I have found you righteous

The Lord said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation." [Genesis 7:1]

Ever notice that the Lord did not say to Noah, "... because you are righteous", but, "because I have found you righteous"? The Lord reckoned Noah to be righteous. As Abraham, the Lord "credited' Noah with righteousness, as if he did not really possess righteousness. In his own eyes, Noah knew he was a sinner. His sons knew it too, at least Ham thought so.

And so we have this testimony in Genesis, that God found Noah righteous, though Noah's sons found him passed out from too much wine, and naked. Ham didn't seem to respect his father or consider him righteous.

But God reckoned Noah righteous. Most English translations have "I have seen you righteous before me". [e.g. Darby's] The words "before me" seem to indicate that God knows we are not righteous in a legal sense, that within we are fallen and weak, but that HE is able to credit us with righteousness that comes from without. This is what Paul meant when he said, [Ro 1:17]

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

We are not righteous when we live by the law, or live by our intelligence, common sense, or maintaining appearances of being righteous. Most don't even try to maintain the appearance of righteousness, but only speak of avoiding the appearance of evil. Oh for Christians who would really seek to follow Jesus and obey God at any cost! Oh that I myself would have this desire.

Lord, find me righteous. I have no way to be so, but my heart desires you, Father. Be with me, and let me be with you.

My new favorite book

"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come." [Heb. 13:13-14]

Tonight I finished reading The Pilgrim Church, by E. H. Broadbent. Where can I begin to tell how delighted I am to have read it through? except that I fully intend to start again at once at the beginning and read it through again, taking notes and integrating its thesis into my own book.

Strange how a book can become a friend of a sort. Like travelling to a foreign land and filling my heart with fond memories of places seen, people met, hills hiked, bridges crossed, new sights and smells and tastes previously unknown, I feel I have travelled not only the world over, but over all the last 2000 years!

Then I measure every book by how much it inspires me to read further and write. In this case, the book has done both, as well as inspired me hopefully with the courage to preach in the open air, courage I have not found in myself yet, but hope to soon receive from my Lord.

Praise God who gives us HIS Kingdom, and not some stuffy church with its petty politics and prejudices.

Praise Jesus who gives his Holy Spirit to those who will obey in faith, not because they are highly qualified, but because they take up his command in faith, to "Go and preach the good news to all creation."

Praise God who sustains his own, even though they have no name and no rolls and no recognition in the world, no edifices, no grandeur, no place in the parades, no power.

Praise Jesus Christ who is coming again to all who "go to Him, outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore," not pining for a city here, but for one that is to come! [Hebrews 13:13-14]

Lord, that I might follow those strangers and pilgrims in Thy kingdom's work. Lord, grant only this: that I may faithfully proclaim Jesus and Him crucified wherever you lead, beginning here and now in Charlottesville. Lord, may your inspired word overturn the rationalism and unbelief that has this place as its American capital.

PS. The only place I know to buy this book is HERE. But you can read it online HERE.

Not One Jot Nor Tittle (v1.0)

17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 5:17-20]

From a discussion at JAMBS on 1/6/11.

Here is perhaps one of the hardest of the "hard sayings" of Christ. By itself it seems easy enough. But taken with the concept of "sola fide"---salvation by faith alone, apart from works---it challenges the simple. Even taken with Jesus' own declaration that all foods are clean, it presents a challenge. Is it one of the mythical contradictions in the Bible?

I think not. But let's consider that the food restrictions in the Bible were in fact laws, and that by declaring all foods clean, Jesus has negated this group of laws. Then has he taught people to put away these certain commands in the Law? It appears he has made the dietary laws obsolete.

But what he says is that not one jot nor tittle of the law shall pass away from the law "until all is fulfilled". What does this mean? When did this take place, such that some (or all) of the law was fulfilled?

I'll come back to this when I blog next.

Jeremiah 17

This will be the text of my first open-air sermon.

"My mountain in the land and your wealth and all your treasures I will give away as plunder, together with your high places, because of sin throughout your country. [Jer 17:3]

How can a people hope to prosper who indulge in sin? Who even teach and legalize evils such as abortion and sodomy? Can God bless such a nation? Surely he is a just God, who will repay. May God help Christians everywhere to preach and proclaim the forgiveness of sins and the holiness of God, calling people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Primitive Church and Austrian Economics

The connections between the countless primitive church movements (Bogomils, Waldenses, Huguenots, Mennonites), and the theories of the Austrian economists (Hayek, Mises) are interestingly similiar. As big church organizations tend to easily become state controlled, then corrupt, so are big states that try to control economies (a la Keynes). Contrast the libertarianism and small-state of the Founding Fathers, and their Non-Conformist (Puritan) and Quaker roots, not least of which is the important notion of separation of Church and State, which grow out of the English experience of these and others.

Such a book or tract could be just the thing needed to re-awaken the independent spirit of Americans and other Western "sheeple" of our times. Lord grant it, if it is your will to re-awaken Christians to the Apostolic example of church, even if our American government is beyond saving.

Thanksgiving Topics

These things I'm Thankful for from 2010:

1. My Lord Jesus Christ, who loves me and gave Himself for me, who pardons my sins and works to create a clean heart in me every day.
2. The awesome word of God, the Bible, esp our study of Luke's Gospel, Galatians, 1 Kings (Elijah).
3. The Holy Spirit, who speaks, gives and guides my Sunday message each week.
   
4. My precious wife, Christine, who loves and bears me, prays for me and supports everything I do.
5. Dr. Bill Pottenger and his gracious support as my employer, and my coworkers Byunghee, Christopher, Isaac, Paula.
   
6. M. Jacob and Esther Lee and their trust and encouragement, as well as their hospitality while I worked in DC for three months last winter. Great debt here!
   
7. The visit of Mother Sarah Barry last summer.
   
8. Hosting the first "Come-and-See" in Charlottesville, and all those who came, esp. Brad Williamson of Paladin Pictures.
9. Tommy Schapperkotter's friendship and hard work to build a really beautiful prayer chapel.
10. My new favorite book, The Pilgrim Church, by E.M. Broadbent, and Dr. Bill for recommending it to me. What a heritage we have as the church of Jesus!
11. Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, Oswald Chambers, D. M. Lloyd-Jones, and several other great preachers who daily encourage me through their writings.
12. My children:
    - Josh, for always showing respect and honor to his father, even when said father is not very reasonable, and for his back rubs, and helping so much in the yard.
    - Sadie, for being so loving and encouraging, and helping so much around the house.
    - Matthew, for his charming ways, friendship and good attitude.
    
13. This house-church God has called me to, and given me responsibility for as overseer.
14. The friends we have made in Richmond, Charlottesville, and in UBF chapters, esp. Raleigh, Lehigh, Penn State, College Park, Shippensburg.
15. Yonathan in Raleigh, for his exemplary open air preaching.
16. Steve Hendrickson, my neighbor and friend.