The Unlikely Apostle Pt. 10: “From Faith to Faith”

One of the most famous scenes from the Indiana Jones series (other than that crazy witch doctor ripping some poor man’s heart out) was when Indy took a great step of faith into a vast chasm in search for the Holy Grail. It was a picturesque example of the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.

Similarly, from beginning to end, a life of following Jesus will include countless faith-filled, potentially scary steps. Paul hits on this truth at the beginning of his letter to the Christians in Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17

In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. But what does that mean? One way of looking at it is that the gospel reveals both the faith-filled righteousness that gets us into the kingdom of God, and the faith-filled righteous way of the kingdom of God.

Clement of Alexandria, who was basically in charge of the new members classes in the church of Alexandria, Egypt, explains Romans 1:17 this way: 

“The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” The apostle, then, manifestly announces a twofold faith, or rather one which admits of growth and perfection; for the common faith lies beneath as a foundation. To those, therefore, who desire to be healed, and are moved by faith, He added, “Your faith has saved you.” But that which is excellently built upon is consummated in the believer, and is again perfected by the faith which results from instruction and the word, in order to the performance of the commandments. Such were the apostles, in whose case it is said that “faith removed mountains and transplanted trees.” Whence, perceiving the greatness of its power, they asked “that faith might be added to them;” a faith which benefits the soil and “like a grain of mustard,” grows magnificently in it. – Clement of Alexandria 195CE, Volume 2, p. 732 [CD-ROM]

According to Clement of Alexandria, it is faith in Jesus’ righteousness that initially saves and brings us into the kingdom. However, continued faithful adherence to the righteous words and way of Jesus grows us spiritually and matures our faith.

Scripture demonstrate these two stages of faith and righteousness working together in the life of Abraham.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” … Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. … Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. – Romans 4:3, 9-10, 23-24

In Romans 4, Paul references  Genesis 15, where God confirms His promise of an heir to an 80-something-year-old Abraham. Despite having one foot in the grave and his wife being well past the age of childbearing, Abraham took the Lord God at His word. He was fully convinced that the Lord’s ability, and because of Abraham’s faith, God declared him to be in right standing and entered into a covenant with him.

However, another New Testament author cites the same passage in Genesis 15, yet takes quite a different approach to it than Paul.

But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. – James 2:20-23

The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Yes, Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness when he believed the Lord would fulfill His promises to him. Yet, we see Abraham’s faith in God promise brought to full maturity decades later when he is willing to sacrifice the son of the promise, Isaac, believing that God could raise him from the dead.

It’s no wonder Abraham is called the father of the faithful. If there was ever a person other than Jesus who demonstrates how to depend on God while taking leaps of faith out into the unseen, it is Abraham.

So how is God calling you to step out on faith this week? What seemingly insurmountable challenges has He set before you to walk through while depending on His strength and provision? Just Indy finally found his footing when he stepped out into the chasm, may you find our heavenly Father more than enough as you courageously follow Jesus from faith to faith. 

The Unlikely Apostle Pt. 9: “We Look Not at Things Which Are Seen”

Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, is one of the many characters in the Bible who served as a shadow of Jesus… a type of Christ. Early on, both Joseph and Jesus knew they were called to rule over their families, and the families of both Joseph and Jesus did not take kindly to the knowledge of their high callings.

Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery for 20 shekels of silver, and Jesus was betrayed and arrested for 30 pieces of silver (the price of a slave). Just as Joseph was sent down into prison because of the sins of another, Jesus was murdered and then descended into Hades because of the sins of the world. However, similarly to the way Joseph was brought up out of prison and exalted to second in command to Pharaoh, Jesus was raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God the Father.

Last week, I noticed another area of Joseph’s life that points to Jesus. Once Joseph became second in command, he instructed the people to begin prepping for a famine. He called them to work extra hard and focus on storing food away for a future time. He called them not to worry, but to live for what was unseen rather than what was seen.  

Jesus calls us to be spiritual preppers: to live for what is unseen and build up storehouses for a future time in heaven.  

