October 2008

Dear Friend,

Do you measure your success in life by money and numbers? Maybe not in today’s economy, but it’s easy to do. When we put away a little extra or buy that new toy? But it can also be very dangerous. Especially when we measure spiritual success that way.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals teaches about true Christian priorities. And we need your help to broadcast the message of grace and mercy. We know it helps believers across our continent keep their priorities straight, their focus on Christ.

Dr. James Boice, in a message from The Bible Study Hour, tells us about the stern warning we receive from God through Paul in Romans 11:17-22.

Paul is warning the Gentiles against arrogance and pride. This is a particularly apt warning for us today. The reason we have to be warned about arrogance and pride again and again is that prosperity seems to promote it. When times are tough and things are not going well we tend to recognize our weakness and go to God. As we should. But when things go well, when we are abundantly provided for, we drift away from God. And we take the credit for ourselves. We assume we can take care of ourselves.

Paul is not teaching that we lose our salvation – he makes that clear earlier in Romans. He is warning against the assumption that if things are going well in our lives, we must be right with God. He reminds us that prosperity and salvation are not the same.

Throughout history we have examples of the Church growing in size and power all over the world. The prosperity, though, proved to be demoralizing and corrupting. So that by the time of the Reformation the Church was actually selling salvation through indulgences. This is what angered Martin Luther and led to the Protestant Reformation.

The American Church is in danger of this today. While attendance is up, true commitment to Christ is down. Many churches are arrogant and prideful and no longer look to God for His provision but boast in their own accomplishments.

We as individuals are in danger of this same mistake. We presume that we are right with God because our life appears good and prosperous. Paul does not warn against losing salvation, but he does warn against presuming salvation.

There are many people who think they are converted. They go to church, they recite the creeds, and they take the Lord’s Supper. They might even point to the things they are blessed with. But inwardly they do not know the Gospel or they resist the Gospel.

A professing Christian must examine himself. We should ask “has my commitment to Christ made a discernable difference in my life?”, “have I ceased doing things that are displeasing to Christ?”, or  “do I love others in real and tangible ways?”

This is what Paul is trying to get through to us in Romans 11. There are four things that he asks the Gentiles to remember. And these four things we should remember too.

• First, he urges the Gentiles to behold the severity of God’s justice and cutting off and casting out the unbelieving Jews. 
• Next, Paul reminds the Gentiles of God’s goodness in conferring His unmerited favor to them.  
• Thirdly, he stresses the necessity of continuing in grace by abiding in the faith of the Gospel.  
• And lastly we are to remember that if we do not abide in faith, we will be cut off.

We must stand fast in our high calling. We must stand by faith alone. The Alliance helps others do this through sound, biblical teaching through our broadcast ministry.

In addition to the excellent teaching on The Bible Study Hour, people can listen to Every Last Word, God’s Living Word, and Dr. Barnhouse & the Bible. Through this ministry of teaching God’s ways, tens of thousands of people hear what it means to stand fast in our high calling by faith. People are exhorted to examine their hearts and make their calling and election sure.

Your support will help the Alliance continue to offer this important teaching. Please prayerfully consider giving a gift today. And when you do, also let us know how you hear our broadcasts.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,
 

Robert Brady
Executive Vice President

P.S. If you want to help us proclaim God's success, click here.