faith

Invading the World

by Ben Zornes · Mar 11, 2025

As the Gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection invades and permeates this world, it does so primarily in this visible word. This is a sign that Christ has obtained the ancient promise given to Abraham to cleanse mankind of all his sins against God by simply receiving this great gift by faith. Of course, each one must lay hold of this promise by faith, but that is what this sign is a promise of: God washes away the sins of those who come to Christ by faith.

Thus, these parents are tasked with holding this promise with resolute faith. You all, as fellow heirs of this promise, are tasked with exemplifying this faith, and surrounding this young saint with a community of believers who really believe all the promises of God are “Yes and Amen in Christ.” And this little one is called, by the thunder of this waterfall, to believe this promise all her days, until at last she enters the heavenly reward of everlasting life with Christ.

So welcome our sister/brother to Jesus Christ…

Hard Law, Hot Gospel 3a | Foolish Galatians

by Ben Zornes · Mar 2, 2025

Introduction

Perhaps you’ve had the frustrating experience of being in a crowded reception, making small talk with someone you barely know. The music and crowd noise is deafening. The lips of your interlocutor are moving, but you only catch every other word. Trying to piece together what they are saying takes all your focus. Even then you nod politely, offering the obligatory “oh yeahs” and “for sures”. This is the opposite of the Gospel proclamation. When the Gospel is proclaimed faithfully, it is not only crystal clear, but it is forcibly potent to display Christ before formerly blind eyes.

The Text

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. […]
Galatians 3:1-14

Summary of the Text

The Apostle Paul is still at a fever pitch. The Galatians are called fools for being bewitched, and this bewitching resulted in their disobedience from looking in faith to Christ crucified (v1). They are confronted with a series of rather embarrassing rhetorical questions: did they receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by the hearing of faith (v2)? Are they really so foolish as to try to perfect what the Spirit began by means of the flesh (v3)? Why have they endured sufferings for the Gospel, only to vainly toss it aside (v4)? Lastly, Paul confronts them with a piercing question about whether the Spirit which was poured out upon them, and the wondrous signs done in their midst were accomplished by the arm of fleshly might or by the hearing of faith (v5).

To prove that justification is not by works of the flesh but by the power of the Spirit working faith in us, Paul points to Abraham’s example of faith (v6, Gen. 15:6). Then he makes a bold statement: those who believe are the true children of Abraham, full stop (v7). Paul proves that this doctrine is not newly minted, but is more ancient than the Law itself. He does this with a sequence of six proof-texts. The heathen being included in the blessings of faith in Christ was foretold when the gospel was preached to Abraham (v8, Gen. 12:3 & 18:18). By faith you share with Abraham the blessing promised to him (v9). That the blessing came by faith and not law is obvious because a curse was upon those who failed to keep everything contained in the law, a certainly impossible task (v10, Deu. 27:26). Paul says this is plain as day, Habakkuk said so, don’t you know (v11, Hab. 2:4)?!

This is set in contrast to the doing which the law demands for those who would obtain life (v12, Lev. 18:5) But since none is righteous in their doing of the Law and therefore under the curse, Christ came to take the curse for us upon Himself (v13, Deu. 21:23). Christ did this for us (the Jews) in order that the Gentiles might be showered with all the blessings promised to Abraham. The central promise is that of the Spirit and which we receive by faith alone (v14).

The Hearing of Faith

Visual media is predominant in our age. But up until the printing press was invented, most people who lived never read a book. Rather, the tales were told and retold. The herald would come to the town square with the king’s decree. This was how most people in ancient times received news and instruction. It is interesting that Paul here rebukes the Galatians for not seeing what he had set before their eyes: Christ crucified. How did Paul set Christ crucified before their eyes? By heraldry. By preaching.

The blindness and deafness of unbelieving Jews during Jesus earthly ministry, which Isaiah had foretold (Is. 6:9), was contagious. The Galatians had succumbed to this infectious moral disease. So Paul grills them with his series of questions. Notice what he contrasts the works of the Law with: the hearing of faith. This is a bit of a curious phrase, that I think we can take two ways. You might simply say: believe what you’ve heard. This would be quite true. Nevertheless, Paul’s phrase “the hearing of faith” seems to have more meat on the bones than just “believe what I told you.” Tying it back to the “faith of Christ” we saw in the last chapter, we can see that for Paul, hearing the story of Christ is more than just relating historical facts. Proclaiming the message of Christ’s faithfulness is potent. You want to see Christ? Then listen to the Gospel of His perfect faithfulness, His perfect faith, as displayed by all that is contained in Christ crucified. Hearing of Christ, hearing of the Word made manifest, is hearing that the New Creation, promised in ancient times has now burst onto the scene.

