Space, Time and Jesus

“If the Temple was the space in which God’s sphere and the human sphere met, the sabbath was the time when God’s time and human time coincided.”

N.T. Wright, Simply Jesus. (HaperCollins Limited, 2011) 136.

The Implications of the Gospel, Part 4

(originally published in our local newspaper on 2/1/12)

We’ve thus far defined the gospel, talked about its cosmic implications, and last week showed one practical way in which the gospel affects our relationships. I have argued that the gospel is more than just good news—and certainly nothing less—as well as it affecting everything, the spiritual and natural world. It also changes how we perceive ourselves (we understand ourselves to be born with a propensity towards sin) and how we perceive God (he is holy, just, loving, wrathful and gracious). Having this “gospel grid” can teach us better ways in which we see the world.

C.J. Mahaney wrote a wonderful little book called “The Cross-Centered Life,” and in it he quotes theologian D.A. Carson. Carson says, commenting on the Apostle Paul and Paul’s theology, that, “He cannot long talk about Christian joy, or Christian ethics, or Christian fellowship, or the Christian doctrine of God, or anything else, without finally tying it to the cross. Paul is gospel-centered; he is cross-centered” (pg. 11).

The obsession in the New Testament is the gospel and at the center of the gospel is suffering Servant, Jesus Christ. Everything revolves around the cross for Christian theology. Struggling with sin? Look to the cross. Struggling with money? Look to the cross. Frustrated at your job? Look to the cross.

The glory of God is shown most vividly when Jesus died on the cross. He died for us, and as Martin Luther says, it was the “Great Exchange.” Jesus takes our sin; we get his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus takes our failures,; we get his successes. Jesus obeys perfectly, cleans our filthy hearts, and removes our guilt. We are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). It was at the cross where business was done between God and man.

Before we implement the “gospel grid,” let’s get practical for a moment.

As a pastor, there is one relationship paradigm that I am most confronted with in counseling: marriage. Marriages continue to falter under the pressures of this world and it seems that many people in our churches are all feeling the same pressure. The pressure to have both spouses working, the daycare bills, the mortgage payment, gas prices, layoffs at work, grocery bills growing, cost of insurance on the rise and the list goes on and on. Marriages are strained because of this pressure. But what would it look like to have a gospel grid in your marriage?

Husbands: it looks like you repenting first and blame shifting never, taking full responsibility. It looks like men growing in their knowledge of the Lord and choosing to lay their lives down for their wives, just like Jesus did for the Church (Ephesians 5:22-33).

It looks like it does for every other relationship, and here is the secret. Are you growing in awareness of your own sin while simultaneously growing in your awareness of God’s holiness? That’s part of what it means to live a gospel-centered life. Repentance and faith, repentance and faith, repentance and faith… This is what it means to be enamored by the gospel.

resurrection life

God has a sense of humor. I preached on Mark 5 yesterday and the resurrection life that Jesus provides for the Gerasene Demoniac, woman with a discharge of blood, and Jairus’ daughter who died, but was brought back to life.

And then I opened up Valley of Vision this morning to read a prayer and I came to page 173, called “Crucifixion and Resurrection.” It’s about resurrection life (ironically!):

O LORD, I marvel that though shouldst become incarnate, be crucified, dead, and buried. The sepulcher calls forth my adoring wonder, for it is empty and thou art risen; the four-fold gospel attests it, the living witnesses prove it, my heart’s experience knows it. Give me to die with thee that I may rise to new life, for I wish to be dead and buried to sin, to selfishness, to the world; that I might not hear the voice of the charmer, and might the delivered from his lusts. O Lord, there is much ill about me–crucify it, much flesh within me–mortify it. Purge me from selfishness, the fear of man, the love of approbation, the shame of being thought old-fashioned, the desire to be cultivated or modern. Let me reckon my old life dead because of crucifixion, and never feed it as a living thing. Grand me to stand with my dying Saviour, to be content to be rejected, to be willing to take up unpopular truths, and to hold fast despised teachings until death. Help me to be resolute and Christ-contained. Never let me wander from the path of obedience to thy will. Strengthen me for the battles ahead. Give me courage for all the trials, and grace for all the joys. Help me to be a holy, happy person, free from every wrong desire, from everything contrary to thy m ind. Grant me more and more of the resurrection life: may it rule me, may I walk in its power, and be strengthened through its influence.

King Jesus…now or later?

“Jesus has to return to set up his earthly kingdom,” I was told a week ago by a dispensationalist.

Interesting, I thought. This person is saying that Jesus isn’t really King now and apparently the Bible says he has to return in order to be King.

This assertion goes against the reality that for the writers of the New Testament, Jesus is Lord and King NOW and that there is no future need for him to be established as King because it was established at the cross and vindicated at his resurrection.

Jesus is King now, not later, and here are some verses to ponder:

Matthew 28:18 – “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

King’s have authority…ultimate authority. And look what Jesus says about where that authority is…heaven and earth, now.

Ephesians 1:19-21a – “and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named…”

Being at the right hand means you have ultimate power and authority, so much so, that it is far beyond any other powers!

Jesus claimed to be the son of man (“Human One“) from Daniel 7:13-14 -

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Seems fairly clear, right? This is fulfilled in Acts 1:10-11 when Jesus “comes” the Ancient of Days. Notice that the coming is not from heaven to earth, but from earth to heaven. Jesus is ruling and reigning as King and Lord over all right now.

Serve him.

Book Review – Acts (St. Andrews Expositional Commentary) by R.C. Sproul

Though I’ve never met Dr. Sproul, I love him. I love his style, his eloquence, and succinct explanation of theology. From what I can ascertain from various sources, his life truly matches his doctrine.

His St. Andrews Expositional Commentary Series is a must have for preachers and teachers alike. The way Dr. Sproul presents the Scriptures in these books is stupendous.

And Acts is no different. I’m writing and researching for my dissertation (on the Luke/Acts Narratives) and I wanted to use this book for its practical insight, yet accessible commentary. It’s not a typical commentary with lots of Greek word parsing and various language discussion–it’s better. Dr. Sproul is historical, yet practical. He uses small anecdotal stories to help bring out the meaning of the text while firmly presenting the context and original meaning of the text. When you are reading the book, it reads more like a story than a commentary that is chopped up with various sections and lengthy pericopes. As you move through the text, Sproul does an incredible job weaving the verses together and providing their overarching themes while simultaneously giving you insight and practical exhortation.

You need to pick up this commentary!

Buy at:

• WTSBooks
• Amazon
• Crossway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Crossway.org <http://www.Crossway.org> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”