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A Weekend with John MacArthur

Thursday, February 2, 2006

The first AM 980 KKMS FaithBuilder event of 2006 was “A Weekend with John MacArthur.” And what a weekend it was! If all pastors preached at Dr. MacArthur’s level, Christians would have a much better understanding of the Bible.

Don’t forget—look up scripture references for yourself, in case I’ve listed them incorrectly. Naturally errors and omissions in these notes are mine alone. For the most complete and accurant content, contact AM 980 KKMS to purchase event DVDs.

Part I: Scripture

MacArthur began by saying he is in agreement with the Chicago Statement on Biblical Authority.

Attacks on scripture

MacArthur has seen four major time periods in the 37 years since he graduated from seminary:

  1. Attack on the inerrancy of scripture
  2. Attack on the authority of scripture
  3. Attack on the sufficiency of scripture
  4. A shift from the priority of scripture—deep doctrine and exposition have watered down to suit the seeker movement.

A new time period has recently begun: an attack on the clarity of scripture. The seeker movement is becoming the emergent movement. We now have the hermeneutics of humanity: “I am too humble to tell you what the Bible means.”

Brian McLaren, perhaps the most visible and outspoken person in the emergent movement says, “Certainty is highly overrated.”

Interestingly, the first question in the Bible attacks the clarity and certainty of what God has said. “Did God actually say…” Genesis 3:1. This question assumes you have the right to judge the Word of God. The serpent continues the attack in Genesis 3.4, implying that we can assume God didn’t tell the truth or say what He said.

Today, people don’t want spirituality bound by theology, limits, or restraint.

Perspicuity of scripture—the Bible is clear

Impossible to be saved apart from scripture

The meaning of scripture is scripture

Approximately 85% of America call themselves Evangelical, yet only 12% believe in absolute truth.

When MacArthur graduated from seminary, he assumed he would have to defend the Gospel from non-Christians. He never thought he’d have to defend the Gospel from Evanglicals.

Spiritual babies

Growing up

Stages of growth:

  1. Cognition—knowledge: don’t confuse child-like faith with childish faith; today’s church is all superficial.
  2. Conviction—belief: 2 Corinthians 4:13: “I believed, and so I spoke”
  3. Affection—desire: Psalm 1:1-2; Paslm 19; Paslm 119

Part II: Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 is the doctrinal highlilght of the epistle—reconciliation

Reconciliation is by the will of God

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

God is by nature a reconciler. He is repeatedly referred to as our Savior in Titus.

God is a savior of all men [1 Timothy 4:10].

God allows another breath in this life, even though we sin. This common grace. [Romans 2] The question isn’t, “Why did God destroy or kill a particular group of people?” The question is, “What kind of God allows a sinner to live?”

As an example of how far God goes in reconciliation, MacArthur preached on the parable of the prodigal son [Luke 15].

If you have never heard expository preaching, you are really missing out. I have never heard the parable explained so clearly, and with such detailed background historical information. I will never see this parable again the same way. If you think it’s nothing more than the father being so happy to see his son return home that he has a celebration feast, then you don’t get it. This alone is worth the cost of the Friday DVD, but I’d spring for both.

Reconciliation is by the act of forgiveness

2 Corinthians 5:19

In the parable, the robe is a covering up for the son’s wrongdoings, the ring represents the authority given to the son, and the shoes the dignity he received.

Reconciliation is by the means of faith

2 Corinthians 5:20

Contrary to what most of us have been told, saving faith is profoundly difficult. [Luke 4:16-30: No prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

The gospel is for the spiritually poor, spiritually jailed, spiritually blind, and spiritually oppressed. (Contrast this to the physically poor, etc., which is generally all I see the church talking about today, at the expense of the spiritually poor, etc.) [Isaiah 61]

Luke 9:23 talks about denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, and following Christ. The meaning of deny in the Greek is to refuse to associate with. You need to refuse to associate with yourself. Not an easy thing to do.

In Luke 13:23-24 Jesus says to strive to enter the narrow door, that many will look for it but not find it. Saving faith is not readily found.

Saving faith also costs. Luke 14:26 says we are to hate our families, even our lives, if we are to follow Jesus. (Remember the rules of reading literally. Of course we’re not to hate our family members. Hate is being used as hyperbole.)

Finally, saving faith is difficult because it requires a change in how we think, which includes how we view the Bible. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 talks about the difficulty in bringing our thoughts under control.

