Satan Seeks A Gap Called Grudge (Eph 4:22-27) John Piper

Excerpts from Piper's sermon:

The Contrasts Between the Old and New Natures

Verses 22–24: "Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts (or: "is ruined through desires of deceit"), and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Notice the contrasts. There is an old nature and a new nature (or old man and new man). One is to be put off; the other is to be put on. One is corrupted; the other is created. The corruption of the old accords with desires of deceit. The creation of the new accords with God in the righteousness of truth.

 

old nature | new nature
put off |   put on
corrupted |    created
       in accord with desires of deceit  | in accord with God in righteousness and holiness of truth

Note especially the word "created” (Eph 4:24). We do not produce our new nature as Christians. We were dead in trespasses and sins (according to 2:1) and were made alive by God's sovereign grace (2:5). We were created anew (born anew!). Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Our new nature is God's creation, God's workmanship. It is a supernatural work of grace.

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If the hidden spring has been purified, let the visible streams of your life run clean.

The Christian Life Is the Experience of a Miracle

But of course, if the spring has been purified, the streams will run clean. If the tree is good, it will bear good fruit. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. Christian morality is the experience of an inner miracle. But the experience in moment by moment living includes conscious choices to go the way of truth not deceit. These choices are the fruit that signify a good tree; they are the words that reveal the abundance of the heart; they are the clean streams that provide the purified spring; they are the obedience that confirms your calling and election.

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   1.  The truth that none of us is so exalted that we can justify holding a grudge,
   2. The truth that vengeance belongs to God, he will settle all accounts;
   3. The truth that the cross of Christ is the wisdom and power of God, not foolishness; [This is power to forgive]
   4. The truth that the unity of the church is precious beyond words;
   5. And the truth that it is possible by holding a grudge to commit spiritual murder and suicide simultaneously (Eph 4:30).

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/3/468_Satan_Seeks_a_Gap_Called_Grudge/


thegospelchurch.com

“Mordecai Waxed Greater and Greater” (Esther 8:15, 9:3-4)

“And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad… For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater” (Esther 8:15, 9:4)

The Lord received power and authority by way of the cross, and He is exalted at God’s right hand, prospering in saving strength. For two thousand years, He’s won the war, when it appeared He had lost.  The Reformation, the “new Calvinism” of today, and many like things have proven that when darkest, the Lord was CONTROLLING all things, saving on His terms, and using evil for good.

Esther wouldn’t have asked for help, except the decree had been for destruction, “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish.  But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage” (Esther 7:4). She, like you and me, would have accepted misery, but it was WRATH from God that propelled her to do God’s will.  Yet, He didn’t hate us; He brought us home by the tears, and now He has OPEN HEART policy to help us win, giving us all the help we need by the Spirit and the promises. We have the King’s favor; we are on God’s side, and Mordecai proves this by His internal and external witness, which He gives (Jer 32:14). The assurance of the Spirit makes us know ourselves as children, and then He gives the evidence of obedience, as we do God’s will, whereby OTHERS know and we get MORE assurance ourselves. 

The elect shall win because the believers shall conquer, and we’ve been given power to kill our enemies extinct, wiping out women and children - “The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies” (Esther 8:13).  Spare them nothing; take God’s promises and live; let nothing keep you FROM obeying Christ, which is where your joy is.

Iniquity, Pardon, and Usefulness

“Iniquity Shall Be Upon Him” (Numb 15:30-31)

“But the soul that does anything presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same blasphemes the Lord; and that souls shall be cut off from among his people.  Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him”.

Confession SHALL save us, but if we don’t deal with God in Christ, admitting our sins and failures, then we shall be damned. Forgiveness is FREE and willing to be given by God, but it is only for the sins that we admit, admitting ourselves to be evil, and TURNING from sin through the pardon of Christ.  If you REFUSE to call evil as evil, and if you and I refuse to honor God, saying, “I will do as I will”, then we shall be DESTROYED and without pity.  The God who pardons by Christ is the God who damns everyone that doesn’t get pardon, that doesn’t admit the sin, come to God as commanded, and receive NEWNESS of life. Don’t be so arrogant as to tell God that you’re going to live as you see fit; be a humble and guilty sinner, trusting God to give you the healing He says.

