A Balm for Every Wound

Since the radical powers of the soul are thus enfeebled and disordered, it is not to be wondered at that the best of men, and under their highest attainments, have found cause to make the acknowledgment of the Apostle, “When I should do good, evil is present with me.”

But, blessed be God, though we must feel hourly cause for shame and humiliation for what we are in ourselves, we have cause to rejoice continually in Christ Jesus, who, as he is revealed unto us under the various names, characters, relations, and offices, which he bears in the Scripture, holds out to our faith a balm for every wound, a cordial for every discouragement, and a sufficient answer to every objection which sin or Satan can suggest against our peace.

• If we are guilty, he is our Righteousness;
• if we are sick; he is our infallible Physician;
• if we are weak, helpless, and defenceless, he is the compassionate and faithful Shepherd who has taken charge of us, and will not suffer any thing to disappoint our hopes, or to separate us from his love.

He knows our frame, he remembers that we are but dust, and has engaged to guide us by his counsel, support us by his power, and at length to receive us to his glory, that we may be with him for ever.

-John Newton, The Utterances of the Heart, in the Course of a Real Correspondence.

HT: Justin Taylor

Singing the Psalms

Some of my favorite songs to listen to are Psalms. I don’t believe there is anything more “obedient” about them over other songs of praise. But there is something encouraging about have the direct words of scripture sung to me. And I just think the concept of singing the Psalms is cool.

So here is a list of several full Psalms put to music by Nathan Clark George and Andrew Case (With one Indelible Grace arrangement). Everyone of these is a full Psalm with either a word for word or thought for thought arrangement. All of Andrew’s music is for free. Nathan’s can be found at his site.

Psalm 13

Psalm 24

Psalm 43

Psalm 51

Psalm 89

_____________________

These do not have players so you will have to play them by going to the site:

Psalm 96

Psalm 98

Psalm 111

Psalm 121

Psalm 127

Psalm 130

Psalm 148

This is Regeneration

God’s Grace reaches down to the lowest depths of our need and meets all the exigencies[urgent needs] of the moral and spiritual impossibility which inheres in our depravity and inability. And that grace is the grace of regeneration.

God effects a change which is radical and all-pervasive, a change which cannot be explained in term of any combination, permutation, or accumulation of human resources, a change which is nothing less than a new creation by him who calls the things that be not as though they were, who spake and it was done, who commanded and it stood fast. This, in a word, is regeneration.

-John Murray, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied (Grand Rapids, MI: , 1955), 96.

Take aways from this and the last post:

1. We should never over look God’s regenerative work in our lives. We are sinful and dependent upon Christ’s righteousness for acceptance every moment of our lives. Yet, we are to rejoice in God’s present work in our lives. He is working and it is real.

2. We are not to be downcast about our condition. Sin in us, as believers, is pervasive. And in this we mourn. But the new birth of the Spirit and all the sovereign, transformative power He wields is just as pervasive! We are new in Christ Jesus and there is nothing to be downcast about that!

3. There is no sin which is out of the Spirit’s reach. His effect upon the believer is all pervasive. No sin is to far away. No action is totally removed from His holy influence. Never think you are beyond His transformative work.

4. We should declare the goodness the Spirit’s works in us and others. Christians can be good because they are indwelt with the Spirit who is good. His works do become manifest in the believer. And it is actually the believer. The Spirit does not shut the person down and perform the good works. The person, being recreated by the Spirit, produces the good works. And it is praise to the Lord to proclaim His works.

Total Regeneration

The Spirit’s work in regeneration is thus total in the extent of its transforming power. It is the individual as an individual who is regenerated, the whole man. For regeneration is the fulfillment of God’s promise to give us a new heart (Ezk. 36:26; cf. Je 31:33), indicating that the Spirit’s renewing work is both intensive and extensive: it reaches to the foundation impulses of an individual’s life and leaves no part of his or her being untouched.

Regeneration is, consequently, as all-pervasive as depravity. On the basis of such statements as ‘the heart is…beyond all cure’ (Je. 17:9), theologians have spoken of total depravity, meaning not that man is as bad as he could be, but that no part of his being remains untainted by the influence of sin. Regeneration reverses that depravity, and is universal in the sense that, while the regenerate individual is not yet as holy as he or she might be, there is no part of life which remains uninfluenced by this renewing and cleansing work. Indeed, just as total depravity leads to moral and ultimately even to physical disintegration, so total regeneration leads to moral, but also ultimately physical renewal, in the regeneration of the whole being in the resurrection (Phil. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:42-44). The new man is put on; he is constantly being renewed by the Spirit (Col. 3:10), and finally will be resurrected and glorified through his power.

-Sinclair B. Ferguson, The Holy Spirit, Contours of Christian Theology, ed. Gerald Bray (Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 122-123.

