Why I NEED a friend in Jesus

When we appear at the Judgment Seat before that Father and that Son, and the secrets of our hearts are laid bare, we will finally realize the depths of our depravity. But we will find that it’s an inconvenient time to discover the terrible holiness of God.
- Max Curell


http://clearnotefellowship.org/Resources/Blog/2010/02/22/I-got-friend-Jesus

Preach the Gospel, even when in Assisi

The Gospel is the big news of something that happened 2,000 years ago. But due to its nature it is always the breaking news, the top story, the lead paragraph. That Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures and that he appeared to numerous witnesses in a resurrected body is the news. Even today. The Gospel is both, history and doctrine. Christ died and was buried and rose again is the history. Christ died for our sins is the meaning of that event. The one who gets to determine the meaning is God -- the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was according to the plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:22-24) and it is he who made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). The meaning of that death, burial and resurrection was determined in heaven. Because of who He is the only way God could uphold his righteousness and forgive God-belittling, hell-deserving sinners was by pouring out his wrath on his son in the place of sinners. But to uphold his righteousness -- his reputation -- the substitute must be without blemish, must be perfect. The substitute must perfectly represent man and God to appease or propitiate God's wrath (Romans 3:25, 26). That's the Gospel. The only response that is of any benefit is believe its necessity and its sufficiency to declare you right before the one true God and be rescued from his righteous, deserved judgment. Once again, the big news: There is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (I Tim. 2:5). The lead paragraph: God is calling all men everywhere to repent having fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness having furnished proof by raising one man from the dead (Acts 17). That's the news bulletin. That's the Gospel. You and I are not the Gospel. We can be tellers of the Gospel, proclaimers of the Gospel, preachers of the Gospel, heralds of the Gospel, singers of the Gospel, readers of the Gospel, but we are not the Gospel. To preach the Gospel we must use words at all times, even when in Assisi. Not only are you and I not the Gospel, we also are not the power of salvation. It is the Gospel that is the power of salvation (Romans 1:16) to everyone who believes. Uncool geeks can get the message out, mismatched misfits can mumble the Gospel, paralytics can preach the Gospel, cowpokes can yodel the Gospel. What we cannot do is empower the Gospel. It is the Gospel -- the very message itself -- that is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). -- TWMathis

What the Gospel is NOT

“The gospel is not, “Give your hearts to Christ, and you shall be saved.”

The gospel is, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,”- that is, trust him, “and thou shalt be saved.” When you do that, you will be sure to give him your heart by-and-by, if not at once. Salvation is not by your giving anything to Christ, but by Christ giving something to you. I am glad that you have given your heart to Christ; but have you learnt first this lesson, that he gave his heart for you?

We do not find salvation by giving Christ anything. That is the fruit of it; but salvation comes by Christ giving us something - something, did I say? - by Christ giving us everything, by his giving us himself. I used to notice that a good deal of Sunday-school teaching to the children was, “Dear child, love Jesus.” That is not the way of salvation. The way of salvation is to trust Jesus. The fruit of salvation is that the dear child does love Jesus; but that is not the way of salvation. The way of salvation is to take Christ, to trust Christ.

When you are saved, the proof of it will be that you will give your heart to Christ; but do not let us turn things upside down lest, beginning with a little blunder, we should go on to some great error, and set up again the ruinous doctrine which once sank the world in darkness, the doctrine of an imaginary salvation by our own works.”
- Charles H. Spurgeon, Sychar’s Sinner Saved

The difference between fearmongering and warnings

Arousing alarm is easy, teaching is tough. It takes patience and discipline to teach; any bozo can drop a book on the floor and make people jump. - Garrison Keillor

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. - Apostle Paul (Acts 20:28-32)

The point of every disaster

The point of every deadly calamity is this: Repent. Let our hearts be broken that God means so little to us. Grieve that he is a whipping boy to be blamed for pain, but not praised for pleasure. Lament that he makes headlines only when man mocks his power, but no headlines for ten thousand days of wrath withheld. Let us rend our hearts that we love life more than we love Jesus Christ. Let us cast ourselves on the mercy of our Maker. He offers it through the death and resurrection of his Son.

-- John Piper after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami

Live in Romans 8

Beware of an incomplete Christ

Revelation 5:5,6 - Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has conquered. . . And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain. . .

Consider the admirable conjunction of diverse Excellencies in Christ. In Jesus Christ (there is) infinite highness and infinite condescension; infinite justice and infinite grace; infinite majesty and transcendent meekness; deepest reverence toward God and equality with God; worthiness of good and the greatest patience under the suffering of evil; a great spirit of obedience and supreme dominion over heaven and earth; absolute sovereignty and perfect resignation; self-sufficiency and an entire trust and reliance on God.

- Jonathan Edwards, The Excellency of Christ (paraphrased by John Piper in The Pleasures of God)

For whom is the gospel not fitted

Never lose heart in the power of the gospel. Don"t believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted.
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon