True Church Conference Session 2011 2 Message 2

Session 2 of the True Church Conference started with the preaching of Dr. Bruce Ware from Southern Seminary. Dr. Ware preached topically on “Gospel 101”, stating that most today do not believe in Amazing Grace (although we sing the song), but rather we believe in entitled grace. He went on to say that “for grace to be amazing the gospel must be amazing and for the gospel to be amazing we need to see the gospel.” According to Dr. Ware there are three elements of the gospel. These three elements are individually recognized, but only together are they jointly sufficient for the declaration of the gospel. In other words the three legs of the gospel stool are indispensable or necessary for a true gospel to be proclaimed.

The first leg of the stool is Human Sinfulness. He noted first that human sinfulness is “universal”, citing Romans 3:9 and 3:23. All men fail to ascribe God the glory that He rightly deserves. Dr. Ware described from Scripture the “penalty and power” of human sinfulness. All men are guilty, have incurred and deserve eternal condemnation which is the penalty for sin. Citing Gen. 2:17, Rom. 6:23, Rom. 5:16 & 18, Rom. 8:1, Eph. 2:3 The power of sin was described as abject slavery. Sinners are held captive or enslaved to sin and ultimately this captivity leads to death. Citing Rom. 8:6-8, Col. 1:13, 2 Tim. 2:26. Dr. Ware next pointed out that our human nature is totally depraved and totally unable to rescue ourselves. Looking at Romans 3:20 and Galatians 2:16 we saw that we have no good works according to the Law of God. Righteousness cannot be obtained by human effort. We are totally helpless. Dr. Ware pointed out that if we could save ourselves than Christ has died in vain.

The second leg of the gospel stool is God’s Holiness. Dr. Ware noted first that God’s own being is “separated” unto all that is pure, right and good. Holiness is a display of separation to purity. Exodus 15:11 showed us that “there is no one like Him”. God’s separation to purity is shown in His righteousness and His Justice. God is pure in action; this is His righteousness. He is right in everything. In word, in thought, in attitude and in action. Psalm 119:137-38 According to His justice He is Lawgiver and Judge. As lawgiver He has given a standard to His creation that is commensurate with His nature. Rom. 7:12. As Judge He holds His creatures accountable to His standards. Rom. 2 (punishment or rewards based on obedience).

Having looked at the sinfulness of humanity and the Holiness of God Dr. Ware paused for a moment to point out a critical truth concerning the nature of the gospel. Dr. Ware noted that the sinfulness of man and the Holiness of God could have been the end to the story. In other words God would be perfectly just in satisfying His wrath against sinful humanity by destroying all of humanity. Dr. ware pointed out that God did not save the angels who sinned against Him. In fact he said, “ God is not obligated to save anyone.” We deserve judgment, not eternal life. However, in God’s infinite wisdom He has provided for mercy and grace to be shown to humanity, which is the third leg of the stool Dr. Ware constructed from Scripture.

The third leg of the stool mercy and grace, (which I understood as unconditional election) was first conveyed to us as God’s kindness to needy, destitute, helpless and ruined sinners. Eph. 2. Grace was described as the kindness of God show to those who are fully undeserving. Dr. Ware noted that more often than not grace is connected to the word gift in the New Testament, citing Eph. 2:8-9 as one example. Next Dr. Ware spoke briefly regarding the relationship of God’s mercy to our sinfulness. He pointed out that mercy and grace is freely given and God is not obligated to do so. Rom. 9:15. However in God’s sovereignty He has chosen to do so. Rom. 9:13

In closing Dr. Ware continued along the thought line of the relationship of God’s character attributes. His thinking was not in relation to human sinfulness, but in God’s character attributes in relation to each other. Dr. Ware stated that while mercy and holiness are necessary components of the gospel, they are necessary in different senses. Holiness is absolutely necessary while mercy cannot be shown without maintaining holiness. God will not compromise His character. While God is not obligated to show mercy, you will never see the holiness of God disregarded. Mercy is necessary says Ware, but not absolutely necessary. Mercy is contingent in that mercy must function according to holiness. When viewing God’s holiness it is important to understand that mercy seeks to bring about holiness in us through imputed righteousness and subjective righteousness. At the cross God’s holiness and mercy were perfectly accomplished. His justice was vindicated and His mercy satisfied. It is truly Amazing Grace.

