Four Dimensions of Christian Ministry

 

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

The individual Christian and the Body of Christ experience growth through an attitude of ministry. Ministry is the privileged work of the Church. It involves:

1. Proclamation, initiation by baptism, and formation in the fundamentals of the Faith.

2. Discipleship that encourages Bible study, prayer, regular attendance at worship, and endurance in the face of conflict, persecution, and worldly pressures.

3. Protection of and provision for the world's needy: orphans, prisoners, the poor, the sick, the abandoned, etc.

4. All ministry should be motivated by the sinner's love of Jesus Christ who died for all. There is no place for ego, personal kingdom building, or exhibitionism.

Focus on these four areas of ministry builds up the individual and the Body of Christ. Clergy and church councils should make these a priority. 

Related reading: Put Handles on Your Faith; On God's Terms; Formed and Informed by the Bible

On God's Terms

 

Today many people consider all religions to be paths to God and all beliefs to be of equal authority. However, we come to God on God's terms or not at all.

What are those terms?

1. Recognition of our sinfulness and need for redemption.

"For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."  (Romans 3:22b-25)

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:5-9)

People do not want to believe because they do not want to give up sin. They prefer to argue with God in attempts to justify their sin. Yet God has pronounced that the penalty of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

2. Acceptance of our need for spiritual cleansing and deliverance from slavery to fleshly desires. 

Peter told the crowd to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3)

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2)

3. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Baptism represents agreement to God's terms and personal acceptance of a calling to love and serve as Christ loves and serves.

This is the mark of one who has entered into the fellowship of the Apostles who were commissioned to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

4. A commitment to grow through fellowship with the Faithful, obedience to the Word, and righteous accountability.

The love that pleases the Lord is expressed in obedience to his word. 

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3)

Related reading: Put Handles on Your Faith; Formed and Informed by the Bible; God's Provisions for Victory

Put Handles on Your Faith

 

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

The Apostle Paul urges Christians to put on spiritual armor and to take up the sword of the Spirit. The armor passage from Ephesians 6 is familiar to most Christians. Pastor Ed Lundwall wonders if some people are carrying swords without handles?

Image trying to use an ax or a sword without a handle. Handles make those "handy" and effective implements. 

God has provided the Christian with several handles that help us grow in the faith, stand firm against opposition, and defend ourselves against attacks by the evil one.

The first handle is faith that justifies. This sort of faith brings the mind, body, and spirit into harmony through submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the faith that regards God's promises as certain. 1 John 5:4b reminds us that “this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.”

The second handle is the Holy Spirit that directs, encourages, and preserves the follower of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:30 states that we have been sealed for the day of redemption in the Holy Spirit.

The third handle is the Holy Scriptures which instruct, exhort, and correct the person of faith. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Related reading: God's Provisions for Victory; A Disciple's Guide to Bible Study; Formed and Informed by the Bible; Expect Opposition: Stand Firm!; The Faith that Overcomes

Predestination and Choice

 

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

Since the time of the early Church writers, choice has been upheld in tension with the biblical teaching of predestination. The writings of Augustine inform our understanding of how personal choice and predestination relate to each other. 

Augustine's writings reflect his early spiritual rebellion and conversion. As a youth, he was a Romanized North African “bad boy.” However, his Christian mother constantly prayed for him. Then he was completely “converted” and became one of the leading figures of the early Church. His conversion may be spoken of as predestined, but it still involved choice, in fact, many choices.

Christians who worry about whether they are predestined could learn from Augustine's spiritual journey. Everyone needs to hear an evangelistic message preached to experience conversion, even the predestined. One neighbor, a Primitive Baptist, said that they just spent their time trying to see if they were predestined to be an “elect.”

In his treatise “The City of God” Augustine contends that the nation of Israel sinned away its salvation and lost its covenant blessings, and that all these have been given to the Church. Many Church Fathers held a similar "replacement" or "supersessionist" view.

In the supersessionist view, the people of “the new covenant” (Christians) replace the people of “the old covenant” (Jews) as the people of God. Early texts used to support this view include the Epistle of Barnabas and Hebrews 8.

However, God is anxious that all should be saved and the old covenant versus new covenant dichotomy does not hinder the Holy Spirit from drawing yearning hearts to their Creator and Savior. The author of the book of Hebrews recognizes saints who lived before the Covenant with Israel: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Heb. 11).

Hebrews 11:6 makes this clear: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Noah had a choice to obey, being "warned by God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Heb. 11:6, 7) 

Those who believe God's promises and receive the Holy Spirit, are predestined to adoption through Jesus Christ, "according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:5, 6)

Predestination relates to one's status before God. Choice opens the door to blessings and salvation.

Related reading: All Need to Repent; Forgiveness and Restoration; God's Forgiveness Must Bring Forth Fruit; Calvin and Predestination

The Crucified Lifestyle

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

Jesus said to his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

It is one thing to embrace a concept, but it is another to practice it as a lifestyle. Belonging to Christ requires following Him according to His Word (John 10:27) and patterning one's life after his servanthood.

He gave his life for the world, an ultimate act of service. Those who follow Him must also give their lives in service to others. This means setting aside selfish behaviors, denying the impulse to impress others, showing compassion to the suffering, and attending to the material needs of those in want. The crucified lifestyle involves dying to the sinful nature and replacing it with the life Jesus offers. 

The crucified lifestyle is not another legalistic work, but the exchange of the corrupting ways of the old life for the life of the Spirit that dwells within. Paul strikes the contrast: "for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger." (Romans 2:8) Galatians 5:21 says "that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Our sinful ways bring much pain if not restrained. Those who come to love Jesus discover that He is the way of life. Jesus said: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b).

All life finds its expression gradually, from crying for its mother’s milk to becoming an adult. We are continually learning, practicing, and adjusting choices.

Each phase of life has its own functions and desires and must be trained, that is, brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. Our rebellious nature resists replacement by the life Jesus Christ offers. To live the new life requires a crucified experience. The cross brings death in a most humiliating way. 1 Peter 5:6 says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)

Lucifer deceives Eve and uses her to make Adam join her in disobedience against God's command. The result is death, for sin brings death. Paul expresses the angst of our condition: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)

God in love gives a means of redemption in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Through Him alone we are able to exchange the old life for the new. It is God's will that each “be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:23-25)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Related reading: His Power Within You; Exchanging the Old for the New; Confirm His Calling

A Call to Renewal

The Christmas star lighted the wise men’s hearts
showing the way to Bethlehem’s stall
to view the newborn King.

They honored Him with their treasures,
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
We honor Him for setting us free from sin.

Let us seek the Eternal One,
His life to receive
that in the joy of His presence
we may worship Him in wonder and praise.

As they of long ago shared the glorious news
that Christ the King has come 

we too rejoice that He will come again.

May the Lord who sent angels 
to humble shepherds in a field
and a star for wise men to guide,

call us at this holy season to behold Jesus anew,
and offer treasures from hearts in which He dwells.

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

Epiphany 2022