These are the fundamental basics of understanding Kingdom and Culture. The Bible teaches that once Jesus ascended and was enthroned at God’s right hand (Heb. 1:1-2; Psa. 2:6), the Kingdom was restored to Israel through the apostles with the giving of the Spirit of God on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:6-8, 2:33-34; cf. John 7:37-39). Through the Spirit, the apostles and the church built upon their foundation, are called to take this Gospel/Kingdom message to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

The coming of the Kingdom, or the full manifestation of the rule and reign of God in Christ, will be gradual, but successful (Matt. 13:31-33; 1 Cor. 15:24-28). When Jesus came, the Kingdom was at hand (“Already”), but Jesus taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom Come” (“Not Yet”). We must be confident, yet patient as the Kingdom comes, neither under-realized (too much “not yet”), or over-realized (too much “already”) in our Gospel expectations! When we study Kingdom and Culture, we should seek to be as balanced as possible between both realities of the “already” and the “not yet”. We should expect to affirm truth where we find it in culture (“Yes!” See Acts 17:23-24, 28-29), but also be ready to challenge with a biblical antithesis (“No!” See Acts 17:30-31) as we engage the culture around us.

Jesus said: “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18); this means it is primarily a spiritual kingdom manifested in and through the church (not a kingdom of the sword). The Spirit-empowerment we receive to be witnesses to Jesus’ Kingdom in our culture is not according to the power structures of this present age. Nevertheless, through God’s power we can be confident of His power in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-10; Acts 7; 14:22; Rom. 8:31-39). The Spirit gives power in weakness, to witness spiritually in the face of persecution and opposition, trusting God for spiritual success and the extension and expansion of His Kingdom (Acts 28:30-31). There are three implications to this (Spiritual, Service/Submission, and Satisfaction): 1. Spirit-empowered means to know the primary spiritual means God equips His people for service: Word, Sacrament, Prayer, and Fellowship; 2. Spirit-empowered means to teach us service and submission to Christ, to one another in the faith; 3. Spirit-powered means to cause us satisfaction in Christ through peace with God and joy (Rom. 14:17).

Kingdom and Culture Introduction: Four Main Views in Church History (Using H. Richard Neibuhr’s original categories, updated with the way that these four ways are primarily described today, see D. A. Carson’s ‘Christ and Culture Revisited’). Each of these summaries, I have sought very simply to define them, and to point out both their possible strengths and weaknesses.

1. Christ of Culture – Relevance. Church seeks to be relevant, seeking to meet folks where they are (seeker-sensitive), especially interested in providing help to the poor, needy, marginalized, and underprivileged, but can become focused more on “grace” and detached from truth (Jesus is full of both “grace and truth”). This position can become hard to distinguish between the church from the world, or worldly ways of doing things. This can be an active, culturally involved position, but overrealized in its understanding of the coming of the Kingdom, and insufficient in its Gospel priority. This position can stress common grace, but not sufficiently understand the common curse. This position relies on an affirmation of culture, without challenging with a biblical antithesis.

2. Christ Against Culture – Countercultural Church. Church seeks to be God’s people, cultivate spirituality, and live out symbolically before the world what life should look like in God’s world (theologically, sociologically, psychologically, and ecologically), but this position can become too separated from culture, and often antagonistic against it. This can become an unhealthy “fortress mentality” or “evangelical ghetto” seeking to preserve what is good in the Church, while not understanding the importance of being a witness and a preservative of salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:14-16). This position can become too passive in seeking change in the world, and while it rightly seeks to challenge with the antithesis between Kingdom and culture, it usually finds no place to affirm truth wherever it is found. This position tends to stress the common curse, but not common grace.

3. Christ and Culture in Paradox – Two Kingdoms (both Reformed and Lutheran versions) Church seeks to be church, to emphasize the importance of the visible church, the means of grace, and the realm of common grace, but can become passive to real and urgent needs in the world, and somewhat pessimistic about change in this world. This position excels in seeing how important the local, visible church is to the world, where the Word, Sacraments, and biblical discipline are upheld. This position seeks to call believers to excellence in their callings (those interested in this position will teach a great deal about one’s vocation and the importance of this in the world). This position seeks to stress the antithesis between Kingdom and culture (thus “two kingdoms”), focusing on the common grace in which all mankind lives.

4. Christ Transformer of Culture – Church seeks primarily through individuals to have a particularly Christian worldview, or specifically Christian way of doing family, vocation, art, music, etc, but can become individualistic, triumphalistic, proud, and depend too much on politics or other power structures of this present age. This position excels in calling Christians to focus on the Gospel, and seeking through the Gospel to transform government, the arts, science, etc. This position tends to be very active in the world, and affirms the truth as being God’s truth wherever it is found. This position stresses the common curse and the need for a particularly Christian influence in the world.

As witnesses of the Kingdom of God as a congregation, and as individuals, let us seek to be faithful to the Gospel.  All of the positions summarized above have a certain amount of faithfulness to Scripture, but we desire to pray for discernment and wisdom, and seek to maintain the spirit of unity and bond of peace as Christians in this world (Eph. 4:1-6; 5:15-17; John 17:17-26). Let us seek to use the strengths of each of these positions, being cautious of their weaknesses. I have sought to fairly represent each position as much as possible. It is important to note that there can be some inconsistencies in each position, and so let us interact humbly and patiently (as Paul advised Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:23-35).

