GC--Summer of Spreading Christ--Week 1 Pix

The Law & The Guy Who Fears Its Consequences

He's roughly 6' tall, 190 lbs, black male wearing dark pants, white shirt, and a bright blue do-rag.

There are times when our awareness of the law is heightened. Usually, those times are when we are made aware of the presence of law-enforcement. Like when we are driving our car and realize there is a police car following behind us. "Am I speeding?" "Did I roll through that last stop sign?" "Are my tags expired?" The law is BIG in that moment.

Most other times our consciousness of the law is much more relaxed. It exists, we know it, and we rarely think about it. That's the way it should be. That's good.

To state the obvious, the greatness or smallness of our consciousness of the law doesn't govern whether the law is in effect or not. The law is always in effect, whether we're aware of it or not. It is always there. We are just more aware of it at certain times (like when the blue-lights flash). Without someone to enforce the law, every man can do what seems right in his own eyes, and there will be no negative repercussions for it. That's not good.

Law-breakers suffer from another type of law-consciousness. Fear. Why are many of us unafraid of the law right now? Because as law-abiding citizens we know that "rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil" (Romans 13:3). It is the law-breaker who has the fear of the law, and of the law-enforcement. And so they should.

The guy who broke into my storage shed this morning was smart...sort of. He rang the doorbell to see if anyone was home. Ding dong (10-15 second pause). Ding dong (shorter pause). Ding dong (long silence). He was taking measures to avoid being caught for breaking the law. Smart guy...sort of.

Then, in the back yard, "clank, bang." The shed's door was "opened," and my less-than-impressive contents were exposed. All was good for the thief. Until, from my window, he heard "bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang." When I banged on the window, he dropped everything he was holding, and ran. Why? Why didn't he slowly and methodically continue "borrowing" my mower or whatever else he needed? Why was his first thought, "Run?" I think I know the answer. Let's play multiple choice:

(A) Was it because the thief received a supernatural revelation simultaneous to my window-knocking that the Lord had graciously sent a hoard of goats to his yard in order to groom it yard-of-merit style, sparing him the sweat of mowing himself? "Oh great," he thought to himself, "I don't have to mow today!"

(B) Was it because the thief was instantaneously reminded that he forgot to exercise this morning, so he thought he would take a jog before returning for my stuff?

Not impossible, but not likely either.

How about another option. (C) None of the above.

Why was he so calm...until I banged on the window? Why didn't he stick around to have some tea? A good conversation about today's beautiful weather? A game of catch? Shoot the breeze with the MPD who were on their way?

We all know why he left so abruptly. But it is worth considering again!

It took me a second to get my key, and get outside, but by then he was long gone. He left because he is a law-breaker. He wants something for nothing in such a way that violates the law. His problem wasn't out-of-control Bermuda, but an out-of control heart. "As long as I don't get caught, I'm fine," is his modus operandi. Knowing there are consequences for law-breakers is THE reason he didn't hang around when I knocked on the window, and hurried outside. We all know that.

How well do we know that every law-breaker faces consequences is the question.

Am I any different than my five-finger discount friend? Hardly. What about you? Nope.

Though probably not systematically, my thief nonetheless concluded that the consequences for stealing my stuff were not great enough to avert him from trying to do so. If, however, he was certain that he would be caught, he wouldn't have even showed up at my place, would he? That's the way consequences work. If the consequences are big enough and sure enough, it equals zero law-breaking 100% of the time! Think about it.

Consider this: What if my guy would have known that "officer _______" would have been sitting inside the shed on one of my camping chairs with a loaded gun just waiting for someone to break the lock? Our minds and our actions change when the consequences of breaking the law are heightened, don't they?

My visitor knows what we all know. He knows that if he does something unlawful, and someone catches him, then the one who catches him can bring the consequences of the law to bear on him. He ran because he was fearful of the consequences of the law.

After the dust settled, and the police left, something very important hit me. Consequences are massive motivators.

More grievously than shed-looting, I have broken God's Law. Along with my "visitor," I am a law-breaker. And, God needs no officers to enact His consequences on me. I'm doomed without His undeserved pardon. Where can I hide? The sea? The grave? Not exactly.

This morning's episode is another reason why this week's Grace Group memory passage is so massively important.

Every person has broken God's law. And God has been waiting inside every shed every single time that His law has been broken. He has, without exception, caught every law-breaker every time. He sits in the sheds of our thought-life, our unlawful acts of commission, our negligent voids of omission. Literally, every act of rebellion against God has been observed by Him. All of it! This morning, again, I rejoiced because I'm so glad that I've been caught! Even more so because I've been cleared!

I hope to get to tell that guy who was in such a hurry to leave my backyard this morning what great delight there is when freedom from the fear of being caught vanishes! Please pray with me for him to know he has been caught by God, and that there is only one way for him to also be released by God.

T4G '08 Video

Nearly an hour long, but worth the watch.

No other foundation...than Jesus Christ!

Paul admonished the church at Corinth in 1 Cor. 3 not attempt to lay any foundation other than that which has already been laid, namely Jesus Christ. The following list is the foundation of Christ that Paul had poured into the Corinthians prior to telling them again (1 Cor. 3) to be deeply rooted in Christ, and in Him alone!

