For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  Luke 2:8-9

When you think of Christmas, what comes to mind?  Many think of wreaths and Christmas trees—the big guy in the red suit and time spent with friends and family.  But, do you ever think of a crown of thorns?  Or the nails from Crucifixion?  Or the Cross?

My guess is that when you think on the last three images, there is a holiday that comes to mind, but not Christmas.  But the truth is that the Christmas story is as Gospel-centered a story as we have in our Bible’s.  We learn all throughout the first part of Matthew and Luke that the Christmas story is a story centered on redemption. 

For example, though the passage above mainly focuses on a group of shepherds and an angel of the Lord, this passage is centered upon God and His Gospel.  In these two verses alone, we learn that God is gracious to sinners—we learn that sinners are the recipients of the Gospel.  Many miss this because they fail to realize how the shepherds were perceived in this area of the world in and around the first century. 

We often view shepherds in a positive light today because that is the way they are portrayed in the Scriptures.  In one of the most well-known chapters of the Bible, we learn “The Lord is my Shepherd” and in John 10:14 Jesus even said, “I Am the good Shepherd.”  We also learn here that God shows His favor toward a group of Shepherds by making His message of Christ’s birth known to them and we also learn that they respond favorably to the message and become some of the first witnesses for the Lord Jesus.  So Shepherds are often shown in a favorable light in the scriptures, but that was not the view of those who lived in the 1^st century. 

Context is key in this passage.  What you learn when you study a bit of the background of shepherds in first century Palestine is that they did not have a good reputation—they were not held in high esteem.  In fact, they were despised—they were unclean—they were viewed as liars and thieves.  Their reputation was so bad that their testimony was not permissible in a court of law. 

They were also viewed by many in the Jewish community as being ceremonially unclean.  The reason being they often came in contact with injured and/or dead animals.  Also, because they were out in the fields keeping watch of the fields both day and night, they were often disconnected from temple worship.  Therefore, they were viewed by many as being wicked low lives—trash. 

Though that’s the case, we see here in Luke 2 that God sends His angels to them.  He makes this grand announcement of the coming of His Son to this group of low down, dirty and wicked sinners.  And Luke by making mention of this story is revealing something exceedingly pertinent to us about God and His Gospel.  Luke clearly shows us here that God has sent His Son to save sinners.  Folks, that’s the reason Jesus came.  And this truth is repeated time and time again in God’s Word.  Jesus came to save sinners—sinners like you and me.  Jesus even said this of himself, did He not? 

Recorded in three of four Gospel accounts, He says that He came to “call sinners to repentance.”  Jesus says, “I’ve come for those who know they need me—I’ve come for people who know they are fallen.  I have come for sinners in need of salvation—I’ve come for sinners like these shepherds whom many of you despise.  I’ve come for the dirty and the sinful—for those you consider being low down and wicked.”  JESUS CAME FOR SINNERS—SINNERS ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF HIS GOSPEL.

Be honest, how many of you think about this at Christmas time?  Though we can’t help but think about Christmas trees, the big guy in the red suit, and presents under the tree, how many of you, when thinking about Christmas, think about the fact that we are sinners in need of salvation?  Christmas should remind us that salvation is needed and that it has been provided in the person and through the work of the Lord Jesus.  

"Quote" of the Week

"During this time of year, it may be easy to forget that the bigger purpose behind Bethlehem was Calvary.  But the purpose of the manger was realized in the horrors of the cross.  The purpose of his birth was his death."  -C.J. Mahaney

(God) has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.  Luke 1:69   

This verse is taken from Zechariah’s song in Luke 1.  In this song, Zechariah is explaining how God is going to redeem us.  He uses an Old Testament phrase taken from David in Psalm 18.  In this psalm, David says,

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  Psalm 18:2

This psalm was a psalm written by David when he was being chased by King Saul and is rescued by God, and the imagery used here of a horn is a picture or a symbol of strength like the horn of a ram.  So David is essentially saying, “God is my mighty savior.” 

That’s why Zechariah reuses this phrase in Luke 1:69.  He’s making the point that God is going to do a mighty work in and through His Son.  He’s making known to his audience that God has sent us a mighty Savior—He has given us His conquering King—He has raised up for us a horn of salvation in the house of David in the person of Jesus.   

