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So I’m reading Graeme Goldsworthy’s classic, Gospel and Wisdom. He has a paragraph or two about docetism. Docetism was an ancient heresy denying that Jesus took an actual body. He just seemed to be fully human. Docetism arose in a climate of Greek religion that taught that spirit is good and matter is evil. This religion crept into the church and was called gnosticism.

Anyway, Goldsworthy makes the observation that although we don’t find very many professing docetists, the docetic assumptions are still with us. Look, for example, at how many professing Christians describe their faith. They’ve asked Jesus (a spirit) into their hearts (a spirit) and felt very spiritual about the whole thing.

As I was reading, I had to put the book down and think some things through. Goldsworthy is exactly right. I see it over and over as I counsel. “You can’t judge my heart!” Every pastor has heard the same thing. “I repented. I’ve asked Jesus into my heart. I have a good relationship with God.”

But the body doesn’t follow suit. The body continues to engage in fornication, drunkenness, reviling, pornography, strife, etc. The mouth pours out obscenity and blasphemy. The feet are quick to shed blood.

And as I thought, I wondered if perhaps we are too much taken with the Greek idea of a complete disconnect between the body and the soul.

God created man by forming him of the dust of the ground and breathing into his nostrils the breath (spirit) of life and man became a living being. Only one being, both body and soul. The scripture doesn’t teach this disconnect. When the heart is corrupt you can tell because the body does corrupt things.

Look at all of these passages:

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.1 (Rom 6:13 KJV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:1 KJV)

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Mat 7:21 KJV)

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psa 14:1 KJV)

How does one praise God’s name without the tongue and the lips? How does one give a glass of water to a thirsty man without eyes and hands and feet?

How can we show our love for God and for our neighbor without using the body that he has given us.

I’m tired of words. I’m tired of those who live in debauchery and ruin pretending that they have a close personal relationship with Jesus. As James wrote, “Show me your faith by your works” (James 2:18).

If we are Christians we are imitators of Jesus. We are being conformed to the image of God’s son. If we are truly indwelt by the Holy Spirit (which is what being a Christian is), then this same Holy Spirit is conforming us to be more and more like Christ. Jesus, the true Image of God, is conforming us to Himself by His word and Spirit.

So if He truly came in the flesh, being transformed to His Image includes our whole being – body and soul. For this reason, it is impossible for those who continue to live in sin to actually be Christians. If they say that they are, they are liars. The Holy Spirit does not allow a Christian to live in sin that “grace may abound.”

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1Co 6:9-10 KJV)

Of course we still struggle with our sinful nature. Of course we will never overcome sin in this life. But that isn’t the topic. As Christians we STRUGGLE against sin, knowing that it is an abomination before God.

A true Christian can never say, “I’ve accepted Jesus into my heart, so it doesn’t matter how I live.”

If Jesus truly came in the flesh, then to belong to Him means that we belong to Him both in body and in soul. Let’s offer our bodies to him as living sacrifices of thanksgiving and quit making excuses. We must quit living like practical docetists. Jesus came in the flesh that he might redeem us, both body and soul, from sin and the power of the devil. It DOES matter what we do with the body.

It’s time we stopped listening to this guy.

I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. (Psa 119:96 KJV)

All that we consider on this earth to be wise, beautiful, insightful and charming has a limit, an “end”. But the Word of God is “exceeding broad.”

The church has spent 2,000 years studying, reading and meditating on God’s word and we still have not reached the end. The well is deep, the beauty is inexhaustible.

But in our day we have thousands of books, blogs, video series and celebrities and I fear that we spend more time reading about the Bible than we do reading the Bible.

Study it, absorb it, approach it with humility and fear, treat it as that which is able to save your soul.

Sure, read books from those greats who have gone before; but never let them take the place of the actual Word of God.

Read it. Read it again. Know it. What’s the argument? Who are the characters? What’s the theme? What points are being made? What’s the progression of thought? What does the author wish us to know about God? About ourselves?

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2Ti 3:14-17 KJV)

Do we believe this? Then put down the latest celebrity preacher, latest survey and latest commentary and open God’s word. Read with intention. Submit to the One who is able to save your soul.

