Josh Benner

Tag: Jesus

  • Hypocrites in church isn’t the issue. Faithless pseudo-Christians are the issue.

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    Originally published June 27, 2017

    A lot of people don’t want to be in a church because?

    Because the church is full of?

    Hypocrites.

    Churches are filled with hypocrites. (more…)

  • Jesus didn’t die to keep you the same

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    Jesus died to save sinners.

    It is out of the love that he has for that he died. But it is also because he loves us that he didn’t die to keep us the same. When the gospel takes root in someone’s heart, part of the evidence for a sincere faith is a life that has been changed by the gospel.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

    It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

    20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
    -Ephesians 4:20-24

    I used to enjoy watching a show as a kid called Rescue 911 which was a show that had reenactments of emergencies. But the reenactments often included portions of 911 calls (and later testimonies from the 911 operators). Often times, you’d see a reunion with the person and their rescuers at the end of a clip. I’m sure it’s natural for a person to want to thank the people who saved them. With the gospel, Jesus saved us from our sins, and it wasn’t just so we could say “thanks a lot,” and get back to our lives.

    Jesus saves us from death but the relationship he invites us into in knowing him is an invitation to life.

    Jesus didn’t die to keep us the same. That wouldn’t even make sense. Since our sin was so bad that our only way to God was through a savior, then why would he want us to stay the same? He rescued from the penalty of sin. And to realize that, how far off from God we were, and that Jesus has forgiven us, that should result in a transformed life.

    James said: You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24). The point James is making is not to preach another gospel. But to claim to have faith and not live a life that reflects an inward faith might be an indication of a faith that isn’t real. The gospel changes lives. Faith without works works to show faith that doesn’t work.

    That’s not to say we never struggle. We do. We’re sinful people. We might have several areas where we’re struggling when we come to faith. And that doesn’t all go away overnight. But more and more, there should be evidence of faith. You will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).

    2 Corinthians 3:18 is part of the reason why we know that faith necessarily leads to a transformed life. Because it’s the Holy Spirit who is working in us. Beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).

    Jesus didn’t die to keep you the same. He loves you too much for that. If you have faith, and you’re struggling in an area, know that it doesn’t always have to be this way. There is hope. Walk with God, love for God, love God.

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

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  • The importance of constant gospel focus

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    Originally published October 31, 2016

    As someone who doesn’t have kids, over the last few years, more and more of my friends have began to have children.

    When you have your first kid, you’re a member of a new club. You are a parent. Being a parent is something that becomes part of who you are. Your whole life, you haven’t had kids….but then you leave the hospital, and you have this baby.

    I’ve always thought, “Wow. That must be so…weird!”

    Your whole life, you haven’t had kids, and then suddenly you have one, and forever. (more…)

  • Tim Keller Tweets about the incarnation: disagreement ensues

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    Pastor and theologian Tim Keller made a Tweet in regards to the incarnation of Jesus this week. Keller said: “The God of the universe became a wiggling baby in order to get close to you.”

    James White, another theologian, was critical of Keller’s comment: “No sir, the second person of the Trinity took on a perfect human nature first and foremost to bring glory to the Triune God in the redemption of a completely unworthy people upon whom the Triune God had decreed mercy and grace in eternity past. That’s not getting ‘close to you.”

    I’m a huge fan of Keller, but I also really enjoy White’s work, but I disagree with the criticism that White is raising here. Both men are in the Reformed camp, and one of the great strengths of Reformed theology is its emphasis on the glory of God. As part of this idea, everything that God does is for his own glory. I affirm that belief.

    However I do think that people in the Reformed camp can sometimes emphasize the glory of God to the point where I feel that it can also undermine the love of God and that God is relational. It’s because God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (John 3:16). Yes, God is glorious and we need to live to glorify God.

    I feel like we can treat glory almost like a utilitarian idea, that glory is the only thing that matters to God, and we act like the things that God does which happen to benefit humanity have nothing to do with God’s love for humanity. But we can’t reduce the attributes of God. Everything that the Lord is, the Lord is always, and to the superlative decree. So it’s not that God is sometimes glorious, sometimes loving, sometimes more or less loving, sometimes powerful. But it’s that everything God is, God always is.

    I’m not suggesting that White has a low view of the love of God.

    I do think that staunchly Reformed Evangelicals can communicate theological ideas which very much give that impression.

    Yes, Jesus came into the world to bring glory to God. But he also came so that everyone who believes in him can be with him. That’s the heart of the gospel. The God who created the world came into the world to save the world.

    Why go to theological battle over that?

    It’s not an either/or. It’s both/and.

    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.

  • The Church: serving together in the Mission of God

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    What this is saying is that we have one body but our body has many parts to it.
    In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul gives a fantastic illustration for the church. It functions like a human body. Everyone in the church is part of the body and has a purpose within the body. If a part of the body is unhealthy or is not functioning properly, that effects the rest of the body.
    The church exists to spread the gospel, to make disciples, and to support each other as the body of Christ on earth.
    The church is called to work together for the mission of God.
    I love the practicality of Paul’s illustration.
    For the body does not consist of one member but of many.If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body
    -1 Corinthians 12:14-16
    If the foot should say, “because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
     Feet.
    Kind of smelly.
    Often times out of sight. The foot isn’t nearly as glamorous as a hand.
    A hand brings pizza closer to your mouth.
    And so Mr. Foot might be tempted to feel like he’s not contributing much.
    But he helps you keep balance and to walk. The foot matters.
    “And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.”
    The ear.
    Might be tempting for the ear to also be insecure.
    It’s not an eye.
    People get complimented for their eyes. “Oh you have such pretty eyes.”
    If someone has ears that are worth mentioning, it’s not for a good reason….
    But ears are important. They’re part of the body. They funnel sound in. They hold on our glasses.
    Everyone in the church has a place, has a role. You have an area where you fit. You’re part of the body. You have a way to serve that is valuable for the church.
    Verse 17 gets at the idea that it’s necessary for there to be differences of parts within the body.
    If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
    -1 Corinthians 12:17
     Imagine that.
    Just a big eye rolling around.
    Not only are there different parts, but there need to be different parts.
    We don’t all need the same gifts. We don’t need everyone to be a preacher.
    What a nightmare that would be!
    God equips us with gifts for his own glory. And the church flourishes when people are living on a mission and committed to living lives to serve God.
    Verse 20 is somewhat of a summary verse to this entire passage: “As it is, there are any parts, yet one body.”
    Verse 21 is affirmation from the passage how every part of the body needs every other part of the body.
    The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
    -1 Corinthians 12:21 
    Every part matters.
    In the world of theater, they have a saying “there are no small parts, just small actors” and the point is that everyone ni a production is still important to the story.
    Or I think about when I would play football with my friends as a kid. My friends and I always wanted to be the quarterback or running back or receiver. We never had dreams of being the kicker.
    But a kicker is still part of the team.
    Kickers are important.
    A kicker can win you a Super Bowl
    There’s no reason to be jealous of gifts that you don’t have. Because again, everything is part of serving God’s purposes. And those are eternal purposes. Because of his goodness and grace, God allows his people to be part of his mission in the world.
    Are you serving your church for the Mission of God today?
    Josh Benner is the associate pastor at Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He enjoys writing about faith and culture. He lives with his wife Kari in Minnesota.