The story of Christmas is a story of power—it’s a story of strength.   This story is not about “a  little lord Jesus laying down his sweet head,” but it’s about a mighty savior—a conquering King.  This story is about Jesus—the horn of our salvation.  The child born in Bethlehem is the king who is going to conquer death.  He is the promised one who is going to undo the consequences of the fall—reverse the curse and accomplish our salvation.

There are many who like to overemphasize the sweetness of this event and over sentimentalize Jesus’ birth.  The problem with this approach to the story is that you don’t find that emphasis in the Scriptures.  What you find more often than not are verses like this here in Luke 1:69 that emphasize the power and strength of the Christmas story.  Why?  Because Christmas is about salvation.  It’s about God raising up a horn of salvation for us—it’s about Him sending us a mighty savior to conquer sin and death and make us right with him..

"Quote" of the Week

"The horn is the point of strength of an animal. It is the focus of power for a cow, a moose, or a rhinoceros. Jesus is to be that horn of salvation where all the power of God is focused."  –Bruce Larson

⁵ In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

If you lived in these days, there is no doubt that you would have heard of Herod; he was the King of Judea.  However, unless you lived close by or worked with or were related to one of them, chances are that you would not have known of Zechariah or his wife Elizabeth. 

Now some say, “Zechariah wasn’t that insignificant.  He was a priest!”  But at this time priests like Zechariah were a dime a dozen.  There were tons of priests.  I read recently where there were more priests than there were tasks to perform.

There was, however, only one King of Judea and that was Herod.  So his position and his notoriety far surpassed that of any priest.  Many believed him to be far more significant than a guy like Zechariah, but not in God’s economy.

In Lk. 1:5, Luke glosses over Herod to center upon this priest.  We learn in this passage that Herod is a pawn.  Though he was the king, he was a pawn in the plan of God, and this unknown individual—this unlikely priest—this guy who was overlooked by most was God’s chosen instrument.  

Later in this same chapter we find another unlikely person in God’s redemption/Christmas story.  Luke tells us,

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.  Luke 1:26-27

Once again we see that the Christmas story is an unlikely story.  This time, instead of appearing to an old man, Gabriel goes to a young woman.  Instead of appearing to a priest in the temple of Jerusalem, he goes to a betrothed virgin in a lowly city called Nazareth, and instead of giving news about the coming of the messenger of the Messiah, Gabriel tells Mary of the coming of the Messiah.

So there are some substantial differences in these two accounts with one notable similarity.  Mary, like Zachariah, was an unlikely person who was used in a mighty way by God.  Mary was a teenage girl from the no-name hick town of Nazareth.  She was an unknown, inexperienced and unimportant teen from the middle of nowhere.  She, by the worlds standards, was a nobody, yet she plays a key role in God's story.

Though many in those days viewed Mary as being insignificant and ordinary—not worthy of mentioning," in God’s story, she is is a lead player.  This goes counter to the ways of our world.  What dominates the news in our world are the goings on in Washington, the social statuses of celebrities in Hollywood and the lifestyles of the rich and famous.  But what do we know about the faithful? 

That is who God is concerned with.  He is concerned with what is going on in the lives of His faithful followers—in the lives of His children.  God is concerned with those whom he has chosen as His instruments—those who are making him known and advancing His Kingdom.

Though the world may view you and me and other believers as being obscure and insignificant, in God’s economy kings are pawns and the unlikely are His chosen instruments.  

"Quote" of the Week

“Mary was a nobody from a nothing town in the middle of nowhere.” -Dr. Kent Hughes 

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.  Luke 1:1-4

In this passage, Luke states his purpose for writing this Gospel.  He says to Theophilus that he has written this orderly account so Theophilus would know and have confidence in the things that God has accomplished through the Lord Jesus.  To convince him, he appeals to the fact that these events happened in real time.  He says, “I have followed the things I’m about to report to you very closely for some time and have written them down in an orderly manner.”  He says, “I have written an orderly account for you.” 

The reason Luke makes this point is because he wants Theophilus and his greater audience to know that these events—the birth, the life, the death and the resurrection of Christ took place in a real place, in real time, in history.  He also tells Theophilus, “God has accomplished these works among us” meaning they happened in their generation. 

Luke also stresses the fact that this story is true because many witnessed it.  In Luke 1:2, he says,

 Those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us.   

