Christ + Nothing = Everything

You can never be richer than the man who has Christ and nothing else. Because the man who has Christ has everything He needs and more.

The Glory of Christ

The audio from my sermon from Sunday night at the Glory of Christ conference is online. You can get it here.

Oceans of Grace

"Unfathomable oceans of grace are in Christ for you. Dive and dive again, you will never come to the bottom of these depths."

-McCheyne

Preach Christ for Christ's Sake

On July 8, 1836, Robert Murray McCheyne wrote in his journal:

"Today missed some fine opportunities of speaking a word for Christ. The Lord saw I would have spoken as much for my own honour as His, and therefore shut my mouth. I see a man cannot be a faithful minister until he preaches Christ for Christ's sake until he gives up striving to attract people to himself and seeks only to attract them to Christ."

Quoted in Awakening, p. 105.

Blessings Secured by Christ

In his new book, Church Planter, Darrin Patrick takes some time to meditate on the gospel. Here is a particularly helpful list to meditate on from chapter 9 (idea: spend the next month meditating on one of these every day):

Through His cross-work, Christ has provided:

• Reconciliation to God (2 Cor 5:19).
• Forgiveness of sins (Col. 2:13).
• Propitiation (Rom. 3:25).
• Ability to live for God (2 Cor. 5:15).
• Eternal life (John 3:16).
• Justification (Rom 4:25).
• Inheritance in heaven (Eph. 1:11).
• Righteousness (Phil 3:9-10).
• Healing (1 Peter 2:24).
• Bodlily resurrection (1 Cor. 15:22).
• Intercession for the weak (Heb 7:25).
• Peace (Isa 53:5).
• Freedom (Gal 5:1).
• Unity among believers (Eph 2:11-22).
• An example (1 Peter 2:21).
• Redemption (Rom 3:24).
• Advocacy (1 John 2:1).
• Deliverance from fear of death (Heb 2:14-15).
• Hope (Rom 5:1-11).
• Wisdom (1 Cor 1:30).
• Regeneration (1 Peter 1:3).
• Access to God's presence (Heb 10:19).
• All things (Rom 8:32).

In short, Christ's death has given us God (1 Peter 3:18).

Jesus is the Hero of the Gospel

I had the opportunity to speak about the gospel to the volunteers at the Wilson Pregnancy Center last night. Here is some of what I talked about from 1 Cor. 15:1-5:

1. The Gospel is of first importance.
2. Christians need to be reminded of the Gospel. We never move beyond our need for the gospel.
3. The Gospel is what saves and sanctifies us.
4. The Gospel must be continually embraced. The Christian life is not about a one-time decision. It’s about a life-long pursuit of repenting of our sin and trusting in the Savior.
5. The Gospel is first and foremost about Jesus Christ. He is the hero of the Gospel.

Jesus is breathtakingly amazing, able, and awesome.
He is endlessly delightful, dependable, and dazzling.
He is forever fantastic, fabulous, and faithful.
He is powerfully invincible, incomparable, and irresistible.
He is wonderfully marvelous, matchless, and magnificent.
He is victoriously preeminent, perfect, and precious.
He is unfailingly sufficient, supreme, and sovereign.

Jesus is the greatest treasure in the entire universe. And He is the One who died for our sins.

John Owen on Christ

"Christ is the treasury in which the Father places all the riches of his grace taken from the bottomless mine of his eternal love."

"All the fruits of God's love are first given to Christ. Christ then gives them to us."

"Christ is the well of salvation into which the water of God's love is poured."

"Christ bears the iniquity of our offerings and he adds incense to our prayers."

From pages 20-21 of Communion with God.

A Church That Looks Like Christ

A church will look like Christ as it listens to Christ.

I’ve been pondering the statement above for some time now. I really do believe that a church will look like Christ as it listens to Christ. Also, I believe the same is true for our individual lives. A Christian will look more and more like Christ as he or she submits to Christ’s Word. Think about this with me.

This statement assumes at least two things and implies one huge reality. First, notice that this statement assumes that a church wants to look like Christ. It assumes that reflecting the character of Jesus is important and central. Another way of communicating this would be to say, “A church will mature as it listens to Christ.” As a church (and as a Christian), we must have as our goal to grow in maturity. Likeness to Jesus does not just happen. It is a pursuit. Remember: the goal of the church is not how many people are coming, but what the people are becoming (Ephesians 4:1-16).

Second, notice that this statement assumes that Christ’s voice can be heard. It is possible to listen to Christ today. We find the Word of Christ in the Bible. He has spoken finally and fully, and we have His Words written down and translated into a language we can understand.

Finally, notice the huge implication of this statement. If a church matures as it listens to Christ, the church must position herself to hear God’s Word as clearly and as much as possible. A primary means of grace is the preaching, teaching, reading, and obeying of Christ’s voice contained in the Bible. If we don’t understand this, we will never hear the force of Paul’s charge to Timothy: “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). Why leave Timothy with this charge? Why not charge him to be a good organizer or vision-caster? Paul leaves this charge with Timothy because Paul knows that God builds (matures) His Church by His Word.

John Piper has often said, “Beholding is becoming.” We become increasingly like whatever we focus on. I could not agree more. The more we behold Christ in and through His Word, the more we will become like Him and reflect His beauty to this world.

Longing to be like Him,
Pastor Justin

Live to See Lust Dead at Your Feet

John Owen's counsel on how to mortify sin:

"Set faith at work on Christ for the killing of your sin. His blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls. Live in this, and you will die a conqueror; yea, you will, through the good providence of God, live to see your lust dead at your feet."

Overcoming Sin and Temptation, p. 131.

Blood Bought Zeal

Titus 2:14 gives us 2 reasons Christ gave Himself for us:

1. to redeem us from all lawlessness
2. to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

When we think about the death of Christ, we normally think about #1: the forgiveness of our sins. However, what effect would it have on us if we really believed that Christ gave Himself for my purification, my identification with His people, and my zeal for good works?

Christ died that I might be radical in doing good works. What am I zealous for? Is my life characterized by zeal for good works?

Purchased Sanctification

I desperately want to become what Jesus died to enable me to be.

Jesus died so that I would:
-abound in love for God and others
-be forgiving
-be radically God-focused
-be devoted to prayer
-be kind
-love the Scriptures
-serve His church
-share the gospel with clarity and boldness
-love my wife and kids
-be joyful in suffering
-consider others better than myself
-be involved in the completion of the Great Commission
-be pure in heart
-be humble

Jesus purchased my sanctification.

Strength Through the Gospel

I love how Paul concludes the letter to the Romans.

"Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ...to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen"

Paul defined his gospel in this letter. And notice what he says now about this gospel: God strengthens Christians according to this gospel and the preaching of it.

Christians are strengthened through the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ. Do you see the implications of such a truth?

If this is true,
1. the gospel is not just for unbelievers. Christians need to hear and embrace the gospel. It is vital for their strengthening.

2. preaching should be gospel-soaked and Christ-centered. God strengthens His church by the gospel. This should inform what the preacher proclaims if he wants a strong church.

3. strong Christians are those who have learned to apply the gospel. Our growth is directly related to our intake of and grip of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He Suffered in My Place

“Was he flogged? It was done so that “by his wounds we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). Was he condemned, though innocent? It was done so that we might be acquitted, though guilty. Did he wear a crown of thorns? It was done so that we might wear the crown of glory. Was he stripped of his clothes? It was done so that we might be clothed in everlasting righteousness. Was he mocked and reviled? It was done so that we might be honored and blessed. Was he reckoned a criminal, and counted among those who have done wrong? It was done so that we might be reckoned innocent, and declared free from all sin. Was he declared unable to save himself? It was so that he might be able to save others to the uttermost. Did he die at last, and that the most painful and disgraceful death? It was done so that we might live forevermore, and be exalted to the highest glory.”

-JC Ryle

Imponderable Wonder

Isaiah 53:10: "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him and cause him to suffer."

Romans 8:32: "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all..."

2 Cor. 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us..."

How Great Thou Art:
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin."

Let These Go Their Way...because Christ...

