I llove you, Jesus said.
He abandon the splendor of Heaven -
He took the characteristics of man, and the capacity to sin, and became one of us -
He walked the Earth and learned first hand the hardness of heart and bitter hatred of the very ones he had created.
He taught the Truth, lloved without reserve, lived without sin, always obedient to the voice and will of the Father in Heaven. The blind could see, the lame could walk, and death could not hold those He called to life from the grave.
He knew the anger of those He came to forgive. He felt the sting of rebuke in the words of those who had corrupted His law, and His torn flesh, bruised and bloodied face crowned with thorns, were emblematic of how far mankind had fallen.
He poured out His life blood on Calvary - for me, and for you, and for all who would receive God's grace by faith. Then He arose from the dead, victorious over sin and death, and sent His Spirit to live in us, providing the same victory to all who believe.
Yes! Jesus lloves me!
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12 comments:
Don't preach Jesus just to please the people, do it because you believe it's what we need. If you don't believe the gospel is for the sanctification of Christians, and not only for the sake of evangelizing the unregenerate, then you need to be persuaded.
At last I have a purpose for my life.
It seems you believe the gospel is only for unbelievers, but once we believe it's time to get to the stuff that will teach believers how to live the "Victorious Christian Life." Therefore, it seems you feel it's time to move on from focusing on what Christ did for believers, and to focusing on what Christians ought to do for Christ (you call this "what Christ can do IN you"), not realizing this is just piling imperative upon imperative upon the backs of people who are already heavy-laden with obligations. Like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, the load won't fall off and the believer be freed to perform the biblical imperatives and commands to love until he is face to face with THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.
When the commands and obligations of the Christian is the main point of the sermon, rather than the application of the Gospel in the sermon, then the Law is all that is being preached. The Law kills. Preach the Law only to Christians and it only proves to them that they can't do it (if they're honest). If they're hypocrites, they may adopt an easy version of God's Law so they can boast that they're doing okay. But the bottom line is, the Law kills.
The flip side to the death that results from obsessing about the Law (even a "law of llove" or "law of liberty" or "Christ in me", etc. etc.) which I've defined as preaching only the commands of Scripture, is this:
The Law kills, but the Gospel gives life!
Yes, sinners need the Law preached to them: both sinners who don't believe as well as those of us sinners who do believe. But just as the lost man needs to hear the gospel of God's grace for his justification, so the believer needs the Gospel preached to him as the reason he is to keep the commands of Scripture today. If the believer doesn't hear the Gospel preached (as opposed to merely mentioned in passing) as the basis for his obedience, he'll forget that it is, no matter how much you talk about "Christ in you." He will forget it. He needs to be reminded every week, every day, every hour. You get him at least on Sunday morning. Give it to him. Otherwise, he'll go hungry and unequipped to obey all the commands he heard while the gospel was being ignored.
Now that I'm done hammering you,
listen to Bryan Chappell talk about the necessity of centering all exposition on the gospel of Jesus for the unbeliever and the believer, too.
THE GOSPEL IS FOR CHRISTIANS, TOO!
John,
It's obvious I can't win with you.
If I write of the llove of Christ for us, or if I write of our llove for Him, which motivates us to good works, I am confident that is the Gospel. If I am wrong about that, I am not sure I have a reason to write.
I don't write to please anyone but him.
Christian
As long as Law is the main item on the spiritual menu, I'll remain hard to please.
Our love for him which motivates us to do good works is not the gospel, it's the result of the gospel. You'll get the result of the gospel out of us if you preach the gospel to us. Paul modeled to only preach Christ and him crucified. The "comfort" (in the etymological sense of "with strength") which comes to us from the preaching of the gospel of the sinless life, atoning death and glorious resurrection (alone) of Jesus (not me in Jesus) is what produces the behaviors you so rightly expect to see out of us.
I'm sorry if my delivery is too harsh, but I am a recovering fundamentalist. I got around loving Southern Baptists such as yourself and our church because I want Kathy and I to have good examples in that department. And you certainly are good examples in that department. I readily admit I am passionate about "Christ-centered preaching" and don't apologize for that, just my tone, if it happens to have offended any of your readers. The only reason I feel free to open up and perhaps overstep the limits of "winsomeness" is because of the good example of a loving, affirming and godly pastor that you are (er, uh, Bill is!). Forgive the tone, and pray about and study the art of "Christ-Centered Preaching." (a book you already own)
John,
One more thing (I am thinking more clearly after I realized I might survive the sting of your last comment).
