One of the most common conversations in our house is how we need to take care of our stuff. Everything we have is a blessing from God, and how we take care of it is important. I’m sure the kids could quote this conversation word-for-word. To be fair, my parents had this same conversation with me more times than I can remember as well. It’s not always intentional, but we tend to take our things for granted. I am more and more convinced that one place this happens more than we think is within the church. It’s not specifically about the stuff, but rather it is the witness of the church. My heart breaks when I get on social media, and I see the way that we as Christians often behave. What we need to realize is that God’s Word has a lot to say about our unity and our conversation. One place is today’s text. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

While many people want to take this as a reference to an individual Christian, Paul is using it more corporately here. He is talking about the church as a whole. The Corinthian church had a lot of problems. Their biggest problem was their pridefulness which lead to bitterness, anger, and division. It is bad enough when a church is walking in division and its members know it. However, what is worse is when it spills out into the surrounding community. More than giving a church a bad reputation, it defames the Gospel and the name of God. This is why Paul is using such strong language to the Corinthians. Paul isn’t saying that Christians will be condemned to hell. Rather, he is speaking of God’s discipline coming down on the church that walks in division. Sadly, in today’s world, the greatest threat to the church is not from outside of the church. Rather, the greatest threat is from inside the church. Paul opens chapter 3 talking about how they are living carnally, that is to say, they are living like they aren’t saved. Christians having division amongst themselves is essentially telling the world that God is not powerful enough to heal hurts, and help people forgive one another. No Christian would say anything like that, but this is another reminder that actions speak louder than words. What is the answer for division in the church?

1. Examine your life. The first place to start is by asking God to reveal your heart to you. Let Him examine you, and see your part in the discord. This can be painful. It is easier to point fingers at others. Yet, we can’t control others. Therefore, it is necessary for us to look in the mirror and allow God to start with the person staring back at us in the mirror.
2. Pray for the church. No church is perfect. This is why prayer is so vital for a church. We need God’s vision for the church, not our own personal preferences. The overwhelming majority of fights and disagreements in a church stem from personal preferences, not doctrinal differences. Therefore, I would encourage us all to take time to pray for our church every day. Billy Graham said, “You cannot hate someone and pray for them at the same time.”
3. Forgive one another. One of the greatest reasons for discord in a church is unresolved hurt. While it may be easier to carry around a grudge, the only person it weighs down is you. We must remember that the standard of forgiveness is Christ’s forgiveness of us. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind, tenderhearted to one another. Forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” This goes back to number two, praying for one another. Unfortunately, people getting hurt is inevitable in the church. Not because someone is setting out to hurt you, but because the church is made up of sinners who have been saved by God’s grace, but still have a sin nature. Truthfully, church-hurt is some of the hardest hurt to get over. It is like a member of your family hurting you. However, the first step in beginning to allow God to heal you from the hurt is forgiving the person who caused the hurt. Regardless of whether or not they apologize. Regardless of whether they ever admit they were wrong. The responsibility to forgive is on the one hurt, not the one who caused the hurt.

Are you carrying around a heavy burden of something that happened to you? Are you struggling to forgive the person? Pray about it, ask God to hep you heal from the hurt. While you are at it, pray for the person who hurt you. There is a lot of discussion on who said this first, but I first heard it from Diana, and no matter who came up with it, it is a good statement. She said, “hurting people hurt people.” Most of the time there is a reason behind what led to you getting hurt. So, pray for the person that God would help heal whatever maybe causing them hurt. Then, go ahead and pray for the rest of your church as well. You never know the damage that can be caused by division until it is too late. Likewise, you never know the impact that God will have on you and your church until you allow Him to heal you, re-focus you, and work through you.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

There is no doubt that when Jesus came He turned everything upside down. The way the Jewish culture was used to living and worshipping were challenged. Of course, anytime you try to change something, you inevitably ruffle feathers. Jesus wasn’t changing things just for the sake of changing them. He was trying to make them the way they should have been from the beginning. One of the biggest changes that Jesus made was who He used. In Jesus’ day, the priesthood had changed from the lineage of Aaron, it went essentially to the highest bidder. However, we can look back into the Old Testament and see that God uses the least likely. It was never about power, influence, or control. God used who He desired for His pleasure to do His will. Unfortunately, that had been lost by the time Jesus arrives on the scene. Even more sad, is the fact that we are still operating on the wrong systems today. Who has the most influence in our society? The rich and famous. Who gets into politics and dictates policy for us? The rich do. There used to be a tv show called Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Power, influence, and control have always gone to those who could afford it. There has never been a show called, Lifestyles of the Poor and Ordinary, has there? This is even something that has invaded churches today. Churches are often centered around a charismatic preacher or decisions are made by those who contribute the larger sums to the ministry. May we look into and listen to what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians church in 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”

