post 31. The Gospel is for Sinners and Other Random Thoughts (Part 1)
This morning the wife of my pastor at Imago Dei mindfully tweeted:
“No one gives grace better than the person who is convinced they deeply need it themselves.” @PaulTripp
It reminded me of a couple examples in the bible of humility, conviction, and need of the gospel. The first example is the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18.
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
In the ESV study bible it notes that in Judaism forgiveness of three times is adequate to display a forgiving spirit. So when Peter asks about seven times, he is really asking if he must forgive even more than the general quota per se. And of course Jesus has to respond with some “crazy” figure like seventy-seven times (which the ESV alludes to Gen 4:24, “If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold”). I think what Jesus is saying is that true believers of Christ keep no quote or count of forgiveness. Why? Because if we as Christians, convicted and led by the power of the Holy Spirit, understand the forgiveness that is shown to us every waking moment of our lives despite the expensive, rebellious acts of sin we commit, who are we to keep a record of wrongs. Look at the unforgiving servant. Ten thousand talents was equivalent to, in today’s terms of currency, $6 billion dollars. Can you imagine having a debt of $6 billion dollars cleared? Heck, when I owe someone $10 for dinner and they say “its all good” or “I got you” I get super happy. Look how ridiculous this situation is. This servant gets basically an eternal debt erased yet has the audacity to put into prison one of his own servants over a debt of a hundred denarii (or $12,000 in todays term). If you reduced those terms it would be $6 million to $12 dollars. RIDICULOUS. But when applied to us, there is a similar story to be looked at. How many times do we say “My situation is different”? Probably more often then not we are more lenient on ourselves than upon others. We expect perfection from others yet when we make the slightest (or big) mistakes, all of a sudden enters logical reasoning and room for error. Why? It’s most likely because we feel as if we deserve such lenience and room for error because of the specific situation that were in. If that’s case, Jesus would have the best case for being unfairly treated. He lived the perfect life, yet received the ultimate death. On the other hand, we lived and continue to live a sinful life, yet have received the ultimate life. It is this truth that should change us to be “slow to anger” in understanding (Psalm 14:28). Another beautiful part about this passage is that if it were not for the grace that the unforgiving servant was shown, he would have been sold along with his family and his possessions (v. 25). He would have nothing. He would have no freedom, no home, no wealth, and not even be able to lead his family anymore. Yet because of the grace that was afforded to him by the master, he once again had everything. In essence he still had his freedom, his home, his wealth, and his family. But once again, it’s important to point out the fact that while the unforgiving servant did not have to bear this burden, someone did. It didn’t just disappear. No, in effect, by calling off the debt, the master bore the burden of the ten thousand talents. It cost him everything. Jesus, the King who had everything, gave up everything for us, so that we who have nothing, could have everything. Our sin didn’t just disappear. No it just couldn’t be brushed under the ocean floor and forgotten. There was a penalty that needed to be paid. The debt that we could never pay was paid for us by Christ on the cross. Isn’t that stunning. The man who did nothing to deserve it, willingly bore it.
The gospel is for sinners you see. For those who acknowledge their sinfulness. The righteous have no need for a savior because there is no atrocious act of rebellion that needs to be justified. Oh wait.
Romans 3:10-20
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
An excellent example of this is the apostle Peter. (This example is from a sermon by Timothy Keller entitled Jesus’ Meal with Peter) (Also this has a more direct relation to the tweety tweet up there) And since I’m tired I’m going to be hip and do a part 1/part 2 thing. More to come later. Also, here is an excellent write-up on making war with sin and not just sulking in it. Polygrafik (disregard the picture in this post). (please.) 
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Side Story
Tuesday was a crazy day. There was a lot of uncertainty in getting the loan for the business so it was at the least bit stressful for my parents that day. Thankfully everything went through and we secured the loan that will now be my slave work for the next year (not really slave work I’m looking forward to it) (kinda). Sweet. So we drove up to Flushing, NY and got all the paperwork signed. On the way back however, I was driving my Dad’s car down on Belt Parkway towards the Verrazano Bridge (which is $11? CRAZY..) Anyway, all of a sudden this car in front of me slams on the brakes entering an exit ramp, because the car in front of her slammed their brakes randomly. So evidently I rear-ended her car. And then of course the car behind us rear-ended us. Double fender-bender. The lady in the car ahead of us was trembling and the guy behind us was making sure everyone was okay. Somehow, none of the cars got even a scratch. No paint-scratches, scuff-marks, bumps. That’s three cars. Wow. It was a crazy day. Thank you Jesus. Even though tuesday everything worked out for the better, please help me to be thankful even in the crummy, horrible days because you are always good.
