Biblical Fathering: On Being Forthright

Image by Shutterstock

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

Part four of a four-part series on fatherhood.

In the three previous posts on biblical fathering, using Paul’s instructions to fathers in Ephesians 6:4, we discussed how fathers are to be fair (“do not provoke your children to anger”), flexible (“but bring them up”), and firm (“in the discipline and instruction”). The end of the sentence “of the Lord” shows the need for fathers to be forthright—the last attribute of a biblical father I want to draw out of this verse.

There are three basic approaches that most fathers use—knowingly or not—in raising their children. The authoritarian style demands unquestioning obedience and often a literal “hands-on” approach to discipline. The permissive style is where anything goes, within reason of course, and usually takes a hands-off approach. The third and, I suggest, biblical approach is the authoritative style where obedience is expected for clearly stated reasons with the father consistently modeling the desired behavior.

Biblical fathering Is authoritative, not authoritarian.

Instead of the authoritarian father who says, “do as I say, not as I do,” or the permissive father who says, “do what you want as long as you don’t bother me,” the authoritative father says, “do as I say and as I do.” He is confident in setting the example for his children because he lives in a forthright manner as he works to conform his life to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).

The father who exercises his authority in the family in a godly manner and who lives in consistent obedience to God’s commands will accomplish his parenting responsibilities in a forthright and consistent manner. It is said that Christianity is as much caught as taught, so fathers who follow this pattern are indeed raising their children in the instruction “of the Lord” and are then obedient to the commands found in this verse.

Biblical fathers present Christ as the center of their lives.

In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul writes, “For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me” (1 Cor. 4:15b–16). As the spiritual father of the congregation in Corinth through the gospel he preached to them, Paul urged his spiritual children to imitate him as he imitated Christ. In the same way, fathers are to present Christ as the center of their lives in a forthright manner to encourage their children to imitate them as they imitate Christ.

Raising godly children is a complex task requiring the best efforts of both parents. Men and women are given different attributes, preferences, and gifts that are intended to display part of the picture of God to their children. Together dad and mom are to present a full-orbed picture of our loving, nurturing, holy, and just Creator, even though they will do so imperfectly. We want our children to love God, and we pray they will, as we prepare them to be the next generation of responsible Christian citizens. 

Biblical fathering develops and celebrates each child’s gifts.

In summary, God desires Christian fathers to be fair by taking the time to know, develop, and celebrate each child’s particular gifts, limitations, and personality. He desires us to demonstrate flexibility by listening carefully and then nurturing patiently while directing the child toward proper action. God wants us to be fathers who firmly correct by gently but firmly pointing out errors or misbehavior, and always with a caring heart. Finally, the biblical father does not hesitate to proclaim his commitment to following Christ and living out that commitment in a forthright manner as he encourages his children to do likewise.

As a biblical father, raising godly children is one of the most important tasks you have, second only to loving your wife and leading her spiritually. May God’s Spirit equip and empower you, as you work with your children throughout their lives to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Click here for Part 1: “Biblical Fathering: On Being Fair"

Click here for Part 2: “Biblical Fathering: On Being Flexible"

Click here for Part 3: “Biblical Fathering: On Being Firm"

from Blog - Beautiful Christian Life https://ift.tt/3VzHxfK
via IFTTT

2 Kinds of Cheap Grace You Need to Avoid

Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

“Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Cheap grace is worthless. It tries to rob you of your peace and rest in Christ. Christians always need to be on the lookout for cheap grace and stay far away from it. Here are two kinds of cheap grace that pretend to be the costly grace God gives us in Christ:

1. Grace without Christ

Some people think that God saves us by his grace in Christ, but we must be obedient to get and keep God’s grace fully. There have been various words used over the years to describe this kind of cheap grace, including legalism, prevenient grace, works-righteousness, and covenant faithfulness. You can always recognize this kind of cheap grace by this one test: If someone is telling you that there is something you need to do to add to Jesus’ completed work on your behalf—that Jesus’ finished work is not enough to save you—then you need to run away from this false teaching.

Many Christians are told that this kind of grace is true grace; the people who teach cheap grace may be ignorant, thinking that conditional grace is God’s grace—but it isn’t. There are many verses in the Bible that affirm the truth that salvation comes from outside of us through the work of Christ, not from anything we do (for some examples, see Rom. 5:1; 6–8; 15–17; Rom. 8:1–11; 2 Cor. 3:4–5; 5:17; Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:4–7). The works James is talking about in his letter are the fruits of the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of believers (James 2:14–26). These works do nothing to save a person; rather, they are evidence of a person’s adoption into God’s family in Christ.