Do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. – Luke 12:29-33

The apostle Paul echoes the heavenly perspective of Jesus’ words as he writes in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, “We do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

You must understand, when Paul writes of Christians’, “momentary, light affliction,” he’s not simply referring to a headache or a cold. This is a verse that shows the importance of reading Scripture in context. Earlier in the chapter Paul, tells us exactly what’s been troubling him and his companions. He writes that they are afflicted in every way, perplexed, struck down and constantly being given over to death for Jesus’ sake.

Why in the world would Paul refer to such troubling circumstances as 'light and momentary'? He was aware of eternity. He had a heavenly perspective. He knew that a lifetime of hell on earth can’t compare to an hour in Paradise with Jesus. Paul believed more in what is unseen than what is seen.

Ignatius, who wrote his epistle to the Romans just before being executed for Christ, was a man who faithfully and bravely embodied both Jesus and Paul’s instructions to live for what lasts rather than what is passing away.

“For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” … Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ. … All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die in behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. “For what shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul?” Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake. This is the gain which is laid up for me. – Ignatius 105CE, Vol. 1, p. 123, 125-126 [CD-ROM]

It’s so encouraging to read the accounts of the early Christians. I’m inspired by the way these normal followers of Jesus possessed such hopeful, fearless outlooks when facing imminent torture and death. Just like Joseph’s life pointed to Christ, by walking as Jesus walked they still direct our gaze heavenward, and motivate us prepare not for what is seen, but what is unseen.

The Unlikely Apostle Pt. 8: “Love Is Patient”

One of the nuggets from Proverbs that has always stuck with me is 15:22, which states, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed (ESV).” I have repeatedly experienced the wisdom of this verse, both in a positive and negative sense, when I have tried to do things my way and when I’ve allowed biblically-based members of the body of Christ to speak uncomfortable truths into my life.

A Christian counselor, who we will call David, is one of the men God has used to help guide me throughout the last decade-and-a-half. I’m so thankful for the advice and insight he has offered me, and the way he continually challenges me to fully internalize and actualize the biblical truths I teach and write about.

David (who also works as a head pastor) is one of the people I spoke with when I felt God leading me to step down from being the head pastor of the church my wife and I started in 2012. After I filled him in on where I was, true to form, he gave some interesting perspective that I didn’t exactly want to hear.

He agreed with the decision to step down, then asked if he could speak plainly to me about a couple of things. David said that one of the reasons I am often impatient with others is that I tend to be quite impatient with myself. And ultimately, what that boils down to is a need to grow in love, for Scripture illuminates that the two are intertwined. He then read a portion of 1 Corinthians 13.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient… – 1 Corinthians 13:1-4

Paul really throws down the gauntlet here. We can speak in tongues, be a legitimate prophet, teach the Scriptures like no other and abound in faith; yet, if we do not have love everything else is basically wasted. And one of the main ways we can gauge how well we are doing in that department is by how patient we are.

Patience is something we joke about in modern Christian circles. We say things like, “Don’t ever pray for patience.” We do this because we don’t want the suffering that accompanies the journey to becoming a patient person. However, the early Christians viewed patience as anything but a joke. To an early Christian, patience is vital to living faithfully as a servant of Christ.

The apostle, finally, when he would speak of charity, joined to it endurance and patience. “Charity,” he says, “is large-souled; charity is kind; charity does not envy, is not puffed up, is not provoked, does not think evil things; love … believes all things, hopes all things, bears all things.” … The virtue of patience is widely manifest …

It is patience which both commends and keeps us to God. It is patience, too, which assuages anger, which bridles the tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline, breaks the force of lust, represses the violence of pride, extinguishes the fire of hostility, checks the power of the rich, soothes the want of the poor, protects a blessed integrity in virgins, a careful purity in widows, in those who are united and married a single affection. It makes men humble in prosperity, brave in adversity, gentle towards wrongs. … It resists temptations, suffers persecutions, perfects passions and martyrdoms. It is patience which firmly fortifies the foundations of our faith. – Cyprian 250CE, Volume 5, p. 852, 854 [CD-ROM]

As I look over the blessings of patience listed by Cyprian, my heart is filled with gratitude for the patient way God has shepherded me along through the years. I’m so grateful for the many people He has brought into my life who have blessed me with godly counsel and words of wisdom. Even when it has hurt to hear the truths they’ve shared, I know I’m better because of it.