To My Mother

My mother is pretty much all of these!

Radical?

There has been some buzz due to an article written by Anthony Bradley on the subject of “Radical Christianity.” I don’t want to do a full on critic on what he says. But, instead, I want to communicate my views on “Radical” vs. “1 Thess. 4″ as to help, hopefully, bring balance.

To be a Christian is to be radical. I will say that I am not in favor of using special classifying terms for believers. We do have a way of throwing terms of “extraness” upon being a Christian (Passionate Christian, Radical Christian, etc). Because of the nominalism around us I understand why such terms come into be. But we need to step back and remember that those terms are already embedded within the term Christian. To be a Christian is to inherently be those things.

There are times when certain characteristics of being a Christian do come to the forefront. The term at this time is one of being radical, or the idea of holding nothing back and sacrificing all for the sake of Christ. These characteristics are, without a doubt, biblical. But how do we live them out?

If being radical is limited to a particular ministry in a particular place we do not have the radical part of Christianity. We have discontentment (if we are not at that particular place) and pride (if we are at that particular place).

This is where Jesus’s statement about a particular widow gives us a biblical frame work. Being radical is not how much you give but how much it costs you. It is not setting a particular amount to give and making that the standard of radical. It is about the individual cost.

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44)

The fact is, God does not need anything you give Him. You could have all the intellectual and political ability to do tremendous deeds, but you still are not necessary to God. He would get the job done better than you ever could. He did not need the widows money.

What God wants is trust and devotion to Him shown through the diversity of weak people He chooses to save. Radicalness can come in the form of Paul braving the dangerous seas so he could bring the gospel to distant lands and it can come in the form of an overlooked widow dropping a penny as a offering.

Christ gave-up the glories of heaven so He might take the indignities of our sin. It is, thus, fitting that those who died with Him now walk as living sacrifices. Always growing in allowing the One who Bought them to take more of their lives. How do we live out this aspect of being radical?

1. Being radical with what you have been given and where you have been placed. Discontentment and pride can take very spiritual forms. Being radical is not sitting at home wishing you were not a widow and thinking if you had more to give you would be of better use. It is moving where you have to move and using what you have to use. It is the cost which God sees as signs of trust. So don’t look towards the future but look at what you are holding back right now. Is it pride? Is it fear? Is it not preferring others over yourself? Right there, in front of you, you will find where you need to be radical.

2. Being radical is seeking to give all wherever the Lord is pointing out. I know for me I know I need to give up more in the realm of selfishness and fear. Putting myself smack-dab in the middle of relationships is where I need to be. Or it is taking leadership in pursuit of a sister and facing the fears and the uncertainty as I learn to trust more in Him who is ever certain. Right there, where I am weakest, is where I am to be radical! It would be much easier to dream about serving in a orphanage in Africa. But I know this is where I need to be radical.

3. Being radical can look very ordinary. Putting pennies in offering, nothing to report there. And ask yourselves, what is love? Is it great faith to walk on water? Is it great sacrifice for the name of Christ? Is it having all knowledge to reject heresy? No. It is patient, kind, not envious, nor boastful. Easily past by in the search for more “radical” things! Yes, pure and undefiled religion is visiting orphans and widows in their affliction (Jam. 1:27) But worthy religion is also bridling your tongue (Jam. 1:26).

As a follower of the crucified Christ you are to carry your cross of crucifixion (Matt 16:24) while aspiring ”to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands,” (1 Thess. 4:11).For some the cross will take you to unreached people groups to live out ordinary Christianity before them in speech and life. And to another it will mean spending 40+ hours a week to provide for your wife and children while living and speaking the gospel before them in radical ways. Each has their place and each has their cost.

The way to be radical is to always be asking, “how can I give Him more?” How can I witness more to my coworkers? How can I get my children excited about missions? How can I reach out to the overlooked people in my church more? What can I do so that those who do not have a bible in their own language have one? How can I be praying more? There is radical Christianity!

We gave nothing and now posses everything through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have no debts to pay! All we owe only points to the amount of mercy we have received. And because of this we can press on in giving Him every section of out lives. From one degree to the next as the Spirit sanctifies us. Pressing ever on in radical call of Christ!

It Is Better

He chooses for his people better than they could choose for themselves. If they are in heaviness, there is a need-be for it, and he withholds nothing from them but what, upon the whole, it is better they should be without.