2. Grace without the Spirit

Some people think that, because believers are saved by God’s grace in Christ, they can sin whenever they feel like it because God will forgive them anyway. A fancy word for this is antinomianism. This kind of cheap grace does not take into account the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in the lives of all Christians (John 16:7–15). All believers bear the fruit of the Spirit because they are branches attached to the vine of Christ (John 15:4–5; Gal. 5:22–23; Col. 1:10).

Followers of Christ must continually fight against sin, but that doesn’t mean they will do a perfect job of it in this present world. In fact, they can’t do a perfect job, no matter how hard they try. It has been said, “If you’re still livin’, you’re still sinnin’.” Christians will fail to keep all of God’s commands in this life because, although they are declared righteous in Christ, they are still sinners. The Spirit convicts believers of their sin and leads them to repentance (John 16:8; Rom. 8:14). Believers will experience true sorrow over their sin because they have been bought with a price and have the Spirit living in them (Rom. 7:14–25).

One of the signs that a believer is growing in holiness is the increasing awareness of one’s sin along with the corresponding desire to stay away from all ungodliness.

Christians show gratitude to and love for God by keeping his commandments (John 14:15; Heb. 13:15; 1 John 2:3; 5:3). This obedience is a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving the believer offers up to God; it is never a means to keep—or earn—God’s grace. Just as sometimes children disobey their parents and are disciplined accordingly, God disciplines us because we are his beloved children in Christ, and he will use our failures to teach us through the work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

So, what is costly grace?

Costly grace is God’s unmerited favor because of Christ’s unfathomable sacrifice for all who trust in him (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 6:20). Because we are sinners, there is nothing we can do to earn the favor of a holy God (Rom. 3:23). God sent his Son to be born in the flesh because there was no other way we could be saved. Jesus did all the work to earn God’s favor on our behalf, so that we could have peace with God and eternal life (Rom. 5:1).

By God’s grace, Christ’s righteousness is counted to us and our sin is counted to Christ, who gave his precious blood as the perfect sacrifice once for all (Rom. 5:12–21; Heb. 7:27; 10:14; 1 Pet. 1:18–19). This grace comes through faith in Christ alone, which is also God’s gift (Eph. 2:8–9). God’s costly grace is amazing, because even though we are guilty before him based on our own insufficient works, God declares us righteous in Christ.

Don’t let the devil rob you of your joy in Christ, for Jesus has already won the victory.

The devil’s attempts to make you doubt your salvation will never change the fact that you are declared righteous in Christ alone through faith alone by God’s grace alone—regardless of what the future holds. Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ (Rom. 8:35–39). Cling to your Savior and be at peace.

Related Articles:

• Works in the Book of James—“Fruits and Evidences of a True and Lively Faith”

• Say Yes to the Best Offer Ever: Receive Jesus for Free

• 2 Important Things to Remember about Fighting Sin—Romans 7:13-25

• 12 Reasons Why Jesus Meant It When He Said, “It Is Finished"

Recommended:

Putting Amazing Back into Grace: Embracing the Heart of the Gospel by Michael Horton; foreword by J. I. Packer

---

This article is adapted from “Say No to Cheap Grace” at corechristianity.com.

from Blog - Beautiful Christian Life https://ift.tt/D45VXfK
via IFTTT

Why Did Jesus Use Animal Metaphors to Prepare His Disciples for the Mission of God?

Image credits (clockwise from upper left): Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash; Philipp Pilz on Unsplash; 卡晨 on Unsplash; and Pravin Bagde on Unsplash

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

One of the remarkable features of Jesus’ teaching is the way in which he drew simple analogies and metaphors from the world around him in order to instruct his disciples about the most profound truths of the kingdom of God.

Jesus spent much time reading the book of nature. He could point to a simple flower in order to explain to his disciples the mystery of God’s providential care and provision for them (Luke 12:27). Some of Christ’s most impactful illustrations came from the agrarian culture in which he lived and traveled. He expended prolonged periods of mental energy meditating on the birds of the air and the livestock that flooded the Palestinian landscape. At the inauguration of his missionary enterprise, Jesus gathered the twelve to himself and said to them,

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matt. 10:16–20)

Jesus is preparing his disciples for spiritual warfare in Matthew 10:16-20.

