Fidelity, Sanctity, and Orthodoxy

Today on Renewing Your Mind. One of the tests of my faithfulness to Jesus Christ is my faithfulness to the least and lowest of his people.

The test of my faithfulness to Jesus Christ by calling the ease with which I hang around with good students who are most like me and have my background.

But the commitment I showed to the student who struggles with a specialization of Renewing Your Mind. I believe many of you listen regularly to our program, you know that was the unmistakable voice of Wigner teaching fellow, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson. We were so pleased to have Dr. Ferguson on our campus recently to deliver the convocation message to students at Reformation Bible college. He encouraged them to be men and women who pursue God and, indeed, that's an important charge for all of this is in it. That's why we please defeat Ferguson's message today on our program started.

Dr. Ferguson is referring to second Timothy chapter 1 verse eight to pick out from these lights lit up in great photos three ideas to sum up in three words that could well send you as a mortal. For the year for your college years and deed for your whole life. In fact, we could sell the college as a mortal. On the one saw fidelity sanctity and orthodoxy. Fidelity sanctity Orthodox fidelity is what Paul is speaking about in verse eight do not be ashamed of the testimony about tone bar don't be ashamed of the gospel might think. After the years that took Paul and being with Timothy but Timothy would not need that reminder. After all, he must've been one of the best theologically schooled individuals in the first century. But Paul recognizes possible to be well schooled and well schooled by godly men on yet to be little more than well educated and a good education need something more if it's going to lead to a fruitful Christian life on the 40 outages upon Timothy this affects you.

All fidelity be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and the reason he obtuseness upon Timothy is because if you are faithful to Jesus Christ. That is an inevitable consequence. This is the logic that leads Paul to say, do not be ashamed of the testimony, but share something for the gospel by the part of God. The apostle Paul had surely one of the most intriguing mindset that about us being in one of the challenges and delights of executing what he wrote for us to ask the question what is it that leads him from sentence to sentence and what leads him from sentence to sentence here is the simple notion fidelity to Christ will bring something in your life and so this is a call to Timothy for the fresh wave of consecration to the gospel of Jesus Christ, come what may. The degree of something we experience is entirely in the hands of God. It is utterly a matter of his Providence baton willingness to yield ourselves to Christ. Whatever the costs but is the calling that is given to us. It used to be normal in Christian living, that you would be willing to go anywhere or do anything on something and nothing for Jesus Christ and that is precisely the calling, the apostle Paul gives here to Timothy but you notice he does something, but two offices both come to an intuitive fund actually rather striking. He dares to include himself in the same sentence. So Timothy, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord and don't be ashamed of me, the prisoner of course he's referring to his context. He describes it in chapter 4. People of turned away from him.

His closest companions out elsewhere, something the gospel. Demas has forsaken him.

Nobody stood by him. It's in this context that Paul is saying to Timothy. Be faithful to Christ and be faithful to me because I belong to Christ, albeit not in my weakest and poorest and neediest and loneliness and coldness bring my cool before winter count and the implication of this I think is fairly obvious that one of the tests of my faithfulness to Jesus Christ is my faithfulness to the least and lowest of his people to those who are marginalized to those who are suffering those who are media's test of my faithfulness to Jesus Christ by calling is not the ease with which I hang around with a group of students who are most like me and have my but the commitment I showed to the student who struggles to the student becomes somewhat difficult, but the student who may himself or herself be angular and difficult and we know that this is true because Jesus has made this the standard of our commitment to him in as much as you've done it to one of the least of these my brothers you've done it to me and inasmuch as you have not done it one of the least of these my brothers you have not done it to me so this is a great calling products to be willing to supplement the diversity of ways for the name of Jesus Christ because that is the expression of fidelity. It's one of the wonderful obscure notes in the New Testament that we know Timothy did this remembrance almost the last wind and the anonymous letter to the Hebrews when the author says you should know that our brother Timothy is being released and I will see that he comes to you soon released from prison because he was willing to do anything, go anywhere self identified because of his fidelity to Jesus Christ. The second word is sanctity and it still. This pole leads Timothy do this.

He says because the God who gives us power to do this and saving us has called us to a holy calling our calling to be holy. One of the great forgotten environments of the modern Christian church, the holiness of God and the holiness of his people. No notice from these words come pole comes to this event builds up all that God has done in Christ followers in order to create this sanctity.

This holiness's, he tells us God sent his heart upon it from before the dawn of time that he sent his son to accomplish it by his death and resurrection, his ascension and his heavenly rain is bringing immortality and light to the gospel. What is the goal of this. The goal of this is that he might transform us and make us holy.

