Our Oneness in Christ

Karleigh King October 29, 2024

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul makes a plea to the Church to understand the uniqueness of gospel-centered relationships because their behavior was incongruous with the gospel (20-22). Unregenerate behavior is to label and divide. Factious “tribes” are what cause conflicts, and even in the Church, those divides may be drawn along cultural, ethnic, political, or socio-economic lines as they were at Corinth. There were also spiritual leader tribes, “I am of Paul” or “I am of Cephas.” Then there were factions created by comparing gifts and functions in the Church as if some were more important than others.

As Paul instructed the Church about the significance of the Lord’s table (23-26) he emphasized the meaning of the body of Christ. A body is one complete whole and the important thing to remember is that Christ took our brokenness upon Himself to rescue us from it and make us whole. The pronouns and verbs He used about the Church (“you” & “do” ) are plural. So, “discerning the body” (29) is a call to understand Christ-centered relationships. The way this practically plays out at the Lord’s table is to “wait for one another” (33). In other words, do this together as one.

Jesus provided a shocking picture of what humble oneness looks like – serving one another. He, the Creator and Lord, washed His disciple’s feet!

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you."
~ John 13:14–15

He, after all, is the One who made the provision for other-focused oneness to become a reality through His redeeming work of reconciliation. We who were alienated have been “brought near by the blood of Christ.” He is our peace and has “made us one” (Eph. 2:13-14). Based on this provision, Paul announces our placement through faith in the body of Christ by His Spirit. A body is a clear picture of diversity in unity – every part of the body moves in the same direction and is under the control of one head (1 Cor. 12:12-13).

The pronouncement he makes to the Galtian believers is clear,

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
~Galatians 3:27–28

It is not that these categories do not exist any longer, clearly there are still male and female people, but the point is that in Christ we all have equal standing – at the foot of the cross. That place of humility and oneness compels us to follow the pattern laid out to the Ephesian church – “the unity of the faith,” and “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” In Christ the whole body is joined and held together. “Each part working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph 4:13-16).

This was on the Lord Jesus’ heart and mind when He communed with His Father the night before His crucifixion. He prayed, not only for His disciples then, but for “those who will believe in Me through their word” (John 17:20) – that’s us! What did He pray for?

"…that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me."
~John 17:21–23

The purpose of God is sure, and Jesus saw His spiritual offspring through the travail of His soul (Isa. 53:11), so the prospect was not just a potentiality, it was definite. What the Lord Jesus could see during His passion was the new (redeemed, reconciled) humanity in unison around the throne.

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
~Revelation 7:9-10

Every time we gather corporately it is a dress rehearsal and foretaste of the grand reunion of God’s family where we will be forever with Him and perfectly like His Son.

But until that time, Jesus left us with this instruction, “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Because of the presence of His Spirit in us, He raised the bar on the standard for love. Building on “Love your neighbor as yourself” He gave a new command to “love as I have loved you” (34). This is the trademark of being Christian – it is our chief witness. So, John asserts, “let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). Paul backs that up with the directives, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10), and “…through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

At the Lord’s table we are called to remember Him and His sacrificial work of redemption. But remembering does not just mean recalling to mind, but to act on what you know. The best way to remember the Lord is to live out the humble, loving unity for which He redeemed us. We don’t create unity; we live in it. As we last met at the Lord’s table the distribution of the bread and the cup was by serving each other and reciting what the Lord Jesus commanded us to do, “I will love you as Christ has loved me.” It was a special and moving time. May we remember Christ by living in the oneness for which He prayed and sacrificed Himself.

Bind My Wandering Heart To Thee

Karleigh King October 21, 2024

About to cross the Jordan River into the promised land God commanded His people to build an altar to help them remember and to teach future generations the gracious redemption of Jehovah for His people. The stone monument was to be covered with plaster, and the law He had given them was to be inscribed on it (Deuteronomy 27).

Moses declared a solemn pronouncement of Israel’s identity: “Keep silence and hear, O Israel, today you have become the people of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 27:9). You are who God says you are, and that carries with it implications for life and behavior.

The leaders of Israel were called to make pronouncements over sinful behaviors. These pronouncements declared that when one practices attitudes or actions contrary to God’s character and purpose, they put themselves on the path of disaster. Another way to put it is, sin makes you stupid and is self-destructive.

Eight sinful practices are listed in this chapter alone: fear and discontentment can lead you to idolatry (15), dishonoring parents flows from ingratitude (16), disregard for a neighbor’s boundaries is a result of greed (17), exploiting a neighbor's disability is cruelty (18), perverting justice betrays condescending partiality (19), sexual perversion comes from uncontrolled urges (20-23), hatred – indifference for another’s life – is murder (24-25), and lastly, moral indifference will lead to disaster (26). The monument, the declaration of their identity, and the pronouncements (Deuteronomy 27-28) were a constant call to God’s people to remember who they were, what God had done, and the inferences for their behavior.

Thankfully the progression of God’s revelation discloses to us the fulfillment of this covenant, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). Now in Christ there is a new altar, “My law written on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16), says the Lord. And the declaration of God is that in Christ we are justified, we are acceptable before holy God because we have received Christ’s righteousness. In this reality the implication on the believer’s life and behavior is “so you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11).

Even in this freedom and rest there remains for us – under the sun – a battle against the distractions of sin through our affections, appetites, and attitudes. This compels us to live at the altar – the reminder of who we are in Christ, and what He has done to make it possible. The altar is not a thing or an event, but a Person – a relationship with the benevolent Sovereign who loves us and gives Himself to us (grace). Living at the altar means a pursuit of that Person.

Unfortunately, we have recently been made aware – yet again – of the moral failure of a high-profile Christian leader. A highly sought after conference speaker, author, and church preacher, this man was on the road a lot. It was discovered and confessed that he had had an inappropriate relationship with a woman for an extended time meaning much of his preaching had been done in deceit and hypocrisy. The news dismayed many young pastors and seminarians who admired this leader.

