Somebody’s gotta pay!

My first thought when I hear the above title is of a scene from the movie Night at the Museum. The plot is a little long, but in short the night guard gets caught and is tied down to the train tracks. He asks the characters, “Why are you doing this?” The character Jedediah says, “Somebody’s gotta pay!” So the night guard asks, ” Pay for what?!” And Jed responds, ” I don’t know! Just pay!” The night guard hadn’t actually done anything to these characters, and the characters didn’t know him. But they had been wronged, and that wrong needed to be made right. Justice needed to be served, and somebody had to pay the price.

This sort of justice is what most of us understand. There is a sort of balance to it. We could look at it positively in a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” kind of way, or we can look at it in a revenge type of way. “You hurt me so I’m going to hurt you back.” Whatever the case, we see the necessity for people to get their justice, whether good or bad. One could say this is part of natural law. But there is a certain balance of justice and mercy that I think most people overlook in their lives until about this time of year, until Lent.

“‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life. Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death. You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.’”

~ Leviticus 24:17-22 ~

“But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.

“Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.

~ Genesis 9:4-6 ~

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

To the woman he said,

“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

~ Genesis 3:14-21 ~

In all of these passages, there was a reckoning to be had. Some wrong was done, and a punishment worthy of the crime had to be met. There was justice to be served on both the victim and the perpetrator. But how about the last one? Who all is involved? For the last, we go back to the beginning, to Adam and Eve. From one man sin entered the world and through that sin came death (Rom. 5:12, Jas. 1:15). But this punishment, the consequence of wrongdoing and rebellion, was not limited to only our first parents. We all as children of Adam have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23, 5:14, Hos. 6:7, 1 Cor. 15:22, 15:45). Because of our parents’ rebellion, sin entered the world. And because of our sin, we were unable to be a part of God’s glory.

The punishment for sin is death. That is why the above verses connect the two so frequently. This is justice. We all deserved the same fate, and that is death and separation from God. In fact, before Christ came, we were dead spiritually even before our flesh finally caught up. We were undeserving of God’s mercy and love, though He showed it to us regularly. We either openly or secretly rebelled against Him. We did not know that we needed to be saved, as a dead person wouldn’t. We were heading toward our justice, whether we knew it or not.

But God in His mercy sent the one person who could redeem us from this just punishment: His Son (Jhn. 3:16). God did not want the world to remain condemned before Him. That is not why He created us. Instead, He wanted us to be in fellowship with Him. God wants His children to live with Him. But, as dead people, we were unable to do anything to right our wrongdoing (Rom. 5:6-8). Despite this conundrum, somebody had to pay. There had to be a reckoning for sin. A price had to be paid in order for there to be redemption. After all, you redeem something by gaining or giving. God’s wrath had to be poured out on someone (Rom. 5:9, Ex. 12:21-27Rom. 5:9, Ex. 12:21-27). And what was the punishment for sin? Death and separation from God. This is what happened on the cross (Matt. 27:46, Mar. 15:34, Psa. 22:1).

Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

~ Isaiah 53:4-7 ~

Christ died for us so that we would not be separated from God, which would be our just punishment. Atonement had to be made. And what is atonement? It is satisfaction, reparation, reconciliation, making right a wrong. The Israelites did this through the blood of animals, because blood was needed to atone for sins (Heb. 9:22). But Christ redeemed us and set us free by the shedding of His innocent blood, the only way for sins to be truly forgiven (Rom. 3:25-26, 1 Pet. 1:18-20, Heb. 10:1-7, 13:11-12). He did not have to do it in the sense that he did not owe us anything. Ours was the transgression, but out of His mercy and grace, Christ paid the penalty because He loves us.

During this time of Lent we are reminded that We did not get what we deserved. Justice was served, but it was not met out on us. A punishment had to be given for our sins, but we did not have to receive it. Somebody had to pay. But God loved us so much that He sent someone else to do it, for we never would have been able to (Jhn. 3:16, Eph. 2:1-9). The price paid for our redemption was the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7, 2:13-16). In Him we have forgiveness and mercy. This is what we remember during this season of Lent. And like our baptism, we should remember the sacrifice of Christ daily and be thankful that we have been made righteous in His sight (1 Cor. 11:23-26, Isa. 53:10-12).

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

 

Fishing for the Sick

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

~ Luke 5:30-32~

There is a growing trend among those both in and outside of the Church to avoid going to church because of those inside. To say it another way, there are people who feel that they are unwelcome in church because they are different or sinners. Perhaps they have been told they are sinners, or feel confronted about their sin. Hearing the truth is often uncomfortable, even for the saved. No person likes to be told they are bad or do wrong things, despite the fact that we know we do those things.

But this is not my point. There are bad things, and they are worthy of condemnation. But in light of all this, what are we to preach to all nations? The Gospel! The Gospel brings light and life where there was death and darkness. But instead of preaching the Gospel and new life in Christ that we have – sharing the hope within us – many Christians are quick to point out the sin. Because of this, many leave or stay away out of fear of condemnation from other Christians.

No one wants that. No one wants to be constantly reminded that they are bad and in sin and sin leads to death. These are all true things. But dear friends, let us remember who we are called to reach. The people outside of the Church, like we once were, are unaware of the wrong things that they do, or why they are wrong, or even the idea of sin! Yet they do know they are without hope, they do know they are different – they know that there are people casting glances at them for their dress and activities and words. They know these things, but fear keeps them from Love. A lot of that fear stems from the actions of those int he Church, both past and present. This is not the love we Christians are called to show. This is not the love, grace, and forgiveness first shown to us.

