He spoke with the authority of a King and taught us kingdom principles. He displayed the credentials and supernatural power of the promised King. And one day, it's prophesied He will return to this world to rule and reign as the King of kings. For the interim, enthroned in heaven, He remains sovereign over the mediatorial kingdoms of history. More importantly, He seeks to preside over the hearts and minds of His people, here and now. As such, this month we look into preparing ourselves, both within and without, for the forgiveness and leadership offered by the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom of God starts within...
Kingdom Assurance
Barna Research indicates that Biblical literacy inside the Church is falling, with many congregants holding a false assurance of their own salvation. Given these findings, how are we to share a saving faith that we don’t already first possess? Tragically, the Lord Jesus confirms that many “religious” people will only come to terms with their presumption of meriting heaven after hearing the statement, “depart from me, I never knew you” (Matt. 7:21-23).
The 18th century preacher, Jonathan Edwards faced a similar quandary, when attempting to discern the extent of genuine “saving operations” during seeming widespread revival. Although heightened emotional experiences were common, many were void of evidences to validate conversion.
Edwards drew a distinction between “saving” versus “common” operations of the Holy Spirit, with saving operations producing salvation, and the latter resulting in sobering influences that fell short of “inward saving renewal.” He acknowledged the supreme proof of a true conversion was the presence of “holy affections” in the life of the believer.
Fortunately, professing Christians (and those we seek to lead to a saving knowledge of Christ), can know with certainty whether the Holy Spirit has performed a saving operation in their life. Dr. John MacArthur suggests that many proofs are contained in Scripture (e.g. 1 John) for assurance. Just a few are as follows:
1. Has there been a time when you’ve trusted Christ for your salvation (Rom 10:9-10)? Either devoted as a child, or broken as an adult (Isa 57:15), did you receive the gift? (Jn 1:12).
2. Have you enjoyed fellowship with Christ and the Father (1Jn 1:2-3)? A relationship with God is basic to salvation (1Cor 1:9). The experience of Christ living through us (Gal 2:20) is fundamental.
3. Are you sensitive to sin (1Jn 1:5-10)? Light and darkness do not peacefully co-exist (Rom 7:14-25). Christians are faithful to confess known sin (1Jn 1:9).
4. Do you obey God’s Word (1Jn 2:3)? This is motivated by a desire based on gratitude (not obligation), with a pattern of obedience (not perfection). In short, we “walk the talk” (1Jn 2:6).
5. Do you reject the evil of this world (1 Jn 2:15)? The world’s system is under the domination of God’s enemies (1 Jn 5:19). We’re to be in the world, but not of the world (Jn 17:14-16).
6. Do you eagerly await Christ’s return (1 Jn 3:2-3)? Upon Christ’s return, we will be transformed (Phil 3:20-21). It’s the hope of Christ-likeness that compels us to purity (2Ti 2:11-13).
7. Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life (1Jn 3:4-10)? Unbroken patterns of sin are characteristic of the unregenerate. Servants of the Lord are no longer slaves to sin (Rom 6:14, 17-18).
8. Do you love other Christians (1Jn 3:10)? It’s a natural Christian distinctive (1Th 4:9; Jn 13:35). Love expresses itself by meeting needs (Gal 6:10).
9. Do you experience answered prayer (1Jn 3:22)? God answers believer’s prayers (1Jn 5:13-15). God doesn’t necessarily respond to those out of fellowship with Him (Ps 66:18).
10. Do you experience the ministry of the Holy Spirit (1Jn 4:13)? By the Holy Spirit we confess Jesus as Savior (1Jn 4:14). The Holy Spirit is our resident Truth Teacher (1Jn 2:27), eliciting our fellowship (Gal 4:6) and praise (Eph 5:19), while we yield to the fruit of His Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
11. Can you discern between spiritual truth and error (1Jn 4:1-3)? False religions deny who Jesus is and what he accomplished (Rom 4:25), failing to confess of the divine Lord (1Jn 4:2-3; 5:1), or commit to the divine Word (1Jn 4:5-6).
