“I am His by purchase and I am His by conquest; I am His by donation and I am His by election; I am His by covenant and I am His by marriage; I am wholly His; I am peculiarly His; I am universally His; I am eternally His.”
- Thomas Brooks, Heaven on Earth
[HT: Of First Importance ]
"A person must confront his own sinfulness in all its ravaging depths before he can enjoy the comforts of salvation."
-Martin Luther
By its nature, saving faith loves God and delights in God as the sum of all that could ever satisfy the soul.
—John Piper, Future Grace , p. 252.
Today at Cornerstone School of Ministry we are studying perhaps the most important paragraph in all the Bible. It’s truths are so compellingly beautiful I can hardly contain myself; teaching God’s Word ignites my soul. Romans 3:21-26 is the paragraph in view, and verse 20 sets the stage.
“God created both soul and body, and the resurrection of Jesus shows that he is going to redeem both the spiritual and the material. Therefore God is concerned not only for the salvation of souls but also for the relief of poverty, hunger, and injustice.
The gospel opens our eyes to the fact that all our wealth (even wealth for which we worked hard) is ultimately an unmerited gift from God. Therefore the person who does not generously give away his or her wealth to others is not merely lacking in compassion, but is unjust.
Christ wins our salvation through losing, achieves power through weakness and service, and comes to wealth through giving all away. Those who receive his salvation are not the strong and accomplished but those who admit they are weak and lost. We cannot look at the poor and the oppressed and callously call them to pull themselves out of their own difficulty. Jesus did not treat us that way.”
- The Gospel Coalition’s “Theological Vision for Ministry” (2007), Section 5e
[HT: Of First Importance ]
A few weeks ago we wrapped up Winter term at Cornerstone School of Ministry. In our NT 133 class we ended with John’s writings, first the Gospel of John and then his letters: 1st, 2nd and 3rd John. (My good friend, Director Adam Poole taught 1st John as I was away; I was both envious and joyful for I know his character, ability and passion for exposition of the Word. The students are extremely blessed to have him as their pastoral leader.)
In John’s writings we saw the glory and beauty and love of Jesus on display for all the world to see, know and love. And yet we read of people questioning and rejecting Him. Sadly, the same plays out today. If the world only knew the beauty and love of Jesus, He would be their Savior. In this way God demonstrated His love for the world, the He freely gave His Son, that those who believe (trust) in Him should not perish but receive eternal life (John 3:16). God’s judgment is in The Light of the World (John 1:4-5) coming into His world, yet people loved darkness rather than the light (John 3:19a). In this metaphor Jesus speaks of light and darkness, a duality of sorts that shows those who are drawn to Christ and those who reject Him. The consistency of their character (inner person, affections) comes forth in the outworking of their life (works, behavior). People reject Jesus not solely on intellectual grounds (not enough reasons) but because truly their deeds are evil or done in darkness (John 3:19b). This was a sobering reality to consider and a display of God’s grace.
In 1st John the Apostle writes “God is light” (1 John 1:5a). It speaks of His holiness, and His brilliance, the beauty of His glory, and the demands of His justice. Truly, “in Him is no darkness at all” (v. 5b). Flowing from that verse comes the freeing statement, “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” (v. 7a). On what basis? Because we have lived perfect and morally upright lives? No. The answer is given in the last half of verse 7: “and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” What a glorious truth!
Somehow there are people who consider themselves good, as in not needing forgiveness from God (or others) and thus not needing a Savior, Jesus. The Apostle spoke to that same group more than 1900 years ago: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (v. 8). Self-delusion is the worst, for all other see reality but self does not. Coming to grips with our weaknesses, our sin, our depravity and bent towards destructive selfishness is the first step towards a cure. The same concept is restated in verse 10: “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Sandwiched between those two is one of the greatest sentences in all the world:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
When we confess we agree with the ultimate reality of the situation, and pour out our heart to God for we have wronged Him and others. The words are not the primary part, for form ever follows function. Am are sorry for offended God, or sorry because there are consequences? God is not into mere moral reformation, but a genuine transformation of our affections. That we as we know, love and enjoy Him we are grieved when obstacles come into the way and we take the bait of temptation, damaging our intimate closeness which must be restored.
It seems that John is borrowing from the Old Testament imagery of the sacrificial system and coming to the only true and living God at His tabernacle or temple. At the altar the sacrifice is made, the innocent in place of the guilty, and atonement is extended, yet the priest would move past that to the bronze laver, to cleansing, a washing away of all unrighteousness. Having been cleansed, they could now enter the Holy Place and then the Holy of Holies, worship God in (temporary) innocence. All of this Jesus did in the most perfect way, once for all securing eternal redemption(Hebrews 9:12). Praise God that even those sins we do not yet realize are atoned for in Christ, and He cleanses us far beyond our understanding.
What a motivation to remain in fellowship with Him (that is what atonement is, it is at-one-ment - the term being coined by John Wycliffe, I believe, to be a representative English translation word for what is taking place as described in the Greek NT). As one with the Triune God we can walk in His light, enjoy His radiance, glory and beauty and share it with others.
