Francis Schaeffer, in one of my all-time favorite books, True Spirituality, says:

“I'm convinced…that this is when we begin to make our forward steps as Christians: When I know through experience that I can lay hold of Christ's blood by faith to cover my sins this morning, and then to cover my sins this afternoon, even if they're the same sins—when I know this, the preciousness of Christ's blood becomes a tremendous reality, I begin to live in the light of His presence and in the light of His work—not just in the past or in the future, but in the present.”

This is what it means to live by faith. This is what it means to make progress in the Christian life as a disciple of Jesus.

Here is the audio of the Creekstone message on Sunday, March 25, 2012.

In_All_Things-Rom.8.26-28.mp3

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Click here to download:

In_All_Things-Rom.8.26-28.mp3 (29.79 MB)

This week's sermon passage, Romans 8:26-28, is one of those remarkable vistas on the journey to the peak of Romans 8—a peak that we eventually will experience on Easter Sunday. In some ways, this is a training passage, preparing us to trust God now in advance of those times that otherwise would paralyze us with worry. As we learn from this passage, we will face our tendency toward a need for control, and the anxiety that comes from not being in control. We will admit what we don't know, but find hope in what we can know. We also will address the questions that many of us ask and statements we make in light of this passage, such as:

• Things don't seem to be working for good in my life?
• God never comes through for me.
• It’s hard to love a God who never answers your prayers.
• And why would a good God allow such evil and suffering?

Obviously, this is deep and weighty stuff. But what we find in this passage provides more than enough encouragement for even the most broken, wounded and/or skeptical among us. For the big question is not only why would a good God allow evil and suffering, but why would God endure such evil and suffering? Once we can grasp the answer to that question, we will be on the road to discovering some practical help with the paralyzing effects of worry, and potentially the road to a major spirital breakthrough. On Sunday, we'll discuss a handfull of practical implications that I think are going to make a difference in your life and mine. This is rubber hits the road time. So bring a friend if you are able. I really think you both will be glad you did.   

Here is the passage:

"26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

I have been reading through the historic Belgic Confession (16th c.) recently (as suggested by my wife, Kristy), and wow, it is gold! For example, Article XXII, makes a helpful distinction between being saved by faith as a meritorious work versus being saved through faith as an instrument. Here is how it reads:

"Therefore we justly say with Paul, that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith apart from works. However, to speak more clearly, we do not mean that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our righteousness. But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all His merits, and so many holy works which He has done for us and in our stead, is our righteousness. And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with Him in all His benefits, which, when they become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins."

So, we are not saved by our faith, as if it is our faith that is redemptive. We are saved by Jesus and receive the benefits of his life, death and resurrection through the means of faith, and faith alone. So when my faith is weak, my salvation is still strong.

Be prepared to read a lot more from this great Confession, in addition to some good stuff from the Canons of Dort. :)

SDG

I received this email today from a friend, Dave McCarty, who leads a ministry called Gospel Frienships.  I found his counter-intuitive insights helpful.

"When I'm discouraged by circumstances, I'm always confident of what's best for me and those I love.  [It is when I lean on my] own understanding. My biggest need is not changed circumstances, but a changed heart: fresh conviction of the sin of independence and unbelief in His promise to work all things together for my good, and His glory. Unbelief in the perfectness of His plan for me.   Discouragement is not a picture of humility, but of... pride."

Wow. I had never thought of discouragement as a fruit of selfish pride. I wonder if what I call being discouraged may often be a form of adult whining over my will not being done. Maybe discouragement is another opportunity for fresh repentance and simple, childlike, gospel faith in a all-good, all-loving, all-sovereign and all-wise Father.  

Now, when Dave speaks of being discouraged, he is not saying that there is not a time to be sad or to grieve. Those are normal emotional responses to the brokenness of living in a fallen world. The discouragement he is talking about is the experience of not getting my own way and pouting about it like a spoiled child. It is a type of frustration produced by prideful anger. 

So, I think Dave is right, and especially about this: I am more in need of a changed heart than I am of changed circumstances. Can you relate to that?

Today I had lunch with a friend who made a comment that rocked me. He said something to the effect, "The key to sanctification is learning to get used to my justification." That idea really struck me: I am called to get used to being the recipient of extravagant grace. I am called to get used to the fact that I have been fully forgiven, declared totally righteous and am dearly loved as a son. I am called to let that sink in and define me. But to be honest, it is so hard getting used to extravagant grace. I continually feel as if I need to merit God's favor or earn his approval or do pennance when I've blown it so that I can be on God's good side again. However, the cross tells me that there is nothing I can do to improve my status with God and nothing I can do to diminish it. Because of the gospel, I am on God's good side—forever. I am forgiven, righteous and loved—and all by grace. Period. Believing (i.e., getting used to that) is the calling of the gospel in my life every day. Grace. Period. Get used to it!

I received an email yesterday from friend, Dave McCarty. Using the Shepherd and sheep analogy that Scripture draws between Jesus and the believer, he said: 

"Tis so sweet to be a clueless sheep. Asking about everything, thanking about everything. Curious and expectant to see what the Shepherd will do next—which doors He’ll open and which He’ll close.   Sheep don't know what’s best.   But they believe their Shepherd does.  Ahhh, carefree living."

Maybe the low-stress life comes from being more clueless, not less. More helpless, not less. More dependent, not less. It's just another application of how the gospel reverses everything. 

To read more of Dave's gospel reflections and ramblings, check out his blog here.