The Glory of Christ
The glory of Christ has always been a bit confusing to me. I recognize that it is essential to the process of sanctification and that it is a direct work of the Spirit to help me see Christ's glory. However,what am I looking for? Am I looking for sheer majesty; a Damascus Road experience? Do I take what seems to be exhausted by Scriptural language and attempt to conjure up awe in lieu of it?
(In attempting to make sense of all of this, John Owen has been so helpful.) Although the passages referring to the throne room are glorious and overwhelming, Christ's glory is seen most clearly in his incarnation. This is what the gospel writer John is so stoked about. In John 1, there is this Light that bursts onto the scene of redemptive history with supernova-like intensity. It is the glory of Christ incarnate. Yet we are also told that he carried no comeliness or reputation. He was not desireable. He was simply born to a virgin, jr. high girl in a donkey trough. He grew us in a small farm town and worked with his step-dad hammering nails. So where's the glory? John is careful to revolutionize our perspective by saying that this Light shines forth not because he fits the glory of a cultural icon, but because he was full of 'grace and truth'. He was and is the antithesis of cultural nobility. His glory was that of grace and truth.
Read the Gospels and look for grace and truth. What you will find is that you need to read and reread because at first sight his grace and truth are always misunderstood by feeble minds; minds that are not only finite but sinfully unaware, disinterested and unable to comprehend the infinite riches of the glory of Christ. It is by the sending of Christ's Spirit, who serves our feeble minds with the glories of Christ, that we might attain such an understanding.
(In attempting to make sense of all of this, John Owen has been so helpful.) Although the passages referring to the throne room are glorious and overwhelming, Christ's glory is seen most clearly in his incarnation. This is what the gospel writer John is so stoked about. In John 1, there is this Light that bursts onto the scene of redemptive history with supernova-like intensity. It is the glory of Christ incarnate. Yet we are also told that he carried no comeliness or reputation. He was not desireable. He was simply born to a virgin, jr. high girl in a donkey trough. He grew us in a small farm town and worked with his step-dad hammering nails. So where's the glory? John is careful to revolutionize our perspective by saying that this Light shines forth not because he fits the glory of a cultural icon, but because he was full of 'grace and truth'. He was and is the antithesis of cultural nobility. His glory was that of grace and truth.
Read the Gospels and look for grace and truth. What you will find is that you need to read and reread because at first sight his grace and truth are always misunderstood by feeble minds; minds that are not only finite but sinfully unaware, disinterested and unable to comprehend the infinite riches of the glory of Christ. It is by the sending of Christ's Spirit, who serves our feeble minds with the glories of Christ, that we might attain such an understanding.
How do I Change?
Although the Spirit helps us to name specific sins and recognize the situations in which they are most likely to show up, we have not yet been changed. We are simply more aware of what needs to be changed.
It is in this that we often fall into the pit of legalism. We often attempt to atone for our own sins by beating ourselves with guilt. We refuse to move forward until we have felt enough sorrow for our sin. This is often self-pity incognito. Self-pity, at its root, is pride. We wallow in guilt, ('woe is me') while at the same time stirring up pride. And we wonder why we go to Scripture and fail to see the glory of God. "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble."
An awareness of sin must be taken immediately to the Savior. We must cling to his atonement. We must see his glory in light of our sin so that the Spirit might arouse faith in Christ, the agent of change.
"But we all, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the smae image from glory to glory. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
It is in this that we often fall into the pit of legalism. We often attempt to atone for our own sins by beating ourselves with guilt. We refuse to move forward until we have felt enough sorrow for our sin. This is often self-pity incognito. Self-pity, at its root, is pride. We wallow in guilt, ('woe is me') while at the same time stirring up pride. And we wonder why we go to Scripture and fail to see the glory of God. "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble."
An awareness of sin must be taken immediately to the Savior. We must cling to his atonement. We must see his glory in light of our sin so that the Spirit might arouse faith in Christ, the agent of change.
"But we all, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the smae image from glory to glory. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
For Instance: Naming Sin and Preaching the Gospel
God has been good to make me aware of a particular sin. He has exposed the sin of self-love. In situations of service to my wife there have often been underlying motives for self. God has been good to open my eyes to see my sin specifically and the situations in which it typically has been demonstrated.
