“By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”Ephesians 2:8-9
On
the hill of Golgotha, when Jesus was stripped of His physical clothes,
the execution squad of soldiers divided what little He had between
them-His belt, sandals, and other things. But when it came to His
beautifully woven inner garment, they decided that instead of tearing it
into four pieces, they would gamble for it. So while Jesus hung
slightly above them, groaning in excruciating pain, they callously
ignored Him and tossed the dice (John 19:23-24).
People today still
toss the dice for the robe of His righteousness. While coldly ignoring
His death on the cross, they gamble for His “robe” by betting their
eternal lives on the chance that they can earn acceptance with God
through their piety, their sincerity, or their morality. But the only
way to obtain it is to exchange your sin for it at the cross.
HIS ROBES FOR MINE(Text by Chris Anderson; Tune by Greg Habegger) His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange! Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage. Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified. In Christ I live, for in my place He died. Chorus: I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost: Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God. Bought by such love, my life is not my own. My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone. His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread? God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead. Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine, Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life. His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased. Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased. Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!” Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won. His robes for mine: such anguish none can know. Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe. He, as though I, accursed and left alone; I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home! Copyright 2008 ChurchWorksMedia.com. All rights reserved.
By now you have likely heard the heartbreaking news of the suicide death of Rick Warren's son. You have probably read the many blog posts and Facebook status ranging from "pray for the Warrens" to "this is a judgment from God just as God took Pharaohs son." Sadly, what I am not seeing is anyone proclaiming the need for the Gospel in this.
In truth, there are only two categories of people in this world, believers and unbelievers. And each of us must have some sort of opinion as to which category Rick Warren falls into. I'm am not about to start that debate here, but rather I hope to show you how in either case, he needs the gospel.
If you believe Rick Warren to be an unbeliever, who has false assurance through a false gospel, now is the time for the true Gospel. Perhaps this might be something which God will use to strip away all dependence on self and good works and cause the Warren family to repent and believe the one TRUE gospel.
If you believe that Rick Warren is a believer, though perhaps misguided in areas of soteriology and ecclesiology, now is the time for the Gospel. Now is the time to point the Warren family to the truth and the comfort that can only be found in the gospel.
As for proclaiming judgments of God in this situation, we need to refrain from pointless speculation. What we know is this, that the wages of sin is death and that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All we, like sheep, have gone astray. But God so loved the world that He sent His Son, Who existed as God and with God from all eternity, to be born of a virgin, live a perfectly sinless life, and die on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for our sins. He rose again on the third day and ascended to the right hand of God where He ever lives to make intercession for us. If we repent - turn from serving self and sin - and believe in Christ Jesus He will forgive our sins and grant us eternal life through His precious blood. All of us will one day die and face judgment, and we will either be found in Christ, or we will hear those dreadful words "Away from me, I never knew you." That is what we can know from Scripture. And that is true prophecy. Pharaoh and David had authoritative prophets of God to proclaim the judgement of God. We are not authoritative prophets of God in the Old testament sense of the word "prophet" but we can all "prophesy" when we accurately proclaim the Word of God. We don't need to speculate about God's judgment in this situation, it is futile. Just preach the Gospel, friends.
It is no sign of humility, no mark of saintliness, to go into the presence of God doubting whether God is forgiving you. That is unbelief, lack of faith. That is failure to understand the truth. So, my friend, never again try to give the impression that you are such a sensitive Christian that you do not like to be certain that your sins are forgiven. It is our business to know that our sins are forgiven! We derogate from the grace and the glory of God and the wonder of this gospel is we are uncertain about it; ‘Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest of all.’ Not in my merit, not in my righteousness, not in terms of my understanding, but by the blood of Jesus. He has opened the way. And, therefore, we go knowing that God has said in this new covenant, ‘I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people’ (Heb. 8:10).
- Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Great Doctrines of the Bible – Volume 1. Page 355
"Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life and died as an infinite
sacrifice so that children (and their parents) can be forgiven,
transformed, liberated and empowered to love God and love others. When
we miss the heart, we miss the glory of God. The need of children (or
adults) who have fallen into various forms of personal idolatry is not
only to tear down the high places of the alien gods, but to enthrone
God."
The words of this wonderful hymn have been in my head and on my heart this week.
Its been a long and hard week, yet I can trust that God is fully in control of all the circumstances of my life, and all that happens does so in accordance with His providential will.
