The Kings Cross by Tim Keller – OK, I love the way Tim Keller thinks.  This is a fairly new book and I have been using it as a primary source for our entire study of Mark.  Keller unpacks the Gospel of Mark, showing how every passage and story is leading us to the self-substitution of Christ for us.  I would strongly encourage this to anyone who wants to understand the atonement better and to go deeper into Mark’s Gospel.

The Cross of Christ by John Stott – An unbelievable work by one of the foremost theologians and pastors of the 20th century, this is an extensive explanation of the doctrine of the atonement.  Well worth the read if someone wants to dive in deep on the subject.

Death by Love: Letters from the Cross by Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears – A very practical and application oriented book on the subject.  The authors give each aspect of the atonement (new covenant sacrifice, Christus Victor, redemption…) a chapter consisting of a counseling letter to a real person with a real life situation, demonstrating how Jesus’ death on the cross accomplishes something real for them, and that the true answer to their struggle is the Gospel applied deeply to life.

Vintage Jesus by Driscoll & Braeshears – OK, this book isn’t specifically on the atonement, but it has great chapters on the death of Jesus and the resurrection.  But this is a fabulous book explaining who Jesus is, why he came, and what he did.  I strongly encourage this for anyone who wants to learn about the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The Truth of the Cross by R. C. Sproul – A shorter and easier to read book on the different aspects of the atonement.

In My Place Condemned He Stood edited by J. I Packer and Mark Dever – A series of essays by some key Christian thinkers in our day on the cross, they also answer current day objections to the message of the substitutionary death of Jesus.

Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus by D. A. Carson – The book is based on four sermons Carson gave at Mars Hill Church in Seattle expressing some of the great ideas the Scriptures give about the work of Jesus on the cross.

Living The Cross Centered Life by C. J. Mahaney – A fabulous little book that applies the story of Jesus’ death to our everyday lives.  He shows how the event that happened 2000 years ago has impact and relevance, and gives real strategies how to take the cross deep in the soul and live out the implications every day.

If the kingdom is what Jesus says it is, then that means what matters isn’t just what we neatly classify as spiritual. The natural world around us isn’t just a temporary environment. It’s part of our future inheritance in Christ. The underemployed hotel maids we walk past silently in the hallway aren’t just potential objects of our charity; they are potential queens of the cosmos (James 2:5). Our jobs–whatever they might be–aren’t accidental. The things we do to serve in our local churches aren’t random. God is designing our lives–individually and congregationally–as internships for the eschaton. We’re learning in little things how to be put in charge of great things (Matt. 25:14-23).

–Russell Moore, ‘Kingdom: Heaven after Earth, on Earth, or Something Else? in Don’t Call it a Comeback (ed. Kevin DeYoung; Crossway, 2011), 125

Marriage and Divorce

This is a video from Hank Haanegraph from the Bible Answer Man radio program critiquing Camping’s prediction and methods.

There are a lot of reasons these things matter for the people of God.  Millions of people are literally led away from Christ by wacked out religious views.  Be careful, then, that we “examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things (are) so (Acts 17:11).”

The command in the 10 Commandments for “Thou shalt not kill” uses a specific word for “kill” that means murder, taking the life of another without cause, etc.  It isn’t referring to war, defending ones self from attack, etc.  It is a pre-meditated act of taking an innocent life.  In the background of this verse, we also have to see God sending his people into wars and battles, and even giving them the command to take all the lives of the enemies.  In a very literal way, the Hebrews were to be the arm of God’s justice against the horrible wicked nations around them.  With this being the case, the command not to kill obviously does not apply to war, or God would be contradicting himself.  There are also passages about the right to protect and defend yourself and your stuff, passages about capital punishment, and passages that allow for softer penalties for those who commit manslaughter (accidentally causing another’s death – which was not punishable by death).

So how does this apply now.  Lots of discussion here.  First, nowhere in Scripture does God give the church the job of taking lives.  In the Old Testament the people of God and the state were intertwined so that the government and the expression of religion flowed from the same stream.  But in the New Testament that stream is split, so that the people of God are the church, but they are to live under their government, to pray for it, and to live in peace and subjection to the authorities.  The church does not have any command to exorcise capital punishment or participate in a holy war.  But the state or government does have this right.  For many, it has led to the theory of the “Righteous war” or the “just war”.  In this concept, Christians live as citizens of two kingdoms, the Kingdom of God expressed in the church and the kingdom of men expressed in their relationship to their country.  As a member of the kingdom of men, they may serve in the military, or as a policeman, or in some other function that may require violence and the taking of life.  For the Christian, their primary citizenship lies with the Kingdom of God, which means they must always ask if the cause they are defending is just and righteous.  When violence and war are for reasons that reflect righteousness, they are free to serve.  I believe this is the case.  Bin Laden was a wicked man who murdered thousands and thousands of people and is continuing to be a part of the violent terrorist network.  His death reflects the righteous judgment of God on evil, but it was carried out by American soldiers.  If this was purely an act of revenge, I would say the better option would have been to take him captive and have him stand trial.  But I don’t think this is the case.  The primary motive was not revenge, but the removal of evil in the context of a real war.