A lot of people often talk about the church of the Laodiceans as the worst church in the New Testament. Jesus says in Revelation 3, that the Laodiceans were lukewarm. It is absolutely true that the Laodicean church had problems. Yet, I would argue that it was the Corinthian church that was the most dysfunctional in the New Testament. Sadly, I would argue that too many churches today mirror the Corinthian church. In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul calls the church out for its divisions and fighting. It was an issue of pride for the Corinthians. They felt that who taught them, who baptized them, or what spiritual gift they had made them superior to others in the church. Yet, Paul says that God hasn’t chosen the rich, the famous, the most charismatic, or the most talented. Instead, God chooses to use the least likely among us. Paul says that God does this so that no one can glory in themselves. Without using the word, Paul is telling the Corinthians that they need to be humble. James says that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The Corinthians had the problems they had, because it was all about them, and not about God. How do we not fall into that same trap in churches today?

1. Value each member equally. Genesis 1:27 says that God has made us in His image. This means that every person is made in the image of God. While there are two sexes (male and female), and we each have different callings and responsibilities, we are all equally valuable in God’s eyes. Every member, regardless of how they serve, is needed and necessary for the church. Paul gets at this later in 1 Corinthians about how every one has a role to play, and as each member does their part, the body is built up.
2. Celebrate the ordinary. We so often look for the big and the flashy. We want the biggest events that will draw the biggest crowds. However, the way that God can be seen and glorified the most is in the everyday, mundane tasks that we do to the best of our ability and all for the glory of God. It’s not about the size of a church, it is about the heart of a church.
3. Focus on God and His glory. Jesus is the head, the church is the body Paul would say. We exist because of God. We move and function the way we do because of God. Our calling is not to have people be impressed with how good we are, but instead be impressed with how great God is.
4. Judge ourselves. We are so quick to judge others, and point out sin in their life. Yet, we are not as quick to judge ourselves. One of the first things we need to do is to ask the Lord to point out the sin in our life. Am I being prideful? Am I doing things to get a pat on the back or to get noticed? Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11 that if we judged ourselves, God wouldn’t have to. His point is that if we examined our own lives the way we should, God wouldn’t have to discipline us for sin as much, because we would see it and confess it.

Jesus turned everything upside down, because He returned it to the way it was supposed to be. May He do it again, so that the world would again see Jesus living and moving within His church for His glory.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

I wonder if anyone was like me in school? The teacher would ask a question, I would know the answer, but I didn’t want to raise my hand out of fear of being thought of as a know-it-all. I wasn’t a know-it-all by any means, but we all remember middle school and high school days, and how kids could be. I think a lot of the time, we never outgrow that fear of being ridiculed. One area that I think this happens a lot is with Christians and talking about their faith. Many are scared into silence, not because of ridicule, but by their own minds. They are afraid to share the Gospel or share biblical truth, because they are afraid that someone will ask them a question that they don’t know the answer to. Therefore, they remain silent. For what it is worth, I get the fear of being ridiculed or being asked a question that I can’t adequately answer. However, God has shown me over the years, that when someone asks a question that I can’t readily answer, that is Him showing them grace by giving me a second opportunity to go talk with them. All I have to do is be honest and say that I’m not sure, but I will find out. Then, actually go and find out. This gives a great opportunity to talk with them a second time. So, as we begin this day’s post I want to encourage you to not be afraid. We can learn from the example of Apollos in Acts 18. Acts 18:25-26 says, “This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria Acts 18 tells us. Being Jewish, he would have been very familiar with what we call the Old Testament, though it would have been the Bible of their day. It is clear that the Holy Spirit was using Apollos to teach people about Jesus. Apollos didn’t know everything, but what he did know, he shared with others. This is part of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. What God gives us isn’t just for us, it is meant to be shared with others. Another lesson that we can see from this is Apollos’ teachable spirit. He could have become defensive when Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and wanted to teach him more. However, he readily soaks up what they are teaching him. Maybe you are wondering who taught Aquila and Priscilla. The answer to that is the apostle Paul. Therefore, we see disciple-making occurring here the way that God intended for it to. Paul invested in Aquila and Priscilla, and in turn they invested in Apollos. Apollos embodied the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” The result of Apollos’ willingness to learn is that he learned even more about Jesus from the Old Testament, and this allowed him to reason with the Jews even better. But what does this have to do with you and I?

