A couple of weeks ago I requested another PDF book to review from Ligonier Ministries, this one the above titled book The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon by Steven Lawson. I read the book over the course of a couple of weeks, and was delayed by a bout of the flu. But before doing this review I sat down again today and read the book again the whole way through. The book is not a complete biography of Spurgeon, but rather a short overview of his ministry, just enough to hopefully whet your appetite to learn more about the "prince of preachers"
The book starts out with a brief introduction by the author on how he became aware of Charles Spurgeon and his ministry, and the effect Spurgeon has had on his own ministry. He then discusses a little about why he wanted to write a book on Charles Spurgeon, the author having previously written similar books on Jonathan Edwards and John Calvin.
The first chapter of the book gives a brief biographical sketch of the preacher beginning with his birth and ending with his death. One of the things that surprised me was the early age at which he began his ministry, with no formal training, and also the young age at which he died. However due to the young age at which he started preaching full time (18), he preached for nearly 40 years. The majority of which was spent in London.
The next 5 chapters are focused on what made Charles Spurgeon's ministry so impactful and long lasting, the 5 keys if you will to his ministry. They are a belief in the supremacy of God's word and it's divine inspiration, a understanding of the doctrines of grace commonly referred to as Calvinism, a heartfelt evangelistic devotion to the lost, a ministry with Christ and his completed work at its center, and a reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit. The final chapter concludes with a brief call for more pastors to minister with the fire and passion of Charles Spurgeon.
I don't want to go into much detail on the chapters with them being pretty short, but only want to note that each one will give you a lot to think about. If you come from a non Calvinist background you are going to have a lot of issues with the chapter entitled Sovereign Grace. Both the writer and Charles Spurgeon are Calvinistic in doctrine. A year ago that would have been difficult for me to agree with, but I find myself finding that Calvinism is in the scriptures, especially the Epistles of Paul.
I found this to be a terrific book, with a lot of helpful insight into preaching, and the gospel. The book also inspired me to learn more about the life and preaching of Charles Spurgeon. The book is not that long but is one you will reread multiple times to really let everything sink in. I want to conclude with a few of my favorite quotes from the book.
"The sermon which does not lead to
Christ,or of which Jesus Christ is not the top and the bottom,is a sort
of sermon that will make the devils in hell laugh,but might make the
angels of God weep."
"I do not envy Gabriel his crown when God gives me souls.I have thought
that I would rather be here to talk with you and point you to my
Master’s cross than be up there and cast my crown at His feet.For surely
there can be no joy in heaven greater than the joy of doing the
Master’s will in winning souls."
And lastly the one he might be the most famous for
"If sinners will be damned,at least let them leap to hell over our
bodies.And if they will perish,let them perish with our arms about their
knees,imploring them to stay.If hell must be filled,at least let it be
filled in the teeth of our exertions,and let not one go there unwarned
and unprayed for."
This book comes with a heartfelt recommendation from me, I cannot recommend it more highly.
In accordance with FCC bylaws, I must note that I could receive a copy of the book as compensation for my review.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
No Sin
Have you ever felt like your sin disqualified you from service to God? I know for a long time I believed this, I have struggled for many years with lust and masturbation. All of those times I would fall and struggle with my sin, I always wondered what the people who knew me would think if they found out. I tried confessing my sin to a couple of friends one time, only to be told that it was ok, everyone did it. Not the most encouraging counsel to receive to be sure. But as I've been reading my daily devotional one consistent them has been emerging. God knew my sin before I was ever created, and not only did save me by his grace, but he has set me aside for a purpose. This does not mean that my sin is ok, and I keep doing it. But that when I stumble and fall he has already forgiven me and I move forward with a repentant heart.
