CHRIST DIED FOR SINNERS

Romans 5:6-8

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Paul is describing the immensity of the love of God for his children.  At the beginning he points out that Jesus did not die for people who loved him or people who were like him.  He died for people who were ungodly.  He died for helpless people; people who were spiritually powerless.  There was nothing they could do to save themselves from death because they were condemned and justly condemned.  But because of God’s great love, Christ came and died in the place of wicked people.

Paul gives a kind of cryptic illustration.  He makes a statement, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.”  I’ve heard pastors talk about how men would lay down their lives for their wives or for their children.  Perhaps they would even lay down their lives for their best friends.  But Paul isn’t talking about wives, children, or best friends.  He specifically speaks about a righteous or good man.  We might say, “It is possible that someone might possibly step in and die in the place of a good and innocent man.”

The apostle was writing to the Christians in Rome.  There was persecution of the church at the time.  Let’s create a hypothetical situation.  Imagine Roman soldiers showing up at the church meeting with an order from the emperor.  He’s blaming a crime on the Christians and they have come to take the guilty man to be executed.  They choose an innocent man.  Everyone knows he’s innocent.  He has a wife and children and didn’t commit the crime but they are going to take him anyway.  The emperor is going to execute some Christian no matter what.  In such a situation it might be possible that another man would step forward and volunteer to die in his place.  He would be taking the place of a good and righteous man.  It would certainly be a worthy sacrifice!  That would be a powerful demonstration of love, wouldn’t it?

But that’s not what Jesus did.  Jesus came to die for ungodly sinners!  He came to die for those who were not innocent!  He took the place of people who were justly condemned to death and hell!  So Paul is showing just how great the love of God is!  It’s beyond our imagination.

What is our response to such love?  I fear too many of us take the sacrifice of Christ for granted.  We don’t look at ourselves as ungodly enemies of God.  Some of us might even have a subconscious idea that we were worth saving!  We were powerless.  We were justly condemned.  If God chose to deal with us justly rather than in mercy and grace we would be on our way to hell!  Such love calls me to give my all to Christ.  Such love compels me to live every day for his honor and glory.  Such love demands my love and worship.  Jesus did not die for good people.  He died for people like me!

DO THE WORK!

1 Chronicles 28:20

“David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.’”

           

            I’m still reading and thinking about King David, Solomon, and the building of the temple.  Just two posts ago I reflected on the heart attitude that was necessary for doing something to the glory of God.  Today I’m considering the charge David gave his son before he died.

            Solomon had a monumental task in before him.  David repeatedly says to the elders of Israel that his son is “young and inexperienced.”  Although we can’t be certain of Solomon’s age when he ascended the throne, he was most likely in his twenties.  David has made all the preparations for Solomon to build the temple.  The work he did was astonishing.  He counted up all the Levites and divided them into groups for various responsibilities in the temple service.  He instructed all of them on their responsibilities.  He accumulated mountains of gold and silver for the temple’s décor and furnishings, having determined the weights and measures of all the furniture.  He drew up the plans of the temple as the Holy Spirit gave them to him.  The work he did in preparation was simply monumental!  And now he counsels his young son and I think his words of counsel are invaluable to us.

            David’s counsel contains three main points.  1) Be strong and courageous not afraid or discouraged.  2) God is with you and he will not fail nor forsake you.  3) DO THE WORK!

            The first two pieces of advice go together.  Solomon could be strong and courageous because God had promised to be with him.  Although building the temple would take time and effort he would succeed because God was watching over him and giving him the strength and wisdom for the task.  No job is too great when God assigns it because God will see it through.

            But here’s what really struck me; David tells Solomon to do the work!  The temple wasn’t going to build itself.  Solomon was not to simply give assignments to all the workers David collected and then go play golf.  He was to do the work!  If he committed himself to the Lord and was faithful in the work then the task would be accomplished to the glory of God!

