transgressions

ACCEPTABLE

Posted on May 3, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

What does it mean to be “acceptable?” Much in our world is centered around being, behaving, speaking, performing, looking, dressing, etc., in an acceptable manner. As believers, we are even instructed to “accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” (See Romans 5:7) Therefore, we find one another “acceptable.” However, within the framework of faith-based Christianity (not merit/works-based religion), an individual’s “acceptance” by God is absolutely and completely established through justification. Paul’s writing to the believers in Rome clearly confirms this irrefutable and ubiquitous (ever-present) truth.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. — Romans 5:1-2

Yes, past, present, and even future sins are forgiven, pardoned, and removed through Christ’s sacrificial atoning death upon His cross, and, through faith/belief/trust in Him, believers are deemed righteous in Christ. As a result, God does not reject and/or judge a believer in accordance with their transgressions, but fully accepts them in accordance with their spiritual justification. Amazingly, God’s prophet, Isaiah, was granted this understanding many centuries before Christ entered humanity . . .

By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. — Isaiah 53:11

In the English New Testament, the words translated as accept, accepted, acceptable all come from one common Greek root word, “dektos” which primarily means favorable.

The root word appears in a strengthened form “apodektos,” meaning acceptable in the sense of something that is pleasing and welcome (as in I Timothy 2:3; 5:4). An even stronger form of the word, “euprosdektos,” signifies a very favorable acceptance (as in Romans 15:16,31; 2 Corinthians 6:2; 8:12). The apostle Peter employs this word impeccably in I Peter 2:4-5 when referencing the ministry/service of Jesus Christ’s faithful followers:

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

It’s interesting that the Lord inspired the apostle Paul to utilize this same word while giving thanks to the believers at Philippi.

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
— Philippians 4:18-19

While the Lord is never pleased with services offered through ritualistic religious acts, He offers His “very favorable acceptance” for the ministry and service offered through obedient faith. Perhaps this very attitude, revealed in our Lord’s impeccable character, should become the stimulating catalyst that prompts every believer to demonstrate their “very favorable acceptance” of Him as well!

May we, those justified by faith in Christ, continually recognize and unhesitatingly seize the inimitable (incomparable) opportunity afforded believers . . . We alone are suitably positioned, properly equipped, and spiritually qualified to please the Lord by our offering of acceptable sacrifices! Just think — imagine this — as a true believer, faithful in service and ministry, you’ve been made 100%, totally acceptable through Christ, and thus your sacrifices have that exact same potential and promise! However, here’s the catch, you’ll have to present/bring them to your Lord, Master, and King!

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
— Romans 12:1

His & Yours, Pastor Frank

TOLERANCE

Posted on April 25, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

Tolerance, in our current culture, both politically and socially, is often defined as open-mindedness, broadmindedness, leniency, acceptance, and forbearance. Consequently, as Bible believing, evangelical Christians, we are often accused by unbelievers, as well as some religionists, of being totally intolerant. Isn’t it interesting that those that strive to accuse faithful believers of intolerance have no room in their philosophy for our views or beliefs, which in essence clearly displays their own shrewd, hardheaded, hypocritical intolerance? Perhaps, with that in view, we should consider the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ in Luke 6:22, recognizing that we are blessed when others reject us due to our faith in Him!

Paul Thomas Mann (1875-1955 — a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature) once stated, “Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.” That quote should boldly and unreservedly challenge every Christian to consider one’s own view/perspective of “tolerance.” While it may be very difficult to distinguish between a political/social view and that of a purely biblical perspective, the Truth of God’s Word should serve as the unshakable foundation for every believer’s political/social view of tolerance! Committed, Bible believing Christians are actually some of the most “tolerant” people on the face of the earth. We don’t kill those that disagree with us, nor do we condemn individuals whose values and behavior doesn’t align with ours. In I Corinthians 6:9-11 we are reminded of the absolute, inalterable Truth: …

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (by perversion), nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (Also see Galatians 4:8)

While our Lord may appear to be tolerant of sin, in reality He is completely intolerant of sin (See Ezekiel 18:20 & Romans 5:12). However, He graciously and mercifully provides all humanity with a way out of their sin, as well as an escape from one’s past and the dominating control of human nature!

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together^]with Christ (by grace you have been saved). — Ephesians 2:4-5

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. — Ephesians 2:9

Then, as believers, we become intolerant of sin in our own lives because one’s nature has changed, and God’s transformation process creates in true believers a desire to be “Holy, as He is Holy” (See I Peter 1:16 & I Peter 2:5) in contrast to remaining a sin-filled individual and living according to values and ideals that stand in contradiction to God’s Word and His Truth.

Needless to say, the concept of tolerance becomes difficult due to the fact that God loves every human being in spite of his or her sin, but at the same time literally hates sin (See Proverbs 6:16). Unquestionably, the original definition of tolerance and the way in which the word is used today are quite different. Tolerance once meant acknowledgement of differing beliefs and accepting that others had the right to believe differently. In this way, we as believers are to be absolutely tolerant.

However, since tolerance has come to mean accepting that other beliefs are valid or true … we must reject those beliefs – and even stand against them when they are sin and promote values contrary to those of our God! Actually, to embrace the world’s type of tolerance makes no logical sense and precludes any personal opinion or belief in full acceptance of whatever other belief may be presented. Therefore, tolerance, as it’s now presented, rejects the possibility that objective truth actually exists, even though Jesus Christ came to give/reveal truth (See John 1:14, John 1:17, John 8:32, & Romans 6:16-23).

Christians can acknowledge the right of others to have different beliefs, however, we cannot allow those beliefs to go unchallenged. Therefore, it’s inevitable that the world will call us intolerant, but we can mitigate the damage by being intolerant in the way God instructs us. First, we must know what we believe (See I Peter 3:15). Second, we must effectively share and teach what we believe and why we believe it (See II Timothy 2:23-26). Certainly we are called to tolerate – and even to love — people, yet without accepting their false beliefs, sin packed values, and humanistic/pagan/hedonistic agendas.

— Pastor Frank

JUSTIFICATION

Posted on March 22, 2022 by West Oaks Fellowship

What is justification? Technically speaking, many simply view justification as the act or action of showing something or proving something to be right or reasonable. However, what’s “right” or “reasonable” has no clear objective platform to speak from because “right” and “reasonable” may vary considerably from one individual to another or from one situation to another.

As a result, the more common definition of this word varies greatly from its biblical definition and the work that’s required to bring about spiritual or complete moral and ethical “justification.” In the context of the one true God, His Son, Jesus Christ, and spirituality as spoken of in the scriptures, justification comes from a different angle, is based upon a dissimilar foundation, and exceptionally unique to genuine, grace-based, Christianity.

According to God’s Word, “there is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). Therefore, the universality of humanity’s sin poses a significant problem, actually an insurmountable difficulty, for any and all individuals when it comes to justification before a Holy, sinless, and righteous Lord. All men and women are not only born in sin (Eph 2:3), but all have also committed numerous actual transgressions, which render them liable to separation from a Holy and sinless, righteous God and ultimate condemnation/judgement. Romans 3:9-20 documents this human difficulty as the universal experience of both the Greek (heathen) / Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32) and of the Jews (Romans 2:17-28; 3:9) alike.

The perfection of God’s Law requires, by necessity, its perfect observance! Therefore, how is one’s justification, as a sinful individual, to come through the Law (Romans 3:10-11)? If anyone had truly kept the law, God could not / would not hold him/her guilty (Romans 2:12-13). However, such obedience has never existed, except in Jesus Christ Himself.

The modern-day notion of God being a good-natured, more or less nonchalant ruler, is conclusively not the Lord of the scriptures, nor the one Whom we love, believe, rely upon and faithfully serve.

I Corinthians 15:3 declares, “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.” Romans 5:6 affirms that while we, as sinful humans were helpless in our sin, “Christ died for the ungodly.” Therefore, our justification comes in/through His blood and it is in/through Him that we are saved from God’s wrath as Law-breakers.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:8-10

Therefore, as a result, there is no reconciliation and no justification available to men and women except through, by, and in Christ!

Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation (full payment) in His blood through faith.
Romans 3:24-25

Now that’s an indescribable gift, and as an act of the Almighty, can never be removed, voided, outdone, or taken away!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1

By GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) … His & Yours, — Pastor Frank