In a day when Christians have all but lost the culture war in America—and the prospect of the persecution of true believers is imminent—it is incumbent on us to listen carefully to what the Savior told his disciples upon their first missionary journey. In the ancient wartime manual, The Art of War, Sun Tzu explained,

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

In Matthew 10:16-20, Jesus is essentially giving his disciples his manual of spiritual warfare for the mission of God. The danger of the task that lay before the disciples required a clear illustration from the Savior regarding the way in which they should prepare themselves for the opposition they would encounter.

Jesus uses four animal metaphors to instruct his disciples: sheep, wolves, serpents, and doves.

Jesus used four metaphors to prepare their minds for opposition. He said, “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” One of the metaphors relates to the malicious men and women of the unbelieving world. The other three regard some aspect of the lives and ministries of the disciples.

Sheep, on their own, cannot repel the strength and rage of wolves.

In his commentary on Matthew, John Calvin explained the meaning behind each of Christ’s animal metaphors. Calvin first explained what Jesus meant when he likened his disciples to sheep:

He does not refer to the sweetness and mildness of their manners, or to the gentleness of their mind, but only means, that they will have no greater strength or fitness for repelling the violence of enemies, than sheep have against the rage of wolves. Christ requires, no doubt, from his disciples that they shall resemble sheep in their dispositions, by their patience in contending against the malice of wicked men, and by the meekness with which they endure injuries: but the simple meaning of this passage is, that many powerful and cruel enemies are arrayed against the apostles, while they, on their part, are furnished with no means of defense.[1]

Regarding Jesus’ allusion to wolves, Calvin wrote,

The Lord, by calling the enemies of the gospel wolves, expressed their power rather than their desire to do injury; yet, as no man is known to be a wolf but by his rage against the gospel, Christ has joined these two things together, the fierce cruelty which impels them to shed blood, and the power with which they are armed.[2]

Like serpents, God’s people should not rush unwisely into danger, and, like doves, they should not fear pursuing God’s course for them.

After explaining the opposition that the disciples should anticipate when going out into the world with the gospel under the figures of sheep and wolves, Jesus employed two more animal metaphors in order to instruct his disciples about their strategy and demeanor when engaged in the mission of God. He said, “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Calvin explained what our Lord was intimating when he wrote,

Serpents, being aware that they are hated, carefully avoid and shrink from every thing that is hostile to them. In this manner he enjoins believers to take care of their life, so as not to rush heedlessly into danger, or lay themselves open to any kind of injury. Doves, on the other hand, though naturally timid, and liable to innumerable attacks, fly in their simplicity, imagine themselves safe till they are struck, and in most cases place themselves within the reach of the fowler’s snares. To such simplicity Christ exhorts his disciples, that no excess of terror may hinder them from pursuing their course. There are some who carry their ingenious reasonings still farther as to the nature of the serpent and of the dove, but this is the utmost extent of the resemblance.[3]

No one knows how intense the opposition to biblical Christianity will get in our country in the days, weeks, months, or years to come. Nevertheless, we should have great confidence that Christ sends his people out in the midst of persecuting wolves to bring the everlasting gospel to bear on a lost and perishing world.

Christ does not call his people to worldly sophistication or political maneuvering but rather to the wise and faithful proclamation of the gospel.

Christ does not call us to retreat, to compromise in the name of caution, or to devise other methods and strategies that will counter the preaching of the gospel. He does not call us to worldly sophistication or political maneuvering. Rather, he calls us to learn about our enemies and about ourselves—and to spread the aroma of Christ through the world by the ministry of the word for the salvation of the elect. To this end, he bids us understand that we are like sheep in the midst of wolves, so that we will seek to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.

---

This article is adapted from “Metaphors and the Mission of God” at feedingonchrist.org.

Related Articles:

• The Difference Between the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

• Why Did Jesus Compare God’s Kingdom to a Mustard Seed and Leaven?

• Why Does the Bible Have Four Gospels?

• Jesus Is the True and Faithful Gardener Who Cares for Your Soul

Recommended:

What Is the Mission of the Church?: Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom, and the Great Commission by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert

---

Notes:

1. John Calvin and William Pringle, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, vol. 1 (Bellingham: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 450.