Reconcilation is by the work of substitution

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

The only way God can be just while forgiving sin is to demand a substitute. [2 Corinthians 5:21]

Word of Faith teachings tell us Christ becomes a sinner, but that is wrong. If Christ had become a sinner, then the punishment of the cross would have only paid for His sins, not ours.

Instead, on the cross, God treated Christ as if He had committed every sin of every believer. He suffered an infinity of punishment in three hours, because He is infinite.

So what was the point of his 33 years? He was tempted in every way we are tempted, and yet He lived a perfect life. He lived my life, though perfectly, and that’s why He could be my subsitute for my sins.

Part III: Church

I will build my church, and nothing will stop it. [Matthew 16:18]

The complete Gospel includes salvation, then sanctification (knowing the truth), then glorification (hope of eternal life).

Who is the church promised to? To the Son. [Titus 1]

When was the church promised? Before time began. [2 Timothy 1:8-9]

Who is included in the church? All those promised to the Son. [John 6:37, 44]

After all is done, Christ gives Himself and His bride to the Father. [1 Corinthians 15:20-28]

The marks of the true church are love for Christ, love for truth, and love for each other.

Is it possible for the unregenerate to lead others to Christ? Yes. John Wesley preached in an unregenerate condition for years. Later, he reported his heart was strangely warmed. George Whitefield also preached in an unregenerate condition for years.

Part IV: Q & A

Keep in mind this is all paraphrased, and I may not have fully captured the questions or MacArthur’s responses.

Q. What is biblical tithing?

A. The Old Testament tithe was 10% of a person’s income. In OT times, there was a theocracy. Priests and Levites adminstered the theocracy. Tithes funded them. A second tithe funded national celebration and feasts. A third tithe was given every three years to take care of the poor. Averaged over a year, a person gave roughly 25%. It was not given in free will.

New Testament giving is based on the heart of the giver.

Q: Are rock concerts in church good to reach kids?

A: You reach people by the Gospel. You just need to be careful, because you give tacit approval to the base activities used in your attempts to spread the Gospel.

Q: (A question about forgiveness. I think the submitter had recently lost a brother in Iraq.)

A: Forgiveness frees the forgiver, regardless of the offender’s reaction.

Q: Which early church fathers do you recommend reading?

A: Irenaeus, Polycarp, Augustine, Ante-Nicene fathers, others.

Q. Does scripture allow women to be elders?

A: No, absolutely not. What do you do with the passage about a man of one woman? This is an attack on scripture. There were no women elders until the 1960s. Grudem has a book explaining egalitarian vs. complementarian views.

Q: Was the Rapture invented by Darby?

A: He maybe twisted it a bit, but we’ve got the twinkling of an eye, raised first, etc., not destined for wrath. Wrath refers to eternal wrath, not the tribulation.

There will be a pre-tribulation rapture. Compare the timelines in Daniel and Revelation. There is a gathering up and a coming down.

Q: Referring to Romans 1, can you be a Christian and a practicing homosexual?

A: Any Christian can sin, but you’re probably not a Christian if you continue in and defend your sin. Christians stumble and fall, but with a heartwrenching desire to be delivered. [Romans 7 ] As we grow, we sin less, but we feel worse for the sin we do commit.

Q: Is it OK for the wife to lead family devotions if the husband won’t?

A: The husband needs to step up, but if he won’t you can. Don’t punish him, but it is OK to remind him.

Q: What is the most amazing thing you’ve seen God do?

A: Work through me.

Q: Calvanism vs. Arminianism

A: Every major doctrine has apparent paradox. God keeps us, yet we are told to persevere.

Q: What is your response to, “You’re being too judgemental?”

A: Judge not, yet by fruits shall know—examine everything carefully. Don’t judge, but you must measure all against the Word. It’s the difference between rendering a final verdict (judging) vs. discernment (measuring against the Word).

We have the authority to say be loosed or bound in your sin, based on biblical standards. But, final judgement is Christ’s.

Q: Are we allowed to lie for good means? (Asked by a police officer who needs to obtain information from suspects, etc.)

A: It is probably OK to withhold truth or to say something without outright lying. Full disclosure is not required.

Remember, Rahab was not honored for her lies to hide the spies, but for her faith.

Q: Are we redeemed by Christ’s blood or His dying?

A: If Christ had not died, then there would have been no salvation. The blood of the cross refers to the pattern of shedding the blood of a sacrificial lamb.

Q: Do you agree with Dave Hunt?

A: No. He attacks the doctrine of sovereign election.

Q: Are you going to wait another 10 years before returning?

A: I just need an invitation.


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