If you want to think more about our witness as a congregation, and your witness as an individual in your daily vocations, then I would recommend the following books/authors below for further study (These books have influenced my thinking very much and incidentally, I came to very similar conclusions before I read most of them, as I have tried to study and teach Christ and Culture over the last 15 years or more):

* James Davison Hunter’s ‘To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World’

* Tim Keller’s ‘Center Church’ (especially Part 5, chaps. 15-18)

* Greg Forster’s ‘Joy for the World: How Christianity Lost Its Cultural Influence and Can Begin Rebuilding It’ (see my short review in ‘New Horizons’, April 2015, pg. 22ff: http://www.opc.org/new_horizons/NH2015/NH2015Apr.pdf )

* Articles and audio magazines by Ken Myers (Mars Hill Audio)

All of these agree to some degree that our best Christian witness will be to take the best from each of the four main approaches to Christianity and Culture and incorporate them into our understanding. Pastor Tim Keller has helpfully created a model to think about the four main views (see cultural engagement diagram below; the “blended insights” are where all Christians can agree for a unified witness whether they tend to be more active or passive).

Perhaps this study will help you to know what you emphasize the most in your witness to the Kingdom, and where it could help you to humbly listen more to other biblical models. I would also encourage you to read Pastor Kevin DeYoung’s helpful blogs and articles on these matters. He tends to stress the strengths, while encouraging Christian charity and humble patience.

Peace! The Kingdom of God [is about]…righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit! (Rom. 14:17)

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs

Dear Beloved of Christ,

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed…Train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim. 4:6-7).

A friendly reminder to remember to review and memorize your catechism this year! I especially encourage parents and officers to go through the Westminster Shorter Catechism as a helpful and important reminder of what you believe. “Catechize” comes from a Greek word that means to teach, to instruct, it can have the nuance of covenantal nurture in the faith, for both adults and especially children in the covenant.

Briefly, why should you catechize yourself and your family? A few reasons to get you thinking…

• Meditation/Nurture of Your Soul: Good catechisms, like the Westminster Shorter Catechism teach Scriptural truth that we are called to meditate upon day and night and remember (Deut. 6:6-7; 11:18-19; Psalm 1; Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 3:15- Timothy’s catechizing was used to bring him to faith in Christ!).
• Jesus was catechized: Jesus sought to understand the scriptures, sitting at the feet of His teachers, learning from an early age how to understand and interpret the Scriptures (Luke 2:40-52). (If Jesus needed to be catechized, how much more…?? Well, you get the idea!). Jews were catechized from the Law (see Rom. 2:18, lit. “catechized” from the Law).
• Jesus catechized: Between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, he catechized His disciples with the truth about His Kingdom (Luke 1:44-53; Acts 1:1-4; cf. Luke 1:4). Jesus is also teaching catechism when he says that disciples should be receiving constant teaching: “…Teaching them everything that I have commanded you…” (Matt. 28:20a).
• Early believers were catechized: Luke knew Theophilus had been catechized (see Luke 1:4: “…Certainty of those things, you have been “catechized” or instructed in”). The great Apollos had been catechized in the Scriptures (see Acts 18:25).
• Better hearing and “getting” of sermons: Catechism helps you to understand rich, theological, words that have been inherited from our forefathers and foremothers in the faith. Catechism is honoring our fathers and mothers in this way. You can better “hear” and understand sermons. It is an observed truth that those who “get” sermons the best in the Reformed tradition of preaching, are those who are catechized (see Nehemiah 8:8 and context).
• Membership Commitments/parental responsibility: As a congregation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, catechism is a very important way of covenantal nurture: “Do you promise to teach diligently to [name of child] the principles of our holy Christian faith, revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and summarized in the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of this Church?” (Book of Church Order, DFW, chap. III). If you’re a member of the OPC, we have vowed to do this in reliance upon God’s grace in Christ.

There are free copies of the Shorter Catechism in the front of church building available, and the catechism is also at the back of the Red Trinity Hymnals. Let me know if I can assist you in your pursuit of catechizing, and practically, let me know if I can purchase more copies for you to have to keep in your pockets.

For more information on catechism, you may read these excellent articles:

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/blessing-catechizing-our-children/

http://opc.org/new_horizons/NH01/0001d.html

http://www.alliancenet.org/placefortruth/column/theology-on-the-go/catechizing-grounded-in-scripture

Your pastor and elders pray for you regularly to grow in your faith, this will help you to grow. If your child completes the memorization of catechism, please let your elders know and we will glorify God in praising Him by featuring this in the OPC’s ‘New Horizons’ issue.

If you have time, would you let me know over email, or in person, that you were able to read this and think prayerfully about it? I would greatly appreciate that. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask myself or one of your elders.

“The One who is taught [lit. “catechized”] the word must share all good things with the one who teaches [“catechizes”]” (Gal. 6:6).

“…What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

Lets’ begin now. Ketoctin Covenant: “Question: What is the chief end of man?” Answer: “_________________”

Now see, that wasn’t too difficult. Mediate on your answer today, and in Christ, you will be “blessed”; it is a promise of God (Psa. 1:1-3).

IN Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs

“Now after Jesus was born…wise men…came…saying, ‘Where is He…?’” (Matt. 2:1-2a)

After Christmas, they came earnestly seeking to worship and adore Christ. They came to seek Jesus after He had graciously and powerfully, yet silently came into this world. They came as we ought to come in hopeful humility, through the Scriptures, seeking the wisdom of God from Him. In Christ are found all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). They knew that, do we know that today? Do we say with the wise men, “Where is He?”  Let us learn from the wise men in this new year of 2016! May the truths of Christmas make a tremendous impact upon us by His Spirit, that we seek Christ as never before as His people.

