Faith that Survives: Receive the Implanted Word

How are we to live out our faith in a way that carries significance and meaning? How can we not only hear the word of God, but obey it? How do we go from being mere hearers of the word, to doers of the word?

Many Christians keep something out of their lives that is detrimental to their faith and particularly their daily battle against sin: doctrine. Doctrine is often ignored in the daily life of the Christian and even some churches fail to teach biblical doctrine from the pulpit and in small group settings. What are favored are feel-good messages and ten-step lessons on how to be a better parent. Because of this, the word of God has slowly but surely become scarce in pulpits, Sunday School rooms, and homes.

It is tempting for us to search our own minds and philosophies for answers to how we should live in the world. We desire life change and we think it can be instilled through therapeutic messages and discussions outside of the Bible. In fact, some Christians believe they can know God and carry out his purposes without the Bible. However, James gives us a picture of the new birth, which directly affects the way we live. But he does so by showing the one thing we absolutely need—the reception of the word of God.

Essentially, James argues that a life that hears and obeys the word of God is the life that humbly and gladly receives the word of God, which was implanted at the new birth.

Regeneration is by the Gospel

James writes, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (v. 18). Let’s break this verse down to understand how God regenerates us. We know James is referring to the new birth because of the phrase “brought us forth.” This is creation language. This is language directly related to birth. We know that this is not an original creation or first birth, because of the reference to the redemption of all of creation (“firstfruits of his creatures”).

This is new creation language. Through the work of Christ, God is redeeming his creation beginning with man and including every aspect of creation. This begins with the redemption of man. By his own prerogative, God has “brought us forth”; he has regenerated our dead hearts. He has created in us a new heart of flesh, which replaced an old heart of stone. We also know that James has in mind the new birth because of the means by which it comes. The new birth comes “by the word of truth.” I believe James is referring to the gospel here (Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:15). Hearing the gospel is seen as a necessary contingent for the new birth. “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth.”

James is not alone in the biblical corpus. Peter also sees the gospel as the means by which the new birth comes. “You have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Pt. 1:23). It is through and by the word of God (the gospel) that God regenerates us. This is the backdrop for a striking, yet somewhat hidden command in James 1:21.

The Word that is Implanted

James commands something radical in v. 21: “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” This is a very loaded verse with a two-fold command. First, James commands that believers put away or strip away all filthiness (part one) and receive with meekness the implanted word (part two). He then writes that this implanted word, which we are to receive with meekness, is able to save our souls. What does James mean by this?

What is most notable is the fact that James commands something that is not natural to man. The word that we are commanded to receive must be implanted. That tells us that by nature we are dead in our sin. We oppose the word of God, which is by nature foreign to our sinful natures. James is reminding these believers that they once had no love for God’s word and they once had no desire for God’s word.

We were like those who once tried to kill Jesus: “You seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you” (John 8:37). Since the word of Christ found no place in them, it is clear that it had not been implanted. Does this mean that these Jewish leaders did not know the Scripture? Did they not know Moses, David, Solomon, and the prophets? Of course they did! They actually were students and even scholars of the Old Testaments, yet the word of God found no place in them.

So, implantation of the word of God must be more than mere knowledge of the Bible. Before the new birth, the word of God is like a splinter that our heart forces out once it is inside. Unregenerate people have no place for God’s word. They do not need it and they reject its significance, power, and meaning. The reason? It is not implanted in them.

The Gospel Takes Root

James has presented us with a God who is personally and intimately committed to our salvation, to the point that he shaves our hearts of stone into obliteration by the sword of the gospel. James tells us that God causes the new birth by the gospel. Through the gospel our eyes are opened to see the glory of Christ and we are given a taste for Christ that is insatiable. We have a place for the word of God in our hearts, because God sovereignly implants it in our hearts.

There is great assurance to be found here. When we heard the gospel—the account of Jesus’ perfect life, propitiatory death, and powerful resurrection—God actively caused this message (word) to take root in our hearts. This means when we desire, love, and believe this word of God (the gospel), it latches on permanently to our hearts. God implants his word in such a way that it is inseparable from our hearts.

Allow that truth to waft over you for a moment. We are born again by the word of God and the word of God that was implanted stays! It goes nowhere! You can be confident that the message that caused you to see and delight in the person and work of Christ is implanted by God, is going nowhere, and is “able to save your soul.” Oh, how great and powerful is the word of God!

The Power and Significance of the Gospel

Let’s pause for a moment to notice how connected the Spirit of God is with the word of God. There are those Christians who believe that expository preaching and careful study of the Bible is unnecessary for the Christian life. Instead, they argue that we need to “experience” the Spirit of God and rely on the Spirit of God instead of the word of God. This is an unhelpful and detrimental dichotomy. God desires worshipers who worship in Spirit and truth.