Among the responses from influential leaders, one said, “You won’t have sex with a woman not your wife if you are never alone in a room with a woman not your wife.” While this is true, it is little more than sin management. External boundaries have their place in our fight against temptations as Paul stated, “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27). But external rules (sin management) are an incomplete answer. Paul also said, “they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:23). So, one might ask, what resource and ability does the Christian have to keep from getting trapped in stupid sins?

Think about it – this admired author, pastor and conference speaker was very busy for God, but he was not walking with God. He was not living at the altar – in a passionate pursuit of God, delighting in Him so that his wandering heart would be bound to the One who alone is our highest good and deepest satisfaction. Too often, Christians mistake their busyness for God as their walk with God. They are not the same.

Paul makes it clear that our position has profound implications for our affections and attitudes. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1–2). An altar is a place of communion and sacrifice. For the one who belongs to God it is a habitual space in your life of undisturbed communion where you seek God and delight in him with all your heart & soul. You draw near to God.

When you draw near, the loving Father speaks to you through His self-disclosure. You contemplate His words and meditate on them. And you respond to Him with adoration, confession, and thanks, surrendering yourself to Him anew each time. Even more, He has promised that when you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you! Living at the altar will captivate our heart, binding it to Him (See John 14:23). Out of this, the practical daily good thing for us in the battle is cleansing our sinful hands and purifying our double-minded hearts (James 4:8).

Practicing the presence of God in this way will find us abiding in Christ. Jesus invites His followers to abide in him like a branch abides in the vine drawing fruit-producing life from it (John 15:5). John’s striking statement is, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin” (1 John 3:6 NKJV). The apostle – with an absolute negative – is pointing out wo mutually exclusive activities, practicing sin and abiding in Christ. You cannot do both at the same time. Jesus left us an example so we could walk in His steps, encourages Peter. As we pursue Him, we become like Him. Then we will practice the qualities that reflect His character, and in practicing these qualities, he asserts, we “will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14).

When you are drawing near to the Father and walking in Jesus’ steps you are walking in the Spirit. When you walk in the Spirit you “will not gratify the selfish desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Jesus said that His Spirit “will teach you and bring to remembrance all that I have said” (Jn. 14:25). He illuminates God’s self-disclosure to us, and the Holy Spirit in us is our ability to follow Jesus and abide in His word which frees us from being crippled in bondage. The Spirit of God works with the word of God informing and transforming our affections (what we love) and attitudes (how we think), so we can practically affirm in our life experience what the Psalmist expressed, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

What is more, “His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” and by Him we cry out, “Abba, Father!” Such a cry expresses the satisfying sense that we are fully loved, supplied, and protected. We shall not want.

Romans 8:13-14 summarizes it well: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Yielding to the lure of selfish desires comes from feeding out of the dumpster of self-preeminence. Count on the fact that it will end in disaster.

But living at the altar offers us a banquet for our highest good and deepest satisfaction. “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). In Christ, we have the selective power of what occupies our hearts (affections) and minds (attitudes). Paul Tripp accurately states, “Sin is a battle of the heart and is won or lost there.” Living at the altar – delighting in the Trinity – must be where we are labor-intensive. It means we never lose the wonder of a passionate pursuit of God. This will bind our wandering hearts to Him.

A Powerful Relationship – God Wants You!

Karleigh King July 25, 2024

A Powerful Relationship – God Wants You!

“I now know the Bible says I am a new creation,” the believer might say, “but what do I do with that knowledge? Where do I go from here to become like Christ without just trying harder?”

This question becomes crucial in the day-to-day where the believer finds himself confronted with urges and temptations that are contrary to the character and purpose of God. Because he still resides in a corruptible tent, the unredeemed body, the believer continues to battle the selfish and self-destructive “lusts of the flesh.” Paul explains this battle in Romans 7:18: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” This truth is also evident in Romans 8:23: “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”

The daily battle against the luring of sin must be waged with the right foundation of knowledge in regard to the liberating truth of regeneration. First, God’s transformation in one’s life (regeneration) is not a personal, self-imposed reformation. Second, life transformation is something only God can do because He creates life where life did not exist before.

Peter affirms that the believer is born of “incorruptible seed,” and John explains that this seed is God’s seed. A seed is a power-packed bundle of life, but that seed must grow in order to produce. Likewise, growing in grace is imperative for the believer. God made us for Himself and in Christ has reconciled us to Himself. The fact that Jesus “laid down His life” (I John 3:16) “to bring you to God” (I Pet. 3:18) carries profound meaning. God wants a relationship of deep personal interaction with you. Transformation into the image of Jesus Christ is realized through the passionate pursuit and development of that relationship. This truth is encapsulated in the lyrics of the CityAlight song "I Want To Know You":

I've tried in vain a thousand ways
My fears to quell, my hopes to raise
But what I need, Your word has said
Is ever, only, Jesus

You died, You live, You reign, You plead
There's love in all Your words and deeds
This weary heart finds all it needs
In ever, only, Jesus

I want to know You, Jesus my Lord
King of the Heavens, King of my soul
I trade my treasures and all my rewards
Jesus, to know You, then know You more.[i]

[i] I Want to Know You lyrics © Farren Love And War Publishing, Integrity's Alleluia! Music, Cityalight Music

Differing With Grace

Karleigh King July 18, 2024

Having witnessed the first American assassination attempt in forty-three years this past weekend, it seems this is a good time to check our attitudes toward those with whom we disagree. I will be blunt – this is an area where Christians can very easily be squeezed into the world’s mold and act in the flesh. In contrast to the natural arms of vitriol and violence, our weapons of warfare are truth and grace.

Jesus said the peacemakers are blessed along with the pure in heart, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. But it seems many think that happiness cannot be enjoyed unless their way is affirmed and realized. This is a tactic of the adversary of our souls.

As one journalist wrote, “On the national scale, at least, large portions of our politics amount to saying, ‘Raca’ and ‘You fool!’ We are cruel and vicious…We offer no mercy and abide no grace for our political enemies. We are not patient, hopeful, or kind. We do not hunger and thirst for righteousness but for power and vengeance.”*

People will always be people, they say. But if the biblical doctrines of regeneration, being born of God as new creations, being indwelt and filled with the Holy Spirit, and being conformed to the image of Christ are true, Christians are becoming Christlike. Faith in Christ is not just a matter of what we believe, it is how our lives are being transformed because we have entrusted ourselves to God’s self-disclosure and His Son’s redemptive work.

One can and ought to be confident and gracious at the same time. There should never be dialogue where the follower of Christ is not gracious (Colossians 4:6). This should be true whether we are having a political or a theological dialogue. Love never affirms sin but is gracious toward the sinner. Let’s remember the church did not outlast the Roman Empire through political means. Jesus said that not even the gates of hell could prevail against His church. Let’s be careful to remember where the strength of our mission lies.

"The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them."+

So, keep the big picture in view. Be informed with objective truth. In other words – don’t just listen to those who affirm what you think you know or believe. Follow the information, seek truth with integrity. Strive to understand those who differ with you. Be willing to engage them with conviction and character. Most importantly, remember that they bear the image of God.

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*Bonnie Kristian Christianity Today, Oct. 30, 2020
+Journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862-1931)

Attractive Grace

Karleigh King July 11, 2024

As one is transformed by grace, one becomes a dispenser of grace. In this way, grace can and should be a most compelling argument for the truth claims of Christianity. Consider this statement: “Some people reject Christianity based on a decision to have nothing to do with it; others have a vague sense of hostility toward it. Since they may be rejecting Christianity because of a distorted view of it, it is essential that believers make clear what Christianity is all about.”[i]

If grace is not presented clearly – in word and in life – then its vitality and productivity will be obscured. One expositor asserts: “If the transforming power of God is at work in me, changing me, it will also be at work through me.”[ii] Grace lived out is attractive and authenticating. The world needs grace, and Christians carry the message of grace. Christians ought to produce appropriate verification of the transforming power of grace in their lives. Martyn Lloyd-Jones provides a fitting conclusion: “The world today is looking for and desperately needs true Christians. Men would know that there is dynamic in the Christian gospel; they would know that this is a [living] thing; they would not go looking for anything else. They would say ‘Here it is.’ And when the world sees the truly Christian man, it not only feels condemned, it is drawn, it is attracted.”[iii]

A key way for the church to exercise practical grace is through hospitality. I was happy to see on Sunday that all of the booklets, How Can I Grow in Hospitality? were taken from the kiosks. We will have more booklets available – they are currently on order. If you’d rather not wait for them to be delivered, you can order from the link above. Let me reiterate my encouragement to you – take a Sunday night (or two, or a few) this summer to invite someone or a family you don’t know well* and bless them. “Hospitality is an expression of love to God and others. It is pointing another image-bearer Godward by welcoming that person into our lives and hearts for the sake of Christ. True hospitality is the open-handed acknowledgement of the goodness of God toward us that overflows to others.”iv

*A really good idea might be to invite a visitor to GBC
[i] Alister E. McGrath, “Apologetics to the Romans,” Bibliotheca Sacra (Oct.-Dec. 1998), 391

[ii] Zane C. Hodges, “Making Your Call and Election Sure: II Pet. 1:5-11” Journal of the Grace Evangelical society (Spring, 1998), 26

[iii] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1959-60), 18
ivKeri Folmar, How Can I Grow in Hospitality? (Crossway 2024) p.15

At Work

Karleigh King July 4, 2024

A lot has happened in the life of our congregation in the first half of 2024. God leads some through seasons of adversity, He moves some of His people home to heaven, others He moves to different paths of ministry. All these events added up can give one a brief moment of pause because they involve change and separation. But God is doing something. He always works for His glory and our good.

“My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.”
John 5:17 (NIV)

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are always at work drawing people to Himself. He is restoring wounded souls, opening the eyes of understanding, and strengthening the inner man. He is building His church, and we are blessed to have a part in it.

The gospel promotes human flourishing because it introduces people to the Prince of Peace who reconciles and restores, creating and expanding a new humanity, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. Even this land of the free and home of the brave that celebrates its 248th birthday today is no match for the righteousness that is the scepter of His everlasting kingdom.

The mystery of God’s will is that we do not create it or bring it to pass – God does. We know He is good and worthy of our trust. So, rest in the delight of our good and gracious King. These are pivotal days at Grace Bible Church, so let’s follow Him in obedience and stewardship and watch what He does.

Three Things You Should Know

Karleigh King June 25, 2024

1. Igniting Passion for God’s Word

The next Sunday Night Seminar series will be the first three weeks of September. We will start the fall series with a BANG…I will teach the Walk Thru the Bible otLive event on September 1st, 8th and 15th. These three hours of teaching will be highly interactive, memorable, and – I promise – you will have an enjoyable time as we walk through the entire Old Testament. You will learn key people, places, and plans bringing together the whole Old Testament storyline so you that will grasp the big picture of God’s purpose of leading us to Christ.

The otLive event is not only a memorable learning experience, but the gospel will be clearly presented too, so be thinking about which FRAN you may want to invite. Not only will this event develop your biblical literacy, it will also boost your biblical passion. The word of God changes everything!

2. Bookends of Summer

This coming Sunday night, June 30th, is our scheduled time at the Lord’s Table. This time together is a special highlight in the life of our faith family. It is here that we mutually acknowledge the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and affirm our shared identity in Him. Our Lord instituted this rite of remembrance for our benefit and blessing, and for His honor. So, we who are reconciled to Him, lets heed His invitation, and meet at His table of acceptance. As is our practice, we will enjoy a time of fellowship together after this service and could use your help in providing food for that time together. You can sign up here to bring food to share.

For the following seven Sundays of the summer, I want to encourage you to practice the virtue of hospitality. Set apart a Sunday evening to invite a family or single over to show them you care and want to get to know them. “The more you love your church, the more you will want to know her members. The better you know the members, the more you’ll love them. In other words, hospitality increases your love for your church.”* Developing the virtue of hospitality will be a key factor in our ability to reach our generation. We will bring our hospitality together once again at the Lord’s Table on August 25th (just before the otLive event in September). The celebration of the Lord’s Table and the fellowship afterwards will be a special occasion – I know you will want to be there.

