A Full Savior for a Full Sinner

We like to think of ourselves with some goodness and value in ourselves and our works that God must be impressed by. Yet, the Bible describes us as sinners. Full sinners! So it is pride in our hearts that thinks we must add to Jesus' righteousness to justify us before God.
Christ is a full Savior with righteousness and works which cannot be added to by our filthy righteousness. From a sermon on Jesus' words on the cross, "It is finished," John Flavel eloquently describes how Jesus is a full Savior for a full sinner like you and me:

"Did Christ finish his work with his own hand? How dangerous and dishonourable a thing it is to join any thing of our own to the righteousness of Christ, in point of justification before God. Jesus Christ will never endure this; it reflects upon his work dishonourably; he doth not (in this case) affect social glory; not I, and my God; I, and my Christ, did this; he will be all, or none, in your justification. If he have finished the work, what need of our additions? And if not, to what purpose are they? Can we finish that which Christ could not? But we would fain be sharing with him in his honour, which he will never endure. Did he finish the work by himself, and will he ever divide the glory and praise of it with us? No, no, Christ is no half Saviour. O it is a hard thing to bring these proud hearts to live upon Christ for righteousness: we would fain add our penny to make up Christ's sum. But if you would have it so, or have nothing to do with Christ, and your penny must perish together. God gives us the righteousness of Christ as he gave manna to the Israelites in the wilderness. It is said (Deuteronomy 8:16) that "he fed with manna in the wilderness that he might humble them." The quality of the food was not humbling, for it was angels food, but the manner of giving it was so: they must live by faith upon God for it, from day to day. This was not like other food, produced by their own labour. Certainly God takes the right way humble proud nature, in calling sinners wholly from their righteousness to Christ's for their justification."

Burroughs on the Christian's Contentment

Contentment is a word used in the world meaning "settling for something when something else is more desired." So, folks say things like, "well, I guess I will just be content with it." For the Christian, contentment is enjoying the mercies of God as the better portion, truly satisfied. Read this excerpt from Puritan preacher Jeremiah Burroughs' book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment:

"So be satisfied and quiet, be contented with your contentment. I lack certain things that others have, but blessed be God, I have a contented heart which others have not. Then, I say, be content with your contentment, for it is a rich portion that the Lord has granted you. 

If the Lord should give you thousands in this world, it would not be such a rich portion as this, that he has given you a contented spirit. Oh, go away and praise the name of God, and say, ‘Why, Lord, it is true that I would be glad if I had these and these comforts which others have, but you have cut me short. Though I lack these, yet you have given me what is as good and better, you have given me a quiet, contented heart, to be willing to be at your disposal."

The Christian is a God-Explorer

 I love Tom Wells on the Christian's life and missionary vision as God-explorers teaching others to be God-admirers:

 

"I have said three things about the Christian life.

    1) It is born in the knowledge of God. 

    2) It matures as it grows in the knowledge of God.

3)       3) Its goal is the fullest vision of God’s glory and greatness. Here, in other words, is the meaning of life.

The man who does not know God is dead. The man who knows God, and is coming to know Him better, is powerfully alive. As we have already repeated, Jesus said to His Father,

               This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3).

Men must know God. That is the one thing they must do. And this can mean nothing less than that God is eminently worthy to be known in all the length and breadth and height and depth of His character. The Christian is a God-explorer. The Christian vision is the vision of God.

The missionary vision is the vision of God also. It is not something different from the Christian vision. It is the same vision being shared rather than merely enjoyed. It is the same vision being shared with men who have no natural taste for it, in the hope that God will create that taste so that they too will become “God-admirers.” Sharing the vision of God – that is the work of missions.

In this sense – the deepest and truest sense – we are all missionaries. You must not suppose, and I must not imply, that the impulses and inspirations that move our missionaries are at all different from the motives that ought to move every Christian. That must be the furthest thing from our minds. Perhaps we have no thought of going abroad. It may not be the thing for us to do. But that will make no difference. We too must have the highest and best inducements for what to do. And they will turn out to be the same motives that the missionary ought to have, no more, and no less.