Luke explains how there were many in their time who witnessed these events for themselves.  He says that there were men and women who witnessed Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, and he also tells Theophilus, “There are many of these eyewitnesses who are sharing His story today.”   Luke explains to him and others that his book is an account—a compilation of these testimonies from those who were there—who saw Jesus with their own eyes, felt Him with their own hands and heard from Him with their own ears. 

To listen to this sermon, click HERE and click on "THE MEANING BEHIND LUKE'S CHRISTMAS STORY." 

"Quote" of the Week

“Luke’s work of this Gospel is not just a story, it’s a true story.  It contains history.”  -Ligon Duncan  

In the early 80s, Elton John wrote a hit song entitled Sad Songs (Say So Much).  In the song are these lyrics, 

Guess there are times when we all need to share a little pain and ironing out the rough spot is the hardest part when memories remain.

And it's times like these when we all need to hear the radio cause from the lips of some old singer, we can share the troubles we already know.

Then the chorus goes,

Turn them on, turn them on, turn on those sad songs.  When all hope is gone, why don't you tune in and turn them on.

And later in the song he explains why.  He says,

(Because) sad songs they say so much.    

In this song, Elton John is describing how it is sometimes helpful for someone who is going through difficult times, to listen to an old sad song from someone who has been there.  The same is true for us spiritually.  When we are going through tough times, it is so helpful for us (believers) to hear from other believers who have been there so that we know the proper way to respond to God. 

God gives us this in His Word.  God’s Word is filled with story after story, letter after letter, psalm after psalm written by and about people who have been there –who have been where we have been and have experienced what we have experienced and have felt what we have felt.  We especially see this in the book of Psalms.  In this book, we not only learn how to respond to God when times are good, but also when times are tough.  In this book, we learn “Sad Psalms (Say So Much).” 

For more on Sad Psalms, click HERE and listen to ANOTHER PSALM OF LAMENT.

"Quote" of the Week

“God, in the Psalms, has given Christians who are despairing and discouraged and downcast and in the depths songs to sing back to (Him).”  -Carl Trueman 

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!   Psalm 100:1

Worship is a command not a request.  The psalmist does not say, “If it’s not too much trouble—if you have time, could you make a joyful noise to the Lord?”  He says, in the imperative, “MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE.”  This is a command.

Something we find all throughout the Scriptures is that God does not request worship, He demands it.  This means if we do not worship Him, we are being disobedient to Him.  To refuse to worship the Lord, is to refuse to do the very thing we were created and commanded by God to do. 

This is why we pray for those who do not know God and share our faith and do missions.  We do these things because there are people all around us and all around the world who are disobeying God by not worshiping Him and we are to go and tell them that.  We are to go and tell them that God has created all people for Himself and for His glory and that He demands that everyone everywhere give their lives up and over to Him and do all things under His authority and for His glory.

"Quote" of the Week

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.  Matthew 4:8-11

“There is one main truth that I want to urge from this text, namely, that worshiping God is the duty of every human being. The basis of the truth is this: if the very Son of God counts it his duty to obey the command to worship God, then how much more must we count it our duty to obey this command!”  -John Piper

I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

Yesterday in our study through the Psalms, we discussed Psalm 121, which is a Psalm of Ascent and a Psalm of Confidence.  Psalms of Ascent were Psalms that were written and sung by Jewish travelers while making their way from their homeland to Jerusalem for worship.  At times, these types of trips were burdensome and tiring—treacherous and dangerous and many travelers were often in need of inner strength to make the journey.   

Notice the psalmist says here, “I lift my eyes to the hills (and I ask), ‘From where does my help come?’”  While on this difficult journey, the psalmist asks the question, “Where am I supposed to place my confidence?  Who am I to place my trust?”  The psalmist is looking to the tangible and is asking the rhetorical question of whether or not he can ultimately place his confidence in the things of this world?  He asks, “Does my help come from these hills?”  And of course the answer is, “No.”

He then answers his question in the first part of verse 2.  He says, “My help—my confidence does not come from these hills, but comes from the Lord.”  Why?  Why could he look to God in confidence and trust in Him for help?  He says, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

The psalmist is essentially saying here, “Why would I put my hope and my confidence in the things of this world, when I can place my hope and confidence in the one who created the world?  Why would I place my confidence in created things when I can place my confidence in the creator of all things?”  This psalm reminds us that it’s pointless to put our confidence in someone or something that is inferior to someone or something else—it is futile to look to and trust in created things when you can look to and trust in the creator of all things.