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P A R D O N

I love this definition of pardon: (1) release from horrible crimes (2) not given by popes and bishops.

a.     a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor.
b.     the document by which such remission is declared.
c.     forgiveness of a serious offense or offender.
d.     Obsolete. a papal indulgence.

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The Lord is pleased, in a measure, to show me the suitableness and necessity of a humble, dependent frame of heart, a ceasing from self, and a reliance upon Him in the due use of appointed means; I am far from having attained, but I hope I am pressing, at least seeking, after it. I wish to speak the word simply and experimentally, and to be so engaged with the importance of the subject, the worth of souls, and the thought that I am speaking in the name and presence of the Most High God, as that I might, if possible, forget everything else. This would be an attainment, indeed! More good might be expected from a broken discourse, delivered in such a frame, than from the most advantageous display of knowledge and gifts without it.

John Newton, Letters

“Fear Them Not” (Numb 14:6-9)

“If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only rebel not you against the Lord, neither fear you the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them and the Lord is with us: fear them not (vs8-9).”

Your enemy is strong, but DON’T be afraid: God is with you, the Almighty of the Galaxy who controls all things is on your side, not BECAUSE you’re able or worthy, but because of Jesus, grace, and by the power of God; He NEVER asked us to do anything in salvation apart from His strength.  Yet, He says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable”, those who won’t trust grace, so they live wickedly, “and murderers, whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars“, all who say God won’t save, “shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”, so that mandatory MIRACULOUS service is OBTAINED, or we are damned (Rev 21:8).

Our problem is when we say that God is UN-gracious and UN-merciful and UN-able, so we can’t be saved, even though we’d like to be. This lie is the promise of liberty that leaves us slaves to sin, saying, “God cannot, so I will sin”. This LIE must be fought vigorously; we must not say, “God can’t, so I won’t”, but we must BELIEVE the GREATNESS of Jesus Christ JUSTIFIES God to show the GREATNESS of His grace and love to sinners, as we are. It is NOT that I must improve or live better; it is “ONLY BELIEVE”; this is counsel for avoiding wrath and overcoming sin; all else must die.

Saving Faith

    Saving faith," has always a sanctifying and comforting influence. The true believer does not divide righteousness from sanctification, nor pardon from purity. Yea, he comes to Christ for the remission of sins for the right end; and that is, that being freed from the guilt of sin, we may be freed from the dominion of it. Knowing that there is forgiveness with Him that He might be feared, he does not believe in remission of sin that he may indulge himself in the commission of sin. No, no; the blood of Christ, that purges the conscience from the guilt of sin, does also purge the conscience from dead works, to serve the living God. They that come to Christ in a scriptural way come to Him for righteousness, that they may have him also for sanctification; otherwise, the man does not really desire the favour and enjoyment of God, or to be in friendship with Him who is a holy God. The true believer employs Christ for making him holy as well as happy, and hence draws virtue from Him for killing sin, and quickening him in the way of duty. The faith that can never keep you from sin will never keep you out of hell; and the faith that cannot carry you to your duty will not carry you to heaven. Justifying faith is a sanctifying grace. It is true, as it sanctifies it does not justify; but that faith that justifies does also sanctify. As the sun that enlighteneth hath heat with it; but it is not the heat of the sun that enlightens, but the light thereof: so that faith that justifies hath love and sanctity with it; but it is not the love and sanctity that justify, but faith as closing with Christ.

    "If a man hath no faith in the Lord's goodness, no hope of His favour in Christ, where is his purity and holiness? Nay, it is he that hath this hope that purifies himself as God is pure. I know not what experience you have, but some of us know, that when our souls are most comforted and enlarged with the faith of God's favour through Christ, and with the hope of His goodness, then we have most heart to our duties; and when, through unbelief, we have harsh thoughts of God as an angry judge, then we have no heart to duties and religious exercises; and I persuade myself this is the experience of the saints in all ages.

