Soli Deo Gloria

Great Prophet of my God!
My tongue would bless Thy name;
By Thee the joyful news
of our salvation came;
The joyful news of sins forgiven,
of hell subdued, and peace with heaven.
Jesus, my great High Priest,
Offered His blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside;
His powerful blood did once atone,
And now it pleads before the throne.
My dear Almighty Lord,
My conqueror and my King,
Thy sceptre, and Thy sword,
Thy reigning grace I sing.
Thine is the power; behold, I sit
In willing bonds before Thy feet.

Devotional, The Gospel

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

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 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

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