Tuesday, April 7, 2009

God-consciousness is Christ-consciousness

John Piper:

One of the massive differences between life with God in the Old Testament and life with God in the New Testament is that in the New Testament all our conscious glorifying of God should be “through Jesus Christ.”

  • “. . . to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25)
  • “. . . that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:11)
  • “. . . to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.” (Romans 16:27)
  • “. . . filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11)

With every thought about God and every affection for God, we should be mindful of Jesus Christ. God-consciousness should be Christ-consciousness.

  • “I thank my God through Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:8).
  • “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
  • “We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:11).
  • “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
  • “He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5).
  • “God has . . . destined us . . . to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
  • “He poured out [the Holy Spirit] on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5).
  • “[He works] in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 13:21).
  • “Offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5).

Therefore:

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

No comments: