Growing In Christ A Quick Focus The Book's Purpose

Transcription

1 An Encapsulated View of the Best from Christian Publishers Order this book NOW! Volume 3. Issue 24 COUNCIL OF REFERENCE Dr. Richard Averbeck Rev. D. Stuart Briscoe Dr. Paul Cedar Mr. Dave Coleman Dr. & Mrs. Larry Crabb Mr. Roger Cross Rev. Samuel Farina Dr. Kenneth O. Gangel Rev. & Mrs. Lud Golz Dr. Howard G. Hendricks Mr. Olan Hendrix Dr. David Jeremiah Rev. Knute Larson Dr. John C. Maxwell Dr. Bruce McNicol Mr. Dean Merrill Mrs. Elisa Morgan Dr. Ray Ortlund Dr. Luis Palau Dr. Gilbert A. Peterson Rev. Wes Roberts Rev. & Mrs. Jamie Rassmussen Mr. Jim Warren Dr. Rick Warren Publishers David & Catherine Martin Editors Michael & Cheryl Chiapperino Growing In Christ A Quick Focus The Book's Purpose To provide a resource for study groups on the essentials of the Christian faith To call for a renewal of catechetical teaching for adults To help believers grow deeper in their walk with Jesus Christ To show how doctrinal truths apply to everyday life The Book s Message Understanding biblical teachings requires more than attending a weekly worship service, even if the sermon adequately presents God s Word. The Church may have done a fairly good job teaching children the doctrines of the faith. What is needed, however, is a renewal of catechetical teaching for adults. One cannot learn the essentials of the faith casually. The Church must develop levels of instruction that will provide a solid foundation for biblical theology. The simplest way to accomplish this task is to focus on the Apostles Creed, the Ten Commandments, baptism, and the Lord s Prayer~teachings that have been central to the Christian faith for centuries. IV Four Main Points Four Main Points by J.I. Packer Crossway Books (Original title, I Want to Be a Christian, 1994) ISBN: The Apostles Creed Baptism and Conversion The Lord s Prayer The Ten Commandments

2 2 theapostle screed If life is a journey, then the million-wordlong Holy Bible is the large-scale map with everything in it, and the hundred-word Apostle s Creed is the simplified road map, ignoring much but enabling you to see at a glance the main points of Christian belief. Anytime someone inquires about the Christian faith, it is important to engage that person in Bible study and encourage him to trust in Christ as quickly as possible. To achieve both ends, we can introduce the Apostle s Creed because it provides an orientation to the Bible and an introductory analysis to the Christian faith. This statement of faith was so named because it teaches apostolic doctrine not because the apostles wrote it. I Believe in God the Father I Believe in God: To stand and say, I believe in God, means more than possessing a belief about God. It suggests that I have accepted an invitation to live in a relationship of commitment to Him. The pronoun is the first person singular, not we. Each worshiper must confess for himself. Stating, I believe in God, means that I confess my belief in the Christian God, the God of the Bible, distinct from any god that other religions might confess. It also means that I confess my belief in the Trinitarian God. The Father plans my salvation; the Son procures it; and the Holy Spirit applies it. The Father: The creed states one s belief in God the Father. The fatherhood of God is not a reference to His role as Creator. Rather, it refers to His family connection to the Son and to believers who have been adopted into His family. Almighty: The fact that He is almighty means that He can and will do everything He intends to do. He is the Lord and King, the omnipotent one. Maker of Heaven and Earth: The Creed clarifies the Creatorcreature distinction. We are made in His image even though we tend to think of Him in our image. He is the owner of the world; we are the stewards. He is master of all; we are not. I Believe in Jesus Christ Confessing Jesus Christ as God s only Son separates Christianity from Judaism and Islam. Since this belief represents the bedrock of the Christian faith, it comes as no surprise that the Creed provides more detail in this section than the others. Jesus Christ: Jesus is His proper name. It identifies Him as a historical person. Christ identifies His office as God s appointed saviorking, the one for whom the Jews had long awaited. Christ also reminds us that Jesus fulfilled the three Old Testament roles of prophet, priest, and king. His only Son our Lord: The fact that Jesus is God s Son places Mary s boy as the second person of the Trinity, the Father s agent in creating and sustaining all of creation. If, indeed, Jesus is God s Son, then it follows that He is Lord, with the complete right and authority to rule over us. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary: Jesus entry into this world and exit from it were both miraculous events that carry the same message for us. They confirm that Jesus was more than a man and that He was free from sin. Conceived by the Holy Spirit stresses the reality of the Incarnation and not the glory of Mary. There is no evidence whatsoever that Mary remained a perpetual virgin after Jesus birth. Suffered under Pontius Pilate: Pilate will always be remembered as the governor who killed Jesus. Suffered is from the Latin passus from which we get our word passion. On the cross Jesus experienced the worst pain that man could inflict, as well as divine wrath and rejection. continued on page 3