Author Unknown

OVERCOMING SIN

1. You and I cannot overcome sin; it is the SUPERNATURAL and spiritual work of God alone. It is NOT, in any way, anything that we do for ourselves.

2. God Himself must come to us, even as He told Sarah, “At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son”, so to do supernatural stuff, God Himself must DO it (Rom 9:9).

3. It is by faith: it is not earned or human in any way; it is THROUGH the merit of Christ, the promise of the Father, and the power or supply of the Spirit; it is God working by faith, which is how He works ONLY.

4. It is TREASURING God above sin, so that when tempted, I say, “It is BETTER for me to have God and the pleasures of godliness/God, than to have the God disturbing pleasure of sin for a season”. There must be a HIGHER pleasure to take up the pleasure of sin, or we don’t have the strength (Heb 12:2).

Thus, the FEAR of God abandoning us and leaving us to sin and conviction… despair and hopelessness… is GREATER than the pleasure of sin.

We can only conquer sin by God and the pleasure and power of Christ.

You Must Not Be Discouraged (Johann Gerhard Oncken)

“You must not be discouraged in your Christian course by the discovery of your sinful propensities – these will be gradually more fully revealed to you. God does not convert the sinner, to show to him how good he is, but how weak, helpless, sinful and depraved he is, that thus all self-dependence may be destroyed. But then the Spirit of Christ who teaches us this bitter lesson concerning ourselves, also shows us from the Holy Scriptures what a gracious, faithful and almighty Saviour we have, and that through the grace and strength of Him we can do all things. The two great truths which from the day of our conversion to the day we enter into heaven the Lord teaches those who shall be saved are in reference to ourselves that we are poor, lost, helpless sinners, who, if left to themselves, must perish for ever, and in reference to God, that out of boundless compassion He has sent His only begotten Son into the world to atone for the guilt of all who should believe in Him, and then in this glorious Saviour more –infinitely more – has been brought back to all who believe in Him, than ever was lost by Adam’s transgression and our own sin.”

“No Better Than My Fathers” (1 Kings 19:4)

“And when he saw [that Jezebel was determined to kill him], he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.  But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” (vs3-4)

I must come to grips with the fact that I’m a sinner, no better than anyone else, etc. There is nothing I won’t do, and things that I have not done in a long time, I will do, if given the chance and unrestrained by God. I, like you and all others, am a sinner, undone, and DEPRAVED. My hope is not that life is easy, or I’m less evil than I was before -  before I wrote this article, or the season after it. My hope is that God is GRACIOUS to me as I am, gives me repentance, and helps me by grace, pardoning and giving me all that I need, each time I come home (Luke 15:23).

Ruth expected only tiny mercies, but she married Boaz the mighty and wealthy redeemer (Ruth 2:2). Likewise, I may fear returning to God’s love, but I will be ashamed and depraved if I try any other thing. My hope is to come back and take the Master at His words. He says, “if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, I repent; you shall forgive him”, so I say to all sinners far and near, especially those who believe God, come back to Him again (Luke 17:4). Your sin has taught you that you are evil and God is praised for salvation. Let your faith be in Christ, let your sin keep you humble in self, and let it make you and me proclaim God’s glory in FORGIVING, and FORGIVING, and FORGIVING sin.

We are not a band of “holier than thou’s” or people who have conquered anything.  Elijah, a greater man than me, was a man subject to like passions as me. He fought and prevailed, and then he sunk into despair (1 Kings 19:3-4). He was HUMAN and thereby frail (James 5:17). The best man among us is TOTALLY depraved in himself, no matter what we see, and he groans over REPEATED transgressions and sins he thought that he forgot.

Give all glory to grace in Christ and trust this God, instead of yourself, for STRENGTH to do His will. Do not think you can prevail or have grown beyond TOTAL dependence on Christ. Do not think you’re unloved, and that blessings are too good for you. How can we fight, without God (Heb 9:14)?

