The good news of Christ
Lord, blow your trumpet
in the songs we sing,
in the gifts we bring,
in the prayers we pray,
in the roles we play,
in the lives we live,
in the alms we give,
in the love we show,
in the seed we sow,
in the thanks we express,
in the souls we bless,
in the Word we speak,
in the bread we break.
Make all the earth hear your sound!
Amen.
I posted a form of this prayer poem last night on an alternative social media account, inspired by a short prayer on commonprayer.net.
Truth is to be sought after above all other things in this world (Proverbs 23:23), yet in a world that denies the existence of truth, we who insist on proclaiming it are hated (Amos 5:10). Pilate was a product of the world that believed that whatever power or advantage a person could gather for himself was the only truth, relative as it may be, that existed. Yet, Jesus declared to him that His purpose in coming into the world was to bear witness to absolute truth (John 18:33-40). This is the purpose of His followers today.
I. Acts 5:27-40. Believing Jesus a liar, Pilate asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Word of this itinerant preacher from Galilee must have surely reached Pilate before his own people turned him over to be condemned. He sure didn’t look the part, but if he was “the King of the Jews,” why were his own people, who hated the occupiers, so willing to involve Rome? He must have done something else? In the same way today the world tries to either shut truth-tellers up or get us to dilute our message.
II. John 15:18-25. Thinking Jesus a lunatic, Pilate asked, “So you are a king?” If not lying, Jesus must be crazy, yet he was speaking not like one condemned but factually about his spiritual kingdom. He has no fear in the face of the worldly power I wield buts speaks to me as a head of state, like he’s the one in control, not me. I can see that he’s done nothing deserving death, but it’s out of envy that they turned him in. For the same reason, Jesus’ followers are hated today as we are citizens of His kingdom.
III. Acts 17:16-21. Considering Jesus to be LORD, Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Why would someone willingly go through this, even die if truly a king? Jesus answers by stating that it’s his purpose for coming into this world in order to bear witness to the truth. In my position, I only ever hear what I want to hear from those around me or lies to spare prisoners’ lives. But, here is one in power as well and innocent. Because truth is relative in our world today, truth-tellers are considered narrow-minded and are cancelled (Acts 19:23-41).
Pilate gave in to the crowd to keep peace. That’s what worldly power does. But, he would put an inscription on the cross stating that Jesus was King of the Jews. Meanwhile, God’s people are urged to love truth and peace (Zechariah 8:16-19). Do you–even in the face of a world that is against you?
Why was it so essential that Jesus be seated at the right hand of the Father and that we know that He is coming back? What is the work of the King of Kings that He does on our behalf as He entered His kingdom?
I. Colossians 1:9-20. Jesus is on a rescue mission. He had to enter His kingdom to deliver us from the dominion of darkness and transfer us to His kingdom. He accomplishes this through the church (Matthew 16:18), which is His body, which He bought with His blood (Acts 20:28), over which He is head (Ephesians 1:7-23). We are rescued when we obey the gospel (Acts 2:36-41).
II. Hebrews 7:23-25. We need Jesus to intercede for us. Jesus’ constant work on behalf of those who have obeyed the gospel until the Day of Judgment is to sit at the right hand of the Father as our permanent High Priest and offer intercession for us (Hebrews 9:11-15). And, it is good that He does as the accuser of our brethren is constantly about his deceitful work (Revelation 12:1-17).
III. Hebrews 9:23-28. Because we know that Jesus will return for us (Acts 1:9-11), we must be eagerly waiting for Him. The time for His redemptive work is done, His sacrifice for sins on the cross and overcoming of death at the tomb accomplished. He has gone away to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-4), so we must live faithfully, watching and preparing (Matthew 25:1-13).
Jesus has gone away to do His important work of saving us. Are we about our important work of eagerly waiting for His return?
Our Father in Heaven,
Our minds are often lazy. Our understanding is limited. We are not used to reasoning. We are moved by emotion or social pressure. Our attention is taken by the media and entertainment. We no longer know how to think in a logical and sequential way. Continue reading “Lazy minds”
After the wedding is over, who does the work in the marriage relationship? The answer is both … if the marriage is to be successful. So it must be when we enter into a relationship with Christ. The Bridegroom has conquered sin and death by the cross and the tomb, but believers meet Him at the altar by obeying the gospel. In baptism the wedding is over, how now can the marriage work?
