Tolle Lege: Delighting in the Trinity

Delighting...Readability: 1

Length: 130 pp

Author: Michael Reeves

I like subtitles but I normally don’t make much of them in these reviews. But Michael Reeves’ Delighting in the Trinity’s subtitle call for special notice. The title alone, unfortunately, is enough to startle some. Delighting in the Trinity? That is shocking enough, but he adds, “an introduction to the Christian faith.” This suggests that some Christians are trying to spell words like “Jesus,” and say phrases like, “justification by faith,” before they even know their ABCs.

“But I thought the Trinity was the deep end of the pool? You know, where the high dive is; for advanced swimmers?” You’re right. The Trinity is deep, but if Christianity is the pool, then the Trinity isn’t a side of the pool, it’s the water. You can’t get into the real Christianity pool, not even the shallow side, without immersing into Trinity. Christians are trinitarian, chosen by the Father, saved by the Son, renewed by the Spirit. Michael Reeves means for you to play in this water, that is, to delight in the Trinity. Please read no allusion to Trinity as water here, liquid, solid, gas, this would make me, and Reeves very distraught. It smacks of the ancient heresy modalism, dubbed moodalism by Reeves. This would work against your joy, but for an explanation of why you’re going to have to get the book.

The most foundational thing in God is not some abstract quality, but the fact that he is Father.

This is salvation with jam on top. In fact, the more trinitarian the salvation, the sweeter it is. For it is not just that we are brought before the Father in the Son; we receive the Spirit with which he was anointed. Jesus said in John 16: 14 that the Spirit ‘will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.’ The Spirit takes what is the Son’s and makes it ours. When the Spirit rested upon the Son at his baptism, Jesus heard the Father declare from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ But now that the same Spirit of sonship rests on me, the same words apply to me: in Christ my high priest I am adopted, beloved, Spirit-anointed son. As Jesus says to the Father in John 17: 23, you ‘have loved them even as you have loved me.’ And so, as the Son brings me before his Father, with their Spirit in me I can boldly cry, ‘Abba,’ for their fellowship I now freely share: The Most High my Father, The Son my great brother, the Spirit no longer Jesus’ Comforter, but mine.

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The Pilgrim: Jesus Saves Our Good Works Too

He saves us, and saves our services too. (Rev 5:9-14) They would be all cast back as dung in our faces, were they not rinsed and washed in the blood, were they not sweetened and perfumed in the incense, and conveyed to God himself through the white hand of Jesus Christ; for that is his golden-censer; from thence ascends the smoke that is in the nostrils of God of such a sweet savour. (Rev 7:12-14, 8:3,4) -John Bunyan, Christ a Complete Savior

Matthew 18:1-14 – Childlike, not Childish

Scripture holds up being childlike, not childish. The disciples are behaving like children here, but in all the wrong ways. Mark tells us that the disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest, and that they were reluctant to tell Jesus what the issue was. I’m sure if we had a transcript it would read as follows:

“I’m taller.”

“Me first.”

“Oh, yeah well…”

“Nuh-uh!”

There is a way we should be like children, but it should lead to us growing up. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation (1 Peter 2:2).” In Ephesians 4:12-13 Paul tells us that Jesus gifts His church with shepherds “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” There is a way in which the child of God should be childlike, but the result should be not a resembling of Benjamin Button, but of Jesus Christ.

Jesus says we must become like a child to even enter the kingdom, and then He says that the greatest only go deeper in this childlikeness. In what way are we to be childlike? Note that we are to humble ourselves to become like a child, we are not told to be humble like a child. Children can be as pompous as an adult. The humbling is in becoming like a child. In a sermon on Mark 10:13-16, B.B. Warfield says, “Childlikeness is one thing; that by which the state is attained is another.” Humility is a road, but a road to where? Warfield deals with the various options, arguing against simplicity, trustfulness, innocence, and humility. Ultimately taking his cues from Mark 10:15 he argues for dependence; “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child cannot enter it.” The kingdom is to be received, and that like a child. The childlikeness we are to have is in relation to our receiving.

Children are altogether dependent on another. This is why it is so humbling to become one. Kingdom greatness isn’t achieved by the ambitiously accomplished, but the desperately dependent. Cool big varsity kids won’t get to play the kingdom game. They won’t even ride the pine. They will be thrown into outer darkness. The kingdom is for “little ones”. And the greatest, go deep in their dependence.

Because of the fall, man is a vacuum in a dirty world. He can only suck in dirt. Thus his desperation. If man is to be “converted” from a vacuum to a water hose, dispensing water instead of sucking dirt, the water must come from an outside source. Thus his dependance. The greatest, those who disperse the most water, are the biggest consumers of grace. They pump out what they are chugging down. They know the true of the vine taught in John 15, that it is by abiding in Christ that they bear much fruit. They humbly admit any greatness they posses is not their own, but Christ’s.