Holiness is not an optional addition to our calling. Holiness is: holiness is the only thing that will last for all eternity in the presence of God and that is why the apostle is taking it upon him here and now. What is it while it's being like Jesus but solicitors. You remember how much more so modeling. He says the same thing in Romans 829 he has predestined us so that we might be conformed to the image of his son like you might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Any of you who recognize the name of the church to which I belong. Some features free church in the medieval know that the first Minister of church was Robert Marty McShane. He died 20 was only a few years older than you are, but he prayed Lord, make me as holy as it is possible for a saved sinner to be and when he spoke to one of his friends. He spoke with great wisdom when he said this.

Remember this the rest of the alliance, it is not great talents God blesses great likeness to Jesus. That's what the great click in the text is about doesn't.

The whole purpose of the renewing of our minds is not merely educational it's transformational. The goal of that transformation is that we might be made like Lord Jesus Christ because we've set our hearts on holiness. So fidelity and sanctity. Yes, cuddly orthodoxy returns to this. Towards the end of those verses when he urges him not only not to be ashamed of the gospel. But in verse 13 to follow the pattern of the assigned words that you've heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, God good deposit that was entrusted to you. And of course he's speaking about what we call orthodoxy. The good deposit. It's not something Timothy is to invent, but it's the gospel that he is to receive and understand and in his own ministry proclaiming because it's full of soundbites. Healthy words health giving wireless. This is the point of the gospel. This is the point of the Scriptures.

It produces health under Spall rights his final C focuses on this as you remember more and more, partly because he sees more and more clearly what is opposite, produces these he speaks about in the second chapter he says it's like poison but spreads like gangrene.

It kills I've often said to people you know those on the Christians did not believe that martyrdom would destroy the church, but they were absolutely convinced that false teaching would destroy the church, and so Paul has become passionate about this so teaching health giving teaching of always love to use, especially in the United States when I speak about orthodoxy somewhat parallel word orthodontist when people say to me what the big differences between people in Scotland and people in the United States. One of my answers as chief so I do go to the orthodontist he thinks, but at least he says with apologies to any orthodontist present or future orthodontist in the college.

He says it's it's probably so that he can straighten your bike so that there will be no ill health in you in the future but that's not why you go there you go there to get your bike straight you go there to get your smile straight on the results of it, at least judging by the huge posters I see is that you are likely to be much more attractive.

After those visits to the orthodontist would be another line so it straightens the bite and it creates attractiveness, which is of course exactly what orthodoxy cuts straightens out views of God and gives us a high view of his glory and at the same time.

By God's grace that mixes like the Lord Jesus, and therefore by definition more attractive to those in whose lives.

The Holy Spirit is beginning to work fidelity sanctity and orthodoxy. I find that overwhelming and definitely intrigued by the fact that Paul says something to Timothy that he says to no other individual and to no other church right to the beginning of this letter when he wishes him.

In verse two to Timothy, my beloved child, grace, mercy, and peace. Grace of course is the way in which God, some pardons is so lovingly in our sins and pieces of fruit of our justification but mercy is God coming to us in our weakness in St. Louis. My grace is sufficient for your needs and my strength is made perfect in your weakness. So that is mercy for by the arson in God's grace and in your piece made you more and more become a group of men and women whatever blessings your college years give to you who are marked by fidelity sanctity unorthodox and willing to go anywhere or do anything not to be faithful to that was Dr. Sinclair Ferguson speaking to the students at Reformation Bible college.

He delivered that message and are convocation weekends several weeks ago and joining me here in the studio is the president of Reformation Bible college. Dr. Steven Nichols Dr. Nichols. That was a special weekend. Not just because of the convocation, but because of other important events that occurred that weekend. Would you talk about that.

That's right leaves a very important moment in our young life as a college.

Not only was it her convocation which is sacred moment of dedicating the upcoming year that students and faculty was also the dedication of our new building and not only do we have Dr. Ferguson speaking a bagpiper play. We also had the congregation full of our students with the largest student body ever in the history of RBC. This year we had many guests join us and we had a number of alumni come back as well as family of our students. It was a true special community moment into. It was long time in the making.

Lee and it had been on the books for years and prior to that it was planned.

In fact, it was right there in the beginning is Dr. scroll had the idea for Reformation Bible college back in the first decade of the 2000s in early one of my fondest memories of times.

Dr. scroll was back in 2017 and in March, just ahead of Farley international conference. We had the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building and Dr. Schroll had a construction helmet was actually a Steelers helmet, his beloved sailors. Eddie had a sparkle in his eye and he was so happy to be there at the groundbreaking and and now we have the reality of the new building.

I was thinking back to that groundbreaking ceremony. Dr. Nichols and that thinking that he would have loved being part of this building dedication to see it. He said that a true Christian College is committed to the premise that the ultimate truth is the truth of God. How is the college's mission animated by that very much so animated by that Lee wheat we want students who are committed to the word of God, who know the word of God but also our convictional in that belief.

You know we we live in a moment where that casual Christianity that very much.

Or sometimes is called cultural Christianity that very much dominated the landscape, especially of American culture.

