"At 3:00 A.M. on February 18, 1546 Martin Luther died. His last recorded words were, "Wir sein bettler. Hoc est verum." "We are beggars. This is true." God is free-utterly free-in His grace. And we are beggars-pray-ers. That is how we live, that is how we die, and that is how we study, so that God gets the glory and we get the grace" (Piper Legacy of Sovereign Joy).
This is true we are beggars on this world as mere shadows of The Creator, for nothing more than the glorification of God. "That God gets the glory and we get the grace." is our only purpose, His grace is sufficient for us, His strength is made perfect in our weakness. This is the promise we must cling to for nothing else will save us. That one day we will see our King in all His splendor that for all eternity we will give Him the praise he deserves. He is our Judge, King, Lord, Redeemer, and Friend, Father, and Lover. Our King is in complete control of every mans comings and goings, working everything out for the good of those who are called to believe in His name, and for the destruction of those who are to reject this Gospel. Letting the elect say, "We are beggars, this is true... So that God gets the glory, and we get the grace."
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Romans 7 a study pt. 1
Romans 7 is, in my estimation, the best biography of the Christian life. Not a prefect peaceful life full of beauty, but a life of struggle, filth, of constantly dying to self, a grotesque life, not of glamor, but suffering. This is the first of a series on my study of Romans, my favorite book.
In 7:1-3 the wife is representative of the believer, whether they be a Jew or a Gentile, we are under the “husband” or Jesus, if humanity goes to another, adultery is committed, and thus we will die in our sins, and be eternal cast into Hell. However, if the “husband” dies we are free from our subjection to him. When Christ died on the cross the children of Israel, the elect, were freed from the law, and were made free to marry another, the risen Jesus. Thus giving salvation not in animal sacrifices to fulfill the law, but in the holy blameless sacrifice of Jesus, that set us free from the law of sin and death.
Therefore Romans 7:1-3 can be also read like this; or do you not know brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the wife, the elect, who has a husband, the Law of Moses, is bound by the law to the husband, Law of Moses, as long as he lives. But if the Law of Moses dies, she is released from the husband. So then if the elect, while still tide to the law, marry another the elect will be called adulteresses, but if the Law of Moses dies, the elect are free from the law, so that they are not adulteresses, though the elect marry another man.
In looking at this passage through these lenses one can see Christ’s purpose for coming to die. For if we go to Him while the law is still in place, a law that he set, we are adulteresses, but when He died the Law of Moses was fulfilled and the elect were free to “marry” another, the risen Jesus Christ. Thus when He says in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The Law was not killed it is still what God uses to Judge the nations, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, but it is not what saves the elect anymore, we are saved by nothing more than the Blood of Jesus.
To explain in further more simplistic terms, Christ’s death on the cross effectively put away the law, by fulfillment, and made us “widowers” freeing us from our relations with the law. Upon which Christ’s resurrection gave us the newfound relationship of Jesus, and the grace of God. The law no longer gives us eternity, but the mere grace of God, by the faith that He gives, only by the person of Jesus Christ.
In 7:1-3 the wife is representative of the believer, whether they be a Jew or a Gentile, we are under the “husband” or Jesus, if humanity goes to another, adultery is committed, and thus we will die in our sins, and be eternal cast into Hell. However, if the “husband” dies we are free from our subjection to him. When Christ died on the cross the children of Israel, the elect, were freed from the law, and were made free to marry another, the risen Jesus. Thus giving salvation not in animal sacrifices to fulfill the law, but in the holy blameless sacrifice of Jesus, that set us free from the law of sin and death.
Therefore Romans 7:1-3 can be also read like this; or do you not know brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the wife, the elect, who has a husband, the Law of Moses, is bound by the law to the husband, Law of Moses, as long as he lives. But if the Law of Moses dies, she is released from the husband. So then if the elect, while still tide to the law, marry another the elect will be called adulteresses, but if the Law of Moses dies, the elect are free from the law, so that they are not adulteresses, though the elect marry another man.