3 3 THE APOSTLE S CREED continued from page 2 On the cross Jesus became the propitiation for our sins, satisfying God s wrath against us and blotting out all our disobedience against Him. He reconciled us to God and redeemed us from bondage. Here we reach the real heart~the heart of the heart, we may say~of Christianity; for if the incarnation is its shrine, the Atonement is certainly its holy of holies. Descended into hell: Not included in the Creed until the fourth century, this phrase has been misleading, primarily due to the everchanging usage of the English language. Originally, hell referred to the place of the departed and not the state of final punishment for godless people. What is meant in the Creed is that Jesus actually died and entered Hades. What did He do there? He made it into Paradise for the thief on the cross and for others who trusted Him during His earthly ministry. He brought Old Testament believers from Sheol into this Paradise experience. He preached to imprisoned spirits who rebelled in the days before The Flood. Most importantly, His entry into Hades assures us that we do not have to face death alone. The third day He arose: If Jesus were still in the grave, then our faith would be futile. However, solid evidence supports the resurrection. The disciples were certain. How else can you explain their dogged determination to tell the world? And what about the experience of the Church over nineteen centuries? None of these evidences would make sense if Jesus had not risen from the dead. He ascended into heaven: The significance of the Ascension is not that Jesus became a spaceman but that He entered into a condition of supreme power and dignity. Jesus reigns! is the message behind the Ascension. And because He reigns, we know that He serves as our advocate in heaven. We enjoy a fellowship with the Father and Son that absolutely nothing can touch. He shall come: In one sense Christ will come at the time of the believer s death. But the Creed looks ahead to the day when Jesus will come publicly to judge all people. We do not know when or how He will come. But we know He is coming. When He comes, He should find us busy serving, yet packed up and ready to go. I Believe in the Holy Spirit This statement begins the third paragraph of the Creed. The Spirit is divine as substantiated in the word Holy. His primary purpose is the same as the Father s~namely, to bring glory to the Son. The Holy Spirit is Jesus agent and serves as witness and teacher. He assures us that we belong to God and prompts us to bear witness to others. To say, I believe in the Holy Spirit, means three things. First, it means through the Spirit I have experienced the reality of a personal fellowship with the living Christ. Second, it means that I am open to be led by the Spirit each day into obedience and service. Third, it means that I am a child and heir of God. Remaining Statements The Holy Catholic Church: Roman Catholics teach that the Church consists of one large group of baptized believers who are in communion with the Pope and who believe in the authority of the episcopal hierarchy. Protestants teach that the Church is made up of believers who submit to Christ as the Head. Without question the New Testament teaches the Protestant position. So the dispute is actually over whether or not the New Testament owns the final say. Communion of the saints: This phrase affirms the Church s real union with Christ. The Bible teaches that the Church is a fellowship before it is an institution~a fellowship that genuinely shares in the life of God. Forgiveness of sins: Sin is man s universal problem. The good news is that all of our sins can be pardoned. In a personal setting forgiveness brings a person back into friendship with you. It is compassionate, creative, and costly. God s supreme example of forgiveness restores our friendship with Him. The price He paid~his own Son on the cross~was extravagant. The resurrection of the body: Christianity stands apart from all other world religions in that it sees that death, man s greatest problem, has been conquered. Jesus rose from the dead. The Christian s hope is that one day He will return and resurrect the body of every believer. Creators of the Creed probably inserted this phrase to counter those who taught immortality of the soul, a belief that a disembodied soul would be much better off. The life everlasting: This last entry in the Creed refers both to our endless existence as well as our final joy. In heaven we will experience the joy of being with Jesus, being with His people, and being removed from all earthly stresses. Being with Jesus is the essence of heaven; it is what the life everlasting is all about. CBS Baptism&Conversion Like a photographer s double exposure, believers are split when they speak about the starting point of the Christian life. For some the emphasis is on Christian initiation, suggesting one s admission into the Church through baptism, usually during the infant years. For others the emphasis is on becoming a Christian, referring to the moment one accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord. continued on page 4

