The Ohio Bible Fellowship Visitor

Scripture’s description of the Lord’s Table on the night before His crucifixion is full of dramatic truths. By tying the ordinance to the Old Testament Passover (Matt 26:17, 26), He signified His redemption of mankind from sin’s bondage and equated Himself with the Passover’s sacrificial lamb, demonstrating that His death would turn away the wrath of God and effectively end the need for animal sacrifice. By stating that the cup was the New Covenant inaugurated with His blood (Matt 26:27–28), He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and marked a distinct change in the way in which God would deal with sinful men (Jer 31:31–34). Finally, He set up a perpetual memorial of Himself, giving us symbols representing His body and blood to remind us of Him until He returns (Matt 26:26–29; 1 Cor 11:23–26).

The last of those lessons is probably the best understood: Christ established the Lord’s Table as a “remembrance.” What we often miss, however, is the startling fact that Christ found it necessary to institute a reminder of His suffering on our behalf. What a devastating indictment Christ made of even saved men! Might we forget that Christ lived a perfect life on our behalf? Forget that He bore our sin on His body on the cross? Forget that He suffered the undiluted and infinite wrath of God that we might enjoy His favor? Forget that He was forsaken by His Father so we might be received? Is it possible we could be so ungrateful and distracted?

Indeed it is. Christ knew the frailty and folly of human hearts. He knew we would forget His saving work, and we have proven Him right countless times. Certainly we don’t forget that these events happened in history, but we suffer a practical amnesia when we act as though Christ’s sacrifice for our sins is irrelevant for real life. Even more amazing than our neglect of Christ is that He saved us although He knew we would so easily forget Him. Knowing that we are “prone to wander,” Jesus set up a beautiful reminder to direct our thoughts toward His saving work, past, present and future. The Lord’s Table is a unique gift to the body of Christ. It is an important part of our sanctification—not because there is any particular power in the elements or in the ritual (the error promoted by the Roman Catholic Church), but because the Lord’s Table seizes the attention of a distracted church and makes us “behold the Lamb of God” anew. And gazing on Christ is indeed a sanctifying practice (2 Cor 3:18)!

The gathering of Christ’s church in remembrance of Christ’s work and anticipation of Christ’s return is precious to God—so precious that He commanded its regular observance: “Do this in remembrance of me.” It should be equally precious to us, lest we forget.

I’m no Mr. Fix-it, but I do have a variety of tools. I have learned (usually the hard way) that a job always goes more quickly and easily when I have (and use!) the right tool. Along these lines, I would submit to you that 1 Thessalonians 5:14 gives believers a “toolbox” of ways to deal with other believers.

Confront those who are out of line.
The first command Paul gives is to “warn them that are unruly.” When a fellow Christian is violating a biblical command or principle, you are obligated to address it. This command is not only for leadership, the extroverted, or aggressive personalities; every believer is commanded to take an active role in confronting other believers who are disobeying God’s Word. The goal in confronting a sinning brother is to restore him to obedience (Gal 6:1). The motive and manner of all confrontation is love (1 Cor 16:14). Confrontation is the right “tool” for a person who is out of line.

Encourage the fainthearted.
Second, we are commanded to “comfort the feebleminded.” When a brother in Christ has become discouraged about doing right, you are obligated to encourage him to press on. It’s easy enough to find many people who fall into this category. Focus their gaze on God’s faithfulness and not their problems. Encourage them to continue doing what is right, even when it doesn’t “pay” in this world (2 Cor 8:6–8; Gal 6:10).

Support the weak.
Third, we must “support the weak.” When a believer is struggling with a sin, problem, or issue, you are obligated to do everything you can to help him overcome it and go on for the Lord. Just as we would tape a sprained ankle or splint a broken bone, we must bear with those who are struggling (Rom 12:15; 15:1–3; Gal 6:2). The “weak” differ from those who are “out of line” in that they realize they are out of line. They know they have sinned and are grieved over it, but struggle to overcome it. We should help them obey God’s Word by pointing them to biblical solutions (2 Pet 1:3) and providing loving accountability.

Be patient with everybody.
Finally, we are commanded to “be patient toward all men.” Whenever you deal with others, you are obligated to be patient with them. Whether confronting, encouraging, or supporting, all your dealings must be marked by longsuffering. Patience, the converse of pride, is fueled by love (1 Tim 6:11), and stems from a keen remembrance of God’s grace to you (1 Tim 1:12–16).