Songs I’m Into This Week
Phil Wickham – Because of Your Love
Hillsong United – Came to my Rescue
post 30. All Fullness Dwells in Him
source: http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/hbhymns.htm
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So the restaurant looks like it will be opening (hopefully!) on November 25th! I’m excited and apprehensive at the same time. It’s going to be a crazy, hectic week of trying to figure things out on the fly. It’s one thing to work by yourself and another to work with your parents. Hopefully I can exhibit some patience towards my parents. I don’t know why but sometimes I get so impatient with them (mostly when teaching them to use the computer, or when they keep telling me to do things). I guess it’s a lack of preaching the gospel to myself. Reminding myself of the ultimate patience Christ shows to me in my daily life as I fill and give my heart to things other than Him.
I stumbled on this hymn by Horatius Bonar last night at New Jersey Christian Fellowship (on-campus fellowship) and it reminded me that while it is supremely important to remember Christ’s redeeming sacrifice on the cross for my sin, it is a radical change of heart from this knowledge (from the Holy Spirit) that moves us to want to be like Him. Not out of a heart of that is trying to earn grace, but one that is so moved and spurred by the spirit that its only motive is to glorify. To put off the old self, and put on the new.
As Colossians 3:5-17 illustrates,
5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
God I pray that you would constantly berate my conscience with a conviction of my depravity and my heart with an endless well of unending grace that I may seek to be like You in thought and deed. In Your name, not mine. Thank you Father.
post 28. Exposed by the Cross
From A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent,
It was while rehearsing the gospel truths in Romans 5-8 that the Apostle Paul was moved to speak of his struggle with sin and exclaim, “O wretched man that I Am!” (Romans 7:19-24) While reviewing God’s abundant saving grace on another occasion, Paul was prompted to confess that he was “the foremost” sinner of all. (1 Timothy 1:15)
Likewise, the deeper I go into the gospel, the more I comprehend and confess aloud the depth of my sinfulness. A gruesome death like the one that Christ endured for me would only be required for one who is exceedingly sinful and unable to appease a holy God. Consequently, whenever I consider the necessity and manner of His death, along with the love and selflessness behind it, I am laid bare and utterly exposed for the sinner I am.
Such an awareness of my sinfulness does not drag me down, but actually serves to lift me up by magnifying my appreciation of God’s forgiving grace in my life. And the more I appreciate the magnitude of God’s forgiveness of my sins, the more I love Him and delight to show Him love through heart-felt expressions of worship.
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So I’ve started working (for free… at least i get free food) at Charley’s Grilled Subs up in Bridgewater, NJ in order to get some needed experience before our store opens up (hopefully by thanksgiving!). The work itself isn’t hard per-se but it definitely takes some getting used to. I’m always out of place, forgetting orders, or messing them up. Whew. Newfound respect for fast-food restaurant operators. I kind of want to go on vacation somewhere far away before this chaos begins.
Oh. that random moose picture telling us to call on Jesus was in one of the rooms at church. We were all like what the. hahah. It has nothing to do with the eloquent writings of Milton Vincent on the beauty of grace that makes life not fair.
post 27. Divine Mercies (Valley of Vision)
Thou Eternal God,
Thine is surpassing greatness, unspeakable goodness, super-abundant grace;
I can as soon count the sands of ocean’s ‘lip’ as number thy favours towards me;
I know but a part, but that part exceeds all praise.
I thank thee for personal mercies,
a measure of health,
preservation of body,
comforts of house and home,
sufficiency of food and clothing,
continuance of mental powers,
my family, their mutual help and support,
the delights of domestic harmony and peace,
the seats now filled that might have been vacant,
my country, church, Bible, faith.But, O, how I mourn my sin, ingratitude, vileness,
the days that add to my guilt,
the scenes that witness my offending tongue;
All things in heaven, earth, around, within, without, condemn me –
the sun which sees my misdeeds,
the darkness which is light to thee.
the cruel accuser who justly charges me,
the good angels who have been provoked to leave me,
thy countenance which scans my secret sins.
thy righteous law, thy holy Word,
my sin-soiled conscience, my private and public life,
my neighbors, myself–
all write dark things against me.I deny them not, frame no excuse, but confess,
‘Father, I have sinned’;
Yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched arms;
thou wilt not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near,
thou wilt not condemn me, for he died in my stead,
thou wilt not mark my mountains of sin,
for he leveled all,
and his beauty covers my deformities.
O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to his cross,
Hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side.
Another powerful puritan prayer. I like the picture of the ducklings. It’s kind of like.. the brown ducklings (resembling sinful people) and the yellow duckling (representing Christ). Christ’s beauty covers my deformities. It’s funny how the yellow duckling has it’s arms stretched out like the prayer says.. Yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched arms. Yeah. It’s corny I know. hahah. So weird that it was just a random picture that I picked and yet I can find so many more attributes to the picture representing the wonderful, awe-inspiring love of Jesus. My true Father and Savior. Became dirty. So that I may be clean.
