"The Word possesses such power, however seriously considered, heeded, and put into practice that it never remains barren of fruit. It always awakens new thoughts, new pleasures and devotions and cleanses the heart and it's meditations."
- Martin Luthur
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Mystery of Godliness
Our small group just began studying 1st Timothy, and last night's discussion was the overview of the entire letter. Great content (but then, isn't that true of the entire Bible?). Very much looking forward to it. Some potentially controversial issues lie within, but I'm praying God will lead us and that we will have hearts to hear what His Word says. It will be "all good."
Right now my favorite part of the book (and I'm sure that will change week to week) is the beautifully poetic exposition of the gospel that Paul recites immediately following his purpose for writing (3:14-15). He calls it the mystery of godliness. I don't have any brilliant commentary to share; the gospel is brilliant on it's own...
Right now my favorite part of the book (and I'm sure that will change week to week) is the beautifully poetic exposition of the gospel that Paul recites immediately following his purpose for writing (3:14-15). He calls it the mystery of godliness. I don't have any brilliant commentary to share; the gospel is brilliant on it's own...
"Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on by the world,
taken up in glory."
(1 Timothy 3:16)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Letter to Baby Hinkle
Oh, Baby Hinkle, you have so much going for you... You have parents who love each other and who have made Jesus the center of their home. They are so happy that God is entrusting them with such a precious gift. And they will love you, nurture you, shelter you, defend you, and lay down their very lives for you. You have the most beautiful mother in the world; just wait until you see her! And your father will write you lullabies and sing them to you every night; have you already heard him singing? They both love to laugh, so you will have a lot of fun growing up, experiencing new and different things and living life to the fullest! Your parents were raised in families who knew and loved Jesus, and still do. And, oh, your grandparents and great-grandparents have waited quite a while for you. I assure you, you will never lack for love or attention when you are with any of them! And more than all this, you have been fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of the universe! He knows the number of hairs on your fuzzy little head. It is He who conducts the beating of your heart in perfect rhythm. He has already mapped out all the days ordained for you. Even now, you are being handmade by God in your mother's womb. Yes, indeed, you have so much going for you!
But, oh, Baby Hinkle, you have so much against you... This world that is waiting to greet you is one that is wounded and broken. There is heartache. There is sadness. There is pain. It is a world created in the beginning by God to be good, but because of sin there are many things in it that are not good. Yes, I know sin is a big word for such a little baby. But it’s not too soon for you to know about it. For you see, not only will you be living in a world damaged by sin, but you yourself have inherited sin, just like your mother and your father. If we could change that for you, we would, but there is nobody who can escape it. Every person has sinned and has not measured up to God’s perfect standard, and must pay the cost. Every person, that is, except one. Jesus lived a perfect life, and though He didn’t deserve it He paid the cost of sin for us so that anyone who trusts in Him will be rescued from sin to live forever with Him, just as God planned in the beginning. So while there is hope, indeed, you have so much against you!
That is why your mother and I will preach the gospel to you, teach the gospel to you, sing the gospel to you, live the gospel in front of you. Because we know firsthand that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Yes, we will take every opportunity we can, using every way we know how, to point you to Jesus so that you may trust in Him and be rescued from sin to live forever with Him!
Oh, Baby Hinkle, we can't wait to meet you face to face. We can't wait for the surprise to see if you are son or a daughter! We can't wait to tell you your name! And we can't wait to hold you, to figure out whose eyes and nose and mouth you have, and yes, even to change your diapers and hear you wail! You'll be here soon enough, so for now just rest and grow. And try to take it easy on Mummy these last few weeks; she's doing a lot for you, you know! We’ll see you soon…
I'll love you forever,
Daddy
But, oh, Baby Hinkle, you have so much against you... This world that is waiting to greet you is one that is wounded and broken. There is heartache. There is sadness. There is pain. It is a world created in the beginning by God to be good, but because of sin there are many things in it that are not good. Yes, I know sin is a big word for such a little baby. But it’s not too soon for you to know about it. For you see, not only will you be living in a world damaged by sin, but you yourself have inherited sin, just like your mother and your father. If we could change that for you, we would, but there is nobody who can escape it. Every person has sinned and has not measured up to God’s perfect standard, and must pay the cost. Every person, that is, except one. Jesus lived a perfect life, and though He didn’t deserve it He paid the cost of sin for us so that anyone who trusts in Him will be rescued from sin to live forever with Him, just as God planned in the beginning. So while there is hope, indeed, you have so much against you!
