After the year of release there is a year of restoration; a year of new beginnings. Though whatever the Lord will severe from our heart may be painful and though there must be a purging. There is always a fresh start right after. There is the unmistakable joy given with a second chance. When we are but dead in our sins we tarry through the night. We carry the weight of the world and the sin that comes with it. However, when Christ tears this out of our heart. When Christ surgically and meticulously slices our old heart out, he is assured to transplant it with a new heart. He gives us a new beginning and a new morning for us to be joyful in.
However, be certain Christian, that you understand that joy is wholly different than happiness. The state of being happy is swayed by emotions. Emotions are as fickle as the man who has them. They can not be trusted and thus are not the litmus test for joy. For even the unbeliever can be happy. Be those that are of the elect and have been adopted of Christ, and were chosen before the formation of the earth can be joyful. Paul writes that all the blessings of the Spirit were bestowed upon us by Christ, and one of the many blessings we can count on is Joy. Joy comes in any state of our life: through the good times, through the bad times, and even through the times of long suffering. Praise be to Jesus that joy comes in the morning no matter what state we are in. For everyday is a blessing and everyday that we are alive in Christ mark it as a day to be joyful. Amen, Amen.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
I Esteemed Him Not!
Isaiah 53:3 ESV
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Any of a true believer will confess their genuine outlook on God before that blessed day! Before grace was received by faith through a gift from God, we esteemed Him not. Christ Jesus was knocking at the door, but knowing who was on the other side, I dared not open. With every rap at the door my enmity toward Christ was emboldened. My conviction grew stronger, but alas, He could not be let in. For there was another in my chamber. There was another that dwelled in my sanctuary, and who I could not let the Lord see, as if I could hide my pernicious lust for the world from Him. As if He didn't know who was on the other side. But yet, He still knocked and I esteemed Him not.
I traded His sweet presence for the failing and abhorrent sins of the world because I esteemed Him not. Oh! how dreadful was my state! How brazen were my actions. Neither did I seek His council nor drink of His living word. I esteemed Him not! What a depraved state and helpless bidding I was found in. What was within me? What was worthy? I esteemed him not! I would be a fool to count my deliverance as my own. Until the very day Jesus would harken His grace upon my life and instill the faith needed to except His providential gift, I reviled the thought. How blessed do I look upon a savior who would strive for a wretch like me. I could no more resist His grace once His heavenly bidding was sealed on my heart then I could resist the sin before His heavenly commendation.
Twas Christ who redeemed me and twas Christ who called. Yes, it was Christ who saved me; though, Twas I who was appalled. Surely, it was Christ who is the victor but twas I who became ineffably richer.
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Any of a true believer will confess their genuine outlook on God before that blessed day! Before grace was received by faith through a gift from God, we esteemed Him not. Christ Jesus was knocking at the door, but knowing who was on the other side, I dared not open. With every rap at the door my enmity toward Christ was emboldened. My conviction grew stronger, but alas, He could not be let in. For there was another in my chamber. There was another that dwelled in my sanctuary, and who I could not let the Lord see, as if I could hide my pernicious lust for the world from Him. As if He didn't know who was on the other side. But yet, He still knocked and I esteemed Him not.
I traded His sweet presence for the failing and abhorrent sins of the world because I esteemed Him not. Oh! how dreadful was my state! How brazen were my actions. Neither did I seek His council nor drink of His living word. I esteemed Him not! What a depraved state and helpless bidding I was found in. What was within me? What was worthy? I esteemed him not! I would be a fool to count my deliverance as my own. Until the very day Jesus would harken His grace upon my life and instill the faith needed to except His providential gift, I reviled the thought. How blessed do I look upon a savior who would strive for a wretch like me. I could no more resist His grace once His heavenly bidding was sealed on my heart then I could resist the sin before His heavenly commendation.
Twas Christ who redeemed me and twas Christ who called. Yes, it was Christ who saved me; though, Twas I who was appalled. Surely, it was Christ who is the victor but twas I who became ineffably richer.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
To Know Christ
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
He rewards those who seek Him!
