Lesson outline for March 22, 2009
Suffering, It’s all about Jesus
Coming to God as consumers saved by following the instructions on the product label rather than sinners saved by grace is not only the essence of human sin, it does not even deliver on its promise of liberation. – Michael Horton “Christless Christianity”
If the message the church proclaims makes sense without conversion, if it does not offend even lifelong believers from time to time so that they too need to die more to themselves and live more to Christ, then it is not the gospel. - Michael Horton
Without the new birth, our condition is hopeless, and we cannot fix it with moral improvement. Dead men don’t do better. Dead men need one thing before anything else can happen. They must be made alive. They must be born again. – John Piper “Finally Alive”
“If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
(1Corinthians 15:19 ESV)
Some questions for the Church, myself included.
If Jesus had not lived, died and been resurrected, does the sermon, teaching and song still hold together? Would the small group you lead still be meaningful? If the person and work of Jesus is not the main theme what do we have? If Christ is not raised does the whole thing we are doing fall flat? And If it holds together without Christ is that acceptable? We have built on something other than Jesus and it will not stand nor should it. Paul says that if Christianity is not true his whole life is a waste. Can we say that about what we are doing? This is how we know if something is Christ centered, can it exist without Him? If it can, we should think hard about what we are doing.
I have been thinking today that I am optimistic about the future. Not because I am one of the “glass half full” types, I am pessimistic by nature, or as I like to say “a optimist beaten by the reality stick”. My grounds for optimism is not in my ability or goodness, nor is it based on other peoples ability or goodness. I am not optimistic because of my current situation, that changes too quickly to ever place much trust in. I sin, people sin against me, and situations sometimes go very very bad.
So why do I have a bright outlook for the future? Because God is good and He is sovereign. When he says that he is working all things for my good I believe He is telling me the truth. I am not trying to sound chipper and act like this is an easy task. In fact, it is absolutely impossible for me in those dark moments of pain and doubt. But God who is rich in mercy lets me see His face and the darkness and fog slowly starts to lift. I am optimistic about the future only because of who God is and what Jesus has accomplished. I fail, people fail, the church fails, but Jesus and His gospel are always more than enough.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Robert Lowry, pub.1876
““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
(1Corinthians 15:55-58 ESVS)
Here the apostle Paul taunts death to his face. Death has no lasting power, its sting has been removed. Jesus kept the law perfectly for us so that we would be victorious over death. Jesus removed the power and penalty of sin! The power of sin is no match for our Lord Jesus Christ We will be steadfast and never give in, and excel in the work of the Lord and bring glory to His name. Our victory is secure because Christ has secured it.
Many Christians today complain about our Godless culture. We blame Hollywood, we blame the liberal media, we blame the court system, we blame all the sinners committing sin. We look outward for the cause. If only God were brought back into society it would fix our problems! But are these issues the problem or are they the symptom of something far worse? Have we lost Christ from Christianity? Has most of Christianity become mainly materialistic moralisim? Do we use Jesus to get more of our slice of the American dream? Have we pushed Christ aside in most of our churches and replaced Him with something else? We worship personalities, forms of worship music and the latest leadership fad more than the risen Christ.
Am I being overly harsh? Maybe so, but then again, tell me this, what do you see on Christian television? What do you hear preached across American every Sunday? Do you here the God centered gospel, that Jesus died in our place to bring us to God, or a man centered self improvement program? Is Jesus a means to an end or the end for which we are saved? Did Jesus die to help us be a better us and have our best life now or to save us from the wrath of a righteous holy God? Do we hear repent and believe the gospel? Culture will not be reformed until the church becomes Christian again.
Dear Lord Jesus, forgive us for what we have done and give us I pray a spirit of repentance.
Some signs that we are trusting in our own righteousness and don’t understand the gospel.
- When we sin do we first think of our own reputation and not how we have dishonored our heavenly father?
- Do we think that when we sin God loves us less, and when we have done that “Good Christian Day” that God loves us more.
- When confronted with our sin by others do we lash out because of our wounded pride?
- When we sin, do we say things like “I am a better person than that”.
- Is our view of repentance mainly that we should try to do good to pay God back?
- When we sin do we hide from God?
- Do you pity those lost without Christ or do we criticize their ungodliness?
- When those inside the church fall, do we feel in some way superior to them?
- Are our good works the fruit of being justified by faith alone or the fruit of wanting to be thought well of and accepted by God.
And most importantly.
How do you view the cross? Is it precious to you? Do you weep and rejoice at what God has done? Do you see the glory of Christ and are you overwhelmed with emotion at what you see? The glory you see in the cross is in direct proportion to how you view your need for it. People who think they are pretty good don’t love the cross, but those who are trusting in Christ alone for righteousness can’t stop thinking about it.