One of the best examples of this is the life of Peter and his sin on the night Christ was betrayed. Christ prophesied that night and told all the disciples that they would scatter and leave him. Peter was outspoken as always in his claims that he would follow Jesus, even unto death. Jesus told Peter that Satan was after Peter, and that he had been praying for him. He also told him that he would deny him 3 times, but that after he was restored, he was to strengthen his brothers. We know what happened, the guards come to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and all the disciples scatter. Later, Peter and another disciple (most likely John), follow to the Temple. They two disciples are separated, because John has entry into the inner courtyard, probably due to his Pharisee father. Eventually Peter's accent gives him away and he is recognized as one of the disciples. Peter vehemently denies this twice before the third time doing so with curses. After his third denial and the crow of the rooster. The gospel of Luke tells us that after the third denial and the crow of rooster, that Jesus turned to look at Peter, then he remembers Jesus word in that upper room. He leaves where the trial is and goes away weeping bitterly at his betrayal of the one he loves. He is not there the next day, as Jesus suffers on a cross for his sins (Peter not Christ), and my sins, and your sins. Later on, after the resurrection, the empty tomb, his appearances to the disciples in the upper room. Jesus once again meets them on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and repeats his miracle of providing fish to to those who have worked all night and caught nothing. After the fish is caught, and the breakfast eaten, Jesus takes Peter aside and questions him about his love. Each time Peter confesses his love, and each time Christ commands him to care for his sheep, he has restored him.
Jesus knew all about who Peter was from the moment he chose him as a disciple. He told him the first time he met him that he was changing him from Simon to Peter, a reed to a rock. All of Peter's brash and outspoken ways, his sins, were known to Christ when he said "Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men." But even knowing all of this Jesus still chose Peter. Why did he choose a fisherman from Galilee? Why does he call any of us? For two reasons 1) Because of his amazing grace and love for us. 2) So that when people see God using sinners to proclaim his gospel, and our lives changed, they give all the glory to God, not to man.
One of the best examples of this is the life of Peter and his sin on the night Christ was betrayed. Christ prophesied that night and told all the disciples that they would scatter and leave him. Peter was outspoken as always in his claims that he would follow Jesus, even unto death. Jesus told Peter that Satan was after Peter, and that he had been praying for him. He also told him that he would deny him 3 times, but that after he was restored, he was to strengthen his brothers. We know what happened, the guards come to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, and all the disciples scatter. Later, Peter and another disciple (most likely John), follow to the Temple. They two disciples are separated, because John has entry into the inner courtyard, probably due to his Pharisee father. Eventually Peter's accent gives him away and he is recognized as one of the disciples. Peter vehemently denies this twice before the third time doing so with curses. After his third denial and the crow of the rooster. The gospel of Luke tells us that after the third denial and the crow of rooster, that Jesus turned to look at Peter, then he remembers Jesus word in that upper room. He leaves where the trial is and goes away weeping bitterly at his betrayal of the one he loves. He is not there the next day, as Jesus suffers on a cross for his sins (Peter not Christ), and my sins, and your sins. Later on, after the resurrection, the empty tomb, his appearances to the disciples in the upper room. Jesus once again meets them on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and repeats his miracle of providing fish to to those who have worked all night and caught nothing. After the fish is caught, and the breakfast eaten, Jesus takes Peter aside and questions him about his love. Each time Peter confesses his love, and each time Christ commands him to care for his sheep, he has restored him.
Jesus knew all about who Peter was from the moment he chose him as a disciple. He told him the first time he met him that he was changing him from Simon to Peter, a reed to a rock. All of Peter's brash and outspoken ways, his sins, were known to Christ when he said "Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men." But even knowing all of this Jesus still chose Peter. Why did he choose a fisherman from Galilee? Why does he call any of us? For two reasons 1) Because of his amazing grace and love for us. 2) So that when people see God using sinners to proclaim his gospel, and our lives changed, they give all the glory to God, not to man.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Book Review of Mark by RC Sproul
A Book Review of Mark by RC Sproul (St. Andrews Expositional Commentary series)
I have been reading through the book on Romans in this series, when I found out that you could request a copy of a new book and do a review on it. Since I love to read I decided to take advantage of this offer. The first book I requested was his expositional commentary on the Gospel of Mark. An expositional commentary goes verse by verse throughout an entire book of the bible. This book is based on the sermons preached by Dr. Sproul on the book of Mark.
I greatly enjoyed reading through this book, as I have with all of his works that I have read. One thing I admire in a minister is when he has the honesty to say he does not know the answer to a question about the text. As Dr. Sproul does with some of the verses in the Olivet discourse, he does give what he believes is the meaning of the text. But also makes it clear that he is not 100% certain about his exposition, which I find admirable.