Do you believe that Romans 6, 7, and 8 are the "Gospel?" I sure do! Paul share the good news of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, but then moves on to matters of how we appropriate that life of resurrection power in our day to day walk in this world. "Saved" folk need to hear that, don't you think?
Anyway, I'm confident your preacher is trying to get it right. I'm sure you remind yourself of that on occasion.
Christian
Jesus loves ME - the ultimate gift - plus it's free - it's great for everyone to hear this - Christian or non-believer! Want to give someone you know "the best Valentine's Day gift"? - introduce them to Christ!!
Anonymous,
Thanks for the reply. I agree! I'm sure some of my readers won't, but let's stck together. I am convinced Jesus meant what He said when He said, "Go, be my witnesses to the ends of the Earth.
Thanks, Anonymous, I mean, really, thanks.
Christian
Yes, Paul is properly preaching the gospel and applying it to how it's going to work out in believers' lives. But that's not always the focus with the subject of my constructive criticism.
Notice, I said Paul is APPLYING AFTER he's already preached the gospel. What I'm complaining about is not hearing the gospel preached before the application begins.
It's not just this pastor in question, it's pandemic among evangelical preachers nowadays. They open the Bible, select a verse and immediately begin applying. But application is what is to be done after the text has actually been exposited in the redemptive context of the work of Christ (i.e., the gospel).
Can't you see what I mean? For the thousandth time, I'm not saying don't make application, application belongs, but it's not all there is to preaching, and it's all that's ever done. And it's usually done without being built on the preached gospel. The gospel is usually assumed and left unpreached. And I submit that it is dangerous to assume the gospel. Paul's preaching it in these chapters, and then he's applying it. That's all I'm asking.
Later, when the Modern Reformation website is working, I'll return and link to an article on the danger of assuming the gospel.
And with that, I'll be done repeating myself on this string of comments.
Thank you, christian west for the Feb 1 remarks on llove. I'm a new reader of this blog and appreciate the way you write with relevence and warmth and in the light of Scripture. I look forward to the days ahead with you.
I'm a little suprised, tho, about the ramblings of john d. chitty. I read them all and listened to the Brian Chappell talk referenced on 3 Feb.
It seems to me the chitty remarks are akin to an amateur astronomer who uses limited equipment. As a consequence, he can only interpret the universe based on limited viewing. He can arrive at only limited conclusions. He relies on writings and observations of others rather than personal discoveries. He takes great pride in referring to professional astronomers by name as a way to legitimize his limited personal conclusions. Therefore I view chitty's comments as very shallow. In addition, there are too many instances of philosophical puffery to even attempt to address them all in a blog forum.
My greatest surprise, tho, is the condescending, arrogant and rude tone of writing. Perhaps this is based on a limited Spirit-based living experience. Chitty writes like a "prodigal son" (Luke 15:11-16).
I wonder how many people chitty has personally shared the Gospel with on a one-to-one basis? How many believers has he personally mentored to help them gain knowledge, understanding and wisdom to live in obedience to the Lord? How many sermons has he preached to congregations? How many church families has he been held accountable for regarding their spiritual growth? How many personal Bible study experiences has chitty had where the Holy Spirit provided Scripture insight apart from input from other scholars?
My heart is saddened for the believers in chitty's world.
On the other hand, I must say the believers and seekers in your world are most blessed to have your experience, insight, wisdom, patience, and heart-llove available to them for their spiritual growth.
Keep up the good work!
Dr. Pepper,
Thanks for your generously kind words. I am grateful that you are reading, and I pray God's Truth will continue to be revealed to you.
Don't be too hard on John. He is a great guy, much more Reformed than I, but very, very bright. His comments always drive me to deeper study, and that is good.
Write any time. I llove to hear from readers - good things and hard to hear things.
Christian
Valid criticisms and questions all, Doctor Pepper! Why else would I have named my blog "The Misadventures of Captain Headknowledge?"
I won't bother answering your rhetorical questions about my spiritual credentials. We'll let God and "the believers in my world" answer them.
Furthermore, hey! I apologized, didn't I?
But finally, allow me to say that what you experienced is an ongoing prodding on my part (usually less emotional and harsh--I think) which is usually conducted by email in private. Yes, as CW says, I am Reformed, but when I joined the church to which CW goes, I warned my new pastor that I would be this way. And so I am. And I'll be the first to admit that he shows me more respect than I deserve.
If you got to know me, you'd know I'm really a teddy bear.
I wouldn't advise living with me, though . . .
John,
You are indeed a teddy bear. You boys remember to "keep it nice."
I llove the interaction!!
Christian
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