3. Expansion Outlook

The building planning team has met numerous times over the past several months. Having crafted a floor plan and site plan with the guiding insight and skill of architect Wayne Roberts, we have also met with the highly recommended contracting firm Fourth Elm, to get a general idea of the cost. With the approval of the board, Fourth Elm is now drawing up more formal floor and site plans, along with visual renderings to present to the congregation. Stay tuned for a date to be set for an informational meeting. God is growing our family and we want to be good stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Let's pray together to that end.
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*Keri Folmar, How Can I Grow in Hospitality (Crossway) -- This resource will be made available to you by the church

In Christ

Karleigh King June 18, 2024

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Ephesians 2:13

A key motif in New Testament theology is the assertion that we are in Christ. This two-word phrase used some thirty times – not including other phrases like “united with Christ” – is a favorite statement Paul used to describe the follower of Jesus. For example, in Ephesians 2:4-13 the apostle uses the phrase three times (v.6, 10, & 13) as well as the related phrase “with Christ” in verse five. This great text begins, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved…” (v.4-5). For those of us who have surrendered in faith to Jesus He is our righteousness, our element, our dwelling place, our security, our identity. It is our union with Christ that makes us acceptable to the Holy Father and rescues us from alienation. Instead, we are reconciled, we are God’s elect, holy and beloved, we are a chosen generation, a holy priesthood, the people of God, seated with Christ; our life is hidden with Christ in God.

The beautiful product of the gospel is pointed out in John 1:12, “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Later, John writes “everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him” (1 John 5:1). Being in Christ is not only our union with Him, but the focal point of our unity in Him. You and I may be very different people with different lifestyles, cultural tastes, and ethnic backgrounds, but in Christ we can say “He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one” (Eph. 2:14). In other words, we may be people who, culturally, have little in common and would likely not find any natural connection in life in general. But in Christ, we share the same identity, so ours becomes a gospel-centered relationship.

This is something for which today's society is desperately searching. But apart from the gospel, the forces of society pursue such unity by labeling and dividing. Everyone is expected to wear their label with public pride, and demand affirmation of it because the Self is supreme. The gospel of Jesus rescues us from this chaotic division, and we find our unity in our union with Christ – The supreme Being. This becomes a foreshadow of heaven – every tribe and tongue and nation focused on worship of the Lamb who is worthy.

Our Lord Jesus instituted a rite that would remind us of this reality. We call it the Lord’s Table. It is a time of communion – unity amongst the saints based and focused upon the redeeming work of Jesus. Jesus commanded, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Remembering is not just mental recall, but it is putting what we know into action. He said that by demonstrating such communion (unity in Him), we proclaim His redemptive work. We need to be reminded of our identity in Christ, our unity in Christ, and our righteousness in Christ with humility, awe, and adoration – together.

Our next Lord’s Table is scheduled for June 30th at 6:00 p.m. Let’s heed our Savior’s invitations to His welcoming table. As we come together, we demonstrate our love for Him and our love for each other. We are family - it’s time to come to the table.

Arise, Shine!

Karleigh King June 11, 2024

How delightful it was to worship with you on Sunday! "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Ps. 133:1). I could not help but contemplate the beauty and attractiveness of the church set against the darkness of the times.

Psalm 45 is a majestic wedding song of a Davidic king in fulfillment of God’s covenant with David (2 Sam. 7). The groom/king is described in his majesty and splendor. “In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness.” (v4). As the king prepares to take his bride unto himself, the attributes of his reign are lauded. The imagery of this Psalm is quoted by the writer of Hebrews (Heb.1:8-9), and it is prefaced by God speaking to the Son. The Son of God was also a son of David.

This Son will rule, and His kingdom is one of truth, goodness, righteousness, and beauty. He rules now among His people with truth, in contrast to a cultural movement that affirms only what one feels. He rules with goodness, juxtaposed to the current conventional wisdom that it is now acceptable to oppress one who disagrees with you. He rules in righteousness, in distinction to many who “call evil good and good evil” (Isa. 5:20). Righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom, and His throne is forever and forever (v6). He is the One who makes everything beautiful – properly fitting together – in its time (Ecc. 3:11).

The groom/king’s bride is described as beautiful as she is brought to him. She is at his right hand, but “since He is your Lord, bow to him.” Then “With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king” (v15). This imagery of the majestic king taking a subject as his bride is replete through Scripture. It is a portrait of hope and great joy.

Sing this song, making melody in your hearts to the Lord (click here to listen/sing along with the lyric video): “Arise, shine, for your light has come! Arise, shine for the risen Son. Lift your eyes, we are His radiant bride. Arise, O Church, arise!”1 May you live joyfully in your union with Christ the King! May we champion the cause of truth, meekness, and righteousness as citizens of His kingdom spreading the fragrance of Christ.

1 “O Church Arise, Arise Shine” by Getty and Townend. Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

What Have We Done with Truth?

Karleigh King June 4, 2024

Truth has a name and finds its foundations in the infinite personal Being. That is why the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Life cannot make sense if we do not build on the right foundation. Moving off the foundation onto shifting sands is the regression of reason outlined in Romans 1:18-32. It begins with a diminished view of God. To not glorify Him as God is to marginalize Him in our thinking, then “I” become bigger and more important, longing for a god that I can manipulate in order to satisfy my own appetites with a propensity to focus on what I deserve and what I don’t have.

Discontentment follows a small view of God. All good things are from God and we are willing to use His gifts but not willing to thank Him for them. Instead, we take them for granted and demand their continuance and increase. This disposition of ingratitude develops character in the direction of self-gratification which is ultimately empty and unsatisfying. When all I have to live for is myself, the only end I can expect is despair.

