My wife and I had the privilege of watching a spider build her web a few days ago. We were sitting out on our porch, and noticed the spider, a little bigger than a quarter, drawing the third line of what was to be a beautiful, 5x4 foot web on our porch railing. We stayed and watched the whole thing be built. It took over an hour, and we were totally engaged the whole time. (My wife, Michelle commented that it was much better than watching TV!) As we watched the little creature creating this architectural beauty, our hearts were drawn to worship the Architect who created the spider. Here are some of the ways that we saw that spiders declare the glory of God (i.e. reflect God's nature/attibutes) in how they create their webs.
Both spiders and God...
...create with skill
We were amazed with how deftly the spider moved around her web that was hundreds of times the size of her body. The whole system could not have been more efficiently done. It was truly like watching a master artist painting a portrait before our very eyes.
The Psalms have many moments where the Psalmists are motivated to worship God because of the skill with which God has created: " 1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." (Psalm 19) When considering how amazing and wonderful the things that God has made are, David says in Psalm 18: " 3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" Have you ever taken time to just look at a tree or an animal and just marvel that it was God who carefully crafted it? What about a sunset, or a body of water? Have you ever looked through a telescope at the night sky? God's handiwork makes the soul of man awe at the skill and majesty of the works of God.
...create with purpose
As we were watching the spider, it was not hard to remember that the web had a purpose. The purpose was to catch insects for food. This beautiful design was not merely ornamental. It had a purpose to fulfill; a purpose for which it was created.
Likewise, God had a purpose in creating the universe. This purpose was to glorify God, not by adding to His glory, but by reflecting His glory and by worshiping Him. It should also be remembered that God had no need to create the universe, as seen in Revelation 4:
11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created."
God created us to glorify Him, but he also did it in love, so that we could admire His perfections, and thereby be satisfied with overflowing joy forever.
The idea that God created us both for His glory and because He loved us can be seen in Ephesians 1. This is referring to adoption, not creation, but I think the principle applies, "In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace..."
...have total authority over their creation
The spider can do whatever it wants with its web. In fact, the spider that we watched builds it web at about 9 P.M. and then tears it down at around 5 A.M. The web has no rights, nor claims before the spider. The spider is the creator, it is the creation. Distinct, asymmetric roles.
Likewise, the creation has no claims upon God. God may do with His creation as He pleases. A sobering thought is that when Satan and other angels rebelled against God, there was no plan for their redemption. They were never given a second chance: "...God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;" (2 Peter 2:4) Is that unjust of God? No, quite the contrary, under normal circumstances, it is unjust for God to forgive sins! This is why Christ had to die, to take the penalty that our sins deserved. The idea that God would forgive, or "pass over" sins presented a huge theological problem for Paul. How can God forgive sinners and yet be righteous? The answer is given in Romans 3,
"23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Because Christ was the propitiation (wrath-bearing substitute) for our sins, our sins were not merely passed over, but were transferred to Him who had no sin. Thereby, God's righteous and mercy were perfectly demonstrated, and he was shown to be "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
So God has the authority to do what He wills with His creation. As the apostle Paul says on the topic: "Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay... ?"
But thanks be to God, that He did give a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ! Under no obligation to the world which He skillfully, purposefully created, God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him, through Christ: "In him [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us," (Ephesians 1:7-8) Amen and amen.
By way of application:
1) The next time you see something in creation that is beautiful or intriguing, ask yourself (or a friend), "How does this declare the glory of God?" It may draw your heart to worship God afresh.
2) Also... the next time you see a spider, consider not killing it. It may just declare to you the glory of God's skill, purpose, and sovereign freedom. It may even remind you of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He who has an ear, let him hear...
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
How the book of Galatians applies to present-day Christians
The book of Galatians was written by Paul to the church at Galatia. These non-Jewish believers were being enticed by some false teachers to be circumcised and come under the Law. Paul is writing this letter to refute that teaching.
Thoughts that could arise when one is reading the book of Galatians are: How does this apply to me? I do not have anyone trying to convince me to be circumcised, and even if they did, that seems like a weird thing to need to do. No one tells me to maintain the ceremonial cleanliness required by the Law. How does this apply to me? I am not trying to be justified by the Law.
My hope for this blog post is for us to gain greater understanding of how the book of Galatians can apply to us today.