In Matthew 2, there are three types of people revealed: 1. Those who are troubled by Scripture; these are challenged by it, and fear that the truth is true (Herod, v. 3). 2. Those who have a great knowledge of Scripture, but are not changed by it; it is knowledge merely of the head, but does not move the heart and affections to love and obedience (Scribes, v. 4-5). 3. Those who have faith seeking understanding (the Wise Men, v. 6, 10-11). Though the wise men are led to a certain degree through general revelation, God grants them a supernatural star to follow, but ultimately they need the Scriptures to take them fully to Jesus Christ. The wise men believe and follow the degree of revelation they are given, but the knowledge urges them to seek God in Christ for complete knowledge and wisdom. This is a knowledge that leads to exceedingly great joy (v. 10b).

J. C. Ryle wrote: “The Holy Spirit can lead souls to Christ without the help of many outward means. Men may be born in dark places of the earth, like these wise men, and yet like them be made ‘wise unto salvation’….How often the very people who live nearest to the means of grace (like Herod’s scribes) are those who neglect them the most…familiarity with sacred things has a dreadful tendency to make men despise them.” 

The wise men set their heart on seeing God’s king. Do you set your heart on this? Is this what makes you joyful? Are you diligent in seeking Him? Will you leave your comforts in order to find Him? The wise men agreed in heart with the Psalmist: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psa. 73:25). The whole quest of the magi is a metaphor for the Christian life. Seek Him personally with your whole heart: seek Him with your family; seek Him corporately through the signs of the means of grace as the church on pilgrimage. This passage reminds us that the knowledge and the signs in themselves are not effectual, unless they be spiritually empowered and received by faith in Christ alone.

True faith seeks God through Scripture; true faith seeks knowledge to find and know God in Christ as He has been pleased to reveal Himself. True faith is not threatened by His presence, not does true faith ignore His presence, but it seeks to embrace Him, or rather to be embraced by Him!

In Matthew 2, our God reveals Himself as the God to be known relationally for all sinners in Jesus Christ. God calls all nations, even those in dark lands, to come and see the glory of His salvation, and to embrace the promises He has given through Israel. “And nations shall come to your light…the wealth of nations shall come to you…” (Isa. 60:1-5; cf. Psalm 72). Through Abraham’s Son all the nations shall be blessed through faith (Gen. 12:1-3)! We can be reminded in this new year that God always keeps His promises to His people.

We learn from the Magi’s example that the pursuit of knowledge should ultimately be to find the only true and saving knowledge and wisdom that can truly satisfy that is found in God’s king. All other knowledge apart from Jesus under the sun is “vanity” (Ecc. 1:8-14; 12:12-14). Go, in the power of the Spirit of God, in this new year with boldness and recommitted purpose to seek and know Him, and to worship and adore Him! “Get wisdom” and become truly wise (Prov. 4:7). 

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸ he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ²⁹ “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation ³¹ that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” – ^ESV Luke 2:25-32

Our forefather Simeon lived at the first light of the dawn of the last days. The light had dawned with the coming of Jesus in his incarnation, but Simeon had not beheld the beautiful glory of the Son until his mother and father brought him into the temple to be circumcised (Luke 2:27). Although Simeon had believed God’s promises and had lived righteously in the strength of them, he had yet to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus as he would.

Simeon was a righteous and devout man, full of faith, who eagerly anticipated the fulfillment of God’s promises. He went by the Spirit’s guidance into the temple one morning, and on that special day he beheld the unfathomable love of God the Father, the wonderful Savior of the world, the light to the Gentiles, the glory of Israel, and the embodiment and realization of all of God’s promises (Luke 2:25–32). Simeon beheld the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). He rejoiced, saying, “My eyes have seen your salvation!” (Luke 2:30).

Simeon saw a child who would have looked like any other—nothing extraordinary to outward appearances. There was no glow, no halo around baby Jesus’ holy head. He was clothed in our humanity, in the likeness of sinful flesh, born in the likeness of men, and the glory that he had enjoyed as the eternal Son before the foundation of the world was cloaked (Isa. 53:2; John 17:5; Rom. 8:3; Phil. 2:7). As Charles Wesley superbly wrote: “Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail! the Incarnate Deity!”

But Simeon saw something special because the Holy Spirit showed it to him by giving him eyes of faith (as emphasized in Luke 2:25, 26, 27). We are told specifically that Simeon “came in the Spirit into the temple” (2:27). Simeon then received into his arms his blessed Savior-King (2:28), the very revelation of God’s salvation to sinners.

It is similar with us today. The Holy Spirit is still leading believers to behold the glory of Jesus. In order to behold who Christ is, and what this means for us, the Holy Spirit must make our dead hearts alive (Eph. 2:1–5). We need to be enabled to behold him with eyes of faith, having the eyes of our hearts enlightened by the power and grace of God (Eph. 1:17–19; 2 Cor. 4:6). We need to pray for further enlightening as Christians (Eph. 3:14-21; 2 Cor. 3:18).

