Mind, Heart and Will

It is imperative that a person properly understands how the process of salvation works.  The worst case scenario is that an improper view will keep the person outside of the fold and the best case scenario is one will remain a very immature Christian struggling with assurance their entire life.  In salvation the whole personality of man is involved.  There are three essential components that depict the nature of who man is--mind, heart and will.  In order to gain a proper view of salvation we must know that the intellect, emotions and will are all affected.

Many people falter at understanding the necessity of having the entire man impacted by the gospel of Christ.  As Martyn Lloyd Jones points out in his book, "Spiritual Depression" some men trust in their intellectualism:

There are some people in whose case the head only seems to be in use--the intellect, the understanding.  They tell us that they are tremendously interested in the gospel point of view, as a Christian philosophy.  There were people when whose only interest in the gospel was their interest in theological problems; and they argued about them and discussed them.  But the tragedy was that it stopped at that interest, and their hearts have never been touched.

The mind must understand the gospel message in order to come to salvation, but reliance upon the intellectual understanding alone is not enough.

Another type of people are not concerned with doctrine (intellect) and are moved purely by emotion.  This problem is much more prevalent today than the former.   Although a different issue there doom is the same as the intellects.  Dr. Jones also shared some insightful comments about these people as well:

These are people who feel that they have had an emotional release.  They wanted this particular release and have had it.  Or it may be that they were naturally interested in mysticism and the mystical phenomena.  There is great interest in this at the present time.  Life has been hard and cruel to them and they have been embittered by circumstances.  But they go to a particular service and somehow they find themselves comforted and soothed, and they feel happy and contended.

Intellectualism alone will not save.  Emotionalism alone will not save.  Intellectualism and emotionalism combined will not save.  Something more is still yet needed.

Finally, you have people who are alone trusting in their sheer act of determination.  They say that they have made 'a decision for Christ.'  Again Lloyd Jones had something to say on this issue:

These are the people who decide to take up Christianity instead of being taken up by Christianity.  They have never known this feeling of constraint, this feeling of, 'I can do no other, so help me, God', that they must, that everything else has to be excluded, that the truth has come to them they they must accept it.

The influence of Charles G. Finny has lead many Americans to trust only in their wills for salvation.  If one travels down this road they will find it only leads to destruction.

The Christian position is not one part of the personality involved nor is it a combination of two parts.  It must be the entire man.  The whole man has become totally depraved by sin and the whole man must become a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).  The good Dr. emphatically drives this point home:

The Christian position is threefold; it is the three together, and the three at the same time, and the three always.  A great gospel like this takes up the whole man, and if the whole man is not taken up think again where you stand.

Are you taken up by Christ?  Do you contemplate the truths of the gospel often?  Are you moved when you think about the glorious doctrine of free grace?  Has your life changed as a result of the gospel's impact?  If you whole man has been impacted by the gospel then understand that God alone deserves to be praised for this as salvation is, "all of grace."  If you stumble at any one of these points I would encourage you to listen to the words of the Apostle Paul, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith" (2 Cor. 13:5a).

 

 

If I Were The Devil...

Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones was said in one of his sermons, "There is nothing that so characterizes all the activities of Satan as his subtlety.  He is not only able and powerful, he is subtle; indeed the Apostle Paul tells us he can 'transform himself into the angel of light' if necessary."  Tune into this 3 minute video.  This was recorded in 1965 and is even more applicable today. Mr. Harvey describes in an extraordinary way how the Devil has creeped into our culture. Listen to Paul Harvey as he gives the rest of the story!

Lukewarm Christianity

Lukewarm Christianity is something that is despised by our Lord, "And to the angel of the church of the Laodicieans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Rev. 3:14-15).  Every time I read these verses they shake me to the core.  The idea of becoming a lukewarm Christian frightens me.  Remember these two verses are words spoken by Christ Himself and I certainly do not want to be the cause of making Christ vomit.

This morning I have been studying Ian Murray's work, "Revival and Revivalism."  There is a chapter in this book about Samuel Davies who Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones said that this American preacher was, "the greatest preacher you have ever produced in this country."  Davies was challenging and addressing the prevailing lukewarm Christianity of his day and he shared these searching words with his contemporaries:

How common, how fashionable is this lukewarm religion!  This is the prevailing epidemical sin of our age and country...We have thousands of Christians, such as they are; as many Christians as white men; but, alas! they are generally of the Laodiciean stamp; they are neither hot nor cold.  But it is our first concern to know how it is with ourselves; therefore, let this inquiry go round this congregation; Are you not such lukewarm Christians?  Is there any fire and life in your devotions?  Or are not all of your active powers engrossed by other pursuits?

Do you ever feel yourself drifting towards lukewarmness?  I know I do!  My heart is prone to wander away from the God I love.  I do not want the fire and life to depart from my devotions and Christian living.  If you feel the same way I encourage you to cry out to the Lord saying, "O thou God of Love! kindle a flame of love in this cold heart of mine; and then I shall perform my work faithfully."  Then find someone to serve and to share the passion you have for our Savior!

Why Memorize Scripture?

John Piper shares some powerful insights about the importance of memorizing Scripture. I encourage you to give 4 minutes of your time to watch this video and apply its principles!