Dying to Live
Luke 9:22-24 – And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
It is of highest importance that we follow Christ in the way of the cross, yet I (and maybe you) have often overlooked this and mistakenly understood our situation as that of which it will be when Christ returns and sets all things right. As Luke 9:24 says, “whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” It is precisely in dying to ourselves in our following Christ that we will truly live. Apart from this, we will live unsatisfying lives and will eventually die, losing life.
Another quote pertaining to preaching and this theme comes from Stott’s The Cross of Christ:
It is the crucified man that can preach the cross. Said Thomas “except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails… I will not believe.” Dr. Parker of London said that what Thomas said of Christ, the world is saying about the church. And the world is also saying to every preacher: Unless I see in your hands the print of the nails, I will not believe. It is true. It is the man… who has died with Christ.. that can preach the cross of Christ.
Preaching Gospel Brings Opposition
Galatians 5:11 – But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
Per John Stott’s The Cross of Christ:
To “preach the cross” (as in Gal 3:1) is to preach salvation by God’s grace alone. Such a message is a stumbling block (1 Cor 1:23) because it is grievously offensive to human pride; it therefore exposes us to persecution.
To preach salvation by good works is to flatter people and so avoid opposition. To preach salvation by grace is to offend people and so invite opposition. This may seem to some to pose the alternative too starkly. But I do not think so. All Christian preachers have to face this issue. Either we preach that human beings are rebels against God, under his just judgment and (if left to themselves lost, and that Christ crucified who bore their sin and curse is the only available Savior. Or we emphasize human potential and human ability, with Christ brought in only to boost them, and with no necessity for the cross except to exhibit God’s love and so inspire us to greater endeavor.
The former is the way to be faithful, the latter the way to be popular. It is not possible to be faithful and popular simultaneously. We need to hear again the warning of Jesus: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you” (Lk 6:26). By contrast, if we preach the cross, we may find that we are ourselves hounded to the cross. As Erasmus wrote in his treatise On Preaching: “Let him (that is, the preacher) remember that the cross will never be lacking to those who sincerely preach the gospel. There are always Herods, Ananiases, Caiaphases, Scribes and Pharisees.”
Gospel Humility
Tim Keller wrote a great article, entitled The Advent of Humility in the recent issue of Christianity Today. For someone like me who wrestles with pride daily, this was/is a great help. Here’s an excerpt and the whole article can be found here:
…humility is only achieved as a byproduct of understanding, believing, and marveling in the gospel of grace. But the gospel doesn’t change us in a mechanical way. Recently I heard a sociologist say that for the most part, the frameworks of meaning by which we navigate our lives are so deeply embedded in us that they operate “pre-reflectively.” They don’t exist only as a list of propositions, but also as themes, motives, and attitudes. When we listen to the gospel preached or meditate on it in the Scriptures, we are driving it so deeply into our hearts, imaginations, and thinking that we begin to instinctively “live out” the gospel.
Righteousness Gained Through My Effort?
Dan Westergaard and Evan Rook sent me the following verse this afternoon-
Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
How often do I set aside the grace of God and pursue righteousness through my hard work and extreme effort? I do this all the time and in so doing, forsake all the joy of dwelling in the love of Christ. We all seek to satisfy the longing of our soul through our effort and we all desire to be our own saviors and lords. Thanks be to God that his grace comes upon our rebellious hearts and sings to us in the person of Jesus. Tomorrow, we celebrate the birth of the One who came to that which was dead and has poured out his love upon us, calling us children of God.
I’ve often thought that grace appears at salvation and then our efforts kick in, but that is so wrong. His grace opens our eyes, and it’s His grace that continuously opens our eyes more and more to His kindness and goodness.
A Robe Dipped in Blood
My heart is enlivened everytime I read the following:
Revelation 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
This passage tells us that Jesus is the King, He is in control and His power and beauty are beyond our comprehension. Further, it says that He will come and bring justice and strike down those who don’t submit to His Lordship. In addition to these things, these verses speak to the great love of Christ. He’s wearing a robe dipped in blood. That blood was for me and for all those whom have placed their faith in Him and it represents all He endured for us. He experienced the wrath of God that we rightly deserve for our rebellion to the King, but He graciously came and stood in our place condemned. This robe reminds me of His grace and unbelievable love towards us, yet the overall passage shows us His great authority and power as well. We don’t have a dead Savior. No, we have the living Savior who has conquored death and who will reign forever and ever and there will not be enough years to exhause the praise that is due His name.
No, It is Not Primarily About Obedience
I have listened to so many sermons over the years that have placed primary emphasis on living well. Whether it’s about forgiveness, purity, charity, loving one’s neighbor, etc. the message goes something like this: obey and you will be accepted.
Today, I was sent a link to a sermon given by a prominent evangelical pastor and his sermon fit that mold exactly. He said that if we are to experience the fullness of God’s blessings then we must be obedient people. For twenty minutes, he gave different illustrations and exhortations, challenging the audience to live well.