At Christmas, ponder the significance of the birth of Jesus. What do you see when you look thoughtfully into the manger? Do you see just a child, merely a baby, or do you see the living God in human flesh to live and die for sinners, to be raised for our vindication and righteous declaration before a holy God, to ascend to God’s right hand as the King of kings and Lord of lords?  (Rom. 1:3-4; 1 Tim. 3:16). If you see this, then it is God who has worked in your life, and you are an heir of all his wonderful “Yes” promises in Christ! (2 Cor. 1:20). Can you rejoice that even though your physical eyes may be dimmed by sin’s doubts, and you may grow weary as a pilgrim on the way, your eyes of faith can still see and can still be strengthened as you gaze upon your glorious King? Wont’ you take a moment right now to pray that you will see Him who is “Fullness of Grace and Deity” more clearly (Eph. 1:18; John 1:16; Col. 2:9)?

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs

“…In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one…” – ^ESV Ephesians 6:16

It’s easy when listening to the news broadcast today to fall into the temptation to be filled with fear, wondering about the uncertainty of our future. It can be a great temptation in difficult times to turn to fear and worry rather than the grace and power of God’s Word. Whether we are being tempted as individuals, families, and/or congregations, God has given us the gift of faith to face these fears. The Apostle Paul taught God’s people using the imagery of the “shield of faith” that God has promised will “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one”! Do you believe this?

William Gurnall (1616-1679), in his classic book ‘The Christian in Complete Armor’,¹â€˜The Christian in Complete Armor’ was highly recommended by Charles Spurgeon as an important book of wisdom on spiritual warfare, and John Newton said that if he had one book other than … Continue reading taught the importance of “faith’s quenching power” over the evil one’s “darts” or temptations aimed at the souls of believers. It is important to note about Gurnall’s approach to fears. He does not list every kind of fear that the believer might encounter, but rather he goes to the root of the problem of all fears, which is ultimately unbelief in God. After teaching about temptations to “sinful pleasures that entice and allure our lusts”, he speaks of the temptations to “terror and horror”. He wrote,

“When the…pleasing temptations, prove unsuccessful, then [Satan] opens this quiver and sends a shower of these arrows to set the soul on flame, if not of sin, yet of terror and horror”.

Here is wisdom from Gurnall to help us to properly use the shield of faith in times of temptations to great fear.²I have adapted, edited, and updated the following from Gurnall’s book, pages 91-123. I hope you will read him for yourself soon if you haven’t already. He is crystal clear, and … Continue reading

When [Satan] cannot carry a soul laughing to hell through the witchery of pleasing temptations, he will endeavor to make him go mourning to heaven by amazing [or astonishing him] with [fear].” When Satan uses these particular darts of fear, you can be sure that it is Satan’s response to the fact that the believer is growing in sanctification, perhaps a deepening joy in Christ, the soul is yielding more to Christ in prayer, and he seeks to paralyze the soul. This is the time when Satan “sets  the soul on fire by his affrighting [fearful] temptations.”

Gurnall taught that there are three specific “darts” that the Christian must be aware of:

1. Temptation to Atheism is a Dart of Fear and Terror. This strikes at the very being and character of God. This is questioning of God’s existence when the believer is in certain hard circumstances. It is a questioning of God’s existence as well as His goodness, and his good intentions toward repentant sinners. We must be careful as Christians to this unbelief which is a very wicked sin against God’s being and character. We shall not follow Eve in wrongly answering the evil one’s question to us in our uncertain times: “Has God said?” The devil asks:
   

   “Has God really said he would receive you in Christ?” “Has God said he really loves you?” “Has God really said he would take care of you and your family?” “Has God said that God is pleased with you?” “Has God said that He would really forgive you for this sin?” “Has God promised to provide all for you in Jesus Christ?” “Has God truly said…??!!”

   In reliance upon God’s grace, our faith must submit trustingly to God’s Word, and we as believers must stand firm in our faith (cf. 1 Peter 5:8-9). Our Lord Jesus Christ answered these same temptations by submitting to, and trusting the Word of God, and so must we as God’s children still on pilgrimage in the wilderness (cf. Matt. 4:1-11).

   “Let the word, like David’s stone in the sling of faith, first prostrate [“lay flat”] the temptation; and then, as he used Goliath’s sword to cut off his head, so may you with more ease and safety make use of God’s word and your reason to gain complete victory over these atheistic suggestions.”

2. Temptation to Blasphemy is a Dart of Fear and Terror. “Every sin, in a large sense, is blasphemy against God.” Satan seeks to stir up unholy thoughts of unbelief to question God’s good reputation. When a person does, speaks, or thinks anything derogatory about the holy nature or works of God, with an intent to reproach him, or to question his ways and wisdom, is properly called blasphemy. The evil one has two designs in this: 1) To set the saint of God at undermining God’s reputation in their life, and speaking ill of Him to others, misrepresenting His majesty. 2) To vex and frustrate the Christian in her soul.What can our faith do to extinguish this “dart” in reliance upon His grace? Faith sets the living God before the believer’s soul. Faith gives believers a sight and hearing of all God’s thoughts and ways throughout Holy Scripture.
   

   “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9).

   “Blaspheme not, says Faith, O my soul, the God of heaven; you cannot whisper it so softly, but the voice is heard in his ear who is nearer to you than you are to yourself. Faith says: “Now mine eye sees you, O LORD, wherefore I abhor myself with repentance.” Faith will believe no report about God but from God’s own mouth. Faith quenches temptations to blasphemy by being full of gratitude, thanksgiving, exultation and rejoicing by faith! As Mary rejoiced in a very uncertain time: “My soul does magnify the LORD, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). Faith will see mercy in the greatest affliction, and dare not to speak ill against so kind a Savior. Faith always believes that God is good and the rewarder of those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Faith always seeks to interpret all of God’s works toward his dear people without suspicion or complaint (1 Cor. 13:7).

