He was shamed, slandered, and tortured for nothing he did but what we did, even to the point of death, even death on a cross. He deserved none of it and took all of it, humbling himself that he might bring “many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10). And as God’s sons and daughters, we glory in God’s son. For he who died for our sin and resurrected for our life has ascended, and “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11). Amen.
Author Archives: John Clayton
Christ’s Course Victorious
When Christ returns, the words of the psalmist will be heard loud and clear throughout the world, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Luke 13:35). It will be sung as a worldwide anthem, blessing the One who was faithful to complete his course and live and reign victorious. And Jew and Gentile, reconciled to God in one body through the cross, will rejoice in Christ’s course victorious, confessing, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! . . . For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33, 36).
The Inclusive Exclusive Christian Faith
In summary, it is the belief that Christianity is merely one or many ways to heaven, eternal life, the next life, call it what you will. What is required to go heaven, per se, is good intentions, sincerity, and a sprinkling of good works (on a sliding scale). Heaven, it is thought, will be filled with a variety of faiths and people, except Adolf Hitler and that guy you don’t like at work.
Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Through God’s outward and ordinary means of grace Christ’s church will grow, both near and far. The world won’t take notice. Why should they? But in the eyes of God we are a mustard seed growing heavenward, leaven spreading across the globe. For, Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.
Better than We Deserve
If you live long enough, you will witness or experience tragedy of some kind. Perhaps you would be amazed at the tragedies experienced by those seated around you. I don’t know everyone’s story, but I do know this: tragedy is common to the fallen human condition. And because it is, and because we were created reasonable beings, we may wonder, why do bad things happen?
The Peace Christ Gives
For faith in Christ reveals God’s covenantal favor upon you, grace bestowed before the foundation of the world, love predestining you for adoption, and peace made perfect in Christ.[5] And what can we say of the grace that enables us to believe the gospel while others, even our loved ones don’t? What can we say of the gift of faith that justifies us as righteous before God? While we may wonder, “Why me?”, but surely we can say with all the saints before us, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! . . . For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:33, 36).
The Joy of Fearing God
And just as Jesus “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2), we look to the cross of Christ with joy, for through his death and resurrection, he has secured our redemption, reconciled us to God, and given us eternal life. This he did not by condoning sin but in perfect righteousness, not by compromising of his deity but by divine justice, and not by making himself “safe” but victorious. “’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king, I tell you.”
Life Lived in the Love of God
It seems to me the modern Evangelical pastime is to lament the condition of our culture. We are seemingly surprised at the prevalence of the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life[2] in a world following the prince of the power of the air, who continues his work in the children of disobedience.[3] And yet, I am often asked, “Can you believe how bad’s it’s gotten?” To which I often reply, “Yes, almost as bad as the days of Noah,” which is of course sarcasm, since as bad as we perceive our age to be, we cannot say that every intention of the thoughts of our neighbors is only evil continually[4] (although perhaps a few we know come close). But really, think about it: What was the condition of the culture of Noah’s day? What dominated mankind’s thoughts? Only evil continually. What motivated his actions? Only evil continually. What did he do all day, every day? Only evil continually. Literally, “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5).
Hope in Her Offspring
And so, while time continues, history repeating itself with seemingly endless consistency, there will be a last day, and every person will stand in judgment before the Son of God. On that day, the offspring of Satan will be revealed and readied for eternal damnation, the anguish of their suffering even more consistent than their sin upon the earth. But all who look to the promised Son of Hope in faith will be found righteous and right with God. And though our human hearts may cry with little Anne of Green Gables, “I’ll try to do and be anything you want me, if you’ll only keep me,” God’s Word tells us Christ has done it all, redeeming us the image-bearers we were created to be, kept in Christ, for all eternity.
Are You Ready?
By God’s grace through faith in Christ, we become children of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we are to seek the kingdom first, setting our hearts on the heavenly: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). The apostle Paul likewise directs us to set our “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For [we] have died, and [our] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is [our] life appears, then [we] also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:2-4). And yet, how many of us find it hard to set our minds on things above while we’re still here and living now? By God’s design, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night,[2] life goes on, doesn’t it? Yes, “he who began a good work in [us] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6), but are we ready for that day?
Planter, Pastor, Preacher 