Tuesday, November 29, 2011

ARE WE STILL UNDER THE LAW? by Timothy Keller

Even though Christians believe that all of Scripture is authoritative, the coming of Christ fulfilled many of the Old Testament laws in such a way that they no longer bear on believers directly.  One clear example of this is how the New Testament tells believers to regard the "ceremonial" laws of Moses.  The numerous "clean laws" of Israel touching diet, dress, and other forms of ceremonial purity, as well as the entire sacrificial system and temple worship ordinances, are no longer considered binding on Christians, because Christ came and fulfilled them.  In the New Testament book of Hebrews, we are told that Jesus is the final Sacrifice and the ultimate Priest, and so believers must no longer offer up animal sacrifices.  Nor, as Jesus taught (Mark 7:17-23), do Christans have to obey the clean laws that determined if a worshipper was ceremonially clean and qualified for worship.  Why not?  It was because Christ's atoning sacrifice brings us the reality to which the sacrifices pointed, and in Christ believers are permanently made "clean" and acceptable in God's sight. 

Nevertheless, as Biblical scholar Craig Blomberg points out, 'Ever command [from the Old Testament] reflects principles at some level that are binding on Christians (2 Timothy 3:16).'  That is, even the parts of the Old Testament that are now fulfilled in Christ still have some abinding validity.  For example, the principle of offering God sacrifices stills remains in force, though changed by Christ's work.  We are now required to offer God our entire lives as sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2), as well as the sacrifices of worship to God and the sharing of our resources with others (Hebrews 13:5). 

And consider the book of Leviticus with all its clean laws and ceremonial regulations.  These laws are not directly binding on Christians, but when Paul makes his case that Christians should lead holy lives, sharply distinct from those of the nonbelieving culture around them, he quotes Leviticus 26:12. (See 2 Corinthians 6:16-17) 
Keller, Timothy.  Generous Justice.  New York:  Penguin Group.  pp.19-21.  2010.

"Quote" of the Week

"The coming of Christ changes the way in which Christians exhibit their holiness and offer their sacrifices, yet the basic principles remain valid."  -Timothy Keller

Thursday, November 24, 2011


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.  Psalm 136:1


Monday, November 21, 2011

We had a great week in Nicaragua!  We had close to 100 pastors, church leaders, women's ministry leaders and Sunday School teachers attending the Bible Institute.  We taught Survey of the Old Testament in four days and got great feedback about the material from the pastors that were there. 

On the last day we were approached by a young lady from Costa Rica who is a missionary to Nicaragua.  I recognized her right away because she had been sitting front and center all week taking as many notes as she could and would often come and talk to the speaker after the sessions asking questions about the material.  She thanked us and told us that she had learned so much during the week and knew that this material would do nothing but improve her ministry.

"Quote" of the Week

"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."  -Apostle Paul

Monday, November 14, 2011

This week we are in Nicaragua. The whole week will be spent training pastors and church leaders on Survey of The Old Testament. Please be in prayer for the work.

"Quote" of the Week


13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 13:13-14 

Monday, November 7, 2011


We live in a culture where image is everything.  Don’t believe me just walk down the magazine isle at Wal-Mart.  You don’t see people like me on the front cover and the reason why is because the world puts a lot of stock into outward appearance and style. 
Let me ask you, “Do you think the celebrities who frequent the front page of GQ and Vanity Fair are on the front cover ultimately because they are people of substance?"  Not saying that some are not, but 9 times out of 10 the reason for them being on the cover of those magazines is because of their outward appearance.  And this is not just in Hollywood, we see this in Christian circles as well. 

Some of the most well-known preachers on TV are not necessarily the ones with the most substance—the most doctrinally sound.  I would argue that some have very little substance at all to their message.  Then why are they on TV?  Why are they so popular?  A lot of the time it’s because they either look good on camera or are gifted communicators.  Many are not drawn to pastors because of the content of their message, but in the way their message is presented—not with what’s being said, but how it is said. 
The believers Paul writes to in Corinth were the same way.  At this time if Greek speakers looked impressive and used ginormous words showing off how educated they were and if they were wise by the worlds standards and had a style that showcased their brilliance, their wisdom, their charm and their wit, great crowds would flock to these guys. 
Well in 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul gives his audience some great news.  He tells them that these characteristics are not what God is looking for in His representatives.  Paul proves this by example saying,  

2 And I, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

Though Paul was highly educated and could have showcased his brilliance, he held back from showcasing these things because he knew lofty speech and human wisdom does not save.    
Now know that Paul is not speaking negatively about the importance of study and knowing what we believe.  Paul is clear here that his role and our role as believers is to know and communicate the Testimony of God—the Scriptures and the only way to do this is to read it, study it, memorize and meditate upon it so that we can in turn effectively communicate it to others. 

What Paul is speaking against here is adding our own two cents—putting our own spin on the Testimony of God thinking, “If I add this here or that there then this person will be more likely to respond.”

It is so important for us to realize that God doesn’t call us to be His PR person, He calls us to be His witnesses.  He doesn’t need us to dress up His message and put our own spin on things or to add elements to it to make it more appealing.  He just wants us to know His word and communicate it clearly to others.   

This should encourage us.  Maybe you are thinking to yourself, “How could God use me?  I’m not that popular, I’m not a gifted speaker, I’m not educated and don’t have a huge vocabulary.”  That’s fine—that is not what saves.  That’s not what brings sinners to repentance—that’s not what makes people right with God. 
God brings change when His word is learned and clearly communicated to others.  Jesus calls for His followers in Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses and that’s great because that is something we all can do.  Now if He said, “Go out and be funny in my name that would exclude some because some of us are not very funny.”  If He said, “Go out and draw people to me through with your looks and your intellect that would leave many of us out.” 

Instead God gives us an assignment we all can do.  He says, “Be my witnesses—go spread about me.  Grow in your knowledge of Me through My word and share that message with others.”

"Quote" of the Week


"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." -Apostle Paul