"Quote" of the Week

"What we need is a very present help in trouble. What a mercy that we have it in our God. Our hope is in (HIM), for our help comes from him. Help is on the road, and will not fail to reach us in due time, for he who sends it to us was never known to be too late. (God) who created all things is equal to every emergency; heaven and earth are at the disposal of him who made them, therefore let us be very joyful in our infinite helper."  -C.H. Spurgeon

“The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.” -Martin Luther

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.  Psalm 93:1

If there was ever any question about who is in charge in this life and in our world and over our lives, this psalm settles it.  The psalmist says clearly in the first part of Psalm 93:1, “The Lord Reigns.”  There is not a more powerful statement in all the Bible than that.  The psalmist continues with, 

He is robed in majesty.

Notice he does not say, “The Lord appears to be majestic.”  He does not say, “The Lord looks the part.”  At that time, if a king or ruler was not that mighty and powerful and majestic and impressive, they wanted to at least look the part.  Notice, the psalmist says, “God does not look the part—he does not just appear to be impressive, but is truly magnificent.”  He says, “He is robed in majesty.”  He does not say, “He is robed in something that makes him look majestic.”  He says, “God's robe is majesty—He is clothed in garments of greatness!” 

The psalmist also says,

(The Lord) has put on strength as his belt.

Not only is the Lord clothed in greatness and majesty, but He is also clothed in strength and power.  Though there were rulers who look impressive outwardly and appear to be mighty and powerful, behind the veil they were not.  They were like OZ.  Though they seemed regal, majestic and powerful, behind the veil they were impotent, powerless, helpless and cowardly.  The psalmist says, "This is not true of God.  He does not look the part; He is the part.  He is clothed with glory, honor, greatness and power."  Therefore, He is to be looked to and trusted in and followed as the King of all kings.

"Quote" of the Week

"All Creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia!  Alleluia.  Thou burning sun with golden beam, thou silver moon with softer gleam!  O praise Him, O praise Him!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!" 

"Let all things their Creator bless, and worship Him in humbleness, O praise Him! Alleluia!  Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three in One! O praise Him, O praise Him!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!"   All Creatures of our God and King, Lyrics by Saint Francis of Assisi 

Though Leslie and I take good care of our girls, there are times when they worry that we are going to deprive them of something.  For example, I normally have breakfast set out for them every morning, but there are times when I do not.  When this happens, one or the both of them will panic.  They are little creatures of habit and get worried when breakfast is not ready when they wake up and will say, “Dad, what about breakfast?  Did you forget about breakfast?  Are we not going to have breakfast?”  And at times I reassure them that breakfast is on the way, but there are other times I will try and reason with them by pointing them to the past.

I will say, “In your few short years you have been alive, has there ever been a time when mommy or daddy has not fed you?  Have we ever withheld food from you?”  And of course they will say, “NO.”  Then I will tell them, “If that is the case—if we have fed you day after day, breakfast, lunch and dinner; what makes you think that today will be any different?”  At times, to keep my girls from worrying in the present, I will remind them of the past. 

In the same way, there are times in our lives when things do not happen according to our plans, and we get all worked up and question God.  There are times when we feel as if He is depriving us of what’s best.  During these times, it is important for us to be reminded of the work that He has done for us and His people in the past—to hear stories of his continued love and faithfulness toward those He loves so that we would not worry but trust in him in the present.

"Quote" of the Week

"The Lord...has shown his steadfast love throughout the history of God’s people: from creating the world, to bringing Israel out of Egypt and leading them through the wilderness, to giving them victory over those who opposed them as they took the Promised Land...God’s works of creation, providence, and merciful deliverance show the steadfast love that has now been climactically revealed through salvation in Christ (John 1:14)."  -C. John Collins

THE GOSPEL IS GOD-CENTERED

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.  Psalm 30:11-12

David realizes the reason God has spared him and restored him is for worship.  He says, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.  Why?  That (key word here)  my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.”  David clearly states here the reason God has redeemed Him—the reason He has restored Him, is so that he would in turn sing praises to Him and not be silent.

David reminds us that God has selfish reasons for redeeming.  The reason He redeems us is for worship.  This is so important for us to remember because we have a tendency to make salvation all about us.  We often present the gospel as if it was centered upon us.  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

God’s gospel does not center upon us—it is not all about us, it centers upon Him and is all about Him.  Believers, God did not save you ultimately for you, but saved you for Him.  God saved you because He desires worship from you.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your bodies.” 