   Remember: Blasphemous thoughts often come quickly and suddenly, violently like lightning, without warning. Be prayerful and watchful. If these darts are taken into the heart and believed, they can stir up anger at God, and seek to implant themselves as bitter roots within the souls (cf. Heb. 3:12; 12:15).

   Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. ….See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled…” (Heb. 3:12; 12:15).

3. Temptation to Despair is a Dart of Fear and Terror. The “cursed fiend” thinks about the reality that he can do no harm to God his Creator, nor revenge himself further on the Almighty, but through this sin he can bring God’s creature nearest to the complexion and likeness of the devils and damned souls, than perhaps through anything else. “This is the sin that of all of them Satan chiefly aims at.” All other sins and dispositions are preparatory to make the creature more receptive to this horrifying temptation. “This, above all sins, puts a man into a kind of actual possession of hell.” Despair puts a person to grieving the Holy Spirit when He brings comfort, causing sinners to resist Him, refusing to be comforted (cf. Gen. 37:35; Psa. 77:2).How can faith help believers and extinguish this most dangerous “dart”? Faith gives the soul a large view of a great God. Faith helps the believer to say with Mary, “…He who is Mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name!” (Luke 1:49). Believers must by faith think of the infinite holiness and majesty of God, and how He has shown kindness to them in Christ. Think on God’s holiness; that God can do no evil, and all of His ways are good ways, and work together for your good and His glory! (Gen. 18:25; Rom. 8:28).

   Faith shows to the soul that God is a forgiving God who cleanses believers from sin when they repent and confess, turning to Him in Christ (Mic. 7:18-20; 1 Jo. 1:8-2:2). Faith shows to the soul that God is good and has proven His goodness and love by offering up His only Son for the salvation of His dear children (Rom. 8:32).

   Faith says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” and “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights” (John 1:29; Isa. 42:1).

   Faith quenches this fiery dart of despair drawn from, energized by, and fueled with the greatness of sin, by opposing to it the greatness of all of God’s promises to the believer found in Christ. All of God’s promises are “Yes!” and “Amen!” for the believer (2 Cor. 1:20). God loves to make promises to His people, and He is both willing and able to keep all of His promises. Faith takes the soul to the “springhead” of God’s promises of mercy and forgiveness in Christ (John 1:16). Faith shows to the soul that God desires for the believer to know that the joy of the LORD is His strength (Neh. 8:10; John 16:24b). God promises all good things to believers in Christ, and brings comfort to them by His Spirit (cf. Isa. 40:1ff; John 16:12-14). Faith presents a “cloud of witnesses” to the believer (Heb. 11), including Jesus Christ Himself who persevered to the end by faith as the Son of God, and man of faith par excellence (Heb. 12:1-2; cf. 2 Thess. 3:5).

   “Now faith will tell you, poor soul, that the whole virtue and merit of Christ’s blood, by which the world was redeemed, is offered to you…All is yours, you are Christ’s (1 Cor. 3:23). O, what may you, poor soul, take up from the promises of God, upon the credit of so great a Redeemer?” – William Gurnall

   Faith teaches the soul to oppose the greatness of this one sin of despair by comparing it to the greatness of all its other sins. Despair is a seedbed that produces more and more sins as it seeks to consume one’s soul. Use the temptation itself to answer the evil one, and build up your own faith. “Retort, O my soul, his argument upon himself, and tell him that that very thing by which he would dissuade you from believing, does much more deter you from despairing; and that is the greatness of this sin above all others.”

   In other words, think of the great magnitude of the sin of despair, and how it not only offends a great and holy God, but is also extremely wicked and dangerous to one’s own soul! To be in despair leads potentially to a life of sinful grief, self-centeredness, self-pity, selfishness, anger toward God, jealousy toward other Christians (especially those who you judge have it better, cf. Psa. 73), a root of bitterness to grow up and defile (Heb. 12:16), and a plethora of other horrible sins.

   Faith reminds your soul that despair opposes God in the greatest of His commands to love God and others. Faith counsels your soul that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6), and so unbelief is a terrible sin. Faith counsels the soul that all we have comes through our faith that God has given to us. Faith is the “commander in chief” of all other graces that God gives to the soul. Faith receives God’s grace in Christ; faith takes hold of God’s promises; faith brings us peace into our souls through submission to and faith in God’s Word. Again, without faith it is impossible to please God, honor God, serve God, love God, trust God, and this leads to a horrible life of sinning against God and his goodness!

   The awful sin of despair can dishonor God above all other sins. Every sin “wounds” or “pierces” God’s holy heart, but despair wounds and pierces above all others. This sin of despair says: “Christ cannot make satisfaction for ‘my’ sins”; “God cannot love me”, etc. Which ultimately is translated: “God is not God, He is not good, He cannot be trusted, and Christ’s death was for nothing (or somebody else other than me).”³There was a pop song a few years back by Patti Smith that articulated this despairing, wicked unbelief: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.”
   

