That’s what I hear too many Christian leaders saying today. “If you’re really serious about God, you’re going to turn from your sin and start living right!”

The problem with that is that it’s the same message the Pharisees were spouting to people when Jesus showed up. It’s called “reformation“–reforming yourself by stopping to do some of the bad things and starting to do some good things.”

The other problem is that it doesn’t work. You can reform all you want, but the more you reform the outside behavior to please religious people, the more crap you have to hide.

Christianity isn’t about reforming people so that they measure up to the human deciders of who gets into God’s heaven.

Christianity is about the transformation that occurs by turning to the only God who can rescue you and me from our sin and believing what He says about getting into His heaven: Trust in my Son; receive my life, eternal life by believing in Him, and I will transform you. I’ll make you a new person.

Christianity isn’t turning from sin and getting a new start in life. Christianity is turning to God and receiving a new life to start with–a transformed life. It’s called eternal, and it comes with the desire to grow out of your sin and the power to do it.

So, are you trying to reform yourselves to please some bigoted religious types?

Stop it, please God by believing in His Son and receiving His life.

“For without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

My answer to that is, “YES!”

“But it’s worse than you ever imagined,” I continue:

“It’s not letting them off easy; it’s letting them off for free!”

And then comes the probing question, “What if He didn’t let you off easy? What if you had to pay for your sins, every stinkin’ one of them?”

You see, if we’re honest we know that every one of us needs a rescue from our sin. And, we must admit that if the rescue wasn’t free, we’d have no hope.

But if we lie to ourselves and others, we’ll decide that our sins are the ones that don’t need payment, that our shortcomings and pathologies are the ones God must have decided were okay. And then, the grace He gives to others upsets us.

We can’t believe that God actually gives grace to really bad sinners like those other people.

We don’t need that kind of grace, cheap grace. Because we earn our grace, costly grace.

But the Bible says that those who say this aren’t holier than the rest of us. They’re liars:

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

bible.cod: Ruth

Faithfulness in an Unfaithful World

“Your people will become my people, and your God will become my God.”

(Ruth 1:16)

Ruth is a vignette of love, devotion and redemption set in the historical context of the darkest period in Israel’s history, the days of the judges. Part of the second major unit within the seventeen Historical Books, the Conquest or Pre-Kingdom Period, it’s a heartwarming story of compassion, devotion, and faithfulness. Ruth is a Moabite widow who leaves her homeland to live with and care for her widowed Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi, in Bethlehem. Ruth not only embraces Naomi’s people but her God.

The contrast to Judges underscores the remarkable faithfulness of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth is a woman who lives above the norm of her day. A virtuous woman (3:11), Ruth shows loyal-love to both her mother-in-law Naomi and her near-kinsman Boaz. In a time when all of Israel is forsaking God for idols, Ruth forsakes her idols for the true God:

Ruth is one of the most important “bridge” books in the Old Testament. Chronologically—Ruth advances the genealogy of King David. Historically—Ruth links ruined Israel (Judges) with restored Israel (Samuel). Doctrinally—Ruth illustrates redemption. Morally—Ruth demonstrates purity is possible even in a polluted moral environment. The theme of Ruth is God’s care for those who trust in Him. The story illustrates the truth of Hebrews 11:6: Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him:

Ruth is the most surprising book in the Old Testament. God honors a Moabitess’s faith by guiding her to the field of Boaz (a near kinsman or guardian) where she gathers grain and eventually finds her loving husband. The book closes with a brief genealogy in which Boaz’s name is prominent as the great-grandfather of King David, through whom would come the Christ!

I. FAITH, COMPASSION, AND LOVE DEMONSTRATED: The story begins with a famine in Israel, a sign of disobedience and apostasy (Deuteronomy 28-30). An Israelite family headed by Elimelech flees from Bethlehem to Moab to find relief. In Moab the family faces tragedy and death, as Ruth believes in their God (1-2).

A. RUTH’S RELOCATION: Ruth decides to cling to Naomi and her God as she follows her mother-in-law home to care for her (1).

B. RUTH’S MEETS HER COMPASSIONATE REDEEMER: God’s provident care brings Ruth to the field of Boaz to perform the humiliating and dangerous task of gleaning. Boaz, Naomi’s kinsman (guardian), begins to love, protect, and provide for Ruth (2).

II. FAITH AND COMPASSION REWARDED: God rewards Ruth’s faith and devotion. Boaz redeems her and becomes her husband. Their son, Obed, is the grandfather of King David (3-4).

