Jude's Warnings: Fruitless Trees, Wandering Stars, and Perseverance

Last Sunday’s sermon got me thinking - not only about the doctrine of sanctification, but about the doctrine of perseverance. This morning I looked at the book of Jude and found myself wondering what the circumstances were that provoked him to write these words. He begins this short epistle by reminding them of their election, then he urges them to contend for their faith, he continues by describing those who are destined for judgment, and then he urges them to persevere by the preserving grace of God. Apparently some had made their way into their assembly that were making mockery of the gospel. There seemed to be an encroaching dilution of the gospel in their midst and it was characterized by those whose lives were devoid of God-honoring fruit in considering and caring for one another. The gospel had lost its permeating effect and their religion was one of self-serving and self-absorption. Look at these words he uses to describe them,

Jude 1:12-13 These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

His description is graphic- they feast without fear, they look after themselves, and they are waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wild waves, and wandering stars. As I read these words I was sobered to consider increasing watchfulness over my own soul and yours as well. Puritan Thomas Manton comments on this passage and says,

“The saints carry on a joint trade to heaven; they are all partners, and salvation lieth in common between them: you are to promote mine, and I yours.”

Our understanding of sanctification and perseverance can never be disconnected from our understanding of contending for the faith. And our contending for the faith can never be understood outside of the context of mutual care and watchfulness. Our society breathes the air of individualism, self-sufficiency and self-accomplishment, and yet the gospel comes along and removes us from our isolation and independence. The gospel places us in the context of a family, even God’s very household. And now sanctification and perseverance grow as intended within the life we have together as members of Christ’s body. Jude calls it our ‘common salvation’ (vs. 3). Here’s the kicker, I cannot grow in my sanctification without you, and neither can I persevere without you. Left to myself I will become one of those Jude warns about- a waterless cloud, a fruitless tree, a wild wave, and a wandering star. In God’s unfathomable wisdom He has joined us to one another for the purpose of His glory and our good.

As we think about our life together at COR let us consider how we can promote one another’s growth in sanctification and how we can help one another to persevere. Begin in prayer by asking God to help you see how you can best serve your brothers and sisters in the group. Give some thought to the broad age ranges of COR and go out of your way to learn new names, interests, gifting and challenges. Ask someone you don’t know very well how you can pray for them. Invite someone to lunch or coffee that you may not have spent much time with. Ask someone how they came to faith in Christ. As a family begin to discuss how you can reach out to others in the group. Pray and ask God to make the fruit of sanctified grace evident in your family as you interact with others at COR. Think of creative ways to encourage and serve others.

At the end of it all my prayer is that the sweet fragrance of Jesus Christ and the glorious gospel permeate our lives as we pursue sanctification, all the while persevering together.

Each one of you is an incomparable gift to COR. I’m grateful to the Savior for the privilege of partnering with you.

The Brevity of Life

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
–Ephesians 5:15-16

“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
-James 4:14

“Resolution #6: “Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.’”

-Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1, xx-xxi

Judy, Nathanael, Lydia, Daphne (our golden retriever) and I went to the coast yesterday, specifically to Long Beach, Washington and Astoria, Oregon. It was an unusually beautiful day. It was warm and there was no wind to speak of. For a while the kids played in the surf and I threw a ball for the dog as Judy basked in the warm sunshine. For some reason I became quite melancholy. As I watched the kids play in the surf I become freshly aware of the brevity of life and that these moments as a parent would soon be gone. Soon enough both Nathanael and Lydia will be out of the home and Judy and I will begin a new season of life together. We drove to Oysterville and visited the old Baptist church. We spent about an hour just looking at old graves in the Oysterville pioneer cemetery and talking about our own mortality. We ate all the wrong food. We saw Jake the Alligator man at Marshes museum. We got into a goofy staredown with a raccoon in downtown Ilwaco. We saw a herd of elk at Fort Clatsop. We drove to Astoria and fearfully climbed the Astor Column. At the end of the day the kids went out of their way to express their appreciation for the time we were able to spend together. It was an extraordinary day and will likely be a day not soon forgotten. These kinds of days seem to be few and far between. Like Peter in Luke 9, I wanted to build three tents and set up camp. I didn’t want it to end.

At different points during the day I began to think about God’s grace and the brevity of life. How is it that God gives wonderful days like this to undeserving sinners? Theologians call it ‘common grace’, or that grace that is a reflection of God’s kindness to believer and unbeliever alike (Matthew 5:45, Romans 2:4). And any gift that God gives (including wonderful days at the beach) comes as a result of His Son. Our lives are a vapor- too soon gone. I cannot keep time from moving forward, but because of Christ I can implore God for the grace to redeem it. Because of the gospel, forgiven sinners can see redeeming grace brought into the brevity of life and see it utilized for God’s glory. Even the unmerciful tyrant time must bow before Lord of eternity. The Psalmist writes, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). May this be our resolution and prayer, “Lord, teach me to take whatever days of my life that may be left and redeem them so that you may be glorified above all else.”

Your brother by grace, Dan

The Church as a Bride

Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

Revelation 21:2-3 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

“It is a mercy to have a faithful friend that loveth you entirely,… to whom you may open your mind and communicate your affairs…. And it is a mercy to have so near a friend to be a helper to your soul and …to stir you up in the grace of God.”
-Puritan pastor Richard Baxter on marriage, A Christian Directory

Thinking back on over 30 years of marriage I still vividly remember the joy and delight of seeing Judy make her way (I barely noticed her dad!) down the aisle to meet me as we began our wedding ceremony. She was a beautiful bride all dressed in white; she was the picture of all perfections. And in the days, weeks and months that led up to our marriage she was all I could think about. She had my utmost attention and affection. She had become my singular focus, and all of my thoughts were directed towards her. This wedding would become a defining moment for me. From this point forward I would be known as a married man, my heart captivated by one woman. From here on every decision I would make would have a bearing upon her. My new affection would determine the course for our lives together. I wanted to be inseparable, to live with her and always be with her. I couldn’t (and still can’t) bear the thought of being away from her. Often we don’t think of the church in such intimate terms as bride and bridegroom. And yet this is precisely the way that Paul describes the relationship in Ephesians 5. In fact, Christ and the church are protological (God’s initial idea) and the marriage of men and women are typological (patterned after the original). And every marriage, no matter how good, or even how bad, gives a declaration of God’s desire and plan for His people. To think that the church has the singular affection and attention of God, and that His sovereignty has her utmost care in mind (Romans 8:28-32) ought to stagger us. I can’t help but wonder what bearing this would have upon us if we really believed it. What if the church captured our affections and attention like this? What if all of our joy and delight were found in her? What if our commitment to her (and by default our commitment to love and prefer one another) was such that our allegiances were obvious to those that are around us. My hope and prayer is that this affection for the Savior and for the church defines us as Christ Our Redeemer Church. When we think about the things most important- a passionate love for the Savior and a passionate love for the church ought to be at the top of the list. This is our new identity, this is our new community, and this is our new family.

Loving the Savior’s bride with you.

The Scriptures as a Means of Grace

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

-Psalm 119:103-105

“…David could not have been guided by God’s word , unless he had first renounced the wisdom of the flesh, for it is only when we are brought to do this, that we begin to be of a teachable disposition.”

- John Calvin, Commentary on Psalm 119:105

“Nevertheless the heart may find its happiness, its true and undying happiness in words. At this moment there is nothing in the whole world so much to be desired as certain words. Words of love. Words expressive of infinite love. Treasures, pleasures, honors of earth, what are they? My unsatisfied soul cries out, Give me words. Words whereby I may know the love that God has towards me. Words declaring the unchangeable attachment of the Savior. Words purifying my heart. Emboldening me in prayer. Exhibiting to me the blissful future. Words that shall give life to my dead powers, and change me from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

-George Bowen (no relation to Devin and Joylyn!), Daily Meditations(1873)

Why is it that when we find ourselves struggling with tribulation, sorrow, temptation or stumbling, that our greatest consolation comes from the Scriptures? When the storms of life come there is nothing to be compared with Jesus speaking a word and calming the tempest. We can take great comfort in the fact that God has spoken and continues to speak. In Francis Schaeffer’s words, “He is there, and He is not silent.” God is the one who condescends to speak to His creatures. He is not like the false Greek gods who spend eternity in the constant search of ever-increasing pleasure and never making conversation with men. These disinterested deities would not interpose themselves with the likes of humankind. The true God, however, knows our weakness and has made Himself known by speaking to us through the Scriptures. What blessed communication! Hearing the Word through the ear-gate and reading the Word through the eye-gate are sustenance for the Christian. Man does not live by bread alone, but rather by the Vox Dei through the Scriptures. Peter knew the value of the God who speaks when he opined in John 6:68 "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Life, joy, peace, mercy, grace, and salvation are all words that have no meaning without God speaking them. But when they are spoken by the Living Word they become like the most delectable fare, they become sweeter than honey. May we love the Word written in the Scriptures and love the One of Whom they speak- the Incarnate Logos.

Last Sunday was a most amazing day! It was our first Sunday at Alki Middle School and God graciously met with us. There were 70(!) people in attendance and we had a wonderful time in worship together. Special thanks to Nathan from Roseburg, Devin, Holly and Sevrin for leading us so well. And special thanks to Greg, Gordy, Nathan, David, Kevin, Ray, John, and Kevin for helping set-up and take-down, and for Janene bringing flowers, and for Laurel and Gordy making signs, and for Judy and Allison watching children, and for Jay humbling himself and encouraging us, and for all of those I’m forgetting that made this an incredible Sunday. I think God was glorified!