Valley of Vision. pg. 16-17.
post 26. by this we know love
By This We Know Love is a new song that I’m really liking. It doesn’t have any epic bridge buildups or awesome instrumentals but the lyrics get at the heart of Christ’s redeeming love. love it!
here are the lyrics:
God of all Creation, Lord of heaven’s light
Descended into evil’s darkest night
Infinitely Holy, Your perfections know no end
Selflessly You died my rightful death
By this we know love that He laid down His life
God’s very own Son came from Heaven to die
Suspended He hung as He shed His own blood
What grace in His pardon, by this we know love
Forsaken man of sorrows, hated by all men
You willingly surrendered for my sin
Scornfully derided, yet in silence stumbling on
Bearing wrath for all that I’ve done wrong
© 2009 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)
awesome.
post 25. calvin and hobbes
I think I could read Calvin & Hobbes all day. Bill Watterson is the man..
© Universal Press Syndicate
© Universal Press Syndicate
Hahaha ohh.. abstract art.
© Universal Press Syndicate
Right now.. Phillies to win game 1 of the NLCS.
© Universal Press Syndicate
haha i love this one.
I want to buy this…
*random entry over*
post 24. the prodigal
This is a song I came across on Sovereign Grace’s new album: “Sons & Daughters”. I really like it. It instantly went into my gospel reminders playlist.
The Prodigal – Sovereign Grace
You held out Your arms, I walked away
Insolent, I spurned Your face
Squandering the gifts You gave to me
Holding close forbidden things
Destitute, a rebel still, a fool in all my pride
The world I once enjoyed is death to me
No joy, no hope, no life
Where now are the friends that I had bought
Gone with every penny lost
What hope could there be for such as I
Sold out to a world of lies
Oh, to see Your face again, it seems so distant now
Could it be that You would take me back
A servant in Your house
You held out Your arms, I see them still
You never left, You never will
Running to embrace me, now I know
Your cords of love will always hold
Mercy’s robe, a ring of grace
Such favor undeserved
You sing over me and celebrate
The rebel now Your child
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Whenever I listen to this song it just reminds me of the constant rebellious state that I am in. It reminds me that without Him, I am completely and utterly lost. It reminds me that I need the word. That I need prayer. That I am in desperate need of a savior. ”Running to embrace me..” I remember in the parable of the prodigal sons, the father running to his son who had just come back from squandering all his money away. I think a lot of times in my sin I feel so guilty that like that younger brother, I feel ashamed and unworthy of the father’s love. Like I just deserve some type of deal of being a low slave for him. But then I remember the gospel and its complete… ‘not making sense-ness’. That a father would run to his son with open arms despite having squandered his money and rejected his love. It just doesn’t make sense but thats the beauty of the gospel. Jesus took the ultimate rejection for us. I remember at a retreat a couple years back when the speaker said.. “Jesus didn’t just die for us, he died instead of us”. It’s crazy! That the perfect, holy, and sinless God came to earth in the flesh to redeem those that were flawed, depraved, and sinful. He paid the penalty of sin for us. What an amazing Father. What an amazing Savior. What an amazing God. My heart sinks yet rejoices whenever I’m reminded of this truth. [bitter/sweet]
btw. isn’t the picture awesome. yes it is.
post 23. the great paradox (the valley of vision)
So I’ve started to read this collection of puritan prayers called The Valley of Vision. The introductory prayer was so awesome that I wanted to share it.
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The Valley of Vision
Lord, High and Holy, Meek and Lowly
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.
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I think it starts off in a beautiful paradox. How the most high and holy Lord became meek and lowly. How the ultimate king became a servant by taking our sin on the cross. And then it goes into the valley of vision, where the author talks about being hemmed in by the mountains of sin. Yet he stands in the glory because he sees God in the heights. He knows where he is. Where his heart lies, covered on all sides by the mountains of sin. And then he goes into the paradoxes of knowing Christ. It’s beautiful. In the end he’s asking God to reveal to him all those things. I like the line, ‘that to bear the cross, is to wear the crown’. The author, in admitting his sin, guilt, and utter depravity, is pointing to the cross for healing, rejoicing, victory, possession, life, joy, grace, riches, and glory. Help me O Lord to do the same.
post 22. transitions
I feel like for the first time in my life I am going through a bunch of transitions. I guess its quite normal. I am now a senior in college. I am going to manage a REAL business, not just classroom simulations. Seminary is in the not-too-distant future. There a lot of critical decisions that are to be made so soon… and I’m so excited! I know that college is supposed to be the best time of your life, but I just can’t help but be so excited about what the future has in store. Yes, there’s a lot of uncertainty. How am I going to make money? What if everything falls through? Of course these are definitely things to be concerned about but I know that through it all, whatever happens, Jesus is still my savior, he is still my Lord, and he is still good, constantly sanctifying and making me His. It’s the ultimate comfort, security, and hope that I could ever dream of. Thank you Lord.
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