            The application of these truths in my life jump out at me.  I have sons and daughters whom I love and whom I counsel about decisions in their lives and about the tasks God has given them to do.  (Jobs, school, relationships, marriage, ministry, etc.)  I also have young church members who are taking on tasks and ministries they have never done before.  The advice David gave Solomon is the wisest advice that can be given.  Be strong and courageous because God is with you and he will not fail you!  But you have to do the work!  When God gives us things to do he promises to be there for us and give us guidance and wisdom but he also expects us to do the work!  We have to roll up our sleeves and commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the task he sets before us.  The advice applies to me too!  Sermons don’t write themselves.  God doesn’t promise to bless the preaching of his word if I don’t do the work.  New believers don’t disciple themselves.  We have to do the work!  Pastors and elders are charged with the responsibility of equipping the believers to do the work of the ministry.  They don’t just equip themselves.

            My responsibility is to do the work given me.  And my other responsibility is to encourage my kids and church members with the promise of God and to remind them to do the work!

BELIEVING THE LIE

 

Romans 3:20-26
            What was the first lie?  “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4, 5).  Eve believed the lie, gave the fruit to Adam who also ate and plunged God’s creation under the curse.
            That same lie is alive and well in our society and culture today.  People know good and evil.  And when I ask them if they think they will go to heaven almost every one of them answers affirmatively.  “Why?” I ask them.  “Because I am a good person.  At least I am better than most.  I’ve never killed anyone.  I am faithful to my wife.  I love my kids.  I’m a good neighbor.  I do the things God would want me to do.” 
            Ah, the lie.  You will know good and evil.  If you are good then God will accept you.  If you are better than most people you will get into heaven.  You don’t need all that religion and church stuff because you are a good person.  I think most people in our society believe that lie.  They think they are living according to God’s rules well enough.
            The truth.  “No one will be declared righteous in [God’s] sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20).  God’s law is given to show us our sin.  It is not a means of gaining God’s approval.  It is impossible for people who live under the curse to satisfy or please God through good works.  “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23).
            So if we are incapable of meeting the requirements of God’s law, then what is our hope?  “But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known…This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:21, 22).  Righteousness cannot come from inside us.  We are not good by nature and there is nothing we can do to make ourselves good for the purpose of justifying ourselves in God’s sight by “being good enough!” 
            The righteousness we need to satisfy God’s holiness can only come from someone else.  It comes from God himself.  “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood…” (Romans 3:25).  God gave his Son, Jesus Christ.  God sacrificed his Son to atone for (pay the penalty for) our sin.  A substitution took place.  The sins of all those who put their faith in Jesus were placed on him and paid for by him and the righteousness of God the Son was placed on those who have faith. 
            This is the only hope of salvation.  This is the only hope of satisfying the righteousness and justice of God.  Yet our society continues to believe the lie.  They are bound up by the lie and cannot change themselves.  What is their hope?  The word of God.  The gospel.  The good news must be proclaimed over and over again and the Holy Spirit will use the word of God to break the bondage of those held prisoner by the lie.  That is the only hope.  It is the only hope for our friends and neighbors.  It is the only hope for our nation.

HEART AND SOUL

1 Chronicles 22

            In 1 Chronicles 22 King David makes preparations for the building of the temple in Jerusalem.  God has told him that he would not be the one to build the temple because he has been a warrior and shed a great deal of blood.  But God also promised that David would have a son, Solomon, who would be the one to build the temple.  David said, “…the house to be built for the LORD should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all the nations” (v. 5).  David understood that the temple would be a place for all nations.  Even before it was built the nations are in the mind of God.  It was always God’s purpose that all peoples would come and worship him, not just the Jews.  And whatever was to be built for Jehovah’s name should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor because it speaks for the character and deeds of God.

