Archive for ‘CrossWay’

Faith That Works (Part 5)

Aug 8, 2010
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Part five of a miniseries that answers the questions, “What is the Gospel and how are we to respond?” In this talk, Pastor Clint explains the beauty of freedom in Christ, and how the gospel is not only the means of our salvation, but also our sanctification (transformation) to new lives.

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Summary by Darrin Koehler

Regardless of where you need healing (a chemical addiction, a broken marriage, a wounded heart) there is hope for you. But the answer cannot be found in felt-need based programs. Many churches take this self-focusing approach, but Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 15:3 that the Gospel itself is of the first importance. This is because it is through the Gospel that all power for healing comes from. We can never have “too much” of the Gospel. It is by the good news of Christ that we may truly live a life of fullness and joy. Gospel centrality is the mark of the mature believer because he knows this to be true. The Gospel not only saves us where we are, but it refuses to leave us that way. This means that though we could never earn salvation, God promises to sanctify those whom are His by doing a work in our hearts that sets us apart. Paul explains in Romans that those who have received the Gospel have died to sin, and are no longer bound in slavery to its power. On the contrary, we are free from the curse of the law:

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1

Below is the clip from John Piper referenced in Pastor Clint’s message regarding the Christian’s freedom from the curse of the Law:

Faith That Works (Part 4)

Aug 1, 2010
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Part four of a miniseries that answers the questions, “What is the Gospel and how are we to respond?” In this talk, Pastor Clint addresses the different responses people have to hearing the gospel by explaining Jesus’ parable of the sower, the seeds, and the soils.

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Summary by Darrin Koehler

When Jesus gives parables, it is important that we do not read into them meanings that He did not intend. Jesus spoke in different kinds of parables – some that were allegories (a story involving symbolism, where the elements of he story represent truth figuratively) and some that were simple, one-point illustrations. The fact that Jesus spoke in parables was actually a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. He explained this in Matthew 13:13-17, saying that a man will either be condemned by the Gospel or saved through it. Jesus uses this parable to explain that there are many ways of responding to the Gospel, but only one way that leads to salvation: repentance and belief.

When to Leave a Church

Jul 26, 2010
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The idol factory known as the human heart is always looking for greener pastures. In a culture of throwaway friendships, throwaway marriages and throwaway faith, the question of when it is right to leave a church fellowship needs a solid, biblical answer. Often people leave because of sinful conflict without following the biblical directions for confronting and resolving conflict. Sometimes it is the consumerism of market-driven retail religion and the promise of specialized programs that draws people away from their faith family. Sometimes it is just the wanderlust of a shallow heart looking for the buzz of the next new thing.

But sometimes, there are very good, sound reasons to move on from a local covenant community. Jason Helopoulus has written an extremely helpful article as a guest contributor to Kevin DeYoung’s blog at the Gospel Coalition. We encourage you to check it out.

Faith that Works (Pt 3)

Jul 25, 2010
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Part three of a miniseries that answers the questions, “What is the Gospel and how are we to respond?” In this talk, Pastor Clint addresses the relationship between faith and deeds, making the case that we are saved by faith alone, but saving faith is never alone.

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Summary by Darrin Koehler

The Bible is pretty clear about the nature of our salvation. Paul explains it in several places throughout the New Testament letters, and condenses it to one sentence in the following two verses:

»Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

»Romans 3:28
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

This seems simple enough to understand – there is nothing that we can do to merit or earn our salvation. We are saved by the gift of faith through the gift of God’s grace.

Yeah, until James throws a monkey wrench into the gears.

»James 2:24b
A person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Woah! What happened here? Well, contrary to secular scholarship, Paul and James are not standing toe-to-toe fighting each other over the Gospel. They are standing back-to-back fighting together to defend the Gospel against two different enemies. Paul is challenging the self-righteous, saying that by no means can they earn their salvation, and that we are saved apart from any works of righteousness. James is challenging the libertines, who consider God’s grace a ticket for living according to their own selfish inclinations.

It is important to read fully the context for each of these verses. The doctrine that one can be saved by making Jesus his savior, but not his Lord, is a fallacy. James attacks this idea when he writes in verse 19, “you believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” In other words, intellectual consignment does not make one saved – only believing with the heart in the identity of Christ and confessing that He is Lord does. This is Biblical faith. What’s more, we have been made the temple of God, and we are sanctified by the blood of Christ. When someone is genuinely converted, his heart is renewed – he is born again. This makes it impossible for the believer to buddy-up with his sin. Instead, he will oppose it, carrying on a life-long process of becoming Christ.

>> See Related: Faith the Works (Pt 2)
>> See Related: Faith the Works (Pt 1)
>> See Related: Repentance Defined

Faith that Works (Pt 2)

Jul 18, 2010
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Part two of a miniseries that answers the questions, “What is the Gospel and how are we to respond?” In this talk, Pastor Clint defines biblical belief and contrasts it with empty, cultural religious intellectualism.

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>> See Related: Faith the Works (Pt 1)
>> See Related: Repentance Defined

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