John Calvin on Church Unity

January 28, 2012 By 5 Comments

John Calvin explains why Christians must work for unity within the church, but never at the expense of truth:

“There can at the same time by no doubt that the Holy Ghost is to be viewed as commending in this passage that mutual harmony which should subsist amongst all God’s children, and exhorting us to make every endeavor to maintain it.  So long as animosities divide us, and heart-burnings prevail amongst us, we may be brethren no doubt still by common relation to God, but cannot be judged one so long as we present the appearance of a broken and dismembered body.  As we are one in God the Father, and in Christ, the union must be ratified amongst us by reciprocal harmony and fraternal love. . .We are to set ourselves against those turbulent spirits which the devil will never fail to raise up in the Church, and be sedulous to retain intercourse with such as show a docile and tractable disposition.  But we cannot extend this intercourse to those who obstinately persist in error, since the condition of receiving them as brethren would be our renouncing him who is Father of all, and from whom all spiritual relationship takes its rise.  The peace which David recommends is such as being in the true head, and this is quite enough to refute the unfounded charge of schism and divisions which has been brought against us by the Papists, while we have given abundant evidence of our desire that they would coalesce with us in God’s truth, which is the only bond of holy union.”

John Calvin, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979, 1:189

Filed Under: Church, John Calvin

Recovering Community

January 20, 2012 By

It’s very popular these days, even among professing Christians, to resist membership at a local church. While this thinking might initially sound right, it actually flies in the face of everything the Bible teaches. While finding the right church can take time and prayer, NOT joining a church is never an option.

In his book, Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace? James Montgomery Boice talks about recovering community. As someone who was nurtured back to spiritual health by a community of believers, I can only concur with the statements that are expressed here.  May God help us to get beyond our individualism — the individualism that is so deeply ingrained in our culture, and free us to love and care for others.

“A fourth area in which we need to seek renewal is for our churches to become true spiritual communities: “community” because it is only as a community that we can model relationships, and “spiritual” because what we want to model is the unique qualities of life that being Christian brings.

The church of Jesus Christ can model community as no secular organization can – not businesses, not schools, not the centers of entertainment or social life, not government or city agencies- only the church! Because the church gets us outside of ourselves as those who together have been made into the one body of Jesus Christ, we can think about and care for others. Churches have an extraordinary opportunity for reaching people for Christ through their communities at a time when other forms of community have broken down. There is no better place than the fellowship of Christians for embracing those suffering from ruptured marriages, fractured homes, and other destroyed relationships.

Christianity offers something different at this point.  God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). Both of these statement concern relationships and show how necessary and desirable relationships are.

What makes a community?  A community holds together because of some higher allegiance or priority. Christians are the community of those who are formed by Scripture alone and who, because of that, know that they are all sinners saved by grace alone because of Christ alone. They are not wrapped up in themselves. Therefore, they love each other and are able to stand together and welcome all types of people and races to their fellowship.  They have a commitment that goes – or should go- beyond mere individualism; and if they do, they inevitably model genuine community in church settings. Such communities provide an unsurpassed opportunity for reaching the unsaved world for Jesus Christ.”

James Montgomery Boice, Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace? Rediscovering the Doctrines that Shook the World, Illinois: Crossway,  pages 177-179.

Filed Under: Church, James Montgomery Boice

Christ Will Never Leave His Wife

September 29, 2011 By

“Staying married, therefore is not mainly about staying in love.  It is about keeping covenant.

“Till death do us part” or “As long as we both shall live” is a sacred covenant promise-the same kind Jesus made with his bride when he died for her.

Therefore, what makes divorce and remarriage so horrific in God’s eyes is not merely that it involves covenant-breaking to the spouse, but that it involves misrepresenting Christ and his covenant.

Christ will never leave his wife. Ever. There may be times of painful distance and tragic backsliding on our part.  But Christ keeps his covenant forever. Marriage is a display of that!

That is the ultimate thing we can say about it.  It puts the glory of God’s covenant-keeping love on display.”

John Piper, This Momentary Marriage:  A Parable of Permanence

Filed Under: Church, John Piper, Marriage, Quotes

Are you criticizing or interceding?

January 31, 2011 By

My husband and I usually sit in the third row at church but once a month, because I help out with the overheads, I sit in the back.  Today was my turn.  Sitting all the way in the back gives you a whole different perspective.  With my bird’s eye view of the room I kind of quietly surveyed the gathering. From the worship team, to the ushers, to those ministering to the children, to the pastors and the elder (we only have one!), to those seated in the pews — what fragile and broken vessels were present in this little assembly!

Yet, despite this reality, which is certainly not unique to my fellowship but characteristic of the body as a whole (I Corinthians 1:26), we are commanded in Hebrews 10:25 not to neglect meeting together but to encourage one another.  In other words, there can be no growth in Christian grace apart from communion with the saints.  This command was written, most likely to a church in persecution in which some members were abandoning meeting together.  Not only were they not being instructed but they could not exhort one another.  As a consequence they were not being strengthened.  They were missing out on mercies that will only flow through God’s chosen means, the church.