So, how about our response.  Should we celebrate.  As a member of the kingdom of men, I am glad that this scourge has been removed, and I rejoice for our nation.  But as a member of the Kingdom of God, I also have reason to rejoice and to mourn.  I rejoice because God’s justice is demonstrated through this act, evil does not win, death is certain, and God is victor and judge.  But I also mourn over the death of any person, especially when I know their eternal destiny is in the pits of hell.  I also mourn because I know that in our depravity, we too are capable of this level of evil, and as a nation we too have areas where we are not righteous in our lives and dealings.  And God would be just to judge us as well.  This should lead us to prayer for our nation, and repentance.  And as Christians, we must always remember that we are aliens in the kingdom of men, that our true citizenship is in the Kingdom of God.

For centuries Christians have been trying to soften the core beliefs we hold, making them palatable to the culture around.  But most of the time these efforts result in people ultimately denying essential Christian doctrines and leaving the true faith.  The recent attempt at this by pastor and author Rob Bell.  Bell became a Christian pop-star with his video series called Nooma, a best-selling series used by churches everywhere.  Still, questions about Bell’s belief system and commitment to truth have abounded for years.  His most recent book, Love Wins:  A book about Heaven, Hell, and Every Person who Ever Lived officially moves Bell out of the realm of someone we would question to someone who has denied Christian essentials leaving him outside the faith.  Upon the publication of the book, Pastor John Piper tweeted, “So long, Rob Bell,” a way of expressing the reality that Bell’s beliefs can no longer be considered “Christian.”    Yet, his book is selling like crazy, and the cover article on the most recent Time Magazine is on Bell and titled, “What if there’s no hell?”

I referenced this article in Sunday’s message, and my first thought was to write a lengthy blog stating where we stood on this issue.  But much better writers have done a wonderful job of expressing the concerns about Bell’s doctrines and stating the truths taught in Scripture.  I want to encourage you to read through these links, because this issue is hot and in our culture right now.  You may have friends who have bought the book, but at the very least, they wonder why rational people could hold a belief in hell.  So my encouragement is to read these so you can be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in you.

Al Mohler blog – Mohler is the President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Resurgence blog by Mark Driscoll giving an explanation of the doctrine of hell and the afterlife

A Chronology of Rob Bell on hell – the Resurgence blog detailing the events leading up to this controversy within the church and linking to a number of other very good blogs and writings on the topic.

Hank Haanegraph on the Doctrine of Hell – While this post predates the current controversy, the content is dead on as to why we must maintain belief in the Scriptures and what they teach.

If I read the Bible as a set of disjointed stories it will read like Aesop’s fables.  If I see the Laws as nothing more than a giant list of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots” then I will find deep frustration because I will realize that I can’t do all these laws are commanding.  If I am the center in my Bible reading, I will read each story or passage and ask, “What does this mean to me.”  While I can glean some application, I will miss the “Big E” on the eye chart of Scripture.  Several times in his ministry, Jesus told us that the Bible is not primarily about me, it is primarily about Him.  He is the center, and the first question to be asked should always be, “What does this teach me about the necessity, life, and ministry of Jesus?”  This blog from The Resurgence website is a very good explanation of this idea, and well worth the read.  Take a few minutes to look it up and read through.

The first issue though, is to know the reality that victory is promised because of the death of Jesus.  There are many passages showing us this victory, here are a few:

· “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Col. 1:13).
· “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all ourtrespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Col. 2:13–15).
· “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
· “. . . in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37–39).
· “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
· “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:14–15).
· “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” (Ps. 3:3).
· “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart” (Ps. 7:10).
· “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2).

Knowing then that victory over the satanic and demonic is promised, we need to learn the keys to appropriating this victory in our lives.  Once again, the Bible has much to say here, and we must begin in the book of James.

“But he gives more grace.  Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”   (James 4:6-8)

James says we are to resist the devil and he will flee.  But what exactly does this mean?  Does it mean that we shout out a prayer saying, “I resist you devil!”?  Is James trying to tell us that we need to dig our heels in and have strength to endure?  James actually defines what he means in the verse.  He tells us to submit to God, and then he says to resist the devil.  This is not two actions, it is actually one action from two angles.  At any point where we are proud, self-exalting, and believing in our own ability we actually are partnering with Satan and demons in their work in life.  Pride shows up in so many ways.  It is the call to self-esteem and self-actualization.  Pride includes taking credit when we should be deferring glory to God.  Pride shows up at any point in our lives when we say, “I don’t really want God’s way, my way works better.”  At the root of all sin is our pride, our attempt to live for myself rather than for the one who Created me.  Satan’s sin began with pride, and so does ours.  And God opposes the proud.  He is not neutral to pride, God opposes pride, because it robs Him of His glory and leads people away from the deep experience of God in life.  But God gives grace to the humble.  Humility here is not a self-abasing attitude that lowers the eyes and acts as if they were but a worm.  In his book Humility: True Greatness, C. J. Mahaney defines humility as, “Honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.”  It is seeing our own need and the wonder of Christ.  At the very core submitting to God is the act of seeing my absolute need and as a result, turning to God in humble submission and faith.  This very act is the core of resisting the Devil.  Satan does not flee because I say the right words or have power in myself.  Satan flees because he sees the one who is fighting for me.  Satan is a bully who is tougher than you.  But he is chicken when confronted with One who is stronger.  But the reality is that this process is a war, and that is the language the Bible uses to describe the battle we have with these spiritual forces.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.  Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)

