Wondrous Grace

“The Christian life starts with grace, and it must continue with grace, it ends with grace. Grace. wondrous grace.”

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures, (Eerdmans, 1965) p. 130-32.

Philippians 1:21, The Glorification of God, & A Pastor’s Prayer For Grace Church

Is a familiar verse for most of us. “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Carefully read the words of David Brainerd on that theme:

September 19, 1747 (three weeks before his death at age 29): I viewed the infinite excellency of God, and my soul even broke with longings that God should be glorified. I thought of dignity in heaven, but instantly the thought returned, “I do not go to heaven to get honor, but to give all possible glory and praise.” Oh, how I longed that God should be glorified on earth also! Oh, I was made for eternity, if God might be glorified!

Bodily pains I cared not for; though I was then in extremity, I never felt easier. I felt willing to glorify God in that state of bodily distress, as long as He pleased I should continue in it. The grave appeared really sweet, and I longed to lodge my weary bones in it.

But oh, that God might be glorified! this was the burden of all my cry. Oh, I knew, I should be active, as an angel, in heaven; and that I should be stripped of my filthy garments, so that there was no objection. But, oh, to love and praise God more, to please Him forever! This my soul panted after and even now pants for while I write. Oh, that God might be glorified in the whole earth! “Lord, let thy kingdom come.”

I longed for a spirit of preaching to descend and rest on ministers that they might address the consciences of men with closeness and power. I saw God “had the residue of the Spirit,” and my soul longed it should be “poured from on high.” I could not but plead with God for my dear congregation that He would preserve it and not suffer His great name to lose its glory in that work, my soul still longing that God might be glorified.

Jonathan Edwards, The Life of David Brainerd, 1748, republished in 1989 by Baker. Available online at CCEL.

The Gospel & Racial Harmony

I just remembered that I haven’t fulfilled my promise from January 20th’s sermon to post Peter’s 13 unique exaltations of Jesus in his 10 verse sermon in Cornelius’ living room. This sermon is a stark reminder that true harmony comes only on the basis of the true gospel (not music!).

1. V. 36: The peace of God, Whose word came to Israel, comes only through Jesus Christ.
2. V. 36: The Lord of all (that is, of all types of peoples) is Jesus Christ.
3. V. 38: Jesus Christ is fully human (from Nazareth) and fully divine (anointed by the Spirit).
4. V. 38: Jesus Christ was a minister of good, and healed the Satan-oppressed.
5. V. 38: Jesus Christ is the dwelling place of God
6. V. 39: Jesus Christ’s ministry was observed in, and beyond, Jerusalem by Peter (Thus Jesus is verifiably Who He claimed to be).
7. V. 39: Jesus Christ was put to death by being hung on a cross.
8. V. 40: Jesus was raised on the third day by the power of God.
9. V. 40: Jesus was witnessed alive from the dead by those whom God had appointed beforehand—which included Peter.
10. V. 42: Jesus is the subject of all true preaching
11. V. 42: Jesus is the Judge of the Living and the Dead
12. V. 43: Jesus is the focal point of all of God’s special revelation—the Bible!
13. V. 43: Jesus is the only channel of the forgiveness of sins.

“Tremble Even In Secret”

Sunday’s sermon text carries one of those great passages about Christ’s intimate devotion to the Father. How he would tuck away in solitude with His Father for protracted seasons of prayer.

Thomas Watson created a catechism question based on the nature of God and our need to tremble before Him—like Christ—even in secret.

Q: What is the first lesson to be learnt from God’s infinity?

A: That therefore men should tremble even in secret.

- Flavel, VI: 147.