Dear Weekly Readers. God’s Peace!
I would like to take this time to thank you for your prayers as I have been on many trips to various countries in the last few months. It is great to be home, but at the same time it is sad when we have to part with our wonderful friends around the world. That is how life is though, it is temporary and transitory! This world is not our home, it is on high! No matter where we are, if we are in Christ Jesus we are united! Let’s always remember to turn to Him for our strength and help in all of life’s situations!
This week I have decided to begin to use portions of the booklet our church puts out called Principles of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ as taught by the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America. Over time we will include this whole book, but they will only appear if we do not have a fresh article from one of the authors used to write in the Weekly Diner! We will start with the introduction, and then go into Repentance, Justification and Sanctification. Note: These lessons will be much longer than the usual articles so that we can have some context. The next time this is done we will study the Recognition of Spiritual Poverty.
Introduction
The Bible refers to the principles of the doctrine of Christ in two places. Both of these references are found in Hebrews. First, in Hebrews 5:12:
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God... - Hebrews 5:12
Then in Hebrews 6:1,2:
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. - Hebrews 6:1, 2
This booklet describes and provides instruction on these "first principles" of the doctrine, or the "basic elements" of the teaching of Christ. However, this would be incomplete without expanding the basic elements to cover going on to "perfection," or
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4.13-15
And this will we do, if God permit. - Hebrews 6:39
Repentance, Justification and Sanctification
It is God's will that no one would perish in his sins, but that they would believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life - John 3:14-16
God Works True Repentance
Repentance is the work of God in man, who, in himself, is entirely helpless. Through repentance and faith in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, an unbeliever is brought to salvation. God's grace, which is the unmerited work of redemption, is freely given to him. The person who does not continue to abide by faith in Christ, the True Vine, and in whom His words do not abide, is fallen from grace. This person is in the same condition as an unbeliever and can be restored to grace only by repentance and faith in the Gospel of Christ.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. - John 15:6,7
The Law of the Ten Commandments
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, til the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator - Galatians 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:19-23
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. - Galatians 3:10,11
The Apostle Paul has written:
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. - 1 Timothy 1:8-11
Therefore, he concludes:
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. - Galatians 3 24,25
The Awakened State
An awakening is equally as necessary for the self-righteous person as it is for the careless sinner. Both are under the curse of the Law. However, the former in the ignorance of his self-righteous condition is totally unaware of this until convicted before the holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ. But after this, all he can do is pray as did also the publican
...God be merciful to me a sinner - Luke 18:13
Then said I, woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts - Isaiah 6:5
When truly awakened by the Spirit, even the most self-righteous person under the law will find himself to be total sin ... "undone," that is, dead in his own righteousness. Previously, this person may have trusted that he could live according to the Law of the Ten Commandments by his not having committed any outward transgressions. Apostle Paul (known as Saul of Tarsus at the time), was brought to the realization of this very condition very suddenly on the road to Damascus, where he was felled to the earth by the light of the heavenly glory of the Lord Jesus. When God reveals the true holiness demanded by the Law to a person, it slays him. The Apostle Paul, who once trusted in his own works, which were of the Law, writes after his conversion:
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. - Romans 7:10,11
A person in this condition feels a great need for mercy and forgiveness before the face of a righteous and Holy God, knowing that without it he is eternally lost and condemned.
God answers the prayers of such a one, as He did with Saul of Tarsus (who became Apostle Paul) after he was first convicted on the way to Damascus by the Lord Jesus in the brightness of His glory and the power of His Word After Saul had been praying for three days, Jesus sent His servant, Ananias, to the blinded and humbled Saul with the Word of the gospel of salvation.
But God is also able to awaken a person who is without the law to the realization of his unsaved condition.
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law - Romans 2:12
One example of this is in how God dealt with the Gentile Cornelius, to whom He sent His angel instructing him to
...call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved - Acts 11:13,14
Cornelius was
...a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always - Acts 10:2
Thus, he had been endeavoring to do all that he knew according to his conscience as a Gentile
...which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves - Romans 2:14
Even his servants gave testimony of him being
...a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews... - Acts 10:22
But the testimony of the people was not what Comelius' awakened conscience needed to assure him that he was in a saved condition of soul in the sight of God. What he needed and prayed for was that he would receive the testimony from God which would assure him of His mercy so that he could believe that his sins were forgiven. God's answer to that prayer was that He sent His angel to him, saying,
Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and call for one Simon... - Acts 10:4,5
Cornelius received the testimony of God when he heard Peter preach that the redemptive work of Jesus was for all nations and that
to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins - Acts 10:43
Cornelius heard and believed, and received the testimony of the Holy Ghost which assured him that now he was truly justified, not because of his devotion or prayers or alms, but only by the merits of Christ. God has not changed this, His order of grace.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved - Romans 10:12,13
However, the depth of a feeling of remorse or despair in the heart of an awakened person, whether great or small, does not make him any more (or less) deserving to receive the grace of God. This is because nothing can make a person deserving of God's grace. God delights in pure mercy to the undeserving:
Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God... - Jeremiah 3:13
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saved such as be of a contrite spirit - Psalm 34:18
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passed by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy - Micah 7:18
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