Believers, we have been made and have been set apart by God for God.  Therefore, the proper response from us should be the same as David in Psalm 30.  Our response should be to worship Him.  

"Quote" of the Week

"Our evangelistic task is not to persuade people that the gospel was made for their felt needs, but that they were made for the soul-satisfying glory of God."  -John Piper

RAW, REAL, REVERENT AND BIBLICAL

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me…I say to God, my rock:  “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”  Psalm 42:7, 9

In Psalm 42, the psalmist gives us a great blueprint on how we are to relate to God.  He shows us that we are to approach Him in a raw and real, yet reverent and biblical way.  First, notice the psalmist acknowledges that God is in control though it feels as if He is absent.  He knows that God is at work in the dark storms of life though it feels as if He is not.  In fact, the psalmist attributes his trials to God.  He says in verse 7, “…your breakers—your waves have gone over me.” 

Scripture is clear that God appoints trials for His people to grow them and mature them and to grow and mature others and that’s clearly the case here.  So the Psalmist has a biblical perspective when it comes to his trials.  However, though the psalmist realizes that God is at work and though he expresses great confidence in Him (vv. 5-6, 11), he is also honest with Him. 

The psalmist basically says in this passage, “I’m going through it—I’m being crushed by the storms of this life and it feels as if you are absent—it feels as if you have forgotten me.”  He’s complaining to God here because it feels as if He is absent.  The psalmist is expressing a real emotion that we all can relate to and notice the honesty in v. 9.  He says, “Why have you forgotten me, God?”  He tells God that it feels as if He has forgotten him.  He says, “God, it feels as if you are out of the picture.”  So we learn here from the psalmist in Psalm 42 that it’s OK to be honest with God when we are in a bad way—it’s OK to be honest with Him in the storms of this life. 

God wants us to come to Him when we are down and out and wants us to be honest with Him and cry out to Him when it feels as if He is removed from us.  If He didn’t, we wouldn’t have Psalm 42.  God does not want us to come to Him with this empty, scripted and disingenuous dialogue that doesn’t reflect how we actually feel.  He wants us to come to Him in a raw and real, yet reverent and scriptural way. 

"Quote" of the Week

“Let your words be the genuine picture of your heart.”  -John Wesley

You have set your glory above the heavens.  Psalm 8:1 

How great is our God?  How magnificent is He?  David gives us the answer here in Psalm 8:1.  He says, “God’s glory is above the heavens.”  His greatness—His glory—His magnificence is far beyond the highest place anyone could imaginably go.  He says, “Think of the highest of highs and God’s glory goes beyond that.”  His glory—His greatness and beauty is beyond the scope of the heavens.  

"Quote" of the Week

"(God's) glory (is) above the heavens: higher than the loftiest part of creation; the clouds are the dust of his feet, and sun, moon, and stars twinkle far below his throne. Even the heaven of heavens cannot contain him. His glory cannot be set forth by the whole visible universe, nor even by the solemn pomp of angelic armies; it is above all conception and imagination, for he is God—infinite. Let us above all adore him who is above all."  C.H. Spurgeon

GROUNDED IN THE RIGHT PLACE

(The blessed man) is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  Psalm 1:3-4

There are two images used here.  The first is of a tree, and the second is of chaff.  The tree represents the blessed man and the chaff represent the wicked man.  In verse 3, the psalmist says that the blessed man is grounded in the right place—he is planted in a fruitful place.  The psalmist then breaks from the illustration and says, “In all he does he prospers.”  He is making the point that a prosperous life—a blessed, and a happy life has everything to do with where one is grounded.

A prosperous man is not the one walking with the wicked, standing with sinners, and sitting with scoffers (v. 1), but is the man who is grounded in the right place.  And where is that?  The psalmist tell us in Psalm 1:2. 

(The blessed man’s) delight is in the law of the LORD,

In verse 4, the psalmist also gives the fate of the wicked man.  He says,

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Chaff is what is on the outside of grain.  In the first century, when a farmer wanted to separate the chaff from the grain, he would take the grain and crush it and gather it up and throw it in the air, and the grain would remain while the smaller chaff would be carried off by the wind.  So the psalmist says, “The wicked are like chaff driven away by the wind.”  The wicked have no solid and fruitful base and are like fruitless and useless chaff that is driven away by the wind; while the blessed man is like a strong and mighty and fruitful tree that is planted by streams of water that does not have one leaf that withers. 

