Author: Christopher Terry

Power and Authority

/ Christopher Terry

I have been reminded over the past week of the incredible power of wind. We can’t see it but we can hear it. We can’t take hold of it but we can feel it. The wind is capable of causing massive devastation. As I walked around the neighborhood, following the storm earlier this week, I saw huge trees uprooted from the ground. The wind blew these trees over. No created thing was able to put a stop to it. When you consider the power necessary to uproot fully mature trees, just remember that it pales in comparison with the power of Almighty God. Our Lord, during his earthly ministry, was on a boat in the midst of a particularly bad storm, sleeping (Mark 4:37). His disciples were scared by the power of the storm and so they woke him, pleading with him to do something (Mark 4:38). The funny thing is when he did something they became scared again but for a different reason (Mark 4:39-41). This time the disciples were scared by Jesus’ power and authority. They wondered, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”[1] Christ is Lord over all of creation (Col. 1:15-18; cf. Job 38:10-14, 20-24). He has the power and authority to command the weather to do exactly what he wants. None of us have the power and authority to command a storm to stop. The Lord alone can do such things. He rules the wind and the waves.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, willingly came in the flesh to this earth (John 1:1-3, 14, 18). The same earth that he created, rules over, and sustains by his powerful word (Heb. 1:3). The Lord entered Jerusalem on a donkey, in fulfillment of the prophecy, to present himself as the King of Israel (Matt. 21:5; cf. Zech. 9:9). He allowed himself to be arrested, tried, and condemned (Matt. 27:24-26). Christ, who possesses all power, allowed himself to be crucified (Matt. 27:32-44). On the cross, he absorbed the wrath of the Father for our sins and died as our substitute (Rom. 3:21-26). Apart from his substitutionary death on the cross, we would remain dead in our sins (cf. 1 Peter 2:24; Rev. 1:5). This One, who commands the wind and the waves, willingly laid down his life on a Roman cross to redeem us. He did all of these things in obedience to the Father’s will (John 5:30; 6:38). Three days later, Christ rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-4). No one could stop him from doing so. Jesus possesses the power and authority necessary to rise from the dead (John 10:17-18; 2:19 cf. Acts 2:24). We do not possess that kind of power and authority. Jesus does.

Ephesians 1:19-21 reads, “And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” This is divine, resurrection power that the Lord possesses and exercises. Paul wrote in Philippians that he desired to know Christ and the power of his resurrection (Phil. 3:10). George Whitefield declared, “The power of his resurrection is as great now as formerly, and the Holy Spirit, which was assured to us by his resurrection, as ready and able to quicken us who are dead in trespasses and sins, as any saint that ever lived. Let us but cry, and that instantly, to him that is mighty and able to save; let us, in sincerity and truth, without secretly keeping back the least part, renounce ourselves and the world; then we shall be Christians indeed. And though the world may cast us out, and separate from our company, yet Jesus Christ will walk with, and abide in us.”[2] This is a powerful truth about a powerful Savior. The finished work of Christ reconciles repentant sinners to a holy God. The question is, do you have peace with God (Rom. 5:1; 8:1)?

The Lord defeated death through the resurrection. As a believer, your resurrection is assured because Christ has risen. He is alive and he is seated at the Father’s right hand in glory and power (Eph. 1:20-23). You can trust him with your eternal soul. Charles Spurgeon once preached, “In Christ, believers possess all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and grace, and power, and love. All things are yours, if you are Christ’s. From our union to Christ follows our sanctification: we cannot follow after sin, for Christ does not follow after it. He died unto sin once, and we are henceforth dead to it. He is risen by the glory of the Father, and we are risen with him into righteousness, and acceptance, and joy.”[3] If you can trust him with your eternal soul, you can trust him with the details of your life. The Lord, who controls the wind and the waves, is all-powerful and he is good.

I close with an excerpt from The Valley of Vision,

“LORD GOD, Thou hast commanded me to believe in Jesus, and I would flee to no other refuge, wash in no other fountain, build on no other foundation, receive from no other fullness, rest in no other relief… Let me not be at my own disposal, but rejoice that I am under the care of one who is too wise to err, too kind to injure, too tender to crush.”[4]

[1] Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[2] Robert Murray McCheyne et al., A Treasury of Great Preaching: 5 Vol. Set (WORDsearch, 2020).

[3] C. H. Spurgeon, “Christ’s Resurrection and Our Newness of Life,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 37 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1891), 182.

[4] The Valley of Vision. (United Kingdom: Banner of Truth Trust, 2003), 42-43.

Hope

/ Christopher Terry

Hope is a simple word that most people think they understand. Hope encourages. Hope inspires. People want it but do not possess it. Most have no idea where to find it. Some are looking for hope in possessions or material wealth. Others are looking for hope in the approval of people or success. Yet, all of these things can be taken away. We need to find a source of hope that cannot be taken away. We need hope that does not wane.

The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ provides hope that can never be taken away (Rom. 8:31-39; John 10:29-30). It provides hope that does not wane (Heb. 7:25; Rom. 5:2). The gospel provides the hope of eternal life and peace with God (John 3:16; Rom. 5:1). Charles Spurgeon once preached, “When a man is at peace with God, then he has the desire to draw near to him. When he is justified, he has the right to draw near; so that, being justified, and having peace, we have ‘access by faith;’ and this is not a transient privilege, but the grace into which we have access is a grace in which we stand. We abide in it; the Lord has given us, through our justification, a permanent standing near to himself.”[1] This standing, this justification, provides us with hope that cannot be found anywhere else. So, the person who desires hope that is certain and enduring must find it in Jesus (1 John 5:11-13; Acts 4:12).