            Then in verses 11-13 David advises his son.  “May the LORD be with you…May the LORD give you discretion and understanding…so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.”  The task of building a house for Jehovah is too great for a man to do in his own strength.  He needs the Lord to be with him.  He needs wisdom and knowledge that comes from God.  He needs to walk with God, keeping his commandments, in order to do the kind of work that will bring glory to God.  David prays for Solomon that God would grant his son these things.

            In verse 18 David speaks to the leaders of Israel who would outlive him; the men who would work for Solomon as he built the temple.  David encourages them.  He assures them that God will keep his word.  He points out to them that he has been faithful to Israel.  “Is not the LORD your God with you?  And has he not granted you rest on every side?  For he has handed the inhabitants of the land over to me, and the land is subject to the LORD and to his people.”  David wants them to know for certain that they are not alone.  They are not attempting this great work in their own strength.  God is with them!

            Finally, verse 19.  What is needful to do the work?  “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God.”  If the work is to be done in a way that it will speak of the fame and splendor of Jehovah God, then those who do the work must be devoted heart and soul to seeking his face!

            Last week our second son, Caleb, was engaged to be married.  He is about to launch into building a new relationship and a new family.  The leaders of New Hope are working to build a congregation of faith here in Shafter.  I am working to build up the people of New Hope in their faith.  What are you building?  Are you students building a future?  Are you young and building a family?  Are you a grandfather building a legacy?  Whatever it is that we are building, if it is to last it must be built to speak of the magnificence, fame, and splendor of Jehovah our God!  Whatever we are building, it can only be built to the glory of God if we are devoted heart and soul to seeking the face of God.  This cannot be a Sunday activity.  It is a daily, hourly, minute by minute lifestyle.  Before the face of God.  Coram Deo.

WHEN FOUNDATIONS ARE SHAKEN

Psalm 11

            This psalm was apparently written in a time of crisis.  Someone has advised King David to flee to his mountain refuge and escape the danger around him.  “Flee like a bird to your mountain.  For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart” (verses 1, 2).  The situation must have been rather dire.  How bad was it?  Look at verse 4, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  In other words, “David!  There is nothing you can do!  The wicked are destroying the very foundations of our society!  They are out to get you!  Run away!”

            We hear the same kind of thing all the time, don’t we?  “Our culture is on the fast track to hell!  Things aren’t like they used to be!  Evil is on the increase all around us!  The very foundations of our country are being attacked and there is nothing we can do about it!  We should pull out and stay safe!”

            There is a lot of truth in those cries.  I’m old enough to remember when there was a general spirit of morality among people.  There was a common respect.  There was a different work ethic.  Christianity and the church were still held in high esteem.  And it is true that these things have largely disappeared.  The doomsayers seem to stand on solid ground.  In fact, I just heard on the news this morning that a reputable financial analyst is predicting a serious fiscal storm in the near future.  It does appear that things are going downhill fast and much of what we love about our country and our society seems to be in great danger of taking the slide.  I have heard many people state their version of, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

            Look at David’s answer to his advisors.  “In the LORD I take refuge (v.1).  The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.  He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them (v.4).  In other words, “Why are you looking at what is going on around you?  Look to heaven!  Take refuge in God!  What do you see in heaven?  Is God still on his throne?  Is he ignorant of what is going on here?”

            These are words of great encouragement to Christian people.  Just because things seem to be falling apart around us it does not mean that we run away and hide!  After all, our comfort and security are not found in the things of the world.  There is no refuge in this world!  We take our refuge in God himself!  He’s still in control and always will be.  Faith stands firm and continues the battle for the kingdom of heaven.  Fear flees.  Faith depends on God.  Fear is shaken by political, social, and economic circumstances.

            Why should we give up and run away?  David tells the righteous why they need to stay and live in faith, “For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face (v. 7).  This is the promise upon which we take our stand.  God’s justice will prevail!  In the end, those who stand firm in faith will see his face!  When the foundations are being destroyed there is nothing we can do in our own strength.  But God will bring justice and righteousness.  That’s why we put our faith in him!