Key Life Network

Steve Brown: Jesus loves you, let it go to your head. Let's talk about it on Key Life.

Key Life is a radio program for struggling believers, sick of funny religion and pious clichés. Our host and teacher is seminary professor Steve Brown. He teaches that radical freedom leads to infectious joy and surprising faithfulness.

Thank you, Matthew. If you were listening yesterday, we're talking about self-image. And the way that a Christian has a good self-image is really counterintuitive. I mean, we don't do it by pretending that we're wonderful and nice and special. Though we are special, but in a different way.

In fact, parents who teach their kids that their kids are special and that the world owes them because they are, those kids are in for a rude awakening. But the self-image of a Christian is defined, and in short, simply by being justified.

And because we're justified, we're valuable, and because we're valuable, we're loved by the God who created us. That's why Christians, if they understand who they really are, have to be careful about arrogance and pride. Because I'm something else, I really am. My father owns it all. I don't live in the house of a servant, I live in the big house with a God of the Well, you get the idea.

And yesterday, if you were listening, we talked about the tax collector and sinner who went to the went to the church to pray and was so guilty he couldn't even look up. And how he left loved, acceptable and justified. That's where a Christian gets a good image.

And then there are other scriptures. There's the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. The Prodigal Son made a mess of his life with how he spent his father's money. Boy, this was a this was a kid you don't want to claim. I mean, what a jerk. He went to his father and says, "You're going to die. And I can't get my money until you die. So let's make a deal. Give me my money now, and I'll leave you alone."

What kind of kid says that to his father? That's horrible. Well, anyway, his father, and I wouldn't have, but his father gave him his inheritance. And then he went out and he spent his father's money. It was a life of sex and drunkenness and sin.

When the son ran out of money, he decided to return to his father because he figured, "At least I can get something to eat there." He decided to confess his sin to ask for mercy and maybe even get a job working on his father's farm.

When the Prodigal Son, and it blows you away, confesses on his knees before his father saying that he wasn't worthy to be his father's son, and he wasn't, by the way. His father doesn't respond, "Of course you're not worthy," or, "Son, you have a good heart," or, "Son, you're not that bad."

You know what the father does? He throws a party for his son. When our guilt, shame, fear, and regret are eating us alive, healing doesn't come by correcting or denying the lies that define us, rather in looking at the truth. The true truth about us, that includes correcting the false ways we've been defined by others.

The things we have believed that others have said about us. But a very large part of that is accepting the reality of who we are as human and sinful. And even more important than that is how the God of the universe defines us.

God is the only one who counts and has the right to define you. His definition is the only one that is accurate and He is the only one, as I've said, who has the right and the authority to define you and me.

How does he do that? He throws a party. That's what he does. What? Yes. A party you've been invited to at his invitation for you. It's the reality of unconditional love, acceptance, and mercy.

What would you do if you knew God accepted you just the way you are? Even knowing the secrets you don't dare tell and the shame you hide. The key, listen up, the key is the party. When we struggle with our guilt and fear and shame and regret, we only get sicker when we deny, minimize, and avoid them.

The key to remember is the party. The taste of the wine and the sound of the music. What? Now, there's more, and we're going to talk about it tomorrow, but that's at the very heart of it. It's God's acceptance of you totally without condition, without any kickers, without any problem. You're mine.

You're all mine, and I have defined you as the most valuable thing in the universe. I created you in my image. I sent my son to die on a cross for you. I love you. Is that okay? Once you get that, and how valuable you are to Him, not your parents, not your friends, not your preacher, but valuable to Him. Dear friend, that very understanding will change your life.

You think about that. Amen.

Well, it's Wednesday, and sometimes when I have some extra time on a Wednesday, I spend some time answering one or two questions. As you know, Pete Allinson will be in on Friday, and we'll devote the entire broadcast to questions and answers.

By the way, at Key Life, we we value you and your questions. You can, and you've heard me say this before, you can ask a question 24/7 anytime you want to. Just pick up the phone and dial 1-800 Key Life. That's 1-800-539-5433 and follow the instructions.

We'll record your question, and sometimes put your voice on the air. Or if you want to, you can send your question to Key Life Network, Post Office Box 5000, Maitland, Florida, 32794. If you live in Canada, it's Key Life Canada, Post Office Box 2860, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 6J8. Or you can email your question to Steve@keylife.org. And we will take your question seriously, and you.

And you knew I was going to say it, if you can help us financially, please do. I promise we'll squeeze every dime for the glory of God. And if you can't, we understand, but if you can, you'll help some brothers and sisters in Christ who can't.

Okay, let's turn to one or two of these questions. This is an email. Do you believe in election and predestination? But of course, doesn't everybody? Actually, I really do. I believe that God elects, but I believe that you elect too.

I believe that God predestines everything you do, but I believe that you are responsible, and you choose whatever you do. And you say, "Steve, that doesn't make any sense. You can't do that." That's because you and I are Aristotelian in our thinking.

It's the principle, the Aristotle principle of non-contradiction. 2 + 2 can't be 5 and 3 and 4 at the same time. And if God is sovereign, we're not free, and if we're free, God can't be sovereign. And that's that. No, that's not that. The Bible teaches both.

The Bible teaches that we are free and we are responsible for our thoughts and actions and all we do. The Bible teaches that God is absolutely sovereign over every molecule in the universe and in us. And we immediately say, "No, that can't be right."

My late friend, J.I. Packer, called that an antinomy. That's two truths that can't be both true, but are true. You say, "Well, explain it." I can't. That's the point.

Listen, if you've never stood before God and been totally confused without the foggiest idea of an answer to a question, if you've never felt that way, you're probably worshiping an idol. God says, through Isaiah the prophet, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways," says the Lord, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

We don't really believe it, but it's true. And so when you read the Bible, sometimes it feels counterintuitive. Actually, it sometimes seems crazy. Listen, it's God, folks. We don't understand, we can't understand God. He is infinite and we are finite. He's eternal and we tarry but just a little while.

And so, in answer to your question, yes and no. You're free. You really are free and responsible. Deal with it. And not only that, God is absolutely sovereign over everything. Deal with that and get a milkshake. I got to go. Key Life is a listener-supported production of Key Life Network.