Our Lord Jesus suffered long on our behalf. He stayed faithful through unimaginable suffering for our salvation. Patience, therefore, is at the very heart of the Gospel. It is not surprising, then, that in order to become more like Christ we will need to cultivate deep wells of patience.

So please, pray that God would grow me into a more patient follower of Christ. And may you be patient and strengthen your heart, for the coming of the Lord is near.

The Unlikely Apostle Pt. 7: “He Emptied Himself”

This week, I read a heartbreaking year-old article about a British rapper named Jahaziel who renounced his faith in Jesus after being a Christian for around two decades. Other articles give a fuller explanation for his departure from Christianity, but some of the reasons listed are commonly cited by atheists and agnostics.

In Jahaziel’s written statement, his main issues with the faith derive from problems he sees in the Bible. He cites the slaughter of men, women and children, apparent contradictions in the text, flaws in gender roles and other grievances.

If one studies the Bible, it should not come as a surprise that a disciple of Jesus would find certain things God says, does or allows troubling. The apostles that Jesus chose spent over three years with Him and were often confused, shocked and even angered by some of the choices and statements He made. He was constantly challenging paradigms and presuppositions they brought to the table, and drastic changes in worldviews are almost never smooth transitions.

Similarly, whenever people become followers of Jesus, they bring with them different experiences, spiritual beliefs, political views and personality traits that often filter the way they read the Bible, interpret life events, view God and perceive their ability to make a difference in the world. This is a concept that I have written a great deal about in New: Wineskins and the Simple Words of Christ.

Repeatedly, though, the New Testament authors call us to view God and everything else through the lens of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, God with us. One of the classic examples in Scripture that displays Jesus as being the image of the invisible God is Philippians 2.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:5-11

Early Christian writer, Novation, penned a treatise on the Trinity, which is considered a most valuable contribution to Ante-Nicene theology. Within this masterful work, Novation spends much time in Philippians 2, demonstrating both that Jesus is God, and that He reveals the humble, servant nature of God the Father.

He has “received a name which is above every name,” which assuredly we understand to be none other than the name of God. … Since Christ is said to be in the form of God, and since it is shown that for His nativity according to the flesh He emptied Himself; and since it is declared that He received from the Father that name which is above every name … consequently He is not man only, from the fact that He became obedient to the Father, even to death, yes, the death of the cross; but, moreover, from the proclamation by these higher matters of the divinity of Christ, Christ Jesus is shown to be Lord and God, which the heretics will not have. – Novatian 257CE, Volume 5, p. 1111 [CD-ROM]

Philippians 2 is a powerful passage, especially for people who are in pain or those who are perplexed by their circumstances. It reveals to us a God who loves us so much that He was willing to embrace a life filled with suffering on our behalf. It displays a God who chose to empty Himself and empathize with our sorrows, rather than merely observing our agony from a safe heavenly place of splendor.

What the apostle Paul demonstrates to us in Philippians 2 is the reason we can have hope and confidence in the character of God when things don’t seem to make sense. We can trust God because above all other examples, Jesus shows us He is trustworthy.

If you are having a moment like Jahaziel did, disturbed by things in the Bible or perplexed by tragic events in our world, I encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus. Jesus shows us that God is good and cares immensely about His creation.

Jesus gives us confidence that even if we can’t currently comprehend God’s reasons for doing or allowing some of the things He does, one day the perfect loving wisdom behind all of God’s decisions will be plainly understood by all of His faithful servants. And we will marvel at the majesty of our humble King.