Mama Teaches the Love of Jesus

The most powerful force in the world is the love of Christ and its constraining influence.  I heard Elder Mark Green preach on 2 Cor. 5:14,15 Sunday before last and have been blessed to consider those things throughout the week.  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  I rejoice to know a Savior who loved me enough to die in my stead. And as a necessary consequence of Christ's death, all of his children died represented in him. And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.  That they which live do so necessarily as represented in Christ when he rose from the grave.  And we who live by the regeneration of the Spirit are now exhorted to not live unto ourselves.  The exhortation is because although our life is a necessary consequence of the Lord's work, us living unto Christ is a condition based on our obedience. 

The sermon he preached on Sunday is the same sermon Mama has been preaching everyday I've known her.  She cooked for, cared for, watched over, and educated seven kids 24/7.  She didn't balance her kids with her career; she didn't seek ways to get a chance to pursue hobbies or entertainment for herself, but her joy was and is full.  It is because she loved us more than herself.  Love constrained her.  She is a living picture of Christ's love that I can see and feel, and that's how I know it is powerful.  It lifts people above what is normally expected and gives them pleasure in humility and obedience.

The gospel brings life and immortality to light by pointing to the unconditional love of Jesus (2 Tim 1:10) and witnesses to the righteousness of faith which is in us (Rom 10:9).  Therefore I can confess that God raised Jesus from the dead which means I am justified (Rom 4:25) before and irrespective of my choice and will.  Often the objection is raised to my faith: "If that were true, then we could live any way we wanted..." My response is: "Why do you not live how you want? Are you motivated by love of self or of Christ?"

Jesus removed the motivation of fear (Rom 8:15; 1 John 4:18).  The true gospel of Christ sets free the captive and gives rest to the weary.  The only way it can do that is by pointing to Jesus and proclaiming the full and efficacious work of our victorious Redeemer.  It should be no wonder I often drive three hours on a Sunday to hear the gospel.  It's because I don't want to hear a message that ends with "Jesus 'loves' everyone but we need you to donate your money that we can attempt to direct a few more souls to heaven."  If redemption wasn't complete on the cross (John 19:30; Heb 10:14), then I would be like weeping Mary (John 20:15).  I am not comforted by a message that portrays the love of Christ as placing the eternal destiny of His beloved on the uncertain shoulders of men. What an impossible burden.

Faith and hope shall pass away when their purpose is fulfilled, but love will be perfected in us.  When I know Him as I am known, then I'll love Him as I am loved. (1 Cor 13:12,13)

Salvation Through Confession

Prayer is a miracle of grace.  The sinner that I am has no right to approach the throne of God.  God's eyes are too pure to look upon sin.  Therefore we know that before our most basic requests are heard in heaven, we have been cleansed.  If my conscience is condemned but the Lord hears my prayer, then I am not condemned before God.  This cleansing occurs in the new birth when the precious blood of Jesus is applied to my soul (John 3:5-8) and I receive the Spirit of adoption whereby I cry Abba, Father (Rom 8:15).  As David remarked, blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered (Rom 4:7).  Through the gospel life and immortality are brought to light (2 Tim 1:10).  The consistent message of the gospel is Jesus Christ; He was delivered for our transgressions and raised for our justification (Rom 4:25).  Therefore to believe the gospel is to believe that I am justified by the sacrifice of Jesus, and in that confession I will not be ashamed (Rom 10:6-11).  In summary, I stand just before God through the imputed righteousness of Christ; I cleanse my conscience from guilt by confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead.  In these acts stand two salvations that I have received; the first without any obedience or response by me, and the second by my belief is utterly dependent upon the first.

Conviction

I stand convicted.  Joyful desire mixed with regret fill my soul right now.  I listened to Philip Blankenship's sermon from the camp meeting on my way to work yesterday and was blessed with wonderful thoughts of Jesus, my omnipotent deliverer.  But as I was walking from my truck to start work, I started pouting (silently). I thought that having to work would just ruin my thoughts and therefore my communion with the Lord. I caught my inconsistency right away. I know that six days of the week are for work and that in the world. Worship refreshes me and improves me for everyday life, but the purpose of my life isn't just to go to church.  So I reminded myself that to walk with God, it is absolutely important I commit myself fully to my task at hand and do it with all my might. Then this morning, I listened to the sermon by Elder Ivey. My heart was melted, but I couldn't right away tell why.
Eld. Ivey preached against forgetting which were the first principles of the oracles of God, exposing our tendency to admire our understanding more than adore our blessed Redeemer and Husband. I don't think I am prideful of my doctrine or idolatrous of the church, so I couldn't explain the pain that came with that message. Then I considered his reference to Hebrews 5:12; that given the amount of doctrine and preaching I have been blessed with, I should be a teacher. But am I? I think I felt shame that I intentionally let pass opportunities to bless my Savior before men. I feel like I should avoid speaking my mind so not to alienate myself from anyone, assuming nobody cares to understand why I drove 150 miles one way on a weekend to go to church. Perhaps I'm teaching people that my faith is not remarkable, or that I don't have a lively hope. Perhaps the greatest barrier to my communion with God is my fear of confessing him. I know to walk with God I must have the intercession of Jesus, but He promised that He would confess us before the Father only on the condition that we confess Him before men. I need to do a better job at this and need to remember that if I lose the favor of men because of it, that that is according to His word. We just don't know who could hear.  I reckon that sharing hope with one soul is worth more than being socially accepted by a multitude. Matthew 10:32-40. Why is this so hard for me to put into practice? Indeed I do need to return to my first love.

Sanctified Through The Truth

Peace and union can be sustained in only Jesus' doctrine and example.  Jesus showed us how to obtain unity with men and even prayed that we would be one even as God is one. In his prayer, John 17:17-26, Jesus prayed that His disciples and all those that believe on Him through their word would be one. I want the blissful harmony found when brethren agree as the Father, Son, and Spirit agreed. That is what I believe this prayer teaches us about fellowship. We have only one option for true unity and that is in Christ, the truth. Charity promotes unity. Every statement I make with my tongue or my hands that does not comport with Christ must be abandoned. Sanctification is a process not for the impatient. I love the fellowship with brethren who agree to strive for the same standard of truth, but have no desire to associate with those who value being right more than understanding, or are more comfortable with their own habits than following the example of Jesus.