Tolle Lege: Putting Amazing Back into Grace

Puting Amazing...Readability: 1

Length: 227 pp

Author: Michael Horton

Michael Horton is as excellent a theologian as he is a writer. God’s grace was on him in both ways, like the prophet Jeremiah, from his youth. As a teenage boy Horton’s eyes were opened to the doctrines of grace. He wrote a book titled Mission Accomplished at fifteen to explain to others the truths he had come to see in Scripture. While in college the book was published by Thomas Nelson and James Boice wrote the forward.

That book is since out of print, but it was added to and revised. It now comes to us as Putting Amazing back into Grace with a foreword by J.I. Packer. Mission Accomplished was published and endorsed by James Boice said something as to its value. That Michael has had so many years to deepen in his understanding and wisdom in communicating these truth speaks to the value of its successor. Whether you are newly investigating the doctrines of grace or are looking to freshly be warmed by them you will find this book helpful.

We can talk about grace, sing about grace, preach about grace, just so long as we do not get too close to it.  Election is too close.  When we give in to election, we finally give up on ourselves in the matter of salvation.  This doctrine takes grace to its logical conclusion: If God saves me without my works, then he must choose me apart from them, too.

Everyone believes in election and predestination. The terms are found throughout Scripture, and to deny any and every notion of election or predestination is to flatly contradict God’s Word. The real question is whether one believes it is, as Paul affirmed, an ‘election of grace’ (Rom. 11:5) or of foreseen works. If grace means ‘unmerited favor,’ then the Bible clearly teaches that nothing, absolutely nothing at all including our response can be the one thing that merited God’s favor. If God chose you based on his having foreseen your response to him, it would not be an election or a salvation of unmerited favor.

When I was just discovering this teaching, my pastor—concerned that I was falling into error—asked me, ‘Son, when were you saved?’ Without really thinking about it, I heard myself answer, ‘Two thousand years ago.’ I am still reeling from that answer, which I barely understood that day. It is one of the most liberating and assuring truths in God’s Word.

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The Pilgrim: Prayer Cannot Exceed Your Christology

And according as a man apprehends Christ in his undertakings and offices, so he will wrestle with and supplicate God. As, suppose a man believes that Christ died for his sins; why, then, he will plead that in prayer with God. Suppose, also, that a man understands that Christ rose again for his justification; why, then, he will also plead that in prayer; but if he knows no more, no further will he go. -John Bunyan, The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate

Matthew 17:24-27 & No Taxation because of Representation

Matthew 17:24-27, this text isn’t about taxes. Trying to make it so is like trying to help out your friend who recently bought a classic car, which is complete and in running condition, but dissembled into many pieces, by giving him your son’s Lego car instruction booklet. Sure, there is correspondence, both have a steering wheel, wheels, a windshield and so on, but that classic car won’t be going anywhere because of your help. Sure, we have taxes here, but trying to make this text about civil taxes removes all its go power. Make this about civil taxes and you’ll have to push your little Lego car to make it run.

The glory of this text is not about how you relate to Caesar, but how you relate to God in Jesus Christ. The tax collected here was not one Matthew would have formerly gathered. This tax was not used to fund Rome. Whereas you would be unpatriotic for being a tax collector, paying this tax was a patriotic act. Whereas being a tax collector indicated the idolatry of mammon, paying this tax could be an act of worship of the one true God. This tax was collected to upkeep the temple. This tax has more in common with a church offering than a state tax.

The temple is Jesus’ Father’s house (Luke 2:49, John 2:17). Jesus is under no obligation to pay this tax. Jesus is free from this tax because He is the Son. We are free because in the Son, we are sons (Galatians 3:26).

Our country was birthed crying, “No taxation without representation.” We are reborn rejoicing, “No taxation because of representation.” Jesus is the true Son, representing those chosen by the Father in the Son, to be adopted as sons. He takes our sin, we receive His righteousness. We are free. This isn’t freedom from a tyrannical Caesar. This is freedom in becoming a Son of the King; a generous King who gives His only begotten Son to make us sons. The Son was taxed, meaning He was put under the heaviest of strains, paying our ransom, so that we might be free. And “if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).”