In looking at this passage through these lenses one can see Christ’s purpose for coming to die. For if we go to Him while the law is still in place, a law that he set, we are adulteresses, but when He died the Law of Moses was fulfilled and the elect were free to “marry” another, the risen Jesus Christ. Thus when He says in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The Law was not killed it is still what God uses to Judge the nations, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, but it is not what saves the elect anymore, we are saved by nothing more than the Blood of Jesus.
To explain in further more simplistic terms, Christ’s death on the cross effectively put away the law, by fulfillment, and made us “widowers” freeing us from our relations with the law. Upon which Christ’s resurrection gave us the newfound relationship of Jesus, and the grace of God. The law no longer gives us eternity, but the mere grace of God, by the faith that He gives, only by the person of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Commit
Commitment is a tricky thing. To know when something has gone to far outside one's control and the proper time to let go, or to continue on with something even when all hope seems lost. Paul, a great man of Christ, was committed to His cause through every part of life, even when it meant multiple beatings, the hatred of many, and his own beheading. Being so committed that he would sing to Christ even after being beaten with rods (Acts 16:16-24). "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I be exalted above measure" (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Paul was very prone to suffer, if the persecutions of Paul are looked up on Biblegateway there are over 100 hits that appear. Yet he is able to say, "Concerning with this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ my rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) Basically, "Lord! this is thorn seems to be killing me, but if it is your will then I will preserver with it that you may bestow Your power upon me that others will know You."
The reason for this is, the commitment of a calling. To know what you are called to do beyond a shadow of a doubt, requires intense study and prayer. And when God is gracious enough to allow the calling to be shown than commitment ensues hopefully rather unavoidably. Therefore if the calling is sound, and has been study, and poured over in the holy communion with Christ, then commit whole-heartedly that the power of Christ might rest upon you. To allow the unsaved to see The Judge, in your speech, and actions. And in so doing allowing the called to say firmly, "O hear us when we call to Thee, for those in peril on the sea." Not for self glorification, but for the glory of the One from whose mouth came the exploding sun.
Thus, only after the holy communion with God, comes the assurance of a calling. From this calling comes suffering, of any kind, "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake, But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22). But the commitment that is in the heart of the believer will cause the endurance through all suffering, even when death is near, that the power of the Most High Majesty may rest upon him and that the thorn might know the might of the God we worship.
Paul was very prone to suffer, if the persecutions of Paul are looked up on Biblegateway there are over 100 hits that appear. Yet he is able to say, "Concerning with this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ my rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) Basically, "Lord! this is thorn seems to be killing me, but if it is your will then I will preserver with it that you may bestow Your power upon me that others will know You."
The reason for this is, the commitment of a calling. To know what you are called to do beyond a shadow of a doubt, requires intense study and prayer. And when God is gracious enough to allow the calling to be shown than commitment ensues hopefully rather unavoidably. Therefore if the calling is sound, and has been study, and poured over in the holy communion with Christ, then commit whole-heartedly that the power of Christ might rest upon you. To allow the unsaved to see The Judge, in your speech, and actions. And in so doing allowing the called to say firmly, "O hear us when we call to Thee, for those in peril on the sea." Not for self glorification, but for the glory of the One from whose mouth came the exploding sun.
Thus, only after the holy communion with God, comes the assurance of a calling. From this calling comes suffering, of any kind, "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake, But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22). But the commitment that is in the heart of the believer will cause the endurance through all suffering, even when death is near, that the power of the Most High Majesty may rest upon him and that the thorn might know the might of the God we worship.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Scottish Hymn #1
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arms hath bound the restless wave
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Christ, whose voice the waters heard,
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid it's angry tumult cease,
And give the wild confusion peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love an power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Whose arms hath bound the restless wave
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
It's own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Christ, whose voice the waters heard,
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid it's angry tumult cease,
And give the wild confusion peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love an power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour,
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Scottish Hymn #2
"LORD, when Thy kingdom comes, remember me;"
Thus spake the dying lips to dying ears;
O faith, which in that darkest hour could see
The promised glory of the far-off years.