When the Person is evicted from my heart and mind, then my house becomes dark and empty, full of unwelcomed creatures. When the infinite Creator is diminished or denied then all that is left for me to reference is matter; life becomes a sensual pursuit, and if all is matter than how does anything really matter?

What have you done with truth? Remember that the foundation of reality is Personal. Truth has a name. Engage His communication and delight in it. Your end will be delighting in Him – the very purpose for which you were designed.

Start With "Why?"

Karleigh King May 28, 2024

The LA Times once presented the following headline:

"There's little privacy in a digital world: Users of TVs, computers and smartphones leave technological fingerprints wherever they go, and companies are lapping up the data."

David Sarno of the Los Angeles Times writes: “Eric Hartman doesn't pay much attention to his iPhone. But the iPhone is paying attention to him. Buying milk at Ralph’s? Playing World of Warcraft? Texting dinner plans to friends? Binge watching on Netflix? It's all recorded. Over the course of a day, hundreds of digital traces pile up, each offering more insight into the way Hartman and his family live.”

The idea of keeping track of all that you’ve done and every place you’ve been in the course of a day…a week...could be world-shattering. Think of the benefits of keeping a budget – not so much to limit spending but to record where the expenditures go. I challenged a young man once to keep track of how much he spent weekly on his Mellow Yellow “habit.” He assumed he was spending a “few bucks” when, in reality, after keeping record, he discovered it was more like $90.00!

What if you decided to do that instead of just Apple and all the merchants that compete for your loyalty? The time you have has already been numbered. You have been entrusted with it. So what if you kept record of all your activity, then upon review at the end of the day asked the question “Why did I do this?” Follow that up with “Why do I exist?” But to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love as Christ has loved me.

This could be revolutionary -- "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Colossians 3:17 ESV)

“So teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12

Faith To Follow

Karleigh King May 21, 2024

Thursday (23rd) is Ernie Hodges’ 68th birthday. It is cause to celebrate because his is an impactful life. I doubt anyone could forget Ernie after meeting him – that booming voice and laugh set him apart. Besides this, there are, as I see it, six things that mark him as a man to admire and emulate.

First, Ernie is a man of initiative. He does not wait around for something to happen; he creates and pursues opportunities – not only for himself but including others too. Second, his initiative is largely demonstrated in servanthood. Ernie is passionate about helping others. This is probably why he chose to become a physician’s assistant. His life is missional. Third, I always love and appreciate the levity and winsomeness with which he approaches the circumstances and conversations of life.

Ernie is a hardworking man of many talents and interests. He is a husband, father, grandfather, educator, coach, athletic administrator, deacon, elder, Bible teacher, missionary, mission trip leader, physician’s assistant, and dabbles quite a bit in construction. Sixth, even as broadly talented as he is, Ernie is constantly desiring to learn. A teachable spirit is noble. I remember a few years back when he approached me about helping him learn Spanish so that he could communicate more effectively on his mission trips to Bolivia.

Finally, Ernie is a leader. His talent, ambition, love for God and others-focus makes him a man worthy to be followed. Hebrews 13:7 instructs us that those who have oversight in the church are to be men who demonstrate a faith to imitate. It makes sense that Ernie is an elder at Grace. Having been here so long and serving so humbly, eagerly, lovingly, and faithfully, he is a man worthy of our honor.

Though the outer man is wasting away, his inner man is renewed and refreshed day by day in the delight of his Creator/Redeemer. Ernie, we honor you, and celebrate with you the life of service that our Lord has entrusted to you. Thank you!

Reasonable Service of Worship

Karleigh King May 14, 2024

Two families in our fellowship are in special need of our prayer support and practical family help. We are thankful for godly young men who pursue avenues to serve God and engage unbelief in ways that most of us cannot. Adam King and Nathan Jones and their families are in focus here. Let me express deep gratitude to you who have already stepped up in meaningful ways to help these families during this season of separation.

I have included a letter from Adam, assistant pastor of education, to give the church a clear picture of this opportunity for the next three months:

Dear family of Grace,

I wanted to give you an update on how God is using me in the Army National Guard, specifically during this summer season.

If you did not know, I have been pursuing chaplaincy in the National Guard since October of 2022. I have been in what is called a “candidate” status while I complete my Master of Divinity studies at Liberty University. In order to move from candidate status into being pinned as a bona fide chaplain, I am required to complete a three-month Army schoolhouse training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina in addition to completing my M.Div. degree. By God’s grace, I will complete both the M.Div. and this schoolhouse training this summer. Because of the requirements of the schoolhouse training, I will be absent for at least one month of Sundays because, for some Army chaplains attending this training, this will be their first Army experience and they will need to learn drill, ceremony, and Army culture. The first month will be like basic training for them, and something of a refresher course for me, which is why we are required to stay at Fort Jackson for the entirety of that initial phase. After that, we will be permitted to leave for the weekends.

Please be in prayer for Karleigh and our three girls during my absence. Their endurance and patience during this time is something that only comes by God’s grace. Please keep Nathan & Michelle Jones and their children in your prayers as well. Nathan is also an Army chaplain candidate and will be completing this same training alongside me. Nathan and I are thankful for a church family who we know will take care of our wives and families in our time apart from them.

Finally, I want to assure you that for me, this training is not a step toward full-time active duty service in the Army. Upon completion of the required training, I will continue in a “drill” status as is normal for me, where I am with my unit for one weekend per month and two weeks each summer. These times I spend fulfilling my obligations to the Army provide me with the opportunity to engage unbelief and to minister to a unique people group: American Soldiers. On my drill weekends, I have the opportunity to preach to the soldiers in our religious services, provide pastoral counsel, and participate in caring for the souls of the men and women with whom I serve. I deeply appreciate all the support that the church shows me in this effort to reach soldiers with the gospel of grace.