  • Where else can one find forgiveness of sin? It is found in Christ alone (Acts 2:38; Col. 1:4).
  • Where else can one find peace with God? It is found in Christ alone (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:1-10).
  • Where else can one find eternal life? It is found in Christ alone (John 10:27-30; 1 John 5:12).
  • Where else can one find freedom from and victory over sin? It is found in Christ alone (Rom. 6:1-23; 2 Cor. 5:15).
  • Where else can one enter into a covenant relationship with God? It is found in Christ alone (Heb. 9:11-28; 10:12-39).
  • Where else can one find adoption as sons? It is found in Christ alone (Eph. 1:5; Rom. 8:15).
  • Where else can one find a heavenly inheritance that will never pass away? It is found in Christ alone (1 Peter 1:3-9; Eph. 1:11-12).

These are just a sampling of the blessings we receive in Christ. Meditating on these truths should encourage us and cause us to rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 4:4-5; 3:1a). Scripture is clear, “but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:24–25). Regardless of what may come tomorrow the hope we have in Christ is secure. In Christ, we have hope.

We should not be under the illusion that we will live trouble-free lives as believers. The Lord Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33; cf. 1 John 5:1-5). God’s people experience loss and trial (ex. Job). The prophet Habakkuk wrote, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments” (Hab. 3:17–19). [2] Take note, this was a song to be utilized in Israel’s worship. Despite trouble, despite difficulty, the Lord is still our confidence. He is the One we look to when everything else seems to fall apart. In Christ, we have hope.

There are several professing Christians who are distraught over the actions of our current President and his administration. I would also ask you to consider if you were just as distraught over the actions of the last President and his administration (i.e. advocating for abortion on demand; the “transing” of kids; the unhindered flow of people crossing the border illegally). As Christians, we should use equal weights and measures. This is a time to consider where our hope and confidence are found. The proper answer is that our hope and confidence should be in Christ. As the book of Daniel teaches us, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Dan. 2:21). We are called to, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1–4). We are called to pray in this way for our leaders, regardless of whether we voted for them or not. Why are we supposed to do so? God commanded us to do so. Secondly, as God answers our prayers for our leaders then we as Christians can live peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way. Jesus is building his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). God’s kingdom will come, and his will will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). In Christ, we have hope.

I will close with an extended quote from Martyn Lloyd-Jones,

“’But,’ someone may say, ‘surely you can’t claim that there is any hope in the Gospel either, because it has been tried now for 2,000 years and has obviously failed quite as much as the various other things to which you’ve referred.’ The only reply to that is the one that was given so perfectly by the late G. K. Chesterton when he reminded us, ‘Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.’ That is the simple truth. The world, speaking generally, has never tried Christianity. It has talked a lot about it, but it has not really tried it. So I argue that this is still the only hope for the world. Therefore it is urgent that we should ask what Christianity is. Or, to put the question another way, what is the Christian church? What is her business, and what is her message? It can be put like this: Why am I, or why is anyone else, a preacher of the Gospel? There is only one answer to that question. I am a preacher because I believe I have been called; because in my little way God has given me a burden; because I know by personal experience, by the experience of others, and by experience garnered from the reading of history that there is nothing under heaven that can enable men and women to conquer and to master life and to have a hope that cannot be dimmed except this Gospel. Therefore, the most urgent task in the world today is to make the Gospel known to men and women. And this is the function of the Christian church.”[3]

As Paul writes, “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 for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Rom. 1:16–17). In Christ, we have hope.

[1] C. H. Spurgeon, “A Door of Hope,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 47 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1901), 516.

[2] Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[3] Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Christianity—The Only Hope,” in Authentic Christianity, 1st U.S. ed., vol. 1, Studies in the Book of Acts (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 5–6.

The Need for Courage and Sober-mindedness

/ Christopher Terry

We live in a time when emotions run high, but not just high. It would be more accurate to say that they run roughshod over our culture, including within the evangelical church. Universities across the country are filled with students who have been coddled and conditioned to be driven by their emotions. Grade Schools are filled with students who have been trained to be held captive by their emotions. I am in my mid-forties now but I can vividly remember being taught (in the 1980’s and 1990’s) to follow my heart (one of many subtle messages designed to undermine truth as the authority). This message was present across the culture. It was found in music, cartoons, sitcoms, movies, comic books, school curricula, news broadcasts, etc… The message of emotionalism was not always explicit, but it was certainly implicit. At this point, you may wonder if this emotionally driven mindset is still a problem. The short answer is… it is worse.