   “As the bloody Jews and Roman soldiers exercised their cruelty on every part of almost of Christ’s body, crowning his head with thorns, goring his side with a spear, and fastening his hands and feet with nails; so the despairing sinner deals [in this way] with the whole name of God. He does, as it were, put a mock crown on the head of his own wisdom, setting it all to naught, and charging it foolishly, as if the method of salvation was not laid with prudence by the all-wise God. He nails the hands of his almighty power, while he thinks his sins are of that nature as put him out of the reach and beyond the power of God to save him. He pierces the tender bowels of God’s compassion and mercy, of which he cannot see enough in a God that not only has, but is, mercy and love itself, to persuade him to hope for any favor or forgiveness at his hands.”
   

   As God’s people, let us trust in the Lord’s Word to us in Christ. Let us submit to God’s Word no matter our circumstances, saying (and believing!) with Mary: “Behold, I am the servant of the LORD; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Let us remember the wisdom of our Reformed forefathers in the faith: “Mind your duty, not your circumstances, in reliance upon God’s grace in Christ.” What does this mean? It is easy for believers to focus too much on their circumstances bringing them to fear and horror. Our duty to believe God is always before us– no matter what—no matter our circumstances. He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound, self-controlled, sober mind in Christ (cf. 2 Tim. 1:7).

   Faith says to us today: “Let us believe!” Let us pray: “Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief.”

* Image of God (Gen. 1:26-28; Eph. 4:17-24; cf. Heb. 2:5-18) – In the beginning, God dwelled with man created in His Image. Adam was not “God in the flesh” but he was “like God in the flesh”, and he enjoyed the “Immanuel presence of God” in the Garden. Man made in God’s image was not exalted and confirmed in righteousness through obedience (cf. Psa. 8; cf. Heb. 2:5ff), but sinned and rebelled against his good Heavenly Father and Supreme Lord. Man lost the Immanuel presence of God. But this is not the end of the story…

* Seed of the Woman (Gen. 3:15) – Though man brings the curse upon Himself through sin and rebellion against God, tarnishing the image of God upon him, God promises hope for the future. This reveals God’s graciousness and steadfast love toward His own. Though sin has broken the relationship, God will restore the fortunes of His people through grace (Hos. 6:1). God will dwell with His people again. God will be “Immanuel”, God with us again!

* Son of Abraham (Gen. 12) – God promises to be a God to Abraham and His Offspring, and will bless the whole world through him (Gen. 12:1ff; 15:1ff). Through Abraham, God would bring a son through His supernatural working. From Abraham would come Isaac (“Laughter” that God gives to His own because of His power and grace!), and Jacob/Israel. From Israel, God would bring forth a servant to redeem from sin and rescue His people from their enemies (Zech. 12:1ff).

* “God with us” in the Old Testament: Immanuel Theophanies and Christophanies – God grants a  “prelude” to the Incarnation (J. Calvin) in making appearances in human form in the Old Covenant. God the Son appeared as the “Angel/Messenger of YHWH” to Abraham (Gen. 18), Moses (Exodus 3), and Gideon and Manoah (Judges 6, 13). Throughout Israel’s pilgrimage in the wilderness, the Angel of the LORD led them, fed them, blessed them, and mediated on their behalf before God (Num. 22; Judges 2:1; cf. 1 Cor. 10:1-4). These appearances are temporary, not permanent as the Incarnation will be. God through the prophets prepared Israel for one who will be a faithful Israelite, who will be obedient unto death as a faithful servant, but who will also be the LORD Himself (Isaiah 42, 49, 52-53; Zech. 9:9ff; 12:13-13:1).

* Messiah- “Anointed King”– God prepared Israel through a promise of a “Messiah” or “Anointed King” from David’s offspring, who will also be the Son of Man and the LORD of glory (2 Sam. 7:12ff). “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…” (Psalm 45, 110); “For unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6-7); “…One like a Son of man…” (Daniel 7:13-14; cf. Hebrews 1). True Israel awaited this “visitation” of God in the flesh, the One who would be her Consolation (cf. Luke 1:68; 2:25; 7:16)…

* “The Mystery of Godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16) – The mystery of godliness is revealed in the fullness of the times (Gal. 4:4), when God the Son was united permanently to humanity in the womb of the virgin (Luke 1:32-35); He was “born of a woman, born under law, to redeem…” (Gal. 4:4-6). Although God the Son had appeared occasionally and temporarily, now God would come permanently in the flesh “…And the Word was made flesh and dwelt in our midst…” (John 1:1-3, 14). All of the Old Testament is about Jesus Christ, HIs life, death, resurrection and ascension. All of the Old Testament revealed “…Things Concerning Himself [Jesus Christ]” (Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39). Though this had been “kept secret…[it has now] been made known…” (Romans 16:25-27). This reminds us of the Deus Revelatus/Deus Absconditus-way (God is revealed/God is hidden)  that God chooses to make Himself known progressively throughout redemptive history. The “mystery” is that it was revealed in the Old Covenant, but not as clearly revealed as it would be when Christ Jesus would come to make full sense of it all by His Spirit (“In the Old concealed, in the New revealed…,” Augustine).

* Creation Restored (Rev. 21-22) – God dwells with Man as Glorified Man forever and ever. The Son of God became flesh to live perfectly on our behalf, to die in our place for our sins, to be raised for our vindication, and to be exalted at Prophet, Priest, and King at God’s right hand! Through Jesus’ perfect and completed work, the restoration of all things has begun. Though now we suffer in and with Him, we shall be glorified in and with Him, too! (Rom. 6:1-11; 8:29). This glorious appearing we await with patience and eagerness, living holy lives for Him in service to God and one another! Rejoice, the LORD is Come!! (Tit. 2:11-14). * I am grateful for Graham Coles’ book ‘The God Who became Human’ for many insights! (IVP, 2013).

Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A 21:  Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect? A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,(1) who, being the eternal Son of God, became man,(2) and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.(3) (1)1 Tim. 2:5,6. (2)John 1:14; Gal. 4:4. (3)Rom. 9:5; Luke 1:35; Col. 2:9; Heb. 7:24,25.

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs

Zechariah’s prophetic Gospel message is to bring comfort and encouragement to God’s people as they await the coming of the LORD in full glory to His temple. Yet many are confused by the Book of Zechariah. The book is written in both prophetic and apocalyptic forms. Apocalyptic is a genre, or type of Scripture that is designed (like the Book of Revelation) to show God’s powerful ruling over the world, and that He will bring victory in the end for His people! Some of the apocalyptic passages in Zechariah can bring confusion and consternation rather than confidence, courage and particularly comfort. This is sad. In the wonderful prophecy of Zechariah, God’s people are to see God’s victory, God’s salvation, God’s glory dwelling in the midst of His people. This can bring us hope today!

Through suffering, humility, death, mourning, God brings victory from sin, death, hell, the devil; with rejoicing and praises forevermore to His people. But how? Through His piercing: Zechariah 12:10: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.”

There is a piercing of God’s heart metaphorically because of sin (see J. Calvin); but there is also a literal piercing of God in the offering up of His own Beloved Son for our sins, to be our Savior, and the sanctifier of all those who believe in Him—to makes us pure and holy. “…One of the soldiers pierced [Christ Jesus’] side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water… Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced” (John 19:34, 37).

As God’s people, let us think of how our sins “pierce” our God’s compassionate and merciful heart. Let us see His love for us in His own piercing on the cross. Let us be deterred in our sinning by the demonstration of His loving heart to us on the cross. Let us say triumphantly in Him:

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).

Beloved, only God can redeem. Only God can save. How can sinful, malicious, proud men mourn the piercing of God? When sin would drive sinners to hatefully fashion a crown of thorns and to place it on the precious brow of the Beloved (cf. Rom. 3:10-23)? Only God can grant this grace—only God can give us these pleas for His mercy! Only God can send forth His Spirit to cause sinful man to look at the cross, and to mourn, and repent, and cry out for grace and mercy and forgiveness! “And I will pour out…” (Zech. 12:10a). Thank God for the “I will” of Jesus to the cross for us! The cross of Christ opens up a fountain–a never-ceasing, unfathomable fountain of grace—fullness of grace in the Lord Jesus Christ! (John 1:16). A fount full for forgiveness, full for grace and mercy, full for the Spirit of God, full to make us pure and holy; a fount full to convict, comfort and conform us to His likeness. This fount is available for us to bathe in, but also for Christ to pour in us, filling us by His Spirit. There is washing and filling involved in this grace-work!

As God’s people how do we have true repentance (Zech. 1)? How do we get true righteousness (Zech. 3)? How do we possess the fullness and power of God’s Spirit (Zech. 4)? How is the Branch, the Priest-King crowned Lord for us (Zech. 6)? How can fasting turn to true and joyous and eternal feasting (Zech. 7-8)? Through the cross of Christ, providing both blood to remove sins, and water to cleanse. Now God shall dwell eternally in the midst of His people!

Hallelujah! Let this comfort your souls and hearts in Christ today.

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs

The Beloved Holy Spirit has been given to believers by the Father and the Son to guide us, to comfort us, to teach us, to conform us to Christ. What greater, more glorious gift could God have given to His people?! Though we are evil, we know how to give good gifts to our children. How much more is the loving, Heavenly Father willing to give His Spirit to those who ask Him in humility in Christ (Luke 11:13).

Puritan Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) wrote on the importance of believers entertaining this sweet and glorious Guest, or “Blessed Lodger”, who has come to live within God’s people. There should be no friend nearer or dearer than the Spirit of Christ who lives within us. Sibbes wrote, “There is nothing in the world so great and sweet a friend that will do us so much good as the Spirit, if we give Him entertainment.” What does giving Him entertainment mean? For Sibbes, entertaining meant to welcome with hospitality and nurture a friendship or relationship with the indwelling Spirit. We can have no fellowship with the Father, except through Christ our Mediator; we can have no fellowship with Christ, except by His Spirit.

Think about this: What does it mean when you have a beloved friend, family member, or important person in your home? You prepare for them, you give your best for them, you give your best to them, and you desire to make them feel “at home”. In fact, you go to quite the trouble and “fuss” oftentimes to make some feel at home, and to desire them to come back. Entertaining the Spirit, according to Sibbes, is similar. It is nothing less than giving your all, your best, making a divine “fuss” to make Him feel at home within you. Do you treat the Beloved Guest who lives ‘in’ you because of the love of God in Christ in a special, hospitable way?! Do you converse with Him, seek His advice and wisdom, give thanks together with Him, and talk together about the Lord Jesus Christ?

