In Romans 8 Paul reminds us of two great promises…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. Nothing shall separate us from God’s love that we find in the cross of Christ, not even death.

2. We are conquerors of death, no more than conquerors, through Christ.

Go back and listen to Piper’s talks again… he says that we are more than a conqueror of death because death serves us, he says “Death! Get up and serve me well!”. Death serves us by bringing us to see Christ face to face, so in him we conqueror death and make it serve us. - Isaiah 25:8

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul taunts death…

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death has no victory. It is only sin that makes facing death scary, but Christ has defeated sin and defeated death. The victory is ours in Christ!

Go and listen to John Piper’s talks on suffering and sovereignty from New Word Alive again…

What do you do when your world falls apart? What do you do when everything goes wrong? What do you do when as the Psalmist says, your flesh and heart fail (Psalm 73:26)? What do we do, how do we respond when we face suffering, and what seems like pointless random suffering?

I thought those were just theoretical questions before a few years ago, and they were challenged again after receiving the news of a mate from back home dying suddenly on Friday. He wasn’t a close friend, but he was a mate; we played football together, we went to the pub together, we played Football Manager together… we grew up together. From perfect health, to illness and death within a few days, 23 years old - it is tragic and sobering.

(some of) The Riseley Boys: Campbell, Czaicki, Stu, Me, Bonce, Boom

How do we respond? Shock - sometimes when people die it’s a long process, people have time to prepare, this was sudden and shocking. Grief - I cried, I’m a long way from home right now, I’m not there with the guys to grieve, but am still in mourning. Shaken - it shakes me up to the reality, the brevity of life… will I make my life count?

How do I respond as a Christian? How do I respond to the fact that I believe in an all-powerful, all-loving God who has power over life and death and all things in this world, yet let this tragedy take place? First, I grieve (John 11:35), I cry out to God to bring the pains of this world to an end. But why would God let it happen, surely this suffering is pointless? Jesus is asked some tough questions like this in Luke 13… there’s some people at a place called Siloam who get crushed by a falling tower (18 people die)… Jesus doesn’t focus on those who die, but on those who are left, those asking the questions… he says that one day you’ll die too, and face God. The only way we can escape death is to trust the One who beat death, Jesus Christ.

Why do I keep going? Why do I keep trusting a God who lets this stuff happen? Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). Why then must I persevere - because there is hope! There is hope of life, true life, eternal life, for whoever puts their trust in Christ.

I’ve just come back from New Word Alive. On the final night Richard Cunningham spoke on our call to serve God, in his talk he spoke about David, his nephew. David was diagnosed with Leukaemia at the age of 11 (he died a few weeks ago) at his diagnosis he said to the doctor - “I’m not scared of death. I’ve got a friend called Jesus who will keep me safe”. That is simple, child-like faith, but that is all that is required to receive new life, a simple trust that Jesus is king, that he died in your place for your sins, and that he rose to new life that we might too.

If you’re not a Christian, can you give any answers to the problem of suffering, do you find hope or meaning in tragedy? Seek Jesus, only the One who has suffered to the point of death, and now lives can help, can give answers. If you are a Christian is your view of God big enough, is He sovereign enough to answer these questions? If you’re not currently experiencing suffering, do you have a theology of suffering which is rooted in the cross and the glory of God’s sovereignty - if not, how do you expect to stand when the storm comes? I can’t commend highly enough a book by Marc Maillefer called ‘God in the Storm‘, it will help you to focus on Christ in your suffering.

I know it’s sin to dislike “joyful Christians”, but sometimes it’s hard not to, particularly when occasionally you do meet the ‘Ned Flanders’ type who is constantly rejoicing, always joyful - maybe I’m too English and reserved, maybe I should be seeking some experience to give some joy, maybe I’m just a grumpy old man, maybe I’m typical, maybe I’m in need of some more sanctifying…?

Sometimes I really dislike John Piper also… “God is most glorified in you, when you are most satisfied in him”… he makes joy, and satisfaction in God sound easy and normal. Really? Maybe it’s just me but I find it hard to be joyful a lot of the time… life is stressful, sometimes I wonder if God is gonna answer my prayers, sometimes sin just gets in the way, sometimes sin seems more attractive than God,

On a side note there’s some interesting discussions about JP’s theology and the subject of Christian Hedonism in the blogworld, Ed Goode has given some thoughts with a few other references here.

However, before I slate Piper too much, he does also write books to flesh out his ’slogans’, they kindof explain and defend his ‘brand’ of Christian Hedonism. I just read this little book ‘When the Darkness will not lift’, which as I understand is pretty much the last chapter of a slightly bigger book ‘When I don’t desire God’. It’s thinking about the topics of depression and suffering and how we can find joy in the midst of these.