When you interact with fellow believers, open this toolbox and use this verse to God’s glory and the church’s edification.

December 2007

Since the beginning of Christianity, believers have been warned of enemies from both outside and inside the church (Acts 20:29–30). Fundamental churches have long been aware of attacks in the form of apostate teaching and the social gospel. As well, fundamentalism has responded to brethren who have refused to separate from unbelieving and disobedient believers and ministries.

In recent years, new dangers to Christ’s Bride have arisen, oftentimes noticed but sometimes even promoted by men and ministries who should know better. Amazingly some of these threats originate from the most unlikely of sources—the Christian home!

Continue reading ‘Dangers from the Home?’

How many sermons have you preached or heard that were not distinctly Christian? If we answer honestly, many sermons (on virtues, parenting, responsibilities, sins, etc.) might be well-received in a synagogue, mosque, Kingdom Hall, or Mormon church because these messages aren’t distinctly Christian. They offer people morality rather than Christianity, setting them up for frustration and failure.

I’m not suggesting we allegorize Scripture or find a type of Christ behind every bush. Absolutely not! While we must always take a normal, grammatical, historical approach to interpreting each passage, we must also consider the implications of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Like the writers of the New Testament, we must demonstrate that Old Testament prohibitions of sin demonstrate the need of a Savior, that Old Testament sacrifices point to Christ, that failures of the best Old Testament characters highlight the need for a perfect Prophet, Priest and King. We must show that biblical commands call for submission to the Lordship of Christ, and that we are only able to obey them because of Christ’s finished work. Whether in our preaching, teaching, or personal Bible study, we must demonstrate that the heart of the Scriptures is the Lord Jesus—that the Scriptures all “testify of Him” (John 5:39).

Why don’t we preach Christ this way? For one thing, we mistakenly think of the gospel as good news about the start of the Christian life rather than the basis for all of the Christian life. The entire New Testament focuses on the gospel, even though the vast majority of it was written for those who were born again! The cross work of Christ is as central to progressive sanctification (Rom 6) as to justification (Rom 4–5)! Paul’s practice was to preach gospel truth (e.g., Rom 1–11, Eph 1–3), then apply it to everyday life (as in Romans 12–16 and Ephesians 4–6). He explained every detail of Christian living in the shadow of the cross.

Often we forget that “context” is more than just the words, sentences and paragraphs surrounding a particular text. The larger context for every passage and message is Christianity. We must preach a distinctly Christian message about every issue, determining, like Paul, to preach nothing but “Christ crucified” (1 Cor 2:1–2). Every message will not necessarily have evangelism as the primary objective, nor will we be perpetually dispensing spiritual “milk.” (After all, the “meat” to which Hebrews 5 alludes is about Christ!) Rather, every message must apply “Christ crucified” to the sermon’s particular text and to everyday life. How does the gospel affect our parenting? Our struggles with temptation? Our entertainment? Our careers?

We dare not get over the gospel, whether in our preaching or in our daily lives. Only preaching that understands and applies Scripture in light of Christ’s work is distinctly Christian preaching.

August 2007

Gathering with the Lord’s church to remember Christ and His work is a vital part of Christian worship and an edifying exercise for both the corporate body and the individual Christian. Yet, Scripture protects this blessed rite in 1 Corinthians 11:27, where we are warned not to partake “unworthily.” That’s important—so important that people can suffer illness or even death for doing it. But what does it mean?

Let’s consider what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that you must be “worthy” to participate based on your performance as a Christian. You’re not ready to partake because you’ve “been good.”

First, regardless of what you may think, you’ve never been good. The fact that you think you have just demonstrates that your standard of “good” is far different than God’s.

Second, Paul isn’t saying that your spiritual performance determines your worthiness. That would be legalism in the truest sense—the idea that your obedience makes you more or less acceptable to God.

Third, the fact that you’re unworthy is the whole point! That’s why Christ came and offered His body to be broken and His blood to be spilled.

If Scripture isn’t dealing with the worthiness of the Christian, what is it doing? Well, the word “unworthily” is an adverb, not an adjective. That means that “unworthily” is describing the partaking (“eat” and “drink”), not the participants. It’s not saying that we must be worthy in ourselves, but that our manner of partaking must be worthy, and it tells us what that means.