The only thing that disappointed me about the book was how short it was. As I have said I have been reading his book on Romans in the series and even though Mark and Romans have the same number of chapters. His book on the Gospel of Mark is at least 50 pages shorter. I would have enjoyed more meat to each of the chapters. It seemed that each time he was starting to really explain a topic or section of verses, the chapter would end.
I would also caution those who are looking for a true biblical commentary on the Gospel of Mark, even though this is an expositional commentary by title, to look elsewhere. This book is not an in depth commentary such as you would find by say Matthew Henry, to name one prominent bible commentary. This book does not proclaim itself to be such a commentary, rather it is as I said previously, a collection of sermons. If you are like me and enjoy reading or listening to sermons then I recommend this book to you.
In accordance with FCC bylaws, I must note that I could receive a copy of the book as compensation for my review.
I have been reading through the book on Romans in this series, when I found out that you could request a copy of a new book and do a review on it. Since I love to read I decided to take advantage of this offer. The first book I requested was his expositional commentary on the Gospel of Mark. An expositional commentary goes verse by verse throughout an entire book of the bible. This book is based on the sermons preached by Dr. Sproul on the book of Mark.
I greatly enjoyed reading through this book, as I have with all of his works that I have read. One thing I admire in a minister is when he has the honesty to say he does not know the answer to a question about the text. As Dr. Sproul does with some of the verses in the Olivet discourse, he does give what he believes is the meaning of the text. But also makes it clear that he is not 100% certain about his exposition, which I find admirable.
The only thing that disappointed me about the book was how short it was. As I have said I have been reading his book on Romans in the series and even though Mark and Romans have the same number of chapters. His book on the Gospel of Mark is at least 50 pages shorter. I would have enjoyed more meat to each of the chapters. It seemed that each time he was starting to really explain a topic or section of verses, the chapter would end.
I would also caution those who are looking for a true biblical commentary on the Gospel of Mark, even though this is an expositional commentary by title, to look elsewhere. This book is not an in depth commentary such as you would find by say Matthew Henry, to name one prominent bible commentary. This book does not proclaim itself to be such a commentary, rather it is as I said previously, a collection of sermons. If you are like me and enjoy reading or listening to sermons then I recommend this book to you.
In accordance with FCC bylaws, I must note that I could receive a copy of the book as compensation for my review.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
He is Willing
1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.4 And Jesus said to him, See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them. (Matthew 8:1-4)
Leprosy is a debilitating condition that deadens the nerves that sense pain in the human body. A person with leprosy can burn themselves, step on a nail, all kinds of injuries and not even feel them. Because they don’t feel their injuries, they often become infected losing to the loss of fingers, toes, even whole limbs. In our times there are people who will minister to them and help them, because even now modern medicine cannot completely eradicate this disease. But in the time of Jesus, the leper was the untouchable outcasts of society. No one went near them, no one had compassion on them. They could not intermingle with their family and friends. Whenever anyone came near them they had to shout out “Unclean!” as a warning so that no one would accidentally stray too close.
A few things happen then in this scripture that need to be taken note of. 1) The leper came to Jesus and worshiped him. The leper recognized that Jesus was worthy of his worship. 2) Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leper, something that probably nobody, least of all the leper expected. By this time Jesus had the 12 following him as well as probably hundreds others. This was not like when other sick people were brought to him, or other people with diseases approached him. For the leper to get close enough to be healed, close enough for Jesus to reach out his hand and touch him. I don’t doubt that there were some who tried to keep the leper away from Jesus. But by reaching out to the leper and actually touching him, Jesus was doing more than healing his physical body. He was restoring his humanity, acknowledging that the human touch can be a powerful thing that we all need. 3) Jesus required him to go and show himself to the priests of the temple. And to offer the sacrifices that he was required to make. Why not just have him follow him? Why make him go to the temple and offer sacrifices? Especially since being a leper he likely had little money, except maybe some alms given to him. But Jesus himself gave the answer to why in his command to the leper, it was to be a testimony to the priests. In the Old Testament it was the priests who were required to confirm that someone had been healed from leprosy, before they could be reestablished to the community.
