The Holiness of Christ

Happy Thanksgiving! My mother arrived into town late last night (11/25/09). Once we arrived home, we watched R.C. Sproul on the "Holiness of Christ." It's the final part of a six series teaching on the "Holiness of God."

If you have not purchased this DVD, click here to do so.

Here is one video from a 2007 conference when Sproul taught on the same thing. The original lectures were in the mid-1980's. This is just to wet your taste buds.



As a side note: one of the things I am considerably interested in is oration. During the time of the apostle Paul, Greeks would be entertained primarily by oration. Oration was a highly skilled craft.

Why does this matter? It's simple. This is a skill that I think is primarily neglected in many ministers of the gospel. Many ministers preach by reading from a manuscript. Others hardly ever show any emotion or make eye contact. These are 'no-no's' in oratory. But notice Mr. Sproul. His oration is flawless.

Just a side note...

Take care and please consider ordering that DVD.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Update: I just found the entire DVD series for free. Click here to view the entire series.

The Weightier Matters...

Several people have asked this question: "When sharing your faith, do you still ask, 'Have you ever stolen anything?,' or 'Have you ever told a lie?'"

My answer is typically, "Not often, if ever." And there are reasons for this, some of which I will share with you right now.

If, while sharing the gospel, God has providentially allowed as much time as needed, asking the question 'have you ever lied, stolen, etc.' does not scratch the surface of the Law.

Jesus gave us an example when He said, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Our Lord gave us an indication of how broad sweeping the Law is, and how it is inescapable.

As a side note: when Jesus made this claim, He did not mean that looking with lustful desire is the same as adultery. In other words, they are not sinful equivalents. I have made this claim in the past and it is absolutely incorrect.

Again, what the Lord is allowing us to see is that the Law covers every aspect of our sinful lives and we are guilty under the Law with virtually every breath, word, deed, or even lustful desire.

The Law is heavy and we must consider it not only for ourselves, but also during our witnessing encounters. And thus asking the question 'have you ever lied' only begins to expand the Law.

Consider this: when you were growing up, what were some of the rules your parents gave you? Did they ever tell you, "Crew with your mouth closed." Or did you ever hear, "Say please and thank you after everything you say." Or what about this one: "When you're talking to an adult say 'sir or ma'am.' Hopefully you realize you've never kept all those rules. Hopefully you realize by not obeying your parents in those matters you broke the 5th Commandment. And most of all, hopefully you realize by reading this that you've never kept one rule you've ever been given. Think about it...

Have you always completed your "to do lists?" Have you always driven the speed limit? Have you always kept every rule at work, or do you take short cuts?

We are a desperately sinful people that fail in every aspect of our lives because the Law is entirely too much to bear. We cannot do it!

"Have you ever told a lie?" How about:

1. Have you ever tried to deliberately fool someone?
2. Have you exchanged the truth of God for a lie?
3. Have you entertained deceitful thoughts?
4. Do you believe you're someone you're not?

And the list goes on and on all falling under the 9th Commandment. This is also why the apostle John can say, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

Do you see how heavy and wide the Law is? Hatred is even condemned under the Law.

Without Christ, we are all doomed for destruction in the pit. This is what the world (and this includes ourselves) must know. We cannot uphold the Law in and of ourselves.

But God...

Do you see? Do you see? Now the good news makes sense, but it shouldn't only make sense to the unbeliever, as the Holy Spirit illumines his/her eyes, but it should make a lot more sense to you right now.

This is the good news. It is all contained in the two words, "But God..."

In conclusion...

Please understand that the Law of God hurts and condemns more than merely 'have you ever stolen anything?' It functions as a schoolmaster to turn people, as it did the apostle Paul, toward Christ. It is not meant to be upheld even by the most pious unbeliever because that is impossible.

You can further show them their idolatry by asking them, "Have you ever prayed?" Well clearly they are not praying to the God of the Bible. So there again, they have broken another commandment--it's idolatry. From there, you can expand the Law even more (and it doing so, stay within the bounds of Scripture).

Thus, if I have time with an unbeliever, I pull out my Bible (provided I have one) and I take the time to explain all these things.

Then, as the conversation continues, I say:But God...

So...

Brothers and Sisters: while the Law is heavy and wide sweeping, rejoice in that you have received the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are under grace because of the work of the Son. You are no longer condemned under the Law. You don't have to live like it nor act like it. Live from a point of grace and not from works. Christ has fulfilled the Law on your behalf. Rejoice again I say rejoice!

Wake Up Call...

Today, I called my friend and, to my surprise, I found out his friend's father died last night. What a wake up call.

How would I live in I knew today was my last day?

Bottom line: I'm complacent. This is my confession to you. I do the exact same thing I tell others not to do...live as if I have tomorrow. What a shame.

When I leave my home in the morning, I never consider this may be my last day. When my wife leaves in the morning, I never think this may be the last day I see her.

How differently would I live if I thought this truly could be my last day? Would my prayer life change? Would I love my wife more? Would I love the Church more? Would I share the gospel differently? What would change?

Whatever the answer, "May God please change my heart."

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" -- Paul

Are You Zealous or Idolatrous?