The Bible speaks of the Spirit granting the new birth (John 3:3-8; 6:63). When the Spirit is sent, he dwells within believers. When the word of God comes in the gospel, it is implanted in us. This relationship between the Spirit of God and the word of God greatly aids our understanding of the role of the word of God in our lives. The word of God is not mere text or lifeless revelation. It is a living and moving, breathing and working power that is a vehicle for life and a catalyst for faith.

Conclusion

In a world of increasing instability and approval of sin, there are many answers given to how Christians are to live and survive in a culture that is constantly trying to cut them off. Instead of taking in the salt water of moralism, self-helps, and personal philosophies, breathe in the life-giving word of God. Receive the implanted word of God for the sustenance of your faith in a world filled with temptation and sin.

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Mathew Gilbert is a student at Boyce College (B.A. Biblical and Theological Studies). He is the author of the forthcoming book Come to the Well: 50 Meditations to Fuel Your Joy in God (CrossBooks). Mathew lives in London, KY with his wife, Erica, and their dog, Simba. You can follow him on Twitter @Mat_Gilbert.

Morning Mashup 12/5

The Radical Christian Approach to Poverty and Riches – Greg Forster: “As income disparities rise in the modern economy, it is becoming harder to maintain love and harmony between rich and poor. Paternalistic arrogance seems to be growing among the wealthy, and resentful envy seems to be growing among the poor.”

New Music Project Helps Kids Learn Theology – I love teaching theology, especially to kids. I love coming across new, engaging, and helpful ways to teach theology to children. This resource has the promise of infusing theological truth into the hearts and minds of children.

This is What Abortion Looks Like When it Doesn’t Work – “Melissa Ohden survived something few do–an abortion. Let her powerful story remind you to fight, pray and pursue the protection of life in and out of the womb.”

Biblical Encouragement for Overwhelmed Parents – Parents, if you feel overwhelmed at the moment, this video is for you. Many helpful thoughts here.

Did Jesus Die to Save Everyone? – Matt Smethurst interviews the editors of the newly released book entitled From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. Smethurst asks about “4-pointers,” evangelism, whether they oversell their case, and more.

Violating Children’s Dignity in the Age of Social Media – Interesting article on how many parents may be robbing their children by overprotecting them.

For us who believe, death becomes a gateway to paradise; suffering becomes a pathway to holiness; and sin becomes a dethroned enemy that we fight by the power of God’s Spirit. –John Piper

 

Why You Should Come to CROSS: A Word from Trip Lee

Trip Lee will take part in leading praise and prayer at the Cross Conference this December (27-30). This is a conference focusing on the glory of God’s global grace in the gospel. The focus is missions and the prayer is that countless students will leave this conference with a desire, ambition, and resolve to give their lives for the sake of the gospel in the nations. Although I will not be able to attend CROSS, I have been and will continue praying for fruit from this event.

In this video, Trip Lee lobbies for you to go to CROSS even if you do not feel called to overseas missions. Not only is this short word from Lee reason to go to CROSS, but it is also important for others as well. We must realize that missions is not an option. It is a mandate (Matt. 28:19-20). So, all Christians must be involved in the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth in one way or another. Go, send, or disobey.

Throwback Thursday: Augustine on the Attributes of God

Augustine made a very important clarification concerning the attributes of God. He noted that God’s attributes are not characteristics added to who he is, nor do they function as separate parts to compose what is the essence of God. We are tempted to separate God’s attributes. We separate his love from his justice. We separate his sovereignty from his mercy. God is not a conglomeration of multiple characteristics. Instead, each attribute is true of the totality of who God is. So, his divine attributes cannot be separated. This is not Greek mythology. We do not have a god of love and a god of justice; a god of sovereignty and a god of mercy. We have one triune God. And the complexity of this one true God is something to marvel at. God is. This is made clear in Exodus 3.

However, this does not mean that it is wrong to discuss God’s attributes separately, as long as we view them as not being separate pieces that make up God. In the words of Gregg Allison, “[E]ach attribute is true of the totality of God’s essence.” You cannot separate God’s attributes from his essence. But however artificial discussions of God’s attributes as separate parts may be, it is always helpful to marvel at each characteristic of God. It is a good thing to learn about who God is in this way. And the great theologian, Augustine, was one of the best at praising this God in all his splendorous attributes. Allow the ever-speaking Augustine to exult in God before you. Learn from the way he speaks to and of God.

I encourage you to use some of this language when you pray. Note the beautiful contrast. Praise God as you read:

Most high, most excellent, most powerful, most all-powerful; most compassionate and most just; most hidden and most near; most beautiful and most strong and stable, yet not contained; unchangeable, yet changing all things; never new, never old; making all things new, yet bringing old age upon the proud…always working, yet ever at rest; gathering, yet needing nothing; sustaining, pervading, and protecting; creating, nourishing, and developing; seeking, and yet possessing all things. You love but do not burn [with passion]; you are jealous yet free from worry; you repent but have no regrets; you are angry yet peaceful; you change your ways but leave your plans unchanged; you recover what you find, having never lost [it in the first place]; you never need anything, but you rejoice in gain; you do not covet, yet you require usury [your stewards to return interest to you]. In order that you may owe, more than enough is given to you; yet who has anything that is not already yours? You pay off debts while owing nothing. And when you forgive debts, you lose nothing.