The thing that caught my eye today and moved me is the leper’s request of Jesus. Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean. For a lot of people this is their attitude about their sin and coming for forgiveness. They doubt whether God is willing to forgive their sins. Or even more tragic, is that like leprosy, sin can deaden the spirit to the point that too is not able to recognize the pain of separation from its creator. The wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ is that God is indeed willing, no matter your sins. If you want proof, look no further than the Christmas season.
The Incarnation, the idea of God becoming a baby in a manger, as much as the cross, shows the lengths that God will go to rescue his children. Over the course of history there have been kings who have abdicated their thrones, in order to marry the women they love. But no throne so rich as the one for the King of Kings. Never before has the Creator become the created. The babe lying in a manger is all the proof you should need to recognize that God loves you. Not only that he loves you, but that he keeps his promises. One of the most abundant promises in all of scripture repeated time and time again, in a variety of ways is this. If you repent of your sins, call on the name of Jesus, he is faithful, he will cleanse you of all sin, and clothe you with the righteousness of Christ.
Leprosy is a debilitating condition that deadens the nerves that sense pain in the human body. A person with leprosy can burn themselves, step on a nail, all kinds of injuries and not even feel them. Because they don’t feel their injuries, they often become infected losing to the loss of fingers, toes, even whole limbs. In our times there are people who will minister to them and help them, because even now modern medicine cannot completely eradicate this disease. But in the time of Jesus, the leper was the untouchable outcasts of society. No one went near them, no one had compassion on them. They could not intermingle with their family and friends. Whenever anyone came near them they had to shout out “Unclean!” as a warning so that no one would accidentally stray too close.
A few things happen then in this scripture that need to be taken note of. 1) The leper came to Jesus and worshiped him. The leper recognized that Jesus was worthy of his worship. 2) Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leper, something that probably nobody, least of all the leper expected. By this time Jesus had the 12 following him as well as probably hundreds others. This was not like when other sick people were brought to him, or other people with diseases approached him. For the leper to get close enough to be healed, close enough for Jesus to reach out his hand and touch him. I don’t doubt that there were some who tried to keep the leper away from Jesus. But by reaching out to the leper and actually touching him, Jesus was doing more than healing his physical body. He was restoring his humanity, acknowledging that the human touch can be a powerful thing that we all need. 3) Jesus required him to go and show himself to the priests of the temple. And to offer the sacrifices that he was required to make. Why not just have him follow him? Why make him go to the temple and offer sacrifices? Especially since being a leper he likely had little money, except maybe some alms given to him. But Jesus himself gave the answer to why in his command to the leper, it was to be a testimony to the priests. In the Old Testament it was the priests who were required to confirm that someone had been healed from leprosy, before they could be reestablished to the community.
The thing that caught my eye today and moved me is the leper’s request of Jesus. Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean. For a lot of people this is their attitude about their sin and coming for forgiveness. They doubt whether God is willing to forgive their sins. Or even more tragic, is that like leprosy, sin can deaden the spirit to the point that too is not able to recognize the pain of separation from its creator. The wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ is that God is indeed willing, no matter your sins. If you want proof, look no further than the Christmas season.
The Incarnation, the idea of God becoming a baby in a manger, as much as the cross, shows the lengths that God will go to rescue his children. Over the course of history there have been kings who have abdicated their thrones, in order to marry the women they love. But no throne so rich as the one for the King of Kings. Never before has the Creator become the created. The babe lying in a manger is all the proof you should need to recognize that God loves you. Not only that he loves you, but that he keeps his promises. One of the most abundant promises in all of scripture repeated time and time again, in a variety of ways is this. If you repent of your sins, call on the name of Jesus, he is faithful, he will cleanse you of all sin, and clothe you with the righteousness of Christ.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
I know in whom I believe.
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day (2 Timothy 1:12)
The Apostle Paul is in prison and Timothy is afraid for him, and he had good reason to be. Scholars agree that this was the apostle’s last letter that he wrote before he was executed. But Paul is writing to comfort his son in the faith. In verse 8 he tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel or of him being a prisoner, and in verse 11 that the reason he is in prison is because he has been preaching the gospel.
