Bear with the Failings of Your Weak Brother
Many in the church today appeal to chapter fourteen of Romans regarding the issue of whether or not Christians who are ‘free in Christ’ ought to drink alcohol in the presence of their so-called ‘weak’ brother. They argue that by doing so, the ‘weak’ brother will be caused to stumble into sin. In this context, the obstacle or stumbling block put in the weaker brother’s way could not merely cause him to sin, but to fall away and prove himself to have not been a believer in the first place. The issue of sin for the weaker brother is primarily doing something which goes against his conscience over a long period of time. This conflict or trespass of conscience could then pour over into other issues of life, causing him to neglect even the greater matters of obedience to the Lord. The ‘strong’ who are confident in their own convictions, ought to be sensitive to the differing degrees of faith held by his brothers and sisters in Christ—ready and willing to forgo their freedom in partaking of an alcoholic beverage for the sake of the gospel, and their brother for whom Christ died. The goal in all this is that Christ would be displayed in one’s life and relationships as the supreme example of loving self-sacrifice for the glory of God and the unity of his people.
The Church and the Fight of Faith
The church-at-large unfortunately consists of both believers and unbelievers. Many think they are Christians when their lives seep with evidence suggesting otherwise. These professing Christians, especially, must seriously take to heart Paul’s warning that if they live according to their flesh, they will die without the hope of arising to life with Christ. They must reflect on their steps to see if they are living according to the flesh, particularly observing the works of the flesh as noted by Paul in Galatians 5.19-21 and Colossians 3.5. On the other hand, struggling and downcast believers must take heart in this fight of faith, and be encouraged that if they are in Christ then the Spirit of life is in them. And if the Spirit of life indwells them, he will help them put to death the deeds of the body. He will lead them and continually assure them in this fight for joy that they are sons of the living God. The Spirit of Christ in their life will continually point to Christ as their Redeemer and living example of the way in which they must live—dependently on the Spirit, as they regularly cry out to their heavenly Father and learn to suffer together with Christ for the purpose of one day being glorified with him.
The Trinity and the Church–A Reflection
Seeing more clearly how God is perfectly and happily Triune helps me see in a liberating way why some in the body of Christ are gifted with some gifts and others are gifted with other gifts. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit, each have their role in redemptive history, and in our own communal and personal histories. They happily and lovingly give of each other and serve each other in a different way. So, there is to be a reflection of that in the members of the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one. Each member of Christ’s body is to be happily content with the gift they’ve received from the Spirit. Instead of being envious of another’s gift, I should seek to serve the body as a whole and each member individually with the gift I’ve received. Indeed, Trinitarian Christianity shows how we who are made in the image of the divine community can and should integrate unity and diversity, not only in the church, but also in our families, ministries, and communities and cultures in general.
Heidelberg Lord’s Day 20
God the Holy Spirit
53. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”?
First, he, as well as the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, he has been given to me personally, so that, by true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his blessings, comforts me, and remains with me forever.
Ge 1.1-2; Mt 28.19; Ac 5.3-4
1Co 6.19; 2Co 1.21-22; Gal 4.6
Gal 3.14
Jn 15.26; Ac 9.31
Jn 14.16-17; 1Pe 4.14
From The Heidelberg Catechism.
Resources On “Exhorting One Another”
“You should be often exhorting and counseling and warning others, especially at such a day as this: ‘Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near’ (Heb 10.23-25; see also 2.12-14).
When you counsel and warn others, do it earnestly, affectionately, and thoroughly. And when you are speaking to your equals, let your warnings be intermixed with expressions of your sense of your own unworthiness and of the sovereign grace that makes you differ. And, if you can with a good conscience, say how you in yourself are more unworthy than they.”
Adapted from Jonathan Edwards’ Advice to Young Converts.
Some helpful guides on exhorting one another:
Toward a Definition of the Essence of Biblical Counseling (Piper) A Simple outline of essentials for exhortation. (‘Counseling’ here must not be taken in the narrow and popular sense of the ‘professional’ giving advice; but rather, this sort of counseling is done within the gospel community by imperfect followers of Jesus, both one on one and in groups, as they share life and truth together.)
The Tongue, the Bridle, and the Blessing: An Exposition of James 3.1-12 (Ferguson) The tongue is a means of both blessing and cursing–exhortation and discouragement. Toward the end of this message, Ferguson includes twenty resolutions from the book of James aiming toward the heart of Christ-honoring and Christian-exhorting words.
Counseling is the Church (Powlison) One of the best in Biblical Counseling.