Jesus uses a similar illustration in Matthew 7:24-27 when he says,      

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

"Quote" of the Week

"‘The law of the Lord’ is the daily bread of the true believer.”  C.H. Spurgeon

This week we started a new study through the book of Psalms.  For an introduction to the study, click HERE and listen to "INTRO TO PSALMS."

"Quote" of the Week

“In the Psalms we look into the heart of all the saints, and we seem to gaze into fair pleasure gardens—into heaven itself, indeed—where blooms in sweet, refreshing, gladdening flowers of holy and happy thoughts about God and all his benefits.”  -Martin Luther

The New Testament teaches that Jesus was entirely free from sin (John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5). This assertion means not only that He never disobeyed His Father, but that He loved God’s law and found whole-hearted joy in keeping it. In fallen human beings there is always some reluctance to obey God, and sometimes resentment amounting to hatred at the claims He makes on us (Rom. 8:7). But Jesus’ moral nature was unfallen, as was Adam’s prior to his sin, and in Jesus there was no prior inclination away from God for Satan to exploit, as there is in us. Jesus loved His Father and His Father’s will with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Heb. 4:15 says that Jesus was “in every respect … tempted as we are,” though without sinning. The temptations we face—temptations to wrongfully indulge natural desires, to evade moral and spiritual issues, to cut moral corners and take easy ways out, to be less than loving and sympathetic to others, to be self-centered and lost in self-pity—all these came upon Jesus, but He yielded to none of them. In Gethsemane and on the Cross He fought temptation and resisted sin to the point of death. Christians must learn from Him to do likewise (Luke 14:25–33; Heb. 12:3–13).

"Quote" of the Week

"For our salvation it was necessary that Jesus be free from sin. He was 'a lamb without blemish or spot,' able to offer His 'precious' blood for us (1 Pet. 1:19). If He had been sinful He would have needed a savior Himself, and His death would not have helped us. Christ obeyed on our behalf the moral commandments applying to all humanity. He also fulfilled all the will of God applying to Him in particular, as the One called to be the Messiah. His perfect obedience qualifies Him to be our all-sufficient Savior."  -R.C. Sproul

GOD OUR RESTORER

I read a story recently about a man and his family who were taking a trip to New Zealand.  They had always wanted to go, so they saved up their money for several years and took the trip.  During the flight, as they were filling out all the necessary customs and immigration forms, the husband was struck by something he read.  On one of the forms was the question of whether or not either one of them had ever been arrested.  Though this was a Christian couple, before coming to Christ the husband had spent over a year in jail for burglary. 

Wanting to be completely truthful on the form, the husband marked yes in the box.  When they arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, an officer in customs questioned the man about the offense.  He explained the story and also about how Christ had transformed his life.  Unfortunately, the customs officer had little interest in the second part of the story because they had one rule that said, “No one who had spent more than 12 months in jail in their home country, would be allowed into New Zealand.” 

As a result, this man had to say goodbye to his wife and kids and get on a plane and fly home.  It did not matter to those in the customs office what had taken place in this guy’s life, because of that one mess up, he would never be allowed into their country—it was a nonnegotiable.    

This sad story should remind us believers of a beautiful truth.  Though there was nothing that could be done for this man in this situation, though he could not clear his criminal record so that he could enter into this beautiful country with his family, spiritually his record had been expunged—removed—erased—wiped out.

Believers, though mistakes from our past will follow many of us until we die and though we encounter people in this life who will forever hold the past against us, praise the Lord that is not true of God and his dealings with us.

For more on this, click HERE and listen to “KNOWING JESUS AS OUR RESTORER.” 

"Quote" of the Week

"If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,  O Lord, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness." Psalm 130:3-4

When discussing the evidences for Jesus’ resurrection, many often make mention of the empty tomb and the various appearances of the Lord Jesus, but very few if any make mention of the future church.  In John 20:29, after appearing to a skeptical Thomas, Jesus says there is going to be a future group of believers who are going to believe in Him without seeing.  He tells Thomas, 

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

And this group of future believers give strong evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.  Scripture is clear that those who have been saved—those who have taken a stand for Christ and continue standing for Him—those who are in Christ and live as Christ give strong evidence for His resurrection.