Messiah: A Type Of Christ—Boaz. The concept of the Kinsman-Redeemer or goel (3:9, close relative, guardian) is an important picture of the work of Christ on the Cross. The goel must (1) be related by blood to those he redeems (Deuteronomy 25:5, 7-10; John 1:14; Romans 1:3; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:14-15): (2) be able to pay the price of redemption (2:1; 1 Peter 1:18-19); (3) be willing to redeem (3:11; Matthew 20:28; John 10:15, 18; Hebrews 10:7); and (4) be free himself (only Christ was free from the curse of sin). The word goel, used thirteen times in this short books presents a clear portrayal of the mediating work of Christ.

A. RUTH’S RENDEZVOUS: Ruth risks offering herself to Boaz by “uncovering his legs” (v 4, probably a symbolic marriage proposal). Boaz takes no further steps toward marriage because he is older than Ruth (probably more than 20 years) and he is not the nearest kinsman (3).

B. RUTH’S REDEMPTION:  In spite of these obstacles, God rewards Ruth’s devotion by giving her a husband, a son, and a place in the line of the coming Messiah. In 22 verses Ruth moves from widowhood and poverty to marriage and wealth. What a picture of redemption! (4)

III. God is looking for those who have the faith He can use in this world!

A. The poor, the needy, and the alien have an ally in God! Both Ruth and Boaz “stumbled” into God’s blessing by caring for the poor and needy—Ruth for Naomi and Boaz for Ruth.

“The theological message of the Book of Ruth may be summarized as follows: God cares for needy people like Naomi and Ruth; he is their ally in this chaotic world. He richly rewards people like Ruth and Boaz who demonstrate sacrificial love and in so doing become his instruments in helping the needy. God’s rewards for those who sacrificially love others sometimes exceed their wildest imagination and transcend their lifetime.” (The NET Bible note on Ruth 4:22)

How does your attitude toward the poor, the needy, and the alien compare to the attitudes of Ruth and Boaz?

What is one specific way you can join God in His love and care for the needy, the poor, the alien, and the down and out?

May we suggest getting involved with the care ministries of Church of the Open Door? http://www.churchoftheopendoor.com/ministries/serving-our-communities/index.html

B. God is always doing something through His remnant! Twenty-three of the 89 verses of Ruth mention God. Even during the most painful and chaotic circumstances of life God is working behind the scenes to accomplish His will. And He’s working through those who have faith rather than those who have a religious pedigree.

One godly man or woman can redeem an entire family! Regardless of your home of origin, your faithless spouse, or your chaotic circumstances at work, God will use your faithfulness to change your world!

What is He asking you to trust Him for right now? Risk obedience even when you can’t connect the dots between your faithfulness and the difference it will make in this world.

bible.cod: Judges

Unbelief and Discipline in the Promised Land

“In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.” (Judges 21:25)

The book of Judges is a jarring sequel to Joshua. In Joshua an obedient people conquer the land, as they trust God enough to follow Joshua’s leadership. By contrast, in Judges, an untrusting and disobedient people turn to idols. God disciplines them and delivers them again and again. The epitaph on the book of Judges exposes the root of the problem, “Each man did what he considered to be right” (21:25).

When Joshua died, God did not appoint a new national leader. Instead, God directed each tribe to conquer its allotted portion of the land. In the same way God had raised up Moses and Joshua, and as He would later raise up David (1 Samuel 16:13), God also raised up judges. The judges were different than today’s concept of judges. The Hebrew word “Judges” (Shophetim) means “bringer of justice.” The office of judge wasn’t new to Israel. Moses had ordered the people to appoint judges of every tribe during the years of wandering in Moab (Deuteronomy 19:17).

In seven distinct cycles of sin-discipline-repentance-deliverance, Judges demonstrates how Israel so quickly declined as it refused to learn to trust God. The judges were more local than national and their stories cover a period of about 350 years. From time to time God would appoint a judge to rescue His hurting people from corruption from within or oppression from without. The book was probably written by Samuel, a critical link between the period of the judges and the kings, after the ark was removed from Shiloh (18:31; 20:27; cf. 1 Samuel 4:3-11).

The theme of Judges is God’s faithfulness to His disobedient people demands discipline. In His patient love, God forgave His people every single time they repented. Israel repeatedly acted in foolishness, ingratitude, stubbornness, and rebellion. But God never stopped loving them and leading them. The lesson for God’s people of every generation is clear: God never stops loving His people, but count on it—sin always leads to suffering, and repentance always leads to deliverance.

Judges is the most negative book of the Old Testament. The reason is clear: This is the generation that blew it. It records the failure of the nation in the land due to lack of faith and obedience.