4 4 BAPTISM AND CONVERSION continued from page 3 The two views usually interfere with one another, thereby making it difficult for one to appreciate the other. The purpose of this section is to argue that baptism and conversion are not like oil and water, but more like bass and treble in the world of music. The Significance of Baptism Our Lord issued the command in Matthew 28 to baptize those who enter into a relationship with Christ. But what is baptism, and does it really matter? The word literally means to dip, suggesting both washing and a new start. Christianity is different from other religions in that it emphasizes an inward change of one s heart based on a faith decision and not on the basis of any ritual. So why be baptized if one can be saved without it? The primary answer is to please Jesus Christ our Lord. He sent His followers to make disciples of all nations and to baptize them in the name of the triune God. So it would be a contradiction for a church not to require baptism and for a new believer not to seek baptism. At least since the fourth century, most Christians were baptized during their infancy. The key to understanding its significance, whether during infancy or adulthood, is not to stress the importance of remembering the event but to understand the message it symbolizes. For Paul and all New Testament writers, the link between believing and being baptized is evidently like that between inheriting the throne and being crowned. Baptism should never be viewed as proof of salvation. Instead, it is a sign indicating the kind of life that every believer is called to live. Conversion and Baptism Conversion is the term we use to portray the inner change that occurs when one decides to live for God. Paul, the Ethiopian eunuch, Cornelius, and the Philippian jailer represent close-up versions of people who experienced this metamorphosis. The two overlapping marks of conversion are faith and repentance. We must not view conversion merely as an evangelical phenomenon. It belongs to mainstream Christianity as well. Conversion does not have to be sudden and dramatic. What is most important is not the conversion experience but the conversion lifestyle. Without faith and repentance in our daily experience, one has the right to question the genuineness of our Christianity. Washed and United God will not allow us at His table unless we are cleaned from spiritual filth. Baptism is the symbolic means by which Christ cleanses us from the guilt and dirt of sin. The washing not only cancels our guilt but also breaks the bondage of sin. When does this washing occur? The moment we commit to following Christ. Baptism provides a picture of what has happened and a promise that whoever expresses faith in Christ will receive the blessings of spiritual cleansing. Baptism also provides a link that unites us with Christ. This link puts us into a direct relationship with Jesus that calls us to be His disciples, giving Him the loyalty of love and obedience like the first disciples did. We also become united with the Christ event, linked with His incarnation, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Our baptism signifies that we have died with Christ and then risen with Him as well....by taking the candidate momentarily under water, baptism signifies not only the washing away of sin s guilt but also the dying and rising with Christ that brings freedom from sin s rule. Two Baptism Issues Baptism and the Holy Spirit: Baptism in the Holy Spirit represents the occasion in which the Spirit begins in a person the covenant ministry of fellowship with God. For the disciples this ministry began at Pentecost. For all other believers the baptism occurs at conversion. To become a member of God s family involves three factors~repentance and faith, baptism, and the coming of the Spirit. The order that these happen does not matter. What matters is that all three are present to link us to Jesus. Infant baptism: The issue of infant baptism, unfortunately, has divided Christians for centuries. Both sides in this debate over-argue their case. The Bible neither forbids nor commands infant baptism. Those supporting this practice should concede that they cannot base their views on divine command. On the other hand, those supporting believers baptism must admit that the other side does not deny the need for faith. Most infant baptism proponents recognize that the baptism must eventually lead to conversion. Improving My Baptism If baptism really signifies God s grace giving salvation, and our faith grasping it, the rite has to be a life-shaper. We should learn a lesson from the Puritans who taught people to improve their baptism by letting it fuel their obedience, faith, hope, and love. How? First, we should see our baptism as a gospel service in which we experience the power of salvation in our daily lives. Second, we should see our baptism as a marriage service in which Jesus becomes our covenant partner. Third, we should see our baptism as a burial service that calls us to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh. Fourth, we should see our baptism as an Easter festival in which we proclaim His resurrection and ours. Fifth, we should see our baptism as a birthday celebration in which we celebrate our new birth in Christ. Sixth, we should see our baptism as an admission ceremony in which we are adopted into the family of God. And, seventh, we should see our baptism as a commissioning service in which we enter into a life wholly given to Christ in service. CBS