Piper clearly and concisely takes us through a variety of what I guess you’d call ’stumbling blocks’ to joy. Depression, suffering, sin - Piper takes these and honestly and helpfully shows us the issues, gives us some encouragement from scripture and helps us to see that joy is attainable because it rests not on our feelings but on the grace of God ministered through Christ. Although Piper can be blunt as well, in one chapter he says “Do your duty”, basically just get on with life… not quite that blunt, but he’s right isn’t he, apathy and idleness is a place for sin and temptation, whereas getting on with life, getting on with serving and worshipping God (even when we don’t feel like we want to, when we don’t feel joyful) is how we can fight for joy - and in that to pray that God would give us joy.

This is a small book, and JP recommends obviously his bigger version as well as some big old books for further reading such as; Lloyd-Jones - Spiritual Depression, John Owen - Overcoming Sin and Temptation, Richard Sibbes - Bruised Reed, Richard Baxter - The Cure of Melancholy, and some others…

Interestingly the end of this book includes the story of William Cowper, who was deeply encouraged by the ministry of John Newton who shared his life and the grace he had found in Christ with him. Right up until his death Cowper was troubled by depression and attempts at suicide, but authored many hymns testifying to the grace of God.

You fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

from ‘God moves in a mysterious way’

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.
Wash all my sins away, wash all my sins away;
and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

from ‘There is a fountain filled with blood’

I say it’s interesting that the book concluded with this testimony because not long before I saw his story here…

‘I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf… the Word did everything.’- Martin Luther

Doing some of this tonight… haven’t yet found a pub serving Wittenberg, usually just go for some Kronenberg, or a Staropramen…

CJ Mahaney, speaking on True Greatness from Mark 10, praises God for unanswered prayers. I’m like “What?”, that’s the time I don’t want to praise God, because he hasn’t answered my prayers, he hasn’t done what I asked, was he listening, does he care? These are the questions of course which expose my heart, they expose a wrong view of God…

“God is sovereign, not sentimental” - should add to that that God is both sovereign AND good, he works all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), so we know that we can trust God when our prayers are not answered, because he is working out his good and perfect will. He is not sentimental, not a therapist in the sky, not a kindof Father Christmas, he gives us what we need, and answers prayers in his perfect timing.

Unanswered prayers also expose false motives, when we resent God for not bowing to our whims, we see our selfish motives, we see that we desire earthly treasure, earthly happiness and pleasure. We see that our prayers did not come from a desire for personal holiness and for the glory of God, but too often from selfish ambition and a desire to order our lives by our own plans and purposes, not God’s.

But, when we praise God for unanswered prayers, we purify ourselves, we turn away from our false view of God, we expose and repent of our false motives. God gets the glory and we learn to trust him more. I didn’t really used to think I was a proud person, (occasionally I was quite proud of that) but I see more and more that my pride is in the form of self-reliance, not trusting God’s plans and his timing, not trusting that he will work for good in all situations. Maybe, praising God for not answering my stupid selfish prayers is the best prayer I can pray…

In my search for some new podcasts I checked out a bit of Alistair Begg at his radio ministry site, Truth for Life. And was really impressed with the message I listened to - One Thing. There were three points; one thing I know (John 9:25), one thing I do (Philippians 3), one thing I ask (Psalm 27:4)… it was the first point that struck me

One thing I know…

John 9:25 - One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!

Of all the things I know in life (not that much to be fair), surely this is the greatest - there was a time when I was blind, spiritually dead, but now I can see, now I’m alive!
Lloyd-Jones puts it like this…

“I am a Christian solely and entirely because of the grace of God and not because of anything that I have thought or said or done. He brought me to know that I was dead, “dead in trespasses and sins”, a slave to the world, and the flesh, and the devil, that in me “dwelleth no good thing”, and that I was under the wrath of God and heading for eternal punishment.

