Christ's Wingman

Why is it that we must share the gospel for people to come to a saving knowledge of Christ? This is a question many Calvinists ask. Isn’t God sovereign? Can’t God just fill them with the Holy Spirit and they be saved? Why do we have to take part? I was reading in John 16 today and came across a verse that answers this question from one perspective (I believe that there are other reasons as well, this is just one of them). John 16:14 says, speaking of the Holy Spirit, “He will glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it.” The Holy Spirit’s main purpose is to glorify Christ. His work in salvation, through regeneration, faith and conviction of sin, is all purposed to glorify Christ. So it makes sense to say that if the Holy Spirit is here to glorify Christ then Christ must come first, otherwise the Holy Spirit has nothing to glorify. We see this in the life and work of Christ, he came and ministered and it wasn’t until after he left that the Holy Spirit came (in the fullness prophesied). He came after Christ. It is kind of like a kite with its tail, the tail can only go where the kite has already gone because it, the tail, is in existence for the kite. The same is true of salvation. The Holy Spirit follows behind Christ to glorify Him, so we must spread Christ to others before the Holy Spirit can come behind and do his work. If Christ has not been to a place first, through evangelism, then the Holy Spirit will not be there either, and we know from scripture that without the Holy Spirit there is no regeneration, no faith and no conviction of sin. This is why we must take part in evangelism and why we must spread the gospel in order for people to be saved. If people do not hear the gospel and do not know of Christ then the Holy Spirit has nothing in their life to glorify, i.e. Christ is not their to be glorified. This results in no Holy Spirit and therefore no salvation.

Father I give you praise and glorify your name because you are perfect and righteous and holy. You are the all that we need in life, your word is more precious than silver and even fine gold. You have given us your Son to bear our punishment and have given us your Spirit to follow behind and provide us with the tools necessary to be saved, and to glorify you as He glorifies you. Thank you for your provision of life, and it eternally. In Christ Jesus I pray, Amen.

What's in a name?

I wanted to let everyone know why I chose the name that I did for this blog. Some time back I was wrestling with the question "why?" I had really been seeking God on what scripture says is the purpose for which we are to labor. I spent time in the Word, meditating, praying and seeking an answer. Some would say the reason is evangelism, others ministry to the poor, and still others to imitate Christ. Below is what the Lord revealed to me and is the reason for the title of my blog.

The chief end of God is to bring himself glory¹, therefore, my purpose is to glorify God²; this was why I was created³. My means through which to do this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of sin and the fall, instead of giving glory to God I sought to give glory to myself⁴, but through Christ's work on the cross I am now free from sin and death and able, once again, to give God glory⁵. Although my flesh is at war within me to turn and glorify myself⁶, I can have victory through Christ over my flesh and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to give God the glory⁷.

But how do I glorify God? Glorifying God does not mean that I make God more glorious, but that I acknowledge his glory, value it above all else, and make it known. I do that by living out the first and second greatest commandments, to love God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength, with all my mind and to love my neighbor as myself⁸.

But these are very general statements, how do I specifically go about this task of bringing God glory in loving him and loving my neighbor? I believe that this is done through living in the fullness of the gospel, which is walking in covenant with God, and partnering with God in His work of building His kingdom.

To conclude, this is what my focus is and these are my priorities: Glorify God, by loving God and loving our neighbor through living in the fullness of the gospel.

Note- these two ‘loves’ must be conducted with joy; otherwise it is all done in vain and brings no glory to God.

Footnotes

1. Isaiah 43:7, 48:9-11

2. Ex 20:1-5; 34:14; Deut 5:6-10; Jer 9:24; Isaiah 43:7; 1 Cor 1:30-31; 6:20; 10:31

3. Isaiah 43:6-7; Ephesians 1:11-12

4. Romans 1:18-25

5. Romans 8:2

6. Romans 7:15-25

7. Romans 8:2-5, 9-11

8. Deut 6:4-; Matt 22:36-40; Mk 12:28-31; Lk 10:25-28

Sometimes the heart of the matter is what's in a name.