Seeking to be justified by the Law is seeking to be justified by works
Paul's primary concern for the Galatians is that they are seeking to be justified before God by works of the Law. He warns in chapter 5: " 4You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace." They are seeking to be justified, or made right with God, by the Law, but earlier in chapter 3, Paul has made it clear that righteousness is not obtainable by the Law, "For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law..." In 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul explicitly says "For the letter [i.e. Law] kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Although we may not experience pressure to keep the Law of the Old Testament, we are often pressured to keep our own "law" that we create. This is called legalism; seeking to obey a set of rules as a way to get right with God. Legalism is not synonymous with obedience. Obedience says, "God commands, and I will obey, because He is my God." Legalism says, "I must do this thing [regardless of whether or not God commands it!] in order for God to want to be my God."
So when you read verses like 5:2-3, "2Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law," what should be registering in your mind should be something like this, "Look: If you try to add some works to the faith-based foundation of your right standing before God, you are not understanding the Gospel. If you try to have some element of works-based salvation in your justification, you must therefore do everything that is required for salvation by works, which is impossible."
Just as justification is by faith, so also sanctification is by faith
A common misconception is that we are justified by grace through faith, and then we live the rest of our lives in our own strength, trying to do better, but now with the benefit of God forgiving us when we sin. In addition to trying to be justified by their works, the Galatians were seeing sanctification by works. Paul has a radically different perspective on how sanctification functions:
"1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? ... 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (3:1-3)
Paul is saying, "Having been justified by grace through faith [by the Spirit], are you now being sanctified by works [by the flesh]? "
The implied answer is a resounding NO! Just as justification is by grace through faith, so also sanctification is by grace through faith. This concept is stated most clearly in 5:25, " 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." If we have been brought to life by the Spirit, let us also walk out this new life in the Spirit.
Practically, I would say a great place to start seeking sanctification by faith is to pray. Acknowledge your dependence on God, ask him for help to become sanctified today. Admit you cannot do it on your own. And wait on him to empower you with his Spirit. We still believe he does that ... don't we?
The superiority of justification and sanctification by faith
See how far superior justification and sanctification by faith are as opposed to trying to obtain either in the flesh:
"when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ... 1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (4:5-9, 5:1)
Thoughts that could arise when one is reading the book of Galatians are: How does this apply to me? I do not have anyone trying to convince me to be circumcised, and even if they did, that seems like a weird thing to need to do. No one tells me to maintain the ceremonial cleanliness required by the Law. How does this apply to me? I am not trying to be justified by the Law.
My hope for this blog post is for us to gain greater understanding of how the book of Galatians can apply to us today.
Seeking to be justified by the Law is seeking to be justified by works
Paul's primary concern for the Galatians is that they are seeking to be justified before God by works of the Law. He warns in chapter 5: " 4You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace." They are seeking to be justified, or made right with God, by the Law, but earlier in chapter 3, Paul has made it clear that righteousness is not obtainable by the Law, "For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law..." In 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul explicitly says "For the letter [i.e. Law] kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Although we may not experience pressure to keep the Law of the Old Testament, we are often pressured to keep our own "law" that we create. This is called legalism; seeking to obey a set of rules as a way to get right with God. Legalism is not synonymous with obedience. Obedience says, "God commands, and I will obey, because He is my God." Legalism says, "I must do this thing [regardless of whether or not God commands it!] in order for God to want to be my God."
So when you read verses like 5:2-3, "2Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law," what should be registering in your mind should be something like this, "Look: If you try to add some works to the faith-based foundation of your right standing before God, you are not understanding the Gospel. If you try to have some element of works-based salvation in your justification, you must therefore do everything that is required for salvation by works, which is impossible."
Just as justification is by faith, so also sanctification is by faith
A common misconception is that we are justified by grace through faith, and then we live the rest of our lives in our own strength, trying to do better, but now with the benefit of God forgiving us when we sin. In addition to trying to be justified by their works, the Galatians were seeing sanctification by works. Paul has a radically different perspective on how sanctification functions:
"1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? ... 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (3:1-3)
Paul is saying, "Having been justified by grace through faith [by the Spirit], are you now being sanctified by works [by the flesh]? "
The implied answer is a resounding NO! Just as justification is by grace through faith, so also sanctification is by grace through faith. This concept is stated most clearly in 5:25, " 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." If we have been brought to life by the Spirit, let us also walk out this new life in the Spirit.
Practically, I would say a great place to start seeking sanctification by faith is to pray. Acknowledge your dependence on God, ask him for help to become sanctified today. Admit you cannot do it on your own. And wait on him to empower you with his Spirit. We still believe he does that ... don't we?
The superiority of justification and sanctification by faith
See how far superior justification and sanctification by faith are as opposed to trying to obtain either in the flesh:
"when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ... 1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (4:5-9, 5:1)
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