Resources:

Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine by Gregg Allison (pp. 213-214)

Morning Mashup 10/29

Review of ‘Strange Fire’ – John MacArthur’s new book ‘Strange Fire’ releases November 12, 2013 and it is already brewing up controversy in evangelical circles. Professor Tom Schreiner provides an honest review of this new book which challenges and criticizes the charismatic movements.

A World Away, the Seventh Game; Close at Hand, Condemned Nazis – This is one story you do not want to miss: “There cannot be a more direct facing of evil than to liberate a concentration camp and then, weeks later, minister to the very face of the concentration camp system.”

The Easier Path to Sermon Illustrations – I recently preached my first sermon and in preparation for it I struggled most with developing helpful illustrations. This was a helpful read.

The Perils Facing the Evangelical Church – Sproul: “When we consider the predicament that the evangelical church of the twenty-first century faces in America, the first thing we need to understand is the very designation ‘evangelical church’ is itself a redundancy.”

The Safe Place for Our Kids’ Shameful Questions – Children will ask “shameful” questions. What matters is where they are receiving their answers. Tim Challies writes, “More than ever, you need to open the channels of communication with your children so they know you are safer and wiser even than the search engines.”

If NBA Commentators Were British – If only…The NBA season is about to begin! As both an NBA and FIFA fan, I thought this video was absolutely hilarious.

[On the value of faithful Bible expositors] ‘Tis no wisdom for a dim-sighted man presently, to throw away his spectacles, though he be assured that within a while his eye-sight shall be cleared. –Joseph Caryl

Morning Mashup 10/14

The Best Way to Start Your Everyday – Jonathan Parnell talks about two things that make up our everyday.

Breaking Good – R.C. Sproul Jr.: “With its final episode airing recently we heard an awful lot lately about Breaking Bad, a program that told the fictional story of a high school teacher and family man who becomes a vicious killer and cooker of meth…We want to know, what could possibly make a person do such a thing?”

The Loving Intolerance of God – Melissa Kruger discusses how God’s love is not tolerant, but rather it is much more–it is redemptive.

The Porn-Free Family – Steps Tim Challies is taking to guard his family from the harmful and sinful uses of technology.

Reformation Art – A limited time 50% discount on all things in the Reformation Art catalog.

Feeling Shame Is Not Repentance – “It could only be the strategy of Satan to allow the shame of one sin to lead you into more sin.”

NFL Scores: Week 6 – All scores and highlights from Week 6.

The reason men worship God in a slight way is because they do not see God in His glory. –Jeremiah Burroughs

 

Secret Church 2014 Announcement from David Platt

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Pastor David Platt has just announced the topic and details for Secret Church 2014. I am excited to take part once again in this deeply biblical and theological look at how Jesus’ work on the cross effects our everyday life as we dive into the Word while praying for the persecuted church. I hope you will join me on Good Friday, April 18th at Secret Church 2014!

For more information check out Secret Church

(HT: Radical)

Birth of a Hymn through the Death of a Martyr

Hear this powerful story of a Christ-follower who lost all and died for the sake of Christ.

Hear the words of this beloved hymn in a new light.

Never sing this song the same again.

Be broken by the sovereignty of God in salvation.

The gospel grows in the blood soaked soil of persecution. “No turning back! No turning back!”

(HT: Radical)

CentriKid 2013 Ministry Results

I am usually not too big on numbers. Frankly, they are misleading and can be dangerous. I know they can be a temptation to be prideful and they can distract from more weighty issues. For example, it is better to have 1 genuine professions of faith than 100 false professions. With that in mind, I still think this is a cool indicator of the way God has used CentriKid. My wife and I were able to lead a group of kids from First Baptist Church East Bernstadt this past July at Centrikid. This is an engaging, gospel-centered ministry that provides a means through which the gospel of Christ can be proclaimed for an entire week. Plus, its pretty cool. The number above I am most excited about is the 2,268 times the gospel was connected to an activity. I encourage you to check out more information about CentriKid. May God continue to be glorified through this ministry. (Image: via CentriKid Camps)

 

 

The All-Encompassing Extent of Justification

As understood by the Reformers and their followers, and by Paul as I read him, this theme [justification] is theological, declaring a work of amazing grace; anthropological, demonstrating that we cannot save ourselves; Christological, resting on incarnation and atonement; pneumatological, rooted in Spirit-wrought faith-union with Jesus; ecclesiological, determining both the definition and the health of the church; eschatological, proclaiming God’s truly final verdict on believers here and now; evangelistic, inviting troubled souls into everlasting peace; pastoral, making our identity as forgiven sinners basic to our fellowship; and liturgical, being decisive for interpreting the sacraments and shaping sacramental services.  No other biblical doctrine holds together so much that is precious and enlivening.”—J.I. Packer, Here We Stand, pg. 5.