2. Ibid., 451.

3. Ibid., p. 452

from Blog - Beautiful Christian Life https://ift.tt/SpJUWqd
via IFTTT

6 Ways to Avoid Being Like Job’s Friends

Ilya Repin [Public domain]; Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

It’s not fun being kicked while you are down. Perhaps you know someone who has experienced adversity of some kind, and people have rushed to judgment regarding why it happened. Job’s friends did exactly that when Job suddenly lost his children, wealth, and health. The Bible tells us why Job was experiencing adversity: God was allowing the testing of his faith through the woes Satan inflicted on him.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” (Job 1:6-11)

Job’s three friends visited him in his great grief in an attempt to be helpful, but they ended up falsely accusing Job of doing something that must have caused the calamities to fall upon him, adding even more misery to what their friend was already experiencing. We can see what was actually happening, because God has revealed it to us in the book of Job; but Job and his friends did not have knowledge of what was going on behind the scenes. Here are six ways to avoid being like Job’s friends when we see tragedy strike out of seemingly nowhere.

1. Don’t be quick to judge, because you likely don’t have all the facts.

You may think you have enough information to assess what caused a certain event, but even people close to the circumstances don’t always have access to all the factors that led to a tragedy. Rushing to a conclusion may make you feel like you have made a stand for something noble, but you may end up falsely accusing someone of wrongdoing.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Prov. 29:20)

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. (Matt. 7:1-2)

2. Remember that your words and actions can have far-reaching effects, more than you may realize at the time.

Perhaps the event that has occurred was a particularly traumatic one of great evil. Rushing to judgment and making statements about what should or should not have been done to prevent the tragedy can cause the affected people to become so distressed that they sink further into depression and despair, and they may even become suicidal. Perhaps other people won’t want to associate with them because of your words. It has become common in society today for people to rush to accuse others of being racist, misogynist, or xenophobic based primarily on their own lens or perspective. Words hurt, and words broadcast publicly—whether in print or online—cannot be taken back.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (Prov. 10:19)

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov. 12:18)

3. Think of how you would want people to treat you and do the same for those who are suffering.

How would you feel if you were the person or group being judged and criticized? Wouldn’t you want people to reserve judgment until all the crucial facts came to light? Wouldn’t you want people to have charity for you? Even though people are tempted to trust in their own strength, the Bible reminds us of our frailty:

As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust. (Ps. 103:13-14)

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. (Luke 6:31)

4. Resist outside pressure to respond until you have sufficient time to process what has happened.

Perhaps you are a prominent person and you feel like others are expecting your view on a certain event or the actions of a particular person or group. Your words carry even more weight, and how you respond can have even greater consequences. While we may feel honored that someone wants our viewpoint, we are not necessarily obligated to provide it. It may be the wisest course to resist such pressure if a response can wait, so that you have time to learn more crucial facts and weigh all the potential effects of your opinion/actions.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:9)

5. Consider whether your opinion needs to be expressed at all.

Lots of chatter about an event often leads to needless and harmful speculation. Perhaps the best thing you can do is say nothing at all, at least until you can provide a well-informed, thoughtful, and loving response. Just because you have an opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that it is good to share it. It may be beneficial to seek the wise counsel of those you respect before deciding to express your view.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (Prov. 10:19)

6. Be humble and wise in your response to tragedy.

It is easy to imagine that we would have acted differently (i.e., better) if we found ourselves in the same circumstances before a tragedy occurred and that we could have somehow stopped the event from taking place. The truth is that the rest of us have the benefit of hindsight, which the affected person or group didn’t have at the time.

“I know that you can do all things,
    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted….
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
    and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2, 5-6)

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lordthat will stand. (Prov. 19:21)

It is good to learn from tragedies, so that we can prevent them from occurring again. We should always stand against evil. Yet, we also must remember that only God knows why he allows various evils to occur. We can only make the best decisions we can at the time as imperfect humans with limited knowledge and abilities in a fallen world. May we approach any and all tragic events with humility, wisdom, and prayer, so that we can be helpful and not harmful to those who find themselves in overwhelming and seemingly impossible-to-explain circumstances.

---

This article has been updated since its original publishing date of July 1, 2019.

Related Articles:

• 10 Practical Ways to Help People Who Are Hurting

• Natural Disasters—Chance or God?