I. Galatians 3:26-29. When we enter that covenant, we become “heirs according to the promise.” No longer separated by our sins from God, we become children of God, “provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16-17). Some of that suffering comes from choosing to walk according to Scripture instead of in the way of the religious world around us. It’s a very narrow path to navigate (Matthew 7:13-14). Stray a little too much towards ritual and our faith becomes a Checklist Christianity; a little too much towards relationship and it becomes Cultural Christianity. Rather, true worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
II. Philippians 2:12-16. For our part, we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. And it is hard work indeed. Maintaining any good relationship is. We must not grumble or argue to not wreck our influence for the gospel of Christ. There is a process of partaking in the divine nature and escaping the corruption of the world. We must add various virtues one to another in increasing measure and practice them with diligence to not fall and find a rich welcome in the Kingdom of God (1 Peter 1:3-11). Only you can strengthen or destroy your own relationship in Christ.
III. Hebrews 10:38-39. For His part, God promises to work in you, to work and to will for His pleasure. So, as you are working out your own salvation, He is molding and shaping you into His Son’s image. So, faithful living requires many moment-to-moment decisions to walk as Christ did (1 John 2:6). We can no longer live for ourselves but rather make it our aim to please Him (2 Corinthians 5:9). As two become one in marriage, we are, as members of Christ’s bride, united with our Bridegroom in death and so also life (Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6:5). Therefore, we do not shrink back but live by faith
A man drowning at sea is suddenly thrown a life ring that splashes into the water next to him. Taking hold of it, he is pulled into the boat by his rescuer and lives the rest of his life eternally grateful to the one who saved his life. Like this man, we are each dying in sin. Because of His work at the cross and the tomb, Jesus is the only one able to save us through the gospel that he casts out to us. We must take hold of the gospel to be saved, but no one rescued would argue that we worked for our salvation because we believed, repented, or confessed ‘Jesus as Lord.’ No, we would adamantly claim that Jesus saved us through His gospel.
But what about the boat?
Why do so many in the denominational world ignore the boat? Why is baptism not part of obeying that gospel as well? After all, it is Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection that make the gospel possible, and it is in baptism that we die with Christ, are buried with Him, and are resurrected with Him to walk in new life (Romans 6). Baptism is the platform from which the life ring can be thrown. It is the vessel from which Jesus stands to cast the gospel out to sinners. Why is being hauled into the boat by Jesus not considered essential by some to bring us from death to life?
I. Galatians 3:23-29. Often verse 26 is taken alone to prove by those against baptism that we are all sons of God through faith, and therefore, it by ‘faith alone’ that we are saved. But the context of the passage shows that this is a contrast between the old system or covenant based on law versus the new system or covenant of faith. What had been largely ritual in the Old Testament is superseded by the New Testament of relationship made possible Jesus’ work at the cross and tomb. The passage then explains the process to come into this relationship with Christ, “As many of you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” We needed to get into the boat.
II. Titus 3:4-5. In reaction to the “Church” at the time being very works-based, the Reformation of the 1500s and 1600s swung the pendulum to the opposite extreme and declared salvation to be on “faith alone.” Baptism was seen as a work because it was something tangible, unlike belief, repentance, and confessing ‘Jesus as Lord,’ that we had to do. Romans 10:9-13 is a passage often cited by the ‘faith alone’ crowd as it excludes baptism but tells us we are saved by belief, confession, and calling upon the name of the Lord. But pressed, these same folks will insist that repentance, although not listed there, is also necessary. Obviously, this passage was not intended then to be a complete list. And, where we call upon the name of the Lord, Acts 22:16 tells us, is in baptism. What drowning man would insist that he had worked for his salvation because he submitted to his rescuer pulling him into the boat? Rather, Jesus has done the only work for salvation.
III. 2 Peter 1:3-7. Rescuing sinners is not enough for Jesus; He also gives us the chance to partake in the divine nature. After dying with Jesus, being buried with Him, and rising with Him to new life in baptism, we are “heirs according to the promise.” We must continue to walk as Jesus did to truly abide in Him (1 John 2:6). We must continue to add all of these listed qualities, one to another, in increasing measure to never fall and receive a rich welcome into the Kingdom of God.
Could Jesus save without baptism? If He wanted to … He is God in the flesh after all. But the method He chose that was to continue down through the ages from Pentecost was for us to believe, confess Him as Lord (cut to the heart), repent, and be baptized into Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:36-41) and then to continue living by faith (Romans 1:16-17) as sons of God through faith.