As wonderful as I’d like to think myself, I know that I am not exactly a bargain to the church God has called me.  I come to the table with all sorts of weaknesses for which I am grateful my brothers and sisters don’t toss me out. And, despite all of the problems that I may be keen to identify in my fellow brothers and sisters, I won’t throw them out either.  God has called us to unite in love in order to worship Him.

Weaknesses, errors, faults, problems — they are all pretty easy to detect.  Everybody has them.  But what sets the church apart is not our criticism of one another but rather that we are subject to a greater law – the law of love.  Galatians 5:14 tells us, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

I titled this post “Are you criticizing or interceding” because it occurred to me today that one of the greatest expressions of love for our fellow brothers and sisters is prayer from a pure and caring heart. In other words, if you see an area of my life where I falter or miss the mark, will you pray for me, or will you criticize me? If you discern a weakness, will you stand in judgment of me, or will you intercede on my behalf because you love me?   Will you carry my burden for me to the throne of grace, or will you cast me aside?  If I say something stupid and thoughtless, will you write me off or broadcast it so that everyone else knows?  Or, will you cover me and pray for me? Will I do the same for you as my brother or sister in Christ?  Will I treat you with charity and benevolence even when you are at your worst?  Will patience and loving-kindness mark my dealings with you? Imagine treating the very bride of Christ with harsh and brute hands?  I tell you one thing, I would not want to be the one to face God on judgment day having mistreated one of God’s own! And remember, according to Jesus it’s not just the action that matters but the heart. Just because you don’t say it out loud, thinking it is enough, for it is the heart that defiles a man and makes him unclean (Matthew 15:18).

I Corinthians 13:7 says “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Isn’t that the underlying principle that you want people to have in their dealings with you?  Then let us, by faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit, extend this love and grace to those whom God has called us to worship and labor alongside.

Filed Under: Church, Devotional

R.C. Sproul on the bride of Christ

January 24, 2011 By

“The church is our mother, but it is Christ’s bride. In this role, we are the objects of Christ’s affection. We, corporately, are His beloved.

Stained and wrinkled, in ourselves we are anything but holy. When we say that the church is holy or refer to her as “holy mother church,” we do so with the knowledge that her holiness is not intrinsic but derived and dependent upon the One who sanctifies her and covers her with the cloak of His righteousness.

As the sensitive husband shelters his wife and in a chivalrous manner lends her his coat when she is chilled, so we are clad from on high by a husband who stops at nothing to defend, protect, and care for His betrothed.

His is the ultimate chivalry, a chivalry that no upheaval of earthly custom can eradicate or make passé. This chivalry is not dead because it cannot die.

The bride of Christ is soiled but will one day be presented spotless to the Father by the Son who bought her, who loves her, and who intercedes for her every day.

If we love Christ, we must also love His bride. If we love Christ, we must love His church.”

HT:  Ligonier Ministries

Filed Under: Church, Quotes, R.C. Sproul

Up from the Grave!

August 14, 2010 By

Today our church celebrated our 3rd Annual Baptism. We met this morning on the boardwalk at Coney Island Beach and made our way down to the water where we stood as one body, to witness our  brothers and sisters make public their identification with a crucified Christ.

Baptism is one of the two commandments that Jesus left us. The other is the Lord’s Supper. Wayne Grudem explains the significance of baptism like this: “When the candidate for baptism goes down into the water it is a picture of going down into the grave and being buried.  Coming up out of the water is then a picture of being raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. Baptism thus very clearly pictures death to one’s old way of life and rising to a new kind of life in Christ.” (Systematic Theology, page 968-969).

If you have any sense of the eternal implications of such an amazing thing, you will understand why this was a day to rejoice!  And rejoice we did!

In the book of Acts the believers who repented and were baptized went on to “devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42).  If you remember, would you pray that the believers who were baptized today in NYC would continue in the faith just like the believers in Acts Chapter 2?


“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:3-4

Filed Under: Baptism, Church

Judgement withheld for the sake of the elect

July 3, 2010 By

One of the greatest deceptions a man can fall prey to is to believe that the absence of God’s immediate judgement is proof that sin will not be judged.  Individually and corporately this is a very dangerous place to be.  May the Lord break-up the fallow ground of our hearts that we may never find ourselves standing on such perilous grounds.

Matthew 13:24-40 shatters the treacherous lie that  God will not judge sin — especially in the church of God for which He has placed Jesus as the head.

In these passages Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to  a Master who sent his men out to sow good seed in his field.  But, late at night an enemy (the devil) snuck in and sowed weeds among the wheat.  The following morning, when the men awoke and saw this they asked their Master, “Do you want us to go and gather them?” The Master replied, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

This would explain why God permits certain ministries to carry on even though they operate in some falsehood.  This would explain why evil practices are conducted in the very house of God by the very people who wear the name of Christ.

This passage of scripture tells us that in the church there will be “weeds” who have been strategically placed in the house of God.  They are, according to these verses, children of the devil and they will grow alongside the children of God.  Though it might be difficult to discern who is who,  we can be certain, as Matthew Henry states that, “whatever is amiss in the church, we are sure it is not from Christ.”

Given the terrible judgement that awaits them — they will be bound in bundles and burned, let us take heed as to how we conduct ourselves.

Let us repent from our sin.  For now, judgement is withheld for the sake of the elect.  But, a time will come when the judgement and terror of the Lord will be unrestrained.

Filed Under: Church, Elect, Judgement

Integrity Matters in the Church

June 11, 2010 By

In this generation of cultural and moral relativism there remains an Absolute Truth in the universe that will never be altered.  It is the Gospel message of salvation. It is the Truth of God in the face of Jesus Christ.    To compromise the Gospel is to compromise the only Truth with the power to set a man free.

Yet, beyond a pure proclamation of the Gospel is the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ is, according to Paul, “the pillar and foundation of the truth.”  His words confirm that the people of God will conduct themselves in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel and consistent with Truth. 

The Christian has been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus Christ.  This is the Truth. Ephesians 4:23 states that we have been forgiven by God “in Christ.”  We were forgiven when we repented and put our faith in the shed blood of Jesus.  We do not have a righteousness of our own; our righteousness is in Him.  This reality, this Truth, should color all of our conduct.  Unrepented sin, whether private or public,  is a chip at the bedrock of a Christian’s foundation:  Truth. 

My prayer today is that we would take these words to heart.  May God give us the grace to repent of our sins daily.  May we not just preach a pure Gospel message of salvation but may we live a life of Truth, set apart as ”the pillar and foundation of the truth” to a lost and dying world. 

“If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which  is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

The Apostle Paul , 1 Timothy 3:15

Filed Under: Church

Charles Spurgeon on Church Membership

March 10, 2010 By

“Now, I know there are some who say, “Well, I hope I have given myself to the Lord, but I do not intend to give myself to any church, because—” Now, why not? “Because I can be a Christian without it.” Now, are you quite clear upon that? You can be as good a Christian by disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient? Well, suppose everybody else did the same, suppose all Christians in the world said, “I shall not join the Church.” Why there would be no visible Church, there would be no ordinances. That would be a very bad thing, and yet, one doing it—what is right for one is right for all— why should not all of us do it? Then you believe that if you were to do an act which has a tendency to destroy the visible Church of God, you would be as good a Christian as if you did your best to build up that church? I do not believe it, sir! nor do you either.”

HT:  Exploring the Mind and Heart of the Prince of Preachers

Filed Under: Charles Spurgeon, Church

Christian Fellowship

February 4, 2010 By

Ecclesiastes 4:9 says that, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.” I think this could be the beauty of the church.

When the church is functioning properly your strength makes up for my lack, and my strength makes up for yours.  One of the greatest joys that I have known is the fellowship of the saints.  I pray for the body of saints that God so sovereignly, yet tenderly placed me in.  I pray that believers everywhere come to  know the joy that can only be experienced when the saints of God come together with one chief end — to glorify Christ.

“We should not … think of our fellowship with other Christians as a spiritual luxury, an optional addition to the exercises of private devotion. We should recognize rather that such fellowship is a spiritual necessity; for God has made us in such a way that our fellowship with himself is fed by our fellowship with fellow-Christians, and requires to be so fed constantly for its own deepening and enrichment.”

- J.I Packer quoted by Jerry Bridges in True Fellowship, page 18.

Filed Under: Church, J.I. Packer, Jerry Bridges

Appreciate those who labor with you in the Gospel

December 18, 2009 By

In Romans Chapter 16, the Apostle Paul goes out of his way to recognize those who are serving in ministry. Paul specifically mentions each person by name, acknolwedges their ministry, and exhorts the church to treat these people right.

What a lesson for us. Is there someone you can acknowledge today? If so, follow Paul’s example and let a fellow laborer in the Lord know how much you appreciate them.

Filed Under: Church, Devotional

Nicolae Gheorghita

October 22, 2009 By

The following devotional is from “Open Doors USA.”  Open Doors is a ministry which serves the persecuted Church.   I was particularly moved by this short piece as it is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness to the church in times of crisis.  Moreover, it is a powerful statement that God, despite our weaknesses and shortcomings, will override our wills in order to accomplish his eternal purposes.

Nicolae Gheorghita

 When asked to do something we do not like, our first reaction is often negative. In 1981 I went to visit a church that had just lost its pastor. Joseph Ton was “asked” to leave the church by the government. I had to preach in that church that same evening. I saw sadness and confusion and many empty seats … because of fear. I started by asking a question. “Has Joseph Ton left?” They answered, “Yes.” Then I asked another question. “Has the God of this congregation left along with Joseph?” My question fell like thunder. They all answered, “No.” “Then let us give Him glory,” I continued.

A week later, the church committee called me on the telephone to make an appointment with me to meet with them. I realized straight away that they wanted to ask me to become their pastor. I told them that I was not interested and that I could tell them “no” over the phone. “But we still want to visit you.” Of course I could not refuse that request.

The church was fasting and praying for our meeting. The members of the committee came and we talked for a long time. All of a sudden I heard myself say “yes” to their request to become their pastor. When I realized it was not me saying yes, it was from God, peace filled my heart. “Father, not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

“Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” “I will not” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. (Matthew 21:28-29)

Filed Under: Church, Persecution
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