Counseling Through The Lens of Scripture (Powlison)
Seeing With New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition Through the Lens of Scripture (Powlison) Biblical theory in the area of counseling. Includes his deeply insightful X-Ray Questions for discerning our functional gods
Speaking Truth in Love: Counsel in Community (Powlison) On the Biblical practice of counseling and exhorting one another in community.
Relationships: A Mess Worth Making (Lane/Tripp) Haven’t read this yet (on its way!). Although, I hear its well worth the read unto taking heed for redeeming your relationships.
The Fear of Man Sets a Snare (8)
Jamie Munson, lead pastor at Mars Hill Church, lays out eight consequences of the fear of man:
1. Idolatry
2. Ineffectiveness
3. Lack of Love
4. Fakeness
5. Apathy
6. Dishonesty
7. Isolation
8. Decision Paralysis
“…but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe” (Prov 29.25). Our almighty Maker and Redeemer is trustworthy and true. Let us go to him in our day of trouble (rightly perceived or not), that he may be glorified in delivering us” (Ps 46.1; 50.15; Heb 4.14-16)!
Jonathan Edwards on ‘The Fight’ #2
Don’t slack off seeking, striving, and praying for the very same things that we exhort unconverted persons to strive for, and a degree of which you have had in conversion. Thus pray that your eyes may be opened, that you may receive your sight, that you may know your self and be brought to God’s feet, and that you may see the glory of God and Christ, may be raised from the dead, and have the love of Christ shed abroad in your heart. Those that have most of these things still need to pray for them; for there is so much blindness and hardness and pride and death remaining that they still need to have that work of God upon them, further to enlighten and enliven them. This will be a further bringing out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, and a kind of new conversion and resurrection from the dead. There are very few requests that are not only proper for a natural person, but that in some sense are also proper for the godly.
From Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions And Advice to Young Converts.
Jonathan Edwards on ‘The Fight’
I would advise you to keep up as great a strife and earnestness in [Christianity] in all aspects of it, as you would do if you knew yourself to be in a state of nature and you were seeking conversion. We advise persons under convictions to be extremely earnest for the kingdom of heaven, but when they have attained conversion they ought not to be the less watchful, laborious, and earnest in the whole work of [Christianity], but the more; for they are under infinitely greater obligations. For lack of this, many persons in a few months after their conversion have begun to lose the sweet and lively sense of spiritual things, and to grow cold and flat and dark. They have pierced themselves through with many sorrows, whereas if they had done as the Apostle did in Philippians 3.12-14, their path would have been as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day.
From Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions And Advice to Young Converts.
Sanctification: The Reformed View
One of the main distinctives of this view concerns the relationship between justification and sanctification. Martin Luther taught that by faith in Christ and Christ’s work (i.e., his life, death, and resurrection), the saint is declared righteousness, and is united with Christ by virtue of faith. Calvin taught that because the believer is united with Christ in his death and resurrection, the believer will be progressively sanctified by faith as a necessary effect of their being justified by faith.
Another feature that divides this view from the others is that of the belief that the Christian life is a daily “struggle,” or “fight.” The believer will never reach complete holiness or perfection in this life. In this view, since there will always be indwelling sin in the believer until the Lord returns, he must continually be putting to death the deeds of the body (often called “mortification”) that he may live (“vivication”) (Rom. 8.13). Indeed, unless mortification takes place in some degree or another, he will eventually show himself to not have been one of God’s own. This striving for holiness is itself a fruit of being called to be holy by God, and being helped by the Holy Spirit in the very pursuit of holiness. The deeds of the body can only be put to death by means of the Spirit. Christians in the reformed camp believe that though the believer can make true and real progress in the growth of holiness and godliness, there will always be a deep remnant of indwelling sin.
[Note: This is the way I see sanctification playing out in the life of the follower of Jesus.]
Heidelberg Lord’s Day 19
50. Why the next words: “and is seated at the right hand of God”?
Christ ascended to heaven, there to show that he is head of his church, and that the Father rules all things through him.
Eph 1.20-23; Col 1.18
Mt 28.18; Jn 5.22-23
51. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us?
First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out his gifts from heaven upon his members. Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.
Ac 2.33; Eph 4.7-12
Ps 110.1-2; Jn 10.27-30; Rev 19.11-16
52. How does Christ’s return “to judge the living and the dead” comfort you?
In all my distress and persecution I turn my eyes to the heavens and confidently await as the Judge, the very One who has already stood trial in my place before God and so has removed the whole curse from me. All his enemies and mine he will condemn to everlasting punishment; but me and all his chosen ones he will take along with him into the joy and the glory of heaven.
Lk 21.28; Ro 8.22-25; Php 3.20-21; Tit 2.13-14
Mt 25.31-46; 2Th 1.6-10
From The Heidelberg Catechism.