WHERE IS THE POWER? HOW IS ONE TO LIVE WELL? THIS TEACHING DOES NOT SET ONE FREE, BUT RATHER THROWS THE WEIGHTS ON ONE’S SHOULDERS AND WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THEM TO DIE.
The gospel is not this! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! The gospel is that we are total complete sinners in need of grace. Jesus came and did what we could not do! He lived the life we couldn’t live and died the death we should have died. He stood in our place condemned. We are no longer condemned, the chains are off, we are children of God completely approved and accepted on the basis of what Jesus did! Again, it is finished. It is not Jesus plus our effort or obedience. No, it is Jesus was obedient and therefore we are looked upon by God with a righteous record. Out of the glorious riches of what He has accomplished, we will increasingly be melted by His love and yes, we will become obedient (well, increasingly obedient) people. But, our obedience comes from the finished work, from being melted by what Jesus did. One cannot obey without a grateful, loved heart. We are accepted and loved, therefore we obey. (per Keller)
Therefore, in preaching / teaching, we must always always always remind people who they are in Jesus. We must remind them that the work is FINISHED and the burden will be lifted. Experiencing the love of God will quicken their (our) hearts to love Him more and out of that love we will praise Him, obey Him, etc…
The type of preaching that places primary emphasis on obedience is no different than placing boulders on peoples shoulders, giving them something that they cannot achieve, leading to death. The good news again is that Jesus did it all, He calls to those whom He has chosen and offers free grace that exclaims we are loved and that He is satisfied. It is all about being melted by the finished work of the cross. That is primary, period.
Galatians 5:1- It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
Purging the Evil
I love the unity, intricacy, progression, story-line, etc. of the Bible. Jesus fulfills all things, past, present and future. Take a look at the following two passages and ask yourself how these passages relate. It’s amazing!
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
Luke 15:11-24 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
In Deuteronomy, the rebellious son is killed for evil needed to be purged. In Luke, the rebellious son is welcomed home and given radical love. What’s happened? Why is he not killed as well? It’s because Jesus came and experienced the full hit of what that son deserved for his disobedience. Radical grace.
In both cases, the evil was purged. In the latter, it was Christ who bore the iniquity.
Isaiah 53 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 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. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Nothing In My Hand I Bring, Simply to Your Cross I Cling
From John Stott’s book, The Cross of Christ… One of the greatest reminders of the gospel that I have encountered.
“The proud human heart is there revealed. We insist on paying for what we have done. We cannot stand the humiliation of acknowledging our bankruptcy and allowing somebody else to pay for us. The notion that this somebody else should be God himself is just too much to take. We would rather perish than repent, rather lose ourselves than humble ourselves.
Moreover, only the gospel demands such an abject self-humbling on our part, for it alone teaches divine substitution as the only way of salvation. Other religions teach different forms of self-salvation. Hinduism, for example, makes a virtue of refusing to admit to sinfulness. In a lecture before the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, Swami Vivekanada said, “The Hindu refuses to call you sinners. Ye are the children of God; the sharers of immortal bliss, holy and perfect beings. Ye divinities on earth, sinners? It is a sin to call a man a sinner. It is a standing libel on human nature.” Besides, if it has to be conceded that human beings do sin, then Hinduism insists that they can save themselves.
As Brunner put it, “All other forms of religion – not to mention philosophy – deal with the problem of guilt apart from the intervention of God, and therefore they come to a cheap conclusion. In them man is spared the final humiliation of knowing that the Mediator must bear the punishment instead of him. To this yoke he need not submit. He is not stripped absolutely naked.”
But we cannot escape the embarrassment of standing stark naked before God. It is no use for us to try to cover up like Adam and Eve in the garden. Our attempts at self-justification are as ineffectual as their fig leaves. We have to acknowledge our nakedness, see the divine substitute wearing our filthy rags instead of us, and allow him to clothe us with his own righteousness. Nobody has ever put it better than Augustus Toplady in his immortal hymn “Rock off Ages”:
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to your Cross I cling;
Naked, come to you for dress;
Helpless, look to you for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior or I die.
It is Finished!
John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Due to our radical tendency towards self-justification (Luther), many of us run as hard as we can to hear the world say that we count, that we are valuable, that we are loved. Some people attain great acclaim from people around the world while most people don’t, but what unites both groups is that neither of them ever find the contentment their soul is longing for.
Augustine said that everyman is turned in on himself. That’s the problem. Whether we are pursuing bad things or good things to feel loved and accepted, we will continue to long for rest as long as we are resting on our own efforts. The gospel is that Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died and only by looking to Him will we receive the rest that we so desire. Jesus proclamation that it is finished means that he did what we could not do and only by looking to Him, placing our faith in His finished work, will we experience rest for our souls.
Many of the world’s religions emphasize the need to move from self to others, but only the gospel of Christ provides the means to do so. In Jesus, we are loved and counted worthy not because of anything we have done or any merit of our own, but as a result of grace. Jesus not only offers forgivness, but in Him, the Father looks at us and is absolutely happy, content, satisfied, so proud he could bust because God sees Christ’s perfect record when He looks at us! The Father feels the same way about us as He does about Jesus, whether we are doing really good or really bad. Wow.