We have to remember that it was not that long ago, within the broader culture of the United States, the consensus was that truth trumps feelings. Now, I understand that just because a cultural majority believes (or wants) something does not make it valid, but it is an evidence of a majority Christian consensus that once existed within the culture. That such a reality sounds foreign to us demonstrates how effective the secular agenda has been. At this point, you may think that I have a knack for the obvious. How does this issue affect us in the evangelical church? We, like our culture, have become afraid of upsetting or displeasing others. Allie Beth Stuckey writes about the manipulative pressure that is applied, “’If you really care about women, you’ll support their right to choose. If you really respect people, you’ll use preferred pronouns. If you’re really a kind person, you’ll celebrate all love. If you’re really compassionate, you’ll welcome the immigrant. If you’re really a Christian, you’ll fight for social justice.’ You’re probably familiar with this line of thinking. The goal of statements like these—examples of toxic empathy—is to get us to suppress our opposition to a particular issue or point of view by playing upon our desire to be a good person.”[1]

Many seem to function as though niceness has replaced kindness as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-24). It really has not, at least not legitimately. Scripture hasn’t changed. But, in practice many have already made the swap. How is this possible? It is the result of a concerted effort by the unbelieving world system to squeeze Christians into its mold (cf. Rom. 12:1-2). The world has determined that all Christians must be nice. It can’t be all that bad can it? Who doesn’t want to be nice? The problem is that the world has defined niceness as being accepting, tolerant, and non-confrontational. If you do not accept and approve of the world’s ways then you are not nice, or loving for that matter. We can’t have that, can we? It sounds kind of bad. The emotional grenade is thrown into the room, “Aren’t Christians supposed to be nice and loving? Jesus was nice and loving, why aren’t you?” This is the message that is foisted upon Christians. Believers have worried that if the world is upset with us then we must be doing something wrong. This is not automatically true. Again, Scripture is the standard concerning right and wrong, not how someone feels. As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:11; Rom. 10:9; 14:9). The Word of God is our authority in all matters (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 John 5:3). Regardless of how I feel, or you feel, or anyone else feels, truth trumps emotion.

Let’s consider a very general scenario. The world says that you, as a Christian, should approve of lawbreaking in just one area (though it’s never really just one area, is it?). If you go along with this thinking then you are nice, a friend to the downtrodden and underprivileged. You really are a Christian. On the other hand, if you don’t go along with this thinking then you are a racist and a xenophobe who hates everyone who doesn’t look like you. Whoa! Things escalated quickly. How did we get here? Well, we accepted to the world’s bargain and traded truth for emotionalism as our authority. We do not realize how deep this problem resides within us and evangelical churches. This problem crosses over into all areas of life. Rosaria Butterfield writes, “The world is in chaos, and the church is divided because we have failed to obey God and value his plan for how men and women should live. We foolishly believed that we could permanently extricate the gospel from the creation ordinance—that we could have the New Testament without the Old. We foolishly believed that personal piety and love for Jesus require no doctrinal integrity and no foundation in the Bible as God’s inerrant, sufficient, and inspired word. We foolishly believed that we could reinvent our calling as men and women, defy God’s pattern and purpose for the sexes, and somehow reap God’s blessing. God’s plan for men and women, the creation ordinance, is first found in Genesis 1. And it is central—not peripheral—to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”[2] We are reaping what we have sown.

Consider another example. There is a boy named Alex (under 10 years old) who desperately wants a toy that belongs to another child. So, Alex takes the toy from the other child. When confronted the Alex’s defense is, “I didn’t have one and I wanted it.” You are not entirely comfortable with what has happened, but others are telling you, “It is okay. The other child’s parents can afford to buy another toy. Alex doesn’t have many toys and has gone without for a long time. So, he really deserves the toy. Life has not been fair to him.” It is an unfortunate situation, but maybe not for the reasons you think. Is it right for Alex to take someone else’s property? Based upon the standard of Scripture, no. It is stealing regardless of how you feel about it. “But, Alex doesn’t have much and he had a really tough upbringing.” The rationale is that the sin is really not that bad because the one doing it is poor and had a difficult life. As a result, he should be allowed to break the law because of how tough he has had it. If things were not so bad for him then he wouldn’t need to break the law. Besides, it is only one law. Does this change whether or not the actions are in fact wrong? No, it does not. Why? Because truth is the standard, not how we feel about it. So, regardless of public sentiment truth still reigns supreme. As a friend once described to me about those with challenging past circumstances, “It helps explain, but it doesn’t excuse wrong behavior.” We can have sympathy for people without excusing or enabling wrongdoing.

The play that is run over and over against Christians is to target our sympathy and fear of man. We must recognize the strategy and be prepared to resist it. We will be called unpleasant names. They will present stories/images to us that will pull on our heartstrings. All of this is meant to manipulate us, dear Christians. Each of us has a limit. What names are we afraid to be called? These would be names designed to steer us to compromise truth. The Pharisees accused Jesus of being a glutton and a drunkard (Luke 7:34). John the Baptist was accused of having a demon because of his rugged and minimalistic way of life (Luke 7:33). Would you and I be steered (i.e. manipulated into compromising truth) because someone called us uncaring, unloving, hateful, judgmental, privileged, racist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, misogynistic, a fundamentalist, or a legalist? Someone will respond, “But, racism does exist! Xenophobia does exist! Misogyny does exist!” Humanity is sinful and these sins do occur. But, not every accusation is credible. Just because a person feels something is true does not make it so. How do we determine the credibility of such accusations? We determine them based upon an honest evaluation of our own hearts before the Lord, based upon the teaching of the Word of God. The standards of Scripture do not change. It does not bend with the whims or sensibilities of each successive age. The Word of God is not subject to the perceptions of sinful man.