My husbands aunt, who was a lovely sister in Christ, went to be with Jesus last weekend. Though we are deeply grieving her absence here, we are glad to know the she is home with the Lord. The true gospel was clearly preached at her funeral and we are praying that the predominantly catholic family that was there will carefully consider what they heard.
On Sunday I was sent to the hospital with preterm contractions. It took much longer to stop them than is usual for, but I am very grateful that they did eventually subside with only minimal cervical change. I had to return to the hospital on Wednesday because of an adverse reaction to the meds they sent me home with on Monday, but I am feeling much better now. I am on partial bed rest, which is difficult with a busy 15 month old at home, but we are making the best of it and reading lots of books. It does look like my husband will be able to take a medical leave to be home with us - a HUGE answer to prayer. I'm so thankful that he has a good job with great benefits during a time when so many are out of work and uninsured.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
What am I most thankful for?
That the Creator of the universe would look upon sinful man and make a way for us to be reconciled to Him.
That He sent His own Son to be born of a virgin, live a sinless life, suffer the agony of death on a cross, and rise again on the third day so that all who repent and put their trust in him will be saved.
I'm thankful that He softened my hard heart and granted me repentance, and that He continues His good work in me, all for His own glory.
I'm thankful that though man may remember my sinful past I know that God looks on me and sees Christ's righteousness.
Romans 8
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
-Psalm 23:6
The ladies at Faithful Bloggers are hosting a group writing project on Psalm 23. I have chosen to write about verse six, a verse full of hope and promise--yet one that has been terribly misused and over-applied in American churches today.
The Word of Faith teachers have taken the first half of this verse to mean that every day will be filled with happiness. One of the most popular books today is Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen. On page 5 he says, "God wants this to be the best time of your life." But is that true? Is that really what God has said in His Word?
Millions of Christians around the world today are persecuted and even killed for the faith. Is this their best life? Meeting in secret? Fearing for their lives and the lives of their children? Praying that someone will smuggle a Bible? Seeing pastors, brothers and sisters in Christ arrested, beaten or killed for the faith? No, this is not their best life.
The Apostle Peter wrote the following to the persecuted church:
"In this[the eternal salvation yet to come] you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
-Peter 1:6-7
James 1:2-4 says this:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
God's goodness and mercy are evident in our lives even in the toughest of times. The trials that come our way, even as believers who are free, refine us and conform us to the image of Christ, preparing us to be presented blameless before Him (Jude 24). We see these truth in Romans 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing that comes our way in this life can separate us from the love of Christ. His mercy and goodness will follow us all the days of our lives.
This brings us to the second part of the verse:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Jesus says in John 14:1-3:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
So who will dwell in the house of the Lord? The redeemed of Christ. All believers from all eternity. This Psalm was written by King David. He will be there. Jesus was addressing His disciples in John 14. They will be there. But the promises of God are only for believers. All paths do not lead to God.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
-John 14:6
For those who have not turned to Christ for salvation, their best life truly is now. The future only holds eternal separation from God and judgment for those who do not believe.
But dear sisters, if you have put your trust in Christ as the only way to salvation, your best life is yet to come--no matter what. He who redeemed you by His blood will keep you until the end.
And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
- John 6:40
We can fully trust in the promises of God. His goodness and mercy WILL follow us all the days of our lives, and we WILL dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Unsure if you're saved? Please watch this short video.
"The Lord has promised good to me. His Word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures."
This is a not-so-familiar verse from the famous hymn "Amazing Grace". We never sing this verse in our church, presumably because the first line seems, at first glance at least, so...weak. Or maybe a little too much like "trust Jesus and you will be happy, healthy, and wealthy for the rest of your life" - which, by the way, is NOT the gospel. Please, if you are unsure of what the gospel is take a few minutes to watch this short video.
But it does seem to me that there is truth to this verse. The Lord HAS promised good to me. In Romans 8 we read this:
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God has not promised us an easy life on this earth. We are NOT promised our best life now. We are not promised earthly wealth, perfect kids, and an always-happy marriage. We will get sick. We will struggle with sin. Our children might rebel. We may be poor. We might be persecuted, even unto death, but God has promised us that none of these things will separate us from the love of God.
Yes, the Lord HAS promised good to me. His Word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures. By His grace alone.