I would say the biggest take-away this morning is this, don’t be afraid to share what you know. As long as you are depending on the Holy Spirit to teach you, and to speak through you, God will be glorified when you testify about Him to others. Don’t get caught up in what you don’t know. Instead, share what you do know. Second, be humble and hungry. We all need to be humble enough to admit that we don’t know everything there is to know about the Bible. This should drive our hunger to learn more through personal study, but also willingly sitting up under faithful, biblical teaching. Finally, be bold in sharing. I love where it says that Apollos spoke boldly in the synagogue. Our society will not always like what we have to say, but we still need to say it. Paul said in Ephesians 4:15, “speak the truth in love.” Yes, we need to be loving and compassionate towards those who are far from God. However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t speak the truth. As Jesus said in John 8, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” This world needs to be free from the bondage of slavery to sin, and only Jesus can set them free. Therefore, this world needs Jesus. We, as the church have been called, commanded, and commissioned to share that message. Therefore, let’s take what we know, and share it with the world, and then trust God will do what only God can do.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is when I have to discipline one of my four children. I love them, and I don’t want to cause them any stress. I don’t want them to ever doubt my love for them. Yet, as a parent, part of my responsibility is to discipline my children when they are going down the wrong path. The key is the motivation behind the discipline. If I am reacting because I am mad, upset, or disappointed, the discipline will come across one way. However, if I have my emotions under control, the discipline will come across entirely differently. Let’s just be honest, that is a lot easier said than done sometimes. We discipline as parents, because our heavenly Father disciplines us as His children (see Prov. 3:11-12). Discipline is part of accountability. The apostle Paul shows us this in 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 when he writes, “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

Paul gives the motivation or the intention in the end of verse 15, “count him as a brother.” The need for the accountability is that a person who says they are a Christian is not living as though they are a Christian. When this occurs, it is up to the body of Christ to love this person enough to hold them accountable. As I have written here previously, accountability is something that we typically say that we need, yet seldom do we ever want it. By the way, Paul isn’t saying the first time a brother or sister sins, we cut them off. It is only after we have prayed about it, spoken to them in private, given them time to correct the behavior, and even take a couple of people with us the second time if necessary. The two extremes that tend to happen when it comes to discipline are these: we are either too quick to “drop the hammer” or we refuse to hold someone accountable. Here are the keys to loving accountability as I see them in Scripture: it must be done in love, it must be done slowly yet deliberately, we must be diligent about applying the same standard to all Christians, and we must do it with compassion. Our ultimate goal with discipline is restoration. If we love each other, we will do this the right way, with every one, every time.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

Do you have a green thumb? My parents absolutely do. They ran a successful greenhouse for years in Roanoke. I, however, have a very brown thumb. I’m pretty sure that if it was possible to kill a fake plant, I could find a way to. To successfully grow things, it takes some knowledge, some time, some patience; all things that I seem to lack. I have always heard the statement, “healthy things grow.” While I agree with the premise of that statement, we have to be careful about the application of that statement, especially in certain areas. I hear that statement most often at church growth events. However, there is one area that we should absolutely be growing in as a disciple of Jesus. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are all in Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more.”

The apostle Paul is writing a church that he planted on a missionary journey. The city of Thessalonica is interesting, because while some embraced Paul and the Gospel, many hated him and ran him out of town. Yet, even though he was emotionally hurt by the behavior, he is writing this letter to a church that he loved. In this, Paul is teaching us a valuable lesson, we need to do what we know we are supposed to do regardless of what others do. Paul is living out what he is writing to the Thessalonians. They had a reputation of loving each other, which Paul praises. He says that they learned to love from God. The Gospel teaches us to love, because it comes from a God who loves. However, Paul also encourages them to grow in their love for one another and for others around them. Love is something that takes times to grow. I have been married for 15 years to Diana. While I knew I loved her on our wedding day, I can honestly say that I love her even more now. Why? Because I have gotten to spend more time with her, and I have gotten to know her more. Here in lies the key, the more time we spend with God, the more we will grow in the things of God, especially our love for the church and for others. If I am praying and reading the Bible to know God, and to become more like Him daily through obedience, then I am going to naturally reflect Him to those around me. Therefore, the answer to a lack of love is not to try harder, but to spend more time with God. The more I learn of Him, the more I will show Him to those around me. Is your love for God and others evident to those around you? Are you growing in your love towards others? If not, spend some time talking with God, and then learning more about Him. Then, ask God to help you go out and emulate what you have read about Him.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

