I feel like the gravity of this week is just now beginning to hit me. I have been running around like crazy with school stuff, and have failed to take as much time as I would've liked to be still and let the Gospel knock me off my feet yet another time. Friends, I want to run and jump for joy! God in his perfect holiness could not associate with my sin. He created me, yet I spit in His face. Instead of leaving me to suffer as I deserved, He implemented a plan of redemption that began before even time. He sent His only son, but not only that, part of Himself. The Trinity has never been separated - save once. Jesus Christ came to earth and lived the spotless life I should've. Then he suffered a death that I can't even begin to fathom. I feel like the cross gets so glamorized nowadays, and I'm as guilty as the next person. Imagine if people had decorative paintings of electric chairs all over their homes, and wore small renditions of them on their necks. That's what the cross was in biblical times - an instrument of torture and death. Yet the reason we make it beautiful today is because of what was accomplished there. On the cross, Christ drank to the dregs the cup of God's wrath against sin - a cup that was mine to drink. On the cross, Christ cancelled the demands of the law against me and against you. When I stand in the court of God's judgement, He looks at me and sees the perfect robe of Christ's righteousness and declares me innocent. Even now, he is at the right hand of the Father pleading continually on my behalf. Does that not blow your mind? When I think about the cross and all that it entails I am humbled beyond belief. Who am I that the LORD of creation would love me this much? When Christ gave up his spirit, the curtain in the temple that separated the holy of holies was torn in two from top to bottom. What our great High Priest accomplished for us here is incredible - He made it possible for us to come before the Throne of Grace with confidence, because we don't come in our own merit. All praise and glory be to Jesus Christ - the Messiah!
Here's a couple snipits of Scripture and hymns, etc. to keep your heart focused this weekend!
He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
-The hymn "And Can it Be"
Sinner that I am, why should the sun give me light,
the air supply breath,
the earth bear my tread,
its fruits nourish me,
its creatures subserve my ends?
Yet thy compassions yearn over me,
thy heart hastens to my rescue,
thy love endured my curse,
thy mercy bore my deserved stipes.
Let me walk humbly in the lowest depths of humiliation,
bathed in thy blood,
tender of conscience,
triumphing gloriously as an heir of salvation.
-from The Valley of Vision
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
Also go read the lyrics to Beneath the Cross of Jesus in my post entitled "Hymn of the Week"
I realize that I got a little excited and carried away in this post, and maybe threw out a lot of terminology and symbolism that probably confuses the mess out of some of you. So, if you are left feeling super confused, first of all keep in mind that we will never 100% grasp all of this on our side of heaven. But, it so worth trying. Every time you understand it a little bit more you will be blown away once again. So if you have questions, facebook me, email me, call me. Clearly I would LOVE to talk about it. Or go to someone else you trust. Don't neglect the most beautiful of all treasures!
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