Grace, faith, and new life

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

I used to think that was a silly question because the Bible says God created the birds and therefore they came first — with an ability to make eggs and more birds. Now I understand this question probes our belief systems. It challenges the theory of evolution. It also challenges the idea that there is no Creator.

A similar question pops to mind concerning salvation. What comes first, new life so a person can say YES to God, or saying YES and then receiving new life?

Both propositions are supported by Jesus’ statement, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him . . . .” (John 6:44) That is, no one can come to Jesus because even the religious people of Jesus’ day refused to come. He said to them:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40)

However, God lovingly persists. He orchestrates circumstances so a rebelling sinful person is ready to cry ‘uncle’ and let God have His way. As today’s devotional writing says, He changes the sinner’s nature making him or her perfectly willing to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

The devotional writer also says that by nature we humans have neither the will nor the ability to come to Christ for salvation. If God the Holy Spirit does not effectually call us to Christ, we never will come because we cannot do it.

This sounds more like the first proposition, that God changes hearts and with a changed heart, yielding to Christ is not only possible, but it is easy and natural, even irresistible. I came to Christ because He came to me — in my mind there was no other option, just as Jesus said:

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37)

Pastor and author John Piper believes that both new life and saying YES to God happen at the same instant. God brings us to the place where our hearts have stopped resisting Him, then gives us the new nature we need for that last step that takes us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.

I’m observing this in the life of a friend. Her view of God is changing as her need for His love and forgiveness increases. She has not said YES yet, but she wants to. When she is ready, she will come to Jesus and He will receive her as His own.

Today’s Word from the Lord invites me to consider Jesus, first as the light shining in a dark place, but also continually as the Sent One who is permanently in my life to intercede for me . . .

“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession . . . .” (Hebrews 3:1)

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, what a delight to consider You, the Author and the Completer of my faith. You allowed those life-changing circumstances that would draw me closer, preparing me to want You. Also, You waited for the right moment to open my eyes to the reality of Your love and grace. Like many, I thought that I was choosing You, but now realize that it was You who called me, changed me, and enabled me to come to You so that You could share Your life, Your eternal life, with me.

Why would anyone reject eternal life?

“ . . .  I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

Before my husband became a Christian, he thought eternal life would be boring. He has since changed his mind. Both of us realize that getting to know God is an endless delight, and as Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

But Jesus also said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40)

Why would His listeners refuse to come to Him for eternal life? Did they think eternity would be boring? I doubt that was their reason. While excuses abound for rejecting Jesus, it seems the main one goes far deeper than the prospect of forever having nothing to do.

Something happened to me this week that sheds light on why Jesus said this to those religious people. He knew the reason behind their reluctance and showed it to me with an unexpected reluctance in me. I have a Christ-like friend that is a delight to talk to, but this seldom happens. I was talking to the Lord about having more opportunities for such a blessing when His Spirit suggested to me, “What if you could have a meaningful conversation with ____ every week for the rest of your life?”

At first, I thought I was hearing things, or that this thought was my idea. However, His sheep hear His voice and I knew this was from the Lord. As I thought about it, I was first delighted. More time with someone who is like Jesus would be wonderful. Then my delight slowly turned to reluctance. If this happened continually, I know that God would expect me to participate unselfishly too. Instead of taking and receiving, I must also be unselfishly giving and being a blessing as well. For that, I must rely on Christ because I cannot be unselfish apart from total dependence on His Spirit.

These verses from John reveal to me how much I am like all other sinners. The Jews did not want to come to Christ because they didn’t want to be totally dependent on anyone. For that reason, they refused Him and the life He offered. This came out quite clearly a bit later when Jesus told them He was the living bread that came down from heaven. If they ate this bread, they would live forever, and “the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

They were upset. Some took it literally and grumbled. When many of His disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” Jesus knew His disciples were grumbling too so He challenged them . . .

Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.

The Scripture says that after this, many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. They did not want to be totally dependent on Jesus. They wanted eternal life, but for them, their way of salvation (though Law-keeping) was more appealing than relying on Jesus for it.

At that, Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:49–69)

Peter was right. Anyone who wants eternal life must be utterly depending on Jesus Christ for that life. It comes no other way. Yet eternal life is not merely future life; it is also the life that I live now. Being a Christian means relying on Him all the time and for everything.

The bottom line is that if I want to enjoy the company of Christ through transparent fellowship with my friend or anyone else, then I must also be willing to draw my sustenance from Christ, not depend on that friend to do all the giving. Following Jesus is never about selfishly getting everything I want.

One day, “We who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) but even now, my relationship with God and His people is about drawing nourishment from Christ, totally relying on Him, not on my friends, that I might be a blessing even as they are a blessing to me.