Everything you say or do is a reflection on multiple people. It is a reflection on you and your parents. If you are a Christian, your words and actions are a reflection on Jesus. This is why we as Christians must be very careful about how we live. In today’s text, Paul is writing to the Thessalonian Christians. They were living in a hostile environment. They received persecution from both the Jews and the Gentiles in the city. Paul was constantly encouraging them to watch how they lived, and to follow the example that they saw in him. As he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:12, “That you walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” Paul knew the power of a strong witness in our life. After all, the disciples were unsure of Paul at first, because of his reputation. Early in the book of Acts, we see Saul (aka Paul) persecuting the church. He even got letters from the authorities to go to other cities, round up Christians, and throw them in jail or worse. Therefore, when they first heard that Paul had become a Christian, they were very leery. But Paul had seen God use his life as a positive witness as well. This is why Paul constantly wrote to the Christians to watch how they lived and spoke. I think Paul’s words to the Thessalonians are important for Christians today.

We live in a hostile environment. Year after year, our culture is becoming more and more hostile towards the message of the Gospel. This shouldn’t surprise us because Jesus said it would happen, and Paul wrote why it happens in 1 Corinthians 1:18 and 1 Corinthians 2:14. The bottom line is this, the message of the Gospel sounds foolish to those who are unsaved. While we may not think of open hostility towards the Gospel as a good thing, I believe that it is. I believe that it is because it helps clearly define our mission field. One of the key points in our verse today I believe is Paul saying that God has called us to His kingdom. We must think, speak, and act like kingdom of God citizens. That means that we cannot be busy trying to build our own kingdom, but we should also not be trying to jockey for position in kingdoms of this world. Everything we say and do should be done with the mindset, how can I honor God in this? The other area that I believe we need to be very conscious about is on social media. Social media can be used for good reasons. You can keep up with family members who may live in another state. You can get some updates on events near you. You can absolutely share the Gospel, prayers, Bible verses, and even invite people to a church service through social media. Yet, more and more, social media is becoming a place where people do nothing but bicker and tear one another down. Social media in many ways has caused many to lose the art of a conversation. We have lost the ability to listen first and speak second, especially amongst those we disagree with. The Bible has much to say on the use of our words, how we treat each other, and what our words say about our relationship with God. Before we try to blame social media, we must understand that social media is amoral, that is, it is neither inherently good nor inherently evil. It is how people use it that it can be used for good or evil. It goes back to what James said in James 3, we can either use our words to bless others or curse them. For the Christian, the choice is very simple, we are to bless and encourage others with our words. How is your walk with God in front of this hostile culture? Is your life pointing others to Jesus and the Gospel? As the hymn says, “Let others see Jesus in you.”

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

Have you ever seen something grow despite obvious challenges to growth? I have to be honest, for the longest time, the grass in our driveway grew better than some of the grass in our yard. No matter what we did or sprayed, the grass would grow in the driveway. It just didn’t make sense, yet the growth was undeniable. I imagine that throughout history people have had similar thoughts about church growth. How did the church grow in the first century with all the persecution that happened? How did it continue to grow despite all the obstacles and opposition? How does the church grow today when there are so many other things that vie for the attention of people? There is one undeniable able to that question. The answer is, the Word of God. Specifically, it is the Spirit of God using the Word of God proclaimed faithfully to grow the church of God. It has nothing to do with great theologians, charismatic pastors, flashy programs or worship services. The church grows as God intended for it by the Spirit of God using the Word of God proclaimed faithfully. In Acts 17:11-12 we read, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that the received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.” Everywhere Paul and his ministry companions went they faced intense opposition. They were run out of city after city, yet the church kept growing. Why? Because Paul taught the Scriptures to the people, and the Spirit of God used it to convert sinners and make them into disciples. There are a few lessons that I think we in the modern-day church could learn from this.