Sincerely,

Pastor Adam

Time

Karleigh King May 7, 2024

There is a time to be born and a time to die; those are the two dates on a tombstone. There is a dash between the two dates that represents quite a bit, including many observations of life: there is that which is delightful – to be born, to love, to dance. But there is also the distasteful – to mourn, to die, and war. There is production – to plant, to gather, to build, to sow; but there is also destruction – to tear down, to break down, to scatter, to kill. There is the relational – love, and a time to embrace. There is the emotional – a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn. There is the new and the novel – time to be born, time to build up. There's the old and the obsolete – to count something as lost, to break down.

There is separation in the occasions of life – a time to cast away, a time of war; but there is also restoration – a time of peace, a time to gather, a time to heal. There is the incidental in life – to count something as lost, or a time to refrain from embracing. There is also the consequential – war, building up, kill, speak; all of these are consequential.

I would like to recommend five truths about life that we can summarize from these observations in Ecclesiastes 3. First, Life is repetitive. Sometimes it can seem like a machine, it just goes on and on, and the same things will continue to happen. But the second truth is, life is limited. In other words, there are natural boundaries to life. There is a time to be born, and there is a time to die. There is a time to build up. There's a time to tear down. Thirdly, life is broken. Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 make very clear is that there is something that is not right. Things are not as they ought to be. Fourth, life is reflective. It reflects personality; it reflects an inherent and absolute sense of morality. It reflects intelligence. It also reflects the absolute because this word time – “for everything there is a season and a time for every matter under the sun” – is used consistently in Scripture as an appointed occasion. That takes us to the fifth truth; when you consider it all, life is hopeful. Meaning this: there is purpose in life. God’s purpose is beautiful because “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecc. 3:11). We can observe God’s purpose just enough to evoke wonder. Wonder is beautiful. Let’s not lose our wonder.

Difficult Things

Karleigh King May 4, 2024

The paths of life require us to face difficult tasks. We cannot avoid them, lest we habitually follow the path of least resistance and find ourselves bereft of resilience and incapable of accomplishing necessary tasks.

One difficult task is teaching about the judgment of God in a way that is faithful to the Scriptures (like Deuteronomy). This topic can be offensive to modern sensitivities because of the rise and triumph of the modern self. But think about the irrationality of human self-preeminence that would assume to judge an infinite, sovereign Creator by our limited, self-focused, and confused standards. This is precisely why the faithful teaching of the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:17) is necessary – even if it offends.

On the matter of potentially offensive topics, I have been asked to teach on the biblical doctrine of hell. To begin, let’s start with this understanding of God:

“‘Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked’, declares the Lord God, ‘and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?’”
Ezekiel 18:23

Peter asserts “The Lord is patient toward you…not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Created in God’s image, we were designed and intended to know Him, relate to Him, and enjoy Him – forever. This is possible only because of Christ’s reconciling work in death and resurrection. But what about those who reject God, who do not obey the gospel and remain alienated from God?

The Scriptures teach us about the sobering reality that awaits those who are not reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. It is called “The Second Death” (Revelation 20:14). Jesus warned us about it – a lot. He spoke of it as a very serious matter. Maybe that’s part of why He showed so much compassion. We should too. An ABF on the Second Death is scheduled for the four Sundays of May at 9:00 AM in Room 5.

Another difficult thing to tackle is the details that go into the work of the building planning team. The team (Susan Ball, Daryl Felker, Max Floyd, Michelle Jones, Karleigh King, Thomas Milam, Brian Ward, and myself) has met three times so far along with Wayne Roberts and his architectural skills. The challenge has been drawing floor plans that meet the immediate needs of the congregation while keeping it within what we believe is a reasonable budget. The team has also put forethought into a master building plan in view of additional construction phases.

With the board’s review and approval of Wayne’s sketches, the next step is to meet with contractors that can give us reasonable ball-park figures of the cost of building. Once these figures have been obtained, then we will be in the position to bring this information to the congregation for direction on the next steps in the prospect of building expansion.

We are thankful that God is growing His beautiful church.

The Value of God’s Word

Karleigh King April 10, 2024

The Creator has turned the light on into our darkness. We are immensely privileged to have a word from God that is the written record of His self-disclosure. All Scripture – the recognized canon – is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17), meaning it is transforming truth that is to be brought to bear upon our lives. All of it was revealed and written for our instruction (Romans 15:4). It is given to form our lives through teaching, warning, correction, and training in righteousness.

Scripture is the objective truth which reveals that righteousness for our life training. It is the character of God revealed. Behind every precept of Scripture is the Person to whom Scripture points us. This is why we do not reduce the Scriptures to a list of commands (imperatives), but we see the Goodness that is the source of those commands (indicatives). The written record of God’s activity is so “that you may know that I am the LORD” (Exodus 10:2; Deuteronomy 29:6).

“I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!”
Deuteronomy 32:3

To “proclaim the name of the Lord” is to “make open declaration of His character as revealed in His actions toward His people.” God is like what God has done. We contemplate that through the reading and meditation of God’s self-disclosure.

In God’s self-disclosure we can see and understand His heart. God’s people are the object of His loving concern (Deut. 7:6-9). His activity reveals His steadfast love, forbearance, faithfulness, kindness, and His justice. Thankfully, the infinite, sovereign, holy Creator does not deal with us merely in terms of strict justice.

Scripture exposes the heart of man – the unrighteousness, wickedness and brokenness that exists at the core of every person. Like an MRI machine, Scripture reveals our inner condition (Romans 3:19-20) — that we are deserving God’s justice in holy wrath.

This exposure also makes clear the necessity of God’s grace. His laws are His loving boundaries – “for your good” (Deuteronomy 10:13) — and the Law ordained in the Old Testament foreshadows Christ, who not only fulfilled the righteous requirement of the Law in our place(Rom. 8:3-4), but took upon Himself the necessary judgment of the holy God in our stead.

Through all of Scripture, there is one unifying theme of redemption. God’s plan of redemption is the outflow of His loving, forgiving heart. How He accomplished this redemption is a demonstration of His holy justice and grace. Over 3,400 years ago, Moses uttered the words “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen” (Deut. 18:15). Jump ahead in history another 1400 years and you find Peter and Stephen affirming that Jesus Christ fulfilled this prediction (Acts 3:22; 7:37) through His advent and redemptive work.

The grace of God revealed throughout the Scriptures make it known that our relationship with the God of the universe is not based one’s attempts at right behavior, but that God Himself will do a work of transformation in His people at the level of their affections and attitudes. Moses prophesied “the Lord will circumcise your hearts” (Deut. 30:6). In other words, God’s plan of redemption will establish in His people a heart that is bent toward Him – to draw near, to delight in, to love, and to please.

This act of transformation was predicted in what is known as the New Covenant foretold through the prophet Ezekiel, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

On the night that Jesus was betrayed before His crucifixion, He established a rite of remembering for His followers saying, “this cup is the New Covenant in my blood” (Luke 22;20; 1 Corinthians 11:25). His self-sacrifice was for our redemption through which He would accomplish a radical transformation at the core of His people. Thereby He created a new humanity – citizens of His kingdom, ambassadors of reconciliation.

The value of Scripture is that in it, we find a grand narrative of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It is through the formative power of revealed Scripture that we are called to live in the realty of this beautiful story.

—————————————————————————
(1) Dillard/Longman III, An Introduction to the OT, (Zondervan, 1994) p.103

The Fulcrum of History

Karleigh King April 10, 2024

All hope of human history hinges on two three-word statements, “It is finished,” and “He has risen.” The former statement Jesus cried while on the cross. Many would see the cross as a great tragedy, the victimization of a good man, when, in fact it was purposeful by divine decree. When Jesus cried out, “It is finished”, He affirmed that the saving work the Father commissioned Him to do had been completed on the cross. It was a success – realized purpose. It was a completed action that produced a state of being in the present. That current state can be summarized in the following realities:

He shattered the lie of the adversary: Jesus came to “destroy the works of the Devil” (1 Jn. 3:8; Heb. 2:14); the lie that alienates man from God. Through His death He established the truth that sets us free.
He satisfied the Father’s necessary and holy wrath: His separation from the Father was the necessary judgment of sin and unrighteousness. A good God must oppose evil. He did this in Jesus’ death -- once for all -- which is why He is the propitiation for our sins (Rom 3; 1 Jn 2)
He took the record of our debt and nailed to the cross: The legal demands of our debt -- the righteous requirement of the law (Col 2:14) – have been paid in full. In Jesus’ death we have the basis for forgiveness.
Opened the door for us to accepted by holy God: We are now reconciled to God because through His death, Jesus “made many to be accounted righteous” (Isa. 53:11). This action established the basis for our justification. We are welcomed into the Father’s presence and delight because Jesus bore our iniquities. He was made sin for us, so that we could become His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).
He laid the foundation for the household of God: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (1 Pete 2:4-7; Ps.118:22). This household of God is the family of God, the new humanity. We are new creations in Christ because we are born of God.

The angel announced, “He is not here, He has risen, as He said” (Matt. 28:6). The ensuing narrative of John 20 makes clear that the resurrection of Jesus establishes the following five certainties for us:

Paternity: The resurrection of Jesus opens the door to a familial relationship with God. Jesus referred to His followers as “brothers,” and the stated that He is going to “My Father, and your Father” (John 20:17).
Peace: Jesus said “peace be with you” numerous times (John 20:19, 21, 26) after His resurrection because an encounter with reality and power far beyond human capacity leaves one gripped by insecurity and dread. Jesus offers tranquility and freedom from worry, and, in one word communicates, “Nothing can touch you outside of my tender care” (see John 14:27).
Purpose: Jesus’ resurrection offers clarity about the meaning of life. We no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who for our sakes died and was raised (2 Cor. 5:15). He is our highest good, our chief ambition, and our deepest satisfaction (Ps. 16:11).
Presence: Now in His glory, Jesus granted His followers the Holy Spirit that He had promised in John 7:37-38. His Spirit grants us the resource and power to live out His purpose – the call to live the greatest story of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Proclamation: Thomas knew that the physical resurrection of Jesus meant that all of His works and claims were true and meaningful – that everything hinges on this event – rightly proclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” It is a confession that Jesus was His creator and master – the point to His existence. This is the proclamation of every life captivated by the historic reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Haiti Bible Institute, Risk, and the Church

Karleigh King March 19, 2024

Dear Family of Grace,

It is good to be back home!

We successfully completed module five (of eight) of Haiti Bible Institute Cohort Four. I taught the Doctrine of God, and a workshop on Expository Preaching. The students expressed genuine gratitude, not only for the teaching, but for the risk we took to go to Haiti to teach them.

On that note, the ordeal of being trapped in Haiti for ten days amid the outbreak of violent revolution led to encouraging reports of the church tightening bonds of solidarity through united prayer. Also, from reflecting on the ordeal, I have noted that the challenges of waiting and the rescue operation manifest striking parallels to the gospel of grace. I will share these parallels with the congregation illustrating the sermon from John 12 for Palm Sunday – “The Hour has Come.”

Shoutout to US Representative Cory Mills (FL), for putting together the operations that brought us out. Cory’s staff worked around the clock to make this rescue a reality, and he and his friend, Brian Young – both of whom served in Afghanistan – invested so much of themselves and braved great risk to bring about our rescue from Haiti and into the Dominican Republic. I must also acknowledge that Glenn Beck’s charity organization, Mercury One, funded the rescue operation.

Let me express deep gratitude to the board for their encouraging and prayerful support during the last three weeks. Thank you for leading the church well during this brief season of adversity. These experiences augment my deep love for the church, and my appreciation for the culture of grace and discipleship in the family of God.

Living In The Power Of Newness

Karleigh King February 20, 2024

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.
And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Ezekiel 36:26

What is the difference between stone and living tissue? A stone is cold, lifeless, and void of relationship; it does not absorb or respond. But the heart made of living nerve and tissue is sensory and responsive. God does not just promise to take out a heart that is stone-cold, calloused, and unresponsive. He also promises to replace it with a heart of flesh—a living, sensing, responsive heart. This newness that God creates is the seed of God—the spora of which Peter wrote, and the sperma that John talked about. This is the new creation of the believer, that “new self” to which the apostle Paul appealed (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).