5 5 fully obedient to Him and to use you to extend the good news of His kingdom. thelord sprayer Jesus never intended that the Lord s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) should be repeated in parrot fashion. He simply meant for it to serve as a model. In essence all of our prayers should fit in some way with the form of the Lord s Prayer. Three God-centered petitions follow the opening address to God: that His name should be hallowed, that His kingdom should come, and that His will should be done. Next are three man-centered petitions: to provide us with bread, to pardon our sins, and to protect us from temptation. The prayer ends with a praise ascribing to God the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Our Father in Heaven What right do we have to call God our Father? We have this right because we have been adopted into His family by grace. God loves us no less than He loves His own Son. We are joint heirs with Christ, and we have God s Spirit in us. Because of our adoption, we should bring honor to the Father by serving His interests and loving our brothers. The fact that God is in heaven reminds us that He is eternal, infinite, and almighty. His presence in heaven also helps us realize that His love is unchanging and unlimited. He is free from all the flaws and inadequacies found in earthly parents. Dwell on the fact that there is no better father, no parent more deeply committed to his children s welfare, or more wise and generous in promoting it, than God the Creator. Hallowed Be Thy Name Jesus tells us to start with God when we pray. Notice the Thy in the first three petitions. This first petition is the most basic of all. Get a solid grasp on this one and you will unlock the key to prayer. To hallow the name of God means that honoring and praising Him should be the first priority of our lives. The only ones who can pray this prayer and mean it are those who see life from this point of view. With a heart of gratitude, they see everything as coming from God s hand, including the gift of salvation. Thy Kingdom Come God s kingdom exists wherever people place Jesus on the throne of their lives. Therefore, the kingdom is not a place; it is a relationship. Jesus incarnated the kingdom. His rule over us is supreme and absolute but not tyrannical. He rules as a servant and shepherd. The kingdom is here and now, but future fulfillment will be at the return of Christ. So asking for His kingdom to come is inviting Him to make you Thy Will Be Done Here more clearly than anywhere the purpose of prayer becomes plain: not to make God do my will (which is practicing magic), but to bring my will into line with his (which is what it means to practice true religion). I cannot do His will without keeping loyal to Him even in the face of opposition. When Jesus prayed this prayer in Gethsemane, He understood that the Father s will entailed suffering on the cross. We may not know the cost of doing His will, but we accept it regardless of the cost. God s will includes His purpose in events. Without complaining we accept whatever He sends or doesn t send. His will also includes His commands. We ask Him what we should do and then pray for strength to carry out those tasks. Jesus included on earth as it is in heaven to arouse our hope for heaven and to awaken our praise. Petitioning the Father can be exhausting, but praise is energizing and gives us the strength to keep on praying. continued on page 6

6 THE LORD S PRAYER continued from page 5 6 Give Us Our Daily Bread The requests now turn to physical needs. The Father cares as much for our physical needs as He does for our spiritual ones. This petition implies that we must view our bodies as a vital part of God s creation. Therefore, we must be good stewards of them. The our in the prayer suggests that don t just pray for our own needs. We pray for farmers and against famine. We pray for the physical health, safety, and shelter for others. Here is a true test of faith. We pray for God to supply our daily bread. Are we then willing to accept whatever He provides for that day? Forgive Us If the cross covers all sins~past, present, and future~why do we need to include this petition in our prayers? The answer lies in recognizing that God is our Father and we are His children. Things are not made right in a family until the words I m sorry are spoken. We must examine ourselves daily and allow others to examine us as well so that we can repent and keep right relationships with others. We don t earn God s forgiveness by forgiving others. But if we claim His forgiveness, then we must also imitate His forgiveness. Lead