True Church Conference 2011 Session 1

True Church Conference 2011 Session One - David Miller - Isaiah 53 Part 1

This year’s conference opened up Thursday night with praise and worship of our Lord led by brother Tom Clay. Having our hearts prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the preaching of the word, David Miller presented Isaiah 53 (the whole chapter) from memory, followed by his commentary of the chapter from memory, followed by his sermon outline from memory. God has truly gifted this man with the ability to teach as well as a memory retention few men have. Brother David outlined a 6 point sermon to be preached over two sessions. The title: Atonement - Substitution & Satisfaction. His first three points were as follows:

1. The Indefensible Wickedness of Mankind - Isaiah 53:3

2.The Indescribable Wrath of the Sovereign - Isaiah 53:10

3. The Infinite Wisdom of the Son - Isaiah 53:11

1. The Indefensible Wickedness of Mankind was shown to us through verse 3 of Isaiah 53 - “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Brother David explained that there is “no greater expression of the wickedness of mankind than for men to ‘despise and reject’ Jesus Christ”. The depravity of man is so thorough and total that we hate the Son of God so much as to call for His execution. Brother David reminded us that we were “hewn from the same rock” and had we been present at Jesus’ crucifixion we would have done the very same thing. All men are lude, vulgar and profane; just wicked. This ought to humble us or as brother David said it, “it puts us in the dust”.

2. The Indescribable Wrath of the Sovereign was shown to us through verse 10 of Isaiah 53 - “But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.” The first, and very necessary point concerning the wrath of God is the how the word is used in the original language. God’s wrath is not an “out of control” display of anger, but rather a “controlled, swelling, burning, indignation.” Like a river that swells up against the dam, today there is a dam in place staying the hand of God’s wrath. This dam is the forbearance of God, the patience of God as sinners store up wrath for themselves awaiting the great Day of Wrath. Verse 10 of Isaiah 53 tells us that when Christ died, Holy Justice poured out its wrath. In answering why this is important to understand David Millers said, “Only he who has apprehended the magnitude of God’s wrath has understood the overwhelming reality of His mercy.”

3. The Infinite Wisdom of the Son was shown to us through verse 11 of Isaiah 53. “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will se it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.” As a sort of side-bar David Miller made several points with regard to men being justified. He said, “In order to be justified you must exercise faith. In order to exercise faith you must exercise that faith toward the proper object of faith. To exercise faith in the proper object information must be given to you to act upon or to “wrap your faith around”.” He emphatically declared that evangelism today gives too little information and needs to give much more, but that this is NOT the wisdom that verse 11 of Isaiah 53 is referencing. He continued to explain that the wisdom that Jesus possessed was able to resolve a seeming dilemma in heaven (there are no dilemmas in heaven, but he was speaking as a man, an anthropomorphism). The first side to the dilemma seems to be that God is Holy and has stored up wrath against guilty sinners. Man is guilty. The second side to the dilemma seems to be that God is Love. God is gracious and merciful. So these two sides seem as incongruent in our finite human minds. Holy Justice demands punishment for sins. Truth demands justice be carried out. God cannot save sinners with love, grace and mercy yet violate His Holy Justice. Man cannot devise a plan to save man because when they make an attempt to do so they either leave justice undone or leave men in their sin without a true savior. BUT JESUS David Miller declares! In eternity past Wisdom talked with Love. They made an everlasting covenant. Wisdom said to Love, “Would You be willing for God’s Only Son to take the blame for guilty sinners such as these? Would You be willing for Holy Justice to be poured out on God’s Only Son?” Love replied to Wisdom, “If that is what it takes to satisfy and justify then YES.” Love is willing! Then Wisdom talked with Justice. Wisdom told Justice that “Love is willing to give the Son as a substitute. Would You be willing to pour out awful wrath (the wrath do the people) on the Son?” Justice replied, “Considering the infinite value of the Son, I will be willing to pour out wrath to the very last dreg.”

Brother David concluded by quoting the Apostle Paul from Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? OR WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

God has truly given David Miller to the Church for the equipping of the Saints. It was a blessing to sit under the teaching of this long time laborer for the Gospel. Session two of the True Church Conference begins this morning with Dr. Bruce Ware from Southern Seminary. Lord willing I will have more updates as time permits.