The plight of a Christian is wrapped in the knowledge and understanding that we are saved through faith. This faith is established through an out pouring of Christ's love. However, why is it that we stop short with the knowledge of our saving faith gifted to us by God? "If we draw nigh to God He will draw nigh to us". As a body we have concentrated on and have been steadfast on acquainting and adhering to the doctrine of salvation while neglecting the rewards associated with knowing the fullness of Christ. I do believe and can humbly attest to the monumental difference of knowing who Christ is as a savior, and knowing who Christ is in a deep and personal sort. Oh how I have lacked the sweetness of what Jesus had to offer for so much time. His reward is not just manifested in the eternal and future hope, though this would be good enough for me, but also very much in the present, which abounds with lavish gifts that only he can provide. Oh how beautiful is the landscape of my heart and how glorious is the present to know God. To taste and see is the sweetest reward our gracious maker could ever bestow upon us. Seek His word and pray for such desires and he will give you an insatiable thirst that not even all the world's geysers could quench. Seek earnestly to commune with him in prayer and your heart will be aligned with him straighter than the consultations of the stars. Oh how glorious to know thy God. How glorious it is to see thy glory. Is there a greater reward under heaven? I know of this reward that He speaks of when we seek him, because this reward is all but self evident. There is no greater reward than to have a relationship with Christ.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
He rewards those who seek Him!
The plight of a Christian is wrapped in the knowledge and understanding that we are saved through faith. This faith is established through an out pouring of Christ's love. However, why is it that we stop short with the knowledge of our saving faith gifted to us by God? "If we draw nigh to God He will draw nigh to us". As a body we have concentrated on and have been steadfast on acquainting and adhering to the doctrine of salvation while neglecting the rewards associated with knowing the fullness of Christ. I do believe and can humbly attest to the monumental difference of knowing who Christ is as a savior, and knowing who Christ is in a deep and personal sort. Oh how I have lacked the sweetness of what Jesus had to offer for so much time. His reward is not just manifested in the eternal and future hope, though this would be good enough for me, but also very much in the present, which abounds with lavish gifts that only he can provide. Oh how beautiful is the landscape of my heart and how glorious is the present to know God. To taste and see is the sweetest reward our gracious maker could ever bestow upon us. Seek His word and pray for such desires and he will give you an insatiable thirst that not even all the world's geysers could quench. Seek earnestly to commune with him in prayer and your heart will be aligned with him straighter than the consultations of the stars. Oh how glorious to know thy God. How glorious it is to see thy glory. Is there a greater reward under heaven? I know of this reward that He speaks of when we seek him, because this reward is all but self evident. There is no greater reward than to have a relationship with Christ.
In the image of Adam
Genesis 5:3 ESV
When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
This verse shows a stark and arrant contrast between the creation of the first man (Adam) and the creation of Adam's fallen posterity. When God created Adam, He created him in their image and in their likeness. Meaning Adam was created with the image and likeness of the triune God. However, we see that Seth was made in the image and likeness of Adam. We see that Seth is fully apart of the fallen state which Adam resides. Adam had an inability to propagate anything but a offspring that could bear the likeness of his depraved state. Let us notice that contextually speaking, God clarifies the state of Adam's posterity in Genesis 5 before reading the rest of the descendants of his line, as oppose to mentioning it in Genesis four with his first two sons. This is important because it emphasises what the line of Adam represents. It gives clarity to how the genealogy of mankind got to its current state. Until we are reborn under Christ Jesus, we are of the likeness of Adam, and bear the image of Adam's fallen nature. Once we are born again, we are then reborn unto the likeness of God and bear His image.
When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
This verse shows a stark and arrant contrast between the creation of the first man (Adam) and the creation of Adam's fallen posterity. When God created Adam, He created him in their image and in their likeness. Meaning Adam was created with the image and likeness of the triune God. However, we see that Seth was made in the image and likeness of Adam. We see that Seth is fully apart of the fallen state which Adam resides. Adam had an inability to propagate anything but a offspring that could bear the likeness of his depraved state. Let us notice that contextually speaking, God clarifies the state of Adam's posterity in Genesis 5 before reading the rest of the descendants of his line, as oppose to mentioning it in Genesis four with his first two sons. This is important because it emphasises what the line of Adam represents. It gives clarity to how the genealogy of mankind got to its current state. Until we are reborn under Christ Jesus, we are of the likeness of Adam, and bear the image of Adam's fallen nature. Once we are born again, we are then reborn unto the likeness of God and bear His image.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Might be Redeemed?