Then in verse 12 he packs a whole lot of truth about what it means to be a Christian into one sentence. The first thing he tells him after reminding him that it is for preaching the gospel that he is suffering these things. Is that he is not ashamed. Repeating an earlier statement from Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe: first to the Jew then to the Gentile.” Paul says that even though I am in prison, even if I don’t make it out. Even if I have suffered through many trials and tribulations, because of the gospel, I am not ashamed of it. In Philippians 3:8 Paul says and I’m paraphrasing I count all things as loss, compared to knowing Christ.
Why does he say this? Why does he continue on by saying I’m not ashamed to be in these prisons, in these chains. Because I know the one in whom I’ve believed. Here we come to the crux of the sentence, why Paul is able to say the things he has said in this letter to Timothy. He knows the one in whom he has believed. Who is the one in whom he has believed? It is the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Risen Savior, Jesus. But to really understand why Paul says he is not ashamed because of the one in whom he has believed. You have to understand how Paul understands Jesus’s role as Savior and Messiah. We remember that Paul was not always called Paul, but was born Saul. Saul was a Pharisee, born of the tribe of Benjamin, someone who had lived his whole life, in observance to the law. At one point he says I was the Pharisee of all Pharisee’s. He thought he understood what the Messiah’s role would be until Jesus came and did everything differently than what he expected. Here was one who came, and proclaimed himself the Son of God, and yet he died. He did not overthrow the Romans, usher in a new and mighty age for Israel. Instead Jesus came and went to the cross, and died a horrible, painful violent death. For Saul the Pharisee, this could not be the Messiah. Then when the apostles began preaching that this same Jesus was resurrected, that he was the Savior of all mankind, the Messiah the Jews has been longing for. He could not accept it, he began to persecute the new faith. He had some put in prison, some executed. That is until he was overcome by a light on the way to Damascus. Once Jesus made a personal introduction to him, his whole life changed.
Once Saul understood Jesus’s role in the plan of salvation, once he understood the grace that God has shown him. He could not stop preaching about it, no matter what happened to him, he could not stop preaching the gospel. The idea that the Messiah prophesied in scriptures, born in Bethlehem, that the Savior who fulfilled all scripture. That this same Jesus who he himself had persecuted those followed. Would die for him? That the Son of God had loved him and gave himself for him. (Galatians 2:20). All of his life became an exercise in knowing this Jesus, proclaiming this Jesus, no matter the cost.
But Paul continues on, not only is he not ashamed because he knows the one in whom he has believed. But he also believes that Jesus is able to keep what he has committed to him until that day. What has he committed to Jesus? His everlasting and eternal soul, the one thing that will endure for all eternity. How can he be sure that Jesus is faithful and can be trusted with this most precious of gifts? Because he looks at the life of the Son of God and sees how he was faithful to his Father’s will.
One of the most polarizing questions since the death of Jesus is who was responsible for his crucifixion. For a long time the Jewish people were persecuted by the Catholic and Protestant churches for being responsible for his death. But the Bible paints a different story, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; “(Acts 2:23). In verse 9 of this chapter Paul tells Timothy that this has been the plan since before time began. So then the question of who put Christ on the Cross, is that the Father and Son put him there. The reason that Christ has to go to the cross is that God is holy, and no sin can be in his presence. He has also promised in his word to punish sin and pour out his wrath upon it. But God has also created us to dwell in fellowship with him through all eternity. We cannot keep his law, for all have sinned. We are all sinners. Therefore, we cannot enter into his holy presence, and are under his wrath and judgment. So long as we remain in our sin. God is also bound by his word in that without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin. (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22).
Therefore we need a sacrifice that can bear the punishment of sin, and absorb the wrath that God had promised to pour out on sin. Jesus being the only one ever born who did not sin, could therefore be the sacrifice. Jesus knew the wrath that was about to be poured on him as he prayed in Gethsemane, that is why he asked the Father to take the cup from him. But he knew that if he did not take the cup, that all of us would be doomed forever. Therefore, it was in obedience to his Father’s will, no matter the cost, that put Jesus on the cross. Paul looks at the sacrifice of Jesus, understanding the Old Testament scriptures, the promises God had made about how he was going to punish sin. That is what makes Hell so painful, it is a place made for God to pour out his wrath on the Devil and his angels. It is not a place designed for humanity to dwell. God through Christ already poured out his wrath for our sin. That is why it grieves the Father so much when we reject his offer of forgiveness and grace. Because he knows those that reject him are going to suffer a fate they were never meant to experience.
