Chesterbrook Taiwanese Presbyterian Church

In my previous post, I talked about learning and relearning the gospel. There’s a neat blog called, Of First Importance that has daily quotes from various authors on the subject of the gospel. It is inspirational because its purpose is to stir our hearts towards greater affection for Jesus. Here’s a sample recently that encouraged me immensely. 

“I hope what you find in yourself by daily experience, will humble you—but not discourage you.For if our Physician is almighty—our disease cannot be desperate. Our sins are many—but His mercies are more. Our sins are great—but His righteousness is greater. When our sins prevail, remember that we have an Advocate with the Father, who is able to pity, to pardon, and to save to the uttermost! It is better to be admiring the compassion and fullness of grace which is in our Savior—than to dwell and pore too much upon our own poverty and vileness.”

 — John Newton, Letters of John Newton (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth: 2007)

Yesterday in our home group, we considered the application from Ephesians 4:17-26. Paul speaks of the old spiritual dynamic vs. the new spiritual dynamic in light of Christ. In a nutshell this is how it works:

1. You need to learn and unlearn the old
2. You need to learn and relearn the new

 They are two sides of the same coin. First you need to learn and understand the sin dynamic that goes on within you. You need to know that our corrupt desires and actions stem from a futile mind and hardened heart. You need to learn that we are susceptible to lies and falsehoods about God, yourself, and the world. Once you know how the sin dynamic works, you need to unlearn the patterns of thought that have dominated your thinking, feeling and living (2 Cor. 10:5).

Because of the truth that is in Jesus, we are fundamentally different. There’s a new standing and reality. The sin that used to have a hold on you is no more because of Jesus’ work on the cross. We need to learn about what Jesus did for us and how it impacts not only your future in eternity, but in the here and now. So we need to learn and relearn the gospel. The gospel is not something we graduate from, but the very thing we need continuously in order for us to grow in Him. The questions we discussed are two fold. 

What are old thought patterns (lies about God, yourself, and others) do you have a tough time letting go of

What are new truths you need to hold on to? (perhaps to uproot old lies and assumptions about God, yourself, and the world)

Take time to think about it. Talk to someone about it. Learn and Unlearn. Learn and Relearn. Above all, let the gospel truth be central in your desire to change.

My sermons rarely cause a commotion. Maybe internally, but not so much in public. During lunch, some of us had a pretty animated discussion of my use of a “best friend”. So here’s the context. I was riding the coattails of a Tim Chester quote regarding idolatry. Here’s what he said:

“the NT language of repentance is very violent. It includes amputating, murdering, starving, and fighting. We need to be violent with sin. If we hold back, it’s almost certainly because we don’t want to be violent towards something we still love.”

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One of the major themes of the gospels is table fellowship or simply put, eating and sharing life together through a meal. Jesus spent a good chunk of his ministry eating and drinking around the table with all walks of life. Sharing a meal signifies acceptance, friendship, hospitality, generosity and love. Something as simple as eating together, is a bit of a lost art these days.

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