Us Not into Temptation This prayer consists of two halves that teach a single truth~life is a battlefield, and we must never trust ourselves in the midst of such danger. The thought that God might lead His people into temptation has puzzled many. The idea here is more of a test or trial that demonstrates how we are able to do right and avoid wrong, with God s help. If these tests are so beneficial, then why should we ask to be spared from them? For one thing, the devil seeks to exploit every trial for his good. Moreover, trials are no picnic. Our natural response is to shrink from them. They may represent an unavoidable part of life, but only a fool would long for them. theten Commandments Every car comes with an instruction manual. Ignore the manual and you can expect trouble. God has given us an instruction manual in the Ten Commandments. How intently you seek to live by the instruction book will determine the extent of your growth and fruitfulness. Preliminary Observations Building a strong relationship with God and others will result in a life filled with joy. God established the blueprint for attaining this level of joy when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments. These laws provide a moral and spiritual standard with timeless relevance. The Ten Commandments carry very little weight in today s culture. Many people do not have respect for the law. They claim that love should be the only law. Essentially, they promote an ethical system that is situational, one that allows exceptions to every law if a greater good can result. Thine is the Kingdom and Power The doxology, which sends us back to the element of praise, is not found in the best available manuscripts. However, it certainly reminds us how important praise is. Kingdom and power are two words that both refer to God s omnipotent control. His power is not like that of a despotic king or a devastating tornado. Instead, it is the power that raised Jesus from the dead, demonstrating His masterful rule. Thine is the glory: When we ascribe glory to God, we are proclaiming that He is glorious in everything, especially in His many acts of grace. We are also committing ourselves to worship Him and Him alone for all of our days. What a fitting ending to the prayer. It ends in praise just as our lives will end in praise. When our earthly life is over, the petitions cease, but the praise will go on forever. The Amen at the end should be proclaimed loudly as a way of stating that we have firmly meant what we have prayed. CBS In reality, love and law are inseparable. Without love we behave like the Pharisees who obeyed the law but didn t love their neighbors. Love must have the law because love is blind and needs the eyes of the law for guidance. The Christian s most loving service to his neighbor in our modern world is to uphold the authority of God s law as man s one true guide to true life. The Commands No Other Gods: This first command is basic to all the others. Your god is whatever you allow to control you. It is what you love, worship, and seek. The Israelites had plenty of god options, primarily the Baal gods, whose worship resulted in drunkenness, prostitution, and gluttony. continued on page 7

7 7 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS continued from page 6 We have many god options as well. They have names like money, sex, power, sports, family, and work. Jesus echoed this first commandment when He taught that to love God is the greatest command of all. No Graven Images: Imagination is a good thing, but it can go awry, resulting in wrong behavior and leading to ruin. Herein is the nature of the second command. We can never imagine God adequately because no matter what thoughts we have of Him, those thoughts can never measure up to His perfect nature. They bring Him lower even to the point that we imagine Him like ourselves. When we allow our imagination to lead our thoughts of God, we will be traveling down the same path as the Israelites who made the golden calf. An imagined God will always be more or less imaginary and unreal. God s Name in Vain: Using God s name in any way that is insincere or frivolous is what this command forbids. For example, we break this command whenever we don t take His wisdom seriously, especially when bad things happen to us or to those we love. We also break this command whenever we use God s name in everyday profanity. And we break this command whenever we go back on our promises. We should always make promises cautiously; but after making them, we must keep them. Remember the Sabbath: Did people practice the Sabbath before Sinai? Yes. Genesis 2 suggests that Sabbath-keeping goes back to Creation. What is the relation between the seventh day in the Old Testament and the first day in the New Testament? The seventh day commemorated Creation and God s deliverance from Egypt. The first day commemorates the resurrection of our Lord. Consequently, Sunday has become the Christian form of keeping the Sabbath. How do we keep the Sabbath holy? The best way to keep it holy is simply to behave like Jesus did. He used the Sabbath primarily for worshipping God and serving others. The underlying principle