Paul says he is not ashamed, because he knows him on whom he’s believed, and he is persuaded that he is able to keep what he has committed to him until that day. What is that day? It is the day that all things are put the way they were meant to be. It is the day that those who have believed in the Son will enter into the Kingdom created for them. It is the day that all of the faithful look forward to with anxious expectation. Because we will be with the one who loved us and gave himself for us.
Can you say as Paul did, that I am not ashamed? Can you say as Paul did, that I know the one in whom I’ve believed. Are you persuaded as he was that he is able to keep what you have committed to him, until that day? If this is not your testimony, then you need to a Savior.
The Apostle Paul is in prison and Timothy is afraid for him, and he had good reason to be. Scholars agree that this was the apostle’s last letter that he wrote before he was executed. But Paul is writing to comfort his son in the faith. In verse 8 he tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel or of him being a prisoner, and in verse 11 that the reason he is in prison is because he has been preaching the gospel.
Then in verse 12 he packs a whole lot of truth about what it means to be a Christian into one sentence. The first thing he tells him after reminding him that it is for preaching the gospel that he is suffering these things. Is that he is not ashamed. Repeating an earlier statement from Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe: first to the Jew then to the Gentile.” Paul says that even though I am in prison, even if I don’t make it out. Even if I have suffered through many trials and tribulations, because of the gospel, I am not ashamed of it. In Philippians 3:8 Paul says and I’m paraphrasing I count all things as loss, compared to knowing Christ.
Why does he say this? Why does he continue on by saying I’m not ashamed to be in these prisons, in these chains. Because I know the one in whom I’ve believed. Here we come to the crux of the sentence, why Paul is able to say the things he has said in this letter to Timothy. He knows the one in whom he has believed. Who is the one in whom he has believed? It is the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Risen Savior, Jesus. But to really understand why Paul says he is not ashamed because of the one in whom he has believed. You have to understand how Paul understands Jesus’s role as Savior and Messiah. We remember that Paul was not always called Paul, but was born Saul. Saul was a Pharisee, born of the tribe of Benjamin, someone who had lived his whole life, in observance to the law. At one point he says I was the Pharisee of all Pharisee’s. He thought he understood what the Messiah’s role would be until Jesus came and did everything differently than what he expected. Here was one who came, and proclaimed himself the Son of God, and yet he died. He did not overthrow the Romans, usher in a new and mighty age for Israel. Instead Jesus came and went to the cross, and died a horrible, painful violent death. For Saul the Pharisee, this could not be the Messiah. Then when the apostles began preaching that this same Jesus was resurrected, that he was the Savior of all mankind, the Messiah the Jews has been longing for. He could not accept it, he began to persecute the new faith. He had some put in prison, some executed. That is until he was overcome by a light on the way to Damascus. Once Jesus made a personal introduction to him, his whole life changed.
Once Saul understood Jesus’s role in the plan of salvation, once he understood the grace that God has shown him. He could not stop preaching about it, no matter what happened to him, he could not stop preaching the gospel. The idea that the Messiah prophesied in scriptures, born in Bethlehem, that the Savior who fulfilled all scripture. That this same Jesus who he himself had persecuted those followed. Would die for him? That the Son of God had loved him and gave himself for him. (Galatians 2:20). All of his life became an exercise in knowing this Jesus, proclaiming this Jesus, no matter the cost.
But Paul continues on, not only is he not ashamed because he knows the one in whom he has believed. But he also believes that Jesus is able to keep what he has committed to him until that day. What has he committed to Jesus? His everlasting and eternal soul, the one thing that will endure for all eternity. How can he be sure that Jesus is faithful and can be trusted with this most precious of gifts? Because he looks at the life of the Son of God and sees how he was faithful to his Father’s will.