• No Matter How You Feel Right Now, Your Life Is Worth Living

• 3 Good Things to Remember When You Feel Anxious about the Future

Recommended:

The Crook in the Lot: God's Sovereignty in Afflictions: In Modern English by Thomas Boston

from Blog - Beautiful Christian Life https://ift.tt/2flCzPk
via IFTTT

I Believe in the Holy Spirit — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 8

Photo by Nancy Bauer / Shutterstock.com

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

Editor’s note: This is the seventh installment of a series on the Apostles’ Creed. Rev. Campbell Markham is a Presbyterian minister in Perth, Australia.

“I believe in the Holy Spirit.” (The Apostles’ Creed, Article 8)

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus.

On the night before Jesus went to the cross, his disciples were distraught that he was leaving them. But there’s no way he was leaving them. He promised to be with them forever:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18)

Far from leaving his disciples, Jesus would send them the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. The Spirit is not a power but a divine person who brings the presence of Jesus to his people. 

In the original Greek language Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Paraclete. Paraclete is a rich word that can be translated by at least four different English words: Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, and Helper. Each word teaches us something important about the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is our Advocate, someone who speaks on our behalf.

In fact, the Spirit of Jesus prays perfect prayers to God the Father on our behalf:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Rom. 8:26)

The Holy Spirit is our Comforter.

In our struggles and distress the Spirit opens our eyes to see the love of Jesus for us; and opens our hearts to own that love:

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:5-8)

The Holy Spirit is our Counselor.

Within the Old Testament temple, the seven-branched menorah represented the perfect light and truth of God (the number seven represented perfection). The Spirit opens our eyes to the truth of God’s Word, which is a lamp unto our feet:

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit is our Helper.

If we are going to survive our three great enemies, the godless world, our own sinful flesh, and a fierce and cunning devil, then we need all of God’s help. The Christian life is not just about knowing certain things. It is also about having the Holy Spirit living within us, giving us strength to resist these enemies, and inspiring us to love and trust Jesus more every day. 

The Holy Spirit strengthens us in this way as we read and understand God’s Word. That is why the Scripture is called “The sword of the Spirit” (Eph. 6:17). It is the weapon the Spirit uses to cut down the devil’s lies.

Before the world was made, “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” and it was the Spirit who brought light, order, and life to this world (Gen. 1:2).

Every Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them.

The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see the truth about Jesus to make us Christians (2 Cor. 4:6). The Holy Spirit enlivens us day-by-day to live as Christians (Rom. 8:11). The Holy Spirit gives us gifts to serve our brothers and sisters in the church (1 Cor. 12:7-11). The Holy Spirit makes our spirits and souls stronger even as our bodies grow weaker:

Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self renewed day by day. (2 Cor. 4:16)

Every Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them:

Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Rom. 8:9)

Jesus has not left us as orphans. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, lives within his own.

Related Articles:

• He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 7

• The Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead — The Apostles' Creed, Articles of Faith 5 and 6

• Jesus Suffered Under Pontius Pilate; Was Crucified, Dead, and Buried; He Descended Into Hell — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 4

• Jesus Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 3

• I Believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son, Our Lord — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 2

• I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth — The Apostles' Creed, Article of Faith 1

from Blog - Beautiful Christian Life https://ift.tt/xPp5mhn
via IFTTT

2 Important Aspects of Christian Baptism Every Believer Should Know

The story of Noah's Ark by Elmer Boyd Smith, 1905; image from Wikimedia Commons.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

What are two important aspects of Christian baptism that every believer should know?

“Scripture calls baptism the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins.”

The Heidelberg Catechism, first published in 1563, is a highly regarded summary of the Christian faith and has the following to say about the significance of baptism:

“Q. Where has Christ promised that he will wash us with his blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?

A. In the institution of baptism, where he says: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19). Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mk 16:16). This promise is repeated where Scripture calls baptism the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins (Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16).” (The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 71)

Christian baptism is a visible sign of the washing away of all our sins that all believers have in Christ. Additionally, Christian baptism has the imagery of going from death to life.

The Old Testament helps us better understand the significance of baptism.

We see types of this imagery, which are foreshadowings of Christ’s salivific work, in the Old Testament in the accounts of Noah and the Flood and the Israelites passing through the Red Sea:

The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. (Gen. 7:17-18)

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (Exod. 14:21-22)

In his article “Jesus’ Ark,” pastor Nick Batzig writes the following regarding the greater meaning of the Flood,

The Flood was essentially creation undone. The abating of the waters was essentially the re-creation of the world. It was essentially salvation through judgment….Noah knew that the flood had not made '“all things new” because he sacrificed when he stepped off of the Ark. The flood waters could never cleanse the evil out of the heart of man. (“Jesus’ Ark,” A Place for Truth)

Baptism is both a sign and seal to all who have new life in Christ.