12. Have you suffered rejection because of your faith (1Jn 3:13)? While there is no virtue in being obnoxious, Christians may suffer for being righteous (1Pet 2:19-23), which acts as a rebuke (1Pet 4:4).
Men and women of God who have a settled assurance that they belong to Him, will most certainly energize America’s next “Great Awakening” through the bold proclamation of the Gospel. As such, the Spirit of God invites each of us to find our rest in His security (Rom 8:16)—the blessed assurance for our souls.
In Him,
Roy Tanner
Kingdom PrinciplesIt's been said that genuine saving faith is evidenced by transformed lives. And because we were created to be related to God and others, this transformation can also have a redeeming effect on homes, communities and nations.
In their defining work on this subject Right from Wrong, McDowell and Hostetler affirm that the Bible is filled with precepts for an individual's faith and practice, for our good and God's glory (e.g. Sermon on the Mount).
They explain that acknowledging biblical precepts allows us to then apply the principles that emerge in our interactions with others. And it's in practicing godly principles that we're able to experience the Person and work of Jesus in our lives -- as our attitudes and actions conform to God's character and nature.
Judeo-Christian principles also accrue benefits to society at large, as they become codified in law and influence the culture. One popular example of this acculturation is found in a book entitled The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, which identifies seven timeless principles that characterize personal and public effectiveness. Just how well do the 7-habits conform to godly principles? We report, you decide:
1) Be proactive - This is the characteristic of self-awareness, as seen in the ability to choose your response in any given situation. Between what happens to you and your response -- is a degree of freedom. And it's in this freedom to choose our response, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we can make choices which lead to growth and happiness.
2) Begin with the end in mind - This speaks to the goal of "Christlikeness." It suggests that preceding any physical creation or reality, is the mental image or visualization of that end. Covey's research supports the idea that this endowment unleashes the potential to self-actualize regardless of the conditions we are presented with.
3) Put first things first - This speaks to the endowment of willpower. For Christians it can be summarized as "What would Jesus do?" A highly disciplined life that focuses heavily on important, but not necessarily urgent activities of life, is one characterized by leverage and influence. Taken together, these first three principles speak to achieving the type of "personal" success that precedes "public" effectiveness as follows...
4) Think "win-win" - This refers to an abundance mentality versus zero-sum gaming in life. Everything is seen through principles. And as people become increasingly principle-centered, they love to share recognition and power. This abundance mentality suggests we have a vested interest in the success of others, which produces more effectiveness and recognition for everyone.
5) Seek first to understand, then to be understood - This represents an endowment of courage balanced with consideration. This capability acknowledges that the root cause of almost all problems in personal interaction involves self-centeredness -- or listening without the empathy that advances mature two-way communication.
6) "Synergize" - This is the endowment of creativity by way of respectful minds communicating effectively, to produce solutions that surpass original positions. This acknowledges that most negotiation is positional bargaining, which at best results in compromise. Synergy however, suggests that "win-win" solutions can almost always be found to satisfy both parties, affirming (along with the previous three principles) that "it's more blessed to give than receive" (Acts 20:35). And last but not least, there's...
7) “Sharpen the saw” - This final capability focuses on the concept of continual improvement or self-renewal to overcome entropy, which represents closed systems of thinking. This endowment acknowledges that success in life is more a journey than a destination, as you're transformed from one level to the next "by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2).
Being personally invested in a biblical, principle-centered approach to life is the best way to realize personal effectiveness. It is also important to note that this paradigm doesn't embrace just the latest thinking in a continuum of transitory fads. Instead it inculcates the greatest of biblical wisdom and classic sociological truth ever put into practice.
Confirmed by history and tethered to the eternal, biblically based, principle-centered resolutions meet the test of effectiveness and integrity for individual and societal advancement. And it's on this basis that we can engage in Kingdom living now.
In Him,
Roy Tanner
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