I. DETERIORATION: Following Joshua’s death, the nation quickly turns from their pattern of faith and obedience. Compromise leads to conflict and chaos (1:-3:4).

A. PROBLEM: INCOMPLETE CONQUEST: All the tribes fail to drive out their enemies leaving the polluting influence of idolatry in the land (1).

B. PATTERN: CYCLES OF SIN: A microcosm of the rest of the book, chapter two details the cycle of sin-discipline-repentance-deliverance is established (2:1-3:4).

II. DELIVERANCE: The seven cycles of discipline tell the sad story of the judges. The judges are military and civil leaders during this period of loose confederacy. Thirteen are mentioned in this book and four more occur in 1 Samuel (Eli, Samuel, Joel, and Abijah).

III. DEPRAVITY: The degradation of God’s people is fully displayed. The progression of sin is inevitable as they ignore their God and live for themselves (17-21).

A. SIN OF IDOLATRY: Religious apostasy (leaving the truth) precedes all other problems for God’s people (17-18).

B. SIN OF IMMORALITY: Personal and tribal decadence rules the land (19).

C. SIN OF CIVIL WAR: A total breakdown of order results and chaos reigns in the promised land (20-21).

IV. DON’T DISREGARD GOD’S MESSAGES! Whether it’s the Word of God in the Bible or it’s the message of God coming through a loving redeemed community, resisting God’s truth always leads to self-directed blindness and disaster.

A. Cycling Through Judges! The pattern of sin-servitude-supplication-salvation(deliverance)-silence is repeated seven times in Judges. When we are caught in a sin pattern we may feel like our life is going in circles.

Where do you see this pattern operating in your life?

What do you think God wants you to do to get out of the spin-cycle of sin?

B. Trusting Community! Many Christians understand the protective comfort of the community of faith, the local church. But often we miss the protective love of the community of faith, the local church, the truth the Holy Spirit is speaking to us from loving shepherds and friends.

Has someone in your community of faith told you something you don’t’ want to hear?

What do you risk by insisting upon doing what “you consider right”?

His eyes filled with rage at my answer: “No you don’t!”

“What do you mean?” he protested. “I do too; I want to know God’s will!”

As we sat across the table in my office, I reminded him that he had asked me to help him determine God’s will in his finances three times before, over a period of about six years. Each time I brought him to the same conclusion from God’s Word: “God’s will is clear—give to His work. You cannot look past His clear teaching that connects all of His financial promises to your faith in Him. You must trust Him enough to give before you can expect His guidance and blessing concerning your money situation.”

But here we were, going around the same block, considering his same questions, and reviewing God’s same answer.

Don’t Ask If You Won’t Follow

It’s dangerous to ask God for directions unless you are willing to follow them! When the wicked idolaters who had fled to Moab and Edom as the Babylonians poured into Jerusalem returned to try to wrest power from the puppet king, they asked Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord for them. When Jeremiah told them that the Lord wanted them to stay in Jerusalem, stop their idolatry, and submit to the Babylonians, they accused him of lying, took him prisoner, and forced him to flee to Egypt with them where they worshiped their “Goddess of Heaven.” (Jeremiah 41-44)

The Father tires of those who are simply curious about his will or come to him only in a crisis to see if he offers a pleasant option for deliverance. This is the state of so many Christians. In the merry-go-round of their lives, they just repeat the same mistakes and live under the same pathology year after year. They sometimes ask God what to do, especially when these pathologies cost or hurt them. Then, they decide once again not to do what God says and to return to their idols of career, materialism, and recreation.

How sad, but the Lord wants better for His children…for you!

When He directs, follow. I believe that too many refusals just cause the Father to know that we are not really serious about doing His will. So He stops speaking, as He did to the unbelieving generations of Israel and Judah.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Recently he was sharing his heart and talent with our Steppin’ Out recovery group here at COD. One of his remarks took me back to the Jesus Movement and the way it felt for those of us who weren’t raised in church and didn’t know the lingo.

He asked who this “Father Wejus” was. He’s noticed that a lot of Christians pray to this padre or monk. In fact most of their prayers begin with, “Father Wejus gather together here today to ask you…” or “Father Wejus want to thank you for your many blessings.”

Father Wejus!

Just one moremindless way we talk to God without actually engaging with the Sovereign of the universe.

Just one more way we speak a code that outsiders find confusing, even silly.

I remember my “Father Wejus” moments when I first trusted Christ in the Jesus Movement.

I didn’t put the Wejus character in the place of God, but I always wondered what was so spiritual about “just” asking God for something.

Like it wouldn’t be right to “just” go ahead and tell Him what we want.