We have been pushing people out of the Church possibly because we have beguiled ourselves into thinking that Christians should look a certain way. This is not to say that we should not preach the truth, but that we should do it in love. We get the Gospel-Law-Gospel sandwich all the time. This is good. But those outside need the Gospel. They already have the Law. People are not perfect when they come to a knowledge of the truth, but they do know that something is wrong. Why not tell them of Him who made things right, Who is making us holy?

And what about ourselves? What did we need most to hear when we first heard of Christ?

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

~ Luke 5:8 ~

This event happened just prior in the same chapter as the first passage. Peter says these words in response to the miraculous catch of fish. But what is His response? Here is Peter, who has already been standing in the presence of God, finally coming to the realization of who he is in relation to the Man standing before him. He is in awe, shock, and fear. For what is Peter? He is a sinful man, a lowly creation, and knows he does not deserve to be in the presence of Jesus. How is Jesus mindful of us?

What are we? We are sinners. Filthy, rotten, debase, rebellious sinners. Yet Jesus came down and took on our form, died for us, and took away that sin so that we could stand in the presence of God! He fulfilled the Law and put on Himself the penalty for our sin. This is not to say that we won’t sin or that we do not need daily repentance. But Jesus chose to come down to sinful man and save us because it was sinful men that needed saving, and by a perfect Savior. Because of Jesus, we are no longer worthless but worth everything, being made co-heirs with Christ and sharing in all the blessings that God richly gives! We are loved. Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and I think it would be good to remember Paul’s words: “of whom I am the worst.”

We are in the process of sanctification. We still sin and must ask for repentance daily and drown our old Adam as we are now washed in baptism. But we in the Church are not the only ones called or loved by God. We are not the only ones who need to hear the truth. There are others out there who need to hear the love of Christ and not the words of another person pointing out their sin. Sure, they have sin. So do we. That is why we need the Gospel-Law-Gospel sandwich so often. That is why we repent and ask for forgiveness. And thanks be to God that He gives generously! Thank God for His grace! I am certainly glad that I was not subject to the thoughts of others when Christ saved me. They would have condemned me long ago.

Who are we supposed to be fishing for? Jesus says at the end of this section that He would make the apostles fishers of men. To whom are we to go? To all the world and all mankind. Let us remember it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. The world and its people need a savior because we are helpless and in need of saving. The sick need a doctor; sinners need a savior, and that is what we are.  But now we have this hope, and this hope is for all mankind. So are we going to reject the sick, or are we going to go out and fish? God’s love is not limited to us. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

How Majestic is His Name!

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You have made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

~ Psalm 8:3-6 ~

Have you ever considered how big and beautiful God’s creation is? This world, this solar system, the universe – have you every considered how majestic everything is? Have you ever fathomed eternity, or what is outside the universe, or where is ends, or how atoms and proteins and cells make up our bodies? Have you ever considered all that God has created and wondered, “Why me? Why does God, in all His power, wisdom, strength, and holiness, care for me?” We are so small, so frail, so sinful. How could our Creator and giver of life notice us?

God’s love is immeasurable and incomprehensible (Rom. 8:28-39). The fact that he would send His only begotten Son to save our sins is amazing, in ever sense of the word (Jhn. 3:16). Imagining where (or if) the universe ends, or what infinity means is mind-boggling enough (Ecc. 3:11). But what is eternity with Christ? What is eternal love? What does everlasting to everlasting mean (Psa. 103:17)? Why would my Creator God stoop down and take on human flesh to save my immortal soul from my sins?

Even from the beginning, God had a plan of salvation for us (Gen. 3:15). Despite the fact that we rebelled, God sent His Son to save us. The Lord set His glory above the heavens, yet saw it fitting to crown us with glory and honor through His Son. This is why our only response to His act of Salvation is to do good and serve Him as He has called us to do. Our response is to love the law of the Lord, to pray, to read His word (Deut. 6:4-9, Psa. 1, 19:7-13). How majestic is His Name! How we should forever praise Him! I cannot comprehend why He would die for me. I know that I could do nothing to save myself and I can do nothing to thank Him. How much sweeter it is that He gave grace without payment! Thus, I will praise Him for the marvelous thing He has done for mankind (Psa. 98:1, 118:22-29).

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

~ Psalm 19:14 ~

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Falling into the Slough of Despond

Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk they drew near to a very miry slough, that was in the midst of the plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

PLI. Then said Pliable; Ah! neighbour Christian, where are you now?

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I do not know.

PLI. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey’s end? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me. And, with that, he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next to his own house: so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.

Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone: but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was still further from his own house, and next to the wicket-gate; the which he did, but could not get out, because of the burden that was upon his back:

Being heedless, both Christian and Pliable fell into the Slough of Despond, or as we might now say, the Swamp of Despair. Despondence is from the Latin despondere, which means “to give up”, specifically ones heart or soul. This is more than a state of dismay but rather a state without hope. This is a state many people find themselves in. Here, Christian finds himself in despondence very early in his walk on the Way to the King. Though he started out with high hopes, he fell into troubles and lost hope. Pliable, and later the World, points this out. He is weak. He is easily brought low.

Despair is an easy thing to fall into and a difficult thing to get off of you. Under a cloud like the Slough, the weight of worthlessness hangs on like muck, clinging closer than a garment. Its weight is additional to the burden on Christian’s back, and it lasts longer than the time Christian was stuck in it. Such burdens are difficult to bear. They come in the form of slothfulness, regret, shame, uselessness, guilt, hate, jealousy, withholding love, worthlessness, fear. These leave a person in a state of despondence that, on our own, we cannot get out of.