Acts 18 (Background to Paul's 1st visit to Corinth)
(v5) devoted himself to the Word and to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah
(v9) in the face of opposition he kept preaching Christ because the Lord said ‘Acts 18:9-10 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; [10] for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city."

Foundation of Jesus Christ in...

Gospel of Grace
1:4 grace was given to you by God inChrist

The cross
1:18 Word of the cross is foolishness to those perishing, but to those being saved it is the power of God
1:23 we preach Christ crucified: to Jews a stumbling block (didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah), to Gentiles foolishness (depended on wisdom)
2:2 determined to know nothing among you except Christ and Him crucified

The Glory of Christ
1:24 Christ is the power and wisdom of God

Expository exaltation in Christ: proclaiming Him
2:1 I came to you proclaiming God
2:4 my words were in demonstration of the spirit and power of God
2:7 we speak God’s wisdom
2:13 we speak what the Spirit teaches Christ-centeredness
2:2 determined to know nothing among you except Christ and Him crucified

Persevering Love of Christ
1:8 Christ will confirm you to the end

God’s Sovereignty and Glory in the work of Christ in relation to salvation
1:27-28 God has chosen the foolish things to shame the wise; weak to shame the strong; the base things of the world
1:29 that no man may boast before the Lord
1:30 by God’s doing you are in Christ Jesus: who became to us wisdom; righteousness; sanctification; redemption
1:31 that he who boasts, boasts in God

Role of the Holy Spirit
2:10-11 The Spirit searches and knows all things, even the depths of God
2:12 we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God

God’s faithfulness
1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship

Dependence upon Christ
2:5 so that your faith would rest not in man (3:4-8) but in God
2:14 natural man doesn’t understand the things of God, because they are spiritually darkened (3:7 God causes the growth)

Scriptures on the pattern of Christ from the gospel of John

Here are the scriptures on the pattern of Christ from John's gospel that were read Sunday morning. Enjoy Christ!!

4

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

5

John 5:19-24 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. [20] "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. [21] "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. [22] "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, [23] so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. [24] "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

John 5:30 "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

John 5:31-32 "If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. [32] "There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.

John 5:36-38 "But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.[37] "And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. [38] "You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.

John 5:39-47 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; [40] and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. [41] "I do not receive glory from men; [42] but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. [43] "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. [44] "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? [45] "Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. [46] "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. [47] "But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

6

John 6:26-29 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. [27] "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." [28] Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" [29] Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

John 6:37-40 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. [38] "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. [39] "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. [40] "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

John 6:55-58 "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. [56] "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. [57] "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. [58] "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever."

John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

7

John 7:14-18 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. [15] The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?" [16] So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. [17] "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. [18] "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

John 7:28-29 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. [29] "I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me."

John 7:32-34 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. [33] Therefore Jesus said, "For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. [34] "You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come."

8

John 8:16-19 "But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. [17] "Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. [18] "I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." [19] So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."

John 8:25-26 So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?" Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning? [26] "I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world."

John 8:28-29 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. [29] "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

John 8:38 "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father."

John 8:42-47 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. [43] "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. [44] "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. [45] "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. [46] "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? [47] "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."

John 8:49-50 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. [50] "But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

John 8:54-58 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; [55] and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. [56] "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." [57] So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" [58] Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."

9

John 9:3-9 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. [5] "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." [6] When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, [7] and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. [8] Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" [9] Others were saying, "This is he," still others were saying, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the one."

10

John 10:18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

John 10:29-30 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. [30] "I and the Father are one."

John 10:37-38 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; [38] but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father."

11

John 11:4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it."

John 11:41-42 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. [42] "I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me."

12

John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

John 12:44-46 And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. [45] "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. [46] "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

John 12:49-50 "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. [50] "I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."

13

John 13:20"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

John 13:31-32 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; [32] if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.

14

John 14:10"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

John 14:13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

John 14:31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

15

John 15:10"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

16

John 16:28 "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father."

John 16:32"Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

17

John 17:1 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,

John 17:4-5 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. [5] "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

John 17:17-18"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. [18] "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

John 17:22-26 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; [23] I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. [24] "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.[25] "O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; [26] and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

20

John 20:21So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

Keller's In Town

@ 2pc.

A Commercial Appeal columnist recently pondered Keller's call to live in the city when she wrote:

What if the sacrifice calls for you to live in a neighborhood where the nightly soundtrack is gunfire, booming bass music and car alarms?

Am I thinking more about my personal comfort and resale values than Christ's love when I avoid homes where my neighbors would be renters or on public assistance?

Read the entire article here.

Celebrating the Power of the Gospel Over...

Every conceivable obstacle. That's what we said Sunday at Grace with regard to racial division. Christ is powerful to save sinners like those of us at Grace, and therefore, racial harmony would be a small thing for God. Pray with us to that end!

Thanks Kurt for celebrating the power of the gospel over abortion!

Because "issue junkies" abound allow me a brief word of clarity. We don't care a thing about being the "racial harmony church," or the "Pro-Life church," or the "_______ church." What we are concerned with is loving Jesus Christ preeminently and gladly taking whatever comes with loving Him. May God make Grace, and your church, a Christ-loving-church that loves Christ in such a way that we gladly take whatever comes with loving Christ!