Imagery for the Great Commission
Christ with us, a great multitude is led out in triumphal procession. Triumphal. Not merely meek before the world, stepping out two by two with meager possessions. We are equipt with the very Spirit of Christ, who has authority over all things. Thus we step out in joy, boasting in the Lord, singing and making melodies to Him in our hearts. And as we disperse throughout Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth we carry with us, thick the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. And all passerby as we proclaim the divine truth are enveloped in this fragrance. Some from death to death, but others from life to life!
Who is sufficient for these things? Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession!
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
Matthew 28:18-20
Monday, August 8, 2016
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Here In the Death of Christ I Live
PROPITIATION
Background
But as you might imagine, the wrath of the Holy God, cannot justly be appeased by means of animal sacrifices. No, it was in His divine forbearance that he had passed over former sins (Rom 3:25) because He had a plan to show the righteousness of God. And His plan was Jesus.
How is propitiation?
Picture Jesus, knowing that his crucifixion awaits him, fully human and fully deity, sweating drops of blood as he prays in agony for the cup of wrath to be taken away from him if and only if it is the will of God (Luke 22:39-44). See him on the cross, calling out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). And we are so quick to empathize with him in our human frailty.
"Ah yes, if it were my own hands pierced by the nails, scalp full of thorns, and lashes on my back, I would cry out to God as well"
NO! Christ Jesus, is not some fearful man who cringes at the thought of mere physical pain when his disciples run joyfully into martyrdom. Christ acted in such a way, because he knew what God's wrath looked like:
"And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
The way my frail human brain imagines this, is a little like this scene from Harry Potter. TLDwatch, Dumbledore forcibly drinks a potion that brings him intense pain. In one frame, you see the old man's face, agonized and yet submissively determined to take on more of this awful drink. Except with Jesus, He opened his mouth and drank up all of an eternity in the lake of fire as it came blazing down upon him for you, for me, for every believer. A great multitude! the bible says. I gaze upon it and I shake my head, it's impossible! I see a blazing sky of fire tornadoing down into this frail and human body on the cross. And yet, Christ's mouth shuts and the fiery horror of God's wrath is contained within Him. I have forgotten that He is God, victorious over death and eternal hell. It is finished.
"And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God'"
Background
- See Romans chs 1-3:20 to understand the truth of our total depravity in sin
What is propitiation?
- appeasing of divine wrath, namely the just punishment for our vile sinfulness
Once upon a time, we were cut off from fellowship with God. We had "fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23) and were kept apart from Him. So much so, that the high priest of Israel would, on The Day of Atonement (Lev 16), go through several cleansing ceremonies, and enter through the curtain (remember this curtain it's important later) to the Most Holy Place where the presence of God dwelled. He went with rope tied round his waist, as it wasn't uncommon for priests to fall dead before the presence of God. And on this day, he would make a special sacrifice within the ark of the covenant, upon a holy place called "the mercy seat" (Heb 9:5) or in Greek, the propitiation. Despite all of their many sacrifices and offerings throughout the year, the wages of sin are death, and the life of an animal was delivered for the sins of Israel.
But as you might imagine, the wrath of the Holy God, cannot justly be appeased by means of animal sacrifices. No, it was in His divine forbearance that he had passed over former sins (Rom 3:25) because He had a plan to show the righteousness of God. And His plan was Jesus.
How is propitiation?
- Jesus Christ the God/man drank the cup of wrath on behalf of those who would believe in His name
Picture Jesus, knowing that his crucifixion awaits him, fully human and fully deity, sweating drops of blood as he prays in agony for the cup of wrath to be taken away from him if and only if it is the will of God (Luke 22:39-44). See him on the cross, calling out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). And we are so quick to empathize with him in our human frailty.
"Ah yes, if it were my own hands pierced by the nails, scalp full of thorns, and lashes on my back, I would cry out to God as well"
NO! Christ Jesus, is not some fearful man who cringes at the thought of mere physical pain when his disciples run joyfully into martyrdom. Christ acted in such a way, because he knew what God's wrath looked like:
"And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
(Rev 20:13-15)
The way my frail human brain imagines this, is a little like this scene from Harry Potter. TLDwatch, Dumbledore forcibly drinks a potion that brings him intense pain. In one frame, you see the old man's face, agonized and yet submissively determined to take on more of this awful drink. Except with Jesus, He opened his mouth and drank up all of an eternity in the lake of fire as it came blazing down upon him for you, for me, for every believer. A great multitude! the bible says. I gaze upon it and I shake my head, it's impossible! I see a blazing sky of fire tornadoing down into this frail and human body on the cross. And yet, Christ's mouth shuts and the fiery horror of God's wrath is contained within Him. I have forgotten that He is God, victorious over death and eternal hell. It is finished.
"And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God'"
(Mark 15:38-39)
Sermons that led to this post:
http://www.pillarbaptist.com/sermons?sermon_id=169
Pastor Danny at Pillar Baptist Church May 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSaTWoRHbN8
Pastor Paul Washer at Shepherd's Conference 2016
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