Here are some reasons to cause you to think about this important guest, and seek to entertain Him. He is the cause of all holiness in you. Anything good in you, any good ideas, any good character, any good thoughts, or desires to do good are all because of His work in you. By nature, there is nothing good in you, nothing good that comes from us. But this sweet and beloved Friend has produced good in you. Entertain Him with thanksgiving. By nature the desire for holiness has been extinguished in man. Do you desire to look like Jesus, to be like Jesus– this is the work of the Spirit. Entertain Him with humble service. Do you understand God’s Word, particularly are you a recipient of the Gospel in power and truth? This is the work of the Spirit. Entertain Him by seeking His power to live for Jesus with all of your heart according to the Word of God. Is your heart tender, and do you mourn over sin, and seek to show compassion to others? This is the work of the Spirit! Entertain Him by seeking more of Him; seek Him to be more joyful, more full of Christ and His Word! (Eph. 5:18ff; cf. Col. 3:17ff).

Entertaining the Spirit is also importantly being careful not to grieve Him (Eph. 4:30). Believers can grieve the Spirit when they resist his teaching, direction, strengthening, and/or comfort from Him. Let us submit our hearts, thoughts, and behavior to Christ. Whatever we are commanded to do in God’s Word, particularly as we hear from Christ in preaching, let us hear and obey the Spirit, not grieving Him who has sealed us. Let us do all that He teaches us to do cheerfully and obediently as He gives us the grace and power. His goal is to lead us to Christ, and to teach us Christ’s Word, and comform us to the likeness of Christ. Let us keep in step
and “walk with Him” (Gal. 5:16, 25). Hear Sibbes’ plea for Christians today

“Oh give him entrance and way to come into his own chamber, as it were to provide a room for himself!”

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs

From Your Pastor

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever…Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls…We have an altar…Through Him…let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise…” (verses from Hebrews 13)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. It is the same today as it was for those brothers and sisters who lived before us. This great and glorious Gospel will never change, and it is to this good news that we must ever be learning and believing. Jesus offers Himself on our behalf as a once-and-for-all sin offering, as our only hope for salvation, and is committed to purifying us and making us holy as His people (Heb. 10).

God has given Shepherd Leaders to guide and guard according to God’s Word. It is the primary task of God’s shepherd-leaders to make this Gospel known, to teach the people this good news and all of its implications (Heb. 13:7, 17; cf. 5:11-6:3). As the risen Jesus proclaimed: “All authority has been given to me…Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them all that I have commanded you to do, knowing I am with you until the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20 summary). God’s chosen, appointed shepherd-leaders guide the people by God’s Word, teaching them all Christ commanded, ministering and declaring what God has said in His most holy, inerrant, and inspired Word (Heb. 13:7, 17; cf. 1:1-2). As they do this, the people of God are to obey and submit to them as unto the Lord, knowing that the Great Shepherd of the sheep has appointed them for this service to Him. They guide the people of God to Christ, our only altar, and guard the people from error (Heb. 13:9-10).

Christ is our altar. All the altars in the Bible, throughout redemptive history, pointed forward to the once-and-for-sacrifice for sin that Jesus Christ would make for all His people for all time (Heb. 9-10). Altars were given to the church “under age” in the Old Covenant to be the place where sacrificial blood would be offered on behalf of sinners. The Shepherd-Leaders are not to teach the people of God to come “forward to an altar” found in the front of the church, or to “come to the altar at the Lord’s Table” but to go to Christ alone who is our altar in heaven. Jesus is not only our High Priest (Heb. 8:1), He is our sacrifice (Heb. 9), and He is our altar (Heb. 13:10).

The Lord’s Table is furnished with provision from the heavenly altar! Because we have an altar, there is always the promise of forgiveness in Christ, the constant communion of prayer wherever we are, and the knowing Christ is with us by His Spirit (Heb. 13:5). We do not believe that the Lord’s Table is an altar, but we do believe that on the Lord’s Table, when we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we have the provision made available by Jesus our altar, to feed us and to spiritually grow us by His grace. Although the table is not the altar, Christ is, and we have all the spiritual benefits of Christ our altar. This the shepherd-leaders guide you to frequently to give you more of Christ as you receive Him by faith.

Let us offer sacrifices of Thanksgiving! (Psa. 107:22). As God’s shepherd-leaders guide us through God’s Word, and guard us from error, so they lead us to our altar who is Christ. As a response, the people of God are called to make sacrifices upon this altar who is Christ. These sacrifices are pleasing to God (Heb. 13:15-16). These sacrifices do not add to our salvation. Our salvation is completed in Jesus Christ (“It is finished.”); the sacrifices are not atoning sacrifices, for Christ has atoned fully for our sins (1 John 2:1-2; Heb. 9:26; 10:12, 26; 13:11). These sacrifices are offered up to Christ our Mediator, and with pure hearts that have been changed by Christ that are eager to please God and glorify Him. These are not perfect sacrifices, but they are acceptable through Christ’s perfect mediation for us.

As we approach the time of the Thank Offering in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church consider how God has provided you faithful shepherd-leaders in our church. Consider how many faithful shepherd-leaders are serving Christ our altar in establishing Gospel-preaching churches here in the United States and around the world. Consider how the ministers teach God’s people of the hope we have in salvation in Christ alone. And let us respond as God’s people at KCPC to those who serve faithfully, teaching the Word of God, by sharing generously what we have with them (Heb. 13:16). Let us obey and submit to them as unto the Lord by tangibly helping to support financially the ministries and missions of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (Heb. 13:17). Let us pray for them regularly and with fervency (Heb. 13:18-19). Think on God’s generosity in raising up your faithful shepherd-leaders in the OPC who preach to you God’s Word, who lead you to your only altar who is Christ, and who teach you to live sacrificial lives that are pleasing unto God.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!”

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Biggs