I am not sure when such a weight began, but I can remember specific instances. I remember when I was very young and having little thoughts creep into the back of my mind, thoughts that said, “You are not good enough, and you will never be good enough.” These thoughts came into my mind and then I started to repeat them to myself. I remember repeating the phrases like, “You are terrible, and you are not going to heaven.” I thought if I told myself them enough, I would be good enough for God. How crazy is that? Those thoughts are not where it ended. In the spring of 2009, I began to notice that the Holy Spirit worked in my life. One night, I recognized that tug and began living actively as a Christian, though I had been baptized long before. But after that, new thoughts began to darken my mind. These thoughts said, “There is no Heaven. There is no Hell. There’s nothing after this. It doesn’t matter if you die.” These went on for months before they stopped, and they only stopped after a lot of prayer.

Unfortunately, these are not the only nor the last times these thoughts came. In fact, these moments of despair find their way into my life on a regular basis, and they weigh me down in ways I cannot describe, at least not well. They come and they go and I know they might come again. I know this is tempting from Satan. What am I to do?

A hymn that has been circling in my mind for weeks now is “Before the Throne of God”. While I know that I am redeemed, I often feel mired in my own worthlessness. This is not every day, but it is not infrequent. I feel Satan creeping over me and tempting me to despair, feeding me with the thoughts of hopelessness. He wants me to be stuck under the weight of my inadequacy. I feel that weight in my fingers when I try to write, in my head as I try to see, in my heart as I try to feel. I am numb as the thoughts of inadequacy seep into me. I feel crushed. I feel without hope. I recognized that most would tell me I am depressed, but I know that word is not correct. Melancholy is not quite right either. This is a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:10-18). The burden of my sin weighs me down and I fall in. I am in the Slough of Despond.

but I beheld in my dream, that a man came to him, whose name was Help, and asked him, What he did there?

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I was bid go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come; and as I was going thither I fell in here.

HELP. But why did not you look for the steps?

CHR. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.

HELP. Then said he, Give me thy hand: so he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on his way. [Ps. 40:2]

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the City of Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more security? And he said unto me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended; it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place. And this is the reason of the badness of this ground.

It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad. [Isa. 35:3,4] His labourers also have, by the direction of His Majesty’s surveyors, been for above these sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand cart-loads, yea, millions of wholesome instructions, that have at all seasons been brought from all places of the King’s dominions, and they that can tell, say they are the best materials to make good ground of the place; if so be, it might have been mended, but it is the Slough of Despond still, and so will be when they have done what they can.

True, there are, by the direction of the Law-giver, certain good and substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of this slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside, and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate. [1 Sam. 12:23]

Out of fear, I have let myself wander and fall into the Slough again. I do not always look for the steps first as I walk, but instead, I let myself mill about, not watching where my mind and heart go (or what they focus on), not keeping my eyes pressed forward on the prize to which Christ calls me. I let the burden of my sin weigh me down in spite of the fact God has taken it from me. I listen to the hellish things Satan whispers at me instead of trusting in the promises of God. I mire myself in the feelings of inadequacy and despondency rather than praise God for the talents, the tools, and the gifts He has given me and serve Him in those manners. Instead of looking to God, who is my strength, I rely on myself and fall into the familiar darkness of despair.

The walk of a Christian is one reliant of faith, trust, God. In recognizing the fallen nature, doubt creeps in and overwhelms the soul to the point of physical pain. Similarly, there are many things in this world that can drag us into the mire as well. Our shortcomings, failures, and wrongdoings present themselves before our eyes as if to say, “But did you forget about me? Surely you are not good enough.” And indeed, I am not. So what am I to do? Shall I remain mired in my despondency?

For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

…

O Lord, do not forsake me; be not far from me, O my God.

Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

~ Psalm 38:17-18 & 21-22 ~

It was not Christian who got himself out of the Slough. Though Pliable got out, he ended up going right back to the town he came from. He did not actually escape. The mire was still there, though he did not recognize it. Pliable was discouraged, so he turned back. He let the world convince him that following the Way was not worth the trouble. Christian had been told of the hope to hold onto, but he still fell into the Slough. Instead of getting out on his own, Christian needed Help. I fall into the Slough of Despond and I know it when I do. I know the hope I have to cling to, and yet I let go under the weight of the devil’s lies. But when I fall in, I know  that not only can I not get out on my own, I will let myself stay there if I do not ask for help. It is not by our own strength that we succeed. Prayer is difficult during these times I find myself in, but pray is what I must do (Jam. 5:13).

As Christian was taken out of the mire by Help, we must ask God to help us in our times of need (Heb. 4:16). This is why we must look to the Savior, our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psa. 46:1). He is the One whose hand we grasp to lift us out of slough and onto solid ground (Psa. 40:1-4). God is our refuge and our strength (Psa. 62:1-12). He is always with us and will never forsake us (Deut. 31:6). And when we fall in into the Slough of Despond, God makes us clean. Though Satan will tempt us to despair, we must remember who made an end to our all sins (1 Pet. 5:7-10).

Those awful thoughts may continue to find their way into my head and heart, and maybe they will for you as well, but God is with us and He will sustain us in times of trouble. Despite what we may feel – despondency, inadequacy, hopeless, mired – God is faithful and loving, and He has saved us.

O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

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Works Referenced

Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World to That Which is to Come. Project Gutenberg. 2008.

“despondence.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. 2017. Accessed 14 May 2018.

Hymns: Before the Throne of God

Charitie (Smith) Bancroft was born June of 1841 in Dublin, Ireland. Her father was a Reverend at the Colebrooke Church in Dublin, and her “talent for poetic composition” arose early in her life. Charitie’s first poems and hymns were published before she was even twenty! Outside of her writing, little is known about her life besides that she married an Arthur Bancroft and died in California in 1923. “Before the Throne of God”was written in 1863 and published shortly in Spurgeon’s Our Own Hymn Book, among other hymnals, though arranged into six stanzas and under the title “Jesus pleads for me.” Though this hymn has been set to many tunes, the one that is in common use today was arranged by Vikki Cook in 1997.

 

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
a great High Priest, whose name is Love
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
my name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav’n He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

As we stand before God and His throne, we offer nothing more than Christ. We acknowledge that nothing we do could make us righteous in God’s sight, nothing by our own merit could have paid our sins. Since we have nothing to offer, we plead only to our Great High Priest who is Love and has made us right with Him (Heb. 4:14-5:10, 7:17-28, 1 Jon. 4:8-10, Eph. 2:1-10). He is our mediator, our defender (1 Tim. 2:5-6, 1 Jon. 2:1-2). We have nothing to offer but Christ’s love and sacrifice, and He pleads for us in our stead. Christ’s redeeming act is also why the hymnist quotes Isaiah, for God says, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isa. 49:16). Therefore, we rest secure because we know that we can never be separated from God’s love (Rom. 8:1-2, 28-39, Psa. 89:2). This is why our plea is strong and perfect, because this plea is that Jesus died for us.

 

When Satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look, and see Him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free,
for God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me.

We know that Satan and our guilt often seeks to destroy us, our sinful nature battling within us (1 Pet. 5:8, Rom. 7:14-23). We are weighed down and burdened. How can we stand under it? It can often feel unbearable. Yet of what are we reminded in the previous stanza? We are not crushed or dismayed (1 Cor. 4:6-10). God has made us a new creation; He has forgiven and redeemed us (Rom. 8:1-2, 1 Cor. 5:18-19). He has ended our sin, making it as though it never was in the sight of God. It is not about what we have done or what are able to do but only Christ crucified and raised again. Our sinful soul is counted free because Christ has made a sacrifice once for all; we are pardoned (Rom. 6:10, Heb. 9:11-14, 26-28, 10:10). When we are in despair, let us remember what the psalmist writes:

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

~ Psalm 43:5 ~

 

Behold Him there! the risen Lamb!
my perfect, spotless righteousness,
the great unchangeable “I AM”
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself, I cannot die;
my soul is purchased by His blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God.

The final stanza moves to praise Christ, not that the former stanzas do not include praise, but here we recognize God’s holiness, righteousness, and awesomeness in addition to His grace and forgiveness (Rev. 7:9-17). Scripture many times calls Jesus the Lamb of God, from John’s introduction of Christ to Revelation (John. 1:29-34, Rev. 5:12). We see the Lamb as our perfect and spotless Righteousness because He was slain for our sin and rose again, reigning forever as one God with the Father and Holy Spirit, with whom we will dwell for ever (Jer. 23:5-6, 1 Cor. 1:30-31, Phil. 3:7-9, 1 Jon. 2:2, Rev. 5:6-8, 7:10-17, 14:4). He is forever, He is faithful, and He has purchased us with His blood – we are His (Psa. 24:10, 33:4, Heb. 6:17-20, 10:23, John 8:58, Col. 3:3, 1 Pet. 1:18-19, Rev. 5:9). We rest secure in these promises, praising Him, and this is was we can stand before God’s holy throne: Christ is our Savior and God who pleads for us.

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

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Works Referenced

“Before the throne of God above, I have a strong, a perfect plea.” 

“Charitie Lees De Chenez.” The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Accessed 10 May. 2018.

Hatfield, E. F. The poets of the Church. New York: Anson D. F. Randolph and Company. 1884. p. 35.

Spurgeon, C. H. “Jesus pleads for me.” Our Own Hymn-book. London: Passmore and Alabaster. 1883.

Robinson, C. S. Annotations Upon Popular Hymns. New York: Hunt & Eaton. p. 208.

Good People

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

~ 1 Timothy 1:15-16 ~

Why did Jesus come in the flesh to earth?  Was it because we were living good lives? Was it because we had finally reached spiritual perfection? Was it because we donated enough time, money, and resources to others? Was it because never lied, cheated, stole, coveted, or lusted? Was it because we were already righteous and sinless? Do we not need God because we are already perfect? The answer is obviously ‘no’, and yet often the phrase “I’m a good person” or “they are good people” is used. This can be used interchangeably between either christian or unbeliever, yet both are equally sinful. The Psalmist says this:

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth int he inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

~ Psalm 51:5-6 ~

We are by nature sinful and unclean as children of Adam. Those who do not know Christ should not be expected to know this. As we were, they are dead in their sins and trespasses and God desires for them to also have a knowledge and faith in Him. But this is to us as well, dear friends in Christ. Why should we call ourselves, or anyone, good? We know that we are explicitly not good. Here, the Psalmist asks that he be cleansed and washed of his sin, that a pure heart to be made within him, and for the Holy spirit to remain with the hope of salvation (Psa. 51:7-12). We are by nature sinful and unclean. Why, then, would we claim to be sinless?

It is a false idea that without Christ we can be ‘good’. Indeed, what did the opening verse state? That Christ came to save sinners. Thus, if we claim to be without sin, then the truth is not in us and we negate the Lord’s sacrifice and salvation for our souls, a salvation that is desperately needed. We say that He did not come to save us.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinner, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in out lives.

~ 1 John 1:8-10 ~

Are we to think that we are any better than the ungodly? We are sinners saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). All mankind is under sin, both Jew and Gentile. Again I say: all people are under sin.

What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin. As it is written, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understand, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

~ Romans 3:9-12 ~

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

~ Romans 3:22-24 ~

I make this point because, although we have been made perfect in Christ, we must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought; we should not try to justify ourselves (Rom. 12:3). I say this because we have been saved by God’s grace and justified freely in His love. We did not have to do anything. We have been made, we did not do the action. Just as we are baptized and do not baptize ourselves, so too do we neither work to be good but are being made holy. It is Christ who justifies; we neither need to nor should try to justify what we do. After all, any good work that might be counted as good is evil in God’s eyes without Christ. It is He who works good through us. Christ came to call and save sinners (Mat. 9:12-13).

And this is not a bad thing! Yes, we are sinful and unclean and we sin daily. But how much better is it that Christ came to save sinners! He did not leave us to be dead in our trespasses and sins, which we daily ask forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer, but GOd “who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ” out of His love for us! (Eph. 2:1-5)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

~ Ephesians 2:8-10 ~

This is why we need to neither worry nor be boastful. Christ made His atoning sacrifice for us. We are His “workmanship”; He is not ours. Because of this great work He did in us and for us, our response should be to serve Him with our works. Not because they save us or make us ‘good’, but because we do so out of love and praise for our Savior, Creator, Lord, and God. And among these works, we should go into the world to tell others of the Savior who came to save all people and bring them into His kingdom.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteousness man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

~ Romans. 5:6-8 ~

This is our blessed mystery. We were dead, broken, worthless – sold as slaves to sin. And yet, Christ, rich in mercy, took it upon Himself to redeem us, buy us, and adopt us to sonship so that we might share in the riches of Christ with Him eternally. He loves us enough to die and then rose again that we might live (John 3:16). Jesus came to save sinners, and that is what we are. He made us holy, good, and pure in God’s eyes. This is a good man, our God. This is love.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

~ 1 Timothy 1:17 ~

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

The Word Became Flesh, And God Dwelt Among Man

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.

8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

~ John 1:1-14 ~

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Remember Christ first, now and always, and His coming as God in the flesh to die for our sins that we might experience His grace in the forgiveness of sins and live forever with Him. He is the light of the world, and as one candle lights another, let us also let our light from Christ shine that others may see Him gain that light.

To Him be the glory, both now and forever!

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Advent: An Example from John

There was a man sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. … Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

~ John 1:6-9, 19-29 ~

As today is Gaudete Sunday, it is only fitting to speak on the one sent ahead of the Messiah to “prepare the way for the Lord”, a man named John (Isa. 40:3, Mat. 3:3, Luk. 1:76). He was called to this purpose and even recognized the Messiah was even before he was born (Luk. 1:11-17, 39-45). John’s birth and mission was foretold by Isaiah and an angel of the Lord. But in this calling and mission, John was not proud. He walked in humility. When the priests were sent to ask him who he was, he did not claim to be the Messiah. John claimed no great title, not of the prophet nor Elijah nor the coming Savior. Instead, he confessed only what was true, and that he was the one foretold of to prepare the way in the wilderness for the coming of the Messiah. He put Christ first.

While John had a very specific calling and a very specific purpose, we are not left without a similar witness. One should note when reading this passage that John “did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, ‘I am not the Messiah.'” This is saying that instead of talking about what he was doing or about how great his work was, John put the focus onto Christ. Without Christ, John and his calling are nothing. He would be a man spouting the wind. Yet he was called to a purpose, and that was to prepare the way for Christ, not John.

In a similar way, we are called to put the focus on Christ. How often do we tell others of our great talents, gifts, or callings? How often do we think “me first” instead of “seek thee first the kingdom of God”? (Mat. 6:33) Why do we not turn our eyes to Christ, the “author and perfecter of our faith”? (Heb. 12:2) Why are we selfish and self seeking? These things should not be so. What are we without Christ?

How arrogant we are when we think ourselves in such a high position, forgetting how our worth comes from Christ, not us! How close we are to falling! Dear friends, let us not forget who gives us our talents, which we will be demanded a return on; let us not forget to whom we owe our very life! (Luk. 19:11-27) It is Christ who saved us. We did and could do nothing.

John knew his role, but do we know ours? What part of the body  of Christ are we? (1 Cor. 12:12-31) Dear friends, we are most certainly not the head! Additionally, we are neither the root nor the foundation (Rom. 11:18). Instead, we are the arms, or legs, or stomach! We are called to thoses positions, but we are not the part that holds it all together or the greatest part. We are those serving Christ, walking in His steps, and showing others Christ by our lives (1 Pet. 2:21). It is not about us. So let us not think of ourselves higher than we ought (Rom. 12:3).

So what have we been called to? We have been called to preach the Word in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2). We are to remember that we have been crucified with Christ, baptized, and thus have shed off our old selves and put on Christ; we are a new creations (1 Cor. 6:11, Gal 2:20, Rom. 6:3, 1 Cor. 5:17). We are called to share the Gospel, baptize, and teach all He has comanded us (Mat. 28:19-20).

And what if when we show Christ we are rejected, as John was? John was beheaded for his faith and testimony. And what if we are rejected by society, or mocked? What of it? Are we not called to suffer, and even so little? (Phil. 1:29) How better it is if we suffer for Christ! (1 Pet. 3:13-14) Did He not tell us that we would be rejected because they rejected Christ first? (John 15:20-21) And in the meantime, let us remember that we are not greater than Christ. If we boast, we boast in the Lord.

Let us live a lives worthy of our callings and worthy of the “gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27, 1 Thes. 2:12, 2 Thes. 1:11). Let us not live our lives shine to show the good deeds or great accomplishments we have done, but let us live lives that point others to Christ (Mat. 5:16). When we are called to account for who we are, as John was, let us not fail to confess Christ first in everything.