People and sheep and self-righteousness

The Lord is MY shepherd . . . (Psalm 23:1)

I once owned some sheep. We didn’t have much of a relationship. They were kept in a pen and sold very quickly because I soon realized I was not shepherd material. These critters were easily frightened, unpredictable, and smelled bad. I was impatient, uneducated in the ways of sheep, and had no time for their fears and foibles.

My Shepherd does a far better job. He leads me to green pastures and beside still waters. He reassures me when I am afraid and takes care of my every need. His rod and staff guide me and correct me. He reasons with me, something that cannot be done with four-legged sheep.

Jesus says things like, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:18–20)

This morning’s newspaper has a religion section where ordinary people can submit articles about their faith. Today’s writer claimed that the resurrection of Jesus Christ proved her opinion about a current issue is correct. I wondered how many people besides me scratched their head over that connection. It was like saying, “Because the sun always shines, I can use my cell phone when I drive” or “Because the mountains are large, I have the right to keep snakes in my house.”

Anyone who uses a miracle of God to justify their position has missed the point of what God is doing. This happened constantly during the time of Christ. The Jews valued the Scriptures and made this proof that they were “the people of God” but when God appeared in human flesh, they rejected Him. Shouting proof does not make things true.

They rejected Jesus mostly because He failed to deliver them from Roman rule, but instead talked to them about their sin. Eventually, He said to them, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40)

They missed the point. Having this life Jesus talks about is the most important thing. It isn’t about political or civil freedoms but about deliverance from sin and having eternal life with God. This life is not earned nor deserved, but a gift from God to sinners who recognize themselves as such and put their faith in Jesus Christ, who died as their sin-bearing sacrifice.

Jesus explained eternal life as a relationship with Himself and with His Father . . .

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:1–3)

While I sometimes get on a rant about the sins of others, the fact of knowing Christ even though I am a sinner always brings me to my knees. How can I rattle on about what others do wrong when I am also guilty? How can I “use” the truth of what Jesus has done to prove my rattling is righteousness? Even this morning, while I see this article writer has erred, don’t I also err by thinking I am better?

Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

Justification is not for the “I am right” people, but for those who know they are sinners who need a Savior, for those who can say, “All we like sheep have gone astray, and the Lord has laid on Him, our Shepherd, the iniquities of us all.”

Going beyond mere reading . . .

Apparently there are some who have memorized the entire Bible, others parts of the Bible, yet they make no claim to have a relationship with its Author. This attitude may have been true in Jesus’ day also. He rebuked those who claimed to be religious, but they were not happy to call Him their Messiah. Jesus pointing out that these people read the Scriptures with entirely the wrong attitude.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. (John 5:39–40)

The Bible was written to reveal God to those who seek Him. If compared to the cloud that went before the Israelites, it is dark and hard to understand by those who resist His Spirit, something like the Egyptians who saw His amazing deeds but refused to believe. Yet for those who did believe, that same cloud appeared bright and glorious, and led them on their escape from bondage.

This must be true concerning the Bible. God is spirit and communicates Himself in a spiritual manner. If we know the Spirit of God, then the Word of God is opened to our minds by Him.

Christians are given the Holy Spirit, yet I know I can be filled with myself and my concerns. When I come to the Bible each day, I must ask God to fill me with His Spirit, confessing anything that might stand in the way of His communication to my heart and life.

This means that before I read the Bible, I must pray and ask that God sends His Spirit to direct my understanding lest His Word of God merely flies over my head and I miss whatever He wants to say to me.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13)

This is such an amazing reality. Each day God speaks to me from His Word. Sometimes I am not listening very well, but when I do, what He says is always helpful and practical because it is startlingly related to my circumstances. When I finish reading, my heart is filled with awe at His grace and how He uses His Word to feed my Spirit.

Reading daily and diligently is important, but more important is knowing how to read. Paul wrote, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

For this, the Holy Spirit is helpful, but it is also helpful to consult with other Christians. This can be done in Bible study groups, hearing sound preaching, and reading books and commentaries that refer to what I am reading. I must pay attention to how the church has traditionally understood various teachings and passages. While the church and traditions are not the final authority (God’s Word holds that place), no one person has a corner on all truth. God reveals it to His people as a Body, and He is consistent. That is, Christians all over the world generally have the same understanding of His Word. We may not use the same language, but our Interpreter is the same Spirit. He does not contradict Himself.

The most important requirement for Bible study is never an academic goal, or merely to know it. Memorizing the entire Bible is useless unless I also do what it says.

Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge. (Proverbs 23:12)

God does not reveal Himself to those who will ignore Him and walk on. He intends an intimate relationship built on an intimate knowledge of Him. He knows me deeply and personally and wants me to know Him like that. The Bible contains the deep things of God and cannot be understood or be of any benefit to me if I am reading it carelessly or superficially. Instead, God wants an industrious intimacy, a meek humble heart, willing to hear what He says and put it into practice in my life.