1. Be faithful in teaching the whole counsel of God. This first encouragement is for the pastors and Bible teachers. I know it is difficult to teach everything, because so many things have become hot button topics these days. I know we all have issues or topics that we like, and we enjoy teaching on them. However, only preaching “relevant” topics or our getting up on our favorite “hobby horse” issues is like a diet that consists of a meat, bread, and junk food. If you eat that stuff you will grow, but not in the right ways. You will grow, but you will be unhealthy. We need a well-balanced diet if we want to grow the right way and be healthy. The same is true for the church. She needs the full counsel of the Word of God taught to her, even those tough topics we don’t like to teach on. If it is in the Bible, it is inspired by God and good for the Christian.
2. Be a student of the Bible. This is not just for pastors, this is for all Christians. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 to be “study to show yourself approved, a workman of God that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” If you want to grow in your walk with God, there are no shortcuts. It is only by persistent prayer and diligent study of the Bible.
3. Expect opposition. I can’t remember who said it, but they said, “every place God builds a church, Satan builds a synagogue on the other street corner.” Just remember, anything worth building is worth working for. So, labor well in Christ’s power.
4. Trust God for the results. At the end of the day, you can be diligent in study, persistent in prayer but still struggle to see growth. However, I thought about what happened here in Virginia a couple of weeks ago. It was a bright, what should have been a sunny day; yet, it was hazy outside. The haziness was the result of the California wildfires. Think about that, our sky was affected by something happening 3,000 miles away. My point is, you don’t always see immediate results. However, as you are faithful over time, one day you will wake up and see things that you had been praying for, maybe for years. But even if things don’t grow the way you desire, trust that God is still on His throne and knows what He is doing. It is His will that we want to see, not our own.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

Have you ever been the recipient of an empty gesture, such as when someone gives you a gift because you gave them one? Or someone just give you flattering words, but you could tell by their tone of voice it was insincere? For those who are trying to earn their way to heaven through their good works, it is an empty gesture toward God. It means nothing, and it will bear nothing good in the end. The apostle Paul says in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”

Whether we are obeying the Law or not obeying the Law, it doesn’t commend us or condemn us before God. Because we are sinners, we stand condemned by God (Rom. 3:23, 5:12). Our way to be made right with God isn’t found in what we do. Rather it is found in trusting in what Jesus has already done for us. Paul is telling the Galatians that it is faith that saves. However, it is a certain type of faith which saves. It is not simply someone who says “I believe” a certain set of beliefs. A saving faith is a faith that not only says “I believe”, but it also demonstrates that faith in how it behaves. A faith that saves has works (see Eph. 2:8-10). Not only does a genuine faith demonstrate itself through works, but it is motivated by love. It is a love that is first centered on Jesus. The greatest command is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37). As I am loving God rightly, then it will show itself in how I love others. This is why Jesus said the second greatest command is like the first, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:39). Just as people can tell if you are simply going through the motions with them, God knows our hearts and our motivation. We will not be able to fool God by faking it until we make it. I would even suggest that many people feel unfulfilled in their walk with Christ, not because Christ isn’t enough, but because they are focusing on doing right instead of being right in their heart. Let this be a gut check, or in this case, a heart check for each of us. Why do we do the things we do? Are we walking by faith, doing what God has called us to do because we love God and others, and we desire to see Him glorified, or is there some other motivation? Spend time in reflection and prayer today, asking God to reveal your heart to you. Then respond accordingly to what He reveals.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

Have you ever felt like you worked hard for something, or worked to help someone but it wasn’t appreciated? What about working hard for a promotion, going through the process of making sacrifices trying to show your boss that you are worthy of that promotion, only to not get the promotion? In those times it can feel like you did all of that for nothing. We know it wasn’t for nothing, but in that moment, that is how it feels. I imagine that is how a lot of people feel who are trying to work their way to heaven. They try and try to live a “good” life, and to do the right things. For a while, they are successful, but it seems like somewhere along the way they fall back into those old sinful patterns. The apostle Paul, in writing to the churches in Galatia, has some words for you if you are feeling this way today. Galatians 2:21 says, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died in vain.”

