Devotional Learnedness

There is a phrase that I picked up from my mentor that reflects the ongoing spiritual growth of the Christian. The phrase is “Devotional Learnedness.” This phrase refers to every type of Christian learning for devotional purposes and the pursuit of spiritual excellence. Remember what Jesus commanded in the Great Commission of Matthew 28 was for “disciples” to be made. Disciples are followers and students—lifelong learners. Also, a pursuit of holiness or spiritual excellence is not for the sake of earning our salvation, desiring the praise of men, or simply to fulfill religious duties. Rather, a pursuit of spiritual excellence is to live worthily of the calling that we have in Christ Jesus (Col 1:10; Eph 4:1; 1 Thess 2:12; Phil 1:27). Now, there are several passages that discuss how a Christian ought to live a life worthy of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Similarly, there are several key passages that discuss devotional learnedness. A few may be shared here.

Colossians 1:9: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. . . .”

2 Timothy 3:15: “[F]rom childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Galatians 4:19: “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. . . .”

Romans 8:29: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

2 Peter 1:5-9: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

2 Peter 3:18: “[B]ut grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

So then, let us learn and obey the Bible—the Holy Scriptures—that we may be made into the people that God would have us to be.

A Poem by W. Cowper: Jesus Hasting to Suffer

JESUS HASTING TO SUFFER

by William Cowper, 1731-1800

 

  The Saviour, what a noble flame

Was kindled in his breast,

  When hasting to Jerusalem

He march’d before the rest!

 

  Good-will to men and zeal for God

His ev’ry thought engross;

  He longs to be baptized with blood,

He pants to reach the cross!

 

  With all his suff’rings full in view,

And woes to us unknown,

  Forth to the task his spirit flew;

’Twas love that urged him on.

 

  Lord, we return thee what we can!

Our hearts shall sound abroad,

  Salvation to the dying Man

And to the rising God!

 

  And while thy bleeding glories here

Engage our wond’ring eyes;

  We learn our lighter cross to bear,

And hasten to the skies.

What is a Christian Church?

A Summary of the Sermon: What is a Christian Church?

1. A church that belongs to Christ.

2. A Great Commission people.

3. A group of people baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

4. A group of people who as the Body of Christ are under the Headship of Christ and are members of one another.

5. A group who honors the Lord’s Day every week with a gathering to worship the Triune God. Lord’s Supper, biblical teaching, prayer, singing, and fellowship.

6. A group of people who honor the Scriptures as God’s Word and seek to live out New Testament Christianity.

7. A holy temple with Christ as the Chief Cornerstone, the apostles as the foundation, and the people as living stones built together.

8. A church rooted in history and tradition passed down from the apostles through every generation.

9. The pillar and ground of the truth.

Conclusion. The Christian Church is the universal people of God who are united with Jesus Christ. A Christian Church, to speak of specific, historical traditions and the heritage of this congregation, is one marked by an intention to be as biblical as possible. We seek to unite around Christ himself and around the Scriptures rather than anything else. Historically, our tradition was a back to the Bible movement born in the late 1700s in America. In that effort, we have tried to preach the Gospel the way it was delivered in the New Testament; we have renewed a high view of baptism and the work of God in it; we have emphasized the importance of weekly communion around the Lord’s Table; we restored the plurality of elders in every local church; and we have sought to root assurance of salvation not in emotional or sensational experiences but in the New Testament Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can be assured that you are saved and belong to the Lord if you have heard the Gospel, believed it, repented of your sins, and been baptized all according to the Scriptures. Assurance of salvation rests in Christ alone and not in ourselves or our experiences.

Now, the final encouragement to you today is three-fold: (1) Gain a richer and deeper appreciation for the Church of God; (2) Join the Church as a member united with Christ and in connection to the other members of the Body; and (3) Become a great supporter, defender, and lover of the Church.

For an explanation of each item, listen to the full sermon here:
https://archive.org/details/what-is-a-christian-church