Sleep is a marvelous thing!  Why is it that the Lord in His infinite and marvelous wisdom created man with a need to sleep at least a third of the day? We, who are fearfully and wonderfully made? We who were formed from the dust of the ground, whose breath is given by Almighty God?

Why sleep? Why is sleep one of our most basic needs?

I think that it has something to do with the basic pride of man. We like to think that we are so wise and so powerful and so much in control of our own destiny that we really don’t need God. God has made us a tremendous promise. “I will be a God to you and to your seed after you.” But we say, “No thanks. I think we got this just fine.”

But 8 hours every day, we are completely out of control. We lock our doors and buy fancy security systems, but when we close our eyes we are at the mercy of the elements, wild animals, criminals, fire…what else? We think that we can take care of whatever ails us in this life and God reminds us of our absolute dependence upon Him by making us need to close our eyes and sleep. Without His care, we would not last a moment.

Perhaps this is why our modern age has such a struggle with insomnia. We don’t want to give up control. So we lay awake worrying about the future, about enemies, about sickness and the economy. We fret and we worry – and we can’t even add one inch to our lifespan! Worry, as a wise pastor told me once, is simply praying to yourself – and we make very poor gods. All we can manage is to toss and turn on our beds fretting, but we can’t make one hair black or white by giving thought.

How much more helpless are we when it is time to lay down and sleep?

Look at the words of Psalm 127:

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Psa 127:1-2)

What can we do when the Lord fights against us? And what can we not do when He is our strength and our shield? He who never sleeps nor slumbers is the keeper of Israel, the shade on our right hand.

Only this way can His beloved know the sleep of peace.

For this reason, David prays before bed,

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psa 4:8)

The Shepherd of Israel guides us to green pasture and causes us to lie down. He gives His beloved ones sleep.

The King of all creation is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We who have fled to Jesus for refuge are united to Him. So for the sake of Jesus, God is also OUR God and Father. Since He is almighty, He is able to give us all things necessary for our salvation. Since He is our Father for the sake of Jesus Christ, He is willing to give us all things. “Fear not, little flock,” said Jesus, “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!”

Rest in peace, and sleep, for who can take you from your Father’s hand?

While I draw this fleeting breath; when my eyelids close in death;
When I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.

Good night, everyone, and may the God of all peace give you rest and safety!

Once upon a time, there was a great and mighty city that was under siege by an ancient and powerful enemy. The enemy had destroyed many cities before. The city held firm for many days and then the warriors began running away from the battle and the ancient enemy started breaching the walls.
The wise men of the city investigated where all the warriors went. They were charged to defend the wall against the attack on the enemy and they had disappeared. Where did they go?
After many days they were found. They were measuring the skirts of their wives and daughters making sure that they weren’t turning into liberal feminists.
The enemy eventually destroyed the city. Pride and fear have caused many cities to fall.

As Reformed Christians, we get a lot right.  We have rightly rejected the false theology of the Methodists that led to prohibition. We rightly affirm that all things are given to us by God and are clean if they are sanctified by the word and thanksgiving. And we are right whenever we include beer, wine and spirits in the list of good things given to us by God.

But in our zeal for the correction of self-righteousness I fear that we often overcorrect. Moses warned us not to stray to the right hand or to the left. We must stay on the path of God’s revelation. Far too often, we look at one’s beverage of choice as a test of Reformed Orthodoxy. I happen to prefer iced water with my meals, and I cannot tell you how often I receive sideways glances or even intense questioning of my orthodoxy when I turn down wine or a beer.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not a teetotaler. I also robustly affirm that God created all things good and that they should be received with thanksgiving, alcoholic beverages included. I guess that I am actually more indifferent than anything else. If it sounds good when it is offered I might accept a beer or a glass of wine. But what usually sounds the best to me is iced water or perhaps a lemonade or iced tea. I would generally rather have a fresh-squeezed lemonade than a merlot or a micro-brew. But this is a question of taste, not an ethical or theological statement.

That being said, there is a danger that I see creeping up in Reformed circles that seems to me to be a far greater danger than even the dangers of teetotalism. We don’t take the sin of drunkenness as seriously as we ought. God told us quite plainly that a drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God.

⁹ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, ¹⁰ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God  (1Co 6:9-10).