The Pilgrim: That which Costs Dear not Easily Parted with

They cost him dear; and that which is dear bought is not easily parted with (1 Corinthians 6:20). They were bought with “his blood” (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18,19). They were given him for his blood, and therefore are “dear children” (Ephesians 5:1); for they are his by the highest price; and this price he, as Advocate, pleadeth against the enemy of our salvation; yea, I will add, they are his, because he gave his all for them (2 Corinthians 8:9). When a man shall give his all for this or that, then that which he so hath purchased is become his all. Now Christ has given his all for us; he made himself poor for us, wherefore we are become his all, his fullness; and so the church is called (Ephesians 1:23). Nay, further, Christ likes well enough of his purchase, though it hath cost him his all-“The lines,” says he, “are fallen to me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage” (Psalms 16:6). Now, put all these things together, and there is a strong plea in them. Interest, such an interest, will not be easily parted with. -John Bunyan, The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate

Matthew 17:14-23 & A Check that Clears

Gardner’s Bookstore in Tulsa boasts being the largest used bookstore in Oklahoma with over 23,000 square feet packed with books. When I would browse the religion section looking for a jewel in a mountain of straw my frustration would be alleviated by humorously observing two of the titles that most populated those shelves. There were regularly at least half a dozen copies of Joel Osteen’s Your Best Life Now, and Bruce Wilkinson’s The Prayer of Jabez each.

People generally discard user’s manuals, especially if those manuals prove faulty. A lot of people bought these books hoping they were true. I speculate that a lot of people sold them having found they were false. The prosperity premise may not necessarily be rejected, this just wasn’t the right how to for them. “This plastic must be old; run a different card and I can stil have the goodies, right?” The results are diabolical. They think they took God’s check to the bank and it failed to clear. Keep the major premise and you can only come to two conclusions. God has limited funds, or you’ve irritated Him such that He put a hold on that check. You can only doubt God, either as regards His funds or His love. Either this isn’t by grace, or there just isn’t that much of it. Here is a text that is meant to bolster faith but when the prosperity wolves finish chewing on this bone it leads only to doubt. That is unless the manual worked for you, but then the results are still diabolical, for you are worshipping mammon and using God instead of worshipping God and using mammon. Doubt is still the end result, for your faith is in a different God.

Why is it a faith issue for the disciples to fail to drive out this demon? In Matthew 10:1 Jesus gives them “authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal ever disease and affliction.” Jesus says they have little faith, but it is not themselves they are doubting. They are dumbfounded as to why they can’t handle this (v. 19). They are doubting Jesus. Faith is anchored in the word of Christ, not the abilities of self (Romans 10:17). What is being bolstered by this promise then is not faith to move whatever mountain you desire, but faith to move whatever mountain Christ has commanded. To properly appropriate this promise you need to ask yourself not, “What mountain do I want to move,” but, “What mountain have we, the church, been commanded to move.”

What mountain can we move in faith?

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).’”

Jesus had just gone up a mountain and glory was breaking through while the disciples were powerless below. Christ has ascended higher into greater glory, powerlessness should doubly not be our state.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight (Acts 1:8-9).”

The Pilgrim: Jesus Is No Slippery Lawyer

He granteth and confesseth whatever can rightly be charged upon us; yet so as that he taketh the whole charge upon himself, acknowledging the crimes to be his own. -John Bunyan, The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate

Matthew 17:1-13 & No Gory, No Glory

We want the figure of a god, without the diet and exercise. When it comes to our salvation, to being godlike, we want to do it on our own, and we don’t want to do that much. We want glory, with none of the pain. We are spiritually health conscious in a way, but we want a quick, easy, and cheap fix. Gives us a pill, give us a surgery. What we will not do is really sweat or really work. We will not sacrifice our diet of sin. The diet of religion is both lazy and sinful seeking less than perfection. It is lazy because it seeks less than perfection. It is sinful because it seeks less than perfection. Its seeks to enjoy sin with minimal consequence. It does not truly seek to be holy as God is holy.

Physically, in our age of dieting, many try to delude themselves. Its funny how many articles are written as if it is some secret that diet and exercise are the key to health. There is only one way for health to get deep into your bones. It takes work. Our spiritual health likewise involves work. Paul tells us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).” But be careful. Our salvation is something we work out, it is not something we work for. No drug we manufacture can bring about our salvation, and all our work, even our best work is also futile. We’re not simply spiritually flabby. We’re dead. We couldn’t sweat enough “good,” we couldn’t bleed enough “payment” even if we wanted to. Any sweat is already only our due, and all our blood is the debt we already owe. We need unequaled and unobligated sweat and blood.

Our salvation is no sweat-less labor; no bloodless surgery. A laparoscopic procedure won’t suffice. Flesh must be rent wide open. Blood must be spilt. To give the dead life, The Life must die. Then, and only then, do our eating habits change, for we have an appetite for the Bread of life. Then, and only then, do our work habits change, for we love to do good works unto God’s glory through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of the fall there is only one way to glory, and that is through the gory. For us to go up, God must descend, further down than any.

The transfiguration is framed by a lot of cross talk (Matthew 16:21-28; 17:9, 12, 22-23). Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone this vision until after He is resurrected. The glory light they have seen will only be properly understood when illuminated by a dark cross. The transfiguration is not so much a flashback to Jesus’ eternal glory, as it is a flash-forward to his resurrection glory, and the cross comes first. No gory, no glory. He takes our part, that we may take His.

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:8-11