Christians have been attacked repeatedly via the aforementioned playbook. This is how D.E.I. (through claims of inequality and racism), abortion (through claims of inequality and misogyny), female clergy (through claims of inequality and misogyny), homosexual marriage (through claims of inequality and homophobia), the transgender agenda (through claims of inequality and transphobia), preferred pronouns (through claims of love and transphobia), etc… have gained a foothold in some corners of evangelicalism. It was a trojan horse operation with “niceness, love, tolerance, and equality” emblazoned on the side. Joe Rigney observes, “Our world demands that whole communities adapt to their most reactive, unstable, and immature members.”[3] But, it was not just an infiltration from the outside. Here is a troubling reality, there are a number of unbelievers who are members of local churches. These unbelievers attend services, teach classes, work in nurseries, serve on committees, etc… Sometimes, they even pastor churches. As unregenerate people they do not possess the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16b). They are dead in their sins (Eph. 2:1-2). They are not new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Rather, they are under wrath (Eph. 2:3b; John 3:18, 36). They are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15). Unbelievers are of their father, the devil (John 8:44). They introduce false doctrine and undermine biblical standards. They are tares in the midst of the wheat (Matt. 13:38). When we consider this reality, it shocks the system. How could such a thing happen, unbelievers as members and leaders? The N.T. depicts this as a clear and present danger in local churches (Jude 4, 10-16; 2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-22). It happens in our day as well.

Genuine believers can be manipulated. The pressure really grows when those within the church begin to push for compromise because things are uncomfortable. They are steered and they seek to steer others. Adam followed his wife into sin rather than resisting and leading (Gen. 3). He abdicated his role of spiritual leadership and responsibility as a man. When confronted he blamed his wife. Aaron feared the displeasure of the people so he made an idol (Exod. 32). He abdicated his role of spiritual leadership and responsibility as a man. When confronted he blamed the people. Peter compromised the gospel and separated himself from the Gentile Christians because he feared the circumcision party (Gal. 2:11-21). He abdicated his role of spiritual leadership and responsibility as a man. When confronted he blamed the people. Were they uncomfortable situations? I am sure that they were. It helps explain, but it doesn’t excuse them. We must resist the errors of Adam, Aaron, and Peter. Joe Rigney writes, “The cure for our fever is sober-minded leaders who are grounded in the glory of God, and therefore possess clarity of mind, stability of soul, and readiness to act. This enables them to orient and direct their families, churches, schools, businesses, and nations for God’s purposes. Such leaders are able to weather anxiety storms, resist social stampedes, reject blame-shifting and excuse-making, and maintain their integrity in an age of anxiety, agitation, and turmoil. But the moment that you begin to cultivate mature, sober-minded leadership, you should expect sabotage, both from within and without.”[4] So, how should we respond? We begin by no longer believing the lies of counterfeit Christianity (i.e. worldliness that sprinkles in some “Jesus language” occasionally). We must return to the Christianity that is actually described in the Word of God. We must hold fast to Scripture and sound doctrine. We must practice biblical church membership (i.e. regenerate church membership with accompanying adherence to church doctrine and covenant) and biblical church discipline. Finally, we must pray, asking God to help us to be faithful to him and his Word. May God help us to be soberminded, strong and courageous, in the faith.

[1] Allie Beth Stuckey, Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion (p. xii). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

[2] Rosaria Butterfield, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age (pp. 6-7). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

[3] Joe Rigney, Leadership and Emotional Sabotage: Resisting the Anxiety That Will Wreck Your Family, Destroy Your Church, and Ruin the World (p. 9). Canon Press. Kindle Edition.

[4] Joe Rigney, Leadership and Emotional Sabotage: Resisting the Anxiety That Will Wreck Your Family, Destroy Your Church, and Ruin the World (p. 38). Canon Press. Kindle Edition.  

2025 – A New Year

/ Christopher Terry

We have entered the year of our Lord 2025. A new year brings with it a sense of hope and anticipation. Some people look forward to the prospect of self-improvement and increased prosperity that may come with a new year. Others hope for new and exciting experiences. As Christians, a new year should look a bit different. Everything for the Christian revolves around Christ: his glory; his kingdom; his will; and his Word. All of these things are priorities for the Christian.

In beginning a new year, I would encourage you to look back and take stock of the past year(s). Ask yourself, in the past year(s):
• How did God provide for you?
• How did he sustain you?
• How did he guide you?
• How did he correct you?
• How did he teach you?
Write down your answer to these questions. As you consider what you have written, give God thanks for his good and faithful work in your life.

In beginning a new year, I would encourage you to set some goals for your Christian growth. The following list is not intended to be exhaustive.

