4/29/19 

Romans 4:5

⁵ And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

This is a great Gospel verse.  It is one of my favorites.  As one who has no works; as one whose tears of repentance must be washed in the blood of Christ, I find all the comfort I need in it.

There is a particular that must be recognized and mentioned.  It is the faith that is described.  It is not a general faith in God, although that is important.  It is faith in Jesus Christ as He is presented in the gospel.  “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation”.

We are in the first quarter of the 21^st century and it is no different than the fourth quarter of the 1^st century.  The citizens of this world still hold to the faith in their works.  But it is to him that can find no ability to do God’s perfect will who can have justification that is perfect and free.

For three years I drove on an interstate highway to my daily destination.  The speed limit was 75 MPH.  But if after 1000 trips I would have driven 80 MPH I would have broken the law and have been without excuse.  So it is, no one is good enough to excuse themselves from being law-breakers.  The worker is condemned.  The believer is justified from his ungodliness.

4/25/19 

Genesis 45:26A

26    And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

1.      Joseph was supposed to be dead.  His torn blood-soaked cloak was a witness that the wild beasts of the wilderness had killed him.

His brothers had intended to kill him until it was determined to throw him into a pit (without water) and leave him to die.  But he was brought up out of the pit.

After he was sold into slavery he rejected his master’s wife sexual advances. She falsely accused him of assault and intended his death.  He was sent to prison and was placed in the pit.  But he was brought up out of the pit again.  And Joseph is alive.

1.      If the story ended here how great it would be.  Jacob would have been satisfied.  But it does not end with Joseph being alive.  “He is ruler over all Egypt.”

In all the Old Testament there is none so virtuous, so faithful, so dependable as Joseph.  The beauty of his character is a wonder to behold.

There is no single true accusation against him.  He is not sinless, there is only one truly Holy.  But his last act of which we are told is one of faith. cf Genesis 50:24-25.

⁴ And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” ²⁵ Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 

4/25/19 

Mark 4:40

⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 

I remember the first time I preached on this verse, how it came to me (I claim nothing original), “it matters not the storm about you, it is who is in the boat with you.” There are some truths for us:

1.      Storms will come.  This is certain.  Just as weather is outside the control of the mariner, there are storms which come in the life of the believer that are outside their control.  These can be very destructive.

2.      We are fearful under these conditions.  We should never excuse our fearfulness.  It is to be confessed and overcome but it is inevitable.

3.      Jesus may appear to be both unaware and uncaring about our danger.  But no matter how great the danger He is engaged to be with us.  The danger can never be greater than His ability to deliver us.  His presence is our security.

4.      Our greatest problem is not what we fear but our unbelief.  In the time of our fear the question is always “Have you no faith?”

Our response must be “yes Lord but you alone can say, Peace be still and quiet the wind and the waves.”

“Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.”

4/24/19 

Hebrews 11:38a

³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

The 11^th chapter of Hebrews finishes the exposition of the Hebrew’s history.  The conclusion in this chapter is a statement on the practical value of faith.  As the 6^th verse states, there is a reward for faith.  Faith in God has a practical objective, and that objective as it is sought through a right relationship with Christ gains its objective.  Joseph’s bones were brought out of Egypt.

Beginning with Abel and continuing through the long list of worthies, they suffered and by faith gained their objectives.  Both their suffering and rewards differed but there was a common truth.  “The world was not worthy” of their presence.  When the world and all its inhabitants was weighed, it could not give to God an adequate return for His servants who had dwelled in it.  This is saying that the few of God’s people were more valuable than the whole world other citizens.  What a contrast!

To apply this we understand that those true Christians who were killed this past weekend are valuable to God and “the world is not worthy of them.”

4/23/19 

Matthew 21:4-5

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

⁵ “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

This small quote from Zechariah is a sufficient testimony of Jesus’ kingship.  This is a part of the faith of the Reformed Church.  Jesus is prophet, priest, and king.  He holds this honor and fulfills these offices in and to His church.

To most Christians and also to secular historians, John Calvin is known for his formulation of theology emphasizing God’s sovereignty.  The simple understanding is Calvin equates to Calvinism, which is principally about predestination.  Make no mistake I do not deny Calvin’s  effective teaching of predestination.  In his systematic approach to theology this teaching was central.

But by Reformed scholars who are familiar with the great contribution of this mighty leader of the Reformation his greatest contribution was his teaching of the threefold office of Christ, which had not been recognized in its fullness and overwhelming importance until Calvin.  His clarity about Christ’s offices and the importance of this to the church cannot be overemphasized.  This basis of our salvation, sanctification and security is in Christ’s saving, keeping, and reigning over us.

4/22/19 

Psalm 10:16

The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.

I was converted in the early 60s and immediately became an avid student of dispensationalism.  One of its primary teachings was there is no kingship with God until the millennium.  At that time the Kingdom will be established and Jesus will be King.

I have come to believe the unifying fact of Scripture is the Kingship of the Mediator.  Let me give you my thoughts.

1.      There can be no law without a lawgiver and enforcer.  It is the King’s privilege to give the law and to enforce it.  It is no stretch to say the Law of God is the Law of Christ.

2.      Covenants are made by kings.  There is a very fine book giving the background of the Biblical covenant entitled, The Covenant of the Great King.  Lesser covenants can be made but they have little authority and limited duration.  This cannot be said about the New Covenant.  It claims universal authority and unlimited duration.

3.      Only a king can guarantee protection and provision.  Christ as King guarantees both for His Church, cf I Timothy 6:14-15

¹⁴ to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

4/19/19 

Mark 15:24

²⁴ And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.

“And they crucified him”.

In these stark words Mark describes the greatest crime ever in the universe.  And yet Isaiah could say “The Lord has placed upon him the sin of us all.”

So the greatest crime and the greatest act of charity is completed at the same time.  George Smeaton could say when writing on the atonement, “whenever the Scriptures say as in John 3:16, “He gave”, the intention is always that he gave unto death on the cross.”

Anyone who considers Jesus separate from the cross commits a travesty.  It is the basis of our present being, (Galatians 2:20), and our hope in heaven, (Revelation 5:8-10).

How do we know that He was perfectly holy, spoke nothing but the truth, accomplished perfectly the will of God, and accomplished a complete deliverance for us?  God raised Him from the dead.  By this the Father put His stamp of approval.

The grave is empty and heaven is filled with His presence and praise, “and they crucified him”.  Lamentations 1:12 seems to me one of the clearest statements of Christ’s sufferings.  The writer says, “which the Lord inflicted on me in the day of his fierce anger,” In Galatians 2:20 Paul writes, “nevertheless I live.”