• To promote or allow a factious spirit is partaking in an unworthy manner (vv. 18–20, 33).
• To partake selfishly and thoughtlessly is partaking in an unworthy manner (vv. 21–22, 33–34).
• To have a self-satisfied, flippant attitude is partaking in an unworthy manner (vv. 28, 31).
• To treat the Lord’s Table like a common thing is partaking in an unworthy manner (v. 29b).

What a privilege it is to fellowship with Christ’s church, worshiping Christ’s person, remembering Christ’s work, and awaiting Christ’s return! This is a precious time: take pains to approach it as Scripture requires. Your spirit and decorum as you consider Christ’s person and work should be appropriate for the solemn occasion. Be reverent, humble and thoughtful as you gaze on Christ through this ordinance.

Make no mistake: Scripture commands you to examine yourself (v. 28). But you’re not worthy, and you never will be. Approach your Lord on the basis of Christ’s merit, not your own. Partake in remembrance of Him, not yourself.

June 2007

For over a century Christians have wrangled over the issue of ecclesiastical separation, debating whether it is biblical, helpful, or even needed. We frequently hear “Why can’t we just get along? After all, we’re all really on the same team, right?” Questions like these have a ring of spirituality and can influence pastors, Christians, churches, and Christian organizations. Is ecclesiastical separation biblical? If so, why do so many reject it?

Continue reading ‘Ecclesiastical Separation’

The question of how the church can impact a decadent culture is the source of a never-ending dialogue. How can we reach Baby Boomers? Baby Busters? Gen Xers? Gen Yers? Postmodernists? Regardless of the culture being discussed, the answer is often this: “The times are changing. We need to change with them. We must keep current. We must be relevant.”
How might Paul have responded to that thesis? You need not guess, for he provided his answer in Scripture. In 2 Timothy 3 and 4, Paul teaches young Timothy how to minister in “perilous times.” He writes, “Timothy, these days are evil (3:1). You’re living in an increasingly wicked world (3:1–13). Beyond that, you’re surrounded by an increasingly worldly church (4:3–4).”

Paul’s instructions for ministering in a wicked world are crystal clear: “Keep doing what you’ve always done. Even as the world keeps getting worse, you (emphatic) stick to the Holy Scriptures (3:14). Preach the Word (4:2). Patiently confront people with biblical truth (4:2b). Explain the Bible. Make the point of the text the point of your sermon or conversation. Why? Because only Scripture can bring men to salvation (3:15). Only Scripture is God-breathed and (therefore) profitable to help people grow and become prepared for ministry (3:16–17). Your words can’t do that. Fables can’t do that (4:4). Scripture can. Nothing is more relevant and life-changing than truth.”

Are the times changing? Perhaps. But our message and method must not.

October 2006

In one of my books I have used a quotation from Dr. Theodore Cuyler, Pastor of the Lafayette Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn in the last half of the 19th century:

“For one, I care little for the government which presides at Washington, in comparison with the government which rules the millions of American homes. No administration can seriously harm us if our home life is pure, frugal and godly. No statesmanship or legislation can save us if once our homes become the abode of ignorance or the nestling place of profligacy. The home rules the nation. If the home is demoralized, it will ruin it.”

Today we can do little about “the millions of American homes.” However, I would like to give some guidance to hundreds of Christian homes. I would like to direct your attention to the first great Bible text on the government of the home.

Continue reading ‘The Government of the Home’

Have you ever heard someone complain about “those fundamentalists” who were too strident, militant,and radical, when it came to fighting for the fundamentals of the faith? I have. Early in my ministry preparation it made me wonder, “What was it that made men fight the way they did?”

As I studied the movement called fundamentalism, I learned that the zeal of these individuals, churches, and Christian organizations was due to their belief in and commitment to the truth of the Word of God. They were willing to sacrifice all they had, often losing friends, pulpits, and pensions, because of their strident belief in the Bible.

But what caused the fracas that demanded so much of Bible-believing Christians? In a word, apostasy. We must know and understand what apostasy is, where it comes from, and how to successfully defend against it in order to faithfully serve the Lord today.

Continue reading ‘Apostasy’

It is no secret in 2006 that everything which can be traced back to God is under attack. Creation is under attack. The sanctity of human life is under attack. Morality is under attack. The local church is under attack.

Continue reading ‘The Local Church’