So now, Lord, take my life.
Jonah 4.3 GW.
Dear God who gives life to man,
Take mine! Let me die the death,
Not of Jonah or Elijah, but of Christ.
Much better to die than to live!
For in dying I see your mercy,
Your patience, compassion, and love.
You’re always ready to forgive,
To relent from threats of destruction.
Dear God, in every place,
You are here — in every heart
Desire to make your abode.
Make us glad to know
Your Name and feel your goodness.
Draw us to yourself
And send us forth to town
And country to tell the News.
Bury us, Lord of waters,
And place us on solid ground.
From depths of darkest death,
To life in Jesus Christ,
Enliven us with joy
To know your blessed presence.
Ignite in us your love
To reach the city in sin.
To you all praise for your marvelous plan,
Such love that saves the spirit of man,
Of whom am I a humble one! —
To be lost forever you want none.
Why me? So many ask about
Their suffering — here I have no doubt.
I ask, Why me? as a thankful soul,
Since cleansing Blood has made me whole.
Why did the Gospel reach my ear,
With billions who have yet to hear?
What act of grace reached down to me
That set this simple creature free?
How was I chosen by Mercy’s hand,
So that I now in your presence stand?
Why me, O Lord, by what Decision
Plucked me from death in the great Division?
Such thoughts for me are much too great,
But praise I give for the narrow gate.
The answer to why, O Father, I know:
To the world with Jesus I must go.
Please share this prayer with your friends.
We are to let the Word dwell in us richly, Colossians 3:16 tells us, and one of those ways to teach and admonish with thankfulness in our hearts is by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to one another. “The Old Rugged Cross” is a beloved hymn that proclaims Jesus’ death for our sins and then gives us a glimpse of our glorious future if we not only obey but live out the gospel.
I. Romans 3:21-25. After describing the place of Jesus’ vicarious sacrifice (John 19:17-19), the song tells us that the cross is an “emblem of suffering and shame” (Galatians 3:11-13). And yet we “love that old cross.” How? Because, we discover, that the “dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.” As we realize that Jesus died for us, we want to live for Him (Galatians 2:19-21) … and the horrific cross takes on new meaning.
II. John 15:18-19. The world doesn’t get it, and in the best of its wisdom despises the cross … and so us who have obeyed the gospel and are living it out in our lives (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). But to us, the cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God. That the “dear Lamb of God” would leave His “glory above” to “pardon and sanctify me” (John 1:29; John 17:4-5) is the “wondrous beauty I see.”
III. 1 Peter 4:12-13. Then promising that living out the principles of the gospel will be hard, we’re encouraged in the song to persevere to one day share in Jesus’ glory. If we “cling to the old, rugged cross,” we will one day secure a crown (James 1:12).
Since Jesus gave all for you, won’t you give all for Him?
The impact of the gospel becomes real at the moment Jesus cries out with “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” while on the cross. This is the whole reason for the “good news” in the first place. Man, who is separated from God because of sin, can not pay back the debt he owes, so God becomes a man, who does not sin, to pay back man’s debt to God.
I. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. From incarnation to intercession, Jesus’ redemptive work at the cross and the tomb is called a matter of first importance and works together to save us (Hebrews 7:23-25). We each choose to obey or not obey the gospel (Romans 6:1-18) as Jesus overcomes our sin problem (Isaiah 59:1-4) by having our sins punished in Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21) and then solving our grave problem by resurrecting from the dead.
II. Romans 7:18-20. Sins are either those we commit (when we do what we shouldn’t) or omit (don’t do what we should). Even the smallest hint of either will separate us from a holy God (Ephesians 4:17–5:7). If we just look at the seven deadly sins (although every sin is deadly!), we can see how they all overlap in and work to destroy individuals’ spiritual, physical, and emotional/mental realms. We need Jesus’ redemptive work of the gospel to remove the separation that sin has made between us and God.
III. Romans 14:10-12. We must own our sins before Jesus can take them away. This means letting their devastating impact to our souls and the awaiting judgment for them truly strike us. Then, we can appreciate what Jesus has done for us and can obey the gospel by believing (John 8:24), repenting of our sins (Luke 13:3), confessing Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9), and being baptized into His Name for the forgiveness of sins (1 Peter 3:21).
But the gospel doesn’t stop there … as those who have come into Christ must continue to live obediently (Philippians 2:12-13). Jesus has died for you. Are you living in Him?