-John Newton, Works, vol. 1, p. 249 (Letter XVI, “On the Inefficacy of Our Knowledge)

HT: Justin Taylor

All We Have to Offer

The hope we offer people is more than a set of strategies. Our hope is Christ! In him alone do lost, confused, angry, hurt, and discouraged people find what they need to be and do what God intends. We are not gurus. We are nothing more than instruments in the hands of a powerful Redeemer. The hope and help we offer is always focused on him. The most important encounter in ministry is not the person’s encouter with us, but his encouter with Christ. Our job is simply to set up that encounter, so that God would help people seek his forgiveness, comfort, restoration, strength, and wisdom.

Paul David Tripp, Instruments In The Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2002), 138.

A Glorious Answer

Question: How are you right with God?

Answer:

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.

Even though my conscience accuses me

of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments

and of never having kept any of them

and even though I am still inclined toward all evil,

nevertheless

without my deserving it at all,

out of sheer grace,

God grants and credits to me

that perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ,

as if I have never sinned nor been a sinner,

as if I had been as perfectly obedient

as Christ was obedient

All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.

-Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 60

We Can Serve the Living God

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)
he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:11-14)

I remember a few weeks back when accusations were pounding my mind. I saw my weakness and sins so clearly. The voice said to me that there was no way that one as sinful as I could every hope to minister to others. Whether it was the struggle over sins I have had for years or new sins I saw in myself the voice seemed to be speaking truth. How could one who had so many problems be presentable to a holy God for service?

Thankfully the Lord spoke Hebrews 9 to His people. I came across this section in the midst of this trial and was so encouraged. For here the Lord makes clear that the the foundational purity for our service to God does not come through us but by the sacrifice of Christ. He was sacrificed to “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

According to the section Jesus came as the Great High Priest of the New Covenant. One of the roles of the priest was to purify people and things so that they could stand before a holy God. Yet, in the Old Covenant they only had the blood of goats and calves to do it. very temporal in its effect. Yet, Christ, when he came as High Priest, gave the blood of God himself. His blood gives security which last eternally! The sacrifice of Christ on the cross makes a purchase which lasts forever. And so think, if the blood of goats and calves made one pure before God, how strong, deep, and lasting is the purity which Christ’s blood gives!? Thus, the arthur of Hebrews declares that because of Christ our consciences are purified from dead works. And now we can serve the living God.

The Christian’s works are not dead before God. To be dead is to be useless. At one point our works were useless to God. Outside of Christ there is no acceptable sacrifice. But now dead works are cleansed away. We can be useful to the sovereign God of the universe!

We can serve Him. The purity for service comes from the blood of Christ. In Him and through him sinners can offer up acceptable services to God. How wonderful this is. The level of the believer’s sin can be so deep that there is no tracing. Very pure actions can still be tainted with wrong motives in the midst of good motives. But what makes these actions pleasing to God is not the perfection of the believer but the perfection of the sacrifice which has been given for him.

How does this affect us as believer’s in Jesus?

1. We are freed from guilt to serve our God. The Lord is not waiting for us to be perfect in our service. For our imperfect offerings come to the Father through the perfect mediation of Christ. You can step out and serve in the little or big ways not worrying if God will take notice or not. He does! Our works are alive to God through Christ. Serve boldly!

2. Our works are real. The small acts of talking to the unpopular or different person. The hospitality shown to believers and unbelievers. The street preaching of the gospel that does not bare any immediate fruit are not dead! They are alive! We are cleansed from dead works and by Christ our offerings are real. We serve the living God and He is pleased!

3. We are freed to worship. When we come to worship we do not tally up our obedience to see if we can stand before Him. We confess our sins and trust in the perfect atonement of Christ. Our service of worship is purified before the Lord because we offer our praises through the perfect worship of Christ. We do not have to have everything right in our lives and with our worship practices. Because the believer is clothed in the righteousness of Christ he can worship before a holy God. And it will be accepted!

4. We can be patient with the imperfection of others. The Lord is patient with His people. He has cleansed them by Christ and yet is working to conform them in person from one degree of glory to the next. If this is the Lord’s attitude it should be ours as well. We can still love the brethren when worship and service is not perfect. Just because we see problems in some areas does not mean that God is not pleased and things must change instantly. Our perfection is in Christ and not in a local body having every line perfectly straight. Imperfect sinners can serve the living God because of their trust in Christ.

Balancing Note:

In know that one can take these points in very unbiblical directions. In no way am I say that personal holiness does not matter in service and that one does not have to be qualified to be an elder. Nor am I suggesting that one cannot hurt others by unbiblical and foolish actions being called service. Neither would a say that a church can sin as much as they want and/or teach heresy and God does not care.

What I am trying to do, as the arthur of Hebrews is doing, is putting the gospel as the foundation of service. As Paul said in Romans 6 if the gospel has gripped one’s heart they do not want to sin. They do not want heresy preach and they want to be truly loving and helping in their deeds of service. What the gospel does is give the building where these things can grow and flourish. So let the grace of Christ train you “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 3:12)