There is so much more here than this blog can address.  But a couple key things about finding victory in our lives.  First, we have to know this is war and that Satan and demons are real enemies.  Their goal is to destroy you!  But one of the ways they do this is to convince you that they are not enemies but friends.  No soldier will get up close and personal with an enemy.  You don’t go to lunch, play softball, or go to a movie with someone with whom you are at war.  Paul wants us to know that there is a battle, our enemies are unseen, but we need to do everything we can do to stand against them.  Second, God has provided armor for this battle and that armor is our only defense.  Each item in this armor is given to the follower of Jesus on the day of salvation, but as Christians we must appropriate this armor daily.  A soldier must wake up each morning, make sure his gear is ready to go, and then grab it and put it on.  This is what Paul means when he says we must put on the whole armor of God.  Third, there is only one weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  While the other parts of this armor are for our protection, the use of God’s word in life puts us on the offensive and destroys.  This is why Paul said, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).” The weapon we have is our use of the Scriptures given by God.  Make no bones about it, a person who is not in the Scriptures is primed to be run over and ruined by Satan.  So many believers in Jesus are weak, useless soldiers because they have no idea how to utilize the weapon God has provided them. The Bible is not just a book, it is a powerful spiritual gift given by God to His people.  As we read, hear, memorize, meditate on, and obey the Bible we gain skill in using the weapons provided.  This leaves us ready to stand.

Jesus is the ultimate example here.  Satan attacked Jesus head on in his temptation (see Matthew 4:1-11).  Jesus did not respond to Satan by saying, “Leave me alone, I am God.”  He did not jump into a UFC death match with the Devil.  Three temptations come at Jesus with the fury of a nuclear missile, and all three times Jesus responds by saying, “It is written,” and then he quotes Deuteronomy.   Deuteronomy!!!  Many of us can’t find it in the Bible.  But this is how Jesus waged war against the forces of darkness, this was his weapon.  And each time Jesus responded with Scripture Satan ceased the temptation.  This is not a magic mantra, but a true force in this battle that is at our disposal.

Finally, the text on warfare ends emphasizing the importance of prayer.  This is where the battle is always won.  Only people immersed in prayer can have true victory in spiritual warfare.  Satan and demons are real, but prayer is the most significant act of dependence and trust in Jesus as the true victor.  Mark 9:14-28 tells the story of a father who brought his son who was tortured by the demonic to Jesus’ disciples hoping they could deliver him.  I can picture the scene, here comes the father and the boy, Peter steps to the front and says, “I’ll handle this one,” and calls the demon out.  But nothing happens and the boy is worse.  The others take a whirl, but nothing.  Finally Jesus intervenes and delivers the boy from the demon.  Perplexed, his disciples ask why their attempts at this exorcism did not work.  Jesus responded by telling them that the only way to victory in the demonic is through prayer.  If this is true for them, it is true for us.  Failure in our spiritual life is a call to more and deeper prayer!

Well, first of all, a cursory reading of Mark will reveal that Jesus’ popularity and following grew very quickly to number thousands of people who came from as far as a hundred miles away by foot to see the miracle worker and would-be-Messiah.  But Jesus mission was completely different from what these crowds wanted and expected from the Messiah, they wanted an earthly king who would lead the Jews back to political prominence.  This was dangerous to the mission of Jesus for two reasons.  First, several times people try to force Jesus into this roll, which would lead to a complete misunderstanding of his core mission.  He came not to conquer Rome, he came to conquer sin, Satan, and my own rebellion.  This would happen not through the gaining of a crown but through dying on a cross.  On the other hand, Jesus mission involved demonstration of God’s Kingdom through his teaching, miracles, and development of the disciples.  Jesus also needed a sinless life in public lived before people to demonstrate his true righteousness.   If the Messianic fervor around Jesus grew too quickly the outcome would be a strong and harsh response from the Romans as they sought to put down any insurrection.  There is an appointed time for Jesus death, but he does not want that to come too soon.  So he seeks to manage his popularity who are really seeking a sort of circus side show or worse, are ready to put a sword in Jesus’ hand and crown on his head and follow Him into battle.

R. C. Sproul has written a short but very good blog on this topic, so take some time to read.