HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!!!

Today is the anniversary of the day when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. This event took place on October 31, 1517 and launched the Protestant Reformation. Christians should be thankful for the way God used Martin Luther. The two doctrines he is most known for are sola scriptura and sola fida, which teach that Scripture alone is our sole authority and that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works.

ORIGINAL SIN AND TOTAL DEPRAVITY by R.C. Sproul

Scripture diagnoses sin as a universal deformity of human nature, found at every point in every person (1Kin. 8:46; Rom. 3:9-23; 7:18; 1 John 1:8-10). Both Testaments describe sin as rebellion against God's rule, missing the mark God set for us to aim at, transgressing God's law, offending God's purity by defiling oneself, and incurring guilt before God the Judge. The moral deformity is dynamic: sin is an energy of irrational, negative, and rebellious reaction to God. It is a spirit of fighting God in order to play God. The root of sin is pride and enmity against God, the spirit seen in Adam's first transgression, and sinful acts always have behind them thoughts and desires that one way or another express the willful opposition of the fallen heart to God's claims on our lives.

Sin may be defined as breaking the law of God, or failing to conform to it, in any aspect of life, whether thought, word, or deed. Scriptures illustrating different aspects of sin include Jer. 17:9; Matt. 12:30-37; Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1;18-3:20; 7:7-25; 8:5-8; 14:23 (Luther said that Paul wrote Romans to "magnify sin"); Gal.5:16-21; Eph 2:1-3; 4:17-19; Heb. 3:12; James 2:10-11; 1 John 3:4; 5:17.

"Original sin," meaning sin derived from our origin, is not a biblical phrase (it comes from Augustine), but it does bring into focus the reality of sin in our spiritual system. Original sin does not mean that sin belongs to human nature as such; "God made man upright" (Eccl. 7:29). Nor does it mean that the processes of reproduction and birth are sinful...Rather, "original sin" means that sinfulness marks everyone from birth, in the form of a heart inclined toward sin, prior to any actual sins; this inner sinfulness is the root and source of all actual sins; it is transmitted to us from Adam, our first representative before God. The doctrine of original sin makes the point that we are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners, born with a nature enslaved to sin.

The phrase "total depravity" is commonly used to make explicit the implications of original sin. It signifies a corruption of our moral and spiritual nature that is total in principle, although not in degree (for no one is as bad as he or she might be). No part of us is untouched by sin, and no action of ours is as good as it should be. Consequently, nothing we do is ever meritorious in God's eyes. We cannot earn God's favor, no matter what we do; unless grace saves us, we are lost.

Total depravity includes total inability, that is, being without power to believe in God or His word (John 6:44; Rom. 8:7, 8). Paul calls this universal unresponsiveness a form of death; the fallen heart is "dead" (Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13). As the Westminster Confession (IX. 3) explains, "Man by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto." To this darkness the word of God alone brings light (Luke 18:27; 2 Cor. 4:6).

Sproul, R.C. "Original Sin and Total Depravity." The Reformation Study Bible. Orlando: Ligonier Ministries, 781.

WHAT GOD'S WORD TEACHES ABOUT PROSPERITY

From the mid 80s through the mid 90s, Robin Leach hosted a show entitled, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Every week millions of Americans would tune in to watch how the wealthiest people in the world spend their days. At the end of each show, Leach would wish the audience, "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams," as if to say that happiness is defined by what one eats and drinks. In recent years popular shows like MTV’s Cribs and VH1’s The Fabulous Life of have continued with the concept.

People are often fascinated by and envious of those with extravagant wealth. Through this kind of exposure, the audience also discovers that many who are gifted entertainers, athletes, and business people often lack moral integrity. Because this is true, many Christians have asked the age-old question, “Why do immoral people prosper?”

In Psalm 37, David reassures those who question God's fairness. He first shows that the Lord is trustworthy. Notice several statements implied by the Psalmist. He instructs his readers to, “Fret not” (vv. 1-2), “Trust in the Lord” (v. 3), “Delight in the Lord” (v. 4), “Commit to the Lord” (vv. 5-6), and “Rest in the Lord” (vv. 7-11). Being reminded of the fact that God can be trusted should greatly console His people.

David also reminds believers that the Lord is all knowing and in control. He affirms, “The Lord knows the days of the blameless” (Psalm 37:18). God knows everything about His people including how long they will live and what will happen to them. David goes on to say, "The steps of a man are established by the Lord" (v. 23). Because God knows all, is trustworthy and in control, believers can relax knowing that no matter the circumstances, they are not without hope. According to Wiersbe, “Since God can be trusted, we should not (worry), and since God understands our situation, we should not fear” (166).

The third truth that David communicates to his reader is that God blesses His people. Instead of focusing on what one does not have, believers should be thanking God for what He has and will continue to bless them with. David explains that God meets daily needs (vv. 21-22), gives protection (vv. 23-24), will not abandon His people (vv. 25-26), and enables them to live lives that are pleasing to Him (vv. 27-29).