One of the most polarizing questions since the death of Jesus is who was responsible for his crucifixion. For a long time the Jewish people were persecuted by the Catholic and Protestant churches for being responsible for his death. But the Bible paints a different story, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; “(Acts 2:23). In verse 9 of this chapter Paul tells Timothy that this has been the plan since before time began. So then the question of who put Christ on the Cross, is that the Father and Son put him there. The reason that Christ has to go to the cross is that God is holy, and no sin can be in his presence. He has also promised in his word to punish sin and pour out his wrath upon it. But God has also created us to dwell in fellowship with him through all eternity. We cannot keep his law, for all have sinned. We are all sinners. Therefore, we cannot enter into his holy presence, and are under his wrath and judgment. So long as we remain in our sin. God is also bound by his word in that without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin. (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22).
Therefore we need a sacrifice that can bear the punishment of sin, and absorb the wrath that God had promised to pour out on sin. Jesus being the only one ever born who did not sin, could therefore be the sacrifice. Jesus knew the wrath that was about to be poured on him as he prayed in Gethsemane, that is why he asked the Father to take the cup from him. But he knew that if he did not take the cup, that all of us would be doomed forever. Therefore, it was in obedience to his Father’s will, no matter the cost, that put Jesus on the cross. Paul looks at the sacrifice of Jesus, understanding the Old Testament scriptures, the promises God had made about how he was going to punish sin. That is what makes Hell so painful, it is a place made for God to pour out his wrath on the Devil and his angels. It is not a place designed for humanity to dwell. God through Christ already poured out his wrath for our sin. That is why it grieves the Father so much when we reject his offer of forgiveness and grace. Because he knows those that reject him are going to suffer a fate they were never meant to experience.
Paul says he is not ashamed, because he knows him on whom he’s believed, and he is persuaded that he is able to keep what he has committed to him until that day. What is that day? It is the day that all things are put the way they were meant to be. It is the day that those who have believed in the Son will enter into the Kingdom created for them. It is the day that all of the faithful look forward to with anxious expectation. Because we will be with the one who loved us and gave himself for us.
Can you say as Paul did, that I am not ashamed? Can you say as Paul did, that I know the one in whom I’ve believed. Are you persuaded as he was that he is able to keep what you have committed to him, until that day? If this is not your testimony, then you need to a Savior.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Great Expectations?
Expectations are a tricky thing. Some people will have expectations about you based on nothing more than appearance. Others will place expectations on you based on how you act, where you are from, or even your religious backgrounds. In general though the expectations others place on us, can only have an effect on us if we consciously choose to do so. If someone has a low opinion of you, it may drive you to succeed. Conversely sometimes the expectations on us build pressure and cause us to fall into a quivering heap of jelly. However there is one place where the expectations can have a great influence on you as a person. That place is in the world of sports, particularly in the coaching profession.
I've noticed that pockets of WVU fans are disappointed, or worried that Coach Stewart will never live up to the expectations Rich Rodriguez brought to the program. With Coach Rod in his last few seasons we had possible national title hopes, something that had not been seen in this area for a long time. Some who I have talked to seem to think that Stewart, like Rodriguez a native of West Virginia. Often times seems clueless on the sidelines, or his interviews come off a little bit down home. The gee golly type of attitude that has become his trademark. This means that Stewart can not lead us to the same levels and type of success that Rodriguez did. They remember the fire that Coach Rod portrayed on the sidelines and compare Stewart negatively to that rememberance.
While it is true that while Coach Rod was at WVU they attained some high levels of success. They did not do so without a little bit of luck and good fortune coming their way. The three players that became the hallmarks and foundations of the success. Owen Schmitt, Pat White and Steve Slaton all came to WVU with less than lofty expectations. No one knew when they stepped on campus that they would leave it as players who will go down in WVU history. The story of Owen Schmitt has been well documented in both the local and national media. After high school he attended a division III school for year, followed by walking on at WVU, after bringing a highlight tape with him. Pat White was someone who was recruited some of the top schools in the country, but mostly to play wide receiver. WVU was a school that guaranteed him a chance to play QB. Let's also not forget that he did not begin his initial season as the lead man behind center. His opening season began in a QB rotation with Adam Bednarik, with Bednarik being the QB who started the games behind center. It was not until Bednarik went down with an injury in the game against Louisville, that White took over the full time starting position. Once he lead WVU to one of the most stunning comebacks in school history that is. As for Slaton he began the season in the fourth spot on the team depth chart, behind Avon Cobourne and the much heralded Jason Gwaltney. You remember Gwaltney right? The player who's signing with WVU was covered by ESPN news live on signing day. Slaton also was being recruited by other schools for another position that of defensive back, only ending up at WVU after Maryland chose another RB over Slaton. If Rodriguez and company were such geniuses, then why not start the season immediately with Slaton and White ?