It's it's shrinking it's collapsing it's it's no longer culturally or socially helpful to be a Christian. In fact, it could be harmful so that cultural Christianity is is disappearing. But in its place is a convictional Christianity and that's what we see among our students. That's were trying to do and we want to train them in the truth of God's word not just that they know it, but this was Dr. scroll. He was an apologist at heart they're willing to defend it and contend for the truth to be Christians of conviction. That's what we want to flood the world with. I'd like for listeners to hear from one of your students name is Stephen nannies from Eastern Pennsylvania on the very first day.

Here is our new student orientation.

Dr. tween Dale said we could care less about your acquisition of a degree we care that you leave RBC with a greater love for Christ than when you came and I clearly I have remember that to this day.

2 1/2 years and I try to remind myself of that is much as possible is very easy to get caught up in the academic rigor of the college which is a tremendous thing. This school is very difficult. We just finished midterms last week, so it's fresh in my mind how difficult the school is but it is a great experience. We are studying the truth of God the holiness of God.

Biblical study systematic theology, church history, it is such a blessing to be here and to be able to study such sacred things but that is secondary to growing in our holiness through our time here Dr. tween. Bill said that and it sort of painted a picture for me of the mission of the faculty. There last night at the convocation we saw them all profess what they believe is a faculty that's one of the best things about RBC is we have a unified faculty. I like to say that the curriculum brought me down here, but the professors keep me here.

These professors are such brilliant men. Many of the leading scholars in their fields, but they show us what it means to live theology. They don't just teach what they teach, they live, what they teach is impressive. So encouraging Dr. Nichols to hear that and I hope it gives to prospective students and their parents an idea of what to expect if they decide to attend here.

I so enjoyed listening to Stephen just now you know he wants to be a pastoral unit. I think he's on his way. But one of the things that you pick up there and in you get the insiders perspective here of what were trying to do it. RBC is that emphasis on their personal holiness, not just knowing who God is, but based on that knowledge and having their heads filled with that knowledge to grow in their love for God and their desire to worship him. That's what were trying to accomplish and or student/that they develop biblical worldview that they will live from and live out of for the rest of their lives and that permeates every area of their lives and the remarkable thing is this is not just happening because of the professors impact on students lives, as Stephen just so eloquently testified to that. Also how they impact each other and how within the student body that impact for personal discipleship, personal growth, and holiness is so rich and so vibrant at Reformation Bible college every week Glover or someone like someone else's apartment in China sending fine like me think of sending an IA or we make dinner together and I now one of my friends. He has a prayer meeting every Wednesday 710 must come together everything if you hands semipro Amy read a little bit of a certain passage in the Bible me, get to just talk together and have a nice fellowship and that something on my favorite thing stepping down yourself. I Dr. Nichols, you and I are both the parents and as I listened to that. I'm thinking that's the kind of institution that's the kind of college where I want my children to go you rightly there really is something unique and urgent. I would say about what were trying to do on the campus of Reformation Bible college and the beauty of this is you can see it already in the results.

You can see it in the alumni that have gone out and we have some who are already ordained and serving in churches, we have alumni serving as Christian schoolteachers we have alumni who are young parents themselves late in raising up the next generation. And then of course you can see it in the students, you know, being at the college and having the college. Of course there are expenses that go along with that and one of the ways that we've tried to present this need to the folks who are out there. If through it were calling the right now counts forever fund and we called it that. Of course, because he goes back to Dr. scroll's byline in table talk, but it also represents what Dr. scroll is after you know that first byline came in 1977 and the subtitle for his byline was the Pepsi generation and this was the now generationally they were just infatuated with the now. This was rampant.

What we would call secularism, and it came like a barn buster on the American scene NRC was pushing against that with all his might.

When he said that simple statement right now is not about right now. Right now counts forever. That is so true in the lives of our students that what they are learning and what they will take with them once they leave us as an account for Everly as a matter of eternal consequences while redoing their sewer asking folks to come along and help us with this right now counts forever recognizing that it contribution today will have a generational impact through the lives of our students and you have that opportunity to come alongside of us and be a part of the exciting thing that God is doing on our campus.

You can contact us now with your generous donation when you call us at 800-435-4343. You can also give online when you go to Reformation Bible college.org/give that's Reformation Bible college.org/give the number again is 800-435-4343 and when you call.

If you'll tell her colleagues said that your giving to the right, now counts forever fund. We would appreciate it and we do appreciate your generous donation. Dr. Nichols, thank you for being with us today. By the way, if you didn't join us yesterday. I Dr. Nichols and I provided you are listeners with a tour of the brand-new building and you can go back to Renewing Your Mind.org and look in the archives and listen to that program.

This building is magnificent and we were honored to provide that to her yesterday, so get Dr. Nichols thank you for being with us today is been my pleasure really think you and we hope you'll join us again Monday for Dr. Steven Lawson series the new birth.

In John chapter 3 Nicodemus is confused when Jesus says that one must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus was confused so we have to ask the question what did Jesus mean by find out Monday on Renewing Your Mind