  1. Set goals for your Bible reading and prayer time. Here are some suggestions:
    a. Read through the entire Bible in a year.
    b. Read through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
    c. Read through the New Testament in six months or a year.
    d. Read through the Old Testament in six months or a year.
    e. Read through the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Number, Deuteronomy).
    f. Read through Proverbs each month. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. On average you will be reading one chapter per day for the entire year.
    g. Read through Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
    There are many more options than the ones listed here, but it is a starting point to get you thinking. Start somewhere. Having a plan helps.
  2. Set goals for memorizing Scripture. Here are some suggestions:
    a. Memorize verses that focus on an area of need right now (ex. worry, anger, bitterness, doubt, discouragement, etc.).
    b. Memorize verses that will help you share the gospel (the “Romans Road” is not a bad place to start).
    c. Memorize verses that will help you defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15).
    d. Memorize verses that encourage you in your worship of the Lord.
    There are many more options than the ones listed here, but it is a starting point to get you thinking. Start somewhere. Having a plan helps.
  3. Set goals for sharing the gospel. Maybe your goal will be to:
    a. Share the gospel with one person each day.
    b. Share the gospel with one person each week.
    c. Share a gospel tract with one person each day.
    d. Share a gospel tract with one person each week.
    e. Leave a gospel tract in a public place each day.
    One thing you should be doing each day is asking God for opportunities to share the gospel. Ask him to give you the wisdom, clarity of thought, words to speak, and courage to share.
  4. Set goals for encouraging others in the faith. As Christians, we are supposed to be making disciples. How can you exhort others to love and good deeds as believers (Heb. 10:24-25)? A word of wisdom/caution: focus on encouraging someone of the same gender as you, unless the person is a spouse or family member. Here are some suggestions:
    a. Let a fellow believer know you are praying for him or her. Just make sure you actually pray. Also, ask the person what you can be praying for.
    b. Share Bible verses intended to encourage the brother or sister in Christian obedience and faithfulness.
    c. Share things you are learning from God’s Word and other good Christian literature.
    d. Share good sermons, podcasts, and books with fellow believers.
    e. Ask the fellow believer what he or she is learning lately from God’s Word and other good Christian literature.
  5. Set goals for reading Christian books that will encourage you in Christian maturity. There are several written works that can be a great encouragement to you in your Christian walk. It gives you the opportunity to learn from fellow believers who you will not be able to have a conversation with or be mentored by. Here are some categories:
    a. Christian life – prayer, spiritual growth, Bible reading, evangelism, discipleship, etc.
    b. Christian Theology – Systematic Theology, Biblical Theology, and Historical Theology
    c. Family life and Marriage – resolving conflict, raising and discipling children, family worship time, etc.
    d. Church – worship, ordinances, governance, discipleship, etc.

In the near future, I will share a list of suggested resources that would be a good place for you to start. In the meantime, get started on the action steps listed above. Seek the Lord each day. Seek to bring him glory in all that you do.

Let Joy Resound

/ Christopher Terry

Christmas is coming. Some will read those words and begin to feel anxious because of all that still has to be done. It is not supposed to be such an anxiety-inducing time, at least not to the extent that it is. We are to gather in our local church to celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Matthew writes, “’And she will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place in order that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us’” (Matt. 1:21–23 Legacy Standard Bible). Friends, the plan of God to redeem sinful humanity and reconcile them to himself was always heading toward this end (1 Pet. 1:18-20; cf. Gen. 3:15). There was no other way for there to be peace between the Lord and sinners. God took on flesh to pay for mankind’s sin (John 3:16-17; 1:1-2, 14, 18; Heb. 1:1-3).

We have reason to celebrate. The reason for our celebration has little to do with sales and stuff. Brothers and sisters, we are living in the year of our Lord 2024. Christ has changed everything. He gives unalterable hope and unfathomable peace to those who know him. We gather in local churches with fellow Christians to sing, pray, worship, and fellowship in joy because Christ has come. We gather in homes with family and friends in joy because Christ has come. The Creator of all things, in fulfillment of his promises, has provided redemption (Isa. 53). Sins can be forgiven. Wrath can be removed. Justification can be imputed. Eternal life can be received. Francis Schaeffer writes, “Just as the only basis for the removal of our guilt is the finished work of Christ upon the cross in history, plus nothing, so the only instrument for accepting that finished work of Christ upon the cross is faith.”[1] We know from Scripture that salvation is by faith through grace (Eph. 2:8-10). We should be rejoicing in the Lord continually for this great truth.

Since Christ has come; since Christ has died; since Christ has risen; since Christ has ascended; since Christ is coming again we have hope. We have peace. We have joy. We have security. There is no longer a baby in the manger. There is no longer a Christ on the cross. There is no longer a Christ in the tomb. At this very moment, Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. The Lord Jesus is supreme over all power and authority (Eph. 1:20-23). Christ is coming again (1 Thess. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; John 14:1-3). John MacArthur declares, “Scripture is neither vague nor equivocal on the promise of Christ’s return… And regardless of what the scoffers say, Jesus is coming. World history is barreling toward a conclusion, and the conclusion has already been ordained by God and foretold in Scripture. It could be soon, or it could be another thousand years (or more) away. Either way, God is not slack concerning His promise. Christ will return!”[2]

Jesus Christ is Lord. This truth provides us with things that can never be taken away. We know that in Jesus Christ alone forgiveness of sin and eternal life is found. We know that Christ has overcome the grave (Acts 2:23-24) and the world (John 16:33). In Christ, death is defeated (1 Cor. 15:22; Rom. 5:17). In Christ, we have overcome the world (1 John 5:1-5). Regardless of how corrupt our leaders can be at times, Christ is still Lord. Regardless of how bad inflation can be at times, Christ is still Lord. If we live to see intense persecution and violence, Christ is still Lord. If we live to see revival and reformation, Christ is still Lord. We need not fear. We need not be anxious. Christ has come. Christ is coming again. MacArthur exhorts us, “It is especially essential that we remain diligent, hard-working, and resourceful while we await the Lord’s return. The fact that Christ could return at any moment is no excuse for quitting what God has called us to be and do. The day may indeed be drawing very near, but now is not the time to put on our pajamas and sit on the roof! This is no time to fold up our things and retire from all Christian service to await the Lord’s appearing. Quite the opposite. The knowledge that Christ could appear at any time is a great incentive to work harder, apply ourselves more diligently, and stay faithfully at the task. The day of opportunity may be short. The time is certainly drawing closer. We dare not squander the opportunity we have left.”[3]

The apostle Peter writes, “But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Pet. 2:9–10 Legacy Standard Bible). Francis Schaeffer commenting on these verses explains, “This passage says that in this present life, Christians are called for a purpose, called to show forth the praises of God. In other words, God did not mean that there should be no evidence of the reality of the victory of the cross between Jesus’ ascension and his second coming. God has always intended that Christians should be the evidence, the demonstration, of Christ’s victory on the cross.”[4] Brothers and sisters, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4 Legacy Standard Bible). Friends, we should rejoice in the Lord this day. We should rejoice in the Lord this Christmas.