Spurgeon reflecting on Christ's loving care for His disciples in John 18:8:

And so, some of the benefits of Christ’s death were ours before we knew him, and before we loved him. The reason why I was not damned before I knew the Savior was that he had said, “Let him go his way; I have died for him.” You would have been in hell these twenty years, saint, for you were then unregenerate; but Christ said, “Let him go his way; if ye seek me, he shall go his way, sinner though he be;” and now, when gloomy fears arise, and dark thoughts roll over our mind, let this be our comfort. Sinners we are still, guilty and vile; but the same voice says, “Let these go their way.” It is the “let” of command; and who can hinder when God letteth in this sense? “Let these go their way.” You are going up Bunyan’s Hill Difficulty, and there are lions at the top. Christians, remember this message, “Let these go their way.” You will, perhaps, get into Giant Despair’s dungeon; here is a key that will fit the lock: “Let these go their way.” You will be tumbling about in the Slough of Despond; here is a stone to put your foot on to help you to get out: “Let these go their way.” What for? Because they pray? No. Because they serve God? No; the mandate was given ‘before they did either the one or the other. “Let these go their way,” because Christ died in their stead.

Not Fit for the Dunghill

"A bloodless, Christless gospel is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; it neither honours God nor converts the sons of men."

-CH Spurgeon (Dark Gethsemane, p. 220)

Read this Slowly: CH Spurgeon in the Garden

Whatever you are doing, please slow down. This is worth stopping everything and taking in slowly. If you cannot stop now, please bookmark this and come back to it when you have time to meditate.
This is from the sermon called, "The Agony in Gethsemane" by CH Spurgeon.

"Again looking at Jesus in the garden, we learn the excellence and completeness of the atonement. How black I am, how filthy, how loathsome in the sight of God, — I feel myself only fit to be cast into the lowest hell, and I wonder that God has not long ago cast me there; but I go into Gethsemane, and I peer under those gnarled olive trees, and I see my Saviour. Yes, I see Him wallowing on the ground in anguish, and hear such groans come from Him as never came from human breast before. I look upon the earth and see it red with His blood, while His face is smeared with gory sweat, and I say to myself, “My God, my Saviour, what aileth Thee?” I hear Him reply, “I am suffering for thy sin,” and then I take comfort, for while I fain would have spared my Lord such an anguish, now that the anguish is over I can understand how Jehovah can spare me, because He smote His Son in my stead. Now I have hope of justification, for I bring before the justice of God and my own conscience the remembrance of my bleeding Saviour, and I say, Canst Thou twice demand payment, first at the hand of Thy agonizing Son and then again at mine? Sinner as I am, I stand before the burning throne of the severity of God, and am not afraid of it. Canst thou scorch me, O consuming fire, when Thou hast not only scorche but utterly consumed my substitute? Nay, by faith, my soul sees justice satisfied, the law honoured, the moral government of God established and yet my once guilty soul absolved and set free. The fire of avenging justice has spent itself, and the law has exhausted its most rigorous demands upon the person of Him who was made a curse for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Oh the sweetness of the comfort which flows from the atoning blood! Obtain that comfort, my brethren, and never leave it. Cling to you Lord’s bleeding heart, and drink in abundant consolation."

Amen! A Thousand Times, "Amen."

"When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey; speak about Dr. Carey's Savior."

-William Carey

The Christmas Gospel

I can remember desiring to preach from Matthew 1:18-25 years ago. Well, I finally put it on the calendar (back in March) and preached from this great text Sunday. It was a joy to unpack some of the most important Christmas truths. Here were the main points:

1. Jesus was born of a virgin.
2. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.
3. Jesus is the Savior.

Readers, I pray you have a wonderful, Christ-filled Christmas. Christmas is about the virgin-born Son of God, who has saved us from our sins by His own blood, and who promises to always be with us.

Revelation 19: Christ Conquers

Revelation 19:11-16 contains a rich description of our warrior Bridegroom.

4 Names:

• Faithful and True (v. 11)
• A name no one knows but Him (v. 12)
• The Word of God (v. 13)
• King of kings and Lord of lords (v. 16)

9 Characteristics:

• Riding on a white horse.
• Judges and makes war in righteousness.
• Eyes like a flame of fire.
• Many diadems
• Clothed in a blood-dipped robe.
• Followed by His army
• Words are like a sharp sword.
• Rules with a rod of iron.
• Treads the winepress of the wrath of God.