11/27/07
11/23/07
The True and Greater Isaac
Genesis 22
Abraham Tested
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
I don't think there could be a more radical act of obedience than to take your only son to a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. I can't imagine a more demanding command. What strikes me so strongly is that if Abraham would have actually offered Isaac, it still wouldn't be enough to pay for his sins.
There is a gap between God and humanity that cannot be crossed by any of our efforts, no matter how radical.
It reminded me of this song by Isaac Watts.
I Boast No More
No more, my God, I boast no more
Of all the duties I have done;
I quit the hopes I held before,
To trust the merits of Thy Son
No more my God,
No more my God,
No more my God,
I boast no more.
Now, for the loss I bear His name,
What was my gain I count my loss;
My former pride I call my shame,
And nail my glory to His cross.
Yes, and I must and will esteem
All things but loss for Jesus’ sake;
O may my soul be found in Him,
And of His righteousness partake!
The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before Thy throne;
But faith can answer Thy demands,
By pleading what my Lord has done.
There is only one whose sacrifice could ever be sufficient. It took the sacrifice of the Son of God. The Son of God became a son of Abraham in order to save his covenant people. By faith, Abraham told Isaac that God himself would provide the lamb.
Thousands of years after Isaac carried the wood up the mountain for his sacrifice, the true and greater Isaac, Jesus, did the same. He did so, not at the risk of his life, but at the cost of his life.
Come to him today. Like Abraham, let your faith answer the laws demands by pleading the precious and all sufficient blood of Christ.
Abraham Tested
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"
"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.
"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"
Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
I don't think there could be a more radical act of obedience than to take your only son to a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. I can't imagine a more demanding command. What strikes me so strongly is that if Abraham would have actually offered Isaac, it still wouldn't be enough to pay for his sins.
There is a gap between God and humanity that cannot be crossed by any of our efforts, no matter how radical.
It reminded me of this song by Isaac Watts.
I Boast No More
No more, my God, I boast no more
Of all the duties I have done;
I quit the hopes I held before,
To trust the merits of Thy Son
No more my God,
No more my God,
No more my God,
I boast no more.
Now, for the loss I bear His name,
What was my gain I count my loss;
My former pride I call my shame,
And nail my glory to His cross.
Yes, and I must and will esteem
All things but loss for Jesus’ sake;
O may my soul be found in Him,
And of His righteousness partake!
The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before Thy throne;
But faith can answer Thy demands,
By pleading what my Lord has done.
There is only one whose sacrifice could ever be sufficient. It took the sacrifice of the Son of God. The Son of God became a son of Abraham in order to save his covenant people. By faith, Abraham told Isaac that God himself would provide the lamb.
Thousands of years after Isaac carried the wood up the mountain for his sacrifice, the true and greater Isaac, Jesus, did the same. He did so, not at the risk of his life, but at the cost of his life.
Come to him today. Like Abraham, let your faith answer the laws demands by pleading the precious and all sufficient blood of Christ.
11/22/07
11/21/07
I Wasn't Prepared for This
I had read about it.
I had heard about it for months.
I hadn't really given it much thought.
But today, when I turned on the tv at 10:00 Bob Barker was not hosting The Price is Right. It was more surprising than the first time I watched and he had white hair.
What a strange beginning to Thanksgiving Break. If things keep going like this the Lions might play well tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Enjoy your day.
I had heard about it for months.
I hadn't really given it much thought.
But today, when I turned on the tv at 10:00 Bob Barker was not hosting The Price is Right. It was more surprising than the first time I watched and he had white hair.
What a strange beginning to Thanksgiving Break. If things keep going like this the Lions might play well tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Enjoy your day.
11/16/07
Two Years Ago Today
Two years ago today my little buddy was born. I didn’t know time could pass so quickly. I find myself wanting to freeze time so he never changes, yet realizing everyday is a little more fun than the last. The tension is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
He melts me everyday. I don’t know anyone else who craves donkey cheese, wakes up saying, ‘Go Predators,’ or can go toe to toe with his mommy.
He is a constant and powerful reminder of my deepest fears and my greatest joys.
I love him with all my heart and somehow that capacity grows each day.
I am thankful to God for allowing me to be this Joshua’s daddy. I am thankful for every second he allows me to have him on this earth.
Happy Birthday, Joshua. I love you and Go Predators!!!
11/7/07
Worthy We Stand
During worship this Sunday morning, we sang this song written by Michael W. Smith.
Worthy, we stand
Saved by his hand
Great is your name
In all the earth
Worthy alone
Christ on the throne
Your kingdom will reign forever
You are the lord, most high
Your kingdom will reign
Forever and ever
After spending so much time writing about our desperate and depraved condition in sin, it was incredibly humbling to go and sing about standing worthy in the presence of God.
Last week a friend asked me what grades I would receive if God gave me a report card. She told me straight A's because I had been given credit for someone else's work. Jesus took our failings and gave us his perfection. His people, united with him, stand worthy before the Father. It truly is amazing grace.
One more quick note. I'm adding another link to another musician in the link section. His name is Andrew Peterson. I was able to hear him live and was blown away. My favorite lyric of the night was, "The blood of Jesus is like the widow's oil - When it's all you have, it's all you'll ever need" His ability to weave the gospel and the scriptures into his music amazed me.
Worthy, we stand
Saved by his hand
Great is your name
In all the earth
Worthy alone
Christ on the throne
Your kingdom will reign forever
You are the lord, most high
Your kingdom will reign
Forever and ever
After spending so much time writing about our desperate and depraved condition in sin, it was incredibly humbling to go and sing about standing worthy in the presence of God.
