Glory Revealed

On a regular basis I sense that I need to refocus my thoughts and life on Jesus Christ. I can so easily become distracted and sidetracked from what is of first importance: "For what I recieved I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3). C.J. Mahaney puts it this way in The Cross-Centered Life:

The Bible tells us that, while there are many different callings and many possible areas of service in the kingdom of God, one transcendent truth should define our lives. One simple truth should motivate our work and affect every part of who we are. Christ died for our sins.

During times when I lose sight of what should define my life--the cross--I find it helpful to not only read the Word, but to listen to music that is saturated with the Word. Recently, I purchased the album Glory Revealed: The Word of God in Worship, and God has used it to encourage and helpf me keep my primary focus on Christ and the cross. If you'd like to listen to the music and get a free song download, check out the previous link.

Two Quarters, Two Books

As I was leaving the library yesterday I noticed that they were a number of books for $0.25. So, I purchased two books: God and Incarnation in Mid-Nineteenth Century German Theology (which is surely a deposit of faith-less theology, but I'll see) and The Brothers Karamazov. I read about four chapters of The Brothers Karamazov last night, and I really enjoyed Dostoevsky's writing style. Have any of you read this book already? If so, what did you think about it?

Make the Move

People are often willing to move to a new county, state, or nation in order to pursue a better job. Although the move may be tough, they hope that the new job will provide a better situation for their family. So, if people are willing to move for a job, why not move for a new church? So, what is my point? I happen to think that Redeemer Church is an incredible church , and I believe that it would be worth your time and energy to move to Anderson to be a part of this church plant. Seriously. It has been a pleasure and honor for my family to serve and worship with the people of Redeemer. So, if you're looking for a place to grow in your relationship with the Lord, to serve His Body, and to reach out to the lost world, then we'd love to have you here in the Electric City.

Wise Words

Amy and I have been reading Peter Leithart's Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring The Proverbs to Life, and we have really enjoyed the book. The book is a collection of eighteen stores that focus on a biblical proverb. Yet, the stories are much more than simple proverbial tales because they also invoke themes, images, and stories from all of Scripture. I highly recommend the book...but as LaVar Burton would say, "you don't have to take my word for it." Go and read a sample.

Fig Leaves and Garments of Skin

In Genesis 3, directly after Adam and Eve eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, we read that "the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths" (v.7). No longer did Adam and Eve stand before one another naked and unashamed as they had earlier (Genesis 2:25). Now, they are ashamed and, they cover themselves with a few fig leaves and hide from the LORD God. But both of their attempts (i.e. covering themselves and hiding) ultimately fail. First, their attempt to hide failed, because He is the all-present, all-knowing LORD. He knew exactly where they were and He confronted them (and the serpent) with the consequences of their sin. Second, their covering was not adequate. Instead of fig leaves, the LORD God gives them a new covering of His own making: "And the LORD God made for Adam and and for his wife garments of skin and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21). It is in regard to this second point, that I want to make a few observations.

First, just as Adam and Eve's fig leaves were not a proper covering, sinful men and women cannot cover their nakedness and shame (i.e. sins) by means of good works (Romans 4:4).

Second, just as God provided a proper covering for Adam and Eve, it is God alone who can provide the proper covering for man. In the garden, an animal had to be slain--blood had to be spilt-- in order for Adam and Eve to have garments of skin. And God has done the same for us. He has spilt blood and covered us. But this time, it was not the blood of an animal that was spilt, but it was His own blood--his own life--that was given for us (John 3:16). And it was not with a garment of animal skin that He used to cover us, but it was with Himself--with His own rightousness--that He clothed us with.

Of course, what we have been discussing is the doctrine of imputation (foreshadowed in the book of Genesis) in which Christ was counted as having our sin (though He Himself was sinless) and we are counted as having God's righteousness (though we ourselves are not righteous.) "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let us praise God for taking our sin upon Himself and counting us righteous in Christ. What a gracious and awesome God!