Since Word Alive, Trinity has been a fresh revelation, and it’s been great to listen to those talks mentioned previously and to study a bit at church and to think more about the applications of Trinitarian theology in every sphere of life. Anyway, something that Mike Reeves referred to in his talk was the Athanasian creed, sounds quite random. But it just so happened I was sitting in the balcony at church today and during the bit of communion when all the distributors first receive I was getting a little restless (I know I should have been praying prayers of humble access, but anyway), so I saw in front of me a little book, the Book of Common Prayer, so thought I’d have a browse… what caught my eye in the contents was the “Creed of St. Athanasius”, basically it says that if you’re a Christian then a solid grasp of the Trinity is central to faith. I think it’s pretty awesome…

Whosoever will be saved,
before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled,
without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the Catholic Faith is this:
That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity,
neither confounding the Persons,
nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father,
another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible,
and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated,
but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty,
and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three
Almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God,
and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord,
and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge
every Person by himself to be both God and Lord,
So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say,
There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son,
neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons;
one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other;
none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons
are co-eternal together and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid,
the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also
believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess,
that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds;
and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God and perfect Man,
of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the
Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man,
yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead
into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance,
but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul
and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;
Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell,
rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father,
God Almighty, from whence he will come
to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies
and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life
everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully,
he cannot be saved.

Source: Anglicans Online

I’m a bit of a Scrooge at this time of year, all the relatives ask me what I want for Christmas, and I have to think what I could buy the family for Christmas… friends are easy, I just don’t bother! So this year I decided I didn’t really need or want anything, so I just asked for books (on the basis that they last a lifetime) or gift vouchers (on the basis that I could get things I might need at a later date).

But at this time I am more concious than ever of my greatest need is a Saviour. Ever since Genesis 3 that’s been my greatest need, ever since I was conscious of my actions it’s been my greatest need. Sometimes I just have to cry out Paul’s words of struggle in Romans 7, ending of course with hope - “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Throughout the Bible God’s people are longing, waiting for a saviour, and what a joy Christmas is to celebrate the coming of the Saviour… Luke 2:11 “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

It’s been a while, but time to resume the series of posts looking at TULIP, and we come to the issue of Atonement. There seems to be two ways to argue this, logically inferring from the Bible, and explicitly from the Bible text… (some links first)

Mark Driscoll - Unlimited Limited Atonement

John Piper - “For whom did Jesus taste death?” (Heb 2:9)

Carl Chambers - “Are there Few that be saved?”

Doug Wilson - “Definite Atonement”

Logic…

So… if Christ died for the sins of everyone (made atonement for those sins), then everyone will stand before God with a ‘not-guilty’ verdict - their sins have all been paid for, so they stand justified before God…

…which means everyone goes to heaven… you see there can’t be a hell, who would go there? Any concept of hell would then be completely unjust, God would punish all sin on the cross, and then punish some again in hell.

Now some would reject this anyway, even some might dare to call themselves evangelical and reject hell. The Bible, indeed Jesus speaks very clearly and plainly about the reality of hell, the present and future judgement of God.

Bible…

In the Driscoll sermon above he does this amusing performance of how all the Arminians take the verses that say “Christ died for… ALL, EVERYONE”, and how the Calvinists quote the verses that say “Christ died for… MANY, SOME”. It’s funny, but it’s true, we always take the verses that prove our point… rather we should take scripture as a whole all the verses in one big pile.

Driscoll argues that in some respects Christ died for all, because all experience a blessing from the atonement, what we might call God’s Common Grace to all… but, that in a saving way, in actually atoning for the sin of the individual, Christ died for some, for the elect. That’s how he reconciles, the ALL and the SOME. I don’t know, but it’s the best answer I’ve heard for truly reconciling these two ideas of ‘who’ Jesus died for.

Why I don’t like Limited Atonement……because it makes the cross sound weak, as though the sacrifice of Christ wasn’t quite enough to do the job… the synonym ‘Particular Redemption’ is perhaps better?

Why it doesn’t actually matter…

I would say, there is a ‘Universal Call’ on all people to come to the Cross of Christ for redemption, and the Bible is clear that anyone who comes to Jesus for forgiveness will be saved, their sin has been atoned for. But, the atonement of sins is still limited to those who confess Christ (see logic), this is still true regardless of whether we accept the second point of the TULIP, that human beings are Unconditionally Elected to receive that atonement for their sins. Whether it’s Election or God’s foreknowledge of our choices, or even a blatant heresy of God not knowing the future - the atonement of sins is only effective for those who trust in Jesus.

So What?

Judgement is real, the wages of sin is death, but for those who trust Jesus, He became their sin so that they could become the righteousness of God. But it’s easy to get bogged down in the arguments of who did Jesus die for, who are the elect, who will be saved? Perhaps these quotes are helpful…

Charles Spurgeon says “Lord call out your elect. Then elect some more”

Stephen Nowak says “I can’t lift up people’s shirts to see if they have ‘elect’ written on them! I’m just called to preach the gospel”

The bottom line is God is in control of the whole history of salvation, he knows the end right from the beginning, and he’s called Christians to be his ambassadors, his messengers to bring the gospel, the news of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross to all people, everywhere.