Last week a friend asked me what grades I would receive if God gave me a report card. She told me straight A's because I had been given credit for someone else's work. Jesus took our failings and gave us his perfection. His people, united with him, stand worthy before the Father. It truly is amazing grace.
One more quick note. I'm adding another link to another musician in the link section. His name is Andrew Peterson. I was able to hear him live and was blown away. My favorite lyric of the night was, "The blood of Jesus is like the widow's oil - When it's all you have, it's all you'll ever need" His ability to weave the gospel and the scriptures into his music amazed me.
11/4/07
A Little More C.S. Lewis on Humility
Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger.
Matthew 21:32
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Matthew 21:32
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
11/3/07
C.S. Lewis on The Sermon on the Mount
“As to ‘caring for’ the Sermon on the Mount, if ‘caring for’ here means ‘liking’ or enjoying, I suppose no one ‘cares for’ it. Who can like being knocked flat on his face by a sledge-hammer? I can hardly imagine a more deadly spiritual condition than that of the man who can read that passage with tranquil pleasure. This is indeed to be ‘at ease in Zion’ (Amos 6:1).” C.S. Lewis from 'God in the Dock'
11/2/07
Follow-up on a Comment
This comment was left in the comment section in regard to the Tim Keller quote about being poor in spirit. I thought I would move it to the front page because it is a good question.
Did he really say, 'if you are middle class in spirit, you cannot be saved?' Did he mean 'saved for eternity' or saved as in 'hopelessly lost in this world, but still saved for eternity'? I'm curious what you believe.
Yes, he really said, "if you are middle class in spirit, you cannot be saved." I cannot speak for him, but based on listening to his other sermons and listening to the sermon the quote came from, I think he means saved for eternity. Another quote of his that gives a little more clarity into what he is saying is, "The difference between a Christian and a Pharisee is a Christian has repented for his goodness."
I agree with Dr. Keller that a person cannot be saved unless they become poor in spirit. The gospel always crushes before it heals. The initial part of the gospel is not good news. To believe in the Savior, one must admit a need for the Savior.
Later in the sermon, Jesus says, "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Poverty of spirit is required for salvation. Perfection is required for salvation. The sermon on the mount explains the perfect obedience required to see and know the Holy One.
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones says, "The Sermon on the Mount, in other words, comes to us and says, "There is a mountain that you have to scale, the heights you have to climb; and the first thing you must realize, as you look at the mountain which you are told you must ascend, is that you cannot do it, that you are utterly incapable in and of yourself, and that any attempt to do it in your own strength is proof positive that you have not understood it."
The good news (the gospel) is Jesus has accomplished redemption for his people. Those who come to Christ admitting their best is nowhere near good enough are filled with his righteousness. Jesus was perfect. Jesus obeyed every 'dotted i' and 'crossed t' of the law and offers that righteousness to those who admit that cannot achieve it on their own. On the cross, he took our sin and gave us his righteousness. He became sin so we could become righteous.
Being poor in spirit is recognizing you cannot contribute to salvation. The message of the bible is, "Salvation belongs to the Lord. (Jonah 2:9)" It means unless God saves us we are hopeless.
I hopes this helps with answer the questions. I hope we can continue the conversation.
Did he really say, 'if you are middle class in spirit, you cannot be saved?' Did he mean 'saved for eternity' or saved as in 'hopelessly lost in this world, but still saved for eternity'? I'm curious what you believe.
Yes, he really said, "if you are middle class in spirit, you cannot be saved." I cannot speak for him, but based on listening to his other sermons and listening to the sermon the quote came from, I think he means saved for eternity. Another quote of his that gives a little more clarity into what he is saying is, "The difference between a Christian and a Pharisee is a Christian has repented for his goodness."
I agree with Dr. Keller that a person cannot be saved unless they become poor in spirit. The gospel always crushes before it heals. The initial part of the gospel is not good news. To believe in the Savior, one must admit a need for the Savior.
Later in the sermon, Jesus says, "Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Poverty of spirit is required for salvation. Perfection is required for salvation. The sermon on the mount explains the perfect obedience required to see and know the Holy One.
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones says, "The Sermon on the Mount, in other words, comes to us and says, "There is a mountain that you have to scale, the heights you have to climb; and the first thing you must realize, as you look at the mountain which you are told you must ascend, is that you cannot do it, that you are utterly incapable in and of yourself, and that any attempt to do it in your own strength is proof positive that you have not understood it."
The good news (the gospel) is Jesus has accomplished redemption for his people. Those who come to Christ admitting their best is nowhere near good enough are filled with his righteousness. Jesus was perfect. Jesus obeyed every 'dotted i' and 'crossed t' of the law and offers that righteousness to those who admit that cannot achieve it on their own. On the cross, he took our sin and gave us his righteousness. He became sin so we could become righteous.
Being poor in spirit is recognizing you cannot contribute to salvation. The message of the bible is, "Salvation belongs to the Lord. (Jonah 2:9)" It means unless God saves us we are hopeless.
I hopes this helps with answer the questions. I hope we can continue the conversation.
A Quote on Poverty of Spirit
“When the gospel comes to you, it will come to you only if you get rid of your middle class spirit and become poor in spirit. You cannot be a Christian unless you are poor in spirit. You cannot be a Christian if you are middle class in spirit. What do I mean by that? I will tell you. Religion appeals to the able. Religion appeals to people who say, “I can do it if I work hard enough.” But the gospel only comes into the lives of people who are poor in spirit who say I have absolutely nothing of value, and I have no power, and no choices, and I need to rely completely on the salvation and sheer grace of Jesus Christ. If you are middle class in spirit you cannot be saved. You’ll enjoy religion. You’ll love religion. But the gospel is not religion.” Tim Keller
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)