My point however is not to bash Coach Rodriguez though, even though I was disappointed in a lot of ways with his decision to leave for Michigan. As well as the way he went about making the decision. I am merely advocating giving Coach Stewart a chance before you give up on the high expectations people have built for the WVU program. Are we as good as we were 3 years ago? Absolutely not, because we've lost Pat White, Owen Schmitt and Steve Slaton along with a host of other contributing players in the last two. Any team that loses such a foundation will experience some growing pains. Even USC and Georgia have suffered this year a little with the losses of Sanchez and Stafford respectively. Is Coach Stewart as good an offensive coach as Coach Rod? No, but then again very few are. The question is can Stewart and his staff continue to bring in players who fit their system, who are willing to work hard to get better. But most important is can they find those players that other schools miss.
I've noticed that pockets of WVU fans are disappointed, or worried that Coach Stewart will never live up to the expectations Rich Rodriguez brought to the program. With Coach Rod in his last few seasons we had possible national title hopes, something that had not been seen in this area for a long time. Some who I have talked to seem to think that Stewart, like Rodriguez a native of West Virginia. Often times seems clueless on the sidelines, or his interviews come off a little bit down home. The gee golly type of attitude that has become his trademark. This means that Stewart can not lead us to the same levels and type of success that Rodriguez did. They remember the fire that Coach Rod portrayed on the sidelines and compare Stewart negatively to that rememberance.
While it is true that while Coach Rod was at WVU they attained some high levels of success. They did not do so without a little bit of luck and good fortune coming their way. The three players that became the hallmarks and foundations of the success. Owen Schmitt, Pat White and Steve Slaton all came to WVU with less than lofty expectations. No one knew when they stepped on campus that they would leave it as players who will go down in WVU history. The story of Owen Schmitt has been well documented in both the local and national media. After high school he attended a division III school for year, followed by walking on at WVU, after bringing a highlight tape with him. Pat White was someone who was recruited some of the top schools in the country, but mostly to play wide receiver. WVU was a school that guaranteed him a chance to play QB. Let's also not forget that he did not begin his initial season as the lead man behind center. His opening season began in a QB rotation with Adam Bednarik, with Bednarik being the QB who started the games behind center. It was not until Bednarik went down with an injury in the game against Louisville, that White took over the full time starting position. Once he lead WVU to one of the most stunning comebacks in school history that is. As for Slaton he began the season in the fourth spot on the team depth chart, behind Avon Cobourne and the much heralded Jason Gwaltney. You remember Gwaltney right? The player who's signing with WVU was covered by ESPN news live on signing day. Slaton also was being recruited by other schools for another position that of defensive back, only ending up at WVU after Maryland chose another RB over Slaton. If Rodriguez and company were such geniuses, then why not start the season immediately with Slaton and White ?
My point however is not to bash Coach Rodriguez though, even though I was disappointed in a lot of ways with his decision to leave for Michigan. As well as the way he went about making the decision. I am merely advocating giving Coach Stewart a chance before you give up on the high expectations people have built for the WVU program. Are we as good as we were 3 years ago? Absolutely not, because we've lost Pat White, Owen Schmitt and Steve Slaton along with a host of other contributing players in the last two. Any team that loses such a foundation will experience some growing pains. Even USC and Georgia have suffered this year a little with the losses of Sanchez and Stafford respectively. Is Coach Stewart as good an offensive coach as Coach Rod? No, but then again very few are. The question is can Stewart and his staff continue to bring in players who fit their system, who are willing to work hard to get better. But most important is can they find those players that other schools miss.
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