Well, Paul’s thanks for these tangible signs of his readers’ election provides us with a very helpful framework for evaluating the spiritual authenticity and the health of our churches and of our own lives. And here is how we ought to be thinking about our churches: Is the Word of God at the heart of the ministry? Is it going forth plainly and sincerely and accurately from the pulpit? Let me say: if you are looking for a church, this is the issue above all issues. People today say,
Well, you know, I like the music in that place,orThere’s a demographic that fits me better over here,orThere’s this or that.My friends, your spiritual life depends on the Word. And so above all else, a church that is going to be used by God must be a church that is utterly committed, not merely to being faithful to the Word, but to relying wholly on the power of the Word, so that the work that Paul speaks of here would be done in our midst. We must be a church of the Word.But then we must be a church that is receiving it as well—with evidence of the power. Is that what is going on with you? So this is what matters with our church and with our lives—not how our careers are going, not what our budget is going to be. There is a place for all of those things. But the issue before us today is this: Are we receiving, in the power of the Spirit, the Word as it goes forth—so that gospel transformation is taking place in us and then will be spread through us? Is our evangelism and our spiritual growth based upon God’s Word? Or are we following, instead, the fads of the world? Is there evidence of—and experience with—the Spirit’s power in our lives through the Word? These are the issues.
Are you finding that your thinking is changing? I happen to be an adult convert, and I can remember specific times when I said,
Richard D. PhillipsOh, I’ve been wrong all my life—and I need to change my mind. I’ve been holding on to error, and I need to submit it to the Lord Jesus, and I need to embrace his truth in faith.Is that happening in your life? Is the Spirit of God taking the Word and bringing it to your mind in ways that will restrain your sin and call you to holiness and motivate your service? Are we embracing our Christian duties in the home, church, and society joyfully and freely, with a fervent commitment? Well, true Christians revel in the excitement of hearing and reading God’s Word, and they experience the power with which the Holy Spirit attends the Word—that power, what joy it gives us when it attests to us of our eternal election in the sovereign grace of God, and then reveals itself—the power of the Spirit through the Word reveals itself—through a persevering, conquering persuasion of faith.1
5 notre Evangile ne vous a pas été prêché en paroles seulement, mais avec puissance, avec l'Esprit-Saint, et avec une pleine persuasion; car vous n'ignorez pas que nous nous sommes montrés ainsi parmi vous, à cause de vous.