"Quote" of the Week

"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."  Galatians 2:20

"TO PLEASE HIS HEAVENLY FATHER" by John Piper

Jesus did not wrestle his angry Father to the floor of heaven and take the whip out of his hand.  He did not force him to be merciful to humanity.  His death was not the begrudging consent of God to be lenient to sinners.  No, what Jesus did when he suffered and died was the Father’s idea.  It was a breathtaking strategy, conceived even before creation, as God saw and planned the history of the world.  That is why the Bible speaks of God’s “purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9). 

Already in the Jewish Scriptures the plan was unfolding.  The prophet Isaiah foretold the sufferings of the Messiah, who was to take the place of sinners.  He said that the Christ would be “smitten by God” in our place.

 

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…All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (Isaiah 53:4-6)

But what is most astonishing about this substitution of Christ for sinners is that it was God’s idea.  Christ did not intrude on God’s plan to punish sinners.  God planned for him to be there.  One Old Testament prophet says, “It was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10). 

This explains the paradox of the New Testament.  On the one hand, the suffering of Christ is an outpouring of God’s wrath because of sin.  But on the other hand, Christ’s suffering is a beautiful act of submission and obedience to the will of the Father.  So Christ cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).  And yet the Bible says that the suffering of Christ was a fragrance to God.  “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).  

Piper, John.  The Passion of Jesus Christ.  Wheaton:  Crossway Books.  2004.  22-23.

"Quote" of the Week

Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:2

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  Matthew 27:46

God the Father was the one who ultimately sent Christ to the cross and was the cause for all of the anguish he felt at Gethsemane and all of His suffering at Calvary.  And we do not just learn this in the Gospels, do we?  This was God’s plan from the beginning. 

In Isaiah 53:10, we learn that it pleased God—it was His will to crush His Son.  Why?  So that we could be accepted.  A glorious truth we learn here from Isaiah (Isa. 53) and Matthew (Mt. 27:46) and John (Jn. 18:11) and elsewhere is that God rejected His son for a time so that he would not have to reject us for all eternity.  Though all we like sheep have gone astray, though every one of us without exception have rejected God, He has responded by rejecting His son for a time so that he in turn could accept us forever.  THAT’S THE GOSPEL!

"Quote" of the Week

“There is no greater sin than to hate and kill the Son of God.  There was no greater suffering nor any greater innocence than the suffering and innocence of Christ.  Yet God was in it all.  'It was the will of the Lord to crush him' (Isaiah 53:10).  His aim, through evil and suffering, was to destroy evil and suffering.  'With his stripes we are healed' (Isaiah 53:5).  Is not then the passion of Jesus Christ meant by God to show the world that there is no sin and no evil too great that God, in Christ, cannot bring from it everlasting righteousness and joy?"  -John Piper

Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am.  John 17:14

Jesus desired not only that we would be in Him, but that we would be with Him. There is no place in the universe I would rather be than in the presence of Christ. There is no more marvelous presence than His. Incredibly, He also wants me to be with Him. Remember, He prayed here not just for the disciples but for you and for me. He was asking the Father that we might be with Him. The greatest benefit of Christianity is not the forgiveness of sins; that’s simply a means to an end. The greatest benefit that we have is access to the presence of God and His Son. That’s where Jesus wants us to be.

Sproul, R. C. John. St. Andrew's Expositional Commentary. Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2009.

"Quote" of the Week

"People will save money to go to a rock concert or a professional sports contest so that they can see some celebrities for an hour or two. But we are going to see the King of kings one day in all of His glory. That joyous moment is as good as guaranteed."  -R.C. Sproul

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  John 16:14-15

There is a lot of confusion in the church today when it comes to the work of the Holy Spirit, but Scripture clearly teaches that His primary role is not so much to bring something new as it is His role to magnify and glorify the Lord Jesus.  Jesus told His disciples that when the Holy Spirit comes, he will direct people to Him and present to them His completed works.  

Jesus says, “He’s going to take what is mine and declare it to you.”  He says, “He is going to take who I am and the works I’m going to accomplish for you and is going to make these truths clear to you.”  That is primarily what the Spirit does.  

Yet, the work He does is also very important because, without it, we would be without salvation.  Scripture is clear, that it is the Spirit who opens our blind eyes and softens our calloused hearts and transforms our broken lives.  This work is what enables us to see the beauty of Christ and respond to Him in faith.