[1] Francis A. Schaeffer, True Spirituality (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971), 4.

[2] John MacArthur, The Second Coming: Signs of Christ’s Return and the End of the Age (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2003), 27.

[3] John MacArthur, The Second Coming: Signs of Christ’s Return and the End of the Age (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2003), 164.

[4] Francis A. Schaeffer, True Spirituality (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971), 63.

Men Without Chests

/ Christopher Terry

Our nation has undergone significant change in the past 20 years. We have witnessed moral and societal decay (Rom. 1:26-27), including the legalization of homosexual marriage via the Obergefell decision (June 26, 2015, a 5-4 ruling).[1] As a result, Jack Philipps (owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop of Colorado) has spent the last 10+ years fighting lawsuits because he refuses to make cakes for events that violate his religious convictions.[2] The first lawsuit was filed by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (C.C.R.C.) because in 2012 Jack refused to make a cake for a homosexual wedding.[3] Jack had done business with one of the men previously and was willing to make other items, but not one that violated his Christian convictions. A second lawsuit was brought later (also filed the C.C.R.C.), against Jack because he refused to make a cake in June 2017 celebrating the “gender transition” of a male lawyer. The lawyer ordered his cake on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the case involving Jack’s first lawsuit. This same lawyer later requested a cake depicting Satan smoking marijuana, which Jack also refused to make. The attorney conceded that his order of the satanic cake was to, “correct the errors of [Jack’s] thinking.”[4] The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Jack on June 4, 2018, which resolved the first lawsuit.[5] In March 2019, the state of Colorado dropped the second lawsuit against Jack. A few months later, the attorney (involved in the second lawsuit) filed a separate lawsuit in Colorado State Court over Jack’s refusal to make the “gender transition” cake. In October 2024, the Colorado Supreme Court dismissed the third lawsuit. It is difficult to imagine that Jack has faced his last legal challenge. Why has he refused to cave on his convictions, you may wonder? Jack runs his business for the glory of God. He commented, “We don’t want God to be part of our lives on just Sundays. We want Him to be part of our lives every day.”[6] Throughout the legal challenges, Jack has been represented by Alliance Defending Freedom.[7]

Aa result of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973 there have been over 63,000,000 unborn children whose lives have been ended in the United States alone.[8] On June 24, 2022 we witnessed the overturning of Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) via the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision[9] (a 6-3 ruling).[10] Christians and pro-life advocates wondered if this day would ever come. The Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs case resulted in abortion legislation being decided by the states. Many celebrated the decision and others lamented it. How can human beings see this issue so differently? Many Protestants and Roman Catholics have long fought to end abortion in the U.S., seeing it as a moral atrocity. We should be just as motivated to see the end of this evil practice. Instead, many spend their time arguing over the timing and approach. I believe that a remark attributed to D.L. Moody is relevant here, “I like my way of doing things better than your way of not doing them.”[11]

These examples do not exhaust the number of issues that people, including Christians, see differently. There are divergent views on immigration and the crisis at the southern border. We know of professing Christians who insist that “love of neighbor” should cause us to see each of these issues in a particular way. The ironic thing is that you find these professing Christians coming to different conclusions. How is this possible? In 1947, C.S. Lewis wrote, “We continue to clamor for those very qualities we are rendering impossible. You can hardly open a periodical without coming across the statement that what our civilization needs is more ‘drive,’ or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, or ‘creativity.’ In a sort of ghastly simplicity, we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings[12] be fruitful.”[13] Wow! What does he mean, “men without chests”? It actually relates to how people are educated. Lewis had grave concerns about education during his day. Curriculum and educatators focused on imparting facts and information, but not how to think and feel about them. Lewis believed it was unwise and even dangerous to educate without aiming at the affections. He came to the conclusion that it was an intentional strategy with the goal of shifting the values and morality of civilization. It is obvious to most that those shaping the hearts and minds of children and youth significantly influence the people they will become in adulthood. This is why the Lord instructed the Jews to train their children (Deut. 6). He also instructs Christians to do the same (Eph. 6:4). Children must be trained and guided. As Lewis mentions in his book, “The Abolition of Man” they must be taught how to think and feel about things, including good and evil. As followers of Christ, we should want our children and youth to be trained and guided to think and feel Christianly, according to the Word of God.

How can we expect people to think and feel properly, in a God-honoring way, if those influencing them mock and denounce the very things that please and honor God? For someone to recognize something as good or bad, the person must be trained, guided in the proper way. Friends, we need only to look around us to understand why the virtues and characteristics the Word of God champions are in short supply. So, where do we as Christians start? This is a wise first step, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Ps. 139:23-24). Honest reflection and humble repentance must come to the church first. Please pray with me that the Lord would mercifully bring these to pass.