The final point David makes in this Psalm is that the wicked are promised God’s judgment. David says, “Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. But the transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off” (v. 37). David asserts that even though the wicked may prosper for a time it is the righteous that have a glorious future.

As a result, believers should not be envious of, but rather grieve over those who prosper and have no need for God. Although they might experience temporary happiness, they will never know lasting joy because their delight is in terrestrial luxury. Ultimate and lasting joy is found in a relationship with God and can be experienced to a certain degree today only to be maximized in the future.

Wiersbe, Warren. Psalms. The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament Wisdom and Poetry. Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries. 2004. 164-166.

"Quote" of the Week

"It commonly happens that the wicked proper in the business of this world (Luke 16:8). Far from being envied they should be mourned, since their temporary success is but a prelude to eternal loss." -R.C. Sproul

SERMON NOTES FROM OCTOBER 12, 2008...

We often think of the Bible as helpful, applicable and practical. However, if the Bible was only this then there might be more evangelical Christians in the world. There are, however, many truths in Scripture that are upsetting to some and have been rejected by many. One in particular is the fact that sin is universal.

In Romans 3:9-20, Paul speaks of the affects of universal sin. The first is that because sin is universal, all are without excuse. "Without excuse" means that other than through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, no one will be exempt from judgment. Paul asserts, "What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one'" (Romans 3:9-10).

Because sin is universal all are also proven guilty. In Romans 3:11-18, Paul shows that the evidence against mankind is overwhelming. He asserts that mankind has corrupt understanding (v. 11), a corrupt will (v. 12), corrupt speech (vs. 13-14), corrupt actions (vs. 15-17), and a corrupt outlook (v. 18).

Universal sin also means that all are accountable to God. Paul affirms, "Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God" (Romans 3:19). In this verse, Paul turns his emphasis toward the Jewish people, but the point he makes is to be applied to all. Although the Jews were under and failed to keep the written law of God, we are all lawbreakers because we have broken God's moral laws. Because this is true, we are all accountable to Him. This means that we have to answer for our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Lastly, because sin is universal all are in need. This is where the truth of universal sin becomes inconvenient for many. People do not like to think of themselves in need of anyone or anything. Our Society tells us that if you work hard enough you can be whatever you want to be. Scripture, however, teaches that no matter how hard we try we cannot be righteous. In Romans 3:20, Paul explains that the purpose of the Law was never meant to make us righteous through keeping it, but to show us our sinfulness and need.

The good news for mankind is that God provides hope to this seemingly tragic situation. Paul affirms later in Romans 5:8 that, "God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Even though we all stand guilty before God and deserve to be punished by Him for our sins, God sent Christ to live the perfect life for us and lay down his life as our substitute and perfect sacrifice. As a result, if we turn from our sin and trust in Him for salvation we can be rescued from this desperate state of existence.

"Quote" of the Week

"All people are sinful before God. Scripture in many places testifies to the unversal sinfulness of mankind. 'They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one' (Ps. 14:3). David says, 'No man living is righteous before you'" (Ps. 143:2). -Wayne Grudem

WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED?

Yesterday, I taught our kid’s about Jesus’ baptism. I grew up hearing this story, but was never taught how strange it was for Jesus to request a baptism of repentance. I explained to our kids that we need to learn why Jesus, who was without sin, requested to be baptized.

Many things Jesus did during his earthly ministry surprised eyewitnesses, but his request for baptism was so unexpected that John the Baptist, the one who had a better understanding of who Jesus was than any other, even protested. John understood that the baptism he was calling for was one of repentance (Mark 1:4), which is why it made no sense for him to baptize Jesus. What John failed to understand, however, was Jesus’ role as Messiah.

The apostle Paul explains Jesus’ objective by stating, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4). According to this verse, Christ was baptized for two reasons. The first reason was because he was born under the law. This meant that he was to identify with sinners. R.C. Sproul asserts, “Although Christ was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21), he was born under the law…as one identified with sinners who are under the curse of the law” (1698).

The second reason Christ was baptized was to redeem those under the law. Jesus not only had to submit to, but also meet all of God’s requirements for his people. According to Sproul, “Jesus had to submit to all God’s requirements for Israel, and to identify with those whose sins he had come to bear. His baptism proclaimed that he had come to take the sinner’s place under God’s judgment” (1415). I often explain to our kid’s that because Jesus identified himself with us, perfectly met the requirements we failed to meet and took the punishment for our sins, even though he was innocent, redemption has been made available for all who trust in him for salvation.

Sproul, R.C. The Reformation Study Bible. Orlando: Ligonier Ministries. 2005. 1415; 1698.

"Quote" of the Week

"Jesus knows (His baptism) to be part of the divine plan 'to fulfill all righteousness' (Matt. 3:15), by which, in His humanity, He identifies fully with the human condition, and begins the process of bearing the sins of humanity." -R.C. Sproul