The Spirit of God is the one who regenerates. God promises that when we come to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the believer. “I will put my Spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:27). The Spirit is the one who empowers us and transforms us into genuine obedience to Christ. In that way, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Paul affirmed repeatedly in Romans chapter 8 that the Spirit of Jesus dwells in the believer. God’s purpose is to develop the character of Jesus Christ in me.

Because I have Christ’s righteousness,
I should focus on pursuing and walking with God
to nurture and bring to outward expression
the divine life now within me.

This process of life change is God’s purpose in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 36; 2 Corinthians 3; Hebrews 8). This newness was launched by Jesus in his perfect life, his death, and his resurrection. The night before his death on the cross, Jesus instituted a rite of remembrance for his followers to keep. When he took the cup of wine, Jesus said, “this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). Jesus wanted us to remember this covenant; it follows that we should know and understand it.

There are three benefits of the new covenant for us. First, in Christ, there is full forgiveness of our sins, whereas only a covering for sin was offered under the Law. Second, there is newness. The stone-cold heart has been replaced with a living, sensing heart capable of relating to our Creator and Redeemer. The heart is a metaphor for the seat of thought and desire in the person bearing God’s image. God is transforming us and grants us newness in our attitudes and affections. Third, there is the empowering presence of his Holy Spirit for we who are reconciled to God.

God’s purpose to transform my life is not about me cleaning up my act, it is about God’s transforming life and power within me that will flow upward to love and adore him and outward to point people to him.*

It will be a special pleasure on this Sunday night to witness the baptism of believers who want to publicly identify with Jesus Christ, and to come together at the Lord’s Table by his invitation to participate in a living picture of our union with Christ in his death and resurrection.

And, by the way, since some have inquired or assumed, this is not a “combined service” with Vienna. Sunday night’s baptism and gathering at the Lord’s Table will be a Grace Bible Church worship service using the facilities of Vienna Baptist Church. Some of our dear brothers and sisters from Vienna may choose to worship with us.

My God be glorified, and Christ magnified in his church.

______________

* The preceding was taken from 7 WORDS that can CHANGE YOUR LIFE, p.102-103

Welcome Wisdom

Karleigh King February 14, 2024

To understand the current atmosphere of unbelief, Owen Anderson, professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University, gives us a bit of insight followed with some biblical wisdom:

On the first day of my Philosophy 101 class, I ask my students this question:  “Does life make sense?” A few awkward moments pass. One hand goes up and then another. “No, life doesn’t make sense,” many students tell me. It seems arbitrary and full of pain and suffering.
How does this make them feel? I ask.  They tell me it causes them anxiety and even depression. What do they plan to do about it? I inquire. They have no answer. And this, of course, only adds to their anxiety.

Fortunately, there is an answer. It’s called wisdom. Not exactly a fashionable concept these days but given how much mental illness is reported on campus, it’s primed for a comeback.

The Oxford Dictionary defines wisdom this way: the “capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgment…” That’s something we all desire. Life is complex. Difficult questions and choices confront us all the time. Wisdom helps us to deal with them. By the way, the word philosophy means “the love of wisdom.”

So, where should we start our wisdom journey? How about with the most significant and influential book in human history, one for which there is no close second—the Bible. Not surprisingly, it has a lot of thoughts on the subject. Proverbs 9:10 takes us right to the heart of the matter. “The fear of God,” the proverb tells us, “is the beginning of wisdom.”

Fear is universal. Everyone fears something. Indiana Jones fears snakes, Ron Weasley fears spiders, most people fear public speaking. Sometimes our fears are abstract. We fear losing what we love—a good job, losing a friend or family member. People fear getting sick, being dependent on others and ultimately, they fear death. But if wisdom is your concern—and the Bible thinks it should be—then fear of God is fear number one. Why?

First, to fear God is a recognition that you are not God. Life suddenly has order. A clear hierarchy is established. God. Then Man… then animals.  If we take God out of the equation and place ourselves at the top of the pyramid, then we make the rules. We only answer to ourselves. The whole notion of an objective standard of right and wrong goes out the proverbial window. Morality becomes a matter of opinion.

Since human beings can rationalize any behavior to suit their purposes, the result is moral confusion, even chaos. When we fear God (He did create the universe, after all) we take our rightful place in the hierarchy. We’re up there, but we’re not in first position. To acknowledge this is an act of humility. It’s much easier to acquire wisdom when you don’t think you already “know it all.” As it says in another verse in Proverbs [3:7], “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

Second, fearing God will very likely make you a better person. Fear God and you’re much less likely to do something you shouldn’t. There are academic studies to back this up. By definition that will help you to make smarter decisions. That’s some serious wisdom right there.
And third, if you fear God, you will fear others less. Doing what is right becomes easier even if the consequences are not to your immediate advantage because you know you must answer first to God, not people. This will give you courage as well as wisdom.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. It’s not the middle or the end. But you have to start somewhere. And that somewhere, the Bible emphatically states, is accepting the basic structure of the universe and your place in it. If you can’t do that you will be lost. The peace and tranquility that you seek—that we all seek—will elude your grasp.

If, however, you’re looking to make sense of what appears to you now to be a senseless world, Proverbs 9:10 is well worth contemplating.*

As I often put it, to fear God means to be captivated by the perfections of God (His perfect goodness, love, justice…) and be accountable to Him. Put more concisely, the fear of God is to live for the opinion of One.

There is an open door for the gospel of grace. Because of the reconciling work of Jesus, we do not need to live in fear – to do right to avoid God’s punishment. Having surrendered ourselves to Him in faith, we live in the grip of His grace. We can rest in His acceptance and live in the outflow of that loving communion to please Him.

This should be welcome news to a generation anxiously plodding through a life that seems arbitrary full of pain and suffering.
_________________________

* Adapted from the transcript at https://www.prageru.com/video/the-beginning-of-wisdom?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_9000102 Accessed on February 12, 2024