[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/obergefell_v._hodges

[2] https://adflegal.org/client/jack-phillips/

[3] https://www.cpr.org/2018/06/04/supreme-court-rules-for-baker-jack-phillips-in-masterpiece-case/

[4] https://adflegal.org/client/jack-phillips/

[5] https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-111_j4el.pdf

[6] https://adflegal.org/client/jack-phillips/

[7] https://adflegal.org/about/

[8] https://www.focusonthefamily.com/pro-life/facts-and-research-about-the-unborn-and-abortion/

[9] https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization

[10] https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf

[11] WORLD – Built Upon A Rock: Tracing American Exceptionalism back to Plymouth and the Pilgrims’ Faith p.46.

[12] A gelding is, “a castrated animal; specifically : a castrated male horse.”Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

[13] C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man, (The Macmillan Company, NY., 1947), p. 16.

Convictions Formed by God’s Truth

/ Christopher Terry

Once again, we have entered the Fall season. It won’t be long before the air grows cold and the leaves begin to change. The Lord demonstrates his creativity and wisdom over and over again. Who else could make something that is dying look vibrant and beautiful? As C.S. Lewis wrote, “He gives them the seasons, each season different yet every year the same, so that spring is always felt as a novelty yet always as the recurrence of an immemorial theme.”[1] As creatures living in God’s world, we have an idea of what is coming next with the changing of the seasons.

On the other hand, we are still surprised at times. There are good surprises and other times challenging ones. For instance, we can be caught off-guard by the power and effects of the weather. We have incredible technology and can see weather patterns developing. Yet, storms like Hurricane Helene can devastate us. As of now, we are aware of over 200 people who have died.[2] There are countless others who are stranded or missing.[3] As of now there are at least 3 million people who are still without power.[4] Please be in prayer for those who are affected by this storm. It is a reminder of how fragile life can be, and also of our limitations as human beings. The book of Isaiah says, “Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?” (Isa. 2:22). As we read the pages of Scripture we are reminded repeatedly of the limited nature of mankind. The LORD tells us in Genesis, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). We can be here today and gone tomorrow.

Friends, God made us in his own image, but we are not him (Gen. 1:27). We were made for him and we need him (Rev. 4:11). As created beings we are under our Creator’s authority and are accountable to him. One day each of us will face our Creator – the saved (Rom. 14:10-12; cf. 1 Cor. 3:11-15) and the unsaved (Rev. 20:11-15). This One, who spoke all things into existence and rules them by his powerful word, has revealed his standards in the Scriptures. So, we would do well to know what he has said, and also to do what he has said.  

Brothers and sisters, we are living in a time when people use terms like reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, diversity, equity, and inclusion (i.e. D.E.I.), to name a few. It is important for us as believers to understand what is meant by such terms because we live in a world where these terms are used. Ironically, reproductive freedom refers to ensuring legal access to abortion. So, reproductive freedom is the freedom not to reproduce. We are Americans. We love freedom. Our history contains a War for Independence. So, what kind of American are you if you are against freedom? The language is weighted. But, do you notice that the particular language used intentionally creates a cognitive distance between what is being said and what is being done? This is no accident. It attempts to remove the shock from the practice in question by creating an intellectual fog. As believers in Jesus Christ we must cut through the fog. Paul writes, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4–5).

According to the way that God has designed us, when a man “knows” a woman, babies are the expected result (cf. Gen. 4:1-2). So, if we do not like the natural outcome of our actions, do we have the authority to erase the outcome? Abortion is so common in our world that many of us have not lived in a time without such a practice. The arguments and the terms have changed, but the outcome of the practice is the same. Where do we, as Christians, find our standard regarding such a practice? The obvious answer is the Word of God. But, is this from where we draw our convictions? Or, have we bought the lie that people can interrupt, change, or negate what God has established without consequence? Next time you hear terms, consider what they mean and what God’s Word has to say about them. I have given you just one example. Take care, dear Christians, that your convictions are formed by God’s truth, his standard of right and wrong. Do not let carefully crafted language, or manipulative tactics shape your standard. As Paul writes in Romans, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:1–2).

[1] C.S. Lewis, The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics (United Kingdom: HarperCollins, 2007), 258.

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/03/hurricane-helene-death-toll-power-outages

[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgmgz3elmjxo

[4] https://www.npr.org/2024/09/30/g-s1-25406/helene-death-toll-damage

Solus Christus

/ Christopher Terry

In this post I will cover the fourth of the five Solas of the Protestant Reformation, Solus Christus. Jeremy Thompson defines Solus Christus as, “The doctrine that Christ is the only mediator between God and human beings apart from a priestly class or sacraments.”[1] First Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” The London Baptist Confession reads, “This office of mediator between God and man is proper only to Christ, who is the prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof, transferred from him to any other.”[2] Christ is the true mediator.

