“All our obedience, every resolve to do good, and every work of faith is ‘by his power’ and so that the Lord Jesus would be glorified because of the grace he gives. Yes, we must pursue obedience, but that obedience must always be cruciform, formed by Christ’s cross. We must seek to obey because of the cross, find the grace to obey because of the cross, and live free from condemnation whether we succeed or fail in the light of the cross. The cross must be our only story, as Paul boldly proclaimed: ‘For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (1 Cor. 2:2)” [Elyse Fitzpatrick and Dennis Johnson in Counsel from the Cross (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2009), 171-172].

HT: Thabiti

Series: Exodus

Location: Grace Baptist Church of Arlington

“The Lord’s Supper is not a converting or justifying ordinance, and those who come to it unconverted and unjustified, will go away no better than they came, but rather worse. It is an ordinance for believers, and not for unbelievers, for the living and not for the dead. It is meant to sustain life, but not to impart it – to strengthen and increase grace, but not to give it – to help faith to grow, but not to sow or plant it. Let these things sink down into our hearts, and never be forgotten.”  (J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1985], 310, 311.)

HT: Erik

1. You cannot accomplish everything – only God can.
2. The universe does not rely upon your accomplishments – only God’s.
3. We are only the means to what God accomplishes, not the source.
4. We are only the means to what God accomplishes, not the culmination of God’s accomplishments.

I would encourage you to read all of John’s post, and you can do so here.

Series: Exodus

Location: Grace Baptist Church of Arlington

…We see God’s sovereignty—reigning with absolute control over humanity’s greatest sin.
…We see God’s purpose—making known the mystery of His will prepared before time.
…We see God’s plan—to unite all things, on heaven and on earth, in Him.
…We see God’s judgment—requiring recompense for guilt.
…We see God’s holiness—demanding the perfect sacrifice.
…We see God’s power—crushing the Son of God according to the purpose of His will.
…We see God’s wrath—punishing the wretchedness of sin.
…We see God’s sorrow—wailing as only a forsaken son can.
…We see God’s mystery—the Son, as God, separated from the Father, committing His Spirit to God.
…We see God’s compassion—pleading to the Father to forgive the ignorant.
…We see God’s gift—His one and only Son, bruised and broken on our behalf.
…We see God’s mercy—making unrighteous sinners righteous.
…We see God’s love—Christ dying for sinners.
…We see God’s rescue operation—delivering us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His Son.
…We see God’s proposal—pledging Himself to His bride forever.
…We see God’s revelation—the Word of God speaking His last so He might speak on behalf of many.
…We see God’s victory—disarming His enemies, putting them to shame, and triumphing over them.
…We see God’s glory—the name of the Father being magnified for the sake of all peoples.

Tomlinson has offered a wonderful meditation on the Cross of Christ, and I’d encourage you to read the whole post here.

THE BIBLE contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

I’d encourage you to meditate on that description, along with the description of the Bible in our church’s statement of faith.  It’s my prayer that our theology of the Bible would increasingly be brought to bear on our lives each day as the Lord shapes us through his Word by the power of the Spirit into the likeness of his Son.

HT: DG Blog

Series: Exodus

Location: Grace Baptist Church of Arlington

Sin is Deceptive:

Satan deceives us into thinking that what we are doing is not sin (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Sin is Divisive:

“ Sin is divisive in that it separates us from God (1 John 1:1) and from each other (1 Corinthians 10:17).”

Sin is Destructive:

“We see everyday how sin destroys people’s lives…David’s life testifies to this fact (2 Samuel 11-24).”

Perhaps most importantly, Sanchez concludes on this note:

“You see, the Christian life is not about a list of dont’s; it’s about a gift given to us in which we are to delight: Jesus Christ, the beloved Son.”

I commend the entire article to you.  You can read the whole thing here.

1. What is your situation?
2. How do you react?  What do you want and believe?
3. Who is God and what does he say and do in Christ?
4. How is God calling me to seek him in repentance and faith?

These questions can be used to help you reflect on your trials, but they can also be used in your relationships with other Christians.  When your brother or sister in Christ shares with you particular challenges or trials, you may want to consider asking them these questions in order to help them see God’s work in their life and trials.