John MacDaddy

When I was a child, I would listen to Christian radio. There were several things that I would say impacted me for ministry. One of them is that I would listen to Grace to You radio program hosted by John MacArthur. He became a hero to me! I appreciated the fact that he would just stick to the Bible. I never really had a mentor that invested in me personally, but I remember when I was a child and in the evening I would listen to Grace To You. I thought when I grow up, I want to do what he does. He preaches the Bible.

That is what I now do. I preach the Bible. I love studying and preaching. This call was engendered by Jesus Christ, and by the Power of the Spirit, it was cultivated by the preaching of John MacArthur. He has become known to me as John MacDaddy. In many ways though I have never met him, he has fathered me in my desire to preach the Bible. So, John MacDaddy, "Thank you for your faithfulness to the text!" Amen?

The Regulative Principle vs. The Normative Principle in the local church

On a gathering of a Sunday Morning worship service there are certain things that churches do. Each church has its own way of doing certain things. The order of the service, as to when you sing, when you give offering, when you have the sermon and when you pray. These things we do are not based on what is called the Regulative Principle. The Regulative Principle means what is done must be warranted in the Bible. The second principle is the Normative Principle. The Normative Principle means that what is done is fine, as long as it is not forbidden in the Bible.
So what should be regulated and what should be normative? The Regulative Principle is important to what and why things are done in a Sunday morning service. I believe strongly that what is regulated must be regulated by the revelation of the Bible. For example, preach the word is regulated in the Bible (2 Timothy 4:2). Giving is regulated in the Bible (2 Corinthians 9:7). Singing is regulated ( Psalm 33:3, Colossians 3:16-17).
The Normative Principle is to when things are done during our Sunday services. When we do sing songs, give offerings and preach the sermons are not explicit in the Bible. The problem is that Christians are not sure what is Regulative and what is Normative. Where the principle is Regulated from the Bible. Conviction! Where the principle is Normative and not in the Bible. Compassion! Above all else, we need Charity!
Where does that leave us? A lot of room to grow in our preferences verses what is truly a Biblical mandate. It does remind us to make sure whatever we do the Gospel is central and the Person of Jesus Christ is our aim! Amen?

Jesus' Sovereign Way of Completing Me!

I love Amy with all my heart! She is such a completer! I would never be the man that I am without her! Jesus, thank you for such a wonderful wife! She is a picture of your Sovereign-Grace!

The Dude in Blue

I did it! At age 31, I bought a new blue sports jacket. I spent  a $140 on it. It is blue with snazzy gold buttons! I now look like a preacher! It really is not my thing, but hey if it is a tool to help people catch the message of the gospel. Then I am all for it. Paul says, "I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings"(I Corinthians 9:22b-23). Then I will do it in blue. My blue jacket must be a Christo-Centric-Jacket! If blue helps people see the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, then hey, go Blue! Blue is the color of the gospel! AMEN?

"The Dude in Blue"

AH!!! The Church Has An Identity Crisis

The main problem with Christians today is an identity crisis. The problem is that when Christ died for us, He did not just die to save our sorry butts. He died to give us a "New Identity" and that Identity needs to be found in Him.

Here are several Biblical Truths to crush your identity issues:

1. Totally accepted (2 Corinthians 5:21).

2. Total Peace (Romans 5:17).

3. Safe From the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).

4. Freed from all condemnation (Romans 8:1-2).

5. Made perfect forever (Hebrews 10:14).

6. Totally complete (Colossians 2:9-10, Philippians 1:6; 2:12- 13).

7. Total citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20).

8. Total power (Romans 1:16).

9. Totally chosen (Ephesians 1:4).

10. Totally clean (1 Corinthians 6:11).

11. Totally His child (John 1:12).

12. Totally alive (Colossians 2:13).

13. Total imputation (Romans 4:2-3; 8:3, Galatians 3:13).

14. Totally adopted (Romans 8:15).

15. Total substitution (Hebrews 9:14).

16. Total propitiation (Isaiah 53:4-5).

17. Total friendship (John 15:13-15).

18. Totally preserved (Jude 5).

19. Everything accomplished (Hebrews 10 :18).

20. Total resurrection power (Philippians 3:10).

21. Total redemption (1 Peter 1:18).

22. Seated with Him (Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 3:1).

23. Totally transformed (1 Corinthians 3:18).

24. Totally transferred into His Kingdom (Colossians 1:13).

25. Total confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16).

In conclusion, our position in Jesus Christ can never be changed by our performance (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we cannot undo what God has done for us (John 19:30). Wow, that is transcendent and profound truth of what our "True Identity" is in Jesus Christ! AMEN?

Infant Baptism: What is up with that? Part A.

What is the significance of infant baptism? This topic is highly debated and I do not know why. The closest that I see infants and water in the Bible is Moses in the basket. The hermeneutic for infant baptism is based on inferences drawn from the narrative in the text. 

The New Testament never commands infants to be baptized nor does it forbid infants to be baptized. Nowhere in Scripture is there any instance of an infant being baptized. Acts 16:15, 29-33 and 1 Corinthians 1:12-17 uses the term "household baptism" are the only exceptions. Assuming that "household" including infants. 

The problem is the context in Acts 16:29-34:

29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all were in his house. 33 And he took them the  same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Notice five observations from the Text:

1. The pressing question on the jailer's mind is how do I get saved? Paul and Silas are like believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (30). 

2. The same is true for his household or family. They all must believe in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ (31-32).   

3. They heard the message (32-33).

4. They understood the message (33-34). 

5. They rejoiced in the message (34).

Luke uses clear terms in his letter. (In fact Luke is a Doctor and he uses very explicit terms to convey his message).  There is nothing in the context of this passage to indicate that "household refers to infants. However, if "household" infers that there were infants then they were pretty intelligent infants. They heard the message, they could understand the message, they rejoiced in the message and they believed the message. That would make the jailer's infants the smartest infants ever recorded in history. Or the "all" refers to those who had the ability to understand the message. 

The second passage, I Corinthians 1:12-17:

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and there by no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgement.  11  For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no none may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 

Notice the use of "households" in this text:

1. Paul is downgrading the significance of baptism.

2. Paul is making a running commentary of who he did and did not baptize.

3. Paul is comparing the importance of baptism with the preaching of the gospel of Christ.

4. Paul assumes that his audience is old enough to understand why he was sent.

There is no indication that "household" is referring to infants. It would be a huge stretch to think otherwise. Lets dive into the term "household" and see if we can get some significance to the term. 

The Greek word for "household" is Oikos. In Mounces Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament words, Mounces states, "Oikos is... used of the Christian Community as the "House of God."... It can refer to the "family" of God and is explicitly linked with the Church (345).  There is nothing in Mounces definition to indicate that there were infants. (There is great debate whether infants when baptized are apart of the Covenant Community. We will discuss that in my next article). Dr. Wayne Grudem in his masterful book Systematic Theology, points out from the Acts 16:34, "The entire household had individually come to faith in Christ"(978). In The Crossway Comprehensive Concordance of the Holy Bible, the author lists that "Household" is used 115 times, and "Households" is used 12 times (488). In many times in the Bible when the term "Household" is used it is either preceded by cognation/faith or followed by cognation/faith. The point is that nowhere in the context of the Bible is "Household" when it comes to baptism refers to infants. To stretch the context is to take the Bible out of context.

In Conclusion, why infant baptism? I do not know, and I am concerned with any doctrine that is drawn from inferences taken from the Holy Text. Nowhere in the Scripture is there any instance of an infant being baptized. Acts 2:38 says, "Repent and be baptized." I see no reason to reverse it, do you?

Papa!

One of the greatest privileges in the world is to be a dad. It is however a daunting challenge. My boys are like little tape recorders and the record everything I say and play me back at the most inopportune times. The most profound thing that I can ever give them is the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. To somehow get out of the way and pervade the majesty of Jesus in their impressionable hearts. My aim is that I mimic Jesus Christ. Paul says, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).  Amen?

THE GOSPEL

What is the most important thing in your life? Is it your security? Your stuff? Your finances? Your family? My heart reaches to the "Gospel". It is by far the most important thing in my life! 

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand. and by which you are being saved, if  you hold fast to the word I preached to you -unless you believed in vain. 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 15:1-4). Amen?

Christian Celebrities!

What is up with all these Christian Celebrities? We make so much of these people. John Piper, C.J. Mahaney, Joseph Stowell, R.C. Sproul, James MacDonald, John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, Alistair Begg and many more. I respect all these men and have read their books. My fear is that we have lost the ability to think without the contributions of Christian Celebrities. My hope is that God will raise up men and women that can think on their own. Refer to these books as they are helpful, but do not use their words as equal to the Holy Spirits Words! Amen?

Stop The Lameo-Labels!

What is up with all our "Christian Labels" like I am of Calvin or my seven dispensations. It is just lame. Man we haven't got the Bible down and your showing up with all this stuff... Get away! John Calvin is not as in not in the Bible. The doctrine is not the issue, it is the labels. I do not want to defend any other name then the Matchless Name of Jesus Christ!

Intoxication

Have you ever been intoxicated? To my shame I have been intoxicated. I remember that when I was intoxicated, I would say things that I would not normally say. The alcohol was the substance that would control my words! I so do not have a good singing voice, and when I was intoxicated, I would sing. I could draw a crowd at a karaoke bar, and people would applause not because of the fact that I was good. It was the fact that I was drunk and they encouraged me to continue in my stupid-fest. Then, God dropped a bolder in my life, and I gave my life to Christ. The new distinctive of my intoxication was not alcohol, but the Bible. Let me explain. I flat-out love the Bible. There is something about the Bible that I love. I love going into Christian book stores and smelling Bibles. I know I am weird, but so are you. There is just something about opening the Word of God! Does that ring in your soul that the Bible is the "Word of God"? It is the ordained message of God! 

The greatest benefit of the Bible is that it will intoxicate you! It will alter your thinking, mood, will, desires and inclinations. It makes me say thing that I would not normally say. (Oh, by the way, a couple of years ago... I went to this "Christian-Festival-Thing" and I went into this karaoke tent and sang "Jesus-Freaks" and "My Heart Will Go On" yes that lame song from the movie Titanic. Man, did I draw a crowd) I had to get that off my chest. OK, I am back now. The Bible is the only book that has the power to intoxicate your mind. Paul says that it is "Breathed out by God." It comes from the very breath of God. 

Allow me to give you some stats that will stagger your mind.

1. The Bible is composed of 66 books.

2. There is 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New     Testament

3. There is 1,189 Chapters

4. 41,173 Verses

5. 3,566,480 words

That took me like a month to count that! Paul says that all the Bible is "Breathed out by God" every last Word is the Word of God! Allow it to be the intoxicating substance in your life!