Embracing Crucifixion

Received a much-needed reminder this evening of God's manner of saving: God kills to make alive. True life is found through the death of Christ and this life is received through union with him in his death. Such is the pattern of the Christian life: it is a daily dying.

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23 ESV).

Milton Vincent captures this truth beautifully:

I must set my face like a flint toward the cross and embrace [crucifixion with Christ] in everything I do. I should expect every day to encounter circumstantial evidence of God's commitment to my dying; and I must seize upon every God-given opportunity to be conformed more fully to Christ's death, no matter the pain involved.

When my flesh yearns for some prohibited thing, I must die. When called to do something I don't want to do, I must die. When I wish to be selfish and serve no one, I must die. When shattered by hardships that I despise, I must die. When wanting to cling to wrongs done against me, I must die. When enticed by allurements of the world, I must die. When wishing to keep besetting sins secret, I must die. When wants that are borderline needs are left unmet, I must die. When dreams that are good seem shoved aside, I must die.--Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer for Christians, 40–41.

A Throne and a Cross

In recent reading I came across a helpful illustration of the self-centeredness of sin:

William Whiting (Bill) Borden (1887–1913), the young missionary preparing to work among Muslims in China who died en route in Cairo of cerebral meningitis, had written in his notebook while a freshman at Yale University: "In every man's heart there is a throne and a cross. If Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross; and if self, even a little bit, is on the throne, Jesus is on the cross in that man's heart." (Garrett, Systematic Theology, 1:602)

I struggle daily with putting myself on Christ's throne. My way, my wants, my desires are given first place. I crucify the will of Christ and enthrone my own. What a tragic reversal. The way to which Jesus calls is much different than the one I want to (and often) walk:

"And [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23; cf. Mk 8:34).

I pray that Christ will be exalted in our lives as Lord and that we, by His grace, will take up our crosses daily and follow Him.

Grace & Peace,

J

Meditating on the Cross

The following quote is from Living the Cross Centered Life (C. J. Mahaney):

"What was your spiritual focus [this past week]? Was it on the spot where God most reveals His personal love for you--the cross? Or was it on your own circumstances, your own condition, your own concerns? Was your preoccupation with your personal pursuit of godliness? Growth in godliness must be pursued, but never apart from joyful gratitude for the cross. . . . Let there never be a length period of time where you aren't receiving inspiration and instruction related directly to the cross, since that is where we find a fresh, sustaining conviction of [God's] personal love" (106-07).

I feel the following Scripture reflects Mahaney's words above:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

There is a temptation in the Christian life to move beyond the Gospel to "deeper" things (for a brief description of the Gospel see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This notion is ultimately flawed in that the entirety of the Christian life is a pursuit of understanding and application of the Gospel. It is the Gospel that the Holy Spirit uses to bring us to faith in Christ and repentance before God, and it is the Gospel that the Spirit uses to lead us through the Christian life. How should I react to my obnoxious co-worker? Answer: just as God has dealt with me, in mercy, grace, and forgiveness. What should determine the ways I spend my time, money, and energy? Answer: Since I have been redeemed by Christ, my life is not my own, I have been bought with a price (cf. 1 Cor 6:19-20; 2 Cor 5:15). Further, the Gospel tells me that Christ will come again to receive His own and to judge the world. My time is to be spent in light of the immanent return of Christ (also a facet of the Gospel). As believers our responses are grounded in the love God has demonstrated to us in Christ's death in our place, taking upon himself the wrath of God that we rightly deserved and the present hope of His immanent return.

I pray that I do not "move past" the Gospel, but rather center my gaze each day upon the work of Christ on the cross, His vindication by God in His resurrection, and the hope of His imminent return. As we seek to encourage one another, we should keep the Gospel (i.e., the person and work of Christ) at the center of that encouragement. I pray that all who read this post know and are submitted to Him. If you do not know Jesus in the manner described above, please let me know. I would love to talk through any questions you might have. Please do not delay in responding to God's call to repent and believe (Mark 1:15).

Jonathan