New Year - Same Reminder...

When starting a New Year, it’s always good to get perspective. To remind ourselves of what is truly important. Our problem is, as much as we may hate to admit it, the things we value are often temporary things. It’s time to be reminded again of eternal things. Jesus continually tells the disciples (and us) that we are not to treasure things that don’t last (Matt. 6:19 - 21). The Apostle Paul reminds us the same thing in essence “seek things above, where Christ is -” (Col 3: 1 - 4). Peter warns of how our lives look when we “forget we’ve been cleansed from former sins.” (2 Peter 1: 3-9).
If you are like me, (and even if you don’t think you are.. YOU ARE), a New Year reminder is in order… In fact, this is something we are to dwell on continually… daily… moment by moment… The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is what is eternal. This good news of God’s sacrificial love isn't just about “being saved” and the rest is up to you. The gospel is too big for that… way too big!  The gospel not only saves us, but also causes our Christian growth, and keeps us until Christ’s return!  This is the reason Paul is so upset at the Galatians (Gal. 1:6) .. They had ceased to remember that Jesus was sufficient and that NOTHING could be added to what He has already done for us!
Jared Wilson in his great book, “Gospel Deeps”  writes; “…So the gospel Jesus preaches in his earthly ministry inaugurates the kingdom on God by announcing that he is at work to reverse this entire curse! By declaring his own sinless kingship, he is proclaiming that he will personally redeem what Adam (and we) personally cursed. By casting out demons, he is demonstrating that the spiritual forces of wickedness that reign over the cursed earth are being overthrown and conquered. By performing miracles he is providing signposts to the kingdom’s consummation, offering glimpses of the day in the age to come where there will be no sickness, no death, no deformity, and no lack. By teaching in parables, he is showing snapshots of what redeemed life inside the kingdom looks like.
By going to the cross, he offers himself as the propitiating sacrifice for the sin that caused all the breakdown to begin with. By rising from the grave, he presents the first fruits of the kingdom’s consummation…. The big picture of all that Jesus has done and is doing, then, encompasses our personal forgiveness and eternal relationship with God but is scaled larger scale to fit the scope of the restoration of a fallen creation. … This is the fullness of what the gospel is all about.”   - Jared C. Wilson, 2012, “Gospel Deeps”: Revealing the Excellencies of Jesus” Wheaton, Crossway Books, pg. 34-35. (emphasis mine)
This coming year, let’s make the priority of proclaiming, obeying, and living according the gospel of Jesus… It’s the eternal plan of God, and the only thing that really satisfies and lasts!

Blessings on your New Year!

Important Birth Announcement

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
                                                                                                        (Luke 2:13-14 ESV)

For some reason, for years I had made the assumption that the heavenly host mentioned were just "fellow angels"... Now I finally realize who they were... I bet I'm the last one to see it, and feel bad I hadn't realized it before, but the the heavenly host has to be all those in heaven redeemed by God through faith in what The Messiah would do... In other words, Old Testament believers ... In Hebrews chapter 11 we find: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and list of prophets that the writer refers to but doesn't list by name.. They were persecuted, killed, and distressed in this life, but believed in the promise of the next; "...But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16)  In Hebrews 12:1 we are told that this "cloud of witnesses" is still glorifying God and cheering us on at the same time to finish the race... To do what they did.. Run the race (live your life) by faith... 
The birth announcement that the shepherds received, we receive...   SPECIAL DELIVERY! 
Our deliverance comes through the life, death, and resurrection of our deliverer, Jesus Christ. The baby born in a manger grew to be a man who died on a cross for our sin and rose again. The "good news" that the angel and the heavenly host proclaimed (Luke 2:10) is still being proclaimed over 2,000 years later.. Unto YOU is born a Savior... Christ the Lord. 
                                                           Happy Christmas! 

Christmas According to Paul

The Apostle Paul explains Christmas to us this way: 


I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
                                                                                                        (Galatians 4:1-6 ESV) 
The incredible truth that God sent His Child into the world so that we too could become His child... This is stunning!  Note especially verses 4 - 5: 


 “In the fullness of time… (at the exact right moment, historically, culturally, 
  and spiritually) 
God sent forth His Son… (God took the initiative.. As He always has!)
born of a woman… (in fulfillment of the first promise and prophecy of Scripture Genesis 3:15) 
born under the law… (God had the same expectations of  Jesus (full obedience to the law and worship of God) as He did to His people, Israel, and to all of humanity for all of time) 
to redeem those who were under the law… (that means all of us)
so that we (those who have believed on Christ) 
might receive adoption as sons” (become God’s children) .    

Now THAT'S a great Christmas gift!!   

Three Rights Which Belong to God

Observe, then, three rights which belong to God,—as Creator; as Judge, having
the right to punish the guilty; and as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
having the right to pardon sinners, and to do it without in the slightest degree
violating his justice.    - C. H. Spurgeon  1834 - 1892 

Church: Not Spectacular, But Always Supernatural

"Worship gatherings are not always spectacular, but they are always supernatural. And if a church looks for or works for the spectacular, she may miss the supernatural. If a person enters a gathering to be wowed with something impressive, with a style that fits him just right, with an order of service and song selection designed just the right way, that person may miss the supernatural presence of God. Worship is supernatural whenever people come hungry to respond, react, and receive from God for who He is and what He has done. A church worshipping as a Creature of the Word doesn't show up to perform or be entertained; she comes desparate and needy, thirsty for grace, receiving from the Lord and the body of Christ, and then gratefully receiving what she needs as she offers her praise - the only proper response to the God who saves us."     
- "Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church" , Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson,
 Eric Geiger, 2012, B & H Publishing, pg. 41

No Need to Add to the Perfect....

We should never try to "improve" or "enhance" or "adjust" God's Word.. When we do, it distorts God's truth, (Galatians 1:6-7), and destroys us (Galatians 1:8-9).  You cannot improve upon the perfect.... Let's not even try!  

* "A church is alive and full when she is sustained by the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ and is drawn back to that precious reality again and again, every time she gathers."   

- Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson, Eric Geiger; "Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church, 2012, B&H Publishing Group, Nashville, Tennessee,  pg. 17 (emphasis mine) 

God Helps Those

"God helps those who cannot help themselves." 
                                     - Charles H. Spurgeon