I mean, if He really loves us as much as we say He does.

Question: Why do you think many Christians feel a need to “spiritualize” their conversations with their loving Father?

NOTICE WHAT LARGE LETTERS I USE AS I WRITE THESE CLOSING WORDS IN MY OWN HANDWRITING! (Galatians 6:11)

The desperate heaviness of the letter compelled the apostle to keep writing. One more paragraph, all in bold capital letters. One final plea, one last opportunity to turn this fledgling church on the frontier of faith from Satan’s most effective lie about Jesus and his work on the cross.

The same lie Paul battled in Antioch of Syria. The lie even Peter seemed vulnerable to. The church at Antioch was still abuzz over Paul’s shouting match with the revered Apostle from Jerusalem.

The same lie Paul was preparing to stand against next week up in Jerusalem. The Apostles and elders had called a meeting to discuss the matter.

He stops, wipes his brow, and sums up the main lessons of his epistle in eager, disjointed, and intense sentences. The words erupted from the deepest part of his heart.

It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation (Galatians 2:16).

In my mind’s eye I picture the Apostle putting down his pen, leaning back, and handing the document to the courier.

“Make haste!” Paul’s companions who have fought against the lie with him add. “Everything depends on this message. If the lie takes hold in their hearts, it’s over.”

It’s Over

By “over” I’m not saying that a true Christian can lose his or her relationship with God. By “over” I mean failure as a victorious follower of Jesus—neutralized as a Jesus-enjoying, Jesus-representing, Jesus-focused world-changer.

The most insidious aspect of the lie is that its victims, who are trying so hard to live the Christian life but failing, are told that the reason they’re failing is that they’re not trying hard enough, need more commitment, or be more fully devoted. Before we know it, we’re in this try/fail death spiral. Try; fail. Try harder; fail more. Try even harder; fail even more.

Finally, our Christian life crash lands and we just give up. “Guess I’ll never be a ‘victorious Christian’,” we conclude. “So what’s the use?”

Does this describe you? Are you one of those worn-out-by-constantly-striving-but-still-failing believers the Holy Spirit had in mind when He inspired Paul to write Galatians?

Has your Christian life become less about enjoying Jesus and more about getting “it” right? But then, just when you begin to get “it” right and think you can start enjoying Jesus again; somebody moves “it” to a more demanding standard to live up to?

What if I were to tell you that the problem isn’t your failure to try hard enough to be a better for God because striving to be better isn’t the issue. It never was.

Now there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be better for God as the Bible defines “better”–a devoted follower of Christ. The problem is the idea that trying harder, getting more committed, or becoming more devoted is the way to get there.

That’s not Christianity; that’s religious slavery.

Christianity is not about what we’re doing for God; it’s what God has done for us.

That’s the Good News. We have been made new already, the moment we believed.

The only thing that matters is the New Creation!

Question: Are you working your Christian life harder and enjoying Jesus less?

Maybe you need a big dose of grace in this reminder that you were made new in Christ when you trusted in Him.

bible.cod: Joshua

Conquest and Settlement of the Promised Land

“This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all that you do” (Joshua 1:8-9). 

In the historical book that bears his name, Joshua succeeds Moses and leads the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob across the Jordan into the Promised Land. The Book of Joshua transitions the story of God’s people Israel from the Pentateuch to the rest of their history.  The author’s purpose is to give an official account of the fulfillment of God’s promises to the patriarchs. Most conservative scholars feel Joshua wrote the book (24:26). As with several other Old Testament historical books, some later editor added a few statements and updated a few names.

Joshua leads the nation on three military campaigns spanning a period of seven years in the first half of the book (1:1-13:7). His forces meet and defeat over 30 enemy armies. The second half documents the settlement of the land of Canaan (13:8-24:33). This conquest and settlement is the dramatic fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Born a slave in Egypt, Joshua is God’s choice to lead His people.

To ensure that no Israelite would falsely conclude that the victories were due to Joshua’s abilities, Joshua’s name underscores the message of his book—the Lord is the Conqueror. Moses had changed his name from the Hoshea, “salvation” (Numbers 13:16 to Yehoshua (Numbers 13:16), “Yahweh Is Salvation.” He is also called Yeshua, a shortened form of Yehoshua. This is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek name Iesou (Jesus)—a constant reminder that deliverance comes only through the Lord.

The theme of Joshua is victory through obedient faith (1:8). We learn the importance of believing and acting on God’s Word. Of all the historical books only Joshua does not record a massive failure by Israel or its leadership. Joshua did everything the Lord told him to do (Joshua 11:15) and the Lord blessed the nation with complete victory (Joshua 11:23).