Of course, God’s people, even under the Law, were summoned to hear and believe God’s covenant promises: “Hear, O Israel…”. Paul is insisting that it isn’t the works of the Law, but the hearing of faith by which the Galatians received the Spirit. The Judaizers wanted the Galatians to go backwards in time, to start the board game where the Jews started it. As we’ll see later, the Gentile nations don’t have to go through the same course which the Jews did. Luther’s remarks on this is glorious: “The human heart does not understand or believe that such a great treasure-namely, the Holy Spirit—is given only by believing what we hear.” And so this begs the question, what had the Galatians heard? For that it is worth looking at what Paul proclaimed to the Galatians when he first established churches there (Acts 13:14-14:23). Paul had heralded that Christ had obtained for all nations what Isaiah had foretold: the sure mercies of David (Is. 55:3-5). This preaching was marked by both the believing Galatian Jews and Gentiles being filled with Joy and the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:52).

Doing or Believing

It is a perennial temptation to find a righteousness we can point to and take credit for. Here’s my good behavior, my tithe record, my church attendance, my voting record, my degrees and certifications. But you are not justified by reciting the catechism properly. You are not justified by knowing the doctrine of justification by faith alone. You are blessed with faithful Abraham by trusting in God as he did. Paul says that the Gospel was preached to Abraham. What was that Gospel? It was that God’s blessing––the blessing of the Spirit––would be poured out upon all the nations. And how was this accomplished? Through Christ crucified. Nothing else. Not your filthy rags or mine. You want to see your salvation? Look to Christ, and only to Christ, not to your attainments, no matter how impressive.

This is what your baptism is a promise of. The deep and inner washing which only the Spirit of God can bring about. This washing gets in every corner. It cleanses every crevice. It purges the filth of the most beastly sins as well as the most respectable sins. All nations are welcome to the Spirit’s washing. Christ’s death and resurrection really did hush the Law’s loud thunder, so that you can unmistakably hear what He declares: you are clean. So, having heard of Christ, having heard of His faithfulness, believe that He gives you the washing which comes by His Spirit of holiness dwelling in you.

CHARGE & BENEDICTION

It is utterly important that we understand the order of salvation rightly. It really is believe first, do second. Legalism says do first, believe second. Believe that Christ really has washed you by His Spirit, and you didn’t contribute anything but the filth that needed washing.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Other Sermons in this series

The Scandalous Gift of Salvation

by Ben Zornes · Feb 27, 2025

If a pushy salesman shows up at your door to hawk his wares you are unlikely to cave to his spiel. No matter how slick he is, no matter how many Jedi mind-tricks he tries to play on you, you are disposed to be suspicious of “too good to be true” sales pitches.

This is suspicion is well applied when it comes to fending off the salesman. However, our cynical suspicion can all too often leak into our understanding of what Christ holds out to us. What He holds out to you, as shown in the meal, is everlasting life. Bread for your hunger, wine for your thirst, and an assembly of fellow saints to enjoy it all with. It is beyond our comprehension that this is pure gift. Christ gives this to us as sheer grace.

There is no fine print. There are no hidden fees. The only thing required of you, He also provides. He calls you to see, and gives you eyes. He offers you this bread and gives you hands in order that you may “take, and eat.” This is, of course, what faith is. It, too, is a gift. The gift which enables you to hold all the other gifts. The marvelous glory of our salvation is that it really is entirely a gift, so that none of us can boast.

If such a gift is given, the response should be nothing other than love. Indeed, that is why the early church took to calling the Lord’s Supper a love feast. That indeed is what it is. His love is great towards His people, and if you have heard the splendor of Christ crucified on your behalf then receive it. Without objection, without cynicism, without excuses, without embarrassment at how great the gift is. Here is love, so respond in love.

So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…

The Architecture of the Christian Life

by Ben Zornes · Jan 2, 2025

Baptism sketches out for us what the entire architecture of the Christian life should be: faith accompanied by ready obedience. Baptism isn’t a word which man speaks, but is a visible word which God speaks. In this sign He promises to unite us to all the grace found in the person and work of Christ. God extends this sign in grace, and the one baptized receives it in passive faith.

But since faith without works is dead, baptism summons the one baptized to put off the old man, mortify the flesh, and strive by the power of the Spirit to imitate Christ. Corporately, we see then that baptism is the Church acting in faith (trusting in all of God’s covenant promises) and an act of obedience (doing according to all our King has commanded). Believe and be baptized really is the shape of the Christian life. Or as the hymn writer put it: trust and obey.

So welcome our brother to Jesus Christ…

Bread in Hand

by Ben Zornes · Nov 1, 2024

If this meal is not taken in faith it’s not only taken in vain, it’s taken unto damnation. This has led the church at times to put the Supper out of reach. But such actions were evidence of a defective, not excessive, reverence.

While there is nothing holier than the Lord Jesus in His exalted and glorified state, our response to this glory ought not to be to shrink back. He became flesh, died and rose again, in order to draw you unto Himself. The height of His glory should fill us with awe, the sort of awe between a couple on their wedding day.

