Some Things You Would Learn If You Went to Church

Faith in Jesus Christ is the gift of God (Eph 2:8–9). It is not self-generated by anyone’s will; but if God wills for one to believe, we have the assurance from God’s holy Word that Christ will be received (Jn 1:12–13; Jas 1:18a). For this is the work of God, not of man, that one believes on Him (Jesus) whom God the Father has sent (Jn 6:29). God grants faith to whomever He has chosen to have mercy (Rom 9:15–16; Phil 1:29).

One must belong to Jesus Christ in order to believe in Him unto salvation (Jn 10:26). Jesus has His sheep (Ps 23; Jn 10); and the ruler of this world has his goats (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 1 Jn 3:10). Jesus calls those who belong to Him, to come to Him and to follow Him (Mt 11:28; Jn 10:3). Those who belong to Christ hear His voice calling them (Rom 9:11; 1 Thess 5:24; 2 Pet 1:10). He calls His own by name. Jesus will separate His sheep from the goats on the last day (Mt 25:32–33).

In hearing the call of the Good Shepherd (Jn 10), it is the Word of Christ that brings forth God’s elect, redeemed people (Jn 6:63; Rom 10:17; Jas 1:18a), transferring them from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13).

From spiritual deadness (because of sin), the Holy Spirit makes these people alive because He is the Lord, the Giver of life (Jn 6:63; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). In the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23), the Father predestined a remnant of people to receive adoption as His own children (Rom 11:5–6; Eph 1:4–5). To these, God sends the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15, 23), who causes them to be born of God (1 Jn 3:9; 5:1), born again of the Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3).

The world cannot receive the Spirit (Jn 14:17); but those who do receive God’s Spirit obviously believe in God and also in Christ (Jn 14:1). It is the presence or the absence of the indwelling Holy Spirit that separates humanity into the two groups of believing and unbelieving (Jn 3:36; 1 Cor 2:14–15; 1 Jn 5:11). If the Spirit of Christ is present, faith manifests and is confessed publicly and without shame (Jn 12:42–43; Rom 1:16–17).

Faith, in the Spirit-filled believer, increases with the knowledge of God and of Christ (Lk 17:5; Rom 12:3; 2 Cor 10:15). The more a Christian knows of God in Christ, the more faith becomes obvious to all. “I believe…help me in my unbelief (Mk 9:24)” becomes “I know whom I have believed; and I am convinced that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him until the day (2 Tim 1:12).”

The same Word that gave life at the point of regeneration is the Word that sanctifies the saint all the days of his or her life (Jn 17:17; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2). He who began the good work of faith, in the saints, will be the One who completes that work to the glory of God (Phil 1:6). Our blessed assurance is that God is faithful (1 Thess 5:24), even when we are not faithful (Rom 3:3). Christian faithfulness is one fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), who warrants our witness and gratitude that it is God in us who performs all our works for us (Is 26:12).

May it never be that a Christian takes credit for anything in his life or ministry (1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 12:9; Gal 6:14). We are Spirit-filled witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:8), not of ourselves. We are not adequate in ourselves, as having self-generated faith or service to the Lord; but He has made us adequate as His slaves (2 Cor 3:5–6; Eph 6:6), willing and doing His good pleasure in and through us (Gal 2:20; Phil 2:13), according to His will and decree (Eph 1:11) that reveal His eternal purposes.

From eternity, salvation was ordained by God (2 Tim 1:9). God is glorified in this, His redemption story (Acts 4:12). His exclusive love for His chosen people, a remnant from every nation, tribe, and tongue is revealed in Christ Jesus coming into the world to seek and to save her, His church (Lk 19:10; 2 Thess 2:10).

From Him, through Him, and to Him are all things for His own glory (Rom 11:36). The wicked sinner, made by God for the day of evil (Prv 16:4), brings praise and honor and glory to God as a vessel of wrath prepared for destruction (Rom 9:22). The Potter has made this reprobate clay for common use, whose end is to be gathered up for destruction by fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).

The good news is a joy for the believer in Jesus. He or she hears how God loved His own, vessels of mercy prepared for glory (Rom 9:23), before the foundation of the world. Hearing of Christ’s sacrificial love for His church also delights His own people (Rom 5:8), whom He bought for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23), off the slave market of sin (Rom 6:6). It is the Spirit of truth who employs the Word of truth to teach the children of God sound doctrine in these matters (1 Tim 4:6; Titus 1:9; 2:1).

Sound doctrine requires right interpretation of the Bible. For this reason, God gathers His people into local church communities. Learning Christ in community helps as iron sharpens iron (Prv 27:17). The means of grace to learn the doctrines of grace are granted to church members to mature in the faith handed down to them (Jude 3). Through prayer, learning the Bible, fellowship, worship, and the sacraments, we are conformed to Christ all for the glory of God (Rom 8:29).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 7, 2024