Joshua is the most positive book of the Old Testament. The reason is clear: This is the generation that believed and applied God’s Word to their lives. To the extent that they entrusted themselves to their God and His covenantal promises, they succeeded and prospered. .

I. CONQUEST: Will this generation succeed where their father failed? Under Joshua’s genius leadership the nation’s faith and obedience bring unparalleled military success (1-13:7; 1:8-9; 11:23).

A. PREPARING FOR BATTLE: God prepares His people for the warfare just ahead in two ways. First, he reminds them of the importance of absolute obedience to His word. Then He demonstrates His power as they cross the Jordan with dry sandals (1-5).

B. DEFEATING THE ENEMY: Three military campaigns—central, southern, northern—unite obedience and faith to bring victory after victory. A disobedient sinner brings the only defeat at Ai and an unwise oath with the Gibeonites will force them to disobey the command to obliterate the Canaanites (6-13:7).

II. CONSOLIDATION (Settling): Joshua is growing old, and God tells His servant to divide the land among the twelve tribes. Much remains to be won. To complete the task, Joshua assigns territories to each individual tribe with instructions to possess the land completely (13:8-24:33; 24:24-25).

A. SETTLING THE LAND: The allocation of lands east and west of the Jordan fulfill God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12-15). The amazing faith of Caleb shows as he asks for and receives the area promised him by Moses—Mount Hebron, a known Canaanite stronghold! Shiloh becomes the new center of Israel’s worship (13:8-21).

B. SUCCESS IN THE LAND: Joshua reminds them of the simple formula for success—trust and obey the Lord. His moving words, “Choose you this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” cause the people to renew the covenant (22-24).

Two funerals and a burial! Along with the bodies of their two most prominent leaders that brought them into the Promised Land—Joshua and Eleazer—the nation buried the bones of Joseph, the greatest son of Jacob. What a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His promises (Genesis 50:24-25) during a difficult transition!

III. Foolish Faith? God’s directions to take the first city (Jericho) are absurd from a military viewpoint. The Lord does this to teach His people that success in battle will always be by His power and not their own cleverness and might (chapter 6).

A. Where is God asking you to follow His absurd instructions today? That is, what is God asking you to do that seems foolish in the eyes of the world?

B. What specifically do you feel you should do to gain victory in this situation by following His instructions? Try to write out a plan of action with very real and measurable steps.

A strange thing happened to so-called evangelical Christianity in the 1970s, a rarity in church history. We became a voting bloc with a lot of political power and an exceptional opportunity to influence our society for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, what too many leaders were telling Christians to do with this power and what way too many of us were excited to hear is that we should become the “Christian right” and use this power to demand our rights and impose standards of biblical righteousness on society.

I would argue against that message, that we should use our influence to defend our rights and impose standards of biblical righteousness on society.

I would argue that the New Testament teaches that we should indeed use our political power to influence society, but that we should use it to defend the rights of others and to demonstrate biblical righteousness, justice, and mercy in the name of Christ.

I write about this in my book, Reborn to Be Wild. I think our Jesus Movement revival may have stayed more on track if we would have thought more about Christ and others and less about us and our rights.

Almost forty years ago, a man named Keith sat with me on a curb in Bakersfield, California and explained the grace of God to me. I took Christ at His word, believed in Him, and received Him as my Savior.

Recently, Judy and I reconnected with another couple from those Jesus Movement years in Bakersfield. Like Judy and me, Keith had touched their lives for Christ.

Since then, Judy and I have raised a Christian family and pastored three churches. God has privileged us with opportunity to equip many saints who have had worldwide impact for the Lord Jesus. The scope of our friends’ service for the Lord Jesus is enormous. Millions have been introduced to the grace of God through their ministry.

But it all started with Keith, the high school coach who found Jesus and decided to dedicate His life to telling others about Him.

Keith is in his eighties now, but he hasn’t slowed down. The last time I saw him he was excited about his recent mission trip to Africa, his ministry in his local church, the opportunities God was giving him through the Gideons, and his volunteer service every summer at a Christian Camp—as their gardener!

News in Heaven

You may have never heard about Keith Osborn until now. He never made the nightly news on earth, but he’s been making news in heaven for forty years.

In this day when Christians are flocking to seminars and devouring books trying to find self-worth, Keith’s life reminds us of our deeper need as Christians: Life-worth!

It really doesn’t matter if you’re a corporate lawyer or a stay-at-home mom, a high school teacher or a fireman, a church deacon or a mega-church pastor, your life-worth increases every time you tell someone about the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love” (Acts 20:24, New Living Translation).