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

~ Colossians 3:17 ~

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

 

Advent: Coming and Watch

Merry Christmas and a Joyful Advent to you! Yes indeed, we are well into the season of Advent, a time of celebration, joy, hope, peace, and watchfulness. While some may think of Christmastime as the season where we wait for gifts on the morn of December 25th, to those of the Christian faith, Advent is a time of remembering the coming of Christ, the time of His coming to us, and of looking forward to His second coming.

Advent comes from the Latin ad and venire, together which mean “arrive at” or “come to”. This later was adapted as adventus, which in Ecclesiastical Latin signified the coming of our Lord Jesus, our Saviour. Later, this changed to Advent, which is the season before Christmas, the feast day and mass of Christ’s birth. This phrasing began during the time that Latin was the lingua franca of the world and slowly became the language of the Church. This was the time was to celebrate, or fast, until the Christ Mass, for this was and often still is the way that the Church celebrates saints, holy days, and of course our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

In fact, Advent marks the beginning of the Church year as in Christ we are reborn, made new, and redeemed. Our lives truly begin with Him, so it is fitting that our Church year, as every year and day should, begin with Him as our focus. With this in mind, what do the Scriptures say about the coming Messiah? What of His coming to redeem us? What of His second coming? All of these are addressed at this time, at Advent, and hopefully the basics shall be addressed in the following.

 

The Promised Messiah

To begin, we must go back to the beginning, in Genesis. Even from the beginning, God had promised to send His son to save our sins (Luke 24:27, John 3:16, Rom. 16:20, Titus 1:2).

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

~ Genesis 3:15 ~

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me [Paul] his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, …

~ 2 Timothy 1:8-9 ~

Even after mankind had rebelled against the commands of God, He still provided for His children and foretold of His coming Son, our Saviour.

As time continued, God sent more words to His people about the coming Messiah, as He told Abram, “and all peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:3, 22:18) This, of course was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, through whom all nations have been blessed. Later, Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, prophesied that the Savior would come from the line of Judah.

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the rulers staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.

~ Genesis 49:10 ~

This was later narrowed down further to a king who came from Judah, a man named David, and it would be from this line that the Messiah would be born (Isa. 11:1-16).

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

~ Isaiah 11:1 ~

The Scriptures also foreshadowed the suffering of the Messiah, such as in the Passover (Exodus 12). He would be the perfect lamb sacrificed for the sins of many, a redeemer from bondage, the firstborn (Luk. 22:1-24:7). David, looking forward to the coming Messiah, spoke of these things”

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grace, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

~ Psalm 16:9-10 ~

Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

~ Psalm 22:16-18 ~

Perhaps, though, Isaiah is the book that contains the most references to the coming Messiah. He is called by many names in this book, all pointing to who He is.

During the reign of Ahaz, who ruled Judah, the land was troubled, because Israel had been divided and Judah feared his northern brothers and neighbors. But the Lord sent Isaiah and spoke of a sign in addition to what would happen before that sign was fulfilled.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

~ Isaiah 7:14 ~

 

In addition, he foretold of the great coming of the Lord and what it will mean for the world.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. … For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

~ Isaiah 9:2, 6-7~

The Lord also told of the one who would prepare the way before Him, which was John the Baptizer (Mal. 3:1). When you read this passage, notice the verse where the phrase “good tidings” which is said at Christmas, and the song “Go Tell it on the Mountain” comes from.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. …”

You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, light up your voice with a shout, lift it up do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

~ Isaiah 40:1-3, 9-11 ~

 

There are many other prophecies and foreshadowings in the Scriptures of the coming Messiah. If you would like to look at more, I encourage you to look at the link provided at the end of this piece. But for now, we will move onto where the Messiah would be born. So far, the Lord provided for a Messiah, said that He would come from Abraham, then Judah, then Jesse and David. This line leads all the way to the location the Messiah would be born, which was in Bethlehem. This was known at the time of Jesus’ birth, as priests and teachers told Herod (Mat. 2:5-6).

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

~ Micah 5:2-4 ~

 

 

Thus, Israel waited for their coming Messiah, the one who would save them. They knew He would come and knew that the Scriptures needed to be fulfilled before that time. And yet, they did not all know Him when He arrived. And though He was not what they expected, He did come.

 

The Arrival of the Savior

Finally, the long-expected Saviour arrived. Mary, a virgin pledged to be married, was told by the angel Gabriel that she would bear a son and name Him Jesus. Gabriel said, “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. … The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:31-33, 35).  The conception was truly a miracle. Remember the Creed: Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. What does this mean? Christ had to be both God and man. He had to be perfect and holy and of the line of David. This was a Holy conception by the Lord, the Giver and Maker of life.

Shortly after, Mary and Joseph, still pledged, traveled to Bethlehem, the city of David, to register, and it was here that the Saviour was born, as it was foretold by the prophets (Luke 2:4-7). Many came to see Jesus, including shepherds after they heard the good news from the angels, the magi from the east, and two people at the temple where Jesus was presented. These latter two were Simeon and Anna. Anna was a prophetess and, after having seen the Messiah, gave thanks to the Lord and told all about God’s redemption (Luke 2:36-38). Simeon had been promised by the Lord that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s salvation (Luke 2:25-28).

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

~ Luke 2:29-32 ~

This salvation was not only for the Jews, but even to the Gentiles, all those of the world. As Simeon says here, so too did the Lord say through His prophet Isaiah:

he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light to the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth. ”

~ Isaiah 49:6 ~

As the Lord promised to Abraham, all the nations of the earth would be and were blessed through him via the Messiah, the Christ, our Saviour (Acts 3:24-26). He came, died for our sins, and established a new covenant with us. He paid the ultimate sacrifice with His blood that we could not pay, not with the blood of animals nor our own lives.