Do not say, “I’m a sinner, so I will sin”. Say, “I’m forgiven. Thanks to God for helping me, and He, not me, will help me still”. Our Lord says in Isaiah 30:18, “And therefore will the Lord wait“, until our strength is gone, “that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted“, by both pardoning and power-giving love, “that he may have mercy upon you“, pity to the miserable, “for the Lord is a God of judgment“, doing what is right, exalting grace and not ourselves, “blessed are all they that wait for him“. He shall not fail to save anyone that He forgives; He will not leave them slaves to sin or Satan. Our Lord’s word to the woman taken in adultery is soothing to us all, “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).

“Denied Me Three Times” (John 13:36-38)

“Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake? Truly, truly, I say unto you, The rooster shall not crow, till you have denied me three times” (vs38).

Even though we love God, we are sinners, and there is no way around it. Sin keeps us LOVING God instead of complaining, and it makes us LOVE the brethren in repentance and faith. The fact that God loves sinners is the beginning, middle, and end of the gospel; it is the fact that while we were sinners Christ DIED for us, and the fact that I am a sinner still (1 Tim 1:15).

Never think of yourself as strong or able to stand in your strength, and don’t look down upon your weaker or failing brethren. They are NO different before God: He had to pay for your sins, the ones you and I do daily, as well as theirs. No one is saved or blessed by merit, and no matter how greatly you’re blessed now, there is SIN in you, so you don’t deserve it (Ps 115:1).

If you preach or teach, it is by grace. If you have power to obey, then it is the mercy of God GIVEN to you in Christ. We must be thankful and exalt the Only One that is able to save, the One that obeyed God perfectly, and the One that loves us as we are because of His blood, Spirit, and the promises of the Father to us.

Jesus is Lord. Let everyone bow to Him willingly, knowing you’re the SINNER He both saved and saves. He found you in the ditch, and He pulls you from sin continually (Rom 6:14).

Let no man say, “I’m a sinner, so I will sin”, but let us obey the gospel, trusting Christ, and being thankful rather than short with people and proud (Col 3:15). Set before you the Lord’s mercies. You and I will have PLENTY of occasion to think upon Him (Col 3:2).

And, do not let your sins EVER keep you from grace. You will hate your deeds repeatedly, but the Son of God says, “I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not”, so He WANTS us to believe, and we’re to believe always (Luke 22:32). Just never look upon yourself as less than mercifully saved.

Flee From Idolatry (I Cor 10:1-14)

“There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” (vs13-14)

No man serves two masters. You cannot serve Christ and pleasure; you can’t live for yourself and God.

Idolatry is worshipping a false Christ; it is living for pleasure; it is worshipping God how you see fit, and thus worshipping Satan, “as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (I Cor 10:7). Yet, this is repented of in believers. Moses found Aaron idolatrously worshipping the golden calf – “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him (Ex 32:26).”

We see the word of God, hear the reproof, and end up on the Lord’s side. Paul is TEACHING the Corinthians what worship is, and the SAVED will hear it, “and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Phil 3:15). Some believe, and some believe not, but the gospel proclaims both ability to serve Christ from God and ALLEGIANCE to Him. I can do all things through Christ, even enduring temptation unto the end.

You are not a slave of sin, so WORSHIP Him who liberates you.

First, Starting out “saved” doesn’t mean that we end up saved – “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (I Cor 10:1-5). Like Herod, we can hear John the Baptist “gladly” and do many things, and yet NOT know God – “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not” (Jude 1:5).

We confess that we know Him, but in works, if we do not, then we do not. It DOESN’T matter what you and I have seen or experienced; it only matters that we believe God. We don’t have to impress people, but we MUST have the gospel that’s unto godliness.

We are SAINTS of God by the grace that He shed, and He SAVES us from all that would destroy us, all that we REPENT from.

Don’t think you’re above falling or that you don’t have to OBEY and honor God in your life – “ Wherefore let him that thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall” (I Cor 10:6-12). He is saying, “These others did horrible things, and God PUNISHED them with death. Don’t CLAIM to believe God, live in sin, and then be damned. Flee from every false god and every false way. Follow the Lamb, be saved by grace, and GET the salvation that’s unto holiness. Be sure you have it”.