Think about what Paul wrote here.  Christians inherit the kingdom of God.  Drunkards do not. The unavoidable conclusion is this.  You can be a drunkard, or you can be a Christian.  But you can’t be both.

I will even use the modern term since what I have to say might be more readily heard.  You can be an alcoholic, or you can be a Christian.  But you can’t be both.

The next statement will be extremely controversial.  Most of God’s word is. There is no such thing as a Christian alcoholic. They do not co-exist. They are contrary. According to the passage above, a Christian alcoholic is as meaningless as a Christian adulterer, a Christian sodomite, a Christian thief, or a Christian extortioner.

To continue on with the same thought: when it comes to all sin, you don’t taper off. We would never allow an adulterer to “repent” and at the same time keep his adulteress relationship. A repentant thief doesn’t continue to rob banks. A repentant homosexual doesn’t keep his old buddies around. There really is only one way to deal with sin: radical mortification. As John Owen said, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”

I am fully aware of addictions. All sin is addicting. Jesus raised quite a few eyebrows when he said, “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

The Pharisees responded, “We are Abraham’s seed and have never been in bondage to anyone.”

The response echoes today. “I’m not an alcoholic. I can quit anytime.” “I’ve been raised a Christian and have been catechized by the best in Reformed Tradition. I’ve never been in bondage!”

And Jesus’s response is the same, “He who commits sin is the slave of sin.”

The lie of the Pharisees is the same lie that Jesus is calling us to forsake: the lie that we can continue unrepentant in sin and have it all under control. We can quit any time; that God cares more about pedigree and correct doctrine than he does about holiness. That we can be repentant and at the same time continue to love our sins.

Please do not be deceived. Drunkenness is an abomination against God; it is perverse and hateful rebellion. It is an idolatry and bondage to wickedness.

I do not say this to be spiteful and mean to those who are caught in this sin. I say this because only by acknowledging this truth can you be set free from it.

We know that Jesus actually does set us free from sin – even the sin of drunkenness.

Ezekiel foretold it:

 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. (Eze 36:25 KJV)

And again here:

 23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.

And Paul acknowledged that this had indeed been fulfilled. After strongly rejecting the sin of the unbeliever in the passage quoted above, he writes:

 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11).

But do not allow the grace of God to distort the Bible’s teaching on the horrors of sin. God’s grace is for those who acknowledge the filthiness of sin, not for those who continue to live in sin that “grace may abound”.

Do not let false views of Christian liberty distort the damnable sin of drunkenness. Christian liberty sets us free from bondage; it never places us back into it.

And do not ever think that words are the same as repentance. God does not desire our words of sorrow; our further lies and self-pity. He desires to save us from our misery by acknowledging the truth. Turn from your ungodly ways and live, says the Lord God. Repentance is not saying “I’m sorry”. Repentance is a hatred of sin, turning from it more and more as hateful to God, and at the same time, turning to the living God, seeking to please Him in all things.

It is better to renounce all creatures than to do the least thing against the will of our Father in Heaven.

Young people, as you head off to college, please remember this. Drunkenness is now expected behavior. But you are treading on very dangerous ground. Do not be partakers with them, for because of this the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience. It isn’t a game; it isn’t fun; it isn’t something to trifle with.

Sin should fill the hearts of God’s people with abhorrence and horror.

If you are caught in this sin, there is only one way to freedom, and it is offered to you freely by God. Repent. Turn from it with confession and abhorrence and turn to Christ, your only savior. Medical help might be helpful in getting you through the physical effects, but it can never take the place of repentance. It is not enough to clean the outside of the cup; repentance must go to the heart.

Repentance is always a recognition of the truth of scripture. Therefore true repentance always acknowledges this hard fact: if you are in bondage to alcohol, you are not a Christian. It does no good to fool yourself on this count, for God is not fooled. The only solid ground on which to place our assurance is in the word of God, not in our feelings, our upbringing, or our assent to certain orthodox doctrines. The word of God says that a drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Before we can know the comfort of our redemption, we must first know the how great our sin and misery is (Heidelberg 2). My duty as a shepherd of God’s people is to declare what God has said. It is both unloving and untrue for me to say otherwise. I cannot stand on the tower and refuse to sound a warning. There can be no hope of the gospel without a true recognition of the enormity of sin.