Why is this doctrine, Solus Christus, one of the Solas of the Protestant Reformation? First and foremost, because Scripture teaches it. The Lord Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14; 18; Col. 1:15, 19; Heb. 1:3). He is truly God and truly man (from The Council of Chalcedon, 451 A.D.).[3] In Christ alone, not through any other intermediary (not Mary, not the Pope, not a priest), is salvation found (John 1:11-12; 3:16-17; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 5:31; Rom. 10:9-13; 1 John 5:12-13). Christ is the One who provides atonement for our sins (1 John 2:2; Matt. 26:28; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:14). S.M. Baugh states, “This connection between Christ and us is the heart of the gospel. Conservative Christians have long defended the biblical doctrine of Christ’s substitutionary atonement. This teaches that Christ died as a sacrifice in our place both to appease God’s wrath toward us and to cleanse us of the guilt and stain of sin.”[4] Salvation is in Christ alone. It is received by faith through grace (Rom. 3:22; Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:13-14).

Secondly, it was a biblical doctrine that was under attack. The established church at the time of the Reformation was already long down the road of having removed Christ from his proper place in the life of the church and the Christian. “The Reformers identified the problem of a church that was casting shade on Christ; of a church that was [assuming] to itself prerogatives that belong to Christ alone. This problem impressed upon the Reformers the need to purge anything that would throw shade upon the absolute brilliance of Christ’s supremacy in our salvation.”[5] The system of sacraments, the priesthood, the king, and the elevation of Mary (and the saints) all became elements subverting the place of Christ. So, people were looking to the church and its system for justification and security rather than Christ alone. Fred Zaspel writes, “The greatest defect in the sacerdotal conception of salvation, best represented by the Church of Rome, is that it places sinners in the hands of men rather than a merciful God. Instead of being directed to God, we are ‘referred to an institution.’ According to the sacerdotal scheme, God desires the salvation of all men and has made adequate provision for the salvation of all via the church and its sacraments; but the actual distribution of grace is performed at the hands of the church, and apart from the church there can be no salvation at all.”[6] Sacerdotal comes from the Latin sacer (“sacred”) + dot (“to make”).[7] It has the idea, “to make sacred.” Sacerdos or sacerdot came to refer to “priests or things relating to priests.”[8] According to this view, man cannot approach God through Christ alone. Sacerdotalists believe that there must be a mediator between God and man. Yet, they do not mean Christ as mediator (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5-6). Rather, they believe that a class of priests must exist and function between God and man. John Owen corrects this error by declaring, “It is by the exercise and discharge of the office of Christ — as the king, priest, and prophet of the church — that we are redeemed, sanctified, and saved. Thereby doth he immediately communicate all Gospel benefits unto us — give us an access unto God here by grace, and in glory hereafter; for he saves us, as he is the mediator between God and man.”[9] There is no one else that rightfully fills this place.

Jesus Christ is Prophet, Priest, and King. He is the One who fills these various roles in the life of the church and the Christian. Jesus is the Prophet that Moses foretold (Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:17–23; 7:37–38, 51–53). He is God’s revelation to mankind (Heb. 1:1-2). He is the Word of God incarnate (John 1:1, 14). Jesus is the Priest who provided the sacrifice that paid for our sins once for all (Heb. 9:26, 28; Rom. 6:10). He is the Priest who cleanses all our sin (1 John 1:7; Heb. 9:14; 10:22). Christ is the High Priest who intercedes for us with the Father (Heb. 4:14-16; ch. 7). Jesus is our King, who has received all authority in heaven and on earth (Luke 1:32-33; cf. Matt. 28:18). He possesses the name above all names (Phil. 2:9-11; Eph. 1:21-22). He is King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). The Lord Jesus Christ fills these roles of Prophet, Priest, and King in a way that no merely human being can. Kapic and Vander Lugt comment, “Solus Christus (Christ alone) indicates that salvation is accomplished by the sacrifice and mediation of Christ alone, and therefore… Christ is the only foundation of the church.”[10]

So, brothers and sisters, why is this doctrine of Solus Christus so critical? We must give the Lord Jesus Christ the proper place that Scripture assigns to him. We must avoid holding to philosophies and traditions that undermine (or even outright contradict) biblical truth and practice. How do we give proper consideration to this truth in our context? Pastor/elder/overseers lead local churches, but they are not mediators between God and man. Deacons serve local churches, but they are not mediators between God and man. Mary, the bondservant of the Lord, is not a mediator between God and man (Luke 1:38). Believers who have passed on to glory (i.e. “saints”) are not mediators between God and man. Furthermore, Scripture teaches that we are not to communicate with the dead (Lev. 20:27; Deut. 18:10–13; cf. 1 Sam. 28:7–19). Saints are not merely a collection of believers located in heaven, according to the testimony of Scripture every born-again believer (including those who are alive on earth) is a saint, who has been sanctified by God in Christ (Eph. 1:18; 4:12; 5:3; 6:18; Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor. 1:2). God’s Word is clear. Christ is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).  

[1] Jeremy Thompson, Lists from Church History, Faithlife Biblical and Theological Lists (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2022).

[2] https://www.the1689confession.com/1689/chapter-8

[3] https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/truly-god-truly-man-council-chalcedon

[4] https://www.wscal.edu/resource/the-all-sufficiency-of-christ/

[5] https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-does-solus-christus-mean

[6] Fred G. Zaspel, The Theology of B. B. Warfield: A Systematic Summary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 415–416.

[7] Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).

[8] Ibid.

[9] John Owen, Christologia: or a Declaration of the glorious Mystery of the Person of Christ–God and Man (https://www.monergism.com), 65, http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Christologia.pdf

[10] Kelly M. Kapic and Wesley Vander Lugt, Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition, The IVP Pocket Reference Series (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013), 112.