God’s grace is man’s hope, “There has not temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” (vs13-14). We are TEMPTED to evil, tempted to sin, tempted to be vain and unbelieving, and yet God won’t allow His people… and this evidences who we are… to be tempted above we are able. We have FAILURES galore and REPEATED falls, but we HAVE the way of salvation, which is Christ CRUCIFIED for sins, the grace and power of God.

Our ability to HOLINESS is independent of our own ability and strength. We are SAVED by God who has power over sin and Satan: He empowers us.

Don’t believe you can’t serve God, and don’t believe that you don’t have too. These are TEMPTATIONS of Satan to lead you astray.

God saved you, God REWARDS you, and God GIVES you peace. Worship Him.

The Apple of His Eye (Zech 2:8-9)

“For thus says the Lord of hosts; After the glory has he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that touches you touches the apple of his eye.”

If we harm God’s people, then we hurt those that are precious in His sight, and this allows us to see our VALUE as believers. We are loved by God Almighty, accepted, blessed, and everything because of Christ – “they despised by judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statues. And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God” (Lev 26:44). The Lord God has looked upon us, not after what I deserve, but after the grace of God and obedience of Christ. You and I may say in the mirror, “Unworthy, evil”, and it is true. But, in Christ and because of Him, we are “greatly beloved” (Dan 9:23). God sees us so valuable that Christ died, so that we’d live.

Look upon yourself this way as you bring your needs to God. I Cor 10:13 says, “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it”. Rom 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.” You and I need obedience, faith in Christ, temperance, and love. God gives us these because He loves us.

Just as the Angel mediated for Israel, even so, Christ MEDIATES for us (Zech 1:12-13). He is WHY we’re saved, so our salvation is full of love on God’s side. He sees us as people He will help at all cost… not because of what we’ve done, how we act, but because of love that saved us before we repented and gave us faith when unbelief ruled – “At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision” (Dan 9:13).

Do not be discouraged. You’re the apple of His eye. You may not be much in the eyes of the world, but BEING LOVED of God is the BEST and only privilege there is. If you have this love, you are saved. And, without God’s love, you are the enemy He destroys – “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom 9:13).

Believe in His love, so that you may be children of His love – “While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them” (John 12:36). He has hurt you enough to destroy your merit; but don’t doubt the Love that is there for the unworthy.

He Will Subdue Our Iniquities (Micah 7:19)

“He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

Sinners are saved by God. It is not God and man, God plus human effort, etc. it is God that saves us only by His work at Calvary, the work of the Spirit, and the word – (James 1:18) “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures”. God does as He has promised for sinners who CAN’T save ourselves.

One thing about being a sinner is you and I are sinners TOTALLY. In no measure can we do anything, so He comforts us with words of, “he will subdue our iniquities”, so that we can be free from sin by a power that’s not mine (Micah 7:19).

If my salvation is dependent on my experience, strength, or success, then I’m my own savior. But, if it is God who saves, then no matter my condition, how evil I feel, or what I’ve done, I can trust God bigger than me and BETTER than I to do what I can’t.

Salvation is of the Lord in full, every aspect, and every inch. The helpless are helped by God’s love in the gospel EMPOWERING us, so that He doesn’t say, “I love you” only, but He puts strength in us by the word- “For he said unto him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is your name? and he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many (Mark 5:8-9).” The Spirit begats us again, and the Spirit makes us live according to scripture.

In every detail, salvation saves, as promised. I don’t have to say, “I’m too weak, sin is strong”, or, “it cannot be”. As big a miracle as salvation is, God SAYS that He does it perfectly for all that believe. Now, I don’t have to worry if I can conquer; I only believe what He can and will do, and it is lived in me – “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you” (Matt 9:29).

Salvation is SECURE because God is the Savior who puts His glory (more than the sinner’s salvation) on the line, ultimately. I can be the evilest of evil people, but believing, God is OBLIGATED to perform the same thing for me that He’s promised to the saints.

Salvation to sin no more is coming, but right now, He SUBDUES our iniquities, so that we grow. Sin won’t reign or rule, for we are not condemned and helped by God, as promised – “Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Rom 5:18).