Noah and all who were on the ark were saved from God’s judgment to live in a “re-creation” of the world (Gen. 7-9), just as the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, spared from the watery judgment of the waters that drowned the Egyptians (Exod. 14) to begin life as God’s chosen people. In his death and resurrection, Jesus saves us from God’s eternal judgment and gives us eternal life.

The sacrament of baptism, “the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins” (HC 71) is God’s gift to us, being a sign of both our cleansing from sin and passing from death to eternal life in Christ. Baptism is a seal to all who have new life by the Spirit.

Related Articles:

• 4 Important Aspects of the Noahic Covenant in Redemptive History

• Dunking, Sprinkling, or Pouring: Is There a Preferred Mode of Baptism?

• 8 Covenants in the Bible and What They Mean for You Personally Today

• 2 Kinds of Covenants in the Bible You Need to Know

Recommended:

What Is Baptism? (Volume 11) (Crucial Questions) by R. C. Sproul

from Blog - Beautiful Christian Life https://ift.tt/gySKQst
via IFTTT

Biblical Fathering: On Being Flexible

Image by Maile Marie Photography

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Beautiful Christian Life LLC may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through its links, at no cost to you.

Part two of a four-part series on fatherhood.

My dad was of the old school where a father was to hold himself above outward displays of emotion, especially where the kids were concerned. The father of old was to be above question regarding his decisions as well.

Don’t get me wrong; my dad was a Christian man, a good dad who provided for his family and treated everyone well, including the dog that he didn’t particularly like. But he thought his authority was better preserved by exhibiting an air of infallibility and avoiding outward displays of emotion. What I learned from his example is how not to make the same mistake. A biblical dad needs to be flexible by being willing to show how he feels and also willing to admit mistakes when he is wrong. 

Fathers are to be flexible.

Paul writes: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

The Greek word Paul uses for “bring up” carries the idea of nourishing a child from the very beginning with tenderness and compassion. But you protest, “mothers are the natural nurturers!” Yes, that is true to some extent, but men are capable of learning the flexibility that the old school fathers of the past seemed to avoid. And our wives can provide the important lessons that enable us to fulfill God’s desire for fathers to be family nurturers, too.

Men are problem-solvers.

Men tend to be problem-solvers. When presented with a problem, they go for what they see as a solution, sometimes before having all the facts. On the other hand, women tend to listen and gather the facts, including how people are feeling and how to repair any hurt or discord.

Therefore, it behooves the biblical dad to pause, listen carefully to his children, and let them know first of all that their feelings are important. Then, even though we may think we see a clear solution, we need to remember to be flexible and suggest several options for a solution.

Fathers need to teach their children to obey both parents.

Flexibility is especially important when we consider that our role as biblical fathers is to fit God’s mandate of our family authority into the realities of daily family life. We certainly want to encourage our children, but not at the expense of losing our mandate as the leader of our family.

It is also important to teach our children to obey both parents. How many times can you recall when you asked Mom first, instead of Dad? Fathers and mothers both need to have the flexibility that allows them to come to an agreement on rules and limits and clearly define them for the children. Doing so prevents the possibility of the kids playing one parent against the other.

Our efforts to teach our children to obey both parents make it easier for them to obey God later in life when they are faced with making their own decisions. The biblical father who displays flexibility not only nurtures harmony in his family, but also cultivates a prerequisite to be considered for leadership in the church. The opposite is also true: “For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (1 Tim. 3:5).

Being flexible in the leadership of his family is an important trait every biblical father should seek to develop as he raises his children to love God and their neighbor in their youth as well as adulthood.

Click here for Part 1: “Biblical Fathering: On Being Fair"

Click here for Part 3: “Biblical Fathering: On Being Firm"

Click here for Part 4: "Biblical Fathering: On Being Forthright

Related Articles: 

• The Gut-Wrenching Pain of Letting Go and Trusting God with Your Children

• 12 Wonderful Responsibilities God Has Given to Men

• What Is Colossians 3:18–4:1 Saying about Submission within Family and Society?

• 4 Practices for Being Faithful Stewards of Little Eternal Beings

from Blog - Beautiful Christian Life https://ift.tt/gR6NJI1
via IFTTT