God is faithful and loyal to His covenant, and unconditional love comes to us in Jesus Christ, for He is our unwavering Advocate (1 John 2:1-2). Because God punished His innocent Son as we deserve, treating Jesus like He was us, He can now treat us like we are Jesus (see 2 Cor. 5:21). He is not only faithful, He is also just and we know that He shall never do wrong, for in Him is perfect justice. God was the just One and the justifier of guilty people declared innocent (see Romans 3:21-26).
Here’s a short commercial revealing the reality of light and how it is possible to be at home in darkness and seek to repel light. Let us not hide from God’s marvelous light. I found it a great illustration:
A couple weeks ago in our Theology Colloquium class we discussed Soteriology (the doctrine of salvation). I was on the ad hoc panel for asking questions of the three making defense of their doctrinal statements. It is a somewhat nerve-racking experience for those giving defense, and all in the room need humility, especially those asking questions. Afterward we are able to amend and revise our written doctrinal statements (after they are graded and returned to us). I see this time as part of the process of helping us “land” doctrinally and leading to convictions about the most essential things, more than mere opinions.
Near the end of our Q&A time another panel member asked a question to the effect, “What does an unbeliever need to know to be saved?” (In contrast to our detailed and structured doctrinal statements. Obviously a person need not exhaustively and logically think through all of these points in order to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.)
One of the students gave the short response, “They have to like Jesus.” That may seem like (and is) an insufficient answer. A whole lot of people “like Jesus.” In fact, I would say that many people want Jesus but don’t want God, in that they want a Jesus after their own liking. Thus they don’t want their Creator at all. (The question could be restated: What must a person believe about Jesus in order to be saved?)
A little bit of argument (constructive and helpful) ensued and during the break I had a discussion with my fellow classmate about his response. Knowing my fellow student as well as the rapid-fire nature of our questions and how their heads might have been spinning at the moment, I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but ask him to think it through. We were talking previous to that question about affections and how the inner desires of the heart are changed so that Jesus becomes compellingly beautiful. So, when sharing the Gospel we realize there is a change that is not merely cognitive. His answer related to the fact that we cannot simply present bare facts as if there are neutral. A person will be awakened by the beauty of Jesus, but as I contend, it is not apart from knowledge about Christ. Knowledge and belief are good friends, and serve one another. Knowing about God has always served to lead me to worshiping Him…
“To love God we must know him. God would not be honored by groundless love. In fact, there is no such thing. If we do not know anything about God, there is nothing in our mind to awaken love. If love does not come from knowing God, there is no point in calling it love for God. There may be some vague attraction in our heart or some unfocused gratitude in our souls, but if they do not arise from knowing God, they are not love for God.”
—John Piper, What Jesus Demands from the World, p. 76.
Later on, in a smaller group, we got to a discussion of the role of the affections in seeing the compelling beauty of Christ. That is a key phrase in John Piper’s (and my) theology (see 2 Corinthians 4:3-7 for the biblical context). The following quote relates to our experience of Christ as the fountain of our joy, and not merely the basis and example for our renewed moralistic behavior.
“The reason I use the phrase ‘compellingly beautiful’ is to stress two things. One is that loving God is not a mere decision. You cannot merely decide to love classical music or country western music, much less God. The music must become compelling. If you don’t love it, something must change inside you. That change makes it possible for the mind to experience the music with a compelling sense of its attractiveness. So it is with God. You do not merely decide to love him. Something changes inside you, and as a result he becomes compellingly attractive. His glory—his beauty—compels your admiration and delight.
The other thing I am emphasizing in the phrase ‘compellingly beautiful’ is that love for God is not essentially behavior but affection—not deeds but delight. God’s glory becomes our supreme pleasure. We begin to prefer above all else to know him and see him and be with him and be like him. There are several important reasons for believing that love for God is most essentially an experience of the affections, not behavior.”
—John Piper, What Jesus Demands from the World, pp. 77-78.
If we love God something else will happen, living for Him.
One of my students at Cornerstone SOM in Corvallis gave a summary and response to those paragraphs in a recent assignment:
“The first [reason we must see God as 'compellingly beautiful'] is to realize that love for God isn’t some hypothetical decision that you do just cause you do it. It isn’t simply a decision you make. In order for us to love God, we must be attracted to Him. And if we aren’t, something has to change. Once this change occurs, we experience the second reason He emphasizes that we see God as compellingly beautiful: He is our desire. We are in love with Him, and we don’t obey His laws and walk in His light just because it is the right thing to, but because we take delight in living with Him. This is such a pivotal point in a believer’s life. It is this reality, the desire and affection for our God, which makes Christianity more than just a religion. It gives richness, fervency, and meaning behind what we do… not to mention motivation. Out of our affection for Him, our behavior will change. It is automatic, and we need not be concerned with that. We are commanded to love God.”
I noted to her that our behavior may not be “automatic” as in passive, but rather as a response and participation. It will naturally flow from a regenerate person who sees God as all, as compellingly beautiful in Christ. As we love God, our character will transform and we will be living for Him. (Simple, but not easy!)