Titus 2:14 NKJV
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
We see that this verse says "might" instead of "will". Though this flies in the face of universal atonement, lets digress and look at its most simplistic of implications. It says He gave Himself for us, that He "might" redeem us. Well wait a minute, the Lord said "it is finished". What is this "might" redeem us thing all about? One might gloss right over this but we should understand that it authenticates all other scripture.
For grace we have been saved "through faith", for whosoever "believes" in Him will not perish and everyone who "calls" on the name of the Lord will be saved. This "might" is conditional. Though His love, crucifixion, and resurrection for us was an unconditional act. We are saved only through the condition that we except who He is. We must believe that we are in need of a savior and that Jesus is the son of God who came to save us.
Therefore, "He might redeem us", is a conditional statement. We must first empty our self and acknowledge the need of a savior in order to be redeemed. If you have not excepted the Lord yet as your personal savior, then follow me in this prayer:
"Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son. Thank you for bearing the cost of my sins. Thank you for dying on the cross on my behalf and rising again. I see now that I am a sinner and in desperate need of your saving grace. Please live in my heart and start an eternal relationship with me. Please forgive me for all my inequities. From this day forward I will live for you. Abide in me Lord, so I may worship you for all eternity. Amen!"
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
We see that this verse says "might" instead of "will". Though this flies in the face of universal atonement, lets digress and look at its most simplistic of implications. It says He gave Himself for us, that He "might" redeem us. Well wait a minute, the Lord said "it is finished". What is this "might" redeem us thing all about? One might gloss right over this but we should understand that it authenticates all other scripture.
For grace we have been saved "through faith", for whosoever "believes" in Him will not perish and everyone who "calls" on the name of the Lord will be saved. This "might" is conditional. Though His love, crucifixion, and resurrection for us was an unconditional act. We are saved only through the condition that we except who He is. We must believe that we are in need of a savior and that Jesus is the son of God who came to save us.
Therefore, "He might redeem us", is a conditional statement. We must first empty our self and acknowledge the need of a savior in order to be redeemed. If you have not excepted the Lord yet as your personal savior, then follow me in this prayer:
"Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son. Thank you for bearing the cost of my sins. Thank you for dying on the cross on my behalf and rising again. I see now that I am a sinner and in desperate need of your saving grace. Please live in my heart and start an eternal relationship with me. Please forgive me for all my inequities. From this day forward I will live for you. Abide in me Lord, so I may worship you for all eternity. Amen!"
Righteous Justice!
Why do we so freely except the doctrine of imputation through Jesus Christ but swallow the imputation of Adam like cough syrup? How many have said in their heart that it is unfair for Adam's sin to be reflected on our individual lives? How many have thought that this could not be justice? I know I have had these thoughts. Any critical thinking adult can't help but to at first have these prejudices.
However, out of the same mouth where we are are so freely able to except the propitiation of Jesus Christ, we condemn the other. If we look closely, we can see that it is by the same order, and the same thetical imputation that both were achieved. God's plan has not changed since the very beginning. Who He is today is who is from the beginning. One has always acted on the behalf of many. What should have been justice? Should we have all been on probation from the moment of birth? Or should a grown man full of the spirit and without sin who knew no wrong be our representative?
God in is divine sovereignty knew the simple answer to that question. He knew that the fair thing to do and the just thing to do is have a fully capable man be the federal head of our posterity. Though Adam failed at this just like we all would have, God gave His only Son who He knew would not fail. Who He knew His Son could represent the Father and mankind, and create a new covenant.
Yes, Jesus is known as the last Adam, not the second Adam or the next Adam. This is because when He died on the cross "it was finished". No other representative was needed. He had fulfilled the covenant that man could not keep. He had altruistically took what He did not deserve and fulfilled what God had intended from the beginning. God never changed His intended purpose and God never broke His covenant with Adam. God is immutable and ever faithful. He found a way to save mankind from a covenant they both had made.