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

~ Isaiah 53 ~

Because of His death and resurrection, we may live forever with Him. After Jesus’ ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to rest among His people. This was on the day of Pentecost, the day which people of every tribe and tongue began to hear the Word of the Lord (Acts 2:1-19). Thus, the Lord continued His work through His people to spread the Gospel and bless all people (Mat. 28:18-20)

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

~ John 3:16 ~

 

Watching and Waiting for Christ’s Return

But for now, the Lord is in heaven and we are on earth. So what are we to do in the meantime? We are to follow His commands, to pray, to preach the Word in and out of season, to read and know His Words, to continue the spread of the Gospel , to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them all He has commanded (Mat. 28:18-20). This is the great commission. But in addition, we are to wait and be watchful for His coming, for He promised that He will come again.

Therefore keep watch, because you d not know one what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect me.

~ Matthew 24:42-44 ~

Thus, we do not know when the great day of the Lord will be, so we watch and wait. During this time, we are in a sort of “second advent” as we are waiting for his Second Coming. While we wait, we serve Him, and do not waste our time away. We have tasks to do as servants of the Lord and, as He has invested in us, we must increase His investment in what we do, teaching others and sharing the Gospel with all people. We must be ready for the day of His return. (Luke 12:35-48, 19:11-27)

But while we wait, we must keep in mind that there will be those who deceive. Many will say that the Lord is here, or has come, or that it will be this date or that (Mat. 24:1-51). We do not know the day, and we must not be lead astray by those who wish to malign the Word of God (2 Thes. 2:1-6). When the day of the Lord is upon us, we will all know! There will be no mistake, not confusion. His coming will be known from one side of earth to the other. It will be great and terrible.

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged! The Judge is standing at the door!

~ James 5:7-9 ~

There will also be those who say that He will not come. These are scoffers and those who wish to claim that the Word of the Lord is not what the Christ said it was, that Christ is not who He is (2 Pet. 3:3-10). We also must be wary of those and not lose heart. The Lord will return. As He foretold and promised that He would come before, so too will He come again. Therefore, we ought to live and follow in His steps, looking forward to the day of His return (2 Pet 3:11-18, 1 John 2:28).

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash there robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go though the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

~ Revelation 22:12-16 ~

 

The Significance of Advent

To some, the season of Advent does not exist. It is the season of Christmas, which stretched back into October. For some, Christmas is a time for toys and food and fights and reunions. Some of these things are good, some less so. But Christmas is a time of celebration and joy because of Advent, the coming of Christ. Advent and Christmas are celebrated because they celebrate Christ. They do not celebrate what we have done, not our good deeds – sleeping or otherwise – but the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins.

This is truly why Christmas is celebrated and why it is so special to Christians. And while Christians remember Christ always, or at least they should, and remember and celebrate His death until He comes again in Holy Communion, during the start of the church year we celebrate his First coming. This is why Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas and Advent are celebrated because Christ came as a baby, walked among us, and saved us from our sins. Now, we wait again, work, and have faith in His second coming.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed Advent to you and yours,

~ Rose

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

~ Revelation 22:20-21 ~

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More Scripture from the Old Testament on the Coming of the Messiah

More Information on the Church Year

“advent.” The Online Etymology Dictionary. 2017.

 

The Lord’s Prayer: Forgive Us

Keeping in mind the holiness of God, His awesome power, and our subjection to Him as paupers and children, we ask from Him a great thing: to forgive us. This is no small task, as we are sinful from birth, our flesh embedded with shame from Adam, our souls unclean by what we have and have not done (Psa. 51:5, 1 Cor. 15:22 & 45). We are slaves to sin (Jhn. 8:34, Rom. 7:14), yet we come to the Lord and ask Him that He might wash away our sin, buy us back, redeem us.

We go to the Father, our Redeemer, with this request,

Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors.
~ Matthew 6:12 ~
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
~ Luke 11:4 ~

The question is, what does it mean to forgive? In the Greek, the word is ἀφίημι or aphiemi, which means a variety of things: forgive, forsake, lay aside, omit, and send away (Strong’s “863.”). Thus, when we ask God to “aphiemi” our sins, we ask for Him to send them away, to forsake them, to take sin away from us.

But what are our sins that they need to be taken away? Our sins are debts to Christ. In the verse from the book of Luke, the word is hamartia, which plainly means “offence” or “sin” (Strong’s “266.”). This is the same word used in literature: a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of the “protagonist”, or “hero”. Thus, our sin is too our fatal flaw in that with it, we will surely die. Our sin is a penalty against us for disobedience and rebellion against God, causing us to have a debt to our God. In Matthew, the word is opheilema, which is “something owed” but is “morally a fault: a debt.” (Strong’s “3783.”) Thus, our debt to God is our every fault against the Lord, every act of rebellion against His Word and His commands.  We cannot pay the debt of this sin ourselves; this is the helpless state that we find ourselves in.

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
~ Psalm 19:12 ~

For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
~ Psalm 25:11 ~

But in the same breath, we are reminded that we must also forgive our own debtors. We must not be like the unmerciful servant who, after he had been forgiven of all his debt to the king, which was no meager payment, condemned a friend who owed him next to nothing and was then condemned by the king (Mat. 18:23-35). Thus, we should and must forgive our debtors as we were forgiven our indebtedness.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
~ Matthew 18:21-22 ~

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
~ Matthew 6:14-15 ~

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
~ Luke 6:36-37 ~

If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.
~ Luke 17:3-4 ~

Why should we not forgive our brother after all the Lord has forgiven us? We deserve worse than death, and that is what we would receive if it were not for the Lord’s mercy and grace. This is the Law. We now know the sin that dwells within us and our bondage to its will (Rom. 7:13-25). We know that without Christ, we could not cleanse ourselves of the filth that plagues us. Yet we are not left alone to try and cleanse ourselves, to repay our sins. In spite of the wretchedness in us, the Lord was faithful and sent his son to die for us so that we might be healed (Gen. 3:15, Luk. 4:17-21, 22:7-24:12, Acts 5:31).