That is why your mother and I will preach the gospel to you, teach the gospel to you, sing the gospel to you, live the gospel in front of you. Because we know firsthand that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Yes, we will take every opportunity we can, using every way we know how, to point you to Jesus so that you may trust in Him and be rescued from sin to live forever with Him!
Oh, Baby Hinkle, we can't wait to meet you face to face. We can't wait for the surprise to see if you are son or a daughter! We can't wait to tell you your name! And we can't wait to hold you, to figure out whose eyes and nose and mouth you have, and yes, even to change your diapers and hear you wail! You'll be here soon enough, so for now just rest and grow. And try to take it easy on Mummy these last few weeks; she's doing a lot for you, you know! We’ll see you soon…
I'll love you forever,
Daddy
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
remembering and reaching
this morning i've been swimming in psalm 143, written by david. while the enemy is pursuing his soul, crushing his life to the ground, making him sit in darkness like those long dead (v. 3) he cries out to God, saying...
"i remember the days of old; i meditate on all that you have done; i ponder the work of your hands. i stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land."
currently, i'm not aware of being pursued, crushed, or in left in darkness. honestly, i feel like i'm in a "land of plenty / streams of abundance / sun shining down on me / world's all as it should be" time of life. but i know that i can never forget to remember all that God has done - not just in my life, but his wonderful works throughout history. i can never forget to stretch out my hands to him, to reach for him and express my dependence on him. even in these "good times" i need to practice the discipline of remembering God's faithfulness and reaching for his sustenance.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
resting in righteousness
here is another excerpt from “a gospel primer for christians: learning to see the glories of God’s love” by milton vincent. another one of the many reasons to rehearse the gospel daily…
“the gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me.[A] i never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God![B] freed from the burden of such a task, i now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God’s amazing grace to others. the gospel also reminds me that my righteous standing with God always holds firm regardless of my performance, because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus and not mine.[C] on my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God’s unrelenting grace toward me.[D] on my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness and not mine.”
[A] - romans 5: “(1) therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” I john 2: “(1)…and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; (2) and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…”
[B] - romans 4:5 “but to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,” hebrews 4:3 “for we who have believed enter that rest…” matthew 11:28 “come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
[C] - romans 5: “(18) 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. (19)…through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
[D] - romans 5: “(20)…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (21) so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (6:1) what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace might increase?” 1 john 2: “(1)… and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (2) and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…”
“the gospel encourages me to rest in my righteous standing with God, a standing which Christ Himself has accomplished and always maintains for me.[A] i never have to do a moment’s labor to gain or maintain my justified status before God![B] freed from the burden of such a task, i now can put my energies into enjoying God, pursuing holiness, and ministering God’s amazing grace to others. the gospel also reminds me that my righteous standing with God always holds firm regardless of my performance, because my standing is based solely on the work of Jesus and not mine.[C] on my worst days of sin and failure, the gospel encourages me with God’s unrelenting grace toward me.[D] on my best days of victory and usefulness, the gospel keeps me relating to God solely on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness and not mine.”
[A] - romans 5: “(1) therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” I john 2: “(1)…and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; (2) and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…”
[B] - romans 4:5 “but to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,” hebrews 4:3 “for we who have believed enter that rest…” matthew 11:28 “come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
[C] - romans 5: “(18) 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. (19)…through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”
[D] - romans 5: “(20)…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, (21) so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (6:1) what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace might increase?” 1 john 2: “(1)… and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (2) and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins…”
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