No Christian, earthly justice would have been for mankind to suffer the wrath of the first covenant. However, God in His righteous justice found a way to atone for the wrath we so well deserve. Praise you heavenly Father. Praise you for your righteous justice. Praise you for loving us more than we have loved you. There is no evil deed in you. There is only love and I will worship you for eternity because an eternity of worship is the least you deserve. Amen!
However, out of the same mouth where we are are so freely able to except the propitiation of Jesus Christ, we condemn the other. If we look closely, we can see that it is by the same order, and the same thetical imputation that both were achieved. God's plan has not changed since the very beginning. Who He is today is who is from the beginning. One has always acted on the behalf of many. What should have been justice? Should we have all been on probation from the moment of birth? Or should a grown man full of the spirit and without sin who knew no wrong be our representative?
God in is divine sovereignty knew the simple answer to that question. He knew that the fair thing to do and the just thing to do is have a fully capable man be the federal head of our posterity. Though Adam failed at this just like we all would have, God gave His only Son who He knew would not fail. Who He knew His Son could represent the Father and mankind, and create a new covenant.
Yes, Jesus is known as the last Adam, not the second Adam or the next Adam. This is because when He died on the cross "it was finished". No other representative was needed. He had fulfilled the covenant that man could not keep. He had altruistically took what He did not deserve and fulfilled what God had intended from the beginning. God never changed His intended purpose and God never broke His covenant with Adam. God is immutable and ever faithful. He found a way to save mankind from a covenant they both had made.
No Christian, earthly justice would have been for mankind to suffer the wrath of the first covenant. However, God in His righteous justice found a way to atone for the wrath we so well deserve. Praise you heavenly Father. Praise you for your righteous justice. Praise you for loving us more than we have loved you. There is no evil deed in you. There is only love and I will worship you for eternity because an eternity of worship is the least you deserve. Amen!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Waiting for Mercy
John 5:1-3, 5-9 ESV
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
How fitting is the name of the place that the Lord heals the invalid. This man was at a place called Bethesda. Bethesda ironically means "house of mercy". The invalid seeked the supposed healing powers of the water. The mercy granting capabilities of the water. While the water was stirred up the invalid may have a chance of being healed of his illness if he could get into the pool. He could see his salvation at hand but could do nothing to apprehend it. Only if he could dip himself in it before it was too late. If He could only submerge himself in time.
However, he couldn't make it on his own. He couldn't make it in time while the water was still stirred up. He was helpless without any aid. Undoubtedly, there was plenty of other people around. People were surely walking by this man and going into the pool, but it was Jesus who asked if he wanted to be healed!
In many ways aren't we all like the invalid. We seek aid where we will never find it. We lie in wait while desperately trying to help ourselves. We are helpless without the aid of God. We have nothing that can aid us in salvation. We have nothing that can bring us blessings, that can heal us, and that can renew us. We can see the water stir and we can only hope that a savior will rescue us and submerge us in its healing powers.
In other ways we should all be like the invalid. Should we not seek the "house of mercy" daily? Jesus says seek and we shall find. Let us all continually seek mercy while knowing we cannot obtain it on our own. You see Christian, mercy is not getting the judgement we deserve and mercy can only be given by the one who brings judgement. How fitting that Jesus showed mercy. The only one worthy to be a judge. The invalid who had surely exhausted all other options was seeking mercy on his position in life, and Jesus who sees the helpless state of the man merely asks him "do you want to be healed"?
My dear brethren, understand that he asks this rhetorical question because we must first acknowledge that we need help before He will help us. There must first be a surrendering. We must first have a heart wanting to be exonerated. We must understand and except the dire position we are in in order for the Lord to do His work in us. The invalid pleads his cause as we should all plead our cause. As we should all plead our dismay and utter ineptness to our heavenly Father. Only then will we find mercy. First we shall seek, then we shall surrender, and then we shall receive.
May we all be like the invalid, and may we all be continually blessed with the mercy of Christ.
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
How fitting is the name of the place that the Lord heals the invalid. This man was at a place called Bethesda. Bethesda ironically means "house of mercy". The invalid seeked the supposed healing powers of the water. The mercy granting capabilities of the water. While the water was stirred up the invalid may have a chance of being healed of his illness if he could get into the pool. He could see his salvation at hand but could do nothing to apprehend it. Only if he could dip himself in it before it was too late. If He could only submerge himself in time.