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world though him.
~ John 3:14-17 ~

When the Lord forgives our sins, He remembers them no more. The Lord’s forgiveness makes it as though the sin never was. He shed His own blood that we might live with Him, for only what is holy can stand before God.

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
~ Hebrews 8:12 ~

He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
~ Hebrews 9:12 ~

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights as sons.
~ Galatians 4:4-5 ~

He has already forgiven us, redeemed us, and bought back our debt through His sacrifice. He came without our request, for we did not even know that we needed a Savior. Yet He bought back our sin by His own blood, for He knew we could be redeemed no other way. We go to Him still, asking for forgiveness for our sins daily. For we know that when we do, He “is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

And again, this is why we take Holy Communion, in remembrance of Him and to physically receive the promises He gave us (1 Cor. 11:23-26). We ask him to forgive us and also to keep sin from us that we might live holy lives for Him who saved us. Though we live in sin, and commit sins, we are forgiven and purified in Christ. We go to our Father in heaven to ask for His forgiveness, not because by doing so we make ourselves clean, but because we know the promises that God has made: that He will make us pure.

Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
~ Psalm 19:13-14 ~

Blessings to you and yours,
~Rose

The Lord’s Prayer: Daily Bread

So far in the study of the Lord’s Prayer, we have gone over how we have to put our focus in prayer first on the Lord and who He is. He is our father in every regard perfectly and holy above all else. He and His name is to be hallowed and His will put above our own. But now we are on to a request of for Lord: give us our daily needs. And we ask not quite as sons and daughters, though we do ask in that way, but in this instance we ask more so as paupers before a king.

Though the Lord’s prayer is called the Lord’s prayer because He is our Lord, the word “lord” is not actually used. Father is used. So why do we call it the Lord’s Prayer? For most of Latinized Church history, it is called the Pater Noster, which means Our Father. Instead, it was the Bible’s trip through the English language and European feudalism that gave this prayer the name. But to understand what lords, paupers, and this prayer have in common, we have to first look at some etymologies.

The titles of Lord and Lady have had a joined meaning from the beginning. From the 1200’s, the titles of lord and lady could be used as a reference to a wife and husband: “A lord and his lady” or “a man and his wife”. As of the mid-13th century, a laverd was the “master of the household, the superior, the guardian”. A lady was a “woman who ruled over subjects of feudality”. This word was a transition from the Middle English word into the Modern English word “lord.” However, the Old English origins of these words brings quite an interesting point of connection.

A lord was a hlafweard or hlaford, and a lady was a hlæfdige. Hlafweard is composed of two Old English words. The first is hlaf, meaning “bread” and the second is weard meaning “guardian”, from which ward is derived, the person that a Lord guarded. Thus, a Lord was the keeper or guardian of the bread. Another Old English word was hladaeta, a household servant, which literally meant “bread-eater”. The word hlæfdige also begins with hlafbut joins with dige, which is related to daege which meant “maker of dough”; so, a lady was literally the “bread maker”. Thus, a lord and lady were not just the rulers of a land, but the protectors and providers of their servants as well.

Besides Beowulf and Canterbury Tales, the Bible and the Lord’s Prayer are two of the most popular sourcesto translate between language periods. Thus, I give you the Lord’s Prayer in Old English:

Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum;

Si þin nama gehalgod

to becume þin rice

gewurþe ðin willa

on eorðan swa swa on heofonum.

urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us todæg

and forgyf us ure gyltas

swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum

and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge

ac alys us of yfele

soþlice

Yes, that does look like a random assortment of lettering. I promise it is actually the Lord’s Prayer in Old English. If you look at the 6th line, you will see the word hlaf.  That line is asking for “our daily bread”. Now there are many titles for God: Christ, Saviour, Messiah, Jesus, the Triune God, Prince of peace, and Lord of lords. As our Lord, Christ is our bread giver. He is our provider and cares for us in all things.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

~ Matthew 6:25-34 ~

This is all our Lord promises us, and in a passage just after He teaches the Lord’s Prayer! Without him, we would not only be without food, but without life at all. He gives us all of this – our life, our needs – in addition to being our Saviour.  How incredible is it that when we say the Lord’s Prayer, we ask for our daily needs, our daily bread, from the Guardian of our souls and all we have! We are the hladaeta. We eat the bread, and we are the servants in the household of our Hlaford. And we are more than just servants but also the Lord’s ward, His keep, the ones whom He protects, loves.

He is truly our Saviour, our Father, our Lord. We have no reason to worry about our life nor wonder how we will be provided for. All we have to do is ask our Lord, and even then He gives before we come to Him, becasuse He care for us.

The next time you see or say the Lord’s prayer, go to eat a piece of bread, or recognize any blessing you havebeen given, remember their origins. Remember that everything we have comes from our Hlaford, our Lord, because He guards and keeps us safe from all harm and provides us with all we need and have.

Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you

~ 1 Peter 5:7 ~

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.

~ Isaiah 26:3-4 ~

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

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Note: The Old English translation of the Lord’s Prayer was taken off Wikipedia which has a side by side translation of the Prayer. All of the other Old English words and definitions were from the Oxford English Dictionary.

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1985. Print.