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

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

“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

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

Theology

My wife sent me this video this morning about this elephant seal who literally cuddles with a woman on a beach. It’s one of the most amazing things I have seen in a while. Several things run through my mind when I watch this video. One is how amazing our great God is and being in awe of His creation. The heavens and the earth and all creation declares the glory of God indeed!

I am also reminded though that because of sin and because of man’s fall and rebellion Scripture tells us that all of creation groans in anticipation of Christ’s return when all things will be made new. (Romans 8:22) This truth from Scripture is precisely why seeing a clip like this makes us take attention. This kind of response from a wild animal is indeed a rarity.

Viewing this short video clip it made me wonder what life was like in Eden when Adam and Eve were with the animals and there was no fear. Do you wonder if they had experiences like this woman had with this wild animal – an animal that by all understanding should run from humanity in fear? This I believe is another way God gives us a small glimpse of what He has provided in Christ Jesus and thus points us to the necessity and grace of Christ Jesus.

Salvation and the cross of Jesus Christ is like a diamond with an infinite number of facets. Each time you begin to be in awe of the cross of Christ that diamond keeps turning with infinite facets of glory – each illustrating a new and awesome truth. One of those facets is that through the cross there will be a day at His Second Advent where Eden is restored and all things are made new. God in His infinite wisdom and grace continues to give humanity a small taste of heaven and the unfathomable riches in Christ Jesus through events like what we’re watching in this video.

Let us be reminded though that all creation groans because sin has separated us from God and His wrath rightly rests on all. Sin has marred all creation and that is evidenced by the rarity of this wild animal’s lack of fear with this woman. God’s wrath and love are simultaneously displayed at the cross of Jesus Christ showing us that Christ alone is the way, the truth and the life. Our conscience bears witness against us that we have sinned against the one true infinite, holy God and His wrath justly rests on all outside of Christ. It is only through Christ that our sin is expiated and propitiated and where God’s righteousness can be credited to us in the most glorious transaction in all of creation. (2 Corinthians 5:21). Cry out to the Lord and ask Him to grant you true repentance and faith and embrace the One true God – Christ Jesus the Lord and Savior.

Soli Deo Gloria.

The Gospel

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen”

Hebrews 13:20-21

Scripture

O MY SAVIOR, I thank Thee from the depths of my being for Thy wondrous grace and love in bearing my sin in Thine own body on the tree. May Thy cross be to me as the tree that sweetens my bitter Marahs, as the rod that blossoms with life and beauty, as the brazen serpent that calls forth the look of faith. By Thy cross crucify my every sin, use it to increase my intimacy with thyself, make it a ground of all my comfort, the liveliness of all my duties, the sum of all Thy gospel promises, the comfort of all my afflictions, the vigor of my love, thankfulness, graces, the very essence of my religion, and by it give me that rest without rest, the rest of ceaseless praise.

OH MY LORD AND SAVIOR, Thou hast also appointed a cross for me to take up and carry, a cross before Thou givest me a crown. Thou hast appointed it to be my portion, but self-love hates it, carnal reason is unreconciled to it, without the grace of patience I cannot bear it, walk with it, profit by it. Oh blessed cross, what mercies dost thou bring with thee. Thou art only esteemed hateful by my rebel will, heavy because I shirk thy load. Teach me, gracious Lord and Savior, that with my cross Thou sends promised grace so that I may bear it patiently, that my cross is Thy yoke which is easy, and Thy burden which is light.

From Valley of Vision – A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Devotional

I’ve been meditating much lately on the life of Christ – specifically how settled and perfect the gospel narratives of Christ’s life are. From the moment our Savior was born incarnate every moment of His life was sure. Nothing was in question – there was never a moment in reading any of the narratives that there might be an inkling of a moment of even the hint of failure. As I think about the life of Christ time and time again the leaders wanted to trap Him in a saying and to kill Him and time and time again with absolute surety the gospels tell us that He slipped out of their reach “because His time had not yet come”. There was no touching the King of kings.

It was not until Christ willingly gave up His life into the hands of wicked men that we see His time coming and even then they are able to do nothing more to Him than was was predetermined by God before time began. There was also absolutely nothing coming in the way of His atoning, sacrificial death. What God promised before the foundation of the world and what He promised to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, to Moses and all the great prophets came to absolute perfection without even a hint of something possibly causing the plan to fail.

Now we come to the promise of Christ’s second advent. We come to scenes of comfort even in martyrdom knowing that the souls of those in Christ who die are safe and secure in Him. And yes, a promise just as secure as the very promise of His atoning death and resurrection. We also see later on in Revelation how the world led by Satan tried with all its might to destroy the very Prince of Peace – the very King of kings and in one small verse we read that Christ slaughters the very world that is trying so desperately to kill the Lamb and His bride. (Rev. 17:14)

There is no shifting sand in Christ. He truly is the Rock that does not move, nor sleep nor shake. The world is constantly in flux – turning here and there in desperate attempts to satisfy the flesh and the lusts of the mind and heart. The soul happy in Christ is satisfied with His very presence. He is everything. Just like the feeding of the multitudes who were satisfied the very Bread from heaven is our true sustenance and food that fully satisfies and causes us to see the world as it is – a passing vanity fair able to give nothing but pain, disappointment and death.

I am amazed at the absolute perfection and surety of God in Christ. May we cling to these promises setting our minds on things above and not on things of the earth. May we rejoice in knowing that our God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and that He is faithful and true and everything He says will take place in His perfect timing. This allows us to truly understand the importance of being anxious for nothing does it not? (Philippians 4:6) What a joy to have our eyes opened to these glorious truths and to give all glory to God for shining in our hearts the knowledge of His glory in the face of His precious Son by the power of the Holy Spirit of truth and grace. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Soli Deo Gloria

Bible Studies, Daily Walk, The Gospel