Now what is the counterpart of the gospel? In reading Andrew Murray's book on humility, there has been a greater awareness of Christ's unending love and obedience to the Father. John 4 "My meat is to do the will of the Father." John 8 "I do nothing on my own authority but speak just as the Father taught me". Christ never thought "hmmm, I am going to plan a day just for me." He always demonstrated love to the Father by obeying him. Not only did Christ demonstrate love to the Father but he also demonstrated selfless love to those he encountered. He befriended others. He healed. He taught. He blessed. He washed feet. He DIED. John 13 "...he love them to the end."
In large part, the substance of the gospel is self abandonment, reckless obedience to God and devotion to others. Now in Christ, by God's grace, I can love this way! In Christ, grace and truth can pervade from our lives. But in the throws of life, I must be postured to preach these truths into everyday circumstances where I am prone to love self.
A Moment with 'The Gospel Primer'
"...if Christians would do more preaching of the gospel to themselves,non-Christians might have less trouble comprehending its message, for they would see its truth and power exuding from believer in indisputable ways."
Recently, I am becoming more aware of our need to name our sins specifically. Generalizations such as lust, pride or laziness generalize the gospel. In doing so the potency of the gospel is lost and the multifaceted nature of the gospel is glazed over.
As I become aware of my sin by the Spirit's illumining grace, I am asking Him to help me name my sin specifically. But I would be amiss to leave it there. I am also asking Him to awakened my eyes to see the gospel's expulsive counterpart to my sin. With an awareness of a particular sin and the specific couterpart of the gospel, I am prepared to preach to myself. It is herein that a fresh experience of the gospel often takes place.
Have you named your sin and have you been struck afresh by the gospel today?
Humility: The Beauty of Holiness
"His service is our highest liberty - the liberty from sin and self" -Andrew MurrayRecently I finished this book and I am going to read it one more time. Very few books that I have read make me more aware of my sin. What a means of grace! It was as if the Spirit used this book to pull back the veil of my heart providing a glimpse into the dark chasm of my inability. Of course, this is an inability to operate outside of motivations for self. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ..." The theme which is articulated throughout this book is an awareness our inability and an awareness of Christ's ability. As we have been brought into union with Christ we share in the his death - a death to self- and we share in his life - a life to God. It is a union which reaches to the farthest recesses of this dark chasm and causes light to shine out of darkness. My reckless inability satisfied in Christ! It's time to start reading...again.
Honoring a Man by Celebrating his Savior
As the procedures of the funeral took place last week there were several individuals who spoke to me and complimented the life of my grandfather, Russell Fahlgren. Those who gave compliments were right to do so! I enjoyed hearing others speak of the unique character of this great man. However, as the funeral procedures carried on and more character qualities of Grandpa were mentioned there was one phrase that the Holy Spirit continued to impress upon me. It was this, "What... a... Savior!".Grandpa's life was impressive, but there is only one reason for it. It certainly had little to do with his upbringing. Nor was it a result of unique personal abilities. Rather, all that was impressive in my grandfather - his kindness, compassion, honesty, discipline, patience, contentment etc.- is a direct result of his Savior. For it was his Savior that paid the infinite penalty of sin so that God's favor- His grace- might abound. God's grace did abound in the life of my grandfather as seen in his Christ-like character. God's favor not only gave Grandpa the strength and ability to be kind and compassionate but God's favor made him aware of his deep need for dependence upon his Savior.
It is in this that a godly trajectory has been established for our extended family, all of whom love the Savior. Once again, this is due to God's favor through his Son. And yet, God had chosen to use my grandfather as an overwhelming means of grace to our extended family. God has graced our family with the life of Russell Fahlgren.
And this is simply the beginning! For the Savior not only provided the grace for Grandpa's impressive character, and He not only provided grace to our extended families through the life of Russell Fahlgren but He, through the cross, has made my grandfather fit for glory!
My grandfather, by God's grace, has lived well and has led our family well providing us a wonderful opportunity to honor a man by celebrating his Savior. WHAT A SAVIOR!
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