with this command is that we should honor God with our time by following the ordained rhythm of six days for work and one day for rest and worship. Honor Father and Mother: Why is this fifth command included? First, the family is society s basic unit. No nation remains strong if it does not promote family strength and health. Second, the family is the spiritual unit where parents are charged by God to be their children s teachers and shepherds. Third, children owe their parents honor for their years of care, provision, and guidance. The spirit of this command should be recaptured in our society where parents are too busy for their children and where children see their parents as being out of touch with reality. No Murder: The word used in Exodus 20:13 refers to the malicious taking of someone s life. The command deals with private morality and, therefore, should not be used as a proof text against the death penalty. The premise behind the sixth command is that all of life is sacred because every person represents one created in God s image. Applying the spirit of the command extends beyond the literal taking of another s life. It also forbids malice and any act of cruelty that might shorten or weaken someone s life. It certainly rules out abortion because a human life is in process from the moment of conception. And since all of life is sacred, the command rules out suicide and euthanasia. No Adultery: The seventh command teaches sex is for marriage and that marriage is to be a lifetime commitment. Therefore, one must never sexually intrude into another s marriage. God created sex to be enjoyed within the parameters of marriage. Childbearing is a secondary purpose for the sexual relationship. What is primary is the strengthening of the relationship between a husband and a wife. No Stealing: The premise behind the eighth command is that ownership is stewardship. All that belongs to me I recognize as having been loaned to me by God. I serve as His trustee. When I am tempted to steal, essentially, I am not satisfied with what I have. I want more than I have and more than what others have. This law teaches that God wants me to have only what I can attain by honorable means. The command reaches into areas of application that we often overlook. We steal time on our jobs whenever we arrive late and leave early. We steal whenever we don t pay our debts. We steal someone s reputation whenever we gossip behind his back. No False Witness: Stated in positive form, the ninth command teaches that we must be truth-tellers. Lying may come in many forms such as halftruths, exaggerations, and misleading silence. Why do people lie? For some the motive is malice, that is, to denigrate another. The motive is pride whenever someone lies to impress or use another. Could it ever be that not telling the whole truth might actually be a good thing? What about invalids continued on page 8

8 8 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS continued from page 7 who don t have the strength to accept the truth? What about enemies in wartime as in the case of Rahab (Joshua 2) or Corrie ten Boom? What about evil people who might use your words to harm others? In these cases it is acceptable not to tell the whole truth because such responses still fall within the spirit of the ninth command, which is to always seek our neighbor s good. No Coveting: The final command, which tells us not to covet, focuses on our sinful attitudes, desires, and motives. When we covet, we seek dishonorable and dishonest gain. A quick glance through the Bible reveals how coveting leads to all sorts of social evil. For example, recall David s sin with Bathsheba, Ahab s desire for Naboth s vineyard, and Achan s pilfering of the spoils from war. Stated in positive form, this command teaches that we need to be content with whatever we have. Contentment leads to genuine happiness. Though more than 3,000 years old, this ancient piece of divine instruction is a revelation of God s mind and heart for all time, just as is the nearly- 2,000-year-old gospel. CBS Volume 3, Number 24 Publisher David & Catherine Martin Editors Michael & Cheryl Chiapperino Published on the World Wide Web at ChristianBookSummaries.com. The mission of Christian Book Summaries is to enhance the ministry of thinking Christians by providing thorough and readable summaries of noteworthy books from Christian publishers. The opinions expressed are those of the original writers and are not necessarily those of Christian Book Summaries or its Council of Reference. Growing in Christ copyright 2007 by J.I. Packer. Summarized by permission of the publisher, Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. 288 pages. $16.99 ISBN: The author: James Innell Packer is a British-born Canadian theologian and author currently serving as the Board of Governors Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. A prolific writer and frequent lecturer, Packer is considered one of the most important theologians of the 20th century. Summarized by: Ken Kelly. A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Kelly has served as senior pastor of Chapin Baptist Church in Chapin, South Carolina since 1986.