No kingly sign declares that glory now,
No ray of hope lights up that awful hour;
A thorny crown surrounds the bleeding brow,
The hands are stretched in weakness, not in power.
Yet hear the word the dying Savor saith,
"Thou too shalt rest in Paradise today;"
O words of love to answer words of faith!
O words of hope for those who live to pray!
Lord when with dying lips my prayer is said,
Grant that in faith Thy kingdom I may see;
And thinking on Thy cross and bleeding head,
May breathe my parting words, "Remember me."
Remember me, but not my shame or my sin;
Thy cleansing blood hath washed them all away;
Thy precious death for me did pardon win;
Thy blood redeemed me in that awful day.
Remember me; yet how canst Thou forget
What pain and anguish I have caused to Thee,-
The cross the agony the bloody sweat,
And all the sorrow Thou didst bear for me?
Remember me; and ere I pass away,
Speak Thou the assuring words that sets us free,
And make your promise to my heart, "Today Thou too shalt rest in Paradise with me."
Thus spake the dying lips to dying ears;
O faith, which in that darkest hour could see
The promised glory of the far-off years.
No kingly sign declares that glory now,
No ray of hope lights up that awful hour;
A thorny crown surrounds the bleeding brow,
The hands are stretched in weakness, not in power.
Yet hear the word the dying Savor saith,
"Thou too shalt rest in Paradise today;"
O words of love to answer words of faith!
O words of hope for those who live to pray!
Lord when with dying lips my prayer is said,
Grant that in faith Thy kingdom I may see;
And thinking on Thy cross and bleeding head,
May breathe my parting words, "Remember me."
Remember me, but not my shame or my sin;
Thy cleansing blood hath washed them all away;
Thy precious death for me did pardon win;
Thy blood redeemed me in that awful day.
Remember me; yet how canst Thou forget
What pain and anguish I have caused to Thee,-
The cross the agony the bloody sweat,
And all the sorrow Thou didst bear for me?
Remember me; and ere I pass away,
Speak Thou the assuring words that sets us free,
And make your promise to my heart, "Today Thou too shalt rest in Paradise with me."
Psalms 68:1-5
1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.
2 As smoke is blown away by the wind,
may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds [a]—
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
"Let God Arise." May we never cease to extol the name of the Lord, not to just mundanely listen to the words, or singing/saying them with ignorance of the meaning, but to praise enthusiastically the name of the God that spoke the worlds into being, from who's mouth came the burning exploding sun. Who created us in His image that he might glorify Himself in His Son, on a worm ridden filth covered cross, which is the pinncale of human cruelty. Through the nails that were driven, as if ,by my own hand into the prefect flawless flesh of the Savior. So I might know the power of my Creator, of my Savior, Judge, and King. How amazing is The Amazing? How awesome is The Awesome? Words, knowledge, and time pale in comparison to the incredible I AM who was and is and is to come. "Our God reigns now and forever."
may his foes flee before him.
2 As smoke is blown away by the wind,
may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds [a]—
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
"Let God Arise." May we never cease to extol the name of the Lord, not to just mundanely listen to the words, or singing/saying them with ignorance of the meaning, but to praise enthusiastically the name of the God that spoke the worlds into being, from who's mouth came the burning exploding sun. Who created us in His image that he might glorify Himself in His Son, on a worm ridden filth covered cross, which is the pinncale of human cruelty. Through the nails that were driven, as if ,by my own hand into the prefect flawless flesh of the Savior. So I might know the power of my Creator, of my Savior, Judge, and King. How amazing is The Amazing? How awesome is The Awesome? Words, knowledge, and time pale in comparison to the incredible I AM who was and is and is to come. "Our God reigns now and forever."
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