Jesus calls you to partake of this feast by faith. But many turn this summons into a work of the flesh instead of a gift of grace. They try to summon up a very sanctimonious mood of what they imagine faith should feel like. But Jesus gives us a hint as to how to partake by faith. In effect, He says, “Here’s some bread. Here’s some wine. Take it in your hand. Put it in your mouth. Let it fill your stomach.” As easily as you take hold of and consume these elements is akin to how you must lay hold of Christ by faith. He hands you grace, and you put out your hand. Of course, our hand too is a gift of His grace.

Faith isn’t a final act on our part to get us across the finish line of salvation. Rather, it’s the first act of new-begotten life. Just like your bodily strength is a blessing of physical life, so faith is the blessing which arises from the new life which electing grace effects. So take hold of this bread, and know that with the same ease you might boldly lay hold upon the holiest of all: Jesus Christ our Risen Lord.

So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…

Make Your Enemies Flee

by Ben Zornes · Sep 11, 2024

Introduction

It may be an uncomfortable truth, but you have enemies. Don’t pretend otherwise. You are amongst the ranks of the church militant. Congrats.

Your Enemies

Sin – Internal
World – External
Devil – Supernatural

Like Moses

During the wilderness wanderings Moses led Israel in a daily liturgy: Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when [the ark] rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel (Num 10:35-36).

Your battle with sin must be met with firm faith in the covenant promises found in the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat. Does your private life reflect your public baptism? If you would leave your sin it will not be because you find it inconvenient or you get bored of it. Sin is overcome when you behold a greater glory in Christ.

You do not have a high enough view of God. Is there sin in your life that you continually struggle with? Then fix your eyes on Christ.

Like Jehoshaphat

Steadfast worship of the living God. Do you sing with all your might?

Now the enemies in the world are daunting as well. How are they scattered? Jehoshaphat gives us a wonderful example. You commit yourself to sincere worship of the living God.

Imagine the people of God gathering each Lord’s Day to worship the Lord with eagerness, to hear God’s word with zealous faith, and to confess their sins diligently. Our worship is formal, but that doesn’t mean it should be frumpy. Use your outdoor voice.

You stand, right now, before the presence of the only Living God. This God made everything visible and invisible. He wrote the code that is your DNA, and because He is the only truly original author He wrote a different code for every other creature upon earth. And you doubt that true worship of this God will have no effect?

Like Christ

The Lord scattered His enemies through humility, sacrifice, and death. If you want your enemies to flee before you, you must follow in Christ’s footsteps. You must humble yourself. You must die to your pride and prestige. You must die to your fear of man. You must die to your desire to be well-liked by everyone. You must give up all your false opinions, all your lies, all your idols. You have to die. And the only way for you to die is to die in Christ.

Those who are in Christ share in His crushing the serpent’s head. So you must place your faith, entirely, and without qualification in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

And if you do so, you will find that all your shame and guilt is driven away. Every temptation that you are confronted with must not be faced by your own power, but you will be given the power of the Spirit of Jesus to overcome your sin, and repent of your sin when you do sin.

You’ll also find that your life becomes the sort of life which causes unbelievers to ask about the hope you have, and cling to you asking you to show them the way to God. And you must be certain that although there will be profoundly wicked tyrants who will not swerve from their designs against the saints, the Lord has promised that the worst they can do is kill you. And if you have rested in Christ, you too will cry out with the martyred saints before the throne of God, “How long oh Lord?” Jesus the Savior will one day return as the Judge and will make all things right.

That same Jesus, who died and rose again, summons you to rest in Him. And then you can face all foes with that wonderful confidence described in the 57th Psalm.

Word Centered Worship

by Ben Zornes · Sep 5, 2024

The Word of God is central to the Christian life. We do not worship according to vibes. We do not center ourselves through wordless trances. Our worship services are noisy and wordy. That’s a feature, not a bug.

God is a God who reveals Himself. He is not hiding. A common way to describe His revelation is that of the world and the word. Nature reveals the invisible God, leaving mankind without excuse. But the Word, when accompanied by the Spirit’s blessing, is a life-giving seed.

The Word begets life in us, granting us saving faith. The Word dwells in us richly, and this is the content for our songs of praise. The Word washes us as it is applied in our baptism. The Word nourishes us in the Lord’s Supper. Even in the relatively quiet moments of our service, when we kneel in silent confession, it is the light of the Word which shines into our hearts. In this light we meditate on how our lives are out of conformity to its truth. And then confess our sin in words of repentance.

However, a common mistake in Reformed circles is to think that making the Word central means making our brains central in our worship. Your body isn’t merely a vehicle to carry your enormous brain to church. Our God is free to do as He pleases. The Word will do what He always does: make light out of darkness; make life out of death; make enemies into friends. The Word gives content to muse upon, but He also gives us orders to do with these bodies which the bleeding Word has redeemed for His service.

Hearing the Word and not doing it is a great folly. Here we are gathered before the Word, by Word. So open your ears, prepare your hearts, and let the Word have free reign in you.