Take the time (only 6 minutes) to watch this YouTube video. Once that is complete, please take 7 minutes to listen to the audio file below.

If you cannot see the YouTube video, click here.

If you cannot see the audio player, click here.

Baptism (I Need Your Help)

I've been studying baptism for some time now. The doctrine is something that is near and dear to my heart. In fact, it is so close to my heart I want this to be my first published book.

Will you help?

I have recently placed about 30 books on the topic of baptism on my Amazon.com wish list. Will you please look at the wish list, and if it is within your financial means, purchase a book or two for my research?

Thank you for considering this.

On another note, this month, I should have an article published. This will be my first published work. Early next year, I should have other articles and daily devotions published as well. I can't believe it!

Being in seminary, wanting to pastor a church, and wanting to publish scholarly articles and books is exciting. I am beginning to see these things manifest right before my eyes. Praise the Lord, and thank you for your prayers.

But no matter how many books and articles I may publish, or no matter how large or small my church may be (if the Lord gives me a church), I'll never forget the privilege I have of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. You can be certain of that.

Sincerely,

Leon Brown

The Commandments

Sometimes we can become so accustomed to something, we no longer remember why we're doing it. Or put another way, we can do something that seems so right, we never take the time to test the foundation. A perfect example is seen in the use of James 4:6, which says:

"Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"

Have you ever heard this Scripture used to support evangelistic efforts? I surely have. But upon a brief look at the context of the chapter and verse, it has nothing to do with evangelism. As a matter of fact, the subheading in the English Standard Version of the Bible recognizes this fact, as it titles this section, "Warning Against Worldliness." Who is James warning against worldliness? It is the church. Therefore, we should be extremely careful in making statements such as, "Law to the proud and grace to the humble" in an effort to modify the above text to suit our evangelistic endeavors, if indeed that's what we are doing.

If this is true, why bring this up?

1. Because we must be careful with how we handle Scripture.

2. Because something can seem so right...we never test the foundation.

To illustrate point #2, allow me to expand my next point. Why do we use the Commandments (Law) in evangelism? Is this something we should do? Absolutely! But we must know why.

Do you know why?

Some would argue, "We use the commandments in evangelism because that's what Jesus and the apostles did." To this response, I would say, "I agree, but when they used the Law, who were they speaking to (typically)?"

Was it the Gentile or the Jew?

When Stephen shared the gospel and explained it from all of Scripture, did he use the Law? Yes!

Acts 7:53 says, "...you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."

When Paul shared the gospel in Areopagus (Acts 17), did he use the Law? Absolutely! But it wasn't the 10 Commandments, as delivered at Mount Sinai. Paul referenced the moral law, the law that was written on their hearts. This law is something that was given to them as God's creation. This law is revealed by way of general revelation. This is what Paul referenced as he said:

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made my man..."

Additionally (and for emphasis), this is the reason Paul can write, in Romans 2:14ff:

"For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law."

The law was not given to Gentiles as it was delivered to the Jews on Mount Sinai. That is the background behind the above text.

Dr. David VanDrunen, in his book, "A Biblical Case for Natural Law," said:

"Romans 2:13 expresses a universally true general principle that the Law judges people on the basis of their obedience to it, and 2:14-15 explains how this can be true even of those who do not have the law of Moses. These Gentiles can be judged according to the Law because the natural law holds them accountable even if the Mosaic law does not" (p. 22).

So, do we use the Law in evangelism? Yes! We can and we should, but just know we are appealing to the "moral law" as we talk to Gentiles by way of the 10 Commandments. This is a subtle distinction, but one that must be made.

Why?

Because it's a matter of how we handle and interpret Scripture. God is glorified as we accurately interpret the Word of Truth.

So, remember:

Sometimes things can seem so right as we latch onto a way of doing things that we never test the foundation. The foundation must be tested, and once we truly comply with Scripture, all is well.

It only takes a little deviation from the truth to end up 10 miles from the standard over time. By the grace of God, let's stay as close as we possibly can to the foundation of Scripture, the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.

Be encouraged!

They Come To You

On this 31st day of October 2009, I wanted to go downtown in San Diego to share the gospel, but those plans did not work out. Instead, my wife and I filled our candy jar and sat outside waiting for the trick or treaters.

What a great time we had. With every piece of candy we gave out, we also placed in their bags an "I See Dead People" gospel tract. That, along with the casket, worked out just great. We were able to speak with some people who asked what the sign meant that said, "Are You Ready?" We also finally got to speak with our neighbors and invite them to church. Not to mention, I got some reading done for seminary.

Our night ended with a couple of friends from church coming over and a very interesting conversation with two young teenagers. They were the last group of people to come seeking candy, only we had none left. I spent about 30 minutes speaking to them. Oddly enough, one of the young men believed he had several past lives and in this life, he was one third vampire, one third werewolf, and one third human. By the end of the conversation, they were extremely attentive. They said they were willing to continue the conversation. Thus, I gave them my number. Lord willing, this was the first of many conversations with these young men. I also hope our neighbors will accompany us to church and continue the conversation about spiritual things.

It's great to see what a little candy and casket can do on Halloween. Praise the Lord that on this day, I didn't have to go anywhere to share the gospel. They came to us.