Soli Deo Gloria

As we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday I hope to post a few articles and quotes that give us pause as we contemplate the glories of the cross of Jesus Christ and His resurrection. I’m reading through an excellent book entitled Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross which is a compilation of works by noted Christians such as Luther, Begg, Spurgeon, MacArthur and the like. I highly recommend this book. Following is an excerpt from one of the chapters by Martin Luther entitled “True Contemplation of the Cross” that really brings home a profound point to meditate on…

“Let us meditate a moment on the passion of CHrist. Some do so falsely in that they merely rail against Judas and the Jews. Some carry crucifixes to protect themselves from water, fire and sword, and turn the suffering of Christ into an amulet against suffering. Some weep, and that is the end of it. The true contemplation is that in which the heart is crushed and the conscience smitten. You must be overwhelmed by the frightful wrath of God who so hated sin that He spared not His only begotten Son. What can the sinner expect if the beloved Son was so afflicted? It must be an inexpressible and unendurable yearning that causes God’s Son Himself to suffer. Ponder this and you will tremble, and the more you ponder, the deeper you will tremble.”

How true is this profound statement! May we look long and hard into the Scriptures as we contemplate the life, death, resurrection and reigning ascension of the King of kings and see the glories of the cross of Christ. That on that cross the absolute perfect love and absolute perfect justice of God are simultaneously displayed. Let us be humbled by the glorious truth that “He made Him who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf so that we may have the righteousness of God in Him”! (2 Corinthians 5:21) What magnificent truth!

Soli Deo Gloria

The Gospel

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

Titus 2:11-14

Scripture

O MY SAVIOR,
Help me. I am slow to learn, so prone to forget, so weak to climb; I am in the foothills when I should be on the heights; I am pained by my graceless heart, my prayerless days, my poverty of love, my sloth in the heavenly race, my sullied conscience, my wasted hours, my unspent opportunities. I am blind while light shines around me: take the scales from my eyes, grind to dust the evil heart of unbelief.

Make it my chiefest joy to study Thee, meditate on Thee, gaze on Thee, sit like Mary at Thy feet, lean like John on Thy breast, appeal like Peter to Thy love, count like Paul all things dung. Give me increase and progress in grace so that there may be more decision in my character, more vigour in my purposes, more elevation in my life, more fervour in my devotion, more constancy in my zeal.

As I have a position in the world, keep me from making the world my position; may I never seek in the creature what can be found only in the Creator; let not faith cease from seeking Thee until it vanishes into sight.

Ride forth in me, Thou King of kings and Lord of lords, that I may live victoriously, and in victory attain my end.

From Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Devotional

“Anybody can believe in God. What it means to be a Christian is to trust Him when He speaks, which does not require a leap of faith or a crucifixion of the intellect. It requires a crucifixion of pride, because no one is more trustworthy than God.”

- R.C. Sproul from his commentary on Romans

The Gospel

SOVEREIGN GOD,
Thy cause, not my own, engages my heart, and I appeal to Thee with greatest freedom to set up Thy kingdom in every place where Satan reigns; Glorify Thyself and I shall rejoice, for to bring honor to Thy name is my sole desire.

I adore Thee that Thou art God, and long that others should know it, feel it, and rejoice in it. O that men might love and praise Thee, that Thou mightest have all glory from the intelligent world! Let sinners be brought to Thee for Thy dear name! To the eye of reason everything respecting the conversion of others is as dark as midnight, but Thou can accomplish great things; the cause is Thine, and it is to Thy glory that men should be saved.

Lord, use me as Thou wilt; but, O, promise Thy cause, let Thy kingdom come, let Thy blessed interest be advanced in this world! O do Thou bring in great numbers to Jesus! Let me see that glorious day, and give me to grasp for multitudes of souls; let me be willing to die to that end; and while I live let me labour for Thee to the utmost of my strength, spending time profitably in this work, both in health and in weakness.

It is Thy cause and kingdom I long for, not my own. O, answer Thou my request!

From Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Devotional

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned- for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned- for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:12-21 (NASB)

Scripture

“Biblical faith, in the end, begins and ends with a simultaneous love for the Savior and a hatred for sin. Without either component, faith never leaves the ground. If we profess to love Jesus Christ but never deal with our sin, we are lost, unforgiven by the Father, and will not enter heaven. If we hate our sin but never run to Christ to receive His atoning grace, we have no remission of sins and we will not see eternal life. The Spirit must propel each of these doctrines into the sinful heart and mind if we are ever to know the grace of God and the glory of true Christianity.”

From Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity

The Gospel

“The professing Christian with lukewarm faith seeks the outward things of religion and asks the church to serve them. The true Christian, however, takes joy not most in what the church does for them, but in what God is doing in and through the church.”

This great quote is from the book Jonathan Edwards on True Christianity. My friend and co-host of our radio show recently bought this book and shared it with me. We’re both bookworms when it comes to Edwards and other Puritan writers. As I read through the pages of this book over and over again Edwards nails it on the head, often uncomfortably, with regards to the problem of nominal Christianity in the church today. Edwards dealt with it in his time and we most definitely see the plague of lukewarm faith within American evangelicalism today.

It saddens me to see so many who profess Christ living like the world and embracing sin with absolutely no regard for Scripture’s call for believers to pursue sanctification. (Hebrews 12:14) However, I personally understand why this is. As a false convert for over 20 years of my life I too was a nominal Christian – one with lukewarm faith who professed to know Christ. I attended church and was even baptized. However, there was absolutely no real love for Christ, His Word, His people and no real hatred for sin and the sanctification that cannot be separated from justification. The reason was that I was not truly saved. I played the part and was convinced I was “in the club” but I was absolutely no different from the world. I thank my God and Savior for transforming my heart of stone to a heart of flesh and opening my eyes to the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 4:6) Salvation is of the Lord!

The problem with the majority of churches today is an absolute lack of Gospel proclamation coupled with little or no Biblical exposition from the pulpit. Evangelism and the gospel message are nothing more than after-thoughts and most churches today think they are doing good when they can build an entire congregational message around one Scripture verse often taken horribly out of context to create a man-centered humanistic feel-good message as to not offend.

I commend the men of God who hold fast to the Word of God and herald the full gospel of Jesus Christ to their flock week after week. May we continually lift the shepherds of the flocks in prayer who truly care to please Christ by heralding His name above all and elevate His word as the authority of the Christian life. The church on earth until Christ returns will always have those with nominal faith but may the gospel proclamation and Biblical exposition snatch many from the flames.

Let me close with another powerful quote from the book:

“A personal may out of knowledge of biblical doctrine live a happy and hopeful life, trusting in Gods providence, living gratefully in some sense for Christ’s sacrifice. However, unless this knowledge is personally applied in repentance of sin and wholehearted faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, it does not save us from sin and judgement. (see James 2:18-26)”

There is no salvation in nominal Christianity and a lukewarm faith. Christ’s words to the church of Laodicea should cause us to stir: “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16) Take this time to examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5) in light of what Scripture truly teaches regarding real salvation and the sanctified life that is a result of regeneration.

Soli Deo Gloria

Preaching, The Church

“The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day “evangelist.” He announces a Saviour from hell rather than a Saviour from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.”

A. W. Pink (1886-1952)

Evangelism, Preaching

LORD JESUS CHRIST,
Fill me with Thy Spirit that I may be occupied with His presence. I am blind – send Him to make me see; dark – let Him say, ‘Let there be light’! May He give me faith to behold my name engraved on Thy hand, my soul and body redeemed by Thy blood, my sinfulness covered by the life of pure obedience.

Replenish me by His revealing grace, that I may realize my indissoluble union with Thee; that I may know Thou hast espoused me to Thyself forever, in righteousness, love, mercy, faithfulness; that I am one with Thee, as a branch with its stock, as a building with its foundation.

May His comforts cheer me in my sorrows, His strength sustain me in my trials, His blessings revive me in my weariness, His presence render me a fruitful tree of holiness, His might establish me in peace and joy, His incitements make me ceaseless in prayer, His animation kindle in me undying devotion.

Send Him as the searcher of my heart, to show me more of my corruptions and helplessness that I may flee to Thee, cling to Thee, rest on Thee, as the beginning and end of my salvation.

May I never vex Him by my indifference and waywardness, grieve Him by my cold welcome, resist Him by my hard rebellion. Answer my prayers, O Lord, for Thy great name’s sake.

From Valley of Vision – a Collection of Puritan Prayers

Devotional

“Justification causes our happiness, sanctification evidences it.”

- Thomas Watson (From his excellent book, The Beatitudes)

The Gospel, Theology

Excellent explanation by Dr. Steve Lawson on the doctrines of grace…

Theology