible-believing, conservative Christian was to believe that ethnic Jews were God’s Chosen People, but because of their rejection of Christ as Messiah, they’ve been put temporarily on hold (as a Nation, that is). Someday though, I believed and was taught to believe, God is going to go back and make His people (as a Nation) right again.

Flowing from this idea, then, there has to be a distinction made between Israel and the Church. Thus, necessitating a secret rapture in which the Church is taken out of this world, follwed by a time of great tribulation for those who’ve been left behind. This will result in the conversion of the Jews back to God, but in a proper sense where they now recognize Jesus as Messiah. While the rest of the world, including saved Gentiles and Jews, suffers this time of seemingly unbearable tribulation, the Church, having been raptured, is already in paradise, enjoying all the good tastes of eternity.

Now, this post is not intended to be a synopsis of the Dispensational hermeneutic. It’s not really even to give a direct critique thereof. I just wanted to briefly mention it to show how my past interpretation of God’s Word, particularly the Old Testament, was colored and determined by the the whole fallacious Church/Israel distinction as set forth by the Dispensational ideology. With this erroneous understanding came a failure to see and appreciate the continuity and parallels between the Old and New Testaments. Because of this, quite a bit of richness and instruction for my very own sanctifiation were glossd over. If all of Scripture points to Christ (and it does!), then more than I care to admit was missed in my earlier readings of God’s Word.

I’m unable to pinpoint a time, but I’d say I’ve believed in the Doctrines of Grace (T.U.L.I.P.) for about five years now. I’ve been rid of my semi-dispensationalism for close to three and a half years. This process, I’d say, has immensely transformed the grid through which I now read the OT Scriptures or, for that matter, the whole Bible. In my non reforming days, little emphasis was placed on the types and shadows of the OT which pointed to Christ. Sure, there were lots of moral stories that could be identified and applied from the recounts of David and Goliath, Joseph, Moses and the Children of Israel; but there was little understanding as to what in these books were pointing the overarching Object of Faith in all of Scripture: the Lord Jesus Christ.

This year, I’ve been going through the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan, and I heartily recommend it. It’s invaluable to have a consistent reading plan by which one can get the bigger picture of Scripture. That’s not to say you can’t read the Scriptures in other ways. Anyway, it is a hermeneutical epiphany when one first reads through the OT from the Reformed Worldview. Considering Adam, the Fall, and the promise made in Genesis 3:15 takes on such a richer and more meaningful role. It is in this first preaching of the Gospel that we see God’s plan is from beginning to end, and is not due for interruption. All of the situations and circumstances which appear to be quirks, are really just the intricate works of God’s decree being executed. All that to say this: I am thankful for God’s Word. I am thankful that God has one plan, and it’s the one He’s carrying out. It’s the one that will not fail. It’s the one that has no hiccups, interruptions, and that cannot, nor will not be thwarted. Read your Bible.

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