The churches in Galatia started off strong, but some false teachers had moved in and were causing havoc in the churches. These false teachers, like Satan in the Garden of Eden, perverted the Gospel and caused many to suffer for it. Just like Satan, these false teachers didn’t outright deny what God had taught, they simply “tweaked” it. The problem is, a half truth is a still a full lie. The false teachers in Galatia had come in and they were teaching that you needed faith in Jesus, but that you also had to keep the Law in order to be saved. This is a faith+ belief. Unfortunately, this false teaching is alive and well in the American church today just as it was in Paul’s day in Galatia. Why is a works-based salvation so appealing to many? Because it makes sense to us, it lines up with what we are taught from a very young age. We are taught to depend on no one but ourselves, to pull ourselves up by the boot straps, or if you want it to go get it. All of these things make sense to us, because this is what we are taught in society, and unfortunately many times in our homes as well. Paul’s point in our text is that if we could save ourselves by what we do, then Jesus died for nothing. If salvation is by our works, then there was no purpose in Jesus coming to the earth, and there would be no purpose in God putting His Son through the agony of the crucifixion. However, God doesn’t do something for no reason. Even though we may not always see it or understand it, there is a plan and a purpose behind everything. Jesus had to come to the earth and lay His life down at the cross, because there was no other way that sinful man could be made right with God without that sacrifice. Yes, we are to do good works. However, we do good works because God created us and called us to do them (see Eph. 2:10), but also as a way to show our gratefulness for God saving us. Put another way, we don’t do good works in order to be saved; instead, we do good works because we have been saved. Are you living in such a way that devalues Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross? Are you trying to work your way to heaven? Just remember this, Jesus didn’t die for no reason. He died because there is no other way for us to go to heaven. Therefore, surrender your heart and life to Him, trusting in the finished sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to save us. Then, go out and do good works to glorify God and as a way to say “thank you” for saving a sinner like me.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin

Have you ever wanted to break a bad habit, but struggled doing so? It is amazing how easy it is to start something and how hard it can be to stop it. Many times it goes directly to our motives for doing it or wanting to stop it. Is it a genuine desire to stop or do we want to stop because we know we should? The same can be said for the beliefs that we hold. Sometimes we will learn something from a trusted teacher, friend, or family member and we will have a hard time letting it go, even in the face of knowing it isn’t correct. We see this happen in the early church as well. There were some Jewish people who became disciples of Jesus. However, they had a difficult time letting go of their past. We read it in Acts 15:5, “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.'”

It hadn’t been that many years since Jesus’ earthly ministry, yet we see early struggles emerging in the early church. Jesus had set them free from the Law, because He fulfilled the Law (see Mt. 5:17), yet they wanted to run back to the familiar. This is the same pull we feel as we are trying to make changes in our lives as well. For the Jewish people here, the Law of Moses was deeply revered. While you and I may not understand the pull it had over them, we need to understand that they grew up with the Law. For their entire lives they were taught that a person who is loved by God is someone who follows the Law. Now, here is a former religious leader in Paul coming in and saying that we are saved by grace, not because of the Law. While their head was able to hear it, their hearts struggled to let go of the only belief system they had ever known. This is at least the second time that there was a potential split brewing in the early church. Yet, we see the Holy Spirit work through the leaders in Jerusalem to come together, and in unity find the truth. Once again we see the power of humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit to guide the church in truth.

The lesson for us in this text is a dependence upon the Holy Spirit to guide our daily walk, and the need to study the Bible. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to guide the child of God for the glory of God. Before we commit to a belief or a system of beliefs, we need to be intentional about praying, and studying what the Bible says about the topic. This is also a good time to remember that Proverbs 11 says that there is “safety in a multitude of counselors.” As you get alone with the Bible, and pray for wisdom and understanding, it is then good to go and talk with other believers about what you are learning. God can use other believers to either show that you are on the right track or that you have erred in understanding. This is another reason why discipleship matters so much for a Christian. Too many Christians are trying to figure it out on their own, and unfortunately Satan can come in and really mess things up in our minds and with our beliefs. This is also another reason why we should be faithful in our church attendance. The more systems of accountability and exposing ourselves to genuine Bible teaching, the better off we will be in the long run. Who do you have in your life that can speak into your life to encourage you where needed or to challenge you when necessary? Who are you learning the Bible from, and are you sharing what you are learning with others? These are all marks of a maturing Christian. Yes, old habits die hard, but God can make sure they die if you will trust Him and follow Him.

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin