Brian W Johnson

Personal Holiness

In a conversation with a friend we began to discuss what a church needed. Of course numerous items were discussed and many dogmatic statements made. Among the list of things named, one I found interesting was the need for personal holiness in the pastor and the leadership. View a brief history of the current condition of the church and witness the need for godly men to lead the church. An obvious and blaring discrepancy is evident in the proclamation to walk by faith, as pastors and leaders raise to stardom and fall to immoral behavior, among other ill deeds of ungodliness. Preachers of grace must understand that grace is not a license for wickedness, but a call to holiness.

My journey since that conversation has been difficult, as I have taken that challenge my friend issued to me with great zeal. My zeal has been lesser or greater at times. I have felt like a puritan at times, only to reject my own legalistic tendencies, while at other times taking drastic measure to be holy as the one who called me is holy. Apart from Christ I stand as a dismal failure. In Christ I am being sanctified by the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the body, as I’m led by the Spirit of God.

Recently a young man in our church asked me to read a book with him. The book is John Owen’s The Mortification of Sin. Reading this book brought to mind a sermon I had preached a few years ago titled 14 Ways to Kill Sin. That message was affected by John Piper’s sermons on how to kill sin, yet it still remains my labor in the Word of God seeking to find out ways to actually be holy in Christ, that I might walk in a manner worthy of the gospel call. In reading John Owen’s book I am beginning to realize how much my sermon, and habit to mortify sin, has also been affected by Owen.

So, in finding these points helpful for the mortification of the flesh, I hope that you might find them the same.

14 Ways To Kill Sin

Trust in the promises of God

By trusting in the promises of God, Christians are exercising faith. By faith in Jesus they have been brought into union with him, having been redeemed and justified by God. Believers have the Spirit of God in them giving them the ability to wage war against sin by means of the indwelling Spirit. (Rom 8:5-13)

Recognize the old man is dead (Rom 6:11)

By faith believers are in union with Christ. By faith they are dead to sin and alive to God. The old man is dead and those in Christ are alive to God, by his spirit able to do revealed will.

Recognize sin’s presence (Rom 7:21)

Christians are dead to sin and alive to God, (Rom 8:10) but they are still in the body, which is dead because of sin. They are no longer debtors to the flesh but retain contact and relationship with the flesh.
Identifying the enemy so that one can eliminate the enemy is crucial. One cannot kill what they do not recognize.
Christians don’t ignore sin or justify it—as humans excel in this area—but recognize sin and deal with it.

Cultivate a hatred for sin (Rom 7:25)

One will not kill what one loves or kill one’s friend. Hate evil and love what is good, (Amos 5:15)

Cultivate a desire for God (Ps 37:4; 73:25-26)

A heart fixed upon God is going to love the things of God and hate things contrary to God. A heart that desires God, longs for God, and thirsts for God will put to death the deeds of the flesh.

Cultivate obedience to God (Ps 119:5-6)

By seeking to obey the commandments of the Lord by the power of the Spirit, a child of God will kill sin.

Cultivate the mind of Christ

Believers are told to have this mind among them (Phil 2:5-8). Jesus became obedient to the point of death on the cross, condemned sin in the flesh (Rom 8:3). His followers are also to cultivate this mind, becoming obedient to the point of killing the deeds of the flesh.
To cultivate the mind of Christ is to develop mental habits such as mind renewal (Rom 12:2), and meditation upon the things of God (Phil 4:8). Both lead one to kill sin by the power of the Spirit.

Commune with God daily (1 Thess 5:16-18; Heb 4:16)

Children of God are commanded to pray without ceasing, in all places continuously communing with God in prayer. The discipline of praying involves confession and petitioning the Spirit for the power to kill sin.

Meditate upon God’s Word daily (Ps 119:11; Ps 1:1-3)

Faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and anything done without faith is sin (Rom 10:17; 14:23). Sin is killed when God’s Word feeds faith’s appetite for God. Walking daily by faith comes through daily hearing the Word of God.

Fellowship with the saints daily

Hebrew 3:13 teaches that believers are to, “…exhort one another everyday, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Fellowship is a sharpening process, which is a sin-killing process. As Christians confess sins one to another, they help restore those who have fallen into transgression, (Gal 6:1-3; James 5:16).

Run the race to win, fight the good fight of faith

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 portrays the life of a Christian as running a race; 1 Timothy 4:8 portrays it is as a fight. Christians battle sin, wage war against sin, fight the good fight against sin, running the good race against sin.

Long for future glory (Rom 5:2)

1 John 3:3 proclaims that though Christians do not know what they will become, as children of God, they are assured they will take on a family resemblance. In this they have hope that when he appears, they shall be like him because they shall see him as he is. Children of God purify themselves in this hope, as their father is pure.

Depend upon the Spirit (Rom 8:13; Eph 6:17)

Putting on the armor of God is part of killing sin. Part of that armor is the sword of the Spirit, on which a believer must depend. Swords are meant to kill things; the sword of the Spirit is to be wielded against the enemies of darkness. The sword of the Spirit is the Word.

Wage a violent war against sin

Matt 18:8, 9—“And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.” Kill it! Cut it off! Throw it away! KILL SIN!

2012: 03/01
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Why can’t we all just get along? Answering this question is not easy. Then again, answering is very easy. The problem is sin. Particular sins are not fully to blame, though individual and particular sins do contribute to the problem. The futility of fallen humanity becomes the general reason we cannot get along. A world full of sinners will obviously exist in sinful unrest. Thus there is a need for the restoration of what is futile into what is fruitful. Consequently there is the need for Jesus.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation, it is the power of God for peace and reconciliation, it is the power of God to unify those who are in Him. It is sweet to see brothers dwelling in unity because of man being reconciled to God and thus to one another. All of this is to be for the magnification and glorification of the Christ of God; they will know we are Christians by our love for one another.

Difficulty arises when apparent brothers in Christ cannot love each other, or at least they don’t appear to love one another. One brother correcting another appears loveless and arrogant. One brother accuses the other of judgmentalism appearing unfaithful to the Word of God. Both believe that the other is being a poor witness for Christ. Why can’t we all just get along? Aren’t we supposed to be known for our love for one another? Aren’t we supposed to be peacemakers? Why is there so much division? Why does there need to be sides taken and lines drawn? Why can’t we all just get along? Problems only amplify as social media, and various other venues make mountains out of mole hills, or conversely, make mountains to be mere mole hills.

There are those who claim the high moral ground and seek to be like Jesus in their behavior. Then there are those who claim, presumably the same, high moral ground on the other hill across the way, seeking to be like Christ. One side lobs veiled grenades of judgment while professing to be Christ centered peacemakers. The other side lobs grenades while professing to lob grenades and stand on the truth. (I am quite aware at the absurdity of this dualism, and I am also rather sure that my point is made, even if imprecise). Who is right? Who is exercising gospel fidelity? Frankly at times I’m not sure, especially when the parties involved seem to be faithful servants of God.

Sadly I believe division will continue to be among us, it is not only a trait of religious people, but people in general divide over anything, religion is just another excuse. I have seen families divide over finances, possessions, and politics. Division will cease when our adoption in Christ is finalized and when our bodies are redeemed along with the whole of creation.

1 Corinthians 11:19 gives some hope in this matter while on this side of eternity. The apostle teaches that factions must be among the body of Christ for the purpose of showing who is genuine. Now, this is no excuse for being divisive or factious. And while this might not feel encouraging, the testing of the bride of Christ through division in the church, God’s unimaginable grace is manifest as his children faithfully endure in these trials.

Another aid in times of dissension is to realize that the gospel is essentially divisive. It has become a common assumption for Christians to think that some how we need to make Jesus palatable to everyone at any cost. Truth then is sacrificed on the altar of love and kindness, or to combat any error, love is sacrificed on the alter of truth. Neither option makes any biblical sense.

Jesus teaches in Matthew 10:34 that he came not for peace but to bring a sword. In other words, the truth of the gospel will divide followers of Christ from those who are not. Again, no cause for divisive behavior should be justified through passages like this, however assent must be given to the fact that the gospel will divide. While the gospel might divide, believers are not absolved of being peace makers. In Matthew 5:9 Jesus teaches that blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called sons of God.

This may appear like a fundamentalist approach, because that is what it is. This is a blog post and not a complete systematic theology. However, my simple point is that gospel wisdom grounded in the fundamentals of biblical fidelity are needed for our current milieu to grasp that these disagreements are necessary to demonstrate who is genuine in Christ.

2012: 01/25
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Viewing the Church Organically

I hesitate to use the title “Viewing the Church Organically,” because I’m not seeking to coin the phrase organic church. Avoiding cute little Christian cultural catchphrases might add a little more substance to my content. Nonetheless, I give the title.

For a couple of years now I have been teaching and leading the people of Calvary Baptist Church to look more to the natural out working of the body of Christ for our growth, more so than to the event and methodologically driven church culture we live in. What do I mean? Very simply the church needs to be the church as the Bible describes and teaches. To learn what this looks like takes time, study of the Word, and much preaching of the Word. It is so much more than simple applications of some method, yet it is so much less than our hyperactive understanding of what the church is to be.

At the <a href="http://TGC blog, I read this afternoon a good and short blog by Ray Ortlund expressing the heart of my sentiment. If a church becomes an environment of grace that holds the radically transformed then we will turn the world upside down for the glory of Christ.

2012: 01/20
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
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The Goodness of God

God is good. Do you believe this? I thank God for His goodness. Recently, I was thanking God in a particular circumstance and I began to think about God’s goodness. How does this circumstance portray God’s goodness and yet not detract from His goodness in other circumstances? Is God’s goodness only in what I deem good? Would I be thanking God for His goodness if the circumstance were different? What if my circumstance was one of need, would I still thank God? Would God still be good?

Giving thanks in all circumstances, and rejoicing always does not come with the qualification of only when one thinks things are good, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Rather, all circumstances means even in the bad, always rejoicing means even in the bad. Now, it is not prudent to rejoice in evil itself, but to simply recognize God’s sovereign goodness and sustaining provision for those who are in Christ Jesus. So, Christian, we praise God thanking Him at all times in all things.

Thinking about how we thank God for His goodness is important; here are a few reasons. First, all glory, praise, and honor are due His name. As God’s creatures we have been created for such a purpose and we will stand rebel if we do not give what is rightfully His. Thus, giving thanks to God for His goodness is an important part of giving appropriate worship to God. Second, it is important to think about how we thank God, as failure to give praise, when and where it is due, demonstrates our heart toward God. If thanks are only given in circumstances that the world reckons ‘good,’ then God’s goodness is misunderstood and He is not worshiped properly. If thanks are never given, or only superficially given, then God is misunderstood and our heart toward Him is cold. The way of men will be futile and dark if in knowing God they do not honor Him as God nor give Him thanks, (Romans 1:21-23). Third, for those who are in Christ, if we give thanks to God like the world gives thanks to God then we bear false witness about God. If we thank God only for a game won, or an award at work, or some other form of circumstantial blessing, but neglect to thank God in all circumstances then we bear false witness. So, thinking about how we praise Him in the good and the bad is of great importance.

God does not exist for our health, wealth, and prosperity. God exists for His glory. God gives us good gifts for which we should thank Him for continually. Ultimately the good gifts of God are not temporal, nor earthly, they are oft not seen, but the good gift of God is that inheritance that is unfading, undefiled, imperishable and kept in heaven for those who have been caused to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Pet 1:3-5). The good gift of God is by faith His reception of us; graciously with mercy and compassion even after we’ve returned from rolling in the mire.

Now, the circumstance that I thank God for is that my old truck caught fire. After assessing the damage I decided that it was not worth fixing, so I sold the truck, cheap. My wife and I do not have the money for a new vehicle, so we’ve decided to due without. God has provided everything I have or ever will have, if I don’t have a truck it must not be needed. God is good, and it is shown everyday through the gospel of grace.

A few weeks later, through some friends, I was given a truck that is far superior to the one I had. To me this is a gift from God, which I am thankful for. This gift is a shadow of grace, in that I do not deserve such a gift, so I praise God for His grace. I do not, nor will I ever deserve this truck, which is a picture of God’s grace to me. Yet even if the truck was never given to me; God is still good, God’s grace is still evident in my life through faith in Jesus Christ, and I praise Him for His goodness in all things.

I do not, nor will I ever deserve the salvation that Jesus has earned for me through His death, burial, and resurrection. God has made known to me the path of life; I did not find it on my own. God has given me an infinite treasure beyond comparison in His Son Jesus Christ, my Lord, Master, Savior, and King. My prayer is that in any and every circumstance God would give me the grace to praise Him; even when my hands are held out in need. My prayer is that when my circumstance is not ‘good’ I will thank God for His goodness in all things, always. To Him be glory, and honor, and praise forevermore in any and every circumstance. Amen.

2011: 10/29
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Depths of Depravity–Come Lord Jesus!

I am always amazed at how sinful I really am. From a theological stand point I’m not surprised, but from an experiential standpoint I stand amazed that I am still very sinful. I am a wicked man in perpetual need of Jesus.

To set your mind at ease—I have not committed any acts of murder, adultery, thievery, or out any out-n-out idol worship, just to name a few. Morally speaking, I am rather good by societal standards. However, therein lies my problem. Not that being an immoral or amoral person is my suggestion, but because of my external morality, I begin to think too highly of myself and I lose sight of genuine godliness. Please refrain from any piercing comments of agreement.

The point is—my flesh continues to be the flesh. I continue to find my heart thinking and feeling things that I do not want to think or feel. These thoughts and feelings render me guilty as charged as a transgressor of all the commandments. In this continued wretched state I am tempted to act in these vile ways. My heart’s cry is for my Lord Jesus to come, while my flesh is still seeking self-gratification.

When I became a pastor, I half expected maturing in faith to be without struggle, as if in some mystical way I would become a ‘super-saint’ who is impervious to the temptations of sin. Yet somehow I have never reached that ‘super-saint’ category whereby I’m no longer tempted to love the world and the things in the world more than my Savior Jesus. Sad to say, I am continually tempted to love the world more than Jesus.

All of this drives me to give and receive Scriptural counsel. The counsel is to cast your self upon Jesus, to consider Christ, to trust in Jesus fully and constantly. I hope that Jesus can be seen by me and you, as the all-surpassing treasure who would incite us to sell all of our possessions to acquire Him. This is not only a call to those who do not believe in Jesus, but it is a call to those who do place, and continue to place, their faith in our Savior King.

Also, this drives me to desire the fulfillment of the mission Jesus has given to His Church, which is worldwide spread of the gospel of the kingdom. Matthew 24:14 teaches that when the gospel of the kingdom is proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to the nations, then the end will come. Therefore, if I hate sin, my sin, and love Jesus, wanting to see him come, then I will desire the completion of the task that precedes His coming. If I long for Jesus to come and consummate the end of the age, if I long to be out of this imperfect and perishing body, if I want to be with the ransomed church of God to sin no more, then I will seek to hasten the day (2 Peter 3:11-13). In seeking God’s face, and fulfilling my appointed role, as a herald of the gospel of the kingdom I hope to be a part of ushering in the coming of our Lord. Do you have this desire? Come Lord Jesus, AMEN!

2011: 10/16
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Discipline

Years ago I read a book by Don Whitney called the Spiritual Disciplines. This book was given to me through the church I was attending–it was awesome to say the least. The book was not terribly engaging from a reading standpoint, but the content was excellent.

This book introduced to me for the first time the idea of exercising spiritual discipline. Discipline in diet, exercise, along with other areas was not foreign to me. The concept of being spiritually disciplined seemed to remove some of the mystical ideas I possessed regarding the Christian life. The removal of these ideas was good, as pursuit of Jesus is not simply jumping from one mystical and emotional experience to another. Following Jesus Christ is supernatural and it is to be a daily experience through the Word, prayer, and fellowship with the saints, while seeking to do His will. Through the spiritual disciplines my heart became focused upon Jesus and the glorious grace of God like never before.

Essentially, spiritual disciplines are the disciplined routine of reading Scripture, studying Scripture, praying and journaling all in an effort to seek God; just to name a few. (If you want a more thorough treatment of the topic I suggest purchasing and reading Whitney’s book). However, with the praise of discipline comes the pitfalls of discipline. Cultivation of sterile and heartless devotion whereby one thinks they are close with God because of their disciplined life can be a result. I must admit I have fallen into that sterile routine at times.

So, do we then abandon the spiritual disciplines? May it never be. If I have abandoned the mystical-spiritual-experiential side of things, because they are a trapping, then why not abandon the trappings of discipline? First, let me note that I have not abandon seeking to experience God in supernatural ways. In all of these things, mystical experience and spiritual discipline, it must be remembered that they are to be held in proper relationship to the Word of God. I do not abandon the supernatural experience with my Savior, but I seek to have it defined through what He has revealed, rather than what I presuppose or even have culturally absorbed. I also do not abandon the spiritual disciplines because of my cold-heart. The problem with spiritual disciplines, the same as for seeking to experience the mystical, is the heart of man in relation to these things and not the instruments themselves. My problem is me and not discipline.

Scripture is replete with ideas that require an active daily pursuit of the things of God, (i.e. spiritual disciplines). Do not be lax in the things of God, but if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts. Seek God why it is still today. Listen to the voice of God while it is speaking loudly. Where do we hear his voice most clearly? In the Bible. Those who are followers of Christ must actively consider Jesus, keeping their eyes upon Him alone, listening to and obeying His Word, (cf. Heb 3). Brothers, those who share in the heavenly calling, discipline your hearts in prayer, in the Word, in fellowship. When your heart grows cold, do the hard work of heart work and repent for the forgiveness of sin.

2011: 10/07
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Complaining

Life is still busy here in the Johnson household. We have a newborn at home who sleeps great, but not as much as I would like. Our remodeling project is going fast, but not as fast as I would like. Not to mention all the work involved with the kids. The grandparents are helping, but not like I want them to. The church is learning, loving, and growing in Christ, but not fast enough. Really, I am finding myself doing the very thing that I hate… Complaining. If you are honest with yourself the grumble bug has bitten you at times as well.

Yes, life is hard, but it is how one views life that is important. Putting on rose colored lenses is not the answer, nor is the all too simplistic solution of positive thinking. I can think I’m happy all day long, but in the end I will be deluded and unhappy with a plastic smile. Complaining does not add anything to ones experience, either than the misery of telling everyone why life is so hard.

What is the solution? Well, I want to say, “Stop Complaining!” That is what I have told myself. More than that though is the consideration of Jesus, holding to him as the one who brings genuine meaning to life, clinging to the one who can bring us to peace with God. Consider Jesus Christ, the apostle and high priest of those who share in Christ, and the heavenly calling through Christ (cf. Heb 3:1-6).

The confession that a person in Christ holds to teaches that Jesus was faithful to all that God the Father appointed him to do. Trusting in Jesus is trusting in the one who has been given all authority because of his faithfulness. When I complain I am not considering Jesus, who is authoritatively in control of the circumstance in which I find displeasure. Instead grumbling displays that I am considering myself and am dissatisfied with my lack of control, or I am lamenting my Saviors sovereign rule as supreme Lord over all.

In the end neither option is how a child of God must walk. I am rebuked yet again in my foolish complaining. Consider Jesus, you saints of the Lord, and know that he is faithful in all of God’s house to work and will his good pleasure. Consider Jesus and know that he is in control and that in your circumstance he is providing you a chance to strengthen your faith. Like Abraham, brothers, let us grow strong in our faith, giving glory to God, fully convinced that God will do what he has promised (cf. Rom 4:19-21).

2011: 10/01
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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What must I do to be saved?

What does a person need to do to be saved? What do you need to do to be saved? The answer is simple. Nevertheless an intelligible answer becomes cloudy in the ocean of competing responses. Add hostility to the mix and people give morose rebuttals such as ‘saved from what?’ or ‘do we really need saved?’ or yet again, ‘who can really know the truth?’

Questions like this have been asked through the ages. Even so, clarity is not only lost among the world, even within the church cultural mores reign regarding salvation. Thus being saved is a result of maturity, religious rites of passage, or is the product of morality in choosing ‘good’ over ‘evil’; all of which are veiled in language of Christian ease.

Amidst all the complexity of the current day, the answer to the question is yes, man needs saved. Man needs saved from God’s wrath, which is justly deserved in light of mankind’s cosmic treason. Yes people need salvation, and they need to know how one is saved, yet they cannot save themselves. People need saved who are explicitly hostile to Jesus as much as those whom do not expressly deny the maker, yet continue to reject God by their very being.

For the sake of clarity, being saved is the actual rescuing of an individual from the dominion of sin and death, by the Savior Jesus Christ, and being moved to the dominion where Christ reigns as Master. Mankind is aware of the enemy status of which they possess, deep down inside all men know of their need of rescuing. So then, I return to the question, ‘what do I need to do to be saved?’

Jesus was asked this question in various ways. In Mark 10:17-22 we read of the rich young ruler and Jesus’ answer to this question. ““And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. ””

What a dream! Having a person ask how to be saved would be awesome. Get a person like this to pray a prayer of commitment, get baptized, get into church on Sunday, then BAM! Wahoo! Put another notch in the ole’ gospel gun. That is how someone is saved… or is it?

It is curious then that when people acted like the rich young ruler, Jesus responded in a way contrary to popular thinking. Instead of giving three easy steps to know for sure that a person can go to heaven, or giving him the four spiritual laws, or praying a prayer, or pressing for a decision to believe, Jesus tells him to do something that he knew he would be difficult.

Jesus loved this man. He told him to keep the law, which the man boasted that he had, Jesus then told him to give up everything and follow him. At first glance it appears to be a direct answer to the young man’s question. Upon further considering of Jesus’ message it becomes clear—Jesus asked him to exercise faith not trusting the deeds he has done, or worshiping the possessions that he had. He was not telling him what to do to be saved, he was telling him who to trust to be saved.

Now, in an age of cheap grace and easy believeism Jesus’ answer appears to be a call to works. Nonetheless Jesus’ call to the rich young ruler is a call to faith, a call to follow him, which is filled with work, action, decisions, and choices; these things will not be what save, but salvation comes as a result of grace alone. In the eyes of the ruler his deeds were better and his stuff was worth more than giving them up to follow Christ. To the rich young ruler Jesus was not better than everything.

Ultimately Jesus did answer the question of what must a person do to be saved, but he did not answer in a man-centered way, nor did he answer in way that pleased the ruler. One might think that the ruler would have been happy to receive such a mighty task of selling and following; I think his displeasure came from understanding what Jesus meant. Jesus forced the man to trust in him more than anything, by following him, as he gave up everything.

Being saved is not akin to a self-help or do-it-yourself manual. Salvation is not about the good deeds of people. The question, ‘what must I do to be saved?’ implies what the rich young ruler in Mark 10 implied, which is, what good deed must I do to be saved. In Matthew 19:16-22 the language used more accurately portrays this truth. So, Jesus told the ruler how one is saved, but he did not tell him what deeds must be done to be saved.

Being saved is not something that a person does, nor is it a do-it-yourself project; if one could save him/her self, then salvation would not be need. However, those who lazily sit in their intellectual arrogance, that salvation is not by works, do not then gain salvation. The answer to the question of salvation is of faith, and faith is not something that a person does as a deed, but it is something that a person actively pursues. To be saved one must give up the world having faith in Jesus, following him.

This is an important concept to understand. The demand for a response to the gospel is necessary, but it is not that response that saves the responder. A response to the truth of who Jesus is, what he has done, and is doing should be one of worship and adoration. Mankind will be fully judged for their lack of a worship filled response to God’s glory in Jesus Christ. The response to the irresistible grace of God will be to God’s credit and our salvation.

Yes, salvation is filled with choices, decisions, prayers, and religious deeds, but none of those things is what save. Yet if none of those things is present in an individual then he will not be saved. When Jesus is regarded as better than anything and everything this is a choices for him, a decision to follow him, with prayers of confession to him, and a repentant heart turned toward him, but none of this is to garner salvation, rather because he has made you his own.

People will not arrive in heaven without ever deciding for Christ or choosing Christ. Not a soul will be in heaven that did not pray to God the Father, by the power of the Spirit. People who do not pray to God will not be in heaven! I am not assigning salvific power to prayer, or to the choosing of Christ, but I’m teaching that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone and that faith is an action filled response to grace.

What must I do to be saved? Give up the world and follow Jesus, trust in him, considering him better than everything.

2011: 09/21
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Busy

Life has a become very busy recently. I tend toward having seasons of extreme busyness, where my entire goal becomes digging out from underneath the tasks that make me so busy. It is as though I have never gotten out of a cyclical college routine. What I mean is that in college there is always an external cycle of change that is teeming with activity. Semester is either starting or finishing, both are frantic; the athlete is in either pre-, in-, post-, or off-season, again just as hectic. The cycle seems never ending with a constant build up and let down of work.

This collegiate cycle of change seemed to promote, if not force, a constant evaluation of life in regard to how one is living. I know this was true for me during the college years as well as many others. However, much of that change could be seen as the product of external factors that force one to adapt to circumstance. Genuine growth is then catapulted upon graduation as a new phase of life begins and new circumstances are encountered. Nevertheless, this doesn’t last long, for when people leave college they eventually end up in routines that facilitate staleness and actually work against any real change.

No significant insight is had by this author, as exceptions to what has just been written are numerous. I guess the point I want to make is that change needs to come from the outside, but not as a result of circumstance. If our change comes as the result of external factors, other than God, the possibilities of negative revision are immense. So, if any genuine change with eternal significance is going to come, it must be in union with the one who sanctifies–Jesus Christ our Lord.

Although the cyclical college routine has seemingly absorbed into my DNA, I simply view this pattern of life as a circumstance given by God that he uses for his glory and my sanctification in union with Christ.

2011: 09/16
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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Life is Hard

Life is filled with difficult circumstances. Everyday presents a different challenge or obstacle. Many of these situations could be avoided, as they are the direct result of sin; however, each unique circumstance can result in a growing dependence upon Jesus Christ. So, avoidance of sin is good, but avoiding life’s difficulties by cocooning in a comfortable corner only leads to spiritual immaturity.

The avoidance of difficult situations often characterizes people I encounter. While this does not mean that they are successful in avoiding all difficulties, it does mean that their economy of decision-making is not based upon bringing glory to God through faith in Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31—“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all the glory of God.”—is a passage that should dictate how decisions are made. Instead, it would seem, decisions are made based off of a principle that reads more like this; “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for your comfort and ease.” Decisions are rendered based upon what will result in the most comfortable, most enjoyable, and most secure path. Ease, joy, and security can be relatively defined according to various contexts, but it is clear that this decision-making is not based off of the economy of the gospel of God or off of seeking God’s glory.

So, rather than praying for ease and comfort sprinkled with happiness and security of circumstance, pray that God’s will be done. This means accepting the fact that this prayer will result in suffering and trial. When praying for God’s will to be done, as Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 6:10, is a prayer for God’s revealed will to be done. Praying God’s will be done involves obeying what he has revealed and warring against the world and those who are in the world, including your own fleshly desires. This can only be a recipe for trouble, trouble that the Scripture promises for those who follow Jesus, (Matt 10:34-39; John 15:20; Rom 8:17; 2 Tim 3:12, etc.)

Honest prayer for God’s will to be done is a fearful thing, as it means making difficult decisions that might not grant the ease, joy, and security of circumstance that might be desired. Genuinely desiring and praying for God’s will to be done is a slave’s dependent act for the wisdom to think, feel, and live in the most difficult circumstances in life.

2011: 08/22
POSTED BY: Brian W Johnson
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
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