You're Approved in Christ

By Ray Ortlund Jr.

"For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man?

If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10

Paul had lived for human approval. That's what his uppity legalism had really been about. It's why the word "still" is in there: "If I were still trying to please man . . . ." Paul gave it up, in order to please God.

It is so freeing to stop caring so much about what people think. It is so freeing to lift your eyes to Christ, whose approval is all that finally matters. What does he want from you? Not that people would think you're wonderful, but that your gospel would be pure and honoring to him. You can't control how people respond. That is their own responsibility before God. And if your gospel is pure, some will inevitably disapprove (2 Cor 2:15-16) and will blame you for it. Why? The impenitent are incapable of self-awareness. Don't be discouraged. Just keep your gospel clear. And keep your heart close to the Lord.

Here is his word to you: "Approved."

What if He Won't Lead?

This past Sunday we explored the issue of submission in marriage from Ephesians 5. The text is clear that a man should lead in his home and is responsible for the spiritual growth of his wife and children, but how should a wife should respond if her husband won't lead?

To begin with, her concept of leadership might be different from what the Bible teaches. Leadership doesn’t have one specific form. So her husband might be leading, and she just doesn’t like the way he leads. She wants him to lead another way. In that case it’s not a leadership problem, it’s a submission problem.

But assuming he’s really not leading, she needs to examine herself and be sure she’s not just automatically stepping into the leadership role. This might lead him to not feel the need to lead. He might step up if she weren’t already filling that space. Instead, her first step should be to lovingly, respectfully, and submissively share her concerns with him and give him the chance to lead. If he still won’t lead, she can lead her children. And she can do all she can to grow in godliness herself. Women don’t need leaders (this thought implies an inequality between men and women, with women being inferior). Instead, God’s direction is that in marriage, men ought to lead. There’s a world of difference here. His failure to lead isn’t holding her back spiritually. She can grow and develop and be complete in Jesus without his leadership. But she should not try to lead her husband. Her role is to submit, even if he won’t lead.

Eschatology Conversation

You can now listen to or watch "An Evening of Eschatology," a conversation about the end times with John Piper, Doug Wilson, Sam Storms, and Jim Hamilton.

You can also read John Piper's thoughts on this event for some introduction to the issues being discussed.

HT: Desiring God