Last year at this time Matt Perman of Desiring God gave a short list of various readings related to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, those two coming together as one in “The Greatest Event in History.”
I agree. Furthermore, I don’t think I would be breathing right now if Christ hadn’t tasted death and risen again. And would have no hope, eternal or temporal.
God did not spare His own Son but intentionally and freely gave Him up for the salvation of His people. He bids us come and experience His love. This weekend, may more people trust in Christ and experience God as the fountain of all joy and the source of all love.
—
Here are some recommended resources on the death and resurrection of Christ.
On the death of Christ:
On the resurrection of Christ:
On the resurrection of believers:
See also the sermon occasions “Good Friday” and “Easter Sunday,” and the topics “Jesus Christ,” “the Death of Christ,” “the Resurrection of Christ,” and “Glorification.”
“The good news of the kingdom is not freedom from hardship, suffering, and loss. It is the news of a Redeemer who has come to rescue me from myself. His rescue produces change that fundamentally alters my response to these inescapable realities. The Redeemer turns rebels into disciples, fools into humble listeners. He makes cripples walk again. In him we can face life and respond with faith, love, and hope. And as he changes us, he allows us to be a part of what he is doing in the lives of others. As you respond to the Redeemer’s work in your life, you can learn to be an instrument in his hands.”
- Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands (Phillipsburg, Pa.: P & R publishing, 2002), 16.
{HT: Of First Importance}
There are unique lessons learned in making mistakes. So often we learn by doing wrong, from a simple error in math, to a project gone wrong, to sinning (im)morally. If we are paying attention those experiences are opportunities that can be invested for our benefit.
When it comes to our relationship with God, we must strive to remain in thriving fellowship with Him. (We are not alone, for He is in fact seeking us, so our seeking Him is a response to His initiation, and certainly not the other way around. By way of analogy, when we run to him we then realize that the treadmill is already on, and He has been drawing us.)
Perhaps some Christians struggle with feelings of condemnation when they sin. Okay, perhaps most Christians struggle with feeling inept and worthless and condemned. This is in fact a healthy thing, for conviction is from God and for our good. What would it be like if we never felt bad, never had remorse, and were not able to will to do better next time? But condemnation is different than conviction. Condemnation is a legal guilt before God where His wrath justly abides. For us in Christ there is no longer any condemnation (Romans 8:1). Period.
But what about conviction? Ah, there is the needed thing, for our loving Father convicts and comforts. He seeks after us by His Spirit and reveals the false motives and depraved thinking and actions in our life. His conviction is with a purpose in mind: our growth and His glory. The more we yield to His convicting touch and are aware of our need of Him, the more grace He pours out. This motivates us to life holy lives, for grace motivates far better than fear. And a holy life magnifies God, for we reflect His character in all of life (inwardly and outwardly) in a more increasing measure.
So, then, how do we get from sin to glory? Apart from Christ, there is no way, for we have each in our depraved state exchanged God’s glory for (and preferred) the glory of our own lives and creation around us (Romans 1). Trust Christ and He will make you new! God will exchange your sin and shame and His wrath for the perfect righteousness of His Son Jesus, credited to your account. Washed, renewed, forgiven, redeemed, saved. (The list of our benefits goes on and on.) The key: in coming to Christ, we get GOD. He is the Gospel.
A new relationship with God at the center and us absorbed into Him becomes the living, dynamic reality of our lives. We are His. He opens His life to us, and we can now enjoy God. In fact, this enjoyment becomes a primary way of glorifying Him, for our entire heart, mind, soul and strength is doing that which we were created to do, namely, love and enjoy God.
So sin for the believer in Jesus does not destroy this relationship (as in reverse all that God has done). Rather, it negatively impacts fellowship. Something must be done, and the wrong has been wrought by us and not God. He has open hands, but we must confess our sins to Him.
First John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This is not mere theological nor theoretical jargon. Re-read it, in parts:
Is this once-and-for-all? Believing in Jesus is a first-time event, but what is written about here in 1st John is for believers who sin. It is a continual reality, not just a one time event; one of repentance (turning), confessing (agreeing) and walking in this new cleansed life. (Repeat.) More than just “daily” and certainly more than just recited as a prayer at church on Sunday. This is the very lifeblood of a living and dynamic relationship with God in Christ — we can be near to Him and must endeavor to rid our lives of any obstacle that does not gain us the most possible enjoyment in God. Do you feel conviction from sin? Agree with God on your current state, press in to seek His forgiveness, know it will be given on the grounds of God’s own promises in His Son who died in our place. That is the faithfulness and the justice. God is not soft on sin and has not turned a blind eye. Every sin, evil and selfish and wicked, has been meted out to its depths. Just that the wrath for it is no longer on me, but Jesus took it instead (in my stead).
Hosea 6:1 “Come, let us return to the Lord;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Notice the third verse: “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord.”
Return and be actively knowing Him.
Kari's latest Patterson Family Margin