However, he couldn't make it on his own. He couldn't make it in time while the water was still stirred up. He was helpless without any aid. Undoubtedly, there was plenty of other people around. People were surely walking by this man and going into the pool, but it was Jesus who asked if he wanted to be healed!
In many ways aren't we all like the invalid. We seek aid where we will never find it. We lie in wait while desperately trying to help ourselves. We are helpless without the aid of God. We have nothing that can aid us in salvation. We have nothing that can bring us blessings, that can heal us, and that can renew us. We can see the water stir and we can only hope that a savior will rescue us and submerge us in its healing powers.
In other ways we should all be like the invalid. Should we not seek the "house of mercy" daily? Jesus says seek and we shall find. Let us all continually seek mercy while knowing we cannot obtain it on our own. You see Christian, mercy is not getting the judgement we deserve and mercy can only be given by the one who brings judgement. How fitting that Jesus showed mercy. The only one worthy to be a judge. The invalid who had surely exhausted all other options was seeking mercy on his position in life, and Jesus who sees the helpless state of the man merely asks him "do you want to be healed"?
My dear brethren, understand that he asks this rhetorical question because we must first acknowledge that we need help before He will help us. There must first be a surrendering. We must first have a heart wanting to be exonerated. We must understand and except the dire position we are in in order for the Lord to do His work in us. The invalid pleads his cause as we should all plead our cause. As we should all plead our dismay and utter ineptness to our heavenly Father. Only then will we find mercy. First we shall seek, then we shall surrender, and then we shall receive.
May we all be like the invalid, and may we all be continually blessed with the mercy of Christ.
Blameless before He was sent.
Psalm 69:4 ESV
More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?
What dramatic foreshadowing of the life of Jesus Christ. The entire world hated Him without cause. Mighty men looked to destroy Him. However, the part of the verse I would like to highlight is the very last thing David says. It is a solid nugget of biblical truth and can easily be over looked by a speedy eye. "What I did not steal must I now restore?" David is asking a question of great providential truth. Should Jesus give back what he has not taken? In other words, should Jesus restore what Adam took away from us?
Adam was the federal head of the human race. The covenant God made with him was a covenant that implied the posterity of all man kind. Thus, Adam whether he knew it or not was acting on the behalf of all his offspring. Adam as we know failed to be obedient and broke the covenant. In doing so he robbed his posterity of life.
We see in this lamentation of David that it was not the Lord that took life away from mankind: it was through Adam's disobedience and ultimately his failure to uphold the covenant given By God that stole from man their blessings. However, Jesus was sent to be the last Adam. He was sent to be the perfect Adam. What the first Adam could not achieve, Jesus was sent to achieve in his stead. Therefore, Jesus was sent to restore what was abolished. He was sent to restore something He had not stolen from us. It was Adam who stole, not Christ! Jesus was blameless. He was not only blameless while He was on earth, but Jesus was also blameless before He was sent. He restored what He did not steal. Selah!
More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?
What dramatic foreshadowing of the life of Jesus Christ. The entire world hated Him without cause. Mighty men looked to destroy Him. However, the part of the verse I would like to highlight is the very last thing David says. It is a solid nugget of biblical truth and can easily be over looked by a speedy eye. "What I did not steal must I now restore?" David is asking a question of great providential truth. Should Jesus give back what he has not taken? In other words, should Jesus restore what Adam took away from us?
Adam was the federal head of the human race. The covenant God made with him was a covenant that implied the posterity of all man kind. Thus, Adam whether he knew it or not was acting on the behalf of all his offspring. Adam as we know failed to be obedient and broke the covenant. In doing so he robbed his posterity of life.
We see in this lamentation of David that it was not the Lord that took life away from mankind: it was through Adam's disobedience and ultimately his failure to uphold the covenant given By God that stole from man their blessings. However, Jesus was sent to be the last Adam. He was sent to be the perfect Adam. What the first Adam could not achieve, Jesus was sent to achieve in his stead. Therefore, Jesus was sent to restore what was abolished. He was sent to restore something He had not stolen from us. It was Adam who stole, not Christ! Jesus was blameless. He was not only blameless while He was on earth, but Jesus was also blameless before He was sent. He restored what He did not steal. Selah!
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