But we have come to use the word ‘missionary’ for one who leave his culture, if not his country, to serve Christ. That is the way I will use the word also. The principles, however, will apply to us all.” 

 

Tom Wells, A Vision for Missions (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1985), pages 26-27.

Wise and Wicked Borrowing

 “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.” – Psalm 37:21

The recent controversial news of federal tax dollars paying down student loan debts has sparked a controversy of what is wise dealings in our personal finances. The complexities of macroeconomics in a nation as large and prosperous as the United States requires more skill than I can offer, but as a pastor I can and must open the Word of God in wise personal and household dealings for the Christian to live by.

The wicked takes out loans with such a carefree heart that the person has no intention to repay. Perhaps the loan is so great that the wicked borrower refuses to chart a course to repay to begin with, yet even if the wicked borrower had the funds repayment is refused. Taking advantage of the lender reveals the wicked as under God’s curse.

God requires His people to be wise in their dealings and just in both their lending and borrowing. The weight on the lender to not take advantage of borrowers with unjust financial injury is the very same weight upon the borrower not being unjust in their dealings to repay lenders. We tend to think of unjust lenders like Charles Dicken’s character Ebenezer Scrooge, but somehow our culture omits God’s wise commands upon borrowers to pay back in the wise, blessed life under His care.

The wise do not seek wealth by unjust gains, even if it means earthly prosperity. Whenever there is opportunity, the righteous is generous and a giver. The wise person may not have a stuffed wallet, but with deep charity in the heart the wise give a generous ear and fellowship. The wise is like the one healed Samaritan leper who turned back to Jesus and praised God loudly. The wicked is among the company of the world which Paul describes in Romans 1:21 having known God through His gracious workmanship, but refusing Him honor and thanksgiving. The wicked are takers, not givers.

Christian, the world is filled with takers withholding any thanksgiving toward God. Do not be surprised when such a world is foolish in their dealings with one another. Let such foolishness not be true of us. Rather, let God’s Word shed light on our dealings with others in wisdom.

Paul commands Christians to owe nothing but love to one another in the church (Romans 13:8). This means we have every intention to pay down our debts, wisely charting a course in our revenue to pay back what we owe. Yet, there is a debt which forever unpaid – love. There is the generous and giving heart of the righteous. We receive an everlasting, steadfast love of God who loved us first while we were still His enemies, and now we make payments of love for one another as a debt owed which will never be repaid; a debt we joyfully receive! Let us not be like the wicked borrower, taking love without any intention to repay. Rather, let love be genuine in the church of Jesus Christ, dispensed generously and joyfully without expectation of repayment (Luke 6:35).  

Dear follower of Christ, the Word of our wise God charts a course for wise living in our financial dealings just as in our love. When we borrow money for a car, mortgage for a home, and yes even college tuition, there is blessing in obeying the Lord to intend to repay. The Bible’s link of debts and our love for one another is not simply poetic, but rather deeply connected as God’s wise plan for the blessed health of His people. Living within our means is wise dealings for life which honors our God. Let us rejoice in His generous giving, especially of love. That precious currency of His love is one we will never outspend. He truly is good to us.

Heavenly Father, grant to us wisdom in our borrowing and spending. By Your generous hand, provide for us and our households. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Be glorified in Your generous and giving church. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

M'Cheyne - Consider Christ

I encourage you to read this excerpt of Robert Murray M'Cheyne's sermon on Hebrews 3:1

"I would now plead with believers – Some of you have really been brought by God to believe in Jesus. Yet you have no abiding peace and very little growing in holiness. Why is this? It is because your eye is fixed anywhere but on Christ. You are so busy looking at books, or looking at men, or looking at the world, that you have no time, no heart for looking at Christ.

No wonder you have little peace and joy in believing. No wonder you live so inconsistent and unholy a life. Change your plan. Consider the greatness and glory of Christ, who has undertaken all in the stead of sinners, and you would find it quite impossible to walk in darkness or to walk in sin, Oh what mean, despicable thoughts you have of the glorious Immanuel!  Lift your eyes from your own bosom, downcast believer, – look upon Jesus. It is good to consider your ways, but it is far better to consider Christ."