Nothing to lose

Let me ask you two questions from what is fast becoming my favorite hymn:

1. Did ever such LOVE and SORROW meet? (as on the cross?)
Think of the greatest love you could ever imagine in the world!
Now think of the greatest sadness in the world, greater than any korean drama.

They are both found at the cross.

Our God who so loved the world, gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. He came not to condemn the world but to save.

Our God hung by nails on pieces of wood. He was betrayed by his student who he just knelt and washed the feet of. He was rejected by his own people and denied by his best friend, Peter. He was a King, but he was treated like a wretch.


2. Did ever such THORNS compose so RICH A CROWN? (the crown on thorns laid on Christ's head)

Oh how could we ever see a crown of thorns as rich? But on the head of Jesus, as the blood poured out from his scalp, we see suffering, we see pain, we see him there in agony, but only 3 days later we realize that was glory!

It bids me come and DIE, and find that I may truly LIVE.

“The best fighters in the world are people with nothing to lose.”

Buffalo Soldiers (2001) – General Lancaster (Dean Stockwell)

We fight because we realize we have nothing to lose, we are given it all through Him!

It is a paradox. How we are infinitely accountable for our sin, and yet infinitely free from it. All because of Christ. So FREE to us, and yet so COSTLY to God: his grace.

Is the Gospel Good News to you? or just... News?

If you are a bible-nerd like I am, you will gush over these videos:
http://www.new.facebook.com/video/?id=31365402722&s=0&hash=cf29d6c53886ae75dd74cbf44080cda3

(Especially the 6 part three-way discussion b/w Keller, Piper and Carson)

The Gospel -- It really is GOOD NEWS!

Tim Keller really shines light on this in a way that is easy to understand.
There are traditionally 2 ways in the Church, the religious moralist and the libertine.

The religious moralist is the typical person who we'll see doing their best to be a 'good Christian' by doing the right Christians things. They will serve, they will not cuss, they will not lie, they will talk about others who are doing wrong...

Libertines hate those people. Libertines want to be free and do whatever they want in their heart. They do not want to be fake and judgmental, so they forsake morals and do whatever they want. They are free in grace and do whatever they want.

There is a third way, one who sees the seriousness of sin as the religious moralist, and the freedom in Christ. They see that the seriousness of sin is before a holy God and they live in fear and trembling. They also see the seriousness of sin as it is laid out in judgment on Jesus Christ. He pays the price. And they also see that there is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus. They are free. But they do not look at sin and see it as not being serious because they saw it laid out on Jesus on that cross.

The grace of God is FREE to us, but oh how COSTLY it was to God.

Jesus HAD to die.

And I look at myself every time I think about sinning, I remember how costly it was to God. Then I realize that he has paid the price for me if I mess up as well too. How can I not let that transform me?

God

loves

us

True JOY

I used to think the greatest thing was being used by God. I wanted to be used by God! And it is an amazing thing. It is one of the greatest blessings to see God use you to change the life of another for good. However, it is not an end to joy in itself. Sometimes doing ministry, we can get caught up in wanting to be used by God so much, and when we don't see fruits we get discouraged. We sometimes base our relationship with God on whether on not we can see if he's using us.

Being used by God is secondary to the all-surpassing joy of knowing and abiding in Jesus Christ himself. Abide in my word that your joy made be full.

And when we are abiding in Christ and really having intimacy with him, one of the fruits is being used by him to further his kingdom... his word does say seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. and we are to seek first his kingdom. sometimes though, we seek first the experience of being used by God to further his kingdom, rather than his kingdom himself.

It is a blessing though to see one be used by God, especially when one is struggling with their faith. It is a reminder that it is not us, but the Holy Spirit, that does the real work.

True joy can never come from just doing good, but rather, it comes from intimacy with the one who IS good: the one who created you, loves you, and moves you to do good, God!

This intimacy is made possible by Jesus Christ.
Before, there needed to be blood spilled in order for us to enter God's presence because of our sin that separated us, but now we can enter the holy of holies because the veil has been torn, Christ has become our mediator!

Praise his name from whom all blessings flow!

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." - John 15:9-11